Savage Republican

From Michael Yon’s site:

Published: 27 November 2009

By JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY
McClatchy Newspapers

Over the last 12 months, 1,042 soldiers, Marines, sailors and Air Force personnel have given their lives in the terrible duty that is war. Thousands more have come home on stretchers, horribly wounded and facing months or years in military hospitals.

This week, I’m turning my space over to a good friend and former roommate, Army Lt. Col. Robert Bateman, who recently completed a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq and is now back at the Pentagon.

Here’s Lt. Col. Bateman’s account of a little-known ceremony that fills the halls of the Army corridor of the Pentagon with cheers, applause and many tears every Friday morning. It first appeared on May 17 on the Weblog of media critic and pundit Eric Alterman at the Media Matters for America Website.

“It is 110 yards from the “E” ring to the “A” ring of the Pentagon. This section of the Pentagon is newly renovated; the floors shine, the hallway is broad, and the lighting is bright. At this instant the entire length of the corridor is packed with officers, a few sergeants and some civilians, all crammed tightly three and four deep against the walls. There are thousands here.

This hallway, more than any other, is the `Army’ hallway. The G3 offices line one side, G2 the other, G8 is around the corner. All Army. Moderate conversations flow in a low buzz. Friends who may not have seen each other for a few weeks, or a few years, spot each other, cross the way and renew.

Everyone shifts to ensure an open path remains down the center. The air conditioning system was not designed for this press of bodies in this area.

The temperature is rising already. Nobody cares. “10:36 hours: The clapping starts at the E-Ring. That is the outermost of the five rings of the Pentagon and it is closest to the entrance to the building. This clapping is low, sustained, hearty. It is applause with a deep emotion behind it as it moves forward in a wave down the length of the hallway.

“A steady rolling wave of sound it is, moving at the pace of the soldier in the wheelchair who marks the forward edge with his presence. He is the first. He is missing the greater part of one leg, and some of his wounds are still suppurating. By his age I expect that he is a private, or perhaps a private first class.

“Captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels meet his gaze and nod as they applaud, soldier to soldier. Three years ago when I described one of these events, those lining the hallways were somewhat different. The applause a little wilder, perhaps in private guilt for not having shared in the burden … yet.

“Now almost everyone lining the hallway is, like the man in the wheelchair, also a combat veteran. This steadies the applause, but I think deepens the sentiment. We have all been there now. The soldier’s chair is pushed by, I believe, a full colonel.

“Behind him, and stretching the length from Rings E to A, come more of his peers, each private, corporal, or sergeant assisted as need be by a field grade officer.

“11:00 hours: Twenty-four minutes of steady applause. My hands hurt, and I laugh to myself at how stupid that sounds in my own head. My hands hurt… Please! Shut up and clap. For twenty-four minutes, soldier after soldier has come down this hallway – 20, 25, 30…. Fifty-three legs come with them, and perhaps only 52 hands or arms, but down this hall came 30 solid hearts.

They pass down this corridor of officers and applause, and then meet for a private lunch, at which they are the guests of honor, hosted by the generals. Some are wheeled along…. Some insist upon getting out of their chairs, to march as best they can with their chin held up, down this hallway, through this most unique audience. Some are catching handshakes and smiling like a politician at a Fourth of July parade. More than a couple of them seem amazed and are smiling shyly.

“There are families with them as well: the 18-year-old war-bride pushing her 19-year-old husband’s wheelchair and not quite understanding why her husband is so affected by this, the boy she grew up with, now a man, who had never shed a tear is crying; the older immigrant Latino parents who have, perhaps more than their wounded mid-20s son, an appreciation for the emotion given on their son’s behalf. No man in that hallway, walking or clapping, is ashamed by the silent tears on more than a few cheeks. An Airborne Ranger wipes his eyes only to better see. A couple of the officers in this crowd have themselves been a part of this parade in the past.

These are our men, broken in body they may be, but they are our brothers, and we welcome them home. This parade has gone on, every single Friday, all year long, for more than four years.

“Did you know that?

The media haven’t yet told the story.”

V/R TK
TOM KUNK
COL, GS
Division Chief for ODO
HQDA, G3/5/7

(BTW, Joe Galloway was portrayed by Barry Pepper in the Mel Gibson movie “We Were Soldiers”)
Comments welcomed.

I watched the film footage on TV of a soldier running concertina wire across a street. I was twelve but didn’t appreciate what was happening, but my Grandmother said, as she listened to the reporter “This sounds like war.” What I was witnessing was the very beginning of what was to be called The Berlin Wall. The first explanation I heard for the wall was that it was constructed to constrain the West Berliners from diluting the socialism of East Berlin and East Germany. The truth has always been an obstacle that tyrants and tyrannies need to “explain”.
As the years progressed there were stories of many spirited and interesting attempts to breach the wall to get into the West. Too many times the attempt proved fatal. There is one iconic photo that I’ve always remembered, that of an East German border guard who leapt the then concertina wire only wall-
In 1989, it was becoming apparent that the Eastern Bloc was failing in its attempt to keep its solidarity. One evening I heard a report that there were people, hundreds if not thousands of people, who were marching across the fields of Hungary toward the Iron Curtain. And the border guards were not stopping them.It was quite a report for a man who grew up hearing “When you see the flash, ‘Duck-And Cover!‘ ” Who grew up seeing the start of the Berlin Wall, watched my parents become very worried in October, 1962, saw the Prague Spring…

