Sunday, May 30, 2010




http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/chet-atkins-i-still-cant-say-goodbye/57692fdc4f03e177251757692fdc4f03e1772517-102786073940


(I Still Can’t Say Goodbye – Song by Chet Atkins) Please play above before reading the rest)

My Father is my hero, and he always will be. Milton F. Gregory Sr., my father and my hero who raised me on the principles that that made this country great, that made it America. I still can’t say goodbye to the man who raised me to love my country, to take pride in all that is American. My first recollections of his teachings were when I was only 4 years old, yet I remember as if he was whispering in my ear those wonderful words, “Always love your country son, never fail her, never betray her trust in you, or me, your father”. Some of you will consider that I was too young to recall such powerful words, with such powerful meaning, but as I go on you will understand why it was easy for this young man, Milton F. Gregory Jr., always to remember the importance of my father’s words, his teaching, his most of all, his love. When I was four years old, we lived in Vienna Austria, in a small apartment building with two floors and about apartments, if I recall correctly. The Apartment had a small garden that was maintained immaculately. There was a small stump in the garden my father used to sit me on and teach me how to properly salute the flag, something he took great pride in and something he love to do, salute our nation’s flag.

Many of my friends told me that their father’s never talked about the war (World War II). My father served in the Pacific, and was one of the first officers who landed on the island of Iwo Jima, with the Air Force, to set up the landing trip for the supporting aircraft. I thank God every day that he told me of the heroes who fought, lived and died there. It was always difficult for him to tell my sister and I (and later the other four children he would father with my mother) stories of the horrors of war, and the sacrifices men, and women, made to keep our country free, the country that meant everything to him. Glenn Beck often asks during his hour of teaching on Fox News Channel, “Who will be the next George Washington?” Well, to me, my father was the “Next George Washington” or any of the founders who help shape our country. So were each man or woman who put on their uniform during time of war, where our country was involved, after all, each of them would sacrifice or risk sacrifice without expectation of personal reward, other than knowing that they would be contributing to securing the destiny of America’s future. Each year millions of Americans will go to parades, cook out or visit family, to “celebrate” the fallen, or better said “Remembered” those who paid the ultimate price. My father would always spend this day telling us, the Gregory kids, about all those he knew in the military, how they lived and how many of them died for their, and our, country. He always emphasized that those who lived should never be forgotten as they only lived because that was God’s will, and those who died, were called home to their creator. His explanation for those who lost limbs or suffered other injuries, that included a tortured mind, were also decisions only God could explain, and God owes no one an explanation, that we must just believe and trust that he had his reasons. It was always easy for me to do that, as I have always had a special relationship with my creator.

My father never demanded any of his children to enlist into the military, but the example he set for all four of us boys made enlisting into the military an easy decision or choice. My father enlisted into the Army when he was very young, not long after running away from home at the age of 15 to serve his country. He told us that he was drawn to the military from a very young age and was all he ever wanted to do; after all, he knew in his heart that as long as this country was going to remain a free nation, it was going to need a standing army to protect her, and he wanted to be a part of those special men called “Soldiers”. That’s why on the brass plate attached to the wooden box (his request) after giving his name and period of life on earth, you see only “Soldier”. You don’t see Air Force, Army, or Army Air Corps, but “Solder” and that said it all as far as my father was concerned. To my dad, every man or woman who served their country, in the service of their choice, “Soldier” covered it, told anyone who knew them that is who they were, a soldier, proud, special patriots of this country who only wanted to serve by putting their lives into the hands of the country they took their oath to defend and protect. He always told us boys that to be a soldier was the greatest testament to any man or woman’s love of country. I will always remember my father for the deep and incredible love he had for the “United States of America”, a country born from the same kind of love he held sacred. A total commitment, ready to sacrifice his life without regret, only pride, only knowing that his service would mean others could seek out their American Dream and live it out, was enough. Every chance my father had he would spend taking us to various points of interest across America so that he could show us what made America so special. His repeated stories of Davy Crocket, Denial Boon, and any story of American heroes, some well known and others not so well known, but all a part of ensuring that this country would have the chance to grow into the “Republic” that promised every American their shot at the “American Dream”, the same dream he had the opportunity that was given to him, and that he realized. His dream, you guessed it, was only to be a soldier, to serve his country and protect it. His American dream was a simple one, but how incredibly important that dream was to him.

