I couldn't find anything interesting today.

So here's a baby llama

We are creating these people.

So here we have another piece of shit taught by the bleeding hearts that the quickest way to immortality is to obtain a weapon and randomly kill people.

The same people that use the phrase 'bi-polar' instead of 'childish' or 'immature' created Robert A. Hawkins. The parents that let him go with business unfinished and tasks left undone created Robert A. Hawkins. The lady who took him in rather than just renting him a room, you can tell by the way she describes him as 'a lost puppy that nobody wanted' that Robert A. Hawkins was not required at any time to become a man. She, too, helped create Robert A. Hawkins. The society which aggrandizes spree killers and serial killers showed Robert A. Hawkins the path to notoriety. "Now I'll be famous" The Beast caught eight this time. If we make an example of those who created him, perhaps we'll take one step closer to safety from Robert A. Hawkins.

The Political Bomb

It seems lately that the politics surrounding Iran's nuclear weapons program, or lack thereof, is getting more dangerous than the bombs themselves.

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's foreign minister on Tuesday welcomed the U.S. decision to "correct" its claim that Tehran has an active nuclear weapons program, while Israel's defense minister said Israeli intelligence believes Iran is still trying to develop an atomic weapon.

I have an issue with the word 'trying', seeing as most nuclear weapon information can be achieved by Internet capability and, as everyone knows, the French will sell a bomb to damn near anybody. I believe Israel has the most advanced intelligence network in the world, bar none, but I can't help but think that the politicians who interpret the data may be self serving. The sky is falling, as it were, brings billions in aid to Israel each year. Please, don't get me wrong. I'm probably more pro-Israel than the average American but history shows that while Israel is correct to perceive a threat, if George Jr is willing to admit a mistake then we most definitely made a glaring error. Israel may wish to be more specific in its claims, perhaps involving itself a little closer with the intelligence gathering efforts of its allies.

A U.S. intelligence assessment released Monday reversed earlier claims that Iran had restarted its weapons program in 2005 after suspending it in 2003 because of international pressure

This brings to question as to how we came to the original false conclusion in the first place. It lends weight to the argument of those who say that George Jr was using this issue as a starting platform for a war against Iran. To my embarrassment, I held the same opinion. But we apparently were wrong and other reliable sources agree.

In Vienna, the U.N. atomic watchdog agency said the U.S. finding is consistent with its own.
"Although Iran still needs to clarify some important aspects of its past and present nuclear activities, the agency has no concrete evidence of an ongoing nuclear weapons program or undeclared nuclear facilities in Iran," International Atomic Energey Agency director-general Mohamed ElBaradei said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071204/ts_nm/iran_usa_dc_9;_ylt=AvPjF53oz7RrOgq5hoyjtIsUewgF

And while the new findings should be somewhat of a relief, others advise a more cautious approach, opting instead to say we should be vigilant as the sky MAY fall.

Iran had this to say:

Iran quickly welcomed the report, published on Monday, as a vindication of its long-standing claim that its nuclear program had only peaceful civilian aims.
"It's natural that we welcome it when those countries who in the past have questions and ambiguities about this case ... now amend their views realistically," Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told state radio."The condition of Iran's peaceful nuclear activities is becoming clear to the world."

When he smiles, you can see his fangs, but my gut tells me that Iran may have opted for buying its own nukes rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. I do not side with France and the UK in calling for continued and increased sanctions to pressure Iran. Now would be the time to back off a bit and see what happens next.

But Britain, whose position on Iran is closely aligned with Washington's, said it would continue to push for increased international pressure.
"We think the report's conclusions justify the actions already taken by the international community to both show the extent of and try to restrict Iran's nuclear program and to increase pressure on the regime to stop its (uranium) enrichment and reprocessing activities," a spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown said.
"It confirms we were right to be worried about Iran seeking to develop nuclear weapons (and) shows that the sanctions program and international pressure were having an effect in that they seem to have abandoned the weaponisation element."

It seems the international community would have us fight against something Iran MIGHT do. I do not agree.

World powers met last Saturday in Paris to discuss a further round of sanctions against Iran over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment, a process that can produce fuel for power plants or, potentially, nuclear weapons.
Two U.N. sanctions resolutions have been passed so far against Iran, unanimously but after diplomatic wrangling among the five permanent U.N. Security Council members -- the United States, China, Russia, France and Britain -- plus Germany.
Close U.S. ally Israel was unimpressed by the report, and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called for the U.S.-backed campaign to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions to press ahead regardless.

To 'press ahead' might allow the others to sleep a little better but it ignores the forest for the trees. Further, it allows Iran to take actions in a more justified light, painting them as the victims of western oppression. I would not give them such political leverage. This all could lead to a future where Iran wants a bomb and we finally have to give them one, though not in the manner they seek.

Illegal Immigrants and identification cards..

It would seem one of the minor topics dujour deals with illegal immigrants and drivers licenses/ identification cards and I thought I'd throw in my two cents.

In my area there is a large influx of illegal immigrants from every country south of the border. Alot of people bitch (though not too loudly) but for the most part the impact is invisible. They aren't taking jobs away from anyone as we have more jobs than workers. While alot of the manual labor workers pay no taxes, they still pay sales taxes when they buy things. The issue is the laborer who pays no taxes and then gets welfare, food stamps, assisted medical care and other such niceties we pay for and they haven't.

So now the screaming political rant is that we should make it hard for them to live here. Do not give them drivers licenses and such. The problem you think you are causing really isn't a problem for them. I see the look of confusion. You see, without a license Jose is still going to drive to work. His wife is still going to drive to her job. They are going to drive to the doctor, grocery store, etc albeit, without a legal license. So now you get that evil glint in your eye. "Chicken, doesn't that mean you can put them in jail when you catch them ?" Why yes, young Jedi, I can. But lets look at this another way.

*Space- a county jail can only hold so many people. Were I to ticket AND jail these people the jail in this county couldn't hold the ones we would take in just one weekend. In South Carolina they are entitled to a Bond Hearing within 24 hours of arrest, yes, which means unless they spit at the judge they will be out most quickly. But with county, municipal, security, and Highway Patrol putting these drivers away we would not have enough space. Have to stack them like cord wood which is against their Constitutional rights.

*Finances- even if these people are only in jail for a few hours, it still costs the taxpayer hundreds of dollars. Here's the kicker- it costs more to jail them than the county recoups when they pay the fine. Keep them in jail long enough to lose their job and now YOU get to pay for THEIR welfare and food stamps.

