CatHouse Chat

For Ft. Hood...

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:1-4,ESV)

Cass at Villainous Company posted this video to mourn the terrible tragedy of the Ft. Hood killings today, and it moved me to remember God's promises and His love for us:

May God bless them and keep them, may He cause His face to shine upon them, and bring them peace. May He lift up their faces and turn their mourning into dancing. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

For we do not grieve as those who have no hope; we know to Whom we have entrusted our souls, and we have faith that He is able to work all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. He has begun a good work in us, and He will complete it. It is His power that works within us so that we may so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.

He is Father to the fatherless, and Husband to the widow. He watches over and cherishes the orphans. He leads us through the valley of the shadow of death, yet we fear no evil, for He is with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us; He is with us always, even to the end of the age.

He is our Rock and our Savior. Thousands may fall by our side, and ten thousand before us, yet we will not fear. He is the perfect Judge and will execute righteousness upon the earth.

We dwell in the shadow of the Almighty - He is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in time of trouble. We place our full trust and faith in Him, and He will direct our paths. We rejoice in God our Savior, the Living God, who loves us and gave Himself for us.

The Lord is a warrior; our enemies will stumble and fail, they will be dishonored and shamed. The Lord of Hosts is a mighty man of valor; none can withstand His wrath and none can deny His rule. His will shall be done, in earth as it is in Heaven.

Our Savior pours out His lovingkindness upon His people. His Spirit of comfort dwells within us and makes us cry out to our Father. He gives us life and freedom; His power upholds all creation and He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. All the earth is filled with His glory, and the heavens proclaim His name. He blesses us from the heavens in accordance to all His riches, and there is no good thing that He will withhold from those who call upon His name.

He knows our end from our beginning, and His hands formed us in our mothers' womb. There is no place we can flee from His presence; even if we descend to the depths of Hell, behold He is there. He has made us a little lower than angels, yet we will one day judge them as we sit at His right hand. He has ransomed us and purchased us and has clothed us in His glorious righteousness, so we may worship Him in spirit and in truth.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

    "For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
   we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39, ESV)

Amen, and amen. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away: blessed be the Name of the Lord.

The Real Santa Claus

I love our Marines - and I love commercials like this!

I truly believe, without a shadow of a doubt, that this is the real image of all our men and women in uniform: tough, dedicated, honorable, courageous - and also tender, protective and giving.

Right now, Project Valour-IT, created and sponsored by Soldiers' Angels is going on in the blogosphere:

Project Valour-IT helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries. Items supplied include

Voice-controlled Laptops - speaking into a microphone or using other adaptive technologies, they allow the wounded to maintain connections with the rest of the world during recovery.

Wii Video Game Systems - Whole-body game systems increase motivation and speed recovery when used under the guidance of physical therapists in therapy sessions (donated only to medical facilities)

Personal GPS - Handheld GPS devices build self-confidence and independence by compensating for short-term memory loss and organizational challenges related to severe TBI and severe PTSD.

Cassandra is leading for the Marines, USNI Blog sails for the Navy, the Mudville Gazette flies for the Air Force, and BlackFive humps for the Army - I would ask my readers to please go to any one of these worthy blogs and offer your support to this magnificent cause. All money is pooled and goes to those most in need without regard to their branch of service; the fund raiser is simply a "friendly" (HAH!) competition between the services to see who can raise the most for this charity. Competition ends on November 11th, but donations are always accepted on behalf of our men and women in uniform.

Please return the devotion our troops give to us: donate generously!

The commercial, of course, doesn't have anything to do with Project Valour-IT; it promotes the Marine Corps' annual Christmas Charity, Toys for Tots.

So many families, especially in this time of economic trouble and unemployment, do not have the resources to bring the joy of giving to their children. The Toys for Tots program is a way that you can help - and it's sponsored by those tough, gritty Marines who stand on the front line every day in defense of our country. These men and women, feared and hated by the bad guys of the world (and with good reason!), open their hearts to the most vulnerable of us all: children in need.

A truly valorous heart is courageous, dedicated, persistent, honorable, compassionate, and loving. The men and women who wear the uniforms of our Armed Services are excellent examples of valor, and we are all blessed by their selfless service.

Please join with them to serve the children and their wounded brethren. Let them know that we honor them as our brothers and sisters and that we care about the things they cherish.

(Repost) The Fourth of July (2007 2009 edition)

--- I posted this three years ago, and it was well received. And so I post it again in hope that it lifts up someone's spirit and reminds them of the foundation of this great country on its birthday. Here is the wonderful mix that Alton made for me. He'd asked me to record this post, and then he added music. Listen or read - but enjoy either way! .---

Two hundred thirty three years ago, a group of men - men of influence, wisdom, and courage - gathered together to sign a Document and birth a Nation:

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

And so began the war for our Independence, a war where we threw off the stifling apron-strings of our Mother, Britain, and began our journey of discovery. The War was long, and fraught with set-backs, disasters, tremendous hardship, and discouragement. But through it all, one man held true to the ideal and fought with dogged determination to keep his army and his new country from giving in.

General George Washington. He was not necessarily a brilliant man, but he was honorable and resolute. He had been given the duty of defeating the British and winning the War, and he pursued his orders with unflinching persistence.

And in October of 1781, the British General, Cornwallis, surrendered at Yorktown, VA.

The United States of America was free.

But freedom doesn't come easily. The States had adopted the Articles of Confederation in early 1781. The Articles gave the States many sovereign powers, and any changes to the Articles had to be approved by nine of the thirteen States. Federal power was practically non-existent: it couldn't raise taxes, it couldn't regulate trade, it couldn't stop States from printing their own money.

With authority to act scattered throughout the States, and an anemic central government, America threatened to dissolve into a group of bickering little provinces. The States had their own armies, their own international ambassadors, they argued over interstate trade, the justice system left quite a bit to be desired. In other words, it was a bit of a mess!

In 1786, after much unrest and disputes among the States, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton petitioned that the Constitutional Convention convene to write a new Constitution which would strengthen and unify our young Nation. The man the Convention elected to preside over this process was none other than George Washington, the man all Americans look on as our First Father. General Washington was reluctant - he had recently lost his brother, and he preferred to remain at Mount Vernon, managing his lands. Finally, however, he accepted the duty, and made his way to Pennsylvania.

Under his calm influence, eventually each of the States made compromises and came to agreements, negotiated the power of the Federal Government and State Governments, outlined the authorities of the branches of the Federal Government, and placed the ultimate power of Government firmly in the hands of the People. The first draft was accepted in August of 1787 after months of wrangling and debating. Five weeks later, on September 17th, the convention dismissed, and the Constitution went to the States for ratification. It wasn't until July of 1788 that the Convention received word that the ninth State, South Carolina had ratified the Constitution.

Finally, enough States had accepted the Constitution to begin to implement its laws. Of course, there was further debate about the Bill of Rights, which were passed by a total of three quarters of the States by late 1791, but now America had her "supreme Law of the Land," which began:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Thus we began to work out this fine balance between the Power and Authority of the People, and that of the Government. Men and women have stepped up to serve our country in war and in peace throughout our 230-year history. Elected officials, military, police, firemen, medical personnel, charity organizations, human rights groups, and so many more have furthered the cause of Freedom and Liberty in our country.

But for me, no group deserves our honor and our respect more than the men and women who serve her in our Armed Forces. Each man and woman who enters the military takes this oath:

...I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same...

Our men and women do not swear to a particular leader. They are not members of a cult of personality. They swear to uphold the Law, and the Supreme Law of the United States of America is the Constitution.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what the Fourth of July means to me. "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," "We the People," and "I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same."

Happy 233rd birthday, America! I love you dearly, and pray that God will continue to bless and guide you. I pray that you will always be that "shining city on the hill," a light and example to the rest of the world of Freedom and Liberty.

Happy birthday!

Perfect timing for Memorial Day

We are, of course, going to be having a family gathering tomorrow at CatHouse Central to enjoy friends and family and the long weekend.

But this weekend is in memory and celebration of the men and women in our armed forces who gave the last, full measure of devotion to this country, so it's appropriate to remember and honor them.

Back in February, HBO aired an incredible movie - "Taking Chance." I was upset that I couldn't watch it, but heard so many enthusiastic endorsements of it - including from my Beloved Husband, who saw it while traveling - that I had to order it. I recieved notice near the beginning of May that it had shipped, but was down in Orlando helping my Mom when it arrived.

Today, while cleaning out the cooler in preparation for this weekend's festivities, lo and behold, there was the package from Amazon...

So now I have the perfect movie to remember and honor our citizan soldiers who have laid down their lives so that this country remains free.

The ONE TIME I regret not having HBO

"Taking Chance"

I'm going to get it, though, if it ever comes out on DVD...

To my own, very special and beloved Veteran

Actually, I have two - my husband and my Father.

But for today's Veterans' Day, I would like to honor my Father in particular. Daddy turned 90 last May, and I was just down visiting with them at the end of October. In May, Daddy was getting a little confused, and he couldn't remember a few people, but otherwise was doing pretty well. When I saw him last month, he was far more frail, and still more fragile mentally.

I honestly don't know whether this will be his last Veterans' Day and Thanksgiving with us... And although I'm 45, I'm finding out that, "once a Daddy's girl, always a Daddy's girl." I am going to miss him so very much when God calls him Home!

So, in honor of his service in World War II, I want to wish Daddy a Happy Veterans' Day.

I want to say thank you to all the men and women who have stepped up through the years to serve our country, and sometimes give that last, full measure of devotion. Thank you for protecting us. Thank you for defending freedom. Thank you for standing guard in peace and in war. Thank you for your honor, courage and commitment to your god, your family, and your country.

Thank you, Daddy, for standing The Watch.

For many years this man stood the Watch....

While some of us lay about our bunks at night this Sailor stood the Watch.

While others of us were attending schools, this Sailor stood the Watch.

And yes, even before many of us were born, this Sailor stood the Watch.

As our families watched the storm clouds of war, brewing on the horizons of history, He stood the Watch.

This Sailor looked ashore and saw his family often needing his guidance but he knew he must stay because he had the Watch.

For many years he has stood the watch so that we and our fellow countrymen could sleep soundly in safety knowing that a Sailor would stand the Watch.

Today we are here to say the Watch stands relieved. Relieved by those you led, guided and trained.

You stand relieved, we have the Watch.

Boatswain stand by to pipe to the side, shipmate going ashore.

"Fair Winds and Following Seas"

God bless, Daddy. Thank you.

