Another deadly Jihad plot foiled - again...

"And then to think, this nut ball who is the Mayor of New York City, wanting Netahyahu arrested for 'war crimes' - where was his outrage yesterday? Come to think of it, where is his outrage for a real war criminal like Putin? Nil heard. Radio silence. Hint to Mr. Mandami - Israel in not the enemy. They are the victims." 

I will say this much for Muslim Jihadists - they never give up. Anything to cause pain, suffering and death on their Satan's (their words) - Israel and the United States. Yesterday, just for kicks and giggles, some Jihadist who was allowed to fly a commercial airliner (don't ask me why), decided to stab the other pilot in the neck, and then take the plane down into a nosedive with 150 passengers and 24 crewmembers (most of them Israelis) on board.

The investigation on this near crime is still young. Not too much is known for certainty as of yet. There is, however, the stench of Iran's fingers being involved in it. That we will see. But here is what we do know - even without knowing it, we let our guard down. We allowed Israelis to be passengers on a plane flown by a Muslim. Has not history taught us enough? Many radicalized Muslims are still bloodthirsty, even after the horrible attack on 9/11. Anything to kill infidels (Jews and Americans).

Sometimes I wonder - is it even possible for the people living in the Middle East to feel secure? To go about their normal daily activities without worrying about being shot or blown up? Why does the culture of death always seem to trump the idea of living together with respect and peace? And just when Israelis start to think it is safe to fly an airliner other than El Al, this flight from Dubai happened. If not for a measure of luck and a ton of bravery, we could be talking about this massacre for months to come.

And then to think, this nut ball who is the Mayor of New York City, wanting Netahyahu arrested for "war crimes" - where was his outrage yesterday? Come to think of it, where is his outrage for a real war criminal like Putin? Nil heard. Radio silence. Hint to Mr. Mandami - Israel in not the enemy. They are the victims. But to those who have been poisoned by the anti-Semites, that viewpoint is hard to come by. Repeat a lie long enough and often enough (so said Joseph Goebbles), it starts to look like truth. But it is still a lie.

Thanks to luck, bravery and the Grace of God, we escaped a very bad thing yesterday. Lessons learned? I sure hope so. But then again, this may be a harbinger of the End Times...

    

  

Better, cheaper, deadlier...

 

"Warfare is changing right before our eyes. The battlefield is slowing becoming more about AI driven robotic planes and tanks, and less about humans being exposed to close up danger. By 2035, the battlefield might look more like Star Wars than what we are used to seeing."

As a young man, fresh out of college and the regular Navy, I cut my teeth (so to speak) on the AEGIS weapon system for the Navy. How long ago was that? Before the Vertical Launching System (VLS). The Navy had the USS Ticonderoga, which was going to be the lead ship (cruiser) in housing this new gee whiz radar guided weapon system. In fact, RCA (who was a customer at that time), built the AEGIS system in a mockup of a cruiser in Moorestown, NJ. It was in the middle of a corn field, and the local folks were fascinated by it. As a contractor, I toured it - than once.

From there I went to working on the VLS system. It was hooked right into the AEGIS system. I worked for FMC and was teamed with Lockheed Martin. It was the highest of tech back in the day. Big, deadly and expensive. The VLS was going to be on cruisers and the new Arleigh Burke destroyers. But the problems for the future were already starting to show up. The crane system for loading new canisters while the VLS ship was underway - did not work and was scrapped. In its place was - nothing. In a fight, when either a VLS cruiser or destroyer ran out of missiles, that ship had to leave the fight. That was a huge problem and plagues the Navy to this day.

This brings us up to today. In this new and crazy world of drone swarms, yesterday's VLS with all those expensive SM2 missiles are not the right cure. The call has gone out from the administration to the defense contractors - the Navy needs missiles which are better, cheaper and deadlier. And the VLS as it is configured today, might have seen its better days. We need to have a re-load ability on ALL our ships, so if a fight comes - they can stay in the fight. Right now, however, we are still fighting tomorrow's wars with yesterday's stuff. Trump wants that fixed ASAP.

Tomorrow's solution to drone swarms at sea will probably rest in the new laser systems. Those plus a newer and better version of the rail gun. The days of killing an insect with a sledgehammer are going to be over soon. Now with the Navy's HELIOS laser system being installed on our war fighting ships, the era of the drone swarm being effective against navies such as ours - might be ending soon. But we will still need missiles - anti-ship missiles and land attack cruise missiles. And that problem is being addressed by companies such as Lockeed Martin right now.

Warfare is changing right before our eyes. The battlefield is slowing becoming more about AI driven robotic planes and tanks, and less about humans being exposed to close up danger. By 2035, the battlefield might look more like Star Wars than what we are used to seeing. But for right now, the standing orders are better, cheaper and deadlier. Will our Navy be the biggest in 2035? Maybe not - but it will be the best. Count on it.  

What exactly is in Pandor's Box?

 

"As we walk somewhat blindly into the brave new world of AI, Pandora's Box remains in the middle of our path. It is out there, and whatever good or bad lies inside of it, has yet to be released. But someday in the future it will be released - either on purpose or by accident. Stay tuned - this story is far from over."

Are we ready for the future? And what is our future? It depends upon whom you ask. Some panic merchants are saying that what in inside the AI Pandora's Box is a genie which when released which will be the end of us all. How so? Remember the movie War Games? Or I Robot? The future looks bleak in the world of Hollywood. But is it really bleak? Or is it the key to our future with a cornucopia of good things yet to come?

Here is the conundrum that President Trump finds himself in. Does he listen to the IT panic merchants which paint a dystopian future should we not have the proper guardrails? Or does he listen to his Pentagon planners which warn a self-imposed slowdown in AI development would hand the AI lead position over to China? And according to the wizards of smart at the War Department, losing this race would be very bad news for us - indeed.

