A Weblog Commentary on Politics and Veteran Benefit Erosion

Current Responses

Archives

Links and Resources

Disclaimer

 


"When a citizen answers the call, leaves blood and body parts, or perhaps a life on the battlefield, there should be no need to convince the leaders of a nation to keep commitments and honor warrior sacrifices...."

COL Harry Riley

      USAWAKEUP.ORG/ 

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceived veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by our nation."

George Washington


          Find Your Vet Buddies Here           

 

Responses to

 

Now Posted.

CLICK HERE TO READ 


 

Links

MOAA 

USAWAKEUP.org/ 

Congress.Org

Restoring America

 

U.S. National Debt 

Clock

 

Bill of NON-Rights

 

VeteranSearch.com

 

VVLF

 

 

 

 

Friends,

I am very leery of sensational announcements that pass through the Internet.

However, many months of rumors surrounding Barack Obama being ineligible to serve as President of the United States has taken an official turn to the courts.

A lawsuit has been officially filed in the last day or so in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania challenging Barack Obama's birth status, contending Obama is not eligible to serve as President of the United States, among counts of US Constitution, Dual Citizenship, and fraud violations.

You can read the official court document by clicking here . Come to your own conclusions.

Keep in mind this situation in no way impacts Patriots Revolt momentum to reject both McCain and Obama candidacy for President. Neither have the integrity, character, nor motivation to honor the US Constitution in the best interests of "we the people".

What the situation does reflect is confirmation of Patriots Revolt message regarding corrupt two party political establishment that will go to any extreme to win an election, maintain their power hungry attitudes, even to the extent of openly violating the US Constitution.

The lawsuit rightly concludes the Democratic National Committee and Barack Obama have had ample time to dispel rumors and set the record straight by producing documents that clearly confirm Obama's birth and citizenship status. They appear to have engaged in fraud by doctoring a family member birth certificate by presenting it as Obama's certificate.

Obama has been preaching "change, change, change" as his slogan for the presidency...what does he do but select Senator Biden as his Vice President choice who has been giving America "more of the same" for decades. Does this mean Obama has "changed" back to "more of the same"?

McCain fits right in with Obama's change theme as he's a flip-flopper ranking with the best, on Kerry's VP consideration list, has a history of obstinate behavior, an illegal alien amnesty hard core supporter, dismissed efforts to pursue accounting for POW/MIA warriors, on and on......

The bottom line, America is being duped again by candidates without principle...do anything, say anything, stand for anything, contradict themselves, with the expectation that "we the people" will be gullible enough to swallow their fabrications, distortions, deceptions again.

Not anymore, enough is enough...those that want to view a vote for a third party candidate as a vote for one failure or one without enough experience to be a failure, are fooling themselves...

A vote for a third party candidate is a vote regaining our honor as men and women in America, up-holding the principles of our Founding Fathers, sustaining 232 years of sacrifice for freedom,  and rejecting the traits of despicable, self-serving politicians.

Visit Patriots Revolt for our third party candidate discussion.

Harry Riley, COL,USA, Ret
www.patriotsrevolt.com

http://www.selfgovernment.us/aip/


 

AMERICA AT THE PRECIPICE

Friends,

I have been implicit and usually very explicit as to my belief that America is in serious jeopardy on many fronts. Millions of citizens in America seem to agree with me...will we take the radical action necessary and reverse the threat?

While America is still the most wonderful place on the earth to live, the question I suggest is "can we keep it that way" with the incompetent political leadership we've had over the past few years and the caliber of talent on the horizon?

America is thirsting for national figures that stand up courageously, can say what they mean without being fed by handlers, have a heart for America that cannot be denied. Neither McCain or Obama are up to the task, falling far short of what it takes to lead the greatest nation on earth.

We have major issues that leadership, to include the candidates, seem unable to grasp. Our moral condition continues to deteriorate, fuel prices punish all Americans, lawlessness expands unabated, illegal immigration is out of control, a Supreme Court that uses ideology or imaginary rationale to decide major cases, neither party in congress can accomplish anything for citizens, a congress that publicly surrenders to barbaric murderers while America blood still flows on the battlefield, American cities harbor criminals in defiance of law without sanction,an Administration that will pardon a bureaucrat but leave railroaded border guards in prison, send our men and women to war and then prosecute them for doing their job, politicians serve in-your-face notice they will spend any amount of your tax dollars where and when they want, on and on........folks this is just a sample.

Think about it. Both presidential candidates lack any solid base of where they stand. Have we heard either John McCain or Barak Obama announce principles they believe in and will not compromise? Have we heard these candidates forcefully commit to a list they absolutely reject? It seems acceptable for a candidate to deceive until one group is convinced, then move to another group and deceive again, and again...we have no checks and balances to hold them accountable...the political mechanism and media control our thoughts and limit our voices. Don't you want a candidate that has the courage to stand before America and say what they believe in? Or are you happy with a candidate who feels a little pressure, then abandons a position and goes another direction, just for a vote? No principle, just a mushy nothing.

We have candidates that court Latinos and say one thing, court homosexuals and say another, court illegals and offer hope, court women with two opposite messages, court liberals, religious groups, conservatives and more...telling them all a little bit of what they want to hear, not what's good for America. We are treated as small groups of sheep guarded by political wolves. There is no such thing as integrity in politics by any measure, our founding principles are a nuisance...it is destroying America.

Well for me, I'm sick, disgusted by the betraying politicians that will say anything to anybody to get a vote and mean none of what they say. Can we ignore over 200 years of sacrifice, blood, and treasure being trashed by selfish, greedy, power-hungry politicians? Even now our warriors on the battlefield are treated as cannon fodder while the politicians spar over their agenda for power. It just doesn't get more despicable.

If Americans want Obama as their candidate that's their choice.

As for many of us, John McCain is not a conservative, is a pretender, a wind from all directions, reflects the energy of a mushroom, much like Bob Dole,is the presumptive nominee because he has paid his dues to the republican apparatus. He will be defeated by a socialist, inexperienced novice at a time America needs solid leadership, courage,ideas and solutions.

The sooner conservatives and the republican party come to grips that McCain is a loser, not good for the republican party, not accepted by conservatives, and most of all, not good for America, the sooner corrective action can be taken.

Conservatives and republicans can wake up now, support a movement to reject McCain at the republican convention, or wake-up January 2009 with a virtual unknown with questionable credentials at best in the White House...be prepared to weep America.

If you fear for our nation, I invite you to visit
Patriots Revolt and join a movement to reject John McCain if he ignores our demands. The alternative is a radical call for another candidate to carry the conservative banner. It will take millions of us to get the attention of the republican party and America...we need ideas, volunteers(young and not so young), and commitment to help accomplish the mission.

Some are calling our movement "lunacy, wild-eyed fringe", etc...but I'll tell you folks we wouldn't be America without some "wild-eyed radicals" thinking America was worth fighting for. We don't compare to our fore-fathers but the threat is just as great in my humble opinion.

If you can accept Obama as the next President of the United States, do nothing.

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

Patriots Revolt is just that, a revolt against the current crime of political rape of America.

"The time has come for those in positions in government to remember: they are where they are only in accordance with a social contract with the people, whereby we exchanged our votes as currency in exchange for their promises to represent us faithfully and to carry out policy as we dictate. A breach of this contract does have ramifications and we intend to see to it that those ramifications are carried out for the unfaithful, unlawful, and unconstitutional acts of those in government positions." Patti Thornhill

www.patriotsrevolt.com

 
 
Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

MORE ABOUT PATRIOTS REVOLT

 

Patriots Revolt is just that, a revolt against the current crime of political rape of America.

We are a conservative political activist movement, with allegiance to no political party, comprised of millions of America's citizens to include veterans. We hail from all walks of life, not limited to any one stratum of the American fabric, truly a cross section of Americans. What we have in common is our disgust at the despicable betrayal by the political apparatus against the people of America.

The strongest desires of Patriots Revolt are to return accountability of the United States government to its citizens: Government of the people, by the people and for the people; not government of one-world, or by the elite,or for special interest groups.

We, Patriots Revolt, approach you today to publicize our existence and welcome your participation. With your help, we hope to air our grievances to the people of the United States of America by enlisting their support and participation in this struggle to regain sanity!

We oppose both presidential candidates in that we believe they are neither qualified, prepared, nor understand the needs of, or threats to America, nor do we believe they care about the people of America. We need a candidate who is not working for his political party but for the people,and who does not believe he is above the law, winks at illegal activity, or reflects an unethical history. Our candidate, therefore, must be conservative in political thought and governance, have an ear for the people, and whose sole aim is an effort to restore American values and common sense given us by God and our founding fathers.

With your help, Patriots Revolt will be instrumental in steering the Republican Party and this current presidential selection to a candidate that is conservative, displays an initiative to listen to, and abides by the will of the American people.

The fervent hope of Patriots Revolt is to accomplish the following:

1. work to rescue the Republican Party from the Bush/McCain slow death approach and restore a vibrant conservative, of the people, by the people, for the people choice for America;

2. to alert disenchanted, disenfranchised American citizens to an alternative to the present candidates of the major parties;

3. enlist an army of conservative minded individuals who will join forces with Patriots Revolt to shed the yoke of appeasement, pandering, self-serving, greedy, politicians willing to surrender our sovereignty; and

4. find presidential candidates who will govern according to the Constitution of the United States of America.

Patriots Revolt solicits your assistance to make our movement known by:

1.  writing letters to the editor, calling talk shows, informing local organizations (e.g.,VFW, Legion, Chamber of Commerce, DAV), alerting email lists, etc.;

2.  acquainting individuals to the existence, purpose and goals of the Movement;

3.  encouraging people to learn more about Patriots Revolt at our website www.patriotsrevolt.com , where they can register, pledge moral support, and become a voice supporting America as envisioned by our founding fathers;

4.  encouraging you and others that received this to forward to their email lists, link www.patriotsrevolt.com on personal blogs...in short the time for political revolt is now, not 2, 5, 10, or 20 years...it's now folks no matter where the chips fall......we must take back America to our roots, and finally;.

5.  click here and visit Patriots Revolt home page, read our goals, objectives, and complete the pledge at the bottom of the home page. It's not about McCain or Obama, it's about America and the threat both these men pose to our way of life.

Respectfully,

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret


 

Ballot Box Revolt 

America Is Not Owned By Any Political Party

 

2008 – The Year To Vote For A Third Party Candidate


The argument against voting for a third party candidate seems to be,  “if you vote for a third party candidate for President you will throw the election to either the democrat or republican candidate”.   That argument in November 2008 election is not valid because it matters not whether McCain or Obama is elected…neither one meets the test.

On the surface there are some differences between Obama and McCain…or are there really any significant differences?

Obama supports abortion, partial birth abortion, homosexual rights, same sex marriage, has no energy solution, is waffling on the Iraq war, supports illegal alien citizenship, weak on border security, and is as far left as possible.

McCain seems to be against abortion but says he wouldn't seek a change in Roe v Wade, cozies up to homosexual community, against a one man/one woman marriage amendment, has no energy solution, supports the Iraq war, visits with La Raza, supporters of illegal alien citizenship, weak on border security, and supports conservative and some liberal positions.

There are some other minor differences between Obama and McCain but what I hear most as a reason to support McCain is the likely US Supreme Court appointment possibility and the Iraq war.  Both arguments are moot for these reasons.

McCain would not be allowed to appoint a conservative Supreme Court justice in the vein of Scalia, Thomas, Alito, Roberts…the US Senate, Democrats in the majority, would not support it, won't happen.   The best McCain could hope for is nominating a left-leaning centrist that would survive Senate confirmation.  Obama as President would not change the makeup of the US Supreme Court…if there is a vacancy, it will in all probability be one of the liberal justices.  Obama will simply appoint another liberal justice not far removed from the one McCain would have to appoint.  Who knows, Obama could appoint a justice that would pull a Souter or Kennedy in reverse?

Remember Republican Presidents appointed recent Supreme Court Justices Souter(Bush 41) a flaming liberal, Kennedy(Reagan) much like McCain, never know where he is coming from, and Sandra Day O'Connor(Reagan), another question mark.  So the argument that McCain would change the makeup of the US Supreme court and tilt it to the right does not meet a reality test.

The argument that an Obama Presidency would jeopardize Iraq success, result in a ill-conceived troop pullout is weak.  Obama is moving toward a reevaluation of his Iraq position favoring a planned, studied approach, and favoring moving troops to Afghanistan.  We'll learn more of Obama’s Iraq policy after he visits the troops and surveys at ground level.  I suspect he will disappoint his far-left supporters which could cause serious fallout, not that he wants to move to the center but he knows he must.  In essence, there is likely to be little difference between McCain and Obama as we draw closer to November…certainly no devastating premature Iraq pullout.

There is also another variable that sticks in my craw and that's the performance of Republicans that resulted in their 2006 election rout.  The Republican party abandoned it's principles during 2000 – 2006 falling into the big government, spending frenzy, betraying the base, which cost them the House and Senate in 2006…they deserved to get waxed.   They now must prove receipt of a message…we don't trust them, nor the Democrats for that matter.

In 1992 we had an incumbent President, George HW Bush, William Clinton, and Ross Perot running for President. Thousands of voters used the excuse “if I vote for Perot I'll be electing Clinton” so I must vote for Bush.  I'll tell you, if all the people that said they would vote for Perot, if they thought he could win, would have voted for Perot, he would have won.

During the 92 elections there was a reasonable choice and the third party candidate pulled nearly 20% of the American vote.  George HW Bush violated his pledge “read my lips, no new taxes” by signing a tax bill…America punished him.

The 2008 election gives us no clear choice of candidates…we don't need to feel guilty about voting for a third party candidate.   Again, if all the people that are of the opinion that a vote for a third party candidate will elect Obama do indeed vote for a third party candidate, the 20% Ross Perot garnered could be 35 or 40 %.

For all “Americans” that are disgusted with the two major party apparatus using us as pawns in their presidential political games, it's time to send a message.  We won't send them any money, we will openly oppose them, and at the ballot box we'll vote for a third party candidate at the Presidential level.

Right now the only third party candidates I'm aware of are Alan Keyes,  America's Idependent Party, Chuck Baldwin, Constitution Party ; Bob Barr, Libertarian Party  .   Read their platforms.  I'm now supporting Alan Keyes. 

Voting for a Senator or Representative should be for the best choice, leaning toward throwing out the incumbent.

That's the way I see it folks……you may view me as losing it but I've had enough of the incestuous two party monopoly that is punishing America.

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

http://www.usawakeup.org

http://independent-patriots-for-america.com/


 

 

 

Iraq Veteran and Family Assaulted, Edinboro, PA

Peace Demonstrators Resort To Violence 

 

Friends,

 
Officials may be uncertain, confused, bewildered in Edinboro, PA surrounding the assault on the Swartout family on April 22, 2008. 
 
More than once I have wondered why there were no police present at the peace demonstration that day. Would this unfortunate act of violence been prevented?  I would hope so.  Be that as it may, a family standing up for America may be in the cross-hairs of a railroad action...........
 
