Europe's Growing Conservatism

Stories like this must drive the frequenters of the French blog some of us met at, nuts. It's about Europe's version of the Tea Party.

People are coming to their senses, they are learning that big government is not a panacea for every problem we face. I would put more confidence in a charity to help people than any government agency. I would allow for local communities and states to come up with better solutions for the local problems they must encounter, than any federal government entity.

When Europe bails on big government, you know it must be a bad thing.

A Rose By Any Other Name.....

....is still a rose.

And feces by any other name, is still feces.

What do I mean by this?

Give a listen to this speech by Nigel Farage of the European Parliament:



Did you hear him?

Did you listen?

What he said has everything to do with the current condition of the European continent, and much to do with state of America's present situation.

Were you paying attention at the end when he said:

....if you rob people of their identity, if you rob them of their democracy, then all they are left with is nationalism and violence.

When we think about what this present American government has tried to do in the past two years, we realize that it has made every effort to pattern its policies after that of Europe's. We who are enlightened are able to see the fallacy of such a system, because we know that it is historically a failed economic model. It has failed in the past, and is still failing now.

Has anyone else noticed that forms that have been rejected in the past have resurfaced under different names?

For instance, China has a system they call state capitalism. People were so tickled to see China reject the agrarian communist policies that Mao implemented, they forgot something along the way: Economic reform is not necessarily and indicator of freedom.

Let's not forget Mussolini and Hitler were huge proponents of state capitalism. But they called it fascism, which meant a corporate state. In reality...there is very little difference between today's China and Germany under national socialism.

Another example is the Green movement. Under the pretenses of environmental concerns, the left has hijacked this movement to use it for the specific purpose of redistributing wealth.

After the fall of the USSR and the reinvention of the Chinese economy, beret wearing activists (who wanted to see a global communist utopia) invaded the Green movement. They invented this scenario whereby they could shake down rich countries to allow less developed ones to catch up, under the guise of fairness.

It's being played out right now in the global warming debate.

So, it would be wise to keep our eyes open and watch the demise of the Europeans play out. We see that liberty and freedom are antithetical to state sponsored socialism because it is restrictive in nature. The people are freest when they can have choices, with as little government regulation as possible.

Whenever a government overreaches its power into the market place, we see that it is a recipe for disaster....just like we are seeing in Europe today. We must keep our foot on the throat of our government, if we expect to live in a world where we can flourish as a nation and a culture.

As for other nations, let them do what they want. They are responsible for their own successes. We need to stop allowing idiots to interject guilt into our national psyche, for being an exceptional nation.

Hissy Fits In Europe Will Soon Come Here

Recently, we watched the French take to the streets to protest the raising of the retirement age, from 60 to 62. Yesterday, we saw a British student protest turn ugly in London, over proposed tuition hikes.



Obviously, the big news topic of last evening's British TV news programming was the riot. Here is a lengthy clip from one of them. It includes a 37 year old student justifying the destructive actions taken by the out of control mob that invaded the Tory office building.



Notice how the interviewer tries to pin her down for the purpose of understanding why she thought the actions of the mob were justifiable?

She, like most leftists, do not want to answer perfectly valid questions. Instead, they want to question the validity of the question, in order to avoid answering it. They want to change the question, so they can hijack the narrative. It's not much different here in America, is it?

But let's set that aside and think about how Britain, France, and the rest of Europe are in these kinds of messes to begin with. Let's look at human nature as a microcosm of this situation.

Kids want. They will ask for any and every little thing under the sun, it's what they do best. Parents have the power to say yes or no. But when they opt for no, they must be prepared to explain why and stick to their reasoning behind it.

When kids do not get their way, many times they will act out in some way or another. It is at this point, where the parents can give in just to shut them up or dig deeper for the long term battle that will most certainly ensue.

If the parent makes a habit of giving in too much, there will come a time when there will be no control at all. The child will know that by starting a hissy fit, he/she will be able to control the situation and get whatever he/she wants.

