The parallels between Iraq and the Vietnam scenario are gathering and more than a few people have noticed. First advisors, then support personnel, and the next thing you know we are right back in the middle of it again. Supporting freedom is a long standing policy of this country, but in this case there seems to be a clear distinction. They (the citizens if Iraq) don’t want us there and it seems to me that we should be listening carefully. Once again a president mouthed the words about past investments of money and blood and how we needed to protect our “investments” and once again a lot of people are asking exactly what investment he’s talking about.
The interesting thing is that their own parliament has clearly stated that what is needed is a divided Iraq with one half for each of the two major factions. As was seen with the large wall that cut through Bagdad, when separated, the two factions tend to get along much better, but the question remains, if divided by a common boundary, will both respect the others rights and properties or will there be just two more countries that are constantly feuding with each other? History would suggest the later.
Of course the president stated clearly that US ground forces would NOT be involved in combat, but we’ve heard that before and from my own experience, any special operations forces are not going to stand back and not defend themselves or those they are associated with. Combat is inevitable and while “A” teams are specially trained to manage rather than fight, don’t kid yourself into thinking once the chips are down, every member will hesitate about firing a shot in anger.
A simple review of history once again shows that the most intelligent, yet caulis thing we could do is to step back and let history run it’s course. This is a fight between religious factions that has existed long before we were involved and will do so long after we have withdrawn. If you look at Vietnam today, the country is far better off since our withdrawal and while they are communist, the people are prosperous, happy, and successful … something that cannot be said during the French and American occupations.
It is said that the ISIS is sophisticated, publishing financial reports and other activities that make it “special” but a simple review shows they are not as smart as it appears. Like any army, they have logistical problems and living on the spoils they capture is not sustainable. They are also too thinly distributed to seriously hold their ground UNLESS the populations want to allow it and that is indeed the single greatest indicator of what actions we should take. Simply put, if a population is not willing to stand up and fight for themselves, we should not spill one drop of blood fighting for them.
So here we go. The only winners in this conflict will be the companies that supply the arms, supplies, and services that we contract out. If congress things a 7% approval rating is bad now, just want until those body bags and coffins start showing up on the nightly news. And lets not forget that the DOD is in the middle of cuts to the defense budget. Is the president so uninformed that he can’t see what will happen to the budget with a supplemental heal care, a newly financed VA and a swelling military complex? Anyone that can balance a checkbook can, what kind of calculator is he using?
You, during my life I have seen more false advertising on TV, on Radio, in Newspapers & Magazines and lots of other places. When I was a kid we had the Consumer Protection Agency that would take these people on, all in the interest of keeping us safe from so many scam artists. Yesterday a bunch of Senators went after Dr. Mehmet Oz for his ridicules claims about supplements providing incredible weight loss but they can’t do much more because supplements are not regulated by the FDA. So here’s the real question … why can’t the congress pass a law that requires a supplement to perform as advertised?
In a time of limited resources for many Americans, with so many seriously overweight and often fighting diabetes, why can’t the congress make it a crime to intentionally deceive the public? Billions of dollars are spent each year on these phony weight loss “miracles”, yet every single one comes out to be simple fraud intended to fleece you out of your hard earned money. The old adage “let the buyer beware” was good advice years ago, but with today’s slick advertisements, use of special effects to make it appear people really ARE losing all that weight, that is a kind of false advertising that nobody can seriously dispute.
If these Senators can try to create a public spectacle grilling this man, why can’t they work just as hard to get a law on the books that will simply require each product submit itself for scrutiny to the FDA. Even if we don’t stop them from selling it, letting the FDA review and make a recommendation in writing to the public would give us that much more information to consider before betting on a long shot.
And for Dr. Oz, well he comes out and promotes many of these scams with little to no scientific research to prove the point so should we make this law apply to ANYONE that promotes a product they know nothing about? Now I know what you are thinking; just consider all the celebrities that will lose their shirt because they can no longer promote reverse mortgages, new loans, better wrinkle creams (poor Phyllis Diller!) or any of the other crap that is shoved down our throats 24 hours a day on the TV. Oh yes, like I have told my own kids, YOU have the power, just turn the damn thing off …. But really, as hooked as we all are to that one eyed monster, shouldn't there be some kind of protection for us air heads?
