The Carmichael branch of Delta County, Colorado's Howard family

Myrtle Irene Howard , born September 3, 1877 in Castle Creek, Broome County, New York to Ira Howard Sr. and his wife Anna. In the autumn of 1887, the Howard family took the “shanty train” West, settling in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. It is not known when the Howard family became Seventh-Day Adventists, but from the early years of living in Colorado they were active in the Adventist church in Monte Vista and Delta. The Howard family has always been a close-knit, loving farm family.

Jackson (“Jack”) Ellsworth Carmichael  was born on October 11, 1864 in Jefferson, Noble County, Ohio. Prior to 1894 Jack and his parents, David and Sarah Carmichael, moved to Colorado and located in Rio Grande County.

Jack’s father, David L. Carmichael, was born in Virginia , circa 1824. His mother, Sarah Miller, was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania on May 6, 1827 . In 1844, the Miller family moved to Ohio, and two years later, in 1846 , she married David Carmichael. Together they had seven children. In 1895, Sarah was baptised as a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and remained a faithful and devoted member until her death. David died in Monte Vista between 1900  and 1910. Sarah moved with her son Jack and daughter-in-law Myrtle to the Read / Austin / Cory vicinity of Delta County in the spring of 1911. Sarah passed away on March 4, 1913, at the age of 86 in Delta County,  Colorado. Sarah was survived by her four sons: Jacob, Joseph , Jasper , and Jackson. Collectively the siblings were known as the “4Js”.

Joseph was a mining engineer had convinced Jack to become a partner in a gold mine, the “Lone Pine”, near Prescott, Arizona. There were several occasions when Jack would go down to Arizona and help work on the mine. Glen Edward Carmichael, Jack’s grandson, even got in on this small scale mining operation in the 1980s. The mine is no longer in the Carmichael family, as the other partners wanted to sell out. Today, the area where the “Lone Pine” once operated, there is now paved roads, powerlines, and multimillion dollar homes. Joseph Carmichael had been mining in South America and returned to Dade County, Florida, where he resided at the time. He had written his brother Jack to tell him about his investments and assets, but the next letter the family received was from the local sheriff, saying his body had been found at the railyard and he was penniless.

Jack Carmichael was a stone mason and in 1907 he advertised for Echoes from the Field: “Wanted, two brick moulders and several other men to work in a brick yard, beginning May 5; wages, from $2.50 to S4.50 per day. Address J. E. Carmichael, Monte Vista, Colo. – J.E. Carmichael.”  In 1911, Jack built the Howard family home at Read.

On July 9, 1895, Myrtle Howard married Jack Carmichael in Monte Vista, Colorado. It was not long before the newly formed union began to bear fruit.

On March 19, 1896, Carl Clemet Carmichael was born in Monte Vista.  Carl married Gladys Adonna Johnston in Cory, Colorado on March 12, 1922.  Gladys was born on January 28, 1900 in Madison, Nebraska, and died on May 6, 1983 in Yuba City, Sutter County, California. Carl passed away on April 19, 1986 in Marysville, Yuba County, California.  They had a daughter, Gladys “Euline” Carmichael Epperson, who was born on January 18, 1923 in Cory, Colorado; she died on June 4, 1987 in Yuba City, California.

Ray Luther Carmichael  was born next. It should be noted that Ray’s 1918 WWI Draft registration card lists his date of birth as March 3, 1898 and his age as 20, however his tombstone in the Delta Cemetery has his date of birth as March 3, 1900. This is corroborated by his obituary, which listed the birth year as 1900.  The mystery is further complicated by the fact that Ray is listed as having turned 2 years old at his last birthday on the US Census of 1900, which would place his year of birth in 1898.  On September 4, 1926, Ray married Odell Elone Henson  in Grand Junction;  the licence indicates Ray was 26 at the time and Odell was 18 years old. Odell was born on November 15, 1908 and passed away on September 11, 1997  in Delta.  Ray passed away on January 23, 1986  in Delta.  Odell had been long time member of the Delta Seventh-Day Adventist Church. In later life, Odell’s daughter, Sylvia Griffith, and son-in-law, Jim Griffith  also came.

The third son was Fred Jackson Carmichael, born on May 1, 1905 in Monte Vista. He passed away on June 11, 1982  in Montrose, Colorado. Fred married Elva (or Elma) Fay Wear on March 23, 1934 in Moab, Utah. Elva was born on March 23, 1913 in Delta County, Colorado. She passed away on May 25, 1977  in Montrose County. Fred and Elva are interred at the Grand View Cemetery in Montrose.

The youngest son was Glen Howard Carmichael, who was born on September 11, 1910 in Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colorado. Glen passed away on June 26, 1994 in Delta, Colorado.  On October 15, 1931, Glen married Dottis Estelle Wear in Delta. The Wear family moved to Delta County between 1907 and 1910 from Texas.  Dottis was born in Delta on April 18, 1911 and passed away on April 25, 2006.  Glen and Dottis were long time members of the Delta Seventh-Day Adventist Church. They had one son, Glen Edward Carmichael, who retired as the production manager of Hi-Quality produce packing in Delta.

Even though the Jack Carmichael family began in the San Luis Valley in 1895, sometime between the autumns of 1898 and 1899, the Carmichaels embarked beyond the Continental Divide, settling in the lower Gunnison Valley in Delta County. During the 1900 Census, the Carmichaels were renting a farm and house in Eckert, an unincorporated village in the Surface Creek Valley, comprised of a post office, several stores, and numerous fruit orchards. By at least 1906, the Carmichaels were back in the San Louis Valley. During the 1910 Census, the Carmichaels are back in Monte Vista, Colorado.

The Carmichaels must have advocated quite persuasively that Delta County was the place to be, as by the spring of 1911 the Howards had purchased a farm in Read, Colorado from Harry Trail. The contract for the real estate was signed on May 13, 1911 and recorded on June 19, 1911. The owners listed on the Read farm warranty deed were Anna Howard and Amelia Hayes. Immediately after the closing, Ira Sr. and his son, Ira Jr. (Myrtle’s brother), along with Jack Carmichael (who was a stone mason), built the stone house at Read, which was home to the Howards from 1911-1962, when they moved to 10 Hartig Drive in Delta. Echoes from the Field reported on October 4, 1911, “Brother and Sister Carmichael and Sister Wade of Monte Vista have recently moved to Delta. Brother Oosterhous and wife plan to move there soon. This leaves the Company at Monte Vista rather small now, but we believe that others may be found at that place who will take their stand for the truth.”

