Rumsfeld's Gone...Is Gates Any Better?

This past week not only saw the Democratic Party incredibly victorious in the Congressional election, but, apparently, another victory loomed large a day later, when Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stepped down from his post. Did he actually step down or was he volunteered to resign by the administration?

A few pundits theorized that on the evening of the House and Senate takeover by the Democrats, Speaker Of The House Elect Nancy Pelosi telephoned the President and struck a deal. "Get rid of Rummy and we won't impeach you". Sounds far fetched, but in this day and age of politics, anything is possible.

The White House immediately nominated former CIA Director and current President of Texas A&M University, Robert Gates to fill Mr. Rumsfeld's seat as Defense Secretary.

Questions loom large over Mr. Gates' past. He says America's spy agencies misled the president on whether Saddam Hussein harbored weapons of mass destruction, but also believes the nation should never launch another pre-emptive military strike without "unambiguous" intelligence. Did the spy agencies mislead the President or was the intelligence conveniently re-written to sell the Iraq War?

Also, as head of the CIA during the Iran-Contra debacle, Mr. Gates was close to many figures who played significant roles in the Iran-Contra Affair and was in a position to have known of their activities. The evidence developed by Independent Counsel did not warrant indictment of Gates for his Iran-Contra activities or his responses to official inquiries.

Gates was an early subject of Independent Counsel's investigation, but the investigation of Gates intensified in the spring of 1991 as part of a larger inquiry into the Iran/contra activities of CIA officials. This investigation received an additional impetus in May 1991, when President George H.W. Bush nominated Gates to be Director of Central Intelligence (DCI). The chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) requested in a letter to the Independent Counsel on May 15, 1991, any information that would “significantly bear on the fitness” of Gates for the CIA post.

Gates consistently testified that he first heard on October 1, 1986, from Charles E. Allen, the national intelligence officer who was closest to the Iran initiative, that proceeds from the Iran arms sales may have been diverted to support the Contras. Other evidence proves, however, that Gates received a report on the diversion during the summer of 1986 from DDI Richard Kerr. The issue was whether Independent Counsel could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Gates was deliberately not telling the truth when he later claimed not to have remembered any reference to the diversion before meeting with Allen in October.

Grand Jury secrecy rules hampered Independent Counsel's response. Nevertheless, in order to answer questions about Gates' prior testimony, Independent Counsel accelerated his investigation of Gates in the summer of 1991. This investigation was substantially completed by September 3, 1991, at which time Independent Counsel determined that Gates' Iran-Contra activities and testimony did not warrant prosecution.

We hope that Congressional hearings during the process will reveal the true nature of Mr. Gates' knowledge of Iran-Contra...truthfully. I'm sure Democrats will raise many questions during the proceedings, as well they should. This nomination for such an important position comes at a time when the United States is heavily involved in a very unpopular war that was begun under false pretense in the first place.

We, as American citizens and voters must demand that nominee Gates truthfully answer each and every question. Mr. Rumsfeld's bull-headed response to questions about his authority and choices in Iraq make the public skiddish about who occupies that office next. Mr. Gates has a huge responsibility ahead of him, one that is not taken lightly by the public or by the retired and current leadership on the ground in the Middle East. Gates' real leadership will constantly be under scrutiny and watched by the American public, the press and the military. Now is not the time for another misstep.

Be well,

Swanny

America Speaks...Loudly

The America people have spoken through a great democracy. This past exciting and close election WITHOUT the cheating and hacking that was alleged during the 2000 and 2004 election is proof that the voters CAN make a difference and YOUR vote counts.

There, apparently, were enough people fed up with the corruption, lobbying and scandals of this current administration, that a change was needed. And that change has been made.

Now it is up to the Democratic Senate, House AND President Bush to change the things that need changing in our great country.

Let's be thankful that the democracy we cherish is no longer a "tick or two" away from a Fascist Oligarchy. Those two words may be incredibly strong. But look them up in the dictionary and you'll see how close we were to the textbook definition of both. A government that was being run by a select few.

