Yes, I saw this on cable news earlier, and of course Jambo knows that because I text messaged him this afternoon. I kept asking myself the same question - what does the Bear gain from this? I can only assume that it is a deliberate attempt at distraction. Insert what Fred Thompson's character quipped in the movie based on Clancy's book, The Hunt for Red October, "Russians don't take a dump without having a plan." Putin was named Prime Minister by his boy and new president, Dimitry Medvedev, and the constitution may be amended to increase the PM's role in government. Putin might as well name himself chancellor and start referring to Dimitry as Bizmark - can anybody say Wiemar? Putin's government has been less then democratic regarding opposition media and politicians, and there's your need for saber rattling. Being hostile to the West is an ingrained part of national pride, and you can get less then sober Russian's to sing the national anthem out loud in a bar by doing little more then bumping back against America, even if you're closing down their local newspaper at that same moment, which is happening. One "Putin-hostile" political analyst was even digitally removed from a televised discussion panel before it aired. It was done in such a hurry that they missed a hand, and there sat this ghost hand on the arm of an empty chair during the broadcast. The excuse was that he quote, "had nothing interesting to say anyway" ... its getting rather funky over there concerning free speech and a free press.
But that's not the amazing thing - the amazing thing is that within the context of Russo-European-American geopolitics and posturing, Jambo was able to work in a reference to Welcome Back Kotter ... now THAT dear friends takes talent!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Speaking of old chestnuts...
Russia threatening military action if the US deploys missile defense equipment in former Warsaw Pact territories is just downright REFRESHING!
Ok, I'll take nothing away from the fact that it is posturing and grandstanding, pure and simple. Russia has far too much to lose in a European conflict, and for the first time since Chamberlain and "Peace in our time!" Europe stands a better than even chance of holding their own without immediate American intervention. (God, wonder if those Reforger sites are still there?) Putin's puppet rattling some sabres should get the French and German's attention.
What I don't get or understand is what Russia hopes to gain by this. Whatever strategic value inter-continental ballistic missiles had are nearly gone. The Russians can detect missile launches from North America in real time, but cannot detect B-2s weaving their way through radar sites on a border (Go ahead. Pick one.) before the mushroom clouds are dotting the horizon. If we had a mind to first strike cripple Russia, even with our stretched military at the moment it is doable.
What's more, the Czech Republic and Lithuania are doing their best Horshack imitations (PICK ME! OOH OOH! PICK ME!) to GET the equipment placed on their turf. Poland too, although Poland wants something more, like three divisions of armor and a couple squadrons of F-22s to camp out as well. (What can you say? 200+ years of occupation and intimidation by their neighbors, why not let the US Army set up shop? At least we're an ocean away.) These are the same neighbors Russia could be TRADING with, EU and all that, but no. Military threats. Good lord.
Ok, I'll take nothing away from the fact that it is posturing and grandstanding, pure and simple. Russia has far too much to lose in a European conflict, and for the first time since Chamberlain and "Peace in our time!" Europe stands a better than even chance of holding their own without immediate American intervention. (God, wonder if those Reforger sites are still there?) Putin's puppet rattling some sabres should get the French and German's attention.
What I don't get or understand is what Russia hopes to gain by this. Whatever strategic value inter-continental ballistic missiles had are nearly gone. The Russians can detect missile launches from North America in real time, but cannot detect B-2s weaving their way through radar sites on a border (Go ahead. Pick one.) before the mushroom clouds are dotting the horizon. If we had a mind to first strike cripple Russia, even with our stretched military at the moment it is doable.
What's more, the Czech Republic and Lithuania are doing their best Horshack imitations (PICK ME! OOH OOH! PICK ME!) to GET the equipment placed on their turf. Poland too, although Poland wants something more, like three divisions of armor and a couple squadrons of F-22s to camp out as well. (What can you say? 200+ years of occupation and intimidation by their neighbors, why not let the US Army set up shop? At least we're an ocean away.) These are the same neighbors Russia could be TRADING with, EU and all that, but no. Military threats. Good lord.
Who is this 9%?
That's what I want to know. This is Congress's current approval rating according to a new Rassmussen poll, 9% .... now to these fine lists, worthy intellectual endeavours each.
