J's Cafe Nette

Archive for the ‘Military’ Category

Well, just watch:

Details courtesy of Mrs. Greyhawk.

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I have lived under Johnson, Carter and Clinton. Johnson was the Viet Nam War president, Carter had Iran and embarrassed our military when he sent a few helicopters to the desert to rescue the Americans held hostage without enough spare helicopters or support to get those guys back safely. Their charred bodies were shown on the news and in newspapers.

Clinton plainly stated in a letter to the National Guard (which he had promised to join in order to get a deferment) that he “loathed the military”.

He allowed our troops to be massacred and dragged, half-clothed through the streets of Mogadishu because his secretary of defense thought they didn’t need the equipment they requested.

Obama, though, takes the cake. He is playing Hamlet, “To be or not to be…” or “To send or not to send…” requested troops and supplies for our military to make a success of their mission in Afghanistan. A mission he gave them and now will not make up his mind whether or not to send in the kind of force we need there to repel these attacks and get rid of whomever it is he wants to get rid of.

We have had a forward operating base destroyed with the survivors left with nothing but the clothes on their backs and their weapons in their hands when it was all over. We lost eight of our youngest and best, along with two Afghanis who were helping them.

They were surrounded on the hills overlooking their base and had to fight for their lives and call in air support. But the day was so dusty the air support couldn’t help a lot until the dust and smoke from weapons cleared out and then they were able to extract our dead and living.

In the meantime, Obama scratches his head or whatever, making a decision that can keep these brave people alive or kill them. Those are the only choices they have under this administration.

He has time to have parties and golf every Sunday, but he doesn’t seem to have time to make a decision based on the recommendations of his commanders in the field. He’s letting Joe Biden be his expert and we all know Joe Biden didn’t even vote for the first Gulf War, even with UN approval, let alone his foolish idea of splitting Iraq into thirds to stop the violence over there. Thank the Lord he had no real say in how that war was executed or we would have had even more of our military killed.

These men and women deserve the best we can give them. If they need more troops because there are not enough to check the area and to do the job they have to do then we need to supply those troops, and any equipment we can get over to them.

If Obama wants to continue to walk around with his finger up his rear end, accepting accolades from the Nobel committee and fighting for a complete overhaul of our health system, then give the order to bring every single troop home and NOW!

By the way, don’t forget it was Obama who wanted the veterans to have their insurance companies pay for the care of their war wounds, which in some cases, would be the rest of their lives.

If he won’t support them when they need his unconditional support then bring every soldier, airman, sailor, and marine home from every base we have outside the United States.

Our military contribute a lot of money to the local economies in other countries and to what end? They don’t like us now, didn’t like us before and will never like us later.

Bring them home where we can make sure they’re safe, they can be in the “real world” again and they can protect our homeland if allowed to do so by this OJT man who is supposed to be Commander in Chief.

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As I read this post, memories of days long gone by came flooding back.

The buses pulled away for the airfield about 12:30 am Saturday morning.

Up until then, we’d been scattered in little company-centered groups across Fury Field, a grassy quad in the middle of modern office buildings and barracks, some hiding from the intermittent rain under temporary canopies, some of us just standing in the warm rain. Mostly it was soldiers in ACU’s; peering at lists illuminated by red-lensed flashlights, moving huge rucks or duffel bags onto flatbed trucks like ant swarms carrying large crumbs or just sitting alone or with wives and children or girlfriends or the occasional parent.

There are many emotions which rage when a loved one is deployed to a war zone.

A child may not understand the implications of the moment, while the parent who will now become sole caretaker for a year or more grasps its magnitude fully.

Parents watch as their sons or daughters depart for some distant land, where even the most well seasoned member of our Armed Forces know not what to fully expect. There is such overwhelming pride in your child, yet even before departure, a feeling of emptiness.

May God watch over all members of the United States military who serve allowing us and others to live lives of freedom. May He provide strength for the families left behind.

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If not for the efforts of the coalition forces in Iraq, does anyone feel the following would have ever come to fruition?

Most probably never were aware of the extensive humanitarian endeavors carried out by those with boots on the ground in Iraq. Why? Well I suppose it would not have sold newspapers or made for good commentary on the evening news.

Have you read about this?

In April 2009, American Airlines and Operation Iraqi Children partnered to transport 20 tons of supplies into Iraq. Two schools were visited in the Golden Hills area; over 700 school kits, Croc shoes, and clothing were distributed. Read more about this airlift.

The efforts by individuals and businesses to provide these children has been overwhelming. Civilians and troops alike have joined hands to provide a better life for those unable to help themselves.

Iraq celebrated this past Tuesday what is a form of independence.

Our troops vacating major cities and relinquishing control to the homeland forces is a good thing.

We were never meant to be invaders or occupiers (as some believed), only to set an entire population free from the oppressive dictatorship they had endured for centuries.

Through it all, the political decisions which may have been well placed but at times failed, the blinding heat and sandstorms, and the many negative accounts of their struggles to free a nation and turn it towards democracy, our troops and those of the coalition worked tirelessly to complete their mission.

When I see a an image such as the one below it speaks a thousand words.

It should be the hope of all in America that these children will one day remember the sacrifices of those who freed them from tyranny and allowed them their first taste of freedom.