Throw the concept of operant conditioning out the window at this point, because what we will now have is classical conditioning.

Even if the parent can afford to give the child every little thing the child's heart desires, this will not stop the child from wanting more. In addition to this, it makes the parent's job more difficult when it comes time to discipline for other things, not related to this scenario.

Let's say the parent wants to take away something away, as punishment.

Johnny, you have been bad. For this cause you lose your video games for the rest of the weekend. Anger will turn to rage, rage may even turn to destruction.

Or let's say either Mom or Dad has lost their jobs and some belt tightening must now take place temporarily. At this point, they cannot afford to keep buying Johnny these kinds of things he is used to getting (by simply requesting them). Expect a similar response.

To summarize this, what we have seen in France in recent weeks and yesterday in Britain is not much different than this analogy. France cannot sustain its retirement program as it is, so they must modify it. Britain cannot sustain the rising cost of education, so it must raise the fees. In turn, this provokes a hissy fit from those who feel entitled to continue receiving what they have thrown fits for in the past.

Now, let's bring this back to America for a moment.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is trying to cut spending because his state has the third highest debt load in the nation. they cannot sustain at the current pace, as he explained in the recent video I posted. The spoiled kids of his state are used to getting what they want because the unions have pitched fits inn the past, and former governors have given in. So, he has a temper tantrum on his hands.

And to be fair about it, it's not just unions who are bucking his efforts. Listen to this short piece about someone in his state who doesn't want to be told no:



Get ready, America.

As we start making the tough decisions that will need to be made, instances like this in Europe are going to happen here. The children are out of control. Progressives have created a culture of entitlement, and no one will be allowed to make the tough choices without feeling the wrath of the spoiled brats.

Likewise, the situation described by the Governor will likely be played out in other areas of the nation. Other communities, like Parsippany, will need to tighten their belts a little and there will be greedy bastards who will think it doesn't apply to them. Instead of throwing a fit, they will sneak into their parents room at night and take the video game back out. They will make backroom, under the table deals like the one Mr. Christie has spoken about.

So....stay vigilant America. Now is not the time to rest. Keep the pressure on the newly elected officials and do not give in. When the answer is no, it means NO.

Root Causes Bring Similar Effects

I have learned much in my days on earth. One of those deep guiding principles I picked up on many years ago was not so hard to see:

To adequately love others and possess the ability to show proper care and concern for them, a person must first love themselves.

I don't mean love themselves above all others, but they need to love themselves AS they love others.

I cannot tell you how many times I have met individuals who act out in maladaptive ways. And in almost every instance, there just happens to be a certain unhealthy measure of self-loathing involved. As a result, they do not like the person they are.

I don't really know a whole lot about everyone. But for whatever reason, most of them had little (if any) sense of self-worth or self-respect. Guilt, bitterness, whatever the root, there were some underlying issues that defined who he/she had become....and it isn't easy to fix.

Knowing this to be true about human relationships, we know that it can manifest in the same manner. It can show up in international and sometimes intercontinental relationships.... as a macrocosm of a living individual.

Pascal Bruckner has been described as one of Europe's most fiery polemicists and seems to be onto a reasonable explanation of why Europe and America has had some differences in international approaches. I recommend taking a little time to read this very well-written examination, from a European who can step outside of the continent and look inward.


UPDATE:

Sorry, I have been out of computer range for awhile in the mountains...in a cabin with no internet connection, no wi-fi, no nothing.

The link has been fixed. Please indulge and comment.

Recommended Blogs

I have found a couple of new ones you may be interested in.

First, we have commentary from an American who lived in Germany. When you get a chance, take a look at Schnitzel Republic.

I lived in Deutschland for a couple of years. I took advantage of a lot of opportunities while I was there.

Secondly, it's biased and negative but much of it is true. For those who live in Indiana, Bad For Indiana tells us why Ellsworth is not the best choice for Indiana this fall.

I wouldn't think that it would be a big secret why he is the poorest choice of the two. He has voted for every big government bill since Obama has become President. This makes his voting record progressive and Hoosiers will recognize that Indiana does not need that kind of representation.

