A Soldiers View
May 30, 2006
**A Soldier’s Perspective** *
*By Lt. Col. Scott A. Morrison, United States Army, Warrenton, Va.
Yesterday I returned home from a one-year tour in Iraq, where I served
as a military advisor to Iraqi forces. Although nearly a quarter of my
40 years have been spent living outside the United States during my
military career, returning home to the land of the free and the home of
the brave remains an emotional experience.
Words fail to convey the sincere appreciation felt for the immense
support received from the American public. On our journey home, the
aircraft stopped over at several locations. In one country an American
citizen saw us and pressed a $100 bill into the senior non- commissioned
officer’s hand and asked him to buy us something for our thirst later
on. In Portsmouth, New Hampshire the entire town came out to welcome us
upon our arrival at the local airport as though we were rock stars.
From the near-constant flow of Girl Scout cookies to letters and
packages, the showering of attention is truly a humbling experience that
I and many others are eternally grateful for. Describing how pleasant on
the eyes everything here at home looks is difficult to convey. The green
of trees and grass seem to draw my constant stare, as does the simple
order, cleanliness, and functionality of the surroundings. It simply
overwhelms the senses when compared to the landscape of Iraq and the
hardship of the people there. I consider myself and my family extremely
fortunate to be Americans, and I am highly appreciative for the
bountiful lives we lead and my distinct privilege to serve our great
nation and her people.
As an indication of how much I have missed my life here in the United
States, I gladly look forward to my 90-minute one way commute into the
Nation’s capitol. I won’t be riding to the train station with armored
windows rolled up, sweating profusely in body armor and helmet, carrying
two weapons while incessantly scanning the shoulder of the road for
trash or disturbed earth indicating a possible improvised explosive
device. I will travel among you relatively unnoticeable, with the
exception of the strange look of occasional satisfaction for the simple
pleasure of being there beside you with no worries to mention when
compared to being in Iraq.
My euphoria of returning home to my family remains somewhat dulled in
the recesses of my mind as I recognize many of my brothers continue our
work in Iraq. I was reminded of the continued sacrifice in my final
hours in Iraq as I waited to fly out. I bumped into a few OH-58D Kiowa
Warrior helicopter pilots we had worked with us a few months earlier.
These two warrant officers typify the service and sacrifice of members
of the armed forces. I mentioned to them our appreciation from the
ground guy’s perspective, for their constant presence and in particular
their unique aviator ethos. In the city they flew day and night moving
to “the sound of the guns” in seconds when trouble raised its head.
Unfortunately, one of their aircraft went down and two of those great
Americans lost their lives, and three children lost their fathers. In my
mind the cliched word ‘hero’ fails to do justice to these
larger-than-life men. Others like them continue to ‘get after it’ from
the mountains of Afghanistan to the cities of Iraq on our behalf.
With regard to the war in Iraq, the work is hard and progress labored.
The magnitude of the task at hand is of such complexity that it cannot
be exaggerated. Rest assured, though, contrary to the situation
portrayed on the news, the sky is not falling every other day in Iraq.
While home for two weeks in February, I was startled by the seemingly
emergent ‘civil war’ as portrayed in the media, yet returned to find
little had changed in the area I operated in. As I frequently told my
Iraqi counterpart, the television is the world’s most powerful weapon
because of its ability to shape people’s perceptions and influence their
minds. Resist the Orwellian temptation to internalize all the shouting
piped into your homes about Iraq from TV and for that matter all of the
other pressing scandalous crisis-like issues beamed to you on a nightly
basis (”A Sunni terrorist’s manifesto of despair,” Editorial, Friday).
I recognize it may appear difficult in our daily lives to remain
persistently cognizant of the threats that exist to our nation and our
way of life. Rest assured there are folks out there coming for our lunch
money. I wish our common interest in preserving the longevity of this
great nation, our prosperity and our way of life, could transcend the
rancorous debate and circus-like folly swirling on a host of other
issues across the country. Together our people will never be vanquished,
divided we lie susceptible to those hungry for our demise.
Google of the Left
May 30, 2006
Well, I always just shuffled off the accusations of Google as a very Left leaning as overboard.
The search engine company has bent to the Communist China’s wishes, and has contributed to Left leaning leberals.
I always thought it was just business. I thought it was just conspiracy theorists.
Well, the company has always inserted a logo that celebrated even the most obscure of holidays.
