I HAD SO MUCH FUN ON THE SOUTHERN BELLE SHOWBOAT!

She is a huge water craft, over two million pounds, and they built her right there on the side of the lake.  When it was time to launch this beauty, they didn't want to use anything that would pollute the lake to slide the boat in, so they used tons of bananas...  That's right, they slid the vessel in on bananas!

The views were to die for from the brow of the boat!

                                                                                     
The two giant paddle wheels are a
bright red, and an engineering marvel in their own right!  The inside of the boat is beautifully detailed, and the food was fantastic, and if you want to know where and how to get the best price on tickets, just let me know, we can direct you to the best places to stay, eat, and shop,in Branson, and I will be posting pictures of our travels and adventures to wet your appetites for a trip.   Branson is  great destination for a "get away from it all!"                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                              

 

I will be posting more pictures and details of this romantic evening with my sweet colonel.  The talent of the acts, and the inspiration they stirred in the heart were really spectacular! I am so spoiled!

Free Squirrel!!!

Look at the cute little fellow we came across in a travel agency office while on vacation in Branson!  He is a delight to feed, play with, and pet as we rehab him into going out into the world on his own.  He was a "FREE" squirrel, of course Randy gave me "that look" when I tried to make the whole situation sound like it is the deal of the century.  He rolled his eyes, and gave me the sarcastic look I get when I begged, "can we keep him, please, please, please?"  I am  sucker for a baby anything!  We named him Traveler, since we got him on vacation and carted him across four states.  When he gets older, we are going to send him to cosmetology school, as he has some talent in that area, but needs a little professional training... I guess that is what they mean by "rehabbing a squirrel"... right?  Actually, he doesn't  look like he has any bad habits at all to me, much less is in need of rehab...  Can't believe we were so lucky, and no one else wanted this cute little FREE squirrel...  (My husband LOVES getting anything FREE... That is how I sweet talked him into taking in a squirrel while on vacation... I told him, but Randy, it's a FREE squirrel...  I am a very good "sweet talker..."

  

SOMETIMES IT IS A LARGE COMPANY WHICH IS AN INSPIRATION AND MY HERO!

WHAT A WONDERFUL THING THIS COMPANY IS DOING FOR OUR VETERANS AND MILITARY!  PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE SERVING, AND EVERY  VETERAN YOU KNOW, AND PATRONIZE THIS WONDERFUL COMPANY!

The Gary Sinise Foundation has teamed up with Jos.A.Bank offering free suits to qualifying veterans/service members through the Uniform for Success project.
To qualify, email or fax their DD214 if you are no longer in the military, or a statement of service if they are still active + a copy of the front of their driver's license to: contact@garysinisefoundation.org
Fax (818) 432-8999

Make sure to include full name, full address, best contact phone number and email address. On their forms, they may black out the sensitive info (i.e. SSN).

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All This and a Free Squirrel

Life with Colonel LeCompte, (now retired,) is always an adventure.  He finally made it home, and after just a day we left on the vacation he had meticulously planned from Iraq.  The good Colonel knows me well.  I love the mountains, water, and good music, so Branson, Missouri was his choice for our get away.  

The drive in was scenic, as we passed from the heat and humidity of Texas and Oklahoma into Arkansas, and finally arrived in Missouri.  
                                                                                  

The Ozark Mountain Range is where 
our beautiful resort accommodations, the Westgate at Emerald Pointe, is situated, and the photo below shows the private screened in patio of our condo.  We had only experienced one full day on vacation, and already the chills and thrills were piling up!  

 

The scenery, to use a trite expression, which is completely appropriate, is breath taking from our condo which faces a beautiful man made lake that has the clearest water I have ever seen.  

Sunsets over the lake from our condo, (with the jacuzzi tub,) were extraordinarily beautiful, and the stress of recently worrying over Randy being in the American Embassy in Iraq with all of the threats involving Syria, began melting away.  The Lord is good and always  faithful, and He hears and answers my petitions.