Recommended Blogs

As I get busy in life and try to capture what little time I can to blog, I often times do not get around to all of the blogs on my blogroll. It's not because I am mad at them or anything. It's because the life issues that I must contend with are real and usually translate the the loss and/or gain of money needed (mostly the loss). And since the blog doesn't contribute anything to the cash flow, its priority is limited.

But as I look to maximize what little time I have had the past couple of days, I remembered to check out one of the better blogs ion the internet.

Global American Discourse is written by an intellectual Japanese gentleman who is very well apt to tech what he knows. If you have a moment, check out his site. If nothing else read his piece on the recent Ukranian election. You can tell the man loves political freedom.

The Clown Gordon Brown

Many have been following the debacle that is quickly becoming known as the "oil for terrorist" scandal. The Sunday Times had a good piece that you should read when you get a moment. Here is a snippet:

The British government decided it was “in the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom” to make Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber, eligible for return to Libya, leaked ministerial letters reveal.

Gordon Brown’s government made the decision after discussions between Libya and BP over a multi-million-pound oil exploration deal had hit difficulties. These were resolved soon afterwards.

People were outraged at the French government a few years ago, when it was learned that during Chirac's regime, French companies were violating the (supposedly) strict terms set by the UN in the "oil for food" program. I would think this recent discovery would border on the same level of justifiable outrage, but I haven't heard anything near it.

Gordon Brown is not worthy of being such a lofty position of authority and the Obama Administration should communicate some level of moral outrage. But as is usually the case in these kinds of situations, they have put out their "strongly worded statement" already, and that's where it ends.

Bottom line here is, Brown is a clown and Obama is a coward. Neither deserve the trust of their electorates.

Of Reasons And Rationales: Explaining The EU Elections

I ran across an interesting op-ed piece from the German publication, Der Spiegel. The second paragraph resonates loud and clear:

There is always a certain amount of risk associated with any election. It is a truth recognized by dictators around the world -- leading them to prefer predetermined results. In the last elections for the North Korean "parliament," for example, the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland got 100 percent of the vote and all 687 seats. It was a result that was difficult to misinterpret -- and met the expectations of those involved.

One does not need to read any further to know that the EU elections have yielded a certain level of surprise, among the world's population. Europe has spent the last eight years criticizing the US, for its policies set forth by the Bush Administration. This means that anything economic was ridiculed as favoring the privileged rich; anything related to foreign policy was the subject of some extreme disdain, if not outright scorn. There was this overt display of worry about American imperialism and we heard about it almost daily.

So now comes Obama, who is everything the European intelligentsia could ask and hope for. Finally, here comes a man who understands both the politics and culture, of European-style socialism. Now we have someone that can talk the language of social democrats all over the continent, right?

But wait. Not wanting to be confused with someplace that appears to be in lockstep with America, maybe Europe has had a change of heart?

Certainly there is a shock factor in these results, for some. But I am not surprised at them and frankly, I am having some trouble believing those who live in Europe are as shocked as many would have us believe.

Maybe, just maybe, many Euros have come to a stark realization in the process that has been playing out before them. Maybe they are beginning to see that the practice of allowing immigrants to come into their country and brazenly dictate to the indigenous people the terms of their residency is not the kind of world, they want to create for themselves and their families. Maybe, many are just getting to the point where they are not comfortable with this ulterior objective of subtly transforming Western Civilization into a Middle Eastern caliphate, subjected to whoever the big Muslim Kahuna happens to be at the time..

Note the further prose from the piece:

The European shift to the right, which is being decried across the continent, isn't one. Rather, it is a signal for a return to reality. The established centrist parties -- in Germany, in the Netherlands, in Sweden, Austria and elsewhere -- are busy with crisis management, with the nationalization of ailing banks and bankrupt companies. They are neither able nor willing to attend to other problems.

