Fire Hydrant of Freedom

Pentagon preps for 'war' on global warming....


http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-hagel-climate-change-20141013-story.html

Ok, why I am posting this here: because this is complete hyperbole and conjecture on my part...  

A couple of months ago, I read about a war game developed by the army for a potential 'zombie apocalypse.'

My first thought was of course, 'hoax'.  But I looked it up and its real. The report itself basically says 'hey, this is just for a lark' in the introduction.  I recall that it was (from memory)  somebody's war college thesis or something.  But, in essence it was a plan for the implementation of martial law in the event of a widespread biological outbreak.  At the time I remember thinkoing:  it doesn't take a rocket scientist to either ask the question:  does the US Army war college really ever do ANYTHING 'on a lark'?, and b) to conclude that it's a pretty easy thing to mentally 'find and and replace' the farcical 'zombie apocalypse' with 'Ebola apocalypse', 'EMP apocalypse', 'economic apocalypse' and etc.  That's the impression I was left with anyway. 

Accordingly, what with everything that's going on in the world right now, when I saw this report today and was like 'really?!!!', I was suddenly struck by the admittedly quite paranoid possibility of asking huh,'what if global warming' (in the context of military preparedness) was just one big straw man?

Seems to me it would draw a lot less attention to say that 'the Pentagon is preparing for this [unlikely] event that most people think won't even happen' than 'the Pentagon is preparing for worldwide destabilization resulting from threat X that people see as being much more likely'.

That, or the idiots really are driving the bus. Presented with this alleged fact (the Pentagon's preparedness for GW), I don't really see other alternatives...?

Fascinating and 'not just slightly disturbing' interview with scientist who discovered Ebola.

The more I read, the more convinced I become that the world * really* nerds to get in front of this, and soon.


http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/04/ebola-zaire-peter-piot-outbreak

Found this to be a really good article...

http://www.westernfreepress.com/2014/09/21/the-top-three-reasons-why-liberals-hate-conservatives/

This one was worth the time, I thought...


Europe blind to Islamic State's true threat

The progression of Islamic terror brings us to Jorge Luis Borges' writing. In his elegy “The Modesty of History,” the Argentine author wrote about the elusive nature of significant historic events. “I have long suspected that history, true history, is far more modest,” wrote the blind genius, “and that its essential dates may well be, for a long time, secret as well. A Chinese writer of prose has observed that the unicorn, for the very reason that it is so anomalous, will pass unnoticed. One’s eyes see what they are accustomed to see.” Borges went on to recall that the famous Roman historian Tacitus did not understand the Crucifixion, failing to grasp its significance at or around the actual time of the event.

The opening salvo of World War II was fired at Hitler’s failed 1923 beer hall putsch in Munich. At the time, the world reacted much like Tacitus did to the Crucifixion. It failed to notice it. World War III began with a boom on Sept. 11, 2001, when the world felt the first shot of global jihad. Nevertheless, over time, it preferred to ignore it or suppress thoughts of it. The Western world had forgotten the power of an unrestrained mass movement drunk on the successes of its brutality.
 
According to some estimates, Islamic State (IS) members now number as many as 20,000. The rate of people joining the movement is alarming. The percentage of people supporting it in the Muslim world and in Europe is horrifying. Its power, influence and draw are increasing with the speed of an untamed brushfire.
 
IS is jihad adapted to the age of the technological revolution. It is an amalgam of medieval ideas and 21st-century gadgetry. In effect, it is a closed circuit: IS makes clever, sophisticated use of technology as a magnet to attract young recruits, but it is also a product of the technological revolution. That is why it is so attractive, not only to Muslim youths, but to youths in general throughout the West.
 
IS is a dangerous, sadistic version of Che Guevara's appeal. It glorifies the anarchic warrior, whose pure ideals threaten the existing order in the West, an order that lacks spirit and meaning, an order that consists of credit cards and individual rights. That world is trapped in a spiritual vacuum and suffers from perpetual attention deficit disorder. It is a world that lives online, a world of computer games in which the heroes are gangsters. It is a world of hard-core porn for all and of TV series like "Game of Thrones," which sometimes almost appears to be the cinematic inspiration for IS videos. In such a world, a perverted, sadistic movement like IS is the real thing. It offers young Muslims, including some Westerners, a nihilistic, anarchistic adventure with pretentions of holiness in an amusement park of decapitations and rape. After all, young males have always been driven by testosterone and adrenaline.
 
