Category Archives: Eight Decades of Insights

by Barry Kelly | July 29, 2013 · 8:26 am

EIGHT DECADES OF INSIGHTS 66 ADVISOR

IS IT TOO LATE?

Safe in the Shadows (Photo credit: sigma.)

The Advisor was slowly sipping his coffee as he waited for the President. The head of his secret service detail had called earlier and alerted the Advisor to a Presidential visit later in the night. It was now 10:17 P.M. Never mind the time he told himself if the President wants to come, he will come. Time makes no difference to me. This man is very hard to advise. I believe he has been that way all his life. He has a very inflated opinion of his capabilities. Not the first President to do so. He has never been held to any standard. Not as a child or as a student or even as a Senator. He does and says what he wants. Even contradicting his own recorded statements within days or weeks. I don’t think he even worries about consequences. Presidents have been impeached for less than he has already done.

Nixon left office before facing impeachment charges for a simple breaking and entering of a Democratic office in the Watergate. There was no proof that President Nixon ordered or knew about the break in before it happened. Nevertheless he deserved the threatened impeachment. His closest advisors were involved and the President is responsible for the people he hires. President Obama after saying how serious the charges of the IRS discriminating against Conservative groups were, he is now calling it a phony scandal. Does he think Americans all suffer from short-term memory loss? He also has included the killing of Americans at Ben Ghazi a phony scandal. Same with the intercept of journalists phone calls and email.

Those are all very serious events. Far more deserving of Impeachment proceedings than WaterGate or sex in the Oval office. He is only saved by the weak Republican leadership of the House who act as if they are afraid to face facts. This President is hard to advise. I don’t know what to tell him today. We just don’t agree on a basic set of facts. He is the President and many of my predecessors have faced harder problems. I don’t want my President to be run out of office.

While the Advisor was worrying about what advice to give the President. President Obama arrived outside the steel door leading to the Advisor’s office. He stared at the antique copper plaque on the steel door and studied the faint inscription. EIGHT DECADES OF INSIGHTS. Insights! What the hell am I doing here? The old black man inside is not helping me. Why does he think he’s so damn smart? I’m a Harvard graduate and a former professor. I think he knows what I’m trying to do but doesn’t let on. My legacy is not going to be like other Presidents. I don’t give a damn about solving problems or the ‘war on terror’ or creating jobs, or becoming a major producer of fossil fuel energy. I don’t even care about a health plan. What I care about is the redistribution of wealth and the destruction of this country’s power to create slavery abroad by dominating other nations, especially Islamic nations, through American economic and military power.

Only when the United States takes its place in a world wide family of nations as simply another member of the International Community will I be satisfied. We must follow the European model to provide for all citizens. Where everyone has equal opportunity and a fair shot and a progressive elite manages the economy and directs progress. That’s my legacy. That’s what I want. Real freedom for the middle class.

His Secret Service escort said, “Mr. President he can’t hear you through the door.”

“Too damn bad. I’m not completely nuts. No more of this.” With that outburst he spun on his heel strode back down the tunnel.

By the author of the Jack Brandon novels. http://www.factsandfictions.com

The author has 27 years of Government service, including two years serving President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s as an advisor. Considering today’s volatile political situation, you are encouraged to pass on this blog or parts of it to your contacts and friends. Comments and dialogue are welcome and helpful.

Eight Decades of Insights 65 (factsandfictions.com)
Nothing ‘phony’ about O’s scandals (bostonherald.com)
Obama’s senior advisor Dan Pfeiffer dismisses recent WH scandals as “phony” (redalertpolitics.com)
Is Obama Committing Treason? (westernfrontamerica.com)
Eight Decades of Insights 60 (factsandfictions.com)

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Filed under Conservative views, Eight Decades of Insights, Intelligence & Politics

Tagged as The Advisor

by Barry Kelly | July 22, 2013 · 7:30 am

EIGHT DECADES OF INSIGHTS 65

LEADING FROM BEHIND–THE ADVISOR

The Advisor was thinking about how forceful he could be in advising President Obama. The subject for his next visit would be the consequences in foreign policy of leading from behind. The President wasn’t a stupid or a cruel man. He was just a man who carried an enormous amount of baggage.

