The Dept Of Defense briefed the president this morning, they told President Obama that 2 Brazilian soldiers were lost in Iraq. To everyone’s surprise, all the color drained from Obama’s face.
Then he collapsed onto his desk, head in his hands, visibly shaken, almost in tears. Finally, he composed himself and asked, ‘Just how much is a brazilian?’
This shouldn’t surprise us as he clearly has no understanding of how much a trillion is either.
Dear Mr. Obama,
In a speech you said the following:
We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.
Mr. Obama, what exactly does a civilian national security force that receives $1 trillion in tax payer dollars a year do? Is it true that you’re planning on naming it the Security Squadron force? Mr. Obama, would your SS force be armed, so they’d be called the Armed SS Force? Mr. Obama, maybe calling the “Waffen” SS would make it easier for it to be accepted by those in certain countries overseas? Mr. Obama, what would one have to do to become part of your SS force, would you require strong personal commitments to certain ideologies and would ones racial heritage be a factor in membership? Mr. Obama, will your SS force monitor what’s going on inside our nation and in our military? Mr. Obama, have you picked out any cool logos for your SS force? If not, maybe some lightening strike will help with that.
This is a poem sent from a Marine to his Dad. For those who take the time to read it, you’ll see a letter from him to his Dad at the bottom. It makes you truly thankful for not only the Marines, but ALL of our troops.
THE MARINE
We came together,
Both young and old
To fight for our freedom,
To stand and be bold.
In the midst of all evil,
We stand our ground,
And we protect our country
From all terror around
Peace and not war,
Is what some people say.
But I’ll give my life,
So you can live the American way. I give you the right
To talk of your peace.
To stand in your groups,
and protest in our streets.
But still I fight on,
I don’t bitch, I don’t whine.
I’m just one of the people,
Who is doing your time.
I’m harder than nails, Stronger than any machine.
I’m the immortal soldier,
I’m a U.S. MARINE!So stand in my shoes,
And leave from your home.
Fight for the people who hate you,
With the protests they’ve shown.
Fight for the stranger,
Fight for the young.
So they all may have,
The greatest freedom you’ve won.
Fight for the sick,
Fight for the poor,
Fight for the cripple,
Who lives next door.
But when your time comes,
Do what I’ve done.
For if you stand up for freedom,
You’ll stand when the fight’s done.
By: Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert, US Marine Corps
USS SAIPAN, PERSIAN GULF
March 23, 2003
Hey Dad,
Do me a favor and label this “The Marine” and send it to everybody on your email list. Even leave this letter in it. I want this rolling all over the US; I want every home reading it. Every eye seeing it. And every heart to feel it. So can you please send this for me? I would but my email time isn’t that long and I don’t have much time anyway. You know what Dad?I wondered what it would be like to truly understand what JFK said in His inaugural speech.
“When the time comes to lay down my life for my country,
I do not cower from this responsibility. I welcome it!
Well, now I know. And I do. Dad, I welcome the opportunity to do what I do. Even though I have left behind a beautiful wife, and I will miss the birth of our first born child, I would do it 70 times over to fight for the place that God has made for my home. I love you all and I miss you very much. I wish I could be there when Sandi has our baby, but tell her that I love her, and Lord willing, I will be coming home soon. Give Mom a great big hug from me and give one to yourself too.
Aaron
Please let this marine (and all our military) know we care by passing his poem onto your friends even if you don’t usually take time to forward mail..do it this time!
If this touched you as much as it touched me, please forward it on. Let’s help Aaron’s dad spread the word …
FREEDOM isn’t FREE. Someone pays for you and me.
A buddy of mine shared this in coversation when talking about his first combat experience.
The first time I saw combat, it was intense, but fast. I mean the actual events were a blur in my mind. I vaguely remember what I did beyond taking cover behind a tree up on the small ridge before the command to fire was given, but I do remember my training and instincts kicking in. Plus the ringing in my ears was distinct. Maybe it was because we always wore ear protection when we did practice shoots, but my hearing was a bit messed up right afterwards.
The thing I REALLY remember though was seeing the aftermath of what happened. Dead, some burning, some dismembered (a 40mm grenade to a truck fuel tank goes BOOM!), and some just all torn to hell BODIES everywhere. 16 enemy total that first time ambushed by us since we were observing, and they suddenly were moving right towards us not know we were there, and we had to act first.
The scene afterwards is burned into my memory, and I will never forget it, and it is one of those events in my life that I reflect on when I start feeling “down”, or upset, as thinking about that reminds me of how much worse the world is in places elsewhere. I remember puking my guts out when I saw the carnage. Literally on my knees emptying my entire stomach because I just wasn’t prepared for what I saw, and it really shocked and horrified me right at first. Whomever said “war is hell” knew what they were talking about. I am proud to have served my country, but some of the stuff I was involved with while doing so, such as the combat experience, I’m not proud of. I’m not ashamed of it, but anyone that would be proud of taking the life of another human being isn’t right in the head if you ask me.
I think my buddy makes a great point. Glorification of killing is a bad idea. However, I will always hold in the highest regard those men and women of the military that fight, and kill when necessary, to protect our freedoms and way of life.
