Thursday, February 17, 2005
Some Pure Truths That Hurt
Hi there Folks,
Took a few days off and attended to personal obligations, but I really would like to get back into this.
I spend time on a local Blog that is Administered by the local Newspaper here in St. Augustine and I get some interest responses and challenges to my thinking that I want to share with you.
First I would like to address Whiterobe. It is like this, if you have ever had the opportunity to actually "HUNT" a human being, (an experience I got more than enough of in Viet Nam) you will understand just how difficult that is, (were you a Field Medic or a REMF?), especially in view that there are a few million people watching this guys back for him and providing him with everything he needs to stay on the loose.
Secondly Usama Ben Laden does not want to be caught. Simple enough? Now add to that the challenges of terrain, language, etc, and I am not surprised we haven't caught him.
Do you really understand how much universally incredible dumb luck went into find Sadam? That is all it was. Yes there was some intelligence as to his general location. But think about what happened when that scared, bored, tired infantryman kicked that rug aside and thought that a piece of Styrofoam was under it was a tad odd. I feel sorry for that infantryman he is never going to win the Lottery. He used the pure dumb luck in his life all up.
Hope this helps you understand why we haven't caught him. Yet...
As to your question are we spending enough? If we get hit again in this Country, then No we are not spending enough. If we do not get hit, then yes we are and that does not mean we get to reduce what we spend until we are just barely above the amount needed to keep us from getting hit again.
We will and soon. And badly.
Is the Military Industrial Complex making money on this war? Come on be real. Of course they are. Haliburton. Colt. Whoever makes uniforms, rations, and bullets, whatever? Yes the MI Complex is doing quite well. Be a realist about this stuff and it don't quite suck so bad. Whoever would have thought it that Eisenhower would nail this group right to the wall in the late 50's.
See, here is the thing. Uncle Sam turned me into a warrior a long time ago. Some people gasp at the fact that I would say that. But the reality of it all was I was very good at my job and I came home, albeit full of holes and nightmares, I understand a truth. The truth is that there is a Man with a Gun over there to quote a song. And he wants me to stop living the way that I like or he just wants me to stop living.
As long as he is out there, I or one of my guys is going to be out there with a gun to prevent that. Do I wish it were otherwise? Yes!! Of course! I am a real warrior. I have known Combat and I like it. But I hate what is left afterwards. I pray more than anything else that this world would get to a place where people like me are not needed ever.
But until I wake up one morning and I hear a fully voluntary all-inclusive participatory, universal Koom-Ba-Ya going on in the world. I and my ideas and the ideals of those that have gone before me and those that will come after me that look upon our countrymen and those of true peace as wondrous beings that need to be protected in spite of themselves. We cherish your dreams and yearn for them more than you can imagine. But we will live in hell to try to provide you with peace.
Took a few days off and attended to personal obligations, but I really would like to get back into this.
I spend time on a local Blog that is Administered by the local Newspaper here in St. Augustine and I get some interest responses and challenges to my thinking that I want to share with you.
First I would like to address Whiterobe. It is like this, if you have ever had the opportunity to actually "HUNT" a human being, (an experience I got more than enough of in Viet Nam) you will understand just how difficult that is, (were you a Field Medic or a REMF?), especially in view that there are a few million people watching this guys back for him and providing him with everything he needs to stay on the loose.
Secondly Usama Ben Laden does not want to be caught. Simple enough? Now add to that the challenges of terrain, language, etc, and I am not surprised we haven't caught him.
Do you really understand how much universally incredible dumb luck went into find Sadam? That is all it was. Yes there was some intelligence as to his general location. But think about what happened when that scared, bored, tired infantryman kicked that rug aside and thought that a piece of Styrofoam was under it was a tad odd. I feel sorry for that infantryman he is never going to win the Lottery. He used the pure dumb luck in his life all up.
Hope this helps you understand why we haven't caught him. Yet...
