Deplorable
Well, I didn’t want to do it, but I finally gave in and turned on the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, and all it did was reaffirm my extreme loathing for politics. I had the misfortune of tuning in during the conclusion of Sen. Lyndsay Graham’s questioning, who was insufferably rude and embarrassingly disrespectful toward the judge as he would ask her a question and subsequently interrupted her constantly as she attempted to answer him. It was just another example of how so many politicians are arrogant, rude, self-centered, crude, repulsive, and any other egregious adjective you care to add. But kudos to Judge Jackson, who remained cool, calm, and collected during Graham’s ineptly insulting attempt to shake and/or undermine her impressive confidence. She should be confirmed immediately!
Inevitable
Well, it was only a matter of time until Vladimir Putrid (Oh sorry! I mean Putin) would begin committing war crimes in Ukraine. After all, it’s his damn war, and that obviously means he can do anything he wants. Right?
In a story from The USA Today Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced last Wednesday the United States believes Russia is guilty of committing war crimes in Ukraine.
In his statement Blinken offered, “Today, I can announce that, based on information currently available, the U.S. government assesses that members of Russia’s forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine. We’ve seen numerous credible reports of indiscriminate attacks and attacks deliberately targeting civilians, as well as other atrocities. We are committed to pursuing accountability using every tool available, including criminal prosecutions.”
I’m sorry, but I seriously doubt that threats of criminal prosecutions are going to deter Putrid (Oh sorry. I mean Putin.) from doing anything he wants. And if you apply the definition of war crimes to what Russian troops have done so far, Putrid (Oh sorry. I mean Putin.) obviously is guilty.
Broadly stated war crimes are the crimes committed against people in wartime that are in violation of international agreements. For example, offenses against humanity (genocide), or trying to eliminate a whole group or race in wartime, as what Hitler attempted to do.
As Blinkin pointed out, “Russia’s forces have destroyed apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, critical infrastructure, civilian vehicles, shopping centers, and ambulances, leaving thousands of innocent civilians killed or wounded. Many of the sites Russia’s forces have hit have been clearly identifiable as in-use by civilians.”
Lots of the civilian neighborhoods have been reduced to nothing more than piles of smoking rubble. Unfortunately, charges of war crimes must end up in a court of law, where the offenders will be tried. It’s a long and difficult process, and only the losers in a war can be tried for war crimes. Why? Because the law says so. Go figure.
If you want to read an interesting discussion about war crimes and the International Criminal Court, check out Bloomberg on the Internet. Or if you are just wondering whether Putin (Got it right that time.) can be tried for war crimes, the answer is probably not, mainly because Russia is not going to lose the war. Yes, Lady Justice is blind. And in Putrid’s (Damn. Did it again.) Putin’s case that’s a shame! Enough about that horrific war. Who really ever wins a war anyway?
They’re Back!
Yes, the boys of summer have returned. You can now watch Major League exhibition baseball (For hardcore fans only.) on TV from now until opening day on April 7.
Some rumors have been circulating that Pittsburgh might have a Major League team after several years of absence, but those rumors have yet to be confirmed. Sadly, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find any Pirate fans who are old enough to remember the last time Pittsburgh had a professional team. Let’s hope the rumors are true.
Outrageous!!
Is nothing sacred anymore? The price of gasoline has spiraled out of control as have prices at the grocery stores, but let’s keep things in perspective. Here’s what I mean. The other day my daughter called me from Sam’s Club to as me whether she could pick up anything for me while she was there, and among the items I asked her to get were potato chips. She knows that my favorites are the Kettle Cooked ones with sea salt, and so I was surprised when she showed up a little later with a different brand, but I immediately thought the brand I liked must have sold out. How wrong I was! It turns out that the chips I wanted were selling for $8 per bag. No, that’s not a misprint! $8 a bag! I know what inflation is. But $8 a bag. Come on! Not in my wildest dreams would I ever believe that potato chips would be that expensive. What’s next? $6 for a pack of gum? Or $35 for a draft beer? That’s where I draw the line! Depending on how thirsty I am, I won’t pay a penny more than $34.50.
Ponder This:
Do Roman paramedics refer to IV’s as “4’s”?
~ George Carlin