For all the horrors which any war produces, if we just look a little deeper we can find the good.

As our own Independence Day approaches we should be thankful we continue to have men and women both here at home and across the globe who are willing to sacrifice so others might experience that which we have come to cherish.

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Here they are. The titles of those twenty five movies Prime Minister Brown tucked in his suitcase as he headed back to Britain:

Thoughts anyone? HT: Slashfilm

At the moment many are interested primarily in self preservation. It is completely understandable given the rising unemployment numbers and the losses in the market. Who among us could say we have not been touched in some way by this recent economic downturn?

There are those who are as affected as the rest but also have another burden to carry. One which could take from them something far more valuable than any material possession.

These are the folks who, whether military or civilian, have loved ones in harms way, far from home.

Yes, times are tough at present but if you could find a moment, would you please, if you are so inclined to fit in a prayer for the brave men and women who are currently on battlefields or will soon be deployed?

This is a real “shoe on the other foot” moment for me.

My son – my only son – just got orders for Afghanistan.

He’ll be the third generation of my family committed to a foreign war. Stretching back to WWII one of us always seems to have been among those serving the nation during conflict. Except this time it’s the guy who once was small enough to sleep on my chest.

Thanks.

Absolutely beautiful!

Last month, the Denver Zoo welcomed a brand new bundle of joy. This time, it’s a Golden Lion Tamarin. The newborn weighed less than 100 grams, about as much as an average kiwi fruit.

Hope you all have a good weekend!

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This story is one which has many life lessons rolled into its’ text.

It begins as follows:

William “Bill” Crawford certainly was an unimpressive figure, one you could easily overlook during a hectic day at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Mr. Crawford, as most of us referred to him back in the late 1970s, was our squadron janitor. While we cadets busied ourselves preparing for academic exams, athletic events, Saturday morning parades and room inspections, or never-ending leadership classes, Bill quietly moved about the squadron mopping and buffing floors, emptying trash cans, cleaning toilets, or just tidying up the mess 100 college-age kids can leave in a dormitory. Sadly, and for many years, few of us gave him much notice, rendering little more than a passing nod or throwing a curt, “G’morning!” in his direction as we hurried off to our daily duties. Why? Perhaps it was because of the way he did his job-he always kept the squadron area spotlessly clean, even the toilets and showers gleamed. Frankly, he did his job so well, none of us had to notice or get involved.

If you have a few moments read the rest..you might be surprised at what you discover.

HT:Blackfive

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and a World War I Christmas Truce was observed:

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Very important information for military voters submitting absentee ballots in the state of Virginia:

The State of Virginia announced that a number of Uniformed Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) members submitted Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots (FWAB) which will not be counted due to administrative errors. Virginia requires FWABs submitted as both an absentee ballot application and as a voted ballot contain both the witness’ signature and the witness’ address to be counted in the General Election. Having consulted both FVAP and the Virginia Absentee Voter Office, we recommend that voters who submitted the FWAB as both their application and their ballot complete a Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) and email it to their county voter registration office NLT 1700 28 OCT 08. Once the FPCA arrives, the voted ballot already on hand becomes valid and will be counted. The Army Voting Action Officer is emailing this information to the Senior Voting Assistance Officers (SVAOs) and Installation Voting Assistance Officers (IVAOs) for dissemination and action by voters. See your Unit Voting Assistance Officer (UVAO) for assistance

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Before you vote or just because:

Marine Corps Sgt. Jack Eubanks told Byron York, “I Just Gave John McCain My Purple Heart.” He, like we, want the sacrifice to mean something.

[emphasis mine]

Read the whole thing.

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Congressman Murtha might find himself in a bit of legal jeopardy if this suit holds up and moves forward:

A slander lawsuit against Congressman John Murtha is expected to be formally filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh Thursday afternoon.

The litigation stems from a 2005 incident in Iraq and Murtha’s reaction to it.

At that time, a group of Marines were accused of killing innocent Iraqi civilians in a raid in Haditha. Shortly after, Murtha appeared on various news broadcasts and characterized the Marines as cold-blooded killers.

The Marines were later cleared or wrongdoing in the incident.

One of the Marines, 24-year-old Cpl. Justin Sharratt, of western Pennsylvania, is suing Murtha for slander.

Murtha’s comments about the incident have also served as the campaign focus for the man who wants to unseat Murtha in November, retired military officer William Russell.

Russell said, as a career military officer and 911 Pentagon survivor, he has a personal interest in seeing the record and reputations of the Marines cleared. He said a right to justice goes beyond politics. Even so, within the last couple of weeks, Russell’s campaign launched a 60-second ad that focuses solely on Murtha’s widely reported comments of the eight Marines at Haditha as “killing innocent civilians in cold blood.”

Russell said on Thursday he has met with Sharratt and his parents, and said the federal lawsuit has been a long time coming. A legal fund was established when Sharratt was exonerated of the charges.

If there has ever been an important race here in Pennsylvania, this is the one.

I hold no real hope though that Russell can overtake Murtha as the Congressman has both a wide lead in the polls and the support of the state party leaders.

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Remember during the 1980 election between Ronald Reagan and then-President Jimmy Carter, when the hostages in Iran were not released until after Reagan was officially sworn in as a slap to Jimmy Carter?

