Interesting read on Syria/Putin

[ASUG8]

Another interesting op-ed. Snippet below:

By taking the fight to Congress instead of to Syria, you’ve left legislators to fight amongst themselves over the details of an American response. Even if they reach agreement and vote in favor of an attack, it’s likely to be too little and too late to make a difference.
Assad will have had plenty of time to move mobile military assets to hospital parking lots and school playgrounds, so the only choice you’ll have is between lobbing a few missiles into the Syrian desert, or killing innocent civilians in population centers.
If Assad calls your bluff and launches another chemical attack in response or widens the war, you’ll be faced with either backing off or escalating the Syrian war, just like LBJ did with Vietnam.
If you do escalate, and topple Assad, you’ll pave the way for Al Qaeda-affiliated rebels to take his place. If Congress does not approve your attack plan, you will look even more ineffective.
Either way, those chemical weapons will remain -- for Assad or the Al Qaeda rebels to use --- since no one thinks they can be sabotaged, destroyed, or captured without boots on the ground. And no one is voting for boots on the ground.

Face it, President Obama. You’ve been outmaneuvered on Syria, and have no good options left. As bad as it would be to do nothing, doing something that fails would be even worse.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/09/ ... z2e7YRXAGN" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/09/ ... n-big-one/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[LeadBolt]

Another interesting op-ed. Snippet below:

By taking the fight to Congress instead of to Syria, you’ve left legislators to fight amongst themselves over the details of an American response. Even if they reach agreement and vote in favor of an attack, it’s likely to be too little and too late to make a difference.
Assad will have had plenty of time to move mobile military assets to hospital parking lots and school playgrounds, so the only choice you’ll have is between lobbing a few missiles into the Syrian desert, or killing innocent civilians in population centers.
If Assad calls your bluff and launches another chemical attack in response or widens the war, you’ll be faced with either backing off or escalating the Syrian war, just like LBJ did with Vietnam.
If you do escalate, and topple Assad, you’ll pave the way for Al Qaeda-affiliated rebels to take his place. If Congress does not approve your attack plan, you will look even more ineffective.
Either way, those chemical weapons will remain -- for Assad or the Al Qaeda rebels to use --- since no one thinks they can be sabotaged, destroyed, or captured without boots on the ground. And no one is voting for boots on the ground.

Face it, President Obama. You’ve been outmaneuvered on Syria, and have no good options left. As bad as it would be to do nothing, doing something that fails would be even worse.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/09/ ... z2e7YRXAGN" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/09/ ... n-big-one/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A good read. I agree with Ms. McFarland that energy independence and driving down oil prices through increased domestic production and exporting energy to compete with OPEC and Russia in the world market will not only fuel an economic recovery here, but also reduce the ability of our enemies to fund mischief.

[ASUG8]

A good read. I agree with Ms. McFarland that energy independence and driving down oil prices through increased domestic production and exporting energy to compete with OPEC and Russia in the world market will not only fuel an economic recovery here, but also reduce the ability of our enemies to fund mischief.

The Saudis have oil and sand - that's about it. Same with much of the Middle East, but for better or (mostly) worse, they have dictatorships and monarchies that are nimble in decision making and not hamstrung by the republic operating in the US. We can't seem to get out of our own way with endless debate and posturing to make the decisions that will benefit the country, and our politicians spend way too much time ducking for cover on issues like Syria simply to preserve their jobs. What a mess.

[LeadBolt]

A good read. I agree with Ms. McFarland that energy independence and driving down oil prices through increased domestic production and exporting energy to compete with OPEC and Russia in the world market will not only fuel an economic recovery here, but also reduce the ability of our enemies to fund mischief.

The Saudis have oil and sand - that's about it. Same with much of the Middle East, but for better or (mostly) worse, they have dictatorships and monarchies that are nimble in decision making and not hamstrung by the republic operating in the US. We can't seem to get out of our own way with endless debate and posturing to make the decisions that will benefit the country, and our politicians spend way too much time ducking for cover on issues like Syria simply to preserve their jobs. What a mess.

