A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....03-27-03..."Operation Iraqi Freedom: Week 1"

JohnHuang2 and Dutchess and Billie | JohnHuang2

[dutchess]

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

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues; salute and support our military and our leaders;  tell a few jokes;  learn a new word;  write poetry;  pray for those in need;  and congratulate those who are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   I can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. 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 November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete
MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet
MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga
BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette
MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid
BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP
MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian
BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

We now have eleven groups of veterans/active military; we will post each group of three or four twice a week, with thumbnail/links of the remaining seven or eight groups on each thread. Click on any of the thumbnails below to see the group full-size.

         

GROUP 5A: TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68. MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797. BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack.

GROUP 6A: TOP:  g'nad, AgThorn's son Justin, SLB, AgThorn's son Brett. MIDDLE:  fish70, razorback-bert, CheneyChick, Leroy S Mort, Mark17. BOTTOM:  Terry's Take, Taxman, DinkyDau.

GROUP 7A: TOP:  ValerieUSA's son Grant, SK1Thurman, kd5cts, RangerVetNam, dansangel and .45man's son-in-law Tony.BOTTOM:  rangerX, Old China Hand, Trish, Howlin's dad, Mustang.

GROUP 8A: TOP: ohioWfan's son, MamaBear's father-in-law, MamaBear's dad, ladtx. MIDDLE:  The Mayor's niece, M.Kehoe, Beach_Babe's son-in-law. BOTTOM:  deadhead's dad, HiJinx, Severa's hubby, viligantcitizen's granddad.

      

GROUP 9A: TOP: Q6-God, Scan59, Mama Bear and JKPhoto's son, ofMagog. MIDDLE:  Big'ol_freeper, JustAmy's great uncle, Prodigal Son. BOTTOM:  JustAmy's husband, JustAmy's brother-in-law, JustAmy's brother.

GROUP 10A: TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7, AlasBabylon. BOTTOM:  Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad, Aomagrat.

GROUP 11A: TOP: ladtx #2 son; DiverDave's twin Don; petuniasevan and husband poorman; Mustard; ladtx #1 son. BOTTOM: AlamoGirl's brother Floyd; AG's dad; AG's brother Jim (inset); WVNan's husband; ladtx' Aunt Eva.

                     

Operation Iraqi Freedom: Week 1

by JohnHuang2

"U.S. invasion forces faced tough resistance as they opened an assault on Republican Guards defending the approaches to Baghdad, while the humanitarian situation worsened in southern Iraq," reported Reuters this week.

Coalition forces are in full retreat, says the media, bedeviled by setback after setback, body-blow after body-blow, including "the killing and capture of U.S. soldiers and the loss of [a] helicopter."

"Days after it appeared that the battle had been won in Iraq's south, the shooting -- and the dying -- goes on," writes Associated Press reporter, Doug Mellgren, gleefully.

"At Basra," he adds, "allied forces...came under heavy artillery fire Monday. A British soldier was reported killed in action nearby."

But it gets worse.

"At the southern oil fields, once considered secure, shadowy Iraqi forces apparently ambushed a British unit...civilian workers brought in to fight fires at the wells were forced to withdraw for their own safety."

Outside of Basra, "Iraqi mortar rounds rained down through the day, with tanks and armored fighting vehicles of the Black Watch and the Royal Scots Guards returning fire," says Mellgren.

Coalition setbacks. Losses. Failures. Body-blows. Heavy enemy artillery fire. Coalition forces in full retreat.

And more dying.

Media message to public: America is getting shellacked, our enemies are racking up slam dunks on the battlefield; the Iraqis are sweeping to victory as our boys drown in a bloodbath. Bush not only "failed so miserably at diplomacy," (See Daschle), he's failing on the battlefield, too! Sky is falling! Sky is falling!

"The United States suffered its worst casualties on Sunday," reports the Miami Herald, "with up to nine Marines killed, scores wounded, and the first U.S. troops captured by the Iraqis in the fiercest fighting of the war so far."

"Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld...defended U.S. war plans in Iraq on Tuesday amid criticism from many experts who question the size and punch of the invasion force being used," Will Dunham of Reuters wrote, giddy as can be.

Well, you get the picture.