Well, if this story is true, and I have no reason to believe it isn’t, what is Obama trying to pull?

WHILE campaigning in public for a speedy withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, Sen. Barack Obama has tried in private to persuade Iraqi leaders to delay an agreement on a draw-down of the American military presence.

According to Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Obama made his demand for delay a key theme of his discussions with Iraqi leaders in Baghdad in July.

“He asked why we were not prepared to delay an agreement until after the US elections and the formation of a new administration in Washington,” Zebari said in an interview.

Obama insisted that Congress should be involved in negotiations on the status of US troops – and that it was in the interests of both sides not to have an agreement negotiated by the Bush administration in its “state of weakness and political confusion.”

“However, as an Iraqi, I prefer to have a security agreement that regulates the activities of foreign troops, rather than keeping the matter open.” Zebari says.

Though Obama claims the US presence is “illegal,” he suddenly remembered that Americans troops were in Iraq within the legal framework of a UN mandate. His advice was that, rather than reach an accord with the “weakened Bush administration,” Iraq should seek an extension of the UN mandate.

While in Iraq, Obama also tried to persuade the US commanders, including Gen. David Petraeus, to suggest a “realistic withdrawal date.” They declined.

Obama has made many contradictory statements with regard to Iraq. His latest position is that US combat troops should be out by 2010. Yet his effort to delay an agreement would make that withdrawal deadline impossible to meet.

Here is a man whose most famous act of politics is boasting he was against the Iraq war and wants to bring the troops home in 16 months after he is sworn in, and he’s trying to make an under the table agreement with the Iraqis to let our troops stay longer so he can get the credit for returning them if and when he is sworn in as president.

And remember all the talk about us not following UN guidlines to go to war? All of a sudden he wants us to “seek an extension of the UN mandate.”

Is he willing to play with the lives of our military in order to satisfy his huge ego? We have already done the biggest part of turning over the provinces of Iraq to Iraqi control. Thirteen of the eighteen Iraqi provinces are now in control of the Iraqi government.

How much longer does he want to keep the troops there so they don’t have to come home under the orders of a “weakened Bush administration”?

He’d better hope his buddies in the large mainstream press keep this under their hats because if a lot of the electorate reads it he’s toast. Not to mention despicable.

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One can only imagine how appreciative the parents of these children must be:

When you hear that we had nothing whatsoever to do with the injuries sustained by these children and yet stop at nothing to help them recover, it reaffirms that the citizens of this country (be they military or civilian) are some of the most compassionate in the world.

HT:Classical Values where Simon provides a link to a site which accepts donations for this makeshift clinic.

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Imagine spending your time (all your time) no more than 15 feet apart from your significant other:

Did you hear about that Buddhist couple who’re never more than 15 feet apart? Well, we tried it.

HT: Instapundit

Simon says:

A real shame exports are growing at a rate of about 2.8% a year. It is a shame manufacturing is booming. It is a shame Germans are moving factories to America.

It is a shame the Iraqis are getting a handle on Iraq. It is a shame they are holding national elections in October. It is a shame their economy is growing 5% a year.

It is a shame oil prices are up giving a boost to the sale of hybrids and high mileage vehicles.

It is a shame unemployment in the “worst economy since the depression” is only around 5%. It is a shame it only grew .9%. It is a shame that higher growth is expected in the coming quarters. Did I mention that Germans are building factories in America?

Considering the doofus we have as President it is a shame things are going as well as they are.

The Anchoress is on to something, at least in my opinion:

And the only way to hurt a congress is to vote them all out.

Whoever the incumbent is, vote for the other guy. A new congress full of greenhorns cannot be worse than the clowns in charge, now, and maybe the thick-heads facing re-election next time will finally understand. Maybe.

There is a classic picture at the end of the piece well worth checking out.

Will there be a Senator or Presidential candidate who will accept Michael Yon’s offer?

I hereby offer to accompany any Senator to Iraq, whether they are pro-or anti-war, Democrat or Republican. I will make this offer personally to a few select Senators as well. Our conversations during the visit would be on- or off-record, as they wish. Touring Iraq with me, as well as briefings by U.S. officers and meetings with Iraqis, would provide an accurate and nuanced account of the progress and challenges ahead, so that the Senators might have a highly informed perspective on this most critical issue. Our civilian leaders need to make decisions based on the best information available. The only way to learn what is really going on in Iraq is to go there and listen to our ground commanders, who know what they are doing. Generals Petraeus and Odierno have years of experience in Iraq, and vast knowledge of our efforts there. But the young soldiers who have done multiple tours in Iraq also have unique and invaluable perspectives as well. These young soldiers have personally witnessed the trajectory of the war shift dramatically, and can articulate those changes in concrete and specific terms. It doesn’t matter if a soldier is only twenty-something. If he or she spent two or three years in the war, that person is likely to have valuable insights. The best way to understand what is really going on is to listen closely to a wide range of service members who have done multiple tours in Iraq. Some will be negative, some will be positive, but overall I am certain that the vast majority of multi-tour Iraq veterans will testify that there has been great progress, and now there is hope. Combat veterans don’t tolerate happy talk or wishful thinking. They’ll tell you the raw truth as they see it.