I agree that the endless debate, ducking for cover and refusing to reach common sense solutions to problems, but rather throwing out partisan rhetoric by our politicians is maddening. I wish enough had the courage to try to make things better for the country, rather than make things better for themselves.

On the other hand, I like the system we have that is inherently inefficient. If only we would elect people whose interest is in working through it to reach solutions rather than hiding behind it to perpetuate their own power and hear their own bleating voices, it would be much better. Given the huge divide we have in this country, that's not likely to happen. The last time we were this divided was probably about 1857...

[houndawg]

Germany, high latitude, gray skies and all, has produced as much as 22 Giga watts per hour from solar energy in 2012, the equivalent of 20 nuclear stations running at full capacity.

It couldn't possibly work here though.

[HI54UNI]

Germany, high latitude, gray skies and all, has produced as much as 22 Giga watts per hour from solar energy in 2012, the equivalent of 20 nuclear stations running at full capacity.

It couldn't possibly work here though.

BFD. It was on a Saturday when there was no demand for the energy. The Krauts also pay 34 cents a kwh for electricity we pay 10.5 cents on average.

We have natural gas, shale oil, and lots of coal. Time to develop it and give the Arabs the finger. Use those fuels as a bridge to develop storage technologies and improve wind or solar so they will actually be there when we need them.

[LeadBolt]

Germany, high latitude, gray skies and all, has produced as much as 22 Giga watts per hour from solar energy in 2012, the equivalent of 20 nuclear stations running at full capacity.

It couldn't possibly work here though.

BFD. It was on a Saturday when there was no demand for the energy. The Krauts also pay 34 cents a kwh for electricity we pay 10.5 cents on average.

We have natural gas, shale oil, and lots of coal. Time to develop it and give the Arabs the finger. Use those fuels as a bridge to develop storage technologies and improve wind or solar so they will actually be there when we need them.

This +1000

[HI54UNI]

Germany, high latitude, gray skies and all, has produced as much as 22 Giga watts per hour from solar energy in 2012, the equivalent of 20 nuclear stations running at full capacity.

It couldn't possibly work here though.

BFD. It was on a Saturday when there was no demand for the energy. The Krauts also pay 34 cents a kwh for electricity we pay 10.5 cents on average.

We have natural gas, shale oil, and lots of coal. Time to develop it and give the Arabs the finger. Use those fuels as a bridge to develop storage technologies and improve wind or solar so they will actually be there when we need them.

One more thing. When we leave the middle east call China and tell them the Arabs are their problem now.

[BlueHen86]

Germany, high latitude, gray skies and all, has produced as much as 22 Giga watts per hour from solar energy in 2012, the equivalent of 20 nuclear stations running at full capacity.

It couldn't possibly work here though.

BFD. It was on a Saturday when there was no demand for the energy. The Krauts also pay 34 cents a kwh for electricity we pay 10.5 cents on average.

We have natural gas, shale oil, and lots of coal. Time to develop it and give the Arabs the finger. Use those fuels as a bridge to develop storage technologies and improve wind or solar so they will actually be there when we need them.

Why does that matter? Either they did it, or they didn't. I don't see why the day of the week matters; unless there is more to the story and you are saying that they couldn't reproduce those results on a weekday.

[DSUrocks07]

We have natural gas, shale oil, and lots of coal. Time to develop it and give the Arabs the finger. Use those fuels as a bridge to develop storage technologies and improve wind or solar so they will actually be there when we need them.

Why can't people understand this. Just like everyone who's clamoring to send people to Mars, saying that going to the Moon is "pointless and not hip enough". Hell, I want us to have interstellar warp drives and population centers in other star systems, but does that mean that I just wait until we get to that point?

[LeadBolt]

BFD. It was on a Saturday when there was no demand for the energy. The Krauts also pay 34 cents a kwh for electricity we pay 10.5 cents on average.

