January 31, 2007
Freedom of Speech, Even For Soldiers
OK... it's been a long day, and I'm tired.
That makes me a little cranky, OK? So, cut me a little slack, here.
Mr. William M. Arkin, of the Washington Post, has put together a little screed (HERE) knocking NBC (see the video HERE) for daring to report how those young enlisted types who are actually serving in the Sand Box feel about "Support the troops, 'Diss the mission".
Actually, the illustrious, industrious Mr. Arkin just 'disses the troops, with a kind of a side-swipe at the mission.
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I'm all for everyone expressing their opinion, even those who wear the uniform of the United States Army. But I also hope that military commanders took the soldiers aside after the story and explained to them why it wasn't for them to disapprove of the American people. |
You mean to tell me that our soldiers aren't allowed to have their own opinions of people like you? And they're not supposed to say anything contrary to your notion of the will of the American People?
"Oh, the Horror of it All! I'm being contradicted by Enlisted Swine!"
And this:
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So, we pay the soldiers a decent wage, take care of their families, provide them with housing and medical care and vast social support systems and ship obscene amenities into the war zone for them, we support them in every possible way, and their attitude is that we should in addition roll over and play dead, defer to the military and the generals and let them fight their war, and give up our rights and responsibilities to speak up because they are above society? |
"Decent" wage. "Vast social support systems". "Above society".
Sure.
Annnnnnd....here's the capper:
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But it is the United States and instead this NBC report is just an ugly reminder of the price we pay for a mercenary - oops sorry, volunteer - force that thinks it is doing the dirty work. |
"Mercenary".
Mr. Arkin, YOU get paid (probably by the word) for what you do. Does that make you a "Mercenary Writer"?
Well, does it?
These young men and women are not "mercenary soldiers". They are in the organized and Constitutionally mandated armed forces of their own country. They have indeed volunteered. Yes, they get paid. So do you.
There is one big difference between you and them. They stick their physical necks out. You just stick your literary neck out.
And by the way, from 1969 through 1973 I was in the Armed Forces of the US. Judging from your photo, you and I are contemporaries. Where were you, in '72?
Hmmmm?
Posted by ward at 11:31 PM | Comments (0)
October 20, 2006
What Gets Me Spun Up
It's very difficult to get OWW
One of them is the "importance" of actors and actresses when they're commenting on War and Peace.
Question: Is there one major actor/actress in today's Hollywood who has served? Been shot at? Lived through the mind-numbing drudgery that is day-to-day military life? Followed orders given by some knothead who needs help to add 2+2?
Hmmm?
Well... has any "major" actor/actress spent a year doing real scut work? Nasty, go-home-tired-dirty-sore-and-smelly scut work?j For a living?
I thought not.
Posted by ward at 05:46 PM | Comments (2)
September 24, 2006
A Euro-centric Point of View
I have, from time to time, hammered the Euros for being somewhat less than "stand-up guys" when it comes to dealing with the IslamoFascisti. I have especially hammered the French, mostly because they are such easy targets.
Lee, over at Right Thinking from The Left Coast, has put together a most insightful essay on why the Euros think the way they do. It's one of those scintillating "duh" moments - the blindingly obvious things that should have been smacking me right in the face to get my half-witted attention. Go read his thingie HERE - be advised, it's fairly lengthy, but is certainly worth your time.
A small sample:
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It is an unquestioned fact that, by and large, Americans don’t travel around the world as much as people from other places. Elitist Eurosnobs like to think that this is a sign of their superior culture, but the fact of the matter is that it’s one of geographical necessity. America is so big and so varied that we have everything you want. No matter what type of climate, no matter what type of activity you wish to engage in, you can find it in America. From skiing and mountain climbing to the hottest deserts to gambling to sport fishing and everything in between, America’s diversity makes it so that there’s no real need to travel overseas, unless you’re going there specifically to experience another culture. This is not so in Europe, which has countries that function in a very similar way to US states. In America we travel between the states; in Europe this same amount of travel is technically “international.” With most countries in Europe having a distinct language and culture from its neighbor, people there are inherently exposed to different viewpoints. |
Later on in the post, Lee makes the point that horrible as it is/was, the events of September 11th, 2001, are one of only two successful foreign terrorist attacks on the US. We never had to put up with Red Brigades, or Red Army Faction, or the IRA, or ETA, or any of the hundred-and-one violent movements that have infected Europe.