I am all for the free market system, competition, and the concept of a capitalist system; all I ask is to make it a fair one for all of us. If we make the advertisers directly responsible for the goods and services they promote, you can bet we will get a much better quality product for the American people, and after all, isn't that all we really want?
One of the most difficult jobs I ever had was serving as an advisor to a high ranking person. My job was to watch things develop, then tell that person what I thought, why I thought it and should he choose to take some form of action, hundreds if not thousands of men’s lives could be put in jeopardy. Not the sort of thing a conscientious person takes lightly and is certainly the cause of many, many sleepless nights.
So now I find myself watching those in Washington agonize over what to do about this ISIS group and their march across Iraq. We portray ourselves to the world as the great beacon of freedom and liberty, yet we must consider the thousands of lives and billions of dollars pushed into a lost cause; and wonder “what now?”. There are many good points on both sides of the argument to the point that one must wonder the agony those watchers are going through right now. Love or hate this administration, you must respect what they are going through and count your own lucky stars that you aren’t in the hot seat, having to make the decisions they will be making in weeks to come.
As a soldier I learned early on that “you never reinforce defeat”, but we have the reputation of riding to the rescue in so many desperate situations, yet in recent years we are starting to learn temperament and restraint. The down side is there are those in other countries that see this as a sign of weakness and try to exploit it. How do you know? How do you determine when to roll the dice? What do you say to so many parents, wives & children when your decision costs them a loved one and “sorry” simply isn’t enough?
These are the times that test our elected officials and as much as I like to complain about so many bone headed decisions they make … this is one time I simply am glad it’s somebody, anybody else than me making that decision. For those that blurt out “oh I know what I’d do …..” I’m here to tell you, you don’t. I have sent men to their death knowing the odds of their survival were practically zero. It is something that haunts you the rest of your life. Justify it all you want, if you are honest about your feelings you know those are ghosts that never go away. So I feel for those presidents that have to make such gut wrenching decisions. Is it really such a surprise to see each one come out of office looking decades older in just a few short years?
These are the times when, despite my personal feelings for the man, I offer a few kind words in my prayers and hope the man upstairs will indeed grant him the wisdom to make the decision, but more importantly, give the poor man some small piece of mind and alleviate the terrible burden that goes with that office. Amen
An announcement earlier today indicated that scientists had achieved success growing a human eye lens that detects and transmits light successfully. This was grown from a regular skin cell with some basic genetic manipulation. The long term benefits are that these researchers have taken the first major step in growing “replacement organs” for the human body. To say the least, the impact on the transplant industry will be significant as well as alleviating one of the gigantic moral issues that has plagued the science of cloning of humans for that same purpose.
In case you missed that argument, there was one camp that advocated the cloning of humans that were modified to be “brainless” in order to harvest replacement organs. While no doubt costly (no, you can’t hide one in your closet) it is more than feasible, but in doing so it opened a huge moral debate. Would such a creature have a “soul”, rights, etc.? Arguments abounded, each having a very legitimate point of view. Being able to duplicate a single organ, sans attached body, would seem to resolve this argument, but it opens some interesting doors worthy of discussion.
Type Matching. Every person has their own particular type match starting with blood. While a mis-matched organ can be used, it spawns a host of anti-rejection drugs that must be continued the remainder of the recipients life and regardless of those drugs, there is no guarantee that the rejection won’t still take place. One would expect that the cells to be used would be harvested from the intended recipient or a close relative to limit rejection but if these are laboratory produced, one must ask “could such an organ be produced that would be type “neutral”? Wow, what a concept. An organ that could be used on any person. Too good to be true? Not necessarily but that will take considerable more research and development.
First in, first out? Should the scenario mentioned develop, would that replacement organ be guaranteed for the donor that provided the original cells? What if they die in the process? Who will “own” the organ and can they designate a recipient? All are doorways to possible black marketeering not to mention creation of a sort of “puppy mill” kind of environment where people will make their living by duplicating organs (a possible savior for the now failing Radio Shack chain?). Also to consider is in case of an emergency, can an organ be reassigned to a new recipient and what guarantee’s will the original donor have to getting one in time to save their own life?
There are so many different directions this could go, but it is worth the debate. Certainly those with calmer minds need to develop a set of rules and guidelines to prevent this from becoming the next trial lawyer playground. Those that generally need these replacement organs are rarely wealthy and are truly desperate for a solution. Creating yet another opportunity for lawyers to make their wealth by creating controversy where it might not have to exist is not only a bad idea, it politicizes a process that should be to save lives, not spawn legal battles.
