Today’s Pakistan has a serious quandary. It is no longer faced with the choice between a secular, pluralistic state and an Islamic state. Rather, the decision is between two Islamic state models, one that is modern and democratic and one that is backward, intolerant, increasingly hostile and dangerous to itself and its neighbors. Pakistan’s military ruler, President Pervez Musharraf, ostensibly seeks the former, while the Islamist radical opposition hopes to ensure the latter.

Read the rest of the story HERE!

Hat tip to Matt at 1913 INTEL

This is just one of the the wild cards………..

Hat tip to Seaspook for the link, and Gray Dog for his link!

This is a “flying pig” moment for me folks. If we’re finally starting to see this from a major MSM source does that make it official? Anyhow, Lou Dobbs hit the nail on the head with that one.
Ironic Surrealism has more on this subject HERE.

I’m assuming that Gray Dog won’t mind me posting this here. After all, he’s got the same problem we’ve all got. Way to many websites to contend with, and too little time to deal with it all. Illusion. Meet reality. Heh, at least somebodies still voicing their opinion. Nice job MC!

Ch!cken Sh!t

The Gray Dog’s Note: The following is inspired by a flurry of links I found in my email today, courtesy of Rurik, and today’s post, “I Guess Our Only Leaders Now Are In Uniform,” at one of my favorite BLOGS, Seaspook’s Rants.

I am not pretentious enough to believe I am an authority on all matters military. I certainly have no expertise or specific knowledge which would allow me to formulate judgments about our top command structure as it pertains to such characteristics as leadership, strategic thinking or performance. I can only offer my less than expert opinions based upon anecdotal reporting and my less than perfect ability to gauge character based upon observing someone on a television screen. Having never let personal limitations prevent me from opining in the past, I am loathe to begin now, so here goes:

FIRE ROBERT GATES NOW!!

Link HERE

This article by Alan Nathan is spot on target.

Arguments are erupting over whether or not we should go after Iran militarily in light of the widely reported NATO, European and American intelligence having shown physical proof of President Mahmoud Ahmedinijad’s Qud forces operating alongside al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan.

AL-QAEDA leaders in Iraq are planning the first “large-scale” terrorist attacks on Britain and other western targets with the help of supporters in Iran, according to a leaked intelligence report. Spy chiefs warn that one operative had said he was planning an attack on “a par with Hiroshima and Nagasaki” in an attempt to “shake the Roman throne”, a reference to the West. “Al-Qaeda Planning ‘Big British Attack,’” The Sunday Times UK, April 22, 2007

NATO officials say they have caught Iran red-handed, shipping heavy arms, C4 explosives and advanced roadside bombs to the Taliban for use against NATO forces, in what the officials say is a dramatic escalation of Iran’s proxy war against the United States and Great Britain.  “It is inconceivable that it is anyone other than the Iranian government that’s doing it,” said former White House counter-terrorism official Richard Clarke, an ABC News consultant. “Document: Iran Caught Red-Handed Shipping Arms to Taliban,” ABC News, June 6, 2007 

Three questions: Why treat proxy-war enemies differently than direct enemies?  Why respond only if the enemy’s threat is imminent?  And, why has the risk of collateral killing taken priority over defeating the enemy? 

If Iran were in full military attire and attacking us with their marked tanks and planes, nobody would question our entitlement to respond with full strength and rapid dispatch.  However, because they graft their fighters onto our enemies and assault us through these third-party conduits, our right to return fire is somehow diminished.  

Link HERE…

This is just another reason why I visit Nukes News & Views on a daily basis. His taste for music is spot on target. We all need a break from “IT” once in awhile.

Never under estimate the power of the web folks. It has given me some really good friends over the years, and it all started with the 2004 election cycle. When John Kerry made his bid for CIC this old dog was awakened. It felt like I was being shot at all over again. Cold water on a sleeping dog in other words.
The Swift Boat Veterans caught my attention at that point, and I joined the ranks of veterans that were determined to keep the fake hero from being elected as president of this great country.

During the course of our campaign BMC at StopLiberals.Com and a good friend of his, The Gray Dog proved to be the best of friends even though we’d never met on a physical basis. I’m proud to say they are still the best of friends. Russ Vaughn has also been an inspiration for me. He’s the poet laureate over at The American Thinker and the founder of Old War Dogs . He did that with the help of another good friend of mine , Bill Faith. They make a good team as do the rest of the good folks at Old War Dogs. The Velvet Hammer over at Ironic Surrealism is somebody else that has always treated me with respect, and has been a loyal friend. Thanks Scarlett!

With all that being said I would like to introduce you to a new friend from my past. He registered as Okie the other day, and he was there the day Sgt. Roher took a bullet for me (so to speak) in that rock quarry in South Vietnam. After it was all over with and we cleaned up the mess, Okie was the one that back bladed over it with a D9 Cat. to check for more booby traps. We know what happened that day and sure as hell won’t forget it. A bleeding and dying man in your lap is not something easily forgotten.

