J's Cafe Nette

Archive for the ‘Our Military’ Category

Not only does Vice President Biden apparently believe that the current administration is responsible for the successes achieved in Iraq, but the administration is also pushing the mantra that the Vice President is responsible for the country securing free and fair elections:

Gibbs said that “the vice president’s been deeply involved in fixing the political process there so that elections can be held and so that our troops can come home as scheduled this summer.”

Gee, I wonder what this was that took place on January 30, 2005?

For Iraqis, 2005 was a year in which they participated in two elections and a referendum. They voted on January 30, October 15, and December 15. The first vote, on January 30, was held despite the explicit warnings from Al Qaeda in Iraq not to attempt this step toward democracy. Looking back at the reports being filed in the weeks leading up to the election, one notes that no one was optimistic about the outcome, often with good reason. According to Dexter Filkins of the New York Times, he and his colleagues had started an office pool to see who could predict the percentage of Iraqis who would vote; the precentages being considered were between fifteen and twenty-four percent. By the end of the day, however, all observers were impressed by the courage of the Iraqi citizens and the long lines of Iraqis who walked to the polling stations to vote. Estimates of the actual turnout vary between fifty and sixty percent. The photos of Iraqis with purple fingers, inked at the voting centers to show that they had voted, were spread around the world.

Fast forward to October and December of 2005:

On October 15, Iraqis went to the polls to vote on a referendum for the new Constitution; it was ratified by a wide margin. And then, on December 15, there was a general election to seat the new 275-member Parliament. The United Iraqi Alliance ticket won 128 seats, the largest share of any of the parties, followed by the Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan with 53, Iraqi Accord Front with 44, and the Iraqi National List with 25.

This administration must consist of miracle workers.

These are the same individuals who told the American people that the surge in Iraq would fail yet with a wave of their magical imaginary wands, they have now won the war and will bring the troops home on the same timetable agreed upon before former President Bush left office. Wow, impressive.

November 9, 2009:

Under a security agreement drawn up between Iraq and the United States last year, all U.S. military forces have to withdraw by the end of 2011.

If all goes according to plan, U.S. combat operations will end by August 31, 2010, although 50,000 troops will remain until 2012 to train Iraqi security forces and conduct targeted counter-terrorism operations.

Here is Senator Biden, (in his own words in 2007):

Senator Joseph Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the day before hearing the testimony by General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker, already dismissed the results. “I really respect him, but I think he’s dead flat wrong,” Biden said about General Petraeus on September 9, 2007. After two days of testimony, Senator Biden was still not persuaded that the new strategy was working. In an interview a few days after the hearing, Senator Biden said, “I give the strategy no chance of succeeding. Zero.”

How about the former Senator from the state of Illinois?

July 2007:

“Here’s what we know. The surge has not worked. And they said today, ‘Well, even in September, we’re going to need more time.’ So we’re going to kick this can all the way down to the next president, under the president’s plan.”

This game of sleight of hand which is being played out in Washington is beyond reproach. Barack Obama was elected and poof, the world became a safer place immediately. All the accomplishments of our military personnel occurring prior to January 2009 vanished. After all, if success was acknowledged someone else, anyone, might have to receive credit.

Given everything above, prior and current statements , the belief this administration must have that their magic dust will cloud the memory of American citizens, and the self delusional talk of how they somehow they stabilized Iraq by nothing more than their presence,
there is one thing they seem to have forgotten.

The war in Iraq was not won by any politician (standing up a viable government in Iraq withstanding) in Washington. The country was not secured by armchair generals or television pundits.

Citizens in Iraq are free to vote, to attend school, own and operate businesses, receive medical attention, no longer live in fear of torture or mass murder and speak their mind without intimidation due to our military and the allies who fought by their side.

You can provide all the strategy in the world, but without those who execute orders, there is zero chance of success. It is my belief former President Bush understood that fact. In today’s environment of make believe, not so much.

Credit where credit is due:

*All emphasis in the above post- admin.

(Update): Wish I would have seen this before I wrote the post above. It’s less than 2 minutes, delivered by a member of our Special Forces (Retired), and it says it all. *Warning, Strong Language

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Carol E. Lee, in an article written for Politico pens:

Never a soldier himself, but suddenly their commander-in-chief, President Barack Obama wanted to learn the job from the ground up.

Including the salute.

