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OPINIONS

June 22, 2010
It is being reported that much property in Southern Arizona has been placed off-limits to US citizens because drug dealers and human smugglers, assisted by Mexican military, have taken over part of the state. If the President is looking for someone's ass to kick, perhaps foreign invaders might present him an opportunity.

June 12, 2010
The country of Turkey, a member of NATO, seems to be supporting an organization that several years ago Turkey classified as a terrorist organization. Having served four tours of duty in Turkey, I am disappointed that what was once one of our staunchest allies now seems to be aligning itself with those whom can be seen as our enemies. I am disappointed, but, not particularly surprised.

Many years ago, President Carter, interjected himself, and our country, into an arguement between two NATO members. Greece and Turkey were involved in their age old contention about the island of Cyprus. His answer was to impose an embargo on military aid to Turkey. Many of we US military folks and our famlies we there. Between then and now, Turkey has moved from a secular Republic toward an Islamic state. I use "toward" advisedly.

Many wondered why Turkey would not allow us to use Incirlik Air Base and the port of Iskendrum to stage troops and supplies during the first Gulf War. Perhaps, abandonment of friends might have played a part.

I think we may be seeing a replay of the Carter years. http://www.americanthinker.com/2007/05/jimmy_carter_can_only_blame_hi.html

We are frightening our allies and encouraging our enemies!

One of my favorite books is Whirlwind by James Clavell. Fiction? - of course. But, I shot darts at the British Embassy during the time and spoke with some of the real guys.


May 28, 2010
Now lets see. The White House Chief of Staff calls The Definition of Is Clinton who calls Representative Sestak who refused the offer of something to drop out of the senate race against Party Switcher Spector. Sestak blows the whistle and uses the sound to defeat Spector in the primary election. Now, after winning, Sestak sounds like a song from The Best Little Whore House in Texas , "There Ain't Nothing Dirty Going On." I also understand this for sale:

Brooklyn Bridge


May 22, 2010
Let us harken back to the last time there was a a real third party challenge in a presidential election. Ross Perot had a bone to pick with Bush the elder. Ross was, without a doubt, a supporter of the military and his people did a hell of a job in that area. However, what we got was eight years of President Clinton. Whether or not we perveive that as a good or bad thing does not detract from my premis.


February 16, 2010
Senator Bayh has announced to forego his candidacy for another term in the US Senate at a rather inopportune time for his Party. His reasons, given his voting record, seem a little self-serving. Another shoe will drop.


December 22, 2009
Two recent votes have been taken in the US Senate relative to the take over of our health care system. Senator Bayh can no longer hide. Crunch Time


December 16, 2009
Senator Bayh, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. I have been following the Senator's words and votes as he comes due for relection in 2010. Just a case in point. Today, there was a Vote 00379, on a motion to table - kill - an motion to re-commit by Senator Hutchinson. The motion passed, 56 - Yea; 41-Nay; not voting - 3. Only one Democrat voted with the Republicans - Senator Bayh. His vote meant nothing except cover. To understand this and follow Senator Bayh's votes, not his words, visit
http://www.chiefboblusk.com/chief50.htm . All can be revealed at http://www.senate.gov


November 23, 2009
I found three alerts and info I thought we all should know. Mayor Bloomberg of New York uses his personal wealth to attack the rights of millions of law-abiding citizens http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/InTheNews.aspx?ID=13136 He has not been as sucessful as he would like http://www.nraila.org/mayors Several US Senators and Representatives have signed an Amicus brief to SCOTUS supporting the 2nd Amendment. http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/NewsReleases.aspx?ID=13139 Senator Bayh [graded F by the NRA-PVF and due for re-election in 2010] was one. Senator Lugar [graded D+ and due for re-election in 2012] did not sign the brief. One might wonder if Senator Bayh's sudden support was affected by an upcoming election. State Legislators have also signed a brief. http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/NewsReleases.aspx?ID=13140 One can check the signers of this Brief. To check if our State legislators are selling woof tickets, i.e taking credit when no credit is due, one must be an NRA member. visit http://www.nrapvf.org Choose the "members" tab. Enter your NRA membership number. You will find, on the right-hand side of the page an option to view archived endorsements. Do that, pick a state. Bounce voting record against the name and you can learn if the legislator is pandering.


November 3, 2009
Who Would Have Thunk? More at Hillary


November 13, 2009
I think my fears are about to be realized. Read the Friday 13th entry at Cut and Run


November 11, 2009
I find it appalling that on this day an anti-2nd Amendment organization thinks it appropriate to exploit an attack on our military men and women to further their agenda.


