GOTTA READ these comments about Lt. Col. Allen West--FL candidate for Congress

You probably don’t remember me, but I was in 2/20FA (one of the 13M “lightfighters from Bravo Battery” specifically) with you in Iraq in 2003. I just wanted to tell you that I remember your kindness to me, specifically the fact that you always took time to ask me by name how I was doing and how my day was going, and that was something that most officers wouldn’t do for a young enlisted soldier.

I never had the opportunity to thank you for what you did to save the lives of my buddies and myself over there, but I think about it often. You went the extra mile to make sure that I would come home alive, and for that, I am eternally grateful. I’m a real estate agent now (still in Temple, TX). I’ve been out of the Army now for about a year and a half, but I remember how you led, and remember what you did for me and I just wanted to say thank you.

Lt. Col. West, My name is Spc. Michael Montas, I served under you in Iraq at the al-Taji airbase. As a member of the “Ruffnecks” (2nd Platoon Bravo 1/44 ADA) I went out on many missions and patrols in that very area. I was a driver for a Bradley Linebacker and my Track Commander was Sfc. Charles Ilaoa. I was a member of the Bravo Battery 1/44 ADA Regiment that went on the mission to detain the Iraqi persons responsible for the plotted attacks. I have wanted to tell you for the longest time that I was proud to serve with you sir. You made a statement during your trials when asked if you would do it again, to which you said “If it’s about the lives of my men and their safety, I’d go through hell with a gasoline can.” Well sir if you would have to go through hell with a gas can I would drive for you. It has been an honor to serve with you sir and I wish you and your family the best. As you can tell from the email address and information below I am no longer in the military but I will continue to support the troops however I can. I would also like to say if you would every need anything I would be happy to oblige.

I am not sure if you remember me, Sir, but I served under you for a while in Taji, I was you M2 gunner for a few months before you were relieved. I was an impressionable PFC at the time. Your leadership was inspiring and I will never forget having worked for you. You are the only Commander I know of that puts all others
before himself. If this is any indication of what type of Congessman you will be, Florida is lucky to have you. This will be
a far better country with you helping to run it. If I can help out

your campain in any way please let me know. I am not sure what I could do from here, but I would be willing to do it. I would follow you into hell to fight Satan himself. Good luck to you Sir and God bless you and your family. Oh, I saw Delgado about 2 years ago and he and his family are doing fine. Deep Strike!

Candidates: selfless or selfish?
Ponder the difference between a “politician” and a “statesman”

A recent guest on my talk show reminded me of just how simple the test really is to help decide for whom to cast a vote. My guest was Allen West (Lt. Col., US Army, Retired). He came into the national spotlight after he took decisive action during the 2003 interrogation of a turncoat Iraqi police officer. While an infantry battalion commander, LTC West fired a pistol near the head of Officer Yahya Jhodri Hamoody, who had been passing American military information to Iraqi insurgent terror cells. The treasonous Hamoody decided that he did not want to meet Allah that day after all, and spewed out enough information that LTC West and his battalion were then able to shut down two terrorist cells and stop the attacks in their Area of Responsibility. Normally, military officers — especially those in the “combat arms” specialties — are fully expected to be brave, resourceful, and decisive. (Indeed, when he was in combat in Iraq the first time, during Operation Desert Storm, as an artillery fire-control officer, West had won the Bronze Star for decisive actions that saved a nearby unit that was pinned down under enemy fire.) But, surprisingly, the Army actually filed ‘aggravated assault’ charges against LTC West for the interrogation! Ultimately, the lawyer (a former US Marine Corps JAG officer) representing LTC West was able to negotiate a “non-judicial punishment” under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The intrepid commander was fined $5,000 for saving his troops, and soon after retired from the Army with 22 years of service.

