Brandon

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

White House VICTORY Strategy Unveiled


Monument to the First Division of the Army, the BIG RED ONE
in President's Park outside the White House
Photo by Mike's America.

In a speech to cadets at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland President Bush did not outline an exit strategy for Iraq and the war on terror, he outlined in great detail a VICTORY STRATEGY!

It's a fresh speech spelling out his vision in Iraq and our wider goals in the war. I'm pleased to excerpt the following highlights here:

White House Transcript, President Bush: In the years ahead, you'll join them in the fight. Your service is needed, because our nation is engaged in a war that is being fought on many fronts -- from the streets of Western cities, to the mountains of Afghanistan, the islands of Southeast Asia and the Horn of Africa. This war is going to take many turns, and the enemy must be defeated on every battlefield. Yet the terrorists have made it clear that Iraq is the central front in their war against humanity, and so we must recognize Iraq as the central front in the war on terror.

As we fight the enemy in Iraq, every man and woman who volunteers to defend our nation deserves an unwavering commitment to the mission -- and a clear strategy for victory. A clear strategy begins with a clear understanding of the enemy we face.
...
Some are calling for a deadline for withdrawal. Many advocating an artificial timetable for withdrawing our troops are sincere -- but I believe they're sincerely wrong. Pulling our troops out before they've achieved their purpose is not a plan for victory. As Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman said recently, setting an artificial timetable would "discourage our troops because it seems to be heading for the door. It will encourage the terrorists, it will confuse the Iraqi people."

Senator Lieberman is right. Setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would send a message across the world that America is a weak and an unreliable ally. Setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would send a signal to our enemies -- that if they wait long enough, America will cut and run and abandon its friends. And setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would vindicate the terrorists' tactics of beheadings and suicide bombings and mass murder -- and invite new attacks on America. To all who wear the uniform, I make you this pledge: America will not run in the face of car bombers and assassins so long as I am your Commander-in-Chief. (Applause.)

And as we train Iraqis to take more responsibility in the battle with the terrorists, we're also helping them build a democracy that is worthy of their sacrifice. And in just over two-and-a-half years, the Iraqi people have made incredible progress on the road to lasting freedom. Iraqis have gone from living under the boot of a brutal tyrant, to liberation, free elections, and a democratic constitution -- and in 15 days they will go to the polls to elect a fully constitutional government that will lead them for the next four years.

With each ballot cast, the Iraqi people have sent a clear message to the terrorists: Iraqis will not be intimidated. The Iraqi people will determine the destiny of their country. The future of Iraq belongs to freedom. Despite the costs, the pain, and the danger, Iraqis are showing courage and are moving forward to build a free society and a lasting democracy in the heart of the Middle East -- and the United States of America will help them succeed. (Applause.)

Some critics continue to assert that we have no plan in Iraq except to, "stay the course." If by "stay the course," they mean we will not allow the terrorists to break our will, they are right. If by "stay the course," they mean we will not permit al Qaeda to turn Iraq into what Afghanistan was under the Taliban -- a safe haven for terrorism and a launching pad for attacks on America -- they are right, as well. If by "stay the course" they mean that we're not learning from our experiences, or adjusting our tactics to meet the challenges on the ground, then they're flat wrong. As our top commander in Iraq, General Casey, has said, "Our commanders on the ground are continuously adapting and adjusting, not only to what the enemy does, but also to try to out-think the enemy and get ahead of him." Our strategy in Iraq is clear, our tactics are flexible and dynamic; we have changed them as conditions required and they are bringing us victory against a brutal enemy. (Applause.)

Victory in Iraq will demand the continued determination and resolve of the American people. It will also demand the strength and personal courage of the men and women who wear our nation's uniform. And as the future officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, you're preparing to join this fight. You do so at a time when there is a vigorous debate about the war in Iraq. I know that for our men and women in uniform, this debate can be unsettling -- when you're risking your life to accomplish a mission, the last thing you want to hear is that mission being questioned in our nation's capital. I want you to know that while there may be a lot of heated rhetoric in Washington, D.C., one thing is not in dispute: The American people stand behind you.
...
As we make progress toward victory, Iraqis will take more responsibility for their security, and fewer U.S. forces will be needed to complete the mission. America will not abandon Iraq. We will not turn that country over to the terrorists and put the American people at risk. Iraq will be a free nation and a strong ally in the Middle East -- and this will add to the security of the American people.

In the short run, we're going to bring justice to our enemies. In the long run, the best way to ensure the security of our own citizens is to spread the hope of freedom across the broader Middle East. We've seen freedom conquer evil and secure the peace before. In World War II, free nations came together to fight the ideology of fascism, and freedom prevailed -- and today Germany and Japan are democracies and they are allies in securing the peace. In the Cold War, freedom defeated the ideology of communism and led to a democratic movement that freed the nations of Eastern and Central Europe from Soviet domination -- and today these nations are allies in the war on terror.

Today in the Middle East freedom is once again contending with an ideology that seeks to sow anger and hatred and despair. And like fascism and communism before, the hateful ideologies that use terror will be defeated by the unstoppable power of freedom, and as democracy spreads in the Middle East, these countries will become allies in the cause of peace. (Applause.)
...
One of those fallen heroes is a Marine Corporal named Jeff Starr, who was killed fighting the terrorists in Ramadi earlier this year. After he died, a letter was found on his laptop computer. Here's what he wrote, he said, "[I]f you're reading this, then I've died in Iraq. I don't regret going. Everybody dies, but few get to do it for something as important as freedom. It may seem confusing why we are in Iraq, it's not to me. I'm here helping these people, so they can live the way we live. Not [to] have to worry about tyrants or vicious dictators_. Others have died for my freedom, now this is my mark."

There is only one way to honor the sacrifice of Corporal Starr and his fallen comrades -- and that is to take up their mantle, carry on their fight, and complete their mission. (Applause.)

We will take the fight to the terrorists. We will help the Iraqi people lay the foundations of a strong democracy that can govern itself, sustain itself, and defend itself. And by laying the foundations of freedom in Iraq, we will lay the foundation of peace for generations to come.

You all are the ones who will help accomplish all this. Our freedom and our way of life are in your hands -- and they're in the best of hands. I want to thank you for your service in the cause of freedom. I want to thank you for wearing the uniform. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless the United States of America. (Applause.)
President Bush went into great detail describing how well the Iraqi security forces and police are now achieving the capability to defend their country against the terrorists. Read the entire text of the speech here but also recommended is this 38 page document "Victory in Iraq" which outlines our full strategy.

Democrat Response and Strategy: Defeat By Any Other Name

The Democrats, who readers will remember were FOR the war, before they were AGAINST it, trotted out Senator John ,"I'm reporting for duty " Kerry (D-MA) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) Big surprise: they couldn't find anyone even CLOSE to the Mason Dixon line or west of New York to come out and defend their ideology of defeat.

Nothing new from Kerry and Reed but the same shopworn shibboleths of defeat and pessimism that proves the Democrat Party is unfit to govern. As soon as their transcripts are available, I'll be happy to provide their remarks.

Cindy Sheehan Go Home!

Here's a great video tribute to Cindy Sheehan set to Johnny Cash's immortal ballad "Cindy" with it's refrain "come on home Cindy."

Sparks from the Anvil: Presenting Cindy Sheehan: "The Spark that Lit the Fire"

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Democrat Lieberman: We Are WINNING in Iraq

Democrat obstructionists often forget that they supported Joe Lieberman when he was a candidate for Vice President in 2000. But the few Democrats who haven't sold their soul to the hate-Bush devil know that Lieberman is no fool.

Here's Libermans report on Iraq:

OpinionJournal: I have just returned from my fourth trip to Iraq in the past 17 months and can report real progress there. More work needs to be done, of course, but the Iraqi people are in reach of a watershed transformation from the primitive, killing tyranny of Saddam to modern, self-governing, self-securing nationhood--unless the great American military that has given them and us this unexpected opportunity is prematurely withdrawn.

Progress is visible and practical. In the Kurdish North, there is continuing security and growing prosperity. The primarily Shiite South remains largely free of terrorism, receives much more electric power and other public services than it did under Saddam, and is experiencing greater economic activity. The Sunni triangle, geographically defined by Baghdad to the east, Tikrit to the north and Ramadi to the west, is where most of the terrorist enemy attacks occur. And yet here, too, there is progress.

There are many more cars on the streets, satellite television dishes on the roofs, and literally millions more cell phones in Iraqi hands than before. All of that says the Iraqi economy is growing. And Sunni candidates are actively campaigning for seats in the National Assembly. People are working their way toward a functioning society and economy in the midst of a very brutal, inhumane, sustained terrorist war against the civilian population and the Iraqi and American military there to protect it.
...
In my meeting with the thoughtful prime minister of Iraq, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, he declared with justifiable pride that his country now has the most open, democratic political system in the Arab world. He is right.

