Military News - Patriotic - Support Our Troops

Veterans Report

2008-05-05T21:44:00.000-07:00

Military Spouse Appreciation Day May 9th

Week of May 05, 2008
The Senate recently passed S. 1315, the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007, by a vote of 96 - 1. The act includes provisions to: (1) establish a new program of insurance for service-connected disabled veterans; (2) expand eligibility for retroactive benefits from traumatic injury protection coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance; (3) increase the maximum amount of Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance that a service-connected disabled veteran may purchase; (4) provide individuals with severe burn injuries specially adapted housing benefits; and (5) extend the monthly educational assistance allowance for apprenticeship or other on-the-job training to two years. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives. How do you feel about this bill? Let your public officials know how you feel!

Military Spouse Appreciation Day May 9th
Since 1984, the Armed Forces have set aside a special day to acknowledge the significant contributions of our spouses. This year, Friday, May 9, 2008, has been designated Military Spouse Appreciation Day. The life of a military family is one of unique challenges. Spouses continue to meet these challenges with grace and strength. Take time to thank your spouse for a job well-done.

Military Report

2008-04-29T02:18:00.000-07:00

base target="_blank"---------------------- 28 APRIL 2008---------------------------------------
Retiree SBP Accounts Being Reviewed
Deal of the Week: 15% Off Flag Cases, Medals, Ribbons & More
More Proposed GI Bill Changes
American Legion Launches Apple Purchase Program for Members
Servicemembers Save with Offers from ASMBA
Uncle Sam Pays for College
Featured Job: Security Force Officer
More Money for Army Captains
Space "A" Travel for Dependents Expanded
20,000 Dollar Critical Skills Bonus
Army Issues Combat Handbooks
Autism Campaign Launched
British Open Tickets Available
Combat Units Eligible for Streamer
Commissaries Offer Guard, Reserve Sales
USAFE 'Extreme Summer' Contest
'Grill Sergeants' Hits San Diego
TRICARE Offers Parenthood Guide
Children's Book Series Available
Free SAT-ACT Prep Software
Navy Museum Gets Rare Civil War Artifact
PBS Series 'Americans At War' Now Online
New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal
Vacations for Vets Program
Branson Women Veterans Week
Army Online Evaluations on Track
Naval Officers Association Conference
Commemorative Military Certificates
Army MWR Summer Sweepstakes
AF Family Life Consultant Program

Military Report

2008-04-22T23:43:00.000-07:00

Sell Your Stuff
Reach thousands of buyers in the military community through our network of local sites. Post a free ad through Military.com Classifieds today. Sell your car or home, get rid of furniture and more. ...More

Limbaugh, Schlussel

2008-04-18T05:12:00.000-07:00

2007 - The US Supreme Court upholds the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act in a 5-4 decision.

Mainstream Media Oblivious to Relevancy of Many Obama-gates
By: David Limbaugh
The dirty little secret about Barack Obama's indictment of flyover country is that he said what liberals, including Hillary Clinton, believe. Sufficient proof of this can be found in the liberal outrage at Wednesday night's Democratic presidential debate, where Obama was pressed both by the moderators and Clinton to explain Bitter-gate, Wright-gate, Ayers-gate and Flag pin-gate.
Consider the uncannily similar reactions of columnists Tom Shales and Stephen Silver.
Shales expressed indignation that ABC News moderators Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos would dare ask Obama to justify his insulting remarks about small-town Americans and his relationships with certain anti-American people.
Shale's fumed, "For the first 52 minutes … Gibson and Stephanopoulos dwelled entirely on specious and gossipy trivia that already has been hashed and rehashed, in the hope of getting the candidates to claw at one another over disputes that are no longer news. Some were barely news to begin with."
Shales was particularly perturbed that Stephanopoulos "came up with such tired tripe as a charge that Obama once associated with a nutty bomb-throwing anarchist."
Continue reading "Mainstream Media Oblivious to Relevancy of Many Obama-gates"
Source,
Paging Dr. Jenny McCarthy: More Bimbo Science
By Debbie Schlussel
Last year, I told you about self-anointed medical "expert," Jenny McCarthy.
Yup, the same Jenny McCarthy who has a medical degree from the Hugh Hefner School of Advanced Silicone Medicine and Porn Sciences. And don't forget her valuable medical expertise gleaned from her days hosting MTV's "Singled Out" and her current scientific gig "dating" (euphemism) Jim Carrey.
Because her son is autistic, she looked for something to blame it on, and . . . voila, "child vaccines cause autism." At least, that's her theory and that held by a growing group of alarmists with the same medical "expertise" as McCarthy. And it's frightening parents from giving their kids necessary vaccines against diseases that are now making a comeback because of Jenny's Bimbo Science. McCarthy and her ilk have succeeded in persuading otherwise responsible parents to retreat back to the Stone Age when it comes to their children's health and available preventative medical treatments. Who knew that taking off your pants for the world (that's how McCarthy reached the D-list) would cause modern pediatric medicine to regress decades?
It's like a scene from the movie, "Idiocracy."
Continue reading "Paging Dr. Jenny McCarthy: More Bimbo Science" Source
Comment on this column redstatesusa.com

redstatesusa.com

Military Report

2008-04-15T06:29:00.000-07:00

Deal of the Week: Best Damn Military Discount
ctive duty and Reserves of the U.S. Military can save up to thousands on select 2008/2009 GM vehicles. Visit gmmilitarydiscount.com to learn more

Army Goes Phishing, E-mail Style

More than 10,000 Soldiers, civilians and Family members with military e-mail addresses received an e-mail promising free tickets to area theme parks, with a link to a website that appeared to belong to the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command (FMWRC). The "phishing" expedition was developed by the Army Computer Emergency Response Team (ACERT) in a Global Computer Network Defense exercise to test the defensive posture of the Army LandWarNet and the response of all parties involved including the FMWRC. ACERT officials sent a follow-up e-mail to the recipients describing the exercise and apologizing for any inconvenience or false hopes raised by the e-mail. Anyone with questions or comments in the conduct of the exercise should contact the ACERT at 703-706-1113.

Veterans Report

2008-04-08T01:06:00.000-07:00

New Website for Vietnam Era Veterans
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) launched a new website to honor Vietnam era veterans. The VFW's new Vietnam Veterans website at is an extension of VFW's "Honor a Vet" campaign and offers Vietnam era veterans an opportunity to their share their experiences, connect with other Vietnam veterans and receive help in applying for government benefits and entitlements, as well as updates on related veterans' issues.

Women Marines Association Convention
The 25th Biennial Women Marines Association Convention and Professional Development Conference will be held Aug. 28- Sept. 3, 2008 at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Houston, Texas. Online registration is available at the Women Marines Association website. Hotel reservations can be made by calling (713) 960-8100 or online.

Movie Portrays Islam as Violent and Bloodthirsty

2008-03-28T05:58:00.000-07:00

The long-awaited and controversial movie Fitna, which graphically portrays Islam as a religion seeking to dominate the world and slaughter non-believers, finally debuted on the internet on Thursday night.

Within two hours of the film's release on Britain's LiveLeak.com video site, close to two million people had seen it. More than half of them were from Holland, home to the film's producer, Dutch politician Geert Wilders.

The screening of the movie had been in doubt after the world's largest website name registrar, Network Solutions, decided to block the movie's home site. The decision to censor the film bolstered concerns that the extent of the fear of Islamic violence has even affected WWW content.

War and Forgiveness

2008-03-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

The veterans of World War II are now at that age where they are dying ever more frequently, and their deaths should be an occasion to remember their achievement and sacrifice. Take the heroism and remarkable forgiveness of Jacob DeShazer, a bombardier on the famous Doolittle raid over Japan of April 18, 1942.

The Doolittle bombing raid was close to a suicide mission, a one-way trip to bring the war to the Japanese homeland for the first time. Coming not long after Pearl Harbor and before the Pacific island victories to come, the raid was a huge boost to domestic morale. Corporal DeShazer was one of five crewmen on Bat Out of Hell, a B-25 aircraft that took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, dropped incendiary bombs over Nagoya, and then flew on to Japanese-occupied China, where the crew was forced to bail out.

DeShazer was taken prisoner, and was starved, beaten and tortured by his Japanese captors. For 34 of his 40 months in captivity, he was kept in solitary confinement. His pilot (Lieutenant William Farrow) and engineer-gunner (Sergeant Harold Spatz) were killed by firing squad. But DeShazer survived the war, was liberated after V-J Day in August 1945, and went on to get a degree in Biblical literature from Seattle Pacific College (now Seattle Pacific University). In 1948, he returned as a Christian missionary to the country that had nearly killed him, and he would continue his ministry in Japan for 30 years.

DeShazer died on March 15 at his home in Salem, Oregon, at age 95. It is one of life's safer bets that he is resting in peace.
War and Forgiveness

Military / Veterans Report

2008-03-18T00:22:00.000-07:00

Operation Never Forgotten
A troop-support group in a small southern Michigan town is working to raise public awareness and appreciation for troops and their families. "Operation Never Forgotten" bridges the gap between our military and civilian worlds by creating nonpartisan national awareness advertising for our troops, veterans and their families. The organization has rolled out more than 500 billboards across America on highways and in airports from Times Square to Los Angeles. The billboards display an unmistakable military theme with phrases encouraging viewers to remember and support the military and their families and the sacrifices they make. For more information, visit the Operation Never Forgotten website.

Find ways to support and honor U.S. military servicemembers and veterans who protect our security and freedom. Visit the Military.com Support our Troops webpage.

Free Magazines for Servicemembers
Subscriptions for Service Members pairs overseas active duty service members with subscription donations to bring your favorite magazines to you at no cost. Create your free wishlist of magazines here.

Military Report

2008-03-14T07:26:00.000-07:00

A St. Pat's Thank-you to Son's Platoon
When you have brought five children into this world, adopted four more and nurtured some 50 foster kids, opening your heart to another 25 boys is no problem - especially when they formed the circle of brothers who were with Lance Cpl. Walter "Gator" O'Haire at the moment of his death in al Anbar province a year ago.

Maureen O'Haire has invited her son's platoon up to Boston to march in Sunday's St. Patrick's Day parade. "This is my way of saying `Thank You' not only for what they did for my son," this Rockland woman explained, "but what these amazing kids do for all of us, each and every day.

Navy Missile Successful as Spy Satellite Is Shot Down (With Video)

Veterans Report

2008-03-11T04:25:00.000-07:00

A GI Bill Benefit Overview
The Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) was created to help veterans of active duty military service pay for their education and training.

Your GI Bill can be used to pay for many different programs including the following:

- College, Business Technical or Vocational Courses
- Distance Learning including Correspondence Courses
- Certification Tests
- Apprenticeship/Job Training (Veterans and Reserve Only)
- Flight Training

The GI Bill is currently worth up to $39,636. This amount is based on the 2007-2008 monthly full-time student payment rate of $1101 multiplied by the 36-month limit. This "payment rate" automatically increases on October first each year. You get the annual increase no matter when you became eligible or begin using it.
View the complete user's guide.

Move America Forward / Berkeley City Council

2008-02-21T12:10:00.001-08:00

2 Arrested at Marine Recruiting OfficeBERKELEY, Calif. - Two people were arrested after they encircled police during a protest of the U.S. Marine recruiting center the night of Feb. 22, a police spokeswoman said.

A group called The World Can't Wait -- These people obviously don't know the president has term limits Drive Out the Bush Regime was demonstrating at the downtown center to protest military recruiting in Berkeley.

The issue has been in the limelight since the City Council last month called the recruiters "uninvited and unwelcome intruders."

Move America Forward Fights Berkeley Council

Michelle Obama’s comment that, for the first time in her adult life she feels proud of America, helps crystallize who Barack Hussein Obama is. It is difficult to imagine that Michelle Obama would publicly twice make such a statement suggesting disdain for America unless she felt it comported with her husband’s views. She must really be proud of the Berkeley Council.
The Real Barack Hussein Obama

Military / Veterans Report

2008-02-19T14:25:00.001-08:00

5 Must Know GI Bill Facts
The GI Bill is a benefit you earned. Here are 5 must know facts that will help you better understanding how it works.

1) You have 10 years to use your benefits. Once you have separated from the service you have 10 years to use it - or loose it.

2) The GI Bill is not Federal Financial Aid. College and University financial aid departments do not consider the MGIB financial aid because it is normally paid directly to you, not the school. This also means that you are eligible for student loans, scholarships, and Pell Grants along with the GI Bill.

3) You can stop and start using the MGIB as needed. Unfortunately, many people believe that once you apply for benefits you have to remain enrolled in school to get the full benefit. Thankfully that's not true.

4) A "month" of benefits doesn't always mean a month. The GI Bill benefit provides 36 months of education benefits. The term "months" can often be confusing. The "36 months" of benefits does not mean you have only 36 months to use it, nor does it mean you must use it all in one 36 month period. Learn more about the way payments are broken down here.

5) The GI Bill pays according to the number of credits you take. The GI Bill payment rates are based on several factors, the biggest being your credit load. For example a fulltime student will get up to $1075 a month while a half-time student will only get half that amount.

Don't let your benefit expire. Take the first step and request free information from schools that match your education needs and schedule.

Secretary Vows to Reduce Wait Times
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake pledged to reduce the time it takes veterans to receive medical care and disability claims payments. At a recent hearing of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, the Secretary said he would work to reduce wait times for VA medical care from about 180 days to 145 days by 2009. According to Peake, VA will hire 3,100 new employees by 2009 and will work to gain greater online access to Pentagon medical information, which will allow staff to process claims faster and move toward an electronic claims filing system.
I wonder if these new employees will be able to communicate in English?
At least enough to understand what they say.

Navy Awards Zumwalt Class Destroyers

The Navy has exercised contract modifications for the construction of the dual lead ships of the Zumwalt class to General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. DDG 1000 and DDG 1001 are the lead ships of a class of next-generation multi-mission surface combatants...More
How the Zumwalt Class Destroyer Works

We will Never forget December 7, 1941 and 911

2007-12-07T07:53:00.000-08:00

USS Arizona

On Sunday, December 7th, 1941 the Japanese launched a surprise attack against the U.S. Forces stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Continued

Original Rare Pearl Harbor Photos
Also linked on the USS Arizona page.

Military / Veterans Report

2007-12-04T06:12:00.000-08:00

VA Home Loan Rules Change
Qualified veterans and active-duty military personnel have been able to buy a home for as much as $417,000 without a down payment or private mortgage insurance for some time now. However the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) has changed its rules to allow larger VA loans if the veteran or servicemember is willing to make a down payment of at least 25 percent of the portion of the home's price that exceeds $417,000. Veterans and active-duty servicemembers can learn more about VA home loans at Military.com

Military / Veterans Report

2007-11-27T03:48:00.000-08:00

GI Bill Benefit Expiration Date
Once you have separated from the service you have 10 years to use all of your benefits. Although separating from service "starts the clock" on your 10-year time limit, you should know that if you rejoin active-duty service for more than 90 days, during the 10-year period, your 10-year clock is reset. In other words, you get 10 years from your last discharge. Visit the GI Bill FAQ page for more information.

In addition to using your GI Bill, Military.com has more than $300 million worth of scholarships in our database geared specifically for servicemembers, veterans, and their families. Take a look and find the right scholarships for you.

VA Annual Report Available
VA's Fiscal Year 2007 Performance and Accountability Report, which describes the department's progress toward reaching its performance goals, was published on Nov. 15, 2007. To see how well VA has succeeded in providing benefits and health care services to America's veterans, read the report at the VA Budget Report webpage.

Compare military pay against civilian jobs

2007-11-23T01:40:00.000-08:00

Learn How Military Pay Stacks Up
How does military pay stack up against civilian jobs? Money may not be the only reason you are thinking about joining the military but it can be an important consideration. Let's compare what you would make in a civilian job to what you can make in the military.

