A man of peace

In Cairo Egypt today President Obama said, in his

Speech,today "I've come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap and share common principles, principles of justice and progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings."

What a refreshing change from the "us and them" doctrine of the Bush years.

President Obama mentioned that the Cairo University represented tradition and progress.

He mentioned the tension between Islam and the West.

As long as as Islam and west exist by their differences there can be no progress.

There must be Conscious effort to listen to each other.

We now have a President that will be slow to anger and quick to speak the truth to all people.

Change has come.

The same old Republican Party ( Dick Chaney)

Former Vice President Dick Chaney spoke on television in response to President Obama's speech on Torture, Gitmo
the the former Vice president went on to list the Terrorists attacks on America.
the first World Trade center Bombing in the 90s (he forgot to mention the perpetrators were caught, tried and jailed.)
He also mentions the bombing of the Marine Barracks in Lebanon and the killing our soldiers there.
(he forgot to mention that President Regan saw we were up against maniacs and pulled our troops out of Lebanon, or you could say Regan cut and ran.)
He went on to mention the attack on the US ship the Cole.
He mentioned these and more to justify America disregarding the Geneva Convention Laws against Torture.

In doing so he justified the Japanese, and German torturing of our troops.
He said a country has the right to do what it must to protect it citizens.
He mentioned that there were 3 water boardings, a blatant lie. (he did not mentioned that information obtained by torture, in many cases, was not able to be used because it was unreliable information.)
We can see where the Grand Old Party is now. Back to the Bush years.
His speech was so predicable with such old ideas.
If the Republican Party wants to remain in the past by parading Vice President Chaney around we know that a vote for the Republicans is more of the past policies of America which the voters showed they do not want. The Republican party is so bankrupt of ideas all it can do is tell us scary stories of Terrorism.

Yes the Party of "the mistakes we made in the past. No new ideas."

Nancy Polosi.

Nancy Palosi has said that the C.I.A. misled her during security briefs.

The bankrupt Republican Party has had much to say about this.

So has the C.I.A sometimes mislead us

Were there WMDs in Iraq. Was Iraq making a nuclear weapon as the C.I.A. reported

in 2002? We were told that Iraq was seeking weapon grade Plutonium in Africa.

The Gulf of Tonkin resolution was passed, staring the Viet Nam war .

The report filed by the C.I.A filed saying that an American ship was attacked by the Viet Cong

was a lie. There was no attack and we went to war in Viet Nam.

These are just 2 examples where the C. I A. got into a war under false pretences

GITMO

President Obama will close Guantanamo bay Gulag (oops Prison)
He will begin the precess of choosing which prisoners are to be tried in the U.S. While Terrorists with known ties terrorist association will be facing a Military Tribunal. I believe we could use the Military Tribunal for all the prisoners.
Republicans say we should not bring terrorists to our country. They say keep Gitmo open
When we kidnapped (oops arrested) people in Afghanistan and Iraq didn't we ask their names and keep track of what county they came from?
After nearly 8 years we should have been able to identify those who were actually active in Terrorism.
We don't have to release anyone into the U.S.
We should be able to, by military Transport, return innocent prisoners to their country.
Do we know where they are from? Do we even know their names.
Gitmo is a shame and should never been open buy the Bush/Chaney administration.

Obama at the 'AMERICAS SUMMIT"

In the 1950s to the 1970s, during the cold war, the United States supported right wing military Governments in South America. The C.I.A. instigated revolutions that would put a leader into South American Countries that would be favorable to the U.S. Corporations. Without concern for the poor people in these countries the U.S. would prop up Government that would put down any rebellions by the people. Human rights were not a concern for the U.S. during the "Cold War". Leaders in these countries were encouraged to put down any movement by the common people.
In 1954, in Guatemala a legally elected Government of President Jacobo Arbenz was overthrown by an invasion force of mercenaries trained by the C.I.A. at military bases in Honduras and Nicaragua and supported by 4 American Fight planes flown by American pilots. The Invasion put into power Colonel Carlos Castillo Armas who had at one time received military training at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
The U.S. over threw a Democratic elected Government. President Jacobo Arbenz was a left-of-center Socialist. What was unsettling to American business interests was that President Arbenz had expropriated 234,000 acres of land owned by United Fruit. Pres. Arbenz offered compensation to the United fruit Company that was unacceptable to them. After the C.IA. invasion when Colonel Armas took over he gave the land back to United Fruit and abolished the tax on interest and dividends to foreign investors. The Colonel eliminated the secret ballot and jailed thousands of political critics.

