Soldiers Surprising Loved Ones

This is a very moving video about Soldiers coming home unexpectedly and surprising their children and family with many different participants. I tried not to cry, but I recommend you grab a tissue...just in case.

In case you cannot see the video, find it here on GodTube. Awesome.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again. Digg!

Vets For Freedom: Call To Action Nov. 5th

It is my honor to pass on this information for our Vets. These men and women have fought very faithfully and through many hardships and terrors to keep us alive and free. Now it is our turn to make sure this war is not lost.

Please go to DC on the 5th of November and/or donate whatever you are able so a Veteran may have the benefit of looking these critters in the eyes and explaining to them in person and in plain English why it is so very important to gather the grit it takes to win this Victory.

Yes, Victory is possible and we shall achieve it. Now we just have to get these critters out of the way!

Sign Up to Show Up on November 5th in Washington, DC.

Dear Vets for Freedom members:

Last year, Vets for Freedom brought hundreds of veterans to Capitol Hill to support General Petraeus and the Iraq Surge. The result, our commanders and troops on the battlefield got the resources they needed, and we're winning the war in Iraq.

Now, we must do the same for the troops in Afghanistan! You signed our petition calling on President Obama to "Give the Generals What They Need," now join us on Capitol Hill to support General McChrystal.

This is another call to action. We are asking every Afghanistan veteran, and other veterans, who believe in defeating America's enemies to converge on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on Thursday, November 5. It's time for the warfighters to tell their representatives--face to face--to give the Commanders what they need.

CLICK HERE to SIGN UP to join us in Washington, DC on November 5th! The sooner you sign up, the sooner we can schedule meetings for you!

We all hope that President Obama makes the right decision, by heeding the advice of his commanders and "surging" in Afghanistan. But in order to ensure he does--and shore up support for a troop increase in Congress--it is important to make our voices heard.

We will meet with Republicans and Democrats alike, making the case for a properly resourced counterinsurgency campaign, that allows the U.S. to defeat the Taliban and Al Qaeda, complete the mission, and bring the troops home in victory.

SIGN UP NOW! More details are provided on the sign up page.

If you can't make it to Washington, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DONATE. We hope to raise enough money--from the supporters of Vets for Freedom--to ensure that everyone who makes the trip is reimbursed at some level. Every dollar donated to Vets for Freedom between now and November 5 will go directly to covering travel costs of veterans.

Lastly, please forward this email to everyone you know. Post it on your blog. Print it out and hand it out to friends. Get the word out, so we can get as many veterans on Capitol Hill as possible.

This is our mission. This is our moment. Join Vets for Freedom on Capitol Hill and do your part to support our commanders and troops in Afghanistan.

See you on the 5th!





Pete Hegseth
Vets for Freedom, Chairman and Executive Director

P.S. Please consider DONATING to cover the travel cost of a veteran. Every dollar you give will go to covering the cost of travel for a veteran.

Keep up the great work Pete, and Godspeed to all of our fellows and gals. Thank you.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Talon, TownHall, TCU and SGP. Digg!

Please Sign Vets For Freedom's Petition

Below is a petition which I have signed, and I am asking you to do the same. These brave men are over in Afghanistan fighting for our freedoms and lives, and it is the least we can do to make sure they have the troops and equipment they need to win the victory. We owe this to them.

To sign the petition, all you have to do is check the little box on top of the information, fill in the information, then hit submit. If you do not see it at first, click onto the information and go downward. It will force it up. (That's what I had to do. Then again, my fonts are messed up.)

This is very important to our Military, the Afghans, and us at home. Don't quit now. We are not losers, no matter what others want you to believe. If you don't believe me, then go to Vets For Freedom and ask them if it is worth it. They have been there. They know. Thank you.

To President Obama.

We, the undersigned U.S. war veterans and patriotic Americans, petition you with one simple request:

Listen to the commander on the ground in Afghanistan—General Stanley A. McChrystal—and provide him with the troops he says he needs to win the war in Afghanistan.

By accepting the troop recommendations of General McChrystal—and his boss General David Petraeus—we have a chance to turn the war in Afghanistan around. This is a moment in history we must not miss.

Like General Petraeus in Iraq, General McChrystal is an outside-the-box thinker who thrives in the ambiguity of asymmetrical battlefields. Like General Petraeus in Iraq, General McChrystal has the right strategy—a comprehensive counterinsurgency plan.

In 2007, General Petraeus was given the troops he needed (the "Surge") to win, and Iraq has turned around—resulting in dramatically lower U.S. casualties, a more stable Iraq, and a drawdown of American forces.

General McChrystal—and all our brave Soldiers and Marines on the ground—deserve the same chance to win in Afghanistan. They deserve the additional troops needed to turn a winning strategy into a winning result.

We fully acknowledge that the war in Afghanistan has been tough, and is currently headed in the wrong direction. And as you have said, it has been under-resourced, under-funded, and under-manned for years. You have also said that it is a war we must win. We agree on all fronts.

Unlike Iraq, there was consensus at the beginning of the war in Afghanistan that America must be successful in toppling the Taliban and dismantling Al Qaeda, for the safety of our country. Eight years later, the consensus on the war in Afghanistan is fractured; however we believe—as do you—that the need for victory has not changed.

During this time of domestic uncertainty and global threats, winning the war will require steadfast Presidential leadership; a Commander-in-Chief who is unwilling to be swayed by lagging poll numbers or party leaders who want to block troop increases.

Now is the time for your leadership. If you listen to commanders on the ground, give them what they need, and stand behind our warriors in Afghanistan—we will stand with you. If you don't, and would rather fight the "war of necessity" with one hand tied behind our back, then we will loudly object.

Many—in fact a majority—said the war in Iraq was "unwinnable," yet our troops persevered and turned the tide. Despite the drumbeat of detractors—on both sides of the aisle—this is another war we can win. But we must act now.

We owe it to the Marines and Soldiers slogging it out with insurgents every day to get this right. If we do, they'll fight, they'll persevere, and they'll win. If we don't, we are setting them up for failure. No less than America's greatness—and the legacy of America's finest warriors—is at stake. [Please sign the petition here.]

Hat tip: Elyse, President/Boardmember of Eagles UP!

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

ROLL CALL: Veterans/Active Duty Forces

Today a friend of mine has started an Roll Call for all Veterans and Active Duty Service members so that we can honor them on her site. I think this is a tremendous idea! The site is The US Honorable Troops and the link to the Roll Call is Roll Call for Veterans and/or Members of Our Armed Forces.

Please come over and give thanks to those who have sacrificed so much so that we may remain free. All service members, please add your name, rank, and anything else you want. We are very gratiful to you, and we are also very proud of you. You are the best of America! (That does not mean that others cannot be great, don't get me started, okay?)

This group is one that I am a member of, and it is part of TCU Nation, otherwise known as The Conservative Underground. We are trying to build our numbers so as to overcome moveon.org and elect the people we feel would do a much better job than the squishy RINO's that are in the senate and the house right now. These sites somehow are the same one, they just have different names. How did that happen? I cannot explain it, I just know it works. lol.

