Uncivil War: I link below an article on MSNBC entitled: "NATO apologizes for Afghan Civilian Deaths."

The perpetual waging of unpopular war abroad, which expends rivers of blood, saps our pocketbook and balloons our debt, must be brought to a swift end. The three wars, two of which are ten years in length, viciously shed precious blood, are wildly expensive, decimate the psyches of those who fight them and worse fuel the fires of Al Qaeda by the inevitable collateral killing of civilians -- including women/children.

Our military is sorely overextended. It is a fact of life our adversaries sometimes do not condemn more vociferously their own people who often do unspeakable things to each other. We must live with that inconsistency. Many hate more specifically the foreigner on their soil. When will Americans learn they are NOT killing us for our freedom? They are killing us because they do NOT want American boots on their ground.

All the effort our military expends on humanitarian work is wonderful BUT it is lost to Al Qaeda when events such as the recent civilian killings in Afghanistan happen as reported below. Bin Laden, the overlord of inhumanity, was finally killed and I proudly say at the direction of a Democrat! His end should mark a new beginning in American foreign policy that went haywire after World War II. The department which is responsible for the defense of the country is called the Department of Defense and NOT the Department of Offense for a reason.

If the draft were reinstated one would see how fast American troops would be pulled as few would want their son or daughter to either perpetrate or experience the carnage and danger the ugly, mendacious and immoral so called Bush Doctrine of preemptive war brings. We would also see how much reining in our foreign escapades would lower the debt and restore civility to uncivil policy. Our war policy garners only more killing, death/dismemberment and psychological illness of our soldiers, animosity abroad and debt at home. It is time to end these insufferable, uncivil, and never ending wars.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43209372/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/

This is WHY a Republican can NEVER NEVER NEVER be elected president....George Carlin was SO correct it is chilling. He said "They are coming for it ALL, they want it ALL, and they'll get it ... " The link below about Pawlenty shows Carlin was SO correct!!!

Cut the military war machine, cut the subsidies to major corporations, do NOT balance the budget on the backs of the middle class little guy by taking away Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid!

How many of you, your parents and your loved ones would be dead or severely disabled if they could not afford health insurance and if Medicare were not there? Think about it and tell EVERYONE you know NOT to vote Republican and step on their own foot. Republicans are NOT about most of you!


http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/05/tim-pawlenty-says-he-would-back-paul-ryans-medicare-plan.html

Oprah’s OWN: This is a response to Alex Beam’s less than positive view of Oprah Winfrey “Say Good Night Oprah” in the May 24, 2011 Boston Globe (linked below.)

Mr. Beam I have been critical of Oprah for a very long time for most of the reasons you state in your editorial "Say Goodnight Oprah." I have been critical of it all mostly because she NEVER or rarely has an opposing opinion on her show challenging what she has to sell. Much of it is snake oil albeit sold sincerely and mixed with a little bit of god. How can anyone resist? The words are so intoxicating most especially to our very gullible sugar coating loving American audience. There is one reason Oprah lasted so long: MONEY and gobs of it as so many found the perfect forum to hawk their wares.

Having said that one cannot, I think, deny that very often despite all her glitz, glamor, and materialism there are some whom she affected in a positive way. She may even, I admit, have saved lives -- perhaps many of them. I do not want to be guilty of what I think Oprah was guilty and that is neglecting to bring fair and balanced viewpoints to her shows. Her shows missed one important quality sorely lacking in our culture -- critical thinking. She had little most especially when talking about a higher power force she thinks controls everyone's life if only one would let it in.

I admittedly watched her when I thought the subject matter either pertained to me or interested me. Otherwise, I tuned her out. Her finale to my taste was utterly garish and over done BUT then again if one says she helped them who am I to deny it. And so, I bestow upon Oprah that which she never bestowed upon us, a balanced viewpoint. She was both a force for good and a force for the glitz, glamor and garish negatives in our culture that I believe make us willing to swallow anything no matter how irrational and ridiculous. It only needs to sound oh so good.

No one can doubt Oprah was a force. The name of her OWN network which is supposed to follow her says it all. Oprah's show in the end was about her OWN self and so it is an appropriate acronym. I must admit I will miss some of her. Her genius is that even someone as critical as I am can say that!


http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2011/05/24/say_goodnight_oprah/

NY 26th the reddest of the red went blue!: THIS IS WONDERFUL. This shows you how important saving Medicare and Social Security is. For those who do not know Google NY 26th district special election. The reddest of the red went BLUE tonight as a special House election was conducted to fill the seat of the half naked Republican who resigned because he was caught on Craig's List soliciting. Hypocrites much?

