Who said history doesn't repeat itself?
The Marines hoisted the American flag over Tripoli in the First Barbary War in 1805. We were there to stop North African Muslim rulers from pirating ships in the Mediterranean Sea. And the trouble started when they hijacked an American vessel. So, we had a reason to invade and stop the crap.
Today, we are invading Libya again. (Or flying over and bombing the living doodoo out of the Libyan military, you pick your choice of words).
But why? Which American person or property has been attacked?
Well, none.
So why are we risking American military lives in Libya? (Did you hear that a U.S. plane went down last week, and we had to send Marines in to save the pilots? We have had boots on the ground.)
President Obama, our Commander in Chief, has made it all so clear. " . . . our military mission is narrowly focused on saving lives, we continue to pursue the broader goal of a Libya that belongs not to a dictator, but to its people."
Oh.
Just like we've done in Sudan. And the Ivory Coast. And Bahrain. And Saudi Arabia. And Iran. And Syria. And, oh darn.
I forgot. Apparently in those spots we don't have a military mission narrowly focused on saving lives, and continuing to pursue the broader goal of a (pick one: Zimbabwe, North Korea, Myanmar, China, Eritrea, Turkmenistan, etc.) that belongs not to a dictator, but to its people.
In the oh so clear words of P.J. O'Rourke when explaining how a farm bill gets hatched in Congress, "What the fuck? What the fucking fuck?"
Please, Mr. President.
Either tell the truth. Or don't say anything at all.
This policy makes no sense. (Unless, oh my gosh, Libya has oil, doesn't it? Like, say, Iraq? Wasn't that the last idiotic invasion without provocation that the United States has made? That war you campaigned against and called stupid, Big O? Because there was no clear end game? But, that would sound crass to say we were risking American lives for oil. Except that we all know we have been doing it since WWII.)
Mr. President, there is another place on this earth where civilians are being massacred. Including Americans. Civilians live in fear daily. And this place has lots and lots of oil. It is ruled by an unelected dictator. The dictator's name is Drug Cartels. The country is Mexico.
How long before we invade the Halls of Montezuma?
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
A Hug for Courtney
I received this email today from a young friend.
This email has been circulating for five years.
No one knows the origin, no one can certify its authenticity, no one can deny its power.
Last week I was in Atlanta , Georgia attending a conference.
While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed One of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.
Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camos. As they began heading to their gate, everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering.
When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and Cheered for, it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red-blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.
Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal.
Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our Service men and women, a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said 'hi...'
The little girl then asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her...
The young soldier, who didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy. Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.
The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter Courtney missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up.
When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second... Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military-looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it..
After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, 'I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you.' He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying 'your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon.'
The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet, he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event.
As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of selflessness turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.
We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good to be an American.
This email has been circulating for five years.
No one knows the origin, no one can certify its authenticity, no one can deny its power.
Last week I was in Atlanta , Georgia attending a conference.
While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed One of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.
Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camos. As they began heading to their gate, everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering.
When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and Cheered for, it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red-blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.
Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal.
Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our Service men and women, a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said 'hi...'
The little girl then asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her...
The young soldier, who didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy. Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.
The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter Courtney missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up.
When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second... Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military-looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it..
After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, 'I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you.' He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying 'your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon.'
The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet, he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event.
As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of selflessness turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.
We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good to be an American.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Have you said thanks on Cloth of the Nation?
http://clothofthenation.org/
We launched 9 days ago.
351 different folks have visited the site.
From 11 countries.
From 33 of our United States.
But only 50 notes of support.
The power in this idea will come from your note of support. Your note is needed to let our folks in uniform know someone cares.
Visits are of course appreciated. But today, we covet your note being added to the site.
On Saturday two members of 4th Squadron, Second Stryker Cavalry Regiment, were killed by small arms fire in Kandahar province in Afghanistan. Pete's squadron.
There are men and women in that unit today that need to hear a good word from somebody. And, there are units like that around the world.
Please, take five minutes to add your note of thanks. And, then pass the site on.
Thanks in advance from someone who longs to hear from you.
We launched 9 days ago.
351 different folks have visited the site.
From 11 countries.
From 33 of our United States.
But only 50 notes of support.
