RattlerGator Blog

On Moving Heaven and Earth . . .

. . . to save a life.

Michael Yon consistently shames our national media with on the scene reporting of genuine interest to Americans. His latest, Do Americans Care about British Soldiers?, may be one of his best (but I seem to think that on a regular basis). Here's his intro:

A gunshot ripped through the darkness and a young British soldier fell dying on FOB Jackson.  I was just nearby talking on the satellite phone and saw the commotion.  The soldier was taken to the medical tent and a helicopter lifted him to the excellent trauma center at Camp Bastion.  That he made it to Camp Bastion alive dramatically improved his chances.  But his life teetered and was in danger of slipping away.  Making matters worse, the British medical system back in the United Kingdom did not possess the specialized gear needed to save his life.  Americans had the right gear in Germany, and so the British soldier was put into the American system.

British officers in his unit, 2 Rifles, wanted to track their man every step of the way, and to ensure that his family was informed and supported in this time of high stress.  Yet having their soldier suddenly in the American system caused a temporary glitch in communications with folks in Germany.  The British leadership in Sangin could have worked through the glitch within some hours, but that would have been hours wasted, and they wanted to know the status of their soldier now.  So a British officer in Sangin – thinking creatively –asked if I knew any shortcuts to open communications.  The right people were only an email away: Soldiers Angels.  And so within about two minutes, these fingers typed an email with this subject heading: CALLING ALL ANGELS.

And the Angels responded. Quickly. Read the entire piece; when your tax dollars work best, this is part of what they accomplish.

Savagery

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UPDATE:

These are the killers

 

I really had no doubt; two of them were in the Sergeant's chain of command. The couple had only been married for two months. One of the guys referred to himself as CripGeneral and another guy was known as Psycho. If you are black, served in the military, read this story and then saw the picture of the victims -- you'd probably conclude then and there what the deal was. They sexually violated the woman and shot them both in the head, okay? Further, name and context can sometimes lead you astray but black people kinda have this (guessing the race of a perpetrator) down to a pseudo-science and all of my instincts lead in the same direction just from reading the names of the perpetrators in the story below and seeing a picture of the victims. Such sadness caused by such genuine evil.

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I don't want to make too much of this but I have been so emotionally affected by it, I feel compelled to post something. An incredibly savage and senseless murder in California. Marines! October 2008 timeframe, with Obama riding high in the polls and "Yes, We Can" chants everywhere. Remember? Hope over fear, right? But look, and read, closer. I know this is a subjective snapshot. I know that. This is also quite real, however.

Racial animus is evident when you simply look at the victims (and consider the context, of course):

---

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Prosecutors said Wednesday they are seeking the death penalty for four Camp Pendleton-based Marines, including one from North Carolina, charged in the execution-style killings of a fellow serviceman and his wife.

Sgt. Jan Pietrzak, 24, and his wife, Quiana Jenkins-Pietrzak, 26, were found gagged, tied and shot in the head Oct. 15 in the living room of their Winchester home. Investigators said the house had been ransacked and a fire had been set, an apparent effort to destroy evidence.

The four defendants are eligible for the death penalty because of the multiple murder and other special circumstance charges they face on top of their first-degree murder charges, Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco said.

“The absolute innocence of a beautiful, loving couple compared to the savagery of the actions of these four equally responsible defendants leads to one conclusion — that this is a death penalty case,” Pacheco said in a statement.

The defendants’ attorneys did not immediately return messages Wednesday night.

Pietrzak, who was born in Poland and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., joined the Marines in 2003 and served in Iraq from July 2005 to February 2006.

He was stationed at Camp Pendleton, where he worked as a helicopter airframe mechanic and supervised two of the defendants.

Quiana worked for the Riverside County Department of Public Health.

The defendants include Lance Cpl. Emrys John, 19, of Maryland; Lance Cpl. Tyrone Miller, 21, of North Carolina; Pvt. Kevin Cox, 21, of Tennessee, and Lance Cpl. Kesaun Sykes, 21, of California.