*Relationships- long term, these people are not going to leave the country just because I put them in jail for not having a license. They are not going to leave if I put them in jail every weekend for not having a drivers license. No, they will stay, but with a sense of animosity toward me and this country in general. I see them every once in a while now, those people of Hispanic origin who act as though the laws of this country mean nothing since they themselves are illegally here. The crimes escalate in nature and severity as their sense of apathy toward our community grows.

Now lets add my two cents. I've got ten years as a Patrol Officer (read: Neanderthal) and I've learned to be able to pick out the information I need from a Mexican Drivers License and a few others but what about the officers with no such knowledge ? Would not an identification card written in English assist the young patrolman greatly, adding to his efficiency and decreasing the amount of time he has to spend on each individual case ? And what about identifying the suspect they are talking to ? On any given day I can show you in the Booking Computer a dozen different jail birds who have been to jail under a half dozen names because they don't have an identification card to prove otherwise.

And what about drivers licences ? Keep in mind and remember your own adventure in obtaining the license for vehicular freedom as a teen. The one key factor in building up to getting a DL was TAKING A TEST ! You had to show you knew what the laws were. You had to show you recognized street signs and traffic markings. Finally, you had to get in a vehicle and convince an over-worked and under-paid DMV employee that you knew what the fork you were doing behind the wheel. With a license we would know the illegal knows how to drive. Without boring you with detail, suffice to say YOUR insurance rates would go down.

So what I'm saying here is, issuing ID cards would assist me in doing my job as well as lowering the money you have to shell out in taxes. Plain and simple. Not issuing them makes my job slightly more difficult on several levels and does nothing toward driving these people home. The chuckle you share over the little bit of revenge would turn to tears if you knew how much it was costing you to achieve it.

The usual, on ice

http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylc=X3oDMTI4Mmh0a2twBFJfYWlkAzAEUl9kbW4Dbnl0aW1lcy5jb20EUl9maWQDM2E2MzRjMmZiODMwOTAxNzI2Mzc5ZTVhODRjNjllNDEEUl9sdHADMQ--/SIG=157r2bca5/**http%3A//thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/the-blackwater-gunners-account/index.html%3Fex=1352782800%26en=65562282f13c91b4%26ei=5089%26partner=rssyahoo%26emc=rss
I tell you, I like people with opinions. I love a good debate, where both sides are opinionated and educated in their subject. Everyone brings something to the table. I am not satisfied with the stale debate over Blackwater and Iraq and all that it entails. It seems that neither side has done its homework.
I've posted a few, here and there. How we as law enforcement guarding the US don't fire warning shots, why should our armed forces ? If the guy sees guns pointed at him and keeps driving, he's asking to die. If your spotter tells you to shoot in a certain direction and you hesitate, chances are you're going to be killed right quick.Things that to me seem common sense but to others are foreign concepts. Doesn't help that our Commander in Chief has idiots advising him on public relations. No, seems to me we've hit a road block that could be quite easily be explained to everyone's satisfaction should the right person use the right words. All caused by a guy who knew he was driving his family to their deaths. Bin Laden must be pissing his pants laughing at this point.

God save me from comparisons...

With some room for error and unreported casualties on both ends, still, things are calming down a bit. Some would say that the reduction was due to the Muslim fast of Ramadan but I have to disagree. First reason being the statistics that on average the militants escalate their attacks during this time period. Then again, it could just be a ruse, they know that tactically the soldiers would be on high alert due to the history of this ritual, so they wait until the soldiers have spent a few sleepless nights then attack. But that has not come to fruition. Second, like the Viet Cong before him, people fighting for what they believe is their beliefs would take a certain pride in violating their rituals for the cause. "This is what I am sacrificing for my God."

No, and I know I'll be disagreed with, but I think that, like the Viet Nam War, the insurgents may be close to a major manpower shortage. I do not doubt the heart and faith that these people show, but after a while the body count has to lead to attrition folks. Barnum said, "There's a sucker born every minute." Well don't you think eventually the clerics preaching dissent will eventually run out of bodies to hurl into the flames ? Don't get me wrong, I don't think they're beaten, but you need a boy to carry the gun into the fight and they are running out of fighters.

We are experiencing a slight manpower shortage on our side of the fence too, but not so much that our efforts will be hampered. The strength of the United States has always been its ability to outproduce the enemy. The average soldier does not want to be in Iraq, according to a friend who just returned, but they will do the job needed to be done while they are there.

My greatest fear is that, like Viet Nam, we will start pulling out before we are ready. Congress needs to remember that every pen stroke has the potential to cost lives. Should we move on to Iran ? Oh hell yeah. Should we cut a garrison in Baluchi Pass in the Uruzgan province (shown above) from 500 men to 200 to supply the new effort ? Not if you value the lives of the 200. None left behind will be safe unless you turn Syria into a glass parking lot so the best bet would be to increase the training garrison over there. Train hordes more Iraqis to defend the backs of our troops as we move on toward the next foe. Then throw them in the deep end of the pond. I think the Iraqi troops will learn to swim rather than sink.

Hmmmmm

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071003/ap_on_he_me/uganda_deadly_virus;_ylt=AmNfHxcfvHebR2.6aesSNvTVJRIF

Now Uganda has cases of a The Marburg virus, a rare hemorrhagic disease. This one apparently sprang from a mine and the victims are miners. Congo, Uganda, where to next ? Mind you, if it came from a mine I can't help but think the source was something brought into the mine. Ebola, Marburg, they're living things. They spread through living organisms. This isn't some kind of old B Horror movie. So where did it come from ?

Well, whether you believe its from a cave or the Wrath of God, its here, its becoming prevalent, and I can't help but wonder why now ?

Huh ?

http://news.yahoo.com/i/721;_ylt=Amww7JRZFuiojNAJwwUmFkKyBhIF

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il at the beginning of the second meeting ever of the two country's leaders since the separation after WW2. As much as the press want to bleat about a cold reception given to the South Korean leader, I still have a hope that amidst a world in the throes of war and turmoil this might be a step toward stability in that region. Wouldn't that be something ? We of my generation have seen so much. The end of the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Now this, a gesture of friendship between two countries that seem eternally poised on the brink of war.

http://news.yahoo.com/i/751;_ylt=AsD7HnBn4DcBK2d4AtCGFi4PLBIF

And as the world cringes every day against the assault of new fears and terrors beyond our power to control, God reminds us that the horrors of old still exist. An isolation ward in Kampungu,Congo still holds two patients but doctors are hopeful that the latest outbreak of Ebola has been contained. On 27 September 2007 Doctors Without Borders (MSF) released photographs of their facility depicting their efforts. I swear that if you need proof the Rapture hasn't happened, the presence of these medical professionals are it.

