Blackwater? Black deeds...

I found this this morning at Walk of the Fallen. It's a must see. As a United States Marine, it makes me sick to my stomach. I may, we may, have to fight these people some day and it breaks my heart to think I might have to take up arms against fellow Marines, but they made their choice...

Hat tip gratefully given to Walk of the Fallen.

d.

Happy Birthday Marines!

234 years of service to the United States of America






Mess With The Best...Die Like The Rest






HAPPY 234th BIRTHDAY TO ALL MY BROTHER AND SISTER MARINES!

SEMPER FIDELIS!

d.

Brother Mike The Marine has an excellent video up at his place. One he did himself. Definitely worth a look. Go wish him a Happy Birthday!

From The Halls To The Shores

On Tuesday, November 10, 2009, the United States Marine Corps will celebrate it's 234th Birthday. For 234 years, United States Marines have been defending and protecting each other and the citizens of the United States and her allies. In recognition of this event, I will be posting videos and tributes to the Corps. As one young fellow once said, "Becoming a Marine is the proudest achievement in my life." Forty years later, I still feel that way. For my Brothers and Sisters, Semper Fi! For everyone-else, we have always been, are now, and will always be, there to protect and defend you! Here is a little slice of what it means to be a United States Marine! OohRah!

d.

Julian Brennan - An Ethical Warrior

In many ways, he was your typical twenty-something Park Slope resident, hanging out at the local bars and aspiring to be a successful actor. But Marine Lance Cpl. Julian T. Brennan, 25, also felt a calling larger than himself. He made the ultimate sacrifice Jan. 24, when a roadside bomb took his life while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan.

Billy said his son was really happy with his choice of joining the Marines, and that modern communication systems enabled him to talk to his son fairly regularly from Afghanistan.

“He voted for Obama and talked to my wife on Inauguration Day. He talked with compassion about the folks in Afghanistan. He could understand the resentment that locals had about any outside forces in their country. He was a happy, ethical warrior,” said his father.

From: Brooklyn Marine dies - Julian T. Brennan was 25

By: Stephen Witt


>

The Final Inspection

The Marine stood and faced his God

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining

Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, oh, Devil-Dog,

How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek?

To My Church have you been true?"

The Jarhead squared his shoulders... said,

"No, Lord, I guess I ain't,

'cause those of us who carry guns

Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays

And at times my talk was tough,

And sometimes I've been violent,

'cause the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny

That wasn't mine to keep...

Though I worked a lot of overtime

When the bills just got too steep,

And I never passed a cry for help,

Though at times I shook with fear,

And sometimes, God forgive me,

I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place

Among the people here,

They never wanted me around

Except to calm their fear.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,

It needn't be so grand,

I never expected or had too much,

So if you don't, I'll understand."

A silence fell all 'round the throne

Where Saints had often trod,

As the Marine awaited quietly,

The judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, My Fine Marine,

You've borne your burdens well,

Walk your post on Heaven's streets,

You've served your time in Hell."

Saepius Exertas, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas

Sleep in Peace, Brother.

d.

All Gave Some...Some Gave All

(I am once again re-posting this Tribute...because I just can't say it any better...) This is a post from Veteran's Day last year. I have reposted it, with some modifications, because I think it says it all. While the video and song below relate to a particularly bloody battle fought by the United States Army's 173rd Airborne, the message relates to all who have given their lives in service to the United States of America, whether it be 1945, 1965 or 5 minutes ago on a debris littered street in Baghdad.



Today I would like to put politics aside and honor the Warriors.

The Sentinels Creed

My dedication to this sacred duty is total and wholehearted.
In the responsibility bestowed on me never will I falter.
And with dignity and perseverance my standard will remain perfection.
Through the years of diligence and praise and the discomfort of the elements,
I will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my ability.
It is he who commands the respect I protect.
His bravery that made us so proud.
Surrounded by well meaning crowds by day alone in the thoughtful peace of night,
this soldier will in honored glory rest under my eternal vigilance.

Poster courtesy United States Army. Image and Sentinels Creed courtesy Arlington National Cemetery

This is for Jerry Maguire.

Mag's First love...

Who, only six weeks in country

Was shot in the head

While walking point.

God Bless You

Jerry

Today we'll visit the wall

here in Philly

and drink a beer with you.

Gerald Maguire

United States Army

Once, Always. Forever

Faithful

For My Own...

