Time marches on

Last week I missed writing a column for the first time in eight years, but the news didn't stop. It kept on happening. Russia told us, in no uncertain terms to "Get out of Dodge" -- actually it was: "Get out of Syria." This news was followed a few days later with President Obama saying he's going to veto the $612 billion Defense Authorization Bill. I have a tough time understanding why he would do that. He's already cut our armed services to pre-World War II levels. I guess he really believes in leading from behind, which is guaranteed if our military strength is cut much further. I admit I was dumbfounded that Vladimir Putin, the KGB marionette who struts around like Mussolini, decided to push us around in Syria. I guess he feels he can do it because he perceives us as being weak, or at least he perceives our president in that manner, and for good reason.

He knows Obama will challenge him with words only. The President let Putin have his way in the Ukraine, and now he's doing nothing to keep him out of Syria. In fact, the first thing the Russians did when they commenced bombing in Syria was to drop bombs on friendly forces that the CIA had trained; not ISIS troops. I wonder how our top brass in the Pentagon feel about this latest Russian gambit. They can't be happy having to stand-by and watch as Putin struts his stuff.

More about Hillary

Closer to home, there are several new newsworthy items involving Hillary Clinton and her email accounts. I believe Hillary's problems are the most under-reported stories of all the Presidential campaigns -- Democrat or Republican. I suspect I know why, but I won't bore you with my suspicions because it's only speculation on my part, and I don't want to be accused of being a conspiracy theorist, even though I am. Instead, I'll just cover a few facts I discovered last week after scrupulously searching the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal and several other sources.

Did you know that she had at least two separate servers at her Chappaqua, N.Y., home and maybe a third one when she switched to the Denver-based Platte River outfit? And none of the servers were ever guarded by the Secret Service, and none of the people who set-up or maintained the server ever had proper security clearance. Everything she told us about the servers were lies. Not to worry, the FBI finally confirmed that it is looking into the security aspects of Hillary's servers.

Another interesting bit of information I found is that while Hillary said she turned over all her emails to the State Department; that might not be the truth. Remember when she said this: "My staff erred on the side of providing anything that could possibly be viewed as work related. I went above and beyond what I was requested to do." More lies? You decide. There is a two-month gap, from January 21, 2009, to March 18 where no one in the State Department and no one on her staff can find any emails sent or received by her. Fortunately, the Defense Department found messages between General David Petraeus and Hillary covering this time frame. You don't suppose there are more hidden somewhere do you?

About me

I'm really glad to be back. For those who don't know, I was unable to write my column last week because I was absolutely out of breath. My first wife and I (and my only wife) went to Denver to celebrate our 60th High School Reunion. Yes. I'm that old. The altitude was too much for me. My editor said several readers called early last Wednesday wondering where my column was, and I received quite a few emails and personal comments from readers. I'm pleased to know that you look forward to reading my column. Around 1940, Thomas Wolfe wrote "You Can't Go Home Again," and I guess that's now true for me.

I opine, you decide.

-- Willie Williams is a Siloam Springs resident. He can be reached at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.

Editorial on 10/07/2015