We Fight Because You Are Here

"All we ask is, to be let alone" The will of a people to self determine, free from outside government's influence over the internal affairs of a group of self governed, is the strongest cause for war in recent history. However, recent increase in central government size and influence has triggered a near collapse of modern society - economically and socially.

The Declaration of Independence proclaimed that it is the right of the people to cast off political ties when the governed are no longer represented. On this basis of thought a war of Independence, the American Revolution, was fought. The Americans wanted the freedom to self govern, with the simple message to the British: All we ask is to be let alone.

During the war between the states, the series of secession from the Union by southern states came as solidarity to the same cause - self determination, free from the dictatorial influence of the growing northern states. Jefferson Davis gave word as to how the north could end the war, simply by going home, when he stated: All we ask is to be let alone.

The push for land and resources through the Midwestern states was met with heavy resistance by the civilizations already living and hunting on these grounds. The Plains Indians sued for peace on many occasions, only to be slapped in the face by the imperialist US Government determined to claim ownership over land and natural wealth by way of 'Manifest Destiny'. As the tribes of the great plains bore witness to mass occupation of their lands and the eradication of their herds, they engaged in the great Indian Wars with the United States. They fought because the US had invaded their sovereign lands, though through treaty upon treaty they promised peace, if only their lands would be let alone.

Arizona fights, through new laws, against Mexico and the inept US government, because the Mexican Civilian population has invaded their sovereign land. All they ask is to be let alone.

Tibet fights against the Chinese government for the continued occupation of their historically native lands. All they ask is to be let alone.

And so goes the story, time and again. A people, a land, a will to be independent is disregarded by another outside entity... and war ensues. Such is the struggle of recent history.

Enter the Palestine issue. The land that was once entirely known as Palestine under British Control was mandated to be split into two entities upon British withdrawal from interest in the land. The United Nations passed a resolution approving the
creation of two states, Israel and Palestine, with full sovereign authority. Shortly after the vote, there were riots in Israel/Palestine, and after British withdrawal there was a full scale invasion by Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in which Israel captured and held defensive positions of lands against outside forces - the difference between the 1947 UN partition lines and the 1949 armistice lines – or roughly the map of Israel as we know it today (with the Gaza Strip and the West Bank). The issue with the Israeli/Palestinian is a little more complex than “All we ask is to be let alone”; however the concept is very much the same: self determination.

Assuming a starting line of 1948, when Israel declared Independence and was subsequently recognized by a plurality of world governments, the intent of the region was a two state division of the land – mutually sovereign governments, laws, and land. The war of 1948-49 was brought about because, where Israel had an organized governmental structure, the Palestinian Arabs were basically ‘claimed’ by foreign kings, thus the kings fought for land. Fast forward this struggle 60 years and though the players may have changed, the maps and issues remain virtually the same.

Today the concern lies with the independent state of Palestine and the right to self determination of her people. There are those extreme views that decry the existence of Israel and call for her destruction, however, peace is never found in extremism, rather in moderation. It is in moderation where cooler heads can prevail.

Let us use the analogy used above – we fight because you are here – and compare it to tribal lands in the United States. During US expansion treaties were signed strictly defining US territory and Tribal territory. Through settlement and military action in support of white settlers the tribes were drawn into war, time and again, to defend their sovereign and treaty protected land. The Supreme Court, in 1980, ruled that the use of military force and settlement of the Sioux lands was in violation of the treaty of Fort Laramie. The US Justice system determined that treaty defined lines should protect from settlement of another’s sovereign land. As the “last best hope” for humankind, one would have to at least surrender themselves to some logic and reasoning of the United States.

This brings me to a conclusion – that the United States’ silent alliance with Israel is in direct violation of the lessons already learned through bloodshed on our own land. The continued silence and inaction over increased settlement of one nation by the other is in violation of US law as well as UN law. The people of the Palestinian state should be given the freedom of self determination and sovereignty. As well, the natural tendency to resist occupation of Palestinian sovereign lands (as defined by the 1949/1967 armistice lines) can only be expected by a people who simply want to be left alone.

