January 22

1973 - The U.S. Supreme Court handed down the 'Roe v. Wade' decision, legalizing abortion.

I'm sure many Conservatives hate to hear me say this, but I am not an anti-abortion zealot or absolutist...But I am an abortion realist.

I'm pretty sure most Americans would be shocked to know there have been over 50,000,000 abortions in the U.S. since 1973...That's 50 million.  As in 50 million would-have-been-Americans eliminated before they were born.

There is no way to deny this is a fetal holocaust, and there is no way to deny this is a national shame...Even for those who can justify the practice.

What’s really sick is rapists, child molesters, murderers, Mexican wolfs, dung beetles, and thousands of other 'Liberal causes' have more rights than innocent unborn babies...I’m sure this makes me a radical, though, because I'm not willing to say abortion should be a right up until the time a baby is born, or that women shouldn't have other options as their primary option.

Just wait until the idea of post-term abortions becomes a thing.

1517 - The Ottoman Turks conquered Cairo, Egypt.

The Turks were in the process of completing the conquest of the Middle East and North Africa, and it wasn't long until they started taking chunks out of Europe...The Caliphate was getting a new hegemon, and the Ottomans proved to be one of the great forces of the era.

1917 - President Woodrow Wilson pleaded for an end to WWI, calling for "peace without victory."

"Peace without victory"???? I thought only a Euro, or the modern Democrat Party - which really was created by Wilson, could think like that.

Unfortunately, WWI ended without 'victory' for the Allies, because the Germans weren't defeated.  As a result, the 'peace' which followed WWI was a hollow one, and simply served as a timeout until WWII.

1944 - Operation Shingle. As part of the Italian Campaign, American troops landed at Anzio Beach in a move to outflank German defensive positions:  WWII.

The invasion of the German Empire moved from Africa to Europe, but didn't begin in total until June 6 at Normandy.

Stalin was pissed, and he was right. The Soviets were left to tie up as many German troops as possible, which made the eventual Normandy invasion less difficult than it would have been if the Germans could have devoted more troops to fight back the Allied invasion from France and Italy.

It also cost the Soviets a couple million deaths...Which is exactly what Uncle Joe deserved for dealing with the Nazi's in 1939.

1993 - On the 20th anniversary of the 'Roe v. Wade' decision, President Bill Clinton lifted a series of abortion restrictions imposed by his Republican predecessors.

Not enough babies were dying I guess.

1997 - The U.S. Senate confirmed Madeleine Albright as Secretary of State, the first woman to hold the office.

Congratulations Madeleine Halfbright, and thank you for thinking it was a good idea to appease the North Koreans, giving them nuclear material...America is much safer for having you in this position. NOT!!!!

Also, why is it a big deal when a Democrat 'woman' is placed in such a position, but a Republican 'woman' or 'minority' would be called a 'sell-out' or an 'Uncle Tom'?

1998 - Theodore John Kaczynski pleaded guilty to charges he was the 'Unibomber.'

What a POS...The same cannot be said for his brother, who put decency ahead of family and turned his brother in.

Oh, and lets not forget many of the Liberals who want unlimited fetal executions have a problem with pukes like Theodore being executed..."Lunatic Fringe, we all know you're out there." - Red Ryder.

1999 - President Bill Clinton called for spending $2.8 billion to protect the nation from cyber-terrorism, chemical and germ warfare.

Who was Bill worried about? I thought the Democrats have been saying there is no real threat of terrorism...Especially not against bio/chem terror. They said Bush was "fear mongering," and made it all up.

Bunch of lying, lunatic bastards.

November 11

1918 - Armistice Day: Fighting in World War I came to an end with the signing of an armistice between the Allies and Germany.

After four brutal years, WWI ended on the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month."

So, what did WWI accomplish? It:
1. Destroyed the 'old order of things' (especially in Germany, Russia, Austria, and Turkey)...Which has had massive consequences.
2. Ushered in the advent of the Communist Hell State...Starting with Russia.
3. Saw the beginning of America's international influence on a large scale.
4. Was the beginning of total, unrestricted warfare...Involving civilians as participants and casualties in exponential numbers.
5. Resulted in the death of over 15,000,000 people (8.6 million military, and 6.4 million civilians).
6. Created a perfect petri-dish for the 1918-19 Spanish Flu, which killed over 20,000,000 people.
7. Ended without a clear-cut victor...Germany wasn't 'defeated,' and hardly lost a battle on German soil.

Of all the disasters of WWI, it is the last one which cost humanity the most.

Germany quit the war, but wasn't defeated, and many Germans at the time believed they should resume the battle as soon as they could to reestablish their historic place in the world...And to put an end to the unreasonable reparations forced on them, which killed the German economy.

As a result, what WWI really accomplished was:
1. The founding of Leninim/Stalinism.
2. The founding of Nazism.
3. The resumption of WWI with an even greater and more horrific evil in WWII.

So, we must recognize and honor the end of WWI, but also should look back with disdain on those who didn't bring it to a proper end...Which caused the Armistice to be nothing but a cease-fire between 1918 and 1937-in-Asia/1939-in-Europe.

1215 - The Fourth Lateran Council was convened by Pope Innocent III.

It was here that the Church first defined 'transubstantiation': The Eucharist changing invisibly into the body (bread) and blood (wine) of Christ.

The Council also attempted to define papal primacy over secular leaders, which had been, and continued to be, a huge problem between the various European kings and the Pope.

On a side note, the Council also determined Jews and Muslims should wear clothes to enable them to be distinguished from Christians...Very nice.

1620 - The Mayflower Compact was signed: An agreement by 41 Pilgrims calling for a "body politick” designed to guarantee "just and equal" laws.

The Pilgrims felt they landed in a world outside that owned by the London Company, therefore they were outside the reach of British rule...They soon found this wasn't the case in the eyes of the British crown, though.

The importance of the Compact is it provided for the basis of all governments in what eventually became the thirteen American colonies.

1921 - President Harding dedicated the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.

