A Fishing Break
Streams commentary has been on a needed break these last days. I've been fishing. I have just returned from the big annual fishin' trip with fraternity brothers, a trip that has been made now for the last 28 years without fail. Not that I've been to every one of those, but I try. There is something about the continuity and being with guys that you've known since you were 17 years old that is comforting. If you are guessing, I've known this group for 36 years now. We've all been through good times and bad. Divorces, addictions, health problems, richer and poorer, but the fishing group survives.

I welcomed the break after a week and a half of continuous war news. At the Greenwood Ranch, there is no television and no cell phone service. So we had to resort to something that modern men don't get enough of.....long periods of conversation with real time to contemplate what is being said including enough time for silent reflection in between. Having lived in Dallas for a good portion of my post army adult life, I also get to catch up on what's happening in that big city and to find out that after being gone for 12 years, really it's still pretty much the same without me. I learn that many of my old friends are in the same jobs and careers, eating at the same restaurants and that the traffic is now even worse than in my days there. I try and explain that it takes me five minutes to get to work, I come home for lunch and that I can be on an airplane thirty minutes after leaving the house. I am met with those looks that say I'm making this up to justify my life in a smaller city. I am not. I love my life here, but I sure do love seeing those old familiar faces once a year.

Europe reacts.....
French President Jacques Ch-Iraq, in anticipating an anglo coalition victory in Iraq, is vowing that the U.S. and the U.K. will not have a leading role in the reconstruction of the country. Jacques is tres irate. Insiders say that if the US and it's allies persist in thwarting his efforts he will consider military action. He has made secret plans to call up his elite troops including Le Brigade d' Ballet, the Coq d' Vin Corps and the Royal Grenadiers d' Frommage. He is quoted as saying, "If the US and UK are itching for a fight, we'll give it to them.....just let them try and get through the Maginot Line!".

And in Germany the alert citizenary are starting to boycott American goods. Notably mentioned in the boycott are Budweiser, Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Marlboro products. And so, in another gift to the Germans from America we just might turn these chain smoking, pale, flabby, beer guzzling Aryan smarms into healthy people!

And from Dave Barry, an example of the trouble with the Germans

Patience...
Today is Monday. It was one week ago tonight that President Bush drew the line in the sand for Saddam..."you have 48 hours to vacate the premises or else". It was another two days before hostilities began with a shot to the Tyrannts embunkered backside. Five days since the war began. And already the plethora of talking heads are asking "what's taking so long?" Sunday was described as a "day of setbacks". The stock market is down 300 points today because "traders are nevrous" that this could be a long struggle....perhaps months.

It would be easy to simply blame naive talking heads or nervous traders....but these mirror, in some sense, the general public. A youngish general public who relate a war with our high tech gear to playing video games resolved in an hour, and whose memory of a "real war" was Gulf War I. Neither of these have any resemblence to the present situation.

Let me shed some perspective from my days when I was in the "young public" category. 1965 was the year of the first real combat for American forces in Vietnam. I was a sophomore in high school. I watched [a misnomer...in those days we read] the events in Vietnam fthrough two more years of high school. I continued to read and watch through four years of college. In 1971 I became a member of the "Green Machine" and the war was still going on. Although the American combat phase was for the most part over and done by 1972, the US was still involved until 1975. That is ten years of war dispatches, news coverage, killed in action reports, demonstrations and heart felt grief.

In Vietnam we lost over 58,000 brave young Americans, the preponderance between the years 1965-1970. In rough averages that is 10,000 young American lives each and every year. Again in rough averages approximately 30 human lives each and every day, with perhaps three times that number wounded, and some percentage captured, tortured and executed by enemy forces. Every day for fiive years.

In those days most of us got the details of the day old news through newspapers and then the dreadful, Evening News, which would cram the days events into 30 minutes of video bites with short commentary in summation. It became a way of life for years. The deaths in ones, two's or three's did not even make the newspapers unless the death had a connection to your hometown. Deaths in large numbers took up a 2 minute segment on the TV news, and then on to other events.

I'll have to be honest and say that as an ex professional soldier, I am as transfixed by the continuous news flow of today as the general "general public". The wild rides through the desert with the good ol' 7th Cav, the images of the attack helo's pummeling the bad guys, the massive precision bomb strikes. It's not all a bad thing for people in our protected society to see the competance of our forces and to face the reality that war does mean death and destruction, both for "us" and "them". Seeing this makes us feel like we are right there. The problem is that 95% of our population is not right there, really. We are sitting comfortably at home just as if we've watching the next Ultimate Reality Game Show. We can turn the action off and go eat a pizza in our cozy beds. Our guys and girls in Iraq can't.

We at home can nitpick ourselves to distraction with the details, while missing the big picture. We are attacking all the way across an enemy country. In five days we have gone hundreds of miles across his own defended home terrain with minimal casualities. We are closing in on his capital and his leader may be dead or injured. I can tell you that from a military standpoint, this is miraculous. But there are rough days ahead, perhaps with more dead and wounded than we have seen since the worst days of Vietnam. We must keep our eyes on the prize, because the outcome will be decided in our favor.

