Thin Red Line of Heroes

Well it’s Tommy this and Tommy that
And Tommy how’s your soul?
But it’s the thin red line of heroes
When the drums begin to roll

The full poem by Rudyard Kipling can be found at the end of the link above, beginning with the revealing "Before my son became a Marine, I never thought much about who was defending me". Either should reveal the patriot's soul, and maybe a tear.

Here is a better link for the above picture.

or here: http://www.93rdhighlanders.com/index1.html

This month's VFW magazine has several stories about our recent returning combat veterans.
Authors lament the fact that only 4/10ths of 1% wear the military uniform.
2% is more accurate
The point is that we do not need those who can not qualify. A military career is rewarding, difficult and dangerous, but necesssary to keep the wolves off our door. I have already commented on draft proposals

Volunteer, assist, get out of the way, but support our Heroes.

Cooperation

Here you can see one of our Air National Guard's finest from the Mississippi Air Guard operating this commercial forklift. We asked and were immediately given a DHL forklift to assist in the installation of a mobile radar unit in Mosul, Iraq in 2004. They did not have to lend us the lift and probably took a chance. They were also there and under the same threat that we were. That is what commercialism is all about. You take risks, and then enjoy the rewards.
This is an example of good old American ingenuity. It didn't hurt to ask!

Military Draft

From Air Force Times 27Mar06: Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N. Y. has again called for a return to a military draft. His twist this time is to raise the age limit to 42.

My comments: I'm surprised he hasn't also proposed including women. This proposal is a shameless political ploy and he should be ashamed, but like his predecessor, Adam Clayton Powell, he has no shame and does as he chooses. Powell was accused in 1966 of disgracing his office and denied his seat by the House. Even though the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated him in 1969, he lost a re-election bid in 1970.

The Truth: Reports of his behavior caused me to ask my father in 1967 how he could still be a congressman. He replied with, "that is what the people who elected him want, and it reflects their own behavior". That was my first introduction into poor and even disrespectful behavior. Here in South Carolina, we had our own brief case of impropriety with a Representative from our 6th CD, D-John Jenrette from 1974 t0 1978. He was convicted for accepting a $50,000 bribe in the Abscam sting operation conducted by the FBI in 1980. Jenrette was sentenced to two years in prison, of which he served 13 months. In 1989 he was convicted of shoplifting a necktie from a department store at Bailey's Crossroads and was sentenced to 30 days. That reflected the behavior of those who elected him? I think not. Had it not been for extreme gerrymandering and meddling by the US courts, a more responsible person would probably be representing the good people of South Carolina there now. The next election is about 7 months away. I hope that the electorate focuses on facts and not pandering.

March 20 National Hungary Day

President Bush honored the Hungarians for their independence fights in 1848 and 1956.

Washington, D.C. (AHN) – President Bush on Wednesday has marked the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian uprising by declaring a celebration of National Hungary Day held at the Capitol.
The Hungarian uprising was the first significant move against Soviet dominance in central Europe during the country’s communism years.
Bush says: “The Hungarian example is an example of patience and an example of the fact that freedom exists in everybody's soul,”
“It's an example that tyranny can never stamp out the desire to be free. It's an example that - of a country that, once becomes free, joins with other freedom-loving countries to keep the peace.”
Bush had thanked Hungary and its Ambassador the U.S., Andras Simonyi, for its contributions and efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Imre Nagy was executed in 1958 by communists, another statistic of the 100 million or so deaths by communism. A memorial to his efforts during the 1956 indepencence attempt stands in a school in Kaposvar, his birthplace.

Halliburton -- KBR

These civilian contractors were some of the hardest working people I worked with in Iraq. All that I met were highly qualified and dedicated. They generally worked 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. After three or six months in country, they earned a 15 day vacation.

Here is a picture of two of them on the newly created AMC north ramp at Mosul, Iraq after about one month of operations. That day there were about seven aircraft that required loading and unloading including passengers and DVs (distinguished visitors). It was about 120 degrees fahrenheit that day, the day I left in late July.

Some people in this country use the word like as a smear. I challenged one person who did that to go ahead and work for them just one year and then talk about them. He declined when I told him of the work schedule. Liberals are big on talk, but small on actions.

Parent-Adult-Child

People think from one of these positions and their actions reveal which is in control.

The late Dr. Eric Berne created the term: Transactional Analysis (P-A-C). It is interesting to see through people with this knowledge. The short version can be found in Games People Play.
A longer explanation can be found in: What do you say after you say hello. I found both helpful during my teaching career and now with interpersonal and group relationships.

Basically: Parent-- lifesaving rituals like teeth brushing, CPR and beliefs
Adult-- Analysis and fact gathering, computations, and risk analysis
Child-- Feelings like love, enjoyment and games

Some people unfortunately are trapped in one of the three. Too much parental indoctrination/childlife reactions may become the only way of living with too much drug use/ "married" to a job may cause a person lacking emotions or life saving skills.

I have encountered certain people in the blog-a-sphere who seem to be trapped in one of these three positions--they seem to be playing games like NIGYSOB. (Read the first book)

Sign in: What type do you prefer? Any Dr. Berne fans here? Where do you think I come from most of the time?

Racist

It is time to call a spade a spade.

Some if not a majority of Muslims seem to fit the category of racists.

1. They claim that their religion is superior, and should be the (shia) law of the world.
2. They have the position that they can lie to anyone else, and that is approved by their religion.
3. They can kill anyone else.
4. Any other religion is not allowed, and they can kill those who worship otherwise any time.
5. Anyone who even thinks about changing their religion can be killed.

It is time to treat these people the same way as others have been painted as hate criminals.

Enough is enough. No more PC. No more coddiling of these people. Time for the moderate Muslims to come out and declare themselves.

War Protesters

Here we go again. This time, no joy. First Cindy, then one poor marine.

Here in Columbia, SC, a lone marine who left the service with 12 years wants us to "pull out immediately". Same song as the Veterans for Peace group and several others. I wonder who is funding these people? Could be the same sources as those from the 60s.

My question: Just where do they want the US military to pull out from?
Germany, Japan, France, Adriatic Sea, Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola--not angora, the sweater--Arabian Peninsula: Locations and airspace above: Persian Gulf and land area of Saudi Arabia, Arabian Peninsula--Surface area of the following sea boundaries: Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia-Herzegovina--remember, that's the one Clinton said we would be "out by Christmas 199?, Burundi, Cambodia, Colombia, South America, not Columbia, SC, Cote D’Iviore--french for--(Ivory Coast), Croatia, Djibouti, East Timor, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethopia, Georgia, Republic of (not the state), Greece, Haiti, Hungary-my favorite, Ionian Sea, Iran, or just Iraq so Al-Qaeda can use that country like the sanctuary Cambodia was during the Vietnam War, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mediterranean Sea, Montenegro, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen, parts of former Yugoslavia, or Zaire?

Will they go to the other multi-national partners in the Global War on Terrorism and protest there also for our friends like the Albanians to leave Iraq now, also? These type people are not funny little icons. They are being used and there are some who are easily fooled by their rhetoric. Are you?