---

I have an impossibly difficult time looking into her eyes.

As black people, we often carry around burdens we, rightly or wrongly, think white people don't have to bear. We feel judged by the actions of black people unknown to us or our families. We're victims of this racial game. But is victimization a zero-sum game? What would Reverend Lowery say in response to that question, I wonder?

I'm ashamed of these guys who killed this couple and I know in my heart of hearts that racial animus was behind the savage attack. She's a beautiful woman and white boy scooped her away. If not from them, from some other black dude. That's the real deal. We, as in the United States of America as a public, are collectively real quick to try and make white people bear the burden of race hate but become deaf, dumb and blind when the "usses" among us who happen to be African Americans or other persons of color generate the hate.

At this point in time, I'm hoping like hell we can (as a nation, with respect to race and things racial) manage ourselves through this Presidency. However, (1) too many more of these Reverend Lowery moments or (2) too much continuing economic crisis, and the blowback is not going to be miniscule or pretty. Savagery of another sort looms on the horizon, far closer than we might suspect.

Betrayal Revisited, and Now Complete

I shouldn't be shocked, but I genuinely am shocked; Colin Powell has endorsed Barack Obama. In Betrayal, Revisited I recounted matters that should have made it clear to me what he would do.

Personally, this is extremely disappointing news.

So much of my earlier life, my earlier belief set, has been called into question and now this exemplar bows down and grovels. To the hyenas. It's not enough that he punked Dubya, now he has to punk McCain too.

Unbelievable.

General Powell, bone up on the concept of shame.

Michael Yon Photo Exhibit Opening Today in Lakeland

Here's a message of interest from our very own Florida Boy, Michael Yon -- there was a grand opening of a photo exhibit of his excellent work this morning:

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I am very happy to announce the opening of my first photography exhibit.  During my travels I have taken thousands of photos, only a small portion of which have been published.  Some of these images will be on public view for the first time when Picture Perfect Frame Shop in Lakeland, Florida, hosts the Moment of Truth in Iraq Photo Exhibit.  From September 25 to November 8, the gallery will feature forty images which have been specially prepared for this event.  All images will be available for purchase, along with copies of my books Moment of Truth in Iraq and Danger Close. The proceeds will help fund my work in Iraq and Afghanistan.
   
Although I will be in Afghanistan, I cordially welcome everybody who can make it.  If you’re in the Central Florida area, please come see the exhibit.  It will really mean a lot to me.

Michael

Grand Opening on September 25 starting at 9:00 a.m.

Picture Perfect Frame Shops, Inc.
4525 South Florida Avenue, Suite 28
Lakeland, FL 33813
863-644-9951

Exhibit Hours:
Mon, Tue, Wed, + Fri: 9am-6pm
Thur: 9am-8pm
Sat: 9am-4pm

---

Congratulations, Michael. The man has done phenomenal work since the War for Freedom in Iraq began.

The Pessimistic Edge

The President has issued another statement on the Russian invasion of Georgia. Caroline Glick, in the Jerusalem World Review, has this pessimistic assesment of the state of things:

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Georgia has several oil and gas pipelines that traverse its territory from Azerbaijan to Turkey, the main one being the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. Together they transport more than one percent of global oil supplies from east to west. In response to the Russian invasion, British Petroleum, which owns the pipelines, announced that it will close them.

What this means is that Russia has won. In the future that same oil and gas will either be shipped through Russia, or it will be shipped through Georgia under the benevolent control of Russian "peacekeeping" forces permanently stationed in Gori. The West now has no option other than appeasing Russia if it wishes to receive its oil from the Caucasus.

---

Well, now! I know she intends it for domestic consumption and, largely, is trying to make a point to the Israeli public, but . . . for that very reason it is hyperbolic and far too pessimistic, right? This pessimistic edge has to lay down a bright line to combat Russian propaganda on this issue, I understand that. John Bolton has done something similar in the London Telegraph.