Beyond even that this is WONDERFUL because this district has NEVER gone Democratic and we can do a tip of the hat to Paul Ryan for making the destruction of Medicare his seminal Republican policy. America is changing its composition and the Republican party at some point in my opinion will be dead. They have NOTHING and NO ONE to run. Keep on trucking for Democrats. We may not be perfect but we are a hell of a lot better than what is our opposition. A Howard Dean YEEEHA!

We can do it!!

Joplin: If you have seen or heard a news broadcast or read a newspaper, the stories out of Joplin, MO are devastating. Not only has a tornado cut in half an entire city demolishing everything, killing so far 118 on the south side of Joplin but more bad weather and possibly heavy tornado activity is predicted again today.

I am pasting a link below provided by NBC News which lists those agencies which will accept donations and aid. Times like these require a united front. I hope some of you can give.


http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/05/23/6700666-joplin-tornado-how-to-help

A1 at AIPAC--A Home Run: Some have asked why I have not weighed in on the Middle East Israel/Palestinian madness. The reason I balk at wading through the morass of religious, military, and dogmatic historical realities of the Middle East peace between Israel and the Palestinians is because my first impulse is to throw up my hands and yell loudly I GIVE UP. I have been on this planet for 62 years the same number of years the Jewish State of Israel has existed. For those 62 years that region and the tiny Jewish state have never known peace and yet the word peace has been thrown around like baseballs of a batter taking batting practice except in this case the game never ends and the score is in dead bodies and not home runs. In fact, a home run has never been hit and the bodies are still being counted.

If a state has been at war for 62 years one might take a snooze and say wake me when it’s over. The problem with that is when one is awakened the game may be over and the Jewish state may face an existential annihilation as each nation peels off its support including even the United Nations and as Israel finds itself in a new Middle East reality. How many times have we heard the mantra which plays like a broken record -- We want a two state solution with two states living side by side in peace. I am sick of it but it is what I desperately want for both my Jewish people and the Palestinians. When will this happen? Each side intrinsically and rabidly hates the other and there is no trust, the basis for any agreement.

The president's proposal to Benjamin Netanyahu has been skewered by the mindless lame stream media who simply want to ratchet up discord anywhere they can find it even if it means fanning the fires of a hatred so enmeshed between two people that its quilt can only serve to smother the lives of both. In reality returning Israel to its pre-1967 borders is not a new idea. In fact, it has been postulated by many presidents including by the Clinton Administration in Oslo. I do not believe President Obama threw Israel under the bus as some have suggested.

The Republican Party thinks it sees an opening to sow more discord between Jews and Palestinians -- as if there is not enough already -- in their feeble attempt to scrape off the Jewish vote which it has always courted by falsely telling the American electorate that Obama does not support Israel. No matter how hard Republicans tried in 2008 to court the Jewish vote Jews voted for Obama in droves at 80%.

After the steaming pitch right over the plate thrown by the president in his AIPAC speech today, I suspect the Republicans will continue to lose the Jewish vote and Jews will continue to remain solidly in the Democratic camp. The president did what only he can do and that is let his words take on persuasive power. He did just that when he spoke today at the solidly pro Israel lobbying group, AIPAC. As one of my very politically savvy relatives used to say “what is is.” It is a simple profundity which rings true. The Middle East has changed, still is changing and we must face that stark reality. Many at AIPAC clapped mightily as the president iterated that peace between the two historical adversaries should include a return to the pre-1967 boarders, full recognition of the Jewish state by a Palestinian state and mutually agreed land swaps.

I believe a home run was hit today by the president. I can only hope he wins the game. Only the fate of the Jewish state, the Middle East and the entire world hangs in the balance!

I post the link of his speech below. I loved it. I hope you do too.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

Scenes from the Sanctity of Marriage: The infidelities of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dominique Srauss-Kahn and so many other contemporary men who occupy the male echelons of political and financial power engender many questions. I wanted to write with profundity about the moral morass and sewer-like quicksand into which these men have sunk but each minute which ticked by created more questions than I could answer.

