A Few of FR's Finest...Every Day...Not in Allah's name

johnhuang2,dutchess,billie | Johnhuang2

[dutchess]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

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We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_bear, dutchess, Aquamarine,

Not in Allah's name

by JohnHuang2

The images were spine-chilling, horrific. The gruesome scenes of prisoner abuse and humiliation were beyond the pale. Detainees, handcuffed to cell doors, were left naked in chilly lockups in isolation for long stretches at a time. Former inmates say molestation and other sadistic misdeeds, far from aberrations, were routine at notorious Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.

The news sent shock-waves across the world. Pardon me? It didn't send shock-waves? Not even a teensy-weensy itty-bitty shock-wave? Not even at CNN? Oh wait -- you're right. No shockwaves -- that was Abu Ghraib under Saddam and his henchmen pre-invasion.

But now with the Yanks in charge, news of abuse of Saddam's henchmen did send shock-waves across CNN. Sure these inmates may have tortured and maimed thousands, sure they're rapists and thugs, but it's not like they're guilty of working for Halliburton.

Outrage and shock was not limited to CNN either. The Arab Street, still celebrating the 9/11 attacks, suspended celebrations long enough to express outrage -- outrage that these abuses were not inflicted in the name of Allah. The problem isn't abuse of prisoners per se, but that torturers and terrorists were being "tortured" and "terrorized" by Infidels and Crusaders, and not Islamists. These abuses violate the sanctity of Islamic abuses. And give torture a bad name, say torturers. Instead of Saddam's state-of-the-art testicle-crushers and dismemberment gear, readily at their disposal at Abu Ghraib, the prison guards opted for fraternity rituals. (Prisoners were handcuffed, kept in isolation cells naked, and prevented from making phone calls to Mark Geragos).

Arab newspapers, which accuse the Great Satan of wanting to mutilate every Arab on the planet, expressed shock that the Great Satan had not treated Saddam's Arab henchmen humanely, as Arab newspapers had expected. It's one thing to gas and rape Kurdish women and children by the thousands, but humiliate the gassers and rapists? (CNN has provided few details on the gassing and raping of Kurds under Saddam). Arab intellectuals say the fact that Coalition soldiers took prisoners, rather than burn and hang their remains from a bridge in Fallujah, shows just how brutal Coalition soldiers can be. (No word yet on whether senior terrorist officials will probe the murder and mutilation of four U.S. contractors). Commentators at Al-Jazeera call the prison photos nothing more than humiliation of Arabs by occupiers who win only by brute force. Commentators at Al-Jazeera also call the U.S. "retreat" at Fallujah nothing more than humiliation for occupiers who don't have the stomach to use brute force -- just like Osama told us!

U.S. Democrats, who claim servicemen had "personally raped, cut off ears" and mutilated every civilian in Vietnam (see Kerry), expressed shock that servicemen at Abu Ghraib had not treated inmates humanely, as they had expected. (It's not like these inmates were Branch Davidians or anything like that). Democrats decried the abuses as on a scale unique in human history. Democrats also asserted the abuses were not unique but widespread in the military. (There are no reports that guards had personally raped, cut off ears or mutilated any prisoner. Which means these guards won't be running for the Democrat presidential nomination or for Senate in Massachusetts). Newspaper editorials said sexual abuse and humiliation is not the way we do things in America. Michael Jackson begged to differ.

Ominously, the prison controversy dangerously threatens U.S. efforts to contain growing anti-U.S. fervor among . . . U.S. Democrats.

Even groups which don't normally get distracted by human rights were outraged. Like human rights groups. Amnesty International has called for an "independent and public inquiry" headed up by Janet Reno.

Photos of U.S. soldiers abusing prisoners loyal to Saddam appeared on the front page of Iraqi newspapers everywhere, raising fear among experts of a national uprising -- a push to bring back Saddam and the good 'ol days of acid baths, ax-beatings, amputations, cannibalism, rape and electric shock. Reaction to the photos on the Iraqi street has been so intense, that nothing happened. There were warnings that nothing would continue to happen. In fact, angry street demonstrations are a total No-Show -- just like Teresa's tax returns.

(Attention residents of Palm Beach County: None of this is to excuse what these soldiers at Abu Ghraib have done. Their conduct was clearly wrong and taints unfairly the 99.99% of decent uniformed men and women who follow the rules and who are now in greater danger. Justice will -- and is -- being meted out against the perpetrators. That's what separates us from the bad guys. In the stinking rat-hole Saddam ran for 25 years, the perps at Abu Ghraib would be rewarded. That said, the hypocrisy oozing from U.S. media and Arab capitals is so thick, it reminds me of Kerry's hair).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wrote the following about a year ago, during the height of Operation Iraqi Freedom, days before the fall of Baghdad. The purpose was to honor our fighting men and women, America's Finest. I repost it here to remind those who, perhaps fazed by the media smear job against our troops currently underway, may have forgotten what our soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen are truly made of:

What Our Fighting Men and  Women Are Really All About

by JohnHuang2, April 2, 2003

For the New York Times, which has fed America a steady diet of defeatist news about the war, the news of Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch's daring rescue from captivity was not exactly welcome news.

