Tag: War

Open message to Mark Steyn: screw you, you Canadian interloper prick

It’s nice to see the neoconservative’s resident wanna-be Kike is still drinking the kool-aid 10 years later:

Ten years ago, along with three-quarters of the American people, including the men just appointed as President Obama’s secretaries of state and defense, I supported the invasion of Iraq. A decade on, unlike most of the American people, including John Kerry and Chuck Hagel, I’ll stand by that original judgment.

via Geopolitical ADHD – Mark Steyn – National Review Online.

For what it is truly worth, I have ADHD and yes I am under a doctor’s care for it. Which is why I tend to want to kick those, who use the term in a glib or condescending way such as this here — square in the damned teeth.

Perhaps Steyn might look into getting his head out of the collective ass of the neoconservative right and check out this piece, which I blogged about earlier.

(Via)

Sad: A soldier’s dying letter

If this one does not make you misty eyed, nothing ever will. SadCrying

Via AlterNet: (Update: Original found here)

I write this letter on the 10th anniversary of the Iraq War on behalf of my fellow Iraq War veterans. I write this letter on behalf of the 4,488 soldiers and Marines who died in Iraq. I write this letter on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of veterans who have been wounded and on behalf of those whose wounds, physical and psychological, have destroyed their lives. I am one of those gravely wounded. I was paralyzed in an insurgent ambush in 2004 in Sadr City. My life is coming to an end. I am living under hospice care.

I write this letter on behalf of husbands and wives who have lost spouses, on behalf of children who have lost a parent, on behalf of the fathers and mothers who have lost sons and daughters and on behalf of those who care for the many thousands of my fellow veterans who have brain injuries. I write this letter on behalf of those veterans whose trauma and self-revulsion for what they have witnessed, endured and done in Iraq have led to suicide and on behalf of the active-duty soldiers and Marines who commit, on average, a suicide a day. I write this letter on behalf of the some 1 million Iraqi dead and on behalf of the countless Iraqi wounded. I write this letter on behalf of us all—the human detritus your war has left behind, those who will spend their lives in unending pain and grief.

[…]

I would not be writing this letter if I had been wounded fighting in Afghanistan against those forces that carried out the attacks of 9/11. Had I been wounded there I would still be miserable because of my physical deterioration and imminent death, but I would at least have the comfort of knowing that my injuries were a consequence of my own decision to defend the country I love. I would not have to lie in my bed, my body filled with painkillers, my life ebbing away, and deal with the fact that hundreds of thousands of human beings, including children, including myself, were sacrificed by you for little more than the greed of oil companies, for your alliance with the oil sheiks in Saudi Arabia, and your insane visions of empire.

I have, like many other disabled veterans, suffered from the inadequate and often inept care provided by the Veterans Administration. I have, like many other disabled veterans, come to realize that our mental and physical wounds are of no interest to you, perhaps of no interest to any politician. We were used. We were betrayed. And we have been abandoned. You, Mr. Bush, make much pretense of being a Christian. But isn’t lying a sin? Isn’t murder a sin? Aren’t theft and selfish ambition sins? I am not a Christian. But I believe in the Christian ideal. I believe that what you do to the least of your brothers you finally do to yourself, to your own soul.

My day of reckoning is upon me. Yours will come. I hope you will be put on trial. But mostly I hope, for your sakes, that you find the moral courage to face what you have done to me and to many, many others who deserved to live. I hope that before your time on earth ends, as mine is now ending, you will find the strength of character to stand before the American public and the world, and in particular the Iraqi people, and beg for forgiveness.

This letter saddens me to my core. The Republican Party should read this, and really take stock of whom they choose for President of the United States of America. This above is why I started “The Populist” back in 2006. Because I knew what George W. Bush was doing in Iraq was simply wrong. Furthermore, I knew he was moving the goal posts on Iraq as well.

