Its kinda scary after reading your article that people in this country are not moved by the things that are happening and will not write about them(MSM). I find peace in that I know wherever all this evil abounds, good abounds the more. God is still in charge. I am praying for people with a backbone in the media to step up.
Hot DAMN! Froggy for president!
"We will be bloodied but not bowed."
The blood will be our sons and daughters on the hands of our erstwhile allies. My heart aches for our sons and daughters brave enough to take the fight to the enemy.
How weird. I just spent the last hour ranting and raving over the incompetence and conspiracy align against America at the U.N.! I finally break away and come back to my system, click a few times, and here you are soapboxing on the same thing!
What set me off was the realization that the UN is totally useless in light of Iran having an entire uranium processing facility and the IAEA claims they had no idea!? And now that Iran has enough, now they say they will stop and the world accepts that!?! William Buckley has an article two weeks back over at NRO called War-gaming Iran...it's worth the read.
It literally seems like us against the world. I think we're up to it.
Here, here I completely concur on all points. Any critisim of our military by the MSM is laughable considering they earned for them the liberty to do it. Our MSM is a joke. PERIOD...........
Damn Doc,
You are on a roll lately. As I expressed in an earlier post in the context of the "3rd Wave" I like this term although Toffler was a bit simplistic in hindsight. What is happening is the clash of cultures that is earth shaking in it's potential effects. Liberty(Freedom, exemption from extraneous control) scares the hell out of most of the world because of what happened in America. A colony of upstarts with some brilliant men who after much study and reflection founded a system of Government based on the idea that all men have a God given right to "Life, Liberty and Property" and such rights are unalienable (incapable of being aliened, that is, sold or transferred). The result of this God given inspiration(I believe)is still unfolding, and with more successes, the more the advisaries will rant and rave and do what ever they can to stop the thing that seems unstopable. In other words it will get worse before it gets better. I find myself reading our Constitution lately (those who have taken the oath should study it too)reflecting on the brilliant men who consieved it so long ago, what faith and courage to put forth such an idea and set it in motion. God bless them and our Republic, it won't be easy but few good things seldom are. The task is to defeat the advisaries without killing the messenger, wow what a razor to walk!
So mote it be
well spoken, Matt
Froggy, you are the greatest!
Spot ON Matt...
Keep it coming...
The old-line media and their leftist friends aren't anti-war, they are on the other side.
If you're not familiar with 4th generation warfare, learn about it. This weekend.
If you aren't familiar with Strauss & Howe's 'Fourth Turning,' read it and incorporate it into your thinking. Soon.
If you don't know how to shoot, learn. If you do shoot, requalify if you need to. Learn some /serious/ self-defence.
If you haven't thought about the implications and the consequences, start thinking. Seriously. Then act accordingly.
Do everything you can to encourage the generation now aged 10 to 20. Teach them about America. Model exemplary ethics. Point the good ones towards the military.
These are the kids who will save our bottoms when we're really up against it. There is no better investment in America.
All I can say is AMEN! And I agree with everyone above - you are just getting better and better!! Sometimes I get so depressed and dismayed by the stupidity we are surrounded with, and feel like I'm the only one who sees it (I work with almost all liberal loonies) and then I come home and read this post - thank you!
I'm trying to get the sense of your last paragraph. Are you saying that the darkest forces arrayed against us are China, France, and Russia? And that we should seek military victory against them? Or are you suggesting that we need to set some kind of example that will pull them back into line?
BTW, what's "MSM" stand for?
MSM: Mainstream Media.
When is our administration going to stop ignoring the giant elephant in the room and call a spade a spade (not enough cliches?) The UN is ridiculously bad and corrupt. When is the US going to pull out of the UN.
We stayed out of the League of Nations for the very reasons we should breakaway from the UN.
Good post Mr. Heidt.
My dear brother Matt,
While SEAL membership and Real Estate may be your career, writing is without a doubt your calling and spiritual gift.
Blog on Froggy! Your annointing is obvious.
