Thinkin’bout Stuff

Did you feel it? Did you wake up, turn on the news, and get punched in the stomach today?

Yes, the plot to blow up several US bound planes was disrupted. No doubt this should be viewed on an intellectual level as a victory for intelligence services and law enforcement, but still there’s that feeling.  We knew on some hypothetical, back-of-the-mind, when-not-if level that terrorists did not just disappear from the international scene after 9/11.  But just like people living near a fault line or at the foot of a volcano, we continued to carry on with our lives secure in the belief that today would not be the day.

Well, today was a stark reminder that any day can be that day. 

So, do we have the stomach for this fight? 

Are we the same nation we were in 1941? Or are we simply an empire in decline; too comfortable with our luxuries to sacrifice even a little bit to help the war effort.  Can you imagine the uproar (and the shrill screams from the left) if we were forced to ration and conserve resources in support of this war as our parents and grand parents did during WWII?

Are we ready to understand that the enemy we are fighting doesn’t give a damn about fair fights or protecting innocent civilians? While they parade faux victims in front of ever present and eager media cameras to foment opposition to this war around the world, do you think they shed a tear when blowing up children in playgrounds or mourners at funerals?

San Francisco Chronicle
Two unidentified men hid the explosives among other bags near a bench packed with children watching a match between neighborhood teams, said the lead investigator in the case, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to discuss it. At halftime, around 8 p.m., when the players sat down to rest, the bombs exploded simultaneously.

I’m not even remotely suggesting we should start blowing up children, but perhaps we could show just a little bit less compassion for terrorists and their “rights”. 

Perhaps we can stop talking about measured and equitable responses to terrorist attacks (such as the launching of rockets into civilian neighborhoods).

Perhaps we can stop whining about the government monitoring phone calls from known terrorist states.

Perhaps we can stop making false comparisons between Iraq and Vietnam to score politcal points.

Perhaps we will finally remember that this country is at war, and while the battle is being fought on other shores, it will not take much for it to be brought home to us again.

These fascists aren’t fighting for land or money; they really hate us and want us dead. Cease fires and UN resolutions are merely tactical retreats in their minds, meant to provide an opportunity to gain advantage and continue the fight another day.

Are we so desparate for peace, so enamored of our cushy lives, that we are willing to grasp at frayed ropes offered by those who would dance in the streets if that rope should break?

Time to wake up America; we talk about mortgaging our children’s future with Social Security and “tax breaks for the rich” when the real threat is our own selfish denial of reality so that we can continue leading comfortable lives while our future is threatened like never before.

This is exactly the type of behavior that, if we are not careful, might help to bring this country back together. 

The hate on the far left and right has acted like a pair of giant polar magnets ripping us apart for more than a decade.  After 9/11, most believed the attack from without would help to heal the self-inflicted wounds from within. 

Sadly left-wing loons, led by the likes of MoveOn, picked at the freshly healed scars, diving in like a persistent staph infection to deepen the wound and leave an everlasting festering sore upon our great nation in a desperate attempt to remold the basic foundation of our society to suite their warped view of the world.

Enter Lanny Davis, not someone who typically comes to mind when I am thinking “reconciliation”.  In an opinion piece published July 21 in The Washington Times, he says:

I remember the exact moment I had my first serious doubts about whether I was 100 percent right that the U.S. pre-emptive invasion of Iraq and the take-out of Saddam Hussein was a serious mistake.

I had been strongly opposed to the U.S. intervention from the start. I felt this way even though I believed (as did most everyone, including the intelligence community) that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction and even though I thought that he was a murderous, genocidal thug and the world would be better off - and the U.S. safer - with him dead.

However, I reasoned, the WMD inspectors were back in, and we had Saddam surrounded - thanks to George Bush, by the way, for which we Democrats did not give him sufficient credit at the time.

<snip>

But … then came my first moment of doubt.

I saw on TV in early 2005, in their first preliminary democratic elections, long lines of Iraqis waiting to vote under the hot desert sun with bombs and shrapnel exploding around them. Waiting to vote!

