Vice President/2nd in Command

General McChrystal Out – General Petraeus In

Congrats Patraeus! Now I think we might just have a shot of serious impact!

I agree with South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham -the switch of hands of Commanding Officer  in Afghanistan is the perfect time to reevaluate our strategy in AfPak and ’start over’.

We all know we won’t ever ‘win’ this war – this isn’t even a war really anymore. This is just an endless battle. If it were really a war -it would insinuate there could realistically and viably be a side that wins.

But in this fight – no side does. The Taliban and Al Qaeda extremist are never going to wipe us all out…and the USA is never going to wipe them all out.

It’s an idealistic strategy that doesn’t even rank in worthiness for the time to do the probable/possible test. It’s quite clear to see the answer anyway.

But – if we are going to pretend this is war – and we are going to have US Military engaged in battle overseas- now more than ever, we need to give a Serious Sustainable Kick in the Butt to these terrorists!!

Now more so than ever  - McChrystal doing the fine job of making some of the top  US  leaders & US Government look even more like a bunch of jokes (more so than what maybe we all have our personal opinions on anyway). We are now even more the laughing stock to the Taliban and Al Qaeda members…I can only imagine how long and how loud they were laughing when they heard McChrystal’s daring words.

At this point it is crucial, McChrystal’s stupidity or not. It’s been 9 years now and we haven’t made really an ounce of progress. We can’t keep doing this as we approach our 10th year at war. We need to send Petraeus overseas with a serious and dynamite blow-you-up plan to really shake these Taliban out of their hiding cells!!!

He needs to arrive with explosive umph and such power, that the fear we are trying to put upon these terrorists actually works for a change – and not only works – but works instantly – completely taking them off guard!

His presence needs to shake the ground so hard they fall to their feet and say ‘uncle’. He needs to whip massive transformation across the remote training camps, hiding villages and roadside bombs and stop at nothing – going full force 24/7- until our US military is actually the dominant fighter -not the tail chaser we have been for 9 years (not their fault, they are following orders).  General Petraeus needs to do a complete 180 of how things are done there if he wants to bring himself and our soldiers home alive, early and victorious.

We now have an open window of opportunity to seriously shake things up & make significant progress – as our soldiers will be lead by one of the best. So we should take complete advantage of this in every way we can. If anyone can do this – General David Petraeus can! But don’t send Petraeus over without a new strategy, without a new plan. It’s pointless if you do.

Maybe McCrystal committed professional suicide for a reason. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise.

He obviously did this purposefully. No one of his experience, age, stature, ranking is that stupid to make mistake after mistake after mistake in what you say to a magazine reporter. It was too instant and too easy for it to be a mistake. To me, this was akin to having drinks with Bin Laden himself. Mocking the US to the enemy.  No General is that careless – drinks or no drinks.

Makes ya wonder if McChrystal’s a double agent. Not too far fetched — there was so much disloyalty not only to those specific individuals he mocked, but to the US in general, to the US Military in general. I wonder if he realizes the actual reprecussion his words had in more ways than one.

Either way, McChrystal, Petraeus, Snoopy – this is AfPak fight is still what I call an mission impossible – and it really doesn’t make a difference who is Commanding General.

Happy Holidays!

Wishing everyone a festive holiday season and a magnificent New Year!

May we all be champions for transparency back to our global governments, agencies and people who work in them  - much louder, firmer and demand more or better in 2010!

Thank you for supporting TOWP, a venue to expand minds globally.

Be safe, happy holidays and Cheers to 2010!

Abbey

30,000 more troops being sent to the wrong country

President Obama has decided that an insurgency in Afghanistan -akin to the one done in Iraq – would at this point, be the best way to ‘deter, dismantle and stop’ the Taliban and the Al Qaeda network that still significantly threatens the US and the global world.

I disagree 100%.  This is lacks any common sense. It’s completely senseless in cost, and more importantly, senseless in the lives that will be lost to fight this long, drawn out, going on 9 year war.

The Taliban is more predominant in the Pakistan area and that is where Osama bin Laden is reportedly hiding – along the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

So why would he send 30,000 more troops on top of the 68,000 that were sent when he first came into office in January 09 to Afghanistan, if that is not the country where the bigger problems really are?

I would think that if you are going to try to make sure a terrorist group doesn’t take over a country, it would be the one with nuclear arms.

Not with the country that we train their men to fight USA style and they turn around and shoot and kill 2 of our own USA soldiers for no reason at all while they are patrolling along with them. You can not trust these Afghanistans. They turn on us in an instant – they have no loyalty to us, so we can’t expect anything but distrust.

