Counter-punch

The news is full of the reports about the Iranian counter-attack on two U.S. bases in Iraq. I take exception to the headline in The Washington Post this morning:

Iran strikes Iraq bases housing U.S. troops, escalating conflict

I do not see this as a definite escalation of the conflict, but rather a measured response. Recall back to last year when the Iranians shot down the U.S. drone? That the U.S. did NOT respond with a measured response in that incident, was, in my mind, a major policy failure. 

It appears that Iran has provided a measured response, one which allows them the opportunity to say they have extracted revenge for the killing of Soleimani and also allows for the deescalation of the entire incident. 

It is possible that properly executed, the Iranians have provided the means to end this nasty incident. It is possible, however, that the U.S. will fumble the ball on this opportunity and the situation will further escalate. 

Time will tell which side is better at foreign relations. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Act of Terrorism

It is no surprise that the world is reeling from the recent action taken unilaterally by the U.S. against the Iranian general responsible for planning and executing much of Iran's state sponsored terrorism.

But then, in a radical shift--now the tables have been turned. 

Iran's parliament approves bill labelling US army as 'terrorist'

What an interesting turn of events. I have to admit, I did not see that move coming as the problems between the U.S. and Iran ratchet to a new level not seen since the take-over of the U.S. Embassy in Teheran during 1979. The U.S. had listed the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) during April 2019. 

I hope there is an exit strategy hidden in here somewhere.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - January 6, 2019

1. Well, it is the first Monday of January and the first of the year 2020. The whole year lies ahead of us. 

2. The Christmas lights are mostly removed for the houses in the neighborhood. It is sad to see them depart and to put a period on the Christmas Season.

Corks Ready for Sale

3. What do you do with over 700 wine bottle corks? Try to sell them on EBay of course. 

4. Family NFL Results. None of the family teams played this weekend. The season is over for the Steelers, Redskins and Cowboys. The Ravens had a first round bye in the playoffs. 

5. Youth basketball has become my main Sunday activity these days. We had two games yesterday which resulted in split results meaning a win and a loss. The important thing is that both boys played strong games with Jax scoring almost as many points as the other team and Ethan dominating the boards with rebounds. Both boys made dramatic three-pointers.

6. Foreign policy cannot be accomplished using a transaction-based approach. Given the frequent change in our governments, it is an area where America has always struggled to find consistency. The latest activity with Iran only serves to highlight the inconsistency and dangerous approach that the U.S. displays in foreign policy execution. 

7. Today in History. On January 6, 1838, Samuel Morse’s telegraph system is demonstrated for the first time at the Speedwell Iron Works in Morristown, New Jersey. The telegraph, a device which used electric impulses to transmit encoded messages over a wire, would eventually revolutionize long-distance communication, reaching the height of its popularity in the 1920s and 1930s.



Headlines

Iran Pulls Back From Nuclear Deal as Killing of Iranian General Upends Mideast - The New York Times

It’s Not Just Software. Boeing Finds New Potential Risks on 737 Max - The New York Times

At Least 5 Dead and 60 Injured in Pennsylvania Crash, Officials Say - The New York Times

Maduro government stages de facto takeover of Venezuela’s National Assembly - The Washington Post

In fire-ravaged Australia, climate denial goes up in smoke - The Washington Post

Iraq wants foreign troops out after air strike; U.S. urges leaders to reconsider - Reuters

Rain brings brief respite in Australian bushfire crisis - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week


Ladies and gentlemen, during the official departure ceremony in Washington, I said with regret that on this visit I had little chance to see America. I feel, however, that I did understand what is important about the American people, and that is their enormous stock of good will. Let me assure you that Soviet people, too, have an equally great stock of good will. Putting it to good use is the most noble and responsible task of government and political leaders in our two countries. If they could only do that, what is but a dream today could come true - a lasting peace, an end to the arms race, wider ranging trade, cooperation in combating hunger, disease and environmental problems and progress in insuring human rights and resolving other humanitarian issues. May the coming year become an important milestone as we move down that road.

Transcripts of New Year's Greetings From Reagan and Gorbachev on TVSpecial to the New York Times
Jan. 2, 1988
• 8

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tis the Season for Donations

Today is the true beginning for the year. It is the first Sunday beginning the first full week and everything to this point is mostly a warmup for the main event. The first few days of the year have been a test drive for the year. 

