Tuesday, March 31, 2009

B-HO's record


Obama's Foreign Failures

By Ralph Peters
New York Post
Thursday, March 26, 2009

AMERICA'S enemies smell blood and it's type "O."

All new administrations stumble a bit as they seek their footing. But President Obama's foreign-policy botches have set new records for instant incompetence.

Contrary to left-wing myths, I wasn't a fan of the Bush administration. (I called for Donald Rumsfeld to get the boot in mid-2001.) But fair's fair. Despite his many faults, Bush sought to do good. Obama just wants to look good.

Vice President Dick Cheney was arrogant. Vice President Joe Biden is arrogant and stupid. Take your pick.

Don't worry about the new administration's ideology. Worry about its terrifying naivete.

Consider a sampling of the goofs O and his crew have made in just two months:

China: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (you know that gal married to the Saudi hireling) crawled to Beijing to tell the party bosses that human rights don't matter. Our "relationship" is more important than freedom and human dignity.

Beijing's response? A staged military confrontation with an unarmed US Navy vessel; continued screw-America currency cheating; a renewed crackdown on dissidents and, yesterday, a call for a new global currency to replace the dollar.

Thanks, Hill. You're a sweetheart.

Pakistan: With viral corruption throughout and Islamist fanatics sweeping half of its territory, Pakistan's coming apart. Its Dem-adored prez tries to ban opposition parties and gut the judiciary. It has nukes and seethes with hatred of America. And Islamabad controls our primary supply route into Afghanistan, using it as an extortion tool.

Obama's response? Billions in new aid for Pak pols to pocket. We'd be better off handing the money to AIG to pay out more bonuses.

Afghanistan: Obama's Vietnam. Am I the only American who remembers that candidate Obama had a plan to capture Osama bin Laden and fix our previous "mistakes" in Afghanistan? President Obama doesn't have a clue.

Iran: Obama tried to reach out, to talk. After all, talking got him to the White House. But America-bashing is what keeps Iran's leaders in office, it's their political essence. After 30 years of fierce hostility, hasn't anyone figured out that the senior mullahs need us as an enemy? Without the Great Satan America to blame, they'd have some real explaining to do to their homies. So O got the left-hand finger.

He wanted to chat with the Taliban, too. They told him he could stick it where the sun don't shine.

North Korea: Obama wanted a fresh start. North Korea's response? Threats of war with South Korea and the kidnapping of two American journalists. And the renewed pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, along with rocket tests.

Cuba: Obama would like to liberalize our relationship. The Castro boys told him to kiss off. They need an enemy, too. (Dear Mr. President: It's not always about us or how evil America is.)

Venezuela: Guess who else needs an enemy?

Mexico: The good news: Obama knows where it is on a map and recognizes that Mexico's government faces a narco-insurgency that threatens our country, too. His first action? Cave to the Teamsters, violate a lawful treaty on cross-border trucking, reignite fading anti-Americanism and undercut President Felipe Calderon.

Poland: Obama's stance on our bravest ally on the European continent? The Russians are more important than you are. He's sending the same message to Ukraine and Georgia.

Russia: Bolshie Biden, the commuting commissar, knows he's the man who can turn Russia into our best pal. After "Friend of Bill" Strobe Talbott tried and failed disastrously. And after poor W saw into Putin's soul, only to get his butt handed to him. "Uncle Joe" Biden has nothing to learn from past failures, though: He's got a re-set button.

Moscow's response to the Obama administration's bid for a new start? It threatens NATO members it once occupied and continues to back Iran's nuclear program. Plus, it bribes Kyrgystan to kick us off the critical-to-Afghanistan Manas airbase (then offers to help replace that supply lifeline, giving Russia a choke-hold on our troops).

Next, the Kremlin threatens massive re-armament and demands the abandonment of the dollar as the international reserve currency.

Obama's response? Push that re-set button again. And again.

At what point does naivete become cowardice?