They are both saying, essentially, "wake the hell up!"

Unwavering Solidarity with the Republic of Georgia

Those are the words of the President in his just-concluded statement at the White House -- the direct quote or sufficient paraphrase -- "unwavering solidarity with the Republic of Georgia."

Americans are on the way, including the Secretary of State, military personnel and assets, along with  humanitarian assistance. Posted below are a series of comments delivered prior to that statement from the President that may represent the "best case scenario" that we can hope to result from this Russian old-school power play. It is pulled from the comments at the Belmont Club, of course -- in a post titled The War in the Ether:

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[1]
neolex:

It seems to me that Russia has been threatened by the US, with something, but I can't imagine what it would be, besides the Stabilization Fund ($157 billion) being frozen.

Russia will likely lose G8 and OSCE memberships for quite some time (or at least will not be invited to the meetings, while formally being a member), it can forget about WTO and NATO-Russia meetings are also history.

It seems that Putin has miscalculated in his arrogance. He wanted to take Tbilisi and get rid of Saakashvili but couldn't do it in the time before US response (whatever that was). It is also possible that he was restrained internally. I wonder how much the following things played a role:

- Georgians invading SO to meet advancing Russian forces.
- Georgians leaving Gori to avoid heavy losses.
- US intelligence available to Georgians
- Poor state of Russian military (reportedly Russian tanks were breaking down every few kilometers while moving into Georgia through the tunnel).
- S200 air defence that Ukraine supplied Georgia and Russia did not know about
- Reported anti-tank weapon made by either Israel or BAE

On the flip side, Russia gets to keep SO and Abhazia.

Aug 12, 2008 - 6:33 pm

[2]

fedya:

@neolex:
I must have missed something, too, not having seen anything from Mika. Perhaps there is a hovering moderator… and thanx for the endorsement!

Things were locked down here so I posted over at the naval confab, http://informationdissemination.blogspot.com/

SINCE Wretchard pointed out clear evidence of the excellent fighting ability of the Georgians, and SINCE it seems obvious to me that a great many of the people of Georgia are spoiling for a chance to cut off Ivan's already bloodied nose, I say we help them fight and my bet is that we are in the process of doing that at this very moment.

Following is part of my post at the boat-floater's convention:

Russia is sure it can force Georgia to become a "neutral" state with permanent Russian occupation of South Ossettia and Abkhazia.

However, many–Turkey and Azerbaijan in particular–desperately need to prevent Russia and Iran from dividing The Caspian between themselves. The Greater Caucasus Mountains should be the northern edge of an open "Silk Road" from the Caspian to the Mediterranean.

….

Russia is strong, but very sick, and therefore all the more dangerous. She is a kleptocracy run by appparatchik bandits, no more, no less. And bandits, even bandits lighting fires of nationalist conflict, can be beaten to a stand-still by a liberty-loving people.

Stop Russia in Georgia with Ukrainian, Turkish and Azeri proxies supporting Georgians at the tip of the spear. This will force Russian siloviki out of South Ossettia (the central strategic necessity). The means will be anti-air/anti-armor weapons in Georgian hands, NATO overflights of the Lesser Causasus and an open Black Sea naval corridor along the Turkish coast to Batumi.

How? Start by stabilizing a Mtskheta- Dusheti- Ananuri- Mt.Kazbek Line to close the biggest invasion route, the fabled Georgian Military Road (is Mtskheta still in Georgian hands?). That will keep the huge reservoir watering Georgia and contain the so-called "Ossetians".

And Abkhazia? Well, I'd predict a permanent Russian naval base in Sukhumi. No way to stop it. Let them have the entire Kodori Gorge, with it, too.

Are you listening?

Then howzzabout a joint US-Turkish-Georgian naval base at Georgia's southernmost port [once a huge Russian combined arms base] at Batumi?