Helicopter Rescue

2007-11-21T21:03:00.000-08:00

If you don't think our military pilots earn their pay, you need to take a look at this picture...and then look again and realize what you're seeing.
This photo was taken by a soldier in Afghanistan of a helo rescue mission. The pilot is a PA Guard member who flies EMS choppers in civilian life. Now how many people on the planet you reckon could set the ass end of a chopper down on the roof top of a shack on a steep mountain cliff and hold it there while soldiers load wounded men in the rear?! If this does not impress you, nothing ever will. It gives me the chills and a serious case of vertigo. I can't even imagine having the nerve--much less the talent and ability. God Bless our military! The original source for the picture above.

Veterans Day

2007-11-06T00:39:00.000-08:00

VETERANS DAY: A TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO SERVED
Click graphic

MAF Veterans Day Tribute

To all Veterans, Active Duty, Reservists and Guard
Thank you for your service to our country. Your sacrifices and dedication to the ideals of our country are honored, especially on Veterans Day. We encourage those not on active duty to wear your medals on 11/11 and 11/12 to show your veteran pride so others will join us in expressing gratitude for all you've done to keep us safe and free. Find ways to celebrate Veterans Day

“We’re gathered today, just as we have gathered before, to remember those who served, those who fought, those still missing, and those who gave their last full measure of devotion for our country... One of those who fell wrote, shortly before his death, these words: ‘Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. And take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind.’ Well, today, Veterans Day, as we do every year, we take that moment to embrace the gentle heroes of Vietnam and of all our wars. We remember those who were called upon to give all a person can give, and we remember those who were prepared to make that sacrifice if it were demanded of them in the line of duty, though it never was. Most of all, we remember the devotion and gallantry with which all of them ennobled their nation as they became champions of a noble cause... Our liberties, our values, all for which America stands is safe today because brave men and women have been ready to face the fire at freedom’s front. And we thank God for them.”
Ronald Reagan
.
“Throughout our history, America has been protected by patriots who cherished liberty and made great sacrifices to advance the cause of freedom. The brave members of the United States Armed Forces have answered the call to serve our Nation, ready to give all for their country. On Veterans Day, we honor these extraordinary Americans for their service and sacrifice, and we pay tribute to the legacy of freedom and peace that they have given our great Nation.”—President George W. Bush, 2007 Veterans Day Proclamation
Veterans Day Profile: Point Man, Roger Helle

On 10 November 1775, the Second Continental Congress resolved to create two battalions of Continental Marines for the War of Independence from Britain. In 1798, President John Adams signed the Act establishing the United States Marine Corps. The 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, General John A. Lejeune, issued Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921, directing that on 10 November every year, in honor of the Corps’ birthday, the Order’s summary of the history, mission and tradition of the Corps be read to every command. Happy Birthday, Marines!

Microsoft Salute to our Troops: Above and Beyond Awards

Monster Bash Aboard The USS Hornet / Prez Chopper

2007-10-19T21:07:00.000-07:00

Next President's Tricked-Out Supercopter
Even the president's ride can be hot-rodded. That's the best way to describe the 23 choppers scheduled to replace the current fleet of Marine One VH-3Ds and VH-60Ns. Outfitted with a kitchen, a bathroom and a White House-worthy high-speed communications suite, the VH-71 is closer in capabilities (and amenities) to Air Force One than to its short-hop predecessors.

Saturday, October 27, 2007 Monster Bash
Is the USS Hornet Haunted? Bring the whole family and find out. The USS Hornet Museum holds its annual Monster Bash from 7:30pm to midnight onboard the historic aircraft carrier. Visitors will get a good fright throughout the evening with haunted tours, costume contests, and other treats. This family event features 70’s and 80’s dance music by Livewire Dance Band.

Military Report / Humor

2007-10-17T03:33:00.000-07:00

Military Declares Victory Over Al-Qaida
The al-Qaida presence in Iraq is severely crippled, prompting some to declare victory over the group. But as military and administration leaders plot the next phase of the war in Iraq, others warn such a declaration could be premature because the group is resilient....More

Announcing the Military Spouse Network
Milspouses around the world now have a place to share experiences, find military discounts, apply for spouse-friendly jobs, get info on new neighborhoods and more. Tell your friends and join now....More
******************
Humor
Hello, Senator Kennedy
After numerous rounds of "We don't know if Osama is still alive," Osama himself decided to send Ted Kennedy a note in his own handwriting to let him know he was still in the game.

Kennedy opened the note, which appeared to contain a single line of coded message: 370HSSV-0773H.

Kennedy was baffled, so he E-mailed it to John Kerry. Kerry and his aides had no clue either, so they sent it to the FBI. No one could solve it at the FBI, so it went to the CIA, then to the NSA. With no clue as to its meaning, the FBI finally asked Marine Corps Intelligence for help.

Within a few seconds, the Marines cabled back with this reply: "Tell Kennedy he is holding the message upside down."

Towel Heads
This received from an unidentified correspondent in the Department of Defense.

"Towel Heads"

Recently I received a warning about the use of this
politically incorrect term.

Please try to pay attention.

We have been informed that the Islamic terrorists do not
like to be called "Towel Heads" since the item they wear on their heads is actually a small folded sheet.

Therefore, from this point forward, please refer to them as
"little sheet heads."

Thank you for your support on this delicate matter.

Military Report / code pink

2007-10-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

Recon Marines Destroy Terrorist Cell
Marine infantrymen have a knack for understating the spectacular. When scout snipers with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 6, destroyed a group of insurgents emplacing roadside bombs, the sniper team leader summed it up simply.

Then there's this from the code pink anti-American traitors
You might cry after you read this, and that's OK, I promise I won't tell anyone. I'm referring to this letter from Marine Captain Richard Lund, who is the target of a harassment campaign by anti-war protestors who are trying to chase the military out of the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

The anti-war protestors called Captain Lund a "traitor" and defaced the U.S. Marine Recruiting Center where he works in Berkeley, California.

This letter below is the response Captain Lund gave to those who have been harassing him - it's an absolute must read, and you should also share it with others. Catherine Moy - Move America Forward Captain Lund's Open Letter to Code Pink - READ HERE

Military Report

2007-10-09T00:52:00.000-07:00

Come to the Military.com Career Fair in San Antonio
The Military.com Career Fair is coming to San Antonio on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007. Employers seek the valuable skills you learned in service to your country. Register here and get a reminder of the event as well as a final and up - to- date list of the companies attending.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Every three minutes a woman in the United States becomes diagnosed with breast cancer. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The most common sign of breast cancer, a new, hard and painless lump, can be discovered during regular self-examinations. Other symptoms include swelling of part of the breast, skin irritation or dimpling, nipple pain or the nipple turning inward, redness of nipple and breast skin, nipple discharge (other than breast milk) and a lump in the underarm area. Although primarily found in females, males can be diagnosed with breast cancer and suffer similar results. For more information, including educational materials, visit http://www.breastcancer.org/.

Group is Here 4 You
The Silver Star Families of America supports wounded servicemembers and their families by offering troops a friendly ear with its newest program, "Hear 4 You." The no-cost program aims to develop a network of volunteers to listen to military personnel and their families affected by post-deployment stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. Military personnel or family members wishing talk to a volunteer through the Hear 4 You program can follow the link from the Silver Star Families of America website. The program's website shows which volunteers are online at any given moment.

Military / Veterans Report

2007-09-25T00:13:00.000-07:00

Fleet Week San Francisco October 4-9
Since 1981, San Francisco Fleet Week has been an annual opportunity for Northern Californians to honor the men and women serving in the United States Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps. This year we are fortunate to have increased participation from the Coast Guard and the Canadian Navy. In so doing, we expand the scope of Fleet Week internationally as well as across the armed services.

September 15, 1950
Veterans Commemorate Inchon Landing
Stars and Stripes reports that hundreds gathered at the Inchon Landing Operation Memorial recently to mark the 57th anniversary of the daring U.S.-led invasion into the port city of Incheon, South Korea, which split communist troops and changed the course of the Korean War. Among them were several dozen U.S. veterans, most of whom had not been to South Korea since the war ended with an armistice in 1953. The Korean War

Move America Forward

2007-09-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

Friday, September 14, 2007
Posted By:
Melanie Morgan
MAF Confronts Senator Reid’s Office on Betrayal of Troops
Reid’s spokesman, Jim Manley, wanted to hear nothing of the criticisms of Senator Reid. Cross-armed, he ordered the news crew covering the meeting to leave the office, and had the gall to tell the Move America Forward delegation that, “the one thing we all agree on is that we all support our troops.” Numerous Photos

Friday, September 14, 2007
Posted By:
Catherine Moy
Permalink Sen. Harry Reid Refuses to Meet with Grieving Mother
Debbie Lee and Deborah Johns stopped by Sen. Hary Reid’s Senate office Friday, but the senator refused to come out of his office to meet the women.
Lee carried a picture of her son, the first Navy Seal to give his life in Iraq. Both she and Johns carried a message to Reid: Support U.S. troops and allow them to win the war in Iraq before coming home.

Johns son has served three tours in Iraq and has signed up for a fourth.

The two Debs were with a few people represnting Move America Forward, the largest nonprofit, protroops organization in the country.
Chairman Melanie Morgan and Vice Chairman Buzz Patterson were disappointed and frustrated that Reid would not come out of hiding. Instead, he sent out a spokesman who said Reid does support the troops and he wants the home.

Reid has a strange way of showing his support. He has said they are losers - that U.S. troops have already lost in Iraq.

Then he refused to condemn a vile advertisement a radical leftwing group published in the New York Times calling their Iraqi commander, Gen. David Petraeus, a betrayer.

If that’s showing support, I wonder what Reid would do if he didn’t support our troops!

FOX News filmed the discussion among the military mothers, Morgan, Patterson and Reid’s aide.

Military / Veterans Report

2007-09-18T03:47:00.000-07:00

Video * All Video Clips
New Documentary on WWII Debuts
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) presents "The War," a Ken Burns film, beginning Sun,, Sept. 23, 2007 on most PBS stations. The seven-part series documents World War II through the personal accounts of a handful of men and women from four quintessentially American towns. Throughout the series, the indelible experience of combat is brought vividly to life. Please check your local television listings for the exact air time and date in your area. For more information, including educational materials, visit "The War" website

Toys for Tots Makes Special Request
In response to recent events within the toy industry regarding unsafe toys manufactured in China, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is asking its loyal supporters to screen toys prior to purchase to ensure that only safe toys are donated to the upcoming 2007 U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign. The toys identified as potentially unsafe can be found at the Mattel toy recall list at http://service.mattel.com/us/ and the CBS News Detailed SKU's website. For more information, call Mattel toll-free at (888)597-6597. Marine Toys for Tots Foundation does not purchase any toys directly from overseas vendors or manufacturers.

Gathering Of Eagles

2007-09-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

Moon Bat Commie Pinkos deface Vietnam Memorial
Moonbats Threaten Move America Forward-GOE Caravan
By Kit Lange
Eagles! Don’t let these people interfere with Melanie and her Move America Forward caravan!

It has come to our attention that our good friends at Move America Forward are being targeted by the anti-American left. It is not enough that these ultra-liberal forces think it fine to disparage our men and women in uniform. They are now targeting our supporters as they make their way to stand with us in Washington, DC, on 15 September.

They have threatened Melanie Morgan personally and have used the vilest language to harass our friends. Obviously, they have underestimated our resolve and the resolve of our friends in Move America Forward. This is their last-ditch attempt to derail the
counter-protest we have in store for A.N.S.W.E.R.

Turn out in force to welcome Move America Forward as they make their way across the country. These people must be reminded that the silent majority is silent no more!

DoD News Briefing

2007-09-15T03:31:00.000-07:00

DoD News Briefing with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace at the Pentagon Briefing Room, Arlington, Va.

Feinstein's Earmark / Bush Visits Iraq / VA Health Care

2007-09-07T05:35:00.000-07:00

Feinstein's $4 Billion Beverly Hills Earmark
By Kimberley Strassel
Move over Bridge to Nowhere. Congress is back in town, and clearly back to business even uglier than usual.

It takes hard work to come up with an earmark more egregious than that infamous Alaskan bridge, but California's Dianne Feinstein is an industrious gal. Her latest pork--let's call it Rambo's View--deserves to be the poster child for everything wrong with today's greedy earmark process.

The senator's $4 billion handout (yes, you read that right) to wealthy West L.A. (yes, you read that right, too) is the ultimate example of how powerful members use earmarks to put their own parochial interests above national ones--in this case the needs of veterans. It's a case study in how Congress uses the appropriations process to substitute its petty wants for the considered judgments of agency professionals. And it's just the latest proof that, no matter how much outrage the American public might display over these deals--and no matter how often Congress promises to clean up its act--the elected have no intention of reforming the process.

The pork here revolves around the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, though this is no average veterans' facility. Donated to the government in 1888, the center is 387 sprawling, prime real-estate acres in the middle of tony West L.A. More than twice the size of the National Mall, it is surrounded by the mansions and playgrounds of the city's elite, including the Bel Air Country Club and the Beverly Hills estates of Sylvester Stallone, Barry Bonds and Tim McGraw (to name a few). Entire Article
What is clear is that if this pork stands, no senator should again be allowed to bemoan a lack of veterans' funds without having this week's vote waved in his face.

Bush Surprise Visit to Iraq
Bush last night made a surprise detour to Iraq on his way to Australia as part of a strategy to seize the initiative in the country before the US Congress possibly changes the course of the war.

Bush received a "hoorah" when he said he would not base his deployment decision on "nervous reaction by Washington politicians to poll results in the media."

"When we begin to draw down troops from Iraq, it will be from a position of strength and success, not from a position of fear and failure. To do so otherwise would embolden our enemies and make it more likely that they would attack us at home," Bush said.

The temperature topped 110 degrees Fahrenheit as Bush stepped off Air Force One. The president stopped at a small building where a Marine Cobra pilot briefed him about the positives and negatives of current troop rotations.
"Morale?" asked Bush. "How's morale?"
"Very high, sir," the pilot, Capt. Lee Hemming, said.

All Veterans are Potentially Eligible
Eligibility for most veterans’ health care benefits is based solely on active military service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard (or Merchant Marines during WW II), and discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.

VA Health Care Eligibility & Enrollment
VA operates the nation’s largest integrated health care system with more than 1,400 sites of care, including hospitals, community clinics, nursing homes, domiciliaries, readjustment counseling centers, and other facilities.

Enrollment For most veterans, entry into the VA health care system begins by applying for enrollment. To apply, complete VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits, which may be obtained from any VA health care facility or regional benefits office, on line at http://www.va.gov/1010ez.htm <- Scroll to bottom to Start Application for Enrollment Benefits or by calling 1-877-222-VETS (8387). Once enrolled, veterans can receive health care at VA health care facilities anywhere in the country.

My HealtheVet (MHV)
is the gateway to veteran health benefits and services. It provides access to:

trusted health information

links to Federal and VA benefits and resources

the Personal Health Journal

online VA prescription refill

In the future, MHV registrants will be able to view appointments, copay balances, and key portions of their VA medical records online, and much more! My HealtheVet is a powerful tool to help you better understand and manage your health.

Rosie the Riveter

2007-08-31T07:25:00.000-07:00

Rosie The Riveter Web Site

Rosie The Riveter Became An Icon
I never was thanked for helping to change society. I never needed a thank you. I just wanted a career that allowed me to defend my country.

This Labor Day weekend, Stop & Shop Supermarkets and the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport on Long Island are sponsoring me and a half-dozen other Rosie the Riveters for a flight aboard a World War II bomber, as a way of saying "thank you" to every one of us who ever exchanged a kitchen apron for a factory smock.

When I fly, I'll be carrying with me a photo of my two sisters who worked with me at Republic Aviation and who have since passed on. I'll be thinking of them and all of the women who reported to work and created the weapons that brought to a close one of the most horrific wars in history. WOMEN, WORK & WWII
By JOSEPHINE RACHIELE

Military / Veterans Report

2007-08-28T00:15:00.000-07:00

VA Announces Modernization Plans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced several major enhancements at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center in New York state to include new construction and renovation. VA has officially opened its National Suicide Prevention Hot Line at Canandaigua, which will provide round-the-clock national assistance for veterans. The hot line is staffed by mental health professionals taking toll-free calls from veterans across the country. The number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Veterans in need of assistance are connected with on-call professionals, then referred for follow-up treatment at their local VA facility.