Having taught school for two years after his retirement, LTC Allen West is now a candidate for the 22nd Congressional District of Florida. His district covers the coastal areas of Palm Beach and Broward Counties, including some inland areas, with about 600,000 citizens. West is running as a Republican, but has made it clear that he is “beholden to no one.” (You can hear the entire one-hour interview by clicking here.) West has an agenda that, not surprisingly, puts national security at the top of the list of issues. Other issues include energy independence (which he ties, quite rightly, to Middle East policy), education, healthcare, and illegal aliens. Allen West was articulate, patriotic, and still kept a sense of humor during a serious interview. I found him very personable; very smart, but not “brainy.” (Having spent long periods of time in vehicles and foxholes with men of various backgrounds, I found West to be someone with whom I could get along easily on a deployment.)

“I really believe that the American people want to get back to the basics. They want people who are about selfless service and not self-serving. ... And, with the Internet, blogs, and talk radio, the politicians cannot hide anymore.”

West uttered this observation after talking about the “revolution” going on among voters, who lit up the phone lines last summer to put a stop to the Kennedy-McCain amnesty bill. That distasteful piece of legislation would’ve provided a “path to citizenship” for those that have entered our country illegally. To me, and to millions of other voters, it was just one more example of how the “Big Two” political parties have become virtually indistinguishable. (Disclosure: I’m the state PR coordinator for the Constitution Party of Tennessee. And, yes, I did try to “recruit” him during the interview.)

West believes that he can work from the inside to turn the Republican Party back toward its conservative roots. I wish him well, although the many disenfranchised Republicans that I’ve spoken to within the Constitution Party would claim that to be a lost cause. Regardless of party, though, there are certain core beliefs that nearly all Americans share. I feel that Allen West embodies those beliefs. He is a candidate upon whom traditional Republicans, moral “Dixiecrats,” most Constitutionists, and even many Libertarians can agree. Why? Because he is not a politician, but a statesman.

How can one tell the difference? The answer lies in one of my favorite political sayings. “A politician works for the next election. A statesman works for the next generation.” May God bless America with more statesmen, and fewer politicians.

Processed on Mar 29, 2008

This is Farhad Kamran “Noorzad” from Kandahar Afghanistan, one of Mr. Allen’s Interpreter at 205th Regional Hero Corps Kandahar Airfield. I have worked for 12 years at different organizations with different people and nationalities and employers or chiefs, but let me say this from the depth of my heart West Is The Best, he is really the best.

Mr. Allen B. West is a kind leader, a loyal and honest friend and a true and pure American, his selfless service to Afghanistan and Afghan nation will never be forgotten.

I had the honor to serve under his kind supervision for a year, honestly that was the first and best time I enjoyed working, he always took care of us as his team members and never made an environment where we feel that he is an American and we are Afghans. unfortuantely I left Kandahar on September 06 for Kabul MPRI HQs but the only things I always missed were Kandahar, my parents and Mr. Allen West.

There are hundreds of Interpreters and US Mentors working for the US Armed Forces everybody comes and goes and nobody talks about who he worked with? or where is he now? but before Mr. West leaves Kabul for the US he came to Camp Eggers at Kabul and waited for almost 10 to 15 minutes till I came back from a meeting over at the Ministry of Defense, I was surprised and I asked myself what is my value that Mr. West waited for me?.
I do not have words to explain and talk about his kind personality he will be always in my heart and there is a saying, “Distance does not count a friend is always with you in your heart”.
This world is a stage and the human beings are just actors there roles always change the characters always change but the only thing that remains in this world is a good name and memories or a bad name and its memories, as I said he was and is a model leader an example of being a leader.

Dear and honorable Mr. West wherever you are, you were my chief and friend, you are still and you will be forever.

From George Blumel

This comparison can be made in many districts this year. There are some Republicans who are almost as bad as Ron Klein but NO Dems who measure up to our Allen West.

Only in his first, and hopefully, last term Ron Klein has already racked up 20 earmarks totaling $13,441,000 and God only knows how many in the pipeline in this election year. After all, he is a lawyer-lobbyist so you can expect a lot of this from him. You don’t get a multi-million dollar campaign fund by adhering to your oath of office and doing the people’s business and/or being faithful to the US Constitution.

