History's Garbage Dump - TANSTAAFL

"All Politics are Local"

2010-02-28T10:47:00.004-05:00

There are a number of Dummocrats who have thrown their hats into the race for St. Joseph Cty., IN, Sheriff, including:

Mike Miller for Sheriff: A Change Can Make A Difference. (no web site I can find)

and
John Botich .

St. Joseph County and the cities of South Bend and Mishawaka have ordinances limiting political signage. They may go up at the most 45 days before an election, and must come down within a week after the election. Both of these guys have had ubiquitous signs of varying size (some 4'x8' or larger) up in the county for anywhere from a few weeks to several months, well in advance of the May primaries. The county has apparently issued a statement that, due to 1st Amendment concerns, they will not enforce the laws (try to bend them if you're a Republican). Yet, the laws are still in place; with no indication of forthcoming repeal by the County Council.
So, here are two guys who wish to be at the top of the law enforcement heap in this county, violating existing law. The irony of their lack of ethics seems to be lost on them.

A related issue is Jack Jordan, running for the (R) slot in the U.S. Congressional race. He is apparently pouring vast sums of personal cash into a primary race against Jackie Walorski, who is the very embodiment of what a Citizen-Legislator should be (my old friend Tony Zirkle is also in the race). To that end, Jacko has put up actual billboards throughout the 2nd District, some I know to be in violation of local ordinance. Way to go, Jack. Thanks for helping out the cause.
Jack, BTW, came out of the box attacking Ms. Walorski as a "politician" and touting himself as a "citizen candidate"; somehow missing the blindingly obvious fact that once you enter a political race, you are a politician, baby.
Jack's ads continue to be at a saturation level, annoyingly negative about someone I personally know to be a fine citizen and an exemplary Representative, and utterly devoid of issues and platform. Yee-hah.

Cross-posted here: http://www.grouchyconservativepundits.com/index.php?topic=11712.msg96139#msg96139

The Bias of "Un-biased" Reporting.

2010-02-21T12:05:00.003-05:00

This morning, CBS' Sunday Morning show had a feature about "Everyone in the World Has a Story". A U.S. astronaut aboard the ISS spun an inflatable globe, stuck his finger on it at a random point, and the CBS reporter went there. Once at the city or town nearest the point, the reporter then selected someone at random from a phone directory, visited them, and reported a brief synopsis of their life. India, Latvia, and Oman. The reporter's conclusion: people around the world are very much alike, and very much like us (Americans).

That basic premise may have a little bit of substance. The CBS report, however, had a few glaring glitches:
All three interviewees lived in built-up areas. No countrified peasants that are hard to find.
All three interviewees had telephones. I daresay there are a great many people who don't.
All three interviewees were successful by the standards of their lands (goes back to having a phone).
The Indian man lived in a single home with his multi-generational extended family; with all the workers in the family pooling their earnings in one pot. I believe you'd be hard-pressed to find many American families living like that in the past 30 years.
In the Omani home, the only female seen on camera was child under the age of 5. Try that in an American home, or a European one, for that matter.

In sum: reportage is somewhat like statistics- pretty easy to skew toward your pre-conceived notions.

U.S. Constitution for Dummies: Health Care and Fundamental Rights

2010-01-16T23:10:00.004-05:00

While trying to verify a CNA's Illinois certificate yesterday, I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to locate Illinois' Department of Public Health. I started at the Home page, which seemed logical. That led me initially to this page, aimed at consumers. I backtracked to the state agencies page, which didn't list the IDPH. Finally, I just googled it and found an IDPH site seemingly unconnected to the main IL.Gov site. But all of that is not important. Along the way, I stumbled onto the rotten core of the Socialist philosophy:

Illinois Veterans

Healthcare is a fundamental right. And when someone puts their life on the line to defend their country, it is shocking that they could even go one day without health insurance.The federal government does not provide comprehensive health insurance to thousands of veterans who have served their country.

Every veteran should have access to affordable, quality health insurance, and that’s why Veterans Care, was created. This program offers access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare to veterans across Illinois. Under this program, veterans pay an affordable monthly premium of $40 or $70 depending on their income, and receive medical, limited dental and vision coverage. Illinois is the first state in the nation to create a program like this.

Veterans Care serves those veterans who have limited incomes. For additional information on Veterans Care, call us at 1-877-4VETSRX. Our Veterans Service Officers stand ready to assist you and answer any questions you may have.

Frankly, it amazes me that they get away with this shit. I expect it in Chicago, but not in Springfield. The huge tail is wagging the dog.
Pretty much any Vet without a DD or BCD has access to health care. There may be a co-pay, but it is means-tested and I pretty much guarantee you that an impoverished vet is not going to be shelling out lots of cash for his or her care. I know, because I'm enrolled in the system. I started in August of last year, and so far I've received a level of care and respect that surprised me (regional differences may apply, and your results may vary). I spent a lot of time as a young vet and paramedic trundling vets in and out of Chicago-area VA facilities. This is not my daddy's VA.

VA health benefits are open to all Veterans. Family members may also be eligible to receive benefits. There is no monthly premium for VA care, but there may be a co-pay. Apply now.

http://www1.va.gov/health/

All of which begs the question about this statement:

Healthcare is a fundamental right.

As many times as I've read the Declaration and Constitution, I don't recall ever seeing that. You are

endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

You are guaranteed Life, not to be capriciously taken from you by a tyrannical Government.
You are guaranteed Liberty, not to be capriciously taken from you or infringed by a tyrannical Government without due process as based in the Constitution.
You are guaranteed the pursuit of Happiness, not to be capriciously impeded by a tyrannical Government.

You are not guaranteed a healthy life.
You are not guaranteed a life free from responsibility, for that is part of Liberty.
You are not guaranteed Happiness. You have the freedom to prosper, and you also have the freedom to fail. What you wind up with is very much influenced by your drive and ambitions.

In sum, to state that "Healthcare is a fundamental right" is to engage in modern Socialism, completely missing the Founders' intent of what this country was to be.

/cross-posted here: http://www.grouchyconservativepundits.com/index.php?topic=9781.msg79770#msg79770
NOTE:
I haven't been tending this blog for a while. I've started some weeding in old comments, and I hope to do more frequent posting. Later.

Words matter: some "progressive" euphemisms.

2008-05-25T15:22:00.003-04:00

From a "progressive" poster at Daily Kos, a few words, with explanations following:

....For these people, a just health care system, fiscal responsibility, beneficial trade policies, environmental protection, veterans' benefits, reproductive rights, LGBT rights, to name a few things, are far less important than the brief sense of bitter pride they might derive from seeing Obama defeated in November. Yet, while matters of policy are always up for debate (i.e., no one can say how successful Obama will actually be in enacting a progressive agenda),....

a just health care system- We will tax you into penury so everyone can have the same crappy socialized health care.

fiscal responsibility- We will seize as much personal income and corporate profit as we can to further our Socialist agenda.

beneficial trade policies- We support any trade policy that unions favor.

environmental protection- We will "protect" the environment and assorted critters, no matter how much damage that does to the U.S. economy and individual citizens.

veterans' benefits- Although we hate the military, everyone serving in it, and the role American service members play in preserving our liberty to be arrogant assholes; we support any veterans' programs that require additional Government spending and consequent taxation.

reproductive rights- We insist on our "right" to slaughter inconvenient children.

LGBT rights- We insist on our "right" to be a behavioral minority, no matter how aberrant.

Why Voting is Important

2008-05-05T02:31:00.004-04:00

If you don't vote strange things will happen around you. You can piss and moan all you like, but if you didn't vote.......
Years ago I ran for Congress as a declared write-in candidate. Lots of ugly things happened, and it was quite the educational experience. One of the things I did accomplish was getting people to register to vote who had never done so. The two most frequent reasons I heard for not registering were 1) "I don't want to be called for jury duty"(good luck finding a jury of your peers if you ever NEED one), and 2) "It doesn't matter anyway".
Well, it does matter. I can show you a number of elections in 2000 that turned on from 1 to 1,000 votes. Every voter counts- including those who neglect a civic responsibility. An Indiana Primary contest is this week's object lesson- what you can wind up with if you're not paying attention.
I started commenting about it in this Forum thread when the matter rose up and smacked me between the eyes:

Poll

What should FASTAC wear/carry/bring to the door if Illinois nazis come knocking?

A yellow star, a copy of the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and an abject expression. 1
My Taurus .45 and a Phantom skull ring. 3
My Birthday Suit and a Mossberg Persuader. 6
All my acquaintances from the bar at the Marine Corps League. 2
All of the above. 13

Total Votes: 25
You have already voted in this poll

UPDATE: with fun poll! Possibly delusional local politician endorsed by Illinois nazi thugs, who then threaten me and anyone like me- “I hate Illinois

Un-subscribe from this thread

Jump to Bottom of Thread

FASTAC 6

Posted: 23 April 2008 10:44 PM

Super Elite Heather

Total Posts: 607

Joined 2007-12-01

In a thread a earlier today, I referred to a local politician-

Ed Mahmoud abu al Kahoul - 23 April 2008 01:06 PM
BTW, all the white folks in North Carolina are Republicans, so HSC will lose badly there. Therefore, to keep the race, and fresh relevations of Osama’s ties to communist killers alive (look, a MSM opinion article about Obama and the Obombers, probably run by a friend of the Clintons now that she is still alive) all the way to Denver in August, Indiana patriots must hold their noses and vote for HSC.

I have to review the GOP primary choices first. That may prove way more important locally. Our best shot at replacing our Dummocrat Congresscritter said something astoundingly stupid to a reporter several weeks ago, and doesn’t have the good manners to now fall on his sword.

This evening, I stopped by the County Republican organization’s office and learned for the first time about this stupefying action by the same politician:
Worst Campaign Idea Ever?
Hoosier congressional candidate speaks at birthday party for Hitler, in Chicago

Jason Miller
The News-Dispatch

CROWN POINT, Ind. - If fans of Hitler held a party, and a candidate for federal office attended, would anybody notice?

Apparently, yes.

U.S. Congressional candidate Tony Zirkle is facing criticism from one of his primary opponents, and a host of people on the Internet, for speaking at an event over the weekend that celebrated Adolf Hitler’s birthday.

Zirkle confirmed to The News-Dispatch on Monday he spoke Sunday in Chicago at a meeting of the Nationalist Socialist Workers Party, whose symbol is a swastika.

When asked if he was a Nazi or sympathized with Nazis or white supremacists, Zirkle replied he didn’t know enough about the group to either favor it or oppose it.

“This is just a great opportunity for me to witness,” he said, referring to his message and his Christian belief.

He also told WIMS radio in Michigan City that he didn’t believe the event he attended included people necessarily of the Nazi mindset, pointing out the name isn’t Nazi, but Nationalist Socialist Workers Party.

The Crown Point Republican spoke in front of about 56 “white activists” at an event honoring the birth of Hitler. The German leader was responsible for the genocide of millions of Jews and others during World War II.

Zirkle said the group asked him to speak to discuss the effect of pornography and prostitution on young, white women and girls.

Zirkle is running against Republican Luke Puckett of Goshen and Joseph Roush of Plymouth in the May primary. He lost twice before in primaries to former U.S. Rep. Chris Chocola and has made doing away with pornography and prostitution his top campaign plank.

“I told (Channel 16, WNDU in South Bend) in the beginning that I’d speak to any group that wanted me to speak,” Zirkle said Monday. He said he’s also recently spoken on the subject to a pair of black journalists.

“I’m keeping my promise. I’ll speak to any group. (The National Socialist Workers Party) was interested in the targeting of white people for prostitution.”

Puckett spokesman Kyle Bailey said Monday that Puckett was in “disbelief” when he saw a story on the Internet from a Web site called Overthrow.com.

It detailed Zirkle’s speech in a story about the gathering, called not only to honor Hitler but to “fight America’s economic collapse and reinvigorate the white working class.”

At the event, Hitler’s birthday was observed with a cake with a photo of Hitler and the words “Seig Heil.”

“I can’t believe, in 2008, someone could have such backward opinions,” Puckett said.

Zirkle said he told the group about his days as a prosecutor in Indiana, during which time he prosecuted gangs involved in trafficking prostitutes and pornography from Eastern Europe.

The Crown Point lawyer, who also has an office in South Bend, has in all three of his primary races pointed to pornography and prostitution as the downfall of society. He said Monday that he agrees with the group’s notion the trafficking of “young, white women should be stopped,” he said.

When asked if meeting with Nazis was a danger to his political career, Zirkle said he was willing to take the chance.

“That’s the risk you have to take to get your point across,” Zirkle said. “If the Black Panthers or the Jewish Zionists want me to speak about these issues, I’ll do it.”

Contact Jason Miller at jmiller_at_thenewsdispatch.com.

This is overthrow.com’s (be prepared for a long shower if you go there) take on the story:
56 White Activists Celebrate The Birth Of Adolf Hitler in Chicago
Amazing Party Pulled Off Without Hitch

4/20/2008 10:50:38 PM
Discuss this story in the forum
Overthrow Staff

Chicago, Illinois—Approximately fifty six white activists packed a banquet hall in Chicago, Illinois, today to celebrate the birth of Adolf Hitler and listen to speakers urge a renewed movement to fight America’s economic collapse and reinvigorate the white working class.

Led by the American National Socialist Workers Party, dozens of white activists , almost all from the Chicago area, listened to speeches from Tony Zirkle, Republican nominee (the primary is not until 6 May) for Congress in Indiana’s 2nd District, Art Jones, former Republican candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 3rd District, Theo Junker, a former German SS Officer, and Bill White, Commander of the organization.

Zirkle spoke on his history as a state’s attorney in Indiana, prosecuting Jewish and Zionist criminal gangs involved in trafficking prostitutes and pornography from Russia and th Zionist entity. Jones spoke on the racial situation in the United States and Junker spoke on his experiences during the Third Reich and after the war. White spoke on the need to focus on the current economic crisis, parallels between the US today and Germany in 1930, and the need to focus on the white working class.

ANSWP delegations from Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana got sidetracked en route to the event, leaving an almost entirely Chicago-area crowd.

Several speakers remarked on the peaceful nature of the event and the lack of any sort of organized opposition—in stark contrast to the small National Socialist Movement event in Washington. Theo Junker spoke briefly on unity and urged the two organizations to find ways to mend differences; he also urged attendees not to hate Negroes, but to respect the nationalismof all people, white and non-white.

Lastly:
Statement On Tony Zirkle’s Speech At Hitler’s 119th Birthday Party
He’s A Good Man, And Those Who Denigrate Him Are Wicked

4/21/2008 11:51:02 PM
Discuss this story in the forum
Bill White

Commentary—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

BRIEF STATEMENT ON TONY ZIRKLE’S REMARKS AT THE 119th BIRTHDAY OF ADOLF HITLER

The American National Socialist Workers Party extends its thanks to Indiana Congressional Candidate Tony Zirkle for his attendance at Adolf Hitler’s 119th Birthday Party, held in Chicago, Illinois, and for his remarks to our organization and our supporters.

Audio and video of the remarks will be posted online in the near future.

Mr Zirkle’s remarks reflected a concern for women that clearly resonated with many of those in attendance at the event. During his remarks, he discussed the sexualization of modern culture and its impact on the status of women. He shared personal experiences of women he has represented or worked with in his legal career who had become sterile due to sexually transmitted diseases they did not know they had, and who had been impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships with men who had been raised in a culture that denigrates marriage.

Given the seriousness of these social problems among the white working class, and the clear impact Mr Zirkle’s statements made on many in attendance, his talk was necessary and welcome.

Further, while much of the crowd was either pagan, Creator or Traditionalist in orientation, Mr Zirkle’s concern and Christian love for each and every individual in attendance clearly shown through, and was appreciated even by incorrigible heathens such as myself.

His message also tied in well with that of Theo Junker, 89, a former SS Officer, wounded six times in the course of fighting Bolshevism on the Eastern Front, who spoke at length on his generation’s fight against communism and how Hitler solved Germany’s social ills, eliminating drugs and licentiousness.

The criticism that Mr Zirkle has received for his actions is pure wickedness, fed by a libertine and thoroughly Judaized ruling class which sees the white working poor as mere toys for their pleasure and exploitation. By linking the struggle against the sexual exploitation of the white working poor to the struggle against the economic exploitation of the white working poor, Mr Zirkle has done our society a service, and we urge the voters of Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District to nominate him as the Republican Candidate for Congress.

We further warn those inclined to denigrate this good man to cease and desist their efforts, before we are compelled to launch another Leonard Pitts or Jena 6 style protest campaign in the South Bend area. I also remind certain DC bloggers that I have been known to either come to the homes of or send others to the homes of blowhards to discuss their inappropriate commentary, and continue that inclination.

Bill White, Commander
American National Socialist Workers Party

A ringing endorsement any candidate can use. As to the threats- drop on by, shitheads. We’re not your daddy’s Jews.

Signature
The up side of being a pessimist is that all your surprises in life are happy ones.

There are more comments from me, as well as discussion by others. Read the whole thing, follow the links if they're still good.
Last Friday, Tony Zirkle announced a press conference and no one came- except me. I only showed up for the entertainment value.

May 2, 2008

Press Release Tony Zirkle for Congress - Zirkle Jabs Back

I will be hold a press conference today, May 2, 2008 in my South Bend law office at 110 N. Main St., South Bend, IN at 11:00 a.m. and will be available by cell phone at 317 658-0107 throughout the rest of the campaign 24/7.

Zirkle on the Puckett Campaign: To Punch Back or Not Punch Back, that is the question

The Republican non-leadership as well as the snarky bloggers have been throwing everything at me including the names of racist, bigot, Nazi, nutjob, etc.

I’m not flinching or backing down. Great leaders must be able to withstand adversity.

However, the public sometimes wants to know if a candidate can punch back and that one qualification for a V.P. candidate, for example, is whether or not they can be an effective ax man for the party platform.

I have refrained from attacking to this point because I believe he is a nice person, has a good, but misguided, heart, and he has a family. He is also a political novice, naive and is probably just toeing the party platform and campaigning how he is told by the Republican non-leadership.

Additionally, if I attack back too strongly, there is a risk that I’ll knock out Luke and he’ll lose by more than 10 points in the fall. Back in 2002, Republican St. Joseph County incumbent prosecutor Toth and now incumbent Democrat Dvorak were running close until I wrote a Michiana Point of View. Toth then lost by 20 some points which is what I had predicted when I sent phone calls throughout the county in the primary where I got 34%. The district will then no longer be perceived as being so competitive and it’ll be more difficult to win the seat in 2010.
However, I will throw a few minor jabs at the Republican non-leadership so that I don’t completely burn the last embers of the few bridges I have left with them.

NAZI IS WHAT NAZI DO

Who is engaged in Nazi tactics. Didn’t the Nazis believe that you have to tell the biggest lie possible, and that the bigger the lie, the more likely people will believe it?

1. The R in any other name would still smell the same

The St. Joseph County Republican stool-man, Chris Riley has said that “The R next to Tony Zirkle’s name does not stand for republican. It stands for repulsive.”

O.K. The R in Chris Riley’s name is a typo. It is actually a W. I’m now calling him Chris Wiley, as in Wiley Coyote, who keeps chasing me like I’m the road runner. Chris Wiley can throw every acme lie at me he can find, and I’m not backing down or surrendering one inch of ground against the Great Porn Dragon. Besides I’m by far the most qualified candidate in this race, so I have a responsibility to campaign. If I lose, at least I’ll know I ran an honest campaign and that I did all I could for my country.

2. Two Front War

The Nazis engaged in a two front war against England and the U.S. and Russia. It was the same mistake Napoleon made and Bush is risking the same with both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Chris Wiley and Kyle Bailey have advised the Puckett mis-campaign to spend their time on reading Google alerts on Tony Zirkle. While they are spending so much time reading the anti-Zirkle slander on the Internet, they have had no time to research the issues, and every time they open their mouth to attack less than fully cocked, they end up helping the democrat Donnelly.

3. Hypocrite

How is it that a Wiley endorsed candidate makes a tv commercial boasting about being a missionary to a communist country that has murdered and imprisoned innocent political dissidents and then turns right around and attacks someone for presenting a Gospel book of love to 56 national socialists who have not committed, to my knowledge, even a tiny fraction of the crimes against dignified humanity that the press wants us to believe Cuba has.

4. Liar

a. The Wiley endorsed campaign wants the voters to think I’m a Nazi. I’m not and I’m the expert on my position. They will make themselves look incompetent when the public learns that I have 3 Jewish Christian children.

b. The Wiley endorsed campaign said Joe Donnelly wants to nationalize government health care. Donnelly denied it.

c. The Wiley endorsed campaign attacked Donnelly on FISA. Donnelly supports extending FISA.

d. The Wiley endorsed campaign has slandered me with everything they have and have done all they can to remove any forum from me to correct the record. Is that a Republican tactic or a Nazi tactic. Who is the real Nazi?

5. Bribes and Media Hound

The Wiley endorsed campaign gave out free gas to get media attention. This is the same campaign that has called me a media hound.

6. Traffic obstructors

The Wiley endorsed campaign held a press conference at the same time as a published one of mine, set up camp between my office and the South Bend Tribune and obstructed allegedly traffic into Donnelly’s Congressional office.

7. No Charisma

How is it that the Wiley endorsed campaign, with the full backing of the Republican party, can only get 20 individuals to pony up any dough? They’re probably getting a flood of support now based on fear the democrats will use me to paint all republicans as a Nazi, so the Wiley endorsed campaign is using a false Nazi fear tactic to raise funds that they can’t inspire with a true and solid campaign platform.

8. Cowardly Debate Fleeing Candidate

The Wiley endorsed campaign has run, run, run from all public debates. Does the Republican party really want to send a completely un-vetted candidate to the fall election? People may disagree with my views, but at least I can debate them, defend their merits, and persuade many to my side when on rare occasion I get a chance.

I will make myself available to respond to this press release.

Tony Zirkle
www.tonyzirkle.com/campaign
317 658-0107

Tony in his office:

Tony's South Bend storefront:

Don't take my word for any of this. Go to the dude's Web site. Look around. Check out his discussion forum (some NSFW). Ask yourself if this is the man you want representing you or the Republican party (if he is, don't plan on being invited over here for a beer). In Congress or in court. Vote. Your future depends on it.

MILBLOG?

2008-03-02T17:43:00.004-05:00

I've noticed that I haven't had a lot to say about military matters recently. This is due to two conditions:
1) I am among the rear-most of the REMFs; and a part-timer, at that. The boys and girls on the fronts of this World War have more important things to relate than I do.
2) The people above me seem to feel that they have a lock on all my speech, above and beyond the needs of OPSEC. Although I am free to resign at any time, I continue to obey while I feel I am in a position to serve. This is also why I go to some small effort to obscure my identity.