Wait... did I say something about a free squirrel???  I believe I did!

News and photos on that to follow tomorrow.  Got to go, time to bottle feed  Traveler.

This is It, Will She, or Will She Not Herd That Armadillo?

Only Twenty Four More Hours....Squeal!

I CAN'T WAIT

HE'S COMING HOME ON 

LEAVE FROM BAGHDAD, IRAQ!!!

I LOVE HIM SO!!!

SQUEAL!!!

 

You Know What They Say About Talking Softly, Carry a Big Stick! Patti Part II

This little dog that I found abandoned can be such a trial. She is an Australian Shepherd, and is so full of energy, so intelligent, and so devoted to me, I am afraid she is going to trip me as I go down the stairs, as she tries to walk so closely to me.  Her name is Patriot, Patti for short. I found her abandoned with two siblings at a local cafe after church one day. She chews up every thing, steals jalapeno peppers from the garden and eats them, chases the kittens, the ducks, the old dog Ginger, Rocket, our little goat, and the miniature horses, (she has learned better on that one, they kick.) She torments the chickens, rabbits, and pigs, even though they are in pens she can't get in. She delights in running up and hitting the chicken wire, and bouncing off, causing what ever is on the other side to squeal, cluck, or dart in terror and panic. (I think the hens are laying fewer eggs because she keeps them so agitated.) When I found the garden dug up, holes dug all over the yard, and I mean all over the yard, she got the blame. Then I saw Patti alerting on something at the edge of the woods. It was an armadillo, and I suddenly knew what was trying to dig into the chicken pen. Armadillos love eggs! I also understood Patti had been falsely accused about the digging in the garden... However, although she is very brave when she chases and herds kittens, not so much so when she has to herd an armadillo. I promised to post two more videos on my blog to tell, "the rest of the story."  We had been unable to gently poke the armadillo with a stick found on the ground and tried poking her little hard shell with, to get her to mosey on along, as I have found where she was trying to dig into my chicken pen, as well as all over the place.  There are about 5-6 inch deep holes everywhere near the garden.  As I said, I had just assumed Patti did it. Armadillos are notorious for this kind of behavior as they love grub worms and such. If Patti will learn to bark at and hassle the armadillo, she will move back into the woods.  So here as I promised, our next effort, a BIG stick.

  

And so the saga continues... Will Patti prevail?  Will she overcome her fear, and herd Jasmine back to the woods where she came from?  Only the Green Lantern... knows ... wait a minute... that is the rest of another story...

Patti Is Learning to Herd... and Practicing on Armadillos!

This little dog that I found abandoned can be such a trial. She is an Australian Shepherd, and is so full of energy, so intelligent, and so devoted to me, I am afraid she is going to trip me as I go down the stairs, as she tries to walk so closely to me.  Her name is Patriot, Patti for short. I found her abandoned with two siblings at a local cafe after church one day. She chews up every thing, steals jalapeno peppers from the garden and eats them, chases the kittens, the ducks, the old dog, Ginger, Rocket, our little goat, and the miniature horses, (she has learned better on that one, they kick.)  She torments the chickens, rabbits, and pigs, even though they are in pens she can't get in. She delights in running up and hitting the chicken wire, and bouncing off, causing what ever is on the other side to squeal, cluck, or dart in terror and panic. (I think the hens are laying fewer eggs because she keeps them so agitated.) When I found the garden dug up, holes dug all over the yard, and I mean all over the yard, she got the blame. Then I saw Patti alerting on something at the edge of the woods. It was an armadillo, and I suddenly knew what was trying to dig into the chicken pen. Armadillos love eggs! I also understood Patti had been falsely accused about the digging in the garden... However, although she is very brave when she chases and herds kittens, not so much so when she has to herd an armadillo. I had promised to post two more videos on my blog to tell, "the rest of the story."  We had been unable to gently poke the armadillo with a stick found on the ground and tried poking her little hard shell with, to get her to mosey on along, as I have found where she was trying to dig into my chicken pen, as well as all over the place.  There are about 5-6 inch deep holes everywhere near the garden.  As I said, I had just assumed Patti did it. Armadillos are notorious for this kind of behavior as they love grub worms and such. If Patti will learn to bark at and hassle the armadillo, she will move back into the woods.  So here as I promised, our next effort, a BIG stick.