I am still suspect of the war in Iraq and the no bid contracts to Halliburton, tired of an Iraqi volunteer force whose majority of members are only in it for the money, have no heartfelt ties to see democracy in their country and is infiltrated by insurgency that wants the Iraqi government to fail miserably.

The "you're either with us or you're against us" proclamation by our President only proves that his thinking of "I'm the decider" is no longer a valid excuse for the rampant corruption that still plagues the war effort.

And when Generals, leading the battle on the ground, gather to express their disdain for the way thing have been handled by the administration, this latest election, hopefully, will change the make up of the handling of this needless war. Since we have now lost more soldiers than the original attack on the World Trade Center, it is time to reevaluate our situation overseas and make the necessary changes to either succeed with a true and decisive victory or give the Iraqi government a timetable, then get out.

There is no cut and run. This war has been deemed "un-winnable" and needs to come to a conclusion that the American people can be comfortable with. We are NOT the world's police force.

Ghastly mistakes and "massaged" intelligence started the invasion, and the war profiteering has to end NOW.

The Senate and House Of Representatives are now under Democratic control. President Bush must now, at least, listen carefully to what is being said and take the blinders off. Karl Rove's days of ruthless rule are now over. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld has stepped down, an event that is long overdue. Changes are being made quickly.

As the new Senate and House of Representatives reaches a hand across party lines to work with Bush, the President must take that hand and not bite it.

A new America is on the way. One we hope is better, cleaner and more willing to change with it's citizens calls for action.

Stop Stalling on North Korea

This past weekend's alleged test of a nuclear device in North Korea has many wondering what's going on, many jittery about the test and some wondering whether or not the test was successful. According to some seismic reports, the seismic activity that was reported eith showed the test to be a small device, perhaps not nuclear at all or might have been a "dud". Either way, it's time to get serious about sanctions, if the United Nations is going to put them in effect. Japan has plenty to worry about, as does South Korea. However, the United States has a definite stake in this as well, since reports allege that a long range nuclear rocket could be delivered and hit Alaska. If I were a resident of that state, I would certainly be gunshy about hearing ANY explosions and flinch at the thought of a nuke possibly headed my way. Here in Northern California, what's to say a long range rocket couldn't be fired from sea and hit San Francisco or Los Angeles, making sanctions too little too late.

Apparently, the United States has had enough of stalling tactics or just not getting on with resolutions, as today the United States proposed an outline and draft for sanctions against North Korea. If we're going to do it, let's get on with it. It's not just the United States, South Korea or Japan that need worry. This involves the future of the entire world. Think millions of deaths, disease, fallout and nuclear winter. It's a case where the overly religious grab their cardboard and "Sharpies" and start making "The End Is Near" signs again. Unfortunately, this time they might be right, IF northing is done IMMEDIATELY.

What does North Korea have to lose? Serious aid, medical and scientific technology (North Korean doctors are currrently in the U.S. learning heart surgery), and the list goes on. What does the rest of the world have to lose? Much more in the form of the world changing as we know it today.

If anyone has seen the television film "The Day After" shown years ago, or any of the other nuclear disaster movies, it's time to start getting a little nervous.

Below is the entire full text of the draft UN resolution for sanctions against North Korea put forward by the United States. Let's make sure they're put into effect as soon as humanly possible.

