The Politics of Disaster

This morning I lingered in bed. I want to be fresh so I can make it past my normal 9p.m. bedtime and maybe make it up till the beginning of `05. (I`m such a wild party animal!) Since we are off from work today, I sauntered downstairs and flipped on the Today show to see what was new in the world. There I was treated to Matt Lauer talking with Tim Russert about the ``stingy`` U.S. response to the catastrophe in Asia. I was appalled at both the tone and the substance of their commentary! The Mainstream Media has given up any pretense of fair and unbiased reporting. Russert started by claiming the entire World has harshly criticized this administration for a petty and hard-hearted non-response to the situation. He then went on to say it is because the worst hit countries are predominantly Moslem. A grim faced Lauer nods his head sadly in agreement as Russert speaks, making his thoughts plain. At no time during this interview is any discussion of the particulars made; how much we pledged in immediate assistance, how the President (and Colin Powell) made clear that much more was coming, how the United States has led the World in disaster relief historically, etc. No, none of this was spoken of. What we heard was basically that George Bush is a mean, miserly SOB who ran down to Florida for a photo-op when disaster struck, but couldn`t care less about a the 150,000+ dead in Asia because they`re Moslems, and of course Bush is a racist bastard. Oh, if only John Kerry were here!

The politicization of this issue is perhaps the lowest thing I have ever seen. The U.N., angry at Bush for bipassing their hallowed ``authority`` over Iraq, is trying to use these deaths as a club to beat America. For those corrupt, small little men to dare make such accusation in light of their abyssmal track records is reprehensible, and would not have made page 10 of the Daily Shopper if we had a truly free press. We don`t have a free press-we have a voluntarily socialist press who hates the United States, hates conservatives, and hates George Herbert Walker Bush. That they would politicize this issue is reprehensible, and proof we need regime change in the Hallowed Halls of Journalism.

It`s time we break the leftist stranglehold on the Media. The left completely dominates the MSM, starting at all the major Schools of Journalism. We need to begin by pushing to break up this monopoly (in fact, in all of academia). We need to form coalitions to buy up major news outlets, then demand more balance. We need to continue to support the alternative media. New guidelines need to be established for working journalists; they need to understand that they are there to report the news and not make it (surveys of incoming journalism students show that most of them are going into journalism to ``change the world`` and not report the news.) We need a new standard of ethics. Until we reform the MSM we will not have a free press.

Meanwhile, our good friends in the environemental movement are once again trying to blame this Tsunami on technology and global warming. These people have one track minds.

I suppose they could argue that global warming is relieving the pressure of the ice covering the poles. The melting of the ice caps is reducing the weight which is compressing the Earth`s crust at both poles, and the shift in hydrostatic pressure is causing earthquakes. The only problem with this is that we have seen no rise in sea level to verify any appreciable melting. If we are going to engage in flights of fancy, I would like to advance the idea that perhaps the increase in the Solar Wind striking the Earth`s magnetic field as a result of a more active sun may be at fault; the magnetic field has been converting the kinetic energy of these charged particles into potential energy, and storing this inside the Earth. When this energy builds up to a critical level it causes a plate shift then boom!

All of this is, of course, poppycock. The fact is, we have always had Earthquakes as powerful as the one which caused this giant Tsunami. In 1811 (I think) here in Missouri we had an earthquake as powerful as this Asian one. The Mississippi river flowed backwards for a week! Fortunately, in 1811 very few people lived around the New Madrid fault line. If this were to happen today we would all be toast.

That is the problem here. Asia has had enormous population growth in the last 100 years, and far too many people were within striking distance of that wave. There is nothing to be done about it. (Unless you liberals would like to suggest forced sterilization, or euthenasia for our Asian friends.) The only solution is to develope better early warning methods, and evacuation plans. We are not going to give up the coasts, and we are not powerful enough to stop earthquakes (I know many of you libs think you`re gods, but you need to disabuse yourselves of that notion. There is one God, and you ain`t him!) We are going to have to learn to manage these situations.

I would like to point out that the United States is under absolutely no obligation to lift a finger in this crisis; we help because it is the charitable thing to do, and we are a very charitable people. We do not owe Southeast Asians anything. We will help them for kindness sake. As we have helped so many others in the past. We have always gone beyond the call of duty in times like these. The United States has traditionally given far more than any other nation on Earth in disaster relief, and for jackasses at the United Nations to badmouth us is beyond belief. It`s past time we pull the plug on them!