Could anyone walk away from the influences he was subject to in his earlier life? the advisor thought. Some he was personally responsible for, others he had no real choice. Parents from far to the left, several years in a Muslim Madrassi teaching Wahhabism. His father, an anti-colonialist Kenyan, whose family had been persecuted by the British Colonialists. For most of his formidable years he was exposed to radical leftist ideologies. Then, the influence of Ivy League progressives, Saul Alinsky and his radical plan for seizing power, Reverend Wright and his hate America sermons, William Ayers and his terrorist viewpoint and to top it off the ruthless and corrupt school of Chicago politics. The President never personally suffered from his associations and ideology. Therefore, he has no understanding of the consequences of following a revolutionary ideology. It is probably too late now but I must try. I will never knowingly give him bad advice or try to manipulate him. My mission code does not allow it. After all, he was elected twice and could probably win a third term if it were permitted.

The advisor’s musing is interrupted when the flashing red light and soft chiming called him to the phone.

The President arrived a few minutes later at nine o’clock PM. The President strode into the room, greeted the advisor and said, “Let’s get started. I have some extra time and need a cup of your coffee.”

“Mr. President, you look like a man who doesn’t have a care in the world.”

“Today was good day. No one was asking me to do the impossible. Why do my supporters and staff think I should get involved in everything?”

“You are the ‘point of the spear.’ They count on you to give them what they want without understanding that doing nothing is also, at times, a good action plan. There, a perfect opening for my talk. Remember, you told me to pick the topic. So I’m going to talk about the concept of leading from behind. Please interrupt at any time. I’m going to use foreign affairs as a backdrop for my advice.

“You are in the fifth year of your Presidency. That is long enough for you to own America’s position in the world. You will not like some of my statements. But I will assure you, the the facts are correct. My analysis may be faulty because I project it into the future where no one can be absolutely sure they are right. First our main adversary, Russia. They are stronger now than they were before your election. Today their fleet is in the Mediterranean, something that was inconceivable in the last several decades. They have nearly secured a warm water port in the Med, a Russian goal going back to the czars. They failed in Afghanistan to find a corridor to warm water. Russia’s ability to project power has been limited for centuries because they lacked a port with year round operations capability. The Syrian port of Tartous is the payoff for their support to Assad. Sure, they enjoy threatening American and Israeli interests in the Middle East, but Tartous is the real goal.

“To see more clearly the Russian move into the Middle East, imagine a monopoly game where the winner gains areas of influence and the losers, well, lose. You failed to negotiate a status of forces agreement in Iraq where it was in no one’s interest for the U.S. to abandon the country. Certainly sectarian violence would be lessened if we had a seat at the table. Iran could not supply Syria forces through or over Iraq. Iran could not threaten Iraq if we had maintained a presence in Iraq. Iran would have a harder time supplying Hezbollah and using that force to control Lebanon, another possibility for Russia to exploit to acquire a warm water port. Our anti-ballistic missiles on the ground in Iraq could bring more defense against an Iranian attack on Israel or the Sunni Middle East. ‘Leading from Behind’ policies have resulted in our loss of space supremacy, ABM land-based systems, and talks about unilaterally cutting force size and our inventor of ballistic missiles that have kept us from a nuclear war since WWII. Our loss of influence in Egypt, Libya, Iraq, and Pakistan is not a foreign affairs victory. Leading from behind means you are and will remain behind.

“Leading from behind does not win respect in the world. Your monopoly board does not look good. Putin has no respect for you as leader because he sees you weakening America and, therefore, believes you are not someone he should worry about. Most of the world respects power and distrusts weakness. To world leaders words don’t matter. Words without action are invisible. To start with I advise you to say less and do more. You can project American power without following the old colonial pattern you hate so much.”

The President puts his cup down, grinds out his cigarette.

The Advisor says, “Yes. I have known ever since you sent the bust of Winston Churchill back to England. Your constant concern is for the little nation, the poor people, the Muslim nations over the Colonial West. If you achieve your goal of leveling America and the world, you’ll destroy both and civilization of all will suffer. But that is for another time.”

The President gets up and strides to the door. He looks back as he leaves and says, “You can’t be right.”

The Advisor says, “Goodnight Mr.President,” to the sound of an automatic locking door.

He thought, that went well.

