From the Great North Wet

2012-01-17T11:04:00.000-08:00

SNOW DAY

2011-02-17T11:00:00.000-08:00

I just had to Pshop a pic from the Pakistan J F'n K protest.

2010-11-23T14:04:00.000-08:00

2010-11-18T14:11:00.000-08:00

Bumper sticker for the Chevy Volt.

2010-06-07T10:36:00.001-07:00

I get the following in my inbox.

Robbery and assault on school property. The email contain the release said it was in the parking lot.

The perps can't be so bad, they honored the gun free zone.

Couple of quick points.

By law I would be committing a crime if I had the means to defend myself or anyone else, to wit a gun on school property.

Which leads to the next question did these perps select school property precisely because they knew the victims would not be armed?

Anyone willing to take bets on immigration status?

2010-05-06T22:20:00.000-07:00

Below is an unsourced, unverified photo from an Arizona immigration protest. A quick look in photoshop reveals no glaring signs of tampering but it is low resolution.

2010-05-06T16:03:00.000-07:00

2010-04-18T19:12:00.000-07:00

2010-03-15T17:11:00.001-07:00

2010-03-13T16:23:00.000-08:00

2009-12-02T18:42:00.001-08:00

2009-11-25T17:08:00.000-08:00

2009-10-05T17:46:00.000-07:00

Screen Shot of Wiki Mark Levin Protest.

2009-09-26T08:32:00.000-07:00

Ten Reasons To Oppose Health Care

Ten Reasons why I'm opposed to the health care and insurance reform plans in currently in congress and proposed by the President.

10) Imagine health care provided at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

9) The current proposals include provisions for health care record keeping and IRS for determinations of income and billing within the health care bureaucracy, financial and health information all accessible at a single point.

8) Health care and insurance are not perfect, some changes are necessary to fix those areas that need improvement. Improvements do not require wholesale destruction and remaking of 17% of the country's economy.

7) We can't afford it. $9 Trillion in deficits, $45 Trillion in unfunded Medicare mandates. Do we expect with reform the Federal Government will suddenly discover fiscal responsibility?

6) The Government is already spending and consuming too much The Government Consumes 45% of the GDP, Health Care is 17% of the GDP. Having Government consume 61% of the GDP will be untenable.

5) Obtaining health insurance / health care is a private contract. It is contract with a company and or individuals, private contracts are not within the prevue of the Federal Government.

4) The Federal Government is not authorized under the laws of establishing this Constitutional Republic to meddle in the health insurance / health care market place. Health insurance / health care is not an enumerated power and belongs to the States. Pass a Constitutional Amendment to take over health care.

3) Property: Health Insurance, obtaining health care is property. I take the product of my labor and exchange it with insurance companies and health care providers for health care.

2) Liberty: How I live my life, the choices I make, especially regarding my health care are my decisions, such decisions should not be under the scrutiny of the Federal Government.

1) Life: Health care directly affects my life, the length, and quality of my life. It is not subject to governmental interference.

Proponents of Health Care Reform accuse the opponents of "No-ism." That's a bogus charge. When a bus is being driven over the cliff, the first thing to is STOP the damn bus. There is no discussion on how the bus should be driven just STOP!

The bus is being driven off the cliff. Much of what is being proposed has been tried in the 50 laboratories of democracy called the States. Two place in particular, Washington State and Massachusetts. BOTH HAVE FAILED.

We know what doesn't work. What is being proposed doesn't work. We know this because it has been tried.

We people are doing the same thing again, expecting a different outcome, we don't need alternative plans. We just need to stop the bus, then work on the route.

2009-09-21T15:49:00.000-07:00

A sunset picture I took awhile ago at the Edmonds (WA) Ferry terminal.

2009-09-19T10:57:00.000-07:00

Mr. President; Why the Change?

A Historical Perspective.

Before I start, I need to lay a little historical ground work. Please bear with me, the purpose for it will become clear a little latter.

Below is a list nations, sorted by when the current type of government was formed. Please take care reading the list. I'm not talking about how long a country by that name has been around, the list is sorted by the FORM of government. For example, in Iraq the FORM of government was changed with successful invasion and removal of Saddam Hussein. The FORM of government in an existing nation changed. The form of government is distinct and separate for the country, keep that in mind.

A couple of notes to keep in mind, the term “Republic” has a wide range from near anarchy to virtual totalitarian, Parliamentary is similarly wide ranging. Monarchy also ranges from totalitarian to Constitutional. The classification for the Form of the government is only a one word approximation to capture the general form, not specific.

With those notes in mind, pursue the list from the country with the newest Form of Government to the oldest. You might be surprised.

Source: CIA World Fact Book, and various others.

Kosovo	Republic	Independence	2008
Mauritania	Junta	Coup	2008
Thailand	Monarchy	Constitution	2007
Montenegro	Republic	Independence	2006
Serbia	Republic	Independence	2006
Afghanistan	Islamic Republic	Constitution	2004
Iraq	Republic	Regime Change	2003
Venezuela	Republic	Constitution	1999
Albania	Emerging democracy	Constitution	1998
Burma	Military Junta	Coup	1998
Hong Kong	Limited Democratic	Transfer	1997
Andorra	Parliamentary	Constitution	1993
Cambodia	Monarchy	Constitution	1993
Czech Republic	Parliamentary	Independence	1993
Eritrea	Transitional	Independence	1993
Slovakia	Parliamentary	Independence	1993
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Emerging democracy	Independence	1992
Armenia	Republic	Independence	1991
Azerbaijan	Republic	Independence	1991
Belarus	Dictatorship	Independence	1991
Bulgaria	Parliamentary	Constitution	1991
Croatia	Parliamentary	Independence	1991
Estonia	Parliamentary	Independence	1991
Ethiopia	Republic	Regime change	1991
Georgia	Republic	Independence	1991
Haiti	Republic	Coup	1991
Kazakhstan	Dictatorship	Independence	1991
Kyrgyzstan	Republic	Independence	1991
Latvia	Parliamentary	Independence	1991
Macedonia	Parliamentary	Independence	1991
Moldova	Republic	Independence	1991
Romania	Republic	Constitution	1991
Russia	Federation	Independence	1991
Slovenia	Parliamentary	Independence	1991
Tajikistan	Republic	Independence	1991
Turkmenistan	Authoritarian	Independence	1991
Ukraine	Republic	Independence	1991
Uzbekistan	Authoritarian	Independence	1991
Lithuania	Parliamentary	Independence	1990
Namibia	Republic	Independence	1990
Yemen	Republic	Unification	1990
Poland	Republic	Regime Change	1989
Sudan	Authoritarian	Coup	1989
Aruba	Parliamentary	Constitution	1986
Marshall Islands	Constitutional	Independence	1986
Micronesia	Federation	Independence	1986
Brunei	Sultanate	Independence	1984
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Parliamentary	Independence	1983
Anguilla	UK Territory	Constitution	1982
Antigua and Barbuda	Parliamentary	Independence	1981
Belize	Parliamentary	Independence	1981
Vanuatu	Parliamentary	Independence	1980
Zimbabwe	Parliamentary	Independence	1980
Iran	Theocracy	Revolution	1979
Kiribati	Republic	Independence	1979
Palau	Constitution	Independence	1979
Saint Lucia	Parliamentary	Independence	1979
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Parliamentary	Independence	1979
Somalia	Transitional	Constitution	1979
Dominica	Parliamentary	Independence	1978
Solomon Islands	Parliamentary	Independence	1978
Spain	Parliamentary	Constitution	1978
Swaziland	Monarchy	Independence	1978
Tuvalu	Parliamentary	Independence	1978
Djibouti	Republic	Independence	1977
Seychelles	Republic	Independence	1976
Angola	Republic	Independence	1975
Cape Verde	Republic	Independence	1975
Comoros	Republic	Independence	1975
Mozambique	Republic	Independence	1975
Papua New Guinea	Parliamentary	Independence	1975
Sao Tome and Principe	Republic	Independence	1975
Suriname	Democratic	Independence	1975
Sweden	Monarchy	Constitution	1975
Timor-Leste	Republic	Independence	1975
Grenada	Parliamentary	Independence	1974
Niue	Parliamentary	Independence	1974
Guinea-Bissau	Republic	Independence	1973
The Bahamas	Parliamentary	Independence	1973
Bahrain	Monarchy	Independence	1971
Bangladesh	Parliamentary	Independence	1971
Qatar	Emirate	Independence	1971
United Arab Emirates	Federation	Independence	1971
Fiji	Republic	Independence	1970
Oman	Monarchy	Legal reforms	1970
Tonga	Monarchy	Independence	1970
Bermuda	UK Territory	Constitution	1968
Equatorial Guinea	Republic	Independence	1968
Mauritius	Parliamentary	Independence	1968
Nauru	Republic	Independence	1968
American Samoa	US Territory	Constitution	1967
Barbados	Parliamentary	Independence	1966
Botswana	Parliamentary	Independence	1966
Guyana	Republic	Independence	1966
Lesotho	Parliamentary	Independence	1966
Cook Islands	Parliamentary	Assoc. with NZ	1965
Gambia	Republic	Independence	1965
Maldives	Republic	Independence	1965
Singapore	Parliamentary	Independence	1965
Malawi	Democratic	Independence	1964
Malta	Republic	Independence	1964
Tanzania	Republic	Independence	1964
Zambia	Republic	Independence	1964
Alegria	Republic	Constitution	1963
Kenya	Republic	Independence	1963
Burundi	Republic	Independence	1962
Jamaica	Parliamentary	Independence	1962
Monaco	Monarchy	Constitution	1962
Rwanda	Republic	Independence	1962
Samoa	Parliamentary	Independence	1962
Trinidad and Tobago	Parliamentary	Independence	1962
Uganda	Republic	Independence	1962
Kuwait	Emirate	Independence	1961
Sierra Leone	Democratic	Independence	1961
Akrotiri	UK Territory	Constitution	1960
Benin	Republic	Independence	1960
Burkina Faso	Parliamentary	Independence	1960
Cameroon	Republic	Independence	1960
Central African Republic	Republic	Independence	1960
Chad	Republic	Independence	1960
Cote d'Ivoire	Republic	Independence	1960
Cyprus	Republic	Independence	1960
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Republic	Independence	1960
Gabon	Republic	Independence	1960
Madagascar	Republic	Independence	1960
Mali	Republic	Independence	1960
Niger	Republic	Independence	1960
Nigeria	Republic	Independence	1960
Republic of the Congo	Republic	Independence	1960
Senegal	Republic	Independence	1960
Togo	Republic	Independence	1960
Cuba	Communist	Revolution	1959
Guinea	Republic	Independence	1958
Malaysia	Monarchy	Independence	1957
Morocco	Monarchy	Independence	1956
Tunisia	Republic	Independence	1956
Ghana	Democratic	Independence	1955
Libya	Authoritarian	Independence	1951
Nepal	Republic	Invaded	1950
China	Communist	Constitution	1949
Hungary	Parliamentary	Constitution	1949
Laos	Communist	Independence	1949
Israel	Parliamentary	Independence	1948
Sri Lanka	Republic	Independence	1948
India	Republic	Independence	1947
Pakistan	Republic	Independence	1947
Jordan	Monarchy	Independence	1946
Philippines	Republic	Independence	1946
Syria	Authoritarian	Independence	1946
Germany	Republic	Regime Change	1945
Indonesia	Republic	Independence	1945
Italy	Republic	Regime Change	1945
Japan	Parliamentary	Regime Change	1945
Korea, North	Communist	Independence	1945
Korea, South	Republic	Independence	1945
Vietnam	Communist	Independence	1945
Lebanon	Republic	Independence	1943
Saudi Arabia	Monarchy	Unification	1932
Holy See	Ecclesiastical	Independence	1929
San Marino	Republic	Electoral Law	1926
Turkey	Parliamentary	Independence	1923
Egypt	Republic	Independence	1922
Honduras	Democratic	Independence	1921
Ireland	Parliamentary	Independence	1921
Liechtenstein	Monarchy	Constitution	1921
Mongolia	Parliamentary	Independence	1921
Austria	Republic	Constitution	1920
Iceland	Republic	Independence	1918
Finland	Republic	Independence	1917
Taiwan	Democratic	Chinese Revolution	1911
Portugal	Republic	Republic proclaimed	1910
South Africa	Republic	Independence	1910
Bhutan	Monarchy	Independence	1907
New Zealand	Parliamentary	Independence	1907
Norway	Monarchy	Independence	1905
Panama	Democratic	Independence	1903
Australia	Parliamentary	Independence	1901
Switzerland	Federation	Constitution	1874
Luxembourg	Monarchy	Independence	1868
Canada	Parliamentary	Independence	1867
Argentina	Republic	Constitution	1853
Denmark	Monarchy	Constitution	1849
Liberia	Republic	Independence	1847
Dominican Republic	Republic	Independence	1844
United Kingdom	Parliamentary	Reform Act	1832
Belgium	Parliamentary	Independence	1830
Greece	Parliamentary	Independence	1829
Bolivia	Republic	Independence	1825
Uruguay	Republic	Independence	1825
Brazil	Republic	Independence	1822
Ecuador	Republic	Independence	1822
Costa Rica	Republic	Independence	1821
El Salvador	Republic	Independence	1821
Guatemala	Parliamentary	Independence	1821
Nicaragua	Republic	Independence	1821
Peru	Republic	Independence	1821
Netherlands	Monarchy	Constitution	1815
Paraguay	Republic	Independence	1811
Chile	Republic	Independence	1810
Colombia	Republic	Independence	1810
Mexico	Republic	Independence	1810
France	Republic	Regime Change	1790
United States	Republic	Independence	1776