 

And so the saga continues... Will Patti prevail?  Will she overcome her fear, and herd Jasmine back to the woods where she came from?  Only the Green Latern... knows ... wait a minute... that is the rest of another story...

I Experienced Such a Beautiful Few Moments Today

I have been praying all day that my husband would make it out of Iraq for a much needed R&R.  He has had the leave scheduled since last May, and I have been so afraid they were going to cancel it.  Then I received an email that he was out of Iraq, in Jordon, and on his way home.

It has been so miserably hot and muggy.  About that time a thunder storm rolled in.  Every day for the last couple of weeks, the clouds have billowed up, it has thundered for an hour or so, even a little lightning, then the rain would circle the ranch, and we wouldn't even get a drop.  My fall garden has needed the rain, and the cooling off of temperatures for a while.  The animals too have needed the cool refreshment of the rain.  

I left my work, and took a few minutes to sit on our front porch and watch God refresh the ranch, and to spend time thanking Him for his love, care, and mercy.  Wanting to share this beautiful little vacation, I filmed it, so here it is for your enjoyment.  I am sure you will find it soothing, make certain that you use the big screen so that you can see the turtles, ducks and the fish jumping.  As I spent time thanking God for the rain, and my husband's safety tonight, I  thought of the words of this  beautiful hymn.  

1. There shall be showers of blessing:
     This is the promise of love;
   There shall be seasons refreshing,
     Sent from the Savior above.  

 Chorus:Showers of blessing,
  Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
    But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing—
     Precious reviving again;
   Over the hills and the valleys,
     Sound of abundance of rain.
3. There shall be showers of blessing;
     Send them upon us, O Lord!
   Grant to us now a refreshing;
     Come, and now honor Thy Word.
4. There shall be showers of blessing;
     O that today they might fall,
   Now as to God we’re confessing,
     Now as on Jesus we call!
5. There shall be showers of blessing,
     If we but trust and obey;
   There shall be seasons refreshing,
     If we let God have His way.

Feeding and Water Boarding

I can tell you, feeding the animals has become a diplomatic mission, with shades of water boarding.... Patti the puppy just has to be hosed down to maintain the needed decorum.  Of course, after just a few minutes, she likes it, and starts chasing the stream of water.  Rocket who has 42 acres of grass, insists on eating my potted plants... after I generously allow her out of the pen...  Magic just chases everyone and tries to get out the gate.  Donkey begs for attention, and those cotton pickin' roosters try to spur me in the back of the leg... reminds me of an old song, and that Randy is coming home....

We will kill the old red rooster when he comes, 

We will kill the old red rooster when he comes, 

We will kill the old red rooster,

We will kill the old red rooster, 

Yes we'll kill the old red rooster when he comes...

And the next verse goes, 

 

We will have chicken and dumplings when he comes....

A Really Good Question From a Really Good Soldier

This young man will be a part of the strike into Syria.  I have known him quite a while now, and he is a good man, willing to do what has to be done for the world, but he has a question, a very good question.  His question raises all kinds of other questions for me.

 

"Of all the Syrian Order of Battle briefs I've read, there is no mention of plans for dealing with Syrian civilian casualties. Of all the Fleet Positioning of boats in the Med & surrounding waters, there is no hospital ship.....where is the humanity we're known for? If we don't end war, war will end us. H.G. Wells."

Anyone know the answer?

 

I want to know too, what are the plans for the care of the innocents we are going in to protect?