Station Seeks WWII Stories
World War II veterans and their families are requested to supply KETC-TV (Channel 9) in St. Louis with information, letters and memories. Creation of the project "Your Stories: St. Louis Remembers World War II" began this spring in anticipation of Ken Burns' 15-hour epic documentary, "The War," which will be broadcast on PBS affiliate stations during a two-week span beginning Sept. 23, 2007. The station invites the sharing through postal mail and e-mail on the KETC website. The "Your Stories" project will continue through Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2007. The mailing address is: Your Stories, KETC, 3655 Olive St., St. Louis Mo. 63108. Check out Military.com's History Channel to read Veterans' Stories from past conflicts.

Personal Information Stolen From AXPOW Headquarters
On August 11 or 12, 2007, there was a break-in at National Headquarters for the American Ex-Prisoners of War, 3201 East Pioneer Parkway, Suite 40, Arlington, Texas 76010. All computer hard drives were stolen, along with several days of mail, checks and cash awaiting deposit and assorted paper files and records. These records include National Service Officer work, protected under Federal law.

The Arlington Police Department, IRS, Department of Veterans Affairs, the United States Federal Attorney in Dallas and the USPS Postal Inspector were all notified.

The concern is the database of members. These records, approximately 35,000, have social security numbers, dates of birth and VA claim numbers in them, along with names, addresses and other personal information. AXPOW members need to be alert for any fraudulent activities concerning their finances.

Did You Know?
The term "the whole 9 yards" came from W.W.II fighter pilots in the South Pacific. When arming their airplanes on the ground, the .50 caliber machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet, before being loaded into the fuselage. If the pilots fired all their ammo at a target, it got "the whole 9 yards."

If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle; if the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle; if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

Only in America can a homeless combat veteran live in a cardboard box and a draft dodger live in the White House. (1993-2001)

V-J Day, 8th Of November, Coming Home Salute

2007-08-23T21:14:00.000-07:00

V-J Day

8th Of November

Coming Home Salute

I know. It's a commercial performed by actors.
It aways bring a tear to my eye.

Veterans Report

2007-08-14T09:38:00.000-07:00

2) The GI Bill is not Federal Financial Aid. College and University financial aid departments do not consider the MGIB financial aid because it is normally paid directly to you, not the school. This also means that you are eligible for student loans, scholarships, and Pell Grants along with the GI Bill.

3) You can stop and start using the MGIB as needed. Unfortunately, many people believe that once you apply for benefits you have to remain enrolled in school to get the full benefit. Thankfully that's not true.

4) A "month" of benefits doesn't always mean a month. The GI Bill benefit provides 36 months of education benefits. The term "months" can often be confusing. The "36 months" of benefits does not mean you have only 36 months to use it, nor does it mean you must use it all in one 36 month period.

Learn more about the way payments are broken down here.

5) The GI Bill pays according to the number of credits you take. The GI Bill payment rates are based on several factors, the biggest being your credit load. For example a fulltime student will get up to $1075 a month while a half-time student will only get half that amount.

Don't let your benefit expire. Take the first step and

request free information from schools that match your education needs and schedule.

Sign up for the Freedom Walk
In 2005, Pentagon employees created The America Supports You Freedom Walk to commemorate the attack on the Pentagon and honor all lives lost on September 11. What began as a small gesture has become a new national tradition. Last year, over 135 Freedom Walks of all types and sizes were held across the U.S. to honor the victims of September 11, reflect on the freedoms we have in America, and pay tribute to our veterans, past and present.

The National Freedom Walk will be held in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, September 9, 2007, at 9:00 a.m. Local Freedom Walks will be held across America from September 8-11 in cities, workplaces and schools. Anyone is welcome to host or organize a Freedom Walk, or participate in a walk in their local community. Interested walkers can log on to AmericaSupportsYou

Military Humor
Navy Navigation
This is the transcript of an ACTUAL radio conversation of a U. S. naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995. Radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations on 10-10-95.

Americans: "Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision."

Canadians: "Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision."

Americans: "This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, DIVERT YOUR course."

Canadians: "No. I say again, you divert YOUR course."

Americans: "This is the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States Atlantic Fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers, and numerous support vessels. I demand that you change your course 15 degrees north...that's one-five-degrees North, or counter-measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship."

Canadians: "This is a lighthouse. Your call."

Note: The Navy has issued a press-release stating that this incident never happened -- but that doesn't make it any less humorous. http://www.about.com/

Military / Veterans Report

2007-08-11T05:01:00.000-07:00

Marine's Parents Want Murtha Censured for Haditha Remarks
Roger Hughes, chairman of the Presidential Watch Political Action Committee -- the umbrella organization for the "Boot Murtha" and "Expose Murtha" campaigns -- told Cybercast News Service that he -- "unlike Murtha" -- would not comment on the Haditha investigations.

He did say, however, that "Murtha's remarks about the guilt of these people having killed civilians in cold blood is very reminiscent of John Kerry's Senate testimony" in 1971, when the current senator from Massachusetts stated he'd heard Vietnam veterans say they had "randomly shot at civilians" and "razed villages in a fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan."

General Praises Exonerated Haditha Marine

Charges Against Haditha Marine Sharratt Dropped

August 8, 2007 Another anti-military fantasist bites the dust.

Video: F-15 School
Do you have what it takes to be an F-15 Fighter Pilot? Check out this documentary to find out.

United We Stand Photo Gallery
On this page you'll find powerful, often surprising images of the American flag -- big flags, small flags, painted flags, lots of flags. Let us all be inspired by the Stars and Stripes and its representation of freedom and democracy!

Humor Courtesy Swapmeet Dave
CIA Assassin test
The CIA had an opening for an assassin. After all the background checks, interviews, and testing were done, there were three finalists. two men and a woman.

For the final test, the CIA agents took one of the men to a large metal door and handed him a gun. "We must know that you will follow our instructions, no matter what the circumstances. Inside this room, you will find your wife sitting in a chair. Kill Her!!!"

The man said, "You can't be serious. I could never shoot my wife." The agent said, "Then you're not the right man for this job. Take your wife and go home."

The second man was given the same instructions. He took the gun and went into the room. All was quiet for about five minutes. Then the man came out with tears in his eyes. "I tried, but I can't kill my wife." The agent said, "You don't have what it takes. Take your wife and go home."

Finally, it was the woman's turn. She was given the same instructions, to kill her husband. She took the gun and went into the room. Shots were heard, one shot after another. They heard screaming, crashing, banging on the walls. After a few minutes, all was quiet. The door opened slowly and there stood the woman. She wiped the sweat from her brow. "This gun is loaded with blanks", she said. "I had to beat him to death with the chair."

Whining Sound

2007-08-03T03:43:00.001-07:00

Original Cartoon

Military / Veterans Report

2007-07-31T06:51:00.000-07:00

VA Develops New Prosthetic Ankle
Veterans with lower-leg amputations can look forward to having a prosthetic ankle-foot that matches their natural ease of motion, due to research funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and conducted by researchers from the Department and two of the nation's top universities. Researchers say the new ankle-foot prosthetic is the first in a new family of artificial limbs. It will replicate natural motion by propelling people forward using tendon-like springs powered by an electric motor. VA operates about 60 orthotic-prosthetic labs across the country that fabricate, fit and repair artificial limbs or oversee limbs provided by commercial vendors.

Humor Courtesy Swapmeet Dave
Communication Breakdown...
The reason the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines squabble among themselves is that they don't speak the same language.
For example, take a simple phrase like, "Secure the building."
• The Army will put guards around the place.
• The Navy will turn out the lights and lock the doors.
• The Air Force will take out a 5-year lease with an option to buy.
• The Marines will kill everybody inside and make it a command post.

Military / Veterans Report

2007-07-25T03:46:00.000-07:00

President Bush Discusses War on Terror in South Carolina
Some note that al Qaida in Iraq did not exist until the U.S. invasion -- and argue that it is a problem of our own making. The argument follows the flawed logic that terrorism is caused by American actions. Iraq is not the reason that the terrorists are at war with us. We were not in Iraq when the terrorists bombed the World Trade Center in 1993. We were not in Iraq when they attacked our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. We were not in Iraq when they attacked the USS Cole in 2000. And we were not in Iraq on September the 11th, 2001.

In ancient times there were no statistics so they fell back on lies.
In modern times there are statistics so Liberals fall back on lies.
Just blame Bush: “[George W. Bush is] the worst president we ever had... When you have a president who is so unpopular... it really reflects poorly on Congress. None of [Congress’ approval ratings] are real high and we acknowledge that, but most of it relates to the unpopularity of the president.” - Harry Reid x The War Is Lost x Reid Warped x Create A Warp

Our action to remove Saddam Hussein did not start the terrorist violence -- and America withdrawal from Iraq would not end it. The al Qaida terrorists now blowing themselves up in Iraq are dedicated extremists who have made killing the innocent the calling of their lives. They are part of a network that has murdered men, women, and children in London and Madrid; slaughtered fellow Muslims in Istanbul and Casablanca, Riyadh, Jakarta, and elsewhere around the world. If we were not fighting these al Qaida extremists and terrorists in Iraq, they would not be leading productive lives of service and charity. Most would be trying to kill Americans and other civilians elsewhere -- in Afghanistan, or other foreign capitals, or on the streets of our own cities. President Bush Discusses War on Terror Video x Transcript

Radio Program to Give Troops a Voice
Mike Broomhead, host of the "Mike Broomhead Show" on News Talk KFYI in Phoenix will dedicate one hour of his two-hour Sunday evening show to "Voice of the Troops," which will also be sponsored by Operation Homefront of Arizona. The segment debuted July 15 and will begin as a monthly feature. Those with Internet access will be able to hear the program on the station's website at http://www.kfyi.com/. The program will provide a way for servicemembers to share their stories from the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information, visit the
Operation Homefront of Arizona website.

Military Retirement Pay Cap is Lifted
Retiring military personnel - who have had due 30 years of service or more - will no longer have their retirement pay capped at 75 percent of base pay thanks to changes in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007. For example, a member who served 32 years will receive 80 percent of their retired pay base and a member who has served 42 years will receive 105 percent of their retired pay base. More detail about the new retirement pay schedule is available from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

Military etiquette
Officer: Soldier, do you have change for a dollar?
Soldier: Sure, buddy.
Officer: That's no way to address an officer! Now let's try it again.
Do you have change for a dollar?
Soldier: No, SIR!

V.A. Medical Center Lobby Portait

2007-07-18T14:53:00.000-07:00

V.A. Medical Center lobby you'll see the portrait on the right.
In 2009 do you want to see the portrait on the left? I don't!
Since she's a socialist liberal the background will probably change.
A Taxpayer Voting for Hillary is like a Chicken Voting for Col. SANDERS.
Click to enlarge.

Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson said Tuesday that he will step down from his post on October 1. If she's elected, God help us, whose portrait will adorn the lobby wall as Veterans Affairs Secretary?

Military / Veterans Report

2007-07-17T05:07:00.000-07:00

THE GRIM REAPERS
The war on terror will soon get even scarier for America's enemies - the United States is on the verge of unleashing its best pilotless aircraft yet, the Reapers.

The robot killers from the sky - a step up from the current Predators - will be tracking down enemy fighters from 50,000 feet up.

The Reaper is outfitted with infrared, laser and radar targeting capability and packs a ton and a half of guided bombs and missiles. The Reaper is loaded, but there is no one on board. Its pilot, as it bombs targets in Iraq, will sit at a video console 7,000 miles (11,265 kilometers) away in Nevada.

Bigger Military Raise, Better Benefits Hit
With President Bush's popularity scraping bottom in opinion polls, with U.S. casualties rising in Iraq in a force surge that has stretched soldier tours to 15 months, the Bush administration July 10 said it "strongly opposes" key military pay and benefit gains tossed into their fiscal 2008 defense bill. Initiatives the administration "strongly opposes" include:

A military pay raise for next January of 3.5 percent versus 3 percent endorsed by the White House.
Lowering the age-60 start of reserve retirement annuities for reserve component members by the length of their future mobilizations.
Expanding eligibility for Combat-Related Special Compensation to service members forced by combat disabilities to retire short of 20 years.
Directing pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide the Department of Defense with same price discounts for TRICARE retail pharmacy network that are provided already on medicines dispensed from base pharmacies. To learn more, read the article

Iran May Go Nuclear in 6 Months

2007-07-11T08:49:00.000-07:00

NATO: Go It Alone
(IsraelNN.com) According to the IDF, Iran will be able to produce nuclear weapons within six months. NATO says Israel must ‘go it alone’ according to Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

The IDF Military Intelligence (MI) assessment was reported Tuesday to the Knesset and included a concrete assessment determining that Iran could cross the technological threshold required to produce nuclear weapons in the next 6-12 months and possess an operational warhead by the middle of 2009.

Another Lieberman in Favor of Iran Strike
US Senator Joseph Lieberman has been publicly calling for US strikes on Iran.
Full Story
-

Military / Veterans Report

2007-07-11T04:20:00.000-07:00

Thank You Foundation
The Thank You Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to expressing gratitude and appreciation to the men and women in the United States Armed Forces past and present. The Foundation has developed high-quality business cards that can be presented to any individual who is on active-duty, in a reserve unit or a veteran of the armed services, as a means of saying "Thank You." The Foundation also recently started the Tickets for Troops program where complimentary tickets to professional sporting events, concerts, amusement parks and art events are presented to these servicemembers. For more information, visit the
Thank You Foundation website.

Navy Knowledge Online Alerts Users
The Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola warns users of the Navy Knowledge Online (NKO) Web portal to watch out for an Internet phishing scam. The current phishing scheme claims to be from the NKO administration department and advises users of a non-existent server outage. The phony e-mail directs NKO users to a false mirror site in order to obtain users' legitimate log-on information. NKO users should not reply to the phishing e-mail or click on any associated links or buttons in the e-mail/false NAVADMIN. Further guidance and assistance is available from the NKO home page.

Panel Approves VA Care for All Vets
The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), approved legislation recently that would re-open the Department of Veterans Affairs health system to 1.7 million veterans in Priority Group 8, those who have adequate incomes and no service-connected ailments. The Group 8 provision is in the Traumatic Brain Injury and Other Health Programs Enhancement Act (S 1233). For more information, read the article on the Military.com website.

White House Against Boosting VA Budget
Moves in Congress to give the Department of Veterans Affairs as much as $3.8 billion more than the Bush administration proposed has drawn an indirect veto threat from the White House.

"If Congress increases VA funding above the president's request and does not offset this increase with spending reductions in other bills, the president will veto any of the other bills that exceed his request until Congress demonstrates a path to reach the president's top line of $933 billion," the Office of Management and Budget said in a statement.

Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, chairman of the House veterans affairs appropriations subcommittee, said, "This bill is about respect, and honors the promises made to our veterans with historic increases in funding to provide them the health care and benefits they earned when they put on our nation's uniform." To learn more, read the article at Military.com.

"This bill is about respect, and honors the promises made to our veterans with historic increases in funding to provide them the health care and benefits they earned when they put on our nation's uniform."
Since when do liberals respect veterans? When it's a political talking point. (We (Democrats) tried to get veterans more health care money, but Bush vetoed it.) Another reason for the liberals to blame Republicans in 2008.
Read these Comments posted on Military.com

Operation Iraqi Freedom: Stay the course...