Nor have we had, in our country, the knock on the door in the middle of the night, we haven't had Hitler invade us and set up camps. Shoot, we haven't been dragged down to actual physical ruin by our own leaders, as happened to Italy, Germany, and Japan.
So, the Euros are more than a little dubious about American methods in the War on Terror.
Quite understandable, considering their history and proximity to the mad mullahs.
After reading Lee's post, twice, I have come to the conclusion that America is fundamentally different from the Euros.
It doesn't make America wrong. But, my friends, we certainly are different.
I happen to think we're right.
Posted by ward at 08:36 PM | Comments (0)
September 16, 2006
Insult Islam? Bomb A Christian Church
"Hey, Achmed!"
"Hello, Mohammed."
"You heard about the insult to Islam by that infidel dog, the Pope?"
"Sure did, Achmed. What do you think we should do?"
"Let's trot over to Nablus, and fire-bomb a couple of Christian churches!"
"Cool!"
OK, gang, cool down. Or maybe not. Y'see, I'm NOT kidding! See it HERE and HERE.
From the AP story:
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Palestinians wielding guns and firebombs attacked five churches in the West Bank and Gaza on Saturday, following remarks by Pope Benedict XVI that angered many Muslims. No injuries were reported in the attacks, which left church doors charred and walls pockmarked with bullet holes and scorched by firebombs. Churches of various denominations were targeted. Relations between Palestinian Muslims and Christians are generally peaceful, and the attacks on the churches sparked concern that tensions would heighten. "The atmosphere is charged already, and the wise should not accept such acts," Father Yousef Saada, a Greek Catholic priest in Nablus, said Saturday. |
Isn't it odd, that when the smallest perceived slight to Islam is allegedly given, Christians and Christian Churches are fair game for the IslamoFascisti, whilst insults to Christianity are supposed to be borne without demur.
I'm just sayin' ....
Posted by ward at 05:24 PM | Comments (0)
September 05, 2006
An "Ally" Caves in to the Taliban
If THIS is true, then Pakistan, and specifically, President-by-Coup Musharraf has given up the fight, and has surrendered to Radical Islam.
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Osama bin Laden, America's most wanted man, will not face capture in Pakistan if he agrees to lead a "peaceful life," Pakistani officials tell ABC News. The surprising announcement comes as Pakistani army officials announced they were pulling their troops out of the North Waziristan region as part of a "peace deal" with the Taliban. If he is in Pakistan, bin Laden "would not be taken into custody," Major General Shaukat Sultan Khan told ABC News in a telephone interview, "as long as one is being like a peaceful citizen." Bin Laden is believed to be hiding somewhere in the tribal areas of Pakistan, near the Afghanistan border, but U.S. officials say his precise location is unknown. In addition to the pullout of Pakistani troops, the "peace agreement" between Pakistan and the Taliban also provides for the Pakistani army to return captured Taliban weapons and prisoners. |
Maybe I'm being gloomy, but it looks to me like it's going to be Christianity against Islam, in a fight to the knife, and that to the hilt. The gloomy part is that the West's politicians and "intelligentsia" is going to try to "find common ground" with the Islamists until the Islamic population has overwhelmed the non-Islamic population. For examples, see France, Holland, and to a lesser extent, Spain and England.
I'm afraid that "political correctness" and "tolerance" is going to cause us many casualties of war, and the transformation of our republic into more of a police state than it already is.