By the author of the Jack Brandon novels. http://www.factsandfictions.com

EIGHT DECADES OF INSIGHTS 64 – THE ADVISOR

The Advisor on Big Goverment

“Good evening, Mr. President. Are you ready to hear my advice on the size and scope of government? Really, the same principles apply in some fashion to any very large organization. It’s not primarily dependent on which political party is in power. President Bush created the Department of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence, against the advice of my predecessor, two of the worst examples of growing the size of government to fix some problems.

“Conservatives grow the government’s bureaucratic forces to provide security. Liberals grow the bureaucracy to make things equal or to provide welfare services. Both are misguided. All bureaucracies are created to regulate and control the actions of people who actually produce goods and services. These people are the ones who built this nation and who have created the most productive and free society the world has ever seen. They are the substantive force in our civilization. They care little for regulation that makes production more costly or inefficient. They rely on the forces of a free market to guide the economy. The regulators are the process people who do not have creative skills or the individual skills to build or manage but are driven to control the process which means to control the means of productions and distribution. It would be foolish to believe regulation is not needed at times but only in the smallest amount.

“Left to themselves, the regulators will centralize and grow the size of government to the point no business can function efficiently. Today we are close to that point where the founders and leaders of industry have to pay more attention to the impact of government regulations and taxes than to the worldwide forces of the market place.

“The introduction was a bit long and you must want your cup filled and a cigarette. May I pour you some coffee? You’ll find your brand of cigarettes on the table. Any questions so far?”

” Yes, I’m ready, please pour. Although I’m beginning to doubt my sanity. I already think you must be a timeless relic from some faraway ancient civilization and wonder what beyond curiosity brings me back to your cave? Do you ever leave here?”

“Mr. President, the first eight decades of my life were spent above ground. It is much easier underground. We all eventually get here. But we can’t spend too much time talking about me. My past years are of no significance. Advising the President of the United States is a full-time job, especially when we don’t agree on a common set of facts.”

“Second question. Yes. I’ve been here several times now and I still don’t know what I should call you.”

“You may call me anything. I am and have been many things. I’m old enough to have learned names and titles are of little importance compared to the impact a man or woman makes in improving and protecting our world.”

“Maybe I should call you a professor. You know I was one once.”

“Mr. President, I was once a professor but do not prefer that title and you shouldn’t, either.”

“Why not?”

“Well, to start with your academic grades are not good and you were an instructor, not an assistant professor, an associate professor nor a professor. Your current title far surpasses your academic credentials. But let’s get started before you get up and leave. Remember, down here we must have honesty. All pretensions and embellishments must be left at the door. You can pick them up when you leave.

“My worry about big government is the embedded drive in humans to continue the process of centralization. Defined as combining segments of government, business, or religion into fewer and larger segments where fewer and fewer people make decisions. This process expands the scope of control beyond the ability of anyone to be an effective manager and steward of public funds. It is all part of the desire to make things better. Watch, when things go ‘wrong’ the cry is, ‘put someone in charge. Make someone responsible.’ 9/11 gave us that opportunity. Something was wrong. How else could such blow strike our homeland? A conservative government, under President Bush, moved to fix the problem by, of course, putting pieces of government together under a central control. To start with the pieces of government in their separateness, were not well managed. Many of them were already too large. Today Homeland Security is an example of centralizing management until you reach numbing inefficiency. Another example is the DNI organization. The Director of National Intelligence is about the worst fix anyone could have made to improve the collection, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence. I defy anyone to prove money is being saved or that the product produced has been improved. Top managers of such over-centralized organizations don’t have a clue to what is happening in the trenches. Their main concern is often getting enough reporting from the far reaches of their commands to make them look credible, especially when briefing the President or appearing before an aggressive group of journalists or legislators.

“Unfortunately, both our main political parties are vulnerable to the drive to fix things by centralization. National Health Care or Obamacare, Dodd-Frank, over reaches of OPA and the Department of Energy are other examples of good intentions leading to disastrous unforeseen consequences. While some centralization is necessary, decentralization is the sure path to renewed growth and vitality in both business and government. Good people in charge of manageable organizations can fix problems. Over centralization cannot. Creating a larger population of civil unionized workers is not a good thing even in the short run. To start with, U.S. Government employees should not be members of any union. Who or what does unionization protect them against? They are hired by the people, work for the people and are the people.

