New job

So...I don't have anything intelligent to say about Iran or Iraq or anything political, but I would like to report that next Tuesday I have an interview for a new job (my boss thinks I'm going to an afternoon training seminar). I kind of applied out of the blue, but it's for a position that has interested me for a while. It is to be the Internal Auditor at the credit union where we have our money. I would still get to audit and stay in the financial institution industry, but would only have about a 15 minute commute every day and wouldn't have to drive all over creation in traffic. And I'd get all of the government holiday off for a change ;) And there would be fewer crazy hours...and no Saturdays!!! So pray for me next Tuesday at 2:00pm if you think about it.

Bright Ideas?

Okay people, does anyone have any ideas on how we might improve the blog? Let's put our heads together: What can we do to make it better?

I'll start: I want to be able to continue my longer posts on another page, like with a Read More... link. Then I could hide pictures and punch lines until you choose the link. I've done the research and when I get the time I'm going to try to make it happen...if you guys agree.

Now, the comment thread is open for your ideas; let's go!!!

Iran in New York

So...this finally leaked to the press. Iran's got "security guards" running around taking pictures and video taping potential targets. They're here becuase they're part of the U.N. delegation's security team. Another reason I love the U.N. so much.

interviews and boa constrictors

So if you guys check this before this time, I would really really really love prayer tomorrow (Monday) at 3:45pm--I have my first HNGR interview with a panel of professors and I am really, really nervous. Pray that I can be honest and myself, because this weekend I attended the HNGR symposium and I have realized how badly I want to do this. Dad my say I'm doing my hyperbolic extremisms again, but I think I want it more than I've ever wanted anything...

Also--Josh, someone asked my whether I had any traumatic childhood experiences, and I thought about it for a while, and a story I hadn't thought of in a while came to mind. It was only as I told it that I realized how traumatized I was. I think I've been carrying this around for a long time. Do you remember in Ecuador (no, not when we lived in Quito, don't make that joke dad...) and we were at the hanger and you gave me that little chick to hold right before it was fed to the boa constrictor? (my memery attributes you to giving it to me, telling me cute things about it, and then laughing when I was in tears, although I admit that you might not have been as involved as I am now projecting you to be. Nevertheless, you must have been involved somehow for me to remember you so clearly in this story.) Yeah, well that scarred me. I was almost in tears telling the story. But it made me laugh a little too... love ya. :]

Bye fam...

US in Afghanistan

I don't know why, but these videos of US forces in Afghanistan, doing what they do so well, just really made me proud:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=9eebb4f06c

Talking to Iran

Good Article in the Wall Street Journal today

TABLE TALK
Michael Rubin and Danielle Pletka

Iran faces a deadline today to suspend its enrichment of uranium or, according to the terms of a U.N. Security Council resolution unanimously adopted last December, face further sanctions. While it is only proper that the world wait for the deadline to pass before responding, Tehran's answer is already clear. Gholam Reza Aghzadeh, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, has said that "Iran will not comply with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737."

How will the West respond? Earlier this month Sir Richard Dalton, until recently Britain's ambassador in Tehran, called for direct talks between U.S. and Iranian officials and suggested the West modify demands that the Islamic Republic suspend uranium enrichment. Unfortunately, his eagerness for dialogue is being echoed and amplified elsewhere, especially in the wake of the Bush administration's deal to pay North Korea for similar disarmament. Needless to say, former luminaries such as ex-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and President Jimmy Carter think sitting down with the mullahs is a very good idea, Security Council resolutions notwithstanding.

Why not talk? The logic of engagement sounds good. But experience shows that engagement means something different in Iran than in the West.

In May 1992, for example, then German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel launched a "critical dialogue" with Tehran. Berlin sought to use trade and incentives to encourage the Islamic Republic to alter its behavior. And, indeed, it did. But not in the way Mr. Kinkel expected.

On Sept. 17, 1992, Iranian hit men assassinated three Iranian dissidents and their translator in a Berlin restaurant. The subsequent German investigation determined that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Foreign Minister Ali Velayati ordered the murders. What about the dialogue? "We don't give a damn about your ending the critical dialogue," said Supreme Leader Khamenei upon hearing the German court ruling. "We never sought such a dialogue."

Neither Iran's terrorism nor intelligence indications of an accelerating nuclear weapons program dampened European enthusiasm for engagement, however, especially after the election of President Muhammad Khatami and his subsequent call for a "dialogue of civilizations." "There is more to be said for trying to engage and to draw these societies into the international community than to cut them off," EU External Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten explained in February 2002. And engage they did.

