The Logic of Gun Rights

H/T: Nancy K. Mathis of American Daughter.

Back in September, the National Rifle Association (NRA) held a two-day conference in Washington, DC called Celebration of American Values. One of the featured speakers was presidential hopeful John McCain. In his presentation he discussed three specific points on which opponents of Second Amendment rights twist logic.

Below is a partial transcript of McCain's speech.


In my years in Washington, I’ve seen what I call three myths used by politicians to excuse their support for gun control.
First is the big city myth, that it is acceptable, even necessary, to fight crime in big cities. If you have a crime problem, they say it’s really a gun problem. So instead of increasing police patrols, instituting tough sentences for lawbreakers and other measures that would actually address crime, we restrict ownership of guns and limit the rights of law-abiding citizens.
We’re meeting today in a city that represents the worst of this myth. The citizens of the nation’s capital do not enjoy the right to bear — to keep and bear arms. That’s why I’ve co-sponsored legislation repealing the ban on firearms possession for law-abiding citizens in the District of Columbia. The Second Amendment is not just for rural Arizona; it’s for all of America.
The second myth is that of the bad gun. This was at the core of the debate over the so-called assault weapons. Proponents of this myth argue that some kinds of guns are acceptable for now, but others are not if they have certain features like a pistol grip or an extended magazine. I will continue to oppose those who want to ration the Second Amendment based on their views of what guns it applies to.
Finally, there’s the hunting myth. The hunting myth: If you show your bona fides by hunting ducks or varmints or quail, it makes up for support of gun control.
This myth overlooks a fundamental truth: The Second Amendment is not about hunting. It’s about freedom.

I'm not real keen on McCain as a presidential candidate becasue of his stance on illegal immigration and border control...but I love him for what he says about the 2nd amendment.

Go John!

Beer for my Horses

Ok, let's get a grip here folks. How can you really argue for a fair trial against the betrayers of our free nations?

David Hicks and John Walker Lindh. Two different countries, but both betrayers.

Last time I checked treason, especially during a time of war is punishable by death. Maybe not in Australia...if not it should be.

They should have taken these guys out and capped them. Bullet to the head.

But no.

We put them in prison, and have to listen to these Taqiyyah spouting shitbirds say they're innocent. John Walker Lindh admitted he fought for the Taliban and carried a rifle and grenades...oooh. So is that the charge? Or willfully engaging in a war against your own countrymen...sound slike the death penalty to me.

I think we need some "old time" Texas justice" for these two...and any other ones we catch.

I am reminded of a song... "Beer For My Horses"

Toby Kieth and Willie Nelson sing it and it really strikes a chord in me when I listen to it.
Mind you I'm not a huge Country Music Fan, but overall, I'd say the country music artists have the patriotism award hands down.

...grandpappy told my pappy "Back in my day son,
a man had to answer for the wicked things he done.
They coiled a rope in Texas, found a tall oak tree.
Rounded up all of those bad boys, hung em high in this tree....
for all the people to see..."

That Justice is the one thing You should always find,
You gotta saddle up your boys, you gotta draw a hard line.
When the gunsmoke settles we'll sing a victory tune
and we'll all head down to the local saloon.
And we'll raise up our glasses against evil forces. Singin'....

Whiskey for my men, Beer for my horses.


Time to saddle up....

Some links for your perusal....

David Hicks
John Walker Lindh

Why Daddy is a Democrat

H/T to Absinthe & Cookies

This is just plain wrong....

Why Mommy is a Democrat and Why Daddy is a Democrat bring to life the core values of the Democratic party in ways that young children will easily understand and thoroughly enjoy. Using plain and non-judgmental language, along with warm and whimsical illustrations, these colorful 28-page paperbacks depict the Democratic principles of fairness, tolerance, peace, equality, and concern for the well-being of others. The books can also serve as kid-friendly introductions to important social and political issues. They're a great way for parents to gently communicate their commitment to Democratic principles while helping children begin to make sense of the complex world around them.
A portion of the profits will be donated to Democratic candidates and party organizations, so your purchase will help make an immediate difference!

You have to see it to believe it...

go here and be offended.

I have no respect or tolerance for Sharia

H/T Hibernia Girl...

This is a great op-ed piece in the Independent

Mass immigration is a serious problem all over the Western World...not just here in the US. Seems Europe is faring far worse than we are. Just check out Gates of Vienna for the European angle...hahaha I made a punny. Seriously though. GoV Has been on top of the European situation for a long time. Also Chck out Fjordman who also regularly posts at GoV as well.



"....Well, I am Islamophobic in the sense that I'm phobic towards the notion of treating women as third-class citizens, flogging people and killing them for having an independent thought.

I'm phobic towards the idea of killing Theo Van Gogh because he made a movie they didn't like. I'm phobic towards killing a Japanese translator because he worked on the Satanic Verses.

I'm also rather phobic to the notion that the Muslim world has the right to riot and kill each other because of a few unfunny cartoons in an obscure Danish publication.

As regards the spurious accusation of racism which is bandied about against anyone who criticises Islam, let me make this clear -- you cannot change the colour of your skin. Pigmentation is irrelevant. But you can dislike someone's superstition and in Islam's case, even among other superstitions, they are particularly horrible.

No, my Muslim friend, it's your religion and your Sharia law I am criticising. It has nothing to do with the colour of your skin. And you know what? In a free democracy we still have the right to say things like that."

- Ian O'Doherty

10 reasons...

You Might Be a Member of the Taliban or Al Qaeda if...

You refine heroin for a living, but you have a moral objection to beer.

You own a $300 machine gun and a $5,000 rocket launcher,
but you can't afford shoes

You have more wives than teeth

You think vests come in two styles:
bullet-proof and suicide

You can't think of anyone you HAVEN'T declared Jihad against

You consider television dangerous, but routinely carry ammunition in your robe

You've been asked, "Does this burka make my butt look fat?"

You were amazed to discover that cell phones have uses
other than setting off roadside bombs

You've uttered the phrase,"I love what you've done with your cave."

You wipe your butt with your bare left hand, but consider bacon unclean.

hehehehehe...

Holiday Eating Tips

The New Year is right around the corner so read and heed...

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.


2. Drink as much eggnog as you can and quickly. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an 'eggnog-aholic' or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it! Have one for me.
Have two. It's later than you think.


3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand-alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.


5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?


6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do.
This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.


7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budg e. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.


8. Same for pies. Apple, pumpkin and mincemeat - have a slice of each.
Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert -- Labor
Day?


9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the
mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have
some standards.


10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party
or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread
tips: Start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember: "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention
of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather
to skid in sideways, chocolate in hand, body thoroughly used up, totally
worn out and screaming 'WOO-HOO what a ride!"



Life is too short for drama & petty things,
so kiss slowly, laugh insanely,
love truly and forgive quickly..........

Merry Christmas!

Japan's Plans for Godzilla, Mothra and the Russian Bear....

Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Thursday at a press conference that if Godzilla attacked the country, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) would be called upon to deliver "disaster relief." Ishiba also said Japan would respond in kind to a threat from Mothra, though he added that the use of the JSDF could not be assumed in the event of an alien invasion: Under the constitution, the JSDF can only be mobilized for defense, so obviously if the aliens came in peace, there would be no legal justification for their deployment.

Ishiba's statements marked the third day of discussions among Japanese officials about the existence of aliens, UFOs and other unlikely boogeymen. On Dec. 18 -- in response to a question by an opposition parliamentarian -- the government issued a written statement saying that it has no evidence that UFOs exist and is not taking any action to verify their existence or develop contingency plans should they enter Japanese airspace (and assuming they are real).


I just read an article of the same name as this post from STRATFOR...I couldn't believe that I was actually seeing this...too funny...only the Japanese....LOL.

The entire article can be found at STRATFOR. However it is a subscription site.
I just had to share that one...too funny.

"Wreaths Across America"

Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.
Know the line has held, your job is done.
Rest easy, sleep well.
Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.
Peace, peace, and farewell …

I realize this is a story that's been in the media alot and has gotten yet more national coverage...as well as internet coverage as well.

I have to give a hat tip to Villainous Company for this though. I have to say she has the best post I've seen to date on this project.

The entire article from USA Today is here... I have to admit that reading it touched me down to my very soul. My eyes even got a little bit damp reading this.

At this time of the year when we find ourselves wanting the company of our families and many of us whose family memebers cannot be with us because they paid the cost for our freedoms, I urge all of you to take some time and reflect on the citizens who answered the nation's call to protect and defend this great nation. My prayers go out to all of those who have suffered the pain of loss.

Merry Christmas to you. And remember our fallen.

"We carry a new world in our hearts."

H/T: Villainous Company

Camp Blessing made the news last month when three paratroopers lost their lives.
During a memorial service at the camp, Michael Gabel, an Army Staff Sergeant, struggled to find the right words to say farewell to his best friend. He could not know, as he held back the tears, that his eulogy would travel halfway around the world:

"I will not be bitter," Gabel said. "I will not shed any tears of sorrow.
I'm proud to have known such a good man and a warrior to the bitter end.
Until we see each other again, sky soldiers!"

Staff Sgt. Gabel could not know either, when he spoke, that the parting was to be short-lived. On December 12th he and Cpl. Joshua C. Blaney were killed when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

SSgt. Michael Gabel was killed last week doing a job he believed in, his former teacher says, with all his heart. Henry David Thoreau once said, "Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them." Corporal Blaney and Staff Sergeant Gabel gave life everything they had.

How many of us, when our time comes, will be able to say that? These were men to be proud of, and we are made poorer by their loss.

God Bless those boys.

Congratulations Bob and Holly!

Well, I finally got my pictures back from the wedding of my good friends Bob & Holly.
I flew out of Tucson on December 7th, arrived in Allentown at about 2130 and stayed up til about 0200 partying with the band...yeah. It was a good time.
We met up at the Armory in Bethlehem around noon to get our uniforms all squared away and get ready for the ceremony. I felt like I was back in the Cav...the guys were awesome and it didn't take long to be part of the team.
We got to the club where the wedding was going to be held and did a quick rehearsal. Seeing as how I hadn't been able to be there before, I had to get it down quick since I was a groomsman...
It ended up being relatively painless though.

Bob & Holly...the happy couple

The Sabre Line...where the bride get's a slap on the ass with a sabre

The first dance and us groomsmen in the background

Me and Lauren, the bridesmaid during the second dance

(I got paired up with the best looking bridesmaid...of course she is married...LOL)

Dancing with my mom...she was thrilled =)

The cutting of the cake

Me with the Happy couple

The band that played at the wedding are the Seawolves

The guy on the fiddle is Bob's older brother Tom. They rocked the house...even played us the Gary Owen...

So, a good time was had by all. We drank lots of Lager(for you non-PA types, that is Yuengling Lager)...and not a little bit of Scotch and Irish Whiskey...mmmm.

I didn't get pictures of the end of the reception or the following party at the Scottish Pub afterwards. Too bad, My camera battery died. Suffice to say we had a great drunken weekend in the time honored Cav tradition...oh, and I was the last scout standing at the end of the evening...hahaha.

To Bob and Holly, I wish you many years of happiness together.

And to the fellows of the PA Nat'l Guard...Scout's Out! Thanks for treating me well guys.

FIREARMS REFRESHER COURSE

I saw this posted over at Gunslinger's Journal...I just had to repost this cause it is just too awesome.

The original post is here.

FIREARMS REFRESHER COURSE

1. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.

2. A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.

3. Colt: the original point and click interface.

4. Gun control is not about guns; it's about control.

5. If guns are outlawed, can we use swords?

6. If guns cause crime, then pencils cause misspelled words.

7. Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.

8. If you don't know your rights, you don't have any.

9. Those who trade liberty for security have neither.

10. The United States Constitution (c)1791. All Rights Reserved.

11. What part of "shall not be infringed" do you not understand?

12. The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others.

13. 64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.

14. Guns only have two enemies: rust and politicians.

15. Know guns, know peace, know safety. No guns, no peace, no safety.

16. You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.

17. 911: government-sponsored Dial-a-prayer.

18. Assault is a behavior, not a device.

19. Criminals love gun control; it makes their jobs safer and easier.

20. If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson.

21. Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them.

22. You have only the rights you are willing to fight for.

23. Enforce the gun control laws we ALREADY have; don't make more.

24. When you remove the people's right to bear arms, you create slaves.

25. The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.

Celebrate Diversity...

Hehehe...yeah baby!

Armor Up American Soldiers...

H/T to Jack Army...

This poem is awesome!
this is by Rick Smith...not sure if he's a servicemember or just a suportive, patriotic civilian, either way...Kudos brother!

Armor-up, American soldiers, fighting the terrorist war,
With the Flag of freedom leading at the fore
Freedom, Truth, and Justice, leads against the foe;
forward into battle, see our soldiers go!


You can read the rest of this poem here.

Scouts Out!

Death to the Infidels!

OK...I have been trying to avoid writing another anti-islam post so soon, but I am completely incensed at this situation.

I was over at Hillbilly White Trash and came across this article at the Scotsman.com .

It seems like a regular news article and I didn't see it as being anything other than a commentary on how Scotsmen feel about the increasing immigration problems in their country...just like us.

So, I go to the comments section...yeah.
Most of the commenters were pretty level-headed, ut here's an example of a typical leftard comment:

"Scotland has always been a country of wide racism. The Border Scots Calvinists who populated the Virginian towns and hamlets were the originators of the Ku Klux Klan and kept their kind in ignorance and mystic belief and today the offspring of these uneducated Scots are still the underclass of American society who lisen to Fox news, praise Wal Mart (Junk Mart) listen to Rush Limbaugh and believe that George W. Bush was sent by God. They drive cars with bumper stickers that say Drink Coors Lite and Nuke Iran. They work for Newell Rubbermaid and hate liberals and were happy to take an eighty cent an hour pay cut because Junk Mart threatened to buy plastic pails and plastic scoops from Mexico. They are bred racists from a Calvinist cult that can be found in the voting practices of every red (republican) State and one only has to visit the the working class hovels of Scottish towns to find evidence of a poorly educated populace who are kin to the guitar plucking hillbillys of Virginia, Arkansas and Tennessee. Many of the comments that regularly appear in this newspaper, on any subject display much of the same ill educated bigotry we hear coming from the mouths of these descendants of the Border Scots."