1923 - The Eternal Flame was lit at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

I hope you will someday be able to visit this amazing site...There have been few moments in my life more powerful than the two days I spent at Arlington, and even fewer than the time I spent at the Tomb.

1972 - The U.S. Army turned over its base at Long Bihn to the South Vietnamese army, symbolizing the end of direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War.

In other words, we turned tail and left the South Vietnamese to be slaughtered by their northern brothers.

"It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it." - General Douglas MacArthur

1992 - Russian President Boris Yeltsin told U.S. senators in a letter that Americans had been held in prison camps after World War II and some were "summarily executed," but that others were still living in his country voluntarily.

No one should be shocked by this statement, but not being shocked doesn't take away the sting of its reality.

1995 - The European Union's 15 member-states decided to pull their envoys out of Lagos to show their anger at Nigeria's execution of human rights leaders.

I'm sure the Nigerians were really upset by this action...Scared, too.

1998 - President Clinton ordered warships, planes and troops to the Persian Gulf as he laid out his case for a possible attack on Iraq. Iraq, meanwhile, showed no sign of backing down from its refusal to deal with U.N. weapons inspectors.

Clinton should have taken care of this problem during his administration, but didn't have the testicular fortitude to do it...Instead he 'spoke loudly, and carried a wiffle-ball bat.'

Keep this in mind the next time you think about voting for a peacenick Commander-in-Chief.

Question: I thought Billy and his Democrat pals have been saying there was no need to worry about Iraq? Hmmmmmm.

2004 - Yasir Arafat, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, died in Paris.

HAPPY YASIR's DEAD DAY!!! WoooooooooooooHoooooooooooo!

Good riddance to dead murderers...I hope he suffered terribly, and wish it lasted longer.

I also hope he's getting his '72 Virgins' in Allahville...Of course, I'm of the opinion the 72 are gorillas, and they do the devirginizing.

November 5

1940 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt was re-elected U.S. President for a historic third time, defeating Wendell Wilkie.

George Washington established the precedent of presidents serving no more than two terms, because he believed the nation needed a constant inflow of new leadership to remain vibrant - and honest.

The egomaniac FDR thought otherwise...No president should have stayed in office longer than two terms. FDR not only did three, he did four.

1556 - The Battle of Panipat.

Mughal ruler, Akhbar the Great routed the Hindus under Hemu by turning their elephants in the Hindu revolt. The result of this battle was the end of a period of Afghan rule in India.

1775 - Commodore Esek Hopkins was named Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy:  American Revolutionary War.

The Colonial fleet was a rag-tag group, but managed to do enough to hassle the Brits and force them out of strategic positions, which helped Washington's army.

1862 - Ambrose Burnside replaced General McClellan as head of the U.S. Army of the Potomac:  U.S. Civil War.

Lincoln replaced one incompetent commander with another.

How incompetent was Burnside? So much so, he asked Lincoln to change his mind and choose another commander...Lincoln refused, and the general went on to prove his incompetence at the Battle of Fredericksburg.

1912 - Woodrow Wilson was elected President of the United States.

Not a big event, but Wilson is the answer to an interesting election fact: Wilson is the only president to defeat two former presidents (Taft and Theodore Roosevelt) in one election.

He is also the first truly Liberal American president.

1914 - Britain, France, and Russia declared war on Turkey: WWI.

I hope you know the European powers weren’t the only ones in WWI...The Ottoman Empire was a pathetic mess, but required a final whipping before it disappeared from history.

1996 - California's Proposition 209 passed. Also known as the California Civil Rights Initiative, CCRI passed by a 10% margin.

A 10% majority is a significant voting total, and the people of California raised their voice by punching their ballots...A great day for the people, who stood up and said discrimination against any people (including whites) was unacceptable.

It didn't take long for the lawyers to get involved, though, with a lawsuit filed in less than 24 hours of the proposition passing.

So much for the "will of the people." Liberals much prefer the "will of the courts"...Liberal courts that is.

November 1

1952 - The U.S. exploded the world's first hydrogen bomb, at Eniwetok Atoll, in the Pacific Ocean.

20 tons of TNT, and 1000 times larger than the atomic bombs dropped on Japan...Definitely a huge event in history.

We better all hope testing is as far as it goes, and one of these monsters is never used in anger.

82 B.C. - The Battle of the Porta Collina (Colline Gate).

The Roman Republic was fighting for its life, and after an extended civil war, Sulla emerged from this battle, capturing Rome and assuming the title of dictator...A title which had a much different meaning at that time than during ours.

1755 - An earthquake in Lisbon, Portugal, killed 60,000 people (about 2/3 of the population).

A terrible event for sure, but this isn't what I find interesting about the headline.

In 1755 Lisbon had just under 100,000 people...250 years later this city has over 3,500,000 people. An increase of 3500%!!!

1861 - General George B. McClellan was promoted to General-in-Chief of the Union Armies:  U.S. Civil War.

McClellan was a favorite of the ‘Eastern elite,’ and had a great reputation as a military commander. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the testicular fortitude to put the worlds largest and best equipped army to use...And make no mistake, at this point in history this army was exactly what I stated - huge, equipped, but with poor leadership and green troops.

McClellan spent a great amount of time planning battles instead of fighting them, and didn’t have the instincts it took to crush the Confederates when he had his chances in 1861-62...In other words McClellan was the Civil War's version of post-El Alamein Monty in WWII.

1871 - Gustav Mahler wrote he had become a vegetarian, saying he thought it would regenerate the human race if everybody stopped eating meat.

I wish people like this would stop eating all together.

1918 - The Habsburg monarchy of Austria-Hungary was dissolved.

This kingdom was also known as the Dual Monarchy or the K.U.K. Monarchy = 'Kaiserlich und Königlich.' German for 'Imperial and Royal.'

The dissolution of Austria-Hungary was long overdue, and good for both Austria and Hungary...That said, had it not been for the former strength of the Habsburg, it's likely most of Europe would be praying to Allah.

1922 - Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Turkey became a republic.

The land of modern-day Turkey has always been one of immense importance, and continues to be...It's too bad in its current form it's much closer to its Ottoman than its Byzantine roots.