They aren't thinking about the consequences of immigration, about the loss of cultural identity that many people with "non-immigrant backgrounds" sense -- people who do not want to be labeled as xenophobes, right-wing extremists or neo-Nazis as a result. This omission benefits so-called "populists" like Geert Wilders, who are not afraid to tackle politically incorrect issues and provide answers to questions that nobody else wants to pose.

Europeans are not stupid. They are human and subject to the same weaknesses and frailties the rest of us are. But they are not going to be fooled forever. They have eyes, they have ears, they have minds which can assimilate and analyze data objectively.

They were the Enlightment and Renaissance. They were the leaders of the world in almost everything at one time during history, and for good reasons. I cannot imagine they will allow outsiders to take away their Plato, their Monet, or their Bach. It's just not going to happen. But you can be sure, there will be some who will downplay and demonize the results of this election.

Xenophobia, will be the cause listed on many a blog and mainstream European media agency. Fascism and Nazism will be words frequently tossed around over the next few weeks, as well. What they are not taking into account is fairly simple and not hard to understand, if one has the slightest understanding of the basic fundamentals in the discipline of political science. Like the article says, there is no major shift. It's merely an awakening back to common sense on the part of some, at least enough to swing an election away from apologists and pacifiers.

Another fallacy that will surface in this is the tendency to believe that this signals a return to some pretty bad times. It is a fair assessment that there is a growing sense of nationalism beginning to reappear, or in this case continentalism. The problem with this is how it's interpreted. To say that all nationalism is fascism is nonsense. Not all nationalism is fascism, neither is all fascism, Nazism.

Another fallacy I have heard in the aftermath of the election is that Europe is tired of its socialist policies and it wants to reverse itself. In my lifetime, Europeans have always embraced tax and spend politics. After WWII, it was necessary in order to rebuild the continent into the modern world. As long as the bulk of the populace sees some bang for their euro, they aren't likely to change their approach anytime soon. But they may spurn a continued trend in that direction, or might be willing to reject more of the same. I know the word on the streets in many European nations is that bailouts are not a good thing.

Granted, it's never this simple to analyze the cause of any effect. There is no one reason anything happens in politics. Another rationale was brought up in the article:

The "stupid" voters have recognized that they are supporting a parliament whose primary task is not to oversee the EU's executive arm but to take care of politicians who their parties want to reward for their loyal support. Those who, for whatever reasons, have failed at home, or who need to take a time-out from national politics, get sent to Brussels.

It goes on to cite some examples. But the idea that the EU is essentially meaningless is bound to come up in the course of the explanation. It is one excuse that will be stated and repeated, again and again. But in the bigger scheme of things, the amount of meaning one side chooses for an entity (such as the EU) will depend on whom you talk to at a given point in time.

If a side that has lost must come up with reasons for their loss, it is easier to downplay the entity as meaningless, than to address the reasons behind the failure. If the side that has won is asked the reasons for their victory, they have the luxury of saying it was their message, their ideas, and their worldview that drew the people to them. As a result, the entity becomes extremely important to them.

But in this case, I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Just as Europe is split ideologically, so are the people's opinions of the importance of the EU. True nationalists are not too keen on the idea. Many of those people are in the minority right now. More and more Euros are becoming more continentalist and that means the EU will carry more responsibility in the future. It also means that for the purposes of the immigration issue, nationalists and continentalists will find themselves on the same side of the coin.

Another factor in this particular area is Euros may be coming to a realization, the USA is becoming weaker, something many of them wanted earlier in the decade. Obama is not particularly wowing the European leadership right now. Not only is he snubbing them, he is failing miserably to impress them. Many may be showing up for rallies and speeches, many may want to get a glimpse of him for hostorical reasons, and a select few may even think he is the best thing since 24 hour shopping. But under it all, there is some real apprehension.

They see massive deficit spending unlike any other era before. They see a foreign policy weakness, unlike any other seen in American history.

Many alive today, remember the Jimmy Carter days and know that the malaise created by him was felt hard in Europe. I know, I was there.

