How valuable are endangered species?

Birding is currently the second fastest growing hobby in the United States after gardening, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. In 2011, there were 47 million birdwatchers (birders) ages 16 or older in the United States, making up roughly 20 percent of the nation’s population. Birders spent an estimated $41 billion on trip related expenditures and equipment, added $107 billion dollars to the economy,supported 666,000 jobs and generated $6 billion in State tax revenue and $7 billion in Federal tax revenue.

This is no ordinary bird. It is exclusive to the USA, in Michigan and Wisconsin's Jack Pine Forests. It is endangered because of lack of habitat. 

The Kirtland's warbler, (click here) an endangered species, is a songbird that nests in young jack pine stands. Until 1995 Kirtland’s warblers had only been known to nest in the northern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Today, they also nest in the Upper Peninsula, and since 2007, have nested in Wisconsin and Canada. They migrate from their nesting grounds to the southeastern coast of the United States on their way to wintering grounds in the Bahamas. 

They are very illusive and birders from all over the world come to visit them in the USA. One of the reasons they are elusive is because it is only the male that sings. Those responsible for the recovery of these birds maintain a count based on how many singing males are counted and doubling it assuming they all have mates.

Field Marks
Bluish gray above, streaked with black; yellow below, with black spots or streaks confined to the sides. Male has a blackish mask. Female is grayer, lacks mask. In autumn, browner. Persistently jerks tail; no other gray-backed warbler does this.

The years 1999 through 2002 saw an increase in childhood obesity by nearly 50%.

Overweight (click here) and obesity in children are significant public health problems in the United States. The number of adolescents who are overweight has tripled since 1980 and the prevalence among younger children has more than doubled. According to the 1999-2002 NHANES survey, 16 percent of children age 6-19 years are overweight (see Figure 1)....

The First Lady's health directive for children began in 2009. The sales of potato chips continued to increase. I really don't feel bad for them.

The REAL reason First Lady Michelle Obama is scapegoated for her dedication to our youngest citizens, is much larger than the USA. The real reason the First Lady is a target is because the USA has influence globally.

So, while we have a great First Lady seeing the need for a focus on health, happiness and longevity of our children, those receiving plenty of political monies from cronies believe our American children actually are disposable for global profits.

Role of Nutrition in World Health Issues (click here)

Nutrition and eating habits feed directly into a host of personal health issues that directly impact individual quality of life and national healthcare systems.  Poor eating habits, combined with limited activity, are a leading contributor to obesity, which increases the risk of serious long-term illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma and cancer, and shortens life expectancies.  Even for those who manage to escape these problems, an unhealthy, high calorie diet lacking in essential nutrients can lead to weight control issues, low energy and self-esteem and an overall lower quality of life....

How do we spell it? C.O.R.R.U.P.T.I.O.N.

Quality of Profits NEVER enters into a corporate board room. Profits at any cost including that of human health is always the elephant in the room. It's personal choice. It isn't like anyone is twisting their arms to purchase products.

The Pepsi commercial below not only sells empty calories and caffeine to poor children, it also sells attitude. Basically, Pepsi is the STATUS of poor children who need an 'ego structure' as a reward system rather than nutritional choices.

The sad truth to this commercial is that 'Food Deserts' (click here) do actually exist in impoverished neighborhoods in the USA. So, the 'target' of the ad is well researched. Pepsi knows exactly who they are selling to. They know their customer. Where is V8 when you need them?

• V8^® 100% Vegetable Juice (click here) provides two nutritious servings of vegetables in each 8-ounce glass

Where is V8? Outside 'the attitude.' Enter stage right, First Lady Michelle Obama. Thank you to the First Lady.

Now. What happens when every First Lady around the world takes up "Let's Move" while setting nutritional standards for their nation's children. My, my, my.

Who is the winner to well administered QUALITY federal programs?

"Let's Move" (click here)

The First Lady's detractors are supporting...please spell it...C.O.R.R.U.P.T.I.O.N.

