Dwayne Wade Should Know There Is No Place In Sports For 9/11

On Sunday before his charity All-Star event Miami Heat superstar Dwayne Wade made comments to the reporters gathered amongst him. Wade said:

“There’s going to be times when we might lose one, two games in a row, maybe two games, three games in a row, you never know. It’s going to seem like the world is crashed down. You all are going to make it seem like the World Trade has just went down again. But it’s not going to be nothing but a couple basketball games lost and we’ll have to get back on track.”

The Rolling Stone Interview Shows Afghanistan Can Not Be Won

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General Stanley McChrystal’s piece in the magazine Rolling Stone is being talked about in the media about all the “offensive” things that him and his aides say about the Obama administration. After reading the article it becomes clear that there is a hidden message between the lines. Afghanistan cannot be won. The war is un-winnable. It’s gone on longer than Vietnam and there is still no end in sight. The article in Rolling Stone is a great read and the media will love the quotes that bash Obama and make the General look like a sophmore on spring-break more than the leader of the greatest military in this world. To me the most offensive thing in it was the fact that the General drinks “Bud Light Lime”.

After reading it I don’t know if I like the guy or hate the guy. One thing is certain I respect the guy. Here is a comment from the article-

McChrystal dismissed the counterterrorism strategy being advocated by Vice President Joe Biden as “shortsighted,” saying it would lead to a state of “Chaos-istan.” The remarks earned him a smackdown from the president himself, who summoned the general to a terse private meeting aboard Air Force One.

I hate to admit it but Biden may be on to something. He envisions small groups of Special Forces and drone strikes. I hate Biden and think he’s a clown but the current strategy is not working.

He (Obama) ordered another 21,000 troops to Kabul, the largest increase since the war began in 2001. Taking the advice of both the Pentagon and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he also fired Gen. David McKiernan – then the U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan – and replaced him with a man he didn’t know and had met only briefly: Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

He accumulated more than 100 hours of demerits for drinking, partying and insubordination – a record that his classmates boasted made him a “century man.” (concerning McChrystal’s record at West Point)

Obama got his guy. McChrsytal. If Obama didn’t know what or who McChrystal was then shame on him. Just another indication of his amateur hour Presidency that we witness on a day by day basis.

According to sources familiar with the meeting, McChrystal thought Obama looked “uncomfortable and intimidated” by the roomful of military brass.

He should be. He knows that he’s in a room full of guys who have accomplished some major things. Some men and women who have sacrificed everything in their lives “to protect and defend the Constitution”.  These are people Obama has no clue how to interact with. He knows they expect results from their underlings and when they say things lives hang in the balance. Obama is very unfamiliar with that.

Then, without ever using the words “victory” or “win,” Obama announced that he would send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, almost as many as McChrystal had requested. The president had thrown his weight, however hesitantly, behind the counterinsurgency crowd.

McChrystal wanted 40,000 troops. Obama sent 30,000. If your willing to send 30 why can’t you send 40? Obama wants to appear like he’s a hawk on this issue. The numbers show the truth. Either your all in or your not.

“It’s not going to look like a win, smell like a win or taste like a win,” says Maj. Gen. Bill Mayville, who serves as chief of operations for McChrystal. “This is going to end in an argument.”

This is what the Chief of Operations has to say. Very cryptic.

In private, Team McChrystal likes to talk shit about many of Obama’s top people on the diplomatic side. One aide calls Jim Jones, a retired four-star general and veteran of the Cold War, a “clown” who remains “stuck in 1985.” Politicians like McCain and Kerry, says another aide, “turn up, have a meeting with Karzai, criticize him at the airport press conference, then get back for the Sunday talk shows. Frankly, it’s not very helpful.”

That is pretty self explanatory. And disturbing.

“Fuck, when I came over here and heard that McChrystal was in charge, I thought we would get our fucking gun on,” says Hicks, who has served three tours of combat. “I get COIN. I get all that. McChrystal comes here, explains it, it makes sense. But then he goes away on his bird, and by the time his directives get passed down to us through Big Army, they’re all fucked up – either because somebody is trying to cover their ass, or because they just don’t understand it themselves. But we’re fucking losing this thing.”

The soldiers serving over there are left feeling vulnerable and feeling like they are fighting with one hand tied behind their backs. Would you want to fight the Taliban with one hand tied behind your back? Notice the words “we’re losing this fucking thing.” It’s not being said by a member of Code Pink.