The world is getting silly again...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070920/ap_on_re_us/ahmadinejad_ground_zero;_ylt=AmSnlhJELIBX4h6fBfeC4xms0NUE

Apparently the ever-smiling Iranian leader has a twisted sense of humor. Apparently he wanted to lay a wreath at Ground Zero. Okay, he scores a point for testicular fortitude but really, was there ever a chance ?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070920/ap_on_re_us/o_j__simpson;_ylt=Anq76ln16SMElE2EmUh6Lo.s0NUE

The Juice is back in court for, well, continuing to be the criminal that he's always been. Now mind you, he had to do it the way he did. If he had reported the items stolen and had the police recover them, damn good chance they would have been sold and the money given to the Goldmans and Browns. Had he gotten away with his robbery so to speak, he would have reacquired his stuff without anybody knowing. My wife was asking how a broke man like Simpson could afford the $125k bail. I laughed at her. Guess even hyper intelligent people can be naive at times. (Hint: Scumbag gave all his money to friends to hold for him and then there are the other rich friends who still like the murdering bastard or, dare I say it, still think the bastard is innocent)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070919/ap_on_re_us/school_fight;_ylt=Asb8q9crqVbWuaa8bNjSnIsDW7oF

Apparently things have become confused in Jenna, Louisiana. The funny part is, its not the residents who are having the mental lapse. Its people like Al Sharpton, David Bowie, and Jessie Jackson. Now, if all three were to say they felt the attempted murder charge was too harsh for the Jenna 6, and that assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature would be more fitting, I would have to agree with them. One person is an assault and battery but six, leaving the victim bleeding and unconscious, that's a horse of a different color. But murder ? The kid didn't die. They could have killed him but didn't. Need to prove intent, which would have been difficult. Thing is, Sharpton and the boys haven't mentioned what they think the charge should be. Show me logic and I can side with you. Show me radical thought, that the boy deserved it for what other kids did a few weeks ago, well then you've lost reason. Mind you, those boys with the nooses may not have committed a crime by Louisiana law, but I'd still think it worth a minute for their fathers to take them out behind the barn for a good talking to.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070919/ap_on_re_us/text_message_rescue;_ylt=Aly.cjUIKknEXcroa.3bSCxbIwgF

Now, just in case you other states have a confusion, this is how its done here in South Carolina. So this man here, Vinson Filyaw, kidnapped a 14 year old girl and chained her to a post in a

bunker he had built. Over the next ten days he raped her daily. Dip shit has been sentenced to 421 years in jail. I'm presently taking bets as to whether he survives the first month. But the fact of the matter is, if you can't stomach the death penalty, this is how you do it. You put them away and forget about them.

Preferably in a bunker like the one he kept the girl in. Maybe give him a sweaty 300 pound room mate named Bubba (It has been my experience that most Bubbas don't take kindly to perverts) Ask them, my friends. Look on your local sex offender registry and find one and ask one, do they still think of having sex with children even after serving jail time ? I'll save you the trouble. They do.

I'm a slacker

I know, I've been slowly slacking off. As if the unique fun is wearing off. I'll do better I promise, just have had alot going lately.

From a Yahoo News Story: WASHINGTON - Seemingly taunting Osama bin Laden, President Bush's homeland security adviser said Sunday the fugitive al-Qaida leader is "virtually impotent" beyond his ability to hide away and spread anti-American propaganda.

Ahead of the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes, White House aide Frances Fragos Townsend made a clear attempt to diminish the influence — or the perception — of the man who masterminded those attacks.

OK, does anybody see the complacency here ? Or is she trying to trick Bin Laden into tipping his hand somewhere ? Old trick, babe. Won't work. She should know her enemy a little better. Read a bit of Sun Tzu while she's at it. I was a soldier during the Cold War. I knew the Russians well. Their tactics, their equipment, most everything. But I didn't for one minute assume that they did not know me and all about the Army I was a part of. Why does Bush keep choosing amateurs for his staff ? (Ok, now flame me with her credentials people.) Book learnin' is only half the battle people. Gotta outsmart them. Even if this is a trick, trying to make him believe she's an idiot, it won't work. He knows she's intelligent. Now he knows she has common sense issues.

I won't even get into Michael Vick. Sure the Falcons lost to the Vikings in the opener but Joey Harrington had the testicles to stand up and say it was a team loss and didn't for one second blame it on the loss of Vick. Much respect Harrington. Very commendable. If I watched football I'd look for good things in the Falcon future.

Mind you, he might want to choose a different number for his jersey. Sure, he doesn't have the flair that Vick had, but at least the Falcons aren't paying a fucking dog killer to lead the team.

Just a layman's perspective.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070908/ap_on_go_ot/iran_terrorism;_ylt=AhVTKVWeQJiyY0y6vuLCTWiyFz4D

Apparently the Federal Court system ruled against Iran in the 1983 bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut. My question is, why the hell were my tax dollars used for this exercise in self stimulation ? Iran is not Libya. Iran is a force in the world and I'm sure Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s not too concerned with what a Western court thinks it can make him do. Yes we will try to seize Iranian assets to cover the debt, but I'm sure the Iranians will scream Piracy ! and retaliate in kind. If the powers that be would just come out and declare Iran a clear and present danger, we might be able to get somewhere. We could even justify it to the UN. But as things stand I can only think that the families of those Marines have been given a false hope of justice. We're looking for fairness in a self centered world. I wouldn't blame Ahmadinejad for laughing at us. Shove a bayonet up his ass, but I wouldn't blame him for laughing.

Where have I been ?

Toward the end of the tourist season here on The Head so things have been crazy. Caught a couple of kids breaking into cars and it ballooned out of proportion. Seems the kids were pretty active crimewise.

Got ahold of Dr Henry Lee's Forensic Files, one of his latest books.

Those of you interested in Forensics would do well to pay heed to the man. Those of you just interested in high profile cases might get a better insight as well. The man is the best. Were Forensic Science 'The Force', Dr Henry Lee would be Yoda.

Became aquainted with his work a few years ago when I branched out into Forensics. Didn't leave Road Patrol, mind you. I'll always be a neanderthal until injuries take me off the street. Became a Crime Scene Technician. Found I had a knack for latent fingerprints. Once took a viable print off of a rusty shovelhead using magnetic powder. My greatest achievement was getting a hand print off the inside of an old lady's window. Put a career criminal in prison for life under the three strikes laws.

