On This Memorial Day 2015......

This is courtesy of  +Jonathan Huie which we received at our offices earlier on this Memorial Day as we remember:

Farewell My Friend
It was beautiful as long as it lasted
The journey of my life.
I have no regrets whatsoever
save the pain I'll leave behind.
Those dear hearts who love and care...
And the strings pulling at the heart and soul...
The strong arms that held me up
When my own strength let me down.
At every turning of my life I came across good friends,
Friends who stood by me,
Even when the time raced me by.
Farewell, farewell my friends
I smile and bid you goodbye.
No, shed no tears for I need them not
All I need is your smile.
If you feel sad do think of me
for that's what I'll like when you live in the hearts
of those you love, remember then
you never die.
- Gitanjali Ghei

Notations For the Week-End: On This Memorial Day Week-End 2015

 

It is Memorial Week-End 2015 here in the United States.      Ceremonies are being held to remember and honor all who served and have paid the ultimate sacrifice.     There are an estimated 21 Million Active Veterans in the United States today.  

The World, though, is ever so dangerous and challenging.   We here @ #Outsiders have been assessing the state of the World as we've been assessing the latest gains by #Daesh (Also known as ISIL/ISIS/IS in the West) in Syria and Iraq.    An estimated 40,000 people have been driven from #Ramadi.   It was quite telling as the US Defense Secretary came out swining against the dismal performance by Iraqi Forces.    It was tragic as the Iraqi Commander lost his nerve and order his 2,000+ Strong Force to withdraw in the face of Daesh Forces.

There are some open questions as to how the United States will respond though especially as it continues to be hampered with challenges on the domestic front and especially as the eleciton season gets under way.     The Iran Negotations are continuing with a deadline of 30 Days before Congress gets in on the action.   The NSA law is up in the air as clear domestic priorities such as the Highway bill continue to be lingering in the midst of the priorities of the so-called US Senate Presidential Caucus.  

As we went to press with this editon, we ran across a starrtling statistic:  The United States single-handily spends 37% of the World's Defense Budget.   But what is not apparently publicly known is that 50% of this is spent on personnel.    There are challenges on the Technology and the long-term moderization front that is a problem.    What is tragic in this expense is how in spite of this expense is how enlisted personnel continue to depend on Government Handouts and Community Drives as epitomzied by the outreach undertaken by San Clemente Military Family Outreach.  



 

Notations on Our World (Week-End Edition): On #Iraq & #Syria

It has been a very challenging week.  The events of the last few days have been of profound concern in Iraq and Syria.   We have been watching coverage as Ramadi Fell and refugees began sweeping into Baghdad.     We have also seen continued inroads being made by Daesh (also known as #IS) into Syria including having taken over Palmyra--a city of more than 2,000 years old that is in danger of being wiped off.

It was of great interest as we caught Emma Sky--who served as a senior advisor to Ray Odernio (now the US Army Chief of Staff)--underscored how the US lost Iraq.  We were quite curious to see her views as we saw her writings on "how to get it back".      For now, though, the only credible force that will stand up to Daesh/ISIS is Iranian-Trained Shiite Militias who are beginning the fight to take back Ramadi.     Daesh, though, has taken over the final Iraq/Syria Border which will solidify its' territory.   This is as Daesh has also claimed a bombing in Saudi Arabia in the Shiite heartland of the Kingdom.

The profound question is what the Economist posed that no one seems to have an answer to:

From The Economist Espresso: Islamic State: how far can it go? http://econ.st/1FqpBXn