The author takes the position that in 1426, a giant fleet from China (some 2000 ships total departed) made it way to first to Africa...then by canal and the Nile River , the MED to Europe. Landing in northern Italy near Venice. Some 600 hundred arriving ships landed here, as the other 1400 were diverted to other destinations enroute.
He shows that most the European inventions followed this. That Europeans now had maps of the new world that Columbus used. That European knowledge of the stars and their orbits (for sea navigation) changed.
All this came according the books writer from the Chinese version of a massive encloypedia that they carried.
Did it happen? I don't know. But if it did...it is the biggest technology tranfer in the history of man. If it happened, you have to give the Chinese the number one spot for inventions, and improvements to man kind world wide.
As we post, Pakistan is moving 1000s of troops to the Indian border. The Pakistani gov't response to if India launches strikes at the bases of the terrorist organization that struck at Mumbai.
But it is over kill. Pakistan ended all military leaves and forloughs. Activated reserve units. In others a nearly full mobilization.
If India does not respond, by placing units along the border, it will be out manned by the Pakistani units. Pakistani terrorist groups will see this and take advantage of the situation.
Some cool heads need to step into this one real fast. GWB as a lame duck is not in a position to. Nor is President Obama new administration ready for it. EU turn to step up to the plate, the way I see it.
Of course all of this is exactly what the AlQeada, the Taliban and other radical parties in the region desire. With a border war between India and Pakistan, Pakistan's cooperation in counter terrorism operations in the Tribal NW areas is minimal.
India and Pakistan are in the nuclear club now. If they go to war and fully commit.....you will have cities that are radioactive toast for the next 50 years.
So let me ask you this. Wish to live in a country with radioactive hotspots?
This issue in this region are deeper than AlQeada and Taliban.
Last week I ran into a 20+ year Pakistani here in the US.
We began to chat issues and people. I asked about Musharref....he snickered and said he did not have it. Then he brought up B Bhutto hushand....the new President of Pakistan. The same snicker and thought.
I think that the real deal here is that few in Pakistan or in Afghanistan have much trust in thier leaders. They play the same game that we do in the west with ours. If he/she is politician and leader...he is ____ and ____. You can fill in the blanks.
They fill in the blanks in a different language....but the issue is the same. They lack confidence and trust in thier leaders. They have seen so much corruption, mid use of power and injustice from them...that this basic requirement is gone.
I am not saying be blind to the your leaders or to their indiscretions and abuses. Am saying at times, a benefit of doubt needs to be given....and innocent until proven quilty needs to apply.
Until Pakistan and Afghanistan have governments that are just, trustworthy and honest.....the gaps in society for terrorism exists. Gaps like proverty, like education, like radical Islam that seeps into the gaps.
B. Bhutto in her book....Reconcilation...written before her death. Felt the terrorism was more a internal break in Islam, than it was not a culture conflict with the west. I am not sure I totally agree with that....seeing flags of the US and President being burned in Moslem countries. But her main point that terrorism is largely against and mostly inside the Moslem world is well made.
Militarily.... we...the US can be (and should be) in these countries to face AlQaeda and the Taliban fighters....achieve a success like has been done in Iraq. It is still only this development of good governance in these countries that will close the gaps that terrorism grows in.
The stinger has a life span......it is well past the effective age of the weapon. Most the weapons that the Taliban and AlQeada was are Russian designed....come from a variety of sources with the Islamic world.
As for the US training the Mujahadeen in insurgency....according to former CIA agent Bear that was in the region at the time.... we never had more than 10 in the region then during the Afghan/Russian war.
They guys have been fighting in the mountains of Afghanistan since the time of Alexander the Great. We did not have to teach them anything.
Until we have a means to put forces into Pakistani NW tribal areas, the 30,000 plus being sent to Afghanistan are targets for hit and run tactics from there by the Taliban and AlQeada.
Maybe President elect Obama's comprehensive plan for Afghanistan has this issue worked out. Or maybe the present administration has it worked out.....then the force build up makes sense to me.