Between 2000 and 2005, EU trade with Iran almost tripled. Officials from both sides of the Atlantic fawned on the "reformist" Mr. Khatami. But the rapprochement -- including an embarrassing "apology" for past American sins against Iran from Ms. Albright -- did not stop Mr. Khatami from flying to Moscow in March 2001 to sign a $7 billion arms and nuclear technology deal. Indeed, under Mr. Khatami, Tehran spent more on arms than it had under Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Iran's exploitation of engagement to advance its agenda is the rule rather than the exception. In December 2001, in the midst of what many cite as the heyday of Iran-U.S. cooperation in Afghanistan, Iranian forces dispatched 50 tons of weaponry to Palestinian militiamen to derail a U.S.- and European-brokered ceasefire between Israeli and Palestinian forces. On June 8, 2002, three days after a Palestinian Islamic Jihad suicide bus bomber killed 17 Israelis, the Islamic Republic announced a 70% increase in that group's funding.

Western efforts to game the Iranian system, in short, misunderstand the nature of politics in the Islamic Republic. Politicians rise and fall, but the supreme leader's authority remains supreme. Rhetoric notwithstanding, the president is more figurehead than commander. Factional differences add color to the Iranian scene, and there are nuances in economic and social policies. But politicians do not alter the regime's ideological underpinnings.

Upon his accession to supreme leader, analysts labeled Mr. Khamenei a weak compromise candidate. They underestimated him, and all who have attempted to encroach upon his power have found themselves marginalized. Iranians once speculated upon Tehran mayor Gholamhossein Karbaschi's meteoric rise. A stint in prison ended that.

In 2005, Mr. Khamenei rigged elections to teach frontrunner Mr. Rafsanjani a lesson. The result was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. And as Mr. Ahmadinejad himself has proven obstreperous, Mr. Khamenei has built alternative institutions to undercut him.

Still, the Iranian government is not monolithic, and many academics argue that outreach to more pragmatic factions might encourage them at the hardliners' expense. This is American mirror imaging at its worst: Mr. Ahmadinejad may be a bad guy, but that doesn't make Mr. Rafsanjani a pragmatist or Mr. Khatami a reformer. On key issues relating to nuclear enrichment and terror sponsorship, their differences are rhetorical, not substantive. Thus the "pragmatic" Mr. Rafsanjani on Feb. 1, 2007, dismissing U.N. demands to throttle back nuclear enrichment: "We will break the [international] consensus through wisdom and bravery and foil U.S. conspiracies against Iran."

Despite the Iranian government's unified commitment to forge ahead with the nuclear program, some Western observers persist in their belief that the Islamic Republic is searching for a graceful way back from the brink. They point to mounting economic hardship inside Iran and a backlash against President Ahmadinejad's demagoguery. Couldn't engagement empower his critics?

This makes no sense. Dialogue and the attendant relaxation of U.N. sanctions will strengthen and validate the Ahmadinejad regime.

Far from being susceptible to Western machinations, the Iranians have proven adept at manipulating us. Consider that, since the beginning of the current tensions, the West has retreated from demands that Iran cease conversion of yellowcake to uranium gas and end enrichment entirely to the current demand for nothing more than a temporary suspension of uranium enrichment activities. And all this while Iran funneled weapons to Hezbollah, shipped explosives into Iraq and defied Security Council resolutions.

Proposals for renewed engagement may be well-intentioned, but they are naive and dangerous, and indeed will undercut any possibility of a diplomatic solution. Let's review the current situation.

On Sept. 24, 2005, the International Atomic Energy Agency determined that Iran was in violation of its nuclear non-proliferation safeguards agreement. Still, the IAEA deferred referral to the U.N. Security Council to give diplomacy a chance. After consulting with her European partners, on May 31, 2006, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offered Tehran two ways forward: Either Iran could defy its international commitments and "incur only great costs," or it could suspend enrichment and enjoy "real benefit and longer-term security." The Iranian regime chose to forego the benefit. On Dec. 23, 2006, the U.N. Security Council unanimously imposed sanctions.

The 60-day deadline to comply with U.N. demands is up, so what next? Those eager to sit down with Tehran say that dialogue does not mean abandoning sanctions. This is hardly serious. Washington has already offered and delivered inducements to the regime -- a clear path to World Trade Organization accession and spare aircraft parts -- in exchange for behavior modification. In response, Tehran has offered no confidence-building measures. All that remains are direct talks, and even there, Washington has dropped the price from ending Iran's nuclear program to a temporary suspension of enrichment.

The Security Council has spoken. To change course now would signal the impotence of international institutions and multilateral diplomacy. History shows that when the supreme leader believes Western resolve is faltering, Iran will be more defiant and dangerous. Now is not the time to talk. If Washington and Europe truly believe in the primacy of multilateralism and diplomacy, now is the time to ratchet up the pressure.

