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

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[dansangel]

But let's go back to post number 3. Look at all those young men and women listed. Stay Prayed Up.

When you see our President or read about him, Stay Prayed Up.

When you see our nation's flag, Stay Prayed Up.

We may be in for some real Spiritual Warfare in this country - Stay Prayed Up.

Amen and amen ((((((Diver Dave)))))))

As .45MAN has asked - where have these pictures been and why wasn't anything done about the atrocities eons ago? What's with that Brigadier General that she didn't try to stop it?

Yes, we must pray.....

Be back later to comment on John's essay.

[SheLion]

Hi dutchess! Hi Everyone!!! Gorgeous images!!!

[dansangel]

God Bless our wonderful Military.

Please God, allow those that are working within the confines of morality and good judgment and who suffer hardship and sacrifice every day to ensure our freedom, to rise above the scandal and horrible acts of the few.

Please Father, bless our heroic military members past and present and place Your bloodline of protection around them. Bless their families for the painful sacrifices that they, too, must endure.

Allow the press to separate the good from the bad, the evil from the righteous, the lies from the truth instead of lumping all together for the sake of sensationalism. Allow the public the intelligence to see the difference between the two. Allow me the patience to continue to pray rather than pass judgment on the weak....who am I to pass judgment on anyone? I am but a sinner - Your humble and contrite servant - an instrument of Your love and forgiveness.

I ask for these favors from You in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

[The Mayor]

Well said and great presentation.
I will not add to it, this whole thing about torture and humiliation disgusts me....

We must not forget that these people hate us and will do anything they can to kill us.

[dansangel]

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

:-)

[dansangel]

I am such a dork...ping to #23.

[FreeTheHostages]

[Alouette]

Prayer for the Israel Defense Forces

He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Force, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our God from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.

May HASHEM cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighting men from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.

May He lead our enemies under their sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is Hashem, your God, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.

[dansangel]

Thank you (((((Alouette))))) for the beautiful prayer and all that you do to get the word out about the Israeli cause. I have read many of your posts and although I do not comment, I have learned much from you.

May God continue to bless the Israelis, His chosen people.

[Billie]

(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).

This morning, before reading today's Two Cents, and seeing the moving photographs you used to illustrate, Dutchess, I checked on a ping to this thread: PHONY IRAQI ABUSE OUTRAGE SYNDROME . The article posted and the majority of the posts *up to Long Cut's Post #60 and thereafter* were disappointing in that they seemed to condone what these few soldiers did "because the Iraqis have done much worse". There are well over 200 posts, but I read them all, and if you haven't, please take the time and you will see most of our active military Freepers are embarrassed and outraged that the actions of these few are reflecting on our whole military.

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. I pinged way too many to this post, but everyone knows that John's Two Cents are usually very humorous and tongue-in-cheek, but today John has hit a more somber and serious homerun.

[jwfiv]

Thank you, Miss Dutchess, for such a nice delivery of JH2's much needed Two Cents.

Thank you, JH2 ... your words I drink like a cup full of cool, cool water ... blessings on you, my friend.

Good morning to all our Hostesses and all the Finest.

In this wacky world, both Israel and America are roundly condemned for defending themselves against insane terrorists bent on a campaign of murder, both frenzied and coldly calculated.

The only thing that will make the Left and the Izlamiks happy is our defeat.

We shall not, will not surrender.

jwfiv, prayered up.

[philman_36]

Can I get you to add my two nephews to the list? Air Force and Army. They chose not to go the Navy/Marine route, like 95% of our family did going back to WWII, but it is their choice.

[martin_fierro]

Make your own license plate here (without going to prison!)

[Billie]

That picture is one of many that shows the kind of man we have for President of the United States of America. Yet, we know what a tough battle lies before us in these next few months, making sure the media isn't successful in unseating him. Lord knows they tried their best in 2000 to prevent him from winning, and they never miss an opportunity to portray him in the worst possible way. How wonderful it would be to have an even playing field with the democrats.

[GailA]

This is one very moving photo. I hope she gets it blown up and framed.

[dutchess]

If I am correct the picture you posted of our president was taken the other day when GW was in Cincinnati at a campaign rally. The young girls mother was killed in the World Trade Center. The father has been all over the radio this morning. Apparantly GW was "working the crowd" when someone told him about the young girl. He went out of his way to get to her (no cameras, dad took the picture and submitted it to the newspaper)...asked how she was doing and embraced her. The father said he saw our president "transform" from politics mode to a father and husband. He further said he has become somewhat cynical about politics but realized at that moment that we have "the real deal". Thanks for posting the picture. God bless our president.

[Pippin]

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!"

[jwfiv]

Yes, that's right ... thanks to The Mayor for the mega-ping to that thread.

I had tears for breakfast this morning, after reading that article.

[Pippin]

Someone wrote on the thread about the story that the President had already passedd the girl when her father said : Her mother died on 9/11!

President Bush turned back to her and her father.

That's what I like about him, he went back.

[Temple Owl]

Thanks dutchess and john for another marvelous post. Good afternoon to all FReepers everywhere.