Big Dogs Weblog

Where The Rubber Hits The Road

Jun 8, 2009 Political

Two journalists were sentenced yesterday to twelve year terms by North Korea for allegedly “spying” on The Dictatorship that is North Korea. Their alleged crime? They apparently stepped into North Korean territory while researching their story on Human trafficking by North Koreans. Apparently they were under the mistaken assumption that journalists are protected from harm while they expose corruption- a fallacy in this country, and certainly in places that are antagonistic to the United States, like Iran, and of course, North Korea.

Ling and Lee were arrested March 17 along the China-North Korean border after top officials in Pyongyang said they encroached on North Korea soil while reporting a story on human trafficking by Kim Jong Il’s regime. Housed separately in Pyongyang since their arrest, the women have reached out to family members in the U.S., who have in the last week made several public appeals calling for their release.

latimes.com

There has been a tradition in this country of journalists uncovering corruption, but in recent years, journalists have become in many instances, timid in the exposing of corruption in domestic circles, choosing instead to face the uncertain future of an antagonistic dictatorship abroad instead of the budding one at home. Perhaps they believe Barama has their back. Nothing could be further from the truth, apparently. 

When your white Knight is Al Gore, you know you are in deep do- do.

Japanese television has reported that Current TV founder Al Gore was prepared to fly to Pyongyang and secure the women’s freedom, depending on the outcome of the trial. It was not known Monday how the guilty verdict might have affected those plans.

Many analysts speculate that North Korea, which has in recent months sought to publicly establish its nuclear capabilities — conducting an underground nuclear test and launching several experimental missiles — was trying to use the women as political pawns in an attempt to force Washington to sit down for one-on-one talks.

latimes.com

Of course, to be fair, they were working for Gore’s TV station, so the buck has got to stop somewhere- it certainly won’t with Barama- he can’t be bothered by trivialities. Let the minions do the heavy lifting of real life- he’s the theorist, the dreamer, the One. Mere mortals mean nothing to him, unless they have a use.

These reporters are learning several lessons- one, don’t get caught up by a dictatorship- just ask Roxana Saberi, the journalist who was imprisoned by Iran. Two, just because you work for Al Gore doesn’t mean squat to the North Koreans- green to them means money, something their starving people do not have. Three, rights are only as good as the country you are in, and it’s a heck of a lesson to learn. Why don’t you think liberals do not protest in North Korea, or Iran, or China? Their little pink behinds would be tossed in jail, if they were lucky, or kicked into an unmarked grave if they were not so lucky.

After the March 17 arrest of the journalists, analysts say, the Obama administration had sought to quietly negotiate with North Korea. Officials were encouraged after Iran released U.S. journalist and accused spy Roxana Saberi after four months in jail.

In recent weeks, as the trial date got closer, state-run news in North Korea released condemnations of the women, alluding to their “confirmed crimes” and “illegally intruding into [North Korean] territory.”

Experts believe the trial serves as a political litmus test. They say North Korea had an opportunity to distinguish the journalists’ case from the political realm and temper an international image further damaged by the nuclear test.

But now those hopes have been cast into doubt with Monday’s verdict.

latimes.com

These journalists should pray that there is something, some concession that the North Koreans want from the United States. Barama will, I am sure, be glad to roll over, show his belly, and give it to them. After all, he has just finished conceding an atomic weapon to Iran, why shouldn’t he kiss some North Korean butt while he’s on his knees? If he does that, then these unfortunate pawns will possibly be allowed to come home- then again, maybe not. Kim Jong Il has not been exactly renowned for his sanity.

But who knows? Barama could be his equal.

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Tags: concessions, dictatorships, journalists, north korea

Dr. Strangelove Redux

May 27, 2009 Political

As Ronald Reagan said once,” Well, there he goes again-“, and indeed, here we go again. Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it. This seems to be an endemic problem today, as North Korea has just announced that it will not abide by the treaty it signed in 1953, and threatened to attack both South Korea and the American troops who are stationed there. Deja vu- many people are alive today for whom this little kerfuffle with communist N. Korea is but a little read footnote in the history books they are no longer required to study.

I was born during the Korean War. My father was a colonel in the Air Force at this time, and because of China’s proximity to N. Korea, tensions were extremely high, because, (and this is a lesson that we did not learn then, so it was repeated in Viet Nam) China is only comfortable with a buffer country protecting its borders, and has historically attacked anybody who threatened their buffer countries.

