This Pilgrim's Progress

Attacks on Israel

The news coming out of the mid-east is disturbing. Hezbollah has fired over 700 rockets at Israel, and the IDF is retaliating in a big way, but with focus. 

I'm becoming somewhat pessimistic about the War on Terrorism. It looks like Congress is not taking the war seriously, and I wonder if the administration is taking it seriously too?? Why the waffling on border security? Why did the Senate after approving the construction of a border fence, vote against it's funding!?

In the meantime, our church just said good-bye to a family that was returning to their home in Israel. They were here while the husband was attending seminary. He graduated, found a position in a ministry, and they moved back last week. They are a wonderful family with small children and I am worried for them. Please be in prayer for them and for the nation of Israel and for peace in that area.

I'm confident in God's sovereignty in history, but that doesn't mean I think we (the U.S.A. ) should not be a force for peace and democracy. In fact, in light of the many blessings God has bestowed on this nation, I believe we have a duty to fight international evil like the Jihadists.

You might wonder why I use the word "Jihadist". Well, I think "Terrorist" is somewhat accurate, but doesn't really paint the character or nature of the enemy.  Jihadists are militant Islamic fascists who will stop at nothing to further their agenda of spreading Islam by force and defeating Western culture. They are a culture of death, and view their own death as sufficient reward for their pursuit of violence.  Hezbollah and Hamas are jihadist organizations supported and sponsored by Syrian Bathists and Sunni, Iranian Shiites, and Saudi's  Sunni Wahabists.  They are want to restore the Caliphate, but of course they all have different ideas of what that Caliphate would be like.  If they didn't have the West to vent their violence on, they would be killing each other, much like the sectarian violence in Baghdad the last few weeks.

The sad thing is, even if they were successful in cowing the west and wiping Israel off the map, the Caliphate would never arise because they have no unifying ideology other than a culture of violence. In the past the Caliphate was a product of strong and unifying leaders who knew how to conquer and rule from cultures that had more to offer than bleak death.  The Jihadists only know how to deal out death and violence.

Until our culture truly understands the nature of evil that these Jihadists represent and the threat they are to our civilization, we will continue to be their victims.

Bruno is gone.

Bruno, the European Brown Bear that's been terrorizing Bavaria was shot and killed by a hunter this weekend.  It's kind of sad, but it was probably the best thing to do  before he hurt somebody.  Bavarian officials were concerned because the bear was getting closer to populated areas, and had eluded every effort at live-capture.

To review, Bruno had wandered into Bavaria from Austria. He was part of a re-introduction of the species to the Alpine areas of Italy. Some of them had moved to Austria but had not caused any problems there. Bruno's appearance in Bavaria was at first welcomed, but soon he acquired a taste for livestock, often killing them without eating them. Bavarian authorities had authorized professional hunters to kill Bruno. They also tried to capture him using traps and special bear dogs from Finland to no avail.  The European Brown Bear is related to the North American Brown Bear, also known as the Grizzly, and grows to about the same size and has the same behavior.

Der Spiegel's article on Bruno's death: http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,423734,00.html

Honor

Laura Ingraham had a very good segment on "Honor" on the radio today. She interviewed James Bowman the author of a book "Honor: A History".  You can reach the link for the book and the interview at http://www.lauraingraham.com/public/.  The main premise is how the concept of and value of honor has diminished in the West over especially the last century.

Honor, integrity, honesty and other virtues seem to be non-entities in our world, especially in government and business.  Locally, the Cunningham scandal has highlighted the lack of integrity that some of our politicians have. Poor San Diego has been a frequent victim of crooked (or sometimes just "bent") politicians over the years.  I'm thinking of the current Pension Crisis and the Yellow Cab scandal of 20 years ago.  The business world has too many bad examples to even reference.

In the Post-Modern world how does one live honorably and even teach that virtue to one's children?  Thankfully, our military continues to be a shining example of where honor and other virtues are stressed and valued. Even though there have been notable lapses of honor in our military, they don't try to cover it up, the people are disgraced and court-martialed. 

The only concept of honor that our current culture knows is the "honor among thieves" kind in the gangs and prisons.  "Respect" has replaced "honor", but it doesn't mean the same thing. It has more to do with power and the willingness to use violence to extend or retain that power.

I think I'll get the book (along with the others on my "list"), the subject is an important one, and the author seemed to have some valuable insights.

President Discusses War on Terror and Operation Iraqi Freedom

President Bush gave a great speech the other day on the War on Terror and the continuing efforts to not only defeat the terrorists, but to build Iraq as a nation. He used the example of recent events at the city of Tal Afar to talk about the long term goals and means to accomplish them. It's an excellent speech, and chances are you probably didn't see it televised by MSM. Hugh Hewitt did play large segments of it on his talk radio show. But it's well worth the time to read in full: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/print/20060320-7.html

There's also a fact sheet that outlines the strategy for victory that the administration and the military is pursuing: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060320-6.html

This all ties in well with my previous post about Greg Jaffe's article WSJ that discussed the new doctrine that's being developed to combat terrorism/insurgency.

Fighting In Iraq

Today in the hard-copy Wall Street Journal there is an excellent article by Greg Jaffe about the change/modification/evolution  in war doctrine that is coming about lately.  A number of writers have drawn very different "lessons learned" from Vietnam than the doctrine that was adopted by the military in the '80's.  John Nagl is one of those that Jaffe mentions, and Nagl draws on the lessons the British military learned fighting the Malay insurgents during the 1050's.  Nagl's writing and that of others is having an impact and now the top command structure is changing it's doctrine to more effectively fight the insurgents in Iraq.  The article isn't available online yet, but I'll include a link when it is.  Jaffe's article is well worth the read as is the books that he recommends, including Nagle's.

