tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1185219031783989911.post1588126095475948550..comments2023-12-23T02:16:43.463-08:00Comments on "Rational Preparedness" : The Blog: We Need More Russian Speakers, and More Russian Speaking Intelligence AnalystsJaneofVirginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320442534060401465noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1185219031783989911.post-86281799148975306472013-04-22T04:06:32.078-07:002013-04-22T04:06:32.078-07:00It's amazing how much we learn by the example ...It's amazing how much we learn by the example of our parents. We learn very good things sometimes, like my habit of not smoking, etc. and sometimes bad things that they may intentionally or unintentionally convey. Fond wishes,JaneofVirginiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15320442534060401465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1185219031783989911.post-37698364333510756032013-04-21T19:11:57.498-07:002013-04-21T19:11:57.498-07:00Your reply gave me priceless insights into my fear...Your reply gave me priceless insights into my fear of traveling - even to the grocery store! As you know, my mother had munchausen by proxy. What I neglected to mention was she always made me sick whenever my dad mentioned taking a vacation and 'going somewhere'.<br /><br />Hence, HER fear transferred to me on two levels: <br /><br />I knew she feared leaving the house.<br /><br /><i>I</i> always ended up sick on in the hospital when the word "travel", "vacation" and "let's go somewhere" was said.<br /><br />Gee. It's only taken a lifetime for me to buy a clue and I owe it to YOU, dear friend.lotta joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12742978845913126675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1185219031783989911.post-44946926947929211402013-04-21T04:26:28.221-07:002013-04-21T04:26:28.221-07:00Thanks Lotta Joy,
Both my parents were world t...Thanks Lotta Joy,<br /> Both my parents were world travelers, in fact my Dad was an actual explorer, so that example was set for me when I was small. I had been to England and back three times by age eleven. I think if our parents take us early, that we adapt to travel easily. However, I don't enjoy travel to the degree to which my parents did. I can only travel when there is something specific that I am going somewhere to do. Then I put up with the annoyances and inherent uncertainties of travel.<br /> I have no plans to travel outside the US or Canada in the future. Interestingly, other than taking my daughter to England with me in 2001, my children have traveled very little. They preferred to stay on the farm or travel locally.<br /> My mother in law was agoraphobic, and I understand a bit about that. It's funny because she was so brave across the board in every other respect, yet fearful of errands many people do every day. I think we don't get to choose where God gives us our courage for things.JaneofVirginiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15320442534060401465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1185219031783989911.post-48243333897911603512013-04-20T20:14:30.742-07:002013-04-20T20:14:30.742-07:00My goodness, Jane. You have been so many places: ...My goodness, Jane. You have been so many places: places I would fear to go. You have lived a life that astounds an agoraphobic person! Keep going lady. You have a ton of chapters ahead of you.lotta joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12742978845913126675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1185219031783989911.post-6537461510206962912013-04-20T18:53:21.177-07:002013-04-20T18:53:21.177-07:00Thanks Linda, I learned to speak Russian between ...Thanks Linda, I learned to speak Russian between 1999 and 2000, for a trip in 2001. It is an interesting and challenging language particularly with the Cyrillic lettering system. It is not easily acquired, and so I would rather that people began gradually and spent time learning it.JaneofVirginiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15320442534060401465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1185219031783989911.post-71549646541083192522013-04-20T17:10:05.414-07:002013-04-20T17:10:05.414-07:00Interesting observation, Jane.Interesting observation, Jane.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991571309786149363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1185219031783989911.post-18875510936216666652013-04-20T10:13:16.292-07:002013-04-20T10:13:16.292-07:00It may not, but not having prepared Russian intell...It may not, but not having prepared Russian intelligence analysts could be a terrible mistake for the US that could cost lives.JaneofVirginiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15320442534060401465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1185219031783989911.post-64803064067394816782013-04-20T10:11:46.791-07:002013-04-20T10:11:46.791-07:00Kymber, Thank you so much for your interesting...Kymber, Thank you so much for your interesting and very complete comment. In 2001-2002 when I was in Russia I was searched a couple of times while ENTERING department stores. They were very polite but I wondered why they seemed to single me out. I thought that it was after 9-11, but eventually a security officer told me why I kept getting selected. He said a Russian woman wears as tight a coat as possible, and as high a heel on her boot as she can tolerate. He said, you are wearing a loose black coat and low boots, which concerns us that you might be a Chechen ! I had noticed that women of any age there try to look very sexy. I was trying to tone that down ! When I told them I was American, they said, "Can't be ! They wear pink track suits with sneakers and curlers in their hair " LOL.JaneofVirginiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15320442534060401465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1185219031783989911.post-65225539455676239182013-04-20T09:57:52.666-07:002013-04-20T09:57:52.666-07:00I believe that Arab oil money is behind so much of...I believe that Arab oil money is behind so much of our politics that suggestions such as yours will never be given any attention, no matter how practical.Gorges Smythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08777621500611603786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1185219031783989911.post-67679330757434299312013-04-20T07:39:33.296-07:002013-04-20T07:39:33.296-07:00Jane - as a former intel analyst and later a commu...Jane - as a former intel analyst and later a communications specialist (UN certified Level III Korean Linguist) in the Canadian Forces, i can't state enough how much your post is spot on. when i first joined the CF, there were hundreds of Russian linguists, many of whom were trained dialect-specific, that were getting re-training in Arabic and Farsi, as well as Far Eastern languages such as my specialty. i joined right at the end of the cold war and these Russian linguists were redundant at the time. considering how many years have passed since 1989, you can be certain that they are now retired. speaking from experience and knowledge, you can be certain that the CF, US, UK and Aussie Russian qualified linguists have most certainly all been retired by now. Russia begged for help regarding the Chechen problem that they were experiencing many, many years ago. the West turned a blind eye. the Chechen "rebel" problem was reported in our western MSM as some riff-raff or whatever. most sheeple believed it. certainly no one in the MSM ever thought that a giant group of Muslim extremists who happened to live in Russia would ever be a problem for us. <br /><br />what else to say without divulging classified intel? we are in trouble in regards to this latest Chechen threat in the US. apparently the 2 identified suspects have family in Canada. sleeper cells anyone?<br /><br />excellent post Jane. and please remember that although i read all of them, i only comment when i think that i have something to add.<br /><br />all of our love to you and yours always, your friend,<br />kymber<br />kymberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02607117635648274823noreply@blogger.com