Russian Adoption Tragedy: Message to Mother -- Kids Don't Come with Satisfaction Guaranteed Warranties -- YOU IDIOT!

What kind of weird reflection on the American psyche is the case of a Tennessee adoptive parent who sent her child back to Russia because she felt she could not control the child’s behavior?

Reality check: Parenting is the ULTIMATE responsibility. Even the most perfect children provide some mighty tough challenges. There are, of course, many children with special needs, some of which could involve behavioral issues. Such things don’t make these bad kids, but do require greater effort and more skill on the behalf of the parent.

The bottom line is one’s child, whether natural born or adopted, represents a profound responsibility for which the parent must accept until the child has completed his or her schooling and is ready for living independently which we generally accept as 18 years old in our culture.

With this in mind, the case of parent Torry Ann Hansen in Tennessee is most disturbing and the twists and turns of this case are even more bizarre. The mother, an east Tennessee resident, claims her adopted son, Artyom Savelyev renamed Justin, from Russia had been terrorizing her family since his arrival in the United States. Rather than attempt to work with any social services agency or seek help for the boy, she purchased a one way ticket from Tennessee to Russia and sent the kid all by himself back to Moscow with a note taped on his chest, “I no longer want to parent this child. He is violent and has severe psychopathic issues/behaviors.”

The seven year old boy was sent away with just a backpack with some cookies and a coloring book.

The Russians, outraged at this tragic occurrence, have threatened to end all adoptions between Russia and American parents. While the Russians are understandably upset, this event in no way reflects on the adoptive system in the United States or our government. There’s little anyone could do to stop a woman who executed her sickly plan on her own.

Thus an international episode now has bureaucrats in Washington scrambling to resolve with the State Department fully involved in the issue. While we could comment on the dysfunctional relationship between the United States and Russia and bemoan what a mess the Russian system is, we find this episode a very sick reflection on a mindset that manifests itself on many levels in today’s society. The episode is serious enough that a high level state department has been dispatched to Moscow to resolve.

A child is a human being, not a commodity. Adopting a child is not like ordering the latest book or gizmo from Amazon.com. Anyone seeking to adopt a child must do so with eyes wide open and realize there will be difficult challenges along the way. Children can get sick, get injured, have learning difficulties, or have behavioral issues. Kids don’t come with operating manuals or guarantees.

The arrangements she made for the child upon reaching Russia were transacted on the Internet for $200. Who the heck was she dealing with to receive this poor boy? Could that Russian entity have possibly been a pedophile or some other kind of deviant?

This sick woman had options through state child services and charitable foundations. The kid could have taken care of in any number of humane ways where he would hopefully get some proper attention.

Regardless of what the particular issues are with this kid or what behavioral problems he might exhibit, what Ms. Hansen did is a grotesque example of child endangerment and abuse.

We sincerely hope she will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We fear what is more likely is that she will make the afternoon talk show rounds selling her story while playing the roll of victim.

Torry Ann Hansen represents the worst of the “ME” generation that everything is all about her and that a child is simply an object that can be used a commodity to be transferred about as she sees fit.

The mother claims she was misled by the Russian adopted agency. Oh well, let buyer beware! She had the responsibility to investigate all aspects of the tremendous commitment she was undertaking. There’s no way out for Ms. Hansen. She screwed up and is responsible for her decisions.

One more question… was there a father in the picture? If not, why?

What a horrible slap this is against all those who adopt children responsibly and open their hearts and homes to give a misfortunate child a good life.

Obama Decision Fortifies Iran and Russia

Shameful Obama Decision

We condemn the Obama administration’s decision to end development of the anti-nuclear missile program designed to protect the United States and our European allies from possible attacks from Iran and other points in the Middle East.

Poland stuck its neck out to support the program allowing the construction of radar sites on their territory. Their support of this defense initiative was seen as a highly provocative move by Putin’s thugs in Moscow.

Clearly, Obama’s decision to reverse this program is a bold concession to Putin.

The cruel irony is this decision was made on the anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939.