Whether any Senators take advantage of my offer, I do hope that the presidential candidates visit Iraq, not just for a photo opportunity, but to spend time with our commanders and combat veterans, who know the truth and are not afraid to speak it.

This evening will bring the primary season to an end. If you wish to follow the results as they roll in CNN Election Center will begin posting them as the respective polls close.

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Senator Lieberman, much like President Bush is a man I admire for his courage to follow his convictions even in the face of abandonment of his party.

Once again the Senator delivers remarks to Generals Petraeus and Odierno which only serve to reinforce my feeling toward him as an American first, Senator second:

The Senator’s remarks coupled with this encouraging post at Mudville Gazette offer hope that we are now moving in the right direction in Iraq.

I can think of nothing more appropriate as we head into this Memorial Day weekend than to shed a positive light on those who serve her so selflessly:

The story points out that Iraqi forces are now leading operations in Basra, Mosul and Sadr City, making progress with relatively little American support.

“This is unprecedented: three major Iraqi-led operations in three different parts of the country.”

And…

Last week, the overall level of attacks in Iraq was at the lowest point since April, 2004. So far in May, the U.S. death rate is the lowest of the war.

And…

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s political position has never been stronger, he currently has the backing of Sunnis, Kurds and moderate Shiites. As a result, Moqtada al-Sadr’s party is politically isolated.

And…

The speaker of the Iraqi parliament [a Sunni] wrote a heartfelt letter to President Bush, thanking the U.S. for sending the “best politicians and military commanders” to Iraq.

Greyhawk has linked the ABC News story referenced above. It speaks volumes.

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If there are lingering questions about that “Mission Accomplished” banner aboard the USS Lincoln the day of President Bush’s speech for which it was a backdrop, this may help clear up the confusion:

Via Seamus, comes this email from a Navy Lieutenant who was aboard the USS Lincoln during the visit from President Bush. Yesterday was the anniversary of President Bush’s speech about the end of major combat operations, and it was covered by some the media as the infamous “Mission Accomplished” speech.

Check out the complete email from the Lieutenant. It speaks volumes as to the media coverage of this important moment in history. Here’s just a bit of what he has to say:

The media stationed aboard our vessel clearly understood the truth behind the banner yet fed the public a twisted version of this truth. I honestly believe that those opposed to the war saw an opportunity to spin the truth about the banner in order to attack the President. As an officer aboard the ship at that time, I found it to be hurtful and insulting that the media would use our specific accomplishments as a platform to attack our Commander-in-Chief. The President’s visit to the USS Abraham Lincoln was a great honor to those of us serving aboard her at the time. It is shameful and reprehensible to see the tremendous spin that has been placed on this great event. I was proud to serve my country and I will always support my Commander-in-Chief. God bless America.

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Just telling it like it is:

In the recent political battle around the Marine recruiting station in Berkeley there has been much confusion around the concept or slogan of “supporting the troops,” but opposing the unjust wars of the Bush regime. Many who oppose the Bush regime wars also say they “support the troops.” Let me say it straight out—I do not support the troops and neither should you. It is objectively impossible to support the troops of the imperialist military forces of the U.S. and at the same time oppose the wars in which they fight.

The United States has over 700 military bases or sites located in over 130 foreign countries. The hundreds of thousands of troops stationed in these countries are not there to preserve or foster freedom and democracy as the Bush regime would like to claim, but to maintain U.S. imperialist domination of the world. The United States now spends more on its military than all the other nations of the world combined.

If you “support the troops” in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the other more than 100 countries in which they are located, you also objectively support U.S. hegemony in the world. I believe that the vast majority of people who say they support the troops do not wish to support U.S. imperialism, but that is what they are really doing by putting forth the slogan of “support the troops.”

We need to oppose the recruitment of men and women into the military. We need to support resisters within the military who have realized what they are doing and now choose to resist the role of the U.S. military. This includes people such as Lt. Ehren Watada who refused to deploy to Iraq. Watada stated, “Never did I imagine my president would lie to go to war, condone torture, spy on Americans…” He was the first officer to refuse to go to Iraq and he was court-martialed. Another resister is Camilo Mejia. In 2004 Sergeant Mejia was sentenced to one year in prison when he was court-martialed for refusing to assist the military in Iraq. Mejia said, “I am only a regular person that got tired of being afraid to follow his own conscience. For far too long I allowed others to direct my actions even when I knew that they were wrong….”

Mr. Theisen certainly has spoken his mind hasn’t he?

Here are a few elementary questions for this gentleman.

Where exactly would this country be if it were not for those who chose to fight for her independence?

Would we have survived WWII by simply folding our hands in our lap and wishing away those who certainly would have invaded and secured our homeland?

Do you believe that every man and woman who has given their life for the safety and security of our country has died in vain?

And finally, if Berkeley were under attack today by some foreign entity, who sir are you going to call? Perhaps you believe the local police force could save you and yours.

Oh well, honesty is golden..and freedom of speech is guaranteed. Therefore, I’ll exercise mine.

If living in the United States of American with its “imperialistic system” and those recruited to be “killing machines” is so disagreeable, I suggest you try residing elsewhere. This is not to suggest that diverse opinions are not welcome here..I simply wonder how free you would be to express them in many of the countries you claim we have “oppressed.”

