Mark Dahl's Blog
1/14/2005
Introduction Blog number one 11.27.4
It is my purpose to add to this blog in a timely fashion. At least weekly.
So, it will always be fresh and active. Not only will it contain political
thought, but many other interesting aspects of life... in science and
humanities...so, it's is something for all, I hope this will be both
entertaining and enlightening.
In addition, one may notice in time that I may appear to be contradictory,
but keep in mind that we all change our opinions with time and more
information. One example, in my youth, I first was a strong advocate of the
Vietnam War. And Like-wise with Iraq. But with more information and
knowledge I realized otherwise.
I don't claim to know all the answers. All I know is that the more informed
are people in this world, the better place it will be, and the right
decisions will be made and with knowledge and wisdom, and likewise, we will
recognize and admit mistake and take corrective action with courage
The last point... Think for yourself... If you are confused, read and search
for more information...explore both sides of an issue ... Life is not black
and white... its gray. If you think life is black and white... it's evidence
that you have not prepared yourself by exploring all aspects of an issue
mark dahl 11.27.4
posted by Mark Dahl at 9:07 AM
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* January 2005
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Mark Dahl's Blog
1/22/2005
1.7.5 blog 2 Why I published this book
1.7.5
I wrote Covenant Betrayed as an historical fiction novel of the sixties. Some facts in the novel may be wrong as we know them today, but were based on the information that was available in the conventional media at that time. The reason for this is to give the reader a sense of the problems, as they happened, not with the history of looking back. Separating the real from the imagined during the present is much more difficult but provides insight into these confusing times. Thus, I wrote the books with this ambiguity of the present in mind. And hopefully, we can learn from this exercise.
One glaring example of fiction was the pretense of going to war in Vietnam.--- The attacks on the destroyers in the Gulf of Tomkin. Today, we know that they did not exist. Sadly, the results was an eight year war that left the United States in a quagmire from which it could not escape, resulting in the deaths of 58,000 Americans and two million Vietnamese.
Today we face the same issues. We are in a similar quagmire. A war in which we cannot win, and that continually escalates in violence. If we stay, more will die. If we leave, more will die. To date, over 100,000 Iraqis have died, most being non-combatants.
Like Vietnam, the United States declared war on a country that was never a threat to us. Not one Iraqi citizen was a member of the terrorist group that attacked the WTC. Saddam, no matter how bad a guy he was, never threatened our security, The President co-opted Congressional powers by using the pretenses of lies to extend presidential powers to conduct unilaterally 7a peremptory attack on a country without the declaration of war, a violation of the Constitution.
Therefore, I decided to publish Covenant Betrayed, a trilogy I wrote from 1979 to 1985. The questioned I asked, was there available information at the beginnings of the Vietnam War to make a rational decision that going to war would be tragic. In an attempt to answer that question, I research all the current media of the times.
The answer is a definite yes. Like Vietnam, today Iraq, is Vietnam Redux.
Our National Hubris prevents us from saying we made a terrible mistake.
Mdahl7@hotmail.com
posted by Mark Dahl at 1:50 PM
Previous Posts
* Excellent Column Source 1.20.5
* test message 1.18.5
* Introduction Blog number one 11.27.4
Archives
* January 2005
* February 2005
* March 2005
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Mark Dahl's Blog
2/15/2005
QUESTIONS I ASK MYSELF 2.1.5
We now hear statements that the Shia wants an Islamic Republic based on Sharia. Is this a victory for Iran? Did Iran outsmart the U.S.A. in getting us to overthrow Saddam, put the Shia in power, and establish an Islamic Republic without firing a shot and using our G.I.'s as cannon fodder? ... The democratization of Iraq does not necessarily mean that "their" democracy will "do" as we expect. One of the dirty little secrets of most Iraqi is that they there is almost a universal hatred of Israel and Jews. Something to think about.
All in all, regardless of the outcome, I still support the democratic process.
posted by Mark Dahl at 9:31 AM
Previous Posts
* 1.7.5 blog 2 Why I published this book
* Excellent Column Source 1.20.5
* test message 1.18.5
* Introduction Blog number one 11.27.4
Archives
* January 2005
* February 2005
* March 2005
Powered by Blogger
1/14/2005
Introduction Blog number one 11.27.4
It is my purpose to add to this blog in a timely fashion. At least weekly.