1936 - In a speech in Milan, Italy, Benito Mussolini described the alliance between his country and Nazi Germany as an "axis" running between Rome and Berlin.

The Paperboy almost had it right...He should have said 'asses' instead of axis.

1990 - President GHW Bush accused Iraqi forces of engaging in "barbarism" and "brutality," adding "I don't believe that Adolf Hitler ever participated in anything of that nature."

GHW Bush is a good man, but this was an absolutely ignorant comment.

There are few people in the history of the world who's actions can be compared to the barbarism and brutality of Hitler...The Iraqis may have been his peers, though not in quantity, but they were in no way his superior when it comes to either barbarism or brutality.

1993 - The Maastricht Treaty was enacted, establishing the European Union.

What a colossal joke!!!

Since the fall of Rome, Europeans have been hoping for a united Europe...And since this same time have failed.

The continent is made up of so many dissimilar people, and the history of warfare among them has been awesome. Brutally awesome.

It will never happen, And proof of the failure is the fact it is 2017 and there is no European constitution, because they can't work one out to everyone's satisfaction...If anything, it's much more likely the EU will collapse, the euro will fail, and traditional European states will splinter.

October 30

1961 - The Soviet Union tested a hydrogen bomb - with an estimated force of 58-megatons.

The Soviets called this monster the 'Tsar Bomba.'  And bomba it was - the largest man-made explosive device ever!

Which surely is enough to be the greatest event on this day.

1270 - The Seventh Crusade ended with the Treaty of Barbary.

This ended another tactical failure by the Crusaders, who never could have won the Crusades, because the logistics of ruling the region were impossible for the West.

It's important for people to understand the Crusades were a strategic victory, however...Even though the result was unintentional.

Islam swept through Southwest Asia, North Africa, parts of Eastern Europe, and Spain...The Crusades played a large role in keeping the Muslim Horde from overrunning all of Europe.

If Islam didn't have to fight the Crusaders in the Middle East, it's likely they would have invaded all of Europe, and at least possible they could have succeeded...This is important to keep in mind with the current Islamists. We will either fight them in their homeland or ours.

Also, the Crusaders brought much information and knowledge back from the Middle East; information lost after the fall of Rome; information which helped bring and end to the Dark/Middle Ages in Europe - leading to the Renaissance.
 
1650 - In a court case, the members of the Society of Friends were first called Quakers because of the admonition of their founder George Fox to "quake and tremble at the word of God."

I'm not a religio, but I love this kind of stuff.
 
1918 - Turkey signed an armistice with the Allies, agreeing to end hostilities at noon October 31:  WWI.

WWI was winding down, but the world woke up to the reality of the Hell created in the previous four years.

Europe was a mess, and the Middle East was about to be transformed...For the better part of the previous 400-years the Islamic World had been ruled by the Ottoman Turks, which was about to change.

The Ottoman Empire was dissolved, and the peace which ended the war proved to be a 'Peace to End All Peace.' I highly recommend you read this book.
 
1938 - Millions of Americans were panicked by the radio broadcast of 'The War of the Worlds,' a book by H.G. Wells dramatized by Orson Welles.

This sounds illogical, but the country was on pins and needles...Asia was at war, Europe was about to explode, the Great Depression was in it's ninth year, and the Red Scare was ever present. Try to imagine if these factors were all present in our time.

Actually, it isn't that hard, especially considering the some of those factors are more or less present now.
 
1945 - The U.S. announced the end of shoe rationing:  WWII.

Rationing during wartime? How un-American!

I'm just practicing for my ACLU registration test...SOB's.
 
1988 - Responding to Republican attempts to pin the term "Liberal" on him, Democrat Michael Dukakis declared on the campaign trail, "Yes, I am a Liberal, in the tradition of Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman and John Kennedy."

What a joke!! These three Democrat presidents would be considered Conservatives by today’s standards. And it’s not even close.

Dukakis (and every Democrat nominee after Kennedy) should properly call themselves “Liberals in the tradition of Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter”...A stigma no one wants to be stuck with.
 
1990 - The Iraqi News Agency quoted Saddam Hussein, saying Iraq was making final preparations for war, and that he expected an attack by the United States and its allies within days.

GHW Bush should have taken care of Hussein when he had the chance...And Clinton should have as well.

October 28

312 - The Battle of the Milvian Bridge: Roman civil war.

1. Constantine the Great became the undisputed master of the Roman Empire by defeating Maxentius in this battle, ending the civil war.

2. This battle also marks the beginning of the Christian Era in Europe.

During this battle Constantine's army wore the Christian Cross after Constantine trusted a vision he had seen of the Cross, inscribed with the words "In this sign conquer"...As a result, Constantine converted to Christianity after emerging victorious in the battle, and became the first Roman emperor to embrace the Christian faith.

This act of faith (regardless of his reasoning) is every bit as important as Moses’ at the ‘burning bush’ (in real terms not religious ones), because it changed Rome, which changed the Western World, because Rome was the axis upon which the West revolved and evolved from.

1886 - The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, was dedicated in New York Harbor by President Cleveland.

'Gift from the people of France' my ass…This is one of the great myths in American history, but it is definitely a myth.

The Statue was a gift from a few financiers who graciously gave it to the U.S. in the name of the French people...The French have never been our friends, even though they have often been our 'ally.'

In the 18th-19th Centuries they were often on 'our side,' but only did so to spite the Brits...In the 20th Century they were on 'our side' in WWI and WWII because they needed our help to save them from the Germans.

1919 - The Prohibition Enforcement Act (also known as the Volstead Act) became law. This act enforced the 18th Amendment to the Constitution - the prohibition of alcohol manufacture, sale and consumption.

Someday we’ll face a similar attack on personal freedom when the health-nuts try to ban cigarettes or food...While at the same time they fight to allow people to smoke pot, and kill fetuses. I just don’t get the logic.

1922 - Italian Blackshirt Fascists began a march on Rome which ended two days later with the formation of a government led by Benito Mussolini.

