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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.
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43 Comments
Victor Ponelis - Nov 03, 2012 8:19 AM
you are selectively condemning Obama, whereas withering criticism of his
predecessor is more warranted.
WFB resident - Nov 03, 2012 8:55 AM
be telling the truth to the public ! Bush did not have a cover up even with the media
trying to find him in one !!! Now we know that Bush was not guilty of being
incompetent !!! Now we have the o and he is all of those !!!!!! lol... grow up vic and
put your big boy pants on ! The information above is from the state dept. Not made
up talk like all the bull on Bush ! lol...
dregstudios - Nov 03, 2012 11:12 AM
instrumented as a ruse to create doubt of Obama’s leadership. Public access to real
facts is being whitewashed by this rhetoric while conservative hands paint the
Blackface on our President. Watch them mix and apply the paints to his face in a
portrait of Obama being Bamboozed by the Far Right at
http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2012/10/bamboozling-obama.html
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 03, 2012 12:05 PM
Here is your key -
"According to documents released by the House Oversight Committee, when the Undersecretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy signed an order last December to maintain a presence in the Benghazi compound for another year, his official memo counted 35 "U.S. government personnel," of whom only eight were State Department. Many of the rest were secretly with the CIA, the official confirmed."
"The U.S. official noted that at no point in the October congressional hearing did any of the State Department officials testifying use the word "consulate" to describe the Benghazi compound. This was no accident. In fact, the compound served little routine diplomatic purpose, and was largely under the operational control of the CIA."
I would only caution - there is a lot going on here that we will never know due to the highly classified nature of what was going on at the "compound", not "consulate", in Benghazi.
Between the "Fog of War", "Classified Intelligence", and the desperate attempt by the republicans "Politicize" this unfortunate event, you are just jousting at windmills here Bernie.
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 03, 2012 12:14 PM
I am sure you were just as outraged when Bush received his Presidential Daily Briefing in August of 2001 that said - "al Qaeda was determined to attack the United States, possibly using airplanes."
Unfortunately, Ole Georgie Boy was on vacation at his ranch in Texas when he received that PDB, and, well, he had some "brush to clear" up there on the north 40.
WFB resident - Nov 03, 2012 2:21 PM
Bernie Ziebart - Nov 03, 2012 2:49 PM
"Anytime a U.S. ambassador and three other Americans who were serving our country get killed, we have to figure out what happened and fix it."
“I guarantee you that everybody in the State Department, our military, CIA, you name it, had number-one priority making sure that people were safe. These are our folks. And we’re going to find out exactly what happened.”
"We need to investigate exactly what happened."
"What I was always clear about was we are going to do an investigation and figure out what happened." "We can't jump to conclusions."
Pierre,
If this Benghazi attack had ocurred under a Republican administration, the Democrats would have politicized it as well. Don't get holier than thou with me.
There is not much that happened during the Bush years that wasn't politicized by the media.
MGarber - Nov 03, 2012 8:53 PM
So that justifies it??? That make it acceptable???
That sounds like something Jim or Amy would (and almost daily) say.
What would your mentor, JC, want you to do?
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 03, 2012 11:18 PM
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 03, 2012 11:22 PM
Are you reflecting the presence of Jesus Christ in your life?
Just a thought, Bernie.
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 03, 2012 11:29 PM
I know you want to encourage everyone to be self-sufficient - WHAT ABOUT THE DIVORCED MOTHER OF THREE IN THE INNER- CITY? - WHERE DOES SHE FIT INTO
YOUR WAUKKESHA-COUNTY WORLD VIEW?
WFB resident - Nov 04, 2012 8:44 AM
about it ! But since they allow their side to do such things they should not complain if
it keeps happening !!!! Lets see if you oust the louse o ? If you do not do not
complain if we get a Republican who does the same !!!!!! Presidence what a
beautiful thing ! lol...
MGarber - Nov 04, 2012 8:31 PM
MGarber - Nov 04, 2012 8:42 PM
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 04, 2012 10:24 PM
You need to know - the real identity of Ms. WFB is actually Pattie O'Furniture. Talking to her is just like talking to your patio furniture.