The story that we all asked my father to tell us again and again was how, while serving on Iwo Jima, he was nearly killed, and we would make him drag out the Japanese rifle that the young attacker would leave to my father as a reminder of how God took care of him that day. I still have the rifle, and it still has my father’s blood on it from the wound my father received while fighting for his life until his “First Sergeant” took the young Japanese soldier’s life, by hitting him over the head with an iron skillet, as my father was engaged in hand to hand combat, where my father was losing the fight. My father and his fox hole partner were sleeping when my father told us how he felt what he thought was his partner’s knee in his side. He soon realized that they were both laying, side by side, and it would be impossible for his partner to have his knee pushed into his side, and he “peeked” to see if he could discover who or what it was pushing into his side. What my father witnessed was the young Japanese soldier withdrawing his bayonet from the Airman’s heart laying next to him, and turning to thrust it into his. Just in time my father reach up as the blade of the bayonet was coming down towards his heart, and grasp it, slicing his left hand. The Japanese soldier then tried to use his rifle to strike at my father’s unprotected head. My father grabbed the rifle with his free hand and yelled for help and his first Sergeant came to the rescue and saved my father who was running out of strength as his wound was deep in his hand and thumb, causing pain that would soon have allowed his attacker to win the battle between the two. For some reason all of us children wanted to hear that story every year, as we all remembered those who not only died, but all those who served. My father would never allow us to only remember the dead, dying, wounded and mentally tortured, but all those who were willing to give the same, if called on, as to my father, and then to all of us siblings, would come to understand that even though many gave their lives, the same courage it took to give their lives were in each of those who wore our countries military uniforms and went to any of the wars our country was drawn into. Regardless whether your were or are against any of the wars this country participated in, no one can deny the patriots heroic selfless acts of not giving into their personal fears, but were ready to sacrifice their own life should that decision be made by a power greater than any of us will ever understand. How can any American ever think of not “Remembering” any or all of them, those who died, or those who fought but for whatever reason, survived and are alive to tell the stories of those who can’t. Their gift to us should not be forgotten because no one wants to tell the stories of the horrors of war, the pain of losing someone or having them return to us and remind us of war’s evil by their missing limbs, the blindness due to wounds of war, or the troubled and tortured minds as to what they witnessed or relentless fears all of us felt, only some felt it more than others, but all of us felt it.