We have natural gas, shale oil, and lots of coal. Time to develop it and give the Arabs the finger. Use those fuels as a bridge to develop storage technologies and improve wind or solar so they will actually be there when we need them.

Why does that matter? Either they did it, or they didn't. I don't see why the day of the week matters; unless there is more to the story and you are saying that they couldn't reproduce those results on a weekday.

So you are ok with more than tripling the cost of your electricity bill?

[houndawg]

Germany, high latitude, gray skies and all, has produced as much as 22 Giga watts per hour from solar energy in 2012, the equivalent of 20 nuclear stations running at full capacity.

It couldn't possibly work here though.

BFD. It was on a Saturday when there was no demand for the energy. The Krauts also pay 34 cents a kwh for electricity we pay 10.5 cents on average.

We have natural gas, shale oil, and lots of coal. Time to develop it and give the Arabs the finger. Use those fuels as a bridge to develop storage technologies and improve wind or solar so they will actually be there when we need them.

Touched a nerve did we?

Would you be more impressed if they did it on a Tuesday?

We could produce 10 times that per hour with our location and not poison our aquifers doing it.

[CID1990]

Germany, high latitude, gray skies and all, has produced as much as 22 Giga watts per hour from solar energy in 2012, the equivalent of 20 nuclear stations running at full capacity.

It couldn't possibly work here though.

I'll take "Non Sequitur" for 200, Alex

[Pwns]

WTF is "giga watts per hour"?

[89Hen]

Anyone with a pulse and even a sliver of a sense of humor likes Colbert.

I don't think 89hen likes Colbert.

I think he's often funny, but I'm not a "viewer".

[D1B]

BFD. It was on a Saturday when there was no demand for the energy. The Krauts also pay 34 cents a kwh for electricity we pay 10.5 cents on average.

We have natural gas, shale oil, and lots of coal. Time to develop it and give the Arabs the finger. Use those fuels as a bridge to develop storage technologies and improve wind or solar so they will actually be there when we need them.

One more thing. When we leave the middle east call China and tell them the Arabs are their problem now.

The only problem China cares about is feeding its people. They'll suck the Middle East dry and move on to Africa and South America and do the same.

They could care less if those idiots gassed and killed each other, they just want the oil.

[D1B]

Anyone with a pulse and even a sliver of a sense of humor likes Colbert.

I don't think 89hen likes Colbert.

I think he's often funny, but I'm not a "viewer".

Boy, you seem like you'd be fun to hang out with.

[BDKJMU]

Anyone with a pulse and even a sliver of a sense of humor likes Colbert.

I don't think 89hen likes Colbert.

He's an SC boy - what's not to like?

He's got a French last name..

[BDKJMU]

Germany, high latitude, gray skies and all, has produced as much as 22 Giga watts per hour from solar energy in 2012, the equivalent of 20 nuclear stations running at full capacity.

It couldn't possibly work here though.

BFD. It was on a Saturday when there was no demand for the energy. The Krauts also pay 34 cents a kwh for electricity we pay 10.5 cents on average.

We have natural gas, shale oil, and lots of coal. Time to develop it and give the Arabs the finger. Use those fuels as a bridge to develop storage technologies and improve wind or solar so they will actually be there when we need them.

Exactly. European companies are flocking to the US because of cheaper energy costs:

European industry flocks to U.S. to take advantage of cheaper gas
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013 ... e-gas-basf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

German Firms Flee to U.S. to Avoid Staggering “Green” Energy Costs
http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-new ... ergy-costs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[89Hen]

I think he's often funny, but I'm not a "viewer".

Boy, you seem like you'd be fun to hang out with.

C'mon over, we can grab a bong and watch back to back Jon Stewart and Colbert. Should be a blast.

[D1B]

Boy, you seem like you'd be fun to hang out with.

C'mon over, we can grab a bong and watch back to back Jon Stewart and Colbert. Should be a blast.

Weed is so, um, passe'. I want try some of that home brew.