"The president of the United States believes the Cold War is over; fine — it's over. But Putin doesn't believe it's over." Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)

Hello friends and neighbors. Good to visit with you again here on this Thursday, June 25, 2015. Our recently confirmed defense chief is currently attending his first NATO conference as US Secretary of Defense. Based on a press release from the State Department he goes carrying a message from the Commander in Chief, our President. That message includes our continued unhappiness with Russia for grabbing a country, Crimea, and making it their own. That, along with their aggression in the Ukraine where they seek to disable the current government and essentially have it too as belonging to them as an aligned nation. We continue to be upset and we think Europe should be also. This means the economic sanctions against Russia should continue because we are really angry about all of this. Except, of course, in areas where we can work with Russia. Like Iran, Libya, and other places on the globe. I'm just a lay person, but does that sound about as hokey as all get out? "We are so angry about your evil ways and we are not going to stand for it. By the way could you help us with this Iran nuclear negotiation? We could sure use your pressure on them to help strike a deal that will help me so much with my legacy." (That would be my lay person interpretation.) This approach may not be new folks but that kind of circular government speak stuff just infuriates me. The Russians do not want to cooperate on anything at anytime unless they are able to advance their own agenda. That agenda is not good for our country. Period. And you can bet your bottom dollar I am unanimous in my own opinion. Thanks.

I didn't say the current administration are the only ones to operate this way. But, it seems to me that we are more into talking out of both sides of our mouth than we have before. To me that erodes the clarity of our message that is supposed to reflect our values. Everyone nearly fell out when President Reagan identified the existence of an Axis of Evil. He did not mince words. Even our own diplomats were alarmed. He looked at those in the world who hate democracy and freedom and he called them as he saw them. The so called experts said this would set back American diplomacy 100 years or more. The Berlin wall came down. Soviet Russia dissolved. The message was clear. There were actions that backed up the message. Contrast that with the message being sent as stated in my first paragraph. What will be the outcome of this myopic vision of the world? I don't think anyone sees any Berlin walls coming down in the future unless they are concessions we make to give an appearance of progress. Appearance only. If you wondered what I thought about it. Now you know. It was on my mind so I thought it best to share it. You, of course, can come to your own conclusion. Thanks.

When you look at the geopolitical landscape and how it has changed over the past seven years, all you can say is that we as a nation have been pretty much in a free fall in terms of our influence and effectiveness. Yet, the folks in charge would have us all believe that the situation today is because of something someone else did. That dog quit hunting several years ago but the folks in charge can't stop blaming. Sadly, and I do mean sadly, they do have a devoted audience that buys into whatever excuses they make and so much so they join in the blaming of others game. I suppose when it is all said and done this situation clearly shows the divide in our nation as well as almost any other. For those of us who do see it for what it is, well, we just have to keep on keeping on, wondering if or when people will wake up from their sleepwalking through this nightmare. Too dramatic? Okay. Occasionally I have to use some poetic license. I think I have the political stuff off my front burner for today so now it's time to move on. Oh yeah. One last thing. Don't forget that our Great God is ultimately in control regardless of which set of political ideals one chooses to subscribe to. That's about the only thing that helps make sense out of where we are headed in the future. He really does have the whole world in His hands. Amen.      .....More later.