As for our allies, Obama apparently needs them less than Bush did. O treated Britain's prime minister like the deputy Paraguayan veterinary inspector, and he blindsided the leaders of the Czech Republic, Poland, Mexico and Canada on issues ranging from missile defense to trade. But he'd like them to take the Gitmo terrorists off our hands, please.

The one bright spot thus far has been Iraq, where Obama quickly tossed aside his campaign promises. The O-man doesn't want to be on the blame-line for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in Baghdad. And his MoveOn.org supporters can throw all the tantrums they want. (Breaking news, folks: O's a professional pol, not the messiah . . . )

Apart from Iraq a success Sen. Obama did all he could to prevent his foreign policy's an instant wasteland. By comparison, the Carter administration is starting to look like a model of manly strength, courage and patriotism.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Learn From History?

Ya, but what lesson?

So here it is. What have we learned in 2,064 years?

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."
- Cicero - 55 BC



Monday, March 23, 2009

May I Salute You?

Provided by my friend Maj Bob: From Hoot Gibson


Thank you Captain Salwei,
Yes, you may and I will snap a smart salute in return.
Bob, Pops, G'Pa

A point of view

By Patricia Salwei

I approached the entrance to Fort Belvoir’s medical facility last year
as an old veteran puttered towards me. Easily over 80 years old,
stooped and slow, I barely gave him a second glance because on his
heels was a full bird colonel.

As they approached, I rendered a sharp salute and barked, “Good
morning, Sir!” Because they were heel to toe, I began my salute as
the old veteran was about two paces from me. He immediately came to
life!

Transformed by my greeting, he rose to his full height, returned my
salute with pride, and exclaimed, “Good morning Captain!” I was
startled, but the full bird behind him was flabbergasted. The
colonel stopped mid-salute, smiled at me and quietly moved on.

As I entered the clinic, the utter beauty of the encounter preoccupied
me. What prompted the old man to assume that I was saluting him.
Perhaps he just thought, “It’s about time!” After all, doesn't a
veteran outrank us all? I turned my attention to the waiting room
taking a moment to survey the veterans there. Service people rushed
around, loudspeakers blared, the bell for the prescription window kept
ringing. It was a whirl of activity and the older veterans sat
quietly on the outside seemingly out of step, patiently waiting to be
seen. Nobody was seeing.

My old friend stayed on my mind. I began to pay attention to the
military’s attitude towards its veterans. I witnessed indifference:
Impatient soldiers and airmen plowing over little old ladies at the
commissary; I noticed my own agitation as an older couple cornered me
at the Officer’s Club and began reminiscing about their tour in
Germany.

To our disgrace, I have also witnessed disdain: At Ramstein Air Base
terminal, an airman was condescending and borderline cruel with a deaf
veteran flying Space Available; An ancient woman wearing a WACS button
was shoved aside by a cadet at the Women’s Memorial dedication in
D.C.; A member of the color guard turned away in disgust from a drunk
Vietnam vet trying to talk to him before the Veteran’s Day Ceremony at
the Vietnam War Memorial.

Have you been to a ceremony at the Wall lately? How about a Veteran’s
Day parade in a small town? The crowds are growing faint. Why do we
expect the general public to care if we don't? We are getting
comfortable again.

It is not my intention to minimize the selfless service of our modern
military; my comrades are the greatest people I know. But lately I'm
wondering if the public’s attitude towards the military isn't just a
reflection of the active duty military’s attitude towards its own
veterans.

It’s time to ask -- do we regard them, do we consider them at all?
How does our attitude change when the hero is no longer wearing a
uniform?

I was proud to wear my uniform. Can I admit that I thought it was
cool? There is no denying that there is something about our
profession, combined with youth, that feeds the ego a little.

We have all seen a young pilot strut into the Officer’s Club with his
flight suit on. He matters; he takes on the room; he knows he can
take on the world. But, one day he will leave his jet for a desk, and
eventually he will have to hang up that flight suit. A super hero
hanging up his cape. How will we measure his value then? He will no
longer look like a pilot, an officer, a colonel. He'll just look like
an old man coming out of the clinic with his prescription.

