Calls for stripping away the Olympic Games from Sochi next February due to new Russian anti-LGBT law

As I've said on Facebook some time back on my public page, I really think that the Russians have just invited themselves a whole world of trouble. This is not to say that I specifically approve of the new law President Putin signed, I don't, and I would really give him a massive amount of credit if he has the wherewithall to repeal it, but that's not going to happen. However, it should be noted that while Putin is reflecting the aspirations of his people as he is something of a nationalistic populist. I continue to sympathize with the LGBT community in Russia and their struggle for equality despite undeniably heavy odds.

That being said, taking the games away from Russia is going to give the International Olympic Committee a much bigger headache to deal with and not from the anger released by the Russian Government and Russian Olympic Committee. It would be a headache in the sense that they would have to get a 7-year construction and preparation project completed in a new host country in less than 6 months (which to be perfectly candid is highly unlikely). It would be this or cancelling the games as had happened during WWI (1916 Summer Games, which were to be held in Berlin) and WWII (the 1940 and 1944 Summer and Winter Games, which were to be held in Tokyo/Helsinki, Sapporo/St. Morritz/Garmisch-Partenkirchen, London and Cortina d'Ampezzo). Cancelling the upcoming games in Sochi would only bring the International Olympic Committee a large amount of negative publicity and would severely curtail its ability to influence member's behavior in passing such hate-filled legislation, as doing so would be seen as meddling in that member nation's internal political affairs.

Terror Threat From Al-Qaeda

As if this is any massive surprise, Al-Qaeda threatening to hit anything with US symbolism on it again. I've been hearing about the prison breaks as if recently, especially as reported on CNN's website. The security blog, I think makes a very descriptive assessment of how the Obama Administration is attempting to pinpoint these individuals making the threats and prevent such an attack from occuring.

Here's a little bit of background information. I'm sure everyone who's been reading this blog is aware of who Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Penninsula is. For those who've only seen this for the first time, it's currently the strongest cell branch of the Al-Qaeda terror network and is based primarily in Yemen. AQAP is responsible for conducting successful prison breaks throughout the Mideast freeing many of its operatives in countries such as Yemen, Oman, etc., and having apparently regrouped and regrown their operational strength, they're ready to start conducting new attacks against American and other infidel installations in the Arab World, and possibly America itself. Think of the underwear bomber of 2009, he was affiliated with this cell. Anyway, the reason for the high-level concern within the senior ranks of the Obama Administration is that this branch has expertise in constructing and handling chemical weaponry. Imagine the destruction and carnage, as well as toxicity left in the wake of chemical-laced bomb explosion.

The question of whether AQAP will use a chemical weapon is really irrelevant, it's a matter of where they would use one and when.

Ex-Skinhead joins up with a victim of the Sikh Temple Shooting in Wisconsin

From reading this article on the Associated Press earlier, I saw these two gentlemen of completely different backgrounds coming together to educate the youth in Wisconsin about the sometimes violent reality that comes from White Supremacy. Their stories, I think, provide a real learning experience so that the next generation of Americans, be them from Wisconsin or elsewhere, about the real dangers of professing hatred towards other groups of people and how it can end in violence.

For the former skinhead, it gives him a chance to atone for any misery he may have caused other communities. I can tell by his actions that he couldn't be sorrier for his actions in the past, and how they scared others from outside the White race. Additionally, while he did not know the perpatrator of the Sikh Temple Shooting personally, the event scared the former supramcist by making him realize he may have been an influence on the guy pulling off this unspeakable horror.

As for the son of one of the victims, to team up with this former White Supremacist seemed like a difficult decision at the time, but now it pays off with more advantages than not. As a victim of White Supremacy, it can help educate others as to why more needs to be done to stamp out this old plague of the past. The victim has a strong story of how his father was murdered for no apparent reason other than he was not White nor Christian.

Update on the peace process

For once there is good news about the progress of peace talks that have been stalled for the past five years or so. US Foreign Secretary (Secretary of State) John F. Kerry has been able to get a tentative framework endorsed by the entire Arab League, which would be enough coverage for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to make the case to the already skeptical Palestinian public that negotiations within the newly announced framework are within their national interest. While it will be a simultaneously tough sell for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to both his cabinet and his people, it will give him a stronger incentive to make a real meaningful dialogue knowing full well that his American partner, US President Barack Obama, will give him plenty of backup in the international sphere so that there can be an ongoing dialogue. By mentioning Obama's support, Netanyahu can make the case to the equally skeptical Israeli public that reengaging in a dialogue with the Palestinians will help make Israel more secure for future generations. Full credit for the breaking of this story goes to the Associated Press via Yahoo News.

