Smok Wawelski

2009-09-17T12:13:00.002-04:00

Obama leading us to Global war?

Barack Hussein Obama has reneged on a US promise to provide Missile defense for Poland and the Czech Republic... Why? To appease the revanchiste Russian regime of Vladimir Putin. And to add insult to injury, he has done it on the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Invasion of Eastern Poland as per the secret protocols of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Treaty.

Though nominally the President, let's make no mistake about it, Dimitri Medvedev doesn't even take a trip to the loo without Putin first signing off on it, and for Obama to believe he can do business with these people is either a demonstration of an appalling ignorance of history, or a deliberate sellout of western security.

Poland has long been a staunch US ally. Now Poland has been betrayed. So what is Poland to do?

It is my view that as long as Obama is president, the United States is no longer to be trusted or counted on. Ask anyone in Honduras.So Poland, and other countries in Eastern central europe must take measures themselves to protect themselves against Russian aggression.

George W. Bush once stated that he " looked the man in the eye. I was able to get a sense of his soul" John McCain, however, got it right when he said " I looked into Putin' eyes and saw three letters: K-G-B".

Like Chamberlain, Barack Obama seems to believe that appeasing rogue governments is the pathway to peace. In 1936, Adolf Hitler first tested the resolve of western powers by marching a hanful of trrops into the Rhineland. he marched the same troops out and then back in again several times, and the west was sufficiently afraid of confrontation that they let him get away with it. Hitler tested them again over Austria, and then Czechoslovakia and was able to size them up as "liitle worms" as he put it. Had they marched into the Rhinelnad and called Hitler's bluff, the Nazi dictator would have , by his own admission, fallen from power. Instead, the result was a major war 3 years later that took tens of millions of lives and left Europe in ruins.

Now Obama is backing down on all the eastern European allies that George Bush stood up for and John McCain would have stood up for. And even more amazing is that he let his guard down just after the Russians agreed to ship weapons and tanks to the Chavez regime in Venezuela, and is cozying up to Iran.

I believe that Barack Hussein Obama is leading us to just such a war. Chavez is buying these Russian weapons, not to "defend" Venezuela, which has no enemies seriously contemplating, let alone capable of invading them, but rather, he will launch an invasion of Colombia, which as an emerging democracy, threastens to embolden the resistance within Venezuela. he may well ship some tanks to his ally Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, so that an invasion of Honduras will be possible.
Meanwhile, Russia is a clear and present danger. It is my contention that Putin wants to restore the Russian Empire, and realize the longtime Russian goal of getting a warm water southern port. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, which saw many captive nations break away from Moscow's grip. It is enough that it was a humiliation to a once great power, but strategically , it was a disaster. With Ukraine declaring independence, Russia lost Odessa and Sebastopol, their ports on the Black Sea, which allowed them access to the Mediterreanean via the Dardanelles. They now lease the port from Ukraine, which limits them in terms of how it can be used. They also lost huge coal resources, and excellent farmland. Since the ascension of Putin, the Russians have tried to weaken Ukraine, and even brimg her back into the Russian sphere of influence. Note the interference in the last election, and sponsorship of a pro-Russian candidate, and an attempt to poision Viktor Yushchenko. I believe they will interfere in the next elections, and even more ruthlessly, since they have nothing to fear from "Hello Kitty" (as tammy Bruce calls him) in Washington.

He has been massing troops on the Georgian border fro some time now, and will no doubt find some reason to justify inishing off his grudge match aganst President Mikhail Saakashvili and democracy in that small country.

With Ukraine back under his belt, either as a component of the New Russia, or as a puppet state (like Lukashenko's Belarus) Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, The Baltic States and the Czech Republic will come under pressure.
Poland and the Eastern European nations need to take matters in their own hands. After the First World War, Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania had held talks about establishing a Confedracy such as had existed in times past, which had provided some measure of security, and could have provided a bulwark against both an aggressive germany and Russia. Past wrongs and festering animosities prevented it from happening. the result was Ukaine losing its independence an being absorbed by Russia two years later, whil Pland and lithaunia would only enjoy their independence for 20 years. Such a confedration if tried today could work, and keep Russia in check, But the Czech reoublic, Slovakia Estonia, Latvia and Hungary should also be included. Such an entity/alliance could provide for its own defense, and deter Russia.

Georgia, due to Geography, is in a much more difficult position. Logically they shoul ally themselves with Armenia and Turkey, but the Armenian/turkish animosities still run too deep for common sense to prevail, leaving Georgia out in the cold.
It is also possible that the Russian moves in the Caucasus may well be part of a plan for Russia to move into Iran eventually, should Israel take pre-emptive action against the regime in Teheran and heir nuclear project. Russia would then control even more immense oil resources, and have their long sought after southern port.

By his appeasement policies Obama has sent the wrong signals to the wrong people, which could well result in these rogue powers acting to advance some of their long term aims. If this argument needs any more re-inforcement, Obama has now agreed to hold direct talks with North Korea.... So there WAS a price paid to the pot bellied "Dear Leader" after all...

Will China, which sees Taiwan as a renegade province take it as a green light to finally regain face, and settle that old score?
Barack Obama has exposed the United States, the west, and the emerging free republics in Asia and latin America to danger on all sides, and if any of these scenaros do come to pass, we will find ourselves in the midst of a global war that cannot be won without nukes...and the problem is, the other sides have the bomb too...

The countries that truly love their freedom must stand firm, an take their defense into their own hands. It is time to stop relying on the USA.

2009-09-02T15:06:00.004-04:00

What is Iggy's Game?

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has all but thrown down the gauntlet that could trigger Canada's 4th general election in 5 years.

What does he know that the rest of us don't? the answr to that question lies ahead, but first let's look at the whole picture.

By all indications, his rise to the leadership of the once-powerful Liberal party of Canada has been anything but spectacular. After losing to Stephane Dion in 2006, he took over as interim leader after Dion resigned last December and was officially confirmed in May.
Since then, while most politicians are out on the corn roast circuit, Michael Ignatieff has been virtually invisible.
His poll numbers have been anything but inspiring to his his troops. For most of the year his party has continued to trail the Tories, and his numbers have, in some polls rivalled the unprecedented lows that Dion managed to achieve.

This week, all economic indicators are pointing to evidence that Canada has weathered the worst of the recession, and is already on the road to recovery with growth forecast over the next two quarters, so how does Mr. Ignatieff expect to justify spending 300 Million dollars and sell the notion that the Conservatives have mismanaged things, and pose a clear and present danger if allowed to remain in power?

Perhaps it is because of the good economic news that Mr Ignatieff wants to strike now. It may well be that this could be the best time for him to make the case before things improve too tangibly to the average Canadian. Still the onus is going to be on him to justify the vote, and he and the opposition parties who would have to support him in a non-confidence motion may very well face the wrath of voters being called for the fourth time in five years, with the result being the first majority government elected since November 2000.

On the other hand, this could be a ruse on his part to distinguish the Liberals from the other opposition parties by painting them as being in collusion with the Tories, and by grandstanding, he may well be able to recover some anti-Tory Liberls who are parked with the NDP or Bloc, in order to position the grits to take back some seats from both parties in a subsequent vote.