The Jack Carmichael family rented the home and farm located adjacent  to where Roy and Marjorie (Howard) Long lived on the hill above the Gunnison River.  The modern day address of the place the Carmichaels rented is 8383 Marshalls Road, Austin, Colorado. The 1920 and 1930 Census indicates they were renting here, though it is not exactly known when the letting began or concluded. As of 2017, the home they rented is still there and owned by the Randall Shepard family.  The house was built in 1904.

The Carmichaels raised their family in the newly formed town of Orchard City.  Eventually the family moved to California Mesa and then Delta. Myrtle Howard Carmichael passed away on October 24, 1940 at the age of 63.  A fortnight later, on November 7, 1940, Jack and Myrtle’s niece, Orpha Mae (Howard) Miley passed away. This must have been a tough time for the Howard family.
On February 14, 1952, the patriarch of the family, Jack Carmichael, passed away.  He was 88 years old.  When Jack passed away, his obituary, published in the Central Union Reaper recognised him as one of the early members of the Colorado Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

A question which has persisted is when did the Howards become Seventh-Day Adventists? In a personal interview with Mabel Howard, niece of J.E. and Myrtle Carmichael, she recalled her “Uncle Jack and Aunt Myrt were devote Adventists, along with mama and grandpa [and others in the family].”  In 1898, it was reported in the Review and Herald that Elder Carmichael helped with an evangelistic series over in Cripple Creek.  In Echoes from the Field, dated September 12, 1906, “Brother J. E. Carmichael writes that their church school has started out nicely at Monte Vista. Miss Bayliss of College View is their teacher.”  In 1908, Jack Carmichael was a delegate to the General Conference and Central Union Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist.  At the Conference, Jack Carmichael was granted a ministerial license to be employed with church work in the field.  It appears Jack preached and was part of a spiritual weekend at the La Veta SDA Church in 1909.  La Veta is a statutory town in Huerfano County, Colorado and has had a post office by the same name since 1876. As of this writing, La Veta had roughly 700 inhabitants, roughly the same as when J.E. Carmichael and family would have visited in 1909. In 1913, J.E Carmichael was again granted a ministerial licence, this time for the Western Colorado Conference.

In reviewing the family archieves, it is amazing how many post cards they sent each other, especially when Jack and Myrtle were attending Seventh-Day Adeventist Confrences. One post card was from Iva Mae Oosterhous to Myrtie Carmichael telling them they had arrived safely in Montrose and were looking forward to seeing [President] Taft.

The August 3, 1922 issue of the Review and Herald featured a poem written by Jack Carmichael.  (see insert on previous page). In the early 1940s, Jack became blind. After prior to 1940, Jack and Myrtle, who lived at 215 Howard Street, Delta at the time, moved down the street to live with their son and daughter-in-law, Glen and Dottis Carmichael. A rope was tied from the back door of the house to the carriage house and corral in the back yard, where a milk cow was kept. Every morning, Jack would follow the rope and milk the cow. Jack enjoyed holding and spending time with his grandson, Glen Edward Carmichael, who was born in 1940, the same year Myrtle passed away. Jack passed away in 1952.

Glen Carmichael worked as a sugar beet foreman for many years and then went to work for the union. He eventually became a labour negotiator, travelling around the nation helping negotiate collective bargaining agreements and contracts. The Carmichaels moved to 224 Park Street on Garnet Mesa Hill, next to Dottis’ parents’ home in 1950. Dottis’ dad, Mr. Wear, ran a blacksmith shop behind the house until it burnt down one night. Glen Edward recalls the time he and the neighbour kids built and underground fort and covered it with sticks and branches. “Later that night grandpa came home from his Oddfellows meeting and crashed into the fort. We never heard the end of it.”

In Delta, Colorado: the first 100 years, by Deborah Doherty, Glen Carmichael was interviewed about the Holly Sugar Factory and World War II. “The sugar factory was considered a priority commodity and the workers at the Holly Sugar plant in Delta were deferred when their names came up for the draft. Since its operation was seasonal, however, many of the temporary employees were drafted by the government to work during their off months at a military base in Utah.”

Glen Carmichael leased and managed the old airport from Starr Nelson’s heirs after World War II. He ran Veteran’s Training Programs which were funded by the federal government, as well as private aviation classes. These activities continued when Carmichael moved the operations to Blake Field in the late 1960s. Glen leased a hanger and continued the flight school. In 1968, responsibility of the airport finally became the sole concern of the county government. Carmichael served as airport manager for about eight years. He later partnered with businessman Tim Arnett and opened the Delta Discount Center in 1976.

Carmichael was the founder of Delta’s Civil Air Patrol and formed a search and rescue team, with Glen as the commanding officer. The old Armoury Building, erecting shortly after WWI, served as the Air Patrol’s headquarters and saw many well-disciplined youngsters learn technical aspects of flying, shooting, how to spot dangerous situations, archery, and the use of Geiger counters, and other technical instruments. The Civil Air Patrol was very active during the Cold War.

Glen and Dottis raised two bob cats. They also had a big Siamese cat that rode with them everywhere they went, even to church! Its name was Pauline and could stand with its back legs on the floor and place her front paws on Dottis’ shoulders. Even though Dottis was only about five feet tall, a cat who could do that was still a pretty big cat.

Glen Edward and Dori managed fruit ranches from 1964-70, then managed the airport. Glen later was the production manager at Hi-Quality, one of the last fruit packing sheds in Delta County.

Timeline details Marijuana votes and regulations (Delta County, Colorado)

2000 Amendment 20: Medical Marijuana

Cannabis / Marijuana Plant.
Image KVNF/2012

            Colorado’s General Assembly referred Amendment 20 to the voters for the November 2000failed in Delta County, with 60.34% of the electorate voting against the referred measure. Orchard City largely followed the county results, with 59.78% voting against the referred measure.
election. While the amendment passed with 53.5% of the vote state-wide, the amendment overwhelmingly

            Amendment 20 is codified in article XVIII, section 14 of the Colorado Constitution and provides legalized limited amounts of medical marijuana for patients and their primary caregivers. An informal rule between the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Drug Enforcement Agency limited primary caregivers to five patients.

            Amendment 20 has a provision whereby people who need marijuana for medical purposes may obtain the drug free of charge.