The hard facts....
"There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell."
Gen. William Tecumsah Sherman


Refugees flood in....
Just as predicted by the anti-war demonstrators, a virtual tidal wave of refugees have flooded into Syria by the tens of thousands. NO wait, make that 14 refugees. Another big disappointment for the "antis".

Eternal French Optimism....
In a bold statement, the economic minister of France, Frances Mer, thinks that the backlash against his country is over.

"In the last year, or rather in the last six months, I think the Iraqi events have already created negative consequences that France regrets now," Francis Mer told LCI television and RTL radio. "I'm not saying that to deny the intensity of the Iraqi problems, but the main part of the negative consequences from the Iraqi crisis is behind us," he said.

Think again Frog Face.... as we will no doubt discover more examples of French duplicity in Iraq.

War heating up....
Fox News has reported tonight that the Iraqi defense minister has said that, and they quote, "President Bush and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, ought to be hit with a shoe".
And here the anti-war activists thought that there were no grounds for this military action.

From Kosovo....
By Bajram Rexhepi, prime minister of the coalition government of Kosovo.
From The Washington Post.

March 20, 2003

There are moments in history when the world is confronted with an age-old question: Do you stand united in the face of evil, or do you close your eyes and hope for the best?

A cruel and cowardly dictator used his military and security forces to brutalize civilians. He flouted every international convention and norm relating to the protection of human life and liberty. He played on the good intentions and patience of the international community to buy time while his reign of terror prevailed across the land. He played the international community for fools.

We in Kosovo know something about facing evil, because that dictator was Slobodan Milosevic, and we were his victims.

For 10 years, our people faced the brutality of his police state. Villages were burned, women and children were killed, and all the while the dictator was given one chance after another by the international community to reform his ways. While they talked, our villages burned.

The UN Security Council could not agree on what to do. But our voice was heard, and under the leadership of the United States, a coalition of the forces of freedom confronted the dictator with an ultimatum. This coalition acted with the courage of its convictions, backed up by the promise of the use of force in the defense of human rights. In our hour of need, the United States, Britain and the rest of the coalition took on the dictator and liberated a nation.

We Kosovars know firsthand that peace is not simply the absence of war. Dictators will use the goodwill of the international community to buy time while they continue to crush the people under their control. Wherever men are denied freedom, there is a threat to peace. Whenever we leave them in bondage, there is a threat to our own dignity. Whenever we fail to act in the face of evil, a shadow is cast across the future of humanity.

Today the world is faced with the age-old question: Do we stand united in the face of evil, or do we close our eyes and hope for the best? We Kosovars stand with the forces of freedom. We know that when confronting evil, there is no compromise.

And so, in the coming conflict with Saddam Hussein, we stand with you, America. We are here to tell you that your sacrifices for the cause of human freedom are remembered. We are here to bear witness to the fact that the day of the dictator is over - and that peace can be ensured only when all are free.

War Chronicle Tidbits......

Thank you to CNN for this detailed and graphic picture of the battle as it is shaping up! Note: we are winning, notice blue line is longer than red line.

Here's......Hans:
In a very short but very interesting interview on ABC news with Hans Blix, he gave his personal thoughts on Iraq. When asked whether Iraq had WMD, Dr. Blix said, "well we didn't find any, but undoubtedly they do". About his personal relationship with Saddam, Blix, chuckled and said, "Well I never met the man, he thinks that he is the Emporer of Mesopotamia and would not deign to talk to someone as lowly as me".

Dan Rather:
It is now being reported that U.S. Marines have crossed from Kuwait into Iraq, somewhere near the Iraqi border.
Huh, how's that Dan?

Reporter to SecDef Rumsfeld:
Sir, now that the scheduled plans for the start of the war have changed, is this upsetting things?
SecDef Rumsfeld:
Well, I don't really believe we made you a party to the plans have we? Next question.

Wings over Baghdad.....
8:35 local time and it's on. No sane person wishes war, but in this day and time no sane person can allow an insane tyrannt to flaunt international law, persecute his own people and build weapons of mass death. God Bless our Troops. And as my old commanders taught me years ago.....this is war give 'em everything you have.

Into action.....
Tonight, undoubtedly some action will begin in the long overdue military action against the tyranny of Saddam Hussein. My prayers are with the young men and women who will be asked to put their lives at risk. Here is my conjectured chronology of events.

Week 1: The bombardment will be unparalleled and by the end of the first week coalition forces will control 80% of the Northern and Southern regions of Iraq. Many large Iraqi units will surrender outright and will be found to be virtually combat ineffective, having plenty of ammuniton but no food. Chemical weapons will be used, but Uday will misjudge the wind direction wiping out his own Republican Guard. Hans Blix will say that he would have found these, eventually. The United Nations will put forth Resolution 1550 asking that inspections be given more time.

Week 2: 90% of Iraq will be in coalition hands, and special operations units will be immersed in Baghdad. Saddam is on the run seeking to return to his hometown of Tikrit, which doesn't exist anymore. Huge stores of chemical and biological weapons are discovered, all in packaging labeled, "Made in France". The UN discusses Resolution 1557, which asks for negotiations in order to avert war. France vetoes Resolution 1600 which hasn't been presented yet.