Indianapolis Star, Nov 11, 2009

The victims were unarmed. The outcome might have been less deadly if a few of the officers and NCOs in the processing center had been armed. One may learn more about this organization at http://www.hcgv.org


November 1, 2009
I find it interesting that we are reminding everyone of our current and previous leaders' prowess in matters military. http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/eu_kosovo_bill_clinton/2009/11/01/280061.html


October 31, 2009
On the front page of my newspaper was a photo of President Obama saluting as a fallen hero arrived at Dover AFB. I am gratified that the CINC recognized the price paid by the fine young soldier from Indiana. I hope that was his only motivation. http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/liz_cheney_obama_dover/2009/10/30/279743.html


October 23, 2009
Read and heard that the FCC was on course to take over the internet. While checking the website for the proposal, I found that no more than three members of the Commission could be of the same political party.

Baker - Appointed by Obama, June 25, 2009. Sworn in July 31, 2009
Clyburn - Appointed by Obama, June 25, 2009. Sworn in August 3, 2009
Copps - First came to Washington on the staff of Ernest Hollings (D-SC). Sworn in for his second term as commissioner on January 3, 2006.
Genachowski (Chairman) - Appointed by Obama March 23, 2009. Sworn in June 29, 2009.
McDowell - Re-appointed by Obama June 2, 2009. Confirmed by the Senate June 25, 2009. He seems to be the only one who is, obstensively, a Republican.
http://www.fcc.gov


October 22, 2009
Just read that Germany was reporting the lowest ever temp for this time in October. Our government is contemplating a treaty that will destroy our economy. We can stand-by or we can let those whom we elected that it is only a year until November 2010. http://www.globalclimatescam.com


October 18, 2009
Limbaugh no can do little investment in a football team because of differing opinions and "thought crime" says Irsay. Government has and is taking over more and more of private enterprise. The Red Star devotes barrels of ink to make sure everyone knows that a US Representative took some bucks from the NRA. More and more of our fellow citizens are asking not what can I do for my country but what can my government do for me.The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, along with others I have in my library are not PC. We complain because our schools are not performing, when, they have turned themselves into indoctrination and baby setting services, rather than a place to learn. It is well past time for us to get off our butts and become involved. It is a fact that there are two political parties. Third party movements make some feel good and make a little blip; but, most generally, allow election of folks whom the voters did not intend. Check Rise and Fall at LINKS


August 23, 2009
The administration said there were no "death panels" in their healthcare refroom scheme; but, the Senate removed the death panels that were not there. Then we learn that the VA's "death book", Your Life, Your Choice has been revived. I had a copy I had received from the VA before President Bush ordered its use stopped. The book is one of the reasons I stopped using the VA health services. The copy I have and the one newly in use are the same. You can review the publication at http://www1.va.gov/pugetsound/docs/ylyc.pdf This link has been taken down. If you would like a copy, send mail to grief2955@mypacks.net and, specifically ask for Death Book.


June 21, 2009
HR 1283 has been introduced in the US House of Representatives by Representative Tauscher (CA-10). The bill would change the "Don't Ask; Don't Tell" policy so that gay military personnel could serve, openly. The bill can be accessed at http://www.house.gov . Read carefully, however, much can be found that would be prejudicial to good order and discipline. I recall my years of service. I may be old fashioned, but, I would not have been comfortable in some situations knowing I was sharing a facility with a gay male. No more or less comfortable than the same situation relative to a female comrade in arms. Fortunately, the bill addesses sexual orientation, only, and not "gender identification." Perhaps, a gender nuetral dress uniform will not be necessary. There is a provision that personnel previously seperated from service for violations of the current policy would be able to apply for re-instatement. Severall questions occur. Grade and time-in-grade re-instated? Position on promotions lists re-instated? Lost pay? Will they compete, equally, with other prior-service personnel who might seek to re-join? The bill is vague. If one were cynical, one might think that the bill is done to cover our current Commander-in-Chief with his supporters in the gay and lesbian community. One might, almost, like to see the bill come to the floor for a vote.


The bill has 147 co-sponsors. The only member of the Indiana delegation listed as a co-sponsor is Representative Carson (IN-07). The bill has been refered to the House Sub-Committee on Military Personnel.


May 6, 2009
The Department of Homeland Security has released another document that seems to identify many who oppose current policies as potential terrorists. Then, as was done before, the document was "withdrawn" and disowned. A little late. Once distributed the words cannot be destroyed, except in George Orwell's 1984. If you do not have the time to search for Lexicon , mail to grief2955@mypacks.net and ask for the file.