Today, the right wing press is criticizing President Obama for going to a meeting of the "America's Summit". At this Summit Chavez shook Obama's hand and gave him a book (I know this book could have lies in it). However, the way America treated South American countries during the "Cold War" was something that we all should be ashamed of. When convenient the U.S overthrow democratically elected Governments

The way to peace is understanding. The way to peace is not threats. President Obama wants to hold out his hand to countries to help bring about peace and understanding to our world.

School vouchers

Right wings radio hosts criticize public schools as being union controlled with lazy teachers. they always contend that Public Schools are failing our children
Many studies, like those administered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, show that public schools are generally on equal footing with private schools. Students doing the same coursework perform about equally in both institutions. Studies that show otherwise do not take into consideration things like living condition of students, educational level of parents, learning disabilities, etc. When these things are taken into account, we get a dramatically different picture. Public school are equal to private schools. Private schools will not accept these students and they can be expelled from private schools. Why should the public pay to send any children to private schools?
Although it would be nice for poor children to attend good private schools if the parents wish, that doesn't mean that it is the government's responsibility to fund it. If private schools wish to have such children attend, they can offer scholarships. However, they do not want all the children to attend their schools. Once again it is a ploy of the right to privatize education. Public funded schools date back before our Independence.
What could be behind their desire to privatize schools? Could it be that private religious schools will teach our children to vote for Republicans?

BAD PEOPLE

Kim Jong leader of NorthKorea. Dictator seeking a nuclear weapon. He ignores the U.N.

He would not join the U.N. Communist.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad leader of Iran. Called for the elimination of Israel. Holds fixed elections Seeking to make a nuclear weapon to destroy Israel. Says there was no Holocaust.

Neil Boortz Radio Host Calls Pres. Obama a socialist. Is against helping the poor.

complains that Obama want to cut our defense system. When the military budget has gone up 4%.

Rush Limbaugh Radio Host against Medicaid. Against help for the poor Calls Pres Obama a Socialist Falsely reports that the President is destroying our National defense and says the Market went up because the President is out of town and went down because the President is coming home.

Sean Hannity Radio Host Just Like Rush Limbaugh says that liberals are a threat to our Country. Will do anything to get Republicans elected .

Anne Coulter Author always refers to Democrats as ignorant. A shill for the Right Wing. Her books are

filled misrepresenting statements. Do anything to sell books. Here is a quote from her.

"If we took away women's right to vote, we'd never have to worry about another Democrat president. It's kind of a pipe dream, it's a personal fantasy of mine, but I don't think it's going to happen. And it is a good way of making the point that women are voting so stupidly, at least single women." (I am not for it but, how about taking this womens right to write books and appear on Right Wing shows like Hannity. )

OBAMA'S WAR

President Obama addressed the nation today.His message was more war. It appears that Afghanistan is where Alqueda is. Gee, 7 years looking for them in Iraq must have been a mistake. President Obama and the National Security Council reported we need a Surge in Afghanistan to win the war on Terror. Actually they called it an "increase in troops". Still, that is a surge.
The President does recognize that winning the war on Terror requires much more that just sending men and women to fight. He mentioned sending troops to train the Kabul Governments troops. He also mentioned spending money for specialists to help in Agriculture and Education.
President Obama does not hold the Fairy Tale of American style Democracy for the area. He spoke of talking to moderate Taliban members. He spoke of the Radical Terrorists in the mountains of Pakistan. At least it is clear that the Administrations objective is to go after the Terrorists.
I think we can all agree that the President does not want a long engagement in the area. He will adjust the course we take not just "stay the course" and most importantly the president is going to reach out to some of the enemy.
I realize we have to do something in that area but I fear that we can get bogged down there and loose many troops. He does not share the Fantasy that America can simply invade a country. topple it's government and set up a Western democracy. I pray this works and the troops can return home to their families.
I refer you my Post "The Soviet Union in Afghanistan" for more information on Afghanistan.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS-PRAY FOR HOSTILITIES TO END AND OUR TROOPS RETURN HOME SAFE.