2007-07-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

“America united with a handful of troops, or without a single soldier, exhibits a more forbidding posture to foreign ambition than America disunited, with a hundred thousand veterans ready for combat.” - James Madison

Amid all the political posturing regarding OIF—specifically the Democrat’s largely successful efforts to undermine American will to stay the course in Iraq, one fact is obscured by the bitter debate. Elements of Radical Islam remain determined to strike Western targets in an effort to thwart democratic influence in the Middle East, and if we drop our guard, they will hit us hard. pdf file

Military / Veterans Report

2007-07-03T05:45:00.000-07:00

Mirage Jet flying through the Swiss Alps

House Approves Record VA Budget
The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved a record budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). H.R. 2642, the 2008 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill, would increase the VA budget $6.7 billion above 2007 levels. It would hire 1,100 more VA claims adjudicators and would provide $600 million for three "Centers of Excellence" in mental health care and five polytrauma centers to care for the needs of thousands of men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with serious mental and physical conditions.

Lowe's Offers 4th of July Discounts
Lowe's Companies, Inc. announced today it will offer all active, reserve and retired military personnel and their immediate family members a 10 percent discount on in-store purchases made during the July 4th holiday. The discount is available June 28-July 8. The discount is available on in-stock purchases up to $5,000. To qualify, individuals must present a valid military ID or other proof of service such as a VA card, VFW card, veteran's ID or discharge papers. Excluded from the discount are online sales, previous sales, installation and delivery fees, extended protection plans, gift cards, select Fisher & Paykel appliances and John Deere.

Power Wheelchairs for Veterans
ClickOnHealth works with Medicare and your secondary insurance providers to get you a new Power Wheelchair at little or not cost. They will take care of all the details and work directly with your doctor to find the wheelchair that's best for you. You won't be bothered with confusing insurance paperwork and they offer free home delivery. Get more info here

Jihad in Britain

2007-07-02T06:55:00.000-07:00

The terrorists don't seem to care that Tony Blair is gone.

Barely 48 hours on the job, Britain's new Prime Minister Gordon Brown got a lesson in the realities of the post-9/11 world.

Terrorist plots in London and Glasgow pushed the U.K.'s security alert up to the highest level--"critical"--for the first time in a year. In fortunate contrast to the London subway bombings two years ago this July 7, neither attack came off as planned. Two cars packed with gasoline, gas cylinders and nails were discovered early Friday in the British capital and defused. At Glasgow airport, a similarly rigged SUV crashed into security barriers, barely failing to get inside the departure hall. Except for an attacker who set himself ablaze yelling "Allah, Allah," no one was seriously hurt. Police arrested five suspects.

On Thursday, his first full day in office, the Prime Minister sought to distance himself from just-retired Tony Blair's unpopular commitment to the "global war on terror" by unveiling a cabinet with prominent Blair critics. But Mr. Brown appears to be a quick study. Yesterday, in an interview with the BBC, he was nothing if not resolute: "We will not yield, we will not be intimidated, and we will not allow anyone to undermine our British way of life." Welcome to the fight. *

Veteran Takes On Chris Matthews In Coulter Debate

2007-06-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

VETERAN: No, no, no, no, no, I want to know why politicians are off limits, but US troops are not. People who actually put on the uniform, go out and fight and die. Okay, she is calling in and complaining about one person that said something in a book. Ann Coulter is not elected to the senate, okay, John Kerry is, Dick Durbin is. Ok, and if we want apologies and personal attacks to stop.

MATHEWS: Wait, who has been attacking the soldiers?

VETERAN: Okay, let’s see, Dick Durbin has compared them to the Nazis, "Abu Ghraib is now open under new management." Okay, but our soldiers are not out there blowing them damn selves up, and I as a veteran take a genuine--

MATHEWS: So you don’t think they should have criticized Abu Ghraib?

VETERAN: No, hey, look, policy is made by civilians. Troops only do what they can.

MATHEWS: I'm going to tell you something. This administration has denied that was a policy from the top. I believe it was, you don’t agree.

VETERAN: I believe--

MATHEWS: No, you believe--

VETERAN: Wait, wait, wait. Wait a damn minute Chris, if you want to talk about policy made from the top, let’s talk about the mess made over in Rwanda.

Arrowhead Ripper

2007-06-27T12:58:00.000-07:00

“The biggest battle since the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime is under way in Iraq. Its outcome could determine whether the war is won or lost... The heart of the offensive is Operation Arrowhead Ripper, in Diyala province northeast of Baghdad, involving some 8,000 American and 2,000 Iraqi troops...[I]f Arrowhead Ripper succeeds, you may not hear much about it. A U.S. victory would be too embarrassing for those in the media and the Democrats who have staked their reputations on defeat.” — Patriot Post

Arrowhead Ripper: Surrender Or Die

Military News / Veterans Report

2007-06-26T03:54:00.000-07:00

4th of July Celebration on the USS Hornet
Celebrate this exciting patriotic holiday on a ship that affected the course of history. The USS Hornet Museum in Alameda hosts its annual Independence Day Party on July 4 from 10:00am to 9:30pm. The family event features live music on the flight deck, interactive games for all ages, and a bounce house for kids. Tours of the famous aircraft carrier will be available throughout the day. In the evening visitors can watch panoramic views of Bay Area fireworks from the flight deck. Tickets are $25 for adults ($20 in advance) and $10 for children ages 5-17; museum members receive free admission. Family Membership for one year is $75. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 510-521-8448 x 282 or visit USS Hornet.org.

Changes Coming for Air Force Uniform
The Air Force uniform board is working to resolve Airmen's issues with the Air Force physical training uniform. The board received nearly 500 inputs from Airmen including suggestions on ways to improve the uniform, and some of those changes are in the works. One of the biggest issues is the lining in the shorts. Another issue Airmen addressed was the weight of the PT running suit. The Air Force Clothing Office is making changes to these items. The board has also decided to introduce other optional PT uniform items within a year, including shorts geared for long-distance runners, a long-sleeve T-shirt, medium-weight sweatshirt and fleece vest with a zipper.

Air Force Marathon Coming in September
The eleventh annual United States Air Force Marathon will take place on Sept. 15, 2007, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. One change to the marathon this year is the date and location of the five-kilometer race, will take place on the evening of Sept. 14. Marathoners will also experience an altered race route this year, which is a Boston Marathon qualifier. For more information, visit the USAF Marathon website.

USS New York

2007-06-24T05:09:00.001-07:00

Artist Rendering of the USS New YorkThe Navy's amphibious assault ship USS New York has already made history. It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center.

USS New York is about 45 percent complete and should be ready for launch in mid-2007 . Katrina disrupted construction when it pounded the Gulf Coast last summer, but the 684-foot vessel escaped serious damage, and workers were back at the yard near New Orleans two weeks after the storm.

It is the fifth in a new class of warship designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.

"It would be fitting if the first mission this ship would go on is to make sure that bin Laden is taken out, his terrorist organization is taken out," said Glenn Clement, a paint foreman. "He came in through the back door and knocked our towers down and (the New York) is coming right through the front door, and we want them to know that."

Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite, La., to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept. 9, 2003, "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence," recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. "It was a spiritual moment for everybody there."

Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the "hair on my neck stood up."

"It had a big meaning to it for all of us," he said. "They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back."The ship's motto? - 'Never Forget'

Kindness and goodness of U.S. Troops

2007-06-19T15:20:00.000-07:00

Received via email from Move America Forward
Here's a heart-warming, wonderful story of the decency, kindness and goodness of U.S. Troops. It comes from a somewhat surprising source - CBS News - and shows some of the good things our troops are doing in Iraq.

No matter what else you do today, you MUST watch this video segment and then send it on to everyone you know: WATCH THE PRO-TROOP STORY HERE

Military / Veterans Report

2007-06-19T00:15:00.000-07:00

V.A. Medical Center and Facility Locator

San Diego Air and Space Museum
Situated in the heart of San Diego's Balboa Park, the San Diego Air and Space Museum offers active-duty servicemembers and their family members a free look at the evolution of aviation. Created in 1935 by the Ford Motor Company, the museum's exhibits feature various aircraft from the Wright Brothers first gliders to spacecraft from the Apollo missions. The museum pays special tribute to some of the military's most renowned aces and heroes. The museum is open daily 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. For more information call
619-234-8291 or visit http://www.aerospacemuseum.org/.

War Wounded Underpaid
Disability compensation for veterans severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, particularly the youngest, is set too low, creating a lifetime earnings gap with non-disabled peers, according to a draft study on disabled veterans' incomes prepared for the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission. The same study found that disability compensation probably is set too high for veterans who first begin drawing the disability payments at age 65 or older, having already retired from post-service careers.

This imbalance in disability compensation paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was a point of contention at a June 8 commission hearing. Congress created the commission to examine the appropriateness of benefits being paid to veterans and their survivors.

While some commissioners expressed satisfaction that "average" VA compensation was adequate, and others challenged the notion of elderly veterans being over compensated, Commissioner Dennis V. McGinn, a retired Navy vice admiral, said something must be done to raise compensation of younger veterans.
To learn more, read the article at Military.com.

Military / Veterans Report

2007-06-12T02:34:00.000-07:00

Databases List Missing Servicemembers
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) now has an electronic database listing the names of servicemembers still unaccounted for from World War II that is available for family members and researchers. The database lists nearly 78,000 names and was compiled by researchers from DPMO and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command. This WWII database, along with databases listing the missing from the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War and Gulf War, are available on DPMO's website. For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO website or call (703) 699-1169.

Come to the Las Vegas Career Fair on June 16th
Military.com Career Fair is coming to Las Vegas on June 16, 2007. This event will feature up top employers seeking the valuable skills you learned in service to your country. You can also attend employment workshops focused on helping you leverage your military experience in the civilian job market. Every attendee will receive a free copy of the Veteran Career Guide full of tips on how to interview, translate your military skills, evaluate potential employers and more.

The event is this Wednesday, June 16th at the Palace Station Hotel, 2411 W. Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89102. Doors open at 11am and close at 3pm. Register For Free Here.

New Navy Program Educates Recruits
"Accelerate to Excellence" is a new program that allows enlistees to enroll in community college while in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) and get paid a monthly stipend by the Navy. The enlistees are expected to eventually earn an associate degree prior to reporting to their first permanent duty station. The initial pilot program is being focused on recruiting from Texas and Florida. An added element of the program is the potential for top performers to be considered for application into officer commissioning programs. The pilot program is planned to run for three years. More information on the program is available in . pdf format.

Remember: Not applying for scholarships is like turning down free money. Get started on your search for scholarships today - visit the Military.com Scholarship Finder.

Military / Veterans Report

2007-06-05T09:38:00.000-07:00

Remember June 6, 1944
Step back in time to that fateful morning of June 6th, 1944 and join the brave souls of the Allied Expeditionary Force on the beaches of France to begin a final, desperate assault that would be the knife point of a thrust into the heart of German Occupied Territory....More

Video: D Day Tribute To Troops
We Remember D Day Tribute to Troops and the power behind the force.

Helicopter Air Show in SF Bay Area -- June 16th
On Saturday June 16th, the 8th annual Hiller Aviation Vertical Challenge, the nation's largest all-helicopter air show, will feature more than 50 helicopters including the incredible Red Bull BO-105 helicopter, the only aerobatic helicopter that can fly upside down, as well as perform loops and rolls. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 5-17 and seniors 65 and older and free for kids age 4 and younger. Attendees will enjoy helicopter rides (45pp), refreshments, live entertainment, kid amusements and more. The event starts at 9am and is located at 601 Skyway Road, San Carlos, CA 94070. Click here to find more information.

Red Bull Helicopter

Palm Springs International Airport USO

2007-06-04T07:33:00.000-07:00

Among the baggage claim carousels at the Palm Springs International Airport, a safe haven is tucked away in a corner room. Young men and women in uniform munch chips within the fully stocked kitchen and doze off in a comfy recliner.

This conveniently located airport facility features all of the amenities, flair and comfort of a modern commercial airline VIP lounge—and all of the services are provided to America’s brave young warriors and their families free of charge! We do everything possible to ensure our troops have a safe and comfortable place to relax while on the move through Palm Springs to US or worldwide locations.

Services such as Internet-connected computers, video games, magazines and cable television with a DVD library are available at no cost.

"Some of them are so surprised this is all free," said David Lutes, public relations coordinator for the USO. "They will tell me, 'thank you sir,' but I reply, 'No, thank you for serving your country.' We're able to give them a safe, clean place to relax while making them feel at ease and sometimes play the part of a mother or father figure when they need it." Palm Springs International Airport USO

A MONUMENT TO AMERICA'S HEROES

2007-06-01T05:53:00.000-07:00

"A MONUMENT TO AMERICA'S HEROES"
Friday, June 1st - 4:35 AM Eastern:
Move America Forward is announcing today its plans to acquire the 5 acres of land in Crawford, Texas that had been used by anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan and her supporters.

------- _,,,^._.^,,,_
I'm having a difficult time typing this.
I'm all broken up.
Tears are streaming from my eyes.
I just don't know how I will cope.
Want a piece of Texas? Camp Casy is for sale. Cindy (Parody) will accept any reasonable offer.
-------------Cindy Packing Up and Going Home

Military / Veterans Report

2007-05-28T15:58:00.000-07:00

Send a Father's Day Message via Stars and Stripes
The Stars and Stripes website is sponsoring its Stripes Father's Day Messages webpage where readers can submit their Father's Day messages for their favorite father. The messages will be published in Stars and Stripes and posted online. Father's Day messages received by 5 PM EDT on Fri., May 25, 2007, will be printed in the Sat., June 16 Mideast, Europe or Pacific editions. All messages will be displayed online beginning June 16. Messages received after the May 25 print deadline and up until 8 AM EDT on June 15 will appear online only. Messages must be limited to 255 characters.
Tribute to Fallen Heroes
Group Aids Wounded Servicemembers
The Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation offering four-year "Life Scholarships" to help smooth severely wounded servicemembers' transition to the rest of their lives. The program encourages community involvement and offers assistance based on a servicemember's particular needs. Services provided can include rent-free housing adapted for physical needs, new furniture and household supplies, and new adaptive vehicles. Servicemembers who have suffered a service-related injury that has left them a paraplegic, with amputated limbs, blind, deaf or severely burned qualify for the scholarship. Those interested in the program can fill out a questionnaire and release on the Sentinels of Freedom website

Military / Veterans Report

2007-05-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

National Memorial Day Concert
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) will broadcast its annual National Memorial Day Concert live from the nation's Capitol on Sunday, May 27, 2007, at 8 p.m. EST. This year's concert will focus on the brave servicemen and women who have been injured in the line of duty and will also explore the hallowed burial ground of Arlington National Cemetery. Please check your local listings to confirm the exact airtime in your area of the country. For more information, including educational materials for students and teachers plus a webpage where you can submit your own eulogy, visit the National Memorial Day Concert website.

Nationwide Memorial Day Parade Directory
A nationwide Memorial Day parade/events directory at has been posted at VetFriends.com to highlight the locations, dates and times of upcoming Memorial Day events. Coordinators can submit and register parades and events that may not yet be listed on the site. The online Memorial Day forum at VetFriends.com allows visitors to post their personal thoughts on what Memorial Day means to them. Wounded Soldier by Melanie Dekker

Operation Harris Ba'sil Knocks Enemy Off Balance

2007-05-20T09:55:00.000-07:00

American Forces Press Service
Operation Harris Ba'sil has wrapped up after helping knock enemy forces in Iraq's western Anbar province off balance, officials involved in the operation reported today. Regimental Combat Team 2 and elements of the Iraqi army's 7th Division completed the operation after eight weeks of interdicting and disrupting enemy routes and safe havens outside major cities along the Euphrates River valley, the team's operations officer said.

The operation, dubbed "Valiant Guardian," involved nearly 4,000 Marines, soldiers and sailors covering most of the 30,000 square miles of RCT 2's operating area.

"We uncovered over 250 caches, arrested over 250 suspected insurgents and discovered over 100 improvised explosive devices," said Lt. Col. Michael Manning, RCT 2's operations officer. "We clearly surprised them. The number of caches and detainees attest to that, but more importantly, we let the enemy know that they can't hide from us."

The effort marked the first large scale operation for RCT 2 this year, supporting Multinational Force Iraq's Operation Farhd al Qanoon and using the surge battalions sent to Anbar province. RCT 2's operating area stretches from the Syrian border city of Qa'im to Hit, northwest of Ramadi.
Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.

