Why are we there ?

Our last, best hope in Iraq -- Gen. David Petraeus -- reminded Pentagon reporters this week of a critically important fact long forgotten by most observers: Our real enemy in Iraq, the true source of all the murders, mayhem, and instability, is not sectarian strife. And it's not the Sunnis or the Shiites, either. The real enemy we face in Iraq is al-Qaida

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid doesn't understand this. Nor, for that matter, do the other defeatist Democrats carelessly demanding our immediate withdrawal. They fail to grasp that the root of our problems in Iraq -- again, the true source of the hostilities -- remains al-Qaida. These murderous thugs are fomenting the sectarian strife on both sides of the Iraqi street. Their tactic is the nadir of nihilism.


Lieberman forcefully stated that "al-Qaida, after all, isn't carrying out mass murder against civilians in the streets of Baghdad because it wants a more equitable distribution of oil revenue. Its aim in Iraq isn't to get a seat at the political table; it wants to blow up the table -- along with everyone seated at it."

Without question, it is a near certainty that Iran and Syria are helping al-Qaida with money, arms and explosives. And, yes, if we leave now, al-Qaida will have an open field in which to expand its operations and prepare for the ultimate attack on the United States. In fact, the Defense Department and the CIA just nabbed a high-ranking al-Qaida operative known as al-Iraqi. He was a key link between the Taliban in Afghanistan, al-Qaida in Iraq and al-Qaida members in Iran. And while it's great news we got him, he's one more reminder that this network is strong and playing for keeps.



The Harry Reids in Washington don't get it. They fail to see the terrorist fingerprints. But when you look at Iraq through the Lieberman lens, the dust settles. The task before us becomes clearer. Why are we in Iraq? We are fighting al-Qaida. Period.

A final question for Reid: If, as he says, we have "lost" the Iraq war, who exactly has won? Who is the winner, Sen. Reid? Who would you like the United States to surrender to?

It's not the Sunnis. It's not the Baathists. It's not the Shiites. And it's certainly not Prime Minister Maliki. In conventional warfare terms, Harry Reid is suggesting we surrender to al-Qaida.

The above paragraphs are taken from Larry Kudlow's article on Townhall. He has stated in reasonable, plain, language the mission in Iraq and why it is so important.

What he has overlooked, or refrained to state, is the obvious reason the Democrats have adopted this stance.

It is simply power.

They play on the fears of Americans who can't stand the thought of confrontation, on any level. These are people who never stand up for anything because they have not the strength to endure any stress. They are the ones who will have you "talk to the hand" rather than decide where to have dinner. The "I can't deal with that" crowd is their base, the sheeple who will never see that going down fighting is your last dignity. They are the bunch who will "relax and enjoy it".

The surrender crowd in congress only seek reelection. The short sighted bribe, be it feel good because we are not at war, or feel good because I have bought your vote with pork barrel spending, is not in the nations best interest and they don't care.

I will never be famous, infamous perhaps, so I don't have to worry about the feelings of my constituents, or right and wrong, or support an unpopular view. In that respect, I am lucky, I can sit here and pontificate about the proper answers. I do know that surrender is the abdication of principle, and in this case death will be the reward of countless thousands if we choose this solution.

OK AL, we know you're not rational

"Art, music, film, dance, poetry — all the arts — have long been our greatest tools to explore the regions of imagination that defy our efforts to think rationally about subjects that our emotions tell us are too painful to contemplate."
-- Al Gore at the opening of the Tribeca Film Festival

If that statement makes any sense to you, report to therapy immediately!

Al is telling us he does not think rationally, nor does he contemplate, instead he "emotes". I would agree that most of his recent pontification resides in the realm of imagination.

Thanks to Michell Malkin

Carbon foot print?

To all the Hollywierd dogooders, how big is your foot print?

And what are you going to do about it?

That would be other than tell me how much I need to sacrifice.

I have a forty year old house, do I get to amortize my carbon debt over the time that I live here? If I'm not buying a new place, that's a savings, right?

All my cars and trucks are old, not very efficient, but better than making new ones and still have to buy fuel, right?

The place I work produces energy with no carbon involved, that should have a positive effect on my carbon footprint, right?

Now climb your butt out of your limo, jet, tour buss, multi million dollar mansion, and explain to me how you are changing your life to save the planet.

Are you going to ration your sanitary necessities?