Forensics may look technical but its easier if you look at it as a puzzle. Think of the 5 W's and you have Forensics. Who- was here, is still here, lived here, lived in the area What- do you see as you enter the area, what do you smell as you approach, what is the area like, what are residents saying Where- is the body, is the weapon in relation to the body, are the wounds on the deceased, are the valuables in the house When- did it happen, was the last time the area was seen prior to the crime, did somebody see the person alive Why- is there blood spatter on the ceiling, is the door locked from the inside, is the water running, are the lights out yet its night You see, its putting together like a puzzle is answering the 5 w's. Not just looking at a hammer on the shelf and saying, 'theres a hammer'. Its looking at the hammer and asking why its on the shelf, what type of hammer is it, what is the white powder on the handle, does it look out of place, etc You find all you can about the hammer and it will answer other questions. Like dominos. In Forensic Science why the hammer is on the shelf is just as important as what it was used for.

So anyway, that's it in brief. Lee has several books out. Some are technical and might be boring to the layman while others are like the one to the left detailing high profile cases.

Looked it up for this photo. Seems it only costs $12,500 plus two first class fares to get him to come speak at a function for you. Might be worth getting several jurisdictions worth of Detectives together. I'm having thoughts....

A few things said....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070725/ap_on_sc/rodent_recovery;_ylt=Al2ZXNDxrrllToAKMiQXm82s0NUE

The mice population dwindling. Hmmmm. Nope, still too worried about the human population. Cute little buggers though. And the lower population means the predators will need to find other foods. Vicious cycle that eventually can't be good for us. So maybe we should throw a few bucks to the researchers and conservationists. Couldn't hurt, seeing as we paid 1.1 Billion dollars over the past seven years to dead farmers. What am I talking about ? Ask the US Department Of Agriculture. Apparently in our still archaic effort to subsidize farms so they don't produce any food, the guys at US Ag forgot that eventually humans die. They just kept handing our tax money to these coops who for some reason didn't think it was a crime to collect checks made out to somebody else. Can't really blame them if we started this out by paying food growers not to grow food. It would be like paying me not to catch criminals. Wouldn't work for me so why are we doing it for the Aggies ?http://www.yorkdispatch.com/business/ci_6451076

In other news, the clueless masses are starting realize that 1) the Internet can be a dangerous place 2) bad people also have Internet connections (MYSPACE FOUND 29,000 registered sex offenders among its ranks recently) 3) DO YOU THINK WE MAY NEED TO TEACH OUR KIDS SOME COMMON-FUCKING-SENSE BEFORE THEY GET TO COLLEGE !

I mean good God people, as much as we live in a more enlightened society than our fathers there are still criminals out there who would like to take our loved ones away from us. I can't catch them all, none of us can. We have jurisdictional limits that don't allow me to go catch a perv in California, for good reason. But even President Bush recognizes the problem and is taking steps. He passed the House Bill that lets me carry a weapon in any state. Even in the Ivory Tower Bush understands that society, as we grow more trusting with the lowering of crime statistics, is raising a generations that adds a new dimension to naivete. And its up to us old farts to protect them. http://www.cbs8.com/story.php?id=97675 Donna Jou is missing because a predator snared her off the Internet. Its been long enough. I have no illusions that she is either dead or close to it. Finding her is up to the West Coast people and the Feds. Figuring out why this happened is up to the rest of us. Its not going to be that big of a stretch. I see it all the time. The other night I came across a mini van blocking traffic with a flat. There were 6 kids there approximate age 18. They were stymied because NONE OF THEM COULD CHANGE A TIRE ! It took me ten minutes to drop the spare and change it. I showed the kid who owned the van what I was doing and how I was doing it. I'm sure he's still clueless. Had his father been there I would have punched him. People, if we do everything for our kids we endanger them, we raise them to be helpless. For God's sake, take a minute and watch Finding Nemo. Find wisdom where it exists. Donna Jou is missing because we forgot that.

*Stunned Silence*

David Sullivan walked. Clark County Superior Court Judge John Nichols found ­Sullivan not guilty of first-degree murder by reason of insanity and ordered him committed indefinitely to a mental hospital.

I thought we were beyond this, you know. In my naivete I still heard people scream 'Bi Polar' to excuse their actions, the world not wanting to be responsible for its actions. Had I a dollar for every one of them that shouted 'I blacked out' I would be a rich man but they still went to jail. They still were convicted. They were punished for their actions.I thought we had moved beyond excuses. Judges were interpereting the law and modifying it to fit the situation. Lawyers, DEFENSE lawyers, were making plea bargains on scumbags they knew they could get off clean for one reason with the case or another. They felt a role to play in keeping society safe too.

This takes us a step back. We've lost some ground here.

Think about it. In the Columbian article it even alludes to the progress Americans had made:
The state's definition of insanity is narrow; Tuesday's ruling marked the first time since 1999 a Clark County murder defendant met the standard.

The first time in eight years. No Judge Nichols. I can almost gaurantee you statistically there have been other cases that met the criteria. THE CRITERIA WAS IGNORED ! Why ? Because society is gaining common sense in post-9/11 America. We are starting to see the value of prudence, that the rights of the many outweigh the rights of the one as brought into startling clarity by Harris and Klebold. We are starting to remember that freedom does not mean relinquishing our safety.
The shrink that examined him for the defense had this to say:

The knowledge that stabbing a person is illegal and immoral may be in Sullivan's brain somewhere, but when he's in a psychotic state "he's going to have difficulty accessing it," Kolbell said.

"when he's in a psychotic state..." ? Sounds like 70's/80's Temporary Insanity bullshit. Are there times when he is NOT in a psychotic state ? If you tell me yes then I'm going to tell you that Sullivan will be living with you from now on. When he goes into one of his 'psychotic state's, you be sure to let me know.

The Beast is laughing at us and turning back toward its latest project.

First my brothers and I weren't there for Anna, now the Judicial Branch turns its back on her memory. When I no longer feel outraged over this ruling it will be because I've finished my journey on this planet.

Random Drive By Posting.....

