Community Blogs
The blog is a view of life, science, politics and education from an engineering perspective. As engineers, we are taught to view the world objectively. We can hope, believe and calculate a particular outcome, but natural laws are inflexible and pay no heed to who we are or what we believe. We must approach the objective dispassionately, while compensating for our own distorted perceptions. Balance is also a key element; balancing between the ideal and the pragmatic, balancing cost and functionality, balancing analysis with action, etc.
Scheduling routine critical self-analysis is the foundation to objectivity. If we do not fully understand and compensate for our own failures, tendencies, habits and skewed thought processes, we will not see the world as it is. Without a regular critical self-analysis we will see the world as we are and then fall prey to self-delusion.
Failure is a great teacher. When failure is coupled with perseverance, it produces the fruit of patience and humility. An engineer, fresh out of engineering school is typically set up for failure early and often. The failure breaks the new engineer of any ideas of self-importance, arrogance and book smarts. Only then can the new engineer be formed and molded into a productive element in the industry.
Thanks,
Bernie
The Benghazi attack
Benghazi attack timeline
- April 6, 2012: Consulate attacked with EIDs
- April 7, 2012: Ambassador Chris Steven asks for DC3 and a security team
- May 3, 2012: State department turns down Stevens’ request for DC3 and security
- May 22, 2012: The Red Cross in Benghazi is attacked. Al-Qaida leaves message of further attacks
- June 6, 2012: Terrorists blow a hole in the consulate wall. Stevens again requests beefed up security.
- June 10, 2012: The British ambassador survives an assassination attempt
- June 15, 2012: State Dept tells the security contractor, Nordstrom, that the security contract will not be renewed.
- June 22, 2012: Ambassador Chris Stevens warns the State Dept that extremist groups are operating openly in Benghazi and Libya as a whole
- July 9, 2012: Ambassador Chris Stevens requests at least 13 more security personnel, citing an unpredictable situation in Libya
- July 21, 2012: Security contractor, Nordstrom, warns State Dept to be on high alert for terrorist activity
- August 2, 2012: Ambassador Chris Stevens sends urgent cable to Secretary Clinton requesting “protective detail bodyguard”
- August 5, 2012: State Dept orders the removal of the security team, Nordstrom
- August 16, 2012: Security team leaves while sending a message directly to Secretary Clinton of the dire security situation
- September 8, 2012: Libyan officials in Benghazi warn both Ambassador Stevens and Secretary Clinton of a pending attack on the consulate
- September 10, 2012: Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahri calls for Libyans to avenge the death of Abu Yahya al-Libi
- September 11, 2012: 19:08: Ambassador Chris Stevens sends urgent cable to State Dept of hostile crowd gathering at the gate of the consulate
- September 11, 2012: 19:30: Ambassador Chris Stevens meets with Turkish diplomats seeking help and refuge
- September 11, 2012: 21:45: Ambassador Chris Stevens calls Tripoli as shots are being fired
- September 11, 2012: 22:05: State dept notifies the White House and Pentagon of the attack at the consulate
- September 11, 2012: 22:45: The CIA office in Benghazi makes the first of four urgent calls to the State Dept and Pentagon. In each case they were told to stand down.
- September 11, 2012: 23:00: Obama, Biden, Clinton, Panetta meet at White House for a debriefing
- September 11, 2012: 1:08: Body of Chris Stevens found and taken to hospital
- September 11, 2012: 2:23: Ansar al-Sharia takes credit for the attack
- September 11, 2012: 3:55: Doherty and Woods killed on roof of annex
- September 11, 2012: 22:00: Secretary Clinton sends out note suggesting the Internet video is responsible for the violence
- September 12, 2012: 10:50: Obama and Clinton meet at the State Department
- September 12, 2012: 18:00: Obama arrived in Las Vegas for a fundraiser
- September 13, 2012: At a press conference, Jay Carney blames YouTube video for the violence
- September 14, 2012: Jay Carney claims that there was no advance warning of attack “no actionable intelligence indicating that an attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi was planned or imminent.”