May 4, 2009
Opinions. well I have a few. First, Biden says Republicans contributed to the death of Jack Kemp. This is so disgusting I will not do the links. Search for yourselves. I do wish to address the concept that Republicans are bad and must "re-brand" themselves. The problem is that we forgot who brought us and allowed "moderates" to define the Party, in the name of re-election. When we had the opportunity to do the right thing, we sipped the Potomac Water and http://www.chiefboblusk.com/chief108.htm Now I listen to the siren calls of Glenn Beck and others suggesting a third Party. A movement such as that gave us President Clinton. Ross Perot was a champion of we military folks. But, the result was the gutting of the military, from which we have never recovered. I am not sure how we should proceed from here; but, I am sure we should not support the concept of a "third party." The last election was a replay of another. Dr. Ron Paul has some good ideas. He helped give us President Obama. I know you may decry this assertion as a posting by a Republican hack. You can find the stats in every State, if it pleases you.


April 26, 2009
Attacks on the 2nd Amendment continue. S 843 They Never Stop The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Members are identified at Committee Members They may be contacted at Contact a Senator .


April 26, 2009
A big deal occured a few days ago. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals "incorporated" the 2nd Amendment per the 14th Amendment. 2nd Amendment Limits States . The opinion of the court will cross a non-lawyer's eyes. But, if you would like a copy without having to do the search, request at Opinion . Keep an eye on the NRA-ILA rss feed at 2nd Amendment An excellent treatment of what this means may be found at Chapter IX, The Bill of Rights Primer, The Bill of Rights Primer


April 19, 2009
I have read the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) document, Rightwing Extremism . I have read the treatment of the document by several folks published on many sites and in several newspapers. A common thread I have found is that how the document is defended or condemed has been done from a political standpoint. Such should not be a surprise. The document, clearly, defined a threat posed by groups or individuals who would most likely dissagree with the current administration. Although we have the First Amendment to our Constitution, action such as this document has the clear potential to dampen our exercise of free speech. I took great exception to the identification of veterans as potential terrorists because of their training and service, both done in defense of our country. A representative has it pretty much pegged .http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/15/top-dem-dumbfounded-extremism-report/


March 13, 2009
See March 3, 2009, comment, below. It seems that our First Lady will take the military under her protection. Michelle Supports Troops . One can only hope this is not NewSpeak or Clinton's triangulation.


March 4, 2009
I have been listening to the Moderate Senator Bayh being praised for his lack of support for all the bucks being porked out in the budget bill. Senator Bayh is not a moderate anything. His voting record can be tracked. Many can be found at Bayh Watch and more by using the Votes Clearing Page and looking at his votes under the several subjects.

He and Senator Fiengold (D-WI) are being touted as the great moderates. Senator Bayh's votes on February 26, 2009, relative to the regulation of the media [read talk radio] are instructive. In one vote he supported government intrusion to promote diversity in ownership of communications media and to spend taxpayer money to do so. In the next he voted to prohibit the re-instatement of the so called "fairness doctrine." Does that allow Senator Bayh to do a John Kerry - "I voted for it before I voted against it?" Actually in this case he voted against it before he voted for it. February 26 Vote . Here might be a good place to mention that Senator Bayh is up for re-election, as is his fellow "moderate", Senator Fiengold.

Senator Bayh has to fool the people of Indiana. If he talked the way he walked, he would have more difficulty getting elected.


March 3, 2009
It is being reported on several websites and organizaional sites that President Obama's new budget will reduce benefits under Tricare for Life, the medical benefit for military retirees, to allow re-distribution to others. For military retirees who qualify for Medicare, Tricare for Life has been the second payer. That means we old guys did not have to pay for supplemental medical insurance. That may change.

Just as background, let's review some facts about military retirement pay and Medicare. If you are a military retiree, your retirement pay is fully taxed as income by the Federal Government. If a military retiree also draws Social Security, into which we paid, the taxable portion of Social Security is increased. If a military retiree also qualifys and receives VA disability compsensation, the military retirement pay is reduced dollar for dollar, with some exceptions. Military retirees who entered military service in the 50's and 60's were promised health care for life. That promise has been determined not to have been binding. Let us not fear for only military retirees. Health care for dependants of active duty military personnel is covered by Tricare Prime, if they receive care in other than a military facility. The Tricare Prime premiums and co-pays may also be affected as we try to find money for an elsewhere failed "universal health care" system. Some states, such as Indiana, allow a deduction for a portion of military retirement pay. However, since militrary retirement pay is fully taxable and part of Social Security is taxable, after making quarterly payments to the State for 2008, I just wrote a check to Indiana. My gross income is way below the "rich" category.

