Witch hunter Kenneth Starr Back On The Stage Again

Kenneth Starr, the right wing witch hunter who attempted to end the Clinton presidency over a silly oral sex indiscretion by the once president is back on the stage again with yet another Puritanical mission to rid the world of any hanky panky. This time Kenneth Starr has signed on to act as the lead lawyer for the "Yes On Proposition 8" forces when this ballot measure is debated by the California State Supreme Court over whether this ballot measure is indeed constitutional or not. But California's Attorney General, Jerry Brown, has his doubts about the validity of the measure, and may well up up arguing that the measure is unconstitutional in testimony in front of the California's highest court.

Normally, a state attorney general will go to court to defend the interest of the state in matters, however, the legal opinion of Attorney General Brown has recently found new reason to doubt the legal validity of the measure, while Kenneth Starr who is now the Dean of Pepperdine Law School is following his typical path of defending Puritanical sexual values.

Certainly Kenneth Starr will wrap up all of his Puritanicalism in some eloquent language of legalese to defend his very conservative views. But the bottom line is that it's still the same old guy who is out on mission to put anyone into the stocks that offends his uptight sense of sexual values.

Somewhere out there, Kenneth Starr isn't having sex. And he'll be damned if he can't prevent someone else out there from not having sex as well. Kenneth Starr's advocacy for Proposition 8 is simply more of his moral crusade masquerading as law. But whatever compels those like a Kenneth Starr to be so obsessed with what others are doing with their romantic lives behind their own closed doors continues to amaze me. I suppose the Kenneth Stars of America lost the power to put homosexuals in prison on sodomy charges, so now they're down to attempting to control their romance lives and ability to marry. But it was indeed very disappointing that a state like California signed on to such foolishness when it very narrowly passed Proposition 8.

Hamas Offers Nonsensical Explanation For Rocket Attacks On Israel

By now you would really think that Hamas would only realize that continued rocket attacks on Israeli civilians would only provoke a violent Israeli military action at some point. But apparently Hamas is so radicalized that common sense just doesn't seem to abound in this organization's logic. And yesterday, a spokesman for Hamas had a decent opportunity to offer an opportunity to explain the continued rocket attacks on Israeli civilians, but instead used the opportunity to claim absurdly that "Israeli provocateurs" were somehow responsible for the rocket attacks that have taken place since December 19 that provoked the latest violent military response by Israel.

The fact of the matter is that Hamas won control of representation of the Palestinian people because of years of corruption among the rival Fatah leaders. And for a time Hamas did provide many essential social services to the Palestinian persons while many in the Hamas leadership simply pocketed any international relief funds or else skimmed their share into world bank accounts such as Yasser Arafat and his widow who had millions socked away into Swiss bank accounts rather than give it to the poor people they serve. By comparison, Hamas looked to be somewhat more honest by comparison. But it is the militant philosophy of this organization that always seems to want to provoke conflict with Israel, and only ends up bringing down Israeli military wrath that seems to bring nothing but bad on the Palestinian people.

Hamas lacks a constructive and pragmatic approach to power, and the latest military blows against this organization will once again cause the Palestinian people much suffering. Unlike other former radicals such as the Chinese or Vietnamese Communists who have largely become pragmatic businessmen rather than revolutionaries, Hamas continues to believe in extremist politics that are unrealistic in the modern world for any organization that really intends to form a government or lead.

It's certainly not much of a governing strategy for Hamas to provoke military conflict with the far more powerful Israeli military, get beaten up badly in war, but then appeal for sympathy among the Palestinians and the world community, but that's been their political strategy for many years and doesn't look about to change anytime soon.

Whoever knew that making yourself a "punching bag" and causing great destruction, poverty and suffering on your own people by your own irresponsible actions was a great way to rule? Other former radicals like the Chinese Communists moderated, invited investment in their nation, improved poverty and provided jobs, and really improved conditions in their nation, unlike Hamas which prides itself in ruling by making life only more difficult for the people they serve.

