Remember, and remember well
I'm not a big fan of Memorial day
being turned into another excuse to sell stuff, and I'm definitely not a fan of lists of fallen soldiers being published by groups and organizations as a way of pushing an anti-war/anti-military agenda.
Let's remember that war is horrible, and that in that horror, amazing acts of courage and valour can be found. Here's a few:
Sgt. 1st Class Ray Smith, Congressional Medal Of Honor, Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross /Air Force Cross Recipients for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The Silver Star Recipients for Operation Iraqi Freedom (including
the first woman to win a Silver Star in Combat since WWII).
And countless others. Heroes, all.
It amazes me that in all the hoopla and hype over Operation Iraqi Freedom, I had to go digging for this information.
And on a semi-related note, I was one of those who thought that Adm. James Stockdale was a bit... buffoonish as Ross Perot's Vice-Presidential candidate in 1992. Then I read this:
"Stockdale...deliberately inflicted a near-mortal wound to his person in order to convince his captors of his willingness to give up his life rather than capitulate. He was subsequently discovered and revived by the North Vietnamese who, convinced of his indomitable spirit, abated in their employment of excessive harassment and torture toward all of the Prisoners of War."I'm sorry, Jim. Rest in peace.
CMOH, Silver Star, Medals, Memorial Day
Unintended Consquences
Do all those who want to see the U.S. and it's allies pull out of Iraq right away prepared for
this?
What about
this?
Never again.
Vietnam, Shame, Embassy Roof
The Truth (-iness) Will Out
TruthOut.org just set a new standard in the non-apology apology.
"The Rove Indictment Story as of Right NowBy Marc Ash,Fri May 19th, 2006 at 04:23:39 PM EDT :: Fitzgerald Investigation On Saturday afternoon, May 13, 2006, TruthOut ran a story titled, "Karl Rove Indicted on Charges of Perjury, Lying to Investigators." The story stated in part that top Bush aide Karl Rove had earlier that day been indicted on the charges set forth in the story's title.The time has now come, however, to issue a partial apology to our readership for this story. While we paid very careful attention to the sourcing on this story, we erred in getting too far out in front of the news-cycle. In moving as quickly as we did, we caused more confusion than clarity. And that was a disservice to our readership and we regret it.As such, we will be taking the wait-and-see approach for the time being. We will keep you posted."Two things:
1. An apology that states "Gosh, we're sorry we're just so on top of things and know so much we're ahead of the rest of you." isn't my idea of admitting you did something wrong.
2. An apology should also include a promise not to do it again. So is TruthOut.org going to promise to report only old news from now on?
Via
The Corner.
TruthOut, apologies, truthiness
Good
Canadians will be in Afghanistan for another two years, at least.
There's so many reasons to stay and stabilize that country, and only rabid anti-Americanism as a reason to leave.
Canadian Army, Afghanistan, Politics
Mmmn, coffee
Looks like at least one Democrat has woken up and realized that the threat of impeachment proceedings against Dubya would be a powerful rallying point for the G.O.P.
Now if only they'd get a plan for Iraq that didn't involvle helicopters evacuating embassy personnel from the roof...
Democrats, 2006, Impeachment
Another thought exercise
Would you consider a car magazine that talks about the "Chevrolet Mustang" a good authority on cars? What about a food magazine that attributes The Whopper sandwich to McDonald's?
So how come people trust the New York Times on military and defence matters?
Military, media, oops
Well said
Babbling Brooks over at
The Torch perfectly describes the futility of an "exit strategy":
"It seems to me that asking when we'll leave Afghanistan is like asking a paramedic when she's planning to stop performing CPR on a heart-attack victim just clinging to life. Don't be surprised when she snaps at you with annoyance: when the patient no longer needs my help to live - now bugger off and let me do my job."Sure, we'd like to know the answer to every question. But sometimes, the answers aren't there immediately. That's not to say there won't be an answer, it's just that right now, there isn't one.
Iraq, Afghanistan, exit strategy
A thought exercise
Okay, suppose you followed around an anchor for ESPN for a year or so. And during that year, they bought clothing/memorablia/tickets for the Boston Red Sox, moreso than any other baseball team. They hung out with Sox players after games, and went to charity auctions featuring Boston Red Sox players and the causes they represent.
Would you trust that ESPN reporter to be an unbiased source on the New York Yankees?
So why do people trust the media to be unbiased?
media bias, politics
Big business and the little guy
According to conventional wisdom, the Democrats are funded by "The Little Guy", the "Average Joe" and other grass-roots collectives. Big fund-rasing machines are the Republicans stock in trade, with their closed-door, back-room antics.
Except, of course,
that nine of the all-time top ten political donators gave to the Democratic Party.
Political contributions, Democrats, Unions
To boldy sponsor
what no one has sponsored before.
THIS is how NASA should work: Enable private industry to build the tools needed to expand into space.
Space, NASA, X Prize
As if I needed another reason
to ignore what Janeane Garofalo says.
For the record, I think she's a terrific actress. But as a political commentator, she's out of her ever-lovin' mind.
scientology, mixed nuts, Air America
Oh. My.
From
The Corner.
"
Dear Soft Thinkers of the LeftI am going to save you some time. You no longer need to email me every time I take some position in favor of the War on Terror , the invasions of Iraq or Afghanistan, or in fact any pro-military stance. I now am completely and thoroughly informed that I am a chickenhawk, that it is "easy" to support a war when I don't have to put on a uniform and fight, and that I am a coward who would only sacrifice other people's loved ones. And to save you further time, I am going to expose myself even more. I am a hypocrite and chickenhawk in the War on Crime, as I continue to avoid donning a badge and a gun and busting down doors to catch bad guys, even though I support sending in real police to do the job. I am a complete coward in the War on Fire, because I have never put on a yellow slicker and an oxygen mask to go stand on the front line in the battle against a burning building. And that's while completely admitting that I would be great at squirting the big hose. Additionally, and this is a little painful, I am a loser, hypocrite, chickenhawk, and barely half a man in the War on Weeds. I tried digging them out of my yard, but found I didn't have what it takes, so now I sit in my comfy chair and watch while other people's loved ones put themselves at risk. I'm sorry."
And, for the record, I myself am a hypocrite and a chickenhawk in the War On Bad Beer. I sit back and buy Anchor Steam, Sam Adams and Blue Moon White Ale, and let others risk their lives and the lives of their young ones by trying to home-brew. I'm sorry.
beer, war, chickenhawk, the corner
Brutal
You know you're stuck in a rut when people are building
Web programs to mimic your writing.
Ouch.
Via
Kausfiles.
Iraq New York Times Bob Herbert
War profiteers, powerful politicians, scandal...
Cheney, Rove and Haliburton, right?
Nope. France's Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and Airbus.
Does this scandal pass the "Global Test"?
France, scandal, Airbus
