Obama 'To Get Spy-Proof Smartphone'

I believe he is an intelligent man. However, I would be surprised if he fully understood the workings of computer and network security. This is an incredibly complex field that people spend their entire existence working to gain understanding. The field is continually evolving at a rapid pace.

I am happy to hear you have high hopes for our new President. I believe the realities of the office will temper (as it does for every President) his goals and ambitions.

Our nation's security is not something to be trifled with by no man, including our President. He is not king.

I do take particular umbrage with your statement that the U.S. is now again democratic. Perhaps Democratic Party dominated at this time, but it has always been a democratic republic. We just had an election to prove that point exactly. I do certainly hope that the security of our nation that has been jealously guarded for the last seven years is not squandered away on "feel good" actions. I would like to point out that there hasn't been a terrorist attack on our shores since 9/11. That is no accident.

We have already seen that former Gitmo detainees have returned to terrorist activities (big surprise). That will be a thorny issue to be sure.

Brave Sir Robin

I am sorry to have caused particular umbrage for you. I really didn't mean to. We only receive the Jim Lehrer news here in Australia and I have noticed that not always or hardly ever do people agree.

I have also learned recently that CR4 is not a site to deal with these issues. Let me again say that I regret having hurt your feelings and others for that matter. In future I will take more care. I promise!

Good luck to you, your Country and your President, Ky.

ky,

I appreciate your response. I probably should have bitten my tongue, but I sometimes feel that even though our last President hasn't been particularly popular in the last few years, I'm not sure he is deserving of the punishment he has received at the hands of our press and the opposition party. History has a way of vindicating even the "worst" of our Presidents when the whole picture is viewed through the telescope of time. I just think of the Reagonomics, saber rattling, Soviet baiting vitriol etc. back in the day by Reagan's critics in the press. Reagan was later seen as a visionary leader. Go figure. Nixon, Johnson, and others were later to have been seen in a better light once we stop viewing events from emotional points of view. Not to say, that all sins are forgotten, it's just that many times we can fail to see the good when we allow ourselves to be blinded by our fixation on the perceived negative aspects. I'm as guilty as anyone else of this weakness.

No hard feelings, no grudges, it's good to have dialog.

Cheers !!

B.S.R.

Thanks. I do feel better now. I'll keep my fingers crossed, Ky.

I ask one further indulgence...

If you would, please educate your fellows that the phrase 'horribly american' is quite insulting.

After wearing my patience thin, the fourth time my Australian friends used that phrase in a supposed civil conversation, they found out just how 'horrible' this American can be.

We're not perfect, but we are trying...

TRex

Just a short (true) story for you.

I was sitting in an outside diner one day and we had an American Warship in town with a few hundred recruits on board and on leave. They visited the Island (Just off the coast from Townsville were they occasionally dock for R&R.).

A Lady had just left her table and had left her purse on her seat.She was in the crowd to fast to start calling after her. While I was wondering what to do, this young Marine got up , went straight to the purse and picked it up. All my instincts told me to reprimand him but to my surprise he went to the inside counter and left it with Colleen (She made the best Hamburgers in the World, again no insult meant here).

When this young man came back out side I congratulated him for his quick thinking and honesty. He stood right in front of me and said (or rather yelled)

Thank You Sir! Like he would do if I were his commanding Officer. He did not salute but had his hands so tight to his sides that it seemed he was trying to iron his trousers with them. True respectful Posture. We had a couple of beers later on and got to know each other a bit better.Wonder what he's doing now?

This single Marine has done more than any TV show or Newsreel to confirm my respect for your Country. I was very impressed.

Must have been some horrible Aussies you met but I suppose you find them anywhere and from any country. One more thing, our humor can be easily misunderstood and has caused many frictions in the past. It is usually not meant in a demeaning way but is often perceived that way. An endearing Australian can sound like a world record attempt in swearing. Hope this has thickened your patients Mate. She'll be right!

All the best, Ky.