Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Cop shoots, kills family dog
A Clayton County, Georgia mother of six said the family dog did what he always did when he saw someone. He barked.
But when "Boomer" started barking and running toward a police officer Saturday morning, the officer shot the dog and killed it, Lawrene King told the AJC Sunday night.
“He’s a golden retriever," King said. "He barks, but he’s never bitten anyone.”
I don't blame the cop for shooting at a charging, barking dog. All things being equal I'd probably do the same. My bitch with all of this comes from the cops wanting to have their cake and eat it too.
And not for nothing, but why in the name of all that's holy do these stupid people allow their animals to run untethered. The son who was in charge was 19...19. On my second trip to SE Asia at 19. So don't tell me he hadn't a clue. Mommy wasn't home so Mr. 19 lets the doggie get killed because he's dumbass enough to not understand the basic premise of civilization.
Animals are animals and people are people. People come first. Even cops.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
You're A Mean One, Mr. Obama
Off teleprompter, Obama a Grinch
Just in time for Christmas, students at Long Branch Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia, were treated to a visit by the most famous Santa Claus of all, Barack Obama. In addition to living his life to hand out goodies to entitlement-minded kiddies, Barack is also a skilled teleprompter aficionado aptly equipped to demonstrate to children the fine art of reading.
When out spreading good cheer, Obama is famous for referencing himself. Why, just last week the President congratulated the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Chinese dissident and prisoner Liu Xiaobo, by reminiscing about the Michelle and Barry 2009 Extravagant Oslo Experience. Thus, with thousands of children’s books to read it’s not surprising Barack chose one that he himself authored.
For the book reading, America’s impassive President sat on a “wooden chair as the children sat cross-legged on the carpet,” giving credence to the affectionate label “rug rats.” In keeping with the holiday spirit, Obama selected “‘Of Thee I Sing,’ an illustrated volume in the form of a letter to his daughters describing the lives of 13 great Americans.”
Leaving space for himself in the ever-growing “one of” group, Obama commented on Albert Einstein, saying “He was one of the smartest men ever.” The President avoided mentioning overhand throws and affinity for mom jeans when talking about Jackie Robinson: “the first African-American to play in major league baseball.”
Being careful not to misquote Honest Abe a second time, Obama moved to the back of the book to remind the children that Lincoln “helped to end slavery in the United States.”
Barack then lent his valuable signature to a copy of “Of Thee I Sing” for the school library, leaving one little entrepreneurial autograph seeker disappointed, contending that “If I sign autographs, then I'd have to sign for everybody.”
Obama said one reason he dropped by Long Branch is that Sasha and Malia don't always let him read to them - a revelation that may explain Barry’s extra-presidential evening activities. The President gave his young charges a glimpse into great moments in history with a short lesson on lawn consideration, biodegradable fertilizer and the joy of owning a pet.
Off-teleprompter Obama told the kids he takes his dog Bo for a walk at night and, being conscientious, shared that “Sometimes I have to scoop up his poop, because I don't want to just leave it in the lawn” (a scenario strangely similar to the task that lies ahead for Congress in the coming months)!
Nevertheless, obviously unaware that in Tennessee, without presidential prodding, a secret Santa placed $100K in a Salvation Army kettle, Obama felt compelled do a little prodding himself.
First, the President told the children, “I hope you guys have fun.” Then, amidst the festive mood, Obama “went straight to his work” filling the stockings of the merry tots with sobering reality. The President reminded the children, on Christmas morning when opening presents they should “spend time thinking about the less fortunate.”
The President gifted already anxious seven and eight year-olds with additional concern, which was a strange way to wish second graders Merry Christmas. Obama told them that “Not everybody is as lucky as we are. There are a lot of kids out there who may not be able to get a lot of presents for Christmas because their parents don't have a lot of money.”
So, after simultaneously spreading literacy, holiday cheer and a good dose of worrisome guilt, Obama left the kids to go back to the White House to tend to dog poop, while Long Branch teachers were probably trying to get four dozen children to stop crying.
Gee. I wonder how many donations the Obama family made to Toys For Tots...
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Notable Quote Time...This One From Rush
Limbaugh: Obama didn’t lobby for US for 2022 World Cup because he is a “guaranteed loser … talk to Chicago about that” (12/2)
Obama lost his bid to win the 2016 Summer Olympics for Chicago, he lost his bid to win carbon emission reduction concessions from emerging nations at the Copenhagen climate summit last year, he failed to help gubernatorial candidates in Virginia and New Jersey and a senatorial candidate in Massachusetts win election, he failed to help and was given the cold shoulder by 2010 midterm candidates, he failed to get G-20 members to agree to currency inflation at the recent Asian summit, and he faces massively declining popularity among both his supporters and his detractors here and abroad. He is, in every sense of the term, a loser.