3 Doors Down rocks the National Guard!

As always, I am so grateful to be reminded of the deep and abiding debt we owe to all our men and women in uniform.

We are free - because of the brave!

The American Military - Citizen Soldiers - serving with honor for over 200 years!

I remember and honor those who serve

I remember and honor the Fallen, for they gave their life's blood to protect and preserve our freedom.

I remember and honor the Families, who have raised up the men and women who have served their country.

I remember and honor the Veterans, for they stand as Ebenezers and remind us of the vast debt we owe to our men and women in uniform.

I remember and honor those currently Serving, for they are our strength and shield, our best and bravest.

The stern and solemn lyrics from little-known stanzas of two of America's favorite hymns come to mind. First, from "America, the Beautiful"

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

"Till selfish gain no longer stain/The banner of the free!"

America, much though I love her, has the terrible fault of selfishness running like a canyon through our national character. Thank God for the men and women who have refused to succumb to it and instead have stepped forward with resolve in their heats and said, "Behold, here am I. Send me."

I pray that God's grace will turn our hearts away from our selfishness so that we may be worthy of the sacrifice our military makes.

The second hymn is the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," our national hymn:

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
[originally …let us die to make men free]
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.

Godly freedom. Freedom to choose, freedom to act, freedom to speak, freedom to worship, freedom to work, freedom to own property.

It used to be that the freedom we had, we exercised in self-restraint, self-control, and self-discipline - now I wonder if those qualities exist outside the military. We have become a lazy, selfish, conceited culture, a gathering of jaded dilettantes and spectators at the Coliseum games.

Yet we still manage to produce men and women of character and integrity who step forward to defend and protect us and who are willing to offer their lives in service to their country and its citizens.

So, for this Memorial Day, I ask you to join with me and take a sober look at yourself. We must see what our mirrors truly reflect and meditate on whether we do merit the willing service of the men and women of our armed forces.

I don't think I do.

But, I think I'm going to try from now on.

Thank you, veterans. Thank you, active duty service personnel!

And thank you to the families of those who have laid down their lives for the cause of freedom. I will not forget, and I will train up my child to honor and respect those who are America's heroes.

When Leftards "peaceful demonstrators" attack - the video

Yep. He did. He whacked Skye, just for videotaping an exchange of insults. Sky was not participating, she was only taping, and this cretin lashes out at her! Melanie Morgan has posted that the... male person... who attacked Skye has been identified as

The (alleged) Peace Slapper has been identified as John Meicht , a college professor who taught a course at Widener University last spring.

And here's the video of the, erm, "distinguished professor's" attack:

Class act, dude. Really... stylish. So tolerant, enlightened, loving and peaceful.

Not.

"We're sick and tired of having defeatists and fatalists dictate to us"

Here's what a REAL American - who has served honorably - feels about the war on Terror.

Now look, folks, I think that it's right that America ought to be reluctant to get into a war. We ought to be very hesitant to put our best, brightest and bravest in harm's way in another country! They are our treasure, our future, and we ought not to squander them.

But, once we're in a war, we ought to prosecute that war with the full might and fury this country is capable of. We ought to come down on our enemies like the wrath of God Himself, no holds barred, and get the job done. We ought to finish the job, and then bring our men and women in uniform home in victory, to receive the thanks of a grateful nation, and to give them their due honor.

Mr. Bellavia, who is speaking here, says one thing about which I have a caveat: "America has never lost a war." I agree with that in substance, because out troops have always been able to to the job, and do it well - *IF* the politicians and the American public allow them to do so. Viet Nam was a defeat for our troops - but NOT because of the VC. Our troops were defeated by the men and women, the elected officials and citizens of this country, who would not permit them to do their job.

That is our shame, not theirs. Let's not do that to them again!

(Kittipurrs to Jerry Fuhrman, one of my Virginia blog-brothers. If you don't have From On High bookmarked or on your RSS feeds, you should!)

GAWD, I love our Marines!!!

I have NO IDEA whether this is true or not (OK well, so it's FALSE, darnit - but it's hilarious nonetheless!) Thanks to my friend Tony for forwarding it to me...

Top this for a speeding ticket!

Two California Highway Patrol Officers were conducting speeding enforcement on I-15, just north of the Marine Corps Air Station at Miramar.One of the officers was using a hand held radar device to check speeding vehicles approaching the crest of a hill.

The officers were suddenly surprised when the radar gun began reading 300  miles per hour. The officer attempted to reset the radar gun, but it would not reset and then turned off.

Just then a deafening roar over the treetops revealed that the radar had in fact locked on to a USMC F/A-18 Hornet which was engaged in a low flying exercise near the location.

Back at the CHIPs Headquarters the Patrol Captain fired off a complaint to  the USMC Base Commander The reply came back in true USMC style:

Thank you for your letter. We can now complete the file on this incident.You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Hornet had detected the presence of, and subsequently locked on to, your hostile radar equipment and automatically sent a jamming  signal back to it, which is why it shut down.

Furthermore, an Air-to-Ground missile aboard the fully armed aircraft had also automatically locked on to your equipment location.

Fortunately, the Marine Pilot flying the Hornet recognized the situation for what it was, quickly responded to the missile system alert status and was able to override the automated defense system before the missile was launched to destroy the hostile radar position.

The pilot also suggests you cover your mouths when cussing at them, since the video systems on these jets are very high tech. Sergeant Johnson, the officer holding the radar gun, should get his dentist to check his left rear molar. It appears the filling is loose.

Also, the snap is broken on his holster.

Thank you for your concern.

Semper Fi.

And even if it IS false, I could SO see the Marines sending that sort of letter... ;-)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

And I'm going to imitate OpFor (here and here) and remind you that the first beer you hoist should be accompanied by a toast to our incredible, brave, and honorable men and women in uniform - God bless them!

For more information on St. Patrick, see here and here.

(BUMPED and UPDATED): Explosion at Times Square!

FOXNews.com - Explosion Hits Military Recruiting Station.

An explosive device damaged a military recruiting station at approximately 3:45 a.m. in Times Square early Thursday, and police blocked off the area to investigate.

The explosive device caused minor damage, and no one was injured, police said. The explosion shattered a glass entryway.   

Thank God it went off at a time when it was unlikely to hurt anyone - but it's going to be very interesting to find out who did this...

UPDATE: The Confederate Yankee has new information and analysis:

From the choice of target, lack of shrapnel, and low amount of explosives used, I think it only logical to conclude that the blast was political in nature, a violent though purposefully less-lethal bomb, if you can ever call an improvised explosive device "less lethal." For these reasons, I doubt it was the act of Islamic extremists.

This was an act of domestic terrorism.

I do not, however, feel comfortable blaming any specific anti-war group for this act, or even pinning this as an anti-war act at this point in time.

Don' MESS wit' me, bro'!

What military aircraft are you? EA-6B Prowler You are an EA-6B. You are sinister, preferring not to get into confrontations, but extract revenge through mind games and technological interference. You also love to make noise and couldn't care less about pollution.

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Got this from the Military Motivator... You're not reading it??? SHAME on you!!!!

Fred Thompson is CLASSY

As Jay over at Stop the ACLU says,

He completely keeps overt politics out of it, and doesn't even appear in it! Very classy, and doesn't even plug his website. The subject matter is right on. This gave me chills. He could have went the overtly political route like Huckabee and Hillary, but he didn't. I think that speaks volumes.

Classy. Very, very classy!

The Gratitude Campaign: Just say THANK YOU

I'm on board!

Our brave and wonderful troops deserve every bit of thanks we can give them. So don't hesitate - just say "Thanks."

No politics, no sermonizing, no debating.

Just a simple

"THANK YOU!"

The Gratitude Campaign

(Purrs to the always awesome Blackfive)

Other benefits to the Robotics competition...

The Munchkin came back with this awesome poster:

Now, it was the Army ROTC which provided a good percentage of the volunteers (for which I'm very thankful - young men and women of poise and intelligence, serving the kids with grace and confidence) so I'm kind of wondering why she didn't pick up anything with an Army theme...

Of course, she could be loyal to her Daddy's - and her grandfather's - branch of the service...

*sigh*

I just love that poster, though!

Time to petition Heaven on behalf of one of our heroes!

I read about this the other day, and am ashamed to admit that I let it slip off my radar screen. Fortunately, my dear friend, Raven, reminded me this morning, so I can offer prayers on behalf of this hero in need:

Luis Sinco, a staff reporter for the LA Times, took this picture back in November, 2004, when the Marines entered Fallujah. The "Marlboro Marine" became an icon of the dogged determination of our brave men and women to win against the terrorists in Iraq.

But now, the "Marlboro Marine, " Blake Miller, needs our prayers:

The next day, I found Miller in a back bedroom at his uncle's house. He told me that he had come close to committing suicide the night before. He had thought about driving his motorcycle off the edge of a mountain road.

He showed me the morning newspaper. His divorce was the lead story.

I felt torn. I didn't want to get involved. I desperately wanted to close the book on Iraq. But if I hadn't taken Miller's picture, this very personal drama wouldn't be front-page news. I felt responsible.

Sometimes, when things get hard to witness, I use my camera as a shield. It creates a space for me to work -- and distance to keep my eyes open and my feelings in check. But Miller had no use for a photojournalist. He needed a helping hand.

I flashed back to the chaos of combat in Fallouja. In the rattle and thunder, brick walls separated me from the world coming to an end. In the tight spaces, we were scared mindless. Everybody dragged deeply on cigarettes.

Above the din, I heard what everybody was thinking: This is the end.

I've never felt so completely alone.

I snapped back to the present, and before I knew it, the words spilled out.

"I have to ask you something, Blake," I said. "If I'd gone down in Fallouja, would you have carried me out?"

"Damn straight," he said, without hesitation.

"OK then," I said. "I think you're wounded pretty badly. I want to help you."

He looked at me for a moment. "All right," he said.

Part two of Mr. Sinco's story is here:

Miller now sees Jessica a couple of times a month. They have not completed their divorce but remain separated.

"I see him on his good days," Jessica said, "and everything is wonderful. We actually have conversations." But then weeks pass without sight of him.

"He has to get stable," she said. "If he was better, we'd be together all the time."
Miller lives in a refurbished trailer behind his father's house. Two televisions provide constant background chatter. The refrigerator is bare. A hound named Mudbone spends most days tied in the yard.

Miller is estranged from his mother. He talks with his father, Jimmy Miller, 43, about everything except Iraq.

...

It took a while to get to know Miller. But I've come to appreciate his intelligence, generosity and dignity. He is a talented musician and skilled mechanic. I try to relate to him as a brother, even though I'm older than his father.