2006 Amendment 44: Recreational Marijuana

            The first attempt to legalise recreation marijuana was brought before the Colorado electorate in November 2006. Amendment 44 failed state-wide with 58.92% voting no. In Delta County, 68.78% voted against legalising marijuana for recreational purposes. In Orchard City, 75.15% of the voters said no to decriminalising marijuana for recreational purposes.

If passed, Amendment 44 would have changed state law to allow people over 21 to possess an ounce or less of marijuana without legal penalty. Colorado at the time had a law which imposed $100 fine for simple possession of an ounce or less.

2009 CO Dept of Public Health & Environment caregiver limit rejected

           

            In July 2009, the Colorado Board of Health, by one vote, rejected the adoption of limiting caregivers to a max of five patients. The failure to adopt this formal rule effectively approved the dispensary model for Colorado.

2009 First Medical Marijuana Dispensary opens in Orchard City

            In July 2009, following the failure of the Health Department to adopt the five patient rule, the Grand Mesa Herbal Dispensary, LLC, becomes the first retail medical marijuana dispensary to open in Orchard City.

            At the time, “the LLC’s registered agent, Jay, told the DCI. ‘I was asked by a local oncologist to start the dispensary,’ When asked about the town’s proposed moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries, Jay said, “I’ve lived here (in Orchard City) 17 years, We all know this is a conservative area. I have a license. My plan was to open a location in Telluride. Telluride is an adult town, and I thought they would legalize it (marijuana) there the way Breckenridge did.’”

2009 Ogden Memorandum

            On October 19, 2009, Deputy United States Attorney General, David W. Ogden, issued a memorandum to prosecutors and federal agents saying it was not the policy of the Obama Administration to prosecute medical marijuana patients and caregivers who are in compliance with state law. The effect of the Ogden Memorandum was the “Green Rush” and medical marijuana dispensaries businesses popping up all over Colorado, including Orchard City.

2009 Moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries (Orchard City)

Orchard City adopted its first moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries on November 18, 2009. The moratorium was for 180 days to provide the town the ability to research and discuss the issue.

2010 Ext Moratorium on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries (Orchard City)

In May 2010, Ordinance 2010-03 was adopted by Orchard City Trustees which extended the 2009 moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries.

Between the two moratoriums, “Grand Mesa Herbal Dispensary, moved and expanded its operation from a sequestered site on Fruitgrowers road to a highly visible location on Highway 65.  The town's moratorium had not included any prohibition against existing marijuana dispensaries expanding their operations.”

2011 Orchard City bans medical marijuana facilities

On July 1, 2011, Orchard City Trustees formally banned medical marijuana facilities.

2011 Delta (City) Referred Measure A

            In July 2011, the City of Delta held a special election to consider whether an ordinance to prohibit medical marijuana businesses from operating from within the jurisdiction of the city. The referred measure passed with 68% voting for the prohibition of medical marijuana businesses.

           

2012 Amendment 64: Recreational Marijuana

            In 2012 a super majority of Coloradoans, 55%, voted to legalise personal use and regulation of marijuana. The amendment provides for licensing of cultivation facilities, product manufacturing facilities, testing facilities, and retail stores. Local governments have the authority to regulate or prohibit such facilities.

            In Delta County, voters soundly rejected Amendment 64, voting 55.8% against legalisation. Precincts 9 and 10, which are the Town of Orchard City, voted 60% against legalising of cannabis.

2013 Ordinances prohibiting retail pot passed by every municipality in Delta County

            In the summer of 2013, Orchard City trustees approved Ordinance 2013-01, prohibiting retail marijuana, which had been under draft and revision form since November 2012. At the public hearing to consider whether to adopt the ordinance, only one member of the public spoke against prohibiting retail marijuana. The other members of the public were adamantly for prohibiting retail sales within the town limits. The ordinance passed unanimously.

            The ordinance prohibits commercial marijuana cultivation, product manufacturing, testing facilities, and retail marijuana stores. Crawford, Cedaredge, Delta, Hotchkiss and Paonia also adopted similar ordinances during 2013.

            In August 2013, the Hotchkiss Town Council enacted an ordinance which banned commercial marijuana enterprises from entering the town’s jurisdiction. The ordinance also carried a criminal penalty for violating the commercial prohibition of a fine of $999 and not more than one year in the county jail.

            Delta’s City Council, in mid-August 2013, also voted unanimously to “opt-out” of Amendment 64 and prohibit retail sales. Within the City of Delta, 56% of the population voted against the amendment and in 2011, 68% of the population had voted locally to prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries.

2013 Proposition AA: Taxes on the Sale of Marijuana

            In November 2013, 65.27% of Coloradoans overwhelmingly approved a taxing measure to treat recreational cannabis like any other business. The General Assembly referred proposition implements a 15 percent marijuana excise tax, plus a 10 percent state sales tax.

            The tax was a bit less popular in Delta County than around the state, as 57.42% of the citizens voted in favour of Proposition AA.

2014 Paonia Ballot Questions 2B and 2C

            In November of 2014, voters in Paonia were asked whether the town should establish and operate a retail marijuana cultivation facility (2B) and whether the town could tax the unprocessed retail marijuana and amend the tax as an increase or decrease, not to exceed a total local tax of 10% (2C).

            In Paonia, 53% of the voters rejected Question 2B and 62% voted for Question 2C. After the vote, many attributed the rejection to a campaign launched by a group of high school and middle school students. The students walked door-to-door campaigning against Question 2B.

2015 Proposition BB: Marijuana TABOR Refund Measure

            Colorado law required the vote because the revenue exceeded the initial estimate. The overall revenue was more than voters approved for a marijuana tax in 2013. TABOR requires a projection to be made in a tax’s first year. The voters, with 69.39% voting in favour, allowed the state keep a surplus in pot tax revenue. The measure allowed Colorado to keep $66 million in surplus revenue. The vast majority of these monies will be used for schools.

            Delta County voted 63% in favour of allowing the state to keep the excess collected.

2016 Hotchkiss Ballot Issue 2A

            In April 2016, Hotchkiss voters considered whether to allow medical marijuana centers, optional cultivation operations, and possible sale of medical marijuana –infused products within the town’s jurisdiction.

            Ballot measure 2A was rejected by the voters, with 54% voting against allowing medical marijuana dispensaries and the optional cultivation operations.

