Dann Todd's 'Dain Bramage'^**

An American Soldier With An Iraqi Son.....Almost

Read it.

Read it all. See how we are different from the thugs that want to bring chaos and destruction back to all of Iraq.

by Dann 

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A Comment for Lynn Rivers

Lynn Rivers hosts a forum/discussion program on WEMU; the NPR station broadcasting from Eastern Michigan University. Now I happen to love jazz. So I listen to WEMU at work via the Internet. And Lynn is a former Democratic United States Representative for Ann Arbor.

Today, Lynn had on some anti-war individual. They were fairly well gushing back and forth over the prospect of war protesters. This got my blood pressure up and so I sent the following. Unfortunately, I couldn't type fast enough to send it before the end of the program. Any bets on whether or not she ever responds??

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Hi Lynn,

As a veteran, I paid the price for having a free press. You are welcome.

I also paid the price for protesters to speak freely. Your guest is welcome as well.

However, your promotion of the so-called anti-war movement is most disturbing. The fact is that the anti-war movement is being lead by a series of pro-war organizations such as International ANSWER; a creation of the communist World Worker's Party.

These organizations are not opposed to our campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan because we are oppressing otherwise peaceful people. They are opposed because they are opposed to the sort of liberty that we enjoy here in America.

These groups are not anti-war. They are pro-war for the other side.

The other inconvenient fact is that we have removed two very oppressive regimes. Regimes that both were actively engaged in oppressing women and children.

We have offered both nations the opportunity to enjoy the blessings of liberty.

The terrorists and thugs in Iraq and Afghanistan are counting on the American war protesters to demoralize the American public so that we will withdraw before both nations have fully capable governments. They count on the protesters because they know they are defeated military and the only way to win is to get us to leave prematurely.

By accident or by intent, war protesters are supporting a return to chaos, death, and destruction in the Middle East.

Sorry I couldn't finish this in time for your show.

Regards,

Dann

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by Dann 

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The Real Effect of the Anti-War Protesters???

The anti-war protesters may not intend to be supporting the terrorists in the Middle East, but this the practical result nonetheless. At least according to a couple of people that know a thing or two about our successes in Iraq.

UPDATE: Ken Sikorski left a link to this column in the the comments. It was written by US Army Lt. Col. Tim Ryan who was serving in Iraq at the time. Even 9 months later, Lt. Col. Ryan's comments are worth your time. Thanks to Ken for leaving the link.

by Dann 

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On Veteran's Day

I happened to be searching for something over on the NPR site and came across this essay by reserve Army Colonel Austin Bay regarding Veteran's Day. It's coming up soon, you know. Give it a listen.

by Dann 

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Don Adams: Reporting For Duty.

From the Washington Post obituary for Don Adams:

When the United States entered World War II, he served in the Marine Corps and participated in the invasion of Guadalcanal in the Pacific. He contracted blackwater fever and was hospitalized for more than a year at a Navy hospital in Wellington, New Zealand.

The streets of Heaven are guarded by yet another US Marine. Don Adams; reporting for duty.

by Dann 

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Hillary The Conservative??

Those that have been paying attention know that Sen. Clinton has been attempting to burnish her "conservative" credentials. She has been working with various Republican Senators on various issues. Typically related to education or family issues.

And that's a good thing. We need to find and use common ground whenever possible.

Hillary isn't a conservative, though. Her vote today against John Roberts becoming the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court proves it. Judge Roberts is exactly what we need more of in the judiciary. Someone that takes the law AS IT IS WRITTEN very seriously.

Add to that the fact that her vote runs contrary to the Senate tradition of letting the President make appointments without Senatorial meddling unless there was a specific flaw in either the appointee's character or in their public record.

Be forewarned. The wolf is trying on the lambskin. That doesn't do a thing to make her teeth any less cutting.

by Dann 

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On Last Weekend's March

Here comes James Lileks with some very interesting thoughts on the marchers. He gets it right. James usually does.

by Dann 

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Chair Force??

OK. This one is going to seem like it is in really bad taste. That's because it is.

Anyone that has ever been in the service will tell you about how we love gallows humor. And anyone that has been in the suck will tell you stories about how they (or someone they knew) had the cajones to do some crazy thing or the other.

Don't ask me how I found it, but along comes Joe.

Joe is (or at least was....or at least claims to be/have been) in the Air Force. He's a bit disgruntled. The Air Force, not realizing that they are in the process of losing a highly capable and motivated member of their service, fail to take the appropriate steps to ensure that Joe's gruntle is replaced in a prompt and efficient manner.

The result is a lot of humor. Dark....ugly.....humor. Joe appears to be a bit of a misogynist. Having a wife walk out on you can do that to a fellow. Lots of rough language ahead, so if that isn't your thing, don't bother following any of these links.

Such as Joe's adventures with Air Force psychologists.

Or Joe's literally blind date.

Or Joe's blind (but not visually impaired) date with...well....you have to read it to believe it.

Or Joe's round of trouble with stomach ulcers.

And then there's Joe's attempt to entertain some Frenchmen. You'd have thought that his commander would have decorated him for it.

Yup. He's one sick pup. So am I for laughing at the parts that no civilized person would laugh at.

by Dann 

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Europe Was A Going Brothel Long Before We Came To Town....

James Lileks loves to sample movies. He takes screen shots of odd characters and links to their later (or earlier) successes. He also plays clips of interesting audio.

Today's clip features James Garner in the movie “The Americanization of Emily”. This is WWII vintage material, but at least some of what he says is still relevant today.

Parenthetically, the man from whom I took guitar lessons as a kid was James Garner's brother or cousin. Close enough to ask him to get James Garner's autograph with a decent shot at actually receiving one. No, I didn't ask for one. I just thought it was cool to be taking guitar lessons from his brother....or cousin....I forget which.

by Dann 

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Is It Christian To Be Anti-War?

So many peace protesters claim that their position is the most "Christian". I find it hard to believe. Faced with needless and endless suffering, what would Jesus do? Would he organize therapy sessions? Would he want to have a dialog? Or would he use his uniquely divine authority to command that such suffering be ended.

Lacking such power, mere mortals are reduced to using spears, knives, guns, and bombs.

It is interesting to note the number of "peace protesters" that claim their actions to be the most "Christian". Is it Christian to support Saddam Hussein? Is it Christian to support Usama bin Laden? Is it Christian to urge a premature withdrawal that will inevitably result in more oppression?

That is the only logical result, if not the intent, if we were to follow the advice of our many "peace protesters".

Throughout the 20th century, our American military suffered the depredations of campaigns and combat to protect our country and to rescue the world. From the concentration camps of Nazi Germany to those facing butchers from 1940's Japan to our consistent opposition to the oppression that defines communism, those serving in our nation's military made a choice to solve problems rather than sitting around debating them.

Today's military is committed to performing a similar service. Faced with an Afghani government that harbored terrorists, held executions at soccer games, and beat women into a lifelong existence inside burqas, they picked up their rifles and went to work. Faced with an Iraqi tyrant that sponsored terrorism and kept civil order by tossing people into plastic shredders, our military re-introduced civilization to the cradle of civilization.

And the secret you'll never hear from the media is that they are winning on the battlefield.

Today's war protesters are selfishly interested in demoralizing the American public and causing a premature withdrawal; a repeat of their earlier political victory. As North Vietnamese Colonel Bui Tin observed, "Through dissent and protest [America] lost the ability to mobilize a will to win".

As a veteran, I welcome those protesters voices. I gladly paid for your right and I gladly expect it to be used. But understand that your words do give aid and comfort to our enemies.

by Dann 

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