In the face of terrorist threats and escalating violence, eight million Iraqis voted for their interim national government in January, almost 10 million participated in the referendum on their new constitution in October, and even more than that are expected to vote in the elections for a full-term government on Dec. 15. Every time the 27 million Iraqis have been given the chance since Saddam was overthrown, they have voted for self-government and hope over the violence and hatred the 10,000 terrorists offer them. Most encouraging has been the behavior of the Sunni community, which, when disappointed by the proposed constitution, registered to vote and went to the polls instead of taking up arms and going to the streets. Last week, I was thrilled to see a vigorous political campaign, and a large number of independent television stations and newspapers covering it.

None of these remarkable changes would have happened without the coalition forces led by the U.S. And, I am convinced, almost all of the progress in Iraq and throughout the Middle East will be lost if those forces are withdrawn faster than the Iraqi military is capable of securing the country.

The leaders of Iraq's duly elected government understand this, and they asked me for reassurance about America's commitment. The question is whether the American people and enough of their representatives in Congress from both parties understand this. I am disappointed by Democrats who are more focused on how President Bush took America into the war in Iraq almost three years ago, and by Republicans who are more worried about whether the war will bring them down in next November's elections, than they are concerned about how we continue the progress in Iraq in the months and years ahead.

Here is an ironic finding I brought back from Iraq. While U.S. public opinion polls show serious declines in support for the war and increasing pessimism about how it will end, polls conducted by Iraqis for Iraqi universities show increasing optimism. Two-thirds say they are better off than they were under Saddam, and a resounding 82% are confident their lives in Iraq will be better a year from now than they are today. What a colossal mistake it would be for America's bipartisan political leadership to choose this moment in history to lose its will and, in the famous phrase, to seize defeat from the jaws of the coming victory.
...
Does America have a good plan for doing this, a strategy for victory in Iraq? Yes we do. And it is important to make it clear to the American people that the plan has not remained stubbornly still but has changed over the years. Mistakes, some of them big, were made after Saddam was removed, and no one who supports the war should hesitate to admit that; but we have learned from those mistakes and, in characteristic American fashion, from what has worked and not worked on the ground. The administration's recent use of the banner "clear, hold and build" accurately describes the strategy as I saw it being implemented last week.

We are now embedding a core of coalition forces in every Iraqi fighting unit, which makes each unit more effective and acts as a multiplier of our forces. Progress in "clearing" and "holding" is being made. The Sixth Infantry Division of the Iraqi Security Forces now controls and polices more than one-third of Baghdad on its own. Coalition and Iraqi forces have together cleared the previously terrorist-controlled cities of Fallujah, Mosul and Tal Afar, and most of the border with Syria. Those areas are now being "held" secure by the Iraqi military themselves. Iraqi and coalition forces are jointly carrying out a mission to clear Ramadi, now the most dangerous city in Al-Anbar province at the west end of the Sunni Triangle.

Nationwide, American military leaders estimate that about one-third of the approximately 100,000 members of the Iraqi military are able to "lead the fight" themselves with logistical support from the U.S., and that that number should double by next year. If that happens, American military forces could begin a drawdown in numbers proportional to the increasing self-sufficiency of the Iraqi forces in 2006. If all goes well, I believe we can have a much smaller American military presence there by the end of 2006 or in 2007, but it is also likely that our presence will need to be significant in Iraq or nearby for years to come.

read the full report here.

Isn't this amazing? We're doing the right thing, we are winning, the Iraqi people support the goals of the mission and appreciate our efforts! 27 million Iraqis support freedom in the face of a mere 10,000 terrorists. How can we lose?

We hear an endless stream of Democrat naysayers selling doom, gloom and defeat. How many stories will we see in the lamestream media echoing Lieberman's report?

Name Change: It's a CHRISTMAS Tree at U.S. Capitol

Anyone who has lived in Washington, or visited during the CHRISTMAS season will remember how nice the CHRISTMAS tree on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol looks at night. In contrast to the amusement park theme outside the White House grounds, the Capitol tree has always been a classic. And now, the name of the tree has been returned to it's traditional name: CHRISTMAS TREE!

The Washington Times: House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert has told federal officials that the lighted, decorated tree on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol -- known in recent years as the 'Holiday Tree' -- should be renamed the 'Capitol Christmas Tree,' as it was called until the late 1990s.
The Capitol's senior landscape architect confirmed the name switch yesterday for The Washington Times.
'It was known as the 'Holiday Tree' for several years and just recently was changed back to the 'Capitol Christmas Tree.' This was a directive from the speaker,' said Capitol architect Matthew Evans.
'The speaker believes a Christmas tree is a Christmas tree, and it is as simple as that,' said Ron Bonjean, spokesman for the Illinois Republican.

Good News: Cheetah Cubs Saved by U.S. Troops!

A happy ending to a sad story. Ethiopian government officials confiscated the two abused animals and handed them over to U.S. custody until they can be transported to a wildlife refuge near the capital.

Full story here.

Who Tortures Prisoners?

Liberals love to talk about the fraternity prank "torture" U.S. troops inflicted on prisoners at Abu Ghraib in Iraq. Yet isn't it funny that we never hear them talk about the real torture that went on there for decades?

Saddam's Hangman Details Torture: "One of Saddam Hussein's official hangmen is speaking to the media for the first time - offering a firsthand account of some of the torture techniques he used on Saddam's orders.

Recalling his time working at Iraq's notorious Abu Ghraib prison, Abu Hussein [last name withheld] recalled that a new batch of political prisoners was brought in - without being charged with a crime - every week.
...
Death always came after weeks of torture, Abu Hussein said.
"Sometimes we would hang them upside down and beat their feet with clubs. Or we would electrocute them," he said.

"One of the worst things was putting 10 people in a one-square-meter room for weeks. They had a brief break every day and were allowed the toilet every three days," he said.

Three executions were carried out each Monday and Thursday. One day Saddam's feared son Uday showed up and asked about eight political prisoners standing nearby. He ordered their immediate execution, the ex-executioner told Reuters.

He recalled watching men writhe in agony as they died, which even he found upsetting. But nobody could afford to defy orders in Saddam's Iraq.

"We would have been killed on the spot," Abu Hussein said. "One time this executioner was one hour late in hanging someone and he was himself hanged."

I could share hundreds of stories like this. Would it make the slightest difference to the Bush haters?

Monday, November 28, 2005

Last Goodbye From A Fallen Soldier

Thanks to Mike's America patriot Skye for bringing this story to our attention. There are so many heroes in the Iraq war that will never get the media attention that defeatist surrender monkeys do.

MIDNIGHTBLUE: This is the last e-mail sent to the family and friends of Jeffery Toczylowski. He died from injuries suffered from a fall from a helicopter in Anbar, Iraq on November 3, 2005. Jeff was a career soldier raised in Montgomery County, PA, and serving as a Special Forces detachment commander assigned to First Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group ~ Airborne in Iraq:

Don't ever think that you are defending me by slamming the Global War on Terrorism or the US goals in that war. As far as I am concerned, we can send guys like me to go after them or we can wait for them to come back to us again. I died doing something I believed in and have no regrets except that I couldn't do more.
Read the rest here.
Withdrawal before VICTORY is secured (the Democrat surrender policy) would dishonor the memory and sacrifice of so many fine Americans who have given their last full measure of devotion to make this world and our country a better place. We can't let that happen.

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Muther Sheehan Throws a Party and No One Comes


Poor ole Muther Sheehan. Doesn't she know her 15 minutes of trading on the honor and memory of her fallen soldier son are LOOONNNGG gone? Here she is at her book signing party outside President Bush's ranch in Crawford. Too bad no one showed up.

Besides, Muther Sheehan should know that Moonbats don't come out of the woodwork in spades unless there is a full moon.

But isn't it a shame that the witch cannot even get more than a handful of lamestream media photographers to glorify her surrender mongering? She's probably thinking she should have just stayed home with her family for Thanksgiving. Apparently her new friends aren't as reliable as she may have thought.



Remember the bad ole days of Sheewitch mania?


Curt at Flopping Aces has more photos of lonely Cindy.

CNN to Viewer: Cheney "X" is Free Speech. Don't Like It? Don't Watch!


DRUDGE REPORT: A CNN switchboard operator was fired over the holiday -- after the operator claimed the 'X' placed over Vice President's Dick Cheney's face was 'free speech!'

'We did it just to make a point. Tell them to stop lying, Bush and Cheney,' the CNN operator said to a caller. 'Bring our soldiers home.'

