Of course, “yellowcake” is uranium of such depleted quantity that on it’s own it presents little to no threat, but while it’s use in a “dirty bomb” wouldn’t have the effect of spreading radioactive material, it would still be enough to rattle folks to their core and invoke Cold War style fears of an impending nuclear doom.  Pair with that the fact that “yellowcake” can be used to kick start a nuclear program- be it weapons or energy, and it had to be removed from the volitile Middle East where fears were widespread that after Saddam fell, it could still wind up in terrorist hands.

So now as long as we’re not worried about a South Park style war with Canada, we can rest easy knowing nuclear war is off the table.  Well, unless something happens with China, or between India and Pakistan, or if something happens between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and there’s always North Korea, and Iran is said by many to be looking to get a little more armed up to oppose their enemies in Israel who already have some nukes… wow… perhaps we should worry, you know… just a little.

ShareThis

Knowing that Afghanistan is likely in my future (I am myself, still an active member of the Illinois National Guard), a little looking into the state of things there only made sense.  After a link sent to me by Ms. Missive, I almost wish I hadn’t.

More American and coalition troops died in Afghanistan last month than during any other month since the American-led invasion began in 2001, the latest evidence of a strengthening Taliban insurgency that has menaced NATO forces and reclaimed control over some southern and eastern parts of the country.

The violence in Afghanistan has surged at the same time as the number of attacks and American deaths in Iraq have fallen. Among the American-led forces in the two countries, 46 service members were killed in Afghanistan, compared with 31 in Iraq, the second straight month in which combat deaths in Afghanistan exceeded those in Iraq.

Reports say that the operations in Afghanistan are under-manned, under-equipped, and basically suffering all the problems early fighting in Iraq suffered.  Hence the new push into Afghanistan while things in Iraq are (for now) calmer than they had been. 

How does the military resolve the loss of troops with the need for more troops?  NATO, while a presence in Afghanistan, is not exactly pouring new troops over the borders, so we must make up the difference.  However, the way we’re doing it is questionable at best…

As reported on here in the past, the number of wavers for criminal offenders to join the military has increased greatly since the war on terror began, and statistics now show that 30% of all recruits require wavers to enter the armed forces. 

Now I’m all for rehabilitation and attempting to turn one’s life around after mistakes made in the past.  We all join the armed forces for our own reasons.  But it’s not just unlikely, but borderline impossible that all offenders are looking to make full turn-arounds… in fact, it’s coming to light that there is an increase in gang membership in the military versus past years.

According to an FBI published report, “gang-related activity in the U.S. military is increasing and poses a threat to law-enforcement officials and national security.”

The report, released in February 2007, noted that members of nearly every major street gang — including MS-13, Bloods, Crips, 18th Street, Hells Angels and various white supremacist groups — have been identified on both domestic and international military bases.

There are no official statistics on gang membership in the military, but some experts have estimated that 1 to 2 percent of the U.S. military are gang members, FBI gang investigator Jennifer Simon said in a published article. It is believed that only .02 percent of the U.S. population are gang members.

“Gang membership in the U.S. Armed Forces is disproportional to the U.S. population,” she added.

Some experts have calculated that out of every 100 people who enter the military, two have some sort of gang affiliation.

One reason why more gang members are getting into the military is recruiting practices.

“As this war continues, recruiters have to drop their standards,” said retired Los Angeles County Sheriff Sgt. Richard Valdemar, who is a gang expert and trains various law-enforcement agencies across the country about gangs and gangs in the military.

In the Army, allowable offenses include making threats and kidnapping, according to Army Regulation 601-210.

According to a fact sheet released by the U.S. Armed Forces, since 2003 there have been at least 104 gang investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Command Department.

Anyone can understand the need for troops, and the difficulties in drawing new recruits in this time of unpopular war, but allowing convicted kidnappers to enlist?  Honestly? 

Of course, members of the military also join gangs after their initial deployments are finished, or in some cases while still deployed.  With the lack of group cohesion and camaraderie in the civilian world that one finds in the military, it’s easy to see how some would go out in search of that familial bond wherever it could be found.  Not to mention the difficulties one faces when returning to civilian life, whether it’s the at times near-impossible task of finding a job, returning to one’s friends and family after year(s) apart only to find that everything you know has changed, or just a complete disenfranchisement with a system that has let you down after a hollow “thanks for your service”.

Whatever the reasons, the military is hurting, we’re losing troops we need, we’re accepting troops we shouldn’t, we’re stretched thin and suffering as a result.

I know I seem to have leaped from one topic to another in this post, and perhaps I have, but on closer inspection it’s all interconnected.  Hell, 99% of the articles we write here could be connected by at least one or two strands of thought.  There are problems within all of our major systems; governing, policing, military, financial, et cetera… and they’re all combining to drag our country down into depths we’ve yet only imagined.