HT:Lucianne

A late addition to this post…

Got to go get me some of those pink duds….not. Imagine how the Marines must smile inside as they pass these individuals on the street.

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Greyhawk has listened to the pleadings of his wife and those in their comment section at Mudville Gazette and completed a version of “The Free and the Brave” in which the audio is much clearer than his initial attempt. (For those who still have a bit of difficulty with the lyrics, they are posted below the video at the site.)

This is a video which I hope receives some attention (and while we are small, every little bit helps), as not only does Greyhawk perform the song, he is also the composer.

A very rough cut of a song I wrote during my second tour of duty in Iraq, as part of the “surge” operation in the summer of 2007. I had no guitar or recording equipment on hand over there and this had to remain “in my head” for months until I returned home. I believe I’ve managed to transfer that music of the mind into digital reality without losing any of the original…

A salute to you sir, for your service to this country and for sharing with us personal feelings which I am certain would be echoed by many not only active duty or retired military, but those of us in civilian life who understand your sacrifice leads to our freedom.

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Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids helps needy disabled children of Iraq by providing high quality pediatric wheelchairs, each sponsored by individual and corporate donors. Sponsors receive a picture of the disabled children as they are placed in their wheelchair for the first time! This is a unique opportunity, as families around the world have the opportunity to directly impact the life of an Iraqi family with a very real need in a big way.

Here’s Michael Yon’s post on the above topic, complete with photos.

While visiting Mr. Yon’s site you might want to also take a look at his most recent post.

Many Iraqis seem eager to reconcile. Iraqis, to my knowledge, do not talk of partitioning Iraq, as many folks thousands of miles away used to think was inevitable. The negotiations in Baghdad are grinding and frustrating, but progress is occurring, although it never will occur quickly enough for either Iraqis or for us.

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It has taken me until today to find that feel good story which I look for every week. This one has to rank up there among my favorites.

ENCINO, CA. – Operation Gratitude founder, Carolyn Blashek, and Director of Operations, Charlie Othold, traveled 9,000 miles to surprise an unknowing Soldier with the keys to a 2008 Jeep(R) Liberty at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Iraq on January 22. The gift of the Liberty was in celebration of Operation Gratitude’s shipment of 300,000 care packages to troops deployed overseas.

Spc. Michael Gallagher, of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Washington, was the recipient of Operation Gratitude’s special care package.

The Jeep(R) was donated by the Jeep brand. In a letter addressed to an “American Hero”, John Plecha, Director -Jeep Marketing and Global Communications, said it was an honor to do something special for both a great organization and for the troops in Iraq.

“As the recipient of the 300,000th Operation Gratitude care package, the Jeep brand is delighted to award you a Jeep vehicle of your own as a symbol of our appreciation, as you represent all those who bravely go in harm’s way in service to our country,” Plecha’s letter continued.

While we often thank those who protect this nation, it is individuals like Ms. Blashek and so many of the generous businesses here in the US who often go without notice. In most cases, I am certain that is the way they would prefer it to be.

So thanks to every volunteer and proprietor who has helped make the life of a member of our fighting forces just a bit easier. It is gratitude well deserved.

HT:Lucianne

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It has never been my choice to debate the Iraq war with most. Each individual has their own thoughts as to whether or not we should have gone to Iraq initially, or how the battles both in Iraq and Afghanistan have been commanded.

I have always believed that once we have troops committed to war, it becomes our job as citizens to support them (even if we do not support the mission which they have been charged to see to completion.)

What has become evident in the recent past is that we are “winning” on many levels in Iraq. There is not quite the mention of the situation in Afghanistan which, of course, makes it more difficult to gauge in terms of success.

Today, Michael Barone writing at Townhall has provided excellent examples of the benefits of the “surge” in Iraq, and lays out relevant comparisons to others wars fought by our military under the command of past presidents.

The entire piece is a great read but I particularly enjoyed the final two paragraphs:

Lesson three is that it doesn’t pay to bet against America. As Walter Russell Mead explains in his trenchant (and entertaining) “God and Gold: Britain and America and the Making of the Modern World,” first Britain and then America have built the most prosperous and creative economies the world has ever seen and have prevailed in every major military conflict (except when they fought each other) since the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Many of those victories have been achieved in conflicts far more grueling than what we have faced in Iraq.

Some of George W. Bush’s critics seem to have relished the prospect of American defeat and some refuse to acknowledge the success that has been achieved. But it appears that they have “misunderestimated” him once again, and have “misunderestimated” the competence of the American military and of free peoples working from the bottom up to transform their societies for the better. It’s something to be thankful for as the new year begins.

My thoughts often turn to the simple fact that this war on terror fought under a different President who is not so despised, would be presented in an entirely different light.

That’s okay, those of us who are realistic realize that no Commander In Chief has ever sent troops to battle with a light heart, and, has never had the perfect scenario for winning. (I cannot think of one example where strategy has not been altered during a conflict.)

War is like life, there are no guarantees, no manuals which define your every move. Those who proudly wear the uniform of this great nation understand the tasks before them. Truth be known, and even with all the negative rhetoric we hear, I believe most Americans understand too.

HT:Transterrestrial Musings

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The wreath laying ceremony took place yesterday at Arlington.