Anyhow, thanks for being there in the first place Okie, and welcome home my brother. Some things never change….

Admin: The title for this post was put here by Okie. I removed the original message for personal reasons and to keep his ID private.

I figure this is a lot easier to do than trying to right lengthy and thought provoking articles. Hell, I never was geared for writing. I’m more inclined to do something that takes my mind off the deep thought process. I like the physics end of it a lot better even if it does require working your butt off. Sure, it can be a challenge on some days to get the chores done, but that’s only because I was thinking about it, and not doing it in the first place! Ya, I know, nothing in, nothing out.
Anyhow, here’s a couple of links to the real world for you today:

Hat tip to Matt at 1913 Intel for the first one from Daniel Pipes:

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Israeli Jets vs. Iranian Nukes

by Daniel Pipes
New York Sun
June 12, 2007

[With slight differences from the NY Sun version]

Barring a “catastrophic development,” Middle East Newsline reports, George Bush has decided not to attack Iran. An administration source explains that Washington deems Iran’s cooperation “needed for a withdrawal [of U.S. forces] from Iraq.”

If correct, this implies the Jewish state stands alone against a regime that threatens to “wipe Israel off the map” and is building the nuclear weapons to do so. Israeli leaders are hinting that their patience is running out; Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz just warned that “diplomatic efforts should bear results by the end of 2007.”

Can the Israel Defense Forces in fact disrupt Iran’s nuclear program?

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Of course the following is really helping matters: Hat tip to LGF

I bumped this post to the top because Bert Brady just got selected as Wednesday Hero.

If anybody deserves the honor, it’s this man.

Thanks Velvet Hammer for reminding me that we all have something in common. It’s in our blood I guess.

Anyhow, this is just one of the reasons that I still love my adopted home state of Texas (10 years). Sam Johnson would be another fine example of this

“state of mind” in my opinion.

I take this opportunity to salute you Bert Brady for what you’re doing Sir, and thank you  for remembering those of us that were there the first time around. (71-72)
Click on the pic for the video.

Illusion. Meet reality. God still loves Texas!

FBI’s Mueller: Al-Qaida Has Intent to Use Nuclear Weapons

NewsMax Wires
Monday, June 11, 2007

Robert S. Mueller, Director of the FBI, spoke this morning at the Global Initiative Nuclear Terrorism Conference in Miami. His comments confirm claims made in a new book “The Day of Islam” detailing al-Qaida’s nuclear plans. Read more Click Here Now

Oil Wells:

Iran discusses storing oil reserves in China? Hmmm? You just can’t make this stuff up folks. It has become the new reality.

This is one of my favorite desktop pictures. I call it my “tube top” and thought I’d share it with those of you that visit this site on occasion. It kind of reminds me of my favorite female bloggers; Deb H. at Right Truth, Velvet Hammer at Ironic Surrealism and BabbaZee over at The Outraged Spleen Of Zion. This ones for you girls and I hope you get my sense of humor! It’s not much, but it’s the only one I have left. And as Rurik would say; The rest is history………

Ahhh…… Those were the days when you could actually tell which part of the circuit had failed………… (the lights went out)
Anyhow, a good friend (Jackster) gave me these recently. The one on the right has a mogul base, which is a little bigger than that found on your standard light bulb. The filament acts as the cathode directly and is the emitter, no plate involved. The anode exits the top via a rather small pin, so my guess is that it’s a high voltage rectifier or diode in other words. Can’t tell for the masking how the other one is configured.

Click on the picture for a closer look.

Those that think we need to abandon the incandescent light bulb for tubes full of mercury (flourescent) have no idea how this stuff works in the first place. Why make a mess when you don’t have to?

For some reason this doesn’t surprise me.

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DHS Wants Cell Phones to Detect Chemical, Radioactive Material
By Rob Margetta, CQ Staff

American cell phones can already check e-mail, surf the Internet and store music, but they could have a new set of features in coming years: the Department of Homeland Security wants them to sense biological, chemical and radioactive material.

Putting hazardous material sensors in commercial cell phones has been discussed in scientific circles for years, according to researchers in the field. More recently, the idea gained support among government agencies, and DHS said publicly in May that it wants businesses to start coming up with proposals.

At the 2007 DHS Science and Technology Stakeholders Conference, S&T Director of Innovation Roger McGinnis outlined how the system could work. Cell phone sensors would continually test the air for harmful compounds and digitally relay any information to a central monitoring system if they find anything amiss.

“It’s a great way to get millions of detectors out there,” McGinnis said.

Like the built-in GPS function many cell phones now offer, customers would have the option of turning the sensors off, McGinnis said.

Link HERE

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Sorry for the lack of attribution, but I don’t recall where I found this for sure. Thanks anyhow..

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