But if they don't have it worked out.....then it does not make sense. There is a fight to be won in these mountains of the region.This is where 9/11 was hatched, plotted, and executed from.
Just the as the recent Mumbai, India attacks were hatched, plotted and executed from Khasmir region of Pakistan. In this conflict, one has to go where they are, where they are going, where they want to go.....to be effective. Going to where they were, where they might be, and where they could be is not going to work.
The Mumbai attacks used 10 militants. For three days of carnage in a major city. Had Pakistani forces and law enforcement not been chasing and haressing the group that sent them....maybe it was 40+ in the attack. 100s more killed and a longer crisis.
This is as much as simply staying in contact or near contact with them as anything. You gain intelligence and opportunity with such proxmity. But if not to be free to execute on that opportunity, means it is lost.
Get US forces into Pakistani NW tribal region. Then let us see what will happen. Of course we will be the invaders....seeking oil. Oh.....no oil in the region.....I forgot.
In the spirit of the season, this thread is mentioning the best of CS threads, postings and debates of 2008.
Several days prior to the New Year, I will post polls for voting on the best of the best CS threads, postings, and debates of the year that have been nominated.
We can remember the last year with a kick and kick of the new year with bang.
So here are the Best of Year CS Voting areas:
Best Thread of CS Year 2008
Best Post of CS Year 2008
Best Poll of CS Year 2008
Best Debate of CS Threads Year 2008
Best Female Profile of CS Year 2008
Best Male Profile of CS Year 2008
Make your nominations now. Polls to begin around the 27th.
Speaking as one of the newly employed banking industry regulators of the next Administration. I am happy to see such issues between bank and client occur. It means my desk will soon be piled high with complaints of both.
I have to validate to some measure my employment to the government and the American people so I can seek my 6% annual pay raise. Again thank you both for a Merry Employed Christmas.
US just placed US Africa Command into existance as a training unit to African Nations forces so they can handle thier own troubles.The US had Naval ships off Solomia (priracy) for a number of years. The US is the single largest contributer to fighting AIDs in Africa..both in medical research and funding in the world. The US gives more food to Africa than any other country in the world via it aid program.
If African are murdering Africans, don't blame the United State. We cannot be every place in world. Blame Africans.
I am going to add my two cents here. As a coach, my advise has been to athletes...don't use steroids or any other enhancing drug. Why?
Because in competition where injury may occur, they mask the pain and degree of the injury. The athlete does not know how seriously or slightly hurt they are because of the drug.
Steroids are effect the fluids around joints (often injury points). With injury fluids rush into a joint injury or any kind of injury to immoblize the area.
As a coach, I want to put 'clean athletes' on the field or in the competition. Because that is in the spirit of fair competition. I also want to know if they were injured to what extend it is. I don't want to participate an athlete that was going to get greater injury from having a injury masked by a drug.
I listened last year to CSPAN to the NFL football players in the congressional hearing on retirement benefits. Each player that testified that day, gave a littney of injuries from the sport. I as listened, I wondered how many that has been masked by a enhancing drug.
These guys had multiple knee surgeries, shoulder surgeries and other injuries. Yes a indication to the violence of sport and its vary nature. But if the athlete is taking a enhancement drug, the sport is not totally causing the injuries. The drug taking player being willing to step back on the field after having an injury, he feels is playable is.
Our county here in Florida just began manatory drug testing for all high school athletes. Most of the other counties in Florida run similar programs.
I am taking a month off the political threads for holidays.
Maybe be when I come back we will have more REP that have learned their duck and cover moves (shoe thowing in Iraq) and more DEM having hired attroneys for thier pay for thier play scandles.
As far as I know, they had investigations in 12 states on the ACORN registeration voter filings. Mysteriously computer systems at one ACORN office were stolen the day prior to the police taking them.
Maybe they will serve pork at the banquet diner on the 20th? The speculation around here is if Rev. Wright is going to asked to give oath of office service.