It appears the Swartout's received citations (or whatever they are called) in the mail today charging them with "harassment" based on the physical altercation of April 22nd.  The citation suggests there is an option to plead guilty, pay a fine of 231.00 each and be done with it.  Nothing would please the Edinboro police Department, District Attorney (DA), or the peace thugs more than to have the Swartouts plead guilty. Based on my observation, this is bizarre and absurd...no guilty plea is a possibility...fighting this tooth and nail in the courts is the only option.   I suspect if the fine was only $2.00 that would be too much....Any requirement to acknowledge guilt for standing up for America, our troops, families while being assaulted for exercising a constitutional right is preposterous.
 
It would appear reasonable for the DA to reflect what happened with regard to the Duke University case in North Carolina.  Failure to consider all the evidence or allow distortion and fabrication to derail justice would surely bring the sledge hammer of the law on Edinboro officials, the city, and possibly other institutions.
 
Fox News Bill O'Reilly aired a short segment with Carrie Swartout on Tuesday and indicated he would be following the case.  O'Reilly raised concern as to whether the DA in Edinboro was being objective and upfront with the case...O'Reilly sounded a cautious note with regard to the Edinboro DA and urged her to retain an lawyer.  It was unfortunate the segment was so short, sandwiched between other news, that Carrie was not able to mention she was kicked in the head which resulted in a concussion, her son received a blow to the face, and husband received numerous abrasions from the attack...keep in mind the Swartout family took no aggressive action beyond a defensive posture.
 
There is some indication no one in Edinboro wants to take responsibility for deciding who gets charged.  Police seem to suggest the DA decides but so far there is no information that the DA has looked at the evidence.  As noted by Bill O'Reilly during his report of the incident, the DA or his office would not respond to queries from Fox News. 
 
Some who organized the peace protest have been encouraging followers to call child protective services, implying that parents who bring family members to an event to stand up for America, wave the flag, are somehow negligent. These are the tactics of the "anti-everything" crowd who have one goal...destruction, chaos, confusion, intimidation and violence...all demonstrated and more on April 22nd. There are also other acts of intimidation...night visits to the Swartout home by unknown individuals, vandalism of the family vehicle...  What's wrong with citing those that attack children, use intimidation etc.?
 
The goal of the peace thugs is to stop any countering of their protests...they want to shut down the freedom of speech guaranteed to the Swartout family.  Jason Swartout spent nearly 10 years on active military duty, is now in the reserves/guard, and is a veteran having served in Iraq.  He, personally stood in the gap in Iraq for those in Edinboro that would tear America down and what happens?  He decides to stand on the street and lift up our troops and gets sucked into violence going to the aid of his 14 year old son who was under stress while taking a video of public displays associated with the peace group.
 
Dan Malone, Gathering of Eagles New York offers the following which includes detailed description of the April 22 assault using the Swartout video as well as video from a peace element source.
 
Quote:
Follow this link to my latest brief article on the assault on the Iraq War Veteran and his family with links to the original video of the event and newly released video from the 'peace' thugs' perspective here:
 
 
Feel free to use the links to the videos and anything else you might want to copy from this or the prior two articles:
 
 
Thanks,
Dan
Unquote
 
There is no suggestion in my observations that violence is condoned, supported, or should be a tactic to answer the "peace thugs" in Edinboro, PA.  Neither is there a suggestion that those that resist violence will be runover.  My hope is the Swartout family will use legal means to deal with any charges from police or the DA and pursue civil action against those who attacked them or failed security. My hope also is that peaceful demonstrations supporting our nation, troops, families will continue in Edinboro and everywhere else in America that anti-America crowds gather.
 
There have been a number of patriots contact me and offer financial support to the Swartout family if it is needed...I add my personal offer also.
 
We can stand up to hateful acts against America or knuckle under...the Edinboro assault is no small issue...it reflects a cancer that is growing more destructive to America.  Each time we make excuses for not challenging those that tear America down, we only encourage them on.....
 
We are fortunate to have courageous Americans like the Swartout family who think America is worth whatever it takes.
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret.  hmriley@cox.net 

May 05,2008

 
www.eaglesup.us "Where there is no offense, there is no effect."
 
Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

 America, A Half-Step from Chaos

 
 
What, in the name of common-sense, is going on in Florida's legal system?  For that matter what is going on with America's approach to justice?
 
Some examples...yesterday a 10 year old in Florida was arrested by police, placed in a juvenile facility, because she was using a steak knife to cut her meat that she brought to school in her lunch.  Now one can argue the meat should have been cut at home, but given she was displaying no intent to do anything but cut her meat at lunch, why would a teacher call the police rather than confiscating the knife, calling her parents, and using the situation as a reasonable learning experience, not only for the young girl, but the entire school?
 
In Destin, Florida, a man was convicted and given a life sentence without parole because he loaned his car to a friend who, with some others, committed a robbery which resulted in a homicide.  The owner of the car was not involved, knew nothing about the crime, but was convicted along with those that committed the crime because his car transported the individuals to the crime scene.
 
I don't have to rehash the DA Nifong criminal and wrongful prosecution debacle of Duke University lacrosse players which Nifong used as a political reelection tactic.
 
Consider border agents Ramos and Compean...convicted and sentenced to 10+ years for shooting an illegal alien drug smuggler who lied on the witness stand against the border agents...a prosecutor who knew the illegal alien was lying, but for political gain used the false testimony to convict two border agents protecting America.
 
National Security Adviser to the Clinton Administration, Sandy Berger pleaded guilty to pilfering highly  classified documents from the National Archives, saying he showed "very poor judgment" and that his actions were "wrong."  What's his sentence?  A fine, some community service, and barred from the National Archives.  Berger was later selected to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign staff as an adviser which appears more painful than the theft sentence.
 
None of this meets the common-sense test...worse yet it demonstrates a legal system that is broken, focused on numbers of convictions, arrests, but without the underlying principle of "justice".
 
To take this issue one gigantic step further, consider the "illegal alien" fiasco.  The American legal system is replete with laws on the books to control our borders, prosecute those that violate immigration policy, and protect our sovereignty. 
 
Given the Florida example of the Destin man who knew nothing about a crime being committed but was convicted, what does this say about the United States Congress, and all  other officials who know crimes associated with illegal aliens are being committed, and take an oath,
 
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.
 
Yet, from top to bottom,  our officials who know without any doubt,  that illegal aliens are breaking American laws, are pouring across America's borders, employers are hiring them, these aliens are bankrupting our medical facilities, overcrowding our schools, creating hazards on the highways, depleting social services designed for Americans, destroying unity and assimilation principles in America, a major ingredient in crime and prison population, a potential funnel for Islamic terrorists,  yet Congress plays political games, ignoring the criminal activity and threat to America's sovereignty for political advantage. 
 
Doesn't it follow that the United States Congress, given they are fully aware of crime associated and being committed by illegal aliens and take no meaningful action,  be prosecuted by the United States Justice Department for violating their Congressional oath?  A Florida man can be convicted for a crime he knew nothing about, but the US Congress can perpetuate an ongoing crime and not be held accountable?
 
The point seems to be made without going into issues such as, politicians abandoning warriors in battle, givng aid and comfort to the enemy, thirty some US Senators voting against English as our official language two years in a row (four of them presidential candidates), our moral rudder is considered obsolete and "political incorrect", we have to define marriage, smut rules, God and prayer is attacked, we must establish forts as homes, on and on.
 
Friends, America is about a half-step from chaos...our nation is disintegrating and destructing from the inside.  We are being herded as sheep to the slaughter by wolves rather than being protected by a faithful shepherd.
 
While our gallant warriors sacrifice to protect our freedom from without, they cannot save us from the cancer within.  

We need to stand-up on the homefront and take back America.

 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret., 

http://www.eaglesup.us  -  Where there is no offense, there is no effect.
 
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;  they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

 


 
Decision Time
 
Where will you be on September 15, 2007?
 
Plans made to travel to Washington, DC?
 
 
America and going to Washington, DC on September 15 is just about all that's on my mind these days and hardly anything different comes off my keyboard.  Not necessarily that I want to travel, but what I'm driven to do...the threat posed to America by the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) rally cannot be ignored.  I can't imagine not being there, God willing.
 
I can hardly wait to claim a spot on the street in DC, standing up for America, and sink my talons securely in my portion of the pavement.   Yes, I'm claiming a portion of the streets that the left-over hippie generation think they still own.......wrong......the 60s are over, Eagles will be in town.
 
At the same time a sadness creeps into my heart over the disunity, disharmony, hatred,  betrayal of our warriors, out right attack by a powerful  evil enemy determined to destroy America, leading  rank and file sheep that has literally no idea what they are doing, to destruction.
 
The poor ignorant souls that are brainwashed into thinking they are voicing and participating in a legitimate cause that will steer America on the correct course are totally blind to the background, motivation, and goals of the ANSWER movement.  ANSWER is a communist based, Marxist organization filled with tag along radical groups to include Muslim extremists with the goal of destruction.  These radical anti-war, anti-America, supporters of the Islamic butchers that are killing our warriors throughout the world must be stopped...their "hate America" shrill has been a thorn in the flesh of freedom loving Americans for decades...I've had enough, am sick of the "surrender attitude in America that will be reversed again on September 15 as it was on March 17 this year.
 
Do I take joy in the necessity of challenging other Americans, traveling a couple thousand miles to DC and return, creating some sacrificial difficulty on my family?  NO, I would rather be at home with my family enjoying America, and all it offers, reading newspapers and watching news reports of a unified America, supporting our warriors, in the battle against Islamic terrorism.  This is not reality and we all know it.  America is being attacked from within and it must be confronted.
 
Unfortunately, If I stayed home, I would become a mirror image of America in the 60s and 70s that stayed home while millions of warriors were in fox-holes in Vietnam defending freedom, myself included. Over 58,000 American warriors died fighting for freedom while America snoozed, allowing the anti-war radicals to convince cowardly, selfish politicians to surrender to an enemy our warriors defeated.   The anti-war crowd in the 60s, some of whom will be in DC in September, were given freedom to roam the streets without any challenge.  That cannot happen again..........not ever again.....enough is enough....our current warriors cannot be abandoned or dishonored because America is too busy to realize men and women are dying for them daily while a subtle, cancerous virus is attempting to infect our Congress with the "surrender" disease once more.
 
In my life-time I can testify to the horrors of WWII, the  absolute repulsive conditions on the European battlefield, POW camps, gas chambers ; the unspeakable jungle conditions, death marches, POW torture, by the Japanese in the Pacific;  sacrifices of unimaginable proportion on the Korean peninsula; equally heroic and successful warrior performance in Vietnam but never truthfully reported by the media; and following Vietnam the Islamic terror movement which has been slowly killing us for at least three decades.  Over 240 Marines killed in their barracks in Beirut; our Embassies being bombed, Somalia, Pan Am 103, Air Force billets bombed in Saudi Arabia, Cole attack, 9-11, on and on. 
 
According to the ANSWER movement, America is responsible for everything wrong in the world.....America is the reason for the pain...they even go so far as to support the IED suicidal barbarians in Iraq that kill, maim, and wound our warriors...men and women sacrificing themselves so ANSWER and their minions have the freedom to protest in the streets, dishonor our returning wounded at Walter Reed Army Hospital with vile demonstrations, and even interrupt warrior funerals as family members lay their loved one to rest.  Is there anything more despicable?
 
It's time for America to decide a course of action to deal with the infection......allow the cancer to grow or cut the sucker out.
 
Will patriots continue to allow these repugnant haters of America,  that openly call for the destruction of our republic to claim ownership of the streets that our warriors, cited above, fought and died to protect?  The old excuse "let someone else do it" won't wash...it's up to you and me.  Let's get the boots on, pick up the flag, get in the car or on the plane and head to DC. How can any of us sit idly by while the enemy works to undermine,  before our very eyes, over 200 years of sacrifice for freedom ?
 
Tens of thousands of us have awakened from the snooze.  On September 15, 2007, Eagles will challenge those that want to destroy America, abandon our troops, and desecrate, vandalize memorials to our fallen and missing warriors, if not protected in Washington, DC.  Join in, be part of a positive impact on America.
 
The hope of America literally rests on a massive  "boots on the ground" Landing of Eagles, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, arm in arm, locked in support of America...our numbers will send a message to American political leaders, our enemies, and those that support them.  Which will it be?  Standup for America or bow down to a ruthless, evil, Islamic enemy?
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret
Eagles Up
 

http://www.eaglesup.us  -  Where there is no offense, there is no effect.
 
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;  they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
 

 


YOU ARE INVITED TO

Eagles Landing

"A helpless sparrow can drift with the

wind. It takes an "Eagle" to fly against the

storm."


September 15, 2007

Washington, D.C.

Friends,

It is time to move out of the shadows and call the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) activity planned for September 15, 2007 in Washington, D.C. what it is...a deliberate action of mass disobedience, criminal activity, mockery of a lawful nation, betrayal and destruction of America, the limits to which only the Islamic butchers exceed.

Please watch www.eaglesup.us for details on hotel information, event location, et al...please consider your personal and organization/movement participation in shoulder to shoulder support for America, our troops, and honor our fallen warriors.

Here is an example of why we need to be in Washington, DC on September 15 from the ANSWER web site:

http://www.pephost.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr011=bhp1k4wvk3.app13b&page=NewsArticle&id=8557&news_iv_ctrl=1621

Quote

"Saturday, September 15
Mass March on Washington & Die-In led by Iraq Veterans

 

  • People will begin assembling at the White House in the late morning. There will not be an opening rally. A march will form with the front contingent of Iraq war veterans, family members of soldiers and marines, and other veterans. When the march arrives at Congress, the Iraq Veterans Against the War and family members will be the leadership of a mass die-in symbolizing the deaths of an estimated 4,000 U.S. servicemembers. A powerful representation of the death of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis will be the other central component of this dramatic confrontation with Congress at the time that they will be debating spending another $100 billion to sustain the criminal occupation of Iraq.
  • The Die-In is a civil disobedience action that will involve at least 4,000 people who are able to risk arrest.
  • There will be a permitted rally taking place simultaneously with the Die-In. All those who cannot afford to risk arrest will be able to participate in the permitted rally that will take place on the West Lawn of the Capitol Building." 
Unquote

The above is enough to tell America that nothing will be safe in Washington, D.C. from the hate spewing, anti-America rabble September 15th. These groups have been involved in vandalizing, destructive, and dishonorable behavior for decades, not only in Washington but across America. 

Many Americans are serving and have served their nation in the military and other forms of national service to defend the constitution of the United States, guaranteeing freedom of speech for all America.  ANSWER, which includes elements that are enemies of America, are afforded the right of "freedom of speech"...likewise, others who view America as worth fighting for also have "freedom of speech" and freedom of the streets.  Freedom of expression does not extend to "freedom to destroy".

 We will meet the anti-America crowd on the streets of Washington, D.C...the free ride of the 60s ended...our behavior will be non-confrontational, non-violent, only so far as we are not attacked...we will defend ourselves but more importantly we will defend the honor of America, our current warriors, and particularly protect the sacred honor and hallowed ground of our brothers and sisters gone before.

Brothers and Sisters, the September event portends to be a crucial, serious, even grave occurrence in the life of American freedom...the enemies of America will be on the streets trying to use their numbers, unlawful activity, vandalizing, virtually any destructive opportunity to gain media attention, sway Congress, and encourage the Islamic radical enemy.  With us in the middle of the event, the media won't be able to dismiss our presence, particularly when we out-number them 50-1.