They are using the First Lady to ridicule a healthy American lifestyle. It is tough to realize Wall Street commodities of apples and green beans should be of more interest than potato chips.

Kathleen Parker 
The Washington Post

...The first lady’s “Let’s Move!” program (click here) and her focus on whole foods (as opposed to fast) and water instead of sodas have been welcome developments. Who better to bring needed attention to such issues? Obama is merely expanding her maternal focus to include all those public school kids whose mothers apparently have forgotten how to make a sandwich. Or whose fathers have forgotten to say, “Get those plugs out of your ears and make friends with the lawn mower” — or whatever its urban equivalent....

Her maternal focus?

Ms. Parker is typical of the right winger who is supposedly Pro-Life, but, when it comes to QUALITY OF CHILDHOOD, forget it. Evidently, every maternal focus is under attack for the impact of cost to profit ratio.

You'll excuse me, but, the First Lady is amazing. She is articulate, well educated and I bet she bakes cookies, too. Any First Lady has a priority for the nation. It has been the way it is for the entire history of the country. First Lady Michelle Obama inherited an obese nation and it was unacceptable for her. While she is more than qualified to take any topic as First Lady, she decided our children were facing huge medical problems in obesity. There are record numbers of young people experiencing Type II Diabetes that normally doesn't result until later middle age in Americans. 

Type II Diabetes is a very serious diagnosis. This isn't something the latest diet fad can cure to fit into the summer swimsuit.

Our American children have a right to health and well being and the energy to learn and enjoy their young lives. So, when those like Ms. Parker decides to ridicule the First Lady, they are ignorant, seeking political power plays for Wall Street and completely LACKING a maternal focus.

Food and Beverage Money

A local school wellness policy (click here) is a written document of official policies that guide a local educational agency (LEA) or school district’s efforts to establish a school environment that promotes students’ health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity....

ANY federal program should support the highest standards to provide incentives for local initiatives for children's best outcomes. Our children require ADULTS to be in government to prevent exploitation For Profit Companies of their NUTRITIONAL needs.

Dietary Recommendations for Healthy Children (according to The American Heart Association - click here)

Daily Estimated Calories and Recommended Servings for Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, and Milk/Dairy by Age and Gender

1 Year	2–3 Years	4–8 Years	9–13 Years	14–18 Years
Calories†	900 kcal	1000 kcal
Female			1200 kcal	1600 kcal	1800 kcal
Male			1400 kcal	1800 kcal	2200 kcal
Fat	30-40% kcal	30-35% kcal	25-35% kcal	25-35% kcal	25-35% kcal

*Calorie estimates are based on a sedentary lifestyle. Increased physical activity will require additional calories: by 0-200 kcal/d if moderately physically active; and by 200–400 kcal/d if very physically active.

†For youth 2 years and older; adopted from Table 2, Table 3, and Appendix A-2 of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2005)14; http://www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines. 

Nutrient and energy contributions from each group are calculated according to the nutrient-dense forms of food in each group (eg, lean meats and fat-free milk).

‡Milk listed is fat-free (except for children under the age of 2 years). If 1%, 2%, or whole-fat milk is substituted, this will utilize, for each cup, 19, 39, or 63 kcal of discretionary calories and add 2.6, 5.1, or 9.0 g of total fat, of which 1.3, 2.6, or 4.6 g are saturated fat.

§Serving sizes are 1/4 cup for 1 year of age, 1/3 cup for 2 to 3 years of age, and 1/2 cup for 4 years of age

.

A variety of vegetables should be selected from each subgroup over the week.

_Half of all grains should be whole grains.

For 1-year-old children, calculations are based on 2% fat milk. If 2 cups of whole milk are substituted, 48 kcal of discretionary calories will be utilized. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that low-fat/reduced fat milk not be started before 2 years of age.

Now, who do you want making policy for your children, a legislator that pays attention to The American Heart Association or is bought and paid for by the Food and Beverage and Snack Food Power Brokers?

