Book: War and Decision by Douglas J. Feith

I saw the author on John Stewart's show. For those who want an inside look of the Pentagon and the War on Terrorism it is a very informative.

Update: I am about half-way through the book now. It was well documented book, with many references to websites. It provides an insight into the divisions between the CIA and State Department and the Defense Department, and how those divisions lead to inaccurate reporting and damaged the war effort.

Tyrannies

"Do you agree that our actual bombings and even our threats on bombing the people who live in tyrannies keep their tyrants in power?" -Dan

No. Tyrants gain power without the threats, tyrants remain in power when there are no threats. It is true Fidel and Chavez use "threats" to try to divert the attention of ignorant people. But, actual bombings or threats of, do not keep tyrants in power a second longer. Actual bombings may remove tyrants from power, especially if there is a direct hit. Bombings removed Hitler, the empire of Japan. Clinton used the threat of invasion to restore Aristide to power in Haiti.

Is Poverty the root of terrorism?

"Do you agree that poverty is the root of terrorism and that is where we should concentrate our efforts on fighting terrorism?" -Dan

Poverty has nothing to do with terrorism. The root of terrorism is political and/or religious ideology that doesn't care if innocents are killed or terrorized.

It is usually those who grow up rich or middle-class that believe "they are helping" the poor that create groups that use terrorism. It is those people who believe they are doing things for the greater good or God that disrespect the lives of others by using terrorism. In reality they care little about the "poor", but just wish to force others to live they way they believe they should.

Gandhi was able to overthrow the British government rule of India through peaceful resistance. Fighting poverty is a good, but will not prevent terrorism.

A culture of corruption

The Republicans got hammered in the media, repeating the Democrats mantra that the Republicans was a "culture of corruption". Now we see Bill Richardson withdraw his name because of the same pay-for-play allegations that got Blagojevich into trouble. Treasury Secretary-nominee Timothy Geithner didn't pay his taxes, if he was a Republican I would bet the media would hound him to resign.

Hillary Clinton was approved despite potential conflicts of interest created Bill's foreign fundraising. Do you think they media would have been more outraged if this was a Republican administration?

Third Grade Questions

A first-grade teacher, Ms. Brooks, was having trouble with one of her students.
The teacher asked, ' Harry , what's your problem?'

Harry answered, 'I'm too smart for the 1st grade. My sister is in the 3rd grade and I'm smarter than she is! I think I should be in the 3rd grade too!'

Ms. Brooks had had enough. She took Harry to the principals office.

While Harry waited in the outer office, the teacher explained to the principal what the situation was. The principal told Ms. Brooks he would give the boy a test. If he failed to answer any of his questions he was to go back to the 1st grade and behave. She agreed.

Harry was brought in and the conditions were explained to him and he agreed to take the test.

Principal: 'What is 3 x 3?'

Harry : '9.'

Principal: 'What is 6 x 6?'

Harry : '36.'

And so it went with every question the principal thought a 3rd grader should know.

The principal looks at Ms. Brooks and tells her, 'I think Harry can go to the 3rd grade.'

Ms. Brooks says to the principal, 'Let me ask him some questions.'

The principal and Harry both agreed.

Ms. Brooks asks, 'What does a cow have four of that I have only two of?'

Harry, after a moment: 'Legs.'

Ms Brooks : 'What is in your pants that you have but I do not have?'

The principal wondered why she would ask such a question!

Harry replied: 'Pockets.'

Ms. Brooks : 'What does a dog do that a man steps into?'

Harry : 'Pants.'

Ms. Brooks: What starts with a C, ends with a T, is hairy, oval, delicious and contains a thin, whitish liquid?'

Harry : 'Coconut.'

The principal sat forward with his mouth hanging open.

Ms. Brooks : 'What goes in hard and pink then comes out soft and sticky?'
The principals eyes opened really wide and before he could stop the answer, Harry replied, 'Bubble gum.'

Ms. Brooks : 'What does a man do standing up, a woman does sitting down and a dog does on three legs?'

Harry : 'Shake hands.'

The principal was trembling.

Ms. Brooks : 'What word starts with an 'F' and ends in 'K' that means a lot of heat and excitement?'

Harry : 'Fire truck.'

The principal breathed a sigh of relief and told the teacher, 'Put Harry in the fifth-grade, I got the last seven questions wrong.....'