Peace thugs attack Iraq war veteran and his family -- video now released

Last month, I wrote about a group of unhinged peace thugs who attacked an Iraq war veteran, his wife, and his fourteen-year-old son, the Swartout family. The video of the attack is now released.

Brace yourself. It's not easy viewing. The attack happens near the end, and you'll see four of the peace thugs jump onto Carrie Swartout, hitting and kicking her. She ultimately suffered a concussion from a kick to the head. You'll see the peace thugs are the ones who pushed the conflict, who escalated the tension, who resorted to physical violence. It's disturbing.

The leader of the unhinged peace thugs seems to be the girl in the white dress and boots -- keep an eye on her.



More video at Erietube.

How is it that no arrests were made? This video makes it pretty clear that an assault had taken place.

This family did nothing to provoke this kind of attack. As they pointed out to the irate peace thugs over and over again, both groups were in a public place. The only unhinged and out-of-control people there were the peace thugs.

Hat Tip: Gateway Pundit

The editor of the Buffalo Beast responds

Remember Ian Murphy, the shithead who had such horrible things to say about our troops? You know, this stuff:

So, 4000 rubes are dead. Cry me the Tigris. Another 30,000 have been seriously wounded. Boo fucking hoo. They got what they asked for—and cool robotic limbs, too.

Likely, just reading the above paragraph made you uncomfortable. But why?

The benevolence of America’s “troops” is sacrosanct. Questioning their rectitude simply isn’t done. It’s the forbidden zone. We may rail against this tragic war, but our soldiers are lauded by all as saints. Why? They volunteered to partake in this savage idiocy, and for this they deserve our utmost respect? I think not.

The nearly two-thirds of us who know this war is bullshit need to stop sucking off the troops. They get enough action raping female soldiers and sodomizing Iraqi detainees. The political left is intent on “supporting” the troops by bringing them home, which is a good thing. But after rightly denouncing the administration’s lies and condemning this awful war, relatively sensible pundits—like Keith Olbermann—turn around and lovingly praise the soldiers’ brave service to the country.

Ian writes for a lovely rag called the Buffalo Beast. I opened my e-mail today and saw the following comment submitted for approval at Wizbang by the Beast's editor, Paul Fallon:

Just so none of you feel you got the wrong dude, the guy in the photo thatMac Lorry posted, is me but the phone number is wrong, so if you call that# you'll be harassing the wrong person. I am the publisher of The Beast. Idon't hide behind screen names like most of you pussies. The dumbmotherfuckers in this country have no conception of how close they are tobecoming the next Gestapo or Hitler youth. Then I suppose the Nazissupported the troops too. If you want to kick my ass drop me an email. Iwas in the military but I was a medic so maybe I'm not so tough. That virusshit is bogus. Watch for a counter-attack soon.

He's referring to one of Wizbang's commenters, Mac Lorry, who published contact information from the Beast's public domain.

Of course, he goes straight for the liberal talking point of how we're THISCLOSE to being herded like cattle into railcars headed straight for concentration camps, all for disagreeing with Chimpy McHitlerburton!! Apparently, if you support the troops, that makes you a Nazi!!

Gee, that's an insult conservatives have never heard. Do liberal have no imagination, no creativity? Sheesh.

Whether or not the virus part is true, the "counter-attack" threat is interesting. What, pray tell, could he have planned for us?? I'll be busy shivering in my socks and pajamas. In the meantime, someone let me know when this douche comes up with an original idea. I won't hold my breath.

Coast Guard Appreciation Day

Last Saturday, I attended the Annual Coast Guard Appreciation Day at Bing's Landing in Palm Coast, Florida. The event was hosted by the U.S. Navy League, and featured lots of great entertainment, including a performance by the Navy Southeast Ceremonial Band. There were also several displays and demonstrations, such as an interdiction of counter-narcotics, a helicopter rescue, and a Coast guard bomb-dog team demonstration. Proceeds benefitted the Northeast Florida Chapter of the Chief Petty Officer's Association.

Personnel from the following sectors were present: Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron Jacksonville, Coast Guard Air Station Savannah, Ga., Coast Guard Station Mayport, Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team from Kings Bay, Ga., and Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Jacksonville Beach.

Ensign Michael Arnett was my escort for the day, who is stationed at Sector Jacksonville. He is part of the Vessel Boarding and Security Team, which put on one of the demonstrations.

Here are some of the pictures from the event, which was extremely well-attended. It was great to see the Coast Guard get such support and appreciation from local residents.


Me with a few Coast Guard vessels in the background.


A Thunderbird on display along with several other classic cars.


One of the demonstrations of the day -- a rescue swimmer jumps out of a HH-65 Dolphin Helicopter and in these pictures, is being hoisted back in.




Sector Jacksonville Vessel Boarding and Security Team preparing for a law enforcement boarding demonstration.


Suspects have given up due to the presence of a Coast Guard helo and boarding team en route.




A Coast Guard utility boat on display.

A pirate attending chats with a Coast Guard Petty Officer.


A construction tender and aids-to-navigation vessel on display.

Lefty blogger: "So 4,000 Rubes Are Dead, Cry Me A Tigris"

There really isn't anything that can adequately prepare you for the depravity of what you are about to read, so let's just jump right into it. Here's an essay from yet another patriotic liberal. Be cautioned before clicking the link: LGF is reporting that clicking the donation link leads to a virus, so be very careful.

So, 4000 rubes are dead. Cry me the Tigris. Another 30,000 have been seriously wounded. Boo fucking hoo. They got what they asked for—and cool robotic limbs, too.

Likely, just reading the above paragraph made you uncomfortable. But why?

The benevolence of America’s “troops” is sacrosanct. Questioning their rectitude simply isn’t done. It’s the forbidden zone. We may rail against this tragic war, but our soldiers are lauded by all as saints. Why? They volunteered to partake in this savage idiocy, and for this they deserve our utmost respect? I think not.

The nearly two-thirds of us who know this war is bullshit need to stop sucking off the troops. They get enough action raping female soldiers and sodomizing Iraqi detainees. The political left is intent on “supporting” the troops by bringing them home, which is a good thing. But after rightly denouncing the administration’s lies and condemning this awful war, relatively sensible pundits—like Keith Olbermann—turn around and lovingly praise the soldiers’ brave service to the country. Why?

What service are they providing? I don’t remember ordering 300,000 dead Iraqis—although I was doing a lot of heavy narcotics back in ‘03. Our soldiers are not providing a service to the country, they’re providing a service to a criminal administration and their oil company cronies. When a mafia don orders a hit, is the assassin absolved of personal responsibility when it’s carried out? Of course not. What if the hit man was fooled into service? We’d all say, “Tough shit, you dumb Guido,” then lock him up and throw away the key.

As a society, we need to discard our blind deference to military service. There’s nothing admirable about volunteering to murder people. There’s nothing admirable about being rooked by obvious propaganda. There’s nothing admirable about doing what you’re told if what you’re told to do is terrible.

We all learned recently that the Bush administration instituted its policy of global torture during quaint White House meetings. And we already know this war was started with lies. Shame on them. But what about the people who physically carry out these atrocities? We’ve seen bad apples punished and CEO despots walk free, but all verbal and written denouncement is focused on our leaders. Surely, they deserve that and more—decapitation, really. But why can’t we be critical of the people who have actually tortured and murdered hundreds of thousands of Iraqi citizens? We deride private contractors like Blackwater for similar conduct—why are the troops blameless?

...

Again, what is heroic about involving one’s self in a foolish war, being a shitty pilot or getting tortured? Yeah, it must have sucked, but getting your ass kicked every day for five years doesn’t make you a hero—it makes you a Bad News Bear.

Here’s where America’s military lust becomes a true perversion. If we truly valued military prowess, John McCain would be viewed as a failure. But duty alone is enough to inspire our gratitude. Hence the left’s tendency to obligatorily praise the troops while decrying the sum of their actions. Good thing, too, because this war is unwinnable.

...

How despicable must a military campaign be before Americans turn on their beloved troops? After chiding the “War on Toddlers” as fool-headed and pointlessly barbaric, would Keith Olbermann still thank the troops for their service? After the “Great Grandmother Slaughter of 2010,” will the press remove the fat military cock from its mouth? Following “Operation Murder Fluffy Kittens,” will the left finally nix the “honored service” crap? No. No, they won’t.

Pat Dollard has this asshat's contact info. The piece originates out of Buffalo, New York and the author is Ian Murphy. Here's his contact info:
Ian Murphy
ian@buffalobeast.com

This little shithead doesn't understand why so many Americans have such respect and reverence for the military. Maybe it's because of the incredible sacrifice they make on a daily basis -- the risks they put themselves in, the lives they give up, the danger they face daily -- all to defend the freedoms this asshat so thoroughly enjoys.

And he's apparently not content to say he doesn't like our troops -- oh, no. He's gotta smear and slander them while he's at it. Apparently they're raping their fellow female soldiers, sodomizing Iraqis, and murdering civilians right and left.

Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, huh?

Oh, and apparently, John McCain's incredible sacrifice of being tortured daily for five years as a POW in Vietnam is meaningless -- not just meaningless, but stupid and unworthy of our gratitude.

If this guy can't understand the service our troops are making for this country, then he's an idiot. And if he can so cavalierly accuse them of such despicable acts without even a modicum of proof to show that these things are actually happening on a regular basis (which, of course, they aren't), then he isn't just stupid.

I just cannot understand what makes so many on the left hate our military so much. I just don't get it.

There's really no deep commentary I can give to you about this, beyond to say the obvious -- that this guy is a disgusting idiotic creep who must have some kind of mental disorder to look at our military the way he does. The only thing I really can say is this: that every day, I am grateful for the sacrifices that our soldiers have made, because were it not for the fact that they have been so willing to be stronger and more selfless than I am, I wouldn't have the life I had today, and I wouldn't be enjoying the freedoms I enjoy every day. And it is all thanks to our military.

Maybe this asshat should remember who it is that gives him the freedom to say such horrible things.

Hat Tip: Ace of Spades

Peace thugs attack an Iraq war veteran...

... and his family (emphasis mine).

For the second time in as many weeks, an Iraq War Veteran and his family held a Support the Troops rally across the street from the weekly "peace" protest in this college town. This week the true nature of the ‘peace’ activists was revealed for all to see. When the veteran’s 14 year old son crossed the street to videotape the protesters and their signs, the protesters became agitated and began harassing the boy. The right to record video in any public venue is long established in law and any attempt to interfere with that right is a violation of civil rights.

Seeing the escalating tension across the street, the veteran and his wife crossed over, leaving their three youngest children on the other side for safety while they went to retrieve their eldest son. Two of the female ‘peace’ protesters then attacked the veteran’s wife. When the veteran pulled one of those attackers off his wife he was jumped by four or five of the ‘peace’ people and knocked to the ground where they held him while beating him and smashing his eyeglasses.

The son pulled the remaining attacker off his mother, but the attacker managed to get in one last kick to his mother’s head with her boot. She then punched the son in his face while his mother called the police.

This all took place at a busy intersection, the mother had been knocked into the street in bumper to bumper traffic. People were visible in the windows of shops and a bar nearby. One might think someone would intervene to put a stop to the assault. One would be wrong. In a scene eerily reminiscent of the Kitty Genovese tragedy in New York, the bystanders and passers-by refused to stand up to the ‘peace’ thugs. Displaying a craven cowardice one would not have expected in middle America they would rather go on their way thankful that it was not them being assaulted. It was NOT them, today, but what about tomorrow?

When the police arrived they reviewed the video of the incident and then, astonishingly, refused to make any arrests, even when one of the ‘peace’ thugs spit in the face of on the 14 year old boy right in front of the police and they did nothing! Officers, that is an assault! I don’t know where or how they train police in Edinboro but they obviously need some refresher courses!

One of the police was very aggressive toward the veteran and his family as if they were the attackers!

Can you sink any lower? Is it possible?

It's bad enough -- horrible enough -- to attack a war veteran. But to attack his wife? His child? And all because the fourteen-year-old boy was videotaping their protest.

Sickening. There aren't really any words bad enough to describe the kinds of people who would do something like this.

Sadly, this kind of behavior has become so widespread that a website has been set up to document this attacks, named appropriately enough Peace Thugs. You can also see the extreme intolerance the "peace movement" practices. They don't want people with opposing viewpoints to be able to express them at all -- disagree with the "peace" activists, and suffer the consequences.

These people don't support our military. They don't want our troops home safe. They hate our soldiers and this is why you see recruiting offices attacked and vandalized, veterans cursed at and spat on, and in more and more cases, are physically assaulted.

And most Americans don't even know it's going on.

Our troops are the best and brightest among us. They make incredible sacrifices and take extreme risks to protect us and our rights. They shouldn't be coming home in fear of what they will have to face. We should be standing behind them -- and shunning people who pull these kinds of stunts. Our troops should know, without a shadow of a doubt, that all decent Americans are behind them. It's our responsibility to do that -- and it's the least we can do.

Hat Tip: Gateway Pundit

Gen. Petraeus to be named Centcom Commander

Gen. Petraeus is getting a well-deserved promotion.

Army Gen. David Petraeus has been asked to take over the U.S. military's Central Command, which oversees combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Associated Press.

CNN says Defense Secretary Robert Gates will make a major announcement at 11 a.m. ET.

Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno is expected to take command of coalition forces in Iraq, according to CNN and AP.

If he's confirmed by the Senate, Petraeus would replace Adm. William Fallon, who stepped down in March amid reports that he disagreed with the Bush administration's posture toward Iran.

Update at 11:09 a.m. ET: Gates says President Bush will nominate Petraeus to run Central Command and Odierno to take his place in Baghdad.

"I am absolutely confident he is the best man for the job," Gates tells reporters at the Pentagon.

He doesn't expect Petraeus to leave Iraq until late summer or early fall.

Update at 11:15 a.m. ET: Gates says he was surprised by Fallon's request to retire.

"It's my belief that General Odierno, General Petraeus and Admiral Fallon were all in exactly the same position when it came to their views of Iranian interference inside Iraq," he says. "And it is a hard position because what the Iranians are doing is killing American servicemen and women inside Iraq. And so I don't think there's any difference of view among them on that issue whatsoever."

Update at 11:55 a.m. ET: Petraeus just issued a statement: "I am honored to be nominated for this position and to have an opportunity to continue to serve with America's Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coastguardsmen, and Civilians."

Blackfive saw this coming before the rest of us did.

Lefties were rooting for Petraeus to get the promotion -- but only because they're terrified he'll run for President in 2012. I don't see Petraeus running for President, but I'd enthusiastically support him if he did!

I have to wonder what this will mean for Iraq, however. Petraeus has done an incredible job with the rebuilding and stabilization process, and handled the surge magnificently. Losing his leadership in Iraq will be a blow, indeed -- but Odierno seems to have been learning from Petraeus and hopefully will be able to step ably into the large shoes Petraeus left for him to fill.

I'll update as more details are made available.

Hat Tip: Hot Air

Ready to get the goosebumps?

Then watch this video. I work way too much to be able to have seen all of the welcome festivities for the Pope, which sucks in and of itself, but I'm especially sore to have missed this. Rosetta at The Hostages says,

If you don’t get goose bumps in the last minute you need to see a doctor.

I disagree. It took the U.S. Army Chorus, oh, two notes before I got the goosebumps. I don't think angels could have sung any more beautifully.

Enjoy:


I don't think you could find a better example of God-loving patriotism than that.

Hat Tip: Ace of Spades

Honoring Michael Monsoor

Last month, I noted that Michael Monsoor was to posthumously receive the Medal of Honor, and yesterday it became official. President Bush presented the award to Monsoor's parents in an emotional ceremony; video here.

Michelle Malkin has the transcript of the President's remarks.

Blackfive notes that virtually no MSM outlets are covering this. Michael Monsoor is the fourth Medal of Honor recipient in the War on Terror. The New York Times only felt they needed to print an embarassing 78 words about the pending award, and then had to correct the story.

Again, my sincerest gratitude and prayers go to the Monsoor family. I can only hope that all of us in this country can find it in ourselves to be worthy of your son's sacrifice.

John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Anti-war thugs protest Easter Mass

Following in the grand tradition of anti-war thugs perfectly willing to resort to violence and bullying in order to get their way, comes the newest story of anti-war assholes.

A group of anti-war protestors calling themselves "Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War" burst into Easter Mass at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago to protest the war, squirting fake blood on themselves and parishioners.

Six people were arrested at Holy Name parish's auditorium Sunday after disrupting an Easter mass to protest the Iraq war.

The group—whose female and male members identified themselves as Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War—stood up at the beginning of Cardinal Francis George's homily and shouted their opposition to the conflict, which marked its fifth anniversary last week. As security guards and ushers tried to remove them from the service, the demonstrators squirted fake blood on themselves and parishioners dressed in their Easter finery.

The red substance, which one protester later described as "stage blood," initially drew gasps and a few terrified yelps from the 600 worshipers at the mass. The shock, however, quickly transformed into anger as people booed the six while they were escorted from the parish auditorium.

"Even the pope calls for peace," the demonstrators chanted as they left. "Even the pope calls for peace."

"And so should we all," said George, drawing strong applause from the parish.

The protesters were all charged with felony criminal damage to property and two counts of simple battery for squirting the blood around the auditorium and onto worshipers' clothes, authorities said. Chicago police identified the six arrested as Donte D. Smith, 18; Ephran Ramirez Jr., 22; Ryane Ziemba, 25; Mercedes Phinaih, 18; Regan Maher, 25; and Angela Haban, 20.

George returned to his Easter homily without further addressing the disruption. A small number of worshipers, however, followed the protesters into the lobby to berate them for disrupting the service and frightening children in attendance.

"Are you happy with yourselves?" Mike Wainscott of Chicago shouted at the demonstrators as they were being handcuffed. "There were kids in there. You scared little kids with your selfish act. Are you happy now?"

In a statement issued Sunday afternoon by Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War, the group said it protested at Holy Name "to reach both Holy Name's large Easter audience—including Chicago's most prominent Catholic citizens, who commonly attend Easter mass at the church—and the many more viewers and readers of the local press, which usually extensively covers their services."

Here's video:


Do people like this really think that by protesting Easter Mass they're going to accomplish anything? I mean, honestly now. Did they think that this would endear people to their cause?

Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War describe themselves as:

... a humorous, political street threatre group composed of college students and young adults. The group was formed in October of 2006 and meets twice per month.

Does anyone find their little stunt "humorous"?

What's interesting about these kinds of anti-war thugs is how unwilling they are to have a rational debate. They just can't bring themselves to actually talk to those on the other side, to listen to what we have to say -- probably because they know that if they did, they'd lose. So they have to resort to these tactics to "win".

Interestingly, the DUmmies covered this story as well, and seemed to be split on their opinions with this protest. Some felt it was out of line. Some thought it was perfectly acceptable. Others thought that it was only out of line because it would be bad PR, and even a few conspiracy theories (it was really us warmongers!). Here's a sampling:

Bluzmann57:
There is a time and place for everything. This was neither the time nor the place. Now I am sure people in here will flame me because it always happens when I express an opinion, but f*ck it. I don't care. I am sticking by it. So I repeat, not the time, not the place. After all, Jesus was anti war. So why try to interrupt his celebration with this shit?

acmavm:
I agree. The Mass was a celebration in honor of the most peaceful human being to ever walk the Earth. If we lived by the rules he tried to teach us, we would truly live in peace.

coalition_unwilling:
"The most peaceful human being to ever walk the earth . . . " - you have got to be joking, right? First of all, there's lively debate as to whether the figure historically known as "Jesus of Nazareth" even existed. Even if the person did exist and even if the Synoptic Gospels give a reasonably reliable account of his teachings (highly questionable), the figure of the Synoptic Gospels alternates between radical pacifism and calls for violent radical change. (I can't bring the scriptural references to mind right now, but they are there within the first four Gospels.)

CatholicEdHead:
I agree. It was not the right time in the middle of Easter Sunday mass. They made many more enemies than friends.

goddess40:
this was the exact time and place for this. if this church is like our local catholic church - pushing the war and support for Bush.

anti-hate:
this is the exact time and place for this. Americans, including Catholics really need to get out of the bubble. Who cares if this upset the churchgoers. It's time to think about how the rest of the world is being inconvenienced by illegal invasions and killing. I am glad these six young people protested where they knew it would get media coverage......maybe it will wake up the comatose !

Itchinjim:
Disrupting an Easter Mass is an outrage. I don't care what your opinion of the war or the church is. This was a bullshit act and these persons should be charged with a hate crime.

earthside:
When U.S. bombs... actually fell on mosques in Iraq five years ago, killing people ... now THAT was an outrage.

Nobody got hurt ,,, just reminded in Chicago.

hifalutin:
My thoughts exactly. It makes us look as bad as 'them' if not worse on this special day.

Lydia Leftcoast:
Unlike the AIDS protests, this is totally whacko because for the most part, the Catholic church hierarchy is anti-war.

It's so far off the mark that I wonder if it has been done by agents provocateurs to discredit the anti-war movement, sort of like the masked "anarchists" who smashed windows at the WTO conference in Seattle.

And on and on. What's interesting is that the majority opinion seems to be that what they were doing was OK, just not where. Nothing wrong with squirting blood on innocent people, just don't do it in a church! Reserve your hatred and thuggery for those who deserve, like our military recruiting centers, right, DUmmies?

The entire act was an outrage, made even worse by carrying it out during Easter Mass. There was no reason for that. There's no real reason for these kind of protests, period -- why is it there's no such thing as "peaceful" protesting? -- but don't try to convince people like this idiots of that.

Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin

TMZ: Recovering missing soldiers is a "ridiculous waste"

TMZ, the celebrity gossip site, has taken a break from posting about Britney's crotch shots, celebrity sex tapes, fashion scandals, and American Idol to opine about taxes and the military. Here's what they had to say:

Former "Bachelor" bachelor Andy Baldwin just got back from the island of Palau in the South Pacific -- not on vacation, on a mission with the Navy. Now let's talk about why we the taxpayers are footing the bill on such BS.

Baldwin was among 20 military types who were on a search mission in the middle of the ocean. What, you ask, were they looking for? A B-24J bomber that went down during the war. Not Iraq. Not Vietnam. No, not Korea. We're talking WWII, as in more than 60 years ago.

Turns out, the military spends $52 million each year to find the remains of missing soldiers -- it's part of the POW/MIA program. That's all well and good depending on the circumstances. But a crash that is ancient history, at a time when the economy sucks and the Federal government is sucking the life out of everyone with taxes??

Baldwin, a Navy medic and diver, and crew found what could be human remains. We're told it's all being tested in the lab and it could take months, even years, to determine identities. At least he got a really good tan.

A poll accompanied the story asking, "Ridiculous waste?", which 48% of TMZ readers responded, "Yes".

How, pray tell, is recovering the missing bodies of soldiers who died defending our freedoms considered a "ridiculous waste" of time and money? Bringing home the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for us is the least we can do for them. It's a commitment we make to them -- in fact, accompanying the popular POW/MIA bracelets, stickers, and care decals is often the phrase "Until They All Come Home" -- and no, lefties, that does not mean cutting-and-running. It means that we won't leave any of our soldiers left behind, that we'll bring them home, no matter where they are or how much it costs to bring them home.

We have an example here in Florida of the torture it is to the families of soldiers whose fate is unknown: Scott Speicher. Scott was originally from Kansas City, KA but moved to Jacksonville, which he then made his home. He joined the Navy, becoming a pilot. He ranked as a Lieutenant Commander. His F-18 Hornet was shot down by an Iraqi surface-to-air-missile on January 18, 1991. He was originally listed as killed in action, but his status was changed to "missing-captured" in 2001. The Navy released a report saying that there was no credible evidence to conclude that he perished in the crash, and believe that he is being held by Iraqi insurgents to this day.

Speicher's name is listed on the Duval County Veteran's Memorial Wall, however --a monument erected to remember Duval County residents who have perished fighting our country's wars. No one knows for sure what happened to Speicher, though -- whether he is alive or dead. The Navy is still searching for him.

The lack of information surrounding Scott Speicher's whereabouts are torturous to his family, but also to the entire Jacksonville community. "Free Scott Speicher!" bumper stickers are a regular sight when driving around town.

Would TMZ consider it a waste if the military was able to tell the Speichers, and his community, what fate befell him? To be able to give him a proper burial, if he did perish, or rescue him, if he is still alive yet being held prisoner?

It is our responsibility to bring back Scott Speicher and all of his comrades, whether alive or dead.

If TMZ can't understand that, then that's unfortunate for them. And maybe they should just stick to writing about things they do understand, like the differences between female celebrities' genitals.

Thankfully, a good number of their readers were insulted, as they obviously understand how important it is to bring our men home. Here were some of the responses:

The military is committed to recover their own. If there is a chance to find the remains of a relative, they will do it. This is a small price the US Government pays to provide service members' families peace of mind.

Spoken by someone who has never lost a loved-one to battle. Stick to following stars, TMZ. Your commentary on US spending leaves something to be desired.

-Someone who opposes war (old and new) but who supports the veterans (old and new) who have fought them.

How could this even be spoken as a possible waste? Many soldiers in any war have been MIA. These family members would give anything to find out what happened to their loved ones and give proper respect and burial. TMZ's stance is pretty clear. Very Sad, Very Sad

I don't think it is too much, not considering they gave their lives for the freedom of this country and the freedom you have right now to report on this story and like the freedom I have to view it and comment on it.

Any American soldier that dies in a ANY war has a right to be brought home for burial! The peeps that think it is a waste obviously don't have any family in the military........

You children at TMZ have no idea of what you are talking about (again)...this program makes certain that we will bring our heroes home, no matter what, for their final resting place. Not all deaths occur in lands where the people are grateful, like the cemeteries in France...and not all deaths occur where an immediate retrieval is a possibility.

Wow, "TMZ Staff." I hope you never have to go through the experience of never knowing what happened to a missing serviceman/woman in your family. These "human remains" which you call such a waste of time and money to identify because they're, what -- too old??? -- are some family's sons, brothers, fathers, even grandfathers. Your coverage I usually find amusing and fun, but this is really callous. Have any of you "TMZ Staff" given ANY amount of time to your country (let alone your life)? Or is your definition of 'danger' the possibility of being run over by Britney Spears? Shame on you. And guess what, I'm a Democrat who is against the war but FOR our servicemen, of ALL ages in ALL wars. Go back to your hanging around on the sidewalk waiting for some vapid star to exit a coffee shop. God Bless servicemen and women who help protect America, in ANY war or action, and YOUR FREEDOM to report and OUR FREEDOM to read about every idiot star's beach butt or denial to a club.

Mary

You obviously have no idea what the word "sacrafice" means. These men DIED protecting our country. Now I know that you liberal hollywood types find this notion hard to understand but some people do love the American way of life. It's much easier to hide a continent away and criticize every move this country makes than to put on a uniform and fight. If there was only $1 left in the budget it should go to this recovery effort because without those pilots there would not be an America. Get a clue and stick to the celebs. You people are a disgrace and a joke. I think Britney just left for the gas station. Now run along.

Those sacred bones belong to US.

The sacrifice made must be honored and respected.

I object to Welfare, giving money to people who can but refuse to work!

Hat Tip: Hot Air

Five years in Iraq

Today marks five years that we've been in Iraq.

Here's an excerpt from President Bush's speech today about the war:

Five years into this battle, there is an understandable debate over whether the war was worth fighting ... whether the fight is worth winning... and whether we can win it. The answers are clear to me: Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision – and this is a fight America can and must win.

Over the past five years, we have seen moments of triumph and moments of tragedy. We have watched in admiration as 12 million Iraqis defied the terrorists, went to the polls, and chose their leaders in free elections. And we have watched in horror as al Qaida beheaded innocent captives, and sent suicide bombers to blow up mosques and markets. These actions show the brutal nature of the enemy in Iraq. And they serve as a grim reminder: The terrorists who murder the innocent in the streets of Baghdad want to murder the innocent in the streets of American cities. Defeating this enemy in Iraq will make it less likely we will face this
enemy here at home.

A little over a year ago, the fight in Iraq was faltering. Extremist elements were succeeding in their efforts to plunge Iraq into chaos.

My Administration understood that America could not retreat in the face of terror. We knew that if we did not act, the violence that had been consuming Iraq would have worsened, spread, and could eventually have reached genocidal levels. Baghdad could have disintegrated into a contagion of killing, and Iraq could have descended into full-blown sectarian warfare. So we reviewed our strategy – and changed course in Iraq. We sent reinforcements into the country in a dramatic policy shift that has become known as “the surge.”.

The surge has done more than turn the situation in Iraq around – it has opened the door to a major strategic victory in the broader war on terror. For the terrorists, Iraq was supposed to be the place where al Qaida rallied Arab masses to drive America out. Instead, Iraq has become the place where Arabs joined with Americans to drive al Qaida out. In Iraq, we are witnessing the first large-scale Arab uprising against Osama bin Laden, his grim ideology, and his terror network. And the
significance of this development cannot be overstated.

I don't really want to get into a huge debate over the war in Iraq.

Instead, I ask all of you today to simply stop and think about those making the sacrifices in it to ensure our freedom and our safety. Think about the troops who are in Iraq right now; think about the troops who have come home safely. Think about the troops who are preparing themselves to go; think about the troops recovering in Walter Reed and other military hospitals. Think about those who have died fighting; think about those who are left behind, hoping and praying their loved ones will come home safely. Think about those grieving the loss of their son or daughter, husband or wife, brother or sister; those grieving the loss of someone who was much more than a friend, but a comrade.

Just remember.

That's all I ask of you today. Remember. And be thankful.

Michael Monsoor to receive the Medal of Honor

Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor, who threw himself onto a grenade in Ramadi to save the lives of two of his fellow SEALs, will receive the Medal of Honor. His family will be at the White House April 8th to accept the award.

A California-based SEAL who threw his body on a grenade to save his comrades in Iraq will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor, a Defense Department official has confirmed.

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor, of Garden Grove, Calif., was holed up on the roof of a Ramadi house with three other SEALs on Sept. 29, 2006, when an insurgent grenade landed nearby.

Monsoor, a 25-year old with SEAL Team 3, grabbed the grenade and clutched it to his chest. The blast killed him, but his actions, officials said at the time, saved the men on the rooftop.

Monsoor will be the second member of the Navy to receive the Medal of Honor since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began, and the first sailor to receive it for combat in Iraq.

Michael Fumento, who’s written about Monsoor and combat operations in Ramadi, reported on his Internet blog over the weekend that Monsoor’s family would receive the posthumous award on the fallen SEAL’s behalf during a White House ceremony April 8.

A Defense Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the award had been approved.

Here's video:


It's hard to watch videos or read stories like these of heroes who gave their lives for their country and their comrades. But we must remember them.

To the Monsoor family, you have my sincerest gratitude, and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, along with millions of Americans across the country. May we be worthy of your son's sacrifice.

John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Hat Tip: Hot Air

9-year-old's dream of being a soldier comes true, and no, it's not a weird dream.

Nine-year-old Ethan Coleman has one dream.

He doesn't care about going to Disney World. He doesn't want a big-screen TV. He doesn't want to meet anyone famous. He doesn't want to meet football players and he doesn't want to go to Hawaii.

See, Ethan is a sick little boy. He has focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a kidney disease that means he'll be on medications for the rest of his life, including have to take six teaspoons of fish liver oil a day, and may one day need a kidney transplant. And the Make-A-Wish Foundation, that wonderful organization that grants wishes to sick children, wanted to grant him a wish.

They offered him all of the above things. To each he said no. Ethan had only one wish, one dream which unfortunately cannot come true: to be an Army soldier. He wouldn't budge, so the Army and the Make-A-Wish Foundation made his wish come true, and Ethan got to be a soldier for a day:

Debbie Coleman cannot say why, exactly, her son, Ethan, decided he wanted to be a soldier.

Correction: an Army soldier.

She knows only that it began as one might suspect: with video games and toy soldiers. I picture here the little plastic men my brother and I played with, the poor fellows who flew helmeted head over firmly planted feet through the air, only to die by firecracker.

But what for Ethan began at 7 years old with toy soldiers led to camouflage- style clothing and sheets, to voracious reading of all things Army and computer printouts of vehicles, which he learned to identify.

And this dream, unlike his pro football player fantasy, did not pass.

...

They cannot take away his kidney disease, which is Ethan's first desire. But what about a vacation trip, a chance to meet someone famous, a big-screen TV?

We are, however, talking of one 9-year-old and his very particular wish:

He would like an Army base to relocate into his backyard.

Not gonna happen, mom says.

Maybe you could meet the Kansas City Chiefs, she counters.

"But Army, Army, Army," Debbie tells me. "It all kept coming back to the Army, and you know as much about why as I do. We have no military in our family."

There's Disney World, the Make-A- Wish lady says. Half the Make-a-Wish kids choose Disney World. Or Hawaii.

Look, his mom says, I will even fly on a plane if you want to go to Disney World. And mom is terrified of flying.

Not even Mickey Mouse sways him.

The Army pulled out all the stops on this one. Maj. Cort Hunt, commander of the local Military Entrance Processing Station, put the offer out to Make-A- Wish late last year, not sure anyone would take it. Hunt has arranged for Ethan to go through the same drill as any other recruit today. They plan to test him and his buddy, Jake Smith, fingerprint them, hand them uniforms and swear them in.

And so this is how Ethan Moyer, a fourth-grader from Emporia, Kan., finds himself in Denver Sunday night, in a fancy conference room with an Army recruiter and glass pitchers of ice water and a bunch of people hanging on to his every word because no Make- A-Wish kid picks being a soldier.

We forget what it is like to be 9 years old and building cities out of cardboard boxes and positioning soldiers as lookouts in a battle in which there are no countries and no politicians, where nothing is permanent and the only truth is that there will always be good guys and bad.

So, Ethan does what you'd expect a 9-year-old with everyone looking at him to do:

Freezes.

His "recruiter," Sgt. 1st Class Nancy Alessandri, manages to get out of him that he likes to play Army video games and play basketball and that he wouldn't mind an Army job that would let him be a bomber on a tank.

"I'm told you like Special Forces," she says. "What do you like?"

"That you get to sneak up on people."

Of course.

During a break, I take him out into the hall and we sit on the floor and he tells me how he sets up his cardboard cities and his tanks and we talk about how far soldiers can fly and how many men a tank can take out. Then I tell him they might ask him to do push-ups today and ask him if he's ready.

Push-ups, smush-ups.

"I do push-ups every morning," Ethan says. "I can do 15. And I can do 20 sit-ups."

He drops in a plank and pulls off a stunner of a push-up. Then he sits backs on his knees and grins, a 9-year-old boy on the edge of a dream.

He wanted an Army base in his backyard so he could be a soldier all the time.

This story is inspiring and heavy on the "Awww!" factor. But one thing bothered me.

Why is a nine-year-old boy's dream of being a soldier so perplexing to everyone in this story? Have little boys finally become so feminized -- the dream of the Gloria Steinems and Catherine McKinnon's of the world -- that dreaming of being a soldier is weird? His mom says she has "no idea" where he got it from because there's "no military" in their family.

What, dreaming of being a soldier and fighting for your country is only normal if there was a dad or an uncle or a big brother who was a soldier? And I don't understand why they seemingly wanted to talk him out of being an Army soldier for a day. What dream is there that is more admirable than that? The values that are intrinsic to being a soldier are the ones you'd think parents would be falling all over each other to instill into their sons -- courage, honor, integrity, teamwork, strength, love of country.

Boys by their very nature want to be soldiers, cops, firemen. Boys don't play Mickey and Minnie Mouse in their backyards, they play G.I. Joe, Cops and Robbers, games that involve goods guys vs. bad guys. It's not weird or unusual for any little boy to dream of being a soldier, even if there's no military in their family. And it's a great dream for them to have, one to be encouraged.

Our military attracts the best and brightest among us, which is probably why Ethan was so drawn to it, and it's great that the Make-A-Wish Foundation was able to partner with the Army to give Ethan his wish of being a soldier for a day.



Hat Tip: Blackfive

The last letter home

Make sure to read this story about the hardest letter a commander will ever write: the last letter home to the family of his fallen soldiers. Be ready; it's a tearjerker.

"How do you start a letter like this? How do you end it?"

On a raw November morning here, along the wild frontier bordering Pakistan, Lt. Col. Michael Fenzel spoke those words as he sat down to write to a father who would never see his son again.

Images ran through the colonel's mind. His own two toddler boys, growing up quickly every day he is away at war; the parents of Private First Class Jessy Rogers, whose own child would be forever 20 years old, his age when insurgents detonated a bomb under his Humvee.

...

Meantime, last October, Lt. Col. Fenzel had written his own letter to Ms. Hepner, 47, who owns a small office- and house-cleaning business in Woodstock. "It has been almost a month since we lost your brave son Thomas to enemy fire," it began. "And the days that pass in between don't make it any easier to be without our brother, your son."

The colonel went on to describe how, during the fatal ambush, PFC Wilson manned his machine gun "bravely and brilliantly" in an intense, 30-minute firefight, before he was shot. His actions saved the lives of 10 other paratroopers, the colonel wrote.

"Please also know that you have gained nearly 800 of Thomas's brothers as your sons, if you'll have us," he wrote to Ms. Hepner.

It was the message she wanted to hear. "What more can a mother ask for," she says, "than knowing that he died in the arms of people who loved him?"

Two letters are included with the article for you to read. Be sure to have your tissue box ready.

Hat Tip: Blackfive

Chris Cuomo: Harry was in Afghanistan because he's "expendable"

How quickly do you think he'll put out an apology for this display of asshattery?

Check out Good Morning America co-host Chris Cuomo saying that Prince Harry was in Afghanistan because he's "expendable":

Did your jaw drop watching that? Mine sure did.

So what does this mean? That unless you're second in line to become a King, that you mean nothing? What a huge slap in the face to service members everywhere. Hey, guess what guys? According to the GMA co-host, you're serving overseas because you're expendable! It doesn't matter if you die!

What a fucking piece of shit that Chris Cuomo is.

(I have never used the f-word on this blog before, but I think this asshat deserves it.)

I know, I know, most liberals look down their noses at our service members, but all the same... keep your dirty thoughts to yourself, would you?

And as far as Prince Harry is concerned... the rest of us sane people salute you. I personally find his story to be one of incredible courage and selflessness, and I think what he did was incredibly admirable, until someone had to go mess it up (way to go, Drudge).

And no, Chris "Douchebag" Cuomo. No servicemember is "expendable" just because they aren't next in line to a throne, or wealthy, or powerful, or whatever it is that makes you think someone is inexpendable. But I can tell you one thing right now -- each and every member of our military is more important, and more admirable, than you are and ever will be. You're just an MSM peon; you don't deserve to lick their boots.

Hat Tips: Newsbusters, The Jawa Report, and Blackfive

"My Daddy Was Killed"; Can you help McKinnzie Bewley?

On November 5, 2007, Kevin Bewley made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Petty Officer Bewley died trying to disable an explosive while working in the Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11.

His family has set up a web site to remember Petty Officer Bewley, and also to collect donations for his daughter, McKinnzie. She was born four months premature and suffers from cerebral palsy.

Here are the remarks from his commanding officer at his memorial service:

Over the centuries, there have been those individuals that are identified as different. Alone they are confident and proud, they are intensely loyal and brave. As a band of brothers they are nearly invincible.

We have had many names for this group, they have been called Spartans, they have been called knights, in some cultures they are called braves, but most appropriately they are called warriors. Whatever their moniker, it is to these men that civilization turns when threatened. They are the protectors, they are the saviors and they are the keepers of the peace.

Kevin Bewley was one of them. Kevin Bewley was an American fighting sailor. Kevin Bewley was a warrior.

Among warriors Kevin stood out, not because of his stature or his physique, but because of his character, one built on courage and conviction.

He first entered the service in the National Guard, followed by the United States Navy, where he found his home. As a parachute rigger Kevin was responsible for the safety of hundreds of brothers in arms. He was their final hope for survival if their aircraft failed or their primary parachute did not open. But Kevin soon realized he was unsatisfied so he chose the road less traveled, he chose to become an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician. It is while within this warrior elite group that Kevin's character propelled him to success.

An EOD technician's primary goal is to protect life and property, to place himself between the deadly weapons of the enemy and the innocent.

From his first day, Kevin's enthusiasm was without equal. This role was perfectly suited for him. Even as he came to understand the full magnitude of his new career and the enormity of the responsibility, he never faltered.

He trained and supported his teammates with a quiet, focused confidence. His natural curiosity and need to understand how things worked became invaluable traits as he learned the skills to disarm the enemy's deadly devices.

He sought out ways to do his job better with less, knowing that sometimes when performing dangerous tasks in a barren desert some 3,000 miles away, he would need to rely on his wits and ingenuity to survive.

His favorite movie "Alone in the Wilderness" chronicled the life of "Dick" Preneke in the wilds of Alaska. Mr. Preneke used his intellect to overcome incredible odds. Kevin forced his family and teammates to endure this film over and over again and, like the main character, Kevin became driven with mastering his environment. He strove tirelessly to understand every detail of the equipment he used and the problems he would face.

He quickly became the "go to" guy on his team for technical advice. Technically sound, incredibly focused and unwaveringly brave, Kevin was all a warrior could be.

On the day that he was taken from us he did everything correctly. He used his vast knowledge and technical expertise to accomplish his vital mission, to protect innocent civilians and clear the way for his fellow warriors. On that day he was armored by today's finest technology and by the mettle of his outstanding character.

But on that day the enemy got a vote. On that day evil triumphed over good.

The war in which our nation is embroiled is not over. The example that Kevin has set is not lost. He was our brother, a member of a sacred fellowship sworn to defend our constitution. And within that fellowship he was a hero, one of the nation's greatest sons. His courage and character have branded the hearts of each and every one of us.

His mark is burned deep and with each beat of our hearts, we feel Kevin's presence. Because of his courage, we are fortified to continue and we are emboldened to prevail.

From the warriors of EODMU-11, from the EOD community, from the United States Navy and from a grateful nation, Kevin Bewley, we thank you for your friendship and for your brotherhood.

You will not be forgotten.

Kevin was a warrior and a hero who laid down his life protecting our freedoms; it is the least we can do to donate a few bucks to help out his daughter. You can donate on his web site, or you can mail cash or checks to the following address:

Navy Federal Credit Union
275 SE Cabot Dr
Oak Harbor, WA 98277

Make Checks Payable To:
EODMU-11 Memorial Fund ICO Kevin Bewley. Access#4780693

Please keep his family, friends, and fellow sailors in your thoughts and prayers. If you can spare it, send a few dollars McKinnzie's way. As Ed Morrisey observes:

Kevin Bewley gave his life to his country; maybe his country could give some of its attention to his little girl.

Amen, Ed.

Hat Tip: Hot Air

Military life is not an episode of "Army Wives".

As many of you know, my significant other is recently home from a 15-month deployment in Iraq. Going through a deployment is difficult for us here left behind; obviously, it doesn't compare to what our men and women are experiencing, but it isn't exactly a cakewalk. It's not an episode of "Army Wives" either, a ridiculous excuse for a poorly performed soap opera. It does not even slightly resemble real life.

The inspiration for this blog came from Rachel Lucas, whose other half is being called to service to go to Iraq. She made a very good point today:

I want to know about it for myself but also for others, because although I know people mean well, I’ve noticed something about their reactions when they find out Rupert’s being deployed: they look at him as though he’s just been diagnosed with cancer or has just been given the death penalty.

Man, is that the truth.

Whenever I would tell people Michael was in Iraq, they would suddenly get this expression on their face usually only reserved for funerals. They'll put what I guess they feel is a sympathetic arm around me, or give me a hug, or whatever, and say, "Oh, I'm so sorry," or, "Oh, honey, I'm sure he'll be fine." It. Drove. Me. Crazy. Michael knew what he was getting into when he enlisted; it was after 9-11, and we were at war. I knew what I was getting into when I started dating him. It's part of the package. Do I like him being away for excessively long periods of time, or knowing that he may not come home? Not in the least. It's difficult and scary and lonely and stressful. But I am unbelievably proud of him, of his strength and his willingness to step up and do what needs to be done. And I'm grateful to him, as I am to all our men and women serving, for being willing to protect the freedoms we so take for granted here. I'd rather hear people say, "Tell him thank you," because there's no need to be sorry or offer reassurance.

That said, here's a few things you should never, ever say to someone whose loved one is currently deployed overseas.

Aren't you afraid that he'll be killed?
This kind of goes under the "duh!" category. And yes, people ask that. All. The. Time. Yes, of course we're afraid that he'll be killed. It's a fear that you never completely forget about; at best, you can push it to the back of your mind. And of course, being reminded of that fear is often the highlight of my day! (Sarcasm off.)

OH, that's horrible...I'm so sorry!
Don't. Be. Sorry. He's doing his job. Be appreciative. Take a minute to realize that everything you have in your comfortable little life is possible thanks to those men and women who are doing that "horrible" job.

Wow, you must really miss him.
No, I don't miss him at all! I'm a mindless robot who can automatically turn love on and off! The second he boards that plane to go to war, I can flip that switch and not worry about it until he comes back! Seriously... of course we miss them. I missed Michael every day and for the most random reasons. I missed being able to go to the movies with him, I missed waking up next to him in the morning, I missed holidays with him... there are a million different reasons you find to miss them every single day, but each day you find a way to keep on trucking.

How much longer until he gets done with all of this?
This is annoying in its condescension. For Michael, and a lot of soldiers like him, there is no "getting done with all of this". He, like many soldiers, loves his job and, like many of them, keep signing up. It's a lifestyle, not just a job.

I don't know how you manage. I don't think I could do it.
This, again, is annoying in its condescension. I know, it's intended to be a compliment. It isn't. No one dreams of doing this job. No one wanted to be alone for significant portions of their relationship, keeping their cell phones with them always, even in the bathroom and shower, just in case he calls. We aren't any different than anyone else; we just happened to fall for a man (or woman) who is a soldier. You put all your efforts into being a good support system for them while they're gone. You find a way to cope.

This deployment shouldn't be so bad, now that you're used to it.
News flash: it never gets easy. Yes, you can learn how to cope. Yes, you can find ways of distracting yourself for a little while so you aren't constantly worrying every minute of the day. But it never gets to be "easy", no matter how many deployments you go through, and just because our guys may have been there more than once, it doesn't mean they're miraculously invincible.

Oh, I know exactly what you're going through. My husband/wife had to go on a business trip to _________ for a month, and it was awful!
While I can appreciate that being away from your significant other for any period of time is not fun, it is not the same thing as what our guys are going through. The only way it would compare is if while on this "business trip" they were away for 12 - 18 months, while dodging bullets, mortars, RPGs, IEDs, and God knows what else, living in cramped quarters with 2 - 3 other people, working 20 hour days in 120 degree heat while wearing body armor and gear that can weigh up to 75 lbs, and having no idea when the next time you'll talk to your loved ones is. It is not the same thing as being at war in Iraq or Afghanistan. Saying you know what we're going through because of some measly business trip where you husband or wife gets to stay in a comfortable hotel room with clean sheets and hot showers, three meals a day, eight hours of sleep a night, and reliable phone service that lets you talk to your family several times a day is kind of an insult.

Yes, if you're wondering, every single question listed above is one I have been asked by people fairly regularly. I know people don't mean to be insensitive or thoughtless. I know they just want to to feel like they can relate to us, or they're curious, or whatever the case may be. But so often, people don't think about what they're actually saying.

By all means, these "trials and tribulations" are nothing compared to what our troops go through in Iraq and Afghanistan. But when you're thinking about and praying for our troops, remember the ones who are left behind as well... the mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. Military life is not an episode of "Army Wives". Conflicts don't get wrapped up in 42 minutes; deployments don't get cut short because the wife wants them to be. Stays in Walter Reed aren't only for a day or two; soldiers do not always come home surly and violent because they're stricked with PTSD. Real life is so much different than that piece-of-crap show.

Don't feel sorry for us or for our soldiers. Be grateful and appreciative, and remember the families left behind as well.

Support our paratroopers fighting in Afghanistan

Matt Burden at Blackfive is asking for us to step it up and show some support to our soldiers -- paratroopers, to be specific -- fighting in Afghanistan. Here's why:

Even though spring hasn't officially arrived the snow line is beginning to move up the mountains in Kunar and surrounding provinces in Afghanistan. The Taliban have already begun attacking the KOP, Firebases and Observation Points where elements of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team from Bamberg and Schweinfurt, Germanicenza, Ily, are deployed. Almost 4,000 Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne), 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne) and 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry were deployed to Kunar and surrounding provinces in Afghanistan in May 2007 for a 15 month rotation. This region of eastern Afghanistan in the Hindu Kush mountains bordering Pakistan has been designated the most dangerous place on earth for military personnel.

This winter has been particularly harsh. Many of the Soldiers are living in mud huts and tents with little or no heat, no running water, intermittent use of generators, supply drops via air to drop zones that require a hike of up to 40 minutes each way in order to retrieve the supplies, 30+ days out on missions at the firebases without showers or daily hot meals before rotating back to the KOP or Camp Blessing for hot showers, hot meals and the ability to communicate with their families and friends.

The Sky Soldiers have trudged through up to seven feet of snow on patrols day in and day out often at altitudes of 7,000 feet and higher. Each Soldier carries between 60 and 100 pounds of gear on these patrols. They Soldier-On each day despite the loss of many friends and comrades and substantially high numbers of wounded. Untold numbers of great Americans have provided amazing amounts of support to these Soldiers during this deployment. Public, private and civic organizations have provided direct support or indirect support.

A recent article by Elizabeth Rubin in the New York Times painted one Platoon of this Brigade in a less than favorable light. The article sensationalized the facts in a negative way, which served only to cause undue stress on the Soldiers and family members. The author failed to mention successes within the Brigade such as substantial humanitarian aid (tons of food and clothes) delivered to local villages, medical care for local children and adults, road projects, clean water projects, training of Afghan National Army personnel, distribution of school supplies, etc.

Historically, spring is a time of heavy fighting in this region as the terrorists and insurgents emerge from their caves after the harsh winter temperatures and snows. Let's show these Soldiers how much support they have from home to help them through the spring and the remainder of this long and dangerous deployment.

Our paratroopers are in the fight of their lives and they need to hear that America loves them.

Please send an email of support to skysoldiers173rd@gmail.com

Or you can mail cards to:

Leta Carruth
P O Box 100
Cordova, TN 38088

These e-mails and messages are to help boost the morale of these brave soldiers who are obviously doing some incredibly difficult work in Afghanistan, and on top of that, are risking their lives day in and day out. But each day they find the strength to keep going, to soldier on.

Let's show them that we have the strength to keep supporting them back home, no matter what our traitorous, terrorist-loving media may want them to think.

It will take you all of thirty seconds to send a quick e-mail to say thank you, and if you're reading this right now, you obviously have internet access. So what are you waiting for? There's so much we can do to support our troops fighting overseas, and sending an e-mail or a letter is one of the easiest ways. The last time Blackfive asked us to show our support -- to Marines in Iraq -- so many people responded that the e-mail address had to be shut down due to bandwitdh issues. It doesn't take much effort on our part; so let's crash that inbox again, and show them the overwhelming support that we Americans have for them!

Hollywood pays tribute to the military the only way they know how

Well, last night was the Oscars. I didn't watch -- I don't find it particularly entertaining to watch already-smug actors, directors, producers, and the rest of the Hollywood establishment rub shoulders and celebrate their profound awesomeness, which is all the Oscars (and every other award show) really is about.

I did see today, however, that the Academy decided to pay tribute to our troops by letting some of our soldiers in Baghdad introduce the award for Best Documentary.

There was the good:


And the bad:


The winner, Taxi to the Dark Side by Alex Gibney and Eva Orner is about the military committing acts of torture around the world.

I wonder how it went when the Academy decided to let them introduce a category.
- "Hey guys, let's do something to pay tribute to the troops."
- "Yeah, that's a good idea. What category should they introduce?"
- "How about the one where the winner is a film about how sick and twisted our military is?"
- "The one where it shows the troops committing all kinds of torture?"
- "Yeah, that one."
- "Sweet, let's do it! It'll be perfect."
- "Yeah, they're just killing babies and raping goats over in Baghdad anyways."
- "They're probably too stupid to get it."

I guess we shouldn't really be too surprised, though. This if, after all, the only way Hollywood knows how to show support to our troops. They can't do so without finding some way to sully that tribute. But, well, high five for trying!

Well... maybe a low five.

Hat Tips: Hot Air and Michelle Malkin

"We've served this nation to protect the likes of ingrates like you."

They don't belong here; they shouldn't have come here; and they should leave.
- Berkeley mayor Tom Bates

Move America Forward is fed up with Berkeley, like many of us disgusted with their treatment of the military there.



The Army veteran in the ad, John Bringuel, is no stranger to the military hatred festering in Berkeley. In 1965, he spoke up against the anti-military bias there, and forty-three years later he's standing up for the military again. Hot Air
has an excerpt of his 1965 letter concerning the Berkeley ingrates:



Why the animosity towards Berkeley instead of the Code Pink traitorous moonbats? Because Berkeley isn't just looking the other way, they're active participants, encouraging the moonbats and publicly declaring that they want the Marines -- who they call "uninvited unwelcome intruders" and "barbaric" gone. The Berkeley City Council passed a resolution claiming that the recruiting office "is not welcome in the city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders." They've also given the moonbats their own designated parking spot in front of the office as well as a sound permit, so they can be as loud and disruptive as they wish.

Jim DeMint, as I mentioned yesterday, is moving to block all earmarks to Berkeley until they stop this atrocity.



Visit Move America Forward's website and sign the petition there. This situation has gotten disturbingly little attention in the mainstream media, but that doesn't mean you can't make your voice heard. Maybe it's time for the Berkeley City Council to start stocking up on white feathers:

Berkeley City Council
2180 Milvia Street
Berkeley, CA 94704

Mayor Tom Bates
2180 Milvia Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us