As far as Mickey Mouse....I heard they were starting a new political party in toon town.....the toons felt they could beat Obama in 2012...... all they had to do was register enough fictious toons from the planet Krayton (population 100 billion) to make it happen.
Well sports fans, look like we have another pay to play scangle brewing. Gov. Richardson and a some AZ consultant group. Details are thin so I am not going to say much.
Ever stop to think that Ollie was doing a job he was ordered to do? Sometime that the job places you into ethical and moral dilema?
That is the way I see it. When it went south...his boss denied it. Said he acting alone and was aloose cannon. How many career Marine Corp officers you know are loose cannons?
Ship, I cannot speak for other REPs. This one doesnot believe that these Americans.....who are agents of our government...intentionally lie to us. They may make mistake and have errors of judgement.Most are hard working, they respect the country and are trying to get it right. In some tough situations.
I think that you have to wait on the FED investigation some, Ship. Look as I said in the US Grant para...it was not Grant that blocked the investigations...was friends of Grant that blocked the investigations.
Obama is in the position, I think.....where if his friends feel that a investigation is going to come close....they will try to hinder it, Ship. He may not even know the pressure is being placed on the FBI or the FED attroney. His friends could be his worse enemies in this, Ship.
They will think...man got to protect the President, take the bullet for him....and all that. The step into the trap of trying to influence the FBI or FED attroney. Bad idea.....very bad. These guys are trained to put sting operation together.
On the other side of the coin.....even if this was going down on a REP President and Administration...I would want the FBI and the FED Attroney to have the freedom to the job. It is one of our check and balances on a good gov't Ship.
If pressure can limit Gov't invesitgtions and prosecutions, then justice is not being done. I don't want frivlous investigation or prosecutions for revenge or political reasons. Butthis is a grave injustice what was being proposed by Gov B. Seems some were willing to pay him a million for it.
What happens the next time....say in 2012...when a similarsituation occurs? If you don't go after all the parties....then some will say....just don't get caught.....go ahead make Senate and House pay for play. That is not democracy Ship.....it is the rich buying power.
I have to admit colorful, Ship. Sorry if the glass you held looked like a martini glass to me. Thumb photos are hard to make details out.
Not hoping for anything but a unblock investigation of the Gov B scandle, Ship. Yes I am playing the devil advocate a little the wording the thread.
Ship, we both know I am not in the Gov't investigation of Gov B. So anything and everything I would say is conjecture and supposition. But if I remember some far left posts during the recent election and last few years.....to para quote Elvis....there was a hold lot shakin (conspriracy theories) going on.
As for GWB, at least we know he has good reflexes. Dodging those shoes in Iraq was a trick.
Look at it like this, Ship. Just we are just bunch of old timers sittin around a checker board and playing a game here. Taking the other guys pieces is not as good as to seehim drop his soda bottle when you give him some political gossip or opinion.
Guys we are dregging up old stuff here. GWB is gone in a month. I can hold my breath that long. Well almost.:-)
The question is what do we havecoming for the next 4 years.
A recent AP article out says President Obama's 'attroney' did a through investigation of staffers and found none had any significant contact with Gov. B regarding the Senate Seat.
Hmmmmmm........I would like to hear that from the FBI or the FED attroney office. The guys that are reviewing the tapes. The guys that are doing the Gov't investigation.
What else is Obama's attroney going to say? Hey....Emanle had lunch with Gov. B's chief of staff at Mickie Ds and over Big Macs, talked about the Senate Seat?:-)
Right now President Elect Obama is in damage control.
I heard his endorsement of Gov B for the Govenor office. Does this sound familar? Gov B is the CHANGE Illonios needs in the future. Jump back Jack Flash, where did that come from?
Here is the problem as I see it. I mentioned it in Dude's Obama threads early on. It is not Obama that is the trouble. It is the group,Obama is going to place into those 4000-5000 SES jobs. Many are going to come from this Chicago and IL political scene. They will have budget control. Anyone at this point wish to giveGov B budget control of a multi billion dollar project?