It began with an 8:30 a.m. report to duty Saturday at Arlington National Cemetery where we heard Morrill Worcester’s remarks about those we would soon remember and honor with Christmas wreaths.

Much more including many wonderful photographs at The Radio Patriot.

*Original link, Lorie Byrd at Wizbang.

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It may not sound like a lot, but the United States Military has begun to withdraw some of the troops used in the surge.

WASHINGTON — The first big test of security gains linked to the U.S. troop buildup in Iraq is at hand. The military has started to reverse the 30,000-strong troop increase and commanders are hoping the drop in insurgent and sectarian violence in recent months — achieved at the cost of hundreds of lives — won’t prove fleeting.

The current total of 20 combat brigades is shrinking to 19 as the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, operating in volatile Diyala province, leaves. The U.S. command in Baghdad announced on Saturday that the brigade had begun heading home to Fort Hood, Texas, and that its battle space will be taken by another brigade already operating in Iraq.

Between January and July — on a schedule not yet made public — the force is to shrink further to 15 brigades. The total number of U.S. troops will likely go from 167,000 now to 140,000-145,000 by July, six months before President Bush leaves office and a new commander in chief enters the White House.

As the U.S. troop reductions proceed, it should become clear whether the so-called “surge” strategy that increased the U.S. troop presence in and around Baghdad resulted in any lasting gains against sectarianism. Critics note that the divided government in Baghdad has made few, if any, strides toward political reconciliation that the Americans have said is crucial to stabilizing the country.

This is great news and the military must have reason to believe the Iraqis in that area are trained and willing to protect themselves.

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McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields” remains to this day one of the most memorable war poems ever written. It is a lasting legacy of the terrible battle in the Ypres salient in the spring of 1915. Here is the story of the making of that poem:
Although he had been a doctor for years and had served in the South African War, it was impossible to get used to the suffering, the screams, and the blood here, and Major John McCrae had seen and heard enough in his dressing station to last him a lifetime.

As a surgeon attached to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade, Major McCrae, who had joined the McGill faculty in 1900 after graduating from the University of Toronto, had spent seventeen days treating injured men — Canadians, British, Indians, French, and Germans — in the Ypres salient.

It had been an ordeal that he had hardly thought possible. McCrae later wrote of it:

“I wish I could embody on paper some of the varied sensations of that seventeen days… Seventeen days of Hades! At the end of the first day if anyone had told us we had to spend seventeen days there, we would have folded our hands and said it could not have been done.”

One death particularly affected McCrae. A young friend and former student, Lieut. Alexis Helmer of Ottawa, had been killed by a shell burst on 2 May 1915. Lieutenant Helmer was buried later that day in the little cemetery outside McCrae’s dressing station, and McCrae had performed the funeral ceremony in the absence of the chaplain.

The next day, sitting on the back of an ambulance parked near the dressing station beside the Canal de l’Yser, just a few hundred yards north of Ypres, McCrae vented his anguish by composing a poem. The major was no stranger to writing, having authored several medical texts besides dabbling in poetry.

In the nearby cemetery, McCrae could see the wild poppies that sprang up in the ditches in that part of Europe, and he spent twenty minutes of precious rest time scribbling fifteen lines of verse in a notebook.

A young soldier watched him write it. Cyril Allinson, a twenty-two year old sergeant-major, was delivering mail that day when he spotted McCrae. The major looked up as Allinson approached, then went on writing while the sergeant-major stood there quietly. “His face was very tired but calm as we wrote,” Allinson recalled. “He looked around from time to time, his eyes straying to Helmer’s grave.”

When McCrae finished five minutes later, he took his mail from Allinson and, without saying a word, handed his pad to the young NCO. Allinson was moved by what he read:

“The poem was exactly an exact description of the scene in front of us both. He used the word blow in that line because the poppies actually were being blown that morning by a gentle east wind. It never occurred to me at that time that it would ever be published. It seemed to me just an exact description of the scene.”

In fact, it was very nearly not published. Dissatisfied with it, McCrae tossed the poem away, but a fellow officer retrieved it and sent it to newspapers in England. The Spectator, in London, rejected it, but Punch published it on 8 December 1915.

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Update and bump. For those who may have missed this post originally, it is being bumped in hopes that throughout the weekend more individuals will find it in their heart to donate even a dollar to Project Valour-IT.

Folks, please use the link on the sidebar (or the one attached to this post), to donate to this very worthy cause. The members of the United States Military have never let us down and a small donation will go a long way toward assisting a wounded member in their quest towards a normal life.

Thanks again for your help and remember, for the price of a cup of coffee we can truly make a difference in the life of a man or woman who has served this country well.

End Update

There is a new link on the sidebar which applies to Project Valour-IT. Below is an overview of exactly what this fundraiser hopes to accomplish on behalf of wounded members of the US military.

Every cent raised for Project Valour-IT goes directly to the purchase and shipment of laptops for severely wounded service members. As of October 2007, Valour-IT has distributed over 1500 laptops to severely wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines across the country.

