Notes On Disaster In West, Texas

(The image on the left of Willie Nelson is used courtesy of photographer Larry Philpot. More of his images can be seen at soundstagephotography.com and and at onstagemagazine.com.)

The search and rescue efforts in West (the site of the fertilizer plant explosion) has nearly been completed, and the death toll stands at 14 -- many of them first responders sent to fight the initial fire at the plant. It could climb still, but officials don't think that is likely. Nearly 200 people were injured. These are devastating totals for a small city with less than 3,000 inhabitants.

Supplies have been flowing into West for those who lost their homes. In fact, they have received so much that officials are asking that no more goods be sent. Instead, they say people wishing to help should either give blood or send money.

Among those who will be providing aid to the victims in West is Texas icon Willie Nelson. Willie was scheduled to hold a concert on April 28th to celebrate his birthday (he will turn 80 on April 30th). He has said that the concert is no longer a birthday party, but is now a concert to help the victims in West. All proceeds from the concert will be donated to those victims. Willie said:

"West is like our backyard. It's where I grew up. I rode my bike from Abbott to West and back all the time on that road where all this stuff happened."

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the people of West. There are a lot of our friends and loved ones and neighbors down there. We talked to some of them and some of them made it out OK, and some of them didn't. But they're strong and they'll be back. It's one of those things you don't get over. But you will get through it."

The government of the Czech Republic has also sent a representative to West. The Czech Ambassador Petr Gandalovic, who is stationed in Washington (D.C.), was sent to West by Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg on behalf of Prime Minister Petr Necas. West was founded in the 1800s by Czech immigrants, and about 70% of the current residents have Czech heritage. Ambassador Gandalovic said:

"You see it on those storefronts. You see Czech names. You see words like kolache and polka. They're very proud of their Czech descent. They maintain their culture."

"This is a very proud Czech town and unfortunately it has been so terribly hit by this tragedy."

"I hope this will at least console the people here, that they will know that their motherland, the Czech people, are following this and they really are sorry for that."

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/04/19/4788589/the-motherland-mourns-for-battered.html#storylink=cpy

"I hope this will at least console the people here, that they will know that their motherland, the Czech people, are following this and they really are sorry for that,"

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/04/19/4788589/the-motherland-mourns-for-battered.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/04/19/4788589/the-motherland-mourns-for-battered.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/04/19/4788589/the-motherland-mourns-for-battered.html#storylink=cpy

No Missiles For Poland And Czech Republic

During the Bush administration, the United States came up with the idea of a missile defense shield to be based in Poland and the Czech Republic. The idea was supposedly to protect Europe from Iranian nuclear missiles. It was a stupid idea. As the picture above shows, the Iranians do not have and are not likely to have in the near future, any missiles that can reach Europe.

All the plan did was upset the Russians, and I can't blame them. While talking about the Iranians, the plan would put the missile defense on Russia's borders, and certainly looked like that's who the plan was really aimed at. Tensions were heightened between the U.S. and Russia, and it looked like we were backsliding to the Cold War.

Fortunately, President Obama has reassessed the plan and radically changed it. There won't be any part of the system in either Poland or the Czech Republic. Instead, the system will be a mobile system (probably ship-based) and will patrol much closer to Iran (the country it was supposed to protect Europe from). This makes a lot more sense.

It has also made the Russians happy. Prime Minister Putin called it a "correct and brave" move. President Medvedev said it created "good conditions" for the upcoming talks between the two countries on missile proliferation.

Of course, some of the Republicans don't like it. They are saying we made a concession to Russia and got nothing in return. What a ridiculous statement. We are going into missile proliferation talks with a happier Russia -- a Russia that will be much more ready to negotiate than if we were still threatening them.

Besides, why do we need a concession for discontinuing a dangerous and ineffective policy? Isn't changing such a policy reward enough?

Duke Kicked Out Of Czech Republic

We haven't heard from ex-congressman David Dukes of Louisiana in a while, and I was hoping it was for good, but no such luck. It seems the former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan has gotten into some trouble in Europe.

Duke was invited to the Czech Republic by an ultra-right group. He was planning to give some lectures and promote his book, but it looks like the government of the Czech Republic has other ideas. They are kicking him out of their country.

On Friday, the American racist was arrested and questioned by Czech police. They accused him of Holocaust denial, which is a crime in the Czech Republic. Although no charges were filed, he was given until Saturday at midnight to leave the country. The Czech prime minister-designate said the opinions expressed in Duke's book were "simply unacceptable, incomprehensible".

Duke can get away with his hate speech in America, because we cherish our free speech right -- even if that speech is hate speech. But it looks like Duke just learned that not every country will put up with his crap.

Russia Threatens Military Action

The Bush administration is still trying to push the "missle defense shield" Bush wants to place in Europe. Bush claims it is to protect Europe from Iranian missles. On Tuesday, Condi Rice signed a deal with the Czech Republic to put part of the defense shield in that country. Another part is to be placed in Poland.

But Russia is not buying Bush's argument. They have told him in the past that they would consider putting this missle shield near their border to be a provacation. They believe the system is aimed at them instead of Iran.

It's easy to see why the Russians would be upset. If the shield was really aimed at Iran, then it would only make sense that it's placement should be in southern Europe. Placing it in Poland and the Czech Republic makes no sense to defend against Iran. However, it would be perfectly placed to defend against Russia.

Add to this the fact that Bush is well-known for lying. The Russians know he lied to the United Nations to get a mandate for military action against Iraq. They believe he is lying now about the defense shield, and they believe this would upset the delicate balance of power in the region.

Russia was very upset at the agreement signed Tuesday with the Czech Republic. Because of it, they upped their rhetoric and for the first time threatened military action. Their foreign ministry said, "If a US strategic anti-missile shield starts to be deployed near our borders, we will be forced to react not in a diplomatic fashion but with military-technical means."

It is not known exactly what they meant by that statement. It could mean they would redeploy their own missles on the border, or it could mean military action against Poland or the Czech Republic or both.

It is time for Bush to stop playing this deadly game. It is senseless to provoke Russia unnecessarily, especially since our own forces are so depleted from fighting an unecessary war against Iraq.

The missle shield should be moved to a more appropriate location, or abandoned altogether.