Posted by ward at 09:05 PM | Comments (0)
August 07, 2006
The "Rules" of War
For some time now, I've been listening to radio news (On the hour and the half-hour) and reading the paper about the fighting in Lebanon.
One thing that strikes me is that Hezbollah is holding up much better than I thought they would.
The other thing that strikes me is the restraint shown by Israel, considering that Hezbollah thinks nothing of setting up their rocket launchers in and around inhabited areas.
The reason that Hezbollah continues to set up in inhabited areas is rather simple. Hezbollah knows that Israel will not bomb and/or counter-battery a launch site without taking a look, and if it's an inhabited area - i.e., apparant civilians running about, Israel doesn't launch.
Of course, the Hezbo's don't feel any such restraint, and launch to their heart's content, hoping to generate so many casualties that Israel gives up.
Ain't gonna happen.
What might happen is that the Israelis get really peeved, and take the gloves off.
Earlier I used the term "counter-battery". The way it works is as follows:
1. Using radar, accurately determine the source of a launch - with today's technology, this is a trivial exercercise.
2. Fire a pot-load of artillery at that area. Note the use of the word "area".
3. Keep up the barrage for 15 minutes or so, using very small aiming adjustments to "walk" the artillery impacts around a bit.
Sound extreme? Let's look at how the biggest critics of Israel behave when their own interests are threatened.
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Israel's conduct compares favorably to how its most powerful accusers -- Russia, China and the EU have behaved when their own interests have been threatened. China killed hundreds of peaceful Tiananmen Square protestors in 1989. It has for five decades occupied Tibet, slaughtering tens of thousands; and it vows to invade Taiwan if it declares independence. Neither the Tiananmen protesters nor Tibet nor Taiwan has ever threatened to "wipe China off the map." Russia has fought since 1994 to suppress Chechnya's independence movement. Out of a Chechen population of one million, as many as 200,000 have been killed as Russia has leveled the capital city of Grozny. Chechen rebels pose no threat to "wipe Russia off the map." All of the leading EU countries actively participated in NATO's 78-day bombing campaign against Yugoslavia in 1999. The military goal was to stop Yugoslavia from oppressing its Kosovar minority. NATO bombs and missiles hit Yugoslav bridges, power plants and a television station, killing hundreds of civilians. Yugoslavia posed no threat to the existence of any of the EU countries that bombed it. Compared with how China, Russia, and the EU have dealt with non-existential threats -- and despite the law-flouting behavior of Hezbollah, Iran and Syria -- Israel's responses to the threats to its existence have been remarkably restrained rather than disproportionately violent. |
I've checked the basic facts above - with Google and Yahoo, it's a... trivial exercise.
Posted by ward at 08:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 29, 2006
"Temporary" Cease-Fire Proposal
Jan Egelund, the UN humanitarian chief, wants a three-day cease-fire to allow humanitarian aid in, and refugees out of south Lebananon. Israel has refused, saying that Hezbollah is deliberately blocking the safe lanes Israel has established. See the story HERE.
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Avi Pazner, a government spokesman, said Israel already has opened safe corridors across Lebanon for such shipments and that Hezbollah guerrillas were blocking them to create a humanitarian crisis. "There is no need for a temporary, 72-hour cease-fire because Israel has opened humanitarian corridors to and from and Lebanon," he told reporters. "The problem is completely different. It is Hezbollah who is deliberately preventing the transfer of medical aid and of food to the population of southern Lebanon in order to create a humanitarian crisis, which they want to blame Israel for," he added. |
I know who I believe - do you?
And just who does Egelund think he's kidding? Temporary?
Riiiiight!
Posted by ward at 08:15 AM | Comments (0)
July 14, 2006
Israel, Lebanon, Syria and the United States
In general, I'm very surprised that the Israelis haven't smacked Hezbolla before this.
And now, Lebanon, which has refused to disarm Hezbolla, is paying a fearsom price for harboring Islamo-fascist terrorists.
