8.21.06 - Why is all this going down?

In light of recent events, namely the terrorist plot to explode British airliners to the United States, I feel it necessary to review the reasons for the current War on Terror. What are the soldiers of the United States fighting, and dying, for?

One obvious reason lies in the attack on American citizens by destroying the World Trade towers that were in New York and punching a hole in the Pentagon. The very way these acts were carried out is dispicable. Flying packed commercial airliners into packed public workplaces in order to kill and incite fear among the American people. This is a reason for the U.S. to fight the War on Terror.

Once we invaded Afghanistan and toppled the terrorist regime there, instituting a new, democratic government in its place we had little or no reason for continued presence there. George Bush decided that Iraq was too unstable for continued existence under Saddam Hussein's regime. When U.N. weapons instectors failed to find WMDs, the U.S. went in guns blazing to liberate the people of Iraq. This was, in part, a good move. Saddam Hussein was ordering the mass killing of Iraqi citizens in order to keep his regime in place with little or no dissent. Once we had captured Saddam Hussein and put up a new government in Iraq, there was no reason for the U.S. to have a continued presence. However, President Bush decided to continue U.S. military presence in Iraq to put down rebel insurgents, insurgents that rely on guerilla tactics to unseat the new government. These insurgents are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of United States soldiers in Iraq. There are still hundreds of U.S. soldiers in Iraq, in constant danger of being killed by insurgents. It is time for these men to come home. To quote Shakespeare's Henry V, "if these men do not die well, it will be a black matter for the king that led them to it."

If the President were to find another place where the soldiers could serve the world better I believe America should back him. If perhaps, America could permanently cripple the militant organization called Hezbollah, part of the most recent Israeli war, it would be a cause worth fighting for.

Think about it.

-Night

8.16.06 - Airport Security? A child could get past it.

You might have heard, you might not have heard, but A 12-year old British boy was able to get pass heightened London airport security, managing to get all the way to the cabin of a jetliner, without a passport or boarding pass. I sure feel safe now.

To put into perspective how big of an accomplishment this feat is:

1 - The child left a children's home near Liverpool (245 miles from London)
2 - Boarded a train to London
3 - Made his way to Gatwick airport outside the city
4 - Passed baggage check
5 - Passed (supposedly) heightened security screenings without a passport or boarding pass.
6 - Boarded plane (to Lisbon, Portugual) without passport or boarding pass
7 - Was seated, staff noticed him and notified airport security before the plane took off.

This was a twelve-year old child. If I'm not mistaken, 12 year olds are fairly impressionable. Impressionable enough to be trained in terrorist activities even. This kid did all this without a boarding pass and the police already looking for him as a missing child from the children's home. If he had had a boarding pass and the police weren't looking for him he probably could have made it all the way to Portugual. Terrorist organizations could easily exploit this.

All it would take was for one twelve-year old to sneak some explosive material onto a plane and blow a hole in the side to effectively destroy the plane. The hole would create a pressure imbalance, compromising the flying ability of the aircraft. It would then crash. A simple plan.

Let's hope England steps up its airport security.

For more info click here

8.3.06 - GO BRAZIL!!!

I look around our world today and see many humongous events occuring that attract the attention of leaders around the world. Many powerful countries, the U.S. included, have done many things to help increase mankind's chances of survival in the world, whether it be aiding starving villagers in Africa or trying to topple terrorist organizations. But what is being done for the more basic creatures of the world? The ones that are usually glossed over in the hunt for something to improve living conditions on Earth?

I have always been very fond of penguins. So when I saw an article on Comcast about Brazil aiding 4 dozen stray penguins in Rio de Janiero on their march back home, my first thought was "Wow. These people really do care for the wildlife of the world." And it's obvious Brazilians do. I mean, why else would they devote Brazilian Air Force planes to carting the wayward penguins to Pelotas in southern Brazil for veterinary check-ups? And for the second phase of the journey the Brazilian Navy is allowing the use of several Navy ships to take the penguins into the southern Atlantic near Antarctica, where they will have every chance of making it home safely! The Brazilian government could just stick the penguins in National Zoos and charge admission to see them, raising money for the government and solving the probelm at the same time. Instead they've decided to allow these Penguins a chance to live as they should, out in the wild and away from most human influences.