Valour-IT accepts donations in any amount to support the purchase and distribution of laptops, but also offers a sponsorship option. An individual or organization may sponsor a wounded soldier by completely funding the cost of a laptop and continuing to provide that soldier with personal support and encouragement throughout recovery. This has proved to be an excellent project for churches, groups of coworkers or friends, and members of community organizations such Boy Scouts.

If you can donate even a dollar to this worthy cause, please do so. All donations are tax deductable and if you are more comfortable with another means of contributing, various methods are detailed here.

Remember, 100% of what you donate goes to the purchase of these laptops. There is no administrative cost and no other overhead.

Thanks in advance for your help. **==

Update: The graph below shows a running update for the “Army Team” in dollars raised. If you would like to view the totals for the Marines, Navy and Air Force, you may do so here.

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There are no words to add to this excellent article by Jeff Emanuel except to those who perished, may you Rest in Peace, and to those who survived may you know the thanks, prayers and thoughts of many Americans are with you.

(There are restrictions on reprinting or reproducing portions of this piece, but it is well worth the read, so if you have the time, please do.)

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Michael Yon in his own words speaking on the situation in Basra, Iraq.

Michael was interviewed from Basra, Iraq as part of a segment entitled “The British Troop Drawdown: Can the Iraqis control Basra?” Also featured in this segment was Nic Robertson, CNN Senior International Correspondent, reporting from Baghdad. The October 13th broadcast of CNN’s “This Week at War” aired on Saturday at 7pm Eastern and was re-broadcast on Sunday, October 14th at 1pm Eastern.

If you have a moment the emails from Michael received by Glenn Reynolds are also worth a look.

This first deals in part with the above situation but the update I found very interesting:

Al Qaeda is in trouble in Iraq. The civil war that was growing in 2005, and then began erupting in 2006, is now on the decline. I was extremely worried during 2006 that al Qaeda would succeed by engulfing Iraq in civil war, but the Iraqis I speak with in various provinces are now smart about what AQI was up to. AQI tactics are backfiring — hugely backfiring. Strangely, al Qaeda, who nearly caused a complete meltdown, is becoming helpful in uniting Iraq. Strange world, Glenn!

How enlightening coming from one with eyes and boots on the ground.

*Please check out the new link to Michael Yon’s site on the sidebar and if you ever have a few extra minutes and have not read his previous work, it is well worth it.

Update: I neglected to mention Michaels latest dispatch “Achievements of the Human Heart” has been posted.

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It is not a habit of mine to listen to Rush Limbaugh but I must admit my interest was peaked upon hearing he had used the phrase”phony soldier.” In reading his transcript from the show, it makes perfect sense if you had at all followed the case of the individual he mentions. [Emphasis: mine]

Here is a Morning Update that we did recently, talking about fake soldiers. This is a story of who the left props up as heroes. They have their celebrities and one of them was Army Ranger Jesse Macbeth. Now, he was a “corporal.” I say in quotes. Twenty-three years old. What made Jesse Macbeth a hero to the anti-war crowd wasn’t his Purple Heart; it wasn’t his being affiliated with post-traumatic stress disorder from tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. No. What made Jesse Macbeth, Army Ranger, a hero to the left was his courage, in their view, off the battlefield, without regard to consequences. He told the world the abuses he had witnessed in Iraq, American soldiers killing unarmed civilians, hundreds of men, women, even children. In one gruesome account, translated into Arabic and spread widely across the Internet, Army Ranger Jesse Macbeth describes the horrors this way: “We would burn their bodies. We would hang their bodies from the rafters in the mosque.”

Now, recently, Jesse Macbeth, poster boy for the anti-war left, had his day in court. And you know what? He was sentenced to five months in jail and three years probation for falsifying a Department of Veterans Affairs claim and his Army discharge record. He was in the Army. Jesse Macbeth was in the Army, folks, briefly. Forty-four days before he washed out of boot camp. Jesse Macbeth isn’t an Army Ranger, never was. He isn’t a corporal, never was. He never won the Purple Heart, and he was never in combat to witness the horrors he claimed to have seen. You probably haven’t even heard about this. And, if you have, you haven’t heard much about it. This doesn’t fit the narrative and the template in the Drive-By Media and the Democrat Party as to who is a genuine war hero. Don’t look for any retractions, by the way. Not from the anti-war left, the anti-military Drive-By Media, or the Arabic websites that spread Jesse Macbeth’s lies about our troops, because the truth for the left is fiction that serves their purpose. They have to lie about such atrocities because they can’t find any that fit the template of the way they see the US military. In other words, for the American anti-war left, the greatest inconvenience they face is the truth.

And there have been others. Scott Beauchamp comes to mind immediately.

THE WEEKLY STANDARD has learned from a military source close to the investigation that Pvt. Scott Thomas Beauchamp–author of the much-disputed “Shock Troops” article in the New Republic’s July 23 issue as well as two previous “Baghdad Diarist” columns–signed a sworn statement admitting that all three articles he published in the New Republic were exaggerations and falsehoods–fabrications containing only “a smidgen of truth,” in the words of our source.

Separately, we received this statement from Major Steven F. Lamb, the deputy Public Affairs Officer for Multi National Division-Baghdad:

An investigation has been completed and the allegations made by PVT Beauchamp were found to be false. His platoon and company were interviewed and no one could substantiate the claims.