Jose
Bart, I'm on the left, have a son who was a U.S. soldier and a daughter whom I try to "Teach . . . about America [and] Model exemplary ethics." We recently added her grandfathers' names to her elementary school's Wall of Honor as World War II veterans--one of them was in a concentration camp in Europe. She's known the pledge of allegiance and "God Bless America" since she was a toddler; heck, she can even sing all the verses of "God Bless the U.S.A." My next door neighbor just came home wounded from Iraq, is no longer deployable; you can bet we prayed for him, and thanked him for his service once he returned.
Contrary to what you seem to believe, I am not "on the other side." Can you acknowledge that people of good will exist on both sides of the political spectrum?
A question, sort of off topic......I have come across www.optruth.com, it is a site from soldiers in Iraq opposong the war. As a citizen I fully support the military (made my office adopt a platoon for CHristmas), but who do I believe? This site seems to back up claims by the MSM yet here you are very eloquently opposing the MSM claims. As a citizen with limited military knowledge are most soldiers for or against the purpose of the war? I know no-one is pro-war but I wa sinterested to know your point of view. You are very intelligent and well spokena nd I have come to appreciate your posts! If these are dumb questions I sincerely apologize.
Like the lead up to world war 2 this is but the beginning of a larger conflict.
It will involve all the actors mentioned, France and China definately! possibly even Mexico and Canada.
it is only a matter of time before we in this country are attacked by Nuclear weapons either as a covert terror attack or in the form of Missiles.
Iran has three old Russian submarines they cannot reach us directly but if carried concealed aboard an oil tanker or other large ship A La James Bond they could launch a weapon of some type upon us.
The MSM will always be against us even to the point of getting their throats slashed nothing will change their minds.
so what do we do?
wait?
pre-emptively strike our enemies?
what if we clean house here first the old fashioned way, Islam, MSM and all self proclaimed traitors get the boot, the wall or the noose.
I think then the other countries around the world will see we ARE serious! By G_d they sure as Hell are!
We may have to lose some freedom for them to maintain our freedom.
I fear for My Grandson's generation.
I fear for us all.
Hi, Anon. I think it's important to hear many sides--if you want to make informed decisions, you want to know as much as possible. I, too, read optruth, as well as http://www.truthout.org and http://www.sftt.org. But I like this site, because Matt expresses himself well, has no doubt about what he believes, and gives me a perspective that I haven't found elsewhere. For me, it's part of learning, listening, and keeping an open mind.
Check out my blog if you're interested.
Anon:
It's an all volunteer force now, some of the men did not expect to have to fight a war.
I recall a post about a Reserve trooper in the service who was combat arms crying out upon being deployed,
"I didn't sign up to fight a war!"
I thought well snuffy what did you think "COMBAT ARMS Meant"? these are the ones who jopined for a job, education or prestige fighting a war was not on their agenda.
Then again there are the political friction between troops and other troops in the chain of command and who are a$$hats, Martinets and just plain dumb.
then there are the slackers and "sad sacks" who only want a place to crash after they party.
some are really, honestly having a change of heart because of the horror they have seen and the harm they have inflicted on other human beings.
Then there are the cowards.
in every group of people you will find all of these and the duty bound, honor filled dedicated soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who know what they are there for and intend to kick butt and bury enemies before they do the same to them.
I have spoken with the Vets and I have found while all miss home, hate the job they almost to a man thin what we are doing is right and very important, they all are in it for as long as they are needed.
Semper Fi/Mors Ex Mare
Thanks for taking the time to answer my silly civilian questions! 
I just want to get the story from the soldiers who are there and see it first hand. I guess the problem is that there are soldiers who seem to disagree on what is really happening. I guess that is to be expected. No 2 people see things the same. I will continue to evaluate both sides but so far, this site rocks! I personally believe we are there for a good reason. I also support our troops with my actions and not just words. I thank them for their courage to keep me safe and free.
Barry, very useful post--I appreciate your perspective. Do you remember the doctor from the first Gulf War who had received her medical training, free, from the Army, but when her reserve unit was called up she wanted to PAY BACK THE MONEY that her education cost, in order not to go? How nice that the Army had afforded her the education that let her set up a medical practice to earn that money in the first place. I can't remember the story's outcome--surely they made her go.
Barry,
I don't think we would be the first target of a nuclear missile from Iran. I think Israel would be.
I also think Israel will act against Iran before we do. They have much more at stake and a missile could be fired at them from anywhere in Iran.
