Email from senator John Cornyn 4-13-09

21st Century Threats
‘Unproven Technology’ Lays Basis for Missile Defense

The following op-ed ran in today’s edition of the Defense News, which can be accessed here.

On April 5, North Korea launched a missile – and sent the world a wake-up call.

Ballistic missiles in the hands of rogue states, potentially armed with weapons of mass destruction, remain one of the most serious security threats of the 21st century. Change of administrations in Washington does not change this strategic imperative: Free nations must defend themselves from ballistic missile attack through robust and layered missile defense capabilities.

North Korea’s launch continues a ballistic missile development program that is now four decades old, and which many believe is the most advanced in the developing world. North Korea’s Taepo Dong-2 long-range missile has the potential capability to strike Hawaii, Alaska and possibly the West Coast of the United States.

Many observers agree that North Korea has proliferated elements of its missile program, along with those of its nuclear program, and has helped accelerate development of dangerous capabilities in Iran and other nations. Iran’s capabilities, in turn, could threaten all our allies in Europe, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East, including Israel.

Despite the growing risk, the new U.S. administration seems determined to scale back our missile defense capabilities and leave us and our allies more vulnerable.

On the same day that North Korea tested its new capabilities, President Barack Obama announced that America’s capabilities would be subject to new restrictions. He said in Prague that our missile defense partnership with NATO, including a tracking radar to be based on Czech soil, would go forward only if it is cost-effective and proven, and if the threat from Iran persists. These qualifications may seem reasonable, yet they signal unreasonable cutbacks throughout our missile defense program.

The next day, Defense Secretary Robert Gates made clear which U.S. missile defense capabilities meet the administration’s new standards. Approved for more funding are the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, the Standard Missile 3 program, and the conversion of six Aegis cruisers for missile defense.

Defunded or delayed are the Multiple Kill Vehicle program, the Airborne Laser program and additional ground-based interceptors in Alaska. Overall, the administration plans to cut funding for missile defense by nearly $1.5 billion, or about 15 percent.

Reading between the lines, we can see the new administration’s priorities. They recognize our proven but limited capability to destroy missiles in the midcourse and terminal stages of flight, yet they resist developing new technologies that would defeat such missiles much earlier, in the critical boost phase. In Europe, what they haven’t left out of the budget they seem eager to give away at the negotiating table.

And while trillions of dollars in domestic spending are justified as economic stimulus, new defenses against ballistic missiles – built right here in America – must overcome much higher hurdles from the budgetary bean counters.

FIXING THE PRIORITIES

The administration has set the wrong priorities, partly because it takes too lightly the growing missile threat from rogue states, but mostly because it has failed to recognize three crucial developments over the past 25 years.

First, new technologies have proved the skeptics wrong. During the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan’s vision of defenses against ballistic missiles was dismissed as science fiction. Today, our nation has deployed ground-based interceptors, early warning satellites, land- and sea-based radars, and an integrated command, control, battle management and communications infrastructure. Together these components give us an emergency capability against a limited long-range ballistic missile attack, yet each of them, decades ago, was merely an “unproven” technology.

Research, development and deployment of today’s unproven technologies are the key to improving our defenses in the decades to come.

Second, the administration seems unaware of the sea change in international public opinion on the issue of missile defense. At the close of the 20th century, our allies and friends were still very skeptical of missile defense. Yet, consistent and patient diplomacy by the Bush administration changed all that. Today, our nation has cooperative agreements on missile defense with the United Kingdom, Denmark, Italy, Japan and Australia.

We are working with Poland and the Czech Republic to give NATO a missile defense capability, and with Israel to improve its defenses against medium-range rockets. India, France and many other nations have expressed interest in cooperating with us on these technologies. Cutting back on U.S. missile defense capabilities makes no sense when so many allies and friends want to deepen their cooperation with us.

Third, support for U.S. missile defenses now crosses partisan lines. Five of my colleagues, including Independent Joe Lieberman and Democrat Mark Begich, wrote President Obama following his administration’s proposed funding cuts for missile defense. They urged him to reconsider these recommendations and to continue development of an integrated, layered defense against the ballistic missile threat.

I share my colleagues’ concerns, as do millions of Americans across the political spectrum. The president has inspired so many with his vision of crossing ideological divides to pursue common, long-term objectives. Building the infrastructure of missile defense presents a tremendous opportunity to make that vision a reality.

