Memorial Day is here, as this is written - watched the National Symphony with hosts Gary Sinise, Ed Harris and Joe Mantegna honor our fallen heroes - am not afraid to say I shed a few tears, as their stories of our Nation's warrior elite often ended in tragedy. Most striking, the Police Action, non-war in Korea cost America 36,000 confirmed fatal casualties.
I am also now reminded that the freedoms our service men and woemen willingly died for are secure only so long as we, the living beneficiaries of their sacrifice, fight for them daily. Our federal government, be it a Republican or Democrat Administration grows more powerful each day as well. A Commander-in-Chief, who has the Absolute Power to kill anyone in the entire world by merely telling a subordinate to "make it so", and in minutes 10,000 miles away a NCO operating a Joy Stick in front of a computer screen does exactly that - no fuss, no muss - is no longer a science fiction drama.
Such immense power, may or may not corrupt absolutely (it does), but it most certainly requires the checks and balances of our Constitution, starting with the free press - unafraid to hold the Executive accountable for it abuses. Accordingly, the recent DOJ declaration that Fox New's James Rosen is a criminal conspirator having joined a spy operation is anathema to the proper role of our free press.
Indeed, were President Obama to have a son, he would be just like James - hard working, industrious, smart and honest to a fault. Absolutely no one in the entire world believes that James Rosen is criminal; well. with the one possible exception of Inspector Cleauseau Holder who signed off on the affidavit asserting James' criminality; but that was before he testified under oath before Congress and completely forgot that he had endorsed this declaration.
Such a memory lapse by Holder is quite explainable, like pulling on a Drone Hell Fire missle joy stick, do it enough times and its just another day at the office.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Memorial Day 2013
Well, here it is, the Unofficial start of Summer - with snow falling in the higher elevations of the northeast, Al Gore be mystified, and cold. Nonetheless, irrespective of the inhospitable weather (and remember its not like the frozen (25 below F.) Chosen Reservoir in November 1950), we should all take time out from Mom, apple pie and baseball to recognize the sacrifices of those heroes who now rest in peace in our nation's cementaries from Sea to Shining Sea.
So many young lives given freely to defend our most cherished freedoms - free speech, freedom of the press, free exercise of religion, freedom to bear arms and the freedom to assemble and petition the government fro redress of grievances.
Indeed, the Bill of Rights is a collection of immortal ideas that are worth dying for. Still, war is the most inhuman, most repulsive, most detestable activity ever conceived by mankind. President Obama, therefore, is to be given credit for his steadfast commitment to ending our "forever" wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, while staying out of Libya and Syria. Staying away from (or removing) American boots on the ground in these internecine conflicts is definitely credit worthy.
What is not good policy, in my judgment, is for the President to speak before the National Defense College to announce that the Global War on Terror has been ended by an American Executive Order. Great, by the One's Proclamation of Peace in our Time, the terrorists - or to name our Enemy accurately, the radical Islamic Jihadists - have been ordered to stand down - very reassuring, unless you are a unarmed British soldier,walking peaceably down a London Street;
or, marathon race spectators standing peaceably on a Boston Street;
or, 13 unarmed American soldiers sitting at plastic tables at Fort Hood, Texas;
or, an American Ambassador and three fellow heroes working for us peaceably in Benghazi;
It is clear on this Memorial Day weekend that the War being waging against Western Civilization by the Radical Islamists will not end by the signing of a Peace Treaty on the deck of the Missouri. It is equally clear that these Jihadists will not end their mass killings because President Obama gave a speech at a venue that our national security apparatus could not even secure against one intemperate woman. When one Code Pink lady can confront, and for a period of time silence, the most powerful official in the world, my firm conviction is that it a mite premature to raise the "Mission Accomplished" banner just yet.
So many young lives given freely to defend our most cherished freedoms - free speech, freedom of the press, free exercise of religion, freedom to bear arms and the freedom to assemble and petition the government fro redress of grievances.
Indeed, the Bill of Rights is a collection of immortal ideas that are worth dying for. Still, war is the most inhuman, most repulsive, most detestable activity ever conceived by mankind. President Obama, therefore, is to be given credit for his steadfast commitment to ending our "forever" wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, while staying out of Libya and Syria. Staying away from (or removing) American boots on the ground in these internecine conflicts is definitely credit worthy.
What is not good policy, in my judgment, is for the President to speak before the National Defense College to announce that the Global War on Terror has been ended by an American Executive Order. Great, by the One's Proclamation of Peace in our Time, the terrorists - or to name our Enemy accurately, the radical Islamic Jihadists - have been ordered to stand down - very reassuring, unless you are a unarmed British soldier,walking peaceably down a London Street;
or, marathon race spectators standing peaceably on a Boston Street;
or, 13 unarmed American soldiers sitting at plastic tables at Fort Hood, Texas;
or, an American Ambassador and three fellow heroes working for us peaceably in Benghazi;
It is clear on this Memorial Day weekend that the War being waging against Western Civilization by the Radical Islamists will not end by the signing of a Peace Treaty on the deck of the Missouri. It is equally clear that these Jihadists will not end their mass killings because President Obama gave a speech at a venue that our national security apparatus could not even secure against one intemperate woman. When one Code Pink lady can confront, and for a period of time silence, the most powerful official in the world, my firm conviction is that it a mite premature to raise the "Mission Accomplished" banner just yet.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Why Sean Smith, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods Still Matter
Ambassador Stevens will always be the face of the Benghazi scandal, which is okay so long as we never forget the lives, and brutal deaths, of Sean, Glen and Tyrone. Sean Smith's life story is particularly poignant. He is the only child of Pat Smith. Ms. Smith will obviously not be getting any flowers, calls or visits for Mother's Day, and she just wants to know why her life is now and forever bereft of a son's love.
At the Airport Hanger Memorial Service for our four dead Americans, Hilliary Clinton made only one promise to Pat Smith - that the Administration would get and punish severely the Maker of the movie trailer entitled "The Innocence of Muslims." Having swiftly fulfilled that commitment (and finding no obstacle in the First Amendment protections afforded movies) Hilliary has "moved on" as the saying goes to her new and full life - being paid a minimum honorarium of a reported $175,000.00 per speech.
Still freely speaking to anyone who will listen, knowing that her life will not move on until she obtains an answer to why her son died alone and unprotected, Pat Smith knows that she - and the American people - deserve far better than Hilliary's incredibly arrogant dismissal of how Sean's life ended: "What difference does it make now?"
Indeed, finding and bringing to Justice the Benghazi terrorists would honor Sean, Tyrone, Steve and Glen in the most meaningful fashion. Obama's failure to do so constitutes the most egregious and unforgivable aspect of this entire debacle. It is also totally inexplicable. We all know that the President is rightly known as "The King of Drones". His kill total is most probably approaching one thousand dead - both guilty and innocent combined until God sorts them out for final disposition.
So, I'm with Pat Smith. Pat and America deserve to know why Sean was murdered by terrorists who today are alive and free to call their own Mothers with well wishes until leaving on their next mission - for sure not involving the making of any movie trailers.
At the Airport Hanger Memorial Service for our four dead Americans, Hilliary Clinton made only one promise to Pat Smith - that the Administration would get and punish severely the Maker of the movie trailer entitled "The Innocence of Muslims." Having swiftly fulfilled that commitment (and finding no obstacle in the First Amendment protections afforded movies) Hilliary has "moved on" as the saying goes to her new and full life - being paid a minimum honorarium of a reported $175,000.00 per speech.
Still freely speaking to anyone who will listen, knowing that her life will not move on until she obtains an answer to why her son died alone and unprotected, Pat Smith knows that she - and the American people - deserve far better than Hilliary's incredibly arrogant dismissal of how Sean's life ended: "What difference does it make now?"
Indeed, finding and bringing to Justice the Benghazi terrorists would honor Sean, Tyrone, Steve and Glen in the most meaningful fashion. Obama's failure to do so constitutes the most egregious and unforgivable aspect of this entire debacle. It is also totally inexplicable. We all know that the President is rightly known as "The King of Drones". His kill total is most probably approaching one thousand dead - both guilty and innocent combined until God sorts them out for final disposition.
So, I'm with Pat Smith. Pat and America deserve to know why Sean was murdered by terrorists who today are alive and free to call their own Mothers with well wishes until leaving on their next mission - for sure not involving the making of any movie trailers.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Why Christopher Stevens Still Matters
Today, Ambassador Christopher Stevens has no job. His unemployment stems exclusively from one singular circumstance - he is still dead.
Very much alive and very much still employed is Ms. Charlene Lamb, the State Department's Top Security Official responsible for stripping our Libya Embassy of all military security personnel shortly before the gruesome, murderous attacks on 9/11 last year. In an environment of complete anarchy, in which rival militias were waring daily for control of Benghazzi (these thousands of militants and terrorists were armed to the teeth with Colonel Khadaffi's looted arsenal - larger than many European NATO countries in size and sophistication), Ms. Lamb testified to Congress that a security detail of twelve non-military individuals was adequate protection for our Libyan Diplomats. That four of these brave Americans were slaughtered did not alter Ms. Lamb's absurd conviction.
Now, there is no need to ponder why a certifiably insane person remains employed by the United States Department of State. Another well qualified Department rep., spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, has informed us that pursuant to controlling federal law, incompetence is not deemed to constitute a breach of one's job duty - REALLY, I am not making this up!
Few commentors have discussed Ms. Nuland's unequivocal statement that a federal government employee can abuse the public trust so egregiously that four coworkers die and suffer no career limiting consequences, let alone job dismissal. I guess that it is taken for granted that there is no accountability for poor (to deadly awful) job performance in the federal government. Except for those brave souls who venture into "Indian Country" where personal accountability includes termination with extreme prejudice when your cohorts safe and warm back at Headquarters deem you to be expendable. Rest in Peace Chris, you and your brave colleagues will not be forgotten.
Very much alive and very much still employed is Ms. Charlene Lamb, the State Department's Top Security Official responsible for stripping our Libya Embassy of all military security personnel shortly before the gruesome, murderous attacks on 9/11 last year. In an environment of complete anarchy, in which rival militias were waring daily for control of Benghazzi (these thousands of militants and terrorists were armed to the teeth with Colonel Khadaffi's looted arsenal - larger than many European NATO countries in size and sophistication), Ms. Lamb testified to Congress that a security detail of twelve non-military individuals was adequate protection for our Libyan Diplomats. That four of these brave Americans were slaughtered did not alter Ms. Lamb's absurd conviction.
Now, there is no need to ponder why a certifiably insane person remains employed by the United States Department of State. Another well qualified Department rep., spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, has informed us that pursuant to controlling federal law, incompetence is not deemed to constitute a breach of one's job duty - REALLY, I am not making this up!
Few commentors have discussed Ms. Nuland's unequivocal statement that a federal government employee can abuse the public trust so egregiously that four coworkers die and suffer no career limiting consequences, let alone job dismissal. I guess that it is taken for granted that there is no accountability for poor (to deadly awful) job performance in the federal government. Except for those brave souls who venture into "Indian Country" where personal accountability includes termination with extreme prejudice when your cohorts safe and warm back at Headquarters deem you to be expendable. Rest in Peace Chris, you and your brave colleagues will not be forgotten.