The Italians have always reached out for a strongman, and this they found in the 'Paperboy.'  Unfortunately, they were led down the road to Hell, and it took the destruction of much of Italy to escape the tyranny they so dearly wanted.

But at least Il Duce got the ‘trains to run on time.’

1940 - President Franklin Roosevelt complained "Republicans...after opposing rearmament for years, are now protesting that the United States is too weak":  WWII.

It’s interesting to note at this time in history the Republicans were the Chickens and the Democrats the Hawks...And FDR's comment could perfectly be flipped today.

Which is why people shouldn’t get tied to political parties, but to political ideals...When it comes to national defense, FDR Democrats should be modern-day Republicans, as should JFK Democrats.

1940 - Italy invaded Greece:  WWII.

Per normal, the Italians bungled this invasion, and required German help to get out of the mess.

Hitler was very fond of Mussolini, but he had to regret getting in bed with such incompetence…The Brits (the only ones fighting at this time) were happy, though, because Germany diverted many forces to Greece which could have been used elsewhere.

Most important, Germany having to save the Italians in Greece delayed the invasion of Russia, which pushed the calendar closer to winter...A fact which ultimately cost them the war.

1959 - Turkey and the United States signed an agreement for the deployment of fifteen nuclear-tipped Jupiter missiles in Turkey.

Most Americans don’t realize it, but Turkey is a NATO ally...Most also don’t know it, but the decision to put these missiles in Turkey was the Soviet’s excuse for trying to put theirs in Cuba.

1962 - The Cuban Missile Crisis effectively ended when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev announced its missiles would be dismantled and returned to the U.S.S.R. President Kennedy immediately replied that the U.S. would lift its blockade of Cuba.

The world wondered who would blink first, and it was Nikki...The world was lucky, too, because I’m pretty sure Kennedy was (rightly) going to the wall on this matter.

1988 - In London, the High Court ruled former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet was immune from prosecution in British courts. The House of Lords later overturned the decision, saying Pinochet's arrest could stand.

Pinochet was a brutal dictator, and should have been sent back to Chile for a good ol' fashioned hangin.’

October 19

202 B.C. – The Battle of Zama:  Rome v. Carthage.

The Battle of Zama is one of the five most important battles in Western history, fought between two of the super-powers of the ancient World, and was the decisive battle of the Second Punic War.

Prior to Zama, Rome was in dire straits, losing just about every battle in Europe against Hannibal...Hannibal kicked the Romans around for years, but had no ability to force a siege of the Roman walls, which made it impossible for him to defeat Rome.

The Romans realized they couldn’t defeat Hannibal in the open battlefield, so they put together an army led by Scipio Africanus to invade Carthage...The Carthaginians were caught completely off-guard, and Hannibal was unable to get back to Zama in time to change the outcome of the battle.

As a result, Carthage was forever weakened, and never powerful enough to threaten Rome again. A fact which destined the West to a Roman Civilization instead of a possible Carthaginian one.

439 - The Vandals, led by King Gaiseric, conquered Carthage in North Africa.

North Africa was an important part of the Roman Empire, but the decline of the region began its slide from the West (not just from Rome, but from Western Civilization) with this event...The Vandals and other Germanic people held it for awhile, and the Byzantines for another short period until the Muslims conquered North Africa in the 7th Century - removing North Africa from the sphere of Western Civilization; forever lessening its standing from what it had previously been.

1448 - Ottoman Sultan Murat II defeated Hungarian General Janos Hunyadi at Kosovo, Serbia.

The Ottoman Empire was growing by leaps and bounds, and this victory gave them virtual control of the Balkans, and an invasion route into Central Europe.

That said, the Serbs lost the battle, but never quit fighting the war, which continues to this day.

1453 - The Hundred Years War ended:  England v. France.

The Hundred Years War was actually 116-years long, not 100, and was the result of over 400-years of French, English, Viking, and Norman confrontations.

The result of the war was the end of English territorial claims in France, and is noted as the ‘end of chivalry,’ with the increased use of standing armies, the longbow and gunpowder.

1812 - Napoleon Bonaparte began the retreat of his Grande Armie from Moscow.

The Emperor invaded Russia with 500,000 of his finest troops...He returned to France with around 20,000.

Napoleon was bested by 'General Winter' and the Russian's willingness to suffer, beginning a string of losses for the brilliant commander...Fortunately, the next great European tyrant (Hitler) made the same mistake.

1926 - The Russian Politburo expelled Leon Trotsky and his followers.

Stalin took firm control of the Soviet Union, and tossed his greatest political nemesis out on his ass...Then Uncle Joe spent the next 15-years searching for him all over the globe - for elimination.

1951 - President Truman signed an act formally ending the state of war with Germany:  WWII.

The war ended in 1945, but the state of war ended six years later...This is important to remember in our current and future wars.

2005 - Saddam Hussein pleaded innocent to charges of murder and torture as his long-awaited trial began with the one-time dictator arguing about the legitimacy of the court and scuffling with guards.

Who knows how many Saddam tortured, but we know he killed a million or so...No big deal, I guess.

September 14

1829 - The Peace of Adrianople: Ended the Russo-Turkish War.

The Ottoman Empire was on its death-bed and was forced to give much to the Russians.  Including:  access to the mouth of the Danube and additional territory on the Black Sea, opened the Dardanelles to all commercial vessels, granted autonomy to Serbia, promised autonomy for Greece, and allowed Russia to occupy Moldavia and Walachia until Turkey paid a large indemnity.

Needless to say, the Ottomans were falling apart, and the Russian Empire was growing in every direction...And the rest of Europe was getting very nervous about both facts.

1812 - Napoleon’s invasion of Russia reached its climax when the Grande Armee entered Moscow.

Napoleon thought he had a great victory, but entered the city only to find the enemy capital deserted and burning - set afire by the few Russians who remained...It burned until September 19 and much of it was destroyed.

The Russians went into a slash and burn defensive mode, and planned on forcing Napoleon to spend the winter in Russia, without food, winter clothing or shelter - and to the ravages of disease...Which were the eventual reasons for the Grande Armee’s downfall.