Armed Forces Day

2007-05-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

SALUTING OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORMThis Saturday, 19 May, is Armed Forces Day, first set aside in 1949 by President Harry Truman to recognize the unification of the Armed Forces under the Department of Defense and to acknowledge the extraordinary dedication of America's uniformed Patriots standing ready in harm's way at home and around the world.

In the words of President Dwight Eisenhower, "It is fitting and proper that we devote one day each year to paying special tribute to those whose constancy and courage constitute one of the bulwarks guarding the freedom of this nation and the peace of the free world."

Since the opening shots of the American Revolution on 19 April 1775, American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coastguardsmen have plowed the ground for freedom. We remain the proud and the free because they remain on post today. For this, we, the American People, offer our heartfelt thanks. Click the emblems.
In July of last year, the U.S. Armed Forces created a speakers initiative titled "Why We Serve." This program was designed to give returning veterans the opportunity to share their personal military experiences with the American public, while answering the call for more first-hand accounting from the front lines.

Military / Veterans Report

2007-05-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

New Regulations Worrying Army Bloggers
Stars and Stripes reports that bloggers are worrying that new Army rules for all online postings could put severe restrictions on Soldiers' websites. The new regulations specifically ban posting pictures of roadside bomb attacks, images of troops killed in action, and any shots of base security measures. It also mandates that Soldiers "consult with their immediate supervisor and their OPSEC Officer for an OPSEC review prior to publishing or posting information in a public forum."
The new regulations are available in .pdf format.
Visit the Military Blogoshere to read the best from Military Blog.

Three Names Added to Vietnam Veterans Memorial
hree more names have been added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. They are Army Sgt. Richard M. Pruett or Sherman, Texas, Navy Fireman Apprentice Joseph Gerald Krywicki of Holton, Mich., and Army Spc. Wesley Alvin Stiverson of Monticello, Ill. The Defense Department decides which names are to be inscribed on the wall. Since the memorial was dedicated in 1982, a few names have been added each year, and the new names are being added to panels of the wall that are closest to the dates that the men were wounded. For more information on the Memorial, visit the National Park Service's Vietnam Veterans Memorial website.

Airmen Can Apply for New Nurse Commissioning
The Air Force is now accepting applications from qualified enlisted members for a new enlisted commissioning program. The Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program (NECP) will give enlisted members the opportunity to complete a full-time Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at an accredited university while on active duty. The NECP selection board is scheduled to convene at the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in July. Applications must be received no later than June 25. For more information or to apply, visit the AFMS Knowledge Exchange, log in, and look under "Nurse Corps News."

A Million Thanks
Shauna Fleming, founder of A Million Thanks, has teamed up with Buick, Pontiac and GMC divisions of General Motors to collect thank you letters from the public for the troops. People can drop off their letters in Shauna's red, white and blue boxes at GM car dealers across the nation. For more information, visit A Million Thanks at http://www.amillionthanks.org/.

Can't Win Freeway Sign / Cut and Run The Movie

2007-05-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

Military / Veterans Report

2007-05-09T00:05:00.000-07:00

Guard Responds to Tornado
More than 300 members of the Kansas National Guard have been activated in response to a powerful tornado that almost destroyed the town of Greensburg, Kan., May 4.

Guard members are assisting in search-and-rescue efforts in the wake of the tornado, which was classified as an
F-5, the highest rating given by the National Weather Service.

Navy welcomes USS Hawaii
The USS Hawaii officially became part of the Navy yesterday, the third Virginia-class fast-attack submarine to join the fleet.

The commissioning ceremony at the U.S. Submarine Base included hula dancers and military and government officials wearing lei. They were all there to watch as Gov. Linda Lingle gave the boat's officers and crew the command to "Man our ship and bring her to life." USS Hawaii Gallery

Military Severely Injured Center
The Military Severely Injured Center (MSI Center) is a program dedicated to providing seamless, centralized support -- for as long as it may take -- to make sure that injured service members and their families achieve the highest level of functioning and quality of life. If you are a severely injured service member or the family member of a severely injured service member, the MSI Joint Center can help you cut red tape; understand what benefits are available to you; identify resources; and obtain counseling, information, and support. Injured service members and their families can get assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-888-774-1361 for this free service.

The MSI Center also provides educational materials that can help you understand and tackle issues related to concerns that injured service members often have, from helping children and spouses with the challenges they face, to concerns about making homes and vehicles accessible, to building new relationships.

In addition the MSI Center offers a Career Center that supplements their services related to career planning, including employment and benefits information for both injured service members and their spouses.

Bob Hope Golf Tournament in May
The 4th Annual Bob Hope Memorial Charity Golf Tournament takes place May 19 at the Fort Walton Beach Golf Course. All proceeds will benefit the Air Force Enlisted Village, a nonprofit charity that provides a home for the surviving spouses of enlisted servicemembers. The tournament begins at 11 a.m. with registration and a shotgun start at noon. Registration fee is $50 per person, with four-person teams accepted. Lunch will be provided. For more information, see the Air Force Enlisted Village's website
or call Charlie Ray at (850) 651-3766.

Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard military personnel

2007-05-07T23:55:00.000-07:00

This site is an Appeal For Redress in support of our mission in Iraq.

An Appeal For Redress is an authorized means for active duty military to submit a grievance to Congress. It can be signed by Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard military personnel.

It is authorized by DoD Directive 1325.6 and DoD Directive 7050.6 (pdf).

The wording of the Appeal is:
As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq and halt any calls for retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media efforts which embolden my enemy while demoralizing American support at home. The War in Iraq is a necessary and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack.
If you are active duty, reservist or national guard, please Sign this Appeal.

President's Radio Address May 5, 2007 / Audio 3:32

2007-05-06T16:55:00.000-07:00

President Calls for Responsible
War-Spending Bill In Radio Address
Congress needs to provide the military with the funds and flexibility it needs to prevail to succeed in Iraq,
President Bush said in his weekly radio address yesterday.
"No responsible leader in Washington has an interest in letting that happen."

Reid: Democrat Plan For Victory

Military Humor

2007-05-04T21:53:00.000-07:00

Securing a Building
One reason the Military Services have trouble operating jointly is that they don't speak the same language.
For example, if you told Navy personnel to "secure a building," they would turn off the lights and lock the doors.
The Army would occupy the building so no one could enter.
Marines would assault the building, capture it, and defend it with suppressive fire and close combat.
The Air Force, on the other hand, would take out a three-year lease with an option to buy.
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Military / Veterans Report

2007-05-02T21:49:00.000-07:00

Troops Need You, America

Veterans Organization Sponsors Website Contest
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Departments, Districts and Posts have an opportunity to display their design skills in the 2007 VFW Communications Department Website Design Competition. Websites will be evaluated for navigation, load time, design and content. To enter, submit URL between May 1 and midnight May 31 to webcontest@vfw.org, along with entry information. Judging will be conducted during June. Winners will be announced in August. For a detailed rules list and entry information in a .pdf file, visit http://www.vfw.org/resources/pdf/websitecontest.pdf.
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Email from Debbie Lee: A Mothers Call to Action

2007-04-30T14:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Fellow Americans,
This letter is a call to action to the silent majority in America. It is a dangerous time in the history of our country and we can no longer quietly sit back on our apathetic rears and hope that someone else will speak for us, or that someone else will make a difference. Many Americans have listened to the lies of the liberal media and have adopted a defeated attitude that they can't make a difference. I just completed a "These Colors Don't Run" tour with Move America Forward that conducted rallies in 25 cities across America and ended in Washington DC, on the 17th of March. We joined forces with the Gathering of Eagles to protect our Memorials and let our troops and our President know that we support them and "have their backs covered." I heard the heartbeat of America and we are fed up and ready to make a difference.
I joined the caravan in honor of my son Marc Alan Lee, the first Navy Seal killed in Iraq on 8-2-06. He was willing to endure the rigorous "buds" training, "hell week" with maybe 5 hours of sleep for the entire week, endurance runs, rock portage, and the most intense training in special forces to be a Navy Seal. "One of the elite of the elite," as his Commander in Chief told me. Did he endure all of this to sit on his tushy in his lazyboy and complain about how our world is going to "hell in a handbasket." No! He was willing to take a stand and make a difference, to actively protect me and every American citizen, to defend this land that he loved against an attack from terrorists that killed over 3000 Americans in one day. He was willing to go to Ramadi, the "hell hole" of Iraq and endure 120 degree temperatures while wearing 50 lbs of body armor and carrying an additional 100 lbs of weapons, ammo and equipment. He was willing to endure sleepless nights and months away from his family and friends. He was willing to stand in the direct line of fire and sacrifice his life to save his brothers at arms, and to continue to provide a safe place for you and I to live. Many people have commented to me, "the terrorists took your son's life that day." The terrorists didn't "take" my sons life, Marc willingly "gave" his life. You see Marc recognized and believed that someone had laid down their life for him. As a single parent, raising 3 small children became overwhelming at times, and I didn't have all of the answers. At times I didn't have any of the answers. When my children would come to me with tough decisions to be made, I knew I didn't know everything, but I had learned that I did know the one who did. God promises to be a husband to the widow and a father to the fatherless and my children had often heard me tell them to "Go ask your Father." They knew that meant to spend some time with their Heavenly Father. They knew that He loved them so much he had sent his son who willingly "gave" his life so that they could spend an eternity with Christ. Marc was confident in where his final destination would be. Marc was just following in His Daddy's footsteps when he gave his life for you and I. Jesus Christ and the American GI are the only ones I know who were willingly to die for us. Shouldn't we be willing to live for them?

The media, Hollywood and the liberal's want us to believe that we are failing in Iraq. They have made it their "political agenda" to change the world, they want the spotlight, they want to be in control. They want it to be "all about them," and are trying to figure out how they can use this for their gain. Look at Nancy Pelosi, she makes a "publicity" trip to Syria despite Whitehouse objections. Then, she acts as though she is representing the Nation that told her not to go and promises President Assad that there is an alternative Democratic foreign policy. Talk about political agenda! Only the President has that constitutional authority! Sounds like treason to me and grounds for an impeachment. How self centered and ridiculous is that! Isn't this about HERE AND NOW! We must remain united and not let the Nancy Pelosi's and Cindy Sheehan's s peak for the minority of America! This war is about defending America and telling the terrorists "not on my watch." It is also about setting free a nation that is ruled by fear and daily violence. A nation that has been raped, tortured, beaten, killed and suppressed by the evil tyrants and dictators who do it in the name of "Allah." A nation who longs for the freedom America can help provide them with. My son told me amazing stories of the difference we are making over there. I saw pictures of Marc in the Iraqi homes being embraced by the Father, with Iraqi children sitting on Marc's lap. I have heard first hand of the hospitals that were being cleaned up, schools being built, water systems restored. Our technology is such that when the insurgents are found in a building we can take down just that building and leave the ones next door intact. Just this month I was briefed and saw amazing statistics about the difference in the last year on the number of Iraqi Army soldiers wh o have been trained and are staying, the major decrease in IED"S. Nobody wants to be in Iraq forever. I know that every time I hear of another family that is dealing with the loss of a son, daughter, husband, wife, Mother or Father, that I cry knowing the loss they are dealing with. Knowing the deep pain. I don't want any more lives lost and that's why we are there to stop the killing of innocent people in America and The Middle East. Sadaam killed over one million people. Do we just bury our heads in the sand and let these Terrorists continue? Do we wait for them to attack America again? Do we value American lives over the lives in third world countries? Do we think we are better than everyone else? Is our attitude send somebody else's son, but not mine.

I am proud of both of my sons and my son-in-law who all were in the military on 9/11 and were willing to defend our country and make the needed sacrifices so that you, can be reading this letter. I am proud of all of our Vets who have stood up for what is right and honorable. Now is the time for each one of us to be willing to stand and live for them, to live for our country, and live for our God. After all isn't this America that was founded as one nation under God? It's time to rise up and make our voices be heard! We need to wake up the silent majority and become the Vocal majority! Do some research yourself and find out the truth. Refuse to watch the liberal lying media! Tell them you won't be watching and why! Write to your Congressional leaders and your Senators, hold them accountable and let them know they can be voted out. Thank and suppor t the ones who are representing and speaking for you. Register and Vote! Write letters to the editor, attend rallies supporting our troops and the War on Terror. Be confident and bold and share your opinions. Do our troops hide from what they believe in? No, they take every opportunity to make a difference and it's time we do the same. Thank every serviceman or woman you see, they have sacrificed much! They are the true heroes! Send them cards, and care packages, support their families, and pray for them, our nation and ask God to give us the victory!

Thank you for joining with me to reclaim America!

A Very Proud Mother and American!
Debbie Lee

My Mighty Warrior
Marc Alan Lee
3-20-78 to 8-2-06
GOD BLESS AMERICA PS: Please help me by forwarding this to everyone you know including your local newspapers, media, blogs, Senators and Congressional leaders.
SUPPORT MOVE AMERICA FORWARD!Move America Forward, the nation's largest grassroots, pro-troop organization is working hard to support our troops and battle back against all the negative and divisive voices who criticize the missions of our troops.

Military / Veterans Report

2007-04-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

Army Seeks Soldiers to Become Special Agents
The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command seeks qualified Soldiers to become criminal investigators. Army CID special agents investigate felony-level crime of Army interest, conduct protective-service operations, and work with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to solve crime and combat terrorism. Soldiers with civilian or military law enforcement experience are preferred, but not required. For more information contact your local CID office or visit www.cid.army.mil to download applications.

Why It Is A Bad Idea To Aim A Rocket At U.S. Marines

2007-04-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

**WARNING**Very Graphic**"Classic footage of an inexperienced Iraqi militia recruit aiming an RPG down the street and getting his ass whooped in a hurry."
Ineffective Rocket Launch Attempt (870k WMV) TonyRogers.com
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Reid Declares Defeat in Iraq

2007-04-20T06:29:00.000-07:00

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid yesterday declared the United States had lost the war in Iraq, a conclusion he said he communicated to President Bush at a meeting Wednesday.

How can you Nevada voters continue to vote for this leader of the party of defeat?
Reid and the anti-war anti-American liberals can't afford victory in Iraq. It's not about the war it's about them. They know when the war is won they are done.

"So, Reid concedes defeat when many of the additional troops needed to put down the insurgency have not even set foot in Iraq? This is utterly pathetic. Reid’s comments send a very bad signal to our troops and a message of idiocy to the American people. How is Harry Reid going to know better than our military commanders? Reports from the field commanders of late have been positive, but Harry Reid somehow knows better? I don’t think so!"

"The Democrats have no plan for Iraq… they have no idea what to do. The best course of action is to listen to the commanders on the ground and adapt to the situation at hand. That is what President Bush is doing. Saying the “war is lost” is the worst message to send to our troops and to governments around the world." ~ Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell WashTime.com
Related Story Harry Reid, Loser
Harry Reid’s statement compels one more conclusion: that the Democrats are incapable of leading this nation to victory against this existential threat.

Comment from the web.
I am still in a state of shock over Harry Reids statement that we have lost in Iraq. Why in Gods name is this treasonous idiot making statements like this? Does this naive cowardly fool have any CLUE what his statement will do for troop morale. Can you imagine the president of the senate making a similar statement during world war 2? I for one would like too see Harry Reid led out of the senate in chains. People of nevada, for the good of the country you need to vote reid out of the senate. - jack virtus

Military Runners Conquer Boston Marathon Far From Home

2007-04-17T22:09:00.000-07:00

By David Mays
Special to American Forces Press Service
While thousands of runners braved the remnants of a late spring storm to run the Boston Marathon, servicemembers deployed overseas, and one in space, joined in to participate in the prestigious race.

Runners in Boston were pummeled with rain, wind and much colder-than-average temperatures, resulting in much slower winning times for elite athletes.
The Spring Freeze Is Bush's Fault

Navy Cmdr. Sunita "Sunni" Williams ran her own "satellite" Boston Marathon aboard an actual satellite. Williams had qualified to run at Boston with a 3:29:57 finish at January's Houston Marathon. She planned to run it with her sister, Dina Pandya, and colleague, Karen Nyberg. But Williams is a NASA astronaut, and she realized she would be working inside the International Space Station on race day. So she decided to attempt something no other astronaut had done before: complete the 26.2 mile run while orbiting the earth.