However, not today! Today is Memorial Day. This is the logo today.
Here is the Google Logo from Valentines Day 2003 logo.
Why no love for our lost soldiers by Google?
Jefferson and Louisiana: Money Suck
May 28, 2006
Jefferson Probe Includes Other Suspected Schemes
Washington Post - May 27 11:09 PM
The FBI is focusing on at least eight different suspected bribery schemes as part of its corruption probe of Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.), according to a federal affidavit and sources familiar with the investigation.
The Great state of LA has shown time and again that the leaders from the top down are interested in themselves and their own power. They have been sucking on the teet of the Country for twenty Years and have not much to show for it. A picture post card of Pork. Accept the only guys getting fat are the local Government.
Its the Economy Stupid
May 26, 2006
The economy dashed ahead in the opening quarter of this year at a 5.3 percent pace, the fastest in 2 1/2 years.
The upgraded reading on GDP, based on more complete information, mostly reflected stronger U.S. exports and better inventory building by businesses.
Any other President would be hailed as a genious. This one’s fate is hinged on doing the right thing. And not being afraid to say so.
New Orleans: Incompetence and the Peter Principle
May 22, 2006
The Peter Principle is a theory originated by Dr. Laurence J. Peter. It states that successful members of a hierarchical organization are eventually promoted to their highest level of competence, after which further promotion raises them to a level at which they are not competent.
This was evident in New Orleans as the reelected their incompetent Mayor. As pointed out by GOPUSA:
The Peter Principle was on display in New Orleans last week as Mayor Ray Nagin was reelected to another term of incompetence and corruption. And just in time for hurricane season, too.
It will be interesting to see what this city does with itself as it is getting even more handouts than ever before. Even the National Association of Realtors are having their convention in the Big Easy to do their share for the local economy.
The theme of the New Orleans has been and hopefully won’t be Charity Squandered.
Immigration
May 19, 2006
Immigration / Imagracion will no doubt make or break this country.
This is no longer a story of bring us your poor and “masses”. It is about diluging us with drugs, terrorists, and using the melting pot to buckle us under.
What happens over the next couple years, will determine weather this great country survives. The socialists on the Left will have hundreds of thousands come on over. Who you gonna vote for?
“We will destroy you without firing a shot!” Khrushchev
Disrepect of the President
May 16, 2006
Cnn again disrespected the office of the President as they showed his rehearsal of his important speach on immigration.
Compare Democrat and Republican
May 15, 2006
To Compare a Democrat and Republican one can simply define the two by their iconic definitions.
The latter is for limited Government, low taxes and a strong defense.
A Democrat cares about the underdog.
The fact is that neither is limited or well defined by the above attempt to label them. In fact, what they/we do defines us better than who we say we are.
Democrats have proven themselves to be drunken with their lust for power. And like a Crack Addict without their juice for the past few years, they will do and say anything to get their next hit.
The Republicans it seems cannot help themselves from partaking in the pork feed. So they come in, boost the economy and enlarge theGovernment in other ways. Just check my article on Katrina to see about that.
The fact is a Libertarian approach I find the most palatable. However, we have gone so far down Social Road I not how we can ever get back to Capitalistic Ave. The Libertarian approach is principled and therefore without compromise. However, politics is about compromise.
Trade Deficit Down
May 14, 2006
Trade Deficit Is Down
For the 2nd Month record exports and queerly, lower oil costs are cited for reasons lowering the trade deficit. But economists expect the figure to rise before declines become steady.
In another report released Friday, consumer optimism buckled in May to its lowest level since Hurricane Katrina, hit by $3-a-gallon gasoline, rising mortgage interest rates and a souring political climate.
American Idol
May 11, 2006
In the are you kidding me file:
The bottom 2 in tonights Idol contest was Katherine and Chris.
What the!?
Chris is head and tails above anyone that has ever strutted in front of Simon, Paula and Randy.
Katherine is in the top three of anyone who has been on the stage.
The top two? Elliott( I hear the old comedy skit Elllll-EEEEE- UH-TTT!) and Taylor.
OKAY ths isnt fair about the guy. . But can he rock a stadium? No. Chris could.
But noone is gonna buy from this cat. And Taylor?This guy is great at a Frat party
And Katherine is a star in the making. In three years they will say Taylor who? Elliott who?
Not sure what this has to do with politics except to show the ineptness of the American people to get it right sometimes.