But not only is he a profligate spender, but he also is not a very patriotic guy. No patriot would put his country’s security behind his fealty to his trial-lawyer friends. I’m referring to FISA and his vote to make our national security hostage to the lawyer union’s demand that they be able to sue anyone who helps our intelligence agencies gather foreign intelligence from foreign targets on foreign soil. For House Democrats, big bucks trump loyalty to one’s country now. The Democrat Party is controlled by the Soros money, teachers unions and the trial lawyers union and Klein is a Dem, a lawyer and a lobbyist.

We deserve better representation in the 22nd district of Florida and we have a good chance to get it in November. Ret. Lt. Col. Allen West is patriotic, honors the US Constitution, keeps his oath and has no obligations to lobbyists, unions or other special interests. Being a congressman is not his job or career—he is offering himself for public service. When he votes he will consider the constitution and his constituency and NOT on how it might help/hurt his “career” as do the professional politicians. I believe that about him after several meetings and studying his real career which was protecting us with his life. Go to www.allenwestforcongress.com. Check him out and, if you can, please contribute to his campaign.

Keith Moody, March 21, 2008

I am a Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel who served alongside Allen West in Afghanistan in 2007 as we strove to develop the Afghan Police and Army so that they might properly protect their nation. I am very pleased to have met Allen and am proud to add my name to the growing list of people who recognize his outstanding character and qualities. Allen is cool-headed and affable in all situations. He is a man who brings together diverse cultures, builds relationships among people, creates teams and team-loyalty and is clearly a man who leads others to collective greatness. Allen is inspirational: he is a highly educated man of character with a global perspective. Allen respects other peoples’ positions and opinions and is knowledgable and sensitive enough to discuss and debate with them while ensuring everyone feels respected and heard. Allen is wise enough to know that other people have important contributions to make and includes them in his deliberations. While Allen has a global perspective, he clearly realizes that the world is made of individuals and local communities – their dynamics are what makes the world go round. This is why I think Allen is possibly the best leader I have personally met and why I wish to recommend him so strongly. If you don’t know Allen yet, you will do yourself and your community a real injustice if you don’t take the time to find out more about Allen, what he stands for, and what he will bring as a US Congressman. Good Luck Allen!

On Canadian Free Press and Myth Debunker

Lifting Up the House – If There’s One Race That Republicans Should Focus On, It’s This One

The year 2008 is gearing up to be better for Republicans than expected. A few months ago, a Rasmussen poll showed Republican Party affiliation at its highest level in two and a half years. In state to state matchups, our presidential candidate does much better than anyone had expected just a few short months ago. And while it’s highly improbable that Republicans will regain the Senate (though not impossible, if Reid, Pelosi and a Democratic presidential nominee who’s naive on national security combine to turn voters away from Democrats in general), regaining the House is a better possibility.

To be sure, even House Republicans aren’t exactly favored to regain control. In fact, if we do regain the House much will have to do with the unpopular positions of the Democratic Congress and objection to the laissez-faire national security policies of the party’s nominee (as well as disdain for the overall inaction of the Pelosi led House). But we are definitely poised to pick up a number of seats, something that would put us in a position to retake majority control sooner rather than later, within the next few cycles.

For Republicans to regain the House as soon as possible, it’s crucial that we win as many winnable House seats as possible this time around. For this reason it is critical that we pinpoint the seats we can best pick up and concentrate on them, meaning that Republicans nationwide, especially those living in non-swing congressional districts (as well as Republicans abroad), should support candidates outside of their districts who are in real battles. It is especially important that we concentrate on those seats this year, as the easiest time to beat any incumbent is after the first term. In short, if we want to regain the House anytime soon, we need to regain as many Republican seats as possible in 2008.

One crucial race is FL-22, the former seat of Rep. E. Clay Shaw. During the Democratic Tsunami of 2006, Democrat Ron Klein managed to barely eek out a win with 51% of the vote. Wining back the seat is crucial to eventually retaking Congress and this year’s the best and easiest year to do it.

Aside from the fact that FL-22 is a critical swing race, winning it back this year comes with another significant advantage. Republicans have fielded a war hero who’s articulate and who connects instantly with the public in a manner that’s rarely seen. Lt. Col. Allen West is a stellar, honest and ethical public servant who can help the Republican cause on a national level.

