Appease, Embrace, and... Kumbaya?

by: princemjkt

Thu May 15, 2008 at 22:01:22 PM EDT

Is it politics, or do the President, presumptive Republican nominee, and others really believe that President Nixon, Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, Prime Minister Churchill, and countless others are the exemption (Stalin and subsequent Soviet Presidents, Mao, and countless others) and our presumptive Democrat nominee is naive?  Along with current Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, current Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, and the countless members of Congress on both sides of the isle, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and more?

Where is Our Leadership? (Has Anyone Asked Illinois?)

by: princemjkt

Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 01:10:08 AM EDT

I wish someone could explain to me why the best candidate we've had for President of the United States continues to have to be drug into the media to defend himself over two individuals. Whether it's a former pastor or real estate developer, why do we continue to see any candidate weather a storm like this with so much as stake right now?

Have we forgotten about the characters in the lives of both Bill & Hillary Clinton? Of John McCain?  In our own lives?

Again, it is stunning to see that in the year 2008 we are here on a Tuesday night in the Spring season and our attention remains fixed on this while gas is almost unaffordable, food choices at the grocery store are having to be seriously altered to meet a budget that no longer can sustain it, and jobs that can sustain average Americans are harder and harder to find.  We have troops on the ground in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and all over the world.  A soaring trade deficit, national debt, and we are talking about a man not even in the running for the most powerful political office in the world?

Where is our Leadership? Where is the muscle in the Democrat and Republican Parties of the United States? Where are the decent political leaders who should be outraged that Barack Obama is continually being  attacked over this mess? Where are any of our leaders?

Are we going to gamble away this wonderful opportunity we have to shake this off, roll up our sleeves, and make a fantastic nation even better?

Still want answers?  How about asking Illinois? I ask you. Barack Obama is the junior Senator from your state. Are we to believe that your collective judgment somehow overlooked this man, passing through your State Senate, onto the U.S. Senate, and to the position of Presidential Candidate Frontrunner and you somehow missed whatever secret everyone keeps digging for?  Or, can we just say that Senator Obama is a great guy, and we can all follow him together?

Essay on the Honor, or lack of it, in our invasion of Iraq

by: princemjkt

Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 17:57:01 PM EDT

THE  ARMY

When civilians hear the word "commander" they mostly think of someone giving an order to subordinates. And, of course, commanders do give orders.  But "command" as a concept has far greater meanings and implications than ordering folks around. It is in fact the basis of the claim that military service is a profession.  The military's real purpose is "to control the violence of war in a way that permits the outcome to be some useful social outcome" (Morris Janowitz)    

The key sentence in the army regulation which defines command says, "The commander is responsible for everything his unit does or fails to do".  This statement forms the basis not only for the operation of units, both in combat and peacetime, but also the ways those units are organized, and how they relate to one another and the enemy.  It is that legal structure which creates a purposeful organization out of an uncontrollable, destructive mob.    

The command system works as it was designed to work only when all the elements of the chain, from Theater Army to squad, speak honestly with each other - without concern for the effect that their words will have on both superiors and subordinates.  Human nature being what it is, this is a seldom fully-realized ideal.  Courage, and confidence in your commander are needed on both sides when the news you bring is bad news.  The army succeeds ONLY to the degree  that speech up and down the command is truthful and complete.  The corollary of the orders given is that the commander giving them takes responsibility for the outcome of their execution.    

A classic case of the breakdown of this reponsibility is Abu Ghraib, Iraq.  The torture of prisoners there was leaked to the public by pictures taken by folks at the lowest levels of command.  The Major General appointed to investigate this ugly situation made a thoroughly honest report.   It confirmed that the provisions of the Geneva Convention (actually, they are laws binding the behavior of the armies of all signatory nations, the USA being one of them) were violated repeatedly, on direction from superiors.  The ultimate response of the highest levels of command was to blame the lowest ranking personnel, prosecute them in military courts, and then dismiss the whole matter in hope that it would be quickly forgotten.    