Williams was strapped to a specially designed treadmill with bungee cords, an uncomfortable process that puts strain on a runner's hips and shoulders. NASA said Williams' treadmill speed registered as fast as eight miles per hour during her "satellite" Boston race, but in actuality, she was traveling more than five miles per second as the space station completed two laps around Earth during the marathon.

Williams, who is a native of Needham, Mass., wore Boston Red Sox socks for her race in space. She finished the arduous journey in 4:23:10, well off her times on terra firma.

Williams told her NASA colleagues the motivation for running this historic marathon was simple.
"I would like to encourage kids to start making physical fitness part of their daily lives," she said. "I thought a big goal like a marathon would help get this message out there."

Boston Marathon organizers told NASA they have a different take on this historic achievement. "Suni running 26.2 miles in space on Patriots' Day is really a tribute to the thousands of marathoners who are running here on Earth," said Jack Fleming, a Boston Athletic Association spokesman. "She is pioneering new frontiers in the running world."

Military / Veterans Report

2007-04-17T01:27:00.000-07:00

Gathering of Eagles-Move America Forward trip March 2007
Video added April 09, 2007

Military Pay Soars
The struggle to entice Army Soldiers and Marines to stay in the military, after four years of war in Iraq, has ballooned into a $1 billion campaign, with bonuses soaring nearly sixfold since 2003. The size and number of bonuses have grown as officials scrambled to meet the steady demand for troops on the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan and reverse sporadic shortfalls in the number of National Guard and Reserve Soldiers willing to sign on for multiple tours. The bonuses can range from a few thousand dollars to as much as $150,000 for very senior special forces Soldiers who re-enlist for six years. All told, the Army and Marines spent $1.03 billion for re-enlistment payments last year, compared with $174 million in 2003, the year the war in Iraq began. To learn more, read the full article at Military.com.

Air Force Military Justice Video Goes Online
When a person signs up for the military, he also signs up for a new system of justice. The differences between the civilian and military systems of justice are illustrated in the Air Force's new military justice training video. The video, which Airmen around the world will soon be required to watch, is entitled "U.S. Air Force Military Justice and You." It explains the military justice process in straightforward terms. Watch the video: U.S. Air Force Military Justice and You

Military / Veterans Report

2007-04-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

Army's Future Combat Systems on Television
The Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program is among the advanced military technologies featured on the second-season premier of the Discovery Channel's "FutureWeapons" series. The episode, which runs throughout the month of April, provides an in-depth look at such FCS systems as the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon, the Class I Unmanned Aerial System, and tactical and urban Unattended Ground Sensors. The program will also feature the Crusher unmanned ground vehicle now under joint development by the Army and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
For more information on the Discovery Channel, including broadcast schedules, visit http://www.discovery.com/

New Pin for Retired Soldiers
The Army has created a new pin to emphasize the continuing bond between the Army and its almost 800 thousand retired Soldiers. The pin is the Army logo headed by the word "Retired." Mailing of the pin with a letter began March 26 and will continue for about four months. The packet includes information on the Army Strong campaign and the $2,000 recruiting referral bonus for retired Soldiers, plus an "Army Retired" window sticker. "We're asking retired Soldiers to wear their retired pins proudly. We want them to wear their new pin to show pride in their past service, and as a 'call to service' for others in the community," said John Radke, chief of Army Retirement Services.

Do you know the origin of the word "windfall"? In the days of King George III, a common decree was that any tree greater than 24 in. in diameter "belonged to the king." In other words, reserved exclusively for building materials for ships of the Royal Navy. It was forbidden for commoners to cut the tree down. However, if a big tree was felled by natural causes, such as a windstorm, then it was free and available for use by anyone. Thus a "windfall" became applied to any unexpected stroke of fortune. MMCM(SS) Greg Peterman USN Retired

Military / Veterans Report

2007-04-04T05:05:00.000-07:00

The American Legion Riders - Riding For America's Future
The American Legion Riders are a diverse group of motorcycle enthusiasts sharing common goals. All are members or spouses of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and Sons of The American Legion - and all are united by patriotism. They answer the call to ride in service to America's military, her veterans, and for the children and youth of our country.

The activities of The Legion Riders are limited only by the imagination of the members of the local Riders organizations, and many local chapters have independently raised thousands of dollars for local children's hospitals, veterans' homes, and scholarship programs. In 2006, Riders united nationally for the First Annual American Legacy Run and raised more than $180,000 for The American Legacy Scholarship Fund for the children of those who given their lives on active duty, defending our freedoms in the War on Terror. Visit The American Legion Riders web site at http://www.legion.org/legionriders.
To find out more about The American Legion, visit http://www.legion.org/join.

Air Force Service Center Opens
Thanks to the new Air Force Claims Service Center (AFCSC), Airmen stationed around the world now have a centralized claims center to file legal claims online. Paralegal members are only a mouse click or phone call away 24 hours a day and seven days a week. One of the biggest benefits that Airmen will notice is the shortened time it takes to be paid for their claim. For more information, visit the Air Force Claims Service Center website or call the Center at DSN 312 986-8044 or toll-free 1-877-754-1212.

Which Leader Are You Like?
Take a break and find out which political leader you are most like.
Will it be Winston Churchill, Thomas Jefferson or someone else?

Navy Trivia: Petty Officer

2007-03-28T08:17:00.000-07:00

The Petty Officer can trace his title back to the old French word petit meaning something small. Over the years the word also came to mean minor, secondary and subordinate. In medieval and later England just about every village had several "petite", "pety" or "petty" officials/officers who were subordinate to such major officials as the steward of sheriff. The petty officers were the assistants to the senior officials.

The senior officers of the early British warships, such as the Boatswain, Gunner and Carpenter, also had assistants or "mates." Since the early seamen knew petty officers in their home villages they used the term to describe the minor officials aboard their ships. A ship's Captain or Master chose his own Petty Officers who served at his pleasure. At the end of a voyage or whenever the ship's crew was paid off and released the Petty Officers lost their positions and titles. There were Petty Officers in the British navy in the Seventeenth Century and perhaps earlier but the rank did not become official until 1808.

Petty Officers were important members of our Navy right from its beginnings and were also appointed by their ship's Captain. They did not have uniforms or rank insignia, and they usually held their appointments only while serving on the ship whose Captain had selected them.

Petty Officers in our Navy got their first rank insignia in 1841 when they began wearing a sleeve device showing an eagle perched on an anchor. Some Petty Officers wore the device on their left arms while others wore it on their right. All wore the same device. Specialty or rating marks did not appear officially until 1866 but they seem to have been in use for several years previously. Regulations sometimes serve to give formal status to practices already well established.
In 1885 the Navy recognized it three classes of Petty Officers--first, second and third--and in the next year let them wear rank insignia of chevrons with the points down under a spread eagle and rating mark. The eagle faced left instead of right as it does today.

The present Petty Officer insignia came about in 1894 when the Navy established the Chief Petty Officer rank and gave him the three chevrons with arc and eagle. The first, second and third class Petty Officers also began wearing the insignia they do today.

Soldier burned in effigy stirs outrage

2007-03-26T10:23:00.000-07:00

These are the people (traitors) that support the Democrats in Congress.
Portland Traitorous Slide Show

Notice the moonbat cowards keep their faces hidden.

Representative of the barking moonbat left.

Military / Veterans Report

2007-03-20T00:27:00.000-07:00

Space Camp Scholarships for Children
Applications are being accepted for the 2007 Bernard Curtis Brown II Memorial NASA Space Camp Scholarship to attend Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala. Children of active-duty servicemembers, in grades 6 through 9, can apply for the scholarship, which covers tuition, meals, lodging, program materials, and transportation for a five-day program. To apply, students must submit a scholarship application, along with a handwritten essay stating why they should be selected, and two letters of recommendation from someone other than a relative. An application can be found by visiting the Military Child Education website. The deadline for submission of applications, hand written essays, and letters of recommendation is April 2, 2007.

Remember: Not applying for scholarships is like turning down free money. Get started on your search for scholarships today - visit the Military.com Scholarship Finder.

Fallon Takes Reins of Central Command
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.
For the first time since the United States created a combatant command with responsibility for the Middle East, Northern Africa and Southwest and Central Asia, a naval officer took over the helm of U.S. Central Command here today. Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, a naval aviator with almost 40 years of service, assumed duties as commander of CENTCOM from Army Gen. John P. Abizaid, who is retiring after leading CENTCOM for more than three years.

Road WorkAlthough, for the most part, Marine Corps in theme, Gary Sullivan thinks that his cartoons can be enjoyed by one and all. Just a smidgen of humor is all that is needed...or if that doesn't work, try a pitcher or two of ice-cold beer with some barbecued spare ribs.

Ever used a Holystone? A small abrasive stone of pumice or rough slate that was used to smooth and polish the wooden decks of a sailing ship. For ease of handling and stowage, it was almost exactly the same size as the average Bible, or "holy" book. Another origin of the term is that fragments of broken monuments from the abbey of Saint Nicholas (located in Great Yarmouth, England), were used at one time to scrub the decks of the British Navy.
MMCM(SS) Greg Peterman USN Retired
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May God hold you in the palm of His hand

2007-03-17T10:31:00.000-07:00

9/11 Mastermind Confesses in Guantanamo [Update]

2007-03-16T08:15:00.000-07:00

KSM's World War
What his confession says about our enemy--and us.

In Cairo last year, Deputy Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood Mohammed Habib told us that the 9/11 attacks were "great crimes," but that he doubted Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda were responsible. It's probably too much to expect that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's confession that he "was responsible for the 9/11 operation from A to Z" will sway minds like Mr. Habib's. But for the rest of us, the testimony by bin Laden's top operational lieutenant is a jolting re-education in the enemy we face.

"I decapitated with my blessed right hand the head of the American Jew," he boasted to a U.S. military tribunal on March 10, referring to our colleague Daniel Pearl. "For those who would like to confirm, there are pictures of me on the Internet holding his head."

One lesson of his testimony is the scope of his terror success, and his even larger ambition. Among the 31 actual events: The February 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, chiefly carried out by his nephew Ramzi Yousef; the October 2002 nightclub bombings in Bali, in which 202 were killed and another 200 injured; the killing of two U.S. GIs in Kuwait the same month; the November 2002 hotel bombings in Kenya, in which 13 Israelis and Kenyans died; and the November 2003 attacks in Istanbul against Jewish and British targets, which killed 57 and wounded 700. That's roughly 3,280 murders.

But even this pales next to what might have happened had the U.S. not arisen from pre-9/11 complacency and gone on offense. By his own admission, KSM also planned attacks on targets in South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Israel, the Straits of Hormuz and Gibraltar, the Panama Canal, Brussels and London. He made extensive plans to assassinate Pope John Paul II during the pope's visit to Manila in 1995. He attempted to destroy an American oil company in Indonesia "owned," as he put it, "by the Jewish former Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger."
Among other U.S. targets, there was "Shoe Bomber" Richard Reid's failed attempt against American Airlines Flight 63 in December 2001, schemes to assassinate Presidents Clinton and Carter, and a "new wave" of attacks after 9/11 targeting skyscrapers in L.A., Chicago and Seattle, New York's suspension bridges and stock exchange, and nuclear power plants in "several U.S. states."

Perhaps most ominously, KSM also admitted to being "directly in charge" of "managing and following up on the Cell for the Production of Biological Weapons, such as anthrax and others, and following up on Dirty Bomb Operations on American Soil." Given such a confession, is it too much to ask the FBI to reconsider its dogmatic view that the 2001 anthrax attacks could only have had a domestic source?

No doubt many terror experts will declare that much or all of this is boasting, and perhaps some of it is. We can only hope so. And no doubt the truly credulous will assume it is largely a product of CIA coercion, as if the attacks KSM claims credit for had some other provenance.

But we think KSM's world of war makes clear that, if anything, President Bush understated the danger posed by the 14 "high-value" enemy combatants he transferred to Guantanamo last autumn. And it reveals just how terribly mistaken was the view of those who told us, pre-9/11, that terrorism was merely a law enforcement threat like any other.

That view permeated the CIA, where Paul Pillar helped run the Counterterrorist Center and wrote that "There is no . . . BinLadentern" akin to the old Communist Comintern. He denounced "overheated rhetoric that has spun out ever more frightening and unusual ways in which terrorism might inflict large numbers of casualties." And he deprecated President Clinton for ordering government agencies to examine the plausibility of a biological attack on New York City after he'd read "The Cobra Event," Richard Preston's 1998 novel on the subject.

When the 9/11 Commission concluded that the failure to avert that awful day was above all "a failure of imagination," the Pillar world view is Exhibit A. And we mention it here because now, after five years without a terror attack on U.S. soil, that view is making a comeback in the growing opposition to holding enemy combatants in Guantanamo or to warrantless wiretaps of al Qaeda.
As KSM makes clear, bin Laden and his acolytes declared "war" on the U.S. in his fatwa of 1998, a fact the U.S. only figured out on September 11. He professes to regret the death of women and children, but calls such indiscriminate killing "the language of any war" and justified by his religious motivation.

"For sure, I'm American enemies," said KSM in his broken English. For sure, too, he is a reminder of the evil that still confronts us in this conflict with radical Islam, and one that we underestimate at our existential peril. Source opinionjournal.com

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, confessed to that attack and a chilling string of other terror plots during a military hearing at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, according to a transcript released Wednesday by the Pentagon.

"I was responsible for the 9/11 operation from A to Z," Mohammed said in a statement read during the session, which was held last Saturday.
New York Post Breaking News
Planned assassination attempts on Carter, Clinton...
Admits plot to blow up Big Ben...

It will be interesting to see how the anti-American anti-War Liberals cope with and spin this news.
Well, here they go. The MSM is rushing to his defense.
Drive-By Media Enraged Over KSM Confessions [Audio] 15:20 Rush.com
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Military / Veterans Report

2007-03-14T06:37:00.000-07:00

Recommended Reading:
IN WASHINGTON, IT'S ALWAYS THE YEAR OF THE RAT
By Ann Coulter
Democrats have leapt on reports of mold, rats and bureaucratic hurdles at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as further proof of President George Bush's failed war policies.

To the contrary, the problems at Walter Reed are further proof of the Democrats' failed domestic policies — to wit, the civil service rules that prevent government employees from ever being fired. (A policy that also may account for Robert Byrd's longevity as a U.S. senator.)

Thanks to the Democrats, government employees have the world's most complicated set of job protection rules outside of the old East Germany. Oddly enough, this has not led to a dynamic workforce in the nation's capital.
Continued xx Archive

VA Guaranteed Home Loan
A VA-guaranteed loan is a loan made by private lenders (such as banks, savings & loans, or mortgage companies) to eligible veterans. If you want to purchase or refinance a home, condominium or manufactured home, the VA can guarantee up to $417,000 of the total loan -- much higher than you can get with most conventional home loans. Better yet, there is no need to worry about financing a down payment on a VA loan. However certain funding fees and closing costs apply, and you must be able pay a portion of these fees upfront. Click here to read more about the VA Guaranteed Home Loan.
First Step:
Save time and get piece of mind by requesting free information from lenders approved by Military.com. Start now.

New Collection at the Veteran's History Project
The Veterans History Project is celebrating Women's History Month with "Women at War". The 12 fully digitized collections to the Project's "Experiencing War" Web series covers four wars, beginning with World War II - the first conflict which American women appeared in uniform in all branches of the armed forces. To date, more than 45,000 individuals have submitted stories to the Veterans History Project, and 3,900 of those stories can be accessed online at www.loc.gov/vets. To become involved in the Veterans History Project, download a project how-to kit from the Veterans History Project website at www.loc.gov/vets, or call the toll-free message line at (888) 371-5848.

Former Sailor Arrested on Terror Charge
A former Navy Sailor was arrested Wednesday for allegedly releasing classified information that ended up in the hands of a suspected terrorism financier.

