Why are you surprised at Erdogan's behavior?

Thanks to Iron V for the link!

via CBS.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has come under criticism for telling a small girl dressed in a military uniform that she would be honored if she were "martyred" for Turkey.

Erdogan spotted the weeping-and-saluting 6-year-old Amine Tiras while delivering a speech at his ruling party's congress in the city of Kahramanmaras on Saturday, and had her brought on stage.

After trying to comfort the girl by kissing her on both cheeks, Erdogan told the crowd: "She has the Turkish flag in her pocket. If she becomes a martyr, God willing, this flag will be draped on her."

Some people were appalled and took to Twitter to criticize the president.

Story here.

After making a run this morning I've been back reviewing comments and this came up repeatedly.

My question is why are you surprised?

We saw similar type behavior all over the Middle East.  The former ruler of Iraq did it.  We've seen something similar in Iran.  Ditto in Syria.

It's part and parcel of the region.

Additionally while the Turkish people might have a Western view of protecting their children, how can we expect the same of a guy that wants to rebuild the Turkish empire?

If he is to achieve his goals then many children will probably have to die.

We should be past being shocked and surprised by evil.

We need to look it in the eye and confront it when necessary.  The time for playing games and patience has long passed.  Both at home and overseas.

Piranha 5.......8X8 Wheeled Armoured Vehicle Desert Testing

Arming teachers the answer? Talked to a subject matter expert and I'm not so sure anymore....

Hey guys.

This morning I had a chance to talk to a subject matter expert.  This bubba is a former Marine, Law Enforcement and now teaches both police and civilians in responding to active shooters.

Guess what he told me on the subject of arming teachers (this is the crib notes...he laid it out much better than I am here).

*  Culture.

The teaching culture would require a complete rethink.  They have issues enough dealing with fist fights and other drama at school.  Now we're gonna ask them to deal with an active shooter?

* Training.

If we're gonna have armed teachers then we should expect them to have the same training as law enforcement.  Remember we're giving them loaded weapons and asking them to have those weapons around our children. That means they're gonna need proficient in weapons retention, clearing rooms and close quarters combat.

* Mentality.

We're asking the same people that we expect to hug and kiss our babies (talking elementary school kids) when they get a bruised knee, and then asking them to engage a suspect?

* Cost.

Teachers are already saddled with extensive training...costly training to perform their primary job.  Which school district is gonna pay for this additional training?  Remember it has to be up to a certain standard before we turn these people loose with weapons inside a school.  This will not be cheap.

Long short?

The "arming the teachers" mantra isn't as simple as it sounds.  There is alot to consider and for it to work properly we're going to have develop training standards, deal with the current teaching culture, somehow develop the proper combat mentality in nurtures and absorb a pretty heft cost.

As much as I hate to say it, this probably isn't the right idea.

Better to have properly trained and motivated School Resource Officers handle the threat.

Gun Control News. Congress seeks new laws instead of holding govt accountable! TYPICAL!

I continue to be amazed and perplexed.  The gun grabbers (many have spoken up here...many are from foreign countries...many are from slave states and masquerade as 2nd Amendment supporters) are still seeking to "control guns".

Congress seeks new laws.

They all fail to hold govt responsible for this tragedy.

We saw the system totally fail the citizenry but just like the Nazis they are they seek to control other people instead of fixing the thing they support most.

Big govt.

The FBI failed.

The Sheriff's Dept failed.

The School failed.

The Mental Health/Social Work system failed.

Yet Trump, Dems, some Republicans and the great unwashed, pussified masses think that more laws will work?

They totally surrendered on Marijuana in New York, California and other liberal bastions.  They release criminals from jail early.  They seek to give felons voting rights again.  In certain locations (Chicago) they have draconian gun laws yet don't prosecute to the fullest and have seen the crime problem skyrocket.

Now they seek to criminalize me and people like me even though we've done nothing wrong?

This is how you make good people go bad.  Rant over.

Open Comment Post. Feb 27, 2018

Saudi Arabia does what we don't. Fire Generals that lose wars!

via Business Insider.

Saudi Arabia replaced several top military commanders, including the chief of staff and the heads of ground and air forces, in the latest overhaul of traditional power centers in the oil-rich kingdom.

No reason was given for the changes, which were announced in a series of late-night royal decrees approved by King Salman on Monday. Several civilian officials, including deputy ministers, were also replaced.

Story here.

Interesting.

Saudi Arabia does what we don't.  Fire Generals that lose wars!

It is beyond my comprehension how we can have a whole series of leaders that failed to seal the deal in Afghanistan.  We've trained so many of their people that the total number would probably equal the entire US Army.  We've invested so much money that we could probably have rebuilt entire swaths of our country.

Yet the misery continues.

The House of Saud is corrupt beyond measure.  They play a dangerous game of supporting terrorists yet at the sametime buying a measure of protection by purchasing weapons from all over.

Having said all that they still got this right.

If you can't do the job then get out the way and give someone else a chance.

The few are more worthy than the many? Controversy in Texas state wrestling!

via Heavy.

For the second consecutive year, a transgender wrestler has captured the Texas girls’ Class 6A 110-pound state championship. Mack Beggs capped off another undefeated season on Feb. 24 by defeating Chelsea Sanchez in the title match for the second year in a row.

Beggs was born female, but currently transitioning to male and is taking a low dose of testosterone. He has advocated for his desire to compete against the boys, however state policy says students must compete against the gender listed on their birth certificate.

The senior at Euless Trinity High School near Dallas was greeted to a mix of cheers and boos following his most recent state title victory.

Story here. 

I don't know your stance on the Transgender issue.

I don't care.

What I do know is that allowing a person to live a fiction is one thing.  To FORCE the rest of society to go along is something else.

This smacks of unfairness on so many levels.  The only real solution is for him to be disqualified from competition until he completes his transition.

Meanwhile, for the sake of a few, the many are punished.  In this case its the female wrestlers in Texas.  Who's next?  More importantly is this "new civil right" based in reality or are we forcing fiction on the society and expecting everyone to obey?  Additionally who is the victim here.  The female transitioning to male taking test or the females that are natural?

Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering's Barys 8x8 APC Undergoing Winter Testing

Open Comment Post. Feb 26, 2018

Sheriff Israel's jackassery continues! Check out this tweet from a reporter in the area!

Thanks to Eric for the link!

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel refusing to resign telling @nbc6: "I gave him a gun. I gave him a badge. I gave him the training. If he didn’t have the heart to go in, that’s not my responsibility." Clip from our one-on-one interview below. #DouglasHighSchool pic.twitter.com/FV5Gn0ZEBY

— Erika Glover 🎥 (@ErikaGloverNBC6) February 25, 2018

Yeah I'm gonna continue to beat on this drum boys!  This is about culture, heritage, civil rights and freedom.

I will not be a slave.  I will not comply.

Trump is making a mistake if he believes he has "room" to compromise on this issue.

He doesn't.

The left think they have mounted a resistance?  Well trust me on this one.  Gun Owners of America is working the problem and I WILL MOBILIZE on this.

If certain Republicans and a whole slew of Democrats need to lose their jobs over this then so be it.  Some things you just don't fuck with.

As far as this piece of shit Sheriff?  There is a special place in hell for this type of individual.  I hope he receives a proper welcome.