So...let me get this straight....Hamas is going to be in Power in the Palestinian State?

How long is it going to be before there is open warfare in the region?

____Days ____Weeks ____Month(s)

Let me be perfectly clear on something......One single democraticly run election does not, in any way, mean that Democracy has taken root or that the end result will be a Democratic State. As a matter of fact, the Leader of Hamas has already gone on record saying that he intends to move the government towards an Islamic Republic.

Mushroom clouds with that Hamas and Pita anyone?

**Please note that I am aware that Humus and Hamas are in fact 2 different things. Its a play on words, ok?**

So...last night I went to bed and all of the Media Outlets were saying Fatah had lost a controlling majority. I wake up this morning and I find that Fatah has barely maintained a position in the government at all. It harkens back to the Gore-Bush election where once again the Media was reporting things that had not been confirmed and in so doing, influenced a US Presidential Election. Its not that the US Media has influenced a foreign election but rather that they have reported something as truth that less than 12 hours later turns out to be rubbish. Fair and balanced? I'd settle for Researched and Truthful.

I have been wondering of late why it is that none of the Media Outlets have begun to report the concept of World War III already being under way. Trust me, the concept has been embraced in Washington DC. I have two Medals that have the words "Global War on Terror" in their names. The Coalition of Forces (or Coalition of the Willing) is made up of dozens of Nations. Still more, including Arab Nations, have contributed financial support as well as materials to the cause. So why are we kidding ourselves? Is it because its a non-linear war? By that I mean that there is no clear and defined Battle Lines drawn. An attack can come anyplace at anytime. Is it because the Enemy Forces aren't wearing uniforms? Possibly but it certainly isn't because they haven't declared their intentions. The Militants have made no secret of their desire to attack the West. Is it because that it seems confined to Iraq, Israel, Palestine and Afhganistan? What about the car bomb assassinations in Lebanon? What about the Tube and bus attacks in Britian and bombings in France and Spain? What about the numerous attempt to attack the US..... granted many failed but not all have. Isn't it odd that Syria is being investigated by the UN for involvement in the assassination of a former Lebanese Prime Minister while at the same time, on another border foreign fighters flood into Iraq with arms and equipment. In Iran, a new President declares the right to develope nuclear technology while declaring Israel has no right to exist and at the same time they allow Militants to cross their border with Iraq to make attacks on people in another Nation. I think its easy to say "well, its just happening in the Middle East" but it's not and if people don't start facing that very unpopular fact then the kinds of attacks taking place in Israel and Iraq can find their way to any other Nation in the world. How can the Press, with all of their paid contributors, fail to see this or rather, how can the fail to report it?

I am an information junky. When something catches my eye I want to know everything about it that I can learn. Needless to say I try to keep my interests down because the research sucks up a HUGE amount of time. Because of my driving need to know I learn a lot about things that most people never do because they don't look much deeper than the surface. Having served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle, I tend to be very interested in the politics surrounding the War on Terror. I look at polls and see that favor for the War is flagging. I look at the News programs and I know why. Does anyone remember when a "News Man" reported the story? Does anyone remember when that same "News Man" would have been out of a job in the industry if he fabricated details or reported without ensuring his facts were accurate only to have his report proven wrong? I look at CNN and MSNBC and a host of others and I see people on the screen that are making a living not by reporting but by influencing public opinion through selective reporting....in other words, Making the Story. Its not that they are lying (not directly anyway) so much as they are very selective in what exactly they tell the viewer. Its not the whole story....hell, its not half the story. Its the tasty bits that can get people to tune in to here their view. Its as if the News Media has become a different kind of political lobby....Spinning stories so their 'side' looks better. I wish they'd just tell the damned story, complete and unabridged. I think the public has lost a valuable resource for knowing what is going on in this Country and in the World. It doesn't apply to just the War. Look at Katrina. look at Israel. Look at the reports on price gouuging by the Oil Industry. Spin. Turning on the News is rapidly becoming the same as picking up the Enquirer. Its sad....hell, its infuriating.

Why do I always feel slimey after watching or reading something that has so clearly been "Spin Doctored"? I know why....because its bull shit. Oh, there's truth in there somewhere........a little golden nugget but you have to dig through all of the crap to find it. What in the hell ever happened to telling the truth and accepting responsibility for what you did or said? It makes me wish there was a Black Powder Season on humans.

Well...we met.

It was very cool to see so many people come on including some people who had to feel like they were walking into the Lion's den. Macrolass and Ted show a lot of guts and class to come and talk to everyone. I know Macro was looking for answers too and I hope she got some.

I really feel bad for Avocet and Choas Girl and anyone else who is torn and hurt and not sure who is still a friend. You can say "Hey, its a game and its RP" all you want but if this had happened to a real life organization they represent the very real response of the vast majority of those who would be caught in the explosion. Many took the long walk from the Phalanx (and I know in some cases it was one of the hardest things they'll ever do because game or not they view some there as true friends in every sense of the word). Some don't know what to think or what to do. Some are considering just leaving the Server or leaving the game.

In the meantime, I have a few personal concerns about things. We'll see how it goes.

Anyway...its good that i slept on things before posting here last night.....I wasn't very happy and the post was going to be brutal.

Ok....first time doing this. I'm not sure that some of my thoughts are for public consumption but hey......Free Speach Baby.

COH

So, the last 24 hours has been one big pile of dramatic shit. People kicked out, banned from social events and through it all the slimey film of a well oiled cover up. I've lost a lot of respect for some people and while I'm sure they could care less, they can kiss my white irish ass.

Going to a meeting tonight to see what we can salvage. Those that chose to leave and get away from the Totalitarian Regime are all good folks. I think we can patch things together and move on with little interruption.

I was surprised and happy to see some of those who came with us. I didn't want the Shattering to cause anyone to lose touch with friends because of membership in either faction.

Inner Voices

We all have a little inner voice that rails against the inequities of life. I found that some genius has found a way to tap into mine and give him form. That form is Foamy the Squirrle. He lives over at www.illwillpress.com and its scary how close he is on so many things. God save me from Turrets Syndrome.