Hassan Abujihaad, 31, of Phoenix, is accused in a case that began in Connecticut and followed a suspected terrorist network across the country and into Europe and the Middle East.

He was arrested in Phoenix on charges of supporting terrorism with an intent to kill U.S. citizens and transmitting classified information to unauthorized people. More

Gen. Pace Calls Homosexuality Immoral
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he considers homosexuality to be immoral and the military should not condone it by allowing gay personnel to serve openly. More

Did you Know knock off work?
Otherwise known as, to quit suddenly; to stop. -- For example, "It's about time to knock off work" Nautical origin: Aboard sailing ships, the galleys rowed to the rhythm of a mallet striking a wooden block. When the knocking stopped, it was a signal to stop rowing and "knock off work!"
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Military / Veterans Report

2007-03-06T03:48:00.000-08:00

Any Soldier, Inc. Supports Troops
Any Soldier Inc. started in August 2003 as a simple family effort to help the soldiers in one Army unit. Due to overwhelming requests, the Any Soldier effort was expanded on January 1, 2004 to include any member of any of the Armed Forces that is in harm's way. Receiving letters is the most requested thing by the Soldiers, and the Any Soldier, Inc. website gives directions on how to send letters to the Soldiers. The website also provides a message board so recipients can make special requests, post photos and messages or express appreciation to those who send items.

Blue Star Mothers Support Troops
Some homes display a unique flag that signifies a family's support of a son's or daughter's service in the military. Those banners represent an old tradition and are part of Blue Star Mothers of America Inc., a patriotic organization that traces its roots back to World War I, when mothers displayed flags decorated with stars signifying the number of offspring serving in the military. Blue Star Mothers chapters routinely send care packages, including cakes and cookies, to support U.S. troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the war against terrorism. For more information, visit the
Blue Star Mothers of America website

Looking for ways to support and honor U.S. military servicemembers and veterans who protect our security and freedom? Go to the Military.com Support our Troops webpage to learn more.

Keylogging is a Clear-Cut Danger
A small but insidious program hidden within a computer's files or memory or tucked away inside an add-on device can tell the world everything you are doing on your computer. This program, called a keylogger, records every keystroke the computer user makes. The data obtained by keylogging could make its way to an identity thief or end up in an enemy's computer. Soldiers, family members and Department of the Army civilian employees can download free commercial antivirus and firewall software from AKO that will protect their home computers.

POW Benefits Act Introduced
Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-Palm Harbor) proudly announces the introduction of H.R. 1197, the Prisoners of War (POW) Benefits Act. H.R. 1197 establishes presumptions for disability compensation for several diseases, including Type II Diabetes and Osteoporosis. This will allow former POWs to claim these disabilities as service-connected and qualify them for disability compensation. Additionally, this legislation establishes a system by which the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) can determine future presumption conditions for former POWs. Under H.R. 1197, the VA Secretary would have to review the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War and all other sound medical and scientific information and analysis available to him when making these determinations. For more information, read the full article at Military.com.

How do you feel about this action? Let your public officials know how you feel
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Military News / Veterans Report

2007-02-27T01:50:00.000-08:00

Resolution Creates Medal of Honor Day
A resolution passed recently by the U.S. Senate designates March 25, 2007 as "National Medal of Honor Day." The day is set aside to acknowledge the more than 3,400 individuals who have received the nation's highest honor. According the Medal of Honor Society, there are presently only 111 living individuals who have received the Medal of Honor. For more information, visit the Home of Heroes website
and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website.

New Pentagon Channel Website Debuts
The Pentagon Channel at http://www.pentagonchannel.mil/ launched a redesign of its website last week. In addition to its current features of video on demand, live video streaming and podcasting, the redesigned site, adds two new, highly interactive features. The first includes I-frame technology that allows users to save and send Pentagon Channel video clips so that they can be shared beyond the site. The second is the addition of an upload tool that enables users to upload videos. Pentagonchannel.mil also will work on both IBM-style personal computers and Apple's Mac computers, using Flash 7.0 technology to push out video content.

Warrior Transition Program Helps Seabees
A unique program is helping Navy Seabees returning from duty in the global war on terrorism make the transition back to normal life. The Warrior Transition Program is designed to reduce the negative effects of deployment and combat stress while focusing on healing the body, mind and spirit. Under this program, the Seabees spend three to five days in a safe area attending group-sessions and classes where they can relax, reflect on their experiences and think about how they will communicate these experiences with their families, friends and others once home. The Seabees are the only branch of the military to use such a transitional area for this purpose. The program may eventually serve the entire Navy.
Information about transitioning, visit the Military.com Transition Center.

THE LEFT
“Providing aid and comfort to the enemy in wartime is treason. It’s not ‘just politics.’ It’s treason. And signaling our enemies that Congress wants them to win isn’t ‘supporting our troops.’ The ‘non-binding resolution’ telling the world that we intend to surrender to terrorism and abandon Iraq [was] disgraceful... The vote was a huge morale booster for al Qaeda, for Iraq’s Sunni insurgents, and for the worst of the Shia militias. The message Congress just sent to them all was, ‘Hold on, we’ll stop the surge, we’re going to leave—and you can slaughter the innocent with our blessing.’
We’ve reached a low point in the history of our government when a substantial number of legislators would welcome an American defeat in Iraq for domestic political advantage. ... And a word about those troops: It’s going to come as a shock to the massive egos in Congress, but this resolution won’t hurt morale—for the simple reason that our men and women in uniform have such low expectations of our politicians that they’ll shrug this off as business as usual.” — Ralph Peters

"You do not create terrorism by fighting terrorism. If that ever becomes the mind-set of the policymakers in Washington, it means we'll go back to the old days of waiting to be attacked -and then respond[ing]."
President Bush September 30, 2006

These Colors Don't Run

2007-02-23T14:06:00.000-08:00

Veterans Vow to ‘Protect Our Memorials’ During Anti-War Rally
When protesters arrive in Washington, D.C., on March 17 to mark the fourth anniversary of the "criminal invasion of Iraq," they'll be met by members of several veterans' organizations determined to protect memorials from being damaged during the demonstrations.

"We're going to be there to protect our memorials and to show support for our troops," Artie Muller, founder and executive director of the group Rolling Thunder, told Cybercast News Service on Thursday.
My name is Debbie Argel Bastian. I am the proud mother of Capt. Derek Argel, who was killed in action on Memorial Day, 2005 in the course of his service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. It would be important to my son not to dwell on the circumstances surrounding his passing, but on his life and his brothers in Special Ops.

I was raised the daughter of a career Marine and a Navy nurse. I served in the Army, and am a Viet Nam era Vet. Service before self was a common phrase in our home. Derek felt that way since the 6th grade. He knew that the military was his duty, and never questioned that.

The military is our family. Each and every person who serves this country is my son or daughter.

I am joining Move America Forward's "THESE COLORS DON'T RUN" caravan and the "Gathering of Eagles" event in Washington, D.C. to support our troops at home and out of the country. My goal is to let them know that I appreciate their service, and all who have served.

We will join with many other groups in DC that carry the same message.

Sometimes I think people forget that their one voice, when combined with those of so many others, can make a real and powerful impact. Together we can make a difference, but as separate groups or individuals we will not have the same power to truly support our troops and show them that America loves and supports them. Will you please join with us in supporting this effort?
You can find out how to join our caravan, where our rally stops will be and other important information at the Move America Forward website:
http://www.moveamericaforward.org/ or click the banner.
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Hillary's phony coat of armor

2007-02-22T06:49:00.000-08:00

Look out: Hillary Clinton is pulling the armor cloak from her rhetorical closet again. As long as she pairs it with a skirt, Italian designer Donatella Versace approves. But for any leading presidential candidate with a shred of integrity, this political wardrobe malfunction goes in the "fashion don't" column.

In her latest campaign video, Hillary attacks the Bush administration for sending soldiers off to battle unprotected: "Promises just aren't enough anymore. After almost four years, longer than we were in WWII, our troops still don't have all the body armor and armored vehicles and other equipment they need. It's a disgrace."

The Democrats' latest talking point involves a reported shortage of armored Humvees in Iraq. The armchair generals of The New York Times editorial board waxed indignantly about the story last week — lambasting the "Army, the National Guard and the Marine Corps" for being "caught constantly behind the curve" on armor upgrades. The Times' editorial titled their anti-Bush tirade, "Not supporting the troops." The meme has penetrated from Hillary and Ted Kennedy down to every last, lowest-level Democratic strategist looking to burnish pro-military credibility.

Capt. Matt Schoenfeldt, who serves as a gunner in Iraq's Diyala province, also sent me his reaction:

"I would first like to point out that this is just one more attempt by the liberals to take an extremely complicated situation, look at one small aspect of the story, and then invent the story that they [want] to tell. We have over 70,000 M1114 Up-Armored HMMWVs in theater right now. With that said, it is remarkable that we would be able to retro-fit this number of vehicles with armor in this short time period while still conducting 24-hour combat operations. . . . In addition to the upgrades to all of these 70,000-plus M1114s, the Army has upgraded every vehicle that travels out in sector; from ballistic glass for Track Commanders on Tanks and Bradleys, to armored doors and glass for support vehicles, and everything in between. There is not a single vehicle that goes out in sector that has not been upgraded for threats specific to Iraq. By Michelle Malkin

The following is from Rush.com
HILLARY: This president was allowed for too long to commit blunder after blunder under cover of darkness provided by an allied Republican Congress.

RUSH: What the hell is she talking about? He invaded Iraq in the sunshine with your blessing! It was all done during the daytime. Might have been some nighttime votes, but the cameras were -- what is this under cover of darkness business? Once again she was tricked. All that needs to happen for Hillary Clinton to miss something is for the sun to go down. You know, if she is elected president, it will be nighttime at times. Here she is on Saturday at this town hall. Unidentified reporter said, “I remain troubled, though, about your position on Iraq and your unwillingness to apologize to the American people for your vote to authorize the war.” That just can't be a reporter. This has to be some derelict member of the audience. Unidentified reporter would say this? Anyway, here's her answer.

HILLARY: If the most important thing to any of you is choosing someone who did not cast that vote or who has said his vote was a mistake, then there are others to choose from. But to me, the most important thing now is trying to end this war. If the president won't end this war before he leaves office, then I will, and I have a very good idea about how that can and should be done.

RUSH: Yeah, and I bet it's smarter and clearer, and then on her website she says the redeployment would start in 90 days.

HILLARY: Now it's time to say the redeployment should start in 90 days or the Congress will revoke authorization for this war.

RUSH: Let's go back. We quoted this, October 10th, 2002. This is Mrs. Clinton. She's not going to apologize, Bush tricked her, if she'd have known then what she knows how, she wouldn't have voted for it. Let's listen to her on the Senate floor, October 10th, 2002.

HILLARY: Today, Mr. President, we are asked whether to give the president of the United States authority to use force in Iraq should diplomatic efforts fail to dismantle Saddam Hussein’s chemical and biological weapons and his nuclear program. In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stocks, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al-Qaeda members. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons. So it is with conviction that I support this resolution as being in the best interests of our nation. It is a vote that says clearly to Saddam Hussein, “This is your last chance. Disarm or be disarmed.” This is a very difficult vote. This is probably the hardest decision I've ever had to make.

RUSH: Why?

HILLARY: Any vote that might lead to war should be hard.

RUSH: Yes.

HILLARY: But I cast it with conviction.

RUSH: Now, she knows that the Drive-Bys are not going to go back and revive that. She knows that nowhere on CNN will that ever be played. She knows that nowhere on PMSNBC will that ever be played. She knows that nowhere on ABC, CBS, NBC, New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times will that ever be reprinted. Only we here in the new media have the courage to go back and put her in juxtaposition today and yesterday, then and now, as she attempts to say Bush tricked her. I didn't hear anything in that statement about "the president says" and "the president's intelligence agencies" are telling us. She made it sound like she had researched it, and that it was a vote of conviction. The woman is a fraud, and the Democrats are allowing the kook fringe of their base to determine the foreign policy of this country, at least as they articulate it. Audio Link
Clinton Objects to Confederate Flag

Stop Her Now

USS Cole Trial to Proceed

2007-02-21T04:48:00.000-08:00

NORFOLK, Va. - A federal judge said Thursday he plans to proceed with a trial next month of a $105 million lawsuit against the Sudanese government filed by families of the 17 Sailors killed in the USS Cole bombing.

The lawsuit alleges that Sudan's government provided financial and training support to al-Qaida, including the militants who planned the attack on the Norfolk-based Navy destroyer in the Aden, Yemen, harbor on Oct. 12, 2000.

About 50 people - including R. James Woolsey, former CIA director under President Clinton - already have been questioned and the judge will receive their depositions so they will not take the stand, Hall said. One or two expert witnesses and four family members will testify in person, he said.
Side bar: Bill Clinton's Terrorism FAILURES!

Foreign citizens ordinarily are immune from lawsuits in U.S. courts, but Congress amended the law in 1996 to allow victims to seek monetary damages against countries classified as state sponsors of terrorism. More

Appeal for Courage by Active Military

2007-02-20T14:32:00.000-08:00

If you are active duty, reservist or national guard, please Sign this Appeal.
If Not: Please forward to your relatives, and friends in the Military.
Click the envelope below.

http://appealforcourage.org/

The wording of the Appeal for Redress is:
As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq and halt any calls for retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media efforts which embolden my enemy while demoralizing American support at home. The War in Iraq is a necessary and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack.
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Military / Veterans Report

2007-02-20T00:02:00.000-08:00

March Brings Women's History Month
March 2007 marks the 20th annual observance of Women's History Month, which was declared by Congress in 1987. For more information about Women's History Month visit the Navy's Office of Women's Policy website, the National Women's History Project website, the National Women's History Museum website, and the Women in Military Service for America Memorial.

2008 Proposed Military Pay Charts
If the President's budget is passed by congress the proposed 3 percent raise will go into effect on January 1, 2008. Although 3 percent may seem inadequate, it is larger than last years 2.2 percent pay raise, which was the smallest increase since 1994. To see the proposed pay raise, visit the 2008 Proposed Military Pay Charts

23 More VA Vet Centers Coming
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) vet center program, which provides readjustment counseling and outreach services to combat veterans, is expanding into 23 new communities across the nation in the next two years. New vet centers will open in Montgomery, Ala.; Fayetteville, Ark.; Modesto, Calif.; Grand Junction, Colo.; Orlando, Fort Myers, and Gainesville, Fla.; Macon, Ga.; Manhattan, Kan.; Baton Rouge, La.; Cape Cod, Mass.; Saginaw and Iron Mountain, Mich.; Berlin, N.H.; Las Cruces, N.M.; Binghamton, Middletown, Nassau County and Watertown, N.Y.; Toledo, Ohio; Du Bois, Penn.; Killeen, Texas; and Everett, Wash. during 2007 and 2008. All vet centers provide counseling on mental health and employment, plus services on family issues, education, bereavement and outreach, to combat veterans and their families. learn more about veteran benefits

Baghdad Security Plan Officially Named

2007-02-18T11:33:00.000-08:00

American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2007
The government of Iraq and the coalition officially announced the name for the Baghdad security plan yesterday. The operation is named "Fardh Al-Qanoon," an Iraqi phrase that translates to "Enforcing the Law."
The title was agreed upon by the Iraqi government, with the support of coalition leaders, and reflects the Iraqi-led nature of the operation, military officials said.

"The plan is imposing the law on anyone who violates it," Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said.

Under the Baghdad security plan, the Iraqi government will increase security forces in the city to partner with increased coalition troops. The Iraqi army, police, and coalition forces will live together in joint security stations throughout Baghdad to be closer to the Iraqi people they are protecting, officials said. The additional forces will also enable the coalition to create more transition teams to assist, teach and coach the Iraqi security forces.

