ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Here we are critiquing the president of the United States because he doesn’t want to kill any more kids. He got us out of Afghanistan and Iraq and he is about to negotiate a treaty with a rogue nation that can prevent nuclear war.

Some just said I am naive and stupid for saying this. OK, we sent more than 250,000 men and women into combat in Iraq and what did we get for that? A couple of inept governments and a very cowardly military. We bought a pot full of military equipment which made some Americans very wealthy and some bad people quite powerful  - namely ISIS.

We went to Iraq to get rid of the WMDs so what did we do we equipped an army that is a WMD. Now we are being urged to fight them with American assets. I say “NO.”

ISIS is their fight not ours. ISIS is their problem not ours. If you listen to Lindsey Graham, John McCain and the other right wing morons, they want to send troops, send American treasure, American equipment to save the yellow government of Iraq, the cruel government of Syria, the ambivalent government of Turkey, the fledgling governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

This is their fight. Why won’t they fight it? Why should they when Halliburton and other military contractor will get the United States to do it for them. Are we crazy?

My biggest concern is that this president will cave to appear “strong.” His strength comes from holding steady in his assessment of the situations and the lessons of the past 12 years.  Give Graham and AK47 and give McCain an AK47 and let them stand their ground.

ISIS has not attacked the US in any form. Could they? Yes, will they, I don’t know but until I see planes from the ISIS Air force, or battle ships from the ISIS Navy crossing our shores I am not willing to send Americans to fight other people’s wars.

Here is why this is a loser for the United States. Iran is an enemy but they are fighting ISIS so are they really an ally? We are trying to oust the Syrian regime but they are fighting ISIS. So are they also an enemy as well as an ally?

This is a puzzle that cannot be completed on the dining room table. We would be better served if we let that puzzle stay in the box. Let’s play scrabble and see if the Middle East can figure this out for themselves.

What about all that oil? Since the US has become the largest oil producing country in the world, it appears we need their oil only to export it to other nations. Before we invaded Iraq we were told that the oil we get from Iraq would pay for the war. More than several trillion dollars and counting and not one dime from oil to offset that cost. We are about to replay this song if the right wing has anything to say about the play list.

What about Israel? I don’t see ISIS banging on Jerusalem’s door. We have been hearing abo0uit the one year till atomic bomb in Iran - for the past twelve years. If they create one who are they going to drop It on? Israel? Before you could count to three Iran would be reduced to rubble. Understand that nuclear weapons are defensive not offensive.

What if ISIS gets a bomb? They would have to form a diplomatic government to negotiate with other atomic powers.

Yes, the Islamic extremist movement is ferocious and cunning and deadly without regard for anyone but themselves. The ISIS fighters are taught that they must only love Mohammed. They must shed any love for family and especially mothers.

It would take their air force to send bombers to the U.S. and other European countries. Here is the rub, they don’t have an air force. Their enemies are our enemies and also some of our friends. I say let them duke it out among themselves. That could eliminate Hamas, Hezbollah, the Taliban, and all the other terrorist groups. Let them spend their treasure on their fight – we just watch and give our support where it makes sense. I am not sure where that would be because none of this makes sense.

Here is my solution – a simplistic one – the US supplies no weaponry to the warring countries and factions unless they pay retail for every bullet, rifle, etc. Same for medical supplies, whoever has the money or an ILC to back up a PO, we ship to them.  We do the same for food. The U.S. takes no sides in this regional war. Those who want to put boots on the ground put middle eastern feet in those boots and sell them to the fighters on- line at retail. (No return policy). Whoever is left standing is our ally. Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer – this policy will do that. The American war profiteers will profit without one American kid getting killed.

I know the next question is “what about Israel?” Israel will survive because they have used this policy for years. We just don’t hear about their business dealings. The Israelis know more about the psyche of the Middle East than anyone else in the western world. The Israelis also have the best technology and weaponry in the Middle East. After all the RPGs and IED have been used Israel may be the last guy standing.

That is my take – you decide.

The (not so very) Merry Month of May

One month can change your life in so many ways that it is mind boggling? That month was my “merry month of May!” The first day of the month of May is known as “May Day.” That is also a universal distress call and had I known what was to come I would have shouted “May day, "may day" at the top of my lungs, but you never know what is coming. Maybe that is a good thing. Have you seen the commercial that shows a postcard that says  "your heart attack will happen on  . . . ?" My card got lost in the mail as I had a series of them, but I called them GERD.

First up in May my son-in-law was due to have brain surgery on the fifth. The fact that he was having that kind of surgery freaked me out and made me and everyone in the family and friends quite nervous and somewhat scared. He has been part of my life for more than 35 years. We have been through much together and in that time we have created a bond that is strong and a love that is very much of my emotional make up.

He and my daughter did their homework and spent a great deal of time with the doctors to insure the best possible outcome. Still, it is brain surgery!

May fourth I have an appointment for a test that is like an endoscopy but there are another 16 letters in the name of the procedure. We are going to get to the bottom of my stomach and mystery of the intense GERD that I have been suffering from and  to see what is causing this malady.