Yep, that's right the United States has the oldest form of government currently on the planet.

That's important, but first let's deal with a few of outliers on the list, that could be used to argue the point.

Oman:

It's been a hereditary Monarchy since 1650. I will agree at high level the system in Oman has been in place longer than ours. But my counter argument would be when the law is embodied in the person of a Monarch, that the form of the government is therefore dependent upon that person, the character of the government results from a person, not a body of law, and changes depending on the morals, character, goals and actions of the monarch.

San Marino:

Gained Independence in 301, and lays claim to the title of oldest Republic. San Marino has been occupied on at least 3 occasions. In 1906 the Arengo (council) met and took positive steps toward democracy. During the period leading up the WWII Fascism took over the government of San Marino. San Marino held to a turbulent neutrality during the the war. In the post war era the communists gained control until 1957 when they fell from power.

Switzerland:

The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291. During the reformation a heavy theocratic influence held sway in the government. Napoleon conquered Switzerland and made it part of the Helvetic Republic in 1789, regaining independence in 1815. In 1847 a civil war broke out Catholic and Protestants, as a result a Federal Constitution was adopted in 1848 and modified in 1874.

Sweden:

Gained its independence in 1523. With the reign of Gustav Adolphus Sweden established a dominated empire in the region until its collapse in 1721. In 1809 the Eastern portion of Sweden was lost to Russian, at the same time Gustav IV Adolf was deposed in a Coup d'etat. In 1866 parliament was reformed into the current form. The Constitutional Monarchy adopted in 1975

United Kingdom (England):

Since the Magna Carta to recent times England's government has been slowly evolving from pure monarchy to Parliamentary with a figure head monarch. The monarchy as we now consider it could be said to have started with the Tudors. However the form government in England needs to be understood in the relationship between the Monarch, the Parliament which consists of the House of Lords and House of Commons. The English Civil War of the 1640's led to the establishment of the Commonwealth of England in 1649 under Oliver Cromwell with the Parliament having little real power, and the House of Lords being abolished. In 1660 the house of Lords and the Monarchy was restored. Throughout the 19th Century the balance of power remained in flux between the monarch and the houses. In 1784 the Prime Minister emerged as the “First among Equals” with William Pitt the Younger. In 1830 the first “modern” prime minster Lord Grey took office and what followed was “The Great Reform Act” in 1832, followed by two more reform acts which settled the democratic tradition into English politics. Power struggles continued into the 20th Century between the houses of Parliament.

It's difficult to place a date on Englands current form of government, suffice it to say it settled into it's current form between 1832 and the 1911.

A note on France, since the French and America Revolution are often compared. Although the revolution occurred in 1790 shortly after that the Neoploenic era began and the Second Republic was established in 1848.

Another point of historical interest and comparison; the Greek democratic era lasted about 500 years, the Roman Republic lasted around 450 years.

Sources: Various.

So here we are at 233 years, longest continuously existing form of government currently on the planet.

Historical context is important, it's a trait of conservatism to look back at history, and study the lesson contained therein.

Which brings us in a round about way to President Obama and Change.

His campaign theme was Hope and Change, below are just a few quotes.

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

"I’m in this race not just to hold an office, but to gather with you to transform a nation."

Hope is what led me here today--with a father from Kenya, a mother from Kansas; and a story that could only happen in the United States of America. Hope is the bedrock of this nation; the belief that our destiny will not be written for us, but by us; by all those men and women who are not content to settle for the world as it is; who have courage to remake the world as it should be.

It's not just enough to change the players. We've gotta change the game.

Whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners to it.

If we want this country to succeed in the 21st century, we've got to lay a new foundation for lasting prosperity.

… [The Constitution] didn't break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the Founding Fathers in Constitution at least as it has been interpreted and the Warren Court interpreted it generally in the same way that the Constitution is a document of negative liberties it says what the States can't do to you, [it] says what the Federal Government can't do to you, [it] doesn't say what the Federal Government or State Government must do on your behalf.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

Obama see our founding document as flawed, that we are a young country needing to set aside childish things, that fundamental change and transformation of our government, economy and cultural is required to remake the world as it should be.

In retort to the President I would ask:

Mr. President Why the Change?

The success of that form of government is inarguable. Pick virtually any metric and in those 233 years we've become the worlds leaders. We dominated the world economy, provide uncounted scientific and commercial advances. Our culture is admired (and reviled) worldwide, but you can go to even remote corners of the world and find American culture.

Our military has a historically unmatched dominance, which hasn't been used to enrich us, it's been used to liberate others. Look up at the list, see that cluster of independences occurring around 1991? That was us, without firing a shot, 10's of millions liberated. 1945? A continent liberated, and all we ask for “was ground to bury our dead.”

Domestically we have unmatched liberty, standards of living, or just about anything else you can think of. Bill Whittle asked “which way are the rafts headed?” How many leave America for greener pastures compared to the number who risk everything to come here?

Look again at the list, how many Republics, Parliaments, or Democracies existed in 1776? The world for the last 233 years has been following our lead. Throwing off all other forms, to in various ways follow our lead.

We lead the world politically, economically, militarily, socially, culturally, not through conquest, force, coercion, and certainly on through empire. We lead because of who we are and what we represent and because other desire what we have attained and choose to follow.

Our government that has lasted for 233 years, where the executive power has changed hands 43 times, twe continually seeks to improve itself, and have repeated done so from elimination of slavery to civil rights. Such a Government is undeniably a success.

