Foreign Aid

Foreign Aid is the voluntary transfer of resources from one country to another.  It is done to provide disaster relief and other humanitarian help, provide military assistance, promote good will, and promote behavior that the donor nation wishes the recipient nation to engage in.  During the current Presidential primaries, America’s foreign aid to other countries has been under scrutiny.

QUESTION:  Do you support providing foreign aid to other countries, or do you think we should fix America’s problems first?

Whatever it takes to win.

COMMENT SUMMARY:  No comments received.

MY COMMENT:

On their album, Wednesday Morning 3:00 AM, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel recorded a song that began like this:

Last night I dreamed the strangest dream,

I ever dreamed before.

I dreamed the world had all agreed,

to put an end to war.

I dreamed about a mighty room.

The room was filled with men,

and the papers they were signing said,

they’d never fight again.

(from memory, my punctuation)

What a wonderful dream!  How we wish it would come true.  However, war has always been part of the human experience.  Our Lord said that it will continue until His kingdom comes. (Matthew 24) Was Jesus advocating for war?  Certainly not!  He was just telling it like it is.

Good people have always had to defend their native land, their families, their homes, their freedom, and their way of life.  Evil men will seek wealth, power, religious supremacy, and everything that Satan causes them to covet.  They will take what they want from those who are unable or unwilling to defend what they have.  Yes, we do have the right to defend ourselves.  Jesus told His disciples “… and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” (Luke 22:36)

George Washington said:

If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire

to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising

prosperity, it must be known, that we are at all times ready for War.

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/g/georgewash122875.html

Washington was correct to say that the best way to have peace is through strength, something that Ronald Reagan also advocated.  However, peace is not guaranteed to the strong either.  The United States is still the most powerful country in the world, but we have been unable and unwilling to fully utilize that power.

War is too horrible for mere words to describe.  We should never go to war unless there is no other way.  However, we should never again do what President Obama has done; which is to have peace at any cost.

Carl von Clausewitz was a great military thinker, but he was wrong when he said that, “War is regarded as nothing but the continuation of state policy with other means.” Rather, war is what you do when all other reasonable efforts fail.

If we go to war it must be to defend ourselves and our allies from aggression, and there must be a clear and present danger that our freedom and safety are at risk.  Some years ago, while I was watching CSPAN, Sen. John McCain said something to this effect of the floor of the Senate, “We should never ask our young men and women to fight and die unless we are willing to do anything it takes to win.” (his emphasis)  Amen! (my emphasis)

It seems that Sen. McCain’s wisdom in this matter is limited to Sen. McCain, at least in the halls of government.  We have been frustrated in Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East, precisely because we have not done what Sen. McCain said.

Anything it takes means anything it takes.  If the cause does not call for that, if we are afraid of being condemned by world opinion, or if we will allow the enemy sanctuary in a neighboring country rather than risk a larger war; then we have no right to ask our sons and daughters to risk their lives, injury, or becoming prisoners of war in the hands of a brutal enemy.

Therefore, let’s pick our fights carefully; no limited objectives, and no clearly stated (but misguided) short-term goals. The end should be total victory and nothing less.  Total victory is: to obliterate the enemy’s ability, and will, to resist.  That is war. If we are unwilling or unable to do that, we must not go to war.

I was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army after taking four years of Military Science classes, while earning a Bachelor’s Degree.  I did not serve in the kind of combat where shots are fired with the intent to kill.  I served in an artillery (missile) unit in Europe.  At the time, our forces in Europe were depleted by the war effort in Vietnam.  Our presence helped to keep the Soviet Union from taking advantage of that.  Anyway, I think I have some background regarding war and military matters.

My Military Science classes included instruction in the Nine Principles of War; commonly referred to by the acronym MOUSE MOSS.  Folks, these are “the basics.”  When sports teams run into trouble the coach makes them practice the basics.  I am sure that our new President will be briefed on military matters.  Let’s hope that our new Commander in Chief will be able to benefit from it more that Mr. Obama did.