Yes, he won the 2008 presidential election—and a presidential election only gives one power, but does not produce actual results. In dozens of ways, Obama has failed to capitalize on the power he was given to produce concrete results, in terms of improving the economy, twisting moderate Democrats’ and Republicans’ arms and getting them to accede to his leftist agenda, or in sustaining the world’s love affair with him. With Obama’s recent capitulation to the GOP on extending the Bush tax cuts, there is even talk of a primary challenge to Obama in 2012, which has been virtually impossible to survive in modern times. After Obama becomes a one-term president, will anyone be calling him a winner anymore?"
Barry obviously decided that winning the election was enough and that the entire universe would fall in line simply because enough stupid and/or dead people liked the cut of his jib in November of '08.
But, as is almost always the case when referring to the dreams and ass-pirations held dear by liberals, the real world intruded upon Barry's reverie and responded with a resounding "NO FRICKIN WAY".
Once Soetoro-the-beloved began traveling hither and yon, attached to his ever-present idiot-screens (aka teleprompters), planet earth itself was astonished that a man of such supposed stature couldn't string together two coherent thoughts without first checking his electronic notes, and pigeon-holed him as the no-nothing, do-nothing, actor he really is.
And thusly, first and forever foremost, a loser. Let's have a standing ovation for the world...
PS: The reason Barry didn't lobby was he didn't want to look even dumber when the petition was rejected. You know, that great American can-do attitude that proscribes surrendering at the first indication of an impediment. If for some strange reason America HAD been given the right to host the cup, then Obama's mouthpieces would have said that Barry was lobbying behind the scenes, hence no indication of his becoming involved at all.
PS: The reason Barry didn't lobby was he didn't want to look even dumber when the petition was rejected. You know, that great American can-do attitude that proscribes surrendering at the first indication of an impediment. If for some strange reason America HAD been given the right to host the cup, then Obama's mouthpieces would have said that Barry was lobbying behind the scenes, hence no indication of his becoming involved at all.
Cutlery Corner Business As Usual...Or Is It...
Been taking something of a break from my usual amount of posts while a severe burn on my right hand healed. Singed it down to the bone 3 weeks back and today was the first time it felt like a part of me again, so here goes.
Jim, whose conscience must be over-boiling from decades of grifting the unknowing, or those unfortunate folk that've been scammed by him. Then again Jim made himself rich from lying, cheating, and stealing from the stupid among us and while being stupid isn't a crime it is a sentence unto itself so screw Jim AND those morons who feel compelled to praise a con man.
The positive news is that the criticism from those opposed to outright thievery expressed in venues such as blogging, has, at the end of the day, done some good. For the past couple to three weeks, none of his carnival barkers have stolen the names or properties of Kershaw, Spyderco, Benchmade or Case, with Case most probably at the forefront of those remonstrating against such goings on.
The Springsteel Assist, the Lightning Snap, or even something so tacky a Frosted Flake would think was cool, such as the Steel Warrior Thunder-Opening Tactical. But these are the same "professionals" who misspell the most simple of words so it isn't any wonder that they've no room for creativity in those felonious thought processes.
They arrive unprepared, half the time haven't a clue as to what they're looking at, in the case of Trembling Travis and O'Dell argue amongst themselves every chance they get.
And Boone might as well not have the ear piece on because he shouts "WHAT...HUH?" each and every time the director tries communicating with him off the air... then complains he's lost his train of thought....then the director stops trying to speak with him at all...then Boone bitches that he's lost his place and begins screeching that his director doesn't talk to him. Is it any wonder that such misfits have to cheat to earn an indecent living?
UPDATE
Well glorioski kids...Sheila and old senile Tom O'Dell featured the 3-tier Hobo knife...and guess what?
O'Dell of course blurted out "HOBO" then realized that that single utterance may just have cost his company a pretty penny, but the caption on the product actually said "Boxcar", and Potato-Nosed Sheila offered that it'd be "A Boy Scout's dream!" Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? Well, maybe not O'Dell but Sheila the pooch learned her a lesson from somewheres...
Friday, December 17, 2010
Tacoma PD Adds Kimber To Its List Of Officer-Approved Weapons
Which is reason enough to force cops to use the better sidearm rather than letting them decide. Then again, when all was said and done, only 11% of the force stayed with the Kimber over GLOCK weapon systems, so there's hope yet. But a far glitchier pistol that is WAY more expensive simply should not be on the menu, and leaving it up to the patrolman on the street to assure that his more labor intensive Kimber is operating smoothly is too much of a risk.
GLOCK's can also be had in that caliber, are faster to feed-fire-and fling, and more reliable and (out-of-the-box) accurate but just aren't all that shiny so Gaston is missing the boat by not offering a nickle-plated G-21.
And not for nothing, but 1911's with anything other than a 5" barrel simply defeats the purpose. .45ACP goes slow enough without skimping on the tube....unless you fiddle with the rifling.