And then there was that indelible image - an older woman shrouded in a carpetlike cape, smiling gleefully and holding her purple finger in the air for the TV cameras, purple with ink showing that she had voted.

Smiling! In the middle of war! At U.S. troops standing nearby!

Wow, I thought. Is it possible I was wrong?

Is it possible, I wondered, that Iraqis truly did want democracy and freedom and the right to vote and government of the people, just as we Americans do? And were willing to fight for it, with our help?

Wouldn’t that be a good thing? Even a great thing?

Maybe another democracy, however imperfect, other than Israel in the Middle East could lead to more moderation, possibly other democracies? Democracies that could serve as bulwarks against al Qaeda-type of terrorist states?

<snip>

And then in early 2007 came the surge, which so many of us in the antiwar left of the Democratic Party predicted would be a failure, throwing good men and women and billions of dollars after futility. We were wrong.

The surge did, in fact, lead to a reduction of violence, confirmed by media on the ground as well as our military leaders.

It did allow the Shi’ite government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in the last several months to show leadership by joining, if not leading, the military effort to clean out of Basra the masked Mahdi Army controlled by the anti-U.S. Shi’ite extremist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and from the Sadr City section of Baghdad he claimed to control.

This willingness by the Shi’ite-dominated al-Maliki government to move against the Sadr Shi’ite extremists won crucial credibility for the government among many Sunni leaders and Sunnis on the streets, who joined together with Shi’ites to turn against the al Qaeda in Iraq and other Taliban-like extremists.

These are facts, not arguments.

<snip>

I just know I can’t get out of my mind that lady with the purple finger held up, smiling into the camera. If getting in was a mistake, then getting out - how and when - is not so simple as long as there is hope that she can someday live in a democratic Iraq that can help America in the war against terrorism.

I clipped the paragraphs I found most compelling, but encourage you to read the whole article by visiting the link above.  I do not agree with some of what Mr. Davis says in this article, but I do appreciate the character he displays by admitting he was wrong… something we can all learn from.

There is no shame in making a mistake or being wrong; the shame comes from not admitting it in the face of overwhelming evidence.

Seriously?

Going into Iraq to find terrorists… bad?

Going into Pakistan, an ally in the terror war whose president has risked his life to support the United States… good?

Barack Hussein Obama (BHO) on getting tough with terrorists:

From AP: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Wednesday that he would send troops into Pakistan to hunt down terrorists even without local permission if warranted — an attempt to show strength when his chief rival has described his foreign policy skills as naive.

Hmmm.. maybe Hillary Rodham Clinton is right. What exactly warrants sending troops across the border of an allied country without permission?

The Illinois senator warned Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf that he must do more to shut down terrorist operations in his country and evict foreign fighters under an Obama presidency, or Pakistan will risk a U.S. troop invasion and losing hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. military aid.

Canada better pay attention here… there are known terrorist cells in Canada and Obama might just have to get tough on our neighbors to the north and send in the troops.

“Let me make this clear,” Obama said in a speech at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. “There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again. It was a terrible mistake to fail to act when we had a chance to take out an al-Qaida leadership meeting in 2005. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won’t act, we will.”

If only we could get those terrorist holed up in those mountains, we could end this whole thing.  After all, the rest of the terrorists in the world would cease to exist if we get rid of the hole-in-the-wall gang of terrorists.  I guess it’s kind of like vampires.  If you can kill the head vampire, the others lose all their powers and just evaporate, or whatever it is vampires do when they stop being undead.

I guess Pakistan president Musharraf won’t be on the invite list to the White House along with Kim Jung Il and Ahmadinejad when he has his little get together with the world’s terrorism sponsors.

For the record now…

BHO was against invading Iraq, a major sponsor of terrorism with a leader who was threatening the use of chemical and biological weapons and who was trying to obtain the necessary ingredients to develop a nuclear device, and OBO proudly wears this position (not a vote, action or even a tough decision for him since he was not even in Congress to vote on the topic) on his sleeve.

