Maybe Not Nefarious

Many analysts are jumping to the conclusion that some deliberate human act knocked the Malaysian flight from the sky, but before evidence is gathered, it is too early to assume a terror event. Could some sort of bomb detonation felled the aircraft? Certainly- could a ground to air missile have brought the plane down? With the prevalence of these weapons in the Syria conflict and thousands of missiles not accounted for in Libya, a missile threat from jihad-inspired terrorists exists, but where would malicious actors have fired such a missile from in the middle of an ocean? Did some terror group form their own covert navy? What if a bird strike occurred as happened in the famous "Sully" Sullenberger ditching that everyone on board miraculously survived? Only when debris including the so-called black boxes are recovered will the definitive source of the tragedy be revealed.

Threat to Aviation

When a jetliner falls out of the air, the confidence of the flying public is naturally rattled. The notion that there are still elements that would seek to deliberately crash commercial aircraft is sickening. After September 11, 2001, it seemed that passengers would resist rather than allowing hijackers to seize a plane. Maybe, in the crash of the Malaysian jet, a new terror tactic has succeeded. Perhaps toothpaste tube or even body cavity bombs have exploded a plane. I have no doubt the investigation will be meticulous as so many travel by jet and so much is shipped by air, that huge resources will be devoted to protecting air travel and the commerce that surrounds the aviation industry.

No Aretha Franklin

Barack Hussein Obama, supposed by his acolytes to be one of the smartest men on the planet, could apparently not even win a fifth grade spelling bee after botching the spelling of Aretha Franklin's "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" at a tribute event. Our dear President may have become too reliant on "spell check", or may just not be quite the genius the main stream media has made him out to be. In any event, Dan Quayle should be heartened that he spells at least as well as the sitting President. Leaders evidently do not need to be readers anymore.

Obama's Chamberlain Moment

There are undeniable parallels between events in Sudetenland immediately prior to World War II, and the evident absorption of Crimea into Russia. Both the Germans in 1938 and Russia now had historic claims to the territory they coveted, and it seems in both incidences, world powers appeased a budding tyrant. The error of giving in to Hitler soon became apparent to the dismay of the world, but we must hope that Putin has no grander territorial designs than those he just exercised. At a time strength was called for, Barack Hussein Obama displayed weakness. Only time will tell how much the rekindled appeasement mentality of the leaders of the free nations will haunt tomorrow.

American Fair Play

There is much grousing in US leadership now that Russia is not living up to her commitments. American politicians and diplomats act shocked when a nation acts in her own self-interest. One must take this grumbling with a grain of salt though, as the US has not always been scrupulous when it comes to what America pledged to do, or even honored some of the treaties the US ratified. How about the way we preserved the freedom and independence of South Vietnam, or how the US government always stood by our pledges and representations to American Indians? Russia should concede Crimea about the same time the US gives North Carolina to the Cherokee. We live in a realpolitik world where nations are not obligated to behave like guests at a tea party, but must use their power for the good of their own people.

Putin's Napoleon Complex?

Some brilliant observers have suggested Russia's leader, who is not particularly tall, may suffer with a "Napoleon Complex". I would contend what Vladimir Putin lacks in height, he makes up for in intellect and courage. Putin has been much more canny than his foreign adversaries. Putin is standing tall for Russian interests and ethnic Russians, while Obama and Kerry, who are both above average height, look small in comparison, failing to defend America's strategic interests and leaving US allies more vulnerable than they were under the last President Bush. Do you think the Ukraine takes security guarantees from the United States seriously anymore? The world takes Putin plenty serious now.

Stability in Crimea

Russia does not want violence in Crimea. It does not serve Putin's interest to spark a shooting conflict with the Ukraine. So long as ethnic Russians and Russian assets are secure in the Ukraine, the ever rational but calculating Vladimir Putin will have no reason to employ greater force, but the course of future action is not entirely in Putin's or Russia's hands. Hotheads, more likely to be on the Ukrainian side (including nationalists reputed to be neo-Nazis), could provoke bloodshed. In history, war has sometimes been started because of miscalculation or events involving minor actors or actions that spiral out of control. Remember that Jenkins' Ear cost thousands of lives and that Russia has undeniable strategic interests and historic claims in the Ukraine.