Napoleon's invasion was just one of many instances of Russian 'strategic depth' and willingness to suffer...Two of the many reasons such a backward nation has been able to keep its independence from its much more prosperous and advanced Western peer-powers.

1901 - President McKinley died in Buffalo, New York, of gunshot wounds inflicted by an assassin. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt succeeded him as President.

It's a terrible event anytime a president is assassinated...Luckily, the U.S. had the right man, in the right place, at the right time in Teddy Roosevelt.

1930 - The National Socialist (Nazi) Party won a stunning election triumph, becoming the second largest party in the Reichstag (parliament).

Again, it’s important to note the Nazi’s were elected to power...Sure they used force during these elections (as did every party involved), but for the most part they were put in power by the German people.

1940 - Congress passed the Selective Service Act, providing for the first peacetime draft in U.S. history.

Yet FDR had no intent of the U.S. entering WWII, or knowledge of a pending attack...Uh, huh!

1950 - On the heels of the landing at Inchon, the U.S. Eight Army and South Korean allies broke out of the Pusan Perimeter:  Korean War.

Inchon was General MacArthur’s masterpiece - his most brilliant tactical battle...There were few in the military who thought he could pull off the landing, and President Truman only gave him the go because he was afraid of the public relations nightmare of taking the general on.

MacArthur was one of the most brilliant military minds in American history, and is one of my five favorite American characters to read about, but it’s too bad he made the mistake of challenging Truman at every step in the Korean War...It was a mistake which cost him his job - deservedly.

1959 - The Soviet space probe 'Luna Two' became the first man-made object to reach the moon as it crashed onto the lunar surface.

The Soviets were the first to successfully launch a rocket at the Moon, but never put a human there.

1960 - Representatives of oil-producing countries finished a meeting in Baghdad which led to the formation of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Congratulations to them...They will only dominate the market as long as U.S. politicians (pushed by insane EnvironMentalists) and Russian incompetence allow them to.

1983 - The U.S. House of Representatives voted, 416-0, in favor of a resolution condemning the Soviet Union for shooting down a Korean jetliner on Sept. 1, calling it a "cold-blooded, barbarous attack."

Whoa, whoa, whoa!! I can’t believe there wasn’t at least one Democrat to vote against this resolution...There were no Rep. Barbara Lee’s around???

1986 - President Reagan and his wife, Nancy, appeared together on radio and television to appeal for a ''national crusade'' against drug abuse.

If we really wanted to stop 'drug abuse' we’d shut the damn southern border.

But then again that would be an answer to other 'if we really wanted to stop it' issues...You know, things like Illegal Immigration, terrorism, destruction of our health care and education systems, etc.

Unfortunately, we’ve never gotten completely serious about any of these problems.

1998 - President Bill Clinton, struggling to regain his footing from the Monica Lewinsky scandal, pledged during a speech in New York to work with America's allies to deal with the "biggest financial challenge facing the world in a half-century."

Re-read that, and skip the BlewClinsky BS.

Bill was talking about the upcoming financial problem...The one which lead to the 2000 and 2008 recessions. The same ones he and his cronies blame on Bush, even though they knew it was coming long before Bush was elected.

Bunch of duplicitous SOB's.

2005 - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan appealed to world leaders marking the 60th anniversary of the United Nations to help restore confidence in the world body. He also said that U.N. members had failed to achieve the profound reform the global organization needed on its 60th anniversary.

Hard to restore confidence in what has always been a failed group...The sooner this entity joins the League of Nations in the dustbin of history the better.

September 3

1939 (11:15 a.m.) - Britain's Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, announced the declaration of war against Germany.

The Brits were soon joined by France, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada...But not the U.S. - something to keep in mind when we call on our allies in times of need.

Too bad the Brits and French gave Hitler six years to build up...If Chamberlain had any honor he would have put the "peace in our time" declaration in his mouth and choked to death on it.

Needless to say, the war was on, and Hell on Earth was about to begin...Hell to the tune of an estimated 60-80 million deaths.

590 - Gregory I ('the Great') was consecrated as pope. Regarded as the father of the medieval papacy and last of four Latin 'Doctors of the Church,' he was the first pope to aspire to secular power, the man for whom the Gregorian Chant is named, and one of the main organizers of Roman liturgy and its music. He was also one of the prime promoters of monasticism.

Not many people are recognized with 'the Great' after their name, but Gregory definitely fits the model...I highly recommend you read about him and the effects he had on the Church.

1658 - Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, died.

No one is positive what the Lord Protector died of, but most believe he was poisoned or had malaria...I tend to think some Royalists got him.

Either way, Cromwell left only a useless son to succeed him, and the monarchy was reestablished shortly after his death.

A fun tid-bit: Cromwell's body was exhumed from the grave in 1661, and he was executed posthumously...And to make his point very clear, the king had Cromwell's dead body hung then drawn-and-quartered.

1683 - Turkish troops broke through the defenses of Vienna.

Another in the centuries old Muslim attempt to crack Central Europe...Thankfully the Austrian Habsburgs were strong enough to keep them at bay, because had they not there were few other forces strong enough to keep Islam from swallowing up the entire continent.

1752 - This day never happened, nor the next 10, in England.

After England adopted the Gregorian Calendar, 11 days were erased...Many English people rioted, thinking the government stole 11 days of their lives.

1783 - The Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the seven year American Revolutionary War and recognizing U.S. independence from Britain.

The colonies earned their freedom by kicking out the world's greatest power.

Next came the hard part, creating a new nation out of a hodge-podge of people...And then they had to fight the Brits again in the War of 1812 to prove they were worthy of being a sovereign country.

1954 - The U.S. Espionage and Sabotage Act of 1954 was signed, legislating the death penalty for peacetime sabotage.

Sounds like a natural idea to me. Why should a country be held hostage by those who wish to do it harm? Internationally or domestically?

Any chance we can start enforcing this law?

1994 - China and Russia proclaimed an end to any lingering hostilities, pledging they would no longer target nuclear missiles or use force against each other.

