World War 2 Naval History

On John Batchelor's most recent show (at 20:00) he interviewed Maxwell Taylor Kennedy, the author of Danger's Hour: The Story of the USS Bunker Hill and the Kamikaze Pilot Who Crippled Her.
The interview is mostly focused on the U.S. Navy, especially toward the end of WW2.

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One interesting fact that was also revealed was that throughout the entire Cold War the USSR failed to build even one aircraft carrier "because it was too complicated". That should speak volumes to everyone about why ingenuity rarely comes out of the public sector, yet if a poll were done today I doubt that many would be immediately cognizant of this fact.

Discussion with a Russian

IMHO Mark Steyn is one of the most intelligent observers of our society today. And he does so from a global perspective. One of his favourite phrases is what he calls the "Drip-Drip-Drip" erosion of our culture. Simply put, when the majority believe that they need to feel guilty about most everything and that their heritage is more bad than good, then society is ruined.

In Canada we're not there yet but the fabric of our society is definitely torn. The UK is much further along in this regard. Some believe that the self-destruction of their society is a foregone conclusion.

So indeed, sometimes I do deliberately draw a line in the snow and say sorry but that's one step too far.

This evening I was out in Vancouver videoing some Christmas scenes. It's a rare occasion that we get snow in the city and even more rare right around Christmas. I encountered barely a soul all night but one woman did come along and on cross-country skis no less. We got to talking. She's from Russia. Towards the end of our conversation I asked her if she celebrated Christmas. She paused for a bit and then said, "Well, I'm from a socialist country and Christmas was not really allowed there. So it's not part of my tradition."

Ask yourself if you would like to live in a country where "Christmas was not really allowed". Then look at Canada today and see which direction our future is pointed in. If you're happy with that then cheer it on. As for me, I'll be one of the signposts along the way, warning you of where we're heading.

It is indeed your absolute right to ignore the warnings. But if you wake up one day and realize that the Drip-Drip-Drip erosion of our culture has taken us to a place not very appealing, be sure to stare in the mirror for a long time that day.

Russia and the $70 Barrel of Oil

A few months ago I heard a rather foreboding prediction that if the price of oil were to drop below US$70 per barrel for too long then Russia would engage in some sort of military action in order to cause uncertainty and drive the price up. The theory behind this being that oil was their major export and source of revenue.

So periodically I check in on what oil is selling for.

Who knows if this theory is true or false. Assuming it is true, one could argue that the Russians will deliberately not do anything until after the U.S. Election on November 4th, so as to not give John McCain any extra advantage of getting elected president.

Strange times we live in.

Strange Developments in Venezuela

Two strategic Russian long-range bombers have landed in Venezuela, along with a Russian navy flotilla. One has to wonder why? Perhaps this is Putin flexing his muscles, as a sign of retaliation for U.S. VP Dick Cheney going to Georgia last week? There's more detailed technical info here.

Update from Georgia

The Wall Street Journal's Melik Kaylan reports from the conflict in Georgia. It's yet further evidence that Russia is far from being on the side of the angels.

Extreme Arrogance or Ignorance?

I don't usually republish comments made on this blog but there's a portion of one that is too priceless to be kept hidden in just the comments section.

A fellow who goes under the anonymous moniker of "Floating Abstraction" has been challenging me on my general support of the U.S. and condemnation of Russia's actions in Georgia. Fine, great, super, challenge away. That's what an open discussion/debate is all about.

But included in his recent rant was this gem:

"One needs to view macro-geopolitics with complete impartial objectivity that is free of bias in order to see the whole picture accurately. In doing so, it makes it easier to try to view events from multiple points of view so that one can try to understand the motivations behind the actions taking place."

He then goes on to assert that because he, the righteous, all knowing one, is free of bias, his opinions trump all others.

I meet people like this all the time. You start having a discussion with them, often about politics, and when they realize that they're losing and/or realize you're never going to agree with them, they pull out their "credentials card". It's usually their academic credentials but is sometimes a magazine article they've read or a Michael Moore documentary they've watched. One time a British guy I met in Europe pointed out that he had 3 sets of letters after his name. He insisted that whenever I wrote him a letter that I include those letters when I addressed him. Needless to say, I chose otherwise.

In this particular case, Mr. Abstraction had been making some good points. He's clearly well read and well informed on the subject of Georgia. But the moment a person crosses that tipping point and convinces themselves that they, and they alone, know THE TRUTH is the moment the discussion must end because any further debate is pointless.

Traditionally such knowers of THE TRUTH have been religious zealots. In North America, they're often Fundamentalist Christians. In other parts of the world they're Fundamentalist Muslims. But in recent years there are new strains of this same narrow-minded mindset:

• Liberal Extremists
  
• Environmental Extremists

Examples include Al Gore and David Suzuki, who both declared the debate on global warming to be over and then labeled anyone who disagreed with them as "deniers". Not only are both of them wrong about the debate being over (science doesn't work that way) but they both owe 6 Million Jews and other Nazi Concentration Camp victims a HUGE apology.

Another example is something locally here in Vancouver, where I live. There's an ongoing debate about the pros and cons about the Insite supervised drug injection clinic. Most of the powers at be keep telling us it's a great thing. I disagree. Why? Because I've carefully listened to David Berner, a man with an accomplished track record on drug addiction treatment. I've also listened carefully to what recovered drug addicts have told me. They all think that Insite is a horrific initiative that is only propagating the misery these poor drug addicts are experiencing. But rather than actually debate anyone, the supporters of Insite have taken the same arrogant approach as Mr. Abstraction: "We know THE TRUTH and anyone who disagrees with us is therefore ignorant of THE TRUTH." It's an effective trick to silence all debate. But it's a sadly pathetic trick.

One of the few truths that all mature adults realize is that everyone views the world in a different way. A wise old saying that more people should pay attention to is "not to judge another person until you've walked a mile in their moccasins." Feel free to convince others of your views but the moment you espouse that you are free of bias and thus know THE TRUTH is the moment that you need to go into the corner and take a serious time-out.

Will the Russian Bear Reduce the America Bashing?

For as far back as I can remember it has been a popular sport of many Canadians, Brits, French, and Germans to condemn America for most every problem in the world. It goes without saying that this also includes the extreme left of the Democrat Party in the U.S.

More recently I see that many of these same folks are now holding up China and Russia as positive models for the world. Have not these people learned a thing from the past 70 years!

As Mark Steyn has frequently said, it seems that the Bushitler Derangement Syndrome prevents many from ever saying a nice thing about America.

After what has happened in Georgia, is it most interesting that the Poles seem to like America these days ... a lot! The citizens of Poland actually understand what it's like to be underneath the boot (and tank treads) of their Russian oppressors. My father and his family also acutely understood what their fate would be if they ended up in Russian controlled territory.

If the Russian Bear starts causing trouble westward in Europe, will the Germans, French, and Brits suddenly change their tune?

It's fascinating how a crisis to one's own personal liberty tends to make people look at the situation with a much more realistic and less rhetorical lense.

War in Eastern Europe

While you're settling down each evening to watch swimming and track & field, don't forget that Putin & co. in Russia have just started a war with their neighbour, Georgia.

The timing of the invasion with the start of the Beijing Olympics is more than a little suspect. Here's an interesting story on what's going on.

The 1st Nation to Nation Cyberwar?

By many accounts, Russia has just attacked little Estonia ... in cyberspace! You can read more here and here. We're not in the same old world anymore are we?!