Under the guidance of an expert, aides say Obama privately repeated his salute over and over again until he got it down. In a testament to how sensitive the White House is about the commander in chief practicing this basic military gesture, aides would not say who taught Obama how to salute. But every time he uses it, Obama is trying to convey an insider’s respect for the armed forces without saying a word.

This picture appeared along side the article:

Contrast the above with the words of one who has honorably served this country and has a clear understanding of not only the proper salute “technique” but the true meaning behind the gesture:

The salute represents something important, and doing it right is a sign you grasp that importance. It is indeed the “outward manifestation of what we expect” – but in this picture it’s exactly wrong, and saying it’s right doesn’t make it so. If you’re going to use this as the leading example of the tremendous effort and attention to detail the president puts to his task as Commander in Chief, you fail.

Somewhere there may exist a photo of Obama rendering a proper salute. This ain’t close. And that’s a pretty lame start to a story that goes on to detail the many other things Obama has worked so very, very hard on to support the troops. Of course, if you’re just trying to convince the 99% of the population who have no idea what a proper salute looks like that this is a “pretty good” example, then maybe it’s the perfect start that tells us everything we need to know: the rest, assuredly – the part that actually matters – is just this good.

And there’s this:

For the record, a salute is a mutual exchange – it’s initiated by a junior and returned by the senior. (The higher ranking you are, the more salutes you will render.) However, salutes are not required to be rendered or returned when the senior or subordinate are in civilian clothes.

Anyone can perfect the salute, few will ever get it.

Greyhawk nails it.

Further, any time one has to brag about how much time he/she has devoted to learning how to show respect for the troops they command..well let’s just say, some things are best kept to ones self.

As expressed in the following video by former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Pete Pace, when you understand, really understand what it means to command there is no need to confirm your hard work nor any room for self gratification: HT:Blackfive

Jim Jones has said some nice words tonight. I’m probably the only guy in the room who truly knows in his heart of hearts, I do not deserve those words.

People say to me today, how do you do it, the implication being there’s some burden here. This is not a burden. This is a privilege, to serve this country, to do it in their honor and their memory.

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The young women participating in this years Miss America Pageant took time out of their pageant obligations to say thanks to our men and women in uniform (and help raise dollars for those in need upon returning home.)

I am not a pageant watcher myself, but the organization and participants deserve credit for setting aside time to help those who continue to keep our country both safe and free.

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The following excerpt relays Mr. Stein’s thoughts as he headed home:

We had a driver so I slept most of the way back. But when I awakened near Long Beach, I saw immense waves of cars and their lights rushing towards me like a scene in a movie of a spaceship rocketing towards a cluster of stars. There were thousands of cars, tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands. And in the rest of the nation, hundreds of millions more.

A whole nation. Three hundred million plus souls. All rushing around making a living, taking their kids to soccer games, buying groceries, getting and spending.

And in this little corner of Camp Pendleton were the men and women who make it all possible, about to go fight in a horrible place called Afghanistan. Not one of the men or women I spoke to tonight ever mentioned the stock market or real estate or the dollar or commodities or a stimulus package. Not one of them complained to me about anything. It was probably the longest time I have ever been in a crowd where not one person mentioned money. Maybe it’s because they know that what they do is beyond price. Back to sleep and then I awakened as we got close to home.

I passed many Christmas decorations as we got off the 405 and headed east on Santa Monica Boulevard. The thought came to my old head that I had just seen the best Christmas group I have ever seen: men and women who so love their fellow man that they are cheerfully and eagerly going off to risk their lives to save total strangers. These really are the peacemakers. These really are the blessed of the earth, the gifts from God. If we have any decency at all, these men and their families take our gratitude and our prayers with them with every step they take. Merry Christmas, Camp Pendleton, and all who serve to save.

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Two universities will team up with the Wounded Warrior Project to honor our troops when they take to the football field this coming weekend.

Kudos to the University of South Carolina and the University of Maryland for the effort they have put forth in this endeavor.

Gamecocks Athletics Director, Eric Hyman, provides the details: (to view the special uniforms the teams will wear, follow the link)

Under Armour today announced its partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project, a not-for-profit organization that provides programs and services for injured service members and their families. The two have joined forces in conjunction with the University of South Carolina and University of Maryland football teams to recognize the sacrifices made by those who have served and those that continue to serve in our nation’s Armed Forces.