He has helped me sort through the craziness of Fallouja. I can't stop the war, but Miller has given me a chance to make a difference -- by helping him. And maybe myself.

Often, I wonder if I've done enough. Can I let go now? Can I ever let go?

The experts tell me I may be in it for the long haul.

Armstrong says Miller is "playing out his symptoms on cue."

"He's just keeping his head above water," he said. "He can't afford any downtime because it allows him to think."

Harkness holds out hope that Miller will eventually seek intensive therapy of the kind she offered.

"He won't come in for help because a part of him is very macho," she said. "He really comes across as the Marlboro Man. My fear is that at some point, it's all going to come crashing down."

The horrors of war always affect our military to a greater or lesser degree. Some handle it "better" than others, and some break under the load. Grim, over at Blackfive, wrote an incredibly moving and insightful post the other week which may give civilians an insight as to what can go on inside our veterans; I highly recommend reading it.

I, however, have no experience in combat and no direct military training, so I cannot offer this sort of practical empathy. And so, I will do what all of us can, and turn to the God who loves us, who loves Blake Miller, and ask Him to come down and lay His healing hands on this young man, this hero, who is going through so much pain:

Dear Father in Heaven, You are truly glorious and awesome in Your power and grace. There is none like You in all the universe, and nothing can prevent You from doing all Your good will. Lord, You are our Provider and our Healer, our Savior and our Friend. You are the Mighty Warrior, the Lord of Hosts, stronger than all our tiny might, and willing to offer Your power to save us and transform us.

Father - O, Father! - one of our heroes is in pain, and in danger of falling into the inescapable mire of despair and torment. The sights he has seen, the things he has had to do on behalf of freedom, have wounded his spirit and closed his eyes to the joy and healing available to him. Father, we ask You to send Your Spirit upon Blake Miller, to heal him and to convince him of Your love and care for him. We ask that You send men and women to surround Blake with tangible evidence of Your love: hands to help, arms to hold, ears to listen, mouths to encourage, feet to serve, shoulders to support, hearts to love, and spirits to pray.

This man is my brother in You, Lord, and my brother is in pain. I know he knows Your Word, and I know that Your Word will never be ineffective. On behalf of my brother, I lay claim to Your promises:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

Father, You have promised comfort. In his afflictions, I pray that You draw Blake closer to You. I pray that he learns how faithful and loving You are to Your children. I pray that he receives strength from You, that he rests in You and renews his spirit. Father, You have promised that his suffering is not in vain: You have a plan and a purpose in it. Please help him hold Your hand as he walks this rocky trail. Give him an assurance of the light at the end of the tunnel and a confidence that

... all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Father, you have promised that all things will work together for good for Your children. We know that not all things are good, but we know that You can give us beauty for ashes, and that You can turn mourning into joy. We know that You love us and are the Giver of all good things, that You want us to have abundant life so that we may be imitators and disciples of Your Son.

I pray that You will give Blake Your strength to lift up his eyes and place them on You, for You are our help and our shield, our Rock and Fortress who protects us in the storm. I pray that Blake puts his trust and confidence in You to bring him through this Valley of the Shadow of Death, knowing that You are carrying him in Your loving hands. Help him, I pray, to remember that You have begun Your work in him, and that You will bring it to completion. There is no one and nothing that can wrest Blake from You, Father, and You rejoice over him with singing, because he is Yours.

Father, protect and uphold Blake's family. I ask that You bring about reconciliation where needed, that You use this pain to draw them together and knit them into a close and loving relationship. I pray that You protect Jessica, that You encourage her to have faith in You and to pray for and love her husband. I pray that You turn Blake's heart towards her, that they be reunited as husband and wife and grow stronger together. I pray that they may become true lovers and helpmeets, partners who love and trust and support each other throughout their lives.

Father, I can only end with what many consider the "Warriors' Psalm," Psalm 91, asking that You be Blake's Deliverer, his Refuge and Dwelling Place. Rise up, O Lord, and show Yourself in Your power and glory and love for my brother, Blake:

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
         Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
         My God, in Him I will trust.”
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
        And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
         And under His wings you shall take refuge;
         His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
        Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
       Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
         And ten thousand at your right hand;
         But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look,
         And see the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
        Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
         Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
        To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
         Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
         The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
         I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
         I will be with him in trouble;
         I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
         And show him My salvation.”

Lord God Almighty, Provider, Protector, our Banner and our Shield, I ask these things in Your power and love and in the Name that is above every name, Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.

Another invitation to "Come Home"

But this time to those who deal with PTSD: BLACKFIVE: On PTSD, or more properly, on Coming Home. Grim's post is incredible: open, thoughtful, and encouraging.

What you need to know, first and last, is that so-called PTSD is not an illness.  It is a normal condition for people who have been through what you have been through.  The instinct to kill and war is native to humanity.  It is very deeply rooted in me, as it is in you.  We have rules and customs to restrain it, so that sometimes we may have peace. What you are experiencing is not an illness, but the awareness of what human nature is like deep down.  It is the awareness of what life is like without the walls that protect civilization. 

Those who have never been outside those walls don't know:  they can't see.  The walls form their horizon.  You know what lays beyond them, and can't forget it.  What we're going to talk about today is how to come home, back inside those walls:  how to learn to trust them again.

Please read the whole thing, including the comments; there's lots of superior and intelligent thoughts to take away and ponder on.

Chatham, Virginia, "hosts" the United States Marines!

 Well, sort of... The Marines are coming into town for "Realistic Urban Training," where they will conduct an exercise:

U.S. Marines will conduct reconnaissance and surveillance, then raid a mock terrorist cell during a special training exercise in Chatham Nov. 1-3.

The "Realistic Urban Training," or RUT, exercise is designed to duplicate the kind of situations Marines often encounter in the field, said Capt. Kelly Fushour, public affairs officer for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

"Any time we can do training off base, it's a good thing," she said." It's training we can't replicate on base."

According to Frushour, about 100 Marines will take part in the three-day Chatham exercise, which is being conducted with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"Role players" posing as Al Queda terrorists are scheduled to arrive Thursday, Nov. 1, and will be "inserted" in a house in town. [link]

Works for me! Any support and assistance our citizens can give to the training of our armed forces should be offered unstintingly - and maybe we'll have some part in hunting those murderous barbarians down and sending them on to the "72 Virginians" who are waiting for them!

Technorati Tags: US Marines, training, Chatham, local news, terror cells

That's just... DESPICABLE!

It's obscene, disgusting, sick - and inexcusable: Liberty County Veteran's Grave Vandalized :

Lance Cpl. Jeremy Burris, 22, of Liberty, died in Iraq and was buried at Cook Memorial Cemetery earlier this week.

The cemetery has a locked gate at the front and a fence around the perimeter, but vandals managed to get in sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, less than two days after the Liberty marine was buried, officials said.

Bill Offutt, a Vietnam veteran, was one of the people who helped clean up the mess before anyone could see it.

"It was trashed," said Offutt, "The wreaths that had been around the grave -- they ripped them apart and stuff was strewn everywhere."

Burris was laid to rest on Tuesday. Huge crowds lined the streets to bid him a final farewell. The community is now in shock. [video at link as well]

How could someone be so far removed from any of the nobler sensibilities? Well, I admit the Westboro Baptist Church shows this sort of low behavior, but I don't believe they've ever gone so far as to desecrate a grave...

I hope they catch the vermin who did this, and I hope he, she or it is publicly horsewhipped!

(Unsheathed claws in partnership with Wolf at Blackfive on this issue)

General Peter Pace's moral compass

Thanks to Kim Priestap over at Wizbang for linking to this article over at Threats Watch. Steve Schippert outlines the depth of character and integrity which permeate General Pace's life and contrasts them with the craven lust for power and popularity which epitomizes Congress:

Yet a majority in Congress telegraphed their intent to oppose [Gen. Pace's] renomination as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and create a national spectacle for the self-serving political purposes of staging public opposition to the President of the United States. And as displayed by many in that elected body, leadership by example is a sword that cuts both ways. The Congressional ‘Peter’ Principle was on clear display.

And with that came the end of the exemplary service of a good man and outstanding Marine. He now must - and will - find another avenue to serve and honor those fallen Marines whom he led.

Yet there is nary a Congressional leader who does not famously proclaim “I support the troops.” But the often hollow nature of these words has the effect of reducing such phases to little more than bumper sticker slogans. For they are immediately trumpeted following a sitting Senator who compares those in the United States Military as running abusive and torturous “gulags” and their actions no different from the genocidal “Pol Pot.”
“I support the troops” immediately trailed a Congressman’s hasty and false accusations of Marines as murderers based on the unscrupulous and uncorroborated accounts of those who supported the enemy on the battlefield. “Supporting the troops” remains the official position of a sitting Senator who falsely testified before the Congress he now serves within that his fellow servicemen in Vietnam had “cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan.”

Our Congress, Republicans and DemoRATS alike, could use new direction, and I believe that they should be guided by General Pace's moral compass:

Chaminade students also noted that the general learned a life-changing lesson from Farinaro’s death in July of 1968 when a sniper’s bullet struck him down. Pace learned about the importance of maintaining a “moral compass,” several students noted, especially when making decisions at emotional moments.

“You could lose yourself in the heat of a situation,” the general explained, said Dennis Grabowski. The senior is a parishioner of St. Patrick’s, Glen Cove, and Tarmac co-editorial editor. Pace explained that his initial response to Farinaro’s death was to order an air strike on the village where the sniper was shooting from, but a look on his sergeant’s face gave him pause. Instead, Pace ordered a ground sweep of the village and “found it full of women and children.”

“The general said that had he ordered the air strike, he would have felt guilty the rest of his life,” Finn noted.

“You are going to come up on situations in life that are going to test you, he told us,” said Craig Hauser, a senior from St. Aidan’s Church, Williston Park. “In those situations, he told us, you go with your moral compass,” weighing the effects on everyone involved.

“He also said in making a decision to ask God for the wisdom to do the right thing and the strength to do it,” said Sal Garofalo, a senior, Tarmac co-editor in chief, and a parishioner of St. Aidan’s Church, Williston Park. “And after you make the decision, thank God for the help.”

General Pace's moral compass has proven itself to be honorable and true, and Virginia's populace as a whole ought to be pleading with this man to shoulder another duty for his country and run for Senator!

General Peter Pace:

• honor
• integrity
• humility
• faithfulness
• persistence
• determination

A Marine. A man. A leader!

