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“How do terrorist groups end? The evidence since 1968 indicates that terrorist groups rarely cease to exist as a result of winning or losing a military campaign. Rather, most groups end because of operations carried out by local police or intelligence agencies or because they join the political process. This suggests that the United States should pursue a counterterrorism strategy against al Qa’ida that emphasizes policing and intelligence gathering rather than a “war on terrorism” approach that relies heavily on military force. ”

So says a new research report from the RAND Corporation.  What is the RAND Corporation?

 From Wikipedia:  “The RAND Corporation (Research ANd Development) is a nonprofit global policy think tank first formed to offer research and analysis to the United States armed forces. The organization has since expanded to working with other governments, private foundations, international organizations, and commercial organizations. It is known for rigorous, often-quantitative, and non-partisan analysis and policy recommendations.”

The RAND Corporation has been a military think-tank since the late 40s, and they were even featured in the movie “Dr. Strangelove,” as the Bland Corporation…  In the late 70’s, as an A1C in the Air Force, I recall reading their report calling terrorism ‘global theatre.’ 

Now, after 7 years of BushCo running an endless War on Terror, it turns out John Kerry was CORRECT!  Police action is much more effective than military action.  Rove and Co. and their bumper-sticker mentality made the SANE CHOICE seem crazy… 

 Today, there is no doubt…  BushCo are liars. 

Policing and talks stop terror, not military action. 

Read Jane Mayer’s “The Dark Side.”  If you are not terrified, you are not thinking…

These people are war criminals:  George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, David Addington, John Yoo, Richard Perle, Scooter Libby, etc…  These people are Predators, Savages…  Enemies of The State.

May they face a jury of their peers…

 May history judge them…

 HAVANA (Reuters) - Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro on Wednesday said Cuba does not have to explain or “ask forgiveness” about a report out of Russia this week that Russia might use its Cold War ally Cuba as a refueling base for nuclear-capable bombers.

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 This little piggie can launch out of Cuba, not even leave Cuban airspace, and hit most of Florida, Texas and the rest of the Gulf states.  The Russians really don’t like having missiles on their border, but they are considering playing hardball.

 http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Backfire.html

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boeing Co. said on Tuesday it expected to get a new exclusive contract for the continued development of the core U.S. missile-defense system through 2013 along with a proposed new European leg designed as a hedge against Iran.

Boeing officials, speaking to reporters, declined to estimate the value of this follow-on missile-defense work for the Pentagon.

Work on the core missile-defense system has brought Boeing about $16 billion over the past 10 years. The system is the sole U.S. defense against long-range ballistic missiles that could be tipped with chemical, germ or nuclear weapons.

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Ike is rolling in his grave.  The Military/Industrial complex OWNS this administration. 

Ack!!! 

We have a go for launch!  Beginning August 5th, we will begin a series of 4 weekly ‘pilot’ shows, each running 90 minutes.  The specific time is to be determined, but we expect to have some great guests for the ‘progressive’ audience, but we invite everyone to participate… 

 You will be able to call in to the show when it is ‘live,’ and also catch it as a podcast here or from iTunes. 

It should be fun!!!

Hello, Senator McCain, care to play a little…  solitaire?

 http://www.wkbn.com/news/local/25736724.html

http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/jul/21/hundreds-honor-8216old-school8217-lawyer/

Godspeed, Patron… 

See ya,

“Myers”

Last week the city of Youngstown, The Valley of Mahoning, and the entire Nation lost one of the greatest legal minds and political characters in history.  Don L. Hanni, Jr., aka ‘The Bullmoose,’ passed away after a prolonged illness, at age 82.  He was a friend of mine…

 I last saw The Don when I was in Youngstown for my own father’s funeral in May.  Don and my Dad grew up on the same street of the East Side of Y-town, and they were about the same age.  A few years ago, my Mom was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and Dad was well into 2nd stage Alzheimer’s, so I returned to Youngstown for an extended stay.  The one bright spot every week was the regular Wednesday spaghetti lunch at the old Acme Club, where The Bullmoose held court at noon.  I started taking my Dad along, and in the presence of another old-timer from the East Side, my Dad could recall stories from high school.  He couldn’t tell you who I was or what he had for breakfast, but the long-term memories came rushing back…

The Don would tell stories and my Dad would recall details like it was yesterday.  And, of course, the Moose always bought my Dad a glass of red wine!   My Dad’s connection with The Bullmoose is a priceless memory…

In April of this year, my phone would frequently ring at midnight (CDT) and it was Don Hanni…  “Myers, we’re gonna buy a radio station!  You’re gonna run it!” Shortly thereafter, he experienced a stroke and wound up in the Cleveland Clinic. 

My Dad broke a hip, and while I was on the way to the airport, he passed away at Hospice House.  My Dad had a wonderful wake…

Following Dad’s funeral, I went to Cleveland to visit The Bullmoose.  He was very ill, but fighting like only he could…  Actually, he looked like he wasn’t a day over 60…

We walked in and he looked up at me…  I said, “Hey, Patron…”

He smiled, raised his hand and said “My man…”

He was a legend.  A great defense attorney, a judge, and Democratic Party Chairman.

He drank shots with Harry Truman.

He rode down Federal Street in Youngstown, OH in a convertable with JFK and Jackie.

He maintained a relationship with Ted Kennedy till the end… 

He entertained my Dad. 

In 2000, I did a talk show with his son, Don Hanni III, and he was a frequent caller.  Occasionally he’d just show up at the studio…  One day he walked in while Don and I were talking, and, in his best lawyer voice, asked, “What the Hell are you 2 assholes talking about?”  Live…  On-air.

He lived large.  He loved life.  And he spoke his mind.

And he acknowledged that his critics had every right to speak THEIR minds.

He loved to spar with the local newspaper, The Youngstown Vindicator, and he always said “It’s tough to argue with an opponent that buys ink by the barrel.”

Over the years, I tried to get The Don interested in doing a biography, hopefully a video documentary.  For several years, he had NO interest what-so-ever.  But, in 2006, he called me out of the blue to come down to his office, Hanni World HQ, just to talk… 

He was always a master of law, politics and history, and that EDGE never disipated.  He was always sharp as a tack.  His life is legend…

If we could have videotaped some of those conversations, we would have a history of the Democratic Party from WWII till now…  He was a player, he was a master of his domain…  He lived LARGE!

Today, Don L. Hanni, Jr. is lying ‘in state’ in the rotunda of the Mahoning County Courthouse.  He thought that was a funny idea.  But, for a man who WALKED HARD on this Earth, he deserves the honor.  I’m sure he’s smiling right now…

Godspeed, Patron…

See ya,

 ”Myers” 

Finally, we’re ready to launch our new internet talk show, Rick Myers Radio over at blogtalkradio.com.  The Internet is the future of radio, and is particularly well-suited for the talk radio genre… 

I’ll be your host, and we’ll discuss all sorts of issues, from a progressive viewpoint.  It will start as a weekly program, available ‘live’ on blogtalkradio.com, as a podcast from this blog page, or by subscription at iTunes.  As we progress, we hope to broadcast every weekday…

 I have been in and out of the radio business since 1974, and I hosted a progressive talk show in the Youngstown-Warren, OH market during the 2000 and 2004 election cycles.  I currently live in Minneapolis, MN. 

We expect to have a wide array of guests, beginning with Al Franken, Mike Malloy and Congressman Tim Ryan, to name a few.  We are also proud to be associated with the Mahoning Valley Radio Network, brainchild of our friends over at MVRed.com.

Stay tuned for the announcement of our pilot episode, Real Soon Now!!!