 

The Road Ahead Diverges

The movie Lincoln so beautifully expresses the life of a man who truly loved this country, led with wisdom, and did so in the fear of God.  Our nation should be in prayer that God would raise up another such a man. We should also be in prayer for the nation of Syria, because in her fate lies a tether our own.  Our prayers too should, as a sweet friend of mine pointed out, be with Mexico, where ruthless crime rules in their streets. Prayers for North Korea, where no longer do her people retain the knowledge of what freedom for its citizens looks like should be lifted.  On the continent of Africa, so many live in oppression.  In all of the Middle East violence and death are always just a blink away for any person living there.  All around the world people live in distress, poverty, and oppression, may God direct this country rightly in all our obligations.  May our leadership like President Lincoln, look to God for help in these perilous times.

 

Relieved of Command...

I wrote this article some time back, but I have had conversations on Military.com lately which have stirred my emotions, and I wish to run it again.  This country has got to pay attention who we allow to rise to power.

"All very successful commanders are prima donnas, and must be so treated."  General George Patton III

Abuse of power by military commanders is not a new thing.  I had heard all of my life what a great commander General George Patton was during WWII.  The movie about his "life," made in 1970, staring George Scott, won all kinds of Academy Awards, however it skillfully looked the other way concerning so much of his behavior. That seems to continue to be a direction we are going concerning our military today. Only as I began to read in depth about his life, did I realize he might have been a brilliant man, a great strategist thinker, but he was a commander without honor, who committed war crimes, and he was not much of human being either.  He was an abusive criminal who should have been relieved of duty and prosecuted for his crimes.   We failed then, let us not fail now.  Let us examine each leader, and require of all leaders honor in every decision.  As our government grants to these individuals the power to send our sons and daughters to their deaths in defense of our country, let us fulfill our sacred duty to them to provide leadership worthy of following.  

Patton was born into a family of wealth and  privilege with a long history of Military Service, and after completing his education at West Point, he first served in combat with the Poncho Villa Expedition.  As I have studied the life of Patton, I have realized he probably  suffered from some mental illness, and I think he was totally devoid of  character.  


Certainly he was a very difficult person for his family to live with between wars, and I am certain they suffered emotionally because of it.  He had a blood lust for war, he enjoyed war, and climbing the career ladder was easier during a war.  I found he had no regard for any of the troops under him, especially those suffering PTSD.  Wounded himself in WWI, he had also had little respect for those who served along side of him on the battle field during The Great War.  He demonstrated just what disdain he held the common Soldier in one of the events in our military history we would rather forget.

In 1932 Patton, as a major, was along with General MacArthur, and his aide-de-camp, Major Eisenhower, when MacArthur was sent to break up a demonstration by WWI veterans who were demanding their bonus as promised for their service.  They were marching on Washington, along with their wives and children.  People were going hungry in massive numbers across our country during the Great Depression, and 1932 was at the height of that ordeal.

Patton was mounted on a horse, as he was serving in a cavalry unit, when he confronted the group of veterans.  Twice he charged at the people on his horse with no regard for the women and children, and on his second charge he targeted Joe Angelo, who had served as his orderly, and had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for saving Patton's life during WWI.  Patton viewed these veterans protesting peacefully in Washington D.C. as communists or, "Reds,"as he called them. 

Patton loved to pontificate, and had 
done so to his troops before they marched to meet the protestors.  He said, "If you must fire do a good job... a few casualties become martyrs, a large number an object lesson.  When a mob starts to move, keep it on the run... Use a bayonet to encourage its retreat.  If they are running a few good wounds in the buttocks will encourage them.  If they resist, they must be killed."   MacArthur defied a direct order from President Hoover, when he pursued the protestors out of the District of Columbia to their encampment where he burned  it to the ground.  After the attack, Joe Angelo tried to meet with Patton. In his pompous rhetoric, Patton announced, "I do not know this man. Take him away and under no circumstances permit him to return."   Patton wasn't a great commander, he was in great need of mental health services, he should have never been promoted again... but he was.

