READ THIS AND WEEP--U.S. RELEASES IRAQI LINKED TO FIVE GI DEATHS

When you read this article remember who our commander-in-chief is. Then weep.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31183312/ns/world_news-conflict_in_iraq/from/ET

Please also remember that President Bush did not support al-Malaki to begin with, but the Iraqi people voted for him as Prime Minister (hmmmm...the people voted in the wrong man who is leading the country down the wrong path--gosh, that sounds familiar)

The "militant" released allegedly has ties to Iran and to the "cleric" Mutada al Sadr. The Iraqis bill this "catch and release" as part of a "wider reconciliation plan." The militant's group will hand over heavy weapons at some point as the reconciliation continues. Also some British hostages will be released. Yeah, right. When do they get their milk and cookies?

So let's get this straight--a terrorist responsible for killing one GI on site and taking four others to a remote site and killing them, who was captured in 2006 when Bush was commander-in-chief, will be released by the U.S. in 2009 when Obama is commander-in-chief to the Iraqis who will free him as part of a reconciliation with the very people who want to bring down the Iraqi government. Does that sound like a good plan to any thinking person? And fowhat did those five GIs give their lives?

Technorati Tags:
Obama, commander-in-chief, Iraq, war, Bush, President, al-Malaki, GI, death, Iran, al Sadr, war, Not with a Whimper, blogs, commentary army miitary
Add to: Technorati Digg del.icio.us Yahoo BlinkList Spurl reddit Furl

CONGRESS CONTINUES TO RUN AMUCK WITH OUR TAX MONEY

The Senate's vote on Wed to TRIPLE spending for a much acclaimed program to protect against AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis is a sign that the U.S.A. remains a leader in helping those around the world. We actually deliver what we pledge unlike many other countries in the world. It is the most ambitious health program ever in the history of the United States.

Unfortuately, this $48 billion dollar package DOES NOT HELP ANYONE HERE. It all goes to Africa--granted the continent is being decimated by these diseases, internal wars, external wars, corrupt governments, sectarian fighting, genocide, racial strife and practically every other man-made and natural disaster there is. BUT...

1. This is the same Congress that does not pass spending bills to keep our military safe and well-equipped. Replacement truck parts in Iraq, for instance, may be a year in waiting because vendors are unpaid; the newspapers are full of reports of faulty electrical work and shoddy electrical equipment resulting in military deaths and injuries, and Congress keeps screaming about the expense of the Iraq war.

This is the same Congress that complains about a "recession," "bad economy," and the plight of Americans who can't afford to buy the things they need WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING SUBSTANATIVE to control the situation.

This is the same Congress that talks about energy and reducing oil independence to bring down prices but which doesn't legislate consistent tax breaks for people to afford solar or wind energy or who add doors, window, etc. to lessen their individual use of resources or for companies to afford technological development. (Remember that Kennedy and Kerry opposed wind farms that might mar their Massachusetts views of the Atlantic ocean)

This is the same Congress led by that despicable Nancy Pelosi who damns the President with his low approval rating while leading a do-nothing Congress with an approval rating 20 points below President Bush's.

This is the same Congress that WILL BREAK FOR SUMMER RECESS WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING about any of the problems that beset us.

WHAT A WASTE THESE MEN AND WOMEN ARE!!!!

This bill, this latest assault on our wallets, is their own "feel good," global way of looking busy. It goes along with their interest in any possible sports irregularities such as steroid useage--obviously problems of vital national interest. Ha Ha It goes along with their constant supoenas issued to presidential aides, etc., to get headlines for their party while ignoring, with the media's complicity, the wrongdoing of such members as Charlie Rangel with his four rent-subsidized apts.--three to create a spacious home for himself and one as an office, or Chris Dodd's special treatment in getting mortgages, etc. Or my own Senator, Chuck Schumer (photo upChuck) whose comments may have contributed to IndyMac's bank failure. According to NPR,

"Twelve days earlier, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, had written to bank regulators warning that "a significant move by IndyMac's depositors to redeem their deposits could leave the firm in a disastrous financial situation." Once those letters became public, Schumer's worst fears were realized.

More ironically is that Schumer, when blamed, quickly pointed out that those pointing fingers at him were using "Bush tactics." DUH!

