Tuesday, October 12, 2004

The Concept of Conception

Conception certificates are not issued in the United States. There is no legal basis to identify a fetus as a viable human being until such time as that fetus has survived extrication from the womb and begun to respire on it's own--a condition technically referred to as 'birth'.

Prior to 'birth' a number of calamities may befall the fetus--and/or mother--that ultimately prevent 'birth' from taking place. Even with the vast advances made in perinatal care in the last half century or so, there are a great many tragic outcomes each year to sucessful ova fertilization and uterine implantation--the condition commonly referred to as 'conception'.

Although the Infant Mortality Rate in the US is among the lowest in the world--and our perinatal care providers are the world's best--there are still many, many cases of women whose pregnancies are terminated prematurely as a result of trauma or natural biological processes.

Birth Certificate. One is required in order to have a Death Certificate. Aborted fetuses are not issued death certificates. Any parturition prior to full term that results in a non-viable issue does not receive the designation of a living, breathing person.

Although emotions run high whenever a pregnant woman is injured or killed, there must be a line, a definition, a starting point for life that is codified by law. This ensures fairness in the face of emotion and will prevent the "moving the goalposts" phenomenon that seems to plague attempts at rational legislation in this area.

Monday, October 11, 2004

Nuisances

'We have to get back to the place we were, where terrorists are not the focus of our lives, but they're a nuisance,'' Kerry said. ''As a former law-enforcement person, I know we're never going to end prostitution. We're never going to end illegal gambling. But we're going to reduce it, organized crime, to a level where it isn't on the rise. It isn't threatening people's lives every day, and fundamentally, it's something that you continue to fight, but it's not threatening the fabric of your life.''


I believe that we have to get back to the place we were, where Liberals are not the focus of our lives, but they're a nuisance. As a former soldier, as an expert in anti- and counter-terrorism, I know we're never going to end career politics. We're never going to end illegal United Nations actions. But we're going to reduce it, organized Liberalism, to a level where it isn't on the rise. It isn't threatening people's lives every day, and fundamentally, it's something that you continue to fight, but it's not threatening the fabric of your life.

Saturday, October 02, 2004

New Iranian Revolution

First Iraq, now Iran.

If we can facilitate the fall of the theocratic regime in Iran we can wipe
out national funding and intel support of Hezbollah, eliminate another
terrorist safe haven, and largely eliminate the Islamic fundamentalists'
powerbase in the Middle East.

Can anybody tell me why the MSM (Main Stream Media) isn't reporting this?


From Instapundit.com: (Go visit and follow the links)

JONAH GOLDBERG says we need to be paying more attention to Iran. He's right.
Excerpt:
Tehran, the nation's capital, as well as several other cities have been
wracked in recent days with widespread anti-government protests and violent crackdowns by government forces. Buildings have been set ablaze, and exiles are calling for revolution. According to reports on Activistchat.com, a Web
site dedicated to freeing Iran from the oppressive rule of the mullahs, numerous protestors have been killed. Ledeen - who has many sources inside Iran and out - reports that the roundups and executions of young men have
picked up at a terrific pace. Iran has staged 120 public hangings since March alone, according to the government's own news agency.
The unpopularity of the mullahs, primarily with the younger, Western-oriented generation, is causing panic inside the regime. The appeal of revolutionary theocracy has been bled dry. The Christian Science Monitor reported - some would say "reluctantly reported" - that discontent with the regime and a desire for "change" according to various "polls" equals 90 percent. And we all remember those famous soccer games where Iranian fans
chanted "USA! USA!"
Even if this weren't such a powerful human interest story, it would still be appalling how completely the mainstream media have downplayed what could be one of the most important news stories of our lives. If Iran were to throw off the shackles of the mullahocracy in favor of anything like a sane, decent and democratic regime, it would be the most significant advance for freedom and decency since the fall of the Berlin Wall. It would be a national security victory of staggering proportions.
I wonder why it's not getting more attention? posted at 04:41 PM by Glenn Reynolds

MLB in Wash DC

There have been a number of articles, posts, and proclamations that suggest names for the 'new' MLB team coming to the District. Since the team is presently the Montreal Expos--of international origin--why not call the team the United Nations of Washington? Will there be a need for bilingual street signs in D.C. to accomodate the players coming from Quebec? Will the seventh inning stretch feature a performance by Cirque de Soleil? Can we expect the team to enjoy support from the French Ambassador?