I would also think it would be the country where this powerful and growing terrorist group is more heavily infiltrated. The terrorists are not stupid, the more you move into Afghanistan, the more they just simply move into Pakistan and gain even more leverage than they already have there.

But that’s just me talking logic -and the government doesn’t work on logic, they work to support their own agendas…except Vice President Biden.

Biden seems to be the only smart one in the national security team pack. He has repeatedly stated he does not agree with this Obama/General McCrystal strategy. Biden’s solution (unmanned drones and special ops) is much smarter in terms of dollars, efficiency and less lives lost. And Biden thinks if we are sending any troops over, it should be to Pakistan.

Finally, a refreshing thought in government and one that is logical!

Extra prayers are sent to these 30,000 troops that will be sent to Afghanistan: 1000 Marines last week in December 2009 and the remaining during the Spring 2010.

46th Anniversary of JFK’s death

I can’t believe this wasn’t mentioned in any front page news on the internet.

Maybe they are waiting for the 50th to mention of it – to make a big deal of it.

I thought this would have been more prevelant this year due to Ted Kennedy’s recent death – ya know, his brother.

The only mention of this date/event was the last paragraph in a story about his nephew, Patrick Kennedy – the battle between him and the Roman Catholic Church in Rhode Island about abortion, Kennedy’s views, and of course, about the health care reform bill. It was a one liner. Barely given it’s righteousness.

I can’t believe President Obama didn’t even mention this in his Saturday Weekly Address, considering it was the next day that would have marked JFK’s anniversary, Sunday Nov 22, 2009.

Has he gotten so focused on kissing butt with Asia he forgot one of our greatest President’s of all time? This surprises me more because he was very close with Ted Kennedy.

I might even say shame on Obama for not taking a few minutes to recognize this anniversary. Shame on his Administration for not making sure he mentioned this or gave a short speech from his hotel on this on Sunday.

They didn’t even task this one to VP Biden.

I guess nothing seems important about JFK anymore in light of what is now considered worthy of print. Sad we have come to this moment.

JFK, you were worthy of print or mention by some news/media network or by the White House on Sunday.

~In honor of a great man I wish I knew as our President.

2 Seriously Overlooked Aspects in The Recovery Act

I think this is an excellent program. I commend Vice President Biden on how he has made such great strides with this already within the first 200 days, even with his many overseas trips.

However, there are 2 aspects that perhaps somehow got overlooked when government officials strategized, set standards and began implementing plans of how we would help American businesses within this essential Act.

I am speaking within the broad range of keeping business doors open to doing more than just breaking even, to expanding to their full potential to really impact economic trade or help stimulate the consumer economy.

I started my business in the Spring of ‘07 with it going more full force after a relocation in the Winter ‘07 to Arlington, VA and the holidays.  So by January ’08, my name and business, BLC, were really making headway, just as we were coming into the worst of the economy.

My original business plan incorporated working with private wealth only. However, that was modified a bit to withstand this economic cycle over the next few years, so many of my projects have also been sourced out to loan funds as a second option. I am personally not a big fan of loans, so I am always most critical and skeptical of them.  But, I am also grateful they are there as options for my clients.

What I extremely surprised about is that I am seeing the same type of loans being passed around today, Summer 09, as I was back in early Spring 08. I thought the loan terms would be significantly different a few months after the Recovery Act was implemented. But they are not.

This is the 1^st seriously overlooked problem of the Recovery Act.

I got an amusing email today from one of my clients that I have had since 08. It was basically his statement of being just as tired of these loan situations as I am.

I think in his frustration, and him also politely telling me, ‘this one also won’t work’, he created an example for me using a smaller dollar amount than what his business is requesting (keeping himself anonymous) – but still point out the silliness of the loan.

He knew I already knew this, I think he really wanted me to step up to the plate and send his email back to the loan source and say:  “wake up fellas this is absolutely ridiculous! If you had a small – medium sized business, would you do this?”

But since I won’t do that, because it would just be a waist of my time (they won’t change anything), I am posting it here for your amusement – pretty much verbatim:

“There are a few things in the deal that bother me and make it almost impossible to take a loan of any significant amount.

1. They want a $2,000 Escrow deposit plus another 10% deposit placed into an escrow account to start. So, if, for example, we wanted a $500,000 loan, this would mean that we put $52,000 into escrow before we start the process. We can not do that.