Another site which I am a member of which is more for activists is Top Conservatives On Twitter. This one is more for our activists. If you are on Twitter, please come over and register free. There are many things we can do to keep this country from going totally nuts, and this must be done. You can help, and now is the time.

You've asked if there were anything you could do to help our Vets? This. We owe it to them to keep our country free on the homefront while they are fighting for our freedom doing the heavy lifting. Don't ya think doing whatever we can is worth it? Thought so. ;)

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Talon TCU Nation SGP Rosemary's News and Ideas. Digg!

Navy Captain Crusades Against Brain Injuries In Anbar

Sgt. G.P. Ingersoll has written a very intriguing and promising article about a possible new way to treat traumatic brain injuries (TBI). This could mean the difference between 100% recovery versus a carreer killing injury. Please read this, it really is promising. I know because I have TBI (not from combat). This could be a huge breakthrough, thanks to Capt. Michael H. Hoffer.

If you choose to reprint any of this article, all I ask is that you give Sgt. Ingersoll full credit for his article. The only changes I have made are to the beginning and end of the paragraphs. No words have been changed. Have a great day!

By. Sgt. G.P. Ingersoll
1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq – His crusade spanned two years. He travelled to triages and hospitals across Anbar in 2006. He worked tirelessly with his stateside colleagues in 2007. Two years of toiling all to gather enough evidence, or “data” as he calls it, to make his case.

Now, back in Iraq, Navy Capt. Michael H. Hoffer feels he has won a significant victory against arguably the military’s most serious and common casualty: Traumatic Brain Injury. Traumatic Brain Injuries, or TBI’s, occur when an individual experiences shock waves from a blast, acceleration-deceleration (collision), or an impact or penetration directly to the skull. Doctors divide TBI into severe, moderate or mild. “Right now, 92 percent of all battlefield injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan are classified as [mild] TBI,” said Hoffer, Otolaryngologist (the ears, nose and throat physician), Surgical Company, 1st Maintenance Battalion (-) (Reinforced), 1st Marine Logistics Group.

A recent study conducted by the Rand Corporation concluded that 20 percent of all service members who have deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan have at least mild TBI. “Now imagine what the rate is amongst infantry … we do have a problem,” said Hoffer. “So we recognized the fact that although we’re set up to do ‘blood and guts’ surgery, [Taqaddum Surgical] can take on a secondary mission.”

Taqaddum Surgical’s secondary mission: the Theater TBI Center of Excellence. The center, a result of Hoffer’s two-year initiative, is the first of its kind here in Anbar. It was established initially in September and finalized as the province’s hub of TBI treatment in December. With the cooperation of corpsmen on the ground and company commanders, the center now rehabilitates every casualty who experiences events associated with causing TBI.

Now if Marines experience a blast of any size, or a collision, crews medevac them to Camp Taqaddum for immediate treatment. “So what we have here are experts who see these blast injury patients within 24 hours of the injury,” said Hoffer, 42, San Diego. Once patients arrive, doctors administer a battery of tests to make a diagnosis. An audiometer, or hearing test, determines the state of the patient’s inner ear. A challenged, or dynamic, gait test, kind of like a more complex version of a roadside sobriety test, provides trained doctors with indications of TBI. Cognitive skills exercises, like memory quizzes and timed maze completions, round off the tests.

Early diagnosis is critical, said Hoffer, and the biggest obstacle to early diagnosis is actually Marines themselves. “Someone’s got to protect the Marines against themselves, you know, even if they have a sucking chest wound, they would put something on it and keep going,” said Hoffer. “So a Marine gets blasted, denies it, and then he gets back to [the states] and the wife sends him out for cheese and coffee, and he comes back with eggs and milk.”

Hoffer said oftentimes wives refer their husbands to medical for dizziness or forgetfulness, resulting from mild TBI. “Marines are a tremendously brave bunch, in some ways it takes more courage to say ‘yes I had an impact’ … rather than deny it and have effects that are long term,” said Hoffer.

Mild TBI’s, more commonly known as concussions, worry doctors the most. Moderate or severe TBI’s are usually accompanied by other injuries which require patients to receive treatment in the states. Mild TBIs frequently go unnoticed or unreported because their severity is not immediately recognized. Left untreated, long term effects of mild TBI could end a Marine’s career, said Hoffer.

“There are 2,500 people at Balboa [Medical Center] who have [symptoms and effects] from mild TBI, six to nine months after the blast,” said Hoffer.

The number of people isn’t what troubles Hoffer, it’s the amount of time wasted prior to proper diagnosis and rehabilitation. “The earlier we start, the quicker we cure it, and the less long term effects,” said Hoffer.

Past treatments have shown that patients who sought care within three to six weeks of the causal event made a full recovery in six weeks. Patients who received treatment 11 months after the event took significantly longer, at 16 weeks, to feel better. “If we could see patients [within] 24 hours [of the event], I bet I could get them better in two weeks,” said Hoffer.

Quicker recovery time isn’t the only benefit to early reporting. Whereas late patients on average only recovered to approximately 85 percent normalcy, patients seen immediately tend to recover to 100 percent normalcy, said Hoffer. Not to mention that their careers can continue as if nothing ever happened.

“The effects that are long term, they really prevent you from ever going back to the fight,” said Hoffer. “This program allows Marines to continue serving in the Corps.”

Hoffer said once patients are diagnosed, a treatment is designed based on the symptoms they exhibit. Not all TBIs affect the same parts of the brain, so treatments, though somewhat standard, deviate from each other based on what each patient needs.

Hoffer also introduced a new TBI rehabilitation treatment, which is in its test phase, but may also prove to be somewhat preventative. “When a brain cell dies, it releases oxygen free radicals and these free radicals attack nearby cells,” said Hoffer. So initial damage worsens steadily over time.

“A cell has its own outside defense against invaders, but [in the case of TBI] it’s like a platoon sized defense against a brigade,” said Hoffer. “If we put in antioxidants, we increase that cell’s natural defenses.” At least that’s the theory. Hoffer is staging the first ever double-blind, placebo-controlled test performed in Iraq here at the center to gather evidence that antioxidants improve recovery from TBI symptoms.

If proven effective, they could be issued to corpsmen to give to Marines immediately following an event, and therapy could start immediately, said Hoffer. Hoffer’s efforts, along with the efforts of his colleagues, have improved the well- being of Marines in Iraq.

“Mild TBI robs us of a Marine’s full capabilities and has a dramatic effect on the lives of affected Marines and their families,” said Brig. Gen. Robert R. Ruark, commanding general, 1st MLG. Ruark, 48, Salem, Ohio, said not only the quality of a Marine’s life, but the quality of the Corps itself improves as doctors like Hoffer refine their treatment of TBI.

Since the center has opened, 40 patients have received treatment. Thirty-five have returned to finish their deployments, 100 percent recovered. “Service members evaluated by Capt. Hoffer get state-of-the-art treatment and evaluation, and are put on the path to rapid recovery,” said Cmdr. Joseph F. Penta, group surgeon, Surgical Co., 1st Maintenance Bn. (-) (Reinforced), 1st MLG.