That said, I will continue to blog as time permits, and I am very much military. Mostly you'll see political rants from me. To ignore political events is to fall victim to them.

Let me end with:
Barack Hussein Obama.
If you don't like that, Mrs. Barack Hussein Obama, drag hubby to Cook County Circuit Court and have him change his name legally.

Addendum:
Ann Althouse has up the video clip of the Obama Cult's anthem, or, Night of the O-bots™.

OMG, we're all gonna die!

2008-02-14T12:41:00.003-05:00

Forget the World War, forget the elections- we may have bigger problems:

2002 NT7
The official designation is 2002 NT7; it is an asteroid that is on an impact course with Earth on 1 February 2019. Naturally there are a number of uncertainties.

Yeeeeehaw!

U.S. Constitution for Dummies: Entitlements

2008-02-02T10:02:00.000-05:00

I try to avoid social gaffes that will have a negative effect on my children's lives. I don't spit on the floor when we're at formal dinners, I try not to attempt to date my daughters' friends, I generally avoid political discussions with their visitors and guests while I'm at their homes. Two notable lapses have occurred in recent years: last year, when I engaged in a conversation with a Paulbot in an Alabama Wal-Mart while there with my son because she was pretty good-lookin' (shallow I am); and 2004, when I almost came to blows in a bar with my son-in-law's father when he announced his work on John F'ing Kerry's campaign, and then went on to compare the current World War with Viet Nam, because the father's first cousin got his mind messed up in 'Nam and that made the dad an expert. Hey, I'm only on my second war, what can I know?
So, last night, at supper, a guest asks, "What do you think of our election choices? A black man, a woman, or someone crazy?". That led rapidly to a discussion about socialized medicine, upon which I have previously commented here. I managed to put a damper on myself after a few minutes, but it took some effort. This woman was a health care professional, like myself, and yammered on about the right of everyone for health care access, like that would only exist if a Dummocrat were president.
Which leads us to entitlements. To make sure I hadn't completely slipped the rails, I went back to that entertaining work, the U.S. Constitution (considered by many Leftists an annoying anachronism rather than the legal core of this Nation). The word "entitled" appears four times. Three of those instances refer to representation of the several States. One refers to individuals:

Article IV
Section 2

The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

Nothing there about free anything. Article I, Secs. 8 & 9, give you some idea of what you can reasonably expect from Congress. Nothing there about entitlements, either. And the Bill of Rights (Amendments I-X, for those who never awoke during that class) enshrine Civil Rights, they grant nothing.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

For the Founders, that meant providing an environment where free men (yes, it took a lot of blood and effort to include former slaves and women) could strive and succeed, and also fail. TANSTAAFL.

IMAO, the only "entitlements" that exist are Social Security/Medicare to the extent that one has been forced to pay into them, and VA benefits, which are paid for in advance, all too often with blood. There are also municipal and state services (roads, cops, firefighters, etc.) that your elected representatives have instituted. You don't want fire protection, start going to your city council meetings.
As to access to health care, this guy said it well (emphasis mine):

The solution to our health care crisis must address economic reality. The role of government should be to provide an infrastructure so that a consumer-driven, free market can exist in medical care. People have a right to access health care, just as they have a right to access food, shelter and clothing. All those things are necessities of life, but no one expects to receive free groceries, housing or clothes. People do expect the government to provide an orderly market so they can access those necessities, however.

That said, there are an awful lot of people in this country that believe they're entitled to health care, food, shelter, clothing. Wrongo. You're entitled to access. Whether that access is easy or difficult depends in large part on your own life choices- your approach to learning, where you choose to live, what work you seek, how well you perform it. Once you're an adult you are responsible for those choices.

The War Within, Continuing- a Candidate's Binary Issue

2008-01-29T12:13:00.000-05:00

This e-mail exchange:

Re: A Very Long Article On Obama
When you get the chance, it's very good.
He has never expressed any support for Israel has never disavowed his alleged ministers anti-Israel bias, nor has he mentioned his sugar daddy Soros' antipathy towards Israel. I think he is a stealth muslim, as his cousin is the loser in the Kenyan election, and his cuz signed an agreement with the muslim leadership in Kenya to introduce Sharia Law. I have seen the photos of B-HO campaigning for his cuz in '06 in Kenya.
His alleged church follows the doctrine of the Marxist liberation theology.
Later, dog.

On Jan 23, 2008 11:14 PM, genmacpherson wrote:
*****-
Don't have time to do more than skim tonight; up against some deadlines. Bottom line for me on Obama: he's a fucking socialist louse. May be bright, personable, and all that, but at heart he is with those who wish to destroy America (and Israel in passing). Also- he is one of two things, very binary: he is either a moslem apostate, or a Manchurian Candidate. The facts of his upbringing and current proclaimed religious status allow no other conclusions (I know, it's all a Zionist plot).
Regards,

******** wrote:
Senator Obambi is coming into focus.

prompted some amplification- Barack Hussein Obama's church may not be to everyone's taste, but on the face of it seems relatively innocuous. I have no more objection to it than to a synagogue teaching Jewish history and Zionist philosophy, which is to say none. Reports of the minister hanging out with the likes of Louis Farrakhan are troubling, at the very least.

My objections to Sen. Obama stem from two major items: his politics, which are Socialist and anti-civil rights (remember the 2nd Amendment, Mr. Obama? It's a G-d -given Civil Right mixed in with all those other pesky things in the Constitution.); and his upbringing.

The politics don't require much discussion. I am poor and without medical insurance as a result of my choices. I don't insist that you pony up to pay for my health care, other than VA care I paid for in advance, like every other American Service person. I don't need more of my earnings seized to pay for sub-standard education. And I sure as hell don't need anyone telling me I'm no longer entitled to self-defense. As for the rest of Obama's positions, it should be clear to readers of this blog why I object to them.

The man's upbringing is a binary choice. Sen. Obama's father was a moslem. His step-father is a moslem. Obama attended a moslem parochial school in a predominantly moslem country, for whatever length of time. His Kenyan siblings and cousins appear to be moslems. By what we know of sharia law, that pretty much makes Mr. Obama a moslem. This fact is repeated frequently, worldwide, by moslem clergy and laity. If Sen. Obama became a Christian, of whatever denomination, that makes him a moslem apostate, free to be murdered at will by any practicing moslem; this little bit of sharia is also frequently repeated and defended by moslem clergy and laity worldwide.
Must all be quite the major headache for the Secret Service. Does the islamic world want to kill the man, or are they just waiting for him to come out of the closet?

UPDATE 30 JAN 08:
More on Sen. Obama via Debbie Schlussel: EXCLUSIVE - Obama's Nation of Islam Staffers, Edward Said & "Inflexible Jews" Causing Mid-East Conflict: An Obama Insider Reveals the Real Barack

New marching/running cadence-

2008-01-27T12:17:00.000-05:00

Been at a variety of meetings this week, as well as dealing with continuing effects of an organizational train wreck. As I was climbing into the POV after yesterday's staff meeting, thinking about ongoing Charlie Foxtrot drills, this just popped into my head as a cadence:

Charlie Foxtrot is my friend

Seein' him daily's becomin' a trend.

Sound off, F*** YOU,

Sound off, A**hole

Break it on down-

Char-lie

Fox-trot,

F*** You!

Feel free to use this while moving in formation, with attribution.

Everybody knows it's a Really Bad Idea to give an A.I. any effector mechanisms to interact with the outside world.....

2008-01-22T14:23:00.000-05:00

......more news from the nascent Terminator Universe:

On a forum I frequent, a request for a movie reference inspired me to get on my soapbox about everybody knowing it's a Really Bad Idea to give an A.I. any effector mechanisms to interact with the outside world. I have lined out the other participants' names, and made some minor edits. I hope it is easy to follow. You'll never look at your QuadCore the same way again.......

FASTAC
_________This has been driving mne nuts, an I hope you guys can help.

There is a movie from the late 60's or 70's about a computer that takes over and holds a group of scientists hostage and threatens the world. I saw parts of it years ago on late night TV and I can't recall the name. I would love to watch the whole thing, but I don't even know the title.

Any help would be appreciated.

The Forbin Project http://imdb.com/title/tt0064177/

FASTAC
No competition. I was just roping in the link, as well. Liked the novel better.

On a related note, just finished watching the first two episodes of The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Shows promise [watched 3rd episode last night. Living up to the promise].

/everybody knows it's a Really Bad Idea to give an A.I. any effector mechanisms to interact with the outside world

________
Such as scientists developing robots that can lie....
I was thinking of the convergence of actual technologies- the military autonomous vehicles project (M113-sized [since I last looked into this, the size of autonomous vehicles has shrunk quite a bit; the result, no doubt, of smaller comps and better battery technology]), armed robots (adapted from telepresence EOD robots), improved pattern-matching software (facial recognition, etc.), faster CPUs (Intel Quad-Cores), the Japanese (and one American's) obsession with anthropomorphic machines.... You can damn near build a killer robot today with off-the-shelf tech. The Terminator Universe postulates this convergence becoming self-aware in 2011. I don't know about that, but most of the tech exists today to build a hunter-killer with a set group of faces to look for.
"Have you seen this boy?"

Current tech links:

http://www.intel.com/products/processor/core2quad/index.htm
http://www.darpa.mil/GRANDCHALLENGE/
http://www.defenselink.mil/transformation/articles/2004-12/ta120604c.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facial_recognition_system
http://www.hansonrobotics.com/
http://world.honda.com/ASIMO/

More news from the nascent Terminator Universe-

No hands on the trigger- more than an AD:
http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/business/2007/0710161034.asp?S=IT%20in%20Defence&A=DFN&O=FPTOP

Video from similar incident (things you don't want to see when you're behind the cannon):
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/weapons/robot-cannon-goes-berserk-kills-9-312443.php

Robot see, robot kill:
http://www.newsfinder.org/site/more/robot_see_robot_kill/

Death by UAV:
http://www.defensetech.org/archives/003714.html

A guy writing about warfighting at a remove:
http://mountainrunner.us/2007/10/what_if_the_robocannon_rampage.html

Would you like to play Global Thermonuclear War?

Phony Soldiers, Rush Limbaugh, and the "Honorable" Harry Reid

2007-10-02T10:22:00.000-04:00

I don't often find myself defending the names of the rich and famous. But I feel I must say a few words about the slandering of Rush Limbaugh.

At least as early as May 2006, Little Green Footballs and assorted milblogs were reporting on the phony soldier Jessie Macbeth. Jessie and his ilk were and are people pretending to be heroes; in the process they tarnish the the good names of all those who serve in earnest. Some of these phonies had mundane military service, others none at all; they pretend to service in theatres they've never been near, in uniforms they've never properly worn. It's all right to be an REMF, just don't stroll over to the PX and buy a lot of decorations you've not been awarded. If you've never actually served, don't you dare put on my uniform.

Several days ago, Rush Limbaugh discussed "phony soldiers" with a caller to his show. This aired some days after an ABC TV news story apparently on the same subject. I've listened to the Limbaugh recordings repeatedly. It was clear to me that the reference to "phony soldiers" was in regard to the Jessie Macbeths of the world. If you speak and understand English properly, this should be clear to you, as well. Somehow, Sen. Harry Reid (Dummocrat,NV) has determined that Rush was talking about honorably serving service members who dissent against government policy. Senator Reid, you need to ask your doctor if Aricept is right for you.

Regarding free speech and dissent: when you raise your right hand as a soldier, your civil liberties become bounded. You no longer have the right to unfettered free speech (as letters of reprimand in my 201 attest to). Senators, on the other hand, may apparently slander freely, as long as it is done on the Senate floor.
http://www.dod.mil/dodgc/defense_ethics/ethics_regulation/1344-10.html
http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/p600_15.pdf

War for Dummies/Dummocrats -Cliff's Notes Edition

2007-09-30T12:32:00.000-04:00

Whether it is national policy or you just get sucked in somehow (Alamo, Pearl Harbor, 9/11), war should be pretty straightforward. You win or you lose. Either way, the cost is horrendous.

To win, you kick the other guy's ass. You inflict enough harm that he either quits the fight, or dies in place.
To lose, he does all that to you. Sometimes he has help from people who should be on your side. This is known as a Fifth Column.

Diplomacy should also be straightforward. Two or more parties sit to discuss matters of mutual concern. If their general goals are similar, and the parties involved are rational, you can often come to an accommodation short of armed conflict.

What the left (Fifth Column) in this country are (intentionally) missing is that we are engaged in armed and unarmed combat with an enemy that is neither rational nor inclined to quit. There is no diplomacy possible, and to quit is to lose everything, including the freedom of some to be insufferable idiots.

The Workers' Paradise- Coming to a U.S.A. Near You!

2007-09-30T11:10:00.000-04:00

You go to work, and work hard, for 40, 60, 80 hours a week. If you're a deployed service member, your work week may be 160 hours.
You receive your paycheck. Unless you're self-employed, certain sums have been removed from your income- for income tax, State tax, local taxes, Social Security, Medicare. The SS/Medicare taxes are also paid by your employer, and this sum is passed on in the cost of goods and services- goods and services of which you may also be a consumer.
When you shop at the store, pump gas, light a smoke, pay your electricity bill, eat at McD's, or get a brake job, you pay additional money in the form of sales, excise, or use taxes. If you use telecom in any way, as you must to read this, you are also paying fees for other people to have telecom access.
Sit down and determine, if you can, exactly how much of your hard-earned income you never see. I assure you it is an appreciable percentage.
All of this taxation goes to provide a number of goods and services for society as a whole- roads, drinking water, armies, overpaid Congresscritters, bad art, bridges, spurious academic studies, hand grenades for West Bank tangoes. Some of these uses of your hard-earned dollars make sense, others are an inspiration for a tea party.

So Shrillary and B. Hussein Obama want universal health care. John Edwards wants you to see the doctor regularly, whether you need to or not. He and his friends have spoken about penalties for those with certain health problems, self-induced or not. Shrillary wants to also hand out a five grand bond to all new babies, whether children of citizens or not. This, my friends is called socialism. This has been part of our society since the FDR administration, and has spawned a culture of entitlement; at odds with the Founder's vision of America.
OK, you still want that "free" healthcare, education, food, housing, Nintendos for all Americans. TANSTAAFL. Someone has to pay for and provide these goods and services. Those poor unfortunates are called slaves.
Everywhere socialism has been tried in the past century, it has resulted in war, failure, totalitarian government, enslavement on a massive scale, and the deaths of millions.

America, on the other hand, is a land of opportunity (yes, we started with slavery; then fought a bloody war that rid us of it). You can be whatever or whomever you have the drive to become, with few strictures. You also have the freedom to fail. There is no point in the Founding Documents where it is suggested that your neighbors must provide for you. If you are a failure, or suffer misfortune, your neighbors may freely elect to assist you. They may also direct you to a Dumpster. That is their choice, and yours. To tax someone at gunpoint, however, (and it is at gunpoint- try telling the IRS that you flat-out refuse to kick in any further) and tell them they must provide food, shelter, health care, and education to all about them; that is armed robbery, or slavery. Take your pick.

I have written about ongoing Civil War in this country here , and here .
Universal health care is another step on the way to creating an un-bordered "Workers Paradise" on the ashes of the United States. Every election is important- government is what happens to you while you're asleep.

A closing anecdote:
During the 2004 Republican Party convention, I watched President Bush speak while I was in the company of my then-lady-friend's very bright and very mouthy teenage daughter. This girl launched into a tirade about Pres. Bush and how awful he is, cutting funds to education, health, and welfare. She maintained that everyone is entitled to a college education and free health care. I finally stopped her, and asked if she had $150. She replied that she might have that in checking, why? I explained that I hadn't had a doctor's exam in over year, and that would be the approximate cost with labwork. She said that I worked for a living, I could pay for myself (which is what I do these days. No money, no healthcare. I'm at the very bottom of the VA's heap). I told her that, believing in universal healthcare, she should be happy to contribute for my care. She never did get it.

The War Within Continues........

2007-03-08T13:12:00.000-05:00

Democrats Want Iraq Pullout by Fall 2008
Mar 08 12:08 PM
US/Eastern

By DAVID ESPO
AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) --
In a direct challenge to President Bush, House Democrats unveiled legislation
Thursday requiring the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the fall of
next year.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the deadline would be added to
legislation providing nearly $100 billion the Bush administration has requested
for fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan...........

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/03/08/D8NO46HG0.html

The Dems are trying real hard for a replay of 1975. After Congress cut off funding for South Viet Nam in 1974, the country fell, the much-ridiculed Domino Theory played out as largely correct, great numbers of innocents were slaughtered, and our military was ham-strung for years. Those same people and their fellow travelers are once again working to destroy America's role as a world power and beacon of freedom.

Announcing a departure emboldens our enemies, guides their strategy, and shouts to the world that America lacks resolve. Our islamic enemies will know that they need only wait until Fall '08 to continue their relentless drive toward worldwide domination.

The War Within and the War Without.

2007-03-05T00:32:00.000-05:00

We are at war. Our enemies are within and without. Without, we have the global islamic jihad against Western Civilization. Within, we have the traitors on the left.

The Uncivil War
Sedition

: incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority

Traitor

1 : one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty
2 :
one who commits treason

Treason

Article III.
Section. 3.
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

Public acts of treason abound. Sedition comes easier to some than breathing. The seeds planted in the 1920s and earlier, that sprouted in the '50s, '60s, and '70s, now blossom in the likes of Schumer, Fonda, Kennedy, Clinton, CAIR, Maher, Carter, Murtha, Kerry, Gore; the list goes on. Politicians, actors, reporters, commentators, musicians, Fifth Columnists.......those who believe their 15 minutes of fame somehow endows them with a better understanding of how your life should be run. While I can't fathom most of their motivations, I do know that they are bent on the destruction of America as we have known it; the America of free speech, free worship, freedom to to aspire and to achieve. They are willing to sacrifice the freedom of our children and grandchildren for their grievously flawed view of the world.They villify the Commander-in-Chief, do their utmost to undermine the morale of the men and women who are their sole defense against a hostile world, work to destroy the economic and political systems that allows them the luxury of protest, actively provide aid and comfort to our enemies. They espouse a world without borders, therefore with no nations. No United States of America.

I had thought that we were at risk of civil war, and wrote about it here. I now believe that a Civil War is underway. It is currently low-intensity, waged largely in the MSM, in Congress, in universities, and on the Internet. The potential for it to become full-scale increases with every passing moment. On March 17, an engineered flashpoint in DC will provide the most immediate danger of open conflict. An open Civil War in the United States while a World War rages around us will most likely result in the end of the United States. At the least, it will end America's days as a world power, and render us susceptible to to the whims of others.

The World War
Some people suggest that the Cold War was World War III, and that we are now engaged in World War IV. One historian of my acquaintence suggested recently that World War II never really ended. What is clear is that we are fighting a World War. The War is global. There are no front lines. The War has come here to America. We have the smoking holes of Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. Thousands of Americans dead in one day in America with our enemies jubilantly dancing in the streets in celebration. There are hot spots- Iraq being the most intense. Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, and other battle zones are not wars, they are campaigns in a much larger war. This distinction seems to be lost on most of the MSM, a large portion of Congress, pretty much the whole of Hollyweird, and a largish chunk of the public.

The islamic world is determined to establish a worldwide caliphate with domination of all others. This is no great secret. It is written about extensively by moslems around the world. It is preached in mosques every week throughout the moslem world. It can be seen in tapes of speeches, on international television, on the internet.

The desire for domination is a jealous one. It tolerates no other views. A Jewish State in Israel, Buddhist statues in Afghanistan, pork served at meals in British schools, synagogues and churches freely attended, women free to define their own lives, children free to learn all of the knowledge that our civilization has amassed; in the eyes of our enemies all the freedoms and rights we take for granted are anathema.

There is no compromise with this desire for domination. It is either them or us. I believed initially that the islamist enemy would gow tired of dying. Now I think that the war will end when they're all dead, or we're all dead. Many talk about the peaceful majority of moderate moslems. I have written about this before. The most telling thing about this majority's moderation is its deafening silence and inaction in the face of war and terror. This majority would most likely cheer the advent of a global caliphate. The only thing that could convince me otherwise would be the majority rising up, re-inventing islam, denying support to islamist murderers, and actively combating them wherever they arise. And then opting to coexist peacefully with those of differing faiths.

I post this essay as a work in progress. I may edit it some in the coming days, but I felt an urgency to publish. March 17th is around the corner. Worldwide, the situation appears to deteriorate by the hour. Some days I have the sense that this must be what it was like to observe events in Europe and Asia in the 1930s. My hope is that some who are unaware of the world situation, or cling to irrational ideas, may choose to explore events more fully. Perhaps even to act in the preservation of our society. I haven't cited sources here. There is documentation aplenty on the internet. If one raises a topic at littlegreenfootballs, one even gets free and rigorous fact-checking.
On the other hand, the impending Clinton/Obama Administration may quietly end America by 2010.

Most of what I've said will cause many people to call me a paranoid old crank. If that can still be said in 5 years, I'll be happy to sit down and discuss it with you over a beer at the corner bar. Or mosque. Whichever is standing there.

Links to some previous posts not cited above:
http://herbertsobel.blogspot.com/2006/07/end-game.html
http://herbertsobel.blogspot.com/2006/07/public-treason.html
http://herbertsobel.blogspot.com/2006/07/cair-anti-american-chutzpah.html

Addendum:
On 4 NOV 79, Iranians stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, capturing and holding prisoner dozens of American citizens for well over a year. In most times and places throughout history this act would be considered an unmistakable act of war. The usual response to such an act would include the immediate use of as much military force as was available.
This is how Jimmah "Dimmah" Carter chooses to remember the outcome:

The Hostage Crisis in Iran
On November 4, 1979, Iranian militants stormed the United States Embassy in Tehran and took approximately seventy Americans captive. This terrorist act triggered the most profound crisis of the Carter presidency and began a personal ordeal for Jimmy Carter and the American people that lasted 444 days.
President Carter committed himself to the safe return of the hostages while protecting America's interests and prestige. He pursued a policy of restraint that put a higher value on the lives of the hostages than on American retaliatory power or protecting his own political future.
The toll of patient diplomacy was great, but President Carter's actions brought freedom for the hostages with America's honor preserved.......
http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.org/documents/hostages.phtml

From where I stand, a state of war has existed between Iran and the U.S.A. since 1979. The discovery of Iranian arms and personnel in Iraq or Syria should come as a surprise to no one.
Iran has also made its unequivocal declaration to destoy Israel, a clear declaration of war.