Voila! Instant 21st century Fulda Gap sitting on a 21st Century Silk Road reaching all the way to China. The 'stans are gonna love it. Azeri's and Turks are REALLY gonna love it. And China's gotta love it, too, mmm-hmmm.

Poor pooty Putin and the Persians, aced out of their lockhold on the geographic center of the world. Hallelujah!

Aug 12, 2008 - 7:38 pm

[3]
fedya:

@fred:
we seem to have passed into a new and more dangerous period where our enemies have advantages that they can use to take long gambles with.

Well, if this gamble by Putin and the siloviki fails badly [for them], at least we can take heart that long odds can be very bad odds.

Russia is too sick to withstand a big downturn, and too dangerous to be allowed to take advantage of recklessness born of greed and desperation.

Aug 12, 2008 - 7:43 pm

[4]
neolex:

The gamble has already failed. Russia has damaged its standing beyond repair for the foreseeable future. There is a lot of information missing as to it's decision to halt, but it seems to me that Russia moving beyond SO borders, and not capturing Tbilisi means it failed. It could have stayed in SO, and not have damaged it's standing. At this point it appears that Putin miscalculated somewhere, either the speed with which Russian military can accomplish the objective, or US response (which we still dont know).

Aug 12, 2008 - 7:52 pm neolex:

[5]

It is also notable that not a single country came out with support for Russia (besides Cuba). Even Chavez kept his mouth shut. Not a single CIS country, including Russian allies who have borders with Russia put out any supporting statements.

Aug 12, 2008 - 7:56 pm

[6]

fedya:

@Lifeofthemind:
Fedya, One question about the Wisdom of giving Russia Abkhazia.

I suppose that it would simply be impossible to get them out of there. One can't give something one doesn't first possess. Them Russkies just finished a military railroad along the coast and they really, really do need a safer [for them] alternative to Sebastopol.

Perhaps Abkhazia-Sukhumi that is all they actually feel they HAVE to have for existential survival. Master Sun Tsu strongly advises us not to try to destroy a trapped enemy. Then you get things like the Battle of the Bulge spoiling your plans.

If so, it would take a world infantry war to clear them out, not just a very tough bunch of small unit Georgians.

The Abkhazians are descendents of the ethnic Russians who killed or expelled EVERY Muslim in Abkhasia (60% of population; now there's a trail of tears for ya) in the 1860's & '70's.

In 1992 they ethnically cleansed 30,000+ ethnic Georgians (vs 1500+ the other way), no doubt as a delayed reaction to Stalin forcing them to speak Georgian instead of Russian[!].

Abkhazia SHOULD be Georgian, but if a U.S.-backed Trans-Caucasian Union operates a NATO-affiliated base on the other side of the valley, Western Georgia becomes a tripwire like the Fulda Gap in Central Europe. Any massed Russian troops there who dare to move will be erased immediately with the common assent of every Turkic nation, not just tough little Georgia.

Note well that this does not actually require (or even WANT) NATO participation to work. All nations around the Black and Caspian Seas other than Iran and Russia will be dying if this doesn't work. It will also, I would imagine, require a US-Chinese "understanding".

Turkey has to have guarantors against the Russkies and the All New! Persians. Azerbaijan is even more desperate.

And isn't Armenia way overdue for a "color" revolution? Sheesh.

So, now that Ivan has awakened us all, perhaps he should get Sukhumi as a consolation prize for his having united a Black and Caspian Seas Treaty Organization against himself, and created a tripwire against any further expansion Southward.

Takes pressure off the Ukraine, too.

Ivan gets a bunch of mountains filled with the ghosts of his victims. World trade gets a new Silk Road built out of pipelines. World peace gets China and Europe competing in Central Asia on price, not chokeholds.

Priceless!

I hope our poker-playing President may soon reveal a hand like this, a hand that only great skill, nerve, and wits could have put together starting, of necessity, a few years ago when the cards were mostly dealt.

And, what a helluvah big pot!