On November 14, in honor of our troops, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks and University of Maryland Terrapins will wear specially designed head-to-toe uniforms for their Game Day match-ups versus the University of Florida Gators and Virginia Tech Hokies respectively. The teams will take the field in black and desert camouflage uniforms featuring the Wounded Warrior Project logo. The uniforms will also have a unique twist; a core value embellishment – Duty, Honor, Courage, Commitment, Integrity, Country, and Service – will replace the players’ last name on the back of each jersey. Both games will be nationally televised.

Wounded Warrior and Under Armour will create special make-up products for fans to wear on game day to show their support. The gear will be sold in college book stores, local military base exchanges, and online at www.underarmour.com. A percentage of the fan gear proceeds will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. Additionally, a select number of game jerseys will be auctioned off after the game on the University websites and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.

“Partnering with an organization such as the Wounded Warrior Project allows Under Armour a unique opportunity to connect with college football fans and our athletes on a whole new level, while also supporting the overall mission of the Wounded Warrior Project – to build public awareness and help support injured service men and women and their families,” said Kevin Plank, founder and CEO of Under Armour. “We will continue to both honor and empower those who have been wounded and we are proud to support our troops.”

“We are extremely grateful to Under Armour and their partners, to their dedicated employees that believe in our mission, and of course to both universities and their athletic programs for this unique opportunity,” said Steven Nardizzi, executive director of the Wounded Warrior Project. “The incredible design of these uniforms, especially the use of warrior character traits in place of the athletes’ names on the game jerseys, and the overall visibility of these games, will generate excitement and greatly increase public awareness of our organization and the men and women we are privileged to serve.”

[all emphasis-admin]

HT: Just A Grunt. Follow the links provided there for more information.

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Fox NFL Sunday is the only football pregame show we watch most weekends.

We tuned in just a bit late yesterday, but just in time to see the following segment of the crew on location with our troops in Afghanistan:

(This is a different video than the one making the rounds yesterday, and is the segment I was hoping to locate..be sure to watch to the end, you won’t be disappointed)

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Once again…extremely non-presidential:

It is all about voting blocks and self promotion with this man.

A journalist for a local NBC affiliate in Chicago sums up this disgraceful behavior:

After news broke out of the shooting at the Fort Hood Army post in Texas, the nation watched in horror as the toll of dead and injured climbed. The White House was notified immediately and by late afternoon, word went out that the president would speak about the incident prior to a previously scheduled appearance. At about 5 p.m., cable stations went to the president. The situation called for not only his trademark eloquence, but also grace and perspective.

But instead of a somber chief executive offering reassuring words and expressions of sympathy and compassion, viewers saw a wildly disconnected and inappropriately light president making introductory remarks. At the event, a Tribal Nations Conference hosted by the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian affairs, the president thanked various staffers and offered a “shout-out” to “Dr. Joe Medicine Crow — that Congressional Medal of Honor winner.” Three minutes in, the president spoke about the shooting, in measured and appropriate terms. Who is advising him?

Anyone at home aware of the major news story of the previous hours had to have been stunned. An incident like this requires a scrapping of the early light banter. The president should apologize for the tone of his remarks, explain what has happened, express sympathy for those slain and appeal for calm and patience until all the facts are in. That’s the least that should occur.

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There is still time to donate to Project Valour-IT.

What a generous America we live in as even in this tough economy so many are digging deep to help our troops.

Here are the current totals raised by the respective services:

The following was included in an e-mail received from Cassandra, Marine Corps Team Leader: (Lots of info at her site)

If you haven’t yet done so, please consider a small donation to the Valour IT Marine team. We’ve managed to assemble a team of over 65 bloggers but it’s tough for us to compete with the larger services.

Until yesterday we had a $2000 lead over the Army and a $7-8000 lead over Air Force and Navy. But our position is being overrun. We need reinforcements!

In this friendly competition J’s is member of the Marine Corps team, but if you are willing and able to make a donation of any amount to this very worthy cause, please hit any donate button in the graphic above.

Thanks.

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J’s Cafe Nette is proud to be a part of the Marine Corps Team in supporting Project Valour-IT, sponsored by Soldier’s Angels.

Welcome to the 2009 Soldiers’ Angels Valour-IT fundraiser, running October 26 to November 11! This friendly, spirited competition raises money for technology that reconnects wounded warriors and supports their recovery.

Every dollar helps, so if you are able please consider donating to this very worthy cause.