But here is the mystery of the moment. What is in the box? Can we just peek inside without releasing something bad or evil? Or is this just a big fat nothing burger? Here is the interesting part of this dilemma - nobody, not one soul (no matter how smart or informed on AI) - knows the answer. Pandora's Box is a true Pandora's Box in this situation. And that - is 100% true. 

How does China look at this issue? Do they also see a big risk in the road ahead? Seems not to. Full speed ahead. Catch the Americans at any cost. But here is the irony. Should what is hiding in this AI Pandor's Box be something which can danger mankind, it will know no boundaries. It would endanger not only all who live in China, but also everybody who lives on Planet Earth.

Just the other day, one of our AI developers came up with a new version of their product which they refused to release to the general public. Why? According to this company, the decryption feature of this new version would make every current encryption obsolete. Thus, until this company can figure out how to hold this tiger by the tail, it stays under wraps. But this is an American company. It gives one pause to think - if we can discover this new magic on what AI can do, can China stumble upon it also? What would they do with it?

As we walk somewhat blindly into the brave new world of AI, Pandora's Box remains in the middle of our path. It is out there, and whatever good or bad lies inside of it, has yet to be released. But someday in the future it will be released - either on purpose or by accident. Stay tuned - this story is far from over.

    

 

The crucible of 2028

"Maybe if we could elect somebody in 2028 who is halfway between Biden and Trump. And the people serving in the House and Senate could be of the same ilk. Okay - that is no longer reality. We have the DSA types, just chomping at the bit to really muck our country up even more. Not to be a male version of a Debby Downer, but that is how I see things right now." 

In just a few months, we will have the long awaited (or dreaded) midterm elections. I have taken the pulse of the loyalists as well as I am able using comments posted on social media. Bottom line? 2026 might need some kind of Hail Mary or major October Surprise to stem this blue tide which is now offshore. If Donald Trump losses the House and Senate (which he could), the final two years of his term could be death by a thousand cuts. Meaning what? The Trump Train will go from screaming down the tracks of prosperity, to only a slow crawl. The fun will be over kids.

But having this kind of correction in off-year politics is not unusual. What could follow in 2028 would be unusual. The Democrats could use the 2023 elections in Minnesota as a model. Call it the Democrat Minnesota Miracle. That is where any remaining Republicans are legislatively exterminated out of governing. In Minnesota, it was called the Trifecta. For the national Democrats, it might just be called Nirvana.

What could be on the 2028 Democrat wish list? The usual suspects. Defund parts of the military; defund the police; reverse all Trump's tax cuts; re-fund the UN and NPR; pass Medicare for all, even though the cost of this program will bankrupt everything; the list goes on and on. We have seen most of it before. It is long and not glorious.

What is bad for our country? Let's ignore the differences between the two parties just for a minute. Instead, let's address the problem with the constant seismic swings in the country every time there is a change of political management. The change from Bush II to Obama was huge. The change from Obama to Trump (first term) was epic. Then came Biden. The undoing of everything Trump and everything normal under Biden was beyond epic - it was disastrous. And then for fixing of the broken during Trump term # 2, is now low fruit on the tree for Democrats to dismantle in 2028. Meanwhile, the changes will continue to make the citizens dizzy and disoriented.

Maybe if we could elect somebody in 2028 who is halfway between Biden and Trump. And the people serving in the House and Senate could be of the same ilk. Okay - that is no longer reality. We have the DSA types, just chomping at the bit to really muck our country up even more. Not to be a male version of a Debby Downer, but that is how I see things right now. 

   

A new name for everything bad

"Putin is a world class war criminal, and he is still on the loose in Europe. Will he be the turd in the punchbowl going forward? Could be - and that would be bad for all of us."     

I guess the term "war" for only being three letters long, has turned into a four-letter word. How so? Even though we are at war, we will not call it a war. In our country, the Iranian War is called something else - like an operation or something. I guess that is a way to skirt around some of the legal nuances of the War Powers Act. But we are not the only country who is using synonyms for war - so is Russia.

The current war in Ukraine, which is the bloodiest Euro event since the end of WWII, is not called a war by Putin. It is called an SVO, or SMO - which stands for Special Military Operation. Now before anybody hits the "so what" button, let me explain why this is such a big "so what". The intelligence sources by our allies in NATO are blinking bright red warning lights right now. A well-founded rumor has Russia sending out a communication to its armed forces to prepare for another SMO in the near term. However, the rumor also has it that communication was pulled down as it might have gone to an audience which should not have received it.

Putting that aside, the Euro intelligence services are still certain that Russia's intent is to harass NATO countries using this new "hybrid" type of war. Cyber-attacks, drone incursions, violation of NATO air space by Russia military jets - everything which could lead up to a hot war (or SMO) but not cross that threshold. But some analysts believe that crossing that threshold could be coming sooner rather than later. Like, months instead of years. 

All this talk of war and rumors of war has led to a frenzy in weapons procurement within NATO. Especially now, when Trump has dropped an inkle that the US might not be as involved in Euro NATO as much as we have been in the past. Time for the kids to grow up and take care of the big, bad bear without us. Some in NATO are up for the fight - Poland being the bravest of them all. But others, like the Balkans, know they will be easy prey for a hungry bear.

What is going on inside the head of Putin? What is going inside of his heart? Has he telegraphed his punches enough so we can see the future? Is war, years of messy war, in our future? Or will cooler heads prevail?

Putin is a world class war criminal, and he is still on the loose in Europe. Will he be the turd in the punchbowl going forward? Could be - and that would be bad for all of us.     

Somewhere in another universe...

 

"In this universe, as we all know, Trump decided on the tough course. The course which would stunt the economy, taint his presidency, and surrender the midterms. Was he right to do so? Many Republicans are now saying no - he should have stayed out of Iran's business. But - if Trump's pressure can get Iran to surrender their nukes, history will look favorably on this path. Will it cost Trump and the down ticket this November? Odds are - it will."