"Coalition forces have conducted a successful rescue mission," CENTCOM's Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks announced Tuesday night. "The soldier has been returned to a coalition-controlled area."

Heroism.

Our men and women in uniform embody it. Every one of them.

They're America's finest.

Mettle, courage, sacrifice -- for U.S. soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen, these are defining traits, not just words.

They live by them. Defending freedom isn't just a job. It's who they are. Patriotism, loyalty, devotion -- these are things they personify.

In combat, through fire and water, they boldly march up and look death in the face defiantly, again and again.

Unflinching and dauntless, against even the terrible perils of battle, our fighting men and women selflessly risk all, a glaring reminder that freedom isn't free.

Many paid the ultimate sacrifice for liberties we enjoy.

On a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach, the tombs of 9,000 U.S. soldiers, killed during the D-Day Allied advance almost 50 years ago, is testament to the price of freedom, a cost real men were willing to pay.

Today, across Iraq, untold acts of valor and courage, too many to mention, help free millions from the clutches of brutal tyranny, Saddam Hussein's.

America's finest are at it again.

We hear and read a lot about the fearsome power of B-2 bombers rumbling in the skies over Baghdad, the technical marvel of M-1 Abrams tanks pounding Iraq's best fighters to pulp, the mind-numbing accuracy of precision-guided Tomahawk cruise missiles. But the deadliest, most lethal fighting force in history is more than just tanks and planes and missiles and bullets.

Our military might is about men, not metal. It's about people not plans.

Gallantry, spirit and valor -- not blueprints -- are what win wars in the real world.

Perseverance and fortitude -- not timetables and expectations -- decides success on the field of battle.

But our military is more than that.

Take this AP wire story by Chris Tomlinson about a 32-year-old Army Ranger and his men:

"'We've got to get her off that bridge,' he said. Capt. Chris Carter winced at the risks his men would have to take. Engaged in a lightning-fast raid for this Euphrates River town, they were battling for a bridge when -- through the smoke -- they saw the elderly woman.

"She had tried to race across the bridge when the Americans arrived, but was caught in the crossfire.

"At first, peering through their rifle scopes, they thought she was dead, like the man sprawled in the dust nearby. But then, during breaks in the gunfire that whizzed over her head, she sat up and waved for help.

"Carter...ordered his Bradley armored vehicle to pull forward while he and two men ran behind it. They took cover behind the bridge's iron beams.

"Carter tossed a smoke grenade for more cover and approached the woman, who was crying and pointing toward a wound on her hip. She wore the black chador, common among older women in the countryside. The blood soaked through the fabric, streaking the pavement around her.

"Medics placed the woman on a stretcher and into an ambulance; Carter stood by, providing cover with his M16A4 rifle. Then she was gone, and Monday's battle for this town of 80,000, 50 miles south of Baghdad, raged on." Amazing, isn't it? Risking it all to save the life of an elderly woman the Captain and his men had never met, in the midst of battle, amid deadly danger.

But Capt. Carter's isn't just an isolated case.

The mercy and heroism, courage and compassion exemplified in his story is what our fighting and men and women are all about.

God bless our President, God bless our troops, God bless the United States of America!

Anyway, that's

My two cents...

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 05-03-04...Military Monday 05-04-04...Tuesday Welcome 05-05-04...Celebrate Living #5

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[dutchess]

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, One Nation Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All.

[dutchess]

It's Thursday at the Finest...that means it's another tell it like it is essay from our favorite resident author...JohnHuaug2. Please stop by and enjoy life on the RIGHT side.

[dutchess]

God Bless Our Military
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dansangel; Dutchess or Aquamarine and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~

We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan.............................son mystery-ak...........so.n, husband Gogrammy..................grandson Inspectorette........................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..............................nephew anniegetyourgun.............nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland.......son-in-law weldgophardline.......brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater.............cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep.............................son BeAllYouCan Be.....................son Tiffee4Bob.....................boyfriend The Mayor............................niece consort...2 daughters, son-in-law.. kimmie7...........................brother Texkat.....................son, stepson spruce...........................daughter visualops..........................cousin cookcounty............................son Rose in Rose Bear..cousin's husband Alouette.................................son Warrior Nurse..............active duty SK1 Thurman...............active duty David Osborne.............active duty fc2tomschermuly..........active duty LongCut.......................active duty Trish.............................active duty bkwells.........................active duty thumperusn..................active duty lakeside......................... 2 sons

Dubya.....................nephew Maigrey.....................cousin ladtx...........................2 sons Mama_Bear..........nephews gator girl.................husband severa.......husband, brother Hostel........................cousin MozartLover....son, nephew SpookBrat...............nephew Himyar...........................son boxerblues.................2 sons the piper.........................son sheeza.....................husband kemathen7.............husband Diver Dave...niece..nephew deadhead...................cousin JimRobinson.......2 nephews Armymarinemom.......3 sons kneezles.........................son Darheel......................niece dixiesass.................nephew LadyX..................grandson AgThorn...................2 sons valerieUSA..............2 sons StarCMC...............brother katykelly......................son atomic conspiracy.halfbrother atomic conspiracy.niece, nephew ODC-GIRL.....active duty Donaeus.................nephew SunflowerGal.......grandson Redhead.......stepdaughter Redhead..stepdaughter's fiance Q6-God..& twin brother..active duty

[lainde]

Kudos John!