The caller initially phoned the network to complain about the all-news channel flashing an 'X' over Cheney as he gave an address live from Washington.

'Was it not freedom of speech? Yes or No?' the CNN operator explained.

'If you don't like it, don't watch.'

And they fired the loon who told this to the viewer. My thought is they should have promoted him or her. That individual is probably the ONLY honest person at CNN.

And, yes, I don't like it, and I DON'T watch!

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Bush Iraq Intervention Saves Tens of Thousands of Iraqi Lives

Looney tune lefties claim that President Bush's invasion of Iraq has resulted in the deaths of 100,000 innocent civilians. Of course, this is just another in a long line of falsehoods, like Bush "lied" about weapons of mass destruction, it's a war for oil, blah, blah, blah.

Lefties are the folks who claim to care so much more than us greedy, wicked Republicans about human rights, innocent suffering and loss of life. Yet their silence on the discovery of mass graves filled with children in Iraq puts the lie to that claim. Saddam Hussein went on a death spree for decades that would make the Asian Tsunami in December of 2004 look like a pool party gone bad. The death toll under his genocidal reign of terror can be equated to one of the worst car bombings we often see reported on the news from Baghdad. Yet, this horror is repeated every single day for years and years.


Hekeema Nagiy cries as she searches for the bodies of her two missing sons at the mass graves in Hilla, Iraq. The leftwing Guardian newspaper from the U.K. has a photographic record of this crime here.

In an effort to induce some rational perspective on the cost and value of the Iraq war of freedom, I first posted on this subject in April, 2005 based on a Logic Times article which goes into substantial depth with excellent documentation. Dan at Logic Times has updated these comparisons with some new numbers, outlined in the chart below:


source: Logic Times

Logic Times process for determining the civilian casualty number is in this thorough exposition: "The Civilian Casualty Fable."

By any honest and objective measure of goodness and right, the Iraq war was justified on so many levels, not least of which is it's central role in the wider war. But as anyone who have ever visited a Nazi Concentration Camp can tell you, there is right and there is wrong in this world. The decision to free Iraq was right!

There are people in this world who believe that the Nazi Holocaust never occured, that it was a "lie." Many of these folks may also believe that the attacks on September 11th were staged by the CIA. Some may even believe that the mass graves uncovered in Iraq are also a "lie." These attitudes are minority views within even the moonbat community to be sure. But the reality challenged psychosis this set of persons demonstrates cannot be avoided. It fits in with the claim by the former Canadian Defense Minister that Bush is planning a war with UFOs on the moon.

No hype needed: Saddam, al-Qaida linked

No hype needed: Saddam, al-Qaida linked - The Honolulu Advertiser: As American casualties mount in Iraq, politicians at home now fight over who said what and when about weapons of mass destruction and the need for going to war. One of the most frequent charges is that President Bush hyped a non-existent link between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaida and that as a result, we diverted our efforts from finishing off the real terrorists to start a new and costly war to replace a secular dictator.
This charge is false for several reasons and illogical for even more. Almost every responsible U.S. government body had long warned about Saddam's links to al-Qaida terrorists. In 1998, for example, when the Clinton Justice Department indicted bin Laden, the writ read: 'In addition, al-Qaida reached an understanding with the Government of Iraq that al-Qaida would not work against that government and that on particular projects, specifically including weapons development, al-Qaida would work cooperatively with the Government of Iraq.'

Then in October 2002, George Tenet, the Clinton-appointed CIA director, warned the Senate in similar terms: "We have solid reporting of senior-level contacts between Iraq and al-Qaida going back a decade." Seventy-seven senators apparently agreed, including a majority of Democrats, and cited just that connection a few days later as a cause to go to war against Saddam: " ... Whereas members of al-Qaida, an organization bearing responsibility for attacks on the United States, its citizens, and interests, including the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, are known to be in Iraq."

The bipartisan consensus about this unholy alliance was not based on intriguing but unconfirmed rumors of meetings between Saddam's intelligence agents and al-Qaida operatives such as Sept. 11 hijacker Mohamed Atta. Nor did the senators or the president ever claim that Saddam himself planned the Sept. 11 attacks. Instead, the Justice Department, the Senate and two administrations were alarmed by terrorist groups like Ansar al-Islam, an al-Qaida affiliate that established bases in Iraqi Kurdistan.

More importantly, one of the masterminds of the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center, Abdul Rahman Yasin, fled to Baghdad to find sanctuary with Saddam after the attack. And after the U.S.'s successful war against the Taliban, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the present murderous al-Qaida leader in Iraq, reportedly escaped from Afghanistan to gain a reprieve from Saddam.
All of this is understandable since Saddam had a long history of promoting and sheltering anti-Western terrorists. That's why both Abu Nidal and Abu Abbas, terrorist banes of the 1970s and 1980s, were in Baghdad prior to the U.S. invasion and why the families of West Bank suicide bombers were given $25,000 rewards by the Iraqi government.

Saddam worried little over the agendas of these diverse terrorist groups, only that they shared his own generic hatred of Western governments. This kind of support from leaders such as Saddam has proven crucial to radical, violent Islamicists' efforts.

After Sept. 11, it became clear that these enemies can only resort to terrorism to weaken American resolve and gain concessions and can't even do that without the clandestine help of illegitimate regimes (from Saddam in Iraq to the Taliban in Afghanistan, the theocracy in Iran, Bashar Assad in Syria and others) who provide money and sanctuary while denying culpability.
...
That day came after Sept. 11. To end the old pathology, we took out the Taliban and Saddam Hussein, pressured the Syrians to leave Lebanon, encouraged Lebanese democracy, hectored the Egyptians about elections, told Libya's Moammar Gaddafi to come clean about his nuclear plans, and risked oil supplies by jawboning the Persian Gulf monarchies to liberalize.

The theory behind all these messy and often caricatured efforts was not the desire for endless war; we removed by force only the two worst regimes, in Afghanistan and Iraq but to allow Middle Easterners a third alternative between Islamic radicalism and secular dictatorship. No wonder that wherever there are elections in the Middle East, Afghanistan and Iraq; legitimate governments there have the moral authority and the desire to fight Islamic terrorism.

Americans can blame one another all we want over the cost in lives and treasure in Iraq. But the irony is that not long ago everyone from Bill Clinton to George Bush, senators, CIA directors and federal prosecutors all agreed that Saddam had offered assistance to al-Qaida, the organization that murdered 3,000 Americans. That was one of the many reasons we went into Iraq, why Zarqawi and ex-Baathists side-by-side now attack American soldiers and why an elected Iraqi government is fighting with us.


Not enough for you? How about this ABC News Report from 1999:

Commentary provided by "The War Room with Quinn and Rose." Thanks to Cao's Blog for pointing me to the source.If you prefer the video news report without commentary, it is here by way of Media Research.

Still not enough?

"Who is Ramzi Yousef and Why You Should Care," Mike's America, August 29, 2005. The bibliography at the end is a gold mine of references to Iraq and terrorism.

Still not enough?

See the conclusions beginning on page 355 of the Senate Intelligence Committee Report on Pre-War Iraq Intelligence. While the language of this unanimous report is decidedly guarded about the exact nature of the relationship between Hussein's Iraq and Al Queda, you can bet these folks were not just sitting around the casbah eating goat's eyes and sharing the photos from their last pilgrimage to Mecca. There's enough smoke there to start a fire big enough to take down the World Trade Center buildings and then some.

If footage from an airport security camera showed Saddam Hussein behind the wheel of the car as he dropped off the 9-11 hijackers, with his fingerprints later found on the steering wheel of that car and his DNA on the cigar butt in the ashtray, there would still be people who think that "BUSH LIED" and we had no reason to go to war in Iraq. Saddam was up to his eyeballs in terrorist ties, links, connections, plots, plans and attacks directed at the United States. Reality challenged Democrats and socialists may have trouble overcoming their hatred for President Bush long enough to see it, but it doesn't alter the facts.

Former Canadian Minister Of Defence Asks Canadian Parliament Asked To Hold Hearings On Relations With Alien "Et" Civilizations

Talk about "out of this world" here's a way, WAY out warning from one of our Canadian friends:


Yahoo! News: "On September 25, 2005, in a startling speech at the University of Toronto that caught the attention of mainstream newspapers and magazines, Paul Hellyer, Canada's Defence Minister from 1963-67 under Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Prime Minister Lester Pearson, publicly stated: 'UFOs, are as real as the airplanes that fly over your head.'
Mr. Hellyer went on to say, 'I'm so concerned about what the consequences might be of starting an intergalactic war, that I just think I had to say something.'
Hellyer revealed, 'The secrecy involved in all matters pertaining to the Roswell incident was unparalled. The classification was, from the outset, above top secret, so the vast majority of U.S. officials and politicians, let alone a mere allied minister of defence, were never in-the-loop.'
Hellyer warned, 'The United States military are preparing weapons which could be used against the aliens, and they could get us into an intergalactic war without us ever having any warning. He stated, 'The Bush administration has finally agreed to let the military build a forward base on the moon, which will put them in a better position to keep track of the goings and comings of the visitors from space, and to shoot at them, if they so decide.'
This gives new meaning to the word MOONBAT!

