I ran across this on the internet today and had to post this. It is an incredible story of a wounded veteran who lost all four limbs in Iraq, but who is thriving. It is an incredibly inspiring must see story.
As I sit behind my keyboard this morning ramping up for another day of business I cannot help but wonder where the Christmas spirit is this year. I can count on one hand the number of times I have heard some one say “merry Christmas” to someone - and that was a a party this pas friday.
Has Mr Scrooge gotten the best of us? Is society so wrapped up in its self that all people care about are them selves and making ends meet?
While I cannot answer those questions for sure, I would suggest that my sample size may be a little small. Maybe.
Next on the agenda is Chad Livengood’s continued work on area legislators. It is an extensive work in progress and in my view is a model of what journalism should be. Why the hype by my self? Because the work focuses on policy substance, not gossip or chatter driven by faxes sent by the heads of either party apperatus. Just solid focus on issues.
If more journalism focused on articles like this, I believe our public at large would benefit. You can read the list here.
In other news it looks as if Sarah Palin’s church was hit by arson this weekend. I can only wonder, sadly, the differential treatment the story recieved. How many journalist are probably either snickering or providing empathy for whomever committed such a hate crime. What if the incident happened to that of another politician was a democrat? Then what?
Switching subjects for a moment - let me lament that the Kansas City Chiefs are the team now known for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
How many times this year have the Chiefs lead with moments remaining in a game, only to lose. As one commentator put it yesterday, if there was any question why the Chiefs were 2-11 (now 2-12), this would answer it.
Should the Chiefs fire Herm Edwards? I dunno. I am not an Edwards fan, but I must admit that the talent is really begining to show and would at least give him another year. Yeah, I know, thats another year of suffering perhaps.
My only hope is that Tony Gonzalez is allowed to be on a team which makes the Super Bowl. The man should be rewarded for his loyalty and commitment to the organization. He would be missed greatly in our state, but he deserves far better.
Finally let me add this about the Iraqi who threw shoes at President Bush over the weekend.
The incident, in my view, should be a signal of victory within Iraq. How so? In any other nation within that part of the world such an incident would land the journalist either in jail for the rest of his life or dead.
The man, who reports seem to indicate was an anti-American radical who covered Sadr City, was allowed into the press conference to ask what ever question(s) he wanted to. He took the opportunity to protest and yes, assault President Bush by throwing his shoes at him. (in Iraq throwing shoes at someone is a form of insult)
The fact that the man felt like he could voice his concerns and the following protests show progess. It gives me hope that maybe some form of democratic changes might make headway in that part of the world. This, above all, is far more important to winning the war on terror than zotting terrorist.
People can only be bought off by government programs and cash for so long. There must be fundamental change. This incident proves that real change has come to Iraq. What they do with it is now up them, as it is us here at home.
Ever wonder how Iraqi citizens might vote if they got a chance to say something about our election? Breitbart answers this with an interesting article noting that while opinions are diverse, many support McCain for president.
Without many english translations of various media interviews and campaign writings such as the Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama, Iraqi citizens make observations based upon their day to day life and regional events.
“The Iranians believe that if Obama is elected he will not take action against them despite their nuclear ambitions. That worries me,” said Ali, sitting on an old bench in Al-Zahawi coffee shop.
“If the Iranians get the bomb they will become the Tarzan of the region,” said the former teacher and lecturer at the University of Baghdad, referring to the vine-swinging strongman of the jungle in old Hollywood movies.
Interestingly enough, some Iraqis also feel that Obama leans too far to the left and would leave their nation at a critical juncture when victory is being cemented.
Mohammed, also a professor at the university, said he too preferred McCain “because Obama supports a rapid withdrawal of US troops.”
“Our army is still too weak and Turkey and Iran are threats. Iran’s President (Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad has warned Iran would fill the void left when US troops depart,” he said.
Still there are Iraqis who hope Senator Obama is elected and embrace his philosphies.
Back on Rasheed Street itself, Abu Ahmed waited at a men’s hairdresser as his friend got a shave.
“We accept black people more readily in the Middle East. We feel closer to them. We have common sufferings,” said the long-time sports coach.
“It would be nice if the Americans elected a black person. And Obama seems less inclined to engage in another war.”
Color me not shocked.
The New York Post is reporting that Senator Obama during his trip to Iraq in July tried to persuade the Iraqi government to delay any proposed troop with drawls - or at least force a situation where the Democrat controlled Congress would get credit for any such policy.
“He asked why we were not prepared to delay an agreement until after the US elections and the formation of a new administration in Washington,” Zebari said in an interview.
Obama insisted that Congress should be involved in negotiations on the status of US troops - and that it was in the interests of both sides not to have an agreement negotiated by the Bush administration in its “state of weakness and political confusion.”
“However, as an Iraqi, I prefer to have a security agreement that regulates the activities of foreign troops, rather than keeping the matter open.” (Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar) Zebari says.
The story does not end there. During his meeting with General David Petraeus, Obama pressed for what the senator called “a more reasonable time frame for withdrawl.” To which, Petraeus declined.
The article notes that with the transition of a new American government and an ambassador with Iraqi parliment making its own ruling that troops might not be out of Iraq before 2012 - well short of the self imposed 2010 deadline Senator Obama proposed early in his campaign.
