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Monday, January 29, 2007
The War Via Satellite
Check out my new article entitled The War Via Satellite. It is time or past time for everyone to
look back to the 2002/2003 time frame and reassess their judgements about the justification for the War in Iraq and be honest
about those earlier judgements. I have included an article I wrote in 2003 and I will let you assess if I was right
or wrong in my evaluation of the situation at that time. More importantly we need to make good decisions about Iraq now
because our future is far more important to us than our past.
TPM
10:20 pm
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
State of the Union Address
I just finished watching President Bush's state of the union address. In general I thought it was
a pretty good speech. He addressed a lot of issues in various levels of detail that need to be addressed by
the Congress and Bush administration. It was much better than many of the other speeches that he has delivered
during the past year or so.
The live audience gave the President a very mixed response to his various statements
regarding the War in Iraq. However, there appeared to be very strong support for his remarks related to the War on Terror.
The big issue in front of the American people is the War in Iraq. Does the President have the right perspective
on Iraq? The majority of the people believe not. Will the Democrats change the agenda in Iraq with their
new power in Congress?
Jim Webb, the new senator from Virginia, gave the Democratic response to the State of Union.
He did a very fine job. He is not a liberal left wing Democrat. He appears to be a centrist in most of his views.
He clearly disagrees with the President's position on the War in Iraq.
We will be commenting on many of the
issues that the President discussed tonight in the days and weeks ahead.
TPM
10:33 pm
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Victory in Iraq?
In recent days President Bush has advised the world of his plan to augment the US troop levels in Iraq with
approximately 22,000 more personnel. With a primary focus on quelling the violence in Baghdad these troops are supposedly
going to help the US achieve the President's "victory" in Iraq. The media is reporting that polls show that
roughly 80 percent of the American people are against the President's plan. Many Republican political leaders have
gone on record of opposing the plan of their leader.
The President and key members of his administration appear
to be completely lost. His actions don't appear to be based on the common good of the American people, but
what he thinks may be best for achieving some sort of victory in Iraq before his administration comes to an end two years
from now. It is absolutely obvious that the President has no clue about the culture of the middle east and centuries
old conflicts between religious sects that the US can't resolve in one year or ten, We need to withdraw from
Iraq and let the Iraqi people make a decision through their actions if they want a democracy or some other form of government
and perhaps a civil war. We must let them fight it out or negotiate a solution to their pent up problems that have
been part of their society for decades during the Bathist rule of the country. There is absolutely no reason to spill
any more American blood or spend our national wealth on the Iraqis. They must be prepared to find or fight
for a solution they can accept.
President Bush has failed to lead our country effectively. History will
document this truth. At this point there is nothing he can do to change his record. He needs to
listen to the Iraq Study Group (Baker/Hamilton) and follow their advice. His continuing quest for victory
in Iraq will send him even further down the list of effective US presidents.
Please check out my new article on
Iran. The issues in the middle east will get harder before they get easier.
TPM
9:49 pm
Friday, January 12, 2007
Understanding the Federal Reserve
If you have any interest in protecting your financial assets I suggest you read the new January market
commentary by Mr. Bill Gross, Managing Director of PIMCO. Please check out Mr. Gross's commentary at www.pimco.com/TopNav/Home/Default.htm. Click on the first item listed on the page which is Mr. Gross' January investment outlook.
The article is extremely enlightening about the reasons for the negative interest rate yield curve that currently exists and how
the Federal Reserve is attempting to manage interest rates.
Mr. Gross is confirming that the Federal Reserve will
not and cannot allow the US economy to enter a recession. The risk to the financial structure of the country is just
too great. The Federal Reserve will do whatever it takes to prevent a recession from happening.
It is unfortunate that the US Government's excessive spending and irresponsible fiscal policy have put us into
the situation we are in today. The actions of the Federal Reserve have facilitated our government's irresponsible
fiscal policy.
I suggest that everyone talk to a financial adviser they trust and develop a plan to protect the
purchasing power of their financial assets from the actions of the US Government and the Federal Reserve.
TPM
11:41 pm
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Israel Plans to Attack Iran
The news media is reporting that Israel is developing a plan to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities using
nuclear weapons. No one should be surprised at this development. Iran's leaders have threatened to destroy
Israel. Israel cannot allow anyone to attack it using nuclear weapons. If Israel feels it
is truly threatened, it will have no choice but to make a preemptive strike to take out the threat.
There
are all kinds of bad consequences relating to this kind of event. No one wants Israel to be forced into making such
an attack. The people of Iran must understand that the statements and actions of their government leaders
are putting their entire nation in jeopardy. Iran must radically change direction in its relationship with Israel
and the rest of the world regarding its nuclear plans or it may force Israel's leaders into making a decision regarding
a preemptive nuclear attack that none of us wants them to make.
TPM
10:31 am
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