“It’s all very cynical, politically,” says Marc Sageman, a former CIA case officer who has extensive experience in the region. “Afghanistan is not in our vital interest – there’s nothing for us there.”

I would assume that all the members of Al-Qaeda who were participants in 9/11 have been captured or killed except for the big two. Zarquairi and Bin Laden. Who are we fighting now? Taliban? Afghans? What do we gain by staying there?

Celeste Ward, a senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation who served as a political adviser to U.S. commanders in Iraq in 2006. “That’s the game we’re in right now. What we need, for strategic purposes, is to create the perception that we didn’t get run off. The facts on the ground are not great, and are not going to become great in the near future.”

Is that what this is all about? War for war’s sake. Keep throwing men, machines and money into the meat grinder in some satanic game of chicken? Are we trying to avoid another Saigon? Is it a sin for a country to realize that a war is a lost cause? When America left Vietnam did America survive after that? Yes. We did our damage to Al Qaeda and we killed a lot of enemies over there. How many more young Americans have to lose arms and legs and lives for us to get the message that Afghanistan is a sewer not worth our effort?

“There’s a possibility we could ask for another surge of U.S. forces next summer if we see success here,” a senior military official in Kabul tells me.

If that is the case then re-instate the draft. It’s too much to keep asking people who volunteer to serve to have to be in a un-winnable situation. If it’s so important to America then all Americans should have to step up to the plate. And start the draft with the children of the highest tax brackets first. None of this poor and black go first garbage. Then we will see how committed our country is to Afghanistan.

“Winning hearts and minds in COIN is a coldblooded thing,” McChrystal says, citing an oft-repeated maxim that you can’t kill your way out of Afghanistan. “The Russians killed 1 million Afghans, and that didn’t work.”

I can say honestly if Afghans can’t decide or won’t decide if they want to support America or the Taliban then they need to get what’s coming to them when the Taliban role back in country en mass. There should be NO DEBATE about winning hearts and minds. If they can’t decide if THEY want to risk their lives to save their own country or they would prefer the Taliban then we need to leave.

As for McChrystals’ comment that “The Russians killed 1 million Afghans and that didn’t work.” Well it’s not like they fought Russia alone. They had tremendous support from America in the form of weapons and manpower and money from the Middle East. Take away America’s stinger missiles and it’s a different war. We all know that Pakistan is helping the Taliban. If that is not a sign of how messed up the situation is then what is?

There is a reason that President Obama studiously avoids using the word “victory” when he talks about Afghanistan. Winning, it would seem, is not really possible. Not even with Stanley McChrystal in charge.

All the major media will drone on and on about McCrystals’ comments that are disparaging to Obama and his advisors but the serious subject matter is the question of “Can America win this war?” “How long do we have to be there?” “How much will it continue to cost?” “How many more lives of Americans do we have to deliver to Afghanistan for victory? “Do we even know what victory is?”

I like war just as much as the next average American. I supported Iraq and I still think it was poorly executed but strategically sound. It took out Saddam Hussein and put Iran in a tough position. But even that war wasn’t won til the Iraqi’s got a taste of Al Qaeda in their neighborhoods, turned on them and literally chased them out of An-Bar province, and the surrounding provinces.

When do the Afghani’s decide what they want? Only then will America understand what they will get. Either go in full throttle or get out. No in-betweens. We can’t keep our troops in Afghanistan to die a death of a thousand cuts. If you feel that I’m being a lefty or a liberal, then sign up your son or daughter, and we can debate who’s a patriot another day.

56Rebels

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A reading from the Gospel of Carlin

George Carlin via last.fm

I found this video on YouTube of one of George Carlins concerts. I remember watching this and it always stuck with me. George Carlin was a professional comedian. But he was also much more. He was a prophet. There was something about his act that would scream out “Here is the TRUTH!” It was beautiful. It was scary. But above all it was funny. Enjoy it. Let it sink in. And really think about it. This from the man who told us years before 9/11 that airport security was an illusion to make people feel safe. He was right. When he died, a piece of Americana died with him. What I would give for one George Carlin/Obama joke. Just one.

Enjoy the video. It’s probably not safe for work because of language. But listen to what he has to say. A reading from the Gospel of Carlin.

“Who Really Controls America”

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56Rebels

“Willfully doing LSD experiments for the C.I.A. since 1952″

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• Book of George Carlin writings coming next year (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

I don’t think Barry likes us. But he is creating jobs!