The Senate recently subpoenaed the Vice President's office for documentation concerning warrant less eavesdropping and other such 4th Amendment concerns. Wouldn't it be funny, and he's Republican so he might be able to get away with it, if Cheney told them that the documentation they require would be a serious breach of security and the information contained therein, if released, would threaten United States security ? I wouldn't stop laughing til next week. Almost as funny would be Dick telling them to kiss his ass, that they might not want to press this issue as he might have to leak some of the black laundry those same Senators hold in the closet. Either way, the citizen who is not wrapped up in fear of the government should find the next events concerning this issue quite amusing. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eavesdropping_subpoenas;_ylt=AroqJctkT9RHrokuZyR6Stqs0NUE

WWE Wrestler Chris Benoit kills his family then hangs himself. His young son was mentally handicapped due to a genetic defect (yeah, his father) and for years his wife reported cruel treatment. Speculations over the steroids found in the home may hold the answer. Well shit fire and save the matches folks, 'roids have brought better men down but there are officials denying they played a part here. Those same officials are, for the record, on my stupid people I don't want to meet list. As a cop, Domestic Violence is the bane of my existence but her applying for a divorce in 2003 lets me know she chose to stay. My sympathy lies with the child. My blame lies with the wife. CODA, Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse is a powerful organization that helps many abused SPOUSES (yes, men get beaten too) each year. They have finances on a limited basis, legal counsel on a wide scale and political clout the WWE never dreamed of. I'm sure there is a chapter or an organization like it in Georgia. If she wanted out she could have gotten out. My ignorant guess is that she was scared of him and losing the money. Oh, and brothers, don't tell me you had no idea there was trouble in the home. We both know different. The child is dead now. Live with that. http://www.codabft.com/

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070627/ap_on_re_us/wrestler_dead;_ylt=AtLpvXPJA0rllPg6ZKoWKvVH2ocA

A man in NY huffs keyboard cleaner and then wrecks his car, injuring people and killing a 17 year old. Now NY has a problem because their DWI law doesn't cover huffing aerosol ? Now folks, I like you Yankee types and unlike other Southern folk I welcome y'all as visitors. But seriously, where is the question here ? Were I to take this to a South Carolina court the same issue would come up, yes, but then the Circuit Court Judge would whip out a pen and the trial would continue. By the time dipshit got his appeal together the State Attorney General would have worked the Senate into adding whatever legal terminology was needed and the dumbass would fry. I think the State of NY needs to take a Common Sense pill on this one. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070627/ap_on_re_us/court_dwi;_ylt=AkYlJ4tUShiuR_ZaBv0rnQRvzwcF

Oh, and Ann, its the difference between leaders, and those who sit on the side-lines taking pot shots. I'm not an Edwards fan, or even close to a Democrat, but you need to shut up before you lose what little credibility you have. What were your qualifications again ?

9 Fire Fighters Lost

http://www.channel3000.com/idipopup/news/13537098/detail.html
Rest in peace, my brothers, and worry not for what you leave behind.

Uh, guys ? We may have a problem here.

To the left we have Ahmed Muhammed Harrun. Former Junior Interior Minister for the Darfur Region in Sudan. He and numerous others are being held responsible and are being charged with crimes against humanity for the deaths of some 200,000 Darfur residents and the displacement of another 2.5 million. Think about that last figure. I can't think of which charge is worse. In America you displace 2.5 million and they are assisted with relocation as best the government and kind hearted citizens can. But that is not the way it works in Africa, as any student of their history can tell you. Displaced refugees face starvation, disease, and death. Harrun does not appear to have missed any meals or sleep over it.

Did he do it ? Was he involved ? There can be no question unless he's been hiding under a rock for the past four years. Harrun, and the leaders of the janjaweed militia (read mercenary thugs) [Pictured left] worked together on a plan of destruction that, may I bother you to say it again, murdered 200,000 people. Know what Harrun does for a living now ? He's now the Sudanese Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs ! Pardon ? Did I just hear you cough up your drink ?

I guess the worst part is that its not over yet. While informants come forward and lead investigators to the mass grave sights, not all are being found I'm sure. Because those same informants immediately become targets for reprisals. (Hint: The guys that did all the killing are still in power.)
But as with any human tragedy, there are heroes. Ibrahim comes from the village of Mukgar in the Darfur region and while he was brave enough to lead investigators to a mass grave of his people, he would not tell his last name as that would most assuredly become his death sentence.

I can't even imagine what he feels. Ibrahim is standing there holding the skulls of villagers and as tribes go, family members. I guess there comes a time when a self inspection reveals the life as small compared to the event, where it is too late to stop it but the travesty is so immense that it is worth dying for to reveal it to the world. Ibrahim appears willing to die so that his people might have some semblance of justice.

And so Ibrahim walks through the last remnants of people he once loved so that maybe a wrong done against the collective Karma of the world can be set right again.
In that same vein maybe the carnage can be stopped with the disbanding and trial of the janjaweed militia men. They're still there, the crimes running unchecked. Aisha Hamid, below, and a group of her neighbors went out to get fire wood and the five of them were attacked and raped. I see a strength in her that I hope I would have should I ever face such conditions. As a refugee, she faces the conditions I previously mentioned and now, I'm sure, even more attention from said thugs for coming forward.

The revolution must come soon for them, if they wish to live.

I'm having a thought...

I have a few theories I'm tossing around in my head. I've done no research. The first is that al Sadr was sitting in a three month meeting with Al Quaida leaders and Iranian power brokers and such. They came to the conclusion that would have kept Hitler in power, had he been smart enough to think it. The American war machine can outproduce any country around. If they were to stop fighting the war machine we would have to stop fighting them. We are the good guys, right ? Politically, they would gain all the allies in the world if the killing stops. Looks so much better on CNN than bodies. So then the anti war Americans gain footing. The people teetering on the fence fall on to their side. And I think even a few proponents of the war would go over. We'd eventually have to pull out. Regardless of what happened after the withdrawal, we would never have the political juice to go back in, even if it was George Senior at the helm instead of the second string. The bad guys would reign supreme and have freedom of movement toward whatever end they saw fit.
The second idea would give all the conspiracy theorists a mental erection. Think of it. We can't win there short of extending the war to Syria and Iran. As much as it would further greatly the war on terror, America's leaders have dragged their feet too long. Our only other option that would save face is to create conditions that on the surface are pleasing to the American people, i.e. something resembling peace and democracy. So the spooks grab al Sadr. We don't debrief him or hurt him in any way as we need him for the plan to work. We tell him we want the fighting to stop. If that happens, we'll pull out. We convince him of our sincerity by NOT killing or torturing him. We tell him to have his people switch to peaceful protest so that George saves face and the American people can buy it as something resembling a victory. We tell him we don't care what happens afterward, just do this and we'll leave. Seeing a way to get the war off his turf and back on to ours (through terrorist cels and what have you ) al Sadr agrees. Who knows, maybe like the Viet Cong of old al Sadr's forces are starting to dwindle. Maybe he has an ounce of humanitarian in him and doesn't like seeing all his people die. Or maybe he sees this as a quick victory that will allow him to get on with his true aims in life. I'm thinking about it.....