I know I'm rambling a bit, but launching the biggest health initiative ever--in Africa--at a time when we can't balance our budget, don't adequately fund the military (including Veteran hospitals, etc.), need to develop an energy policy (which will be expensive), seek to lessen the tax burden for our citizens, protect the Homeland (also expensive), rebuild failing infrastructure, and help those damaged by floods, fires, and other recent natural disasters is another example of Congress' misguided thinking, its inability to focus and accomplish anything positive for our country, its self-congratulatory smugness, and its damaging partisanship that puts party above country. Would that we could toss the whole lot out!
Congress politics politicians "political+blogs" Africa AIDS malaria tuberculosis health USA military Iraq recession economy energy Kennedy Kerry Massachusetts Bush Pelosi senate Schumer IndyMac

10 MORE REASONS NOT TO VOTE FOR BARAK OBAMA

Barak Obama never had a shot at my vote, but having watched this latest mess unfold--the video clips, Obama's interview with Fox's Major Garrett and today's speech by him, here are 10 more reasons Barak Obama shouldn't get anyone's vote.

1. He looked directly into the camera and denied to Major Garrett that he had ever had .... oops, I forgot for a second it wasn't Bill Clinton I was listening to .... denied he had ever heard or had an inkling of Pastor Jeremiah Wright's feelings.
2. He told Major Garrett that had he known, he would have left that church.
3. In Major Garrett's interview, he refused to condemn Wright's words and ideas: that the U.S. introduced AIDS as a means of genocide, that 9/11 was "chickens coming home to roost," that we supported apartheid in South Africa, sing not "God Bless America" but "God Damn America," didn't give a second thought to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, etc.
4. He called Pastor Jeremiah Wright his spiritual guide and mentor. If not for the beliefs we heard, in what ways does Pastor Wright guide and mentor him? Obama's general phrase, "social gospel" is too general and Black Liberation Theology is too.
5. Today he said he was aware of the Pastor's feelings but could not distance himself from the man any more than he could distance himself from his white grandmother who said she was afraid if a black man was approaching on the street. Are those comments moral equivalency? And what happened to the original denial? Someone is not telling the truth!!!! 'Fess up, Barak. We should worry when our potential president has a hatemonger as a spiritual advisor and mentor.
6. Today he suggested that the kind of rhetoric spewing from Jeremiah Wright can be heard in churches and synagogues across the country. Not mine. Yours? I'd bet not. Is he suggesting that many clergyman like the idea of God Damn America? And do congregations chant and scream and rise up in agreement of anti-American sentiment? Not my experience.
7. Obama suggested that he is the candidate to bring change to America and heal racial tensions. Seems to me that Obama is the poster boy for change in America. His candidacy attests to a changing America. He is the product of continuing change and forward motion. Until he brought it up, as early as when he claimed that he would never deal with someone who made despicable comments as Don Imus did and then going after Geraldine Ferraro and today by changing the real problem with Jeremiah Wright from his rabid anti-Americanism to problems with race relations, race was less of an issue in deciding on a candidate than it is today.
8. When people questioned Michelle Obama's statements that she was finally proud of our country or that America was mean, I did not hear or read any suggested racial connection. So why is that coming up now? The Obama camp is using race as a defense, and that makes it an issue to consider in determining our next president.
9. Obama has already admitted that he will seek advice before removing troops from Iraq. That's not quite the stance he originally took saying he would move them home immediately. Guess we can't trust his word there either.
10. We still know so little about him, but what we are getting to know is that we cannot trust his word. If we cannot trust his word, we cannot trust his judgement for us as President.

politics politicians "Barak+Obama" "Jeremiah+Wright" elections president racism "racial+relations" "Michelle+Obama" "10+Reasons" "Fox+News" "Major+Garrett" interviews

OUR STUPID RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

WHY DIDN'T THE NAVY BLAST THOSE IRANIAN BOATS OUT OF THE WATER?

Blame it on our rules of engagement. Blame it on those in charge--not so much those in charge of our armed forces but of members of Congress who really don't give a rat's tail about American military lives. As a nation, they say, we're not supposed to use our power. It makes us look bad. So we consistently get jerked around by countries that know we're all fluff and no substance. We just look stupid. But what's worse, it gets our kids killed!

Remember the "respect" we showed by not destroying the al-qaeda leaders because they were attending a funeral? We had aerial photos of these men who seek to kill us and destroy our way of life. But we let them go. How many young men and women--ours, England's, Iraq's--have died since then because of them? Seems like this is aiding and abetting.

