Sun Rise Beyond Francis Peak

2005 was a great year for the Calder family and we look forward to the dawning of 2006

A Law Unto Themselves

Several people who disagree with the Government’s eavesdropping on suspected terrorist suspects have taken the case to the New York Times. So far the NYT hasn’t made a case that any laws have been broken. What right did the disclosers have to compromise vital national operations? Did they even consult with their agencies lawyers to get a reading? The Clinton era associate attorney general backs President Bush’s NSA actions. Seems to me the best case these disgruntled folks can come up with is they have an opinion this sort of stuff should be against the law (an opinion that a good portion of Americans disagree with).

There really isn’t a gray area when it comes to the President’s ability to monitor enemy communications in wartime, but even if there was, in a democracy, the benefit of the doubt should go to the elected official, not anonymous cranks.

Some Thoughts on National Security Leaks

I must have been quite a rube when I joined the Air Force. I worked in weapon system development and my first job required the use of two file-cabinet sized safes for the classified material. I was so afraid of accidentally leaving a safe unsecured that I probably checked the doors three or four times after I had secured them. The thought of an accidental compromise was always in the back of my mind. If you wanted to push an obsessive/compulsive person over the edge just give him a safe stuffed with the government’s secrets.

Now I learn the government has taken pity on us overly cautious people. I’ve since found that one can mistakenly stuff classified documents in ones clothes and only lose your security clearance for three years. Or we can disclose national secrets direct to the New York Times without any apparent threat of prosecution (or that would have been leaked too).

Merry Christmas

This was an enjoyable Christmas for my family. Having Christmas on Sunday was a major factor - I look forward to another Sunday Christmas. Our family attended Sunday services and it set the mood for the rest of the day.

I am thankful for our Heavenly Father's love in sending His Son.

Nuclear Weapon Watch

It would only be a scandal if the administration wasn’t using radiation detectors (via Powerline)

Domestic Spying?

So… the National Security Administration (NSA) discovers an Al Qaeda phone conversation in the Middle East and determines to monitor future transmissions from these numbers. But then a call from one of these numbers happens to be made to a location within the US and NSA continues to monitor the call. If this turns out to be the basis for the “domestic spying” charges the New York Times is leveling, consider me unconvinced.

Democracy Expands in the Middle East

Ask someone who was around during VE or VJ day. They’ll remember what happened on those days. My Dad was only seven and he remembers. The Iraqi elections are as significant to our generation as the close of World War II was to the past generation, yet our nation seems ignorant of that fact. Fifteen million people, or 70 percent of the electorate, voted in a new Middle East democracy! While that fact has been reported (or even downplayed) the significance has yet to enter the national consciousness. One day it will; are you going to remember, then, the events of this week?

An Alternative to Using a Moral Compass

An Iraqi voter provides directions to those who have lost their moral compass.

Cory Maye

I suppose a factor in the main stream media’s (MSM) lack of attention for the Cory Maye case is they are also opposed to people who carry guns for protection. Perhaps they reason if Cory Maye did not own a gun, he never would have been able to shoot the unannounced intruder in his house who turned out to be a cop at the wrong address. Via Instapundit the CBSNews.com blog has picked this up; perhaps this will yet make it to the MSM.

Miscarriage of Justice

No it’s not the imminent execution of Tookie Williams (four time murderer, gang founder, and children’s book author), rather another death row inmate is the one who should get a Governor’s reprieve – see Glenn Reynolds.

Utah in Pictures

Two sites with great photographs of Utah and the West: LeggNet's Digital Capture and Blog.LorenFrench.Com.

The Panic Over Iraq

This is a must read from Norman Podhoretz (H/T Powerline).

Communication II

My neighbor went to a job interview where the receptionist led him to a boardroom with five people. A buffet had been set up and they insisted on eating first. After the meal, the folks gathered around the table to listen to my friend. When he whipped out his resume, things became a little awkward. He wasn’t the firm’s best client and they weren’t holding a job interview. No news on whether they are hiring for a receptionist

Utah: Leader Among Square States

DesNews reports on a survey of company “site selectors” concerning Utah. According to one respondent:

The state's population isn't large enough and is only "well positioned among the square states with large populations of mule deer, not people".

