Russians Go Home

Thousands of Russian troops are returning to their bases.  (Photo/Courtesy of defensenews.com)

Russian troops, withdrawing from the borders of Ukraine,

Realized what anyone with even half a brain

Figured out a week ago; they do not need to fight.

Might as well go home before more sanctions start to bite.

Kiev won't try that again...  Their newest oligarch,

Petro Poroshenko, knows he's swimming with a shark.

Clearer than a nose upon a face, they've made their point.

Russians don't want our proboscis further out of joint.

We don't have to like it but the facts of life are these;

If your army's big enough you may do as you please.

Threaten an invasion and your neighbors will be daunted...

Just ask Mr. Putin, who got everything he wanted.

A Patriot In His Own Mind

Brian Williams and Edward Snowden.

"Coward and a traitor" or a patriot who's brave?

Edward Snowden, in a recent interview he gave,

Said to Brian Williams he's a patriotic guy

Who exposed abuses he discovered as a spy.

Tried to go through proper channels over his concerns.

Wouldn't get a chance to make his case if he returns.

(He's accused of treason; says his trial would not be fair.)

Only stayed in Russia 'cause the U.S. trapped him there.

Patriot or traitor?  It depends how you define

Service to your country...  Did Ed Snowden cross the line?

Are his leaks on NSA something we need to know

Or has our intelligence received a fatal blow?

I believe, in Snowden's mind, he served the greater good.

With his theft he's proven almost anybody could

Access all our information...  Privacy is dead

And the only reason that we know is thanks to Ed.

Consummatum est

'We can't fix Afghanistan so we are going home;'

Words some army's spoken since the days of Ancient Rome.

Afghans have to be the ones who cure the country's ills.

Groups of fundamentalists are holed up in those hills...

'though they take the winters off (because they'd freeze their buns)

When the "fighting season" starts, the men pick up their guns

Then return to home and hearth and shelter with their clan.

It's become a way of life throughout Afghanistan.

We are not the first to have to face this fact of life -

That, in certain regions of the world, there's constant strife -

We are just the latest, though I doubt we'll be the last.

Countries never seem to learn their lessons from the past.

In A Democracy You Get What You Deserve

Weekend saw a few elections held across the pond...

Politicians who would like to loosen ties that bond

European Union member nations won the day.

Tired of austerity, the voters voted "Nay!"

Half of Ukraine voted; not much turn-out in the East.

Faced with armed militias... Don't blame voters in the least.

In the West the winner was a candy billionaire.

Putin said he'd honor the results if they were fair.

Egypt held elections, too; the outcome no surprise.

Winner is a former Army General in disguise.

After leading Egypt's coup, took off his uniform.

In the region, that's not the exception, it's the norm.

U.S. will hold mid-terms soon but most of us won't vote.

By default, we'll let the special interests steer the boat

All the while complaining...  We have got a lot of nerve.

People only get the government that they deserve.

Happy Memorial Day

When you're at your barbeque this weekend, don't forget -

If you love America and freedom - thank a Vet.

I don't mean a thanks with words for words have proven cheap...

We made Vets a promise but it's one we didn't keep.

They embody virtues that have made this country great;

It's disgraceful some of them are dying while they wait.

Situation's FUBAR at the VA, I'm afraid.

They don't have the staff and those they've got are underpaid.

Congress needs to spend the money now and screw the cost...

Right away! Before another soldier's life is lost.

There are no excuses for non-treatment of our Vets;

We owe them our sacred honor and must pay our debts.

GM's Image Problem

 

I'm not in the market for a car but, even so,

There are still some dealerships where I would never go.

14 million GM cars and trucks have been recalled

Due to safety issues with equipment they installed.

They've already paid one fine (with other cases pending)

And the list of recalled cars seems, almost, neverending.

Don't see how their reputation ever gets restored...

I just know the next new car I  buy will be a Ford.

Google Won't Forget This

People throughout history have tried to leave their mark,

Hoping we'll name streets for them, or schools...  Perhaps a park.

Something that survives us after we are in our grave,

Yet we all  have made some marks that we don't want to save.

It might be a drunken photo or a careless tweet;

Information you don't want to share with folks you meet.

Something you don't talk about with people from your church...

Things that they can learn about you with a Google Search.

In the state of Denmark though, if you did something rotten,

European Union passed the Right to be Forgotten.

You can have those links removed - you only have to ask.

Google says complying is a monumental task.

If you're an American you do not have this right

So, if you're debating if it is or isn't bright

To do something that you'll later wish you could forget,

Just remember - what you do stays on the internet.