“You don’t need anymore union powers lobbying your presidency. Nearly every political pundit comes to realize that the growth in government beyond that which is absolutely necessary, threatens individual freedom and the overall freedom to create and produce new goods and products. Look at all the cases in history where freedom has been lost or eroded by governments grown beyond the need. The growth of government is always pushed by people who have good intentions and a poor understanding of history and management principles. Don’t let your presidency be the one that pushes growth of government beyond need and endangers freedom and economic growth.”

“I’m not sure I believe any of that but I will think on it.”

“Mr. President, thank you. You must make the final decisions. Not all advice is good. Maybe I am not 100% right all the time. But I have no personal or organizational agenda. What do want to cover at our next meeting?”

“You decide. I must go now. It’s a good thing you serve the best coffee and I have the freedom to smoke without anyone giving me disapproving looks. That alone makes me come back.”

The author of the Jack Brandon novels is a Korean War veteran and served in the Vietnam War as a CIA agent who has 27

Meeting with President Reagan, Vice President Bush, Deputy National Security Adviser Frank Carlucci and General Colin Powell in the Oval Office.

years of government service, including two years serving President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s as an advisor. Considering today’s volatile political situation, you are encouraged to pass on this blog or parts of it to your contacts and friends. Comments and dialogue are welcome and helpful. www.factsandfictions.com.

Eight Decades of Insights 32 (factsandfictions.com)
The High Cost Of Maintaining ‘Homeland Security’ (warnewsupdates.blogspot.com)

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Filed under Capitalism, centralization, Conservative views, Eight Decades of Insights, Intelligence & Politics, management theory, Politics, Progressives

Tagged as big government, Bush, Department of Homeland Security, director of national intelligence, George W. Bush, Oval Office, President, United States

by starediting | July 11, 2013 · 7:01 am

EIGHT DECADES OF INSIGHTS – 63

ALL STORIES HAVE A MESSAGE

Putting my three Jack Brandon novels together in one volume gives me another chance to call the reader’s attention to the thought process that created these stories with the embedded social and political messages many of you have noticed. First of all, I wanted to tell good stories.

While most of my experience has been in the operational side of espionage, I’ve gained significant experience in counter-intelligence, police operations, intelligence analysis and counter-terrorism. All of these security fields are subject to the effects of poor management from over centralization and the rise of political correctness from a population conditioned to fear police violence more than crimes of violence.

In the first book of the Trilogy, Justice Beyond Law, I used the backdrop of an illegal KGB network of sleeper agents. Throughout the Cold War this was a constant problem for our security services. As the Cold War eased and the ‘Wall’ came down, these KGB sleeper agents went through a confusing few years, while the Russians sorted out the organization of their agents living double lives in several American neighborhoods. Justice Beyond Law illustrates the problem traditional ‘law and order’ methodology has in dealing with uncovering and apprehending sleeper agents with terrorism missions.

Book two, Justice Without Mercy, poses two very hard areas for law enforcement officials using the traditional law and order case methodology, soft target terrorism and a serial killer. First, they must uncover a crime, identify the culprits, collect enough evidence for an indictment, follow all the rules of collection so the evidence can be used in a court, give the foreign criminals the same rights or nearly the same rights granted to U.S. citizens, including counsel. There are no shortcuts. This system protects the criminals more than the victims.

My third book, Shades of Justice, deals with human trafficking. Where fast action is necessary to save victims. Action that is not permitted by the pace of the law and order method of crime fighting. Our well-trained and dedicated law enforcement personnel would eventually solve these cases but not in time to save many of the victims.

The answer is not vigilantism in any form. I have crafted the Jack Brandon team to be far more moral and ethical than any vigilante group ever has been or will be. The answer is to remove some of the restrictions binding law enforcement in solving specific types of crimes. I’m confident many restrictions can be removed, suspended for a specified time or modified in favor of the victims. For specifics ask any friends who hold law and order positions, other than trial lawyers, to tell you about their problems in identifying criminals, apprehending them, building solid cases with evidence that will hold up in court and protecting the victims from repeat offenders.

The author of the Jack Brandon novels, is a Korean War veteran and served in the Vietnam War as a CIA agent who has 27 years of government service, including two years serving President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s as an advisor.

http://www.factsandfictions.com

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Filed under Eight Decades of Insights, Intelligence & Politics, Spy novels

by Barry Kelly | July 1, 2013 · 7:34 am

EIGHT DECADES OF INSIGHTS 60

(Photo credit: sigma.)