I don't mean to sound really sentimental about this event, but I will say it is one of the most amazing acts I have ever seen. I applaud the Government of Brazil and hope other countries will follow in their footsteps, making this world a better place to live for all it's inhabitants, not just humans.

-Night

7.25.06 - On "bill-signing statements."

Bill-signing statements (or BS statements for short) are a tool our President has used to alter the constitutional process of law-making. These statements allow Bush to revise, interpret, or disregard laws in cases of "national security." They are a flex tool that can be used in any way George W. Bush wants in order to bend laws for or against his ideals.

One instance of Bush's BS statements was added to the recently signed torture-ban. This was a ban outlawing the use of “cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment” for extracting information from detainees. After Bush signed it into law he gave out a BS statement allowing him to interpret what “cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment" means. This basically gives Bush the power to ignore the law completely, because he decides what treatment is fit.

Bush is slowly accumulating power, circumventing the system of checks and balances within the U.S. government. Luckily, Senator Specter, R-Pa, is writing a piece of legislation in order to allow Congress to pass a judicial review of Bush's newfound powers. Took them long enough. This is the first step on the road to impeachment of the President. Let's hope Bush doesn't have any tricks in order to circumvent that part of the constitution as well.

Think about it.

-Night

7.24.06 - Bush Breaking the Rules?

I was browsing today's headlines on Comcast.net and came across an article concerning the constitutionality of certain "exceptions" Bush is making to laws he signs. Apparently our dear darling President has decided that he can add exceptions to laws after he has signed them into law. What's up with that?

Bush's administration has decided to call these little law-breaking additions "bill-signing statements." These allow Bush to "revise, interpret, or disregard" matters dealing with national security or the constitution.

These bill-signing statements are legal; they have been used by other presidents. However, Bush has used these "exceptions" over 800 times. All the other presidents combined have only used them about 600 times. Some might say Bush has "overused" his presidential freedoms.

But maybe desperate times call for desperate measures.

Think about it.
http://www.comcast.net/news/politics/index.jsp?cat=POLITICS&fn=/2006/07/24/440661.html&cvqh=itn_lawyersbush

-Night

7.22.06 - Why can't we all just get along?

Some Israelis say they'll stop firing missiles into Gaza, some say no they won't, but one is for certain: I can see no real point to this fighting.

When the Israelis pulled out of the Gaza Strip, a long time ago now, it was the first real step towards peace in the region. But then the Israeli Prime Minister all but snuffs it and everyone immediately goes back to each other's throats.

They are closer than ever to peace. I just hope they realize it and back off.

-Night

Check this article - http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/21/world/main1824289.shtml

7.20.06 - Blogging as a first?

Hey guys. As you can tell, this is my first blog so I'm still trying to get the general idea of what I want to do.
I started this blog because of a man named Waldo Jaquith... he came to my class and he's a blogger. He taught us all about the history of blogging and the powers bloggers of today have over the media and the politics of the nation. SO I decided to give it a try.

I've been told I'm slightly liberal, but I do try to stay on both sides of the issue. However, I'm not so sure I agree with President Bush's Iraq policy. WE SHOULD BE USING THIS MONEY IN IRAQ TO FUND STEM CELL RESEARCH!!!!!!!

My ideas on Stem Cell research:

-We have adult stem cells. These are legal and available. However, adult stem cells are very limited in their usage. They are more likely to contain DNA abnormalities and are more mature than embryonic stem cells. Therefore they are not as useful as less-developed embryonic stem cells.

-Embryonic stem cells can be taken from embryoes that are going to be disposed of anyway. It would cause no harm to take stem cells from these embyros.

-Embryonic stem cells have many uses. They can help treat brain disorders, spinal cord injuries, and a number of other maladies of the flesh.

Think about it and comment.

-Night