Nevertheless,without Bloc and NDP support, Ignatieff cannot bring down the government, and if he overplays his hand, it could backfire in a big way. Esentially, Mr Ignatieff is gambling all or nothing. If he forces an election and loses without making some significant gains, he's done.

Now this brings us to the next question as to whether or why the Bloc and NDP would support Iggy at this time: With the Liberals poised to make many of their gains at BQ and NDP (see northern Ontario) expense, why would the NDP and Bloc risk losing seats? When one sees that Gilles Duceppe may want to retire soon, why would he he want to fight an election where he stands to lose 7-10 seats, instead of going out a winner?
And Jack Layton is sitting with 36 other New Democrats, why would he risk dropping to 15-20?

Even a best case scenario for the Liberals , if the current numbers hold, would still likely result in a Tory Minority government. The only other reason I can see why Ignatieff, Layton and Duceppe could pull the trigger would be that they are counting on a reduced Tory minority, would refuse to back Mr Harper, resulting in Governor Michaelle Jean having to turn to Ignatieff to ask him if he can form a government with the confidence of the house. Is it too much of a stretch to suggest that the "three amigos" might be ready to resurrect the coalition agreement they hatched last fall?

Given the current numbers, and the fact that they are not likely to move significantly, the best the opposition could hope for is an outcome such as this: CP: 130 Lib: 105 BQ 48 NDP 25, so it's not a stretch to ask whether a Liberal/NDP Coalition backed by the Bloc is really what Iggy has decided to settle for.
(Current predictions here!)

As long as the Bloc can maintain its strength in Quebec it will be difficult for anyone to win a majority, but voter anger toward the opposition might be such that some who might not normally vote Tory will do so, just to ensure a Tory majority, and an end to the endless cycle of minority governments and snap elections, for better or for worse.

2009-08-28T20:05:00.003-04:00

Canadian Elections: The Road to a Majority Passes through Quebec.

In light of the possibility that Canadians will go to the polls this fall or next spring, it's not to early to start speculating on the possible outcomes of such a vote.

Click here to see early prognostications

One reason I would caution against an election being triggered at this time, is that judging by the lay of the land at this time, it would appear that we would end up with another minority government, and a Tory one at that.

Since 1993, the Bloc Quebecois has held over half of the seats in Quebec, making it difficult for any party to have a majority government. True, Jean Chretien racked up 3 consecutive majorities, but that was by virtue of a split vote on "the right", where the old PC Party refused to die, and the new Reform Party couldn'tget over the top east of Manitoba. This split resulted in the Liberals virtually sweeping Ontario. Then came 2003 and the merger of CA?Reform and the PCs, and suddenly without an Ontario sweep the Liberals could not win a majority, and in subsequent elections, neither could the Tories.

Thus for the cycle of minority government to be broken, it would require that one party or the other win 25-30 seats in Quebec with the Bloc falling below 25. As of now that does not appear to be in the cards. The Tories might have done it in October, but Gilles Duceppe was able to pounce on and spin a couple of Tory miscues into the kind of thing that took them from being poised to get over 25 seats, to barely hanging on to what they had.

That said, as things stand, there are approximately 25 ridings in Quebec that are a lock-down for the Bloc. Another 25 or so are in play to one degree or another, but most of which would probably swing to the Bloc under today's circumstances, so both the Libs and Tories must keep trying to find a way to break through in Quebec, and then make sure that they can fend off the skilled and experienced Duceppe who only has to contend in one province.

Another factor at this time is the decline of the NDP under Jack Layton. Layton overplayed his hand last December as he tried to cobble together a coalition with the Liberals, supported by the Bloc. Many people who parked their votes with the NDP because they couldn't bring themselves to vote for Stephane Dion were horrified at the prospect of Jack Layton being anywhere near the pursestrings of the nation. At this point I expect them to lose up to half the seats they currently hold, the Liberals being the main beneficiaryin Ontario, while The Tories would be helped in BC.

Further complicating things, is the fact that neither Stephen Harper, nor Michael Ignatieff have succeeded in winning the hearts and minds of voters, which of course bodes well for the NDP and the Bloc.

Put simply, the numbers are simply not there for either the Liberals or the Conservatives to win a majority government, so all should just let their signs gather dust for awhile longer until things break one way or the other, and the break will have to take place in Quebec.

2009-08-24T13:41:00.005-04:00

Honour Killings: We'd Better Understand

This girl is in hiding, terrified that she will be a victim of a so-called "Honour Killing". In this video she broke down saying that we don't undrstand. We had better understand that radical Islam does mandate (not permit, but REQUIRES) such extreme action for apostasy, and is often carried out for other things, such as adultery, or even minor matters which bring shame to the family.
Her parents want her returned to them, but she knows they will kill her if she is sent back. She also points out how widespread the practice really is. Here is a recent case that took place in Canada.
We need to wake up here in thewest. As more and more Muslims come to our countries, the demands grow for Sharia law to be permitted alongside our own law in matters pertaining to "internal Muslim affairs". Eventually it will be the law of the land, if concessiona are made. I would notbe surprised if many so-called honour Killings" are covered up by simply telling the authorities that "she has gone back to (insert Islamic country of your choice) to be married. We'll let Fathima Rifqa Bary tell her story and make her plea. The world needs to know, not only that "honour killings take place here, but be made aware of the many that take place every single day in Islamic countries, many of which go unreported, since in those countries where sharia is applied, women are considered second class persons , if that.

2008-09-04T10:12:00.003-04:00

The Palin Speech: Not a Good Day to be a Democrat

Here it is, the most powerful political speech in many years, preserved for posterity:BreakingSarah Wings Speech due to teleprompter malfunction!

I am not going to get into a deep analysis of this speech, but leave it for the viewer to decide.

What I will say is that this morning is not a good morning to be a Democrat.Sarah Palin is a breath of Fresh air, and left no doubt that she is, -to quote Theresa Heinz Kerry- "No shrinking violet". As I've said before, someone who can stand up to an entrenched old boys' network, and take it down, is the proverbial pit bull with lipstick.

Unlike Obama, her speech was full of substance as she made the case for her experience by talking about what being a gobernor and a Mayor actually entails, contrasting that with the ephereal job description of "community organizer" .

She hit on the energy issue, and wove in the "can do" attitude that made America great in the first place, and despite the best efforts of the left, remains the attitude of most Americans.

The ratings are not out yet, at the time I posted this, however it was expected to be one of the most watched speeches in history, possibly exceeding Barack Obama's Greek Tragedy Theatre speech last week. With that, it is probable that now that the American people have had a chance to hear her for themselves without the mediation of the hostile liberal media, any further attempts to smear her or her family will backfire against the Obama campaign.

As for her daughter Bristol, on whom so much attention was focussed this week, the kind of attentiuon no seventeen year old should face, she conducted herself with great dignity last night, and showed the same fortitude as her mother. Well done.

2008-09-02T13:18:00.001-04:00

Is Sarah Palin Tough Enough? We Report, You Decide...