Technorati Tags: Peter Pace, Senator, moral compass, honor, integrity, Marine, General Pace

General Peter Pace - honor, grace, and humility

No TV circus, no huge press conference, no fanfare of trumpets accompanied a visit to the Viet Nam War Memorial earlier this month. There was just a man, erect of bearing and solemn of face, who knelt to place three simple index cards against the Wall.

Each card had the four stars of a Marine Corps General attached and said,

"These are yours - not mine!
With love and respect,
Your platoon leader,
Pete Pace"

I suspect that a head bowed in prayer for a while, and that before he left, General Pace came to full attention and offered a grave salute. And then he turned and strode away, quietly and without seeking notice or adulation.

I hope and pray that a man of such sterling character, who continually exhibits honor, humility, and servant-leadership at every turn, will indeed accept One Last Mission. Virginia is at a crossroads, and we need wise leadership from a man of integrity.

We need to Draft General Pace!

As I said before:

Please, General Pace. We need men of your proven character and wisdom to guide this country. It will be a tremendous sacrifice for you and your family... But you have proven yourself a servant-leader, and I beg you to shoulder yet another heavy duty and help lead America.

Technorati Tags: Peter Pace, Pace for Senate, Draft Peter Pace, One Last Mission

General Pace - please accept the nomination

Sir, I do not pretend to know your political preferences, or all of your opinions on the issues of the day.

However, you have proved yourself to be an honorable man, dedicated to following and defending what you understand to be right. You have lived your love of country, and your determination to serve America in good times and in bad.

Sir, your example of integrity and honor lead me to ask you to please... PLEASE!... serve your country still more by accepting the burden of running for the Senate. They may have forced you to retire from the military, but I pray that you will continue to serve this country you love so much by running for John Warner's (RINO, VA) seat in the United States Senate.

Please, General Pace. We need men of your proven character and wisdom to guide this country. It will be a tremendous sacrifice for you and your family... But you have proven yourself a servant-leader, and I beg you to shoulder yet another heavy duty and help lead America.

Technorati Tags: General Pace, Peter Pace, senate elections

General Peter Pace - a true Marine

And God bless him for it! Chris, over at the Mason Conservative, posts this video, which I must share with you:

Humility, grace, honor, dignity, and a dedication to do what is right... Dear Lord in heaven above, we need more men of this quality!

Technorati Tags: Peter Pace, US Marines, honor, character

Hope Rides Alone: An American Hero answers the CodePink/Int'l Answer/MoveOn crowds...

The CatHouse bows in prayer and thanksgiving for a fallen hero, and the honorable example he lived.

But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi, Iraq, the cries and screams and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I will be thrust back into society from a life and mentality that doesn't fit your average man. And then, I will be alone. And then, I will walk down the streets of America, and see the yellow ribbon stickers on the cars of the same people who compare our President to Hitler.

I will watch the television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al Frankens, and the rest of the ignorant sheep of America spout off their mouths about a subject they know nothing about. It is their right, however, and it is a right that is defended by hundreds of thousands of boys and girls scattered across the world, far from home. I use the word boys and girls, because that's what they are. In the Army, the average age of the infantryman is nineteen years old. The average rank of soldiers killed in action is Private First Class.

People like Cindy Sheehan are ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the results of their idiotic ramblings, or at least I hope they are. They don't realize its effects on this war. In this war, there are no Geneva Conventions, no cease fires. Medics and Chaplains are not spared from the enemy's brutality because it's against the rules. I can only imagine the horrors a military Chaplain would experience at the hands of the enemy. The enemy slinks in the shadows and fights a coward's war against us. It is effective though, as many men and women have died since the start of this war. And the memory of their service to America is tainted by the inconsiderate remarks on our nation's news outlets. And every day, the enemy changes...only now, the enemy is becoming something new. The enemy is transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans. The enemy is becoming the very people whom we defend with our lives. And they do not realize it. But in denouncing our actions, denouncing our leaders, denouncing the war we live and fight, they are isolating the military from society...and they are becoming our enemy.

Democrats and peace activists like to toss the word "quagmire" around and compare this war to Vietnam. In a way they are right, this war is becoming like Vietnam. Not the actual war, but in the isolation of country and military. America is not a nation at war; they are a nation with its military at war. Like it or not, we are here, some of us for our second, or third times; some even for their fourth and so on. Americans are so concerned now with politics, that it is interfering with our war.

Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the internet...and there is no outrage, but an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle, and there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even jailed...for doing their job. [all emphasis mine]

This is an excerpt from an essay written on February 1st of this year by SGT Eddie Jeffers, and I would urge you to read it, as well as two others, "Freedom Feels Good," and "Real Deal in Ramadi."

On Thursday, September 20, 2007, SGT Jeffers laid down his life for the ideals and convictions he cherished. Thank God for his Christian convictions: because of them, SGT Jeffers was ushered into the presence of his Lord and Savior by a host of angels. And I know that as he knelt at the foot of the Throne, he was blessed when God his Savior reached down, lifted him up and said,

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant! You have been faithful in a few things, and I will give you charge over many. Enter into the joy of your Lord!"

SGT Jeffers' father wrote,

It is with great personal sadness but joy in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that I announce the death of my son Eddie Jeffers. Eddie was killed around 7 am Iraqi time from an accidental vehicle roll-over. Although our personal loss is traumatic, we know he is in a better place. All of you have been so wonderful to my son and my family and he was so blessed and humbled by your love for him. He told me this past summer after the wonderful gift you gave his wife and him that he didn't understand why people were so generous and kind to him. You see to Eddie, he was just doing his job and what he believed was his life mission from God.

I've said this often; Eddie was my hero. My dear brother in Christ Rod Martin told me that Eddie died a hero for not just the soldier he was but the person. Eddie, through his writing, touched so many people's lives, yours and you so lovingly touched ours back.
We thank you in advance for your condolences and prayers. Please pray especially for Eddie's wife Stephanie; as you can imagine she is devastated. Our prayer is that Eddie's death will exalt Christ as did his life.

In lieu of any flowers we are asking all donations be given to the Fisher House in memory of Eddie; he loved that charity.

Will you join me in honoring an American hero, who followed his Savior in laying down his life for his friends? Please donate as much as you can to Fisher House, which "...donates 'comfort homes,' built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times - during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury."

And will you also read his essays, and commit to cherishing and nurturing this great country that he loved so much?

Let's honor him - and his fallen brethren - by bringing our troops home... VICTORIOUSLY!

(Crossposted to the Wide Awakes and the Cotillion)

Technorati Tags: SGT Eddie Jeffers, in memory, killed in action, essay, patriot

Gatewaypundit has the latest on the anti-military slanderer, Murtha

I wanted to embed the video here, too, but Motionbox is not cooperating today [pout].

But go on over to his site and watch the video. Jason Mattera appears on Hannity&Colmes along with Murtha apologist Jane Fleming Kleeb - and, frankly, Mattera wins the round. In one exchange, he asks Alan Colmes quite pointedly why Colmes is "carrying water" for Murtha!

Let's take a look at some of the facts of the matter. Last year, several Marines were accused of murder. Before it went to trial, before the military investigation had even started, Rep. John Murtha (Backbiter - PA), called them cold-blooded murderers on national television. Although he pleads that he had an "inside tip"  from a military source, he nevertheless condemned them without a trial and without them facing all the evidence against them in front of a jury of their peers.

Congressman Murtha, it is my understanding that "innocent until proven guilty" is STILL a founding principle of our justice system. I understand that at the core of our system, we would still prefer to let a guilty person free, rather than wrongfully convict an innocent. It is also my understanding that, when the accused person is brought to trial, it is the JURY - and not bystanders, no matter their supposed "position" in our government - that decides the innocence or guilt of the accused. And finally, particularly in the case of murder, the jury must be convinced beyond reasonable doubt of the accused's guilt.

Three of those Marines have now been cleared, and it is my understanding that at least three more will have the charges against them dropped by the end of the year. That may or may not happen, I agree, but you see, I am conforming to the American precedent of assuming they're innocent until they're proven guilty - something that Congressman Murtha apparently feels does not apply to him.

Alan Colmes cannot face this, and so he attempted to attack Gen. Mattis' character, referring to the General's statement from quite a while ago that he enjoyed killing the terrorists. May I ask Mr. Colmes what that has to do with the facts outlined above? Aside from setting up a strawman, Mr. Colmes, what were you trying to prove? Were you suggesting that our brave and honorable military should feel guilty about ridding the world of such amoral and murderous barbarians in a wartime situation? For my part, I celebrate with them each time they take down those intolerant, cowardly, and brutal sub-human bastards. I agree with the General that it cleans up the gene-pool!

And Ms Kleeb, when Sean Hannity asked you whether the Marines deserved an apology when-and-if they were cleared, you avoided the question. The Congressman will "move on"? In other words, he'll try to sweep his slander under the rug, and run away from the consequences of his ill-considered, anti-American, and libelous words, right?

Frankly, I think that Murtha ought to be horsewhipped, stripped of his seat in Congress, and sued for malignant defamation of character.

And that would still be too good for him!

(Crossposted to the Wide Awakes)

Technorati Tags: John Murtha, Marines, Haditha, murder, slander, libel, Jason Mattera, Young America's Foundation

Duncan Hunter at Gathering of Eagles

What a great guy... He spoke from the heart, with passion and love for our country and our men and women in uniform. He was also the only presidential candidate to show up for this important gathering!

Congressman Hunter graciously stopped for a couple of words with me, and a polite bystander took this photo:

Technorati Tags: Duncan Hunter, Gathering of Eagles

SQUIRM, John Murtha, you anti-military, libelous B*ST*RD!

I wonder, if enough people confront him on the record like this, if he might actually eventually issue a grudging apology.

And to think that this... person... was once in the Marines himself. You note I don't say "was once a Marine," because I suspect that a true Marine would never condemn his younger brothers without evidence or a hearing.

I hope one or more of the accused and now exonerated Marines *DO* sue him for libel or slander. After all, Murtha's remarks weren't made on the congressional floor, and so his immunity is a moot point...

Here's what Murtha said last year:

YouTube - John Murtha Says Troops Kill In Cold Blood

But when Jason Mattera, of Young America's Foundation confronted him today, Murtha couldn't even address the issue. "I served in Korea and Viet Nam!"  

Yeah? So? Even a Viet Nam and Korean War vet should have to answer for his egregious abuse of his position to smear our military!

SQUIRM, you maggot!

YouTube - Rep. Jack Murtha cuts and runs when asked about Haditha

Thanks so much to Jason Mattera for his pursuit of an answer, and to Bryan at Hot Air for posting the video!

UPDATE: And Gateway Pundit adds to the pile on... [rubbing hands together in gleeful delight] Make sure you read it all, and then poke around in the comments section at Hot Air... and then follow the trackbacks... Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful if Murtha was forced to resign in disgrace (he won't: DemonRAT(icks) like this don't have the spine to do the right thing)...?

(Crossposted to the Cotillion)

Technorati Tags: John Murtha, traitors, Jason Mattera, libel, slander, Young America's Foundation

Arlington Cemetery

CatHouse Chat pauses to bow in prayer, honoring our sacred dead and asking for safety and God's blessing on our living heroes who are standing the Watch.

UPDATE: Video added -

Visitors to the Tomb of the Unknowns are very quiet, very respectful, which is entirely appropriate for such a sacred place. The guards take 21 paces in each direction, then they pause for 21 seconds with each change of direction. This represents one of the highest honors offered to our military service members: the Twenty One Gun Salute. I need to research this tradition to find out the significance of the number "21."

I have an hypothesis, though - twenty-one is three times seven (d'uh!). Both "three" and "seven" are considered to be important and perfect numbers in the Judeo-Christian tradition. "Three" is representative of the Trinity, for instance, and "seven" could refer to the seven days of Creation. I dunno, it's just a wild-eyed guess on my part, and I'm probably totally wrong...

I was unable to get the video of the Changing of the Guard this time because the battery of my video camera was used up COMPLETELY for yesterday's rally (I'll convert and post it all, I promise!), and my little purse camera couldn't have held it all (not to mention that I'd only get *one* level of zoom once I started recording).

I'm thinking of coming up for Spring Break, and bringing the Munchkin - in which case, I will certainly get a record of the ceremony, which is conducted every half hour when the Memorial is open.

Travel time! On my way to Gathering of Eagles III

I'm psyched! This is the first time I've been able to join a gathering like this and publicly express my love and support for our troops and their mission. It is a privilege and blessing to be able to do this, and I hope that it's a peaceful yet powerful proof to our men and women in uniform that we love them and believe in them.

I've got my camera and my video camera, and I have my cell phone, so I'm planning on giving y'all LOTS of pictures. If I do moblog, though, I'll probably just post a picture and edit it later to add comments or such.

For more details about GoE's goals and purpose, make sure you visit their website.

And again, the iPod brought up the perfect song for this event this morning: Aaron Tippin's "Where the Stars and Stripes and Eagle Fly"

Well if you ask me where I come from
Here's what I tell everyone
I was born by God's dear grace
In an extraordinary place
Where the stars and stripes and the eagle fly

It's a big 'ol land with countless dreams
Happiness ain't out of reach
Hard work pays off the way it should
Yeah, I've seen enough to know that we've got it good
Where the stars and stripes and the eagle fly

There's a lady that stands in a harbor
For what we believe
And there's a bell that still echoes
The price that it cost to be free

I pledge allegiance to this flag
And if that bothers you, well that's too bad
But if you got pride and you're proud you do
Hey, we could use some more like me and you
Where the stars and stripes and the eagle fly

Yes there's a lady that stands in a harbor
For what we believe
And there's a bell that still echoes
The price that it cost to be free

No, it ain't the only place on earth
But it's the only place that I prefer
To love my wife and raise my kids
Hey, the same way that my daddy did
Where the stars and stripes and the eagle fly

Where the stars and stripes and the eagle...fly
Where the stars and stripes and the eagle fly

Technorati Tags: Gathering of Eagles, patriotism, demonstration, support troops, Washington DC

Are you AWAKE yet?!

No? Well, grab your coffee and then click this video. You'll be rockin' in NO time!

Thanks, Wild Thing!

Technorati Tags: tanks, explosives, pump it up

A3 Flyby Rota, Spain, 1989

(UPDATE, 05DEC07) I'm getting a few visits to this post from Virginia Beach - Hi, everyone, glad you're here! Would you mind e-mailing me [e-mail address over in the right column under "my" picture], to tell me how you found me?... I would really like to know!!

This comes from a video tape that's almost 20 years old, so please be forgiving of the video and sound quality. It was edited on an Amiga 2000 (now THAT's OLD!).

VQ-2, which is based in Rota, Spain, flew two different planes: the EA3B, a jet, and the EP-3, a four engine turboprop - and this made for  a somewhat schizophrenic squadron at times, LOL. Nevertheless, the late 80's were a wonderful time to be stationed at VQ-2.

At the time of filming, the A3's were on their way to retirement, and so this seven plane flyby is a rather special event. I hope that perhaps some of our old squadron mates stumble across this and enjoy remembering the Good Times we all had.

I also hope that this video serves as a reminder of a grand old warrior that served its country well.

Crossposted to the Wide Awakes

The United States Naval Academy

Yesterday I had the honor of going on board the US Naval Academy and taking a tour. I had to park on the street off-base (with a two hour time limit, no less! Yikes!), but it wasn't a long walk to the Visitors' Center.

My timing happened to be spot on, and I was able to join up with a tour which had just started. Our guide was a lady who had been a Naval Officer herself (along with her husband, and I believe that one of her two sons had just been sworn in as a plebe last week), and she was very knowledgeable and informative.

The tour took about an hour and a half, and it was well worth  the $8 I paid. It also made me realize - dimly - that for all my assumptions on how hard the Academy is, in reality it's even harder than I thought. These young men and women are busy all day long, every day is packed full of learning, training, sports, and extracurricular activities (ECAs) to mould them into well-rounded leaders.

The Naval Academy is really something which cannot be adequately described (certainly not with the impressions from the two hours I spend on board), and so I'll post pictures with brief descriptions and not try to play tour guide.

Before I begin, however, I would like to remind you of one of the Academy's distinguished graduates, Robert A. Heinlein.

Heinlein was the first-ever recipient of the Grand Master Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 1974. He was considered one of the giants of early science fiction; his influence on the genre continues to this day.

Heinlein graduated from the Academy in 1929, and only served for five years, when he was discharged due to pulmonary tuberculosis. His Academy and Navy years shaped him, however, and he remained a strong patriot all his life. 

In 1988, Heinlein died, but if he had lived, this Friday, 07 July, 2007, would have been his 100th birthday.

OK... On to the pictures!

 

Ah, the eternal rivalry...!

Dahlgren Hall, which was originally the armory. Now it's a temporary dining hall while the main facilities are being refurbished.

Bancroft Hall, with Tecumseh Court in front. The plebes are sworn in in the Court, and the Brigade musters there to march into meals.

Inside Bancroft Hall, looking up to the entrance of Memorial Hall.

Memorial Hall enshrines the names of men and women of the Academy who have given their lives in service to our country. Presiding over it is the flag from Oliver Hazard Perry's ship, the USS Lawrence. Perry's friend, Capt. James Lawrence spoke these words again and again as he lay dying on the deck of the Chesapeake:

During the War of 1812, Lawrence commanded the U.S.S. Hornet, which captured the H.M.S. Peacock, and was promoted to Captain as a result. On June 1, 1813, commanding a new and untrained crew on the 49-gun frigate U.S.S. Chesapeake off Boston, Lawrence accepted a challenge from Philip Bowes Vere Broke, captain of the 38-gun H.M.S. Shannon. Four years Lawrence's senior, Broke had commanded the Shannon for six years, and had the best trained crew in the Royal Navy.

In less than 15 minutes, Lawrence's crew was overwhelmed. Mortally wounded, Lawrence shouted, "Tell the men to fire faster and not to give up the ship; fight her till she sinks!" True to his words, every officer in the Chesapeake's chain of command fought until he was either killed or wounded. Even so, the battle was lost in under an hour, the Chesapeake was captured, and Lawrence died four days later, leaving his wife and a daughter.

In honor of Captain Lawrence, a group of women stitched the words "Don't Give Up The Ship" into a flag. The flag was presented to Oliver Hazard Perry, commander of the U.S.S. Lawrence - named for Captain Lawrence - in the summer of 1813. Perry went on to capture an entire squadron of British ships in the battle of Lake Erie, on September 13, though not before every officer on the Lawrence - except for Perry and his 13-year-old brother - was either killed or wounded.

Lawrence's words became the motto of the U.S. Navy, which has named numerous ships in his honor, and Perry's flag now hangs in a place of honor at the United States Naval Academy. Copies may be seen at other Navy installations and, of course, in Burlington. Far less well known is Lawrence's last command to his crew - "Burn her!"

Beautiful, meaningful and noble traditions are built upon this kind of fire, courage and dedication.

The Naval Academy Chapel - imposing but not threatening, displaying a firm and anchored faith in God.

On each side of the main aisle are four beautiful Tiffany stained glass windows. On the right, they depict nautical verses from the Old Testament, and on the left side, verses from the New Testament.

This is a view looking back. Up top is a votive ship, hanging above a statue of Christ. The pedestal is inscribed with the words, "Come unto Me."

Finally at the front of the Chapel is this window (also Tiffany) of Christ walking on the water. Above it is a large plaque with the opening words of the Navy Hymn "Eternal Father Strong to Save"

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep,
Its own appointed limits keep.

Oh hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea! Amen.

Eternal Father, lend Thy grace To
those with wings who fly thro' space,
Thro wind and storm, thro' sun and rain,
Oh bring them safely home again.

Oh Father, hear an humble prayer,
For those in peril in the air! Amen.

Oh Trinity of love and pow'r,
Our brethren shield in danger's hour,
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them where so e'er they go.

Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea! Amen.

Indeed. And Father, I thank You for the men and women who have stepper forward to serve their country. I ask Your blessing on their lives: give them courage and strength, lead them in honor and duty, cleanse and enlighten their hearts and minds, and protect them by Your almighty power.

Technorati Tags: Naval Academy, Eternal Father, chapel, Annapolis, Navy, Tiffany windows, Bancroft Hall, Dahlgren Hall

Remember me?

Ah. I had never seen this video before, so I am grateful to the Blog Father for noting it, and to Real Clear Politics for bringing it to his attention.

Thank you, Lizzie. I do remember. I will always remember.

God bless these men and women who sacrifice so much out of love for their families, their neighbors, and their country.

The heroes who defend our freedom

I have no words - I NEVER have the perfect words! - to honor the heroes past and present who have guarded our freedom. The men and women who have served our country in our military have blessed America with such honor, courage and dedication, that it is impossible to extol their actions and dedication in a manner that offers proper appreciation.

