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Bill Faith; My Buddy
The following was forwarded to me from Russ Vaughn. It is difficult to separate, Bill and Russ, as to who did what first to give birth to Old War Dogs. By Russ Vaughn Bill Faith was my buddy, a term that has particular meaning for those who have worn a uniform in service to this country. And though I never met him, nor even heard his voice a single time, that’s how I will remember Bill, as my buddy, someone who served alongside me through victory and defeat, through thick and thin, but who always could be counted on to stand up and be counted when it counted most. I must first apologize to Bill’s family and all of you out there for being tardy in posting my thoughts on Bill’s passing. Two months ago my wife and I were abruptly thrust into the role of primary caregivers for her almost ninety-year-old parents, a responsibility which has kept both of us away from our computers and me from my blogging efforts. It was only through an email from The Gray Dog, Mike Connelly, that I learned belatedly of Bill’s death. I don’t even remember precisely when Bill and I became acquainted, just that it was sometime after John Kerry became the Democrat frontrunner in 2004 and this old Vietnam vet, like millions of my brothers, swore to do everything in my power to prevent that traitor from ever becoming commander in chief. Scott Swett, at Wintersoldier blog, first began posting my anti-Kerry rants, which were then picked up by the Freepers and spread to other like-minded sites. Shortly thereafter I received an email from Bill, telling me he would like to post my pieces at his Small Town Veteran blog. As soon as I visited the site, I knew I had found an ally, one who quickly became a long-distance friend and a valued editor of my sometimes rough expositions. When Kerry was defeated in November 2004, Bill and I, like all our Vietnam veteran brothers who had fought to keep Kerry out of the presidency, were exhilarated and felt that at last we had been exonerated. In sharing that victory, we became buddies, and the bond became even stronger in the summer of 2006 when Bill became webmaster of our new blog, Old War Dogs, which may have been my brainstorm but was Bill’s baby from the outset. He built the pen and the doghouse from scratch and fed and watered that pup every day. And like most proud papas, he could get quickly cantankerous if he felt like someone was mistreating his dog, including me. Bill kept OWD up and running all through this last election fiasco even though, like me, he was never more than lukewarm to the idea of John McCain as our candidate. But, good soldier that he was, Bill fought the good fight right up until the bitter end. And as bitter as it was for the rest of us, his email telling me that he was going to back away from daily blogging at OWD, made me aware that my buddy was battle weary and in need of some respite. I regret not then realizing just how badly needed it was. Michelle Malkin’s farewell post to Bill includes my poem, The Sheepdogs, and I thank her for that because there was never a more dedicated Sheepdog than Bill Faith. He loved his flock, both the immediate, his family, especially his new grandbaby, and that much larger flock, his countrymen. Bill, I’m gonna miss you, Buddy. Russ Vaughn |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on January 19, 2009 at 05:19 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Bill Faith, Bill's Bites, Coming home, Current Affairs, Russ Vaughn | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack |
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Bill Faith - "Aim High" My Friend
*** Update Sunday January 18, 2009 *** I should have added this link to Michelle Malkin's article. Also to Uncle Jimbo's post at BlackFive. Here are a whole bunch more:
Also, Bill's sister has requested donations be made to Soldier's Angels in lieu of flowers. Finally, I am unable to approve any comments left for Bill at other posts. Some of you already have posted elsewhere. If you wish to leave a comment for Bill please do so at this article, for which I am able to approve comments for. Thank You. ********************************************** It is with a saddened heart that I just heard from another Old War Dog, Zero Ponsdorf, that Michelle Malkin reported the death of Old War Dog founder and webmaster Bill Faith. I missed a couple of opportunities this year as I traveled through Southern Illinois, to stop and meet Bill in person. This is a mistake I will regret for the rest of my life. Through an electronic introduction from another Old War Dog, Jim Bartimus, I was introduced to Bill in July of 2005. It was then that Bill extended the invitation to join the Old War Dogs Blog, and it was the first type of anything in my adult lifetime I had ever joined. Bill could be cantankerous at times, often causing a bit of dissent among the ranks. But, I know that Bill’s life centered around two things: Old War Dogs and his Grandson. His Blogging and love of America, I can speak to. His abundant love for his daughter and grandson I will leave for others. Many years later, Bill and I discovered that I had preceded him into the Air Force by a mere week back in the summer of 1970, and that most of our time at Lackland AFB and afterward at Sheppard AFB, had overlapped. That’s where the similarity ended. Bill went on to serve in Vietnam, while I defended America from the frozen moonscapes of Alaska. I think it was our same age, military branch, and the fact that we were both Illinoisans, that caused Bill to always favor my writing and give it a little boost in the Blog position each day. In fact I was often embarrassed by the favoritism. Others, such as Russ Vaughn, JD Pendry, George “Rurik” Mellinger, William “1st Cav” Page and Zero Ponsdorf knew Bill longer and perhaps better than I, although most of us have been strangers to Old War Dogs for a couple of years now. A couple of years ago, Bill had entrusted the “keys” to the Old War Dogs Site with me and Russ Vaughn. I haven’t been in contact with Russ for some time, and I’m not sure how to proceed. Old War Dogs and Small Town Veteran were 100% Bill Faith. There is a part of me that says we should keep OWD going as a tribute to Bill, yet another that says it would only be a cheap imitation. As mentioned before, Russ and JD and perhaps a few others will have more to say on the topic. In closing, I simply want to say that Bill was a patriot, a loving father and grandfather, and a clear voice for veteran’s causes throughout the blogosphere. And for me personally, he was a friend and fellow Old War Dog. I will miss him. Mike Connelly |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on January 17, 2009 at 07:12 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Bill Faith, Current Affairs, Patriotism, The Gray Dog, US Air Force | Permalink | Comments (15) | TrackBack |
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Semper I
[Webmaster's note: I'm backdating this to keep it near the top of the site for a while. Newer posts will appear below it. Actually posted 2006.07.18.12:30.] Semper I
[Webmaster's note 2006.07.18.23:30: Murtha portrait added, courtesy of BootMurtha.com. Click it to see their post, where they have a larger version. Now's a perfect time to visit Irey.com.] |
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Contributed by Russ Vaughn on February 17, 2007 at 01:05 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Mad Jack Murtha, Poetry, Russ Vaughn | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBack |
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In through the out door
H/T Supe I've been predicting this for quite a while. I ain't proud or prescient, just observant.
See this post for my view of the future/present. I have an admittedly myopic view of such things. We allowed this to happen by concentrating on trivial, but fun, crap like Kerry. Yeah, I know, I know... 'closing the barn door after the horse got out' and all that. We bloggers write page after page about 'what is wrong', we highlight a few possible fixes, and the obvious goes unnoticed by most. Just now we have a lame-duck President who seems to have lost his way. There is a single issue that surpasses everything else and it continues to fall through the cracks of our busy lives. The battle over whether we will become a Spanish speaking Islamic world/nation trumps every other issue! Gays ignore it, Feminists ignore it, the global warming folks ignore it... and the anti-Kerry folks ignore it. The list of folks who spent huge amounts of energy and time on issues that simply will not matter (or worse) is scary. Every single issue is important, mind you, but context matters, and the context has been lost. |
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Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf on January 17, 2007 at 06:44 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Current Affairs, Dem Dumbness, Peacenik Stupidity, War? What war?, Zero Ponsdorf | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack |
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"The Blog Of War"
Matthew Currier Burden is the one and only Blackfive. This is the "best from the MilBlogs" book that he's devoted several months of effort to, and it's everything you'd expect from a writer of his caliber. Why does it not surprise me that he'd give it away to our current generation of warriors? I've been enjoying my copy a few pages at a time, making it last, enjoying every page. Enlisted military: Email from a .mil address or find some other way to convince me you're legit and I'll email back with the password for your free copy. Thank you for your service. |
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Contributed by Bill Faith on September 25, 2006 at 02:20 AM in Best of Old War Dogs, Books, Caring about our troops, The American Warrior | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack |
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A Turkish Memory
Webmaster's note: Mike Connelly's home site, The Gray Dog, was recently put out of business by a Turkish hacker. Since none of the Dogs reads Turkish, or Arabic, or Martian, or whatever the hell that was they put on his site, it isn't clear exactly who he offended or how. I am sorry to hear of Gray Dog's CP being overrun by a bunch of Turks. Like Rurik I once knew a little Turkish but that was more than forty years ago and the phrases I knew were mostly bar talk and bartering with the ladies who displayed their exotic charms in the windows of their business establishments in the red light districts of Istanbul. I was there on a NATO operation in 1962. We jumped in with our NATO allies, a small contingent of Turkish and Greek paratroopers and that was quite the experience. The Turks all looked like Sad Sacks in their baggy, heavy woolen uniforms, worn even in the heat of summer. The Greek paratroopers, on the other hand, all looked like Errol Flynn in their tailored jump uniforms and stylish berets. We suspected they had been hand picked for this operation because they were all simply too dashing and handsome, each bearing a thin, Flynn moustache, to be ordinary troops. In fact, some of us suspected they were all officers, wearing enlisted uniforms, selected by their superiors to make the Turks look especially bad by comparison. As it turned out, the most difficult part of the operation, involving a forced march up to the Bulgarian border, was keeping the golden boy Greeks and the Sad Sack Turks from each others' throats. The Greeks all brandished deadly looking jump knives and the Turks, we discovered much to our surprise, were all locked and cocked, their weapons and ammo pouches bearing a full basic load. It got a little hairy a couple of times and I must say that the Greeks weren't just pretty boys. They were ready to take on the Turks at any moment. And the Turks, who for the most part had all the dash and pizzazz of peasant goatherders weren't intimidated in the least. Fortunately, although there were some fistfights, we were able to prevent any lethal confrontations. However, when alcohol was involved, there was no way to prevent the exuberant Turks from firing their pieces off into the starry sky just like the later Saddam Hussein and other Muslim celebrants. The most interesting experience I had on this particular operation was in Istanbul following the field exercise. We were turned loose in Class A's to see this city before flying home. Walking down a boulevard with a couple of buddies, I noticed we were suddenly the object of attention of three gentlemen sitting in a sidewalk cafe, one of whom became very agitated, pointing to us and jabbering excitedly. We stopped, thinking as all young paratroopers do, "Hey, these Turkish assholes lookin' for a fight?" One of them stood and approached us and enquired if we spoke Turkish. My roommate back at Fort Campbell, SP4 Charley Turbeville, replied that we did not and asked if they spoke French, which Turbeville, whose father was a foreign service officer with the state department, had learned at Portsmouth Priory. The fellow did and quickly asked us in French to join them. We seated ourselves at the table and a waiter was called to take our order, with it made clear that we were their honored guests. As we waited for the drinks, the excited fellow explained through our mutual translators that he was German, had been in the Wehrmacht in WWII. During an American airborne operation, his squad had been captured by the fierce American paratroopers wearing the eagle on their shoulders. Much to their amazement, he and his kamerads had been treated better and fed better by their American captors than their own officers and NCO's. He fervently believed he had survived that great war due entirely to the beneficence of those men who wore that screaming eagle. Following the war, he had made his way to Turkey and taken up residence in Istanbul. From the day he had been dropped at the POW camp by his paratrooper captors he had never again seen that shoulder patch, which explained the astonishment we had first seen registered on his face as we approached the sidewalk cafe. So it turned into a jolly time with us drinking away the afternoon on this gentlemen's tab and only extricating ourselves by firmly explaining we had plans for an evening engagement with some fair Turkish damsels. We parted with much hand-shaking, back-slapping and even hugs, something young, American males were not really comfortable with back in those days. As we walked away, I looked back, waved and then reflected that it was a good thing some of our senior NCO's who were WWII vets weren't with us; they might have spit in his drink and then killed the poor bastard. It was only eighteen years from the last European battles and there were still old vets who harbored harsh feelings against the Germans. I mentioned that to my buddies and we agreed that it might be prudent not to share this little vignette with any of those tough old birds. He may have gotten good treatment from those who had captured him but I couldn't help but think he had been lucky not to fall into the hands of some of the senior NCO's I was familiar with. Sorry, Gray Dog, I'm sure this doesn't help your anger at your Turkish malefactors, but you never know what memories will be triggered in an Old War Dog's foggy brain by a current event. Russ Vaughn |
