Padres Playoff Rotation?

The Padres are looking like a team of destiny this year. Hey, we can dream can't we? Apparently it's too soon for the team's real coaching staff to think about the playoff starting rotation. (Here, third story down.) Not too soon for an opinionated fan, however.

Woody Williams has been there and done that in many years in the majors. He's been sharp all September and is pitching like the veteran he is. He's a pro who can be trusted not to meltdown in the crucible of the playoffs. He'd be my number 1 starter.

Jake Peavy would be second just because he's Jake Peavy, an intensely competitive pitcher, who is brilliant when he is on. His competitiveness shows on the mound and is the thing that apparently ticked off the Dodgers first base coach when the Padres played in Los Angeles last week. The Jake Peavy Show can get a bit old, even for a loyal Padres fan, especially when the sizzle is not matched by the steak. There's been more sizzle than steak most of the year from Jake, as evidenced by his losing record this year, but his last start looked like the Jake Peavy of old.

Chris Young deserves to pitch second or even first based on his excellent performance all year. The guy is also as calm as a plant on the mound. But I'd pitch him third because with home field advantage in the playoffs, (it's looking that way at this time), he'd start the first away game. Young has not lost an away game since, well, it seems like forever.

Then Clay Hensley because of his consistently strong September performances and because David Wells does not deserve to start any post-season game in which he has to bat.

Then for game 5, back to Woody Williams.

Why diss Boomer, you might ask? Well, the team isn't winning when he starts. He pitches fine, but he can't hit, he can't field, he can't run, and each of those weaknesses has hurt him in his starts for the Padres. He's out of shape. The only reason he would take up space on my post-season roster, would be for World Series games when a designated hitter could take his place in the batting order. But, hey, I'll admit it, I'm still ticked at him for playing for Boston last year and not the Padres when we needed him more than we do this year.

-tdr

Technorati: Padres, Baseball, MLB.

San Diego's City Attorney/Wannabe Mayor

San Diego's City Attorney Michael Aguirre continues to believe he was elected to set policy for the city. His most recent misguided venture involves a lawsuit regarding the city's homeless policy. (Here.) He defends his attempt to settle the case on his own terms in a letter to the San Diego Union-Tribune's editor.

"Unfortunately, the problems of homelessness have not been adequately addressed by our municipality. Our police have unfairly been asked to manage the problem. We are using our county jail as a homeless shelter, which puts additional stress on our criminal justice system. The problem has gotten so out of hand that it has now become a question of cruel and unusual punishment. The U-T cites the creation of Petco Park as having transformed 'the East Village and much of the rest of downtown into a livable, family-friendly environment.' Excuse me, but have you seen or visited the streets of downtown San Diego lately? We already have de facto areas where the homeless congregate. Addressing complex issues such as these are never easy. I believe advancing real solutions that comply with the law are what San Diegans would like to see." (Here.)

Aguirre continues to be confused about the difference between a client and a lawyer. He forgets that the client is the city and the city's policy-makers are the City Council and Mayor not the city attorney. His job is to advise the client what to do but if the client chooses a different course of action, he has to abide by it.

This is not the first time this politically ambitious city attorney has apparently tried to implement his own policy preferences through a lawsuit settlement. One time before Aguirre, who represented the city, sided with the plaintiffs who filed suit attacking the city's condo conversion policy. (Here.) In that case, a third party sought to intervene in order to "prevent collusion between the Office of the City Attorney and the plaintiffs, which would harm the city and the condominium conversion industry." (Here.)

San Diego needs an appointed city attorney.

-tdr

Technorati: San Diego.

Padres Trade For David Wells Pays Unusual Dividend.

David Wells was scratched from the Padres lineup for tonight's game against the Cardinals due to an outbreak of gout. (Here.) What century are we living in again? This is the first risk factor listed on the Mayo Clinic's website:

"Lifestyle factors. Excess consumption of alcohol is a common lifestyle factor that increases the risk of gout. Excess alcohol generally means more than two drinks a day for men and more than one for women. Gaining 30 pounds or more than your ideal weight during adulthood also increases your risk." (Here.)

Enough said.

-tdr

Technorati: Padres, MLB, Baseball.

Let's Hear It For The Aussies.

"AUSTRALIA'S Muslim leaders have been "read the riot act" over the need to denounce any links between Islam and terrorism." (Here.)

