Rick Raw: Iraq War Five Years After–Lessons of History are Profound

By Rick Grant rickgrant01@comcast.net http://www.rickatnight.com/

As we contemplate the five year anniversary of the Iraq War, we need to consult the lessons of history for the answer to the pertinent question: What do we do now?

In 1976, when America pulled out of Vietnam, the North Vietnamese Communists supported by China moved in, causing a blood bath. Thousands of Vietnam citizens were thrown into concentration camps for "reeducation."

The en mass voices of the Vietnam War’s protesters demanded drastic action. We cut and run, leaving 58,000 American soldiers dead, millions of Vietnamese, Cambodians, and Laotians dead. Worst of all, we never achieved our goal of stabilizing the region and driving the communists out of South Vietnam. We accepted defeat, President Johnson retired and refused to run again. Ultimately, historians were left to write the epilogue.

Cut to August 2, 1990. Saddam Hussain, who was suffering from delusions of grandeur, thought he could annex Kuwait for its rich oil fields and no one would notice. As soon as Saddam crossed Kuwait’s border, red flags popped up and warning buzzers went off on all of CentCom’s computers. The outcry from the Emir of Kuwait was deafening. A coalition of nations was hastily assembled in the United Nations Security Council. A signed declaration of war was finally drafted with a deadline, when Saddam refused to listen to reason.

The vast hallways of the Pentagon were reverberating with the sound of American generals yelling "hu-rah." Finally, these grizzled veterans, who had been humiliated by Vietnam, had a chance to redeem the mistakes made during that 13 year debacle. We would unleash the full power of American military might and crush Saddam like a bug.

More importantly, Operation Desert Storm would give the military a chance to use its high tech arsenal in a real scenario, testing smart bombs and advanced cruise missiles on real targets. Generals in the field would run the war, not the White House, like during Johnson’s administration. A hellfire of hurt was descending on Saddam’s head the likes of which the world had never seen.

This unprecedented military operation was over by February 28 1991, with Saddam retreating with most of his army destroyed. Everyone felt good about the swift end to this thunderous display of America’s high tech military capability. It proved that with enough firepower we could end conflicts rapidly and with a minimum casualties.

Then W. Bush was "elected," stealing the election for Al Core. He assembled his coalition of creepy pyro men led by Cheney, with vested interests in the Mideast oil. Incredibly, 9/11 played into Bush’s secret plans, since he and Cheney were plotting to oust Saddam from Iraq before Saudi terrorists flew jumbo jets into the twin towers and the Pentagon killing 3,000 people. Of course, striking back at Afghanistan was a given, using the same concept as the Gulf War, but with a small force of special forces acquiring targets and providing on-ground reconnaissance. The nation’s outrage was Bush’s trump card. But he needed to somehow connect Iraq with the a worldwide threat. After all, the war fervor was driving the American public to new levels of patriotism and revenge.

With the drums of war beating loudly, all he needed was an excuse to invade Iraq. Bush and his cronies came up with the Biggest Lie in history–Saddam was sitting on weapons of mass destruction. And, after Colin Powell showed the graphics of Saddam’s mobile poison gas labs and Rice’s "mushroom cloud" remark, Bush had his war.

Now, five years after the Big Lie, 4,000 American soldiers lay dead, with 29,000 wounded, and the Iraq War drags on. Bush’s Iraq War folly played into bin Laden’s master plan to get American forces into the Mideast theater of war, where al Qaeda could send an infinite number of jihadists to enter paradise trying to kill infidels.

The question is: Now, what do we do? Pull out like in Vietnam? Plan a phased withdrawl, turning more of the American responsibility over to the Iraqi army? Or, do we stand and continue fighting until al Qaeda is defeated and Iraq is once again a sovereign nation? The lessons of Vietnam tell us that pulling out in-force would leave a terrible mess, with endless bloodshed.

Regardless of how we got there, we need to find a equitable solution that honors the sacrifices of our dead soldiers. Yes, Bush has blood on his hands, and we never should have invaded Iraq. But now, we’re way past that fact. I say, plan a phased withdrawl in stages, testing Iraq’s resolve to take the reins of America’s involvement. Keep a permanent presence in the region, and if al Qaeda gains back any ground, crush them with massive firepower and troops. The truth is: Bin Laden and al Qaeda are never going away. And every day, new radical Muslin jihadists are recruited. And, make no mistake, they want to kill us all and take over the world.

Rick Raw: Orwellian Corporations Turn Employees into Compliant Automatons

By Rick Grant rickgrant01@comcast.net www.rickatnight.com

To cut expenses, Orwellian corporations strip employees of their basic rights, reducing them to compliant automatons. Workers are obliged to get urine tested for nicotine and drugs. They are made to lose weight; and generally oppressed so the company can save money on health insurance. So called "health maintenance initiatives" are forced on employees. Presently, company co-pays have steadily gone down from 48% in1960 to 15% or zero by 2007. Unions are fighting this trend, but even the most powerful union, the Teamsters, is having to make concessions to avoid strikes. Soon, at this rate, corporations will not offer any healthcare benefits to new hires.

