Selecting a Transformational Leader–

                A commentary

                By J. F. Kelly, Jr.

                The Iowa Caucus results turned out to be just as the RealClearPolitics Poll predicted with former president Donald Trump winning 51% of the votes, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis finishing a distant second at 21% and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley receiving 19% 0f the votes. So far, the polls have had it mostly right but there’s still time for things to change, especially where the volatile Donald Trump is involved. Not too much time, however, because things must change in Washington soon and they aren’t likely to, except for the worst, while Biden remains in office.

                Mr. Trump’s margin of victory was the largest ever in Iowa history. Ms. Haley, who served as Trump’s Ambassador to the UN, got less of a boost than expected, finishing two percentage points behind Mr. DeSantis. All three exchanged kind words when the first state primary contest was called for Trump after only 30 minutes. “Congratulations, Ron and Nikki,” said Trump. “Both did very well”. DeSantis has subsequently dropped out.

                The contest eliminated the candidacies of DeSantis, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson. Mr. Ramaswamy offered his supporters to Trump. Mr. Hutchinson said that he had to move on from Trump because of the criminal charges Trump faces. However, Mr. Trump’s popularity has seemed to increase with each new charge or attack and he is increasingly perceived as a martyr. Thanks, President Biden. You’re likely now to get the one GOP contender you think you can beat again. Probably you won’t beat him this time, however. Not if Mr. Trump has learned anything after one term in office. The irony of it all is that polls show Nikki Haley, once ranked third among the contenders, now beats the incumbent by the largest margin of all of the previous GOP contenders according to the polls.

                The Iowa caucus process is somewhat unique among the state primary election methods. The participants gather at designated locations in the state on the designated date and vote using blank pieces of paper. The votes are counted immediately and the results announced. No voting by mail. No ballot harvesting. No boxes of ballots suddenly discovered. No “hanging chads”. What a concept!

                We waste a lot of time electing our leaders and arguing about how it should be done. Our Constitution leaves that up to the states and the founders were very clear about it. Most liberals would prefer that the winners be determined by popular vote. That would favor the densely-populated coastal cities over the more sparsely populated “fly-over” country. It isn’t going to happen soon, if ever, because the smaller states would never agree to it. The electoral college system was a condition of their agreement to join the union in the first place. Remember that we are a union of states that agreed to give up some, but not all, of their rights as sovereign states. Actually, popular voting within the individual states is widely used to determine how that state’s electors shall vote. It is a complex issue and you may not like it but changing it to something you like may require a Constitutional Amendment. That is not likely to happen.

                With four GOP contenders dropping out, Mr. Trump is reassuming control of the party. He has called for unity, not just within his party but among all loyal Americans. He is the candidate with the most momentum, like him or not. Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley are in a sense, part of the Trump transformation of the GOP. They may be the next generation of leadership that the nation needs but they will have to wait to see if Trump can finish the job he started out to do in his first term, namely, clean up the mess in Washington. Both can play key roles in a second Trump Administration and serve as future presidents if properly groomed. In the meantime, they need to play nice together and burn no bridges. The race for number two was purely a side-show. If Trump is the nominee, and I predict he will be, he must surround himself with the very best people available and listen to them whether he likes them or not. He must learn to take criticism gracefully. Also, he must keep his sons out of his administration. Donald Trump, Jr. was quoted as saying that he will go to great length to keep Nikki Haley from being a part of that administration. This sort of talk does not build unity.

Why is Trump suddenly becoming a transformational leader? Because of a large, loyal and growing base of supporters. Because he wants the job and has fire in his belly. Because people are damned mad over government disfunction and incompetence. Mad over crime and homelessness in the cities. Mad over chaos on the border. Mad over the drug epidemic. Mad over the decline of American leadership. Mad over U.S. presidents so afraid of escalating tension that they are no longer able to deter it.

