Showing posts with label War. Show all posts
Showing posts with label War. Show all posts

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Georgia On My Mind...

For days on end the world has had it's attention torn in several directions. With the U.S. Presidential race entering the convention phase, the controversies surrounding the Olympics in Beijing, the Middle East, and now Russia and Georgia?
If you asked the average American on June 27, 1914, who Archduke Franz Ferdinand was, the vast majority would have looked at you and said "never heard of him. Indeed, almost a full century later, if you mention Franz Ferdinand you're likely to bring to mind the rock group from Glasgow, Scotland, who's hit song "Take Me Out" was featured in commercials for the Sony PSP.

On June 28, 1914, Europe began it's decline into a state of continental war that would become, at the end, the most costly and devastating war to ever face the world. Even with the American entrance into the conflict in 1918, many Americans weren't sure why the U.S. was involving itself in a European conflict. And a great many Americans still weren't exactly sure what had started the war to begin with.

It's a century later, nearly, and until a few days ago, the vast majority of Americans really didn't have a clue that there was a problem in the former Soviet satellite nation of Georgia, let alone having any knowledge of a region known as South Ossetia. Yet once again the less well known regions of Europe have engaged the attention of the world as they become an object of turmoil and strife. The reason? South Ossetia has been seeking to break away from Georgia, as a large percentage of the population of the region are ethnic Russians, and wish for closer ties to Moscow than to Tbilisi. Or at least, that's what the Russians claim.

To some in the west, Russia has proven itself, at the governmental level, not to be trusted at their word. With the claims of having given cease-fire orders to their forces that rolled into the region on the one hand, and the first-hand accounts of Russian armor rolling into flanking positions around key Georgian cities, the bombing of the infrastructure (communication facilities and the like), and the sinking of Georgian ships by Russian warships, one can only speculate as to the long term goal of the Russian government. Georgia was, after all, one of the nations that made up the former Soviet Union, and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was a member at one time of the KGB's "Fifth Directorate," which focused on political dissenters against Soviet policy, as well as having worked in the KGB's foreign intelligence divisions. Relevant? Perhaps not, unless one looks at the documented history of the practice of disinformation practiced by the KGB and Soviet Union throughout the years. To be fair, the United States and other western nations have practiced this method through the years, as well, but in this case it is Russia that is claiming non aggression at the governmental level while Russian troops have been occupying Georgian sovereign soil.

There will be, and probably are already, those who shrug their shoulders and proclaim, "It's no different from the United States invading Iraq and Afghanistan." In the case of the United States in regards to both Afghanistan and Iraq, there was evidence that has been documented and gone over ad nauseum to show terrorist activities being sponsored by or supported by both countries. Ethnic Russians living in the nation of Georgia are citizens of Georgia, not mother Russia, and the conflict that was brewing between South Ossetia and Tbilisi was an internal matter, not something for Russia to become, legally, involved in, which leads to the question; is the world witnessing the awakening of the Russian bear after a period of hibernation?

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man

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Monday, April 7, 2008

"You want the truth? YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!"

I'm going to ask a very simple question before we dive into the rest of this article, a question that ponders within my heart and soul as well as my mind, a question that I ask every time I watch the national news, a question that we should all be asking ourselves whenever we see one of our elected "leaders" open their mouths and start using their split tongues to double-talk us with lies and rhetoric.

That question is this: Have we become a nation of idiots?

A few months ago, I did a piece entitled "Inverted," in which I addresses several key issues of the day in which I see our thinking as upside down as a society. It appears that my piece might have hit home with a few people, but it hasn't had the significant impact that I had truly hoped it might have when I wrote it. I wasn't expecting mountains to be moved, nor rivers to change courses, but perhaps a few minds to be opened to thinking, something that seems to have become a dying art in our modern society. I have determined that one piece alone doesn't have the impact today of something as significant as Martin Luther's 99 Theses; instead, it takes perseverance and persistence and a constant showing of what is going on with things.

Therefore, I have decided that this will become an ongoing feature for Wake Up America. This will be the first of an ongoing series that will discuss the question, "Have we become a nation of idiots?"

General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker are preparing for their next round of Congressional testimonies this coming week. There is a lot to report. According to the latest NIE update, the troop surge in Iraq has worked, there is slow but steady progress in the country politically, and Iraqi forces are taking a more active role in their own security.

Petraeus is a career military officer, not a politician, and Crocker is a diplomat. These are not men who are coming to Washington jockeying for position with other lawmakers, opening themselves to the flirtations of lobbyists, or trying to determine how much pork they can bring home for their districts in the form of earmarks. Petraeus is a warrior, Crocker is a peace-broker. Despite the seeming contradictory roles they play, both men actually are working for the same goal in a country that needs their experience and expertise to begin full work in governing itself, with our help as a nation at the outset.

One needs only to look at history to see that our own nation had the help of the French at a time when we were struggling to emerge as a nation of our own right.

There has been no advanced word on what the Petraeus or Crocker reports will say. No one has leaked information, yet, as to what will be discussed at the Congressional testimonies. But Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi seems to think she already knows what will be said, and has gone on the record saying that she doesn't want to hear it.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) warned Army Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker on Thursday not to "put a shine on recent events” in Iraq when they testify before Congress next week.

“I hope we don’t hear any glorification of what happened in Basra,” said Pelosi, referring to a recent military offensive against Shiite militants in the city led by the Iraqi government and supported by U.S. forces.

Although powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr agreed to a ceasefire after six days of fighting, Pelosi wondered why the U.S. was caught off guard by the offensive and questioned how the ceasefire was achieved, saying the terms were "probably dictated from Iran.” “We have to know the real ground truths of what is happening there, not put a shine on events because of a resolution that looks less violent when in fact it has been dictated by al-Sadr, who can grant or withhold that call for violence,” Pelosi said.


So the Speaker of the House has determined that she can warn a United States Army General in command of a theater of operations what not to say? The Speaker of the House is forwarding a message to a United States diplomatic official what not to report upon? Does this not come across as being less than open-minded in preparing for a report on the activities in Iraq, as she should be?