President Obama, like every commander in chief, must make difficult choices to protect our people, advance freedom and defend our strategic interests. I applaud his surge of forces in Afghanistan and appreciate the additional defense capabilities he appears willing to fund. Yet I will oppose any cuts to missile defenses, and to any program that gives us a fighting chance to deter and defeat the security threats of the 21st century.

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Is Obama high? This has been a violation for decades! He must be new!

I  am sorry, if you are an Obamaphreak, this will make you mad!

While this guy has been asleep. or whatever, and I have been sitting here, watching the news, waiting for his reply. his briefing to us, the people,  and this is it! Come on! The very “soft Spoken” method, confuses no one!  The teleprompter speaks again, this time without its mouthpiece!  Sorry, but my alarm-clock says more!

This is probably the only time that I will ever, in my lifetime, if I live to be 500,  write to the President, ,,,, Mr President,….. please,,,,, have the energy,,,, have the heart, ,,,have the whatever it takes, ,,to stay up,,,,, all night with those of us that are watching that is, if you are worried, not about us, but the country, as we are,… is this more important to us,…. than it is to you? .. We do not sleep, we wait for you, for you to tell us that it is ok, when we do not hear from you, well, you get the point! We could care Less about Europe, We are AMERICANS and we want you, to LEAD AMERICA, excuse my french but **** them! America is number one, or, it is Not yours to lead! When you worry more about the EU than us, guess where your problems lie? Math is simple, if you let it be!

I thank the BNO Newsroom for being the only source at this time of day, it gives me something to do!

From the BNO Newsroom.

Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC (BNO NEWS) – “North Korea’s development and proliferation of ballistic missile technology pose a threat to the northeast Asian region and to international peace and security. The launch today of a Taepo-dong 2 missile was a clear violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718, which expressly prohibits North Korea from conducting ballistic missile-related activities of any kind. With this provocative act, North Korea has ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations.

We will immediately consult with our allies in the region, including Japan and the Republic of Korea, and members of the U.N. Security Council to bring this matter before the Council. I urge North Korea to abide fully by the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and to refrain from further provocative actions.

Preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery is a high priority for my administration. The United States is fully committed to maintaining security and stability in northeast Asia and we will continue working for the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through the Six-Party Talks. The Six-Party Talks provide the forum for achieving denuclearization, reducing tensions, and for resolving other issues of concern between North Korea, its four neighbors, and the United States. North Korea has a pathway to acceptance in the international community, but it will not find that acceptance unless it abandons its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and abides by its international obligations and commitments.”

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I bet North Korea is scared now! I say we should have barbecued him!

I bet North Korea and Kim Jong il are just shaking in their shorts! Barack Obama and the U.N. are going to have a meeting! That is kind of like saying, ‘well, he did it, now what do we do?’ Are there no leaders left in the world? Here is the kicker, Mexico’s ambassador is the one in the barrel this month! Oh boy, can we talk about the illegals while this meeting is going on? I feel so safe, had that been a nuke, it would have been like way too late, something would have been glowing by now! If the world is going to follow Mexico’s lead, we are done for! What are they going to do, send aome illegals to take over North Korea? Read the story below, that is Comrade Obama’s Statement.

From the BNO Newsroom.

Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC (BNO NEWS) – “North Korea’s development and proliferation of ballistic missile technology pose a threat to the northeast Asian region and to international peace and security. The launch today of a Taepo-dong 2 missile was a clear violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718, which expressly prohibits North Korea from conducting ballistic missile-related activities of any kind. With this provocative act, North Korea has ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations.

We will immediately consult with our allies in the region, including Japan and the Republic of Korea, and members of the U.N. Security Council to bring this matter before the Council. I urge North Korea to abide fully by the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and to refrain from further provocative actions.

Preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery is a high priority for my administration. The United States is fully committed to maintaining security and stability in northeast Asia and we will continue working for the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through the Six-Party Talks. The Six-Party Talks provide the forum for achieving denuclearization, reducing tensions, and for resolving other issues of concern between North Korea, its four neighbors, and the United States. North Korea has a pathway to acceptance in the international community, but it will not find that acceptance unless it abandons its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and abides by its international obligations and commitments.”

Here is an excerpt from FoxNews.

UNITED NATIONS —  The U.N. Security Council approved an emergency session Sunday to deal with North Korea’s rocket launch.

So, now what?

Diplomats at the U.N. say the U.S., Britain, France and South Korea already have begun discussing a possible Security Council resolution to reaffirm its existing sanctions on North Korea.