Clicking on the pic I've included won't take you anywhere but to a larger version, so if you want to read the full story then please travel there via the headline link.
Lone Wolf Magazine Extenders
In a GLOCK 23, which one might just happen to keep by ones bedside, plus-8 means 23 rounds for the mag, so including the one always in the pipe,that brings the grand total to...hold on a sec...carry the one...yeah...that comes to 24 slugs awaiting their introduction to Mr. Home Invader and Friends
The latest gig the crash-door crowd has woven into its repertoire is to spray then spray again upon entry, hoping to make the residents duck and cover long enough to establish fire superiority. Thing is, most of the time this strategy works just fine. But if one keeps ones head and stays away from being made into a human pincushion, having 24 bad boys to bring to the dance can do wonders for survivability.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Ann Coulter On Why The WickiLeaker Isn't Protected By The First
The government isn't trying to put a prior restraint* on Assange's publication of the documents, as in the Pentagon Papers case (though it probably could have). It wouldn't be punishing Assange for his opinions. The government wouldn't be prosecuting Assange to force him to give up his sources -- and not only because we already know who his source is (a gay guy in "an awkward place"), but because it simply doesn't matter.
Assange would be prosecuted for committing the crime of possessing and releasing classified national security documents that could do this country harm. The First Amendment has no bearing whatsoever on whether Assange has committed this particular crime, so whether or not Assange is a "journalist" is irrelevant.
The problem here is that people get their information from the media, which is written by journalists, and journalists have spent the last half-century trying to persuade everyone that laws don't apply to them.
If a fully certified, bona fide, grade-A "journalist," rushing to get a story, swerves his car onto a sidewalk and mows down 20 pedestrians, he's committed a crime. It doesn't matter that he was engaged in the vital First Amendment-protected activity of news-gathering.
If Paul Krugman shoots his wife because she's talking too much when he's engaged in the First Amendment activity of finishing another silly column about the economy, he's committed a crime.
Journalists can't run red lights, they can't print Coca-Cola's secret formula, they can't torture sources for information, and -- as Gawker Media recently discovered when it published a story on the new iPhone before it was released -- journalists can't misappropriate lost property.
Fox News' Alan Colmes said he checked with Fox News legal analyst Andrew Napolitano, who told him there's no case against Assange because the government can't punish "the disseminator of information." They should have been on Gawker's legal team!
If Assange had unauthorized possession of any national defense document that he had reason to believe could be used to injure the United States, and he willfully communicated that to any person not entitled to receive it, Assange committed a felony, and it wouldn't matter if he were Lois Lane, my favorite reporter.
As I have noted previously, the only part of the criminal law that doesn't apply to reporters is the death penalty, at least since 2002, when the Supreme Court decided in Atkins v. Virginia that it's "cruel and unusual punishment" to execute the retarded.
Also, journalists can slander people at will. That ought to make them happy.
Assange would be prosecuted for committing the crime of possessing and releasing classified national security documents that could do this country harm. The First Amendment has no bearing whatsoever on whether Assange has committed this particular crime, so whether or not Assange is a "journalist" is irrelevant.
The problem here is that people get their information from the media, which is written by journalists, and journalists have spent the last half-century trying to persuade everyone that laws don't apply to them.
If a fully certified, bona fide, grade-A "journalist," rushing to get a story, swerves his car onto a sidewalk and mows down 20 pedestrians, he's committed a crime. It doesn't matter that he was engaged in the vital First Amendment-protected activity of news-gathering.
If Paul Krugman shoots his wife because she's talking too much when he's engaged in the First Amendment activity of finishing another silly column about the economy, he's committed a crime.
Journalists can't run red lights, they can't print Coca-Cola's secret formula, they can't torture sources for information, and -- as Gawker Media recently discovered when it published a story on the new iPhone before it was released -- journalists can't misappropriate lost property.
Fox News' Alan Colmes said he checked with Fox News legal analyst Andrew Napolitano, who told him there's no case against Assange because the government can't punish "the disseminator of information." They should have been on Gawker's legal team!
If Assange had unauthorized possession of any national defense document that he had reason to believe could be used to injure the United States, and he willfully communicated that to any person not entitled to receive it, Assange committed a felony, and it wouldn't matter if he were Lois Lane, my favorite reporter.
As I have noted previously, the only part of the criminal law that doesn't apply to reporters is the death penalty, at least since 2002, when the Supreme Court decided in Atkins v. Virginia that it's "cruel and unusual punishment" to execute the retarded.
Also, journalists can slander people at will. That ought to make them happy.
Which is cutting to the heart of the problem. There was a time when journalists and other dirty people took their jobs seriously and helped to protect all of our rights, but that time has flown the coop. Which makes them irredeemable scumbags because treating the American Bill of Rights like it's a Chinese menu and sampling one from column A with one from Column 2 depending upon ones taste preferences is something only a certifiable douchebag would even consider doing.
