A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....08-24-05....Hagel says no timetable for the pull-out..

JohnHuang2 and dutchess | JohnHuang2

[dutchess]

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

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~ Billie, Mama_bear, dutchess, Aquamarine, DollyCali ~

Hagel says no timetable for pull-out of foot from mouth

by JohnHuang2

In his big speech Monday before a gathering of veterans in Utah, the President minced no words regarding the enemy. "They have a strategy, and part of that strategy is they're trying to shake our will," Bush told the convention of Veterans of Foreign Wars. The enemy would love nothing more than to see America and her allies intimidated. The goal of the enemy is achieving absolute power. Theirs is "a dark vision that rejects freedom and tolerance and dissent." Theirs is "a hateful ideology that despises everything America stands for."

But enough about the Democrats. Over on the other side of the aisle, GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel, long-time critic of the Iraq war, in a stunning shift Sunday, criticized the Iraq war. "I think our involvement there has destabilized the Middle East," he said. Leave it to the neocon/AEI/PNAC/BFEE crowd to screw things up. Gone is that wellspring of peace and stability in the region, Iraq under Saddam Hussein, who only invaded two countries and killed no more than a million people.

Now Libya's out of the WMD bidness, Syria's out of Lebanon, Egypt is having contested elections, Palestinians are having contested elections and pressure mounts to plunge the whole region into freedom. So many dominoes falling. If only Saddam were still president.

Hagel, co-host every Sunday of CNN's Late Edition, NBC's Meet the Press, CBS's Face the Nation and ABC's This Week, told ABC's This Week that he thinks Iraq is looking more and more like the Vietnam war. Obviously a clever ploy to lift morale. We're "locked into a bogged-down problem not unsimilar, dissimilar to where we were in Vietnam," he said. Everything about this is just like Vietnam. Especially here at home. The similarities are glaring -- from the Smithsonian Institute dinosaur display outside Bush's ranch (featuring the long-necked, plant-eating folk singer, Joan Baez!), right down to those Vietcong flying planes into buildings in New York and Washington four years ago. And those annoying Ho Chi Minh Islamic terror cells are back on U.S. soil.

Today there's no draft, we've got a volunteer army, tens of thousands of soldiers haven't died in the "jungles" of Baghdad, "insurgent" attacks are focused in one area (near CNN cameras in Baghdad), Saddam's in prison awaiting trial, Zarqawi doesn't have "Soviet" support, U.S. forces in Iraq aren't besieged, U.S. forces in Iraq can move freely from "rice paddy" to "rice paddy" -- other than that, just like Vietnam!

In the idiotic Hagelian formulation, a war becomes Vietnam if the enemy strikes back. And if there are mounting casualties. The Allied invasion of Normandy was instantly Vietnam. The Battle of Iwo Jima was instantly Vietnam. Panama was Vietnam. Gulf War I was Vietnam. The Afghan campaign was Vietnam. Even Grenada was Vietnam -- for at least several days. Over a hundred U.S. soldiers killed or wounded in Grenada. Or, I should say, "murdered" by Ronald Reagan's 'neocon cabal' (See Cindy Sheehan). Busy week for the necon cabal. Even back then.

Hagel offers America a constructive alternative. It consists of "figuring out how we get out of there," then run for our lives. Then we'll be safe, and terrorists will love us again.

It won't work, but that's not the point. The point for Hagel is to get the media to love him. Even more than Vietnam. If grief gives Sheehan the moral authority to urinate on Casey's grave and dishonor his sacrifice (it doesn't), then Hagel's service in Vietnam, Korea, World War II, World War I, the Spanish-American War, the Civil War, the War of 1812, etc., gives Hagel every right to sound like a talking anus on TV every Sunday. If trafficking in agitprop media droppings is your bag, have at it.

What combat experience does not automatically confer is military wisdom. Kerry's proof of that. Hagel's proof of that.

Again I give you Hagel, the grieving Senator: "We should start figuring out how we get out of there, but with this understanding, we cannot leave a vacuum that further destabilizes the Middle East." So let's stay the course and get out now, but we can't give up or get out now and "the longer we stay in Iraq, the more similarities" between Iraq and Vietnam. Hagel was on a roll.

He's against timetables, but the clown says we've already lost the war. We must keep losing until we win! As a big critic of the war, he voted for the war. This war is just like Vietnam, and I voted for it. Wonderful. It all makes sense now.

A year before 9/11, an explosion ripped a massive hole in the hull of a Navy Destroyer, the USS Cole, killing 17 U.S. sailors, wounding 39 others. An al-Qaeda suicide attack. In 2000. Before Bush rejected Kyoto, so it couldn't have been that "root cause."