The Editorial Board,8:45 p.m. EDT May 29, 2014

Chief supporter of weakening school lunch (click here) is a group of school officials backed by companies such as Coca-Cola and Domino's Pizza.

The U.S. faces an epidemic of childhood obesity and diabetes.

Taxpayers spend $11 billion a year to subsidize school lunches.

Put those two facts together, and you'd think there'd be widespread agreement that the money ought to go toward healthy meals....

How is it spelled? C. O. R. R. U. P. T. I. O. N. And who spells it the best? R.E.P.U.B.L.I.C.A.N.S.

Top 20 Members (click here)

Candidate	Amount
Boehner, John (R-OH)	$141,455
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)	$68,100
Cornyn, John (R-TX)	$64,200
Scott, Tim (R-SC)	$62,900
Toomey, Pat (R-PA)	$61,100
Roskam, Peter (R-IL)	$60,900
McCarthy, Kevin (R-CA)	$54,331
Cantor, Eric (R-VA)	$51,500
Alexander, Lamar (R-TN)	$47,000
Buchanan, Vernon (R-FL)	$46,25

Top Contributors, 2013-2014

Contributor	Amount
National Restaurant Assn	$545,750
Coca-Cola Co	$536,060
McDonald's Corp	$391,197
Darden Restaurants	$384,350
PepsiCo Inc	$240,520
Bloomin' Brands	$193,000
Nevada Restaurant Services	$162,000
American Beverage Assn	$160,600
CKE Restaurants	$146,550

This was 2013.

By Emma DumainPosted at 5:57 p.m. on Sept. 16, 2013

The House is set to consider legislation this week to cut $40 billion (click here) from nutrition programs over 10 years in yet another test for House GOP leaders still licking their wounds from the defeat of their original incarnation of the farm bill earlier this summer.

This time, however, at least one of their chief antagonists will be staying mostly on the sidelines.

The Club for Growth, an influential conservative advocacy group that took some of the credit for successfully lobbying Republican lawmakers to oppose the farm bill, told CQ Roll Call on Monday it did not plan to “key vote” the nutrition bill, even though “it’s clear that it’s part of an overall charade to remarry food stamps with farm subsidies that we oppose,” said spokesman Barney Keller. A key vote is used in scoring members’ bona fides before an election....

Obviously, the Club for Growth isn't interested in the growth of children so much as their bulging pockets. 

The Club for Growth are the losers in business. They make their money by cutting into government budgets rather than actually expanding markets and bringing new products to the consumer. That's Republicans for you. No ideas, only "where can I get the money from." 

"Where can I get the money from," primarily includes taking it from the pockets of others.

Club for Growth is not at the top of the Speakers favorites. He was number 1 in 2010 among Republicans, but, Boner ridiculed Club for Growth and Heritage Action recently when they sought to defeat the Ryan/Murray Budget. So, Boner has fallen of the "Most Favorite List" all together. (click here)

Snack Food Association PAC

The donations are made by individuals associated with the Snack Food Industry (click here)

The PAC to PAC/Party donations all went to Republicans. It is crony politics that disregard the food our school lunch programs provide to our children. The presence of poor quality food in the presence of others also puts pressure on parents to provide that type of food in school lunches.

This is only one of the Junk Food PACs.

This is CORRUPTION. C. O. R. R. U. P. T. I. O. N. Speaker Boner is a bad boy.

Top Vendors/Recipient (click here)

Contributions from this PAC	Total
Boehner for Speaker Cmte	$1,000

Contributors to this PAC	Total
PepsiCo Inc	$2,500
ConAgra Foods	$1,000

Rank	Vendor/Recipient	Total Expenditures
1	Marcia Fudge For Congress	$2,000
1	Jim Jordan For Congress	$2,000
3	Ryan For Congress	$1,000
3	McConnell Senate Cmte '14	$1,000
3	Toomey For Senate	$1,000
3	Eddie Bernice Johnson For Congress	$1,000
3	Citizens For Cochran	$1,000
3	Pompeo For Congress	$1,000
3	Pat Roberts For Senate	$1,000
3	Bob Goodlatte For Congress Cmte	$1,000
3	Boehner for Speaker FOJB-NRCC	$1,000