The Obama decision is a double-edged sword as it shows a failure to stand up to Iran demonstrating to them without equivocation the United States and its western allies will pursue all measures to resist any strategic threat from the megalomaniacs in Tehran. At the same time, it shows a lack of resolve subject to further exploitation as the Russian government moves further toward its old Soviet ways against joining constructively with the west.

Making this all the worse is a revelation from the International Atomic Energy Commission whose research shows Iran currently has the capacity and knowledge needed to produce a bomb.

As one last missing piece of the puzzle, of course, as the Iranian nuclear threat materializes, Russia is prepared to sell the radical Islamic regime their state of the air defense missiles.

The unfortunate decision to curtail a defensive not offensive weapons program shows America’s unwillingness to stand its ground and in so doing capitulate to totalitarianism and terrorism.

The World Doesn't Have Time To Blink As Far As Russia Is Concerned

Right Now Is No Time To Ignore EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THINGS Are Rapidly Advancing Overseas

Any pretense of "friendship" between the United States and Russia at this stage of the post Soviet Union world is illusionary at best. The Georgia Crisis was a flagrant attempt by the Russian Government to test Western resolve on its support of fledgling democracies that were once captive entities of the Soviet empire.

More troubling are some actions Russia is involved with outside the bounds of the old Soviet Union. First, and RMF should have made an issue of this but will monitor, are the military games Russia intends to carry out with Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. While much is made of Sarah Palin's inability to articulate what the media fabricated "Bush Doctrine" is, Russia's incursion into our hemisphere violates the most famous Presidential doctrine of all, "The Monroe Doctrine." Could it be Hugo Chavez is posturing his country to be for Russia in the 21st century what Castro had established as Cuba's roll for the Soviet Union in the late 20th Century?

Still far more dangerous, perhaps the single most dangerous issue in world events today is the probability of a nuclear-armed Iran. Given that the Iranian government is essentially one ruled by Islamic terrorists and the long list of statements of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad concerning the destruction of Isreal and even the United States and the West in general and the documented activities of Iranian scientists, how can any reasonable world leader not take this threat very seriously? Even the old Soviet Union was careful to keep the "Nuclear Club" limited.

That Russia will not join the rest of the world in doing everything possible to keep the absolute most dangerous technology out of the hands of Islamic extremists illustrates just how dangerous Putin and Medvedev are.

To what end? How does a nuclear armed Iran bordering Russia Caspian Sea region benefit the nation at all? Is Russia so desperate for quick economic gain it will gamble the world's future for the quick fix of money for its nuclear technologies? Is this a political move to show its defiance to the rest of the World?

Regardless, with all the other things our government must deal with without pause, every move Russia makes outside its boundaries has to be carefully watched for the potential danger it could represent.

Within the last two months, the Russian army invaded an independent nation, has planned war games in our backyard, and is helping Iran join the list of nuclear armed nations against the backdrop of using its energy resources to commit economic blackmail against Europe.

Political observers are found of saying, "If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it must be a duck." It doesn't take a quack to understand Russia is behaving like a first rate adversary not a friend in 2008. The reality that the rising Russian threat melding with the longstanding Iranian threat developing right before our eyes is terror in its grandest scale as the possibility of the nuclear warfare and the slaughter of millions could be just around the corner.

Does anyone for a moment think Mahmood Arhmadinejad understands "strategic deterents?" In a world where life means little and martyrdom (suicide for the sake of genocide) reigns supreme, this is the true ultimate nightmare scenario.

Every American must come to terms with this. It's not an "over there" issue any longer as if it ever truly was. If this issue doesn't scream for the necessity to elect John McCain over Barack Obama, what else does?

The economic discomfort we suffer now is nothing compared to the threat of Islamic nuclear power. Take a look at what a category two hurricane did to Houston and realize that's little more than a window washing compared to what just one nuclear bomb could do to an American city or one of our allies.

Cold War Rhetoric from Putin's Puppet

COLD WAR??

President Bush condemned Russia's "irresponsible decision" for their recognition of two Georgian territories as independent entitities, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Dmitry Medvedev announced that Russia is granting these territories full diplomatic status. All this while Medvedev all but announced a new Cold War is underway.