2. They want 4 points for the broker and 1 point for closing. That is 5% of the total amount; again on a $500,000 loan that is $25,000. Seems expensive, but I would do it anyway if the other terms were acceptable.

3. They want the loan backed primarily by the person rather than the company; a situation I would not want to get into. You never know what will happen in the business world in today’s environment, as we see “mighty companies” going bankrupt, and I would never personally guarantee a loan of $500,000 or more and have to worry about my personal assets in the event of company failure for whatever reason. I am sure you would feel the same. As you know, we have offered to take on a loan against the earnings and equity of the company.

I think the big thing here is the amount of deposit they require before any loan funds are received. I don’t know of any small business who can tie up $50,000 or more while processing for a loan that could take at least 30 days, and probably more time than that.”

(end of his email)

Just to let you know, without revealing exacts, my client’s investment request is over $1M, but under $5M. If you go back up and redo those numbers picking any million dollar amount in the range I gave you, you will grasp how ridiculous and impossible this situation is for a small to medium sized business owner, and does not really help him get his millions.

This is one of just many types of loan examples. This is actually nothing compared to what I have seen – I would go far as to saying, this is the ‘kinder’ one, believe it or not – that is supposed to ‘help’ businesses.

The 2^nd problem the Recovery Act has failed to address is what I call this industry’s “ironic norm”.

When I started my business, my mentor told me the first week, it would be “harder to find smaller amounts of money than larger sums.” I asked him to repeat what he said, thinking he switched it around by mistake. Nope, he said it the same way again. I laughed. He said, “you’ll see”.

We talk a lot, but a year later, I called him back and told him he was right. He chuckled with the biggest grin (I could tell).

I can find $100M quicker than I can find $3M. Go figure.

No, it’s not on a secret tree. It’s just investors want to invest larger sums. The wealth they usually have is that range. Also, from the investor’s view: ‘if it’s only $3M, why hasn’t anyone pony’d it up yet –what’s wrong with the project?” There is nothing wrong with the project; this is how the wealthy think.

So I go back to my clients trying to hold back the laughter saying: “hey, any way you really need $20M instead of $3M? I can get you $20M in 2 weeks. What are your projections for the next 15-20 years, not the next 5-10 years?”  I am not trying to fabricate anything, just trying to help him now get ALL the money he possibly needs now.  (We never change the investment request in the end – we just keep looking).

Truly a surreal conversation to have throughout my days, but I have them.  Shame it doesn’t work this way in the consumer, every day world, huh?

Now, you would think in today’s economy, this “ironic norm” would go back to the more logical phrasing of every day, non-business life  – “it’s easier to get smaller amounts of money, than larger sums.” But it hasn’t.

But that, too, is the problem as it is the same way for loan sources.

About 80% of the loan sources circulating out there have a set minimum of $10M USD. That basically leaves the small business owner left with 20% of the loan sources that exist. Weed out the frauds and scams, you are down to 10%. As you saw by the example I provided earlier above,  many of those choices aren’t even viable.

Again, this is the 2^nd problem with aspects in the Recovery Act in terms of how they help businesses.

There are exceptional and viable businesses all over our nation that don’t need $10M to do what they need to do, whether to help them from closing their doors, or even to stay afloat, or to even expand to engage in bigger business to help our economy. They simply need $1M – $5M.

And it’s those businesses that line more of your streets and sit on more of the big lawns in our towns than the bigger businesses – which as we have seen over the past year collapse, lay off and/or file bankruptcy.

These small and medium size businesses are what’s holding America together, yet no one has their back to help them – without them having to bleed in the process.

They hold to all their responsibilities, paying taxes timely, participating in their communities, many have donated in the past, they are not laying off, some are actually trying to expand which will create jobs, increase economic growth, etc. Yet they can’t get what they need to do that or to just stay afloat.

This is most frustrating to them – as they see Obama pouring millions into saving traditional powerhouses – with slimy executives that significantly contributed to their own industry’s collapse, let alone and more importantly, the economic collapse we are all experiencing – when they have been dutiful citizens and good business owners, and are asking for significantly, significantly smaller millions.

To me, it’s more illogical than frustrating – but yes, frustrating! It’s made me want to knock on the White House door almost every day since I moved back to the DC area (I have never had a desire to do this before, if that gives you any idea where I am at with this). Perhaps I really should have before I left Arlington, VA. Believe me, I thought of it more than once!

What is our Recovery Act for?

This is ridiculous.

This is not smart.

Part of The Recovery Act is focused on helping businesses – both small to large enterprises.  But it really isn’t helping businesses at all – or the right ones, shall I say.