So I will iterate some of the questions which crossed my mind about these sad marital infidels: What is marriage? What is a vow? What is hypocrisy? What is betrayal? What is human nature? What is sanctity?

Both of these men and so many others who share their moral prison could be the substance of tragic theater. Each man could be a play of Biblical proportions or at the very least a morality play of Shakespearean import.

Shakespeare in Hamlet writes:

What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how
infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and
admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like
a god! the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals—and yet,
to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me—
nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so.

Shakespeare waxes effusive about man as the apex of nature’s creation above any other animal and yet neither man nor woman delights Hamlet. I ask why not?

Sometimes the Bible used as metaphor can be instructive. Since this text was written approximately 5 thousand years ago, we can take from it that the moral turpitude of man has existed for a very long time. It is as if it is man’s shadow following him all the days of his life and from which he cannot escape. Genesis 3 says:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.’ “ And the serpent said to the woman, “You surely shall not die! “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Our politicians talk so much about the “sanctity of marriage” especially if they want to indict the nature of other groups they judge severely. Most especially politics on the right – Republican politics – is infused with moral sanctity and superiority. Republicans make marriage the hallmark of their platform. Indeed, Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke many times of the importance of marriage and the family but did so while he was sexually involved with a woman who was not his wife compounding this moral collapse by creating another life from this union. His children did not even know they were living with their half brother since Schwarzenegger had a relationship with the family housekeeper, the mother of the child, for over 20 years. How did the former governor square this with his own party’s mandate or his wife? He didn’t perhaps thinking it a career crusher if he simply told the truth.

Strauss-Kahn commits the same hypocrisy but it rises to a much more violent and serious level. If he is found guilty of the seven charges for which he is indicted – including attempted rape -- this man of extraordinary wealth and power will go to jail for a very very long time.

These two examples are staggering for their hypocrisy. They advocate for behavior that they do not exemplify themselves. Strauss-Kahn controlled billions if not trillions of dollars asking nations to comport themselves in certain moral and non-violent ways so they could be the beneficiaries of the vast sums of money he controlled. Yet, on a singular level he is alleged to have committed the most egregious behavior a man can commit short of murder. Schwarzenegger’s Republican party makes part of its platform unyielding religious precepts which the powers that be suspend anytime they want for their own scandalous purposes but remain etched in stone for the opposition.

Do vows mean anything anymore? Is marriage truly sacred and if not why do we enter into these contractual vows anyway? I aver vows in our immoral era mean little. They can be broken on a whim and all too often are. Still, marriage is a contract made mainly to protect women and children so that if a man strays he will still owe a legal obligation to and protection of his issue. It makes sense and promotes good order IF and only IF the contract is honored. The problem is often it is not and yet those who most vociferously advocate for it are often the breakers of it. It is the essence of hypocrisy.

Perhaps the most difficult of all the questions above is the notion of betrayal. That is the feeling one gets when the trust between one person and another is broken. We feel angry, aggrieved, and hurt. Again, metaphorically, of all the sins in Christianity the betrayal of Jesus by Judas for only 30 pieces of silver has to be one of the most loathsome. Judas deceived someone he loved. I thought a man’s word was worth more than that.

The Biblical and Shakespearean paragraphs above tell us that the fallen angel is not new and that the beauty of man is often tarnished when he fails to live up to the vows he makes. Nonetheless, we make them. Maybe that is what makes the Jewish High Holy Day Yom Kippur so significant because all vows are negated and in the future we make them anew and try to do better. Somehow I think Arnold Schwarzenegger will not do better nor will, if convicted, Strauss-Kahn. In the end we can judge only ourselves by these standards and as the poet Robert Frost said: “The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.”

In Living Color -- RED: Why does the Democratic base get so upset with the Democratic Party and the Democratic administration? John Stewart did an EXCELLENT segment on Meredith Atwell Baker, heretofore Commissioner of the FCC Board, which could tell you why. She, he noted, is leaving government service as FCC Commissioner to work in the private sector. What job did this FCC Commissioner secure? She was just made Sr. Vice President of Comcast/NBC Universal. What a nice plumb don’t you think? This is the kind of position one can secure AFTER being chairman of the public communications regulatory agency, the FCC, and after one helps approve the merger of two cable behemoths while one occupies high public office in the very agency the corporate giants needed to approve their merger. The corporatists rewarded her for her fine efforts. Moreover, she had the temerity to say that the regulatory process is “too cumbersome.” I ask her for whom is it too cumbersome? Maybe it’s too cumbersome for the oligarchies who want to rake in billions from their partnership with the government that is supposed to regulate them. Instead, the taxpayer yet again will, in circuitous fashion, pay for the corporatists’ yachts and Ms. Baker will work for these corporations for, I am sure, a tidy sum while the public gets nailed to their cross of gold.