According to Rush Limbaugh, McCain campaign told Sarah Palin that they would be coming at her from all directions and said "are you ready for this?"

She replied..."Do you know the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull?
lipstick!"

This is what the Democrats are up against.

The witticism aside, the fact is that she went up against an old boys network within her own party in Alaska, and won, and if you don't think Old Boys clubs play rough, give it a try sometime.

The Democrats have another problem: Barack Obama must now "throw the Daily Kos under the bus".... The problem lies with the fact that the people represented by Daily Kos now run the Democratic Party. The Clinton era of moderate centrism died on Wednesday night. It was not all that long ago that, with the exception of Joe Biden, all the Democratic candidates went to the Daily Kos Convention to pay homage to Markos Moulitsos & co. No politician can ever again go anywhere near the Daily Kos.

The trouble is, like Jeremiah Wright, the association continues, and the Kos Kids will continue along their chosen path, and this will damage the Democrats, especially in what Many Dems comtemptuously dismiss as the Fly-over states, and in some Blue collar swing states where Obama had trouble against Hillary Clinton..

By all indications, so far, Governor Palin has stood tall, and will continue to do so. When one has deeply held core values, as opposed to values of convenience subject to the latest opinion polls, the inevitable storms can be weathered. If she's tough enough to take down the old boys of Alaska, she's tough enough for this, and more than tough enough to stare down Vladimir Putin.

2008-09-01T12:32:00.000-04:00

Palin clears up Sleazy Internet Rumours from Daily Kos

Liberal bloggers over at Daily Kos, a scurrilous nasty, hyperpartisan extreme left website spent part of the day spreading the rumour that Sarah Palin's downs syndrome child trig was actually the child of her eldest daughter Bristol, 17, and that Gov Palin faked her pregnancy to cover up her daughter's. Later some more honest people at Kos debunked the story. Photographs showing Gov.Palin very pregnant were posted.
Big Blue Wave reported on this earlier.

For her part, to clear up any misconceptions, Gov. Palin today announced that Bristol is pregnant, and will be keeping the baby, and moreover will marry the father of thc child.
She went on to say in a statement that "Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support. Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media, respect our daughter and Levi's privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates,"

Bravo, Sarah... Another fine exmple of living out one's pro-life beliefs, by supporting her daughter through this time and beyond. As disappointed as I'd be ifone of my daughters came home pregnant, insofar as it would violate our beliefs concerning premarital sex, I would do the same.

Sen. McCain was aware of the situation before he asked Gov. Palin to join the ticket, and was fine with it.

I echo the Palins' request that the media keep her children out of it.

2008-09-01T10:02:00.004-04:00

Palin and Obama: a side by side comparison

Gerard Baker of the Times of London (who brought us that delightful piece of satire He Ventured Forth To Bring Light To The World" back in early August See the video below with Baker narrating!) has just hit another one out of the park with an excellent compare and contrast piece on the two.

It should be remembered, also that Sarah Palin is running for Vice President, not President, and will be working with someone who knows the Washington ropes, and shares her cntempt for pork and corruption.

2008-08-30T15:59:00.004-04:00

McCain Chooses Palin!

on August 19th I posted Sarah Barracuda: The case for Sarah Palin. Yesterday the dream ticket came true.

I also think the whole matter was handled expertly by John McCain and his team teh way they leaked the story in the middle of the morning news cycle the morning after Barack Obama's "speech of a lifetime" that wasn't.

Barack Obama says that experience should take a backseat to judgment. In this case, McCain's experience has helped him to demonstrate good judgment in choosing Governor Palin.

I am delighted that McCain has done the right thing, and the smart thing.

While the Iraq war contributed somewhat to the 2006 Congressional debacle, the corruption scandals (Abramoff & Foley among others) were probably more damaging. eg. had the GOP run anyone other than Burns in Montana they probably would have held the state, and thus control of the Senate...

McCain and Palin both have reputations for smoking out corruption and poor ethics, and this will go a long way toward not only having their ticket win the Presidency, but may also help win back the House (Forget about the Senate, mathematically impossible this time), especially when Palin is so strong on drilling in her home state.

2008-08-28T16:11:00.003-04:00

Social Conservative of the Day: Aug. 28th 2008

Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry-Prescott Russell

Had Don Boudria run again for the Liberals in the 2006 election there is a good chance that Canada would not have Pierre Lemieux as one of its strongest voices for traditional values in parliament today.

M. Lemieux won the riding by 223 votes. The riding, like all of eastern Ontario had been trending Conservative in revent years, and with the departure of Boudria, the Tories finally went ove the top in this longtime Liberal stronghold.

M. Lemieux is a practising Roman catholic, loyal to the teachings of the magisterium, and has opposed Henry Morgentaler's accession to the Order of Canada, and gave an impassioned speech against so-called Same Sex "Marriage", arguably the best of any MP.

I encourage M. Lemieux to keep speaking up for truth and traditional values, and I also call on all those who claim to support a culture of life to get behind MPs such as M. Lemieux, and give them the clout they need to stand up to politically expedient party leadership.

2008-08-19T08:12:00.000-04:00

Sarah Barracuda: The Case for Sarah Palin as VP

If the headline in today's World Net Daily is to be believed Republican Presidential candidate John McCain will be making, what I believe to be the right decision in his choice for Vice President in Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

The article cites the dscovery of a website registered under www.mccainpalin.com, which invites those who stumble on it to "stay tuned for important announcements". It may be nothing but wishful thinking on someone's part, but given the secrecy with the registrant according to "Who Is" , we can only hope.

Sarah Palin is a 44 year old mother of five, whose whole life history is a will to win, hence the nickname she acquired in high school, "Sarah Barracuda". She is part of a new generation of Alaska Republicans who are challenging the old generation of Ted Stevens and cleaning up alot of corruption.

When it coems to choosing Vice presidenial candidates, alot of buzz seems to center on what states the VP can bring with them by virtue of geography. This line of thinking may make for interesting speculation in the media, but historically does not hold water. John Edwards could not bring North Carolina, or any other southern state with him. Lieberman? New England was safely Democratic already. Did Lloyd Bentsen bring Texas for Dukakis? I don't recall New Jersey falling into the Democratic column on account of Geraldine Ferraro in '84 either.

A VP candidate should be chosen for several reasons, not just to bring along the home state, which in Sarah Palin's case, is a slam dunk. Alaska is as red as states get.
Mrs. Palin has executive experience, as a governor of a state, and has demonstrated a will to win throughout her life. What Sarah wants, Sarah gets. She took on incumbent GOP governor and longtime Senator Frank Murkowski, and defeated him, and went on to win the governorship. No small feat.

Sarah Palin is the woman who "has it all" she is the mother of five, and a career woman. She's an inspiration to women everywhere. She's proven one does not need to be "the angry feminist" to get somehwere.

There have been concerns among many in the GOP "base" about McCain's commitment to the pro-life movement. Mrs. Palin would reassure that base. she not only has a solid pro-life voting record, and is a regular church-goer, but recently had to walk the talk, as her fifth and most recent child was diagnosed with Down's syndrome, a condition, which. more often than not, results in abortion.