Hopefully, things will settle down soon because the news certainly has been unsettling to start the year. 

Yesterday was a busy day, it seems that Chris and I are doing want many others are doing--cleaning out and donating. As part of our New Year's commitment 
(note that I consciously did not call it a resolution) to begin cleaning out the house and reducing the amount of "stuff" we have we cleaned out two closets and began reviewing the holdings in the attic. We made a drive-by at Goodwill with a lot of items to donate and found the place clogged with throngs of others doing the same thing. The place was jammed. It was good to see so many people donating things--and it was too late for a 2019 tax deduction. 

Chris and I will be making many more donations throughout the year as we do that magical thing--downsize. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Depressing News Day

Why is it that the news does not get any better form day to day? I go to sleep at night hoping that something good will happen, but it seems that only more bad news is being reported. The new year is not off to a great start.

This morning I was greeted to:

Here’s where the deadly wildfires are burning.

U.S. and Iran Exchange Threats as Democrats Question Timing of Strike

American Killing of Iranian Commander Rattles Markets and Capitol Hill

In Miami Speech, Trump Tells Evangelical Base: God Is ‘on Our Side’

Trump endorses tweet comparing top Senate Democrat to Iranians

At Baghdad funeral procession for Qasim Soleimani, calls for retaliation against the United States

Railroads are slashing workers, cheered on by Wall Street to stay profitable amid Trump’s trade war

U.S. Senate in stalemate over how to proceed with Trump impeachment trial

Thousands march in Baghdad to mourn Soleimani, others killed in U.S. air strike

To skirt police restrictions, some Indian protesters take a page from Hong Kong and beyond

'They told people not to come': Australia's bushfires ravage tourism industry


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Pup Chillin'

Why do I like dogs? 

Finnegan with his Flamingo
Relaxing
Elkridge, MD
January 2, 2020

I often wonder about that when I am walking them or cleaning up the yard--and especially after I step into a pile of poop that I missed.

Dogs are an extension of who we are--they are what we make and mold them to become. If they are ignored, they can become wild and unruly--but with training and care they become our best friends and provide companionship and humor.

Last evening, Finnegan took a break from the activity around the house and was chilling with his toy flamingo. It was cute to see him in his bed with his toy. Hmmmm, perhaps that is what I would have rather been doing instead of taking down the Christmas decorations and putting them away in the attic. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sliding into 2020

The new year brings challenges. One of the biggest challenges is writing the date correctly--it never seems to be too big a problem to change the month and day, but the year is the big problem. I suppose that I will write 2019 for at least half the month of January until I actually get used to the new year and new decade. 

I was reading an article about 20 things to look forward to in 2020 and found an interesting set of historical events. At number 9 were the following historical events:

• January 10 marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles, which officially ended World War 1. 
• September 6 will mark 400 years since the sailing of the Mayflower.
• November 28, 500 years ago, Ferdinand Magellan became the first European to cross from the Atlantic to the Pacific through the Strait of Magellan. 
• December will mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of legendary German composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

Of course the new year also brings the bevy of resolutions. The "I will . . ." or "I resolve to . . . " Most of the resolutions will not make it past the second week. I must confess--I did not make any resolution for this coming year. That written, I hope to be more in the moment and not so distracted about things coming or things in the past. 

And then there are vacations! I am already planning vacations and there are already two significant trips on the docket with a third looming. There will be a 2-week trip to Italy, a 1-week trip to Cooperstown with the baseball team and we are also looking at a cruise later in the year. 

Before I know it, I will be writing about new year 2021! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

And so it begins, or does it?

The new decade has arrived with the new year. Well, I know there is some discussion about whether the new decade begins this year or next--but does it really matter? We are in the 20's. 

There is an interesting discussion about how the calendar was created and that the new decade technically begins with the arrival of 2021 in an article titled, When does the new decade begin and end anyway?  

