U.S Changes direction on Eastern European Nuclear-Missile Shield

Oh Wonderful….. 🙄 You will see why I say this in a minute here.

First, the video:

The Story via the Wall Street Journal:

WASHINGTON — The White House is scrapping a Bush-era plan for an Eastern European missile-defense shield, saying a redesigned defensive system would be cheaper, quicker and more effective against the threat from Iranian missiles.

“After an extensive process, I have approved the unanimous recommendations of my secretary of defense and my joint chiefs of staff to strengthen America’s defenses against ballistic-missile attack,” President Barack Obama said in an announcement Thursday morning.

The previous administration’s plans will be changed, moving away from the installation of a missile-defense shield in the Czech Republic and Poland in the near future. A second phase to begin in 2015 could result in missiles being placed on land in Eastern Europe.

“Our new missile defense architecture in Europe will provide stronger, smarter and swifter defenses of American forces and America’s allies,” Mr. Obama said. “It is more comprehensive than the previous program, it deploys capabilities that are proven and cost effective, and it sustains and builds upon our commitment to protect the U.S. homeland.”

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the decision to abandon the Bush administration’s plans came about because of a change in the U.S. perception of the threat posed by Iran.

Mr. Gates said intelligence experts concluded the short- and medium-range missiles were “developing more rapidly than previously projected” in Iran. The findings are a major reversal from the Bush administration, which pushed aggressively to begin construction of the Eastern European system before leaving office in January.

The Bush administration proposed the European-based system to counter the perceived threat of Iran’s developing a nuclear weapon that could be placed atop its increasingly sophisticated missiles. There is widespread disagreement over the progress of Iran’s nuclear program toward developing such a weapon, but miniaturizing nuclear weapons for use on long-range missiles is one of the most difficult technological hurdles for an aspiring nuclear nation.

The White house confirmed that it will ditch Bush plans to erect a missile defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, a move likely to mean greater cooperation with Russia. WSJ’s National Security Correspondent Peter Spiegel reports.

The Bush plan infuriated the Kremlin, which argued the system was a potential threat to its own intercontinental ballistic missiles. U.S. officials repeatedly insisted the location and limited scale of the system — a radar site in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland — posed no threat to Russian strategic arms.

The Obama administration’s assessment concludes that U.S. allies in Europe, including NATO members, face a more immediate threat from Iran’s short- and medium-range missiles and is ordering a shift toward the development of regional missile defenses for the Continent, according to people familiar with the matter. Such systems would be far less controversial.

Russia on Thursday welcomed the news but said it saw no reason to offer concessions in return. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called the plan a “responsible move.” He threatened last year to station tactical Iskander missiles on Poland’s border if the U.S. system was deployed.

“We appreciate this responsible move by the U.S. president toward realizing our agreement,” Mr. Medvedev said Thursday. “I am prepared to continue the dialogue.”

Okay now, here’s why I say, “Oh Wonderful….” 🙄

Via The A.P.:

VIENNA (AP) – Experts at the world’s top atomic watchdog are in agreement that Tehran has the ability to make a nuclear bomb and is on the way to developing a missile system able to carry an atomic warhead, according to a secret report seen by The Associated Press.

The document drafted by senior officials at the International Atomic Energy Agency is the clearest indication yet that the agency’s leaders share Washington’s views on Iran’s weapon-making capabilities.

It appears to be the so-called “secret annex” on Iran’s nuclear program that Washington says is being withheld by the IAEA’s chief.

The document says Iran has “sufficient information” to build a bomb. It says Iran is likely to “overcome problems” on developing a delivery system.

Nothing like yanking your shields down —– Just in time to find out that Iran has the ability to make a Nuke and is hiding it from the rest of the World.

If I were President Obama, I would be in the fetal position crying my eyes out right about now. I mean, This guy just has a horrible sense of timing or something.

I hate to be the guy to say it; but this President has royally screwed up and screwed us, the American people…..again.

Good Job Barry! 🙄

Others:  Pajamas Media, Jules Crittenden, Don Surber, Power Line, MoonbatteryFausta’s Blog, , The FoundryBelow The Beltway, Moderate in the Middle, Neptunus Lex, A Blog For All, Dr. Sanity, , Michelle Malkin

Late Night at the PB presents: Peter, Paul and Mary

This is a special tribute edition of the PB Pub. Today the folk music world lost one of the original voices. Mary Travers of the group Peter, Paul and Mary has died.

The New York Times reports:

Mary Travers, whose ringing, earnest vocals with the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary made songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “If I Had a Hammer” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” enduring anthems of the 1960s protest movement, died on Wednesday at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut. She was 72 and lived in Redding, Conn.

17travers3a_190The cause was complications from chemotherapy associated with a bone-marrow transplant she had several years ago after developing leukemia, said Heather Lylis, a spokeswoman.

Ms. Travers brought a powerful voice and an unfeigned urgency to music that resonated with mainstream listeners. With her straight blond hair and willowy figure and two bearded guitar players by her side, she looked exactly like what she was, a Greenwich Villager directly from the clubs and the coffeehouses that nourished the folk-music revival.

“She was obviously the sex appeal of that group, and that group was the sex appeal of the movement,” said Elijah Wald, a folk-blues musician and a historian of popular music.

Ms. Travers’s voice blended seamlessly with those of her colleagues, Peter Yarrow and Paul Stookey, to create a rich three-part harmony that propelled the group to the top of the pop charts. Their first album, “Peter, Paul and Mary,” which featured the hit singles “Lemon Tree” and “If I Had a Hammer,” reached No. 1 shortly after its release in March 1962 and stayed there for seven weeks, eventually selling more than two million copies.

