ON THE MIDDLE EAST: LET EUROPE AND ISLAM SOLVE THE RELIGIOUS WAR THEY CREATED

Middle East-1914 (l); Middle East-1922 (r)

After the First World War, Europe, led by France and England, divided up the Middle East. The borders of Syria, Palestine, and Iraq were laid down on paper without the slightest regard for centuries of tribal and religious differences in the region. 

Even bolder, the British promised European Jews a separate state. On November 2, 1917, England's Foreign Secretary, Arthur Balfour, gave Baron Walter Rothschild a letter addressed to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland.

The Balfour Declaration was published on November 19th of that year and was later incorporated into the Sevres Peace Treaty with the Ottoman Empire. It stated:

"His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country."

The appearance of a Jewish state in the middle of Palestine has not sat well at all with the non-Jewish communities in the region!

Bush-Cheney: Not a Clue!

Flash forward to the 21st Century and the United States, under an Administration that also did not have a clue about the Middle East, began an ill-timed, thoughtless, and de-stabilizing war with a goal of bringing democracy to Iraq.

Tribal and religious wounds that had been bound and held closed by tyrants like Hafez and Bashar al-Assad, Saddam Hussein, Hosni Mubarak, and others were now opened and began bleeding out for all the world to see.

For centuries, Shia and Sunni have been fighting each other over petty differences of faith.  Today Iran is 89% Shia, while approximately 90% of Saudi Arabians are Sunni. These two nations are in a holy war to control the Middle East. They both have oil, which produces lots of money to build and buy weapons.

Iraq Prime Minister Maliki: Tool of Iran

Iran creates many of its own weapons and trains to use them. The Saudis, who have not worked a day since oil was discovered on their land, have been using the U.S. to fight their side. They feed us oil, we keep Iran in line. 

Europe, which initially created this mess, needs to do much more to fix it, especially England and France. The United States should agree to supply Europe with all the statesmanship and hardware we can muster to enable them to complete that mission.

Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Iran, nations which continue to stir this religious hatred, should assist the Europeans if they truly want peace. If they do not want outside interference, they should each work posthaste to halt the slaughter. 

15 Saudis Flew in this Sneak Attack

James Madison understood that melding religion with governance leads to problems. Europe, a recent convert to this idea, did not share this view after the first World War. Middle Eastern nations still believe in theocracy. We can all see how well religion-based government works for the region.

We have wasted too many Americans in this part of the world.  Hell, I would rather see us sign a deal with the Russians to purchase their oil than deal with Saudi Arabians, the people who have actually attacked the United States and who are still waging a centuries old religious war.

Why should Americans care if members of the religion of Muhammad want to slaughter one another in the name of Allah?

ON THE MEDAL OF HONOR AND HAND GRENADES: HONORING A HERO

The Medal of Honor is the highest military award given for valor in combat. For the Navy and Marine Corps, the Navy Cross is the second highest award for valor.

When I was a Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam we had a sick joke about how you were chosen for these awards in the event you used your body to cover the explosion of a live enemy hand grenade.

"If you jump on it and it goes off and you die, you get the Medal of Honor. If you jump on it and it goes off and you live, you get the Navy Cross. If you jump on it and it doesn't explode, you get laughed at by the rest of the platoon for being so stupid."

Last week United States Marine Corps Corporal William Kyle Carpenter received the Medal of Honor for throwing his body on a live hand grenade in Afghanistan. His reaction caused him severe wounds, but saved the life of Lance Corporal Nicholas Eufrazio.

The Marine Corps got it right this time and another sick joke dies as a result of its reaction.

Ooo-rah, Marine! Semper Fi!

ON THE RELEASE OF SERGEANT BOWE BERGDAHL: AMERICANS SHOULD BE ASHAMED

According to a New York Times article written by Sabrina Tavernise and published on November 24, 2011, less than one percent of all Americans have served in the military. Think about that!

In 2001 we suffered a brutal sneak attack on our own soil. We have been at war for more than 13 years, fighting in two different theaters of operation. Yet, less than 1% of "patriotic" Americans think it is important to defend their country. More than 9% of Americans served during World War II.

Last night CBS News announced a poll they conducted of American public opinion regarding the release of our last known military prisoner of war, Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, in exchange for five former senior Taliban members. 

Without one shred of evidence provided by the U.S. military detailing his service, his capture or his conduct during more than five years of imprisonment, the American public feels knowledgeable enough to speak out. The trade was too costly says 56%; while 45% believe it should have never been made. Evidence suggests less than 1% of those surveyed ever picked up arms in defense of their country.

How did they come to these conclusions? Evidently, taking the hateful words of bloviating talking heads on FOX News and CNN, and coupling them with dubious "opinions" provided by former members of Sergeant Bergdahl's unit, America can reach a decision. President Obama should not have brought home a man who served his country.

The five Taliban members traded, a group FOX News now calls the "Dream Team," have been in captivity for almost 12 years. They were removed from the battle and they have aged under captivity. They cannot leave Qatar for at least one year. They are, to say the least, emasculated warriors. 