Being a student of history and political science, it has been very interesting for me to see how the U.S. handles Iraq and Afghanistan.  We currently have political leaders with the will to endure in the struggle, and the military strategists have quickly responded to changing conditions in Iraq to come up with new tactics and strategies to win the struggle.  Nation building isn't easy, but with the will and determination, I think the U.S. will prevail and help Iraq become an effective democracy able to defend itself from it's external and internal enemies.

Flexibility, manueverability, quickness  were part of the strategy and tactics that Gen. Tommy Franks and Centcom used to bring a quick defeat to the conventional Baathist forces, but now the challenges of building a democratic nation, training up a new army while fighting off internal terrorists requires different tactics and doctrine.  Flexibility is still a requirement, but we also have to bring stability to Iraq while it learns to govern and defend itself.  This means holding and defending ground as well as winning hearts and minds of the people.

Having some relatives, friends, and acquaintances in special ops units (Seals, Green Berets, Rangers, Marine Force Reconnaissance, etc.), it has been interesting to see how these small, highly trained units can be used for a multitude of missions.  From chasing Taliban and Al Quaida in mountain caves to training the new Iraqi army. Robert Kaplan in his "Imperial Grunts" talks about this. I haven't read the book yet, but I think I will soon, along with John Nagle's.

One of the interesting things that's been happening with the development of a professional and all-volunteer military, is that it's attracting men and women who not only have a patriotic calling to serve, but also highly intelligent and thoughtful people who are bringing their intellectual talents and insights to bear on developing tactics and strategy doctrine that meets the challenges that our military faces these days. And these aren't "Ivory Tower" thinkers either, like John Nagle, they are actually serving as "boots on the ground" and putting their ideas into practice and refining them in the laboratory of reality.  And they all seem to have a firm and deep committment to the idea of Freedom and Democracy, and most of all to God and Country.

Watch Out for the Squirrels!!

Today a story from Chicago tells about a couple of people who were attacked by the local squirrels! A previous post of mine related how some squirrels in a small Siberian town were attacking and killing dogs in the area. 

I think there's two morals to this tail. One, if the squirrels are getting cranky, maybe it's not global warming that's eminent but maybe another mini-ice-age is around the corner?? Two, don't trust squirrels, they may look cute but they have the heart of a predator!!

(Check out the recipes for squirrel stew in my previous post too!)

Hugh Hewitt may be on top of the Bird Flu stuff, but you can count on me for up-t0-date Mad Squirrel news!

Peaches Geldof

Finally, one of the victims of parent's strange naming habits has spoken out!! Peaches Geldof, daughter of Bob Geldof, says she hates her name and wishes people would stop giving their kids weird names.

Here Here!! People give more dignified names to their pets than they do to their children these days. If these ex-hippies are so keen on these weird appellations, they ought to change their own names rather than inflict their poor taste on their children. Names are very important and can have an enormous impact on self-image and self-worth.  I hope the current crop of recent celebrity parents pay heed and take more care in the naming of their offspring.

I just finished Googling "Peaches Geldof" on the net and found what I think is the original opinion piece she wrote at the Telegraph on the topic. It's at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2004/05/25/peaches25.xml  She apparently wrote it on the occasion of Paltrow naming her child "Apple".  And reading some other articles it appears she's politically conservative!!  It's strange, but the same short 4 or 5 line article appeared all over the internet today on various sites about the same thing. Could it be some sort of plot by an over-zealous publicist??  They should have had a link to the Telegraph piece, she's a pretty good writer.

Squirrels Attack Dog!?

The BBC reports that a pack of squirrels attacked and killed at dog that was barking at them. This occurred in the village of Lazo in the far eastern part of Russia. I think that might mean they're in for a tough winter!! A resident of Lazo observed:

A Lazo man who called himself only Mikhalich said there had been "no pine cones at all" in the local forests this year. "The little beasts are agitated because they have nothing to eat," he added.

You know, I've never really liked squirrels, now I know why!! A critter with over-sized teeth can't be trusted no matter how furry and cute they are!!

Maybe the citizens of Lazo need to come up with some recipes for Squirrel stew and start thinning out the herd!!!  These guys have the right idea!! They might want to make copies of the Russian news article and give it to the protesters.

Here's a recipe for you if the squirrels in your neighborhood are molesting your pooch. Squirrel stew is actually a traditional American dish. I'm sure my Southern/Cherokee ancestors ate quite a bit of it in their time. I bet they didn't have a dog-molesting squirrel problem!

Our Lab, Toby, has permission to catch and "play with" any small critters that wander into our yard. Exceptions of course for the other family pets (1 parakeet, 2 cockatiels, and 1 tortoise).  He's caught and killed a number of rodents and a few stupid pigeons.  He's a pretty friendly pup and probably has no idea he's killing them. He probably thinks they look like great play-toys!

Anyways...watch out for those darn pesky squirrels!

Thanksgiving

Proclamation of Thanksgiving

Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

"A Marine reports from Iraq"

The Washington Times has a great commentary piece written by a Marine serving in Iraq. It gives an interesting perspective on tactics and weapons. It also reinforces how the negative press affects our troops' morale.  They are doing the job and are more than willing to stay the course, they just need our support and encouragement!!  Click on the link below to access the article:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20051121-093501-9601r.htm