How about this; we cut off all funding for the United Nations and divert it to help the disaster areas. While we`re at it, maybe the networks can donate all their profits to disaster relief. Think about how much help this would give the suffering! Let`s hold Dan Rathers last paychecks so we can send the money to Southeast Asia!

This issue should not have been politicized. This should be about helping, not politics.

I hope everyone donates whatever they can to help in disaster relief and let`s all pray for the hurting, and the dead. It`s time to pray.

Decay

More proof that the Catholic Church is in decay, and that the French have long since lost their marbles.
http://novusordowatch.org/circus.htm

Thanks, Dave!

A Rousing Liberal Success

Just in case anyone out there still harbors any illusions.

Remember, Rhodesia may not have been a democracy, but it had been peaceful and prosperous. Now, thanks to our friends on the Left, it is less democratic, not peaceful, and an impoverished rathole.

By the by, notice the last three paragraphs. Sounds like McCain-Feingold, no?

http://chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/world/2962802

Merry Christmas

Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the Day of the Lord comes, the great and terrible Day.

To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers,

Lest I come and strike the land with doom.
(Malachi3:24-25)

Thus concludes the Old Testament.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

(And this taxing was first made when Cy-re`-ni-us was governor of Syria.)

And all went to be taxed, everyone to his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilea, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David;)

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the Angel said unto them Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you: ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
(Luke2:1-14)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behelt his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
(John1:1-2 and 14-15)

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Em-man`-u-el, which being interpreted is, God is with us.

Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife.

And knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.
(Matthew1: 18-25)


MERRY CHRISTMAS

Pool of Miracles

Archaeologists have unearthed the pool where Jesus gave sight to the blind. Read all about it here: http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1271620.html.

Religion and Ukraine

Posted below is a moving piece written by the ever brillian Aussiegirl at Ultima Thule. She is the one true source for all things Ukrainian, and has been a great encouragement to me. Everyone should check her blog out. Go to http://aussiethule.blogspot.com to read more good stuff!
posted by Aussiegirl @ 7:45 PM 0 comments

