December 7, 1941 & December 8, 1980 - days of infamy.

Lest we forget, it was President Franklin Roosevelt who addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress, on December 8, 1941, at 12:30 P.M.

“Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives: Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God. I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.”

Jump forward to December 8, 1980, another day of infamy, when John Lennon was assassinated by a person with a grudge of some sort. I no longer write or speak the assassin’s name, because I do not want to empower him in any way.

There are some people who believe in John Lennon conspiracy theories, and these links explain some of them. If you think there are some conspiracy theories about the Kennedy killings, wait until you read these:
http://www.john-lennon.com/theassassinationofjl.htm
http://www.john-lennon.com/whokilled.htm

Many people miss John Lennon, especially his family. I know that I do. Creativity, imagination, the ability to see things in his mind and make them happen, all snuffed out by a killer, a piece of manure, who still is breathing air in a Special Housing Unit (SHU) at Attica Prison in the State of New York. It is amazing to me that he still is alive in the prison system. I hope that I live long enough to read his obituary.

Imagine if John Lennon were still living…

In some respects, December 9, 2009 will also be another day of infamy. People of all walks of life will be gathering at the Tacoma Dome, to pay tribute to, and celebrate the lives of, the four police officers who were assassinated as they prepared to do their jobs for the day. The ceremonies start at 1 PM, and will be televised on Seattle TV stations. Please take a moment of silence out of your busy day, to pray for the families and others troubled by this devastating incident. Thank you.

PROTECTING A KILLER

One has to wonder what was going through the minds of family and friends who went out of their way to provide help to a suspected cop killer.

Any one of them could have picked up a phone, and made the call to say, "He's here, and he needs medical help." By doing so, they would have received a $125,000 reward. That kind of money could have been a life–changing event.

Instead, they made the choice to mislead police, and they tried to provide rudimentary first aid. According to reports, they also provided money and transportation.

Then, it turns out, most of the “friends” have felony records, and at least one of them might have been a prison mate of the suspect while they were serving time in Arkansas.

Now, police have seven people in custody, and I think that prosecutors are charging five of them with felony rendering assistance. Maybe they will be looking at 60 months in prison. I hope the prosecutors will go for the maximum amount of charges, and sentence.

I think that by providing assistance to a killer, their behavior is just as bad as his. They should get the death penalty, or at the least, life in prison without the possibility of parole. Why? Clearly, society does not need this type of criminal–minded people among the rest of us.

My cousin, Percy Clark, was a Salt Lake City Police Detective who was killed on duty in 1973. Even after all these years, the pain never leaves the family. He left a wife and seven children. Here is a link: http://odmp.org/officer/3109-detective-percy-lindsay-clark

The Utah Peace Officers Association has a web site, including a memorial page that includes this poem.

Partners, please think kind thoughts, as you remember me,
It was God's will so my leaving was meant to be,
Hear the songs that speak of life's end,
And to my family, now with me gone, I hope you'll tend,
I loved the job; you know that's true,
And what made it so special was being partnered with each of you,
I'm up here now where all is good,
But I'll be watching as you patrol the 'hood,
For now and forever I'm 10-7,
But some day I hope we'll partner up again in Heaven.
Duane Preimsberger Ret . Assist. Sheriff, LASD

END OF THE ROAD

Updated: 8:29 am PST December 1, 2009
SEATTLE -- The 40-hour manhunt for the suspect in the quadruple killing of four police officers ended with the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Maurice Clemmons, Pierce County Sheriff's Department spokesman Ed Troyer said. Clemmons was shot at 2:45 a.m. by a lone Seattle police officer on South Kenyon Street in the Rainier Valley.

Seattle Police Department Assistant Police Chief Jim Pugel said the officer came across a car reported stolen when he detected movement behind him as he approached the car.

Pugel said the officer recognized Clemmons and ordered him stop and show his hands. "He wouldn't stop or show his hands. The officer fired several rounds and took the person into custody. Clemmons died from his injuries,” Pugel said.

Note: It is standard operating procedure to handcuff, or “take into custody,” any wounded or deceased suspect in such circumstances.

W A N T E D

Yesterday, four police officers were assassinated in western Washington. The person depicted in this photo is an exact match for the suspect in those murders. There are reports that he was wounded in the torso.

Police say he is armed and very dangerous. If you see this person, call 9-1-1 to report the information to the police.

THE KENNEDY ASSASSINATION

Although it was not mentioned much in the media this year, November 22, marked yet another anniversary of “That Day,” as I call it. Most people remember what they’ve seen on TV over the years. However, there is a lot more to this matter than what most people think they know.

More than likely, the truth will not surface until 50 years after the death of Caroline Kennedy. That is a specific government action to keep the public from knowing what really happened that day; because, if the people knew what really happened, there would be a very big uproar.

I am listing some links that will reveal things most people do not know about that day, and the day before it.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=14614
http://www.rense.com/general79/cjamg.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_B._Johnson

This one is a real eye-opener: http://www.reformation.org/president-lyndon-johnson.html
Be sure to read all of this article.

Apparently, I am not the only person who believes that certain people within the U.S. Government were behind the killing.

Also, over the years, there has been a lot of mention that suspected Kennedy murderer Oswald was a “MARKSMAN” while in the military. Here is information from Wikipedia.

…“While in the Marines, Oswald was trained in the use of the M1 Garand rifle. Following that training, he was tested in December 1956, and obtained a score of 212, which was 2 points above the minimum for qualifications as a sharpshooter. In May 1959, on another range, Oswald scored 191, which was 1 point over the minimum for ranking as a marksman.”

Range training falls into three categories, Marksman – the lowest ability but still qaulified. Sharpshooter – High ability but not expert. Expert – top score and abilities.

Thus, Oswald was not a particularly good shot at a stationary (not moving) target…

However, the rifle attributed to him had a 4X scope on it, and that would theoretcally improve someone’s aim. Even with that, someone who is not a particularly good shot, might have trouble hitting a moving target two or three times in rapid succession.

CHICKEN SOUP Mmmmm

My bride Sue Ann and I enjoy making chicken soup, an old timey Jewish medicine since the 12TH century. Here is our recipe.
All of the ingredients should be organic, and you will need to have:

Two 32 FL OZ (1QT) containers of organic chicken broth. We prefer Imagine brand.
Two cups of sliced organic carrots.
One cup of sliced organic celery.
Four cups of diced organic potatoes.
Four skinless, boneless, organic chicken breasts.
Dried seasonings include: Parsley, Thyme, Oregano, Dill, and Turmeric.
One pat of real, honest to goodness, butter. If you can afford organic butter, please do so. Otherwise, use your favorite brand of butter. (Note: Omitting butter, or using margarine will ruin the recipe.)

Add broth to a large stew pot with lid. While the broth is heating on medium heat:

Peel, trim and wash the carrots, slice into desired thickness. We like 3/8 to 1/2 of an inch.
Peel, trim and wash the celery, slice into desired thickness. We like 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch.
Peel the potatoes, dice into desired thickness, and rinse. We like 3/4, to 1–inch cubes.

Add the carrots to the broth, adjust heat to bring to a boil. As soon as it boils, add the celery, reduce heat to medium and simmer for about 10 minutes, then add the potatoes and the dry spices: (Two teaspoons of dried Parsley flakes. One half teaspoon each of: Thyme, Oregano, Dill and Turmeric), and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, based on the thickness of the celery, carrots and potatoes. Note: some folks like chunkier pieces of vegetables. That is OK, just adjust your cooking time to make sure they cook.

While the vegetables are getting acquainted with the broth, trim the chicken breasts of any and all “pet food” items. Those are the fat, pieces of gristle or bone and any other of the “ugly things” that are found on boneless, skinless, chicken breasts. I like to use kitchen scissors for this task.

Once the chicken is almost pristine in appearance, I use the scissors to cut random chunks of “bite–sized” chicken pieces into the soup mixture. Add the butter.

Cook the complete mixture, covered, on simmer, for another half an hour, stirring every now and then to make sure all the ingredients are getting happy...