And then there was this evening:

There was an article about the creation and fall of the Berlin Wall on the History Channel. The amazing risks people took to be free: tunneling, hot air balloons, befriending border guards to learn how an armored car worked to be able to car jack it later and ram through the wall, using ultra light airplanes to rescue a brother…incredible.
All to escape to liberty.
I wonder what we here in America are willing to do to preserve liberty.
I came across this quote that is extremely timely and thought provoking, especially today during this time here in America:
“ It is the common fate of the indolent to see their rights become a prey to the active. The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt.“
So, what are you doing, what will you do to preserve and take back your liberty?
Time to let that hollow space in the Lazy Boy fill back in.

I just got through reading an excellent article on Hot Air called “The Momentum of History” by a fairly recent writer to Hot Air with the nom de plume Doctor Zero. He discusses the importance of the 2010 election (and the incredible relevance of the NY 23 election). I also strongly urge you to read all the comments on the first page, especially the comment by Dark Horse.
The article and Dark Horse’s comment prompted me to go to Doug Hoffman’s website (NY 23 candidate ) and made a contribution.
The radicals are taking money from you in buckets. Take $25, $50, $100 of you own money and fire back at them and tell the RINO supporters to shut up by donating to Doug Hoffman.

Yesterday I was coming back from a doctors appointment and was listening to Glenn Beck as he was describing “his accepting the prize”,”how this would have been a pinnacle moment if there had been any other significant achievements”. It took me about two miles to realize “Obama’s been awarded”(not won)”the Nobel Peace Prize !!! WHAAAAATTTT???” Beck went on to say that this awarding of the Peace Prize does nothing now but highlight the ineptitude and arrogance of Obama. As I read some of the biting criticism and incredulity of many on the left, something else occurred to me though.
If The One had surrounded himself with something other than self serving advisors and sycophants, or if he hadn’t been caught up in his belief of his own infallibility, he would have strode to the microphone yesterday, cleared his throat, and thanked the Nobel Peace Prize Committee for the honor. And then, with a proffered sense of humility and propriety, he would have politely and graciously refused the award. The One would have made huge political points and would have robbed the Republicans of all the ammunition the likes of Michael Moore and Peter Beinart have so willingly served up (“You won it. Now earn it” “I like Barack Obama… But this is a farce. He’s done nothing to deserve the prize.”). He also would have scored points internationally.
However, no. Arrogance and looking into the Donacon pool controlled his reason and political acumen. A huge opportunity completely squandered. Plus, it exposes him and his advisors as having the same tailor as a well known emperor.(BTW, an excellent read. Especially now.
Nothing learned from a trip to Copenhagen, he loses again.
He is on a roll, however.
Now, don’t get me wrong. This is not a bite on the Peace Prize. It’s an observation on COC (Community Organizer in Chief) and his advisors. It’s an observation on what America’s enemies see and surmise. They see a president full of himself. They see an American President who lingers over his image so that any appeal to his vanity may very well yield results. They see an American President who believes he can secure an Olympic venue just by showing up. America’s enemies are not fools. They play the manipulation game very, very well. They realize they can easily manipulate the press (Yasser Arafat did it for decades. His progeny still do).They are taking the measure of this man in the White House and are calculating strategy accordingly.
Another danger is evident in a Prairie Pravda editorial:”That he would be chosen says much about the hope invested in his presidency by people of good will around the world.” And what if he doesn’t deliver on that “hope”? What if he disappoints on that “world investment”? And he will. No one can ever live up to another’s expectations. To live your life adhering to someone else’s hopes and dreams is emotional dysfunction. To base national and international policy on it is downright dangerous and lunacy in the extreme.
The COC has not done himself or America any good here.
Quite the opposite, I fear.
Quite the opposite.

I thought that today, in light of the Noble Peace Prize being awarded to COC (Community Organizer in Chief) this You Tube clip is more than appropriate:

This is a picture of me last July as I was helping to run the Wings of Freedom Tour at Anoka Blaine Airport (Janes Field). I’m under the port wing of a B-17G named Nine-O-Nine owned by the Collings Foundation out of Stowe, MA.
Start planning now for the tour to come back next year.

Seems to be the question of the hour. Well, I happen to have a bit of experience with really, REALLY large crowds. Like over 1,000,000 men.
I was at “Stand in the Gap” the Promise Keepers event 4 October 1997 in Washington D.C.

I was over near the tree line in front of the Smithsonian. We arrived about 9:00 and were told that we had just missed an ABC camera crew. The crew had shared with the men around us that ABC was estimating 100,000 men between each Jumbotron.They told us there were 9 Jumbotrons from the Capitol steps to the Washington Monument. We were also told there were another 300,000 plus men on the other side Monument to the Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial. There were another 50,000 on the Ellipse. And many 10,000’s walking the streets as there was no more room on the Mall.
Now, here is a satellite picture taken of the Mall during Obama’s inauguration ceremony. (Click on the image above and below twice to enlarge).