The WickiLeaker can publish any damnable thing he wants to. But when he breaks the law he must be punished just like anyone else who has shouted "FIRE!" in a crowded theater.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
More From The Land Of Fruits & Nuts: Off With The Plastic And In With The Paper
San Jose bans plastic bags
San Jose became the largest U.S. city to ban plastic carry-out bags Tuesday with an ordinance that supporters said was the most far-reaching in the country aimed at encouraging shoppers to bring reusable totes.
"This is a great step," Councilman Sam Liccardo said. "It's an opportunity to lead on an important environmental issue."
First they foisted plastic bags upon us in order to "save a tree", and now they tell us to fuck the trees and switch back to paper. Since lunatic liberal mood-swings are cyclic, expect a time in the not too distant future where they remember how warm and cuddly all those trees were and mandate a return to plastic.
And, pray tell, just when did the government, ANY government, get the right to tell its citizens what sort of tote to use when shopping?
Schools test iPads in classrooms
Before, during and even between classes at Hillbrook School this fall, seventh-graders have been spotted on the Los Gatos campus, sometimes burbling Spanish or Mandarin phrases into the glowing screen in their hands, other times staring into it like a looking glass.
Summoning up a virtual keyboard recently, Sophie Greene quickly typed a note to herself in iCal, a calendar program, then played back an audio file in which she was speaking Spanish. "We record a conversation, e-mail it to our teacher, Señorita Kelly," she explained, "then she critiques the lesson in Spanish and sends that back to us."
For the 28 seventh-graders entrusted with iPads at Hillbrook, the pictures that flash across the device's screen open a window to a wider world. The iPad allows them to take daily excursions across time and space to such exotic ports as ancient Mesopotamia and modern China.
So we can expect a massive increase in the collective grade point average, right? And California to soon lead the country in the brightest happy camping kids of all ages? Right?
Not that I believe they're using the entry-level iPad, the $500 one, but hell, that's still cheap because its been proven time and again that all one need do to send test scores through the roof is to throw money at the schools.
And while alla them swanning kids might be falling in lust with ancient Mesopotamia and China, this is going to be a dynamite way to teach American History as well, right?
And since the entire state of California is soon to be bankrupted by the incredible liberal spending sprees that are coming home to roost, what's another
That's sooooooooooo capitalist.
Bladesports R Them...
Great Guns With Blades...But So-So On Spelling...We Present...FUDDS ON THE CUTTING EDGE
Another Objection To Barry Using Bill As The DH
The past Friday, the fears of many conservatives were confirmed: This man who wears the title of President is in way over his head.
The spectacle that took place in the White House, where former President Bill Clinton came to the rescue of our "too busy to be bothered" leader, was just another indication of how overwhelmed and under-concerned this man is for the future of America.
To cede the Presidential podium to a stand-in while trying to feign concern over the pending tax legislation bill that had been proposed is cowardly. To walk away from that podium - to escape from that moment using the little woman as an excuse is abominable! We were given a front row seat to a President who felt his Christmas party with the Mrs. was more important than the potential tax increases that would face 100% of all Americans on January 1st.
At what point will the issues regarding Americans finally touch the sensitivities of the President? Can you imagine him calling for a stand-in during a pickup game where he is forced to shoot a 3-pointer from the baseline? I don't see that happening. When he's got a long bunker shot with a long iron and the lip to the bunker is precariously positioned between him and the green, would you expect to see him call for his envoy to take that shot? Doubtful.
Our President, in no uncertain terms, has communicated to us, once again, that he simply doesn't have the time to deal with the trivialities of governing.
The bottom line is this: If it's important to the man, then he'll take care of it himself. If not, delegate, beg or buy someone to do the dirty work for him. With this new sense of Presidential prowess-that is giving his duties to others: I can only hope that when it comes time to deal with Iran or North Korea that the man will once again step aside and let someone like John Bolton take the podium for him! G.W.B. Keep the suit pressed and cleaned.
None of this is news to anyone paying the least bit attention. It's worth a read because shining a bright light on vermin usually gets them to scatter, and since the Yellowstream Media won't, its up to us.
Cops Shoot Suspect...Then Their Own Dog...And Lie About It...
"While searching the complex for the suspect, officers heard a single gunshot in the wooded area in the rear of the building. The officers then attempted a canine track ... into the wooded area, but were originally unsuccessful. As the officer began to exit the woods, the canine alerted [officers] to the presence of the suspect in a heavy brush and thicket area. The canine then engaged the suspect. As the officers approached, they heard several gunshots and encountered the suspect, who pointed his handgun toward them and began firing additional shots.