The American public is smothered by soaring cable rates because there is little to no competition. We are saddled with stations we do NOT want, packages from which we cannot choose and drown in cable rates that soar yearly into the stratosphere while the service remains outsourced and mediocre to often poor.

This is what makes the Democratic base see red. I am part of that base and, yes, I am seeing RED! Someone who held a position on the FCC Board should NEVER be allowed to assume a high position in the very companies that went before it to obtain a license to merge. Does conflict of interest ring a bell? The vote was 4-1 by the FCC in favor of the merger. Wow, am I surprised – NOT! Did the consumer have anything to say about it? The answer: NO because the FCC is not filled with occupants who are loyal to the people but ones who are loyal to those feeding at the corporate trough.

We get the leadership we deserve. Every time I think my faith is renewed something appears to shake it. It should be illegal for Meredith Atwell Baker to take the Vice-Presidential position from a company whose merger she helped facilitate. Meredith Atwell Baker should be punished for presenting even the appearance of a conflict of interest. I ask again, for whose interest did she function? It should be for OUR INTEREST to combat monopolies which squash the rights of the consumer. Sure, you are free to choose the company you want. If there are, however, only two major companies from which to choose what choice is there? Answer: NONE!

Mr. President, remember us the ones who brought you to the dance? I suggest your minions think twice before they agree to sanction the employment of a former FCC Commissioner to a high private sector position within the very companies she was supposed to regulate. Think of us the little guy – the middle class – before there is no middle class left to think about at all!

The Strategy: It is obvious that the Republican Party has NOTHING. They have LESS than nothing. They have zilch, nada, zero and they know it. Moreover, they are split probably 60/40 by a Republican Tea Bag base that is extremist right into the stratosphere. They do not attract many in the general electorate. The American public we know is in the center but it will NOT be appealed to by extremist racist right wingnut thought. Most especially we know that the ethnic composition of the country is changing quickly as Hispanics and other minorities will make up an even greater part of the whole. They WILL find a place more -- MUCH more -- at home within the Democratic Party.

I have little doubt, barring any god forbid catastrophe, that Barack Obama will be easily re-elected. We should, of course, take nothing for granted. The vote MUST be delivered for the president. I worry about most especially Congress and I worry about the red-leaning state houses and governorships around the country.

I would most emphatically like to see the Democratic Party come to the assistance of our Democratic Senatorial and House candidates. We MUST absolutely MUST retain the all important Senate. It would be frosting on the cake if we could take BOTH houses of Congress as we did in 2008 but somehow stupidly sacrificed in 2010 when we should not have.

Both the Democratic Party and the president should throw the FULL weight of their power, prestige and the cash behind it to Democrats (hopefully progressives) everywhere most especially in the national Congress. The President can veto BUT if the Congress can override a veto we are in the same disastrous position in which Team Bush put us. We cannot go back to that. We know the consequences would be nothing short of catastrophic!

Now is the time to prepare and now is the time to take back the reins of Congressional power from those who do NOT care about Main Street but who are in the hip pocket of those who want to sell out America to Wall Street and its top 2%. As the late great George Carlin said: “They are coming for it -- all of it -- .”.. . "It's a club," he said, "and you ain't in it." The corporatist oligarchy will take you and your children's future with it as they did from 2000 – 2008 if you allow it. Do NOT be fooled by their wolf in sheep's' clothing style. They are NOT about most of us and lie ALL the time.

Take NOTHING for granted. We must take the country back for ourselves by supporting, working for and contributing to the Democratic Party and Democratic candidates everywhere. Practically, the Democratic Party is our only hope. It is up to us to compose it as we wish. Now is the time to secure our future and to do it with ALL deliberate speed!

