It’s always hard to judge the accuracy the mainstream media reports on what is going on in foreign countries, especially when the U.S. national interest is very seriously at stake. I remember way back when Kristi and I were interviewed for what ended up being a show in PBS Frontline entitled, “Who’s Killing Calvert City?” After some conversation with the interviewer, they made the statement that NBC is considered to be the U.S. government station. This was in the last half of the 1980s. Well, just so happens that my local TV station, WPSD, out of Paducah, KY, is an NBC affiliate. So I see a lot of NBC. I thought that it was true at the time. I’m not sure it is as much true now. But there is no doubt that NBC keeps the government's interests in mind at all times. Just ask Andrea Mitchell.

But when I hear reports from the NBC international perspective, I have doubts about it. The reason is because I think they have an agenda. It might not be an all bad agenda, but it’s an agenda. They do, however, try to pass off what they report as being non-biased. Don’t think I can buy that.

So, it’s really hard to know what is happening in Bahrain. But when Gary Sick, who I have seen for many years giving opinions as a foreign affairs expert, on a variety of networks, said, on the PBS Jim Lehrer News Hour, that what the Bahrain government did to “unarmed” and “peaceful” protesters was “brutality” it took me aback. Mr. Sick doesn’t make such claims with ease.

What is the U.S. to do? Sec. Clinton gave a carefully worded statement today pleading for moderation from the Bahrain leadership. Not likely going to happen, after it was reported that the Saudi leadership advocated, not just to it’s neighborhood allies, but to the US, violence against the protesters in order to maintain stability. And that is just what is happening. But this is so against what we stand for. Are we going to stand aside and let this happen just because they let us park our boats?

But we supposedly need our boats there because we don’t Iran to have too much power. We need to give it up on Iran and try to be their friend. They are a very successful and powerful society. I am totally for ending oppression in their country, and I’m sure their government is bad. But, a lot of good gets done in good countries regardless of whether or not the government is good, and that is the case in Iran. And the good outweighs the bad, and we should try to be their friend.

The standoff in Wisconsin continues. And, according to reports, it is spreading to other states. So how did these republicans get such certain control over these state legislatures? Was it because many of the people that are protesting now didn’t vote? I don’t know. I still worry about voter fraud through electronic manipulation. It’s really hard to have complete faith in our elections, and that is a really horrible thing. But, nevertheless, where were all the protesters when it came time to vote? I don’t know. But I’m anxious to hear that analysis.

Why would this whippersnapper governor be trying to end unions for public workers? You can end unions on paper, but you can’t stop people when they really believe that a core interest is at stake. Just look at what is going on in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, and elsewhere. The problem isn’t with middle class workers. The problem is with leaders that make way more than they need, make mistakes in their job that affect millions, aren’t held accountable, keep their jobs, and get bonuses. Why should management people make so much more than the workers? Until that issue is resolved, there isn’t going to calm in society. So best try and address it now.