When those Iranian boats made their aggressive movements, they should have been stopped. They should not have been allowed to float containers in the water. What if they had been bombs? And certainly, once they broadcast that our ship was going to explode, we should have blasted them right out of the water. Had they not been bluffing, had they really bombed us, how many sailors would have been killed or injured, and how much damage would our ship sustain? Remember the Cole.

It is the job of our officials to provide security for our citizens, and our military and navy are comprised of our citizens. Their lives should be of more importance than our rules of engagement indicate. Email your congressman and senator and tell them so!

politics politicians military war Iraq soldiers "current+events" commentary "political+blogs" "USS+Cole" Iran Navy "Iranian+threat" "Iranian+boats"

GUESS THEY THINK THEY'RE BETTER

The papers are filled with news about Blackwater and security firms and what Blackwater MAY or MAY NOT have done--since they say they were fired upon and were acting in self-defense.

I'm looking at something different. Why does our State Dept hire outside firms that do not have to follow the rules of engagement our armed forces do? I can only surmise that State Dept. officials who travel to dangerous places are so important--or their lives are so important--that they "deserve" better protection than our fighting forces.

Even the Iraqi government gives immunity to private firms working there because they cannot offer that kind of security to visiting diplomats. Not so for our military--which they also cannot duplicate. I guess all lives are not equal.

The idea of being in a war with rules of engagement aimed at protecting everyone other than the soldiers risking their lives is nothing other than evil. It shows the mentality of politicians who make the rules. We can talk about rules concerning convoy protection, rules concerning allowing known militia-leading enemies to be free, and rules that respect that make having "the best military in the world" a meaningless phrase. Our rules of engagement cost American lives!
If we are the mightiest military power, we should be able to use it.
war politicians politics Iraq blackwater "blackwater+security" "rules+of+engagement"

9/11--WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET

Technorati Profile
I attended a 9/11 memorial this morning. It was raining pretty hard here in Warwick. The universe was in tears. I cried through much of it. American Legion sponsored it and Veterans of Foreign Wars made up the color guard. Members of the NYFD were there. Policemen. Emergency Service Workers. The EMTs got a call and had to leave in the middle. Warwick lost eight people that day, yet there are calls of "Enough is enough." At the end the Commander said that there will be memorial services each year on this date in this place as long as there is anyone to lead them.

We lowered our flag to half staff before we left for the service. Not even the town's flag was lowered. Disgraceful.

Ben Winstanley, a local politician, said it right in a very impressive speech reminding us of the terrorists--the cowards--who commited this heinous crime against us, and he exhorted us to NEVER FORGET and work to make sure it never happens again. He reminded us, also, that Osama bin Laden's tape warned us that to stop their acts, we must all accept Islam. Hitler wrote Mein Kampf, and Chamberlain still appeased him. We needed the Japanese to attack us at Pearl Harbor losing 2,333 lives before we listened.

We better believe Ben and not give up the fight as I heard those sanctimonious, self-serving Democrats like Congressmen Skelton and Wexler suggest yesterday as they persecuted and assailed General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. I heard it this morning as John Kerry and Barbara Boxer drooled their ignorance in front of these same esteemed Americans. Kerry compared Iraq to Viet Nam (how ironic is that?). For a different reason Viet Nam is like Iraq. Once Congress took over, it became a failure, a military defeat, and a disgrace for our country. Now they're at it again, and we will reap the same harvest. It's just so obvious that they want defeat so they can ensure the next presidential election is theirs. Assailing the General and the Ambassador is despicable. What a view that sends to the rest of the world! If our enemies are watching, they've got smiles on their faces.
news
(current+events)
politics
(political+blogs)
media
military
war
iraq
Congress
politicians
(9+11)

THEY COME FROM ANOTHER PLANET

Spent most of one of summer's last days listening to two intelligent and capable men get grilled by the biggest bunch of incompetents--our congressmen and women. It's a testament to General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker that they kept their cool when confronted by one arrogant incompetent after another.

Before they even began, Congressman Skelton spewed his long-winded introduction telling them they were wasting their time. His mind was already made up. That stuff continued all afternoon from every democrat up there--impugning their honesty and smugly talking about lack of progress. That's the same congress whose ratings are lower, even, than the President's. That's the same congress who can't pass anything. That's the same congress demanding quick action who can't secure the borders here in more time than we've been at war in Iraq. Their sanctimoniousness makes me sick!

Just as in VietNam, when Congress started running the war, we were doomed. Now they're at it again.
news
(current+events)
politics
(political+blogs)
media
military
war
iraq
Congress
politicians