More significantly, corporations downsize older workers (as early as in their 40s) and keep younger employees, who make less money, thus reducing the payroll significantly. Consequently, the younger workers have to work much harder to make up for the loss of the older employees. When one considers that the CEOs of most corporations are bleeding the companies’ assets by earning obscene amounts of money and stock options, making employees miserable to save paltry sums of money makes no sense.

Big name companies such as Verison Wireless, Microsoft, and Dow Chemical make new employees sign health pledges not to smoke or take drugs and agree to urine testing. Microsoft does award bonuses to workers who meet their healthcare standards, but others make it a condition of employment. These so called healthcare standards are devious ways for the corporate bosses to control their employees lives to save money and to get more production from each and every automaton or slave. You must march to the beat of the company’s drum, or you’re out.

In our society at large, corporations and our government (which are closely aligned) are chipping away at our freedoms of speech, assembly, and our vices. Prohibition proved that the government can’t dictate society’s behavior. Likewise, corporations can’t dictate their workers’ health or habits. People will drink, hire prostitutes, smoke, and use drugs, regardless of any outside restrictions. It’s human nature. My solution: Make all vices legal and subject to taxation. And we the people should rebel against corporate tyranny by being fiercely independent. Don’t work for these evil doers.

From 1965 to 1977, I worked for the corporate giant United Technologies as a chemical engineer. As long as I did my job well, no one cared what I did outside work. I had long hair and played music on weekends. And, there were areas where I could smoke. However, it was a draconian environment of crawling up the corporate ladder by kissing ass and stepping on colleagues, which is why I got out. I was miserable.

Now, corporations want to own their employees’ souls. In the beginning of the labor movement, unions were formed at great risk to fight corporate oppression of workers. Since then, many of the gains that the unions made have slowly been eroded. Yet, incredibly, there is no en mass outrage–just dogged compliance.

Actress, Annabelle Gurwitch turned her outrage at being fired for smoking from a Woody Allen play into a popular documentary Fired, which kicked off her filmmaking career.
Rise up and be independent. Do what you want and let the Orwellian corporations build robots to do their bidding.

Rick Raw: Another CEO Outrage–Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo Leaves Company $1.2 Billion in Red Ink, but Bails out with Golden Parachute

By Rick Grant rickgrant01@comcast.net www.rickatnight.com

Here we go again. Yes, in past Rick Raws I’ve ranted against corrupt CEOs who bring down companies and walk away with obscene amounts of money. Here is a case that is so egregious, it begs to be the recipient of my Golden Parachute Award for the most blatant CEO thievery in the business. Yes, the goon of the month is Angelo Mozilo–a slick operator who has the high-styled swagger of John Gotti. Last week, gumba Mozilo was dragged before congress to defend his big ripoff of Countrywide Mortgage.

Clearly, it was the no-sweat carpet on which Mr. Mozilo was standing. Hey, Congress–that’s like appearing before the Mafia’s high commission after making a big score. He had to explain to members of Congress how he can justify running Countrywide into the dumper to the tune of $1.2 billion in the third quarter of 2007, and another $422 million in the fourth quarter, causing the stock to plummet 80% between February and the end of the year. And then, he brazenly walked away with $21.9 million in salary and stock, and without a tinge of guilt, he sold $121 million in stock. Hey, nice work if you can get it.

Of course, the members of congress secretly wanted to know where they could apply for such a choice job. Blame it on Countrywide’s board of directors who brought in Mozilo to boost the company’s image and profits. He was supposed to be a rock star and send the company stock into the stratosphere. In reality, he was just another CEO wolf who was given the keys to the company’s hen house. Man, these CEO con men have balls the size of boulders. They steal money the old fashioned way–legally or not.

Like me, the FBI and the Justice Department cried foul and have started an investigation into Countrywide’s and Mozilo’s financial machinations. FBI spokesman, Richard Kolko declined to confirm that an investigation is ongoing. However, according to unnamed sources from the Detroit Free Press, "investigators are looking at evidence that may suggest that company (Countrywide) executives knew their mortgage securities would see many more defaults than predicted in its public documents."

Meanwhile, while Mozilo is drinking single malt scotch on his yacht, and counting his money, Bank of America is in the process of acquiring Countrywide for $4 billion in stock. But wait, hold on to your portfolio, there may be a problem if the investigators uncover fraud. It may queer the deal. Mozilo could be another alleged ex-CEO felon playing tennis at Club Fed in Florida in the near future.

With all the CEOs being discredited, indicted, or convicted of crimes, why is there no oversight to protect investors against this blatant theft of big corporate assets. These modern-day grifters operate in the open, manipulating stock and use sophisticated scams to steal large amounts of stockholders’ money. Going in, these CEOs get guarantees like golden parachutes, sweetheart salaries, and stock options. Not surprisingly, they have no incentive to produce positive results, so they have a field day ripping off the company.