*this does not include the Gaza problem where Hamas maintains a political platform of absolute destruction of Israel... this is extremism, and there is no way to peace but through reason and moderation.

ISRAEL STRIKES IRAN?

In June of 2008, IAEA Director, General Mohamed ElBaradei, said that Iran would have a Nuclear Weapon in as little as six months. The six month window has now come and gone, placing any invasion of Iran in a "midnight scenario" - the potential for Iranian Nuclear Retaliation.

Iran is pressuring Arab and other Muslim nations to confront Israel over the full scale invasion of poverty stricken terrorist stronghold, Gaza.

Now, with President Bush set to leave office within the week, Informed sources in Washington tell Newsmax that Israel indeed will launch a strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities soon – possibly in just days.

An Israeli strike against Iran will cause retaliatory strikes against US troops by Iranian sympathizers in Iraq, drawing out a mission that is very near total completion. Such a strike will cause Hezbollah to launch attacks from Lebanon along Israel's northern border. Syria may join in the defense of her ally, and invade the Golan region - or at least begin military bombardment in that region. And finally, any attack on the enrichment facilities is likely to trigger a launch of an Iranian long range missile tipped with nuclear warheads, aimed at Israel - who will likely retaliate with their own nuclear strike.

The first shots of the first major nuclear war may be days away. If Newsmax is accurate, troubling days are ahead.

Mourning Israel

Though my heart goes out to the families of Regev and Goldwasser, I am truly in mourning for the state of Israel.

The policies in place for the Jewish country have led to a tactic of kidnapping in order to force lopsided prisoner exchanges, such as the one we have just been witness to. However, as we have seen during the Pomp and Circumstance for the returned Lebanese murderers, such policies are merely propaganda for the emboldened enemy.

Israel is a country that desires peace. It is a country that has been under siege since the British pulled out, leaving the fledgling country in charge of it's own fate. And her people... her people are resolved to live in a country of their ancestors, under rule of law, in peace with their neighbors.

The hate filled policies of muslims within and from beyond the borders of Israel make peace a distant dream. Where Israeli citizenship, voting rights, and even equal opportunity for success has been granted to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike, they have been met with hatred, terror and murder. Call it racism, call it religionism, call it what you will... The muslims in the middle east have no moral ground for their struggle. They have been invited to live in a society offering opportunity for all under a largely secular government. Instead they choose violence.

What is worse is that Israel has seemingly lost her resolve, as a country, and the enemy smells blood. The muslims celebrate the continued murder of innocent Israelis, dancing on the graves of their fellow man. It may be that the battle for resolve is being lost, though I hope and pray otherwise.

In the mean time, I mourn the loss of the Israeli soldiers, the loss of Israeli resolve, and the loss of progress in the middle east.

Denver's Pepsi Center Not Large Enough for Obama's Head?

Barack Obama will not accept the Democratic nomination at Pepsi Center in front of the 20,000 volunteers and delegates... instead he has chosen a larger venue to offer himself to the people - INVESCO at Mile High.

This move will be cause for change to city planning, state planning, and protester planning that has been in the works for some time.

But what it does is try to portray Obama as "the peoples candidate"... as in the "People's Republic of Obama"?

The acceptance speech is already going to be broadcast worldwide... what is Obama trying to show by snubbing the convention process in favor of a giant venue? His campaign's explanation is that he wants to make himself available to young folks who are new to the process...

While I would usually agree that this is a great idea, the 11th hour change to accommodate Obama's wishes is a sign of his arrogance and pompousness as he is dubbing himself Mr Inevitable... Alas, good sir... The American people are now watching you... and this intimate affair you have been having with the MSM is going to be coming to an end... The people of America will start to see your record, your habits, your confidants, and your true colors.