Thanks.

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Thank you, military moms, for giving us your children to fight for us to protect us and those we love. Some of you are Gold Star Moms and we deeply and humbly appreciate all you have sacrificed for our country. May God be with those who are still alive and may He grant eternal rest to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

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I’d trust Dick Cheney any day of the week with our national security before I would trust Obama to protect us.

Here’s Cheney telling us the way it is.

(Update) A few of the paragraphs from Cheney’s speech worth repeating:

Recently, President Obama’s advisors have decided that it’s easier to blame the Bush Administration than support our troops. This weekend they leveled a charge that cannot go unanswered. The President’s chief of staff claimed that the Bush Administration hadn’t asked any tough questions about Afghanistan, and he complained that the Obama Administration had to start from scratch to put together a strategy.
In the fall of 2008, fully aware of the need to meet new challenges being posed by the Taliban, we dug into every aspect of Afghanistan policy, assembling a team that repeatedly went into the country, reviewing options and recommendations, and briefing President-elect Obama’s team. They asked us not to announce our findings publicly, and we agreed, giving them the benefit of our work and the benefit of the doubt. The new strategy they embraced in March, with a focus on counterinsurgency and an increase in the numbers of troops, bears a striking resemblance to the strategy we passed to them. They made a decision – a good one, I think – and sent a commander into the field to implement it.

Now they seem to be pulling back and blaming others for their failure to implement the strategy they embraced. It’s time for President Obama to do what it takes to win a war he has repeatedly and rightly called a war of necessity.

and this:

There are policy differences, and then there are affronts that have to be answered every time without equivocation, and this is one of them. We cannot protect this country by putting politics over security, and turning the guns on our own guys.
We cannot hope to win a war by talking down our country and those who do its hardest work – the men and women of our military and intelligence services. They are, after all, the true keepers of the flame.

[end update - Sue]

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There was a day when an election to public office meant something. It highlighted honesty, integrity and humility in an individual. Men and women were humbled by the fact that their fellow Americans had entrusted them with not only their well being but that of the country.

Those elected to the highest office of our land understood they may be called to defend her and in doing so would be responsible for the lives of those in harms way as well as her citizens. They also had pride in those who wore the uniform and their admiration and support carried over to our citizens.

Some believe the transformation of politics began in the sixties and to some degree I concur. Vietnam highlighted the best and worst of our society. Washington was not committed to winning a war which our military was commissioned to fight.

In their push for political cover they abandoned those on the battlefield and allowed the protests and draft dodgers to become the face of war. They hid behind media coverage who each night made the effort to not show the hardships endured by our troops at the hand of our government, but rather the carnage, both ours and that of the enemy, that painted our military as inept and floundering.

Think back no further than the coverage of the My Lai massacre. While there is no question that those who commit a crime in a time of war should be prosecuted just as a civilian would be, the coverage of this incident moved an already angry America (in many sectors) to hatred of those who wore the uniform of this country.

There was no “thanks for your service” or “welcome home” for the men and women who came home war weary. They now had many who viewed them as failures, incapable of completing their mission. The scorn of many fellow Americans was at times unbearable for many of our finest, and far too many bear the scars long after. What exactly did Washington do to correct this misconception?

Vietnam had touched nearly every family in the United States on some level or another be it a family member or friend who was called to serve and yet those in power were content to allow their reputations to be tarnished in exchange for political cover.

What was the price paid by those elected to serve? Not running for another term?

That is a far cry from the ridicule of being called a baby killer or feeling warm spit hit your skin or tarnish your uniform. There is no comparison in a cushy Washington job and that of standing at attention to honor another of your fellow soldiers who has paid the ultimate price in a war Washington was determined never to win.

The stakes were high in the sixties. America, when called to action, believed in victory.

Today, the stakes have been raised. Victory may just define not only our but the existence of other nations, however, we are again witnessing a Washington which has put our troops on the back burner in lieu of reshaping this country. While Washington talks, men and women are dying and being maimed. Have you heard the wordvictory uttered by this administration?

There is one major difference today versus the sixties.

This time, if our troops are withdrawn from Afghanistan prior to victory the majority of our people will not see them as having gone down to defeat. They will be applauded for their efforts and enduring conditions which most of us will never face. The onus will sit squarely on the shoulders of those who make calculated moves based on political power and that is precisely where it belongs.

