Enough time now to look back and ask a few questions. The fact that the press has never been in the habit of questioning the GWOT, by itself, seems a little odd.
Think about American culture and sports. Americans know and care about the rules in sports. The rules are critical. Missed calls by NFL officials may be discussed for weeks on end. Sports writers have permission to be critical of coaches, teams, players, the rule book, the league, referees, team owners, when the season starts and ends, etc.
Are people who work for newspapers and TV news folks given permission to go out and to do interviews related to public policy? If elected officials and people who run government agencies are not available to be interviewed, that should become the story.
March 9, 2021 Whidbey News-Times
First lady Jill Biden talks to families at NAS Whidbey
“The press was not permitted to attend that portion of her visit or ask the first lady any questions.”
Did the press attempt to ask questions at a more appropriate time?
If I was a member of the press I would ask public policy-related questions at an appropriate time. If questions were not answered, that would become the story.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden Visits Whidbey
General Milley – No Questions From The Press
Today, we see a press release style of news reporting, where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.
Newspeople post this statement as is.
A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.
Recommendation for newspeople:
Interview people from various sides of any given issue. Use the web to post videos of these interviews if you are a newspaper struggling for subscription and advertising dollars.
Americans were told that they faced a life and death situation after 911. If certain actions were not taken, terrorists could come to America to disrupt our way of life and attempt another 911.
If all this was a life and death situation that required sending the troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, wouldn’t it be important to ask a few public policy questions about what was going on?
Was It A Fake War On Terror?
Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.
If the CIA (est 1947) serves as an advantage to the US, why does the Department of Defense have such a poor record of winning undeclared wars going back to 1949, the year DOD was established?
American Rights and Freedoms?
Love to see the press, school teachers, sports announcers and politicians come clean on how any of this was linked to American rights and freedoms or defending the constitution.
Several federal holidays feature a theme related to the idea that the troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.
Leaving Afghanistan – Lies About American Rights And Freedoms
April 9, 2021 Whidbey News-Times
Letter to the editor:
“There are so many people here on the island who complain about jet noise, but I like it and to me it truly is the sound of freedom and so I thank them for all they do to keep the rest of us safe.”
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.
Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?
If The Troops defend American rights and freedoms, what becomes of those freedoms when the US leaves Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc., without a victory?
The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.
Do Americans have an honest relationship with the US Armed Forces?
May 28, 2020 WMAR
Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
December 21st 2019 KOMO News
Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide
“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”
Puget Sound Ferry Ride
If the Oklahoma City bomber rolls onto the ferry- how does the SWAT team help out an hour later?
Maybe security personnel are present at some specific terminals each day. Over the past 20 years, dozens of round trip crossings from various terminals indicate that in many cases- no security screening takes place prior to boarding ferries.
Washington State Ferries Security – Looking for Clarification
REAL ID
If REAL ID is critical to the safety of America, have travelers out at the airport been less safe since 911?
The new REAL ID requirement for domestic air travel has now been extended out more than 20 years past 911.
Show up early to wait in line and squeeze the toothpaste out of the tube at the airport?
May 5, 2021 KOMO News
Wash. lab develops scanner that may eliminate need to remove shoes at airport
“This new technology could speed up the screening process by about 20% and eliminate the hassle of taking off shoes and putting them back on, researchers say.”
What keeps the terrorists of the GWOT from creating a disruption at the back end of the screening line?
Has anyone ever seen any member of the press ask questions on this?
Fred Reed December 4, 2015
Security Theater: Customary Federal Pointlessness
“…the intelligence agencies have proved useless. NSA did not prevent the first attack on the Twin Towers in 1993, nor the successful one.”
“What goes on at airports is not security. It is Security Theater. When the government’s own agents try to smuggle “weapons” aboard airliners to test the system, they succeed ninety-five percent of the time.”
“Further, a terrorist doesn’t need to get aboard an airliner to blow up spectacularly. At many airports, hundreds of people line up at ticket counters during peak hours. A carry-on bag of explosive would easily create enough slaughter to shut down air travel and to make international headlines for weeks.”
“Warnings at airports that unattended vehicles will be ticketed, towed, and perhaps destroyed are also Security Theater. By the time the vehicle was noticed, and somebody sent to check it out, an easy five minutes would have passed and the driver would be somewhere else. Boom.”
REAL ID And The Fake War on Terror
REAL ID & Drug Cartels
Love to see newspeople interview the US Dept. of Homeland Security & ask:
Are passports/enhanced/REAL IDs effective in keeping cartel drugs out of the US?
Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.
Strict Post 911/Global War on Terror Security Protocols No Match For Cartels
If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?
Source: DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program
“There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.”
Look for newspeople to ask zero questions in this area.
DEA’s drug threat report: Mexican cartel flooding Northwest with fentanyl
Source: March 2, 2021 KTVZ
July 8, 2021 The Chronicle
“The problem isn’t just in Eastern Washington, but North Idaho. Notably, Kootenai County was added to the Idaho/Oregon High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area last year by the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, allowing the region to receive grants focused on helping law enforcement agencies coordinate and share information.”
Would the DEA be out of work if a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was able to keep cartel product from showing up in all 50 states?
DEA/Homeland Security Wasteful Spending Partnership – Newspeople Remain Silent
Port Angeles
Local people find drugs and report to local (not federal) law enforcement authorities. Federal employees create news story and say that federal agents used a K-9 to “seize” the drugs.
Question for CBP:
Why does the news story created by CBP not line up with local reports?
Mainstream newspeople remain silent.
News links and Sheriff’s Dept. Facebook post here:
Port Angeles Border Patrol – Investigation Stalled For 3 Weeks?
Original blog post:
Port Angeles Border Patrol Agents Seize Meth?
Welcome Home Troops
Thanks for risking your ass in Iraq & Afghanistan-working to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.
Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:
Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?
Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?
Newspeople remain silent.
April 1, 2020 C-SPAN
WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.
The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.
Both major parties and the press are OK with undeclared/unwon wars.
Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog
Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt
Photo-
Quality time at Point Partridge