While Russia breaks one agreement after another in leaving Georgia and attempting to dictate their own terms for doing so, the following remark by Russia's president adds a new terrifying perspective:

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev:
"We are not afraid of anything, including the prospect of a new Cold War," .... "But we don't want it and in this situation everything depends on the position of our partners." quoted by ITAR - Tass news agency, Tuesday, August 26, 2008.

There are no silver linings to be found in Russia's recent behavior. For a country with its vast natural resources which transfer into instant wealth in the world market place, their attempts to bully the West when they could just be raking in our dollars by a little bit of competitive free enterprise are absolutely insane!!!

Russia never learned some crucial lessons with the fall of the Soviet Union, that free enterprise, open markets, and individual initiative are the building blocks of a powerful society. Power hungry bullies helped destroy the Soviet Union. They will not guide Russia on the path of re-emergence as a premier world power.

For western political and economic leaders to minimize the bellicose behavior in Moscow right now would be a serious mistake. Eastern Europe is enjoying a remarkable renaissance fueled by freedom and innovation. So much potential for great things lie ahead for the Ukraine and Georgia if the Russian bear can be contained. The corrupt powerful few run Russia right down to micromanaging the economy. Their own experience under Soviet Communism should have taught them their lesson.

Today, the puppet speaks. What happens tomorrow? If you're not scared, you're not paying attention.

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Georgia Is STILL On My Mind

First, congratulations to the Georgia Women's Beach Volley Ball team for defeating the Russians. Moral victories are precious too.

John McCain has come out forcefully clearly discussing the gravity of the situation and distancing him to make sure the world knows, he is no rubber stamp for the Bush administration. President Bush set himself up for eternal ridicule when stating, "I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy." McCain indicated he looked in Putin's eyes saw "KGB." John McCain spoke of Soviet agression and criticized them for their brutal invasion of a democratically elected government. On some issues, our leaders can leave no nuance, no ambiguity. Overthrowing democracies is one such issue. On top of that, the Georgians are truly good guys in our world being a valuable and loyal ally in our Iraq conflict. They also have a vital oil pipeline leading from Azerbaijan to the Black Sea, a valuable strategic resource for Western Europe's oil supply.

History has shown when the western allies or United States wavers or is perceived as weak, totalitarian regimes and terrorists are quick to test our resolve -- be it Neville Chamberlain for the United Kingdom knuckling under to Hitler in 1938 or Jimmy Carter's passive approach in the late 1970's, western weakness brings other worldly aggression. From Hitler's treachory first taking baby steps then stomping across Europe to where virtually the entire European continent was under NAZI oppression or the Soviet Union invading Afganistan and Islamic radicals deposing the government of US ally, the Shah of Iran and then taking our embassy workers hostage, tyrannts and terrorists jump into action when the West plays soft. Neville Chamberlain boasted they had achieved "peace in our time." Jimmy Carter spoke of America having not always acting honorable while promoting a soft naive crusade for human rights.

Putin is watching conditions in the west carefully as the big prize surely must be looking for the right timing to take a bigger prize, the Ukraine.

How does Barack Obama recently returning to the USA after speaking of numerous American misdeeds even suggesting our country condones or practices torture respond to Georgia? Obama and his spokespeople first accused John McCain of "shooting from the hip" as if there's something wrong with that. Further, he called for restraint on both sides creating a sense of shared responsibility for the current conflict. On the surface, Obama seemed forceful in speaking out on the situation; however, on closer examination we realize his grievance was that conflict itself existed not that Putin's Russia was engaged in agression.

This is no time for a pussy-hearted self-infatuated far leftist with a closet full of radical preachers and American hating radicals who automatically insist America is not only wrong on specific issues of foreign policy of the day but virtually everything that's wrong with the world today is a result of American economic, military, or political power.

Where was Russia when Burma was drowning. We know where we were.

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Georgia On My Mind: Update

The beat goes on. Georgian city, Gori, falls to all out Russian invasion. Strategically, this divides Georgia in half as Gori is located directly in the center of the country.

