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A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....02-13-03...Make Whine, Not War!
JohnHuang2; Dutchess; Billie | JohnHuang2

Posted on 02/13/2003 5:51:38 AM PST by Billie




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.




                     









Make Whine, Not War!

by JohnHuang2
Eager to show just how loyal NATO allies they can be, France, Germany and Belgium Monday blocked NATO preparations to defend Turkey from Iraq attacks in the lead-up to possible military action to remove Saddam.

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


In Washington, Defense Sec. Donald Rumsfeld announced that preparations will move ahead as planned, despite vociferous objections from unquestioningly loyal and trustworthy allies France, Germany and Belgium.
Turkey, fellow NATO member which borders Iraq, has requested anti-missile defenses, aerial surveillance and chem-bio dectection gear in the silly and preposterous belief that the Butcher-of-Baghdad, an uncompromising voice for human rights who's won outspoken praise for his life-long work from Cuba, Libya, France, Germany and North Korea, would jeopardize his status as the world's undisputed champion of humanity by raining down chemical and biological horrors on his neighbor to the north. In any event, Baghdad and U.S. Democrats maintain president Saddam has no such weapons, and even if he did, he'd never ever use them, even though he has, but he really didn't mean it, and Reagan made him do it -- anyway, *mistakes were made* and he's already apologized and promised never ever to do again . . . until he does. That is, unless provoked by bully Bush!

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


"Nothing today justifies a war," declared brave French president Jacques Chirac in Paris Monday, visiting Russian president Vladimir Putin at his side. "Make whine not war!" he pleaded, whining.
Chirac, staunch U.S. ally who speaks for all of Europe (Helen Thomas and Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon say the 18 European countries pledging full support for Bush on Iraq aren't European enough) denounced U.S. aggression, again branding as ridiculous the notion that U.N. resolutions calling on Saddam to disarm mean Saddam should disarm and other some such nonsense.
Chirac defended his decision to block military aid to Turkey, asserting that Turkey, a Muslim country, isn't Muslim enough. "Iraq -- that's is an Arab country, therefore Iraq is more Muslim than Turkey, which is in Europe," he explained. Tempers flared after a reporter asked how he'd rate Iran, which is neither European nor Arab, but very Muslim. "That question, like cowboy Bush, is beneath me!" he belched, hissy fitting.
Chirac's biggest problem with Bush, of course, is that Bush doesn't sport a square mustache, doesn't raise his arm in salute and doesn't wear swastika arm bands.
To the French and the Democrats, war is the "worst possible outcome" because both know what that *outcome* would be: U.S. victory. In other words, the wrong side would prevail. To our very, very, very loyal "ally" France, U.S. victory in Baghdad is an unacceptable outcome; for very, very, very "patriotic" Dems trying to unseat Bush come '04, war without the hope of massive U.S. casualties is no hope at all, period.

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


Meanwhile, chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix emerged upbeat after a weekend of negotiations he insists were not negotiations with cronies of Saddam. Hans Blix called the negotiations "very substantial," while sidekick Mohamed ElBaradei, head of I.A.E.A, said he sensed a "change of heart" in Saddam as Iraqi officials forked over reams of documents with "VX nerve gas" and "Anthrax" scrawled on the covers. A closer examination, however, showed the documents to be mostly angry New York Times editorials opposing the removal of Saddam. The rest were copies of a recent National Press Club speech by Tommy Daschle and Nancy Pelosi, Saddam's patriotic image makers, who challenged bully Bush to show proof that president Saddam and Tariq Aziz are lying.
Despite Blix and ElBaradei's upbeat assessment, Saddam refused to relent on one point, namely, allow the use of American U-2 surveillance flights to aid inspections, a key U.S. demand. Late Monday, Saddam reversed course, acceding to U-2 overflights without conditions though on one condition: No 'no-fly-zone' air raids during U-2 surveillance flights.
Iraq, in a letter Monday to U.N. inspectors, promised even further cooperation, pledging legislation, as early as next week, making possession of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq illegal! Sara Brady, Chair of the Center To Prevent The Spread Of Weapons of Mass Destruction By Helping Rogue Genocidal Dictators Draft Legislation That We Know They'll Obey When Passed And Even If They Don't At Least We Stopped Bush's Blood-For-Oil War! (C.T.P.T.S.O.W.O.M.D.B.H.R.G.D.
D.L.T.W.K.T.O.W.P.A. E.I.T.D.A.L.W.S.B.B.F.O.W.) has offered help in drafting the landmark legislation.
"We will spare no effort in this war on Weapons of Mass Destruction," Saddam declared in a live televised address, reiterating, however, that Iraq possesses no such weapons. In a further blow to warmongers in Washington, senior Iraqi officials indicated the government will run full public service announcements (PSAs) as part of its campaign to rid Iraq of Weapons of Mass Destruction which it doesn't have. "Keep your brain healthy. Don't use Anthrax," warns one ad. "Botulism can close the door on your future," declares another. And in yet another ad, eggs are frying in a pan, as the announcer says, "This is your brain. This is your brain on VX nerve gas. Any questions?"
"How's that for an 'air campaign?'," mocked one senior Iraqi official.
Meanwhile, France and Germany continued work on their proposal for more weapons inspectors in Iraq -- the Franco-German plan, first reported by Germany's Der Spiegel magazine over the weekend.
Saddam is more than eager to cooperate, say the Germans and the French. But to do that, the dictator needs more weapons inspectors, you see. Saddam is dying, dying to cooperate, if only evil Bush would let him!