Photo courtesy of Arlington National Cemetery

While the weapons may have changed over time, one thing remains the same, the Marine who wields it.




The Final Inspection

The Marine stood and faced his God

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining

Just as brightly as his brass.

Step forward now, oh, Devil-Dog,

How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek?

To My Church have you been true?

The Jarhead squared his shoulders... said,

"No, Lord, I guess I ain't,

'cause those of us who carry guns

Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays

And at times my talk was tough,

And sometimes I've been violent,

'cause the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny

That wasn't mine to keep...

Though I worked a lot of overtime

When the bills just got too steep,

And I never passed a cry for help,

Though at times I shook with fear,

And sometimes, God forgive me,

I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place

Among the people here,

They never wanted me around

Except to calm their fear.

"If you've a place for me here, Lord,

It needn't be so grand,

I never expected or had too much,

So if you don't, I'll understand."

A silence fell all 'round the throne

Where Saints had often trod,

As the Marine awaited quietly,

The judgment of his God.

Step forward now, My Fine Marine,

You've borne your burdens well,

Walk your post on Heaven's streets,

You've served your time in Hell.

Sleep in Peace, Brothers.

deuddersun

Another Veteran for Obama

I'm going to ask you, once again, to pay a visit to my good friends at Alternate Brain this morning and take a look at this,

You Tell Him Jarhead

When you're done, take a look around. Good stuff going on there.

d.

Harvey Keitel, Once, Always, Forever...

Harvey Keitel as Lt. Gene Hunt

United States Marine and Actor Extraordinaire

Folks have often asked me, "What's so special about the Marine Corps? Why do you guys always think you're better than everyone-else who served our country in the Armed Forces?" It's not that we're necessarily "better", (although I happen to think we are, well, unique), it's just that we consider ourselves to be more than just another "branch" of the United States military. We view our service as a Fraternity of sorts, a Brotherhood we have earned the right to belong to. For no matter where life's road may take us after our service, no-one and nothing can ever take away the title we won after graduation from boot camp - the title of United States Marine. As such, we regard all Marines as our Brothers and Sisters. We are all Marines Forever, and it is that common bond which in my eyes, makes us special.


So I've been working on this TV show, "Life On Mars", and like I said earlier, it's a terrific job. I haven't had a day off in a few weeks, but when you love what you do, every day is a holiday and every meal's a feast. Last week, while returning from lunch, I happened to walk past the Hair & Makeup room for Life On Mars on my way back to the shop. I was wearing the tee-shirt pictured below.

It's unusual that I was wearing this shirt. I have owned it for years and only wear it on November 10, the Marine Corps Birthday. I have no idea why I chose to wear it that day, but I did. And I'm glad I did, for as I passed by Hair and Makeup, a wild man stepped out into the hallway and stuck his finger in my chest and asked, "Is that you?"


His shirt was open, his face unshaven, his hair disheveled and his eyes had a semi-insane glint of mischief in them. Standing nose to nose with me, he prodded me in the chest again and repeated, "Is that You?" I was taken totally off-guard. Why, I asked myself, would I wear a shirt I hadn't earned the right to, and who was this maniac questioning me on it? Yet, there was something vaguely familiar about him, but I was too shocked to put two and two together.


"Yes it is", I stammered back.


"You a Marine?", the madman responded.


"Yes Sir!" I said.


Grabbing my hand and pumping it furiously, he almost shouted, "Semper Fi, Jarhead!"


"Semper Fi to you too", I lamely answered. "Were you a Marine?", I asked.


"Betcher sweet ass I am. Got a minute, I want you to meet someone. Come with me."


With that, he put his arm around my shoulder and ushered me into the crowd gathered in the Hair & Makeup room.


"See that tall fellow over there?", he said, pointing at the tall young man in the center of the room, who, by now, with everyone-else, was watching this surreal play unfold, for we were, at this point, the center of everyone's attention. "He's the Producer and I want you to tell him something for me."


My stomach flipped. He was the Producer and here I was, in the clutches of a madman, in Hair & Makeup, where I had no right to be, looking him eye to eye.


"I want you to tell him that if he messes with me, you'll kill him!"


I swallowed. Hard.


"This man is my Brother and if you mess with me, he'll kill you!", he went on.


It was then I heard it. The voice. The voice of Mr. Wolf. Pulp Fiction. The man with his arm around my shoulder, ordering me to threaten the Producer's life, was none other than Harvey Keitel.