When the trial of one of the offenders began, a subpoena was issued to Maj Gen Geoffrey Miller (who was in charge of the interrogation of the prisoners) by the legal counsel of one of the Warrant Officers conducting the investigations who was the defendant at the trial.  This General Officer took the Fifth Amendment (against self-incrimination) rather than testify, on the grounds that if he told the truth in his testimony he would be incriminating himself.  There is no record that he ever did or said anything to acknowledge any of his responsibility for their behavior.  This Major General had also supervised the interrogation of inmates at our prison in Guantanamo.    

Maj Gen Miller's refusal to take any responsibility for the outcome of his instructions he may have given at Abu Ghraib is just one of the instances in which the Army doctrine of command responsibility has been flouted in our invasion of Iraq.  What is at stake here is not the relatively trivial problem of actions which violate both the letter and the spirit of the Army Regulation governing the performance of the command function.  Not one senior officer connected with our invasion has stood up to take responsibility for any of the reprehensible activities so far disclosed.  And those who planned and executed that invasion, failing to  anticipate what chaos would develop there after the Iraqi army was disbanded, have been completely silent.  None has stood up to take responsibility for the plans they prepared and the orders given to execute their provisions.  They have been completely silent.    

Those of us who love the Army, and respect the command structure, and who have given it our best efforts in Vietnam and elsewhere, are ashamed at what its commanders have now done and refuse to take responsibility for, in and after our invasion of Iraq.  That invasion, condemned by Pope John Paul II in an encyclical issued before that invasion took place, was based on lies and false intelligence. "We, the People", now need to hold them accountable for their lack of honor.

Charles F. Kriete
Ch(COL) USA, Retired
Distinguished Fellow, US Army War College

Another Yellow Ribbon Moment

by: princemjkt

Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 12:04:30 PM EDT

How do we import photos onto here?  

I found an old sattire that is excellent that was drawn up and sent out during September 2006!!

Petition to Consolidate Behind Senator Barack Obama

by: princemjkt

Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 23:15:32 PM EDT

It is with great courage that I post this here, and my hope that we now don't simply poll here, but let everyone else know; including Senator Hillary Clinton...

The following is a link to a petition to ask Senator Clinton to withdraw from the race, and below is my personal letter that accompanied my petition signature:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com...

The goal is 1,000,000 signatures.  What better place than to start with America's 21st Century Patriots...

2012...?

by: princemjkt

Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 19:12:39 PM EDT

Today, as I was preparing to spend time with my family...  I was looking over my email, and came across this little note from the Huffington Post, thanks to folks from Philly for Obama:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

What do y'all think?

So, What Do We Do?

by: princemjkt

Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 10:36:27 AM EDT

Feelings about 160k troops on the ground in Iraq?

Feelings about the forgotten operation in Afghanistan?

Feelings about the wounded warrior(s), both mentally and physically?

Feelings about seeing the same issues brought up on a daily basis, but nothing seemingly being done about it?

Strategy & Tactics, Part II

by: princemjkt

Fri Mar 21, 2008 at 18:11:06 PM EDT

We talked last week about Strategy and Tactics, and the direction the current Presidential electin has turned in kind.

Given that many folks have the opportunity to read our playbook(s), another counter-punch has been introduced and we have some media interest...

For anyone that wants in, please reply here and we can take it to the VoteVets State Captains.

Semper...

Hypothetical: Clinton v. McCain 2008

by: princemjkt

Thu Mar 20, 2008 at 23:55:51 PM EDT

Open discussion is encouraged.

A Front Row Seat

by: princemjkt

Thu Mar 20, 2008 at 00:56:32 AM EDT

1) Why do we put young lieutenants in command, when staff NCOs have more often than not been operating w/i the military for about 10 years?

2) Who has the most foreign policy and military experience of the three remaining candidates?  How much experience did Donald Rumsfeld have?