So when we crossed the Yalu river, the Chinese communists joined the battle, and from that point on, we were driven back and had to settle for the two Korea solution, which has satisfied no one.

Now, in response to the increased threat of missiles from N. Korea, Barama has ordered that the Department of Defense cut defensive missiles from our budget- how insane is this? This is akin to knowing the winter is going to be bad, so we will not buy any heavy coats, or firewood.

An ounce of prevention is truly worth a Megaton of cure. and yet, here is Robert Gates on missile defense-

We will restructure the program to focus on the rogue state and theater missile threat.

We will not increase the number of current ground-based interceptors in Alaska as had been planned. But we will continue to robustly fund continued research and development to improve the capability we already have to defend against long-range rogue missile threats – a threat North Korea’s missile launch this past weekend reminds us is real.

We will cancel the second airborne laser (ABL) prototype aircraft. We will keep the existing aircraft and shift the program to an R&D effort. The ABL program has significant affordability and technology problems and the program’s proposed operational role is highly questionable.

We will terminate the Multiple Kill Vehicle (MKV) program because of its significant technical challenges and the need to take a fresh look at the requirement.

Overall, the Missile Defense Agency program will be reduced by $1.4 billion.

closingvelocity.typepad.com

Now, to terminate ANY of the missile defense systems is an act of complete idiocy. Every defensive system needs to be appraised as a stand- alone program. The MKV is (or was) particularly promising as was the ABL, or Air-borne Laser aircraft- sure there needs to be further tests and R&D- but we will get nowhere if we kill the programs. Is this going to be the attitude with regard to the less promising forms of alternative energy, or is this just a slam against the Defense Industry?

This is definitely NOT the time to slack off of research into ways to protect ourselves against missiles fired from rogue states who are insane enough to believe that they could get away with it.

Unfortunately, I now have to come to the conclusion that Barama can not and will not protect us, instead, stripping Defense of promising projects that could keep us safe against the growing threats of the 21st century, even as these threats coalesce around us. Perhaps it will take a missile strike on Los Angeles or San Diego, or full on Nuclear war between Iran and Israel in the Middle East, for him to wake up to the threat, but then we will be waaaay behind the curve in protecting ourselves.

Remember one thing- the burglar or attacker will absolutely not give you the time to go buy a gun for protection, they will kill you then and there.

It is ALWAYS  better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum- If you wish for peace, prepare for war.

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Tags: budget cuts, missile defense, north korea, stupidity

It Is Time For Exams

May 25, 2009 Political

During the last presidential campaign Joe Biden warned the country that Obama would be tested:

“It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking. We’re about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America. Remember I said it standing here if you don’t remember anything else I said. Watch, we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy.”

“I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where it might originate,” Biden said to Emerald City supporters, mentioning the Middle East and Russia as possibilities. “And he’s gonna need help. And the kind of help he’s gonna need is, he’s gonna need you – not financially to help him – we’re gonna need you to use your influence, your influence within the community, to stand with him. Because it’s not gonna be apparent initially, it’s not gonna be apparent that we’re right.” Politico

It has not been quite 6 months but it looks like the child prodigy in the White House is getting tested all the same. Here are a few of the subjects on the table.

Israel

Netanyahu ignores Obama

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rebuffed U.S. calls for a full settlement freeze in the occupied West Bank and vowed not to accept limits on building of Jewish enclaves within Jerusalem.

“The demand for a total stop to building is not something that can be justified and I don’t think that anyone here at this table accepts it,” Netanyahu told his cabinet, referring to Jewish settlements in the West Bank, according to an official. al-Reuters

North Korea

Tests nuclear weapon and missiles
North Korea made its second test of a nuclear explosive on Monday and declared it was more destructive than the first, an advance that is likely to further embolden Kim Jong Il’s regime in its standoff with the U.S. and other countries pushing for it to halt its weapons program. WSJ

Weapon more powerful than in 2006
North Korea claimed it carried out a powerful underground nuclear test Monday — much larger than one conducted in 2006 — in a major provocation in the escalating international standoff over its rogue nuclear and missile programs. Newsmax