The decade of the 60s is over, the streets of America are no longer the domain of the anti-war movement.  There can be no repeat of the devastating, anti-America, anti-liberty, flag-burning, troop hating, betrayers of America that encouraged the enemy in Viet Nam which resulted in the political defeat of America.  There are hundreds of thousands of us that served during the decades of  60s and 70s in Viet Nam and we're not going to allow another generation of warriors to be stained, suffer through the humiliation, dishonor, and abuse we experienced.  To put it mildly, we're madder than hell at the way America is being trashed...the time is here for the America bashing thugs to be held accountable.

The consequences of "drifting" is a sure threat to our children, grandchildren...think about it...the barbaric, inhumane, Islamic killers has America in their cross-hairs.  We must confront the enemy now....in great numbers......we have allowed ourselves to be backed to the wall...there is not choice...we either take action or surrender.  No surrender, not me, not now, not ever...whatever it takes...who agrees?

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret, hmriley@cox.net  

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;  they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
 
http://www.eaglesup.us  -  Where there is no offense, there is no effect.

To Comment on this Blog


 

 AMERICA....without moral rudder

April 12, 2007

America is destructing from within.........the enemy needs only bide their time while American politicians either purposefully or unwittingly destroy the social, religious, legal, and economic fabric of the United States. 

 
Our troops are being killed fighting terrorists to keep them from our borders, our border agents are being imprisoned for defending our national borders, while the lawmakers of America seem content in ignoring issues that involve courage and political unity.
 
A case in point is the absolute debacle involved by a US Attorney prosecuting and  eventually the imprisoning of two United States Border Control Agents for doing their job along the Texas border.  Two border agents who took an oath to preserve  and protect the Constitution of the United States against all enemies have been convicted as criminals because they were executing their assigned mission. 
 
To make matters worse, eighty percent or more of America views the convictions of these border agents as a miscarriage of justice and support Presidential or Congressional pardon...President Bush does nothing. 
 
Congressman Duncan Hunter, CA  and others introduced a Bill, HR 563, in the U. S. House of Representatives nearly three months ago  to grant Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean a Congressional pardon. 
 
This is where the disgusting nature of politicians show their ugly heads......after three months there are currently only 94 US Representatives that have signed to support this Bill...90 Republicans and 4 Democrats...even an issue as serious as impacting the lives of two American Border Agents and their families, wrongly convicted, cannot escape the partisan nature of the United States political system...is there any wonder the majority of Americans hold these political bottom feeders in such low regard?
 
What can possibly be in the conscience of the other 341 US Representatives that cause them to ignore the opportunity to support this Bill, see justice done,  and these two men pardoned and released from prison?  As is often the case, government policy reflects a "use and abuse" approach.  God help us.
 
America is no longer the "land of the free", it has become the land of a group of blow-hard, gutless, ego-centric, selfish,  cowardly, political traitors without moral rudder.  These people are hell-bent on destroying the fabric that made America the greatest nation in history...Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean are examples of what's to come as America continues to snooze.
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

To Comment on this Blog


Sunday, February 25, 2007

What If A Gathering of Eagles Fails? Magnum P.I. Answered 'What If!'

By Ronald Winters

The 1980s television drama Magnum P.I. was, in my opinion, one of the best shows to portray the true spirit of the American Vietnam veteran, and actor Tom Selleck's title character, the private investigator Thomas Magnum, was and still is one of my all-time favorites.

Selleck's ability to bring a likeable reality to the small screen was unparalleled at the time, and to this day.

In one of my favorite episodes, the lead character and a small group of friends, all combat veterans of that war, save for Magnum's employer, Higgins, the very, very proper British Sgt. Major who also had seen his share of action across the globe, went back to Vietnam on a rescue mission. In that two-part episode they faced all the demons of the past, but showed America the savage reality of the enemy we had faced and the courage of the soldiers and civilians of all nations who stood up to the communists.

After they return home to Hawaii, each character lists a host of chores undone, people and projects put on hold, and sacrifices that had been made as Vietnam again became a priority in their lives. Finally, the question is raised, "What if we hadn't gone?"

Selleck pauses for a moment, and answers the question of the ages simply, but succinctly.

"We did."

I have been reminded of this episode many times in recent days, as the Gathering of Eagles vigil planned for the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., on March 17 grows exponentially, and efforts to prevent the vigil take on a frantic tone. The gathering is a grassroots call for a vigil at The Wall to ensure that pro-terrorism protesters who are reenacting a 1967 March on the Pentagon that day, don't deface the Vietnam Memorial as they did the Capitol in January.

Pundits and commentators from across the political spectrum are worrying themselves sick, or trying to appear that they are, over the correctness of the Eagles' gathering, or the possibility that it will fail, or that the media will ignore or misportray the veterans (what else is new?), or that the vets may encounter violence from the anarchists.

Their feigned concerns range from political correctness run amok, to a very real fear that the veterans' vigil will take on far more significance than the pro-terrorists' march regardless of what the media reports.

Talk all you want, the vigil is going forward. Individual after individual and group after group are stepping forward and signing up. The organizers are firm that the purpose of the gathering is to stand a peaceful vigil over the wall and prevent any of the anarchists participating in the pro-terrorism march from dishonoring those whose names are listed on it.

By extension, this vigil is for all veterans and their supporters who have stood up for America and freedom.

By any common sense measure, this vigil is necessary, and long, long overdue. I believe that one of the biggest fears behind the negative commentaries is that mainstream America will finally show the pro-terrorist politicians and news media that no matter what they have done to the contrary, we still believe in our country, and are willing to stand up for it.

Some in the pro-terrorist crowd claim that the veterans' vigil is unnecessary. A spokesman from one of the pro-terror organizations claimed recently that the anarchists who defaced the Capitol in January were but a small number of the "hundreds of thousands" who had been at the pro-terror rally on the DC mall in January.

For starters, the best estimates I have seen of the number of people in that demonstration were around 30,000, not anywhere near 100,000 or "hundreds" of thousands as the spokesman claimed. Face it, no one gives a rat's behind what Cindy Sheehan thinks about anything, and Jane Fonda is a schizoid relic of a bygone day who can't decide whether she is capitalist or communist.

The fact is, she is and always was an opportunist with no common sense or morals. Neither Cindy Sheehan nor any of Fonda's multiple personalities can draw a crowd. But for a pro-terror organizer to drastically inflate the numbers who attended a previous pro-terror rally, to give the so-called 'movement' more importance than it rates, tells us plenty.

America may be fed up with both political parties, but it isn't fed up on America, and certainly does not support the pro-terrorists in our midst.

As to the claims that the veterans are over-reacting to the incident at the Capitol, take a look at what the pro-terrorist march organizers are saying on their own website.

"Tens of thousands of people will be gathering at Constitution Gardens at 12 noon near the Vietnam Memorial prior to the March on the Pentagon on Saturday, March 17. ...

The 58,000 U.S. soldiers who lost their lives in Vietnam and the millions of Vietnamese who were killed, died in a criminal war. The connection between Vietnam and Iraq could not be more clear. Iraq is also a criminal war of aggression. ...

Some tiny pro-Bush groups who support the war in Iraq, and who normally mobilize about 25 people to hold signs when massive antiwar protests take place, are now callously trying to manipulate Vietnam veterans by spreading rumors that the March on the Pentagon will defile the Vietnam Memorial. This lie should be treated with the same contempt that people have for the other lies promoted by Bush and his followers to justify an illegal war of aggression ..."

Yada, yada, yada.

Can the issue be more clear? There is no mistaking the pro-terrorists' aims. Once again, America is a criminal enterprise, once again its veterans are war criminals, and once again groups who have no real agenda save for the downfall of democracy are using the very freedoms that veterans fought for to attack and overthrow the country that guarantees those freedoms.

As a Marine brother put it recently, the pro-terrorist march is organizing "Within spitting distance" of the Vietnam memorial. Their web site makes their intentions all too clear.

But there is a solid truth at work here that will prevail, as truth always does. This is the communication age, and mainstream America is communicating. We who were spat upon when we came home from Vietnam were not organized, we were not in large-scale contact with each other, and we did not have anywhere near as much information available to us as we do now.

This time we are organized and we are talking to each other constantly. We have seen what happens to our allies if we leave them helpless. To somehow claim that the millions of Southeast Asians who died at the hands of the communists after South Vietnam fell in 1975 did so because of America or its veterans is despicable, dishonest, unsupportable and outright false.

The millions who died were killed by the communists. The allies of the communist forces in the 60s and 70s are in many cases the same people who are supporting the terrorists today. History does repeat, and to follow this concept to its logical end ensures that millions more innocents will die at the hands of terrorists if the pro-terrorist forces prevail. This time, millions who die will be Americans on American soil.

There is no question that the vigil is necessary, and for it to succeed, it needs only to occur. Whether the vigil is attended by 50 veterans, or 500 or 5000, is not relevant. That we go, and stand shoulder to shoulder to defend our memorials and the honor and dignity of the Americans who died defending our freedoms is all that matters.

Regarding the possibility of violence, it is likely only if it is used by the pro-terrorists and their anarchist brethren. But I would caution those prone to violence to think twice before attacking a solid mass of people who are the all-time masters at improvisational combat. The media can rewrite history all it wants, but we have defeated every enemy we ever faced, regardless of how vicious the tactics they used.

We have improvised, we have adapted and we have overcome every single time. I wouldn't recommend violence against this group, especially from people who are attempting to shield their true pro-terrorism agenda from the public by claiming to be marching for "peace."

We will stand our vigil, peacefully, but firmly. Attacking us would be foolhardy and counter-productive on many fronts.

I realize that the hand-wringers and worry warts will continue to chew on this issue right up until March 17, and probably even afterwards. That is their nature and it won't change.

But there is a simple and succinct answer to the question "What if we don't go?"

"We will!"

To Comment on this Blog



Gathering of Eagles  

"A helpless sparrow can drift with the wind.  It takes an "Eagle" to fly against the storm."     

1000 Hours, March 17, 2007    

Viet Nam Memorial Wall 

 Washington, D.C.    

bald eagle

The anti-war/anti-America groups are planning a “march to the Pentagon” on March 17, 2007…this group has intentions that defenders of freedom cannot overlook or allow to occur…there must be a challenge.  

Here’s a portion from the “anti-war” web site March 17 -- March on Pentagon!: Time to Turn Up the Heat!    that causes considerable concern:  “The biggest single group of new volunteers and activists are soldiers and marines who have returned from Iraq. Their family members and other veterans are also organizing to March on the Pentagon.  The opening rally will assemble at the Vietnam Memorial (Constitution Gardens) at noon.”

The anti-war/anti-America group cannot be allowed to use the Viet Nam Memorial Wall as a back-drop to their anti-America venom and stain the hallowed ground that virtually cries out with blood at the thought of this proposed desecration….it must not happen. 

Many are encouraging a  ”Gathering of  Eagles”  (symbolic of our freedom) at the Viet Nam Memorial Wall on March 17, 2007, as a signal that a segment of  America does not agree with the “anti-war/anti-America” rally on the same day.   As noted above, the anti-war/anti-America crowd is publishing intention to use the Viet Nam Memorial as a backdrop to their rally………..this cannot happen……..it cannot go unchallenged.    

Based on the input received, here is what is suggested as a means to identify those of us attending/visiting the Viet Nam Memorial wall and other Memorials on March 17, 2007 opposing the anti-war distortions.

We want to send a different message than the “anti-war/anti-America” surrender crowd, so we should be clearly set apart from them.   

  • Wear a Red Armband on the right arm (Red often symbolizes/represents courage, revolution, hardiness, blood, and/or valor) .If red is not your color, use another but wear an armband.

 

  • On the armband each person should print something, e.g.  WWII, Korea, Nam, Iraq, spouse, widow, POW, Vet, Legion, patriot, citizen, etc., or other respectful phrase one wants to help us identify one another.     

We need to remember all American’s are invited to support our effort which is intended as a defender of hallowed ground and intended as a  non-violent competition between  those that would sell out America and those of us who support freedom and keeping the fight with the enemy on distant shores.    

Many of us will be wearing favorite caps, shirts, jackets, jungle fatigues, desert dress, medals, etc. to include the Red Armband……….it will be a grand reunion, a time of new friendships, which will also, God willing, rekindle a new light of American patriotism which would filter down the mall toward the Capitol of the United States…..maybe even the main stream media (MSM)

…..obviously more detail is needed which will come as we draw nearer.

We know some of the, who, what, when, why, where, …….it’s up to each of us to supply the “how”.    

More details to follow……….. 

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If America does not confront the Islamic fascist butchers, who will?
 

 


 

American Patriots in the U.S. Senate...or Cowards?

 

The media has been drooling over the recent anti-Bush, anti-troop increase, “non-binding” resolution blather being thrown around in the United States Senate…and many Senators seem favorably inclined (read listing to the left) to accommodate.

The sad aspect of the Senate, as in most politicians, is their ability to say one thing but when decision time comes, they are either absent or side with the majority…the recent example of cowardice by the United States Senate was in the vote to confirm General Petraeus as Commander in Iraq…….

General Petraeus, testifying and being questioned before the Senate Armed Services Committee,  told the Senators what he was going to do,  he couldn’t do it without a troop increase, said cutting and running would lead to disaster, all the things the Senators did not want to hear.  Yet,  the General was confirmed by a 81-0 vote.  I know Senator Johnson was in the hospital, but who the gutless 18 were that could, but did not vote I don’t know. I suspect it was many of those that didn’t have the courage to vote for Petraeus or against him…but many Senators continued to spew their anti-Bush, anti-troop, American is the problem venom, while saying they support America and the troops……….that is pure, unequivocal lies and political cover tactics.

Senator Hagel lashed out at his Senate colleagues stating,  “I think all 100 senators ought to be on the line on this. What do you believe? What are you willing to support? What do you think? Why were you elected?” Mr. Hagel said, his voice booming. “If you wanted a safe job, go sell shoes.”

My fax to Senator Hagel and others was “If you are not a shoe salesman Senator, then introduce a “binding resolution” to cut off the funds for the Iraq war and do it now.

Your rhetoric in the safe confines of the United States Senate mean nothing unless you exercise courage of words and take action.  Either put up or shut up.

If you don’t, you are branded as a hypocrite,  a coward, and worse, a traitor.”  

I hasten to add that Hagel’s, Kennedy’s, Warner’s, and others words do mean something…they give aid, comfort, and embolden the Islamic butchers. The enemy views them as weak, America as weak, America as divided, America as toothless…our warriors in harms way are put to disadvantage by the reckless anti-war shrill while these Senators quickly add “I support our troops”…I wonder how many good old gullible Americans will swallow this crap, close their mind, go back to sleep, or at least to a snoozing stupor……

United States Senators who carry out this farcical “non-binding” debate against President Bush’s troop increase are nothing short of traitors, should be tarred and feathered and left in Washington, D.C.

Harry Riley,COL, USA, Ret 

To Comment on this Blog


Support for America or Political Posturing?

With leadership like this who needs enemies?