Regardless of the scientific discussion, the new year is underway, of that we can all agree! Who knew that the monks who created the calendar forgot to number the first year, "0"? So for the discussion about whether a new decade has started, here is a quote from the article I referenced: "In terms of counting millennia or centuries or decades, it doesn't really matter," Bikos told CNN. "It's a man-made system. It matters in terms of categorizing time spans and talking about time spans. But the 203rd decade is, in astronomical terms, no different than the decade before or after."

So let the party continue and enjoy the day. It really does not matter whether the new decade begins today or a year from now. 

Happy New Year! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

New Year's Eve

Happy New Year's Eve

End of a year and the beginning of a new decade

The day for which we have been working towards since when the year began has arrived. 

I am amazed at how quickly the end of the year, well even the end of the decade,  seems to have arrived. It seems like just yesterday . . . 

It is an old phrase that we always use when the passage of time seems to have happened so quickly. 

As the new year and the new decade approaches (will it be the roaring 20's?), my hope is that your memories of 2019 are more good than bad. That you were fulfilled in some way during the year and that your hope for the year ahead is positive. 

Happy New Year!

May God bless you and your family and friends.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 30, 2019

1. Welcome to the last Monday of 2019 and the next to last day. The year ends tomorrow night, which appropriately is know as New Year's Eve.

2. It was a great weekend with the weather being mild, although rainy yesterday. I got to play golf to celebrate the end of the year.

Axis and Allies 1942
December 27, 2019
Elkridge, MD

3. The guys in the family reenacted WW2 on Friday.  It was a "do over" from Black 
Friday. In the end, the Axis again scored a "probable" victory. We classify it as probable because we only played for 5 instead of 12 hours and had to make an assessment when time expired. 

4. Family NFL results for the last week of the regular season. There were only two games as the family teams played each other.

  Ravens defeat Steelers 28-10. Ravens are the #1 seed in the AFC. The Steelers miss the playoffs because the Titans defeated the Texans.

  Cowboys defeat Redskins 47-16. Cowboys miss playoffs because the Eagles defeated the Giants. 

5. In the in-between Christmas and New Year's period, it is hard to keep focused on the task at hand and not what the New Year's Eve plans are. 

6. In just less than two months, I will be in Sarasota attending some Baltimore Orioles Spring Training games. And playing golf.

7. Rainy days are dark and dreary. Yesterday was an example.

8. I have completed watching the first season of The Mandalorian. It was excellent and I was shocked that it had only 8 episodes. Here is a shout-out for Baby Yoda!

9. Today in History, 1922. In post-revolutionary Russia, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) is established, comprising a confederation of Russia, Belorussia, Ukraine, and the Transcaucasian Federation (divided in 1936 into the Georgian, Azerbaijan, and Armenian republics). Also known as the Soviet Union, the new communist state was the successor to the Russian Empire and the first country in the world to be based on Marxist socialism.

During the Russian Revolution of 1917 and subsequent three-year Russian Civil War, the Bolshevik Party under Vladimir Lenin dominated the soviet forces, a coalition of workers’ and soldiers’ committees that called for the establishment of a socialist state in the former Russian Empire. In the USSR, all levels of government were controlled by the Communist Party, and the party’s politburo, with its increasingly powerful general secretary, effectively ruled the country. Soviet industry was owned and managed by the state, and agricultural land was divided into state-run collective farms.

Headlines

California Is Booming. Why Are So Many Residents Unhappy? - The New York Times

U.S. Attacks Iranian-Backed Forces in Iraq and SyriaU.S. Attacks Iranian-Backed Forces in Iraq and Syria - The New York Times

For China’s Pickup Artists, Sex Is the Goal, Urging Suicide Is a Tactic - The New York Times

North Korea's Kim urges 'positive and offensive' security measures at key party meeting - Reuters

Evacuation order in Australia's south-east as bushfires rage and temperatures soar - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

This year, the future of the nation and the world is particularly on our minds. We are thinking of our nation because, in the year ahead, we Americans will choose our next President. Every adult citizen has a role to play in the making of this decision. We will listen to what the candidates say. We will debate their views and our own. And in November, we will vote. I'll still be President next January, but soon after that, the man or woman leading our country will be the one the American people pick this coming November. 
 - Transcripts of New Year's Greetings From Reagan and Gorbachev on TV published in The New York Times, January 2, 1988


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD