Sunday, August 31, 2014
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Bruce Lee Legacy
Bruce Lee Legacy And Family
Forty years to the day after his untimely death, the legend of Bruce Lee lives on: a cultural icon of Hong Kong, a great exponent of the martial arts and a philosopher whose words continue to serve as an inspiration, bonding people of different generations and cultures across the world.
And there are hopes that the anniversary will go some way to restoring the bond between people who have had more than their fair share of differences over the years - the Lee family.
Let bygones be bygones. It feels so much better if you let it go ... We share the same family name after all
The opening of the biggest ever museum exhibition devoted to Bruce's
life and work yesterday brought Bruce's elder sister Phoebe and nephew
Clarence - the son of Bruce's younger brother Robert - face to face with
Bruce's daughter Shannon.It's rare for Bruce's siblings to share a stage with his daughter or his widow, Linda Lee Cadwell.
The two sides of the family have often pursued projects devoted to Bruce separately.
What little communication there has been has more often come in the form of e-mail exchanges and letters from lawyers, rather than heartwarming phone calls and family gatherings.
"Let bygones be bygones," Phoebe, 74, said on the eve of the opening of the exhibition at the Heritage Museum in Sha Tin. "It feels so much better if you let it go ... We share the same family name after all."
The division in the Lee family is no secret. Distance (most live in different parts of the United States) is one reason. Cultural differences also come into play, with Lee's siblings forming a traditional Chinese family.
Shannon and Cadwell, who has remarried twice since Bruce's death, are all-American.
"We are not on bad terms," Shannon said. "We just don't communicate very often."
But Robert, speaking from the US, has a different take. "I wish Bruce wasn't that famous in that respect," he said. "We could have a real, complete family."
At the crux of the family feud are the lucrative rights to Bruce's name, image and work. The controversy has been reignited by the Bruce Lee: Kung Fu, Art, Life exhibition, which opens to the public today and runs for five years.
Robert said his side of the family has been shunned by organisers after they got in touch with the Bruce Lee Foundation, a charity headed by Shannon and Cadwell. "Three years ago, the museum approached me and Phoebe on the exhibition," Robert recalled, describing a lunch with Leisure and Cultural Services Department officials in San Francisco.
He said he and Phoebe even proposed installing a replica of their childhood home at 218 Nathan Road from the set of the 2010 biopic Bruce Lee, My Brother, for which Robert served as an executive producer.
The museum liked the suggestion. But he said: "We didn't hear anything from them. We didn't know what was going on."
He later realised the museum had teamed up with Shannon for the exhibition, in which more than 400 out of the 600 exhibits come from the foundation's collection. Sources say the government museum simply wanted to stay out of family affairs.
But the handling of the matter certainly upset Robert, Phoebe and their sister Agnes, who demanded the museum remove the film set just one month ago, saying they owned the intellectual property rights.
Rights issues have become an unshakable problem for the Lee family since Bruce's death from acute cerebral edema.
Records of the office of the secretary of state of California show that in 1985, Cadwell, Lee's late son Brandon and Shannon made claims as successor-ininterest to the rights of a deceased personality under California code Section 3344.1. The code offers protection of the rights to a person "whose name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness has commercial value at the time of his or her death" for the immediate family - a surviving spouse, children, grandchildren, or surviving parent or grandparents.
Public records show Cadwell claimed 50 per cent of "all types of rights" as Lee's surviving spouse under the name Linda Lee. Brandon and Shannon each claimed 25 per cent as Lee's surviving children. Shannon was just four when Bruce died.
"We were never aware of those actions as we never bothered to check," Robert said. "Our family never knew whether he [made inheritance plans] as we never asked ... We never thought he would pass at the age of 32."
The Bruce Lee Foundation was established in 2002 as a charity to promote Bruce's legacy. Shannon serves as president and it is chaired by Cadwell. In 2008, the family's successor-in-interest rights were handed on to Bruce Lee Enterprises, in addition to rights retrieved from Universal Studios, Shannon said.
She explained that Bruce Lee Enterprises was an in-house licensing division, handling everything from T-shirts to a much-criticised commercial for Johnnie Walker whisky. The advert was premiered last week and uses computer-generated imagery and an actor to portray Bruce.
There is also the LeeWay Media Group, which handles productions such as the 2009 History Channel documentary How Bruce Lee Changed the World and the 50-episode television series The Legend of Bruce Lee, aired on CCTV on the mainland in 2008. Shannon was executive producer for both shows.
The foundation is also working to raise US$35 million to build Bruce Lee Action Museum in Seattle, Shannon said.
All these structured efforts enable Cadwell and Shannon to exercise a strict control over the use of Bruce's name, image, likeness and all related material.
Bruce's siblings have no involvement with the trust. Johnnie Walker has to license the rights to digitally "revive" Bruce for the company, Shannon said.
Thus, entering legal disputes with others has become a routine for Bruce Lee Enterprises since it was incorporated. It has taken retailers like Target and Urban Outfitters to court for selling T-shirts bearing the images of Bruce without authorisation.
"The rights of the dead to keep earning are clear," attorney Oscar Michelen said in a commentary on the case on his blog Courtroom Strategy.
In 2010, Shannon brought the copyright campaign to China, accusing firms and individuals of using Bruce's name and image without family authorisation.
She also reportedly asked the local government of Shunde, a district of Foshan, Guangdong, that is the Lee family's ancestral home, to hand the trademark to Bruce's name and image to the family and the Bruce Lee Foundation for free. In June, LeeWay Media entered a copyright dispute with Laurence Joachim and the Trans-National Film Corporation, who claimed they had the rights to Bruce's first Hollywood screen test.
The eight-minute 1965 clip was featured in I Am Bruce Lee, a documentary released last year and produced by LeeWay Media.
And stringent copyright enforcement didn't just apply to those outside the family.
Kris Storti, chief operating officer and general counsel of Bruce Lee Enterprises, said in a 2009 press release: "We are redoubling our efforts around the world. We are absolutely committed to a vigorous protection of the Bruce Lee brand and our intellectual property, and plan to pursue legal action whenever necessary."
In reference to the film Bruce Lee, My Brother, Storti added: "This, unfortunately, includes the recently announced biopic by JA Media and Robert Lee."
Media Asia, which co-produced the movie with JA Media, and another investor received legal letters from Shannon's lawyer before the movie was released in 2010.
"[Storti told] them they did not have the right to use Bruce Lee's image or likeness," said Robert, who co-produced the film, based on stories told by him and his two sisters.
He said before the film went into production, he tried to involve Shannon by giving her the details of the investors. "Then she didn't want to work with me. She wanted the whole deal to herself," he said. "We don't talk as much as I would like to. They don't want to collaborate with us. We are one family. There is no reason why we shouldn't collaborate. We share different parts of Bruce's life."
When the Bruce Lee Club of Hong Kong, of which Phoebe and Robert are honorary chairman, raised the money for the iconic statue of Bruce on the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui in 2005, they reached out to Shannon. But she chose not to get involved.
"I'm not trying to take over the Bruce Lee empire," said Robert. "I will [soon] be 65 and semi-retired. I'm not interested in pursuing anything. If they think I'm trying to make money, I haven't done except for from the movie."
He says the two books he wrote about Bruce - one in Chinese, the other in Japanese - sold only 1,000 copies each.
Shannon, who plans to produce a film based on a script by her father, tells a different story.
"I hear things … like I have heard some people say my uncle claims they have certain intellectual property rights prior to the day [Bruce] married my mother.
"[Robert] has certainly never said that to me. I asked about it and he denied he had ever said that," Shannon said. "Certainly it wouldn't have been true. That's not how the law works."
Robert said: "Our family was never sued, but received threatening cease-and-desist letters from Linda's ex-attorney. I stopped talking to Linda."
Clarence, who lives in Macau and Hong Kong, said: "I'm speaking not just for this family but for any family. To speak through lawyers is kind of wrong."
He said his father and aunts were frustrated, as they wanted only to share their experiences with fans interested in Bruce's childhood. Robert recalled a family that was closer back then, supporting each other when Bruce died even though Bruce's siblings were in the US when the news broke. Phoebe moved to the US with her American-born Chinese husband 43 years ago. Robert lived in the US at the time and returned to Hong Kong in 1975 to build his music career.
When Bruce's mother died in 1996 - three years after a tragic accident on the set of the film The Crow claimed Brandon's life - Shannon, then 27, did not attend the funeral.
"They [Shannon and Cadwell] did not visit mother during her last months and they did not attend her funeral," Robert said.
Bruce's siblings say it is a far cry from Bruce's attitude to his family. Phoebe, who is two years older than Bruce, said her beloved brother made family his top priority. She remembered the delight of her father, Cantonese opera maestro Lee Hoi-chuen, when he learned of Brandon's birth in the United States.
"He was very happy because it was the first grandchild and a son. You know what a son means in Chinese tradition," she said.
One week later, Lee Hoi-chuen passed away in his sleep. Bruce rushed back from California to attend the funeral.
Phoebe said Bruce was devastated that he could not bid farewell to his father in person.
"He walked on his knees from the outside to the altar. He was in tears, and I said to him, 'Don't cry, brother'," Phoebe recalled.
Phoebe is reluctant to speak about her relationship with Shannon and Cadwell. She said she didn't really communicate with Cadwell and blamed her poor English.
She still attended the exhibition's opening last night because she was proud of her brother's achievements and is still loved by fans around the world. Robert thinks a misunderstanding must be behind the family rift, though he isn't sure what it was. "Even if something happened between my mum and Linda, let bygones be bygones," he said.
Robert will not attend the exhibition, but he has asked Clarence, 33, to speak to Shannon.
"I said to him, 'She's your elder. Go see her and talk to her'," he said.
Clarence sees the exhibition as a chance to catch up with his cousin. "She's trying very hard to promote the legacy of her father the way she wants," he said.
And Robert has just one hope left for his brother's legacy.
"I just wish one day things would work out ... I hope all this can be resolved before my two sisters and I die," he said. "Let's tear the wall down."
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1286524/bruce-lees-legacy-leaves-far
Benjamin Banneker
Without Benjamin Banneker, our nation's
capital would not exist as we know it. After a year of work, the Frenchman
hired by George Washington to design the capital, L'Enfant, stormed off the
job, taking all the plans. Banneker, placed on the planning committee at
Thomas Jefferson's request, saved the project by reproducing from memory, in
two days, a complete layout of the streets, parks, and major buildings. Thus
Washington, D.C. itself can be considered a monument to the genius of this
great man.
Banneker's English grandmother immigrated
to the Baltimore area and married one of her slaves, named Bannaky. Later,
their daughter did likewise, and gave birth to Benjamin in 1731. Since by
law, free/slave status depended on the mother, Banneker, like his mother,
was---technically---free.
Banneker attended an elementary school run
by Quakers (one of the few "color-blind" communities of that
time); in fact, he later adopted many Quaker habits and ideas. As a young
man, he was given a pocket-watch by a business associate: this inspired
Banneker to create his own clock, made entirely of wood (1753). Famous as
the first clock built in the New World, it kept perfect time for forty
years.
During the Revolutionary War, wheat grown
on a farm designed by Banneker helped save the fledgling U.S. troops from
starving. After the War, Banneker took up astronomy: in 1789, he
successfully predicted an eclipse. From 1792 to 1802, Banneker published an
annual Farmer's Almanac, for which he did all the calculations himself.
starving. After the War, Banneker took up astronomy: in 1789, he
successfully predicted an eclipse. From 1792 to 1802, Banneker published an
annual Farmer's Almanac, for which he did all the calculations himself.
The Almanac won Banneker fame as far away
as England and France. He used his reputation to promote social change:
namely, to eliminate racism and war. He sent a copy of his first Almanac to
Thomas Jefferson, with a letter protesting that the man who declared that
"all men are created equal" owned slaves. Jefferson responded with
enthusiastic words, but no political reform. Similarly, Banneker's attempts
"to inspire a veneration for human life and an horror for war"
fell mainly on deaf ears.
But Banneker's reputation was never in
doubt. He spent his last years as an internationally known polymath: farmer,
engineer, surveyor, city planner, astronomer, mathematician, inventor,
author, and social critic. He died on October 25, 1806. Today, Banneker does
not have the reputation he should, although the entire world could still
learn from his words: "Ah, why will men forget that they are
brethren?"
Banneker's life is inspirational. Despite
the popular prejudices of his times, the man was quite unwilling to let his
race or his age hinder in any way his thirst for intellectual development.
known as the first African-American
man of science, was born in 1731 in Ellicott's Mills, Md. His maternal grandmother was a white Englishwoman who
came to this country, bought two slaves and then liberated
and married one of them; their daughter, who also married
a slave, was Banneker's mother.
From the beginning, Banneker, who was taught reading and religion by his grandmother and who attended one of the first integrated schools, showed a great propensity for mathematics and an astounding mechanical ability. Later, when he was forced to leave school to work the family farm, he continued to be an avid reader.
Although he had no previous training, when he was only 22 he invented a wooden clock that kept accurate time throughout his life. According to "Gay & Lesbian Biography," Banneker "applied his natural mechanical and mathematical abilities to diagrams of wheels and gears, and converted these into three-dimensional wooden clock-parts he carved with a knife." People from all over came to see the clock.
In 1773 he began making astronomical calculations for almanacs, and in the spring of 1789 he accurately predicted a solar eclipse; that same year, he was the first African-American appointed to the President's Capital Commission.
He never married and is not known to have had any liaisons with women. In one of his early essays he stated that poverty, disease and violence are more tolerable than the "pungent stings ... which guilty passions dart into the heart," causing some historians to view him as most probably homosexual. According to "Gay & Lesbian Biography," Banneker's "self-isolation and love of drink is sometimes cited as at least a partial explanation for his lifelong bachelorhood. But his grandmother, parents, and sisters were known to be people of considerable Christian dominance, and he always lived under their supervision." Also, as he grew older, Banneker daily read the Bible, the teachings of which may have helped quash any gay tendencies.
A self-taught surveyor, in 1789 he was called on to assist George Ellicott and Pierre Charles L'Enfant in laying out what would become the nation's capital.
In 1790, he sold his farm and spent the rest of his life publishing his works on astronomy, mathematics and the abolition of slavery. At the end of 1791, Banneker was publishing his almanac, greatly admired by then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson; the almanac was sent to Paris for inclusion at the Academy of Sciences. Once the almanac's publication was assured, Banneker, having previously corresponded with Jefferson on the intellectual quality of African-Americans, began a correspondence with him on the subject of the abolition of slavery.
Toward the end of his life, he produced a dissertation on bees, a study of locust-plague cycles and more letters on segregationist trends in America. He died at age 75 in Boston in 1806. In 1980, the U.S. Post Office issued a Black Heritage commemorative stamp in his honor.
From the beginning, Banneker, who was taught reading and religion by his grandmother and who attended one of the first integrated schools, showed a great propensity for mathematics and an astounding mechanical ability. Later, when he was forced to leave school to work the family farm, he continued to be an avid reader.
Although he had no previous training, when he was only 22 he invented a wooden clock that kept accurate time throughout his life. According to "Gay & Lesbian Biography," Banneker "applied his natural mechanical and mathematical abilities to diagrams of wheels and gears, and converted these into three-dimensional wooden clock-parts he carved with a knife." People from all over came to see the clock.
In 1773 he began making astronomical calculations for almanacs, and in the spring of 1789 he accurately predicted a solar eclipse; that same year, he was the first African-American appointed to the President's Capital Commission.
He never married and is not known to have had any liaisons with women. In one of his early essays he stated that poverty, disease and violence are more tolerable than the "pungent stings ... which guilty passions dart into the heart," causing some historians to view him as most probably homosexual. According to "Gay & Lesbian Biography," Banneker's "self-isolation and love of drink is sometimes cited as at least a partial explanation for his lifelong bachelorhood. But his grandmother, parents, and sisters were known to be people of considerable Christian dominance, and he always lived under their supervision." Also, as he grew older, Banneker daily read the Bible, the teachings of which may have helped quash any gay tendencies.
A self-taught surveyor, in 1789 he was called on to assist George Ellicott and Pierre Charles L'Enfant in laying out what would become the nation's capital.
In 1790, he sold his farm and spent the rest of his life publishing his works on astronomy, mathematics and the abolition of slavery. At the end of 1791, Banneker was publishing his almanac, greatly admired by then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson; the almanac was sent to Paris for inclusion at the Academy of Sciences. Once the almanac's publication was assured, Banneker, having previously corresponded with Jefferson on the intellectual quality of African-Americans, began a correspondence with him on the subject of the abolition of slavery.
Toward the end of his life, he produced a dissertation on bees, a study of locust-plague cycles and more letters on segregationist trends in America. He died at age 75 in Boston in 1806. In 1980, the U.S. Post Office issued a Black Heritage commemorative stamp in his honor.
Have you read the new Dan Brown book, The Lost Symbol, yet? Maybe you put it on your holiday wish list? If your answer to either question is yes, then you probably know the basic outline of the story – it takes place in Washington, D.C., and makes reference to a number of prominent D.C. sites, many of which have a connection to Freemasonry.
"The Initiated Eye" presents 21 oil paintings by Peter Waddell based on the architecture of Washington, D.C., and the role that our founding fathers and prominent citizens – many of whom were Freemasons – played in establishing the layout and design of the city. The exhibition is supplemented with approximately forty objects from the National Heritage Museum’s collection. The paintings and the objects explain and demystify Freemasonry for those who are unfamiliar, while also encouraging Masons and those who have read books like The Lost Symbol to look closer.
The painting shown here depicts a meeting between President George Washington (1732-1799) and surveyors Andrew Ellicott (1754-1820) and Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806).
Congress designated the location of the new capital on January 24, 1791. Ellicott and Banneker surveyed the ten-mile-square tract of land and produced a base map of the area. In the painting, a brazier warms the early spring day in the tent filled with surveying instruments and Masonic artifacts. The terrestrial and celestial globes symbolize the universality of Freemasonry.
Accompanying this painting in the exhibition is a surveyor’s compass made between 1849 and 1857 by Charles F. Helffricht (1816-1863) of Philadelphia. All compasses measure horizontal angles with reference to magnetic north. In addition, surveyor’s compasses have vertical sights to aim at distant objects.
"The Initiated Eye" opens December 19, 2009 and will be on view through January 9, 2011. The paintings in the exhibition are the work of Peter Waddell, and were commissioned by, and are the property of, the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington, D.C., with all rights reserved. This exhibition is supported by the Scottish Rite Masons of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A.
Left: A Vision Unfolds, 2005, Peter Waddell (b. 1955), Washington, D.C. Courtesy of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington, D.C. Right: Surveyor’s Compass, 1849-1857, Charles F. Helffricht (1816-1863), Philadelphia, PA, National Heritage Museum, gift of Charles E. Daniels, 92.021.1a-f. Photograph by David Bohl.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Monday, August 25, 2014
10 Worst Mistakes People Make in Their 20s
Most people use their 20s to figure out what it means to be an adult, and the process is certainly not easy for everyone.
Whether you're
finishing up school, just starting out on your own, or preparing to
transition into your 30s, you can benefit from the wisdom of those
who've already made their way through all of it.
We looked through three Quora threads, "When people in their 30s, 40s, and older look back on their life, what are some common regrets they have?", "What myths do we commonly realize are false in our 20s?" and "How should a 22-year-old invest his/her money?" to find the biggest mistakes 20-somethings make. Here are 13:
1. They think education and talent are enough to become successful.
High
intelligence, natural talent, and degrees from elite universities are
all good things to have, but they in no way guarantee that you will land
a great job — and mean nothing when not paired with hard work.
How
you work with others and carry yourself can also turn out to be much
more important in advancing your career. "Having social skills,
navigating politics, knowing who to ask for what, and being able to see
the big picture are invaluable no matter what you do," says copywriter Joe Choi.
2. They don't start saving money.
A new survey of 1,003 people from Bankrate found that 69% of those ages 18-29 had no retirement savings at all.
Your retirement may seem far off, but you're doing yourself a massive
disservice if you don't recognize the importance of saving as soon as
possible.
Entrepreneur Aditya Rathnam
says there's no need to start investing too much as you're just
starting out, but that it's essential to take advantage of your
company's 401k matching program if it's available, and/or open a Roth
IRA account.
3. They equate happiness with money.Prestige and a fat paycheck can certainly make you happier, but there's plenty more to success than that, says Choi.
You're setting yourself up for years of regret if you pursue a paycheck rather than your passion.
4. They neglect their health.
As
you get older, you'll learn pretty quickly you can't party like you did
in college. "Your hangovers will be so bad at 28 that the idea of
staying out drinking all night will be a hilarious idea to you," says Meggie Sutherland Cutter.
And the more years out of school you get, the more excessive drinking,
smoking, and even an unhealthy diet go from acceptable behavior to
dangerous habits.
Communications professor Michael Weston
also says that 20-somethings also need to pay attention to their mental
health, since any potential issues usually arise in your 20s.
5. They give up when things get tough.Ending a serious relationship, getting fired from a job, and having your startup crash and burn can all seem life-destroying when they happen to you for the first time. But rather than giving up or aiming for a lower target the next time, you should use failures as opportunities to learn and improve yourself.
"Getting fired and waking up the next day as usual made me realize that failure isn't the end of the world. Getting dumped taught me the difference between a good and a bad relationship, something I already knew inside but refused to accept until the bad relationship was over," says Carolyn Cho.
6. They put things off.
"Myth[:] You will be incredibly successful and have it all figured out by 30 years old," says Sutherland Cutter.
It
can be tempting to set aside your longest-held aspirations, continually
thinking that you'll have time for them later. But then you'll find
yourself at an age where it may be too late to change careers, or go to
graduate school, or start a family.
