Florida, West Bank Settlements, Navy SEALs and other musings

I guess you might call it the the 'shotgun' approach. I think of it more like being-bored-out-of your-mind and sitting-around-on-the-Internet-too-long. Most of my reading comes off the Internet these days. It would cost me a $65 non-resident fee to join the Belleville Public Library. I don't think so.

I will leave in a few days - Saturday to be specific - to perhaps go pick-up my youngest son in AR and take him with me to FL for two weeks. Worse case scenario, he doesn't call, as he is suppose to, and I go straight to FL (saving 350 miles driving). Either way, there is salt air and sunshine in my near future.

On the way back to IL after the first of the year, I will go thru TX and pick-up a new trailer. This is something I have wanted for a long time. Dennis and I have worked out a deal and a new 32' flatbed with ramps will be in the inventory. I am VERY excited. This will make many loads available to me that were not before.

I was just plotting out my journey - IL to AR to FL to TX and back to IL. Almost 3100 miles. But it will be over a two week period so easy-peasy.

So while I'm surfing the net this afternoon, one of the headlines (over-and-over again it seems) is Jewish Settlements in the West Bank. Perhaps a bit of history is in order.

The West Bank is a kidney-shaped piece of land of about 3400 square miles (bit bigger than South Carolina) that lies along the west bank of the Jordan River. This area was part of the Ottoman Empire from the 16th century until they backed the wrong horse in WWI. The Palestine Mandate of 1922 put the Brits in control "until such time as they are able to stand alone." According to the preamble, the intent was to establish a home for the Jews within Palestine.

But the Brits 'buggered' it up by making conflicting and shifting promises to Arabs and Jews of the area. Can't really blame them though. They were a long way from home trying to 'make deals' with who-ever in trying to keep their crown jewel - India - in good stead. Besides, they have been fighting here for thousands of years. (That's why I laughed so hard when Prez 'W' went on record that there would be a peace agreement before his 2nd term ended -- ha ha ha ha ha ha ha)

When the Palestine Mandate was terminated in May 1948, the Jews announced their statehood (Liberation Day for them) and they were almost immediately attacked by Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Lebanon (celebrated as catastrophe day by them). Fourteen months later an armistice was signed, Israel had added almost 50% more land to their new state, and Jordan now controlled The West Bank of the Jordan River.

Interestingly, none of the international community - save for the UK - recognized Jordan's claim. The Six-Day War in June 1967 saw Israel take control of the West Bank from Jordan. (They also gained control of the Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.) Israel never annexed the land. But they have been building there ever since.

Now, I am Jewish and I am pro-Israel. But I am NOT a fan of Eminent Domain - you know, where the government decides it needs a piece of property more than you do so they take it from you for some token compensation. That's what seems to be going on here and I encourage anybody to explain to me how this is okay. I have no doubt there are justifications dating back a VERY long time ago that I don't know.

I don't know that there will ever be peace in the Mid East. I don't think it will happen while I am alive. There are just too many different people and opinions - not just Jew and Arab but within the Arab world itself there are many factions. In fact, I would venture to say that until the Arabs can get a united effort, there will be no peace with the Jews - unfortunately.

And speaking of fights, what is the deal with the alleged terrorist bringing criminal charges against the Navy SEALs that captured him? Only in America. I understand how our constitution holds us to a higher standard. And I suppose we must suffer through some idiotic processes to insure fairness for all, you know, "innocent until proven guilty." But to borrow a phrase from my ESPN buds, C'mon Man!

Long story short; the SEALs secretly captured the supposed mastermind behind the 2004 murder and mutilation of 4 contract security guards in Iraq (their mutilated bodies were left hanging from a bridge). Somewhere along the way the bad-guy was punched in the stomach and got a bloody lip. Sound like a chapter from Rodney Kings life? Three SEALs are now facing assault charges. I am curious to see where this ends up.

According to President Obama, the Senate is close to an agreement on health care reform. FYI, once the Senate approves it's version it will go to the full congress for further negotiations before going for the President's signature. I have not talked with anyone in the industry that sees much good coming from this. How can you possibly get 100 Senators and 435 Representatives to reach an agreement to satisfy 300+ BILLION people? Too many special interests. So we will settle for pleasing some of the people some of the time.

It will probably be 5 or 10 years before we can look back and say if there was more good than bad. In the meantime, I am greatly concerned with the seemingly endless debt that Mr. Obama is racking up for us taxpayers. Here again, time will tell. But I am a bit scared.

Okay, enuf for now. It's dinner time.