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


"Bush should read Laura Doyle's latest book, 'The Surrendered Nation: A practical Guide to Finding intimacy, passion and peace with dictators,'" remarked one senior French official. The book, published by Vichy University press, tops the best-seller list in France. It's received a flurry of rave reviews.
"As a practical guide to improving your appeasement, Doyle wrote the book!" gushed the respected Le Monde.
"All the helpful tips you'll ever need to sweeten your life of appeasement -- in one cover!" declared Le Figaro.

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


On the homefront, Democrats, who have sharply criticized Bush policy in Afghanistan, alleging the central government in Kabul is too weak, that the north and south are basically ungovernable, insisted this week that Saddam must be kept in power because the central government in Baghdad is too weak, that the north and south are basically ungovernable, therefore, nothing to fear.
For Democrats, the only break this week was the apparent re-emergence of Osama Tuesday.
But even that was short-lived.
While Democrats heaved a sigh of relief that old binny was safe and sound, the succor dissolved after learning what the voice on that new audiotape, aired by Al-Jazeera, would be saying: Hey, I'm against this war, too!
If "anti-war" activists needed a leading spokesman, they had one now.
For Democrats, it was their worst nightmare come true.
On the tape, bin Laden pledged common cause with Saddam Hussein, exhorting the Iraqi people to battle the infidel invaders through homicide bombings and other means. Osama, striking a favorite Democrat theme, called war on Iraq a war on Islam itself.
In just 16 minutes, Osama exploded a myth the media and the Democrats nourished diligently for 16 painstaking months: The oil and water theory -- Osama and Saddam don't mixed.
Predictably, almost immediately after the airing, CNN scrambled to 'splain that what you heard wasn't really what you heard, that Osama really didn't mean it, that just because Osama and Saddam are in cahoots doesn't mean Osama and Saddam are in cahoots.
Look, Saddam may not be thrilled with America, but it's not like he hates us or anything, nor would he mean us any harm, explains non-biased and completely objective CNN.
The only question remaining is this: Will the Baghdad/al-Qaeda link, now proven, force Democrats to back the U.S. and move away from the Franco-German alliance?
Don't bet the farm.
Undeterred, a group of 65 "anti-war" protesters traveled to Baghdad Tuesday, arriving in a double-decker bus caravan, ready to form a "human shield" around Saddam and the al-Qaeda network if war breaks out. Scrawled across the front the busses: "Not In Our Name," a coalition of anti-U.S. liberals whose petition appeared recently in 45 newspapers across America. Thus far, more than 50,000 Hollywood Democrats, Leftist "artists" and Democrat "intellectuals" have signed the petition.
Meanwhile, Sen. Tommy Daschle, who in the past has blasted the White House for raising the threat level without specific instructions on what steps the public should take in response, Tuesday blasted the White House for providing specific instructions on what steps the public should take after raising the threat level Friday.
The public was urged to stock up on food, batteries, water, radios, duct tape, etc.
Democrats even hinted the White House probably fabricated the latest Osama tape to whip up war ferver by making it look like Osama and Saddam are in cahoots.
"No one could explain," writes liberal Marc Sandalow in this morning's San Francisco Chronicle, "how Powell was able to tell the Senate Budget Committee about the contents of the bin Laden tape -- and Al-Jazeera's intention to play it -- hours before the Qatar network broadcast it. In fact, just after Powell finished speaking at about 8 a.m. PST, the network denied being aware of the tape's existence. It played about four hours later."
But the plot thickens: "[CIA Director George] Tenet said he had become aware of the tape Monday night but was not aware of its contents Tuesday morning, adding to the mystery over its origin."
(Psst! See? The tape was made in the White House, I tell ya! The voice was that of Karl Rove! Shhhhhhhh!)
More Sandalow paranoia: "Peppered with questions, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said Powell's information was solid, but he would not divulge how the administration was aware of the tape's contents. Fleischer defended Powell's mention of the tape, saying: 'I think you could easily make the case if we are aware of something like this, and we didn't say anything about it, your questions would be: 'Why aren't you saying something? Are you trying to hide something?''"
Think Democrats are wacky now? Ha! If past is prologue, you ain't seen nothing yet, folks.
Anyway, that's...
My two cents..