Week 3: Baghdad is effectively occupied. Saddam is spotted at a pay phone at the Saddam-11 convenience store and the chase is on! First he motors down Saddam Rd., taking a left on Saddam Dr. then a sharp right on Saddam Blvd. and quickly onto the Saddam Expressway over Saddam Creek trying to reach the Saddam International Airport. He is finally captured while trying to disguise himself as one of the 25,000 Saddam statues in the city. He claims he is a Saddam double. France enters the frey sending it's elite Mess Hall Unit, the Legion d'Escargot.

Week 4: Hostilites come to an end with the United Nations declaring a great victory. Kofi Annan says, "I knew that war was the answer, madmen like Saddam are never dissuaded by such things as negotiations or inspections". Hollywood actor Martin Sheen urges the Iraqis to fight on to prove that war is not the answer. On the home front, protestors urge President Bush to declare war on North Korea, they already have their "No Blood for Kim Chee" banners ready.

True friends and mates....
An old adage but eternal......you find out who your true friends are when times are tough and crisis looms. One of the truest friends and allies the United States has is Australia. Their Prime Minister, John Howard, has put up with double rations of crap from some of his constituents who see appeasement of dictators as the way to lasting peace, but PM Howard has stayed the course and is sending young Aussies to help in the cause of freedom. If you appreciate this as much as I do, please drop Mr. Howard an email note thru the following link:
G'day and Thanks Mr. Howard.

Oh Canada.......
I wish I was including a link sending thanks to the Canadian PM here also. If Australia is our close first cousin in the world, then Canada is our brother. Even though I live only 150 miles from Mexico, I still consider Canada our "real" neighbor. We are cut from the same cloth, our histories are parallel, our natural habitat generally similar and our love of personal freedoms paramount. There are many Canadian expatriates living in my oil field oriented home town and they are great folks. Obviously not all the world supports or likes the US, especially at this moment, but I thought we could count on Canada for support, if not in troops, at least in moral backing. Apparently I was wrong. Not that I will hold this against the majority of Canadian people, after all they are now under the thumb of a Francophile in Ottawa, but the electorate did speak in that decision.

But here is a thought for Canadians. We in the US have learned much in the last two years about who we are fighting and why. Have you? By offering up the apparent high moral ground of peace by appeasement you are only delaying the inevitable and buying time for yourselves. Read this carefully: The people we are fighting don't like you either! In their eyes, you are a rich, decadent, immoral and generally Christian country just like the US.
Read this again: They don't like you either.....!!

Wrath of the Vikings.....
And a very special unexpected thanks to Denmark for standing tall in the fight against tyranny. Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has decided to send a submarine, the Saelen, a corvette, the Olfert Fischer and a corps of elite soldiers into any conflict with Iraq. "The time has come to take a stance," Rasmussen said, in a statement released after US President George W Bush gave Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein until Thursday to leave the country or face war. [from Tim Blair]

Late Breaking News...!
In what may be the story of the century it has been announced that Saddam Defies U.S. Demand to Leave Iraq. This is stunning news! Saddam defies someone, what next? In a show of their massive support 5,000 people rallied around Saddam. 5,000? After millions protested in support of Saddam around the free world, the best these people can do is 5,000? Can this be telling?

Vacate the premises......
My official warning to Mr. Saddam Hussein:

We are not the United Nations.......we mean this. We really, really, mean this!

Chicken dinner cancelled...
Well apparently the offer by Saddam of further inspections and a free chicken dinner did not pass muster with the Azore's conventioneers. The gauntlet is now thrown down, though who threw it is up for debate. Saddam by refusing to stop lying, or the Western Powers [minus] who have said "enough is enough" no more negotiating stunts, it's time to "lock and load" and rock n' roll.

Looking in hind sight on the last six months there are two things that strike me. I have felt for some time that if GWB had been a little less bellicose in public but instead had made the diplomatic circuit on the QT drumming up support from the doubters and undecideds, he would have come out in a better spot today. As one of my favorite Presidents, Teddy Roosevelt, said, "Talk softly but carry a big stick". Not that they would have all joined....hardly, but it might have cut down on much of the negative chatter from the ignorant.

Secondly, had the main body of weasels, Germany, France and Russia, put forth a solid front with the coalition of the free, perhaps Saddam might have been much more inclined to give the game up and retire to Corsica or some other vacation spot. But with three of his long time economic sponsors pledging peace at any cost, in additon to the peace marches by the naive and ignorant, he felt that once again he could worm his way out of a tight spot. Now because of the Weasels and peace marchers giving heart to Saddam, war is quite inevitable.

Of Course, this is all hindsight and speculation. But while I'm in that mode, my observation on how hostilities may begin. As of this writing the administration is deciding whether or not to give Saddam a deadline, 72 hours, to comply. Whether this limitation is set or not, is really unimportant. Saddam thinks, one way or the other he as 72 hours. And his experience in Desert Storm I was that immediately after the deadline passes, the bombs start to fall. I would let him think just that and perhaps carry out a few heavy sorties around the country every night to make him wonder, "is this it?" But the moon is full now, not a good environment for our night fighting armies and air forces. So make him keep his troops on high alert for weeks, and then deliver the main thrust. Nothing wears troops in defensive postions out quicker than being on alert for weeks on end.

There are two military geniuses from Midland, Texas.....myself and Gen. Tommy Franks and Tommy has the reins so I'll leave the details to him. He is up to the job!