Thanks to GWB for that great undercover intelligence.
WFB -or, I should say Pattio - you are an absolute HOOT!!!!
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 04, 2012 10:26 PM
Bernie Ziebart - Nov 05, 2012 6:42 AM
"WHAT ABOUT THE DIVORCED MOTHER OF THREE IN THE INNER- CITY? - WHERE DOES SHE FIT INTO YOUR WAUKKESHA-COUNTY WORLD VIEW?"
Fair question. For about 3 years I was a counselor at 'New Beginnings' and at St Charles (a low security detention facility for boys). I know, first hand, the desperate nature of life for many in the inner city. Their lives are filled with hopelessness, fear and hate. One 16 year old boy told me that he will not bother to learn to read or write because he probably will not live to see his 21st birthday. So many of his friends and family have died through violence, overdose and other factors that his outlook on life is very short term. By the way, this boy never met his father and his mom is working the streets and is never at home. His grandmother and a reluctant great aunt have done most of the raising.
The scale of this problem is enormous. I help where I can. I and my church support organizations like Shalom that provide food, clothing and shelter for inner city kids. What is the answer? I really don't know. But it certainly is not the solution provided by the government. If more government handouts was the answer, things would be getting better, not worse.
I don't believe that giving people government handouts is compassionate. Handouts are demoralizing, degrading, dehumanizing. Giving people an opportunity is compassion.
Regarding my 'holier than thou' comment. That was a response to a lecture for something that you would have also done, given the opportunity. But it certainly could have been said with a nicer tone. I do apologize for the poor tone of the comment.
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.
Bernie Ziebart - Nov 07, 2012 1:12 PM
I completely disagree with your sentiments on my world view. Hard work does not equal success. Hard work, persistence and keen market principles equals success. I have started several ventures. And although I have learned much in the process, none of those ventures were not financially profitable. With the freedom to fail comes failure. But I try to learn and move on.
You had used the term 'parasites'. I wouldn't use that term. I would use the term 'people who were denied the freedom to fail by an intrusive government'. I blame government for their condition of giving them everything success would have provided to them while doing everything to insure failure.
MGarber,
I was merely helping Pierre clarify his position and then driving it to its natural outcome. He might not agree with the sentiments per se, but in effect, the principles he supports do indeed agree with those sentiments.
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 07, 2012 1:56 PM
Perhaps you could help clarify one of your own statements -
"I blame government for their condition of giving them everything success would have provided to them while doing everything to insure failure."
Maybe you could start by being more specific?
RE: Wealth of Nations" - it is a classic but it certainly is not timeless.
For example - The invisible hand is a completely fabricated construct that has been completely rejected by all but those on the very fringe of economic thought.
Another example - His three main threats to his capitalistic model - government intervention, combinations of labor, and combinations of capital. Your crowd rails about the first two, but rarely ever mention the third.
But then, whenever you can use some ancient scribbler to rationalize your radical political/economic ideology - I guess it is worth a try.
Fact is - If Adam Smith were around today, he wouldn't even agree with you Bernie.
Bernie Ziebart - Nov 07, 2012 3:44 PM
In the 'Invisible Hand' Smith wanders off of the material into more of a emotional/spiritual realm.
In the 'Wealth of Nations' Smith said that without any intervention of law the private interests and passions of men naturally lead them to divide all the different employments as nearly as possible in the proportion which is most agreeable to the interests of the whole society.
Smith also defined the free market as a society of strangers in which people co-exist in a mutually beneficial society of dispassionate people.
Smith said that private property ownership is the backbone of a free market. Ownership is "most sacred and inviolable".
Some of the things that Smith states about the division of labor I find to be off-color. In his example of the pin maker, he mocks the productivity and talents that the pin maker is able to provide to the market, outside of time and remedial effort. Any simpleton can provide that productivity. Some in the work force are incapable of "forming any just judgment concerning many even of the ordinary duties of private life".
I believe, conversely, that not everyone is going to be the company president. But there is a place for every mental/physical capacity within a company. Just like a football team; not everyone can be a quarterback. You need blocking, tackling and a punter. People rise to the level of their competence (in a perfect world without politics).