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Contributed by Russ Vaughn on September 12, 2006 at 11:50 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Russ Vaughn, Turkey | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack |
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Winning the War--Post 9/11
I have been out of pocket and off the blog for a while dealing with some personal problems, but I couldn't let the anniversary of 9/11 pass without commenting about why I have such strong feelings for fighting and winning the War on Terror and such disdain for the leftists and Democrats who are undermining it. Five years ago this morning, someone came into my office and told me a plane had hit the World Trade Center and asked me to turn on my TV. I did and shortly thereafter watched as the second plane hit the second tower. I recognized the United colors immediately, and a chill went down my spine; you see, my eldest daughter Julie is a flight attendant for United and at the time was stationed in Newark. I immediately called her cell phone and got... voice mail. I had company issues to deal with--informing our employees, meeting with other members of management to discuss whether to shut down the office for the day (we didn't) -- so I called Julie's husband and told him to get to a TV, call Julie and keep on calling till he reached her, then call me back. It took several anxious, prayerful hours to learn that Julie was okay, grounded on the West Coast. It was only later that we realized Julie had been a crew member of United Flight 93 all that summer until being transferred to another route two weeks prior to 9/11. That was the airliner on which the passengers stood up to the terrorists, the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. I and my family know full well just how close to the bone this war is. These Islamofascists will kill anybody to achieve their ends, starting with Americans and Israelis. None of us, none of our families, is safe. We have to win this war if we wish to continue to exist, not just as a nation, but as living individuals. I don't think we are pursuing the war with all the seriousness and ruthlessness it deserves for such a monumental life and death struggle. America's left and virtually the entire Democrat Party view this war as little more than a springboard for getting back in power. Therefore, they will do anything and everything they can to undermine this president, undermine our military and undermine the hearts and minds of the American people in order to better position themselves to recapture Congress and the White House. They are despicable and I have no tolerance for them whatsoever. If I had it in my power, I would find a way to strip them of citizenship and cast them off our shores. As it is, I tell the dissenters, "I hope you and your family are killed by terrorists." That rattles them and shocks them and moves them to say, "What a terrible thing to wish upon a fellow human being!" To which I reply, "That is exactly what you are wishing upon me and my family, so it only seems fair that you suffer that fate first." There are a lot of lies circulating around America these days, not to mention around the world. Willful fabrications such as the "Bush Lied, Thousands Died" line that the left and the Democrats sling with impunity. Lies such as the great canard, "I support the troops but not the war." Anybody with half a brain knows that such a sentiment is absolute B.S. If you doubt me, look at all the slips among leftist cowards holding high elective office--people such as Senators Kerry and Durbin and Congressman Murtha--comparing American soldiers to Genghis Khan and Nazis and convicting them of war crimes before an investigation is even under way. They do not support the troops any more than they support the war. They are craven liars and cowards, unfit to lick the boots of the lowest ranking infantryman. I am disgusted with our country for ever having elected such dishonorable excuses for human beings and disgusted with the people who follow them. I am disgusted with our so-called allies, the French, the Germans and yes, even much of the British people, who will turn tail and run as soon as Tony Blair is out of office. I am disgusted with our new "friends" the Russians and our would-be "friends" the Chinese for using the rise of Islamofascism as a lever against the United States, even though they dig their own graves in doing so, for the Islamofascist menace poses a threat to them as well as to us. I am disgusted with the Saudi pigs who accept our protection, yet are completely intolerant of our religions and our customs and who fund and educate in the ways of evil current and future terrorists. I am disgusted with Muslims in general, who speak from both sides of their mouths and practice a religion whose very teachings promote violence and intolerance. I am disgusted with the news media, who now view themselves as citizens of the word instead of Americans, maintaining what they call "objectivity" that is throughly biased against our nation and toward those who would murder us. I am disgusted with Israel, which snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in Lebanon recently, and with the United States for bowing to international pressure instead of openly joining Israel in stamping out not just Hezbollah, but Syria and Iran as well. I am disgusted with the United Nations, the world's most useless organization, where a bunch of Third World dictators call the shots, and we help pay for their anti-American, anti-Israeli activities. And I am pretty disgusted with this president, who started off on the right foot but allowed the liars on the left free rein in defining his administration in the most negative of terms, to the point we have now reached, where the Party of the Big Lie now stands a good chance of recapturing at least one house of Congress and eventually even the presidency. I am disgusted with American secular leftist Jews, approximately 80 percent of whom are allied with the Democrats and the anti-Israeli crowd, who refuse to see the parallels between today and 1938 and appear all to willing to get into line in front of the gas chamber barely 60 years after their parents' and grandparents' generations were almost exterminated. And I am disgusted with the American people, who are so obsessed with short-term gratification and creature comforts that they blame their own country for fighting back against animals who want to kill us all. I think we need to take the gloves off. We should torture, maim and kill anybody who takes up the Islamofascist cause. We should make their sponsor states and their families pay for their evil deeds. We should use some of the billions of dollars in weaponry people like me have gladly paid their taxes for, including nuclear weapons, if necessary, in order to beat the enemy into a bloody pulp and force their unconditional surrender. And we should excise once and for all the political correctness that has us searching American grandmothers instead of Middle Eastern men of terrorist age and that prevents us from carpet bombing insurgent havens such as Fallujah or nuclear facilities and government infrastructure in Iran out of existence. In short, we need to soundly defeat this enemy and force a reformation to his religion while we still possess superior weapons and while all one-billion Muslims in the world are not openly against us. Peace through strength is the the only option. Out-terrorizing the terrorists and their supporters is the only strategy that makes any sense. Our lives, our futures, our country and Western Civilization itself are at risk. If we remain weak and decadent, we will all perish. Evil will win. A light will go out in the world. If we fight to win, with everything at our disposal--EVERYTHING--we will vanquish our evil foe. There are no in-betweens, no compromises, no shades of gray at stake here. Everything is in stark black and white. Our anger should be white hot, our resolve unshakable and our application of force overwhelming. That is the only lesson of 9/11. |
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Contributed by Shane Briscoe on September 11, 2006 at 02:35 PM in 9/11, Best of Old War Dogs, Islamism Delenda Est, Shane Briscoe | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack |
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Of Flags and Firefighters
I’m not one to jump on the anti-Wal-Mart bandwagon because as one who now lives in a very small town in a remote area of one of the least populated states, I appreciate the fact that the presence of the Bentonville Behemoth tends to keep local merchants from jacking up prices affordable only to the trendy jet-setters who fly in here for weekends and holidays. And, overall, I believe that Wal-Mart is truly a good thing for America, especially for those folks who can’t afford to shop in the trendy, upscale department stores. Admittedly, I did send a registered letter to H. Lee Scott, Jr., Wal-Mart CEO, earlier this week advising him of the deplorable management of his local investment, but that has nothing to do with the cause of today’s dismay. Well, actually, in a way, it does. My complaint to Mr. Scott centered on the deplorable out-of-stock situations we locals have to deal with because his manager can’t seem to master the basics of inventory control. The problem today was also related to an out-of-stock situation but what truly enraged me and another customer, a young firefighter, was an in-stock situation. You see, this firefighter and I were looking for flags to display Monday, September 11th, to honor our nation and the brave Americans who gave all for their country that day. The firefighter was displaying more outrage than I, which is understandable considering the heavy casualties inflicted on his chosen brotherhood on that tragic day. So what was the problem? Well, as I said, it was an out-of stock: no American flags of any size shape or description in this Wal-Mart store, this in a city where the primary employer is the United States Air Force. Now wouldn’t someone with just a modicum of marketing savvy possibly anticipate that, on the weekend prior to the fifth commemoration of the Pearl Harbor Day of the 21st Century, there might be a slightly elevated demand for patriotic symbols like, say, American flags? Well, nope, not here; not a single American flag was to be found within the cinder block confines of this merchandising mega store. OK, OK, somebody slipped up; stuff happens, right? So, you must be asking, why were the young firefighter and this tired old veteran so pissed? Well, Scottie Boy, it may just have been the numerous MEXICAN FLAGS that were IN STOCK, occupying most of the shelf space in the area designated for patriotic materials. Yep, Mexican flags in various sizes, just hanging there waiting for the many local Wal-Mart customers whose primary allegiance belongs to that bifurcated government a thousand miles to the south. Worse, there was even a selection of Brazilian flags. Brazilian? Yeah, that’s what I said, too, BRAZILIAN? GOOD FRICKIN’ GRIEF!!! And here I thought all these Wal-Mart clerks who don’t speak English were Mexicanos. Guess that could also explain the proliferation of all those Brazilian grilled meat restaurants that I seem to be seeing more and more of in my business travels. Later at the Home Depot, where I did find American flags, and only American flags, I encountered the angry young firefighter again. He was still seething and promised that Wal-Mart management would be getting an angry letter of righteous outrage. As I walked out to my car with my flags, I thought, “Bet he’ll never get an answer.” Then I thought, “You, know, maybe if we put something at Old War Dogs, we could give this angry young firefighter a soapbox beyond anything he could hope for on this weekend leading up to a day in which firefighters should be honored as something special to all Americans. So here it is Dogs. How about your Wal-Marts? They have more Mexican flags than American? Russ Vaughn |
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Contributed by Russ Vaughn on September 9, 2006 at 05:17 PM in 9/11, Best of Old War Dogs, Islamism Delenda Est, Remember the Alamo, Russ Vaughn | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack |
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Remembering September 10, 2001