- September 14, 2012: Arwa Damon of CNN finds the diary of Chris Stevens
- September 20, 2012: Clinton and Obama go on Pakistani TV to apologize for the internet video
- September 25, 2012: Obama addresses the UN blaming the video for the attack
- September 27, 2012: Innocence of Muslims filmmaker Mark Basseley Youseff (aka Nakoula Basseley Nakoula) is arrested and denied bail
- October 11, 2012: In VP debates, Biden claims that he was not aware of requests for security in Benghazi
- October 23, 2012: In the final presidential debate Obama said the event would be investigated to determine the cause of the attack; “So far, we don’t have any details…”
- October 26, 2012: Obama claims that he was not aware of requests for additional security in Benghazi
- October 26, 2012: At funeral of Navy Seal Ty Woods, Biden asks grieving father, “Did your son always have balls the size of cue balls?”
Information taken from released portions of Chris Stevens’ diary, congressional hearings, statements provided by General Ham and UKs Dailymail
In my September 21st blog, I was appalled at the attempts by the administration to use the YouTube video as cover for the attack. I didn’t believe a word from Clinton or Obama; my BS detector was pegged. Unfortunately, we have many people (mostly journalists and media types) in this country who pretty much believe everything this administration spews out.
Many on the right want to impeach Obama for criminal negligence; however I believe that this is gross incompetence rather than criminal behavior. In either case, this event indicates that Obama does not deserve four more years.
We encourage your comments but will strive to remove discussion that contains personal attacks, racial slurs, profanity or other inappropriate material as outlined in our guidelines. We post-moderate comments on most content, but may choose to pre-moderate some comments so please be patient if you don't see yours appear right way. We also ask for your help by reporting comments you think are inappropriate.
- Moses' Song (45)
- NSA wire tap (108)
- McCain and the terrorists (168)
- Power of the ballot box (50)
- The Raw Milk Debate (192)
- Congressional hearings (79)
- Israeli attack on Syria (101)
- The reserve currency (121)
- Who Is Dzhokhar Tsarnaev? (185)
- The Boston tragedy (6)
- More The Engineering Perspective posts
43 Comments
MGarber - Nov 05, 2012 7:46 AM
So can we expect her to be put into storage for the winter?
Hope springs eternal.
MGarber - Nov 05, 2012 10:48 AM
I personally didnt mind the tone (I appreciate folk who dont mince words), but it was the whole "their bad behavior justifies my bad behavior" thing that took me aback. I guess it all fits under the "an eye for an eye" doctorine. What, however, will we do when everyone is eyeless??
jhayett - Nov 05, 2012 2:16 PM
http://youtu.be/Mg-e71IDAUw
MGarber - Nov 05, 2012 2:29 PM
Some Judge Judy wannabe with no more knowledge of what exactly happened than you or me or my cat, thinks she should double down her marketability by becoming an ideologue.
Yeah; thats gonna work out real good for her.
Im not sure what exactly you think it sums up, though.
jhayett - Nov 05, 2012 3:45 PM
jhayett - Nov 05, 2012 3:59 PM
"For nearly two weeks, the Obama team claimed the attack on the U.S. compound in Benghazi resulted from “spontaneous protests” in response to an anti-Muslim video. That was false — and Mr. Obama knew it. Several senior State Department officials testified at congressional hearings that there were no protests on Sept. 11, 2012. In fact, our diplomatic mission had been quiet all day. Moreover, the State Department was monitoring the compound practically in real time. On video, State Department officials witnessed scores of armed men breach the consulate and begin shooting at our diplomats. The officials’ obvious conclusion: It was a terrorist assault. Within 24 hours, the CIA’s station chief in Libya also reported jihadists had perpetrated the attack.
The latest evidence, however, is a bombshell: Two hours after the assault began, the State Department sent an email to numerous agencies — including the White House Situation Room — that Ansar al-Sharia, a terrorist group affiliated with al Qaeda, had claimed responsibility"
http://www.thetribunepapers.com/2012/11/05/benghazi-being-swept-under-the-rug/
pretty much confims Bernies facts. hey MGarber?
MGarber - Nov 05, 2012 6:31 PM
What happened to the "stand down" order?
"WOW!"
Wow yourself.
jhayett - Nov 05, 2012 7:51 PM
"The latest evidence, however, is a bombshell: Two hours after the assault began, the State Department sent an email to numerous agencies — including the White House Situation Room — that Ansar al-Sharia, a terrorist group affiliated with al Qaeda, had claimed responsibility"
MGarber - Nov 05, 2012 9:19 PM
Not everyone jumps to conclusions like you do, Jim.