The Apogee of Excellence: The "Sixty Minutes" segment interviewing the president about the killing of bin Laden was, in my opinion, the most masterful segment of that program I have ever seen. To say the president was brilliant, human, cool and so professional is an understatement. It made me see him in a more intense and revelatory light. He gave us a candid window into his thoughtful world.

I have sometimes criticized the president for not standing up to his opponents more fiercely and confronting the often times racist nature of their animus. My criticism comes from my inability to see who the president truly is and to understand how he thinks. This interview showed him to be the intellect I always thought he was. There is no way anyone on the Republican side can approach the apex of the academic excellence and intellectual alacrity of Barack Obama.

I thank the president for doing something for which I waited 10 long years. I spent two years checking every single morning after the 9/11 attack to see if bin Laden was brought in "dead or alive" as George Bush so convincingly said he would. It never happened and I all but gave up that it would.

I disagree vehemently with those who think the previous administration had anything to do with taking bin Laden down. Bush was warned of the Al Qaeda attack right before 9/11 in his PDB or presidential daily briefing. In fact, Bush let bin Laden escape Afghanistan in 2002, and then closed the bin Laden task force in 2005. It was known from then on that bin Laden was in Pakistan but Bush did not pursue him. Bush went from saying he would capture bin Laden “dead or alive” to “To tell you the truth I don’t really care” he shrugged. “I don’t spend much time thinking about it.” George Bush did absolutely NOTHING to capture bin Laden. Worse, if another president were in the oval office at that time I submit 9/11 may have been averted. I cannot, of course, prove that but I can think it and I do.

If only the president's often disloyal opposition would allow him to govern as he desires without putting obstacles in front of every single step he takes I believe he could bring this country back to its apogee after the perigee of near economic collapse.

Govern on, Mr. President. You have my loyal support.

A Preliminary Post -- The "Sixty Minutes" Interview: The "Sixty Minutes" segment interviewing the president about the killing of bin Laden was, in my opinion, without a doubt the most masterful segment of that program I have ever seen. If you have not seen it check the Sixty Minutes web page to view it. To say he was brilliant, human, cool and so professional is an understatement. It made me see him in a different light. He gave us a candid window into his mind.

I have sometimes criticized him for not standing up to his opponents more fiercely. My criticism comes from an inability to see who the president truly is. He is intellectually stellar. There is no way anyone on the Republican side can approach the apex of the intellectual alacrity of Barack Obama.

I thank the president for doing something for which I waited 10 long years. If only his opposition would allow him to govern as he desires without putting obstacles in front of every single step he takes. He could bring us back to the country I have always known and loved.

Govern on, Mr. President. You have my undying loyal support.

Leave it to the Beave?: "The Beaver," a new Mel Gibson, Jody Foster movie was reviewed by NYT. As is its custom a comment section is often made available for the reader or the viewer to write their thoughts. I have written on many of the issues of our time on many other NYT blogs. They most always, with great appreciation, are accepted and printed online.

In the movie review comment section, however, my view on the Gibson film "The Beaver," is not being printed. My opinion of Gibson's film (which I have not seen) is that I refuse to see it. I indict Gibson the man as a most malodorous anti-Semite which seals my decision not to view anything that is associated with him. I think my opinion is worthy of appearing on the NYT movie blog with other opinions that I believe, humbly, are not as thoughtfully composed. I offered it again for their consideration.

I will not view this film:

I DO make a value judgment about Mr. Gibson. Personally, even before his virulent anti-Semitic comments his type of film never really attracted me. However, I have always enjoyed most of Ms. Foster's (his female lead in "The Beaver") films. Still, there is no way, in view of Mr. Gibson's hostile and vituperative anti-Semitic rants often in an inebriated state, I would even consider seeing this film or any film connected to him. It is not his Catholicism to me which is at issue but his adherence to the most extreme branch of the faith long eschewed by more than one Pope. It is that sect of the faith which desires not only to return to the Latin Tridentine Mass but wants to emphasize the texts which significantly indict the Jew for the killing of Christ. As stated in The Sun by Gabriel Birkner on July 3, 2007 The Good Friday liturgy [to which Mr. Gibson would like to return] "contains a passage stating that Jews live in "blindness" and "darkness" and asks God to "remove the veil from their hearts."" I suppose, too, [that Gibson would like to reinstate] a reference to Jews as Ms. Birkner states "perfidious" which was excised from the liturgy in 1969." Those portions of the New Testament which have been treated as historical veracity are far from it as most academic scholars of religion know. This indictment of the Jew gave two thousand years of rationality to the most heinous accusation ultimately culminating in the Holocaust.

