Category: In the News

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Muslims, terrorists and the U.S.A. A different spin on the Iraq War

I recieved this thoughtful email… I thought I would share it:
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Subject: Muslims, terrorist and the USA. A different spin on Iraq war.This WAR is for REAL! Dr. Vernon Chong, Major General, USAF, Retired

Tuesday, July 12, 2005


To get out of a difficulty, one usually must go through it. Our country is now facing the most serious threat to its existence, as we know it, that we have faced in your lifetime and mine (which includes WWII).The deadly seriousness is greatly compounded by the fact that there are very few of us who think we can possibly lose this war and even fewer who realize what losing really means.

First, let’s examine a few basics:

1. When did the threat to us start?

Many will say September 11, 2001. The answer as far as the United States is concerned is 1979, 22 years prior to September 2001, with the following attacks on us:

* Iran Embassy Hostages, 1979;
* Beirut, Lebanon Embassy 1983;
* Beirut, Lebanon Marine Barracks 1983;
* Lockerbie, Scotland Pan-Am flight to New York 1988;
* First New York World Trade Center attack 1993;
* Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Khobar Towers Military complex 1996;
* Nairobi, Kenya US Embassy 1998;
* Dares Salaam, Tanzania US Embassy 1998;
* Aden, Yemen USS Cole 2000;
* New York World Trade Center 2001;
* Pentagon 2001.

(Note that during the period from 1981 to 2001 there were 7,581 terrorist attacks worldwide).

2. Why were we attacked?

Envy of our position, our success, and our freedoms. The attacks happened during the administrations of Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton and Bush 2. We cannot fault either the Republicans or Democrats as there were no provocations by any of the presidents or their immediate predecessors, Presidents Ford or Carter.

3. Who were the attackers?

In each case, the attacks on the US were carried out by Muslims.

4. What is the Muslim population of the World? 25%.

5. Isn’t the Muslim Religion peaceful?

Hopefully, but that is really not material. There is no doubt that the predominately Christian population of Germany was peaceful, but under the dictatorial leadership of Hitler (who was also Christian), that made no difference. You either went along with the administration or you were eliminated. There were 5 to 6 million Christians killed by the Nazis for political reasons (including 7,000 Polish priests). (see http://www.nazis.testimony.co.uk/7-a.htm )
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Behind the Lessons of History quoted by Pope Benedict XVI

Coins from the Empire 

The Byzantine quote that the Pope Benedict XVI referred to has an interesting history. The Byzantine Empire was in decline and alone in facing it’s greatest enemy. After existing nearly 1000 years, it’s time was nearly over.

Byzantine Emperor Manuel II A 14th-century Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Paleologus, in a conversation with a “learned Persian” on Christianity and Islam  asked:

“Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread the sword by the faith he preached.”

Another insight into the Moslem invaders came when he asked why they changed the names of Christian cities they pillaged and devastated, he received the answer:

“the way we destroy them their name is also disappearing from earth…”.

So sayeth the ‘Religion of Peace.”

Manuel II  is an interesting fellow and here is some of his history and a link:

“Manuel II Palaeologus (1350 – July 21, 1425) was Byzantine emperor from 1391 to 1425, and son of Emperor John V Palaeologus. By Helena Dragas, the daughter of a Serbian prince, he had seven sons: Michael (died 1406), John, Theodore, Andronicus, Constantine, Demetrius, and Thomas.

At the time of his father’s death he was a hostage at the court of the Ottoman emperor Beyazid I at Proussa (modern Bursa), but succeeded in making his escape; he was forthwith besieged in Constantinople by the sultan, whose victory over the Christians at the Battle of Nicopolis, however (September 25, 1396), did not secure for him the capital.

Manuel subsequently set out in person to seek help from the West, and for this purpose visited Italy, France, Germany and England, but without material success; the victory of Timur at the Battle of Ankara in 1402, and the death of Beyazid in 1403 were the first events to give him a genuine respite from Ottoman oppression. He stood on friendly terms with Mehmed I, but was again besieged in his capital by Murad II, in 1422. Shortly before his death he was forced to sign an agreement whereby the Byzantine Empire undertook to pay tribute to the sultan.

Manuel was the author of numerous works of varied character — theological, rhetorical, poetical and letters.”

Extent of the Empire

The Byzantine Empire around year 1400…. surrounded.

It is clear to me that Emperor Manuel II was a man of great courage… and vision. Besides the fundamentalist menace, the outbreak of bubonic plague in 1349 had weighed heavily on the empire. Nevertheless, Manuel II handles his world with great skill and even though his efforts in acquiring support from other European nations was little and late, he is still offering lessons for those willing to listen.

Pope Benedict XVI wasn’t wrong in reminding the world that we have seen this threat before.

Europe… just as in the 14th century… is refusing to recognize the threat of fudamentalist Islam … which they ignore at their own peril.

Roger Freberg

 

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A Glimpse into an Iranian Future where “Pizza” is Illegal

Today Pizza... tomorrow, the anchovie!Ripley’s believe it or not presented in their Sunday Comics a picture of the authoritarian leader of Iran along with a couple of ‘words’ that he has ‘outlawed.”

One of these words is ‘Pizza’…. seemingly, the most harmless of words to the untrained western eye. However, as any good Islamo-Fascist knows… it is an insideous carrier of western ‘culture’ and ‘decadence.’ hmmmm… I guess they got some bad anchovies in their last…er… “flat-bread-covered-with-sauce-and-meat-meal”…assuming that Iranians are still allowed to make them!

Wikipedia does a great job in defining the problem with cultures that censor ideas and words:

“Censorship is the authoritarian control of speech and other forms of human expression….The visible motive of censorship is often to stabilize or improve the society that the government would have control over….and most formally involves the suppression of ideas by criminalizing or regulating expression.”

