"Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!"

 

"That's it. Our world at war. While America still teeters on a second civil war, the world teeters on a third world war. Notice I did not address Iran in this article. They are now a week away from enough enriched uranium to build one nuclear weapon. If that happens, the Middle East will become the center of a new nuclear arms race." 

After yesterday, when we honored the resurrection of the Prince of Peace, how are we doing as a species? How far have we come since Mark Antony uttered those famous words in Julius Ceasar, "Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!" How far have we come? Not far at all, I am afraid. The world is a mess, and mankind's carnal nature is keeping it that way.

Yemen - Although we did not want to get involved in another war in the Middle East, we did. The Houthis, who have been a thorn in the side to both Israel as well as global commerce, decided to "up their game" a bit, by also trying to inflict harm on United States fighting ships. Bad idea. The Houthis, like another proxy of Iran, has developed underground infrastructure to house many of their weapons of destruction. That way they could be "safe" from Israeli or American bombs. Wrong. The USA has "bunker busters" which can go down way over 100 feet before detonation. 

The United States also has an array of surface bombs which can literally scour the landscape. This dirt-poor country of Yemen, who is acting as a host country to the Houthis, is paying a huge price for that hospitality. So long as drones and missiles come out of Yemen and aimed at Israel, shipping in the Red Sea, or at one of our Navy ships - we will continue to bomb Yemen into dust.

Gaza - When is the end game? The hostages are almost all gone now. Some released, some dead. Hamas, the Iranian proxy in Gaza, has been all but eliminated. But - enough remain to be a problem for Israel. What happened on October 7, 2023, has changed everything. Israel will never be the same. Gaza will never be the same - maybe never exist again. To ensure a lasting peace with an enemy who has sworn allegiance to the annihilation of Israel, only a total purge of Hamas is acceptable. 

Is peace possible in Gaza? The betting table says no. Why not? You can't forge a peace deal with someone who wants you eliminated. Net result? Gaza will soon be reduced to a uninhabitable wasteland. For a lasting peace, Hamas must go into the dustbin of history. It is as simple as that.

Ukraine - Saved the worst for last. Who wants a lasting peace? The United States and Europe do. Who wants to continue this endless war? Seems like Russia and maybe Ukraine do. My opinion is both Russia and Ukraine have invested way too much to stop. Hundreds of thousands on both sides, killed or wounded. Thousands of buildings and homes - destroyed. One would think that peace would be welcomed. But no - the dogs of war are not yet done with this country. 

This will be the toughest negotiation yet for the Trump team. We have a mineral agreement with Ukraine, but peace must come first. We continue to be just one tactical nuke away from this brush fire becoming a raging inferno. Would Putin ever consider nuking Kyiv if he thought he could get away with it? In a New York minute, he would. Why? Because when it comes to the "dogs of war", Putin is the pack leader.

That's it. Our world at war. While America still teeters on a second civil war, the world teeters on a third world war. Notice I did not address Iran in this article. They are now a week away from enough enriched uranium to build one nuclear weapon. If that happens, the Middle East will become the center of a new nuclear arms race. 

What can we do? Outside of the United States and Israel bombing the lights out of Iran to kill their nuclear program, all we can do is watch. Watch and tremble. 

Once a war dog, always a war dog

 

"Should Zelenskyy and Putin stay on this path, and eschew peace at any cost, the future for both Ukraine and Russia looks murky and grim. Yes, Ukraine will probably eventually fall to Russian forces. It is all about the numbers. And Russia's victory will be pyrrhic at best. Have no doubt - if this war ended tomorrow, the carnage it caused and leaves behind will be a huge blot on the sordid history of Europe."

Don't look now, but the fragile, very fragile limited cease fire in Ukraine is about to go in the toilet. With the massive amounts of killing which has taken place over the past three years, the best that Trump's skilled negotiators could come up with was a thirty (30) day pause in bombing each other's utilities. That's it. Sounds simple, right? But it was a bridge too far for both sides. The killing has continued, as has numerous bombings on each side's utilities. 

Zelenskyy is not innocent with this war going on and on and on. But make no mistake, the bigger war dog is Putin. Mr. "Blood and Guts" himself. The former KGB officer who lives for the day that Mother Russia can rule all of Europe once again. But there is the thing - and this is painful to even put in writing this morning. The world, especially Europe, is ready to move on from this conflict, this throwback to the two World Wars. Meaning - Europe is ready to join America in the upcoming "Golden Age". Where improvement of life far supersedes the joyless folly of combat related death and dying.