For the next several days, ink splatters on newsprint, pixilated images wafting through the airwaves and burning brightly on millions of computer monitors will commemorate the emotional events of 9/11. As it is my nature to avoid crowds, I choose to focus on the America that existed on September 10, 2001. In looking back, it is difficult to contemplate 9/10 outside the context of 9/11. While researching the headlines from our last days of innocence, I expected to find some significant contrast to the news stories of today. After 9/11 and nearly five years into the Global War on Terrorism, I instinctively felt that America had to be fundamentally changed, more focused, perhaps more mature. But, then again, perhaps not. The following Chicago Tribune headlines from the thirty days leading to September 10th in both 2001 and 2006 tell the story. Immigration 2001 - “Immigration deal ‘must be fair,’ U.S. says White House will target lawbreakers.” While the White House has maintained a ‘fair but tough” stance on illegal immigration, no new laws or enforcement of existing laws appears to be imminent. Meanwhile, illegal aliens have become the envy of many hapless sports franchises, by picking up corporate sponsorship from a major beer distributor. After a rough week crossing through arid deserts and swimming the Rio Grande, “It’s Miller Time.’” President Bush 2001 - “Lawmakers battle Bush over secrecy; Executive privilege debate rages anew.” “Well, the liberals still have not forgiven Bush for ‘stealing’ the 2000 election. Their hatred is so blinding that they still will imperil our national security in an attempt to undermine our chief executive.” Israel 2001 - “Bombs rattle Jerusalem; Palestinians say blasts are reprisal for leader’s death.” “Israel still can do no right. It has no right to defend itself. It has no right to exist.” Osama bin Laden 2001 - “U.S. citizens alerted about possible threat.” Richard Boucher declined to comment on whether the threat came from Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, wanted in the 1998 U.S. Embassy attacks. “I’m waiting for the shrewd investigative reporter to announce that bin Laden has discovered a secret method of traversing the Space/Time continuum. How else does one explain that all headlines continue to report his activities of three to five years ago?” Rumsfeld 2001 - “’Rumsfeld poised to dump 2-war strategy. New Goal: Defeat one enemy, repel a second.” “Strategy or fantasy? Have we defeated an enemy or repelled them? The same questions remain unanswered.” North Korea 2001 - “North Korea proposes to renew talks with South.” “I guess the South decided to talk back.” Iran 2001 - “Iran cracks down again; detains liberal filmmaker.” “Where is the ACLU when you need it? How can anyone worry about nuclear programs at a time like this?” UN/Kofi Annan 2001 - “U.S., Israel abandon UN race summit; Powell denounces ‘hateful language’ in proclamation.” “Still the model of diplomatic efficiency, this anti-Semitic gathering of third world tyrants do nothing more than legally evade millions of dollars in NYC parking fines.” NY Yankees 2001 - 9/10: Yankees lead Boston in the A.L. East by 13 games. “Some things never change.” My research was intended to discover a naïve and narcissistic country five years ago. I am disheartened to admit that I only had to look at today to find it (so who is naive?). It is no wonder that we have not progressed. While we are engaged in a multi-front Global War on Terrorism, Americans at home are unaffected. There are no shortages, rationing, blackouts or shelters. Instead, we are blessed with a strong economy and abundance as we smugly sit in our comfortable living rooms anxiously awaiting a new season of American Idol. Except for the men and women of our military and their families and friends, there is no visible sign that America is in a struggle for its very survival. For most Americans, the biggest battle anticipated this weekend is between Peyton and Eli Manning. Are you ready for some football? While others rightfully remember the atrocities of 9/11, we should be mindful of 9/10. Nothing has really changed. Isn’t it time? |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on September 9, 2006 at 03:08 PM in 9/11, Best of Old War Dogs, Caring about our troops, Current Affairs, DisUnited Nations, G W Bush, Iran, Israel, Politics, The Gray Dog, War? What war? | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack |
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Eric Bogomolny: What year is it?
Another excellent essay from frequent contributor Eric Bogomolny
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Contributed by Bill Faith on September 7, 2006 at 05:53 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Bill Faith, Eric Bogomolny, Islamism Delenda Est, Peacenik Stupidity, War? What war? | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack |
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How Long Do We Wait?
Well, well. Isn't that special? There was never a consensus among Bill Clinton's advisors to support decisive action against Osama bin Laden. And since Clinton made most decisions after taking a poll of public opinion, he doesn't want the American public to know the truth. Long before 9/11 happened, Osama bin Laden declared a jihad on America but the Clinton Administration never took his words seriously. Now evil genies, the likes of the presidents of Iran and Venezuela, are out of the bottle. They feel free to stoke the flames of hatred aginst America and Israel and have a forum in the U.N. to spew their despicable propaganda. The U.N. is an organization best suited for humanitarian aid programs, not one which can resolve critical issues involving weapons of mass destruction and the fate of nations. There's no doubt in my mind that the Iranian government is bent on developing nuclear weapons. They have already had sufficient time and the necessary resources to build a crude device. It's beyond my comprehension that a majority of other governments who treasure their national interests haven't recognized Iran's intent to hold the Middle-East hostage. China and Russia continue to thwart the efforts of America and its allies. Many of our so-called allies prefer to hide their heads in the sand rather than actively support us over Iran. With a country awash in pacifism during the rise of Hitler and Tojo, it took an attack on Pearl Harbor to galvanize the nation and defeat fascism. Today, the stakes are a lot higher. Do we wait for Iran to declare that they have the 'bomb' or ones that they provided to terrorists are detonated near the capital in Washington DC or on Wall Street in New York City? Or do we continue to engage in an endless, fruitless debate within an organization like the UN that long ago proved it was impotent. I am beginning to agree with retired Air Force General Tom McInerney's plan for massive airstrikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure if a suitable diplomatic solution continues to elude us. Airstrikes combined with clandestine support of an internal Iranian insurrection to overthrow this oppressive regime would go a long way toward keeping America safe.In a 1903 speech, Teddy Roosevelt said, "Speak softly but carry a big stick." The time to take out the big stick and use it wisely is closer at hand than we think. |
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Contributed by Karl Bossi on September 7, 2006 at 02:41 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Iran, Islamism Delenda Est, Karl Bossi | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack |
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Veterans as an Ethnic Minority
[Webmaster's note: Please see first: Defensive Misgivings, which inspired this post.] For at least fifty years now ethnic identity has been at the head of the American agenda. African-American, Hispanic-American or Mexican-American, Asian-American, and gradually Jewish-American, Polish-, Italian-, Irish-, and other Hyphenated-Americans. The rule is, we must never notice these differences, while remaining always carefully aware of them. We must remember which group is the "group of the month" and appreciate its unique contributions and specialness, while simultaneously denying that it is in any way different, or that its members can even be detected by appearance, accent, or name. More recently we have discovered Gay-Americans, and even deaf-mutes, and others with congenital disabilities are demanding to be treated as hyphenated minorities. Even women. Women who are neither "disabled" nor in any sense a minority often demand their Hyphenated recognition. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the desire of everyone for a special identity, and to have it recognized, just so long as it does not become self-satirizing. But what is an ethic group? It is not race or skin color, nor is it language, though these features may form a significant part of the formula. Essentially it is a uniquely defining background and shared experience which sets the members of the group apart. Frequently a part of this experience involves being stigmatized. Essential is a sense of self-identity. Gradually, I came to realize that I am a Veteran-American. Am I kidding? Veterans as an ethnic group? How can that be, when they’re all sorts of colors, have all sorts of weird accents? True. But there is something else. For over half a century, we have been singled out by society, and while once upon a time we were not a minority, but the majority, like the American Indian we have gone from being a majority to a minority in our own land. Special bond and experience? Of course. Its called war, though even those who served in peacetime share the experiences of training and barracks life. We have our own special language. Even if our language has dialects special to the World War, Korean, Viet Nam, and Gulf generations, we still understand each other as civilians cannot. We can understand military terms and make sense out of news reports as even the reporters cannot. And we have an understanding of what war is all about, and what is at stake in politics. There is a mindset which seems to be peculiar to Veterans, characterized by greater sense of self-discipline, and duty, of attention to detail and thoroughness, more attention to old-timey virtues. Like a number of the acknowledged minorities we have seen our members mistreated because of our identity. And called ethnic names. "Dago"? "Nigger"? "Kike"? Use those names at your peril. But "Babykiller", "Warmonger", "Fascist", they seem to be socially quite acceptable. Veterans are scorned, both by society and by government. Government budgets for caring for wounded and disabled Veterans is always limited, but budgets for the needs of other, civilian ethnics always seem to be limitless. And what company would deny a contribution to an Aids project or to a Rainbow Coalition shakedown? But when Military Veteran and Family Asistance came begging a few corporate contributions for programs to help our newest veterans readjust, the CEOs of major companies such as IBM, EDS And now I hear about the National Guardsman in Pierce County, Wa., attacked by a gang of civilians for being military. and other incidents also have happened in the recent past. Other ethnics have sometimes tried to conceal their identities, changing their accents, and sometimes even trying to modify their skin color or hair. And then, every so often a few will try to emphasize their ethnic identity for political purposes. For how many decades have Veterans been concealing their status, not mentioning that of which they are most proud, trying to explain "two missing years" on their resumes, as if it were time spent in prison. And if Blacks have Rev’run Al and Jessie, we’ve got Kerry, McCain, and Murtha. Blacks hear "I don’t date outside my race", we hear "I don’t date babykillers". And yes, we also have Veterans whom we consider traitors to our ethnicity. See the above list for a few examples. The big difference is, we tend to disown those who would self-anoint themselves as our spokesmen. So of course, I am not speaking for you, I am speaking to you, urging you, us all, to stand up and demand our own share of recognition. I’ve got a case of the ass. A big one. I’m not impressed with "Thank you for your service" which is becoming almost a cliche as "Have a nice day", or "welcome home" about forty years too late. It is appropriate for greeting someone at the airport dressed in DCUs. But to an old guy who’s been called a babykiller for forty years, its just rubbing in the salt. In January 1977, Jimmie Carter amnestied all the draft dodgers, deserters and other swine, proclaimed them my, our equals. That is a whistle which, like an ex-president, cannot be unblown. Then they elected a draft-dodger as president. Twice! Now they wish to honor us, equally with those who spat upon us?! No, not really. They’re willing, finally, not to honor, but to to forgive us for our service, forty years after the fact. And only if we become penitents and supplicants, meekly standing in line to beg a pittance from some bureaucrat who "served" in Canada from 1968 to 1977. Then I observe the hedonistic slackers around me, those who do not, and will not serve. Those with no self-discipline or any willingness even to wipe their own lardbutts. Who demand, but do not give, who seek to cash in on the colors of their hides or their choice of sexual oddity, who worship only the Eternal ME. I say to myself, these are NOT my people. I do not care what the color of your skin, or of your uniform. If you served honorably, you are my brother or sister. By the Grace of God and the US Congress, I am a Veteran-American. And proud. And you WILL NOT make me hide in the closet. -Rurik Webmaster's notes: Check out http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1696722/posts and http://www.bootmurtha.com/MurthaUpdates/SEP2006/09-06-06.htm! BZs, Rurik. It's going to take a few days to make it happen but as soon as we can we'll start selling Veteran-American bumper stickers, tees, etc in our CafePress shop. (Click the hat on the sidebar to learn about our shop.) Ross Perot sold EDS to GM years ago and has, in fact, been very supportive of Military Veteran and Family Assistance and The Phoenix Project. It's the current management of EDS that sucks. |
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Contributed by George Mellinger on September 6, 2006 at 12:48 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Caring about our troops, George Mellinger, Jean Fraud Kerry, Mad Jack Murtha, Patriotism, Peacenik Stupidity, Politics, Viet Nam, War? What war? | Permalink | Comments (25) | TrackBack |
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Strong? Then You’re Wrong!