As a former combat veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps I can tell you that all who serve, serve completely. Some might smoke a little dope while serving. More might take every opportunity to pour alcohol into the body to ease the pain of boredom and fear. Others might wander off alone to deal with the horrific scenes of war. In my experience, however, when the rat-tat-tat of gunfire begins, all members of the unit jump up and fight with, and for, the man next to them.

The kind of harmful blabbering I hear now, spewing from the mouths of people who have never served, all while relying on flimsy innuendo as evidence, makes me ashamed to call myself an American.

These Americans are no better than someone who yells "fire" in a packed auditorium merely to watch the pandemonium that ensues.

Americans should turn off their TV sets. It is time to hang our heads in shame and reexamine our humanity.

ON BASEBALL IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST: THE RAYS APPEAR TO BE LOLLYGAGGERS

A number of years ago, when my stepson played for a Senior Little League baseball team with a history of coming in last, I agreed to coach. As manager of the worst team in the area I got the first "pick" of the Spring to select his teammates coming up from Little League. Senior League is for players ages 13 through 15, the first year kids play on a Major League-size diamond. 

The process of selection was made difficult by parents who told their children to fake incompetence during the tryouts. Their thinking? Since I was a new coach I would not know which players were exceptional and which were not. When I saw they could not catch or hit I would choose someone else. After all, who wants their kids playing for a loser?

My stepson, who to this day is still one of the most honest men I know, thwarted them by telling me which were very good players before the tryouts as well as telling me about the conspiracy to thwart selection.

Believe me, not only were the kids upset I chose them, their parents were even more upset. After a couple of games into a season of lackluster play, I asked my stepson, "What's going on?" He told me they needed a rude awakening. "Remember that scene in 'Bull Durham' when the manager threw the bats into the shower," he asked? "They need a moment like that," he answered.

I knew immediately what he meant. And, during the next game, I noticed we hung our aluminum bats on the tall chain-link fence surrounding the dugout. I also noticed our first-year catcher walking after a passed ball with men on base. Without saying a word, I kicked the aluminum fence near the bats. Bats flew everywhere. The noise of fifteen metal bats flying around the dugout was not only loud, but cacophonous. Immediately, everyone turned to look...players, fans, hot dog vendor, and umpires. From center field I could see my stepson smile.

We did not lose a single game after that moment and we placed five players on the All-Star Team (including the lollygagging catcher) and reached the playoffs for the first time in the history of the team. Oh, and I kicked the fence so hard I broke my big toe.

I knew my players wanted to win. They simply did not know how because they thought they were playing for a loser. The ruckus I raised publicly did not make them better players. It did, however, let them know that someone in charge cared about them and cared about whether they were living up to their potential.

The Tampa Bay Rays, a team for which I have rooted for the 14 years I have lived in Saint Petersburg, needs one of these moments. Unfortunately they have a manager, Joe Maddon, who, by his own admission, does not have it in his DNA to get angry or explode. He is a great manager, so I cannot say he is wrong. But, I think the team ownership and management could send a message. And, that message could be as strong as throwing or kicking bats.

If I was the General Manager of the Rays I would publicly announce that, for the right players, pitchers David Price and Grant Balfour, as well as third-baseman Evan Longoria, are available for trade before the July 31 non-waiver deadline. I would immediately call up pitcher Mike Montgomery and catcher Curt Casali from the AAA Durham Bulls team [yes, isn't that a coincidence?].

Jose Molina, who has not weighed the number he now carries as a batting average since he was a pre-teen, is dropped from the team. I like the man, so I would offer him a coaching position, much like the one his brother Bengie has with the Texas Rangers, but he is through as the team catcher.

My next-day pitcher would be Montgomery with a lineup, in batting order, of: CF, Kevin Kiermaier; 1B, James Loney; C, Curt Casali; 3B, Evan Longoria; SS, Yunel Escobar; 2B, Ben Zobrist; DH, Jerry Sands; RF, Matt Joyce; LF, David DeJesus. When he returns from the disabled list I would replace Joyce with Will Myers.

In addition to a search for new pitching talent through these trades, the Rays should focus on a third baseman and a catcher with some "pop" in their bats. Oh, and another outfielder with the ability to hit a few home runs would be nice as well.

The Rays, who this morning have a won-lost record of  24-41, 15 games behind in the American League East, and touting the worst record in Major League Baseball, should blow off this season. Rebuild for tomorrow. Give some kids a chance to show what they can do. And, keep Maddon as Manager. He gets more out of young players than anyone in baseball.

David Price, Grant Balfour, and Evan Longoria are the kind of players who, when asked, say, "we're just not getting the breaks." That is crap. You make your own breaks.

They need to be traded while they still have a lot of trade value. The team needs a shake by the collar and the players need to know that when out on the ball field, as in life, you always play to your potential and play as a team.

The Tampa Bay Rays, picked by many to win the World Series in 2014, is not even close to playing to their potential.