“The nose knows,” but at the end of a half hour, you can turn off the heat, and serve. Add salt and pepper to taste to your individual bowl of soup.

It is a good idea to serve this with good quality sour dough French bread, slathered with butter or olive oil – whichever you prefer. I like both. As Julia used to say, Bon Appetite!

Note: we do not add raw onion or garlic to this soup, because those can cause flatulence. Also, you can cut the recipe in half to make a smaller batch or double it for a bigger batch.

Here are links to additional reading on the subject.
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/diet.fitness/10/17/chicken.soup.reut/
http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/content/119/4/1295.1.full
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/culture/2/Food/Ashkenazic_Cuisine/Poland_and_Russia/chickensoup.shtml

Let me know how this works for you!

U.S. ARMY IMPAIRED REASONING

Like it or not, this Fort Hood massacre situation looks like another case where the U.S. Army needs to re-evaluate their deployment policies.

Yes, when you join the U.S. military you become "government issue," or a G.I., and, for the most part, you must do what your superiors order you to do, and without question.

However, we are on the brink of the year 2010, not 1865, and in the midst of another unpopular military action. There are many "career soldiers" who are not happy with their duty assignments.

In particular, if an officer – especially a medical officer – expresses any type of dissatisfaction with assigned duties, or conditions, the Army can simply reassign the officer, to something else. (There are many gung–ho types waiting for some action.)

Yes, there would be others waiting to take his/her place, anxious and wanting to go into combat.

However, for those desiring change, maybe there could be a stint in supply, laundry, food service, or motor pool, until the enlistment or service period ends, or the processing of a discharge; whichever comes soonest.

Conversely, instead of the Army doing that, there are the "good ol' boys" in the Army who believe in the dictum - "Ya'll do as I say, ya hear?" Or, "Yew WILL do such and such, or I will Courts Martial yew," etc. Whether their leadership is good or bad, they relish their control over others.

Most people who have a lick of sense would express some concern for their safety and the safety of others, by asking questions of superiors who might fall into the impaired reasoning category. Just because someone is a sergeant or an officer, that does not mean that individual is reasonably intelligent or knows the safest and best course of action.

As an Honorably Discharged veteran of four years of U.S. military service, I am well aware that far too many sergeants, and some officers, get waaay tooo wrapped up with, and carried away by, their authority and control over others.

It is very important to realize that one does not need to serve in actual combat to develop PTSD, (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder). There are dozens of non–combat events that could cause stress or trauma to you and not to me, and vice versa.

Major Hasan could have easily developed "transference" and PTSD or Depression, simply by listening about the traumatic and stressful experiences of his patients.

The split second that others heard Major Hasan expressing dissatisfaction with his duties, the Army should have reassigned him to different work, while, they arranged for his discharge. Problem solved.

Instead, someone in the Army, who more than likely still is receiving a paycheck, either shrugged off the possibility of trouble, or made the decision not to do anything. We need to find that person(s) and make them accountable.

Worse yet, according to published reports, the Army knew at least SIX MONTHS AGO, that Maj. Hasan was not a happy camper.

Now, because of the Army's intractability, and goof ball “good ol’ boy thinking,” many people are dead and wounded. More than likely, the Army will end up having to arrange for an execution. All of this because of some people with higher rank using their heads for a hat rack, or should that be a goofy looking beret rack, instead of thinking.

This is a very sorry mess.

A few years ago, in the state of Washington, it was a similar situation with 1stLt. Watada, at Fort Lewis, where higher rank dullard thinking ended up costing the Army a lot of money and embarrassment.

When 1stLt. Watada expressed dissatisfaction with his impending deployment, the Army should have reassigned him to a paperwork job, while discharging him. That would have saved the Army a bunch of $$ and a ton of embarrassment.

Also, it is possible that enlisted and officer troops alike could be reassigned and allowed to serve and finish their 20 year career. There are hundreds of jobs in the Army that do not involve combat, or working in a combat zone.

I am hoping that U.S. Army leaders will wake up to that fact, and do something positive about it. One can still serve the U.S. military honorably, AND be a non-combatant. Problem solved.