I turned and looked at him. He hugged me closer, "Go on, tell him." I'm a huge fan of Harvey Keitel so there was no way I was going to disappoint him.


Gathering my wits, I turned to the Producer and said, "Sir, if you mess with my Brother, I will kill you."


And Harvey said, "And if you mess with my Brother, I will kill you!"


Thankfully, the whole room burst into laughter. Grabbing my hand once more, Harvey shook it hard and said, "Semper Fi, Brother, Once Always, Forever!"


He then asked me what role I was playing in the show. I told him I was playing the role of "Scenic Carpenter", building his sets. He asked me how it was going. I told him it must be going great because I had been playing the same role for 25 years and so far I had everybody fooled. Laughter again. I told Harvey what a pleasure and honor it was meeting him and got the hell out of there as fast as I could.


I have always wanted to be an actor. In fact, in my younger days I was pretty good. I even did a stint with the American Shakespeare Company in Stratford, Connecticut, but as life would have it, I never made it in front of the camera. I never achieved the success that Harvey Keitel has in our chosen profession. No matter, I'm a damn good hammer and I'm proud of my little contribution to this thing called show biz. But that's not the point.


The point is this. I was, and still am, a United States Marine. And so is Harvey Keitel. And between Marines, that is all that ever really matters.


Semper Fi to you Harvey. You made me proud and you made my day. And you gave me one hell of a story to tell.


Speaking of stories, Life On Mars is a great one. I highly recommend it. Watch for it on your local ABC affiliate on Thursday, October 9th at 10pm est/9pm central.


Hell, it must be great. There's a United States Marine in it.


Life On Mars


d.

Joseph Dwyer, Army Medic and Iraq War Hero, Couldn't save Himself

Soldier In Famous Photo Never Defeated Demons

PINEHURST, N.C. — Officers had been to the white ranch house at 560 W. Longleaf many times before over the past year to respond to a "barricade situation." Each had ended uneventfully, with Joseph Dwyer coming out or telling police in a calm voice through the window that he was OK.

They found Dwyer lying on his back, his clothes soiled with urine and feces. Scattered on the floor around him were dozens of spent cans of Dust-Off, a refrigerant-based aerosol normally used to clean electrical equipment.

A photograph taken in the first days of the war had made the medic from New York's Long Island a symbol of the United States' good intentions in the Middle East. When he returned home, he was hailed as a hero.

But for most of the past five years, the 31-year-old soldier had writhed in a private hell, shooting at imaginary enemies and dodging nonexistent roadside bombs, sleeping in a closet bunker and trying desperately to huff away the "demons" in his head. When his personal problems became public, efforts were made to help him, but nothing seemed to work.

This broken, frightened man had once been the embodiment of American might and compassion.

<
div>

"I'm a soldier," he said. "I suck it up. That's our job."
___

One more casualty in a bullshit war fought for profit. Go back and click the link above and read the entire story. How could this happen? How could a bona fide American hero, who saved all he could, including the"enemy" die alone and insane, paralyzed with fear of an imaginary enemy in a country where every other car has a bumper sticker demanding that we "Support The Troops"?

Well, maybe his enemies weren't imaginary.

And maybe we aren't doing such a fine job of "supporting" those we send to kill in our names.

Maybe it really is time for "Change".

Brings to mind another Iconic American Hero. One who fought at Iwo Jima and was hailed as a hero.

One who also succumbed to his demons.

At least the war Ira Hayes fought was worth the terrible price he paid. Is this current war worth the lives of men and women like Joseph Dwyer?

I suspect Ira and Joseph had a lot in common. Good men who wanted only to serve their country when they believed their country needed them most. It's a Damn shame that country couldn't or wouldn't help them when they needed it most.

Rest in Peace, Joseph. May Ira's tribute honor you as well.

d.

Lance Corporal Robert Crutchfield, USMC

This one really hurts...

Home from Iraq, wary Marine fatally wounded

CLEVELAND — On leave from the violence he had survived in the war in Iraq, a young Marine was so wary of crime on the streets of his own home town that he carried only $8 to avoid becoming a robbery target.

Despite his caution, Lance Cpl. Robert Crutchfield, 21, was shot point-blank in the neck during a robbery at a bus stop. Feeding and breathing tubes kept him alive 4 1/2 months, until he died of an infection on May 18.