Israeli aircraft fly over Lebanon at will, shooting and bombing anything that they think might harbor a terrorist, or provide support for a terrorist.
The Lebanese government, such as it is, is screaming bloody murder. The world's press corps is covering this in a manner we have come to expect - the evil Joooos are whupping up on their poor, innocent, defenseless neighbors yet again.
Yeah. Right.
Hardly any mention of the rockets into Israel.
Hardly any mention of the Israeli civilians killed or maimed by the rockets earlier in this decade.
Hardly any mention of the raids from Lebanon into Israel earlier in this decade.
Hardly any mention of the unilateral withdrawl by Israel from Gaza.
Hardly any mention of the unilateral withdrawl by Israel from portions of the West Bank.
Just the drum-beat of "It's all the Joooos fault!"
Crap.
Iran and Syria, prime sponsors of Hezbolla, making threatening noises.
Hmmmph. At this point, Iran and Syria would do well to consider the cost of their second- and/or third-rate armies. If the Israelis decide to really go to town, Iran and Syria are toast.
Just look at the map.
Both Iran and Syria depend on central control from a capital city. Damascus is well within range of Israel, as the Hereditary Prez for Life Assad well knows from his palace getting "buzzed" by the Israeli Air Force earlier this week.
Tehran, in Iran, would be a lot more difficult for the Israeli Air Force, but I'd be willing to bet 25 cents American that Israel has assets in place, both in Tehran and Qom, and has managed a way to let the mullahs know it.
There is one other thing that Israel should be aware of. IF the US decides to evacuate our citizens from Lebanon using the US Navy, there had best not be a repeat of the attack by Israel on the USS Liberty during the Six Days War of 1967. (Note: This link goes to a site that is un-abashadly... critical ... of Israel and the US Governement. That I happen to agree with most of the conclusions does NOT mean that I am anti-Israel. I am PRO-Israel. But... I am still pissed off.)
Posted by ward at 10:28 PM | Comments (0)
June 09, 2006
More al-Zarquari
It would appear that a framed picture of a dead terrorist has managed to offend a writer for the mighty Washington Post. See his critique HERE.
Mr. Phillip Kennicott appears to be offended by the frame around the picture of the late un-lamented Abu Musab al-Zarquari. Not by the picture itself, mind you. Just the frame.
It would appear to Mr. Kennicott that the image of the frame around the image is ... not appropriate.
Mr. Kennicott, the question arises: "Who in America gives a damn about the frame?"
Indeed.
That rascal is D.E.D. DEAD and no more can he:
1. Organize suicide bombers.
2. Saw the heads off random strangers grabbed off the street.
3. Declare that non-Sunni Muslims are fair game for killing.
To repeat myself, ad-nauseum, "Who in America gives a damn about the frame?"
Come to think of it, who cares about the picture, as long as that miserable mother is known to be dead?
Posted by ward at 09:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 04, 2006
Battle of Midway
Today marks the anniversary of the Battle of Midway.
Today I honor the memory of the brave men who fought and died.
Torpedo Squadron 8, flying in against the Japanese with no fighter support, drew the attention of almost all the fighter cover of the Japanese fleet. When the SBD "Dauntless" dive bombers arrived, they were able to make their bombing runs unimpeded by Japanese fighters.
The Battle of Midway marked the beginning of the end for the Empire of Japan.
There was just one survivor of Torpedo Squadron 8's flight crews.
Posted by ward at 06:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 26, 2006
What's Not In The News
"Non-news" that you never saw in the MSM (MainStreamMedia). I stumbled over this by accident, and thought that surely such a letter from an Iraqi mayor would certainly have made the local rag - the Georgia Times-Union. So I did some basic checking, and sure enough, the letter was passed on to the MSM (MainStreamMedia), who promptly circular-filed it.
Well, I'm calling "bulldust" on the Main Stream Media, who are busy showing us that they truly DO deserve the appellation "Lame Stream Media".