NFL rejects Border Patrol ad

2007-02-14T13:02:00.000-05:00

Heinlein wrote something to the effect that "a nation that can not control its own borders is no longer a nation". The NFL seems to think that borders are not good:

NFL rejects Border Patrol ad

By Stephen Dinan and Jerry Seper
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published February 14, 2007
The National Football League refused to run a recruitment ad for the U.S. Border Patrol in last week's Super Bowl program, saying it was "controversial" because it mentioned duties such as fighting terrorism and stopping drugs and illegal aliens at the border.
"The ad that the department submitted was specific to Border Patrol, and it mentioned terrorism. We were not comfortable with that," said Greg Aiello, a spokesman for the NFL. "The borders, the immigration debate is a very controversial issue, and we were sensitive to any perception we were injecting ourselves into that."
The NFL's rejection didn't sit well with Border Patrol agents, who called it a snub of their role in homeland security and said it was "more than a little puzzling."
"The NFL missed a golden opportunity to reach countless patriotic citizens who want to answer the call to help prevent another terrorist attack on American soil," said T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents the agency's nonsupervisory personnel...... The Border Patrol ad asks for "the right men and women to help protect America's southwest borders." It lists duties as preventing "the entry of terrorists and their weapons," blocking "unlawful entry of undocumented aliens" and "stopping drug smuggling."
The ad does not mention the ongoing immigration debate in Washington or touch on contentious subjects such as amnesty, a guest-worker program or legalization........

I'm not much of a sports fan. As a young soldier I raced bicycles (long before the Army had an official team), and still enjoy watching the occasional race. I sail, and enjoy following the America's Cup standings. If a Hollyweird sentry asked me to prove I'm American by talking about football or baseball, I'd be in deep shit. After reading the article cited above, I'm even less interested in pro football.

Moonbat Sighting at Loyola University-Chicago

2007-02-14T12:24:00.000-05:00

Charles posted this on LGF:

Can we really support these troops?

During a heated debate in a class I teach on social justice, several US Marines who had done tours in Iraq told me that they had “sacrificed” by “serving” in Iraq so that I could enjoy the freedom to teach in the USA. Parroting their master’s slogan about “fighting over there so we don’t have to fight over here,” these students proudly proclaimed that they terrorized and killed defenseless Iraqis. They intimated that their Arab victims are nothing more to them than collateral damage, incidental to their receipt of some money and an education.

Sunday, February 11— A room full of students listened as a US Marine told of the invasion of Baghdad and Falluja and how he killed innocent Iraqis at a check point. He called them “collateral damage” and said he had followed the “rules.”

A Muslim-American student in front of him said “I could slap you but then you would kill me.” A young female Muslim student gasped “I am a freshman; I never thought to hear of this in a class. I feel sick, like I will pass out.”

I knew in that moment that this was what the future of teaching about justice would include: teaching war criminals who sit glaring at me with hatred for daring to speak the truth of their atrocities and who, if paid to, would disappear, torture and kill me. I wondered that night how long I really have in this so called “free” country to teach my students and to be with my children and grandchildren.

The American military and mercenary soldiers who “sacrificed” their lives did not do so for the teacher’s freedom to teach the truth about the so-called war on terror, or any of US history for that matter. They sacrificed their lives, limbs and sanity for money, some education and the thrills of the violence for which they are socially bred. Sacrificing for the “bling and booty” in Iraq or Afghanistan, Philippines, Grenada, Central America, Mexico, Somalia, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any of the other numerous wars and invasions spanning US history as an entity and beginning with their foundational practice of killing the Indians and stealing their land.

Many of the classes that I teach now include students who “served” in the US military and security corporations. There are also many students who intend to join the US military upon completion of a degree because with the degree they get a bigger “sign on” bonus of ten to fifty thousand dollars. Their position is supported by many of the student body, who, vegetating according to the American Plan, believe they should “support their troops.”

The excuses that they give for joining or intending to join the US military terrorist training camps are first and foremost motivated by a desire for money.

One student proudly said that he is willing to kill for money, a better standard of living and an education. Another student, who had done two tours of duty to the Empire in Iraq, justified killing and torture, citing the importance of staying on top as the world’s number one super power so that his family could have the highest standard of living and unlimited access to the world’s oil supplies.

Yet another soldier-student said that there would always be wars and someone had to do it. The ”it” is killing, rape, and plunder for profit. Some of the soldier-students agreed that military terrorism was thrilling. Stopping and killing people at checkpoints in order to maintain a comfortable lifestyle in the USA was worth the risk of being killed or maimed. Little did they know that the very education they would kill for could include a course on social justice in which they would be compelled to examine their motives, beliefs and actions in an evil, illegal, immoral and unjust invasion and occupation of a people who never hurt or harmed them or any of their fellow citizens.

To be fair, in this week’s discussion in class there was some mention that some of the student’s intentions had been honorable at the time that they joined the military. They wanted to “help other people”. A few woman students who want to join the military commented that they would be working to “free and defend” people here and abroad. However, for the most part and by their own admission, personal financial gain was their main focus in signing on. Their bottom line was getting the money and their thrills by joining and belonging to the biggest terrorist organization in the world, the USA.

As I've said many times before, the most annoying thing about our oath of service is that we are pledged to defend, with our very lives if need be, the right of some people to be absolutely insufferable assholes. I'm going to be sending a message to the university to that effect.

I maxed a test out of English 100, but was forced to take a Lit & Comp course. The instructor one day read a poem:

The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner
by Randall Jarrell
From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from the dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.

This was, IIRC, in 1981. The teacher then went into a lengthy moonbat interpretation of this poem. I, the only veteran in the class and possibly the college, who had seen crewmen that were hosed out of a helo, suggested a different view. For that and the abiding dislike of Eudora Welty that I developed, I received a failing grade and had to re-take the class- with another (and much better) instructor.

Addendum from an LGF discussion thread:

#135

American Soldier 2/14/2007 09:57AM PST

#113 buzzsawmonkey 2/14/2007 09:19AM PST

#99 American Soldier
I'd be very interested to hear your take on "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" in more detail.

Ya know, I don't recall much of what I said. I recall most vividly that the instructor had some lengthy moonbat explanation, and that mine was somewhat more prosaic. Randall Jarrell served in the USAAF during WWII, and had a view of the world that was colored by military service; something the instructor lacked.
/hey- it was 25 years ago, and I was already an older 'non-traditional' student at that point

And In Medical News.....

2007-02-02T20:43:00.000-05:00

Bringing out the wanna-be-dead:
In W.W.II, the Swiss defended their neutrality by fighting off the Luftwaffe; both sides using Messerschmitt 109s. Now, the Swiss are looking at adoption of another Nazi idea-

Swiss may expand assisted suicide law
1 hour, 18 minutes ago
A ruling by Switzerland's highest court released Friday has opened up the
possibility that people with serious mental illnesses could be helped by doctors
to take their own lives. Switzerland already allows physician-assisted
suicide for terminally ill patients under certain circumstances. The Federal
Tribunal's decision puts mental illnesses on the same level as physical
ones.
"It must be recognized that an incurable, permanent, serious mental
disorder can cause similar suffering as a physical (disorder), making life
appear unbearable to the patient in the long term," the ruling said.
"If the death wish is based on an autonomous decision which takes all circumstances into account, then a mentally ill person can be prescribed sodium-pentobarbital and
thereby assisted in suicide," it added.
Various organizations exist in Switzerland to help people who want to commit suicide, and assisting someone to die is not punishable under Swiss law as long as there is no "selfish motivation" for doing so.
The judges made clear in their ruling that certain conditions would have to be met before a mentally ill person's request for suicide assistance could be considered justified. "A distinction has to be made between a death wish which is an expression of a curable, psychiatric disorder and which requires treatment, and (a death wish) which is based on a person of sound judgment's own well-considered and permanent decision, which must be respected," they said.
The case was brought by a 53-year old man with serious bipolar affective disorder who asked the tribunal to allow him to acquire a lethal dose of pentobarbital without a doctor's prescription. The tribunal ruled against his request, confirming the need for a thorough medical assessment of the patient's condition.
Whether any Swiss physician would be prepared to prescribe a lethal dose of pentobarbital to a mentally ill person remains unclear. The country's national ethics commission could not be reached for comment late on Friday.
Switzerland is one of a number of countries in Europe that allow assistance to terminally ill people who wish to die.
Netherlands legalized euthanasia in 2001 and Belgium in 2002, while Britain and France allow terminally ill people to refuse treatment in favor of death.
Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press.
Copyright © 2007 Yahoo! Inc.
All rights reserved.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070203/ap_on_re_eu/switzerland_assisted_suicide_1
Mentally ill persons with suicidal ideation are usually not in a place where they can make anything remotely like a rational decision. And, as they say, suicide is a permanent solution to problems that are usually temporary.

Presumption of promiscuity:
When I was 13, I certainly would have been most happy to participate in sex. Hey- it was the '60s (from what I can remember). Today, 11,12,13 year old girls in Texas are presumed to be engaging in sexual intercourse-

Texas Requires Cancer Vaccine for Girls

Feb 02 3:31 PM US/Eastern

By LIZ AUSTIN PETERSON
Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN (AP) -- Gov. Rick Perry ordered Friday that schoolgirls in Texas must be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, making Texas the first state to require the shots. The girls will have to get Merck & Co.'s new vaccine against strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, that are responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.

Merck is bankrolling efforts to pass laws in state legislatures across the country mandating it Gardasil vaccine for girls as young as 11 or 12. It doubled its lobbying budget in Texas and has funneled money through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators around the country.

Details of the order were not immediately available, but the governor's office confirmed to The Associated Press that he was signing the order and he would comment Friday afternoon.

Perry has several ties to Merck and Women in Government. One of the drug
company's three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, his former chief of staff.
His current chief of staff's mother-in-law, Texas Republican state Rep. Dianne
White Delisi, is a state director for Women in Government.

Toomey was expected to be able to woo conservative legislators concerned about the requirement stepping on parent's rights and about signaling tacit approval of sexual activity to young girls. Delisi, as head of the House public health committee, which likely would have considered legislation filed by a Democratic member, also would have helped ease conservative opposition.

Perry also received $6,000 from Merck's political action committee during his re-election campaign. It wasn't immediately clear how long the order would last and
whether the legislation was still necessary. However it could have been
difficult to muster support from lawmakers who champion abstinence education and
parents' rights.

Perry, a conservative Christian who opposes abortion rights and stem- cell research using embryonic cells, counts on the religious right for his political base.
But he has said the cervical cancer vaccine is no different than the one that protects children against polio. "If there are diseases in our society that are going to cost us large amounts of money, it just makes good economic sense, not to mention the health and well being of these individuals to have those vaccines available," he said.

Texas allows parents to opt out of inoculations by filing an affidavit stating that he or she objected to the vaccine for religious or philosophical reasons. Even with such provisions, however, conservative groups say mandates take away parents' rights to be the primary medical decision maker for their children.

The federal government approved Gardasil in June, and a government advisory panel has recommended that all girls get the shots at 11 and 12, before they are likely to be sexually active.

The New Jersey-based drug company could generate billions in sales if Gardasil _ at $360 for the three-shot regimen _ were made mandatory across the country. Most insurance companies now cover the vaccine, which has been shown to have no serious side effects.

Merck spokeswoman Janet Skidmore would not say how much the
company is spending on lobbyists or how much it has donated to Women in
Government. Susan Crosby, the group's president, also declined to specify how
much the drug company gave.

A top official from Merck's vaccine division
sits on Women in Government's business council, and many of the bills around the
country have been introduced by members of Women in Government.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/02/02/D8N1PVG80.html
Gov. Perry- there's a helluva difference between an MMR shot for highly contagious childhood diseases, and one for HPV contracted through intercourse.

Jane also wrote about this, here:
http://www.thekidalog.com/seejanemom/2007/01/keep_your_laws_.html

UPDATE 2/7/07:
A news story tonight led me to IN SB0327 . This is legislation to make HPV vaccination mandatory for 6th-Grade girls in Indiana. Reports in the news say that the vaccine costs in excess of $300/dose. Someone has to pay the freight on that, and the implication is that schools or public health departments will have to pick up most of the tab. That will come straight out of your taxpaying wallets , whether your daughter is sexually active or not, or even if you don't have a school-age child of any gender. So of course I had to write letters:

Rep. ______-I strongly urge you to vote against any attempts to make HPV vaccination mandatory for Indiana schoolgirls. HPV transmission, unlike measles, mumps, rubella, and other diseases, is a behavioral issue. Hoosiers should not be required to vaccinate their children based on the assumption that all 12-year-old girls will engage in sexual activity, and other Hoosiers should not be required to pay for these expensive vaccinations.I would be happy to discuss this and any other medical issues that come before the legislature.
Regards,__________, RN

Squid Music Videos

2006-12-08T09:38:00.000-05:00

There's a whole genre of art coming from the combo of bored service people and vid cameras.
Here's a nice use of one of those big, grey, floaty things:

Those crazy squids pumpin it

Thanks for linking those, Dave.

All we had last year was an MWR tent with one side open to a very cold and wet Louisiana winter. Mud & rain & snow. Snow! There ain't supposed to be snow on the Gulf of Mexico.......oh yeah, booze and pyrotechnics (off-post, of course): New Year's Eve

hizbos: "Geneva Conventions? We don' got no stinkin' Geneva Conventions!"

2006-11-06T17:06:00.000-05:00

I'm visiting the Old Country for a medical course. This summer Nahariya (~6 miles from the Lebanese border) took ~450 missiles in the city proper and about 400 in the immediate area. The city and the hospital were deliberately targeted. Here are two photos of the Nahariya hospital (WGH) after it took a direct hit from a hizbollah Katyusha:
looking out (faces obscured)

shrapnel damage outside the room

NORKS!

2006-10-12T23:44:00.000-04:00

Just for grins and giggles (and maybe a sick feeling in your gut):
ask your kids' teachers when the Korean War ended. I'm guessing too many will give you a date.

My 30 seconds with Mike: notes on blogging

2006-10-12T12:50:00.000-04:00

This morning Mike Gallagher discussed a story about a blogger successfully sued for defamation, with a $1M+ judgement. Mike has frequently described bloggers as geeks blogging from basements, wearing nothing but boxer shorts (I, personally, would never go anywhere near Sen. Boxer's shorts. Unless I could work a Kerry deal for the big bucks.), bathrobes, and pocket protectors; insufficiently educated and trained to participate in anything resembling journalism. When he called for input from bloggers, I immediately seized the opportunity to try to correct some of Mike's ideas. As has been my experience with Mike and other media types, I wasn't able to get too many words in. I find that when one doesn't give the desired response, one doesn't get much air time.

My talking points, a couple of which I got out before the cutoff (his show, his control of the mic):

Yes, one should be held accountable for one's speech and actions. Attribution should be given when you use another's words or work.
Facts should be documented to the extent possible; one should sift as many sources as possible to arrive at veracity. This is the responsibility of the reader as much as the writer. When, as a lad, I listened to the shortwave radio (ask your grandparents), I would perform the same sifting with radio news. Oddly enough, at the time the BBC was the most accurate and balanced.
Opinion should be noted as such. Many blogs are simple diaries, and make no pretense to be otherwise.
Most of us live in the meat world. We hold jobs, raise families, go off on missions or deployments, pay bills, and get dressed for the day. Blogging may be a passing interest, a hobby, or a raging passion. Only a relative few have the good fortune to make enough money at it for it to be called a job.
Many of us are educated. I learned English in a time and place where elements of the Winnetka Plan were still in use. After half a century, I find that spelling and grammar are no longer in fashion. This sometimes leaves me uncharacteristically unsure of proper spelling or phrasing, but what the hey. My Primary education also included familiarization with basic elements of reportage, such as who, where, when, what, why.

Mike is supposed to attend a meet-and-greet at a local tavern tonight. While I find him woefully ignorant in some areas in which I can claim expertise or experience, I do for the most part enjoy his show. I'm looking forward to meeting him.

BTW- a sift of wire services and FindLaw.com have so far failed to find the case Mike cited. Help, anyone? UPDATE: here's the link-$11.3M

UPDATE 2330:
Met Mr. Gallagher; pic to follow. He asked for a link to this post. Looking at it several hours later, I do regret the "woefully ignorant" remark. We all have our areas of expertise, and there are certainly a couple of gaping holes in my education. I also may have been a bit off about the "desired response"- Mike seemed to think it was a great call. Sorry, Mike.

Ahminpajamas, STFD & STFU

2006-09-07T08:53:00.000-04:00

From the islamic republic "news" agency:

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad repeating his previous remark that "those who reject debate fear their nation's intellect and rationalism", emphasized here on Wednesday, "We are ready for a debate with the Americans at UN General Assembly." According to the Presidential Office Media Department, Ahmadinejad made the comments at Wednesday session of his cabinet, further reiterating, "The American side can even take part in the debate side by side with his advisors, and as a full team, if they wish so." Referring to his upcoming US visit to take part at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, The IRI President considered that occasion as a good opportunity for holding a debate, with his US counterpart, so that "the entire world nations, particularly the Americans would, directly and without any censorship watch it."
He stressed, "The reputable news media of the world -- those of them that respect truthfulness and abide by the rule of objectivity in heir profession -- can take advantage of that opportunity to provide chance for world nations to hear the viewpoints and to choose the best."

The United States has a system of debate- we call it Congress, free elections, and a free press. When our freedom and security are at stake, it is the only debate that matters. Ahminpajamas: the President of the United States has always been clear about our public policies. You have also been clear about your insane views. There is no need to debate- you are totally nuts. If you showed up here, I could bounce you into a 72-hour detention lasting 20 years with no disagreement from anyone sane. Bottom line: Ahminpajamas, STFD & STFU.

There is a tenet in psychiatric care I learned some decades ago. Some no longer hold to it, but I still find it useful: don't feed into your patient' delusions. Keep re-orienting them to consensual reality. Of course, if your patient is hopelessly and criminally psychotic, the only useful re-orientation might involve high-velocity-projectile trepanning.

Edited out on LGF

2006-08-30T14:13:00.000-04:00

Several days back, in response to this post, http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=22156&only
I posted a comment (#120) which so pissed off Charles Johnson that he deleted it (his blog, his rules).
I do try to stand by my public statements, so here is the comment, IIRC:

Warning- intemperate language follows. If you can't handle it, tough.

Goat-fucking koranimals. Unlike my last war, this war, I may have to consider collecting a necklace of ears.
/loading more magazines
/gotta finish post-FTX refit and weapons check

Public treason

2006-07-27T12:19:00.000-04:00

Pamela at Atlas Shrugged is live-blogging the Bolton confirmation hearing. She quotes protestors in the audience shouting, "we are the terrorists," "this is not my country," "no to Bolton!".
Sooooo......... if one says "this is not my country" at a Senate hearing, does that constitute a public renunciation of U.S. citizenship? Sounds like it to me. If so, such a person should be immediately placed under close arrest by any nearby citizen and bound over to ICE for rapid deportation- to anywhere. If the statement is not sufficient to strip one of citizenship, then that person should at the least be shunned by all patriots.
Treason speaks for itself:

U.S. Constitution
Article III
Section 3 - Treason Note

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. (emphasis mine) No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

"we are the terrorists" sounds to me like 'Aid and Comfort'.
Legal scholars, feel free to weigh in.

(see also, 2359 –civil war index: 1 minute until midnight)

When History bites back

2006-07-26T09:45:00.000-04:00

A nice essay with interesting comments. (hat tip: Carl in J-lem)

When History bites back

End game

2006-07-23T07:50:00.000-04:00

Did I miss something, or is Western civilization well into a struggle for survival? Catching up on all the news and events that I missed while training yesterday, it seems abundantly clear that we're:
a) engaged in an all-out World War based on religious-political philosophy
b) our opponents will stop at nothing less than the complete destruction of life as we know it, with particular attention to Israel and all Jews everywhere
c) that this war will not end until they are all dead or we are all dead- I no longer believe that moslems will tire of dying

I have written about this before, here. The passage of time is only making these facts more apparent.

For those who think my statements extreme, I say: show me a peaceful, moderate, American moslem who in his heart does not long for world-wide domination by islam, and I will show you someone who is pushing up daisies. We are in a war for our very lives. It is time we started acting that way.

cross-posted at LGF

CAIR anti-American chutzpah

2006-07-13T00:27:00.000-04:00

This following appeared on the web page of the San Antonio Express-News (Comment: Blame game won't save lives, but withdrawal from Iraq will ) :

Comment: Blame game won't save lives, but withdrawal from Iraq will

Web Posted: 06/29/2006 12:00 AM CDT

Sarwat Husain

The recent deaths of the two young American soldiers in Iraq are another extremely painful reminder of the unnecessary war we are fighting in Iraq and its tragic consequences.

On behalf of the American Muslim community, I extend our sincerest condolences to the families of Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, 23, and Pfc. Thomas Tucker, 25, for their tragic loss.

We are deeply disturbed by the way they were barbarically tortured and killed. We do not know for sure who perpetrated these crimes or who the killers were. They could be insurgents, al-Qaida affiliates or just petty criminals. Regardless, there is no doubt that they are cold-blooded murderers.

As soon as the news reports of the slayings appeared, the Muslim community started receiving blame, accusations of collective guilt and demands for apologies. If such apologies and condemnation statements, which Muslim organizations and groups issue each time any such crime is committed against coalition soldiers, would prevent further killings, these latest murders would not have taken place.

Instead of this juvenile blame game, which does not achieve any constructive understanding, let all of us Americans join hands and truly start working together to stop any more loss of lives.

These brutal, savage and barbaric killings are a product of every war fought in history. As Congressman Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, said, "The truth is that in the name of fighting terrorism we are creating more terrorists."

The Bush administration wanted to topple Saddam Hussein to free Iraqis from his brutal dictatorship and bring a regime change. We have successfully done that. Three years ago, President Bush even went to Iraq to declare and celebrate the "mission accomplished." That moment gave all of us hope that our loved ones on the front lines of this war would be coming home soon, safe and sound, to their families.

Three years and thousands of lives later, both political parties are still blaming and blasting at each other for what is going on.

Once again, the measures calling for the withdrawal of our troops have been killed in the Senate, only because this issue could prove decisive in the November congressional elections and the 2008 presidential race.

For the sake of not losing anymore lives to this unprecedented war, we must demand an unconditional withdrawal of all American forces from the war zone. Nearly 60 percent of Americans in a recent Pew Research Center study regard the decision to invade and occupy Iraq as wrong from the start.

In support of keeping our troops at war for an unspecified time, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said, "Withdrawal is not an option; surrender is not a solution."

Sure, we all understand that pulling out of Iraq is not going to be that easy. But then again, it is not easy to see our sons and daughters lose their lives in this unnecessary war either.

We cannot continue to commit our young boys and girls for an open-ended military occupation of this oil-rich country.

It is time for action. "Withdrawal" means saving lives. It will never constitute "surrender."

On the contrary, withdrawal will be regarded as an act of courage and heroism in the annals of history.