Strong? Then You’re Wrong! It’s an unchallenged truth among liberal youth, Their second persuasion is to flip the equation, Israel’s strong and it’s evil, causing constant upheaval, Because we’re both strong, both our countries are wrong, Russ Vaughn |
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Contributed by Russ Vaughn on September 6, 2006 at 09:46 AM in Best of Old War Dogs, Dem Dumbness, Peacenik Stupidity, Poetry, Russ Vaughn | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack |
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Defensive Misgivings
Recently at the Army’s annual Force Protection Conference I had the honor of speaking with a soldier who earned my immediate respect and admiration for the unique way in which he is continuing to serve his nation’s needs long after retiring from active duty. This soldier, COL Michael J. Wagner, USAR, Ret, PhD, has been working at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for three years in a program to provide assistance to warriors returning from Iraq and Afghanistan bearing wounds of war, both physical and psychological. Dr. Wagner’s experiences there have convinced him and many others involved in caring for these veterans that these wounds of war affect not just the warriors but their families as well, and by extension their home communities. As Dr. Wagner put it to me,
An ex-paratrooper of the ‘70’s, Dr. Wagner is keenly aware of the many problems so many veterans of our war encountered in their reintegration into their communities. He is determined that America will not fail our current warriors as it did those of that earlier era. The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, already faced with budget constraints and mission limits, are ill equipped to deal with this societal mission creep. Recognizing that reality, Dr. Wagner and other concerned citizens and professionals have formed an organization called MVFA, Military Veteran and Family Assistance, www.mvfa.org to take up this slack by providing needed services in a family based program that seeks to combine the support and resources of community, corporate, military and government agencies. One program, the aptly named Phoenix Project, provides community-based retreats for warriors and their families. In tranquil, pastoral settings such as the Heart of the Hills Camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country, soldiers and spouses spend a week relaxing with such activities as hiking, fishing, canoeing, riding horses, or if they choose, just lounging around. But there are also group sessions where couples can freely discuss the problems they face and learn how others just like them are coping with similar difficulties. But MVFA has encountered a problem not anticipated in its formative stages. Thinking that the huge military contracting corporations who take in hundreds of billions of dollars from manufacturing every conceivable item our warriors take into combat and use to fight on our nation’s behalf, the organization sent letters soliciting contributions to support their unique programs to all the leading American defense contractors. To his utter astonishment, Dr. Wagner received refusal after refusal, some with explanations that such programs do not fit within the guidelines of their gifting programs. When he related this amazing situation to me, I was as astonished as the doctor and quickly remarked that if these veterans and their families were dealing with AIDS or sexual identity issues, contributions would be rolling in. Sure enough, according to the good doctor, that is exactly the response MVFA received from IBM, which has lucrative contracts with our military: “Sorry, AIDS research is our priority.” May I suggest to the CEO’s of IBM and EDS, United Technologies, and Raytheon, who also are on record as refusing to support these wounded warrior programs that perhaps you should reconsider your corporate “gifting” guidelines to reflect that you have at least as much concern for those harmed in the application of your weapons systems as you do for gender-challenged San Franciscans seeking funding for those ever so essential sex-change operations. Somehow, I think that most American voters and taxpayers, and their elected representatives wouldn’t mind a moderate redirection of corporate gifting away from pet programs like providing safe sex warning posters for gay bathhouses and healthy nutrition programs for inner city crack junkies, to something a little more mainstream America; like, hey, assistance programs for wounded American warriors. What say you CEO’s of Lockheed-Martin, Northrop-Grumman, General Dynamics, Boeing, ITT Industries, and all the rest of you titans of the defense industry? How about you Michael Dell? Everywhere I travel to military installations in my little consulting business, I see Dell computers. Surely out of the hundreds of millions in revenue generated by those computer sales you should be able to shake loose with a million or so for the troops who come to harm while using them. You know, gentlemen, it suddenly occurred to me that, offhand, I simply can’t recall the last time I heard of an AIDS infected, trans-gendered, crack head buying a multi-billion dollar computer or weapons system. Can any of you guys? Actually, I’m willing to be more charitable than these corporations apparently are, by giving their CEO’s the benefit of the doubt that these refusals don’t come from the top but from some tunnel-visioned, third-tiered functionaries far down the corporate ladder. At least for now I am. Russ Vaughn *** Webmaster's note: Please see also: Veterans as an Ethnic Minority, which was inspired by this post. |
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Contributed by Russ Vaughn on September 4, 2006 at 04:46 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Caring about our troops, Russ Vaughn | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack |
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My Night with Mahmoud
The Gray Dog’s Note: After curling up on my mat last night for a peaceful evening’s repose, I was startled to awaken, finding that I had somehow been transported to the President’s residence in Teheran. There I was snout to snout with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Utilizing my years of TGD: Mr. President, On behalf of my OWD pack and all dogs everywhere I would like to thank you for this unexpected opportunity. MA: You are quite welcome Mr. Gray Dog, it’s a pleasure to speak with such a fine looking member of your species. TGD: Grrr… Please stop scratching my ear! I’m not Mike Wallace! MA: Ah! Mike Wallace. Still a fine looking gentleman, for his age. TGD: Enough of the pleasantries. I’m here to discuss Iran’s defiance of the UN deadline to halt its uranium enrichment program. What do you have to say about potential economic sanctions that may be proposed? MA: Nuts! TGD: Nuts? That’s it? MA: No, Mr. Dog. Not just any nuts; Persian Pistachio Nuts. Even after I led, uh, I mean the Iranian students held your embassy hostage for 444 days; Americans are still after our nuts. Any UN sanctions against the sovereign nation of Iran, will force us to keep our nuts at home. TGD: With all due respect Mr. President, I don’t think the United States will be affected by your embargo. After all, the entire Mid-East is loaded with nuts. Hell, we have quite a collection of nuts back home as well. MA: Ah yes, I recall your ex-president Jimmy Carter is an expert in that field. Yet, even he couldn’t compete with Iranian nuts during, what did you Americans call it; The Hostage Crisis? No, I don’t think the poor, imprisoned and under insured American public will settle for your domestic nuts. TGD: Please, I promise to get back to your nuts later. Instead, I would like to focus on your last comments about the problem of America’s poor, imprisoned and under insured. Are you claiming that Iran does not have citizens that are poor, imprisoned and lacking access to health care? MA: Oh, no, no, Mr. Dog. We have all of that in Iran. The difference is we don’t see it as a problem. TGD: I don’t quite follow. Could you explain? MA: You Americans are so foolish. It’s a matter of faith. In our Iranian paradise, if you are a criminal, poor or sick, the solution is simple; you die! Afterwards, you go to your heavenly reward of seventy-two virgins. TGD: I must agree that’s a pretty nifty solution; for Iranian men anyway. I just don’t see that being a great reward for your female population. MA: Ha! Who cares? Besides, have you ever peeked underneath one of those Burkhas? Whoo Doggie! TGD: Arrrf! There’s no need to be insulting now! MA: My apologies, Mr. Dog. No insult was intended. Did I mention that I find you strangely attractive? TGD: Eh, yes. Now please answer directly. America is not alone in its concern over your nuclear program. Do you or do you not plan to comply with UN Resolution 1696? MA: As you may know, I was visited by Kofi Annan yesterday. And Iran has agreed to renewed talks. TGD: Kofi Annan? I thought we were off the topic of nuts! Besides, what is there left to talk about? MA: GD, may I call you GD? It is not so important what we talk about. It is only important that we talk…and talk…and talk. Anyway, Kofi is such a handsome man, and so agreeable to talk with. May I offer you a treat? TGD: Er, no thanks. It appears you already have someone eating out of your hand. Now let go of my tail so we can continue! I’d like to get back to your uranium enrichment program. You claim that it is solely for the development of domestic energy, yet your country has more than enough oil to meet your energy needs for decades, if not centuries. Can you explain this please? MA: It is the fault of the corrupt capitalistic American oil companies! TGD: Once again, Mr. President, you’ve lost me. MA: Look around Iran, Mr. Dog. The evil western oil lords drilled and drilled our beautiful deserts, exploited our people while stealing our oil. It was only after we nationalized our rightful property that we discovered the American devils had not built any refineries for us. Americans truly are heartless bastards! TGD: Forgive me Mr. President; Are you saying you have the ability to develop technology to enrich uranium and build nuclear energy facilities, yet are incapable of building oil refineries? MA: Oh, for such a fine looking beast, you are just like all Americans that fail to understand the Persian culture. Mr. Dog, Iran does not develop anything. We barter! TGD: Barter? MA: Of course! We have oil the Russians and the Chinese need. They in turn provide us with American nuclear technology. TGD: What? How do the Russians and Chinese get Ameri….. Oh! I forgot. Another American president with nuts bigger than brains. MA: Mr. Dog! I would have thought you would appreciate President Clinton. After all, he has beautiful gray hair, much like your own. TGD: Mine is fur Mr. President. Fur! Anyway, fortunately for America, you have to deal with President Bush now! MA: Ah yes. This has been unfortunate. But we will stall and wait out the Americans for two more years until we elect the next President Clinton. TDG: WE? MA: Heh, heh. Did I say we? What I meant to say was when the progressives within the U.S. take back control of your government. TGD: I’m sorry, Mr. President, but I really sense that you believe yourself to have some control over the American electorate. MA: For such a wise old dog, you are acting so naïve. Of course… It was at that moment that a familiar feminine voice called out from behind the door; “Mahmoud! MA: Uh, forgive me, Mr. Gray Dog, but I must end our interview. I, uh, seem to be neglecting another guest. Perhaps we can chat again soon. Ahmadinejad arose and called back to the closed door, “I’ll be right there Katie.” Immediately, my senses were over loaded, and through the fog rapidly developing in my head, I realized that the Iranian president had literally been in bed with the UN and the American media. First, Mike Wallace, then Kofi, and now the new anchor for CBS. As my head became lighter, and my knees weakened, I knew I had little time left to attack. Before the Iranian president could turn away, I mustered all of my strength for one desperate lunge. As contact was made, I succumbed to the fog. What seemed like hours later, I awoke to find myself at rest on my old comfortable mat. Unsure of what had just happened, I slowly arose in the darkness of my room and started for my water bowl. Crunch…, crunch... Using all of my senses, I discovered I was treading upon a couple of Persian nuts. Pistachios, perhaps? Heh, heh, I think not! To sleep, perchance to dream. |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on September 3, 2006 at 12:16 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Current Affairs, DisUnited Nations, Iran, Politics, The Gray Dog | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack |
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Next year - Next Door - Too Late?