I have to admit sometimes I’m blinded by things. I see things and I want to believe they are true. I want to believe that other people have no idea what they are talking about. That they are just chicken little’s with their sky is falling chatter. What makes me great though is I will admit when I was wrong. I’m not some Chris Matthews who will defend, defend, defend. I cut people the benefit of the doubt. I judge them by their actions. Or inaction’s. I give them the rope to hang themselves with. I was wrong. I have said before many a time “I like Obama. I think he’s a cool guy”. I don’t always agree with all his policies but he’s the President, he’s smarter than me, and let’s see where he’s going with this. The problem is that, though I may like Barack Obama, I don’t think he likes us. Why J.P. do you feel this way? Well yesterday I heard the most amazing thing I’ve ever heard in my adult life.  It appears that Barry went into the Lions Den and appeared on the Today Show. He sat down with that hardest of hardcore political reporters. Matt Lauer. Yes THE Matt Lauer. Matt asked him the toughest question ever.

Lauer: “Have you spoken directly to Tony Hayward the C.E.O. of BP?

Barry: “I have not spoken to him directly and here is the reason…” “My experience is when you talk to a guy like the BP C.E.O he’s gonna say all the right things to me.”

Lauer: “In all due respect that feels strange to me….I’m curious as to why you wouldn’t pick up the phone and give him a piece of your mind.”

Lauer: “He doesn’t work for you (C.E.O of BP) but if he did would you want him out?

Barry: “He wouldn’t be working for me after any of those statements.”

Back to reality. “He wouldn’t be working for me after any of those statements???” Don’t mind the huge nature holocaust on the Gulf Coast or the destruction of people’s livelihood. Those statements are where I draw the line! The guy was in charge of the company that continuously violated safety rules and he would only get fired for those statements? Chef Ramsey of Hell’s Kitchen fired a guy for undercooking  the risotto twice! Are you kidding me Barry! Give me a break. And yes I refer to you as Barry until YOU start acting Presidential and get s**t done! Your on every f**king TV show breaking down the NBA finals and yet you honestly don’t give a rat’s tail about the people of the Gulf. Hmmm. I wonder why? Oh I know why.

Red States will defend America from the oil. Because if you didn't vote Obama your not part of America.

It’s politics. Pure and simple. These states have no impact on whether Obama gets re-elected and he knows it and Rahm Emanuel knows it. So they don’t care. It’s hysterical that “Mr. I Hate Corporate America” leaves everything in the hands of a foreign corporation. It’s so funny I want to cry.

Enough of my rant. Yesterday I recieved a complaint from an old friend who was upset that I ridiculed Joe Biden‘s family fun fest. And by family fun-fest I mean him, his family, white house insiders, and media people. As DaisyJacobs said to me,”It’s not a coincidence that the administration is in such bad shape that they are inviting reporters to Bar-B-Q-’s.” She’s smart. My friend also went on a rant about my comment that “Rahm secretly wished he was shooting children with a shot gun.” Now come on. Does he even know Rahm’s reputation? Does he really think, I think, Rahm wants to shoot children with a shot-gun? In honesty I think he does, but Rahm would never admit it. If anyone was offended by that joke I apologize. And to Rahm Emanuel please don’t confront me while your naked in a shower. That’s too much.

I have to admit though Barry Obama wasn’t lying. He promised to create jobs and he has come through. He’s created a whole bunch in the beach oil cleanup field. One minuscule caveat- You must sign a waiver releasing BP from all cancer causing chemical claims. This is great! The longer the oil gusher goes the more jobs created! Barry you are more than a “community organizer”! You are a genius economist! I love you Barry!

For people who claim that since the oilspill is on Obama’s watch then it’s his responsibility. Than 9/11 must be Gorge Bush’s. I agree. My rule is if you have gone on one vacation, than you are responsible for EVERYTHING, that happens during your administration. It’s just a silly rule.

BP has made a statement that net proceeds from oil recovered will go to benefit the wildlife of the region. When asked when they could expect the payments, BP responded, “Once the wildlife open a bank account or fill out this 10 page form with their current address. We will get the checks on their way.” BP really cares! They really do!

When asked for comment by 56 Rebels about how they planned to compensate the world for the all the dead animals and the murder of endangered species? BP responded,” Not even Noah saved all the animals!” Now get the f**k out of here!” (In a British accent of course)

Bill Clinton calls Louisiana Senator David Vitter a “sinner“. (Insert any joke you want here)

Fashion model Naomi Campbell

Not only does she talk on cell phones but she throws them at maids as well.

who has quite a reputation is refusing to “use stairs“. Now Ms.Campbell, how are you ever going to get into heaven if you don’t use stairs? Editor’s Note-She really is a disgusting human being.