Dan Rather and Peter Jennings, along with a U.S. Marine assigned to protect them, were hiking through the Iraqi desert one day when they were captured by terrorists. They were tied up, led to a village, and brought before the Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al Qaeda leader in Iraq.
Zarqawi said, “I am familiar with your western custom of granting the condemned a last wish; so, before we kill and dismember you, do you have any last requests?”
Dan Rather said, “Well, I’m a Texan; so I’d like one last bowlful of hot spicy chili.” Zarqawi nodded to an underling who left and returned with the chili. Rather ate it all and said, “Now I can die content.”
Peter Jennings said, “I am Canadian, so I’d like to hear the song ‘O Canada’ one last time.” Zarqawi nodded to a terrorist who had studied the Western world and knew the music. He returned with some rag-tag musicians and played the anthem. Jennings sighed and declared he could now die peacefully.
Zarqawi turned and said, “And now, Mr. U.S. Marine, what is your final wish?”
“Kick me in the rear,” said the Marine.
“What?” asked Zarqawi. “Will you mock us in your last hour?”
“No, I’m not kidding. I want you to kick me in the rear,” insisted the Marine. So the leader shoved him into the open, and kicked him in the rear.
The Marine went sprawling, but rolled to his knees, pulled out a 9mm pistol hidden in his cammies, and shot Zarqawi dead.
In the resulting confusion, he leapt to his knapsack, pulled out his M4 carbine, and sprayed the remaining terrorists with gunfire. In a flash, they were either dead or fleeing for their lives.
As the Marine was untying Rather and Jennings, they asked him, “Why didn’t you just shoot them? Why did you ask them to kick you in the rear?”
“What,” replied the Marine, “and have you jackasses call me the aggressor?”
From Ralph Peters’ column, “Heroes Don’t Shout,” in today’s New York Post:
…[R]eal heroes don’t call themselves heroes. Honorable soldiers or sailors don’t brag. They let their deeds speak for themselves. Some of the most off-putting words any veteran can utter are “I’m a war hero.”
Real heroes (and I’ve been honored to know some) never portray their service in grandiose terms, telling TV cameras that they’re reporting for duty. Real heroes may be proud of the sacrifices they offered, but they don’t shout for attention.
This is so profoundly a part of the military code of behavior that it cannot be over-emphasized. The rule is that those who brag about being heroes usually aren’t heroes at all. Bragging is for drunks at the end of the bar, not for real vets. And certainly not for anyone who wishes to trade on his service to become our commander-in-chief.
Thanks to Michelle Malkin for bringing this out!
A Note from Iraq From A Solider in the Iowa Army National Guard
This is from a fireman who serves in the Iowa National Guard and who is packing to go back to Iraq after a two week leave. It’s amazing the differences he reports from that of the media which dwells on the conflict.
As I head off to Baghdad for the final weeks of my stay in Iraq, I wanted to say thanks to all of you who did not believe the media. They have done a very poor job of covering everything that has happened. I am sorry that I have not been able to visit all of you during my two week leave back home. And just so you can rest at night knowing something is happening in Iraq that is noteworthy, I thought I would pass this on to you. This is the list of things that has happened in Iraq recently: (Please share it with your friends and compare it to the version that your paper is producing).
- Over 4.5 million people have clean drinking water for the first time ever in Iraq.
- Over 400,000 kids have up to date immunizations.
- Over 1500 schools have been renovated and ridded of the weapons that were stored there so education can occur.
- The port of Uhm Qasar was renovated so grain can be off loaded from ships faster.
- School attendance is up 80% from levels before the war.
- The country had it’s first 2 billion barrel export of oil in August.
- The country now receives 2 times the electrical power it did before the war.
- 100% of the hospitals are open and fully staffed compared to 35% before the war.
- Elections are taking place in every major city and city councils are in place.
- Sewer and water lines are installed in every major city.
- Over 60,000 police are patrolling the streets.
- Over 100,000 Iraqi civil defense police are securing the country.
- Over 80,000 Iraqi soldiers are patrolling the streets side by side with US soldiers.
- Over 400,000 people have telephones for the first time ever.
- Students are taught field sanitation and hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of germs.
- An interim constitution has been signed.
- Girls are allowed to attend school for the first time ever in Iraq.
- Text books that don’t mention Saddam are in the schools for the first time in 30 years.
Don’t believe for one second that these people do not want us there. I have met many many people from Iraq that want us there and in a bad way. They say they will never see the freedoms we talk about but they hope their children will. We are doing a good job in Iraq and I challenge anyone, anywhere to dispute me on these facts. So If you happen to run into John Kerry, be sure to give him my email address and send him to Denison, Iowa. This soldier will set him straight. If you are like me and very disgusted with how this period of rebuilding has been portrayed, email this to a friend and let them know there are good things happening.
Ray Reynolds, SFC
Iowa Army National Guard
234th Signal BattalionMay God continue to Bless Ray, his brothern in arms as the United States of America.