I find this to be a very positive step towards ending the nearly century-old dispute, and one of the biggest sources of violent outbreaks in the Middle East. In addition, to the tough sells involved, doing so will undoubtedly isolate both Syria and Iran. The Arabs' main source of rage now is not so much with the Israelis, as I've mentioned in previous posts, but with the Iranians. The reason is simple: Iran has a relatively strong history of dabbling in the Arab states' internal affairs, and for the past 30 years or so, the Arab states have long complained to the Americans about this. Now this is not to say that the Americans and the Iranians have any business launching threats at each other, because they don't, but that's not the main point here. The Iranians after the Islamic Revolution have long cowed their Arab neighbors threatening to back radical Islamic elements in their borders unless they heed Iranian guidance in the Islamic struggle against Israel. Now this is the main reason for the Arab push for peace with Israel since 2002, as it would free up resources for them to go after elements backed by the Iranians.

Now for the American perspective of this: it's a massive interest for there to be a final accord to the Arab-Israeli dispute as it would finally allow a fully unified front against the main source of terror, the Iranians. For America, like Israel and the Arab states, Iran's reach across the Middle East is a credible threat and the fact that it has not made the proper disclosures for its nuclear program as mandated by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty creates an even larger crisis that threatens the whole non-proliferation regime put in place by both the Americans and the Russians at the end of the Cold War. This is primarily why America wants to see this dispute end, as it would only aggrivate an arms race, but of a smaller proportion to the extent of what it faced with Russia for 40 years (1947-87).

Martin/Zimmerman Verdict

I can't begin to understand how its possible to let a kid, who was unarmed at the time he was shot, receive nothing in terms of closure, especially for his family. At the same time, it's really beyond absurd to allow the "Stand Your Ground" laws to remain on the books, when Trayvon Martin's death clearly showed how ineffective.and dangerous they are.

It makes me concerned that someone can cite this kind of law after looking for a reason to use it. George Zimmerman really had no business following and confronting Martin at all, and was told by the 911 operator with whom he was on the phone to stay in his car. That being said, however, still doesn't change the fact that it could have been anyone who was on the recieving end of the "Stand Your Ground" that would be dead, or very seriously injured. I understand needing self-defense laws to protect oneself against criminals, or threats to one's own survival, but the way this law was applied in Florida only says to would-be vigilantes that they can take the law into their own hands and enforce it how they please.

BART Strike of 2013

I have to say, this has been a crazy week so far with the ATU and SEIU local unions for BART having gone on strike. Apparently it's been over the number of safety incidents that have taken place over the past couple of months which is why I'm kind of understanding of their striking. I'm really concerned that BART's management was not hearing the train and fare-gate operators as they've apparently been making noise about the lack of concern or investment in safety for riders. While I hope they can restore service as soon as possible, I really hope that the State of California can force some changes in terms of safety routines.

Additionally, the unions were also trying to seek a raise, which had been a part of the fight as well, with wages and benefits on the line. The good news is that, while the unions agreed to call off the strike and resume their current contract for another 30 days, they are back to negotiating a new contract, as well as, pushing new safety practices to end the kind of tragedies that have taken place on the BART system over the past few months. I hope for sure that it has some teeth and that BART can increase its presence of crisis management for these types of situations.

Tighter Utility Regulation

Here's something I've got to say, how is it that in a country as expansive and wealthy as the one I live in can have such lax laws governing utilities? I honestly don't get it, as recently as 10 or so years ago they've been cutting corners on safety and other areas to just to make an extra buck or 2. Here's an example of what I'm talking about with an article from Russia Today. 

Cleaner Fuels And Cars Mean Cleaner Air

Seeing this only reminds me of Jimmy Carter's efforts to get us off of Fossil Fuels back in the 1970's. Barack Obama is clearly following in Carter's footsteps (or at least trying to), but he can't do this alone. We need to help Obama force the Republican-led House of Representatives and barely held Democratic-led Senate to push this forward. If you want to breath clean air, to drink clean water/eat food not tainted with pollutant chemicals, then sign this petition. It's time to put an end to the corrupting power of big oil, which only wants to be able to keep its profit margins up by not having to put in technology that will surely lower the number of asthma cases around the country.

Cleaner Fuels And Cars Mean Cleaner Air

Representative's son's racist/homophobic rant

I just saw this on Facebook, and I thought to myself, "Again with the hate-filled speech?" Well, apparently it did happen again within this story:

Sen. Flake’s son threatens to ‘beat the crap’ out of ‘f*ggot’ on Twitter (via Raw Story )

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) apologized on Wednesday after BuzzFeed discovered that his high school-aged son had used racist and homophobic language on the Internet. Screen grabs obtained by BuzzFeed showed that Flake’s son, Tanner, had called one person on Twitter a “Jew” and repeatedly used the term…

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Barry Zito's Award

Coming to AT&T Park today, I was so amazed by the fact that Barry Zito won the Patriot Award on behalf of his charity Strikeouts For Veterans. What I find so amazing is the fact that he's been working with MLB and BofA in helping returning vets and their families.

I think he should be remembered for this and be given a chance to put forth his vision before Congress. Additionally, I'm thinking about starting a drive on FB to get President Barack Obama to appoint him to a commission to help vets and soldiers, along with their families, during the off-season.