The portion in italics was discovered to be a boldfaced lie, as the suspects pistol was found to be unfired. So the cops went in guns a blazing, shot the man along with their own K9, then had bronze enough balls to lie about it, even to the point of sending him the vets bill ($46,704) for treating the injured dog.
These lying wastes of oxygen were caught redhanded and remain busy trying to lie even more to prevent society's punishment for their nefarious deeds. Happens every day in every clime and place where modern law enforcement hangs a hat; Cops lie, the truth somehow surfaces, then the blue wall of silence surrounds and protects them from prosecution. Please click the headline link for more of the story, and thanks to The War on Guns for the link.
The portion in italics was discovered to be a boldfaced lie, as the suspects pistol was found to be unfired. So the cops went in guns a blazing, shot the man along with their own K9, then had bronze enough balls to lie about it, even to the point of sending him the vets bill ($46,704) for treating the injured dog.
These lying wastes of oxygen were caught redhanded and remain busy trying to lie even more to prevent society's punishment for their nefarious deeds. Happens every day in every clime and place where modern law enforcement hangs a hat; Cops lie, the truth somehow surfaces, then the blue wall of silence surrounds and protects them from prosecution. Please click the headline link for more of the story, and thanks to The War on Guns for the link.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Obama Ready For A Fight...
As fellow Democrats accuse him of caving in to Republicans on the tax cut deal, President Obama is repeatedly promising them that he will fight the GOP aggressively when it takes over the U.S. House and adds senators next month.
"I will be happy to see the Republicans test whether or not I'm itching for a fight on a whole range of issues," Obama said last week. "I suspect they will find I am. And I think the American people will be on my side on a whole bunch of these fights."
So lemme see if I get the gist of this; for the past 2 years Americans have thoroughly repudiated everything Barack Obama has brought to the table, but now...but now he suspects that Americans will suddenly leap to do his bidding...
Does this mean he's converted to Reaganism? No more socialist programs, no giveaways, no pork, no emasculating the American military, no bowing to dictators, no gun-grabbing, no free lunches AT ALL from Uncle Sam?
Wow. If he puts his money where his mouth is then he's got me behind him. Right after I leave some cookies for Santa and start getting ready to greet the Easter Bunny.
We Get Letters
Subject: FW: USMC
On Nov 13, 2010 Lt General John Kelly, USMC gave a speech to the
Semper Fi Society of St. Louis, MO. This was 4 days after his son, Lt
Robert Kelly, USMC was killed by an IED while on his 3rd Combat tour.
During his speech, General Kelly spoke about the dedication and valor of the
young men and women who step forward each and every day to protect us.
During the speech, he never mentioned the loss of his own son. He closed
the speech with the moving account of the last 6 seconds in the lives of 2
young Marines who died with rifles blazing to protect their brother Marines.
"I will leave you with a story about the kind of people they
are about the quality of the steel in their backs, about the kind of
dedication they bring to our country while they serve in uniform and forever
after as veterans.
Two years ago when I was the Commander of all U.S. and Iraqi forces,
in fact, the 22nd of April 2008, two Marine infantry battalions, 1/9 "The
Walking Dead," and 2/8 were switching out in Ramadi. One battalion in the
closing days of their deployment going home very soon, the other just
starting its seven-month combat tour. Two Marines, Corporal Jonathan Yale
and Lance Corporal Jordan Haerter, 22 and 20 years old respectively, one
from each battalion, were assuming the watch together at the entrance gate
of an outpost that contained a makeshift barracks housing 50 Marines. The
same broken down ramshackle building was also home to 100 Iraqi police, also
my men and our allies in the fight against the terrorists in Ramadi, a city
until recently the most dangerous city on earth and owned by Al Qaeda.
Yale was a dirt poor mixed-race kid from Virginia with a wife and
daughter, and a mother and sister who lived with him and he supported as
well. He did this on a yearly salary of less than $23,000. Haerter, on the
other hand, was a middle class white kid from Long Island. They were from
two completely different worlds. Had they not joined the Marines they would
never have met each other, or understood that multiple America's exist
simultaneously depending on one's race, education level, economic status,
and where you might have been born. But they were Marines, combat Marines,
forged in the same crucible of Marine training, and because of this bond
they were brothers as close, or closer, than if they were born of the same
woman.
The mission orders they received from the sergeant squad leader I am
sure went something like: "Okay you two clowns, stand this post and let no
unauthorized personnel or vehicles pass." "You clear?" I am also sure Yale
and Haerter then rolled their eyes and said in unison something like:
"Yes Sergeant," with just enough attitude that made the point
without saying the words, "No kidding sweetheart, we know what we're doing."
They then relieved two other Marines on watch and took up their post at the
entry control point of Joint Security Station Nasser, in the Sophia section
of Ramadi, Al Anbar, Iraq.