House
Total to Democrats: $3,000
Total to Republicans: $3,000

Recipient	Total
Fudge, Marcia L (D-OH)	$2,000
Goodlatte, Bob (R-VA)	$1,000
Johnson, Eddie Bernice (D-TX)	$1,000
Jordan, Jim (R-OH)	$1,000
Pompeo, Mike (R-KS)	$1,000

Senate
Total to Democrats: $0
Total to Republicans: $5,000

Recipient	Total
Cochran, Thad (R-MS)	$1,000
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)	$1,000
Roberts, Pat (R-KS)	$1,000
Toomey, Pat (R-PA)	$2,000

Based on data released by the FEC on April 20, 2014.

There is no reason to war anymore.

The major powers need to secure their economies and it doesn't take militarism anymore. There is more cost to destroying each other's country than ever to finding ways of resolving hatred through economic measures.

The Middle East is laced with jihadists that are well funded and want to kill Americans.

Africa is fractured, broken, impoverished and unable to resolve to improve the lives of their people so much as provide a government ruling class to oversee whatever occurs internationally. 

That last thing the Middle East, Africa, the East or the West needs is war. It is just the way it is.

But.

I'll grant you, the American press like their power players and will create fear enough to drive people to the polls for the Neocons. The Dems just aren't the wealth machine type. The Dems are more about equity and MAINTAINING economic growth rather than bubble and bust. President Obama should have recognized the signs when he stated he would prioritize a better economy without bubble and bust. I mean, Yellen? How boring does it get? Wall Street might actually have to work at making money for a change. The real question is do they still remember how to do that? Yellen will make a good mentor no doubt, if she realizes she needs to have that capacity. She might take for granted the wealth merchants actually are as intelligent and learned as she is. That would be her mistake.

Jihadists are culturally isolated.

The Nusra Front rarely grants interviews to Western media, and spokesmen were unavailable for comment.

The U.S. government designated the group a terrorist organization in 2012, saying at the time that Nusra was an alias for al Qaida in Iraq, which was founded by Abu Musab Zarqawi, a Jordanian, to battle the U.S. presence there. That designation was recently updated to recognize that the organization is officially seen as an al Qaida branch operating in Syria.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/05/30/4147111/american-suicide-bomber-in-syria.html#storylink=cpy

They are not necessarily poor at the time of their death, but, they usually are poor prior to it. So, there is incentive to be a suicide bomber if a young man wants to create a degree of comfort to their family upon his death. 

The lack of information provided Americans about how citizenship is denied to jihadists is interesting. The New York Times of all news media should be supplying information that is an understanding of how all that works rather than leaving the door open to fear there will an influx of Americans trained in suicide bombing. The fear mongering for election purposes is more than interesting.

Such fear mongering sincerely causes concern President Obama is a do nothing sort of guy. Sure, whatever the press says has to be real, right?

It is easy to understand why Nusra Front exists. What do we know about the death of a martyr? We know they are given greater brevity after death than before. So with the death of Abu Musab Zarqawi there would be a loyalty to his memory to carry on without him, hence Nusra Front.  

It was Americans that killed Zarqawi and it was an American that was recruited. There is some sort of twisted victory in that I suppose.
 