Religion as the moving force of democracy
By AussiegirlIn an article in today's Wall Street Journal, Adrian Karatnycky discusses the religious dimensions of the recent Ukrainian democracy demonstrations, and finds interesting parallels to the role of faith in America's recent elections and the faith of our own President and First Lady in shaping their attitudes towards their service to their country.This is an encouraging sign to see in a country which had been under communist domination for 70 years -- an atheistic regime which attempted to completely stamp out religion in any form. My mother still remembers vividly when the churches were destroyed in her home town. As the bell towers were demolished the massive bells, which had pealed for hundreds of years, came crashing down with a cacophonous clanging as the horrified townspeople looked helplessly on, crossing themselves in terror and praying silently. She remembers their expressions of shock and fear. It was like the end of the world had come. She remembers the sickening thud as the heavy bells hit the ground. And she remembers all the anti-religious and anti-clerical slogans and songs and poems she learned as a child. They were inculcated in her so deeply that she can still recite them to this day. "Religion is the opiate of the masses" was the rallying cry. She remembers that icons and any religious artifacts in the house were forbidden, and that her mother, who used to pray before the icon that always hung in the corner of every Ukrainian house, had to hide hers away. Still she found that her mother secretly prayed at night after the children had gone to bed (she discovered her one night by sneaking out of her bed). My grandmother wanted to protect her children from this sight, as children were also routinely indoctrinated to inform on their parents to authorities, and many in their innocence did. One such little boy who did, and whose parents were subsequently arrested for their "crime", was labeled a hero of the revolution. Every schoolbook bore his portrait and name and a statue was erected in his honor.One day she told me she found her grandfather on his knees saying his daily prayers in front of the portrait of Taras Shevchenko, of whom I have written earlier -- the spiritual father of Ukraine and beloved bard. A portrait of Shevchenko also hung in every Ukrainian household. Having been inculcated with anti-religious propaganda at school, my young mother (she was about 7 years old) teased her grandfather. "What are you doing praying to Shevchenko?" she said, "he's not God." Her wise grandfather answered, "Do not scoff, my child, he is a holy man and it is permissible to pray to him as well."When Czechoslovakia had its Velvet Revolution and the poet and playwright, Vaclav Havel, for years incarcerated and persecuted by the communists, became the new President, he said something so profound I have always remembered it. He said that it would take many years to heal the wounds inflicted on his country by communism. But the wounds that would take the longest to heal and that were by far the most profound, were not the economic and political injuries, but instead the wounds inflicted on the soul of the people -- the numbing, dumbing down of moral values, where the system reduced people to little more than animal status, keeping their heads low, staying out of trouble, and just trying to find enough food to eat and a little comfort to shield them from their sense of hopelessness and helplessness. He correctly realized that neither the political nor the economic renaissance of a country could take place without the spiritual renewal of the population.And so I am gratified to see that this has taken place in Ukraine, and am not really surprised to find that a renewed sense of national pride and a desire for democracy and freedom has sprung from a renewed sense of religious faith. It is an ecumenical renewal, with all faiths -- including Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Jewish -- taking their place in the sphere of public life.Here are some excerpts of the article. Read the complete article at:http://www.opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=110006041* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *...But there is another side to Ukraine's peaceful revolution. Interspersed with earnest youths, families and grandmothers who braved subzero temperatures at daily rallies for Mr. Yushchenko were nuns bearing orange sashes, proto-deacons and priest-monks.The scene at Kiev's Independence Square was part political rally, part rock concert and part fireworks display. But it was also a religious experience. Each day's protest opened with prayer. On weekends, religious leaders held liturgies and prayer services for Orthodox Christians (whose adherents represent more than 60% of the population), Eastern Rite Catholics (10%), Protestants, evangelicals, Jews and Muslims. (Some 25% of Ukrainians say they are nonreligious.)Mr. Yushchenko, who typically ends his speeches with "Glory to Ukraine, Glory to the Ukrainian People, and Glory to the Lord, Our God," is a devout Orthodox Christian from northeastern Ukraine who regularly takes confession and communion. His faith is reinforced by his American-born wife, Katya Chumachenko, who last week told the Chicago Tribune: "We're strong believers in God, and we strongly believe that God has a place for each one of us in this world, and that he has put us in this place for a reason."Such sentiments echo the way that President Bush has spoken of his own faith. And like Mr. Bush, Mr. Yushchenko is careful to sound an ecumenical tone in his public remarks. At a Dec. 6 interfaith gathering, Mr. Yushchenko observed that "the spiritual harmony that rules among religious leaders on the platform is an image of the spiritual harmony present in Independence Square."As a result of such careful balancing, Mr. Yushchenko's cause has strong backing from two influential religious leaders: Patriarch Filaret of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and Cardinal Lubomyr Husar of the Ukrainian Eastern Rite Catholic Church, who on Dec. 6 declared that "at the root of the crisis is an immoral regime which has deprived Ukrainian people of their legitimate rights and dignity." A leader of Kiev's Jewish community, Anatoly Shyhai, has told pro-Yushchenko protesters that Jews see the Ukrainian state as "an independent, democratic and European country at the apex of rights and interfaith amity." Thus religious values have become an important part of Mr. Yushchenko's moral appeal and his campaign to cleanse Ukraine of high-level corruption and crime.

More Hot Air

I rewrote the posts I made in recent days about Global Warming and submitted them to the American Thinker, which graciously published them under the title HOT AIR. Thanks, Aussiegirl, for encouraging me to do this-I never even considered sending those particular posts in!

Thanks to all of you who have commented on my articles, and visited my site! It sometimes feels like I`m talking to myself here. Thank you for all the comments and encouragement.

The link to my post at the American Thinker is http://americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=4115.

It Ain`t Braggin` When You`re Good (So I Guess I`m Braggin`)

The American Thinker has published another of my articles, this one about the need to keep our political victories in perspective. I run through a quick history of Liberalism and point out that the war for the soul of our civilization has been fought for a long time, and will continue in the forseeable future. Let`s not get cocky, troops!

Go to http://americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=4097 if you want to check it out.

I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to Thomas Lifson, Editor of the American Thinker for publishing my article. The Thinker is a terrific intellectually oriented conservative magazine with great writing and thought-provoking viewpoints. If any of you (my 3-5 fans) haven`t checked it out yet you should do so; it is one of the best out there.

When You`re Right, You`re Right!