Penta, 38, San Clemente, Calif., said although the center is a victory, the crusade is far from over. “Our next goal is to expand mTBI treatment centers to other locations in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Penta.

Source: DVIDS News (must be registered *free*).

Cross-posted @ Rosemary's News and Ideas. Digg!

American Hero: Joe Dan 'Doc' Worley

The group of Vets For Freedom is very actively trying to get their message to public so you can know the truth the dinosaur media refuses to tell. They have news reports, actions that you may participate in to help, videos, and a special section for American Patriot Heroes. Today I will share with you one of those Heroes. (The writing below is done by Vets For Freedom.)

Joe Dan "Doc" Worley.

On September 17, 2004, while on patrol with Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, in Fallujah, Iraq, an IED exploded into a humvee killing a Marine and an Iraqi Interpreter. Not even 10 days prior, his former platoon had seven Marines killed in action when a vehicle borne IED drove into their patrol. The attrition from the blast was so severe that the platoon, known as Pale Rider Three, would be disbanded and the surviving Marines sent to other platoons in Fox Company.

Immediately reacting to the explosion, Doc Worley went into automatic pilot. No one needed to explain to this Corpsman the importance of his job after an enemy attack. Worley grabbed his aid bag and took off toward the thick smoke, preparing himself for the worst-case scenario of this close quarters explosion.

As Worley sprinted across a bridge, a secondary IED exploded only a few feet away from him, ripping off his left leg instantly. Experiencing mind-numbing pain throughout his entire body, Worley began to assess his own condition, something he had done countless times for others. He put himself through the life saving aid procedures as he had so many other times to others, when there were too many injured for one Corpsman to handle. Worley applied a tourniquet just above his own left knee, an extremely painful procedure that was vital in saving his own life. [Continue reading at the Veterans For Freedom.]

Also read more about Doc Worley's story here on CBS News.

For more patriots' stories, please read more at Vets For Freedom: American Patriots. Here is a list of some of them.

Read About Other American Patriots:

1st Sgt Brad Kasal, Brian Chontosh, Chris Neidziocha, Cpl. Carlos Gomez-Perez, JC Matteson, Joe Dan "Doc" Worley, Josh Glover, Juan Rubio, Juanita Wilson, LCpl Ben Gonzalez, Leigh Ann Hester, Nathan and Jared Hubbard, Sean A. Stokes, Sgt. Anthony Viggiani, USMC, Staff Sergeant Michael Dickinson.

American Patriot Profiles are posted frequently. Please check back often for updates. If you know of a patriot you would like to see profiled, please let us know.

These are truly remarkable men and women, and we owe them more than we could ever repay. That is why we must do everything in our power to help by volunteering at the Veterans Administration Hospitals in our area, and we must prevent the wacked out nuts who would rather destroy our country and turn it over to al Qaida than to stand up and fight for their rights themselves. Shameful, but true. We must not fret, however. We must decide to take a stand, and stand. Have a nice day.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ The Talon and Rosemary's News and Ideas. Digg!

Everyday I have an Open Trackback Linkfest party for all my friends - the ones I know and the ones I will come to know. If you have a post you would like to share, why not trackpost it here? All you have to do is add my Permalink somewhere in your article (usually at the bottom), then trackback to it. You don't have trackbacks available? Why not use Wizbang Stand Alone Trackback? Everyone have a nice day.

Friends I have trackbacked to through Linkfest and others: The Pink Flamingo, The Virtuous Republic, Dumb Ox Daily News, Democrat=Socialist, The World According to Carl, and Shadowscope, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Friends who have shared their posts for your reading pleasure:
2 Beagle Scout - The CatholicVote Video.
Catholic Vote has a beautiful and moving video essay on what matters most, and what matters less, on what is seen in the media, and what is invisible
3 Beagle Scout - ACORN Agitates to “beat McCain down” and Steal the Election for Obama.
Sister Toldjah found this video of Acorn Workers agitating for Obama outside a McCain-Palin office in Philly...
4 Beagle Scout - Darnell Nash: Fraudulent Voter.
The first identified fraudulent vote in the 2008 elections was cast by Darnell Nash of Cuyahoga County, Ohio...
5 Beagle Scout - How Inflation Happens.
Bart Fuller tells an instructive story at Mises.org.
Items for sale included various candy bars, treats and toys, with a couple of gift cards to ice cream shops and bookstores to make it interesting. Everyone who took part started out with the sam...
6 third world county - "No presence".
“Just another guy peddling his viewpont.”–Joe the Plumber’s reaction to The One...

Trackback URL [Right click, 'Copy Shortcut', paste to trackback.]

Vets For Freedom Report

It has been over a month since our Vets have returned home, and they have some true reporting to share with us. They went back to Iraq to seek the truth. They remember what it was like when they left in 2006, and they can tell if there is any REAL change for the better there. You should read what they have to say. The truth is always better than the fiction we are served by people who've never stepped on the streets of Iraq.

They have a website, Vets For Freedom.org, you should check everyday, because they are still reporting facts and even some feelings and opinions. They are also requesting that we support Senate Resolution 636. I urge you, if you truly support the Troops, to at least listen to them. Get their side of this issue. After all, it is to them we owe a debt of gratitude we will never be able to repay.

Here are just a few of their reports:

Pete Hegseth: Up and Over the Palm Tree.
David Bellavia: Diyala Surge.
Kate Norley: Back to Iraq Journal Entry #4.
Daniel Bell: Back to Iraq Journal Entry #6.
Erik Swabb: Back to Iraq Journal Entry #3.
Shawn Bryan: Dispatch from Kuwait.
Ben Hayden: Back to Iraq Journal Entry #3.

Whether or not you supported this war, they had no choice. It was their job, and they stood up for us. Will you now stand up for them?

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Today I am having a Linkfest party for all my friends - the ones I know and the ones I will come to know. If you have a post you would like to share, why not trackpost it here? All you have to do is add my Permalink somewhere in your article (usually at the bottom), then trackback to it. You don't have trackbacks available? Why not use Wizbang Stand Alone Trackback? Everyone have a nice day.

Friends I have trackbacked to through Linkfest and others: The World According To Carl - Florida State Loses As Well…, The World According To Carl - Mississippi State Loses Again, Shadowscope - Martha Beech Plotted to Kill Her Husband, The Pink Flamingo - Why Sarah Palin Was Dis-Invited from the Big Anti-Iran Rally at the UN, Woman Honor Thyself - Poor, Lazy People, Right Truth - New Nuclear Reactors in Pakistan -- New Bombings in Pakistan, Adam's Blog - The $700 Billion Bailout.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary's News and Ideas. Digg!

Put Congress On Record: Did The Surge Work?

Senator Barack Obama (video) continues to deny the surge has worked, even though most Americans recognize the FACT that it has. The same is believed by vice-presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden.

[I had to remove the video of Joe Biden on Meet the Press, because MSNBC was SCREWING UP my computer. Sorry. If you would like, I can e-mail you the iFrame code. Just leave a comment requesting it. Thanks.]

