New Front / Arms race

Somalia was left by the Americans when they were slaughtered in the Black Hawk Down incident. It was something that the American public had not experienced for some time. However, now with this new age of war the population is much more accustomed to the notion of their boys getting killed overseas. This could be a condition that the White House is aware about, and could in fact convince the WH to keep troops in Somalia to create a new, smaller, front in the War on Terror.

It's been declared that Al-Qaeda has its base of operations in Pakistan, and considering the violence that Bush has premonitioned in his latest speech, I wouldn't be too surprised to see the U.S. attack and/or enter Pakistan in 2007, thus possibly escalating the war even further.

There is a U.S. Naval battle group in the Persian Gulf near the Straight of Hormoz which has capability of striking the suspected Iran nuclear sites.

But, although there is a new arms race in the process (China is building their Naval power as well to transform themselves into a Blue water navy), it will most likely be a couple years before actual war with Iran, or even China happens. North Korea could be bombed should they test a second nuclear bomb as well. Who knows who's going to be first.

Israel could strike first as well.




... it's happening.

Aspire to Inspire

Life is a long time to live, day in and day out, with no accomplishments.

Learn the step by step process that is necessary to achieve something, and don't get overwhelmed by the supposed amount of work that is required to do so.

Write a list of the top 20 things you would like to achieve in your life; then set a course on how to achieve each point. Learn the step by step process to do so. Mo fo.


Keep in mind, "The ones crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do".

Israel

Israel enjoys their perceived right to meddle in others' affairs for their own benefit.

It's basically known Israel has nukes. So will Israel attack Iran once Iran proves it has the capability to enrich raw uranium into fissile material? Mahmoud Amedi-najad has declared that they will have the capability by their new year, March 20th.

Perhaps a preemptive strike a la USA vs. Iraq, or a la strike versus Iraq's facilities in the early 80's by Israel will be on the table for consideration.

I have continuously been underestimating Israel's resolve for authority and security in the Middle East, over-estimating the USA's capability to bring about those same wishes. I believe that Israel's penchant for power and security along with their hot-headed fear of attack will instigate a pre-emptive attack against Iran on their behalf.





In other news, I applied to University for International Relations; International Studies; International Political Economies; and Global Studies at various universities.

Plus, I entered a contest through the CBC about being "Canada's Next Great Prime Minister".. I wish myself luck.

IRAQ TROOP INCREASE (as predicted below)

I kind of touched base on this last week and it seems that what I mentioned could be happening. I'm talking about a troop increase in Iraq:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/21/world/middleeast/21troops.html?hp&ex=1164085200&en=b40f1a6f17a9ccac&ei=5094&partner=homepage.

They're talking about increasing the troops by 20,000 so to surpress the growing sectarian violence as well as the insurgent attacks on 'Coalition Forces'. In my opinion though, as much as this may seem to be a good idea, it will ironically increase violence as the locals view it as further aggression.

I think it's quite convenient that they are going to increase troops...as if they're amassing the force necessary to strike any 'neighbouring' threats...or defend a pre-emptive strike by one of their sponsoring and allied nations on that so-called neighbouring threat.
I ran the distance. Iran for speed.

The unthinkable is unfolding in front of our eyes

Now that the Democrats have taken over the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the U.S. Senate, the Bush agenda will not be able to be perpetrated untethered.

The Dems will not be so audacious as to leave Iraq while it's at its worst. Instead of withdrawing, in order to control the situation, it makes much more sense to increase the troop presence. The expulsion of Donald Rumsfeld has made this notion possible, especially since Rumsfeld's leaner meaner army idea has not been able to complete the mission. The mission being bringing stability to the country.

It's a shame. Had Rumsfeld been able to create stability in the country with his leaner meaner lighter faster army, it would create a suitable base comparable to Kuwait. The US probably assumed that Iraq would yield as nicely as the Kuwaities did. Problem is, Kuwait is a rich country a fraction of the size with much less poverty... virtually none compared to Iraq. Their liberation was legitimate; Iraq's liberation was not one of saving Iraqis from an external invader. In any case, the war with Iran, which will come soon, will be much harder to fight while having to worry about the Iraq front.

Iran has developed some very powerful, conventional weapons. One of these weapons includes a rifle which can spot an enemy seven, SEVEN kilometres away. There is also a rifle they have developed which can pierce armour from three kilometres away. They have developed anti-helicopter gunship missile technology. This is something that would be strategically important against the United States considering that the U.S. entrusts much faith into its faithful attack helicopters. Iran also has an extensive Navy, which is equally important.