I posted a few days ago about my desire that GWB go after Syria and Iran next. I don't know if you saw the headlines on Drudge today. Here's one:
_____________________________________
Syrian bank funded insurgency with Saddam's millions
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, November 19, 2004
The United States has concluded that Syria helped finance the Sunni insurgency in Iraq.
Officials said the regime of President Bashar Assad used the state-owned Commercial Bank of Syria to relay hundreds of millions of dollars to Saddam Hussein loyalists in Iraq. They said the money has been deployed to finance the insurgency against the U.S.-led coalition primarily in Iraq's Sunni Triangle.
The Commercial Bank of Syria held more than $1 billion in Saddam regime accounts on the eve of the U.S.-led war in Iraq in March 2003, officials said. Most of that money stemmed from Iraqi arms and oil smuggling as well as illegal commissions obtained from Iraqi oil sales overseen by the United Nations.
_____________________________________
The 23.1 billion that has been identified so far as having been skimmed from the Oil for Food Program
by Saddam will fund a lot of black market nuke materials in addition to funding ongoing insurgency in Iraq and elsewhere.
That's why we can't fool around playing politics or diplomacy. We must strike with no hesitation or fear of consequence. Our future and the qorld is at stake.
Jose
Damn well said Matt!
anon -
The strength of democracy in the United States is the result of over two centuries of widely differing opinions on how things should be done have been channeled into principled compromises aimed at solving problems.
Those two words are vital. Government is there to deal with issues beyond the ability of individuals or states to handle. It is not there to define or regulate our lives.
My personal opinion is that the institutional Left in this country has been off of the "solve problems" path since before the second world war, but only recently has it opted to take its marbles and go home. We are weaker because of it, too.
A reasoned statement, Tmj. I appreciate it. You must realize that the Right (institutional or individual) is having trouble staying out of our business, as well. I fear that the days of unintrusive national government are far behind us.
Excellent perspective and excellently presented! It's almost surreal what is going on - and rightfully so I suppose; God would have it no other way. Until whatever happens... happens.. count me as a soldier against Islam; whether you want to divide it by saying "radical" or not.. those who believe in it are lost souls.
I agree with most everything stated, including the general thoughts on moral relativism.
I do want to make one statement about the "religion of peace". Well, two actually. Having just read about half the history of the region and the development of Islam as well as looking at our strategic aims, there are reasons in which we do not call on Islam directly and as a whole as THE progenitor of this current crisis.
Strategically, and the most important, is the number of adherents to the religion. There are over 1.5 billion practicioners of Islam. As well as some 30 countries, both large and small, rich and poor, that have this religion as their base.
To proclaim a war on the religion or even act like it is a small part of that religion, would entail a large number of people joining up to the cause. While it might seem that the very devil is springing up all over the place to interdict us, it is actually an incredibly small part of the Islamic population.
By proclaiming Islam as a religion of peace, we have effectively taken the first strike at the enemy's base for recruitment. We are separating them from those that would normally be their natural allies.
Divide and conquer.
Politically, it goes without saying that we are keeping certain countries, not only out of the play, but limiting them as well as assisting them in separating their own troubled population from those that might over throw the "legitimate" governments of the country.
Particularly in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Now, we have not been as successful as one might wish at this practice, but it/we could do better. By engaging what appears to be at least a less radical version of Islam, or the "moderates" in more political discourse as well as embracing their freedom to practice religion, we can further erode the enemy's ability to recruit and gain material and financial support. We also have to be very tough on those that we know are providing support.
This is basically carrot and stick politics. If some remain our friends, it's the carrot. Any who support the enemy, it's the stick.
Divide and conquer.
We could do better at this and we here might be part of that over all ability.
Think about how we could manage that. Frankly, the government is doing some, but I do think we are not providing the best propaganda available. That's where I would like to see some major improvement.
'Barry 0351' - I think the first thing we should do, is get rid of all the fanatics.
Ok, my last comment was a little snide - I apologize, but Barry's statement:
"what if we clean house here first the old fashioned way, Islam, MSM and all self proclaimed traitors get the boot, the wall or the noose"
seemed really over the top to me.
