Occupation of Independence

 Most commentators think that a ground invasion of Iran by the Netanyahu-Trump regime won't happen because it is unlikely to succeed, and that it is just a bluff or bargaining chip. Tactically, this makes sense. But Trump has a larger overall problem: it is an election year and his war is unpopular in the USA.  He must make it more popular.  Ironically, a serious 'blooding' of American soldiers could help the voters to rally 'round the Flag and the president, regardless of how reckless the president was with soldiers' lives. Imagine the programing on television: every few minutes there could be a movie clip or old World War II newsreel showing the Marines "taking that beach."  Remember that famous photo of General MacArthur wading ashore, a year after his famous "I shall return?"  Then the politician can say, "You want to pull out of this war?  Then all our heroic Marines who died on that Iranian beach/island will have  died in vain. " ...

 Isn't it terrible how the world cannot act in concert to oppose the Trumpanyahu-Epstein-Adelson regime?!  Why doesn't the United Nations simply shut down -- it is a giant waste of money. Canada and Europe are pushing back some, so there is reason for hope.  I hope the recent experience with Trumpanyahu's war against Iran has taught Japan, Taiwan, South Korea , and the Philippines a good lesson.  They could do a lot if they would oppose the Regime. I hope the Republicans are beaten so bad this November that they learn a lesson and seriously reform themselves.  Sometimes countries and institutions have to get their back against the wall before they come back strong and save themselves. In the mean time we must resist the propaganda machine and NOT rally 'round the flag , nor support "our" troops and president.  Our loyalty must be to constitutional principles , not to the military-industrial-complex , nor the CIA , nor the Israel lobby.

 This certainly was the week to swing from one extreme to the other, in the dog world.  After the rez dog experience, I was surprised to encounter a young black-and-tan coonhound on a bike ride in the ponderosa forest .  He was not completely trained yet, despite his radio collar and antenna.  He came over to the bike to make friends with my dog. My, what big feet he had!  Soon I saw his trainer working three adult hounds.  They and their trainer were 95% business, with no time to socialize.  The trainer said that he had just found a deer that had been killed by a mountain lion , perhaps the previous night. It is easy to admire dogs who are amazingly trained, no matter what their specialty.  But I have never been tempted to own a 'specialist.'  I prefer a well-rounded, companion dog.  My little girl was confused by the size of the ponderosa log that was blocking our road: And she was delighted with the deer antler found near camp: Po...

 An English-speaking North American doesn't get too much of a chance to experience drastically different cultures while traveling in North America.  So when that traveler goes through an Indian Rez , it can be seen as a long-overdue chance to experience a different culture.  New Mexico has quite a few Native American reservations . There are people -- usually from blue counties on the coast or Europe -- who think there is something chic about the Rez, with all the art and handicrafts.  That was particularly true in the tourist town I was in.  I am not so taken in by all that.  I expect theft, homelessness, and pitiful dogs hanging out at gas stations. So there are at least two ways to see Reservations.  My purpose here is not to decide which viewpoint is the correct one, but rather, to use the tension between these two viewpoints to have a more interesting travel experience. An uncollared dog was walking around the parking lot.  The nearby high...