As to your question are we spending enough? If we get hit again in this Country, then No we are not spending enough. If we do not get hit, then yes we are and that does not mean we get to reduce what we spend until we are just barely above the amount needed to keep us from getting hit again.
We will and soon. And badly.
Is the Military Industrial Complex making money on this war? Come on be real. Of course they are. Haliburton. Colt. Whoever makes uniforms, rations, and bullets, whatever? Yes the MI Complex is doing quite well. Be a realist about this stuff and it don't quite suck so bad. Whoever would have thought it that Eisenhower would nail this group right to the wall in the late 50's.
See, here is the thing. Uncle Sam turned me into a warrior a long time ago. Some people gasp at the fact that I would say that. But the reality of it all was I was very good at my job and I came home, albeit full of holes and nightmares, I understand a truth. The truth is that there is a Man with a Gun over there to quote a song. And he wants me to stop living the way that I like or he just wants me to stop living.
As long as he is out there, I or one of my guys is going to be out there with a gun to prevent that. Do I wish it were otherwise? Yes!! Of course! I am a real warrior. I have known Combat and I like it. But I hate what is left afterwards. I pray more than anything else that this world would get to a place where people like me are not needed ever.
But until I wake up one morning and I hear a fully voluntary all-inclusive participatory, universal Koom-Ba-Ya going on in the world. I and my ideas and the ideals of those that have gone before me and those that will come after me that look upon our countrymen and those of true peace as wondrous beings that need to be protected in spite of themselves. We cherish your dreams and yearn for them more than you can imagine. But we will live in hell to try to provide you with peace.
Comments:
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quote:
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We need to stop and realize that we are spending a little over 3% of our GDP on the War right now.
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Marcus, from your comment I assume that you 'feel' this is OK, or the cost is of little consequence. I have questions: Is enough being spent on the security of our forces in Iraq? How much is being transferred to the military-industrial, high-technology, weapons industry? What is the payback? What kind of "pressure" does this industry exert on influencing and expanding the war in Iraq? Why can't our 'competent' military and intelligence agencies find and capture OBL? Are we in fact witnessing a desire to keep OBL on the run so the war and the 'profit-taking' can continue and expand? Just some questions that I have....
quote:
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The fact that we are in the opening phases of what can easily become WW III I do not think that the economy is in trouble.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marcus, I would not like for my children to have to endure the consequences of WWIII or WWIV, as some consider it. Some more questions: Besides the profits that war generates for the military-industrial-complex-arms-industry, when is war good or beneficial for Americans in general? Are we winning the hearts and minds of the population that we have subjugated in Iraq? Why didn't the planners of this war in Iraq prepare for this phase IV, i.e. "nation-building"? Can these war planners really be trusted to continue and even expand this war into Iran and Syria? Do you agree that (for whatever reason) - America lost the war in Vietnam? Would you think these war planners are competent enough to win this WWIII/IV? Can an American high-tech, nuclear military, designed to "project" power and fight a nuclear war - expand the present war we have began in the Middle East? With the rest of the world, including our allies, against us? When the president says "you are either with us or against us" - do you think he means what he says? Can we learn from history? When Hitler promised the Sudetenland would be enough, was he telling the truth? Regarding the US economy, do you realize that the US is the largest debtor nation on earth? And this has happened in the last 20 years (+/-)? Do you realize that our multi-national, global corporations are transferring factories, production, and jobs overseas? Have you looked at the "made in China" tags in Wal-mart? Do you know that our balance of trade deficit with China is over $120 billion/year and growing? Do you understand the importance of the "dollar" in the world economy? Do you know that the "euro" has increased in value by over 50% against the dollar in the last 4 years? Do you know that OPEC requires that oil be paid for by US dollars? Do you know that in ~ November, 2000 Saddam Hussein changed his policy and required Iraqi oil to be paid for with euros?
