(Military Times) Op-Ed: Don't Worry, Be Happy

[unhappycamper]

Don't Worry, Be Happy
By (convicted felon) Oliver North | March 05, 2009

The Obama administration's remarkable inability to say or do the right things to aid our sinking economy, stay the collapse of our equities markets, or even build a competent cabinet is now the stuff of cartoons, talk-show fodder and late-night comedy. Who hasn't heard the one about how "this year's IRS 1040 allows every taxpayer to claim one Geithner or a Daschle depending on how much tax you don't want to pay?" Humor may help us deal with our current financial travail – but national security is no laughing matter.

Unfortunately, this week has proven that the new administration may be no better at protecting us from incoming Iranian nuclear warheads than it is at creating jobs. It started last Sunday, when Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on NBC that Iran isn't "close to a stockpile, they're not close to a weapon at this point, and so there is some time." That same morning on CNN, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen was asked if Iran has enough fissile material to make a nuclear bomb. "We think they do, quite frankly," he replied. The Admiral added, "Iran having a nuclear weapon…is a very, very bad outcome for the region and for the world." Somehow, it doesn't seem that both Pentagon leaders can be correct.

By Tuesday, it was worse. That morning the New York Times reported that three weeks ago, Mr. Obama wrote a confidential letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, suggesting that European-based Ballistic Missile Defenses in Poland and the Czech Republic might not be deployed as promised if Moscow helps keep Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. This revelation generated an international media feeding frenzy.

Hours later, during a White House press availability with visiting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Mr. Obama claimed that his missive had been "mischaracterized" and denied that it was "some sort of quid pro quo." He insisted that it was merely "a very lengthy letter talking about a whole range of issues, from nuclear proliferation to how are we going to deal with a set of common security concerns along the Afghan border and terrorism." He also noted that "the missile defense program, to the extent that it is deployed, is designed to deal with not a Russian threat, but an Iranian threat."

During a visit to Madrid, Mr. Medvedev maintained that "no trade-offs have been discussed, I assure you." It didn't help.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,186332,00.html?wh=wh

[MADem]

1. Why do they even give that Dickhead--who should have been courts martialled--the column inches?

He's a turd who should have been drummed out of the Corps. He was a disgrace to the uniform he never fucking wore. He makes those who served honorably look bad because he's associated with the uniformed services. It's obscene the way he persists in prancing around and continuing to use his rank. Amazing, since the guy spent less time in the field than a single-termer, pretty much. Fucking desk jockey! File his halfassed opinions under "LOSER!"

[unhappycamper]

2. But I like putting '(convicted felon)' on his screeds. n/t

[MADem]

3. And i noted that with no small degree of ... delight, actually!!!!

He's like fingernails on a blackboard with me--makes the rest of us look bad, the blowhard.

[Captain Hilts]

4. He obviously doesn't read the Army, Navy or Marine corps times, or he wouldn't be this ignorant. nt