Please don't hang up the phone yet. I know - the title of this blog piece sounds a bit bazaar. Many scientists worldwide however, without a shred of proof, believe we do NOT live in a universe - but rather a multiverse. That there are duplicates of us all over the place, and out of the uncounted versions of outcomes to any situation, we only see one of them. There - now that I have set the table, I will get on with what this article is really about.

In an alternate universe, Donald Trump is still president, and Neyanyahu is still in charge of Israel. And yes, Iran is still on the path to have at least one nuclear bomb and have it quickly. In this universe, the American people, as well as Donald Trump, have zero desire to upset the apple cart of our economy by getting into a war with Iran. Even though Netanyahu has been begging Trump to do so. Trump listened to his friend Bibi, and time after time, turned him down. "But Mr. President, we have to do something. If we need to, we will go it alone." Trump felt bad about his decision, but he was NOT going to fall into the same trap other presidents have fallen into - endless, expensive Middle Eastern wars. The economy was nothing less than historic - a Middle Eastern war would muck that all up. The answer was still no.

Finally, in total frustration, Bibi flew to Washington for a face to face with Trump. Netanyahu knew this was a "Hail Mary", but he needed to do it. The future of Israel might be at stake. In the White House meeting, Bibi said, "Mr. President - our intelligence sources, and probably yours also, show that Iran is three months top away from having a nuclear warhead to put on a ballistic missile. We will do what we can to slow this down, but we might not have the "horses" left to do much. We are still fighting Hezbollah and the Houthis. With the help of the United States, we would prevail, but without you, it will be a very tough slog for us to win."

President Trump listened politely to his friend from Israel. "Bibi, Iran has been a thorn in many nations' side for the past 50 years. We would like Iran just to go away - one way or the other. I know this will sound shallow, but I need to think about America first. Not Israel. Not Iran. Many other presidents have passed the buck on fixing Iran. As much as I hate to do it, I will do the same. Having an economy which will last for generations is way too important to squander it on some endless war. Sorry - the answer is still no. Let the next president worry about fixing it."

In that universe, the economy is still roaring. Gas is cheap, and the Biden inflation on food is starting to lose its grip. Trump's numbers are good, and the midterms look like the red team will buck the odds and keep the House and Senate. Life is good, and it is a great time to be an American. That is, until 2027, when five ICMB missiles were detected by radar to have been launched. Two were on a course to Israel - the other three were on a course for New York, Washington and Chicago. Right then, at that point in time, when millions of Americans had minutes left to live - the price of a gallon of gas meant very little. We had missed our chance to snub out Iran - now they are a North Korea type nuclear power. And unlike North Korea, Iran has decided to use its nukes.

In this universe, as we all know, Trump decided on the tough course. The course which would stunt the economy, taint his presidency, and surrender the midterms. Was he right to do so? Many Republicans are now saying no - he should have stayed out of Iran's business. But - if Trump's pressure can get Iran to surrender their nukes, history will look favorably on this path. Will it cost Trump and the down ticket this November? Odds are - it will.

 

Is the enemy inside the gate?

 

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. What does that really mean? Know thy enemies and know them well. Our security, our future, depends on young men and women who selflessly serve this country. Many do their craft in windowless SCIFs for years. But because of them, we know our enemies. We know how they feel, how they act, what they have for breakfast. Be careful of Chairman Xi President Trump - he might be no more than the snake in the garden."

Anybody else get the willies when we have the head of Red China in our beloved White House? I am not at all comfortable with it. Especially when we treat him like he is royalty. But what is Chairman Xi? A friend or a foe? He is a guy who steals our IP, helps our enemies, and (probably) is plotting to invade Taiwan. Trump does sing Xi's praises. Says he gets along with Xi just fine, thank you. And to what end? What does it do for us, letting the snake into our henhouse? 

Trump is also going be meeting with the new PM of the UK. Maybe he will get along with this new guy better than he did Starmer. Why does it matter? England is still a member of NATO (like we are), and England is one of our oldest allies. Rather than spat with England, I would much prefer having a cordial relationship with them (like Trump has with Xi). And Canada - Trump could wrap Carney around his little finger if he wanted to. As Xi heads back to China, I think it is high time we get the relationship(s) with the UK and Canada back in order. 

I am tired of Trump trying to get Putin back in the fold. Like wanting to invite him to the G20 meeting. I guess part of me is tainted by what I did in the Navy. I got to know our enemies very well. Most of the enemies I needed to be concerned about - are still around. Russia, China, North Korea, Iran - all still here. Do I trust any of them? Not an inch. Sorry - I guess I learned too much in my 21 years in the Navy. Remember - Russia, China, and North Korea all have nukes aimed at our country. And these are friends to be trusted? Not an inch.

This is a very different time than our history right before Pearl Harbor. Or even our history right before 9/11. Now, we know what and how our enemies think. Our intelligence services are extremely good and thorough. Trust me on that one. In some respects, 9/11 helped us grow up. We were fat, dumb and happy, thinking that nobody wanted to do our homeland harm. Now we know better. Except for Biden and Mayorkas, we know to keep our borders secure. Know who is in our country, and for what reasons. 

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. What does that really mean? Know thy enemies and know them well. Our security, our future, depends on young men and women who selflessly serve this country. Many do their craft in windowless SCIFs for years. But because of them, we know our enemies. We know how they feel, how they act, what they have for breakfast. Be careful of Chairman Xi President Trump - he might be no more than the snake in the garden.

   

The high cost of affordability

"I will say what many politicians are not saying. I feel your pain. Yes, the cost of goods caused by inflation, transitional or not, is a killer. I get it. I see it. But if we don't vote in November, and let these socialists have new power, things will get a whole lot worse. We need to have faith that even with this speed bump, we are on the right course. The last thing I want to do is say, 'I told you so' should we lose in November."      

Yesterday, my wife and I had haircut appointments. We took her car as my truck still had "stuff" in it from closing down the camper for the season. When I started the car to leave, the battery sounded a bit sick. I told my wife I would need to have that checked this weekend. After the haircut appointment when we went to leave, her car was deader than a doornail. We had to call AAA, and they came out with the bad news. We needed a new battery - now. I had no idea car batteries had become so expensive. Over $300 for a simple little battery for her four-banger car. Then it dawned on me - everything has gotten so expensive as of late.