Sure.  Such trustworthy deal-makers the Chinese and Ruskies are...Especially considering the extent of land the Russians have in the east - most of which is barely inhabited.  A landmass which a country with over a billion people and limited natural resources might find useful.

September 2 (A Triple)

31 B.C. - The Battle of Actium: Octavian defeated Marc Antony.

Actium is one of the most important battles in history, because Octavian (later Augustus) finished off any resistance he had in the Roman world, and soon put an end to the Roman Republic - establishing the Roman Empire.

1945 - Japan signed an unconditional surrender aboard the U.S. battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay, formally ending World War II.

"We are gathered here, representatives of the major warring powers - to conclude a solemn agreement whereby peace may be restored. The issues involving divergent ideals and ideologies, have been determined on the battlefields of the world and hence are not for our discussion or debate. Nor is it for us here to meet, representing as we do a majority of the people of the earth, in a spirit of distrust, malice or hatred. But rather it is for us, both victors and vanquished, to rise to that higher dignity which alone befits the sacred purposes we are about to serve, committing all our people unreservedly to faithful compliance with the obligation they are here formally to assume.

It is my earnest hope and indeed the hope of all mankind that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past - a world founded upon faith and understanding - a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish - for freedom, tolerance and justice.

The terms and conditions upon which the surrender of the Japanese Imperial Forces is here to be given and accepted are contained in the Instrument of Surrender now before you.

As Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, I announce it my firm purpose, in the tradition of the countries I represent, to proceed in the discharge of my responsibilities with justice and tolerance, while taking all necessary dispositions to insure that the terms of surrender are fully, promptly and faithfully complied with.

Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always. These proceedings are closed." - Gen. Douglas MacArthur

1945 - Ho Chi Minh broke ties with France and declared Vietnam an independent republic.

WWII ended, and in a round-about-way, the first fight of the Cold War began...Such is the cruel reality of human history.

490 B.C. - Phidippides ran the first 'marathon,' seeking aid from Sparta against Persia.

Phidippides didn’t run a 'marathon.'  He was running to Sparta to ask for their help at the Battle of Marathon.

He ran in vain, however, because the Spartans left the Athenians to fend for themselves...And they did just fine, to the great shock and shame of the Spartans.

44 B.C. - Cicero delivered his 'First Philippic,' an attack on Mark Antony, in the Roman Senate.

Cicero was a brilliant orator and politician, but an even better survivor, because he recognized very early that Octavian would be the eventual successor to Caesar.

Make no mistake, however, Cicero was no ally of Octavian’s, and was soon taking shots at the Emperor as well.

1192 - The Treaty of Jaffa put an end to hostilities of the Third Crusade. Negotiated between Richard the Lion Heart and Saladin, Christian pilgrims were granted special rights of travel around Palestine and in Jerusalem.

Richard and Saladin may have 'ended hostilities' but the Crusades were anything but over.

1666 - The Great Fire of London began.

Much of the city went up in flames, including 13,000 houses...Amazingly, only around a dozen people died in the fire.

On a positive note, the fire played a large role in stopping the spread of the Black Plague in London.

1752 - Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar.

Most of Europe made this change 150-years earlier...Which is one of the many reasons historical dates are often convoluted and confusing.

1777 – The Battle of Cooch's Bridge, N.J.:  U.S. Revolutionary War.

This was a small, inconclusive battle, which would normally go unrecognized here...But it is important for one reason: It was the first battle where the new nation used the 'Stars and Stripes Flag' in battle.

1901 - U.S. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt offered the advice, "Speak softly and carry a big stick," in a speech at the Minnesota State Fair.

This was a great quote, and one we should always live up to...That said, it’s important to understand there is no use in “carrying” any size stick if you don’t swing it when necessary.

1929 - An opera, composed by Kurt Weill with a libretto by Berthold Brecht, was in its final minutes when Brecht's wife launched into a speech for communism from the stage.

Sounds just like the current set of thespian idiots we have...Some things never change.

1963 - Alabama Governor George C. Wallace prevented the integration of Tuskegee High School by encircling the building with state troopers.

”In Birmingham they love the governor…” - Lynard Skynard.

They probably still love Gov. Wallace, who was a Democrat by the way.

1995 - At a military cemetery on a hill high above Honolulu, President Bill Clinton marked the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, saying it taught Americans that "the blessings of freedom are never easy or free."

Clinton was 100% correct!! It’s too bad he and his Liberal pals don’t believe a word of what he said, though...But what else is new from the world's greatest shit salesman, who is constantly tossing out 'samples.'

August 26

1346 - The Battle of Crecy:  Hundred Years War - England v. France.

Crecy was a turning point in military history and one of the most decisive victories ever for a force with far inferior numbers: The English had about 9,000 troops compared to the French 27,000, yet the English crushed the French.

The English had two weapons which changed warfare forever, ending the age of the armored knight and marking the beginning of the end of chivalry: The longbow and the cannon.

Longbows had been in use by many nations, but none used it as effectively in mass as the English did.

Small hand-cannons had been in use for awhile in Europe, and for centuries in China, but Crecy marks the first time in history where field cannons were used in battle...They were crude and quite small, but none-the-less a powerful weapon, and one which was coveted by every nation from this point on.

The use of the longbow in mass along with cannons made armor a pretty useless form of defense and also increased the volume of the killing field...The use of cannons also spelled the end of the effective defensive use of castles and other traditional walled defenses.

55 B.C. - Roman forces under Julius Caesar invaded Britain.

Caesar was well on his way toward conquering Gaul, and needed another challenge...He also needed another source of enhancing his revenue and reputation.

Never forget, Caesar was the least known and accomplished of the Triumvirs:  Pompey, Crassus and Caesar...He had to prove his worth to the Roman people, and had the military skill to do just that.

Also, it's important to know the Romans never conquered Britain...They subjugated parts of the south, but never held a firm rule.

580 - The Chinese invented toilet paper.

I'd say this is worth noting...Must have been a shitty world before this time.

1278 - The Battle of Marchfeld: Rudolf of Habsburg defeated Ottokar II.