Hugh Hewitt, whom many of my long time readers know that I agree with rarely on Presidential Politics, has posted some great talking points regarding the True Obama. I will share some of them here, and we can begin to discuss why Obama cannot win in November.

1. He had a stumbling, bumbling close to his primary campaign, and the opening weeks of his general campaign have been marked by flip flops and lurches left. - Hillary Clinton made some of her biggest gains against Obama in the last few contests. Obama proved that he is not ready to handle a general election match-up.

2. He's hard left. - I have said it many times over, Barack Obama will implement change in America that will ensure that the United States of America becomes the United Socialist States of America.

3. He wants the marginal rate on total federal taxes, including his social security tax hike, to immediately rise at least 57% on the highest earners. Obama wants to raise taxes even in a weak economy, though this is a recipe not just for recession but worse. Obama also wants to raise taxes on dividend income and to return the death tax to its highs of eight years ago. - The top 1% of wage earners in the US already pay 50% of the total tax revenue, while the bottom 50% of wage earners pay 3% of the total revenue. The top 1% are the job creators. They are the innovative and motivated. They bear the highest burden of our society already, a burden that if it becomes too hard to bear may take them out of the game. Imagine if you earned $99 and paid $10 in taxes because you were in a lower tax bracket... That is where the middle class finds itself. Now imagine that you work overtime on the weekends to try and put your children through college, and you earn $101, putting you into a higher tax bracket... Now you pay $45 because you worked harder and earned more. It would have been more beneficial to NOT WORK and take the $89 instead of bustin' your hump to end up with $56.

4. Obama has proposed more than a trillion dollars in new spending - That is not total budget, like GW Bush's $3.1 Trillion budget he just sent to congress... it is additional spending. With no spending cuts for failed programs, no stop to earmarks, that brings the US federal budget to an unprecedented $6.1 Trillion.

5. He thinks the most liberal member of the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is a great model for future Supreme Court appointments - Please see my post about the Heller v DC Supreme Court Case to see how this one would turn out.

6. Obama is not a strong friend of Israel. He spent 20 years in a church that was openly hostile to Israel, and he reversed himself on Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel after one day of criticism by Palestinians - I have posted my feelings many times regarding Israel, and their right to exist as a free country. Obama's embrace of the Muslim Countries to the extent that they regard Israel as a nuisance is the most troubling, especially to Jews who fight for life and religious freedom every day in that tiny country.

7. He supports abortion on demand, including partial birth abortion - The founders wrote in the Declaration of Independence that we were Endowed by Nature's God with certain inalienable rights, the most important was Life (as it was listed first). The Right To Life is the single most fundamental right that every being, every soul, has. It is more than just a "burden" that parents have to endure, being "punished with a baby" (Obama - "if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby")... it is a responsibility for the action of sexual intercourse, and a result that, if unwanted, should not punish the child with death! Obama is absolutely wrong and extremely left-ward on his approach to abortion in the US.

The list continues, and I will continue to work so that all 75,000 seats in that stadium are empty, or at least filled with those who know Obama's looming damage to the country and the world.

Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

The most dangerous and lasting tool of war is that of the Nuclear variety. Not only are nuclear weapons the most destructive, intended for nothing more than mass casualty, but their blast results in radiation fallout leaving areas unlivable for years, and spreading sickness across the globe.

So why would any country in the world tolerate the current proliferation of this technology?

The simple answer is that no country should tolerate nuclear technology development.

The Cold war saw bomb tests that pushed the limits of what the world could survive, and eventually, with the detonation of the Soviet Union's Tsar Bomb (50 MT detonation Thermonuclear Blast) the world put it's breaks on for "bigger" and began thinking "quantity". This nuclear stockpile was enough for each of the super-powers to destroy the world many times over. But what lesson did we learn from this nuclear contest?

One would assume that the lessons learned were those of awe of the raw power, humility in that power, and to be humble in our reaches to destroy our enemy... as there comes a point where the consequences of your technology will ultimately also destroy you (and everyone else). This ultimate destruction led the USSR and the US into the "mutually ensured destruction" mentality, which saved our two nations from moving forward with nuclear war...

