Our Locked and Loaded gunslinger 9-18-2019

18, September 2019             Our Locked and Loaded gunslinger

Determined to undermine Obama’s legacy, Trump withdrew from the landmark 2015 nuclear deal and on the advice of dearly departed National Security advisor, “let’s give war a chance” John Bolton, imposed crippling sanctions which caused a freefall in Iran’s economy and intensified the anger towards the US.

Completely flummoxed on how to respond to the devastating drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities President Trump turned to our 9/11 ally Saudi Arabia to seek their assessment of who was to blame. Back came the brilliant response, - Iran.

So how is our locked and loaded gunslinging President to respond? If he ignores the perceived Iranian threat and does nothing he loses his credibility. If he orders military action he plunges the Middle East into a new bloody war and would likely damage his reelection prospects. Not surprisingly, Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei rejected Trump’s desperate request for “one-one no strings” meeting.

Saudi Arabia has finally lost the war on Yemen. It has no defenses against new Houthis drone attacks. These weapons threaten the Saudis' economic lifelines. It is time the US halt all weapon sales to Saudi Arabia and broker a peace agreement. We should be in the business of promoting human rights not weapon sales.

Afghanistan, Graveyard of Empires 9-12-2019

12, September 2019               Afghanistan, Graveyard of Empires

Much like President Nixon’s false Vietnam narrative, both Bush and Cheney continued to mislead the American people falsely stating “we have the Taliban on the run.” 

The invasion was a visceral reaction to 9/11. The war followed a familiar trajectory much like the disastrous Vietnam War. Thousands of Americans and a significantly higher number of Afghans have perished. Much like the bungled invasion of Iraq, Afghanistan is in utter chaos. Many veterans returning home are traumatized by the horrors of war.

Others returned in body bags in the dead of night away from the public eye on route to Arlington Cemetery.

According to “Stars and Strikes” 20 veterans commit suicide every day; others turn to drugs to ease the constant pain. After 18 years, the country has become so violent, American diplomats and other supporting personnel still rely on privately-operated helicopters to safely get around in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul.  The invasion was a horrible mistake. The Afghan government is thoroughly corrupt and many Afghans view the Taliban as lesser of the two evils.  

The Taliban own most of the countryside. Conflicted Americans should recall the 1990 interview with Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap of Vietnam, who was asked how long he would have fought the Americans. He responded, “Another 20 years, even a hundred years — as long as it took to win, regardless of cost.” 

The final exit will be similar to Vietnam. There will come a point when the only way out will be by helicopter from the embassy roof.

Brexit 9-5-2019

5, September 2019                           Brexit

In 1957, after centuries of warfare, European nations Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands entered into a trading partnership. Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom soon followed. The Union has prospered since its birth and has now mushroomed to 28 countries. But the virus of populism has finally reached the shores of Britain. Several members of the House of Commons egged on by Nigel Farage, still retain memories of the “glorious days of the raj when Britain expanded its sphere of influence and dominance to the four corners of the planet boasting “the sun will never set on the British empire” (to which British comedians countered “that’s because the bloody sun never shines in Britain”).  

The unhealthy mindset of “make Britain great again” free from European interference has taken hold resenting a subordinate to Brussels. There is little chance that the Brexiteers will achieve a soft Brexit with major EU concessions such as a soft border between north and South Ireland. Resentment over large scale immigration still looms over much of the country with nostalgia for “the good old days.”   In the recent Commons “high noon showdown,” the mercurial Prime Minister Johnson’s ultimatum caused several Conservative heavyweight members to cross the aisle. Jeremy Corbyn sensing his opponent’s whimpering weakness launched a final blistering attack. Johnson gazed up desperately wishing for a “hail Mary” pass to rescue his pathetic performance.  Perhaps his good friend, President Trump’ will toss him a carrot to ease the pain.

Miscarriage of Justice, the Opioid Crisis 9-3-2019

3, September 2019              Miscarriage of Justice, the Opioid Crisis


Gross miscarriage of justice continues to be a depressing fact of life in America.  Trillions of dollars has been squandered from endless wars driven by misguided political leaders intoxicated by US “super military power.” All the guilty (Bush jnr), Cheney, Rumsfeld. . ., escaped punishment. The U.S. attorney general during the 2008 financial crisis failed to punish bankers responsible for rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted corruption.  The unbridled greed of drug companies responsible for the death of thousands of Americans in the Opioid crisis has escaped punishment.  A stunning Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation by Eric Eyre in the Charleston Gazette-Mail revealed drug distributors shipped almost 9 million hydrocodone pills to one pharmacy in the town of Kermit, West Virginia, population 392.  Pharmaceutical companies who profited from the Opioid crisis were 1. Purdue Pharma 2. Abbott Labs 3. Johnson & Johnson 4. Pfizer.


254 million opioid prescriptions were filled in 2010 alone, enough to medicate every adult in the U. S. for a month on a round-the-clock basis. In that same year, pharmaceutical companies generated revenues of $11 billion from opioid sales alone.


Johnson & Johnson retained the services of consultants McKinsey & Company to identify opportunities to sell more Opioids and beat the competition unconcerned their drugs could send more and more Americans to their early graves. The broader push was to wean patients off lower doses and on to Johnson & Johnson’s more powerful lethal drugs. J & J misrepresented the dangers of opioid addiction to doctors, manipulated medical research, and helped drive an epidemic that has claimed 400,000 lives over the past two decades. J &J fine of $572 million will hardly serve as a deterrent. What is sorely needed is the prosecution of executives who profit from these criminal enterprises. A long prison term would be a good start. $572 million can easily be dismissed as the cost of doing business.