This is why Vets For Freedom is making a point of getting everyone in Congress on the record as to whether or not they believe the surge has worked. We deserve to know where our elected officials stand and how they determine foreign policy issues. If they cannot concede to this success, do we really want Sen. Obama to be Commander-in-Chief?

There is a new video that the Vets For Freedom have made. It is a very good one, and all they are doing is asking Congress to support Senate bill 636. They want to make sure our men and women are given the opportunity to win each battleground area, to be supported, to succeed. In essense, they want the Congress not to change their minds halfway through a war that they've sent REAL LIVE people into harms way. Never again...here is the link: Success is Relevant, Senator.

If you could please put pressure on our supposed elected officials, here are some suggestions to get you started. Remember, whenever addressing members of the government, BE POLITE no matter how much of an a**hole they are. ;)

Vets for Freedom has launched our "Truth about the Surge" media and grassroots campaign. The campaign is intended to inform the American public, and key lawmakers, about the undeniable success that our troops have achieved as a result of the surge, and the importance of ensuring victory in Iraq, Afghanistan and the overall Global War on Terrorism.

In the coming weeks our objectives are twofold:

Tell your members of Congress to support the surge and our troops by supporting Senate Resolution 636 and creating a similar resolution in the House. We need your help, call your member, write a Letter to the editor and spread the word about the success of the surge and importance of ‘walking the walk’ and showing their support by voting yes for Senate Resolution 636.

Click Here (.pdf) to view a Dear Colleague letter from Senators Graham and Lieberman for SR 636.

Telling your friends and neighbors the importance of the surge and missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The American people have the right to know that we are and with your help will WIN the war in Iraq. The surge has worked and we need you to help spread the word.

"Truth about the Surge" will only succeed if our members are willing to volunteer their time. But isn't this the least we can do, with our fellow Soldiers, Marines, Airman, and Sailors still serving overseas? We need you to volunteer to write Letters to the Editor, attend events, make phone calls, call into local radio shows, and exploit targets of opportunity. We will be running TV ads in most of these states as well to further spread the message.

What do you mean, 'What is Sen. Res. 636'? I did not explain it? D'oh! ;)

Update: Before I give the Senate resolution, let me please implore you to make 10 phone calls. Eight will be to people whom we have a strong sense that we will co-sponsor this bill, and two will be to your own Senators. Here is the toll free number: 1-866-340-9281. Here is what you should ask:

1. Please be a "co--sponsor" of Senate Resolution 636.
2. Please do whatever you can to bring the Resolution to the Senate floor for a vote.
3. Please the courage to vote "yes"--on the record—about the success of the surge.

Every U.S Senator needs to hear from Iraq & Afghanistan veterans, and those who support them, about the importance of praising our troops for all they have accomplished.

Here are the names and numbers of the eight people you should contact:

Susan Collins (R-ME) - 202.224.2523
John Warner (R-VA) - 202.224.2023
Judd Gregg (R-NH) - 202.224.3324
Chuck Hagel (R-NE) - 202.224.4224
Gordon Smith (R-OR) - 202.224.3753
Olympia Snowe (R-ME) - 202.224.5344
Arlen Specter (R-PA) - 202.224.4254
George Voinovich (R-OH) - 202.224.3353

Your 2 Senators. Follow this link for a directory of all U.S. Senators.

Thank you for your help. It is so much appreciated. Now here is the Senate Resolution 636.

Senate Resolution 636:

S.RES.636.
Title: A resolution recognizing the strategic success of the troop surge in Iraq and expressing gratitude to the members of the United States Armed Forces who made that success possible.
Sponsor: Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT] (introduced 7/31/2008)
Cosponsors (28)
Latest Major Action: 7/31/2008 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

TEXT OF THE BILL.

Recognizing the strategic success of the troop surge in Iraq and expressing gratitude to the members of the United States Armed Forces who made that success possible. (Introduced in Senate)

SRES 636 IS

110th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. RES. 636

Recognizing the strategic success of the troop surge in Iraq and expressing gratitude to the members of the United States Armed Forces who made that success possible.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 31, 2008

Mr. LIEBERMAN (for himself, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. ENZI, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. BOND, Mr. WICKER, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. ALLARD, Mr. THUNE, Mr. BARRASSO, and Mr. INHOFE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
--------------------------------------------------------------------

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the strategic success of the troop surge in Iraq and expressing gratitude to the members of the United States Armed Forces who made that success possible.

Whereas, by the end of 2006, it had become clear that, despite exceptional efforts and sacrifices on the part of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq, the United States was pursuing a failed strategy in Iraq;

Whereas, by the end of 2006, large-scale sectarian violence was accelerating throughout Iraq, al Qaeda had established significant safe havens there, militias sponsored by the Government of Iran had seized effective control of large swaths of Iraq, and the Government of Iraq was suffering from political paralysis;

Whereas, by the end of 2006, insurgents and death squads were killing more than 3,000 civilians in Iraq each month and coalition forces were sustaining more than 1,200 attacks each week;

Whereas, in December 2006, the Iraq Study Group warned that `the United States is facing one of its most difficult and significant international challenges in decades' in Iraq and that `Iraq is vital to regional and even global stability, and is critical to U.S. interests';

Whereas, in December 2004, Osama bin Laden said the following of the war in Iraq: `The most important and serious issue today for the whole world is this Third World War. . . . The world's millstone and pillar is Baghdad, the capital of the caliphate.';

Whereas, on January 10, 2007, in an address to the Nation, President George W. Bush acknowledged that the situation in Iraq was `unacceptable' and announced his intention to put in place a new strategy, subsequently known as `the surge';

Whereas President Bush nominated and the Senate confirmed General David H. Petraeus as the Commander of Multi-National Forces--Iraq, a position he assumed on February 10, 2007;

Whereas General Petraeus, upon assuming command, and in partnership with Lieutenant General Raymond Odierno, the Commander of Multi-National Corps--Iraq, and United States Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, developed a comprehensive civil-military counterinsurgency campaign plan to reverse Iraq's slide into chaos, defeat the enemies of the United States in Iraq, and, in partnership with the Iraqi Security Forces and the Government of Iraq, reestablish security across the country;

Whereas, under the previous strategy, the overwhelming majority of United States combat forces were concentrated on a small number of large forward operating bases and were not assigned the mission of providing security for the people of Iraq against insurgents, terrorists, and militia fighters, in part because there were insufficient members of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq to do so;

Whereas, as an integral component of the surge, approximately 5 additional United States Army brigades and 2 United States Marine Corps battalions were deployed to Iraq;

Whereas, as an integral component of the surge, members of the United States Armed Forces were deployed out of large forward operating bases onto small bases throughout Baghdad and other key population centers, partnering with the Iraqi Security Forces to provide security for the local population against insurgents, terrorists, and militia fighters;

Whereas additional members of the United States Armed Forces began moving into Iraq in January 2007 and reached full strength in June 2007;

Whereas, as a consequence of the additional forces needed in Iraq, in April 2007 the United States Army added 3 months to the standard year-long tour for all active duty soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the United States Marine Corps added 3 months to the standard 6-month tour for all active duty Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan;