Mr. Gibson aside from being a consummate anti-Semite is also a Holocaust denier. Ms. Foster should consider well the type of people from whom she decides to earn a living. She can and should do better. It is not only his extremist faith that is at issue but all of the other scurrilous accusations to which he in Shylockian form subscribes and which his extremist father conveyed to his son. Mr. Gibson adheres to those most odious views which have plagued world Jewry since the earliest inception of Christianity. The fact that Rome had to be absolved for the New Testament execution of Jesus meant that Jews would carry that burden for a crime they did not commit if even one can believe the historicity of New Testament text. It would prove deadly to the Jewish people -- six million deadly.

Why would I, a Jewess, ever want to add to this deluded man's wealth? I do NOT and WILL not. So far, the film I have read is getting quite tepid reviews so I suspect I am not missing very much. If Ms. Foster decides to make another film that has no relationship to this fetid man, then maybe I will give it consideration.

I urge people in view of Mr. Gibson's heinous political, religious, personally tainted, psychologically incriminating and domestically violent character refrain from buying a ticket.

The Waiver: My sentiments waiver (so what else is new) about the special opp killing of bin laden and I also waiver as to whether OSBL's dead body should be released to the press. I put up on my blog an opinion entitled "Body of Evidence" which discussed the skeptical thoughts I have. I did not send it because I was not sure about its content and I still am not. But I have read many things that lead me to believe that the president, perhaps, is correct to not release the photos. It would, I think, indeed, be possible to incite people even more albeit some are already incited.

I am now of the opinion, until I read and deduce otherwise, that bin laden was killed on May 1, 2011 and that the unbelievably capable and brave US Navy Seals performed their job with the highest expertise. It is easy to Monday morning quarterback. How would anyone feel going into an atmosphere where one has NO idea what to expect? Even ONE man (or woman) with a gun is enough to pose a threat to the entire operation in the fog of war.

This action seems to have been executed perfectly and the withholding of the pic perhaps the correct thing to do. I still do wonder how on earth a middle aged man with kidney disease who needed dialysis could have lived six years in that milieu. That building although bigger than others looked squalid. How US helicopters which I have read allegedly perused the skies above the area years ago did not question what a house with barbed wire was doing there, I cannot know.

There will always be questions. I now believe we did, in fact, kill bin laden on May 1, 2011, and I now believe the president's rationales for not releasing the pics were correct. Until proven otherwise I commend the action but I do not like to act as a high school cheerleader of a football game and revel in the deaths of many during the entire theater of war.

These are serious actions for serious times. Careful scrutiny of national policy and US foreign policy should be our country's modus operandi. Because I am not in the decision-making theater of war it is very hard for me to judge the moral, the ethical and the legal conduct of the operations in which we engage. I simply HOPE and, indeed think, this president is better than the last. Maybe time will tell -- or maybe it won't!

Body of Evidence: I am dismayed that the pictures of the operation and elimination of bin laden were not shown. Frankly, I do NOT know what to believe. Am I thrilled he is dead? YES, of course. I was in euphoria Sunday night but there are many questions I have now that reason prevails. Will this be the ratcheting down OR UP the fear of and war on terror? Will the US now go into Pakistan because they allegedly knew about bin laden's hiding place and did nothing? Will this drive this nation into more HUMONGOUS debt?

They are saying he lived in a million dollar mansion and the press is parroting that. That is NOT what I see. I see a place of squalor and poverty. It was disgusting. Could a man with a physical malady of kidney disease on dialysis I have been led to believe he had live in such squalor for SIX years? Moreover, DNA evidence proved with 100% accuracy that it was bin laden? I thought DNA testing took weeks and not minutes. Many questions upon reflection which require answers.

I want the president to get the glory, I am GLAD that bin laden is finally deemed dead BUT the proof of that is necessary. The questions will keep coming and they will grow. I was ebullient Sunday night and now I am filled with questions, doubt and fear. I suspect others feel that as well. The question is does this administration care ENOUGH to answer these questions many will have.