He had made Brigadere General by 1940 as the drums of war beat in the distance.  He led troops all over the world, and then in Italy as he commanded the 45th Division, seventy-three Italian prisoners were executed by his Soldiers.  General Omar Bradley wanted two of the Soldiers to face a general court-martial, for premeditated murder. However, they asserted they were only obeying the direct 0rders of General Patton.  They quoted him as saying"The more prisoners we took, the more we'd have to feed, and not to fool with prisoners."  The good ole boy network kicked in, and in order to protect Patton from being charged with war crimes,  Bradley dropped the whole thing.  

 Patton made a habit of visiting the military hospitals in theater.  I don't know what his true reason was, I can only speculate, but it was not to support those serving under him.  On the third of August of 1943, he visited the 15th Evacuation Hospital.  There was a private there who had been admitted suffering from "shellshock," as they called PTSD during WWII.  Charles H. Kuhl, when Patton asked him why he had been admitted, replied "I guess I can't take it."  Patton responded by slapping his face with a glove, raising him to his feet by his shirt collar, and kicking him out of the tent.  Patton sent a memo out to all commanders in the 7th Army, which he was "commanding" at the time.   It read, "It has come to my attention that a very small number of Soldiers are going to the hospital on the pretext that they are nervously incapable of combat. Such men are cowards and bring discredit on the army and disgrace to their comrades, whom they heartlessly leave to endure the dangers of battle while they, themselves, use the hospital as a means of escape. You will take measures to see that such cases are not sent to the hospital but are dealt with in their units. Those who are not willing to fight will be tried by court-martial for cowardice in the face of the enemy."

On the tenth of August, the General visited the 93rd Evacuation Hospital and once again found a private, Paul Bennett, an artilleryman with the 13th Field Artillery Brigade.  Again Patton asked the Soldier what the problem was, and he replied, "it's my nerves, I can't stand the shelling anymore."  In a blind rage Patton screamed, "Your nerves. Hell, you are just a goddamned coward, you yellow son of a bitch. Shut up that goddamned crying. I won't have these brave men here who have been shot seeing a yellow bastard sitting here crying. You're a disgrace to the Army and you're going back to the front to fight, although that's too good for you. You ought to be lined up against a wall and shot. In fact, I ought to shoot you myself right now, God damn you!"  With that comment, he took out his pistol and waved it in the man's face, Colonel Donald E. Currier, a physician in the hospital had to get in between the two men, because Patton then punched the man in the head twice.  Patton was a racist and an anti-Semitic, which was rather paradoxical, considering one of the reasons we fought was to free the Jews held in concentration camps in Nazi Germany.  In fact, Patton's politics agreed more with the Nazi platform, and would surface again and again during WWII.  "Battle fatigue," Patton claimed was a fake concept thought up by Jewish psychiatrists, because they were "predominant in the Jewish faith."

 


















The private's doctor sent a report to the Seventh Army's General Eisenhower, and to four reporters who were attached to the Seventh Army. His striking of the man was a court martial  event, but again, the good ole boy's club came to the rescue, and everyone was asked to keep it quiet by Eisenhower, and they did.  The remark was made by one reporter that there were,"at least 50,000 American soldiers on Sicily who would shoot Patton if they had the chance."

These interactions with Soldiers took place while Patton was in Italy commanding the 7th, and yet another atrocity took place as he commanded there. Patton was an anti-Semite, which was revealed after his death with the publishing of his diaries.  Patton would not allow Jewish chaplains at his camps.  He actually embraced the beliefs of Nazi Germany including the superiority of the "Nordic race," more than the ideals of his own country. In fact, in Morocco after Allied Forces had "taken" Morocco he convinced Eisenhower  to leave the Moroccan Jews held there in forced labor camps.  He was convinced they were involved in a conspiracy to take over Morocco.
 