Mary Anne Weaver 

Jul 1 2006, 12:00 PM ET

...I asked Azzam (click here) if he knew who was funding al-Zarqawi’s activities in Iraq.
He thought for a moment, and then replied without answering, “At the time of jihad, you can get vast amounts of money with a simple telephone call. I myself once collected three million dollars, which my father had arranged with a single call.”
“A bank transfer?” I asked.
“No. I collected it on my motorbike.
“I was in Syria when the war in Iraq began,” he went on. “People were arriving in droves; everyone wanted to go to Iraq to fight the Americans. I remember one guy who came and said he was too old to fight, but he gave the recruiters $200,000 in cash. ‘Give it to the mujahideen,’ was all he said.”
He then told me about a young boy he had met in the early days of the war.
“He was from Saudi Arabia and had just turned thirteen. I noticed him in the crowd at a recruiting center near the Syrian-Iraqi frontier. People would come and register in the morning, then cross the border in the afternoon by bus. I first saw him at the registration desk. The recruiters refused to take him because he was so young, and he started to cry. I went back later in the day, and this same small guy had sneaked aboard the bus. When they discovered him, he started to shout Allahu Akhbar!—‘God is most great!’ They carried him off. He had $12,000 in his pocket—expense money his family had given him before he set off. ‘Take it all,’ he pleaded. ‘Please, just let me do jihad.’”...

He was of American origin, but, he was no longer an American.

I can't imagine his family isn't devastated by his decisions. I'd be more concerned if they actually consented. But, there have been parents of violent individuals such as the Boston Bombers who indirectly supported their family members.

By Amy Sherman, Charles Rabin and Patricia Mazzei
The young American suicide bomber (click here) who blew up a truck he was driving in Syria last weekend previously lived in Fort Pierce, law enforcement sources told the Miami Herald on Friday.
The man, in his 20s and believed to have been the first American suicide bomber in Syria, was identified late Friday by the New York Times as Moner Mohammad Abusalha. He had previously been identified by his nom de guerre, Abu Hurayra al Ameriki, or Abu Hurayra the American. It’s unclear when he traveled to Syria or for how long before that he was in Fort Pierce, which is about 130 miles north of Miami.
Law enforcement officials were speaking Friday with the man’s family and friends — some of them elsewhere in Florida — and tracing his movements, including his online activity, in the U.S. before he left for Syria. Federal authorities are investigating whether he was recruited or radicalized online.... 

...“There is going to be a diaspora out of Syria at some point,” Comey said, “and we are determined not to let lines get drawn between Syria today and a future 9/11.”...

He had no right to return. The so called diaspora only exists in theory, there is already laws that provide for the exile of citizens found to have alienated themselves from their citizenship. The FBI should bring this reality to the legislature and the Executive Branch to be sure there is a clear understanding these people are no longer of American citizenship. Basically, no falling through the cracks.

"Although a person's enlistment (click here) in the armed forces of a foreign country may not constitute a violation of U.S. law, it could subject him or her to Section 349(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1481(a)(3)] which provides for loss of U.S. nationality if an American voluntarily and with the intention of relinquishing U.S. citizenship enters or serves in foreign armed forces engaged in hostilities against the United States or serves in the armed forces of any foreign country as a commissioned or non-commissioned officer." 

The reality is, the USA does not have to accept the hostile actions of a natural born citizens or anyone else as if they have a right to carry out violence at home or abroad. This act of violence is not murder, it was an act of terrorism. It is a foregone conclusion terrorism includes suicide bombers. 

The shadow was cast to the idea when Anwar al Awlaki was an estranged American. He never attacked anyone directly, but, he did carry out an act of war against the USA when he mentored another American to killing soldiers within the sovereign USA. To that end he could be considered a conspirator to the deaths and was considered exiled from the country. It was very bizarre though for his son to be murdered. The son had no connection to violence or conspiracy.

There are all sorts of interesting developments now.

The White House Press Secretary is leaving. I don't blame him. Charlize Theron states the press has raped her privacy. I believer her. The Press has a real problem with the treatment of women. They assume the attention they provide is suppose to promote an actress career. I don't know of many actresses with careers promoted by the press actually. There was a blond bombshell willing to provide her talent that the press ultimately destroyed. That would be Marilyn Monroe. The only reason Ms. Theron is receiving backlash about her comments is because the Press can't admit they have no boundaries between reality and fantasy.

I don't see there is an obligation of any actress to be scrutinized by the press. The performance is what is suppose to be valued, not their baby bump. 

NATO is confirming Russian troops are moving away from the Ukraine border. The military pressure did not deter the vote so it's time to go home. Isn't that just as obvious as it can be. But, the upside is with the USA, Germany, Ukraine and Russia participating in D-Day there can be a return to normalcy. 