The Security Council,

Recalling its previous relevant resolutions, including resolution 825 (1993), resolution 1540 (2004) and, in particular, resolution 1695 (2006), as well as the statement of its President of 6 October 2006 (S/PRST/2006/41),

Reaffirming that proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as their means of delivery, constitutes a threat to international peace and security,

Expressing the gravest concern at the reports that the DPRK has conducted tests of a nuclear weapon on 9 October 2006, and at the challenge such test constitutes to international efforts aimed at strengthening the global regime of nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, and the danger it poses to peace and stability in the region,

Deploring the DPRK's announcement of withdrawal from the Treaty on Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (the Treaty) and its pursuit of nuclear weapons,

Deploring further that the DPRK has refused to return to the Six-Party talks without precondition,

Stressing the importance of the Joint Statement issued on 19 September 2005 by China, DPRK, Japan, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the United States,

Expressing profound concern that the test by the DPRK will generate increased tension in the region and beyond,

Determining that the situation in the DPRK constitutes a threat to international peace and security;

Acting under chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations;

1. Condemns the nuclear test conducted by the DPRK on 9 October 2006 in flagrant disregard of the statement of the Council's President of 6 October 2006 (S/PRST/2006/41), including the statement that such a test would bring universal condemnation of the international community and would represent a clear threat to international peace and security, and demands that the DPRK refrain from any further nuclear tests;

2. Demands that the DPRK return immediately to the Six-Party Talks without precondition, and return at an early date to the Treaty on Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons and International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards;

3. Recalls its previous demand that the DPRK suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program and in this context re-establish its pre-existing commitments to a moratorium on missile launching, and underscores that the DPRK is required to do so under Article 25 of the Charter of the United Nations;

4. Decides further that the DPRK shall eliminate its nuclear weapons and nuclear programs, to be verified by the IAEA, and shall act strictly in accordance with the obligations applicable to parties under the Treaty on Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the terms and conditions of its IAEA safeguards agreement (IAEA INFCIRC/403);

5. Decides further that all Member States shall take the necessary measures:

(a) to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to the DPRK, from their territories or by their nationals, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, and whether or not originating in their territories, of any -

(i) arms or any related material;

(ii) nuclear-related or ballistic missile-related items, materials, goods, and technology, including dual-use items, covered by relevant multilateral treaties and arrangements, or included on national control lists, not covered by (i) above; and

(iii) luxury goods;

(b) to prevent any transfers to the DPRK by their nationals or from their territories of technical training, advice or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of items in subparagraph (a) above;

(c) to prevent the procurement of items described in (a) above from the DPRK; and

(d) to prevent the transfer to or from their territory, or to or by their nationals or persons in their territory, of any financial or other assets or resources in relation to the DPRK's missile or weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, or in relation to illicit activities such as those related to counterfeiting, money-laundering or narcotics, including by freezing any financial or other assets or resources on their territories that are associated with such programs or activities, and to prevent any abuses of the international financial system that could contribute to the development of such items by, or transfers of such items to or from, the DPRK, and that the provisions of this paragraph shall supersede the requirements of paragraphs 3 and 4 of resolution 1695 (2006), and calls upon all Member States, consistent with international law, to undertake and facilitate inspection of cargo to or from the DPRK as necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of this paragraph;

6. Calls upon all Member States to report to the Security Council within 30 days of the coming into force of the measures imposed by paragraph 5 above on the steps they have taken with a view to implementing effectively paragraph 5 above;

7. Decides that the provisions of paragraph 5(d) above do not apply to financial or other assets or resources that have been determined by relevant States:

(a) to be necessary for basic expenses, including payment for foodstuffs, rent or mortgage, medicines and medical treatment, taxes, insurance premiums, and public utility charges, or exclusively for payment of reasonable professional fees and reimbursement of incurred expenses associated with the provision of legal services, or fees or service charges, in accordance with national laws, for routine holding or maintenance of frozen funds, other financial assets and economic resources, after notification by the relevant States to the Security Council of the intention to authorize, where appropriate, access to such funds, other financial assets and economic resources and in the absence of a negative decision by the Security Council within five working days of such notification,

(b) to be necessary for extraordinary expenses, provided that such determination has been notified by the relevant States to the Security Council and has been approved by the Security Council, or

(c) to be subject of a judicial, administrative or arbitral lien or judgment, in which case the funds, other financial assets and economic resources may be used to satisfy that lien or judgment provided that the lien or judgment: was entered prior to the date of the present resolution, is not for the benefit of a person referred to in paragraph 5(e) above or an individual or entity identified by the Security Council, and has been notified by the relevant States to the Security Council;

8. Affirms that it shall review DPRK actions within 30 days of the date of adoption of this resolution, and that it shall be prepared to take such further action as may be needed at that time;

9. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.