Speaking of disgusting human beings Gary Coleman’s wife has sold his death pictures for $10,000. And is requesting $50,000 for interviews. Who does she think she is Sarah Ferguson?

The funny thing about Obama’s campaign is everyone compared him to Superman. When what we really needed is Aquaman.

Maybe in 2012 he'll run...or swim...whatever, just give me another option than Obama.

This was a great comment on Hot Air- about Barry Obama.

“Daddy, who’s ass did you kick today? Daddy did you play golf today or go to the beach and play with some tar balls? Daddy what enemy of the United States Ass did you KISS today? Daddy you are an awesome ass kicker and ass kisser as well! For the first time in my young life I’m proud of my role modeling daddy president!” Marcos -Commenter on Hot Air

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

You can subscribe to my blog in the top right by pressing the “Become a Rebel” button or by pressing the Feed Icon to get it delivered directly to your reader. Subscriptions are free. Do you think anyone would pay for this mindless drivel? And if my “picking on Obama” bothers you, go find a Russian immigrant and ask him what happened to people “who picked” on Stalin. Gotta love this country.

56 Rebels

“Telling Communists to tear down walls since 1987″

Soldiers, Firemen, Policemen, and Flight Attendants?

Soldiers, Firemen, Policemen and Flight Attendants. Reminds me of the days when I would watch Sesame Street as a child.  During that time they would do a short skit called “One of these things is not like the other.” You may recall it. As the War on Terror progresses or digresses, as it appears, each one of these “jobs” is on the frontline of the battle. We all know the sacrifices that soldiers make to bring some sort of law and order to foreign lands that more resemble the planet Tattoine in Star Wars then 21st Century Earth. At least they have weapons and body armor. We know that policemen or women died on 9/11 saving lives and confronting the evil of terrorism. In the future the men and women who wear the badge will find themselves face to face with terrorists maybe even here on the streets of America or the malls or movie theatres. As we have seen in Russia, or Bombay, or even Fort Hood. We know that firemen and women took the brunt of the pain of 9/11.  Three hundred and forty-three died that day. And with the way Al-Qaeda sets up their attacks they hit a target once then wait for the first responders and then they hit it again. These men and women must know what they lay on the line on a normal day. Let alone when Al-Qaeda has you in their sites.

And then we come to Flight Attendants. It seems they may or may not know that the uniform they wear makes them targets. Why anyone would want this job beats the hell out of me. The payscale runs from $18,000 to $45,000 a year. They are not armed,they don’t wear body armor, and they are on the front lines. How could you sign up for a job where you give out pillows and drinks, then have to fight the lowest lives on this planet. It baffles me. What kind of union do they work for? They see people on Terrorist Watch Lists get on flights and then expect their union members with minimal pay and minimal training to fight some insane Muslim bent on destruction and death. Where is their leadership? Where is their protection? Who gives a voice to the voiceless? When does the leadership of the flight attendants and air personal say either get our people protected or you don’t fly with them! When does President Obama (More Pro-Union then Jimmy Hoffa) say it’s not fair to these people. That people doing their jobs under stressful and dangerous conditions, who get paid less than a manager at McDonald’s, don’t have to be locked aboard a submarine with wings with wannabe mass murderers! A Terrorist Watch List is not designed to watch terrorists get on board a plane. When a psychotic killer’s father comes to the U.S. Embassy and say’s my son is with religious extremists. It’s time to take things serious.

Americans learned a hard lesson on 9/11. For arguments sake we were sucker punched. No one was fired. No one’s head rolled. For Christ’s sake George Tenet of the C.I.A. was given a medal. It is up to President Obama to get the message out. Incompetence and ignorance will get you fired. Someone has to lose their job. No if’s, ands, or buts. Whether it was someone in the State Department or Homeland Security they must be out of the business of protecting Americans. President Obama must be the voice of the voiceless now. Every shift the people who work on those flights put their lives on the line. Not only do they have to deal with airlines that cut back on their own maintenance budget in the name of the bottom line. They also have pilot error, or people from other countries who want to slice their heads off in front of their customers. We were warned before 9/11 and we ignored the threat and we payed a horrible price. No more warnings. Americans deserve results. So do these flight attendants.

56 Rebels

How to Win in Afghanistan. Seriously.