But what about states that have no ill will towards their own destruction, or the death of their own people? What about states that choose to use these weapons as tools of offense against their neighbors?

The answer by any sane individual should be that this technology should be thwarted at all costs!

This is the very reality that we, as a group of logical and rational individuals, are facing in Syria and Iran... countries with an agenda of murder based on religion, in search of a technology that kills indiscriminately, en masse.

Israel, the target of Iran's nuclear weapon's program, is preparing to defend itself against the imminent threat of an Iranian Nuclear Program... and I completely support Israel's right to strike Iranian Nuclear Compounds.

In the lead-up to World War Two, Adolf Hitler made his intentions very clear... the annihilation of the Jewish population from the face of the earth. He stated this every time he spoke, and eventually had the power to begin his war of murder against innocent civilians. Similarly, Iranian leaders are daily calling for the destruction of the Jewish State of Israel, and the destruction of Judaism in the world... while subsequently developing nuclear technologies. They have stated their purpose, we all know their tool of choice... and it is our responsibility to never have to ask the question: "Why didn't someone do something?"

Iran is a state undeserving of political courtship. They are dangerous... to Israel, to the US, to their neighbors, and to the innocent citizens of that country who have no power over their insane leaders. The structure of that state needs to be re-thought, and the power needs to be put back into the hands of the educated and rational... not the militaristic religious leaders in power now.

But what consequences are there to Israel attacking Iran?

The leader of the AIEA claimed that he would step down because the Middle East would turn into a fireball. He claims that there is no clear and present danger, yet, and therefore no attack is necessary.

Israel attacked Iraq in the early 80's for the same reasons - destroying their nuclear weapons facilities. Iran has learned from the attack on Iraq, building their facilities further underground and spread throughout their country, so a more coordinated effort would need to take place to ensure the destruction of their program... Israel would have to strike many locations throughout Iran, giving resemblance to a full scale invasion... a move that would unite the Iranian people behind moving into emergency measures and retaliating against Iraq and Israel (Iraq because the US is there). Their attacks would come in the form of hundreds of suicide attacks, civil unrest, and general mayhem...

Suppose, however, that the attack included one on the leaders of Iran as well? The destruction of the leadership would isolate the chaos to Iran, with the occasional attack of US and Israeli interests (no more than usual, I would think)... and the country of Iran may be one step closer to returning to a peaceful country led by logic and wisdom.

Ultimately, it is the responsibility of every human to ensure that nuclear technology is no longer allowed to be developed by countries around the world. Instead, I propose using the money to fund alternative sources of energy, such as solar or wind... A country could more easily stimulate their own economy by ensuring technical jobs, cleaner energy, and a more peaceful existence.

Of course... unless that is not their goal?

Democrats Play the Fool, while McCain gets Presidential

John McCain, seen in this picture with Lieberman at the West wall in J'lem, has taken a huge advantage in his early nomination from the GOP and begun an international tour. He recently met with the military leaders in Iraq, made a public statement regarding Iran from Iraq, visited with leaders in countries like Jordan and Israel, and is giving policy speeches on the future of the Middle East and US involvement in the area. In the hearts and minds of the people of the area, this visit is seen as that of the next President of the United States.

Meanwhile, back in the States, Obama is left to make apologetic speeches about his pastor "damning" America, and Clinton is left giving her feedback on the strength of Barack's speech.

The longer that the two democrats continue this epic battle, the less time they will have to start strengthening foreign relations... the very thing they both promised, but neither one is able to do...

All the while, McCain is doing a great job of showing his strength on foreign affairs.

A Different Approach to Israel

As I have said a number of times, I am a huge supporter of Israel, and her right to be a free and independent democracy.

As I was laying in bed the other night, I was trying to come up with a different approach to peace in the region...

There is much tension between Jewish Israel and her Muslim neighbors... there is much tension from the Arab Muslims within the country... friends and neighbors fight one another over religion and territorial boundaries...