The 20% inflation we got under Biden is still there. Now added to that, is the inflation due to the War with Iran. Yes, some due to tariffs. But that whole shipping snafu is a killer. Is there a high cost with affordability? Sure is. Is there a political cost? There just might be. The recent polling is looking grim for holding both the House and Senate. If Trump loses one or both of them - the party is over. The Dems, once in control of the House or Senate, will fight Trump tooth and nail on EVEYTHING he wants to do for the next two years. 

Here is the irony of what might lie ahead. If every Republican voted this off year, if most every Christian voted, Trump would keep the House and Senate. The red team would win big. But now everybody, even some Republicans, are blaming Donald Trump for the price of milk and butter (so to speak). We could have Scott Bessent talk until he was blue in the face on why prices are still high and what it would take to bring them down. But I am afraid the damage has already been done. Trump will be wearing a scarlet "A" (for affordability) on his chest, just like Hester Prynne had to wear a scarlet letter on her chest in that famous book.

One of the things that Republicans have been counseled on recently, is not to minimize the effect of inflation. Everybody is feeling these higher costs. Stop blaming Biden - what is past is past. It is okay to blame the war, as the war IS the chief cause of much of these higher prices. This is not the time for Trump and his party to be tone deaf on the "affordability issue". Maybe we need to resurrect the old Clinton saying of, "I feel your pain". Could that help? It sure would not hurt.

Meanwhile, back as the grocery store, weekly shopping has become about as much fun as having a root canal. It is painful to check out price of a nice T-Bone steak and almost need to take out a loan to buy it. The same goes for our best morning staple - coffee. $20 for smaller cannister of coffee? Yikes!

I will say what many politicians are not saying. I feel your pain. Yes, the cost of goods caused by inflation, transitional or not, is a killer. I get it. I see it. But if we don't vote in November, and let these socialists have new power, things will get a whole lot worse. We need to have faith that even with this speed bump, we are on the right course. The last thing I want to do is say, "I told you so" should we lose in November.      

Can we please make it to 2027 without a Russian/NATO war?

 

"Can we make it to 2027 before this NATO/Russian war becomes hotter? Or are we already there and just don't know it as yet. Some think that Putin is using the 'boiling frog' theory of warfare on NATO. That could be. But whatever it is, I have a feeling that peace in Europe might be coming to an end. Is Putin the modern-day God of War? Is he the Red Horseman? It sure seems like it. Stay tuned on this one."

I recently read an article penned in the Defense Opinion that the NATO/Russian war has already started. They referred to it as a "slow motion" war, which looked nothing like the Euro wars of yesteryear. As such, the great and mighty Russian Army is not capable of engendering fear any longer in the good people of Europe. If anything, the "bring it on" attitude is spreading over previously easy targets for the Russians to conquer. Perhaps it is brazened to have this type of bold attitude - or maybe it is just plain foolish.

Yesterday at the ceremony to start the new agreement with Greenland, the Danish Prime Minister was there also to sign the documents. She thanked Donald Trump for his work on this agreement. She also thanked him for his courage to take NATO to task (my words) to get more NATO countries to "pony up" and pay their fair dues. She added that Denmark has. Why is this important? NATO countries in Europe are no longer pushovers. No longer patsies. Poland is armed to the teeth, and Germany is right behind them.

Is Estonia, the eastern border with Russia is a growing concern. So much so, that just recently the border was partially closed. Why? As part of this "slow motion" or "hybrid" war with NATO, simple things like having Russian border guards change uniforms from border security to full out military garb. And then to have them loiter on the border, just to give the local Estonians the jitters. Estonia knows full well, that if this "slow motion" war gets revved up to normal speed, Estonia could be one of the first nations to feel the wrath of Russia. As such, their eastern border is partially closed and can be totally closed in a New York minute if need be.

The question begs to be asked - why now? What is going on in Putin's mind to think this is a good time to take on a much stronger NATO. For starters, Putin hates NATO. Always has. To get some good licks in on NATO would scratch that itch he has. But some experts think the main reason to shift focus is the upstarts in Ukraine, raining hell down upon inner Russia. All of a sudden, this war in Ukraine has gone from slightly unpopular to very unpopular with the Russian civilians.

Can we make it to 2027 before this NATO/Russian war becomes hotter? Or are we already there and just don't know it as yet. Some think that Putin is using the "boiling frog" theory of warfare on NATO. That could be. But whatever it is, I have a feeling that peace in Europe might be coming to an end. Is Putin the modern-day God of War? Is he the Red Horseman? It sure seems like it. Stay tuned on this one.

  

 

If, and only if...

"Democrats want to impeach Trump again for the 28th time (minor exaggeration) and then turn the country socialist. That is the plan man - no more, no less. MAGA will become MASN (Make America Socialist Now). All of a sudden, this plane of progress will do a crash landing. America the extraordinary, will once again become America the less than ordinary. But if that is what the "people" want, that is what they will get. Sucks being us should that all happen."   

Love him or not, Donald Trump is going to go down in the history books as one of the most (maybe THE most) consequential presidents in our nation's history. What he has accomplished thus far - has been epic. I know, I know - the nay-sayers will disagree. That is fine. But if history records his accomplishments accurately, his pluses will far outweigh his minuses. This recent thing with Greenland, even though it is not a legal state nor territory of ours, gives us everything we need from Greenland, without any of the headaches of statehood or territory.

Trump has reshaped our economy. He has reshaped the Middle East using the Abraham Agreement. He has reshaped NATO in Europe to make it more self-sufficient. He has brought Venezuela back from the brink and made it into a lifelong energy partner with us. Cuba is close to being brought back from the brink. And now this deal with Greenland, which only portends many good things to come. And to think, that Trump did all this with a bifurcated presidency. One term, then Biden and his wrecking ball, and then this term.