With the Nazi regime defeated in 1945 and Germany in ruins, and as Eisenhower was still under the influence of his long friendship with Patton, he allowed Patton's anti-Semitism to set the tone for army policies and behavior toward the Jewish survivors of Nazi death camps.  In the DP camps, (Displaced Persons,)  where they had been moved in the American Occupation Zone, conditions really were not much better for those still suffering in these camps. Patton publicly denounced Jewish occupants as "animals" and "a sub-human species without any of the cultural or social refinements of our time."   Somehow Patton obtained an original copy of the 1935 Nurenburg Laws and he smuggled them out of Germany and made a gift of the documents to the Huntington Library, requesting that the Library keep the gift a secret, and so no official record was kept of his "gift."

After reveling in the rush of conducting war all during WWII, Patton was made governor of  Bavaria, and he allowed Nazis to remain in the positions they had created for themselves upon invading the country.  In his narcissism, which had grown exponentially during war,  he declared to a press conference, "This Nazi thing. It's just like a Democratic-Republican election fight."  A liaison for President Hoover reported back to him after inspecting the DP camps under Patton's watch, "we are treating them no better than the Nazis did."  Finally someone had the nerve to remove him from a position when the outrage rose up from our citizens, but he was then given the command of the 15th.  Patton's power and rule in the United States Army ended when he was injured in a wreck, just a day before he was scheduled to return to the States.  

He was paralyzed from the neck down.  You know God takes revenge for corruption and abuse of power if no one else does.  General George Patton the III,  died of an embolism on December 21st, of 1945, and stepped out into eternity to answer to his Maker.  I promise you, no honor is made of his life whee he resides now.

General Patton did not serve from love of his country, he served from love of power, and the rush of abusing it.  He clearly declared that himself with words  from him which I posted at the beginning of this writing. When I was touring the White House recently, I saw a famous painting of General Patton hanging there.  I do not feel that this honor is due to this man, in consideration of how he lived his life.  Perhaps we have the attributes of leadership in our military that we do, because of who and what we honor.  General Patton should have been tried as war criminal, he ordered the slaughter of 73 people, in order not to have to feed them.  

I have always realized something about rats, for every rat you see, there are fifty you don't.  I do not believe our history will ever know of all the evils committed by General Patton.  Paying honor to this man. a graduate of West Point,  who was no more than a vicious mercenary, must confuse the young cadets as they study there.  Where do we begin to change the climate present in our military, the influence which seems to prevail to the level that some of those serving commit crimes, and do so without fear of accountability?  I believe it begins with what ideals and leaders we honor.  Meanwhile, our present leadership scratches their collective heads, and passes out hand sanitizer in order to change a command climate where sexual assault is common  How about taking that painting of General Patton out of the place of honor where it now hangs, and putting it in a closet, hidden away.  Or moving it to a dark museum somewhere, with a sign posted that says, "This is not what we want." 

"Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful."

 Samuel Johnson
Rasselas, ch. 41

Another of My Favorite Rooms

When I first told Randy I wanted to paint a bedroom purple he raised an eyebrow, and said, "Debra, this is a ranch..."  I told him, "trust me," and he did.  He likes the room too, but it is mainly a room for the grand-daughters, they fight over who will get to stay in what has become called, "the carrousel room."

I keep the little carrousel on top of the  armoire, so it cannot be explored by little hands that might not understand how fragile it is.

I bought the little carrousel on sale a Lowes about 20 years back at Christmas time, and the little figurines are from the Dollar Store.  I have had them as long as I have had the carrousel.  All of the little children portrayed by the figurines are looking up, and when I saw them, I knew they were perfect accent pieces, as they are perfectly proportioned.





The bed is an antique reproduction I bought when we moved to the ranch. I made the form which holds the dressing above the bed.  The floral print is another of my favorite possessions.