For the record: The following letter was referenced during a press briefing, and was available to journalists in Baghdad on 19 January 2006. A PDF of the letter can be found HERE.
While I was looking for something else, I stumbled across a reference to this letter. I then "Googled" the letter, and the name of the mayor, Najim Abdullah Abid Al-Jibouri, and found some references, and NONE of them were in the NY Times, the Washington Post, or the LA Times. And NOT in my local rag, the GTU (which I read, every single day).
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In the Name of God the Compassionate and Merciful To the Courageous Men and Women of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who have changed the city of Tall’ Afar from a ghost town, in which terrorists spread death and destruction, to a secure city flourishing with life. To the lion-hearts who liberated our city from the grasp of terrorists who were beheading men, women and children in the streets for many months. To those who spread smiles on the faces of our children, and gave us restored hope, through their personal sacrifice and brave fighting, and gave new life to the city after hopelessness darkened our days, and stole our confidence in our ability to reestablish our city. Our city was the main base of operations for Abu Mousab Al Zarqawi. The city was completely held hostage in the hands of his henchmen. Our schools, governmental services, businesses and offices were closed. Our streets were silent, and no one dared to walk them. Our people were barricaded in their homes out of fear; death awaited them around every corner. Terrorists occupied and controlled the only hospital in the city. Their savagery reached such a level that they stuffed the corpses of children with explosives and tossed them into the streets in order to kill grieving parents attempting to retrieve the bodies of their young. This was the situation of our city until God prepared and delivered unto them the courageous soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who liberated this city, ridding it of Zarqawi’s followers after harsh fighting, killing many terrorists, and forcing the remaining butchers to flee the city like rats to the surrounding areas, where the bravery of other 3d ACR soldiers in Sinjar, Rabiah, Zumar and Avgani finally destroyed them. I have met many soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment; they are not only courageous men and women, but avenging angels sent by The God Himself to fight the evil of terrorism. The leaders of this Regiment; COL McMaster, COL Armstrong, LTC Hickey, LTC Gibson, and LTC Reilly embody courage, strength, vision and wisdom. Officers and soldiers alike bristle with the confidence and character of knights in a bygone era. The mission they have accomplished, by means of a unique military operation, stands among the finest military feats to date in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and truly deserves to be studied in military science. This military operation was clean, with little collateral damage, despite the ferocity of the enemy. With the skill and precision of surgeons they dealt with the terrorist cancers in the city without causing unnecessary damage. God bless this brave Regiment; God bless the families who dedicated these brave men and women. From the bottom of our hearts we thank the families. They have given us something we will never forget. To the families of those who have given their holy blood for our land, we all bow to you in reverence and to the souls of your loved ones. Their sacrifice was not in vain. They are not dead, but alive, and their souls hovering around us every second of every minute. They will never be forgotten for giving their precious lives. They have sacrificed that which is most valuable. We see them in the smile of every child, and in every flower growing in this land. Let America, their families, and the world be proud of their sacrifice for humanity and life. Finally, no matter how much I write or speak about this brave Regiment, I haven’t the words to describe the courage of its officers and soldiers. I pray to God to grant happiness and health to these legendary heroes and their brave families. NAJIM ABDULLAH ABID AL-JIBOURI |
Posted by ward at 10:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 30, 2006
Hamas, Israel, and US
I put this one under "War" for a reason.
Anyone who believes that Hamas and Israel can "co-exist" is dreaming.
Old Wierd Ward's Prediction:
Anyone who believes that Hamas, acting as Palestine's government, will show any restraint is dreaming.
Palestine WILL, as official policy, commit Acts of War.
Israel WILL hammer Palestine flat.
If Iran is dumb enough to get in the middle, they'll go up in radiotive dust. Likewise Syria.
Shortly thereafter, the whole Middle East will be a wasteland.
I take no joy in this prediction. But it will happen.