Some reports insist that that health care will be provided to all, whether or not they are legally present in our Country. Those doleing out the bucks will be prohibited from determining the citizenship or legal resident status of the reciepient.

There are many places to begin research but this might be a good place to start Veteran


January 22, 2009
Geithner made and interesting statement during his confirmation hearing. TurboTax made him do it. TurboTax will probably not do a press release because this scofflaw will probably be confirmed to oversee the IRS; no one wants to be audited. I have been using TurboTax for years. First we, and the guy whom we must have because he is the only one that can deliver us, must understand the difference between a W-2 and a Form 1099MISC. You get your W-2 from your employer. If you are a independent contractor or sub-contractor, the guy who pays you does not withhold tax of any kind. He does, however, provide a 1099. If you are a vendor, the person to whom you sell something does not send you a form to tell you how much money you were paid. TurboTax prompts you to report other income. That bad TurboTax also includes a State tax program. If you pay taxes in a state that requires you pay sales tax on purchases made out of state on which you did not pay sales tax, that bad TurboTax will remind you that you must pony up some bucks. One must over-ride TurboTax or lie to it to keep from paying self-employment tax and other taxes. Unfortunately, the Senators questioning Geithner didn't know a Schedule C from their backsides. I expect we can expect no more from professional politicians. Had any one of them had a clue, they would have known that Geithner had confessed to




tax evasion; or, being dumber than a box of hammers.


January 15, 2009
Anyone else working on their taxes? I guess if we do them incorrectly, we could qualify as treasury secretary. Even if Geithner made a mistake, that makes him an incompetent rather than a crook. I don't think we need him overseeing the IRS. Crook or Dummy


January 2, 2009
One does not know whether to laugh or cry. A federal prosecuter arrested a Governor, put him through the perp walk and, essentially, closed an investigation. One might ask why the investigation was closed, at the point it was. The prosecutor had thirty (30) days from the arrest to present an indictment. The prosecutor has requested a ninty (90) day extension for presentment. If the investigation was complete, why is a delay required.

The un-indicted governor has exercised his authority to appoint someone to replace Senator (President elect) Obama as the senator from Illinois. Most Illinois Democrats wish to block the governor's appointee. The Majority Leader of the Senate says the appointee will not be allowed to take his seat. The same Majority Leader, says he will allow another contender for a Senate seat from Minnesota to assume his seat whether or not the election has been finalized.


December 12, 2008
I find it interesting that after the poor showing by Senator John McCain, a conservative by no means, General Colin Powell, a purported Republican, seems to be saying the GOP's problems are caused by such as Rush Limbaugh. Et Tu General Powell One could posit that the media and states that had open primaries selected the Republican nominee, the weakest of the field.


April 27, 2008
The Indianapolis Star reported the charges against Sergeant First Class Trey Corrales, front and center. SFC Corrales pleaded not guilty, relying upon the Rules of Engagement of war. SFC was acquitted of all charges. His subordinates had already been exonorated. The Star did a big follow-up story on page A9, April 27, 2008.


March 31, 2008
The Indianapolis Star did report the good news about one of the Haditha Marines on page A6. More can be found at Good News Bad News


March 28, 2008
Just received an alert re another troop being cleared on charges. Scroll down to the August 16, 2007, entry to see why this is of interest. Several Marines were charged for actions they took under combat conditions. The charges against Lance Corporal Stephen Tatum have been dismissed. Ltcol Jeffery R. Chessani and SSgt Frank Wuterich remain vulnerable for actions taken by troops under fire. Colonel Chessani did not order and investigation and SSgt Wuterich was in charge. I shall watch, with bad breath, for the treatment of this news in the Indianapolis Star. Background


March 18, 2008 Texas 1960

I am losing my patience with being disparaged because of my color. I was alive during the time that some of my brothers experienced racial discrimination. I recollect when I was about 10 years of age, a veteran, in uniform, being denied fuel at a gas station. My Dad, also a World II Vet, pumped the Sergeant's gas. In that little town in Tennessee, nobody screwed with my Dad. I also remember another story which I will tell here and hope that my service will not recall me to active duty for Court-Martial.