Are you going to car pool to your next gig?

Are you going to plow up the lawn to plant some organic vegetables?

Are you going to start beating your clothes on a rock to clean them?

Didn't think so. Dead beats. Loud mouthed, ignorant, know it alls, with a big soap box and no sack.

It's put up, or shut up time.

Great News

A young lady that we have kind of adopted called today, she had lost our number and like the rest of the world, is insanely busy. A few years ago she and the love of my life worked together. She was a slightly tragic figure, very attractive, but lots of trouble with the men in her life. She wanted to love someone so bad, but attracted the kind of guys that had to be players and wouldn't return her love. A common story, I know, but sad all the same.

I was a stand in for her dad, he had little good to say to his only girl, things were strained and painful for her. There were a couple of times that I put on my daddy face and discussed options with the NCO's of boyfriends. We will say I made an impression, and didn't have to follow up.

A couple of years after she came into our lives, her luck improved, she met David. A real person and someone who loved her as she needed to be loved. Life took it's course and they were married. One of the greatest compliments I have received was when she asked me to give her away, if her father couldn't make the ceremony. My luck wasn't good enough and I had to pass that honor to the man who deserved it. I still remember.

Today, four and a half years since our last meeting, she called. She is five and a half months pregnant with her first son.

I can't think of a person who wants or deserves a child so much.

We shopping for baby stuff soon. Baby Camo, baby fishing rod, sling shot, pellet gun, dogs.

I always wanted one of those.......

I am like most people, I like good music. My problem is I'm a little deaf, which makes hearing all the music a little iffy. Like most hard of hearing I kind of think if I just turn it up it will sound better.

I know that's not true, but it feels better. In order to turn it up, you first must have an up to turn to. When I found my self single and suddenly solvent again, I decided to, finally, buy a quality stereo. The object of my pleasure was a component unit with, tuner, tape deck, CD changer, and two sets of speakers large enough to be end tables. 100 watts per channel, four speakers with 10 inch woofers.

It sounded great. You could put in five CD's and sit in the sun room with the remote and read and control the music with out ever getting up.

My son was living with me at the time and he often felt the need to play some of his angry young man music, at a volume that would vibrate the dishes off the table. I disapproved.

Early one morning I was in the kitchen, with my first cup of coffee, when the big kid stalked out of his room, wearing his undergarments, hair in his eyes, only one of which was open, and put in a CD of something that only the artist could love, pushed the close button, and turned his back on the amp.

Unknown to us, the kitty had been on patrol in the night, she had stopped with one foot on the remote, and run the volume all the way up. She was watching from the coffee table, in the geometric center of the cone of destruction from the speakers.

She had that one coming.

As the big kid took his first step away form the stereo, the music came on.

It sounded like an artillery attack, the kid went straight up about three feet, I think I threw a full cup of coffee onto the ceiling, the cat disappeared in a cloud of hair for parts unknown.

Bedlam ensued.

The kid was crouched in the living room holding his ears, I am screaming at the top of my voice to "SHUT IT OFF".

Idle hope that.

He couldn't have heard me if my face had been touching his. I am sure the neighbors thought we were killing each other. One of us managed to get the off button, the silence was astounding.

Then there was the pause in the stillness, just before we laughed our butts off.

I think the cats ears are still ringing.

Well there you go.....

Number of physicians in the US: 700,000

Accidental deaths caused by physicians per year: 120,000Accidental deaths per physician: 0.171 (U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services)

Number of gun owners in the US: 80,000,000

Number of accidental gun deaths per year (all age groups): 1,500Accidental deaths per gun owner: 0.0000188(Benton County News Tribune, 17 November 1999)

And so statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times moredangerous than gun owners."

Remember -- not everyone has a gun, but everyone has at least one Doctor."

Beachin'

We took the grand babies to the beach yesterday, only stayed a little. I thought I had blown a front seal on the Bronco.

Turns out they have temperature issues under heavy load. Puked out seven quarts of fluid, had a wrecker take it home. This morning my transmission guy told me to fill it up with fluid and drive it, if it's good, go with it. I did, and not a drop yet.

Looks like a heavy duty trans cooler is on the way.

I tried to spin the tires deep enough to get stuck, but couldn't. That will give you a good feeling about driving in the sand.

The Aliens have taken over!

I heard a POSITIVE comment, on GMA, about an elderly lady defending her property against thieves.