The Times of London publishes an article entirely proving my point. They say that Blair is going to pressure the United States to accept ``Kyoto lite``, an excrement sandwich with extra latrine gravy. You will note that part of what they want the U.S. to do is concede the science! I always understood science (real science) to be about finding the truth, and not requiring a political consensus to be true. Liberals have a different view; they believe reality is whatever enough people believe, so by pushing a treaty with a ``scientific consensus`` written in it is de facto the truth. Once accepted, they can begin pushing their socialist agenda on us.

Which is clearly what this is all about. This is a political maneuver to economically damage the United States. Why haven`t the signiatories of Kyoto been able to fulfill the committment to emissions reduction without the U.S. ? Because they have no intention of costing themselves one penny to help the environment. What they really want is to hamstring the behemoth-the United States. The Left has found in environmentalism the perfect con; all human activity effects the environment in some fashion. For example, cattle are one of the biggest polluters, damaging river banks and releasing methane gas. Under a strict environmentalist policy we would have to seriously restrict our beef production, forcing us to eat soy and rice with green tea and tofu-just like the moonbeam left has always wanted! Automobiles put out carbon monoxide and, therefore, should be banned in favor of public transportation. In fact, people exhale CO2 and therefore strict population controls should be put into place. There is no end to the madness if we allow ourselves to be led down this path.

The link to the Times article is http://timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1395222,00.html.

When You`re Hot, You`re Hot!

Back in the days of Jimmy Carter and killer rabbits, the doomsayers were telling us that the Earth was slipping into a new ice age, and that we were all going to die. They used thermometer readings which showed a slight cooling of the Earth, coupled with some unusually cold winters, to claim that chicken little was right and the sky was indeed falling. Survivalist ran for their bunkers while academics ordered extra elbow patches for their sweaters and bemoaned a culture which was unwilling to accept socialism to save the world. Stragely enough, the `80`s put an end to the Global Cooling talk. The same doomsayers found a new hobby; global warming.

Once again, the sky is falling and we are all going to die. We have heard this repeatedly for the last twenty years, and from the same people who promised glaciers and Igloos. The same acedemics are removing their sweaters and bemoaning a culture which refuses to adopt socialism to save the world. We have been treated to a series of idiotic, hysterical ideas. We have been told we must adopt Kyoto to keep the planet from overheating. We simply must live poorer. We must cut back, sacrifice, use less, yada, yada, yada (isn`t this amazingly similar to the crazy ideas of the `70`s; the Club of Rome study and Limits to Growth where we were told we would have to cut back, sacrifice, use less, yada, yada, yada.)

But what is really going on with global warming? There is a great deal of disagreement between data compiled from actual measurements of sea temperatures, and those taken by satellites of the atmosphere. Go to http://techcentralstation.com/120304F.html to read all about it.

What kind of warming are we talking about here? We are talking about a rise in the last thirty years of about .08* across the globe! Eight Tenths of One degree! This falls easily within the normal variation of temperature, and makes a mockery of the insane, desperate attempts to control the Greenhouse Effect. People need to take a deep breath and look at the normal ebb and flow of climate.

The Earth`s climate changes all of the time because the Earth is not a static thing, and neither is the Sun. Our atmosphere is renewed all of the time by volcanic eruptions (and we should be very grateful-no vulcanism is part of why Mars has such a thin atmosphere!) and it has changed enormously through the Eons. Originally it was contained large quantities of Methane and CO2. During the Jurassic period the atmosphere was thicker and contained more oxygen than it does now, allowing land animals to grow to a much larger size. There were no ice-caps during the Jurassic, and we have found tropical plant fossils in Antarctica frozen under the ice. We know all about the Ice Ages, which were interspersed with interglacial periods (we are currently in an ice age). In the historic era we have clear examples of random climate change. During the Middle Ages wine grapes grew in Britain and Olive trees grew in Germany because the temperature was 6-8 degrees warmer. This was the Mideval Warming Period. This was followed by the Little Ice Age between 1645 and 1715 in which temperatures dropped to a couple of degrees below current levels, and the British had to settle for French wine and the Germans gave up olives. In the last hundred years we went from a warm period during the 1890`s to cooler periods following a cyclical pattern.

We have been in a (slight) warming pattern, and now the sky is falling! Isn`t it strange that now, in our post-industrial era, that we have upset the delicate balance of the Earth`s atmosphere, and are going to burn to a crisp. Isn`t it strange that this is all because of industry, and we are going to have to give up much of this industry and return to the life of frolicking among the daisies in our homespun clothes and low energy lifestyles?

