Blog @ MoreWhat.com

Another glance at a list of most popular news stories indicates the story of the two “abducted” boys has moved into first place since yesterday. In second place is a strange combo-looking thing featuring Hollywood divorces, Trump and Rosie and assorted other useless information. Third place has electronics standards and the BS electronics show hording space it doesn’t deserve. As a post of ours pointed out, the technology related industries in this country as well as others doles out tech advances in minuscule portions to maximize the profit ripoff of consumers. We have little sympathy for their perceived difficulties and absolutely no respect for their methods. Actually Beckham was in third place but who cares about soccer?

There are no other stories in the list worth mentioning with the possible exception of one on Secretary of State, Rice. The headline reads” Rice Encounters Skepticism in Mideast”. That is offered only for its comedic value. Maybe if the U.S. would put Israel in its place, show some compassion for the ordinary citizens of Palestine, Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East and warn every nation in the region to make an effort at peace, we might have something. Show them you’re serious by completing what you started in Afghanistan and Iraq, quickly. Straighten out some of the messes you’ve gotten us into and start acting like world leaders and maybe some one will take you seriously. If you get that far you can tell Iran and North Korea or any one else spoiling for a fight to straighten up or their situation will change abruptly. Do what you need to provide a little lasting peace and prosperity in the region and then take a break and bring the troops home. It can be done so quit wasting time and get at it. Tell the morons back in the states to stop debating foreign policy and military strategy in the news and get to work also. This country could use some leadership. Let’s start with what we have and stop playing politics. For once, finish the job and stop looking like the idiots you probably are.

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

Walker’s World: EU-U.S. agree on Mideast

By MARTIN WALKER
UPI Editor Emeritus

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (UPI) — The striking feature of the UPI-Zogby poll on American attitudes toward the Israel- Palestine dispute is the similarity with views in Europe. This suggests that the transatlantic political support now exists for a concerted push for a new effort to reach a settlement, which is exactly what Britain’s Tony Blair and the Iraq Study Group have been urging on President George W. Bush this month.

This is an interesting article but the bottom line is most conflicts in the world continue for outrageous lengths of time. Does anyone really want to solve these problems? Conflict involving Israel have existed since 1948. Certainly they have existed since the 1967 war. Much hope was placed on efforts during the Carter Administration. It looked good until the assasination of Anwar Sadat. Again, does anyone really want to resolve these problems? Sixty years and counting and nothing has been settled. Everyone can share in the blame.

Iran has experienced many problems. Any anger remaining from the US support of the Shah of Iran is understandable. Additional anger over lopsided support of Israel by the US is equally understandable. However, the current leaders in Iran calling for the destruction of Israel is not real helpful either.

Other nations in the region and US involvement produce problems based on objectives that are basically selfish and have nothing to do with solving world problems and only add to the difficulties. Therefore an article claiming the EU and US agree on the Middle East is hardly useful.

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

Bush, Mexico’s Calderon to work on immigration
Reuters -
… W. Bush and Mexican President-elect Felipe Calderon
pledged on Thursday to work together for a comprehensive
solution to curb illegal immigration from Mexico …

If it was not a plot by both Houses of Congress to introduce
HR4437 knowing it would never get through the Senate, then
the fine new Senate of the 110th Congress should be able to
finish strong reform starting in January 2007. Similar to the
fact that Immigration Reform of 1986 was never enforced, in
their grand wisdom, politicians have improved on their deceit
by creating a better strategy. Work together just long enough
to satisfy mutual goals and fool the public in believing you really
give a damn. Like Democrats conceding Presidential 2004
elections by nominating John Kerry when John Edwards wsa a
much more viable candidate. Kerry was a sacrificial lamb and
the only one who did not know it was Kerry. He still doesn’t.

We hope all you smiling Democrats are enjoying your victories.
We hope all you Republicans are understanding your arrogance
that led to this. And we hope you both as well as all of America
is prepared for a continuation of porous borders, unrestricted
immigration and a complete breakdown of national security.

If you haven’t noticed, the resignation of Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld and previously mentioned items absolutely elated the
Muslim world. Al-Jazeera and the rest have been celebrating
since November 7th, 2006. Thank you one and all. NOT!