-tdr

Technorati: Islam, Terrorism.

Due Process For Gitmo Detainees

Due process is a flexible concept that essentially requires people to get the process due them given their circumstances. This story (here) reveals the due process given to every detainee that has ever gone to Guantanamo Bay.

"Every one of the other roughly 450 detainees at Guantanamo, who began arriving in 2002, have already undergone the tribunals. The tribunals for the 14 new arrivals will be held almost certainly using the same procedures, Waddingham said.

"The tribunals are conducted by a three-member military panel, which examines evidence against a detainee, can speak to witnesses, and determines if the detainee is an enemy combatant and should be held. The detainee is represented by U.S. military counsel.
"Those judged not to be enemy combatants are generally transferred out of Guantanamo to their home countries. Those determined to be enemy combatants stay locked up here. They then face annual Administrative Review Boards that examine whether they still pose a threat to the United States or have intelligence value.

"Congress and the Bush administration are currently working on guidelines on how detainees should be interrogated and put on trial. Ten Guantanamo detainees have been charged with crimes but their military trials were put on hold after the Supreme Court last June ruled that the tribunals were illegal — partly because the Bush administration had set them up without Congressional approval."

Those who claim the detainees are without due process are liars.

-tdr

Technorati: War, Terrorism, Bush,

Padres v. Dodgers: National League Championship Preview?

This last weekend's games between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers was a great baseball series, with pitching duels, a blowout, and a slugfest that ended historically with 5 homeruns by the Dodgers over the 9th and 10th innings. For this Padres fan last night's game was painful to watch. The final two innings of the game were the most unbelievable baseball I've ever seen and I hope never to see its like again. But as Josh Barfield said, "We split the series, and they're a half-game ahead. We can pick up that half-game, no problem." (Here.) As Neil Young once sang, "Tonight's the night."

The two teams don't face each other again in the regular season this year. But both teams have a good chance of making the playoffs and might face each other in round two of the National League playoffs. This Padres fan hopes so. That would be one heck of a playoff series.

tdr

Iranian President Adamant Jihad Calls For World To Convert To Monotheism.

The Iranian President "His Excellency Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nej ad" spoke to the UN today. The full text of his remarks is available on the UN's website here. Most of the speech attacks the United States for creating all the troubles of the world and even worse, "abusing" the UN Security Council for America's own ends. The most revealing part comes in the final paragraphs:

"The Almighty and Merciful God, who is the Creator of the Universe, is also its Lord and Ruler. Justice is His command. He commands His creatures to support one another in Good, virtue and piety, and not in decadence and corruption.

"He commands His creatures to enjoin one another to righteousness and virtue
and not to sin and transgression. All Divine prophets from the Prophet Adam (peace
be upon him) to the Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), to the Prophet Jesus Christ
(peace be upon him), to the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), have all called
humanity to monotheism, justice, brotherhood, love and compassion. Is it not possible to build a better world based on monotheism, justice, love and respect for the rights of human beings, and thereby transform animosities into friendship?

"I emphatically declare that today's world, more than ever before, longs for just
and righteous people with love for all humanity; and above all longs for the perfect
righteous human being and the real savior who has been promised to all peoples and
who will establish justice, peace and brotherhood on the planet.

"0, Almighty God, all men and women are Your creatures and You have ordained their guidance and salvation. Bestow upon humanity that thirsts for justice, the perfect human being promised to all by You, and make us among his followers and among those who strive for his return and his cause."

There you have it. Monotheism and the return of the Shiite savior, the Hidden Imam, are apparently what is needed for world peace.

-tdr

Technorati: Iran, Islam, United Nations.

Young Master Keith's Very Special Comment

What is up with Keith Olbermann? On September 11, 2006, he delivers a long rant against President Bush. Last night he does another long rant demanding that "Mister Bush," as he childishly calls the President, apologize to the country. (Here.) Master Keith's demand for an apology was prompted by the President answering a question at a press conference with this remark "It's unacceptable to think that there's any kind of comparison between the behavior of the United States of America and the action of Islamic extremists who kill innocent women and children to achieve an objective,..." (First Q and A in transcript here.)

Master Keith played a little word game and worked himself up a fine little temper tantrum because President Bush said, "it's unacceptable to think." Master Keith's rant is just nonsense. The President isn't making thought a crime or saying that thought is unacceptable.

Two can play this silly game.