Still, think of it. A time where pain and suffering can be eradicated by a simple procedure not all that different than your mechanic now uses to fix your car. Surely there will be controversy and those that misuse the system, but to save a child with an organ transplant, to grow new legs & arms for veterans, etc, etc would be completely astounding.
I can only hope that I live long enough to see it, perhaps even experience it!
As you might have heard, we lost the last of the original twenty nine Navajo code talkers yesterday. Just short of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Chester Nez was 93 and as one of the first recruits, helped write the unwritten language used during the war. The code, used to thwart the Japanese who tried desperately to intercept American communications in the Pacific during the second world war. By current count there are less than 30 of the Code Talkers left
Their mission, made famous by John Woo’s film “Windtalkers” brought the story of these brave men to the big screen and into the living rooms of most Americans. For many Navajo deciding to join in the fight was difficult but as Nez told the writer of his memoirs, he knew he had made the right decision. “I reminded myself that my Navajo people had always been warriors, protectors. In that there was honor. I would concentrate on being a warrior, on protecting my homeland. Within hours, whether in harmony or not, I knew I would join my fellow Marines in the fight.”
The code, which had to be memorized was based on a system in which the Navajos would use their own language & words to substitute for the English alphabet. Because they had no words that were applicable to modern warfare they had to substitute known words for modern day equipment. A tank was a tortoise; a submarine, an iron fish; a dive bomber, a chicken hawk, etc . Strangely quite a few Navajo’s were mistaken for Japanese.
In 2001 he received the Medal of Honor for his work during the second world war.
This one seems to have similarities to the “swift boat” claims a couple elections ago but there are some realistic concerns that must be investigated. If the young man walked away from his post and made no attempt to return he is indeed a deserter, but a traitor? I think those claims are going to demand considerable conformation. From all accounts the SSG. Was a prisoner the entire time and gave up so substantial information that would “lend aid and comfort to the enemy”.
As usual, this is all being played out in the press with a good number of veterans already taking sides, pointing fingers, and apparently having forgotten exactly what it is to be a POW, even if just for a day. We send very young men and women to war, often without a clear understanding of the “why & what for”, then expect them to put aside doubt, fear, anguish, and many other emotions that come from seeing the brutality and horror’s of war and warfare. If you doubt this just drop by any VA (one that is actually treating our latest batch of vets) and attend one of their decompressing sessions. Fact is, all you need to do is sit in the waiting room and look around. It can be positively scary to think we are letting some of these poor souls wander the street, without any treatment and no direction.
At this point the only one that knows the facts about SSG Bergdahl’s conduct is the soldier himself. Yes , we know that desertion, for any reason, simply cannot be tolerated but if the service is functioning properly, field commanders know there are some that simply cannot handle and have no business being on the front line. Doesn’t matter if they are cowards or not, putting someone on the line that has no business being there endangers the entire outfit and any commander that fails to realize that is simply unfit to command. Worse yet, any senior commander that pushes that sort of thing down through the ranks not only endangers his outfit, he undermines the entire command structure.
Time will tell us the facts but one thing is sure but one thing is known. Bowe Bergdahle endured for nearly five long years in some of the toughest conditions one might imagine. He stayed alive and kept the faith and in the end his country choose to rescue him rather than abandon him. “Leave no one behind” is more than a cute saying, it is the understanding that every soldier, sailor, airman & marine has and it is the glue that keeps them on the line, fighting for everything they are worth. Dare we breach that promise to our sons and daughters? And if we do, just how many do you expect will show up for the next war?
As they say, a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link and when a country gets the reputation for abandoning it’s citizens that can and will certainly change the entire dynamics of how the citizens think about their country. POTAS might not have made the best decision for this particular soldier but over all he did make a good decision for the nation and it’s military structure. Let the services and the UCMJ deal with the merits of this soldiers guilt or innocence but for the time being, the country and it’s leaders are keeping their promise to everyone in uniform and that, my friends, makes all the difference!
