Mountainbiker's Open Salon Blog

Cal Thomas’ 29 April, 2009, “Loose Lips or Loose Pix"

Wed, 6 May 2009 22:05:01 -0400

I understand the need for secrecy, but I find secrecy in conflict with the knowledge needed to run a democracy. Should nothing have been released concerning torture of current detainees (e.g. pictures from Abu Grab), there would be no political pressure to stop such actions. Clearly we disagree on the torture issue, but that is the point---we disagree. Without knowledge democracy becomes impossible. Indeed without some work, one knows little or remembers in context the little information released concerning our secret agency, the CIA. The CIA has assisted assets in the distribution of illegal drugs: from the golden triangle in Laos using Air America, from Columbia during the Reagan administration to Florida and California (Iran Contra), and possibly now from Afghanistan. The Taliban reduced opium growth by 95% just before we invaded. In fact in a Berlin meeting in July 2001, the Taliban was told we would invade “before the snow flies” (opium planting season?). Now the opium production is even greater than before. Is there a connection? It will take some time before such connections are known. Also we must understand that the CIA works for corporations, in general, and not the people of the United States. In 1953 the CIA was instrumental in the overthrow of the fledging democracy in Iran to assist British Petroleum in regaining its profitable arrangement in exploiting Iran’s oil reserves. The CIA was instrumental in undermining the democratically elected government in Guatemala to aid the United Fruit Company (now Chiquita) in its production of cheap bananas for export to the USA. Clearly the U.S.A. has oil interests in the Middle East and the Caspian Sea regions. The CIA has been active in these regions, no doubt. But it will take time and effort to produce confirmation. Now we have accusations of torture and criminal investigations by Spain, England, and Italy. We are soft pedaling water-boarding, a product of the Spanish inquisition, which we prosecuted the Japanese for conducting. We certainly appear inconsistent. If you believe the United States stands for “democracy” and “rule of law,” then you probably agree with me that these actions of the CIA should stop. And since this happens under a cloak of secrecy, these actions should be known to the public, in general. Certainly those to whom the actions happen know what is happening. Otherwise, we simply trust the empire to act ethically.

Response to Cal Thomas’ editorial of 29 April, 2009, “Loose Lips or Loose Pix: Same Difference"

Ten Commandments on OKC capital grounds?

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:04:00 -0400

If we place words from the Bible on capital grounds, why use the Ten Commandments that appear only in the early chapters of human spiritual development? Why not use the words of Jesus and others from the New Testament, words that challenge me to confront my fears, to step outside all tribal boundaries, and to become more human than I now am? Here are some suggestions from the Sermon on the Mount:

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matt 5:44).”

“Do not resist the evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also (Matt. 5:39).”

“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you (Matt. 5:42).”

Luke (-Acts) describes how the earliest Christians organized their community:

“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” “There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need (Acts 4).”

If we strive to follow these commands from Jesus, the Ten Commandments are fulfilled. Further, the legislators would reflect on these now highly visible words, as they shape our community called Oklahoma. These words challenge.

Profligate Sinners

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:04:24 -0400

The editorial machinations, over the extravagant spending of the current administration, totally ignore the accounting scams foisted on the public, since the Johnson administration and gleefully adopted by all following Republican and Democrat administrations. Payments into Social Security and Medicaid accounts become loans to the general fund, an IOU not reflected in the politically popular National Debt of some ten plus trillion dollars. No business is allowed to do accounting this way.

The actual obligations according to the U. S. Treasury are 56 trillion dollars. The Bush and Obama bailout packages pale in significance. This debt is more than four times the yearly Gross Domestic Product. The ever-growing debt is not sustainable.

We have some unpleasant choices. We cut spending across the board, from defense (An hour and a half of non-intercepted flights on 911, some defense!), to infrastructure (“We don’t want no guvment pork.”), to social programs (“Peoples problems is their own fault.”). We raise taxes on everyone (The top bracket in the1954 Eisenhower administration was 91% on incomes over $300,000.). Failing that we have hyperinflation (say 1000% a year) to reduce the dollar value on the debt. Finally the American Empire simply goes the way of empires, collapses, and repays debt to no one. We profligate borrowers have sinned and now will suffer God’s wrath.

9/11 Questions

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:04:20 -0400

Three questions to think about concerning the government conspiracy theory of 911.

Why were standard hijacking intercept procedures not followed on 9/11? (Four planes, one and one half hours, no intercepts.)

What happened to WTC 7, the third building that collapsed into its footprint at free fall acceleration on 911?

How could a poorly trained Cessna pilot maneuver a 757 along the tight spiraling descent taken to hit the Pentagon a few feet above the ground?

A question to think about concerning alternate conspiracy theories of 911.

Is compartmentalization of information and inability of whistle blowers to get traction sufficient to keep a complex conspiracy secret?

Amnesty for CIA Agents

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:04:49 -0400

Obama has declared amnesty for CIA agents involved in torture. One can certainly understand this sentiment. If we don’t allow covert agents amnesty from earlier actions approved by the Bush administration, we are not likely to find anyone willing to carry out administrative sanctioned covert (extra-legal, not rule of law) actions today.

On the other hand, during ROTC training in Viet Nam War times, I was told that officers were placed in underground missile silos to fire those nuclear tipped missiles, solely to put a conscience into the system. The missile-launch officers were the last act of judgment on the morality of the attack on the enemy. However, there were two launch officers. If they disagreed on this judgment, they had side arms to settle any and all differences.

It is clear that our society requires individuals to decide what is right or wrong in the moment. The holocaust paper shuffler, Adolf Eichmann, also used the Obama defense, “I was only following orders.” Yet he was judged guilty and negligent for failure to resist the Jewish genocide.

Do we uphold the American ideal of “rule of law” and the constitutional imperative to honor treaty obligations or are we pragmatic and allow the CIA torturers to go free? It seems most Oklahomans detest Obama, but do you detest him for this declaration? I do.