927. That’s the number of soldiers who have died in Afghanistan according to Washingtonpost.com- Fallen Heroes Project as of today. That’s almost 1000. Every life lost impacts a mother, a father, a brother, a sister, or even a son or daughter. And according to the powers that be we can expect a surge of casulties to increase as our planned troop levels increase. Not too appealing. Every American knows why we are there. And I have a plan to get us out or at least keep our troops out of the crosshairs.

Now to win in Afghanistan we need to set  clear goals . I was under the impression that we went to Afghanistan to kill Osama Bin Laden and drive out the Taliban who were harboring him.  Eight years later and we have no trace or intelligence that leads us to believe we know where he is at. Is he in the Swat Valley? Maybe he is and maybe he’s not. America had our chance to kill him at Tora Bora and the powers that be were either too incompetent or were not interested in letting America’s Boogie Man get taken out of the picture for any myriad of reasons.

Vice President Joe Biden likes to throw out some bizarre mathematics when he says “we have $1 invested in Pakistan for every $30 we have invested in Afghanistan”.   Joe Biden would like to see that number reversed. With reasons that range from “that’s where Al-Qaeda is” or that “Pakistan is the country with nukes” and that endangers America more than Afghanistan. Well Joe your wrong. Afghanistan needs that much because they have nothing. Zilch. Zero. Pakistan is getting more than enough money. They have an economy. They can even afford nuclear weapons. You know those pointy things that demolish a city. Yeah, they have them and fighter planes. So excuse me if I don’t think that we should have to buy them billions of dollars of weapons and equipment so the Afghans can beat back the Taliban with prayer rugs. According to Joe Biden’s philosophy we should give all the college funding money to rich white kids. Why? Because their the ones who go to college. We need to build up Afghanistan period. Pakistan is playing us. I’m not saying that they haven’t done a good job in the War on Terror. They caught Khalid-Sheik Mohammed, the mastermind behind 9/11, and other Al-Qaeda cronies. Back during the Cold War nations knew that if you went to America and told them you had Communists in your country and needed help the money would pour in. That is the same situation with Pakistan. They will do just enough to make us happy but not enough to destroy the problem because big money is to tied to their struggle with Al-Qaeda. Once AQ is done, so is the gravy train.We must continue funding Afghanistan.

Every talking head on television loves to come on the screen and sprout off “Afghanistan is ruled by warlords”. And? That is a bonus. A country ruled by lords of war. Because we are fighting a war. The game is to get the “warlords” to fight our enemy. Basically in a nutshell what we need to do is give these “warlords” an incentive to keep their territory free from Taliban and Al-Qaeda. How? Real simple. There is an old Afghan saying,” you can’t  buy an Afghan. You can only rent him”. Now what we need to do is make these warlords rich by having them deliver peace. We need to have our CIA/Military figure out who has muscle in that country. Who can protect civilians and keep peace and quiet. Who are the political and military Alpha-males. Once we identify these people we need to make them this offer. If you can get roads paved and built in your area we will give you x amount of dollars. For every school and clinic that opens and does not get destroyed or harmed. We will give you x amount of dollars. For every IED or soldier that gets harmed in your territory you will forfeit a percentage of your monthly income that you generated by the roads, schools, and clinics.  For every Al-Qaeda you capture or kill you will be rewarded.  You can get more bees with honey.

Buy up the poppy crop. We are continously told that the poppy crop is funding the insurgency or the Taliban/Al-Qaeda. Ok. We know the farmers are going to grow the poppies. We have to accept that. In return we buy up the crop so that our enemies can’t use it for funding. Once we have it we then destroy it. Now the farmers have a customer in us and not an adversary. And the Taliban will have to find another way to make money.

Finally use Americans as the backup for the Warlords.  If the Warlords are having problems with Taliban and Al-Qaeda they can ask for help and it will not hurt their financial bottom line. We need to know where and who the insurgents are then we can destroy them. To have our soldiers playing Kabul Policeman is ridiculous. Afghans need to learn to protect their country. We have bought them enough time. Now we are there to help. But to drive from town to town and get blown up by I.E.D.’s is only going to lose the war. We need to make progress every day and every hour. Progress is a semblence of normalcy.

These are just some ideas that I feel could help. Afghanistan is an empire killer. But America does not fall into the trap that other countries have in the past. We do not want to own Afghanistan. We want them to be able, so that when we leave, they can beat back the Taliban. Without a Taliban then there is possibly no free hand for Al-Qaeda to build camps and re-start up the process that was before America came. No Taliban in Afghanistan. No Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. And then when we look at Afghanistan we can see cleary that  we have won.