Concerning the top 5 defining battles, I have no quarrel with these lists being heavy, if not exclusively either Revolutionary or Civil War era. That is of course with the assumption that by "defining" we mean that were they to have gone the opposite way the very geography of these United States would be altered - whether that means we remain subjects of the British Crown, thus no US geography to speak of, or splitting into two separate countries altogether via The War Between The States (which my high school history teacher always insisted was a more apt term given that a "civil" war is struggle through armed conflict in order to control "one" government and this was a war of succession - one side trying to prevent it, the other trying to employ it and form a separate government altogether ... although I should add he smiled with glee when anyone referred to it as "The War of Northern Aggression.").
On a list of national defining locations, we shouldn't hesitate to add high on that list ground zero in New York. Add to that another ground zero - the site of the first nuclear test detonation. A defining moment for all nations to be sure, but I think we get to claim it since it was on our soil (or rather in our desert). Ellis Island is a fantastic example. Independence Hall and the White House are naturals and would certainly compete for number 1 on that list - my vote would be cast with the Hall. The Alamo, though not as high on the list, certainly has stood the test of time in terms of an American landmark that defined American heroism. I might add a certain route in Dallas, 1963. I'm just writing these as they come to mind here ... The Washington Mall, MLK's I Have A Dream Speech, is in there. That was certainly a period of national redefinement with that speech being the most indelible image in terms of "one" moment. Kennedy Space Center, and for that matter the moon itself. Neil Armstrong's steps and words became a part of our national identity. Who could deny the Mississippi River, although that's a rather "large" area encompassing many a moment. Plymouth Rock has to be in there. Were my father participating I'm sure he'd add Graceland ...he,he. Here's one - Area 51. That's for all you Scully fans out there. The Hoover Dam ain't bad. The Panama Canal changed the America's forever (freakin Carter gives it back though). I should add the Supreme Court building - the good such as in Brown VS The Board of Education, Topeka if I recall. And DC VS Heller; to the abhorrent - in Dread Scott and Roe V Wade. In that building the very social fabric of this nation has either been reshaped or reinforced.
That's my list for now....
One other thing here ... I used the AP as a news source in order to utilize a reporting agency not traditionally (in recent years anyway) friendly to the US efforts in Iraq. How in the H-E-double hockey stick (as my mother insisted we use rather then cuss as young lads) has Bush and company not, after its removal, gone on a final PR offensive in order to set the record straight on WMD's and Saddam's pursuit of them; and thus help shape history more accurately? And I should note this story (outside of FOX News) is getting ZERO traction in the mainstream press ... though that's hardly a shocker.
Associated Press Writer
Sun Jul 6, 4:45 AM ET
The last major remnant of Saddam Hussein's nuclear program — a huge stockpile of concentrated natural uranium — reached a Canadian port Saturday to complete a secret U.S. operation that included a two-week airlift from Baghdad and a ship voyage crossing two oceans.
The removal of 550 metric tons of "yellowcake" — the seed material for higher-grade nuclear enrichment — was a significant step toward closing the books on Saddam's nuclear legacy. It also brought relief to U.S. and Iraqi authorities who had worried the cache would reach insurgents or smugglers crossing to Iran to aid its nuclear ambitions.
What's now left is the final and complicated push to clean up the remaining radioactive debris at the former Tuwaitha nuclear complex about 12 miles south of Baghdad — using teams that include Iraqi experts recently trained in the Chernobyl fallout zone in Ukraine.
"Everyone is very happy to have this safely out of Iraq," said a senior U.S. official who outlined the nearly three-month operation to The Associated Press. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.
Concerning the top 5 defining battles, I have no quarrel with these lists being heavy, if not exclusively either Revolutionary or Civil War era. That is of course with the assumption that by "defining" we mean that were they to have gone the opposite way the very geography of these United States would be altered - whether that means we remain subjects of the British Crown, thus no US geography to speak of, or splitting into two separate countries altogether via The War Between The States (which my high school history teacher always insisted was a more apt term given that a "civil" war is struggle through armed conflict in order to control "one" government and this was a war of succession - one side trying to prevent it, the other trying to employ it and form a separate government altogether ... although I should add he smiled with glee when anyone referred to it as "The War of Northern Aggression.").