                It is admittedly early in the process but Trump’s momentum appears to be unstoppable. It is a golden opportunity for him to redeem himself and finish what he started out do: clean up the mess in Washington.

January 28, 2024

Walk a Mile in Their Shoes

                A commentary

                By J. F. Kelly, Jr.

                Imagine, if you will, that you were living in a border community, as most of you who are reading this already do. The well-defined but lightly guarded border is actually within walking distance from your home or not more than a short drive away from where your family, including your wife and children and perhaps your elderly parents—all those most dear to you—lay sleeping.

 They say a person’s home is one’s castle. Humble though it may be, it should feel like a fortress of protection against the perils of the jungle outside that people often live in. The doors are locked, the lights are out. Who would dare violate this peaceful sanctuary? “Sleep well, my darlings.”

But there would be no peace or respect for the sanctuary of the home that night of October 7 in Israel. Serenity was shattered by the sounds of approaching armed mobs of Hamas fighters. Terrified children awoke to a nightmare of terror turned real. Doors and windows came crashing in. Homes were set on fire. Blazing weapons tore flesh apart. Women, some pregnant, were raped in front of their children and husbands, dragged from their beds and their battered bodies towed behind vehicles. Babies were slaughtered, some roasted in ovens and some beheaded. Over 200 hostages, including some Americans, were taken. 

Now imagine that the border community where these horrific events just described was located not oceans away but on, say, our own borders. Instead of the peaceful and friendly people we share this continent with, imagine that they were ruled by a vicious terrorist group who despises us. Imagine that many of them celebrated the atrocities that were committed by dancing in the streets. Imagine that those doing the killing were celebrated as heroes and if they died in the act of killing us they were celebrated as martyrs, their proud families entitled to a pension actually funded by some of our own aide money, money being fungible.

Now ask yourself, “How long would you and your fellow Americans tolerate this?” Would you ever again allow such monsters to live in proximity to your loved ones, the ones who matter most to you, the ones it is your highest duty to protect, the ones who were so abused?  Sooner or later people have to accept responsibility for what they tolerate. We reached that point early in our history where we could no longer tolerate British rule and it was over taxes, not atrocities.

Because of Israel’s small size, none of its towns or cities is far from being a border community, in close proximity to people many, of whom despise Jews and celebrate their destruction. That may change some day but don’t bet the lives of your family on it. If your border community were in, say, southern California or upstate New York, and savage marauders came crashing across the nearby border one dark night to massacre your family, how would you react? Would you be tolerant of people who said it was your own fault? Or would you be determined to never take the chance of it happening again?

How would you react to the insistence by your supposed allies that you stand down the response that seeks to eliminate this terrorist group that kills people because of their race and religion. Could you, considering the long history of attacks and invasions, ever again consider the possibility of a two-state “solution”?

Could you find any moral equivalence between the two sides in this war? If you do, consider this: Does the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) seek the destruction of innocent civilians as a primary objective? Does it use them as human shields, require them to remain in dangerous areas and welcome their deaths for propaganda purposes”. Does Israel seek wars with its neighbors and initiate rocket attacks against Palestinians? Do its neighbors have reason to fear Jewish suicide bombers? The list of radicalized Palestinian terrorists is lengthy but how many Jewish terrorists have you heard of? Hamas started this war, knowing the bloodshed that would result but human lives mean nothing to these monsters, especially if they are Jewish lives. If it were your families whose lives were at risk, whose side would you be on?

Put yourself in their shoes.

January 20, 2024

State of the Union

                A commentary

                By J. F. Kelly, Jr.

                The start of a new year usually brings a state of the union address from the president which normally includes major accomplishments of the past year and intended areas of focus for the year just beginning. A White House fact sheet recently outlined President Joe Biden’s plans to “advance progress” on his so-called four-part unity agenda. Hopefully more parts will follow because there are lots of other problem areas to address and Americans deserve to know how he plans to address them in the one-quarter of his term remaining.