A photo analyst estimated this crowd at 800,000. The Washington Post crowed that there 2,000,000 at the inauguration.

The MSM covered Stand in the Gap with the usual deference they show Christians and conservatives.
Compare the two photos and come to your own conclusion about numbers reported by the MSM for the 912 Rally.

A powerful response to Obama’s speech on “Women’s Reproduction Freedom”

And I recommend to others that we continue to pray for our President.

Sometimes it takes South Park to put the policies of the Community Organizer in Chief (COC) in perspective. As I’ve written before, the left is great for proclaiming something will happen because they SAY it will happen. The following is from a WSJ article:

Sometimes it takes “South Park” to explain life’s deeper mysteries. Like the logic of the Obama administration’s policy proposals.
Consider the 1998 “Gnomes” episode — possibly surpassing Milton Friedman’s “Free to Choose” as the classic defense of capitalism — in which the children of South Park, Colo., get a lesson in how not to run an enterprise from mysterious little men who go about stealing undergarments from the unsuspecting and collecting them in a huge underground storehouse.
What’s the big idea? The gnomes explain:
“Phase One: Collect underpants.
“Phase Two: ?
“Phase Three: Profit.”
Lest you think there’s a step missing here, that’s the whole point. (“What about Phase Two?” asks one of the kids. “Well,” answers a gnome, “Phase Three is profits!”) This more or less sums up Mr. Obama’s speech last week on Guantanamo, in which the president explained how he intended to dispose of the remaining detainees after both houses of Congress voted overwhelmingly against bringing them to the U.S.
The president’s plan can briefly be described as follows. Phase One: Order Guantanamo closed. Phase Two: ? Phase Three: Close Gitmo!
Granted, this is an abbreviated exegesis of his speech, which did explain how some two-thirds of the detainees will be tried by military commissions or civilian courts, or repatriated to other countries. But on the central question of the 100-odd detainees who can neither be tried in court nor released one searches in vain for an explanation of exactly what the president intends to do.
Now take the administration’s approach to the Middle East. Phase One: Talk to Iran, Syria, whoever. Phase Two: ? Phase Three: Peace!
In this case, the administration seems to think that diplomacy, like aspirin, is something you take two of in the morning to take away the pain. But as Boston University’s Angelo Codevilla notes in his book, “Advice to War Presidents,” diplomacy “can neither create nor change basic intentions, interests, or convictions. . . . To say, ‘We’ve got a problem. Let’s try diplomacy, let’s sit down and talk’ abstracts from the important questions: What will you say? And why should anything you say lead anyone to accommodate you?”
Ditto for Mr. Obama’s approach to nuclear weapons. In a speech last month in Prague, right after North Korea had illegally tested a ballistic missile, Mr. Obama promised a new nonproliferation regime, along with “a structure in place that ensures when any nation [breaks the rules], they will face consequences.” Whereupon the U.N. Security Council promptly failed to muster the votes for a resolution condemning Pyongyang’s launch.
Now Kim Jong Il has tested another nuke, and we’re back at the familiar three-step. Phase One: Propose a “structure.” . . .
It was also in his Prague speech that Mr. Obama repeated his pledge to “confront climate change by ending the world’s dependence on fossil fuels, by tapping the power of new sources of energy like the wind and sun.”
Never mind that neither the wind nor the sun are new sources of energy. It so happens that the U.S. gets about 2.3% of its energy resources from “renewable” resources of the kind the president advocates while fossil fuels account for about 70%. The reason for this, alas, has nothing to do with the greed of the oil majors. But it has much to do with something known as “energy density”: Crude oil has almost three times as much of it as switchgrass, supposedly the Holy Grail of our green future. A related problem is that heat invariably dissipates, meaning that it will always be difficult to turn diffuse sources of energy, like wind, into concentrated ones.
In Gnome-speak, then, Mr. Obama’s energy policy goes something like this: Phase One: Inaugurate the era of “green” energy. Phase Two: Overturn the first and second laws of thermodynamics. Phase Three: Carbon neutrality!
Take any number of Mr. Obama’s other initiatives. Rescue Detroit? Phase One: Set a national mileage standard for passenger cars of 39 miles per gallon and force auto makers to make the kind of cars that drove them to bankruptcy in the first place.
Reduce the deficit? Phase One: Approve $3.5 trillion in government stimulus, and then await the mythical Keynesian multiplier.
Pay for a $1.2 trillion health-care reform? Phase One: scrounge around for about $60 billion in new “sin tax” revenue.
Actually, we can easily guess how Mr. Obama intends to make up the difference on this last item: To wit, by taxing health benefits. Taxes, subsidies funded by taxes, regulations and mandates will also fill in many (though not all) of the other blanks. Underpants gnomes: meet Phase Two. Say, what happened to profits?