Can we be done now, please?

It's time to end the debacle in Afghanistan. There are real American (and other country's) sons and daughters dying in Afghanistan, and it's become clear that continuing is pointless.

We can't "win" in Afghanistan simply by military action alone. The military, at best, can create a security climate in which an Afghan government can take firm hold. Unfortunately, President Karzai is showing little interest or ability in establishing a country wide government. Tribalism and corruption are preventing any real gains in good governance. Frankly, good government just isn't part of Afghan culture, at least lately.

I am convinced that we are wasting our troops, treasure and time in Afghanistan. We should wind down with all deliberate speed. If the country goes to hell after we leave, fine, let it. We gave it our best shot. It might be different if it appeared that they were serious about solving their problems, but such does not seem to be the case. All we're doing now is pouring money into the pockets of various strongmen in Afghanistan and the military-industrial complex in the US.

Yes, there is a risk of setting up another safe haven for Al Qaeda. That can be handled by satellite surveillance, by diverting some of the war bucks into human intel ops, and other means of detecting terrorist camps and bases. And when we detect them, we take them out.

Anybody out there volunteer for their child to die honorably fighting the Afghan war? Does anyone think that such a death is necessary? Would anyone equate that death with soldiers who died in the Revolutionary War, or either of the World Wars?

Our troops are willing to sacrifice their lives for America and the American way of life. The Afghan war will accomplish no goal justifying such a sacrifice.

Just desserts? Or tragedy?

I heard a news report this morning about folks in the Louisiana, fishermen primarily, who are worried about getting compensation for their losses. They can't fish because of the spill, and want to make a claim against BP for their lost income.

Their problem is that they've been operating in a "cash economy." That is, they get paid for their catch in cash, and they don't declare the income. They don't get 1099s, they don't self-report, they don't pay taxes. And now they can't prove what income they had in order to support a claim for lost income.

Do we feel bad for these folks? Well, I do, but not very much. I have a former brother in law who worked as a waiter and bartender for years, and he pretty much hid most of this tip income from the IRS. This worked for years, until he wanted to buy a house and couldn't establish sufficient income to get the home loan. Decisions have consequences.

Not paying taxes is criminal activity, and it's tough to have much sympathy for folks who don't pay taxes but now want government to jump in and fix their problem. I feel bad for the innocent family members whose breadwinners are now out of work and out of luck, but it doesn't bother me to see these tax cheats suffer the consequences of their illegal behavior.

General McChrystal

There's a word in German for what Gen. McChristal did in his interview with Rolling Stone in which he criticized his boss; crankenscheteppin (not really, I made that up).

I say, Obama should call him into the oval office and relieve McChristal of his command. Done. Reassigned, to some REMFP job, or, better resigned.

Please. Army officers tend to view Democratic presidents with contempt. Sacking McChrystal would help establish a firm chain of command. No one is irreplaceable, a key Army value. I mean really, should a war stop if a general got killed?

Update: I've known since right after I initially posted this that I misspelled his last name, but couldn't get it changed until now.

This is odd

The Idaho Conservative Blogger has a page up with some pix from some recent Republican gathering in Sun Valley. In an effort to protect his identity, he painted a Lone Ranger type mask on his mug in the pix he posted. Now, I am an pseudonymous blogger and appreciate the desire to keep one's identity private. Still...

I just want to say, ICB, the painted on mask doesn't really work. You're still really recognizable. Plus, some of those pix make your eyes look, well, not flattering. Might want to rethink this way of protecting your identity.

Air travel

I'm traveling again this week. Nashville, where I've never been, so that should be interesting. A couple of thoughts from the road. I wonder why stewardesses get so cranky about the back of your seat being fully upright for landing. You know, how far do those things recline 2-3 degrees? About 3-4 inches, tops. Does it really matter?

Also, I love walking through the airport in the early AM, because it cracks me up seeing people drinking beer in the bars at 0800.

Well, that's about it for now. Oh, one other thing. I never walk into an airport restroom any more without thinking about Larry Craig. Yeesh.

Sunrise over FOB Warrior

It's been too long since I posted, and I don't have much to say at the moment, so I thought I'd put up a pic for your viewing pleasure. (Click to enlarge.) The FOB is up close, and the city of Kirkuk is in the background.



What got me thinking about this is a facebook post I recently saw. A husband of a friend posted an appeal for help. His wife was very active in Soldier's Angel for a while, and contacted me while I was in Iraq. We exchanged the occasional email, and she was very supportive. She sent me a small painting she did. She was nice to me.

Husband is asking for $$ donations to try to help get her out of jail, but didn't say what she was in for. Says he and the kids need her at home. She's been locked up since March.

Well, it took about 5 minutes to discover the charges. (See below.) She's charged with unlawful sexual contact with a person in her household between the age of 13 and 16, and also later charged with a violating a protective order. So, just guessing from the charges, she had some unlawful sexual contact with a teen in her home. It's difficult to think I want to contribute to sending her back into that situation.

She lists her political views in facebook as "strict conservative" and her religious views as " religious - Baptist."

People are complex, and this is a sorry situation. I'm kind of shocked.

Charges: Crime defined. A person who engages in sexual penetration with another person, and the complainant is at least 13 years of age but less than 16 years of age.

And, under the Domestic Abuse Act: Violation of an order for protection. (a) A person who violates an order for protection issued by a judge or referee is subject to the penalties provided in paragraphs (b) to (d).

Just when you think you've seen it all

You haven't.

Republicans get this

Democrats don't, and it's why Dems keep getting bashed around even though they have the better policy positions.

George Friedman, writing in Stratfor.com, had this to say about the Israeli's intercepting the Turkish ship trying to dock in Gaza:

Where knowledge is limited, and the desire to learn the complex reality doesn’t exist, public opinion can be shaped by whoever generates the most powerful symbols.

This describes most of American politics. Republicans have figured this out, and they are masters at using this to their advantage. "Government takeover." "Death panels." The list is endless.

I wish Democrats would get wise to it.

Schadenfreude

I'll admit to a bit of it, considering that Canyon County now has to get their vehicles emission tested. It's about time.

Granted, I've been exempt from the requirement for the last few years, since I moved to Kuna, but now I've got to get my vehicles tested again. So, I'm in the same boat as the Canyon County folks.

BSU radio, KBSX, was running some pieces about the new requirement today, and their correspondent was interviewing some folks in Canyon County about it. One of the commissioners said the requirement is "unfair" because it should be statewide. She thinks it's ridiculous that the air just stays in Ada and Canyon counties. The problem with this is all the 2C cars that drive into Ada County, the freeloaders. I think it's been unfair that those folks, who work in Boise and emit air pollution here, haven't had to get tested.

My biggest beef with the program is the requirement to test new autos. That just seems pointless from an air quality perspective, and seems to only be a way to put revenue in the pockets of the emissions testers. And maybe also the Air Quality Board.

I think it's a better idea to have the roadside sniffers that test cars in passing, and if they fail to meet the standard, a tickets is issued. But of course, that puts the little red van vehicle emission testers out of business, so we can't have that.