USO Canteen FReeper FRiday.......June 21,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

We are honored to introduce to you
G'nad

...."My mom always said she wasn't surprised I wanted to be a Marine...I still love scars and bruises...I acquired quite a collection over the years...

Newly commissioned, boot 2ndLt g'nad......

1stLt and Mrs. g'nad headed for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. She's my best friend...my reality check...God has blessed me with her.

Above and Below...Desert Storm, cleaned up afterwards ... somewhere in Kuwait.......

Reunion with Mrs. g'nad, this photo ran in the OkiMar Edition of Stars and Stripes.......

On the range at 29 Palms with a buddy, our custom rifles, and M-14s...Life is good!.......

Winter warfare training with some of my Marines at the Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, CA. I'm the one standing far left. This was with 2d Marine Regiment... my best time, and my best Marines.......

The family as of Nov '01. Rebecca, Mrs. g'nad, Jake and me on the beach at Emerald Isle, NC.

I knew I wanted to be a Marine since I was three-years-old. I signed my Delayed Entry Program papers in Oct of my senior year, but in December the Officer Selection Officer (OSO) asked me if I wanted to try for an NROTC Scholarship. I never had any intention of being an officer, and my family was too poor for me to even consider college. I was accepted and attended Iowa State University and OCS, and was commissioned. I owe the Marine Corps a great debt.

. Still on active duty as a Major at Headquarters Marine Corps...my first desk job, and it's killin' me...

Been a lot of places, seen a lot of things... some bad, some good. But I have always served with the finest of men, Marines.

I trust in Jesus as my Lord and Savior...I believe in Duty, Honor, Sacrifice, Integrity...

I believe that there is no substitute for hard work... that pain is a good thing...if no one's shooting at you, there is nothing to stress about...oh yes, and beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy...

Die first, then quit.......

G'nad

Thank you G’nad for serving our country and for sharing with us here at the FReeper USO Canteen. It is an honor and blessing to know you.

[RadioAstronomer]

Agreed!!! Well done,Major G'nad!

[MeekOneGOP]

You have lovely day, too, my little Princess!

[MeekOneGOP]

Please allow me to showcase your commentary from this morning, JH2! Excellent, as usual!

What Arafat Really Wants
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/703605/posts

To hear CNN tell it, Yasser Arafat is a man of peace. A pacifist. In no way is he a terrorist. His motives are purely benevolent, bighearted, unselfish, benign. And well-intentioned. His struggle is humanitarian: The establishment of a "Palestinian" homeland. Winner of the Nobel Peace prize, the 'mild-mannered' Arafat believes fervently in peaceful co-existence with Israel, side-by-side -- the 'two-state' "solution".

If you believe that -- great: I've got a couple of nuclear subs docked near Phoenix, Arizona to sell you.

But this hooey isn't just CNN, unfortunately. In fact, it's 'Conventional Wisdom', or what passes for it in Washington. Dissenters are tarred and feathered as "extremists", "pro-occupation"; tow the line, or get branded a "warmonger", a "fascist" -- or just plain stupid.

As a spawning ground for myth, the Mideast is matchless.

The biggest myth of all: The balderdash that Arafat's goal -- his only goal -- is a "Palestinian" state.

It isn't. It's never been.

Proof?

Two years ago, Israel offered it on a platter. Clinton puppet Ehud Barak, then Israel's Prime Minister, bent over backwards; he begged and pleaded with Arafat: Please, please, Mr. Chairman, sign-off on the deal.

Under pressure from Clinton (who yearned for a legacy -- any legacy, but Monica), Barak went farther -- much farther -- than any of his predecessors would ever dare go. It was the most generous offer, ever. The plan gave "Palestinians" 95% of what they said they wanted: Self-government, sovereignty, contiguous borders -- the works.

The offer was rejected. Arafat walked away. Barak wanted peace at any price: Israel was rewarded with waves of homicide bombings -- planned by and paid for by Arafat.

That's the legacy of Camp David II.

To Arafat, the offer, generous as it was, didn't go quite far enough. Nothing short of total surrender by Israel would suffice. Arafat didn't want a deal, but a suicide pact -- from Israel.

Truth is, Arafat's real goal isn't peace, but genocide; he yearns, he craves, he longs for a sequel to Hitler --- another Holocaust. A fervid Arab Nazi, Arafat dreams of playing star role in this sequel. Upon the ruins of Israel, Arafat hopes to build a 'Jew-free-Zone -- his very own dream "state".