Whereas, as an integral component of the surge, members of the United States Armed Forces began simultaneous and successive offensive operations, in partnership with the Iraqi Security Forces, of unprecedented breadth, continuity, and sophistication, striking multiple enemy safe havens and lines of communication at the same time;

Whereas, as an integral component of the surge, additional members of the United States Armed Forces were deployed to Anbar province to provide essential support to the nascent tribal revolt against al Qaeda in that province;

Whereas those additional members of the United States Armed Forces played a critical role in the success and spread of anti-Qaeda Sunni tribal groups in Anbar province and subsequently in other regions of Iraq;

Whereas, since the start of the surge in January 2007, there have been marked and hopeful improvements in almost every political, security, and economic indicator in Iraq;

Whereas, in 2007, General Petraeus described Iraq as `the central front of al Qaeda's global campaign';

Whereas, in 2008, as a consequence of the success of the surge, al Qaeda has been dealt what Director of Central Intelligence Michael Hayden assesses as a `near strategic defeat' in Iraq;

Whereas, as a consequence of the success of the surge, militias backed by the Government of Iran have been routed from major population centers in Iraq and no longer control significant swaths of territory;

Whereas, as a consequence of the success of the surge, sectarian violence in Iraq has fallen dramatically and has been almost entirely eliminated;

Whereas, as a consequence of the success of the surge, overall insurgent attacks have fallen by approximately 80 percent since June 2007 and are at their lowest level since March 2004;

Whereas, as a consequence of the success of the surge, United States casualties in Iraq have dropped dramatically and United States combat deaths in Iraq in July 2008 were lower than in any other month since the beginning of the war;

Whereas, as a consequence of the success of the surge, the Government of Iraq has made significant strides in advancing sectarian reconciliation and achieving political progress, including the passage of key benchmark legislation;

Whereas, as a consequence of the success of the surge, the Iraqi Security Forces have improved markedly and approximately 70 percent of Iraqi combat battalions are now leading operations in their areas; and

Whereas, as a consequence of the success of the surge, General Petraeus concluded in 2008 that conditions on the ground in Iraq could permit the additional brigades and battalions dispatched to Iraq in 2007 as part of the surge to be safely redeployed without replacement, and all such brigades and battalions have been successfully withdrawn without replacement: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) commends and expresses its gratitude to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces for the service, sacrifices, and heroism that made the success of the troop surge in Iraq possible;

(2) commends and expresses its gratitude to General David H. Petraeus, General Raymond Odierno, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker for the distinguished wartime leadership that made the success of the troop surge in Iraq possible;

(3) recognizes the success of the troop surge in Iraq and its strategic significance in advancing the vital national interests of the United States in Iraq, the Middle East, and the world, in particular as a strategic victory in a central front of the war on terrorism; and

(4) recognizes that the hard-won gains achieved as a result of the troop surge in Iraq are significant but not yet permanent and that it is imperative that no action be taken that jeopardizes those gains or dishonors the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who made those gains possible.

If you still have questions or you would like to join the Vets For Freedom, please visit Vets For Freedom-Join Us. Thank you so much for all that you do to support those who are giving much more than we could ever repay and they ask nothing in return...except maybe a little respect. I do NOT think that is too much to ask. As a matter of fact, I demand it of myself. How about you?

Cross-posted @ The Talon and Rosemary's News and Ideas. Digg!

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Today I am having a Linkfest party for all my friends - the ones I know and the ones I will come to know. If you have a post you would like to share, why not trackpost it here? All you have to do is add my Permalink somewhere in your article (usually at the bottom), then trackback to it. You don't have trackbacks available? Why not use Wizbang Stand Alone Trackback? Everyone have a nice day.

Friends I have trackbacked to through Linkfest and others: Mark My Words - OTA Open Trackback 09/14/08, Shadowscope - Caylee Anthony: Week Nine, Wingless - Quran/Koran: Sura 5:32 - When Killing isn’t Murder, The World According To Carl - The “Lying King” Sarah Palin Parity Voice Over, Right Voices - Obama’s Foreign Donors: The media averts its eyes, Political Byline - Powerful Video and Conservative Cat - Conservative Cat, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Friends who have shared their posts for your reading pleasure:
1. Me.
2. Take Our Country Back - Hillary Replacing Joe Biden? UPDATED.
Snooper - Back in 1972, George McGovern had for his VP choice one Thomas Eagleton but it was soon discovered that he just might be mentally unstable because he had at one time undergone electro-shock therapy for depression. After McGovern stated that...
3. Right Truth - President Ahmadinejad will face "Wall of Shame" at the UN Headquarters over Child Executions.
Thanks to Insights Into Today's Middle East...
4. Wolf Pangloss - Vegetarian Brain Shrinkage.
Boy oh boy, isn’t this funny? MELBOURNE: Scientists have discovered that going veggie could be bad for your brain-with those on a meat-free diet six times more likely to suffer brain shrinkage...
5. Wolf Pangloss - Bravo! Bravissimo!
Al Qaeda’s ballyhooed plans to release a fancy-pants video on the intertubes on 9/11 came to naught...
6. Wolf Pangloss - Wile E. Coyote: New York Times reporter.
Doo-dee-doo-dee-doo… now where did I put that protractor? Ahh, here it is! Let me see… if the hypotenuse the parabola of a pregnant teenager… is inversely proportional to the approval ratings of the religious Right… then if I se...
7. Potbelly Stove - Pakistan: Who is in charge?
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan's military has ordered its forces to open fire if U.S. troops launch another air or ground raid...
8. Mark My Words - Obama, the financial crisis and a pattern.
I don't think this helps Michelle's kids...
9. Mark My Words - An abortion survivor.
Has a message for Barack Obama...
The World According To Carl - John Clark’s Amazing Bio-Dieselmobile (Vegetable Oil To Be Precise).
...one of the very nice things John & Chris did for me in just the first few days we worked together was to teach me several chords on the guitar after I failed miserably to teach myself from a Mel Bay “Teach Yourself Guitar” book...
The World According To Carl - Uncle Jay Explains The News — September 15, 2008.
Uncle Jay’s news word for this week is “lipstick.”...
The World According To Carl - Coca Cola — The Way It USED To Be (And Should Be Once Again).
Prior to 1985, Coca Cola used sugar in their formula. But in 1985, some major idiot came up with “New Coke” which some more idiots in the Coca Cola company managed to convince higher-up idiots to sell to the public...
The World According To Carl - Let ‘Em Do Their Job, Willya?
...Trackposted to Blog @ MoreWhat.com, Mark My Words, Rosemary’s Thoughts, Right Truth, Shadowscope, DragonLady’s World, Phastidio.net, Cao’s Blog, Leaning Straight Up, Democrat=Socialist, Conservative Cat, Take Our Country Back, Political Byline, third world county, Walls of the City, MacBros’ Reviews, The Pink Flamingo, WingLeSS, Right Voices, and Stageleft. Also, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe...
The World According To Carl - When Dissent ISN’T Patriotic.
I do get tired when liberal play the “dissent is patriotic” card but show the content of their dissent to be completely unpatriotic...
10. walls of the city - irony spelled "alpha tango foxtrot".
I could not quite decide whether to file this report by the Associated Press as humor or firearm-related: The ATF lost 76 weapons and hundreds of laptops over five years, the Justice Department reported Wednesday, blaming carelessness and sloppy record...
11. Mark My Words - Obama - "Constitutional law" expert?
If that's true, Barack Obama seems to not care that he's stepping all over the U.S. Constitution lately. How so? Well there is that little matter called separation of powers. Foreign policy is in the hands of the President, rather than...