Senator Harry Reid
Senator Dick Durbin
Rep Nancy Pelosi
Rep Steny Hoyer

I am convinced the four of you are vicious, hateful individuals and hell-bent on destroying America.  The Islamic butchers are giddy over your anti-Bush, surrender language.

The President admits mistakes, we’ve all made mistakes, but I believe the four of you, and others, are teetering on grave miscalculations.

Many of us have criticized the President because we believe he and military leaders have not done enough to win against the terrorists, not because we want to lose. The hateful speech and venom you spew in time of war, while troops fight for their lives and our freedom, indicates you want America to “lose” the war against the Islamic barbarians.  This is treason in my mind.

You can whine, criticize, call names, or whatever against Administration domestic policies but to attack the Commander in Chief’s war policies when all you offer is surrender can only be viewed as  ”anti-American”.  The childish, almost junk yard manner of political attack while America is at war, is aiding the enemy, a threat to our warriors on the battlefield and our nation.

Don’t tell me you are serving the best interests of America when the Islamic butchers gain encouragement, just like the North Vietnamese did from American politicians…the anti-war shrill is “aid and comfort to the enemy”, a bunch of barbaric, mindless, ruthless murderers. 

Obviously you don't remember 1979 American hostages in Iran; 1983 American Marines killed in Lebanon barracks; 1985 TWA hijacking in Athens; 1985 Achille Lauro - Egypt; 1988 Pan Am 103 Bombing - Lockerbie; 1993 World Trade Center - New York; 1996 Khobar Towers Bombing - Saudi Arabia; 1998 Embassies bombed in Tanzania and Kenya; 2000 attack on USS Cole - Yemen; 9-11-2001 World Trade Center - New York City; all these attacks taking thousands of American lives. The nut-cases and mentality that conducted these attacks are the same murderers we are fighting today in Iraq and other places. What is it about all these attacks you don’t understand?  America is at WAR and you want to surrender.

You can elect a Democratic President in 2008, but for now President Bush is the Commander in Chief.  It appears your quest for power will go to any lengths to gain a political edge, even at the expense of blood and body parts of our troops, or even the survival of America.

You have no plan, just criticism of the other side…….you have no shame.  I was once a Democrat and feel tainted that I was ever associated with such a hate mongering, self-serving group of people…lest you think “here’s another Republican”….I’m no Republican either and will do everything in my power to defeat as many surrender, anti-America, immoral Democrats and Republicans in 2008 as possible…Independent minded Americans will speak in 2008, for now I support whatever it takes to destroy the Islamic threat.

Sleep well……troops are fighting and dying…needlessly because of political power hungry agendas and ignorance of the Islamic terror threat.

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret.

January 2007

To Comment on this Blog


 

Iraq Study Group Report  (ISG)
 
(I Surrender Gracefully)
 
 
 
The ISG Executive Summary is enough to define another attempt to sell out America.  It begins in a most negative, anti-American, surrender connotation ...hardly what one would expect from fellow Americans. 
 
 "The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating. There is no path that can guarantee success, but the prospects can be improved." according to the ISG.  What they are really saying here is, follow our recommendations, surrender can not only be graceful and improved, it will be assured.
 
"Our most important recommendations call for new and enhanced diplomatic and political efforts in Iraq and the region, and a change in the primary mission of U.S. forces in Iraq that will enable the United States to begin to move its combat forces out of Iraq responsibly"
 
In essence the report says, negotiate with Iran and Syria, offer them whatever it takes to allow us a few months of calm so we can tell the world the Iraqi government is now in control, tuck our tails and sneak out of Iraq as we did in Viet Nam.  By the way, it is noted the ISG covered the entire Middle East (as if this batch of scrambled eggs can be placed on a single plate)  in their report but made no mention of the "wall" that will be erected to account for Americas dead warriors, wounded, disabled, family pain and distress.
 
The report, in general, reflects a sense of defeat, pessimism, flaws, shortcomings, omissions, and half-truths, while totally missing the threat posed by the ruthless, Islamic butchers if they are not defeated.  Victory is not mentioned, so far as I can find.
 
The ISG describes the situation in Iraq will little new information.  The report touches nearly every possible explanation for the violence in Iraq except naming Syria and Iran as the primary sources of men, money, and materiel supporting the conflict.  According to the report "Pessimism is pervasive...consequences could be severe...chaos could trigger the collapse of Iraq's government...on and on with words nearly everyone has heard for years.   The report states Iraq's neighbors are players but fail to identify who is supporting freedom in Iraq and who is undermining the stability in Iraq.
 
Study Group participants seem to be comfortable in establishing a "support group".  This group can all get together, hug each other, have tea, be gentle men and ladies who wish to sort out the nasty, bothersome conditions in Iraq.  This is pure fantasy when dealing with the likes of the Presidents of Iran, Syria, and al Qaeda, who will have to be represented, after all isn't al Qaeda part of the group responsible for the turmoil in Iraq?
 
The ISG reflects a pitiful example of bureaucracy, political two-step, totally ignoring or at best, playing lip service to the courage, blood, and sacrifice of Iraqis and American warriors.  The ISG novel is a source of encouragement to the enemy,  reflection of enabling the enemy,  establishing bench marks for enemy planning, in essence confirming terrorist a seat at the proposed negotiating table.
 
Fighting terrorism requires courageous leaders who will recognize the ruthless mind of Islamic killers and face reality...at this time our leaders are in some sort of "la la" land hoping a magic solution will appear during a "hug-in".   
 
Dealing with the likes of al Qaeda, Syria and Iran will never be possible until these regimes/group recognize America as a nation of strength and unity, with the courage to forge firm policy based on American security interests, and follow up with harsh, penalizing action as necessary. 
 
The painful reality in American leadership today is the absence of will.  The Administration, Congress, and I believe the majority of American citizens recognize World War III was declared on 9-11-2001 but are becoming weak-kneed.  It will only be a matter of time until America will face the battle in our neighborhoods unless the Islamic terrorist and those nations supporting them understand our resistance. 
 
America has sold out to the immoral,  homosexual, same sex marriage, abortion, anti-Christian, liberal minority agenda, and now we have a group of men and women that want to sell us out to the Islamic, godless, murdering butchers who use religion as the basis of their barbaric actions. 
 
In my judgment the time is now to take the battle to the enemy...and I firmly believe Iran and Syria must be in the cross-hairs and the time is right.  Will it be easy, of course not... but it will be exponentially more deadly and painful if American leaders fail to take the initiative to the imminent clear and present danger. Moral sanctity as well as the security of America is at stake.

Please view http://www.usawakeup.org/ 

 
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

Iran and Syria Must Be Attacked

Diplomacy in the Middle East is dead

November 30, 2006

I don't consider myself an authority on world dominoes, just an American who loves his country, wants his children and grandchildren to enjoy freedom and live in a nation as our founding fathers envisioned, and encourage others to speak up for our nations best interests...at this time in our history, I see a clear enemy with barbaric, inhuman, suicidal demonstrated tactics that pose a greater threat to our freedom and basic principles of democracy than ever before. 
 
I don't believe any American wants our citizens involved in war...certainly not our military members and their families, who pay the personal costs, however, now we face a different threat where diplomatic efforts and reason is not a valid response.  I believe leaders in our Administration and Congress have made near grave miscalculation of the enemy we face, believing one can negotiate with ruthless, suicidal maniacs, in fact I believe diplomacy is dead in the Middle East terrorist fight., which now places us with our backs against the wall....a rock and the hard place.
 
On other occasions I have listed some actions that I believe will send a "clear" signal to the world, particularly Islamic radical butchers...below are my thoughts...be aware I do not take into consideration the diplomatic negatives...the fact is I don't much care what the United Nations thinks or says, they are anti-America and wish us defeated...
 
1.  I narrow down the identifiable primary enemy terrorist States to be Syria and Iran as first priority.
2.  The President notifies America and these two nations, through a public speech to a joint session of Congress and the world, that Iran and Syria have 15 days to effect the following or face military strikes:
    a. Iran to open, unconditionally, all nuclear facilities to an international inspection team and expect destruction of any nuclear weapon projects.
    b. Syria and Iran to terminate all (logistic, financial, personnel) support to militias, terrorists groups, Islamic radicals.
    c. Instruct their proxies, particularly in Iraq and Lebanon, through all forms of communication to include Al Jazzeera,  to cease hostile action, lay down their weapons and disband.
3. Failure by Syria or Iraq will result in immediate embargo, military strikes on military, industrial, logistic, and particularly oil pipe line targets.
4. Inform America we welcome support from other nations but America will follow-through and sacrifice will be required if these hostile nations fail to follow United States demands.
5. President bids America good night and advises he will report back results to Congress and  America in 15 days...there will be no extensions.
 
Unfortunately America's reluctance to take decisive, punitive action against rogue nation States, as President Bush said he would,  has neutered our diplomatic power, emboldened the enemy, and placed America in a weakened state domestically and internationally.  Lack of courageous leadership, political posturing, selfish, greedy politicians ignoring the security of America while pursuing personal power, financial gain, and engaging in disunity in the face of the enemy, is treasonous. President Bush, to his credit, has been solid in his rhetoric in support of the fight against terrorism, but he has not demonstrated decisive action required to meet the foe.
 
Only military action against nations that support terror will restore some semblance of authority in the world for America and the hope of peace and freedom.
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

To Comment on this Blog


 

Is A Military Draft Needed?

Can the future Islamic Barbaric Threat be defeated with an All Volunteer Army?

November 20, 2006

Military Officers Association of America sponsored a symposium recently, discussing  the All Voluntary Force manning of our military.
 
Based on what I read, the Generals and bureaucrats seem to be doing a lot of hand wringing,  suggesting dollars as the solution, whining about certain segments shouldering military burdens, public hasn't done enough, etc.  Except for the dollar thrust, panelist describe intangible solutions that have little to no hope. 
 
 "Generally speaking we ' ve quadrupled the number of the lowest mental categories...putting 6,000, 7,000, 8,000 moral waivers" seems to be saying what Senator Kerry said...the less educated, elderly, and immoral are finding a home in the all volunteer force.
 
The answer to sustaining our  force according to the panelist, is to increase pay, larger bonuses,  faster and more promotions, and stability...all this sounds like we are closing in on a mercenary force...will that work for America in the future fight against Islamic radical butchers?  I don't think so...it surely was not comfortable for me to witness mercenaries leaving me on the field of battle, in the middle of the battle, because their "contract" specified it was time for rest and recuperation.
 
Interesting that the issue of reinstitution of some combination of a compulsory service (draft) and a volunteer force, which would solve the majority of the problems facing our military services and society in general, didn't rise out of the grass...if even seriously discussed at all during the symposium.  However, after reading their discussion points, it appears panelist are pleading for compulsory service but are afraid to come out and say it...they must acknowledge the need if they want a solution that doesn't bankrupt America but will provide the 18, 19, year old fighters.
 
Why not discuss a draft?  The answer given is America won't accept a compulsory service or draft...who knows that?  Has America been asked?  Has America been given the opportunity to make their thoughts on a draft known?  Has America been given the pros and cons of young citizens serving their nation? No, because the politicians don't have the guts to do the right thing for America...leaders don't have the courage to discuss and debate the benefits to our nation's security, society, and cutlure that a period of service to our nation would produce.  I submit military draft service along with a volunteer option could be a key in the best interests of America's long term survival.
 
America should activate the Selective Service System for young men and women...it's beyond time that all Americans start shouldering the burdens for America to "take care of what we got".
 
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

To Comment on this Blog


Democrats To Steer The Congressional Rudder

What course correction?

Republicans are licking their wounds, scratching their heads, walking in circles, knee jerking, finger pointing, wondering what happened?  Duh....

The answer does not require a committee of political hacks to sort it out...the people have been announcing loud and clear for a couple years the problem.

Conservatives have been betrayed!  

Republican candidates in 2004 campaigned on conservative principles...went to Washington and did the opposite, ignoring conservative fiscal and moral principles, developed a spineless approach to everything, grew blinders to reality, stuck their head in the sand, and took a "thumpin".

Is there a lesson to be learned in all this.....?

Aside from the obvious disaster for republicans, will "throwing the incumbents out" offer hope for America and military retirees and veterans?  We'll see where Democratic leadership steers the ship, but if their actions and pursuits of recent years is any indicator, military retirees, spouses, widows, and veterans should see significant improvement in earned health care and other benefits.

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

To Comment on this Blog


 

Has Leadership Been Redefined?

Critical leadership positions in America are now filled with gutless managers

What is it going to take to get the "deciders" (AKA President Bush) attention to serious thought on Iraq and the terrorist problem? We now have "deciders" not "decision makers" which implies managers rather than leaders.
 
Senator Warner says the Iraqi government must take charge, Senator Graham says Rumsfeld and  American Generals are failing,  Senator Schumer says the Administration is off course, Senator Clinton says blah, blah, blah......but no one, I repeat no one, can apparently see the real problem in Iraq or with the terrorist problem in general.
 
This is about American leaders who just don't get it.......nor does the media get it!....WAKE-UP.  Nearly everyone is pole vaulting over mouse manure while ignoring the problem in Iraq...It's about Iran and Syria stupid...take a breath and see the obvious.

The root of the problem is those elements outside Iraq supporting the terrorist, radicals, criminals, etc. with arms, money, sending fighters, into Iraq....it serves little to no purpose continuing to spill American blood while running here and there putting band-aids on flare-ups in Iraq...it distresses me to see American life lost while continually allowing Iran and Syria to fuel the fighting with no accountability...they're getting a free pass for killing our men and women...how long will America tolerate bureaucratic incompetence and pip squeak foreign leaders
who shame us at the United Nations...in our own country?

Unless Syria and Iran are held accountable, the mayhem, butchery and killing situation in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestinian territory and other places will continue and Americans will lose life, blood and limbs...there is an endless supply of brain-washed, suicidal Islamic killers, thus, unless the brain is crushed that is sending them to kill us, hope for even a political settlement is whistling in the wind.
 
American leaders are betraying our troops with their unwillingness to hit Iran and Syria, where the real problem lies...it's called gutless leaders...men and women in positions of authority without the courage to place the priorities of America before their own selfish political ambitions.
 
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret
hmriley@cox.net

10-25-2006

To Comment on this Blog


Air Force Secretary Playing Political Games         

Is there a square peg in a round hole at the Pentagon?    

Would you believe the U.S. Air Force Secretary made the following statement regarding a high-power microwave device being developed as a weapon. 

"If we're not willing to use it here against our fellow citizens, then we should not be willing to use it in a wartime situation?  

The Secretary of the United States Air Force wants to test weapons we intend to use on the battlefield on U.S. citizens?  Why, because he worries about world opinion.  Has this guy lost his mind?  I submit he is nuts and should resign...we don't need more spineless, weak-knee, gutless arm-chair "deciders" making stupid policy while our warriors fight for their lives.

 
Aircraft (Drones) find hundreds of Taliban in the open and military/civilian leadership won't fire on them because it's a funeral procession?  Hello Washington!!!   Wake up...we are in war...we kill the enemy when we find them.  I think I've heard it all and along comes more idiotic war policy.
 
If anyone watched "Path to 9/11" and if it's close to being accurate, we can believe our leadership is focused on absolutely nothing beyond political considerations...they simply don't care about taking the enemy out or saving the lives of  American troops.
 