Sarwat Husain is president of the Council on American Islamic Relations-San Antonio.

I wrote about moslem service members in the U.S. military here:
http://herbertsobel.blogspot.com/2005/03/why-we-fight-personal-view.html
My opinion and observations have not changed since then. For this louse of a CAIR spokesman to say,

it is not easy to see our sons and daughters lose their lives in this unnecessary war either.

, I'm going to need to see a list of names. BTW, Sarwad, when does this war become necessary? After the River Walk gets bombed? After Sears Tower falls? Also, Sarwad, if you had any useful education at all you'd know the relationship between a campaign and a war. You would also know what has happened in the past when America has withdrawn and allowed chaos to reign.

The men and women fighting for the U.S. are my brothers and sisters, my sons and daughters. If there are moslems among them who consider themselves Americans first, then they are part of my family; no matter how much we may disagree about some matters.

(hat tip: LGF)

Goodbye

2006-06-23T13:53:00.000-04:00

Let's face it. This blog has essentially become Fastac's. I do not have the time or inclination to continue to blog here, so I am going to turn it completely over to him.
So, I bid farewell to the handful of people that ever read my stuff. Perhaps we will meet again...in Spaceballs 2

Not a Hollyweird disaster film.......

2006-03-10T01:51:00.000-05:00

Internet access for the first time in days.

Heard that Faith & Tim are pissed off at the rate of progress. Well, I'm tired of the whining. The disaster that was/is Katrina-Rita-Wilma was not built in a day, and neither will be the recovery.It took years of greed, corruption, and engineering mistakes to create a world where many thousands of people were living where sanity suggested they shouldn't; protected by man-made devices incapable of standing up to G-d's own weather.

To those who think the recovery effort is moving too slowly, I say this: there is a lot more to the Gulf Coast than NOLA. The wreckage was on a scale that is mind-numbing. Come visit me and I'll show you hundreds of photos of what this place looked like post K-R-W. Then you can look at the thousands of laborers who daily police up thousands of tons of debris, in plain and haz-mat flavors. You can watch the sunup-to-sundown parade of trucks expanding the levees. You can see Federal dollars turn into recovery.

Yes, there are still waste, corruption, and greed. But the whiners need to back off and understand the scale of this effort. In any other corner of this planet, people would still be starving on open ground after a disaster of this magnitude.

Lessons learned during the Katrina relief effort...

2006-01-05T14:44:00.000-05:00

Some lessons learned:

The Gulf Coast relief effort is America's largest on-going, free-floating cluster-fuck.

Piss-poor logistical planning is the mother of all fuck-ups. Piss-poor leadership is the father.

Far worse than the Blue Screen of Death is the Blue Splashback of the plastic latrine.

Cross-posted on LGF & lgc.

New Year's Eve in the Plaquemines

2006-01-01T13:09:00.000-05:00

Fireworks from the dock.

The Army Guard unit and some of the camp management staff decided to light off several-hundred-dollars-worth of pyrotechnics. Bored soldiers with explosives? Not a great idea.
Various libations were consumed, great music boomed from pick-up truck radios tuned to Cajun Rock 95.7, nobody was grabbed by a gator while peeing at the water's edge, and a good time was had by most. Aside from some minor burns, there were no injuries (a good thing, as by 2330 I declared myself too toasted to render proper medical care, and pronounced the Clinic closed).
At one point a table full of pyrotechnics overturned as they were lit, causing some spectacular lateral shots. The Sheriff's houseboat survived unscathed, good news for all concerned.

For those who follow such things, today concludes Week 6 of Charlie chillin' in his body bag on the street.
Happy New Year from Port Sulphur, LA. Prosperity to America, and death to all those who would harm Americans.

Week 5 of Charlie chillin' in his body bag on the street in Port Sulphur

2005-12-22T10:54:00.000-05:00

Port Sulphur, La., is in the middle of Plaquemines Parish. 42 miles South are the remains of Venice. About 40 miles North is the city of Belle Chase. From about Jesuit Bend on down, the Plaquemines were pretty much destroyed. Mind-numbing devastation that still photos can not begin to relate. If you lit off a small-sized air-burst nuke, say 50 kilotons or so, you might see comparable damage.
A part of all that damage unique to this corner of the world is the washing away of cemeteries. Bodies, caskets, crypts; all floating about and washing up in the damnedest places. Some never to be seen again. "Charlie" and the splintered remains of his wooden coffin landed on the grounds of what used to be Plaquemines Medical Center. An Air National Guard Graves Reg. team recovered the remains, bagged him, and left him on the street next to a damaged family graveyard. A Parish Council member was present at that time. That was, by all recollection, about 4 1/2 weeks ago (one novelty of Katrina relief work is the Groundhog Day effect- every day is Monday. If you are billeted in the French Quarter, I'm told, every night is Friday.).
Charlie chillin' in his body bag:

This past Monday night, the USO sent us an Army band from the LAARNG. They played, excellently, about 45 minutes worth of Christmas music. Then the USO passed out grab-bag gifts for all the troops present. An Air Guard NCO grabbed a small artificial Christmas tree and wreath. After a short delay, he and a couple of soldiers and me trooped over to Charlie and the NCO placed those items by him. One soldier said a simple and heart-felt prayer for Charlie. I showed them the 9 visible graves of veterans buried in the cemetery (background, below). We rendered a solemn salute to all our brethren there, and dispersed for the evening.
Charlie, with Christmas decorations:

UPDATE, 7JAN06:
Charlie has moved on in his eternal journey. Depending upon with whom you speak, a FEMA DMORT team scooped him up on either Wednesday or Thursday in the late afternoon (the Groundhog Day effect, once again). I am certain that I saw him on Thursday morning, but as of Friday he is certainly no longer resident on our street. Keep on truckin', Charlie, and R.I.P., when you get the chance. Really.

Photos copyright 2005. Cross-posted various places.

Cycling NOLA

2005-11-19T22:15:00.000-05:00

Cycle of Violence visits Southern LA:
In NOLA, there is a co-op of anarchists who take donated bicycles, refurbish them, and sell them for $10-20 a pop.
While on R&R in NOLA last week I purchased from them a Spaulding 12-speed with a light, lugged frame. The bike proved a delightful means of touring the French Quarter, traveling to the PX, and getting some much-needed PT.
Back at the camp in scenic Port Sulphur, the camp managers decided to replace my clinic boardwalk with a graveled path. The crew doing this pranged my front steps with a front-loader, and damaged the bike which was locked to the steps. So much for the new-old bike. Still works, but the thrill is gone.

/cross-posted to lgc & LGF

Rewriting WWI, Dhimmi Style

2005-11-11T05:18:00.000-05:00

I've also posted this at littlegreenfootballs.com:

From an AOL article on WWI VETS:
"World War I, fueled by intense nationalism and conflicting economic and colonial interests, began in the Balkans in 1914 and quickly spread across Europe because of military alliances. The major allied powers were Great Britain, France and Russia, and they were opposed by Germany, Austria-Hungary and a few others."

It's insane. Even historically, they can't bring themselves to mention the Muslim Ottoman Empire as an enemy of France and England. WTF? I mean seriously, rewriting history for today's youth? The Muslim's never harmed the West? WWI was a European Conflict only?
As a historian, I'm deeply offended by this crap.

But here's a paragraph from further on, explaining how it was the west that screwed up the peaceful Middle East:
"Unlike the wars that followed, World War I doesn't have the visual record so important to becoming part of American consciousness, Flynn says. Yet its impact can be linked to many problems facing the world today, including conflict in the Balkans and the rise of Arab nationalism that occurred after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire."

Again, the historical rewrite pisses me off.

France Burning

2005-11-08T05:35:00.000-05:00

Okay, I've held off on posting about the insurrection in France, but I've reached the end of my tether.
Some brief points- (as understood from media coverage)
1. There is no insurrection. This is merely a charity act by Muslim youths to bolster France's failing car dealerships.
2. There is no insurrection. Young Muslim youths are simply insuring that the French auto industry remains Koran Kompliant.
3. If there is an insurrection, it's because George Bush invaded Iraq, and thereby distracted Chirac from the concerns of the Muslim youths now protesting their marginalization.
4. If George Bush is not to blame, improbable as that may seem, than the "protests" must be the work of the Jews.
5. Okay, let's face it. Of course this is the work of the Jews, but it's not what you think. There wasn't some grand Zionist design to sully the image of Islam in France, its just that things kind of got out of hand. You see, if you want to blame any one Jew, you really have to blame me.
That's right, it's all my fault. It started with a correspondence class I offered to some Muslim youths, and just sort of spiraled out from there.
Laugh if you will, but there really is a market for preparing students to take the difficult Al-Qaeda entrance exams. Anyway, it was during a session on urban operations, and Hassim was having some difficulty with the theoretical methods of car burning. Stupid, stupid me. I suggested that he try a few experimental practical demonstrations, explaining that a few extra car burnings would be lost among the regular nightly burnings.
Let's face it folks, computer security is very important. Apparently, Hassim's email account was compromised, and my message got forwarded to about 300 of his closest friends. Next thing I know, I'm seeing night one of the "non-insurrection" on the nightly news. Talk about your wild, out of hand, classroom experiences. Anyway, I've tried to be quiet, but I can't hide my shame anymore. Yes, there is a Jew behind the car burnings in France, but it is only foolish, little me, not a grander Zionist plot.
So, when Hassim and his buddies get around to burning the cemeteries where those who died to make France free lie, I'll take full responsibility. But if they nail a vineyard, that's not my problem; the French should know to secure their important stuff by now.

Random thoughts from the NOLA front:

2005-10-27T14:17:00.000-05:00

After days without, I've got a net connection today. Yippee!

The people celebrating combat deaths while a World War is in progress are beyond the pale. They are a strong argument for Heinlein's barely-specious thesis that only veterans have earned full citizenship.

I traveled through Plaquemines Parish last night. The devastation is reminiscent of photos of Hiroshima, Stalingrad, or any other locale post-battle. G-d simply swept civilization away in some parts of the Gulf Coast.

CNN is the only TV news I have available. The all-anti-American all the time is getting a bit tiresome. Once again- I and my brothers and sisters have pledged to defend, with our very lives if need be, their right to be utter assholes. That does not mean that Wolf Blitzer has to appear so gleeful as he recounts American military deaths or the latest troubles that others are creating for the President.

Those who were warned; who have witnessed Katrina and other storms; and then found themselves without food, water, or electricity in Miami, Cancun, or Key West; have no place whining for immediate relief or a government bail-out. Wake up, twits.

/cross-posted on LGF & lgc

Working in a whorehouse

2005-10-23T15:36:00.000-05:00

So,
One of my application packets for graduate school included a depressing message. The school suggests I not waste 7 years of my life in a field with poor career opportunities. First, may I congratulate their marketing dept. Way to go on getting that tuition money. Second, I'm thinking that 3 years and a solid career field is a better bet, so it's time for me to take those LSATs.

The downside is I'll never be able to tell people what I do after all those jokes I've made. On the other hand, I won't have to look forward to being 35 with a doctorate working at the local Borders.

School is funny. I've been so focused on my majors, and now I'm looking at three schools in thee separate fields. Sucks to be a Liberal Arts major.

Deathwatch-

2005-10-09T09:01:00.000-05:00

Louis Freeh's mysterious death in 5...4...3...2...

Lunchtime in NOLA

2005-10-07T08:34:00.000-05:00

Miscellaneous musings and tales:

The fine folk from the Salvation Army run an outdoor daily hot-lunch line for us. As I was waiting today for a serving of beef stew, I couldn't help but notice that there are some fat flies in NOLA *shudder*.

After Rosh Hashana services Tuesday, a nice couple invited 3 of us military types to their home for lunch- a COL, an SFC, and myself. They had just returned home, and we thought that was really something, their insistence on sharing what little food they had. Immediately after we sat down, our host launched into total moonbattery- global warming causing the hurricanes, Bush being "selected", the wrongness of the Iraqi campaign. All the LLL talking points. While we soldiers were walking back to a main street, the SFC revealed the holes he'd bitten in his tongue, and the COL remarked on my deft redirection of the conversation.

We passed many trash piles topped with bird cages. As the owner of a small parrot, I found myself for the first time really thinking about the lost pets of NOLA.
On St. Charles St. I stuck my thumb out as a fire engine turned a corner. The mixed crew of NOLA and volunteer firefighters drove us to our door.
Shana tovah, all.

Addendum:
The FASTAC is up and running as of Wednesday, still without a muffler. One of the mercs remarked, "that's a real chick magnet, there." Well, maybe not a chick magnet, but certainly still a BLS rig/field aid station. Parked on the riverfront where the tailgate stickers can drive liberals nuts.

Trolls in the Mist

2005-09-29T05:28:00.000-05:00

Well, it seems that we've attracted pests. To Whom it may concern: I've broken out the Raid, so if you use obscene language, you get zapped.

Libraries, trucks, and the ever-winding road to NOLA.

2005-09-29T01:35:00.000-05:00

Several days ago I finished the second of two recreational books I'd brought to Louisiana. The Stress Management group (it's FEMA- of course there's one) has the offices next to the one I've been sleeping in, so I brought them the books and suggested a "leave one, take one" library. They thought that so great an idea that a few days later they bought several more at a Dollar Store. Well, I haven't noticed a lot of turnover, but tonight the shelf sported some new additions- pamphlets from the 'Church of Scientology Disaster Response Team'. I thought about pitching them, but it would probably make them believe there's a demand. Next time I run into one of these people, maybe I'll just offer to help them get 'located'- hard to do when one's head is up one's ass.

The FASTAC is still sitting at the dealership, awaiting an apparently hard-to-come-by (at least in Baton Rouge) part. So I'm driving my boss's Tahoe to NOLA this AM. Exact assignment unclear, and billeting still up in the air- one rumor is still a berth on the Iwo Jima.
Net access is still a question mark. I have applied for a dial-up, but the IT guy didn't come back to implement it on this comp. So if I'm not a web presence for a while, *hearty handshake* for all the guys, and *hugs**lingering* for all the ladies.

Waiting on my date with Rita

2005-09-19T20:57:00.000-05:00

Drive-by blogging from the heart of FEMA-

I was just asked when I go off-duty. My response: "After the next hurricane or so."

The Road to NOLA

2005-09-18T21:35:00.000-05:00

Set out for NOLA early yesterday. On the Eastern outposts of Baton Rouge, the FASTAC vehicle died. It is currently awaiting repair at a local Ford dealership. In the aftermath, I am back to night duty at the Baton Rouge HQ.
I spent several hours awaiting the tow that was promised for 1 hour. The only reason they came at all was my boss's (unfounded) threat to turn The Admiral loose on them for keeping a FEMA medical officer sidelined for so long.
Many people, some with less than nothing to call their own, stopped to offer aid, rides, and drinks. There is a spirit of hope and future here that I'm sure you won't hear about in MSM. And praise and thanks for FEMA and the many people who are down here working the recovery effort.
So I still have yet to see NOLA, and tonight's scuttlebutt is that the new storm might well follow Katrina's track. *Sigh* I never made it to Margaritaville. But I have been drunk in Atlanta with Jimmy Buffett.

Thoughts from the heart of darkness.....

2005-09-15T23:02:00.000-05:00

I drove through Mississippi Monday night on my way to Baton Rouge. It looked as though G-d had taken a weed-wacker to the place. Lots of wood down. Road signs twisted down like discarded matchbook covers. Utter blackness where we once controlled the night. Signs of civilization in the most surprising spots. Anarchy in sporadic outbreaks.

Free-floating cluster-fuck in all the various HQs, but the work is getting done, with amazing speed and surprising efficiencies.

Working with NOLA residents is heart-breaking. There are people who have lost everything but their lives and their family. There are others who have lost family. What would you do if you had to flee with what was on your back? These are not the first refugees in history; they won't be the last. But still tragic.

Sometime in next 48 hours I may move into NOLA itself. Too late for Mardi Gras. No one to throw beads at, anyway.

Caught a little of the President's speech tonight. Steve Chapman wrote a thought-provoking article in the Chicago Trib of 9/13: "Should we even rebuild N.O.?" Looks like it will happen whether or not it really makes sense.

Talked to a worker tonight about the morgue effort. Non-stop sadness wherever you look, down here. Many workers will become psych casualties as the weeks go on. Most will not, will just soldier on. But some people manage to keep smiling. Excellent pics from the FEMA JFO by a blogger at : www.sarahbottinbatonrouge.blogspot.com.

Update 18SEP05:
The blog referenced above is down; I'm told the blogger is no longer here. For those who missed the photo of the "Church of Scientology Disaster Response Vehicle", tough luck.

Assistance for the journey....

2005-09-10T17:52:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Joe & Sherri, Sarge & Diana, Mike, the fine ladies at Nursefinders/SB, Steve, and assorted lizardoids (you know who you are) for bottled water, road munchies, miscellaneous supplies and goodies, or moral support.
Albright's Cycling and Fitness, of Mishawaka, IN, donated a check-out of the aging Schwinn I'm toting along. Thanks again, guys.

Road Trip!

2005-09-09T07:43:00.000-05:00

For anyone who cares:

After much deliberation, and a lot of bending of friends' ears, I'm headed for Baton Rouge. My chain of command isn't sending me, and the State Dept. of Homeland Security hasn't organized their next wave yet, so I'll be a civilian contractor for FEMA. Doing this now means probably losing one job, but the need seems greatest now, and I want to be able to face myself in the mirror. I'll be out of electronic contact for a while, so sometime in the next 72 hours I'll be signing off for an indefinite period.

Licenses accepted by LA. Office staff bought me a carton of bottled water, protective gear, and Little Debbies for the road. So I've got water, MREs, Little Debbies, J. Walker Red, and .45 ball. What more could I possibly need? A more reliable vehicle. But I'm sure the bumper stickers will be a hit:

Missing B100's birthday party to do this, so there better be at least one working C&W radio station down that way.

F Troop- hold the fort while I'm gone. Defend it with extreme prejudice.

G-d bless all those who are helping, and if there is a Hell, may G-d damn to eternal Hell all those Democrats who are trying to destroy this country by making this disaster a political football.

(excerpts from LGF comments)

Disaster summary for the clueless:

2005-09-02T09:25:00.000-05:00

1. Effects happen in irregular ripples. Supplies continue to diminish in a widening circle from the epicenter.
2. The LA National Guard was on scene before the flooding began. More LA and Federal military and civilian assistance continues to pour into the Gulf area, including vehicles, aircraft, and capital ships. They must bring their own fuel, water, and food.
3. Many victims made themselves victims, and continue to wait for someone else to fix their problems. A determined group, self-organized, could walk or raft out of New Orleans in less than 4 hours. As they weaken, self-rescue, or any rescue, becomes less of a certainty than death.
4. The death toll will be staggering. That, the hurricane itself, and Gov. Blanco's total lack of spine and skill, are not the fault of President George Bush.
5. Martial law is an ugly thing. It will be required to restore order and provide meaningful assistance.
6. Monetary donations to ARC, Salvation Army, and a select handful of main-line charities, is probably the most effective way most Americans can help. Direct aid is for experts, or those who find themselves with out-of-state refugees to aid.
7. Serious thought must be given as to whether or not NOLA and other Gulf Coast communities should be re-built; other than hardened port facilities with raised roads to inland centers.
8. Katy Couric is a two-bit whore.

Also see:some thoughts on preparation.

Hangin' with Cindy's buds...

2005-08-22T23:44:00.000-05:00

I've written before about our local moonbats (http://herbertsobel.blogspot.com/2005/02/protest-against-morons.html). Today, they taped an American flag to a lamp post at a height that had it dragging on the sidewalk. When I yelled across the street to them to lift it off the ground, they laughed. BTW- the twit to the right of the flag (just to the right of the mailboxes) is, IIRC, a British subject; resident in the U.S. >25 years, mother of American citizens, prefers to remain a Crown subject. She should have stayed in London, doing £1 Lewinskys in Picadilly Circus.
After I called them f****** morons, and just as I reached my boil-over point*, the mope who had hung the flag pulled it down, balled it up, and stuffed it into a bag.
And I'm sworn to protect their right to be a-holes.

One of the squacks took a cell-phone pic of me. Look for that rare image of me in street clothes- and remember that video makes one look 20# heavier.

*- a number of vets have told me that they are reluctant to do the Protest Warrior thing because of anger management issues. These issues seem only to surface when moonbats are about.

Candle Light and Music for the Troops

2005-08-16T22:44:00.000-05:00

The city of Mishawaka, IN, held a very nice support the troops rally tonight; attended by hundreds. People sang, hundreds of lit candles were held aloft in a moving moment, the Congressman dropped by (though Bayh didn't come by; he sent a speech with a staffer), and City Hall is going to have a wall of pictures of local service members.
The local news broadcasts gave it about 30 seconds, as a lead-in to a Cindy Sheehan story. Look for the rally on the network morning shows.
{crickets}
Update 18 AUG 05:
The South Bend Tribune, in their 17 AUG edition, had a single captioned photo as reportage of the rally. The same paper held many column inches about Cindy Sheehan, including a brief piece about the "Support Cindy" vigil to be held that evening.

BTW- I did attend this gathering, in uniform. It was a simple, heartfelt, and very moving event. Thank you, Mishawaka.

Addendum:
The South Bend Tribune's 18 AUG edition has more space devoted to the Wed. night Sheehan/anti- George Bush demonstrations. Nothing more about Mishawaka's pro-troop rally, attended by hundreds, that I could find. Maybe there was something buried in the classifieds.
For the curious- the SB Tribune tends toward moonbat politics. Mayor Jeff Rea of Mishawaka is a Republican- not that there's anything wrong with that.....

Casey's mom, continued

2005-08-11T08:25:00.000-05:00

I have slept at night behind the wire, loaded rifle at hand, with very hostile gerbils on the other side. I have waded through puddles of blood and body parts. I have one daughter standing at the epicenter of what could become a civil war come Monday. I have a son who will, by year's end, be a grunt in an army at war. I also find myself, in my later years, in the position of being one of the gray old men who helps send young ones off to battle. Not all of them return.

I have said before, and I do mean it: These troops are my brothers and sisters, my sons and daughters. Every one who falls is another piece torn out of my soul. Every one that I see learning to use prosthetics, or a white cane, or to cope with unseen demons, causes me anguish.

I am not without compassion for the parents of the slain. Cindy Sheehan, however, was apparently a moonbat before Casey's death. She is using her situation, and others are cynically using her, to further a destructive political agenda. There is a focus coalescing around this incident. The MSM loves Sheehan's story. A grieving mother confronting the leader of the free world in order to halt the evil Bush's war for oil (or riches, or revenge, or ego; depends on which moonbat you're talking with at any given moment). You can't watch TV news or pick up print media without seeing some mention of her. This morning, on the television news, there was a short piece on a moonbat from Phoenix on her way to join Cindy Sheehan. I believe the name was Cheryl Bolens. This woman compared Sheehan to Rosa Parks, and spoke of Sheehan's importance to the anti-Iraq war movement. What a travesty! What a misunderstanding of modern history and current events.!

