Posted on 08/06/2004 7:22:03 PM PDT by wagglebee
Capt. Scott O'Grady (U.S. Air Force, retired) once was on the cover of Time magazine, perhaps the first individual warrior-hero of Americas challenging new era of conflict. Shot down while flying a fighter in support of the NATO no-fly zone over Bosnia in 1996, he escaped and evaded the enemy for days until a Marine team flew in for the rescue. The gutsy aviator captured the imagination of Americans and gave a face to GI heroes all over the globe.
Electing to end a 12-year career in the Air Force, the hero now lives in Dallas and is pursuing a master's degree. And hes supporting the re-election of President Bush.
In speeches and lectures around the country and recently even in an Internet chat room session sponsored by the White House and attended by NewsMax, OGrady spells out that he has no doubts about his presidents hard line on the War on Terror:
President Bush has shown through his decisive leadership that we will take a stand against terrorism. Because of his leadership, we have made major changes in our government to help us against this war, such as the Homeland Security Department, the PATRIOT Act, and a proactive policy of fighting terrorists on their own soil before they come and kill us in our country.
I believe that it's President Bush's personal values, morals and his clear determination not to allow the terrorists to succeed and to take a proactive role against them, and to view it for what it is - a war - not a criminal act that we need to fight with law enforcement, as the previous administration did and failed.
'Nightmares' About Admitted 'War Criminal' Kerry
Capt. OGrady is equally vocal about his distaste for candidate John Kerry as a potential commander in chief:
I can tell you that I, Scott O'Grady, do not see him fit. I have had nightmares about this. Let me put it this way. I have myself have heard John Kerry testify that he committed war atrocities, where he came out and admitted that he is a war criminal. That he was involved in activities in Vietnam where he hurt innocent civilians.
There is a big difference between war operations where civilians are hurt or killed in collateral damage. It's a tragedy of war versus actually targeting civilians, which is a criminal act. It's against our military laws of warfare. It is an unlawful act to purposely target non-combatants.
I've heard from Senator Kerry's mouth when he testified after coming back from Vietnam that he purposely took part in activities that targeted civilians.
"The other reason I don't see him fit is his Senate record. His voting record does not support the military: the supplies they need, the pay they receive, the support for their families. I think it would be a major mistake for the American people to vote for John Kerry.
When a cyber-questioner looks to the controversial Patriot Act as an indication that Bush has overstepped, OGrady fires back:
The misleading myth that the Patriot Act has carte blanche authority to violate civil liberties is a lie. All the Patriot Act does primarily is to allow federal agencies to communicate more effectively with one another to fight the War on Terror with intelligence and allows federal agencies to investigate terrorist groups just as if they were organized criminals, i.e. the Mafia.
Federal wire-tapping was allowed before the Patriot Act to follow individuals. All the Patriot Act does is to take policies already in place to fight crime to be allowed to fight terrorism. I will also note that there has not been one instance of reported abuse because of the Patriot Act.
Media 'Very Biased'
If OGrady nurses a pet peeve it has to be what he perceives as a media bias toward the negative when it comes to reporting on the war in Iraq.
I drive my opinions by stories from people who just came back from Iraq. They tell me of the great stories of freedom going on over there. Citizens embracing them for granting them freedom and allowing them to participate in activities they would not have been allowed to before. I feel the media has become very biased lately, and I find that very disheartening.
OGrady is also opinionated when it comes to those who suggest that President Bush hasnt been mindful enough of our men and women in uniform.
[I]t is my understanding that President Bush in 2004, his budget contained the largest increase for the Department of Veterans Affairs than has ever been requested. I also understand that President Bush's budget allows for more than a million more veterans to seek health care than in the year 2000. It's also my understanding that President Bush's 2004 budget included the largest ever increase for veterans' health care.
Since President Bush took office, the VA's health care budget has been increased by over 30 percent.
OGrady says he was inspired to join the service by a Vietnam veteran father and a call to duty he could not dismiss. To this day he says he was able to survive his dramatic ordeal in Bosnia because of his faith in God and country.
President Bush could ask for no worthier advocate.
Just do not make yourself look silly in the process.
M'kay?
YU make these fallacious statements, Mr Cali, yet you can't prove any one of them.
Your proof on Racak is ludicious and unable to substantiate any proof in that arena as well.
How can I log onto the CPC account when I do not have the password for it, round eye? Can you email that accounts password to me?
Besides, fix your graphic.
And to make it easy on them, it would probably be sporting of you if you just had them nuke your present and past user accounts, in toto.
M'kay Zokie?
Wow - where'd I get that from?
You refuse to join me in a game of online Yahoo Chess. You are afraid I'd romp all over your butt while other FReepers ridicule your own self-declared perverted self-indulgent intelligentsia.
5th Muslim Brigade is more your speed.
PS, looking at that list, I was right about you losing the password for your "Bridging Up" account, wasn't I?
Yu keep saying I was in Bosnia when O'Grady was shot down, isn't that your claim? That I was near Olovo or someplace then?
It's pointless going round in circles.
You know what you did, and thanks to your need to service your pathetic little ego on various websites, I know what you did.
I'll be honest with you. I was attending a Modern American History Summer Session I course. I was heavily engaged in debates and needed to correct the History textbooks and Professor on a few inaccuracies of SouthEastern Europe tidbits.
That shuts your lies about me right up.
You have a fascination about me, don't you? You keep stalking me...
If you want to go around in your little circle, fine by me.
It's impossible for you to get any dizzier than you already are.
Why do you not go after the Albanians, hotshot? Yeesh, and you give me credit for being Delta or some other SFer? Thank You.
Proof is for you to show I said anything remotely what you claim. Hey, text on the internet is proof if you can show others have access to your station PC, ehh? Case dismissed if you have zero proof, physical proof. Come on, who will be your star witness, Wesley Clark or William Walker?
Because the only Albanian we have on this site is GeraldP, and unlike you, I don't feel a need to persecute him simply because of who he is.
If, on the other hand, he had committed a crime, as you have if your posts are to be believed, then I'd be on his case as well.
Look, I'm just wasting my time with you - you've been booted off of numerous forums, besides FreeRepublic, and have never displayed the intellectual horsepower required for serious discussion about anything, including your own actions.
As stated, you know what you've done in your life, and based upon your own posts, I have concerns about you. Next I get access to AKO, I'll look you up. If you show up, I'll send an e-mail to the relevant PAC office, and if they decide to pursue the matter, fine. If not, fine also.
I'll wash my hands of you when I hit send on that e-mail.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.