Ms. Pletka and Mr. Rubin are, respectively, vice president for foreign policy and defense studies and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

---

Just because our sanctions are working doesn't mean we need to stop them. It means just that, that they seem to be working. So make them ask us to come to the table, and bring something worth barganing for. And with an attitude like this from your supreme leader: "We don't give a damn about your ending the critical dialogue," said Supreme Leader Khamenei upon hearing the German court ruling. "We never sought such a dialogue." it really makes me wonder what those people who call for a dialogue expect? Don't impose our western ideas of dialogue on them, because they don't care...

Downhill, picking up speed...

Happy B Day!

Blast, Elise beat me to the punch.

Happy Birthday, Papino!

We love you very much!

woohoo!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY! :]

Blessings on you from your children who love you...

Is the Sun Setting on the Global Oil Supply?

Here is a short Q & A from National Geographic with an oil industry insider about the future of oil supplies. The oilman confirms what common sense tells us: #1, there is no oil supply problem in the near or in the long-term, and #2, it is simply not in any country's interest to use oil as blackmail against the west, because it is their primary source of revenue, and it would doom them more than us. But he has some interesting angles on the situation that, on the whole, are fairly reassuring.

Moral Cleverness

So I was hanging out at Borders yesterday (as all Washington yuppies do on a Saturday), and started reading The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard. I knew it was a good book, but for some reason his first chapter about the loss of moral authority struck home with me.

Indeed, in the current world of accepted knowledge one can't even know the truth of a moral theory or principle, much less a specific rule. You could never grade someone for holding Utilitarianism or Kantianism to be true or false. One can only know about such theories and principles, and think about them in more or less clever ways. You can brightly discuss them. For that the young man got his A's. But that, of course, had no bearing on his character or behavior because it is only literary or historical or perhaps logical expertise, not moral knowledge. And if you are already flying upside down and you don't know it, your cleverness will do you little good. (Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy. Chapter 1, p. 5)

Maybe its Washington, or grad school classes, but the idea that you have to "distance" yourself from something in order to really understand it is very pervasive these days. Its the idea that someone who is in the middle of something doesn't have the ability to grasp what is "really" going on. And I guess I underestimated the poisonous effect that this type of thinking can have one one's soul. Suddenly, you can be attached to nothing, because in doing so you give up your claim to be able to truly understand it. Its a life where points are scored for a clever argument or twist that someone else hadn't thought of yet, but where both parties go away from the discussion leaving all that was discussed behind as well. And thats not the kind of life I want to live...

Bad Penut Butter

Apparently, Peter Pan Peanut butter is contaminated with Salmonella. This is good to know, since its been at least...um...37 minutes since I've eaten Peter Pan peanut butter. Always an optimist, I hoped that perhaps my jar wasn't from the batch they referred to in the article, but alas, it was indeed part of the dirty shipment.

So...my dutch dilemma. I've already eaten it, so if I've got it, I've got it, right? So why throw the rest of the jar out?

Any Thoughts?

We're finally beginning to see some use for a digital camera around the Hilltop, so we're opening it up to you guys to see if any of you have recommendations, advice, or thoughts you'd like to share, since you're all in the digital age.

Books I've Read

Here is a fun compilation of most of the books I've read in the past couple of years or so, not including most textbooks. Kind of a fun site to mess with. In fact, some people have done cool things with it! Check it out.

The Hobo Look

Due to my recent trip to the dermatologist, and the three stitches on my cheek, I am rocking out the hobo look. Can't shave, ya see. The only good news is that after a week, I'm finally past the itchy stage....

Call me cap'n redbeard....YARRR

Teacher Certification

Our resident teacher-in-training has passed her Michigan Teacher Certification tests!

Feeling included now :)

I feel part of the family again. Thanks for FINALLY inviting me to the Bryson blog :)

Army Aviation Greening (pt 2)

02-14-07 Day 2

(yes, Valentine's day... away from wife *sob*)

We went out to Hanchey Army Heliport inside Ft. Rucker at 0930 and met CW3 Baynes who is a mechanic who has served 3 tours of duty in Iraq. He walked us through the maintenence hangers for the OH-58D Kiowa and the AH-64D Apache Longbow. He answered our questions for a while, and it was pretty neat to see those aircraft all stripped down and stuff.

Then we went outside to the flight deck and met CW4 James C. French and got to climb inside both the Kiowa and the Apache. yeah, thats right. I sat in a 70 million dollar helicopter today. and I played with the sensors and everything. I didnt fit very well into the Apache, but it was still very cool.

We then packed up and went to Knox Army Heliport at 1300 where they have all the CH-47 Chinook's. Same deal: met with the pilots and got to climb in and around the aircraft and ask them all sorts of questions. Again, very cool.

At 1430 we piled back into the cars and drove to the 110th Aviation Brigade's Night Vision Classroom. Major Fox then sat us down in a classroom with black carpet, black walls and black ceiling tiles and instructed us on the basic design and fabrication of current military grade NVG systems. And then we turned out the lights and got to play with them for like 30 min. Probably the best part of the trip so far. Crazy fun. VERY dark room (like, you cant see ANYTHING) turns into very sharp green picture.