The reports are in and the information is damning. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs was either asleep at the switch or simply negligent. Neither speaks highly of a 38 year Army veteran, man often proclaimed as a “war hero”. As we have seen far too often, those that tend to rest on their laurels also end up disappointing the nation. The really sad issue is the fact that Shinseki either failed to charge his Inspector General with receiving & processing complains or he simply chose to ignore them. For a man that lost half his right foot due to a land mine in Vietnam one must wonder if he has ever had any treatment at a VA facility and if not, why not? Perhaps he needs to volunteer for an assignment on the “undercover boss” TV series!
The sad fact is that this president came into office knowing there were problems with the VA over six years ago and apparently not much has changed. One thing is for certain; this problem is not going away quietly and heads will roll, but that also begs the question. Why? We have heard the countless problems, seen the issues, and cringed at every detail, hardly believing that any person or persons could willingly participate in a process that could cause such pain and suffering to a group that has more than their share of the same. Until we demand an answer to the “why” it is going to be hard, if not impossible, to fix.
Government agencies live by budgets and every time those budgets go into flux, things change, people at the top are pressured to “make it happen” with no consideration of what that will take or how badly it will affect those it serves. These people are not evil, they are following their directions and trying to walk an impossible tight rope any who do you suppose is pushing them out on that rope? It’s yours and my elected representatives. Yep, the same folks that shut down the government, wasted months in finger pointing, work less than a 30 hour week, yet protect themselves very nicely at the cost of us all.
The cure? Oh, that’s easy and just as nearly impossible. That the excess military budget that will be saved when Afghanistan drops to a trickle and immediately direct it to the VA. Build one less B2 Bomber, 5 less strike fighters, half an aircraft carrier and quit changing the military uniforms every frigg’n year and pump that money into the VA & a real GI Bill that gives these vets a fighting chance to come back, get fixed up, and get on with their lives in a way that will further benefit us all.
Let’s also tell the Boeings, Grumman’s, GE’s, Colt’s and so other makers of war machines it’s time to focus on other issues rather than war machines.
In other words, quit making war our primary industry upon which so much of our GNP survives upon. Our elected officials need to learn how to get back to basics. Everything from highway infrastructure to protection of our natural resources like crops and bee’s needs to be their main focus now. We don’t need to send men to Mars until we have explored our own oceans, developed new drugs to replace those being antiquated by drug resistant bacteria, etc. We don’t need newer and bigger internet carriers until we bring our existing system up to par with the rest of the world and we don’t need yet another edition of Windows 10,200 until we have one system that works dependably and is resistant to all those damn hackers.
Why? That’s the question we need to keep asking and not accept anything less than the honest answer. Once we get that answer, then we can start building that better mouse trap, perhaps even one good enough to catch the rats that got us here in the first place.
At the request of so many, I am reposting this message from 2011. It has great meaning to me because that year I received a tribute from a tontine, made long ago among my infantry class. I had noticed the passage of a number of them. Some in combat, some due to training accidents and one suicide, but on that afternoon I received a package from the lawyers with the bottle of bourbon and the instructions we all had written to toast the memories of the fallen. To my comrades, in your memory I once again pay you tribute.
As time marches on and another Memorial day is upon us, those of us that have served our country are reminded of so many that never returned home as they left. We celebrate with cook outs, parades, many memorials and wishes of thanks and appreciation for so many that have made it home. It is easy to give thanks for all that we have and speak of the benefits of freedom, democracy, and all that America means to each of us.
Today’s military, being all voluntary, has somehow changed the way that we Americans see our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. With no draft, only those that are willing to serve, do so. When one is lost there is the vague reminder that in this voluntary military, only those that wanted to be there, went there. Perhaps it is that which all too often distances the folks back home from the fact that there is a war going on and Americans are still dyeing in faraway places. Still, the war manages to reach us now and then when a home town boy or girl is a casualty. We are in awe of the technology and bask in the glory when we are successful of vanquishing those that are the worst of the worst of our enemies.
The value of American life is something that one cannot truly and fully appreciate until you leave the boarders of this continent and see what life is like in some of these faraway places. For many that return, there are wounds and suffering that go far beyond the physical and linger for decades to come. In many cases, it changes the person so profoundly that many are never nearly the same as they were. In that comes a growth and maturity that cannot be matched by anything else. It’s not brag, just a simple fact.