Obama says threat to national security
North Korea said it conducted its first nuclear test in three years and also launched three short- range missiles, acts President Barack Obama said constitute a “threat to international peace and security.” Bloomberg

More powerful than Hiroshima
North Korea today risked further international isolation after it claimed to have successfully tested a nuclear weapon as powerful as the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. Guardian UK

Causes international outrage
There have been expressions of international outrage after North Korea said it had successfully carried out a underground nuclear test. BBC

North Korea threatens more if intimidated
The source said new nuclear tests would take place “if the United States and its allies continue the policy of intimidation against North Korea,” Tass reported. Yahoo News

Country warned it would resume nuclear tests after condemnation
North Korea, incensed by the condemnation of the April 5 rocket launch, had warned last month that it would restart its rogue nuclear program, conduct an atomic test and carry out long-range missile tests. My Way News

Iran

Not to be outdone by North Korea…

Iran rejects nuclear freeze proposal
Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejected on Monday a “freeze-for-freeze” proposal put forward by the West in a bid to resolve a row over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear aims.

“The nuclear issue is a finished issue for us,” Ahmadinejad told a news conference. al-Reuters

Sends warships to project power
Iran has sent six warships to international waters, including the Gulf of Aden, to show its ability to confront any foreign threats, its naval commander said on Monday. World Bulletin

It looks like Obama is now confronted with a number of “tests” that Joe Biden warned us about. Remember what Joe said, it will not look like they are doing the right thing (though I would argue that it has not looked like that since they took office).

North Korea has nukes, Iran either has them or will shortly and the ones that Pakistan has are in danger of falling into the wrong hands. North Korea needs money and there are a lot of bad people who would pay a great deal of money for nuclear devices that they could use against the United States. Iran will probably send its nuclear weapon to a surrogate for use on Israel. This is happening before our eyes because, as I said before, Obama took his eye off the ball. Obama has been busy warning, no threatening, Israel to keep it from attacking Iran’s nuclear sites. I wonder if he will get the same response as with his last request…

He failed to pay attention to the rogue states, the Axis of Evil, if you will. He believed that Bush’s methods were wrong and that if he sat around holding hands and singing songs with the leaders of these nations that they would be enchanted with Obama’s smile and the hypnotic charm of hope and change would take effect.

He believed an unclenched fist would demonstrate friendship but those who would do us harm saw it as weakness.

Unfortunately, in the real world where the big boys play this is not a real way to deal with things. But Obama is now at the point where he is getting tested.

The Jews told him screw you.
The North Koreans told him screw you.
The Iranians said screw you.

Two of those three pose a serious threat to the US and the world.

I wonder if Obama will address the situation with those “dangerous” Jews first…

Test time Obama. You don’t need sharpened Number 2 pencils because they will not help. Joe Biden told me it would not look like you were doing the right thing.

That is probably one of the few things he has been correct about.

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Tags: biden, danger, Iran, Israel, north korea, nuclear weapons, Obama, test

Atomic Test Highlights Obama Failure

May 25, 2009 Political

On October 9, 2006 North Korea conducted a nuclear test years after the Clinton administration provided that country with the means and opportunity to build a nuclear weapon. The test was reported as a failure of George Bush and his administration. Liberals claimed that he was so focused on Iraq that he allowed North Korea to develop and test a nuclear weapon. A headline at Truthdig from the time was Atomic Test Highlights Bush Failure and the lead paragraph stated:

North Korea’s evident test of a nuclear device speaks to a failure of diplomacy long in the making, but Democrats have justifiably laid much of the blame on Bush, whose Iraq fixation and disinterest in nonproliferation have proved disastrous.

The Democratic Underground claimed that Democrats were condemning North Korea and citing the failure of Bush diplomacy. Those commenting blamed Bush and the lack of diplomacy for the nuclear test.

Howard Dean of the DNC stated:

“Today’s announcement is further evidence that President Bush has taken his eye off the ball, allowing a member of the so-called ‘axis of evil’ to allegedly test a nuclear weapon,”

Today Newsmax reports that North Korea has conducted another nuclear test more powerful than the first:

North Korea said it staged a “successful” underground nuclear weapons test which was more powerful than its previous test of an atomic bomb almost three years ago.