In the 19th century, the West buried God somewhere, and since then all traces of him have been lost. God is alive and well, however, in the East, offering absolute answers to his devotees. Since the 1950s, the dominant ideology of the West has been a liberal one, especially among cultural and intellectual elites. This is an ideology that sanctifies individual freedoms and human rights to sometimes absurd levels. A malformed postmodernist discourse has inundated Western thought, blaming all the faults and failings of the developing world on Western colonialism and imperialism. While this approach is in the private sphere, it is equally valid in the international realm. From its perspective, there can be no crime that lacks justification in the perpetrator's eyes. The thief is a byproduct of a capitalist system, the rapist is a victim of sexual assault in childhood, and so on.
 
The same is true in the realm of international affairs. Jihadist terror is seen as a byproduct of the struggle by developing nations in general, and the Arab world in particular, against its historic oppressors. What is truly remarkable, however, is that of all places, multicultural Europe — a Europe that celebrates the saccharinity of multiculturalism, a Europe that opened its gates to tens of millions of immigrants — now lives in dread of IS emissaries and rightfully so. This year, maybe next year, we are likely to see a mass terrorist attack conducted by an IS alumnus in one of Europe’s capitals. That attack is certain to be filmed from every possible angle and edited into a lively, rhythmic video fit for any major network. As is so common in international relations, the actual schedule and the game pieces can be confusing.
 
How do young people from Europe arrive in the Syria of IS' proclaimed caliphate? By land, via Turkey. Yes, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Turkey, the American ally and NATO member, is the crossing point, back and forth, between Syria and Europe. It's not up to US President Barack Obama alone to complete the job against IS. All of Europe must wake up. It must shake off its pacifist naphthalene and collect itself. The cancer must be amputated. Europe must find the strength to live.
 
As far as values go, the sanctity of individual rights does not supersede the most basic right to live. Only integrated action from within and without will remove the danger. A relentless war should be launched against IS in Syria and Iraq, and Europe must adopt a zero tolerance policy toward the group and its supporters. Otherwise, Europe will face unspeakable tragedy. The pendulum will swing from progressive inclusionism, which sanctifies human rights, to classical European nationalism. We all remember how that ended last time.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/09/jorje-luis-borges-islamic-terror-world-jihad-europe-turkey.html#ixzz3Cpu2yJrt

And, regarding the airliners, not to belabor the theory, but they also would potentially have 'motive', especially the Egyptians...  I read someplace that if commercial jets were launched form Libya, that they would have literally "minutes" to react as far away as Saudi Arabia.  The threat being a transhipment facility or something in an effort to destabilize world markets.

Although I wish he would stop showing these guys how easy it is to get into the country...   
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikV1906afbM

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/09/08/us-federal-air-marshal-attacked-with-syringe-in-lagos-airport/

Jane's: "not likely to be credible".

http://www.janes.com/article/42080/algerian-reports-of-jihadist-attack-threat-using-commercial-aircraft-stolen-from-libya-unlikely-to-be-credible

I have been trying to read up on what our options might be in Syria.  Thought this might be aprpeciated around here. 

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/moderate-syrian-rebel-application-form

 

http://franklincenterhq.org/resources/federal-resources/

http://aclj.org/iran/isis-militants-issue-death-threats-against-pastor-saeed-from-within-rajai-shahr-prison

http://www.libyaherald.com/2014/08/11/chief-of-staff-admits-he-has-no-control-of-army-army-on-verge-of-callopse/#axzz3A2sa9aOQ

Also, well put, and echoing what Marc said:  I have wondered about Cruz's sex appeal to non-conservatives myself.  He is ceratinly articulatem, but he comes across as a little 'stiff'; and perhaps 'so smart as to be intimidating' for some people.  As we saw, that was fatal for Romney.  People appear to want a 'sax playing president' these days.  But maybe that is how it has always been, I think Regan's greatest strength was his cross party personability.

@ Marc, I'd be curious to know where you think Cruz is vulnerable...   My take is he is the 'best man standing' for a lot of the reasons Doug mentioned, but I am somewhat afraid that he is simply TOO conservative to be electable.  But partly, I acknowledge that that is because at least part of me is subconsciously buying into the MSM argument that such a thing as 'too conservative' actually exists so therefore we should 'run a Chris Christie'-- to which a much larger part of me says flatly:  'No'.