THE ADVISOR

No matter how hard he worked on giving his speeches, something was not right. His polls were dropping. The former friendly media was beginning to publish unflattering articles. Every day it seemed someone found a new scandal. His close advisors had nothing to say but “go explain yourself to the people.” He tried that. Not even the Germans wanted to listen. His brilliant speech at Georgetown University on climate change and the new war on coal went flat. His ace-in-the-hole, unilateral disarmament, got only disbelief and “who cares” from enemies and friends. He didn’t know where to turn for advice. He needed it. He always had. The word impeachment was whispered not so quietly behind his back, or maybe the voice was just in his head.

One possible source of good advice was left. He had pushed it out of his mind. But now seemed like the right time. He called in the head of his Secret Service detail for a private talk. When Chris Hammond showed up a few minutes later, the President said, “Chris, sit down and have a cup of coffee with me. You remember the last meeting I had with George Bush before I was sworn in?”

“Yes, Mr. President, I do.”

“You were there. Tell me what you heard him say.”

“President Bush said when he had his last talk with President Clinton, President Clinton told him that when he really needed advice from someone whose only agenda was to serve the President and protect the nation there was only one place to go for advice. Presidents starting with Lincoln had gone there for advice.”

“Can you take me there now?”

“Yes, Mr. President. Give me just a few minutes.” Chris searched his phone’s memory, selected an obscure number and said, “Sir, I’m bringing the President down now,” and ended the call.

Chris led the President down into the tunnel running from the White House to the Treasury Department. He stopped at door that said “NO ADMITTANCE” by order of the Secret Service. Chris swiped his card and at the faint click pushed the door open for the President. They were now in a dimly lit passage. Chris stopped at the second door. The President studied the faint copper plate on the door. He could barely make out the words. Chris said, Mr. President, “I’ve been told that copper sign has been in use since President Lincoln’s time.” The words said “Eight Decades of Insights.” Chris said, “Mr. President, put your right palm in the center of the sign.” He did and the door swung open into a small, modestly furnished room. An elderly black man was sitting behind a desk, the wall behind him was covered with full bookshelves. The old man, in a very well tailored suit, got up and extended his hand to the President, saying, “Mr. President, welcome. Please have a seat. I’ve just brewed some fresh Sumatra Roast coffee.”

President Obama said he would love a cup and took a seat at the small table set for two. Chris said, “Mr. President, I’ll wait for you outside the door. I’m not permitted to stay in the room.”

“What if I want you to stay?”

“It doesn’t matter. The protocol here is very strict. There has never been a leak from this room. You, of course, can leave anytime. This man is only here to serve you. Whatever you say will stay here in this room.” Chris closed the door softly behind him. The President asked, “Who are you?”

“You can know my name but it is not important. I’m merely one in a long unbroken line of men and women who have occupied this room waiting to serve the man sitting in the Oval Office.”

“How can I trust your advice if I know nothing about you?”

“Mr. President, it is your decision. I’m only here to respond to your questions. Some Presidents have used us, others not so much.”

“Tell me how you got this mission.”

“Through the history of this small office each incumbent advisor picks his successor. The successor takes over only on the death or incapacity of the incumbent. There is no training. The advisor is picked solely because of their experience and service. Also they must be at least 80 years of age. Now how may I help you?”

“What do you know about me? Living in this subterranean room is not a very impressive setting for a Presidential advisor.”

“I’ve read all your speeches and watched you deliver many of them, actually too many. I have your records as a Senator, both of the United States and Illinois, as well as all your academic records and papers. I know about the development of your progressive ideology and the influential people in your growth, such as Saul Alinsky, Reverend Wright, and others we both know from your early life. I have access to the internet, including many data bases. Some restricted. Mr. President, the person sitting behind this door waiting to help does not approve or disapprove of the President or his agenda. We are only here to help you govern and protect the United States. Now how may I help you?”

“I feel my speeches are not as effective as they used to be and want your advice on the IRS mess and Ben Ghazi.”

“How much time do you have?”

“Unfortunately, I have some things I must attend to. So I’ll have to come back.”

“I’m always here. You may come at anytime. What you have asked me are not hard questions. Please don’t make any more speeches until we have met again. Thank you, Mr. President.” As soon as the President left, the Advisor quietly went to work. He would be ready by nightfall for the next visit.

By the author of Jack Brandon novels http://www.factsandfictions.com

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