Come for Sunday dinner.....
In a surprising new development, Saddam Hussein has invited UN inspectors back to look around one more time and then come for a chicken dinner at one of his 400 palaces [to be decided later]. At U.N. headquarters in New York, Chief Inspector Hans Blix said he would study the invitation and discuss it with the council. Asked if the Iraqi invitation was a stunt, he told CNN,"I certainly wouldn't call it a stunt, Saddam has never been known to pull stunts. ... I think that they will actually serve chicken, but we will of course inspect it also".

Iraq's Foreign Ministry said Saddam's science adviser, Lt. Gen. Amer al-Saadi - the point man on disarmament - had invited the two chief inspectors to come to Baghdad at the "earliest suitable date to discuss means to speed up joint cooperation, but please not for another week, as we are still moving some items". Amer al-Saadi pledged to take inspectors to all locations where chemical and biological labs had been to show them that they are no longer there.

In another bid to show cooperation, Iraqi authorities gave inspectors the names of 183 more scientists involved in Iraqi chemical weapons programs, U.N. spokesman Hiro Ueki said Saturday.These, of course, were due five months ago and Iraqi officials denied ever having kept names from the UN, but chief inspector Blix hailed this move as a show of real cooperation.

In Saddam's hometown, Tikrit, thousands of people including Baath Party officers armed with Kalashnikovs and men in Arab dress, carried portraits of the Iraqi leader and chanted "We love Saddam," as they filed past a local dignitaries in a reviewing stand. We seek one of two things: victory or martyrdom," said one demonstrator, Abdullah Rasheed al-Haza'a. To show their willingness to negotiate even at this late date, US officials pledged assistance in the martyrdom.

Why did the Chick cross the road?......
The Dixie Chicken's singer Natalie Mange is now singing a different tune. In a case of what came first, the Chick or the egg, Natalie has appologized for her recent statement in which she said that she was sorry that President Bush is from Texas.

The Chick, apparently being of a lower mental caliber, didn't realize that statements made in Europe could be transmitted back to the US. Realizing that she now has to come back to America, and presumably her home in Texas, Natalie wished to rephrase her statement. She indicated that what she really meant to say was, "I love George W. Bush, worked on his campaign, and would be his love slave if he weren't an honorably married man. And I just want my Texas fans to know that I have purchased an AR-15 rifle and 300 rounds of .223 ball ammunition and have offered to go to Iraq and pick off a few human shields". The fact that almost every radio station in Texas has been bombarded with hate mail against the Chicks was also viewed as a factor in this latest statement.

This is a nice attempt Natalie, but the egg is out of the cartoon, the true nature of your feelings is exposed. Perhaps you and the other Nitwits of Fame will heed a proverb that I learned long ago........."Never miss a good chance to shut up!"

Don't leave the light on...
In a move that was not unexpected, the French hotel chain Sofitel surrendered it's Manhattan hotel today. The French tricolor was lowered and was quickly replaced on the flagstaff with the Stars and Stripes. Sofitel chairman Paul Charoy, by all accounts a Frenchman, said, "This is not a political consideration, the move is temporary and we just wanted to be safe." Of course the French are well known for switching sides temporarily and putting their own safety above political considerations, morals and world wide responsibility.

For you traveling budget minded Gaelic Boycotters, Sofitel is owned by Accor, whose units include U.S. motel chains Red Roof Inn and Motel 6. So tell them not to worry about leaving the light on for you, you'll be down the road at the Holiday Inn where the flag of the United States flies proudly all the time.

TeeVee Land.....
Tonight, world events were put on hold for the extravaganza presentation of the First Annual TV Land Awards. Oh what memories of happy times! It was good to see all the stars of years gone by in this gala event. Some impressions.

*Sally Struthers is just about as big around as she is tall. When did this happen? The last time I saw her raising money for starving waifs, she looked like one of them herself. She must have raised a lot of money....and bought her own food supply.

*Rob Reiner is still a Meathead. Parodying Michael Stivic, he had to sing a little anti-war song. Where's Archie when we needed him?

*Lee Majors, the 6 Million Dollar Man, now looks like about a dollar and change. I wouldn't have recognized him, looking this very old. But, receiving the Super Hero Award he countered the Meathead by offering a tribute "to the real heroes, our Armed Forces". Way to go 6 Million!

*Barbara Eden at whatever age.....still looks like a babe to me. I Dream of Jeannie!

*Best award: Don Knotts as the "Best Sidekick". It's strange seeing him so old, when every night at 9:00 pm. he's a young Barney.

* It was good to see many of the Star Trek crew back together! By the looks of them, William Shatner seems like he could pop at any minute and if Scottie survives another week we'll be lucky. And I thought he was so young.

* Agent 99, Barbara Feldon, is a really classy chick.

*David Cassidy, aka Keith Partridge, has grown up to look exactly like his dad, actor Jack Cassidy.

*Oh my God, even Larry Matthews, little Richie Petrie, is an old guy now. Where has time gone?

*Shocking: Leave it to Beaver was virtually ignored, though June Cleaver, Barbara Billingsley did make a guest appearance. Where are awards for Lumpy, Eddie and Larry Mondelo?