All I can say to them is

Thank you. Thank you, and I promise to raise my child to honor and cherish your sacrifices. I promise to train her to give you her thanks and appreciation for your service.

I promise that if she chooses to become one of you, I will give her the foundation to serve with honesty and godly courage, so that her name will be among those who have given nobly and acted in integrity and bravery to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.

God bless our men and women who have served, are serving, and will serve the United States of America.

May He keep you in His will, may He guide and protect you, and may He keep you in His truth so you defend truth and freedom and honor wherever you serve.

And, may He turn our media around so they  give you your due honor (thanks - profound thanks - to Chris Muir, who created this strip...)

God bless the men and women who have defended Reality, and who have given their lives and honor in service and with faithfulness!

The wonders of ‘net searches

I was just running through my Sitemeter hits, and saw that one visitor had found me via this search (for this post). But one of the other results was from February at BlackFive, which had this video posted:

Oh, yeah. Yes, indeed. Thank you so much, Subsunk - I needed that...! You made a perfect video to go with Trace Adkins' lyrics...

Red on Fridays - show your support!

Southwest Airlines is a great company. I've only flown them a couple of times between Norfolk and Orlando, but the flights were fun and on time, and the staff was friendly and professional.

Now I hear (via the Puppy Blender) that they're promoting a Red Fridays campaign:

Southwest Airlines is taking patriotism to a new level. My favorite airline has stepped to the forefront of the Red Fridays campaign, which encourages Americans to wear red on Fridays in a show of support for our troops.

This post on Southwest's blog [link added - ed.] explains why the company has embraced the Red Fridays idea as a voluntary way of showing support. A spokeswoman for Southwest told me that at the height of the current conflict, Southwest had 173 employees called to serve, 79 of who remain on military leave. So now when you see a Southwest employee wearing a red shirt, you'll know why.

I didn't know about the Red Fridays campaign which was, from the info on a quick Google search, started by wives of Canadian troops stationed in Afghanistan. Or was it started in America? Well, no matter... It is apparently spreading rapidly, which is wonderful!

Now, just so you know, I look terrible in red... But I'll be wearing it on Fridays. After all, with people like Harry Reid tearing defeat out of the jaws of victory, I think our troops would love to see how we truly support them.

How 'bout you?

Attention, prayer warriors! Help urgently needed!

Jimbo and Matt over at Blackfive are asking for prayers for DJ Emery, a Marine who was severely injured  -

On February 7th, 2007, DJ was at a checkpoint near a crowded place when a terrorist walked up to the Marines. DJ's Battalion Sergeant Major, Joseph Ellis (a recon Marine of 23 years), suspected that a bomber was approaching and put himself between the bomber and his Marines.

The bomber quickly detonated himself, instantly killing Sergeant Major Ellis. The Sergeant Major's sacrifice absorbed enough of the blast to barely keep DJ from being killed. DJ was hit hard in his abdomen - an artery was cut causing kidney failure - both legs and one arm were shattered, and, in fact, his wounds were so severe that doctors didn't think that he'd make it.

Matt continues:

DJ's Status: Both his legs have been amputated and are infected. DJ's stomach wound is infected and can't be closed until the infection is gone. And his kidneys are not working still...

DJ's Sergeant Major, Joseph Ellis, died trying to protect DJ...because DJ was worth it.

Get going, friends. Do what you do best.

Oh, Father in Heaven, Lord of all the universe, holy and righteous and glorious! Father, we lift up this young man to you and ask for Your help and comfort. Father, we beg You to lay Your hand upon him for healing and strength. Give wisdom and skill to the doctors, bless the nursing staff with love and compassion, and grant Your strength and endurance to DJ's family and friends.

You are the Lord of Hosts, the Lord our Provider, and we bring DJ before you in gratitude for his service and his courage.  Father, this man is a warrior, yet this is not something he can fight along. You have blessed men of war since before Your servant David's time, You have lifted up those who do your will and fight for truth and justice. I call on You, Lord, and ask You to show yourself strong on this man's behalf: stop this infection, heal his kidneys and ease his pain. Give him healing rest, direct the medicines in his body to work properly, and nourish him for the healing of his mind and body.

Father, we ask You to place a hedge of protection around him, we ask that You cause Your face to shine upon him in all Your wondrous grace. Lift him up on eagles' wings and help him to stand in Your strength. You are a strong tower, a rock which will not be moved. Father, we - Your children - cry out to you from this low valley and ask Your blessing and help. Lift DJ up out of this mire and set his feet upon the Rock, that people everywhere may see his good works and praise You.

Sovereign God, there is nothing too hard for You. You do not grow weak or weary, You do not slumber or sleep. No one can withstand You, Lord. And so we pray in Your Son's powerful name that You heal DJ for his good and Your glory. Amen.

What do our troops think of our Demorat overlords?

Why don't you go find out?

Previously, I had asked for and received a lot of email from troops around the world (but mostly in Iraq and Afghanistan) about the Democrat resolutions for retreat...especially, in the face of the surge and a new Commanding General that the Democrats unamimously approved of...

I haven't received one troop email that supports the Democrat position of cut and run.

Make sure you read the whole thing, including comments...

Like I've asked before: Why don't we listen to what the troops have to say about this whole thing? Why won't the Demorats/Democrat(icks) listen to and heed what the men and women on the ground have to say about their progress and our prospects on victory?

And why won't the Rethuglicans, who are supposed to be the "Party of National Security and Supporting the Troops," bloody well find their spines and cojones (assuming they ever had them), and stop acting like wussies?!

Americans want to win. Our troops want to win... But Congress - the lily-livered yellow dog cowards and pissants that they are - Congress wants to cut and run.

You know, my daughter has a weekly prefix or suffix she needs to memorize and use. This week's is "-cian," and the word list includes "politician." Dictionary.com provides this definition:

1. a person who is active in party politics.
2. a seeker or holder of public office, who is more concerned about winning favor or retaining power than about maintaining principles.
3. a person who holds a political office.
4. a person skilled in political government or administration; statesman or stateswoman.
5. an expert in politics or political government.
6. a person who seeks to gain power or advancement within an organization in ways that are generally disapproved.

I rather like that last one...

(Thanks, Grumpy!)

Behold, a new creation

Lots (and I mean LOTS!) of chatter going on in the blogosphere about CPL Sanchez and his past. He has come to light recently because of his activity at Columbia University advocating military rights, and most recently because of his appearance at CPAC to receive the Jeane Kirkpatrick Academic Freedom Award.

Because of Ann Coulter's ill-considered remarks about John Edwards, and because of CPL Sanchez' past in the pr0n industry, the liberal machine is up in arms, crying, "Oh, the hypocrisy!"

Now, I do not presume to know CPL Sanchez' state of salvation, but he is nevertheless an excellent example of the wonderful redemption and restoration found in Christ. Several far more eloquent bloggers have already commented on this, so I will link and quote them, with the encouragement to you to go read the linked articles.

Misha says:

If you're not among those of us who believe that homosexuality is a sin or otherwise wrong, then there's no issue there, is there? So he was a gay pr0n actor/prostitute, so what? If you really believe that there's nothing wrong with homosexuality, then why on Earth do you have your knickers in a wad because of what you learned of CPL Sanchez's past or, for that matter, his present?

And if you ARE among those of us who believe in Scripture, I must repeat myself: What's the big hairy deal? It's in his past, isn't it, but perhaps all of those of you out there unwilling to consider that would care to tell us all that you don't have anything in your pasts that wouldn't pass Scriptural scrutiny? If so, I have only two options: You're either lying or you're the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Guess which one I'll have to lean towards.

We're all sinners. If we weren't, there'd have been precious little point in the Son of G-d coming down here to die for our sins, or did I misunderstand something in church?

We're all sinners, and we're all taught that through repentance and change we can make up for that. We have to repent and change, forgiveness isn't free, but it's there, for all of us. All is forgiven, go forth and sin no more.

And isn't that exactly what CPL Sanchez has done? Not only has he repented of his ways, he has worked hard to remove himself from them and make himself a better man, and I dare say with quite a bit of success too. Even if he were still actively gay, it would make no difference. Do we hate the sin, or do we hate the sinner? You all know the answer to that question already.

Bryan at Hot Air says:

For our friends on the left who will tar the entire conservative movement over the past of one man, you'd do well to consider something that GayPatriotWest reminded me of -- at the heart of the Christian story is a prostitute, Mary Magdalene. At the heart of the New Testament is a book called Corinthians, in which Paul describes some of the early Christians thus:

Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

"…and such were some of you…" He's talking to some of the first Christians. Those people had histories. But change is possible. Based on his actions at Columbia and in joining the Marines, I'd say that change has happened.

SeeDubya at Junkyard Blog says: (UPDATE: Yikes! I forgot to blockquote this! Sorry, SeeDubya!)

... Redemption is a Christian doctrine, and an American doctrine, and a conservative doctrine as well: making the best of what you have instead of insisting on perfection. Perfection is a myth. Perfection is the enemy of the good. All men, and all institutions, and all human doctrines, are deeply flawed and twisted, but we must do the best we can with them.

To understand American conservatives, even those who aren't themselves Christian, you need to understand Christianity--not as it appears in vicious stereotypes and smears on left-wing blogs, but as it is really preached and practiced and understood. As I am fond of pointing out, a lively Christian faith is actually a great defense for American liberty, and a firewall against ideological zeal and extremism. And as seen in the response to the revelations about Cpl. Sanchez, it keeps us human.

As for those who outed him and had this blow up in their face, I pray they look at Chuck Colson's example and take it to heart. There's more to being human than just scoring political points.

And CPL Sanchez has this to say for himself (see page 2):

Porn reduces the mind and flattens the soul. I don't like it. That's not hypocrisy talking; that's just experience. I sometimes think of myself, ironically, as a progressive: I started off as a liberal but I progressed to conservatism. Part of that transformation is due to my time in the industry. How does a conservative trace his roots to such distasteful beginnings? I didn't like porn's liberalism. In porn, everything taboo is trivialized and everything trivial is magnified.

Being in the adult entertainment industry was sort of like being in a cult, and like all followers of a cult, I have a difficult time figuring out when I stopped believing in the party line. I can tell you, though, that by the time I finished my brief tour of the major studios, I was pretty disgusted with myself. It was an emotional low, and the people who surrounded me were like drug dealers interested only in being with the anesthetized in order not to shake off the stupor of being high.