Nearly 3000 men and women have now been killed in Iraq with tens of thousands wounded...does the United States government expect to see another 3000 or 5000 or 50,000 killed while we hold our big weapons safely in bunkers in the United States.  Why do we have weapons that will win wars if they are never to be used? Over 50,000 lives where sacrificed in Viet Nam while the politicians and anti-war elements whined, squealed,  talked, made deals,  and allowed North Viet Nam to win a war without winning a single battle on the ground.  Is that where we are heading in Iraq? 
 
We know Iran, Syria, and other sovereign countries are supporting Iraq terrorist butchers, yet Iran and Syria are not held accountable for the killing of our men and women in Iraq.  Where are the guts in American leadership to do the right thing for Americans and "to hell" with what the world thinks.
 
Thank God President Truman had the guts to use the atomic bomb on the Japanese...and he didn't care what the world would say, he wanted to end the war...some may say "oh that's a different situation"...I say the situation is exactly the same with regard to what the Islamic fascist enemy see as their projected outcome...it's no secret, Islamic leaders tell us nearly every day their goal is to kill Americans.  If the United States does not take aggressive action against the Islamic fascists in Iran and Syria, America will be defeated...again.
 
President Bush talks a good game regarding the Islamic fascist but does he really understand what he is saying? Does he really understand the mentality of these barbaric killers? I don't think so, otherwise American power would be used in such a devastating manner that Iran would shine like a new mirror and Syria, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, and all the rest would be begging for American friendship.
 
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

 

Are leaders in the war against Islamic Fascists brain-dead or cowards?

Are you as sick as I am hearing "the 21st century is a war against terror", "we must deal with the root cause", "Syria and Iran are responsible for Hezbollah action", "Iran is funding insurgents in Iraq", "Iran intends to annihilate Israel", "Iran gives the UN the finger", "Iran must not have a nuclear weapon"...on and on. 
 
Yet,  Iran and Syria continue to fund terrorists, thumb their nose at everyone, even some Muslim nations, while American men, women and other freedom loving people die at the hands of Syria and Iran's proxies.
 
What is it that the American people and so-called leaders in the Executive and Legislative branches of America do not understand about the process involved when an octopus loses a tentacle?  I'll spell it out loud and clear...the octopus grows a new tentacle over time
 
Enter the question - are leaders in the war against Islamic terror brain-dead or cowards? 
 
Is Hezbollah the "root cause" of the terror issue?  Is Israel's existence threatened by Hezbollah or is there a greater threat?  Is the insurgency in Iraq the root cause of instability in that nation?  Will continuation of killing members of Hezbollah, Hamas, insurgents in Iraq, train bombers in England or Spain solve Islamic terror?

The answer:  A resounding NO...the "real root cause" must be attacked. 

 
President Bush, Prime Minister Blair and a dozen other nations have publicly acknowledged Iran and Syria as the supporters and funders of terrorism in the Middle East  yet none have the courage to hold these menacing States accountable.
 
Leaders are in la la land if they think they can cut off enough tentacles of this menacing, butchering, barbaric octopus and it will die...it will not die without a direct attack in the brain.
 
Syria and Iran must pay a price and they must pay it now! 
 
While America, England, and other nations spend billions upon billions of dollars to protect us against Islamic terror by upgrading airplanes, installing every kind of technical mechanism in airports, spending more billions hiring air marshals, police to monitor our tunnels-airports-major buildings,  our people experience the humiliation of near naked exposure at airport checkpoints, and only God knows all the other billions and billions of dollars and inconveniences heaped on freedom loving people, all because some rag tag, pip squeak nation(s) or group attack with impunity...in short, America has fallen under Islamic slavery. 
 
Syria, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, and other Islamic countries are literally, as the expression goes, "laughing their ass off" while western nations are running around in circles snipping tentacles off an octopus and then trying to attach band-aids to the squirming, bloodied stub.

We see another example of what happens when America or their allies lose a war...we give them 230 million dollars to rebuild...but what does it rebuild?  You guessed it...the weapons the enemy lost in the fight.

 
Friends, reality is reality which requires harsh measures.  It's past time to put a cruise missile right in the brain of Syria and Iran...and any other country that needs it.  I suspect turning Syria or Iran into a mirror would send a message world-wide that the so-called "war on terror" is over.
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret
111 Overview Drive
Crestview, FL 32539

Muslims Have One Goal Regarding Israel - Destroy Them

You're next Mr and Mrs American...Muslim objectives are: convert you, enslave you, or kill you...wake-up America!

14 July 2006

My prayer is that Israel will resist any advice from the United States as Israel fights to rid the world of Hezbollah and Hamas terrorists.

 
It is my opinion that Israel has paid too much attention to American advice and are now paying the price...in effect America has convinced Israel that terrorists such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic militants, Syria, Iran, and other Islamic countries can reason, have a thread of sanity, will be satisfied with rational conclusions, and will abide by treaties, agreements, international law, etc.
 
America has sold Israel down the tube with dollars, trying to appease the world, and gutless advice in the past...I trust Israel has now seen the light and will pursue Hezbollah, Hamas, and if necessary Syria and Iran, with such a damaging blow that even the brainless Islamic radicals will get the message.
 
American officials are making statements regarding the current Israeli action such as, "we are urging Israel to use restraint", "I will ask Israel to limit their attack", and other senseless comments...If Mexico or Canada or any other nation crossed our border, killed our soldiers, took others hostage, continually lobbing rockets at civilians, would we not bring a devastating blow to that nation?  Would we be receptive to some other country asking us to "use restraint"?  I would hope our decision makers would leave no effort undone to protect our nation and secure our troops...however, I have my doubts given the current attitude in Washington, D.C.
 
I am ashamed that our decision makers have not had the courage to take action against Syria and Iran.  All the decision makers in America continually mouth threats for Syria and Iran to stop supporting suicidal killers in Iraq and Afghanistan or pay a heavy price...my question is when? President Bush stated for the world to hear with regard to America's fight against terrorism, warning other nations, "you are either with us or against us".  American and coalition warriors are dieing every day as a result of money, materiel, weapons and ammunition being provided by Syria, Iran, among others, to insurgents in Iraq.  These countries are clearly against us, so what do we do...NOTHING.
 
Those in positions of responsibility in America who wring their hands, fully knowing Syria and Iran are behind attacking our warriors, but will not hold the Syrians and Iranians accountable are reflecting unbelievable failure, while our troops pay the price with blood and lives.
 
At what point will America "have had enough" and follow the Israeli example of action?
 
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret
 

To Comment on this Blog

To view responses to this commentary please click here


 

May 17, 2006


     President Bush's Illegal Alien Speech 

 A Laundry List Of Bureaucratic Nonsense

America is a nation of laws but Illegal aliens get a free pass?

President Bush is a nice man, I believe he tries and I like him, but he is not a leader.

The speech on illegal alien border crossers was an insult to America...to think we can't see through the politics is simply ignorant...I'm convinced the President is unable to determine that he is surrounded by incompetent advisors.

President Bush is paying too much attention to politics and Vicente Fox, ignoring America's needs...he is proposing amnesty, pure and simple.....it cannot stand!

The problem is illegal alien border crossing..........that's the first issue to be solved...without that, nothing the President suggested in his speech is worth warm spit...  According to the President "we are a nation of laws" but he is proposing to reward millions of border lawbreakers. Has the Senate and Administration gone totally nuts?

Neither Republicans or Democrats have put America before their politics...not only on the illegal alien issue but many other national priorities.

Only a radical, catastrophic political event will get the virus out of Congress.......with 435 new Representatives and 34 new Senators in November, maybe they will get the message America is beyond fed up.....

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

To Comment on this Blog

 


 

U.S. House Budget Committee Betrays Warriors

Committee says life, body parts, and blood not enough

March 31, 2006

A congressional committee has done it again...the House Budget Committee, along party lines, voted down an amendment that would have protected our under 65 warriors, spouses, and widows from a DoD TRICARE fee increase.

As you may recall, in another party-line vote, the Senate Budget Committee denied Senator Bill Nelson's (D-FL) amendment to end the deduction of VA survivor benefits from military Survivor Benefit Plan annuities in cases when the member's death was caused by military service." All twelve (12) Republicans on the Senate Budget Committee voted against "widows and orphans" and all (10) Democrats voted in favor of restoring earned and paid survivor benefits for survivors of military retirees.

Now all  22 Republicans on the House Budget Committee voted to kill Rep Chet Edwards amendment and all 15 Democrats voted for the amendment, which would have blocked DoD plans to double and triple TRICARE premiums for military retirees.

I simply don't have the words to describe my attitude toward DoD and the United States congress.  Not one of the 22 Republicans on the House Budget Committee had the guts to buck the party apparatus and register a "it's wrong" to lay DoD and Congressional budget problems on the backs of our warriors. Congress is reflecting a "mafia" style operation...stray from the family and expect the ax.

Here's the sad and disgusting twist to the Republican vote to support DoD TRICARE fee increase. Rep Chet Edwards, D-TX introduced a Bill, HR 4949 which if passed will block any attempt by DoD to increase TRICARE fees.  HR 4949 has 118 cosponsors as of March 31, 2006 and guess who two of the cosponsors of HR 4949 are?  You guessed it, two of the Republicans, Rep Thaddeus McCotter R-MI and Rep Jeb Bradley R-NH are both cosponsors of HR 4949 but voted to side with DoD TRICARE fee increase in the House Budget Committee vote this week.........they are for it but also against it?  Sounds like the Kerry vote on the Gulf War.
 
Not only does the Senate and House Budget committee votes confirm Republican partisan opposition to warrior benefits, it confirms two Representatives on both sides of the fence...what can be more despicable than playing political games on the backs of our warriors?
 
Seems to me the voters in Michigan and New Hampshire might want to ask these two fish which way they will flop tomorrow...

Rep Pelosi, the House Democratic leader said “It is unconscionable to impose a fee increase on the men and women in uniform who bravely sacrificed for our country, especially during a time of war,”  “We must demonstrate our commitment to our troops and future veterans by assuring them that just as they protected us, we will take care of them when their service ends.”  Now that it's said, what will she do about it?

Our government has sunk just about as low as it can get...I say again "Is there any wonder politicians are viewed as "bottom feeders", held in low esteem, generally as selfish, greedy and focused on themselves?" If politicians and bureaucrats won't honor commitments made to those that sacrifice their lives, is there any wonder other American time-honored rights are evaporating?

DoD's Under Secretary David Chu stated in a separate hearing on the same subject, "younger retirees should be willing to contribute more to sustain the program"...I ask Mr. Chu... life, body parts, and blood is not enough?

I ask myself, what the hell was all that fox-hole time for?  What kind of a message is being sent to the troops on the battlefield?

Those in authority in Washington, D.C. are betraying our warriors, pure and simple...my prayer is the voters hold them accountable in November 2006.

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret 

To Comment on this Blog

To view responses to this commentary please click here


Attack on Military Retiree Medical Care Unrelenting

Yes or No to DoD TRICARE Fee Increase now in the hands of Congress

11 February 2006

Department of Defense announced intentions to raise TRICARE medical care fees for military retirees to the tune of double and triple current costs is deplorable.
 
If we get right down to the ethical, moral, and factual basis of military retiree medical program,  there should be no fees placed on military retiree medical care as the care is earned compensation... not a give-away, "extremely rich" benefit as some suggest, but an earned moral obligation of the United States government resulting from military service, military policy, and congressional promises.
 
There is clear evidence in official recruiting policy and other data, of government/congress intention to provide government funded life-long healthcare for military retirees, and this policy extended well into the decade of the 1990s'.  If there is any doubt that military retiree healthcare was policy and funded by Congress for decades...it was proven by a lawsuit prosecuted by attorney Col Bud Day, Medal of Honor recipient, POW in Hanoi, on behalf of older military retirees which ended in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C. A portion of the courts ruling reads: "IV. Conclusion- We cannot readily imagine more sympathetic plaintiffs .... They served their country for at least 20 years with the understanding that when they retired they and their dependents would receive full free health care for life. The promise of such health care was made in good faith and relied upon." "Congress has the power and authority under the Constitution to establish a system for the payment of retired pay [for military service members] and to change the system from time to time. . . . We understand and appreciate the dissatisfaction of the plaintiffs with the change in the retirement pay system, as they have rendered long and faithful service to our country in time of peace and war. However, if they are to get any relief, it must come from Congress, as this is not within [a court's] jurisdiction."
 
The fact remains Congress has not acted to roll back the TRICARE and other fees, so the fight is on to keep the fees from increasing.
 
For more years that I care to remember Congress consistently explained low active duty military pay (well below cost of living, inflation, minimum wage, etc) as accounting for the "retirement benefits of commissary privileges, post exchange access and no cost life-time medical care" to justify the low compensation.  Year after year warriors heard the congressional explanation, didn't like it,  but sacrificed quality of living, long periods of separation from loved ones, and life threatening conditions  in service to our nation...fully expecting the US Government to keep it's word.  Congress was clearly stating that military members were purchasing no cost heath care and other retirement benefits from the inadequate pay being held back at the time of service.
 
Not only are military retirees forced to pay medical care fees, they are required to do so based on the pittance received in military and social security retired compensation, which is directly correlated to low wages while on active duty.
 
Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs explains his rationale for the reported fee increase this way.  "There would be no change for active duty military or their families, or military retirees age 65 or older and their families. When the Tricare health care program for active duty and retired military members and their families was established in 1995, retirees then were contributing about 27 percent of the cost of their benefit....  However, military health care costs doubled from $19 billion in 2001 to just over $37 billion in the 2006 defense budget... And today's average military retiree contribution for health care coverage has dropped to about 10 to 12 percent, he said. "Their contribution did not change, while the value of the benefit continued to rise," Winkenwerder said.  (This is "spin" and disingenous)
 
Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) adds an element of the "military retiree" budget problem that DoD, Winkenwerder, and others conveniently ignore. "A great deal of the Pentagon's concern over rising health care costs involves the nearly $9 billion annual deposit to the TRICARE For Life trust fund that the Administration wrongly counts against the defense budget. Two years ago, when Defense leaders said the Administration was making them take this deposit "out of hide" at the expense of other Defense programs, the Armed Services Committees acted to change the law to shift that deposit from the Defense budget to the U.S. Treasury budget. The clear intent was that TFL expenses weren't to come at the expense of other readiness needs. Congress passed that provision as part of the FY2005 Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 108-375)."  In reality, DoD and the Administration is distorting facts, if not breaking the law, to pad their argument. (http://capwiz.com/moaa/home/ 
 
Winkenwerder, and to be fair, most other elements of the Administration and Congress only look at "contributions" in dollars and cents...they ignore the costs in "lost lives, bodily devastation, family sacrifices, life-long pain in body and spirit...these contributions seem of small consequence in the eyes of bean counters.
 
More often than not, leadership forgets the forces that propelled him/her to the position they occupy...there are always subordinates that are struggling, sacrificing, winning the battles that push leaders up the line...military leaders are not successful because of what "they" do, but because they ride on the shoulders of privates and sergeants.  Has this lesson been lost in the White House, DOD and Joint Chiefs of Staff?  Has the Joint Chiefs forgotten they ride the shoulders of the troops?  Does Secretary Rumsfeld, Under Secretary Winkenwerder or Chu really understand warrior, family and widow sacrifices?  I don't think so.
 