*And in the big surprise of the evening, Carl Reiner announced that he is writing one final episode of the Dick Van Dyke Show for the remaining original cast, Sally Rogers, Richie, Dick and Laura! Tune in to TeeVee Land.

Axis of almost evil....
I saw this item today posted on Sgt. Stryker's website and they credit the original to Andrew Marlatt, of SatireWire, so I'll take their word for it. In any event it's just too good not to pass on.
-------------------------------------

Bitter after being snubbed for membership in the "Axis of Evil," Libya, China, and Syria today announced they had formed the "Axis of Just as Evil," which they said would be more evil than that stupid Iran-Iraq-North Korea axis President Bush warned of in his State of the Union address. Axis of Evil members, however, immediately dismissed the new axis as having, for starters, a really dumb name. "Right. They are Just as Evil...in their dreams!" declared North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. "Everybody knows we're the best evils... best at being evil...we're the best."

Diplomats from Syria denied they were jealous over being excluded, although they conceded they did ask if they could join the Axis of Evil.

"They told us it was full," said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "An Axis can't have more than three countries," explained Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. "This is not my rule, it's tradition. In World War II you had Germany, Italy, and Japan in the evil Axis. So, you can only have three, and a secret handshake. Ours is wickedly cool."

International reaction to Bush's Axis of Evil declaration was swift, as within minutes, France surrendered. Elsewhere, peer-conscious nations rushed to gain triumvirate status in what became a game of geopolitical chairs. Cuba, Sudan, and Serbia said they had formed the "Axis of Somewhat Evil," forcing Somalia to join with Uganda and Myanmar in the "Axis of Occasionally Evil," while Bulgaria, Indonesia and Russia established the "Axis of Not So Much Evil Really As Just Generally Disagreeable."

With the criteria suddenly expanded and all the desirable clubs filling up...Sierra Leone, El Salvador, and Rwanda applied to be called the "Axis of Countries That Aren't the Worst But Certainly Won't Be Asked to Host he Olympics."

Canada, Mexico, and Australia formed the "Axis of Nations That Are Actually Quite Nice But Secretly Have Some Nasty Thoughts About America," while Scotland, New Zealand and Spain established the "Axis of Countries That Be Allowed to Ask Sheep to Wear Lipstick." "That's not a threat, really, just something we like to do," said Scottish Executive First Minister Jack McConnell.

While wondering if the other nations of the world weren't perhaps making fun of him, a cautious Bush granted approval for most axis, although he rejected the establishment of the Axis of Countries Whose Names End in "Guay," accusing one of its members of filing a false application. Officials from Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chadguay denied the charges.

Israel, meanwhile, insisted it didn't want to join any Axis, but privately, world leaders said that's only because no one asked them.

No Blood for Cash...
With a variety of talk floating around about just what interest the UN Security Council naysayers have in Iraq, I thought you would like to see some of the facts submitted by alert reader Joe Hannon. The information is from the conservative Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies at The Heritage Foundation, so factor that in...but facts is facts.

WHO BENEFITS FROM KEEPING SADDAM IN POWER?

FRANCE
• According to the CIA World Factbook, France controls over 22.5 percent of Iraq’s imports. French total trade with Iraq under the oil-for food program is the third largest, totaling $3.1 billion since 1996, according to the United Nations.
• Roughly 60 French companies do an estimated $1.5 billion in trade with Baghdad annually under the UN oil-for-food program.
• Total Fina Elf, France’s largest oil company, has negotiated a deal to develop the Majnoon field in Western Iraq. The Majnoon field purportedly contains up to 30 billion barrels of oil.
• Total Fina Elf also negotiated a deal for future oil exploration in Iraq’s Nahr Umar field. Both the Majnoon and Nahr Umar fields are estimated to contain as much as 25 percent of the country’s reserves.
• From 1981 to 2001, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), France was responsible for over 13 percent of Iraq’s arms imports.

GERMANY
• Direct two-way trade between Germany and Iraq amounts to about $350 million annually, and another $1 billion is reportedly sold through third parties/countries.
• It has recently been reported that Saddam Hussein has ordered Iraqi domestic businesses to show preference to German companies as a reward for Germany’s “firm positive stand in rejecting the launching of a military attack against Iraq.” It was also reported that over 101 German companies were present at the Baghdad Annual exposition.
• During the 35th Annual Baghdad International Fair in November 2002, a German company signed a contract for $80 million for 5,000 cars and spare parts.
• German officials are investigating a German corporation accused of illegally channeling weapons to Iraq via Jordan. The equipment in question is used for boring the barrels of large cannons, and is allegedly intended for Saddam Hussein’s Al Fao Supercannon project.