She was Miss America in 1942, and balanced on her walker as she shot out the tires of their car.

God Love her! They wisely waited for the police. Now, how do you tell the boys how bad you are when Grannie holds your A$$ at gun point?

Repost

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

From an E-mail.
An interesting lesson in history.

In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.

China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million 'educated' people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.

It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by a new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by their own government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars.The first year results are now in

:Australia-wide, homicides are up 32 percent

Australia-wide,assaults are up 8.6 percent.

Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!

In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent.

Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not, and criminals still possess their guns!)

While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past 12 months, since criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed.There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the ELDERLY.

Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort and expense was expended in successfully ridding Australian society of guns.The Australian experience and the other historical facts above prove it.

You won't see this data on the American evening news or hear our president, governors or other politicians disseminating this information.Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws affect only the law-abiding citizens.Take note my fellow Americans.....before it's too late!The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson.With guns, we are 'citizens'.Without them, we are 'subjects'.
Posted by DW at 5:38 AM
Labels: govt stupidity, gun control, Gun rights, history, justice, VA tech

2 comments:
Sarge said...
As a former Marine friend says "An armed society is a polite society" I recall not so long ago when Florida changed its laws regarding disengaging if you happen to be carrying and the world screaming that the streets would run red with blood. Seems they got that one wrong too. Sarge, Out
March 13, 2007 7:01 AM
SpeakerTweaker said...
I'm reading the last two sentences in this post, and I'm reminded of what Thomas Jefferson once said: "When the people fear the government, you have tyranny. When the government fears the people, you have liberty."Someone else on The High Road said it even better: "The Second Amendment is a reset button for a government who no longer hears the voice of its people."Nice post, sir.
March 13, 2007 12:52 PM
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The internet remembers all

I am ashamed to say I got these links from N.Z., detailing what can happen when guns are allowed on campus. I tend to move on and not dwell on tragedy, lucky me, this resident of a nanny state is rightfully concerned. Hat tip to Rough Diamond

http://www.thepriceofliberty.org/04/01/13/lang.htm

http://www.davekopel.com/2A/OthWr/principal&gun.htm

The answer is not leaving everyone more helpless than before, but allowing those of us who will, do what they can.

I am a little in shock, our local news just quoted two sources, the police chief and another prominent voice, saying gun bans were not the answer. I don't believe my ears.

Thank You Mr. LawDog

Well said LawDog,To those of you who think the problem is having a gun, wake up!

When I was young, I could and did, walk into any house where I was known and borrow a gun, as long as I could keep both ends off the ground at the same time. We carried guns to school in our cars and no one cared.

I was taught the acceptable way of acting, and it didn't include shooting random passerby. My friends and relatives fought when they felt the need, and won or lost as their desire dictated.We didn't need to shoot people. A population that is taught reasonable values doesn't kill randomly. IT'S PARENTING STUPID!!!

Scott, there is none so blind as he who will not see. Historically violence goes up when guns are taken away. Every dictator in history has disarmed the populace for their "safety", just before starting the ethnic cleansing.

If you never fear, you are a natural victim or an idiot, eventually you will feel that which you refuse to admit.

I have had to defend my family three times with firearms, and never had to fire a shot.

If you quote the numbers from the post from Australia, keep in mind the violence against the unarmed that doesn't include any weapon. Criminal acts against those who are not able to defend themselves.

Have you ever put your self in harms way for the innocent? Or are you too highly evolved for that?

The above was my post to answer a gun grabber who chose to disguise his location, no fear indeed. LawDogs post about the lack of defence at Virginia Tech. set off a fire storm of comment, I should be so lucky or eloquent. His next about licencing gun owners was as good or better.

LawDog is right about many things, but one thing for sure, you can surrender or go down fighting. My choice is made, if some wacko is going to kill me anyway, he better get me before I get to him. I may die in the process, but I don't intend to go alone, somebody gets to paddle the boat.

There was a picture labeled " the face of hate", this dude didn't hate us, he couldn't face the prospect of having a lady say she broke it off with him. This was the face of cowardice that couldn't face life. Patently insane, coddled by a politically correct world.

My wife has told me "the same thing that makes you laugh, will make you cry", I have found it to be all to true. If the media can stir enough emotion to run over good sense they will get their way, and later we will all cry.

Marine Night Out

Friday night The Love of My Life and I went to a roof top bar to hang out with the oldest daughter. It felt a little bit odd to be hanging with the kids, not that many kids are comfortable with that, we don't mind but they get a little jumpy.

We sat at the bar where we could watch the door, and there was a lot to see.

This was a haven for the overdeveloped and under dressed. I made a mostly successful attempt to keep the slack jawed shock hidden. I saw several girls doing things that their Momma would 'a had a heart attack did she know. H&11, I got palpitations and I ain't even related!

The guys were more slack jawed than me, and having less luck with the girls. The music was very, very, loud. That might have mattered, if I could have understood a single word, but there was no danger of that.


I got the chance to say thanks to four Marine Aviators, a Captain down to a Warrant. Their decorations, and badges made them Aviators, and each had a Combat Infantry Badge, so I'm guessing each had one tour behind them. They were in Dress Uniform, and having no trouble with the ladies, as you might imagine. These were obviously men, and the boys had no play.

I am making a point to say "Thanks" and shake the hand of as many military as I can.

I got the real chance when one of the Marines went to the bar, I had the bar tender give him his card back and gave her mine.

I didn't lack for service the rest of the night.

From the Corruption Chronicles

Hillary Picks La Raza Leader As Campaign Co Chair
Thursday, April 12, 2007

The former president of an extremist group that organized many of the country’s disruptive pro illegal immigration marches and advocates the return of the American Southwest to Mexico will co-chair Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.

Best known for his radical pro Chicano work during 30 years as president of the National Council of La Raza, Raul Yzaguirre is being promoted by the Clinton campaign as a prominent Hispanic activist who will lead the New York senator’s outreach to Hispanic voters.

The reality is that Yzaguirre alienates many American citizens of Hispanic descent (in other words, those qualified to vote) with his so-called La Raza rhetoric, which has been repeatedly labeled racist.

The National Council of La Raza describes itself as the largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, but it caters to the radical Chicano movement that says California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and parts of Colorado and Texas belong to Aztlan.
The takeover plan is referred to as the “reconquista” of the Western U.S. and it features ethnic cleansing of Americans, Europeans, Africans and Asians once the area is taken back and converted to Aztlan.

While this may all sound a bit crazy, this organization is quite powerful (thanks to Hillary’s new campaign co-chair) and annually receives millions of dollars in federal grants. Its leaders also managed to get included in congressional hearings regarding immigration. Last year alone, the National Council of La Raza received $15.2 million in federal grants and one senator gave the group an extra $4 million in earmarked American taxpayer dollars.

The organization uses the money to support projects like a Southern California elementary school with a curriculum that specializes in bashing America and promoting the Chicano movement. The school’s founder and principal, a Calexico-educated activist named Marcos Aguilar, opposes racial integration and says Mexicans in the U.S. don’t want to go to white schools or drink from white water fountains.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And our Government is Giving them money?

What the Hell Is That About?

And if that isn't enough!!

Think I'm crazy?

Well, OK, gotta give you that one.

Read this. Wierd and scary.

http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/wildlife/article2449968.ece

Not with a bang but a whimper.

Why Global Warming Doesn't Matter

A fact that doesn't get enough attention is that 2% of our population feeds the other 98% and a lot of the world besides. A lot of this is irrigated and harvested in the high plains.

The source of a great deal of this water is the Ogalalla Aquifer. This is fossil water, unreplenished since the last ice age. I some areas it is less than one sixth it's original volume.

We now have entrepreneurs drilling and pumping to the cities strictly for profit. It is also under "management", a sure sign of trouble, as that always works so well.

If this lake of several hundred thousand square miles of underground water declines to the point of not being readily available to raise crops, then busy breeders beware! The population control freaks will get their wish. Cheap, plentiful food is necessary for a high density population.

Another contributor could be the coming dust bowl in the Midwest. The shelter belts planted in the Great Depression have been cut down to be put under the plow. A few hot summers and less water, the wind always blows anyway, there you are. We almost changed the Midwest into a desert the first time, this time we will likely get the job done.

If prices for everything from grits to steak don't go up, then I will really be surprised.
If you must devote most of your resources to feeding yourself, luxury spending like travel, recreation, hobbies that have significant cost will disappear in the need for survival. Dissolving of the economy will remove the ability to feed their family's from a few million folks, and that never caused a problem, did it?

The point is, we are living in a house of cards, the first touch will bring them all down, and the greedy and thoughtless are shaking as hard as they can.