Simply put, we have be doing the whole government, economic and social, “thing” longer and better than anyone else. I would argue socially also, but social mores are more a matter of taste.

Yet President Obama sees little of this insisting on changing the foundations of our Republic.

We are not perfect, but always seeing a more perfect union. But that that perfecting doesn't not come through wholesale fundamental change it comes through improvement. “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes;” Perfecting, improving, and yes even change can be undertaken with prudence, but systems long established should not be changed for the small things.

And that's what we are faced with, the small things, the light and transient. No one's fundamental liberties are usurped, there is no pressing crisis that would shake the foundations of the nation. There is nothing to support President Obama's call for fundamenta transformation and change.

In fact history, events and prudence dictate just the opposite. A reasonable, thoughtful, consider evaluation of the issues and problems, and thorough examination of the possible effects and consequences , and then improvements made in increment steps, evaluating at each step.

2009-08-03T10:46:00.001-07:00

2009-07-26T20:47:00.000-07:00

Whirlygig

2009-07-11T17:19:00.000-07:00

2009-04-28T14:33:00.001-07:00

2009-03-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

Big Snow Flakes!

2009-03-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

Mold remediation and mitigation.

2009-02-21T08:35:00.001-08:00

Tea Party Bumper Sticker

2009-02-04T07:34:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!

2009-01-26T06:16:00.000-08:00

Somebody at Amazon was having a bit of fun. This page almost instantly disappeared.

2009-01-21T19:09:00.000-08:00

We now know what downed FL1549 into the Hudson River.

2008-12-23T09:02:00.000-08:00

View of the front yard tree and garage roof.

The girls bundled up for a walk. (Have a sled in Seattle? It never snows here ;-)

Snow on the Hydrangea (Yes, I know I should have plucked the blossoms in the fall).

2008-12-20T21:32:00.001-08:00

View out my front window at 9:30 PM Dec. 20.

2008-12-17T08:01:00.001-08:00

A Tombstone for Rabbit Bait.

2008-11-28T21:26:00.000-08:00

The view on the way to Grandma's for Thanksgiving.

2008-11-11T22:16:00.000-08:00

Got this in an email......

The top car pool

2008-11-08T11:04:00.000-08:00

An Open Letter to the United States Senators of the 111th Congress.

Honorable Senator,

This open letter is addressed to Senators who believe their oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America is above party politics, personal prestige, or career advancement.

Once again a few men and women stand upon a pivot of history. Once again a mere handful will determine the fate of nations and people. This time the burden falls on your shoulders, the decisions you make in the next two years will determine whether the Constitution of the United States of America stands, or is irreparably changed.

You, a United States Senator sought high office. You took an oath to uphold, defend, and protect the ideals set forth in the Constitution. You’ve chosen this place and time to serve, history and posterity calls you now to do your sworn duty.

President Elect Obama and the Democrat party have set forth the agenda. Many parts of this agenda are not only in direct opposition to the Constitution, they undermine the spirit, values, and intent of the Constitution.

It is your sworn duty to stand in opposition to this agenda. This agenda is an assault on Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. The assault on our foundational rights includes but is not limited to direct legislative, administrative and judicial restrictions on the First Amendment, the Second Amendment, and the inalienable right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

The First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

“The very same people who don’t want the Fairness Doctrine want the FCC [Federal Communications Commission] to limit pornography on the air. I am for that… But you can’t say government hands off in one area to a commercial enterprise but you are allowed to intervene in another. That’s not consistent.

Sen. Charles Schumer

“I believe very strongly that the airwaves are public and people use these airwaves for profit. But there is a responsibility to see that both sides and not just one side of the big public questions of debate of the day are aired and are aired with some modicum of fairness.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

"Without freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech, which is the right of every man...Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech, a thing terrible to public traitors. It has been for some time a question with me, whether a commonwealth suffers more by the hypocritical pretenders to religion or by the openly profane?... Some late thoughts of this nature have inclined me to think that the hypocrite is the most dangerous person of the two, especially if he sustains a post in the government...They take him for a saint and pass him for one, without considering that they are (as it were) the instruments of public mischief out of conscience, and ruin their country for God's sake."

Ben Franklin

President Elect Obama through a spokesperson has stated his opposition to the “Fairness Doctrine” however he does promote other regulatory restriction on other mediums of speech. Many of the Democratic leadership have expressed support for the “Fairness Doctrine” and the intent to bring it to the floor in the next congress, especially with the election of a Democrat President. His early appointment of Henry Rivera, an avid advocate of the “Fairness Doctrine” indicates the direction the Administration is headed in.

The “Fairness Doctrine” is patently unconstitutional. The Supreme Court in Red Lion Broadcasting v. FCC (395 U.S. 367) ruled at the time the Doctrine did not violate the 1st Amendment. However they did rule that if the Doctrine ever did restrain speech the constitutionality should be reconsidered. In Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo, (418 U.S. 241) ruled the Doctrine "inescapably dampens the vigor and limits the variety of public debate.” This inescapably dampening of speech is a defacto abridgement of speech.

The Founding Fathers realized that as long as the people had a voice, could speak out, could voice all opinions with out repercussions that the openness benefited all. It is when this voice is stifled, restricted, limited, when the people have no outlet for their concerns that eventually alternative methods of seeking a voice is sought.

The Second Amendment:

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

In 1996 President Elect Obama answering a question from the Independent Voters of Illinois:
35. Do you support state legislation to:
a. Ban the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns? Yes.
b. Ban assault weapons? Yes.
c. Mandatory waiting periods and background checks? Yes.

"US Senator, If I could have banned them all - 'Mr. and Mrs. America turn in your guns' - I would have!"

Diane Feinstein 60 Minutes, Feb 5 1995

"That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of The United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms..."

Samuel Adams,

"The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."

Thomas Jefferson

President Elect Obama has publicly stated he can’t confiscate the people’s arms because he does not have the votes. The only thing that now keeps him from having the votes is those of you in the Senate that will stand with the Constitution. The President Elect’s party has a long history of passing legislation that in small incremental steps infringes on the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S (2008) affirmed this right to keep and bear arms is an individual right. The right is not collective, limit to a militia. Some of the Justice disagreed with this point, which is made clear not only in the language of the Constitution, but in the supporting writings and words of the Framers. President Elect Obama’s appointments to the court will likely mirror the minority opinion that the right to keep and bear arms is a collective right, not an individual right.

Attacks on the peoples right to defend their sovereignty and maintain the consent of the governed takes many forms. Out right un-constitutional restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms, the use of onerous “reasonable restrictions” in the name of public safety, excessive taxation on arms and supplies. All aimed and limited the right of the people to defend themselves and maintain liberty.

The first amendments primary purpose, the very reason the Founding Fathers including it is to preserve for eternity the sovereignty of the individual and the consent of the governed. The final check on tyranny is an armed population. This is not a call for insurrection. It is what the Founding Fathers put in place to preserve the right of the people to resist tyranny. The Founders placed the peoples right to preserve liberty not on the good will of the government or at the pleasure of powers and potentates. The Founders placed the power to preserve liberty directly, purposely in the hands of the people, in the form of arms.

Taxation:

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

11th Amendment

President Elect Obama in a well-publicized conversation with a citizen said he would “spread the wealth around.”

"It's time to be patriotic, time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut,"

Sen. Joseph Biden

Economist Glenn Hubbard of Columbia University has shown that in 1970, when the highest tax rate was 70%, the top 1% shouldered 16.7% of the income tax burden. Today the top tax rate is 35% and the same class of taxpayers pays a whopping 39% of the burden. The worst way to “soak the rich,” Mr. Hubbard finds, is to raise tax rates.

The same prudence which in private life would forbid our paying our own money for unexplained projects, forbids it in the dispensation of the public moneys.

Thomas Jefferson

John Locke wrote of Life, Liberty and Property. That from the right to Life flowed Liberty, living life to suit oneself. From Liberty flows the opportunity through ones own labor, the ability and initiative of the individual to acquire property. Jefferson in drafting the Declaration of independence extended property to pursuit of happiness, the existential pursuit that does not directly produce property. Jefferson did not excluded property; he expanded Locke’s vision to include all the endeavors of the human mind and spirit.

Nowhere in the Constitution is “fairness” a guarantee, what is in the Constitution is equal rights, equal opportunity, and equal treatment. The Constitution guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcomes.

“Spread the Wealth” is merely “from each according to ability, to each according to need” rephrased to be more palatable. It is all the same, taking by force of government the fruit of labor of one individual and giving it to another. Such a concept is nowhere in the Constitution. The Founders would have found idea abhorrent.

The Constitution and Framers did see the need for necessary taxation for the common good. Where the tax levied was used to benefit all equally. All citizens benefit from the security provided by the national defense, all of us benefit from infrastructure paid for with taxes. Taking from one and giving to another, harms one, benefits another, and in the harms the initiative of all. Why sweat, labor and toil to produce something, that when successful will only result in the confiscation of the property so intensely brought forth by the individual?

Spreading the wealth violates the right to Property, since Property flows from Liberty, the right to Liberty is violated and ultimately the right to Life itself is violated by take from the individual property they have spent a portion of their Life acquiring.

Judiciary:

The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution,...

U.S. Constitution, Article III, Section II

To that extent, as radical as I think people try to characterize the Warren Court, it wasn’t that radical. It didn’t break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the founding fathers in the Constitution, at least as its been interpreted and Warren Court interpreted in the same way, that generally the Constitution is a charter of negative liberties. Says what the states can’t do to you. Says what the Federal government can’t do to you, but doesn’t say what the Federal government or State government must do on your behalf, and that hasn’t shifted.