The dollar's value shrunk so much so fast during the reign of the Peanut Man, he was forced to buy back the dollars that Germany held, to keep the dollar afloat. He may have done the same with other currencies, I don't remember. But with the German Mark being the backbone of the European economy at the time, there was no other choice but to act, there.

If that wasn't enough, Carter's handling of the Iranian crisis was not impressive either. The botched rescue mission and the generalized state of inaction, didn't exactly reassure Europeans of American ability to assist them, should the Soviets decide to send up the balloon. These are things many of Europeans my age may very well remember clearly. These are things that many of MY countrymen have surely forgotten.

Obama should remind us all of those days. It's like deja vu, all over again.

Recommended Reading

I have two articles I think are well worth the time of PYY readers. Whether one agrees with them totally or not, these pieces are well-written and succeed in opening an entire portal of thought for those that like to ponder the political universe.

The first one comes from Reed Galen, McCain's former deputy campaign manager. It is a comparative look at the Super Bowl (from this past season) and the current presidential campaign. Both are quite similar, when you take a moment ad think about it. (Sorry Greg)

The second one is a brief but pointed examination of what many believe to be the Europeanization of the Democratic Party. The worldviews are closer in alignment than at any other time in our history. Much can be gleaned from doing a comparative study of Europe's and the new Democratic Party's belief systems, and this essay is a start.

European Governments Say "Not So Fast "To Obama

Despite the throngs of mesmerized starry-eyed Europeans that are expected to greet Barack Obama in Europe, there are those serving in the governments of these nations who are not willing to swallow the bait whole. Surprisingly, this story is coming from Reuters.

European fans will cheer on U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama as he visits Berlin, Paris and London this week, but governments wary of his inexperience and evolving policies fear the euphoria is overdone.

But that isn't about to stop the hoards of people that think he is the world's savior from showing up, just to be in some great campaign photo-ops.

Democrat Barack Obama’s entire traveling campaign apparatus is in place. He will speak Thursday at an historic site in Berlin that could draw tens of thousands of spectators. And chief campaign strategist David Axelrod might even assemble film crews to gather footage of it, possibly for a TV commercial.

But senior aides engaged in a bit of rhetorical gymnastics Tuesday as they faced reporters who questioned their resistance to acknowledging the political aspects of Obama’s week-long, high-profile tour against the backdrop of an intense American presidential campaign.

Not surprising, since this entire trip is nothing but a campaign trip. But back to the Politico article:

At a morning background briefing, reporters parried with senior advisers on the characterization of Obama’s speech Thursday in Berlin as a campaign rally. The outdoor speech at the Victory Column could draw thousands of people, similar to the size of Obama events in the United States.

“It is not going to be a political speech,” said a senior foreign policy adviser, who spoke to reporters on background. “When the president of the United States goes and gives a speech, it is not a political speech or a political rally.

“But he is not president of the United States,” a reporter reminded the adviser.

Sounds like someone is counting chickens before they hatch here.

Some reporters are not pleased with the way this is playing out. NBC's Andrea Mitchell is one of them:



This really isn't too hard to follow for those of us who think for ourselves.

Obama's world tour hasn't impressed anyone except those that are already duped into believing this guy is qualified to lead the most powerful nation on earth. The objective here is to make him look presidential, but it will only succeed in making him look like Europe's gullible citizenry has been eaten up with Obama fever. They love him, but they loved John Kerry too.

The European masses that hate confrontation had better beware of their affections. If Obama is elected and is given the opportunity to lead the most powerful nation in the free world, the safety and security of western civilization will be severely compromised.

And if this is the case, Europe had better be willing to step up to the plate. Because Obama will not be there for them. This is precisely why Obama makes Europe's governments so nervous.


UPDATE:

It looks like I am not the only one that feels this Obama tour is a sham. Read this essay.

Still more troubling is how Obama handled his first interview. What he says and how he says it should be troubling to anyone that has any sense. This man has no military experience whatsoever and wants to lead the military. This ought to scare the hell out of anyone.

Britain's Cutlery Problem

Like Indianapolis, Britain is dealing with an upsurge of homicides these fine summer days.