There are always those who have their own agenda no matter what the vocation and in this instance, I do agree with Rush. There are such things as “phony soldiers.” I’m just grateful they are not in the majority.

UPDATE: Here is Rush in his own words.

HT:
Macsmind

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There is a great post at Politico rehashing the latest defeat in the Senate of another “surrender measure.”

Yet another Democratic amendment on Iraq failed Friday morning, and this one didn’t even earn a majority of Senate votes. The vote was 47-47 on an amendment sponsored by Sens. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) that would have required a change of mission in Iraq while mandating firm timetables for withdrawal. The amendment needed 60 votes to pass, and three Democrats voted against the measure, making it clear that no matter how Democrats craft their legislation, a majority of senators are uncomfortable mandating time tables for troop withdrawal. Three Republicans, Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Olympia Snowe of Maine and Gordon Smith of Oregon, backed the measure.

I don’t know what it is going to do to convince Harry Reid that he is fighting a battle he cannot win and in my opinion the longer he continues to present this type of legislation, the worse it will become for the Democrats.

“Harry Reid has called up the same amendments for the same votes and gotten the same results – more gridlock on Iraq,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). “Instead of posturing for political gain, it’s time for the Senate’s leaders to sit down with those of us trying to find a consensus.”

But Reid has clearly made a calculation that he would rather force votes on firm troop withdrawal amendments instead of allowing bipartisan votes on moderate measures that may win a lot of support but wouldn’t force the president’s hand on the war.

“I ask my Republican colleagues for the courage and wisdom to join the American people and bring our troops home,” Reid said Friday morning. “Courage and wisdom demands that we do such.”

I think if Mr. Reid wishes to understand courage and wisdom, perhaps he should take a few minutes and read this speech presented by Marine Maj. General John Kelly. He just might learn a thing or two.

This fight is today, not against some potential peer competitor that might emerge 30 years from now, and will be with us for another generation or more. Our enemy is on a 100 year campaign to victory, and believes without question that he is winning. We, on the other hand, look out two years at best and seem to be wavering and looking for a way to rationalize our way out. The problem is our enemy is not willing to let us go. Regardless of how much we wish this bad dream would go away, he will stay with us until he hurts us so badly we surrender, or we kill him first. To him this is not about jobs, economic opportunity, or solving social problems in the Middle East. It is about way of life, about everyman’s and every woman’s worth and equality in the eyes of the law, about the God given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. He doesn’t believe in these cherished concepts – we do. Our positions are irreconcilable.

Both links provide a great read if you have a few spare moments on a Friday night.

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Funny how you can read two articles back to back and one allows for a warm and prideful feeling while the other stirs a bit of anger and frustration.

Such was the case this morning as I first enjoyed this story from the Examiner.

We’re fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and debating them in Washington. Yesterday my oldest son left to join the Army.

In our circle of friends, it’s been the topic of lots of discussion and no small amount of criticism. This group is part of the information elite: people who live in coastal enclaves and get paid to move information around. They’re well-educated and well-traveled, have high incomes and typically view themselves as cosmopolitan in outlook.

Our kids are supposed to go to East Coast colleges and then to graduate or professional school, not join the military as enlisted men. In this circle, I count only one other family whose son went into the military. That’s two children out of maybe 50 or 60 families.

Reagrdless of the authors politics, anything which speaks to a parents fears for their child, moves the reader beyond disagreement. You tend to ignore the ” political statements” the writer incorporates and remember this:

Being a parent seems to be a series of those moments, of watching your children pulling away and stepping out into a wider and wider world of responsibility and risk. And after yesterday, my son will be in the widest and riskiest world there is.

I fed him and paid his tuition. He’s taken those materials, and now the man he’s used them to become has set out to navigate that wide, risky world. I watched his back again as he walked down our driveway last night.

HT: Lorie Byrd

Unfortunately, I moved immediately from Mr. Danzinger’s piece to one published in “The Recorder.”

The opinions of Ryan Yeomans move beyond critical thinking and thought provoking material to nothing more than a question in my mind of his understanding of world events and the serious threats we face today.

As of late, if you were to bring up the president in a discussion you would find that many Americans disapprove of the decisions he has made. At the same time, Osama bin Laden presents many good arguments against the president and many of his reasons for disapproving of Bush are similar to those of anti-Bush Americans. Would it be wrong to assume that there is some kind of connection between feelings of the American people and those of Osama bin Laden? As I would love to make this connection, I ultimately cannot because of the actions of our president. If I were to say I agree with bin Laden, that would mean that I agree with a terrorist; under the Patriot Act, I could be labeled a potential terrorist and my phone could be tapped, and every move I make could be watched and analyzed.

In finding myself in this predicament, I questioned myself as to who the lesser evil actually is. I ask, “Who has done more damage to the lives of the American people?” Personally, I worry more about the next bad decision Bush is going to make than I worry about a potential Osama bin Laden organized terrorist attack.

I originally said this moved me to anger but in re-reading, I almost feel sorry for the author. There is a sense of BDS here which has moved him beyond reality if he is more frightened of his own government than he is of the capabilities of those who would kill him in an instant.

Fortunately there are those like Mr. Danzinger’s son and many, many others willing to take on the real enemy to preserve Mr. Yeoman’s right to express his views.

HT: Drudge

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