The Week In Review

Well, the week is over and here we are about to enter into another weekend...hopefully we won't be facing another "surprise" hurricane bearing down on a major U.S. city on Monday morning. So here is my take on the week.

Judge John Roberts finished his confirmation hearings this week and will be the next Supreme Court Chief Justice. I personally have never met Judge Roberts but, from listening to his confirmation hearings I have to say that I am completely impressed. I have never heard a more polished and composed individual under such circumstances. Of course, despite his outstanding credentials some democrats won't vote for him solely based on the fact that he is a Republican nominee. Yes, there are still idiots out there. And, I am further moved to believe that Sen. Kennedy is indeed a moron. After listening to his questioning of Judge Roberts I was utterly amazed that a supposed intelligent man would repeatedly ask a Supreme Court nominee how they would rule on specific cases...asinine. So, having concluded his hearings on Thursday the "special interest" groups will begin their ranting and raving about how Judge Roberts, being a conservative, is going to bring an end to the world as we know. I can't wait to hear the brilliant intellects at NOW throw their normal moronic diatribe out there and of course the NAACP will throw their normal "interesting" statements out there. I am sure they will, as Theodore Shaw, president and director of the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund stated the following earlier this week: "Our review of the available record has led us to conclude that John G. Roberts Jr. has been hostile to the corpus of civil rights and constitutional law." Are you kidding me...Hostile towards constitutional law? I want to know where these people live and what kind of drugs they are on. Of course these are the same intelligent people that support rapper Kanye West's delirious statement that, "George Bush doesn't care about black people."

So, this leads me into Katrina and Kanye...perhaps I am remiss in saying this but, does Kanye West have a quarter of a clue about what he is talking about? Watching his ranting was similar to watching a 2nd grader talk about someone pushing them during recess..."and then...and...and...he...doesn't like me." I mean seriously does this idiot actually believe that the President of the United States doesn't like black people. Hey Kanye, have you looked at who President Bush has as his Secretary of State...none other then Condoleeza Rice. And correct me if I am wrong but, the last time I checked I think she is "black". So, Kanye get a clue or do us all a favor and quit breathing. Seriously, it amazes me that these people survive childhood. Someone with the apparent intelligence of Kanye probably played on the freeway as a young child. Stick to what you know Kanye and stay out of politics until you graduate college...one semester at Columbia College in Chicago doesn't count as an education buddy...oh, and one more thing if you are going to rant on about someone...try complete sentences...it usually helps. So, needless to say I think Kanye stepped a bit outside of his "comfort zone" and had I been standing next to Kanye, instead of Mr. Meyers, he would have been slapped back into his "comfort" zone rather abruptly with one simple question: "Mr. West what do you base this outlandish claim upon?" Which, I am sure would have stunned him into silence. And by the way, it is President George Bush...at least have some respect.

So, on Katrina. For those who think we are doing a bad job. Please submit to me a detailed thesis on how you would have handled a natural disaster effecting over 90,000 square miles with a credible warning of less than 72 hours. That's right the National Hurricane Center's own Probability of Hit analysis on Friday, August 26, 2005 predicted a strike probability on New Orleans of only 17%. Needless to say it is a shame that so many people were affected; but, we are dealing with Mother Nature here and she is the most devastating force period. Sure things could have been done differently here and maybe faster here; but, I for one think we are doing a pretty good job. Can you imagine if that tragedy took place in someplace like Sri Lanka or Thailand…oh, that’s right it did and an estimated 170,000 to 250,000 people were killed. That’s right they are still counting the bodies. In areas of Indonesia they were still finding 500 bodies a day in February of 2005. I was in Thailand shortly after the Tsunami and I can tell you first hand that our response to Katrina is light years ahead of anything anyone else could have performed. Just think of the sheer fact that we had over 300 U.S. Military helicopters in the area 72 hours after the incident performing rescues and attempting to repair the levees. Trust me getting 300 helicopters and their support to a region that quickly is amazing. Logistically speaking we are doing a great job. I know what everyone is going to say…what about the poor people at the Convention Center. Sure, we probably could have swooped in and gotten them out of there earlier. But, seriously where would we have taken them. I think people are forgetting that it is not just a matter of moving people from Point A to Point B. Unless you have point B prepared and ready to handle a situation, all you have done is transferred your problem from one point to the next. So, having said that…for anyone who has ever attempted to handle the life-support functions for 30,000 it is a bit more difficult then simply moving people from one point to the next. Have I handled 30,000 people, no…I have not; however, my father has and he will tell you it isn’t a walk in the park. So, before you start jabbering about this or that…actually sit back and think about what it takes to literally move a small city. How many towns, cities, do you know that are around 30,000 people? Now, think of moving that entire town, to an unprepared location, in 72 hours…can’t be done...how about a week…hmmm…probably a little more practical. If you will recall as of September 4, 2005 the Convention center and the Superdome were cleared out, that is six days…and both locations had more than 25,000 people at them. So, think about it in that context and you may not be so quick to judge; in fact, you will probably think the Federal Government did a great job under the circumstances and that is my position. Am, I just a sideline guy here…no, I am not I am headed down to Louisiana next Friday to aid in relief work. So, expect pictures and a full report in about 10 days.