It is not enough to simply say “thank you for your service”, although it is a nice sentiment that some of our veterans from past wars have only heard in this past decade. Thanking every veteran must go beyond the obvious. There are little things we can all do to help. Each of us owes a debt that cannot ever be fully repaid, but still it is up to us to do what we can. Teaching our children, friends, neighbors and everyone within reach just what the value of such sacrifices is the best start. Helping them to understand that these brave folks deserve a lot more than a thank you, they deserve our most profound respect, appreciation, encouragement and assistance every day of our lives for the rest of our lives.
And for my fellow veterans, remember that those around us cannot fully understand what we endured and survived. Don’t be afraid to share your stories. As painful as they can be to recall and relive, we owe it to our fallen comrades to keep their memories, their adventures, and their sacrifices alive so the next generation that is called upon to serve will understand why and just how important their courage and determination is to this American way of life.
All gave some and some gave all. We did so knowingly and willingly and only ask that each and every citizen will remember the reasons for the sacrifice. We ask all to work hard, help each other so we might all prosper and make our deeds worth something.
In what is considered to be a landmark decision, the Governor of Tennessee has signed off on legislation allowing the use of the Electric Chair for executions. The issue is in response to the limited amount of the three drug cocktail from Europe necessary for current executions throughout the US. Death penalty opponents are already calling for the elimination of this new legislation, claiming it to be barbaric and cruel. The entire controversy was sparked over a recent botched execution in which the inmate did not immediately die and appeared to be in distress, eventually dying of a heart attack.
As with all forms of execution, occasionally things do not go perfectly and the condemned appears to suffer a bit before succumbing. From those not opposed to execution we generally hear a resounding “so what?” and I must agree I also wonder the same. Early executions were far more graphic, gruesome, and downright sickening. Having a prisoner “drawn & quartered”, “keel hauled”, or any of dozens of different methods were not only ghastly but could take some time, causing a good deal of suffering. No matter if it was deserved or not, the fact remains that our methods today are far more considerate, faster, and humane.
What strikes me as rather strange is that we even need to use such exotic drugs in the first place. With all the cocaine and heroin that law enforcement takes in each day, surely we can mix up a potent cocktail that will put the folks down quickly, painlessly, and effectively, not to mention at little to no cost to the public. Are we afraid that the condemned might go out with a smile? Are we looking for a little suffering, but not too much, just a little grimace? Well then, a mix of cocaine with any number of general toxins like strychnine or that sort of thing will do the trick and it’s low cost, readily available, and doesn’t require a senior chemist to whip it up for us.
Frankly, the one thing that does give me a bit of hesitation is the number of death penalty cases that have been overturned in the last few years. Our obviously wonderful forensic medicine isn’t exactly flawless and our courts, prosecutors, and governments know it; why else would they require these now or soon to be freed, wrongfully convicted, innocent people to sign a waiver preventing them from bringing suite against said persons … before they will be released. Wow, talk about your miscarriage of justice!
If there is such a thing as cruel and unusual punishment my vote would be it is those laws that make it so easy to convict a person and sentence them to death on so many marginable facts. In some states like Ohio, you can now convict a person on strictly hearsay evidence.
And they wonder why rifle & handgun sales are at their highest levels ever? No mystery to me, how about you?
It’s hard not to get discouraged, particularly through several administrations that have gained office on so many broken promises, but by far the most disgusting of all has to be those promises made to our nations veterans that are never or only halfheartedly fulfilled. These aren't just throw away’s, these are men and women that have willingly given of themselves in order to keep us free and help preserve our American way of life, only to be tucked away, overdosed on pain medication, abandoned in the back alleys of too many cities and kept “on hold” when they desperately need the medical care they have been promised and have so completely earned.
Don’t tell us you are mad as hell, show us by doing! Don’t tell us you’re looking into it, toss out the bums and get some people in there that will work the problem and last of all, don’t wait for yet another investigation, get your tired old rump out of that nice desk chair and go talk to the Vet’s yourself. A commander in chief is still a commander and every commander knows you lead by example, out in front, leading the way.
For every veteran that has died “waiting” for care, an equal number of bureaucrats should be lined up and shot in front of the hospital. For every administrator that can’t or won’t help get a Vet off the street, their worldly possessions should be seized, sold, and the money used to get those Vets a hot meal and a warm place to bunk down for the night.
Continue to refuse and just give us lip service and you might see a zero volunteer rate for the next war. Americans may indeed be a bit too patriotic but they aren't stupid and a lot of us are getting tired of being treated that way!