Britain is struggling to get to grips with a surge of fatal knife attacks, which analysts say reflects a growing sense of insecurity on the country's streets.

While some say young people are increasingly carrying knives as a fashion item, others say it is simply because they are scared of being attacked and so make sure they are armed.

Outrageous!! Something has to be done, and fast.

PYY calls for the the carrying of a concealed weapon to be a crime. By outlawing of all knives (except for law enforcement), the citizens will be safer from knife violence. Anyone caught with a knife should be thoroughly punished. At very least, the government ought to require all knife owners to be registered (after taking government approved knife safety classes, or course).

Obamania Hits Europe

This story comes from the IHT:

According to Samuel Solvit, president of France's support committee for Barack Obama, the French have not been this excited about America since they shipped over the Statue of Liberty in 1885.

Obamania has gripped most of Europe. But the enthusiasm is particularly striking in France. This is where the disenchantment with U.S. foreign policy under the Bush administration has been the most vocal. And this is where the Continent's largest community of African immigrants and their descendants live.

I suppose it was only a matter of time before it happened. France is permeated with socialist ideologues, African immigrants, and saturated with multi-culturists, so it's only natural they love this guy. In fact, it's not only France that has adopted this view. The vast majority of the entire continent has become enamored with him, as well.

For years now, Europe has been wanting to promote this "all-inclusive" model as some atonement for past attitudes and actions that were a result of vehement nationalism, which directly resulted in two world wars that destroyed their continent and killed multiple millions of their own citizens. To the many that openly promote this ideology, Obama is a symbol of this spirit. They do not look at the whole of U.S. history, how it welcomed many of Europe's oppressed and persecuted over the years (to include those that came during the two world wars). They refuse to consider this nation afforded them much greater opportunities than could be had elsewhere at the time. Instead, they view Americans as hedonistic and materialistic.

After WWII, the European continent laid in ruins for a second time in less than half a century. Meanwhile, the U.S. prospered immediately afterward, with some of it a direct result of money made off of rebuilding. While Euros were struggling for basic necessities and repairing much needed and badly damaged infrastructure, Americans were getting used to commodities like television, rock & roll music, and hot rod cars. So naturally (as human nature often allows), America became a primary source of envy for many continentals.

Today, 63 years after the bloodbath created by Europeans, many of them are still envious.

But with this understanding of why Euros feel such jealousy towards Americans, comes something they fail to consider in their judgmental biases. Americans sacrificed much to help liberate Europe. Commodities like sugar, coffee, and gasoline were rationed. Many men went to lay down their lives while fighting for the cause, leaving women to operate the factories (many of which were converted to making armaments and supplies for the war effort to succeed).

Today, both Europe and America has embarked upon a new era. Many of that generation that made such sacrifices are dead and gone, or are so old they cannot participate fully in the realm of politics. And with the political scene being what it is today, they wouldn't want to even if they could. The generations that want Sen. Obama to be elected are primarily those that weren't alive in the days of blitzkrieg and genocide. Many, who were alive, are too young to understand the gravity of the situation. This goes for Americans and Europeans, alike.

These are those who see a world, where everything they do not like is unfair. Subsequently, someone must rise up and make it fair (SEE: 1930s Germany). In this world, we are taught that those who work hard for what they have are greedy and selfish. Those that choose not to work hard are disadvantaged and oppressed. And it is up to government to rectify this perceived disparity. Europeans have long felt this way. So when we look at Sen. Obama's website, read his proposals, and analyze his worldview, it should come as no surprise that the French (as well as the whole of Europe) are enamored with him.

Envy is a powerful thing. Planting the seeds of it will ensure its continued existence throughout the ages.

Chavez Insults Merkel

From the Reuters news agency comes this report:

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday almost told German Chancellor Angela Merkel to go to hell, but stopped short of insulting the woman leader on Mother's Day.

Instead he called her a political descendant of Adolf Hitler and German fascism.