Barack Obama on WEBZ in 2001.

The Judiciary…has no influence over either the sword or the purse; no direction either of the strength or of the wealth of the society, and can take no active resolution whatever. It may truly be said to have neither force nor will.

Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 78 (465)

This portion of the agenda requires the appointment of judges who view the Constitution as an impediment to the progressive agenda, not a foundational document against which all law is tested.

The judges that President Elect Obama is on record as seeking will fundamentally alter the meaning of our founding documents. The effect of these changes is that rights established as inalienable and untouchable by governments or other men, will be allowed by, administered through, and granted at the whim of those currently in power. Our fundamental rights are not arbitrary or with in the province of the government. They must at all costs remain forever, inalienable.

President Elect Obama’s nomination if he follows his on the record statements will be the type to make radical changes to the interpretation of the Constitution. The Senate has the duty to advise the President on his choices, and then to consent to them. Your first duty as Senators is to uphold the Constitution. Duty requires that you advise the President not to send forth for nomination judicial nominees who would make wholesale changes to the Constitution. Duty also requires that you block such a nominee if they are sent to the Senate for confirmation.

Security of our rights, equitable taxation for the common good, the right of self defense against tyranny, and freedom of speech, These were the keys to the foundation and formation of our government, the consent of the governed, and the insurance and security of these invaluable rights. The incoming executive branch and congressional majority are on record and have in the past taken steps, proposed legislation, and announced the intent to irrecoverable alter these basic ideas at the foundation of our Republic.

With he structure of our government it falls to a minority in the Senate, the handful who understand and believe such changes to the core of our Republic is unwise, and a violation of our core principals as a people and nation. It is far easier for the Senate to stop these changes, than for them to be reversed at a later date.

The time as come. Your choice, and the course of human events has placed you at the critical position for the up coming events.

On July 2, 1863 Col. Joshua Chamberlain was on the extreme flank of the Union Army, Chamberlain knew if his line were breached, the entire Union Army at Gettysburg would be at risk of being routed. He and his men were exhausted, thirsty, and nearly out of ammunition, Chamberlain ordered his men to fix bayonets and charged. He secured the flank, and ended that threat to the Army. Chamberlain considers only one thing, not career, not reputation, not even personal safety. He considered only his duty, which at that moment was to hold the flank.

The Senators of the 111th Congress now stand at the end of line. Political forces are attempting to flank the Constitution and our very liberty is at risk.

The question is will you, A United States Senator do you duty disregarding the risks and uphold your sworn oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America?

2008-10-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

Realwest requested this image go online. Photoshop by another LGF Lizard.

2007-09-01T14:17:00.000-07:00

Global average air temperature near the Earth's surface rose 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.33 ± 0.32 °F) during the twentieth century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes, "most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations,"[1] which leads to warming of the surface and lower atmosphere by increasing the greenhouse effect.

On Earth, the major natural greenhouse gases are water vapor, which causes about 36–70% of the greenhouse effect (not including clouds); carbon dioxide (CO₂), which causes 9–26%; methane (CH4), which causes 4–9%; and ozone, which causes 3–7%.

The above quote is a synopsis of Global Warming from Wikipedia.

First let me define two terms for this essay; Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW), simply that human activity is causing a rise and Climate Change (CC) normal cyclic climate variations.

Many claim the matter settled and AGW is a settled scientific fact, that major economic and social disruptions are going to occur if AGW is not stopped and reversed. AGW is a major political issue of our time. It is driving candidates, politicians and policy. It has become heretical in some circles to question AGW.

I question AGW and here is why.

First temperature rise, how much over how much time? The above Wikipedia article claims 0.74° C over the last century. When you claim a rise in measurement the assumption in the statement is the baseline is stable. That all that is being measured is the rise, and all other factors are accounted for.

There is an issue with temperature measurements. There appears to other contributing factors to the measured temperature rise. This principle in scientific measurements; isolation of variables, accounting for all the factors in a measurement. Only, and only when you can account for all the other factors, can you claim to have made an accurate measurement.

Surface temperature measurements are made in white boxes with slotted panels set up on a stand called a Stevenson Screens. Stevenson Screens are required to be setup to certain requirements. These requirements are intended to isolate as much possible the screen from local environmental variables.

There are two issues with the screens; location and paint.

The paint has been changed over the years from plain old white wash to a variety of white paints. However the heat absorbtion of the new paints compared to white wash is unknown, and there is no standards for heat absoption characteristics of the paints used.

We all know how different the temperature can be between under the tree in the front yard and on the roof, as much 20° or more difference on the same day at the same time. Which temperature is the “real” temperature for that time on that day? That is the purpose of the Steveneson Screen, establish a reliable means of measuring an average temperature.

Problem is Stevenson Screens are on roofs, next to parking lots, under air conditioners. All this would contribute to false higher temperature readings. Remember we are talking about 0.74° C over a century, the type of errors that misplacement of the screens cause is an order of magnitude higher than the claim of AGW.

Second problem with surface temperature measurements is the urban heat island effect. Concentrations of people, structures and paving generate and retain heat at higher rates than unpopulated areas. The temperature measurement stations 50 years ago were farther from urban areas than now. The urban area has engulfed the stations and with it a corresponding rise in temperature.

This type of issue would not be a problem if research measures the local effects, and correct the readings for effect. They have not done this. The are including the effects of a temperature station on the roof, next to a parking lot, in an urban area into the overall global rise in temperature. That is just plain bad science. Just this error in temperature measurement should be enough, by itself and on the face of to disqualify all claims of AGW.

But that is not all.

They’re in essentially three sets of atmospheric temperature measurements. Surface, balloon and satellite. One would reasonable expect that if global warming were occurring all measurements would show a similar rise in temperature. They don’t only surface temperature shows rises. The balloon and satellite measurements show no rise. With the issues of surface temperature measurements detail above the lack of rise in other sets of measurements by other means further calls into question the claim of AGW.

Those famous and oft used evidence for AGW is the Hockey Stick Chart, showing temperature over that last centuries, with a sharp, dramatic increase in the last 50 years. This Hockey Stick chart was generated by Mann. Simply put the Hockey Sticky chart is a fraud, a hoax. Mann altered not only the data, but the method of anaylsis to generate the “hockey stick.”

So far; the source of the increase in measured temperature is subject to unaccouted for outside influence when other atomsphereic measurements have not show the same increase. The chart cited most often to support AGW is a fraud with manipulated data and analysis.

This alone should be enough for anyone to go question the entire premise of AGW. But we are not yet done.

The claim of proponents of AGW is that humans are putting more CO₂ than ever before. This increase of in the amount of atomsphereic CO₂ is driving the global temperature increase. The foremost adovocate of AGW Al Gore in his film Inconvient Truth charts the relationship of CO₂ and temperature with a dramatic graphing of the two trends. Very nice, very compelling, and also completely wrong.

Gore’s uses data from a source known as the Vostok Ice Core. Antartic ice in some areas does not melt year to year it therefore contains minute samples of air in tiny bubbles from each year going back 400,000 years. The ratios of gases and isotopes can tell scientists much about atmospheric conditions in that year including amount of CO₂ and temperature.

What is the problem you ask? The data Gore uses does not show what Gore claims, that CO₂ increase before temperature increase. In fact the data show just the opposite, CO₂ increase lag behind temperature increases. Since CO₂ rises after temperature it cannot au priori be the driver of global temperature rises.

To add to the problems with the theory of AGW NASA recently announced that it had adjusted the temperature record due to some miscalculations. According to NASA the ’30s are now the warmest recent period not the ‘90s. How is the problem for AGW advocates? AGW theory claims human activity is cause the current increase in global temperature. There are two major anomalies in the record that run counter to that claim. The 30’s was the depression era when vast sections of the economy and industry where idled, yet it was the warmest period of the century. Conversely the post WWII era was a boom time… and global temperatures dropped.

To review AGW; is the claim that human activity producing CO₂ is causing the global temperature to rise.

I contend there are two many unresolved issues to make that claim:
· Actual temperature rise measurements are subject to unaccounted influences.
· The primarily used analysis show the increase in temperature is fraudulent.
· Analysis of the historical record show CO₂ trails temperature.
· The link between human activity and temperature rise has two significant disconnects in the 20th century.

These issues need to resolved before AGW can be taken seriously, and definitively laid to rest before large sums of money and social changes required to combat a highly questionable theory.

I am not merely going to cast stones at AGW, there is an alternate explanation.

CC is a real phenomenon, the climate in continual flux, climate is not static. We may very well be, and most likely are in a warming period. The closest correlated data to the historical temperature trends is solar activity. The sun also has cyclic patterns and the amount of energy output varies so the amount of energy put into the earths climate varies. In fact the overwhelming majority if not the only source of energy for climate activities is the sun.

A slight rise in solar output would provide more energy into the climate system with a noticeable increase in temperature. This theory also provides an explanation for the increase in CO₂ that follows temperature increases. Ocean water warms as average temperatures increase; warming liquids hold less dissolved gas than cold liquids. CO₂ gas would be released into the atmosphere as temperature rises.

The solar output theory of CC does not require explanation or development of previously undiscovered mechanism for the data and theory to mesh.

When Occam’s Razor is applied to the competing theories only one theory passes the test.

2007-07-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

LIFE, LIBERTY & PROPERTY

Core Conservatism.

All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.