Mahatma Sadr ?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070526/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_070525152080





Muqtada al Sadr is back out of the bomb shelter. Hope he wore his shades. Not too many trees out there. He held a conference in which he (surprise) made an Anti-American speech.

"He (Al Sadr) also condemned fighting between his Mahdi Army militia and Iraqi security forces, saying it "served the interests of the occupiers." Instead, he said the militia should turn to peaceful protests, such as demonstrations and sit-ins, he said. (Al Sadr Gandhi ?)
Al-Sadr's Mahdi Army fought U.S. troops to a virtual standstill in 2004, but to avoid renewed confrontation he ordered his militants off the streets when the U.S. began its security crackdown in the Baghdad area 14 weeks.(Oh No ! Body count forced the politicians to allow the soldier on the ground to fight ! Better run.)

Sadr's associates say his strategy is based partly on a belief that Washington will soon start reducing troop strength, leaving a void in Iraq's security and political power structure that he can fill. (What's scary is it might even add stability to the country. The drawback being that he hates Israel. )

Al-Sadr also believes that Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government may soon collapse under its failure to improve security, services and the economy, al-Sadr's aides say. A political reshuffle would give the Sadrist movement, with its 30 seats in the 275-member parliament, an opportunity to become a major player. (Did he just point out that the Prime Minister's inability to stop Al Sadr's terrorists is a sign of weakness ?)

Now here is the part that kind of scares me. The intelligence behind this move is calculated. Its brilliant.

His speech had new nationalist overtones, calling on Sunnis to join with him in the fight against the U.S. presence.

In Washington, National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe expressed hope that al-Sadr's reappearance signaled that he wanted "to play a positive role inside Iraq."
Credit: By RAVI NESSMAN, Associated Press Writer , Yahoo News

Now do you see it ? Instead of fighting on two fronts, figuratively, he wants the weaker enemy, the Sunni, to join his people, thus bolstering his manpower and at the same time giving the outward appearance of a positive change in viewpoint. On the World Stage he'll appear to have the best interest of Iraq in mind. With passive resistance, he'll then appear to be the humanitarian, questing to stop the bloodshed and rebuild Iraq to the benefit of the people. His party will have a stronger vote in the parliament. With proper backing al Sadr may even become Prime Minister. Think of what he could do then. With the government under control, he could then work to control his nation. If this meant the elimination of key Sunni figures I'm sure he would not blink.

I guess at that point the US would have no choice but to pull out or start its (pretty darn obvious) war on Iran. The latter would be ignorant as then al Sadr would have the backing of the Arab Nations to attack our forces from the rear. So I doubt we would continue with that endeavor. No, I think we would pull out. Al Sadr would have nothing to stop him from subjugating the Sunni people then. He wouldn't hit a pot hole until it came down to 'The Israeli Question'. Yes, there is a reason I phrased it that way, and I think the parallel drawn is extreme but not set in stone yet. There are still a few roads al Sadr has yet to travel before the similarity is complete. One can only pray that Johndroe is right.

Our government, God bless them, thinks we are morons.

Note: If you click on the title of this entry, you'll be take to the article that sparked this entry.

"One of the biggest blows to human rights has been the attempt of Western democratic states to roll back some fundamental principles of human rights — like the prohibition of torture," Khan told The Associated Press, speaking before the launch of her organization's annual report on the global state of human rights.

Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International, recently made these scathing remarks about the United States and our conduct in the war on terror. Mind you, we're novices when it comes to torture, compared to say, the Iraqis just to name one. But you see, groups like Amnesty International are like padlocks. They exist to keep honest people honest. The dishonest pay them no mind.

"The U.S. administration's double speak has been breathtakingly shameless," the report said. "It is unrepentant about the global web of abuse it has spun in the name of counter terrorism."

I guess AI doesn't feel the end justifies the means. Mind you, our 'torture' of prisoners, at least as Combat News Network reports it, does not end up with bodies floating up the Euphrates River.http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070523/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_body_found I'm not so naive, and having been part of the machine myself, that I don't know we're sure to have killed a few ourselves. View the movie 'Rules of Engagement' for a glimpse.

"If we focus on the U.S. it's because we believe that the U.S. is a country whose enormous influence and power has to be used constructively," she said. "When countries like the U.S. are seen to undermine or ignore human rights, it sends a very powerful message to others."
Credit: RAPHAEL G. SATTER, Associated Press Writer , Yahoo News

Is she trying to say that if we use creative and innovative ways to extract intel, other groups will torture people ? Apparently she is naive. The enemy is against our methods and everything about our way of life. They have been fighting in that region for hundreds of years, is she saying that if we follow the rules they will too ? Next she'll expect the insurgents to fight a fixed piece battle, with meeting engagements rather than hit and run ambush tactics.
I have bad news for her and her organization. As a soldier, and from my viewpoint of fighting a stronger opponent, the insurgents are fighting as they need to. Were I in their shoes, given the objectives they wish to gain, I would be doing no less. Were she to ask other soldiers from all other countries, I'm sure she would get the same answers. But just as they have to fight the way they do, so do we have to fight the way we do. They have restrictions due to manpower and logistics. We have restrictions due to politics and the western ethic. The most she can expect to produce is more insane restrictions on the US fighting man, more Dilbert-esque managerial decisions by the upper echelon as dictated to them by the armchair quarterbacks in DC.
I have a buddy over there right now. (Yo Luis) He's assigned to a Water Purification Unit. The unit still has to do patrols, everyone is an Infantryman as the saying goes. The problem you got is the rulings as passed down by their chain of command. These guys have to go through a couple of hours of searches (in the US that would be unlawful search and seizure) before and after each patrol to make sure they don't have electronic devices such as cel phones and mp3 players and to make sure they don't steal from the locals.
So what command is telling them is this: We don't think you're smart enough to survive on a combat patrol, we haven't trained you not to do stupid things that common sense would tell you not to do. Then they send them out on a patrol with death lurking in every garbage pile. Then they tell them that the command staff and people of the United States think they are dishonest thieves ! I'm told these searches last longer than the actual patrol.
We're not playing by the rules, MS. Khan ? On the contrary, we are suffering the same disease that has plagued the US Military since the War For Southern Independence (thats the Civil War for you Yankees, no offense) We are playing by more rules than logic dictates ! And those rules are being laid down by people who have no earthly idea what it takes to fight a war. People like you. The dead from Vietnam must be rolling over in their graves.
Should we be fighting the war ? That's up to people such as the UN and yourself. How we fight the war is up to the soldiers on the ground. If you care at all about them, leave it to them.