The power in this idea will come from your note of support. Your note is needed to let our folks in uniform know someone cares.
Visits are of course appreciated. But today, we covet your note being added to the site.
On Saturday two members of 4th Squadron, Second Stryker Cavalry Regiment, were killed by small arms fire in Kandahar province in Afghanistan. Pete's squadron.
There are men and women in that unit today that need to hear a good word from somebody. And, there are units like that around the world.
Please, take five minutes to add your note of thanks. And, then pass the site on.
Thanks in advance from someone who longs to hear from you.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Join the Cloth of the Nation
Please click on http://clothofthenation.org/
If you are a civilian, say a word of support to YOUR military.
If you are a member of our military, see that you are loved, appreciated and supported by the CIVILIANS that you serve and protect.
There are over 1.3 million currently serving in uniform and another 1.1 million in Reserve and National Guard forces.
There are 310 million U.S. civilians.
Over 150 million of us are on Facebook.
Let's let the folks that wear the Cloth of the Nation know that we appreciate them.
If you are a civilian, say a word of support to YOUR military.
If you are a member of our military, see that you are loved, appreciated and supported by the CIVILIANS that you serve and protect.
There are over 1.3 million currently serving in uniform and another 1.1 million in Reserve and National Guard forces.
There are 310 million U.S. civilians.
Over 150 million of us are on Facebook.
Let's let the folks that wear the Cloth of the Nation know that we appreciate them.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The Sounds of Silence
Where, oh where, has al Qaeda (translated The Base) been?
On an NPR roundtable of experts tonight, that was the question.
Michael Scheuer, the former bin Laden team leader at the CIA, had this to say:
"bin Laden knows that silence is power.
Westerners don't understand that concept.
American Presidents don't understand that. They talk to much about things that we should be silent on.
The Base is expert at one thing. Media manipulation.
The reason folks in Cairo and Tunis aren't holding up signs supporting The Base is they know that will bring Western and U.S. forceful opposition.
Don't think that just because we haven't heard from them that they aren't active."
Revolutions have cycles.
Russia had two revolutions in 1917.
In February of 1917, the Tsar or Czar or the dictator was unseated.
In October of 1917, the Bolsheviks revolted and took power. Under the leadership of Vladimir Lenin with aid from Leon Trotsky. Joseph Stalin followed.
The Bolsheviks ruled until December 1991.
When viewed thru the lens of CNN, the recent events in the Middle East look like a call for secular democracy.
Tap the brakes.
The majority of folks there want Sharia law.
The Base wants just that. Worldwide.
Buckle up and wait.
It ain't over, by a long shot.
bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri are licking their chops. And Zawahiri is Egyptian, and was a leader in the Muslim Brotherhood.
It wouldn't be surprising if those two got into a power battle.
Watch Zawahiri.
He may one day try to collect the $25 million bounty on bin Laden.
On an NPR roundtable of experts tonight, that was the question.
Michael Scheuer, the former bin Laden team leader at the CIA, had this to say:
"bin Laden knows that silence is power.
Westerners don't understand that concept.
American Presidents don't understand that. They talk to much about things that we should be silent on.
The Base is expert at one thing. Media manipulation.
The reason folks in Cairo and Tunis aren't holding up signs supporting The Base is they know that will bring Western and U.S. forceful opposition.
Don't think that just because we haven't heard from them that they aren't active."
Revolutions have cycles.
Russia had two revolutions in 1917.
In February of 1917, the Tsar or Czar or the dictator was unseated.
In October of 1917, the Bolsheviks revolted and took power. Under the leadership of Vladimir Lenin with aid from Leon Trotsky. Joseph Stalin followed.
The Bolsheviks ruled until December 1991.
When viewed thru the lens of CNN, the recent events in the Middle East look like a call for secular democracy.
Tap the brakes.
The majority of folks there want Sharia law.
The Base wants just that. Worldwide.
Buckle up and wait.
It ain't over, by a long shot.
bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri are licking their chops. And Zawahiri is Egyptian, and was a leader in the Muslim Brotherhood.
It wouldn't be surprising if those two got into a power battle.
Watch Zawahiri.
He may one day try to collect the $25 million bounty on bin Laden.
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