Another Lefty Teacher Abusing Student Rights

I could put up a story each day with some variation on this theme: liberals misusing their position to push their political views. And teachers, who have a captive audience, provide some of the most egregious examples.

BREITBART.COM - Vt. Teacher Accused of Anti-Bush Quiz: A high school teacher is facing questions from administrators after giving a vocabulary quiz that included digs at President Bush and the extreme right.
Bret Chenkin, a social studies and English teacher at Mount Anthony Union High School, said he gave the quiz to his students several months ago. The quiz asked students to pick the proper words to complete sentences.
One example: 'I wish Bush would be (coherent, eschewed) for once during a speech, but there are theories that his everyday diction charms the below-average mind, hence insuring him Republican votes.' 'Coherent' is the right answer.
Principal Sue Maguire said she hoped to speak to whomever complained about the quiz and any students who might be concerned. She said she also would talk with Chenkin. School Superintendent Wesley Knapp said he was taking the situation seriously.
'It's absolutely unacceptable,' Knapp said. 'They (teachers) don't have a license to hold forth on a particular standpoint.'

Friday, November 25, 2005

US Troops Find Abused Cheetah Cubs in Ethiopia



When US soldiers aren't busy fighting terrorists, they can often be found engaging in some humanitarian endeavor like building playgrounds for Iraqi children or passing out school supplies. While performing humanitarian work in a remote part of Ethiopia, US counterterrorism troops found two cheetah cubs being abused. They fed the cubs and notified Wildlife officials in both the U.S. and Ethiopia's capital. The man who was in illegal possession of the animals refused to turn them over without being paid $1,000 each. Ethiopian government officials are to visit the area on Saturday and it is hoped the animals will be removed to safety then.

Without the benevolent intervention of US troops in this and many other situations around the world, evil and injustice would go unreported and unchallenged. Surely even our peacenik lefties can support this mission and all the other good works done by the U.S. military.

If you see an update to this story, please pass it along.

The Peace Moonbeam Chronicles

Too funny...

The Peace Moonbeam Chronicles: I had to take a break from Peace Mother Sheehan's (PMS) antiwar tour. It was all so exciting when we were the focus of the nation but I guess those days are gone. Also, I don't need to tell you how cramped we were on that stupid bus. Until you've slept in an area that small with Cindy after Mexican buffet night you can't imagine what Hell is like. I got up in the middle of the night to hit the bong just so I could sleep but unfortunately the match set off a small but violent explosion that left PMS with minor burns and the whole bus with a very funky smell.

more here.

Arab Street Rising Again for VICTORY!



Before the Iraq war began, readers may recall the warnings of lefties that if we invade Iraq, the "Arab street" will rise up against us united in their opposition to our meddling. The Middle East would be wracked by spasms of anti-U.S. violence. Millions of heretofore peaceful Moslems would be radicalized and go off to join the jihad.

Well it didn't turn out that way in Lebanon as we learned during their Cedar Revolution last winter. And now more demonstrations; this time in Jordan in response to the Al Queda attack on the hotels in Amman.

Tens of thousands taking to the street over these past weeks. Are they blaming the bombings on President Bush's Iraq war policy or support of Israel? Are they demanding an end to our occupation of Iraq? Nope! Sorry, not happening. More lefty disappointment to be sure.

Jordanians are demanding a TOUGHER stance against terrorists and demanding full scale WAR until VICTORY is achieved.

Cindy Sheehan better get on her broom and head over there. Obviously these folks haven't heard the message that it's all Bush's fault.

AMMAN, Jordan ? Jordan's King Abdullah II urged his new prime minister Thursday to launch an all-out war against Islamic militancy in the wake of the triple hotel bombings earlier this month that killed 63 people.

In a letter to newly appointed Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit, Abdullah said the Nov. 9 bombings "increase our determination to stick to our reform and democratization process, which is irreversible.''

"At the same time, it reaffirms our need to adopt a comprehensive strategy to confront the Takfiri culture,'' Abdullah said, referring to the ideology adopted by al-Qaida and other militants who condone the killing of those they consider infidels.

Abdullah said the strategy should "not only deal with the security dimension, but also the ideological, cultural and political spheres to confront those who choose the path of destruction and sabotage to reach their goals.''

Economy Booming? State Funding Up? Who Knew?

The economy is booming and states are flush with cash to help the poor and underprivileged? Wow! Who knew? Last thing I heard from the moonbat colony is that we're all going to hell in a handbasket. You think the moonies will change their tunies?

States' Coffers Swelling Again After Struggles - New York Times: After four years of tight budgets and deepening debt, most states from California to Maine are experiencing a marked turnaround in their fiscal fortunes, with billions of dollars more in tax receipts than had been projected pouring into coffers around the country.
The windfall is a result of both a general upturn in the economy and conservative budgeting by state officials in recent years, and it is leading to the restoration of school funding, investments in long-neglected roads and bridges, debt reduction, and the return of money borrowed from cities and counties.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Honoring Our Troops at Thanksgiving: The Ultimate Sacrifice

Give Thanks!

Curt at Flopping Aces has a moving tribute to our troops: "If I Die Before You Wake" which captures the fullness of the sacrifice so many of our honorable men and women have been called upon to make. Click on the photo to begin the presentation.

It's reminds me of another Mike's America favorite. Both capture the significance of the debt we Americans owe to our soldiers. A debt we can never repay, but one we can honor daily!

City Troll has more audio/visual reminders of the price of freedom. Patriots for freedom will enjoy each.

Anna at A Rose By Any Other Name has thoughts from our troops and links to help you offer your own tribute to them this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Two "Dubya's" Thanksgiving Proclamations: History Repeats

Today's G.W. (#43) 2005 Thanksgiving Proclamation is here. The original Thanksgiving Proclamation by G.W. (#1) is here:




Text version here.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING AMERICA!

A Grateful Nation This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time for remembrance and appreciation for the blessings of liberty, opportunity and freedom we in this nation enjoy throughout the year. Most especially of all I am thankful for:


  • The courage, bravery, dedication and honor that motivates our troops throughout the world; who protect us by putting themselves in harm's way. Without their willingness to sacrifice so much this nation would not exist and the world would be a place of unending darkness and horror. God bless them and keep them safe until they have secured the VICTORY that will bring them home to their families who also suffer much from their absence.
  • Those on the homefront who support our troops in the fullest measure by supporting the goal of their mission: VICTORY in war and a world with peace and justice without fear. Without such clear-sighted dedication to VICTORY the sacrifices our troops and their families endure would be in vain.
  • I'm grateful for the leadership, vision, dedication, committment and preserverance of President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary of State Rice, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. I'm also grateful for the appointment AND confirmation of so many fine conservative judges this past year and the appointment and service of John Bolton, our Ambassador to the United Nations.
  • I'm encouraged and thankful by the many small victories we have had this year: two elections in Iraq where the ballot now replaces the bullet, defeat of the revisionist memorial at the site of the World Trade Center in New York, and most recently the resignation of the college Professor who sought to use his position to end conservative free speech rights on campus.
  • And as Mike's America observes it's first anniversary, I'm thankful for the readers, who have shared so much of themselves over the past year and offered many positive contributions to our discussion of important issues. Your voices are the clearest proof of the strength and goodness which this nation possesses. Your individual efforts united in a common purpose assures VICTORY!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Conservative Campus Victory in New Jersey!

Here's some good news. The professor at Warren County Community College in New Jersey who suggested soldiers murder their officers and tried to intimidate a conservative student group (second item here) at the school has resigned.

In a statment released by President Dr. William Austin the college has accepted his resignation and also plans to add "tolerance training" to their next staff in service program.

All I can say is: It's about time! But let's not stop there. It's way past time we had some affirmative action on college campus to bring REAL diversity and tolerance to higher education nationwide. Every institution of learning that accepts federal funds should be required to demonstrate that it's faculty and staff is truly diverse, not just by skin color or sex but by political outlook as well.