RUSSIA
• According to the CIA World Factbook, Russia controls roughly 5.8 percent of Iraq’s annual imports. Under the UN oil-for-food program, Russia’s total trade with Iraq totaled somewhere between $530 million and $1 billion for the six months ending in December of 2001.
• According to the Russia’s Ambassador to Iraq, Vladimir Titorenko, new contracts worth another $200 million under the UN oil-for-food
program are to be signed over the next 3 months.
• Soviet-era debt of $7 billion through $8 billion was generated by arms sales to Iraq during the 1980–1988 Iran–Iraq war. (February 28, 2003 Fact Sheet No. 1.)
• Russia’s LUKoil negotiated a $4 billion, 23-year contract in 1997 to rehabilitate the 15 billion–barrel West Qurna field in Southern Iraq. Work on the oil field was expected to commence upon cancellation of UN sanctions on Iraq. The deal is currently on hold.
• Russia’s Slavneft company is believed to have signed a deal around October 2001 with Iraq for a $52 million service contract to drill at the Tuba field in Southern Iraq.
• In October 2001, Slavneft, a Russian–Belaruscompany, negotiated a $52 million service contract or the Suba–Luhais field in southern Iraq. The oilfield is believed to hold at least 2 billion barrels. The contract is pending approval from the UN for additional drilling at the Luhais field.
• In April 2001, Russia’s Zaruezhneft company received a service contract to drill in the Saddam, Kirkuk, and Bai Hassan fields to rehabilitate the fields and reduce water incursion.
• A future $40 billion Iraqi–Russian economic agreement, reportedly signed in 2002, would allow for extensive oil exploration opportunities throughout western Iraq.
• Russia’s Gazprom company over the last few years has signed contracts worth $18 million to repair gas stations in Iraq. (Houston Chronicle).
• The former Soviet Union was the premier supplier of Iraqi arms. From 1981 to 2001 Russia has supplied Iraq with 50 percent of its arms.

CHINA
• According to the CIA World Factbook, China controls roughly 5.8 percent of Iraq’s annual imports.
• China National Oil Company has negotiated a deal for future oil exploration in the Al Ahdab field in Iraq. Total estimate of the contract is unknown.
• In recent years, the Chinese Aero-Technology Import–Export Company (CATIC) has been contracted to sell “meteorological satellite” and “surface observation” equipment to Iraq. This contract was approved by the UN oil-for-food program.
• CATIC also won approval from the UN in July 2000 to sell $2 million worth of fiber optic cables. This and similar contracts approved were disguised as telecommunications gear. These cables can be used for secure data and communications links between national command and control centers and long-range search radar, targeting radar, and missile-launch units, according to U.S. officials. In addition, China National Electric Wire & Cable and China National Technical Import Telecommunications Equipment Company are believed to have sold Iraq $6,104,000 and $15.5 million worth of communications equipment and other unspecified supplies, respectively.
• According to a report from SIPRI, from 1981 to 2001, China was the second largest supplier of weapons and arms to Iraq, supplying over 18 percent of Iraq’s weapon’s imports.

God Speed..!
I received the email below from Tim Millar today, a friend from the Ia Drang Vietnam, We Were Soldiers, bunch with whom I am connected. The email is from a friend of his, Linda, a Senior Flight Attendant with American Airlines who volunteered to work troop shuttle flights to the Middle East. Her idea is to line the inside of the aircraft with printed emails of support for our young men and women who may soon be in harms way. What won’t fit on the walls will be passed around so that every soldier on that plane will know that we are all behind them 100%. Hope you can help........!
-----------------------------------------

"I am one of thousands of volunteers who are working military charters to fly our troops over to the Middle East. On my last trip the one thing that stood out to me is how important it is for our troops to know that we care. Protests are making a big splash in the media and that's what they are leaving home with. Regardless of our position on war itself, I believe it is important to thank all these men and women who are putting their lives on hold and heading for the dangers on the tip of the spear.

I would like to collect as much e-mail as possible to print out and take with me on the next trip and display them on our aircraft walls for the troops to read. I know it would be so uplifting for them. Veterans, parents with children, teachers with students -- anyone who wants to express their support for our men and women, please send your e-mails to drkbay@charter.net".

Thank you one and all,
Linda

World Bites....
President Bush has imposed sanctions against the leadership of the anti-white Mugabe government in Zimbabwe and immediately they fire off the ulitimate and predicted "racist" charge against the US. The same US that feeds half of impoverished black Africa....and recently announced a 1.5 billion dollar AIDs package aimed at Africa including.......Zimbabwe.

And almost forgotten Chelsea Clinton gets a six figure job right out of college....as a consultant. Sources say the job offer was based strictly on merit and not on her looks or connections. In a note of wonderment, I've always pondered how anyone coming straight out of college can be a consultant on anything?

In business news the US economy could be permanently crippled....Broadway Musicians are on Strike. This is a vital sector of the US GNP affecting possiby .00000003% of the population. The French have urged Bush not to launch strikes and are sending violins. But thanks to "virtual music" the strike did not affect plays, and such productions as "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," "Take Me Out" and "Vincent in Brixton". I suppose this is good news, but it beats me, having never heard of any of these. My "broadway" exposure is limited to a high school production of Les Miserables I saw just last week. We had live musicians.

In very troubling news close to home, the Alamo is under seige by termites! The UN has urged restraint in handling the situation and wants to give Terminex inspections time to work. The termites are reportedly a virulent Mexican strain.

And in the most astounding development on the digital scene......the Blogger Template server is now working......... weeks after they announced that they had installed new miracle hardware that would prevent any further problems!