The eruption of one volcano gives off more greenhouse gas than is released through emissions in an entire year. This whole argument is fecetious; we simply aren`t putting that much stuff out to effect the climate.

There is something that most enviro-nuts have chosen to forget-the Sun is also not a static thing. Our Sun is unique. It is not part of a binary system. It is a yellow dwarf, spectral class G2 and is quite stable for a smaller star. Quite stable, but not truly stable. Sol is not a flare sun, but it becomes active periodically. This increase in activity is evident by an increase in sunspots. Sunspots are cool patches on the sun. When the sun becomes more active it developes more sunspots.

The fusion process of our Sun is not fully understood. One theory suggests that fusion stops inside of the sun periodically. The Sun is a hot ball of gas, with fusion occuring in the center of the ball because of the immense pressure and high temperatures. When the hydrogen inside the sun goes into fusion mode, it expands the ball of gas outward, reducing pressure. This in turn may shut the fusion process down, and the Sun still radiates energy because of gravitational contraction until the fusion process begins again. Heavy sunspot activity means the Sun is in one of its warm, fusion periods. We have been in a period of heavy sunspot activity.

In short, any minor increase in temperature we see today is caused by increased solar activity. This accounts for the discrepency in the data refered to in the Techcentral article I linked. If CO2 emissions were causing global warming we would see a rise in temperature in the upper atmosphere first, followed by the Oceans last. That this situation is reversed strongly suggests that this phonomenon is caused by the sun; we are seeing a rise in the Oceans first which would catch and hold increased radiation while the atmosphere is quicker to relinquish any extra heat. This also explains why we see a hole in the ozone layer at the poles, and why we see more effects of global warming at the poles. The sun is putting out more than light, it is putting out subatomic particles in a steady stream (called the solar wind). The Earth`s magnetic field catches these particles (protecting us from a dangerous dose) and whirls them to the poles, where they touch down. It should be obvious why the ozone layer has is damaged at the poles. The ozone is being hit by electrically charged particles at very high speeds.

Why, then, should we rush frantically into the Kyoto quagmire? We don`t even understand the data we have been getting. Global Warming gurus keep adjusting their model to ``prove`` that Man is destroying the environment. We simply have no reason to believe that this is the case.

Rush Limbaugh argues that Man can`t cause any serious upheaval; Rush is wrong on this one (this falls into the documented 4%). There have been cases in the past where societies have destroyed their environments. The natives of Easter Island (Rapa Nui) cut down all of their trees to move those damn big heads, and then killed each other fighting over the food that remained. The Mayans were forced to move because they exhausted the land, North Africa turned to entirely to desert as a result of overgrazing etc. We know of several enormous cataclysms which wiped out whole civilizations. The Celts had a civilization coexisting with the early Mesopotamian, but some environmental cataclysm destroyed it (study of treerings show that for two years Ireland was in near total darkness; after this period the Celt civilization disappears and is replaced by a much more primitive one.) We can put ourselves permanently out of business.

It is much more likely, however, that we will destroy our spirit and our wealth through the draconian measures the socialist climate change people advocate. The real horror would be to adopt the madness of Kyoto to fight the windmill of global warming when the sun is the real culprit. We can`t change the sun. We must not rush headlong into the abyss of environmental shadows.

A Day That Will Live in Infamy

On this day 63 years ago the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. This brought the United States into the Second World War, and ushered in the American Century. Our fathers answered the call of their time, sacrificing their lives, their honor, and their fortunes for a greater cause. We owe them our eternal thanks.

Let us hope that their toil and blood be not in vain. We face as great a challenge today; will we answer the call as they did?

Koffi Klatch

The son of Koffi Anan
ran a con to sell Saddam some cannon
for the gift of Iraqi black crude
in a grift known as Oil for Food.

The Blue Fairie

Still no response from the Blue Fairie-Maureen Dowd. I dowd she will respond.

Ukraine Pulls Out of Iraq

Here is a very disappointing developement on the Ukrainian front:

Ukraine parliament demands withdrawal of troops from Iraq
2 hours, 1 minute ago

World - AFP
KIEV (AFP) - Ukraine's parliament voted to demand the withdrawal of the 1,600 Ukrainian troops from Iraq (news - web sites), the Interfax news agency reported.
AFP/File Photo

The lawmakers voted by 257 out of 397 present in the 450-member chamber to ask outgoing President Leonid Kuchma to pull out the Ukrainian contingent serving in the US-led coalition force in Iraq.
Both of the rival candidates to replace Kuchma, pro-Western opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko and pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, have said the troops should return but the opposition is pushing for a faster withdrawal timetable.

