StormWarning’s Counterterrorism

Perhaps unnoticed is that yesterday a capsule carrying China’s taikonauts (astronauts) returned from their historic space ride and space walk, becoming the third country to accomplish this feat.

First to emerge from the toppled capsule, Zhia Zhigang commented that he was “proud of his motherland” as he was helped to a folding chair. Clearly exhausted after a taxing mission, a bumpy re-entry through the Earth’s atmosphere, and the rigours of gravitational adjustment, the crew were then set upon by doctors eager to check their conditions.

In addressing his watching nation, Premier Wen Jiabao heartily congratulated the triumphant mission crew and said that: “The complete success of the manned Shenzhou VII is a great stride forward for China’s space technology.”

Anyone want to doubt the significance of the emerged China accomplishing a spacewalk?

Think again.

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The Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search, a cooperative computing project, helps find a prime that has nearly 13 million digits. LARGEST KNOWN PRIME NUMBER. Printing out all 13 million digits in 12-point type would create a number 30 miles long. But here are a few of the digits, from the beginning and the end of the full number.

Here’s a number to savor: 2^43,112,609-1

Its form is tidy and lovely: 2n-1

Anyone else turned on?

Largest prime number

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Its about time that someone actually speak the truth about the “financial crisis” and why it happened. So like it or not, this is a violently politically incorrect, but, IMO, accurate take on the greed and stupidity that has led to a near meltdown in our economy and the wiping out of any profit I might have seen from the sale of my home in the immediate future. Yes dammit, pass the bailout so the rest of the economy doesn’t go down the tubes and have the next President be blamed for the implosion. And I want someone to step up and pay my damn mortgage too! I’ve worked hard for that right!

NOT PC RANT: Now, you see…the basic question lies in how some people who haven’t got good (or possibly any) credit were able to buy houses that they simply couldn’t afford. I don’t know about you, but I’ve worked hard to maintain my excellent credit rating, despite years of paltry income. But no! People have nothing, went out and moved into the “keeping up with the Jones’ neighborhoods, only to find themselves in situations where they either couldn’t afford the increased mortgage payments as their adjustable sub-prime mortages went up, or maybe even, with the real estate market imploding on itself, largely because of their own greed (and of couse, the greed of the mortgage industry that decided to loan money to anyone), found themselves “upside down” on their homes (simply, they owed more than the market value of their house).

Well excuse me! and “go fluck a duck!” I worked hard to buy my house, a house that I could afford to buy. And I live in a nice neighborhood, but as I’ve watched homes in my neighborhood go on the market and sell, it has been obvious that some of these people actually couldn’t afford to actually be my neighbor…they got themselves one of those nice sub-prime mortgage, and bought a nice house in a nice neighborhood, where they really couldn’t afford to live (the tell tale sign was when the “repo-man” came to tow their shiney new BMW out of their driveway and cart it away).

Ladies and gentlemen, and those few who read this blog - America is a land of opportunity. However, that opportunity is not an entitlement. You, if you don’t work hard and have the money in savings, are not entitled to live in my neighborhood, just like I an not entitled to live in a nearby neighborhood where the home prices are 50% higher than mine. The real problem is that one of those upside down homeowners just sold a house down the street from me for a price lower than what I paid for mine.

So screw me! for being able to afford the house I live in, because Mr. and Mrs. “Keeping up with the Jones” couldn’t afford their house, and had to sell in a distressed sale.

There’s a post worth linking my rant to at Right Truth. Good people of all walks of life work hard to establish themselves and accomplish whatever it is that they accomplish. Tiday, people who far overstepped their boundaries are putting all of us in a position to get them out of their jams. I object strenuously.

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New in the news…Christians to host dinner for Ahmadinejad on September 25th in New York. Interesting to me after all of the “chatter” about Christians for Israel. I guess it proves that you can’t generalize about anyone or anything or any group.