Soveit Union in Afghanistan

IN 1978 the Soviet Union went into Afghanistan. The reason they went in to Afghanistan was to fight Radical Islamic Fundamentalist. They fought with the Islamic fundamentalist to keep Russia safe from the terrorist movement that was developing in Russia's western provinces. Ofcoure it was also to expand communism. the the Soviet troop secured the Larger cities like Kabuol. They were hoping to back the Socialist movement in Afghanistan. Soviet troops would went out patrol to try to secure the rest of the country. The mountains proved hardest for them. When fired upon the Troops could not tell the direction of the attacks because of the echoing of the mountains when they were fired at them. In the interview with Soviet Vets they said that they conquered the cities and felt that they were in control. However, they soon realized that they were prisoners in the cities and would face fierce Resistance from the Radical Islamic terrorists.Soviet Vets did not know why they were there fighting and dying in such a hopeless place. They compared themselves to us Viet Nam Vets. The Radical Islamic Terrorists would mine the roads. It was so bad that the troops preferred to march and not ride in vehicles.. Their losses were many and their progress was little. The Radicals called their war effort "the war of 1000 cuts" . They would ambush the Troops and kill as many as they could. The Radical Islamic fundamentalists (terrorists) were receiving aid from the United States. The Radical Islamic Terrorists would hide amongst the Civilian population. The Soviet Troops would have to go in a city and fight a battle with many civilian casualties. Things started to improve for the Soviet Troops when Helicopter Gunships were added to their military arsenal. However, soon the Radical Islamic Fundamentalist were able to shoot the Helicopters down with the "Surface to air Missals" given to them by the United States. The war in Afghanistan war wore down the moral of the Soviet troops as they witnessed the slaughter of their fellow soldiers. 35000 soldiers died fighting the Radical Islamic Fundamentalist. The Troops were depressed and moral fell. They would compare themselves to the United States Viet Nam troops The Soviet military spent so much money Russia could never recoup that money.

Russian and American Vets in thier wars

The Russian Troops fighting in Afghanistan felt like we Viet Nam Vets. The were enormous similarities in the 2 wars.

The Islamic Fundamentalists called their war effort against the Russians "the war of 1000 cuts" . They would ambush the Troops and kill as many as they could. The Viet Cong called their war effort against the Americans "The war of 10,000 bites- The Radical Islamic fundamentalists (terrorists) were receiving aid from the United States. The war in Afghanistan war wore down the moral of the Soviet troops as they witnessed their Army slaughtered by these Terrorists. The war improved when they introduced Helicopter Gunships to the war effort. However the United States gave the Fundamentalist surface to air missals that shot down the gunships. The war cost the Soviet Unions hundreds of millions of dollars. 35,000 soldiers died protecting the Soviet Union from Radical Islamic Fundamentalist.The Russian vets compared themselves to American Viet Nam vets who lost 50,000 men in Viet Nam. These Soviet Army troops were our brothers in Sorrow.the Afghanistan vets were called "murderers" when they got home to Russia. We Viet Nam troops were also called "Murderers" when returned to United States.We were both Patriotic young men and women fighting for their Country.

So your a REAGAN CONSERVATIVE

Conservatives love to call themselves "Reagan Conservatives."Sean Hannity when defending himself from a caller's accusation that the National debt went up during the Bush administration said I am a Reagan Conservative. Conservative Republicans think they are such paragons of virtue and truth Let us take a look at the Ronald Reagan they have deified.
By the end of the Reagan administration , 138 Reagan administration officials had been convicted, had been indicted, or had been the subject of official investigations for official misconduct and/or criminal violations. In terms of number of officials involved, the record of his administration was the worst ever to Do you Remember Casper Weinberger, or Edwin Meese to just name a few. Oliver North.
The National Debt went from 995 Billion to 2.98 Trillion The largest increase ever.
Reagan was a great statesman After President Reagan's trip to Europe President Mitterand of France asked Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau about Reagan: "What planet is he living on?" Mark Hertsgaard, wrote that "During Mr. Reagan's trip to Europe...members of the traveling press corps watched him doze off so many times – during speeches by French President Francois Mitterrand and Italian President Alessandro Pertini, as well as during a one-on-one audience with the Pope – that they privately christened the trip 'The Big Sleep.'" (On Bended Knee: The Press and the Reagan Presidency– David Nyhan, Boston Globe columnist wrote "He demonstrated for all to see how far you can go in this life with a smile, a shoeshine and the nerve to put your own fantasy on the facts."About gun in England Ronald Reagan claimed in April 1982 "In England, if a criminal carried a gun, even though he didn't use it, he was tried for first-degree murder and hung if he was found guilty". When informed that the story was "just not true," White House spokesman Larry Speaks said, "Well, it's a good story, though. It made the point, didn't it?" Reagan repeated the story again on March 21, 1986 during an interview with The New York Times. Yes he had no problem repeating a lie.
IRAN CONTRA Reagan funded the Contras in Nicaragua by with a bazaar plan to Free American Hostages held by a Lebanese Shia Islamist group. Can you remember the "Arms for hostages" scandal.
Reagan tripled the national debt, supported Apartheid, backed Saddam Heusan but oh did he make us feel good about America.
Oh we cannot forget Reagan when on the Sad day that the Marine Barracks in Lebanon was bombed by a suicide bomber Reagan made is first clear decision. He pulled all American Troops out of Lebanon. Yes my dear friends Reagan: 'CUT AND RAN'
Also, In reality, Reagan did nothing to bring down the Soviet Union. By 1980, the Soviet Union was trying to cut its own defense spending after the devastating war in Afghanistan. Islamic Fundamentalists brought down the Soviet Union See february post Soviet Union in Afghanistan.
So call yourselves Reagan Conservatives" It just just shows how out of touch with reality you are.