Back in 1994 President Clinton said this in his State of the Union speech:

"We can't renew our country unless more of us--I mean, all of us--are willing to join the churches and the other good citizens, people like all the ministers I've worked with over the years or the priests and the nuns I met at Our Lady of Help in east Los Angeles or my good friend Tony Campollo in Philadelphia, unless we're willing to work with people like that, people who are saving kids, adopting schools, making streets safer." (Here.)

O my God! . It's clear that the former President has given up on America, "We can't renew our country." Even worse, Mister Clinton, or should that be Reverend Clinton, apparently believes America's only hope is for all Americans to become Christians: "We can't renew our country unless ... all of us -- are willing to join the churches." Mister Clinton, have you no shame? This country is a secular republic not a theocracy!

-tdr

Technorati:

Is The Pope Mormon?

A small bomb exploded in a Salt Lake City library today. (Here.) Nobody was hurt and there was little damage.

-tdr

Technorati: Terrorism, Crime.

Padres Won't Make Playoffs With Silent Bats.

For the second Friday in a row the Padres were almost no-hit. Last night it was Greg Maddux and the Dodgers. (Here.) Last Friday it was Matt Cain and the Giants. (Here.)

Last night's victim was David (Boomer) Wells, who pitched decently but not well enough to win for a team that could manage only two base hits. Worse, he had to leave the game because of a painful ankle he injured running the bases in a prior game.

The Padres' weakness all year has been hitting not pitching, but instead of trading for an impact hitter to get the team to the playoffs, management traded for Wells. Wells has pitched three times since joining the Padres and well enough to win twice. But the team has scored only seven runs and gone 1-2.

The trade for Wells has gone as could have been predicted: no real harm but also little benefit. Good pitching keeps you in the game so your hitters can win the game, and if your hitters don't hit, you can't win. But this has been discussed before. (Here.)

So let's talk about Padres pitching instead. The conventional wisdom about the Padres is that having Wells in the rotation for the final month and the playoffs benefits the team because he's a seasoned pro who has performed in the post-season. In addition to Wells, the sports commentariat and fans talk about starters Peavy and Young and then the bullpen.

One name is nearly always missing from discussions of Padres pitchers and he was here all year: Woody Williams. Williams deserves more recognition than he gets. He's a solid veteran starter who knows how to pitch, and, unlike Wells, he can field, hit, and run the bases too. He's been a boon to the Padres this year. I'd start him over Boomer any day. (Woody is on the mound against the Dodgers tonight. It will be interesting to see how he fares.)

-tdr

Technorati: Major League Baseball, San Diego Padres.

The Pope Was Talking About Reason Not Islam.

The internet is just better because source documents are usually available online. The full text of the Pope's speech that punctured the thin skins of Moslems worldwide can be read here.

Surprise, surprise, surprise. The Pope's speech was not about Islam at all. The story of the Byzantine Emperor and the Persian scholar was merely a jumping off point for a reflection on reason and faith. After speaking of the interplay between reason and faith in the West in history and today, the Pope concluded his talk by referring back to the Emperor's statement that "'Not to act reasonably (with logos) is contrary to the nature of God,...'" The Pope then invited dialogue between cultures "... to this great logos, to this breadth of reason ..." The angry denunciations from Moslems worldwide is probably not the reasoned dialogue he was hoping for.

Will he get a reasoned response to this?

"... The scientific ethos, moreover, is the will to be obedient to the truth, and, as such, it embodies an attitude which reflects one of the basic tenets of Christianity.

"The intention here is not one of retrenchment or negative criticism, but of broadening our concept of reason and its application. While we rejoice in the new possibilities open to humanity, we also see the dangers arising from these possibilities and we must ask ourselves how we can overcome them.

"We will succeed in doing so only if reason and faith come together in a new way, if we overcome the self-imposed limitation of reason to the empirically verifiable, and if we once more disclose its vast horizons. In this sense theology rightly belongs in the university and within the wide-ranging dialogue of sciences, not merely as a historical discipline and one of the human sciences, but precisely as theology, as inquiry into the rationality of faith.

"Only thus do we become capable of that genuine dialogue of cultures and religions so urgently needed today. In the Western world it is widely held that only positivistic reason and the forms of philosophy based on it are universally valid. Yet the world's profoundly religious cultures see this exclusion of the divine from the universality of reason as an attack on their most profound convictions.