Lago Vista priest protests religious dinner honoring Ahmadinejad

Religious leaders, possibly including the Episcopal Church, are reportedly planning to host a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner that honors Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Thursday in New York City. A group planning to protest the event features the invitation on its Web site. Among the hosts is the World Council of Churches, to which the Episcopal Church belongs.

UCC Renewal Leader Calls for World Council of Churches to Cancel Dinner for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Today, United Church of Christ renewal leader David Runnion-Bareford, Exec. Dir. of the confessing movement in the UCC and President of the Association for Church Renewal, called for the World Council of Churches and The Episcopal Church to cancel their plans to host Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at a celebrative dinner in New York City on Thursday.

Christian Groups to Host Ahmadinejad and UN Head for NY Dinner

The president of the United Nations General Assembly, Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann, will be attending a dinner in New York at which Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is a featured guest, according to The Forward, a Jewish-American weekly newspaper published in New York City. Brockmann, a Catholic priest from Nicaragua who publicly criticizes the United States’s anti-terror war in Iraq and Afghanistan, will attend the dinner on September 25th, an event which was organized by five American Christian organizations and will be co-hosted by the Iranian mission to the U.N.

Christian Groups have hosted Ahmadinejad in America. Have we lost our minds?

Wow! Light the candles and set off the fireworks. Pour the drinks and start the band playing. We have celebrating to do. Ahmadinejad is in the U.S. again to talk to the very important U.N. and enlighten New York and its dignitaries. Naturally as respect and the generous American Spirit would do, several of our Religious organizations and leaders are formally welcoming him, The American Friends Service Committee, Mennonite Central Committee, Quaker United Nations Office, Religions for Peace and the World Council of Churches. Did I say just welcoming him……no, they are actually HOSTING the event held in New York on Sept. 25th. Isn’t that Precious?

Well, isn’t that an amazing thing?

Ahmadinejad, Christians

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All together now. “The Taliban is dead and defeated.” “Afghanistan has never been better.” At least sixty people died in the massive truck bombing at the Marriott in Islamabad. There are some who think that President Zardari was the target. It is being called “Pakistan’s 9/11.”

New reports now suggest that the Danish Intelligence (maybe not CIA) was the target. Some of the “smart money” is that the real targets were CIA officers staying at the hotel. It actually matters little to the now nearly 100 people killed. Was it the CIA or the Danish Intelligence forces? We may not know for a while, if ever. One thing is certain. It is imperative to know that al Qaeda is not dead or defunct, and just because they have not struck in the United States in seven years does not mean that they will not at some point, and that they will continue to strike elsewhere with near impunity.

Pakistan is about to fall apart. Afghanistan is on the way. And the Taliban is alive and well. And oh! The line between the Taliban and al Qaeda is about as thin as a “cat’s hair.”

CIA, Islamabad bombing, Taliban, Zardari

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Obama…Palin, ad nauseum. I have written about it for months. Maybe now, as Pakistan devolves and Afghanistan unravels, perhaps, people will see.

Pakistan has warned the US that if our troops cross the border in pursuit of al Qaeda/Taliban, it will open fire.

Pakistan’s military has ordered its forces to open fire if U.S. troops launch another air or ground raid across the Afghan border, an army spokesman said Tuesday.

The orders, which come in response to a highly unusual Sept. 3 ground attack by U.S. commandos, are certain to heighten tensions between Washington and a key ally against terrorism. Although the ground attack was rare, there have been repeated reports of U.S. drone aircraft striking militant targets, most recently on Sept. 12.

Try to forget who is running for VP right now. Focus on the top spot. Oh sure. John is old(er). But who is wiser?

Head of the JCoS, Admiral Mullen has assured Pakistan that the US will respect Pakistan’s sovereignty.

Are you watching? Or are “you” so caught up in a debate comparing the qualifications of a candidate for Vice President to those of a candidate for President, that you are distracted and not seeing World events, perhaps more important, unfold?