"They took it, turned his pockets inside out, took what he had and told him since he was a Marine and didn't have any money he didn't deserve to live. They put the gun to his neck and shot him," Holt told The Associated Press.

The two men charged in the attack were identified as Ean Farrow, 19, and Thomas Ray III, 20, both of Cleveland. Their attorneys did not respond to The Associated Press' requests for comment.

Full Story

...since he was a Marine and didn't have any money he didn't deserve to live.

It's not bad enough we have to lose Brothers and Sisters on foreign soil, to have this happen is despicable.

Mr. Farrow and Mr. Ray. I can only hope that upon conviction, the harshest possible penalty is imposed upon your sorry, worthless asses! You are unfit to share the same planet with a man like Robert Crutchfield.

That man was our Brother!

For what it's worth, I offer the following as a sign of respect and eternal Brotherhood. May it bring some small comfort to his family.

The Final Inspection


The Marine stood and faced his God

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining

Just as brightly as his brass.

Step forward now, oh, Devil-Dog,

How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek?

To My Church have you been true?


The Jarhead squared his shoulders... said,

"No, Lord, I guess I ain't,

'cause those of us who carry guns

Can't always be a saint.


I've had to work most Sundays

And at times my talk was tough,

And sometimes I've been violent,

'cause the world is awfully rough.


But, I never took a penny

That wasn't mine to keep...

Though I worked a lot of overtime

When the bills just got too steep,

And I never passed a cry for help,

Though at times I shook with fear,

And sometimes, God forgive me,

I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place

Among the people here,

They never wanted me around

Except to calm their fear.


"If you've a place for me here, Lord,

It needn't be so grand,

I never expected or had too much,

So if you don't, I'll understand."


A silence fell all 'round the throne

Where Saints had often trod,

As the Marine awaited quietly,

The judgment of his God.


Step forward now, My Fine Marine,

You've borne your burdens well,

Walk your post on Heaven's streets,

You've served your time in Hell.

Sleep in Peace, Brother.

Saepius Exertas, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas

d.

Winter Soldier

I'm feeling a little guilty this morning. While hundreds of my Brother and Sister Veterans have been baring their souls at the Winter Soldier Testimonies in Silver Springs, Maryland, I spent my computer time yesterday describing my Monday morning drive to the Big Apple and lamenting a lifestyle that has often run way out of control. While there is certainly a place for posts like the one below, and while it may have entertainment value, I feel that I should have been reminding, no, urging people to pay attention to what these brave American Patriots are saying about our occupation of Iraq. I spent most of yesterday listening and watching and I feel it is important to get the word out before the event ends today.

So this morning I would like to ask my readers to click on the Winter Soldier banner in the header and spend a little time listening to what is really going on in our names in Iraq.

I am also posting a video this morning and I urge all like minded readers to copy it and either post it or send it to friends and relatives who may be more concerned with money, profits and wasteful spending than the cost of the War in American and Iraqi lives.

It was produced, not by a "fringe group", but by the American Friends Service Committee and is sure to get any real Conservative's blood boiling once he or she realizes just how expensive Bush's Folly really is. (Then again, maybe not, but it's worth a try.)



Hugs & Kisses,

d.

Winter Soldier - Support The Troops

- Washington D.C., March 13 -16, 2008 - Iraq Veterans Against The War, inspired by the actions taken by Vietnam Veterans 37 years ago, will gather in our nation's capitol "to expose the truth and consequences of the War on Terror to the nation and the world"

Kitchen Window Woman
Resident Scholar,
The American Patriot Institute

I'm asking all of my readers, particularly my fellow scholars in the API, to visit The Dishpan Chronicles this morning and read KWW's latest post regarding the Winter Soldier Movement by Iraq Veterans Against the War.

This is exactly the type of action that the API was created to support. I have placed a banner supporting this event in my header and sent what money I could afford to help out.

Please visit The Dishpan Chronicles and do your part to get the Truth out to the American people. There is no better way to Support Our Troops!

Thank you.

d.
Resident Scholar
American Patriot Institute

Great News!!! The Moderate Man Returns!!!

Oh, What The Hell...

...well, I guess you can't "retire" from being retired...

This morning, whilst skipping merrily along the blogo-sphere, in a moment of nostalgia, I visited The Moderate Man, and lo and behold! He's back!

I am so happy to see him blogging again. He has several terrific posts about the economy, speculation in the crude oil market and Israel's current military actions against Palestine. As I mentioned before, his grasp of world economics and world politics is amazing!