Four years after 9/11, in what the lib media calls a "new phase" by a more dangerous al-Qaeda, al-Qaeda launches a rocket attack against a U.S. warship docked in Aqaba, and misses. The "Katyusha rocket whizzed over the deck" of the USS Ashland, but ended up hitting "a nearby Jordanian military warehouse" (AP, 8/20). Not a single American casualty. Wow, some "new phase." Great Master Plan there, al-Qaeda! Working out real well.

The Cole bombing and the Aqaba rocket attack are bookends, in between are the Great Satan's Afghan and Iraq campaigns, landing Saddam in the pokey and binny in a burka hopping from mud hut to mud hut, cave to cave. Now, if you're a ratmedia liberal, and all you've got to work from is a steaming cowpie crammed in the tiny space between your ears, the Hagelian notion that al-Qaeda is winning makes sense. That's why you're not in charge. So, whatever you do, stay the course, liberals. Stay the course -- to ensure victory for Republicans in Nov. '06.

Anyway that's...

My two cents

06-28-05 ~ Hall of Fame #12

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 08-22-05 Military Monday 08-23-24-05 What's In a Name?

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

[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.

[jwfiv]

Thank you, Miss D ... )

Fine one, JH2.

Wish Hagel would pull-out, withdraw and disappear ...whatta glory-hound ... whatta maroon ... vying for the top spot on Al Queda's list of American Idols.

Being a Republican, he gets special credit and can stand next to Boxer and Kennedy in the terrorist's hit parade of those Senators who offer aid, comfort and hope to the Enemy.

[GailA]

Good morning every one.

[dutchess]

It's Thursday at the Finest... Time for another tell it like it is John's 2cents!!!! ENJOY!!!!!

[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; Dutchess, Aquamarine; The Mayor or DollyCali 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.

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

gator girl........................husband severa............husband, brother Maigrey............................cousin mystery-ak.............son, husband Gogrammy...................grandson Inspectorette.......................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin............niece's husband sneakers..............................son weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon.............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law BeforeISleep...................son kimmie7......................brother Armymarinemom............3 sons american_ranger.............son LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew Dubya............................nephew ValerieUSA....................2 sons Lakeside........................2 sons LakeLady......................nephew Spruce.........................daughter Philman_36..............2 nephews bjcintennessee.......son, niece TheMayor...............friends'son mhking.........................cousin eaglesiniowa.....................son visualops..........................cousin auboy.............................cousin Ladysmith..nephew, friend's son tina07......soninlaw & his friend Katydidnt.............................son MontanaCowgirlCop.......brother Colorado Slim................nephew Tapatio....................2 nephews Kramster.....................stepson Alouette................................son Q6-God...................twin brother jkphoto........................nephew LoneRedRanger...brother-in-law Q6-God.....................active duty Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells....................active duty LongCut....................active duty cjk...........................active duty Trish.........................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty AF_Blue...................active duty Notwithstanding.......active duty thumperusn..............active duty Veloxherc.................active duty Don Simmons...........active duty wingnutx...................active duty Old Sarge.................active duty CGblue.....................active duty bigghurtt...................active duty frankiep....................active duty veeceeque..............active duty JRios1968..............active duty

scubachick.....................husband OhioWfan................................son ladtx..................................2 sons Its_me_K.E.T.........................son Hostel............................cousin MozartLover...........son, nephew LBGA (RIP)..........................son katykelly..............................son cookcounty.............................son SpookBrat........................nephew SpookBrat........................cousin Doug from Upland............soninlaw Himyar....................................son boxerblues........................2 sons the piper....................................son sheeza................................husband kemathen7.........................husband Tiffee4Bob..........................boyfriend deadhead.............................cousin JimRobinson...............2 nephews TexKat.......................son, step-son StarCMC.............................brother Consort........................2 daughters Consort.......................son-in-law Darheel...............................niece Donaeus...........................nephew dixie sass........................nephew BeAllYouCanBe........................son Repubmommy........................brother AgThorn................................2 sons homeschoolmama...............nephew kneezles.................................son RoseinRoseBear.....cousin's hubby Atomic Conspiracy......half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...........nephew Atomic Conspiracy..............niece Sunflowergal....................grandson mrstank..............................husband MrsMike31........................husband spotbust1............................husband Leofl...........................................son chena............................................son campfollower............................fiance LUV W........................................son painter...................................nephew ProudAFDad...................................son Misty4jc................................husband Bykrbayb........................................son Hope and Glory.........................son ak_daddoo..............................nephew SilentServiceCPOWife........husband Walkenfree................2 grandsons Walkenfree.................. 3 nephews Walkenfree..................granddaughter ariamne.........................2 cousins Zechariah_8_13.......brother-in-law Zechariah_8_13.......................cousin DirtyHarryY2K......................daughter DirtyHarryY2K................son-in-law nelibeli...................................nephew Skimask.....................................son El Gato...............................nephew Palladin...............................grandson MississippyMuddy...................sister MississippyMuddy.....2 nephews Socratic...........................nephew freema..................son, nephew Jemian.............................son rahbert............................son

[DollyCali]

one can't help but wonder that in the smoky back RAT rooms of congress there is a little contest, who of us can be the MOST OUTRAGEOUS and then be lifted up by our RAT constituents and the Media, as having "the answers".