My Rant Continues

Lets take a look at Suzanna Hupp.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanna_Hupp Her beast was George Hennard. Hennard, coincidentally also a hater of womenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hennard, drove through the front of a Luby's restaurant in Killeen Texas and began shooting the patrons at random. Hupp owned a handgun but due to laws restricting her carrying it concealed, left it out in the car. Hupp first watched her father rush Hennard but he was gunned down before he could make his attack.

When an auto mechanic threw himself through a plate glass window and opened the way for others to escape, Hupp followed thinking her mother was close behind. Hupp's mother was not

and was subsequently shot and killed. Hupp lost both of her parents to the Beast and afterward entered the world of politics where she was a staunch advocate of the second amendment.

You know, as I think of it, I feel I'm beginning to sound more and more like an NRA advertisement. I promise you, I'm not.

My question here is this: Had Hupp known of the Beast's intentions, she obviously would not have let her family enter Luby's. But had she no choice in the matter, would she have disobeyed the law and entered with her hand gun in her purse ? Most likely. You and I are no different when it comes to our families. And what about ourselves ? Does not there also exist an urge for self defence in all of us ? Where is it, I wonder, in times like these ?
You, the civilian, the public, the people of this nation, must be wondering what the hell is going on. I tell you that none of this comes as a surprise to the law enforcement community. The problem you face is recognizing that the threat exists, acknowledging that there is a danger. The problem we face is defending against something that, due in large to the way our society and our laws are defined, cannot be defended against as the situation stands.
Case in point, the boy I met the other day. I cannot go into detail as my agency prohibits it. But I call him a boy as I am over twenty years older than him. He is by legal standards an adult. He committed a crime of violence that fell into the category of a felony that involved a weapon. He has a history of abusing animals, drugs, pedophilia. As much as I want to get my point across, I can't go into further detail. An FBI profiler would be deafened by the sound of the warning bells about now. In speaking with him, he had an air of aloof calm about him, yet he had less than an hour before committed a violent act. He wanted to help us in our investigation and did so with enthusiasm but if you look closely, you could see he just wanted the full extent of his acts known. A brag, if you will. His pride was this act and he wanted all to see. While he smiled and conversed with me as we drove in my patrol car, I felt the beast sitting right behind me. I wondered, is this what Harris and Klebold were like ? Do I have a spree killer behind me ? No, I didn't wonder, I knew. This skinny little skate punk, this boy, was the beast. The beast had no interest in me. I'm a small time player in the game. But I could see the potential in him. The ability to create a great tragedy. And me with no way to stop it. Sure, I could make the melodramatic statement here. I could say I wanted to end the boy right then. But we all know that is foolishness. Killing based on thoughts and ideas that had no way of being proven, would that not make me the Beast ?
I have known our local FBI guy for quite a while and worked with him before. Nothing major. I am, after all, only a patrol sergeant. But I'll copy all I can of this kid's file. I'll give it to my FBI friend so that he can see what I see and feel just as powerless to stop this as I do.

Disclaimer: I use alot of links such as Wikipedia to explain my points. I do not endorse any particular information source as 100% correct. (I've sent corrections to a few in the past) Do not believe everything you read. Find out for yourselves, my friends.

Making sense of it all. Or rather...

One must not beat dead horses as it will wear you out for no reason, but I can't help but touch briefly on the Trolley Square killings in Utah. Here we have Vanessa Quinn, married four years prior and she is finally able to afford a wedding ring. Valentines Day is nigh and this is the best time. Just thinking about it I can feel the love that must have been there. Looking for the perfect expression of their commitment to each others lives and looking forward to a life toge-BANG ! She's gone. A symbol or self expression by the Beast who likes to prove the point in blood. A point with little meaning as is expressed too often. Then people still breathing use words like tragedy and loss to express themselves. Words used so often that they have lost their meaning.
But when the living look at this act of the Beast, they catch a glimps. A seed is planted that one might not even know is there. The seed is Ken Hammond. An off duty officer who, like myself, believes the uniform is a twelve hour shift but the duty is 24/7. And Ken, like alot of other cops do and even more need too, carries a gun off duty. Ken hasn't forgotten the beast doesn't work shifts. Moreso, Ken knows that he may take his family into a restaurant and there will be the guy he arrested two nights ago for beating his wife and that guy might be holding a grudge. So Ken carries off duty.
So Ken hears the guns shots and rather than trying to make sense of it all right then he instead does the smart thing. Gets his family to run for safety. That being done, Ken goes to work hunting the Beast. Not much time, can't wait for others. Remember, each shot means a life taken. Ken corners the bastard. Now he can stop pressing forward. Local officers arrive and its over.
More on this later...

Son of a ........

Well there you go. 32 dead. The killer dead but he was just the tool for the Beast. The method to the madness. I'm still in shock over investigating the Columbine shootings and my earlier blog post coming in a time frame so close in relation to this incident.

Before the bodies were off the floor people were going live and calling it a comparison to Columbine. It happened in a school, people. That's the only similarity.http://www.acolumbinesite.com/ Here. Read a little bit about it.

And where, may I ask, were the guns ? Virginia Tech is in a Southern state. We in the south are mighty partial to our firearms. Are you telling me that out of hundreds of students not one had a gun ? The freaks at NRA Headquarters must be jumping for joy at the cliche. 32 dead because guns were outlawed and only the outlaw had a gun. http://www.nra.org/ They haven't made any formal comment yet, preferring to be cautious. Wouldn't want the people reading to get the impression they're using 32 dead as a political tool. Smart move on their part.

And I am quick to say that I wasn't there, but I stand in smug self-righteous indignation when I see the cell film of those sworn law enforcement officers standing outside the building as shots are fired indoors. Not that far of a stretch to think that each shot means a life taken. Combat News Network (CNN) web site has the cell film if you want to see it.

We've had the title 'Active Shooter' for years in the law enforcement world. Another synonym for a form of the beast. There can't be a cop alive who hasn't seen the films of the Columbine shootings. Seen the officers standing OUTSIDE, behind their cars. Waiting for the SWAT team while people died inside. We have all stood witness to the mistake made then and sworn to use the hindsight to never make the same mistake those cops in Colorado did. Hell, My department dropped some $50,000 on equipment after that. We sent our SWAT Commander and other trainers to Active Shooter Training. The entire department had to undergo the training. Painful training using sub-munitions. I left my share of blood on the floor with everyone else. Scalp cuts. Bruised knees. Skin torn from hands. We all left with some kind of hurt but we left knowing that if it happened here any one of us, man or woman, road patrolman or evidence clerk, could form a diamond and neutralize the threat.

