To the Shores of Tripoli...

(Image:  Raymond Massey's To the Shores of Tripoli limited edition print)

...then and now:

(Image:  Tomahawk missiles launched from a US warship)

Two days after the UN imposed a no-fly zone over Libya, American and British warships launched a cruise missile strike, while French warplanes began patrolling the Libyan skies. 

From the Washington Post (WaPo):

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/international-coalition-launches-strikes-on-libya/2011/03/19/ABlT8bw_story.html?hpid=z1 

From Yahoo News:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_us_libya 

From the Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014544135_apususlibya.html 

“We have every reason to fear that, left unchecked, Gaddafi will commit unspeakable atrocities,” Clinton said in a Paris.

Maybe establishing a no-fly zone will help Libyan rebels.  However, someone should inform Hillary about that unspeakable atrocities weren't prevented in Bosnia and Iraq (under Saddam Hussein), when no-fly zones were established over those countries. 

Meanwhile in America's Dairyland...

For several weeks, Wisconsin has captured the nation's attention.  (Because of other news and personal issues, I haven't reported on this until now).  Facing a deficit, newly elected Governor Scott Walker (R) submitted a proposal to the state legislature, largely composed of (R)'s, thanks to last year's election, to limit the collective bargaining tactics of government employees--union employees.

Rather than face the music, about a dozen (D)'s in the state legislature, fled to Illinois in order to avoid the vote.  Since the Democrats deserted their posts, the bill to curb bargaining rights was easily passed, but WI's capital building was the scene of on-going protests for several days.

But the saga hasn't ended yet.  Now a judge imposed a temporary restraining order against the bill to accomodate a lawsuit filed by the state's Democrats.

Yahoo News has the story:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110318/ap_on_re_us/us_wisconsin_budget_unions_lawsuit

Comrade Karla rolls-in:

So why do we even bother having legislators when judges seem to be making all the decisions?


Why indeed.

The UN "Gets Tough" on Libya...

(Image:  The Team America Osprey)

...well, sort of.

While the Fukushima 50 continue their valiant efforts to cool down their reactor, the UN Security Council votes to establish a "no-fly zone" over Libyan airspace.  Such a tactic hasn't worked in the past (see Bosnia and Saddam Hussein's Iraq), but hey, it's worth one more try.  Right?

From FOX News:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/17/seeks-resolution-authorizing-wide-range-strikes-libya/ 

One of my on-line friends sent us these scathing, but accurate remarks:

I hate to say it, but it seems like we're going to get the worst possible outcome here: we'll impose a no fly zone and air strikes too late to change the course of the conflict (which I have doubts would've been effective anyway short of killing Qa-daffy outright, but whatever).  Then, when Qa-daffy is secure on his throne, we'll look like the impotent, wishy-washy, Euro-do-nothings that we have become.

Now, if Qa-daffy nails some ships or planes in the Med, all bets are off and he's toast. He's crazy, but not stupid enough to invite direct attack like that. He's winning and a no-fly zone will do little more than stave off a complete collapse in rebel morale.  Anyone remember how the rebel leadership said they did not want a no-fly zone a few weeks ago? Funny out that changed.

Also, while I'm ranting, do we even have a policy? The Sec Def says no way to any action; Sec State says not only a no fly zone, but airstrikes. The President says "Qa-daffy must go" then goes on radio silence. WTF? This is not amateur hour any more - it's a freakin' free for all!

I'm sure Obama will make a statement from Rio about all this, or maybe between the 13th and 14th hole.


The Fukushima 50

The crisis in Japan continues unabatted.  However, 50 workers from Fukushima's Daiichi powerplant valiantly stayed behind and are desperately trying to cool down the reactor.  The LA Times has a short piece on the "Fukushima 50:"

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/asia/la-fgw-japan-quake-fukushima-50,0,690133.story

Meanwhile, Yahoo News has a more generalized story about the continuing crisis and the world's reaction:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110318/ts_nm/us_japan_quake

Yahoo News also has a running slideshow, which now contains 450 photos:

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Japan-hit-huge-earthquake-tsunami/ss/events/wl/031111japanquake#photoViewer=/110315/ids_photos_wl/r238054960.jpg 

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Mark Steyn rolls-in on critics of America's "faux Irishness:"

http://www.steynonline.com/content/view/3822/30/

Japan's Nuclear Woes Continue...

...but compared to the damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami, how bad is it?  The folks at Brave New Climate posted a narrative explaining what happened and what is currently being done to minimize the radiation hazard:

http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/

Wikipedia has an entry, along with some historical data on the Fukushima reactor:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_I_Nuclear_Power_Plant

Japan's Nuclear Facilities Suffering Shutdowns--Or Worse

The earthquake and tsunami that devestated Japan a couple days ago is now wrecking havoc with the nation's nuclear power plants.  From Yahoo News:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_japan_earthquake;_ylt=AuNPOtIpJtk8re2PpDXf94Ss0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNqMjhlY20yBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTEwMzEyL2FzX2phcGFuX2VhcnRocXVha2UEY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwMxBHBvcwMyBHB0A2hvbWVfY29rZQRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawNmb3JiYXR0ZXJlZGo-

The Seattle Times has a similar story:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014473724_apasjapanearthquake.html

(Image: From NOAA, illustrating the power of the Japanese tsunami)

On this side of the Pacific, the tsunami caused some damage, especially to coastal regions in Northern California.  But certainly not on the same scale of destruction that hit Japan: 

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014473723_apusjapanearthquakepacific.html 

Now folks are getting concerned about radioactivity reaching these shores.

Photo Gallery from The Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/photogalleries/nationworld2014478823/ 

Slideshow from Yahoo News:

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Huge-Japan-quake-spawns-tsunami/ss/events/wl/031111japanquake 

8.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Japan

I woke up to this news before heading to work:

http://news.yahoo.com/;_ylt=ApExOAkNS0FoGyLkYgLffIOaK8MA

From The Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014462620_apasjapanearthquake.html 

Earthquakes can have an impact far beyond the epicenter.  The coast of Washington State has been under a Tsunami Advisory for several hours:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014465927_washtsunami12m.html 

When I first woke up and read the initial report the number of casualties was reported at 32.  Now, unfortunately, it's climbing rapidly as relief and rescue efforts get underway.  From FOX News:

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/11/massive-7-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-japan/ 

Move Along, Nothing to See Here in Frankfurt

Three days ago, two USAF airmen were gunned down at a shuttle bus at the Frankfurt Airport. 

Here's the breaking story:

http://www.komonews.com/news/national/117255993.html 

The gunman, Arid Uka, a German Muslim, whose parents emigrated from Kosovo, was heard yelling "Allahu Akbar!" as he opened fire.

Despite the obvious connection to jihad, Our Telepromter-in-Chief can't seem to bring himself to say this was an act of terrorism.  Mark Steyn rolls-in:

http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/million-290779-german-world.html 

Retreating from the High Seas

(Image:  The USS Connecticut leads The Great White Fleet in 1907)

I've posted before on the tragic decline of Britain's Royal Navy (RN).  Unfortunately, our navy has set course for being "laid up in ordinary."  Mark Helprin, novelist and member of the Clairmont Institute, rolls-in on what's at stake if America abdicates control of the seas:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704150604576166362512952294.html?KEYWORDS=MARK+HELPRIN

Not Our Great-Great-Grandfathers' Revolution

Niall Ferguson rolls-in on why Egypt's "Facebook Revolution" of 2010 may be nothing like the American Revolution of 1776.  His key point is, most revolutions since 1776 haven't been anything like America's:

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/02/27/un-american-revolutions.html