2017 Proposed licencing of commercial cultivation and retail dispensaries

            On February 1, 2017, the Orchard City Trustees held a work session where the topic was means to enhance the town’s revenue stream. The trustees stressed the town was not going broke in the short term, but medium and long term forecasts predicted significant budgetary shortfalls. Trustee Dick Kirkpatrick drafted a report which proposed among other alternatives the recommendation the town licence commercial cultivation operations and retail marijuana dispensaries. 
            Over 100 residences turned up for the work session and nearly two dozen publicly stated their opposition to commercial cultivation and retail marijuana operations. Those who expressed their opposition included the County Sheriff, a former naval officer, former trustees, business leaders, and retirees. Few spoke in favour  of marijuana, they included: marijuana industry representatives from Denver, locals who hoped to make their fortune in the “Green Rush”, and residents who saw revenue from marijuana licencing fees as a means to generate revenue without raising water fees or establishing a sales tax.   

UPDATE:

            The Orchard City Board of Trustees, during their Sept. 13, 2017 regular meeting, voted to rescind the decision to repeal the 2011 and 2013 prohibitions on medical and commercial marijuana businesses within the town limits.

            Also during the Sept. 13th regular meeting, the board voted to referrer three measures to the April 2018 ballot. Each of the three questions will ask voters a yes/no question about preferences for revenue generation. The three questions are: 1) implementing a sales tax in town; 2) implementing a property tax in town; and 3) allowing marijuana business that would produce tax revenue for town government.

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A version of this research was published in the Delta County Independent on 1 March 2017, Surface Creek Section.

West African piracy escalates

West Africa becomes the most dangerous waters for seafarers as piracy becomes more violent.

Nigerian Navy captures 6 pirates who hijacked & renamed a Saudi Arabian oil tanker.

Recently, for example, a training manoeuvre off the coast of West Africa turned into a real-life rescue mission. French embassy officials notified Ghanaian and US diplomats of a possible pirate ship loitering off Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The referenced ship was the Dubai-owned MT Maximus, which was leased to a South Korean firm, carrying a cargo of 4,700 tonnes of diesel fuel.

The MT Maximus had been hijacked on February 11th. Navy ships from the US, Ghana, Togo, and Nigeria shadowed the MT Maximus for 800 miles across the Gulf of Guinea until Nigerian Special Forces stormed aboard on February 20th. A firefight broke out and the Nigerian forces killed their first pirate ever during a boarding. Six pirates were captured and 18 seafarers were freed. Several pirates escaped in a skiff, along with two crewmen, who still remain held hostage for ransom.

This anecdote of the MT Maximus illustrates the successes and challenges posed by increased piracy activity in the Gulf of Guinea. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) reports that over 90% of the world’s trade is carried by sea. About 2-3% of all vessels broadcasting AIS globally, transit the Gulf of Guinea region annually, but 20% of all maritime crime occurs in the Gulf of Guinea.

Nigerian Rear Admiral Henry Babalola, recently commented, “International cooperation is the new

mantra for maritime security. We cannot go at it alone.” Admiral Babalola stressed the economic impact of piracy on the world; by pushing up maritime insurance, security, et cetera, all of which is ultimately passed on to the consumers.

While the percentage of International commercial shipping that transits through the Gulf of Guinea region may seem small, the total economic cost incurred by the International community, regional states, and the industry, through combatting or preventing piracy for the year 2015, was estimated at $719.6 million; the shipping industry has borne 61% of this cost.

Nigerian Rear Admiral Henry Babalola

In 2015, the European Union (EU) spent nearly $3.5 million (€3 million) on counter-piracy related activities in the Gulf of Guinea region. These projects included the Gulf of Guinea maritime transport support and the Critical Maritime Route in the Gulf of Guinea Project (CRIMGO). The EU is responsible for funding over 60% of all International counter-piracy efforts in the West African region.

For the first time in half a decade the United Nations Security Council, on 26 April 2016, sitting in New York City, dedicated a session to discussing Gulf of Guinea piracy and associated crimes.

H.E. Paul Menkveld, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the UN, said, “Illegal maritime activities in the Gulf of Guinea are not only a problem of West-African states. They are our problem as well. Because these activities harm regional trade and economic development. Because they hinder the flow of commerce between Europe and West-Africa and thus prosperity at a larger scale.”

In the first quarter of 2016, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) reported 6 successful attacks and 6 unsuccessful attacks by pirates off the coast of Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These latest figures highlight growing violence as 44 seafarers have been kidnapped, as of 27 April 2016. This is compared with 15 seafarers who were kidnapped in all of 2015.

On 3 May 2016, the US-based non-governmental organization, Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP), presented their sixth annual State of Maritime Piracy 2015 report in London at the United Kingdom Chamber of Shipping. Lead author, Matthew Walje, explained that the business model for West African pirates shifted in 2015 from theft, robbery, and hijack-for-theft to kidnap-for-ransom.

OBP’s report showed that the cooperative International efforts by the EU, the US, China, Russia, India, and Japan naval task forces of over two dozen vessels has reduced piracy off the coast of Somalia from 151 attacks in 2011 to 17 pirate attacks in 2015. Mr Walje urged caution, saying when the EU Naval Force concludes its task force in 2018, there needs to be a shift to capacity building, economic development within Somalia, and local maritime law enforcement, otherwise the conditions remain ripe for potential future hijackings, kidnappings, and ransom demands.

Southeast Asian piracy has seen spikes over the last 15 years, but regional states have proven capable of supressing piracy. In 2015, there were 199 reported instances of piracy in Southeast Asia, with 67% of those occurring near Malacca or the Straits of Singapore. A major decline occurred in the fourth quarter of 2015, as law enforcement began arresting and prosecuting pirate kingpins.

The International community has arrested and prosecuted hundreds of pirates from the Gulf of Aden and the Western Indian Ocean region, but the process is expensive and complex, not to mention the kingpins onshore continue to operate with near-complete impunity from the law. This scenario is especially true in the Niger Delta Region in West Africa, Mr Walje commented.

Unrest in the Niger Delta Region culminated when militants caused massive disruptions to the continent’s largest producer of crude oil. In 2009, an amnesty deal was reached with militants, which included huge cash payments to fighters. According to Daniel Alabrah, the programme’s spokesman, $1.2 billion (€1 billion) has been paid to some 30,000 militants.