John Locke

Life, liberty, and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws in the first place.

Frederic Bastiat

Life:

In the 18th century the notion that the individual had the right to their own life came to the forefront of political discourse. Previously a persons' life could be subject and controlled by others; kings, potentates, owners, thugs, anyone willing to use force to impose their will on others.

I am not going to reiterate the milestones that brought us to this conclusion, nor will I state all the arguments, reasons, for this conclusion.

At this point in social development it should be an au priori argument. A settled matter for Western Civilization. I offer the contrast with our current conflict, the enemies of Western Civilization who do not hold the same fundamental viewpoint. They believe they are arbiters of the Will of Allah and thus can deprive others of life based on their interpretation of Allah's Will, they even believe the deaths of innocent civilians, women and children in the pursuit of Allah's Will is right and good.

I bring in the contrast to make the point if in our discussion we can't agree on this fundamental right, then the rest of the arguments are moot. Without the inalienable, intrinsic right to life, the rest of it: Liberty, Property, Happiness, Consent of the governed: None of is significant, none of it matters. When the individual can arbitrarily be deprived of life, how can there be Liberty and the rest? Without this cornerstone it all crumbles into chaos, barbarism, and rule of force.

This point, this right, is the product of 6000 years of social and religious history. It has taken the blood of countless numbers to establish the fact. Our own Revolutionary War, Civil war, World War I, World War II, Korean, Vietnam , Gulf War I and the current War are all rooted in preserving this simple, profound, ideal. Unfortunately this recognition of the right of life is not the natural state of man, it is the realization of enlightened man of a fundamental truth.

A persons' life is their own.

That said, let me state that I am currently discussing the individual, I am not yet going to add the complexities of society and governance of society. We must first come to an understanding of foundational principals. Then upon that foundation when can discuss what happens when the spheres of the individual interact, that those interaction creates societies and governments to regulate the interaction between individuals.

However you want to attribute the source, either divine or other. People have an intrinsic, innate and inviolate right to their own life.

This right is the first block in not only modern Western civilization, the cornerstone of conservative principals.

Liberty:

Lib·er·ty (l_b'_r-t_)
n., pl. -ties.
1) The condition of being free from restriction or control.
2) The right and power to act, believe, or express oneself in a manner of one's own choosing.
3) The condition of being physically and legally free from confinement, servitude, or forced labor. See synonyms at freedom.
4) Freedom from unjust or undue governmental control.
5) A right or immunity to engage in certain actions without control or interference: the liberties protected by the Bill of Rights.

Liberty; the individual living life meeting the definition above. The simplest approach is that since we have granted the individuals' right to life, does it not follow that the right to live that life in whatever manner is the prerogative of the individual? Any answer other than the affirmative would by necessity bringing us back to examine the first question.

Living this life, in Liberty as an individual, sovereign with no other controlling authority follows the same historical route as the right to life, for one flows logically into the other. If you have the right to your life without interference, therefore you also have the right to live that life with out interference.

Again I remind you that we are talking about a lone individual, the solitary individual without regard to the interaction with others. We be bring the interactions between individuals to the discussion after we lay the foundation to build those interactions upon.

Once again I will not "prove" the individuals right to Liberty, or show the historical, philosophical, legal stepping stones to the acceptance in Western Civilization of the concept of individual Liberty. If we cannot agree to this concept of individual Liberty we are in far greater peril from that than any external threat.

Property: and subsequent Pursuit Happiness.

Property is Life, Life is Property.

The two are interchangeable, and synonymous.

How can I say that? Take our lone individual to whom we have granted Life and Liberty. Put in a place where he can obtain all he needs to survive. This individual then uses wood and stone to build a shelter, domesticates livestock, harvests grains and fruits in his vicinity. The shelter, livestock and food stocks are property obtain by the individual using his intellect and spending time and effort, a portion of his life to gather the property.

In society we use the medium of exchange, money, to convert life to property. The individual works for a period of time, exchanging a portion of his life with an employer for money; the money is then exchanged for property. Conversely we can reverse the equation, exchange property for time. Most commonly leisure time, time not caring for the necessities, using previously acquired property in exchange for time to do other things we also exchange money with others to get them to do things for us.

Responsibility of our solitary, non-societal individual. Please pay careful attention to the responsibility of this individual. There is no one to provide this individual anything. He must use his time, a portion of his lifespan to provide the necessities of life. This responsibility is not lost upon moving into a society.

The right to property is the most difficult for some. This difficulty is rooted the "zero sum" fallacy. The false idea that there is a finite amount of property to be had. This leads to the conclusion that if one person has a lot, it was gained at the expenses of others. The truth is property is created when an individual uses his time to create it. This is clearest with intellectual property, a book, and a song a product purely of the mind. Bill Gates is worth in the neighborhood of $50 billion dollars, that was created out of nothing, no ore was mined, no crop sowed and harvested, no natural material was used in the creation of his property. The wealth of Bill and Microsoft is demonstrably created, not taken from another person. It also applies to resources. Resources are essentially useless in situ, iron ore is just rock until people over time applied intellect and time to figuring out how to extract metal from rock and make useful items.

Given that property is the result of the expenditure of the individuals' life in exchange for the property and we agree that the individual has full right to life and liberty what other conclusion can there be but the individual has full right also over the property acquired in this manner?

Logically there can be no other conclusion. When we grant the right to life, what follows is the right to live that life, and what ever is produced by that life must be the property of the individual living that life.

If as some will claim the individual does not have the right all to the product of his life, they are claiming some portion of that individuals life, and subsequently can ultimately lay claim to the life of another person, traditionally this is called slavery.

Pursuit of Happiness recognizes that not all seek property, or wealth. That some individuals seek no temporal rewards, either in charitable efforts, pursuit of religious enlightenment, or personal fulfillment in arts, academic and intellectual efforts. Realizing however that pursuit of happiness does in no way relive the individual of personal responsibility for their own welfare.

Individual Sovereignty:

The individual with complete right to life liberty and property is wholly sovereign over their person and property

The concept of Individual Sovereignty is so basic in Western Civilization that it should be accepted as dogma.

Dogma;

noun:
a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true.

The authority in the case is society; the principle has been laid down over the last 6000 years of social development. This concept should be taken as dogma, as incontrovertibly true; yet in western society this principle is under attack, not from outside, but from members of our own society.

Individual Sovereignty based on Life, Liberty, Property is the bedrock conservative principle, it is from this concept, this idea that the rights of individual derive. All the principles of conservatism are built on this foundational philosophy.

Individual sovereignty, and the rights based on this principle are under attack. From what you eat, to what you can do, when you can do it is under attack. Unless the fractions of society can agree to a few core, shared principles, that society has no common ground for surviving.

Consent of the Governed:

So far I have laid down the argument for individual sovereignty for the lone person. However when we have two people their spheres of sovereignty are bound to overlap and conflict. The result is a loss of sovereignty for the weaker individual. We know from human history that given the opportunity for one individual to take from another instead of producing on their own is highly likely and commonplace. It is imperative for us to recognize the baser instincts of an individual is to take the route to barbarism and take property, liberty and life from weaker individuals to enrich themselves. The entire history of man is the struggle between his higher nature, seeking life and liberty, and easier path, barbarism seeking power and wealth at the expense of others. That individual sovereignty has only been the prevalent philosophical thought in the last 250 years, and only dominated in forms of government in the last 50 years is testament to the bitterness of the struggle and the tendencies of human nature. Make no mistake eternal vigilance is the price of liberty if you learn only one lesson from history learn this one: This concept of Life, Liberty and Property can only be maintained at great effort and cost. Respecting the Life, Liberty and Property of other individuals is not nor will it ever be the natural state of man.

Society is in essence a convention between people on how to balance the tension between individuals and the needs of society for a peaceable existence. Place two sovereign individuals in a valley and tension will arise over resources. Society arises in order to govern the competing needs and desires of those two individuals.

The key to this society of two is that they must mutually agree to the covenants of the society. The consent to be govenered by rules set forth for their society. As long as they both uphold the rules of the society, the society will function. When one breaks the rules, there must be consequences to the violation of societal rules; otherwise there is no society.

We can add as many individuals to this society as we want. Membership in a legitimate, functioning society is voluntary, the individual may leave at anytime when they no longer feel the society meets their needs. The individuals within the society consent to the governance, and the society meets its obligations under known and understood terms.

Consent of the Governed is larger concept than a particular administration. Here in the US we consent to a government of a Representative Republic in which the Rule of Law dominates. As long as you chose to live here you are consenting to this form of government. Here in Washington there are real and valid concerns to the legitimacy of the current occupant of the Governors office. This problem in no way affects the Washington residents' Consent to Washington's government, the issue is one of how elections are run, the legal system is functioning, and the application of law.

Consent to be Governed is granted by choosing to live here. Non-participation, i.e. not voting is de-facto consent, voting and participation in the process is positive consent. This consent is valid until such a time as the agreement is broken, this is normally seen in the usurpation of the peoples consent by the dismantling of the form and type of government and the laws of an existing government. Conversely the people can when they believe government is not longer operating with their consent legitimately, and rightly by any means replace the government with a government of consent.

Core Conservative Values:

Life, Liberty, Property and Consent of the Governed. While these values being eroded as the core of Western Civilization, this erosion is not going unnoticed or without opposition. Maintaining these values is the key political fight, and in the final analysis a winning strategy.

"We're saying that for America to get back on track, we're probably going to cut that short and not give it to you. We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."

Hillary Clinton, San Francisco, June 2004.

Following our political traditions that phrase should be;

"We are going to ask you to give up some things for the common good."