But, he is he less of a hero? Will anybody remember or care about all
the months he spent away from his newborn daughter while making peace
a possibility in the Balkans? Probably not.

Our society has a short memory. Maybe it is not for the protected to
understand. Rather, it is my hope that when a young lieutenant walks
by him they will each see themselves reflected in the other – one’s
future, the other’s past. In that moment, perhaps, the lieutenant
will also see the hero, now disguised as an old man, and thank him.

The truth is there are heroes in disguise everywhere. I used to
wonder why people would want to chat with me when I was in uniform,
telling me about their four years as a radio operator in Korea. So
what? I wasn't impressed relative to my own experiences. Now I
understand that they were telling me because nobody else cared. Proud
of their service, no matter how limited, and still in love with our
country, they were trying to stay connected. Their stories were a
code for “I understand and appreciate you, can you appreciate me?”
The answer is yes.

I separated from the military in February. I'm out of the club.
Still, I want you to know that I'll attend the parades, visit the
memorials, and honor you while my kids and your kids are watching.

Then, maybe someday when I'm an old woman riding the metro, a young
airman will take a moment of her time to listen to one of my war
stories. I, in turn, will soak in her beauty and strength, and
remember.

Today as I reflect on my adventures in the Air Force, I'm thinking of
that ancient warrior I collided with at Fort Belvoir. I'm wondering
where he is, if he’s still alive, if it’s too late to thank him. I
want to start a campaign in his honor – Salute a Veteran. Yes, this
started out as a misunderstanding on my part. But, now I get it.
That day was the first time in my life that I really understood what
it meant to salute someone.

Dear veteran, I recognize and hail you! I do understand what I have
and what you have given to make it possible. So I'm wondering if we
meet on the street again…may I salute you?

Sunday, March 1, 2009

A Good Start

From my good friend Merlsie:

rom: STEPHEN SMITH
Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 11:08 AM
Subject: Obama's 1st 2 weeks in office

What a start.....this says it all :
O ne Big A ss M istake, A merica!
OBAMA'S TWO-WEEK RECAP
The American people elect a radical president with a total of 42 days experience as a U S Senator from the most politically corrupt state in America whose governor is ousted from office. Eighteen states are currently being investigated for massive voter fraud. Obama has still never produced a legal (long form) birth certificate to prove that he is a "natural born" citizen and eligible for the office of President.

Here's a recap of his first two weeks...


1, The President's first "official act" was to close Gitmo and make sure Terrorists civil rights are not violated.
2, The U.S. Congress rushes to confirm his Attorney General nominee, Eric Holder, whose law firm we later find out represents seventeen GitmoTerrorists.
3, Appoints a CIA Boss, Leon Panetta, who has absolutely no experience to qualify him for the job.

3. We get the most corrupt female in America as Secretary of State; bought and paid for.

5. We got a Tax Cheat for Treasury Secretary who files his own taxes and had to pay $37,000 in unpaid back taxes due to IRS findings of errors and omissions..

6. A Commerce Secretary nominee who withdrew due to corruption charges.

7. A Tax cheat nominee for Chief Performance Officer who withdrew under charges.

8. A Labor Sec'y nominee who withdrew under charges of unethical conduct.

9. A Sec'y HHS nominee who withdrew under charges of cheating on his taxes.

And that's just the first two weeks . . . but who's counting. America is being run by the modern-day Three Stooges ~ Barack, Nancy , and Harry ~ and they are still trying to define the stimulus.
(Perhaps, "Stimulus is where the government gives a smidgen of your tax dollars back to you making you feel so good about yourself [stimulated] that you want to run out to Wal-Mart and buy a new Chinese-made HDTV and go home and watch Crescent News Network!)
O ne Big A ss M istake, A merica!
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who are not. ~Thomas Jefferson~