This is the media's dirty little secret. Thinking of Arafat as a Jew-hating Nazi doesn't sit well with CNN, nor like-minded elitists, for that matter.

Yet, that's precisely what he is. Among Adolf Arafat and his brownshirts, hatred of Jews is as rabid, as raging, as frenzied, as vehement, as violent as was Hitler's and associates. On anti-Semitism, the Third Reich had nothing on Fatah, Arafat's Murder Inc.

To Arafat, killing Jews isn't just a tactic; it's an ideology; slaughtering and butchering Jews isn't work, but pleasure; waves of homicide bombings brings waves of excitement, of joy, of pleasure, of sheer delight.

For Adolf Arafat, the only good Jew is a dead Jew.

Here's another myth: The notion President Bush believes a "Palestinian" state is possible under Arafat and co.

He doesn't. He never has.

Bush is no fool -- he knows what Arafat is after: The total extermination of Jews, not geographical realignment with Israel. Bush knows were that the case, Barak's offer would not have been rejected.

In Big Media, Arafat is cast as a burning idealist, a quixotic benevolent, a visionary who only wants peace with Israel; crusty at times, yes, but deep down, he's a peace-maker. Israel is portrayed as a militant, fascist regime, riding roughshod over the "Palestinian" people. In this media fable, Arafat is "victim", not terrorist. The "real" terrorist is Ariel Sharon.

Yet, ask yourself this: How many times has Arafat been invited to the White House? (Hint, hint).

In contrast, Sharon is a frequent visitor.

The White House, by all indications, is preparing a searing indictment of Arafat for its upcoming address on Mideast policy.

Bush's speech will be scathing, biting, stinging. Arafat will be raked over the coals, as he should be.

In a hint of what's to come, White House spokesman Ari Fleishcher Tuesday bluntly said that "The President has not seen anything yet from Yasser Arafat that gives the President confidence that...Arafat is the man who will take...[the necessary steps]".

The world again will be reminded that America stands foursquare with Israel. This will no doubt touch off a global conniption.

But el hombre de Tejas could care less.

"The President understands Israel has a right to defend herself", said Fleishcher.

Any questions?

Anyway, that's....

My two cents....
"JohnHuang2"

[tomkow6]

Good morning, everybody!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

[MeekOneGOP]

Food for thought regarding yesterday's SCOTUS ruling
that bans executing the mentally retarded (post #41):

SCOTUS Bans Executing Mentally Retarded
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/703352/posts?page=41#41

Excerpt:

On August 16, 1996, Daryl Renard Atkins and his friend, William Jones, were smoking pot and drinking beer at Atkins' house when they ran out of beer. They went to a convenience store to buy some more beer, only to discover that they didn't have enough money. Atkins volunteered to panhandle in the store's parking lot to get the extra money. Eric Nesbitt happened to walk into this situation. Atkins asked Nesbitt for some money to buy more beer. Nesbitt declined Atkins' request.

Too bad ... Atkins REALLY needed beer -- REALLY NEEDED BEER -- and so the only solution was to kill Nesbitt and take his money ... Less than ideal for Nesbitt, but Atkins got his beer and that's what is important ...

When the police came by to arrest him, Atkins tried to frame Jones. The mean-spirited Virginia prosecutors used this point in painting Atkins as more than just a threat to the public ... that, in their words, he was not only "dangerous," but "vile" ... ("Vile" ... What a mean thing to say !!!!) ...

< snip >

* Eric Nesbitt was a 21 year old airman stationed at Langley Air Force Base (So the bishops score a double victory : Saving Atkins and removing a cog from the evil war machine)

* Atkins shot Nesbitt eight times (Guess when you are mentally retarded, you don't know that one or two bullets are enough)

* When Nesbitt refused to give him money, a frustrated Atkins smashed a bottle over Nesbitt's head. Going through Nesbitt's wallet, Atkins was angered that there was only $60. Atkins and his drinking buddy, William Jones, hustled Nesbitt back into his car and took his keys. Abducting Nesbitt, they lead him at gun point to an ATM machine and forced him to withdraw an additional $200 in beer money.