If that didn't get the hackles up...

"FOR GOODNESS SAKE! How can you people justify thinking that EVERY SINGLE MEMBER of a certain faith is to be held responsible for the actions of a FEW people?
I can't even express how angry everyone's small-mindedness makes me. Have you people never heard the expression 'take people as you find them'? How would you like your whole personality to be judged by one aspect of your lifestyle? Or even worse - by the colour of your skin.
Can you all spare a thought about how it must actually feel to be a Muslim in this country right now? They're subjected to bullying en-masse and the media just encourages it."

So now we have these jackasses attacking Americans as uneducated hillbilly racists and then we have the apologists...

Come on now folks. Let's get real. The Koran advocates the killing of non-believers and apostates. Some small concession is given to "people of the book", being Christians and Jews, but even then they don't have any rights just the "protection" of the islamic state...in other words, submit and work as little better than slaves and we'll let you live....yeah, ok that's the f**king religion of peace...spare me the "stereotype" argument.

I'll argue it for you instead.

No I don't hate everyone that's a Muslim. Because just like every other major religion in the world, the masses are generally ignorant of the scriptures that their religions teach. There are plenty of Muslims that have probably never even read a single passage of a Koran, or for that matter know anything else, they were born into it. I've argued before that I see nothing wrong with the Modoggie cartoons, and in fact any enlightened person even a Muslim doesn't really care much about it, it's just a freaking picture. It's the Hardliners...the extremist Islamics that get bent out of shape over this. Does the average joe muslim call a Fatwa? no, some Imam or Mullah incites them to wrath as any good proselytizer does. I've been accused of fanning the flames of radical Islam by supporting these cartoons. Quite frankly, I don't give a damn. Does anyone really believe that my doing a cartoon of Mohammed as a dog is going to get anymore notice than the plethora of modoggies out there now? What about the Mohammed bears that are being sold on the internet as a reaction to the treatment of the schoolteacher in Sudan? D'ya think that simply drawing a cartoon is reaction enough? I sure as hell don't. My heart goes out to all the victims of Islam, to include the people who are truly innocent because they live in a culture of fear and shame...one they were born into.
But.
This is war people. Plain and simple. We are at war, and have been ever since Mohammed started his crazy ass desert cult. I am amazed at the ability of people to deny this. Because they are afraid or just don't want to deal with it, let someone else handle it...
F**king Cowards, the lot of them.
When the sheep allow the wolves into the herd because they've silnced and hobbled the sheepdogs, they will start bleating for help and there will be none.
SO keep your head in the sand if you wish, but I will not.

I will never submit! never surrender! and by GOD,
This heathen infidel will die with his boots on!

Put that in you hookah and smoke it!

Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs...

I have alot of people to tip my hat to for this.
Bashman over at Pat Dollard, Steve in NC for the link to this article.
And most importantly to LTC. Dave Grossman, U.S. Army (Ret.).

With all the commotion surrounding the recent shootings in Colorado, the 2nd amendment is getting some positive press for a change.

First and foremost, Thank You to Jeanne Assam for being a vigilant protector (sheepdog) of the sheep around her. She courageously neutralized the wolf at the door, one Matthew Murray.

The sheep of our nation are afraid of the wolves, but they seem to be more afraid of their sheepdogs...never could understand that, but LTC Grossman explained it very well in his article entitled On Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs.

I highly encourage you to follow the link to the article above and read this article, it is probably the best explanation of the fear and paranoia of the masses and the best argument for our 2nd amendment rights I've ever read. Some of us want to help and protect our "sheep" and we are demonized for it. I won't even attempt to summarize this article, it's fantastic and a must read.

I guess, acording to LTC Grossman, I must be a sheepdog.
I can live with that.

To all my fellow sheepdogs, "Die with your boots on!"

Where Were Our Armed Citizens?

I don't need to post any links on this situation as it's been all over the news and the blogs today already.
Some disturbed kid took an SKS and went out in a "blaze of glory".

Ok, Now as I read the accounts of the frightened customers and employees I have to ask one question:

Why didn't someone take him out?

The answer, of course, is obvious. Noone was armed but the crazy kid. Ok, why are we all so afraid of the idea that as a citizen it is our right to protect ourself. What is wrong with a good, law-abiding, citizen to carry a sidearm? Years of leftist propaganda that's why.
It's ingrained in our psyche that if you carry a gun you must want to shoot someone with it. It's just a time-bomb waiting to go off.

Ok, the kid killed 8 people and wounded 5 others. I believe the estimated number of rounds was 35-40 that witnesses heard...easily corroborated with spent brass I'm sure.

Now, we have a 19 year old kid, dressed in fatigues and walks into the mall with an assault rifle.

WTF, over? Where was mall security? The kid obviously had no training, and where the hell did he acquire an SKS? I know they're not all that expensive and relatively easy to find. But an emotionally distraught kid who got kicked out of his house and couldn't hold down a job...I still have to ask, where the hell did he get an SKS? Did he save his pennies for years for it? or did he get it illegally?

This is one more feather in the cap of the leftist anti-gun whackjobs. I hope someone clarifies the details surrounding this before people start screaming gun-control again.

Now, as a compassionate human being, I think it's really just a sad case. The kid was obviously disturbed.

But.

One thing alot of folks don't understand is that despite the tragedy, what he did was wrong, it's not the gun's fault that all those people died and got wounded. Far worse things happen all over the world and noone pays it much mind.
The killer was not the gun.
period.
It was the kid.
Ok off my pro 2nd amndment soapbox...for now.

My prayers and condolences to all the victims and their families. Godspeed.

The Jews played Dhimmi at Annapolis...(who'da thunk it?)

This is a brilliantly written post by the Lovely Pamela Geller at Atlas Shrugs...

"Last week, a line was crossed."

"A terrible line was crossed at Annapolis."

" As the world looked on, the President of the United States sponsored the first Judeophobic conference legitimizing an Islamic terrorist state."

" Jew hatred was acceptable, understandable even."
"Under the auspices of a global "peace" conference, the White House sanctioned Jew hatred. The Jew is now contemptible, inferior, ignorant and politically and socially disenfranchised. Reminiscent of how African Americans were treated in the South, the Jewish attendees had separate entrance ways, service entrances and were refused the touching, or shaking of hands by the so called moderate members of the Arab world as if the Jews were lepers. Certain members refused to wear the translation earphones when Olmert spoke."

....That's just an exceprt from the article.