Great job Ms.D and Mr. JH2... appreciate the time and effort that is involved with the creative writing & the wonderful presentation.

Interesting the RED tie on GWB & the BLUE one on Hagel. Har... I am SURE you did that on purpose D!!!! Double eagle pledge - quite neat!

Thank you and I will try to be back later but having some help with some work here today & they will be here shortly..

[jwfiv]

Good morning, GailA ... )

[LadyX]

John - Dear John!

Never, never thought I'd be riled over your digesting the news and presenting it to us on a silver platter, but - this is absolutely over the top!!

Scrambling for stuff on Chuckie Cheese Hagel, didja see THIS??

La Chaz, forhevinsake, served in Nam, John, just like Kerry!
Decorated, man, and you didn't salute him, actually or symbolically, even one time!

"military service: served with U.S. Army in Vietnam, 1968,
receiving two Purple Hearts, other decorations;"

There in 1968, he certainly was well aware of the Statistics on Record....
I Asked Jeeves, and here's the skinny:

=========== (Drum Roll) ===========

Over a 90 month period, the Nam
Deaths in Combat
417,369

Deaths from Other (disease, accidents):
10,799

Wounded
153,303

Breaking down the Killed in Action:
there was an average [over 90 months) of....
526 a month

=============================================

Yeah, sure - - we're edging *closer to that* every danged decade
we spend in that quagmire in Iraq (just like the Balkans?).

That's prolly because there is no Ho Chi MinnyHaHa,
Saddam sadly quitting his bloody iron fist mission
and cowering in a hole in the ground...

=============================================

Think we can salvage this, John...find a Chuckie Cheese restaurant
and pose with him like this happy little fella - -

autograph it, and send it to Hagel the Hero....

That oughta save your reputation, and teach ya
to not swat at a recipient.
(That'll make the indigestion worthwhile.)

(Think I'll go gaze at my Korean Conflict ribbon..:)

~ LadyX

[Just mythoughts]

When were you in Korea?? My father served there and returned with "Colors" in New York City at the end.

[fatima]

Thanks for the ping LadyX:)

[Mama_Bear]

Two thumbs up for the Finest dynamic duo!

times two!

Have I ever told you how glad I am you are on our side, JH2? I really, really am! :-)

[LadyX]

"When were you in Korea?? My father served there and returned with "Colors" in New York City at the end."

At that time, in the 50's, women were only in support roles in the Marine Corps, freeing men for combat.
[It was the BIGGEST buildup in the Marine Corps ever -
then, or since!]

I remained at Parris Island after Boot Camp,
instructing women recruits in classroom subjects.

[LadyX]

Hello, Philadelphia..:))
(beautiful baby on your Profile Page)

Your weather break will arrive here tonight,
nights back down in the 60's - days below 90 again..

[Just mythoughts]

I always get goosebumps when I think about our Marines and others, and the .ell they went through.

I thank you for your service, our Marines and other military members needed every one of you.

[fatima]

LadyX,Thank you.That is our youngest grandchild-Baby Sarah.She stopped by for a visit last night.It is hard to hold her for long because she is so heavy.The weather here is beautiful and I am at our non-profit thrift store as I type.We head down the shore on Saturday:)

[LadyX]

All right - - you probably know about the FR Anti-War Protests Target Wounded at Army Hospital thread - - - Here - ...and that Freepers did a 'counter the protesters protest'..:))

Just listened to Rush on the topic, and he mentioned on his web site he has pictures of Freepers there at Walter Reed - some in his Club G'itmo gear!!
LOLOL

His most excellent web site is here - - Click on me! -

Once there, look for a section called Club G'itmo,

The first thing there is
"See If Your Photo Made Our Club G'itmo Gallery: Newest Page"

Go there, and you'll see two photos of our Freepers "appropriately dressed."

Freepers are awesome!!

[phancypants]

These are the same people who are down in Crawford disrespecting our heroes, too--how angering!

[LadyX]

With just her pictures on your Profile Page, I couldn't remember who it was for whom you had asked for prayers - your baby, grandchild, or one of a friend...so happy to see she is thriving!

[LadyX]

"These are the same people who are down in Crawford disrespecting our heroes, too--how angering!"

Among all of us, you perhaps are one of the best to *KNOW* just how despicable they are.

We so admire your devotion to and efforts on behalf of our troops, Miss Phancy.

We salute our Gal...

[GodBlessUSA]

Thank You for much for the thread! :)

Land of the Free, Home of The Brave,
God Bless Our Troops!