But wait - that does not include Vladimir Putin. He is stuck in the vortex of yesteryear. Where might makes right. Putin has suffered over a hundred thousand dead and wounded soldiers. He does not give a whit about that. That is all part of the sacrifice to make Russia TOUGH again. But the reality is this - the Ukraine excursion has NOT made Russia TOUGH again - on the contrary, it has only made Putin look loose and foolish. Not a true leader, only a despot whose vision is locked in the past.

Should Zelenskyy and Putin stay on this path, and eschew peace at any cost, the future for both Ukraine and Russia looks murky and grim. Yes, Ukraine will probably eventually fall to Russian forces. It is all about the numbers. And Russia's victory will be pyrrhic at best. Have no doubt - if this war ended tomorrow, the carnage it caused and leaves behind will be a huge blot on the sordid history of Europe.

The other day, Secretary Rubio all but threw up his hands in disgust. "The United States is only days away from pulling out of the peace negotiations. Without some significant progress (now my paraphrased words) and a willingness to work towards a permanent peace, we are done." As much as Donald Trump abhors war and killing, he is getting ready to pull his team. Let Putin and Zelenskyy beat each other to bloody pulps

Why? Putin, mostly. Once a war dog, always a war dog. And a dog like that, cannot be trained. Only locked away in seclusion.   

  

How can we be wired do differently?

 

"At what point in history did our wiring become so disjointed? Was it an erosion over time that escaped us, or was it something earthshaking? All I know is this - we are becoming two nations living within the same borders. We are as different as night and day, and I see no light coming over the horizon to fix it."

I don't wake up in the morning, look at all the positions that the left has taken, and then make a conscious decision to choose the opposite path. By the same token, I have a hard time believing the left does the same to every position that my side comes up with. But here is the thing which has me vexed, flummoxed and befuddled. It is not just a few positions that the left and right disagree on today. Heck, it is not even half. It is every stinking position from a to zed that we disagree on. So much so, hatred and violence are often times the end game of those disagreements.

Am I the only one who ponders these 100% disagreements? Am I the only one who wonders how in the world we have become so uniquely wired compared to the other side? I sometimes watch Congressional hearings on YouTube. It is just crazy, that no matter what the subject, heated debates break out. The one thing which is NEVER heard anymore is something like, "I understand your position, and agree with you on most of it. Here is where we might however, disagree." Nope - today's typical response if something like calling the other side Nazis or worse. Net result? The two sides talk over each other, and not to each other. Ergo, consensus is just a word you can look up in a dictionary.

What is the net result of having the two sides wired so differently? Whichever side has the majority, tends to operate as a dictatorship. In the old days, the majority's power was the ability to "put some spin on the cue ball." But debate meant that both sides would give a bit, and a common ground solution could be found. Today it is "like it or lump it". If you are in the minority, you might as well just open an app on your phone and play Wordle.

This morning on the news, was an article about the "new wing" of the Democrat Party which seems to be surging under AOC and Sanders. It is highly Socialist in nature. Even the rhetoric, when they say they are the "anti-Oligarchy" branch of the party. Whatever loose wires might have connected the two sides are starting to fray.

The right has the MAGA conservatives. The old establishment Republicans of RINOs and "Democrat Lite" types are starting to fade away. The left as I mentioned, have almost fallen off the edge of reality with the progressives and socialists. If this is truly the new direction of both parties, the next election could be one for the ages - and not in a good way. 

At what point in history did our wiring become so disjointed? Was it an erosion over time that escaped us, or was it something earthshaking? All I know is this - we are becoming two nations living within the same borders. We are as different as night and day, and I see no light coming over the horizon to fix it. Even some of our churches have become political, where what is preached in one is very different than what is preached in another. How can that be, if the Gospel is proclaimed from the same Holy Bible? Maybe it is what people want to hear. Their wiring filters out the rest.

Today, on this Good Friday, we should all be wired the same on one very important issue. This day is the start of a weekend which changed the world. Forever. If we can't agree on that, then maybe our differences are more spiritual than worldly.  

Life found in outer space!

 

"Excited by what Hubble and the Webb space telescopes have found, NASA is developing a bigger and better space telescope called the Habitual Worlds Observatory (HWO). Will this lead us to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Or just another green smudge which might only be algae."

Big announcement on the news this morning! It is something we have been waiting for. How long? Just about forever. NASA has announced that life has been found (probable) in outer space. Where is it? Mars? The Moon? Zeta Reticula? Where is it? One of NASA's satellites which can estimate what minerals might be present on a distant planet, has found something a scant 140 light years away. What they found are the building blocks to grow little green ----- algae. Not little green men, but little green algae. Really? What a buzz kill!