3) If having a front row seat counts as experience, then can we get everyone's seats on the 45 yard line in Gillett Stadium for the Patriots to take over Tom Brady's reigns when he retires?  They are likely "experts" in the Patriots and football, and have a front row seat.  Does that make them qualified to bring the Pats back the Super Bowl crown?

Anniversary of....

by: princemjkt

Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 22:21:34 PM EDT

President George W. Bush gave a speech today marking the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq that kicked off Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Did he do the same thing during the anniversary of Operation Enduring Freedom?  The campaign that kicked off the Global War on Terror?

228 to 64 to 62

by: princemjkt

Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 23:35:22 PM EDT

Let's make it a goal for votevets.org:

S - Keith Olbermann will host a Special 3/30 Countdown, and there is a poll online at the Daily Kos that let's folks show who we want to see.

M - Get VoteVets on that special, with our
   chairman Jon Soltz as a guest.

E - Reach NLT 400 votes for Jon by COB 3/14/08  -
-State Captains:  Get NLT five people onto your respective team and/or to go to the website ISO Jon Soltz.
-Members:  Get NLT two people onto the website ISO Jon Soltz.
- C/I: The end result is to have NLT 400 votes by COB Friday, 3/14/08; creating enough
momentum to stir up the buzz, yet create an
insurmountable lead that Ms. Maddow cannot overcome by March 30th.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyo...

A - VETVOICE.com, cell phones, Rachel Maddow and
Chuck Dodd supports, the support w/i our community.

C - 1) See above "A", less the support... 2) Check the site daily, and see it grow...

Strategy & Tactic

by: princemjkt

Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:01:46 AM EDT

Get the United States citizenry to think about race again as the central issue of the Democrat Nomination for President of the United States.

Tactic

Deploy Geraldine Ferraro to cry that Barack Obama is only in his position because he is a black man, call that anyone who disagrees is racist, and hope that the media will pick it up.

Result?

So far, it has worked; as of 950am EST March 12, 2008.

Counter Strategy

Get the United States Citizenry to back the Democrat Nominee that can be trusted, and won't throw each of us under the bus and continue to deploy the same Karl Rove tactics of divide and fratricide.

Counter Tactic

Write your media editors, demanding that Hillary Rodham Clinton resigns.  Cutting away someone that is not contributing anything productive or positive to the issues is what leaders must do.  Here is a text example that can be used; no copyright issues at stake.

Senator Barack Obama was declared the landslide winner in Mississippi in the wake of racist comment by Geraldine Ferraro; former candidate for Vice President of the United States, communications staffer for Senator Clinton, and more than the equivalent of any remarks ever made toward her (Clinton's) candidacy.  

When Senator Obama immediate dismisses a staffer for off-color remarks, regardless of whether they're off the record, it demonstrates what a true leader will do.  Senator Clinton has demonstrated that she lack the moral character and courage to hold her seat in the Senate, much less the Presidency of the United States.  

Mrs. Clinton, you should be ashamed of yourself, Ms. Ferraro, and anyone not willing to take the responsible actions in keeping America moving forward in the 21st Century.  You know the rest; enough said.  

Issues

by: princemjkt

Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 00:01:37 AM EDT

Army Sniper convicted of murder:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/w...

Marine convicted of murder:
helpdefenddelano.googlepages.com

Both cases occured in Iraq.  Neither had solid evidence for a conviction.  Thoughts?

Democrat Nominee & Patrick Murphy!

by: princemjkt

Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 23:57:58 PM EDT

It is time to call for Senator Clinton to step down in the wake of comments made by Geraldine Ferraro, and Mrs. Clinton's virtual acceptance of the same.  This is classless, tactless, and demonstrates that she will throw any one of us under the bus if we are not with her; no less than President Bush has demonstrated, while those with her are immune...  (remember the founder of BET?)