Posted by ward at 10:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 27, 2006
"The Honors"
For some Marines, the hardest part of being a Marine is not combat. It's not the long deployments. It's not the incessant training. The hardest part of being a Marine is bringing another Marine home for the last time.
Read it all HERE. Have some Kleenex handy....
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When a young Marine in dress uniform had boarded the plane to Reno, the passengers smiled and nodded politely. None knew he had just come from the plane's cargo hold, after watching his best friend's casket loaded onboard. At 24 years old, Sgt. Gavin Conley was only seven days younger than the man in the coffin. The two had met as 17-year-olds on another plane - the one to boot camp in California. They had slept in adjoining top bunks, the two youngest recruits in the barracks. All Marines call each other brother. Conley and Jim Cathey could have been. They finished each other's sentences, had matching infantry tattoos etched on their shoulders, and cracked on each other as if they had grown up together - which, in some ways, they had. When the airline crew found out about Conley's mission, they bumped him to first-class. He had never flown there before. Neither had Jim Cathey. On the flight, the woman sitting next to him nodded toward his uniform and asked if he was coming or going. To the war, she meant. He fell back on the words the military had told him to say: "I'm escorting a fallen Marine home to his family from the situation in Iraq." The woman quietly said she was sorry, Conley said. Then she began to cry. When the plane landed in Nevada, the pilot asked the passengers to remain seated while Conley disembarked alone. Then the pilot told them why. |
I once talked to a former Marine who'd done two tours in 'Nam, and retired from the Corps after 24 years. He told me that he had been, just once, part of the Honor Guard for a burial. He told me that the hardest part of being a Marine was doing what he called "The Honors".
Posted by ward at 10:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 25, 2006
Newspaper Columnists and Veterans
I read THIS yesterday.
I'm really, really angry at Joel Stein of the Los Angeles Times.
Here's a little sample, with my commentary following it:
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But blaming the president is a little too easy. The truth is that people who pull triggers are ultimately responsible, whether they're following orders or not. An army of people making individual moral choices may be inefficient, but an army of people ignoring their morality is horrifying. An army of people ignoring their morality, by the way, is also Jack Abramoff's pet name for the House of Representatives. I do sympathize with people who joined up to protect our country, especially after 9/11, and were tricked into fighting in Iraq. I get mad when I'm tricked into clicking on a pop-up ad, so I can only imagine how they feel. But when you volunteer for the U.S. military, you pretty much know you're not going to be fending off invasions from Mexico and Canada. So you're willingly signing up to be a fighting tool of American imperialism, for better or worse. Sometimes you get lucky and get to fight ethnic genocide in Kosovo, but other times it's Vietnam. And sometimes, for reasons I don't understand, you get to just hang out in Germany. I know this is all easy to say for a guy who grew up with money, did well in school and hasn't so much as served on jury duty for his country. But it's really not that easy to say because anyone remotely affiliated with the military could easily beat me up, and I'm listed in the phone book. I'm not advocating that we spit on returning veterans like they did after the Vietnam War, but we shouldn't be celebrating people for doing something we don't think was a good idea. All I'm asking is that we give our returning soldiers what they need: hospitals, pensions, mental health and a safe, immediate return. But, please, no parades. Seriously, the traffic is insufferable. |
These comments are directed at Joel Stein:
I'm a Viet Nam era veteran. I remember, vividly, the reception that "they" gave our returning combat vets - the spitting, the "baby killer" comments, all the rest. The out-and-out lies by people like John Kerry and Jane Fonda.
When was the last time that some returning vet whupped up on some sleaze-bag who richly deserved a punch in the snoot? And if you're listed in the phone book, who cares? We (any vet) simply don't care. We're certainly not going to look you up to give you that poke in the snoot.
The great majority of guys coming back from Iraq believe in their mission. They believe that they are making a difference, a good difference, in the lives of Iraqis (no more Saddam, and killing of stone-cold killers) and Americans (the terrorists are THERE instead of HERE).
