Fighting Terrorism: Invasion vs. Tactical Strikes

When "Big" Dick Cheney was wheeled out on Inauguration Day, with a joyous American public beaming as Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President -- it seemed as if the "Walking Heartattack of Wyomin" would likely, well, have another heartattack and fade away. This, to much of our dismay, has not been the case. Cheney has enjoyed a new position of Presidential Dissenter, constantly doubting and blasting the Obama Administrations handling of Iraq and on prisoners of war. Rosy cheeked and half-giddy, Cheney has appeared on Face the Nation and other media outlets he used to sell Iraq to the American public -- defending torture and the policies he created in the shadows. As the financial and human costs of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars tower - trillions of tax-payer dollars and over a million lives lost for the sake of revenge and egomania; Cheney's mark has been permanently stained on the American image abroad and psyche at home. In imagining another way to carry out a war against extremists that utilize terror, the approach in East Africa being used by Robert Gates and the Joint Chiefs is a total break from the hold/secure/build model of the John McCain wet dream. Instead, careful surveillance and patience today yielded the top Al-Qaeda kill since Al Zarqawi. Instead of punishing low-level brain washed foot-soldiers as the War on Terror has seemingly done - high level leadership in groups such as Shabab are hunted - as Hunter Thompson loved to say: "cut off the head and the body will die." Though Shabab will surely regroup, the killing of Nabhan will serve as inspiration for the hunt of Qaeda affiliates (as Qaeda really now only exists as a source of inspiration for groups wanting global jihad) and it should also show us that while many tactics maybe needed to protect Americans and our interests: the least invasive to a populace with the biggest results should be priority numero uno.

The Minute Man's Response to Sotomayor

Chris Simcox, crazed founder of the anti-immigrant organization the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps is challenging John McCain's seat as the U.S. Senator from Arizona. In doing so, he has been grandstanding on a variety of issues... most recently on Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation. In an email to supporters, Simcox said that he would have denounced Sotomayor in a much stronger fashion than Sen. McCain because the woman "has ethnic biases" and "is involved in racist organizations." This from a man who organized the largest American racist organization in modern times. Simcox's story is a weird and tragic one -- a twisted history of fear, rejection and failure. Simcox propelled himself into the hate politics of Arizona after failing as to become an actor in L.A. It is a path that xenophobic sociopaths have traveled over and over through the ages -- blaming "the other" for personal inadequacies and all of society's ills -- building themselves up and then crashing to a disastrous end. His current campaign will be a failure, despite any relations he may make with neo-nazis in Arizona both elected and civilian. His Minutemen Project has also failed, splintering into dozens of factions... one prominent member recently murdered a 9 year old child and other Minutemen are asking for him to account for $1.6 million dollars in Minutemen donations. His marriage was a failure after the 9/11 attacks made Simcox "snap" -- he attempted to put his 8 year old son through a weapons class, convinced that foreigners were coming to take over the United States government. His disasterous campaign to bring down one of America's most trusted and revered Senators is a joke. If he is accepted as a legitimate Republican candidate, the embattled party will continue to suffer... and that is something we can all take joy in.

Our House is a very very very fine house

  Our house after a massive amount of paint, landscaping and elbow greese from very knowledgeable friends and family. After nearly a year, it finally feels like ours! Bamboo timber in the back, new paint and some custom work by our friends Roby and Eric, family member Jeff Nelson and my mom and dad the expert painters. Here's to friends and family!

Rice named Ambassador to the U.N. by Obama (Not You Condoleeza)

President-Elect Barack Obama has chosen Susan E. Rice to be the Ambassador to the United Nations -- who unlike Condoleeza Rice, understands the complexity of conflicts outside of Europe and has devoted much of her career to crises in Africa.  Unlike the Yosemite Sam characature that Bush's pick John Bolton represented (routin' tootin' peaceniks!), Rice represents an understanding of the moral high-ground and an attempt by Obama to help the United Nations avoid sitting on their hands while another genocide occurs on the African Continent. 

While the Sudanese abomination in Darfur has stolen the show, the Congolese conflict has now come under the global spotlight and like Uganda, demands attention from the international community after more than a decade of destruction.  Rice has extensive experience overseeing State Department and National Security Council staff, serving as Director of International Organizations and peacekeeping.  Rice's experiences as Assistant Secretary of State in Africa under Clinton in the late 90s exposed her to the horrors of genocide in Rwanda and the bombings at U.S. Embassies in Kenya.  Beyond terrorism and endless conflicts, much of the world is incapable of meeting their basic dietary needs and the issue of poverty reduction is now on the minds of all who want to avoid conflict and terrorism.  