"A reason which is deaf to the divine and which relegates religion into the realm of subcultures is incapable of entering into the dialogue of cultures. At the same time, as I have attempted to show, modern scientific reason with its intrinsically Platonic element bears within itself a question which points beyond itself and beyond the possibilities of its methodology. Modern scientific reason quite simply has to accept the rational structure of matter and the correspondence between our spirit and the prevailing rational structures of nature as a given, on which its methodology has to be based.

"Yet the question why this has to be so is a real question, and one which has to be remanded by the natural sciences to other modes and planes of thought -- to philosophy and theology. For philosophy and, albeit in a different way, for theology, listening to the great experiences and insights of the religious traditions of humanity, and those of the Christian faith in particular, is a source of knowledge, and to ignore it would be an unacceptable restriction of our listening and responding."

-tdr

Technorati: Islam, Pope, Science, Skepticism.

So, What Else Is New?

Moslems worldwide are reacting in anger to the Pope's criticism of using violence to spread religion. (Here.) The reaction is entirely predictable. Moslems will brook no criticism of their religion, especially when it strikes close to home. You can read excerpts of the Pope's remarks here.

The Pope's statement that has Moslems in a rage once again is a quote from a 14th Century Byzantine emperor who said:

"'Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.'"

The Pope continues:

"The emperor, after having expressed himself so forcefully, goes on to explain in detail the reasons why spreading the faith through violence is something unreasonable. Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul. 'God,' he says, 'is not pleased by blood - and not acting reasonably is contrary to God's nature. Faith is born of the soul, not the body. Whoever would lead someone to faith needs the ability to speak well and to reason properly, without violence and threats.'"

There's nothing unreasonable about the Pope's remarks and they are especially relevant today. Just recently two Fox News reporters were coerced into "converting" to Islam at gunpoint by Islamist terrorists in the Palestinian territories.

There's another dark irony to this latest controversy about the violent history of Islam's relations with The West. The Byzantine Emperor's remarks were made in 1391. A little over 60 years later, in 1453, Moslem armies captured Constantinople, ended the Byzantine Empire, and made the city the capital of the Moslem Ottoman Empire.

-tdr

Technorati: Islam, jihad, Pope.

Social Injustice From Personal Irresponsibility

A new study shows great disparities within the United States in longevity. (Story here, study here.) Such disparities could be said to reveal social injustice in our society among classes, sexes, and races. But what's most interesting about the story is how much personal behavior is responsible for creating the disparities.

"Moreover, the longevity gaps have stayed about the same for 20 years despite increasing national efforts to eliminate obvious racial and ethnic health disparities, he found.

Murray was surprised to find that lack of health insurance explained only a small portion of those gaps. Instead, differences in alcohol and tobacco use, blood pressure, cholesterol and obesity seemed to drive death rates."

-tdr

Technorati: Social Justice, Health Care.

"Are We Safe" Is The Wrong Question

The Council on Foreign Relations' website hosts a special report that asks a number of experts "are we safe yet?" (Here, here, and here.) That's the wrong question. So long as the current crop of terrorists remain alive and active we can never be safe. It is impossible to protect a large free country from every terrorist attack.

"How do we win" is the question that should be asked because victory is the only guarantee of safety.

-tdr

Technorati: Terrorism, War.

The Real Shame Five Years After 9/11

Keith Olbermann used his platform as a news reader Monday night to deliver a partisan rant against the Bush Administration. (Here.) Its early paragraphs complained that five years after 9/11 there is no memorial or new building at the site of the former World Trade Center.

"Five years later this space is still empty.

Five years later there is no memorial to the dead.

Five years later there is no building rising to show with proud defiance that we would not have our America wrung from us, by cowards and criminals.

Five years later this country's wound is still open.

Five years later this country's mass grave is still unmarked.

Five years later this is still just a background for a photo-op.

It is beyond shameful."

Actually, there's no shame in it at all. We are still fighting the war brought home to our country by the attacks on 9/11. The time for memorials will be after the war is over.

The real shame in our country is that five years after 9/11 there is no bipartisan consensus over how to fight this war, and what victory will look like. For that, the blame can be spread far and wide among both Republicans and Democrats.

-tdr

Technorati: Terrorism, War, Bush, Olbermann.

On The Road And Offline.

Heading to the Bay Area for a family visit and to watch the Padres play the Giants in San Francisco on Friday night. Leaving the computer at home.