Most all of the Palestinians live in squalor, uneducated, without the basic elements of stability: food, water, shelter, and safety.

The Palestinians have no vested interest in a successful Israel... The very existence of Israel means that at any moment their government could bulldoze their home, cut their power, or blockade and starve out their neighborhood.

So my question is this: How do you give the Palestinians something to fight for in Israel, rather than something to fight against?

My answer seemed radical, and I am going to do a LOT more research on this idea. Cursory searches have led to similar ideas, but seemingly for wrong reasons, or with the wrong approach. I will outline my thoughts, and I would love some comments... but keep in mind that this is just very early in the idea process, and there is much research for me to undertake.

My idea is similar to the "one nation" idea... But I want to ensure that Israel maintains it's ability to protect itself from foreign invaders and maintain order.

First I propose one nation: The Confederation of Israel/Palestine. There will be a weak central government in charge of national defense, ensuring resource allocation, maintaining infrastructure, and providing judicial oversight. The confederated central government will consist of One President, and One Prime Minister in the Executive Branch. The President will have control over internal affairs while the PM will have control over foreign affairs. Each will have to work together to ensure commonality for the nation. They will both be selected by the house of commons. 50 regional ministers, similar to congress, will be the legislative branch. There will be one house of commons (not two houses like the US) which consists of 25 members from Israel, 25 members from Palestine. They will have control over finances and laws/regulations, power to enact taxes, etc. The members will be elected by the people. The judicial members will be selected by the president, and certified by the HOC. They will have authority to review cases in the lower courts. This will resemble, in a sense, the structure of the US federal government, however, it will be a weak government, with the rights and powers left to the 2 states. The national capitol would be Jerusalem... a united district, similar to D.C., where neither state has authority over the city. They operate independent of either state.... this mean there is no division of Jerusalem, and both states can declare it their capitol.

Second, I propose the creation of two state governments, one of Israel, one of Palestine. The two state governments will be in charge of local security, police forces, crowd control, local judicial issues, and ensuring the basic rights are being met. They will have the authority to elect governors, and state representatives. They will focus on local commerce, trade, education and interstate relations.

The idea of the confederation was one that may allow the groundwork for distribution of opportunity, eduction, and infrastructure, as well as ensuring equal opportunity for employment, housing, water, and power.

My thought was that if we focus on the establishing and providing the basic elements of survival, food, shelter, and security... then back that with educating the population on the merits of joining in a democratic society, and the importance of ownership of their rights and land... that will provide the basis for peace and prosperity.

I think that if the Palestinians feel that they have equal rights, equal representation, and equal opportunity at a federal level, they will be less likely to want to destroy their own chance for progress. There may still be bitterness between the states, but the federal government would ensure that the regulated militias of each state are not used to attack one another.

That is where I am starting... Like I said, this is just a cursory idea, and I have much research to do. I came up with these ideas based on current relations in the region, current leadership, sentiment, etc... I think it may be possible to approach something like this...

I know one thing is for sure... the two state option leaves Palestine with no food, no money, no power (electricity), and no security. If the arrangements leave them with nothing, why would they be interested in going forward?

(I know that they have been given money, but used it to arm their militia and fight Israel, but they see Israel as the enemy... if we change the playing field, making Israel a partner, perhaps we can change the way the game is played)

Any thoughts? This is a radical idea... so I would love to hear some of your opinions.

Jews and Muslims share Holy days...

An interesting piece of information from one of my links, "The Religion of Peace":

This year Islam and Judaism's holiest holidays overlapped for 10 days.Muslims racked up 397 dead bodies in 94 terror attacks across 10 countries during this time... while Jews worked on their 159th Nobel Prize...

A great commentary on the absurdities in the Muslim world, and a stark contrast to the "Evil Jews" that they are fighting against. How can any one of them not see this difference?
Hate Watch Hall of Shame - HateWatchHallofShame

Talking to an Iranian...

