I've written what I deem a worthy article (see below) about people who hike on the Appalachian Trail and who congregate on the Internet. The percentage of the total number is small. I've also looked at the member lists of The American Hiker and The Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While there are some activists from AT E-Groups/E-Lists who are members of one or the other group, there are many members of both groups, the majority of paying members it would seem, who are not.
What does that really say? I contend it means that political and environmental activists have less time for E-Groups and E-Lists because they are busy studying and writing, attending meetings, seminars, and conventions and lobbying for their group(s).
Which is what I plan to become involved in during the remainder of this year.
What happened to the Thru Hike in 2007? I guess that's the $24 Million Question of the Day. Life took a detour. I'm adopting a second dog, a puppy, who needs to be trained, so I will be taking long pre-hikes of a week to four weeks on various parts of the Trail to prepare for next year's Thru Hike. The dogs will accompany me on shorter hikes, but the cat gracefully declined and will be kenneled. I will not be taking either dog on my Thru Hike as I have probably mentioned in past posts that it is unnatural for a dog to hike 2175 miles in six months or less. A long hike wears out a dog and my pets' Veterinarian discourages taking a dog on a long hike.
So that's settled. I will be able to visit family more often this year, too.
Politically, I hope to post more information here which will spark some discussion.
Strategy Page has a new Dead Men Walking article, posted in part:
January 10, 2007: Sunni Arab countries (everyone in the region but Iraq and Iran) are in an uproar over what is seen as an Iranian takeover of Iraq. The takeover actually occurred centuries ago, when the population became majority Shia Arab. But the Turkish empire delayed the inevitable, by submerging the Shia Arab majority in Basra province, in a Sunni sea called the Ottoman Empire. That empire disappeared in 1918, replaced by many new countries, or at least ones that had not been independent for hundreds of years.
I think the reader will find the remainder of the article historically educational and a wake up call to Europe and the Americas as the article ends with this paragraph:
Each month, 50-100,000 Iraqis, mostly Sunni Arabs, leave the country. There are nearly a million Iraqi refugees in Syria, about 700,000 in Jordan, nearly 100,000 in Egypt, about 40,000 in Lebanon, and about 20,000 in Turkey. Over a hundred thousand have fled further still, to Europe and the Americas. The U.S. is trying to keep Sunni Arab refugees out, as it is believed many of them would be inclined to support Sunni Arab terrorist groups like al Qaeda, and seek revenge against the United States.
A long and well written article by embedded blogger Bill Roggio at The Fourth Rail, entitled Iraq, the greatest enemy is the time, states:
The average life of an insurgency is about nine years. In Iraq, the insurgents and al-Qaeda hope to wear down the will of the American government and people, and precipitate a premature withdrawal.
The article also states:
Nationwide, the Iraqi Army and Police clearly are not ready to fight the insurgents and militias on their own. Baghdad and Ramadi are clearly two cities where the police and Army would collapse without U.S. backing. But the police and soldiers in Fallujah believe they can. Pride, courage and fighting spirit are certainly traits these soldiers do not lack. They will need time to develop the capacity to fight on their own, and time is the one commodity the West seems to be short of.
If you don't want to comment, please take the time to read the linked articles and educate yourself about Iraq and the war on terror.
Thank you and have a great weekend!
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