There came a time in 1960 when several newly trained Sentry Dog Teams were traveling by train from San Antonio, Texas, to their various assignments. The dogs had in common sharp teeth and a bad disposition which we had spent several weeks instilling. There were Army and Air Force guys amongst their handlers. We handlers had in common that we were all volunteers. I was the senior guy of the Air Force contingent. That only meant that I was tasked to carry the big envelope containing orders and the dog's medical records. My instructions were, among others, that anytime we had a stop that allowed us to do so, we would take the dogs from their crates in their assigned baggage car and walk them for exercise.

We made a stop at a small town in Texas. We handlers went to a place near the depot for breakfast. After waiting for longer than one would anticipate for service, a bold young lady took me aside and said she could not serve us. Three of us were of the wrong color. The Army guy and I decided this was an excellent time to follow our orders, as we understood them. We exercised 18 sentry dogs close to the establishment that would not serve us. All three police cars responded; but, did not approach closely. The young lady and three World War II Vets brought us coffee and were impressed by our dogs and their state of training. I am, mostly, a white guy.

Old Sarge

February 28, 2008
Again, I say to the lefties, "have you no shame." John McCain cannot be president because he was not born in the United States of America? During my 27 years active military service, if that is true, I know a bunch of kids that are prohibited from becoming President. Both of mine happened to have been born while I was stationed in the USA. Only by happenstance, however, since 12 of those years were spent at foreign sites and my wife was with me all but one of those years. I took a look at the Constitution, Article II. "...No person except a natural born citizen...shall be eligible to the office of President..."

First, I think it proper to remember that Senator McCain was not born in Panama. He was born in the Canal Zone, a possession of the United States of America, at the time. He was born in a military facility that was soverign soil, in so much as the ground was under the exclusive jurisdiction of the USA, think embassy. As an aside, those kids to whom I referred, above, possess birth certificates issued by the US Embassy in the respective countries, US soil.

I found an interesting treatment in Cases in Constitutional Law, Cushman and Cushman, Second Edition, 1965. [Yes, I have it in my bookshelf.] Generally accepted is the premis that English Common Law remained in effect after our seperation from England and so remained unless changed by statute. The Cushmans, dealing with United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 109 U.S. 649; 42 L, Ed. 890 (1898), began with this paragraph:

"The Constitution of the United States from the first recognized citizenship of the United States but did not define it. It was generally assumed, however, that the English rule prevailed, which recognized as citizens those born within the allegiance of the country and subject to its protection. This rule, commonly called 'jus soli,' [soil] was in contrast to the rule prevailing on the European continent, which followed the doctrine of 'jus sanguinis,' [blood] or determination of citizenship by the nationality of the parents. However, in 1790 Congress enacted a law giving American citizenship to those born to American parents outside the country"

Now, I guess some say Senator McCain was not naturally born. His mom is still spry and sharp at 95 years of age. I suggest someone ask her. But, then, I guess in depends on, 'what the definition of 'is' is."

Old Sarge


February 21, 2008
Well, just do me to tears! The New York Times sold its claim to any fair reporting a long time ago, see below. Now, the so called, "paper of record - all the news that is worth printing", or some sort of crap, has decided to resurrect decades old attacks on Senator McCain. To use the quote that the lefties love, "have you no shame."


September 24, 2007

Finally, I have been able to learn the definition of "abundance of caution." When the public learned that Hsu had made illegal donations to Hillary, her spokesman, Howard Wolfson, said she would return $850,000.00 out of an "abundance of caution." Hillary Gives Back. After it became public that the New York Times cut moveon.org a better than 50% discount on a hit piece about General Petraeus, moveon, out of "an abundance of caution", paid the Times the additional $77,083.00. Moveon Gives Back. I sure am glad the Dems got rid of the "culture of corruption."


Felon Contributor


Four Star General

What is Old Sarge missing here?


September 19, 2007
The immigration amnesty bill failed because of the hue and cry of the American People. However, the "Dream Act" - 1275 in the House and S 774 in the Senate, will try again to provide benefits and legalization to those who have entered our country illegally. The stories of children who were brought here illegally, attended school and still cannot be citizens do rend the soul. But, the magnet must be removed if we will remain a sovereign nation. The Bird Feeder . The bills may be found at US House /US Senate . There seem to be no Indiana representative co-sponsors in the House. Senators Lugar and Bayh are co-sponsors of the Senate bill.