This all gave me pause to think. What if? What if our Constitution allowed for three terms? What if Donald Trump was 10 to 15 years younger? Trump for sure would be running for re-election in 2028. What would his chances be? If people voted with their brains instead of venom in their hearts, Trump would win a third term in a landslide. But enough dreaming - our system states the POTUS terms will be two and done. And truthfully - after a third term, Trump would be closer to 90 than to 80. Not good.

But first we need to past the 2026 midterms. Oh, the other side is on a hunt for Donald Trump's head. If they can only win the House and/or the Senate, they can put an end to all this bad stuff that Trump has visited upon this country. Bad stuff? You know - the price of gas, diesel and food. Most, if not all of it, is related to Iran and not to any of Trump's policies. But who cares? The Democrats in the Senate, some of which have increased their net worth by 4,000% since coming into the Senate decades ago - are going to hold Trump liable for "enriching" himself. This man who has not taken a penny from the taxpayers, has "enriched" himself? 

Democrats want to impeach Trump again for the 28th time (minor exaggeration) and then turn the country socialist. That is the plan man - no more, no less. MAGA will become MASN (Make America Socialist Now). All of a sudden, this plane of progress will do a crash landing. America the extraordinary, will once again become America the less than ordinary. But if that is what the "people" want, that is what they will get. Sucks being us should that all happen.   
 

Shades of gray from yesterday...

 

"Are our political 'shades of gray' gone forever? Probably. Are they the 'good old days'? For some - not for all. Meanwhile, the Democrats are devolving into socialists. Some on the left think our side are also devolving - into something like John Birch types. People on the MAGA side of the fence, however, think we are exactly where were are supposed to be. Meanwhile - it almost time for the next election."     

Some today (mostly on the left) are remembering with great fondness the "good old days". The days when Democrats and Republicans were so similar, only a faint shade of gray could tell them apart. Many of today's older Democrats (and to be fair, many RINOs), would think back on those golden days when everybody would get along. Vote, play, believe the same things together. It was a wonderful time to be a centrist. As long as Republicans voted with the Democrats and did not raise too much of a fuss, life was good. Or was it?

When did the train start to leave the tracks? Many on the right side of the street said it stated with Barrack Obama, when he decided to make everything about race - 100% of the time. That in my opinion (as well as others), became the start of the bigger schism. Many on the right side of the street did not like that when all they heard from the WH was blaming everyone white and everything bad on the "white supremist" (whatever they are or were). Then after eight long years of America growing weaker, and much more divided - Obama was gone. But the damage was done. 

Then as they say, for every action there is a positive and equal reaction. The next president was Donald J. Trump. Not Biden, not Hillary (who was the heir apparent), but Trump. Trump, who was the anti-Obama, was going to right many of the wrongs which Obama visited upon us. Things were so bad, Trump coined the phrase, "Make America Great Again". And just like that, the RINOs of old, who the traditional Democrats loved so much - vanished from the scene. Sure, there were some left, but they were nothing more than noise level. The "shades of gray" in our politics, had been replaced with bright red and bright blue.

Then came the long contested 2020 election. Many think the full story of that election has not yet been told, but in any event, Trump lost and Obama # 2 (Biden) was elected. As bad as Obama was, Biden was 10 times worse. Things went from "shades of gray", to red and blue, to absolute black and white. Under Biden, the country almost vanished. Open borders, men becoming women, hyperinflation, the "Green New Deal" - we were a mess. And that is when the old congeniality of fellow Congressmen, devolved into trench warfare. E pluribus unum became nothing more than some old Latin saying. 

Are our political "shades of gray" gone forever? Probably. Are they the "good old days"? For some - not for all. Meanwhile, the Democrats are devolving into socialists. Some on the left think our side are also devolving - into something like John Birch types. People on the MAGA side of the fence, however, think we are exactly where were are supposed to be. Meanwhile - it almost time for the next election.     

What the heck is a hybrid war?

"Where would the world be right now without Putin in Russia, the IRGC in Iran, Xi in China, and Kim in North Korea? Pretty darn close to peace and tranquility in my book. But of all the baddies listed, Putin is the worst. He will drag this region (maybe even the world) into another conflagration if it suits his needs and desires."

It seems that some of the world leaders who just happen to reside in Europe, are sounding the alarm right now about the rapidly approaching hybrid war. A what kind of war? I am finally getting accustomed to the other new kind of war called asymmetrical. Some of the leaders in Europe think that Russia has already started a hybrid war against some of the Euro NATO countries. Not a declared war, not a kinetic war (so to speak), but a slow drip, "accidental" incursion on unsuspecting countries. But here is the problem for Mother Russia - very few countries are unsuspecting. Remember? Never trust a Russian.

What is a hybrid type of war? An accidental drone here, a wayward cruise missile there, a random cyber-attack anywhere - all that under the guise of a "Whoops - sorry about that". But why bother if you are Putin? Why not skip the subterfuge and just send in a volley of missiles and drones against a NATO country and get the ball rolling? We all know it is coming, so be on with it. Here is the "why" - putting Putin's nukes aside, NATO can beat Russia to a pulp each and every day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

Okay - I know many with a strong logic streak are bound to ask the same question - why? Here is the "why" according to some who pay attention to what is going on in Russia. Ukraine. The war which Putin promised his country would be over in a matter of days, has changed into a long and bloody struggle. And what used to be fun to watch for some in the Russian public, is no longer fun now that Ukraine has learned how to punch back. All of a sudden, there is damage and death inside of Russia, compliments of the innovative thinkers in the Ukrainian Army.

Putin needs a win. He is scared to death right now that the Ukraine debacle will bring about his own death. Or overthrow. What a better way to get redemption with the masses in Moscow, than to give NATO a black eye or two. And if kinetic war comes instead of this hybrid mess, Russia needs to vanquish his new foes. Take them down a notch. Reshape Europe (again). Only a megalomaniac would think this way, and when it comes to megalomania, Putin is one of the best - ever.