Her eldest son joined the Army at age 18. So much for the idea that the sons of the movers and shakers don't get dirt under their fingernails. She holds a lifetime membership in the National Rifle Association, which, in view of Obama's views on the second amendment, will shore up more of the conservative base.

As governor of Alaska, should she take on the VP slot, she would hand over her duties to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell with whom she has a strong working relationship. The strong Alaska connection will also help ensure that the way is cleared quickly for drilling for oil and other fuels in Alask, and off the coast, an issue of great importance, not only in the day to day life of Americans who need to heat their homes and get to work each day, but also in international affairs, where the US position could be strengthened viz Russia and other countries with reduced dependence on foreign oil.

Corruption and ethics have also been a thorn in the Republicans side. Ted Stevens aside, the Abramoff affair, and other ethical issues were one of the main reasons why Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are calling the shots in Congress to the great detriment of the country. Like John McCain, Mrs. Palin has made a career of challenging the ethically challenged. This will not only help McCain win the Presidency, but also might help down the ticket in the House and Senate races. This could have even more of an impact should drilling , Pelosi & Reid's weak points beome a focal issue, as it probably will.

Sarah Palin may also be the lighting rod that will bring many of the disappointed Clintonista women aboard, who will see a high-achieving young woman, who can break the glass ceiling, and really be an example for their daughters.

The way things look now, this election will be decided by who wins a few middle American States. A McCain/Palin ticket would probably turn Ohio from leaning GOP to strong GOP. Traditionally Blue states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Oregon and Minnesota will be in play for the GOP. We saw how Obama has a problem in Pennsylvania during the primaries. Sarah Palin could help McCain close the deal there. She could also seal the deal in New Hampshire as well.

While I don't dispute that any of the other contenders such as Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty and Tom Ridge have many fine qalities and enough in the way of credentials to merit being on the ticket, I believe that the biggest net gain for McCain would come if he chooses Sarah Barracuda.

2008-08-18T12:32:00.004-04:00

Surprise!Aborted baby, declared dead, comes back to life in the cooler

Here's a story from Israel about how an aborted baby had been declared dead by the doctor who performed the procedure was revived after she had been placed in the cooler.

It must be said that the 26 year old mother was in the fifth month of her pregnancy and was experiencing a great deal of bleeding, had agreed to undergo the procedure, because tests showed that the child had no vital signs. The baby was born without a pulse, and had been declared dead.

Five hours later, the father of the child had come to pick up what he believed to be his dead daughter for burial, found the child showing signs of life, apparently being revived in the cooler where cadavers are kept.

In the State of Illinois, thanks in large part to the efforts of one Barack Hussein Obama, who blocked the "Born Alive" legislation, that child would have been allowed to die, even after showing signs of life.

Update:

August 19th 2008

We are Sad to report that the baby has died.

2008-08-17T12:17:00.000-04:00

What Can Be Done To Promote a culture of Life In Canada?

Why is it that the pro-life movement in the United States is getting things done, and has some clout in society while Canada's is barely felt?

My observations on this have led me to draw some conclusions for which many will criticize me harshly, I'm sure, but need to be said, without sugar coating.

Socialism, secularism, and political correctness in Canada has bred a loser's mentality in many cases. I'm not speaking of all of us, but of a good many. Most of us , including myself sometimes slip into it.

The all-consuming drive to be number one, to push ahead, to innovate, to WIN seems much weaker in Canada than other countries. It seems to me the Canadian way is to "accommodate, back track, give in, be "tolerant" be "liked".

YUCK ! this is the kind of thinking our socialist public education and University system has helped breed. Just GO ALONG TO GET ALONG.

That is what has become, for many, the Canadian way, and that is why we don't have a strong netwok of pro-lifers like they have in the USA, and elsewhere.
Too many Canadians would rather be liked and not rock the boat than to get in the faces of the establishment and fight for what's right.

Too many minds have been numbed and poisoned by socialist pablum. Just go along, to get along....

Well, I'm sorry.... it just won't do. Just as our consistent Olympic mediocrity has less to do with funding than attitude, our loss of freedom and surrender to the culture of death has less to do with funding and resources than it does with attitude. Tell me what kind of money and temporal power did the early church have, yet that ragtag bunch changed the world.

Let's look at the homosexual lobby. It was not all that long ago that homosexuals cowered in the closet, and dared not assert themselves. Now? Their leadership has emboldened them to make a stand which 20 years ago, was very unpopular, and they got their noses bloosied along the way.

We can and must do the same. We can no longer be afraid to rock the boat and incur the contempt of some of our neighbours by making nicey-nice on issues of grave importance, such as the life and family issues.

Moreover, we must NOT keep our faith private, Jesus commissioned us all to go out into the world and spread the Gospel. He also said that we would be vilified by many for it. If enough of us do speak up, we will no longer be silenced.

That does not sound to me like "go along to get along."

Christianity is really a dirt under the fingernails faith, and it involves sustaining many cuts and bruises along the way. the question is, are Canadian catholics and christians prepared to step out and take a few punches, so that even one more soul can have eternal life and salvation? Or that even one baby will not be aborted?
Or do we just want to keep pretending that Jesus really wanted us to be sweet and nice and get along with the world?

I think we need to develop the Martyr's mentality in this country.

Is our faith in Christ deep enough that we might endure a bloody nose for it? That friends and family may turn our backs on us? That we may even face death?
Think about it. none of us are getting out of this alive anyway!

Could it be that we are so comfortable in our "palaces" (as compared to how our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world live) and love all our electronic gadgets too much, and value our own personal entertainment so much that we won't give a moments thought to matters of eternal importance?

Have we really become that self-centered and selfish?

How can we call ourselves Christians if we are not prepared to go all the way, like many of our brothers and sisters in Africa and Asia?
It is this kind of a wake-up call that Christians in this country have to hear and respond to if we are ever to get anywhere in terms of reconverting this spiritual wasteland.

And I will go one step further: If we won't do it, someone else will.

Yesterday, I found something in my mailbox. It was a glossy full colour double sided brochure that folded out so that there were 8 pages, called "Islam: the religion of Peace". These brochures must have cost somehwere in the neighbourhood of $0.50 apiece, and were delivered to every household in Belleville yesterday.
Islam is on the move, and the Saudis are funding these endeavours.

Where a vaccuum exists, something else is going to rush in to fill it. Christians have vacated the public square in order to "go along to get along". The secularists may appear to be winning now, but their philosophy and worldview is so devoid of any substance , meaning or answers to the eternal questions that man, by his very nature will ask, that they too have vacated the public square, though they do not know it.
I can assure everyone reading this, that the Muslims will not. They are doing with every ouce of their energy, what we shold be doing. They are spreading the word of islam with an evangelical zeal that we must not only match but exceed.

If we are to reawaken christianity in this land, we need to first of all kill political correctness and the "go along to get along" mentality that results.
We can do that only if we are prepared to step out and get banged up a bit. MARTYRDOM!

We must Catechize our young peopole. If we can't do it in the schools, then we must take responsibility at home. You can rest assured that the Muslims are doing it. Turn off the TV, and open the Bibles and cathechisms, and really talk as families.