September 17, 2007
Senator Clinton has rolled out her version of socialized medicine - again. Just for grins, here is the benefit card issued ahead of her last attempt:




The organization that put the card out has changed some but can now be found at www.cse.org If you are up to some other light reading, Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid


September 15, 2007
If one wants to know how a mom whose son, Regular Non-Commissioned Officer, Combat arms, serving his second tour in harms way feels about attacks on his commander, this may be of interest.




Mom forwarded the above to Old Sarge. It is, of course, a spoof. But, as in all good humor, there is a kernel of truth. Move On.hate our country.org might have done the above applying the same criteria as it did to a general, recently. We have troops in Germany, Japan and Korea. Wars we won or at least broke even. When we win in Iraq, it will be in our national security interests to have permanent bases there.



August 16, 2007
Our local newspaper has done it again. (scroll down to the July 24th entry) In the August 16th edition, on the front page, in bold type the rag reported that an Indiana Marine has been accused of killing an Iraqi soldier. I remember this transparent attack was done before. In the July 24th, 2007, edition, on page A-5, was a little article that a Guardsman was acquitted for like allegations. A few weeks before the Indianapolis Star had splashed the charges all over the front page.

This paper, just as do all the others owned by the same company, refers to the "military's version of a grand jury hearing." I guess "version" might give them an out. I guess it just depends on what the meaning of "is" is. The "version" is an Article 32 Investigation. The process is described in the Manual for Courts Martial (MCM) in which is contained the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). There is no jury. There is an investigating officer. A representative of the Staff Judge Advocate and a representative of the accused participate. The investigating officer has the opportunity to make one of two recommendations: to convene or not to convene a court martial. The final call is made by the general officer having convening authority over the person and/or the location where the alleged offense occurred. The Article 32 investigating officer has all information gathered by professional military investigators available. As a general proposition, a charge such as murder will always result in a recommendation to convene a general court martial unless there is clear and certain proof that the crime could not have occurred. If for no other reason that to clear the name of the accused. If we can believe any part of the reporting, there are only two people who know the truth and one of them is dead. As an aside, unlike a grand jury, unless the evidence deals with classified information, all information in an Article 32 Investigation is in the public domain. The Indianapolis Star could not, yet, have all pertinent information and that is not the point.

What is the point is that I will track this case. I will expect the Indianapolis Star to give this Marine's acquittal, if such proves to be the outcome, the same coverage it gave the allegations against him.

Old Sarge



We have heard forever about PC speech. What some cannot silence because of the First Amendment to our Constitution, they have been successful in silencing speech with which they do not agree by designating some speech as being done only by a 'phobe of some sort. DC Ken shares a definition of politically correct speech with us:

"Political Correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical liberal minority, and rabidly
promoted by the unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."




While casting about on the sea of news, I snagged a couple carp I thought were worth commenting upon.

I found that Senator McCain fears a Tet Offensive in Iraq read more. The Senator fears that such an offensive would reduce our support of the effort in Iraq. I hope we and the Senator will read a bit of history. I acknowledge that much of that history has been revised in our popular media. I cannot help but believe that the Senator is aware of the real story, at least I hope he is.

We now have the words of the then enemy who has made very clear that their efforts were helped and extended by the US news reporting from Vietnam. I recommend to you To Bear Any Burden, by Al Santoli, 1985, published by E.P. Dutton, Inc., New York. My understanding is that the great surge by both insurgents and regular North Vietnam regulars was soundly defeated. At least the North Vietnam General-in-Charge said so. My reading indicates that had we followed-up on our victory in the Tet Offensive, and continued our support for South Vietnam, the outcome would have been other than an ignoble cut-and-run.

We see that Senator McCain and others want to compare Iraq and Vietnam. I think there are some comparisons that can be made. In the interest of full disclosure, I must say that even though I served from 1959-1989, I did not get to Southeast Asia until 1974. I do have some personal experience and an Armed Forces Expedtionary Medal for Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon. My time, language capability and interest were otherwise used. During the Tet Offensive, I was teaching troops and six months away from my second tour of duty in Turkey.

What comparisons can we make? Our military has always been, sometimes after some build-up after being cut, the best put in the field. When called upon, or guys, and yes gals, I just read an obituary in my local rag of one WWII Lady, will serve our country with honor. What I see as comparisons:

The invasion of Irag took a few days with, relatively, few causalities. Knowing that we would be accused of being occupiers, we should have done exactly that. Did we not occupy Germany and Japan? War is a terrible thing! But, once decided that is the only option, half-stepping afterwards is a disaster.