Therein lies the crucial difference between conservative and liberal values. Respect for Life, Liberty and Property, and Consent of the Governed vs. imposed government and the ruling class granting Life, Liberty, and Property when convenient to and approved by the rulers.

Building a solid intellectual foundation on these principals, understanding them and applying them is crucial to conservatism. Once these principals are internalized and applied consistently making decisions on individual issues is made much easier.

Life, Liberty, Property.

2005-12-30T07:17:00.000-08:00

Hindsight

hind·sight P Pronunciation Key (hndst)
n.
Perception of the significance and nature of events after they have occurred.
The rear sight of a firearm.

Hindsight -- the factor in the democrats and Bush haters in attacking the President over Iraq.

Hindsight is a good thing, it keeps us from putting our hand on the hot burner a second time, the first time finding out it was not a good idea to begin with.

There are many times we think: woulda’, coulda’, shoulda’, if I’d only known…

We all make decisions based on erroneous input. Then when the outcome is less than optimal, we quote Homer “D’oh!” When everything works out, and we find out the information was flawed, wipe our brow and “Whew!” dodged that one. Or if we never know that the input was faulty, blithely go about our business none wiser.

Problem for the opponents of the President…

NONE OF THAT APPLIES

What? You say.

The President’s foes on Iraq, the War on Terror, US Security are floating a canard when they try to impugned the war and progress in Iraq based on the faulty intelligence made GWB lead US into a war on false pretenses. The have the area of criticism that no stockpiles of WMD were found, and attempt to extrapolate that into the whole Iraq war and by extension the War on Terror is in error.

It is obvious that the prewar intelligence was wrong on one main point, the existence of stockpiles of WMD . My question to the Bush Lied crowd is, what happened to the stockpiles of weapons that Saddam had and used? The frightening truth is no one knows for sure. But that discussion is for later.

First the War in Iraq was a correct decision. It was based on 21 points covered earlier , in those 21 points stockpiles of WMD are included in 2 points. Let’s see if it were a test in school that would rate a 90.48% score, low A high B depending on the instructor or school. If we were playing ball a hitter with 0.905 average would be a baseball god.

Bush Lied.

lie2 P Pronunciation Key (l)
n.
A false statement deliberately presented as being true; a falsehood.
Something meant to deceive or give a wrong impression.

v. lied, ly·ing, (lng) lies
v. intr.
To present false information with the intention of deceiving.
To convey a false image or impression: Appearances often lie.

Let us say you read in the morning paper a story. On your morning coffee break you tell the story to your co-workers. Unbeknownst to you the paper retracted the story.

Did you lie?

You are expecting a very important order at work, the vendor has promised a ship date of the 1st, you figure shipment time and plan on arrival of the shipment on the 7th. The schedule calls for the shipment to be in house before the 15th. You have a meeting with the boss about the project. You call the vendor and confirm shipment on the 1st. In the meeting you tell the boss that the material will be in house on the 7th in plenty of time for the deadline. What you don’t know is that the vendor’s plant is burning as you speak. They will be lucky to ship to in 6 months.

Did you lie to your boss?

According to the logic of the President's opponents both times you lied.

Conveying information or making statements that at the time are thought to be accurate – IS NOT LYING!

In the lead up to the war the UN, democrat politicians, the intelligence service of most of the world all concluded that Saddam had stockpiles of WMD.

So when Kerry or Pelosi get up and say the President lied, they are accusing the UN, the collective intelligence opinion and themselves of lying.

So let’s get over that one.

The crux of the accusation is that Bush lied about WMD and lead us into a war. Okay let’s review.

Bush lied – not according to the definition of lying. Once that accusation breaks down, the rest of their complaint kinda’ goes poof. But just for the fun of lets continue the argument.

Their argument goes since Bush lied (we’ve shown he didn’t) the war in Iraq is illegitimate. However of the 21 casus belli points in the Resolution only 2 mention “stockpiles.” If we concede the entirety of those two points that means 19 of the 21 are still valid reasons for going to war.

The entirety of argument against President Bush and the decision to go into Iraq breaks down into at best flatulence.

2005-12-09T13:20:00.000-08:00

Who voted for conflict in Iraq?

There are 3 key congressional votes leading up to the invasion of Iraq:

Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq

Senate Roll Call
House Roll Call
Signed by President Bush

IRAQI BREACH OF INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS (Public Law 105-235)

Passed by Unanimous consent in the Senate.
House roll call.
Signed by President Clinton.

IRAQ LIBERATION ACT OF 1998 (Public Law 105-338)

Passed by Unanimous consent in the Senate.
House Roll Call
Signed by President Clinton

Prominent legislators and their votes on the above bills:

Legislator	liberation Act	Breach	Use of Force
Sen. Kerry	Yea	Yea	Yea
Sen. Clinton	Not in Office	Not in Office	Yea
Sen. Biden	Yea	Yea	Yea
Sen. Daschle	Yea	Yea	Yea
Sen. Feinstein	Yea	Yea	Yea
Rep. Pelosi	Did not vote	Yea	Nay
Rep. Murtha	Did not vote	Yea	Yea
Rep. McDermott	Yea	Yea	Nay

These legislators who almost on a daily basis get up and proclaim "Bush Lied, Bush made a mistake, wrong war." Are also on the record agreeing that Saddam Hussein and Iraq were a threat with WMD, ties and links to terrorists and should be removed from power, many voted to use force to remove Saddam.

A few voted no on the use of force, after they voted to make the Liberation of Iraq Public Policy and that Iraq was in breach of all the UN resolutions. Tough words and nothing to back it up, yeah Saddam should go, yeah he is giving the finger to the UN, but we're not gonna' do anything about it.

The response from them is "Bush sent the military to war." That response is so ignorant of 5th grade civics as to be laughable. We have 3 branches of government, separate but equal. The president cannot use military force without the agreement and authorization of the Congress. They agreed and authorized.

Those who voted with the President on the use of force and the earlier bills are equally responsible for situation in Iraq. They agreed and vote that Saddam should be removed from power. They voted and agreed that Saddam had and was pursue WMD with links to terrorists. They voted and agreed that force should be used to accomplish those goals. The president could not have continued with the support of these yes votes in congress. They have no ground to stand up and say it was wrong, a mistake, that Bush got us into this mess. Wrong! They gave Bush the legislative support required by law to purse the goals of the legislation.

The naysayers supported and agreed on the record with President Bush and gave him the authorization of use force.

They now with the most cynical hypocrisy, holding a damp finger in the wind have determined that is more important for their own selfish and naked political ambition to turn back on their own votes and statements.

While there is room for criticism of the current state of the conflict in Iraq, acting as if they had no part is despicible political pandering. When a legislator voted for all the bills allowing the conflict to start they have no room to criticize the beginnings as if they were innocent bystanders duped by the dumbest man ever in the White House.

2005-12-07T10:34:00.000-08:00

Now that we’ve dealt with the two big bugaboo’s of critics of President Bush on the War on Terror and the Battle of Iraq; Saddam’s WMD and Saddam Terror links. Let’s go point by point the 21 articles of the Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq.

Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq

Whereas in 1990 in response to Iraq's war of aggression against and illegal occupation of Kuwait, the United States forged a coalition of nations to liberate Kuwait and its people in order to defend the national security of the United States and enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq;

The table for the current conflict was set with Saddam’s invasion , occupation, rape and pillage of Kuwait .

Whereas after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, Iraq entered into a United Nations sponsored cease-fire agreement pursuant to which Iraq unequivocally agreed, among other things, to eliminate its nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons programs and the means to deliver and develop them, and to end its support for international terrorism;

Since ’91 a cease-fire between the US coalition and Iraq has existed. A cease-fire cease-fire is merely an agreement not to shoot. It is not an end to hostilities. Cease-fires have conditions, as long as both parties abide by the conditions, no one shoots. Iraq repeated violated the conditions of the cease-fire. Repeatedly firing upon coalition aircraft , failing to disclose disposition of all MIA , specifically Michael Speicher, and failing to meet multiple UN resolutions tied to the cease fire in particular allowing UN WMD inspectors full and unfettered access to WMD sites in Iraq.

Any single violation voids the standing cease-fire and is casus belli for continuing the war. This clause alone justifies the invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam’s regime.

Whereas the efforts of international weapons inspectors, United States intelligence agencies, and Iraqi defectors led to the discovery that Iraq had large stockpiles of chemical weapons and a large scale biological weapons program, and that Iraq had an advanced nuclear weapons development program that was much closer to producing a nuclear weapon than intelligence reporting had previously indicated;

Violation of the ’91 cease-fire. Casus belli for war in and of itself. Critics leading up to the war said repeatedly, “let the inspection work.” Meaning (1) Saddam was in non-compliance, (2) that there was something (WMD) to inspect.

Whereas Iraq, in direct and flagrant violation of the cease-fire, attempted to thwart the efforts of weapons inspectors to identify and destroy Iraq's weapons of mass destruction stockpiles and development capabilities, which finally resulted in the withdrawal of inspectors from Iraq on October 31, 1998;

Violation of the cease-fire. Casus belli.

Whereas in 1998 Congress concluded that Iraq's continuing weapons of mass destruction programs threatened vital United States interests and international peace and security, declared Iraq to be in "material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations" and urged the President "to take appropriate action, in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws of the United States, to bring Iraq into compliance with its international obligations" (Public Law 105-235);

“1998” the “President”, meaning President Clinton . Clinton and the Congress reached the conclusion that Saddam was continuing his pursuit and stockpiles of WMD.