We must remember that the ultimate goal is not this life, but the eternal life that follows, that will either be spent with Christ, or in eternal separation from Him. It's one or the other. There are no other options.

If we start living like Christians, meaning all out for God, and be prepared to, through the courage only he can give us, face any adversity the world will throw at us, to the point of death, then Christianity can accomplish what it did in the past, and the idea of a just society will take care of itself.
But we must change hearts and minds. That means going all out in our faith, and not holding back. There will be a price to pay, but if we truly take pause to meditate on the reward that awaits us, we will be prepared to pay that price: Sell it all and buy the pearl of Great price! If people see passion and fire rather than Lukewarmness and death ( Revelation's Churches at Sardis and Laodicia) they will follow.

That is my view of what it will take. We need to wear our faith in public, no don't be a Holy Roller, but always be prepared to give the reason for your hope.

If we don't someone else will.

Mediocrity is not an option. Yopu don't hear our neighbours south of the border chanting "We're number 2!" .

Go all out, because it is really is or nothing, in any endeavour... but no endeavour has more lasting value or eternal consequences than the Great Commission.

2008-08-15T20:31:00.000-04:00

What the Revanchiste Russians REALLY Think, and did they Miscalculate?

For anyone who still doesn't believe that the Cold War is back on in earnest need to look no further than reports that a top Russian General is saying that Russia may Nuke- YES NUKE- Poland if it follows through an accepts a US Missile shield on its territory.

This type of language has not been heard since the Cuban Missile Crisis, and even then, was not stated so brazenly.

What is behind the new Russian aggressiveness, and why are they acting now?

Like all aggressive regimes the Russians are testing the waters of US resolve. They have been observing the US political scene, and have noticed a war weariness over Iraq in the USA, George W. Bush's low approval ratings, and the rise of Barack Obama. The also see what the media calls a lame-duck president in his last few months of power. They see China tryingto put a nice face on for the world in the Olympics. They see the USA in debt with much of that debt held in Beijing, Moscow and Dubai.

Georgia is a test to see the resolve of the west against the kind of aggression they will have to commit to reach their near term objectives. This invasion of Georgia can be compared to Hitler's march into the demilitarized Rhineland, which was designed as a test to see how far he could push in the future. He picked georgia because it was the weakest and geographically, theleast defensible from the west, as opposed to Ukraine, which has the "minor problem" of nuclear weapons, which given what the Russians have historically done when they have controlled Ukraine, might well be used.

Russia wants China to stay out and chose this moment so that China would turn a blind eye, while Putin gains the literal high ground for their eventual move against Iran, which will serve to cut China off from access to their oil.

But has Putin miscalculated? I believe he has. the west may have made some mistakes but they are far from impotent. The western armed forces are far more technologically advanced than the outdated (albeit iproved) Russian forces. While the mainstream media labels President Bush a lame duck, the fact is, he is still president with full powers until the exact moment he hands over power to his successor.
The MSM is still basking in Obama-mania, and I'm sure the men in the Kremlin were squealing with delight as "The One" gave his "citizen of the world" speech in Berlin, but the misgivings the American public inferred from that speech and tour have only been magnified by Russia's actions in the caucus and threats of nuclear obliteration. Had the Russians waited until after the election, they might well have achieved their goal of seeing "the Manchurian candidate" elected. now, slowly but surely, there is a move away from Obama to McCain, who has always seen the "new Russia" for what it is.
Even some blue states like Minnesota are on the verge of going for McCain.
In fact there seems to be some degree of buyer's remorse setting in among Democrats, that there is the remote possibility that he will not be nominated at the convention.

Stopping short of all out war against Russia, which would only benefit Chinese ambitions, the Bush administration still has many cards it can play. The US can and should move to expel Russia from the G8 and go back to being the G7. They can admit Ukraine and Georgia to NATO, effective immediately, and terminate Russia's "observer status." They can block Russia's admission to the WTO.

Putin's new Russia may be flush with cash for now, but continued and expanded trade is the only way they'll keep that cash rolling in. Oil prices are falling as the US dollar gains strength, and these are two factors which encouraged russia to act now rather than later. The Americans must overcome the Green-driven Democrats and their resistance to drilling for domestic oil and nuclear energy. Not only will it help Americans at the pump, but will weaken Russia in the global oil marketplace.

I'll have more to say on Saturday.

2008-08-14T17:06:00.002-04:00

Poland , US ink preliminary Deal on Missile Shield"

Some countries, it seems those who have experienced life (if it can be called that) under the Russian boot, have started to close ranks and let the dictator in Moscow know, in no uncertain terms, that the Russkies will not be telling them what to do again.

Poland and the Czech republic have gone ahead and defied Moscow by working out deals for military co-operation with the USA and in Pioland's case, deployment of an Anti-Missile system that the Russians told them they would not tolerate.

Though there is nothing the US can do militarily for Georgis, if the former Warsaw pact countries take concrete action to defend themselves with US aid, it will send a strong message to Moscow that their brutal and reckless invasion of georgia will have consequences, and serious ones.

I have also said that NATO should immediately admit Ukraine, so as to protect it from Putin, and Georgia so as to at least salvage the country along with its democratic, pro-western government less S. ossetia and Abkazia.

The saddest part of Russian history is that unlike other empires which sometimes improved the lot of its subjects, Russia has turned any land it has occupied into a soulless, poverty stricken, graveyard.

Now many former subject states of the Russian and Soviet Empires are standing up for themselves so they will ever have to endure Russina enslavement again. Ukrainains remember when the Tsars tried to stamp their language and culture out and when Stalin starved millions of them to death. Poles remember everything from the three 18th century partitions, the 130 year occupation, to Katyn forest, the russian 'liberatoirs standing on the opposite side of the Vistula while the Germans levelled Warsaw, and the Soviet puppet government installed by Moscow from the end of WWII to 1989, and the Czechs, Hungarians Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians and others all have their stories to tell.

These states seem to be prepared to close ranks, and offer the best chance of isolating Putin, and force him to leave georgia, with the Saakashvili government intact.

2008-08-14T16:15:00.002-04:00

Musharraf to Resign

Just when things are heating up on one side of the Iranian border, as Russian troops continue their invasion of Georgia, President pervez Musharraf of Pakistan is to step down on Friday, rather than face impeachment.

As bad as this man is, he did provide a modicum of stability in this nuclear armed Islamic country. Not onl is it Islamic, it is a hotbed of radical Islamist activity, and the hinterlands are the base of operations for the Taliban.

As bad as he may be, he did provide a modicum of stability to Pakistan.

What happens next is anyone's guess. Might China decide to slice through the already disputed border at Jammu & Kashmir to get to Iran before Russia does? Despite Pakistan's nuclear arms, it's doubtful that they have the means to deliver their missiles to China's population centers in the far east.
I have argued that China's economy needs oil desperately, and they will not want Putin to get his hands on Iran and thus thorougly control what is essentially the world's oil supply. Moreover, we will have noted the recent terrorist activity of the Muslim Uighur minority in China as the Olympics were getting underway. Pakistan is also a hotbed of radical Islamist activity, and Al Qaeda and the Taliban operate in Pakistan's hinterlands. China could not tolerate a Nuclear armed islamic fundamentalist entity on its western border that will aid and abet the Uighur cause.