Our military is not and should not be trained as policemen. Once the Rules of Engagement are changed from battle to anything else, our military, generally, is no longer competent, nor should they be required, to perform. There are organizations in our military that do police work; but, only after victory.

Our military is not suited to do the job called Nation Building.

Second fish caught:

Ruddy is ducking and weaving Duck and Weave

Old Sarge




Top Sergeant Randy, a real retired Special Forces Soldier, sent this on to us:

Today, July 24, 2006, Old Sarge read his local newspaper. Back on page A-5 was the little article, "Guardsman cleared in killing of unarmed Iraqi civilian." Several weeks ago the article announcing that the guardsman was charged appeared on the front page of the same paper, below the fold. It has always been my position that if I were guilty of an offense, I would want to be tried in a civilian court. If I were not guilty, I would choose a court martial. In all the writing in the rags and from the mouths of the talking heads come the line, "an article 32 - the military equivalent of a grand jury hearing." The Article 32 Investigation is established in the Manual for Courts-Martial within which is contained the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The Manual sets the rules; the Code specifies the violations. Hence - charges and specifications. There is no "jury." There is an investigating officer who has all results of investigations and inquiries . The investigating officer has almost unlimited ability to access any information pertinent to the investigation and is protected against command influence. The investigating officer provides the results of the investigation to the Court-Martial convening authority who makes the final call. There is no prosecutor whose reelection or political future is based on his or her ability to indict a ham sandwich. Military investigators' attaboys are not based on arrests and/or convictions but on how professionally are done their investigations.

Bottom line is that my local rag thought one of our guys being charged was front page news but his being cleared was not as good news.

Commander Dave sent us some comments by a Navy Chief. Your humble servant had cause to recollect. All senior petty officers in the Navy are called Chief. The insignia, above, is a Master Chief Petty Officer. There came a time at the Air Force Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, Gunter AFS, Alabama, that I took instruction from a Senior Chief Petty Officer on the finer points of Navy protocol and the difference between the color of shoes. Knowing that any statute has tolled and that if the lefties are put off by the questioning of terrorists, they will certainly protect against any use of Article 2, Uniform Code of Military Justice, about where this instruction took place. While the Senior Chief Petty Officer and the Senior Master Sergeant drank a tote of grog on the roof of the barrack, he explained that our aspect was required so that he might maintain his flying status. Our seminar advisor did take us to task and we did mea culpae. We were both E-9 selectees and joked that we would probably not make E-10. [E-9 is the most senior enlisted grade held only by 1% of the force, by law.]

A Navy Chief Lets Loose A Broadside

America's military can win wars. We've done it in the past, and I have absolute confidence that we'll continue to do it in the future. We've won fights in which we possessed overwhelming technological superiority (Desert Storm), as well as conflicts in which we were the technical underdogs (the American Revolution). We've crossed swords with numerically superior foes, and with militaries a fraction of the size of our own. We've battled on our own soil, and on the soil of foreign lands --on the sea, under the sea, and in the skies. We've even engaged in a bit of cyber-combat, way out there on the electronic frontier. At one time or another, we've done battle under just about every circumstance imaginable, armed with everything from muskets to cruise missiles. And, somehow, we've managed to do it all with the wrong Army.

That's right, America has the wrong Army. I don't know how it happened, but it did. We have the wrong Army. It's too small; it's not deployed properly; it's inadequately trained, and it doesn't have the right sort of logistical support. It's a shambles. I have no idea how those guys even manage to fight.

Now, before my brothers and sisters of the OD green persuasion get their fur up, I have another revelation for you. We also have the wrong Navy . And if you want to get down to brass tacks, we've got the wrong Air Force. the wrong Marine Corps. and the wrong Coast Guard.

Don't believe me? Pick up a newspaper or turn on your television. In the past week, I've watched or read at least a dozen commentaries on the strength, size, and deployment of our military forces. All of our uniform services get called on the carpet for different reasons, but our critics unanimously agree that we're doing pretty much everything wrong.

I think it's sort of a game. The critics won't tell you what the game is called, so I've taken the liberty of naming it myself . I call it the no.Right Answer' game. It's easy to play, and it must be a lot of fun because politicos and journalists can't stop playing it.

I'll teach you the rules. Here's Rule #1: No matter how the US. military is organized, it's the wrong force. Actually, that's the only rule in thisgame. We don't really need any other rules, because that one applies in all possible situations. Allow me to demonstrate...