Now, there are some whispers that Fatah leadership is actively encouraging the Israeli military destruction of Hamas so that Fatah can return to power in Gaza. But in all their years of power, the corruption of Fatah always managed to keep this organization as poor representation for the poverty issues or the economic disadvantages among the Palestinians. Fatah may appear as far more moderate than Hamas. But it greatly needs to improve it's own house if it ever wants to considered as the best possible leadership for the serious problems of the Palestinian people. In the meantime, the Palestinian people only suffer between two poor political organizations that vie for their control and ill serve them.

Global Tensions Could Raise Oil Prices Again Despite Lower Demand

While oil prices have witnessed a massive tumble in recent weeks in response to the lower demand impact because of the retreating global economy, new world tensions might act to send prices higher very soon. The first evidence of this came today when oil prices edged up slightly in the light of the new Gaza combat and the heightened India and Pakistan tensions.

The military activity by Israel in Gaza is some of the most violent in some time, and although this has no direct effect on oil shipments, it has nonetheless had some impact on global oil speculation that always is wary of a larger Mideast problem or of sympathy among Arab oil producing states for the Palestinian cause.

And the dangerous tensions between India and Pakistan are most worrisome because of the nuclear weapons that both states possess. In a worst case scenario, an actual war in which nuclear weapons might be used could really send oil prices reeling in response to such a dangerous and destructive conflict.

And another problem is that the lame duck Bush Administration has lost significant clout in acting as a world problem-solver because it only has days left in office, while President-elect Obama cannot really act with real authority to address these issues head-on short of offering some statements that appeal for peace or reason. All of this makes this a very dangerous period. World trouble spots are mostly on their own right now with the U.S. unable to use it's influence as well as it can during the more stable periods of leadership.

Whenever "horses are being changed in the middle of a stream" this is where a few dangerous international issues might spring up into a near crisis point. The rest of the world community as well as the UN need to do all that they can to control some world elements acting like children without an adult guardian until the U.S. is able to stabilize it's new leadership and then help to create more world stability with some like future Secretary Of State Clinton dispatched around the world in shuttle diplomacy.

But for now, world oil prices may act as the greatest barometer of how the world community actually feels about the current state of world affairs. And those tea leaves read anxiety about the world economy, coupled about anxiety about world peace in the wake of the two new international crisis points.

India's Dangerous "Cold Start" Military Doctrine

For the time being it appears as if India may have backed down from expected surgical strikes at militant bases in Pakistan. It is highly likely that pressure from the U.S. and China as well as other Asian neighbor states may have managed to buy a temporary peace from an Indian response to the Mumbai terrorist attacks. However, an Indian military doctrine that has been in effect since 2004 could well threaten the fragile peace between India and Pakistan.

"Cold Start" is a military doctrine that would allow Indian rapid deployment special forces units to strike within "Pakistan within hours of any terrorist attack on Indian soil. Such a rapid response would not allow time for diplomacy and also assumes that militants from Pakistan, and not home grown Indian radicals are responsible for any actions. Such a military doctrine, as well the nuclear weapons of India and Pakistan, make this a serious new foreign policy worry for the U.S., China and other Asian nations.

Unfortunately, this "Cold Start" doctrine also relies on some dangerous assumptions by New Delhi that may might not achieve the desired goals with Islamabad. New Delhi assumes that it may be able to hold limited portions of Pakistan with it's military, and use this for political leverage against the government of Pakistan. However. the danger is whether such a serious provocation can well stop short of triggering a nuclear exchange or not. Pakistan might well consider any actions by India that involve holding their territory as beyond acceptable and this could trigger ground wars between the forces of both nations as well as a possible nuclear strike by Pakistan in response. The dangers here are very high.

"Cold Start" also has another serious danger in that it may actually greatly strengthen the hand of militants and terrorists, where all that have to do to create a crisis between the two nuclear powers is to create a terrorist incident large enough to provoke war. That's very dangerous.

India also has not helped themselves either by their continued control of the disputed Kashmir region. If India would only free themselves of this issue with Pakistan, then relations would be much improved and perhaps far less militant and terrorist actions might take place as a result. Yet India fails to step up and resolve this critical issue.

