“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Professor Longhair, Big Chief Video ( How you getting back?)
Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal was forced to retire because of remarks he made to a Rolling Stone reporter. Having read the article that led to his departure, I feel strangely validated. "The Runaway General" described by journalist Michael Hastings is exactly the arrogant individual I believed him to be.
McChrystal was in charge of Joint Special Operations Command in 2004, when my son, Pat, was killed in Afghanistan. But I didn't become aware of him until March 2007. That's when someone anonymously sent an Associated Press reporter a copy of a high-priority correspondence. The memo was written on April 29, 2004, by McChrystal and sent to Gen. John P. Abizaid, Gen. Bryan Douglas Brown and Lt. Gen. Philip R. Kensinger Jr. Its purpose was to warn President George W. Bush and other officials to avoid making public comments about Pat's heroic death at the hands of the enemy, because it was beginning to seem "highly possible that Corporal Tillman was killed by friendly fire."
The memo went on to caution against "unknowing statements by our country's leaders which might cause public embarrassment if the circumstances of Corporal Tillman's death become public." ...
The memo makes it clear there was no intention of telling the truth unless circumstances made it absolutely necessary. Much later, during Brig. Gen. Gary Jones' investigation of Pat's death, McChrystal was asked why we were kept in the dark.
"Question: Once you became aware that this was a possible fratricide, was there a conscious decision made not to tell the family of the possibility?"
"Witness: There was a conscious decision on who we told about the potential because we did not know all the facts. I did tell the senior leadership [long redaction] about the possibility prior to the memorial ceremony, because I felt they needed to know that before the ceremony. I believe that we did not tell the family of the possibility because we didn't want to give them a half-baked finding."
McChrystal says they didn't want to give us a half-baked finding. Yet that is exactly what they did. Rather than being told there were questions about Pat's death, we were presented with a contrived story, an absolute lie about how he had been killed by enemy fire.
...
... Even the medical examiner called for a criminal investigation, but the adjutant general prevented it from going forward. By covering up the circumstances of Pat's death, McChrystal and the rest of the chain of command may have, knowingly or unknowingly, covered up a crime. ... ...The truth shines a light on systematic corruption, incompetence and lack of accountability in the military and in government.
Over the last five years, the Pentagon and Congress have had numerous opportunities to hold accountable those responsible for the coverup of Pat's death. Each time they've failed. The government didn't just lie to us; it lied to a nation.
Parkour (sometimes abbreviated to PK), or l'art du déplacement (English: the art of movement) is the physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle within one's path by adapting one's movements to the environment.[1] It is a non-competitive, physical discipline of French origin in which participants run along a route, attempting to negotiate obstacles in the most efficient way possible. Skills such as jumping and climbing, or the more specific parkour moves are employed. The goal of a practitioner of parkour, called a traceur if male, or traceuse if female, is to get from one place to another using only the human body and the objects in the environment. The obstacles can be anything in one's environment, but parkour is often seen practiced in urban areas because of the many suitable public structures available such as buildings and rails.
The term freerunning is sometimes used interchangeably with parkour. While freerunning is more to do with expressing yourself within your environment, parkour is aiming to get from A to B the fastest. However, there is some controversy over the exact definitions of the two terms. Though disputed, many "parkour purists" say that the biggest difference has to do with theatrics. Free-running involves a lot of trick moves, particularly aerial rotations and spins. Because these moves are merely showy, not economical, and do not actually help the participant to get from place to place, they are considered contrary to the nature of parkour. A free-runner may also move backwards in order to make a move as flashy as possible. This is contrary to the philosophy originally laid down by David Belle. Although Sebastian Foucan co-founded parkour, he is more often associated with the sport of free running.
Nick Mason's drum segue beginning at about 4:40 in the Pink Floyd link...I've listened to that fifteen seconds I don't know how many hundreds of times.
Almost as good as Neil Peart in the last fifteen seconds of Rush's Limelight. Almost.
A bridegroom in Turkey has accidentally killed three relatives while firing an AK-47 in celebration at his own wedding, Turkish media reported.
The groom lost control of the weapon as he tried to fire in traditional celebration in the air at the ceremony in the village of Akcagoze in south-eastern Gaziantep province.
The guests were sprayed with bullets and the groom's father and two aunts were killed.
The groom has been arrested.
The Anatolia news agency reported that eight other people were injured in the firing.
The three who died succumbed to their wounds in hospital.
Firing into the air is commonplace as a celebration in parts of Turkey and has on many occasions led to deaths and injuries.
Turkey has tried to impose harsher penalties but has not ended the practice.
Hotels in Rome - Rome-Hotels-Near help you to select the hotels in Rome that best meet your personal tastes, desires and needs. Here you can see pictures and find detailed information on all Rome hotels and can choose your favourite based on hotel category, price or location. Find the best Rome Italy hotels and Rome cheap hotels here.
trouble for Dem seeking Byrd's WV senate seat
ReplyDeleteWV would like this son...good man, gutsy and decisive [once saw him make a traffic stop on Ramstein]...
Robert H. Foglesong
Big deal. I do that every morning before breakfast....
ReplyDelete;)
There's something "wrong" with that video, I think. :)
ReplyDeleteCute..
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the Obama's administration.
Except that every leap (admin success) is a crash to the ground, except the last leap...
that's where we are now...
...superb!
ReplyDeleteThe must have sticky stuff on there shoes.
ReplyDeleteHere you go, allen, Mrs Tillman's, whom you held as an authority on his death, take on her son's murder.
ReplyDeleteMary Tillman speaks on Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal and his role in covering up the truth about her son's death.
Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal was forced to retire because of remarks he made to a Rolling Stone reporter. Having read the article that led to his departure, I feel strangely validated. "The Runaway General" described by journalist Michael Hastings is exactly the arrogant individual I believed him to be.