A few minutes later a large blue truck turned down the alley
way-perhaps 60-70 yards in length-and sped its way through the serpentine f
concrete jersey walls. The truck stopped just short of where the two were posted and detonated, killing them both catastrophically. Twenty-four brick masonry houses were damaged or destroyed. A mosque 100 yards away collapsed. The truck's engine came to rest two hundred yards away knocking
most of a house down before it stopped. Our explosive experts reckoned the
blast was made of 2,000 pounds of explosives. Two died, and because these
two young infantrymen didn't have it in their DNA to run from danger, they
saved 150 of their Iraqi and American brothers-in-arms.
When I read the situation report about the incident a few hours
after it happened I called the regimental commander for details as something
about this struck me as different. Marines dying or being seriously wounded
is commonplace in combat. We expect Marines regardless of rank or MOS to
stand their ground and do their duty, and even die in the process, if that
is what the mission takes. But this just seemed different. The regimental
commander had just returned from the site and he agreed, but reported that
there were no American witnesses to the event-just Iraqi police. I figured
if there was any chance of finding out what actually happened and then to
decorate the two Marines to acknowledge their bravery, I'd have to do it as
a combat award that requires two eye-witnesses and we figured the
bureaucrats back in Washington would never buy Iraqi statements. If it had
any chance at all, it had to come under the signature of a general officer.
I traveled to Ramadi the next day and spoke individually to a
half-dozen Iraqi police all of whom told the same story. The blue truck
turned down into the alley and immediately sped up as it made its way
through the serpentine. They all said, "We knew immediately what was going
on as soon as the two Marines began firing." The Iraqi police then related
that some of them also fired, and then to a man, ran for safety just prior
to the explosion. All survived. Many were injured.some seriously. One of
the Iraqis elaborated and with tears welling up said, "They'd run like any
normal man would to save his life." "What he didn't know until then," he
said, "and what he learned that very instant, was that Marines are not
normal." Choking past the emotion he said, "Sir, in the name of God no sane
man would have stood there and done what they did." "No sane man."
"They saved us all."
What we didn't know at the time, and only learned a couple of days
later after I wrote a summary and submitted both Yale and Haerter for
posthumous Navy Crosses, was that one of our security cameras, damaged
initially in the blast, recorded some of the suicide attack. It happened
exactly as the Iraqis had described it. It took exactly six seconds from
when the truck entered the alley until it detonated.
You can watch the last six seconds of their young lives. Putting
myself in their heads I supposed it took about a second for the two Marines
to separately come to the same conclusion about what was going on once the
truck came into their view at the far end of the alley. Exactly no time to
talk it over, or call the sergeant to ask what they should do. Only enough
time to take half an instant and think about what the sergeant told them to
do only a few minutes before: ".let no unauthorized personnel or vehicles
pass." The two Marines had about five seconds left to live.
It took maybe another two seconds for them to present their weapons,
take aim, and open up. By this time the truck was half-way through the
barriers and gaining speed the whole time. Here, the recording shows a
number of Iraqi police, some of whom had fired their AKs, now scattering
like the normal and rational men they were-some running right past the
Marines.
They had three seconds left to live.
For about two seconds more, the recording shows the Marines' weapons
firing non-stop.the truck's windshield exploding into shards of glass as
their rounds take it apart and tore in to the body of the SOB who is trying
to get past them to kill their brothers-American and Iraqi-bedded down in
the barracks totally unaware of the fact that their lives at that moment
depended entirely on two Marines standing their ground. If they had been
aware, they would have known they were safe, because two Marines stood
between them and a crazed suicide bomber. The recording shows the truck
careening to a stop immediately in front of the two Marines. In all of the
instantaneous violence Yale and Haerter never hesitated. By all reports and
by the recording, they never stepped back. They never even started to step
aside. They never even shifted their weight. With their feet spread
shoulder width apart, they leaned into the danger, firing as fast as they
could work their weapons. They had only one second left to live.
The truck explodes. The camera goes blank. Two young men go to
their God.
Six seconds. Not enough time to think about their families, their
country, their flag, or about their lives or their deaths, but more than
enough time for two very brave young men to do their duty, into eternity.
That is the kind of people who are on watch all over the world tonight-for
you.
We Marines believe that God gave America the greatest gift he could
bestow to man while he lived on this earth-freedom. We also believe he gave
us another gift nearly as precious-our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coast
Guardsmen, and Marines-to safeguard that gift and guarantee no force on this
earth can ever steal it away. It has been my distinct honor to have been
with you here today. Rest assured our America, this experiment in democracy
started over two centuries ago, will forever remain the "land of the free
and home of the brave" so long as we never run out of tough young Americans
who are willing to look beyond their own self-interest and comfortable
lives, and go into the darkest and most dangerous places on earth to hunt
down, and kill, those who would do us harm.
God Bless America, and..SEMPER FIDELIS!"