Aug 12, 2008 - 9:47 pm

[7]
fedya:

@Cannoneer No. 4:
PSYOP. The whole Russian invasion of Georgia was PSYOP aimed at intimidating all the former Soviet republics and Warsaw Pact members.

If their desired hard advantages are/were (1) a safe naval port (Sukhimi) and (2)defacto control over Trans-Caucasus pipelines, this (3), PSYOPS, is both larger and in service to the smaller goals.

@Lifeofthemind:
For your lovely plan to work it would demand sustained cooperation between Azeris, Georgians, Armenians and the Turks

Hmm, by focusing on specific stakeholders, you're convincing me the "lovely" plan is an exciting possibility…

1: GEORGIA-AZERBAIJAN:
They are ALREADY cooperating on a number of pipeline projects! THEY ARE IN LOVE, BABY!!! They *need* each other existentially. That's TROOLY-True Love when your alternatives are the Persians or The Bear.
Score: +1

2: ARMENIA:
Armenians are not now [and will not soon be] involved.

The one issue with the Armenians is keeping Russian troops based in Gyumri from moving on Georgia's East. Turkey is a NATO country and Turkey needs the Gruzinii-Azerii axis to free itself of Russian-Persian domination.

Every one of the dozens of Trans-Caucasus pipeline proposals (there is a lot of competition for "Silk Road" pipeline proposals) I've noticed (using Google and then diving in) being touted are Armenia-free and differ only in whether they terminate in Southern Turkey or the Georgian Black Sea. Just take a good look at the Lesser Caucasus range; that'll make explanation superfluous.
Score (for absence of Armenian involvement) +1

3: KURDISTAN:
What? Other than the PKK doing minor, temporary damage, have Kurds anywhere shut down any Arab or Turkish pipeline? If "No" is the wrong answer, please do tell me how so.

The newest trans-Caucasus pipeline enters Turkey and runs straight Southerly into Erzurum, thence to the Mediterranean. Even though it skirts around Kurdistan (Lake Van) it hasn't seen any big knockouts. In general, Black Sea coastal Turkey is not populated by Kurds, no?

Anyway, ALL the players in this drama are Turkic peoples (no Kurds, whose language is Indo-Iranian), with the sole exception of the Georgians. Gruzinii (Georgians in Russkii-style patois) have already figured out that they can deal to advantage with any friggin' Turks they've ever seen, whether in Anatolia or around the Caspian.
Score: 0 (a wash)

CHINA:
Sure they are stuck with playing The Game, for NOW. They can't mount a military challenge to the current monopolists, so they deal–albeit at a distinct disadvantage. That is why they would possibly be enthusiastic guarantors of any relatively cheap way to keep those damned Czarist soliviki out of their pocketbooks.

Russia and Persia want to extract a surcharge on anything sold to either China or the West, and everyone knows it, including the Caspiskii who are getting astronomically screwed by the Russians. The 'stans can quadruple their pay while cutting China's or Ukraine's prices in half, according to supposedly knowledgeable people. I think it is reasonable to assume that we can both vastly improve income going to the 'stans AND cut prices to Les Chinoise and the free world.

Chinese competing with Bulgaria, et al, on producers' prices will do much better than if they have to pay a Russian or Persian surcharge. A free market for Central Asian oil and gas will tend to encourage peaceful cooperation, more predictable prices, and a broader–more equitable–distribution of risk throughout. This contrasts sharply with the present Russian-dominated "Great Game" of Imperialist Market Chokeholders.
Score: +2, (a lot of money and a lot of muscle)

RUSSIA:
"innovation Putin brought to this game"

Putin is stuck in a bad dilemma, and he's stuck with the outdated tools of Czarist mobster-style, feudalistic oppression. The Commies never came up with a better system, merely a vastly more ruthless version of the Same Old Stuff. He's a high-level mobster. Mobsters die quickly (at other mobster's hands) when their intended victims pull together and fight back. "The Godfather" is a cute fairytale with a great soundtrack, right? So too, is Czarist control of the Trans-Caucasus and the Caspian, [I say].

Score: 0 (a wash)

Total score:
+4 out of possible plus or minus 5
(yes, I rigged it, just like Pooty-Tooty-Baby thought he rigged the outcome of his invasion of Georgia; mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa…)
Seriously, wanna bet? Let's open a futures market on it.

OK, how much would you bet that if we keep a "Silk Road" based on a free Georgia open, that Putin will live past New Year's day, 2010?

50:50?
20:80?

Mmm-hmmm, thought so. So, umm, is this worth a struggle to find out if it works? I'd say, YES, we can bet on it.

Aug 13, 2008 - 2:13 am

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At this point, the whole world is guessing along with us. The President is serious, and too many people are talking about what the American press, voters, etc. are or are not interested in. The only thing that matters now is that President Bush has been lied to and is not pleased, and has bowed his back.

I hope.

And I do believe that is the case. Hang in there, Georgia.

Perhaps America Has Played Her Hand Well on the Georgian Situation

There is hope, ladies and gentlemen, regarding the outrageous play Russia has made to conquer Georgia. First evidence? The morning announcement that Russia has said "hold up, hold up!" And now, having failed to smash Georgia, we move on to the next stage where the opportunity may be presented to bleed the Russians dry. I like this speculation at Power and Control:

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If that report is true (and it is very likely true because it has come from a Russian news agency) the Russians know that they are in a very dangerous position militarily and may be beating feet to save their army.

However, they miscalculated by not announcing in advance “limited objectives”. Now it will look like they have been defeated by a fifth rate power with American friends. Bad for morale. Bad for their world image. Having Putin at the Olympics at the start when the generals would be in control with orders to do nothing except to respond to attacks was a master stroke not an error.

Proving once again that Bush plays the game better than any one else currently on the world stage.

---

I likes! Now things get very dicey while America finishes positioning itself in the Persian Gulf. The final few monts of Dubya's administration could be one hell of a ride. Don't forget to keep up with things at the Belmont Club.

Is the Republic of Georgia being Devoured?

Apparently, the answer is yes. Maybe.

I detest bitching and moaning on most anything as a matter of course (no, certainly not always) and I give the benefit of the doubt to our government on matters of foreign policy as a matter of course as well. Your mileage may vary, but that's me. So, the Russian invasion of the Republic of Georgia is the remarkable story of the day and here are two interesting threads discussing that issue today:

• Belmont Club -- What Next?
• Argghhh!!! -- From Russia With Angst

Obviously, I'm disappointed  with our apparent inaction. If you read the Belmont Club thread, you'll see that I was certainly hoping a more robust response would be forthcoming from the administration. I still do, and will, until the outcome is absolutely certain. It is still possible that behind the scenes we are being quite stealthy in our support. Power politics, however, is likely driving the train here and it may leave a very bad taste in our mouth.

However you slice it, this probability is very disappointing.

Colored Bad Boy Dinesh D'Souza on that Distraction Thang

For months now, I've not read any material from one of the guys who intrigues me most -- Dinesh D'Souza. I began this year with an FWTV post, Pondering Dinesh D'Souza: Part One, and got off track dealing with the everyday things of life. I haven't re-read Part One and I'm sure it's a very incomplete piece but I do intend to generate a Part Two . . . someday. For now, however, I loved one of his mid-July posts -- Obama's Pearls of Unwisdom -- and wanted to post this excerpt:

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Liberal Democrats like Obama keep saying Iraq is the "distraction" when, from the point of view of the Islamic radicals, Iraq is absolutely crucial. Al Qaeda has publicly stressed that Iraq is the global center of the war on terror, the staging ground for the beginning of World War III. 

Why is Iraq so important to Bin Laden? Because since 1979 the radical Muslims have controlled only one major Muslim country, and that is Iran. They are desperate to get their hands on a second one. They have already said that if they get Iraq, they will focus next on Egypt and Saudi Arabia. 