Remember the ancient Chinese curse: "may you live in interesting times". And that we do.

2008-08-14T12:21:00.002-04:00

"It's 3:00 AM..There's a phone in the White House...Who Do You Want Answering That Call?"

Remember this Ad?

Well, the call did come last week. Mona Charen published this report card on how Obama, McCAin and Bush fared when the call turned out to be real.

2008-08-14T11:34:00.002-04:00

McCain: We Are All Georgians

Here is an Op_ed piece that John McCain ran in the Wall street Journal today. It also appears on his campaign Website.

Vladimir Putin has met his match, however, he doesn't assume office until january. Unless this advice is followed by the Bush administraition, Putin will use the next 5 months to mop up, and perhaps commit further aggression.

There are probably some openings for food tasters in some eastern European capitals...And John McCain should watch what he eats, given Putin's record.

Here is McCain's Op-ed, verbatim:

We Are All Georgians

Op-Ed By John McCain, Wall Street Journal

August 14, 2008

For anyone who thought that stark international aggression was a thing of the past, the last week must have come as a startling wake-up call. After clashes in the Georgian region of South Ossetia, Russia invaded its neighbor, launching attacks that threaten its very existence. Some Americans may wonder why events in this part of the world are any concern of ours. After all, Georgia is a small, remote and obscure place. But history is often made in remote, obscure places.

As Russian tanks and troops moved through the Roki Tunnel and across the internationally recognized border into Georgia, the Russian government stated that it was acting only to protect Ossetians. Yet regime change in Georgia appears to be the true Russian objective.

Two years ago, I traveled to South Ossetia. As soon as we arrived at its self-proclaimed capital -- now occupied by Russian troops -- I saw an enormous billboard that read, "Vladimir Putin, Our President." This was on sovereign Georgian territory.

Russian claims of humanitarian motives were further belied by a bombing campaign that encompassed the whole of Georgia, destroying military bases, apartment buildings and other infrastructure, and leaving innocent civilians wounded and killed. As the Russian Black Sea Fleet began concentrating off of the Georgian coast and Russian troops advanced on one city after another, there could be no doubt about the nature of their aggression.

Despite a French-brokered cease-fire -- which worryingly does not refer to Georgia's territorial integrity -- Russian attacks have continued. There are credible reports of civilian killings and even ethnic cleansing as Russian troops move deeper into Georgian territory.

Moscow's foreign minister revealed at least part of his government's aim when he stated that "Mr. Saakashvili" -- the democratically elected president of Georgia -- "can no longer be our partner. It would be better if he went." Russia thereby demonstrated why its neighbors so ardently seek NATO membership.

In the wake of this crisis, there are the stirrings of a new trans-Atlantic consensus about the way we should approach Russia and its neighbors. The leaders of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Latvia flew to Tbilisi to demonstrate their support for Georgia, and to condemn Russian aggression. The French president traveled to Moscow in an attempt to end the fighting. The British foreign minister hinted of a G-8 without Russia, and the British opposition leader explicitly called for Russia to be suspended from the grouping.

The world has learned at great cost the price of allowing aggression against free nations to go unchecked. A cease-fire that holds is a vital first step, but only one. With our allies, we now must stand in united purpose to persuade the Russian government to end violence permanently and withdraw its troops from Georgia. International monitors must gain immediate access to war-torn areas in order to avert an even greater humanitarian disaster, and we should ensure that emergency aid lifted by air and sea is delivered.

We should work toward the establishment of an independent, international peacekeeping force in the separatist regions, and stand ready to help our Georgian partners put their country back together. This will entail reviewing anew our relations with both Georgia and Russia. As the NATO secretary general has said, Georgia remains in line for alliance membership, and I hope NATO will move ahead with a membership track for both Georgia and Ukraine.

At the same time, we must make clear to Russia's leaders that the benefits they enjoy from being part of the civilized world require their respect for the values, stability and peace of that world. The U.S. has cancelled a planned joint military exercise with Russia, an important step in this direction.

The Georgian people have suffered before, and they suffer today. We must help them through this tragedy, and they should know that the thoughts, prayers and support of the American people are with them. This small democracy, far away from our shores, is an inspiration to all those who cherish our deepest ideals. As I told President Saakashvili on the day the cease-fire was declared, today we are all Georgians. We mustn't forget it.

2008-08-14T07:22:00.004-04:00

Too Bad Krauthammer is not one of Bush's Advisors

Charles Krauthammer, the Montreal-born pundit for the Washington Post has come up with a list of sanctions that would show Putin that the west actually has teeth, and will stand by its allies against naked aggression.

This is a must-read in Washington, and a host of European capitals.

"3. Dissolve the G-8. Putin's dictatorial presence long made it a farce but no one wanted to upset the bear by expelling it. No need to. The seven democracies simply withdraw. Then immediately announce the reconstitution of the original G-7."

And I'll add one more to his list: "5. Give Georgia and Ukraine immediate membership to NATO." Irreversible.

Edit:: Kicking Russia out of G8 needs to be permanent, or at least until such time as Russia changes its ways. If history is any indicator, that will be never.

2008-08-13T20:53:00.002-04:00

Lessons From History

McCain was Right About Putin All Along

Let's pray voters recognize this. the stakes could not be higher.

2008-08-13T11:23:00.000-04:00

Memo to President Ahmedinejad viz Vladimir Putin:

I am posting this on my site (http://smokwawelski.blogspot.com), as well as sending you this message personally. According to my tracking system, I receive quite a few Iranian visitors to this blog.

My comments will differ from most of those who have posted on your blog, but I must tell you that you are being used as a pawn by Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in his quest for restoration and I believe, expansion of the Russian Empire.

Historically, Russia has long sought to have southern ports on the Indian Ocean they could use year round. They have had to settle for ports on the Black Sea, and dependent on the benevolence of Turkey for use of the Dardanelles for access to open seas. When they invaded Afghanistan in 1979, I believe they had planned, once it was subdued, to use it as a staging ground for action further south, whether it was at the time, Iran or Pakistan, both of which were experiencing upheavals in their governments at the time. I also view the war that Saddam Hussein launched against Iran as part and parcel of Moscow's strategy, to wit, that once Afghanistan was subdued, if Iran was defeated or weakened by Moscow's client in Baghdad, that they could gain their southern ports, and control of the oil supply to the world.

Russia's latest flexing of muscle in Georgia leads me to believe that they still have designs on Iran. Moreover, Russia has encouraged you and Syria in your constant threats against Israel. Which may result in your being engaged to one degree or another by Israel as she defends herself.

Russia may have its own wealth of oil within its own territory, but they know that China, as a growing economic power does not have enough of its own oil to sustain its growth, and will have to eventually make some kind of power play in the middle east. They also know that they can bring Europe into the Russian sphere of influence by assuming total control over Middle eastern oil. Thus, I believe that Putin may well want to cut through its former territory in the Caucasus region, which it knows all too well from a strategic point of view, and take Iran, so that they can control the oil supply from the middle east, and stop China from gaining the upper hand at the same time.