I've said here and elsewhere, many times, that we are engaged in a World War. Iraq is but one campaign in this much larger war. The anti-American moonbats, desperately trying to re-create the Viet Nam war, would like us to retreat from the field and surrender our security, leaving that security to the good will of others. I say to these moonbats, you can go to Hell in a handbasket if you wish, but you won't take my country, my children, and my grandchildren with you.

Cindy Sheehan's actions, and those of the anti-American moonbats who are only interested in her as a tool, not as a person, do dishonor Casey's memory. I find increasingly that this concept of honor is something I never have to explain to soldiers, and that is rarely understood by others. If you have never listened to it, try to listen to Toby Keith's rendition of American Soldier. Keith's song is an amazing expression by non-vets, and it speaks volumes.

Parts of this post were excerpted from responses I posted last night on an LGF discussion thread: http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=17006_Unhinged_Mom_Changes_Story#comments

Update @ 0925:
KSFO, San Francisco, received this e-mail from a Sheehan family spokesman-

Hello again Melanie,

Our family has been so distressed by the recent activities of Cindy we are breaking our silence and we have collectively written a statement for release. Feel free to distribute it as you wish. Thanks – Cherie

In response to questions regarding the Cindy Sheehan/Crawford Texas issue:
Sheehan Family Statement:

The Sheehan Family lost our beloved Casey in the Iraq War and we have been silently, respectfully grieving. We do not agree with the political motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan. She now appears to be promoting her own personal agenda and notoriety at the the expense of her son's good name and reputation. The rest of the Sheehan Family supports the troops, our country, and our President, silently, with prayer and respect.

Sincerely,

Casey Sheehan's grandparents, aunts, uncles and numerous cousins.

http://www.secondbreakfast.net/archives/002082.html
http://ksfo.com/showdj.asp?DJID=11187
(Hat tip: gus3)

To Casey Sheehan's grandparents, aunts, uncles and numerous cousins- thank you, and G-d bless.

Casey's mom

2005-08-09T09:51:00.000-05:00

Cindy Sheehan is camped out on a dusty road in Texas, slowly parboiling her brain in the heat of a Texas summer. She seeks, no, demands, an audience with the most powerful national leader on the planet. An audience that she has already had. Cindy Sheehan's son, SPC Casey A. Sheehan, died in action in Iraq. I didn't know the man. What I know about him is that he was a volunteer, that he served our country honorably, and that he died while performing this service. I can think of no worse thing to happen to a parent than the loss of a child. That said, I have a harsh message for Ms. Sheehan: get over it.

All the men and women serving in today's U.S. military are volunteers. These men and women dedicate their lives to the protection of the United States. They do this for many reasons, but not for glory or martyrdom. Most do this quietly, without much recognition. They serve because they choose to.

All of us who do or have worn the uniform understand that, from time to time, we are required to to perform difficult or dangerous duties. We know that not all of us will return home safely. When we are young, we don't believe that anything will happen to us. As we get older, we breathe that guilty sigh of relief that it didn't happen to us. SPC Sheehan was at an age where he had some awareness of these truths.

This morning, I watched Ms. Sheehan interviewed by an MSM reporter. As a psychiatric nurse, I'll give you my snap diagnosis: Ms. Sheehan is unhinged. She has chosen to nurture her grief and turn it to destructive effort, as a pawn of those who seek the defeat and destruction of our country. Ms. Sheehan is being used in a most despicable and cynical fashion by these people. The reasons for our troops being in Iraq or, for that matter, anyplace else outside the U.S., have been endlessly debated in many forums. I will not add to that debate any more than I have previously on this site. I will instead remind Ms. Sheehan and all my other countrymen, that once embarked on a war, one must conclude it. Wars conclude with clear victory, ignoble defeat, or uneasy truces. That is the real world, not the fairy-tale land that Code Pink and other neo-hippies and '60s-era refugees seem to prefer.

I lived through the '60s and the '70s. I was on active duty 1971-74. I saw first-hand what the national debate and discord did to our war effort, our military, and our country's future. Code Pink, the neo-hippies, and the '60s-era refugees need to STFU and STFD, right NOW. We need to follow our actions to noble conclusions, for the sake of our nation's future and that of our children. One does not achieve a noble conclusion by turning tail at adversity, and surrendering one's culture and country to one's very real enemies.

Ms. Sheehan, honor your son's memory and the sacrifice he made on our behalf. Place his flag and decorations on the mantle, and celebrate the path that Casey chose.

Specialist Casey A. Sheehan, U.S. Army
29MAY79-4APR04
R.I.P., Brother

Addendum-
Drudge has a report on Cindy Sheehan's changing stories:
http://www.drudgereportarchives.com/data/2005/08/08/20050808_141400_flash4.htm
PROTESTING SOLDIER MOM CHANGED STORY ON BUSH Mon Aug 08 2005 10:11:07 ET The mother of a fallen U.S. soldier who is holding a roadside peace vigil near President Bush's ranch -- has dramatically changed her account about what happened when she met the commander-in-chief last summer! Cindy Sheehan, 48, of Vacaville, Calif., who last year praised Bush for bringing her family the "gift of happiness," took to the nation's TV outlets this weekend to declare how Bush "killed an indispensable part of our family and humanity." CINDY 2004 THE REPORTER of Vacaville, CA published an account of Cindy Sheehan's visit with the president at Fort Lewis near Seattle on June 24, 2004: "'I now know he's sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis,' Cindy said after their meeting. 'I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith.' "The meeting didn't last long, but in their time with Bush, Cindy spoke about Casey and asked the president to make her son's sacrifice count for something. They also spoke of their faith. "The trip had one benefit that none of the Sheehans expected. "For a moment, life returned to the way it was before Casey died. They laughed, joked and bickered playfully as they briefly toured Seattle. For the first time in 11 weeks, they felt whole again. "'That was the gift the president gave us, the gift of happiness, of being together,' Cindy said." CINDY 2005 Sheehan's current comments are a striking departure. In an interview Sunday on CNN, she claimed Bush "acted like it was party" when she met him. "It was -- you know, there was a lot of things said. We wanted to use the time for him to know that he killed an indispensable part of our family and humanity. And we wanted him to look at the pictures of Casey. "He wouldn't look at the pictures of Casey. He didn't even know Casey's name. He came in the room and the very first thing he said is, 'So who are we honoring here?' He didn't even know Casey's name. He didn't want to hear it. He didn't want to hear anything about Casey. He wouldn't even call him 'him' or 'he.' He called him 'your loved one.' Every time we tried to talk about Casey and how much we missed him, he would change the subject. And he acted like it was a party. BLITZER: Like a party? I mean... SHEEHAN: Yes, he came in very jovial, and like we should be happy that he, our son, died for his misguided policies. He didn't even pretend like somebody... Developing...

In the interest of fairness, here is a link to the original Reporter article:

original Sheehan story

I stand by my commentary above.

Peace Through Superior Firepower, Nagasaki edition

2005-08-09T00:06:00.000-05:00

Hey! It's August 9^th!
Peace Through Superior Firepower.

/for those who think that's tasteless, tough. My uncle and many thousands of others came home because we were able to end a war that others started.

Wartime Reminiscences

2005-08-09T00:02:00.000-05:00

An excerpt from my forthcoming memoirs, as posted on LGF:#101

"Winter Soldier"- ah, I remember well the tumult of those years; after JG Kerry and I returned from our river trip to Cambodia, bearing only a tattered boonie hat and the seared memories of COL Kurtz's final words. Kerry and I stood shoulder to shoulder as we hurled some poor schmuck's medals over the fence, savoring the anticipation of another night of orgying with Hanoi Jane and assorted hippie chicks. It was a marvelous season to be a traitor, even if John ranked me at the time.

Peace Through Superior Firepower

2005-08-06T12:02:00.000-05:00

Hey! It's August 6^th!
Peace Through Superior Firepower.

/for those who think that's tasteless, tough. My uncle and many thousands of others came home because we were able to end a war that others started.

A Modest Proposal

2005-07-26T16:26:00.000-05:00

Hillary Clinton is looking to be *shudder* the anointed candidate for the dems. Looking at Republicans, I don't see anybody jumping out and grabbing my attention. John McCain, but he's more of a rino. No strong independents, either.
So, how's about-

Dr. C. Rice/L. Bush in '08!

Covers a lot of political bases- women, minorities, and most important of all, brains and backbone.

London

2005-07-07T10:54:00.000-05:00

To our British cousins:
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of sorrow.

Redefining heroism.

2005-07-05T03:58:00.000-05:00

While idly looking at Sitemeter referral listings for this blog, I ran across this gem:

"of course he doesnt have the guts"
Posted by JohnKleeb on Jan-16-03 at 10:21 PM

LAST EDITED ON Jan-16-03 AT 10:28 PM (ET)

The airborne divisions are trained tough and if he couldnt handle the National Guard than he wont handle the paratroopers well. He would be like Cpt Herbert Sobel in Band of Brothers but Sobel could train men at least and make them great paratroopers and soldiers but he was a horrible field commander but a great trainer. Bush I bet could neither train these men or go in with them.

Paul David Wellstone
1944-2002
A liberal, democrat, and hero for all times.
A hero's death along with his wife, aides, and pilots.
"And when he gets to heaven to Saint Peter he will be one more soldier reporting, 'Sir I've served my time in hell.'"

Honor the fallen and the living.
Thank you veterans for your service.

Ireland Unite under one flag and proud Irish

DU archive

Leaving aside the attack on the President, would someone please tell me what service Wellstone did that made him a hero or even a soldier? What a slap in the face to soldiers everywhere!

Excerpted e-mail

2005-06-29T07:35:00.000-05:00

In a message dated 6/28/05 22:19:36,****@**.net writes:
Hey, it was great to talk to you tonight, Yankee! (You will notice that you have moved up in the world from bein' a DamnYankee.)
How'd you feel about GW's speech? I felt it was fairly kickass (I took the walkman) and I particularly liked the little part about (and I'm paraphrasing here) no other country would be given the opportunity to attack the US on his watch. I'm hopin' that was a (final) warning for Iran.

REPLY:
***-

Ah ahm ahned to be given meah Yankee status.

Yeah, Ol' George is a kick-ass CIC.
I'm very much afraid that the only warning that would affect the current governments of many countries would be their capitol cities disappearing in a bright flash. And we'll never do that first. Some of these fucks are just crazy enough to not care about starting a nuke war. It's pretty clear that the 1973 Yom Kippur War was on the brink of going nuclear, and we almost got sucked into an exchange with the Soviets. Part of the history I've lived. Yuck.
The Taliban claim that they executed people from the Chinook crash is more proof that they don't care. We should just stage a mass execution of everybody at Gitmo wearing an orange jumpsuit, take photos, and pass 'em around. The traitors in Congress have made it clear to the world that anyone can kick us in the nuts and we'll feed 'em good food and give 'em creature comforts, and interrogate them less rigorously than the average mom questioning teenagers late for curfew.
-me

None Dare Call it Treason

2005-06-28T09:32:00.000-05:00

Amendment I - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am1

Treason
treason n the offense of attempting to overthrow the government of one's country or of assisting its enemies in war Source: NMW http://www.usconstitution.net/glossary.html#TREASON

Article III, Section 3 - Treason
Section 3 - Treason Note

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted. http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#A3Sec3

This is a subject that has been weighing heavily on my mind the past few years. My oath of office includes the phrase, "do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States... against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance...".
The Bill of Rights is our safeguard against government infringement on G-d-given rights. With rights come responsibilities. You can speak freely, but you shouldn't needlessly shout "fire" in a crowded theatre. You can worship whomever and however you will, but you may not use your neighbor or his children for a human sacrifice. You can keep and bear arms, but you may not wantonly slaughter moonbats, no matter the temptation.

So we arrive at treason. At what point does political discourse become treason? When it reaches the point defined in Art. III, Sec. 3. Some of our politicians and celebrities, while not openly "adhering to their Enemies", are arguably providing "Comfort", if not direct "Aid". And we have enemies. Only a moron or a willful idiot refuses to recognize that we are engaged in a World War. Whether you call it "GWOT" or jihad, it is nothing less than a struggle for the survival of Western civilization in general; the United States of America in particular. If we lose this war we do lose everything.
Certain members of the Congress have recently made statements that are dangerously divisive, injurious to military morale and operations, and can only aid our enemies. You only have to glance at MSM coverage of the past few weeks to find many egregious examples of this. We saw this occur once before, during the war in Viet Nam. Some of the same players from then are still at it.
Two notable examples:
JG Kerry, Viet Cong war hero 1971-2005

Teddy "Bluto" Kennedy,
, the last person to see alive.

Some call it free speech. In time of war, I dare call it treason, and I call upon the Attorney General of the United States to investigate, and determine if prosecutable offenses have been committed by Senators Kerry, Kennedy, and Durbin, among many others.

Short!

2005-06-18T21:29:00.000-05:00

As a public service, I'm posting an image created by LGF poster no2liberals for LGF buddy reaganite (and any other short-timers):

Gawwleee- them Hollyweird special effects is really sumptin'!

2005-06-17T11:41:00.000-05:00

Morgan Reynolds appeared on Coast to Coast AM last night with his moonbat theory. Spoiler: George did it.

(I told the guys we needed to do a better job of concealing the wires and det receivers)
/do I need a tag?

Terri's autopsy

2005-06-15T21:19:00.000-05:00

I was challenged on LGF to post the Schiavo autopsy report. As of this moment, I've not been able to find it. The MSM news report below is typical of the published stories. If someone can find for me the actual Path report, I'll comment on it. Whatever was in Terri's head prior to her death by intentional neglect remains between Terri and G-d. What remains apparent is that the proximate cause of death was the induced dehydration of Terri Schiavo. Judicial murder aggressively solicited by Michael Schiavo.

UPDATE 17JUN05:
Here's a link to the autopsy. As soon as I finish digesting all 39 pages, I'll comment further. The first things that jumped out at me-
Cause of Death: Complications of Anoxic Encephalopathy
Manner of death: Undetermined
(italics mine)
The initial gross exam is of a female who is *gasp* dehydrated.
My initial opinion still stands.
Autopsy Report

Posted on Wed, Jun. 15, 2005

Autopsy on Schiavo reveals massive, irreversible brain damage

BY SANDY BAUERS AND STACEY BURLING

Knight Ridder Newspapers

PHILADELPHIA - (KRT) - What caused Terri Schiavo's brain damage remains a mystery, but Florida medical authorities Wednesday said the injury was "massive" and irreversible, and left her blind.

An autopsy on Schiavo, who became the focus of a nationwide debate about life and death, found that her brain had atrophied to less than half the normal size, medical examiner Jon Thogmartin said during a news conference in Largo, Fla.

"There was massive neuronal loss," said Thogmartin, chief medical examiner for Pasco and Pinellas counties, referring to brain cells. "This damage was irreversible."

He added that "no amount of treatment" could have repaired the damage. He concluded that she was blind, a key finding because some believed she could follow objects with her eyes.

The report also found no evidence of ill treatment, either before or after her brain was damaged.

Schiavo, 41, died March 31, almost two weeks after the feeding tube keeping her alive was removed. She collapsed in 1990 and, for the following 15 years, was in what doctors testified was a "persistent vegetative state."

She was the subject of a very public, seven-year legal fight over her diagnosis and desires that pitted the Schindler family - her parents and siblings - against her husband, Michael Schiavo. He wanted to remove the feeding tube, arguing that she would not want to live after such serious brain damage.

Her family contended that she was responsive and could get better. As a Catholic, they said, she would have chosen to live, no matter what.

Ultimately, their battle drew in about 40 judges in six courts, the president, Congress and many religious groups. President Bush signed a bill, rushed through by Congress in March, in a last-ditch effort to restore her feeding tube. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Wednesday the autopsy did nothing to change Bush's position that Schiavo's feeding tube should not have been disconnected.

At the Florida news conference, Thogmartin emphasized that persistent vegetative state is a "clinical" diagnosis made only by doctors who examine a living patient.

But Stephen J. Nelson, chief medical examiner for the 10th judicial circuit of Florida, who helped perform the autopsy, said, its findings are "very consistent with persistent vegetative state."

He said Schiavo's brain weighed 615 grams, 220 grams less than that of Karen Ann Quinlan, the subject of another famous right-to-die debate. Quinlan died after 10 years in a persistent vegetative state, his report said.

Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, said Terri's husband was "pleased to hear the hard science and evidence" that corroborated what he has been saying for years - that Terri could not be fed by mouth, that no rehabilitation or therapy could improve her condition and that she had not been abused.

Felos also noted the finding that Terri was blind, considering the "deep impact on the public" of video footage in which Terri appeared to respond to her mother and follow the movement of a balloon with her eyes.

"We have been saying for years and years and years ... that Terri's eye movement and apparent response to visual stimuli was a reflexive action.

"It's a hard fact, a scientific fact, that Terri Schiavo was blind. She couldn't see her mother," Felos said.

He also said that Michael Schiavo had decided to release to the public some of the autopsy photos, although he did not know when. He has not decided yet what to do with his wife's ashes.

Barbara Weller, an attorney who represented the Schindlers, said the family still disputed the diagnosis of a persistent vegetative state. "They know what they experienced when they were with Terri."

The central moral question, she said, remains. "Is it really moral for us to kill people because their quality of life is not what a judge thinks it should be? We still have to ask in America whether we really want people killed in that way."

Terri's family, Weller said, "didn't care what her physical condition was. They would have loved her and cared for her no matter."

The cause of Terri Schiavo's collapse has never been proven, but testimony in a 1992 civil trial indicated she probably was suffering from an eating disorder that led to a chemical imbalance and heart attack.

Thogmartin said he did not find enough evidence to prove she suffered from bulimia, and was unable to establish exactly what had caused her brain to get too little oxygen and blood in 1990.

Terri Schiavo's parents have accused Michael Schiavo of abusing her, a charge he vehemently denies.

Thogmartin said that there was no evidence immediately after Schiavo's collapse, during her care or from the autopsy itself that she had been the victim of abuse or trauma.

Schiavo, who grew up in Huntingdon Valley, Pa., and later moved to Pinellas County, Fla., died in March, he said, from dehydration, not starvation.

Brain experts who read the autopsy praised its thoroughness and agreed that it showed extensive damage from which there was no hope of recovery.

"This is horrendous, horrific and irreversible," said David Brock, a neurologist at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

While doctors cannot tell how well a brain is functioning from an autopsy, Ronald Cranford, a University of Minnesota neurologist who examined Schiavo when she was alive, said he believed "any reasonable person would conclude she was in a vegetative state."

In addition to the blindness, the autopsy showed that Schiavo's hippocampus, the seat of memory in the brain, was profoundly damaged, said Lawrence Kenyon, a neuropathologist at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. "If you have damage to your hippocampus, you cannot remember anything, so there is no way for you to learn or improve at all," he said. The autopsy would not rule out any higher functioning, he said.

There also was damage to her spinal cord, a sign that "any sensations she was getting below the neck would have been tremendously diminished," said Kenyon, who is director of autopsy at Jefferson. "She might not have been able to feel very much, if anything."

Pamela F. Hennessy, spokeswoman for the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation in Clearwater, Fla., an organization that fought the removal of her feeding tube, said that she was "relieved" that Thogmartin and his staff "were very painstaking and thorough."

"His report, however, does leave a lot of unanswered questions," she said. "It doesn't really offer much in the way of closure, as far as what happened to her. ... There is still no explanation why this healthy, sober, energetic 26-year-old woman fell into this respiratory arrest and ensuing heart failure."

She said that Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, were unavailable for comment because of a prior commitment.

However, "I don't know if the Schindler family will ever have closure on this. At the end of the day, (in effect,) a judge told them to sit down, shut up and let their kid die."

The Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, who as director of the Christian Defense Coalition organized protests outside the Florida hospice where Terri Schiavo was being cared for, said the autopsy only energized his cause.

"I think it actually brings more passion and energy into those advocates who worked diligently to save Terri's life," he said.

"It affirms the fundamental position of why we got involved in this case to begin with. ... Terri Schiavo was not terminally ill. Terri Schiavo did not have a sickness. Terri Schiavo was simply disabled, and so a disabled person was dehydrated before our very eyes."

---

Visit Philadelphia Online, the Inquirer's World Wide Web site, at http://www.philly.com

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

Link to my previous posts on Terri:
http://herbertsobel.blogspot.com/2005_03_01_herbertsobel_archive.html

Flag Day/U.S. Army's Birthday

2005-06-15T11:47:00.000-05:00

A quick note on 14 June:
June 14th is Flag Day. It is also the Army's birthday- 230 this year. I didn't have any parties to go to, but I did visit the Marines.
The local Marine Corps League graciously allows me to be a 'social member', that I may take meals and drink there. They even address me as 'L-T'. Yesterday they had a very moving flag retirement ceremony. No mention of the Army's birthday, but I'm OK with that. They're Marines, after all. There was a small crowd there, and the local TV news people did a decent take on the ceremony.

I was saluted by the local Marine unit's 1SGT, an imposing figure in Dress Blues with a wall of decorations, including a .50 cal marksmanship badge-very cool. I am always humbled when people of that accomplishment follow me or show respect. This time around, I've encountered very few soldiers, Marines, sailors, or airmen that I wouldn't want at my side or watching my back. Those few- you know who you are.

HTML follies

2005-06-07T11:21:00.000-05:00

Somehow, the template got screwed up after the last post. Soon's as I figure it out, I'll fix it.

Update: fixed.

Idiotarians, the Rising Tide, and My Civil War Index

2005-06-07T11:14:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I was low-censused from my hospital shift. Bad for the wallet, good for social activities. I was able to go do the Monday flag-waving thing (http://herbertsobel.blogspot.com/2005/02/protest-against-morons.html) and then go to the excellent Taco Monday at a local service club. While I was standing on the West sidewalk with my flag, one of the idiotarians walked a colleague across the street. This woman, complete with white cane, walked unerringly up to me (visually-impaired, not blind, apparently). She was wearing a conical straw hat and felt compelled to tell me about the last 5 years she'd spent teaching in Viet Nam. She said she talked with many veterans, and the process "helped them mend". When I said that many of us don't require mending, she pursed her lips and walked away. Shortly afterward, a peloton of recreational cyclists cruised by and informed me that President Bush sucks, and that I was an idiot. When I responded that they were morons, they looked unhappy, but rode on. I was standing silently on the sidewalk and all of these people went out of their way to bait me and deliver insults. The experience left me with a smoldering anger.

