"The Quintessential Divide Between Democrats and Republicans" (Jan. 30, 2008)

For current Democrats, it seems, weakness comes from fearing the obligations of being strong. For true Republicans, however, strength alternatively derives from fearing the consequences of weakness far more.

OBAMA! (January 22, 2008)

Born in 1961 in Honolulu of a white American woman from very white Kansas, and a Muslim Kenyan father from that reasonably democratic and independent African country (his middle name coincidentally is Hussein). Obama also lived in Jakarta, Indonesia until age 10. Now how does that make him black? Suntanned looks but not American black. Certainly not more than myself, born in South Africa of modestly light complexion and now American; I am at least as African-American as Obama.

Some Persian or Moroccan Jews, certain Greeks or Italians, are clearly as dark as Obama if not more so – and we haven’t started down the list of Central and South American habitats. Yet to himself and his supporters he is the black candidate – even to Democratic Hillary, inexplicably.

It seems pigmentation is not really the issue – convoluted symbology is: an agenda-driven presumption of identity theft that has the same racist overtones as keeping certain groups out of the USA (think of the refugees from Nazi Germany on the S.S. St. Louis turned back from our shores, back to Europe’s efficient crematoria). It’s the same racist perversion that pretends hair character or skin tone is more important than ideas, than morality. Now that’s not very American at all.

Global Warming? (Jan. 21, 2008)

Minus 3 °F in Chicago. Where is Al Gore now that we need him? The airwaves have been unusually quiet of late.

Linkage Between Gaza & Israel "Stopping the Kassams" (Dec. 21, 2007)

In his New York Sun article, Hillel Halkin talks of five uncertain options of response to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad missile barrages against Israel. But there is a pragmatic and eminently feasible sixth option.

Option 6:

There has been and there desperately needs to be linked consequentiality - a clear response formula - this the Russians understood well and so will Hamas.

The simplest solutions are often ignored in favor of ambiguity and complexity. This need not be the case.

Israel must publish widely that every rocket sent into Israeli civilian areas will be met with an immediate and publicized return of one corresponding strike by Israel - if there are 2 or 20 Kassams in a day, Israel must drop 2 or 20 bombs, aimed at Hamas and Islamic Jihad offices, equipment or any relevant location to weaken their political and military morale, assets and ability. And if an Israeli civilian death results from a Kassam, the response must be a targeted killing meaningfully high up their chain of command.

Only then will the Palestinians and their supporters be fully educated about consequences, and the Gaza citizens and militias will necessarily and immutably grow weary of allowing or causing, with directly visible connectivity, their own demise.

Clarity not ambiguity (as was always the case) is the key. Linkage: publicized, formulaic, transparent and irrevocable is the only and the ultimate solution - the only way to drive a sizable and permanent wedge between the population held hostage (some voluntarily and some unwillingly) and the active Jihadist elements.

http://www.nysun.com/article/68266

Great (American) Expectations - Wall St. Journal Article 1/8/08

Certainly it was the best of times and the worst of times. Bret Stephens' review flawlessly covers the ongoing naïveté of an America that insists all is negotiable and that no one is irredeemably evil. It seems America is destined to decide all using emotionally naïve, black and white, media-driven inputs. Europe decides based on cynicism, cowardice and passivity. America is “change” at all costs – Europe is “no change” at all costs and the Arab world resists all change while demanding the West do all the accommodating.

Quite a triangulation that favors the extremists and sidelines the moderates, the majority. Perhaps democracy by the majority will only return after another four educative years of a Democrat Presidency, warts and all, and a resultant evolution of our naïveté into pragmatic conservatism.

WSJ.com - Commentary: Great (American) Expectations*