The General’s Thought’s
Israel’s Choice Today
On 9-11, Americans were attacked and the World Trade Center towers were destroyed along with the deaths of almost 3,000 innocents in New York, Washington DC, and over the fields of Western Pennsylvania.. It was pre-emptive attack and a horrific, unthinkable act that arose from great and thorough planning of Al-Qaeda and its Radical Islamists followers. At this point in history, Israel is facing such a dilemma as it seriously contemplates the consequences of a threatened nuclear/missile and ground attack from Iran and her proxies. Does Israel act preemptively to potentially protect its territory and six million citizens and potentially precipitate a full-on regional conflict or anxiously wait while Iran inches closer to nuclear launch capabilities and follows through with its threats of “Death to Israel?”
The media has been fraught with reports about Israel’s action to this Iranian attack that appears more real each day in passing. Israel does not require a green light from the U.S. as a sovereign nation and “needs to do what it has to do”. It is now a political decision for Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. With the recent successful medium-range ballistic missile test and claims of 5,000 uranium-enrichment centrifuges and additional facilities, Ahmadinejad has brought the situation to a critical tipping point as the rest of the world (to include the USA) sits, appeases and threatens more sanctions and provides almost no support to the Iranian Opposition. A Chamberlain type approach historically spells disaster.
It is obvious that Iran is not open to negotiation or compromise. The risk appears to have elevated since Iran’s recent missile tests and their build-up of Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon. Israel has been criticized for its failed efforts during Hezbollah’s war against Israel in 2006 and the Gaza withdrawal. The fact that Hezbollah now has three times the number of missiles it possessed during the 2006 war and now has over 60,000 trained ground combat foot soldiers capable of penetrating the northern border into Israel. Intelligence sources also report that Iran’s plan is to neutralize all Israel air bases by torrential missile attacks from Southern Lebanon.
How should Israel deter an Iran, both from launching direct missile attacks, and from dispersing nuclear assets from the Iran homeland and its terrorist proxies? Now there are obvious and real “fingerprints” all over the wall that necessitates action. This is especially significant because Ahmadinejad states that soon there will be a world without the United States and Israel coupled with his regular pronouncements to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. This sends serious nuclear alarm signals that must not be ignored.
A nuclear-armed Iran, whose president regularly calls for the annihilation of Israel, is an intolerable threat to the world and existence of the Jewish state. There is no quarter for acceptance of an Iranian bomb, which could set in motion regional proliferation to come as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and Syria could potentially acquire nuclear capabilities. The geopolitical and economic consequences of an attack, although necessary for self-preservation, would be dire. Iran could retaliate by escalating attacks on U.S. military forces in Iraq and blocking the Strait of Hormuz and thus the flow of 25% of the world’s oil. It could also decrease oil production and raise prices ultimately leading to a limited global recession and unleash its proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, in the USA, Lebanon and Gaza.
The result could be a large-scale regional conflict. However, a well thought out strategy articulated and executed by the US and Israel would serve a strong deterrence. To be sure, it is not a simple or reassuring world. Strategic doctrine is always a complex matter, and any improved U.S. plan will have to be creative as well as comprehensive. If, for any reason, Iran is permitted to “go nuclear,” our re-fashioned doctrine will certainly have to identify viable options for coexistence with that unpredictable country. In turn, these options will require enemy perceptions of persuasive American power and of a corresponding American willingness to actually use this power.
According to some reports, the Israeli Air Force has conducted secret training missions to prepare for a future attack which will be aided by the X-band radar system, capable of intercepting Iran’s newly tested medium-range ballistic missiles, recently installed by U.S. military personnel. If Israel perceives that time is running out on Iran, it may be forced to muster the political will to defend itself from a nuclear nightmare that Ahmadinejad has repeatedly promised.
We believe Iran is now nuclear capable to some degree.