Jon Soltz - Updated 3/11/2008 10:15pm

by: princemjkt

Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 18:38:33 PM EST

63 votes for Jon Soltz

62 votes for Chuck Todd

19 days until the 3/30/08 Countdown Special.  Let's take command of this, and get our voice on the air!

Log on & get Jon Soltz to the top of the flag pole to:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyo...

This opportunity represents all of us who are of a sound mind at VoteVets and VETVOICE!  Let's get it done!!!

Semper & Respectfully,

Kent
SC State Captain
VoteVets Senior Advisor

A State That Knows How to Pick a President

by: princemjkt

Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 23:21:09 PM EST

With no disrespect, does Ohio now get to be classified in the same group as... Florida?

Velvet Handed Shot from Our Conservative Liberal?

by: princemjkt

Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 01:50:45 AM EST

For that matter, what is wrong with having a liberal record?

At the end of the same clip that we can find online, Mr. McCain also refers to ads that we might see from these 527's that should be outlawed.  Is he passive aggressively referring to VoteVets, though VoteVets does not fall under a 527 exemption (according to Wikipedia)?  Or, are there other organizations that plan to come out and Swift Boat him the way the Republicans did to John Kerry four years ago?

(None of the Above are Retorical..)  ;-)

Why?

by: princemjkt

Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 01:09:02 AM EST

Why can each of us as Americans not just respect ourselves, but others in the world?

Why?

Why can each of us who are raised Christian not take the time to learn, love, and respect the Muslim faith...  The Jewish faith and Israel's place...  The Wiccan, The Buddist...?

Why?

Why have we doubled our debt to foreign nations while Exxon Mobile has recorded billion dollar quarterly profits, gas is $3/gallon and above, the tax cuts to the wealthiest are still in place, and our troops in harm's way have delays in getting proper (non-defective) equipment?

Why?

Why is it a Democrat issue versus a Republican issue... instead of an American issue, an international issue, a humanity issue?

Why?

Why am I up at 1am, wondering about the America that I face, that my family, friends, and neighbors face.. that my unborn children face...  and whether the investment that we all make will be honored with dignity, respect, and stability... and not the dissolving of our pensions, the lay-offs of us by the thousands, the fleecing of our stocks by thieves, or the shipping of our manufacturing base across our borders..?

Why?

No Doubt Left

by: princemjkt

Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 21:24:15 PM EST

Now, is there any real reason to put citations here about what her record is?  I do not want to insult the intelligence of fine patriots, military supporters, and just plain decent people to have to lay out common facts.  Hillary Clinton is a plain lier.  She has no moral courage, cannot lead, and will be no better for our nation than a true patriot in John McCain who is past his time.

938pm - Let's continue the lies...  Negotiations in Northern Ireland and China?  Senator Obama wanted to bomb Pakistan in 2007?  Can anyone please let me and every other patriot here know who the Presidential candidate was that voiced during a debate that the action on Pakistan was to warn them that the missiles flying over their nation were from us, and not from India?

Further, are Democrats the only people in America who have good policies?  As soon as we begin to alienate our Republican brothers and sisters, are we still true patriots?  Who can legitimately support Hillary Rodham Clinton for President of the United States?

1020pm - Let's take an objective look at this:

http://www.slate.com/id/218207...

1026pm - Hillary's Vote on the Iraq War.  Let's just look at the same Keith Olbermann that regularly hosts us on Countdown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

1133pm - Debate is over, but this was pulled from another comment they brought up about her vote on the run up to the war; or lack of IRT the 11th Amendment:

http://www.radioopensource.org...

Here's another piece from the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03...

Nutshell on this one... Hillary voted against the Levin amendment, which would have required UN approval for the use of force against Iraq.  Then, voted for another Congressional vote authorizing the President to use American military force.

Brothers and sisters... let me hear your voice...  Please, bring it real, and look within yourselves for what is real...

Semper...