If the Air Force's fighter jets are showing their age, critics will tell us that Air Force leaders are mismanaging their assets, and endangering the safety of their personnel. If the Air Force attempts to procure new fighter jets, they are shopping for toys and that money could be spent better elsewhere. Are you getting the hang of the game yet? It's easy; keeping old planes is the wrong answer, but getting new planes is also the wrong answer. There is no right answer, not ever. Isn't that fun?

It works everywhere. When the Army is small, it's TOO small. Then we start to hear phrases like 'over-extended' or 'spread too thin,' and the integrity of our national defense is called into question. When the Army is large, it's TOO large, and it's an unnecessary drain on our economy. Terms like 'dead weight,' and 'dead wood' get thrown around.

I know what you're thinking. We could build a medium-sized Army, and everyone would be happy. Think again. A medium-sized Army is too small to deal with large scale conflicts, and too large to keep military spending properly muzzled. The naysayers will attack any middle of the road solution anyway, on the grounds that it lacks a coherent strategy. So small is wrong, large is wrong, and medium-sized is also wrong. Now you're starting to understand the game. Is this fun, or what?

No branch of the military is exempt. When the Navy builds aircraft carriers, we are told that we really need small, fast multipurpose ships. When the Navy builds small, fast multi-mission ships (aka the Arleigh Burke class), we're told that blue water ships are poorly suited for littoral combat, and we really need brown water combat ships. The Navy's answer, the Littoral Combat, isn't even off the drawing boards yet, and the critics arealready calling it pork barrel politics and questioning the need for such technology.

Now I've gone nose-to-nose with hostiles in the littoral waters of the Persian Gulf, and I can't recall that pork or politics ever entered into the conversation. In fact, I'd have to say that the people trying to kill me and my shipmates were positively disinterested in the internal wranglings of our military procurement process. But, had they been aware of our organizational folly, they could have hurled a few well-timed criticisms our way, to go along with the mines we were trying to dodge.

The fun never stops when we play the 'No Right Answer' game. If we centralize our military infrastructure, the experts tell us that we are vulnerable to attack. We're inviting another Pearl Harbor. If we decentralize our infrastructure, we're sloppy and overbuilt, and the BRAC experts break out the calculators and start dismantling what they call our 'excess physical capacity .' If we leave our infrastructure unchanged, we are accused of becoming stagnant in a dynamic world environment.

Even the lessons of history are not sacrosanct. When we learn from the mistakes we made in past wars, we are accused of failing to adapt to emerging realities. When we shift our eyes toward the future, the critics quickly tell us that we've forgotten our history and we are therefore doomed to repeat it. If we somehow manage to assimilate both past lessons and emerging threats, we're informed that we lack focus.

Where does it come from: this default assumption that we are doing the wrong thing, no matter what we happen to be doing? How did our military wind up in a zero-sum game? We can prevail on the field of battle, but we can't win a war of words where the overriding assumption is that we are always in the wrong .

I can't think of a single point in History where our forces were of the correct size, the correct composition, correctly deployed, and appropriately trained all at the same time. Pick a war, any war. (For that matter, pick any period of peace.) Then dig up as many official and unofficial historical documents, reports, reconstructions, and commentaries as you can. For every unbiased account you uncover, you'll find three commentaries by revisionist historians who cannot wait to tell you how badly the U.S. military bungled things. To hear the naysayers tell it, we could take lessons in organization and leadership from the Keystone Cops.

We really only have one defense against this sort of mudslinging. Success. When we fight, we win, and that's got to count for something. When asked to comment on Operation Desert Storm, the U.S. Army's Lieutenant General Tom Kelly reportedly said, "Iraq went from the fourth-largest army in the world, to the second-largest army in Iraq in 100 hours" In my opinion, it's hard to argue with that kind of success, but critics weren't phased by it. Because no matter how well we fought, we did it with the wrong Army.

I'd like to close with an invitation to those journalists, analysts, experts, and politicians who sit up at night dreaming up new ways to criticize our armed forces. The next time you see a man or woman in uniform, stop for ten seconds and reflect upon how much you owe that person, and his or her fellow Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, and Airmen. Then say, "Thank you." I'm betting you won't even have to explain the reason. Our Service members are not blind or stupid. They know what they're risking. They know what they're sacrificing. They've weighed their wants, their needs, and their personal safety against the needs of their nation, and made the decision to serve. They know that they deserve our gratitude, even if they rarely receive it.

Two words --that's all they ask. "Thank you." If that's too hard, if you can't bring yourself to acknowledge the dedication, sincerity and sacrifice of your defenders, then I have a backup plan for you. Put on a uniform and show us how to do it right.

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