Journalists Lives are at Stake......

All around the world, journalists go out of their way to bring us breaking or relevant news. This coverage could be in relation to our democracy, weather, economy, education, government, healthcare, military, international issues, social, or perhaps security issues. With the recent captures and beheadings of several journalists throughout the world, I want to pose a question to each of you, "Is informing us of  the happenings throughout the world really worth their lives? Although I am a firm believer that each of us must have a "Purpose" for our existence, I also believe that we must have a "Cause" to which we are willing to lay down our lives for. I am willing to lay down my life for Jesus, my Christian beliefs, my family, my friends, the children, the elderly, the poor, the downtrodden, the forgotten, the widowed, the orphaned, and the least of these. Regardless of the person's skin color, I VALUE LIFE! When we see foreign countries paying ransom for the release of their citizens/journalists, we ask, "Is that the right decision?" Perhaps it is, perhaps it is not. I do believe that what it has the potential to increase the likelihood of repeated kidnappings. But, if journalists are willing to risk their lives to inform us of the happenings in the world, they should be HONORED, RECOGNIZED, COMMENDED, APPLAUDED, and SPOKEN HIGHLY OF. You see, journalists know their purpose, and is pursing a just cause on OUR behalf. WE MUST NEVER FORGET THE PRICE THAT IS BEING PAID, DAILY, FOR OUR FREEDOM!!

SMH!!!

Yes, the title of this blog is SMH......I am literally Shaking My Head!
I am currently watching "The Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer on CNN and he just asked Admiral Kirby, from the Pentagon, whether or not President Obama has signed off or given authorization to use air strikes in Syria. Mr. Kirby evaded the question. Mr. Blitzer took it upon himself to ask this, "Is the U.S. ready to strike when President Obama orders it." Again, Admiral Kirby evaded a "direct" answer to this question. What part does the MEDIA NOT UNDERSTAND? CERTAIN QUESTIONS SHOULD NOT BE ASKED DURING A LIVE INTERVIEW. SHOULD NOT BE!!!

We have hostages being held in the Middle East. There are threats being made at home and abroad, on a minute by minute basis and news hosts, journalists or commentators want to continue to ask STUPID questions on national TV, to tip off our enemies. THIS IS INSANE!!! That is part of the problem now, people in the media talk too much!! The media tipped off that analysts/scientists/investigators were examining the landscape in the background when the beheadings were aired, which prompted ISIS to improvise. Now ISIS has changed their tactics, so it makes it more difficult to analyze the pictures, landscapes and etc. to discover their hiding places. I am appalled and furious at this. We don't need to know everything! We cannot let the enemy know if we are ready, when we are ready, when we will strike. What happened to, "The Element of Surprise?"
When providing specifics, we allow the enemy time to change their tactics and strategy against such moves. Now in Syria, members of ISIS are mixing in with regular civilians, so they aren't detected. So, this makes it complicated for the U.S. to strike because they must keep civilian causalities at a minimal.

Enough!!! I am not going to take it anymore!

Actions have Consequences, don't they?

Most people are aware of what happened to Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. It appears that he robbed a convenient store of a carton of cigars, pushed the clerk against a rack/stand,  and left the store. He was then seen walking in the street with a friend, when the police approached him and asked him to move onto the sidewalk. A suspected tussle took place in/out of the police car, and Michael was shot down, in the streets. It is possible that 10 shots were fired, at least 6 of those striking him. Four in the arm, one in the right eye, one in the top of his head. CNN had numerous of reporters on the scene within a matter of days, there were numerous protest for weeks. Attorney General Eric Holder made a visit to speak with leaders, law enforcement and Michael's parents. It appears that Mr. Holder promised that a full and thorough investigation would take place. Three autopsies have been ordered and performed. PEOPLE ARE OUTRAGED!!! Young, old, black, white, hispanic and the like, are outraged!! Perhaps they have every right to be. We have seen on multiple occasions, examples of police brutality. But here is my question to you, if Michael Brown did indeed rob that store, and was gunned down 10 minutes later; could his death have been result of his own actions? We have ALL heard the statement, "actions have consequences," so could his just punishment for robbing the store and assaulting the clerk, be death? When we do wrong, we cannot decide what our punishment will be, can we? If we could, we would apply the least amount of punishment possible, right? Let us never forget, that ACTIONS ALWAYS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!! We should strive to always do right, but when we don't, we need to be prepared for what consequences will come; because there is no denying it, CONSEQUENCES WILL COME!! 