In a free market economy, corporations do not want the government in their board rooms. However, to protect investors, the SEC should adopt a continency plan that demands CEOs’ compensation plans be directly proportional to their performance. And if the company of which they are guiding loses vast sums of money like Countrywide, then they get zip. Or, call in the Mafia, and take out a hit on the bastard. That would send a message.

Rick Raw: Visions of JFK– Barack Obama’s Oratory Inspires Confidence

By Rick Grant rickgrant01@comcast.net www.rickatnight.com

Just as JFK dazzled our nation with his oratory, Barack Obama’s speeches inspire confidence. He’s the one! It feels right.

Here’s why. When I was in the U.S. Air Force during the Cuban Missile Crisis, (1962) JFK was my Commander in Chief. His oratory inspired the country to take a hardline stand against the Soviet Union’s missile build up in Cuba. Rather than yield to the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s war mongering advice to bomb and invade Cuba, Kennedy blockaded the island. This nonviolent option forced the Soviets to back down and ship their missiles back to the homeland.
Indeed, the Cuban Missile Crisis came perilously close to igniting World War III which could have wiped out humanity. The principle of "shared mutual destruction" worked to defuse the threat, despite Kruschev’s ranting, "We’ll bury you."

In contrast, Kennedy’s Bay of Pigs fiasco was his greatest blunder as President. Still, Kennedy’s oratory uplifted all Americans with his confidence that he could lead us out of any dangerous situation. His famous speech that kicked off the space race made us proud to be Americans. Yes, we were behind the Soviets in rocket technology, but his words gave us hope that we could catch up and surpass the "evil empire." Dammit, we were going to the moon and in our hearts we knew we would beat the Soviets to that orbiting celestial body. JFK gave us hope.

As it turned out, our advances in electronic technology were far superior to the Soviets.
Although they had developed a dependable rocket that could carry astronauts into orbit, their only moon rocket failed in a spectacular explosion and conflagration. We believed Kennedy could inspire NASA to build the massive Saturn 5 moon rocket and accomplish our mission. With his gripping oratory, Kennedy convinced us it was our destiny and God was on our side. His "Ask not" speech, encouraged us to stop being so selfish and begin caring about our environment and country.

During my Air Force service, I didn’t know much about Kennedy, except that he was devilishly handsome and youthful. His persona behind the podium was majestic. He could deliver us from the threat of global thermonuclear war, and conquer space. JFK exuded high hopes. His belief in the principle of democratic freedom made us believe that it was a fundamental law of nature. I was proud to serve under him.

On the negative side, he, like his father, believed in having a supportive wife at home, but rationalized that it was okay to have affairs. His old man taught him that it was a rich Catholic man’s right–hell, it was his obligation to go forth and spread his seed, then confess it, and he was covered.

How could Kennedy help it? He looked like a movie star–a mesmerizing Adonis. Straight men were secretly attracted to him. Women threw themselves at his feet. But the press ignored his trysts, which there were many. Yes, there were the two White House secretaries nicknamed "Frick and Frack" with whom JFK swam naked in the house pool, playing kinky games. And Robert smuggled Marilyn Monroe in the back door of the White House. Both Robert and John had their way with Miss Monroe. At the time, even if I knew about JFK dalliances, I wouldn’t have cared. It was morally wrong and hurtful to Jackie, but with whom Kennedy had sex didn’t change his inspirational effect on the nation. A cool cat was in the White House, right out of Huge Hefner’s Playboy philosophy.

Indeed, like Kennedy, Barack Obama strikes an imposing presence on stage. His speeches sound logical and knowledgeable, like he’s talking directly to me or you. Although Obama is handsome, looks-wise, he’s not in Kennedy’s league. Yet, more importantly, he conjures up the Kennedy mystique but without John’s philandering ways. Again, like Kennedy, we trust Obama to do the right thing when he’s elected president. In the final analysis, how a man comes across as an orator is a major sign he deserves to be heard. Then if his message resounds with truth, he’s got the right stuff to accept the awesome responsibility of the Office of The President of The United States.

As if the dead Kennedys came down from heaven to sanction Obama, the sight of the Kennedy clan coming together to support him was an incredibly rare event. Ted was beaming and treated his support for Obama as the second coming of John. I’ve never seen Ted so animated and filled with righteous love for Obama. Caroline, who rarely seems excited about anything, was radiant with enthusiasm for Obama. Clearly, Caroline was smitten with Obama-momma-mania. It was a spontaneous lovefest that gave the Obama campaign a huge boost.

Seeing Obama lighting up the atmosphere with powerful oratory gives me hope that he can change the way Washington works. More significantly, his presence on the world stage conjured up visions of JFK rallying the youth of the country to fight for freedom against the Soviet threat. Obama has rallied the country as the man to fix the our broken government. He’s the one. It feels right!