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We elected these folks that spend our money and do you thnk that any of them know what the hell they are doing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My answer to your question is: Yes and no. Regarding those who manage our government, there is a “dumbing down” of the US government bureaucracy, as the old guard – the ones who knew the answers, the reasons why (behind the regs)– are retiring, and leaving government, and not being replaced. There is a different emphasis now in government, more closely aligned with following the policies emanating from the temporary occupant of the Whitehouse, etc., whoever he/she is. Regarding the prosecution of this impending WWIII/IV, I would say that the “influence peddlers”, “profit-takers”, and their allies and lackeys know exactly what they are doing. And then based on their recent job performance, the war-planners” and diplomats do not know what they are doing, but they do understand the very ancient practice of scape-goating and will never take the blame for their mistakes. That is the recent history of this administration that I have observed. As always, the profits of war are measured in dollars and the losses are measured in lives…..
whiterobe….
495th MED, HHC 268th CAB, 17th CAG
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We need to stop and realize that we are spending a little over 3% of our GDP on the War right now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marcus, from your comment I assume that you 'feel' this is OK, or the cost is of little consequence. I have questions: Is enough being spent on the security of our forces in Iraq? How much is being transferred to the military-industrial, high-technology, weapons industry? What is the payback? What kind of "pressure" does this industry exert on influencing and expanding the war in Iraq? Why can't our 'competent' military and intelligence agencies find and capture OBL? Are we in fact witnessing a desire to keep OBL on the run so the war and the 'profit-taking' can continue and expand? Just some questions that I have....
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The fact that we are in the opening phases of what can easily become WW III I do not think that the economy is in trouble.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marcus, I would not like for my children to have to endure the consequences of WWIII or WWIV, as some consider it. Some more questions: Besides the profits that war generates for the military-industrial-complex-arms-industry, when is war good or beneficial for Americans in general? Are we winning the hearts and minds of the population that we have subjugated in Iraq? Why didn't the planners of this war in Iraq prepare for this phase IV, i.e. "nation-building"? Can these war planners really be trusted to continue and even expand this war into Iran and Syria? Do you agree that (for whatever reason) - America lost the war in Vietnam? Would you think these war planners are competent enough to win this WWIII/IV? Can an American high-tech, nuclear military, designed to "project" power and fight a nuclear war - expand the present war we have began in the Middle East? With the rest of the world, including our allies, against us? When the president says "you are either with us or against us" - do you think he means what he says? Can we learn from history? When Hitler promised the Sudetenland would be enough, was he telling the truth? Regarding the US economy, do you realize that the US is the largest debtor nation on earth? And this has happened in the last 20 years (+/-)? Do you realize that our multi-national, global corporations are transferring factories, production, and jobs overseas? Have you looked at the "made in China" tags in Wal-mart? Do you know that our balance of trade deficit with China is over $120 billion/year and growing? Do you understand the importance of the "dollar" in the world economy? Do you know that the "euro" has increased in value by over 50% against the dollar in the last 4 years? Do you know that OPEC requires that oil be paid for by US dollars? Do you know that in ~ November, 2000 Saddam Hussein changed his policy and required Iraqi oil to be paid for with euros?
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We elected these folks that spend our money and do you thnk that any of them know what the hell they are doing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My answer to your question is: Yes and no. Regarding those who manage our government, there is a “dumbing down” of the US government bureaucracy, as the old guard – the ones who knew the answers, the reasons why (behind the regs)– are retiring, and leaving government, and not being replaced. There is a different emphasis now in government, more closely aligned with following the policies emanating from the temporary occupant of the Whitehouse, etc., whoever he/she is. Regarding the prosecution of this impending WWIII/IV, I would say that the “influence peddlers”, “profit-takers”, and their allies and lackeys know exactly what they are doing. And then based on their recent job performance, the war-planners” and diplomats do not know what they are doing, but they do understand the very ancient practice of scape-goating and will never take the blame for their mistakes. That is the recent history of this administration that I have observed. As always, the profits of war are measured in dollars and the losses are measured in lives…..
whiterobe….
495th MED, HHC 268th CAB, 17th CAG
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