In 2007, my blog was hacked, either by Conservatives who didn’t like me or by hackers from another Country. Either way, by that time, I had began to feel that the Democrats had begun to lose it anyhow. So, I started “Political Byline” for two reasons. One, to continue where I left off with the earlier blog and secondly to go after some of the more idiotic elements of the left. What that blog became, however, was a “Tea Party” blog and sometimes, I sort of regret that. I fully admit, that at time, I got caught up in the furor of Anti-Obama’ism. At some point, I realized that I was not writing what I truly felt, and because of that; I backed away from the right.

In 2011, after President Obama declared, for all intents and purposes, the Iraq War over; I ended Political Byline’s tenure and put it into inactive status. I wrote there for from December of 2007 till October 2011. I fought the fight that I came to fight against. My politics did change a good deal. I never was much of a partisan at all, which was, most likely my downfall. Which might explain why this blog here, is not very popular at all. Sad

I did, however, come to respect what Bush did, and why he did it and I also learned that a good deal of what the liberal left says about Iraq; this letter above being a perfect example of that — was and still is, a big lie. Some of it is true, and some of it; is nothing more than anti-war propaganda.

Still again, I believe that the Republican Party and the Democratic Party both, their leaders; need to read this letter above and really think long and hard about electing a Wilsonian Presidential candidate. Because this above ought to be a textbook example, of why the United States of America should never pursue an Wilsonian foreign policy agenda, ever again.

My thoughts and prayers go to this young man, may he find the peace and comfort; and yes, even rest, that he truly deserves. Praying

I dedicate this video, to ALL of the Military people that we lost in a very, very unpopular war:

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Quote of the Day

Over the past 10 years, there have been few days when the war in Iraq was absent from my thoughts. People often ask me whether I have regrets. It seems absurdly presumptuous to answer the question. I could have set myself on fire in protest on the White House lawn and the war would have proceeded without me. And yet … all of us who advocated for the war have had to do some reckoning. If the war achieved some positive gains, its unnecessary costs—in human life, in money, to the prestige and credibility of the U.S. government—are daunting and dismaying. If we’d found the WMD, it would have been different. If we’d kept better order in Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam, it would have been different. If more Iraqis had welcomed the invasion as we expected, it would have been different. If the case for the war had been argued in a less contrived and predetermined way, it would have been different.

But it wasn’t different. Those of us who were involved—in whatever way—bear the responsibility.

New book says My Lai massacre was not an isolated incident

I did kind of suspect this.

The Nation reports:

The My Lai massacre, in which US soldiers gunned down hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians, shocked America and helped turn public opinion against the Vietnam War. Now, a new book by Nick Turse, an Investigative Fund Fellow at The Nation Institute, has revealed that My Lai was not an isolated atrocity: The United States deliberately killed civilians throughout the course of the conflict.

The killing of non-combatants “stemmed from deliberate policies that were dictated at the highest levels of the US military” and was amplified by excessive firepower, Turse said in an interview on NPR’s Fresh Air. The author also recounted how he slept in his car in the National Archives parking lot for several nights in order to copy files on atrocities that were later removed.

Check out the NPR interview:

[powerpress]

I am not quote from the NPR story, go over and read it, please. It make for some seriously riveting reading. This massacre right here, is why I never really cared to go involved with the Military. Because I know that sub-culture very well and it is not a Christian one, I can tell you that much. Another reason was a bullying incident, that happened when I was about 19 years old and working my first job. I really do not want to get into details about it. But, after that happened, I decided I wanted nothing to do with the Military at all.

All I will say about it is this: It is a good thing that I was not armed with a gun, the day that little incident happened. Because if I had been, I would have written this as a former prison convict, who went to jail for second degree murder of two Military recruiters. What happened to me, should never happen to American citizen, who decides that Military is not for them. But, it did, and it made a very lasting impression on a 19-year-old kid, namely me.

Now do you understand?

Taking Religion out of the Military?