This morning I logged on and found the article below referenced by LGF. The general level of moonbattery seems to be rising at an accelerated pace. TNTC, and generating personal unease. To use the Skywalker family expression, "I've got a bad feeling about this". So the clock (civil war index: ) gets nudged again. Not much time left. I believe that there are a great many people who want the unthinkable to happen, and many others who will justify their actions by helping generate self-fulfilling prophecy.

From the Wall Street Journal Online (hat tip:LGF):

COMMENTARY

The Great Ground Zero Heist

By DEBRA BURLINGAME
June 7, 2005; Page A14

On Memorial Day weekend, three Marines from the 24th Expeditionary Unit who had been wounded in Iraq were joined by 300 other service members for a wreath-laying ceremony at the empty pit of Ground Zero. The broken pieces of the Twin Towers have long ago been cleared away. There are no faded flags or hand-painted signs of national unity, no simple tokens of remembrance. So why do they come? What do they hope to see?

The World Trade Center Memorial will break ground this year. When those Marines return in 2010, the year it is scheduled to open, no doubt they will expect to see the artifacts that bring those memories to life. They'll want a vantage point that allows them to take in the sheer scope of the destruction, to see the footage and the photographs and hear the personal stories of unbearable heartbreak and unimaginable courage. They will want the memorial to take them back to who they were on that brutal September morning.

Instead, they will get a memorial that stubbornly refuses to acknowledge the yearning to return to that day. Rather than a respectful tribute to our individual and collective loss, they will get a slanted history lesson, a didactic lecture on the meaning of liberty in a post-9/11 world. They will be served up a heaping foreign policy discussion over the greater meaning of Abu Ghraib and what it portends for the country and the rest of the world.

* * *

The World Trade Center Memorial Cultural Complex will be an imposing edifice wedged in the place where the Twin Towers once stood. It will serve as the primary "gateway" to the underground area where the names of the lost are chiseled into concrete. The organizers of its principal tenant, the International Freedom Center (IFC), have stated that they intend to take us on "a journey through the history of freedom" -- but do not be fooled into thinking that their idea of freedom is the same as that of those Marines. To the IFC's organizers, it is not only history's triumphs that illuminate, but also its failures. The public will have come to see 9/11 but will be given a high-tech, multimedia tutorial about man's inhumanity to man, from Native American genocide to the lynchings and cross-burnings of the Jim Crow South, from the Third Reich's Final Solution to the Soviet gulags and beyond. This is a history all should know and learn, but dispensing it over the ashes of Ground Zero is like creating a Museum of Tolerance over the sunken graves of the USS Arizona.

The public will be confused at first, and then feel hoodwinked and betrayed. Where, they will ask, do we go to see the September 11 Memorial? The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation will have erected a building whose only connection to September 11 is a strained, intellectual one. While the IFC is getting 300,000 square feet of space to teach us how to think about liberty, the actual Memorial Center on the opposite corner of the site will get a meager 50,000 square feet to exhibit its 9/11 artifacts, all out of sight and underground. Most of the cherished objects which were salvaged from Ground Zero in those first traumatic months will never return to the site. There is simply no room. But the International Freedom Center will have ample space to present us with exhibits about Chinese dissidents and Chilean refugees. These are important subjects, but for somewhere -- anywhere -- else, not the site of the worst attack on American soil in the history of the republic.

More disturbing, the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. is handing over millions of federal dollars and the keys to that building to some of the very same people who consider the post-9/11 provisions of the Patriot Act more dangerous than the terrorists that they were enacted to apprehend -- people whose inflammatory claims of a deliberate torture policy at Guantanamo Bay are undermining this country's efforts to foster freedom elsewhere in the world.

* * *

The driving force behind the IFC is Tom Bernstein, the dynamic co-founder of the Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex who made a fortune financing Hollywood movies. But his capital ventures appear to have funded his true calling, the pro bono work he has done his entire adult life -- as an activist lawyer in the human rights movement. He has been a proud member of Human Rights First since it was founded -- as the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights -- 27 years ago, and has served as its president for the last 12.

The public has a right to know that it was Mr. Bernstein's organization, joined by the American Civil Liberties Union, that filed a lawsuit three months ago against Donald Rumsfeld on behalf of detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was Human Rights First that filed an amicus brief on behalf of alleged "dirty bomber" Jose Padilla, an American citizen who the Justice Department believes is an al Qaeda recruit. It was Human Rights First that has called for a 9/11-style commission to investigate the alleged torture of detainees, complete with budget authority, subpoena power and the ability to demand that witnesses testify under oath.

In fact, the IFC's list of those who are shaping or influencing the content and programming for their Ground Zero exhibit includes a Who's Who of the human rights, Guantanamo-obsessed world:

• Michael Posner, executive director at Human Rights First who is leading the world-wide "Stop Torture Now" campaign focused entirely on the U.S. military. He has stated that Mr. Rumsfeld's refusal to resign in the wake of the Abu Ghraib scandal is "irresponsible and dishonorable."

• Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU, who is pushing IFC organizers for exhibits that showcase how civil liberties in this country have been curtailed since September 11.

• Eric Foner, radical-left history professor at Columbia University who, even as the bodies were being pulled out of a smoldering Ground Zero, wrote, "I'm not sure which is more frightening: the horror that engulfed New York City or the apocalyptic rhetoric emanating daily from the White House." This is the same man who participated in a "teach-in" at Columbia to protest the Iraq war, during which a colleague exhorted students with, "The only true heroes are those who find ways to defeat the U.S. military," and called for "a million Mogadishus." The IFC website has posted Mr. Foner's statement warning that future discussions should not be "overwhelmed" by the IFC's location at the World Trade Center site itself.

• George Soros, billionaire founder of Open Society Institute, the nonprofit foundation that helps fund Human Rights First and is an early contributor to the IFC. Mr. Soros has stated that the pictures of Abu Ghraib "hit us the same way as the terrorist attack itself."

While Gov. George Pataki, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and LMDC are focusing their attention on the economic revival of lower Manhattan, there has been no meaningful oversight with respect to the "cash cow of Ground Zero." Meanwhile, the Freedom Center's organizers are quickly lining up individuals, institutions and university provosts with this arrogant appeal: "The memorial to the victims will be the heart of the site, the IFC will be the brain." Indeed, they have declared the World Trade Center Memorial the perfect "magnet" for the world's "great leaders, thinkers and activists" to participate in lectures and symposiums that examine the "foundations of free and open societies." Put less grandly, these activists and academics are salivating at the prospect of holding forth on the "perfect platform" where the domestic and foreign policy they despise was born.

Less welcome to the Freedom Center are the actual beneficiaries of that policy. According to the New York Times, early renderings of the center's exhibit area created by its Norwegian architectural firm depicted a large mural of an Iraqi voter. That image was replaced by a photograph of Martin Luther King and Lyndon Johnson when the designs were made public. What does it mean that the "story of humankind's quest for freedom" doesn't include the kind that is fought for with the blood and tears of patriots? It means, I fear, that this is a freedom center which will not use the word "patriot" the way our Founding Fathers did.

* * *

The so-called lessons of September 11 should not be force-fed by ideologues hoping to use the memorial site as nothing more than a powerful visual aid to promote their agenda. Instead of exhibits and symposiums about Internationalism and Global Policy we should hear the story of the courageous young firefighter whose body, cut in half, was found with his legs entwined around the body of a woman. Recovery personnel concluded that because of their positions, the young firefighter was carrying her.

The people who visit Ground Zero in five years will come because they want to pay their respects at the place where heroes died. They will come because they want to remember what they saw that day, because they want a personal connection, to touch the place that touched them, the place that rallied the nation and changed their lives forever. I would wager that, if given a choice, they would rather walk through that dusty hanger at JFK Airport where 1,000 World Trade Center artifacts are stored than be herded through the International Freedom Center's multi-million dollar insult.

Ground Zero has been stolen, right from under our noses. How do we get it back?

Ms. Burlingame is a member of the board of directors of the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation and the sister of Charles F. "Chic" Burlingame III, pilot of American Airlines fight 77, which was crashed at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111810145819652326,00.html

From the Halls of Montezuma....but not through the halls of Plymouth H.S.

2005-05-20T22:38:00.000-05:00

David Walker has become the focus of polarization and controversy. From a family steeped in military service and traditions, David knew by age 11 that he would serve his country in some way. After much reading, deliberation, and talking with his step-father, Ted Grubbs, David chose the United States Marine Corps. David Walker is now a Marine. An outstanding Marine. He graduated early from high school and promptly shipped to boot camp. He graduated from boot camp and earned a meritorious promotion to Private First Class. Walker finished his advanced infantry training on 17 May with several awards. He fired Expert with the rifle. All of this after his guidance counselor, Mr. Featherstone, had made disparaging comments about David's ambitions, including, "so you want to carry a rifle around?".

One of David's ambitions was to attend his class graduation ceremony, and walk across the stage in USMC Dress Blues. This will not happen. Principal Dick Tobias has deemed USMC Dress Uniform "inappropriate". He has managed to polarize portions of the student body, the local community, and the larger culture with this bone-headed decision.

Throughout the history of Western Civilization, military formal uniforms have been appropriate attire for formal public occasions. The argument has been advanced that by wearing Dress Blues, PFC Walker will somehow detract from the honor accorded the Class of 2005. The reverse is true. By wearing the visual display of over 200 years of tradition, a Marine inspires honor. A Marine shows by example that which others may aspire to. Only those who fear that they may not measure up are threatened by that example. Those threatened persons include those who are ignorant of our history, and those who are not ignorant, but are offended by our history. Some of those who are offended have passed this attitude on to students, which has led to the letter below.

Most of my information about this travesty comes from Ted Grubbs and SB Tribune reports. This morning, after leaving work in Plymouth, Indiana, I went to Plymouth H.S. in an attempt to speak with Mr. Tobias. The school receptionist informed me that he was at a meeting. She and I discussed the issue. She pretty much parroted the now-Party line in the news report, that Walker's wear of a uniform would somehow detract from honoring the class as a whole. The lady also informed me that her husband, a Viet Nam War veteran, was in agreement with the principal. Hey, Gang- I'm a Viet-era veteran, too. I serve now as a State officer. Let me say this again- a Service Dress Uniform is appropriate attire for formal occasions.

PFC Walker is now serving on active duty. Because of Mr. Tobias' obstruction and reported hostility to all things military, David now will most likely not be able to obtain leave in time to attend graduation. If he is able to attend, he has said that he may opt to sit in the audience, wearing his Dress Blues. The Plymouth H.S. graduation will be held 27 MAY 05 at 2000EST. Go if you are able; wear a dress uniform if you're entitled to. Go to honor the Class of 2005. Go to honor one brave young American who serves, that others may be free to be jackasses.

May 13, 2005

Senior class officers support uniform decision
Plymouth graduation not the time for dress blues, they say in letter.

By JOSHUA STOWE
Tribune Staff Writer

PLYMOUTH -- Commencement is not the time for graduates to wear military uniforms, senior class officers at Plymouth High School say.

Officers of the school's class of 2005 have signed a letter supporting Principal Dick Tobias' stance against the wearing of such uniforms during the graduation ceremony.

The issue arose recently when the parents of David Walker, who is now on active duty as a U.S. Marine, requested that he be allowed to wear his dress blues at the high school's graduation later this month.

Tobias said that graduation was not the time to wear the uniform by itself, since graduation honors the class, not the individual. In addition, Tobias said that Walker could wear his uniform at a senior awards event, and that Walker, like other graduates entering the military, could wear a red, white and blue cord around his neck during graduation.

Officers Ryan Pickell, Austen Black, Stephanie Welch, Jill Cartwright and Kyle Benge signed a letter supporting Tobias and his stance. The Tribune obtained a copy of the letter Thursday night.

"As being elected by our fellow peers," the letter reads, "we the class officers feel that as leaders it is our responsibility to represent our class in this matter.

"We firmly believe in Principal Tobias' reasons for requiring strict dress and we also agree with the alternative plan of allowing David Walker to wear special cords," their letter further reads.

"Since our class will be graduating as a whole on May 27th, we request that the class of 2005 be recognized as a whole, symbolized by dressing the same," the letter also says.

Welch, class vice president, elaborated during a telephone interview on Thursday night.

"We just felt that we wanted to be recognized as a class," she said, adding that if the school allowed Walker to forgo cap-and-gown attire, others might request exceptions as well. "We just wanted to back Mr. Tobias since there's been a lot of controversy over it."

Benge, who also signed the letter, agreed, saying in a separate telephone interview that he has a sister who will soon be graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy and he supports Walker's decision to serve.

"We just want to graduate as a whole class, but that doesn't take anything away from what he (Walker) is doing," he said. "I wish him the best of luck."

Staff writer Joshua Stowe:

jstowe@sbtinfo.com

(574) 936-1021

http://southbendtribune.com/stories/2005/05/13/local.20050513-sbt-MARS-B1-Senior_class_officer.sto

Update 23 MAY o5
Letters written by PFC Walker's family (some editing for formatting and physical contact info only):

From: Ted Grubbs
To: Jhekel@thepilotnews.com
Sent: Sunday, April 24, 05 9:14 PM
Subject: Graduation attire not acceptable

I am hoping that this letter will reach out to the people of Plymouth
and surrounding areas on the tragic attitude of Plymouth High School and
the Plymouth School Board's decision to deny my son the right to wear
his Marine dress blues for his high school graduation. This all started
around the third week of March after our son PFC. David Walker (U.S. Marines) returned to California (Camp Pendelton) for his School Of Infantry training, my wife Sue had spoke to Mr.Tobias about David walking across the stage to receive his diploma in his dress blues. He told my wife he would check with the school board and see what there thoughts on it would be and get back with her. When he returned her call he told us it was not going to happen because it was inapproate
dress and everyone had to wear a cap and gown. Well we felt David had
earned the right to do so and he worked hard for it. Mr. Tobias also
told us that they worked with us to let David graduate early, well
unless they took the test's for him and did his homework , David had
earned it on his own. We decided to call the Mayor who lent a
sympathetic ear but it was out of his hands. Governor Mitch Daniels
office had about the same response. The Indiana Department of Education
told us to take it up with the school board . I called Mark Gidley and
spoke with him, and to his surprise Mr.Tobias had never said anything to him or the board about it so basically he lied to my wife. Mr.Gidley told me he would get back with me in a few days with a response from the board. About 3 days later he
called me and we spoke , He told me that they had a idea that we could
both agree on . For my son (David) to still wear the cap and gown and
they would get a special ribbon to acknowledge he was in the military
and announce him as PFC David Walker U.S.M.C but he had to cover his
uniform. For one we never asked for any special recognition for him all
we asked was for him to wear his dress blues, and anyone who has ever
served our country in the armed forces knows your not allowed to cover
your uniform. Then he stated that the student body was given a selection
on what they would like to wear. So I suggested that we poll the
students and faculty on how they would felt about David wearing his
dress blues for Graduation . Then Mr. Gidley said we can't leave all the
decisions up to the kids. And after a few minutes on the phone with
Mr.Gidley he was raising his voice and saying he couldn't understand why
we wouldn't compromise. And I said this isn't about a compromise it's
about the fact David worked hard to leave early and he deserves the
right to do this , And I would think they would be proud to show what
their school has produced but sadly they are not. Mr. Gidley said we are
not trying to take anything away from David he just won't allow him to
wear his dress blues.
I finally spoke with our son David about the school and the school
boards response and he was upset. David said " If I can't walk across in
my dress blues then I wont walk across at all " This really upset my
wife, our family, and friends and myself.We will not be seeing our son
walk across the stage. Sadly after all this time even if they did change
their mind I doubt David will be able to get leave to come home for
Graduation. So our only goal now is to see that this never happens to
another kid who is willing to serve their country and want the same as
David. I pray that they community and especially the Veterans find this
as disturbing as we do, especially during a time of war.

Ted & Sue Grubbs

Date: Sun, 1 May 2005 14:18:37 -0700 (PDT)
From: Sue Grubbs
Subject: M.O.M
To: Jhekel@thepilotnews.com

Their is an old saying " It takes someone special to be a Mom". With mothers day upon us I would like to thank all Moms and Mothers. You see there is a difference between the two. A mother is someone who watches her children grow from an infant to a fine adult. I'm very blessed to have watched two of my own grow. One has gone onto college and found a career. The other one has chosen a bold and noble profession. This is where being a Mom comes in. You see I'm a Mother and a Mom "Mother of a Marine". Yes there is actually a group of us M.O.M.S who back our sons and daughters especially now during a time of war. Especially when a request as simple as graduating high school in his Marine dress blues. Plymouth High school principal and the Plymouth School Board has deemed this "inappropriate attire".My son(PFC David Walker)is not asking for any special recognition . He is asking for something he has earned, The right to graduate in his Marine dress blues. Please let the principal and the school board know they should be proud of their young men and women in uniform by letting them dress in the uniform of their branch. Anything else is unacceptable. And this is not only for David, Its for anyone else who wants the same.

Suzanne Grubbs , Mother of a Marine , PFC David Walker

From: "henry wroblewski"
Subject: FW: SCHOOL BOARD LOST IN THE 60'S ?
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 19:47:00 -0500

It looks like the Plymouth IN. school board is lost in the 60's to this
grandfather. You see, I have a grandson who did an accelerated study
program so he could finish his senior year early in order to start his
new job. An out of town job he started on the 7th of December 2004, and
he is doing quite well at it, he has already been meritoriously promoted
once.

At any rate he thought it might be nice to come back to good old
Plymouth IN. to receive his diploma with the rest of his senior class
but, he would rather not wear a cap and gown. Much like the members of
academia who will be wearing their Masters robes and hoods that night;
he would like to signify his accomplishments since he completed his
senior studies and left good old Plymouth IN. However; Mr. Tobias, the
principal, and the school board deemed his alternative outfit to be
inappropriate dress. His new employer does not allow him to wear
anything to cover or alter this "inappropriate dress" and my grandson is
quite proud of what he has earned the right to wear. Oh,yes, I forgot to
give my grandson's name. He is PFC David L. Walker, and as to the
inappropriate dress to receive his diploma; that would be the dress
blues of the United States Marines!!

This attitude toward the uniform of our country sends me back to the
60's when I wore mine. Get over it Plymouth IN., my distain for that
attitude is as strong today as it was forty years ago!

I am glad I'm not from Plymouth. In my home town; under like
circumstances, the uniform of our country would be allowed and the man
or woman wearing it would be applauded.

I would hope the good people of Plymouth IN. will enlighten their school
board, and in the future allow their fine men and women on active duty;
under like circumstances, to receive their diploma in the uniform of our
country.

As for my grandson it turns out that he probably will not be able to get
back home to receive his diploma in person. While the rest of his class
is thinking of the prom and where to party; he will be completing his
next Marine school, and will probably have earned his second meritorious
promotion. While some of his "CLASS OF 2005" is thinking of frolicking
in the sands of Lake Michigan, he will be thinking of doing his job in
the sands of IRAQ.

Yep, I am sure glad I'm not from Plymouth IN.

To the school board; like many of you, I paid for the education that
allows me to wear the Masters robe and hood. That can be measured in dollars.

To my fellow veterans; like you I earned the right to wear the uniform
of our country. That cannot be measured in dollars. What do you think of
your school board's decision? Let them know where you stand on their
graduation policy.

Henry S. Wroblewski

Update 28 MAY o5
There I was, in my newly re-tailored and dry-cleaned Class A's, and the FASTACmobile refused to start. After about 15-20 minutes, the truck finally fired but only ran on 2 or 3 cylinders. Later today I'll attempt to deal with the truck.
So, like PFC Walker, I missed the Plymouth H.S. graduation. From what I know of the Corps, if Mr. Tobias had officially requested David's presence in Dress Blues, the Corps would have delivered him. By airdrop, if necessary.

Immediately after the ceremony, David's father phoned me with a SITREP:
David's Marine recruiter and a mixed handful of Army Reserve and ARNG soldiers attended in dress uniform. They enthusiastically cheered students who were military early-entrants, as denoted by their neck-cords. David Walker's name was not called, though it was printed in the program. When asked afterward by David's mother, Messrs. Tobias and Gandy stated that since David would not be there, there was no reason to acknowledge him. Or have his diploma available for the family to pick up.

Mr. Grubbs went on to re-tell me of David's high school History experience, "they went from WWI to Viet Nam in 3 weeks, and threw in one lecture on the 1991 Gulf War". One lesson here for all of us: attend school board meetings. We mandate public schooling, then turn poorly educated people loose to determine and implement the curriculum. Hence, the "Public Fool" system.

Dick Tobias is retiring from his position. Mr. Gandy will become the new H.S. Principal. Feel free to let them know what you think of their acknowledgement of the military in time of World War.

PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
810 N Randolph St
Plymouth, IN 46563
Marshall County
Phone: (574) 936-2178
Richard Tobias, Principal
Donald Gandy, Asst. Principal
Dan Tyree, Asst. Principal

If you encounter any of David's civilian classmates, you might remind them of those who guard their privilege to remain self-centered and ignorant.

Ten years after a firefighter was left brain-damaged and mostly mute during a 1995 roof collapse, he did something that shocked his family and doctors

2005-05-03T13:45:00.000-05:00

Guess it's a good thing they bothered to keep feeding him.

Brain Damaged Firefighter Makes Recovery
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4978848,00.html
Tuesday May 3, 2005 10:31 AM

By CAROLYN THOMPSON

Associated Press Writer

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - Ten years after a firefighter was left brain-damaged and mostly mute during a 1995 roof collapse, he did something that shocked his family and doctors: He perked up.

``I want to talk to my wife,'' Donald Herbert said out of the blue Saturday. Staff members of the nursing home where he has lived for more than seven years raced to get Linda Herbert on the telephone.

It was the first of many conversations the 44-year-old patient had with his wife, four sons and other family and friends during a 14-hour stretch, Herbert's uncle, Simon Manka said.

``How long have I been away?'' Herbert asked.

``We told him almost 10 years,'' the uncle said. ``He thought it was only three months.''

Herbert was fighting a house fire Dec. 29, 1995, when the roof collapsed, burying him under debris. After going without air for several minutes, Herbert was comatose for 2 months and has undergone therapy ever since.

News accounts in the days and years after his injury describe Herbert as blind and with little, if any, memory. Video shows him receiving physical therapy but apparently unable to communicate and with little awareness of his surroundings.

Manka declined to discuss his nephew's current condition, or whether the apparent progress was continuing. The family was seeking privacy while doctors evaluated Herbert, he said.

``He's resting comfortably,'' the uncle said.

As word of Herbert's progress spread, a steady stream of visitors arrived at the Father Baker Manor nursing home in this Buffalo suburb.

``He stayed up 'til early morning talking with his boys and catching up on what they've been doing over the last several years,'' firefighter Anthony Liberatore told WIVB-TV.