Of course such a move by Obama could violate the Logan Act which forbids unauthorized civilians from negotiating with foriegn countries. It shouldn’t be too suprising and would not be the first time Democrats would do try to do so in the past few years.
No, it isnt Eisenhower’s address before the invasion of Normandy. Nor is it a letter from Mac Aurthor as commander of the South Pacific forces. However it is an important letter which is worth mentioning.
Jeff Emanuel has General Petraeus’s final letter to the troops as commander of Multinational Force - Iraq with complete text with downloadable .pdf.
Petraeus will now be commander of Centcom. Lets pray that bloated government may not disrupt the progress made in Iraq so that we may continue to move forward toward victory.
Im in a bit of a hurry at the moment, so instead of creating seperate blog entries for each one of these stories, I thought it would be appropriate to to comment on them here.
Financial Times: US says troops could quit Baghdad soon. This is an intriguing article which I cannot find on any of the normal U.S. media websites (Financial Times is UK based). Perhaps it is because it would do damage to the Obama campaign?
In any case Petraeus is noted as saying that with the declining violence in Baghdad, that American troops could leave the city by next summer. Of course it all depends upon the situation not errupting like it did in 2006. Good read.
Peggy Noonan on the GOP convention and Sarah Palin. This piece is awesome. I do mean that in the most legitimate way, too. She gets it and understands why conservatives (evangelical and all) are ready to go to bat and are experiencing a fire underneath them.
Its pieces like this, among others of hers, which some might understand why her writing style - and thoughts - influence so much of my own.
This is a MUST READ piece.
Slate: Invisible Misconceptions. Interesting piece which asks the question how many of the presidential candidates (or presidents/vice presidents) daughters might have been in the same predictiment as Bristol. The difference? Instead of having the child, like Bristol did, an abortion would have use to hide the pregnancy.
Larry Kudlow: Contrary View. Wonderful piece on how Sarah Palin adds to the McCain ticket on energy police and economics. Kudlow also notes the “energy tax break” we are receiving because of the downward pressure on the market.
Lets see what kind of news is splashed across CNN.com and other news sites at the moment.
There is Gustav, yup.
There is the story regarding Bristol Palin. Okay.
Another story covering Senator Obama’s backside regarding the attacks on Sarah Palin’s family. To be expected.
There is a story at the tope noting the 500th service member who died in Afghanistan. I guess it was only a matter of time before they started a counter for that particular theatre. The story does not note how the sailor died, just that it happened.
More news on forthcoming hurricanes and tropical storms. Understandable given whats happened.
What was missing? The announcement that Anbar, once home of arguably the most unstable providence in Iraq, was handed over to Iraqi officials. Thats right, it is now in Iraqi hands.
To get the full scoop on the matter you must go to the International Herald Tribune (international version of the New York Times). It is a good read, I must admit.
The article details the come back of the area and is balanced with the careful state the region is in.
To be sure the region did not participate in the 2005 elections and there are issues which still need to be dealt with on an internal basis.
However, it points out as a high light that the marines attending the turn over ceremony were not wearing helmets, body armor or anything of the sort.
Since its obvious that the media is more captivated over lies being spread by the left over Sarah Palin than to explain to the American public that we are winning in Iraq, I would urge people to pass along the link to the IHT story. The calming of this area is an important story which must and should be told.
A friend at Redstate.com pass this video along to me earlier today. It is a powerful testiment to the dedication to our men and women in uniform by John McCain and Sarah Palin. Note the trip(s) were made before McCain asked Palin to be his running mate.
People should also know that Palin’s oldest son is in the miliary and is about to be deployed to Iraq. McCain’s son is already there, serving.
It also shows, I think, McCain and Palin’s experience and understanding of Iraq far exceeds that of Obama and yes, even Biden. Remember Biden not only voted for the war initially, but then decided there was no way to win except partitioning the country. Obviously he (Biden) was mistaken.
I want to call people’s attention toward the end of the video in which troops comment themselves about Iraq and how they feel about people who say they support the troops, but oppose the war. I hear those comments from many who served or continue to serve.
There were a total of 11 deaths for U.S. forces in Iraq this month, reportedly the lowest since the 2003 invasion began. This leaves our total losses to date at about 4,100.
The drop in violence started after the surge was implemented mid last year and with the exception of two spikes during military offensives to quel shiite militias.
Contrary to what Senator Obama and our own Junior Senator Claire McCaskill are pedaling, it was the surge its self which convinced many Sunnis to join “the awakening.”
In fact, if one research esand understands what the strategy behind the surge is, the core is working from the bottom (local) up - not just throwing troops at the situation.
Why is this distinction important? Because in his plans to address Afghanistan Senator Obama is planning to simply throw troops at the problem and emulate the surge, but not truly copy the over all strategy like McCain is.
Update: looks like things are successful to the point where President Bush decided to reduce tours from fifteen to twelve months. Good stuff.
No, this isnt a joke, satire or doctored photo.
While business is relatively slow at 25 customers a day and is staffed by three full time positions, this has got to show progress which supposedly wasnt possible according to Democrats.
Hat Tip: National Review.
Updated 7-19-2008: added video content as proof with hat tip to gateway pundit.
