Day: January 4, 2010

New Year Predictions For 2010

A new year…….a new decade…….back to work…..

For the last couple of years I have posted on what I think will be the situations in the world for the coming year……I am right some times and wrong others but I enjoy trying to see into the future……

2009’s predictions and results

1–Afghanistan will get many more troops–this one was a good call–+

2–Economy will shoe strength in 4th quarter–good call–+

3–Pakistan will be plunged into deep turmoil–close but no cigar–

4–Obama admin will have limited success–good call–+

5–Unemployment will hit above 8.5%–this was a gimme+

6–GM & Chrysler will merge–close but no cigar–

7–Deep divide between blue & white collars–IMO it has–+

8–GOP does not have a clue on being a national party–good call–+

9–Iraq returns to violence–close and cigar is lit–

10-Labor movement will get a shot in the arm because of government actions–way off–

Those were my predictions for 2009…I was correct on 6 and very close on 3 and wrong on 1…not a bad score at all…….eat your heart out Cayce……..

Now my predictions for 2010:

1–Pakistan will have a crisis and a new government

2–Afghan surge will go well at first

3–Unemployment does not get below 8.5%

4–Immigration and Energy will be the next big congressional confrontations

5–Top Obama cabinet member will resign

6–Economy will have another scandal

7–Inflation will rise by 3rd quarter

8–Israel/Palestine will flair up again

9–Iran will be the focus of most of the US foreign policy

10-a real third party shows ballot strength

11-Yemen will become much more volatile

All in all I will never be Nostradamus but at least you can read mine without a Captain Video decoder ring….

Terror Attempt Thwarted!

By now everyone has heard about the failed terror attempt over Detroit….all the papers, the airwaves and bloggers have been typing their scrawny asses off with this opinion or that……it is Obama’s fault…it is GW’s fault, it is Napolitano’s fault…… it is UK’s fault…it is…….on and on…..

Just in case you were tossing off and missed the news……..

This year’s attack came on Christmas.  Obama was on vacation in Hawaii when the suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, allegedly used plastic explosives in his bid to blow up the Amsterdam-to-Detroit flight. Bush was at Camp David when Reid used similar explosives to try to blow up a Paris-to-Miami flight, which diverted to Boston.

Yes there are similarities…but neither man can be blamed for either of those two attempts…..but there are those that deserve the blame and are not getting any of the heat in the blogs…..

Of course the partisan crap began to flow from the minute of the attempt……the Right taking every opportunity to play the political game that is killing the American system of governance….

So the mental midgets want to blame someone…….I have an idea…try blaming the morons that caused the situation……NO it is not the UK…they tried to warn us…..No it is not Obama’s fault….No it is not GW’s fault…..then Professor whose damn fault is it?

Let us think back……UK warned us……NSA had info that a Nigerian was being groomed for an attack…..the guys father did everything but bring him in in handcuffs……..and the list goes on and on…..and then we have shooter Cheney mouthing off which does not help the situation it only a diversion from reality…..maybe we should give him his own Reality Show and just let him talk and talk…..a thought…..where was all this concern when he was VP?…..sorry I digress…

Let us look at what is known:

• Abdulmutallab’s father, a prominent retired banker and ex-government minister, had visited the US Embassy in Abuja more than a month before the attempted bombing to warn CIA officials that his son had become involved with Al Qaeda elements in Yemen. He provided them with information with which the young man could have been located, and he followed up his visit with at least two phone calls.

• For at least four months, US intelligence had information from Yemen that Al Qaeda operatives there were preparing “a Nigerian” for a terrorist attack.

• The information from Yemen was further substantiated by the National Security Agency’s interception of communications discussing preparations for an impending attack and the use of the “Nigerian.”

Moreover, Abdulmutallab’s $2,800 ticket was paid for with cash, apparently at the last minute, and he made the transatlantic trip having checked no luggage, carrying only a backpack.

So you want to blame someone…..point that finger where it belongs ….the BUREAUCRATS!

That is right those little insignificant toads that run the government….all the intel was missed handled because everyone of these people wants to preserve their little sphere of influence and by working within the system and with others would lessen their importance…..so if you people have to blame someone for the miscues then please take a moment and think about it and then blame the idiots that have caused this situation….the BUREAUCRATS!

Over the years I have heard many quotes by many different people, but one of the best about bureaucrats was from James H. Boren, “Guidelines for Bureaucrats:  When in charge ponder.  When in trouble delegate.  When in doubt mumble”……

And let me see…..GW invented the country’s largest bureaucracy, the DHS, and where has that proven to be a successful organization?  He just added to the rolls of bureaucrats that are afraid for their jobs and because of that info is NOT shared as it should be….all these toads are worried about their evals and their jobs….NOT THE SAFETY OF THE COUNTRY!

“Bureaucracy is a huge mechanism operated by pygmies”  Honore de Balzac……well said.