Perhaps I am hoping for too much. For the sake of our country and those who wear her uniform, I hope not.

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To fully understand the following quoted paragraphs, please read this.

I have put men on the plane for their final journey home, and as many of you know, last month I lowered my flag to honor another good man who used to belong to me and we have politicians and a President who are plundering the Treasury and dithering while trying to impress the Eurotrash deciding on how many more Nobel Peace Prizes to award to him. And he can’t seem to fit any strategy meetings into his busy TV Speech schedule.

The Sons and Daughters of America who are braving snipers, IEDs and daily patrols through Badlands with death tugging at their elbows deserve better from this Congress and this President, and I know that I owe it to them to keep writing and to keep speaking out on their behalf.

I am growing weary of explaining that there is a difference between fighting to win and fighting to not lose to the government class that feels as if they rule, instead of govern. When the money starts to go away, the question becomes whether or not it is worth it to fight at all for someone who will disrespect your sacrifices, insult your efforts and deny you the tools to win; and then blame you for not doing the best job you could with resources they never provided.

I pray for the safety of my comrades who carry our fight to enemies of freedom far away from home and comfort and for the United States of America, because we truly now need divine inspiration and the help of the hand of the Almighty…

emphasis-admin

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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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Joe Namath, Golda Meir, the Chicago 8, Arafat, Woodstock, and so much more.

These were the faces and events which defined the year 1969.

Please vote (no registration required).

MarineParents is in the running to win $3,000! They can’t do it without YOU though because the winning charity will be the one with the most votes. Voting ends at 9 p.m. Eastern Time July 21

Has Barack Obama successfully sidelined Hillary Clinton?

The Telegraph believes it to be true:

If President Obama’s goal in appointing Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State was to neutralize his biggest rival, he has certainly succeeded. Clinton looks a shadow of her former self, and has been the most low-key Secretary of State in recent times. Her immediate predecessors Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell were far more prominent figures on the world stage during their first six months in office. Clinton, in contrast, looks tired, disinterested, and largely going through the motions.

The folks at Let Freedom Ring are in the midst of a brilliant campaign to weed out those in Congress who will not commit to actually reading a health care bill prior to voting in favor of it:

Those signing on to the pledge as of yesterday are available at the link above. If your Congressperson is not on the list, give he/she a call and inquire as to why not. I’d love to hear the answers.

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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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I would bet that the recipients of the kindness and gratitude shown by these folks would say that words could not fully express their feelings:

If these individuals do not show the best of America, I don’t know who does.

Giving of their time to welcome home returning members of our Armed Forces is to be greatly admired.

Please read this post for a first hand account of these airport greetings (a HT is in order as this is where I first viewed the above video.)

I’ve been at the airport a couple of times when troop flights have arrived, and it’s a moving experience. Soldiers file in and the minute they enter the terminal, the troop greeters start applauding, shaking hands and hugging the troops. In the troop greeter room, soldiers are given access to snacks and free cell phones they can use to call loved ones. Although I’ve never been a formal part of the troop greeting, when I’m at the airport and soldiers are there, I have taken the opportunity to shake a hand or clap for those who serve our country.

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The best D-Day coverage I have seen on the web is provided here by the United States European Command. (Check out their videos if you have the time, as they are not able to be embedded)

The video below is stirring and includes clips from the History Channel:

To all those, both American and Allied Forces, who paid the ultimate price so others would live free, we remember and thank you.

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Whether you are a veteran, a member of a family which includes veterans or a civilian who wishes to support our troops, please consider joining The Warrior Legacy Foundation.

On Memorial Day, six years ago, my friend gave his life to save a convoy of soldiers and two journalists. It is fitting that, this week before Memorial Day, we are talking about protecting his legacy.

A few months ago, I was talking with David Bellavia about this very issue. We talked about how the administration tried to make veterans pay for their own health care, how the DHS memos painted all veterans as right wing extremists and potential terrorists, and how there was no one, aside from the American Legion, really working to defend veterans.

So, a few of us decided to start our own foundation – non-partisan – to work with both sides of the aisle to solve veterans issues. We decided that we need to include every generation, every branch of service, in order to stand firm, back to back, and defend our family.

The Warrior Legacy Foundation is born.

Follow the links provided at Blackfive.

It only takes a minute to register and it’s the least we can do to show our troops that we stand behind them on Veteran’s issues.