Thursday Night Chill...

Here are four free mp3's by an awesome band called the Album Leaf. For those of you who know Sigur Ros, the guy from the Album Leaf actually recorded this album in the barn in Iceland where Sigur Ros records their albums. Similar style, awesomely peaceful instrumental songs. I actually bought the whole album....

Put Your Right Foot In...

Hooray! A Bryson Blog! Hello, Family!

Its the end of a pleasantly interesting week here in DC. We had a miserable excuse for a snowstorm, but the Office of Personnel Management did what we all wanted them to, and shut down the Federal Government early on Wednesday, and then opened late on Thursday. And we're heading into a three day weekend. So the mood is light, much like the last week of school before school is out.

On a more serious note, I've started the process of starting to lead a men's group through a new church group I've been attending, Frontline Arlington. I have been increasingly frustrated by the lack of Christian contact I have in my life. And in this town, when often you come home at the end of the day feeling morally soiled by your surroundings, I feel that the need for a support group is even stronger. So pray that God will lead where He wills, and that I would have ears to hear...

On a political note, Giuliani has captured my attention over his past few days of running the TV shows. His view on the non-binding resolutions, his defense of anti-gun laws and abortion stance, and his charisma are winning me over right now.

Finally, random Iran video of the day. For those who think that we should negotiate with them...

From a large iceberg near Chicago...

This is a great idea, dad! :]

I don't have any stories as exciting as Josh's (way cool, btw), but I wanted to say hi anyway. I went on a Valentines day quasi-date that was very fun yesterday. Laura Sutton will be here soon to visit Wheaton for the weekend, so I'll be showing her this amazing school. And I got my plane ticket to join grandma and grandpa in Arizona for spring break! I'm going back to my roots...

My NT lit and interpretation professor gave a great lecture today, and I wanted to share with you guys one thing he talked about that seemed really cool to me. His lecture was about miracles, and he talked mostly about Mark 4, where Jesus calms the storm. He pointed out that the deciples were in absolute obedience in following him on the boat, and were even manning (such a sexist word, btw) the boat while Jesus slept. And yet out of nowhere, a storm so big that these 12 grown men were afraid for their lives rose up. It was precisely because they were Jesus' deciples, and because they were precisely where he wanted them to be that this terrifying storm rose up. I thought it was interesting.

Will mom post on this thing too?

Basic Instructions?

how do I make posts not so long and annoying? should I break them up into more than one post?

how do blogs work? how does a co-authored blog work? what is your vision for this one?

Army Aviation Greening

I'm in my hotel in Enterprise, AL at the close of a pretty amazing trip to Ft. Rucker and the Center for Army Aviation. The trip was set up for a few CIA analysts to be introduced to Army Aviation, and we got to tag along; some people from NGA and NGIC came along as well.

I will post some details tonight or tomorrow and on as I try to figure out how this blog thing works.
______________________________________________
02-13-07 Day 1:

We met at the BOQ's (Bachelor Officer Quarters - basically the army hotel) on post at 0800 and then headed out to the DCD conference room (Director of Combat Development) for our Introduction to the US Army Aviation Warfighting Center briefing. Followed by briefings that outlined the current organization and structure of Army Aviation and what the future of Army Aviation might look like. These were a little dull. But then things started to pick up a bit.

We were briefed by an NGIC (National Ground Intelligence Center) representative about some of the current air defence capabilities of Iran. Good brief, but I actually knew 95% of the information already.

After lunch we went to the 1st AVN Brigade and met Major Jade Hinman. Maj Hinman is a M1-A2 tank commander who has served two tours of duty in Iraq. He is currently teaching Army Air Assault Operations and Army Attack / Recon Helicopter Operations classes here at Ft. Rucker. So he gave us a summary brief on each. And then the real fun began...

Maj Hinman is one of those soldiers who enjoys telling war stories. And he has piles of hilarious anecdotes which were made even more funny by his excellent delivery and mannerisms. So we just talked with him for a couple more hours and looked at some funny pics and mpegs he had on a memory stick.

Maj Hinman recomended an excellent sushi resteraunt just off post for dinner, and actually came with us for dinner which allowed us to hear more war stories for another couple of hours. Great times. And I tried sushi for the first time: not too bad, but nothing incredible either, especially for the price.

We got back to the hotel at about 8:30 and I read a book for a while and went to bed.

Living In the Moment

I came across this paragraph in an article in Touchstone Magazine the other day:

God has yet to bless anyone except where they actually are, and if we faithlessly discard situation after situation, moment after moment, as not being 'right' we will simply have no place to receive his Kingdom into our life. For these situations are our life.

Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy

It pierced my heart, helping me to see how often my perspective is, "were it not for these circumstances, I would be different."