For America, Iraq is crucial for a reason regularly stressed by real estate agents: Location, location, location. Here are the names of Iraq's neighbors: Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia. Is there any doubt how important it is to have a pro-American Muslim government (or even better, a pro-American Muslim democracy) in that neighborhood?

By contrast, it is Afghanistan that is quite frankly a "distraction." Afghanistan was chosen as the launching pad for the 9/11 attacks because the Taliban government provided rent-free accommodations there for the Al Qaeda training camps. It was essential for the U.S. to get rid of the Taliban, and I'm glad the international community is keeping an eye on the place to prevent a return of those fanatics. Even so, anyone who thinks Afghanistan is strategically more important than Iraq needs his head examined.

---

Roger that! Dinesh nailed this (as did many others) before the BLT Barry Pyrrhic Victory Tour began.

It's a tell-tale sign of the unserious attempt to politicize the War for Freedom and Liberty that this argument is (or should I say, given the current state of affairs, was) being put forward at all. Afghanistan pops up as a convenient tool and the next thing you know -- voila! -- that now becomes the path not taken by the bumbling nincompoops in the Bush Administration. Mind you, this is coming from people who swore Afghanistan not only would be a quagmire, but was in fact a quagmire (in many of their esteemed opinions) just days into the Afghanistan campaign.

The same folks who created a story where there was none with the Valerie Plame Wilson nonsense. Yet I'm supposed to give a damn what he and his crowd think in terms of "distractions?"

Barack Obama, I'm afraid to say, doesn't believe in the American military (or understand it) and he certainly doesn't believe in the mission of the Central Intelligence Agency. Hell, the untold story right now is that most of his crowd believes the entire war effort is a "distraction." When it comes to the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party, I swear they are now pushing Afghanistan because they know it is a wide, institutionally-weak place that will offer many more opportunities to either take cheap shots at American foreign policy or, failing at that endeavor, talk loud and say absolutely nothing. The Bush Administration (thanks to the American Army) has punked them on Iraq, punked them!, and now they need another shot in another locale.

Sorry, sap suckers, that's a non-starter.

Perseverance on the Fourth: 2008

Last year at this time, I posted a Perseverance on the Fourth entry well worth reviewing if you are so inclined. It may serve to frame my thoughts for every 4th of July into the foreseeable future. This year my extended family has once again suffered an untimely death; this one has ruined two years worth of planning for a big family reunion weekend in Miami. But death stalks us all, every day and all day.

The focus last year in my post was the face of our mortal enemy: the jihadist who lives among us and is either consciously or unconsciously the heir to Marxist-Leninist thought mascarading as pure Islam, and his lawless brethren back in Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Pakistan, etc.

Mohammed Jamil Asha

That dead-ender was caught before he and his cabal could blow up portions of the London and Glasgow airports. This year? The primary news story is quite different but also a successful effort in the War for Freedom. Colombia's stunning rescue of hostages from the FARC has even the left-wing grudgingly praising American resolve to support Colombian resolve:

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The rescue alone could reverberate across the region. Hugo Chávez, the leftist leader of Venezuela who negotiated previous releases of hostages held by the FARC but failed to free Ms. Betancourt or three American contractors also rescued Wednesday, has lost the regional spotlight to Colombia’s president, Álvaro Uribe, his top rival and a staunch ally of the Bush administration. At least temporarily, Mr. Uribe, one of Latin America’s most market-friendly leaders, has usurped the regional agenda.

---

Perseverance. On the fourth. At home and abroad -- something far too many African Americans are woefully ignorant of. Listen, Eugene Robinson, who gives a damn if you knew what Michelle Obama meant by stating she was proud of her country for the first time -- it was a mind-numbingly stupid thing, first, to feel and, second, to say. So many black people rattle off that they knew what she meant, as if that settles things and moves it beyond the sphere of questioning or analysis.

Wrong, Eugene. Quite wrong.

As history continues to smile on the perseverance of George W. Bush, Happy Birthday to America.