If the President and Secretary of Defense understood leadership they would ensure a budget that takes care of the troops in harm's way and keep commitments to all military retirees and those who previously experienced the smell of war. How can the Joint Chiefs remain true to the principle of "taking care of the troops", spouses, and widows and support military retiree medical care betrayal?
 
The short but profound reality is that warriors contributions have indeed, not changed...they are still contributing their blood, body parts, and yes, life itself, as a willing sacrifice to sustain our nation...and of equal contribution is the sacrifice of families, and especially widows. 

For members of DoD/Administration and some members of Congress to continually harp on monetary costs of warrior, spouse, and widow medical care while down-playing and ignoring the horrific personal, sacrificial costs to these patriots is nothing short of disgraceful, dishonorable, and a immoral stain on the fabric of America.

 
 
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

 

DoD Continues attack against military medical care

Government strategy to deal with budget shortfalls - ignore "pork barrel" and strip funds from earned military medical programs

03 February 2006

The handwriting is on the wall at the Pentagon and in the White House...the message is reduce military benefits in any way possible, betray military retirees earned medical care, survivor benefits and disability program.  (camouflage as a threat to National Security what in reality is government theft of benefits) 

Secretary Rumsfeld continues to crack the whip on his “benefit cutting team” Assistant Secretary Dr. Winkenwerder and David Chu, as they are briefing every member of Congress they can get access too...this Association, that committee, lamenting of the “runaway military health care costs”, making sweeping statements warning the “world class“ health benefit is threatened, in short the “sky is falling”.

Winkenwerder and Chu continually harp on the “costs” of military healthcare, how it has “doubled or tripled”, and they cry big alligator tears that military members are not paying enough for TRICARE, costs of TRICARE Prime hasn’t been increased since 1996, pharmacy costs are out of sight, on and on...what is always missing is the “costs in sacrifice placed on our warriors, spouses, and widows” required to protect freedom...what is also missing is any reluctance to continue the pipeline into harms way while complaining about the costs...there should be no higher priority in earthly government budgeting than faithful support of commitments made to warriors, spouses, and widows.

Has there ever been testimony by DOD explaining the sacrifice involved in military service; that our professionals earn every support they can be provided; described the cost of the life blood spilled; the impact on widows left behind? If there has, I missed it.

Interesting isn't it that the very elements of government that entice men and women to serve in the defense of America are the first to cry "costs" and betray military, spouses, and widows when the enticement debt comes due. 

America is quick to find funds in the millions for individual families impacted by 9-11; has appropriated hundreds of billions to care for hurricane victims; spends billions on every conceivable “pork” project throughout America...I cite these examples, not to deny support is due our citizens in time of need, but to compare warriors, those who volunteer, who purposefully give their very lives to defend our nation, the impact on their families and point out these men and women are denied justice and must continually fight for the support they deserve...and are accused of “threatening national security” for holding national leaders accountable for healthcare commitments made to troops, spouses, and widows.

Rest assured, government today is not what it was fifty years ago when warriors had “champions” in Congress who understood...most in Congress were veterans, there are few today, certainly no leaders with a understanding or burning desire to take care of the troops...use and abuse appears the theme...troops are on their own...incumbents should get a strong signal in 2006 at the ballot box.

Warriors can continue to remain silent and be stripped of benefits, see earned and paid for medical care, survivor benefits, disability compensation, widow compensation and maybe even retired compensation capped or reduced...or take a stand...when citizens remain silent government gets a signal...”they don’t care” so we (government) can do as we wish.

DoD apparently has no backbone to fight for the budget deemed necessary but willing to ignore "pork barrel" waste and take funds out of the hide of military retirees to balance shortfalls...perhaps Congress will rise and advise DoD of the ramifications of penalizing military retirees and the signal it sends to younger troops.

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret., 111 Overview Drive, Crestview, FL 32539, 850-689-1818, hmriley@cox.net

To Comment on this Blog

To view responses to this commentary please click here


 

Are Military Joint Chiefs of Staff Prepared To Betray Military Retirees?

Media Report Chiefs Are Ready To Support Increased TRICARE fees

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret                                                                    December 31, 2005

According to syndicated columnist Tom Philpott's piece of December 31, 2005,  "Joint chiefs to back higher TRICARE fees for retirees" spouses and widows...so, what's new?
 
With government it's business as usual...entice young men and women into giving their life (often literally) in defense of our nation; promise, imply, or give explicit assurances of medical care in return for life commitment.......but when the debt comes due, claim that keeping commitments to our warriors is "endangering" national security; or other half-baked conclusions, then change the rules...betray the warrior...during war time no less...despicable.
 
According to Philpott's piece, the need to raise medical care costs for military retirees under 65 is to curb "soaring health care costs", medical care costs are "crimping budget dollars for ...defense programs", "TRICARE fees haven't been raised since first set in 1995", etc..  However the counter-argument is distorted, buried or omitted from Philpott's piece - government "gloss(es) over the sacrifice those retirees made and the promises made to them"...also their families and widows.   Conveniently,  the government attack on budget drain fails to discuss or cite any other wastes/pork "plugs" as described by Senator John McCain.
 
The bottom line Philpott implies is we have gutless wimps serving as military leaders in the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  If the military Chiefs have the intestinal fortitude, they will appear before appropriate Congressional Committees and announce their "resignation" if Congress penalizes our warriors and families who have and are shedding blood for our nation.  

The Joint Chiefs, Congress and the Administration apparently have no qualms of asking current active duty warriors, many who will retire soon, to leave life and body parts on the battlefield,  widows and orphans behind, while the government continues to extract "financial blood" from the troops by  funding and wasting federal dollars on every conceivable "pork" project individual Representatives and Senators request.

 
There comes a time when military leaders have no option but to exercise backbone...continual "budget balancing" on the backs of our warriors, spouses, and widows,  while allowing free flow "pork" funding shall stop. The question is, do we have leaders with the courage of principle?
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

To Comment on this Blog

To view responses to this commentary please click here


Like it or not we are at War

Vote a change in 2006/2008 but for now our nation and troops require unity

19 December 2005

From my perspective there is no question President Bush was entirely correct in going after Saddam Hussein...a menace with proven support to terror has been eliminated. One can argue as to the "imminent" threat posed by Saddam to America, however, I have experienced the "wait and see if they hit us again" policy and all it does is put our troops and America at a disadvantage.

Many actions taken by our President have been influenced by advisors who think politically and ignore reality...you can't win a war by sitting in a bunker, hunkered down, shaking like a dog pooping peach seeds, focused on the political spin-off of war decisions...you take the fight to the enemy with determination and using the weapons to win. Perhaps he has recognized hiding in the White House will not get the job done...I applaud the President for his recent presence before the press. 

My beef with the President is "he hasn't done enough right things" and reflected an attitude "maybe if we ignore the issue at hand it will go away".  We have seen foot-dragging by not going after Syria and Iran in a fashion that penalizes them for support of the Islamic terrorist elements; illegal immigrants pour across our border in the Southwest U.S. and probably from Canada; spending initiatives in Congress has been given carte blanche, not a single veto; to name a few.

No matter which American political party is in power, we expect the spectacular pronouncements and finger pointing from the party seeking power, proclaiming "nothing" is going right.  One would think that even the most hardened politician would put the interests of America and our troops first and foremost in time of war.

However, we know the character of "most" politicians...as with most addicts, politicians will do anything, say anything, betray their grandmother, bathe in the freedom that warriors secure for them while at the same time denying, delaying, and deceiving these very same patriots, their families and widows.
 
To the politician, his or her personal greed, ego trips, insatiable power addiction knows no limits...the blood of our warriors or anyone else that gets in the way of the "political machine", no matter which party, is an irritant, cast aside without a second thought. 

As an example, conferees stripped Senator Bill Nelson's (D-FL)  Senate-passed provision from the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would have authorized annual entitlements for the widows and orphans of veterans who were killed or fully disabled. Republicans in the House balked at the cost of Nelson's proposal. My question is, what model does Congress use to determine the cost of life, blood, and body parts shed in defense of America?

Nelson and others were incensed that Congress failed to help the families of those who died in their country’s service. “I’m outraged,” Nelson said in a telephone interview. “Once again, the widows and orphans are left holding an empty bag.” Congress always puts a price tag on the blood of America's warriors but there is no limit to the "pork" they willingly waste...trashing Senator Nelson's initiative is nothing short of despicable.

 
It should come as no surprise that "freedoms bulwark" is ignored when we learn, nearly daily, of the treasonous, traitorous acts being committed in Congress, in our media, and apparently without much more than a whimper from America. Congress nor the media gets it...either they are brain-dead or purposefully acting against our nation.
 
Like it or not, reality is that America is at war with a vicious, malicious, barbaric, unforgiving enemy and we can't muster the will in Congress to support the personal costs of war, let alone put aside political games long enough to communicate a nation united. Is America taking on the character of France?  Is our language being reduced to "I surrender"? Are our troops nothing more than cannon fodder and our families and widows of no value?
 
There's a "secret box" (not really, it's a ballot box) that can change the character and reflection in Washington, D.C. if we use it...it is in our hands.  I will use it in 2006, will you?
 
What will it change you ask?  It will give me the satisfaction of sending all those currently in office into retirement...is it possible for a new bunch to be much worse?  I don't think so...the current slippery slope is jeopardizing our nation and way of life.
 

Does our President have any credibility in lecturing business on "keeping promises?

He forgets military retirees were promised and earned lifetime medical which is denied

05 December 2005

President Bush made the following statement 05 December 2005 while speaking to a business gathering in North Carolina.

"My message to corporate America is you need to fulfill your promises." "When you say to a worker, "This is what they're going to get when they retire, you better put enough money in the account to make sure the worker gets that what you said."

"So Congress needs to straighten up these rules,"  "And I'm not going to sign a bill that weakens pension funding for the American workers," Bush said.

Here's what President Bush said in a pre-inaugural address on 19 January 2001:

"In order to make sure that morale is high with those who wear the uniform today, we must keep our commitment to those who wore the uniform in the past.... We will make sure promises made to our veterans will be promises kept."

How about it Mr. President, are you going to tell Congress to straighten out the rules and honor the commitments made to military retirees?  Oh you say, that costs too much...the lives and bodily destruction, widows sacrifice and orphans impact, does not measure up to workers promises?  Is that the message America is sending it's warriors and their widows?

President Bush's remarks to the business community on keeping promises must rank with the most hypocritical, disingenuous, cruel, and insensitive statements ever to leave either side of a politicians mouth.

Does the President, his advisors, and writers have any idea the message he sends to members of the military community, past and present?  How can a national leader ignore and yes, actively oppose promised and earned medical care to those that leave life, blood, and body parts on the battlefield in protecting freedom?  

Recruits were promised by their own government that if they served a career of 20 years or more  in military service, then they and their dependants would receive life-time, government funded health care upon retirement.  But while these career soldiers put their lives on the line for our country, the government has not kept  its end of the contract.

I want to take liberty with President Bush's statement today and substitute one word. Here is the way it would read and it's what the government said for decades:

"My message to America is you need to fulfill your promises." "When you say to a warrior, "This is what they're going to get when they retire, you better put enough money in the account to make sure the warrior gets that what you said."

Mr. President, you take a step forward and shoot yourself in both feet...you want corporate America to keep it's promises to workers but you and the Republican Congress deny WWII/Korea era military retirees their promised and earned medical care.

We must be in the season of "political swarms" like termites....we have politicians admitting bribery, others crashing the morale of our troops, uplifting the enemy, making hypocritical statements, and it's all tied to "personal selfish advantage"...integrity is of the past.

Why does a warrior or widow have to beg and fight his/her own government for promised and earned compensation?  God help us.

Mr. President, warriors are not asking for special favors...just their due.

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

To Comment on this Blog

To view responses to this commentary please click here


President Bush has lost his connection with America

America is adrift, crying for the Captain to secure and stabilize the rudder.

November 26, 2005

One does not have to be a Democrat to comprehend that President Bush is not exercising the leadership necessary to convince America he is on top of a domestic agenda…nor is America or the world convinced the President has firm grip on his foreign policy agenda.

The President seems to have lost the magic he displayed on the rubble left after 9-11-2001 where he reflected a calm, determined, courageous, inspiring and stable leader. America needed the encouragement and “take charge” attitude from our national leader that New Yorkers found in their Mayor Guiliana…President Bush displayed the strength in the chaos of 9-11 that endeared him to a large majority of Americans, politicians of all stripes, in short, melding America into a cohesive, coherent force, determined to hold accountable the parties responsible for the destruction and attack on America.

What has happened since the early days of the Bush Presidency that has left America in the divided, vile, confrontational, and floundering condition apparent in Congress, the Administration, and spilling across America?

In all fairness, an objective analysis demonstrates that all was not well in America when President Bush assumed office. The weeds in the garden were already hip high, but President Bush had an opportunity plow them under…unfortunately the elephant died and the mule balked. Why?

Was it the death of the force pulling the plow his fault? I submit President Bush dropped the reins…he became distracted from the mission by the forest (self-serving advisors and politicians) in which he got lost.

I believe President Bush has a good heart, is sincere in his desire to do the best he can for America, and I believe agonizes over the divisive conditions in America. Be this observation as it may, it is the Presidents responsibility as Americas national leader to pull us together.

What must he do to reverse the image of a weak leader? A start would be to rely on his moral instincts, emerge from the cocoon (read politicians) that enslaves him, clean house of dead-wood advisors, and convince all Americans why his policy is what America needs, as he did during the 9-11-2001 crisis.

Can he do it? Not unless he clearly articulates to his Administration that he is in charge and “takes charge“, escapes from his political cage, makes it clear and convincing to America where he wants to go, surrounds himself with functional experts who view “America First“, and communicates to America with a personal approach.

A critical question surfaces…was President Bush’s performance during the 9-11-2001 crisis an aberration? Does he have the gut instinct to lead? For Americas sake, I pray the answer to the former is “no” and the latter is “yes” ...performance will confirm.

 

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

To Comment on this Blog

To view responses to this commentary please click here


POLITICIANS ARE BETRAYING AMERICA

 

HOW MANY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE LOST CHILDREN IN IRAQ OR EVEN HAVE CHILDREN IN THE MILITARY?

Answer:  No losses I'm aware of and only a handful in the military

US House of Representatives voted on Friday, November 18, 2005, defeating a non-binding resolution, 403 - 3 calling for “immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq“. I have no idea what the remaining 29 Representatives were doing that did not vote, some probably had a case of severe backbone infection, jaundice, or some other disease that turned them yellow.

One wonders how many of the 403 that rejected immediate withdrawal from Iraq also suffered from exposure to light, so they covered their eyes, stuck their head further in the sand, and voted “no” to protect their own personal backsides.

Does anyone seriously believe that politicians in Washington, D.C. give a damn about our troops; or put the troops well being uppermost before opening their two-sided mouths; or for that matter giving any deep thought to the impact of their anti-war, anti-this, anti-that pronouncements? If they did, they would keep their uninformed anti-America propaganda to themselves, as I truly believe most of Congress has no "personal" understanding of war, the consequences, nor do they want to learn. 