I recently had the opportunity to hear Lt. Col. West speak at several events. The reaction of audiences was the same each time. Staunch Republicans wanted to know why he’s not on the Sunday shows countering Democratic attacks. After one event a friend of mine who had been undecided told me “I may not be a Republican, but this man knows what he’s talking about. I’m supporting him.” Judging by the general atmosphere, that’s the feeling most undecideds have after hearing Allen West.

He’s articulate. His points are rooted in sound logic, that he conveys concisely and effectively. He has the PR skills that are missing in so many of our national leaders. After watching Republicans get hammered for years for being unable to defend sound policy and right decisions against skewed Democratic attacks because no one in the GOP could formulate a message that resonates, hearing Allen West is refreshing. I’m not sure if he got this ability after leaving the army, when he decided to dedicate himself to teaching high school students, incidentally motivating far more of them to go on to college or military service than any other teacher at his school (a high school I know well and have twice lectured at). It could be that he gets this ability naturally. But whatever the case, Allen West can deliver home the message and electing him ensures that his abilities are put to use on behalf of the GOP nationwide.

Perhaps his ability to communicate so effectively comes from his personal life story. After a twenty year career as an army officer, West took an immense risk in order to save the lives of the men in his unit. Terrorists had been shooting at his men for weeks and immediately prior to each shooting, a certain Iraqi police officer was seen nearby, suspiciously dealing with unknown men who shouldn’t have been let close to the US base. Members of West’s unit interrogated the Iraqi officer, who clammed up and refused to speak. At this point Col. West, knowing that other attacks were forthcoming, tried speaking with the officer himself. When that didn’t work he took out a gun, placed it above the conspirator’s head, fired it and lo and behold, he divulged where the attacks were coming from. After that the attacks stopped.

This didn’t stop the Iraqi officer/collaborator from complaining to the US Army that the firing of a gun was excessive, largely in order to deflect attention from his role in the attacks. And in one of the worst cases of politically correct persecutions, Col. West faced court martial over his actions. The army knew that the allegation was ridiculous, but felt a need to go through with a trial in an over the top attempt to show the Iraqi government that they are taking every precaution. Still, since they knew he was innocent, they offered West a chance to retire weeks short of his 20 year mark, when he’d otherwise become pensionable. West refused.

The outcry against the absurdity of this case was fast, furious and fierce. Conservative and liberal leaders alike decried the idea of putting Col. West through such an ordeal for simply having saved the lives of his unit, even if they knew that in the end the flimsy complaint would not stand. The army quickly backed down, but not without causing stress and harm to Allen West. Still, when asked if he’d do it again, West unequivocally replies in a humble but certain manner “yes, those men were my family.” It’s this level of service and amount of sincerity that accounts for his ability to project and communicate in ways that others can’t. It should also be noted that Col. West would be the first African-American Republican congressman since J.C. Watts.

In short, FL-22 has national ramifications. If we win it, Republicans will have a leader in Congress who will be unique among his peers. He’ll also be a PR powerhouse for Republicans nationwide. And that’s in addition to the strategic need to regain the district as part of any plan to eventually retaking the House.

From American Thinker Blog

I just sent my first political contribution to the Congressional campaign of former Army Lt. Colonel Allan West, who is running on the “R” ticket in Florida House District 22—- that’s in Broward County. Colonel West is a man who has proved himself, not just in the rigors of combat, not just in leadership, not just in the technical craft of military tactics and strategy, but in the most difficult life-and-death dilemma a human being can face. He made an agonizing moral decision to save his men from a likely ambush. To do so, he shot off a pistol next to the head of a suspect, forcing him to confess vital lifesaving intelligence. Col. West didn’t do that to punish the man, but to save lives. It worked.

When Col. West reported his own actions to superiors, he must have known that his decision would cost him his military career. He might have ended up in prison for years. He knew it would lead to months and months of personal agony. But he made the right decision in the face of a life-and-death moral dilemma.