So, it will always be fresh and active. Not only will it contain political
thought, but many other interesting aspects of life... in science and
humanities...so, it's is something for all, I hope this will be both
entertaining and enlightening.
In addition, one may notice in time that I may appear to be contradictory,
but keep in mind that we all change our opinions with time and more
information. One example, in my youth, I first was a strong advocate of the
Vietnam War. And Like-wise with Iraq. But with more information and
knowledge I realized otherwise.
I don't claim to know all the answers. All I know is that the more informed
are people in this world, the better place it will be, and the right
decisions will be made and with knowledge and wisdom, and likewise, we will
recognize and admit mistake and take corrective action with courage
The last point... Think for yourself... If you are confused, read and search
for more information...explore both sides of an issue ... Life is not black
and white... its gray. If you think life is black and white... it's evidence
that you have not prepared yourself by exploring all aspects of an issue
mark dahl 11.27.4
posted by Mark Dahl at 9:07 AM
Previous Posts
Archives
* January 2005
Powered by Blogger
Mark Dahl's Blog
1/22/2005
1.7.5 blog 2 Why I published this book
1.7.5
I wrote Covenant Betrayed as an historical fiction novel of the sixties. Some facts in the novel may be wrong as we know them today, but were based on the information that was available in the conventional media at that time. The reason for this is to give the reader a sense of the problems, as they happened, not with the history of looking back. Separating the real from the imagined during the present is much more difficult but provides insight into these confusing times. Thus, I wrote the books with this ambiguity of the present in mind. And hopefully, we can learn from this exercise.
One glaring example of fiction was the pretense of going to war in Vietnam.--- The attacks on the destroyers in the Gulf of Tomkin. Today, we know that they did not exist. Sadly, the results was an eight year war that left the United States in a quagmire from which it could not escape, resulting in the deaths of 58,000 Americans and two million Vietnamese.
Today we face the same issues. We are in a similar quagmire. A war in which we cannot win, and that continually escalates in violence. If we stay, more will die. If we leave, more will die. To date, over 100,000 Iraqis have died, most being non-combatants.
Like Vietnam, the United States declared war on a country that was never a threat to us. Not one Iraqi citizen was a member of the terrorist group that attacked the WTC. Saddam, no matter how bad a guy he was, never threatened our security, The President co-opted Congressional powers by using the pretenses of lies to extend presidential powers to conduct unilaterally 7a peremptory attack on a country without the declaration of war, a violation of the Constitution.
Therefore, I decided to publish Covenant Betrayed, a trilogy I wrote from 1979 to 1985. The questioned I asked, was there available information at the beginnings of the Vietnam War to make a rational decision that going to war would be tragic. In an attempt to answer that question, I research all the current media of the times.
The answer is a definite yes. Like Vietnam, today Iraq, is Vietnam Redux.
Our National Hubris prevents us from saying we made a terrible mistake.
Mdahl7@hotmail.com
posted by Mark Dahl at 1:50 PM
Previous Posts
* Excellent Column Source 1.20.5
* test message 1.18.5
* Introduction Blog number one 11.27.4
Archives
* January 2005
* February 2005
* March 2005
Powered by Blogger
Mark Dahl's Blog
2/15/2005
QUESTIONS I ASK MYSELF 2.1.5
We now hear statements that the Shia wants an Islamic Republic based on Sharia. Is this a victory for Iran? Did Iran outsmart the U.S.A. in getting us to overthrow Saddam, put the Shia in power, and establish an Islamic Republic without firing a shot and using our G.I.'s as cannon fodder? ... The democratization of Iraq does not necessarily mean that "their" democracy will "do" as we expect. One of the dirty little secrets of most Iraqi is that they there is almost a universal hatred of Israel and Jews. Something to think about.
All in all, regardless of the outcome, I still support the democratic process.
posted by Mark Dahl at 9:31 AM
Previous Posts
* 1.7.5 blog 2 Why I published this book
* Excellent Column Source 1.20.5
* test message 1.18.5
* Introduction Blog number one 11.27.4
Archives
* January 2005
* February 2005
* March 2005
Powered by Blogger