I suggest that any new President memorize the Nine Principles of War, as I was required to in R.O.T.C.  Only rarely have our “limited wars,” since World War II, shown any semblance of adherence to the basics.  Total victory cannot be achieved without them.  I have taken some liberties for the sake of brevity, but MOUSE MOSS is explained below:

·         Mass: To bring overwhelming power to bear at the decisive moment and optimal place.  This does not necessarily mean superior numbers, but rather the combined effects of the application of force.

·         Objective: All military operations must have a clearly defined objective, the achievement of which will contribute to victory; the destruction of the enemy's ability and will to fight.

·         Unity of Command: All forces must be under the command of a single commander.  This applies throughout the chain of command.  There is one commander for each operational unit, who is responsible to one commander at the next higher level, and so on up to the single commander of all forces.

·         Security:  Actions taken by the commander to protect his forces from attack, pressure, or surprise.  It is never giving an enemy the advantage.

·         Economy of Force:  Using forces judiciously, leaving no unit without a mission and purpose.  By not wasting available assets, commanders can free up forces to Mass at critical times and places.

·         Maneuver:  The movement of forces to gain the advantage over the enemy.

·                    Offensive: “Nobody ever defended anything successfully, there is only attack                          and attack and attack some more.”  (Gen. George Patton)

·         Surprise:  Attacking or maneuvering at unexpected times and places, or in unexpected ways.  Catching the enemy when they are not prepared.  Striking suddenly, deceptively, or with great force.

·         Simplicity:  The KISS rule applies; keep it simple stupid.  There is always confusion on the battlefield, and the best way to minimize it is with simple plans and clear, concise, complete, and correct orders.

Frankly, I believe that if we paid more attention to these basics our future efforts to defend ourselves would meet with more success.  I do not like or want war.  However, our survival depends on getting it right when we have to.

Happy Memorial Day!  Please pray for peace, and remember those who have served, and died, with the honor and respect they have earned.  Thank you for your service.

Post Script:  With respect, there is a lot more to getting rid of Radical Islamic Terrorist movements in the Middle East than just bombing the "Sierra" out of them, Mr. Trump.

War

Today, as we speak, the United States is facing multiple challenges overseas, including but not limited to: conflicts in the Middle East, terrorism on a global scale, aggressive actions by Russia and China, and nuclear proliferation to rogue nation states like Iran and North Korea.  Some, including some Presidential hopefuls, have said that in some cases the use of military force may be necessary to resolve these challenges.

Question: When is the use of military force justified to achieve outcomes that further the interests if the United States?

Where are you going?

COMMENT SUMMARY:  No comments were received.

MY COMMENT:  Various persons have differing opinions about the worst, or most threatening, problem facing the country.  Recently, President Obama said that man-made climate change was the greatest threat to America’s security.  During a 2012 debate, Mitt Romney said that Russia posed the greatest threat to the American people.

We certainly have a lot of problems to choose from:

terrorist organizations

world financial crisis

proliferation of nuclear weapons

breakdown of the family

race relations

rogue nation states

debt

overpopulation

climate change

asteroids

illegal migration

courts that create new law

unconstitutional executive orders

military expansion by Russia and China

Forgive me if I left your favorite off the list.

Our opinion about the problem that poses the greatest threat to America depends largely upon one’s point of view.  Personally, I find President Obama’s view that man- made climate change is the greatest existential threat to human kind laughable.  I am sure he would find mine laughable as well.

Regarding the temporal (earthly) problems facing America, I think that the national debt, and its impact on monetary policy, is our greatest threat.  The value of my money is declining, and the ability of poor and middle income Americans to buy the things we need is eroding.

It is true that the dollar is relatively strong against other currencies at present, but I think that is due to the weakness of other currencies, and to currency manipulation, rather than to the strength of the dollar.  If the dollar fails, chaos will result, in America and around the world, and with it a complete breakdown of the social order that binds societies together and enables them to function.

There is, however, a spiritual problem that supersedes the many temporal problems that threaten our country.  As a people, Americans are turning away from God, and rejecting the way God said for us to live.  We have become so deluded; we do not have the common sense to know which public restroom a person ought to use.  The President even wants to impose this evil on our school children!  Right is wrong and wrong is right!