The U.S. can now take this opportunity to meet with Iran and develop a business partnership. This will not happen because the U.S. requires control of the oilfields of Iran.

Iran, Russia, and China all have economic, political, and military partnerships with each other. Should something occur to Iran, I'm sure that Russia, a former enemy, and China, a former enemy, would not sit idly by.

Something to keep in mind: Iran has extensive anti-ship warfare technology, as does China. China has a military that is capable of striking most countries and wiping them off the face of the planet. They would even give the U.S. a run for its money, but they wouldn't dare battle the Americans' technology. However, with the U.S. capacity to wage war slowly dissipating with their troop coverage being spread thin, China's capability to wage war versus Taiwan without an extensive U.S. response could create an appropriate opportunity benefit for the Chinese final takeover of Taiwan.

Same goes with North Korea.

The day that you should see in the news the sinking of a US Air Carrier... be prepared for the worst - The shit hitting the fan. Right now, it's just a drizzle of bad gas so-to-speak...

That is my prediction.

I paid for the right to be a slave, in cash. Actually it was a student loan.

So, here I am sitting at work attempting to gain enough motivation to turn the 6 pages of outline I have here into a genuine work of corporate shlock for a newsletter article about the State of the Business.

I am but a mere intern, and yet I have chosen this route by paying for my post-secondary education with the understanding that I must commit myself to 8 months of slavish office-dwelling hell.

And then, after I attempt to put down some garbage as to why our company must still be heading in a positive direction regardless of the massive declines in the North American auto industry, I have to continue trying to call charities to see who will give my company the most valuable charitable tax receipt for a donation of shirts. I know, I know... at least we're donating something. But it seems a little hypocritical knowing that there is not one ounce of altruism in the donation.. In other words, the company would not have had the inclination to donate these possessions had they not ordered too many and realized we needed to recoupe some cash. Then low and behold, I come up with the corporate charitable tax receipt idea.

I feel somewhat guilty for perpetrating this hypocrisy... but someone had to. And at least a good many old guy out there may get to wear a beautifully designed, black polyester golf shirt. Indeed, polyester CAN be beautiful... especially when it's being worn out of love for our fellow corporate-kind... err, I mean, Man kind.

I believe what I will do is determine who can best use the shirts, and not give a damn as to what the charitable tax receipt amount is.

And then To the gallows I go.

Feeling Patrotic...

I am a Canadian. I was born here; my family has been here for more than 400 years, and there is even some Native within my blood from about a century or so ago. I am truly Canadian.

However, my good friends are Canadian as well - even the ones who were not born within our borders. It is a mindset. It doesn't matter that we are of different colour or creed, for, we are all Canadian living with a set of values that as often as they conflict with each other, are actually all embracing to the human spirit.

I am a staunchly proud Canadian. I understand that as there is no perfect human being, there is also no nation that is perfect. However, we are doing pretty damn well in this fine and beautiful country of ours that we call Canada. These lines we draw in the sand that we call borders are worth defending; if not for the land's beauty, but for the ideals of the people within them.

Some musings...

Please reflect upon some of these personal musings...

America's dream is the world's nightmare.

If you can love it or you can hate it, you might as well love it.

We should all aspire to be our own heros.



"All people are the same; it is only their habits that are different"-Socrates (this may be misquoted)

A quote to be inspired by

One of my favourite quotes was stated as part of a marketing campaign in 1984 for Apple computers. Since having learned about it, I have pretty much turned it into a personal mantra.. a personal philosophy to live by and be inspired by.

"The ones crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

That's good stuff.

Something I wrote to the Reuters journalists in Iraq

Salam a-Lakum.

I respect you all. It’s a shame the U.S. lied to the world. A lie begets a greater lie. And so this Iraqi quagmire is the result of the world’s biggest lie. As the U.S. prepares for a possible invasion of Iran, by having it surrounded on both sides (in Iraq and Afghanistan), how will the Iraqi people be affected by such a war with their neighbour (albeit a former non-ally)?

It is strange how in times of strife, those who were enemies, yet cousins, will become brothers to defeat a greater enemy. Good luck to all the people of the middle east. May they all come to see the light of peace and prosperity, and may the individuals who are perpetrating the sectarian violence shed their discrimination and learn to avow a new kind of kinship.

Shukrun. Masalama.