Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Trump presser
Date:	1/8/2020 11:49:51 AM

Just finished listening to his statement.  Looks like there will be no response to the missile launch by Iran since there were no American casualties (despite the Iranian propaganda which was gleefully spread by pmsnBS).  Sends a clear message to Iran that we are willing to let this go but put them on notice that further aggression will be met with overwhelming force.  Iran now needs to decide what to do next.  Are they a suicidal regime and will they escalate or will they go about their business of funding proxies?  What was also clear in the message was that should another Green Revolution rise up we will support them in their effort to rid their country of these theocratic madmen. Message sent.  Message received is another question.  And ignore what the Iranians say and watch what they do, at least overtly.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Trump presser
Date:	1/8/2020 10:06:22 PM

Right before the presser, I heard some "expert" say that Iran may say that it is done for now, but that they have a long memory and might likely do something else later.  

I don't think they wanted to start WWIII and so they took care to make sure we knew, in advance, that it was coming, through backchannel emmissaries.  

I thought that while Trump's speech was strong, he made clear he was open to negotiation and that he challenged NATO to step up to the plate. 

I watched it live, and then I watched it again, because I wanted to hear the nuances.  For the life of me, I cannot find all the negativity that the liberal media is claiming is in there.  I thought it was a good speech.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Trump presser
Date:	1/8/2020 10:23:52 PM

My wife isn't into the political scene but watched his address and came away, basically, with the impression that he and his team got it right.  Her words were more flowery but her bottom line is that she is now convinced the Dems are all wet and spouting a bunch of bovine shinola.  She now watches Fox News because she says she gets so much more information. Nuff said.

Name:	Carlson -	Reply
Subject:	and then there are Ran Paul and Lee!
Date:	1/9/2020 9:02:02 AM

Lol.  

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	and then there are Ran Paul and Lee!
Date:	1/9/2020 11:16:27 AM

Libertarians just gotta be Libertarians......go look and see who Lee voted for as President in 2020.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	and then there are Ran Paul and Lee!
Date:	1/9/2020 8:32:14 PM

They got told that they couldn't have intelligence data, and they are mad.  People in Washington generally believe that Congress is a huge sieve and are very reluctant to provide the most sensitive data to Congress.  They are just too addicted to the sound bite.  

I think it was amusing when Congressional members demanded that Pompeo, Esper and company come back on a different day and give them the data and they said no.  Pence was right - most of them do not have special clearnaces to have access to sources and means data.  I doubt the data came from just one source.  

I have to say that I am taken aback by their reaction to the whole thing - I mean, we take out a major terrorist - someone who trains other terrorists and is associated with American deaths, and the Democrats are upset.  I'm beginning to wonder if our country can be saved. 

Name:	Carlson -	Reply
Subject:	and then there are Ran Paul and Lee!
Date:	1/9/2020 8:42:28 PM

Actually I think Americans in general now know what's going on.  The 737 blown out of the sky is a real shock to those of us who fly in planes here and abroad!  All of a sudden it's real.  

acting out Congresspeople that believe they show know top secret info is laughable.  Everyone agrees that this terrorist needed termination but they whine that they should know of the hit beforehand.  Wonder if they were told of the 737 blown out of the sky beforehand, what the hell could they do to prevent it.  

Americans know the truth!  

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	and then there are Ran Paul and Lee!
Date:	1/9/2020 9:56:48 PM (updated 1/9/2020 9:58:07 PM)

One of my most gratifying projects when I worked for a major Defense Contractor was one that saw us instrumental in building a capability on an Italian Navy ship for the Italians, to be operated by the Italians, just listening to whatever was being transmitted via electromagnetic waves.  I am not at liberty to divulge details, but one of the key factors in doing so is that an Italian Navy ship can go places US Navy ships are not welcome.  The Med is a relatively small pond and, while it has been 10 years since I worked that project, I am convinced that our little ship has been instrumental in feeding vital information to decision makers. 

BTW, just about everything about that project was handled as unclassified information but I won't replicate their stupidity here.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	and then there are Ran Paul and Lee!
Date:	1/10/2020 12:42:30 PM

Suffice to say that the intelligence community is multinational. 

I hope Americans, in general, know the truth.  But when I'm on social media and see what people post, it really makes me wonder.   I have a wide community of animal lovers and artsy people as well as former coworkers and other conservatives.  When those worlds collide, the hatred and nastiness and flat out denial to see any kind of truth is a bit disconcerting.  One fellow animal lover whom I have known for years and I had to part company on social media, because her hatred and disgust for Trump and anyone who supported him could no longer be overlooked.  A friend from High School was so condesending and insulting, I had to let her go to.  The depth of the hatred and distrust, cannot be overstated.  And that isn't even discussing gun rights.... 

When we get to the point where not all of us believe that taking out a target of opportunity, who happens to be an international terrorist is in question, I fear for our country. 

BTW, don't know if you caught Pompaeo and Menuchin's press conference today to announce sanctions on Iran.  They basically said that Congressional members who want to see the intelligence, can, in fact see it.  The biggest question seems to be the word "immenient" Anyhow, I thought they were forthcoming, but to hear the news people's analysis after the fact was disturbing.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	and then there are Ran Paul and Lee!
Date:	1/10/2020 1:28:25 PM

The lack of civility and outright anger is very disappointing.  I get the same reaction from my younger son, so steadfast and unwilling to even listen to a different view.  And in many cases those folks are just downright naive.  It is almost the old saying "don't confuse me with facts".  In general, IMHO Conservatives think and Liberals feel.  I have a bachelor's degree in chemistry, spent a career as a communications, then computer officer in the Air Force, and now work in cybersecurity.  Radio links were set up on paths determined by engineering principles, not because we felt like they would work.  Security configurations are based on analysis of known vulnerabilities and recognized countermeasures, not "lets do this and that because we feel like it would make us secure".  I made the mistake one time of asking my daughter-in-law if there was any scientific study that had cioncluded ingesting food that had been treated with hormones caused premature puberty in young girls.  Her crowning statement was "well, all you have to do is look at them to know it is true".  BTW, I did my own research on the subject and found two key considerations.  First, half of any hormones in meat we eat is digested and never enters the bloodstream as a hormone, and second, there is a medical opinion that premature puberty in girls is as much a factor of obesity as anything else.  Suffice it to say I exercised discretion and never brought it up with her again.

Just stick to your principles as you have obviously done by disengaging.  You can't let their problem become your problem.