True to form Speaker Boner is claiming the resignation of the VA Secretary accomplished nothing. So good of him to say so now. The silence was deafening. The press was doing all his work for him, why interfere? Why risk being an enemy to veteran's groups who did not want Secretary Shinseki to resign, right?

May 29, 2014

..."I'm going to continue to reserve judgement (click here) on General Shinseki," Boehner told reporters during the weekly GOP leadership news conference. "The question I ask myself is: is him resigning going to get us to the bottom of the problem, is it going to help us find out what is really going on? The answer is no."...

So, now that he's reserved judgement along with Cantor it's on to President Obama. I am sure he'll have the support of the press as well.  The spineless Speaker again refused to stand up to any political backlash to address the eons of change Secretary Shinseki brought. As far as Boner is concerned the Secretary did about as much for the country as he did. Nothing.

Blood in the water, Boner, or is the political cash still have your hands tied?

By Peter Foster, Washington DC
4:46AM BST 21 May 2014

America’s insurgent Right-wing suffered (click here) a bruising time at the polls last night as mainstream Republicans triumphed over more extreme Tea Party candidates in several key races ahead of November’s US midterm elections.

Four years after the populist anti-government Tea Party movement stormed the polls in the 2010 elections, their favoured candidates faired poorly on a night when six US states chose candidates in some of November’s marquee races.

With Republicans hoping to take back control of the US senate and render Barack Obama a lame duck for the remaining two years of his presidency, the GOP’s establishment in Washington has worked hard to neutralise fringe candidates on the party’s right wing...

Is it true? The GOP is the puppet of the Tea Party? There is no reason to believe otherwise.

The Veterans Administration is usually invisible to the American people, except, for those that frequent it for medical and prescription services. Secretary Shinseki moved the VA into a new role in the lives of soldiers plagued with the residual of an illegal war and a prolonged war due to the abandonment of Afghanistan to the Taliban by Bush so he could toy with Iraq. The veterans and returning soldiers lost a friend today and now the House Republicans want to simply move on politically. They were never interested in the veterans in the first place, except for whatever political clout they could throw their way for PROMISES to funding and improved services. 

The Republicans aren't capable of leadership. They are only capable of living with their need for political funding and how their cronies are best served.  

Ms. Theron has more in common with the political press than she realizes. It would seem the gossip columns and the political press will do anything to prostitute themselves for a buck.

When it comes to Nigeria, I have to wonder how much cultural tensions play into the activities of the militias.

I was engaged (click here) in a heated argument with one of my friends yesterday evenin' when we heard the news that the senate has empowered the vice president to act as president. We were arguing about his name 'Ebele', my friend said it's igbo and that Jonathan is some retribalized igbo man(just like Mike Okiro). I disagreed and insisted that the 'ebele' name was just a mere coincidence in spelling with the igbo name 'ebele' and that they were pronounced differently. He never agreed up till now and i felt like asking u guys especially the ijaw peeps Is there an ijaw name 'ebele'?

The Boko Haram militia is primarily located in the northern regions of the country. The President of Nigeria is from southern Nigeria. The differences are quite interesting when it comes to culture and LANGUAGE. 

There is also the issue of Boko Haram and the Fulani. They have been conducting hostilities. The Fulani's presence extends past the Nigerian borders but with them being herdsman and women they tend to migrate somewhat anyway. 

I have to wonder if the Fulani have better relations with the Nigerian President and can they work together to reduce the power of Boko Haram in the north?

There are a great deal of complaints about the Nigerian government and the impoverishment of the people. There obviously has to be changes instituted to elevate the people out of poverty, but, the people are troubled by the violence in the country. 

Boko Haram is a Muslim organization that isn't just oppositional to Western education, if that is what the girls were receiving at all, but more the focus to eliminate Christian influence within the country of Nigeria. That focus justifies the violence Boko Haram conducts, but, the kidnapping of the girls is more than just more violence against the people of Nigeria, it is about removing young women away from any Christian/Western influence.