Admiral Mullen

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I want to speak with the “bloggers” who think that Afghanistan is out of the woods! or that the Taliban is dead and gone! Two more SEALs (members of what used to be called SEAL Team 6) died earlier this week in Afganistan on a super secret mission. Leaving behind a wife and daughter each were Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator John Wayne Marcum, 34, and Chief (select) Special Warfare Operator Jason Richard Freiwald, 30.

Two G.I.s were slain in Afghanistan Wednesday, bringing the total to 113, plus 101 other foreign troops who have died. Last year’s U.S. death toll was 111.

For any of you people who blindly wave a flag and think that it makes you patriotic, recognize the following:

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress Tuesday: “I’m not convinced we’re winning in Afghanistan.”

Hat-tip to CTB (again) for the top notch posts.

Killed last week were Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator John Wayne Marcum, 34, and Chief (select) Special Warfare Operator Jason Richard Freiwald, 30, the Navy said. Each man had served in Iraq and Afghanistan and was a highly decorated SEAL. Before Harris, no DEVGRU SEAL had fallen in Afghanistan since March 2002, according to a review of Operation Enduring Freedom deaths at iCasualties.org.

This War on Terror is far from over. Anyone who thinks that a few positive press releases makes a victory is simply ignorant.

Chief (select) Special Warfare Operator Jason Richard Freiwald, SEAL Team 6, Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator John Wayne Marcum

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It seems like the Viennese Court decision to unfreeze the funds of Abu Nidal terrorist Iraqi citizen Halima al-Mughrabi has infuriated the Austrian justice ministry, security services and Jewish community.

During the 1980s Austria was one of ANO’s (Abu Nidal Organization) preferred targets. Abu Nidal’s men slew Vienna city councilman and chairman of the Austria-Israel Friendship Society Heinz Nittel, and three months later murdered two and injured 30 in a Vienna synagogue. His organization is believed to be behind a December 1985 attack on El Al desks in Vienna and Rome airports, in which 18 people were killed and dozens injured.

The Abu Nidal group has been on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations for more than 20 years, but is currently thought to be inactive, according to the 2006 State Department Country Reports on Terrorism. In August 2002, Abu Nidal was reported dead in Iraq.

Sort of makes you go “Hmmm.”

Abu Nidal, al Mughrabi

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Wake Up! There is no doubt in my feable mind that when I wrote Losing Afghanistan (Reduxed Again) nearly 10 months ago that I either guessed really well, or I was simply, right! I vote for “right.” This position is supported by Doug Farah’s post, “Trying to Get it Right in Afghanistan, and Ignoring the Elephant in the Room”

Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, has sounded the alarm on Afghanistan, correctly pointing out that the danger of losing there is real and the hour is late.

It is fitting, on this day, to remember that our collective inability to get Afghanistan right once before helped give our enemies the opportunity to plan and execute the 9/11 attacks that are being remembered today.

What is striking about the published reports of Mullen and Defense Secretary Gates is the absence of any discussion of one of the driving forces of the Taliban’s mounting success: its access to tens of millions of dollars in opium and poppy money. The UN conservatively estimates the Taliban makes between $50 million and $70 million a year from the drug trade.

Oh, sure, some of my supposed counterterrorism blogger cohorts might offer a different view. Of course, it has been argued more than once before that Afghanistan was on the road to recovery and democracy. My opinion has consistently been contrary to that. I’ve been accused of being unpatriotic, I’ve been accused of not supporting our troops who were acclaimed as having been victorious against the “defeated” Taliban, and for my point of view, I have been called a “librul.”

Still, Afghanistan remains on the brink. Hamid Karzai has an attitude that may only be solved by his assassination. To stop this very real resurgence of the Taliban, their supply of money needs to be chopped off.

If the US and NATO is serious about improving the situation on the ground in Afghanistan, the Taliban’s money stream must be cut off. That stream is heavily dependent on opium. Ignoring that reality is not a policy.

History repeats. Sometimes we have the ability to stop it. Other times, we ignore the obvious. If you’re at all interested in reading further, you can review some of the historical Storm posts on the subject of Losing Afghanistan. Its time to open your eyes…unless you want to be “surprised” in a few months by events as they evolve.