Stay tuned.

Monday, September 27, 2004

Shifting Focus

This comes from ProfessorBainbridge:

LAT on Al Qaeda
A major article in today's LA Times claims:
Even before the Sept. 11 attacks, Al Qaeda was a loosely organized network, but core leaders exercised considerable control over its operations. Since the loss of its base in Afghanistan and many of those leaders, the organization has dispersed its operatives and reemerged as a lethal ideological movement.
Osama bin Laden may now serve more as an inspirational figure than a CEO, and the war in Iraq is helping focus militants' anger, according to dozens of interviews in recent weeks on several continents. European and moderate Islamic countries have become targets. And instead of undergoing lengthy training at camps in Afghanistan, recruits have been quickly indoctrinated at home and deployed on attacks.
The United States remains a target, but counter-terrorism officials and experts are alarmed by Al Qaeda's switch from spectacular attacks that require years of planning to smaller, more numerous strikes on softer targets that can be carried out swiftly with little money or outside help.
The gist of the article's normative argument is that the Bush administration has not responded to these developments:
U.S. and foreign intelligence officials said the Bush administration's focus on the "body count" of Al Qaeda leaders and its determination to stop the next attack meant comparatively few resources were devoted to understanding the threat. ... Anti-terrorism experts who fault the administration's strategy and its optimism argue that concentrating on individual plots and operatives obscures the need to address the broader dimensions of Islamic extremism and makes it impossible to mount an effective defense.


OK. The apparent switch in Al Qaeda's tactics is a welcome thing. We can stop "smaller, more numerous strikes on softer targets" more easily than the years-in-the-making large target attacks.

The long planning cycle for the large scale attacks makes them more robust from a planning standpoint and less likely to make mistakes. This approach typically involves extensive intel gathering and analysis followed by ongoing rehearsals to iron out any rough spots in the operational concept. Contingencies are also planned for as they are discovered during this deliberate planning/rehearsal cycle. This also makes it difficult for unknown personnel--read undercover agents--to infilitrate the sponsoring organizations as the players all know each other during a long association. New faces stand out.

The smaller cells will lack the coordination and resources to do real damage. It also means that attacks will not be run as efficiently nor will organization members be as familiar with one another--and that leaves a door open for the HUMINT specialists to infiltrate. It also means that even if these smaller attacks are successful the emergency management personnel will have an easier time handling the immediate crises as they arise bacause they are on a smaller scale.

Another point to consider is that the Jihadists within Islam are duty-bound to rush to the defense of any Muslims or Muslim nation that is under attack, especially by an outside--infidel--force. Most fanatical, fundamentalist Muslims flock to Afghanistan and Iraq to join in the fight to repel the "infidel" invaders. This, IMHO, quite nicely accomplishes a major National Security goal--that being to keep terrorists out of the US and engage them where they live.

Keeping the pressure on the hierarchy of al Qaeda will keep the flow of Jihadists--not all, but the majority of them--will keep them flowing away from our shores and into the able hands of our military.

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Blogosphere

Given the plethora of blogs and bloggers proliferating in the wake of Rathergate--has the paradigm for how we get our news changed for the better? Does blogging represent a truly interactive form of journalism where the masses are no longer required to dumbly graze among the well-fertilized fields of politically motivated editorializing that so often is presented as unbiased reporting? Will the MSM continue in the face of this new phenomenon or has blogging finally announced the death-knell of campaigning-as-reporting that modern news divisions have embraced as their raison d'etre? What about those unfortunate souls that lack access to alternate sources of information--those that are stuck with only the MSM? How will blogging affect the news that they receive? Will it even affect it at all?

How about Congressional blogs as a means for near real time Representative-Constituent interaction? Could blogs become the tool by which the American people finally reign in their elected officials by acquiring constant feedback regarding the official actions taken and votes cast on their behalf? Imagine the interaction of the elected with the electorate as the awareness of the people is connected to a responsive and self-adjusting medium in which professional spin doctors have little or no time to influence the transmission of data from Representative to Constituent. Tardy postings by elected officials may become grounds for further scrutiny and closer interaction with citizens concerned that their wishes are not being addressed. Voting records will become a topic of daily discussion rather than mere fodder for campaign wonks each election cycle.

Hooah! Blog on.