once again the "GREATEST GENERATION" BUT WERE THEY

Today while watching "MORNING JOE" the subject of the greatest Generation came up yet again.
The generation that lived through the Depression.
Yes, they worked hard on public building projects and did fight a war that saved the world from Nazi domination.
They were brave and went to war in Europe with such courage and valor. We remember the vets of WWII and honor them.
but to make canonize this Generation is a mistake.
They are also the Generation that had Real Estates "Red LINE" Neighborhoods so minorities could not buy homes in white neighborhoods. In the north this was done very quietly urging real estate salespeople to not show homes to minorities that were in white neighborhoods. Banks would not give mortgages to women or minorities.
In the South this was done by state Governments to keep black out of white neighborhoods.
An African American could not vote in some states in the 50s
Lunch counters were segregated and Black people had to eat out back in some places in the south
all of this was ignored by the "GREATEST GENERATION".

Women were treated like second class citizens they were accepted as Nurses or Teachers only.

In corporations were secretaries and did not have equal pay for equal work even in a factory.

This protected the White worker from minorities and women.

Women could not get loans in banks with out their husband.

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It was the 60s Generation who addressed these inequalities and Marched in Large cities and the Capital urging laws to be passed for equal pay and equal employment.

Barak Obama could not have had coffee in a coffee shop in Alabama or buy a house in a white neighborhood in New York or Boston.

So before we Deify any Generation remember": we all have failed in some area of our lives

A little bit of nothing

It has been reported that John McCain lost the election because Sarah Palin was too good looking. Nothing could be further from the Truth. Sarah Palin's qualifications were not good enough to be second in charge.It was her political beliefs that hurt their chances. Palin was a conservative politician who supported the war in Iraq.

Palin was against a women's right to choose.

Palin likes to shoot wolfs from helicopters .Palin criticized people from Large Cites.

Palin could not answer questions in her interviews.

Palin wanted Public Education funds for Private schools.

The list could goes on and on and on, but not because she was pretty.

Palin was more of the same Bush Administration

Gabriel Caruso

Universal Life Press

CLUELESS IN D.C. (THE GOP)

RUSH LIMBAUGH stated on his radio program and the Sean Hannity show "I want everything Obama's doing to fail... I want the stimulus package to fail.... I do not want this to succeed."
Last week after Rushs words were repeated in the news media some said Rush is the leader of the Republican Party. Michael Steele, denied Rush's leadership of the party by saying :"Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer,". "Rush Limbaugh, his whole thing is entertainment. Yes, it's incendiary, yes, it's ugly."
When Rush reacted to Steeles comments the GOP leader then backed down saying" he has reached out to Rush Limbaugh to tell him he meant no offense when he referred to the popular conservative radio host as an “entertainer” whose show can be “incendiary.”“My intent was not to go after Rush – I have enormous respect for Rush Limbaugh,” Steele said in a telephone interview. “I was maybe a little bit inarticulate. … There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership.” The Leader of the GOP apologized saying he reviewed what he originally said and did not know he that it came out like he was against Rush Limbaugh.
The Clueless Republicans have no ideas or leadership. After 8 years of Tax Cuts for the highest earning American and a Free Market we have banks failing, stock market dropping at a record rate and homes being repossessed Yet all Conservatives can say it "renew the Bush Tax Cuts"They Criticize the stimulus plan but offer no alternatives.They have no idea when it comes to fixing the economy what are the Conservative Republicans against? They are against helping the poor, health care, and home repossessions have the Christian vote but they are Darwinists" preaching 'SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST" . They think like animals but we are people with the Spirit of God in us telling us to care for one another.If you want to know what Conservatives and Republicans want for America just listen to Rush. The GOP Leader told us he does not want to do anything to diminish Rush's voice or Rush's Leadership There you have it from the GOP Rush is their leader.