INTEGRITY, LEADERSHIP, ACCOUNTABILITY, & WHY HILLARY SHOULDN'T BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

by: princemjkt

Sun Feb 17, 2008 at 23:33:18 PM EST

Tonight is a night to discuss something that I think is endearing to all Americans; veteran and civilian alike.  We are just months from selecting our next President of the United States, with only three main candidates left in the field to lead us into the 21st Century and out some dark clouds that have engulfed us for nearly the first decade of the new millennium.  People are tired, stretched, and ready to turn a page.  There hasn't been such a lack of trust in our leadership like this since I can even remember.  So much is the disillusionment of our population that we are seeing people who are going to vote in primaries in what has become a tradition of voting against the lesser of two evils or simply to put in the first woman or African-American.  

But tonight, I did not come in here to talk about that, but about the word trust.  It is a trust that was robbed from many of us during the Bush years in office.  It is a trust that is likely responsible for the question posed right here on our site about whether someone voted for President Bush at least once.  I am one of those persons who did so, much to my regret now.  However, I did not come here tonight to talk about W either, but rather about Hillary Clinton, and why she should not be our next President of the United States.

I was watching Tim Russert interview Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin today.  Both the Senators stood with us on Capitol Hill last September in support of the Webb-Hagel bill and against the policies that our current President has exercised in relation to the ongoing operation in Iraq as well as Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.  The subject of delegate counts came up, and we all know that Michigan and Florida do not currently have a count from the primaries they (did not) have.  Many topics have been raised since each state voted, but none more important than one raised today by Mr. Russert and Mr. Durbin.  Michigan and Florida defied the DNC, broke the rules, and was handed their just due.

The following quote was pulled from DNC Chairman Howard Dean when he commented last August about the 2008 Primary Season:

"As leader of the Democratic Party, I strongly urge you to adhere to the 2008 delegate selection rules. The 2008 Delegate Selection Rules adopted by the full DNC at its August 2006 meeting clearly provide that only four states - Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire," "South Carolina - may hold their respective contests prior to February 5, '08. The [Rules and Bylaws Committee's] finding of noncompliance included a 100 percent loss of pledged and unpledged delegates."

Senator Clinton's campaign has this to say in reply the following month:

"We believe Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina play a unique and special role in the" nomination "process." "We believe the DNC's rules and its calendar provide the necessary structure to respect and honor that role. Thus, we will be signing the pledge to adhere to the DNC approved nominating calendar."

This month, the Clinton Campaign had this to say:
"With regard to Michigan and Florida, our position is clear. We're going to ask our delegates to vote to seat the delegations from Florida and Michigan. We do not think that many Americans should have had their votes and their voices and their preferences denied.
We had an enormous turnout, particular in Florida, the largest turnout in the history of the Democratic primary in Florida. And we believe that it is critically important that those delegates have an opportunity to express their preferences at the convention.
I don't believe that anyone seriously thinks we're going to have a national convention in which the delegations of Florida and Michigan are not going to have a say. So that is our position."

I won't go into the similar complaints levied back in Nevada; complaints that quickly evaporated mind you when it was clear that Senator Clinton had nothing to complain about when the results came in her favor... (though, again, her campaign had agreed to the rules for those Caucuses).  What I will say is that the Clintons have always been accused of having a pattern of dishonesty, lack of integrity, lack of moral courage, and that we are seeing it on full display during the Democrat Primary Elections.

If we want to see our nation continue to erode, we need only go ahead and do what we can to get Hillary elected.  The brightest, most capable minds matter not if there is no character or fiber of consistent decency to go along with it.  We have seen scores of inconsistencies mentioned about the Bush Administration that have led many of us to have the courage to stand up to it.  How many of us are going to stand up to Hillary now?