However, he is now on record as saying he would have no problem with INVADING AN ALLIED NATION!

Yep.. finally found something HRC and I agree on…

More thoughts in the blogosphere on the topic:  DeMediacratic Nation, Michelle Malkin, Wake up America, Texas Rainmaker

What if… the United States leaves Iraq victorious instead of in retreat… 

What if… the “surge” works… 

What if… well… what if President Bush leads us to a victory in spite of those in Congress who throw up roadblocks and nonsensical distractions at every turn and seem resigned to a defeat that will lead to victory for them in the polls… 

What if you loved your country so much that you want us to win in Iraq but you love to hate George Bush so much you are ready retreat in shame to prove he is wrong? 

The irrational hatred of George Bush appears to be blinding many and making it nearly impossible to cut through the rhetoric to see the reality.  

But the facts on the ground are indisputable and will, hopefully, seep into the mainstream thinking of the American psyche so that perhaps we can move beyond the irrational doom and gloom surrounding the news about Iraq which is tainting the morale of a country, whose recovery from 9/11 is nothing short of miraculous, and allow us to feel good about our future, even if it does mean a few less votes for the liberal naysayers whose power continuance is so dependent on us feeling like all hope is lost. 

Thanks to Gina Cobb for highlighting a good op-ed in the NY Times that might just serve as a stepping stone to pulling ourselves out of a somewhat self-induced nightmare that is being fed by liberal hypnotists constantly reminding us how bad our lives are today. 

Only excerpting a small piece to pique your interest, but Gina has more or you can visit the NY Times via the link above: 

(By MICHAEL E. O’HANLON and KENNETH M. POLLACK) VIEWED from Iraq, where we just spent eight days meeting with American and Iraqi military and civilian personnel, the political debate in Washington is surreal. The Bush administration has over four years lost essentially all credibility. Yet now the administration’s critics, in part as a result, seem unaware of the significant changes taking place. 

Here is the most important thing Americans need to understand: We are finally getting somewhere in Iraq, at least in military terms. As two analysts who have harshly criticized the Bush administration’s miserable handling of Iraq, we were surprised by the gains we saw and the potential to produce not necessarily “victory” but a sustainable stability that both we and the Iraqis could live with. 

(snip)

Today, morale is high. The soldiers and marines told us they feel that they now have a superb commander in Gen. David Petraeus; they are confident in his strategy, they see real results, and they feel now they have the numbers needed to make a real difference. 

Everywhere, Army and Marine units were focused on securing the Iraqi population, working with Iraqi security units, creating new political and economic arrangements at the local level and providing basic services — electricity, fuel, clean water and sanitation — to the people. Yet in each place, operations had been appropriately tailored to the specific needs of the community. 

(snip)

How much longer should American troops keep fighting and dying to build a new Iraq while Iraqi leaders fail to do their part? And how much longer can we wear down our forces in this mission? These haunting questions underscore the reality that the surge cannot go on forever. But there is enough good happening on the battlefields of Iraq today that Congress should plan on sustaining the effort at least into 2008. 

While not exactly pointing to a stroll in the park that will lead to victory without set backs, this op-ed in the NY Times, no right-wing rag, does indicate we are moving in a better direction. I know I’m rooting for us.

Even if you love hating George Bush, I hope you love your country more. 

Update: Spree over at Wake up America drives home the point… some folks have put all there chips on the US to lose and winning will cost them too much. Just like in sports, if you bet on the other team, the temptation is strong to throw the game.

Who cares how they got there or why they are there?  Al Qaeda is in Iraq, we are in Iraq, nearly seven years ago this nation woke up to a terror war that had been waged as we slept for nearly a decade and vowed to destroy an enemy whose stated objective is to destroy us, so what’s the issue here? It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure this out. If we leave Iraq everyone doesn’t shake hands and go to neutral corners, they just take the ground we surrender and move the front closer to our home.