THIS WEEK'S THREADS

02-10-03 OhioWFan
02-11-03 Ladtx Essay
02-12-03 Bert

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

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer




TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: binladen; freepers; fun; iraq; military; patriotic; saddam; surprises; veterans; war
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To: Temple Owl
Good morning to you, Mr. Owl!
21 posted on 02/13/2003 7:02:04 AM PST by Billie
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To: ofMagog; lonestar; Budge
Mornin', y'all :^)
22 posted on 02/13/2003 7:02:33 AM PST by JohnHuang2 (God Bless our brave men and women in uniform)
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To: FreeTheHostages
Good morning, Free - sweet calendar page today, huh?
23 posted on 02/13/2003 7:07:25 AM PST by Billie
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To: ofMagog
Aye, aye, Cap'n! Wonderful to see you here today! I'll volunteer to watch for the rainbow, so we'll know when we get there. :)
24 posted on 02/13/2003 7:09:34 AM PST by Billie
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To: Aeronaut
Morning, Aeronaut. Hope you're feeling chipper this morning!
25 posted on 02/13/2003 7:10:25 AM PST by Billie
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To: JohnHuang2; Billie
I'm kinda speechless on your post today because, well, the French have me completely tongue-tied.

The truth is that I feel so inferior to them because I do not speak well that I am loathe to tolerate any criticism of those fiercely loyal allies. I am not worthy.

I have world television cable on occassion here in DC -- channel 4. I saw a French news broadcast right after Colin Powell spoke, broadcast in French with an English translator voice overlay. The French broadcast begins by saying Secretary Powell misled the UN by holding a vial of what appeared to be anthrax to make a point, but that further investigation by those clever French reporters showed that it was not in fact anthrax. (The French listener didn't get to hear Powell's voice translated into their most venerable language and thus couldn't know that Powell was holding up the vial to show how small smuggled biological or chemical weapons could be and was not claiming it was anthrax.)

After that *one angel* on Secretary Powell's speech, the next news topic was -- wa laaa! -- the publication of a *new* French dictionary. Yes, indeedy. More news about the language.

Ah, it must feel so good to be as blindly excited about France as the French are.
26 posted on 02/13/2003 7:12:02 AM PST by FreeTheHostages
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To: Mixer
Hi, Mix - thanks for sharing the "thumbs up" story! They have to be pleased to know they're appreciated, and proud to work for this Commander in Chief!
27 posted on 02/13/2003 7:12:44 AM PST by Billie
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To: kayak
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
28 posted on 02/13/2003 7:12:46 AM PST by FreeTheHostages
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To: Billie; All
Good morning everyone (-:
29 posted on 02/13/2003 7:12:58 AM PST by firewalk
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Comment #30 Removed by Moderator

To: JohnHuang2; dutchess
Hi, John - thanks! Dutchess gets such a kick out of finding these photos for your essays and really does a great job picking them! Didn't even use half of those she saved for this one - there were so many ways to go! - but know they'll find their way in future essays. :)
31 posted on 02/13/2003 7:16:03 AM PST by Billie
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To: humblegunner
Ready for duty, Cap'n.. I'll need to hit a gun show or two first...

Morning, gunner. Hmmmm, holdup of a gun show! Interesting! :)

32 posted on 02/13/2003 7:26:47 AM PST by Billie
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To: Billie
holdup of a gun show! Interesting! :)

Morning! Maybe I need to work on my phrasing...

33 posted on 02/13/2003 7:31:28 AM PST by humblegunner (Primates capitulards et toujours en quĂȘte de fromages.)
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To: Billie; JohnHuang2
Good morning Billie. Great job today...and sure was nice sleeping through the night LOL!

John...another great essay from our favorite resident author. You are the best!
34 posted on 02/13/2003 7:32:18 AM PST by dutchess (Boycott french wine and cheese)
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To: deadhead; daisyscarlett; dansangel; dutchess; Mama_Bear; ladtx
Billie, please add my cousin to your list, active duty. He was deployed last week, flew over. My Prayers are with him and my Prayers are with all our Troops.

Good morning, Colleen, prayers for your cousin; he has been added to my list and pinging the other Sistahs to add him to theirs. God Bless all our men and women over there.

Ladtx, I read where your middle son just got his orders. All of you with loved ones now deployed are in our hearts, our thoughts, our prayers.

35 posted on 02/13/2003 7:33:27 AM PST by Billie
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To: Budge
Good morning to our first Finest FReeper of 2003. :)
36 posted on 02/13/2003 7:34:43 AM PST by Billie
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To: lonestar
LOL! Hi, lonestar!
37 posted on 02/13/2003 7:35:20 AM PST by Billie
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To: GailA; FreeTheHostages
As always the coffee is appreciated GailA.

Free...love the calendar today (and your description of the french reaction to Powells speech LOL) Stay safe girl...
38 posted on 02/13/2003 7:35:21 AM PST by dutchess (Boycott french wine and cheese)
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To: Temple Owl; Aeronaut
Goodmorning Temple and aeronaut. See you made it bright and early again today!
39 posted on 02/13/2003 7:36:54 AM PST by dutchess (Boycott french wine and cheese)
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To: FreeTheHostages
Ah, it must feel so good to be as blindly excited about France as the French are.

Great post, Free!

40 posted on 02/13/2003 7:38:18 AM PST by Billie
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