Why is it our leaders kowtow to the damn Islamics so much? If even half of what I read happened at the Annapolis "peace conference" is true, we should be ashamed of our leaders...both US and Israeli.

What arrogance by the Islamic nations! It's on ething to respect another's traditions in their country, but why is it we "respect" them and yet they spit on ours? And we let them, and by our bending to their demands, we encourage it....I don't get it.

If the sovereignty of our nations is to be maintained, we can't constantly bow before these imperialists. Read the editorial...it's clear we are either already dhimmified, or we're completely ignorant....well, our leaders anyway.

Now That's a Christmas (not holiday!) Tree!!!

Christmas is just a few weeks away and I just wanted to remind all of you that although this month marks the beginning of a "Holiday Season"....To me it's Christmas. I don't care what religious tradition you follow, you celebrate the season in your own way...I really don't care. But don't give ME and mine any s**t because I say Christmas! Take your PC ass and go back to whatever cave you crawled out of...

On that note....this is my kind of tree...hehe




Have a Happy!

PLAAF publishes their observations about US military from a Study tour in 2006...

This is a pretty interesting read....I guess we made quite an impression...

This was published in The Air & Space Power Journal

In 2006 a delegation from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) visited US Air Force (USAF) facilities, including the USAF Academy in Colorado; Air University at Maxwell AFB, Alabama; and Bolling AFB, Washington, DC.

Chinese Servicemen’s Views of USAF Airmen and Education

“Understanding US Airmen from Small Details”

Sr Col Qigui Wang,

PLAAF Political Commissar

What combat-training objectives, officer-development structure, and military-base culture does the USAF adopt? Some details that I noticed during our visit to the United States may provide answers.
The US military promotes the notion of joint operations, pursuing the vision of “global reach, global awareness, global power” and training its soldiers in real combat environments. One lasting impression that I had from our US trip was that the US military pays great attention to developing capabilities for joint operations. It believes that war is not the business of any single service, theater, force, or soldier; instead, winning a war requires the joint operation of all people in all dimensions. Each theater has a unified command made up of all the US services. A mixture of students from these services attends training in military schools. For major operations, all services join to form the centralized command. Even in logistics and deployments of armaments within a theater, the US military uses joint supply methods. The USAF designs training with combat requirements and effects in mind. For example, at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, we watched a number of C-130 cargo planes frequently taking off and landing. An officer explained that they were sharpening their skills at landing on short runways in order to strengthen capabilities to project forces and supplies quickly in complex situations.
US armed forces do not have political units or political officers. Instead, each organic unit has one chaplain. Yet, political education and moral mentoring successfully merge into the service members’ daily work and lives. In every location, we saw the national flag, service ensigns, and unit banners flying. From the Department of Defense in the Pentagon to a wing on a base—indeed everywhere—we found museums and heritage offices. Meeting rooms, hallways, and lobbies serve as halls of fame, decorated with photos of previous leaders, war heroes, trophies, and all kinds of souvenirs. At Air University in Alabama, a museum dedicated to the heritage of enlisted members displays war heroes and their brave deeds, creating a full image of heroism. Some of the US military bases we visited, such as Maxwell AFB and Bolling AFB, are named after war heroes. But we did not see many slogans posted on the walls of their buildings, except perhaps one that read “Integrity, Service, Excellence.”
The US military has a clear vision for personal development. No later than 18 months after their promotion, company-grade officers must go to junior-officer schools to take a six-week course. Then, for every step up, they must attend military schools, some as long as 12 weeks, some as short as two to three weeks. Field-grade officers also must attend military schools for strategic courses as a prerequisite for promotion. Even general officers must go back to school to take more advanced courses and participate in joint-operation war games. A second lieutenant needs to attend at least 10 trainings at different times before he or she reaches the rank of brigadier general. During the past few years, the US military has added a good deal of curriculum about information-warfare theory and the art of command. The schools invite high-ranking officers with combat experience and renowned specialists to give lectures and speeches. In order to increase their joint-operation capabilities, officers rotate every two to three years, either dispatched to operational forces at the front or assigned to military schools or back offices. Currently, most USAF field-grade officers have had experience in two to three weapon systems and professional positions. The development of noncommissioned officers (NCO) is equally systematic. To progress from the lowest rank to the highest, sergeants must complete a training cycle every five years, on average. Course length ranges from eight days to 18 weeks each time.
During our 15-day stay in the United States, we also observed that the beautifully landscaped military bases attract highly talented people. The USAF bases, military academies, and flying-wing camps that we visited were all very well laid out, with buildings dotted neatly with trees and flowers. The people we met, whether the commandant, a sergeant, or a student, all appeared motivated, proud, and self-confident. Individuals with whom we talked expressed their willingness to deploy to the most dangerous battlefields for the most treacherous taskings and to die for their country. Maj Gen Stephen J. Miller, commandant of the USAF Air War College, told us that in the United States, servicemen and women all voluntarily join the military. Cadets who have finished two years of studies may choose to leave the armed forces or sign an agreement to continue their careers in the military. After voluntarily entering the service, they must unconditionally obey orders, strictly follow rules and discipline, and fulfill personal commitments. No matter where, in what position, or in which profession or stage of personal development they may be, as servicemen, they have no reason whatsoever to compromise their commitment. While visiting the USAF Senior NCO Academy, I asked a chief master sergeant (who appeared close to 50 years of age), “Having served in the military for so many years and all the time staying with soldiers on the grassroots level, have you ever thought about changing careers or seeking positions with better benefits?” “Well,” responded the chief, “this is the job that fits me and that I enjoy. I must do it the best I can.”

“Selected Thoughts from a Brief Look at the USAF”