The media, as I wrote in my previous essay, thinks this war should already be wrapped up. A week is more than enough time to win. What's taking so long? It's been a whole week! War? Mortar rounds? Tomahawk missiles? Heck, Iraq should have already been rebuilt, the landscape thriving with commerce and industry, suburbs teeming with shopping malls, shiny Minivans, Porsches and Chevy Suburbans dotting the highways, Iraqi soccer-moms driving kiddies to the games on Saturdays.

All won with ZERO BATTLEFIELD CASUALTIES.

The press, having failed to thwart military action, now hopes to swing public opinion against the war by portraying the effort as a miserable failure.

The quotes at the top are just the tip of media ice-berg. Flick on CNN, and you'd swear it's Al-Jazeera TV. Judy Woodruff -- Michael Moore with a dress, Saddam's professional spinner. I keep looking for the Baghdad TV logo when Aaron Brown is on. The stuff out of Reuters, AP and UPI sound more like press releases straight from Iraq's Ministry of (Dis)Information than reputable wire copy, only less credible.

After news of a popular uprising in Basra, the faces at MSNBC looked like Iraqi barracks after several B-52 bombing runs. The Fedayeen Saddamites at the nightly newscasts barely held back their tears.

Sure there've been 'setbacks,' mistakes, tragedies. No-one's denying that.

In fact, just to prove I'm 'fair and balanced,' l'll go over some of them.

Saddam's glorious victories? I hardly know where to begin. How about his 'success' in losing control of Umm Qasr, a key port city in southern Iraq? Or his brilliant master-stroke -- losing 17 divisions out of 23 only days into Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Saddam, in his relentless march to victory, by Tuesday had lost control of 70% of Iraqi territory, with 'vanquished' coalition forces, 'crippled and demoralized' (See Reuters), poised at the gates of Baghdad, a popular uprising against the popular Saddam underway in Basra, Iraq's second largest city. On Tuesday, the British 7th Armored Brigade, also crippled and demoralized (See Reuters again), suffered a huge setback by crushing an entire Iraqi armored column, marching out of Basra, to pulp. Another 'setback' for British forces: A dawn raid which netted a senior Ba'athist official. The Brits thereafter destroyed party headquarters, which sparked the Shi'ite uprising against Saddam.

Reaction from Saddam's tender-hearted thugs, whose fealty to human rights is legendary, was to launch mortar fire indiscriminately on protesters. But the horse had already left the barn, as the uprising spreads.

Saddam's triumphant forces also scored big at Najah, just south of Baghdad, its indomitable Medina Republican Guard losing over 500 men in the first head-to-head ground engagement against 'demoralized' (again, see Reuters) coalition forces, who suffered a whopping zero total casualties during the engagement. No doubt Saddam's masterly war planning will go down in history for its skilled ineptitude, unblemished by reason, tactical or strategic.

Yep, I'm impressed.

Saddam's 'grip' on the country was further 'strengthened' tonight, after a cruise missile struck Iraq TV, knocking Saddam off the air.

You know, come to think of it, has anyone seen Saddam?

Saddam? Are you there? Hello? Saddam?

Oh, gee, maybe those bungling, blundering, inept coalition forces took down Saddam the first night.

Anyway, that's...

My two cents..

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 03-24-03 Hall of Fame #3 03-25-03 deadhead 03-26-03 Who is Jimmy Valentine?

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

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[azGOPgal]

D1, can you post this picture toight on the Dose? I think they would like to see the series. Thank you.

[Aquamarine]

Gald you all liked that Cowboy song post. Gail challenged me to find the right pic for that song and I didn't want to go back to Reuters...they have some vicious pop ups that are like a virus, you can't get rid of them. Then I remembered Dutchess telling Meekie this morning that she had visited his site and that it was a great place to get pics...and I knew Meekie would have Dubya in a cowboy hat...so thanks Meek!

[Aquamarine]

Gald = Glad!!!

[Utah Girl]

Thanks. :)

[Pippin]

:^)!

[dansangel]

Absolutely beautiful! Thank-you for the link.