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A while back there were several stories about this:

Some of the Guantanamo Bay prisoners could be released into the United States while others could be put on trial in the American court system, Attorney General Eric Holder said on Wednesday.

Yesterday, came this:

The State Department has made a decision to make an Iraqi translator, Jasim, wait another three years for a visa. One of the reasons that the denial was issued was that, Jasim, as part of the Kurdish Peshmerga, infiltrated Uday Hussein’s organization to steal data and then stole Uday’s car to escape. He was captured, tortured, and then released six years later when Saddam let all the prisoners go on the eve of the Invasion in 2003.

More on Jasim:

After the invasion, Jasim became a legendary translator, assisting above and beyond.
“I owe my life to Jasim … hands down,” said Master Sgt. Jason Krieger, who went on over 200 combat patrols with Jasim. “I consider him a brother, not only in arms, but in love as well.”

For six years, Jasim has put his life on the line to help our troops. His stepbrother paid the ultimate price for Jasim’s heroism.

Let’s get this straight. Terrorists are released on American soil and given access to our court system, but a man who has risked his life to assist our troops..well sorry, he’ll just have to wait to enjoy our freedoms.

There’s something very upsidedown about all of this, don’t you think?

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It’s ourtrageous that a Commander in Chief, moreover one in the time of war, would add additional stress to those both serving in hostile surroundings and those who are recovering from wounds received while defending this country:

WASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The leader of the nation’s largest veterans organization says he is “deeply disappointed and concerned” after a meeting with President Obama today to discuss a proposal to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries. The Obama administration recently revealed a plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in such cases.

“It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan,” said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. “He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it.”

The Commander, clearly angered as he emerged from the session said, “This reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate ‘ to care for him who shall have borne the battle’ given that the United States government sent members of the armed forces into harm’s way, and not private insurance companies. I say again that The American Legion does not and will not support any plan that seeks to bill a veteran for treatment of a service connected disability at the very agency that was created to treat the unique need of America’s veterans!”

Commander Rehbein goes on to make a very strong point when it comes to the welfare of not only the wounded warrior but also that of their immediate family:

The proposed requirement for these companies to reimburse the VA would not only be unfair, says the Legion, but would have an adverse impact on service-connected disabled veterans and their families. The Legion argues that, depending on the severity of the medical conditions involved, maximum insurance coverage limits could be reached through treatment of the veteran’s condition alone. That would leave the rest of the family without health care benefits. The Legion also points out that many health insurance companies require deductibles to be paid before any benefits are covered.

[emphasis-mine-admin]

Congress would be well advised to kill any such consideration before it sees the floor. There is a vast segment of this country who understands that while enlistment in the military is voluntary, it is a commitment to country.

Sure, you can argue that these folks get the benefit of a commissary or post exchange. So. We have Wal-Mart.

One might argue that many civilians have to “pay” for their health insurance. I ask, what are your chances of losing both legs, arms or worse at the hands of a terrorist laid IED?

Does this administration understand the stress those serving in a war zone incur? Do they understand what it is like to be the family left behind, hanging on to the hope that they will see their loved one arrive home intact both mentally and physically?

Call your Representative and your Senators. Let them know that you stand behind those who defend our freedoms.

Ask them why individuals who are willing to lay down their very lives for this country don’t deserve the best care we have available when necessary at minimal or no cost to them personally.

Should Congress find this proposal,(if it advances that far)
DOA then they should be applauded, but it should never be forgotten that the current administration has shown its hand.

By signing the latest Omnibus Spending Bill laden with countless earmarks it is quite evident that this President and his administration have made a conscious decision that government waste is acceptable so long as it keeps voting blocks content. Bring home the bacon and you shall win, win, win.

Well, these men and women do win, (and many times without the full support of elected officials or a select segment of their own fellow citizens):

The least we can do is support them by making certain no cuts to their health benefits see the light of day.

Update: Well, well, how quickly the administration has caved on this issue.

The White House on Wednesday backed off a controversial plan that would have dramatically altered the way the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) handles insurance claims, after veterans groups staged an all-out fight against such a proposal.