Herbert's sons were 14, 13, 11 and 13 when he was injured.

Staff members at the nursing facility recognized the change in Herbert, Manka said, when they heard him speaking and ``making specific requests.''

``The word of the day was `amazing,''' he said.

Dr. Rose Lynn Sherr of New York University Medical Center said when patients recover from brain injuries, they usually do so within two or three years.

``It's almost unheard of after 10 years,'' she said, ``but sometimes things do happen and people suddenly improve and we don't understand why.''

Manka said visitors let Herbert set the pace of the conversations and did not bring up the fire in which he was injured.

``The extent and duration of his recovery is not known at this time,'' Manka said. ``However we can tell you he did recognize several family members and friends and did call them by name.''

---

On the Net: http://www.chsbuffalo.org/body.cfm?id=982

Simpsons

2005-04-27T09:27:00.000-05:00

Here's a bit of humor from my favorite TV show:

Marge: Homer, No! You'll kill us all!
Homer: Or die trying!

ha ha

Fame and Updates

2005-04-27T09:14:00.000-05:00

Woohoo!!! The Garbage Dump has been linked by Mistakes Were Made. It's a great site, go check it out!! Also, added Jack Army to the blogroll, don't know why I didn't put it up there earlier.
OT - Last day of regular classes this semester. Probably means no more high speed internet for awhile, so don''t expect many updates from me.

New Prisoner Scandal in Iraq

2005-04-21T08:55:00.000-05:00

Found (through some odd links) on the .....odd..... site ehowa.com- the latest Iraqi prisoner scandal in the making:

Hi Ernie!

My oldest son is doing his turn in Iraq. (I have 3 sons...all are active duty. 1 in the Army; 2 in the Marines) Anyhow...my son is an MP with Detainee Ops in Baghdad. He sent me this pic yesterday. I about shit my pants laughing. Thought you'd like to see it. Thanks for all you've done for our men and women in uniform, Ernie. You're good people, sir.

Respectfully,
Richard H.
Former U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer
Proud father of a U.S. Army officer
Proud father of TWO U.S. Marines

Only a matter of time before this latest outrage takes over the front pages of the MSM.

Things I Learned While Driving a Police Interceptor

2005-04-18T23:45:00.000-05:00

As noted in BBlatt's post, My Car and Firearms , I went to pick up the car he bought through eBay. It was a tedious trip, visiting with my PA kids being the high point. The Amtrak trip out would have been more enjoyable if not for the 4-hour layover in Pittsburgh, and the railway-disaster tabletop exercise I'd attended a couple of weeks back.

Things I learned while driving an ex-VHP car:
1) People expect you to solve life's little problems for them.
2) Only the bold and sneering will pass you on the turnpike.
3) Yes, 140mph is on the speedometer for a reason.
4) PA State Troopers have no sense of humor (we'll not speak of this again).

My Car and Firearms

2005-04-13T08:35:00.000-05:00

So,
I bought a car on eBay. I know, now you've got a bridge to sell me. But it's a '95 Crown Vic Interceptor (the police package) with less than 73K miles on it. How the hell could I pass on that?
All I need now is a fedora, some smokes, and cooler shades, and I'll be livin' the Blues Brothers dream.
I sent FASTAC 6 chasing after it while I'm working on my term papers and studying for finals. BTW, if anyone can explain in simple terms why Hubble's Constant isn't constant, I'd love to hear it.
Also, SF ALPHA GEEK www.sfalphageek.blogspot.com, has a running discussion in his comments about firearms.
Here's my summary of terms:
Clip: Hold bullets, can slip into a weapon like the Garand, or used to rapidly load magazines as stripper clips.
Magazine: Boxy container of bullets. Has a clip inside it. Can lock onto a weapon like an AKM, or is fixed into place on the weapon like the SKS. In other words, you feed bullets into the magazine-based clip of an SKS individually or by using a stripper clip.
Lock an' Load: Lock refers to fixing the magazine into place on the weapon. You are NOT loading a clip into the weapon, you are locking a magazine into place. Load refers to actually chambering a round in the weapon, usually by drawing the bolt back and releasing it forward and shoving the top round of the internal clip or magazine-based clip into the chamber. This can vary on the weapon.
Safe: Refers to a weapons safety being selected, preventing the trigger from operating the firing pin mechanism (usually).
Silencer: Does not exist. Suppressors minimize or reduce the sound of a gunshot, but the noise is still audible and distinctive.
Automatic vs. Semi- automatic: Automatic means you pull the trigger once and hold it back and the bolt cycles repeatedly until you release the trigger. Neat shit, but goes through ammunition quickly. Use wisely. Semi-Automatic means that the bolt cycles only once for each trigger pull, meaning every time you fire a round, you must pull the trigger.
Round vs. Bullet: A round refers to the entire projectile system; bullet, propellant, casing, etc. A bullet is the actual projectile going down-range.
Miscellaneous: Many rifles and a few shotguns are bolt-action, meaning that you have to manually cycle the bolt to chamber and eject rounds.
Revolvers: Revolvers store rounds in the revolving cylinder that acts as a multi chamber/clip/ magazine and is the central part of the weapon. Most, if not all, revolvers do not have safeties. Revolver suppressors are pointless due to the way their rotating chamber design functions. Do not believe everything you read in bad detective and spy novels. The spy did not disengage the safety on his revolver and screw on a silencer.
Hope this helps.

Terri's end

2005-03-31T11:08:00.000-05:00

30 MAR 05 1200 (late entry)
Long night in the ER. No tubes available to discontinue. Discussed Karen Ann Quinlan and Jack Kevorkian with colleagues. Had a long discussion with the on-coming MD about the ethics of the Schiavo case. Stumbled home by way of the local Class III dealer, just to window-shop. Changed clothes and went to my part-time mechanical job. Figured out that I've been awake since Mon AM, with about 3 hours out for combat naps. But hey, I'm above ground.

31 MAR 05 1020EST
Woke up after 10 1/2 hours much needed sleep. Apparently Terri Schiavo died minutes ago. Starved to death over a span of two weeks not because she was dying, not because she was unloved, but because she was inconvenient. 'Schiavo' will now enter the language.

Another gomer dead...... nothin' to see here, folks......now move along.

Rest in peace, Terri.

Previous FASTAC 6 posts on Terri Schiavo:
donuts-and-terri
terri-picking-up-speed-on-slippery
because-terris-case-is-too-important
observation-about-terri-schiavos-case
terris-death
jpfo-weighs-in

Donuts and Terri

2005-03-29T15:19:00.001-05:00

Spent the night on a Geri unit. The morning wake-up-and-feed-the-helpless routine was quite the zoo. Yet no one suggested that we park these people in a corner for a couple of weeks to quietly, or noisily, starve. I admit that I was a little surprised to find that no one had euthanized some of our patients while I was away. When I left the hospital I first went to use a free Dunkin' Donuts coupon given to me by the day RN (thanks again, A.)

On the way home I got into some interesting discussions. One was with a somewhat brain-damaged (2° MVA) but very functional friend who assured me that he is going to get 'DNR' tattooed over his sternum. That's my kind of Advanced Directive! Another talk was with a colleague who reminded me that this sort of thing goes on all the time without the fanfare.

Once home I brunched on the last of the leftover Kroger's rotisserie chicken (2 1/2 meals!), Diet Coke, salad, and some Purim goodies I missed yesterday. Even went out on the front step and smoked a cigar. Much more of a meal and a morning than Terri Schiavo's having.

I've looked at a bunch of the verbiage, imagery, and law surrounding this murder. I'm no slouch when it comes to patient assessment, chart reviews, and medico-legal matters. My friends, and my enemies, we have crossed the divide. We now have a precedent leading to overt euthanasia. Not 'assisted suicide'. Not 'enthusiastic over-administration' of narcotics. Not 'end-of-life' care. Euthanasia. When the day comes that a judge may declare your life valueless, when they bring your 'hot-shot' of morphine or phenobarb, it will be too late for you to say much. On that day, you may even discover that your Living Will/AD doesn't carry the weight that you thought it would.

Previous FASTAC 6 posts on Terri Schiavo:
terri-picking-up-speed-on-slippery
because-terris-case-is-too-important
observation-about-terri-schiavos-case
terris-death

Terri: picking up speed on the slippery slope.

2005-03-28T09:17:00.000-05:00

I just finished breakfasting on leftover Kroger's rotisserie chicken, Diet Coke, and the remains of some Purim goodies. The parrot was unhappy about the chicken, but he'll be fed, too. Fresh water, even. More than Terri Schiavo will have today. She's got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel, as we say.* Reminds me of days when even gritty, tepid, tasting-of-purification-tabs water in a plastic canteen is a good thing.

Zuukie, on an LGF thread, A Little Less Certainty , posted a relevant and interesting anecdote: #965 . Yep, lots of people going hungry, thirsty, or gasping for air. But I believe Terri's will be the ★LANDMARK★ case for us.

Today I'll give some thought to a new Healthcare POA. Number 1 Son is waay too eager to inherit the Winchester.

*We use a lot of what seems heartless humor in medicine. It keeps us from sitting in corners, gibbering. So chill out.

Previous FASTAC 6 posts on Terri Schiavo:
because-terris-case-is-too-important
observation-about-terri-schiavos-case
terris-death

Because Terri's case is too important to ignore:

2005-03-27T19:42:00.000-05:00

Just got home from a longish day on the cancer unit. I saw a lot of tears, heard a lot of prayers, said a few myself. Got through the day without kicking out any plugs or yanking out any tubes. When I last walked by the staff lounge TV, Fox News was on and Terri was still alive. Haven't yet checked again. On the way home, I celebrated my relative good health by taking advantage of Kroger's sale on treif meat. Before I made it into the house, I had to evaluate a neighbor kid's jammed finger and my son's self-inflicted finger abrasion. All in all not too atypical a day for me.

But the whole day was colored by the plight of Terri Schiavo, and its relation to the terminally ill I was caring for. Every nurse I spoke with had the same reaction to the Schiavo case. As a group, there was an understanding of the path we're now on. We can all see the horrible potential for the legalized murder of people no longer able to speak cogently for themselves.

Our culture until now has taught, 'when in doubt, err on the side of life'. This has guided Western medicine for some time. I wrote earlier, "In hospitals, we make hard decisions about life and death frequently. They are often agonizing decisions, for both the families involved and the professionals who implement them. They are made with as much input as can be gathered. Where they are known, the wishes of the patient involved are given the most weight." Though we have learned to cease our efforts when there is truly no hope, there is a world of difference between ending medical therapies that are no longer efficacious, and ending therapies that sustain life.

Today I cared for people no longer able to carry on a conversation. Their charts carried "Do Not Resuscitate" orders. But no one dared suggest that we end measures to keep them in as much comfort as possible, or to provide hydration and nourishment. A week from now, a year from now, that may not be the case. A court, aided by helpful physicians and lawyers, might find that one's 'quality of life' was insufficient, and order therapies terminated, or allow such termination, which may amount to the same idea. As this idea is carried to its extreme, a court might order euthanasia.

I also wrote, "There was in recent history a nation that institutionalized such murder. They began with the mentally ill, the nursing home vegetables, then the social undesirables. They ended with Europe in flames and rubble. We have now started down that same slope." I've been accused of hyperbole in the above statements. That such things can't happen here. That same statement was made in Germany in the 1930s. Well, guess what- we've a legal system that places strong reliance on precedent. My sailing master taught me that all 'accidents' at sea are the culmination of a series of mistakes and/or careless acts. That applies to bad law and judicial decisions as well. You embark on a slippery legal slope with one or two spectacularly bad decisions- and go downhill from there. We've had the idea of abortion as contraception. Now we have the idea of withholding basic care from those unable to ask for it.

If you can tell me, 10 years from now, that my fears were misplaced, I'll be a very happy camper. And a humble one.

The Laws of Patrolling (Force Recon)

2005-03-25T11:59:00.000-05:00

1) Always look cool.
2) Never get lost.
3) If you get lost, remember to look cool.

Just to lighten the mood. Semper Fi! to all of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children.
Adapted from Black Storm, © 2002, by CPT David Poyer, USN(ret).

Run for the Border

2005-03-23T10:48:00.000-05:00

Heinlein wrote something to the effect that 'a nation that can't control its borders is no longer a nation'.
Interesting read on illegals & the border: http://www.azanderson.org/anderson_report_border_issues.htm
(hat tip to American Dinosaurhttp://americandinosaur.blogspot.com/ )

She fits the role well--welcoming, confident, polite. Think of June Cleaver with close-cropped silver hair. But Cowan is no shrinking violet; a few years ago, she organized the first concealed-carry gun class for women of Cochise County, drawing a crowd of 28 to the Benson firehouse. And at most public meetings she attends, Cowan stands to give a rousing recital of a poem she wrote called "Ode to the Vigilante":

If I haul them to town, I'm trafficking.
If I take them in, I'm harboring.
If I feed them all, I go broke.
If I deny them, they steal.
If I'm vulnerable, they take advantage.
If my dog bites them, I have to pay their medical bills.
If I haul off a known trafficking vehicle, I face auto theft.
If I carry a gun because I'm afraid, I'm a vigilante.

"The media always twist everything we say, making us out to be these terrible vigilantes," says Cowan. "But we're just vigilant Americans."

Update 25MAR05:
Here's some people doing something about the problem (no endorsement given)-
http://www.minutemanproject.com/index.html

An Observation About Terri Schiavo's Case

2005-03-21T11:26:00.000-05:00

The case of Terri Schiavo is being debated in detail in many other venues. I won't rehash it all here. One observation I have regards advanced directives. Advanced directives (http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/8_12.htm) provide us with direction for care when a patient is unable to speak for themselves.
We currently require hospital patients on admission to sign a statement regarding advanced directives- do they have one, are they informed about them, do they want information on these. Whatever the outcome of Terri's plight- whether we allow her to be slowly murdered, or prolong her life into her uncertain future- I see one likely result from the debate. There will soon come a day when you'll not be allowed any hospital admission without a signed and exhaustively detailed A.D. for file, duly witnessed and notarized. "Please have your papers ready before you approach the border". And do try to find loved ones you can really trust.

ADDENDUM: My older boy is always telling me to be nice to him- he's going to be the one picking my nursing home.

FYI: the phrase "Sic vis pacem, para bellum"

2005-03-21T10:14:00.000-05:00

Found at: http://www.able2know.com/forums/about37163.html
(quote info not verified by me)

tillmanj
Just Hatched

Joined: 05 Dec 2004
Posts: 1

Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2004 8:47 am Post: 1049498 - Re: Cool Latin Quotes

Keef wrote:

I'm a fan of latin quotes, but I don't know many so please help me out
Here's one,

Sic vis pacem, para bellum (sik vis paw kem, para bellum)

"If you want peace, prepare for war"

Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum
A maxim often paraphrased as "Si vis pacem, para bellum." The eminently reasonable philosophy that ,"If you would have peace, prepare for war." The English version is often back-rendered as "Si vis pacem, para bellum." This sentiment is attributed to Flavius Vegetius Renatus, who wrote in the "De re militari" (390 B.C.E.): "Qui desiderat pacem, bellum praeparat; nemo provocare ne offendere audet quem intelliget superiorem esse pugnaturem". (Whosoever desires peace prepares for war; no one provokes, nor dares to offend, those who they know know to be superior in battle.)

Post: 1049498 - Re: Cool Latin Quotes

VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT OF NOTES TAKEN BY FASTAC 6 WHILE HEDGES SPEAKING

2005-03-18T01:00:00.000-05:00

Anonymous, in comments on Ben's last post, doesn't care for the term rant. O.K., we'll try reasoned discourse, though difficult to do with this topic. I'm off to weekend drill as a staff weenie, and will post more on this in the next week or so. For those who wish to read Hedges- go to the library. No reason to put any more money in this guy's pocket. Here's some notes to chew on while I'm out.
(Personal to Anonymous: You and your veteran friend could have come up and talked with me. I couldn't have been more conspicuous.)

VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT OF NOTES TAKEN BY FASTAC 6 WHILE HEDGES SPEAKING:
1
Continues to denigrate warriors

“Balance” between “killers” & victims- What about victims of 9/11?

“Shameful cheerleading”

Comparison Israel/USA as imperialist power
Sharon as killer

9/11

↑↑ inflated #’s of civilian dead

War as “power trip”

Impugning reportage from soldier sources

Basically reading of his book- Anti-war rant

War as “fantasy life”

States comradeship not genuine “love” for fellows
-“opposite of friendship”
-“Suppression of self-awareness”
-comradeship as core of lowest common denom.
-comradeship as evasion of respons.

HEDGES SUFFERS PTSD-
FOCUSED AS ANTI-WAR RHETORIC

“Manufactured heroes” from Iraq

Anthony Swafford ref.- “no such thing as anti-war Vietnam” film

“Films are porno for military man”

“Drank away the fear…I was hooked”

“Freud…Eros vs. Thanatos”

’73 war 33% casualties psych??!!

From Ben: Smacks of Ambrose BofB- sudden blindness incident

2
“Platitudes of duty & comradeship”

“What is done in our name…is painful”

“Wrote to explain poison of war”

“…against demonization of the other”

“Problem with the term war on terror”

“Squander…& resurrect terrorists in their own
cultures…absolutely unnecessary”

“Indiscriminate firepower” “killing 100’s, 10’s of
thousands of (civilians)”

“War would end…& we would fall into
deep depression”

“Sins that I bear”

SOME NOTES FROM BOOK (skimming while at work the night before):
P.3 Central thesis- war gives us purpose
is an addiction, a drug

P.9 Promotes killers & racists

P.10 black & white

P.13 Citations of casualties-
mostly internecine warfare

P.15 Blind to enemies?

P.17 Humbled…humility

Sic Vis Pacem, Para Bellum

2005-03-18T00:40:00.000-05:00

Beaten to the punch- I was waiting for the Hedges talk to be done with before I posted the following, and the NYT (as reported on LGF) ran this article. Timesly indeed: US Report Lists Possibilities for Terrorist Attacks and Likely Toll

"Sic Vis Pacem, Para Bellum". Saw that as a new tattoo on a squid's arm yesterday. Those are words to live by while a World War is going on around us. Disaster plans, like military ones, do not survive contact with the reality of the moment. Some of the plans are WAAAYY too public, accessible even to those who would cause disaster.
In October, I went to a county-wide disaster drill that was just that, a disaster. "Had this been an actual emergency, you would have been instructed to.....die". The only "survivors" were the gaggle of walking wounded that we sent out in the first few minutes. At the end of the drill, there was the proud announcement to the press that 70 simulated casualties were successfully handled. Got news for you, Bucko. If you had a real disaster on your hands, there'd be an awful lot of bodies laying around. Think Bhopal. Think Indonesia after the tsunami. Think Hiroshima. Then you're thinking on the proper scale. If your disaster engulfs your resources, you're really screwed. Think about the tragic loss of rescue workers and apparatus in New York City on 9/11. Think about damage to hospitals in the hurricanes that trashed Pensacola not long ago.
The problem with local authorities is that they tend to think like, well, civilians. They are ruled by budgets, politicians, and limited resources; and tend to tailor their expectations of disaster to fit the resources available. There is also a prevalent tendency to think that there is no World War in progress, or that such a thing would REALLY come to the American Heartland. That thought process was very much in force when war came to Manhattan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia (repeat after me, "WAR, not 'terrorism'"). While this thinking is not unknown in military circles, there is a tendency to look at the Bigger Picture, and wider resources to draw on.
Full-up-dress drills are expensive, time-consuming, and tedious. So is reality.
8MAR05

Finally, A talk with Chris Hedges

2005-03-16T08:16:00.000-05:00

Well, I guess there's not much to say about my talk with Chris Hedges. I asked him about Khafji, and I can sum it up as "Sound and Fury signifying nothing."
He says he was on those rooftops watching Marines retake the city, WITH Marines of the 1st Battalion of the 1st Regiment out of Camp Pendleton. I would love to hear from anyone who can verify this information.
He says he watched Marine units retake the city, that there were few Arabs involved in the operation. When I pointed out that Morris's well documented book indicates just the opposite, he professed to enjoy retrospective studies and blamed it on the fog of war i.e. limited perspective. No satisfactory answer arose when I asked him why he didn't bother to verify his information before publishing his book.
I would have gotten this all on tape, but the event form stipulated no photos or recordings. However, the scans from afterwards are worth looking at. Check out the priceless signature I got before I asked him about Khafji. It reads "For Benjamin Blatt All the Best - Chris Hedges. Neat.
I guess I'm done with Hedges, though I'd like to look into Khafji in more depth. It's quite clear he isn't going to easily admit any wrong-doing. FASTAC 6, on the other hand, is just getting started. He spent most of the time taking furious notes about Hedges statements, and nearly had a stroke in the process, if his skin coloration was anything to go by.

BTW, Hedges did say that US troops were "necropheliacs" and "professional killers." Given that US troops are trained to kill, but reservists and guardsman do their service mostly part-time, I think the second part is inaccurate. The first part of his statement is, of course, just grossly vile.
Anyway, expect some neat ranting from FASTAC 6 later.