The group’s interpretations of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” translated his raw vocal style into a smooth, more commercially acceptable sound. The singers also scored big hits with pleasing songs like the whimsical “Puff the Magic Dragon” and John Denver’s plaintive “Leaving on a Jet Plane.”

On a personal note, My mother loved this group as a young lady and still does to this day. With my Mom and many of the other young people at the time; politics was the farthest thing from their minds. They were just enjoying the good music and singing. I am also well aware of the politics of this woman and the other members of the group. However, I do believe a bit clarification is in order.  I believe that the liberalism of this woman’s era was not the same stripe of the liberalism of today. It is sort of hard to explain, there has been books written about it.  It was the Kennedy Liberalism and not the kind of Liberalism of Barack Obama.

Here are a few videos in memory of Mary Travers… Enjoy. May Mary rest in peace and on the behalf of my Mother; thanks for the memories.

Some of you may noticed the familiar looking ads in the sidebars

Those  two free ads are running for two weeks. Basically in support of a friend of mine; who is being attacked by a person, of whom I believe to be a traitor to the Conservative movement, the anti-jihad movement and Anti-Islamic Fascism  Movement. Further more, attacking those of us who dare to speak out against the Current administration as racists.

I had hoped that I could stay out of this fray or at least not have to mention said parties name on my Blog. But it seems that Mr. Charles Foster Johnson has got a serious problem. That problem is collectivism; that is blaming of an entire movement for the misdeeds of a slight few. The whole guilt by association game that the far left tries to play against anyone who disagrees with their politics.  The end for me, is when Charles Johnson said of the owner of Gateway Pundit; that he was a “Borderline illiterate Bigot.”

My advice to Charles Johnson is this. Take the fucking idiotic stupid blog of yours down and go the fuck away. Whatever you do, do NOT fuck with me. Believe me when I say this. I have the means and the fucking gonads to plunk down some cash and get my hands of every piece of personal information about that is available about you, via most information services of this sort.  Do not think that I am above posting every god damned piece of personal information about you sir. Including, Address with an aerial shot of your house. Telephone numbers, Social security number, Credit Card Numbers,  Driver license numbers, Vehicle Vin Numbers and anything else, that I think that the American people should know about it. Yes, I am that damned crazy.  I have done this before, when I felt it necessary to do so, and I will do it again, if I think that it is needed.

I dislike blog fights; I really do. I have been in a few myself and something always happens that you regret later. However, I will use any all means, including lethal force, to defend myself, if need be. So, Johnson, don’t even think of Barking up my damn tree cracker boy.

Anyhow, here are the other folks blogging ol ‘Foster: Atlas Shrugs, The Jawa Report, American Power, Carol’s Closet, Jihad Watch, The Daley Gator, Whiskey Fire and TBogg

When it comes to Immigration Libby Grammer Garrett does NOT believe the Bible!

I do not do Christianity on this blog much at all. Partially because I just do not feel that I am a qualified spokesman for Christian or the Baptist Faith, in which I am a part of.

However, when I read stuff like this right here, I get quite angry and feel the need to speak out against it.

Some socialist twit, named Libby Grammer Garrett, who claims to be a Baptist and a Christian has written the follow awful piece of nonsense that is supposedly Christian and Baptist in Nature.

Continue reading “When it comes to Immigration Libby Grammer Garrett does NOT believe the Bible!”

Leave Jay Leno alone!

I am not sure who’s anal orifice John Nolte had his head stuck in, when he wrote this piece; but I took great issue with it.

You want to be edgy in the entertainment business today? Be polite and keep the politics as across the board as possible. Walk on stage with the “edgy” goal of wanting to entertain and take away from their daily frustrations as many people as possible.

Jay Leno’s the new edgy, the new ballsy…

And that lapel flag makes him a downright iconoclast.

I didn’t see his show, but I’m pulling for him because all the right people are not.

via Big Hollywood » Blog Archive » If Jay Leno Wants Better Reviews He Can Start By Removing the Lapel Flag.

I am not sure what John Nolte’s problem is; but his criticism of Jay Leno is totally unfounded and quite stupid, if you ask me.

It just so happens that Jay Leno has not been very outward about his politics at all. I would never call Leno a committed leftist at all. In fact, the man does tend to have Conservative leanings. I believe Jay Leno to be one of those types, who are “Middle of the Road”, when comes to matters of the political sort.  He is admittedly a supporter of the working, middle class, man in this country. Something that I do not find to be offensive at all.

In fact, I thought giving a free show to the unemployed in the Detroit Area; where I live here to be a noble gesture on his part.  I think anyone who would find that to be offensive would be either out for bloodsport or just being some sort of partisan hack. So, while I feel that Nolte was correct about his observation of Letterman. I found his criticism of Leno totally out of line and even possibly out of touch.

As for the Flag Pin criticism; let me clue you in on something. Jay Leno started with nothing, he was an absolute nobody; He started at the bottom and worked his way up. He caught a lucky break and became an extremely successful comedian. That my friends is the American dream, you could not do something like that in say North Korea, or Venezuela or maybe even Russia. —- My point is this folks; Jay Leno is the perfect example of someone living the American Dream. If he wants to wear an American flag lapel pin. I say, by all mean, let him and even praise him for it. Jay Leno is example of what Hard Work, committed endurance and possibly even a little luck will get you. If you want to be successful, you can be, you just have to work at it.

Having said all that; let’s leave “The Chin” alone. He’s earned his wings and he did it the hard way. Let us not criticize someone for loving this Country. In this day of Leftest Presidents apologizing for this Country; let us condemn someone for quietly, if not subtly praising this Country and it’s many freedoms.

Cross Posted at Alexandria