Is anybody out there?  Hello, what was that loud bang? Oh look, my doggy just melted! Come on people, another resolution? Like did the last one work? It is a bit like sending a pedophile to prison and rehab, IT WILL NOT WORK! What was it, 17 U.N. Resolutions before we actually had the balls to take out Saddam? Can anybody see the pattern here but me?

I have made this next segment of the quote above bold, so that you can read it in its full context, “I urge North Korea to abide fully by the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and to refrain from further provocative actions.” What? Obama URGES North Korea? I guess Biden was right? Maybe they already had this worked out?

I am sorry, if I had been the Commander in Chief, and had told North Korea, the same words that Obama did before, what was it? Something about an at of aggression? I would have been forced to keep my word, in other words, That fat, perverted, North Korean Bastard would now be Barbecue! Between us, South Korea and Japan, we could have smoked that half of the continent, and made some growing room for South Korea! After all, what are the Chinese going to say, we now owe them TRILLIONS of dollars! That would be like a dope dealer killing a junkie, they wouldn’t get paid if we were at war! Now, that is diplomacy!

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An email from my Congressman: Michael McCaul

March 27, 2009

Dear Friends,

The President has said that digging our way out of this economic crisis won’t be easy and will take time.  While we can agree on the scope of this challenge and the effort it will take to recover, the Republican budget plan will move Americans toward prosperity without spending record amounts of taxpayer dollars and without increasing the tax burden on families and businesses.

Today, our $11 trillion deficit places a burden of $36,000 on every American.  Under the President’s budget, in ten years, our per-person debt will climb above $50,000.  We cannot spend, borrow and tax our way to prosperity.  We cannot pass a budget that will dig a deeper financial hole and impede our country’s long-term progress.  Our plan will balance re-instituting the basic principles of limited government and personal responsibility, with meeting our most critical needs.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Enterprise Award

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce presented me with the prestigious Spirit of Enterprise Award for my continued support of pro-growth legislation during the last session of Congress. I am proud to have received this award for the fourth consecutive year because businesses are the economic engine of this great nation and I am committed to creating a positive pro-growth environment.  Especially during a recession our priority should be to help businesses succeed by ensuring reasonable tax burdens and responsible regulations that won’t stifle job creation.  I am proud to represent small business across District 10.

Omnibus Lands Bill

On Wednesday, the House passed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act.  This bill contains more than 170 separate natural resources bills—more than 100 of which had not been considered in the House—that create new, federally sheltered wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, and heritage areas.  The bill also included land exchanges, ocean exploration, local water projects, landscape restoration, and underwater research, among a variety of other programs.  The 1,248-page bill was estimated to cost over $10 billion and prohibited natural resource exploration development on millions of acres of land acres.  The legislation passed the Senate on March 19, 2009, and will now be sent to the President for his signature

I wish you and your family a happy and safe weekend.

FLAME Act

On Thursday, the House passed H.R. 1404, the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act.  The bill establishes a Federal Land Assistance, Management, and Enhancement (FLAME) Fund within the U.S. Treasury.  The FLAME Fund would be used to pay for emergency catastrophic wildfire suppression.  This would be separate from amounts annually appropriated to the Departments of Agriculture and Interior for wildfire suppression.  The bill also directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to develop a cohesive wildland fire management strategy within one year.  H.R. 1404 establishes a grant program within the Departments of Agriculture and Interior to help communities carry out wildfire education programs, firefighter training, and equipment acquisition. I joined 412 of my colleagues to vote yes and pass this important legislation.

In the News

FOX News- Congressman McCaul Discusses Border Security

http://www.house.gov/list/press/tx10_mccaul/morenews/3_27_09.html

Passport Day in the USA!

Are you planning a trip this summer?  Due to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all international travel will require a valid passport starting June 1, 2009.  To help citizens be prepared for this change, Passport Acceptance Facilities will be open across the United States on Saturday, March 28, 2009 for Passport Day in the USA.  Please locate your most convenient acceptance facility and review the procedures and rules for applying for a passport.

Free Taxpayer Seminar!

Congressman McCaul will be hosting Taxpayer Seminars on April 7, 2009. Representatives from the IRS will be available to answer your tax questions in Tomball at Lone Star College–Tomball and Community Library from 6:30-7:30 and Pflugerville at the Pflugerville Public Library from 7:30-8:30.  There will be presentations on the IRS resources available to you and an opportunity for you to get your general tax questions answered.  Please contact my Austin district office at (512) 473-2357 for more information and to suggest topics for the Taxpayer Seminars.