“Appropriate action… to bring Iraq into compliance…” Iraq was not brought into compliance until 2003.

Whereas Iraq both poses a continuing threat to the national security of the United States and international peace and security in the Persian Gulf region and remains in material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations by, among other things, continuing to possess and develop a significant chemical and biological weapons capability, actively seeking a nuclear weapons capability, and supporting and harboring terrorist organizations;

“International obligation.”
Multiple UN resolutions
WMD
Terror support

Whereas Iraq persists in violating resolutions of the United Nations Security Council by continuing to engage in brutal repression of its civilian population thereby threatening international peace and security in the region, by refusing to release, repatriate, or account for non-Iraqi citizens wrongfully detained by Iraq, including an American serviceman, and by failing to return property wrongfully seized by Iraq from Kuwait;

Human rights violations , I always thought the democrats were supporters of human rights.

Kuwaiti citizens

Michael Speicher

Whereas the current Iraqi regime has demonstrated its capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction against other nations and its own people;

Iran

Hallabjah

Whereas the current Iraqi regime has demonstrated its continuing hostility toward, and willingness to attack, the United States, including by attempting in 1993 to assassinate former President Bush and by firing on many thousands of occasions on United States and Coalition Armed Forces engaged in enforcing the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council;

Assassination of a former President of any US government official. Casus belli.
Firing on US military units. Casus belli.
Violation of the fire. Casus belli.

Whereas members of al Qaida, an organization bearing responsibility for attacks on the United States, its citizens, and interests, including the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, are known to be in Iraq;

Al Qaeda in Iraq. After 9/11 hunting al-Qaeda, if they are in Iraq authorization to go after them and the regime that harbors them.

The link between al-Qaeda and Iraq

Whereas Iraq continues to aid and harbor other international terrorist organizations, including organizations that threaten the lives and safety of American citizens;

Terrorist and terror support by Iraq .

Whereas the attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001 underscored the gravity of the threat posed by the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by international terrorist organizations;

On 9/11 the world changed. No longer would a reactive law enforcement approach be a viable method of combating terrorism. Terrorist proved that had the will to use anything to inflict maximum damage and loss of life on US soil.

On the morning of 9/11 I woke to reports on the radio of a plane crash into the World Trade center. My first thought was some poor shmuck in a Cessna got lost in bad weather and managed to find one of the towers. As I listened reports remarked on the fine weather, that’s odd a pilot would have to very preoccupied or suicidal to drive a plane into a building on a nice day. They reports described the amount of damage and extent of the fire and confusion over type of aircraft and that it may have been a commercial jet. The damage and fire sounded too extensive for a light plane.

I wandered into the living room and flip on the TV.

First glance at the damage… the hole … recall the trade center is over 100 feet to a side… that hole… wing span 100 feet plus… commercial sized … not a light plane.

How does a big plane impact a building on a clear day… mechanical malfunction and seriously bad luck… or intentional?

Second impact…

2 are intentional…

Terrorist attack…

Osama…

He doesn’t have nukes yet…

That is what went through my mind on the morning of 9/11 in the seconds after the second impact. That the most likely force behind the attack was Osama and that he had not yet acquired WMD or he would have used them.

The 9/11 attack was designed to kill tens of thousands, if they had struck the towers an hour later they may have succeeded. Osama would not hesitate to use whatever means to kill as many Americans as possible. He would not hesitate to use a WMD.

Iraq had a WMD program and stockpiles, Iraq had contacts with al-Qaeda. Thousands of lives hang in the balance, can anyone risk those lives on the supposition that Saddam won’t give WMD to a terror organization?

The only sure way to find out is after it happens.

Does anyone really want to find out for sure?

Whereas Iraq's demonstrated capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction, the risk that the current Iraqi regime will either employ those weapons to launch a surprise attack against the United States or its Armed Forces or provide them to international terrorists who would do so, and the extreme magnitude of harm that would result to the United States and its citizens from such an attack, combine to justify action by the United States to defend itself;

WMD used in Iran, Hallabjah. Continued attacks on US warplanes, the continued pursuit of WMD and delivery systems. Just how long does one wait?

In Law enforcement training for the use of deadly force has three justification elements : suspect has means, opportunity and intent to use lethal force against officer or another. This applicable in a general sense to threat posed by individuals and regimes.

Does the other party have:
The means to cause casualties and large-scale destruction?
Is there opportunity to conduct an attack?
Is there intent to attack?

With an individual means do they have an object that could cause life-threatening injuries, i.e. gun, knife, etc… With a nation state do they have the weapons?

Opportunity, with the individual are they in position to use the weapon. With Iraq were they in a position to deploy a weapon or transfer a weapon to a terrorist organization? With a gun the offender needs to be in line of sight of the victim. With a WMD it can be hidden form view until activated.

Intent to attack, either articulation of the desire or willingness to attack. Is a criminal point a gun and yelling “I am going to kill you.” Iraq had repeatedly attack US assets and articulated a desire to escalate the conflict.

Means? Yes.
Opportunity? Yes
Intent? Yes.

Casus belli. Use of force does not require the belligerent to shoot first.

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 authorizes the use of all necessary means to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 660 and subsequent relevant resolutions and to compel Iraq to cease certain activities that threaten international peace and security, including the development of weapons of mass destruction and refusal or obstruction of United Nations weapons inspections in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687, repression of its civilian population in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688, and threatening its neighbors or United Nations operations in Iraq in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 949;

Whereas Congress in the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1) has authorized the President "to use United States Armed Forces pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 (1990) in order to achieve implementation of Security Council Resolutions 660, 661, 662, 664, 665, 666, 667, 669, 670, 674, and 677";

Whereas in December 1991, Congress expressed its sense that it "supports the use of all necessary means to achieve the goals of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 as being consistent with the Authorization of Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1)," that Iraq's repression of its civilian population violates United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 and "constitutes a continuing threat to the peace, security, and stability of the Persian Gulf region," and that Congress, "supports the use of all necessary means to achieve the goals of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688";

One of the conditions of the cease-fire was compliance with UNSCR 678. Non-compliance is casus belli.

The rest of the violations are just further proof of Iraq’s intransigence.

How many resolutions need to be violated before enforcement takes place? Apparently 17.

Whereas the Iraq Liberation Act (Public Law 105-338) expressed the sense of Congress that it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove from power the current Iraqi regime and promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime;

Clinton Administration with the support of Congress determined it was the policy of the US to remove Saddam from power.

Whereas on September 12, 2002, President Bush committed the United States to "work with the United Nations Security Council to meet our common challenge" posed by Iraq and to "work for the necessary resolutions," while also making clear that "the Security Council resolutions will be enforced, and the just demands of peace and security will be met, or action will be unavoidable";

UNSCR 1441 resulted from the US going to the UN. 1441 promised “serious consequences” if Iraq did not comply.

Whereas the United States is determined to prosecute the war on terrorism and Iraq's ongoing support for international terrorist groups combined with its development of weapons of mass destruction in direct violation of its obligations under the 1991 cease-fire and other United Nations Security Council resolutions make clear that it is in the national security interests of the United States and in furtherance of the war on terrorism that all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions be enforced, including through the use of force if necessary;

Based on all the above casus belli force is authorized.

Whereas Congress has taken steps to pursue vigorously the war on terrorism through the provision of authorities and funding requested by the President to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001 or harbored such persons or organizations;

Terrorists, their supporters, and patrons are legitimate targets.

Whereas the President and Congress are determined to continue to take all appropriate actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such persons or organizations;

Continued efforts.

Whereas the President has authority under the Constitution to take action in order to deter and prevent acts of international terrorism against the United States, as Congress recognized in the joint resolution on Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40); and

The use of military force is authorized for all the above-stipulated reasons and against the listed legitimate targets.

Whereas it is in the national security of the United States to restore international peace and security to the Persian Gulf region;

Peace. What a concept. Peace is not the absence of conflict. As long as a regime with a history of expansionism, pursuit of WMD, use of WMD, violation of international agreements is allowed to continue the status quo Peace and Security are simply not possible.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE.

This joint resolution may be cited as the "Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq".

SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS

The Congress of the United States supports the efforts by the President to--

(a) strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions applicable to Iraq and encourages him in those efforts; and

(b) obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

(a) AUTHORIZATION. The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to

(1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and

(2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding Iraq.

(b) PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION.

In connection with the exercise of the authority granted in subsection (a) to use force the President shall, prior to such exercise or as soon there after as may be feasible, but no later than 48 hours after exercising such authority, make available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate his determination that

(1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic or other peaceful means alone either (A) will not adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq or (B) is not likely to lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq, and

(2) acting pursuant to this resolution is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorists attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

(c) WAR POWERS RESOLUTION REQUIREMENTS. --

(1) SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION. -- Consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, the Congress declares that this section is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution.

(2) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS. -- Nothing in this resolution supersedes any requirement of the War Powers Resolution.

SEC. 4. REPORTS TO CONGRESS

(a) The President shall, at least once every 60 days, submit to the Congress a report on matters relevant to this joint resolution, including actions taken pursuant to the exercise of authority granted in section 2 and the status of planning for efforts that are expected to be required after such actions are completed, including those actions described in section 7 of Public Law 105-338 (the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998).

(b) To the extent that the submission of any report described in subsection (a) coincides with the submission of any other report on matters relevant to this joint resolution otherwise required to be submitted to Congress pursuant to the reporting requirements of Public Law 93-148 (the War Powers Resolution), all such reports may be submitted as a single consolidated report to the Congress.