Only then can we expect to begin repairing the damage that left wing thought police have wrought on generations of vulernable young minds.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Free Speech: Not for Republicans

Defending the effort by New Jersey Professor Daly to intimidate a student at his college and suggesting murder and violence as valid tools for political change (see below, second topic) , Mike's America readers have been treated to another exhibition of the defense of facism and a warped poltical ideology provided by reader "Brandon" (you may join that previous comment stream here).

Using violence and murder as a political tool is reminiscent of how Nazis imposed their will on the hapless German people in the years before World War II. Folks like Brandon have offered Professor Daly his support and encouragement.

I've challenged Brandon to provide examples of how conservative students on college campus (never mind conservative PROFESSORS, as there are so few it does not bear mentioning) have engaged in similar behavior. No response was forthcoming; merely some vague complaint about his campaign sign during the 2004 election being stolen.

Can Brandon and his moonbat friends show proof, as we can, that swastikas were burned into the lawn of Republicans with Bush signs? I doubt it. How many examples can he provide, as we can, of shots fired into GOP headquarters, or headquarters invaded by Democrat storm troopers? And what better example of extremist facism do we need than a jeering mob of uniont thugs ripping the Bush sign out of the hands of a little girl?

Put it up or shut it up Brandon. The real NAZIS are Democrats!


Union Thugs for Kerry...Three year old Sophie Parlock cries after IUPAT thug, left ripped the Bush Cheney sign from her hands and tore it up before handing a portion back. He still holds a piece of the sign as he taunts the child and her father who dared to show up at a Kerry airport rally in West Virginia. Notice other thug, rear right shouting at the girl. And they call Bush a Nazi? Full story here.


Another fine example of Democrat's free speech rights!

Practicing your goosestep Brandon?

Media Bias or Media Mischief?



I don't watch CNN, but was shocked to learn that during Vice President Cheney's speech today (see below) CNN repeatedly pasted a large black "X" over the image of the V.P.

Drudgereport has more.

Update On Soldiers Blog Hack Attack

Anna at A Rose By Any Other Name writes with a good news update on the story of Grey Eagle, the 35 year old combat medic in Iraq whose blog was hacked by the "Bush lied" "truth" squad in an effort to curtail her free speech.

The positive response to this outrage has been a most welcome morale boost for Grey Eagle and her fellow soldiers. She writes:
I was more than amazed when I logged on this morning and saw the comments and my email. Thank you all so much. I cannot tell you how much it all meant to me, and I confess to having more than one tear in my eye after reading them all. I am so deeply moved by the response.

Just to explain, as it seems to be a big question. When I add a new soldier to the tributes script/program it prints to the website "you have been hacked....Bush lied..." no matter what I type. So while it does not seem to have affected what I previously did, I cannot add anymore soldiers to my tribute. I can delete, but not add. But there have been many offers to fix or rebuild the website, which I hope to accept their offers and never have this happen again.

Thank ALL of you for your support. I have shared many of your stories and comments with the soldiers here already. It made our day. When you read all the comments and all the email, I know as I sit here this moment I am proud to be an American and honored to serve each and very one of you.

Grey Eagle
"Air Assault!"

Grey Eagle: It is we who are honored by your service and you and your fellow soldiers must know that we are with you in heart and mind as you secure the victory that will make this world a better place with peace and justice. Thank you and be safe!

If you haven't visited the site and wish to add some encouragement of your own, please do so.

Monday, November 21, 2005

Cheney Takes On Defeatist Liars in NEW Speech!

Vice President Dick Cheney stands with Major General Swan, Friday, Nov. 11, 2005, as he places a wreath during Veterans Day ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. White House photo by David Bohrer

Vice President Cheney today delivered a new speech on Iraq. It's all red meat, bound to drive most moonbats over the edge. I love it! Here are a few excerpts:

White House Transcript: I believe it is critical that we continue to remind ourselves why this nation took action, and why Iraq is the central front in the war on terror, and why we have a duty to persevere.
...
What is not legitimate -- and what I will again say is dishonest and reprehensible -- is the suggestion by some U. S. senators that the President of the United States or any member of his administration purposely misled the American people on pre-war intelligence.

Some of the most irresponsible comments have come from politicians who actually voted in favor of authorizing the use of force against Saddam Hussein. These are elected officials who had access to the intelligence materials. They are known to have a high opinion of their own analytical capabilities. (Laughter.) And they were free to reach their own judgments based upon the evidence. They concluded, as the President and I had concluded, and as the previous administration had concluded, that Saddam Hussein was a threat
...
The flaws in the intelligence are plain enough in hindsight, but any suggestion that prewar information was distorted, hyped, or fabricated by the leader of the nation is utterly false. Senator John McCain put it best: "It is a lie to say that the President lied to the American people."

American soldiers and Marines serving in Iraq go out every day into some of the most dangerous and unpredictable conditions. Meanwhile, back in the United States, a few politicians are suggesting these brave Americans were sent into battle for a deliberate falsehood. This is revisionism of the most corrupt and shameless variety. It has no place anywhere in American politics, much less in the United States Senate.
...
The people who serve in uniform, and their families, can be certain: that their cause is right and just and necessary, and we will stand behind them with pride and without wavering until the day of victory.

The men and women on duty in this war are serving the highest ideals of this nation -- our belief in freedom and justice, equality, and the dignity of the individual. And they are serving the vital security interests of the United States. There is no denying that the work is difficult and there is much yet to do.
...
In the war on terror we face a loose network of committed fanatics, found in many countries, operating under different commanders. Yet the branches of this network share the same basic ideology and the same dark vision for the world.
Some of those "committed fanatics" are found in THIS country; and as we saw in the email to student Rebecca Beach by a professor at her college, they suggest that our brave soldiers abandon their honor and shoot their officers in the back.

Now, back to countering leftwing defeatism. More from Cheney's speech:

Some have suggested that by liberating Iraq from Saddam Hussein, we simply stirred up a hornet's nest. They overlook a fundamental fact: We were not in Iraq on September 11th, 2001 -- and the terrorists hit us anyway. The reality is that terrorists were at war with our country long before the liberation of Iraq, and long before the attacks of 9/11. And for many years, they were the ones on the offensive. They grew bolder in the belief that if they killed Americans, they could change American policy.
...
Believing they could strike us with impunity and that they could change U.S. policy, they attacked us on 9/11 here in the homeland, killing 3,000 people. Now they are making a stand in Iraq -- testing our resolve, trying to intimidate the United States into abandoning our friends and permitting the overthrow of this new Middle Eastern democracy.
...
In light of the commitments our country has made, and given the stated intentions of the enemy, those who advocate a sudden withdrawal from Iraq should answer a few simple questions: Would the United States and other free nations be better off, or worse off, with Zarqawi, bin Laden, and Zawahiri in control of Iraq? Would we be safer, or less safe, with Iraq ruled by men intent on the destruction of our country?
...
So much self-defeating pessimism about Iraq comes at a time of real progress in that country. Coalition forces are making decisive strikes against terrorist strongholds, and more and more they are doing so with Iraqi forces at their side. There are more than 90 Iraqi army battalions fighting the terrorists, along with our forces. On the political side, every benchmark has been met successfully -- starting with the turnover of sovereignty more than a year ago, the national elections last January, the drafting of the constitution and its ratification by voters just last month, and, a few weeks from now, the election of a new government under that new constitution.
...
Day after day, Iraqis are proving their determination to live in freedom, to chart their own destiny, and to defend their own country. And they can know that the United States will keep our commitment to them. We will continue the work of reconstruction. Our forces will keep going after the terrorists, and continue training the Iraqi military, so that Iraqis can eventually take the lead in their country's security and our men and women can come home. We will succeed in this mission, and when it is concluded, we will be a safer nation.

AMEN MR. VICE PRESIDENT! Dick Cheney is one of the best and most effective Vice President's we have had in my lifetime! No wonder the loony tunes HATE him so much!!!

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Female Soldier in Iraq Writes About Lefty Free Speech Abuse

After you read the previous post below "It's National Security Stupid" by Old Soldier (not before, but AFTER) please make a point to visit and comment at: Grey Eagle's: A Female Soldier 2

Grey Eagle is a 35 year old wife, mother, and U.S. Soldier and Combat Medic with the 101st Airborne Division, currently serving in Iraq. She reports that her web site, used and enjoyed by troops stationed in Iraq and by many of us here at home who are concerned for their well being, has been hack-attacked by hate-filled Chicken Doves.

How surprising is it that lefties who cry loudest about their free speech rights being violated when we dare to do so much as criticize them are among the first to attempt to take away those rights, even from soldiers who are putting their lives on the line every day.

But this is nothing new for these people (I cannot use the descriptive terms here that I would like to use in describing them). We've already seen that they will taunt wounded soldiers outside an army hospital, interrupt the funerals of fallen soldiers, and use their memory and honor for their own political purposes.