I recently had an online discussion with an Iranian citizen, and my how interesting it was. The most interesting aspect of it was the discussion regarding Israel and her existence. Of course we talked about Nukes, US/Iran war prospects, who would win and how... all the things that you would expect one nationalist discussing online with another, but from opposing countries.

One thing in particular caught my attention, and inspired this blog. It was during the discussion of Israel. He was trying (poorly) to form an argument in support of the Palestinian rebellion in Israel, while I was rebutting with his own words about people being allowed to live in a land and govern themselves... He made a statement that really helped explain the mindset of Hamas, Syria, and the Iranians...

He said, "We do not hate the Jews, just the Zionists".

So they don't have a problem with Jews, just Jews that choose to govern themselves.

I sat in meditation on this statement, and am continuously astounded by the backwards (il)logic that is in the mind's of these people... Everyone deserves to be free, and govern themselves... unless they choose to do so in a way that is un-islamic...

The statement that he made is "common sense" in Iran... and the fact that he said it so un-apologetically is frightening... not frightening to the effect that I am afraid of Iran, but to the effect that you can kill a man, but it is meaningless unless you can kill the ideology...

Source

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: We are the same...

According to the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, speaking from Columbia University, the Iranian people and the citizens of the US are the same and should be friends... if it wasn't for that pesky little Jewish state of Israel!

He said that he does not directly call for the destruction of the Jewish state, but for the Jews of Israel to live under Islamic rule of the Palestinians... much like Jews live under the Islamic Regime of Iran peacefully...

He believes that peace and freedom is limited to anyone who is non-Jewish... and I am sure that under his breath he said non-Christian too!

And he firmly believes that women in his country are more free than women anywhere else in the world.

Where I do agree with him is that if the problems with Israel would stop, then the middle east would be in peace... He believed that the region was at more of a peace before the 1948 creation of Israel... what he doesn't realize is that the British and French ruled the region at that time... and it was not until they left pinheads like him in charge of themselves that all the problems of the modern day middle east began.

So, I agree... all of the middle eastern countries should forfeit all of their power to the US, British, and French governments... let us go back to ruling them.

Or perhaps they should all "stop the problems with Israel" by leaving them alone. Israel is trying to defend itself... if there wasn't an outside force calling for it's destruction, Israel would not have to be in a constant state of war!

"President"... Stop your lies... your truth came out even after you attempted to sidestep the questions. You are an ignorant man... Hell, you believe that "the phenomenon of homosexuality" does not exist in your country... and that your subversion of women is because you respect them so much as the mothers of Iran.

I say to you, BAH! Your ambitions of world domination and submission of the Jews are very much in line with the psychotic pipedreams of Adolf Hitler... and your fellow countryman along with you!

You will never truly understand freedom... you will always represent the worst parts of human nature.

Fixing the Middle East

World news... filling the front pages with images of violence, terror, religious unrest. But for what? To what end?

In Ireland, Christian is pitted against Christian. In Asia and the Middle East you find Muslims fighting one another (and everyone else). Africa is home to genocide of biblical proportions...

Try as we may, we (the powers that be) will never be successful in "fixing" the problems caused by religious indifference if we (the people of this planet) do not fully understand how it is that we are all connected.

The three main world religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) have a common beginning... the Patriarchs, none of which belonged to one of the "big three". Noah, Abraham, Moses, they are more than names in a religious text... they are the tie that binds the world together. They were normal men, entrusted with the word of God, and made to be left as a reminder for when the world is lost.

These men did not belong to a church, they did not have religious texts... they were upright men, and in their time that made all the difference.

So in a world full of strife, pain, and torment... instead of world leaders demanding compromise, demanding revenge, or otherwise leading their followers along the same path, they should demand that each and every person on this planet look into their own hearts, asking themselves, "are my decisions upright?" If the inhabitants of the world took personal responsibility for the tears, sweat, and blood of every other member of our planet... well, that would be divine...

God Bless...