That’s good enough for Cabela’s

Storm Reporting

Ever notice that snowstorms in New York City get more national news coverage than snowstorms elsewhere?

Liberal bias in the media probably has less to do with intential agenda skewing and more to do with media elites (centered in New York City) covering the world that revolves around them.

Communication

An acquaintance, in charge of selling tickets for the “Nutcracker” for her child’s ballot tells of an irate call she received:

“Your ticket selling operation is terrible; I’ve never been treated so rudely. I’m going to report you to the better business bureau!”

“What happened Ma’am?!

“I prepaid for tickets and when I went to the ballot the people there acted like I never paid. They didn’t have my tickets and they finally gave us lousy seats in the balcony. I’m so furious!”

“Uh, our theater doesn’t have a balcony. Where did you go?”

Instead of going to the University theater where the children held their ballot, this lady went downtown to the City’s Metropolitan theater and badgered her way into a balcony seat.

Defeaticrat Party

Of the two speeches below, Mark Steyn, notes which one the mainstream media is running with.

Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Two voices from the Democratic party. One says he wants to declare victory and go home. The other says “don’t snatch defeat from the jaws of victory”. When it came to a vote 403 representatives said no to cut and run (including representative Murtha). The quick vote provides reassurance to the Iraqis and our troops and let the world know who is blowing smoke.

Correcting the Memory of Corporal Jeffery Starr

President Bush righted a wrong committed by the New York Times. As Michelle Malkin noted on Oct 28th, the Times wrote the following about Corporal Jeffery Starr, who was killed in Iraq last April:

Another member of the 1/5, Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr, rejected a $24,000 bonus to re-enlist. Corporal Starr believed strongly in the war, his father said, but was tired of the harsh life and nearness of death in Iraq. So he enrolled at Everett Community College near his parents' home in Snohomish, Wash., planning to study psychology after his enlistment ended in August.

But he died in a firefight in Ramadi on April 30 during his third tour in Iraq. He was 22.

Sifting through Corporal Starr's laptop computer after his death, his father found a letter to be delivered to the marine's girlfriend. ''I kind of predicted this,'' Corporal Starr wrote of his own death. ''A third time just seemed like I'm pushing my chances.''

Corporal Starr’s Uncle wrote Michelle Malkin the following, providing details the Times left out:

Yesterday's New York Times on-line edition carried the story of the 2000 Iraq US military death[s]. It grabbed my attention as the picture they used with the headline was that of my nephew, Cpl Jeffrey B. Starr, USMC.

Unfortunately they did not tell Jeffrey's story. Jeffrey believed in what he was doing. He [was] willing put his life on the line for this cause. Just before he left for his third tour of duty in Iraq I asked him what he thought about going back the third time. He said: "If we (Americans) don't do this (free the Iraqi people from tyranny) who will? No one else can."

Several months after Jeffrey was killed his laptop computer was returned to his parents who found a letter in it that was addressed to his girlfriend and was intended to be found only if he did not return alive. It is a most poignant letter and filled with personal feelings he had for his girlfriend. But of importance to the rest of us was his
expression of how he felt about putting his life at risk for this cause. He said it with grace and maturity.

He wrote: "Obviously if you are reading this then I have died in Iraq. I kind of predicted this, that is why I'm writing this in November. A third time just seemed like I'm pushing my chances. I don't regret going, everybody dies but few get to do it for something as important as freedom. It may seem confusing why we are in Iraq, it's not to me. I'm here helping these people, so that they can live the way we live. Not have to worry about tyrants or vicious dictators. To do what they want with their lives. To me that is why I died. Others have died for my freedom, now this is my mark."

The New York Times never corrected the impression they left their readers.

President Bush, in his speech to Naval Academy Midshipmen, completed the record for Corporal Starr by finishing his quote.