On a list of national defining locations, we shouldn't hesitate to add high on that list ground zero in New York. Add to that another ground zero - the site of the first nuclear test detonation. A defining moment for all nations to be sure, but I think we get to claim it since it was on our soil (or rather in our desert). Ellis Island is a fantastic example. Independence Hall and the White House are naturals and would certainly compete for number 1 on that list - my vote would be cast with the Hall. The Alamo, though not as high on the list, certainly has stood the test of time in terms of an American landmark that defined American heroism. I might add a certain route in Dallas, 1963. I'm just writing these as they come to mind here ... The Washington Mall, MLK's I Have A Dream Speech, is in there. That was certainly a period of national redefinement with that speech being the most indelible image in terms of "one" moment. Kennedy Space Center, and for that matter the moon itself. Neil Armstrong's steps and words became a part of our national identity. Who could deny the Mississippi River, although that's a rather "large" area encompassing many a moment. Plymouth Rock has to be in there. Were my father participating I'm sure he'd add Graceland ...he,he. Here's one - Area 51. That's for all you Scully fans out there. The Hoover Dam ain't bad. The Panama Canal changed the America's forever (freakin Carter gives it back though). I should add the Supreme Court building - the good such as in Brown VS The Board of Education, Topeka if I recall. And DC VS Heller; to the abhorrent - in Dread Scott and Roe V Wade. In that building the very social fabric of this nation has either been reshaped or reinforced.
That's my list for now....
One other thing here ... I used the AP as a news source in order to utilize a reporting agency not traditionally (in recent years anyway) friendly to the US efforts in Iraq. How in the H-E-double hockey stick (as my mother insisted we use rather then cuss as young lads) has Bush and company not, after its removal, gone on a final PR offensive in order to set the record straight on WMD's and Saddam's pursuit of them; and thus help shape history more accurately? And I should note this story (outside of FOX News) is getting ZERO traction in the mainstream press ... though that's hardly a shocker.
Associated Press Writer
Sun Jul 6, 4:45 AM ET
The last major remnant of Saddam Hussein's nuclear program — a huge stockpile of concentrated natural uranium — reached a Canadian port Saturday to complete a secret U.S. operation that included a two-week airlift from Baghdad and a ship voyage crossing two oceans.
The removal of 550 metric tons of "yellowcake" — the seed material for higher-grade nuclear enrichment — was a significant step toward closing the books on Saddam's nuclear legacy. It also brought relief to U.S. and Iraqi authorities who had worried the cache would reach insurgents or smugglers crossing to Iran to aid its nuclear ambitions.
What's now left is the final and complicated push to clean up the remaining radioactive debris at the former Tuwaitha nuclear complex about 12 miles south of Baghdad — using teams that include Iraqi experts recently trained in the Chernobyl fallout zone in Ukraine.
"Everyone is very happy to have this safely out of Iraq," said a senior U.S. official who outlined the nearly three-month operation to The Associated Press. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.
I understand keeping it under wraps while the material is still in theater, but why not give a comprehensive update, from the Oval Office, not as an "I told you so" sort of speech, but rather cast it as a briefing, or update on the success occurring in Iraq, then let all the conservative talking heads run wit it as an "I told you so." I mean conventional wisdom now allows people to state that Bush flat out lied about even bio or chemical WMD's, let alone nuclear aspirations, and people are allowed to make such an assertion completely unchallenged this "myth" has so become accepted as doxy. So why not do a little to burst that myth bubble in your final months in office? Of course this begs the question as to why there have been no regular public briefings from the White House in the first place, but that's an old chest nut here .....
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Hmmm...
Independence Hall is a good pick, and no one location holds a grip on our formative history than that one building... but if I had to choose a "runner-up" I guess it would be either Ellis Island or the White House.
Let me think about it a while first, though...
Let me think about it a while first, though...
Sunday, July 6, 2008
I wish people could get things RIGHT...
My list of five consisted of....