Perhaps our friendly relationship with Prince Putin has soured the Ukrainian Parliament. Perhaps they think they are going to need all their troops at home to defend the homeland. Any way you slice it, we can ill-afford to lose this many troops before the Iraqi election, and I am sure the Left in This Country will tout this as more proof that ours is a coalition of the coerced and bribed (they will hype this pullout but will conveniently forget that the Ukrainians joined us voluntarily before the outcome was so certain.) Disappointing though this may be we should thank our Ukrainian allies-they fought and sacrificed alongside us without the promise of any real material gain for themselves. Too bad all of our traditional ``allies`` couldn`t do the same.

We have got to develop a better strategic policy in regards to the former Soviet satellites. The unBearable Russians want to regain their dominion over these Nations, and we must resist them on this. We certainly don`t want to reignite the Cold War, but we cannot allow ourselves to fiddle while Kiev burns. The Russians have proven themselves dubious allies at best; why should we allow them to rebuild their Empire?

Russia is an enormous, flat plain broken by the lilliputian Yural mountains in the east, the rather formidable Caucasus in the south, and facing the plains of Poland in the west. Throughout history the Russians have been invaded from all directions; first by Vikings (the Verangians), then by Mongols, Teutons (Germans), French, Germans (again) etc. There are no useful natural boundaries to protect Russia. The Teutonic Knights taught the Russians (and Ukrainians) a valuable lesson; they invaded from the west in response to an appeal for help against the Golden Horde. (This is the famous Battle on the Ice in which Prince Alexander defeated them on the frozen Neva river). The Russians suffered under Tatar domination, and Moscow rose to ascendancy as a patron of the Mongols. Moscow adopted the ruthless oriental despotism of their overlords, and came to understand the iron boot. That is why the Russians seek dominion over ByeloRussia, Ukraine, the Baltic States, Georgia, etc. They must control their borders. It is simply irrational to the Russian mind to allow others control of the border regions. The only safety from invasion, as the Russians see it, is to dominate their neighbors.

Which is why we will have to practice a continual policy of containment on the Russians. Russia will always push to expand; we have to chop them back when they do. Think of Russia as a ficas; fine in its place but it has to be cut back once in a while or it will grow all over you. We need to have policies in place which help the hedging process without ruining our relations with them. The mistake we made was assuming free elections in Russia meant they were becoming like us. You can`t assume that. Expansionism is part of the Russian character, and our policies need to reflect that reality while shepherding the fledgling democracy.

The Ukrainian government seems to understand our failure of policy in their regards. It`s easy to talk about these matters far from the battlefield, but when you have Russian Special Ops soldiers infiltrated into your country to intimidate voters it is another matter, and pulling your troops out of Iraq and bringing them home to defend your homeland makes all the sense in the world from a Ukrainian standpoint. Our policies simply did not inspire adequate confidence on the part of the Ukrainians. They can`t count on the U.S. Cavalry charging over the hill to save them from Russia.

The Bush administration needs to develop better, and more comprehensive policies for dealing with Russia and the former satellite countries.

Sexism and Pixie Dust

The New York Times` pixie princess, Maureen Dowd, wrote a sniveling editorial bemoaning the fact that no women or minorities were being touted to take the soon to be vacant anchor slots. She blames this on the Red States mentality. I pointed out in an e-mail to tinkerbell that the mainstream media people went 9 out of 10 for Kerry. Logically, this means that if women and minorities are hitting a pixie-dust ceiling it is because the mainstream media itself is racist, sexist, homophobic and, therefore, a Kerry administration would likewise be racist, sexist, homophobic and so she should be grateful to the Red States for reelecting the tolerant and diverse George Bush. I do not expect her to return my e-mail.

The link to Howdy Dowdy is here : http://NYTIMES.com/pages/opinion/index.html

This takes you to the NYtombs and then click on the blue faerie`s link. (Sorry, I can`t seem to figure out how to cut and paste a link here. I also don`t know how to blogroll-any advice would be welcome!)