Ken SchreinerKTVX Joins Fight Against Divine Strake; Hey, Legislators: Got Courage?
“We must all obey the great law of change. It is the most powerful law of nature.”- Edmund Burke
As I sat bored through the Super Bowl, I wondered why it didn’t seem to to matter. When I was younger and a huge Bears fan living in Chicago, it all seemed so important. Now, I didn’t even care if the Bears won. Lots of people watch the Super Bowl just to see the ads. Me too. I’ve been in TV all my life and it used to seem so important. But even the ads done by the Internet producers- groundbreaking for their inclusion if not their content or execution- were lame. Was it me? Or something else? The answer: Something so big it’s not only changing me but the entire planet and everyone on it. THE BIGGEST, MOST INSPIRING STORY OF ALL TIME: HOW WE SAVED THE EARTH. A lot of people don’t share my opinion but they’re just staving off the inevitable. Utah’s legislature, for example. Proposing bills about teens using cell phones and tanning booths: HEY, I HAVE A MOM! And our federal government-protectors of our precious natural resources- so desperate for cash they’re proposing to allow almost four times as many snowmobiles to further pollute and destroy Yellowstone, our most famous national park! As Utahns choke on our own airborne effluent and the U.S. government refuses to even recognize our climate dilemma, I see an incredible and encouraging trend not just among regular folks but among corporate media and American business. The latest flash: at 10 p.m. Sunday night, KTVX announced it was joining Gov. Huntsman in fighting Divine Strake. As someone who worked in the corporate media for 30 years, THIS IS BIG! Big Media taking a stand on a controversial issue that affects an ongoing war in which Utah lives are at stake both here and in Iraq. Newpapers taking editorial stands is not uncommon; the Tribune came out a couple of weeks ago against the test and even Deseret News and smaller papers have lined up against Bush/Cheney Inc. on DS. But TV stations are historically scared to death of pissing off anyone, especially their arch-right-wing sugar daddies in the automobile, pharmaceutical and, in this case, spiritual industries. You could tell something was up last week when they interviewed One Utah pundit Ed Firmage who persuaded the LDS to successfully oppose the MX missle system back the 1980s (which I covered as a reporter in Denver at KUSA). Channel 4’s coverage of Divine Strake has been ahead of the competiton but now they’ve taken it to a new level. I not only applaud the effort from a political standpoint. I think it’s about time corporate media do things that are just plain right for their communities. We discussed this at the Journalism That Matters conference in Memphis which I’ve written extensively about. It’s this kind of courage that can produce great things and endear a medium to a community, boost circulation/viewership and EVERYONE WINS! Not just a few wealthy sponsors or powerful politicians. It’s the courage all our corporate media, our state and federal governments still need to find in covering and making what will truly be- the greatest story ever told.
February 5th, 2007 at 11:36 am
Like the rediculous MX missle plot, where the Church Hierarchy spoke to its paranoia and destructive potential, this Divine Strake test is planned to be only on opening salvo in a massive surge in Nuclear weapons developement: no less dangerous or disfunctional than the MX, only held slightly closer to the vests of the other powers that be. The Sainly leadership would do well to simply propose caution in this persuit, then hang in the wings to see if ‘we the people’ can shut it down. Really it’ll likely take both. They can fairly reserve the right to be our ‘big stick’, if they choose, but they would be doing us all a great favor if they put out some signal.
February 5th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Ken,
Nice, very nice. I dig how you use the term “spiritual industries.”
That deserves a little more discussion these days . . .
Isn’t “Divine Strake” a frightening term.
Divine (adj.) 1) of, like or from God or a god, holy. 2) Devoted to God, religious. 3) extremely great, good
Strake (n.) A strake is part of the shell of the hull of a boat or ship which, in conjunction with the other strakes, keeps the sea out and the vessel afloat. It is a strip of planking in a wooden vessel or of plating in a metal one, running longitudinally along the vessel’s side, bottom or the turn of the bilge, usually from one end of the vessel to the other.
This all ads up to FUBAR!!!
February 5th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
The MX missile plot, I assume you mean the train based missiles, or truck based, are and were, tactically unstoppable, as no one knows where they are for very long, as they move continually. Very effective. It is estimated, for example, that despite satellites and air superiority, we only were able to find some 4% of Scuds in gulf 1 and we didn’t destroy but a couple. Once again the Tactical Method of mobile launch is VERY EFFECTIVE!
It is now being used on the very latest variant of the SS-27, also known as the Topol, by the Russians. It is MIRV(3 warheads) able, and in use NOW on mobile launchers. It is capable of evasive manuevers, and is for all intents and purposes is UNSTOPPABLE!
Star Wars lasers a defense? We were beaten to the punch by this Russian technology, it will not stop this missile. It sports a 1-2 Megaton yield warhead capable of leaving the Salt Lake Valley a crater. We be screwing with people we underestimate.
What do you expect of the idiots that are failing to succeed in running a pop gun war?
February 5th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
The Topol has a range of 10,000 kilometers, and is an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile.
That means it is a spaceship. Need I remind anyone that the Space Station has only been kept afloat by deliveries from Russian heavy lift rockets, after our own shuttles have proven unreliable.
This is the exact same platform that powers the Topol. Sucker works, and is a VERY BAD BOY. Driven around the Steppes of Russia on giant 8 wheeled driven all terrian vehicles….,
….. in God, WE DON”T KNOW WHERE!! Estimated time for set up and fire? 7 MINUTES!!