My father lived long enough to see all four of his sons and one grandson enlist into one of our military services, one in the Navy, in the medical field as an officer, three of us into the United States Army Security Agency (USASA), later to be renamed the United States Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM), and his grandson (my son, Milton F Gregory III). My brother Mike would serve under me in East Africa, Asmara Ethiopia, go to Vietnam, get out of the Army, go to college, survive ROTC, come back into serve as an officer, and would go through the advanced intelligence school the same time as I did, retire and continue as a contractor at Ft. Huachuca AZ, prior to his succumbing to his second heart attack October 25th, 2001 to join our mom, buried at Arlington National Cemetery, where my father would finally join them August of 2007, after passing May 20th, 2007. My dad, his four sons, and my son, provided the country we love with over 136 years of active duty service. I remember my brother Mike calling me one afternoon from his house in Sierra Vista, AZ and said as I answered, “Milt, I just called to say goodbye and that I love you” When I asked what he was talking about, he just said, “This is the big one Milt, and I won’t see you again so, just know I love you, please let the rest of the family know that I love them all”, and I was on a plane within a couple of hours, but I was too late. I would take him off life support five days later and then comfort my father, who could not believe that the many time he came close to death during the war, he would be burring one of his sons. My father, like any good soldier, went into his son’s, my brother’s, room before they took him off to take the organs they could use, as Mike was an organ donor, and together we stood at attention, along with my other two brothers, and gave Mike the salute he so well deserved. It was my father who took us in to give him his “Military salute”, something only my dad could think of at a time like that, but it meant a lot to him and so that is a memory the rest of us would have and remain a moment where tears shed were tears of proud American Soldiers, saying farewell not to just their son and brother, but a fellow soldier, all who love their country, always willing to never be ashamed to display that pride, even in their grief. That was something my hero taught us, and at my brother’s passing, reminded us, as he always did while he was drawing a breath while living and now in his memory, from his grave. Yes, my father was, is and will always be my hero. Sharing that spot will forever be my brothers and son, who continue to serve, not wearing their uniforms, but as contractors in the Intelligence community. My son and one brother still are serving with the military they love so much, just as civilians. I guess they just could not take being too far away from their fellow soldiers. If I could I could continue to do the same, but as a housebound 100% disabled vet, I can only hope to contribute by helping others never to forget just how wonderful our soldiers are and that they should never be forgotten. I know we remember our fallen on Memorial Day, but one day a year is and will never be enough. We should remember them, all of them, those who are no longer with us here on earth, but those who continue to defend and protect our nation by saying a prayer for them every day. So many are in harm’s way, so many willing to give so much to that we all can enjoy the American dream.

In closing I guess it’s not just my father who is my hero, I could not end without including my brothers and of course my son. But then, as much as those I know and love are my heroes, each member of any of the services, military forces, where we all share a common cause of defending, protecting, and honoring the country that we all love, each are all of our heroes and we should never forget to remember the on Memorial Day, but we should always include them in our daily prayers. Never pass up an opportunity to shake their hand, say hello, buy them a meal, just acknowledge them, as they are America’s finest, the best of what we have, and they are the only thing that stands between our freedom and those who would deprive us of that freedom. So yes, love them, hug them, and never, ever forget them! And I still can’t say goodbye dad, Mike, and my son Wayne. Guess I never will.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

They don't deserve this Commander in Chief



Pictured above are Rick, who is my friend and once a member of a special team in the Intelligence World, the other is his son's (Eric 's) Platoon leader Joe, who lost both his leggs from an IED. The photo was taken at "WaIter Reed Hospital" and I dedicate the following to them, as they are very special. Rick's son is no longer with us here on earth but he is in our hearts always.


My Stomach felt really ill when I saw, then heard the President of the United States of America address the “Long Gray Line”, the graduates at West Point. Men of heroic stature, men who will be facing an enemy that our President finds great difficulty in speaking the words “Radical Muslims” who are not made up of a nation but an ideology. For this President to stand in the presence of these great patriots is an insult to all who passed through the halls of this great and historic symbol of America’s military defiance towards those who hate this country, would destroy this great nation, would kill every man woman and child born into a Christian world, or any religion that differs from those of the “Radical Muslim” belief. His words rang hollow as I heard the President utter the word “Global” several times during his address. “Global” is where this President wants to take America, “Global Governance”, Global world power, Global transfer of wealth, from yours and my pockets to those pockets around the world who depend on handouts from an America who already willingly gives to the needy, feed the hungry, responds to the suffering, and helps any in harm’s way. How can this President, who’s only claim is to have “Organized” various communities to challenge their government, until he became their government?

I not only felt ill, I was offended and angered that this man who continues to be in question as to his even being a citizen of this country, somehow got elected to the highest office of the land, and became the Commander in Chief of those great, wonderful young men and women, who will do more for this country in the next year than this President will do the rest of his life. Those young men and women stand for good, hope, charity and the heart of this nation. They are ready to serve this President, because they took an oath to do so, but in spite of the party in power, they willingly will give their lives, not for any political party, but for the idea of “America”, the nation that became the hope of the world during times of war, and even in times of peace when America feeds most of the hungry around the world. These are great Americans, great men and women, great children of God, no matter what their personal faith; they will always be children of “God” creator of all mankind. This President does not deserve to stand in the shadow of one single man or woman who graduated from West Point today, or days past.