By the way, Petraeus and Crocker will have support when they go in to speak before Congress. Members of Vets for Freedom will be there tomorrow, as well.

From email:

For the past three weeks, the National Heroes Tour took the message of the success in Iraq straight to the American people. From San Antonio to Saint Paul to South Carolina, we engaged crowds large and small, and spoke with over 200 media outlets, reaching over 20 million people through local television and radio.

With just 3% of news coverage in the mainstream media committed to Iraq, we bypassed national media all together, and it worked. Local media outlets were very receptive to "ground truth," and our veterans were able to provide it. Any way you slice it, the National Heroes Tour has been an overwhelming success.

But it's not over yet. Tomorrow we bring our message to Congress, when over 400 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans descend on Capitol Hill for "Vets on the Hill." Our guys will enjoy breakfast with the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Richard Myers, before heading to Capitol Hill for a bi-partisan press conference with two-dozen members of Congress, including Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman, and Lindsay Graham.

After the press conference, Vets for Freedom will flood the halls of Congress with a sea of warriors, armed with first-hand experience, facts about the incredible progress in Iraq, and a passion for nothing short of victory, Their stories are "taking points" that no one can refute—and members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, will hear from them.

Our message is simple: Let them win! and listen to General David Petraeus. He was right in September, and has the best pulse on events in Iraq. Congress would be wise to heed his advice.

Commence Movement to Contact,

Pete Hegseth
Executive Director
Vets for Freedom


It is beyond my comprehension how that Nancy Pelosi was selected to be Speaker of the House of Representatives. She has shown time and again over the past two years her lack of ability to actually lead, Congress has accomplished nothing during this term other than to show themselves to be able to behave like pre-schoolers who have been told they have to stay inside for recess; the Senate, under Harry Reid, has done no better. They have whined and complained and griped and moaned about President Bush this and President Bush that, but what have they done? And who keeps sending them back to do the nothing that they do so well?

Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. We, the American people, continue to send people like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to Washington, expecting them to do something for us when they get there. They do nothing. And yet they are reelected over and over and over until they become career politicians like Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, just to name two.

They do nothing.

Insane?

I think so, that's why I very, very rarely vote for any incumbent candidate, unless the other option is worse than what is already in office. My question is, looking around at the likes of Reid, Pelosi, Kennedy, Kerry, Murtha, and so on and so forth, is, what kind of idiot does it take to continue to vote for these people?

Phil Bredesen, take note: I didn't vote for your condescending ass either, I knew you'd show your true colors with a second term as Governor of Tennessee.

Bob Corker, take note: we are watching you. You were selected over a popular Democratic opponent because we trusted you AT YOUR WORD that you would go to Washington to do the peoples work. So far, you're doing well. Not great, but doing well. We expect to see leadership out of you; we didn't send you up there to be a follower.

Lamar Alexander, take note: you're on the verge of PISSING your constituency off when you have your staff take the phones off the hooks so that we can't get through on important issues. Unfortunately, no one seems to be willing to take you on in this coming election cycle that you're going to be in, but that could change in a heartbeat if you don't watch yourself and do what you were elected to do.

Each and every one of you from Tennessee is on notice for this business in the House this term. You Democrats who have decided to ignore your home districts and pander to Grammy Nan are going to have to answer for what you've done when you come home at election time. There are those of us who are going to see to that in your districts. You have questions that you will have to answer. Personally, I hope none of you are returned to office.

John Tanner, you especially have a record that flies in the face of the people who live in your district. Nancy Pelosi doesn't represent us in west Tennessee, you do, John, and we're disappointed as hell in you. You know better than to let the values you grew up with be overrun by a left coast liberal.

Shame on you.

Are we idiots? Are we insane to continue to send people who pay lip service to representing us in government back into office over and over?

What do you think?

Have we become a nation of idiots?

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man


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Friday, November 23, 2007

Rumsfeld Case Dismissed by French Court

There is one word for this case having been in the works to begin with, and that word is "Inverted." What kind of a world do we live in where our national leaders can't conduct operations during a war without some whackjob organization taking it upon themselves to sue them for it?

Thank God common sense prevailed and the case was dismissed:

French prosecutors throw out Rumsfeld torture case
Fri Nov 23, 2007 12:27pm EST

PARIS (Reuters) - The Paris prosecutors' office has dismissed a suit against Donald Rumsfeld accusing the former U.S. defense secretary of torture, human rights groups who brought the case said on Friday.

The plaintiffs, who included the French-based International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) and the U.S. Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), said Rumsfeld had authorized interrogation techniques that led to rights abuses.

The FIDH said it had received a letter from the prosecutors' office ruling that Rumsfeld benefited from a "customary" immunity from prosecution granted to heads of state and government and foreign ministers, even after they left office.

It said in a statement it was "astonished at such a mistaken argument" and said customary immunity from prosecution did not exist under international law.

The suit was filed in October during a visit to France by Rumsfeld...


This is NOTHING SHORT of another attempt by Bush haters around the world to try to undermine his Presidential authority as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of our nation.

Former prisoners at the U.S. detention camp in Guantanamo Bay are suing Rumsfeld and 10 military commanders, alleging torture and violations of their religious rights during their detention there.


Violating their religious rights? Under what laws were their religious rights violated? They aren't citizens of the United States, so they technically aren't eligible for our constitutional rights. They aren't soldiers of a foreign military forces, so they aren't subject to the Geneva accords. They're given copies of the Koran, prayer rugs, time to pray at the appointed times according to Islam, and are well fed. They're lucky they aren't in a prison run by a bunch of pissed off Southern veterans. They think they were "mistreated" under Rumsfeld's overseeing? Let them start their jihad activities in the area around where I live in west Tennessee. We have a one shot, on kill mindset around here, it conserves ammunition during our hunting seasons.

Unless they tangle with the duck hunters. In that case, once THOSE guys let loose with their 12 gauge shotguns...let's just say that's a lot of shot pellets flying through the air. Kind of like a flying wall of small steel ball bearings.

To the French Courts, for dismissing this nonsense, I say "Vive la France!"