Then again, there is never-President John Kerry’s view:

From AP: In Washington, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said Bush “is trying to scare the American people into believing that al Qaida is the rationale for continuing the war in Iraq.” But Kerry said Bush presented no new evidence to back that up, and added: “The president is picking the wrong rationale for this war. Al-Qaida is not the principal killer of American forces in Iraq.”

Um… so we should only stay if Al Qaeda kills more American soldiers? I don’t understand his point, but I do know that Al-Qaeda was the principal killer of thousands of Americans on 9/11, so tell us senator, is that rationale enough for us to stay and fight Al-Qaeda in Iraq?

This whole argument over whether Al Qaeda was there before the Iraq war or came to Iraq as a result of the Iraq war is pointless, don’t you think? 

More from AP:

Al-Qaida had no active cells in Iraq when the U.S. invaded in March 2003, and its operation there is much larger now than before the war, U.S. intelligence officers say. The war itself has turned into a valuable recruiting tool for al-Qaida, senior intelligence officials concede. Bush denied that the war triggered al-Qaida’s operations in Iraq.

Who the hell cares how they got there?! This is great news! We found the enemy… go kill them!

As far as Iraq serving as a recruiting tool, aren’t most wars valuable recruiting tools for both sides? I suppose if we surrender to Al-Qaeda there wouldn’t be much reason for them to continue recruiting… we’d all be Muslims or we’d all be dead.

I received the following comment on the An American Hero post and wanted to share it with you:

Here is a letter I wrote the Tennessean about the moving photograph of Christian Golczynski:

(it was not published)

Dear Tennessean:

The Tennessean’s April 5 photograph of young Christian Golczynski accepting the American flag from Marine Lt. Col. Ric Thompson is one of the most moving and emotion provoking images I have ever seen.

I attended funeral services for Christian’s father, Staff Sergeant Marcus Golczynski, on April 4, along with my six year-old son, dozens of Marines, and several hundred others who came to pay tribute to this fallen hero.

As one would expect, many of your readers were touched by this incredible picture. Staff Sergeant Golczynski had previously served one full tour in Iraq. Shortly before his death on March 27 he wrote to his family that he had volunteered to do this a second time due to our deep desire to finish the job we started. In his letter he said, “We fight and sometimes die so that our families don’t have to.” Tragically, Staff Sergeant Golczynski had only two weeks remaining on his second tour. We look at the photograph of Christian every day. It is displayed prominently in our home.

Our hearts ache for Christian and for all those who have lost loved ones in this controversial conflict.

Our nation is at a historical crossroads. Do we call an end to the struggle in Iraq or press on? Staff Sergeant Golczynski eloquently told his son how he felt about not giving up. Perhaps there is a lesson for all of us in this man’s life and the choices he made. He was undeniably a man of tremendous courage and conviction. America must now choose whether to complete the job.

When looking at the face of Christian Golczynski I am reminded that doing what is right is not always easy and doing what is easy is not always right. Christian’s dad knew that too.

James Drescher

Franklin, TN

Thank you James… 

Although it may not receive the local exposure that The Tennessean would have provided, it is now exposed to the search engines of the WEB and may even get picked up by some of my bigger friends out there (hint, hint…  Wake Up America, Bottom Line Up Front, Gina Cobb)

I received an e-mail today, the kind that looks suspiciously like those chain or SPAM e-mails that have a way of filling up our inboxes… we all get them.

I don’t know about you, but the first thing I do is turn to SNOPES… nope, nothing at SNOPES. Looks like I’m on my own here.

The e-mail refers to letters published in The Tennessean in response to a photo of a little boy.. no.. a photo of a brave young man who has lost his dad. Heartbreaking for sure.

Turns out… the story is real, the e-mail is true.

Staff Sergeant Marcus Golczynski, an American hero, was serving his 2nd tour of duty in Iraq. He volunteered to return for a second tour because “…as warriors have done before us, we joined this organization and are following orders because we believe that what we are doing is right. Many of us have volunteered to do this a second time due to our deep desire to finish the job we started. We fight and sometimes die so that our families don’t have to. Stand beside us. Because we would do it for you. Because it is our unity that has enabled us to prosper as a nation.”