This was one of the many battles between the Turks and the Austrians, and wouldn't normally be of note...What makes this battle important is it's considered the beginning of the slow incline in Habsburg political influence.

1914 - The Battle of Tannenberg ended (began August 17): WWI.  The German Eighth Army defeated the Russian Army.

Tannenberg was one of the first large battles in WWI...The Germans won handily.

Hindenburg and Ludendorff proved to be far superior to any Russian field commander, but it also didn't hurt that the Ruskies transmitted their battle plans over radio-waves, and didn't bother to encrypt them so the Germans wouldn't know their plan...Doh!

1957 - The Soviet Union announced it successfully tested an inter-continental ballistic missile.

Global Reach = Global Power!

1993 - Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman and 14 co-defendants entered innocent pleas in federal court a day after their indictment on charges of conspiring to wage terrorism against the United States.

I thought the Islamists didn’t hate the U.S. until 'W' took power? Hmmm. Must be a mistake here...NOT!

August 17

1945 - Korea was divided at the 38th parallel with the U.S. occupying the southern area.

This is a terrible day for Koreans (North and South), and a turning-point in the history of the world because it set the stage for the Cold War becoming very 'hot' within a couple years...It is also exactly what would have happened in Japan had the war continued much past the Atom Bombs.

1590 - John White, leader of 117 colonists sent in 1587 to Roanoke Island (North Carolina) to establish a colony, returned from a trip to England to find the settlement deserted. No trace of the settlers was ever found.

It's reasonable to assume they were devoured by the Indians, who were smart enough at this time to annihilate the invaders before they could do likewise to them.

Unfortunately for the Indians, they weren’t as staunch with every European landing in the New World, and were overrun by a stronger people...Such is the true history of the world.

1812 - The Battle of Smolensk: Napoleon's army defeated the Russians during their retreat to Moscow.

Smolensk was a victory for Napoleon, but it was also a reality check...The reality was the Emperor was seeing the beginning of the destruction of his supply lines, which ultimately lead to a complete debacle and elimination of his Grand Armee.

1896 - A prospecting party discovered gold in Alaska, a finding which started the Klondike gold rush.

The Russians have to be kicking themselves for selling Alaska to the U.S....So much for the 'folly' of Seward’s Folly, which has paid for itself over and over not only in gold but also in oil.

Also, the Canadians can’t be too pleased the Brits didn’t make this purchase instead of the Americans.

1917 - Italy declared war on Germany and Turkey:  WWI

Gotta love the Italians; waiting till the war was more or less decided to take a side...I guess it's better than the route they took in WWII.

1962 - East German border guards shot and mortally wounded Peter Fechter, who was attempting to cross the Berlin Wall into the western sector.

Peter wasn't the first or last shot at this wall, but this event does give a good opportunity to ask a question: How many West Germans tried to cross to the East?

The answer to this question is the ultimate tell-tale sign of the failure of Communism.

1982 - The U.S. and China signed the 'U.S.-PRC Joint Communique': The U.S. agreed it "recognized the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, and acknowledged the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China."

It’s unfortunate, but the truth of the situation is in this part of the text: 'Taiwan is part of China'...Look at a map and tell me how this island can possibly be anything but part of China.

1987 - Rudolf Hess, last surviving member of Adolf Hitler's inner circle, died at a Berlin hospital near Spandau Prison at age 93, having apparently committed suicide by strangling himself with an electrical cord.

Hess lived 42-years too long...It’s disgusting Hitler’s Henchmen weren’t all executed after the war, and were allowed to live any longer than their leader.

June 3

1098 - The Fall of Antioch: Christian Crusaders of the First Crusade seized Antioch, in modern day Turkey.

At the time this looked like a great victory for the Crusaders, but it didn’t take long to realize it was an untenable situation - a costly and deadly proposition to even try...That said, the Crusades may have been a tactical debacle, but they were an absolute strategic victory, because they helped keep the Muslim Horde at bay, keeping them from conquering Central and Western Europe.

The Crusades were also important as an impetus towards dragging Europe out of the Dark Ages, by bringing the 'ancient knowledge' the Muslim world kept after the fall of Rome and returning it to Europe...As such, the Crusades were an important factor in the start of the Renaissance 200 years later.

1938 - The German Reich ordered the confiscation of 'degenerate art.'

And the top Nazi 'degenerate' made sure all of the art found its way to his personal treasure chest. Of course that degenerate was the 'Fat-Ass Reichsmarshal': Hermann Goering.

1989 - Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, died.

Good riddance to dead dictators!!! Especially the Lenin of the Middle East.

May 30

1814 – The Treaty of Paris (one of many) was signed, ending the war between France and the United Kingdom, Russia, Austria, Sweden and Prussia. It also enforced the abdication of Napoleon I.

This treaty ended the French Revolution and returned the French borders to their 1792 extent.

That said, even though many consider the end of the Revolution to be when Napoleon was crowned Emperor, the reality is Napoleon was a product of the Revolution and his reign should be considered part of it.

Unfortunately, the treaty may have ended the French Revolution, but it didn't end the Napoleonic Wars, because the Euro's didn't have the emperor executed, and another Peace of Paris was required in 1815 after they finally defeated Napoleon at Waterloo...Incredibly, they didn't execute him there either.

1431 - Joan of Arc was burned at the stake by Bishop of Beauvais Pierre Cauchon, after being convicted of high treason against God by an ecclesiastical court.

Nice of the French to hand her over to the English after she saved their ass...The French king was afraid of her 'power,' and figured it'd be easier to do away with Joan.

Oddly enough, this war was one of the few they won against the English/Brits in the next 500+ years...Could it be they've been cursed for betraying 'The Maid?'

1539 - Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto landed on the coast of Florida.

From this discovery came the Spanish claim to North America, which they believed the Treaty of Tordesilla guaranteed them, anyway...Unfortunately for Spain, the Brits, French, and later United States, had no use for Papal or Spanish declarations.

1868 - The first 'Decoration Day' (Memorial Day) observance occurred in Columbus, MS.

A well deserved day, and one we should all take time to embrace...Freedom isn't free!!! It never has been, and never will be.