Jonathan is a Christian with strong educational ties to Christian schools. Are there any Muslims within his administration that can bring the country together? Someone to address any fears used by Boko Haram that can be dispelled by the government? I have a difficult time believing the people of Nigeria, which vary in culture and language, can't find a common thread to put the violence into a context that would unite the country.

The other aspect of Jonathan's background is his ties to the delta region of the country. He knows the exploitation of the petroleum industry and the abandonment of the people in the delta to suffer the consequences. He has to be somewhat motivated into office because of that injustice. He has to end violence, but, he also has to bring reforms to government corruption. If he can do that he can motivate Nigeria to a far more peaceful existence and less divided among the cultures and religions. The division of the people creates legitimacy to the violence as does the fact natural resources are still not the wealth of the nation so much as the wealth of a few. 

The cultural and religious divisions within Nigeria can be problematic for any military intervention. If the people remain divided into factions, one against the other, the question enters 'Where is the next attack coming from?' The Nigerian government has to resolve the people to care about the same national issue. Improving the poverty and health of the people can be the direction needed to end such militias and their violence. Right now the militias have legitimate causes. The government needs to resolve to make those causes mute and only solvable by the elected government. Jonathan has to unite the country to non-violence. But, his words cannot be empty, humanitarian assistance may begin the process of turning to the government as an authority that can be respected.

Gun might be the answer to ending militias, but, they don't solve the problems that spawned the militias in the first place. If the core problems are not confronted, Boko Haram will simply be replaced by another militia leader with greater claims of authority. 

Any humanitarian aid into the country where violence reigns will most likely need a military to accompany them. If aid doesn't enter the hands of those that need it, it will become a commodity that the poor will never afford and it's purpose to that end worthless.

Yep, it is a really lousy hand to be dealt, but, it what it is. 

Ideally, the corruption in Nigeria should have been handled a long time ago. If that had occurred no one would be facing this problem now.

General Shinseki resigned because of the press. It carried public pressure for no valid reason, so he left because he didn't want to be a distraction. 

The USA Press knew exactly what they were doing and they drove a qualified man out of office.

THE PROBLEM IS NOT SOLVED BECAUSE HE LEFT!

Now what is the press going to harp on to correct the problem? Oh, wait. The backlog is now asking members to attend to their needs through private and state hospitals to reduce the backlog. That's right. That occurred under Secretary Shinseki, so all is taken care of and the problem is solved.

It must be an awesome power to actually cause greater problems for the country and a power to be so very proud of.

I suppose if a national press can drive a country into an illegal and immoral war, it can do anything.

It is more than ironic the national press never listened to General Shinseki in both his roles in the military in regard to Iraq and now when there was covert activity within the VA system.

Amazing. It isn't about General Shinseki's feelings, it is about a lousy national press that doesn't LISTEN and only launches propaganda whenever it works to it's power structure to pull strings for the purpose of directing politics. THAT is what this is about. 

General Shinseki is not the issue, the power of the national press to push and pull the people this country in wrongful directions is the issue. He should still be at the VA as he has the most information about the circumstances facing veterans. He has made incredible changes to increase the profile for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The length of issues facing this country that are manipulated by a press anchored in 'their power' rather than 'the truth' is astounding. This is just another example of how the country is disaffected by a national press directing the attention of a nation.

I am still waiting to hear how compromising an entire Olympics and the safety of millions of people were considered fair play for the press to promote Romney over Obama. It is so obvious the press pushed a power play button, Romney - Olympics - National Security - Presidential Election. The power play is all to obvious.

The really unfortunate aspect to the national press is that the people suffer because of it. The condition of this nation is hideous compared to the wealth of Wall Street. Now, the VA has lost the best advocate it ever had. 

General Shinseki needs to remain involved and public. He needs to continue to speak for those underserved and to a nation that needs his expertise and insight. 