I know that Senator Clinton has the endorsements of some of our greatest supporters at VoteVets.  I also know that many of us involved in VoteVets do not want to see John McCain get elected as our next President.  I think we do really have to give ourselves a reality check though, and be honest with ourselves.  If she is willing to take her word back before she even gets into office on something that is so clearly a moral standard to keep, how much more will she renege on her word when she is in that chair?  Brothers and sisters, it is time to show that we can do the right thing as well.  Even if it means that we do not support Hillary Rodham Clinton as the Democrat Nominee for President of the United States.

Senior Military Leadership in Support of Senator Obama

by: princemjkt

Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 02:47:27 AM EST

This Thursday, January 24th, at 1800-hrs, former Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major Estrada, the 15th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, is scheduled to be in Beaufort, SC to discuss military issues and national security on behalf of Senator Barack Obama in his bid for the White House; following on the steps of Senator John Kerry, D-MA, who has been to the great Palmetto State of South Carolina routinely now to discuss why he feels that Senator Obama is the best choice among all the candidates for the highest elected office in the land.

I encourage any one, veteran or otherwise, to take the opportunity to come out and see a great and true patriot to our nation and why he feels that Barack Obama is the most qualified candidate for the position of Chief Executive and Commander in Chief leading into year number seven of our operation in Iraq and year nine of our Global War on Terror.
As we continue to move forward day by day, and more candidates continue to bow out of the race for the White House, I would encourage everyone to take a look at the debates, the town hall sessions such as the sergeant major will hold and Senator Kerry has held, voting records, policies decisions and more to really take a look at each candidate we have who is asking for the privilege to take President Bush's place in leadership of our great nation and make a sound decision on who we want to see at Pennsylvania Avenue from January 20, 2009 through the four subsequent years and perhaps beyond..  (was that all really one sentence?!)  ;-)

Semper...

97.73%

by: princemjkt

Fri Jan 18, 2008 at 12:37:38 PM EST

I am very interested in hearing from the four who make up the other 2.27%.  There is always an opportunity to learn from those who do not agree with the majority, and if you are willing to share your views please do so.  

This is perhaps the most important election since FDR, and John McCain is still hanging around as a serious contender.  This is a perfect time to forum on the issue of our feeling about the Senator, and we can definitely see his name all over our website here.

So again, can we please hear from our four who have voiced "I believe Senator John McCain represents my views on Iraq" ?

If this has already been discussed, someone please let me know too!  :-)  I hope everyone is still having a great 2008.

Semper...

Politics vs. Policy

by: princemjkt

Thu Jan 03, 2008 at 18:38:31 PM EST

It has been argued that the Democrat leadership in Congress is playing politics.  The reality is that there are still fresh voices out there from the active military community who are at the end of their wits as well; with still 11-months until we have a swearing in for the next Congress or President.

The following links come from the House Armed Services Committee site, which I looked into from our own VETVOICE sidebar:

Dated Dec. 11th, 2007

http://armedservices.house.gov...

"The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the House Armed Services Committee today that 'In Afghanistan, we do what we can; in Iraq, we do what we must.'  

   "This striking statement highlights the strain Iraq is placing on our force and how this affects our ability to achieve strategic victory in Afghanistan, the primary front of the fight against Islamic extremism.  I find it troubling that our ongoing commitment in Iraq prevents us from dedicating resources in Afghanistan beyond what is necessary to prevent setbacks, as opposed to what is required to realize success.

   "I have often said that Afghanistan seems like the forgotten war.  I was assured by our witnesses today that the war in Afghanistan isn't forgotten, but it's clear that the stress on our military elsewhere has limited our ability to succeed in Afghanistan and has taken our attention away from this critical operation."  

Just 16 days later, Chairman Skelton had this to say:

Dated December 17th, 2007

"Afghanistan is the primary front of the fight against Islamic extremism, but for too long we have taken our eye off the ball.  Along with many experts, I believe that we currently risk a strategic failure in Afghanistan and that we must do what it takes to avoid this disastrous outcome - our national security and Afghanistan's future are at stake.  I am afraid that if we do not reallocate some resources from Iraq to Afghanistan, we risk two strategic failures, not just one.