Stop by and welcome him back! We are gong to need him and his strong voice in the run-up to this Presidential election!

Welcome back, Brother! You make my heart glad.

d.

I am really, really pissed...

And I looked, and behold, a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and hell followed with him. And power was given to them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Revelation 6:8

From Alternate Brain:

"I've written a couple times about war but I think people forget what it's all about. First off, I think you should read the article Gord posted on yesterday. I left a comment there:

We're learning the same way the Russians and the British did. We shoulda just gone in and killed 'em all.

And thinking about it, I think I should explain.

According to the narrative we've heard since 11 September 2001, the nation of Afghanistan harbored Osama bin Laden and facilitated the attacks on the US. Fine. Why did we go in there saying 'we'll take out the Taliban, but we're gonna go over there and win hearts and minds'?

Let me explain something. You don't go to war worrying about winning hearts and minds. You go to war to break the enemy, pound him far enough so he surrenders. War is ugly, dirty, and a last resort but if you're gonna go, you have to go ugly and dirty. Why in Hell do you think they call it 'war'?

We should have blown Afghanistan to shit, period..."

Fixer

Go read the articles linked to in the above quote and you will understand what's got my knickers in such a fucking twist.

Fixer is right.

The United States Marine Corps has requested that they be withdrawn from Iraq and deployed in Afghanistan, ( Marines Press to Remove Their Forces From Iraq, New York Times ). The only reason I can see for not doing this would be to avoid killing Bin Laden and totally destroying the Taliban and Al Queda.

It's time to turn loose the Dogs of War on Bin Laden and Afghanistan! Else all of our efforts, all of our losses, will have been in vain!



Let's do this right people, and finish it once and for all!

d.

Below is a comment I posted at the Brain. I am including it here as an addendum of sorts.

Listen, the last time we fought a war to win it was 60 fucking years ago and ended when we dropped the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Anybody sorry about that? I sure as shit ain't! I got relatives beneath the sea at Pearl Harbor and when they apologize for that and Bataan, then maybe I'll reconsider.

Anybody sorry we turned Dresden into a blast furnace? How about Berlin? Lots of "collateral damage". It's called "winning".

Sure 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi's and if I had my way they would pay dearly for that. Shit, Bush's boy Baker defended them against lawsuits by those who lost people in the Trade Towers. The fact remains tho, that Bin Laden was based in Afghanistan, had the support of the Taliban, ran training camps there for the hijackers and other operatives and has now reconstituted Al Queda and is supposedly stronger than ever. And where the fuck do you think he is? Brooklyn?

Afghanistan.

And what do we have there, at the tip of the spear, in the hottest AO in the country?

One company of Regular Army! One!

Let's do this right. Pull the troops out of Iraq and cut the Marines loose in Afghanistan. And if we have to go into Pakistan to get this prick, so be it.

That was the fucking mission, wasn't it?

I suggest that everyone read the entire article, then post your comments.

Look, I'm all for peace but I am not anti-war, just anti-stupid, illegal war.

d.

Update! A Different Point of View

From House of The Rising Sons:

Can't kill everybody

After reading this account of our soldiers in Afghanistan, I am reminded that the situation there is no less fucked up than in Iraq.

Fixer at Alternate Brain , who like me, is not one to mince words, posts today that we could have already won in Afghanistan if we would've have been more merciless. I understand the sentiment, really I do, and I always felt that Afghanistan was different from Iraq. I believed they deserved it. Why? Because Osama was there right? He was in charge, with the Taliban, right? Well, whatever. But also, I thought Afghanistan deserved what they got because, if nothing else, they seemed to be celebrating the 9-11 attacks. So, fuck em, right? But years past that knee jerk kill em all feeling- the one that also told me that sending our troops there was justified- I don't seem to believe my simple minded revenge horseshit anymore. Alternate Brain is one of my favorite spots- and I respect Fixer and his opinion on this matter, even though I disagree. He certainly isn't some neocon gasbag postulating emptily on this matter. It's understandable to wish "the enemy" was all dead so our soldiers could come home and get some relief from the never-ending hell that the Republican party has inflicted on them.


For the full post, go to

Can't kill everybody

d.

Moderate Man Rotates Home

Note: Moderate Man has long since come out of "retirement". This post is linked to because it provides a look at the humble beginnings of the API.

d.

On Saturday, February 16, 2008, Moderate Man announced that he was retiring from the blogosphere.