When they come back, they have better things to do than go around beating up on minor-rank journalists. They have families that want to count fingers and toes. They have steaks just begging to be enjoyed. They have fast cars and motorcycles to enjoy (Hey, these guys are mostly under 30!). The single guys have, or want to find, girlfriends to party with - those parties would be small, 2-person affairs. The married-with-children guys are counting fingers and toes themselves - and marveling at their good fortune.
Joel, I have no doubt that your parents did not approve of Viet Nam. I'd be willing to make a small wager that at least one of them did indeed "demonstrate" against the war. Given the right odds, I'd make another bet that at least one of your parents did, indeed, spit upon a returning vet.
And you, sir, are your parent's child.
By the tone of your column, it's easy to see that you hold any vet in contempt. After all, instead of going to Columbia's School of Journalism, or UC Berzerkly, they joined up. They put America ahead of themselves.
You're quite safe, Joel. We vets believe in America, with all that implies. You can run your mouth and your column in perfect safety. This isn't the Arab world, or even Latin America. This is America, where the First Amendment is taken seriously, even by us who were "tricked" into serving people like you, who don't really deserve it.
I'm a child of the '60's. I grew up in Los Angeles. After I returned from the Navy, I moved from LA to San Jose. Quite recently, my family relocated from San Jose to Camden County, Ga. So how can a guy who grew up in LA be comfortable in "red-neck country"?
Easily. After all, service to America is honored here.
Oh, by the way, I too am listed in the phone book. Right here in Camden County, Georgia. Charles W. Gerlach. Feel free to give me a call...ask for me by name. Don't forget, I'm now in the Eastern time zone.
Posted by ward at 10:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 08, 2006
Proof of Terrorists in Iraq PRIOR to Sept 11th?
According to Stephen Hayes, writing in the Weekly Standard, Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq did indeed provide:
1. Safe haven for terrorists.
2. Training and other support for terrorists.
If true, these revelations constitute a "clear and present danger", which would provide all the justification, post Sept 11th, that any President would need to invade another country and remove it's regime.
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Some 2,000 terrorists were trained at these Iraqi camps each year from 1999 to 2002, putting the total number at or above 8,000. Intelligence officials believe that some of these terrorists returned to Iraq and are responsible for attacks against Americans and Iraqis. According to three officials with knowledge of the intelligence on Iraqi training camps, White House and National Security Council officials were briefed on these findings in May 2005; senior Defense Department officials subsequently received the same briefing. The photographs and documents on Iraqi training camps come from a collection of some 2 million "exploitable items" captured in postwar Iraq and Afghanistan. They include handwritten notes, typed documents, audiotapes, videotapes, compact discs, floppy discs, and computer hard drives. Taken together, this collection could give U.S. |
In order to convince me, Mr. Hayes needs to:
1. Disclose his anonymous sources.
2. Make the source materials (photos, notes, documents, etc) available to the public.
The MSM (MainStreamMedia) should be all over this. Of course, they won't be.
Posted by ward at 07:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 11, 2005
September 11th - Flight 93
It has now been four years since the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001.
I just watched the "documentary" of United Flight 93, the one that aired on the Discovery Channel.
No commercial breaks.
If even half of this "documentary" is true, these folks are truly heroes.
And in the midst of all the images, I found myself comparing the reactions of the great ones of the FDNY and the NYPD to the reactions of the totally unprepared civilians of Flight 93.
At the cost of their own lives, the civilians of Flight 93 frustrated the plans of the terrorists.
Compared to the well-trained professionals of the New York Fire Department, and the NY Police Department, and the Port Authority Police, I think they did right well - for an untrained pickup team.
The few times that I was placed in peril of my own life (Trust me, fighting a fire on a US Navy ship many miles from shore is life-threatening) I was part of a team of well trained, well motivated young and physically fit men.
I'd like to think that in the same cirumstances, I would have done as well.
God rest their gallant souls.
Posted by ward at 11:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack