Don't worry about. If I typed how I really felt I wouldn't blame Jim Robinson for kicking me off
Posted on 05/11/2004 3:36:55 PM PDT by txradioguy
As an American citizen, I'm ashamed of the atrocities committed by Americans in Iraq. As a former professional soldier, I'm appalled not only by what has happened in the prisons there, but also by our military leadership. From the very top of the Pentagon down to the 320th Military Police Battalion, the brass have spent months covering up obscene behavior while placing the sole blame on Joe and Jill Grunt.
The damage to our country and our just war on terrorism is already devastating. And these war crimes not only diminish the sacrifices of our gallant soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, they place the troops at even greater risk. But I'm certain these abhorrent acts wouldn't have occurred had the right kind of leadership been exercised by the chain of command.
In 1951 in Korea, I was told by my commanding officer to kill four POWs and refused his direct order. I well remembered the Nazi generals' sorry rationale for their despicable conduct: "We were just following orders." I would get booted out of the Army before I went that route.
In 1965 in Vietnam, I saw a very connected intelligence captain torturing a POW with a field-telephone wire attached to his testicles and decided my personal belief system outweighed his father's four stars. When I told him I'd shoot him if he didn't cease and desist, the atrocity came to a screeching halt.
On both occasions, I knew I had the moral right. I'd been taught from the first day I put on a U.S. Army uniform that American soldiers don't follow unlawful orders and that it was my duty to stop or report an illegal act. I also believed strongly that when dealing with POWs, "There but for the grace of God go I."
The vast majority of our regular soldiers today are likewise well-trained, well-disciplined and have similar values. And they've conducted themselves during the occupation of Iraq in a manner that aptly reflects what America is all about.
But, unfortunately, this is not always the case with many Army Reserve and National Guard units that have been deployed overseas since 9-11. In fact, I've worn out several drums beating the readiness issue during face-to-face meetings with the top brass. As far back as 1989, I warned Secretary of the Army Mike Stone about the generally sad shape of our Reserve and Guard components. But while he listened up, little was done to correct the systemic problems.
And now, because Mr. Rumsfeld and too many of his generals are into a fast-fix mode, the Pentagon has been dispatching Reserve and Guard units to combat zones even when they aren't good to go. For example, I know of two enhanced infantry brigades that were rated as not combat-ready by Training Center commanders, but were still sent to Iraq because boots were needed on the ground.
Retired Master Sgt. William Lawson, who brought the atrocity story to SFTT.org, says the 800th Military Police Brigade is a prime example: "My nephew Chip, who's been charged with war crimes, wasn't trained to be a prison guard. He was a part-time soldier marginally trained for even conventional military police work. But Chip was such a good soldier that he was selected to escort Gen. Myers, the chairman of the Joint Staff, when Chip was guarding the vice president right after 9-11. Myers gave him both great reviews and his personal coin."
"The bedrock truth about the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison is that they were so easily preventable," adds SFTT (Soldiers For The Truth) Vice President Roger Charles, who researched this story for CBS News. "But that prevention required a recognition that the top people in the 800th were ill-prepared, incompetent and uncaring. The evidence clearly shows that the Department of the Army mafia was more concerned about protecting the image of the brigade commanding general, Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski, than holding her and her officers accountable for the terrible situation, which they allowed to fester for months."
Speaking of Karpinski, she's received only a mild slap on the wrist as the brass were circling the wagons. Not a good sign that our country's commanders intend to own up to their respective roles in this catastrophic breach of human rights, which will have consequences we all will have to pay for many years to come.
Price of Honor (September 2001) Doubleday
Hazardous Duty ( July 1997) Doubleday
Is that enough?
As a former soldier, you are appalling. You are a self serving POS who has absolute no qualms whatsoever, selling out the security of the troops you claim to love, for a hand full of silver and a few minutes of air time. If there was even one shred of honor left in you, you would... Forget it, you're also a gutless SOB so why even waste the breath.
Don't worry about. If I typed how I really felt I wouldn't blame Jim Robinson for kicking me off
Every since he realized he wasn't going to get a star he's been a bitter POS trying to prove that the institution that wouldn't recognize him is corrupt. Yep, parts of it was corrupt and will always be corrupt...but not nearly as corrupt as him.
Don't worry.
This is a culture war that is being fought for votes. Those who are on the verge of being totally out of power are becoming despirate. The liberal dems no longer have a majority in the House, the Senate nor do they control the Whitehouse.
Dems have pretty much given up on gun control as an issue (2000 at the recent DC march--pathetic). Liberal Dems are despirate for an issue that will rally the faithful of the party so they can move forward with the culture war.
I think that main stream America is abandoning the liberal democratic concepts and that is why ACT, MoveON.org, and others are so very despirate, and also why the media is doing things from reading the names of those who died recently in Iraq on their programs to all kinds of obvisous things.
They tried the jobless economic recovery....it isn't working.
They tried personal freedom versus religious right...it isn't working.
They tried free speach versus TV/Radio pornographic talk...American isn't upset with cleaning up the air waves.
They have tried pro-abortion...it is not working.
They have tried anti-war...it didn't work.
They have tried budget deficits...it didn't work as no one would believe democrats as defenders of a balanced budget.
Just about every issue the dem's have tried has not stuck. They are despirately trying to use this to rally their consituency groups that identify with victims of government abuse, that identify with anti-war sentiments, that identify with human rights issues, that identify with "peace, freedom, love, and world order..." In summary they are loosing and they know it and can't stand it. That is why the stories are so shrill and the balance is not there.
I forgot Fox News versus CNN and MNSNBC.
Conservative Talk Radio versus the Free America network.
Hackworth and CBS should be vilified loudly and often. Americans need to understand that there was NO reason to release those photos except to 1. Blackmail the Pentagon, 2. Undermine the President, and 3. Get ratings for CBS. Hackworth had NO interest in this except his perpetual axe he grinds against officers and Rumsfeld, his desire to see Kerry elected, and self-aggrandizement.
I am so PO'd I can't think of a decent way to express my contempt for Hackworth and CBS. May their sins be brought down on their heads.
I expect nothing less from CBS. CBS does not pretend to care about this nation nor the security of our troops. CBS has made it plain for many years that it is a liberal institution that will do anything to subvert the truth and pursue a political and social agenda. I can accept that.
On the other hand, HACKworth once wore our uniform. He was once a comrade in arms. For many years he has earned his pieces of silver hiding behind that facade. This is not the first time HACKworth has had innocent blood on his hands, the blood of his betters. It won't be the last...and he will continue, like Kerry, to use his once honorable service for dishonorable purposes.
At least CBS does not pretend.
But I do agree that Hackworth is worse, because he is not only undermining the troops, but portraying himself as one who cares about them. And he takes money to do so. Bah!
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