President Obama will not pursue a proposal that would have allowed the VA to charge private insurance companies for the treatment of veterans with service- and war-related injuries. The proposal raised the ire of prominent Democrats on the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs panels. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was the first to announce Wednesday afternoon that the president won’t pursue such a proposal…

Probably didn’t poll well or perhaps they were shocked by how many individuals were incensed by this ridiculous idea. end update

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The magicians Penn and Teller have been known to, as part of their act, explain sleight of hand while demonstrating it with a performance by Teller, appearing to merely dispose of an old cigarette and light a new cigarette. Teller is, in fact, simply hiding and replacing the same cigarette without ever putting it out. While Teller performs, Penn describes what he is doing, and explains the seven principles of Sleight of Hand.[7]

1. Palm – To hold an object in an apparently empty hand.
2. Ditch – To secretly dispose of an unneeded object.
3. Steal – To secretly obtain a needed object.
4. Load – To secretly move an object to where it is needed.
5. Simulation – To give the impression that something that has not happened, has.
6. Misdirection – To lead attention away from a secret move.
7. Switch – To secretly exchange one object for another.

The technique above is used only for entertainment right?

Wrong. It appears the Obama administration has mastered the art:

So – if you take a Brigade scheduled to go to Iraq and schedule it to go to Afghanistan instead, then make headlines for drawing down Iraq and building up Afghanistan, could you pull off substituting another Brigade into the Iraq rotation for the one you diverted without anyone in the media pointing out that your drawdown is a scam, a hoax on the American public?

Follow the link Greyhawk provides in the above linked post.

You’ll find that numbers two through six in the principles of Sleight of Hand are very applicable.

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I’ve been AWOL recently in posting about or linking to material regarding the United States Military.

Think it’s time to get back in the water by offering the following links for you to peruse:

Embedded in this post at Blackfive is a video well worth watching. [Language caution, although not throughout.]

I’ll share the final paragraph of the post as it might provide you a bit of insight into the subject matter:

Our military is not a tool to be used to further your political goals. I assume that is starting to sink in, and you still have to make the tough decisions. So man up sir, make the call and then prepare to stand by it. We’ll see if the sign over your desk comes down.

Two very stirring pieces are available at Mudville Gazete. The first is a touching thank you to our troops:

CAMP LIBERTY — A new symbol of freedom and appreciation now greets Soldiers and visitors to the headquarters of Multi-National Division – Baghdad, after an unveiling ceremony in front of division headquarters here, Feb. 5.

Dr. Muayad Muslin Hamid al-Jaburri, an influential Iraqi cardiologist and humanitarian, donated the gold eagle-head statue to all the Soldiers of MND-B in admiration for their sacrifices while working to make Baghdad a safer place to live.

“The Eagle represents a little bit of mixed culture, knowing how important the eagle means to Americans and knowing that in the Arabic culture we have been putting eagles on top of the castles for thousands of years to show power and protection,” said Jaburri.

A photo of the statue is available at the link.

The other must be read in its entirety to be appreciated, therefore I will offer no excerpts.

This post will touch your heart as it is a guest piece from a Gold Star Father.

One thing is for certain. I respect and admire Mr. Stokley’s position on media hounds being present when the remains of a fallen member of the US military arrives home.

These families deserve private moments with their loved ones as any civilian does. Exploiting a death for media or political gain is nothing short of despicable.

“We gather strength from sadness and from pain Each time we die we learn to live again.” – Source Unknown

Please take a few minutes to read the links offered above and maybe take a few minutes to remember those who are still engaged in the difficult work of maintaining our National Security in places far from home. Thanks.

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Over 3,000 Americans brutally killed on 9-11. 17 Sailors murdered on the USS Cole. Only 40 families of the departed met with Barack Obama today at the White House.

I wonder if other invitees felt much as this mother does:

There is no conceivable way I can feel the pain of Mrs. McDaniels, but as a fellow American first allow me to offer my condolences to the family and further, it is my opinion that she is 100% correct.

(Update): The family of another USS Cole Sailor who lost his life in the terrorist attack:

The trials of our son’s killers have become a heated political debate, and a political weapon that the liberals are using to get back at the past Bush administration, and the republican party. While the victims murders go unanswered, and the feelings of their families are taken on a emotional roller coaster ride.

While my family, myself and a good majority of Americans are wondering how can the Military Commissions Tribunals which were approved by congress can be overturned a by a President who does not agree with them. That’s not a democracy. That’s more like how President Saleh in Yemen acted after our son’s killers were tried in their courts. Saleh intervened for the killers and Al-Qaeda and then reduced their sentences, and pardoned others. And had the other Cole Bombers tried on unrelated charges, and then freed. As victims we had hoped that our own government would show us a little more respect. Wrong!