-tdr

Fascism, Extremism, Islamism, Whatever. Let's Just Kill 'Em And Let The Lexicographers Sort It Out.

Apparently the President spoke today about the war today and didn't use the word fascism to describe our enemies. (Here.) Calling our enemy Islamic Fascism or Islamo-fascism apparently bent some people out of shape. Patrick Buchanan, for instance. (Here.)

Buchanan's commentary is absurd. He starts by arguing that fascism can't be defined. Here's an adequate definition:

"1. (sometimes initial capital letter) a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism. ..."

Okay, maybe our Islamist enemies aren't fascists because they don't have that single dictator thing. The rest of the definition fits pretty well, however.

Buchanan then spills a lot of words whining about the leftist tendency to slur conservatives as fascists and suggests the word is being applied to our terrorist enemies because of the nefarious neocons, who used to be lefties. Apparently, it's just old leftie habits. Here's a question? When exactly were Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Bush lefties again?

Buchanan then says that Syria is not an Islamic Fascist state and neither was Saddam's Iraq. Okay, fine, they aren't religious dictatorships the way Afghanistan was. How about plain old fascists then? Baathist rule in Syria and Iraq certainly fits the definition of fascism.

Buchanan finally gets around to discussing our terrorist enemy and betrays an abysmmal ignorance of Al Qaeda's war aims. He says the goal is to get America and Europe out of the Middle East. But that's not the final goal. Al Qaeda wants the West out of the Middle East in order to try and overthrow the regimes in the region and replace them with Islamist governments. Afghanistan was their utopia and they want to replicate it throughout the Middle East.

Buchanan then betrays an appalling ignorance of Syria's and Iran's tactics.

"Why did the Ayatollah let the American hostages go, as Reagan raised his right hand to take the oath of office? Why did Syria not rush to the rescue of Hezbollah? What [sic] did Ahmadinejad not rocket Tel Aviv in solidarity with his embattled allies in Lebanon? Res ipse loquitor. The thing speaks for itself. They don't want war with Israel, and they don't want war with the United States."

What Buchanan misses is that Syria and Iran already are fighting a war through their proxy paramilitary groups, like Hamas and Hezbollah.

Buchanan continues with this:

"'Islamo-fascism' should be jettisoned from Bush's vocabulary. It yokes the faith of a billion people with an odious ideology. Imagine how Christians would have reacted, had FDR taken to declaring Franco's Spain and Mussolini's Italy "Christo-fascist."

One wonders if Buchanan has ever listened to a single thing Osama Bin Laden, to name an example, has ever said. He and his fellow travelers specifically claim to be fighting a jihad against non-Muslims in the name of Islam and of Allah, and recently, their message has been, convert to Islam and we won't fight you. Their objectives are specifically religious, inspired by their view of Islam.

Finally, the term Islamic Fascism or Islamo Fascism does not yoke the faith of a billion people with fascist ideology. Instead it differentiates Islam from the terrorists, while still recognizing the obvious truth that the terrorists get their inspiration from their Islamic religious views.

Buchanan did say one thing worthwhile about our enemies:

"They are out to kill us, and we have to get them first."

Can we get an "Amen" here?

-tdr

Technorati: Bush, Islam, Terrorism, War.

Legalizing Illegal Aliens Benefits American Workers

The San Diego Union Tribune contributes an objective analysis of the costs and benefits of illegal immigration. (Here.) There are costs associated with illegal immigration but there are benefits too. More importantly, legalizing illegal aliens would benefit American workers. For instance:

"History shows that wages rise after undocumented workers are legalized, as they did after the government offered amnesty to 2.7 million undocumented workers in 1986. Within five years, real wages of formerly undocumented workers rose an average of 15 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Wages for many of the jobs had been declining prior to legalization.

Wages would also rise for native-born workers or legal immigrants who work in similar jobs. A University of California Los Angeles study five years ago estimated that if undocumented workers were legalized, wages for all workers would rise by about 5 percent in agriculture, 2.75 percent in services and 2.5 percent in manufacturing.

Legal immigrants or native-born workers who lack the skills or education to qualify for less-strenuous work would be the beneficiaries, economists say."

Anti-immigration demagogues who profess to care about the American worker should take note.

-tdr

Technorati: Immigration.

Iranian President Adamant Jihad And The White Jacket.

