Thinkin’bout Stuff

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.

Who woulda thought.

For only the second time in the history of our planet, steel has been melted by fire. Well… that is if you believe Rosie O’Donnell, as many loons seem to based upon the applause she gets on The View when she makes ludicrous statements.

As I started to write this, I peeked in over at Gina Cobb and saw she has this topic covered inside and out… so I’m punting: 9/11 Conspiracy Theories Melt in Searing Flames

Hey… if you want to see a bit of photoshop-art I contributed to the discussion of the congressional surrender, check out Update #2.

Congrats to the Dems for stepping up and really telling the world what they are all about.  In honor of today’s vote to set a timetable for troop withdrawal, I offer this commemorative song to the tune of Cheap Trick’s “Surrender”:

Reagan told me, yes he told me, I’d meet girls like you
He also told me stay away you’ll never know what you’ll catch
Just the other day I heard of Pelosi falling for
Some Syrian propaganda from Assad

Nancy’s all right, Harry’s all right
They just seem a little weird
Surrender, Surrender
Betray all our troops today, ay, ay…

Harry said that Nancy’s right she’s really up on things
Leave Iraq, let’s run and hide the congressional choir sings
I had read post-9-1-1 “these colors just don’t run”
But leaving now is white flag all the way

Nancy’s all right, Harry’s all right
They just seem a little weird
Surrender, Surrender
Betray all our troops today, ay, ay…

What ever happened to all those feelings of patriotism?
Nancy and Harry turned them into some kind of mortal sin
When I woke up terrorists were rolling down my block
Car bombs blasting, children crying, why did we leave Iraq

Nancy’s all right, Harry’s all right
They just seem a little weird
Surrender, Surrender
Betray all our troops today, ay, ay…

Today.
Today

(c) thinkinboutstuff.com 2007

Update: Check out some thoughts from the troops on Surrender.. err Senator Reid posted at Wake Up America:

Spree-

I wanted to leave a comment at your blog but the filtering software on my ISP is getting in the way. I’ve been in Iraq for over a year now, and the difference here in Anbar is amazing. Sen Reid is putting his own political career over my safety and the safety of my men who go outside the wire most every day. Thanks to folks like you back at home, we have hope that we can keep Congress off our backs long enough to get the job done right, and then we can go home with honor. Great blog, keep it up!

SSG Dave Thul

MN National Guard

Al Asad, Iraq

Appeal For Courage Committee