[GailA]

GW article to read The Atlantic

[LadyX]

"Well, it sounds almost perfect - like there should be a rainbow, and then of course at the end of that rainbow"

Your command is my wish, Billie - and yes, jw, I just *happen to have* a rainbow handy...:))

Rainbow over May Valley

[LadyX]

"Gald = Glad!!!"

Well, Gawl -lee, Aqua!
That there cowboy song was sumpin' else!
LOL

Ahm plumb gald yew posted that handsome fella to go with it - -

Seriously, aren't we blessed to have a President with whom we are comfortable on any level?

Was out of town this a.m. - without computer access in the afternoon. ( don't like to share..:(( )

Running in idle gear this evening - - -

[jwfiv]

I found no gold at the end of today's rainbow, only a shot of Bailey's Irish Cream...a faire prize, nonetheless...)

Incredibly beautiful picture of May Valley!

[LadyX]

Dear John Letter # 74:

The LadyX extends a sincere apology to be late to today's party, out of town in the morning and...it's a long story..:))

Trying to have a glimmer of pity for the current crop of so-called 'reporters' who abound these days all over the world.

Where is Ernie Pyle when you really, really need him?

Ernie Pyle

Ernie Pyle was one of the most famous war correspondents of World War II. Pyle studied journalism at Indiana University and left school to become a reporter for a small-town newspaper. Later, after various editorial jobs, he acquired a roving assignment for the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain; his daily experiences furnished him material for a column that eventually appeared in as many as 200 newspapers before World War II.

His coverage of the campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and France brought him a Pulitzer Prize for reporting in 1944, as well as several other awards. The motion picture G.I. Joe (1945) was about Pyle's coverage of the Italian campaign. He was with the U.S. forces in the Pacific on Iwo Jima, and during the Okinawa campaign he visited the nearby island of Ie Shima, where he was killed by Japanese machine-gun fire.
— Source: Encyclopædia Britannica

I was aghast watching the CentCom Conference today at the positively insulting questions and comments made by 'journalists.'

Their disrespect and thinly veiled contempt for the General speaking was hideous, asking him why the command was wasting their time, not giving them juicy details to send back to their respective employers - where was their 'scoop' of the day? implied.

I say they should be placed in a Time Transponder and beamed back to cover The Hundred Year Wars between England and France.

LadyX

[Dubya]

FYI Good News

Kurdish fighters ready to link with US and challenge Iraq

[Dubya]

FYI NAVY HERO

POW awarded medals 60 years after WWII bravery

[JustAmy]

"asking him why the command was wasting their time"

You are right, Lady.

When I saw the news conference this morning, I thought he should have asked him since the reporters already knew everything why they were wasting his time!

I would have loved it if he had said " You are right, this is a waste of time" and walked away.

[LadyX]

My childhood was filled with stories of heroes like these, both written, and from the survivors themselves, as well as through my lifetime.

It disgusts me to see the many in America who have no understanding of what drove these men - what motivated them to endure beyond ordinary limits and act on behalf of their fellow men.

To them, no war is 'just,' although the Bible is filled with ones who were told to go forth by God, with His backing and blessing! We need some more Joshuas, for example...

It is with sadness that I foresee the eventual regret they will have when they stand before their Creator and explain themselves....

[dutchess]

I've just been catching up and caught your last night post ...so very sorry about your dog's diagnosis....We have two, one 15, who are our kids too...you just give him/her love and comfort....Just want you to know our household is thinking of you and yours.....

[Dubya]

You are right on.

[dutchess]

Just popped in to say hi...one of these days I will be able to stay up and "play" with you all. Have a wonderful evening...god bless our men and women overseas and give their families comfort.....

[LadyX]

"I would have loved it if he had said " You are right, this is a waste of time" and walked away."

You are right, Amy; although better yet would have been "You are right, YOU are a waste of our valuable time," and walked away.

He handled well the very personal insult by the one who had the gall to ask why HE was making the presentation instead of the Big Honcho!

Can you imagine what it took for that General to be in the position he has, at the right hand of the General conducting this whole complicated campaign?!!
Probably the most important one in the history of mankind, at that.

[MeekOneGOP]

You're welcomed ! That is the pic I found and would post as "President Bush at the wheel. On the road to victory November 5, 2002 !" And, buddy, was THAT right ! I am elated you used that ! . . .