There are more Politicians than I care to mention that are bad-mouthing everything possible about the war in Iraq, nothing is working, the war was a mistake, always playing the death rate card, never anything positive, even though there was unanimous approval in both Houses of Congress supporting the Iraqi action. Oh I know, the worn out argument WMD was not found so ‘we were deceived“ or worse….horse manure. Our politicians may think we are mushrooms and can be pushed to the corner and fed “the political feces”…I pray we won’t let them get away with it...

Within my life-time I can remember the time-honored unwritten policy of an America that stopped any politician from criticizing our government, leaders or policy, beyond our shores…particularly during war. It is now common for Congressmen, former Presidents, other former officials, not only at home in America, but willingly stand behind the podium in foreign nations, under foreign flags, and criticize America in a shameless fashion, while nearby American troops are dying.

Having served two tours in Viet Nam, I can attest to what the media, anti-war efforts, ignorant politicians, dime-store strategists/tacticians, and other back-stabbing officials do to the morale of the troops, their safety, while emboldening the enemy. It takes no rocket scientist to recognize the constant drum-beat, shrill anti-war voices, pontificating from ancient Congressmen such as Murtha, D-PA, or anti-America statements from ex-president Bill Clinton, and others on foreign soil. The result is putting our troops at a disadvantage, making them question the resolve of the nation that sent them to battle and adding threat to their lives. Is it unreasonable for our troops in harms way to wonder how they can be asked to lay down their life while a bunch of jerks in Congress make asinine pronouncements which encourage the enemy…the bottom line is the troops are saying “my life is too important to be cannon fodder for the selfish personal whims of politicians”…no one can blame them, many experienced the feeling in Viet Nam.

Old politicians such as Congressman Murtha who have military background should know better than to make statements of a personal opinion that negatively impact our troops. But on the other hand, thousands have been asking politicians that "talk the talk to walk the walk"....Murtha is not a cosponsor of HR602, Keep Our Promise To America‘s Military Retirees Act...he talks but doesn't walk...His military service was admirable, that was then, now is now....now he‘s a traitor....Murtha has been a career politician for decades......he has the virus that all Congressmen catch shortly after their freshman year.......the virus wipes their brain clean and they become slaves to political masters, eventually becoming "masters" in their own right, worthless and harmful to America.

Do we need any more evidence to throw incumbents out in 2006?   Do “term limits” appear more apparent than ever? 

Is anything more shameful than politicians who betray warriors, their spouses and widows? I think not!

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret.

To Comment on this Blog

To view responses to this commentary please click here


 

Congress Ignores "Keep Our Promise" Bill

Is HR-602 Dead?

Will this be allowed with impunity?

20 October 2005

Have we finally accepted that Republicans in Congress are purposefully opposing HR 602, Keep Our Promise Bill?  Will we allow them to do it with impunity? 

Right now there are 158 Democrats, 68 Republicans, and one independent (227 total) cosponsoring the Keep Our Promise Bill... well over half the US House of Representatives indicate they support the restoration of earned military retiree medical care. (To read the Keep Our Promise Bill go to www.classact-lawsuit.com )

My own opinion is that most of those Republicans that have cosponsored HR 602 are simply protecting their own back-sides.  How many Republican cosponsors do you believe have petitioned the Republican leadership to vote the Bill out of committee and bring it to the House floor for a vote?  I suggest the number is "zero"...

So far as I know there has not been a single hearing from any of the four committees responsible to consider the Bill...and my gut instinct is that they have no intention of doing anything with the legislation.

Congress plays the military veteran/retiree community to their advantage.....when they need us we get attention, when their "pork" is involved we're ignored...it's nothing short of betrayal.

It is clear the majority of our cosponsors are democrats...token republicans are cosponsoring the Bill as a "political protection" measure but take no action to push the Bill....the republican leadership is responsible for bringing the issue to the floor and our Republican cosponsors do nothing...make no mistake, I view the same condition if Democrats were the majority in Congress.

It would matter little if we had 400 cosponsors..... if the republican leadership is ignoring and opposing HR 602 it will not be brought to the floor for a vote........republicans chair all committees and they won't bring the Bill out of committee.........it is clearly a disgusting "political" issue........

It's time for some tough measures by the Republicans who say they support the Bill...these 68 Republicans could do some considerable damage to the Republican leadership agenda.  Opposition by these 68 Republicans to select Bills important to the Republican leadership may bring action to HR 602...but then again, is there commitment and courage in these 68 cosponsors to take the challenge-do what's right?  I doubt it, they value their own political future over the troops...always been that way, and I guess it always will be. (Again refer to www.classact-lawsuit.com to read the cosponsors list)

Most of us have recognized the Congress as a bunch of self-indulgent, personal focused, confused and disorganized group we could do without...variations of the Keep Our Promise Bill has been in Congress for six (6) years...they have been stringing us along year after year and we allow them to do it...expecting Congress to take some action on an issue owed our warriors is fanciful dreaming. 

Our votes in 2006 should not go to a single Congressional Republican currently in office...Congress and the Bush Administration have betrayed America's retired warriors, spouses, and widows...we should let them know now!

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

To Comment on this Blog

To view responses to this commentary please click here


America At War

Are we on the Viet Nam path Out of Iraq?

October 02, 2005
 

Fox News "War Stories" with Ollie North on 10/02/2005 focused on the indecision of American leaders during the Viet Nam war and the terrible price our pilots, and in effect, all troops paid.

 
President Johnson and Defense Secretary McNamara during the Viet Nam war (neither one knowing anything about fighting a war) demonstrated a callous disregard for the lives of our troops and welfare of our nation, by spending more time focusing on what our "cold war" enemies would think of U.S. decisions than the life threatening impact on our own troops and success of the war.
 
Fast forward forty years to the middle east conflict in Iraq.  President Bush and Secretary Rumsfeld are engaged in some of the same indecision that cost us victory in the Viet Nam war. 
 
As in the Viet Nam war, the anti-war rabble is again raising it's ugly head, having never learned "freedom is not free", our troops in the middle east are being second guessed,  hamstrung with limitations on what can and cannot be attacked, which raises the question... where is the war in Iraq being managed.  My guess is that Washington is still calling the shots, otherwise our Generals would have insisted Syria be in the cross-hairs long ago.
 
During the Viet Nam war, Washington was making tactical decisions which nearly always put our pilots and ground troops at a disadvantage.  Rather than being bold, aggressive, and fighting on our terms to win, politicians were more concerned about what the "Russians would do".  Great thought was given to our bombs falling on Russians assisting North Vietnamese in the north but little thought of North Vietnamese artillery located in Cambodia firing on us in South Viet Nam with impunity...we were not allowed to take action against North Vietnamese in Cambodia...U.S. politicians, in effect,  protected our enemy which resulted in American lives lost.
 
Now the same scenario is reflected in Iraq... instead of taking action on Syria and Iran for supporting the enemy in Iraq, we allow them to funnel money, weapons, and materiel into Iraq with impunity.  President Bush and others appear more concerned what France, Germany, the UN and other pip squeak nations will think.  The Iraq war is being waged with an emphasis on politics at the expense of our troops...our decision makers are hell-bent on repeating the Viet Nam mistake.
 
I view the fight in Iraq as just, honorable, necessary, and President Bush did the right thing in taking Saddam out.  However, politicians have no backbone, our troops are put in a rut, we are treading water as men and women die, while the "get out" cry becomes more shrill...in short, our superior fighting force is muzzled.
 
Syria and Iran are our enemies.  We are allowing them to kill our warriors without being held accountable.  Our troops are once again fighting with one hand while the enemy is given the advantage.  Syria and Iran should pay a heavy price for their support of the Al Qaeda butchers.

President Bush states "the war in Iraq is central to defeating terrorism"...if that's what he believes, then why does he not fight the war accordingly?

 
If we are unwilling to take the fight to the enemy, even if it means involving another nation, it will only be a matter of time until we tuck our tail, exit Iraq, and build another wall of names.
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

To Comment on this Blog

To view responses to this commentary please click here


 

Gulf Coast Rebuilding After Katrina

What are the limits in rebuilding New Orleans?

September 23, 2005

The Katrina disaster probably goes beyond any satisfactory description of severity experienced along the Gulf Coast...now comes the recovery and rebuilding challenges. 
 
President Bush in his address to the nation Sep 15, 2005 spoke to broad recognition of sympathy, concern, encouragement, and future action, committing all Americans to the task of recovery and rebuilding along the Gulf Coast. 
 
Since we're all paying, shouldn't we be leery of government performance, in fact have major concern about the rebuilding process?  

While President Bush indicated dollars would not be a show-stopper, he was less than convincing in speaking to oversight and common sense factors... I have my doubts about objective plans and where  the billions of dollars are coming from....I hope this is not another blank check?

 
Many politicians, greedy corporations, businesses, media, and even individuals have never passed up the opportunity to use catastrophic events for political or personal gain and I see the Katrina disaster as no different.  

Critical to the process of rebuilding will be adequate safeguards in place to punish politicians, prosecute gougers, ensure fair hiring and contract practices, establish credible bodies to examine where building can and cannot occur, and yes, require able residents of the Gulf Coast to participate in their own rebuilding?

 
There is ample reason to question rebuilding limits in many parts of the Gulf Coast and New Orleans is at the top of the list in my opinion.  Given the assurance from President Bush that people will be cared for, those that study and evaluate New Orleans rebuilding should consider:
 
1. Starting from the proposition that to rebuild a city below sea level, surrounded by water, open to the Gulf of Mexico, with levees unable to meet hurricane threat levels, clearly does not meet the common sense test; and;
 
2.  Prove that rebuilding any portion of New Orleans overrules the common sense test, and; 
 
3.  If the Mayor of New Orleans is any example of leadership (insisting residents return to a destroyed city without essential services) then any portion of rebuilding authority had best by-pass the Mayor, and;
 
4.  Is it in the best interests of citizens of New Orleans and America to pour billions of dollars into another New Orleans "welfare city"?.
 
America must demand responsible and accountable performance...God gave us common sense, we best pay attention when considering the total Gulf Coast restoration process.
 

President Bush Extols WWII Warriors Impact On Freedom

 "I mean what I say"?

I watched and listened to President Bush speak to a group in California, extolling the impact of our WWII warriors on democracy and liberty . 
 
I suppose the President could have used stronger adjectives to describe the dedication, patriotism, impact on liberty, relative to the victory over Japan and Germany, but it was obvious he was making a case in the strongest terms reflecting what our WWII warriors accomplished.
 
Sadly, the dichotomy of words and reality is stark....remember President Bush's words in a pre-inaugural address on 19 January, 2001  when he said "In order to make sure that morale is high with those who wear the uniform today, we must keep our commitment to those who wore the uniform in the past.... We will make sure promises made to our veterans will be promises kept."  and in a news conference April 13, 2004, he stated "I mean what I say"?
 
Given that medical care benefits due WWII military retirees have been denied;  other warrior, family, and widow compensation is recognized somewhere behind benefits for "illegal aliens;  one can only conclude political statements we hear from the President and members of Congress is little more than hot air. Even the courts have recognized the medical care obligation America has to it's WWII troops.
 
It is absolutely mind boggling that the leadership of America can, with a straight face, use the magnificent success of our WWII victories, and our military force success in general, to score political points or advance some other agenda, while willingly ignoring or worse, denying earned compensation and benefits to the service members that secured the liberty we enjoy.
 
To make matters worse, elements in Department of Defense routinely attack earned benefits as a "drain on national security"; create crafty diversions to delay or deny veteran compensation; Congress schemes to cap military compensation while exempting other federal categories; in short, it appears military compensation and benefits are near the first to suffer when a funding crunch exists...the question is how can such devious behavior be tolerated by America?
 
The answer:  Most politicians and most Americans for that matter, do not understand warrior, family and widow sacrifices.
 
The government that commits to it's warriors in battle and other crisis and then reneges when the smoke clears and the floods recede is in jeopardy as a nation. 
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

To Comment on this Blog

To view responses to this commentary please click here


Who Wants To Go To War?

Anti-War Group taunts our Wounded at Walter Reed

Having spent several months in the fox-hole, I can attest combat is not fun, it is nasty, dirty, scary, and hazardous to one's health.  There are few in the military that are anxiously waiting for the next opportunity to face death or bodily harm. 

Who do you know that can't wait to lock and load and "shoot another !#$^&*(" low-life enemy"?

War is not one sided......the other guy is also trying to kill and as we know many of our American soldiers have died and others seriously wounded fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan for what the majority of Americans believe is the right thing.  Right or wrong aside, our troops do what they are ordered to do, probably believe they're doing the right thing, and are placing their life and limb in jeopardy for all of us.

Walter Reed Army Medical Center is treating many of our warriors who have suffered serious wounds in combat or while in combat support. This week, protesters demonstrated near the facility's entrance, "chanting amid mock flag-draped caskets with signs reading "Maimed for Lies" and "Enlist here and die for Halliburton." They taunted veterans entering and leaving the facility with angry slogans like "George Bush kills American soldiers." Walter Reed has been a primary treatment facility for American Patriots of all ranks for nearly a century.  It certainly should not be defiled by such contemptible rabble ", nor should our wounded troops be subjected to their presence.

The anti-war group gathered at Walter Reed Hospital, within ear-shot of our wounded warriors, are engaged in the most despicable, ungrateful, disgusting, immoral activity, in the character of Satan himself. It's one thing to voice one's opposition to our policy in the Middle East, but yet another to directly rub salt in the wounds of our heroes in Walter Reed. 
 
These ignorant souls denigrating our troops haven't a clue that the foundation of their freedom of speech rests on the sacrifices of troops in Walter Reed and all those who have fought and died in past wars. 
 
At 68, I'm not the stud I was in 1969 but I still have enough fire in my gut to want to go to Washington, D.C. and confront the scum and slime that are mocking our wounded at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. 
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

To Comment on this Blog

To view responses to this commentary please click here


Why Won't America Keep Commitments To Warriors?

 

Our WWII/Korea era warriors  are honored by memorials, films, books, holidays, magazines, media, etc. and generally credited with saving America's way of life.
 
Who would have believed in 1945 the American government they saved would betray them?  Renege on obligations and commitments made to these warriors? Politicians, with a straight face, continue to use these brave men and women for selfish, personal gain and refuse, yes refuse, to authorize and appropriate funds necessary to fulfill earned medical benefits to our WWII/Korea era troops. 
 
This is the worst kind of deceitful, malicious, despicable treatment of heroes who ask no favors, no giveaways, only what they earned.  Yet, America's political system is so corrupt and ungrateful it is willing to turn away, let these old warriors die while spending billions on everything from illegal aliens to the sex life of the bumble bee...
 
Speaking of salt rubbed in the warrior wound...Illinois and Wisconsin are offering home loans to illegal aliens...it's true, show a cell phone account, an ID and receive government sponsored and funded home loans...no matter that federal immigration and banking laws are being violated by these states...worse yet, there is indication California will be the next state to provide home loans to illegal aliens...illegals being handed our tax dollars while military retirees/veterans who have shed blood, limb, and life itself for America must beg for what they earned.
 