Could it be, that they believe that Israel will hit Iran hard one day soon in response to Iran's threats, and possible action? If so, does it not stand to reason that Putin might employ the same flimsy diplomatic excuse of intervening for the sake of restoring stability to the region that they are using on Georgia? What would stop Russian troops from pouring into an Iran wounded by an Israeli pre-emptive strike or counter attack?

I believe Russia will do its very best to ensure that these events take place. so that their troops can break through at Azerbaijan, and overrun Iran quickly.
Israel only wishes to live alongside everyone else in peace. They will not attack Iran unless they believe that Iran poses an immediate, slear and present danger.

Though I do not like what I know of your regime, I consider Putin's Russia a greater threat to world peace. I would suggest that you stop playing Putin's game, and allowing him to use you as a pawn as he strives to restore empire and glory.
My dislike for authoritarian regimes notwithstanding, I have had extensive contact with Iranians overseas, and have found them to be fair-minded, well educated, not to mention some of the kindest people I have ever known.

I believe that Iran, should it move toward the human rights reforms that were hoped for by many when Mohammed Shah was overthown, could very quickly take its place on the world stage as a nation among equals, living in peace, and enjoying prosperity, not to mention security from hostile neighbours who pretend to be friendly.

As a Roman Catholic, I can understand and appreciate your regime's desire to strive to instill and protect traditional morality in the face of western moral corruption as projected by Hollywood. However, it is better achieved through non-violent means.

2008-08-12T13:50:00.001-04:00

McCain: If He's Good Enough For Brownback, He's Good Enough For Me.

Back in November, Sam Brownback ended his quest for the White House. The Kansas Senator with probably the best pro-life and pro-traditionalist voting records in all of congress was the candidate I had initially supported.

When Sen. Brownback dropped out of the race, he threw his support to Sen. John McCain, another strng conservative, but one who has yet to win the trust of many evangelical voters.

That said, to this day, many conservative Christians are still threatening not to vote for Sen. McCain in Novemeber, and are even looking at possibly casting a protest vote for either Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution party, or Bob Barr of the Libertarians. While both those parties have impressive programs, the fact is that the United States Presidential race is again dominated by the two party structure.

I think there had been a chance for that system to have been dented in 1992 when Billionaire H. Ross Perot ran for president. Had he not dropped out then jumped back in again, which damaged his credibility, we might have seen a successful third party challenge, and had he won, we would have been spared the disaster that was the Clinton administration, but it was not to be. Bottom line is, neither the Libertarians nor the Constitution parties COMBINED had the resources that Ross Perot had.

Thus, if enough Christian conservatives who normally vote GOP do vote third party, they will be increasing the odds that Barack Obama will be elected president. There are some who say, "Bring it on! Let's have 4 years of Obama, and then we can throw him out and replace him witha REAL conservative!".

That argument simply does not hold water. In four years Barack Obama, with the most liberal voting record, especially on the social issues that are so near and dear to many evangelicals , combined with a Democratic House and Senate can do untold damage that may not ever be undone.

The most glaring example is the Supreme court, and other circuit judges that the next president will nominate. On Today's Supreme court, there are several justices over the age of seventy. There is one, Ruth Bader Ginsberg whose health is questionable, and another, John Paul Stevens, who is 87 years old (the only Supreme Court justice appointed by Gerald R. Ford). While McCain will probably not make opposition to Roe v. Wade the Litmus test for mnew justices, he can at least be counted on, especially in the face of what is almost certain to be a Democratic Congress, appoint strict constructionist justices.
The damage that Barack Obama could do on that front by appointing liberal activist judges to be rubber stamped by Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and their cabal.

There are some even more important reasons why we can't, at this juncture in history, allow Barack Obama 4 years to screw up so badly that no Demcrat will ever be elected again, and the biggest one is not Al Qaeda, which is nearly defeated, no thanks to the Dems, but Vladimir Putin, who, it must be clear to one and all, seeks to re-establish what Ronald Reagan dubbed "the Evil Empire".

As we have seen, Vladimir Putin has sent Russian troops, initially into disputed separatist regions ostensibly belonging to Georgia, but now, into Georgia proper. Like all conqueror-tyrants before him, he has assessed the strengths and weaknesses of his enemies, and found them wanting.
Could it be he is assuaged by the apparent blindness among many elements in the west to the fact that history did not, in fact, end in 1989? Is he assured by polls showing that there is no appetite for war among many Americans?

Given what I believe are Putin's long term objectives, based on my knowledge of Russian history, a weak, indecisive response to their aggression will eventually lead to a major global war. I am not suggesting that we go to war with Russia, but rather that steps are taken to stop Russia in her tracks now, and let them know they can proceed no further. At the time of this post, Dmitri Medvedev , Putin's sock-puppet president of Russia has agreed to a Eurpean union proposal put forward by French president Nicolas Sarkozy to a ceasefire which would see Russian occupation of the separatist area of South Ossetia, and Georgian forces withdrawing into Georgia proper. This would not have been possible without quick and decisive intervention on the part of the US and the new, improved EU under Sarkozy's leadership. Let's hope the cease fire does take effect, however, Russia is watching for any sign of weakness before withdrawing from Georgia, which if they detect, they will just push on to Tbilisi, and install a puppet regime.

John McCain has for a long time held a realistic and presciently accurate view of Post-Yeltsin Russia.. McCain responded to president Bush's statement tghat he got a sense of the soul of Putin by looking into his eyes, by saying “I looked into his eyes,” Mr. McCain said, “and saw three letters: a K, a G and a B.”

Putin has made a fool of george W. Bush, and he will make far worse of Barack Obama.

In addition to John McCain's pro-life credientials, as understood by Sen Sam Brownback, I believe that he is the only one of any of the presidential candidates who will be able to stand up to today's Hitler, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, and prevent the global confict that will erupt if this tyrant is not handled properly.

If he's good enough for Brownback, he's good enough for me.

2008-08-11T13:34:00.002-04:00

What is Russia's End Game in Georgia, and What Can The West Do?

Until the day that Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin took control of Russia, I was optimistic about their future as a free coutry that would join the modern world. The moment Putin wrested power from the ailing Boris Yeltsin, however, my optimism began to fade.

Putin is a KGB man. That qualification alone is evidence that he is an utterly ruthless man who will squash any opposition to his plans ruthlessly, without a shred of guilt on his conscience, if he has one.

It is my view that Russia's ultimate goal is hegemony in the Middle east, and they believe that the road to that hegemony passes through Iran.

I have studied Rssian history, and one of their long standing goals has been year round, warm water southern ports. Iran provides them with this.

They had fought wars in the past forcomtrol over the Dardanelles so that their Black sea fleet and merchant ships could have year round ports. It was a band aid solution.

