Dec 19 2008

O Brave New World

Category: military,national security — sardonicwhiner @ 11:52 am

Storing food and water yet? How about body armor?

A new report by the U.S. Army War College talks about the possibility of Pentagon resources and troops being used should the economic crisis lead to civil unrest, such as protests against businesses and government or runs on beleaguered banks.

“Widespread civil violence inside the United States would force the defense establishment to reorient priorities in extremis to defend basic domestic order and human security,” said the War College report.

The study says economic collapse, terrorism and loss of legal order are among possible domestic shocks that might require military action within the U.S.

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned Wednesday of economy-related riots and unrest in various global markets if the financial crisis is not addressed and lower-income households are hurt by credit constraints and rising unemployment.

Dec 19 2008

A hero for heroes

Category: Iraq,society,terrorism — harmonicminer @ 10:22 am

Sinise: A man for all services

Since war became a geographically distant but very real way of life after Sept. 11, 2001, no Hollywood star has stepped up to support active duty U.S. military personnel and wounded veterans like Gary Sinise. There is no close second. And quietly, as is in his nature, he is becoming something akin to this generation´s Bob Hope.

One step in conferring this worthy title on the award-winning actor, director and producer occurred last week when President Bush bestowed on him the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest civilian honor awarded to citizens for exemplary deeds performed in service of the nation.

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Dec 19 2008

Robbing the poor and giving it to the rich

Category: Bush,Democrat,economy — harmonicminer @ 12:53 am

This is what comes of compassionate conservatism, I guess.

US President George W. Bush said in an interview Tuesday he was forced to sacrifice free market principles to save the economy from “collapse.”

“I’ve abandoned free-market principles to save the free-market system,” Bush told CNN television, saying he had made the decision “to make sure the economy doesn’t collapse.”

Bush’s comments reflect an extraordinary departure from his longtime advocacy for an unfettered free market, as his administration has orchestrated unprecedented government intervention in the face of a dire financial crisis.

“I am sorry we’re having to do it,” Bush said.

But Bush said government action was necessary to ease the effects of the crisis, offering perhaps his most dire assessment yet of the country’s economy.

One wonders if President Bush has read any of these books. They feature a super-secret, quite small organization of assassins and controllers who do illegal things to “save the Constitution,” and for whom no official record exists, the authorization being passed from president to president by word of mouth.

Of course, this entire book series is satire.  But President Bush and his interventions, with Democrat connivance, are for real…  if you can keep a straight face.  But as far as I can see, the only people laughing all the way to the bank ARE the banks, who have taken the federal bailout funds and are just sitting on them, instead of loaning them, behavior which seems beyond the control of the federal reverse-Robin Hoods who gave it to them.