Vietnam Veteran banned from Arlington National Cemetery

All because of this…

Here is some information about this.

I’ll tell everyone this. I want to know who the hell is in charge of Arlington National Cemetery, the congressman/woman whose district the Cemetery is in, and anyone who is in a six degree of separation of that place. This is an ABOMINATION and needs to be stopped.

What a bunch of fucking BULLSHIT! These Islamists kill and slaughter and perpetrate all manner of evil on the planet and we are supposed to keep our yaps shut and bow and scrape to them? The hell with that.

I want names and titles and I want someone to answer to this veteran as to WHY he cannot visit his kid’s grave.

Hat tip goes out to Jihad Watch…

Happy Birthday to the Leathernecks.

Today is the 233rd birthday of the United States Marine Corps.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God. In the Beginning was God – and all else was darkness, and void, and without form. So God created the heavens and the earth. He created the sun, and the moon, and the stars, so that light might pierce the darkness. And the earth God divided between the land and the sea, and these He filled with many assorted creatures. And the dark, salty, slimy creatures that inhabited the murky depths of the oceans, God called sailors, and He dressed them accordingly.

And the flighty creatures of the air He called airmen. And these He clothed in uniforms which were ruffled and fowl.

And the lower creatures of the land, God called soldiers. And with a twinkle in His eye, and a sense of humor that only He could have, God gave them trousers too short, and covers too large, and pockets to warm their hands. And to adorn their uniforms, God gave them badges. And He gave them cords. And He gave them ribbons… and patches… and stars… and bells. He gave them emblems… and crests… and all sorts of shiny things that glittered… and devices that dangled. When you’re God, you tend to get carried away in a big way.

And on the 7th day, as you know, God rested. And on the 8th day at 0730, God looked down upon the earth and was not happy.

GOD WAS NOT HAPPY.

So He thought about His labors, and in His infinite wisdom, God created a divine creature and this He called a Marine. And these Marines whom God created in His own image, were to be of the air, the land, and the sea. And these He gave many wonderful uniforms.

He gave them practical, fighting uniforms, so that they could wage war against the forces of Satan and evil.

He gave them service uniforms for their daily work and training, that they might be sharp and ready.

And He gave them evening and dress uniforms. Sharp, stylish, handsome things, so they might score with the ladies on Saturday night, and impress the hell outta everybody!

And at the end of the 8th day, God looked down upon the earth, and saw that it was good. But was God happy? No!

GOD WAS STILL NOT HAPPY.

Because in the course of His labors, He had forgotten one thing… He did not have a Marine uniform! But He thought about it, and thought about it, and finally satisfied Himself in knowing that, well, not everybody can be a Marine…

Also, 233 Reasons to Love Your Corps

Hat tip to RTLM and a huge birthday hug from a zoomie.

savage

Obama’s ‘Civilian National Security Force’

Among the many promises and pledges in Barack Obama’s multi-million dollar infomercial, one statement really stood out: he announced that he will “rebuild the military.”

But somehow, at the same time, he’s planning a “civilian national security force” that is as powerful and well-funded as the US military: Obama outlines plan for national service.

“We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we’ve set,” he said Wednesday. “We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded.”

The Department of Defense’s current base budget is close to $500 billion. So if he meant that promise, he plans on a total defense budget of about a trillion dollars.

What exactly is Obama planning to do with a “civilian force” with such an astronomical level of funding?

(hat tip:LGF Cult leader, Charles)

US Attacks Syria in Cross-Border Raid

The US military is fed up with Syria’s open support of Iraqi jihadis, and today they sent helicopters into Syrian territory in a strike targeting a family that has been helping the jihadis get across the border: Syria: US choppers attack village near Iraq border.

DAMASCUS, Syria – U.S. military helicopters attacked territory inside Syria close to its border with Iraq Sunday, killing eight people in a strike the Syrian government condemned as “serious aggression.”

A U.S. military official said the raid by special forces targeted the foreign fighter network that travels through Syria into Iraq in an area where the Americans have been unable to shut it down because it was out of the military’s reach.

“We are taking matters into our own hands,” the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the political sensitivity of cross-border raids.

