Irish Rock band U2 doesn't like paying taxes, but likes to suggest ways to spend taxpayer dollars.

It’s no secret that Bono and his U2 band mates aren’t fans of high taxes. Most people aren’t, but U2, and Bono in particular, are quite possibly the biggest hypocrites around. They like to champion causes requiring taxpayer dollars, but don’t like to actually contribute the money that would finance that spending.

Last night, at the band’s Glastonbury performance, a group called Art Uncut hoisted a large balloon that read, “U pay your taxes 2.” Of course, security shut that down quickly, since it isn’t permissible to expose U2′s charade.

If you’re a fan of U2, and in particular, their “selfless” humanitarianism, how does it make you feel that they’re dodging taxes that would help the people they claim to care about? I’m curious to see if this affects their standing with their fans. My guess is that it won’t.

Afghanistan's President, Hamid Karzai, has been critical of the United States.

Barack Obama wants to bring 30,000 soldiers home by November 2012, while the Pentagon thinks he should hold off until 2013. My guess is that Obama wants to make it look like he’s serious about removing soldiers from Afghanistan leading up to the Presidential Election. Unfortunately, this isn’t good enough.

I’d like to see all of our soldiers come home in a matter of a couple of months. Some would say that this is unreasonable, and that it would jeopardized alleged gains we’ve made in the region. I say that’s nonsense. We’ve spent hundreds of billions of dollars on military spending and public works projects in Afghanistan. That’s bad, but the worst part are the soldiers who were injured or killed. Afghanistan is benefiting from out presence much more than the United States. We need to leave.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has often criticized the United States and NATO forces. Here is an excerpt from his latest rant:

“If they continue their attacks on our houses, then their presence will change from a force that is fighting against terrorism to a force that is fighting against the people of Afghanistan,” he said. “And in that case, history shows what Afghans do with trespassers and with occupiers.”

U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenbarry with Afghanistan's President, Hamid Karzai

To his credit, Karl Eikenbarry, the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan had a strong response to the Afghans’ rhetoric:

“Mothers and fathers of fallen soldiers, spouses of soldiers who have lost arms and legs, children of those who lost their lives in your country – they ask themselves about the meaning of their loved one’s sacrifice,” he continued.

“When I hear some of your leaders call us occupiers, I cannot look at these mourning parents, spouses, and children in the eye and give them a comforting reply.”

U.S. soldiers are being asked to protect and build a nation for people who don’t like them, and don’t want them there. As for Hamid Karzai, a lot of his comments are probably meant to gain support from his people and appear strong. Of course, if the United States Military were to leave, that would mean that Afghanistan’s security forces would be solely charged with protecting their nation. I wonder how secure that makes Mr. Karzai feel.

Louis Farrakhan calls Barack Obama a murderer, but defends Muammar Qaddafi.

If you read this blog regularly, then you know that I’m no fan of Barack Obama or his administration. Well, you can cross another person off the Barack Obama fan list: Minister loudmouth Louis Farrakhan. Of course, we have different reasons for our opinions.

Why isn’t Louis Farrakhan happy with Barack Obama’s job performance? Take a look:

“We voted for our brother Barack, a beautiful human being with a sweet heart, and now he’s an assassin. They turned him into them.”

Next, we have this little diatribe:

“You talk about a man killing his own people. When you lie to the American people saying that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. When you lie and then take innocent young men who come to serve their country, and send them to die in Iraq and Afghanistan, over lies, that’s a murderer in the White House.”

What I find amusing is that he criticizes Barack Obama for murdering his own people, then he sticks up for Muammar Qaddafi! You know, the guy who bombs his own people!

If you have time, check out the sermon below. I can’t believe a group of individuals can sit in a room with him and not laugh at his nonsense. I also can’t believe that I just defended Barack Obama.

Barack Obama, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, ignores legal advice and chooses to continue the mission in Libya

It looks like Barack Obama has over-ruled the legal advice of lawyers from the Pentagon and Justice Department who believe military action against Libya should have stopped or slowed as of May 20th. Basically, it comes down to whether the actions of the United States can be defined as “hostilities.” Maybe it’s me, but I think sending the military to a foreign country with the hope of toppling its leader is rather hostile.

So, we’re still in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we’re also involved in Libya. If this is a deserving Nobel Peace Prize winner, I’d hate to see what a war monger looks like!

It looks like U2 lead singer Bono likes spending taxpayer dollars, but not paying taxes.

Some people in Ireland are criticizing U2 and Bono for avoiding taxes in Ireland by moving operations to neighboring countries, where tax rates are lower. The group is planning on staging a very visible protest at an upcoming show to bring attention to the band’s actions.

Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with U2′s actions. What some people forget is that besides being a band, U2 is a business. In order to maximize profits, you need to analyze your expenses and keep them down. Finding a place with a favorable tax climate makes perfect sense. The problems arise when you look at the band’s actions over the years and realize what hypocrites they are.

Bono has often lobbied politicians to spend more money (taxpayer’s money) in developing nations, and other various programs. Bono is a very generous guy when attempting to hand out other people’s money, and there lies the problem. When someone is eager to encourage public spending, but attempts to shield their own earnings, they lose credibility. In my opinion, Bono’s credibility is zero.

I don’t care that he is 91 years old, he’s sick, that he has already served 2 years in prison, or that the crimes occurred nearly 70 years ago. He contributed to the death of 28,000 people, that’s all that should matter.

For those who argue that a sickly, 91 year old man shouldn’t be sent to prison, I’d like to point out that he had the opportunity to live for more than 65 years after the end of World War II. His victims can’t say the same.

Omar Bin Laden, one of Osama Bin Laden's sons

Omar Bin Laden, one of Osama Bin Laden’s sons, is thinking about taking legal action against the United States for his murder, and for his burial at sea. Here is an excerpt from a letter reportedly attributed to Omar Bin Laden:

‘We hold the American President (Barack) Obama legally responsible to clarify the fate of our father, Osama Bin Laden, for it is unacceptable, humanely and religiously, to dispose of a person with such importance and status among his people, by throwing his body into the sea in that way, which demeans and humiliates his family and his supporters and which challenges religious provisions and feelings of hundreds of millions of Muslims.’

So, someone who has killed thousands of people deserved better? I don’t think so. As far as his funeral service, he received much better treatment than I would have provided. Omar Bin Laden complains that his burial at sea “challenges religious provisions.” Many religions look down on cremation, but isn’t that exactly what happened to thousands of people on September 11, 2001? Did those people have a choice? Did their families?

Osama Bin Laden was evil, and was treated far better, and more respectfully than he deserved. As for his “importance and status among his people” which number in the “hundred of millions,” those with common sense shouldn’t care. I really don’t care about the feelings of a person who idolizes one of the most evil men to ever walk the face of the Earth.

Osama Bin Laden's son Omar Bin Laden and his wife Zaina Bin Laden

Lara Logan of CBS News discusses her experience covering the demonstrations in Egypt.

Silvio Berlusconi

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is facing several charges, and potentially, lots of jail time. The most scandalous was an allegation that he hired a 17 year old prostitute named Ruby. Both deny the charge, but today, a judge felt there was enough evidence to indict him.

I had a flashback when Berlusconi denied all the allegations and blamed it on a politically motivated left-wing conspiracy. Change the wing, and it’s right out of the Bill Clinton handbook. Of course, Bill Clinton looks like a Boy Scout compared to Berlusconi.

Ruby, a afriend of Silvio Berlusconi

Ruby, a afriend of Silvio Berlusconi

Lara Logan, of CBS News, was recently attacked in Egypt's Tahir Square

During celebrations in Tahrir Square in Egypt this past Friday, CBS News correspondent Lara Logan was brutally attacked. According to CBS News:

On Friday, Feb. 11, the day Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down, CBS chief foreign correspondent Lara Logan was covering the jubilation in Tahrir Square for a “60 Minutes” story when she and her team and their security were surrounded by a dangerous element amidst the celebration. It was a mob of more than 200 people whipped into frenzy.

In the crush of the mob, she was separated from her crew. She was surrounded and suffered a brutal and sustained sexual assault and beating before being saved by a group of women and an estimated 20 Egyptian soldiers. She reconnected with the CBS team, returned to her hotel and returned to the United States on the first flight the next morning. She is currently in the hospital recovering.

There will be no further comment from CBS News and correspondent Logan and her family respectfully request privacy at this time.

Anyone who values a free press should be appalled by what happened. Unfortunately, I can’t say I’m surprised. Several reporters have been assaulted or detained during the coverage in Egypt. These incidents occurred at a rate that I don’t recall happening during any other news event.

Media companies provide security, but how can you make sure someone is truly secure when they are in a violent environment with tens of thousands of people? You can’t.

I’ve often watched the nightly news during winter storms that show reporters on location in dangerous weather telling us how bad it is out, and warning us to stay home. If it’s so bad, then why are they on the road? There’s no need. Again, this is just a local example.

In the case of the coverage of the Egyptian protests, it’s a risk media outlets should carefully evaluate. With anti-American sentiment all over the globe, are increased ratings really worth risking the health and safety of correspondents? If so, there has to be better, safer ways to handle reporting.

I know that a lot of reporters thrive on being in the middle of the action, but at a certain point, you have to wonder if the risks are really worth it.