Moderate has been an inspiration to me and many others since he first came online as a blogger in November of 2004. A retired CEO and a United States Marine Corps Vietnam combat veteran, he had a way of looking at a situation and cutting straight to the heart of the matter. His grasp of world economics and it's interrelation with world politics is incredible. I wish he had left his archives up, there is much that we could learn from there. As it is, we still have his blog as he left it and a google search of The Moderate Man provides many of the fine articles he wrote.


It always amazed me that a former CEO would be so supportive of "Labor", yet he was. I am sure that had I worked for him, he is the kind of leader who would have earned my devoted loyalty. As a blog buddy and fellow Marine, my devoted loyalty is his to command.

Moderate is the Founder of the American Patriot Institute, a loose-knit organization of Veterans who have and still do, oppose the Bush Administration and it's insane policies. It is a group of Veterans who have never forgotten their oaths to defend the Constitution of the United States of America, against all enemies, both foreign and domestic, and Bush and his colleagues most certainly pose a threat to the Constitution we have sworn to defend.

In those "early" days, many of us who rallied against Bush were characterized by those on the Right as being unpatriotic traitors, allies of Bin Laden, un-American seditionists with no stomach for the fight against the terrorists who wanted to destroy America. Our blogs were invaded by screaming Right wing miscreants, who charged us with all sorts of unspeakable crimes against the very nation we had served to protect. Most of these same Right Wing "Patriots" were actually Chickenhawks, who had never donned the uniform of the Boy or Girl Scouts, much less the Armed Forces of The United States, and the din they created was almost overwhelming. Moderate came up with the idea of a Rogues Gallery, whereby we could post our Boot Camp Graduation pictures and show the world that we, at least, had Walked the Walk, and therefore had earned the Right to Talk the Talk.

The original members of the Rogues Gallery, Bulldog, , Fixer, Gordon, deuddersun, scroff and Moderate Man.








It wasn't long before Mod came up with the idea of forming an Institute of our own to counter the many Right Wing think tanks that professed to know what was best for America while, in reality, they were merely shills for the Right Wing Propaganda machine that offered "studied opinions" in support of the Iraq War and other Bush mis-adventures. He designed the logo we use today and so was born the American Patriot Institute where each of us would offer our "studied opinions" showing how Bush and Company was destroying the America we loved and served. We were soon joined by two United States Army Soldiers, Spadoman and Kitchen Window Woman, and most recently, a United States Navy Veteran, Cafkia, (whose baby picture is still "in the mail")! Scroff created an image map that links each picture to it's website. It is the image/map currently in use. Through the API, we have come to support each other's efforts to reclaim our beloved country from the Facist Neocons who seek to bend or break, (if necessary), our Constitution to allow their own twisted un-American activities.

Mod is much more than that though. He is a good friend. Whenever I had a problem, he was there with advice and Brotherly encouragement, and for that I will always be grateful.

We all owe a lot to The Moderate Man and I couldn't let him retire without thanking him publicly. He's our kind of guy. Our kind of Marine. Our Founding Father.

So from all of us to you, Mod, have a great life! Come back and visit from time to time. And thanks for the memories! This is for you Mod, Brother Marine! No better friend, no worse enemy!



One last "Hottie" for ya, Mod! Just don't make any "sudden moves", lol!




Saepius Exertas, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!

d.

Mod had a thing for beautiful women and he would often post pictures of long ago starlets to our delight. So, Mod, with that in mind, I offer you one last opportunity to see all the women you loved to post about. Just follow the link below:

women in film

Call to Action!! Support Our Troops!!!

Received this e-mail to day.

Time is of the essence!

Pleases sign the petition to protect our men and women in the Armed Forces!


Supporting our troops means more than just slapping a magnetic yellow ribbon on the back of your car!

Dear VoteVets.org Supporter,

You are incredible! In just days, we've collected over 8000 petition signatures, calling for hearings into why the Bush Pentagon placed a contract for helmets for troops, with a company that was being sued for shoddy work.

We need more, though. We need everyone who hasn't signed our petition to do so now, and for you to tell your friends and family to do the same. Hold on, because this story is getting even worse.