Sr Col Wang Ximin,

PLAAFPolitical Commissar

Guilin Air Force College

As a military-school staff member, I naturally paid more attention to USAF educational institutions during our visit to the United States. Understanding the USAF’s modern educational policy, teaching models, and school structures will bring new ideas to our own education and training.
The US armed forces believe that military training must interface with war. As such, the US military often makes its war-gaming environments more complicated than real battlefields. It has adopted a mind-set of joint operations, the concepts of which are reflected fully in system structure as well as command and coordination, all the way down to the tactical level. US servicemen and women understand that they will train to fight for the overall strategic objectives of their country and have an obligation to do so. Soldiers must prepare themselves to win; otherwise, they are fated to lose. Putting aside the justification for launching wars, we can learn something from these service members, who have such a strong sense of mission, dedication, and obligation.
The USAF not only possesses sophisticated weaponry but also heavily emphasizes the human role in high-tech wars. Indeed, that service invests substantially in the development of high-quality Airmen. During our visit, I was deeply impressed with their military competence, technical capability, and physical as well as mental fitness. Both officers and enlisted members demonstrated a high level of education. Most of the latter have finished high school, and a fairly high percentage of them hold undergraduate or associate degrees. More than 95 percent of USAF officers hold bachelor’s degrees.* Officers of field-grade rank and above often have two to three different degrees. Faculties of the military schools consist mostly of professionals with master’s and PhD degrees. The US military also stresses the importance of total development. Through situational teaching, role rotation, field training, battlefield deployment, and many other ways, the US armed forces equip their servicemen and women with total capabilities and competencies. Students entering military schools must meet strict requirements. Company-grade officers must graduate from command and staff college to qualify for promotion to field-grade rank.† Field-grade officers normally possess experience in two or three career fields or weapon systems.
Political units and political commissar positions do not exist in the US armed forces, but political and moral education has some distinctive features. During our tour, I asked our host, “How do you educate your soldiers about loyalty to the country, dedication to the national defense, and commitment to duty?” He answered, “Such education starts from high school. When students enter the military schools, they are taught to understand why they serve in the military, how to dedicate themselves to the country, and how to contribute to military development.”
The US military holds the national interest above all else and regards serving the country as its sacred obligation. US servicemen and women may attend different military schools multiple times. In fact, education in military duty and responsibility permeates one’s entire military career. Despite the absence of dedicated ideological educators, such education is reflected in performing missions and fulfilling obligations. We also noted the compassion and attentiveness to soldiers’ actual needs. For example, the military takes care of many necessities for the families of soldiers deployed overseas. On the other hand, people who refuse to fulfill their military service agreements, desert, or break rules may face harsh punishment. My most vivid impression was of the cultural environment of USAF bases. Every unit and school has its own decorated room of honor and hall of fame. Certainly, all of these efforts imperceptibly influence the psyche of USAF officers and enlisted members, nurturing them to develop and grow.

“A Glimpse at the Cultivation of Airmen’s Core Values in USAF Schools”

Sr Col Hao Chengming, PLAAF

Air Force Aviation University

The US military attaches no less importance to moral education than to weapons and equipment. It holds that patriotism, a sense of national superiority, and dedication to national interests are important elements of a soldier’s character. These represent the highest personal values, serve as the true foundation of military morale, and are essential to winning future wars. During this study tour, I paid special attention to the US military’s cultivation of its soldiers’ core values.
The core values of the US military services include “loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage” (Army); “integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do” (USAF); “honor, courage, and commitment” (Marine Corps), and so on. In addition, every college and academy of the USAF has its own core values: “integrity, service, and excellence” (USAF Academy) and “institutionalization, service to the country, and excellent dedication” (USAF Senior NCO Academy), for example. The USAF Academy consistently sets as its first educational priority the cultivation of US military ethics and values in every cadet. Both the Center for Character Development and the Cadet Counseling and Leadership Development Center establish the curriculum for the moral development of cadets. The academy emphasizes such core values as “integrity first,” “service to the country first,” “the supreme honor of sacrifice to the country,” and “excellence in all we do.” The USAF Academy has summarized and expressed such core values in highly concise words and has embodied these concepts in a variety of patriotic, inherited, religious, situational, moral, and legal forms so that they guide the behavior of all cadets, who internalize them as moral pursuits. All of these educational efforts and their obvious effects left profound impressions on members of our PLAAF study delegation.
USAF colleges and academies do an outstanding job of creating an environment that subconsciously facilitates the education of students through pleasant sights and sounds. At the USAF Academy and each college of Air University, one can see that the meticulous landscaping and displays on campus, on the training grounds, along the corridors, and in every exterior setting all reflect the distinct educational principles and concepts of different schools, conveying an atmosphere of culture, knowledge, and education. On the walls of almost every office, teaching venue, and meeting room at Air University, one can also see pictures and descriptions demonstrating the history of the service and of the school. Important events relevant to the development of the USAF and the school, as well as famous individuals educated by the school, are all on display, offering a rich and colorful historical lesson that influences, inspires, and educates people. Static displays of various types of airplanes are placed at prominent locations as a means of stimulating the students’ patriotic feelings as well as their love of and devotion to the USAF. The inscription on the statue of an eagle and fledglings at the USAF Academy serves as a reminder to cadets of the importance of learning: “Man’s flight through life is sustained by the power of his knowledge.”
The USAF colleges and academies also attach special importance to the development of students’ and cadets’ leadership and management capabilities as an extension of the cultivation of core values. At Air University’s Officer Training School and at the USAF Academy, the cadet wing—responsible for managing, educating, and developing USAF cadets—forges and develops their leadership skills and command and management capabilities. Organized much like an Air Force combat unit, the cadet wing includes various command and staff positions that provide each cadet the opportunity to experience leadership and learn how to manage a military institution. In the wing, seniors serve as cadet officers, and both juniors and sophomores serve as cadet NCOs. Freshmen, however, who have no cadet rank, must respect senior cadets and obey their commands—requirements that cultivate the Airman mentality and an attitude of obedience. Sophomores are held to somewhat less stringent requirements and assume limited leadership responsibilities in the cadet wing, with an emphasis on developing speech skills and communications capabilities. Juniors and seniors focus on developing a sense of responsibility as leaders and learning the various functions of the USAF. Senior cadets serve as instructors for most of the glider and parachute training courses at the USAF Academy; additionally, they must assume at least one leadership position in the summer training program for junior cadets. This model of education and management not only inspires the cadets’ initiative regarding self-education and self-management, but also facilitates their acquisition of professional knowledge and command skills necessary for promotion to higher rank. It also enhances their management capabilities and gives consideration to the development of their personality.

* This percentage reflects the author’s understanding, based on his US tour. In fact, a bachelor’s degree is a commissioning prerequisite for all USAF officers.
† This comment reflects the author’s understanding, but the promotion system actually works somewhat differently.

Maybe It's Time To Put the Sabre Back On...

Well, I never thought I would seriously consider rejoining the military
since I finally got a decent job supporting them as a civilian...I'm also not getting any younger...but thanks to our illustrious congress, I may not have a job in a few months. While they're sitting at home enjoying their time with their families...most of which time I am working I might add, I am trying to figure out how to deal with the possibility of Government layoffs...According to what I've read, If they don't pass this bill, 200,000 contractors will be laid off...guess what folks? I'm a contractor and the thought is pretty scary. I have a mortgage, bills, etc. Y'know I could probably recover fairly easy if this is just a few weeks layoff or even a month layoff...but if it's not? If it's more than a couple of months, I'm Screwed...yep with a capital S.


So what do I do in the event I find myself without a job? Do I go work 3 jobs trying to make ends meet? Cause that's about what I'd have to do and quite frankly, I've been down that road before and it ain't fun. And it's no way to live either.


So, I've decided that in the event of a prolonged layoff, I'm gonna go back in the service.
Yep, maybe they'll let me back in the Cav...my heart and soul never left it anyway. If this is the case, I'm about to make some extremely life altering decisions here shortly.


In all honesty, I enjoy being a civilian and working here behind the scenes supporting our troops, it gives me a sense of purpose. If I was no longer able to do that here as a civilian, then I'll gladly go back in and rejoin the fight from the front. I know my folks would be upset...cause parents worry and I've "already done my time", but sometimes there are more important things to consider.