* This wasn't Atkins' first run in with the law. Though only 18 years old, Atkins Atkins had at 18 prior felony convictions for such crimes as attempted robbery, robbery, carjacking, abduction, breaking and entering with the intent to commit larceny, grand larceny, maiming, and use of a firearm. Why wasn't Atkins rotting in jail ??? He was a minor and promised to reform.

* Once, for no reason the courts could determine, Atkins shot a woman through the stomach. Kids do the DARNDEST things ... Just ask Art Linkletter !!!!

* Atkins claimed the gun that was used on Nesbitt wasn't his ... A friend named "Mark," whose last name he didn't know and whose address he didn't know, asked him to hold it for the night ... "Mark," said he was going to pick the gun up in the morning, but Atkins now realized that "Mark" was trying to frame him for Nesbitt's murder.

* OPPS !!! --- The camera foottage from the ATM shows Atkins and Jones holding the gun to Nesbitt's head as Nesbitt withdraws the money. "Mark" nowhere to be seen ...

* Jones admits they killed Nesbitt because they worried that Nesbitt would be able to identify them. Jones wanted to just tie up Nesbitt and leave him in a field to die of starvation and exposure. Atkins thought Jones's plan was stupid (Retarded???), but agreed.

* Atkins knew the prefect place -- his grandfather's house out in the woods! When questioned by the police, Atkins could not explain how "Mark" knew about Atkins' grandfather's farmhouse. That "Mark" is a criminal mastermind !!!

* According to Jones, Nesbitt begged that they could take whatever he had as long as they don't kill him. Jones thought that all three had come to an understanding that Nesbitt would be tied up and left in a field, but that if he managed to survive, he would not testify against Atkins or Jones. The pair took "no more than two steps" away from Nesbitt when Atkins turned around and repeatedly shot him in the stomach (AGAIN WITH THE STOMACH !!!) ... Jones, trying to stop him, grabs Atkins, causing him to accidently shoot himself in the leg.

* Atkins and Jones get back into Nesbitt's car and Jones drives the cursing, bleeding Atkins to the hospital and, after splitting the money, dumps him there.

* Having to explain his gunshoot at the hospital emergency room, Atkins claimed it was a freak accident, but there were also signs of some kind of fight or struggle. Since it was a gunshot, as routine proceedure, the hospital notified the police, creating a chain of evidence that eventually convicted Atkins.

* The Virginia court was aware that Atkins was a little dim, but their standard was "can he tell right from wrong." A battery of psychologists concluded that he could.

* Jones got one-life sentence + 3 years for his role in Nesbitt's murder. Jones was orginally charged with three life sentences and possible execution, but the DA reduced it to one life sentence and removed the possibility of execution in exchange for Jones' testimony. The extra 3 is for illegal possession of a firearm.

---

From post #46:

Someone in the DC area should stand out in front of the Supreme Court with a sign that says "YOU'RE RETARDED."

I would be willing to bet that Scalia, Rehnquist and Thomas (the 3 in the 6-3
decision) would be willing to lead that rally!

[Iowa Granny]

Good Morning Folks! Coffee is being served in the canteen. There are some Blueberry muffins on the counter to tide you over until breakfast is served.

SB, a wonderful tribute to G'nad. I stand in awe of the young people who have/are devoting their lives to protecting our country.

G'nad,, I had no idea you were a part of the Welsh Ave. crowd. "Go Clones".

[Pippin]

ooohhhh!!!!!!

You is so BAAAAAAAD!!!! LOL

GOOD MORNING,TOM!

HAPPY FRIDAY! To you too!

Now put your burka on! (please!)

[JustAmy]

Thanks for the thread, Bunny

G'nad: Thank you for sharing and thank you so much for your service to our country. You are truly appreciated. God Bless You!

God Bless and Protect our Military!
God Bless America!

[g'nad]

I had no idea you were a part of the Welsh Ave. crowd. "Go Clones".

Yeah, I was a Welch Ave crawler... Lived in the towers my freshman year, then moved out into a house in town where I could live off the land... I knew enough locals that were generous enough to let me hunt their land that I was able to augment my diet with alot of fish and game...Cy's Roost rules!!! Thank you IG.

[Pippin]

Good Morning to you both!

G'nad: Thank you for your service and dedication to our country. Semper Fi!

[g'nad]

Thank you ma'am. You are too kind. Thanks for all your service to our Armed Forces. God bless ya!

Thanks for not posting any incriminating evidence!!!

[Severa]

Good morning from VA Beach!