But you don't need the training. Its a great tool in fighting the beast but you don't need it to know that there's a bastard inside the building in front of you killing people and you have the means to stop him. Go do it.
More on this later....

Its been a while, but I haven't forgotten.

Take a look. Its what I've been looking at for a month now. I set Mr. Klebold and Mr. Harris as my desktop to remind me of what I should be fighting. After ten years of law enforcement one gets into the rhythm of going from call to call. A stolen bicycle here, my neighbor's music is too loud and I don't have the self esteem enough to go next door and ask him to turn it down there. I lost my cel phone and need a police report to get a new one (x10 a week) and I did something extremely stupid because its all about me when I drive and strangely enough I wrecked my car. But about a month ago I got a twinge, going from bullshit call to bullshit call. That nervous twitch that you get when you think you should look over your shoulder even when you know nothing is there. I was missing something. I had forgotten The Beast, and instinct was telling me to remember. "The people sleep knowing that rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." George Orwell was speaking of men (and women) like me. I'd forgotten that in the complacency of the daily job. Complacency will get you killed. Complacency is also a factor in allowing incidents like Columbine to happen.

Should we be paranoid ? No, just watchful. Mind what we see and believe our instincts. Hold others accountable for their actions and force those with responsibility (cops, judges, prisons) to keep alert. No, we can't be everywhere. Ask the lovely young woman to the right. Anna Sviderski was 6 days shy of her 18th birthday, working at McDonald's, when the Beast came looking for her in the form of David Sullivan. By witness and coworker accounts she was sitting at a table out front when Sullivan walked in and shoved a knife into her side. Sullivan didn't know her. By his own words Sullivan left his house that day with the intentions of 'hurting a woman'. Any woman will do for the Beast.

Sullivan is a prior sex offender and schizo from way back that seems to have slipped through the system, as usual. Blah blah blah. You've heard it all a million times before. He slipped through because the powers that be forgot the Beast. He was free. Anna died. You can see the You Tube video memorials and the My Space pages and get a quick glimpse, not into her of course. Anna had an eight inch piece of steel shoved into her and now you'll never meet her. But you can take a look into the minds of those who loved her. How they saw her. The 'people' who aren't sleeping because the 'rough men' were not 'standing ready'. I wasn't standing ready. Do you see my point with this ? My meaning behind the words ?

I had one more picture I wanted to show you. A news photograph that I can't seem to find but has been in my mind for a couple of decades now. Its a bicycle in front of a McDonald's. Lying next to it is a dead little boy. The boy had saved his allowance and taken it to McDonald's to get him a real McDonald's burger. He met the Beast in the form of James Huberty who walked in and started firing on the crowd. Something like 20 casualties. A Police Sniper took him out before he could kill everyone. The sniper was standing ready. I need to remember that.

PS: Should any of you have a copy of the McDonald's photo of the little boy, I'd love to get a link to it. Been wanting it for my research files for years.

Food is one of my tools

I was a chef for a few years and worked with some great people who taught me alot. Didn't have formal training but I picked up some skillz. ;>
So my wife comes to me and tells me I'm cooking a dish for her office party at Christmas. I love Cajun, Jamaican, Southern type cooking and, like any good chef, I can't take a recipe and not tweak it to be my own. Show this to a chef and he'll nod his/her head, say yep, and go back to slicing/peeling/sauteing. Chef's have certain common traits. We like to experiment with food. In our arrogance, we love to see how much we can please a crowd with our creations.
Enjoy this recipe. I've had a great success with it.
PS-Uh, psssst, guys. If you think you want her to fall in love with you, make some Chocolate Mousse for dessert. You don't have the recipe ? Ask me for it. Mine kicks ass.

Jambalaya Stew
(or, The “I’m not sure what the hell it is.” Creole)

¼ cup olive oil
2 cups diced Vidalia or sweet onion
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 cup diced green pepper
3or 4 cloves (depending on size) fresh garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup dry white wine
2 or 3 or 4 cans tomato sauce (see note 1)
2 cans sliced tomatoes (see note 2)
1 quart water (see note 3)
1 large box of Zaltarain’s Red Beans and Rice
1 package smoked sausage (see note 4)
2 lbs shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
1 tablespoon of Tony Chachere’s Original Creole seasoning
1 tablespoon hot sauce

In a stew pot, heat the oil on medium heat then add the onions, parsley, and green pepper. Your intent is to ‘sweat’ the onions, or, sauté them until they are starting to look clear but not brown. Mix together in the pot to get an even cooking. While that is starting crush or chop the garlic fine (I use a garlic press). Add garlic and mix. Add salt and stir. Add other spices and stir. Cover and heat until onions start to clear, as previously stated.
Once the onions are ready, add the wine and mix. While this is heating, it would be a good time to peel and devein your shrimp. Dice the chicken breasts. Slice the sausage into ¼ inch pieces.
Add tomatoes, water and sauce to pot and stir. When it is warm, add box of red beans and rice. Increase heat but not set on high.
Once it is hot, but not boiling, add your meat. Mix it around to get an even distribution of meat in the sauce. Decrease heat to medium or slightly below. Allow to lightly simmer for an hour. If it looks like it’s becoming dry, or too thick, you can add some more water . You want to let it cook for a while to let the flavors combine. It will be even better if after cooking, you put the pot in an ice bath and stir until cooled. Then refrigerate. The next day you heat it up again and it should taste pretty much like what I made for the Christmas party thingy. I didn’t get to taste it then but I had some the night before and it was pretty good if’n I don’t say so myself.

Note 1: The more tomato sauce you add, the more saucy it will be when finished. Keep in mind more sauce will not make it more liquidy (if that’s a word) as the sauce will condense with cooking.

Note 2: I added two but if you like stewed tomatoes, you can add more. Also, crushed tomatoes will work if you like smaller pieces.

Note 3: You can substitute chicken broth for water for a slightly more soup flavor. Or mix half water, half broth. Or don’t. I don’t care. Get off me.

Note 4: I used smoked sausage but if you like it more Cajun spicy, you can use Andouille sausage available in most grocery stores.

Note 0: Nothing in this recipe is set in stone. Except for sweating the onions (which brings out the flavor nicely thank you) there are no fancy cooking techniques. Time is really the main ingredient here. Slow cooking it allows the flavors to blend well. Reheating it the second day does so as well.
I’m sure this recipe is not 100% exactly what I did that night but its darn close. Have fun with it but be careful. It makes alot. The ice bath idea helps cool it quicker and lowers bacteria build up. (Dudes, all food builds bacteria as it cools) Don't know how to do an ice bath ? Ask me.