Ah well, come what may, this patriot won't let the actions of a handful of legislators keep me down...And even if I have no respect for a good deal of them, I still love my country and just because my 2nd enlistment is done, my oath still remains. I will defend MY constitution...OUR constitution... against our enemies be they here or abroad.


This Crusader will never submit...I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees...

Scouts Out!

Religion of Peace???

Just when things started to look like they were getting better....this dipshit decides they need to start blowing s**t up again...

Dec. 4th, 1225 GMT -- IRAQ -- Islamic State in Iraq leader Omar al-Baghdadi called for a renewed bombing campaign against Iraqi security forces in a recording posted on an Islamist Web site Dec. 4. "This campaign should be based on explosives and its target should be the apostates ... wearing uniforms and all those who fight alongside the occupiers," Reuters quoted al-Baghdadi as saying.

Info from Stratfor.

Get Your Guns

Hat tip to Iggy over at Pat Dollard...

Iggy's initial post was addressing the media coverage of alleged Terrorists attempting to attack Ft. Huachuca, AZ. I happen to work at Ft. Huachuca and although the media story was debunked, the threat is actually there. Our borders are wide open because our government refuses to grant the Border patrol the ability to properly do their job.

Also we seem to be extremely reluctant, as a nation, to confront the reality that our border is a combat zone down here. Seems we have no problem with helping the Iraqi citizens exercise their right to protect themselves, but we as Americans are not allowed to do that. See what happens if some "poor" illegal drug smuggler gets shot by an American citizen protecting his property...I refer you to the Barnetts who own a ranch down on the border here...they didn't even shoot anyone, just threatened trespassers and were taken to court by the ACLU and had to pay damages to these folks...ridiculous.

Although the initial post caused alot of kneejerk reactions of the frightened, "we gotta do something!" variety. Maybe we need to do just that just to wake people up. The only problem I see is that most of the commenters I've seen over at Pat Dollard are right wing conservative like myself and we're preaching to the choir. My hope is that someone actually reads the post by Iggy that NEEDS to see it.

I stand by my conviction that there are plenty of conservatives on the border that will take action if necessary. Contrary to some of the opinions of people that don't live here that just see the results of an open border and all the debate over illegals.

If you've followed any of my blogs on illegal immigration, you know my stance already. I won't reiterate myself here.

However the even bigger threat tour open borders is the related Video that Iggy posted concerning LP/OPs that the drug cartels set up in this country as lookouts for their trafficking and smuggling of drugs, guns and people into...and out of the country.

For those of you out there that haven't a clue about what I'm talking about...and for some of you who do, pick up a copy of The Reaper's Line by Lee Morgan, a former border officer. It may open your eyes a bit. Also check out American Freedom Riders for more information about illegal immigration and the cases of Ramos and Compean, Border patrol agents that were imprisoned for doing their job. Also the story of Gary Brugman, a Veteran and former border patrol agent sthat lost everything, wife, kids and his job, went to prison for 2 years and is trying to survive...because he did his job...just like Ramos and Compean. I urge you to go to this site and do some exploring there is a wealth of information here regarding the injustices perpetrated by our own gov't against our border agents. Truly appalling stuff.

The fact is folks...the border is a warzone and the public doesn't even realize it.

So...I'm with Iggy....Get your guns!

Tribute to the Patriot Weapon of Choice...

Through A Glass, Darkly

Just a little something...

This is a poem written by General George Patton.

An amazing warrior and innovator. General Patton saw the transformation of the Old Horse Cavalry to mechanized units and was instrumental in adding Armored vehicles to our battlefields...

To read more about General Patton, go here

THROUGH A GLASS, DARKLY

by Gen. George S. Patton, Jr.

Through the travail of the ages,

Midst the pomp and toil of war,

Have I fought and strove and perished

Countless times upon this star

In the form of many people

In all panoplies of timeHave

I seen the luring vision

Of the Victory Maid, sublime.

I have battled for fresh mammoth,

I have warred for pastures new,

I have listed to the whispers

When the race trek instinct grew.

I have known the call to battle

In each changeless changing shape

From the high souled voice of conscience

To the beastly lust for rape.

I have sinned and I have suffered,

Played the hero and the knave;

Fought for belly, shame, or country,

And for each have found a grave.

I cannot name my battles

For the visions are not clear,

Yet, I see the twisted faces

And I feel the rending spear.

Perhaps I stabbed our Savior

In His sacred helpless side.

Yet, I've called His name in blessing

When after times I died.

In the dimness of the shadows

Where we hairy heathens warred,

I can taste in thought the lifeblood;

We used teeth before the sword.

While in later clearer vision

I can sense the coppery sweat,

Feel the pikes grow wet and slippery

When our Phalanx, Cyrus met.

Hear the rattle of the harness

Where the Persian darts bounced clear,

See their chariots wheel in panic

From the Hoplite's leveled spear.

See the goal grow monthly longer,

Reaching for the walls of Tyre.

Hear the crash of tons of granite,

Smell the quenchless eastern fire.

Still more clearly as a Roman,

Can I see the Legion close,

As our third rank moved in forward

And the short sword found our foes.

Once again I feel the anguish

Of that blistering treeless plain

When the Parthian showered death bolts,

And our discipline was in vain.

I remember all the suffering

Of those arrows in my neck.

Yet, I stabbed a grinning savage

As I died upon my back.

Once again I smell the heat sparks

When my Flemish plate gave way

And the lance ripped through my entrails

As on Crecy's field I lay.

In the windless, blinding stillness

Of the glittering tropic sea

I can see the bubbles rising

Where we set the captives free.

Midst the spume of half a tempest

I have heard the bulwarks go

When the crashing, point blank round shot

Sent destruction to our foe.

I have fought with gun and cutlass

On the red and slippery deck

With all Hell aflame within me

And a rope around my neck.

And still later as a General

Have I galloped with Murat

When we laughed at death and numbers

Trusting in the Emperor's Star.

Till at last our star faded,

And we shouted to our doom

Where the sunken road of Ohein

Closed us in it's quivering gloom.

So but now with Tanks a'clatter

Have I waddled on the foe

Belching death at twenty paces,

By the star shell's ghastly glow.

So as through a glass, and darkly

The age long strife I see

Where I fought in many guises,

Many names, but always me.

And I see not in my blindness

What the objects were I wrought,

But as God rules o'er our bickerings

It was through His will I fought.

So forever in the future,

Shall I battle as of yore,

Dying to be born a fighter,

But to die again, once more.

Who is Islamic Rage Boy?

I was over at GOV earlier and came across this story from Dymphna...

Have you ever wondered who the real Rage Boy is? Well, Patrick French from The Daily Mail
travelled to Kashmir to find out. It shows us a different side of Rage boy, Shakeel Ahmad Bhat, His is an interesting story that is not what I personally would have expected to hear.




Just as a teaser...this is the other Face of Rage Boy...

Why Is America Doomed?