After seizing the home and land of Gen. Robert E. Lee the union army occupied the land until it was determined that the estate would be used to form what is now known as Arlington National Cemetery and 150 years ago to the day, the first resident, an Army Pvt. William Christman was interned. Christman was an enlistee of the 67th Pennsylvania Infantry that died from measles five weeks after enlisting in the army and was buried on May 13th of 1864.
There are many interesting stories and accounts of events at Arlington, perhaps one of the stranger one was the burial of an “unknown” soldier from the Viet Nam war that was not unknown at all. Lt. Michael Blassie died in Viet Nam in 1972 after being shot down. After much debate and extraordinary political pressure, his remains were interned in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on May 28, 1984 with a stirring speech and the award of the Medal of Honor with Michael’s remains where they remained for 14 years until the CBS Evening News aired the story of Air Force Lt. Michael J. Blassie being the remains in the Tomb of the Unknown. With a strong public outcry the remains were examined and verified by DNA testing. Finally, on July 11, 1998 Lt. Blassie was reinterned, at the request of his family in St. Louis at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as four low flying F-15’s passed overhead with one pulling up to signify the “missing man” formation.
Today that Medal of Honor that was awarded on Memorial Day in 1984 by President Regan remains on display, reminding visitors of the heroism and dedication that goes with so many, especially those interned in the tomb of the Unknown. None have been added since the Korean war and due to the advances of medical history, DNA testing, etc there is a very good chance that no additions will be made again. For most this is the better solution, meaning there will be no more families waiting at home for news that will never come. All shall find a final place of peaceful rest in the soil of their homeland.
Today is certainly not a day of joy, but a somber remembrance of how great the cost of war really is and will always be. As we remember the past 150 years and look forward to the end of the current war in Afghanistan we must not forget the cost of war and why we should all hope and pray this one will be the last.
More and more evidence now leads to the conclusion that Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), the mysterious disease that is killing so many honeybees is in fact not a disease at all but exposure to a certain class of insecticide over the past six years. The culprit appears to be neonicotinoids which cause their greatest affect as winter comes on, at which time the bees become more susceptible to mites and other parasites that then kill off the bees. The obvious reason we all should be concerned is that honeybees pollinate roughly one third of all crops globally and 80% of US crops.
While the studies are not yet definitive, they point to the hand of mankind not unlike the same type situation where the insecticide DDT, first synthesized in 1874 caused the degeneration of birds shells often best remembered by the1962 bestselling book “Silent Spring” by American biologist Rachel Carlson. Her book demonstrated that DDT and other pesticides had been shown to cause cancer and that their agricultural use of a threat to wildlife, particularly birds; all of which eventually led to the 1972 banning of DDT in the US and most of the world. It remains controversial because of its effectiveness in reducing deaths due to malaria.
It appears that once again, our captains of industry in the fields of chemistry have allowed their need for greater profits to cause a rush to market of something that ultimately is not in the best interest of mankind, but is this a fair analogy?
There is a balancing point where cost and profit must coexist. There will most certainly be a great deal of speculation on both sides of the subject and hopefully corrective actions will take place sooner rather than later. The loss of the honeybee species would have a lot more drastic effect than the loss of honey. Losing the ability to naturally cross pollinate crops would most certainly have costly, perhaps devastating effects on the US and world food supplies.
We continue to have this see-saw battle between governmental regulation and the ability of agriculture / industry to conduct business. So many well-meaning people just trying to do the right thing, but far too often various outside influences on both sides of the argument cause havoc and what appears to be plain old “good common sense”. The end result causes us to painfully explore the options under great scrutiny and the influence of change appears to come more from who is screaming the loudest rather than which makes the most sense and thus, is the best overall solution. We have seen this in so many industries for so many years that it causes me to wonder why we have so passionately ignored the wisdom of our elders. The simplest wisdom has been tossed aside for catchy sayings. Hearing my father tell me “haste makes waste” took a while to sink in, but it was golden and absolutely correct. Listening to comments like “it is what it is” might sound good, but it frequently is used to misdirect responsibility or hold responsible no one at all.
Technology is a good thing but we must command technology, not the other way around. To paraphrase a more recent quote “just because we can doesn’t mean we should” is advice our government would be wise to follow, not only in the security and defense of this country, but also in allowing so many seemingly technological breakthrough’s to be implemented well ahead of a reasonable degree of verification; just because there is a buck to be made.
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