Barry, I agree with you on the issue of the reserves - when folks sign a contract they should honor it; and folks who sign up with the military should know full well what that might involve.
just want to mention,along the lines
of"a religion of peace",i've lived
quite a while in dearborn michigan,
with a large arab and chaldean popu-
lation.many of these people are very
pious gentle people.the lengths they
go to for the sake of manners and
hospitality is incredible.but the teen
and 20something males are often hotheads(just like whites,blacks,asian
latino and everyone else)at that age
it is easy to be waylaid and misguided
by a charismatic fast talker.that is
where we find ourselves today.it is too bad,but it is what we are dealing
with.
I have a quick question. Ok, so its kind of a long question but bear with em here. I notice that many of the people posting on here seem to make references to their faith. How does a Christian, whose Lord and Savior is Jesus Christ, reconcile the fact that in promoting war they are going against the beatitudes, ie "Blessed are the Peacemakers", "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.", "Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy." I am a christian, I ask myself "What would Jesus Do?", and the answer I feel is not kill, destroy or make war. Jesus, being all powerful, could at any time have chosen to destroy his enemies. What did he do? While being crucified, nastier than any beheading in my opinion, he said "Father Forgive them for they know not what they do." What has happened to us as christians? We were persecuted and hunted for thousands of years, and now you are talking of doing the same to those of Islam? I dont get it... And no flaming please, this is an honest inquiry.
it is a matter of charity.what if,by
killing one person,you save potent-
ially hundreds or thousands of his
future victims?also,what if you have
the unique ability to get this guy,
do you leave him alone and have a
clear conscience about sparing him?
what about his victims,don't you have
their blood on your hands for allowing
their death?the USA,and particularly
bush,are in that exact position.also,
the torah's version of the ten com-
mandments does not say thou shalt not
kill,but rather says thou shalt not
commit murder,vastly different.
Phil,
Jesus was talking about interpersonal relationships between individual people. What many here are talking about is a strategic option for preserving the viability of the United States against determined fanatical enemies. The spiritual aspect of this war is a result of the enemy not the US. I don't think that the battle would be framed in spiritual terms at all if we were'nt facing an enemy seeking religious hegemony at the point of a gun.
Usually, groups in opposition don't come out front with the, "Wer'e going to annihilate all infidels" strategy right at the outset of the war. Hitler didn't even do that, he merely wanted to racially purify Europe, and "solve" the Jewish "problem". He was at least coy about his goals. These nutjobs are not.
That's one of the reasons why we are going to prevail. An enemy that irrational is not capable of meaningful strategic planning or action. Witness UBL, who thinking that he could scare Americans into voting out W with F911 talking points, got his plan tossed back in his face. These pinheads don't have the intellectual basis to defeat us. They have blind commitment to martyrdom, but that's about it. Dying for allah is easy for the individual jihadi. Without a valid rational basis for their movement, they have only hyperbole, and suicide.
So it's not a Christian thing really at all, its a defend America thing.
So Jesus would wage war, is that what you are saying? He died rather than kill his enemies... Jesus was talking about interpersonal relationships, and when it comes to wars between nations, thats a different story? Thats an interesting take on it. And Wade, Jesus chose death. End of story. How many Christians have died since in his name? Is their blood on his hands? No. We choose our own path. I choose to live by the teachings of Jesus ALL the time, not just when its convenient or easy.
my point exactly,it is more convenient
and easier on your conscience to avoid
a confrontation,the you can say "i was
not vengeful",but true charity would
be to take the risk and spare others
by taking out the evil that only you
have the ability to do.that is the
USA,uniquely able to put the world
right as we have before.
Check your bible Phil, Jesus is going to wage war and I think that he'll be riding a white horse when He does it. If you believe that Jesus is the Word that spoke the universe into existence like I do, then you have to concede that Jesus and war have a long history. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were constantly on the offense slaughtering the enemies of God and claiming their promised land.
Like I said before, Jesus doesn't take up the issue of national conduct very much in Scripture, but He is the Architect of all that came before. "Saul killed his thousands and David his ten thousands", and David was a man after God's own heart.
Phil, if you want to be a pacifist in your own life, then good for you, brother. But I don't think that that path leads anywhere but disaster for the US. Our nation was born in war, and freedom can only be defended by arms.
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