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man


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Sunday, September 9, 2007

MoveOn.org calls Petraeus a traitor, earns an RC award

[Updates below as well as a link to part #2 of this thread]

I don't know...

When I can remember...

Being quite...

So...

Pissed...................

Do you ever reach a point of anger where your blood just chills inside of you and you have the most calm, collected, cold rational thought processes running despite the rage? That's where I am now.

Why, you ask? I'm glad you asked that.

The LEFT have taken a whole new slant (as if they weren't slanted enough already) in their efforts to make us look like a nation of damned fools. I am so sick and tired and fed up with MoveOn.org and groups like them...

They're playing right into the hands of our enemies around the world, especially with this, their latest stunt:

MoveOn.org Calls Petraeus a Traitor
Do Democrats in Congress agree?
by Pete Hegseth
09/09/2007 5:28:00 PM

Tomorrow--as General David Petraeus provides his Iraq assessment to Congress--the antiwar group MoveOn.org is running a full-page advertisement in the New York Times under the headline: "General Petraeus or General Betray us? Cooking the books for the White House."

Let's be clear: MoveOn.org is suggesting that General Petraeus has 'betrayed' his country. This is disgusting. To attack as a traitor an American general commanding forces in war because his 'on the ground' experience does not align with MoveOn.org's political objectives is utterly shameful. It shows contempt for America's military leadership, as well as for the troops who have confidence in him, as our fellow soldiers in Iraq certainly do.

General Petraeus has served this country for over 35 years with honor, distinction, and integrity. And this is not just about General Petraeus. After all, if General Petraeus is "cooking the books," then the entire military chain of command in Baghdad, and all the staff, military and civilian, who have been working with General Petraeus are complicit, since Petraeus did not write his report in isolation. They are all, apparently, 'betray[ing] us.'

MoveOn.org has been working closely with the Democratic congressional leadership --as an article in today's Sunday New York Times Magazine makes clear. And consider this comment by a Democratic senator from Friday's Politico: "'No one wants to call [Petraeus] a liar on national TV,' noted one Democratic senator, who spoke on the condition on anonymity. 'The expectation is that the outside groups will do this for
us.'


More...

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Don't Question His Patriotism! [Cliff May]

MoveOn.org, it seems, is questioning the patriotism of Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq. Tomorrow, the anti-war group is running a full-page advertisement in the New York Times under the headline: "General Petraeus or General Betray us?"


Folks, this is about as original as "Elvis the Pelvis" was. What makes it SO MUCH WORSE is that the world is watching us to see how we, as a nation, and our government, will react to the report. And what are they seeing? Such divisive tripe as this.

WE CAN NOT CONTINUE TO GO ON ALLOWING OUR NATION TO BE RIPPED APART BY THOSE WHO WISH TO DESTROY US NOT ONLY FROM THE OUTSIDE BUT FROM WITHIN AS WELL.

Is it going to take an escalation of things into violence, again, within this nation for us to unite AS a nation? Let me warn you of this, those of you who are BUCKING for a second "Civil War" in the United States: the MINUTE lines are draw and ranks are formed for us to do battle against one another, do you HONESTLY THINK that the rest of the world is going to stand idly by and let us duke it out amongst ourselves may the best side win? HELL NO! Russia and China are watching this with baited breath, mark my words. The Taliban and al-Queda are CHEERING us on to continue to pull apart internally. Our ALLIES are watching us to see what happens. And we have MoveOn.org planning to run this add calling the top general in Iraq a traitor because they don't like the war.

TOUGH.

No one in their RIGHT MIND likes war. But sometimes things have to be done to protect our way of life.

IF WE CONTINUE DOWN THE PATH THAT WE ARE TAKING, one very, VERY similar to the path we took prior to 1860 in this nation, and find ourselves fighting each other, you can BET YOUR SWEET ASS that there will be foreign factions who will be MORE THAN WILLING to jump into the fray to make sure that we are finally and ultimately destroyed as a nation.

To those American citizens supporting MoveOn.org: if you seek traitors, take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask yourself, honestly, is the organization that you are supporting working in the best interests of your country?

To the Congress and the Senate: How much longer will you continue to work at odds and allow our nation to become more divided? How much longer will you allow leadership within the House and the Senate who blatantly seek the division of the American people? How much longer will you continue to make political partisan play out of something that is so literally life and death, NOT JUST for our troops, but for our citizenry as well? HOW MUCH LONGER will a political party have WEEKLY CONFERENCES with a group SUCH AS MoveOn.org, paying credence to them RATHER THAN THE PEOPLE WHO PUT THEM IN OFFICE? We the people are watching you, and we will remember what you do, and how you respond.

To the American People in general: how much longer will you allow yourselves to listen to the rantings of a sick and deranged old man HIDING IN A CAVE and telling you what to believe? How much longer will you listen to those who would see our nation discredited LIE to you by telling you that we are fighting an illegal war? How much longer will you continue to support leaders who clearly have their own political survival in mind rather than doing what is right for our nation, and what best protects our nation. How much longer will you IGNORE the threat of radical Islam that calls for our destruction by focusing on lines drawn on a map rather than the VERY REAL problem that this ideology CROSSES national boundaries and involves a multinational group that may or may NOT have the support of any particular government or governments.

To the New York Times: disgraceful.

This war, the war on terrorist groups, the war that John Edwards has called a "bumper sticker war," has long lasting implications for more than a handful of reasons.

Our world changed on 9/11. We cannot forget that, no matter how much we would like to do so.

Traitor my leathery ass.

You know, I have personally not said anything untowards in regards to the generals who dissented in conducting operations in Iraq. As a soldier (once a soldier, always a soldier), I understand that there is a difference between peace time leadership and war time leadership. I could understand the dissenting opinions of the peace time general staff. No way would I call them traitors. They served our nation, they did their duty, and they voiced their opinions. General Petraeus has served our nation, as well, and he has done so IN THE CAPACITY of a war time general.

MoveOn.org has gone TOO FAR with this one. Too far.

I call on Congress, and I call on the American people, to hold them accountable for their sedition.