America’s President seems to naively think that the way to a world without nuclear weapons is going to happen in our lifetime. Perhaps, in the best of all possible worlds, all countries could actually turn back the clock, and impose effective limits on the always-evolving technologies of destruction. But we do not yet live in such a world, and the obvious incapacity to implement any real denuclearization means that (however reluctantly) we shall still have to reconcile our own national security with expanding nuclear proliferation. What option will Israel choose and what will their strategy be? And for that matter, what will the United States do and other responsible nations.
Paul E Vallely (MG, US Army Ret), Chairman of Stand Up America USA
The People Ask for Resignations
By Paul E. Vallely MG, US Army (Ret)
Also posted at The Gold Coast Chronicle
Also posted at The Daily Pledge
The Declaration of Independence states:
“To secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness.”
We cannot permit the current leaders in the White House and Halls of Congress to continue in their efforts to lead us down the road of Progressive Socialism. This is the current battle we Constitutionalists face and we must be aggressive in our efforts. Notice, I have eliminated the terms of liberal…conservative…left and right, as they have little meaning in today’s battle for our Country. Incompetence of officials now come into play as relates to our National Security and Economy and is the rationale for resignations. The names of Holder and Napolitano ring first, and true.
My emphasis in this article will be on Demand Resignation by the people of this country.
Their oath is simple and reads:
“I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”
Sadly, we have seen them violate their oath. Fraud, lying, and corruption are rampant and some have engaged in treasonous activities, and they effectively thumb their noses at us and have sold you to the highest bidder.
The Articles of Confederation were replaced with the Constitution, which granted the federal government enough authority to cultivate, promote and secure the Blessings of Liberty. The balance of authority and individual liberty was understood. Power was confined to that which was enumerated in the Constitution with a certain and meaningful intent for check and balances.
Lincoln issued this warning in his inaugural address:
“Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up and shake off the existing government and form a new one. This is a most valuable and sacred right – a right which we hope and believe is to liberate the world.”
Being a representative republic, not a democracy, “rising up” means other than revolution by means of arms. The people must “rise up” from the grass roots; we must think of the greater good. We are limited in the peaceful transfer of power…resignation, elections, and impeachment.
Article One, S5, CII and the 10th Amendment provides the authority but this has been trumped by a system that rewards the powerful.
In 1803 each congressional district averaged 38,476 people, in 2010 it is forecast to exceed 710,000. These numbers indicate power growth, and it effectively grew eight fold in the 20th century alone. No wonder our representatives seek to stay in office so long. Power is the basis now for running for office and staying in office, where civilian service was the goal in the past! No wonder our representatives seek to stay in office so long. With incumbency comes power. The party in the majority assigns power, so a long-term sitting representative can expect such power. A representative expected to stay in office in the 3rd Congress for approximately 2 years now expects 12 years, or 6 terms – so much for a “citizen government.”
Tip” O’Neill, once said: “All politics are local.” This has never been truer than today when entrenched politicians, long in office, build war chests impossible to overcome. But this can be changed, through grass roots organization and discourse. We have recently witnessed that this can happen as is witnesses in “Tip” O’Neil’s own backyard with the ground-thundering win by Scott Brown who won Ted Kennedy’s old Senate seat. We must make it a local imperative and movement….of the People…by the People… and For the People.
“We, the People” have had enough.
Those in office now are on a socialist and treasonous death march and are bankrupting the country. We have watched them violate their sacred oath of office. “We, the People” cannot wait for the next round of elections. It is now that these public servants must put our interests above self-interest by resigning immediately. Our so-called Representatives and Senators are more interested in party loyalty than performing their duties. So, do not expect them to resign en masse or be impeached. Therefore the “people” must decide. A civil uprising is still not out of the question. They know which side of the bread their butter is on and it is not on our side. The Tea Party. Stand Up America and Saddle Up America Projects will continue to be the strength of this Constitutionalist movement.
I am confident more Resignations will be forthcoming based on the efforts of the people. The Vote in 2010 will be critical as well. This means raising your voice now to your neighbors, family, co-workers, and friends. Grass roots efforts have begun; it is now time to put that effort into over drive.
Paul Vallely is a retired MG, US Army and is Chairman of Stand Up America USA