I KNEW that the pictures of the body would not be released. I am a doubting Thomas NOT that bin laden is dead but that he was killed on Sunday, May 1. I am doubting my government. I vowed I would never be duped as I was when Bush touted WMD's. I believed it and it was not so. THOUSANDS of lives depended on that truth and they died because they believed in American power and exceptionalism as well.

Now I wonder will fear be ratcheted up again and will we be furious at Pakistan for not telling us about bin laden giving us the excuse we need to open up yet ANOTHER front on a nation that DOES possess nuclear weapons OR did Pakistan not get him because he was already dead. One news agency recently broadcast a segment about US retaliation for Pakistani negligence or betrayal.

I want the questions that others have and that I have now to be answered. I do NOT want this to be another scenario where so many lives are lost because the truth was never told. The pictures of the body and any video of the military operation which allegedly killed bin laden should be released!

The Master of a Masterful Action: An operation like the near flawless execution of one of the world's most heinous humans who occupied, to our chagrin, a place on this planet, is historic. This apprehension and killing of a murderer reminds me of the commando raid against the pirates off the coast of Yemen given at the president’s order. This is yet another example of a brilliant man who occupies the office today. The death of bin laden is BEYOND the former example times a million. The president is the most competent-of-competent commanders-in-chief. He knows EXACTLY what to do, how to do it and has the appropriate experts times 10 to perfect it.

The war against religious fanaticism goes on. But never forget a request by US Marines was made to take the bastard bin laden out in Tora Bora when they had him in their cross-hairs in 2001. It was denied by George W. Bush probably so that the Iraq War could continue. The negating of the order by Bush to get bin laden when they COULD have in Tora Bora in 2001 to me at the time was treason.

So yes, we can all come together BUT I am SURELY glad this was done on President Obama’s watch as I suspected when he was elected, it would be. He directed it and the Navy Seals executed it with PERFECTION.

My criticisms in the past of some policy take a back seat because the president has proven he KNOWS how to implement his YES WE CAN mantra. His administration is about reconciliation and compromise. Criticize him, as I sometimes do, I can also reverse course and laud him for his ability to do what he thinks is right even if it means compromising with, in my opinion, the oft disloyal and all-too-often racist opposition. I do not have to like that yearning for compromise but I can support this president as he has shown today and on countless other occasions that his policy uniting the nation is sharp, it takes precedence and implementing it is arduous but ever-so-necessary.

Kudos, Mr. President. You have my loyalty!

YES WE DID! An operation like this reminds me of the commando raid against the pirates off the coast of Yemen given at the president’s order. Yet another example of a brilliant man who occupies the office. The death of bin laden is BEYOND the former example times a million and proves that point to me. He is the most competent of competent commanders in chief. He knows EXACTLY what to do and how to do it.

Sure, the war on terror goes on. But never forget a request by US commandos was made to take the bastard bin laden out in Tora Bora and it was denied. The negating of the order to get Bin Laden when they COULD have done it in Tora Bora to me at the time was treason.

So yes, we can all come together BUT I am SURELY glad this was done on Obama’s watch as I suspected when he was elected, it would be. He directed and the Navy Seals executed it with PERFECTION.

My criticisms in the past of some policy are tucked away because the president has proven he KNOWS how to implement his YES WE CAN mantra. His administration is about reconciliation and compromise. Criticize him as I sometimes do I can also reverse course and laud him for his ability to do what he thinks is right even if it means compromising with the oft disloyal opposition. I do not have to like that but can support this president as he has shown today and on many other occasions that his policy uniting the nation is sharp and implementing it arduous but necessary.

Kudos, Mr. President. You have my loyalty!

Bin Laden DEAD!!!!!:More to come but off the cuff: They got bin laden...FINALLY .ten years later but nonetheless they did it!!When the president was going to speak at 10:30 p.m. at first I thought may be ground troops in Libya but as I thought about it more and more I began to think no this has to be even bigger and I said I bet they
caught bin laden!!! I've been waiting for 10 years to catch that scum bag excuse for a human!!! Such a happy day! I am SO proud to be American and I am so glad Obama did it on his watch. I KNEW he would I just knew it. I want to celebrate as they are in front of the White House. Still we are never totally out of the woods but still this is a MOMENTOUS day. I am crying with happiness and have waited and watched for SO long!! Here is a link:

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/05/01/113442/osama-bin-laden-found-in-pakistan.html#ixzz1LAEm2Wkn