Where would the world be right now without Putin in Russia, the IRGC in Iran, Xi in China, and Kim in North Korea? Pretty darn close to peace and tranquility in my book. But of all the baddies listed, Putin is the worst. He will drag this region (maybe even the world) into another conflagration if it suits his needs and desires. But here is the thing about wars, even hybrid wars - the blade cuts both ways. Be careful of what you start Mr. Putin - NATO stands ready to finish it.  

 

"The wheels on the bus go round and round" (This is about Greenland)

"Welcome Greenland! Come in out of the cold. Under the watchful eye of the US, good things are in your future. We are not an occupying force; we are only a protector and developer. Everybody is going to come out better because of this agreement. Everybody that is, except Russia and China."

Because of "old Europe" being just plain old and cranky, it took forever and a day to get some kind of agreement for us to expand our presence in Greenland. But when POTUS took to Truth Social to give the good news, it became apparent that "old Europe" Denmark finally saw the big picture. And the big picture is simply this - the more of US that is seen in Greenland, means the less of interlopers like Russia and China. Is this the best deal possible? Maybe - but it is better than not good. It will allow our Golden Shield to have some better footing.

Why bring up that kid's song, "The wheels on the bus"? Because in the Trump administration, stuff is always going on behind the curtain. Stuff in going on in South America. An oil deal happened in Venezuela. Stuff is going on in Cuba. Meanwhile, we are still trying to fix the mess in Iran. Only a guy like Donald Trump, who was weaning on keeping things going on many different business ventures, can pull this off.

The other day I penned an article about the joint base in Poland which has been talked about in the past. That seems to be coming together also. We have an eye on what is happening in the Indo-Pacific to boot. But our good ally Japan is doing a great job helping us out over there. And South Korea keeps getting stronger as does the PI. No, Donald Trump is setting the stage for long term stability which will last long after he is out of office.

What is next of the list of "to-do" items? Hard to say but know this - it is something that has been mentioned in the past but is not yet done. Right now, there is so much more going on than our high oil and gas prices. Those really are transitory, and Iran is 100% to blame for that inconvenience. But Trump is looking at the bigger picture (as he always does).

Welcome Greenland! Come in out of the cold. Under the watchful eye of the US, good things are in your future. We are not an occupying force; we are only a protector and developer. Everybody is going to come out better because of this agreement. Everybody that is, except Russia and China.

The USA/Poland love fest moves closer to the alter

"How is Poland doing in defense spending? Poland is spending a whopping 4.5% of its GDP on defense. Now that is commitment! That even eclipses the 3.22% of GDP the US spends."

The worst kept secret in NATO is the bromance that Donald Trump and Polish President Doda had. But Doda is now gone, and his successor is in office. His name is Karol Nawrocki. The bromance that Trump had with Doda is continuing with the new bromance Trump has with Nawrocki. Why? Poland is the kind of country that NATO needs, and both Doda and Nawrocki are the kind of leaders that Poland needs. And neither one of those Polish gentlemen have one ounce of fear in their bodies towards Mother Russia. In fact, there is out and out antipathy for Russia by Poland. Much of that comes from a very bad history.

This has been teased for a while now, but due to current events in Eastern Europe, the timeline might have been moved up. The US and Poland have been planning a joint base (with some size to it) in the eastern part of Poland. Why? Seems that is where all the action is right now. If Putin thought he could walk right into Poland with not a wink or a not from the US, he was dead wrong. If Putin did make a run in Poland, he would not only find an A1 fighting force with Polish forces waiting for him, but Putin would also get the back of the hand from American forces.

If Putin ever did decide to take a run at NATO, either by going through Finland, or Poland, this would be a very bad and very sad wake up call for him. Now that the worldwide inventory of F-35 fighter jets is over 3,000, NATO has plenty of top-notch air power to take care of business. Our Army is rock solid, and they are ready to defend any piece of land that the President finds worthy. And we have recently seen in Iran the acumen of our total force package. Under Trump and Hegseth, we have a lean, mean, fighting machine to represent out interests.

But what about Canada? How do they fit into NATO right now? Canada, who has become more of a puppy than Bulldog, is only spending 2% of its GDP on NATO. That is sad and bad. And that came with much shaming and shunning by the US. All Canada wants to do right now is become a member of the EU. Why? To get away from that bully Donald Trump. 

How is Poland doing in defense spending? Poland is spending a whopping 4.5% of its GDP on defense. Now that is commitment! That even eclipses the 3.22% of GDP the US spends. Once again, Poland and Japan always show up to do the right thing. If push ever came to shove, we know for a fact that Poland and Japan would have our backs. But what about Canada? We all know the answer to that one.

Death by economic strangulation

"There will be lessons learned once this war is over. Both sides will learn. Will the same strategy be applied to the next war? Maybe - or it will be something else, even more painful. Maybe the next war will be totally digital. Fought with only ones and zeroes. Turning off the other sides water and electric. Excited? I'm not. I am ready for a return to the swords and shields."  

How has warfare changed over the ages? Plenty. From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, to the World Wars, to Viet Nam and then into Afghanistan, war is constantly evolving. And the Iran War (if we can call it a war) is changing warfare again. How so? Sure, we are still using kinetic force against the enemy. And drone warfare has gone from science fiction to bloody reality. But the thing which has changed the most is economic warfare. Whom can strangle the other sides economy the fastest and most complete.

Right now, under the leadership of President Trump and the skillful acumen of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, we have a tourniquet around the financial neck of Iran. We have blockaded their oil ports. We have threatened eye watering tariffs to any country who trades with Iran. In short, nothing in and nothing out. Their economy is in tatters, and inflation has made their currency next to worthless. Will they ever cry "Uncle" and simply give up? I sure hope so.

But there is still some kick left in Iran. They are making things painful for the US and our allies. The Strait of Hormuz is still a mess (don't think for a minute it is not), and now the Houthis are doing something similar to the Red Sea. The net result it even though we are awash in oil and gas in this country, we are still paying close to $4.50/gal for gasoline and over $6.00/gal for diesel. It seems Iran has found a different type of economic tourniquet to put around our neck also.