So I ask you Vice President Biden: Why aren’t you throwing out outrageous millions to the small and medium sized business owner through the Recovery Act?

If you offered up just $300M, my colleagues and I could fund about 10 projects combined right now.  The 2 projects I would allocate for this have to do with National Security & our US Military, then I would ask my colleagues to pick their highest ‘urgents’.

That’s 10 companies you are saving or allowing to expand. Not one big conglomerate that should have shut down anyway with all the corruptness going on at the higher levels.

As Obama and Biden state often, they never will know if their programs are working until the American people and the world start to feel and see the difference.

So, I am letting you know, with great respect Mr. Vice President, from an individual whose business is directly in this, and hearing it from my almost all my clients and colleagues – your Recovery Act is not really working in this realm.  It needs re-adjusting – and fast.

American businesses need your help to correct this situation. By not doing so, you are the one hindering more growth, contributing to more job losses, etc. That is not accusatory. It’s just fact from someone that has been involved in this for 2 years.  This needs your attention more than the existing road that is paved needs it’s potholes resurfaced, or the new railway system to be built.

I am not saying that to be a smart alec – I am saying that because I can hand you about 200 projects right now, that my colleagues and I have had since the beginning of ‘08 that have not gotten what they needed because the private wealth has not fully resurfaced yet, and more so, because the loans existing today are ridiculous and do not work with the current economic situation.

My clients and my colleagues’ clients need loans just to take out the loans that are being offered to ‘help’ them in the first place! Do you see something wrong with that statement?

The Recovery Act – as it relates to small and medium sized businesses -needs to be handled differently then the way it’s being handled at this time and it needs to generously favor the businesses – not the banks or the lending institutions. We are still fattening the pockets of the wrong people.

The stringency needs to be switched to the loaning institutions and banks, not on the small or medium sized business owner.  The loan terms need to be more reasonable.

The ideal ? This is how I think it should be:

Business loans should be akin to car loans. It’s simple and it works and it’s quick.

Congress should be writing specific legislation around The Recovery Act that focuses on businesses and loans; and the finance industry overall.

Back to the process of a car loan…A small business owner should be able to contact any lender, fill out a page long form (not 15 pages), get approved, pay an interest rate monthly based on his credit and income and collateral, and that is it. NO upfront fees. Not $5K, not $700K, nothing, not even one dime. The lending institution’s hold on the person can either be charging double the interest rate if they don’t make monthly payments, or just taking the collateral. To me, that is what a basic loan should be.

But, since I said ‘ideal’, and I know that will never happen in my lifetime, because sometimes the government just doesn’t really understand business, I will propose the following changes for business loans and be quite happy/satisfied if at least these changes are made:

They need to stop setting $10M minimums and take anything that is $1M+ to help the small or medium sized business owner.

They need to lower their %’s for deposits in escrow accounts.

They need to stop all – I mean all – upfront fees. Some fees are $10K and higher! There is no need for that fee.

The rest of their terms and %’s need to be flexible to each business owner applying – nothing standard – because each business owner is in a different position, etc. etc.

Until this happens, you will have more layoffs, more businesses closing, less expansion, less imports/exports and less global growth.

The Recovery Act was created to help the American people, and I know it is working in some realms. However, I think it is very weak in how it is standing behind it’s small American business owner and I think this needs to become a priority for Biden and his team working within this Act to reevaluate.

The small and medium sized American business owner has been the backbone of America since the 20th century, but they won’t last much longer in the 21st century without The Recovery Act being the backbone behind them. The Recovery Act needs to be the catalyst to enact legislation in Congress for the financial industry to work easier and more fairly with these businesses.

They aren’t asking for monetary handouts. They are proud, not greedy and worked hard to build the exceptional companies they have. They are simply asking for a fair shake with the lending institutions and banks.

If you follow my 4 suggestions, make these changes, watch how positive it will affect American morale, the global economy will boost, jobs will be kept and more created, and the financial struggles of many American families will end as a result.

After all, wasn’t that what The Recovery Act’s principles were based around?

Still an Active Presidential Figure

Not much needs to be said on this one – except a humungous KUDOS for our former Presidential Team – Clinton/Gore!

Bold, necessary and outstanding!

No better than to send Clinton vs Kerry (the only 2 actually invited to N. Korea) to cinch the deal to get these 2 ladies home to the USA!

But ouch – Clinton upstaged his wife on this one (not that she or anyone else even cares)!