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Below is an example of just one more initiative simply created to
further the goals of one of the players on the international scene.
Day after day representatives of each country, regime, group,
organization or whatever make a statement in opposition to or in
favor of some grand plan or idea they claim is an effort to solve a
problem in the world. While this plays out and any one interested
weighs in on the idea’s relative merits or lack of same, people keep
dying or have their lives ruined or merely continue to suffer the
consequences of everyone else’s selfishness. No one is really trying
to find the right solution. They are simply working on a solution
that works for them. As long as that remains the strategy, no amount
of PR is going to change anything.

The major countries of the world have the tools necessary to solve
most of the world’s problems if they so desire. The problem is that
runs contrary to what they, the leaders of these countries, want. No
leaders have the courage to confront the other powers in their own
countries. The power behind the money in every country is not in
favor of what most of us would like; a peaceful world where every
person can pursue their dreams. Makes for a nice story but does not
work for the big money guys. It’s a bizarre global version of the old
joke, he who dies with the most toys wins.

This rant provided by C. Harris, with assistance from Stanford Matthews.

EXCLUSIVE- US starts plan to help Hamas opponents
Reuters AlertNet - Oct 13, 2006
By Adam Entous. JERUSALEM, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The United States
has quietly started a campaign projected to cost up to $42 million to
bolster Hamas’s political opponents ahead of possible early Palestinian
elections, say officials linked to the programme.

In a response to a comments post by us at Reality Hammer, the author of the reply stated that Hezbollah targeted civilians with cluster munitions. To that we replied we had not heard of it yet.

There is a report at the BBC regarding the U.S. State Dept is investigating whether Israel used U.S. made cluster bombs during the fighting in Lebanon. Wonder why there was no mention of Hezbollah?

To be fair we must post at least one shot at the Republicans. Not a large problem after visiting the frontpage at gop.com. We will only address the implications of the titles in their featured posts.

Liberal Judge Negligently Strikes Down Terrorist Surveillance Program.

A perfect example of more party politics. Without any further investigation as mentioned above, the title screams we did not get what we wanted so the judge was wrong. The Dems like the outcome, the GOP does not. Go figure. The judge’s decision may have nothing to do with negligence. If one eliminates the the possibility that the decision could be a mixed bag when it comes to right or wrong, then the decision has only two simple outcomes. It is either right or wrong.

We have yet to see a critique that is not tainted by partisan manure. One side claims a victory for constitutional protection and the other a defeat in the war on terror. Not convincing.

Number 2 of 3:

Opening Up ANWR For Oil Drilling Will Provide Crucial Relief

Here comes the great idea again. Have you stopped to consider that without any more refining capacity we could have all the crude on the planet and not produce another drop of gasoline?

The “not in my backyard” public attitude, the stated inability to protect from terror attacks and the oil industry’s impotent management of infrastructure contributed to the lack of new refining capacity in this country for about 30 years.

BTW, recall BP’s famous concern for the environment with this year’s Prudhoe Bay fiasco? To be called a tree hugger for that last statement is equal to playing the race card if the target is white.

Three 4 Three:

Secretary Rice Says There Is Now The Chance For Peace In The Middle East.

Short Answer: Just like there was before Anwar al Sadat was murdered. Seemed like a decent guy just trying to do his job. Another truckload of manure from Secretary Rice.

In a report from Reuters, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement expressed, for public consumption, an interest in a unified government with Hamas for the published reason of easing internal tenstions and ease international isolation.

One could conclude that with Hezbollah increasing their popularity in the region and the U.S. and Israel suffering further criticism of their mutual support and some conspiracy theories related to the conflict currently hovering in cease-fire, that the parties involved are simply jockeying for position before a continuation of the conflict when the fragile cease-fire deteriorates.

From AP, the Israeli foreign minister referred to the cease- fire in Lebanon as “explosive”. Are we just being prepared for its predetermined failure? The EU nations are still looking for troops to place in the peace-keeping effort in Lebanon. But they are worried about getting “sucked into” a conflict.