I think I know what kind of a human being Colonel West must be, and I’m deeply pleased to support him. We need many more like him in the US Congress, because he is an adult who can make a moral decision under immense pressure. Far too many of our politicians just slip around real moral decisions; those are the people we don’t need as leaders.

Michelle Obama, the wife of the Senator, is a bright and talented woman. Perhaps she was unlucky to go to Princeton University and Harvard Law School, because she has now become deeply cynical about this country. That’s not surprising, because our top universities teach their students to be cynical. They think it’s terribly, terribly sophisticated. All their friends are cynical. Worse than that, they think their cynicism is true.

So Mrs. Obama can say things like “”for the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country.” She means it. She believes it. But she utterly lacks a mature perspective on that question.

Nov 29, 2007 SIR, YOU MAY NOT REMEMBER ME, MY NAME IS JOSHUA TURNER. I WAS IN 2/20 WHEN YOU WERE IN COMMAND AND DEPLOYED WITH YOU IN 2003. I WAS A SPC AT THE TIME, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DID IN IRAQ TO SECURE THE SAFETY FOR US AND TO STAND UP FOR US SOLDIERS. SIR, I DON’T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN SAY TO RELAY THE DEEP FEELING OF GRATITUDE I HAVE FOR YOU AND YOUR ACTIONS. I HOLD YOU EXTREMELY HIGH IN REGARDS TO ALL THE COMMANDERS THAT I HAVE SERVED WITH. SIR, YOU ARE WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST REALISTIC, DOWN TO EARTH, CARING, PASSIONATE COMMANDER THAT I HAVE EVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE WITH. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE SACRIFICE THAT YOU MADE FOR US. SSG TURNER, JOSH “YOU DO NOT NEED TO EXCERT FORCE TO SHOW POWER”

What’s the difference between these individuals? Age, education, income, race? My guess is that it comes down to the culture of victimization versus the culture of earned pride. Mrs. Obama’s high-priced education has persuaded her that she is a victim; or if she personally happened to luck out, she has been told that millions of others are helpless victims. They cannot be trusted to survive as self-sufficient adults.

Well, victimization is a self-fulfilling prophecy. So is honest pride and self-confidence. (This is not news to anybody but our professors on the Left.)

For some mad reason our best universities now teach self-victimization, especially to Blacks and minorities. They thereby handicap and undermine the very people they claim to help. It’s bizarre beyond belief, but not for our perverse Left. Fortunately some of our institutions, like our military, still inculcate pride based on real achievements. The colonel didn’t get his chestful of ribbons for being a victim.

It’s the Hurricane Katrina story all over again, pitting New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin against Lt. General Russell Honoré of the Louisiana National Guard. Mayor Nagin panicked when Katrina hit, and thousands of his constituents ended up miserably stuck in the flood, waiting for somebody to help them. In General Honoré ’s immortal phrase, City Hall was “stuck on stupid,” along with the rest of the political class.

“Don’t Be Stuck on Stupid” is a phrase that should be emblazoned in every single schoolroom in the country. Forget giving out gold stars for self-esteem. Just tell our kids not to get stuck on stupid. To drown in the culture of victimization in the land of opportunity is really being stuck on stupid. It is teaching people how to starve in the midst of plenty.

Electing Lt. Col. Alan West to Congress sounds like a good way to start getting our political class off being stuck on stupid. When he gets to Washington, D.C., he may have find new depths of toleration and patience with the idiocies of the political system. But the more people like him we can send to Congress, the healthier we will be as a country.

Oh yes, and all four of these folks are African Americans: Col. West, General Honoré, Mrs. Obama and Mayor Ray Nagin.

Page Printed from: http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/03/lt_col_allan_west_and_michelle_1.html at March 16, 2008 – 08:58:26 AM EDT

Processed on Mar 12, 2008

Name: Hadi,Kandahar Afghanistan
Message: â€œWest can meet East with Westâ€

Although not a Floridian, and therefore not a prospective constituent for Allen. I am Hadi, an Afghani citizen from Kandahar south part of Afghanistan which is thousand and thousand miles away from Florida State .Kandahar used to be one of the epochal and susceptible provinces in Afghanistan in all her historical era. I know Mr. Allen. West closely after working for two and half years during his meritorious service to Afghan National Army, MOD and other coalition forces on war against terrorism.