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DNC Throws US Flags In Garbage

I was listening to Roger on the radio this morning, when I couldn't believe my ears. Over 12,000 US Flags were thrown into garbage bags to be deposited in the nearest landfill! I guess I should not be surprised, but I am. There are proper ways to dispose of the US Flag if it is no longer of use (for your props). Here is one blogger from the Denver Post:

Republican Recycling.
by David Harsanyi on September 6, 2008

This morning, Republicans tell me that a worker at Invesco Field in Denver saved thousands of unused flags from the Democratic National Convention that were headed for the garbage. Guerrilla campaigning. They will use these flags at their own event today in Colorado Springs with John McCain and Sarah Palin.

The most tell-tale sign of this writer's Left-leaning bias comes at his conclusion.

I'm not sure what the DNC was supposed to do with unused hand-flags, frankly. But the Republicans are obviously questioning someone's patriotism here. [Read the whole article with comments.]

He doesn't have a clue about what to do with those flags? Very telling.

In another article with a different consideration, here is more information.

Democrats Throw 12,000 American Flags Into The Garbage.
Posted by Bob Hayes of Blogger News Network.

Flags can be properly disposed of by following the regulations of the US Flag Code. Local VFW posts and American Legion posts are always glad to help with flag disposal, as are most local Boy Scout troops. Flags should be re-used, stored for future re-use, or be ceremonially destroyed rather than being thrown into the garbage.

It is never acceptable to simply throw the flag into the garbage. To throw 12,000 flags into the garbage is an act of the profoundest disrespect for the American flag, and to the veterans who fought and died under that banner.

UPDATE: Fox News is reporting that it was a vendor who discovered the flags, not a cleanup worker. [Read the whole article with comments. Some are quite funny (if you consider stupidity to be funny, lol).]

There are two more articles I would like to share with you. One is written by a friend of mine over at Love America First (cross-posted @ Stop the ACLU), and the other article is by Ed Morrissey at Captain's Quarters (and HotAir). Starting with Lobo:

My co-blogger Roger wrote about this on the September 1st, and yes the entire Democratic party should be ashamed. Of course, they aren't. So, why wouldn't people question your patriotism when you treat the flag like this?

Now for Ed's:

Didn't anyone make arrangements for better disposal of these flags from Invesco? At the very least, they were an investment that could have been re-used at rallies in Colorado as well as the rest of the nation during the general election. Instead, they've handed a dramatic moment to John McCain and Sarah Palin, as well as relieved them of the cost of 12,000 such flags -- as well as a full 3?x5? flag that also wound up in the trash.

Remember when the DNCC was supposed to be the "greenest convention ever"? How they worried about the color of the food and using organic materials in their merchandise? I guess we can see where the "green" concern ends ... at red, white, and blue. [Read more.]

I must say, this story has started a firestorm. It was just published today, and I thought I was going to break the news. Foolish me! lol. So many people are already on the story.

BTW, in case you are wondering, it has been verified that this did actually happen. I am more sad for my country than I am angry at the DNC. When did it become passe to not love our country? How many COMMUNISTS are there living here? Yes, and you know who you are. I hate you, Commie freedom haters. I want my country to love itself before they start demanding that we have better relationships with other countries. If you hate it so much here, there are no locks on the borders (as you can clearly see, but don't get me going on that issue!). Can we for once have a campaign about issues concerning our survival? Why? If we do not, we will no longer have a flag to defend, because we will no longer be free (if we are alive). That is why. Have a nice day.

Update II: Right Voices has a wonderful article on this also. UPDATED AND BUMPED: Obama Puts Out A Lie To Try And Cover Up What We Saw Back On 08-28-08….New Game: Where’s the Flag At The Democratic National Convention..Hint: Look In The Trash. There are many more links to some very intelligent people. Maybe you could just visit for those links, get to know more people? I'm going to! ;)

Update III: Here is another great post: Stop the ACLU - McCain Rescues American Flags From DNC Trash.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Friends whom I have trackbacked to: Shadowscope - More On Caylee's Troubled, Disfunctional Family, 123beta - Unsubscribing Made Easy, Blog @ MoreWhat.com - MSM Feels the Heat and Some Are Arrogant, third world county - Bill Whittle on Sarah Palin: Go. Read, Mark My Words - Sarah Palin - fail, fail and fail and fail again.

Friends who've trackbacked to this post:
1. The Virtuous Republic - What the Left Thinks of Their Flag.
2. third world county - Is That a Fine/Imprisonment Per Flag?
3. Right Truth - Let's compare experience...
4. The World According To Carl - Abe Lincoln Said….
5. Brian Bonner - The Uncooperative Radio Show!
6 Woman Honor Thyself - Muslims at Univ.of Southern CaliforniA SeethinG.
7. Conservative Cat - A Bad Idea At The Time.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary's News and Ideas. Digg!

Eight VFF Combat Vets Return to Iraq to Assess Progress

Below you will find one of the finest groups of men in which America is honored to be considered their home. Eight of them shall undertake the grueling task of going back to Iraq to report about the situation on the ground…the TRUTH this time. Apparently that is NOT something they teach in journalistic ethics anymore.

This was written by Pete Hegseth of Vets For Freedom, and I hope you will keep them in your prayers. Also read their articles. They will be writing often, and with eight of them? It should be daily! lol. Oh, there's going to be video, too! This is where you will find the news. If you’d like to follow as they go into dustbowl hell again, join and follow the reports from the Vets For Freedom.

Dear Vets for Freedom Members:

I'm excited to announce that next week, Vets for Freedom is sending eight Iraq war combat veterans "back to Iraq" to embed with U.S. combat units and assess the security and political situation on the ground. The media—-along with recent Iraq visitors—-have not sufficiently reported the gains on the ground…so we’ll do it ourselves.

We will return to the Iraqi cities where we once patrolled—-cities like Fallujah, Baqubah, Samarra, and Baghdad—-to provide a true "before and after" perspective and analyze the results of the surge, observe ongoing counterinsurgency operations, and examine future scenarios that might confront U.S. and Iraqi forces, as well as the Iraqi government.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LIST OF EMBEDS AND WHERE THEY'LL BE

All eight Vets for Freedom members have received their media credentials through Blackfive, National Review Online or The Weekly Standard. And while in Iraq, we will provide regular updates through the above media organizations and at www.vetsforfreedom.org. We will be blogging daily, writing full-length pieces, shooting video footage, and reporting live from the ground.

Embeds will be meeting with U.S. and Iraqi military and civilian leaders, and will focus our analysis on determining the durability of recent gains, the potential consequences of a rapid American withdrawal, the proper "conditions-based" metrics needed to measure future force levels, the status of displaced Iraqis, and the prospects for the return of al Qaeda to Iraq, amongst other issues.