I got a short email today from a friend of mine, who worked for and with me so many years ago, way back in the 1970’s doing things in the Intelligence community that will always remain a secret, but to those of us who were there, was something special and regardless of who was in the office of the Presidency, we did our very best to achieve our goal, and that was the mission we were given. Rick has stopped by to visit from time to time, both of us had son’s who served in the military and both of us were filled with pride throughout their lives, and both of us saddened when our son’s short lives came to a close. Rick had just been to Walter Reed to visit his son’s Platoon Leader, who had just lost both of his legs as a result from an IED, placed by those “Radical Muslims” that this President has such difficulty forming the words in his mouth. Even those he appointed to serve all are unable to speak the words “Radical Islam” or “Radical Muslims” as they are afraid of offending a religion. Yet they have no difficulty not allowing a Christian to say a prayer at school functions or games will not allow the Pledge to be uttered by our children before class, as we did when I was in school. Now, the world sees a President who is afraid to offend anyone, accept the people who elected him president, will not react to North Korea, who just committed an act of war by sinking a South Korean battle ship, killing, murdering 47 (I think that number is correct) men of a nation once a part of their own. Iran is emboldened to continue their nuclear weapons program as this President will not respond with actions, only empty words, not even threats, just more empty words.

We listen to Glenn Beck, “we” being most of the people I know and hangout with, and we learn about a history and heroes of America we otherwise might never get to know. I invite my neighbors over to watch the recorded classes (at 5 PM, Atlanta time) that tell so much about a country, and the men and women who built this country and a nation, growing out of the dust, blown into a work of art that only God could and did allow to happen, and to then bless, bless as a Christian nation, blessed as a “Promised land” to those who one day will remember just what this country is all about. The vision of this President, this President Barack Hussein Obama, who stood before future heroes of America, some who will serve then move on, other who will serve then continue to serve because the country needs them to stay and be the future of this great land, is a very disturbing vision, at least to me it is. How dare this President who condemns our Nation, apologizes to the world for America’s flaws, while ignoring his own deep flaws and Ignoring the flaw of leaving in question his own citizenship allowing him to be President, to be Commander in Chief, to be a citizen of this Country. How can he stand there in his smugness and judge this great nation and then speak to those who will soon face the enemy that this President sees as someone to “reason” with rather than defeat. Keep Glenn Beck in mind on Monday through Friday, at 5 PM Atlantic time, and where ever you might be, check FOX News to see what time the brave American tells us the story of our forefathers, the men and women who made a difference in influencing America in a most positive way, rather than, like this President, in a most negative way, speaking only ill of this great land blessed by our creator as it struggled through periods of time that caused a stress on the core of America only imagined by those who were there during those periods. As Glenn Beck is heckled by those who want to “Transform” America, “Redistribute the wealth” of those who work hard to enjoy the land God blessed and gave them, the President, President Barack Hussein Obama standing before great Americans, as many Presidents before him, and speaks of the threats and dangers these young men and women, graduates of West Point, as if he was the first to recognize the threats they will face. It would be laughable if it were not so sad to see this pathetic President, standing with his chin in the air, as in almost every image of him, looking down and speaking down to men and women who he should be looking up too, as he knows, as we all know, he will never match up to the greatness of the weakest of those standing before him. God bless those cadets, now officers of the United States Army, and who will command and lead men into battle, will face danger and horrors only soldiers know, something that this President who speaks to them as if he understood. Well, he does not understand, nor will he ever understand what it is to be a soldier, but especially and specifically a graduate of West Point, just to be a member of the “Long Gray Line”.