There is a couch in this bedroom as well.  and it is very comfortable, and when you have enough company, three of the grand-children can sleep in this room.

I love this antique chest I bought for $25.  That old gilded mirror is so heavy I like to have never gotten it hung.  The closet is built out into the room, so it makes a nice little niche for this little table and lamp.

The print  hanging above it was a gift from my oldest daughter Amie.  It is a favorite of mine.  As you can tell the purple is a very soft color, and I think it works well in the room.

                
This photo of the couch with the puzzle put together and framed above it is in exactly the colors to compliment the room and the rest of its furnishings, but looks a little too blue in this photo.  The puzzle is a mural of carrousel horses in different shade of blue and purple.

The rug beside the bed was a gift from Randy from Afghanistan which for that reason, I truly love. 

Above the closet there is space where I can display items, and that is what makes all the grand-daughters love this room so.  I have placed a small collection of vintage dolls and bears there, along with another piece that goes with the theme of this room.  It is a horse from an old miniature carrousel.

This room too is one I love to clean and make ready for Randy's home coming and the company we will be having.  Children and women love staying in this room, especially those with a child's heart. 

My Kingdom for A Plan

I have posted this on my other blogs, but this is so important I have to avail myself of every opportunity to share this information, and help to create a debate of these issues that might be taken to the ears of those who govern us.

The world is talking about what is to be done in response to the neuro toxins used in Syria. I hope that in making a plan to deal with this situation, which must not be allowed to go unchecked, a long term plan, which considers all scenarios, is carefully and thoroughly thought out. Already diagrams are out on the evening news detailing exactly what the attacks will hit, exactly what resources they plan to take out, and other details of attacks that will be made.  (Personally, I don't understand this tactic of informing the enemy, of what will be targeted, and with what.  There might be some part of the plan they haven't figured out.)  There are so many considerations to make.  There are so many players in this game.  

Iraq borders on one side, and sectarian conflict is currently tearing the country apart, and unrest is nearing a boiling point as Shiite-Sunni factions are bringing the country to the brink of civil war.  Already Iraq has been impacted by the situation in Syria, with refugees from Syria pouring over their borders.  Another note here, refugees from Iran also pour over the borders.  Not only do they pour over the borders, but elite troops from Iran follow them, and attack the refugee camps set up for them in Iraq, murdering the escaped citizens as an object lesson for all would be defectors.

Since we are talking about Iran, who has a powerful supporter let's examine how they may view an attack.  Surely if a military strike takes place in Syria, Iran will react, and it won't be for their stated objective at the time.  It will be to protect their territorial advantage, because Syria can at this point easily be over run by Iranian forces, in order to keep access to the coast through Qusayr and Homs.  Of course their nemesis, and hated enemy, Israel is a straight shot through Syria as well.  Lebanon is also of interest to Iran, and there are Shiite-Sunni tensions in that country as well.  Those tensions will easily be manipulated by Iran, in order to achieve their aims.

While Iran has Russia as their buddy, Russian officials are indicating they aren't going to go to war over Syria for anybody... but what will happen if Syria is over-run by Iran, and they gain control of the country?  How could that change the game?  Now some serious nukes could become involved.

Let's talk about Hezbollah, and Iran could just "hire" them to do all their dirty work.  That is when the finger pointing and suppositions and denials will really start.  When Hezbollah factions attack Israel, Iran can claim they have nothing to do with it.

It is clear that Hezbollah has some serious weaponry now, I won't go into where they got it.  No matter what their gig is in Syria now, their main goal is to protect Iran's nukes.  If an organization wants to use nukes against any  Western or European targets, the most likely of all donators would be Iran.

Of course another way to destabilize the region and allow Iran their access is to increase those sectarian problems, which are already a serious threat in Iraq, the possibility of a civil war already appears to be cooking on the front burner.

Now that brings me to consider just what the use of WMD in Syria means to my country, and ponder where all of this will lead.  WMD, now where have I heard that term before?