Perhaps Bill Clinton should really be more involved in our nuclear discussions with North Korea while their leader is still alive. Things might be a lot different when his son steps in. I am not so sure Obama and his team will be as effective without him.

Commendable job, Bill!

Panetta v. Cheney

Last week, 6/16/09, CIA Director Leon Panetta made a statement in The New Yorker that was bold and shocking –but I believe absolutely necessary to curtail Cheney’s relentless attacks on the Obama Administration re: how they are handling the issue of terrorism and our nation’s security and Cheney’s ridiculous ongoing defense of water boarding.

“Panetta said: “it’s almost as if Dick Cheney is wishing that this country would be attacked again, in order to make his point” that Obama is making America less safe.

When I first read that I laughed out loud, and thought wow, something must have happened – some convo took place or something – to push Panetta to go to the media with this statement.

Then I said ‘way to go Panetta!’. About time someone indirectly told Cheney to shut his trap!

But on a more serious note – Panetta is absolutely right.

Cheney is basically tempting the terrorists to try another attack on us, which the terrorists could easily state: “well, your own VP of 8 years informed you weren’t prepared and we were just proving him right.” Not that any terrorist attack could EVER be validated or justified, but you could almost say, the terrorists would be right in this situation.

Even more a significant possibility – scary actually -  with Cheney’s Haliburton company and his connections to the oil industry, the wealthy, and some of the secret deals that have taken place, he could actually be in the power and position to push the catalyst of any terrorist or terrorist supporting country to attack the US.

Now, that gave me pause. Before I could care less if Cheney was going on and on  – because to me he was just making a fool of himself. You don’t see Bush commenting on any of this or defending himself. Cheney has been for practically 7 months now on the same issue! Ever heard the phrase: “let it rest, move on!”, Cheney?

Panetta has all the right. Cheney is putting our country at risk. Cheney’s bold statements about how America is weakening our stance on terrorism is not wise. It serves his agenda, not the safety of America. If Cheney  really stood for our country, he would not make statements like this. The true character behind our former VP is being exposed and he is the idiot opening pandora’s box to that exposure. Cheney whines every day/week in front of the media to try to prove his statement. Each day he does this, as the weeks and months go by, he discredits anything that is remotely left as an image of a high caliber professional in the American citizen’s eye, and in the eyes of his equal colleagues and peers.

I find it interesting, as America’s Vice President for 8 years, we barely heard a peep from this man, and he basically did nothing. Now, we are hearing more from Cheney  in 7 months than we did for 2 terms! I would say that is pathetic, in terms of how took the responsibility of his role in the Administration.

I am not sure why he even thinks anyone cares what he has to say about anything anymore, regardless of the topic. He was with an Administration that grew weaker every year (partially his fault as well) and he holds no position of power anymore.  Furthermore, he clearly didn’t care about America and the American people for 8 years to take his position much more seriously and do a lot more.  His focus was always on Haliburton – making sure that company was always operating well and richly.

I am not sure who would have made a stronger impact to tell Cheney to get off his high horse, but I believe the Director of the CIA was the best one, whether he thought to do this himself, or was encouraged by others.

Countless others that are in pertinent positions aren’t even acknowledging Cheney’s ranting. I don’t blame them – not worth their time. So, something must have really edged the CIA Director to state something public about his colleague and supposed friend, instead of calling Cheney privately and telling him to keep his mouth closed. I am sure Panetta has Cheney’s number.

Cheney’s comment back – pathetic and weak:
“I hope my friend was misquoted.”

Not too often the media misquotes anyone, let alone the CIA Director.

Nope, they got what he said verbatim.

It just makes another point: Cheney is so dumb he missed the main point of the message! There was a reason Panetta chose to do so in public as I said before. Perhaps it was to embarrass Cheney the same way he is embarrassing himself and continuing to disgrace the already laughed at former Bush W. Administration. Perhaps it is something more important, such as him knowing something about a terrorist situation b/c he is the Director of the CIA.

No matter what the reason – Kudos Panetta!

If I was Panetta, I might have also said:

“Instead of constantly fighting Obama, why don’t you just accept him as your new president. As a professional who held the role of VP, it is courtesy and the respectful thing to do. It’s called exiting gracefully. Your superior did. So should you. Bush hasn’t gotten in front of the microphone to defend anything. You sound like a whining baby. You aren’t going to change anything. You aren’t in a position to.”

But I think Panetta’s comment was enough – for all of us who really got it. Shame Cheney didn’t and he still thinks Panetta is his ‘friend’.

Maybe it was better Cheney didn’t do anything significant in his 8 years. He might have made this country worse.