HT:Ace Of Spades

This is a very long, detailed piece but do yourself a favor and read the whole thing. Those who believe these folks garnered any more respect from former President Clinton than they are from the new administration..well you really need to check this out.

If a president, any president, cannot show respect for those who would lay down their lives for this country then how to you expect them to show respect for the balance of the population?

Further, following what was dubbed an emotional meeting, Mr. and Mrs. Obama proceeded with what is now “date night” at the White House:

It’s Friday, and that means one thing around the Obama White House: date night.

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“You must love soldiers in order to understand them, and understand them in order to lead them.”
-Henri Turenne

Somehow I missed this tribute to now former President Bush earlier in the week.

Thanks to Greyhawk for sharing the following video:

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President Bush got it.

Maybe not to those who chose to demean him due to their hatred.

Maybe not to those in Congress who chose to berate him due to their own insecurities or political greed.

But to those who carried out the orders of their Commander-In-Chief..well read for yourself:

On behalf of the 2.2 million uniform men and women of our Armed Forces, I am humbled to be able to formally thank President and Mrs. Bush for all they have done for our military and for our nation. More than 280,000 are walking point right now on the front lines. They stand tallest with us on this day, and it is right to thank them for making this celebration possible. (Applause.)

Truly it is not my privilege alone to tell the story of the Bush name — a story that waits not only to be said in volumes, but one carried in the hearts of those patriots out there; a story which rushes with the oral history of life, warm with gratitude, flush with inspiration; a story best told by the voices of our service members themselves, who recently had an opportunity to place in a journal their thoughts to President and Mrs. Bush. Deborah and I passed that journal to the troops as we recently traveled around the world.

And so if you don’t mind, Mr. President and Madam First Lady, I wanted to share a few handwritten lines from them.

“Mr. President, thank you and your family for your service. I am proud to serve under you, sir. You are awesome, and made a difference in the world.” Staff Sergeant Ward, Queens, New York.

“Sir, nice to see that our President is still quick on his feet after eight years in office.” (Laughter.) “Next time, pick up the shoe and throw it back.” (Laughter and applause.) “We got your back.” Master Sergeant Michael Frazier, United States Air Force.

“Sir, you truly set the standard to uphold the peace and our very way of life so our kids can grow up in a peaceful world. We will always stand tall, one great nation and one great state — Texas.” (Hoo-ah.) Sergeant First Class Claude Corey, Waco, Texas.

“Mrs. Bush, your class and dignity were an inspiration to us all.” Lieutenant Colonel Scott Rainey, United States Army, Baghdad.

“Sir, thank you for your service, example and leadership. We have not faltered, we will not fail. With greatest respect and honor, we serve.” Signed simply, Your Soldiers.

Those voices are an answering volley to you for your high regard and great respect for every single man and woman who serves this nation.

For those who sat safely and warmly in your seats in Washington let me say these words render your hatred and vitriol insignificant.

President Bush has admirably carried out his charge under the Constitution and the majority who wear the military attire of this country have a clear understanding of what he has accomplished.

The balance of Admiral Mullen’s remarks are about as sincere as I have heard in acknowledgment of an outgoing President and the remarks of the Commander-In-Chief were warm and genuine in response.

The decisions I made as your Commander-in-Chief have not always been popular. But the cause you have served has always been just and right. The missions you have carried out have always been necessary. And the work you have done has every bit — has been every bit as courageous and idealistic as that of any generation that came before you.

Class, humility and dignity to the end.

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Footage of Marines performing a special reading of “The Night Before Christmas” to the families of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Provided by 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs.

To every member of our Armed Forces and their families,thank you for your service.

Please know that there are many thoughts and prayers with you.

Merry Christmas.

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It’s so hard when they go, but oh so wonderful when they come home.

The best Christmas gift ever!

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President George W. Bush:

“We are blessed to have defenders of such character and courage.”

“I’m grateful to the families who serve by your side. And I will always be thankful for the honor of having served as the Commander-in-Chief.”

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Let’s Say Thanks is once again offering a unique, easy, no cost way to send personal messages to our troops this holiday season.

All of the postcards are designed by children and they each found their own way to say thank you to our troops who will spend the holidays away from loved ones.

Below is the card I selected and sent but there are many, many other terrific designs.

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