MoveOn.org wins the Rubber Chicken Award for this week, hands down.


Once and Always, an American Fighting Man


(NOTE: Instead of leaving you with the advertisements I usually have at the bottom of each post, I will leave you with one of the videos from Freedoms Watch) [30 second video.]


Wounded Veteran:



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[Update] Despite the Democrats and Move On Org. doing everything in their power to discredit General Petraeus, or perhaps because of those attempts, the NYT/CBS poll, with obvious bias in how they asked questions, STILL showed one little gem. 68% percent of the American population trust the militray more than anyone else on the war.

I think they have overplayed their hand and the public sees this.

[Update #2] Pete has another piece out asking whether Democrats will denounce Move On for this ad, or whether they will be complicit in Move On's actions by staying silent. If they do not speak out against Move On because of the fear of the orgination, then they will, rightly so, continue to be associated in everyones mind with this group.

PART #2 OF THIS THREAD, INCLUDING REACTIONS FROM THE POLITICIANS CAN BE FOUND HERE.




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Saturday, July 21, 2007

"The Right Stuff?"

I have long maintained, both as a veteran and as man who has past his thirties, now, that the military has it ALL WRONG in sending young men into combat.

Allow me to explain.

My fellow veterans from the Reagan era and before will be able to relate to this more, perhaps, than those who came after us in the 90's on until today. Basic training was um, a few days ago (ahem) but the memories...ah the memories.

In my day, it was not uncommon for the drill instructors to eat garlic and onions at any given meal of the day, then share the effects of said bulbs with recruits standing in formation by standing in their faces and talking to them. Loudly. At 18 that can be a bit intimidating, after the age of, oh, say 35, you're more inclined to offer said DI a tic tac.

Head games don't work on older guys the same way they work on the younger ones. Ladies, I know you'll forgive me for saying so, but by the time the average male has reached his mid-thirties, we're sort of used to people playing with our minds.

Ahem.

This shift in attitude works to the advantage when it comes to being a soldier, though, I think. At 18 the mind is not as adjusted to having to make a snap decision as it is when you're older. You're also able to think more abstractly and envision things a bit better. An example? The reason you don't point your loaded weapon at one of your buddies is because it might accidently discharge and you'll shoot him. By the mid-thirties, you're more able to envision the effects of that than at the age of 18.

By the mid-thirties you've also learned (again, apologies to the ladies here, but I think you'll agree) the art of selective deafness. This would come in handy if captured by the enemy. "What is your unit strength, and what is your mission?" "I'm sorry, what?" (Louder) "What is your mission, and how many people are in your unit?" (shaking head sadly, pointing to ears) "Say again?" (Louder still, growing aggitated) "MISSION, UNIT" (Feigning comprehension) "YES I miss my unit, will I be going back to them soon?" (Screams of utter frustration, cursing in native language)

See my point?

After we leave our twenties, we're less inclined to be interested in brawling to "prove ourselves." Remember the scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indiana Jones had fought off a group of swordsmen with his bullwhip, only to find himself facing one last opponent who stood twirling and brandishing his sword? Of course you do, it's cinematic history. What did Indy do? He shot the guy and moved on. Classic older guy remedy to the situation. Fight you? Heck no, BANG you're dead.

One of our readers sent the following in email to WUA a few days ago, and the man is absolutely correct.

Enjoy, and see if you can't find the solid logic in the thought processes.

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man


Drafting Guys Over 60
I'm over 60 and the Armed Forces say I'm too old to track down terrorists. (You can't be older than 42 to join the military.)

They've got the whole thing backwards. Instead of sending 18-year-olds off to fight, they ought to take us old guys. You shouldn't be able tojoin a military unit until you're at least 35.

For starters:
Researchers say 18-year-olds think about sex every 10 seconds.Old guys only think about sex a couple of times a day, leaving us more than 28,000 additional seconds per day to concentrate on the enemy.

Young guys haven't lived long enough to be cranky, and a cranky soldier is a dangerous soldier. If we can't kill the enemy we'll complain them into submission. "My back hurts! I'm hungry! Where's the remote?"

An 18-year-old hasn't had a legal beer yet and you shouldn't go to war until you're at least old enough to drink. The average old guy, on the other hand, has consumed 126,000 gallons of beer, and a jaunt through the desert heat with a beer and an M-60 would do wonders for the old beer belly. (Note there are 24 hours in a day and 24 bottles in a case...another convenient way to measure time!)

An 18-year-old doesn't like to get up before 10 a.m.

Old guys always get up early to pee.

If captured we couldn't spill the beans because we'd forget where we put them. In fact, name, rank, and serial number would be a real brainteaser.

Boot camp would be easier for old guys. We're used to getting screamed and yelled at and we like soft food. We've also developed an appreciation for guns.We like them almost better than naps. They could lighten up on the obstacle course however. I've been in combat and didn't see a single 20-foot wall with rope hanging over the side, nor did I ever do any pushups after completing basic training. I can hear the Drill Sgt now, "Get down and give me ... er ... one." Actually, the running part is kind of a waste of energy. I've never seen anyone outrun a bullet.

An 18-year-old has the whole world ahead of him. He's still learning to shave, to carry on a conversation, and to wear pants without the top of his butt crack showing and his shorts sticking out. He's hasn't figured out that a pierced tongue catches food particles, and that a 400-watt speaker in the back seat of a Honda can rupture an eardrum, and that a baseball cap has a brim to shade eyes, not the back of his head.

These are all great reasons to keep our kids at home to learn a little more about life before sending them off into harm's way. Let us old guys track down those dirty rotten cowards who attacked us on September 11. The last thing an enemy would want to see right now is a couple of million old farts with attitudes.

Share this with your senior friends. It's purposely in big type so you can read it.

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Thursday, May 24, 2007

A liberal in Soldier's clothing...

When is a door not a door? When it's ajar.

Silly old kids joke, I know, but it leads into another question: when is a liberal not a liberal? Answer: a liberal is ALWAYS a liberal, no matter how hard it tries to pretend it isn't.