                The fact sheet says that the president will continue to focus on ending cancer, beating the opioid epidemic, delivering on our obligation to military veterans and tackling the mental health crisis. Progress on dealing with these problems will be indeed welcome but the public needs some solid reassurance that the Biden Administration has plans to deal with the many other threats that affect the state of the nation and, indeed, threaten our very security.

                The first of these is the continued threat of war with one or more of the usual suspects: China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. A great power war between the Unites States and China or Russia, or both, would be a global disaster that neither wants but could happen. The issues would be the future of Taiwan and the continued militarization of the South China Sea in the case of China and in the case of Russia, the outcome of the war in Ukraine leading to further aggression by Russia in Eastern Europe and South Asia. The outcome of such wars would be uncertain and the best way to prevent such a catastrophe is to prepare to win them and thus deter them. But we have not taken the steps to increase our defense industrial capacity to the degree necessary to rebuild the military, and especially the Navy we would need to win such a war. And we may have run out of time.

                President Biden has stated twice that we would defend Taiwan against an invasion by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). He has likewise assured Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and our European allies that we are with Ukraine for “the long haul”. We have reached the “long haul” stage and that war is settling into a war of attrition which Russia, the much larger and stronger nation, will eventually win. Without providing Ukraine with the platforms and weaponry it would need to attack Russia on Russia’s own turf, how can Ukraine win or even take back Crimea? What is the administration’s plan for dealing with these issues? Is there even a plan?

                The war between Israel and Hamas could expand and become a major regional war in the Middle East involving the U.S. Our troops in Iraq and our warships in the Red Sea are attacked by proxies of Iran including Hezbollah and the Houthis. Iran is funding these attacks and sooner or later one may be successful. The proportionate response from the Biden Administration has not deterred Iran. Only overwhelming force deters. Iran, moreover, is on a short path to acquiring nuclear weapons, thanks to unsuccessful and misguided efforts by the Biden and Obama Administrations to negotiate a nuclear agreement with the mullahs. Iran is pledged to the destruction of Israel and American. What is the Biden plan for dealing with a nuclear-armed Iran? And with a nuclear-armed North Korea?

                Numerous domestic issues need addressing, the most pressing being the out-of-control southern border. Immediate action is needed to regain control. Immense damage to our security has already occurred as a result of the flow of illegal traffic and drugs over the southern border. If Homeland Security cannot control the border, the border must then be militarized. If the federal government cannot protect the border the border states will feel compelled to act.

                Crime is out of control in some cities, mostly those run by Democrats. All crime must be prosecuted and law enforcement must be colorblind. Public demonstrations and protests need to be controlled and peaceful. It is simply not OK for protesters to restrict access to freeways and streets or otherwise impede the public access or endanger lives or property.

                These and many other issues need to be addressed now. The state of the union address must consist of more than a review of alleged accomplishments. Mr. Biden has a full year of his term left. It will be a dangerous year with many issues that affect our security and the state of the nation. Americans need answers.

January 11, 2024

Heroes Living Among Us

                A commentary

                By J. F. Kelly, Jr.

                Those of us fortunate enough to live in Coronado have many reasons to count our blessings. Among them are the numerous retired military who have sacrificed so much to help preserve our nation’s freedoms and even in retirement continue to serve the community, helping to make Coronado the best place in the world to live. On Christmas Eve, while shopping for some last-minute grocery items, my daughter and I bumped into one.

                We barely recognized each other at first, age having taken its toll, but I soon recognized that it was one of my personal heroes and one of my daughter’s as well. I Introduced retired 4-star Admiral Leon (Bud) Edney to her and he greeted her warmly, saying “It’s just ‘Bud’”. I’ll tell you why he was a hero to both of us. In January of 1978, while I was in command of the guided missile cruiser USS FOX (CG33), we embarked the Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group FIVE, Rear Adm. Stan Counts, and staff on a scheduled 6-month deployment to the Middle East via Pearl Harbor, Guam, the Philippines and Australia. Then-Captain Bud Edney was Chief of Staff.