I am encouraged by reports that suggest the Administration may be listening to calls for an increased focus on Afghanistan and is considering a range of steps to stop the deterioration of security conditions in the country.  I consider this to be a positive development and urge the Administration to act because movement in this direction is long overdue.  We must help Afghanistan capitalize on gains that have been made and create the conditions necessary to achieve long-lasting success there."  

As we all watch with the sad anticipation that Al Sadr will re-emerge, wait for bin Laden's next move, can we afford to wait for the administration to weigh options about Afghanistan and Pakistan?  

With the Iowa Caucuses scheduled to begin in just under an hour, and relative tranquility being reported in Iraq, I think we have let the President and Secretary of Defense off the hook.  I know we had our holiday season, but our enemies will not wait for us to celebrate.  They didn't wait during the Tet in Vietnam, and bin Laden is only being given more time to continue to prepare his next move the longer he is out there.

I wonder how many seats we have our excellent class of veterans going after in 2008.  Will we be satisfied if those who have let us down time and again are re-elected; after a change of heart that is triggered by an American population that will let these representatives know emphatically that 2007 is not going to be excused as they killed Webb-Hagel and more?  

I continue to encourage everyone affiliated with VoteVets and VETVOICE to look at each of our candidates, watch all the information comes out of our current Congress and White House, including its DoD, and keep the pressure on the same representatives and administration; as well as be prepared to positively influence these elections.    

Eyes Wide Open

by: princemjkt

Thu Jan 03, 2008 at 16:20:28 PM EST

The following link comes from our young cohort who is running for the United States Congress:

http://www.edenfield2008.org/C...

This is one excerpt from his letter to his community as he launched his campaign:

In Iraq, we must begin by knowing what the Iraqi people want for themselves. We need to clearly articulate what is happening in Iraq, and we need to plainly state our Nation's exit strategy from Iraq. If we quit and run two things will happen; the enemies of the United States will see this as weakness and they will attack us at home, and the Iraqi people will suffer through a long dark period resulting in the violent deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis. I will do everything in my power to prevent this.

It must be noted as irresponsible for anyone to talk about an exit strategy there is no military solution to the problems there on the ground.  And we see, again here, a candidate for Congress who speaks of the "quit and run"; a modification of a previous "cut and run" coin.

We have a great list of candidates lined up with the support of VoteVets.  It is very important to not only note our fellow patriots who are continuing to push a failed strategy though.  There is no doubt in my mind that these are noble patriots, who have the best intentions behind their actions.  Best, noble intentions do not qualify a person to be in position to be a decision maker or influencer though.

John Barrow D-GA, is the current representative out of the 12th district of Georgia.  There is no indication that he does not plan to run for the House in 2008, but information can be found on him at:

http://barrow.house.gov/

If this isn't our guy, after further research, than we should certainly research which of them is more of a liability to a seat that we simply should not allow to go toward a demagogue mindset that has crippled our military, middle class, and had no clear vision; credentials for real representation and leadership.

Let us all take the time to examine Mr. Barrow, and his history in Congress and beyond.  Let us also take a look at who else may be in the Coastal Empire that is not still under the spell and disillusionment that OIF policies are sound for the greater strategy of the Global War on Terror.

We need to be on Edenfield, and be on him immediately.  Unless he changes his tact on what he believes is service to our military and fellow citizenry through Congress to what he knows did not work and is not working; unless he looks past the R-GA at the end of his name, and toward reason and sound judgment and decision-making; we should make it a point to ensure he is not elected to Congress.

Elections

by: princemjkt

Fri Dec 28, 2007 at 00:12:43 AM EST

The Iowa Caucuses are just days away now, and there is no more important time to hit the streets, emails, text messages, and more in order to get this thing done right in 2008.  