SIGN OUR PETITION CALLING FOR HEARINGS INTO PENTAGON CONTRACTS HERE

The Marines reported the other day that the delay in getting Mine Resistant Armor Protected (MRAP) vehicles led to the deaths of hundreds of Marines. They had sent an urgent request up the chain in 2005, asking for the heavily-armored MRAPs, only to be ignored by Donald Rumsfeld. To his credit, Rumsfeld's replacement, Secretary Robert Gates, did make acquisition of MRAPs a priority last year. However, we were quite disturbed to find that one of the companies awarded a contract to produce MRAPs was....

Sioux Manufacturing.

SIGN OUR PETITION CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO PENTAGON CONTRACTS

That's right. On November 12, 2007, the Bismarck Tribune reported that Sioux, which was under litigation for cheating the troops out of helmets that met specifications, received one of three contracts to produce MRAPs for the troops. That's in addition to their multi-million contract to produce even more helmets.

Something is wrong here. We all know it. Maybe this is just how the Bush Administration and Washington works. But when it comes to the protection of our troops, the status quo cannot be allowed to stand.

Please join us now in calling for an investigation. Tell everyone you know to get involved, as well. Together, we will help protect our troops.

Sincerely,
Jon Soltz
Iraq War Veteran
Chairman, VoteVets.org

(all emphasis mine)

Please take five minutes and follow the link to sign the petition.

We have a moral obligation to look after those we have committed to fight a war for us, whether we agree with that war or not!

d.

Chelsea Clinton, Pimped Out???

Chelsea Clinton speaks to supporters during a campaign stop for her mother, Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., Friday Feb. 8, 2008 in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Dave Weaver)

The Always Wrong Right is at it again, only this time they have decided to attack Hillary Clinton's daughter.

In a conference call with reporters, Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson on Friday excoriated MSNBC's David Shuster for suggesting the Clinton campaign had "pimped out" 27-year old Chelsea by having her place phone calls to celebrities and Democratic Party "superdelegates" on her mother's behalf.

Yes, the trolls are at it again.

Realizing they have no chance of defeating either Hillary or Obama, they have fired the opening rounds in what will certainly be another disgusting, distasteful campaign on their part by attacking the only vulnerable target in sight, Chelsea Clinton. To wit:

Wolfson pointed to what he called a pattern of tasteless comments by MSNBC anchors about the Clinton campaign. Weeks ago, "Hardball" host Chris Matthews apologized to the former first lady after suggesting her political career had been made possible by her husband's philandering.

The entire article appears here.

Frankly, I'm not a Hillary supporter. I was an Edwards man. In this case it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if you support Hillary or not. It doesn't matter if you think she is "Bush Lite" or the "Second Coming". What matters is that the Right Wing Slime Slingers have started up once again and this time we must nip it in the bud.

Pimped out? Pimped out? This is how the party of good Christian, Family Values plans to win support for their own lame candidates? By smearing and besmirching the reputation of their opponents daughter? Good God! What if Obama is the candidate? Can you imagine the racial slurs and innuendoes we have to look forward to?

This must stop right here, right now.

It is up to us to let MSNBC know that this type of character assassination will not be tolerated. We will no longer sit by while innocent people are swift-boated by right wing zealots with the collective morality of a slug!

Here's the clip of Shuster:


Now the clip of Matthews:



Enough people. I once did a post here that declared that the United States Marines are America's Attack Dogs, (When Good Marines Go Bad). It's time I remembered that. It's time to bite back!

Call, write or e-mail MSNBC and tell them you will not put up with sleezy character attacks like these. Don't let the Always Wrong Right swift-boat another Progressive candidate! Let's nip this in the bud!

By email: Letters To MSNBC.com

By snailmail:
NBC News
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, N.Y. 10112

By telephone: 212-315-9016

Let's get to work API! It's time to show them that we know how to play "Hardball" too!

Now, where's my bat?

d.

This is a copy of the e-mail I sent to MSNBC. Feel free to make it your own.

I am extremely disgusted with the behavior of two of your supposed "journalists", David Shuster and Chris Matthews, regarding the Hillary Clinton campaign. While I have come to expect this type of "journalism" from Fox News, I have long believed that MSNBC held itself and it's employees to higher standards. Apparently, I was wrong.

Should MSNBC continue to allow yellow journalism of this type to infect it's airwaves I will have no choice but to place it in the same category as Fox News and restrict my viewing to CNN.

Believe it or not, we who comprise your audience know the difference between real reporting and infotainment. We tune to you for "News" not entertainment. I strongly suggest that you review your standards and take whatever actions you need to insure that this type of character assassination doesn't occur on your airwaves again.