There are stalwarts who continue to work for SETI. These people would give anything to find a bug the size of a gnat or even bacteria on another planet. Why? The life which teams on Mother Earth, is rare to non-existent (so far) on other worlds we have studied. Right now, intelligent life is maybe a bridge too far. The possibility of algae on a planet 140 light years away got even the most stoic star gazer excited. Could we go check it out? Sure, if we had a propulsion system which could travel at the speed of light. That way, it would only take 280 years round trip to find out if this possible algae was algae, or just a false alarm.

What about all the UFOs that folks have seen since the 1940's? Do they prove that life exists outside of Earth? Maybe - but we have yet to have full disclosure where a craft would land on the White House lawn, and a "something" would get out and say, "Take me to your leader". Some scientists believe that the UFOs we are seeing are actually Earthlings. Not Earthlings like us - maybe beings who developed over the centuries living in our oceans. Or maybe under the Earth. 

Now here is where it goes from the funny stuff to the just plain weird stuff. Quantum Computing. We have developed computing power which is so fast, so powerful, we are getting some very strange (and sometimes spooky) readouts. What does this mean? First off, it means Einstein might have been right when he referred to quantum physics as "spooky". It also means that scientists who believe in the string theory, or multi-dimensional universe theory, might think this is their first shred of proof a multiverse, and not a single universe, might exist. What does that have to do with the price of tea in China? Simply this - our UFOs might be interdimensional travelers instead of interstellar travelers. Or not. 

In any event, now we know we might have algae somewhere "out there". Our quest, our search for life other than on Earth continues. Excited by what Hubble and the Webb space telescopes have found, NASA is developing a bigger and better space telescope called the Habitual Worlds Observatory (HWO). Will this lead us to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Or just another green smudge which might only be algae.     

Whither illegals? A vexing question for sure.

"Maybe Garcia has gotten himself into a real jam right now. A man without a country. Without a home. Well played Biden. You have left your tattoo on this nation by flooding us with all sorts of people who don't belong. Sorry, Mr. Garcia. You might be just another victim of Joe Biden and his merry group of malcontents running (ruining) America for four long and destructive years."    

Did you know that Congressman Chris Van Hollen (DEMOCRAT from MD) is headed down to El Salvidor to either check on the well-being of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, or maybe even try to bring him back to the US. Never mind that this man is illegal in this country. Never mind that he has a standing deportation order against him. Never mind that he is originally from El Salvador. Never mind that he has strong ties to the MS 13 gang.

Not too long ago, Garcia was picked up by ICE and sent to the Super Max prison in El Salvador. Whoops - this might have been a mistake. Or not. Here is the thing right now in El Salvador. Once a hotbed for MS 13, President Bukele decided for El Salvador to have a future, ALL MS 13 gang members would be rounded up and put in Super Max. Period. In the eyes of Bukele, Garcia is a MS 13 gang member, and thus - is where he should be.

But in the eyes of Van Hollen, as with most Democrats, the perp always comes before the victims. Van Hollen paints a picture of some innocent man, a candidate for father of the year, swept up by ICE, and "disappeared". Even though at about the same time, another resident of MD, Rachel Morin, was raped and killed by another illegal. For that crime, Van Hollen seemed to get lockjaw with his lack of outrage. 

The vexing question remains - what to do with illegals. First and foremost, this leftover issue from Biden is a mess. Illegal, means just that - anybody who did not come here legally, is by nature illegal. Garcia is illegal. By definition, he does not belong here. Where does he belong? El Salvador? He is from that country. He is a citizen there. But here is the rub. He also has ties to MS 13. Which means, under the current leadership, his only residence in El Salvador would be in the Super Max.

Maybe Garcia has gotten himself into a real jam right now. A man without a country. Without a home. Well played Biden. You have left your tattoo on this nation by flooding us with all sorts of people who don't belong. Sorry, Mr. Garcia. You might be just another victim of Joe Biden and his merry group of malcontents running (ruining) America for four long and destructive years.    

The most unexpected and unpleasant surprise

"Here is the fact about taxes that I have learned in all my years on this planet. The Democrats are fully supportive of any tax, any time - so long as it is somebody else paying that tax. In other words, so long as it is not their ox being gored, they are fine with as many taxes as Congress can pass." 