I have mixed feelings about this one:

“Soldiers with minority religious beliefs and atheists often feel like second-class citizens when Christianity is seemingly officially endorsed by their own base,” American Atheists president David Silverman told Fox News. “We are very happy the Pentagon and the Army decided to do the right thing.” A military spokesman told Fox News the cross was literally dismantled and will be removed from the base to be in “compliance with Army regulations and to avoid any misconception of religious favoritism or disrespect.” “After a Christian prayer, the cross was removed from the roof of the chapel,” the spokesman said. “During the removal, the cross was dismantled; however the cross was reassembled and currently awaits transportation to a larger operational base.” The military told Fox News the cross will only be brought out during Christian services and will be designated as a “non-permanent religious symbol.” Silverman said a Christian chapel on an Army base in Afghanistan could have put American troops in danger. “It inflames this Muslim versus Christian mentality,” he said. “This is not a Muslim versus Christian war — but if the Army base has a large chapel on it that has been converted to Christian-only, it sends a message that could be interpreted as hostile to Islam.” An Army spokesman said all chapels must be religiously neutral. “The primary purpose of making a chapel a neutral, multi-use facility is to accommodate the free exercise of religion for all faith groups using it,” he said. “We take the spiritual fitness of our Soldiers seriously and encourage them to practice their faith and exercise their beliefs however they choose.” Retired Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin, of the Family Research Council, told Fox News a Christian cleansing of the military is under way. “I don’t think you can categorize it any other way,” he said. “There is a strong effort, led partially by the Administration as well as by atheist groups to destroy the identity of who we are as a nation and that means robbing us of our history.” —- Military: Crosses Removed ‘Out of Respect for Other Faiths’ | FOX News & Commentary: Todd Starnes

On one hand, I would hate to think that having Christian symbols on a battle front could be putting our Military at risk. On the other hand, I would hate to see Christianity being removed from the Military entirely. However, we are in a Muslim Nation is Afghan region; one would think that the Military would want to be respectful of those people and their culture.

It is a mixed bag, and all the more reason why we really need to get out of that Country. Our mission is done there; we killed Osama and we need to leave. We do not want to make the same mistake the Russians made there. Besides all that, Al-Qaeda has moved into other regions and is much more a threat to other interests in other parts for the world now.

So, to this Independent, the quicker we leave, the better.

Jennifer Rubin never met a diamond that she couldn’t polish

Hey, the way I see it, if she can get away with slandering a public servant like Chuck Hagel, then so can I. She, and the Jewish right are doing this because Chuck Hagel does not run around with his nose firmly planted up the Israeli Lobby’s ass. As he should not.

Screw them, screw them hard. It is because Rubin and the rest of the goddamned Jewish right, that we have 4000+ of our young man and woman in graves across this Country; from fighting a war that had ZERO to do with 9/11! All because President George W. Bush could not be bothered to check to see of the intellegence that “Curveball” in Germany gave us was good or not.

People want to know what is wrong with the Republican Party? Start looking at the damned Neocons, and the history of the Jewish Right; and you will see just what is wrong the Republican Party!

…and don’t even get me started on the fact that Rubin and her ilk are the direct descendants who brought bogus charges against the Lord Jesus Christ and put him on the cross. I haven’t forgotten about that; and neither has God the Father. Their judgement is coming and swiftly. I await the day with hope and faith that the Lord will give unto those who played the role of useful idiot to Satan himself. (See the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John for reference, best done in the King James Version of the Bible.)

