Rogers backs Israeli use of force

By Joe McAdory

Got this note from Mike Rogers’ folks up in Washington, D.C. Thought I’d pass it along:

Congressman Mike Rogers said today Israel has a right to defend itself against the continuing bombing of innocent Israeli civilians by the terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza strip near southern Israel.

Rogers, a member of the Armed Services Committee, said since Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, Hamas and other terrorist groups have turned the area into a launching pad for more than 6,000 rocket and mortar attacks against Israel instead of seizing the historic opportunity to build a better life for the people of Gaza.  News reports have shown many of these rocket and mortar attacks against Israel were targeted at innocent civilians, including schools and hospitals. 

“We must all remember that all free and democratic nations across the world are engaged in a war on terrorism. Hamas is no different than Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah or any other ruthless terrorist organization. It seeks to terrorize free people by killing and traumatizing innocents,” Rogers added. 

Rogers said Israel is fighting a terrorist group that is relentlessly attacking its people, and for Israel to do anything less than fully defending itself militarily would be completely irresponsible. Inaction, Rogers said, could cause long-term detrimental implications to Israel’s security in the region. 

“I wholeheartedly support Israel’s right to self defense and its efforts to eliminate the Hamas terrorist and rocket launching sites in the Gaza strip through their military offensive.  I urge the United Nations and our European counterparts to do the same,” Rogers concluded.

I agree. Israel is fighting a terrorist group practically in its backyard. Maybe the two sides can sit down together, watch Don’t Mess with the Zohan, have a good laugh, perhaps some disco dancing and make peace.

End of the world as we know it?

By Joe McAdory

Much has been made about Nostradamus and his doomsday prediction for 2012. The History Channel even aired a special on the late prognosticator’s hunch that the earth will have some sort of cataclysmic disaster on Dec. 21 that year. It will either be a comet or nuclear holocaust I suppose.

There are even a number of Web sites dedicated to his prediction. If World War III doesn’t begin by that date, then someone’s got some explaining to do. Maybe he was wrong after all. Maybe folks make a big deal out of nothing. I’m not worried about the end of the world. I’m still trying to figure out how to get my kid to sleep.

Too bad Nostradamus isn’t around anymore. He’d be a great ESPN college football sidekick to Corso and the gang. If he predicted Florida and Oklahoma to play for the national title way back in August, it might have sounded something like this: There was a great, wooden chariot coming from the Plains that moved with the speed of lightning and scored Sooner than later. A mighty warrior then arose from the swamp, leading by power and might. Together, they will do battle in the arena by the beach. OK, that was dumb.

And if Nostradamus’ prediction is correct and the end of the world is upon us, I expect Tim Tebow to deliver mankind from this great tragedy.

One of these doomsday Web sites even claims that president elect Barack Obama is the antichrist. I don’t know. I saw the Omen and he looks nothing like Damien. Besides, isn’t the antichrist supposed to be European?

As for Dec. 21, 2012 ... I’ll worry about that when it gets here. Or not.

Utah deserves consideration

By Joe McAdory

After watching Friday night’s Sugar Bowl, I can’t help but wonder if unbeaten Utah should be given consideration as this year’s college football national champions. After all, the Utes did something no other major program did and that is win every game.

Florida and Oklahoma will play one another next Thursday in the national title game. Both have won loss.

Hmm ... Florida lost to Ole Miss, which lost to Vanderbilt, which lost to Tennessee, which lost to Wyoming, which lost to Bowling Green.

Oklahoma lost to Texas, which lost to Texas Tech, which lost to Ole Miss, which lost to Vanderbilt, which lost to Tennessee, which lost to Wyoming, which lost to Bowling Green.

Just sayin’ ....

Do I believe Utah is as good as Florida or Oklahoma? No. But I do believe this Utah team is every bit of deserving of a national title as 1984 BYU, which was given the crown after finishing as the only unbeaten, but probably was inferior to a few others.