The attack came just days after the commander of U.S. forces in western Iraq said American troops were redoubling efforts to secure the Syrian border, which he called an “uncontrolled” gateway for fighters entering Iraq.

(hat tip:LGF Cult leader)

Fallen Soldier

I found this on Gulf Coast Pundit.

Just read it all.  Please.

Coming Soon: The Pain Ray

A ray that causes intense pain but (when used as directed) no lasting injury: Army Orders Pain Ray Trucks; New Report Shows ‘Potential for Death’.

After years of testing, the Active Denial System — the pain ray which drives off rioters with a microwave-like beam — could finally have its day. The Army is buying five of the truck-mounted systems for $25 million. But the energy weapon may face new hurdles, before it’s shipped off to the battlefield; a new report details how the supposedly non-lethal blaster could be turned into a flesh-frying killer.

The contract for the pain ray trucks is “expected to be awarded by year’s end,” Aviation Week notes. “A year after the contract is signed, the combination vehicle/weapons will start be fielded at the rate of one per month.”

It’s been a very long time coming. As we’ve previously reported, there have been calls to deploy the Active Denial System in Iraq going back to 2004. But it’s always been delayed for legal, political, and public relations reasons. Anything that might be condemned as torture is political dynamite. Interestingly, the version being bought is not the full-size “Version 2,” but a containerized system known as Silent Guardian, which Raytheon have been trying to sell for some time. They describe Silent Guardian as “roughly 1/3 the size and power of the other Active Denial Systems,” and quote it’s range as “greater than 250 meters.” The larger system has a range somewhere in excess of 700 meters.

(hat tip:Chuckles)

The Obama Campaign’s Veterans’ Scorecard

The Obama campaign is releasing a “scorecard” on the candidates, from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), as proof that veterans should be supporting Obama.

John Lilyea has discovered some interesting things about IAVA—including the fact that a founding member is now the Barack Obama campaign’s Veterans Director: Well! Color me shocked! (is the sarcasm filter on?)

More details:
Why I am cancelling my IAVA membership immediately PART I
Senate to IAVA: I can haz skorecardz 2?

(Hat tip:Chas)

Boston Globe Op-Ed: ‘I Don’t Support the Troops’

Every once in a while a “progressive” gets tired of maintaining a false front, and comes right out and says what they really feel about the military and about America. Today’s self-unmasking is by Steve Almond, for the Boston Globe: Supporting our troops.

PERHAPS the most insidious byproduct of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, has been a reflexive sanctification of the military. To put this in bumper stickerese: Support the Troops.

Well, I have an ugly confession to make: I don’t support the troops – at least not unconditionally. When somebody tells me they serve in the military, my first impulse isn’t to say, “Thank you for your service!” like those insufferable chickenhawks on talk radio.

My first impulse is to say, “I’m sorry to hear that.” Because I am. I’m sorry to know that the person I’m talking to might someday be maimed or killed on the job, or might someday kill someone else. Or refuel a plane that drops bombs on buildings.

I can’t see how anyone who calls himself or herself Christian – or human, for that matter – wouldn’t be sorry.

The fact that we have an army, that we need an army, is inherently tragic. It’s an admission that our species is still ruled by fear and aggression.

(Hat tip:Nancy#LGF)

Pakistan Army Ordered to Retaliate Against US Raids

All this talk flying around about going into Pakistan to chase down Al Qaeda leaders is getting Pakistan’s attention: Pak army to retaliate if US conducts raids.

The Pakistan Army has been ordered to retaliate against any action by foreign troops inside the country, army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said on Friday.

General Abbas’ statement came as top brass of the Pakistan Army in their meeting on second day fully endorsed their chief’s warning that no country would be allowed to violate Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

A press release issued after the 111th Corps Commanders Conference quoted General Ashfaq Kayani as saying that “all elements of the National Power under the new democratic leadership will safeguard the territorial integrity of Pakistan with full support and backing of the people of Pakistan.”

(Hat tip:Nancy@LGF)

Obama Suddenly Remembers: He Almost Joined the Military

He’s never mentioned it before, not even in two autobiographies, but Barack Obama has suddenly remembered that he considered joining the military.

Obama disclosed that he had once considered serving in the military.