McChrystal was in charge of Joint Special Operations Command in 2004, when my son, Pat, was killed in Afghanistan. But I didn't become aware of him until March 2007. That's when someone anonymously sent an Associated Press reporter a copy of a high-priority correspondence. The memo was written on April 29, 2004, by McChrystal and sent to Gen. John P. Abizaid, Gen. Bryan Douglas Brown and Lt. Gen. Philip R. Kensinger Jr. Its purpose was to warn President George W. Bush and other officials to avoid making public comments about Pat's heroic death at the hands of the enemy, because it was beginning to seem "highly possible that Corporal Tillman was killed by friendly fire."
The memo went on to caution against "unknowing statements by our country's leaders which might cause public embarrassment if the circumstances of Corporal Tillman's death become public."
...
The memo makes it clear there was no intention of telling the truth unless circumstances made it absolutely necessary. Much later, during Brig. Gen. Gary Jones' investigation of Pat's death, McChrystal was asked why we were kept in the dark.
"Question: Once you became aware that this was a possible fratricide, was there a conscious decision made not to tell the family of the possibility?"
"Witness: There was a conscious decision on who we told about the potential because we did not know all the facts. I did tell the senior leadership [long redaction] about the possibility prior to the memorial ceremony, because I felt they needed to know that before the ceremony. I believe that we did not tell the family of the possibility because we didn't want to give them a half-baked finding."
McChrystal says they didn't want to give us a half-baked finding. Yet that is exactly what they did. Rather than being told there were questions about Pat's death, we were presented with a contrived story, an absolute lie about how he had been killed by enemy fire.
...
... Even the medical examiner called for a criminal investigation, but the adjutant general prevented it from going forward. By covering up the circumstances of Pat's death, McChrystal and the rest of the chain of command may have, knowingly or unknowingly, covered up a crime.
...
...The truth shines a light on systematic corruption, incompetence and lack of accountability in the military and in government.
Over the last five years, the Pentagon and Congress have had numerous opportunities to hold accountable those responsible for the coverup of Pat's death. Each time they've failed. The government didn't just lie to us; it lied to a nation.
Sunday Juxtaposition
ReplyDeleteBlurred Vision--Hey Ayatollah, Leave Those Kids Alone
Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall
Inspired by Michael Totten
Parkour
ReplyDeleteFrom Wikipedia
Parkour (sometimes abbreviated to PK), or l'art du déplacement (English: the art of movement) is the physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle within one's path by adapting one's movements to the environment.[1] It is a non-competitive, physical discipline of French origin in which participants run along a route, attempting to negotiate obstacles in the most efficient way possible. Skills such as jumping and climbing, or the more specific parkour moves are employed. The goal of a practitioner of parkour, called a traceur if male, or traceuse if female, is to get from one place to another using only the human body and the objects in the environment. The obstacles can be anything in one's environment, but parkour is often seen practiced in urban areas because of the many suitable public structures available such as buildings and rails.
The term freerunning is sometimes used interchangeably with parkour. While freerunning is more to do with expressing yourself within your environment, parkour is aiming to get from A to B the fastest. However, there is some controversy over the exact definitions of the two terms. Though disputed, many "parkour purists" say that the biggest difference has to do with theatrics. Free-running involves a lot of trick moves, particularly aerial rotations and spins. Because these moves are merely showy, not economical, and do not actually help the participant to get from place to place, they are considered contrary to the nature of parkour. A free-runner may also move backwards in order to make a move as flashy as possible. This is contrary to the philosophy originally laid down by David Belle. Although Sebastian Foucan co-founded parkour, he is more often associated with the sport of free running.
[...]
Mr Abrams speaks to the reality of the Semitic Alliance.
ReplyDeleteThe Enemy of My Enemy
Facing the threat of a nuclear Iran, the hostile Arab-Israeli relationship is giving way to a more complex picture
By ELLIOTT ABRAMS
Trivial pursuits:
ReplyDeleteNick Mason's drum segue beginning at about 4:40 in the Pink Floyd link...I've listened to that fifteen seconds I don't know how many hundreds of times.
Almost as good as Neil Peart in the last fifteen seconds of Rush's Limelight. Almost.
Strong young men.
ReplyDeleteLot's of cuts in the editing. Well done though.
ReplyDeleteCelebrating Turkish bridegroom kills relatives
ReplyDeleteA bridegroom in Turkey has accidentally killed three relatives while firing an AK-47 in celebration at his own wedding, Turkish media reported.
The groom lost control of the weapon as he tried to fire in traditional celebration in the air at the ceremony in the village of Akcagoze in south-eastern Gaziantep province.
The guests were sprayed with bullets and the groom's father and two aunts were killed.
The groom has been arrested.
The Anatolia news agency reported that eight other people were injured in the firing.
The three who died succumbed to their wounds in hospital.
Firing into the air is commonplace as a celebration in parts of Turkey and has on many occasions led to deaths and injuries.
Turkey has tried to impose harsher penalties but has not ended the practice.
F-ing moron.
ReplyDeleteDR,
ReplyDeleteEven if the government lied to God Almighty about Mr. Tillman, that would not make his death murder.
DR, when caught in an embarassing situation, the government did just what you admitted doing on your income tax: It lied.
Get over it already...that and the USS Liberty...
Deuce said...
ReplyDeleteCelebrating Turkish bridegroom kills relatives
Man do I love natural selection........
Hotels in Rome - Rome-Hotels-Near help you to select the hotels in Rome that best meet your personal tastes, desires and needs. Here you can see pictures and find detailed information on all Rome hotels and can choose your favourite based on hotel category, price or location. Find the best Rome Italy hotels and Rome cheap hotels here.
ReplyDelete