(c) To the extent that the information required by section 3 of Public Law 102-1 is included in the report required by this section, such report shall be considered as meeting the requirements of section 3 of Public Law 102-1.

That covers the details of going to war in Iraq; among the reasons:
WMD
Terrorism
Failure to comply with the '91 cease fire
Fire to comply multiple UN resolutions
The threat posed by Iraq
US policy
US and regional security

Next up who supported this the Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq

2005-12-05T10:31:00.000-08:00

Saddam Hussein was linked to terrorists, terror groups and terrorist activities six ways from Sunday. Once again the evidence is abundant, overwhelming and included in captured Iraqi documents.

The President’s critics will say there are no proven links between Saddam Hussein and the 9/11 attacks.

That is true.

The President never said that there was.

From the Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq:

Whereas members of al Qaida, an organization bearing responsibility for attacks on the United States, its citizens, and interests, including the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, are known to be in Iraq;

Whereas Iraq continues to aid and harbor other international terrorist organizations, including organizations that threaten the lives and safety of American citizens;
Whereas the attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001 underscored the gravity of the threat posed by the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by international terrorist organizations;

Whereas the United States is determined to prosecute the war on terrorism and Iraq's ongoing support for international terrorist groups combined with its development of weapons of mass destruction in direct violation of its obligations under the 1991 cease-fire and other United Nations Security Council resolutions make clear that it is in the national security interests of the United States and in furtherance of the war on terrorism that all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions be enforced, including through the use of force if necessary;

Whereas Congress has taken steps to pursue vigorously the war on terrorism through the provision of authorities and funding requested by the President to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001 or harbored such persons or organizations;

Whereas the President and Congress are determined to continue to take all appropriate actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such persons or organizations;

The key phrase is:

… take all appropriate actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such persons or organizations;

…against …terrorists and terror organizations, including…the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11,…

The stated enemy is inclusive of the 9/11 attacks and supporters. It does not exclude those not involved in 9/11.

Let’s knock out the easiest ones first:

Abu Nidal found safe haven in Iraq. Among Nidal attacks on the US was the ’82 Paris attack on American tourists. The Pam Am 73 hijacking in ’86. Nidal attacked and killed Americans, he was harbored by Saddam and living in Baghdad.

Abu Abbas is another known, wanted terrorist harbored by Saddam and living in Baghdad. His most notorious attack was on the Achille Lauro and the murder of wheelchair bound Leon Klinghoffer.

Saddam supported suicide bombings against Israel with cash to the families. Americans have died in the Palestinian suicide attacks.

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi received training in pre-liberation Afghanistan. Refuge in pre war Iraq. With that training and harboring Zarqawi master minded the murder of U.S. diplomat Laurence Foley in Oct. ’02. Zarqawi entered Iraq before the beginning of the war. Just what are the chances of someone like Zarqawi operating out of Iraq without the knowledge of the Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) and Saddam?

Terrorist training occurred in Iraq. Salmon Pak trained terrorist, including aircraft hijacking training.

Ansar al-Islam maintained camps and training in and around Biyarah. Ansar al-Islam is tied to the Taliban and al-Qaeda and was operating in Iraq before the war began. Ansar al-Islam conducted operation against the Kurds, something near and dear to Saddam.

So far we have Saddam harboring, supporting terrorists with a history of attacks on Americans. That alone meets the criteria set forth in the Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq.

Now let’s include al-Qaeda.

First off no one in the administration has linked Saddam or Iraq to 9/11. Once again it is not necessary according to the resolution. Saddam already meet the criteria with out even bringing up al-Qaeda.

There was however contact between al-Qaeda and Iraq. Ayman al-Zawahiri the al-Qaeda number two attended the Popular Islamic Conference in Baghadad in ’99. Iraq al-Qaeda ties were discussed and acted upon in the Clinton Administration. In October ’03 the CIA sent a memo to member of the Senate Intellignce Committee detailing the links between Iraq and al-Qaeda.

There is also the suspect link between the IIS and Mohammad Atta. While that link can neither be proven or disproven, Czech security remains confident that Atta was in Prague.

Consider some tenuous links by reading between the lines.
There was communication and links between Iraq and al-Qaeda.
Al-Qaeda is linked Ansar al-Islam which operated in Iraq.
Iraq had a hijack training facility.
Atta may have met with IIS agent(s).

Atta hijacked airplanes in the 9/11 attack.

Think about it.

Did Iraq meet the objective requirements under the Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq?

Saddam funded, harbored and supported terrorists.
Saddam was linked to al-Qaeda.

I think Saddam clearly met the conditions set for in the resolution.

2005-11-28T13:40:00.000-08:00

NO WMD
Bush Lied
Thousands Died

That has been the refrain from the President’s opponents and the media for over two years.

Just what did President Bush “lie” about? Let’s look at the documented causi belli for the Iraq War. The Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq there are 21 separate reasons for going to war against Iraq. Among them are:

WMD programs.
WMD possession.
Support of terror groups.
Contact with terror groups.
Repeated continuing violations of UN sanctions.
Repeated continuing violations of the ’91 cease fire agreement.

Couple that with Saddam’s history of aggressive behavior, the invasions of Iran and Kuwait.

The opponents of the war primary focus in on one and only one of the 21 item resolution.

WMD.

Problem is that Saddam Hussein had WMD, Saddam used WMD, Saddam declared in the ’91 cease fire agreement that the had WMD, and most damning… WMD have been found in post war Iraq.

What is the chant again? “No WMD?” Who is lying?

SADDAM’S WMD PROGRAMS

Saddam had a well documented Chemical Weapons Program. This included but not limited to: Tabun, VX, Sarin and other “G” agents, Mustard Gas as well as various tearing agents which are not considered chemical weapons.

Biological weapons were also an area of interest to Saddam. Iraq’s Biological Weapons Program Gas was ongoing pre and post Gulf War I.

Iraq’s had a Nuclear Program. Ask a simple question, why would a energy rich nation, spend billions of dollars on a nuclear program? It certainly doesn’t make financial sense. Medical Isotopes don’t require large scale facilities. Couple that with Saddam’s aggressive tendencies then a nuclear weapons program is a logical conclusion.

The entire post Gulf War I UN inspections program was predicated on the established facts of Iraq’s WMD programs. The purpose of the UN Weapon Inspections was to dismantle Saddam’s WMD programs, discover and destroy any and all stockpiles of WMD.

Pre war the anti war advocates would keep repeating “let the inspections work.” The purpose of the inspections was Saddam’s WMD. “Letting the inspections work,” presupposes the existence of WMD. Without WMD the reason for inspections is moot. By arguing to continue inspection the very same people repeating the “No WMD” mantra agreed that Saddam's had weapons that needed to be dealt with.

SADDAM’S USE OF WMD

Saddam used Chemical weapons during the Iran Iraq War and against the Kurds.

During the Iran Iraq War, a war started by Saddam on September 22, 1980 by invading Iran. Iraq made early gains, which Iran repulsed, in later stages. By 1982 the war and developed in a static affair. Iraq used Chemical Weapons in every year of it’s war with Iran.

On March 16, 1988, Saddam Hussein order a Chemical Weapons attack on the Kurdish town of Hallabjah .

SADDAM’S DECLARATION

At the end of Gulf War I in which Iraq was removed from Kuwait part of the Cease Fire and UN Resolution 687. These agreements of which Iraq was a signatory required the dismantling, destruction and disclosure of all of Iraq’s WMD programs, stockpiles and documentation.

Surprising to many Saddam did not comply with UN resolution UNSCR 687 - April 3, 1991, or any of the following UN resolutions.
UNSCR 688 - April 5, 1991, or
UNSCR 707 - August 15, 1991, or
UNSCR 715 - October 11, 1991, or
UNSCR 949 - October 15, 1994, or
UNSCR 1051 - March 27, 1996, or
UNSCR 1060 - June 12, 1996, or
UNSCR 1115 - June 21, 1997, or
UNSCR 1134 - October 23, 1997, or
UNSCR 1137 - November 12, 1997, or
UNSCR 1154 - March 2, 1998, or
UNSCR 1194 - September 9, 1998, or
UNSCR 1205 - November 5, 1998, or
UNSCR 1284 - December 17, 1999.

They final resolution was UNSCR 1441 which called for the previous resolutions to be complied with and held the threat of "serious consequences" if compliance was not forthcoming. "Serious consequences" is diplo speak for war.

Saddam never did cooperate with the UN. The Iraq war followed.

WMD FOUND IN IRAQ

In post war Iraq WMD have been found as well as the infrastructure for the programs.

1.77 tons enriched uranium

1500 gallons chemical weapons

Roadside bomb with sarin gas

Cyclosarin

Nuclear program documents and parts

NO WMD?

So where does that leave us? The trail is clear for anyone willing to follow the crumbs. Saddam had developed, used and maintained for at least 2 decades a multi-pronged WMD program. Saddam failed to disclose the final disposition of his WMD.

The final Report on the disposition of the Iraqi WMD is mind numbingly detailed. The bottom line is not all of the WMD programs or weapons can be accounted for, that Saddam maintained consistent efforts in the area of WMD, and that these efforts were well concealed and compartmentalized.

There is a huge discrepancy between what is known that Saddam had and was developing in his WMD programs and what has been accounted for.

The bottom line is that Saddam had, used, produced, pursued, and maintained WMD programs. The evidence for the existence of Iraqi WMD is overwhelming and clear. What is not clear is the final disposition of the WMD.

Now tell me who is lying about WMD?

Next Saddam and Terror links.