The latest iteration of the Baghdad security plan was announced Feb. 13 by Iraqi Lt. Gen. Abboud Gambar, the officer in charge of the plan. He announced a 72-hour closure of some border crossings along the Iranian and Syrian borders, restrictions on civil liberties and the suspension of weapons licenses except for permits issued to authorized security officials and contractors. (From a Multinational Force Iraq news release.)
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Heart Warming Story

2007-02-16T08:18:00.000-08:00

Coast Guard Races to Save Infant
HALO-Flight, an organization created to provide medical transportation for the critically ill, was not flying, both of their helicopters were down for repairs. A worried mother from Brownsville, Texas, didn't know what to do or what was going to happen. Her two-day-old son lay in an incubator suffering from shock. He was further burdened with breathing and heart problems. The infant needed special medical care, but the closest available help was the Driscoll Children's Hospital, 160 miles away in Corpus Christi, Texas. Continued
*

The Man Who Would Not Be King

2007-02-16T08:15:00.000-08:00

On February 19, many Americans will take the day off to celebrate George Washington’s birthday—erroneously called “President’s Day” in many quarters.

Contrary to popular opinion, though, no act of Congress or order by any president has changed Washington’s Birthday to ‘Presidents Day,’

After the war, there were calls for Washington to claim formal political power. Indeed, seven months after the victory at Yorktown, one of his officers suggested what many thought only reasonable in the context of the 18th century: that America should establish a monarchy and that Washington should become king. A shocked Washington immediately rejected the offer out of hand as both inappropriate and dishonorable, and demanded the topic never be raised again.
<--snip-->
By year's end, Washington, victorious in war, proceeded voluntarily to resign his military commission. When he stepped down again, after his second term as president, a dumbfounded King George III proclaimed him "the greatest character of the age." His peaceful transfer of the presidency to John Adams in 1797 inaugurated one of America's greatest democratic traditions. The Man Who Would Not Be King
The Declaration of Independence
*

NBC's Engel: 'All Told Me It's Time to End This War'

2007-02-15T00:46:00.000-08:00

During a recent dispatch from Iraq, NBC's Richard Engel made it sound like he had talked to every soldier in Iraq. He reported that "All told me it's time to end this war."

Wow! How in the world was he able to get the opinion of every soldier in Iraq?

The truth is, no soldier told him that. Instead, his story featured just one sound bite from a Staff Sergeant with the First Infantry Division who never actually said it was time to end the war. Apparently in NBC's journalism handbook, when reporting on the war the truth is optional--especially when the reporter has such a strong grasp on hyperbole! NewsBusters

Democrats in Aid to Insurgents [UPDATE]

2007-02-13T07:42:00.000-08:00

ABC Showcases Take from Soldiers in Iraq on
Anti-Surge Resolution: 'Sick' & 'Treason'
Of the broadcast network evening newscast stories Tuesday night on the House debate over the non-binding resolution that "disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush...to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq," only ABC's Jake Tapper included the views of soldiers in Iraq. Tapper's report on World News featured soundbites from two Army Sergeants in Ramadi, and both condemned the resolution. First Sergeant Louis Barnum declared: "It makes me sick. I was born and raised a Democrat, but when I see that it just kind of makes me sad." Sergeant Brian Orzechoski went even further: "I don't want to bad-mouth the President at all. I mean, to me it's treason."

[This item was posted Tuesday night, with audio/video, on the MRC's blog. The clip will be added to the posted version of this CyberAlert. (Audio is over-modulated, but that's how it aired on ABC's DC station.) But in the meantime, to listen to the MP3 audio, or to watch the Real or Windows Media, go to: newsbusters.org ]

DEMS START EFFORT TO DISAPPROVE
House Democrat leaders circulated a nonbinding resolution yesterday saying that Congress "disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush . . . to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq."

The measure, expected to come to a vote by Friday, also says that "Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the United States armed forces who are serving, or who have served, bravely and honorably in Iraq." The only thing they support is CUT AND RUN.

Debate on the resolution is scheduled to begin today. It will mark the first debate in Congress on the war since Democrats won control of the House and Senate in last November's elections.

Democrat leaders in the House and Senate have vowed to force an end to U.S. participation in the war, and made debate over a nonbinding resolution a symbolic first step.

Democrats in Aid to Insurgents
It is a shocker, but the AP actually let loose a kernel of truth about the situation in Iraq in one of their reports for a change. To wit, if Iraqi insurgents wait long enough, the USA will leave and they can come back on the scene with guns blazing and knives sharpened for decapitations.

In the streets of Sadr City, the strategy of Muqtada al-Sadr, the Shiite militia leader, is clear: Lie low, avoid a showdown and hope to emerge even stronger after the Americans leave.

Leaders like al-Sadr know that the media and the Democrats are on their side. As Osama bin Laden’s chief lieutenant, Sheikh Ayman Muhammad al-Zawahiri , said in an intercepted letter, "I say to you: that we are in a battle, and that more than half of this battle is taking place in the battlefield of the media." by Warner Todd Huston

Is Bush No Longer Fit for Command?

2007-02-11T10:17:00.000-08:00

Does George W. Bush ever read objective news about the impact that "good hearted, hardworking" illegal aliens are having in America?

Is he aware of the fact that Los Angeles, the illegal alien capitol of America, is now also the gang capitol as well?

Moreover, is our out-of-touch president even vaguely aware of the following facts and figures from the Los Angeles Times and other news outlets:

* 40% of workers in Los Angeles County work for cash and pay no taxes, because they are predominantly illegal aliens without green cards.

* 95% of murder warrants issued in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.

* 75% of those on the "most wanted" list in Los Angeles are illegal aliens.

* Over 67% of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal aliens.
(Mexican births paid for by U.S. taxpayers.)

* Nearly 25% of all inmates in California detention centers are here illegally.

* Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County are living in garages.

* 50% of all gang members in Los Angeles are most likely illegal aliens from south of the border, according to FBI reports.

* 60% of all occupants in HUD properties are illegal aliens.

* 21 radio stations in Los Angeles are Spanish-language.

* In Los Angeles County, 5.1 million people speak English, while
3.9 million speak Spanish.

* Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops, but 29% are on welfare.

* In 1997, the net cost of immigration to American taxpayers was $70 billion. The lifetime fiscal impact (taxes paid minus services received) for the average adult Mexican immigrant is a negative number.

* 29% of inmates in federal prisons are illegal aliens.

During a time of war, our president should be acting to protect the American people by securing our borders, enforcing all immigration laws, and by deporting those here illegally.

Why is George W. Bush more concerned about third-world peasants from Mexico than he is about tax-paying, patriotic American citizens?

The big question: Has George W. Bush suffered an emotional or mental breakdown making him unfit--or MORE unfit--for office?

How else to explain Bush's mindless drive to destroy America?
by John Lillpop
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Military Humor / Squawks

2007-02-09T03:29:00.000-08:00

"Squawks" are problem listings that pilots generally leave for maintenance crews to fix before the next flight. Here are some squawks submitted by US Air Force pilots and the replies from the maintenance crews.

(P)=PROBLEM (S)=SOLUTION

(P) Left inside main tire almost needs replacement
(S) Almost replaced left inside main tire

(P) Test flight OK, except autoland very rough
(S) Autoland not installed on this aircraft

(P) #2 Propeller seeping prop fluid
(S) #2 Propeller seepage normal - #1 #3 and #4 propellers
lack normal seepage

(P) Something loose in cockpit
(S) Something tightened in cockpit

(P) Evidence of leak on right main landing gear
(S) Evidence removed

(P) DME volume unbelievably loud
(S) Volume set to more believable level

(P) Dead bugs on windshield
(S) Live bugs on order

(P) Autopilot in altitude hold mode produces a 200 fpm descent
(S) Cannot reproduce problem on ground

(P) IFF inoperative
(S) IFF always inoperative in OFF mode
(IFF-Identification Friend or Foe)

(P) Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick
(S) That's what they're there for

(P) Number three engine missing
(S) Engine found on right wing after brief search

(P) Aircraft handles funny
(S) Aircraft warned to straighten up, "fly right" and be serious!

(P) Target Radar hums
(S) Reprogrammed Target Radar with the lyrics.
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Military / Veterans Report

2007-02-07T06:50:00.000-08:00

Military Channel's 'Operation V-Day' Nears
Beginning at 6 a.m. on Feb. 14, Discovery Communications' Military Channel plans to launch "Operation V-Day," a 24-hour commercial-free airing of messages from troops around the world to their loved ones in the states.

The channel also plans to begin airing troop-recorded videos for a new feature showing the personal stories of the men and women stationed overseas.

Let me tell you about why you guys own about 90 percent of the backbone in the whole world right now and should be happy with yourselves and proud of whom you are.
<--snip-->
Do you know how important you are? Do you know how indispensable you are? Do you know how humbly grateful any of us who has a head on his shoulders is to you? Do you know that if you never do another thing in your lives, you will always still be heroes? That we could live without Hollywood or Wall Street or the NFL, but we cannot live for a week without you?
<--snip-->
You are everything to us, as we go through our little days, and you are in the prayers of the nation and of every decent man and woman on the planet. That's who you are and what you mean. I hope you know that. Full Article

Cyber Thieves Target Travel Card Holders
Servicemembers should be on the lookout for suspicious e-mails asking for personal account information relating to government travel charge cards. Cyber extortionists have attempted to steal identities by posing as representatives from Bank of America, the company that handles government charge accounts. The extortionists solicit information using scare tactics such as claiming that an account will be cancelled unless the user renews information on another site. The thieves are getting people to enter their personal information, and they are gaining access to their accounts. With that information, they can set up a credit card in a person's name and ruin their credit.

States Declare Silver Star Day
Thanks to the efforts of Silver Star Families of America, the states of Indiana, New Mexico, Illinois, North Carolina, and Louisiana have proclaimed May 1 as "Silver Star Day" to honor the nation's wounded servicemembers. The group would like to establish May 1 as a national day of observance in every state that would honor America's wounded servicemembers. Individuals wanting to help represent Silver Star Day in a their state should contact Janie Orman, the group's vice president, or Steve Newton, Silver Star Families of America's president and co-founder. For more information, including contact information, visit the Silver Star Families website.

VA Promotes Weight Management
The MOVE! program - "Managing Overweight Veterans Everywhere" - encourages veterans enrolled in VA care to get in shape and also offers information to family members and anyone trying to lose weight at www.move.va.gov where a questionnaire helps identify personal barriers to weight control. The questions link to about 100 informational materials on the site. VA started MOVE! to encourage veterans to increase their physical activity and improve their nutrition.

Featured Career Events: Military.com Career Fairs
Meet top employers looking for all military, from skilled enlisted ranks to experienced non-commission officers and junior military officers at a Military.com Career Fair in your area....More

Military / Veterans Report

2007-01-30T07:43:00.000-08:00

National Purple Heart Hall of Honor
VA Secretary Jim Nicholson visited the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor on Friday, January 12, in New Windsor, New York. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor was dedicated on November 10, 2006, and serves as a permanent remembrance of those awarded the Purple Heart as a result of combat wounds received in service to our country. It is the only institution in the nation dedicated solely to Purple Heart recipients. For more information, visit the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor website.

VA's Electronic Patient Records System Improves Care
Computerized patient records, like the system now covering all of VA's 7.6 million enrolled patients, can improve the quality of care, save lives and conserve important health care dollars, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson said recently. Between 17 percent and 49 percent of all laboratory tests in the private sector are needlessly performed because of missing paperwork. One of every five medication doses in typical private-sector hospitals and skilled nursing homes is given in error, the VA Secretary noted, with 7 percent of those errors potentially life-threatening. "With VA's electronic health records and other computerized systems, we have almost eliminated prescription errors and the need to duplicate lab tests," Nicholson added. To learn more about VA Health Care,
visit benefits/veterans-health-care.

Airmen Cautioned About MySpace.com
Stars and Stripes reports that the Air Force's Office of Special Investigations (OSI) is warning airmen to exercise caution when using the popular Internet social networking site MySpace.com. The warning comes after an investigation involving several airmen who were solicited "specific information" via MySpace.com about RAF Lakenheath in the past several months. With the advent of sites such as MySpace.com and other social networking Websites, OSI agents are concerned that America's adversaries are taking their quest for information online. Airmen need to be aware of the dangers.

Handbook Aids Families of Wounded Servicemembers
The Our Hero Handbook is a guide for wounded servicemembers and their families from day one through recovery, transition, and beyond. Topics covered in the handbook range from practical information about how to make travel and lodging arrangements to strategies for coping with the emotional strain of being a caregiver and how to inform children about a parent's injury. There is also a comprehensive list of organizations that can help wounded Soldiers and their families and extensive information on military insurance and medical benefits. The handbook can be downloaded from the For more information and resources on the severely injured, visit the Military.com Severely Injured Center.

PELOSI, MURTHA IN IRAQ

2007-01-29T05:50:00.000-08:00

Pelosi met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
In violation of the Logan Act: Conducting Foreign Relations Without Authority
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply, himself or his agent, to any foreign government or the agents thereof for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.

The Logan Act was intended to prohibit United States citizens without authority from interfering in relations between the United States and foreign governments. There appear to have been no prosecutions under the Act in its more than 200 year history. However, there have been a number of judicial references to the Act, and it is not uncommon for it to be used as a point of challenge concerning dealings with foreign officials. Although attempts have been made to repeal the Act, it remains law and at least a potential sanction to be used against anyone who without authority interferes in the foreign relations of the United States.
Friday, January 26, 2007 - FreeMarketNews.com
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has traveled to Iraq for a quick fact-finding visit that will include a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The congressional delegation traveling with the Democratic speaker from San Francisco includes Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., who more than a year ago urged President Bush to withdraw American forces from Iraq and is chairman of the appropriations subcommittee that oversees the military budget. -San Francisco Chronicle The delegation is scheduled to return to Washington on Monday?

Murtha says Marines are GUILTY
until proven innocent.

Military / Veterans Report

2007-01-24T00:17:00.000-08:00

Anheuser-Busch Extends Military Tribute
Anheuser-Busch has extended its Here's to the Heroes program through 2007. The program provides a single day's free admission to any one SeaWorld or Busch Gardens park, Sesame Place, Adventure Island or Water Country USA for the servicemember and as many as three of his or her direct dependents. Any active duty, active reserve, ready reserve servicemember or National Guardsman is entitled to free admission under the program. He or she need only register, either online at http://www.herosalute.com/ or in the entrance plaza of a participating park, and show a Department of Defense photo ID.

Program Serves Wounded Warriors
The Army's Wounded Warrior Program, dubbed AW2, is designed for soldiers severely wounded in the war on terror. AW2 provides information and assistance to aid soldiers and their families through the recovery process and beyond, from medical evacuation to reintegration into the work force. In addition, AW2 tracks and monitors our Severely Wounded Warriors for a period of time beyond their medical retirement or return to duty in order to provide appropriate assistance though an array of existing service providers. For more information, visit the Wounded Warrior website.

GI Bill Benefit Expiration Date
Once you have separated from the service you have 10 years to use all of your benefits. Although separating from service "starts the clock" on your 10-year time limit, you should know that if you rejoin active-duty service for more than 90 days, during the 10- year period, your 10-ear clock is reset. In other words, you get 10 years from your last discharge. Visit the GI Bill FAQ page for more information.

In addition to using your GI Bill, Military.com has more than $300 million worth of scholarships in our database geared specifically for servicemembers, veterans, and their families. Take a look and find the right scholarships for you.

First Cavalry Amazon Battalion

2007-01-21T10:59:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI (AP)
The United Nation's first all-female peacekeeping force _ made up of 105 Indian policewomen _ is set to deploy to the troubled west African country of Liberia, an official said Friday.

Employ them to guard our border.
No illegal will mess with these women.

Pelosi Won't Block Iraq Funding

2007-01-21T06:42:00.000-08:00

Of course she won't block funding.
Click the comic to read why she won't.
Thanks Marie and Amy Proctor for reminding us.

New Atrocities Uncovered in Iraq

2007-01-10T06:32:00.000-08:00

PROOF! AMERICAN SOLDIERS TORTURING IRAQI CHILDREN

**WARNING**Very Graphic**