                The trans-Pacific portion of the voyage went well and the staff members were great shipmates. The night before arriving in Subic Bay, we had to transit the San Bernardino Strait which meant a sleepless night on the bridge for me and the navigation team. During the night, the ship received a radio message (there were no cell phones in 1978) from the Commanding Officer of the San Diego Regional Medical Center advising me that my 14-year-old daughter, Robina, was seriously injured in a horse accident and my presence was urgently recommended. The radioman delivered the message to Capt. Edney, asking for advice on how to tell me. Capt. Edney said that he would personally notify me when we arrived in port in the morning since there was nothing we could do about it while transiting the strait.

                When the ship was moored that morning, I found Bud waiting for me in my in-port cabin. “Sit down,” he said and calmly explained the situation. My first reaction was “I can’t leave the ship during a deployment”. Bud replied, “Of course you can. We’re in port here for six days of voyage repairs. You don’t have any casualties requiring repairs. Go and put your arms around your daughter and tell her that you love her. Try to get back in time to get the ship underway on schedule. I’ve got the ship’s helo ready to fly you to Manilla International Airport and a round trip flight to Los Angeles with connections to San Diego.”

                I finally agreed and Bud walked me back to the flight deck while I blurted out instructions to my executive officer, Commander Jim Henderson. The flight back home was a sleepless, prayerful ordeal of worry over whether or not my daughter would recover. In San Diego, my wife and father-in-law met me and we proceeded directly to the hospital. Robi had survived the first of what would be four surgeries to reconstruct the right side of her face and crushed ear canal. An accomplished equestrienne who had survived many tumbles and participated in dozens of hunter-jumper events, some against adult riders, she was the victim of a freak accident where she was thrown and kicked by a horse she was trying to train. The point of impact was directly on the cheekbone. Her life had been saved by the quick action of a Navy trauma specialist who just happened to be moonlighting in the ambulance that responded and by the heroics of the Navy hospital staff who never gave up on her.  

                My visit may have helped her recover. She promised me that she would. But something else also helped her recover. It was a letter written by Bud Edney. It read “Dear Robina, (A)lthough you don’t know me, I work on the ship with your dad. He is a very special person, and I was very sorry to learn of your accident with the horse, I know you will be better soon and just wanted you to realize we are all praying for your speedy recovery. I’m glad your dad could get home, because he loves you so much and wanted to be with you.

                “I have two daughters,” he continued, “18 and 14. They both love horses so I know you were doing something you liked and accidents do happen. Like most parents, I was always concerned to see my little girl on such a big horse. However, I think that little girls and big horses have a special relationship that is hard for moms and dads to understand sometimes. Although hospitals are not much fun, I always found the ice cream pretty good – hope they are treating you with special care and you are back with your friends soon.

                “Keep your chin up. I am thinking of you and love you.” (signed) “A Friend, Bud Edney”.

                Robi didn’t realize until we returned home that the man she was introduced to on Christmas Eve was the writer of that letter that so lifted her spirits 46 years ago. She did recover except for the loss of hearing in one ear and even went on to ride again. Her face healed beautifully. The letter has remained tucked away among her treasured mementos and Bud Edney remains a hero to her. And to me.

                A graduate of the Naval Academy graduate with a master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, Adm. Leon (Bud) Edney had a distinguished career as a naval aviator having commanded attack squadrons and two ships including the aircraft carrier Constellation. He logged 5.700 total flight hours, 1,020 carrier landings and flew 357 combat missions in Vietnam. In his 35 years of active duty he rose rapidly in rank, servings as Commandant of Midshipmen, Commander Carrier Group ONE, and Chief of Naval Personnel among his many other key assignments. Promoted to 4 stars, he served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations and Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic. His awards and decorations are too numerous to list here.

                He was an inspirational leader and one of the genuine heroes that we are privileged to have living among us.

January 8, 2024