Gov B was a fool in this. Asking to be caught.
Let us consider one of the most corrupt Administration in American history for a moment. USS Grant post civil war administration. Everything was done with a under the table payment to someone. A war had ended. Hey we have a war ending. Grant was consider a novice politician and President. Hey we have a novice President. Grant placed friends into key postions. We have Obama hiring many friends from Chi town and IL.
You tell me? Coincidence or history repeating itself?
I am not going to fry President Elect Obama any further on this. If there is more....I trust the FBI and FED Attroney to do their jobs and bring it forward.I just want to see that they can do that job. What happened in the Grant Administration....Grant did not do it....but those friends he placed into power....road blocked Congressional investigations on the corruption.
To be fair to President Elect Obama. He is holding from going public withthe internal review for week untill the FED attroney investigation is further along or is done.
I agree with that. Wise for him to do. It gets confusing with several investigations going on. He wants clarity and understanding on this. I can go for that and accept the findings.
But if during his term....we are getting bi weekly corruption investigations....we voted him and his friends into office....
Adding my two cents to the threads OP. I have found British women to be gracious in the worst of time. Gentle in the hardest of times. And honest in the darkest of times.
Long Live the Queen. But just please keep the redcoats out of the US.
Barack Obama is giving quotes on the IL Gov scandle that media is finding less that satisfactory. OH NO.....media questioning the new President Elect???? My Oh My!!!!
The one media quote I heard was......to Barack Obama's statement.....that I was apalled and offended to hear of the IL Gov and none of my staff dealt in dealing regarding the open Senate seat..... less than sufficant for the gravity of the situation. Welcome to fire pit, President Elect Obama. Take your first step in.
And how about those IL DEM? First thinking that a special election would be way to fairly fill the Senate seat and with state and local Election coming in April of next year. They look at the REP would run in it. Thenfind a young popular REP in the wings. All of a sudden the cost of doing a special election is to much and appointment is still their choice to fill the seat.
But with Gov Blagojevich still in office, they have to strip him of power first. So without a constitutional means to do that. They are considering using a clause regarding mental capacity. Can anyone say Catch 22 DEM 2008 version. It reads:
If you are to crazy to ask for a payoff on a Senate Seat appointment, then you are to crazy to hold office.
A twist to the IL Gov scandle is Nancy Polosi coming out saying the "that light needs to shown into Washington to clean it up.
Nancy Polosi....from far lefter to reformer.... with one DEM scandle. By the end of President Elect Obama term, she will be will asking to be the Attroney General with special investigation/indictment/ judical powers to to arrest, indict and judge the offenders.
Woah Nancy, leave a little to the FBI, the Federal Attroneys, and Court system.
Imagine the political attacks that Nancy Polosi launched on Sarah Palin for being a reformer.......and now prior to Obama coming President.....Polosi is trying to fill her shoes.
Everyone get out their bic lighters.....when Nancy calls we can go to Washington for her reformer's march on Congress....to help her shed a little light into Washington.
ttom500 Forum Posts (10,523)
all seem to be in order for memory lose
and 
and 
RE: ............. nation is the nation of character.
Check out a books titled "1426" and "1436"The author takes the position that in 1426, a giant fleet from China (some 2000 ships total departed) made it way to first to Africa...then by canal and the Nile River , the MED to Europe. Landing in northern Italy near Venice. Some 600 hundred arriving ships landed here, as the other 1400 were diverted to other destinations enroute.
He shows that most the European inventions followed this. That Europeans now had maps of the new world that Columbus used. That
European knowledge of the stars and their orbits (for sea navigation) changed.
All this came according the books writer from the Chinese version of a massive encloypedia that they carried.
Did it happen? I don't know. But if it did...it is the biggest technology tranfer in the history of man. If it happened, you have to give the Chinese the number one spot for inventions, and improvements to man kind world wide.