1) Trenton
2) Valley Forge
3) Ft. McHenry
4) Vicksburg
5) Gettysburg
After reading your point concerning the failed British campaign in the Chesapeake, I'll listen to talk of change, but Monmouth and the entire southern action post 1778 in the Revolutionary War doesn't take place without the winter camp and training at Valley Forge. Washington marched into that winter with a regular militia and left in the spring with an army. (Von Schtueben, spelling please forgive, regardless of your creatively doctored resume, thank you very much)
Keep in mind that these are military locations. Such actions as Little Bighorn, (an American Indian triumph in no uncertain terms) and various American Indian defeats are not being glossed over in a revisionist airbrushing of our history. The argument whether these actions DEFINE who we are as a nation has yet to be waged.
This also made me ponder non military locations that DEFINE us as a nation, and I could only come up with one concrete location: Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA. Both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were drafted in the building, and there are no more crystallizing moments in our history as those. Thoughts?
1) Trenton
2) Valley Forge
3) Ft. McHenry
4) Vicksburg
5) Gettysburg
After reading your point concerning the failed British campaign in the Chesapeake, I'll listen to talk of change, but Monmouth and the entire southern action post 1778 in the Revolutionary War doesn't take place without the winter camp and training at Valley Forge. Washington marched into that winter with a regular militia and left in the spring with an army. (Von Schtueben, spelling please forgive, regardless of your creatively doctored resume, thank you very much)
Keep in mind that these are military locations. Such actions as Little Bighorn, (an American Indian triumph in no uncertain terms) and various American Indian defeats are not being glossed over in a revisionist airbrushing of our history. The argument whether these actions DEFINE who we are as a nation has yet to be waged.
This also made me ponder non military locations that DEFINE us as a nation, and I could only come up with one concrete location: Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA. Both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were drafted in the building, and there are no more crystallizing moments in our history as those. Thoughts?
I do love this blog...
If memory serves, Jambo's current "List of Five" (most nationally "defining" battles in American history) contains:
1. Trenton, 1776
2. Princeton, 1777
3. Fort McHenry, 1814
4. Vicksburg, 1863
5. Gettysburg, 1863
While I agree that these are ALL pivotal moments in American history, if I had to make a critique of this list, it would be with #2 and #3.
Without the small but vital victory at Trenton on Christmas Day, 1776, the colonial insurection that we have come to call the Revolutionary War (I prefer the War of Independence, myself... far more accurate) would not have survived the winter of '76-'77. However, the Battle of Princeton (fought only days later on Jan. 3, 1777) could NOT have been won without Trenton, but didn't HAVE to be won to continue the "glorious cause" into the New Year.
The very emotional and stirring defense of Baltimore is also pivotal to the America we know and love today... but Fort McHenry was only one part of a larger "Chesapeake Campaign" that the British lost in every sense of the word. The death of General Robert Ross forced the British to abandon their invasion at North Point and, along with the successful defense of Baltimore Harbor, ultimately end the entire campaign.
Were I to place battles in place of Jambo's #2 and #3... I would have to pick the Battle of Cowpens, 1781, and the Siege at Yorktown, 1781. In these two battles, the American forces finally, after 8 long years, managed to bring the mightiest Empire on the face of the earth to the bargaining table by destroying (Cowpens) or forcing the surrender of (Yorktown) two major British armies on the continent, totalling more than 9,000 veteran British Regulars.
*NOTE* I know that at Yorktown there were about 10k French troops... but we WON at Yorktown because we over-ran the defense on the point that Cornwallis had taken shelter on, and when I say WE, I mean Americans... not Frenchies. Had we NOT taken those defenses, the battle was not decided.
Now, while I agree with Baddboy's assessment of the Battle of New Orleans, I still don't think it makes the list.
Yes, had the battle gone the other way, the British may very well have re-thought their treaty positions. BUT, even losing the battle and recalling the siege because it was too risky and too expensive, Lambert took the 10k men he had left and immediately attacked, raised and occupied Biloxi, and had set in motion the invasion and attack of Mobile (virtually defensless itself) with plans on moving all the way to the Atlantic Coast via Florida... until he got the news of the Treaty and stopped all fighting.