Russia has already black-balled Germany, warning them to watch their step as they would surely not want anything to interfere with the uninterupted supply of natural gas piped to them from Russia. Russia has already used economic blackmail against former Soviet republics.

Russia is using its economic power to divide potential alliances against their treachery.

The specifics of Putin's agenda are not clear yet, but there is no questioning the actions in Georgia mark a huge escalation.

A major oil pipeline passes through Georgia...

Will the world be quick to surrender Georgia, a democratic republic working so hard to become a resposible member of the world community, for fear of how Russia might stick it to them on economic matters?

This is a very horrible situation.

Georgia On My Mind: Part Two

Just When You Thought the Face Of Evil Looked Like Bin Ladin, Islamic Extremism Has a Powerful New Partner In Threatening World Order

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The News Media Is Asleep at the Switch on This VERY SERIOUS Issue

The Georgia situation is EXTREMELY serious and could affect us directly. Do not be an ostrich and poke your head in the sand. Keep up on this story from at least a couple news sources as the news media has dropped the ball on numerous issues recently.

Georgia has ordered a cease-fire in the breakaway provinces. The Russian assault on the heart of Georgia making everything appear as Russia intends to overthrow a DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED government and staunch ally of the west particularly the United States.

John McCain has emphatically addressed the issue spelling out what's at stake and indicated options the United States and Western Europe can pursue immediately. This are appropriate and thoroughly thought out concepts only a person with substantial knowledge of international affairs could address.

President Bush is not in a position to be outspoken just yet. There may be diplomatic efforts underway that cannot be exposed publicly. However, the White House CANNOT REMAIN SILENT for long.

If you think Barrack Obama can handle a situation like this YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY STUPID. WAKE UP. You can only remain ignorant of Obama's complete incompetence and lack of experience for so long. If you're grown up enough to vote, you'd darned well better be smart enough to see this fraud for what he is. This is no time to even think about supporting an oportunistic moron who is a multiracial version of John Edwards who only has a healthy marriage separating him from the absolute dregs of American Politics. Obama has jumped around like a peep frog on a hot griddle on so many issues but he has never articulated any issue of national defense where he has projected a sense of American might and resolve. He loves the sound of his voice so much he thinks we can talk our way out of everything.

Read the parallels between Puten's actions and what Hitler did in 1938. Those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. this is no time for a Senator who has done NOTHING of note and abandoned the chairmanship of a vital foreign affairs committee he chaired finding calling meetings too distracting when having his presidential ambitions in mind.

Right now, this problem belongs to George W. Bush. He is our President until January and screwing this up will assure him of a very low spot in Presidential history. He also could hand off the start of World War III to his successor. Condoleeza Rice is a brilliant Russian expert. Hopefully, she will have some wisdom that can prevail. This does not look like an issue that could require American use of force, but how we handle this situation will determine its outcome.

THIS IS EXTREMELY SERIOUS!

Georgia on My Mind

WAR BREAKS OUT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND FORMER SOVIET REPUBLIC, GEORGIA

BE SCARED, BE VERY SCARED!

Russia has escalated skirmishes into all out war launching aerial attacks against Gori, a major Georgian city about 50 miles from the capital of Tbilisi. Tanks from the separatist region of South Ossetia have moved deep into Georgian territory while Russian naval forces are assembling in the Black Sea claiming to have sunk a Georgian missile ship.

For more details on the specifics, see the following A/P release courtesy of Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,401043,00.html

This conflict is very serious. Georgia is strategically located on the northeast shore of the Black Sea with most of its southern boundary Turkey and northern boundary, Russia, running through the Caucasus mountains. Georgia is a very pro-western former Soviet republic that is the third largest contributor of troops to the Iraqi war effort behind the United Kingdom and USA. They have sought NATO membership. The Georgian government exercises virtually no control over two northern territories along the mountains, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Parts of the northern boundary between Russia and Georgia are disputed. Further, Russian troops have been stationed in this region as "peace keepers." The ethnicity of Georgia: 83.8% Georgian, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2.5% (Source: CIA World Factbook, 2008) The overall population of Georgia is about the same as Alabama at 4.6 million. Geographically, it is slightly smaller than South Carolina.

Conditions in border territories Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been simmering since the formation of the Georgian state in 1991. Recently, the Georgian government has attempted to reassert its authority over these areas clearly within their boundaries. Russia, essentially with Vladimir Putin clearly pulling the strings, asserts Russia's involvement is humanitarian as the Russian government is pledged to look out for its citizens whether they are in Russia or any place else in the world. Clearly, Putin as Prime Minister is exerting more power than President Dmitri Medvedev. Since Putin was first elected to power, not only has he eliminated many of the Democratic freedoms Russians were starting to enjoy with the fall of communism but has also become involved in a variety of actions to destablize former Soviet republics imposing more and more Russian influence in all aspects of the fledgling nations attempt to join the world community particularly when they show pro-Western sympathies.

Students of European history will be particularly concerned about Russia's invasion of Georgia. The stated justification of looking out for the Russians who reside within the disputed territories reminds us of events which lead directly to World War II. As Adolf Hitler began his initial push to unite Germanic people, the first move was German/Austrian unification, the Anschluss. The next move was to annex the Sudetenland, an area of Czechoslovakia populated largely by Germans who Hitler contended were being oppressed by the Czechoslovakian government in their northern and western territories. Seeking to avoid further conflicts and hoping diplomatic efforts would contain Hitler's increasingly expansionistic behavior, the governments of France and United Kingdom allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland. British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain went on record that Hitler's grievances on the behalf of the Sudeten population was just. On September 28, the Munich Agreement was struck between the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy with the Czechoslovakian government agreeing to concede its territory. Meanwhile, Hitler started grumbling about the same accomodations would be appropriate for German people living in Poland and Hungary. The Anglo-Franco appeasement which lead to Neville Chamberlain's infamous comment, "We Have Peace in Our Time,' gave Hitler the breathing space to continue his agression first within stretching the limits of diplomatic accords with the Allies, but later unshackled and uninhibited as central Europe promptly fell to Nazi control as World War Two became inevitable reaching the point of no return when the Nazis invaded Poland on September 1, 1939.

The parallels between the current situation in Georgia and the Czechoslovakian realties of 1938 are chillingly similar. Germany was initially trying to restore Germany to the German nation that had formed from the days of Bismarck and the treaty of Versailles. Putin's intentions for Russia are becoming increasingly supportive of a desire to become a Soviet style super power dragging the liberated republics back into Mother Russia. Putin has also engaged in tremendous saber rattling as former Eastern European nations have joined NATO and the European union including threats of military action should part of the United States anti-nuclear defense system include radar in Poland.

Russia is not a friend of the United States. They are using their resources, oil and natural gas, to threaten other countries including Germany not to agitate Russia on the world political stage. They have sold anti-air defenses to Iran and weapons to Venezuela. While it might be desirable from a diplomatic foreign relations standpoint to maintain the public persona of friendship, Putin's actions are increasingly becoming more and more Cold War like. However, there are dangers that never could have existed under Soviet control. The Russian government is unable to account for the huge inventory of Soviet nuclear weapons. The Russian economy is out of control largely in the hands of vicious criminal organizations who spread their corruption and evil worldwide. While minute compared to Islamic terrorist groups, the Russian Mafia is a worldwide confederacy of thugs prone to cause mayhem in pursuit of their goals.

Where the current crisis in Georgia leads is hard to tell. This is no little tussle halfway around the world. This is a world crisis of the highest order.

The United States and its allies especially in Europe and Turkey must monitor this situation and be prepared to aid Georgia as best as possible.

Mr. Putin and Mr. Medvedev, don't let the Olympics, rising fuel costs, the Presidential election in the US or the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy marrying world class super babe, Carla Bruni, love interest of Mick Jagger and allegedly Donald Trump and Eric Clapton among others, fool you. No matter what's going on around here, THE WORLD IS WATCHING.