I know this man to be sincere, forthright, and uncompromising in his beliefs in those ideals that built and developed America. He is a man of deep conviction who trusts in himself and his God always.

Although I am a Muslim nor Christian neither American, but during the years which I worked with Mr. West I found him sublime progenitor in all era of life, we used to work in a team which we called â€œone familyâ€ without concerning about religion, nation, Christan, Muslim, Young, Old, or color and it was all because of Mr. Westâ€™s leadership which he brought to our team, not even our team I can proudly say â€œto entire 205th Afghan National Army Corps RC(S)â€ his teaching , leadership and guidance was so much valuable for the fresh ANA in south region of Afghanistan against the terrorist group and Taliban militias because it was not Bushâ€™s war or Ahmad Karzayâ€™s war, it is war against terrorism in all over the world. But for most law enforcement agency administrators in the World, the perceived threat of a terrorist act or attack within their jurisdiction is a remote possibility. Unfortunately, one cannot predict, with any degree of confidence, when and where terrorism is likely to occur. Being prepared for any eventuality is a hallmark of good administration, but preparation should be consistent, at least to some degree, with the probability of an event and available resources. It must also be measured against the potential impact that such an event might have. A terrorist act usually has a low probability of occurrence but a high impact when it does, as we have witnessed in the World Trade Center bombing in New York City, the murder of an ad exec in Caldwell, New Jersey, the Oklahoma City bombing and tragedy and those acts of terrorism, violence and death perpetrated by the infamous and elusive “Unabomber”. Thus, it requires some serious consideration and effective and joint planning in any law enforcement, criminal justice or public safety agency or respective emergency management program serving the security and safety needs of citizens. Jurisdiction for the investigation of domestic terrorist acts rests primarily with federal agencies, but the local law enforcement agency or the established emergency management team also has an all-important and vital role when their local setting becomes the target and the primary theater of operations. Recent history has proven that that this action is necessary. It is because of the immediate municipal, county and state role that a ready-reference for countering terrorism is readily available, specifically for all law enforcement and related emergency management, civil defense and security administrators, to provide a planning framework, identify specific needs, identify areas of threat and responsibility, and to provide a source of vital and proven-effective reference materials and information. It is imperative that a model of this type be acquired and immediately implemented by each and every law enforcement agency in all over the world, regardless of size or location, before the next internal threat, scare or resulting tragedy. The proper and highly recommended program model on countering terrorism, for early municipal, borough, hamlet, village, county and state law enforcement agency preparation and intervention, consists of eight vital parts, focusing primarily on Planning, Operations, Tactics, External Considerations, Events, Acts, The Actors and Training.

Hopefully, there will never be a need for any jurisdiction to use this specialized model or put the plan into effect, even in the aftermath of the World Trade Center bombing disaster countless other, however, should an incident occur, the vital realization that there is a working plan that may and will aid in saving the lives of those served by law enforcement, public safety, emergency management, corporate security or related community-related administrations, “is just that important!” A nation canâ€™t reach to premier dignity until they select apt men among themselves especially in era of leadership. The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. It’s got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. I can honestly say that I feel jealousy to Floridian people for not being a Floridian to give my Vote for Mr. West and make him a valuable candidate in U.S congress.

I believe that â€œLeadership is different than management. It is the art of getting people to move together toward a Goal they don’t yet see and Mr. Allen West the one who can show this Goal to Floridian People.â€

That’s a hell of a list of fine recommendations, on their words alone I would vote for any man or woman who instilled such respect in those he commanded in battle. Especially over anything the MSM could/will dig up on him.

They say if you truly want to know someone then you observe how he treats those below him, not his peers.

I wonder if Kerry or Kennedy would have people serving under them write to recommend them like this...

I didn’t think so either.

I hope the voters of the 22nd District of Florida will do us all a favor and elect Lt. Col. West to Congress.

6 posted on 04/21/2008 6:16:00 PM PDT by Calpernia (Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)

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