Unfortunately, the world has witnessed censorship that started with the removal of words, ideas, then books and finally people.

It still happens in the world today, sometimes innocently enough… but it is a warning.

Burning Books don't stop ideasThe world continues to be a dangerous place… and we can give into it … or we can resist.

Interesting Blogs:

IRANIAN RESISTANCE

Speaking Truth to kooks

Moderate View with links to both sides

Gateway Pundit

 

Until next time….

 

Roger Freberg

 

 

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September 11th… never forget and never forgive

Never Forgive... Never Forget
Tomorrow will be about speeches and posturing… but hopefully we’ll hear more. Where do we go from here… what will we be doing September 12th?

Part of the challenge we face is the natural reserve we have in the west to facing a proven enemy. Many of our past presidents from Wilson, Roosevelt, Truman and Clinton were not immune to the revulsion of the use of force, except in some cases on Americans. Here’s a quote that sums up our internal challenge in dealing effectively with terrorism:

 President John F. Kennedy is quoted as saying: “Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.”  This is a nice sentiment…. except for the forgiveness part.

As Tucumseh Sherman once said, “war is hell.” We can’t expect to fight terrorism without getting our hands dirty. Our success in beating back the threat is recognizing from where it evolves and taking effective action. We do speak of this in our culture…. in surprising ways.

There’s a line in ‘Pirates of the Carribbean’ that goes to the heart of decisive action and it’s goes something like this…” Jack, this is how you lost the ‘Pearl’ in the first place. People are easier to search when they are dead.” I would add: Dead Terrorists tell no tales.    

Something occurred to me the other day…that sounded very ‘unWestern’ of me… but we are in a new era and a new kind of war. I’ve noticed that none of the families of the terrorists have ever paid a price. No fear, shame or embarrassment… they even get a payoff! When a bomb goes off by a suicide bomber… the families of the terrorists always get a handsome ‘payout’ from their terrorist masters… somehow, this ‘incentive’ needs to be taken away. It is clear that families of terrorists need to live under the same fear as their family member’s victims. This will take some changes in thinking…. or we could face the problems of ‘Eurabia’ or ‘Canadistan’.

One can go after the source of money… but something more immediate and direct needs to happen. Any ideas?

Roger Freberg

I have included some blogs that I have found interesting… not all I agree with … but I presented them for your amusement. To me, the important message of nine eleven is that we still have the freedom to speak and to be heard… but if we don’t meet the challanges ahead… we will lose even that.

other Blogs:

Five Years Ago the World Stopped
MySpace Providing an outlet for Terrorism
Good Coming from war on Terrorism
compassionate words from a liberal
Abu Ghraib … not a nice place anymore
the Reality Show

Nutty Blogs:

The Tao Of Politics
Drinkin’ too much Brandy
Disappointment

Nutty Theologians

what do you think our response to 9/11 should be?

 

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ASPARTAME? There has to be a PRIZE for playing this game!

Are you the WOMAN enough? Feelin' frisky are ye?

Some of you know that I am a diabetic… and that I lost a great deal of weight  by changing my diet and my life style some 6 years ago. However, one of the things I realized from the beginning was the need to continue to make changes along the way… or I might find myself in the same spot I was when this sleigh ride all began.

I used to rely on “diet Soda’ to not only introduce a jolt of caffeine but a measure of sweetness in an already fatless, skinless almost tasteless diet. I do ‘spice it up’ with various seasonings… but I’ll get into this later.

Back to ASPARTAME. I guess it all depends on how healthy your immune system is to start with…. most diabetics have a compromised immune system and it doesn’t take much to bring on ‘neuropathy’ and some of the other fun stuff. 6 years ago, I actually read that aspartane was GOOD for diabetics! We know more now.

Here’s a couple of articles WITH EXERPTS to think about:

DIABETES AND ASPARTAME

“Unfortunately, many patients in my practice, and others seen in consultation, developed serious metabolic, neurologic and other complications that could be specifically attributed to using aspartame products.”

A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER

“The author traces the nonscientific basis and political machinations that led to FDA’s unwise approval of aspartame, The sweetener now permeates many processed foods and beverages, and is used by two-thirds of the American population.”

ASPARTAME CONSUMPTION

“Potentially more worrisome is the 10 percent of aspartame that is absorbed into the bloodstream as methanol (wood alcohol). The Environmental Protection Agency defines safe consumption as no more than 7.8 milligrams per day of this dangerous substance. A one-liter beverage, sweetened with aspartame, contains about 56 milligrams of wood alcohol, or eight times the EPA limit!”

HAVE I SCARED YOU TO DEATH, YET?

Well, needless to say… I have substituted more coffee and V-8 Juice ( has some sugar) for the unreasonable amount of diet cola I was consuming… it appeared to be affectnig Laura’s eyes… but when she got off the aspartane wagon… her vision recovered. Coincidence? Probably not… and it is amazing how my recurring neuropathy has retreated.

So what else have I learned in the 6 years of being needle/drug free? Obviously, I can still control much of my diabetic issues with diet. Although I have made some modifications… I have toned down the amount of vegetables I eat ( although I consume most of the broccoli from Greenfield, California myself).. I no longer measure the consumption by the trailer.

I have also added some of the so-called ‘good fats’…. like… avocado! For lunch I will sometimes have and toasted open faced seasoned avocado sandwich with a ‘dolup’ of sour cream!

At dinner, I will usually have more chicken that I did in the past…. but the rest is fairly much the same.

So, the key in any diet conscious person’s mind has to be… to stay flexible and alter your behavior to reflect the new realities.

Here’s a BLOG on Diabetic diets:

Diabete’s info Blog

DiabetesBeaten.com

 

Roger Freberg