Mr. President, you may have been elected into the highest office in the world by Americans who misjudged you, had faith in you, believed in you, thought you would hold sacred your oath, just as those you spoke to today, but little did most understand that you did not, will not, will never, have on ounce of what is inside the small finger of any of the men or women to whom you spoke today! You may speak down to them, look down on them, but Mr. President, you are ordinary, nothing special. You were a “Community Organizer”, oh how wonderful it must have felt to have been elected knowing that you fooled an entire nation into believing that you were something you will never be, a great American. Well Mr. President, look into the eyes of any of those to whom you spoke today and you will see greatness, you will see Americans, who knows who they are, where they were born, and what it is about America that drives them to serve, not from behind the safety of a desk or as a Community Organizer, but facing the enemy that you embrace Mr. President, that you fear offending or are unwilling to concede that it is they who should be apologizing, not this great country called “America” for the evils you say reflects the substance of the American people, well you are so wrong. Look deep into the eyes of real Americans, those who stood before you as you spoke to them on this special day America honors our heroes and see what being true to yourself and country is, something you know nothing about.

Your only concern Mr. President is the destruction of the America that these young men and women graduating today take their oath to protect and defend. You place a difficult task before them, they take an oath to follow your orders, while at the same time they swear to defend and protect the very country you are trying to re-invent, change into something different than what they are sworn to protect and defend, quite a dilemma for them Mr. President. The good thing is, they will figure it out, and they will know what to do as they are America’s best and finest, far above the dark shadows from where you came from, somewhere no one is really sure of. Thank God for those of our Armed Forces Academies, that produce military leaders who will find away to help us out of the deep hole you are digging in hopes that those who know you will be buried in. God blessed America hundreds of years ago, and I have a real, deep faith that he will bless America again. Thank you graduates of West Point, who today gave America new hope. We owe you!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Happy Mother's Day, May 9th, 2010


Early this morning when I woke up, I looked at the sleeping beautiful woman that lay next to me, the mother of our two sons, one we lost much too early, the other somewhere in Bahrain engaged in things known only to him. I noticed that my wife of 45 years still was as beautiful as she was when I asked her to marry me with words she swears were not “Will you marry me?”, but rather, “Will you be the mother of my children?” Being a young English girl at the time, she was not sure if I just wanted to make love to her or for her to become my wife. I only remember that she said yes and a few months later, on December 4th, in a chapel on top of a hill, near Harrogate England, on an Intelligence site known as the “13th USASA Field Station, Menwith Hill, Harrogate England”. I was dressed in my class A’s and she in a borrowed beautiful white wedding dress. As I go on, you will be wondering what in the heck does any of this matter or what relevance does any of this have to what follows. It has all the relevance and oh, how it matters, but I’ll leave that to you to figure out, I already know, and actually, to me, that is really all the relevance that matters.

Growing up, other than my mother or father, God was all I depended on and continues to be the driving factor in my life for all that I believe in. With all my heart I know that God brought Val into my life, gave birth to the gifts of my sons, Milt III and Wayne, who growing up provided me the inner strength to do what I did while I served my country in a field of intelligence that interlaced with primarily the NSA (National Security Agency) but also gave me contact with the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), a rewarding field that I took very serious, and know only God could have given me the ability to do what I did. My contributions were significant, but so were so many others, who like me, believed in an America that believed in the people who made up America, People of all races, religions, and cultures. I cannot speak for anyone but myself, but the entire time I was in what struck me more than anything else was how the different races, religions, and cultures never entered as a negative, only a positive, as it relates to how I felt about the America I loved, we all loved so much.

All the “Mothers” of all those who made up the various races, religions, and cultures, were “Mothers of America” and raised their children to be good citizens, great Americans, and dedicated soldiers involved in gathering, analyzing and disseminating intelligence reports that included reports that were sent at times directly to the President of the United States. So, the fact that the mothers of these men and women gave their children moral ethics above the average person, if they had not, they could not have been enlisted into such a sensitive branch of the military, had a relevance of great importance. Each mother, along with the fathers of these dedicated men and women, were made of the same substance of those who were the mothers of our “Forefathers”, and just think what they meant to the birth of America, the America that I speak of and is now in such danger of being lost.