States in the Gulf of Guinea are struggling to keep their seas under control. While lower oil prices have cut the costs of naval patrols and embankment teams in half, it has also meant a shift in the pirate business model from hijack-for-theft to kidnap-for-ransom.

In addition to lower oil prices and increased maritime law enforcement patrols, the 28 March 2015 Nigerian presidential elections were a catalyst for increased uncertainty. Incumbent Goodluck Jonathan, whose support came from the Niger Delta states, lost to General Muhammadu Buhari. Elections have been a powder keg, as the predominantly Muslim north, which is poorer than the southern, mainly Christian, Niger Delta, tends to align with opposing political parties. Boko Haram, a jihadist group, operates in the north, organized pirate gangs base their operations in the Niger Delta region. Nigeria is not only Africa’s most populace nation, but in 2014 it overtook South Africa as the continent’s largest economy.

In a recent interview with American University Professor Stefano Costanzi, an expert in the computational study of complex problems in biomedicine and social sciences, he observed three main trends in Gulf of Guinea piracy thus far in 2016, as compared to 2015.

First, there have been more attacks on vessels, especially in waters off the Niger Delta Region. Local militants are allegedly behind most of these attacks. The amnesty program, which provides income for former militants, is winding down, and is supposed to be completely shutdown by 2017. It is likely more militants in the Niger Delta Region will turn to piracy to replace lost income.

Second, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea shifted from oil theft to a kidnap for ransom model. Oil prices are low and the Nigerian government shutdown several illegal refineries, making oil theft less profitable than kidnapping. As of 10 May 2016, all major attacks on vessels have involved kidnapping.

Third, there have been more unsuccessful attacks. The fact that more attacks are foiled indicates that maritime security in the region is getting better. The Nigerian navy responded promptly to several incidents. Perhaps more importantly, many attempted attacks were foiled by armed guards riding onboard.

UK-based Dryad Maritime’s Head of Operations, Michael Edey, in an interview with World Maritime News, said, “Kidnap is a relatively easy crime with big financial returns. Unlike the hijack of ships for ransom or for their cargoes of valuable fuel, the groups involved do not need to worry about how to offload and sell the cargo, as in the Gulf of Guinea, or maintain control of the ship in a safe area while the ransom negotiations took place, as with Somali pirate hijacks. In short, kidnap is significantly less risky.”

OBP’s research indicates that as many as 70 percent of all kidnapping incidents in the Gulf of Guinea

go unreported.

Margaret Orakwusi, the former president of the Nigerian Trawler Owners Association, said, “It’s just like the sea pirate attacks; most of the attacks are not being reported. Probably out of frustration by the owners of the vessels. You know when you continuously report and nothing is happening and the victims are not helped.”

During 2015, ransoms in the Gulf of Guinea, of up to $400,000 were recorded being paid by ship owners to recover vessel and crew from pirates. While the total amount paid to pirates remained nearly unchanged from $1.68 million in 2014 to $1.6 million in 2015, the level of violence significantly increased, including mock executions. At least 1,225 seafarers were subjected to attacks in 2015 and 23 were killed. By contrast, only one seafarer was murdered in the Gulf of Guinea during 2014.

The rise in kidnappings has been especially alarming for European shippers. Pirates believe they can demand higher ransoms for crew from the West. Currently, seafarers from Poland, the Ukraine, and Russia are being held by West African pirates.

The situation in the Gulf of Guinea will remain uncertain, as the political developments in Nigeria have resulted in former amnesty payees taking to the seas to back-fill lost income. Low global oil prices caused a shift in the criminal model from theft and robbery to kidnap and ransom. Nigeria and regional states have increased maritime security patrols and placed armed guards aboard commercial ships transiting the gulf. These tactics have quelled the situation for now, but the International community, in particular the EU, will need to help develop sustainable alternatives to piracy, increase capacity building, and put political pressure on regional states to prosecute the kingpins, who are ultimately responsible for the increased levels of piracy off the west coast of Africa.

Civil War Sesquicentennial: Ira Howard & the 50th New York Engineers

Priv. Ira Howard, Co E, 50th NY Eng.

Days away from Ira Howard’s 14th birthday, news of the first shots fired at Fort Sumter flooded the newspapers in the small town of Maine, New York. April 12, 1861 saw the beginnings of war, from what had previously been politically divisive national debate. By December 1861 at least six of Ira’s cousins had enlisted in the military. Two of them would not return home alive. By 1864, the Howard family would supply three more soldiers for the war effort, including Ira, who lied about his age to join.

Maine is a town about the size of Orchard City, a few miles north of Binghamton in New York’s central region and was part of a 230,000 acre land deal, in which a group of 60 investors from Berkshire County, Massachusetts made in 1787, commonly referred to as the “Boston Purchase” or the “Boston Ten Townships.”

It was Ira’s great-uncle, Nathan Howard III, who became the patriarch of the family when Nathan Howard II and his second-wife Sarah died of small pox in the spring of 1777 in New London, Connecticut. At the time, Ira’s grandfather, at age five, was nearly the same age as Nathan III’s children. The following year, the Howards moved to Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Nathan used his inheritance to invest in the “Boston Purchase” and in 1790 the Howards moved to Union, New York. Perhaps the New York move was inspired by war stories of Nathan Howard II’s military service in Capt. Coit’s Co. during the French and Indian War of 1757, or perhaps new opportunities in the expanding “American West.”

On 28 March 1806, Broome County was formed, set-off from Tioga County, and named in honour of then-New York Lt. Gov. John Broome. Initially Broome County contained three towns – Chenango, Lisle, and Union. Other towns were established from a part of the initial towns, such as Maine, which was formed from Union in March 1848.

President-Elect Abraham Lincoln
Photo courtesy Library of Congress

President-Elect Abraham Lincoln’s train stopped in Syracuse and Utica, New York on Monday, February 18, 1861 and it is known that several hundred folks from Broome County made the 70 mile journey to see and hear the soon-to-be president on his way to Washington, DC.

The region in and around Binghamton boasted a population of over 30,000 from the mid-1850s onwards. When the railroad reached Broome County in the spring of 1851, some of the first passengers included President Millard Fillmore and statesman Daniel Webster. By 1837 the Chenango Canal connected Utica and Binghamton, which provided an important link between the Erie Canal and the Susquehanna River. This canal system meant a boat could traverse from the Great Lakes to the Hudson River and New York City.