Tidbits....
Nothing says "no war, peace in the Middle East" like protesters ransacking and looting the store of a Middle Easterner...
Peace Protestors Riot

Nine years...
It was nine years ago today that I gave up alcohol. That's a long time between cold beers. I didn't give it up easily or without a fight. That's the way addictions are. You go down swinging. And far down I had gone. From losing almost everything I owned and everything I was to almost losing my life, I had sacrificed everything for the next drink. It now seems completely crazy that a high achieving, positive personality, well educated individual could have come to that point. And it is insane but that's what unchecked chemical addictions will do...to anyone no matter his personal strength, character or best of intentions.

The entire story, like most, is a long one and you won't be bored with it here. But suffice it to say that I lived five or so years of sheer hell and that AA saved my life along with the help of friends and family. Not only saved it but embued in me an entirely different outlook on life based on gratitude for things both big and small. And not that this came easily either. Through those years of selfishness I had imagined that I could solve my problems alone and by my force of will. So I drove just about every human who offered help away. At some times the only true friend I had was my golden retreiver "Ranger". In no small way he helped save my life, giving me that one small spark to continue on so I could take care of him. Thus the name of my website Big Gold Dog.

AA is more well known and accepted today than in earlier times. Society has come to grips with the notion that addictions are a sad fact of life, and it is rare that any family today is not touched by them in some fashion. But AA is still somewhat misunderstood. As we say, it is not a program of promotion, but one of attraction. It is not about or against drinking or alcohol, it is about finding a way to live life on life's terms without alcohol or drugs for me or anyone else attracted to that notion. It is not about fighting the battle everyday, it is about giving up the battle entirely. Once I truly surrendered to the fact that I had lost control over alcohol the battle was over. I can honestly say that the hell I lived through was in most ways worth it. I see things as I did not before.

And finally a word of thanks and gratitude to all those who stuck with me during those dark ugly years and those who came later who gave me the opportunity to live a new life. This Pepsi's for you!

Not my Daddy's Army any more......
In a "slap in yo face!" for future blonde jokes and a kick in the butt for the Islamonazi's I hope that you will take a long look at this proud photo and then come back to read....the rest of the story.

Ok, a great picture.....and these proud Americans are a first. The first all female crew to man [no pun intended, it's just a word] a KC-135 aircraft in a combat zone. The women are: Clockwise from lower left) 1stLt Alison, Capts Heather and Waynetta, and Senior Airman Lyndi [Last names withheld for operational security.] of the 376th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron of Robins Air Force Base, Ga. The story in the press release reads.
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......."They have been deployed here since Dec 9. Once inside the tanker, the women began their pre-flight and take-off duties with an ease borne of plenty of experience and skill. Most of them have deployed before, to places like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iceland and Thailand.

Between the four of them, they total almost 4,000 flying hours in the KC-135. The flight path to Afghanistan traversed three of the "Stans." The country itself remains a dangerous place. Just a few days before the historic flight, coalition forces on the ground encountered the heaviest fighting since Operation Anaconda last year. Norwegian F-16s from Ganci dropped munitions in support from the air.

Once over Afghanistan, the crew got down to business, refueling F-16s from the European participating air forces of Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway. Based at Ganci, the aircraft provide combat air support to coalition ground forces.

In the refueling world, the motto is, "Nobody kicks ass without Tanker gas." The crew emulated that motto when the boom operator connected two moving aircraft together on a night with 1 percent moon illumination.

"It's awesome knowing that I'm having a direct impact on the mission," said Lyndi on her 17th combat mission over Afghanistan. "The fighters couldn't put bombs on target without gas, and I'm the one who gets it to
them," she said. More than 50,000 combat missions have been flown in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In all, Lyndi refueled 10 European F-16s during the flight, off-loading 63,000 pounds of fuel. "I'm accomplishing something with my Air Force career," said Alison. This is especially true in the case of OEF, an operation that more than 1,800 women support, according to the public affairs office at Central Air Forces, the air component of U.S. Central Command.

"I've always thought the greatest thing I could do with my life was to serve my country and be willing to die for it -- for my family, my neighbors, people I don't even know," Waynetta said. "Now, we're here supporting troops in Afghanistan who are defending our freedom and way of life." Basking in the early morning sunlight, the tanker headed
back to Ganci. As the snow-capped mountains poked out above the clouds, the women reflected on the significance of the flight. "All we wanted was to fly together," said Lyndi. "I'm so excited we got to do it."

"We believe in equality," Waynetta said. "But, the fact of the matter is, we're still girls and we're doing something our grandmothers couldn't do."
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You go girls.....we're damn proud of you....no blonde jokes from me. The only question I have is, "Are you old enough to drive?"

Mid-East TV Guide...
Not wanting to appear to be culturally insensitive I thought I would publish this weeks TV fare for Middle Eastern readers.