Facts, often multiple corraborating facts, Jim, have to be put together carefully in a context to reveal a truth.
Im much more concerned that the actual parties be brought to justice, and Im confident that they will, as opposed to what sound bite was released in the early moments of the tragedy.
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 05, 2012 10:35 PM
Here is one for you to contemplate -
“If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it.”
― Stephen Colbert
I particularly like the tone of his comment.
jhayett - Nov 06, 2012 1:25 AM
Mgarber, you must be this week’s Kool Aid czar
Bernie Ziebart - Nov 06, 2012 6:26 AM
I brought up the Benghazi situation to point out very poor decision making skills by the State department and White House. Considering that we are in an election cycle, it is appropriate to weigh the pros and cons of both candidates. This happens to be a con of one of the candidates. An issue by issue analysis is appropriate and necessary.
If you step back and take in the larger picture of this event you can make no other observation but that this administration is incompetent.
Pierre,
What is your definition of helping the poor? If you define it as government handouts, I am afraid that you have not observed the deterioration of the inner city over the past 30 years. Stephen Colbert is a demogogue; telling lies to people that he knows to be idiots.
Your solution to helping the poor has not worked. It has made things far worse. In fact, I would argue that the black family was better off prior to Johnson's 'great society' that it is today.
jhayett - Nov 06, 2012 7:25 AM
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 06, 2012 9:52 AM
I forgot, who was it that said - "The poor will be with you always."
I think your problem Bernie has to do with the fact that you believe more in karma than you do Christianity.
If you are poor - it is your own fault because if you work hard and play by the rules - you wouldn't be poor. When government hands you a food stamp, it just rewards your laziness.
In your worldview - government is in conflict with karma. Right Bernie? Karma needs to be free, unencumbered by government, to work it's socioeconomic justice. It is just the natural order of things.
So, do we just ignore the poor and hope they fade into the woodwork (inner city)?
Do we sit back and hope that the neediest can grab onto one of those private sector "thousand points of light?"
Read some history Bernie - We tried that social Darwinism and it was quite ugly. Are you willing to accept the "Slums of Calcutta" in the richest country in the world?
I would recommend you read a biography of Mother Teresa of Calcutta if you want an example of what the presence of Jesus Christ looks like in someone's life.
But then again - maybe all she ever did was "encourage" all that abject poverty. Is that what you are thinking Bernie?
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 06, 2012 9:58 AM
"Give a man a fish - you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish - then watch him spend the rest of his life in a boat drinking beer!"
WFB resident - Nov 06, 2012 7:04 PM
looking at Karma is quite dysfunctional !
Bernie Ziebart - Nov 07, 2012 6:45 AM
In your world view, getting a degree in East African art is just as valid as a degree in accounting. Of course you have the freedom to pursue what you want, but one option will get you a job and the other won't.
In your world view, deciding not to learn to read or write is just as valid as risking everything to start a business. The person who can't read or write lives comfortably in government provided housing, food stamps, medical care, etc. As far as the person is concerned the right choice was made because he didn't have to get up at 5 am, get to bed after midnight, 7 days a week, clawing and scratching to build a business with little chance of making money for 2 or 3 years.
The business person who provides a good or service is beneficial to society and should be rewarded. The person who makes the choice not to learn to read or write should be allowed to fail. Others will see that failure and make the decision not to go that route.
My world view is about liberty, personal freedom and the freedom to fail.
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 07, 2012 10:39 AM
Your Austrian School world-view is all about Karma - But you are too blind to even see it.
I do detect a strong odor of resentment in your response.
Why should you have to pay your "hard-earned money" in taxes to support all those lazy, good-for-nothing, freeloading members of society? That is not the way Karma is suppose to work - Right Bernie?
Producers versus parasites, Bernie - all those good works the "job Creators" cast out into the universe come back to reward them "justly."
And all those parasites - if they are happy living on an unearned subsistence income, then that income is far too much.
If you are concerned the safety net has become a hammock, then let's just do away with the safety net.
Right, Bernie?
Adam Smith's ""Invisible Hand" is just the capitalist notion of Karma. You just haven't figured it out yet, Bernie.
MGarber - Nov 07, 2012 12:08 PM
That cant possibly be true (can it, PDN??). I wish you would stop telling people what they think. It indicates lazy and flawed thinking.