Quickly ranching and farming became the support industries for manufacturing and processing. By the time the Civil War began, Binghamton was home to the nation’s largest cigar manufacturing facility, a famed tannery and shoe industry, along with a timber industry that supported carriage making and construction. Ira’s fourth cousins, Barzilla and Morgan Howard, owned and operated a sawmill and rake factory in Union during the war. Ira’s uncle, James Howard built stores and homes, including the Pitkin Store which is still standing in Union Center. Three of James’ sons served in the war, the middle son, Asa, died of “lung fever” in an army field hospital at Falmouth, during the 1862 Fredericksburg’s Campaign. Ira’s father, Henry Channing Howard, was a farmer.

At age 16, Ira attempted to enlist in the army. The recruiter told Ira he was too young, and then a superior, who overheard the conversation, said, “You should take him, and then we’d have a whole company of Howards.” On the Declaration of Recruit, Ira’s father placed an “x” under the section entitled “Consent in Case of a Minor.” On February 16th, 1864, Ira had mustered in as a private in Company E of the 50th New York Volunteer Engineer Regiment.

Pontoon wagon 1864. Photo curtsey Library of Congress.

The 50th New York Engineers had already built a distinction during the war as the “bridge builders.” Their fame was enshrined in history when they became the first ever “combat engineers” during the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862.

On the morning of December 11, 1862, as the fog cleared along the Rappahannock River, the 50th NY Engineers were assigned to build a pontoon bridge over to Fredericksburg so the Federal infantry could capture the city. Captain James McDonald was ordered to lead the building of the bridge. Before two-thirds of the bridge was built, Confederate snipers and sharpshooters hiding in the city buildings on the heights above the river began picking off the engineers one-by-one. Like the Army Rangers at Pointe du Hoc during D-Day, as one of the 50th would be killed, another would take his stead to move another segment of the bridge in place.

Watching 60 engineers die in less than an hour, Gen. Ambrose Burnside decided killing off his entire

battalion of engineers may not be the smartest move. The orders were given to have the artillery batteries of the 89th NY Infantry bombard the area where the Confederate sharpshooters were hiding, then have the engineers run 100 yards over open water to complete the final third of the bridge. This plan failed too, as friendly fire from the cannons killed off more engineers.

The 50th’s arch rivals, the 15th NY Engineers were called up from reserve, as the battalion assigned to Gen. Burnside had now been decimated. The 7th Michigan was called in to help secure the pontoon in what became history’s first ever “bridgehead landing secured under fire.”

On March 24, 1864 Ira joined the roll of Co. E, which already included cousins: Lt. Amos, Priv. Darwin, along with Priv. Edgar, Priv. Edwin, Corp. Jeremiah, and Serg. Joseph, Corp. Orrin, Corp. Charles, and Priv. Levi. It practically was an entire company of Howards in the 50th NY Engineers!

The majority of the engineers died from diseases, rather than enemy bullets. Levi Howard died of Diphtheria in the regiment’s Washington, DC hospital on April 28, 1864. Charles Howard chose not to re-enlist and returned home in September 1864. By the time Ira joined, many of the engineers’ three year contracts were expiring and rampant diseases, poor nutrition, and other realities made re-upping not as romantic as joining in the first place.

Pontoon bridge constructed by the 50th NY Engineers at
Petersburg, Virginia. Photo curtsey Library of Congress.

On April 9, 1864, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant reviewed the troops. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock had the 50th NY Engineers placed to his right, as he was most impressed with the regiment’s training, discipline, and diligence. Gen. Grant reviewed the troops again on April 21st, only on this occasion Ira was sick in the Engineer Brigade Hospital with fever and diarrhea. Being practical, Col. William Pettes, who succeeded Col. Charles Stuart as regiment commander, placed Ira in charge of ambulances. During the 1864 Campaign, Pettes was based out of the Engineer’s Depot at the Navy Yard in Washington, DC. The Brigade Hospital was also located at the Navy Yard.

On May 20th, 1864, Ira re-joined his company at the camp at Dunkirk, Virginia. The 50th had been broken down into four battalions, each with three companies. Each battalion was assigned to a corps of the Army of the Potomac. The battalions each carried a full pontoon train of 50 wagons. The speed and efficiency of the 50th NY Engineers was so good that a bridge could be thrown-up in less than two hours. The Confederates knew the speed in which the Federal Army could travel was directly attributed to the engineers’ ability to build bridges, clear roads and railroads, operate ferries, and keep the telegraph lines open to Washington, DC.  Confederates would often try and target the engineers as a means of slowing down the entire Union Army.

Sometime in late July 1864, Ira was treated in a field hospital near City Point, Virginia. Ira was unconscious with a severe fever, which seemed to be a relapse of the earlier illness. From the field hospital, Ira was sent back to the Regimental Hospital in Washington, DC. During his time in the hospital, Ira was visited by President Abraham Lincoln, who would take time every week to visit the sick and wounded.

Ira & Anna Howard, circa 1890.

Eighteen canvass pontoon boats could bridge 400 feet of river, and required 42 wagons in the train and 252 mules to haul. Two companies of men would have managed such a train. These bridges were the keys to capturing Richmond and moving over 100,000 soldiers and supplies all around Virginia.

In October 1864, Ira recovered from his illness enough to be sent from Washington, back down to Virginia and remained with his company until the entire regiment was discharged at Fort Barry, Virginia on June 13, 1865. Ira would continue to suffer from dyspepsia and disease of the liver, of which a disability and pension was granted by the US Government in 1882.

After the war, Ira returned home to Maine, New York, married Anna Dunham in 1872, then headed west in November 1887, settling in Monte Vista, Colorado. It is not known why the Howards left New York, nor why only a few relations remained in New York, but perhaps it was the same sense of opportunity that brought so many pioneers to Colorado.

In 1911, the Howards moved to Read, and have remained in Delta County ever since. Ira passed away on November 23, 1931 and is interned in the Delta City Cemetery.

Howards at home in Read, Colorado. Ira Howard is on the far left. c. late 1920s.

As this final year of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, it is important to recognize the veterans whose courage not only led them to serve their nation, but to venture West in pursuit of a better life. 

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M. Soper, "One of Delta County's Civil War Connections: Ira Howard." Delta County Historical Society, Quarterly Newsletter. Issue 82 (Apr.-Jun. 2015) p.4-7.