7. They try to please everyone.
When
you're starting out in your career, it can seem natural to want to be
on friendly terms with your boss, clients, and all of your coworkers.
Rather than feeling crushed when you realize some of them simply don't
like you, accept it and don't stress out.
"Inevitably,
someone will always dislike you. I wish I had figured this out a lot
earlier and stopped trying so hard and worrying so much about it," says Cho.
8. They think all friendships can last forever.
"Your
college pals that you think will be your best pals for life? Some will
still be there at 40, most will be living their lives doing their
thing," says Sutherland Cutter.When your friends aren't all living in the same town or campus, you'll realize which ones mean the most to you, and which ones are worth the effort of maintaining a relationship with.
9. They look for their "soul mate."
Some
people decide to spend most of their 20s single, unattached to anyone.
Others search for the right person to marry. The latter group can get
caught up in the fantasy of finding someone where everything just clicks
and the relationship is effortless. But in real life, the most
meaningful long-term relationships require work and dedication.
"You
have to continuously make sacrifices, adjustments, accept shortcomings
explain yourself, but know what — that's what makes it fun!" says Mitesh Jain.
10. They think moving somewhere new will solve their problems.
Traveling
and living somewhere new can be culturally enriching experiences, and
your 20s are a perfect time to do both. But, says Choi, do not think that moving to the opposite coast means you'll suddenly find meaning and direction.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/13-worst-mistakes-people-20s-202651698.html
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Friday, August 22, 2014
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Roman Africa- An Outline Of The History Of Roman Occupation Of North Africa
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zg8q3iaiqfsgh1e/Roman-Africa.pdfhttps://www.dropbox.com/s/zg8q3iaiqfsgh1e/Roman-Africa.pdf
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
U.S. vs. Isis
The release Tuesday of a
shocking video showing the brutal beheading of American journalist James
Foley by a representative of the Islamic State may wind up backfiring
on the Islamic fundamentalist movement that has taken over much of Iraq
in recent months.
The U.S. has
undertaken limited bombing of IS targets in Iraq, which has helped the
Iraqi Army and the fighters from the country’s autonomous Kurdish
region, dislodge IS troops from some areas they had taken over,
including the critically important Mosul Dam.
Foley,
a talented young journalist who had spent years in conflict zones
reporting on the human toll of war, was killed by a single member of IS,
who appears on the video warning the U.S., in British-accented English,
to stop attacking its troops.
“Obama authorized military
operations against the Islamic State effectively placing America upon a
slippery slope towards a new war against Muslims,” he said. The man,
whose face was covered, also threatened to execute another American
journalist, Steven Joel Sotloff, if the U.S. involvement in Iraq
continues.
However,
judging from the public outcry over Foley’s murder, it seems possible
that support for President Obama’s limited efforts to impede the
progress of IS, rather than being cooled, may be strengthened going
forward.
The decision to recommit even limited American military
assets to Iraq was criticized by politicians on the left and right. But
an outpouring of disgust in both the traditional media and on social
media Wednesday left little doubt that there is now a powerful strain of
public opinion in favor of taking further action to rein in – and
severely punish – the Islamic State.
To
be sure, some warn that further U.S. engagement might be exactly what
ISIS wants. But the idea that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS,
is sitting in the desert playing three-dimensional chess with the U.S.
doesn’t hold much water.
Related: Why Obama’s Mideast Policy Won’t Stop Genocide
What
ISIS is trying to do, by all accounts, is establish an actual
functioning Islamic state or Caliphate in the Middle East. It may be
different from its neighbors in that its rulers intend to impose a
centuries-old legal system designed to oppress millions of people. But
it will not be different in its need for centralized institutions of
government, transportation and energy infrastructure, and a more or less
public set of leaders.
All
these things are necessary for a functioning state. They are all, also,
potential military targets if the U.S. were to decide to intervene
against the establishment or the continued existence of the Islamic
State.
The U.S. military has
struggled with certain kinds of adversaries over the years. In living
memory, the Viet Cong and Al Qaeda, for example, have been challenging
foes particularly because they were less concerned about holding
territory than they were with damaging American troops.
For
the U.S. military, fighting established governments has been a very
different story. Ask Saddam Hussein, or Mullah Omar. That doesn’t bode
well for the future of ISIS.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/reporter-execution-free-obama-hand-162100182.html
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Napoleon Hill Audiobook
Napoleon Hill - Think And Grow Rich Audiobook by …: http://youtu.be/6lBRz84JuJQ
Monday, August 18, 2014
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