Losing Afghanistan, poppy trade, Taliban

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I am an American - “Ich bin New Yorker.”

Each day, every day, I remember the moments of September 11th.  Even though I am no longer living there,  to paraphrase JFK, "Ich bin New Yorker."  Perhaps on September 11, 2001 at 8:48am, we were all at once New Yorkers, or all a unified group of Americans.

Our resolve as a country, however, has waned.  It is not that we as a citizenry forget…it is that the message has been blended with the War in Iraq.  We are at war and it is a War on Global Islamic Fundamentalist Jihadism.  Its not politically correct perhaps, but it is what it is.

Today, we will each in our ways remember that morning.  I will, as I do each year now, remember, and I will relate my stories of what I saw and how I felt.  And I will, whether in public or simply to myself, sing "America the Beautiful" or "God Bless America" (I sound nothing like Kate Smith)…and I will shed tears for those who perished, and shed even more tears for the permanent and perpetual changes to our lives that began at that moment.

Some of what I have written in retrospect about this day, September 11th.

Written September 12, 2001:
Amazing how far and how much my "non-combative" spirit of the 60’s and 70’s has turned more conservative. No doubt, for me, and others like me, yesterday was unlike any day we have ever experienced. As a post-war baby-boomer, there are nothing but newsreels to show us Pearl Harbor. Yesterday interrupted me from leaving for work, stopped me in my tracks, made me quiet, caused tears, and created anger. And then, fear of what might have happened to people that I knew. Right now, I suppose that I am lucky, if that is the word, that no one in my immediate family, or that of my ex-wife, or even friends of my daughter were not directly involved. But this afternoon, I spoke to a friend of mine in WDC who was resigned to having lost dozens of long-time friends and associates who were in the section of the Pentagon that was obliterated. And he reminded me that this particular section was the one in which he and I had met for a series of meetings two years ago. And the realization, however distant two years makes it, that I had walked the halls of that building where now, there is nothing but rubble. And then there is a "near-miss" story told to me by a friend whose youngest daughter passed away in March from complications from a digestive disorder. His oldest daughter works for a fashion designer in Manhattan and was supposed to go to Los Angeles yesterday morning on the flight that crashed after leaving Newark Airport. Because her dad, my friend was coming east to be with his father-in-law who is sick, she decided to stay. She assigned her assistant to go in her place. As luck would have it, the assistant didn’t want to leave that early, so she rescheduled to a later flight.

She was at the airport when word came of the crashes.

In principal, believe in peace. But there is no principal in my opinion in this situation.

Retribution and retaliation. Strong and final. I make no apologies for my feelings.

Written September 13, 2001:
I am an American, who has cried and trembled at the sights on TV.

I am an American, with compassion, yet anger.

I am an American, who once fought against fighting.

Yet tonight, I am an American, who wants nothing less than retaliation and full retribution.

I am an American, despite what others once thought when it was clear that I disagreed with some of the more American fundamentalist views. 

Somehow, some believe that this is the time for reconciliation with friends of old. This is a free country, with freedom of speech and freedom of movement, but some of us do not have that choice, since we were selectively excluded from that exclusive "club of patriots" and have no desire to change what is, or return to
what was (of course, in truth, I speak only for myself). This is a time of great stress and emotion. I have cried spontaneously since Tuesday morning, and my anger has grown about what has happened. It doesn’t change what was or happened.

I am who I am, and what I am. I make no apologies for that.

Written June 24, 2005
"Everything Changed on September 11, 2001"

The morning of September 11, 2001, we all became one, we all came together, the Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate stood on the steps of the Capitol Building and sang God Bless America. That morning, every one of us felt the emotions and feelings of being attacked. Every one of us, not just Democrats and Republicans, not just “Liberals” and “Conservatives,” but all of us as Americans.

During those days and nights that followed, we all knew the meaning of this is my country, land that I love!  Every one of us, not just Democrats and
Republicans, not just “Liberals” and “Conservatives,” but all of us as Americans.

