Well, friends, it’s been quite a year.
On the international front, the Afghan War dragged through its ninth year and the U.S. committed combat troops for another four years. This will make it the longest war this country has ever fought. We entered this fiasco to fight al Qaeda – which seemed justified since they attacked us – but we’ve spent all our resources fighting the Taliban, which had nothing to do with 9/11.
Meanwhile, Bin Laden still wanders around in his caves, thumbing his nose at us, and issuing occasional statements to rally his followers. He says it’s a war of attrition that America will eventually tire of. Could be. I mean, al Qaeda’s crazy, fanatical guerrillas expect to fight for another 100 years. Historically, they’ve already been battling the West for 600 years, so another 100 is a piece of cake.
And what’s going on in Iran, Iraq, Israel, and half-a-dozen other Near East countries? Don’t ask me, I’ve no idea. Neither does anyone else, including Hillary Clinton.
North Korea continues to aggravate South Korea with blatant acts of war. So the U.S. sent an aircraft carrier into the fracas. What would we do if those screwy communist yahoos attack it? God help us, that’s all we need is a second war-theater in Asia.
The world’s economy is so screwed up, nothing short of divine intervention can straighten it out. Trade wars are in the offing. Before long, France might secede from the world.
And speaking of the screwed up economy, America’s collapsed house of financial cards has started to register a weak pulse. But don’t expect a full house any time soon. The joker is in our high rate of unemployment, which isn’t going to come down in the near future, if ever.
Closer to home, it’s possible that Seattle’s waterfront tunnel won’t get off the ground. (Perhaps “under the ground” would be more appropriate.) If it doesn’t, you can thank the city’s mayor for that. He’s anti-car, which is a pretty progressive idea – but it may not sit well with voters.
In Enumclaw, Marilyn Nelson will open one of the finest antique malls in King County within the next couple months. In Buckley, best of luck to Cindy Schaapveld in the new Bootlegger Bar and Grill. I’ll offer a special nod to the Krain Corner Restaurant, which can always use the business.
My heartfelt appreciation to everyone involved with the splendid Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts in the Ski Inn. I hope they become an annual tradition.
If my silly ad-libs and attempts at humor have insulted anyone, I offer my sincere apologies. (I may have taken a little artistic license with some of the stories I’ve told.) In the course of the year, some of you – especially my friend Chuck Anselmo – have humorously criticized my “socialist” rants. Well, I don’t know it that’s justified. Though I surely lean to the left, I’d hardly call myself a Socialist. Chuck, on-the-other-hand, is so far out in right-field he can hardly see home plate.
Anyway, this new year has got to be better than the last because it certainly can’t get any worse. So, make a few resolutions, clatter the noise-maker, and kiss the fellow or gal beside you.
The dawning of a new year always requires a toast or two. One for peace, another for prosperity. And perhaps a third or fourth just for the hell of it.
Happy New Year, everyone!
