Fighting ISIL is not America's Job

I disagree with the President who has been trapped and drawn into a “war on ISIL” by the pressures of war mongers in Congress and other political forces that have a selfish interest in creating another war. Whether for political gain or projecting a role for domination, we will lose the war against ISIL if we take the lead for this war is not our war.

The strategy to suppress, degrade and destroy ISIS is the job of those Arab and Muslim states that surround Syria and Iraq but not ours. I am not anti-terrorism. I am not against aiding and abetting countries who spend all their own resources to fight terrorism in their own land and along the borders. 

Make this perfectly clear, I support such campaigns against our common foe, terrorists but we do not need to lead this war against these groups that seem to be coming out of the dark like roaches when the switch is turned on. 

I think the administration is wrong and I think the Congress is wrong. Criticizing Washington for failures to recognize this crisis earlier is a moot point. We need not use force in Iraq and we do not need to fly over Syria and target ISIL infrastructures. We need to let Arabs and Muslims lead the fight to combat their own and prevent another American disaster. 

In an article in Forbes I read “Washington should try a new approach.  The U.S. should leave the fight to those actually threatened by the enemy du jour, in this case ISIL.  Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Jordan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, in particular, should act to degrade the Islamist group’s capabilities, shrink its territory, and defeat it, as the president hopes to do.”

We can acknowledge the Islamic State is evil but it is not the malicious force around. It has not attacked our country and it has not been determined our country is in imminent danger. Why draw us out for war and spread our resources so thin we have no capability to respond if we are indeed attacked? In my opinion what ISIL is doing in Iraq doesn’t make it particularly dangerous to America. 

U.S. intelligence officials admit that they see in the group neither the inclination nor the desire to attack the U.S.  ISIL’s murder of two American journalists was surreal, but these are not the first Americans to be killed overseas by brutes.  The deaths, though outrageous, do not constitute a threat to U.S. national security. 

In fact, the beheadings were the equivalent of stepping on the American flag.  Alas, the administration responded foolishly and should have never drawn a red line to begin with as we should have stayed out of this conflict and let these countries fend for their own and face the consequences of such failures. 

Is this about oil – in my opinion this is all about oil and the rich would rather the poor fight and die for oil and their “American interests” overseas?

The First I was arrested and put in Jail

 Driving fast was always my need for speed disability. I never knew when to keep the foot out of the carburetor and slow down to the posted speeds but we all change as we learn the hard way not to drive your car faster than what the law allows. 

My buddy Sean was a risk taker and a lady’s man as he showed off his Elvis like hair style to the girls on the base and anytime the opportunity gave him a chance to flirt and date total strangers we met in the bars. I was married but he was single so it was an odd couple and the rules were different from him and me. I had to make sure I had a ride back to the base so I hung out with him as much as I could.

 Most of Jefferson County was dry so we had to look far to find a bar that served us GI’s and where the price was not too steep even back when everything was so much more cheaper than before. Having a car was a bonus and we took advantage of that every weekend when we did not go home as Sean and I lived in the same city just on opposite sides of town.

We were driving down Interstate 71 coming into Montgomery County when the gates of hell opened loose and threw us a curve I would never forget. In the army and home on leave, I was desperately trying to find rides to and from my assigned army base in Louisville and my home in Columbus Ohio. 

It was a gamble I had to take as my car was broke down and needed repairs I couldn’t afford thus I hitched a ride with army buddies to and from on the weekends. Sean was my best bet and I appreciated the fact he never hesitated to give me a ride. 

A speed freak, he drove a 1969 Pontiac GTO. It has a flashy red paint job and the shining magnesium wheels drew attention to anyone we were passing or even standing still. His dual exhaust pipes roared as he accelerated at a high speed jumping off the change of lights like he was at the drag strip. I had to get used to his driving and tolerate his adolescent ways if I wanted to go home on weekends and see my family. 

It was 3 o clock in the morning when the red lights appeared behind us as I was sitting in the passenger side soundly asleep but awoken by the loud siren that warned us to pull over. I looked at Sean and asked him “what’s wrong” and he said he didn’t know and that he wasn’t speeding or anything like that. 

I knew that was a lie because before I closed my eyes he was doing 90 mph and I didn’t mind that but I believe the cop had clocked him doing that a little while back before he slowed it down. 

A risk taker and rule breaker Sean sped up and the cop began to howl his siren with short bursts of wails that nobody could ignore. Before I knew it there were more cops joining the one behind us in the chase and we even saw a helicopter up in the air as we neared the town of Lebanon just past the county line. Its lights were flashing red just like the patrol cars but it was the spotlight on us that made us realize he was marking us for a target. 

Sean reluctantly pulled over and as we heard the cop shout out directions to stay in the car and show them our hands, we were swarmed by at least six cops with guns drawn out to shoot us if they had to because they thought they were in danger. Almost immediately they recognized us as soldiers on leave. It could have been the haircuts or maybe the olive drab duffle bags in the back seat but regardless they pulled us out one by one and told us to sit on the ground away from the car. It was then the arresting cop said Sean was doing 110 mph when he clocked him back there about 15 miles or so. 

Six hostile cops, a helicopter above us and two soldier on leave and in deep trouble. I realized Sean was driving so my mind was not so much concerned on the ticket but I had to start thinking about finding a ride back to the base in case they kept Sean and impounded the car. It was a dilemma I couldn’t do anything about till we got to the sheriff’s station as by now the county sheriff deputies had also joined the chase. 

