The View From Here

Update :  In a “surprising” turn of events, Vladimir Putin named Prime Minister of Russia

Originally posted in March 2008 : As some of you may know, there is a very important transfer of power about to take place in the former Soviet Union. They are holding “elections” today to elect a new President – how exciting ! When Russia, China and others hold elections for top leadership there are worldwide ramifications. A superpower having a changing of the guard is normally a big deal, but not this time. It seems the resurgent Russian Bear is back to her old ways.

Vladimir Putin, the current President, basically hand-picked his successor – Dmitry Medvedev. Medvedev is “running” for President, and has the “support” of Putin. If Medvedev wins, he will appoint Putin as his Prime Minister, thus leaving him in power. Most agree that the President will basically be a “figurehead” – as is the case in this country – and that Putin will continue to wield vast amounts of power in his new role as PM. It’s no secret that Putin is power hungry – this just confirms it beyond the shadow of a doubt.

The Putin administration “allegedly” oppressed (suppressed ?) the competition to the point that labor leaders are making their members phone in after they leave the polling places to confirm that they voted for Medvedev “or else”. Children were sent home with literature to help persuade parents to vote for Medvedev. Opposition party workers were harassed to stop working for their candidate. The government has raided campaign offices, closed newspapers, and frozen bank accounts. Looks like an old dog “has returned to it’s vomit”. Welcome to Cold War v. 2.0…

The Chimenea, that constant patio companion to the Morans and their guests for many years, has died in a construction related accident.  During a late night building project to construct a pergola, a workman lost control of a support beam, which in turn directly impacted the fragile, yet still functional Chimenea.  By the time help arrived, there was nothing that could be done; in Lakewood, age 6.

 ”I was first on the scene since I lost control of the support”, stated a worker, who refused to be named.  “It was horrible – quite like nothing I had ever seen.  I’m not sure I’ll ever get the image out of my head.  Everything was going smooth, and then WHAM - it was gone.  I may need counseling.”

The Chimenea was born in a factory in Mexico in 2001 to a family of oppressed, low-skilled laborers.  Purchased in 2002 to usher in the first Father’s Day celebration between two families in Lakewood, Ohio, the Chimenea served as a selfless companion to outdoor activities.  Heavily used for six seasons, the Chimenea began to show it’s age in 2007.  After one near fatal incident during Grammapalooza 2007 – in which an inebriated Pammycakes ordered her husband Snakeye to “KIck it !  Kick it over !  John wants you to destroy it !”, the end was near – but the Chimenea would survive to burn another day.

Services will be private.  The family asks that there be no flowers.  Donations in liquid form can be made the next time friends and family stop by.  A new Chimenea or variant thereof will be purchased soon.  Cheers, old buddy – you will be missed.

Sounds like a headline from The Weekly World News, that beacon of the grocery store tabloids, doesn’t it ?  Yeah, right next to “Bat Boy” and “Bigfoot Sighting at Local Taco Bell”.  KSM, under intense US interrogation, broke like a tea cup – or did he ?  While testifying, he basically admitted that he was the mastermind of over two dozen terrorist attacks, the Kennedy assassination and the Lindbergh baby kidnapping.  OK – I’m kidding about the last two – you caught me.

 I guess what strikes me most is that I find it almost unfathomable that ONE MAN was responsible for planning :  9/11, the 1993 WTC attacks, the Bali nightclub bombings, an attempt on Pope John Paul II, the Embassy bombings, shoe-bomber Richard Reid and the beheading of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.  He was one busy terrorist !  These are basically the most reprehensible terrorist acts in recent history – sure glad we caught the “main” person responsible.

Ok – as I take a deep breath, I realize maybe it IS possible that he had a hand in all these activities.  But what do I REALLY think ?  I think it’s a deflection move on the enemies’ behalf to steer us off course, even just a bit.  Admitting freely, in court, that he was behind it all and caving during testimony is just not modus operandi for these “people” – I use the term loosely.  Basically an “aw shucks – ya got me !”.  I just don’t buy it, but I wonder just how old was KSM when the Stock Market crashed in 1929…

Updated : Associated Press Story published this morning -

“Officials : Mohammed Exaggerated Claims”

WASHINGTON – Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s claims that he was responsible for dozens of successful, foiled and imagined attacks in the past 15 years relies on a loose definition of the word “responsible.” Officials say the 9/11 mastermind was key to some plots but a bit player in others.