Kashmir has unfortunately become for India and Pakistan all too much like some of the friction points between better U.S. and Russian relations. Kosovo or states like Georgia, where the tearing political influences between the East and West sides only seem to breed endless tensions and new foreign policy conflicts. Someone in New Delhi needs to really step up and realize that this disputed region is simply not worth risking a possible nuclear war over.

U.S. Needs To Pressure India & Pakistan To Cool Tensions

The U.S. finds itself in the difficult position this weekend of having two nations that it has constructive relations with on the verge of a possible military conflict with each other. In the wake of the Mumbai terrorist attacks most likely launched by militants from Pakistan bases, the public and voters in India are pressuring the government to take some sort of a military response against suspected militant bases that operate in border Pakistan that this government has so far done very little to control.

The stakes in this situation are tremendous. The Indian government would like to launch some limited surgical strikes into Pakistan attacking these militant bases, however the result could well mean a fourth war between the two nuclear powers. And the entire situation could also make Pakistan even less cooperative in regards to Afghanistan, only increasing the safe havens that Osama Bin Laden and his followers as well as other militants use in Pakistan to plan worldwide terrorist activities.

The Mumbai terrorist attacks were a huge success of terrorists forces to cast a shadow far larger than themselves. They have managed to put India and Pakistan in difficult straits right now, and have possibly put the two nations on the brink of open warfare. And when public anger built in India for the government to do something, then it only helps to inspire political demagoguery to take some action, even if that is entirely the wrong answer, merely to satisfy a growing mob mentality within the public. Cooler heads need to prevail.

The government of Pakistan really needs to persuade India that it will take action against radicals on it's own. However, this government seems to always act weakly against lawless terrorists out of fear and public support for these radicals, so any meaningful action by Pakistan is both unlikely and unlikely to satisfy India as well. If anything, the government of Pakistan is always good at caving-in to terrorists.

All of this only leaves these two nations in a difficult situation this weekend, where no one is happy,everyone nervous, and both countries have nuclear weapons and military strengths strong enough to do substantial damage to each other. The U.S. and China both need some quick diplomacy to keep the peace in this region before it all tips out of control.

China Sends Three Warships To Join International Effort To Battle Somalia Pirates

China's People's Liberation Army Navy is sending three powerful modern warships to join the international effort to battle pirates off the coast of Somalia which have attacked numerous ships and asked for $30 million in ransom so far this year. China had 1,265 commercial vessels pass through the gulf waters around Somalia so far this year, and seven ships were attacked by pirates and two crews are still being held by Somalian pirates for ransom. China received the support of the UN for this peacekeeping mission to keep international waters near Somalia safe for commercial shipping and for ocean cruise liners with vacationers.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy forces include two warships armed with missiles, cannons and helicopters as well as a supply ship. 800 sailors and 70 Chinese special forces troops are involved in this international peacekeeping mission and join a fleet of other forces including the U.S., Russia, Britain, Germany, France, India and Iran which have also deployed warships in the region as well. On Thursday, a German warship foiled a group of pirates involved in attacks on international shipping. But so far leaders of the pirates continue to threaten more attacks on international shipping despite a growing international force of peacekeepers that have been experiencing success attacking pirate vessels or capturing pirate crews. However, a number of ship crews of international ships still remain as hostage of pirates as they continue to demand ransom payments.

Part of the difficulty in dealing with Somalia is that it does not have a functioning government. Back in 1991, a coalition of warlords overthrew a dictator, and these warlords have been in control of sectors of this country in deep poverty of around 8 million persons ever since. And the warlords have done little to nothing to stop the pirate attacks, which in some cases may even have their support and blessing.

For the international community, dealing with a rogue state like this with no real government in charge and the lawless nature of the warlords and the pirates presents a major challenge. So far, the international community has largely operated at sea. But some ground forces may be needed in dangerous missions very soon to help free ground crews or to eventually place an operational government in place in Somalia to restore some sense of order.

