Pilot's Log

Hey.

I listen to the news of the goings in the Middle East with increasing horror. You know those "roadside IEDs" that have become the weapon of choice by the insurgency? Well, it looks like the Number One supplier of those armaments is none other than the Iranian Islamic Republican Army, or possibly the Iranian paramilitaries that are led by the mullahs directly.

I was predicting war with Iran? I was all wet--we ALREADY ARE at war with IRAN! They just aren't bothering to tell US about it! (At the same time the Iranian government is pledging support to the new Iraqi government, they are covertly supporting the effort against them!)

FP

Hey.

Events of recent days have made me feel even more scared than usual.

1) The reaction to Cardinal Law's Mass. According to the report from National Public Radio's "All Things Considered", Roman Catholics outside the U.S. think that the sex scandals of recent years involving Catholic clergy were in fact a U.S. Government conspiracy perpetrated to bring down the church's political power in America. This coupled with the past Pope's opposition to U.S. foreign policy (including the wars in the Middle East) may mean a shift in sentiment in the church. I expect the next Pope to either be hostile to the U.S. or at least play to that side of the church's followers.

2) What happened in Washington. Okay, the man looked "suspicious". (Ultimately, don't we all?) But I'm afraid of the international reaction to the footage of the "takedown"...especially in China. If the man really is a Chinese national, it's going to exacerbate the sentiment there. I can just hear the propaganda machine: "This is how they treat Chinamen there--they beat them senseless for just standing around! What barbarism!" I fear that if this or something else finally ticks off the Chinese and they embargo/boycott us, it could throw what's left of our economy out of kilter. They're already beating us--they could BURY us. And then nuke us.

3) The candidate for U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. We need somebody who will get people to listen, not move in and think he can dictate to the world!

4) The usual saber rattling over North Korea, Syria, Iran and so on. Some of the bigwigs in Iran are claiming they already have nukes and are looking for "martyrs"--perhaps so they'll deliver the nukes to the Great Satan. Maybe they'll do it in Bagdad, maybe they'll do it in Tel Aviv...or maybe they'll do it in New York City or Washington. With the Iraqization of the insurgency war finally hitting its stride, instead of bringing the troops home, how likely is it that the Bush Administration will just launch another war somewhere else? Several months ago, I guessed the war with Iran would happen by August of this year, and I see no reason not to hold to the prediction now.

What is it with us these days? Why are we going out of our way to suck? Are we intentionally pissing the rest of the world off in the sick hopes of causing Armageddon? Do our leaders feel that we need to be the villains of some awful Revelation Passion Play so that Jesus can return?

At this point I don't WANT to know Jesus.