This has been another one of those weeks were everyone and everything seemed to have a hand in the barrel.

The War in Iraq continued.  More American soldiers were killed.  Even more Iraqi’s were killed.  Sadr City is in chaos.  Basara is once again being attacked or defended, depending on the perspective.  And, the American Embassy was declared complete.  What an accomplishment!  The most expensive embassy in the world has been built in one of the most unstable countries on the face of the earth.  Welcome to the Fortress of Failure!

I just can’t say that it is one of the prettiest things I have ever seen and obviously, the architect was NOT going for style.  In fact, from the outside, the building looks like a massive prison or a huge fort.  You pick!

But, lest we despair that over $700 Million of U.S. Dollars was wasted on yet another prison, we see that we have provided Ambassador Crocker with some fine relaxation spaces.

So, this is what diplomacy looks like! 

Maybe Secretary of State Rice will christen the new Baghdad Bungalow while on her trip to the Middle East.  And, let’s hope they have working communications throughout the building.  Otherwise, the Secretary and the Ambassador may never see one another.  Maybe a poolside chat will be in order, while our soldiers are dying in the streets and Iraqis are still waiting for water and electricity.

Back on the home front, ABC News, Charles Gibson, and George Stephanopoulos embarrassed themselves before the entire nation and the world.  Oh, yes.  I received an email from a friend in England not too many hours after the debate, who suggested that perhaps we have dissociated ourselves from the real world where there are issues of an economic nature that affect the entire world.  He went on to mention the world food crisis, the War in Iraq, and what about our pitiful health care system.  But, in true form, he also asked that I send him a “flag pin” so he could see what has “the bloody blokes’ knickers in such a twist.”  Now I have to go out and buy a flag pin.  Thank you Charlie and George! 

John McCain offered the idea that we should roll back gasoline taxes for the summer.  That old idea was prompted years ago during a gas crisis.  It didn’t work then.  It won’t work now.  With a barrel of oil selling for $117 by week’s end, it seems that we need some real solutions, not temporary fixes that would allow all of us to drive to our vacation destinations this summer.

In Texas the judge ruled that the 416 children removed from the polygamist ranch outside Eldorado would stay in state custody… temporarily.  On Friday evening the women, the mothers of the children, were seen leaving the Courthouse without the children.    

It seems that all this controversy began with a phone call from a person who called herself Sarah.  “Sarah” claimed to be the under aged wife of a fifty-year old man, abused, and a mother.  It is now doubtful if there is or was a real “Sarah” who made the phone call.  In fact, it seems that no one has been able to determine who made the phone call of if it originated from within the ranch compound.

I have said it a thousand times, I am against child abuse.  But, you know, with all the tracking devices, etc. that most authorities use, it just seems to me that “Sarah’s” whereabouts could have been determined before the raid on the compound.  When I call 911, within seconds I am identified by address.  And, if I make a call by cell phone…. well, I think I can be tracked to within a few feet.  Please forgive my skepticism, but it seems to me that we have not heard all the news about the raid or what precipitated it.  In the meantime, all I can report is that “for the sake of the children,” some 416 children from babies to teenagers are being held without their parents.  From reports, it seems that the kids don’t know which parents are theirs, and some of the children seem to change names daily.  The State of Texas has ordered DNA testing to sort out the family tree.  Excuse my skepticism, but something seems as rotten in Texas as it did on the ranch. 

In other parts of the country, ICE, the immigration team, swooped down on Pilgrim’s Pride plants and rounded up almost 300 undocumented workers.  While the fate of those workers is being determined, children have been left to the care of others.  And, once again, children have been separated from their parents.

In either the polygamist case in Texas or the detention of undocumented workers, it just seems to me that the innocent children are the ones who are being punished.  I’m reminded of our Iraq war policy.  Easy to get in, but what do we do when we get there and how do we get out?  In every case, children are the victims.  Perhaps, someone should teach the 7P’s to those in government on every level.  Proper Positive Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. 

The Pope arrived this week, greeted by President Bush at Andrews Air Force Base.  Everyone has made a big deal about the president going to meet the Pope instead of waiting at the White House for Pope Benedict to arrive there.  Formalities and pomp and circumstance have taken up as much news space as the substance.  Pope Benedict has delivered above expectations, according to many.  Of primary importance was the visit he had with abuse victims in private.  That gesture was welcomed by those who have been abused by the clergy.  Perhaps, most of us have been surprised by how likable the Pope seems.  No one expected him to be a John Paul II, but Benedict has emerged as far more than anticipated. 

On the other hand, I still have to say that I, as a Catholic, am somewhat dismayed that too many of those priests who facilitated and covered up the activities of the pedophile priests are still in their positions or have been elevated.  Perhaps, I expect too much of the Church.

On to other issues.  The Farm Bill is stuck in Congress as they haggle over adding a few more billion to the pot and try to refine some of the “excesses”.  Nothing was mentioned about cutting McConnell’s horse farm subsidy from the bill, but the Congress will take another week to negotiate the bill.  Maybe someone will realize that we don’t want to subsidize the Kentucky Derby.

The FAA said they were tightening up on the inspections of our airlines, once again trying to lead us to believe we are safe in the air.  Stuckey and Gawadinski are still employed.  Sturgell is still lurking in the halls.

We have all been told since our earliest days that one bad apple can spoil a whole barrel.  That applies to the Church, to the government (state or federal), government agencies, and the list goes on.  So, why do we continue to think if we move the bad apple to the other side of the barrel it won’t continue to create rot?  Remove the bad apple…. Take it out of the barrel.

From Wall Street:  Several of the largest banking institutions said they would be eliminating thousands of jobs.  I believe the last combined total was somewhere around 15,000.  I’m betting no one bails out those about to become unemployed.  But, perhaps that’s the real crisis in our country.  The Fed and those in Congress or the administration seem to concentrate more on bailing out, propping up, and keeping solvent institutions…. banks, corporations, etc., as if the walls of Wall Street are hallowed and that as long as the building is standing all is well.  What about the people… the individuals? 

Inflation is here as food prices and gas prices continue to rise.  We have all spent so much time talking about the price of gas that for some the price of food has crept its way to 10% - 50% increases.  And, we can’t forget the world rice situation.  Rice is one of the staples of the world food organizations… or has been.  I am left wondering how we are going to feed the world without rice.  Wheat and corn have seen rapid increases that left without regulation will see those commodities removed from the tables.

And, let us not forget that we all filed our taxes this week.  Amid all the waste, beginning with the newly completed American Embassy in Iraq, we have been once again reminded that we are footing the bill.  Of course, the IRS is going to pay three outsourced companies to collect any taxes we didn’t voluntary attach to our tax forms, although we pay those companies more to perform collections than what they actually collect.

To be sure, I’m not the only person who believes the world is out of balance.  Am I?