The Great Humanitarian ???

Once again, in the name of humanitarian action our great nation has deemed it necessary to intervene/interfere in another nation's internal conflict. In less than 24 hours we (the taxpayer) have spent an additional $58 million plus, according to the U.S. Navy's own figures,  just on the launching of Tomahawk Cruise missiles. Then  there is the cost of our military's deployment.

Granted, it is a United Nations' sanction and action that has been taken against Libya and we are supposed to a leader in that body. All the action has been and continues to be taken in the name of humanitarian assistance. Yet, from all accounts this is, in reality, a civil war. A war between the citizens of Libya and their head of state.

Moammar Gadhafi, the proven power thirsty head of this African country, has vowed to fight to the death to remain in power. His history of retaliation and terrorist tactics are well documented. His tribal mentality is evident in all he does.

However, he is not alone. In Rwanda and the Darfur region of the Sudan the governments have been slaughtering people. Yes, the United Nations passed various actions but none included the military intervention to stop what some called a genocide.

Our military is stretched thin as it is without deploying more men and women and more assets in an action no one is willing to state the obvious ... a regime change. Once more I have to wonder if we haven't learned from the past.

As much as we would like peace and harmony around the globe the reality is that just won't happen. It is an honorable and idealistic thing to want to help people in need. Again, the reality is we, as a country, cannot afford to further the myth that we are the savior of humanity.

What about saving our own people. Our government's spending is legendary and it will take generations to one day maybe see a debt free America. But to pay our bills we cut the very areas that can least afford it. Education, at a time our nation is declining in world wide rankings. Job training programs, when our unemployment is still a major problem. So many needs and so few dollars.

I wonder just how much of the multi-millions that have been spent in the past 24 to 48 hours could have helped to alleviate some of the issues here at home. While I can understand those brave people in Africa for wanting a better life and to be free I can also see the difference between perception and stark reality.

There is a song lyric that goes: "I can't be right for somebody else if I'm not right for me." Eventually, our great country may wake up and discover if it is not right for its own population, how can it be right for another's country.

Supreme Court Ruling

There are times we all need to set priorities and the past several months have been such a time for me. Unfortunately, I have not placed my blog at the top of my priority list. However, today's ruling by the United States Supreme Court has hit like being blind-sided by a huge truck.

In a vote of 8 to 1 our nation's highest court ruled in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas stating they are protected by the First Amendment when they disrupt and disrespect funerals of members of our military who gave their lives protecting the very Constitution these cowards are hiding behind.

I use the word cowards to describe both the eight members of the court and the so-called church they sided with. For years the members of this alleged Christian church have picketed and protested at solemn military funerals bearing signs that read: "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "Thank God for IEDs."

My military career began in Vietnam and essentially ended in Afghanistan. I've held my friends as they died in my arms and have escorted their bodies to their final resting place. The anger and disgust I feel is beyond description.

I know violence is never an answer to solve a problem but in this case I would be more than willing to make an exception. Perhaps, IF there is a God and IF he or she would see fit to perform a miracle. Maybe that God would line the driveway of this self-righteous, hypocritical group of believers' church with IEDs and they could then thank their god as they went to meet him or her!