Why did I become a conservative? Just look at what I left, and look at who is attacking me today. Let's face it: Those on the left who now attack me would be defending me if I had espoused liberal causes and spoken out against the Iraq war before I was outed as a pseudo celebrity. They'd be talking about publishing my memoir and putting me on a diversity ticket with Barack Obama. Instead, those who complain about wire-tapping reserve the right to pry into my private life and my past for political brownie points.

I agree with SeeDubya when he says that he doesn't believe that the Left understands redemption. It is true that they seem to laud those who wallow in extreme and sinful behavior, and see no reason that a person entangled in such base sin should want to be free of it. They do not see the harm, the pain, and the brokenness that infests the lives of people who are slaves to sin, and they cannot comprehend the joys of a life as a slave to righteousness, a life lived in peace and service and humbleness.

Instead, they attack people who have turned away from sin and are doing their best to overcome it in their lives. When those people stumble in their walk, they are vilified and ridiculed... for being human! Which of us is without fault? Which of us can truly look back on yesterday and confidently say that they lived a perfect day without mistakes and without selfishness?

CPL Sanchez shows the active redemption of a true penitent: He has seen the sin in his life, and he has turned away from it in disgust. He is now living a transformed life: evidence of his change. He hasn't spouted off a superficial apology or mea culpa and gone back to his own vomit, as so many of our "powerful, influential, and admired" celebrities do.

Again, I do not know whether CPL Sanchez is a Christian. I pray that he is, because I know that it is only with God's sustaining power in his life that he will be able to continue his walk in righteousness with grace and wisdom. I hope and pray that he is an example of a new creation in Christ.

As I said at Misha's place,

I thank CPL Sanchez for his example of a changed life, and for his courage and dedication in blessing his country with his honorable service. I pray that G-d blesses and keeps him, that He shines His face upon him, that He lifts him up and places his feet upon the Solid Rock.

My home, my family, my prayers, and my friendship are at his service whenever he needs them.

I mean that with my whole heart.

God bless Bert Brady!

And God bless the troops he welcomes home!

Oh, I **wish** I were near an airport like Dallas/Ft. Worth so I could do this...

Thank you so much to ABC News for doing this story - it's a welcome change from the defeatist rhetoric that seems to fill our media.

Oh, yeah, I "question his 'patriotism'"

After all, here's his latest, giving his soi-disant apology:

I said I was bothered by the notion that "the troops" were somehow becoming hallowed beings above society, that they had an attitude that only they had the means - or the right - to judge the worthiness of the Iraq endeavor.

I was dead wrong in using the word mercenary to describe the American soldier today.

These men and women are not fighting for money with little regard for the nation. The situation might be much worse than that: Evidently, far too many in uniform believe that they are the one true nation. They hide behind the constitution and the flag and then spew an anti-Democrat, anti-liberal, anti-journalism, anti-dissent, and anti-citizen message that reflects a certain contempt for the American people.

Gee, don't you mean "anti-DemocratIC?" Because I know how sensitive the Democrat party is to proper grammar. But, if you mean to imply that our troops are actually hostile towards liberal surrender-monkey military-hating journalist Democrats, I'm sure you'd be absolutely correct.

Of course, the fact that people serving in the military (and having actual combat experience in this war) might disagree with your ignorant and uninformed opinions is threatening to your idea of "free speech." Why? Because "free speech" for you apparently means "so long as you agree with my opinions." If our troops don't join the cacophony of your little disrespectful and arrogant echo-chamber, then they obviously must be wrong!

And I note that Mr. Arkin titles his post "the Arrogant and Intolerant Speak Out."

Mr. Arkin, have you looked in a mirror lately? Pot, meet kettle!

So, hell YES, I question Mr. Arkin's patriotism! Frankly, I would strongly urge him to move to *spit* fwance *spit*. I'm sure he'd feel much more at home there, among all his supercilious, snobby, effete, condescending and yellow-to-the-core cowardly soul mates.

Related posts: here and here.

And, I'm sure that I'll be adding links as other more worthy and able writers continue to shred this moron's moonbattery.

UPDATE: Oh, yeah - and it didn't even take five minutes!

• Fuzzilicious Thinking, here and here
• Powerline
• OPFOR
• Michelle Malkin, here and here
• Captain's Quarters
• Q and O
• CDR Salamander
• Random Numbers, who channels Kipling beautifully
• Dan Riehl
• Right Wing Nut House
• Hot Air, here and here
• and, of course, the Lady Cassandra gets all Cotillion on Arkins', er, "overstuffed seating apparatus" - AGAIN!

So you see, there's lots of links and many people pointing out all of Arkin's idiocies and fallacious logic. Enjoy!

Why don't we let them decide? (UPDATED)(BUMPED)

UPDATE 3.0 - Ah, I was wondering when Misha would shred Arkin to pieces. He begins

When the troops were finally (and kudos to NBC for having the balls to air a viewpoint contrary to the teachings of the Traitor Left) allowed to express their frustration with the tireless efforts of the objectively pro-terrorist Left Column to stab them in the back just like they did during Viet Nam, we fully expected the nutjobs in the media to throw a hissy and, right one cue, we have this in The Washington Compost:

... and of course the rest is a classically perfect snark-fisk. Make sure you go read!

And Ace hops aboard, too, saying

The big problem with kicking this little sissy's ass is that it would be too goddamned easy.

Again, read the whole thing! [/UPDATE 3.0. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program]

After all, they're the ones over there doing the job; why don't we listen to what our troops are saying about "redeploying" or "a formula that will in short order allow our combat forces to leave Iraq. [emph mine]" (link)

McQ, over at QandO, publishes a YouTube video of an NBCNews (!!) interview with some of our soldiers:

"One thing I don't like is when people back home say they support the troops, but they don't support the war. If they're going to support us, support us all the way."

"If they don't think we're doing a good job, everything that we've done here is all in vain."

Yep. The troops are "feeling the love" from Code Pink, Michael Moore, Jon Kary (*smirk*), the RINOS, MoveOn, the SheHag...

It seems to me to be the perfect time to quote from Patrick Henry's pamphlet series, the Crisis. The first paragraph of the first pamphlet, dated 23 December, 1776, says:

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated...

This wise man went on to say:

Tis surprising to see how rapidly a panic will sometimes run through a country. [...] Yet panics, in some cases, have their uses; they produce as much good as hurt. Their duration is always short; the mind soon grows through them, and acquires a firmer habit than before. But their peculiar advantage is, that they are the touchstones of sincerity and hypocrisy, and bring things and men to light, which might otherwise have lain forever undiscovered. In fact, they have the same effect on secret traitors, which an imaginary apparition would have upon a private murderer. They sift out the hidden thoughts of man, and hold them up in public to the world.

Indeed.

And now we seem to see these hidden thoughts exposed in many. The craven cowardice and the lack of discipline and resolution in the face of a threat to our country do in fact disclose "secret traitors."

Listen to the men and women who are there on the front line: they want to finish the job well. They want to persevere.

They want us to WIN!

(Crossposted to WAR)

UPDATE: DJ McGuire catches a WaPo columnist wallowing in liberal condescension and arrogance: William Arkin says "the Troops Also Need to Support the American People."

I'm sure the soldiers were expressing a majority opinion common amongst the ranks - that's why it is news - and I'm also sure no one in the military leadership or the administration put the soldiers up to expressing their views, nor steered NBC reporter Richard Engel to the story.

Oh, right, like we don't already get bombarded with anti-war claptrap in the LameStream Media already. Sure, they're always talking about how nobly and courageously our men and women do their job, right? The MSM is constantly talking about the lives saved, the medicines distributed, the schools built, the smiles and respect earned, the friendships made by our troops. Right?

*crickets chirping*

I'm all for everyone expressing their opinion, even those who wear the uniform of the United States Army. But I also hope that military commanders took the soldiers aside after the story and explained to them why it wasn't for them to disapprove of the American people.

Really? You want to explain to citizen volunteers why they can't voice their profound dissatisfaction with the constant refrain of "We can't win this war" and "Redeploy!" from spineless wimps who couldn't collectively gather a gram of honor or courage from amongst their ranks? Wow. I want to be a fly on that wall: it should be entertaining.

Mr. Arkin then quotes some soldiers from the video, as I have done, and then says:

These soldiers should be grateful that the American public, which by all polls overwhelmingly disapproves of the Iraq war and the President's handling of it, do still offer their support to them, and their respect.

Through every Abu Ghraib and Haditha, through every rape and murder, the American public has indulged those in uniform, accepting that the incidents were the product of bad apples or even of some administration or command order.

M'kay. Like, we've got hundreds of rape and murders we've been prosecuting, right? Oh, no, that would be the "insurgents." We've had our bad apples, yes - but they get prosecuted and jailed. You guys would far rather lionize the terrorists and give them a pass for their barbaric murders (torture - REAL torture, babycakes, beheadings, suicide bombers, killing civilians deliberately and regularly...). You assume "innocent until proven guilty" for our men and women in uniform, yet you want to extend rights equivalent to those of citizens to these Islamic monsters.

"These soldiers should be grateful that the American public..." Exactly backwards, Willy-boy. These men and women put their lives on the line in service of freedom and democracy while YOU sit on your fat rear end back home and toss spit balls on their honor.

So, 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?

Hey. NO WHERE did I see a call from the soldiers for you to give up your "rights and responsibilities to speak up." How about you learn some responsibility for the consequences of your juvenile little whine? Our enemies have access to the 'Net and our media - don't you think they're going to gloat gleefully over opinions like yours? You and your ilk, sir, give ample opening for the enemy to strengthen themselves and gorge themselves on America's lack of resolve and commitment.

By the way, our men and women aren't paid HALF of what they're worth, especially since they have to deal with your arrogant, supercilious and disdainful rhetoric while at the same time trying to exterminate inhuman cockroaches... AND they do it with loonies like YOU insisting they keep both hands tied behind their backs.

You, sir, are unworthy to polish the soles of their boots with your spit.

Now. Run along and find a veteran at Walter Reed or something, so you can get your ass properly whupped.

Idiot.

UPDATE 2.0 - Greta makes the excellent point in the comments) that the troops shouldn't decide, precisely, since our Armed Forces are under civilian command. I admit it was a somewhat poor choice of words on my part, but certainly the civilian command ought to at least listen to what our troops are saying and take heed?

As my blog-brother, Ward Smythe, says:

(Click the sticker to go to CafePress and buy it)

Also, you MUST go over to BlackFive for a glorious takedown of Mr. Arkin's drivel, and then visit Cassandra at Villainous Company to see Mr. Arkin receive another well-deserved beating.

I'd be tired, too

This goes along very well with my previous post.