I've been doing alot of reading over at Islam Watch
I came across this piece written recently by Iranian Born Amil Imani. It sums up for me alot of what I've been thinking myself recently and it seems many others out here in the blogosphere as well. This is a great site for those of you that want to see Islam throught the eyes of Apostates. From the people who were born into the "Religion of Peace".

So...why is America doomed?...
Some excerpts from Amil Imani's essay...

Because we are our own worst enemy. Because it is going to take more than 9/11 to wake us up. Because our politicians don’t have the stomach to tell the truth. Because we have lost our will to call a spade a spade. Because we are ignoring the most important element of intelligence ― understanding the mindset and dedication of our enemies ― and because being politically correct has become our norm.

America is doomed to failure in this war of ideology, an ideology that would turn a loving mother into a “launching pad of death.” We are doomed unless we stand up and identify the real enemy: Islam itself.
History has shown time and again that you can kick the truth, bend the truth, gag the truth, hide the truth, but you can never kill the truth. Truth has a bad habit of hanging around until everyone can see it.

It is urgent that we confront Islamism on all fronts. All free people must demand that their governments, at all levels, abandon the practice of political correctness and act to safeguard liberty against the truly deadly assault of Islamism on the rest of the World.

Amil Imani is an Iranian born, pro-democracy activist who resides in the United States of America. He is a poet, writer, literary translator, novelist and an essayist who has been writing and speaking out for the struggling people of his native land, Iran. Amil Imani's Home Page: www.amilimani.com.

I encourage you to investigate this site. There are many articles by many authors here and so far what I've read myself has been quite eye-opening.

Enjoy!

US Warriors Become Citizens

Hat tip to Gazing at the Flag

I ran across this little piece of inspiration over at Gazing at the Flag's blog.
And I am in complete agreement with them...I can think of noone more desrving of citizenship than those who have sworn to uphold and to defend our constitution before they gain the rights of full citizenship...
True Patriots every one.


Veterans Day - November 11, 2007 -
Our Warriors Become CitizensIn the largest naturalization ceremony in Iraq, 178 foreign-born members of our military received their oath of citizenship at LSA Anaconda from Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff. “I can’t think of people who are more deserving of citizenship then those who are fighting to defend the country even before they are citizens. They understand that freedoms don’t come free and they are willing to make sacrifices even before they reap the benefits of citizenship,” said Chertoff.Emilio T. González, director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, himself an Army veteran, presented each recent citizen with a certificate of naturalization. Brig. Gen. Gregory E. Couch, 316th ESC Commanding General, congratulated each new American veteran-citizen. Naturalized service members also received a U.S. flag from the 316th ESC senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Stacey E. Davis.According to USCIS, nearly 40,000 troops are not American citizens. Many foreign-born men and women have pledged commitment to the U.S. Constitution by serving in the military and are availing themselves of a July 2002 executive order making members of the Armed Forces immediately eligible to apply for citizenship. Approximately 4,000 service members have earned U.S. citizenship while serving abroad since 2004.


HOOAH!!

Beer Activist Alert

As a lover of all things beer, I felt the need to post this for those of you out there that share my passion...

All Georgia breweries need your help. We recently received notice that the Georgia Department of Revenue has decided to change the rules that apply to tours at breweries in Georgia. The new proposal calls for a limit of a 2oz pour of each beer style on the tour with a maximum limit of only 16oz. The 16oz pour is only possible if we have eight different styles of beer to offer on the tour. If a brewery only has four beers available to taste, then only 8oz can be poured at the tour.
It is the belief of the Georgia breweries, and our wholesalers, that the proposed rule change would effectively kill the tours. Since the breweries have spent significant sums of money on tasting rooms for the purposes of conducting tours this investment would be lost. In addition it would cause the layoff of employees who now operate as tour guides and could cause serious harm to the bottom line of all breweries. The tours are our main marketing tool and by losing the ability to continue tours as they are currently structured, we would lose customers, lose sales, and find it much more difficult to continue in business.

Here is the link Where you can find out more about this disturbing situation.

The Enemy at the Gates...and the Enemy Within...

We're at war….
No matter which way you look at it, we are in a cultural/ideological war with a stubborn and patient enemy. Let's not forget totalitarian and bloodthirsty enemy.

I've got a lot of friends that claim they are liberals and democrats…that's fine. I have a problem with the fact that they haven't truly educated themselves as to what exactly that means. I hear some of my best friends call George Bush a Fascist…look up fascist and rethink your accusation. And although I do not tout any party line…my beliefs and values more closely coincide with that of the Republican Party. For one…at least they understand the core rights and values and what it means to stand up to tyranny and the rights of free people. Despite our wanting to believe that we can solve all problems with diplomacy…it's simply not true. It would be nice, but it's not realistic people.

Let's try and get real here. The war did not start when we invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein. It didn't start when we went into Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban regime that supported the Al-Qaeda terrorist group. For that matter, it didn't even start on 9/11. This is a war that has been going on for around 1400 years. But for many of us Americans that are blissfully ignorant of our own history as well as that of the world, the war really began for us on 9/11. The fact that Islam has been at war with the world for 14 centuries seems to elude us. Probably because for most of our lives for many generations, it was not an immediate threat, so we ignored it. Or we simply were unaware of it.

So let's take a look at our enemy, shall we?
We have an enemy that advocates murder of innocent people. Enslavement of non-muslims. The unanimous acceptance of Sha'ria law….and all that that entails, women as property, all non-muslims as second class citizens…or worse. All the lovely things that western civilization stands for and has brought to us is anathema to them. How would any one of you like to be forced to cover your head in public at all times. How about being forced to grow a beard. Not to mention, praying 5 times a day, bowing on a prayer mat.

Hmmm…

And yet we preach tolerance of an intolerant ideology. How about stoning a woman to death for being raped to protect the honor of her family since she is considered dirty and essentially the one at fault. I don't suppose any of you liberal leftist folks would like to see that happen. Just a hunch…

Now, when 9/11 happened, we as a country united against this threat because for the first time since WWII, we as a country had been wounded…our own country bled. We were shocked, we were horrified that such thing could possibly happen. What happened?
The answer is simple. We lost interest as soon as we no longer felt threatened. We went back to our banal lives and forgot a lesson we so desperately need not to forget. Complacency and arrogance is what brought this catastrophe on us in the first place.

I will admit that I am not very happy with some of President Bush's recent decisions. I do, however, feel that he did what he felt was best for the security of our country. We can look back with clearer vision than we did then and criticize all we want. We can call it an illegal war, we can blur the reality by focusing on one aspect of a larger conflict. But if you believe that Al-Qaeda is the only enemy, you are sadly mistaken. There are numerous extremist groups all over the globe. These extremist groups have also been working to convince the "average" muslim to take the Jihad to the infidels. And they have been quite successful. And what is worse? We have the so-called "moderate" muslims that refuse to stand up to the extremists…and in many cases praise them and help to fund them as well.

Now, do you really believe that American Imperialism is the reason for this? If so you are deluded.