Where has the America born over two hundred years ago gone?  It appears to be treading in the sewer of greed, selfishness, lies, and irresponsibility.  Those in power have lost all sense of decency, morality, and are on the verge of destroying the greatest nation ever known.

Harry Riley, COL, USA Ret

To Comment on this Blog 

 

To view comments to this commentary please click here


Congress Betrays WWII/Korea Era Military Retirees

Government views keeping faith and honoring commitments to our warriors a drain on National Security

There is ample evidence the United States government makes contracts with soldiers and of course soldiers are expected to live up to contracts.

Does the same principle apply to the United States government? Or can the government change it’s horse in mid-stream and be supported by the courts and congress?

If the United States government through verbal and written policy states “if you (soldier) will give me (government) 20 or more years of active duty service in the United States military, I (government) will provide (you) soldier and your eligible family members government funded medical care as long as you live. (The United States government made this commitment WWII/Korea era military retirees)  Is this a contract?

If the United States Congress funds military retiree medical care for decades, would that indicate the Congress understood there was an obligation incumbent on our nation to honor it’s commitment to our warriors and their families or were they oblivious to what they were funding?

If you read this legal statement what would you conclude? “We cannot readily imagine more sympathetic plaintiffs than the retired officers of the World War II and Korean War era involved in this case. They served their country for at least 20 years with the understanding that when they retired they and their dependents would receive full free health care for life. The promise of such health care was made in good faith and relied upon.” (note: This promise was made to all soldiers, officer and enlisted)

The above is a quote from the 2002 United States Federal Appeals Court conclusion in a case brought by Medal of Honor Attorney, Col Bud Day. The conclusion went on to state “Again, however, because no authority existed to make such promises in the first place, and because Congress has never ratified or acquiesced to this promise, we have no alternative but to uphold the judgment against the retirees' breach-of-contract claim. “

Even though the promise of lifetime government funded medical care was made from Secretary of Defense, speaking for the President, to the squad leader in the fox hole who believed the Secretary of Defense was an authority - it meant nothing;

Congress appropriated funds to pay for military retiree medical care for over 50 years, however, the court was able to conclude Congress had neither ratified what they were doing nor would the funding for over 50 years indicate Congress acquiesced to the fact that military retiree medical care was a debt owed to military retirees. In essence what the court said, these are my words, “the President is not adequate authority and the United States Congress does not know what they are doing.”

The court’s bottom line stated “We understand and appreciate the dissatisfaction of the plaintiffs with the change in the retirement pay system, as they have rendered long and faithful service to our country in time of peace and war. However, if they are to get any relief, it must come from Congress, as this is not within [a court's] jurisdiction.”

In dissenting, the Chief Judge stated “Promises of lifetime medical care were made to military officers by military officials for more than 50 years. Likewise Congress knew, or certainly should be charged with knowing, how the billions of dollars it appropriated for military medical care were allocated and that the amounts it appropriated for military pay were diminished by the imputed value of medical care on active duty and after retirement. Congress is presumed to know the terrain against which it legislates. To suggest it was oblivious, that it did not know military officials were promising medical care in accordance with its appropriations is pure sophistry. If it were otherwise, if Congress can appropriate billions for this aspect of national defense and not know how it is accounted for, then God save the Republic.

There was a time when we had a "draft"...military pay was low, low, but those drafted as well as volunteers worked 12-18 hours per day, months on end and some who chose to remain as "lifers" rested on the promise of certain benefits being there if we made it through to retirement...low pay was not and never has been a deal breaker. Trust and faith has now become the issue.

Here comes the disgusting betrayal and both Republicans and Democrats are part…the Clinton Administration kicked all military retirees and their families over 65 out of military medical care in 1995. They told us to take a hike…you’re too much of a burden and, oh by the way, have a good life…you say you don’t have any insurance? Well, some nice insurance agency will sell you insurance for the remaining arm or leg you still have. You don’t have funds to buy insurance as your retirement pay is only $300.00 per month and your wife is bed-fast? Sure wish we could help with your existing medical history but there are so many important issues that need our attention…

The Bush Administration and Congress has had an opportunity to make good on the obligation owed to military retirees by supporting the “Keep Our Promise To America’s Military Retirees Act”, first introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep Ronnie Shows of Mississippi. All members of Congress have gone home to tell you how hard they have worked for all veterans.  You might want to remind your elected official the Keep Our Promise Bill has been bottled up in congressional committee ever since being introduced… cosponsored by over 200 Representatives in two or three congresses…does this mean anything? Yes, it means a lot of Representatives are covering their backsides, cosponsoring the Bill as not to alienate the veterans. They know the Republican leadership has no intention of ever bringing the Keep Our Promise Bill to the floor for a vote…so they can cosponsor without fear of having to vote but being able to boast of “support for my military”…Congress is waiting for all of us to die, problem solved - we should throw them all out before we “fade away”.

Most in Congress view military people good for photo opportunities on Memorial Day, July 4th, and perhaps Veterans Day…they hug, pat, make grand pronouncements of their support without any intention of fighting for us in Washington, D.C. The Secretary of Defense management clones tell Congress “military pay and benefits are a drain on national security”, the benefits we earned are limiting beans and bullets. Hogwash!

How many Congressmen/women do you know of that has taken DOD to task for basically referring to military retirees/veterans as “leaches, free-loaders, whiners” simply because we expect what we earned?

This piece has focused on WWII/Korea era military retirees but the slippery slope will affect all military if government can use our old soldiers as cannon fodder and then abuse them as something less than honorable. What the government said to WWII/Korea military retirees is “you keep your end of the bargain, fill the fox-holes, spill the blood", but failed to mention, when the threat goes away, we (government) may have to modify our side of the medical care agreement.

The military services should not expect recruits flocking to join, certainly not family members of military retirees…most of us are not telling our family not to serve, just making sure they know how their grandfathers were treated…does this mean we are unpatriotic? No, just mad as hell at a government that would view the blood and body parts left on battlefields as a “drain on national security”.

Many variables influence young men and women when considering military service. Keeping faith, honoring commitments and obligations with warriors of an earlier generation may be the best antidote to the dreaded “D” word that Congress and the Bush Administration fear.

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

To Comment on this Blog 

 

To View Responses to this commentary please click here

 


ISN'T IT TIME FOR PRESIDENT BUSH TO VOICE REALITY? 

   Islamic Militants are the problem, Terrorism is their mode of operation!

Do we have anyone in a leadership position in the United States government that has the courage to call the attack our nation suffered on 9-11-2001 in New York City, the devastating train explosions in Spain; what London just experienced, and for that matter what is happening in Iraq, just what it is........attacks by ISLAMIC MILITANTS...despicable killers with hatred toward westerners.

I'm tired of hearing spineless descriptions of the "peace loving" Islamic religion....I assume there are elements embracing Islam that are peace loving, but the element that is bombing, severing heads, purposefully killing children are not demonstrating a "peaceful religion".....the ones that are doing the killing embrace the Islamic religion, they are ISLAMIC MILITANTS, killers who are hell-bent on destroying our freedom and western civilization as we know it.

It's time we said it and let the world know ISLAMIC MILITANTS are our enemy;  it's time "peace loving" Islam followers get out front and denounce all forms of the brutal killing now being perpetrated by ISLAMIC MILITANTS; it's time we stop the ignorant "politically correct" notion that viewing middle easterners as suspects is racial action; it's time we stop playing games with ISLAMIC MILITANTS that are operating known cells in the United States...they need to be arrested, locked up before they exercise their warped mindset against Americans.

Will we allow President Bush, Congress, Governors, others responsible for the protection of citizens continue dazzling us with meaningless "terrorist" excuses rather than taking the responsible action - namely, putting some motivating metal on the countries that are supporting the ISLAMIC MILITANTS? 

Countries such as Syria, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, et al,  must be put on notice to take aggressive action against ISLAMIC MILITANTS, stop funding their brutal killing, or experience offensive action from the United States.......no sweet talk, it's time for a Patton or Theodore Roosevelt to step forward.

It is apparent to me that we have so-called leadership in Washington, D.C. that are without the courage, backbone, resolve, national purpose, to defeat our confrontation with ISLAMIC MILITANTS.  They all fear their political future, are scared to death of the media exposing them "standing up for America", and sad to say, we have no Pattons’, Hackworths’ with the courage to tell the decision makers the brutal truth.

Our homeland was attacked and we have leaders that reflect nothing beyond political gamesmanship---they have no concept our national survival is at stake.

Harry Riley

To Comment on this Blog 

 

To View Responses to this commentary please click here


How do we kill an Octopus?  Cut it's tentacles or blow it's brains out

July 07, 2005

Harry Riley

Our hearts and prayers are with our British friends and all those that lost loved ones and are suffering as a result of the cowardly attacks in London on 7/07/2005.

While the attacks in London are serious, they pale in comparison to the suffering inflicted by the Nazis during WWII. We pray that Britons will exhibit the same courage, stand with resolve, be steadfast in their fight against the global terror, and know that millions of American's are partners with them in the fight.

The greatest threat to American, British, and other freedom loving peoples is weak kneed, wobbly leaders who sit and wring their hands unwilling to put politics aside and rid ourselves of the menace we face....

There is only one approach and that is to put metal on target in Syria, Iran, and any other country that even hints of support  for terrorists in any fashion....not just talk about it, or threaten, but to send a clear signal in the form of selected destruction of military targets, NOW, with a warning. The warning: Unless we see tangible evidence these countries are cutting the umbilical cord with terrorists organizations in seven days, additional targets will be destroyed.  Then there will be another seven day watch period, followed by further target destruction. This pattern will be continued until the desired result is realized or the country is destroyed.....which will produce the desired result. 

We are at war...when will leaders understand the impact of pussy-footing around with people that cut off heads, mangle human bodies in barbaric ways, and offer nothing but slavery of the human spirit?

My solution is firm and it travels at several thousand feet per second.

Harry Riley

To Comment on this Blog 

 

To View Responses to this commentary please click here


 

Am I in America or have I died and gone to Hell?

July 02, 2005

COL Harry Riley, USA, Ret

With our Independence Day celebration of 2005 comes a time to ponder the foundation principles of our nation and where we are today vis-à-vis what the founding fathers established.

About the only visible foundation laid by our forefathers that continues to exist today are the shells that house our three branches of the federal government…..the principles associated with government are but faint memories.

Our moral compass is in a virtual spin; the political process is controlled by big business, lobbies, political machine, graft, greed; our pulpits are slinking behind tax free status; our Ten Commandments, the bedrock of national development is reduced to an outdated symbol; we are killing babies by the millions; kids are killing kids; men are marrying men and women are marrying women; sexual deviants are roaming near uncontrolled; heterosexual marriage is viewed as radical and intolerant; our schools are focused on “relativism” without a stable, solid foundation; the US Courts are making laws, the US Congress is without rudder and running scared; the White House is owned by corporations, God is not welcome in public; and in effect all control by “we the people” has been lost.

The leadership in the White House, Congress and Supreme Court are at best ineffective. President Bush is shielded with so many layers of staff he doesn’t know what is going on; has anyone heard from the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, R-IL, in the last year? What about Senator Frist, R-TN, majority leader in the Senate….flip flop jelly sound is heard as he tries to appease the opposition, nearly every time he speaks. In addition the leadership allows a significant number of Congressional members to be AWOL but continue to draw the enormous salary.

Now the US Supreme Court (which has transformed from legal to political) has ruled private property can be confiscated by government and given to private developers if the politicians find benefit to the tax base and citizens would have another place to shop, moor their boat, or play golf………if there was any courage in our Congress, there would be a vote scheduled to take the necessary steps to over turn the black robed tyrants decision, if not initiate impeachment action. Our current US Supreme Court is destroying our Constitution and “we the people” stand by as a flock of sheep waiting for the slaughter.

As a military man I particularly resent the destruction of our Constitution and reflect on the millions of lives lost, disabled, widows, prisoners, that have and still suffer personal and mental wounds while trying to protect our Constitution. Our military most always takes back seat to political “pork” and funding nearly every nation on earth before Congress considers (if they do) the commitments and obligations made to our warriors…..the political machine has no problem sending our sons and daughters into harms way, but forgets the cost associated and slights our warriors regularly.

Worse yet, there is a political motive behind the treasonous hue and cry to prematurely leave Iraq. Those in Congress and elsewhere that refer to our warriors in derogatory terms appear to lack fox-hole experience and seem to be totally ignorant that their rhetoric undermines our troops morale and gives aid and comfort to the enemy,

While our warriors past and present fight to protect, maintain, and secure our Constitution, the political mechanism, which includes the courts, is systematically rendering our founding fathers efforts obsolete.

No, I have not died but America has gone to hell……..only through God’s grace and mercy will we survive as a free nation.

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

To Comment on this Blog 

 

To View Responses to this commentary please click here

 


 

Medical Care: Illegal Immigrants  vis-à-vis

Military Veterans

by Harry Riley

 

Robert Pear of The New York Times Company, reported May 9, 2005  "The Bush administration announced on Monday that it would start paying hospitals and doctors for providing emergency care to illegal immigrants.  The money, totaling $1 billion, will be available for services provided from Tuesday through September 2008."

As a veteran and military retiree, I find government policy and funding for anything "illegal" to be astounding, but to provide a virtual blank check for medical care funding for illegal immigrants is "salt in the wound" of all veterans who are fighting for earned medical care and other benefits. 
 
"Emergency care" for illegal immigrants means many conditions.....it means when you have a sniffle, off to the emergency room...next will be pre-natal, post natal, care of infants, on and on...whatever it takes.......politicians have our nation on a slippery slope to legalized destruction.  Policies of this nature simply enable others to view illegal actions as justified and sanctioned by the US government, creating greater expectations.  Whatever happened to a "nation of laws"?
 
Our veterans, at least the majority of the 23 or so million, park and complain they are being shafted (they are)...not appreciated (they are not), spouses and widows neglected (they are), but these same patriots refuse to stand-up and be counted.  However, the other side of the coin suggests warriors that protect our freedom and liberty should not have to fight the very government they sacrificed to protect...if government ignores obligations and commitments made to it's warriors, can anyone count on anything done in Washington, D.C.?
 
When a citizen answers the call, leaves blood and body parts, or perhaps a life on the battlefield, there should be no need to convince the leaders of a nation to keep commitments and honor warrior sacrifices.  Unfortunately, warriors, spouses, and widows  must beg, plead,  and yes, whine for earned benefits...the question now is, do they get in line behind illegal immigrants?
 
 

Harry Riley                                   To Comment on this Blog

To View Responses to this commentary please click here


 AddMe.com, free web site submission and promotion to the search engines
Sure to Create a Wide Variety of Opinion and Commentary.

Please Return to This Site Often to Become a Part of Our Community.

 
 

 
Find Federal Officials
Enter ZIP Code:

or Search by State

Find State Officials
Enter ZIP Code:

or Search by State

Contact The Media
Enter ZIP Code:

or Search by State

COMMENTS POSTED ON THIS WEB SITE DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT AGREEMENT OF THE WEB SITE MANAGER OR THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE OR RESPOND TO ITS CONTENT.

If you have a comment about this or any other subject matter,  please Click Here

©2005 PresidentBushBlog.com