Blackfive posts a letter from a Sergeant in Afghanistan, and you should go over and read it. Here's a quote:

I am tired of begging to be turned loose so that this war can be over.

Those of us who fight this war want to win it and go home to their families.  Prolonging it with attempts to do things like collect “evidence” or present whiz bang briefings on a new plasma screen TV is wasteful and ultimately, dulls the edge of our Infantry soldiers who are trained to kill people and break things, not necessarily in that order.

We are not in Iraq and Afghanistan to build nations. We are there to kill our enemies. We make the work of the State Department easier by the results we achieve.

It is only possible to defeat an enemy who kills indiscriminately by utterly destroying him. He cannot be made to yield or surrender. He will fight to the death by the hundreds to kill only one or two of us.

And so far, all of our “games” have been “away games,” and I don’t know about the ignorant, treasonous Democrats and the completely insane radical leftists and their thoughts on the matter, but I would like to keep our road game schedule.

So let’s get it done. Until the fight is won and there is no more fight left.

Like I said. Read it all.

Well, which is it?

My blog brother, DJ over at Right Wing Liberal, posts about a lovely flip-flop by our darling new junior senator. DJ mentions two articles, the first quoting Sen. Webb’s response to the State of the Union speech

The majority of the nation no longer supports the way this war is being fought; nor does the majority of our military. We need a new direction. Not one step back from the war against international terrorism. Not a precipitous withdrawal that ignores the possibility of further chaos. But an immediate shift toward strong regionally based diplomacy, a policy that takes our soldiers off the streets of Iraq's cities, and a formula that will in short order allow our combat forces to leave Iraq. [emph. added]

and the second a transcript from CBS’s Face the Nation (.pdf file, page four, about 2/3 of the way down)

... I don’t believe that there is any politician who has the right to say that he or she is speaking for the troops, for the military.

Note in the first quote that there’s an interesting little thing Webb says: he doesn’t want a “precipitous withdrawal,” and yet he quickly talks about an “immediate shift” and “in short order.” Now, I understand that the nuances of the word “precipitous” can imply disorganization and confusion (”done with very great haste and without due deliberation” [Link]), nevertheless it appears the Democrats’ position still focuses on haste.

Then of course, combined with the second quote, it appears that Sen. Webb speaks for the military (and for a beautiful fisk of that, see McQ’s Saturday post, “Fact Checking Jim Webb”)... except that he doesn’t think politicians can speak for the military.

Ooooooo-kay, well, which is it?

Ah! I see! Politicians can’t speak for the military, except if they’re Democrats proposing a cut ‘n’ run strategy. If you’re a Republican politician (and not a RINO), you can’t speak for the military, ever.

Gotcha.

A warning to Sen. John Warner

I just sent this to Sen. Warner's office:

Senator, have you read about this pledge?

If the United States Senate passes a resolution, non-binding or otherwise, that criticizes the commitment of additional troops to Iraq that General Petraeus has asked for and that the president has pledged, and if the Senate does so after the testimony of General Petraeus on January 23 that such a resolution will be an encouragement to the enemy, I will not contribute to any Republican senator who voted for the resolution. Further, if any Republican senator who votes for such a resolution is a candidate for re-election in 2008, I will not contribute to the National Republican Senatorial Committee unless the Chairman of that Committee, Senator Ensign, commits in writing that none of the funds of the NRSC will go to support the re-election of any senator supporting the non-binding resolution.

I've signed it.

Should you support such a resolution, please be aware that I *will* remember, and I *will* do what  I can to see that you are not re-elected. If you vote in favor of such a cowardly and despicable resolution, you are effectively spitting in the face of our brave troops, and giving aid and comfort to our enemy.

As a conservative Republican, I am disgusted with my party in general for falling away from the founding principles of our party. I abhor the pandering and the kowtowing to the enemies of America and the slavish adherence to political correctness. Please find a moral compass AND a spine, and stand for these principals with honor and courage.

Sincerely,
Kat
www.CatHouseChat.com

Admittedly, I am simply a small fry - a concerned citizen. Nevertheless, I am voicing my opinion. If enough of America voices their outrage at such cowardly and dastardly "resolutions," perhaps our so-called "leaders" will actually remember who they work for...

(UPDATE: Crossposted to TWC, and WAR)

Bagpipes Crying...

There's something about bagpipes - that haunting, mournful wail which can somehow transform itself into a paean of perseverance and victory never fails to grab my heart, tear it open, and wring emotion out of me. Ah, but perhaps that's the Scottish blood my ancestors bequeathed to me...

Nevertheless, when the pipes play "Amazing Grace," everything stops. My head turns toward the dirge, and my eyes search for pristine uniforms standing at attention. My body straightens, my hand comes over my heart, and my head bows in prayer.

Another hero has come home.

Another saint has entered the kingdom.

Another family endures the terrible loss, and looks forward to the triumphant reunion with their beloved. Another family remembers the promises of God:

And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations...

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels...

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name...

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne...

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

I just found this video by a country group - Rushlow Harris - that I'd never heard of:

But thanks to Blackfive, I also see another version of the video. He also talks about the Navy SEAL Commander who pretty much wrote the lyrics, and links to an article in That's Country magazine which tells a little more of the story.

Never, EVER!, forget the sacrifice our men and women in uniform have offered up so courageously. Honor them, respect them, support them, and pray for their honorable victory!

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust."

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation."

Amen. May God continue to guide, protect, and strengthen the Armed Forces of the United States of America!

God bless you, AP (no, not the press)

I'd like you to meet someone. He's a Marine. His name is Faoa Apineru, and he should be dead - but he's not. Instead Apineru, or "AP" as they call him, is learning to live with PTSD, and the aftermath of his terrible injuries.

The VA hospital in Palo Alto has a lot of people like AP. Mostly men and some women who were injured while in uniform, most of them from Iraq or Afghanistan. The VA has a polytrauma center, so troops with more than one injury can get help for all their problems, and a brain injury rehabilitation unit, called BIRU, for the guys who took one to the head.

He hangs out with other wounded Marines. Cpl. Jason Poole, who also had a severe head wound and nearly died, is his best friend.

"I don't have much family around here, so the Marines are my family," AP said. "That's what attracted me to them in the first place. It reminds me of my culture."

AP is from Samoa - but he doesn't remember his childhood, because the injury to his brain destroyed a lot of his memory.

In 2005, AP was in Anbar Province when his unit was attacked. Being a true Marine, his first concern was for his men - but he was the one who was terribly injured:

"The first thing I remember is screaming. I remember trying to stop screaming. You know, that Marine Corps crap about not showing your feelings. Then I heard my Marines. They were doing the same thing. They were screaming, too. So I let go and it went blank. Then I heard my Marines yelling, 'AP! AP!' and they were trying to pull me out of the vehicle. Then I went blank again."

AP went in and out of consciousness. He remembers someone trying to cut off his bloody uniform, and saying that he didn't appear to be hurt.

He thought he was shaken but physically fine. He took off his protective glasses and looked in what was left of the humvee's side mirror. Blood sprayed from his nose and a big gash close to his ear.

"I just thought, 'Oh my God. I'm f -- ed,' " he said.

He thought maybe the gash was just a deep scratch. He tried to stem the flow of blood with his finger. His finger sunk in deep.

"I remember getting cold, real cold, even though it was hot outside as hell," he said. "I remember my lance corporal talking to me, saying, 'Come on, AP, the chopper is coming. It won't be much longer.' But I couldn't really hear anything. My hearing was blocked. I saw everything in black and white."

AP wasn't listening to the medic or the other Marines. But his training kicked in when his lieutenant came over and told him to stay awake.

"I kept thinking, 'This is a lieutenant in the Marine Corps, I better do what he says. Thank God he did that."

Thank God that AP is a Marine - thank God he listened to and obeyed his lieutenant!

You need to go read the whole article and see how bravely our troops face the consequences of their choices. They may demur, but when it gets right down to it, each and every one of them is a hero. **OUR** job is to give them the respect and honor they so richly deserve, and to make sure that America finishes the job with dedication and determination.

Do not let their sacrifices be in vain. Do not let America drop the ball because of cowardice or boredom. Do not let America ignore their service and tarnish their honor.

Do not let America become unworthy of her sons and daughters who stand on the front lines and fight for freedom.

(Thanks, Raven.)

Two MUST reads...

Here - a mom of two Marines speaks her mind to an insensitive lout. You go, mom - I would have been far less kind!

"I'm sorry." "What?" he said. I repeated "I'm sorry". He looked at me with a puzzled expression. I shook my head as I said, "I'm sorry you feel the way you do about Marines. I have two Marine sons." His expression began to turn into...what, I'm still not sure, but it looked too closely like the start of a contemptuous sneer for my liking. My voice started to shake. "It doesn't even occur to you does it, that our Marines have done nothing wrong - they just do their job. You think they're guilty of murder just because they're MARINES." His mouth started to move, but I put up my hand and stopped him before he could talk. "I don't know why you said what you just said, or why you feel the way you do - but I know one thing. My sons and every Marine I personally know has more intelligence, honor, courage and decency than you'll develop over your whole miserable, unimportant life." By this time I am ashamed to say, I've totally lost my bearing. Tears are pouring down my face. I said thickly, "There's more worth inside the sorriest Marine than there is in the man standing in front of me right now." He started to say something, but again I interrupted. "Your level of sheer ignorance about the Marine Corps make me sad. The fact that better men than you could ever be, have died so you could stand here and talk about them is even sadder. But the saddest thing about you is...you're not even smart enough to know just how right I am. I'm so, so sorry for you."

And here - the Rocky Mountain News does it again, and portrays the honor of our military and the pain they go through. You may remember their story about a Marine CACO, back in November, 2005... Well, Jim Sheeler, the writer of both articles has done it again... (I wonder if they've got him on his own page...?) He's fantastically talented!

For the past three weeks, Rick Anderson had been the quiet rock, steadying his family, comforting them, looking out for everyone, the way he had taught his son to do, the way his son was doing.

He spoke at his son's funeral in Longmont and said he cried long and hard during his private, personal conversations with God.

On the outside, with his friendly face and salt-and-pepper moustache, he looked more like the real estate salesman that he is, rather than a former member of one of the most elite special warfare units in the country.

But after all of the quiet, all of the stoicism, Rick Anderson stood at the empty gravesite, took a deep breath and let out a Navy SEAL war cry that carried over the headstones.

"HOOYAH, KID!" he shouted at his son's casket, his voice breaking.

"YOU DID GOOD."