1913 - The First Balkan War ended with the Treaty of London.

Much of Southeastern Europe won its freedom from the Turks in this war, which presented a challenge to the ever-weakening Austro-Hungarian Empire.

As such, the result of the Balkan War was to create increased tension between the Empire and Russia - semi-protector of the newly independent nations...Which played a huge role in the beginning of WWI a year later.

1922 - The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., was dedicated by Chief Justice William Howard Taft.

This is an incredibly powerful monument, with the great man seated and flanked by the inscriptions of the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address...Above Lincoln's head is the dedication:

IN THIS TEMPLE
AS IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE
FOR WHOM HE SAVED THE UNION
THE MEMORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
IS ENSHRINED FOREVER.

1943 - American forces secured the Aleutian island of Attu, Alaska from the Japanese:  WWII.

I'm amazed many Americans don't know the Japanese had a foothold on part of North America during WWII.

Japan held the Aleutians for a very short time, but proved they could get a landing force to the continent, and had they not been discovered could have wreaked havoc with chemical and biological weapons from this range...And they were very close to having such weapons.

1958 - Unidentified soldiers killed in World War II and the Korean conflict were buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

I highly recommend you go to Arlington and take some time to walk its grounds...Beware of the largeness of the grounds, however, because the maps don't do justice to the enormity of it.

And make sure you take the walk to the Iwo Jima Memorial, as well.

1994 - The U.N. Security Council warned North Korea to stop refueling a nuclear reactor and allow U.N. monitors to perform full inspections.

WOW!!! I bet the North Koreans almost pee'd themselves when the Circle Jerk Group made this declaration.

As we know, there are no monitors in North Korea, Bill Clinton gave them the 'nuclear farm' in exchange for peace (ha ha), and the Kims are constantly waiving the middle finger and their new toys at the world.

Obviously, the U.N. warning meant nothing to North Korea...And why should they worry? The U.N. is a paper tiger and the U.S. is terrified of China next door.

1997 - Child molester Jesse K. Timmendequas was convicted in Trenton, New Jersey, of raping and strangling a seven year old neighbor, Megan Kanka, whose 1994 murder inspired 'Megan's Law,' requiring communities to be notified when sex offenders move in. Timmendequas was later sentenced to death.

Megan's Law is a fantastic tool, but a much better method of protecting the public would be to execute all sex offenders.

1. They'd be dead (duh!).

2. This would put fear in the mind of those who might otherwise become predators...And yes, I do believe they can control themselves.

Anyone who argues they can't control themselves, must agree option '1' is the best way, because if they can't be controlled they should be terminated. Unless those who argue against execution don't mind setting these 'uncontrollable freaks' loose on the public, that is.

3. They'd be dead (DUH!!!).

March 28

1979 - America's worst commercial nuclear disaster occurred inside the Unit Two reactor at the Three Mile Island plant near Middletown, PA. A series of human and mechanical failures caused the cooling system to malfunction, resulting in damage to the reactor's core and the leakage of radioactivity into the atmosphere. Wide spread hysteria, fed by the anti-nuclear crowd and mismanagement of the disaster by numerous government agencies (with many false reports!) resulted in the crippling of the U.S. nuclear power plant industry and a cost of hundreds of billions to the taxpayers, ultimately leading to power shortages.

Of course this was a horrible failure, but it was contained and taught us much about how to handle such events.

The world has been lucky to not have a huge ‘accidental’ atomic explosion, but this is the risk we take when playing with the atom...A risk which must be continued, improved on, and expanded. We just need to be extremely mindful of the power we are using, and constantly careful to maintain its safety.

Or we can plant windmills all over the place.

193 - Roman Emperor Pertinax was assassinated by the Praetorian Guard.

By this time, the empire was falling apart and assassinations occurred often. The most interesting part of this event is how the next emperor was chosen...Didius Julianus became Roman Emperor as the highest bidder in a Praetorian Guard auction.

Nice way to pick the leader of the greatest state in the Western world.  It’s a miracle the Empire lasted almost another 300-years.

That said, at our current level of debt, debauchery, graft and criminality it's debatable if the U.S. will have as much staying power as these Romans did.

1871 - Parisians experimented with socialism and democracy in the 'Paris Commune.' Two months later, the national government shut it down, murdering between 30,000 to 100,000 people.

Experimenting with socialism, democracy and 'commune(ism)' sounds like a powder-keg...It's not surprising the Frenchies tried it though. They are still dabbling in it to a lesser extent.

1898 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled a child born in the U.S. to Chinese immigrants was a U.S. citizen, and could not be deported under the Chinese Exclusion Act.

Talk about opening the flood-gates...I’m sure the Supremes never worried about 10-20 million Chinese coming in, but a similar possibility is becoming fact on our Southern border.

1930 - The Turkish cities of Constantinople and Angora were renamed Istanbul and Ankara.

Why would they change these names?  To erase their history as Western cities, and re-write history to begin at the time of Mohammad.

Unfortunately, it's highly unlikely the West will ever recover the great city of Byzantium/Constantinople.

1939 - Madrid surrendered to Generalissimo Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War.

The end of the Spanish Civil War marks the end of the prelude to WWII. Just about every European participant in WWII took part in the Spanish 'training exercise'...Some learned much (Germany), some learned nothing (the rest).

The Main Event started six months later.

1939 - Adolf Hitler denounced Germany's 1934 Non-Aggression Pact with Poland.

This pact was one of the longest agreements Hitler kept (five years)...Soon after this, he broke all of them.

1945 - The last V-1 'buzz bomb' attack on London occurred:  WWII.

Just imagine if the Nazi’s developed the atom bomb before having to surrender...There is little doubt they would have loaded one up on either the V-1 or V-2.

Thankfully Churchill and FDR insisted on the 'Germany First' strategy.
 
1986 - Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi presided over a rally in which he proclaimed victory over the United States in a just-ended confrontation in the Gulf of Sidra.

The Libyan Drag Queen was truly nuts...I wonder if he feels he won his latest round as well?