I've seen a lot of strained, forced behavior in my day, but Spencer Ackerman takes the cake in his piece entitled The Bitter End. I can't even begin to figure out exactly where he's going with his article, it's that convoluted and, as my seventeen year old son would say, "random." On the one hand, he tries to make the case for Congressional demands that the war in Iraq come to an end; on the other, he tries to show the troops impressions on how they feel about a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.

Haunted by Vietnam, Democrats are determined to express support for the troops. This is admirable. The truth of the matter, however, is this: many troops in Iraq, perhaps even most of them, want to stay and fight. That doesn’t mean that we should stay in Iraq any longer. It does mean, however, that if Democrats want to bridge the divide between themselves and the military—an effort further complicated by their opposition to the war—they’re going to have to recognize that arguing in the name of the troops isn’t going to work.

Okay, so the Democrats don't want the war, but they don't want to be seen as not supporting the troops, so they try to say that since they care about the troops, they want them safe, let's bring them home? Is that the message? John "Breck Boy" Edwards seems to think so. I hope to gods I don't see any of his damned suggested signs this weekend, either, by the way. I think I may just have to go off on someone.

Ahem.

Sorry, sidetracked.

We continue.

Democrats, liberals, have tried to use this "protect the troops" tactic for quite a little while now. Is our military so pitiful it needs the brave, protective Congress to protect it? I don't think so. "George W. LIED to the American people, he LIED about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, he LIED about al-Qaeda involvement in Iraq." Is that a fact. I reckon Bill and Hillary Clinton and Al Gore lied about it, too, then, because they said the same things before W was elected to office. Amazing how liberals gloss over that and ignore it.

Soldiers may see that their unit is accomplishing its objectives and feel a boost in morale. They may search a house and find a weapons cache, for instance, or they may track down a crucial member of a terrorist cell and take him into custody. Frustratingly, as obvious and long as the list of tactical successes may be, absent dramatic political improvements they rarely coalesce on their own into a change in a counterinsurgency’s overall fortunes. And these aren’t questions soldiers can afford to concern themselves with. “Once you’re engaged, eyeball to eyeball, you tend not to think about those strategic issues at all. You’re trying to shoot and shoot back,” says retired General Merrill McPeak, a former Air Force chief of staff and Vietnam veteran. “Your entire focus becomes tactical.”

In addition, with the bar for success getting increasingly lower, even small improvements feel big. “They have a new commander over there, and at least the appearance and the rhetoric of a new strategy,” says military expert Richard Kohn of the University of North Carolina. The soldiers, says Kohn, will tell themselves, “All right, this is it. This is the one last chance.” (Indeed, this is almost exactly what Smith and Miller expressed to me.)

Okay, has the man not heard of gathering intelligence and information from unit and squad debriefing sessions? You put all the information together that comes in from the battlefield, from the rear, from the support units, the firebases, and so on and so on and so on and you put together a big clear picture of what's going on.

Fortunately, Congress seems to be, grudgingly, admitting at last that we can't abandon Iraq or the Middle East. For the record, before I include what follows, I want it made perfectly clear for the record that I still WILL NOT watch CNN news for their traitorous act of showing an American soldier being executed by a sniper first on television, then as a download on their site. WUA still uses them as a source, however, and sent this to me, ergo I felt compelled to include it. CNN remains, however, on my shitlist until they make ammends for treasonous acts.

House, Senate pass war funding bill
POSTED: 0202 GMT (1002 HKT), May 24, 2007

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Congress sent a $120 billion war spending bill to the White House late Thursday, abandoning a call for most U.S. troops to leave Iraq after an earlier veto by President Bush.

The bill replaces the earlier goal of withdrawing U.S. combat troops by March 2008 with a series of political benchmarks for Iraqi leaders to meet in order to receive continued American support.

But the move sharply split the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives, where 140 members -- including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- voted against the plan.


Simmer down, Nancy, at least your plastic surgeon hasn't signed up. It's about damned time that Congress did something right. Lord knows they've done enough wrong, ESPECIALLY in the last six months since this Congress was sworn in.

This bickering back and forth, the media lies, the Congress men and women and Senators with yellow stripes down their backs, are wearing on the people in the uniforms of our nation's service. Instead of being part of the solution, they're being part of the problem. A HUGE part of the problem. In some cases, they ARE the problem:

Carlson: Shift news to successes in Iraq, soldier urges

JOHN CARLSON'S IOWA

A tired and disgusted Iowa soldier fired off an e-mail a few days ago, telling family and friends how things are going in Iraq.

A Blackhawk helicopter pilot, Chief Warrant Officer Jim Funk has flown more than 80 combat missions since he arrived there in October.

He described his Boone-based unit's successes after 5,000 hours of flying out of LSA Anaconda, a huge American base north of Baghdad. He talked about the tragedies he and his fellow Iowans have witnessed and his worries of becoming complacent as he goes on mission after mission.

Morale?

"We're treading water," the Ames man told the people closest to him. "We continue to kick butt on missions and take care of each other, even though we know the American public and government DOES NOT stand behind us.

Ohhhh, they all say they support us, but how can you support me (the soldier) if you don't support my mission or my objectives. We watch the news over here. Every time we turn it on we see the American public and Hollywood conducting protests and rallies against our 'illegal occupation' of Iraq."

His greatest frustration? The performance of the people who deliver the news to the American people
.

Go read the full article, read his letter, his words are compelling and from the heart.

Can a liberal pass himself off as a conservative? Not really. Not well, at any rate.

This is Memorial Day weekend. Honor well those who have fallen in defense of our freedom, in defense of our way of life. Respect those who wear the uniform still today, and support them. Not just with lip service, really, honestly support them.

They put themselves in harms way to make sure that the American people don't have to.

God bless them one and all.

To our soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors, you have the thanks of this veteran, and I salute you. And I think regular readers of our site know that that ain't just lip service...

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man

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Saturday, May 19, 2007

Purple Hearts...

I can't recall a time in history when a sitting President has been under more fire during a time of war than President Bush has been, unless it would be Abraham Lincoln, whose name was spoken ill of during the 1860's in the south.

That being said, what follows is heartwarming, touching, and shows a great deal of compassion by those involved. It makes sense when you read it. Outstanding.

Hat tip to Jules Crittenden for this one.

Copperas Cove man to give president his Purple Heart

By Joyce May
Killeen Daily Herald

COPPERAS COVE – History will be made today when Copperas Cove resident Bill Thomas and his wife, Georgia, present President George W. Bush with a Purple Heart at the Oval Office.

Thomas said he and his wife came up with the unprecedented idea to present the president with the Purple Heart over breakfast one morning a few months ago as they discussed the verbal attacks, both foreign and domestic, the commander in chief has withstood during his time in office.

"We feel like emotional wounds and scars are as hard to carry as physical wounds," Thomas said.

The medal was awarded to Thomas on Dec. 18, 1965, following injuries he sustained while serving in heavy combat with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam.

It is one of three he was awarded during his service.

Thomas said the Purple Heart he is presenting the president has special meaning to him because the injury he suffered to earn it occurred just after a friend, Richard Peterson, lost his life attempting to save him.

"The hand grenade came in, and I didn't see it. Before diving, which he should have ... he pushed me down and the delay cost him his life," Thomas recalled. "Shortly after that, I was laying in position ... and took a .50-caliber round that shattered my shoulder blade and virtually took out my right lung."

Thomas said he drew up a citation and he and his wife signed it before dropping it and the medal off with Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, to forward to President Bush.

"Congressman Carter called me last week and said the President was very moved by it, and would like us to present it in person," Thomas said.

Thomas is taking a copy of the original citation showing the origin of the actual medal to present as a companion piece with the citation he drew up for the President.

He has drawn criticism from some locals who have learned of his actions, Thomas said. Nevertheless, he said he earned the Purple Heart and it is his to do with it as he sees fit.

"I feel the President deserved one," he said. "The bottom line is, I paid for these Purple Hearts with my blood."

The Thomas' are scheduled to be at the White House at 12:30 p.m. Monday.

"As John Carter said, this is a piece of American history," Thomas said.

Contact Joyce May at jmay@kdhnews.com or call (254) 547-0428


Reminder; the President is the Commander in Chief of the United States Armed Forces. HE is in the chain of command. CONGRESS is NOT in the chain of command.

Like I said, this makes sense to me.

HOOOOWAAAA

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man

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Friday, May 18, 2007

THESE COLORS DON'T RUN!

It seems Nancy Pelosi is devoping QUITE a pattern of not allowing the media to cover things regarding her if they show her in a bad light.
Honestly, I don't know of any lighting where she would look good, perhaps total darkness is best for the screecher of the house, but I digress before I've even gotten started.

Ahem.

Protestors at yesterdays Surrender is Not an Option rallies who were allowed into screecherPelosi's office entered under a ban of cameras or media members.

'Surrender monkeys' protest Pelosi, Reid

Posted: May 18, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern


By Catherine Moy



Protesters and "surrender monkeys" marched on the offices of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., yesterday opposing the Democrats retreat-and-defeat policies in the war against Muslim jihadists in Iraq and around the world.

The "surrender monkeys" – played by two chimpanzees in San Francisco – wore the uniform of the original surrender monkeys from France: a beret and a waving white flag.

Move America Forward, or MAF, the country's largest pro-troop group, sponsored the "Surrender is Not an Option" protests in three cities: San Francisco, Las Vegas and Carson City, Nev. The protesters included Iraqi veterans, Vietnam veterans, Gold Star parents, Blue Star parents, American patriots and special guests: two chimpanzees and one French monkey dressed as "cheese-eating surrender monkeys."


Following the protest, 10 people were allowed inside Pelosi's San Francisco office to discuss the issues with a staff person. The media were prohibited from witnessing the meeting; cameras and recording devices were banned with no explanation. Guards kept an eye on the rally and strictly controlled entry into Pelosi's office.


The Cowardly Lion didn't cotton to having visitors come calling, either.

Sen. Reid's office did not take kindly to the 100-plus protesters at his Carson City office. A handful of people, including a war veteran carrying a flag, went to the office and asked a Reid worker if they could make a formal complaint to the Democratic senator. The group, led by Eric Odom of www.opposereid.com, asked her if she agreed with Reid. The woman slammed the door in their faces (video is available online).

Neither Reid nor his office could be reached for comment on the incident.

Isn't it amazing how often this is becoming the case with these two? "Not available for comment." "Could not be reached for comment." Translation, they ain't answerin' the damned phones, people. These leftist elitists are showing in TRUE FORM that they don't give a DAMN about their constituents, America as a nation, or anything anyone outside of their inner circles has to say.



Outstanding work to those who were able to make it to the rallies.


Humboldt County GOP Chairperson Patricia Welch and Eureka Republican Women President Joy Finley presented U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson’s office with a basket of white feathers and surrender flags Thursday morning as part of Surrender is Not an Option Day. Submitted photo
Surrender is Not an Option Day
by Cerena Johnson, 5/17/2007

Members of the Humboldt County Republican Party walked into U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson’s Eureka office Thursday morning to voice support for troops serving in Iraq.

The group intended to hold a pro-troop rally in front of the office in coordination with protests in San Francisco, Las Vegas and Carson City, as part of Surrender is Not an Option Day.

About five residents presented Thompson’s staff with a basket of white feathers and surrender flags, as well as a letter taking a stance against Democratic legislation for the Iraq War.

“The resolutions being proposed in Congress against the president’s call for additional troops are not in the best interests of the United States,” the letter stated.

It was requested in the letter that Thompson “stop politicizing the war and the men and women in uniform who are so bravely serving our country.”

Demonstrations were initially organized by the nonprofit organization Move America Forward.

I don't know that I necessarily agree with the title of the next one, but I'm SURE the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow FELT like they were being attacked...

Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid’s Offices Attacked By Surrender Monkeys

May 17, 2007 - San Francisco, CA - PipeLineNews.org - At 10:30 AM today MoveAmericaForward.org, America’s largest grassroots pro-troop support group brought a bit of street theater to bear on the Democrat leadership.

Outside Nancy Pelosi's office in San Francisco and Harry Reid’s offices in Las Vegas and Carson City, Nevada, living, breathing "Surrender Monkeys" led crowds of patriots in a protest over efforts by the House and Senate leadership to de-fund the war and hand al-Qaeda a victory in Iraq.

The monkeys appeared to be having a good time, but made clear in a statement released before the event that they took a bit of umbrage at being compared to the likes of Reid and Pelosi.

(CBS 5 / AP) SAN FRANCISCO Iraq War supporters surrounded the district offices of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority leader Harry Reid on Thursday.

Protestors brought chimpanzees from Hollywood to underline their charge that Pelosi and Reid are what the protestors call "surrender monkeys" for their opposition to the war.

"We are going to be out in the streets, with our flags, with our white surrender flags, with monkeys, with people, with energy and dedication and enthusiasm," said protest organizer Melanie Morgan. "Because we have a job to do and that is support our troops."

War opponents have claimed supporting the troops mean bringing them home.

Two people who attended Thursday's protest are parents who lost sons in the Iraq war. Joseph Williams says his son was killed on the third day of the war.

Debra Argel Bastian, whose son Derek Argel died in 2005, said Iraqis are thankful for the U.S. troop presence in Iraq.

"When I was in Iraq in November, I met a group of very thankful people," Bastian said.


Her son served as a captain for the Air Force.

"The troops don’t want to pull out, they want to finish their mission," Bastian added. "And I’m just very confused, because none of the politicians I hear in Washington are able to give us any sort of idea what happens when we do pull out, what happens here."


Let me make this clear, in plain, simple terms that even a politician can understand. We may have cowards in elected positions, there may be a very vocal minority out there who wants to cut and run, the news media with their liberal leanings may want us to surrender, BUT KNOW THIS:

The Heart and Soul of the American Fighing Man/Woman can NOT accept surrender, can NOT accept defeat, and can NOT accept anything but victory, nor can the American public at large.

Tired of the war, my ass. Our TROOPS are asking to let them finish, if they're willing to soldier on, WHO THE HELL IS A POLITICIAN NOT IN THE FIELD TO SAY OTHERWISE?

Again, NO member of Congress is in the chain of command.

THESE COLORS DO NOT RUN.



Once and Always, an American Fighting Man

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Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Urgent Special Gathering of Eagles update...15MAY07

Hat tip to Snooper and Victory Caucus for this one.

"Come on saddle up, boys, we're gonna ride into town, we're gonna get a little out of control..." The Eagles, Out of Control

URGENT - EAGLES NEEDED AT TIMES SQUARE 5/19/07

May 15th, 2007

Saturday, May 19, 2007 – Noon to 4pm or whatever it takes.

The forces of the Left wing have decided to make a mockery of every
American serviceman or woman this Saturday at Times Square. They
have decided to perform street theater decrying the supposed torture
of inmates at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility at a time when
three brave American servicemen are in the hands of Islamic
terrorists in Iraq. They have decided to put on this travesty at
the recruiting station where we will be holding a Support the Troops
rally that day. They have effectively declared war on the United
States, our Military, and the Gathering of Eagles organization.
They have no concern for OUR soldiers who are likely being tortured,
mutilated and beheaded even as I write this, This is an OUTRAGE,
this is TREASON, this has got to be smothered by a display of
patriotism so great that even the news media cannot reasonably
assert that they are the majority in this country.

We need every one of you to contact your friends, family and
neighbors and turn out at Times Square to ridicule these leftist
morons. Spread the word and forward this alert to everyone you know.

If their actions in the face of the manifest results of ISLAMIC
captivity for our troops does not motivate you, if your blood does
not boil at the thought that these pissants will be featured on the
evening news, if you care not a whit that OUR men and women are
jeopardized by their seditious behavior, if something else is more
important than standing up for OUR soldiers, then email me to be
removed from the GOE email list because you have already surrendered.

If, however, you know that we need to support our troops who daily
place their lives on the line to protect our freedom. If you know
that their many sacrifices should be honored and praised. If you
know that the enemy is both foreign and domestic. If you know that
all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
Then turn out with your flags and pro-troop signs and banners. This
is NOT a drill. We need you NOW!

Where: Times Square Recruiting Center, traffic island at 43rd
Street between Broadway and 7th Ave.
When: Saturday, May 19, 2007, Noon to 4pm or whatever it takes to
rout the opposition.

Directions:

N. Q, R, S, 1, 2, 3, or 7 subways to Times Square
A, C, or E subways to 42nd St. (Port Authority Bus Terminal)
From Penn Station take 1, 2 or 3 subway 1 stop to Times
Square.
From Grand Central Station take the S shuttle to Times
Square.
From Port Authority Terminal walk two blocks to E 43rd St
and one block to Broadway.

Eagles Up!
Dan Maloney
New York Coordinator goe.ny@earthlink.net
Gathering of Eagles
www.gatheringofeagles.org

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man

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Sunday, April 29, 2007

This one is just for the troops...

To all of you out there who read our blogs, you know you have our gratitude and our continuing support. Once in a while some knucklhead comes out with "if you want to show your support for our troops, why don't you do something besides paying lip service to it?" We are. We put your words out there for people to see them, to read them, to know what your thoughts are, your opinions, your feelings. We're proud of you, and of the job you are doing.

Well done.

For those of you who haven't seen this yet, there is a site with a petition for you to sign, those of you in uniform, that I'm going to pass along. It was mentioned in the Day by Day strip that we post here on the blog, so some of you may have gotten it there; for those of you who didn't, click here.

Again, I salute you as a veteran, and I KNOW I speak for our other contributors in saying God bless you all, and thank you for your service to our nation.

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man

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Sunday, December 31, 2006

Missing the Point Entirely

After reading through more blogs, more news reports, more information sources and outlets, it still amazes me how so few people understand that this situation in the middle east crosses borders because so many of the people FROM that region never KNEW borders until the end of the European colonial period after World War II.

We, Americans and western Europeans alike, are trying to view this entire conflict in terms of taking on this country or that country, Iraq or Afghanistan. The cry "Bush has FORGETTEN Afghanistan" is such a rampant thing that it's disgusting. Bush hasn't forgotten Afghanistan, Africa, or any place else in the world, the dinosaur media has. Bush has even stepped UP funding to Africa. The dinosaur media deliberately have chosen to ignore Afghanistan in their reporting, and then try to paint the President as having turned his back on the area and the rest of the world to focus ONLY of Iraq. A great trick, worthy of a Copperfield or a Henning, but, unfortunately, so many American's have fallen for it that they actually BELIEVE the President has forgotten Afghanistan. A helping hand from the leftist Clintonista's in the Congress doesn't hurt anything in that regard; the dem's are right there at the forefront of the propoganda scandal in trying to blame Bush for forgetting about Afghanistan to focus only on Iraq. This coming week, others will be citing examples of how we are still involved in Afghanistan, just as much as we are in Iraq. We haven't abandoned nor have we forgotten Afghanistan. The media has. And I charge that they did so deliberately, setting the stage to blame the President for having lost focus.

My proof? My proof is the LACK of evidence seen in the news media in regards to our activities in Afghanistan. We are there, boots on the ground as the saying goes, although I have to say, this old combat engineer never HEARD that phrase until this go around. We are running missions, operations, encountering the al Quida on a weekly basis. Yet it goes ignored by the dinosaur media.

Case in point, from CENTCOM:

KABUL, Afghanistan – U.S. and Afghan noncommissioned officers toured the Pakistan Army’s Junior Leader Academy in Shinkiari, Pakistan, Dec. 28 during the second day of an exchange program tour.

Pakistan officers and NCOs briefed the team on training procedures and processes in an effort to strengthen the ties between the Afghan National Army and the Pakistan military.

“We came to learn,” said Sgt. Maj. Mahmodi Shamsudine, the command sergeant major of the ANA’s 201st Corps, after asking several questions about the training curriculum and format.

He was one of three Afghan Senior NCOs who traveled to Pakistan hoping to take back information that will help them develop their 4-year-old army.

“This was very good for (the Afghans) because they discussed training strategies, schools, doctrines, techniques and procedures that can be shared between the two armies,” said Sgt. Maj. Daniel Wood, command sergeant major for Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan.

Staff members from the JLA took the team to a field training area and watched students conduct mission planning. They were also shown classrooms and sat in on a class discussing tactics.

“This visit was very good for our countries,” said Sgt. Usman, JLA instructor. “Our door is open and we want to help the Afghan army because we want peace in Afghanistan.”

Wood called the meeting a ”very successful engagement with the military of Pakistan.” He contributed the success to the ”non-threatening and non-political environment” between the NCOs.

“The (Afghans) are very excited about the information they heard,” Wood added. “They are excited to hear about the focus on counter-terrorism and the amount of effort and attention that they are putting on training. They want to go back and try to put more of a counter-terrorism focus in their own training.”

The visit also gave the U.S. and Afghan NCOs an opportunity to share information about the progress and accomplishments of the ANA.

“People from the Pakistan military and Frontier Corps did not realize how far ahead the ANA were – they were very surprised and it made them feel more secure,” Wood said.

During a meeting with Col. Rehman, the JLA deputy commandant, he explained that Pakistani Soldiers were “giving (their) life to help Afghanistan.

“The world is a global village, and the sooner we have peace, the better it is for the world,” he said.

Sgt. Major Ahmad Fazel, the command sergeant major for the ANA’s 203rd Corps, agreed, saying, “If we work together we will be successful because we have the same goal and the same enemy.”

Plans are underway for the next program to take place at Fort Benning, Ga., in the U.S.

For more information, contact the press center at Kabul-Presscenter@cfc-a.centcom.mil.


Back to the point here. The only reason there are established and recognized borders in the Middle East is for one reason: European Colonization. The same is the case for most of central Africa. Once the Europeans pulled out and went back home, old tribal and regional differences flared back up again, hence the period of civil wars (the mercenary war era) in Africa and the reintroduction of a Jewish state into the Middle East. The Jews were merely allowed, after a couple of thousand years, to return home, folks. If anyone has any dispute with that concept, pick up a Bible, a Torah, the Talmud, and various and other sundry histories of the ancient world that DON'T have to do with religious influence and belief. But as I have been trying to say, the concept of a border is a foreign notion to the Arabic mind. Regionalism? That concept they understand. Borders created by European cartogrophers? They could care less. Hence the ease at which the terrorist networks pass from one country to another in the Middle East, welcomed with open arms by supporters across various old caravan trade routes from one city to the other. The concept of the city-state is still very much alive and well in the Muslim world. In case you haven't really grasped this notion yet, ask yourself this: how many Baptists have ever set foot in Mecca? How many Methodists? Has the Pope ever held Mass there?

As the TITLE of this site says, WAKE UP, AMERICA. This war, this military action, is NOT about one country versus another. It's about our nation fighting an enemy that transcends borders, a concept of hatred that would see both us and Israel cleared from the map in the name of the Jihad. This is a war to stop radical Muslim Imperialism, a notion that, if it comes to pass, will strike away the freedom of the individual. All of the work done by many liberal organizations will be gone. That in itself should bring the left on board with this. NOW would be outlawed. ACTUP would be outlawed. The NAACP would be changed radically. Dissidents and "free thinkers" would be labeled as outlaws and infidels. Women in the US think that they're still under male subjegation today? Imagine how it will be if the terrorists WIN.

The bikini would become a thing of the past, A horrible concept, in my opinion. The world is a MUCH better place since the introduction of the bikini, especially the thong bikini. Welcome to the age of the burkah...

Think outside our borders, learn how the rest of the world sees us, and how they know that we see them. We have GOT to stop bickering, fighting amongst ourselves over penny anty issues that don't amount to a hill of beans. We have GOT to maintain our focus on the ENTIRE Middle East to hunt these terrorist groups down, keeping a watchful eye on Korea.

We also HAVE to do something about the number of illegal immigrants coming into this country across the Mexican border, but that is another story...

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man

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