CLICK HERE TO READ ALL FUTURE DISPATCHES FROM IRAQ

I'm honored to be heading back to Iraq with such an incredible group of vets. I also want to thank the corporations UnderArmour and Wiley-X for outfitting our group with the proper tactical clothing and eyewear, as well as North American Rescue for supplying us with medical supplies.



Be on the lookout at www.vetsforfreedom.org for forthcoming updates about the trip!

Moving out—-with 7 fellow vets—-to Draw Fire!





Chairman, Vets for Freedom.

This is their first article:

WASHINGTON, DC – Vets for Freedom (VFF) today announced that eight Iraq war veterans who are members of the organization will return to Iraq to assess conditions on the ground and analyze policy options for future U.S. military involvement. Next week they will return to the Iraqi cities where they once patrolled, to provide a true “before and after” perspective.

Success in Iraq demands a fact-based policy built on an objective assessment of conditions on the ground and the advice of U.S. commanders. Through this extensive review, VFF embeds will provide an informed understanding of the best future course for the United States in Iraq.

“The great danger is that policy becomes divorced from events on the ground. The only responsible course is to ensure that decisions on troop levels and other matters reflect the demands of the battlefield. To reduce forces ignorant of, or despite, the consequences would be to risk disaster,” remarked VFF Chairman Pete Hegseth.

Individuals participating in the embed in Iraq include Hegseth, David Bellavia, Joel Arends, Erik Swabb, Kate Norley, Shawn Bryan, Daniel Bell, and Ben Hayden. Biographies for these individuals, as well as where they will be embedded, may be found at www.vetsforfreedom.org/backtoiraq, and additional details about the trip will be made available as schedules in Iraq are finalized.

The assessment will include a series of real-time updates from key strategic points in Iraq, with visits to Ramadi, Fallujah, Baqubah, Samarra, Baghdad, amongst others. Following the return of the group, VFF will issue a report to elected officials and the public with findings and recommendations.

The analysis of the group will focus on determining the depth and durability of recent gains, the troop levels required to achieve stability, the potential consequences of a rapid American withdrawal, the proper "conditions-based" metrics needed to measure the right balance of U.S. and Iraqi forces, the status of displaced people seeking to return to their homes, and the prospects for the return of al Qaeda to Iraq, among other issues.

“Senator Obama has stated his intention to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq on a fixed timetable and without almost any consideration for facts on the ground and events in the region. A policy of effectively unconditional withdrawal from Iraq raises troubling questions. Through this on-the-ground assessment, members of VFF are committed to providing fact-based analysis of critical policy decisions,” concluded Hegseth.

For interviews, please contact those listed above. For more on Vets for Freedom and the “Four Months, For Victory” campaign, visit www.vetsforfreedom.org/fourmonths.

These are wonderful people, and they are sacrificing much to bring us so much information to you. They have already served in Iraq when it is was at its roughest and almost impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel that John McCain saw so clearly. Let us be grateful for such men as these, and let us pray for them. Also, let us support them. Yes, I mean MONEY!

God bless you guys for doing this for us, and God bless everyone who truly supports them. Have a great day.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Today I am having a Linkfest party for all my friends, they ones I know and they ones I will come to know. If you have a post you would like to share with more people, why not trackpost it here? All you have to do is add my Permalink somewhere in your article (usually at the bottom), then trackback to it. You don't have trackbacks available? Why not use Wizbang Stand Alone Trackback Everyone have a nice day.

Friends I have trackbacked today through Linkfest and others: The World According To Carl: Mercedes Benz’s New Luxury Vehicle: The MZ-3000 Illusion, 123beta: Saddam Hussein’s Rolls Royce For Sale On Ebay.

Friends who have shared their posts for your reading pleasure:
1. Right Truth: Guilty or Innocent?
2. Pirate's Cove: Drilling: The Election Issue Of All Election Issues.
3. Conservative Cat: Saner Men Would Need Therapy.
4. Leaning Straight Up: Another loved one, departed.
5. third world county: “Sitemeter down”? NOT!
6. Shadowscope: Tyson's Cancels Labor Day Holiday.
7. Pursuing Holiness: New site in the creation/evolution debate - DetectingTruth.com.
8. Right Truth: Never Surrender.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary's News and Ideas and Adam's Blog. Digg!

Guard, Border Patrol Mark End of Operation Jump Start

The National Guard and the U.S Border Patrol marked the end of Operation Jump Start during a ceremony one week ago in Washington, D.C. The commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which includes the Border Patrol, joined the chief of the Border Patrol and the chief of the National Guard Bureau at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

Operation Jump Start was a Guard mission to support the Border Patrol in providing security on America’s southern border. It began June 15, 2006, and officially ended Tuesday. During that time, more than 29,000 Guard soldiers and airmen from all 54 states and territories participated. At one time, 6,000 Guard troops were taking part in the mission while the Border Patrol hired and trained additional agents.

“We can all now admit that we did, in fact, need your help,” said W. Ralph Basham, CBP commissioner. “We needed your help desperately, as a matter of fact, to build a bridge (from) where we were two years ago in June 2006 (to) where we are now.”

David V. Aguilar, chief of the Border Patrol, said, “The partnership has worked. We have made America safer. As we have in the past – the Guard, the Border Patrol – we will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder guarding and protecting our country.”

Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said the partnership was an example of doing things the right way and will be studied by future leaders as a successful effort between two government organizations.

“If this country didn’t have a National Guard,” he said, “we’d be scrambling to invent one this morning.”

Editor's Note: This is crap! Why are they closing down the operation right before an election? SO THE ILLEGALS CAN VOTE. Don't try to sell me this crap. I can smell it a mile away.

For those of you with your arms up in the air, cool off for a minute. THIS IS THE BRASS, not the Troops. This is the political part of the National Guard with whom I have had several differences with before. Did you know they had a Senator's name down as a supporter of some bill that came up AFTER this same Senator HAD A STROKE and was hospitalized? (Still is, to the best of my knowledge.) That is when I stopped reporting their 'Notes'. I do believe I will do so again. I have so much work to do.

If you would care to continue receiving their notes and legislative alerts, here is their website. I'm through. Kaput. I've had it. Have a nice day.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary's News and Ideas.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

VA Plans Sporting Event to Help Recovery of Wounded Veterans

The National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs will allow 100 injured veterans to take part in a unique rehabilitative sports experience. The event will be held Sept. 28 to Oct. 3 at several venues in the San Diego area. The event is open to recently injured veterans who have spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, certain neurological conditions, amputation or other mobility impairments or post-traumatic stress disorder. For many injured veterans, this event will provide their first exposure to recreational sports and other activities after being injured.

"The sports clinic will strengthen veterans battling [their way] back from injury, improving their mental and physical well-being,” said Dr. James B. Peake, the VA secretary.