I feel in my gut that great changes are coming to the world, they will not bring an easier life.

Blue Eyed Soul

Went to a concert by Michael McDonald last night. The man gives a good show. No Flash, just good music.

The opening was the introduction ( not by McDonald) of four marines wounded in Iraq, they got a five minuet standing ovation. Oh Yes! We love our boys in uniform! Several thousand people, everyone there, stood up and showed them the love. Guess who we support.

McDonald still has the voice and he can still wear out a keyboard. His group is experienced, talented, and professional. He didn't waste any time talking, we got an hour and a half of good music.

We proved, yet again, that white boys cain't dance, try as we may. I will pat a foot, if the music is good, but stomping around the camp fire trying to show my rhythm and flexibility is DOOMED from the start. Unfortunately some of the guys at the show don't own a mirror, and the poor attempts at "shakin' da booty" were pitiful.

Too much booty,,,,, not enough soul

Useless Nitwit Dragon

The Useless Nitwits on Turtle Bay are hereby declared the most blind, helpless, hopeless disorganised moronic Dragon in existence.

Iran has proclaimed the ability to enrich uranium on an industrial scale.

The UN allowed them to chair the Nonproliferation Committee! Iran is railing against the US and Israel as violating the nonproliferation resolutions!

If you can make sense of that, you are way smarter than me. I have been on board with the idea that the UN should pack their bags and move to a venue that they can't find enough to criticise. Oh! Wait that place doesn't exist.

Maybe Libia?

Wait, Libia doesn't have the restaurant scene they need.

Where ever they go we should not fund our biggest critics.

By way of blond sagacity

At last!

It feels like Christmas! I don't have to work tonight! We ar going to the Circus tonight and Michael McDonald tomorrow night. Saturday we DON'T HAVE PLANS!

What is the world coming to?

Peace on the good guys, and you know what for the bad guys!

I am Glad

For a raft of things; Diamond Mair, and Holly are posting again. (I worried!)

I am finally going to get a three day break! We are going to the street fair and the circus with the grand babies.

It's raining!

I am about to sell some property that will pay for my house, and allow me to buy a new home for the Love of My Life!

Our outage at Stumpwater Nuclear Plant is almost over!

Celebrate with me, I will hopefully have time to write a few more stories soon.

A Christian Has Passed

Mr. Johnny Hart has passed. He is a man of simple faith. He professed his faith to one hundred million people a week.

I wish I could do as much, we do what we can, and lament the rest.

I profess Jesus as my personal savior, and claim Gods promise according to St. John 3:16.

I do Not preach my faith, I try to live the example. I am poor in wisdom, poor in conviction, but rich in my savior.

I am confident Mr. Hart has reaped his just reward and sits at the right hand of the Father today.

May God give us all grace to follow his will.

Rest well his good and faithful servant.

To comfort AD

Here at good ole Stumpwater Nuclear Plant we are not sleep deprived, just confused as to which day it is, and If I'm working or not.

I wish I could have a day or two off so I can remember who I am, and where I belong. Our outage is 30% over schedule due to discovery items that get repaired.

My outage duties entail leak rate testing class 1,2 and 3 piping. Our total allowable leakage is 150 scfh at 50 lbs. That is spread over 250 valves. That number is meaningless to the general population, but think of it as a couple of minuets of heavy breathing.

I tell the people who are so unwise as to question my ability as a test director, " I just put air in a pipe, if it wont stay, its a maintenance problem." We test to three decimal places for each cubic foot of air.

We, all of us, are held to a standard of zero errors, for every thing we do.

I will swear to anyone who really cares, this is the safest place I have ever worked! No one will take the slightest chance of a marginal result. I and all of my family live here, and I know the risks better than anyone outside the business.

Rest easy my brother,we will not let you down!

Neutrons???

I just loaded the neutrons.. Its time to make the neutrons, but I just made the neutrons. I think I just met my self coming back.

I think I want to take a left handed football bat and beat this thing 'til it squeals!

One more weekend.

Ironic that...

Tonight I watched a college educated, Navy trained, NRC licensed Senior Reactor Operator slap a Fax Machine, because he couldn't find the start button.

I touched his shoulder, grabbed his hand, and opened the (obvious to me) cover and showed him the button.

A technically competent nuke, who can't operate a technologically simple device, God help us all!