Here's a great anecdote…

When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of 'empire building' by George Bush. He answered by saying, "Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return." It became very quiet in the room.

The Federal Government is charged with protecting our interests at home AND abroad. Lest we forget, without the tireless vigilance of our intelligence agencies and those of our allies, it is quite likely more attacks would have happened. Now we play at politics in our government and ignore the realities to advance the power of one party over another.
We are at war people…what do you all not understand about this? This is not just about Iraq or Iran or Pakistan…This is a Global War. A war that was declared on us. Yes, make no mistake, the war was declared on us and we didn't realize it until we were attacked on 9/11. And we seem to have either simply lost our resolve or in our "have it your way right away" society have gotten distracted and forgotten why we really went to war in the first place. I'm not going to get into some ridiculous bi-partisan, mud-slinging argument over this one. The fact is we were outraged and wounded. We responded as America should respond and then we simply fell to attacking each other in our attempt to self-destruct.
The world community is a fluid, fickle and ever changing place. To be successful we need to adapt to situations as they confront us. The situation in Iraq is a perfect example of this. We won the war against Saddam Hussein's regime. We had a decisive victory, but so many of us forget that. What we also forget is the reality of war. War is ugly, war is hell. Our civilization has rules of engagement and rules of battlefield etiquette and rules governing the treatment of the people we've beaten. And how innocent civilians should be treated as well. We destroyed a lot of the infrastructure when we went into Iraq and we also dismantled the military. Had we left when the Hussein regime was vanquished, we would have become worse pariahs than we are now because of what would have happened if we'd left the Iraqis to their own devices. Fact: The strong will always dominate the weak. Period. The hardline fundamentalists would have subjugated the weak and the tribes would have slaughtered each other in larger numbers than they are now…and Al-Qaeda would have taken advantage of the situation…like they tried to do and been granted yet another stronghold. Al-qaeda has suffered defeat after defeat in Iraq because of the atrocities they've committed on the populace. Why do you suppose the militia groups have turned on them and are fighting ALONGSIDE our troops there? Is it because we are the Great Satan? No…they know our ROE and they know the mettle of our troops. We've proven to be honorable and reliable…the military that is. They don't trust our Government any more than most of us do…do you blame them?
Iraq is more than just an isolated battleground it is a strategic position and when we are successful (my optimism) We will have a very important ally in a very volatile region that influences every corner of the globe. We cannot stick our heads in the sand…we cannot ignore the threat of the middle east. Not just our economy, but the world economy is dependent on the flow of oil form that region. Nothing is simple. You may be inclined to call me on the fact that Iraq is predominantly muslim and this began as a post that is vehemently anti-islam.

Well, let's address this. Every one of us on this planet that belong to the Human species have one trait in common; imperfection. We as a race have so very many flaws and I believe all of us have at least a modicum of goodness somewhere in ourselves. Some of us tip the scale to one side or the other more sharply than the average person. I honestly believe that simply because you were brought up a certain way, does not mean you have to take what you've been taught at face value. I also know that due to our natures the more we deny ourselves the things we naturally desire, the more likely we are to show our imperfection. The average person, man or woman desires the same basic things. We want to live a prosperous life and to provide for our families. We want stability and order in our societies. We also want to be able to indulge in things we enjoy doing without being told how we can do it…Iraqis love smoking…something prohibited in a strict Islamic society. We can sit here and debate how Christianity and Judaism are better than Islam…as far as I'm concerned both are better, but Islam is so central to the culture of the middle east that you can't just take it out of the equation. I have read blogs on all sides of the fence from all sorts of bloggers to include jihadists and casual Muslims. There are plenty of muslims that really don't subscribe to the violent nature of their religion or the strict rules governing dress and behavior that are clearly delineated in the Qu'ran. So what does that tell us? That the average working joe is pretty much the same the world over.
When the average working joe takes charge and gains the freedom to pursue a better quality of life, unsubjugated, you see a more enlightened and casual populace..more religiously tolerant. So…an educated, worldly, tolerant people can cause a revolution in their own religion. Christianity did it. And let's not get startd on the atrocities of the inquisition or other "religiously" motivated atrocities. Because if you want to duke it out between Islam and Christianity, I will do it…but I really don't feel it's necessary.
First of all, I'm a Pagan…of sorts. I was brought up as a Christian and I believe that the core beliefs I was taught have made me a better person for it. But as my own man, I've studied many religions…to include Islam and quite frankly as a free man, it is my right o choose my religion. And so I have. My relationship with the divine is a personal one and I can tell you that I do not call myself a Christian because to emulate Christ is an exercise in futility…for me anyway. I am too human to ever attain a modicum of the piousness of Christ. That being said…I think I'm a better "Christian" than a lot of supposed Christians out there including some I know. So don't think I'm some bible thumping zealot. I am as far from a zealot as you can get when it comes to religion. I simply see the inherent violence and oppression in the religious teachings of Islam and I reject them utterly. They are the imperialists...not us. They seek to impose their tyranny on Europe, Arabia, Africa and Asia. Do you think restoring the Caliphate is the endgame? Not a chance. Islam is about submission to Allah. We've already become a target because we are a strong nation of free people and not slaves. There are some terms you may or may not be familiar with… I think you all know what Jihad is so I won't bother with that except to explain that there are other aspects to this war than the obvious violent war. There is the da'wah or the attempts to infiltrate society and slowly and methodically institute Islam into all aspects of a society. Part of this is also Taqiyyah and that is the practice of deception against the infidels to further the goals of Islam…in other words, Lie.

So for all you complacent, socialist wussies out there…do some research…wake up and smell the coffee. Our petty political squabbles only serve the purposes of the enemy. If you really believe in America and the Constitution, think about what it really means to be an American and think about what our founding fathers endured to give us the freedoms we have. #1 stop trying to dismantle the constitution, #2 stop kneejerk legislation….it only serves to take away more rights from us and pushes us closer to the big brother situation all you leftists claim GWB is bringing on with the "illegal wiretapping" and surveillance of suspected terrorist activities here and overseas. I'm not fond of the patriot act on principle. But I'm also not fond of Gun Control…and personally I find the latter more of a danger to our freedom than the former.

Get a grip people. And before you start repeating bulls**t rhetoric you hear on TV from some politician or journalist, do your f**kin' homework. Make informed decisions and opinions. Educate yourself…your blind regurgitation and ignorance of the facts only hurts us as a people. We need to see the reality and come together instead of bickering like a bunch of kids at recess. Grow up, face reality and take action, demand answers, instead of worrying about your damn welfare check or whether or not the Gov't is going to give you free room and board, go get a job. Don't be a part of the problem.

There was a President of ours…I believe he was a democrat too…If memory serves me right, his most famous quote was this…

"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country".

President John F. Kennedy said that folks…think about what that means. Do you want to let the enemy through the gates, or will you stand up and defend these gates at all costs.

As for me…well…

I'll die with my boots on.

Just my 2 cents.