Sea World and the San Diego Mariott Hotel and Marina will be the site of the opening and closing ceremonies, along with some of the week’s events. Other events will be held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Kellogg Park in La Jolla Shores, the Embarcadero Marina Park and the Mission Bay Yacht Club. Events will include sailing, cycling, surfing, kayaking and track and field. The VA considers recreational sports an important part of the therapy for many disabilities. It includes similar therapeutic programs at health centers across the country.

The VA also sponsors the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, the National Veterans Golden Age Games and the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. More information is available at www.SummerSportsClinic.VA.gov.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary's News and Ideas.

NGAUS History 18July2008

Maj. Gen. James F. Cantwell, NGAUS president, and Col. James B. Deerin, NGAUS executive director, were two of the 12 representatives of military and veterans’ organizations called to the White House on April 12, 1970, for a briefing on defense matters by President Richard Nixon. Seated around a large mahogany table in the Cabinet Room, the group listened to the president for 55 minutes. Nixon expressed concern over the Soviet Union’s growing arsenal of strategic weapons, the ability of the United States to continue to exert diplomatic and military leadership in thMaj. Gen. James F. Cantwell, NGAUS president, and Col. James B. Deerin, NGAUS executive director, were e world if the Soviets should forge ahead in military power and the growing anti-militarism in the U.S. Nixon also emphasized the need for the United States to provide an adequate defense while attending to domestic problems.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary's News and Ideas.

This Week in Guard History 18July2008

July 20 1969: Long Binh, Vietnam — Members of Rhode Island's 107th Signal Company continue to perform routine but necessary upgrades on equipment to assure a smooth flow of communications in support of Headquarters, II Field Force.

The unit, in country since October 1968, actually has elements serving in three different locations in Vietnam. The main body is stationed at Long Binh, while a platoon is based at Can Tho, 80 miles southwest of Saigon, to support the IV Corps (Mekong Delta) area. A second platoon is situated at Tay Ninh, 50 miles northwest of Saigon, to support the 199th Infantry Brigade.

Among their tasks is the maintenance of teletype relays between different headquarters in country and the operation of a 200-line dial central office on wheels to provide commercial-quality phone service. This latter equipment allows the unit to deploy with a mobile force and within an hour have its commo links working.

While no members of the unit would be killed in action, Sgt. Ernest Perry of Warwick, R.I., would die in a swimming accident. The 107th returned home in October 1969 and was reorganized in the Rhode Island Guard. However, it was disbanded in the 1990s and its lineage is now lost. It is the only National Guard unit carrying Vietnam campaign credit not still in the force today.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary's News and Ideas.

VA Plans to Open 39 More Vet Centers

The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to open 39 more Veterans Centers across the United States before the fall of 2009, making mental health care more accessible to more combat veterans. “Community-based Vet Centers, already in all 50 states, are a key component of VA’s mental health program,” said Dr. James B. Peake, the VA secretary. “I’m pleased we can expand access to bring services closer to even more veterans, including screening and counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder.”

The existing 232 centers conduct community outreach to offer counseling on employment, family issues and education to combat veterans and family members, as well as bereavement counseling for families of service members killed on active duty and counseling for veterans who were sexually harassed while on active duty.

Vet Center services are available at no cost to veterans who experienced combat during any war. The centers are staffed by small teams of counselors, outreach workers and other specialists, many of whom are combat veterans.

The communities and counties receiving new Vet Centers are: Madison, Ala.; Maricopa, Ariz.; Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino and San Diego, Calif.; Fairfield, Conn.; Broward, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Volusia, Fla.; Cobb, Ga.; Cook and DuPage, Ill.; Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Prince George’s, Md.; Macomb and Oakland, Mich.; Hennepin, Minn.; Greene, Mo.; Onslow, N.C.; Ocean, N.J.; Clark, Nev.; Comanche, Okla.; Bucks and Montgomery, Pa.; Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Tarrant, Texas; Virginia Beach, Va.; King, Wash.; and Brown, Wis.

Eighteen of the counties that will have new centers already have one or more. The other 21 will receive their first centers.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary's News and Ideas.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him.

Video ad by Vets4Freedom; MAF telethon video, news

Wow, have I got a round-up for you! Vets For Freedom has started their campaign to wake up America as to the fact that we ARE winning this global war, and Move America Forward has made their telethon video still available for you to watch. It was great, too. I watched the whole 8 hours!

First lets start with the Vets For Freedom video that is going to be run in twelve key states within the next 4 months, and they will end this campaign at the Nov. 11, 2008 Veterans' Day in Washington, DC. Here is the link to the ad:

The launch coincides with a multi-million dollar television-advertising buy in target markets and on national cable. The first spot "Finish the Job" will begin airing this week and will run for two weeks. Additional ads will run throughout the coming four months and will all be aimed at informing the American people about the truth regarding progress in Iraq and the need for victory on all fronts of the Global War on Terrorism. You can view the ad by clicking below.

Simultaneously, Vets for Freedom State Captains-motivated OIF/OEF veterans-are taking the lead in their states and will mobilize our grassroots veteran membership —YOU!—throughout the country to spread the "ground truth" about progress in Iraq and the need for victory on all fronts of the Global War on Terrorism. The "Four Months For Victory" campaign is a national grassroots effort taking place in all 50 states. Specifically, we have thoroughly trained our Captains in 12 target states, and they will also receive sizeable state budgets. If you are from one of the following states, we really need your help: MN, IA, WI, MI, PA, NV, NM, MO, CO, OH, FL, and VA. We will be running TV ads in most of these states as well to further spread the message.

Move out and draw fire!

This is so HOT! I've watched this video and it may be slow (a little video problem on my part?), but it is very good. I received this e-mail on the second of July, and this e-mail I received today. (That's so I don't confuse you, lol.)

They are calling upon all members to volunteer in this effort to get the message out. We are needed, friends. We are needed to let the people of America know the facts as they are, not as the media wants us to believe they are. Are you willing to help? CLICK HERE TO BECOME A "VOLUNTEER" IN YOUR STATE. (The site appears to be down at this time. I wonder if anyone is messing with it from GOOGLE? Hmm.)

Here is their request of their 25,000 members. The "Four Months, For Victory" campaign will only be successful if we're willing to volunteer our time and put our 'money' where our mouth is. But isn't this the least we can do, with our fellow Soldiers, Marines, Airman, and Sailors still serving overseas? We need to volunteer to write Letters to the Editor, attend events, make phone calls, call into local radio shows, and destroy the enemy from within by electing men and women of honor and stature.

Now it is time some news about the Move America Forward.

We've been getting a big increase in the number of great/terrific/outstanding press stories about our upcoming shipment of what will be the largest delivery of care packages to U.S. troops in history. The approach of the 4th of July Independence Day holiday is remind the media and the people of this nation about what it is that has kept us free and independent: the service & sacrifice of our military men and women.

Now watch this exceptional story from CBS. This was the top story yesterday - with a live report during the 5:00 PM news. And that's not all, here are other media reports on the history we're making together to honor and salute our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan:

CNS News, WorldNetDaily, Newsmax, Sacramento Union, Contra Costa Times.

* You can still see the telethon and sponsor care packages online.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary's News and Ideas.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can.