George Bush is not in office and has not been there since January so there is no way to blame him for taking his eye off the ball. Since he was to blame the last time this happened it would appear that Obama is to blame this time. I have not read where any Democrat has spoken up and declared that this marks a failure of Obama’s policies and that his diplomacy failures allowed North Korea to explode a nuclear device.

The Democratic Underground has its useful idiots already complaining that Republicans will use this to attack Obama as being soft. They are wetting their pink panties over there because they are afraid that Obama will get blamed. These low life twits were the ones blaming Bush but they do not want Obama blamed. This is the double standard.

Some of them are blaming the leader of North Korea for making nukes instead of feeding his people. They are also asking if this was a nuke that was developed while Bush was busy with Iraq.

Isn’t it strange that they never blamed Clinton for giving the NORKS the means and opportunity to make the bombs? They went after Bush immediately and did not attack North Korea’s leaders or the guy who gave them the technology, they blamed Bush. Now the bed wetters are blaming Bush again and worrying about how it will make Obama look.

Let me help them see how Obama looks:

Obama took his eye off the ball. He has been too busy trying to ramrod his socialist agenda down our throats to pay attention. He has resigned himself to the idea of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon and this likely emboldened North Korea. The NORKS saw how weak Obama is and decided to take advantage.

Additionally, Obama has been too busy going around the world blaming America for the ills of the world and then apologizing for all the things that America has done wrong. Obama has been too busy appeasing the world to notice the dangers around us.

Let us make no mistake, this is an Obama failure and it is one of great magnitude. He has failed our country and because he took his eyes off the dangers North Korea is one step closer to a nuclear device. Yes, Obama’s failed diplomacy resulted in this test and because of him the world is just a little bit less safe tonight.

These are undeniable truths based upon the logic of the left when the NORKS tested the first device. If they absolve Obama of any culpability then they will be absolving Bush of any as well. Either they both failed or they both did not. Since the Democratic politicians and their mind numbed, eye glazed followers were eager to blame Bush and that charge stuck, then it is obvious that Obama is just as guilty.

The liberals will not step up and blame Obama. They are already in cover up and spin mode. The folks at the DU are already asking each other for counterpoints to those of us who will blame Obama as a matter of principle and fairness.

There are no counterpoints and there is no way to backtrack. Obama took his eye off the ball and now the world is a little less safe.

The enemies of America smell weakness in the White House and now they will begin to exploit it.

And they will continue to exploit it while Obama continues to apologize for America.

UPDATE: Today North Korea test fired several long range missiles. Looks like Obama took his eye off more than one ball. While he was busy apologizing the NORKS went nuclear.

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Tags: atom bomb, north korea, test

Round Up From The Weekend

Apr 20, 2009 General

Jack Murtha, Pork King

Why they keep Murtha in office is beyond me. He is a waste of flesh and is as corrupt as they come. He is an un-indicted co-conspirator in ABSCAM and he keeps spending taxpayer money on worthless projects.

Case in point, the Jack Murtha airport (it was recently renamed that) in Pennsylvania. Murtha keeps funneling taxpayer money into this little airport even though it has only a couple of flights a day and they all go to Dulles. There are usually more workers there than passengers. Wonder what the workers do all day.

But a watchdog group on federal waste called the airport a “white elephant.”

“It’s an exercise in spending more money than sense,” said Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense.

Federal largess is clearly evident here on Airport Road. Each of the six daily flights that the United Express local carrier makes to and from the airport is subsidized, costing taxpayers about $1.4 million, or $147 per passenger, last year. The subsidy is double the national average for the federal program designed to guarantee air service for 150 rural communities, excluding those in Alaska.

In addition to the passenger subsidy, the Murtha airport has long received funds from another federal program, meant to help pay for runway improvements and safety at regional airports. The airport has received $7.3 million since 2004 under the program. Last year, when the number of passengers fell below a federal threshold and the airport’s minimum yearly funding was about to drop from $1 million to $150,000, Murtha stepped in.