I can't vouch for the veracity of this source. While Ms. Mansfield has a web site here I'm at a disadvantage since I DON'T speak or read Arabic.
I find myself in tanglefoot territory. Fred Phelps and his 'church' at least do their damage in English, and I do accept that dissent has a place in this country, and there's little doubt many politicians talk out of both sides of their mouths. But how do we deal with efforts like those in the article? Burn the Mosques and the liberal/left would use that to take us even faster into Dhimmitude. I feel like I'm spitting into the wind. |
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Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf on August 28, 2006 at 12:37 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Current Affairs, Islamism Delenda Est, Zero Ponsdorf | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack |
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Re: The Media Stripped Naked. Part 1.
I’ve been watching a lot of cable news and searching the blogosphere the past few days in search of an inspirational idea that might provide a cure for writer’s block. Well, like Dorothy said, “There’s no place like home.” So it was upon returning to my OWD home that I read an excellent post submitted by Bill Faith and recommended by R. J. Del Vecchio. The post is a reprint of a speech delivered by well known conservative Fred Barnes of The Weekly Standard and Fox News host and contributor. As I read the speech, which was a dissertation on the liberal bias of the mainstream media, I found little to disagree with. Of course this was no surprise since I generally agree with Fred most of the time, in spite of his occasional bone head statements that cause a hind paw to reflexively snap up to my ear for a prolonged scratch. Yes, I generally agree with and like Fred, much the same way I generally agree with and like all of the conservative personalities at Fox News. After all, what’s not to like about “fair and balanced?” However, I would suggest that “fair and balanced” is in the eye of the beholder and not necessarily a completely accurate slogan for FNC. Fair, yes. Balanced, no! But, I admit, I wouldn’t want it any other way. In the wake of Rush Limbaugh’s success, Rupert Murdoch simply recognized a market demand that wasn’t being fulfilled by the mainstream media or the Clinton News Network. Murdoch’s brilliant packaging of strong conservative hosts with stunningly beautiful news babes has led FNC’s ascendancy to cable news primacy. Of course FNC supports their “balanced” claims by pointing to a number of liberal regulars. But let’s face it, Juan Williams and Alan Colmes are merely props to be teed up and whacked out of the park by the likes of Britt Hume and Sean Hannity. Hell, that’s half the fun! And then there's Bill O’Reilly’s continuous protestations that he is an Independent. C’mon Bill. Who’s spinning whom? O’Reilly may truly be the victim of his own delusions, yet he is lucid enough to understand where his bread is buttered, and it isn’t from the liberal left scarfing up all of his “Factor Gear.” I fear that conservatives waste too much of their time whining about a “vast left-wing conspiracy of the drive-by media” and instead, should recognize that the MSM only exist for the benefit of those predisposed to lap up it’s drivel, much the same as we conservatives tune in to Rush Limbaugh and FNC as a source of daily affirmations. Conservatives should see things as they are, then adapt and conquer. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Hugh Hewitt, Michael Savage, G. Gordon Liddy and FNC are a small but significant beginning to obtaining that goal. They represent a demographic once described as the “silent majority”, a group that has only recently begun to find their voice. Traditionally, The Fourth Estate has been a reflection of our society functioning much the same as congress. While Congress relies on individual voters for election and lobbyists for funds, likewise, the same relationships exist in the media with readers, viewers and listeners providing the base that allows the NYT, CBS, CNN or FNC to attract advertisers with deep pockets. Both pander to their constituents while competing for your vote and dollars. In other words, we are paying them to give us exactly what we want. What else could explain twenty-four hour coverage of alleged child murder John Mark Carr’s flight from Thailand to California? I don’t believe that Ted Kennedy, The New York Times or CNN are the architects of an evil liberal plot any more than I believe Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich or Fox News to be the salvation of our collective soul. Each is just a mere reflection of their specific constituency, feeding back exactly what we want to see and hear. If we don’t like what we see in the media or government we need to understand that they are just symptomatic of greater societal issues. Of course real change in our media, government and society begins within each one of us. Perhaps most importantly, how involved or not we are in our children’s education. That I will leave for Part 2. For now, I close with a quote form the great American thinker, philosopher and writer, Theodor Geisel: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Seuss. *** Bill Faith adds: I've posted an excerpt from and a link to this post at Love America First and in the comments on Captain Ed's post on the subject, and a link in the comments at Hot Air. |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on August 27, 2006 at 08:41 AM in Best of Old War Dogs, Current Affairs, Media Perfidy, Television, The Gray Dog | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack |
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FLASH: Isikoff Tells All...Aww shucks, it's nothing.
So, what have we here? Essentially, a big, fat, Greek nothing [more apologies to Joel Zwick & Nia Vardalos]. No serious person, not even Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, no one not afflicted with Bush Derangement Syndrome believes that there was a crime here. Isikoff is careful to exonerate Mr. Armitage of any intention to "smear" Valerie Plame and Joseph Wilson.
Just in passing: exposing falsehoods disseminated by present or former government officials, such as those of Ambassador Wilson, used to be known as setting the record straight, not as smearing someone. The delicate nuances of goring oxen must be observed. Isikoff's article reveals other interesting tidbits, such as that Robert Woodward got the word from Mr.Armitage a couple of weeks before Robert Novak did. Woodward's mature judgment that the Plame-Wilson saga was a nonstory has earned him a chorus of Bronx cheers from the herd of independent minds in the media. Woodward is a big boy, and has had no problem brushing that sort of lint off of his well-tailored blazer. The final paragraph offers an insight into the vicious, witch-hunting mentality of the White House inner circle. Secretary Powell, Mr. Armitage, and William Howard Taft IV, legal counsel to the State Department were concerned lest news of Armitage's action might leak and damage the Department. So Mr. Taft took the precaution of alerting the White House:
Get the implication. The White House, which has been repeatedly flayed in the media for "outing" Valerie Plame, learned of the story from the State Department. President Bush's hit-man, Gonzales, apparently never breathed a word to anyone in the media. So much for the "first draft of history." One final note: poor Valerie Plame did not even get a cover photo out of this story. Heartless, soulless Newsweek devotes its September 4 cover to an inanimate chunk of orbiting space junk call Pluto or some such thing. Shameful. *** The webmaster adds: John, there's more coverage, not as good as yours, at Hot Air and Captain's Quarters. I've posted an excerpt and a link to this post at Love America First. |
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Contributed by John Werntz on August 27, 2006 at 07:48 AM in Best of Old War Dogs, Books, Current Affairs, John "72nd TCS" Werntz, Politics | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack |
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Dreams 'n stuff
This isn't a generic OWD post. A young friend is having trouble dealing with coming home from Iraq this past January.
Anyone here that hasn't felt similar? The older I get the more the memory of dreams merge with real memories. What can one say other than she's not alone? One of the things about Viet Nam and past conflicts is the way most vets have been able to compartmentalize and move on, others are still struggling. So I can't tell her it'll certainly get better. I met WWII vets who still have nightmares, even helped a few with PTSD claims. It comes down to this, I think, most (a huge majority) do get over it and move on. The overall experience most certainly will continue to shape our lives, but it's unlikely to be the prime mover for most. Any thoughts? [update] I wrestled with it, saved it as draft and fiddled some more. I just couldn't hit the nail on the head. Finally I gave up and posted it as is, with the question at the end. *** Bill Faith adds: Zero, please forgive me for hitching a ride on your post instead of doing something separate; I promise not to do this sort of thing often. You hit me where I live and maybe I'm not thinking real clear right now. I'm also fixin' to violate a copyright law. What're they gonna do, draft me and send me to Nam? Maybe since all I have is a poor quality 3rd-generation monaural copy of something I originally bought on vinyl they won't hang me too high. F**k 'em if they can't take a joke. You know how sometimes a song gets stuck in your head and you just can't quit replaying it in your mind? For me that song is "Still in Saigon." I doubt I'm alone, but some days it sure as hell feels like it. Give your friend a hug for me. |
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Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf on August 26, 2006 at 02:46 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Bill Faith, Caring about our troops, Coming home, The American Warrior, Zero Ponsdorf | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack |
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Saudi Arabia no longer largest oil producer
Russia has surpassed Saudi Arabian production. This has major long term implications on a wide variety of fronts, both political and for energy production. I've been saying for some time that we've been focusing our anger and angst upon the Saudis in error. For the foreseeable future we're going to have to deal with the fact that Russia likes high oil prices. Russia will do their best to keep the price of oil high, as high as they can manage, for the foreseeable future. This may have something to do with their leaders' resentment of our global status and a desire to see us cut back in size. It also has a lot to do with their own economic interest. Essentially, oil and modern weapons are, have been, and will be Russia's two major exports and sources of foreign currency. For about 15 years the Russian military has been unable to buy new military equipment, except for testing purposes, and unable to train its troops. Pilots got almost no flying time and were leaving the air forces. Last year for the first time, really, in its existence, the Russian Republic was able to start buying tanks, aircraft and other weapons for field units. And I don't think they're likely to stop just so we can operate our jet skis. One of the problems which has negatively influenced Russia's evolution since 1991 is the fact that they have never understood enlightened, modern free enterprise. They have adopted Marxian-style capitalism instead of Western free enterprise. Capitalism is a fantasy misinterpretation of free enterprise as misunderstood by Marx and Lenin, something inherently rapacious and dissimulating. Unfortunately, in 1991 the Russians, with a very few exceptions knew nothing about Western economic systems, save what they'd inadvertently absorbed while dozing through their political indoctrination classes. So suddenly, when they rejected Marxism, and decided to adopt the opposite, they adopted a caricature version instead of the real thing. In an analogous way, when their gangsters emerged as "Russian Mafiya" initially they decided to be Mafia, and they did their best to dress and look the part, as garnered from movies. During my first visits, I saw a lot of guys dressed in heavy pinstripe suits, with black shirts and wide hats, stubble and all the rest. Gradually, they seemed to have learned that real mafia do not look like mafia. And so Russian Mafiya began to dress a bit less obviously. Or similarly, imagine some guy from new York's East Village who goes out to Wyoming to become a cowboy - you can guess what he's going to look like upon arrival - Hopalong! Bottom line is, We have to deal with Russia differently than with the Saudis... or for that matter than we dealt with the Soviets. IMHO, one of the best ways to start would be to start exploiting all our capacities. ANWR and coastal drilling, oil sands, the works. If a few Watermelons (green on the outside but red on the inside) can't deal with it, then we'd better deal with them. Conservation? Cease wasting gas on frivolities? Definitely. Even recognizing that "what is frivolous" is open to debate. But conserve is the core of conservatism. And I am as much against waste as I am in favor of careful use. But that also implies using. As for Russia and its new wealth. What they will choose to do with their wealth remains to be seen. Some of it will gratingly go to their military, but not all. A lot is already going to refurbishing of national landmarks and treasures; something for which I am grateful. Some of it may be used on solving other problems. But on what? -Rurik |
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Contributed by George Mellinger on August 24, 2006 at 02:37 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, George Mellinger, Islamism Delenda Est, Russia | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack |
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A Modest Proposal
When the distinguished commentator Victor Davis Hanson publishes a downbeat column deploring our seeming inability to cope with jihadist terrorism, attention must be paid, above all by our leaders. Professor Hanson's column appears in the Jewish World Review today, Thursday August 24, 2006. He lists seven points where our response fails to match or overcome our enemy. Among them:
I want to call attention to his bottom line:
For everyone, this column is a must-read. Those who have the stomach to contemplate civilian casualties on the scale of Hamburg and Dresden and the fire-bombing of Tokyo may want to read on and consider a "Modest Proposal" that deals with how we might benefit tactically from what we have learned about our enemies. One thing we have learned about our enemies is that they respond vociferously to provocation. Who can forget the hundreds of thousands who thronged the streets, from London to Southeast Asia, in reponse to a few "offensive but accurate" cartoons published in a Danish newspaper? The proposal: Provoke and Provoke, again and again. In anticipation, have a fleet of war-weary old A-10 Warthogs and AC-47 Magic Dragons at the ready, all gassed up and munitioned. Not being an expert on weaponry, this writer sought the sage counsel of a former USMC gunnery sergeant of his acquaintance, who answered "Five words: daisy cutters, cluster bombs, MOAB." With all due humility, this writer would add fuel-air [thermobaric] weapons to the arsenal, on the grounds that they--although nominally conventional--are spectacularly lethal when the target is massed humanity. First, kill them by the boulevard-full. Then use cluster bombs and the like to fragment the corpses, As a final touch, to get their attention, use precision-guided napalm bombs dropped from B-52s to quick-roast the massed corpses into the thick, charred gelatinous mass that filled the basements of Dresden in 1945. What is the point of all this horror? It would serve admirably to concentrate the minds of radical imams and mullahs on religious affairs, to the detriment of preaching jihad to disaffected Muslim youth. Of course, reducing the size of their congregations would be a net plus in and of itself. But the main benefit would flow from forcing them to consider, with all devotional reverence, how Mohammed [pbuh] would solve the problem of providing an honorable, duly Koranic martyrs' burial to tons of bone fragments embedded in a revolting mass of raspberry JELL-O™. The ensuing theological discussions might consume vast imam-hours of pious disputation, at grave cost to the intrinsically political activity of preaching Jihad. Who knows? It might even direct their minds to the notion that the path to Jihad leads only to the grave, not to establishing the umpteenth caliphate. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are those of its author alone. They do not reflect any policy or position taken by the Old War Dogs as a group. |
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Contributed by John Werntz on August 24, 2006 at 12:02 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Current Affairs, Islamism Delenda Est, John "72nd TCS" Werntz | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBack |
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Imagine
Subtle, yet ironic is the proximity of the fifth anniversary of 9/11 to the thirty-fifth anniversary of the September 9, 1971 release of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Subtle, because of the differences of magnitude and time between the two events, yet ironic for the way that each defined the American psyche of its era. Many of us, particularly Baby Boomers have a strong recollection of both events, yet few may see the eerie correlation. While I naively spent many years mumbling half remembered lyrics that easily wafted atop this simplistic melody, to many others, “Imagine” was becoming an anthem emblematic of a generation. For decades I ignored the impact of John Lennon’s words, yet now, I hear them each day resounding from the speeches of John Kerry, the protests of Cindy Sheehan, the actions brought to court by the ACLU and the decrees issued by Anna Diggs Taylor. Imagine there’s no heaven Not one to subject myself to the ritualism of religion, I have lived an agnostic life. Yet even I dare to imagine a heaven. To not imagine a heaven is easy, only if you do not try. Hell, on the other hand requires little imagination. I attended my 10th high school reunion in 1979. While fortunate to have not lost any of our classmates due to combat in Viet Nam, we were no less shaken to learn that three had returned only to take their own lives. Only a visit to hell could have caused such young men to relinquish their spirit before their time. Yes John, imagine. And like the seventies, America continues to be cursed by its very blessings. While our military is engaged in a protracted multi-front war, many have time to energetically protest our government and blame America for the ills of the world, while never missing an episode of 24 or American Idol. Living for today… Imagine there’s no countries In Europe’s rush to find Utopian bliss, their dreams of a European Union are quickly distorting into a Euro-Arabian nightmare. America, likewise dons blinders while an invasion from the south threatens to turn the “great melting pot” into a centrifuge of disparate cultures and language. No longer is there a unifying identity in America. Instead, young men driven by ethnic hatred kill and die for a few blocks of turf or an ounce of smack, ignorant and unaware of the blood spilt by their fathers and grandfathers for a nation that was intended to be their salvation. Religion remains sacrosanct as long as it does not involve Christianity. America has become a nation intolerant of the very Christian tenets on which it was founded. Living life in peace… Imagine no possessions In the Utopia of Sharia law, possessions, greed and hunger abound. Of course women are the possessions, greed is tolerated for those in power, and hunger is a shared virtue. Yes John, imagine this idyllic brotherhood of man. Sharing all the world… You may say I’m a dreamer Yes John, you were a dreamer and not the only one. Like your homophonic brother Vladimir, your lyrics have helped to slow the natural advance of human progress while leaving it vulnerable to an enemy even you didn’t imagine. I can only hope that as 9/11 approaches, I will hear a more hopeful positive message than the one you left behind. Maybe Dylan’s “The Times, They are a-Changin’” comes to mind. |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on August 24, 2006 at 11:59 AM in Best of Old War Dogs, Current Affairs, Islamism Delenda Est, Music, Patriotism, Politics, Religion, The Gray Dog, War? What war? | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack |
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Islam Is Not What You Think
An early morning fog drifts slowly across the Hudson River, near the place once called the Battery, where early European immigrants once embarked from sailing ships to a land of freedom. As the heat from the rising sun slowly dissolves the moisture in the air, a huge golden dome and four tall minarets can be seen on the old site of the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The year is 2101, the hundred year anniversary of 9/11, the horrific day Muslim terrorists destroyed a proud symbol of American strength. In Washington DC, a major renovation had converted the capitol building into an imposing mosque. All across the 50 states where Christian cathedrals and Jewish temples once dotted the landscape, wailing calls to prayers resound from mosques. The faithful arrive in droves and remove their shoes and bow to the East towards Mecca. Years before anyone who failed to convert to Islam was cruelly executed in public. Not by a firing squad, but as dictated by the Koran. Each of them had a hand and their opposite foot cut off. They bled to death on the cold concrete sidewalks in the country once known as the United States of America. The scenes described above are not a figment of a runaway imagination. Ideas are more powerful than any modern weapons, including the nuclear variety. During the American Revolution, Thomas Paine understood the power of ideas. Ideas, like his, resulted in a new nation where freedom of religion existed. And whenever religious fanaticism is involved, how can the free world defeat an enemy bent on destroying Western ideals? Radicals whose ultimate goal is to fulfill the prophecy in the Koran, a world where only Islam rules? The media and national governments across the globe have yet to confront the perilous teachings of Islam. Voices of those who try to sound alarms about the truth of Islam are stifled. Yet, even a cursory review of the life of Mohammed and the Koran, the book of Islam, reveals a troubling picture. Unlike Jesus, Mohammed gained notoriety through death and destruction of his opponents and their way of life. He is depicted in the Koran as a brutal warrior. Un-believers and those who had turned against their faith were hunted down and killed. Muslims believe that the Koran is based upon the direct word of God or Allah, through the angel, Gabriel. Sunnis and Shiites generally take the same approach against un-believers. Interestingly, the Koran also instructs the faithful to practice deceit, to lull un-believers into thinking that Islam is a religion of peace and it poses no threat from radicals. Today, Iran continues to deny an existence of a nuclear weapons program, a living example of this philosophy. Jews are described in the Koran as apes and pigs and the mortal enemy of Islam, a description radical mullahs use to dehumanize them. Children from an early age are taught to memorize the Koran word-for-word and an increasing number grow up seeking martyrdom. Not long ago in Holland, a film producer who made a documentary about the plight of women in the Muslim world died on the streets. An Islamic fanatic shot him several times, then cut his throat as the producer pleaded for his life. Few Muslims have the courage to step forward and decry despicable acts for fear of retribution. The festering malaise of the Palestinian and Israeli problem certainly has to be resolved in conjunction with defusing the ambitions of Iran to turn the entire Islamic world against us. The Iranian leader acts in a way reminiscent of Adolph Hitler and enthralls many of the Muslim faithful across the globe into believing that Israel, America, and Great Britain are a plague against humanity. And yet, even though the Koran is compared in some quarters to Hitler's book, "Mein Kampf," a blueprint for 'the struggle,' the media and Western governments continue to turn a blind eye to the threat radical Islam poses. Like a potent acid, the hateful ideas spread by radical Islam are slowly eating its way throughout the hearts and minds of the faithful. Islamic fascists have confronted the free, secular world. Are we to sit idly by and wait until it's too late or do we compel our leaders to dispel the myth? BF: Adding a link to the latest Beltway Traffic Jam. |
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Contributed by Karl Bossi on August 23, 2006 at 12:01 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Islamism Delenda Est, Karl Bossi | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack |
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The Words of Santayana
The Words of Santayana Words of Santayana will be with us sure mañana, A lord of Britain led us, to a place where Nazis bled us, New fascist fires are burning, anti-Semitism churning, Freedom’s slowly burning as new Fascists now are learning The crime of man’s existence is his unexplained resistance Wake up you fools and hear, Santayana’s voice is near, Don’t listen but to me, just look back at history, |
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Contributed by Russ Vaughn on August 21, 2006 at 12:01 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Islamism Delenda Est, Poetry, Russ Vaughn | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack |
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RE:
In a post written at Big Lizards by Dafydd, and excerpted here at OWD by Bill Faith, the author summarizes that the blogosphere and news media divided neatly into two groups:
Both the author and my OWD colleague align themselves in Camp 1, with Dafydd asserting,” The fact that we are still, today, championing Israel's right to conduct this commando raid while the ceasefire is in effect, that we refuse to characterize it as a violation, speaks volumes about which camp is correct.” Dafydd ends his analysis with the following summary: The United States still backs Israel in its actual warfare against Hezbollah (contrary to those folks in Camp 2, who cannot let go their charming fantasies about almighty Israel) -- and the mainstream media still supports the other side. This old dog would take exception to the “two camp” argument as being an over simplification of past six week’s events, but first, I will state two areas of agreement with the author: 1. Israel did run a feckless and infantile “pseudo-war”. It has been reported that Olmert had initially wanted to enter into Lebanon with a significant ground force, only to accede to intelligence assessments that proved to be grossly incorrect in their estimation of Hezbollah’s missile stockpile as well as their ability to relocate and avoid detection. This occurred not only before Israel’s initial strike, but continued to be their Achilles’ heel throughout the first several weeks. Day after day, reports from the Israeli government predicted that Hezbollah had been pushed far enough north to eliminate the threat to their cities. No sooner would such statements be released when a new volley of Katyusha’s would reign down on Haifa. Unfortunately for the Olmert government, world opinion had rapidly shifted from its initial condemnation of Hezbollah to one that repudiated Israel’s disproportionate response. In hind sight it becomes obvious that Olmert’s initial instincts were correct. But I wonder if his late change in heart was a result of placing too much trust in Aman (Military Intelligence) or if it was the common weakness found in most western democratic leaders who must attempt to balance internal political realities with external strategic goals. In the end, does it matter? Many might say that the reason is unimportant in light of the fact that the result still remains an unsatisfactory standoff that leaves a ticking bomb set to announce the commencement of round two in the very near future. These are the people set to toss the baby out with the bath water. I personally want to believe that Olmert has learned a valuable lesson and will trust his gut and establish a firmer hand when the next round begins. One way to ensure that is to have America provide more than tepid back channel support. George Bush and Condi have given plenty of lip service in support of Israel, but in practice have engaged in the type of nuanced diplomacy one might have expected from a Kerry administration. The fact that a resolution was agreed upon with France, no matter how fleeting their support was, ensured a solution that lacked soundness or enforceability. It has been only a few short years since America acted in defiance of the UN and began an assault on Iraq. What has changed in three years to make us engage this august body as the ultimate arbiter of dispute? America’s support of Israel in this latest conflict is reminiscent of a playground skirmish between a persecuted kid and the school bully. With nervous anticipation, America gathered around the contestants with the rest of its classmates ready to cheer on and “stand behind” their buddy. And while their friend is taking all the punishment, everyone else criticizes the little guy’s tactics and his inability to dispose of the bully. In the end, America and its classmates dutifully report to the principal’s office to await a proper punishment to be dispensed by the higher authority. Yes, I agree with Dafydd and Bill Faith that there is plenty of room for second guessing Israel’s half-hearted response to Hezbollah, but I still maintain that America and George Bush have offered no support of substance. Instead we have smugly sat back and turned allies into surrogates in the War on Terror. This was a bad tactic used by several presidents during the cold war and certainly not something I would have expected from that same man that said “You’re either with us or you’re against us.” |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on August 21, 2006 at 12:00 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Bill Faith, Current Affairs, DisUnited Nations, G W Bush, Hezbollah, Israel, Lebanon, Politics, The Gray Dog | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack |
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A New Willy
A New Willy (Willy, British slang for the male sexual appendage; also a diminutive form of William, e.g. Slick Willy) Now don’t think me foolish, or just being silly, The Left wants a Willy to take on the Right; Yep Willy’s turned sixty, for Dems a sad day, Dems need a firm Willy for the coming election, But who wants our country run by such sillies, Russ Vaughn Webmaster's note: If you came here via a link from another site you might also appreciate My birthday gift to President Clinton. |
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Contributed by Russ Vaughn on August 20, 2006 at 12:01 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Poetry, Russ Vaughn | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack |
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The Beginning of the End
Today, August 19 is the sixteenth anniversary of one of the twentieth century’s great events. On this day began the coup against Gorbachev, which collapsed on August 22, now celebrated in Russia as Russian Flag Day. It is an event almost forgotten here, obscured by all that has happened since. And most of what is remembered, is distorted by myth and error. I was watching and I remember. I speak of the death of the Soviet Union. And even if this latest revolution has failed to live completely up to all its promise, in my opinion, Russia, and the world are better than when Brezhnev and Andropov ran things. On August 19, 1990, I was undressing for a shower when my phone rang. It was a friend from Grad school calling. "George you gotta turn on the TV now! CNN is reporting that Gorbachev has been taken ill and has been temporarily relieved of his duties!" Immediately I replied "Gorby’s illness is political, and he won’t recover. And this means the death of the Soviet Union." And I went to put on my pants and TV, thoughts of a well-needed shower delayed. By the next day, I’d heard of the so-called State Committee for the State of Emergency headed by a formerly little know Yanaev, learned that Boris Yeltsin was still at large and speaking out. And I learned he had even climbed atop a T-72B tank outside what came to be known as the Russian White House, and I knew I was dead right and Communism was just dead. As it turned out, I wasn’t quite as right as I thought. I gave the coup perhaps a month or so, six months at most, and suggested there would be civil war, with most of the army in revolt, and only the paratroops and perhaps the internal troops of the KGB and MVD backing the Committee. As it turned out, even the loyal troops failed to support the plotters. Even the KGB Alpha Group, their closest approximation to our Delta Force, temporized and evaded orders to take down Yeltsin. Within four days the army was withdrawing from Moscow back to their bases in the suburbs and the plotters had fled to the republics, soon to commit suicide or surrender. Only four citizens had been killed, accidentally run over by an armored vehicle which was trying to back out of the crowd underneath one of the bridges. Has there ever been so major and so bloodless a revolution? As I said, I was not really surprised, except by the stunning success. Yes, I know, it is part of the myth that everyone was surprised. Well, some people were. Certainly the idiots of our establishment media, and some of the renowned talking head Television Sovietologists. But for many of us the surprise was only tactical. Of course Gorbachev was surprised. That is the nature of coups. If a coup is not a surprise it tends not to happen. You’d think even a reporter could figure that one out. And every Western toady idiot who insisted on seeing the world through Gorby’s eyes, was also bound to be fooled, about this as about everything else. There were a great many others who were not surprised. For years I had been attending almost every year the annual conference of our American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, a multidisciplinary scholarly organization. Different from other academic groups such as the Modern Language Association, and various Historian, Sociologist and other academic groups. the AAASS includes members of all disciplines relating to the Soviet Union and other Slavic countries. Historians, literature and language specialists, economists, political science, etc. It also included not only academics, but also scholars from private institutions, think tanks and government. Attending these meetings and choosing my panels carefully, I regularly encountered, and became friendly with analysts from the CIA, State Department, and various military agencies as well as academics. Among the academics, there was also still a strong contingent of senior scholars opposed to Communism and Leftist blather. Of course, media representatives did not attend these meetings, nor have the patience to sit through dry presentations. They were busy flocking to the self-promoters, while I listened to the real experts, and learned whose books I should be reading. Steven Rosefielde Jake Kipp, Murray Feshbach, William T. Lee, Bruce Mennning and Robert Bauman, Stephen Blank, Michael Rwykin, and many others. All of them names famous to their peers, but unknown to the general media. And I was listening to them to their discussions of military developments, of foreign policy problems, and demographics. I distinctly remember one panel on the Future of the Soviet Army in Transition which painted a picture of the Soviet Army in collapse. At the end of the discussion, in summation the panel chair summarized that the Soviet Union was in trouble and there were several possibilities. There might be a crackdown to restore discipline, or radical liberalization beyond what had already been discussed (meaning de-communization), or there might be a revolution or a coup, but that the most likely future was that the Soviet Union "would continue to muddle on downward", that is to sink ever deeper into ineptitude and social failure, without making any dramatic attempt to change course. Though these scholars, and I, presumed there would be only a worsening crisis of Soviet failure and social turmoil, we recognized that the USSR was in a "pre-revolutionary condition", and that none of the other more dramatic alternatives could be ruled out. And the longer the situation festered, the more likely something would snap. So what were some of the specifics that my mentors and I noticed? Basically, the Soviet Union had lost its confidence and its legitimacy. Afghanistan had destroyed the prestige of the army and there was massive resistance both within the army and without. A Soldiers Union had formed and a young Major Lopatin had actually challenged the Colonel General Commanding the Warsaw pact forces for his seat in the Supreme Soviet - and then won! A Soldiers Mothers’ Committee was stirring up trouble demanding their sons be treated more humanely. And then there was conscription. The authorities expected about 10 percent compliance with the Fall call-up; but in several of the republics and cities, the compliance was between 1.5 and 4.5 percent compliance. That is, about 95 percent draft dodging! In the republics there was massive disorder and resistance both to the army and to Soviet Rule in general. There had been a demonstration in Tbilisi, Georgia which had beep put down by Soviet Troops using a supposedly non-lethal gas and entrenching tools. Twenty are killed, officially, and maybe more unofficially, 14 of them by the non-lethal gas. The local commander is scapegoated, even as evidence suggests that Gorby himself must have given the approval. Elsewhere various ethnic minorities are already engaging in civil war in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Some of the republics were even talking about splitting from the USSR. The Warsaw pact had collapsed in 1989 beginning when the Hungarians opened their borders, and culminating in December 1989 with the execution of Nicolae and Elena Ceaucescu, setting a threatening precedent for other Communist rulers. Prices on everything had suddenly risen by about 300 percent. And Gorbachev was opposing none of it. There had been an attempt in the Central Committee to remove him in April, an attempt which he had defeated only with the assistance of Boris Yeltsin, a charismatic new figure on the Moscow scene, who had previously been a successful regional manager in Siberia. The final straw may have been the planned new Union Treaty which would have devolved more rights on the individual republics at the expense of the central authority. Even in early August this new Union Treaty was seen as a challenge which the old guard would have to derail. So while I did not expect a coup at that particular time (but then as Monty Python reminds us No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!) I was hardly surprised either. This is what I got wrong. I knew things were bad in the Soviet Army, but I did not understand how bad. I presumed that the Taman Guards Motor Rifle and the Kantemirovka Guards Tank Divisions would prove loyal. What propelled me to this conclusion I cannot now remember. Just being assigned to a Kremlin Show Division should not a loyal trooper make. With somewhat more reason, even if still wrong, I also presumed that the Soviet Parachute Divisions would have higher morale, and prove mainly loyal. I forgot that they also were conscripts arbitrarily assigned. I learned later that the KGB Alpha Group had been ordered to seize Yeltsin, but their commander stalled and temporized while waiting to see which side was winning. Similarly, Air Force Air Transport Commanders stalled before turning their transports to the service of the plotters. I have also heard from reliable sources, that at the bases of the Pacific Ocean Fleet, the sailors held rallies and discussion groups to decide whom to support, and this led to the surface fleet deciding to support the plotters of the Special Committee, while the Submarine Flotilla, including their missile boats, opted for Yeltsin and began to put out to sea! The moment the coup was decided was when the mechanized troops surrounded the White House instead of moving in directly for a bloody attack. It forfeited the opportunity, and showed hesitation and weakness, and gave the crowds a chance to mingle near the unhappy and confused conscript soldiers, boys not eager to fire on their own people. Then Yeltsin climbed up on the T-72 tank, and stood on its turret to address the crowd. In such a disjointed moment, symbolism can be everything. The tide may be sifted by who captures the symbol. In April 1917, when Lenin returned to Russia, arriving at the Finland Station, the first thing he did was climb up on top of a armored car standing at the station and harangue the crowd from atop its turret, calling for all power to the Soviets and overthrow of the provisional government. The image of Lenin speaking from atop the turret of the armored car is among the most famous of Russian revolutionary icons. When Yeltsin got on top of the tank, the imagery must have been clear to every Russian. the new, anti-Lenin. With a speech from atop an armored turret, Bolshevism ended as it began, with neat symmetry. -Rurik |
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Contributed by George Mellinger on August 20, 2006 at 11:59 AM in Best of Old War Dogs, George Mellinger, Russia | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack |
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Our REAL 'Cold' Civil War
We've been through 'The Cold War' and we've been though at least one 'Civil War'. [N.B: I used Wikipedia as a resource out of sheer laziness, it's accurate enough for my purposes.] I'm about to suggest that we really need to start using labels that more accurately reflect reality. Also I'm treading lightly because OWD includes some genuine experts where I'm simply a layman forced to pose questions. I posit that we are, and have been, in a Civil War since the 60's that has many of the earmarks of The Cold War. Why is it important to accurately label such things? [Updated] We've had two 'hot' Civil Wars in this country (I include the War of Independence) both were clashes of ideologies and cultures. Both resulted in a new self identity for our country. This Cold Civil War is no less important in shaping what we will become for all it's lack of major bloodshed. We have the liberal/left and the conservative/right, each with the ideal of burying the other, but that set of labels misses a larger point. The analogy works on so many levels I'm surprised the label hasn't been explored by name by real experts. But the imperative is that it is a WAR! I rather wish there were a stronger word, but, in fact, I'd call it anything to raise the awareness of those being used to fight it. Yep! One of the analogous elements is that many are being used as proxies by both sides and don't even realize it, or maybe don't care? There is, at least, one major flaw in the analogy... The 'mutually assured destruction' element works backwards. Probably because it is a Cold Civil War. By avoiding a clear resolution we are heading for destruction. I did a Google search before I began to see what others might offered about America's Cold Civil War and all I found was this book review from a year ago. The reviewer used a liberal/left frame of reference, but actually captured much of the idea, only to head off into hyperbole. And Rurik's comment:
presents a more realistic approach, but I don't think we really have the number of genuine anarchists to stir the pot, let alone bring it to a boil. What we have in vast numbers (and on both sides) are those who are insulated from reality by the very circumstances they rail against. Said another way - I'll rock YOUR boat, but don't you dare rock mine. Which leads me to the second major flaw in the analogy, closely related to the first flaw I mentioned above. I suspect we will be witness to a sort of entropy. Entropy (also known as 'The Heat Death of the Universe') basically states that eventually the temperature of the universe will reach an average, and very low, temperature that can not sustain life. The American Spirit is being diluted, or cooled down (if you will), by our own behaviors. We can no longer 'go west' to seek adventure. The American Dream, if it ever really existed as a single thing, is no longer a focus for most of our youth. Political correctness and multiculturalism have helped dampen the fire in our belly. There seems to be no cause to unite us, nor causes powerful enough to stir us even to genuine action against each other. It isn't even the 'decadence' outsiders have been fussing about for generations, although there is an element of that. [edit] Prompted by Russ' post I'll add Spiro Agnew's now infamous quote:
And wield a broader brush to include many, if not most, on both side of the political spectrum. Our Cold Civil War seems likely to end without even the proverbial whimper let alone the bang. |
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Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf on August 19, 2006 at 02:01 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Current Affairs, Zero Ponsdorf | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack |
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Early Onset of a Seven Year Itch.