Then came the collapse and dismemberment of the USSR. Suddenly, their major ports such as Odessa and Sebastopol found themselves in Ukraine. Once Putin took control, did it take long for them to start meddling in Ukrainian elections to the point of poisoning the pro-western candidate Yushchenko who was certain to defeat the pro-Russian sock puppet?

Let's (I know it's painful, but bear with me) revisit the Carter presidency. Does anyone think that the soviet invasion of Afghanistan was an end in and of itself, or was it ultimately to be a jumping off point in the drive for southern ports, possibly in Iran or Pakistan? Seriously what else can Afghanistan offer them?

So here we are today. Should Russian troops overrun Georgia as they likely will, they will be right on the border of oil-rich Azerbaijan and the Baku oilfields that were of such strategic importance in WWII. It would not take much to push right through to Iran, which would become feasible if the Islamo-psycho regime there does attack Israel and Israel retaliates.... Putin will just go in and "pick up the pieces".

The man may be the personification of evil, but he is not stupid. Forget Medvedev. He's just a sock puppet. Putin sees multiple angles here that all benefit Russia in every way:

1) He restores national honour and pride (not to mention great power status) to the country after what has been seen by many Russians as years of humiliation. This he can achieve by subjugating Georgia, while the west does next to nothing. If Russia contrls that ppeline, suddenly western Europe must revise its foreign policy.

2)By rolling into Georgia, the message to Azerbaijan is to quickly change course and adopt a pro-Moscow policy. Essentially become, like Lukashenko's Belorus, part of the new Soviet Union, independent in name only. Russia gets control over Baku, and a jump off point into Iran.

3)Russia knows that its greatest threat is China. China's overheating economy needs oil badly. Russia already has a good supply of oil, but China may eventually have to look at ways it can dominate the Middle east, so If Russia, by egging on Iran's mullahs to attack israel, ensures an israeli retaliation which weakens or cripples iran, they can move in. Thus Russia gets Control over Middle east oil supplies, cutting off China, who they fear might want to eventually flex their Superpower muscle and retake lands the Russians took centuries ago. Russia, by Controlling Iran, will also force realignment of the other middle eastern countries, not to mention former Soviet Socialist Republics, who will have to consider following Putin's marching orders in terms of oil and foreign policy.Finally Putin Assures his place in Russian history alongside, if not ahead of Peter and Catherine, as the man who finally got them their southern ports.

Now... What can be done?

Putin is nothing more than what Yuri Andropov would have been..... Reagan would have had a very tough opponent in Andropov, and whoever succeeds GeorgeW. Bush is going to have his hands full with this current piece of KGB work. The only difference between Putin and his Soviet predecessors is that he is not an ideologue, but rather a very pragmatic and extreme nationalist. What can the U.S. do? very little to help Georgia, given its geography. If they chose, Russia could overrun them in a week. The world community is going to have show some fortitude. I think GWB and Hu Jintao (another bloodthirsty dictator) need to make common cause against this reptile Putin. China has alot at stake in this too, assuming that my argument suggesting Putin desires hegemony of the Middle East through domination, if not outright annexation of Iran , is true, and I believe it is. Abkazia and south Ossetia are probably lost, not that they wanted to be part of Georgia in the first place.
The situation can be salvaged only if a deal could be struck that will see Georgia proper remain independent under its current government, but that means sending a strong message to Big Bad Vlad...but how? How about Chinese troops building up along the Russian border near outer Manchuria? After all that was once Chinese territory.... Meanwhile NATO must move to admit Ukraine . The Baltic States who know that Russia has them in her sights need to revisit with Poland & Ukraine the idea of a loosely knit confederation, with common military and foreign policy as had been discussed seriously at various times in history, most recently in the brief years of independence they enjoyed after WWI. Had that venture succeeded, history may have been very different. Such arangements would make it very clear to Putin that Russian expansionism will be met with resistance, not appeasement.
Resolve is the only language the men in the Kremlin understand.

2008-03-01T13:23:00.001-05:00

Ever get the feeling that Something's Rotten in Denmark?

Denmark has its problems, but the foul stench i'm talking about is coming from London, Washington, and Ottawa.

The European Union has always made many people uneasy, however, things have taken on a new urgency with the ascendancy of Gordon Brown to Number 10 Downing. Within weeks of assuming office, without public consultation he sent his foreign minister to sign onto the EU constitution. He has also overridden individual rights by issuing an order (bypassing Parliament) for Doctors to harvest organs from deceased patients regardless of whether consent was obtained (reminiscent of the sketch from Monty Python's "The Meaning of Life" , where doctors knock on a man's door, and casually asks him that "Can we have your liver?").

But what is behind all this? Why do things seem to be headed that way? Even in North America many are becoming aware of governing elites incrementally dispensing with national sovereignty, what with talk of a North American Union arising out of NAFTA, and why International law is even considered with regard to our own jurisprudence.

The following video is close to two hours long, but it is rivetting, and well worth watching. David Gerrish exposes plenty of evidence that a "charity" known as "Common Purpose UK" has infiltrated British society at all levels, (and I submit that if it is going on there, there are similar forces at work in other free societies) and if they succeed in achieving their goals, the consequences will be dire.
It is a wake-up call for all in free societies. Fascism is not dead yet.
David Gerrish now publishes The UK Free Press (Formerly the UK Column)

2008-02-28T11:06:00.002-05:00

Tick! Tick ! Tick!

(This was originally posted in Jan. 2007, before the sub-prime mortgage crisis hit hard in the USA, forcing the issue into the forefront.)

One of the major issues out there today, and it is largely going unnoticed is the debt bomb that hangs over us like the Sword of Damacles. And I'm not talking only of government debt,but rather PERSONAL Credit card debt. I have seen some pretty shocking statistics about it, and it would be much worse if so much of it wasn't hidden in second mortgages and refinances. Millions of people are on the verge of losing their homes!!!!! The refinancers have always been able to count on the real estate market growing exponentially, but that may be grinding to a halt.
Ladies and gentlemen, the global economy is in for a major correction, and people in serious debt are going to lose everything they went into hock for.

For obvious reasons, people like to keep their pasted-on smiles, and act as if there is no 800 lb gorilla in the room.
We need to adopt an independent monetary policy to insulate us from being dragged down with other countries , but I would like to propose an even more radical idea. A few years ago a former MP, Lorne Nystrom and I cooked up an idea which would see federal budget surplusses returned to the people in the form of a credit card amnesty. In exchange for requesting voluntary reductions in credit limits to the point where the card is functional for convenience, but not for mad consumerism, people would be given a one time ticket out of debt, reminiscent of the "jubilee" from the Bible which saw everyone's debts wiped out every 49 years.
Easy credit is a cancer on too many people, and it is high time the finance companies were told to reel it in. Cry and scream as they may, I am more interested in seeing people getting their personal finances in order than rapacious banks raking in profits on interest while children eat Kraft Dinner.

Financial issues are the biggest destroyer of families. Finances are the leading cause of divorce, for one thing.
Smacking down the high interest lenders, using government surplusses as part of a one time amnesty per person to reduce debt , and then mandating courses in responsible personal finances for all students (and anyone benefitting from the program) is not only good economic policy but also long term, responsible pro-family policy.