“I strongly believe that the Johnstown Airport should receive the full $1 M in [airport improvement] funding,” Murtha wrote to the Federal Aviation Administration in December. “Without this money, the development of this airport could be significantly inhibited, and the community as a whole could suffer.” WAPO

No wonder they named it after him. He bought it with our money…

Obama Slips One In

Barack Obama said we have to watch wasteful spending (something he was very good at as a Senator) and that we need to be responsible. He is going to be above board and transparent. This is from the Gateway Pundit:

President Obama released his FY 2009 supplemental request… asking for $83.4 billion to fund ongoing military, diplomatic and foreign assistance activities… There are programs included in this supplemental request that could otherwise be funded in the base budget. Some of the major items requested in this supplemental are long-term acquisition programs that are not directly related to ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan…

• $600 million to purchase four new F-22 fighter jets;
• $400 million for a new Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capabilities Fund;
• $3.6 billion to train and equip Afghanistan Security Forces;
• $806.2 million to upgrade the U.S. diplomatic facilities in Pakistan; and
• $200 million for budget support to the Palestinian Authority.

Why would we be sending the PA any money? I guess this is an executive earmark…

They could buy another F-22 fighter jet with that money and have 50 million left over for spare parts.

US “Deeply Concerned” About Jailed Reporter

Roxana Saberi, a 31-year-old dual American-Iranian citizen was sentenced to 8 years in jail in Iran for allegedly spying on the country. Barack Obama is “deeply concerned” about this. Seems that a little bit more is called for here, perhaps outrage? [My Way News]

Saberi is not the only one in trouble. Laura Ling and Euna Lee are being held in North Korea. These journalists face the possibility of 10 years in a prison camp on trumped up charges. These two work for an organization founded by Al Gore. I thought everybody loved him…[Times Online]

Looks like news people are not well received in these countries. The main stream media said that we should understand these countries. Obama said we need to talk to them and he would do so without precondition. All we need to do is understand them.

George Bush said that North Korea and Iran were part of the Axis of Evil. Looks like he was right. I wonder how the people at the news organizations feel about these places now.

Banks Were Pressured To Take TARP Money

Shore Bancshares of Easton, Md is waiting to pay back 25 million dollars it received from the government. This is money it was persuaded to take in order to prevent problems in the banking industry. Despite protestations from some on the left, some banks reported they were forced to take TARP money. Some, like this one, were strongly persuaded to take it to do their part for the country.

Korstange explained that Treasury had originally invited TCF to apply for TARP funds, saying it wanted the participation of healthy banks to mitigate the shock to the financial system from the failure of large firms like Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns.

TCF agreed, wanting to do its civic duty by aiding the government in keeping the nation’s hobbled financial industry going.

“They came to all the banks,” said Korstange. “They did come to us and suggested that it would be a good idea, that if you didn’t take it you would be looked on as a bank that couldn’t get it, that you were too bad to get it.

“It made sense to do it at that time. We thought we were being good citizens. We didn’t need the money,” Korstange added. CNS News

Now TCF (parent company) says it wants to repay the money because the government changed the rules and the banks are hamstrung by the rules for banks that took the money. The bank also does not like being made a scapegoat and the object of public scorn.

The bank has indicated that they were being delayed in returning the money. I am sure the government would like to keep its fangs in the banks in order to run them but many will pay back the money so they don’t have to be bothered by an intrusive government. They should offer the money back and if the government refuses to take it they should consider it forgiven and move on.

Then again, it might just be delayed because Turbo-Tax Tim Geithner is the only person working at Treasury…

Remember, the only good pirate is a dead pirate.

Finally, Meathead Says Call The FBI

One last thing. Meathead (I don’t link to him) read my “I Am A Right Wing Extremist” post and concluded that I am a racist and potentially a terrorist. He wants anyone who knows who I am to report any terrorist activity to the FBI. He is deluded and thinks that I would do harm to my country.

It is ridiculous and as an Honorably Discharged Veteran with 24 years of service I have sworn to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and DOMESTIC and I would give my life to protect this country. I am not a threat you have to worry about. The threats to this country are all in DC. No one will ever find me doing anything to harm my country. And terrorism is what cowards engage in. Real warriors engage in battle.

Meathead can’t understand that because he is a bed wetting liberal who lives under the blanket of freedom that people like me provide while never lifting a hand to help.

Meathead, I know you read this website. Did you report me? After they read the post they will laugh you out of the country.

I’ll let you know if they come interview me. Oooh, I’m scared.

Moron.

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Tags: axis of evil, Iran, meathead, north korea, Obama, reporters, tarp money, terror