SUNDAY
7:30 - My 33 Sons
8:00 - Osama Knows Best
8:30 - Let's Mecca Deal
9:00 - I Dream of Jihad
9:30 - The Kabul Hillbillies

MONDAY
7:00 - Husseinfeld
7:30 - Mad About Everything
8:00 - Monday Night Stoning
8:30 - Win Bin Laden's Money
9:00 - Allah McBeal

TUESDAY
7:30 - Wheel of Terror
8:00 - The Price is Right.... if Saddam Says It's Right
8:30 - Children are Forbidden from Saying the Darndest Things
9:00 - Taliban's Wackiest Public Execution Bloopers
9:30 - Buffy the Yankee Imperialist Dog Slayer

WEDNESDAY
7:00 - Beat the Press
8:00 - When Kurds Attack
8:30 - Two Guys, a Girl, and Pita Bread
9:00 - Just Shoot Everyone
9:30 - Veilwatch

THURSDAY
7:00 - Fatima Loves Chachi
7:30 - M*U*S*T*A*S*H
8:00 - Survivor Iraq [chemical attack episode-repeat]
8:30 - Married with 139 Children
9:00 - Eye for an Eye Witness News

FRIDAY
7:00 - Judge Saddam
7:30 - Suddenly Sanctions
8:00 - Who Wants to Marry a Terrorist Millionaire
8:30 - Cave and Garden Television
9:00 - No Witness Left Alive News

SATURDAY
8:00 - Spongebob Squareturban
8:30 - Who's Koran Is It Anyway?
9:00 - Teletalibans
9:30 - Camel 54, Where Are you?

If you know of any programs we have omitted please add them in the "comments" section.
**Courtesy of alert TeeVee viewer Don Dulin

Changes in Attitudes, Changes in Latitudes...
Whatever the final outcome of the campaign to rid Iraq and the world of a mass murderer, I sincerely hope that the leadership in the USA will at long last change the way we use our wealth and bounty. Since the end of WWII the US has been the leading nation in the world's supply of foodstuffs, medicine and humanitarian assistance to the more needy, if not unappreciative, flotsam on the globe. In truth, the reason was partially selfish and self serving. In the mid part of the twentieth century there was a serious and real threat that Russia and China would spread their communist influence to less developed and unstable nations. They did this by handing out money and protection. We needed to "compete" with the red menace for the affections of the disadvantaged by in effect buying their loyalty, or at least their compliance. Right or wrong, this was the way it was for 50+ years.

But the world has changed with the new millenium. In the Western World, Russia spent itself out, literally and figuratively, and their former client states are now thirsting for capitalistic democracy. In the East, China has made some small steps towards capitalism or at least a more moderate form of communism, while robust capitalism in Japan and Korea acts as a blunting force to whatever communistic urges may linger in the Red Dragon. The young people in China are on the Internet. They have had a taste of capitalist decedance...they won't go backwards. And for all the angst and blood over Vietnam, it is becoming more clear that it had the desired effect on ambitions of tyrannts in the East. We lost that campaign, but we are winning the war.

For several decades, I believe, the middle majority of America has had a gnawing feeling that the global pigs had been feeding at our trough for too long. In the past we could see the benefit of slopping the hogs to keep some order, if not status quo in the world. This has changed with the campaign against Saddam, visibly changed, and the middle of America can feel and taste it. The US supplies half of all the world's relief in the form of food supplies to the weak and wandering. Half. And we get 2/3rds of the worlds hate directed back towards us. We announce that we will contribute billions of dollars to help relieve Africa's AIDS sorrows and we are derided in the major capitals of Europe as having designs on conquering the world. Through monetary and military assistance to Turkey we have helped them in becoming a modern nation, and they repay this with a vote of no assistance, even though we are trying to rid them of a murderous neighbor on their very border.

The time for change has come. Big changes. How well we could use some of the trilions we give away each year if we were to dedicate this money in helping our own citizens to have better lives through lower taxes, better schools, feeding the poor and a modern healthcare system for all. So....Turkey, you are a democracy, we acknowledge your right to vote as you see fit, but don't expect another dime from us. No credit either. Hey "non aligned" nations of central Africa, we hate to see it, but seems you may well starve because our breadbasket is closing and those who don't starve may die of AIDS, it's not really our problem. Germany, we are putting a "For Sale" sign on our bases in your country, closing the doors and moving to Lithuania or Estonia. They appreciate the cost of freedom there, and they'll also appreciate the extra billions in their treasury.

The time has come to stop giving money to people who don't like us. To not like us is their privelage, but we don't to have clothe and feed them so that they can throw stones at us. It's time for us to cut the marginal nations of the world free to swim, sink, die or get their bread from France. It's time to start developing better relations with countries who are among the up and coming. And not just coming up with their hands out. Countries in our own hemisphere like Brazil and Mexico where, though with their own troubles, they are making strides in democracy and workable capitalism. Countries in the East like the Phillipines and India. These are countries that have promise, countries who for the most part appreciate a capitalist democracy and moreover know that sometimes you must fight to preserve it.

I can only hope that our legislators, in the coming years, won't let our American spirit of generorsity override the treatment we have been accorded by much of the world in the last 9 months. Tell them, "Uncle Sugar's" checkbook is closed. Let the hogs get their slop courtesy of another trough.
Call it tough love.

Mr. TeeVee.....
My good friend, business partner and fellow bon vivante Joe Galloway sends me this note about his next TeeVee appearance tonight on CNN....

"I taped a little spot as the Newsmaker of the Week to broadcast Saturday night on CNN Capitol Gang with Al Hunt. Show goes on at 9pm est; my segment shortly after 9:30pm est. Watch. They gonna use some movie clips, pix of me with the gun etc etc as background".

The picture he refers to is one of him from Vietnam, sporting his correspondents beret and totin' a Swedish Automatic rifle. I sent them this picture from our files the last time he appeared on CNN......glad to see they're getting the mileage out of it.