Consequently, God has withdrawn His protection from us.  Our efforts abroad are frustrated by forces we should be able to wipe out in a few days.  At home, we are divided and quarreling on almost every issue.  Our prosperity is slipping away.  Families are broken, children are born out of wedlock, large numbers of people are addicted, and sexually transmitted diseases are running rampant.  The country has been invaded by 10 to15 million illegal migrants, and we lack the will to defend it.  The worst of it all is that Americans are living as though there is no eternal destination, and many will, tragically, not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Friend, don’t miss out on eternal bliss in the presence of God.  Repent of the sin of this world.  Believe in Jesus.  Trust that His sinless life has been substituted for yours in the judgement, that you have been washed clean by the blood He shed for you on the cross, and that you will be made a new creation with the Holy Spirit living in you and giving you the power to live like God’s child.  Kneel at the foot of the cross and ask Him to save you today.

America's Problems

QUESTION:  What is the greatest problem facing the United States of America today?

Sanders Supporters

News reports today said that Venezuela is in a state of complete social and economic breakdown.  The country was described as a "failed state." Take heed if you think that Socialism is the answer to America's problems.  Venezuela has one of the largest oil reserves in the world.  It's people should be prosperous.  They are not because Socialism has been a failure everywhere it has been tried. 

Now is a Time for Prayer

COMMENT SUMMARY:  No comments received.

MY COMMENT:  As a veteran, the right to vote is very important to me.  I have voted in every presidential election, since I became old enough to vote.  For me, it would be dereliction of my duty as a citizen not to vote.

• In 1972, I voted for George McGovern.  I was much more liberal when I was younger, but the vote was more a vote against Richard Nixon than it was a vote for McGovern.  I had a “gut” feeling that Nixon had no loyalty to the law, and was obsessed with power.  My gut proved to be correct. 

• I voted for Gerald Ford in 1976.  He was a better man than people gave him credit for being, and it is my opinion that he saved the country in a time when we were in serious trouble.  That was a wholehearted vote, and I chose Ford gladly over Jimmy Carter.  Unfortunately, Carter won, and he proved to be a terrible President.

• The first time I voted for Ronald Reagan, in 1980, I had doubts about his ability to govern.  However, I thought that almost anybody would be better than President Carter.  In 1984, I was able to choose Ronald Reagan over Walter Mondale without hesitation.  President Reagan proved to be the man that the country needed at that time.

• Choosing George H. W. Bush over Michael Dukakis in 1988 was both easy and difficult.  Mr. Dukakis was clearly not presidential material, but Mr. Bush was what used to be called a “Country Club Republican” or a “Rockefeller Republican.”  He was a card carrying member of the American political class, and any concern he had for the common man came from a sense of “nobles oblige” rather than a sense of a shared struggle.

• I really preferred Ross Perot, in 1992, but I voted for George H. W. Bush.  I thought that President Bush was the better of two bad candidates, and that a vote for Mr. Perot was a vote for Bill Clinton.  At this point, I found myself in almost complete disagreement with the positions of liberal candidates, and President Bush was less liberal than “Slick Willie” Clinton.

• In 1996, I voted for the hapless Bob Dole.  By this time, I believed President Clinton was a disgrace to the office and a menace to freedom of speech and thought.  I didn’t want to vote for Sen. Dole, but I blamed Ross Perot for President Clinton’s victory in 1992, and there was nobody else that had a glimmer of hope to defeat Mr. Clinton.  This was a true “hold your nose” vote.

• I voted for George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004.  I was hoping for a revival of Ronald Reagan’s economic policy in 2000, but that did not materialize.  I thought President Bush was magnificent after 911, and remain convinced that the world would be different today if we had actually followed the “Bush Doctrine.”  As the Democrats swung further and further left, I found almost nothing I could support in what they advocated.  Al Gore and John Kerry were examples of the famous Reagan quote:

The trouble with our Liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; 

it's just that they know so much that isn't so.

• Enter Barack Obama.  In 2008, I voted for John McCain with confidence and hope for the future.  In 2012, I knew Mitt Romney was not electable from the start.  Every working man and woman in America recognized Mitt Romney as the guy who signs the “pink slips.”  However, I voted for Gov. Romney anyway because President Obama’s policies are destroying the country.  The choice was clear … anybody but Obama.