Tyranny of the majority: Is secession a justified response?

From Colorado counties proposing secession to Crimea voting to break-away from Ukraine; and from Venice adopting unofficial independence status to Scotland wanting to dissolve the 307 year-old marriage with England – Who’d have thought we are living in an age of social contract renewal?

Over the past four months – majorities in 5 out of 11 counties voted to become the 51st US State; an

unbelievable 96% of Crimeans voted to join Russia; 89% of Venetians voted to create independent city-state within Italy; and in September Scottish voters will take to the polls to decide whether to become a free and independent country.

Opponents of these secessionist movements have quickly taken to the bully pulpit to point out the unconstitutionality of these votes. What if it’s illegal to vote for smaller regions, such as a county, to secede from lager entities, such as states or nations? Does a law make separatists feelings “go-away”?

Secessionist ideas do not begin at the ballot box or in a parliamentary chamber. The ideas of dissolving the bands that tie one region to another begin with disaccord and minority dissatisfaction – tyranny of the majority. Where one political party dominates and punishes the opposition or one geo-cultural group forces its views onto another.

Under the US Constitution, no mention is made of an acceptable dissolution of the union. The Civil War and the Supreme Court’s decision in Texas v. White (1869) arguably established the Constitution ordained a perpetual and indissoluble union.

In 1776, when the founders declared independence from the United Kingdom, that act was in violation of the British Constitution’s supremacy of parliament. If there had been any doubt of Parliament’s authority, The Declaratory Act of 1766, which asserted the right of Parliament to legislate for the colonies "in all cases whatsoever," would have settled the question.

To consider our founders revolutionaries seems abhorrent. The situation was an impasse, Parliament told the colonists to ‘go pound sand’ and the colonists responded by crafting a legal justification based on social contract theory, tyranny of the majority, and natural law.

Colorado counties which proposed secession; orange is where measure passed. 

As for the Colorado counties wanting to follow the West Virginia Model, that dream ended when the 69^th Colorado General Assembly adjourned on May 7^th.

Under Article 4 §3 of the US Constitution, no new state can be created from within an existing state without the consent of both the state’s general assembly and Congress.

Without the Colorado legislature taking action, our state will remain intact. Remaining united is not to say the dissatisfaction with the Democrats who control the governor’s office and legislature has gone away.

Similar to Colorado, the Crimea and Venice referendums were a protest to majority tyrannizing the minority. Unlike Colorado, Crimea’s vote was unconstitutional. Venice’s ballot was unofficial.

The Ukrainian Constitution specifically states in Article 73: “Alterations to the territory of Ukraine shall be resolved exclusively by the All-Ukrainian referendum.”

Many have argued the Crimea referendum was illegal according to Public International Law.

Firstly, under the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (1933), four requires must be satisfied to be considered an independent nation: permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into diplomatic relations.

Secondly, a country must be recognised by another country.

Crimea, a peninsula region in the Black Sea. 

The Crimean referendum asked voters whether they wanted to join Russia as a federal subject or restore the 1992 Crimean Constitution which granted greater authority to the regional parliament. With 83% voter turn-out, 96% voted in-favor of joining Russia. This act was certainly illegal under the Ukrainian Constitution, but as for International law, the jury is still out.

The Venice ballot asked voter whether they wanted to secede from Italy and become and independent city-state. With 65% of the region voting, a whopping 89% or 2.1 million people voted in-favor of breaking away from Rome! The Italian Government had no fear of Venice actually breaking away, as the referendum had been unofficial.

Much like rural Colorado having difficult with Denver listening; Crimea has a Kiev problem; Venice a Rome problem; and Scotland, an English problem.

On September 18^th, Scots will take to the polls to decide their fate. Legally, Scotland has the same problem the American Colonists had with the British Constitution, namely the supremacy of parliament.

The UK Parliament in London has the ability to enact or resend any legislation, including the grant of independence. The Edinburgh Agreement, merely a gentleman’s handshake, is where the UK Parliament has pre-agreed to acquiesce to the outcome of the referendum.

While the votes remain to be cast, one thing is certain, laws banning secession don’t make secessionist ideas go away. Revolution and civil war should be avoided. Elections, whether official or unofficial; lawful or unlawful should be a wake-up call to majority-leaders who are unwilling to respect the ideologies, customs, or traditions of minority constituencies.

Coloradan Ron Binz is not suited to be FERC chairman

Senators Mark Udall & Michael Bennet introduce Ron Binz

Tuesday’s Senate confirmation hearing on Colorado’s Ron Binz to be President Barack Obama’s Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission chairman saw electromagnetic shock-waves blast from Alaska to West Virginia.

Senate committee hearings can be dry, dull and draining — perfect events for playing online poker or doodling.

Tuesday’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., was far from boring.

One lobbyist in line commented, “This is the first FERC appointee in my 30-year career which has drawn a crowd.” In fact, there were twice as many spectators as seats. A vast overflow spilled into the halls resembling a queue for a rock concert, rather than a committee meeting.

Energy transmitted over FERC-regulated pipes and wires is worth nearly $400 billion per year. Grand Junction’s Greg Walcher, in his book, “Smoking them out: The theft of the environment and how to take it back,” states that the transmission of power is the most difficult issue facing the environment today.

FERC regulates the transmission and wholesale sales of electricity in interstate commerce, along with licensing of electric production, pipelines and liquid natural gas terminals. FERC does not regulate the source, merely the transmission of electricity on the grid.

So, what is so controversial about Obama’s FERC appointee from Colorado?

Four things:

✔ The Colorado Clean Air, Clean Jobs Act

✔ The “30 percent by 2020” Colorado mandate

✔ Allegations of Binz misleading or lying to the Energy Committee’s ranking member

✔ Binz’s statement that natural gas would be a “dead end” by 2035.

Binz, the former chairman of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission under Gov. Bill Ritter, co-authored Colorado’s controversial, $1.3 billion Clean Air, Clean Jobs Act of 2010, which pitted Colorado coal producers against the natural gas industry.

The act requires Xcel Energy to retire or retrofit 900 megawatts of Front Range coal-fired power plants into facilities fueled by natural gas or other energy sources.

The act received broad bipartisan support. Former Senate Minority Leader Sen. Josh Penry, then of Grand Junction, co-sponsored the legislation. Subsequently, Penry was criticized for accepting employment with an energy consulting firm.