NEW WEBSITE!

Please look for our new and improved congressional website which will launch in the first few days of April. The address will remain the same:  www.house.gov/mccaul.   We hope this will serve as a more effective communications tool, allowing you greater options to learn what’s happening in Washington and voice your opinion.

With best regards,

Michael T. McCaul

Member of Congress

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Sarah Palin: Can it get any better than this, John McCain made the right choice, will you?

I have waited to write about Sarah Palin until I studied the subject a little bit, I don’t want to get caught with my fly open, like a few others have lately! The garbage that has been written about this powerful woman has blown my mind!

The reason for this Blog; is to allow myself and others to vent about a certain subject, however, I will never write any trash, nor will I even acknowledge these writers as writers! Lies do not represent creativity, they only show things about the author, the bad things! Hmm, I wonder why no one ever challenges what I write? I know that it is being read, maybe every one reading agrees, I doubt it, but maybe? If not, please remember that I welcome anyone to comment and disagree, or agree, whatever works for you, and if you want to write your own posts to disagree, I welcome you, just contact me, just challenge the topic in a comment and tell me you want to write about that, I welcome opposing opinions, that is why the site is called OpinionHead and not, JustMyOpinionOnlyEver, I want to hear, uhh, read, other points of view, maybe all of us can learn something?

I watch many different news shows and read many other opinions here on the web, I have heard so many views, that have either been proven right or wrong, that it really frustrates me when I see or hear something that is just off the wall stupid! Why do the same people say the same stupid stuff all the time? IT IS THEIR JOB! That’s why, so, if you rely solely on what some news idiot says, you are missing the boat! What I try to do, is listen to the source, if they say it themselves, then, maybe I believe it, unless I see or hear them say something different, I never believe the he-said/ she-said crap! So, my advice to you, is to stop listening to your buddy, and research what someone actually says or does, don’t just listen to the sound bites, study it yourself, you will understand why I say this, if you actually do it!

I know that unless you like to pay extra, to pay for those that pay none, you will understand! If you like for someone else to make sure you do everything right, because they won’t let you do it yourself, you will understand! However, if you are an independant thinker and not a zombie that wants the government to send you a check every month so you can run out and buy your crack, or whatever, then you should get it! Anyway, back to the topic!

If you have never heard of her, Sarah Palin, you must be from the moon! Although only on the big scene for a few days, has been around for quite some time, actually much longer than Barack Obama, and in more responsible positions than Obama or Joe Biden! You know, actually running something besides their mouths? Having to make real decisions that are like, right now, and not debated for months? Decisions that are not just naming holidays, and figuring out how to spend taxpayers money on pork projects, but actual budgets? Sarah Palin has also actually been in command of troops! Maybe just the National Guard, but that trumps either Obama or Biden, they have never been in command of anything!  Sarah Palin is proof that you don’t have to be a lawyer, to be successful and move up in politics! Don’t you remember that dream as a kid?

I am so happy about John McCain’s choice, that it gives him credibility for his judgement, something that has been proven over and over! John McCain has been right on all of the same issues that Barack and Biden both have been proven wrong about, like the surge or not drilling for oil, we know that we have it so lets get it!

To me it is simple, if I want the USA to be a better country, then I choose McCain/Palin, if you want to make the government bigger, expand welfare, cut the defense and surrender, while hoping somebody invents some magic beans that turn into energy that will power a car or city, among many other things, that may do me some good, but not the country, then choose that other guy!

I hope that everyone listens to what Sarah Palin has to say tonight, if you do, I think you’ll get it!

Have you heard  P-Diddy? The whole there is no crime, crack or even black people in Alaska thing comes off a little bit creepy, is he that stupid?  Should he be called P-Dummy? What, does he think this election is “only” about black people?  It is about ALL PEOPLE! This election is about America! Come on dude, Alaska is the largest state in the USA, you know, looking at the map, top left, just the other side of Canada, and just this side of Russia?  The only state surrounded by foreign countries and not other states? A place where a substance called oil can be found, you know, they make pretty much everything from it? A substance that without it our country, (United States, if you don’t know) and the world as it is, would not be in this century? Hey, they make CD’s out of it even, come on dude, put down the pipe! The world would have to go back to using wax to make records! Wait a minute, even wax comes from crude! Alaska also has natural gas, something you also find when drilling for oil?

Anyone else out there, if you really want change, vote for McCain/Palin, they are going to shake things up in Washington!

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