My point is that Lambert had the men, material and khutspah to march his 10,000 Redcoats all the way to the Georgia Coast... but didn't, because of the Treaty. In light of this, I'd have to say that the Battle at New Orleans, while vital to the America we know today and one of our most formative battles in terms of region and culture, is NOT a Top Five battle.
1. Trenton, 1776
2. Princeton, 1777
3. Fort McHenry, 1814
4. Vicksburg, 1863
5. Gettysburg, 1863
While I agree that these are ALL pivotal moments in American history, if I had to make a critique of this list, it would be with #2 and #3.
Without the small but vital victory at Trenton on Christmas Day, 1776, the colonial insurection that we have come to call the Revolutionary War (I prefer the War of Independence, myself... far more accurate) would not have survived the winter of '76-'77. However, the Battle of Princeton (fought only days later on Jan. 3, 1777) could NOT have been won without Trenton, but didn't HAVE to be won to continue the "glorious cause" into the New Year.
The very emotional and stirring defense of Baltimore is also pivotal to the America we know and love today... but Fort McHenry was only one part of a larger "Chesapeake Campaign" that the British lost in every sense of the word. The death of General Robert Ross forced the British to abandon their invasion at North Point and, along with the successful defense of Baltimore Harbor, ultimately end the entire campaign.
Were I to place battles in place of Jambo's #2 and #3... I would have to pick the Battle of Cowpens, 1781, and the Siege at Yorktown, 1781. In these two battles, the American forces finally, after 8 long years, managed to bring the mightiest Empire on the face of the earth to the bargaining table by destroying (Cowpens) or forcing the surrender of (Yorktown) two major British armies on the continent, totalling more than 9,000 veteran British Regulars.
*NOTE* I know that at Yorktown there were about 10k French troops... but we WON at Yorktown because we over-ran the defense on the point that Cornwallis had taken shelter on, and when I say WE, I mean Americans... not Frenchies. Had we NOT taken those defenses, the battle was not decided.
Now, while I agree with Baddboy's assessment of the Battle of New Orleans, I still don't think it makes the list.
Yes, had the battle gone the other way, the British may very well have re-thought their treaty positions. BUT, even losing the battle and recalling the siege because it was too risky and too expensive, Lambert took the 10k men he had left and immediately attacked, raised and occupied Biloxi, and had set in motion the invasion and attack of Mobile (virtually defensless itself) with plans on moving all the way to the Atlantic Coast via Florida... until he got the news of the Treaty and stopped all fighting.
My point is that Lambert had the men, material and khutspah to march his 10,000 Redcoats all the way to the Georgia Coast... but didn't, because of the Treaty. In light of this, I'd have to say that the Battle at New Orleans, while vital to the America we know today and one of our most formative battles in terms of region and culture, is NOT a Top Five battle.
Ya right...whatever Jambo
Now as I'm talking to Jambo on the phone yesterday and we are in one of our rants we have a differing opinion. Jambo says I'll post my side and then you post yours and we'll let Titus and Ryan sort it out. Well as you can see I'm gonna have to post first in this bit of historical minutia.
It all started with one of Jambos lists of 5 things...you know the ones. This particular one deals with the 5 battles that defined the USA. I listened to his list and thought to myself, he's missing one. The Battle of New Orleans. I know all of the history guys would tell you that the treaty was already signed and the outcome of that battle was of no consequence. My arguement is that if the British had won the battle and taken New Orleans they would have abandoned the treaty because they now owned our back door and quite literally could take the whole dang country from behind. I don't think that is far fetched and for that matter you had to think they were still pissed off for losing the first war and an open window like that in my opinion would have given them every reason to scrap the treaty and restart the war from another direction.
Baddboy
It all started with one of Jambos lists of 5 things...you know the ones. This particular one deals with the 5 battles that defined the USA. I listened to his list and thought to myself, he's missing one. The Battle of New Orleans. I know all of the history guys would tell you that the treaty was already signed and the outcome of that battle was of no consequence. My arguement is that if the British had won the battle and taken New Orleans they would have abandoned the treaty because they now owned our back door and quite literally could take the whole dang country from behind. I don't think that is far fetched and for that matter you had to think they were still pissed off for losing the first war and an open window like that in my opinion would have given them every reason to scrap the treaty and restart the war from another direction.
Baddboy
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