R_Bert

  Crap. No movie for vontar or R_Bert !   The theater capital of the free world*, and we can't see it.  Nice.     ( * The largest cinema company in the US is headquartered in Knoxville. )

yes, apparently the fools paid FIVE BiLLION $ for ............Bowe Bergdahl. US Army deserter and traitor.     http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/12/shock-report-us-paid-5-billion-released-5-taliban-prisoners-for-deserter-bergdahl-video/   Have a merry effing Christmas, y'all. Bowe and the Taliban are certainly having a one.    

A major factor, alluded to but not addressed in the article is the more insidious threat - Human Reliability and Performance.    Beyond guns, gates, & guards (and detection / deterrence systems) - The motivations and willingness to bypass these systems, using not only direct insider threat, but facilitation of unknowing inside participants.    That coupled with an archaic and frail infrastructure (not to mention vulnerabilities addressed in the article), it is dire. Probably several regional-level single-point failures lurking out there.

I got a gift certificate for peace, love, and joy.   And world domination.

ummmm......   This is AFTER OBAMA HAS SAVED CUBA !!!  -   http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2014/12/23/cuban-government-sinks-boat-carrying-32-refugees-including-children/   and in international waters.......

more Info on opening  up the NORK'S Information Curtain -   http://www.nationalreview.com/article/395189/open-north-koreas-information-curtain-john-fund

  A class act. He is the only one of the POTUS-emeriti who shows up in unexpected ways for "just plain folk".

And speaking of devils making deals -     http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/19/vladimir-putin-invites-north-korea-kim-jong-un-Moscow   Moscow is serious about rekindling the Despot Club, and they are serious about getting under skin of US.   But their dealing with NORKS is not totally unusual.    In one Russian city, they once booked us in the same hotel as a group of NORKS who were training on reactor operations or something (only hotel in town).  It was hilarious - sort of -    In the hotel (we usually had relatively free run a hotel & city), they treated us (both groups) like prisoners on lockdown. Separate floors, attendant/guard posted, separate meal times in separate rooms, allotted lobby hours, and of course transport restrictions. The NORKS were afraid to even look at us through a window.   It ought to be interesting to see how the Castros handle the increased exposure their lower comrades receive.

I am guessing NSSF simply has a problem with vetting, and also was in panic mode since Leno crapped out on them. But..... planning.......

Surely Bill's not a FUDD? (........well, :poop: .....)   http://www.pagunblog.com/2014/12/19/he-hunts-he-fishes-he-doesnt-like-modern-sporting-rifles/     Heeeeerrrrrs yer sign, Bill.

Please.  Refrain from interjecting reality into this discussion.

Carry on. Viva Revolucion.

I probably did not phrase that correctly. By "progressive tax", I was saying that it affects those lower income families more.  For many, it is a function of dwindling disposable income.      I can say this - If I did not already possess a lifetime license from when I was more economically sound, I would probably not hunt next year.  I note that many buddies have expressed an interest in going with me to learn about hunting.....until they are confronted with the fees (at current levels).    From a new-user perspective,  I certainly would be less inclined to invest in equipment - that license structure is a big loading right up front if I am not sure I will like it enough to do it again next year. 

  a mere drop in the bucket compared to the abominations of waste at Departments of Agriculture, Education, and Human Services.  Fix the $Ts, then worry about the $Bs