Regardless, the U.N. is stocked full of bright minds and ambition yet they fail to respond time and again.  As was pointed out by Michelle in her change.org blog, the United Nations has become synonymous with inaction and the Obama administration must take a bold new angle to overcome the pig-circus that Bush et al turned it into in 2003.  Likewise, the rush for resources and the vested interests of China and Russia, both veto holding members of the U.N. Security Council, will play out time and again.  What Mrs. Rice brings to the table is an understanding of partnerships and peace-building, something that seems lost when looking at a U.N. that appears to only be picking up the pieces.  In taking into account what "security" for those in Sub-Saharan Africa really means, the topic of poverty and HIV/AIDS must filter high in the equation as well.  To address the root of the various humanitarian crisis from Senegal to Somalia, our best-foot must be put forward and Susan Rice represents our best hope in helping Africans realize a safe and prosperous tomorrow.

NYT Series explores the role of resources in African conflicts

A new series from the New York Times is delving into the role of natural resources in African conflicts.  The series begins in Congo, where an estimated 5 million people have died since the mid-90s.  Mineral extraction companies and western markets have played indirect roles in these conflicts.  Beginning in the mid-90s, armed groups saw natural resources as a means of propelling their efforts.  The most notorious character to use resources such as diamonds in building armies and amassing incredible wealth was Charles Taylor, the Liberian President who is currently on trial for war-crimes at the Hague.  Conversely, governments have used their untapped natural resources to pay private military companies to put down armed insurrections.  Doing so has linked private military companies with mineral extraction companies, a very questionable partnership.  This also begs the question of how "noble" armed insurrections, which can oust corrupt governments, can succeed when mercenaries with better technology and fighting skills allow anti-democratic leaders to cling to power.  This catch-22, damned if you do damned if you don't climate shows that the wealth of diamonds, oil, gold, silver, etc. are more of a burden than a blessing to many Africans who are trapped in cycles of violence.  This is a series that is long overdo but very important.

If Latinos vote in larger numbers...

...expect Barack Obama to win big in western states and be propelled to victory in states like North Carolina, Florida and Virginia.  Latinos have traditionally had the smallest turn-out of all voting blocks in American elections -- only 38% of registered Latinos voted in the last presidential election.  However, this election may bring more Latinos to the polls, partially because of the efforts made by the Democratic Party to get more Latinos volunteering and opening offices in rural border towns and areas with large Latino populations.  Also, Chicanos can identify better with Obama because his father was an immigrant and the social issues that once drew them to the GOP are less important because of the anti-immigrant/anti-Hispanic/illegals illegals illegals policies that Republicans have adopted as a cornerstone of their ideology in recent years.  Obama, who has run without a doubt the most impressive campaign in modern history, obviously knew the impact that Latinos would have on the election.  "Yes we can" has been the rallying cry for his campaign for these 20+ months.  Even Latino voters who speak little English understand these words -- words that were spoken by their fearless leader, their own Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1970s -- Cesar Estreda Chavez.  Si Se Puede! -- Yes We Can!  Next to the Virgin Guadalupe, Cesar Chavez represents the greatest hope for Chicanos to achieve justice.  For Barack Obama to choose this slogan was no accident and if he and Latino activists are able to bring Latinos (who recently surpassed blacks as the largest minority group) out in great numbers, McCain can forget about Florida, western states and his dreams of being president.  Yes We Can!  Si Se Puede!

McCain's failure to secure the South will cost him the election

Eight years ago, the thought of a republican presidential nominee losing states like Virginia and North Carolina would have been like the law of gravity being destroyed. What a difference a lame-duck president can make. Now, Obama and democrats are surging ahead in states such as Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and making republicans spend money in places they never imagined, even in Georgia and Mississippi. Even in northern states such as North Dakota, Missouri and Indiana, McCain is on his heels and struggling to put out the fire. While he continues to side-step the economy and instead rely on criticizing Obama, his three decade dream of being in the White House slips away with each passing day. "My friends, I'm cooked. I'm going home to Arizona where the necks are red and everyone is as clueless as I am."