... I stopped in a couple of places.
CNN had free prizes for identification of newsworthy political figures.
Seacrest (click on) was the surrogate for Dick Clark. Clark looked good. Remarkable recovery from his stroke.
It was facsincating to see Mayor Bloomberg with his American Flag Sweater 'mingling' with Seacrest for political volleys. Seacrest hosts American Idol, also known as "The Place for the No Talent Bumbs in the Country that haven't got a Clue." It was all too obvious that the good Mayor was making a splash with Seacrest and his FOX constituency.
I didn't appreciate the pictures of the 'Crystal Ball' as it came down. It was too close up and the effect of changing colors and designs was to be viewed at a long distance. It took away from the moment and the effect.
The New Year was marked with the 3000th death of American soldiers in Iraq. Not a mention to any party that I saw. Just didn't count. Would have ruined the 'party spirit' I suppose.
There was a remarkable display of concern and respect for our troops by The New York Times. It was pleasingly astounding, at the top of the page, at midnight on their website:
"Faces of the Dead"
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/us/20061228_3000FACES_TAB1.html
I didn't see any other display of such patriotic concern except at Michael Moore dot calm; and the Associated Press where Mike turns for his imforation at times; where he was the first to note the event of the 3000th dead American.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/
It is the silver ball above. It is that dicotomy that is dangerous to this country. While traditions like The Times Square Moment is vital to the USA, it isn't 'all' of the aspects of The New Year of the USA. It's a worry.
When this country responded to the attacks of September 11th, we did it with great trepidation for the heroes that 'wear the uniform.' The legitimate campaign went fairly well in Afghanistan although completely obvious it was also underestimated and under manned. The USA had a justified reason for the invasion into that country. We had more reason to occupy that country until it was secure enough to prevent any rise to power again of the Taliban or permit any threat by al Qaeda.
It was squandered for an oil war in Iraq and revenge killing of Saddam, carried out by surrogating the legitimate issues of the Kurds. It may have been a mistake to hang Saddam, certainly it was from the standpoint that he did not stand trial for all his crimes, which some might include some murders of Sunnis, before he was executed.
This is obviously a reaction to the execution.
Prisoners clash with guards in Iraq jail
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IBO157796.htm
MOSUL, Iraq, Jan 1 (Reuters) - Prisoners in a jail in Iraq smashed cell doors, burned furniture and broke cameras during a riot on Monday that began when visitors told inmates that Saddam Hussein had been executed.
At least seven guards and three inmates were injured before Iraqi police and army ended the fighting.
The clashes in Padush prison in northern Iraq broke out during visiting hours as inmates reacted to news of Saddam execution, a witness in the prison said.
"Visitors brought the news of Saddam's execution and this ignited the unrest," the witness told Reuters.
Images of Saddam being taunted by Shi'ite officials during his hanging on Saturday have outraged Saddam's fellow Sunni Arabs, who have expressed anger at the Shi'ite-dominated government.
Iraq's overcrowded prisons hold many Sunni Arabs suspected of being Saddam supporters and insurgents. Sunnis complain of being victimised by Shi'ite-dominated security forces.
The unrest took place in a wing housing around 300 inmates, who attacked guards with sticks and batons. Police and army from the nearby city of Mosul were sent in and witnesses reported hearing gunbattles inside the prison.
Prison director Ali Mahmud said no inmates escaped, though some had tried to get away in the chaos. Mahmud said seven guards and three inmates were injured, but witnesses said one visitor had died in the clashes.
The family of one man in the region who has been in prison for 15 years said he had escaped. Mahmud said all inmates were accounted for.
The United Nations has voiced disquiet over the conditions of Iraq's prisons, and U.S. forces have uncovered clandestine prisons were Sunni inmates have been held and tortured.
The importance of our mission in Afghanistan has been diminished by the incompetent authority in Washington, DC. As a nation, and one with scars still lingering all too clearly in New York City, we cannot lose site of the real mission of our military in Afghanistan.
Currently, Russia is concerned over increasing the size of NATO. All this is due to the fact there has been such gross incompetence by the USA 'high command' in securing Afghanistan and fighting an appropriate war. I don't know of any American that would not stand behind a strong effort in Afghanistan, it is just that we cannot condone any actions by the USA under this administration because their agenda is very covert and when they execute power it is always 'under done' to propagate military presence and spending and corporate profits than to legitimately win wars.
We have seen the change of another year on the calender. Calenders are important. Soon the year 2008 will present itself and again the USA is looking to elect a president. This time we have to focus on competency and not personality, policy and not '...smoke 'em out...' Hollywood style politics and a complete resolve to Afghanistan's strife which is giving way to the return of the Taliban which once sheltered al Qaeda. We as a country are allowing the worse to happen with the power of our military and compromising ourselves and our allies.
In all honesty, I don't see that NATO's size should be increased as this has resulted from Bush/Cheney incompetence and the real goals of increasing NATO is skeptical. We also cannot allow NATO to be a surrogate to issues best resolved by the USA military. We need a change in policy and diplomacy in Washington, DC before anyone, including Russia, can say this is unnecessary or imprudent. Unfortunately, the stress that the Brits and NATO are facing will not wait and for that reason I would appeal to the United Nations Security Council and other countries of the region to seek the best outcome for the defeat of al Qaeda and oppression of the Taliban with perhaps participation by Russian/Chinese troops as well.
For a better new year.
Shalom.