Sincerely,

Defeat Mitch McConnell

Dear VoteVets.org Supporter,

How badly do you want to send Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader, packing? Pretty bad, right? Now, how badly would you love to see an Iraq War Marine be the guy who takes McConnell's place? If you're like me, the very idea of that has you pretty pumped.

Well, I have some good news for you. Lt. Col. Andrew Horne (Ret.), a Marine who served in both the current war in Iraq and Desert Storm, has launched his campaign to beat Mitch McConnell and take this government and country back for the people. The Louisville Courier-Journal wrote of the promise Andrew holds in an editorial this weekend, saying, "Mr. Horne is a serious man, and his candidacy should be taken seriously," and "He would be a credible alternative to the incumbent."

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT ANDREW HORNE IN HIS RACE TO BEAT MITCH MCCONNELL

While Andrew holds great promise for us this cycle, he cannot do this without your financial help. Mitch McConnell is one of the best-funded politicians in 2008, because of the support he gets from his corporate buddies. So, what's all that special interest money gotten us? Let's take just a small walk through the record of Mitch McConnell (Warning: Hold your nose):

• He led the filibuster of the Webb-Hagel "Dwell Time" amendment that would have given our exhausted troops as much time at home as in the field.

• He led the all-night filibuster of legislation that would have set us on a real change of course in Iraq, that would have allowed us to give Iraqis more responsibility, while freeing U.S. forces to take on the real threat to America -- al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

• He consistently worked his side of the aisle against the same veterans he's been fighting tooth and nail to keep in Iraq, beating back amendments to ensure a funding stream for veterans' health care, increase Veterans' medical services by closing corporate tax loopholes, and guarantee full-funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

• And, most recently, he callously quipped that we ought not feel too bad about those who died in Iraq, because, afterall, "remember, these are not draftees, these are full-time professional soldiers."

CLICK HERE TO TAKE DOWN MITCH MCCONNELL AND SUPPORT THE TROOPS

We all know these issues are going to come up in McConnell's campaign. When they do, at the debate, who do you want on the stage with McConnell to challenge him face-to-face? A politician, or a genuine patriot who served our nation in Iraq? As Andrew says, "Simply put, while Mitch McConnell carries George Bush's water on Iraq, I carried a rifle in Iraq."

That's the type of opponent that Mitch McConnell fears the most, but this can only come to pass if you get into the fight. That's why today, I'm proud to say VoteVets.org PAC endorses Andrew Horne for Senate, and why I am asking you to please give him your support.

Sincerely,

Jon Soltz
Iraq War Veteran
Chairman, VoteVets.org

P.S. The above links will take you to Andrew's donation page. If you're in Kentucky and are interested in helping his campaign, or just want to find out more, you can go to his website - www.AndrewHorne.org

The Moderate Man

Found this at Brother Mod's place.

Moderate is not only the Founder of the American Patriot Institute, in my opinion, he is one of the smartest members, (well, he's a lot smarter than me, anyway.) Lately he has had a series of posts dealing with our economy and the beating the "middle class" is taking. He also has strong opinions on Gen. Betray-us, the war, Bush and others.

If you've never been there, or haven't stopped by in a while, pay him a visit. You won't be disappointed. As an example, I offer this:

Sounds True To Me...

Semper Fidelis, Brother!

d.

Oohrah?

I found this quote at Pissed On Politics and it is something General Betrayus should read, over and over again.

Does anyone know who said it?

Answer below.


War Is A Racket

(From Pissed On Politics)

"I spent 33 years and four months in active military service as a member of this country's most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high class muscle-man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.

I could have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents. ...

I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914.

I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in.

I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street.

I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912.

I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916.

I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested."

Major General Smedley Butler
United States Marine Corps

Two time Recipient of the Medal Of Honor
and
The Most Decorated Marine in the History of the Corps

I would like to welcome Pissed On Politics to the family. Stop by and say hello.

(I know I'm way behind on posting but tomorrow is the Magster's Birthday and I'm taking her to the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City to play int the World Poker Tournament. Wish her luck!
I'll catch up next week! Semper Fi!)

d.

Happy Birthday America!

My Star Spangled Banner




A special Treat - The Silent Drill Platoon



Remember, Honor the Warrior, Not the War



As you enjoy today, remember our Brothers and Sisters who are all Heroes and who are counting on us to be courageous as well, and bring them home safely, now.

d.