License and registration wee the first real rational words that came out of the mouth of the hostile cop. I pulled out my Ohio driver’s license as Sean pulled out his and that’s when I was shocked beyond anything else that had entered my brain. Sean had a temporary learner’s license that required him to have a licensed drivers to ride with him and accept responsibility for his conduct or driving skills. 

Ohio law says if you are under 18 years old, your parent, legal guardian, person with legal custody, or a responsible person who is willing to assume the legal obligations must accompany you. This person must also provide proof of his identification.  The cop turned, smiled and told me he was arresting me for speeding and everything else he could think of while Sean seemed to be off the hook.

 It didn’t seem right. I didn’t know he had just turned 18. I though he was an adult and had his own license. I tried to argue with the cops but the handcuffs were tightened as they put me in the patrol car to haul me off to jail. They were laughing as they contemplated charging me with street racing as well. It was funny to them but I knew I was about to have a nightmare I would never forget. 

I was initially charged with speeding, reckless operation and driving without a valid license. Now mind you that wasn’t all true but it was good enough for the cop to justify booking me and throwing me in jail. Sean, my co-pilot and good friend was driving but it didn’t matter to the highway patrolman who pulled us over.

Arriving at the station, the cop strutted me to jail dressed in his brown uniform and big looking gold star. He told me a judge will set bail and I would be allowed one phone call to call a lawyer to help me with my charges. I was booked into the Montgomery county jail awaiting the chance to make a call when I decided to call home and see if they could come down and post my bail in the morning. 

I knew I was going to be late for Monday morning roll call but I was behind bars and nothing would change until I came up with the money to release me. I was glad I cooperated with the officer’s instructions as they cut me a little leniency as a soldier and not so much as a criminal. They had searched the car for drugs and weapons and found neither. Another break for us as we were given a little more consideration as time went by. So far it was speeding and a few other charges but the mood was lifted less hostile as we cooperated fully.

One of the cops asked us why we were going so fast and Sean blurted out we were late for being on post and roll call. We would be counted AWOL if absent and we were trying to beat the clock. One deputy offered us a phone call to the base but we declined saying it would only make matters worse as it would be reported to the first sergeant and duty officer and hell would have to be paid for that. 

The bail was set, the other charges were dropped except for speeding and we were released to head out to the base. We lost one day of pay, one stripe for being absent without leave and extra duty to clean the barracks as well as a suspended sentence for weekend furloughs I didn’t want because this was more embarrassing to me than it was to Sean since I was hold the bag that cost me all that money.  Sean being Sean never offered to pay it back and I never hitched a ride with Sean ever again.

The last time I encountered a Plague of Doubts

Many relationships have been ruined and destroyed by doubts. The fact that doubts play into every bad relationship brings it back to the concerns if there is enough trust within their circle of love to sustain the dynamics of a wavering relationship that is pounded and compounded by negativity between two or more people. 

Another word that has creating a division in relationships today but it’s not the blame or reason for the breakups. 

 Distance is that dirty word for couples who have made professional obligations as they realize that distance may be tough to survive their connection but the fact is a couple can survive distance if they ensure the relationship is free of doubts and trust is a common denominator. 

Doubts are created by lack of commitments to each other or to their love. It causes instability in actions and creates friction that often results in misunderstandings and arguments. A lack of commitment stifles an opportunity for the affair to grow and when a relationship becomes stagnant or boring, bad things happen. 

It is normal and expected for relations to be challenged and faced with situations that truly test the devotion, loyalty and dedication to the other person as time can either heal a wound or make it more infectious. What is also tested is transparency, openness and honesty. Each layer of these qualities build a stronger foundation for one to rely on whether they are close together or far apart. 

They say no man is meant to live in solitary or apart from their loved ones. That may be true but relationships are always tested by distance and whether it is far apart or nearby or in the very same room one is for sure, people are social animals and need company to do their living. Stability gives a person a level of satisfaction they can depend upon no matter how their lives turn out. 

Each and every one of us look for some sort of stability in our lives to build on. An on off relationship damages the stability we are searching for. Shaky relationships are signs of a lacking commitment to share the good times with the bad times and indicates a need or want to stay away from one another when in fact it should be a time to be closer. Sometimes it is the catalyst that begins the doubt and extrapolates more doubt as time goes by. 

The hardest part in dealing with doubt is the frustration is sets off inside of you. It cascades into a plague of worries and anxieties that only serves one purpose. It will destroy a marriage, an engagement or a relationship quicker than anything else. Without mutual trust and loyalty to each other, the bond is bound to not survive. 

Last but not least are the temperaments of those involved with each other. Admiring each other or being opposites in personalities creates dynamics that have to be addressed and reassured often and reinforced constantly. Dealing with opposed personalities should not cause you to neglect your own thus being true to yourself is just as important as being true to each other.  .  Being true to yourself will save you and your loved one from unnecessary pain and heartache later on.

This will save you pain and heartaches as time goes on. People have differences in disposition. Hence, while some can handle the distance, some cannot. It is not a question of strength or weakness, and you shouldn’t berate yourself if you find that you are the type who can’t do it.

 

When the doubts overtake your trust and if distance is not the worry then all you can do is reassess yourself and ask yourself what your future looks like with or without the other. Define your own personal boundaries and see if there is room for sharing or compromising your expectations as well as the other person. Communicate honestly and openly and let your heart decide.