Both Japan and South Korea, as well as the U.S. continue to be somewhat wary of the recent growth of the powerful Chinese blue-water capable naval ships and their powerful array of weapons. Such modern warships could even be equipped with nuclear warhead anti-ship missiles designed to completely destroy aircraft carriers from a rival navy in the event of a war between powerful naval forces. And this new international mission marks the first time that the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy has deployed these modern new warships so far from their waters in what is expected to be at least a three month deployment mission. However, the UN certainly welcomes any new deployment of warships to address this serious pirate threat to international shipping and to the cruise liner industry, many of which ships are of a Liberian registry.

The Righteous Man

Recently, as I clicked through the channels on my TV, I've become more attracted to the old episodes of THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW for what the series has to say about the character of a righteous man. The character of Sheriff Andy Taylor is a real community leader by using his wisdom, justice and sense of right and wrong to lift the lives of those around him by constant use of wisdom and encouragement. And although, Sheriff Andy sometimes has a little fun at the expense of Deputy Barney Fife, much of the time Sheriff Andy is lifting up the self-esteem of Deputy Barney by finding ways to make him the hero and give him the glory of the moment.

All of this set me to thinking about other examples of righteous men that can be admired on TV.

On CSI Miami, there's Detective Horatio Caine, who also comes to mind as a righteous man. He is deeply drawn to finding justice for victims, and alternates his tough guy Western style gunslinger personality between a deep sense of wisdom and inner personal warmth covered in a cold and hard exterior. On one hand, he's one of TVs toughest guys since Richard Boone in HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL, but on the other hand he's nearly a Biblical example of everything that a righteous man should be. In fact, there was one Baptist minister who used to have a TV program, and he preached sermons about how much he loved the CSI MIAMI program. And my best analysis tells me that he was so impressed by the Horatio Caine character which is one of the best examples of a righteous man ever on the small screen.

Unfortunately, but for comic value, many TV shows often portray men that are so far from wisdom or righteousness.

The Al Bundy character on MARRIED WITH CHILDREN was a hilarious send-up of a head of household in about the most dysfunctional family ever to hit the small screen. He lacked basic honesty and integrity, yet looked nearly like a Biblical Job sort of character by comparison to the rest of his family for their far more serious sins and faults, and his eternally ongoing long-suffering nature.

Homer Simpson from THE SIMPSONS and Peter from FAMILY GUY are both familiar outrageous heads of households as well. Both are also complete fools. And neither has the wisdom or the moral compass to ever really size up as a righteous man by any means. And many other examples these days on TV often portray the head of the household as a flawed man, and a complete fool for comic value, where the righteous man character seems to be less and less popular these days.

In the movie, RADIO, which was inspired by the true story of a high school football coach in a small South Carolina town who befriends a severely retarded African American man and makes him part of the team as a cheerleader and mascot, is another rewarding glimpse into what should be expected of a righteous man. While the movie itself somewhat fails towards the greatness it really aspired for, still the tale of the righteous man coach seemed to suceed enough to be very inspiring.

All of this leads to what the role of a righteous man should be in leading this nation.

In a few days, Barack Obama will take the oath of office on the very same Bible that Abraham Lincoln used for his two inaugurations. In fact, this is the first time since Lincoln that this very same Bible will be used to swear in a president. And to step into the shoes of Lincoln will indeed be a very tall order.

Lincoln was as close to a righteous man and almost a Biblical figure himself for his deep sense of honesty, wisdom and the long suffering nature of the Biblical figure Job again as well. And like Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Obama is facing serious challenges and human suffering in the U.S. In fact human suffering not witnessed since at least the Great Depression. It will take a man of great wisdom and character to lead America out of these problems almost like some new political Moses.

During the campaign some ridiculed that many saw Obama as "The One" or a type of political messiah. Yet, this is exactly what will be needed for America to turn the corner; a righteous man of great wisdom, character and judgment if America is ever to be great again and not be on a steady decline as this recession wrecks so much of the economy and destroys the business and job structure of this nation.

Now more than ever is the time for a return to the righteous man.