On Nov 13, 2010 Lt General John Kelly, USMC gave a speech to the
Semper Fi Society of St. Louis, MO. This was 4 days after his son, Lt
Robert Kelly, USMC was killed by an IED while on his 3rd Combat tour.
During his speech, General Kelly spoke about the dedication and valor of the
young men and women who step forward each and every day to protect us.
During the speech, he never mentioned the loss of his own son. He closed
the speech with the moving account of the last 6 seconds in the lives of 2
young Marines who died with rifles blazing to protect their brother Marines.
"I will leave you with a story about the kind of people they
are about the quality of the steel in their backs, about the kind of
dedication they bring to our country while they serve in uniform and forever
after as veterans.
Two years ago when I was the Commander of all U.S. and Iraqi forces,
in fact, the 22nd of April 2008, two Marine infantry battalions, 1/9 "The
Walking Dead," and 2/8 were switching out in Ramadi. One battalion in the
closing days of their deployment going home very soon, the other just
starting its seven-month combat tour. Two Marines, Corporal Jonathan Yale
and Lance Corporal Jordan Haerter, 22 and 20 years old respectively, one
from each battalion, were assuming the watch together at the entrance gate
of an outpost that contained a makeshift barracks housing 50 Marines. The
same broken down ramshackle building was also home to 100 Iraqi police, also
my men and our allies in the fight against the terrorists in Ramadi, a city
until recently the most dangerous city on earth and owned by Al Qaeda.
Yale was a dirt poor mixed-race kid from Virginia with a wife and
daughter, and a mother and sister who lived with him and he supported as
well. He did this on a yearly salary of less than $23,000. Haerter, on the
other hand, was a middle class white kid from Long Island. They were from
two completely different worlds. Had they not joined the Marines they would
never have met each other, or understood that multiple America's exist
simultaneously depending on one's race, education level, economic status,
and where you might have been born. But they were Marines, combat Marines,
forged in the same crucible of Marine training, and because of this bond
they were brothers as close, or closer, than if they were born of the same
woman.
The mission orders they received from the sergeant squad leader I am
sure went something like: "Okay you two clowns, stand this post and let no
unauthorized personnel or vehicles pass." "You clear?" I am also sure Yale
and Haerter then rolled their eyes and said in unison something like:
"Yes Sergeant," with just enough attitude that made the point
without saying the words, "No kidding sweetheart, we know what we're doing."
They then relieved two other Marines on watch and took up their post at the
entry control point of Joint Security Station Nasser, in the Sophia section
of Ramadi, Al Anbar, Iraq.
A few minutes later a large blue truck turned down the alley
way-perhaps 60-70 yards in length-and sped its way through the serpentine f
concrete jersey walls. The truck stopped just short of where the two were posted and detonated, killing them both catastrophically. Twenty-four brick masonry houses were damaged or destroyed. A mosque 100 yards away collapsed. The truck's engine came to rest two hundred yards away knocking
most of a house down before it stopped. Our explosive experts reckoned the
blast was made of 2,000 pounds of explosives. Two died, and because these
two young infantrymen didn't have it in their DNA to run from danger, they
saved 150 of their Iraqi and American brothers-in-arms.
When I read the situation report about the incident a few hours
after it happened I called the regimental commander for details as something
about this struck me as different. Marines dying or being seriously wounded
is commonplace in combat. We expect Marines regardless of rank or MOS to
stand their ground and do their duty, and even die in the process, if that
is what the mission takes. But this just seemed different. The regimental
commander had just returned from the site and he agreed, but reported that
there were no American witnesses to the event-just Iraqi police. I figured
if there was any chance of finding out what actually happened and then to
decorate the two Marines to acknowledge their bravery, I'd have to do it as
a combat award that requires two eye-witnesses and we figured the
bureaucrats back in Washington would never buy Iraqi statements. If it had
any chance at all, it had to come under the signature of a general officer.
I traveled to Ramadi the next day and spoke individually to a
half-dozen Iraqi police all of whom told the same story. The blue truck
turned down into the alley and immediately sped up as it made its way
through the serpentine. They all said, "We knew immediately what was going
on as soon as the two Marines began firing." The Iraqi police then related
that some of them also fired, and then to a man, ran for safety just prior
to the explosion. All survived. Many were injured.some seriously. One of
the Iraqis elaborated and with tears welling up said, "They'd run like any
normal man would to save his life." "What he didn't know until then," he
said, "and what he learned that very instant, was that Marines are not
normal." Choking past the emotion he said, "Sir, in the name of God no sane
man would have stood there and done what they did." "No sane man."
"They saved us all."
What we didn't know at the time, and only learned a couple of days
later after I wrote a summary and submitted both Yale and Haerter for
posthumous Navy Crosses, was that one of our security cameras, damaged
initially in the blast, recorded some of the suicide attack. It happened
exactly as the Iraqis had described it. It took exactly six seconds from
when the truck entered the alley until it detonated.