Memories are short these days. Like thinking back in 2017, seems like forever ago. What happened in 2017? To jump start the sluggish economy after eight years of Obama, President Trump (POTUS 45), gave us the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The Democrat talking points to this day are simple - this act helped only the rich. Did it help the rich? Probably. Did it also help the middle class? Absolutely. It helped my family. But here is the rub. If the TCJA is not made permanent by law, all those good things we gained in 2017 - will go bye-bye. As will the economy.

But those minions who have been brainwashed by the Democrat talking points, believe to make the TCJA permanent, will only help the rich, and stick it to the rest of us. When I say minions, I know (even though they are becoming extinct), RINOs and Never Trumpers who also believe this garbage. So committed are the Democrats in sabotaging the TCJA, every sticking Democrat in the House and Senate will vote against the Big, Beautiful Bill when it comes up for passage early this summer. Why? Trump thinks many of these socialists hate America. Bet against America all the time. To those of us on the sidelines, it sure seems that way.

Here is the irony. Should the Big Beautiful Bill not pass this summer, if it goes down in flames come January 1, 2026, the tears will be flowing in many households across America. Some of those households will be long time Democrats, who will also have a whopping big tax increase. As they raise clenched fist skyward and cry, "Damn you Trump!", remember only this. The Big Beautiful Bill to fix this coming tax increase was Donald Trump's idea. Period. Full stop.

Here is the fact about taxes that I have learned in all my years on this planet. The Democrats are fully supportive of any tax, any time - so long as it is somebody else paying that tax. In other words, so long as it is not their ox being gored, they are fine with as many taxes as Congress can pass. But again - not fixing the TCJA will affect just about everybody. More taxes, less take-home pay. The statists will love this, as it continues to "feed the beast". Normals will hate it, as it might mean no summer vacations. No new car. Maybe no new house. Or worse. 

Remember this when this bill comes up for a vote this summer. Every Democrat who votes against this bill does not give "two poops and a holler" about you or your family. They really don't. What is up with them? Trump might be right. Maybe they do hate America. Bet against America. I might be wrong, but I don't think so.    

   

One hundred days of bliss!

"At the end of April, we should be at Day 100 of Trump's second term. Will this fast forward speed end on April 30, 2025? Back to normal speed starting on May 1st? Don't bet on it. Trump is focused like a laser beam on the main goal. And keeping the main thing the main thing. That would be MAGA."

We are rapidly approaching the end of Trump's first 100 days in his second term. It has been an amazing three months so far. What is changing? Dang near everything. I am agreeing with over 99% of what Donald Trump has been doing. My one minor correction I would make so far is this - you can stop telling us what a moron and buffoon Biden was. That he was the worst president in US history. Us MAGA types know that. We have known that for a long, long time. So, drop the Biden thing. He is past tense. The future is much more exciting.

Besides trying to broker a peace in Ukraine and the Middle East, Trump is trying to back the Iranians off of the nuclear ledge. That is a full plate and a half right there. But at the same time, he is breaking the back of the Chinese in a tariff (trade) war. This a war China cannot win. Plus, he is resetting trading parameters with over 75 of our trading partners. 

Panama has seen the light and kicked the Chinese out of the country. No more Belt and Road for Panama. The US will occupy or co-manage three of the military bases in Panama. Our tiff with Canada over their outrageous tariffs on us will soon be over. They will see the light. What light? They need us a whole lot more than we need them. And Greenland has been put on notice. There is an end game which will happen. Greenland a part of the US? Probably not. But a much stronger military alliance and a new mineral rights agreement should be in the offing.

The "Big, Beautiful Bill" made it over a big hurdle in Congress. Now all that is left is the trimming and polishing, followed by a full vote around Memorial Day. If this stays the course, seniors in both parties can kiss Social Security taxes good-bye. Wait staff can kiss tip taxes good-bye. And hourly workers can kiss overtime taxes good-bye. Promises made and promises kept. And last but not least, the Trump tax cuts from his first term will be memorialized. That is YUGE!

Is Trump a man of peace? For the most part - yes. Although he is pounding the Houthis into dust right now. It did not have to be this way. The Houthis were warned. But no - they kept poking the bear by sending missiles and drones to attack our Navy ships. Bad move. All of a sudden, Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth opened up a whole can of "whoop-ass" on these goat herders. It is nothing a few 30,000-pound bombs dropped from some B-2 bombers can't fix.

At the end of April, we should be at Day 100 of Trump's second term. Will this fast forward speed end on April 30, 2025? Back to normal speed starting on May 1st? Don't bet on it. Trump is focused like a laser beam on the main goal. And keeping the main thing the main thing. That would be MAGA. As of right now, I see a whole lot of making America great(er) again happening in Washington DC. I have no illusions that this will stop anytime soon.