For anyone who wants examples to distribute to any nonbeliever about OIF and the War on Terror, there is certainly more than enough information available through VoteVets and VETVOICE that cannot simply be written off as liberal special interests... We are veterans!

I plan to go to Iowa next week to be at my first ever caucus; it is my birth state.  I will not participate directly, but I do plan to talk with people should I get to go and the opportunity presents itself.  The story I helped with for Bloomberg News only highlighted a few of us, but it is here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/...

We have candidates of our own, including Andy Horne out of Kentucky, and veterans like Doug Denneny out of Virginia who we can help; even if we don't live in either of those states.  Andy, especially, is going out to unseat Mitch McConnell, and there is probably no one who we need to get out of the Senate more than that man.  Let's get ready to continue our push toward regaining the initiative in not only the Global War on Terror, but in the advancement of our nation and world.  Let's get the word out and influences some hearts and minds.

From recent comments, and other diaries I have seen today, there are some very good points that have been brought out; namely the lack of focus of our fellow citizens on the Global War on Terror.  

I cannot stress enough how important it is for us to get out right now, every day, in every way to put the word on the street.  If it takes us doing it every day, several times every day...  it is that important that we peel the layer off the Global War on Terror that has been placed over it for the last five-plus years dating back to pre-war planning for Iraq that pushed us to the edge allowing the President to step us over.

There is nothing we can directly do to influence the outcome of Pakistan.  We can influence, however, how the United States responds to it as we approach a very important election season here.

I cannot imagine a more important issue for all veterans to participate in the process at whatever level we can.  We can talk about Pakistan for the next five years, and it will not do nearly as much as 11 solid months of taking the initiative and governing ourselves accordingly.

It is sad that Ms. Bhutto is the latest high-profile victim of a larger problem than just her nation.  We can only do justice to Pakistan, its lost daughter, and the United States if we come out and get to work.  

Semper & Respectfully,

Kent

Good and Evil

by: princemjkt

Thu Dec 27, 2007 at 20:28:11 PM EST

There is no reasonable doubt that we should be back to fighting the War on Terror against Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, as well as any individual, group, nation, or otherwise who has allowed him to continue.  I have yet to see any link to bin Laden and Bhutto's assassin, but it is a disturbing reminder of something that one of our candidates, Governor Bill Richardson, did mention.  He spoke of Musharraf stepping down..

http://www.yahoo.com/s/770443

even in the wake of all the said support that he and Pakistan have offered in stabilizing the region, and bringing Osama to justice.

All action does not have to lead to military confrontation.  There is no one who can dispute that we have the biggest guns on the block, but while we do need to send our best resources toward the Pakistan/Afghanistan region, we need to really examine the bigger picture about how they got to Bhutto so easily.  

Who can legitimate say what is really at stake?  Can anyone say with any truth that this is good versus evil?  Ted Sorensen, former advisor to Jack Kennedy, commented on the demagogue-like behavior, as well as special interests, that continues to allow our current administration to park our military machine in Iraq while the Congress continually refuses to acknowledge not only the will of the American people, but plain logic.

When it is all said and done, I think the point is that we need our troops focused on the War on Terror while our State Department needs to be focused on the best interests of diplomacy with a nation that is starting to stink of clandestine regime control.  

Or, what is just a Muslim man who didn't want to see a woman coming back into power in a Muslim country?

Troop Training

by: princemjkt

Wed Dec 19, 2007 at 02:49:19 AM EST

Our officer corps doesn't take much longer.. except there is a six-month basic officer course that follows OCS or time at a respective service academy, and the appropriate job specialty school..  then, these men and women are sent to the active forces to lead the same Marines, as well as some who have been operational since the young officer was in high school or younger..  Yet, I don't think we'll find too many questioning the capabilities of these fine young warriors.. nor their counterparts in our other respecttive branches..

If our own soldiers, sailors, airmen, or Marines don't require years of training and shadowing before even being considered fit for autonomous, operational duty, what is going on in Iraq?