While the attacks of my GERD could be intense they did not stop me from my Vietnam tour. It included much walking through different areas including many villages. Also the sights of Hanoi (including the infamous “Hilton). Visited battle sights such as the Citadel in Hue, the area of the Cou Chi tunnels outside of Saigon along with military cemeteries and memorials. I climbed the caves at Ha Long Bay, floated in the boat baskets near Da Nang and climbed through the Champa Ruins.

On the second of May I participated in a day long tennis event at the club. About four hours on the courts and another four hours at the party later that evening. And  yes, the GERD was with me and Tums took care of it, so I thought. In Vietnam I found Carboblast, Tums with charcoal. They worked, too, or so I thought.

Meanwhile, back to my May odyssey. The doctor that did the procedure on the 4^th of May gave me good news and a suggestion.  The good news was that my esophagus was clear and that was a good thing, however, he did ask me if it was OK to refer me to a cardiologist. That kind of threw me for a loop but I said OK, if you think so. Can’t be too sure of anything these days.

May 5^th I am in the hospital supporting my daughter and her family as my son-in-law is undergoing his brain surgery which seems to be taking longer than advertised. In our family no one goes through this kind of stuff alone. So, in addition to my son-in-law’s father and his significant other, his two sisters, one of his sons, two of his brothers-in-law and me. There was a crowd of loving and concerned family.

Cinqo de Maio is also the anniversary of the first of two heart transplants that my wife underwent in 1992. (That is another story for another time). So with that fact popping into my mind I was more nervous but kept this to myself. While waiting for the surgeon to report on my son-in-law’s surgery, I got a call from the cardiologist’s office offering two appointment times the next day.

I took the 3pm appointment as I figured I could leave there and then go to grandson’s baseball game right after that. WRONG!!!

The good news is that after a very long and tortuous wait, we got good news regarding the brain surgery. All went well. The surgeons accomplished what they set out to do and now prescribed a course to enhance the recovery process. We all let out a collective sigh of relief and shed a tear or two for joy. My job was then to get my eldest grandson from his high school baseball game. His younger brother came with me. When we finally found the field we took another sigh of relief.

Many of you may know that you DO NOT communicate with players during the game. Screw that. I yelled out my grandson’s name, got his attention gave him the thumbs up – the smile I got was priceless.

May 6^th. I go to meet the cardiologist. He checks me out, does an EKG and then tells me I have an appointment in the morning, May 7th at 11 am for an Echo Cardiogram at the Hollywood Medical Center. However, my situation is such that I have been admitted to the hospital now, while I was sitting there. I cannot leave. I will be transported by ambulance the medical center downtown. SHIIIIITTTT!

May 7^th (also my daughter’s birthday) I get to ride in the ambulance – no lights or sirens, very boring drive. I am whisked into the prep area to prepare for an angiogram. At 1pm they take me into the room where I am put out and the procedure to wind a wire with cameras through my body to my heart commenced. I was woken up and the cardiologists gave me the news. NO STINT – SHIIITTT, again.

I was taken back to the prep area while they find a room for me. Remember this is the day after the brain surgery. Recall all the people that were there yesterday, they all congregated at the foot of my gurney today. Needless to say, I was in a funk mood thinking about facing open heart surgery. Not a happy camper. Then my son-in-law rolled up in his wheel chair. He had big cover on his head reminiscent of what ugly Russian ladies wear. He had a large smile on his face. That was all the medicine that I needed.

May 8^th  then May 9^th and now we come to, May 10^th: Mother’s Day and my late wife’s birthday. We had a planned celebration of both her birthday and Mother’s Day. Our family was to open the treasure chest we created in her memory some 22 years before. Having both Mother’s Day and her birthday coincide, it seemed like a fortuna moment to remember her and  the best she represented. However, we were celebrating my son-in-law’s good outcome from his surgery and waiting for my day in the OR instead. Can't go home to have this little party. This was a confusing time for us all.

May 11^th – waiting for the surgeon to tell me when it will be my turn. I just want to put this behind me. In the interim I changed rooms three times. The first was a double room with a gentleman who had his wife there as his advocate. The second that a single room that was a “pressure room.” That was like trying to sleep under a 747 about to take off.  The third room was a charm. Quiet, private and near the nurse’s station.

May 13^th. Yes, the 13^th! They told me that is date for my surgery and the time will be 11 am. I tell my kids. Then they tell me that the time will be 7 am. If they want to see me before they need to be in Hollywood by 5 am. I am not getting up at that hour to see me, but they were there. Taking my cues from my late wife, I smiled to them and said “see you later.” I did.

Five days after the surgery I made it home and here we are in June. We all survived May. In June we all celebrated the graduation of my eldest grandchild. She is off to college but first a trip to Maui for her. My son-in-law has a unique look with his caps and special sweat pants and sporting a full beard.   The beard is now a medical necessity.


We are all on good track with much to look forward to. Friends have called, some brought food because they think I am losing too much weight, I even made it to the movies.  My grandkids want to see the scar – why, I don’t know! I don’t even want to see the scar.

That was the MERRY MONTH OF MAY. We are all looking forward to the coming months where the celebrations are all positive – Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, new schools, new adventures.

That is my experience - nothing to decide -- done!