 

Military to lift ban on woman in combat

Boy do I ever feel sorry for the terrorists! 😯

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta is lifting the military’s official ban on women in combat, which will open up hundreds of thousands of additional front-line jobs to them, senior defense officials said Wednesday. The groundbreaking decision overturns a 1994 Pentagon rule that restricts women from artillery, armor, infantry and other such combat roles, even though in reality women have frequently found themselves in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, where more than 20,000 have served. As of last year, more than 800 women had been wounded in the two wars and more than 130 had died. Defense officials offered few details about Mr. Panetta’s decision but described it as the beginning of a process to allow the branches of the military to put the change into effect. Defense officials said Mr. Panetta had made the decision on the recommendation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. — Pentagon Set to Lift Ban on Women in Combat Roles – NYTimes.com

I mean, I can see it now, a group of about 100 women — it’s that time of the month — and their fearless leader says, “Hey Ladies? You see that little towel-headed mofo over there? He hollered over here a minute ago and said that he has seen goats prettier than you!”

Al-Qaeda.will.not.stand.a.chance.in.hell…… 😯 Especially if some of them women happen to be related to anyone who died in the 9/11 attacks or in the Iraq or Afgan conflicts. There is nothing more brutal than a butch lesbian, who is a bit of a good shot.

Sexist? Who me? 😉

(via Memeorandum)

Gulf Arabs want action against Iran

John Podhoretz and Bill Kristol will be wetting themselves with joy over this one:

(Reuters) – Six U.S.-allied Gulf Arab states demanded on Tuesday that Iran end what they called interference in the region, reiterating a long-held mistrust of their main rival.

The Islamic Republic denies trying to subvert Saudi Arabia and its wealthy Gulf neighbors.

A communique issued at the end of a two-day summit of the Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also urged action to halt mass killings and violations of international law in Syria.

The oil-producing GCC states wield influence out of proportion to their sparse populations due in part to global energy and investment links, generous international aid and Saudi Arabia’s role as home to Islam’s two holiest sites.

“The council expressed its rejection and condemnation of the continuing Iranian interference in the affairs of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s states and called on Iran to stop these policies,” the communique said.

On the conflict in Syria, the statement, read out by GCC Secretary-General Abdulatif al-Zayani, added: “We ask the international community for serious and swift moves to stop these massacres and these severe attacks that contradict all religions and international laws and humanitarian principles.”

via Gulf Arabs decry Iran interference, Syria killings | Reuters.

The Neoconservatives that I wrote about here, just got handed the World’s greatest Christmas present: War with Iran. Seeing that Obama is continuing with the same foreign policy as George W. Bush; I look for Obama to start military action sometime this year. Obama does not have to worry about reelection or angering his base. So, war will be coming, bank on it.

Funny how history repeats itself.

Iraq’s President Talabani has had a stroke

I don’t know what role this might play in this stability of that Country, but it is news:

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has had a stroke and his medical team in Baghdad is still trying to stabilize his condition, a spokesman for the prime minister said Tuesday.

Talabani, a rare unifying figure who is seen to rise above the country’s ethnic and sectarian fault lines, has been actively involved in trying to mediate an ongoing crisis between Iraq’s central government and the country’s Kurdish minority.

The spokesman, Ali al-Moussawi, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is at the hospital where the president is being treated.

Doctors have not decided whether Talabani will continue to be treated in Baghdad or will be flown to another country for treatment, he said. He was unable to provide further details.

Talabani’s office earlier said the Iraqi president had been rushed to the hospital after showing signs of fatigue on Monday evening, and that he was being treated for an unspecified health problem.

Talabani’s spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.

via Iraq official says President Talabani had a stroke – Washington Times.

I will say this much; as someone who was not a huge fan of that war, I really hope that we do not have to end up going back there again. I mean, once was enough, we gave 4000+ of our blood and treasure there, that was enough, if that Country cannot remain stable then let them be victims to their fate.

I just do not believe that America should be the world’s policeman, we cannot afford it, our Military has been run ragged because of it and we need to just allow the Iraqi’s to handle their own issues. Heck, we gave the Iraqi Government enough military equipment to defeat anyone, who dare tries to invade that Country.

Therefore, I believe America’s mission there was truly accomplished, when President Obama announced the end of American’s military presence there. I pray we never need to return again.