Where do we go from here? Is there an end in sight or are we all going to suffer together? The Democrats have sworn revenge on the president for mucking up our economy. Why President Trump? He did not cause prices to go up. If anything, he wants energy prices to be half what they are now. But he is committed to keep Iran from EVER having a nuke. Never, ever. But to do this, we needed to really put the screws deep into Iran. Thus, we have two choices: 1) Keep on keeping on. Suck it up buttercup. 2) Call it a day and leave the area. Let somebody else worry about Iran. Que sera, sera.

There will be lessons learned once this war is over. Both sides will learn. Will the same strategy be applied to the next war? Maybe - or it will be something else, even more painful. Maybe the next war will be totally digital. Fought with only ones and zeroes. Turning off the other sides water and electric. Excited? I'm not. I am ready for a return to the swords and shields.  

  

Is Star Wars finally here?

 

"In any event, just when you thought there would be a minor pause in the news cycle, we get this story. What is my opinion about weapons in space? It was only a matter of time. This is the start of a new frontier, just waiting for America's defense contractors to take the ball and run with it."

Whoa! Where in the world (or not in the world) did this one come from? We have fielded a space weapon? Ready to use if called upon? Have we not seen this movie before? During the Reagan years? Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). Better known as Star Wars. In reality, SDI in the 1980's could have been called "a whole lot of smoke and mirrors" instead of Star Wars. Why? It was a nothing burger. A bluff. But it worked - it scared the pants off the Soviets. Brought about their end a lot quicker and safer. 

So far, the two words to describe both the Russians and the Chinese are "not happy". This might end up being topic "A" (a good ice breaker) when Xi visits the White House later this month. Some might say this was an open invite for the Russians and the Chinese (at a minimum) to make their own version of a space weapon. Or, maybe they already have, and are still trying to keep it under wraps. In any event, it seems the charter of the Guardians in the Space Force might have just changed. We might have given them some teeth and growl. 

I would love to describe in detail what our space weapon looks like, but this secret is being held tighter than a drum. All the Secretary of the Air Force has said is this - it stands ready to use if hostile forces threaten friendly forces. Now there is a description you could drive a truck (or a star ship) through.

Some speculate it might be the Rods from God weapon system. Steel rods on a platform in space which can be released and directed downward towards an Earthly target. When they hit the ground, the kinetic energy released would be huge - almost like a small nuke. If I were a betting man, I would bet on this weapon. Why? It has been talked about for years. Plus - it would not violate any existing nuclear treaty.

In any event, just when you thought there would be a minor pause in the news cycle, we get this story. What is my opinion about weapons in space? It was only a matter of time. This is the start of a new frontier, just waiting for America's defense contractors to take the ball and run with it. Is DARPA involved in this new technology? Probably, although not known for sure. I do know this however (after having a couple of contracts with DARPA over the years) - that is where the wizards of smart live. And there are a whole lot of wizards who live there. 

Who is helping NATO? How about both Trump and Putin...

 

If Donald Trump was told that he was partially responsible for NATO being so ready right now, he would feel pretty good about himself. However, if Putin knew that he was setting the example to NATO why getting much more prepped was important, I doubt if Putin would be pleased. As the expression goes, we can always serve as an example, even if it is a bad example. And Putin serving as a bad example has certainly helped the cause. 

What an odd title for a blog post. NATO is stronger because of both Trump and Putin? Please explain Mr. Bird! It really is not that complicated. When Trump started his first term, his first meetings with fellow NATO types were not really a love fest. In fact, anything but. In so many words, Trump told (mostly the Euro Zone) that he was tired of propping up NATO financially. That NATO was woefully behind on its financial commitments, and as such, the US was considering pulling out of NATO. That was the start of the wakeup call.

Fast forward to Trump's second term. NATO is bigger and stronger (welcome, Finland!). More countries are either at commitment, or drawing much closer. Even though Trump is referred to by some in the alliance as "Big Daddy", ruling with an iron fist, a bit of tough love seemed to have worked. Bottom line? Because of some tough talk and some tougher love, NATO is bigger and stronger today because in part of Donald J. Trump.

But Trump may not have been the strongest catalyst for NATO to become more prepared and robust. Instead of just talking about a boogie man, Putin has done one better - he has shown himself to be a real live villain. As the expression goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. And Putin's illegal and immoral war on Ukraine, has shown the world (especially NATO), what a modern-day villain looks like. I can't prove this, but my guess is that without Putin, NATO would not have the razor's edge it currently has.

Interesting article in the news this morning. NATO is very worried that Putin will make a play for some NATO country by 2029 or before. And what does that mean? Whatever it means, NATO is prepping for the worst. And what really helps, is they think that the US will play a minor role rather than a lead role. That also helps in how pepped NATO is right now. I doubt if the US would ever turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to NATO should Russia ever attack - but I do like the idea that NATO thinks that way right now.

If Donald Trump was told that he was partially responsible for NATO being so ready, he would feel pretty good about himself. However, if Putin knew that he was setting the example to NATO why getting much more prepped was important, I doubt if Putin would be pleased. As the expression goes, we can always serve as an example, even if it is a bad example. And Putin serving as a bad example has certainly helped the cause. 

  

Denaturalize and deport?

It will be interesting to see if during Trump's final two years at POTUS if this denaturalization and deport issue has legs. I can see some liberal Biden or Obama appointed judge trying to stop it. On what grounds? Beats me. If somebody comes into my house and bad mouths everything I own, and then talks trash about my wife, I want that person to leave - like now. That is the way I feel about this country. Does that make me a redneck? Sorry - not sorry.

Up from the clamoring masses, the chants of "denaturalize and deport" are heard when America hating recent arrivals are showing this great country the back of their hands instead of loving on Lady Liberty. My thoughts on this? It is about freaking time. Coming to this country, living in this country, being able to drink out of the fountain of freedom - is a high privilege and honor. When I hear these recent arrivals showing us this magnitude of disrespect, it makes me mad and sad at the same time.