Black vs. White

Apparently, on the day that Michael Brown was shot and killed in Ferguson, Missouri, there were several witnesses that saw what happened, all of those until a couple of days ago, appeared to be black. Some of the news media are quickly judging some of their statements, calling their character and integrity into question. But, just a couple of days ago two contractors, who happen to be WHITE, came forth as witnesses and said, "Indeed Mike Brown had is hands in the air" and "was shot down."
Now, their word is credible! What these two white men stated, had to be the truth and nothing but the truth, right?

Journalists, commentators, lawyers, law enforcement and the Federal Justice Department, is a white man's word valued more than a black man's word? Are the white men's word more credible because they don't have any ties to Ferguson? Are you quicker to believe what a white person says based on the principle, "they are white, so they must be right?" Since when does the TRUTH have a color.

9/11/14

Today,

As we take the time to remember what happened 13 years ago, let us also remember there are others out there who still desire to do us harm. For whatever irrational and demonic behavior they possess, we must ALWAYS stay vigilant. We must continue, as a country, to root out evil where ever it resides, when our national security or the security of our allies, is at state. WE CANNOT RETREAT, NOT NOW, NOT EVER!!!

Let us never forget the price that was paid for our freedom, years ago. TRUE FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE, IT COMES WITH A COST!!

Tomorrow on 9/9/14, President Obama with meet with the Congressional Leadership members, and discuss his strategy for dealing with ISIS. Will Congress support his decision, whatever that is? According to the War Powers Act, the president can send in military forces for 60 days without Congressional approval. Another 30 days if approved by Congress. However, I believe, almost without a shadow of doubt, that Congress will give him the necessary power to combat ISIS.
On Wednesday, 9/10/14, he will address the nation with his strategy. I am sure that with the beheading of two American journalists, and the impact ISIS appears to be having in Iraq and Syria that the president will get all of the support needed to combat this thuggish group. Will three years be enough time for America to do what needs to be done to destroy them? Will all nine nations he met with at the NATO Summit last week, really step up and provide the necessary aide, organization, communication, intelligence, correlation and military forces to ensure this mission is successful? Or, are they all JUST TALKING?

One of the issues I have with President Obama is that he always say upfront, what HE WILL NOT DO. He will not send in ground troops, no matter what. But what if ground troops are what is needed  to dismantle and destroy this terrorist organization. Why box yourself in, with what you WILL NOT DO. Truth be told, if you end up having to do, exactly what you said YOU WOULD NOT, your reputation and power is affected. Can we please, STOP TALKING SO MUCH? The White House, the media, the military command. Please SHUT UP before you are forced to PUT UP!!

I am not trying to sound harsh, but it is just a reality. We talk too much. That is all of. Radio personalities, television hosts, reporters, journalists, whether in print or in person, too much is said.

What role does the U.S. have in Iraq and Syria?

With ISIS on the rise, citizens are fighting and fleeing for their lives in Iraq and Syria, American journalists are being beheaded in Syria, what should the United States do? In January 2014, President Obama gave authorization for 800 military advisors to go to Iraq. A couple of weeks ago, another 125-150 advisors went. Today, another 350 advisors went to Baghdad. How much advising is necessary for the Iraqi people and their government to standup and fight for their own freedom, their own country? If we overturn regime, after regime, after regime, and the newly formed government never becomes effective and efficient, what more can the United States do? The United States cannot want freedom and democracy of these countries, more than the citizens themselves. It is not our responsiblity or obligation to POLICE the world!

Everyone is calling for President Obama to do something, but do what? The United States has released about 130 missiles during the airstrike missions in Iraq; dropped tons of food as a humanitarian effort, but that is not enough. Outside of sending in ground troops into these two countries, what more can we do? America is war weary. President Obama was elected, twice, to end wars, not start them. Much to his own demise, he is committed to that. That is the reason his foreign policy poll numbers are taking such a hit. With the beheading of the American journalists, people want him to RUSH into doing something, ANYTHING, for revenge. However, it doesn't quite work like that. If he rushes into Syria to fight ISIS, he will appear to be fighting along side the Bashar al Assad regime, who used chemical weapons on his own people, killing more than 1,400, including children.

Whenever we are considering sending our wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles into harms way, we need to take our time. We need good intelligence and we need a REGIONAL STRATEGY, before doing so.