What is up with the white windbreaker? Every day it's the same damn jacket. Does he own one or a whole closet full? Did he loan his wardrobe to the Hidden Imam and he's waiting for the imam to return and give him back his clothes? Maybe it's a tyrant thing. Mao had his suit, Castro had his fatigues, and Ahmadinejad has his favorite windbreaker.

-tdr

Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)

Technorati: Iran.

Big Pitch Little Hit Wins One For The Padres Today

The Pads beat the Reds today, but barely. (Here.) Weak-hitting San Diego took the game 2-1 when a Josh Bard grounder just made it through the infield with the bases loaded.

The hefty lefty David Wells pitched a strong six innings, and Cla Meredith, and Trevor Hoffman nailed down the victory. Meredith is nearly unhittable this year.

Portly pitcher Wells pitched well but was an embarrassment on the bases when he got thrown out by a mile at home plate in one inning. The defense of the southpaw with the masticating maw was a bit off too when he was slow coming off the mound in another inning allowing a bunt single. But overall, the beer-bellied mercenary hurler earned his money today.

-tdr

PS: Today's victory raised the Padres record to 8-10 for home games with Mister Americano in the stands. They're 1-0 when Mister Americano follows them on the road due to a victory in Anaheim. I'll be at Wednesday's game against the Rockies in San Diego and Friday's against the Giants in San Francisco on Friday.

Technorati: Baseball, MLB, Padres.

David Wells, The Padres, And The Playoffs.

Mister Americano is going to today's Padres game against the Reds. David Wells is set to start his first game for the Padres this year.

Judging by the talk radio phone calls, Padres fans are excited about Boomer "coming home" to San Diego. Count this fan out.

Last year, the Padres needed Wells more than they need him this year but he wasn't around because two years ago Wells abandoned the Padres for the Red Sox. So much for home town loyalty.

The Pads remain ahead in the Wild Card race but have fallen four games behind the Dodgers in the Western Division. San Diego's weakness all year has been hitting. Pitching has been the team's strength.

Two trading deadlines have come and gone now and what have the Padres done to increase the team's chances for the playoffs? Not much, really. Russell Branyan and Todd Walker to play third base. Both players are looking pretty good so far but neither is an impact player and the team still considers third base a hole that needs filling.

The one impact player the Padres picked up is Wells. The portly player is a proven playoff pitcher. But the team has to make it to the playoffs first. Wells is a starting pitcher so he will play every five days. He's not going to make an impact day to day the way a proven major league hitter would have.

That being said, the trade is not bad for the team. If Wells performs like he has in the past month for Boston, his addition will be positive. The team has not given up much to get him in George Kotteras, a minor league catching prospect. The Pads are strong behind the plate and won't miss his loss much.

Nevertheless, the team has done next to nothing to fortify its weak hitting and instead has done what it always does, concentrate on strengthening their already formidable pitching staff. The team has a shot at the playoffs through the Wild Card but it will be lucky if it makes it far in the playoffs. Pitching keeps you in the game, but it's hitting that wins the game and this team doesn't hit.

-tdr

Technorati: Baseball, MLB, Padres.

An Armed Population Is Not Enough To Guarantee Safety Or Freedom.

It's a given of gun-rights supporters in the United States that a well-armed population is a guarantor of freedom and is safer from crime than an unarmed population. Middle Eastern societies prove that more is needed. Gaza is the latest example.

"In Khan Yunis, a gritty southern Gaza city that features a thriving gunrunning trade, Brig. Gen. Mustafa Wafi's police force struggles to keep up. 'People have a lot of weapons, and the slightest things set them off,' he said. Thefts, burglaries and violent neighborhood arguments in Gaza City have risen 70% in recent months, one police officer estimated. Many of the new offenders are teenagers whose families can no longer provide spending money. Their favorite targets: car stereos, generators and especially cellphones. 'It used to be one or two cases a day in our area. Now it's at least four or five,' said the officer, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record. 'It started once the salaries stopped being paid.'" (Here.)

America's population is well-armed and relatively safe. Our society remains free after 200 years of republican self-government. The second amendment's right to bear arms guarantees that individuals will have the means to protect themselves. However, that is not enough to guarantee safety from crime and freedom from tyranny. One man alone, even armed with the latest firearms, is no match for an out of control mob, for equally-armed criminals, or a tyrant's police force.

-tdr

Technorati: Firearms, Freedom, Second Amendment.