Thanks for putting up with the foregoing.  I wrote it to show that too often the process of selecting a President has been one of choosing the better of two bad candidates.  Certainly, 2016 is not the first time that unworthy people have run for, and may be elected to the office of President.

Mrs. Clinton is a flawed candidate who should be easy to defeat.  A relic from the 1960’s, Bernie Sanders, is giving her all she can handle in the Democratic primaries.  Nevertheless, the Republican’s seem determined to lose.  Hillary Clinton is unfit to be President because: She has abandoned Americans under attack in Libya, and she did it for political convenience.  She has used public office to enrich herself and her husband, rather than serve the people.  She has neglected to safeguard classified information.  She abandoned Israel and paved the way for the Iranian Nuclear Agreement.  And, these are only a few of her more recent “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

I fear that she will be the next President if she is not indicted first; and I will be surprised if she is indicted at all.  Even if the FBI recommends it, I don’t think President Obama’s Justice Department will do it.  I speculate that they will have her back, using the excuse that they cannot, by policy, interfere with a presidential election.

Donald Trump’s candidacy reminds me of Germany in the 1930’s.  Defeated abroad and caught in an economic collapse at home, the German people chose a “strong man” to lead them.  Adolph Hitler was very popular prior to World War II because he restored German prestige abroad and brought economic prosperity at home.  However, he plunged the world into an apocalyptic war that killed multiple millions of people.

Mr. Trump speaks of nuclear weapons the way teenage boys talk about large fireworks.  He is vindictive, lashing out at anyone who opposes him.  He holds women in contempt, and treats them like property.  He has no core values, and changes his positions on a whim.  His personal life has been fraught with broken marriages and extramarital affairs:

Trump has said of his early dating life that he felt "like a great and very brave soldier" and "lucky" 

to have avoided the contraction of AIDS and other sexually-transmitted diseases, calling it his 

own "personal Vietnam". "If I told the real stories of my experiences with women, often seemingly 

very happily married and important women, this book would be a guaranteed best-seller",

 Trump wrote in his 1997 book The Art of the Comeback. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump

I heard him say that he is a good Christian, and a Presbyterian.  However, actions speak louder than words.  To my mind there is only one thing worse than a Trump presidency, and that is if Hillary Clinton is elected.

In 2012, the Democrats won control of the Colorado legislature and the governor was also a Democrat.  Many of their campaigns received a lot of money from Michael Bloomberg.  The very first thing they did after taking office in 2013 was to pass a series of restrictive gun laws, which were signed immediately by Governor Hickenlooper.  At that time, I was a Colorado resident, and registered to vote as an Independent.  I sent the Governor an Email telling him that I had voted for both Democrats and Republicans in the past, but promising him that I would never ever, ever, ever vote for another Democrat again.

I am not a one issue voter.  I have, however, sworn several times in various capacities to uphold and defend the United States’ Constitution.  I think that President Obama has repeatedly acted in ways that show the contempt with which Democrats treat the Constitution.

I honestly can’t say how I will vote at this time.  I am trusting the Lord for guidance, and I suggest that my readers do the same.  Prayer is not the least we can do ... it is the most we can do.  Please join me in prayer to Almighty God that something miraculous will happen to change the course of the 2016 presidential election:

Our Father in heaven, your Name is Holy.

Please let your will be done for our country.

Forgive us, oh Lord, for we have wandered far away from you.

We have sinned as individuals and as a people.

We have rebelled against you and the way you want us to live.

We humble ourselves, we repent, and we ask that you heal our land.

Your Word tells us that no ruler reigns unless you cause it or allow it.

We pray that the next President will lead our nation according to your Word.

We ask that you give us peace of mind and heart,

knowing that the next President to hold office will do so as part of your plan for us.

Please give us someone who is worthy of the office.

Please work these things together for the good

of those who believe in you and are called according to your purpose.

In Jesus’ Name

Amen

NOTE: For a very interesting diversion please see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_presidential_candidates

for a list of various persons who have run for the office of President of the United States to date.