Maybe that is why so many in the world criticize the U.S. government’s military intervention in foreign affairs. Due to the reluctance of others to get involved in diplomatic discussions that mean anything or to put up or shutup by deploying troops when non-military intervention fails.

You could argue that the U.S. dangles the unwanted carrot or uses economic coercion or rattling the saber as the current toolbox of foreign policy. But you could equally argue that few countries, save the U.K., are willing to “bring it” when the U.S. acts for lack of action by others, e.g., the U.N. or its members.

Two brief mentions of AP headlines are in order. South Korea was urging North Korea to forget about it, as relates to the North’s intent to test nukes. Just enough obvious general concern to keep North Korea in the news rather than being buried by other stories.

NATO airstrikes killed 11 Taliban. The violence ahead of the strike killed one NATO soldier and wounded five. Kill ratio is 11:1, what is the cost ratio, several million to one? The Taliban, fighting on a budget. An absurd or perhaps insensitive commentary on an absurd method for settling differences. Headlines from AP, commentary from Blog @ MoreWhat.com.

It started here after a blog search for ’support the troops” and the title reading
How Washington Goaded Israel appeared in the list of blog hits. The article
was written by Stephen Zunes and published at Foreign Policy in Focus, a
site described as a think tank without walls. Stephen Zunes is Middle East
editor as listed at the end of the article. A summary of the article might easily
be, based on the title, an account of complicity of the United States in starting
the recent conflict between Hezbollah and Israel waged in Southern Lebanon
and Israel.

If you read the article you will find many phrases that raise more questions
than provide answers. ‘There is increasing evidence’ in the first line of the
article. At the end of the paragraph you will find the words, ‘led the Bush
administration to push Israel to take military action.’ The presentation of the
increasing evidence was not forthcoming other than unsupported statements
on circumstances from which a conclusion is drawn.

The evidence in the next paragraph is a statement that George Bush offered
U.S. backing for Israel to attack Lebanon now. Did you hear them say this?
Was it reported through major news outlets, including the foreign press? How
or where was this stated other than by this author? The next line has Zunes
quoting Seymour Hersch and a Pentagon consultant for proof. Hardly.

The only reference online of the New Yorker’s Seymour Hersch articles that
appeared on the site’s search was Watching Lebanon. There was little to offer in the way of hard evidence here either. Some strong accusations from some freedom loving writers, at least, freedom to write and accuse without proof.

No unqualified Bush support here but if you wish to discredit the man, wait for him to do it to himself or actually bring some iron-clad evidence to accuse the Office of the President of the United States.

This post is simply due to President Bush’s speech related to staying the course in Iraq, today’s Rush Limbaugh program and those in the United States military which was the first reason to write.

Maybe the reason for less publicly expressed support of our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere can be explained by some incidents by a few in theater. You likely are familiar with the accounts of horrific events involving some members of the armed forces. Without an unnecessary discussion of facts yet to be determined, we should continue to proudly express sincere support for those in harm’s way. Although are focus on issues may be redirected as a matter of course in our daily lives, the struggle and fate of those engaged in military operations does not subside until the conflict isover and neither should our support.

in addition, it is a rare thing that I agree with Rush Limbaugh. But today there was little with which to disagree. Ignoring his tendency to use his style of speaking to inflame or enrage his opposition and further the affection of his fans, Mr. Limbaugh reported on a story from a small market newspaper and a columnist advocating a need for more girlie men in this country. Check the Rush transcript or mp3 or whatever he has available as a record on this to save my explaining it further. Except to say that if the woman’s piece was represented accurately, she is a useful idiot or whatever term Rush used.

Although we should not revisit mistakes of the past, and there is plenty left to correct, a casual study of historic events and the era I believe Tom Brokaw referred to as the greatest generation, will serve to provide many examples of how we should act or carry on foreign affairs and policy. A soft touch and diplomacy as was described by the aforementioned columnist will likely fail against the self-proclaimed mission of those who intend to kill or destroy the infidels. For the uninitiated, infidels are any persons not accepting their beliefs. Here is the obligatory apology for any of you who think I am criticizing the Muslim faith or Islam of which I know very little. I am NOT.