The other thing WE can do as citizens of the world is to continue to pray for peace OR get started today.

Be well,

Swanny

*Swanny can be reached by email from this blog, or at: swansonjim@sbcglobal.net

It Costs Too Much To Stay Healthy

I am continually amazed at what the pharmaceutical companies are getting away with, which costs each and every one of us more and more money for health insurance. "Back in the day" when I was a young punk kid just starting out in radio at the age of eighteen, I really couldn't care less about health insurance. My first job in radio paid $1.90 an hour, but at that age in 1970) to have a full-time job doing something I loved, I still felt like a King!

Since leaving my less than lucrative job at a radio station in Northern California this past March, my wife and I are currently on the "COBRA Plan". At least we get good health insurance. But it does come with a price. The middle of this month, we received word from our COBRA provider that our premiums were increasing. At the time we were shelling out $750.00 and some odd cents a month for really good coverage. Expensive? You bet. Money that's easy to come by? Nope. The increase was an astonishing amount that now takes our premium price to $922.00 a month. Or on yearly terms, that comes to a whopping $11,064 a year! The last time there was a price increase, I was still working. Come the end of the year, after 52 weeks of busting tail for "the man", I asked for a raise. I had been a great employee. But after a pat on the back from my supervisor, I entered the office of the general manager and found that my extra efforts and hard work yielded a whopping two per cent raise.

Yes, I have to admit I worked in a smaller radio market (ranked number 199 in Arbitron's ratings directory). But shouldn't loyalty, hard work, picking up projects people dropped and finishing them myself without blowing my horn bring in a little more than $6.00 a week after taxes??? Unbelievable! A six dollar a week raise. That's just over a dollar a day. That's fifteen cents an hour for someone that has twenty-five years of radio experience under his belt. What the hell am I gonna do with this windfall??

Now, this is where the real injustice comes in. Pharmaceutical companies are literally gouging the public with prices that are unjust and unfair. Sure, I'll stomp my feet and say "unfair", knowing well and good that life itself isn't fair. But this cash raking drug company profiteering, especially along the elderly patient line, has to stop. Do you morons know that elderly people have a tremendously difficult time getting the medicines they need because YOU have a private jet? There MUST be some kind of regulation to make them stutter a little bit when crying about the cost of research and development. Sorry Squibb...I'm sure your R&D isn't costing you THAT much.

The quagmire that is life these days MUST see some progressive movement in the House and Senate to stop these rediculous increases and put forth an honest working drug plan, especially for the seniors who have gone before us. After all, "The Greatest Generation's" rewards for defeating the Nazi's shouldn't be a poke in the eye with a sharp tongue depressor? My Dad fought at Normandy and was among the first to charge the beaches of France to help liberate the world from the grips of Hitler. Now the Pharmaceutical Nazi's are changing the way we can stay afloat and still get the health care that's needed.

I call on our Representatives in the State and Federal Government to get the drug lobbyists to stop the pressure of our elected officials and work fairly to make sure that American's are taken care of for the rest of their lives. Don't wanna do anything about the prices here in America? Then let us legally and watchfully be able to import our needed prescriptions from Canada. Until you come to the realization that the citizens of this Country depend on your fairness and honesty, we remain nearly tapped out in the wallet with, in some cases, barely enough to eat.

And with the current affairs of our inept President and his band of pocket stuffing Bozos, it's no wonder the rest of my fellow Patriotic citizens are leaning on Prozac, Effexor and Valium to help us hide in the fog till you're gone.

