tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791178038803775236.post6054363897432695181..comments2024-03-09T22:50:09.728-06:00Comments on Judges and Lawyers Hall of Shame: Obama Guilty of Treason? Why Won't Republicans Impeach Him?rellison@richellison.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515577298624464361noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791178038803775236.post-54311969695625442762014-06-13T13:58:05.207-05:002014-06-13T13:58:05.207-05:00When Americans spoke up in opposition to the Iraq ...When Americans spoke up in opposition to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and proffered arguments grounded in fact, history and common sense, the response from many Kerrville conservatives was to label the person expressing opposition as one who “Hates America”. Rush taught them this simplistic thinking, and they ran with it. The conservatives had their wars. They believed Sadam had MWD’s, despite all the prewar investigations. They believed American invaders would be welcomed with open arms. They believed Democracy would flourish in the Middle East…on and on. They believed in it so much, they borrowed in excess of four trillion dollars to finance this war. Much of this money went into the pockets of well-connected defense contractors. <br /><br /> (http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/study-iraq-afghan-war-costs-to-top-4-trillion/2013/03/28/b82a5dce-97ed-11e2-814b-063623d80a60_story.html)<br /><br />One troubling thing I witnessed time and time again here in Kerrville was support given to these wars by our conservative male leaders in such a way as to influence our your people into believing that participating in these wars was defending America, and was the right thing to do, or that this is a war of Christianity vs Islam and to participate is to fight for Jesus. <br /><br />When one questions local conservatives about these things, they generally respond with answers like “well those weapons were there but they took them to Syria” or “What about Benghazi?” These responses, some coming from learned individuals, are the most despicable kind of lies, as they are lying to themselves. They know they played a part in promoting the most disastrous and damaging polices in recent memory and have strained America to the point of failure, but instead of admitting it, they will spew some ridiculous cop out, when they know better.<br /><br />Nobody knows what the final outcome in the Middle East will be, but the situation looks grim, and the problems are long term. It would be nice if the local conservatives could step up and pay the 4 trillion dollars and replace all the blown off limbs, but that cannot happen. It would be nice if the local conservatives would engage in a conversation of how their policies, supported with such enthusiasm, played out, but that won’t happen either. The good news is they can still tune into Rush and he will soothe them and tell them they are still righteous, or stop in First United Methodist Church and sing a verse of Onward Christian Soldiers, and reaffirm they are doing God’s work.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791178038803775236.post-59737658055934818942014-06-11T18:23:02.111-05:002014-06-11T18:23:02.111-05:00Part B
I have spent several years living and work...Part B<br /><br />I have spent several years living and working in Asia. Several months ago I went to Bangkok to witness the yellow shirt uprising, as I have never seen the middle class take to the streets to try to overthrow a popularly elected left wing government, something that has not happened often in my lifetime. After spending several weeks there, I traveled to Hanoi and spent some time observing life under communism. While there, I spent a day at the War Museum, and took a tour led a Vietnamese Army Major in uniform, who happened to be a beautiful female. This was not happenstance, as the Vietnamese are very good at propaganda also. The museum memorializes the American war from the perspective of how a superpower can be defeated using asymmetrical warfare techniques, and all of the low tech apparatus and techniques used by the NVA and VC were on display. I was the only American in the building, and one of the few non-Asians. I estimate about 3000 people tour this museum every day. Almost all of them are Asian tourists, many from China, India and Pakistan. They leave feeling empowered, believing they too can resist and defeat an American assault on Asian soil. Our recent defeats in Iraq and Afghanistan only solidify this belief. They believe 21st Century America is spoiled, weak and not nearly as tough as it talks. They are not afraid of us in the least. I cannot emphasize this enough.<br /><br />The last thing one sees when exiting the museum is MIG 21. The tour guide will tell you this is the only piece of superior technology the North possessed during the war, and this particular aircraft had fourteen (14) American kills using three different pilots. The message (propaganda) is clear. They defeated America without technology and when given technology they dominated the battlefield. <br /><br />I was around Kerrville during enough of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and heard endless redneck bravado about how we are going to “kick their ass….blah blah”. Now we have a bunch of kids missing legs, feet, hands and full of psychological trauma, and nobody wants to face up to the reality of how/why this happened, or take any responsibility. Every time I see one of these disabled kids, steam comes out of my ears knowing that a bunch of cowardly, ignorant local rednecks encouraged this losing effort. We sent these soldiers into an unwinnable situation and now the supporters of the wars acting like it never happened, and they have no fault or blame in the outcome. <br /><br />One should be cautious not to underestimate the will and the ability of Asians when it comes to killing Western invaders. They are tougher and more tenacious than local conservative rednecks will ever understand, and now they have confidence. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791178038803775236.post-86399088262402190832014-06-11T18:21:27.843-05:002014-06-11T18:21:27.843-05:00This post is too long for your site so I broke it ...This post is too long for your site so I broke it into two posts.<br /><br />Part A:<br /><br />Richard I share your negative feelings about Obama, but probably for some different reasons. As far as impeachment over the prisoner swap, I see that as extremely unlikely. The swap was probably illegal, but more on the order of a technicality, although I am sure you may argue otherwise. The politics of bringing a POW home are positive. This young man has been a POW for five years and not been charged with any wrongdoing much less had a chance to defend himself from criticism. I would say that jumping to an impeachment process sounds a little goofy, and it will not happen.<br /><br />I remember Bobby Garwood from Vietnam and the flack when he returned. As the facts came to light, he was not nearly the bad guy he was made out to be. Let’s see how the Bergdhal story plays out. <br /><br />The reality of the Iraq and Afghanistan is that we lost on the battlefield. The Iraqi fighters and the Afghanistan fighters defeated us. We were lied to about these foreign wars, and we borrowed the money to prosecute both of these wars, which we must now attempt to repay. Our Army is worn out, to include equipment and personnel. The chickens are coming home to roost in Iraq (understatement). Common sense says Iraq will soon be under the control of a group that looks much more sinister than Sadam at his worst. <br /><br />Afghanistan is a horrible disaster as well. I once read that “the last act of a dying empire is to invade Afghanistan”. We are in the process of handing the country back to the Taliban, and I don’t hear any logical argument against this assertion. I suggest it is time to take the “blue pill” and accept the reality of the situation. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com