As for President Bush, and even though his intentions for supporting the continuation of military operations in Iraq may differ from mine, I agree with him also. There is little point to repeating mistakes of a previous conflict. If the justification for war was tainted by deception, deal with that after the war’s conclusion. Deal with all things related after the conclusion.

Of paramount importance to the sacrifice of those serving in the military is to carry the fight to its satisfactory conclusion. In this new era of conflict, withdrawal from Iraq will only strengthen the enemy. Continuing to use are free speech to criticize during times of war also only assists the enemy. This makes the job that much more problematic. Support the troops, debate the issues in the appropriate venue and do nothing to help the opponent which is neither conservative, liberal, democrat or republican. If we continue bickering and not supporting the troops then the enemy is us.

To the members of the United States military serving anywhere on this planet, I salute your sacrifice and Godspeed.

A story from Reuters describes some of the international politics surrounding the aftermath of the latest conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Intentions and concerns suggested in the piece are not hard to believe. Iran and Hezbollah may be using the guise of the funding support for charitable post-war causes for a strange sort of public relations strategy (perhaps effective) to provide small or insignificant help to residents of what became the battleground. There may also be suggestions of the money being funneled for more terror activities since Israel is lobbying the Bush administration to interfere with the transfer of these funds to Hezbollah.

President Bush is pressuring countries in the region to participate in being first to help repair Lebanon (we’re nearly broke and there are elections coming up) and “cracking the whip” in his own domain to speed the bureaucracy to expedite an American effort estimated by all reports at 50 million dollars. Could it be that suggestions of criticism toward the Bush administration’s silence during cease fire “diplomacy” is the driver behind this near panic? Or is President Bush merely doing a dance providing the minimum assistance for the maximum anticipated effect for the dollar?

The U.N., the U.S., Israel, Hezbollah and each of their respective groups of allies simply have done another spectacular self-interest approach and deflect ponzi scheme of rhetoric and procrastination rather than something simple and straightforward. Would it reall be so difficult for the U.N. members or even operating outside the U.N. these same cuontries have the ability to place necessary, adequate, reasonable pressure on those who wish to do harm on a large scale.

Had cowboy George been approached with some real cooperation before going into Iraq, the outcome very likely would have ended in a more appealing fashion to all. In 1991 it seems some were still reluctant to participate even though a neighboring country was being assaulted. There have been many calls to abandon the U.N. Not hard to agree with that. It would be better however if, short of solving all the world’s problems, members of the U.N. would at least from time to time set aside their selfish national interests and strategies long enough to do what their charter intended. Go spank or “ground” the child and stop the insanity if only for a moment.

Let’s see if I have this right. At the beginning of the current active riff between Hezbollah and Israel, the first item mentioned in the press was an Israeli soldier allegedly kidnapped by Hezbollah. In response, Israel demanded the safe return of the soldier or there would be consequences. The demand being ignored, Israel began firing upon Southern Lebanon in retaliation. In addition they characterized the action as defending themselves.

If I, in fact, have represented the events accurately, thus far, then WHY THE HELL ARE SO MANY PEOPLE EXTENDING THEIR SYMPATHY TO ISRAEL??? Okay, if Hezbollah kidnapped an Israeli soldier one can make the case that they started this most recent conflict. But I ask you, is it fair to accept the Israeli response to a kidnapping. I seem to remember many kidnappings in the same region lately, complete with the death of the victim, and DO NOT recall a similar response by the country of origin of the victim, at least not directly.

But I have to keep going back to the point that everyone I hear on news or talk shows or read in the papers or on the net is siding with Israel as being justified in bombing, invading and otherwise causing suffering to, among others, people who likely have little to do with this conflict other than being present. I don’t get it. Please, someone, enlighten me.

By the way, I am not suggesting that Hezbollah is innocent of all wrongdoing. But it seems to me that as usual there was and is a much better way to solve this problem. Of course, I could continue with related items like my conspiracy theory about Israel, Sharon, Olmert, the U.S., Afghanistan and Iraq, but what fun would that be?

Another reason to get out of the UN