GENERAL JONES, DONILON, AND OTHER BOONDOGGLES

By Marilyn M. Barnewall
October 17, 2010
NewsWithViews.com

We all sin. We are human beings and are born of the physical world. But we have a spiritual nature.

Humans are more than animal – I know that’s going to make PETA members angry, but it’s true. If we weren’t more than animal, we wouldn’t be concerned with loving one another and honoring our parents. We wouldn’t care about the poor. The strong survive in the animal world.

In The New Intellectual, Ayn Rand describes the differences between human beings and animals. She points out that we share two ingrained traits: Perception and sensation. All animal life has the gift of sensation… of being sated by food or sex or winning a competition. All have the gift of perception and can innately sense danger or safety or hatred or love. Humans and animals share the traits of perception and sensation.

Human beings want to live life at a level higher than that of the cave. We tap into a different capacity than sensation or perception, one unavailable to other animals.

According to Ms. Rand, humans have a third capacity. It is the capacity for conceptual thought. It belongs exclusively to humans. No one can force people to use it and no one can prevent them from doing so. That’s how freedom came to be. It was conceptualized. We can read and write because we can conceptualize.

Conceptual thought is the base from which all creative expression comes and creative expression can result in either malignant or positive energy. Creative energy can be good or it can be evil. People can conceptualize positively, or negatively. It’s our choice.

And, speaking of choices, President Obama has appointed a new National Security Advisor (NSA). At this particular time in America’s history, NSA is a critically important job. Below are the bios of the outgoing and the incoming NSA. Decide for yourself if an appropriate level of concern for the security of our nation is exemplified by this choice.

Four Star United States Marine General James L. Jones, Jr. resigned as National Security Advisor on October 8, 2010. His successor, Thomas E. Donilon, was appointed to succeed him the same date.

Job Qualifications:

GENERAL JONES: United States Marine 1967-2007. Jones commanded the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines; 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit; 2nd Marine Division; Commandant of the Marine Corps, July 1999 to January 2003; United States European Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, 2003 to 2006. Battles: Vietnam and the Gulf War (in October 1967, sent to Vietnam; served as a platoon and company commander with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines.). Medals: Defense Distinguished Service, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, French Légion d'honneur, French Ordre national du Merite, Portugal Order of Aviz, Canadian Meritorious Service Cross, NATO Meritorious Service Medal.

Jones served as chairman of the Congressional Independent Commission, Security Forces of Iraq in 2007. That Commission investigated the Iraqi police and armed forces capabilities. In November 2007, he was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of State as special envoy for Middle East security. He graduated from the War College in June 1985.

Jones is a Marine who bravely served his country in war and peace and is an internationally trained and knowledgeable individual with experience in the Middle East. He was very qualified for this job.

THOMAS E. DONILON: A lawyer, Editorial Board of Law Review, University of Virginia (1985). Brother, Mike, a lawyer and political consultant; also, Counselor to Vice President Joe Biden. Sister, Cathy Russell, Chief of Staff to Jill Biden. During the Carter administration, Donilon was Congressional Liaison for the White House.

In 1980 and 1984, he managed the Democratic National Conventions (Jimmy Carter lost to Ronald Reagan in 1980; Walter Mondale lost to President Reagan in 1984). Donilon was Senior Advisor to Senate Judiciary Committee, Joseph Biden Chairman, from 1986-1988. You may recall, in September 1987, Senator Biden withdrew from the Presidential race. It was reported Biden plagiarized a speech given by British politician Neil Kinnock. There were allegations Biden had exaggerated his academic record.

Donilon was also a senior adviser to the presidential campaign of Michael Dukakis. He broke his losing streak when he assisted Bill Clinton with debate preparation, then served as an adviser for Clinton’s 1992 transition team. He helped prepare President Obama for his debate with Senator John McCain. He worked at the State Department as chief spokesman and Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs. He’s a politician and a lobbyist from a political family.

Oh, yes. He was Executive Vice President at Fannie Mae. He lobbied against increased regulation of Fannie Mae… and made millions of dollars while doing it. And now the President has appointed him America's National Security Advisor.

According to journalist Michael O’Brien, “Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) pressured Donilon, the current deputy national security adviser, to decline the new job due to his work in the past as a lobbyist for mortgage giant Fannie Mae and his lack of previous military experience (article, The Hill, 15 Oct 10).

HIGH-SPEED RAIL BOONDOGGLE UPDATE

Speaking of boondoggles, last month, I wrote an article titled “Bullet Train Boondoggle.â€