Rumor has it that POTUS and our SOS might try to denaturalize and deport our 5th District Congresswoman. Why? Numerous reasons really - but the overtly legal one is if she did commit fraud on her immigration information, she might be out. Would that cause a seismic shift in our politics in Minnesota. Count on it. 

But on a broader view, I really like this idea of having the gift of America open only to people who love it here and want to make this country better. If that sounds chauvinistic or nationalistic, I am sorry. I really don't mind immigrants. My great-grandparents were (legal) immigrants. This country was built on immigrants. I do, however, have problems with immigrants who are ungrateful and unloving towards our country.

Not to date myself, but I remember years ago some folks had bumper stickers which read, "America, love it or leave it." Many on the left thought that only right-wing rednecks would have something such as that on a bumper. But many of the right, thought that patriots would feel that way. Even back then, the first fractures in our society were starting to show.

It will be interesting to see if during Trump's final two years at POTUS if this denaturalization and deport issue has legs. I can see some liberal Biden or Obama appointed judge trying to stop it. On what grounds? Beats me. If somebody comes into my house and bad mouths everything, and then talks trash about my wife, I want that person to leave - like now. That is the way I feel about this country. Does that make me a redneck? Sorry - not sorry.

  

Falling down on the job

"Then who is the moron? Walz or the Minnesota voter? Good question. How about we just say all of the above and just leave it there."     

When I first went into Navy Boot Camp, one of the first things I learned (as a boy becoming a man), was accountability. Like with many young men, once in a while I would do something stupid and then get caught doing it. When that happened, the Navy pounded this into all of us. You stood tall, and said, "No excuse sir!" and then you accepted whatever consequences were dished out for that offense. We did not blame the other guy, did not blame the system, did not blame the weather - we took responsibility. It was all part of becoming a man.

Then I think about Tim Walz. Whatever happened to his training as a young man. He was in the Army (sort of) and should have learned basic responsibility. As a good Democrat, he should have learned that old adage coined by another Democrat - "The buck stops here". But Walz did not learn that lesson. He is blaming everything and everybody for Minnesota's fraud problem. But here is the deal folks (in Biden talk) - Walz was (is) the CEO of Minnesota. Much of the fraud happened during the Democrat trifecta (in other words, hard to blame Republicans when they were not even in charge of garbage pickup). 

Tim Walz was in fault. Period. Full stop. He could have stopped the fraud. Along with Ellison, they could have or should have seen in and stopped it. Then after the magnitude of this mess came to light, Walz should have been paraded around the state holding a sign high in the air which said, "I am a moron". I mean, most of us know Walz is a moron except for Walz. In his eyes, he should be the Veep right now. Try that one on for size! Harris as POTUS and Walz as her Veep. Beam me up Scottie!

Soon we will have a new Governor. If is us Hotdish Amy, expect more of the same. She is no better. No breath of fresh air. Not a reformer. I have said this before; Minnesota has some of the dumbest voters in the nation. How so? The elect people who break things and then re-elect them. It is like we keep re-electing arsonists who set the joint on fire. And again, we can't blame the Republicans, as they can't seem to win any office up for grabs. It is ALL DEMOCRATS - 100% all the time.

Then who is the moron? Walz or the Minnesota voter? Good question. How about we just say all of the above and just leave it there.     

Imagine a world, where Russia acted civilized...

"Nukes. Putin has nukes and his trigger finger is really starting to itch. I think he would love to plant one of his Satan Missiles in downtown Brussels. Just to send a message to NATO that as tough as they think they are, Russia is tougher."

Every day, I worry about what Russia is going to do next. Specifically, what Putin is going to do next. Right now, Vladimir Putin is an island in a sea of humanity. Nobody likes him; nobody trusts him. He is a monster. History will judge him for what he is - a monster who kills for joy. A war criminal. What he has done to Ukraine for no reason whatsoever, is a major breech of humanity. He actually is giving Hitler a run for his money in cruelty and dispassion.

I really thought, after the fall of Berlin and then the breakup of the Soviet empire, the world was going to get a break from the Russian Bear. If there was a break, it was short and not that sweet. The Communist thing which has infected Russia ever since 1917, is a hard bug to beat. It did not take long for Russia to rid itself from reformers and then get back to a KGB hardened dictator. As soon as Putin slipped back into the corridors of power in Russia, I knew the bad old days were about to return.

Here is what frightens me about Putin - he knows no boundaries. To him, this war on Ukraine is not just a war for territory, it is a war to fix an injustice of history. Ukraine belongs under Russia's thumb, and by golly, Putin will kill every Ukrainian man, woman and child to make it so. Even though the Ukrainian Army has performed a miracle turn around, going from farmers and accountants into an asymmetrical fighting machine, Putin can't be bothered with them anymore. He can't beat them, so he is on to the scourge of mankind - the genocide of civilians.

But despite how poorly the Ukrainian War is going for Putin, he has a scratch which needs to be itched. And this scratch (in Putin's opinion), is another accident of history which needs to be corrected. NATO. That pain in Putin's side which gets worse for him every year. And the lack of respect for Putin and Russia by NATO is jaw dropping (for Putin). To think that Ukraine has fought Putin to a draw, just think what an unleashed NATO could do to Russia. But there is a hitch to that brave thinking.

Nukes. Putin has nukes and his trigger finger is really starting to itch. I think he would love to plant one of his Satan Missiles in downtown Brussels. Just to send a message to NATO that as tough as they think they are, Russia is tougher. Or maybe Putin wants to take out London. Or Paris. Or Rome. Or all of them. Until the world can rid itself of Putin and his nukes, scenarios showing a nuclear future for Europe are vivid and realistic. 

That is why Putin is so dangerous. What he can do, and what he might do. Without nukes, Putin is a paper tiger. With nukes, Putin can end the world.