You really need to stay current on international affairs and our own domestic nuclear program if you intend to speak with any authority.   ------ Russia several months ago, wrote off $32B of Cuban debt, and expanded relations.  The primary Russian emissary to Cuba is also in charge of the Russian nuclear weapons and space  program.   BTW, Since the US all but unilaterally reduced its stockpile under treaty agreement with RF who has only minimally reduced its nuclear stockpile.... yes..... Numbers do count.   ....and....since all the bad blood I have already mentioned, out-year budget analysis submitted by our NP & Congress is swinging back towards growth, not further reduction (a change in attitude on inventory).   My analysis - You are not even reading or listening to the materials offered above by myself & others. You have no clue how much skin Russia has in the game (or how naïve the Valerie-Jarret run administration is, especially with Kerry at State). The Russian Federation already have an investment,  It is orders of magnitude more than the US, They already have nearly 70 years of experience there, and they mean to remain the dominant outside political influence on the island.    Putin, while dealing with domestic issues, is also enjoying a approval rating of nearly 3xObama.   Thus, You also underestimate the level of RF nationalism (which historically runs deep even with despots in place) , the priorities they place (war capability over economics  -  "protect the Rodina at all costs" is still very much the heart of the matter - Russians are very used to suffering to protect their national interest - much more than US citizens).  You also do not realize how much the RF fears / distrusts the US, even at the individual level (I worked for 15+ years with Russians in the nonproliferation programs).    They, unlike the Obama administration -  are playing for keeps. It won't be Soviet style (although the Soviets are still running a lot of it, under new name), but it won't be fair, honest, or completely rational either - they will apply what they already know about subterfuge and oppression, and are adding to that the economic lessons learned from the Chinese Communist model.       So, in regards to Cuba - Don't be naïve about the grave stupidity of this particular diplomatic blunder. It is a significant domino that just got tipped. And Cuba has stated just yesterday, that they are changing NOTHING (except a 92% tax on wages from foreign owned companies). Human rights will not improve in Cuba sans entire regime change.   SO - disconnect from pollyannic adhesion to Obama/Jarret fantasy, and take time to consider the relationships, political ideologies, from  a Cuban/Russian perspective. It should scare you sh!tless if you do it right.

yup.   http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2014/12/19/castro-to-pocket-92-of-worker-salaries-from-foreign-companies/

Rubio.  It's worth the 15 minutes.    http://therightscoop.com/listen-to-marco-rubios-fantastic-interview-with-mark-levin-on-cuba/

.  (sorry, posted wrong thread ...sort of) 

    Perhaps, but probably not. Right now we ain't got the balls or the influence to do that, and the European Union would absolutely block it. Cuba..... is not restricted by EU or any similar agreement (unlike Poland).   But, even sans nukes, it will greatly amp up the RF interest in the region, and further destabilize the US-RF standings which will have a *much* bigger strategic and economic impact than just booz, cigars, and child-prostitution.   BTW, this year, bad blood has already hammered START-2 extensions / SORT and killed a $1B+ cooperative effort in transparency for nuclear weapons and nuclear materials monitoring. (the US nonproliferation program is nearly in chaos right now.....and NNSA is reorganizing their effort).   For us, it is a Loose-Loose. The Russians take this seriously, and personally.       (Bert has errands & Christmas shopping to do. Y'all carry on) 

          Just a few -   Nukes  (they already can park in Cuba, just haven't recently)   re-opened bases   increased technical advisors (can be in any org in Cuban.gov)   increased elint       Really..... ??     Putin was head of KGB.  He absolutely knows how to screw with the US, and how to do it behind the scenes.  As SWJ noted, Cuba is their playground.  They will gleefully use the advantages they already have with the Castro regime. Heck, He can do it publically - I mentioned the two programs above as just one example in the last months.  Right now they are openly effing us over in diplomatic and cooperative relations in S. Africa, and several Latin and Asian countries

No.  But they absolutely can park their boats there.   The complete strategic picture has to be looked at.    Without total regime change in Cuba and reverse of political ideology...........The Russian-Cuban diplomatic relationship and power of influence is many orders of magnitude greater than anything the US can ever hope to achieve. The Russians will be continually d!cking us over on this in about 20 realms (just as they are *currently* doing worldwide in the nonproliferation and nuclear energy arena).

The real problem, which WH is ignoring - The Russians still own Cuba. Don't doubt that for a moment. This is a very stupid move by Executive Office, as the Cuban exiles in Florida still know all too well.  It only excites an already tenuous relationship with Russia.

and, it will come out regardless of what Sony does to capitulate.  They lost, and will continue to lose for a long time.  The hackers have no reason to abide by any "ethics".

au contraire, mon ami.   They have been doing this for years.  Use "mules" too.    It is a major "black-market" there.   I saw a extensive documentary made by a Chinese group actually doing it.  The hidden camera video was pretty cool around checkpoints and border cross-overs. It's a game of "cat & mouse"   They use lots of battery powered stuff, and memory sticks.

We ain't got this kinda acktervist.........   http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2014/12/17/activists-to-use-balloons-deliver-the-interview-dvds-to-north-korea/   No DVDs dropped into RockyTop, TN.