But the world is changing with accelerating speed. This presents opportunity, but also new dangers. We know all too well, after 9/11, just how technology and globalization has put power once reserved for states in the hands of individuals, raising the capacity of terrorists to do harm.

Kinda of mixed reviews on those words, because, there is the issue of NSA and Mr. Snowden. Quite frankly, the computer age is over for the USA military. They are better off with paper and files. Seriously. I like the idea of a dossier on paper rather than disc. 

But, national security aside, when is Carlyle going to be sworn in before oversight in the US Senate to atone for their sins when it comes to USA national security? I mean the Fifth Amendment is still part of the US Constitution last I checked. 

It just seems to me since the House doesn't understand the meaning of the Fifth Amendment, it should be exercised in a way they do understand it. 

Russia’s aggression towards former Soviet states unnerves capitals in Europe while China’s economic rise and military reach worries its neighbors.

True. Buoy, that was a gas, huh? Ukraine has an interim president and Crimea becomes a staging area. Like, what the heck? And that entire China and Vietnam thing is just unreal. One day they are buddies and the next day China is claiming Vietnam as their own sovereign territory. It makes me wonder how scared to their skivvies China and Russia are about this entire USA Superpower thing. In observation of all this desperation, it lines up with the first couple of paragraphs of the speech where Prez states 'America...unmatched...without peers...Right?

From Brazil to India, rising middle classes compete with us, and governments seek a greater say in global forums. And even as developing nations embrace democracy and market economies, 24-hour news and social media makes it impossible to ignore the continuation of sectarian conflicts, failing states and popular uprisings that might have received only passing notice a generation ago.

I disagree with the middle class assessment. I don't really see their middle class as competition, so much as an opportunity for new markets, increased trade and better trade balances. I have to agree about the 'passing notice a generation ago.' All the signs were there. This generation simply said, "ENOUGH, we'll take our chances."

It will be your generation’s task to respond to this new world. The question we face, the question each of you will face, is not whether America will lead but how we will lead, not just to secure our peace and prosperity but also extend peace and prosperity around the globe.

Extending PEACE and PROSPERITY around the globe, rather than war torned and decimated infrastructure is really the true form of national security. The war torn business model is what attracts hate and resolves to suicide bombing. But, to state all was peace and prosperity in this administration is not really being spot on. But, at least the drones are out of Pakistan.

Now, this question isn’t new. At least since George Washington served as commander in chief, there have been those who warned against foreign entanglements that do not touch directly on our security or economic well-being.

Today, according to self-described realists, conflicts in Syria or Ukraine or the Central African Republic are not ours to solve. And not surprisingly, after costly wars and continuing challenges here at home, that view is shared by many Americans.

Syria is a problem for the Russians, quite frankly. That is why when I look at Egypt and they are using the 'control at any cost' model of the Russians; it is worrisome. But, Sisi is the one true leader regardless of his lack of support to the people. Gee, whiz, that reminds me of the parallel elections for Syria's leadership. When one starts to line up Syria's outcomes and Egypt's outcomes and Crimea's outcomes, it spells Russia loud and clear.

Russia is a chosen ally and understandably so. It is up to the global community to continue to speak to Russia about it's very poor policies within Russia and their allies. There are common threads of oppression throughout. 

I don't really see that within China. China is more progressive. Granted invading Vietnam's sovereign borders is not cool and was a really bad measure of the resolve of the Vietnamese, but, China is seeking to improve on their human rights problems, carbon emissions and a secure Middle Class to JOIN the global commerce markets which means they have to improve their product quality. I don't see China as regressive as Russia. Then again, it has been spying on Americans and American companies to find their footing in markets and technology. In that realm there is the fact China is now closing down relations with American consulting agencies whom they believe have been siphoning and channeling American ingenuity. Makes sense. It is called corporate espionage.

The moral to the story is, if the media didn't participate in partisan politics of the right wing adrenalin rush of fear it might actually be an interesting read.

That's all for now. I'll convene more about the speech later. Glen Beck, Rush Lambaugh and Joe Scarborough simply have to process small amounts otherwise their hate messages gets lost.