Author’s Note: Please forgive this old dog as he stumbles across all bounds of conservative decency in an attempt to embrace his feminine side to write this letter. Dear George, There comes a time in most relationships when passions wane; replaced with feelings of restless discontent and yearning. While all love is not lost, those little quirks I once thought to be cute I now recognize as character flaws and the minor imperfections that were easily overlooked have recently begun a slow but steady transformation to hideous warts my eyes can no longer avoid. When you first courted me six years ago, there were other suitors that had my eye, but it didn’t take long before you stood out in the crowd. While most of my friends tried to convince me that you weren’t the right one, I knew that you were special and held great promise. And though it was a rather short engagement, I was so proud that day you took your vow to defend and protect me. You were diligent in your work and soon were able to let us both keep more of our hard earned dollars. I have to admit that in my excitement over the larger paychecks, it didn’t bother me at first that you were running up the credit cards. I just believed in you. But more than at anytime in our relationship, it was that dark day in our first year when our home was invaded. I was devastated and in despair, while you remained calm; taking quick and decisive action. I was never so proud. Even my old friends that didn’t approve of our relationship were now beginning to have a change of heart. I felt vindicated in my choice of you as a partner. Over the next few years, there were plenty of rough times, but I was happy to face them with you. In fact I have never felt more exhilarated as I did in the months leading to our fourth anniversary. I was more than willing to share in your battles and defeat all of those that threatened our happiness. When we renewed our vows, it was just as thrilling as the first time. But now it is eighteen months since that happy occasion and I find myself questioning our union. I keep asking myself, “is it just me?” But the fact is George, the problem is you! You are not the man I first knew and there doesn’t seem to be a satisfactory explanation. And do you want to know what really hurts? More and more of my friends are badmouthing you and I feel ashamed that there are times I agree with them. Where did we go wrong? I know you work long hours and it had taken a toll on you. But even the little things you neglect are beginning to get to me. How many times do I have to ask you to put up a fence around the yard? The damn neighbors keep stomping through the flower bed and leaving trash all over the place. And the credit cards! It appears that as soon as you max one out, you get two more and start over again. That small raise you got for us isn’t enough to make the minimum payment on all of them. And if you aren’t careful, even that extra money you got for us might be taken back soon. Now, please don’t take this the wrong way, because I still believe that you’re faithful. But I am getting concerned with all of the time you’ve been spending with that Condi woman at work. Ever since you gave her that promotion you seem to be less concerned about doing your job correctly and more concerned with how you look. It’s not just me saying this George. Most of your old friends are noticing this change as well. You used to be bold, take stands and whether anyone liked what you had to say or not most people took you at your word. But in these past weeks you have really let me and your friends down. You don’t have enough friends left George to keep disappointing the few that have stuck with you. Although this is not an ultimatum, there are a few things you need to attend to if you expect any peace and contentment at home. First, do something about the next door neighbors tramping through our yard all the time. I don’t feel like I can even leave our own house some days. Secondly, cut up the credit cards and don’t apply for any more. I know we can’t pay them off all at once, but quit adding to the problem. And as far as those neighbors across the street, you’re wasting your time calling city hall. They won’t do anything, and most of that gang is in cahoots with the neighbors anyway. I think these are people you’re just going to have to deal with directly. You know, like you did before. I could threaten to leave you, but I think you know me too well to believe that I could. Besides, I’m really not interested in finding someone new at this time. I just want the old George back. You know; the tough guy who was willing to go to bat for his friends and protect me. I know you have it in you. Come back George, please. With affection, P.S. Dump that broad at work and get the damned fence up now! |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on August 19, 2006 at 12:01 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Current Affairs, G W Bush, The Gray Dog | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack |
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Big Loss in Third Major War on Terror Campaign
Afghanistan, Iraq and now Lebanon. Thus far, these are the three big campaigns in the overall War on Terror. Democrats and left-wing media pundits insist on separating the three into separate wars, but such thinking only confuses the fact that World War III is already under way. Afghanistan was a success, although Taliban remnants, supported by the usual suspects--Iran, Syria and al Qaeda--continue to operate, though on a much smaller scale. Iraq was an unqualified military success, but Washington's relative timidity in the face of Democrat and UN pressure has emboldened the terrorists and Shiite militias and enabled Iran and Syria to ship in IEDs and other weapons and military/political "advisers" with impunity. Lebanon was a the first big defeat for the forces of Western Civilization, with Israel committing too little, too late, and then backing off as the worldwide apologists for Islamofascism beat the drums for premature withdrawal. Moreover, Washington missed a golden opportunity to join with Israel to ensure that not only Hezbollah, but Iran and Syria go down for the count. The Israeli government will likely be thrown out, and deservedly so. Unlike in our own country, there are plenty of tough minded sheriffs in Israel to get that nation back on the right path. The problem with America is that, hesitant though he may be, President Bush remains the strongest proponent for pursuing the War on Terror, and he cannot run again. As in the First and Second World Wars, there will be occasional setbacks in World War III. Our only viable option is to learn from those setbacks, get tougher and drive on toward victory. Simply put, Islamofascism must be utterly and completely destroyed. The cost of terrorism needs to be so high that no one dare employ the tactic. Such were the lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The left argues that killing terrorists only begets more terrorists, but that is simply not true. Killing terrorists in a half-assed, timid, politically correct manner (with no civilian collateral damage) does indeed create more terrorists, for that is what we are witnessing now. But overwhelming force, applied with brutal efficiency to tell the enemy that resistance is futile has always worked in warfare. Germany was bombed into near-oblivion during World War II. Thousands of civilians were killed in massive bombing runs. The entire German economy was wrecked. The Wermacht was pounded into submission. The Russians retaliated for their loss of 20 million people by raping, pillaging and murdering German soldiers and civilians alike. It was not pretty. This is not to say that American soldiers should go around wantonly murdering and raping civilians, but neither should we be second-guessing and restricting them to the point where they hesitate to pull the trigger when deadly force is called for. That should have been the lesson of Vietnam. There should be no more Fallujahs. If an enemy controlled city does not submit to our power, we should give its citizens a time limit to get out of town along predetermined routes, where all would be subject to rigorous searches and suspicious persons (including virtually all men of combat age) detained in prison until they can be further sorted out. Then, when the deadline has passed, the entire city should be leveled. There should be no more Shiite or Sunni militias. Any time masked gunmen gather for demonstrations, they should be taken out with missles or bombs. And we need to go after their leaders as well. The overwhelming power of America's military must be brought to bear sufficiently so that the enemy gets the idea that our power is, in fact, overwhelming. Iran must be made to pay for inciting violence across the globe. We already know that the IEDs that are killing and maiming American soldiers are manufactured in Iran and smuggled across the border into Iraq. A price must be paid for these acts of war, and until we exact that price, the murders and mutilations will only continue. Iranian forces were actively involved in the rocket and missile atacks on Israel. Hezbollah is but an Iranian irregular militia. I am certain that if we could only connect the dots, the Iranians would be shown to have had a hand in planning or funding the aborted terrorist action against civilian airliners flying between Great Britain and the United States. They are at war with us and we refuse to recognize the obvious. The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is the worst of all possible outcomes (save a complete military rout of Israel) for the larger War on Terror. The enemy rightly claims to have achieved a strategic victory, and that victory is due solely to Israeli and U.S. timidity. The next time hostilities break out, the enemy will only be stronger. The lessons of this temporary setback ought to be clear:
Ultimately, I have confidence that we will win this thing, but it is going to take a lot more pain and a lot more deaths before we give it the seriousness it deserves. |
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Contributed by Shane Briscoe on August 19, 2006 at 11:59 AM in Best of Old War Dogs, Hezbollah, Iran, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel, Lebanon, Shane Briscoe, Syria | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack |