So, the truth finally emerges on why Obama snubbed the troops: media wasn’t allowed. Get it? No photo op, no visit to the troops.
One military official who was working on the Obama visit said because political candidates are prohibited from using military installations as campaign backdrops, Obama’s representatives were told, “he could only bring two or three of his Senate staff member, no campaign officials or workers.” In addition, “Obama could not bring any media. Only military photographers would be permitted to record Obama’s visit.”
The official said “We didn’t know why” the request to visit the wounded troops was withdrawn. “He (Obama) was more than welcome. We were all ready for him.”
So it wasn’t worth his time if he wasn’t able to make it into another fawning media spectacle, which is basically what his entire overseas trip has been. Classy, Obama. Real classy. Way to show your priorities: going shopping in Berlin is more important to you than visiting severely wounded troops in Landstuhl and Ramstein. Another example of how liberals “support” the troops: on the surface, they’ll support them all day long, but any king of support with substance and meaning behind it is out of the question. And when the guy who wants to be Commander in Chief finds going shopping a better use of his time then spending time with men and women who put their lives on the line for our freedoms, it should be a pretty big effin’ red flag.
Someone please explain to me again why it is that Obama is so appealing. And I don’t want to hear the words “hope”, “change”, or “Bush” mentioned once. I want to find a substantive argument for why Barack Obama would make a worthwhile leader for this country. John McCain may not be the best pick, but he’s miles better than this clown.
UCSB College Republican Chairman Ross Nolan recently attended a left-wing protest and videotaped the entire thing. Of course, there was much America-loving going on there, right alongside the wonderful displays of intelligence, logic, reason, respect for differing opinions, and gratitude for our military. Because, you know, liberals are just so patriotic. They love their country, and as they constantly remind us, dissent and protest is patriotism.
Somehow, though, most Americans who don’t hate their country just don’t believe it.
But we aren’t allowed to question their patriotism, not ever. Not when they fly American flags upside down, an obvious symbol of disrespect. Not when they say that our President should be hung, is worse than Saddam Hussein, and deserves the same fate as the murderous dictator. Not when they call our military murderers and rapists. Not when they spit on soldiers and war veterans. Not when they call our generals traitors and war criminals. Not when they say our country is in “the Dark Ages”. Not. Ever.
It’s funny though, because as patriotic as they claim to be, I just didn’t see a lot of love and appreciation for America in this video:
The best part about that video is that it is so incredibly mock-worthy. These liberals are like walking punchlines! A good number of them are dirty and unkempt. You’ve got the angry protestors, the dreamy protestors off somewhere in La-La Land (like the Close Gitmo chick in the beginning), the military protestors, the dance-to-the-beat-of-your-own-drum protestors… the very stereotype that most Americans have of clueless hippie liberals. And no matter how inflammatory, insulting, and offensive they may be, no matter how radical and disturbing their views are, they still angrily claim that you aren’t allowed to question their patriotism.
Well, too bad. I’m questioning, baby. I’m a patriotism-questioning machine.
Also interesting is how often these morons like to throw out the word FASCISM!!! and pretend we’re actually living in a fascist state (as if they could even spell the word fascism, much less understand the meaning of it). Of course, if we actually were living in a fascist state, they wouldn’t be having their cute little protests and calling for the President to be hanged. If we actually lived in a fascist state, they’d have been taken out back and shot by now at worst, and at best thrown into a gulag. If they want to see what a fascist state really looks like, maybe they should take a long trip to Cuba or North Korea. Maybe then they’ll appreciate their country more.
But don’t count on it.
Hat Tip: Wolking’s World
Here’s some Monday afternoon inspiration for you. Ivan Castro joined the Army, and was a Ranger before completing Special Forces training. He earned his officer’s commission and joined the 82nd Airborne Division as platoon leader. In September of 2006, in Youssifiyah, Iraq, he was struck by mortar fire and shrapnel, breaking his arm and shoulder, and also leaving him blind. After spending 17 months recovering, he asked for an assignment with Special Operations Command, getting duty with 7th Special Forces Group.
He’s determined to keep on fighting, even though he’s now blind.
When Capt. Ivan Castro joined the Army, he set goals: to jump out of planes, kick in doors and lead soldiers into combat. He achieved them all. Then the mortar round landed five feet away, blasting away his sight.
“Once you’re blind, you have to set new goals,” Castro said.
He set them higher.
Not content with just staying in the Army, he is the only blind officer serving in the Special Forces — the small, elite units famed for dropping behind enemy lines on combat missions.
As executive officer of the 7th Special Forces Group’s headquarters company in Fort Bragg, Castro’s duties don’t directly involve combat, though they do have him taking part in just about everything that leads up to it.
“I am going to push the limits,” the 40-year-old said. “I don’t want to go to Fort Bragg and show up and sit in an office. I want to work every day and have a mission.”
Since the war began in Iraq, more than 100 troops have been blinded and 247 others have lost sight in one eye. Only two other blind officers serve in the active-duty Army: one a captain studying to be an instructor at West Point, the other an instructor at the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
Castro’s unit commander said his is no charity assignment. Rather it draws on his experience as a Special Forces team member and platoon leader with the 82nd Airborne Division.
“The only reason that anyone serves with 7th Special Forces Group is if they have real talents,” said Col. Sean Mulholland. “We don’t treat [Castro] as a public affairs or a recruiting tool.”
…
Though not fully independent, he spent a weekend before starting his job walking around the Group area at Fort Bragg to know just where he was going. He carefully measured the steps from car to office.
“Obviously, he cannot do some things that a sighted person can do. But Ivan will find a way to get done whatever he needs to get done,” Mulholland said. “What I am most impressed with, though, is his determination to continue to serve his country after all that he’s been through.”
Castro works out regularly at the gym and runs, his legs powerful and muscular. And though he has a prosthetic right eye and his arms are scarred by shrapnel, his outsized personality overshadows his war wounds: Nobody escapes his booming hellos, friendly banter and limitless drive.
He ran the Boston marathon this year with Adm. Eric T. Olson, commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command. Last year it was the Marine Corps Marathon. He wants to compete in the Ironman triathlon in Hawaii and graduate from the Army’s officer advanced course, which teaches captains how to lead troops and plan operations.
Mulholland said Castro, who was awarded a Purple Heart like others wounded in combat, will always be part of the Special Forces family.
“I will fight for Ivan as long as Ivan wants to be in the Army,” Mulholland said.
His heroism, bravery, and determination is beyond just admirable and inspirational. It’s awe-inducing. I cannot personally imagine being blind, period, let alone being a blind member of the Army’s Special Forces. Captain Ivan is just another example that the heroes serving in our military are the best and brightest among us.
The next time you start to feel sorry for yourself, or feel like you can’t soldier on, remember Captain Ivan and other soldiers like him, who refuse to give up or let themselves become victims.
On a tip from James, a reader who is also a soldier in the Army (my personal thanks for James for his service, as well!).
It’s the Army’s 233rd birthday. Blackfive brings us the birthday message from Kenneth Preston, the Sergeant Major of the Army:
Here’s a nice tribute video that made me tear up a little throughout:
To those currently serving, or who have served: thank you. Let’s all remember today the patriots who, starting 233 years ago, loved this country enough to risk sacrificing everything, and some did. Their bravery and seflessness is unparalleled. Happy Birthday to the Army. There is no gift we can give you that can compare to the gift that you secure for us: our freedom. Know, however, that the American people stand behind you united.
Today is also Flag Day. I posted this video on my blog before, but I want to post it again as it seems fitting.
Make sure to fly Old Glory proudly today (if you don’t every day). My flag is flying happily… in my living room. My apartment complex does not allow flags to be displayed on the balcony, not even the American flag. Why? Someone might get offended. I would love to move out in protest, but you know, there’s a lease and all. Anyways, those of you who have the privilege of owning your living space, make sure to fly a flag today. Remember all that Old Glory stands for.
Happy Birthday Army, and Happy Flag Day!
It’s interesting appalling how anything remotely critical of Islam is removed ASAP from YouTube, but an Iraqi sniper shooting a Marine in the head is OK.
Here’s the link — I won’t embed the video here out of principle. I’m only including the link to ask all of you to please go and flag the video. This is just sickening and appalling. There’s really not much more to say on the subject, except to again ask you to please flag this video ASAP. It isn’t OK to let videos of our troops being killed in action stand. This is nothing more than enemy propaganda, and YouTube probably won’t remove it if we don’t force them to.
Even more disgusting? It currently has a three star rating out of a possible five. Who would possibly give this a positive rating? Several commenters left positive remarks. Here’s a few:
28773:
HEADSHOOOT !!!!
1000 points
LBC213R20S:
amazing shot
aupian94:
LOL! George Bush is a Texas oilman BinLaden family is a Saud Oilman 1+1=Oil profit.And when did a war become commercialized HALLIBURTON-reconstruction and troop support $18 billion,PARSONS-Eng.&construction $5.3 billion,DYNO CORP INTL.-Police training $1.9 billion,TRANSATLANTIC TRADER-Surveillance Aircraft $5 million,BLACKWATER-Private Security $21 million and counting.And our soldiers are dying but other ppl are profiting from it. well like what they say in work here DoD IRAQ FOR SALE!
JihadJane:
it’s not rocket science, the solution is easy….get out of Iraq & your troops wont be killed any more…remember it is the west that is the invaders & occupiers there.
asdamn000001:
hey usa idiots…why not come to egypt, millions are waiting eagerly to cut your heads, millions can’t get to iraq so why not come to egypt to get you and this mobarak thing in one garbage bag to the hell.
Clyde815:
5 stars! I love seeing stupid marines die. I fucked up a marine in tj; punch him square on the face, best feeling i ever had.
BabylonianSage:
The Iraqis are real men: they resist the invasion with all the power they have and sacrifice their lives in the name of freedom, they’ve won my respect.
youcefmokarnia:
cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooolfreedom fore Iraq-now.
appie13:
This Video made my day
5 stars
And on and on. Imagine if that was your father, brother, husband. It’s just callous and cruel and disgusting. There are plenty of comments expressing disgust and outrage, but it’s sad that there are people who would say these kinds of things in response to this video.
So please, again, flag the video. E-mail YouTube. Let’s force them to take this piece of trash down.
Hat Tip: Kit Lange
UPDATE: The video has been removed for terms of use violation, thank God. Way to go YouTube for doing the right thing.
When they’re out in public and in front of a microphone, liberals like to talk a big game when it comes to supporting the United States Military. Unfortunately for them, they tend to forget about keeping the facade going all the time, and their true colors come out rather often — usually followed by fake apologies with declarations of endless respect and admiration for the troops!
It’s just too bad that there’s this little thing called the Internet, which makes the libtards’ military-hating colors impossible to hide.
John Hawkins at Right Wing News got the best of the worst quotes in the battle of libtards vs. the military, and here’s a few of the choicest ones:
“Through every Abu aib and Haditha, through every rape and murder, the American public has indulged those in uniform….We pay the soldiers a decent wage, take care of their families, provide them with housing and medical care and vast social support systems and ship obscene amenities into the war zone for them, we support them in every possible way, and their attitude is that we should in addition roll over and play dead, defer to the military and the generals and let them fight their war, and give up our rights and responsibilities to speak up because they are above society?… [T]he recent NBC report is just an ugly reminder of the price we pay for a mercenary - oops sorry, volunteer - force that thinks it is doing the dirty work.” — Washington Post blogger, William Arkin
“American fighters of the Pacific War were not heroes. The desperation of island combat included exchanged barbarities of which no one would willingly speak for a generation. On the American side, there were foul racism, vengeful refusals to take prisoners, a generalized brutality that extended to a savage air war.” — James Carroll in the Boston Globe
“For those of you who do, as a matter of principle, oppose war in any form, the idea of supporting a conscientious objector who’s already been inducted [and] in his combat service in Iraq might have a certain appeal. But let me ask you this: Would you render the same support to someone who hadn’t conscientiously objected, but rather instead rolled a grenade under their line officer in order to neutralize the combat capacity of their unit?”
Later, in a question-and-answer period, Churchill was asked whether the trauma “fragging” inflicts on that officer’s family back home should be considered, he responded: “How do you feel about Adolf Eichmann’s family?” – From Ward Churchill via WorldNetDaily
“Real freedom will come when [U.S.] soldiers in Iraq turn their guns on their superiors.” — Warren County Community College adjunct English professor, John Daly
“Democrat flaks jump on this like ducks on a June-bug, and in the process themselves reproduce the sick militarism of this culture that automatically valorizes anyone who wears a uniform. How dare you insult a soldier! Like its some sacred calling instead of an imperial employment program steeped in the culture of machismo and misogyny.(And you can gasp as theatrically as you want… I spent more than two decades wearing a uniform… that is exactly what it is.)” — Stan Goff at the Huffington Post
“The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not ‘insurgents’ or ‘terrorists’ or ‘The Enemy.’ They are the REVOLUTION, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow — and they will win.” — Michael Moore
“Over time, however, the endless war in Iraq began to play a role in natural selection. Only idiots signed up; only idiots died. Back home, the average I.Q. soared.” — Ted Rall
“You don’t have money to fund the war or children, but you’re going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we could get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president’s amusement.” — Democratic Congressman Pete Stark
The sad thing is, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are tons more for you to read — make sure to check out the whole sorry bunch. Every time you hear some liberal bragging about how much they love our troops, remember this.
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
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.
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.