Lt. Col. Alan B. West, is stationed in Tikrit, Iraq. He and his men face nearly daily attacks as the do their best to achieve security near Tikrit, a stronghold of Saddam Hussein supporters. However, last August, an informant told West’s soldiers that there was an assassination plot against West. The informant finger an Iraqi policeman as a collaborator. So, the solidier brought in the policeman for questioning. Two trained interrogators were brought in and questioned the police office for hours. However they were unable to garner any information from him.
But don’t fear, Col. West took control of the situation. West reportedly came into the room, and said to the Iraqi police officer, “If you don’t give us this information, I’m going to kill you.” The policeman, clearly nonplused, responded to West with a smile and said, “I love you.”
West then took the Iraqi outside and, with the help of fellow soliders, forced his head down. And providing protection to the Iraqi, please one hand on the man’s head, and the other holding the pistol, Col. West fired into a weapons-clearing barrel filled with sand.
This scare tactic quickly got the information flowing. The detained police officer provided the names of two accomplices and also told of another sniper attack planned for the following day. Col. West’s actions clearly saved the lives of our men and women stationed in the Takrit area.
So, one would expect West, a veteran of two wars and a minority that has excelled at his post, to be promoted and given medals. Bzzzz. Col. West was relieved of his battalion command, effectively ending his military career. Then a military prosecutor offered him an ultimatum: Resign immediately and forfeit retirement benefits, or face criminal proceedings that could lead to a trial and prison term.
Of course if West were to have quit the military before last Saturday, when he became eligible to retire, Col. West would have lost more than $1 million in pay and health benefits over his life expectancy. His wife is a cancer survivor, making the cost of obtaining medical insurance prohibitive.
It is important to note that not only does Col. West have the cajones and smarts to save the lives of soliders by getting information, he is clearly a man of honor. Col. West, on the same day of the incident, self-reported the full incident to his superior.
So where does this leave us?
First, it appears that some “touchy-feely” types are forcing their views into interrogation for life and death matters. It is important to note that these a imminent threats. Information needs to be gathered quickly for delay will likely lead to deaths.
For example, back in July, Col. David Hogg, of in the 4th Infantry used unorthodox methods to persuade an Iraqi general to turn himself in. According to the Washington Post, Hogg ordered the Iraqi officer’s family be rounded up and held. Hogg then sent a message to the general; “If you want to see his family again, comply.” In a short time, the Iraqi general appeared in front of the U.S. base and surrendered. Fortunately, in this case, the touchy-feely types were not there to punish Hogg and reports are that Hogg has been promoted.
Second, you can contact you Congress members in the House of Representatives and the Senate or the Army. You can also call the White House to express your support for Lt. Col. West at 202-456-1111.
My new hero, Col. West can be contacted by e-mail and his wife has her own e-mail address. Mrs. Angela West is in the process of setting up a legal fund for her husband, please contact her if you would like to donate to this fund.
Third, us attorneys need all the help we can get. If you have information that you believe could be of assistance to Col. West’s defense, send an email to West’s attorney, Puckett. Puckets says he welcomes communication with any experts in military law who might have ideas or information to pass on to him.
Finally, Col. West will have his hearing on November 10th. Please take your time and pray for this man so that he might be protected for those not only trying to end his career, but his ability to provide for his sick wife and his family. Please also pray for this country so that we will not be a country that punishes our non-PC heros.
May God Bless West and may God Bless America.
Amen.
We see stories every day from the press bemoaning on how our troops are simply dying without a reason in Iraq. We see pictures of the abhorrent and detestable violence perpetrated by Muslim militants. We see pictures showing the death of our young, brave men and women of our armed services. However, when was the last time you saw a report of the quiet time that fills their many days. The moments when they remember why they are there to protect those that are in need? The moments that show them, and would show us, the human side in Iraq. The moments that remind show them that they are there for a reason.
Daily we get a listing of the numbers of soldiers in the United States military that have had their lives taken in Iraq. However, these men and women are not merely numbers.
They are our children of follow citizens. Many of them have children of their own. They surely remember their children daily, reminding them of one of the greatest reasons they fight, and freely give their lives, for our country, that is for their children, our children as well as the children of the world.
The death and carnage around them is a constant reminder of their mortality and of their Creator. They pray to the God in who America’s founders placed their trust and thanksgiving. They pray for their safety and the safety for their companions. They pray for the safety of all those they are there to protect.
They have left their loved one here in the United States, fully knowing that they may never see them again on this Earth.
Now is the time for each one of us to step up to the plate and support our troop. We must not only support them in words and actions here in the states, but also in quiet prayer to our God.
Pray that they have the ability to complete their mission. Pray that they are able to complete their mission safely. Pray that their action will allow those in Iraq to one day be able to freely pray and worship God. And most importantly pray that those soldier that never live to leave Iraqi soil, are able to see their loved ones again in Heaven.
Amen.
That’s right. While, the men and women of the military aren’t perfect, they are the only thing between us and the threats of this world we simply can’t imagine. So check out my friend, Ernie’s “Bring Them Home” charity. I gave my $100, so give just a little to help make some solider’s Christmas.
After all, we don’t want this to happen.
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