I DO believe people can be convinced of the value and benefit of Reaganesque conservatism and I believe Cruz could sell it competently-- provided he gets the pulpit-opportunity.   And I recognize what an uphill battle it will be as the attacks are already starting.   Also, one only needs to look at the government shutdown to see that Cruz took as many bullets in the back from his own party as he ever did from Democrats, which concerns me A LOT.  And then you have the 'WaWa' phenomena, where MSNBC (for example) recut Romney's speech simply to make him look like an idiot.  That is what I mean by getting the 'pulpit opportunity'-- I am not sure how conservatives overcome the current media bias AGAINST conservatism except via social media and I believe even that is only partially effective as most people tend to tune out.  This is what attracts me to Paul, is that he could potentailly reach across the aisle to attract other voters, certainly independents that I belive Cruz might lose. But, we have not been doing very well playing the safe bets.

Regarding managing the party, personally, I am waiting on a (hopeful) Republican reversal of the Congress in November, at which time I plan to become *a lot* more vocal with members of Congress 'in general' about demanding action from the RNC , as at that point there will be no excuses remaining about why they 'tried but can't'.  My Rep is Amash, who tends conservative, and my Senators are Stabenow and that gas bag Levin, who is retiring.  Meaning:  I already know how Amash is likely to vote, which is favorable to Constitutional issues, and I already know how Levin will vote which is almost always straight DNC on primary issues.  Stabenow also usually tends to vote left, but I believe she is at least 'somewhat responsive' (unlike Levin) which makes her worth contacting occassionally.   But, point:  calling my own reps is unlikely to produce results that aren't *already* happening.   If we reach such point where conservatives control both houses, I think it will be beholden on people to reach BEYOND there own reps to demand action from the RNC in general.   The Boehner 'we tried our best' excuse-making days have gotta go.

Back to Cruz, I'd just be curious what your concerns may be. I am not trying to make a refutational case for Cruz, per se, just attempting to share my thoughts.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2014/08/01/Islamic-State-to-Join-Palestine-to-Fight-the-Barbaric-Jews

Fortunately I also read this morning that we're all about to be killed in a long overdue solar flare.  So we don't have to worry about this. 

Wow, you guys have a thread for everything. LOL     I will repost there.

I think Carson could be a good candidate but I'd rather see him as surgeon general...?  I think he and Paul are both *potentially* weak on FP, at least looking at experience, but that fact by itself may make them attractive to Dem's/ Indepedents.  Carson is so damn *reasonable* sounding in a dispassionate way.

Nobody is asking, but my Dream Team for the Fantasy Election League at present would be a Cruz-Paul ticket with Allen West as Sec Def, Maybe Condi Rice back as Sec of State if she would do it (or even VP, saving Rand Paul as majority leader).  Gowdy or Gohmert for AG, or Gowdy for Ag.  Mike Lee for Speaker.  Sec. of State, that's a tough one... the world is a mess right now and it would be a tough thankless job.  Romney as Secretary of Commerce.  I'm not sure who on the conservative side of the field has the most FP experience... Dare I say McCain? 

Hey look, that's like a 60% plus minority ticket...   Only because I'm white and 'hate' minorities.

Any body care to offer a differnet line-up?

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/07/29/Islamists-overrun-Benghazi-army-base-killing-30-.html

LOL, I JUST posted that to a different thread, then popped over here.  I'll delete.

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/07/left-took-over-democratic-party-109348.html?ml=m_a2_1

https://www.numbersusa.com/news/not-my-backyard-feds-efforts-relocate-illegal-aliens-border

Cities who take HUD funding--- basically all of them-- could fall under federal jurisdiction for neighborhood planning quotas.

http://mobile.wnd.com/2014/07/new-obama-rule-could-force-cities-to-house-illegals/

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/18/us-france-africa-islamist-idUSKBN0FN2MO20140718

"There are threats, notably from Libya. Military hardware has accumulated there, and without a doubt, terrorists are seeking refuge there," Hollande said in Niger..."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/20/us-iraq-security-kurds-idUSKBN0FP06320140720

"... the worst military reversal Iraqi troops have suffered since the Islamist forces captured nearly half the country last month."

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/07/18/233786/islamic-state-overwhelms-iraqi.html#storylink=cpy