“You know, I actually did,” Obama said. “I had to sign up for Selective Service when I graduated from high school. And I was growing up in Hawaii. And I have friends whose parents were in the military. There are a lot of Army, military bases there.

“And I actually always thought of the military as an ennobling and, you know, honorable option. But keep in mind that I graduated in 1979. The Vietnam War had come to an end. We weren’t engaged in an active military conflict at that point. And so, it’s not an option that I ever decided to pursue.”

UPDATE at 9/7/08 9:12:26 am:

Just one problem with Obama’s little story.

Registration for selective service was not reinstated until 1980.

On March 25, 1975, Pres. Gerald Ford signed Proclamation 4360, Terminating Registration Procedures Under Military Selective Service Act, eliminating the registration requirement for all 18-25 year old male citizens. Then on July 2, 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed Proclamation 4771, Registration Under the Military Selective Service Act, retroactively re-establishing the Selective Service registration requirement for all 18-26 year old male citizens born on or after January 1, 1960. Only men born between March 29, 1957, and December 31, 1959, were completely exempt from Selective Service registration. The first registrations after Proclamation 4771 took place on Monday, July 21, 1980, for those men born in January, February and March 1960 at U.S. Post Offices.

(Hat tip:Nancy@LGF)

More Russian Blustering

Via Drudge Report: Russia warns of response to US missile shield.

MOSCOW (AP) – Russia says its response to the further development of a U.S. missile shield in Poland will go beyond diplomacy.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the U.S. missile shield plans are clearly aimed at weakening Russia.

(#1 Contributor Charles @ LGF)

How to Wear Down a Bear

The cease-fire agreement with Georgia is holding for now, but the Russian military is in no hurry to leave. Stuart Koehl has an interesting piece on possible military options for Georgia: The Pain Game.

This invasion has probably eaten deeply into Russian operations and maintenance funding, to say nothing of its war reserve stockpiles of ordnance and equipment. Russia must have bet on a short and fairly bloodless war, because it cannot afford—militarily or politically—a protracted slog. Not only doesn’t it have the equipment to do so, but it doesn’t have enough highly trained troops to sustain heavy casualties. The Russian military consists of a small, diamond-hard point on the end of a wooden stick. If the point shatters or wears down, you are left fighting the stick. (It should be noted that Ralph Peters, writing in the New York Post, has been scathing in his assessment of the Russian army’s performance in Georgia, so by Western standards even the best of the Russian army would be considered rather mediocre).

The question is how to wear it down.

(Hat Tip:Charles)

Russia Threatens to Use Nukes Against Poland

Barack Obama has vowed to cut funding of missile defense systems, and recently pledged to eliminate nuclear weapons from the world because, according to him, we just don’t need them any more:

CHICAGO – Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Tuesday called for ridding the world of nuclear weapons, arguing that U.S. policy is still focused on the defunct Soviet Union instead of combatting the nuclear threat from rogue nations and terrorists.

Today, following the US-Polish agreement on missile defense, Russia is threatening to use nuclear weapons against Poland.

MOSCOW – A top Russian general said Friday that Poland’s agreement to accept a U.S. missile interceptor base exposes the ex-communist nation to attack, possibly by nuclear weapons, the Interfax news agency reported. …

“Poland, by deploying (the system) is exposing itself to a strike — 100 percent,” Nogovitsyn, the deputy chief of staff, was quoted as saying.

He added, in clear reference to the agreement, that Russia’s military doctrine sanctions the use of nuclear weapons “against the allies of countries having nuclear weapons if they in some way help them.” Nogovitsyn that would include elements of strategic deterrence systems, he said, according to Interfax.

(Hat tip: Charles “Stalin” Johnson @ LGF)

US-Poland Missile Defense Pact

The United States and Poland have agreed on a missile defense deal, and according to the Associated Press Russia is “infuriated.”

WARSAW, Poland – Poland and the United States reached an agreement Thursday that will see a battery of American missiles established inside Poland, a plan that has infuriated Russia and raised the specter of an escalation of tension with the region’s communist-era master.

The deal, which was to be signed later Thursday in Warsaw by Poland and the United States, includes what Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called a “mutual commitment” between the two nations — beyond that of NATO — to come to each other’s assistance in case of danger.