Please visit Grey Eagle and offer your encouragment. Oh, and Anna, from A Rose by Any Other Name has a few other military and support blogs that you might find interesting:

365 and a Wakeup
A Female Soldier 2
American Soldier
Argghhh!
Iraq News Today
Major K
Marine Corps Moms
One Marine's View
Small Town Veteran
Soldiers' Angel-Holly Aho
United for Our Troops
Wounded Warrior Project

Let's keep these folks in our thoughts and prayers as Thanksgiving approaches.

Free speech for Lefties on Campus, but NOT for Conservatives

And finally, while we are on the subject of free speech, 4 rows back in the bleacher seats and Moonbattery , both sites I read often, and a new one I just discovered: Freedom Folks report on the story of Rebecca Beach, a freshman at Warren Community College in Washington, New Jersey, whose attempt to bring a soldier to campus was viciously opposed by one of the professors at the school. And worse yet, the school administration, which would bounce that young conservative student if she dared to use the same hate speech which this professor claims as his first amendment right, stands up for the professor.

Here's some of what the professor said:


I will continue to expose your right-wing, anti-people politics until groups like your won't dare show their face on a college campus. Real freedom will come when soldiers in Iraq turn their guns on their superiors.

Here's part of the response to this outrage:

Since Professor John Daly email this cretin here) has created a hostile learning environment for Rebecca, she is demanding that Warren Community College President William Austin (email him here) institute seminars on free speech and sensitivity to teach intolerant leftists, such as Daly, to be respectful of differing opinion.

Lefties love to host mandatory senstivity training trumpeting their values and beliefs. Don't expect them to show any tolerance for a diverse point of view anytime soon.

The full story with updates here.

Rebecca also dared to use the following poster as part of her materials:

Source: Young America's Foundation, who also offer this takedown for socialist icon Che Guevera

Update: Flopping Aces has more, including emails by local officials demanding an investigation and emergency meeting of school officials set for Tuesday. We also learn that Professor Daly is a member of the communist group International ANSWER.

Saturday, November 19, 2005

It's National Security, Stupid!

It's NOT the Economy Stupid!

In New Orleans after Katrina, Army General Honore cautioned the news media "Don't get stuck on stupid!" The media and many Democrats seem to wallow in stupidity when it comes to Iraq.

Mike's America readers have become familiar with the well reasoned comments by Old Soldier and it is an honor to have him contribute a longer recitation of his thoughts on this all important issue. I'm also pleased to share Old Soldiers bio at the bottom of this post. Awarded the Legion of Merit and multiple other decorations means he has more than earned the right to be heard. And next time some Chicken Dove gives you grief, just print this post out, wave it in their face and ask them how they have served this country.

It's National Security Stupid!

by John Yetter, aka Old Soldier

A political party once adopted the mantra, "it's about the economy, stupid'" as a national campaign motto or slogan and was quite successful because, at the time, the economy really was a concern of the American people. Well, today, it's not about the economy - that's doing great. It's about national security; and the very same party that coined the original phrase has decided to ignore the people's paramount concern by playing politics and reducing the issue to "the war in Iraq." Well, it's not about the war in Iraq, either; it's about national security, stupid.

The Democrats are being unbelievably partisan to the point of actually behaving in a treasonous manner; to the point of being dangerous to the security of this country. Through their diversionary and divisionary tactics, Democrats are attempting to override the paramount national security concern through less significant issues: Bush lied, about weapons of mass destruction, a reprise of Vietnam, Iraq is a quagmire, demands for Iraqis to assume responsibility for its own security, and on and on. To a certain extent, the Democrat's rhetoric is beginning to work, because to the detriment of national security the war focus seems to be narrowing to Iraq. It certainly helps to have the main stream media acting as their megaphone; echoing their destructive divisive rhetoric.

Folks: Iraq and Afghanistan are but two fronts in our war against radical Islamic theology; a theology that fuels, funds and carries out acts of terror against any and all perceived enemies. Their enemies are any religion or ideology that does not conform to their radical interpretation of Islam including other Muslims. Bin Laden, al-Zawahiri, al-Zarqawi and many more Islamic leaders want the world ruled by Taliban-like elements under the control of regional caliphates. History is replete with persons and ideologies that aimed to rule the world, so this threat must be taken seriously.

Radical Islamists will not tolerate; alcohol, sexual impurity, gambling, other religions that attempt to convert Muslims, science, the arts, representative government, free enterprise, individual freedom and liberty much less women's rights - basically our way of life. These radicals will only accept Sharia law. From infidels they require Dhimmitude (a subhuman subservience to Islam accompanied by a tax) or death. Should this be taken as a serious and direct threat to our way of life? Absolutely; it should and it must be dealt with immediately. We cannot afford to let the radical Islamic terrorists expand even just slightly. This is most assuredly a threat to our national security; our national identity.

How do we counter this threat? We counter it with unwavering dogged tenacity; offensively seeking it out and destroying it before it has the chance to organize an offensive strike upon us - again. Strategically, a war is won by denying the enemy the ability to mount offensive operations. This is done by denying resources or by breaking the enemy's will to fight. I don't see breaking the will of radical Islamic terrorists, but we can certainly mount successful campaigns to deny their ability to mount offensives.

We are doing that in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are facilitating Islamic nations with free representative governments. Once they become matured free nations, they will no longer tolerate the radical factions. Freedom and liberty have endearing and enduring effects. Freedom is contagious; the peoples of surrounding nations will see the freedom and liberty and demand it for themselves. Each free Islamic nation denies the terrorists a stronghold from which to recruit, financial support and locations within which they can conduct training. They are denied what they need to mount offensive operations.

The Democrat's irresponsible political tantrums attempting to focus the people to some smaller ancillary facet of this overall war threatens the very support needed to win this war. It directly undermines the very heart of this nation. Their dissenting comments foster hope in our enemy that we will cave and withdraw. It also sends a very clear message to our brave troops that their mission is not important; that the blood they leave on the battlefield is of no matter; that their comrades' lives were expendable. This is the height of arrogance and elitism within the Democratic Party. The House GOP was right to force the Iraq Withdrawal vote to make the Democratic representatives put up or shut up. Overwhelming (99.3%) the vote supported not withdrawing. Now, THAT sends a message to our troops!

There are legitimate complaints about how this war is being prosecuted (a subject for another time). But our focus must remain on defeating radical Islamic terrorism because it is a matter of national security. The Democratic Party must put aside obstructionism and diversion in the matter of national interests. It is imperative that we maintain a staunch unified resolve to defeat our enemy. Once our nation is secured, then we can squabble about political differences. Right now the secure future of this nation, the future for your children and grandchildren are at stake. Whether a seat in the House or Senate is gained or lost should be secondary to our national security. National security must be paramount to all the political parties within this country.

Signed, John Yetter, aka Old Soldier, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Office Five and Master Army Aviator (retired)

Post Notes:

I want to make it absolutely clear, that while I perceived the Democratic motto, "it's about the economy, stupid" was aimed at the voters, my application of the term "stupid" is directed at the Democratic members of Congress and their national party leaders. Regarding the issue of national security today, the people get it; they know the importance of national security to the future of this country. Their representatives should also "get it."

I also want to make it crystal clear that I DO NOT categorize all Muslims as being radical Islamic terrorists, nor do I condemn the religion of Islam. I do condemn those who teach, preach and foster the radical ideals of any religion; especially the radical employment of violence and terror. There are a billion Muslims in the world and only a very small fraction of the whole commits terrorist atrocities in the name of Islam. Many Muslims are victims of this tyranny even more so than we in the West.

About the author:

Old Soldier is John H. Yetter; a blue blood Yankee born and raised in CT who joined the U.S. Army in 1967. As an Army Warrant Officer and helicopter pilot, he served in Vietnam, Korea, Italy, a covert intelligence mission in Central America, the First Gulf War, and several stateside assignments. He retired after 31 years active service, achieving: the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Five, and the status of Master Army Aviator. Awards include: the Legion of Merit, 3 Bronze Stars, 3 Meritorious Service Medals, 11 Air Medals, 3 Army Commendation Medals and many more decorations. He currently continues supporting U.S. Army Aviation programs as a defense contractor working in South Alabama.

Tracked back to Don Surber's Open Post weekend and California Conservative.

Bush in Korea Speaks to Troops


Apparently the men and women who sacrifice the most in the War, like these troops in Korea greeting President Bush, appreciate his leadership. Tell that to a Chicken Dove near you.

While former President Clinton is overseas undermining U.S. foreign policy, President Bush is also overseas working to build strong and effective alliances with our partners in peace. While in Korea, President Bush delivered an updated version of his Iraq speech to a very receptive audience of U.S. troops statoned at Osan. Apparently, the people called on to sacrifice so much in this and other struggles for peace and freedom understand what is at stake.

We endeavor to honor the service and the sacrifice of our troops by giving them all the support and resources a nation unified for VICTORY can provide.

Here are a few excerpts from the President's speech, highlighting some of the new material and some that cannot be repeated too often:

President Addresses Troops at Osan Air Base in Osan, Korea: For more than four years, we've seen the brutal nature of the enemy. They've targeted the innocent in scores of countries from almost every walk of life. In Casablanca they killed diners enjoying their evening meal. In Bali, they killed tourists on a holiday. In Beslan, they killed Russian school children. They've murdered workers in Riyadh and commuters in Madrid and hotel guests in Jakarta, and guests at a wedding celebration in Amman, Jordan. They killed Iraqi children. The tragic images of innocent victims can make it seem like these terrorist attacks are random, isolated acts of madness. While these killers choose their victims indiscriminately, their attacks flow from an ideology and a terrifying vision for the world. Their acts are evil, but they're not insane.

Some call this evil Islamic radicalism; others, militant jihadhism; still others, Islamo fascism. Whatever we choose to call this enemy, we must recognize that this ideology is very different from the tenets of the great religion of Islam. This form of radicalism exploits Islam to serve a violent, political vision: the establishment by terrorism, subversion and insurgency of a totalitarian empire that denies all political and religious freedom.
...
Recently, the world learned of a letter written by al Qaeda number two leader, a man named Zawahiri. He wrote this letter to his chief deputy in Iraq, the terrorist Zarqawi. In it, Zawahiri points to the Vietnam War as a model for al Qaeda. He writes, "The aftermath of the collapse of American power in Vietnam and how they ran and left their agents is noteworthy." The terrorists witnessed our response after the attacks of American -- on American troops in Beirut in 1983, and Mogadishu in 1993. They concluded that America can be made to run again, only this time on a larger scale, with greater consequences. The terrorists are mistaken; America will never run. We will stand and fight, and we will win the war on terror. (Applause.)

The terrorists state their plans. They want to use the vacuum that would be created by an American retreat to gain control of a country, to build a base from which to launch attacks on America and to conduct their war against non-radical Muslim governments.

Over the past few decades, radicals have specifically targeted Egypt and Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and Jordan for potential takeovers. And for a time, they achieved their goal in Afghanistan, until they came face to face with the men and women of the United States military. (Applause.)
...
In a few weeks, Iraqis will vote again to choose a fully constitutional government to lead them for the next four years. Iraq is making amazing progress from the days of being under the thumb of a brutal dictator. Think about this: In two-and-a-half years, they've gone from tyranny to an election for a transitional government, to the ratification of a constitution, to the election of a free government. The Iraqi people are proving their determination to build a future founded on democracy and hope, and the United States of America will help them succeed. (Applause.)
...
Our men and women in uniform who are serving on the Korean Peninsula have seen freedom succeed in Asia. By promoting freedom in Japan, we helped transform an enemy into a democracy that is one of the world's most prosperous nations, and one of America's most trusted allies. By standing firm against a determined enemy, we helped provide the people of South Korea with the peace and stability they needed to transform their economy and claim their own freedom. And by helping the people of Asia build successful and thriving democracies, we have helped set a hopeful example for the world. In the 21st century, we go forward with confidence because we know that freedom is the destiny of every man, woman, and child on this Earth. (Applause.)

Our work for peace and freedom involves great sacrifice by our troops. We see this sacrifice in Iraq, where our troops are hunting down the terrorists, and we're helping the Iraqi people build a working democracy. In Washington, there are some who say that the sacrifice is too great, and they urge us to set a date for withdrawal before we have completed our mission. Those who are in the fight know better. One of our top commanders in Iraq, Major General William Webster, says that setting a deadline for our withdrawal from Iraq would be, "a recipe for disaster." General Webster is right. So long as I'm the Commander-in-Chief, our strategy in Iraq will be driven by the sober judgment of our military commanders on the ground. We will fight the terrorists in Iraq. We will stay in the fight until we have achieved the brave -- the victory that our brave troops have fought for. (Applause.)

In this time of war and sacrifice, the greatest burden falls on our military families. We've lost some of our nation's finest men and women in the war on terror. Each of these men and women left grieving families and loved ones back home. Each loss of life is heartbreaking. And the best way to honor the sacrifices of our fallen troops is to complete their mission and lay the foundation of peace for our children and our grandchildren. (Applause.)
...
We don't know the course our own struggle will take, or the sacrifices that might lie ahead. We do know, however, that the defense of freedom is worth our sacrifice. We know that the love of freedom is the mightiest force in history. And we do know the cause of freedom will once again prevail.

We Are Winning In Iraq


HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE - Conservative News, Views & Books: "Dead men tell no tales, but luckily for intelligence analysts, live women do.

Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi was not able to detonate her bomb at the wedding party and fled with the guests as her husband exploded himself. Now, she is in the custody of the GID, Jordan's intelligence agency. By all accounts, the interrogation is going slowly. Still, enough information is emerging for us to draw some lessons for the triple bombings in Amman, Jordan, on November 9.

Mrs. al-Rishawi's family history reveals just how effective the U.S. military has proven to be in eliminating insurgents. Jordanian intelligence has learned that three of her brothers were killed by coalition forces in Iraq. Her brother, Thamir al-Rashawi, a member al-Zarqawi's inner circle, was killed in April 2004 in Fallujah, when a missile fired from a U.S. aircraft struck his pick-up truck. Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Marwan al-Mu'ashir described her brother, Thamir, as the emir [commander] of the Al-Anbar region [of the Iraqi insurgency] in the Al-Qaidah of Jihad Organization in the Land of Two Rivers. He was the right hand of Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi.

read the rest here, all good news you won't see on CNN.
At the same time Democrats encourage our enemies in the war and undermine our troops, anyone with half a brain can see that we are winning. While the news media will grab at every criticism and shred of bad news, it is up to the rest of us to get out the good.

Cry Me a River: Hollywood Liberal to Move From France

Oh I just feel SOOOOO sorry for Hollywood lefties like Johnny Depp. He moved out of the United States; we're just such a nasty country you know. He moved to FRANCE and now the riots have him scared so he may have to move again.

Hey John Boy: I hear North Korea is nice this time of year!

JOHNNY DEPP - DEPP I CANT STAY IN RIOT-RAVAGED FRANCE: "Hollywood star JOHNNY DEPP is so shocked by the riots raging through France, he's considering abandoning his home in the country. The FINDING NEVERLAND heart-throb moved to Europe when life in Los Angeles became too violent.
He has since divided time between the two continents - but he fears France will be scarred permanently by the current troubles.

He says, "It's insane, that setting cars on fire is the new strike.

"I went there (to France) to live because it seemed so simple.

"Now it's anything but. I don't know how they'll recover from this."

Friday, November 18, 2005

It's WAR!!!

Democrats Defend Policy of Surrender!


At this hour, the House of Representaives is currently debating a resolution put forward to demand an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. The resolution was suggested by the comments yesterday of John Murtha (D-PA), who insisted that the Iraq war was a mistake.

If you have C-Span on your cable system, you will never see a more impassioned debate. It's a fight that has been long overdue and Democrats do not like it one bit!

Newly elected Ohio Congresswoman Jean Schmidt created an uproar when she suggested she told Democrats that:

"Marines never cut and run."

Democrats have considered the court of public opinion their territory for too long. It's about time we fought back.

Win the War, Win the Peace, Win for America!!!
The vote in the House approaches. Democrats insist the resolution reflecting their position be withdrawn. Is this yet another example of voting FOR American Security BEFORE they vote AGAINST it?

Update: 11:30 P.M: House of Representatives votes overwhelmingly against immediate Iraq withdrawal.

House Resolution 571: "It is the sense of the House that deployment of U.S. forces in Iraq be terminated immediately."

403 against, only 3 in favor (all Dems)

So now we've had countless votes on Iraq in Congress and the subject debated and voted on in two national elections. The people have spoken. There's nothing wrong with questioning our strategy or tactics, but when American dissent begins showing up on Al Jazeera it encourages the enemies who are currently killing Americans and countless thousands of innocents.

It's time for Democrats to get behind VICTORY, or SHUT THE F@#K UP!

Thursday, November 17, 2005

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The Few, The Chosen, The Elves.

Old Soldier: America, Do Not Lose Heart... Again

Mike's America readers always enjoy the contributions of Old Soldier. He recently contributed a piece to Confederate Yankee that is a must read. We'll forgive him for offering it to them first.