I Get Mail From David Morris (Still Nothing From Chris Hedges)

2005-03-14T08:57:00.000-05:00

Dear Benjamin,
This is Dave Morris, author of STORM ON THE HORIZON: KHAFJI-THE BATTLE THATCHANGED THE COURSE OF THE GULF WAR. First off, let me thank you for giving mybook such a close textual reading. It's always pleasing to see. Recently, I hadthe occasion to re-read Hedges' book and noted again the apparentinconsistencies in the narrative in regards to the battle for Khafji. Hisaccount piqued my interest because virtually no journalists were given accessto the battle due to the CENTCOM's media "pooling" policy in effect at thattime. All this stands in marked contrast to the Pentagon's current policy ofembedding reporters.In response to your essay, let me say that I consider Chris Hedges' book WAR IS A FORCE THAT GIVES US MEANING to be an unusually insightful, morally-rigorousif occasionally sanctimonious memoir. I think the recent accusations to theeffect of "Hedges' book is a work of fiction" that have appeared on severalwebsites are somewhat overheated and rash. Hedges discusses Khafji for a singlepage and while his recollection of being present with Marines on a rooftopwhile they are calling in airstrikes certainly seems suspect, it does notnecesarily mean that he is a liar, a cheat and a pedophile with bad credit assome are implying. There were literally DOZENS of US military teams working inthe Khafji area during the recapture effort and it's entirely possible that heWAS on a rooftop where US Marines were calling in airstrikes. Nevertheless, Ihave interviewed scores of Marines who fought at Khafji (including nearly allof the cut-off reconnaissance Marines) and no one has confirmed that Hedges wasat Khafji.
This, of course, proves nothing. In your heady indictment of Hedges, you argue "If Hedges was not in Khafjion those rooftops with the Marines, then he MUST have been carrying on thegrand tradition of those who covered Vietnam from the Caravelle’s bar"[capitals mine]. This is a classic example of what logicians refer to as "theblack-white fallacy," e.g. "Either you play football or you are not a man.There is no middle ground." In this post-Watergate, post-Jayson Blair, post-Rather time of ours, it iseasy to assume that errors committed by journalists are the work of nefarious,syphilitic, Smeagol-esque characters habitually fingering their Pulitzers (Mypreciousss...). Sadly, the truth is usually much more boring. Working underintense deadlines and with a slew on contradictory eyewitness accounts,lamentable errors pass into print. While working on my own book, a fewdecorated, active-duty US Marines lied through their teeth to me about theiractions at Khafji. It was only through exhaustive interviewing that theirfabrications were eventually uncovered. Still, an error is an error and whilebloggers are, perhaps unfairly, not held to the same standard as those they so frequently accuse, authors and journalists should be held accountable for what they write.
Best,
Dave

The New York Times Responds

2005-03-11T12:27:00.000-05:00

I guess the NY Times is learning from CBS. The text of an email I recieved from the NY Times:

Subj:
Re: Open Letter to Chris Hedges
Date:
3/11/2005 12:48:06 AM US Eastern Standard Time
From:
public@nytimes.com
To:
bblatt11@aol.com
Dear Mr. Blatt,
As a matter of policy this office does not address issues that arose before Daniel Okrent's tenure began, except insofar as they relate to the paper's actions from December 1, 2003, forward. I am sure you will understand that, were we to do this any other fashion, we would disappear into an endless tunnel. We also don't address readers' issues with books by Times reporters' and columnists, rather we address issues with Times coverage; as you might imagine these concerns certainly keep us busy enough. I can assure you however that I will share your observations with corporate communications and with senior Times editors.
Thanks for writing.
Sincerely,
Arthur Bovino
Office of the Public Editor
The New York Times

An Open Letter to Chris Hedges

2005-03-08T15:55:00.000-05:00

Update: Chris Hedges will be at Indiana University South Bend on Tuesday, March 15 at 7:00 PM in the Student Activities Center not March 16 as listed before.
Update 2: The companion essay can be found here: http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=14991_Chris_Hedges_and_the_Battle_of_Khafji#comments

© Benjamin Blatt 2005
An Open Letter to Chris Hedges
Having just finished War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning; I must say that Chris Hedges provides a good read, if you enjoy fiction. In particular Chris, I found your tale of the Battle of Khafji during Desert Storm on page 23 of your book to be particularly entertaining, seeing as how it is spun of whole cloth. Sadly, although your version of events in 2002 has you standing “on rooftops with young Marine radio operators who called in air strikes” watching the Marines who “were called in to push the Iraqis (out of Khafji),” your story just does not pan out. You see, in 2004 a book that may very well become known as the definitive study of Khafji was published. The author of Storm on the Horizon, David J. Morris, researched the battle extensively and interviewed the Marines (all thirteen of them) who had called in the air strikes. And yet, none of those Marines remembered you, the French photographers who were with you, or circumstances in which the presence of Journalists by their positions wouldn’t have gotten them killed. Did you really think that the story would never come out? That carrying on the grand tradition of those who covered Vietnam from the Caravelle’s bar would drown out the voices of the Marines whose story you have dishonored with your lies? But please, don’t take my word alone, let the evidence speak for itself.
In the past Mr. Hedges, you have crowed loudly about having fled the Pentagon’s Gulf War press pool, choosing instead to cover a shooting war on your own. But even though in Morris’s book there is a brief mention of the presence of “Unilateral” or “Pool breaker” journalists being around the area of Khafji during the battle, these journalists are mentioned as being British and French, and no mention is made of them having interacted with the two trapped and hidden Marine recon teams in Khafji. But I’m sure the presence of these journalists provided you excellent cover when you started to make your claims years later. Speaking of Morris, I was surprised to discover he had referenced three of your Gulf War articles (written for the New York Times) for his book. So I took the liberty of reading those articles along with your report on the Gulf War in the May/June 1991 Columbia Journalism Review. Now, I think, would be a good point to congratulate you on your wonderful fiction writing. Have you ever considered writing mystery novels? For it is certainly a mystery as to how the New York Times could employ you for so long, and accept so many articles from you based on interviews and encounters in which the only witnesses are you and people who can’t be found later. A good chunk of your book is about your experience in the Balkans. Can you produce any of the people you claim to have talked to there? Or were they all visiting Indonesia last Christmas?
Getting back to the articles which Morris referenced for his book, I am struck by the second-hand nature of your then-current reports on the Battle of Khafji. “In a Ghost Town, a Deadly Skirmish,” published in the New York Times on January 31, 1991, is full of examples of you obtaining information from other people who were there, but is curiously lacking in first-hand information, although, again, in your 2002 book you claim to have been in an excellent position to provide first-hand information on the battle. Instead, this article relies on information from pool reporters (NYT A11 1/31/91) and the statements of military officers not involved in the fighting. In addition, your article mentions the deaths of twelve marines in the fighting, which at the time may have been the assumed fate of what were actually thirteen military personnel in two teams trapped in the city. If you were there with them, wouldn’t you have reported them alive? This curious second-hand reporting is further emphasized in your next article, “Town Regained, Morale of Arab Allies Is Lifted.” As a wrap-up to the battle, you report that the twelve marines were actually alive (without mentioning the previous report of their deaths) while still missing the fact that there were actually thirteen Marines present (although to be fair, the two medics present were only detached to the Marines and were actually Navy enlisted men). What I found really interesting about this article, in light of your spurious claims in 2002, was the use of the phrase “stationed on a rooftop to help direct fire (NYT 5 2/2/91)” in reference to the Marine recon teams. Even there, with the battle still fresh, you couldn’t get the facts right. The Marines were in two separate locations (rooftops, not rooftop, an error you corrected for your tale later) and were not stationed to support the battle but rather found themselves good positions to call down air strikes and artillery while hiding from the surrounding Iraqi forces.
But wait, there’s more. While Morris states that the only Marines in a mostly Arab fight were liaison teams and units tasked to rescue their trapped brethren, a statement backed up by official documents, studies of the battle from the nineties, and interviews with most of the key Marine participants at Khafji, you, Chris Hedges, claim that it was Marine units that pushed the Iraqis out of Khafji. So why the discrepancy, if you were there and observed a Marine-led effort, why are you the only one to have commented on it? I think the answer may lie in your 1991 report for the Columbia Journalism Review. In “What We Saw, What We Learned,” you basically discuss going rogue from the Pentagon press poll shortly after arriving in Saudi Arabia, and describe your actions as a unilateral journalist on the run from the MPs. In paragraph 15 (14 if you discount the sloppy editing) of your article, you mention that an AP reporter, tagging along behind the advancing forces in Khafji, was the first to report American forces being heavily involved in the fighting to retake the city. But if your report on American forces in Khafji is actually based on that of another reporter, then how could you have watched the Marines who “were called in to push the Iraqis (out of Khafji),” on a rooftop with Marines calling in air strikes who don’t remember you? In hindsight, it seems obvious that the AP reporter encountered a liaison or rescue team in the city and misinterpreted what he saw in his reports. Had you actually been there, or even seriously researched the foundation upon which your fiction rests, you might have known that.
Finally, while you may very well have been near Khafji and witnessed Saudi Arabian forces retreating pell-mell, with a little effort you would have found out that they were elements of a poorly trained handful of battalions of the Saudi Arabian National Guard, an organization of tribesman whose sole purpose is to essentially counter-balance the regular army. In fact, the regular army units performed quite well with the assistance of American air support and liaison teams, despite being set upon by one of the best divisions in the Iraqi army. Of course, had you been better informed, you probably wouldn’t have been running around dressed as an American soldier sans unit and rank markings in the middle of a combat zone. For if you had considered that any soldier in the area, regardless of nationality, could have shot you with cause, you might have reconsidered and chosen to dress like your peers in the region.
Well Chris, your version of the events in Khafji doesn’t appear to correspond with objective reality. It makes me wonder about the content of the rest of your book.
Awaiting your response,
Benjamin Blatt - An Objective Historian

© Benjamin Blatt 2005

Works Cited
Hedges, Chris. “In a Ghost Town, a Deadly Skirmish.” New York Times, January 31, 1991, A11 (1991).
---. “Town Regained, Morale of Arab Allies Is Lifted.” New York Times, February 2, 1991, 5 (1991).
---. War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. New York: Anchor Books, 2002.
---. “What We Saw, What We Learned.” Columbia Journalism Review May/June 1991 (1991). (accessed January 3, 2005)
Morris, David J. Storm on the Horizon: Khafji – The Battle that Changed the Course of the Gulf War. New York: Free Press, 2004.

Mardi Gras in Iraq

2005-03-07T13:02:00.000-05:00

In January I saw photos of this event in the collection of an Air Guard NCO. I got the impression that he was passing through on TDY at the time. That LAARNG gang sure knows how to party.

Good Milblog photo site. Thanks and a hearty "HOOAH!" to SPC Lainey:
http://www.armychic256bde.com/id42.html

Update on Chicago Judge

2005-03-05T23:38:00.000-05:00

Update: News out of Wisconsin indicates the Lefkow shootings might have been the work of a genuine nut job. I still won't apologize to Matt Hale.

Now I'm hearing that there were several shots fired in the house. I guess that means the killers missed a couple while cleaning up the brass. I take back my earlier analysis. This screams incompetent, hate-numbed, idiots who have seen Law and Order one too many times. Idiots pissed off FBI, Marshals, and CPD, which, of course, calls for a variation on the old joke.
Attorney General wants to test the abilities of various law enforcement agencies to rack suspects, so he releases a rabbit into a Federal forest reserve and tasks teams from the Marshals, FBI, and Chicago PD to find it. The FBI team goes in first, searches up and down the forest, isn't heard from for two weeks. Finally they re-emerge and tell the Attorney General that they found the rabbit, interrogated the rabbit, decided the rabbit didn't know anything worth holding him for, and let him go. Attorney General says, "Bullsh**. You didn't find the rabbit, your just covering your ***es. The Marshal team goes in next, vanishing into the forest for two days. When they re-emerge, the head Marshal tells the Attorney that the rabbit agreed to turn state's witness and has been enrolled in the Witness Protection Program, location: classified. Attorney General says "Bullsh**. You didn't find the rabbit, get out of my sight. Finally, Chicago PD goes into the forest. After 45 minutes a bear comes stumbling out. The bear is bleeding from several wounds, missing patches of hair, bruised all over, and has an eye swollen shut. The bear sees the Attorney General and screams "alright, alright I'm a f*cking Rabbit!!!"
Anyway, I hope the two bastards are caught and brought to justice quickly. People gotta learn you don't f*ck with the Feds. Are you listening Mr. Matt Hale?? Because this sure sounds like the work of a couple of your Krazy, Kooky, Klowns.

Federal Judge Intimidation in Chicago

2005-03-02T17:50:00.000-05:00

Monday evening Judge Joan Lefkow's Husband and Mother were found dead in the judges basement. The details, shots to the back of the head, in the basement, small-caliber weapon, and the fact that shell casings were found, indicating the owner of the semiautomatic didn't care about identification of the weapon (probably at the bottom of the river or Lake Michigan at this point, all scream "professional hit," assuming that professional can be used to describe a murderous thug. Although authorities are stressing that the judge had many enemies, my money is on White supremacist Matt Hale, currently in prison for soliciting the judge's murder on a previous occasion. The scary question is, will this have any effect, will the US spiral into the political atmosphere of fearful, easily controlled, authorities, or will a Federal Judge in Chicago find the will to go on and give a hearty FU to the bastard(s) who did this?

Ward Churchill as Scholar

2005-03-01T02:04:00.000-05:00

Remind me to not be found prevaricating when this lady's around:
http://www.pirateballerina.com/index.php

Why We Fight- a personal view

2005-03-01T00:54:00.000-05:00

The other night I worked with another veteran of the U.S. Army. She expressed disdain for our presence in Iraq, and implied that we somehow brought this war upon ourselves. I'm afraid that sort of statement sets me off, and I treated her to a toned-down version of one of my rants; for which I did apologize.

The fact is, we are facing an enemy who doesn't think like us. Our enemy is part of a death cult that easily justifies killing its own adherents. The enemy certainly doesn't care for us or anyone who isn't them. Our enemy seems determined to destroy America, Western civilization, and any religion other than Islam. The enemy's preferred method of killing is bombing, a mass slaughter of innocents. No stand-up courage from these dogs.....

When they stop killing Americans, innocent bystanders in other countries, and their own innocent civilians- then I am willing to stop being a soldier.

At the risk of being labeled a bigot (those who know me know this is not correct) or "politically incorrect" (THAT'S for sure!), I end with some comments I'd posted on LGF:
1]
I've been saying this since 9/11. When America interned Japanese in WWII, their sons, almost to a man, demanded the right to go to the Pacific and kill Japanese in defense of this country (They got sent to Italy, instead. Go figure).
You have not seen lines of American Moslems lining up at recruiters, demanding the right to head East and kill ragheads in defense of America. You have not seen the American mullahs standing up and saying to their Middle Eastern brethren, "stop! enough!" You do not see American mosques holding care package drives for American troops.
2]
The dirty little truths that you'll never hear from MSM & the rest of the PC crowd-
1. Iraq is just one campaign in a much larger war.
2. This war IS a World War.
3. This war IS a religious war.

I sometimes think that this war will end when they're all dead or we're all dead.

Update 9MAR05:
Response to Red A-
Part of my work the last 3 years has been working with the Army's MOB/DEMOB effort. I've met thousands of troops, mostly ARNG/Reserve, few of them Moslems.

There are Moslems serving in the U.S. Military, in combat zones, many with distinction, I am sure. These are my fellow American soldiers. There are others who are taking the provided out of serving in posts elswhere in the world. I can understand a certain degree of conflict, especially if you are a recent immigrant who might have to face relatives over open sights.
Then there is the one accused of fragging an HQ tent.*

What I said was, "You have not seen lines of American Moslems lining up at recruiters, demanding the right to head East and kill ragheads in defense of America". I stand by that.

*-Footnote:

Akbar Gets Death Sentence
Associated Press
April 29, 2005

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - A military jury sentenced a soldier to death Thursday for a grenade and rifle attack on his own comrades during the opening days of the Iraq invasion, a barrage that killed two officers and that prosecutors said was driven by religious extremism.
Sgt. Hasan Akbar....

0000- Midnight

2005-02-21T11:38:00.000-05:00

2359 –civil war index: 1 minute until midnight.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has a “Doomsday Clock” on their publication (http://www.thebulletin.org/). It indicates the probability of nuclear holocaust. Because their analog clock is registered, I’ve had to go digital.

I believe this country is teetering on the brink of civil war. There are lunatics afoot who would even welcome this. They are ignorant of history. Civil war is a horrible thing- ask any Lebanon Marine, or anyone who’s served in the former Yugoslavia.

There are several kick-ass reasons for war to ignite in this country. The abortion debate and the current political polarization come to mind. States’ rights and “full faith and credit” are a proven flash point. I’m starting this post to encourage reasoned debate. If I’m wrong, convince me of this. If you agree with me, suggest solutions. I strongly advise all to attend whatever governmental meetings they can. Monitor your representatives. Stay with the Constitution. VOTE. Government is what happens to you while you’re asleep.

I will monitor this thread as time allows. Posts I find obnoxious will be deleted. This IS a blog, after all.

Update 26MAR05: the clock gets nudged forward
Terri Schiavo is near death. Too many questions remain regarding this slow-motion murder. Let's add legalized euthanasia of humans to the mix. The Rev's comment below is just one of many I've seen from people who are really wrapped around the axle over this.

Update 3JUN05: the clock gets nudged forward
DU has a civil war thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3775394#3775409

Update 25AUG05: the clock gets nudged forward
The DU thread referenced above was deleted or moved shortly after I linked to it.

The anti-war(anti-George Bush) movement is gathering steam. They may yet succeed in convincing the uninformed that we are fighting Viet Nam again- even though this World War is a different war, with much higher stakes (Why We Fight- a personal view). The moonbat Left is using tactics that are beyond despicable{hat tip: via LGF}. The tolerance level of many who have served our country is waning (ref. footnote in hangin-with-cindys-buds.html).

Rolling Stones
Gimme Shelter

Oh, a storm is threat’ning
My very life today
If I don’t get some shelter
Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away

War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away

Ooh, see the fire is sweepin’
Our very street today
Burns like a red coal carpet
Mad bull lost it’s way

War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away...............

Civil war- just a twitch away.......

Update 5MAR07: the clock hits Midnight
The War Within and the War Without.

Protest against the morons

2005-02-21T11:30:00.000-05:00

On any given Monday in South Bend, IN, a group of morons parades in front of the Federal Building, 204 S. Main St. They will tell you that they are opposed to “the war in Iraq”. But they’ve been out there since November of 2000, their real cause an unreasoned hatred of President Bush. In 2000 I attempted to speak with these dolts about their politics. I’ve had more meaningful conversations with my parrot.

In March of 2003, there was a ‘Support the Troops’ rally at South Bend’s Military Honor Park & Museum. I had just returned from 3 months of intermittent duty at an Army MOB center and had the honor of addressing that rally. Another speaker suggested that there should be a counter to the weekly protest- that there should be so many people supporting the military that the protesters would be invisible behind them. Well, that’s never happened. There are some of us, though, who try to appear on Mondays to wave the flag and show that there are some citizens in town who have a grasp on reality.

I go to downtown South Bend on any Monday afternoon when I don’t have work or military obligations. I invite any and all to come along and wave the flag, 1700-1800 EST, West side of the street. You might meet a Marine mom, military vets, or even FASTAC 6. If you find yourself alone, stand proudly. Feel free to taunt the morons. Please refrain from pummeling, no matter the temptation.

Update 2/28/05: A reader asked for photos. Here are a couple shot during the beginning of what we hope will be our last severe storm of the year. By the end of the hour, there were 15 or so of these dolts in front of the building. Many of the signs are insults aimed at President Bush. Sorry about the lack of close-ups. The weather was ugly, I wanted to get the camera out of the snow, AND this is about as close as I care to get to these......people.

Update 18 AUG 05:

This group of moonbats also runs a Saturday protest from 1300-1400:

Every Saturday, 1:00-2:00pm Anti-War Vigil at the Cemetery corner of Cleveland and Grape Road near University Park Mall. We hope to bring home to the shoppers the reality of the war in Iraq. Bring signs and banners or use ours. The signs should oppose policies and avoid personal attacks on people. E.g., "Peace on Earth Means Now" "No More Preemptive War" "Warfare Out, Health Care In" "U.S. Out, U.N. In."http://community.michiana.org/justice/index.html

On 6 AUG, I was able to celebrate by displaying "Nuke the Bastards" signs on my truck. I found the bank driveway diagonally across from the cemetery to be an ideal spot for flag-waving.

Japanese Aid Job Markets

2005-02-14T12:22:00.000-05:00

I saw an ad the other day for one of the Japanese car companies in which they proudly proclaimed that they were creating new jobs for Americans in massive numbers. And you know what came to mind? Wow, the Japanese haven't done that much for the American job market since December, 1941. It's so sad, it's funny.

A word on Kennedys and water

2005-02-07T07:30:00.000-05:00

Proving that I have nothing better to do, here is my evidence for the House of Kennedy suffering the "Curse of Water."
1. President John F. Kennedy - Fell asleep, woke up to find "sailing yacht" split in two, nearly died in 1943.
2. Michael Kennedy - Died amidst a sea of frozen water in 1997 due to Newton's Three Laws and a really big tree.
3. Senator Edward M. Kennedy - nearly died in 1969 when his car plunged off a bridge into a river. He

Exited the Oldsmobile

, left Mary Jo Kopechne to die.
4. John F. Kennedy Jr. - Died when his plane plunged into the water in 1999.
5. Joe Kennedy Jr. - Died on active duty as a Navy Pilot during WWII. Granted this one is reaching, but serving on the water all that time was bound to catch up with him.
I see a trend here. Don't feed the gremlins after midnight, and never get a Kennedy near large bodies of water (including snow). The only result will be tragedy.

State of the Union and More

2005-02-03T08:20:00.000-05:00

First of all ,way to go President Bush. Syria and Iran, ya all hear that? Hands where we can see them right now! And, as a youngster, I say: Bush's Social Security plan rocks.
Bonus: Lt. Prakash has a new post well worth the read:

Armor Geddon

And: SFC Smith got the Medal. Too bad its posthumous, but he deserved it.

Words Cannot Do This Justice

2005-02-02T08:19:00.000-05:00

From Grunt.com

"I took seven rounds from a 'bad guy' firing a fully-automatic AK 47," he said Wednesday during a phone interview from his bed at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. "Five in my right leg, one in my foot and one to the buttocks area. Then a grenade went off about four feet from me and I got 30 to 40 pieces of shrapnel in my back.

Brad described what happened when he was wounded.

"We were moving down the street, clearing buildings," he began. "A Marine came out wounded from a building and said there were three more wounded Marines trapped in there with a bunch of bad guys (insurgents). As we entered, we noticed several dead Iraqis on the floor and one of our wounded.

"An Iraqi pointed an AK47 at me and I shot and killed him, but there was another one on the stairs behind me that began firing at me with a fully-automatic AK. That's when I went down, along with one of my young Marines. Then I noticed the hand grenade."

Brad said his first instinct was to protect his young Marine. He covered the young man with his body and took the full brunt of shrapnel to his back when the grenade exploded.

Brad's injuries were severe. He was in and out of consciousness and lost 60 percent of his blood. He was first taken to a field hospital in Iraq, then flown to Germany, where he was hospitalized for a week before arriving in Bethesda."

P.S. - Notice where his trigger finger is. No wonder the MSM doesn't report these stories. It would ruin them.

Iraq Captive

2005-02-02T07:54:00.000-05:00

Attention!!! Attention!!!
GI Joe (okay, really a Dragon toy, but whatever) has been taken captive by those waskily wabbits in Iraq. They have threatened to take his head off with a thumb, because "they're really, really mean." All members of the GI Joe SWAT, SEAL, and 3 3/4" line are ordered to report to their duty stations at once.
UPDATE: I hear they also have International Journalist Barbie and Human Shield Skipper. Those monsters.

Poll
What should FASTAC wear/carry/bring to the door if Illinois nazis come knocking?
A yellow star, a copy of the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and an abject expression.	1
My Taurus .45 and a Phantom skull ring.	3
My Birthday Suit and a Mossberg Persuader.	6
All my acquaintances from the bar at the Marine Corps League.	2
All of the above.	13
Total Votes: 25	You have already voted in this poll