The “30 percent by 2020” mandate was originally co-authored by Binz in 2007. It required Colorado’s energy providers to have 20 percent of their portfolios coming from renewables by 2020. The law was amended in 2010 to increase renewables to 30 percent.

Locally, state Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Aspen, who co-sponsored the 2020 mandate and represents a district with natural gas wells and coal mines, was criticized for destroying hundreds of western Colorado jobs.

The third controversy stems from the fact Binz told Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska he had not engaged the assistance of lobbyists to secure his nomination. However, open records of White House emails revealed Binz’s nomination was being coordinated by FERC staff, a PR firm and consultants.

The defense: Binz claims he did not pay for or ask for these services.

Finally, in a statement several years ago, Binz described natural gas as being a “dead end” by 2035 without carbon capture and sequestration. Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming directly asked Binz about this quote, to which he replied, “I believe the technology will be perfected by 2035.”

The “dead end” quote and beliefs about carbon capture and sequestration are likely to lump senators from coal and natural gas-producing states in the same camp, opposing Binz.

The Energy Committee has 22 members: 12 Democrats and 10 Republicans. All committee members vote. A tie vote ends the nomination. Simple majority sends the nomination to the full Senate for consideration.

Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat is from a coal-mining state and has threatened to vote “nay.” If Manchin joins the Republicans, then the Binz nomination will fail.

Indications are that Obama suffered significant loss of political prestige from his venture into war mongering with Syria. Last week three Democrats opposed Larry Summers to be chairman of the Federal Reserve and Summers withdrew his name from consideration. And now, one Democrat — Manchin — is holding up the Binz nomination.

To understand the complexities of the controversy, one must understand the dynamics of traditional-versus-renewable energy producing states; power providers versus consuming states; and rich versus poor states.

Americans desire affordable power. However, the energy source is not always conveniently located to power plants, which are usually a long way from cities and our homes.

FERC is important because it regulates the transmission of electricity through power lines or gas through pipelines.

Binz’s history here in Colorado is one of picking winners and losers in the energy sector. FERC needs a chairman who is not gambling and playing politics at the expense of consumers who are paying higher electric rates year after year.

__________________________________________________________________

Soper, Matt.  "Coloradan Ron Binz is not suited to be FERC chairman." Grand Junction Daily Sentinel 22 Sept 2013: B7 <http://www.gjsentinel.com/opinion/articles/coloradan-ron-binz-is-not-suited-to-be-ferc-chairm> accessed 22 Sept 2013

Legal & political aspects of military intervention in Syria

Should the US attack Syria? Has Assad used chemical weapons against his own people? Would US intervention violate public International law?

Regardless of the answers to these questions, an upcoming vote on Capitol Hill illustrates how foreign affairs are as much about domestic politics, as it is about International relations.

Syrian President Bashar  al-Assad and his wife, Amsa.

President Obama has played a brilliant game of chess against the Republicans. How you might ask?

Prudently, the President is wise in asking for a Congressional vote. It is a tough decision and vesting everyone in the decision process is smart.

Politically, a Congressional vote on Syria puts the Republicans on record prior to the 2014 mid-term

elections, which makes such a vote all the more sensitive and strategic.

The Constitution does not require the President to ask Congress’ permission to engage the armed forces in hostilities. War making powers are shared jointly between the Executive and Congress.

Is military action against Syria legal under public International law?

Under the UN Charter, states may only use force in two instances: self-defence or when the Security Council has authorized force to maintain or restore international peace and security.

Here, Syria has not attacked American citizens, assets, or allies; nor has the Security Council authorized the use of force. The Syrian government is merely engaging in an internal conflict to suppress rebels.

Additionally, Customary International law would allow Syrian government officials, such as Bashar al-Assad to be prosecuted for crimes against humanity and the use of chemical weapons, even though Syria has not become a party to the Genocide, Torture, or Ban on Chemical Weapons conventions.

Regardless of International conventions and customs, US law recognizes the ratified treaties at taking the same status as federal law. This means, the UN Charter, as a treaty, is tantamount to federal law. Congress is free to override federal law by adopting resolutions. So under an American law analysis, Congress can do whatever the hell it wants, so long as that action doesn’t violate the Constitution.

The notion that Congress must pre-approve military action is erroneous. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution grants Congress a non-specific power to ‘declare war.’ However, of the 130 plus times military action has been taken abroad, Congress has only declared war 5 times.

US President Barak Obama with Speaker John Boehner (left).

Under the Presidential War Powers Act, President Obama, as commander-in-chief, may introduce the military to hostilities without Congressional notice for a period of 60 days. The Act goes on to mention that hostilities must comply with: (i) declaration of war, (ii) statutory authority, or (iii) national emergency. Additional time for hostilities is granted upon Congressional approval.

Here, President Obama would be allowed to introduce the military into foreign involvement without Congressional approval.

Why ask Congress for permission if President Obama doesn't legally need it?

Remember the mid-term elections are fast approaching. A Congressional vote on Syria puts the Republicans on record prior to the 2014 elections, which makes this vote highly political. This is why Speaker John Boehner, a supporter of Syrian intervention, isn't making this a partisan vote – he needs to ensure Republicans are re-elected.

Politically, the issue of Syria is dividing the Republican Party into the Paul Republicans (non-interventionists) and the McCain Republicans (the war-hawks).

Here in Western Colorado, Congressman Scott Tipton announced he would be voting ‘no’ during a town hall meeting recently in Durango.

Both of Colorado’s US Senators, Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, are vacillating over how to vote regarding Syrian intervention to punish the use of chemical weapons.

Meanwhile, on the International stage (remember, I said foreign affairs was only partly about domestic politics), Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked the US to present evidence before the UN Security Council that the Assad government was responsible for the chemical weapons attack.

If the US proceeds without a UN Security Council resolution, then legally this action would be pre-emptive self-defence or a unilateral enforcement an International custom (the ban on chemical weapons). Both concepts would dramatically expand the Bush precedent.

Targeted Syrian assets.

Recently, in Stockholm, President Obama said, “My credibility isn't on the line, the whole international

community's credibility is on the line, Congress' credibility is on the line.”

Actually, Mr President, your credibility is on the line, as you’re the one proclaimed Syria used chemical weapons and that the US should take punitive action.

While the White House has gotten the entire International community in a frenzy, one thing is for certain, if the US strikes Syria, no longer will President Obama be able to blame the results on the George Bush Administration.