"Ms. Chancellor, you can go to ...," he said, pausing for effect and eliciting giggles from the audience, a group of military officers, cabinet ministers and government officials. "Because she's a woman I won't say anything else."

She must be doing something right. But she isn't quite there yet. He said she was a DESCENDANT of Hitler. To be a true top level hero that goes against everything communism stands for, you must be called Hitler. Or Satan.

Maybe next time she can work her way up to Mrs. Satan or Mrs. Hitler, as a bridge towards the ultimate goal.

Good luck Angela, we are all pulling for you.

Recommended Reading

If you have any interest in the current situation with regards to Kosovo's recent declaration of independence from Serbia, you will not want to miss Mustang's detailed historical review of the region.


Maureen Dowd has used some interesting language to explain why Hillary is losing to Obama. I am not sure Mr. Obama's camp will like this one too much.


Mr Obama's first test is about to play out, in the media. The image of a squeaky clean candidate may be headed south, soon.


Frank Rich hypothesizes why Hillary is losing and likely will lose to Obama.


Victor Davis Hanson's latest essay has Europe in his sights and minces no words as he gives his assessment.

Recommended Reading

If you haven't had a chance yet, you really need to read Mustang's latest post. If covers a lot and is lengthy. But it is well worth the time you will put into it. It will give you much to think about as you ponder the future of this country.

One can continue to choose idealistic theory over realism, or they can wake up to reality and deal with it appropriately.

Will Russia Supply Iran With Air-Defense System?

The AP is reporting it will happen.

Russia is preparing to equip Iran with a powerful new air defense system that would dramatically increase its ability to repel an attack, Iran's defense minister said Wednesday.

The S-300 anti-aircraft missile defense system is capable of shooting down aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missile warheads at ranges of over 90 miles and at altitudes of about 90,000 feet. Russian military officials boast that its capabilities outstrip the U.S. Patriot missile system.

Putin has made it clear he opposes U.S. deployment of an air-missile defense shield in eastern Europe. For whatever reasons fathomable, the Russians simply do not want it.

Whether or not the Russian government is serious about doing this, whether or not the system could be as effective as touted, remains yet to be seen. But, one thing we cannot rule out here is Russia may be using this as a bargaining chip for us to re-think our stance on the European deal (like the deal in the 60s that was produced from the Cuban Missile Crisis).

A Case Against EU Expansion

Flocon, a Frenchman and a good friend of PYY, has made his case against further EU expansion.

It's in English and you can read about it here.

Time To Talk Turkey

As he often does, Mustang informs, reminds, explains, and many times, entertains us all with his eloquent and insightful writings. He often outdoes himself and believe me when I tell you, his latest piece is no exception. (Read it first, before reading my rant.)

If you are watching the events unfolding in Turkey, you'll know that we must chart a careful course when dealing its government. They have been a solid ally, from the days of the Cold War up until today. Once you know and understand this, then you can start to think rationally when you think about which battles to avoid.

In this post, entitled Turkishness, Mustangs informs, reminds, and explains. There is nothing entertaining about fooling around and pissing off a crucial ally. But three out four, isn't bad.

You know, his piece got me to think about something in the midst of all of this: If we are serious about our right to self-defense, we must be willing to allow our allies the leeway to defend themselves against the terrorist activities of the PKK.

I cannot speak for Europe, but, I have no idea why they cannot come out and say they do not want Turkey in the EU, if that's the way they feel. I know what I read, and it seems to be something new every time I turn around. To change the rules over and over with the hope, they will get tired and forget about it is just not sound foreign policy.

The EU should say one of two things here. We seriously want you in or we do not. And if they do want them in, they need to accurately state what their issues are and what needs to be accomplished, before a decision can be made. After they figure what it is they think needs to change, they have to be ready for Turkey to tell them to shove it. But if they don't, and they agree to jump through whatever bureaucratic hoop the EU creates, they need to allot the Turkish government adequate time to reach whatever objective, they have decided needs to be met.