[kayak]

Thank you, John.

God bless you!

[Diver Dave]

Afraid I'll have to set aside my normal light-hearted response to JH2's weekly essay because of the events of the week.

John mentions the 99.99% of our Armed Forces who have not engaged in the abuses that the media seem so eager to shout from the rooftops. If I may, I'd like to point out that 100% of the men and women listed on the "pray for"... graphic in post # 3, not a single one of them are in the .01%.

Now we read that the media has over 1000 more pictures at their disposal of the abuses of those .01%. Will they use them to further their mission to defeat GW in November? Probably.

Doing the math, with two pics a day from now til Nov., they will still have a surplus. Editors are probably even now trying to decide if they should start a new Sunday supplement to their largest circulation day with a saturation of their propoganda against this administration.

Several years ago, I was asked by a good friend to speak at his ordination service - to give the "Charge to the Candidate." The main thought I presented to my friend was, "Stay Prayed Up." When trouble rears it's ugly head, Stay Prayed Up. When things are going great, Stay Prayed Up.

But let's go back to post number 3. Look at all those young men and women listed. Stay Prayed Up.

When you see our President or read about him, Stay Prayed Up.

When you see our nation's flag, Stay Prayed Up.

We may be in for some real Spiritual Warfare in this country - Stay Prayed Up.

[snippy_about_it]

We may be in for some real Spiritual Warfare in this country - Stay Prayed Up.

I think we already are. Thanks for the reminder to keep praying.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks DD. The price of the harm these few did by giving ammo to our enemies (including our own Press) by being just plain stupid is going to be paid by our Troops.

Stay Prayed Up

[dixie sass]

I do so pledge!

[dixie sass]

That is so precious Dutchess and I guess since John wrote another doozie, he doesn't need a bow! Although ad bow tie would look cute on you John - poka-dotted, that is!

[dixie sass]

"Stay Prayed up!" I like that Dave, it makes sense. My nephew, when he finishes his service is going to go to the Seminary. Very proud of him and his decision.

[Lakeside]

Thanks Dave for the important reminder. Prayer is a powerful weapon against the forces of evil bent on destroying the righteous. Let us all remember we are also in combat,too. That's what makes the Finest so special. It is a constant reminder to pray for our leaders, military personnel,and each other. Stay Prayed Up indeed!

And thanks,John, for another timely essay keeping current events in their proper perspective. I have a great love and respect for our military and I've been bummed all week with the media glee over sliming them all for the actions of a few. I wish your essay was in every paper in the country!

And a great good morning to all our Finest here on FR! (((((Hugs all around)))))

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Dutchess.

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Thursday !

[DollyCali]

Clever Dutchess pix & no bow for John! Have a good day & thank you for thread.

[DollyCali]

Thank you again for your wit, sense of humor & knowledge .. all packaged together with the magic of Dutchess as your accomplice! Great Job John.

[GailA]

Good Morning FRiends, another zinger John

Coffee's on

[The Mayor]

Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God." —Mark 11:22

Faith is the key to answered prayer.

[The Mayor]

May 6, 2004

Mountains Can Move!

Read: Mark 11:20-24

Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God." —Mark 11:22

Bible In One Year: 1 Kings 21-22; Luke 23:26-56

---

A familiar slogan about prayer is, "Prayer changes things." But prayer doesn't do this—God does. Some people think that prayer itself is the source of power, so they "try prayer," hoping "it will work" for them. In Mark 11, Jesus disclosed one of the secrets behind all true prayer: "Have faith in God." Not faith in faith, not faith in prayer, but "faith in God" (v.22).

Jesus told His disciples they could command a mountain to be cast into the sea, and if they believed it would happen, it would. Jesus then gave them His meaning behind that astonishing promise. He said, "Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will" (v.24). Jesus was speaking about answered prayer. We can ask and receive answers only if our asking is directed to God in faith and according to His will (1 John 5:14).

I've often wished that I could move mountains by faith. Having once lived in Switzerland, I'd like God to move the Alps into my backyard in England. But He has done something much more important: He has removed mountains of worry, fear, and resentment from my heart and cast them into oblivion through my faith in Him. He is still in the mountain-moving business! Have faith in God and pray! —Joanie Yoder

When the Spirit prompts the asking,
When the waiting heart believes,
Then we know of each petition—
Everyone who asks receives. —Anon.

Faith is the key to answered prayer.

[Lakeside]

Good morning Gail! Please keep us posted about your friend who was in the car accident. Prayers have been lifted up for her and her mom.