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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~ 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

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
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[Billie]

You are correct about the picture, Dutchess - there's a thread going now that is growing by leaps and bounds - bush pauses to comfort teen - very heartwarming to read, especially when everywhere all we can read about or hear about is the Iraqi prisoner abuse.

[dansangel]

((((((M_F)))))))

We've got those on our profile pages, but in the ***FLORIDA**** version. Wishful thinking that we were back there.

As soon as we find viable jobs, we will be, God willing!

[Billie]

I get the feeling the devil will be working overtime in this election to prevent this good man from winning Like Dave said
"Stay Prayed up!"

Amen. I loved Dave's post - well, his posts are always good, though. :)

[dutchess]

I hadn't seen the thread and just noticed temple pinged me too. (thanks temple) Had a busy work morning. As I said earlier the father is all over the radio this morning. It's very touching.

Alas, need to get back to work. Have a great afternoon everyone. God bless our president and our military men and women.

[Pippin]

We have a lot of great posters here and at other threads.

[FreeTheHostages]

"Thank you, John and Dutchess, for the sensitive way you're presented this, and as usual, you outclass the leftist media who is loving every sordid detail of this circus"

Yup, and today's calendar was about humor. And then I saw the name of the piece and I thought, "Geesh, hope he's not joking about this." And he wasn't. Well and good.

[Old Sarge]

That’s My Boss!

When people are in trouble, and all seems to be so wrong,
A man steps forth without the crowd, to be so gently strong,
and demonstrates determination, without being cross,
and you're proud to say to all around who hear you, "That's My Boss!"

He calls no attention, makes no pretense, knows just what he needs,
to bring us comfort, resolve and strength - or simply put, he leads;
Just like a pro, he'll deftly field what evil men will toss,
and they just stand in shock and awe, while the troops say, "That's My Boss!"

He's walked with us, he's worn our boots, flown with us in the skies,
a steel glance that withers, if you dare to meet those eyes,
but also, can shed healing tears, as rain on forest moss,
and that lump just will not leave your throat, as you murmur, "That's My Boss!"

So, jaded pol or hardened cynic, meet this noble man,
belittle him, if you dare, or try to best him, if you can,
for even hardest heart will change, and take up America's cause,
and you'll stand along with me, and say with feeling, "That's My Boss!"

(c) 05-06-2004 by JSR

[dansangel]

That is *so* beautiful ((((((Old Sarge))))))))

I teared up when I saw the picture earlier and now your poem is just so moving.

Thank you!

[Billie]

We have a lot of great posters here and at other threads.

Yes, we do - and poets, too! See #47 - Old Sarge wrote this poem about our President, and it is wonderful. I persuaded him to repost it here and at Amy's - first saw it on the "Bush comforts a teen" thread.

Thank you, Sarge. (Some may not know you are the author - I didn't at first, because the copyright initials don't match your screen name.) :)

[ST.LOUIE1]

[Billie]

(((((((((((Freezie)))))))))))))

It isn't often John writes with this kind of seriousness, but when he does, I want everyone to read it. :)

[ST.LOUIE1]

That said, the hypocrisy oozing from U.S. media and Arab capitals is so thick,
it reminds me of Kerry's hair).

LOL!

Terrific essay, King!

Wonderful pictorial content, girls. : )

[Billie]

Hi, Dansy-girl - I've seen you here and there today. Do I know you?

((((((((((((((Dansy))))))))))))))

[dansangel]

My favorite fuzzy smile from my *favorite* fuzzy brothah!

:-)

[Billie]

Hi, favorite finest fuzzy furry freeper friend. :)

[dansangel]

Do I know you?

You *must*!

I got my much-loved purple hug!

((((((((Billie-Blue)))))))

:-)

[ST.LOUIE1]

My favorite fuzzy smile from my *favorite* fuzzy brothah!

Have two, then!

There's only ONE of your fuzzy brotha.

Wait! I forgot, two on paper. LOL

((((((( dansy )))))))

[ST.LOUIE1]

Hi, favorite finest fuzzy furry freeper friend. :)

: ) Heloooo, gorgeous! : )

[dansangel]

Thank you....I *needed* that!

[[[[[{{{{{(((((Louie_Wolfie_Man)))))}}}}}]]]]]

[ST.LOUIE1]

Anytime, sweet ((((((dansy)))))), anytime. : )