But as for America and her relationship with her long time ally, we need to recognize their value and put the brakes to the criticisms (for something we do, ourselves). If not, we join the ranks of those hypocritical nations that govern without sound and consistent principles.

Anyway, if you haven't read it yet, Mustang's post is why I have called you all here. Now, go read it.


Addendum: AC at Fore Left has some food for thought, which I feel ties in with this issue (in an abstract sort of way). With whatever may be coming, now is not the time to irritate Turkey.

Swiss Elections Center On Immigration Issue

Last month, we read reports coming out of Switzerland about strong anti-immigration sentiment brewing. And now, with elections just two weeks away, there is more coming out of the land known for its majestic mountain scenery and banks.

From the IHT comes this article. It centers around a poster and a campaign that questions the wisdom of allowing immigrants that contribute little of anything to society (except for keeping police jobs secure) to remain in Switzerland.

Many that know Europe well, know about the countless political parties that exist. They understand small fringe parties (that sometimes make noise during an election cycle) usually end up beaten, when the votes are counted. But this isn't the case, here.

From the article:

The posters taped on the walls at a political rally here capture the rawness of Switzerland's national electoral campaign: Three white sheep stand on the Swiss flag, as one of them kicks a single black sheep away.

"For Greater Security," the poster reads.

The poster is not the creation of a fringe movement, but of the most powerful party in Switzerland's federal Parliament and a member of the coalition government, an extreme-right party called the Swiss People's Party, or SVP. It has been distributed in a mass mailing to Swiss households, reproduced in newspapers and magazines and hung as huge billboards across the country.

It's going to be interesting to see the outcome of these elections. Even more interesting will be the rest of Europe's response, if this party wins big.

A Memorable Memory Remembered

It was 30 years ago and this time of year.

The year was 1977 and a young man whose only venture outside the United States was Mexico (twice), was about to land in Rhein Main AFB for a NATO exercise (REFORGER 77). From the moment I stepped off that Air Force cargo plane, I knew I had landed in a land that I felt a special connection to.

Because I knew some things about my roots and ancestry, Europe was to become one of the more cherished experiences I have ever had. To see where knights once roamed, kings and emperors once ruled, and where the continent had many times built itself back from ruins, was something many in my country will only read about.

My first experience was one that many tell me doesn't exist to any great degree any more. As I disembarked the big bird, the first thing I smelled was the noticeable odor of diesel exhaust, in the air. Once I got past that discovery and the concrete world of the Air Base, the next sight I got to experience was the autobahn that was to take us to the Mannheim area (which is probably known as E5 now). Every vehicle was traveling at different high rates of speeds, and they were a a good 1-2 feet behind the car in front.

As I watched the landscape unfold from one town/city into another, I couldn't help think that somehow, my government school had failed me and maybe (in some way) I had failed myself. Being a whiz at geography in school, I was amazed at something I had thought I missed. I knew about Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, Nuremberg, Bonn, Cologne, and some other large metro areas in West Germany. But I had never heard of Ausfahrt. And from every sign I could see, there as a road that led to Ausfahrt.

For six weeks I was able to see a world that had only existed in textbook pictures, spent time with the German and Dutch armies, viewed sights like the picturesque cathedral in Ulm, and mingled with the German people. I enjoyed the experience so much, I promptly went back to Ft. Riley and submitted paperwork to go back for permanent duty there. This was the first time I had seen what Europe had to offer and I was hooked, I had to have more.

A year later, I got it. Germany, France, Holland, and Spain were all on my itinerary for the two years I lived and worked there. It was truly a time when I was carefree and not bound by the responsibilities, I have today.

It is something that I shall not and cannot ever forget. In fact, I still dream about it at night. sometimes. It's a recurring dream, one that I am back in either, Frankfurt, Aschaffenburg, Wurzburg, or some other place I do not recognize. I'd call it a bit strange, but it has never has it left me with any negative feelings. Each dream always finds me feeling like it was good to get back and re-experience it all over again.

I seriously hope to visit again, someday. Until then, the memories are still vivid enough to carry me through.