I find myself saying this too often it seems, but I don’t have a fix.  I don’t know anyone who does.  But I can recognize the problem, and educated discussion of the problems, not under the rug sweepings, not soundbite posturing, but analyzing and attempting real reforms are what’s needed here.  Hopefully someday we’ll have leaders who are up to the task.

ShareThis

So with that in mind- here’s today in evil.  EEEEVIIILLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oil has hit $140 a barrel, and $170 is said to be in the future- the future being THIS SUMMER!.  What does this mean?  Get used to $4+ a gallon for gas in your car.  Sucks to be us.

North Korea is kind’ve our buddy now.  Kinda sorta.  I dunno.  They told us about the nukes they’ve been playing with, and we said “oh.” because we pretty much already knew that, and they’re still bad guys, they still abuse the citizens of North Korea, but they’re not terrorists anymore.  Or are they?  I give up.

And something that’s been out of the news lately- 2 bombings in Iraq against pro-American targets saw the deaths of 30 or so people, 3 US Marines among them.  The suspected antagonists?  Al Qaeda in Iraq.  The Sunni extremists.  As opposed to the Shi’ite forces we had been fighting during the brief pause in the cease-fire around Sadr City.  So, basically, there’s still bad guys on all sides.  Good to know.

So there you have it, there’s evil all over.  EEEEEEVIIIILLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ShareThis

I don’t know how best to honor Carlin, there are others out there who will do a far better job with their words, so for my part I’ll just leave you with Carlin himself musing on death.

ShareThis

But then we heard nothing. Or at least close to nothing.

Some would say it’s because the surge started to work. And it has. To a point. Either the surge has worked or “the enemy” has found it’s interest in another land. No matter what the reason is behind the drop in violence, Americans are still dying in the desert.

Back on the home front, it’s business as usual.

I challenge you to take a gander at the percentage of cable news spots focusing on the war in Iraq this year.

One Percent.

Last year 24% of news items covered by cable networks were about the Iraq war. Twenty-Four to One percent? Holy mother of denial.

It isn’t just your imagination. There really has been a massive drop in news coverage about the war in Iraq. I can’t really blame the media. The media is trying to give the public stories that they’re interested in hearing. Without an audience, news doesn’t have much of a purpose.

ABC News President Davis Westin agrees that new of the Iraq war shouldn’t wither away.

“It’s our job to find ways of presenting that story in the most memorable and compelling ways to our audience because they need to know what’s going on there.”

You see what he said there? It’s important to find the most “memorable and compelling ways” to present news to the public. Everyone’s in the business of entertainment.

Apparently, the war in Iraq isn’t entertaining to the public anymore. Perhaps it’s akin to watching reruns of M*A*S*H but with less of Hotlips and more of Frank Burns.

Source: Excellence in Journalism’s survey of news coverage.

ShareThis

It’s been months of increases in shitty reality TV, and shows being improv’ed and scrapped together by non-writers and hosts to mixed results… but it’s over now, and back to business as usual in Hollywood.

Speaking of business… isn’t fraud a horrible thing? I know it takes chunks out of my pocket and puts it into the silver lined pockets of the most corrupt CEO businessmen bastards at the top of the heap, but hey! Prez Bush says he’s going to be taking care of that, and getting rid of all of this fraudulent behavior. Umm… wait… what? You mean anyone business contracted to work in Iraq and Afghanistan won’t be falling under this blanket of reforms? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over?!?

In world AND entertainment news- (so I’ll allow it) Spielberg has run away screaming from all the flack he was receiving for working with Bejing on the upcoming Olympic games, while China was accused of assisting in providing cover for the continued attrocities taking place in Darfur. Rebel groups in Darfur are thrilled, The Chinese gov’t is saying nothing, but over all Chinese sentiment seems to be pissed that their country is somehow being held responsible for things happening in other countries.

Obama and McCain ran roughshod over their opponents in the primaries Tuesday. So both men are now ahead, with McCain well ahead of other candidates in his party, and Obama just pulling ahead of Hillary by 8 nominating contests.

Oh, and as you read this, someone else is pro’lly looking over your shoulder. Or listening to your phone calls, reading your emails, checking your mail, finding out what books you’ve been reading, and don’t look now- but you’re probably on camera as we speak. But don’t panic… it’s all for your safety. “The Senate yesterday approved a sweeping measure that would expand the government’s clandestine surveillance powers, delivering a key victory to the White House by approving immunity from lawsuits for telecommunications companies that cooperated with intelligence agencies in domestic spying after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.”

I feel safer already.

ShareThis