So lets all do me a favor! Okay??? (Tongue planted in cheek, and no obligation, for sure!)

Don’t tell me how to think, just because you happen to disagree with me. Just what makes you think that you are right, and I am wrong? We are all Americans, or have you forgotten that?

Don’t tell me that I am any less patriotic than you are, just because you believe one thing and I believe another. Do you understand that “love of country” permits the questioning of authority and the decisions made by the Government? Ever hear the phrase, “my country right or wrong?” If I choose, I can disagree with the position of our Government, and it does not mean that I am any less patriotic than those who agree with our Government. We simply disagree. But we are all Americans, or have you forgotten that?

If you served in the military, you have my admiration and respect. But don’t flaunt that service in my face and imply that somehow you are a “better American” than I or that your service to our country was somehow qualitatively better than mine. Because if you don’t know what I am doing, and you don’t understand the qualitative benefits that I am striving to offer our country, than you just shouldn’t do it. We are all Americans, you and I, or have you forgotten that?

Don’t tell me how (or if) I should pray to the Higher Being, because each and everyone of us has the right to freedom of religion granted to us by our Founding Fathers. If I believe that the Higher Being is actually beneath the soil and not in the Heavens above, who are you to question my belief or to belittle what I believe. It is my right as an American to believe whatever it is that I believe. And yet, we are all Americans, or have you forgotten that?

Don’t do it! Don’t tell me how I should feel, or try to make me feel any less of an American because you have a different point of view, and you somehow feel compelled to try to either convert me to your position, or belittle me for holding my opinions. Don’t do it! It makes you less of an American than I. Don’t do it! If you feel so strongly about your views, then fine, I am happy for you. But that doesn’t give you the right to belittle, denigrate or otherwise ridicule a position that disagrees with yours.

As an American, you have the Freedom of Speech and you have the Freedom of Religion, but neither gives you the freedom to minimize, denigrate belittle or otherwise disrespect whatever it is that I believe, think or feel. You don’t have the right to tell me how to pray to the Higher Being. You don’t have the right to belittle me, just because you disagree with me.

Many here served in the military. Still, others, including me, serve our country in different ways. There is no telling how many lives my efforts will save if we are successful in our current campaign. And it will be done in anonymity. And yet, I am an American, just like you.

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For a guy who I continue to believe lives only because the War(drug)lords allow him to live, Hamid Karzai has a big set of balls. He is now blaming the British for the re-emergence of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Some people may think they were, but the truth is that they were never gone.

Karzai claims Brown has threatened to withdraw British troops from Helmand province, where 31 of them have died this year, if the president reinstates two provincial governors sacked for alleged dealings in the heroin trade.

I simply cannot accept this “brain fart” from Hamid. The Taliban is still alive because (hold onto your hats my friends), because WE allowed them to live.

All of this “happy talk” about Afghanistan emerging as a free democracy is and was crap! If you actually doubt the consistency of my beliefs and position of this, please read this search of Storm Blog on the key words of losing Afghanistan.” Then since you insist, just check out any discussion of the Durand Line or the ways in which the Pakistanis have negotiated with the Taliban in the Northwest Tribal Regions. IMO, Karzai is a damn lucky man to still be alive!

Karzai, Taliban

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If you are student of history, is it that far fetched that as the Presidential Election nears that another October Surprise would sprout? Back in 1980, when the concept of “October Surprise” was first coined. Now, conspiracy theorists and analysts alike are conjecturing about what new revelation could occur before this election. I’ve wondered how our Intel could not ID bin Laden’s position, and “snagging” bin Laden has been my imperative for quite some time

Against the backdrop of the political turmoil in Pakistan, the U.S. is pressing to finally do what it should have done before. And therein lies the potential for the October surprise. And with it…surprise. President Bush will solidify his legacy and make it (alot) easier to defeat Obama.

The October surprise? Catch Osama, of course! Its always been a function of two key components: 1) intelligence and 2) U.S. ability to chase into Pakistan.

U.S. ground forces crossed the border from Afghanistan and attacked suspected al Qaeda targets in Pakistan on Wednesday as part of an aggressive new strategy to kill or capture Osama bin Laden before President Bush leaves office, U.S. officials said.

Don’t believe it? Read more here.

Pakistan is “protesting” the incursion, but really? Pakistan’s position is that it is a victim of terrorism.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry called the raid “a grave provocation” and “a gross violation of Pakistan’s territory. … Such actions are counterproductive and certainly do not help our joint efforts to fight terrorism,” the ministry said. “On the contrary, they undermine the very basis of cooperation and may fuel the fire of hatred and violence that we are trying to extinguish.”

There have been stranger October Surprises before. And by the way, for those who are reading this because they saw it on Real Clear Politics, go ahead and “push that button” before it disappears from the front page…that is if the “spirit moves you” to do so.

October Surprise, Osama bin Laden

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In what promises to be an interesting season in defense, last night provided an insight into the strategies and tactics of an underwhelming offense. Then again…

However, as a longtime NY Giants fan, I’ll take 17 more of those 16-7 wins that the Giants had over the “Deadskins” anytime. Superbowl Champs in defense…unimpressive offense (we’re lucky the ‘Skins coach didn’t seem to understand the concept of using his timesout).

NY Giants, Superbowl

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A reminder to reinforce the belief that in Afghanistan we fight the continuing war against terrorism, we recognize the death of Navy SEAL Petty Officer 1st Class Joshua Thomas Harris of Lexington, N.C., who was killed in battle last week during an Afghanistan combat operation, the Defense Department announced.

“Petty Officer Harris was an exemplary SEAL. He served his country valorously during multiple combat tours to Afghanistan and Iraq,” said Capt. Scott Moore, commanding officer of NSWDG, in a press release. “He was a brave warrior, SEAL role model, mature and reliable teammate and an absolute great American. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Petty Officer Harris’ family. His loss is deeply felt by the entire Naval Special Warfare community.”

Internet warriors take heed. Among PO Harris’ awards were Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal with Combat “V” (Valor) Distinguishing Device, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V” (Valor) Distinguishing Device, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon (Operation Iraqi Freedom), Combat Action Ribbon (Operation Enduring Freedom), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbons and Good Conduct Medals.

Some do, some die, some write and rattle sabers.

Joshua Thomas Harris, Naval Special Warfare

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As we near the 3/4 mark in 2008, I found this to be an interesting list of things to ponder.

Ten Thoughts to Ponder for 2008
Number 10
Life is sexually transmitted.

Number 9
Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Number 8
Men have two emotions:
Hungry and Horny. If you see him without an erection, make him a sandwich .

Number 7
Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day, teach a person to use the internet
and they won’t bother you for weeks.

Number 6
Some people are like a Slinky …. Not really good for anything, but you still can’t help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.

Number 5
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.

Number 4
All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to Criticism.

Number 3
Why does a slight tax increase cost you $200.00 and a substantial tax cut saves you $30.00?

Number 2
In the 60’s, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is Weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

And The Number 1 Thought For 2008 :
We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located among millions and millions of cows in America but we haven’t got a clue as to where millions of illegal immigrants and terrorists are located. Maybe we should put the Department of Agriculture in charge of Immigration?

Want one more?

Menopause Jewelry
My husband, being unhappy with my mood swings, bought me a mood ring the other day so he would be able to monitor my moods.

We’ve discovered that when I’m in a good mood, it turns green. When I’m in a bad mood, it leaves a big frickin red mark on his forehead.

Maybe next time he’ll buy me a diamond. Dumb ass.

Basically, the World is a dangerous place. Sometimes, simply pondering ridiculous thoughts helps eliminate the concern that at some point, some idiot is going to do something stupid and bring it all to a halt. And then, after things haven’t happened the way “they” thought it would, the pondering will go deeper into revelation.

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