Beautiful weather here again today, now if it would just friggin RAIN...*L* I know the Langely Air Show is this weekend but we need the rain here soon!

Had a minor scare with my mom. She was rushed to the hospital Wed night with appendicitis. She had surgery that night and *scratches head in disbelief* was back home the next afternoon. Other than being a bit sore, she's ok, I talked to her on the phone last night. She got to hear her oldest grandson sing his ABCs *S* I'm sure that helped a lot.

Heard from the hubby yesterday too. He's doing fine. He'll be home in time for the 4th of July.

Have a great day everyone!

[Scuttlebutt]

Still on active duty as a Major at Headquarters Marine Corps...my first desk job, and it's killin' me...

Just consider it as the best way to get your tickets punched, Major…staff duty is good training. It could be worse,they might have put you at "8th &I". ;-)

[ladtx]

Good morning to all from deep in the heart of the Metroplex.

Thanks for your service g'nad. I know that is never said enough to our servicemen. Looks like you are enjoying your service and that's the way it should be, I know I enjoyed mine.

SCOUTS OUT!

[MeekOneGOP]

Should Colin Powell decide to step down and if Netanyahu doesn't win the election
I would love to see him take Powell's place!

Three Key Principles in the War Against Terrorism - Netanyahu

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/693346/posts

Excerpt:

The United States is well on its way to winning the war against terrorism because the United States, under President Bush, has espoused three clear principles.

The first principle is moral clarity. President Bush said in his remarkable speech right after September 11 that there are no good terrorists, only bad terrorists -- that terrorism is always evil. In saying this, he was saying that nothing justifies terrorism. It is important to state this point clearly and to elaborate on it, because the main weapon that terrorists use against the West is not bombs or guns, but moral obfuscation: "You're terrorists, because you kill civilians, too. America, Britain, Israel -- all are terrorist states." We must harden ourselves against this amoral and debilitating charge.

Terrorism is not defined by the identity of its perpetrator. Nor is it defined by the cause, real or imagined, that its perpetrators espouse. Terrorism is defined by one thing and one thing alone. It is defined by the nature of the act. Terrorists systematically and deliberately attack the innocent. That is a very different thing from the unintentional civilian casualties that often accompany legitimate acts of war.

For example, in 1944 the British Air Force set out to bomb the Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen. The British pilots missed, and instead of hitting the Gestapo they hit a hospital and killed 83 children and four nuns. That was not terrorism. That did not make Britain a terrorist state. That was a terrible but unintentional accident of the kind that accompanies every war. But terrorists don't accidentally kill civilians. The deaths of innocents are not an unintentional byproduct of their strategy. Terrorists deliberately target the innocent. They intentionally cross the lines that define the conventions of war that have been developed, in accordance with basic morality, to try to limit and regulate conflict. They willfully try to kill as many innocent civilians as they can. And this is never justified, regardless of the cause.

Going back to World War II, consider this hypothetical: You're an American officer. You're fighting for the most just cause in history. But you come into a German village -- maybe even a village next to a concentration camp -- and you line up the women and children in that village and kill them with a machine gun. You have committed an act of terrorism. You have committed a war crime and you will be judged guilty and executed, and properly so. Not even the most just cause can justify terrorism. It is always illegitimate, always criminal.

Allow me to add one other observation -- I think an important one -- on this point. It is not merely that the goals of terrorists do not justify their means. In addition, the means that terrorists use tell us something about their real goals. We can see this very simply by looking at what happens when terrorists come to power. They don't establish free societies. They don't establish governments that respect human rights. They establish dictatorships that trample human rights. It's the same whether we look at Cuba or at Iran or at Libya or at Afghanistan under the Taliban. Terrorist movements may talk about fighting for democracy and freedom, but if they're in the business of terror, you can bet they plan, when they come to power, to grind human rights into the dust.

[Pippin]

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY!!!

If I forgot to ping anyone, It was by accident. This post is meant for you too.

Hope you all have a blessed day.

God bless the canteen regulars and lurkers!

God bless our troops and veterans!

God Bless President Bush!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

LET'S ROLL!!!

[The Mayor]

Netanyahu has to win the election it is the only way to get things back on track.
I wish Powell would just step down.

[lodwick]

Great to get to know you G'nad - thanks Snow Bunny.

[SassyMom]

Thank you so much for serving our country. Thanks for making this a wonderful Freeper Friday.