Confederate Yankee: America, Do Not Lose Heart Again: "Make no mistake; we are at war with an enemy motivated by a radical theology diametrically opposed to our foundational religious underpinnings as well as our national ideology of divinely bestowed individual freedom and liberty. We can ill afford political polarization emulating our Vietnam War conclusion; political defeat snatched from the jaws of military victory. For the sake of generations to come, this war against radical Islamic terrorists must be prosecuted to a victorious conclusion, there must be no capitulation or appeasement.

Read the rest here.

Clinton Does the Unthinkable: Undermines U.S. at War While in Middle East

Shortly after President Bush took office, Democrats discarded the long held tradition whereby former Presidents declined to criticize their successors. Still, it would have been unthinkable that a former President would criticize U.S. foreign policy at a time of war while on an overseas visit. Even more so while the current President is on an overseas trip facing down the North Koreans and the Chinese.

But Bill Clinton, shows once again how completely his venal lust for attention and power have corrupted him. The man has no class whatsoever.

Independent Online: The venerable traditions that foreign policy arguments 'stopped at the water's edge', seems to have been conclusively discarded. The most recent Democratic president was in Dubai, in the heart of the Arab world, when he delivered his verdict on the war that was launched by his successor in the White House.
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The dam has burst. Former president Bill Clinton's verdict that the war in Iraq was "a big mistake" is echoing around the world.

The unease, the misgivings, and downright opposition can be contained no longer. From Senate Republicans, to one of the most influential Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill yesterday, the message has been the same. The Iraq war has been a disaster, and the sooner American troops leave the better.
Democrats have shown time and again that they will say or do anything to regain power in Washington, even if it means defeat for the United States.

Unbelieveable. Better start sewing the white flag now and memorizing the Koran!

What Price For Defeat?

We keep hearing about the price we are paying for the war in Iraq and the greater war. Have we lost sight of the price we would pay for defeat?

Thanks Old Soldier for passing along this impassioned, well thought out analysis of the situation we in the United States and other Western nations are confronting as we attempt to move towards victory in the war.

There has long been a whacko bunch of left wing extremists who openly proclaim that the United States deserved to lose this war. Some even suggest that the U.S. government was behind the destruction of the World Trade Center (apparently those two planes which hit the building were diversions from the real cause of the buildings collapse).

That extreme, irrational, lunatic position is a minority view within the anti-war left. What is more "mainstream" in the thinking of these people is that President Bush's desire to prosecute this war is just a giant scare tactic; a scam to keep dim-witted Americans too frightened to object to what is an attempted neo-conservative takeover of government and the destruction of our civil rights.

That second group somehow believes that the "problem" (it's only a war because Bush calls it a war) can be managed, as Clinton did, with a few speeches, bombing selected targets and appealing for unity in the international community. Never mind that during the years of Clinton managing the problem, it grew steadily worse. History is something that is easily ignored by those who define reality as it suits them.

The following letter describing what this war is really all about will be instantly dismissed by the 20 to 30% of Americans whose definition of reality is shaped to fit their preconceived notions about President Bush and the threat we face. The letter is validation for the 40% of Americans who understand the threat clearly and it is food for thought for the remaining mushy middle ground who really don't like to make much fuss about anything dealing with politics, especially not during football season.

For that mushy middle, it's a must read. The entire letter is here. My suggestion: offer to pay one of your mushy friends to turn off the television long enough to read the whole thing through and engage in discussion afterward.
California Conservative: Dr. Chong's Diagnosis of America's War: Why We Are Fighting And What Is At Stake: We can definitely lose this war, and as anomalous as it may sound, the major reason we can lose is that so many of us simply do not fathom the answer to the second question - What does losing mean?

It would appear that a great many of us think that losing the war means hanging our heads, bringing the troops home and going on about our business, like post Vietnam. This is as far from the truth as one can get. What losing really means is:

We would no longer be the premier country in the world. The attacks will not subside, but rather will steadily increase. Remember, they want us dead, not just quiet. If they had just wanted us quiet, they would not have produced an increasing series of attacks against us, over the past 18 years. The plan was clearly, for terrorist(s) to attack us, until we were neutered and submissive to them.

We would of course have no future support from other nations, for fear of reprisals and for the reason that they would see, we are impotent and cannot help them.

They will pick off the other non-Muslim nations, one at a time. It will be increasingly easier for them. They already hold Spain hostage. It doesn't matter whether it was right or wrong for Spain to withdraw its troops from Iraq. Spain did it because the Muslim terrorists bombed their train and told them to withdraw the troops. Anything else they want Spain to do will be done. Spain is finished.

The next will probably be France. Our one hope on France is that they might see the light and realize that if we don?t win, they are finished too, in that they can't resist the Muslim terrorists without us. However, it may already be too late for France. France is already 20% Muslim and fading fast!

If we lose the war, our production, income, exports and way of life will all vanish as we know it. After losing, who would trade or deal with us, if they were threatened by the Muslims.

If we can't stop the Muslims, how could anyone else?

The Muslims fully know what is riding on this war, and therefore are completely committed to winning, at any cost. We better know it too and be likewise committed to winning at any cost.

Why do I go on at such lengths about the results of losing? Simple. Until we recognize the costs of losing, we cannot unite and really put 100% of our thoughts and efforts into winning. And it is going to take that 100% effort to win.

So, how can we lose the war?

Again, the answer is simple. We can lose the war by -- imploding. That is, defeating ourselves by refusing to recognize the enemy and their purpose, and really digging in and lending full support to the war effort. If we are united, there is no way that we can lose. If we continue to be divided, there is no way that we can win!
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Democracies don't have their freedoms taken away from them by some external military force. Instead, they give their freedoms away, politically correct piece by politically correct piece.

And they are giving those freedoms away to those who have shown, worldwide, that they abhor freedom and will not apply it to you or even to themselves, once they are in power.

They have universally shown that when they have taken over, they then start brutally killing each other over who will be the few who control the masses. Will we ever stop hearing from the politically correct, about the :peaceful Muslims"?

I close on a hopeful note, by repeating what I said above. If we are united, there is no way that we can lose. I hope now after the election, the factions in our country will begin to focus on the critical situation we are in, and will unite to save our country. It is your future we are talking about! Do whatever you can to preserve it.

Vice President's Remarks at the Frontiers of Freedom Institute 2005 Ronald Reagan Gala

While President Bush is in China lecturing the communists on the value of freedom, Vice President Cheney is holding down the store.

And he's not holding his tongue either.

Vice President's Remarks at the Frontiers of Freedom Institute 2005 Ronald Reagan Gala: As most of you know, I have spent a lot of years in public service, and first came to work in Washington, D.C. back in the late 1960s. I know what it's like to operate in a highly charged political environment, in which the players on all sides of an issue feel passionately and speak forcefully. In such an environment people sometimes lose their cool, and yet in Washington you can ordinarily rely on some basic measure of truthfulness and good faith in the conduct of political debate. But in the last several weeks we have seen a wild departure from that tradition. And the suggestion that's been made by some U. S. senators that the President of the United States or any member of this Administration purposely misled the American people on pre-war intelligence is one of the most dishonest and reprehensible charges ever aired in this city.

Some of the most irresponsible comments have, of course, come from politicians who actually voted in favor of authorizing force against Saddam Hussein. These are elected officials who had access to the intelligence, and were free to draw their own conclusions. They arrived at the same judgment about Iraq's capabilities and intentions that was made by this Administration and by the previous Administration. There was broad-based, bipartisan agreement that Saddam Hussein was a threat ... that he had violated U.N. Security Council Resolutions ... and that, in a post-9/11 world, we couldn't afford to take the word of a dictator who had a history of WMD programs, who had excluded weapons inspectors, who had defied the demands of the international community, who had been designated an official state sponsor of terror, and who had committed mass murder. Those are facts. What we're hearing now is some politicians contradicting their own statements and making a play for political advantage in the middle of a war. The saddest part is that our people in uniform have been subjected to these cynical and pernicious falsehoods day in and day out. American soldiers and Marines are out there every day in dangerous conditions and desert temperatures - conducting raids, training Iraqi forces, countering attacks, seizing weapons, and capturing killers - and back home a few opportunists are suggesting they were sent into battle for a lie. The President and I cannot prevent certain politicians from losing their memory, or their backbone - but we're not going to sit by and let them rewrite history. We're going to continue throwing their own words back at them. And far more important, we're going to continue sending a consistent message to the men and women who are fighting the war on terror in Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other fronts. We can never say enough how much we appreciate them, and how proud they make us. They and their families can be certain: That this cause is right ... and the performance of our military has been brave and honorable ... and this nation will stand behind our fighting forces with pride and without wavering until the day of victory.
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