Well, what else has happened this week? We have President Putin in Washington D.C. today. Is it just me or am I right to not fully trust a former KGB officer? Well, I think Putin is moving in the right direction; but, I firmly believe he is always watching out for his numero uno or the good ol’ Russia. All I say to you Mr. President Bush is watch this guy.

What about Iran? Here is my take on Iran and “yes”, I have some experience with the fanatical Iranians that are slowly taking over that country…and “no” I will not disclose that experience. The fanatical Iranians are pouring into Iraq and attempting to destabilize that country. I simply ask what in the world is going on when a known terrorist is now leading a nation. Iranian President Mahmood Ahmadinejad has been positively identified by at least six U.S. hostages as a ringleader in the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover. And I am going to go out on a limb here and say I bet you none of those guys will ever forget the faces of the terrorists that held them captive. He has also been identified by former Iranian President Bani Sadr as Ayatollah Khomeini's liaison with the hostage takers…hmmm…sounds pretty much like a “sure thing” to me. And, to add icing to the cake he stands accused of the murder of a Kurdish leader in Vienna by officials in Austria who say they have compelling evidence and want an arrest warrant sworn for him. Oh, but that is not all folks, as mayor of Tehran, he was one of the principal forces behind a campaign to recruit and train suicide bombers throughout the country. So, how does a guy like this become the President? Well, simply put – Iran has quickly become a fundamentalist country under control of radical Muslims that are all about Fatwa’s and bringing down the great Satan (that would be the United States). I would have to say that to truly understand how fundamentalist Muslims have taken a firm grip on the country you have to understand the revolution that occurred in 1979. So, go get some books and learn about it. Read “In The Walled Gardens” by, Anahita Firouz an awesome book that gives you some insight in how vastly different the country is today from the 1970’s. Of course, I will clarify that I think Iran still has its own internal fight to win. The young generation there is not too happy with the radicals that are leading that country. So, there very well could be another Iranian Revolution. I for one hope there is; for if there isn’t and the radicals continue to secure that country we could be seriously facing a terrorist nation much like Libya in the 80’s and with the resources, wealth, and fanaticism available in Iran the West could be in serious trouble. Remember folks that all things start small. Remember how World War I was sparked to ignition by the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, in 1914 by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian-Serb student, in Sarajevo. I guarantee you that Mr. Princip did not envision that his gunshot would result in a 13 kiloton nuclear weapon being dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and a 20 kiloton nuclear weapon being dropped on Nagasaki a day later. Little things can have big consequences and they are not always anticipated. So, I would consider a known terrorist becoming president of a rather fundamentalist country an item we should all watch carefully.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that the new season of Survivor started…Survivor Guatemala. Am I interested in Survivor, not really but since I did almost make it on the show. I am curious as to what I would have been doing. Apparently it started with a 13 mile trek through the jungle with all their gear. Well, no problem and I guarantee you I would have advised that everyone drink a bit more than they did and take a little more time. It is better to be fit for the long haul. Those folks are in serious trouble for the rest of their stint. In ideal conditions they could recover rather quickly but, they are definitely not in an ideal situation. I imagine some of the men and women will be suffering directly from the “sprint” that they did on the first day. Remember that the turtle beat the jackrabbit.

Rockstar INXS…we are down to the final three and as I have said all along...they are going to pick JD. It is not a matter of the other two being bad or anything at all...on the contrary, they are all very gifted. I just think that JD fits with INXS more so than the others do and a band is all about fit.

So, on that note...I hope everyone has a great weekend. Stay safe, don’t drink and drive and remember to say your prayers to God because we are all very blessed.