Get real! This IS a country founded on freedom, on fairness and the ability to look after all citizens to make sure that everybody gets what they need at a fair price.

I have no numbers and no proof right now, but I'd be willing to bet a month's worth of Neurontin that those of you in the "higher power" can do something if you want to.

The problem is, the President is too busy shoving the Constitution of The United States of America through the Congressional paper shredder while you stand by amused. You are an embarassment to the human condition and should be burned and hung above a bridge like the poor contractors you greedy infidels sent to Iraq, knowing well, the only reason for this war was profiteering.

Respectfully and in disgust,
Swanny

Why Our Kids Are Failing

The California School System has been a hot topic in the news over the past couple of years. Accountability, test scoring and holding back students from graduation are just some of the political and social hot buttons these days. Whose fault is it? Many are to blame.

Let's start with parents. Mommy and Daddy want Johnny to be happy. So Johnny gets an X-Box 360 for Christmas or his birthday, then plunks his fat little ass in front of the television all day, killing off the bad guys in the newest edition of his favorite game.

Parents are NOT taking the responsibility they need to be taking. It's not their fault. Both Mommy and Daddy have to work to make the incredible house payment and keep the Lincoln Navigator gassed up. So there's precious little time for their kids. Seems having them around the house distracts them from their jobs, wine tastings and weekend outings to restaurants, while the kids stays glued to the TV and orders a pizza.

Whatever happened to the simple four word sentence: "Go out and play"? I know that I'm from a different generation, growing up in suburban Chicago in the 1960's, but with today's business plan of selling the latest "have-to-have" technological gadgets to the kids, going out to play means the kid is actually going to have to think. No wonder his/her grades suck.

And how bad are they? In a recent Sacramento Bee article:"Just 40 per cent of California's nearly 10,000 schools are making the mark for student acheivment as measured by both the state and federal governments" (Sacramento Bee, September 2, 2006)

Whose fault is that? Let's start with the state government. Seems to me, several years ago when "The Golden State" began the California State Lottery, it was to help the schools. Well, since the Lottery started, where has all that money gone? I, personally have no idea, but am willing to bet it's filling someone else's pockets. If it IS helping the schools, then why are so many of California's schools is physical disrepair, falling apart and students being left in the dust? I think there should be an accounting inspector (independent, naturally) who cracks open the books and finds out where the money is being spent.

This appears to be on the Federal level as well. It seems the Presidents "No Child Left Behind" program has turned into "Every Child Left Behind".

While looking at a radio station's website in Portland, Oregon (yes, it's not California, I know), I was literally shocked to find that the station sponsored a "school supply store", FREE for teachers to come in and take what they need. Generous donations from the station's listeners (KSSN, by the way), has brought much needed textbooks, paper, pencils, you name it to the deserving and hard working teachers. Unfortunately, like the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina...where is the Federal Government?

Speaking of teachers and parents, is there even a P.T.A. anymore? If there is, I am really curious to know how many teachers here in California drive themselves crazy getting the parents to come in for a chat on why their students are failing the most elementary subjects.

As for money coming to the schools, apparently, "about 500 of California's lowest performing schools would share $2.9 Billion to reduce class sizes over the next seven years under an agreement being worked out by the Federal Government." (Rocklin and Roseville Today August 30, 2006)

And how did that money get earmarked? It took an agreement from a lawsuit that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger reached this spring with the California Teachers Association, which sued the state saying schools were shortchanged in recent budgets.

All in all, kids are failing miserably because of two reasons: Parents and Government. Parents need to take a real honest to God interest in their childrens' well-being in education. The Federal government needs to stop shipping Billions of dollars to Iraq and start building a nation of intelligent human beings who will run the next generation. For our nation's next leaders, let's be able to choose one who has a better than "C" grade average. If not, we might be the next nation to be transformed by an occupation on our soil. No, the terrorist won't win. Our children will lose.