Impeach the IDIOT!!! AND HURRY!!!! Russia gutted the Wehrmacht, it is no TRIFLE!! Attack Iran, and expect the WORST!!
February 5th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Blessed Rope: with all due respect, are you high? Why would Russia want to attack us? They can’t run their own country. Why would they want to run ours? Seriously, explain.
February 5th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
Why does bush want to possibly nuke Iran? This is the manner in which nuclear warfare is believed to be possible, accident, misunderstood intentions.
In no way will Russia allow the US, Israel and Great Britain dominate the Middle East. China will support them in this. This is the ancient Great Game, with nuclear weapons.
Russia is running its country just fine. It is now the worlds largest oil producer, and is supplying Europe, natural gas also. With oil prices so high, they are making bank.
The mess is deceiving. The Europeans are busy working with them to improve their infrastructure, and economic mobility. Mutual benefit, been going on since Putin took over.
Who says Russia wants to run us? Destroying us would be just fine. Ken, you must have read the long term goals of Russian and Chinese communists. They have well sold us the rope to hang ourselves. They don’t want to face retaliation, but as any German will attest, they will do what they must to survive. Russia has been playing rope a dope, like Mohammed Ali. Watch the left jab.
Russia does not wish to attack us, the Topol is meant to be the deterrent. Now bush is a confirmed psycho, so nothing is off the table for our enemies. Add to this the China card, and be afraid. No, I ‘aint high, but most of America is TRIPPIN!!!
The Topol mobile missile launch system, went on line 2 years ago, with it is believed 60 weapons MIRV able, 3 warheads each, making for 180 1-2 Megaton Hydrogen bombs. Easily enough to utterly DESTROY America. Think the world will weep?
Only have to do it once!!
February 6th, 2007 at 9:39 am
How long have you been with the State Department? Dulles must have been a gas! I like George F. Kennan too. But he’s about as relevant as Kevin Federline.
February 6th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Weapons systems are built in Russia on the basis of effect. All of their systems are designed specifically to destroy US capital assets. Unlike the US that has a long tradition of expensive unworkable systems, that have been created for the benefit of the corporations and the pols that get the kickbacks in their districts.
Russia could not, cannot, will not. afford such nonsense.
It is inarguable now that we are as unsafe, and perhaps more so, than anytime since the height of the Cold WAr. that the American public does not see this is not relevant to the facts that the Topol was created to shut America up. Star Wars will not stop this weapon.
If need be in the face of a stupified America, they can, and have the WILL, to use such things.
It is why the impeachment of this President is imperative. Do not imagine that this nut won’t foment a crisis. Playing chicken with the Russians is the mark of a megalomaniac. Start the procedures for impeachment now, so the dice won’t have to be rolled. Putin doesn’t play dice.
February 6th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Yo, ‘Neck-stretcher’. My calling the MX, (upthread) rediculous, was in the vein of destroying the Great Basin, with thousands of miles of RR track, in order to Save it (the country). Then, there was operating the damn thing, and of course stocking it with missles and OF COURSE, the blowing up of said missles.
Tactical effectiveness, won’t trump the need for us all to be at peace. Idiotic megalomania may, but…
February 6th, 2007 at 11:34 am
Otter: Bluto’s right. Psychotic, but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now, we could do it with conventional weapons that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.
Bluto: We’re just the guys to do it.
D-Day: Let’s do it.
Bluto: LET’S DO IT!
February 6th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Understood. I am describing the insurance policies our Russian adversaries have put in place should we be unable to halt the insane one from his megalomania. the russians got the better half of the German Rocket scientists remember. The things accomplished and the weapons systems created with limited funds are only to be described as terminal deadly. The Topol system is really an MX, in modern.
Check into the SS-22 “Sunburn” supersonic cruise missile, or the SS-26 “Onyx” modern variant. Iran has these. CANNOWHUPPASS!
February 6th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
In addition, the only real chance of stopping an ICBM is in the “boost” phase. This is the period on the way up, as the missile is accelerating to “escape velocity”, 18,000 MPH.
The vulnerability and ability to destroy the weapon is here. In acceptance of this, the Russians built the Topol with this in mind. The military variant of the Rocket, now spends 1/2 the time in in the “boost” phase as ANY other ICBM, including our own. The window to stop the weapon is tiny, and since we don’t know where they will be fired from, defense is a purely reactive event.
Many Americans will have trouble accepting that the Russians, whom they believe to be defunct, have accomplished this.
Wanna take the chance? IMPEACH THIS PRESIDENT!!
February 6th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
At the risk of hearing more about the Topol, what is the relevance of your argument to Divine Strake? Is it one of the “insurance policies” you refer to?
February 6th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Divine Strake is to experiment with “limited use” nuclear weapons. The Soviets see thsi transparently as the way bushco would excuse their behavoir. To the Russians it is to be used for simple empire building in their backyard. Any use of the weapons, bear the initiation of the Spectre of the Topol, which to anyone with knowledge and sanity, knows CANNOT be stopped. The warning is clear STOP FUCKING AROUND WITH PEOPLE, OR YOU BE FUCKED IN WAYS WE SIMPLETONS CANNOT SEEM TO COMPREHEND!! WE have already contaminated their backyard with DU, a war crime, and a nuclear assault.
IMPEACH THIS PRESIDENT, it doesn’t matter the details, he is following the Clash of Civilizations text word for word. The Russians will not trifle, they have seen megalomania before, and will strike, they will not suffer mass death on their doorstep. This is a promise.