You can watch the last six seconds of their young lives. Putting
myself in their heads I supposed it took about a second for the two Marines
to separately come to the same conclusion about what was going on once the
truck came into their view at the far end of the alley. Exactly no time to
talk it over, or call the sergeant to ask what they should do. Only enough
time to take half an instant and think about what the sergeant told them to
do only a few minutes before: ".let no unauthorized personnel or vehicles
pass." The two Marines had about five seconds left to live.
It took maybe another two seconds for them to present their weapons,
take aim, and open up. By this time the truck was half-way through the
barriers and gaining speed the whole time. Here, the recording shows a
number of Iraqi police, some of whom had fired their AKs, now scattering
like the normal and rational men they were-some running right past the
Marines.
They had three seconds left to live.
For about two seconds more, the recording shows the Marines' weapons
firing non-stop.the truck's windshield exploding into shards of glass as
their rounds take it apart and tore in to the body of the SOB who is trying
to get past them to kill their brothers-American and Iraqi-bedded down in
the barracks totally unaware of the fact that their lives at that moment
depended entirely on two Marines standing their ground. If they had been
aware, they would have known they were safe, because two Marines stood
between them and a crazed suicide bomber. The recording shows the truck
careening to a stop immediately in front of the two Marines. In all of the
instantaneous violence Yale and Haerter never hesitated. By all reports and
by the recording, they never stepped back. They never even started to step
aside. They never even shifted their weight. With their feet spread
shoulder width apart, they leaned into the danger, firing as fast as they
could work their weapons. They had only one second left to live.
The truck explodes. The camera goes blank. Two young men go to
their God.
Six seconds. Not enough time to think about their families, their
country, their flag, or about their lives or their deaths, but more than
enough time for two very brave young men to do their duty, into eternity.
That is the kind of people who are on watch all over the world tonight-for
you.
We Marines believe that God gave America the greatest gift he could
bestow to man while he lived on this earth-freedom. We also believe he gave
us another gift nearly as precious-our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coast
Guardsmen, and Marines-to safeguard that gift and guarantee no force on this
earth can ever steal it away. It has been my distinct honor to have been
with you here today. Rest assured our America, this experiment in democracy
started over two centuries ago, will forever remain the "land of the free
and home of the brave" so long as we never run out of tough young Americans
who are willing to look beyond their own self-interest and comfortable
lives, and go into the darkest and most dangerous places on earth to hunt
down, and kill, those who would do us harm.
God Bless America, and..SEMPER FIDELIS!"
Presented as I received it. With the only change being my deletion of the email address from whence it came. During my service as your Marine, I lost count of instances like this. Way too many to quantify, but the memory of each will be with me forever.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Cutlery Corner...Casting Pearls Before Swine...
"...If you buy one of these boxes you're guaranteed to get one pearl handled knaahf. Buy three of 'em and we'll make sure one is a stag handled knaafh. That means one stag and two pearls but buy two and you don't get one and one just two pearls..."
Being an ardent fan of George Patton, it is my belief that only a pimp wears pearl. Men wear ivory but don't tell that to the fancy schmancy boys who fall for the mother of pearl pitch that tells them its okay to show their feminine side.
Thursday, December 09, 2010
The Great Government Grope Of 2010: Top-10 Failures Of The Obama Administration...
Behold the Top 10 Highlights of the Great Government Grope of 2010. Don't you just swell with pride, seeing your tax dollars at play? (Careful you don't swell too much. TSA agents are already complaining how yucky it is to strip-search "fatties.")
Folly One: The federal government sued Arizona for the ultimate crime: enforcing federal law!
Folly Two: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) roughly gropes 3-year-old autistic children, old men with urine bags, and crippled women with artificial knees, just to avoid the liberal taboo of profiling.
Folly Three: Because your government cares so dang much about your every wart and sniffle, Obamacare was rammed through to destroy the best medical system in history.
Folly Four: TSA agents are spreading infectious diseases to thousands of travelers, and those naked body scanners are cancer-incubators run amok.
Folly Five: The government twiddled its thumbs, whistled Lady Gaga tunes, and downloaded episodes of "Lost" instead of shutting down WikiLeaks, or al-Qaeda's English language magazine, or thousands of crazy jihad sites and YouTube videos.
Folly Six: The Department of Homeland Security shut down 82 counterfeit goods and music sites overnight, without warning or due process.
Folly Seven: The president of the United States turned the world's attention to America's most bitter enemy: The Chamber of Commerce.
Folly Eight: The government "negotiated" with Taliban impostors and gave them "lots of money."
Folly Nine: 70% of Oklahoma voters voted to ban Shariah law, but Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange said no.
Folly Ten: The Senate voted to nationalize the food supply and set up crime units to hunt down wayward tomatoes. You can't be trusted with zucchini, America!
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