The e-mail mentions letters to the editor using the loss of an American hero as an occasion to slam his Commander in Chief. As you read this letter, keep in mind the words of Staff Sergeant Golczynski.

From the Tennessean website:

In the April 5 letters, Rollow Mickle was once again thumping his war drum and ranting against the “liberals” who dare to take a stand against the war (”Elitists disparage Iraq war and Bush”).

I hope Mr. Mickle eagerly read his letter, then turned to the next section, which contained the heartbreaking photo of young Christian Golczynski fighting back tears as he received the flag from his father’s coffin. He was killed in Iraq.

How many more fatherless children will it take before the Bush supporters admit their mistake? What a sad chapter in American history this unending disaster has become, and what a terrible price these kids have paid. - Mel Davenport

Looks as if there are other letters to the editor with titles like ”A grieving child shows us war is out of control and we must demand answers”; unfortunately the letters have been archived. There were also letters offering prayers, gratitude and support:

From the Tennessean website:

Very few photos have brought tears to my eyes but, when I opened my paper Thursday and saw the photo of Christian Golczynski being presented the folded flag that had been taken from his dad’s coffin moments before my eyes got wet. What a brave face attempting to hide the agony of a broken heart. His dad was proud of him I am sure.

We go about our lives each day pretty much taking for granted the freedoms we enjoy and very seldom do we consider those who paid and are paying the price for us to do so. I am as guilty as anyone else. I’ll tell you one thing though. This photograph has really made me stop and think.

I plan to frame a copy of this photo and place it where I will see it every day of my life so I will be reminded of all those throughout our history who have sacrificed to make it possible for us to live free.

And I don’t mean just the soldiers … I am talking about the families who have lost loved ones in the wars and conflicts our country has been through. Those who lay awake at night wondering if their family member is OK on the other side of Earth. For those who have no idea what happened to their loved one, the MIA.

And a little 8-year-old boy named Christian who will have to grow up with no dad to throw balls with, no dad to go fishing or hunting with, no dad to share holidays with. Yes folks, freedom has a cost, you can see it in the face of this young man.

Who can say who sacrifices most, the soldier, or their family … I am so very grateful to all those who have had a part in myself and my family and friends being able to go about our day to day lives as we wish as free people in a free country.

Thank you Christian and Marc and the rest. - Robert England

Headline annoyance: reading this letter, would you have come up with this headline “Families sacrificing too much in Iraq war”. Doesn’t seem to me the writer was trying to say the families are sacrificing too much. Sacrificing? Yes. But by adding the “too much”, the headline writer tried to make it seem as if the writer is making a statement about the war.

Why on earth the headline writier felt it necessary to spin this into a commentary on the war… but I digress…

This letter is spot on. Read it again… we owe these heroes our support, our prayers, our support… our real support… our support for them AND their mission… or gratitude for their sacrifice of time.. time not spent with family… time not spent with friends… perhaps time not spent living…

Staff Sergeant Golczynski did not give his life in vain. He served his country with honor and stood between the US and our enemies and said “never again”. Never again will we wait for the enemy’s next move. Never again will we hide our heads hoping the bad guys will go away and leave us alone. Never again will we let them take the battle to American shores.

We will fight them in their streets. We will fight them in their homes. We will fight them in dark hideaways as they scurry among the rocks like the lowly rats that they are. And we will defeat them because men like Staff Sergeant Golczynski will not be defeated, as long as the politicians who believe words will shield us from WMDs step aside and lower their white flags of surrender.

When you look at this photo, remember the sacrifice this family has made, remember them in your prayers, but never forget who the real enemy is. On 9/11, we as a nation vowed to never forget. What short memories our new congressional leadership has…

Please keep Staff Sergeant Golczynski’s family in your prayers… and never forget those who serve so that we may sleep safe tonight.