Mother’s Day, if only the mothers of our forefathers knew what great things were in front of them, how great their offspring would be as a result of what they gave them. Substance, the substance of greatness and humility, yet these men would instill something in future children of the America that would become the leader of the world. An America that was flawed yet willing to grow in ways no other country in the world would, or I doubt even could. To be America, there had to be children of special mothers, children who would grow up first to be known as our “Forefathers” and then men of such great substance that few men would have, most would wear the uniforms of our military forces. Men, yes and women, who would fight in the war for independence, civil war that would bring together a divided America, Wars that only history books would reveal the reasoning, and now are being rewritten so that history is changed to fit those who now govern. But, the men and women are still wearing those uniforms, volunteering to place themselves in harm’s way, not just for the benefit of those who are fortunate enough to be Americans, but for those poor souls who regardless of race, religion, or cultural background, were born in countries where freedom had to be won and sometimes delivered to them by stronger men and women, called “Americans”. And deliver we did, count the countries, I can’t, I just don’t know my history well enough to name them all. But think of a few, like Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan, and yes even Iraq, just to name a few. There were more, more where American men and women spilled their blood for reasons known only to each individual who took their oaths to defend and protect not only their own country, but their friends and allies. So many mothers, who sacrificed their own children because that is who they are, because of their “Mothers”, who gave each that substance that is hard to define, but easy to identify, and most are “Americans”.

Yet, America as great as she is, still reaches out to those who want to be a part of this great experiment called “America”, and mothers from countries around the world are instilling into their children the desire to become what most envy, an American. I have traveled all my life, first as a dependant of an Officer of the United States Air Force, then as a member of the United States Army Intelligence and Security Command (USAINSCOM) that grew out of the United States Army Security Agency (USASA), who became an important part of the overall intelligence community. During my travels around the world, I observed the respect most people from all cultures, religions and races, showed towards anyone identified as an “American”. So may round the world wanted to be what we are, Americans, to live where we live, America, and as proud as they were of their own identity, there was a mystique about being an American. Americans always seemed to be willing to give, “give money, food, clothing, even medical assistance” for strangers, even countries that have either fought against us, or hate us, or have contempt for us. When there is a need, Americans are there, always first to be there to ease the pain of those around the world who are in need. Yet we now have a President who would rather define this great country as one of contempt for others, look down with distain on those less fortunate, self indulgent and unwilling to come to the aid of those in need. Do you ever wonder why our own President fails to see the good in not only the country of America, but the men and women of this wonderful and giving country? Most of all, this President pays little homage to the “Mothers” who gave birth to the great Americans that make up this great nation, and sacrificed so much so that America continues to have an abundance of men and women who are willing to continue the great experiment called “America”.

I offer quotes of some of our founding fathers, and while reading the quotes, consider the mothers and fathers, but today let’s concentrate on the mothers of these great men, and what incredible women their mothers must have been to have instilled into these “Founders” (of America, the constitution, and the Bill of Rights), the substance and strength to withstand everything they faced, so that we might enjoy what we are in danger of losing as I write this column.

Patrick Henry: “Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Beside, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of Nations, and who will rise up friends to fight our battles for us.” (War is Inevitable, March 1775).

James Madison: “The Ultimate authority…resides in the people alone.”
“It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties. We hold this prudent jealousy to be the first duty of citizens and one of the noblest characteristics of the late Revolution. The freemen of America did not wait till usurped power had strengthened itself by exercise and entangled the question in precedents. They saw all the consequences in the principle, and they avoided the consequences by denying the principle. We revere this lesson too much…to forget it.”

Samuel Adams: “the liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards.”

John Adams: “People and Nations are forged in the fires of adversity.”
“Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been shall be unfurled, there will be America’s heart, her benedictions, and prayers, but she goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator of her own.

Alexander Hamilton: “The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature by the hand of the Divinity itself, and can never be erased by mortal power.”

Benjamin Franklin: “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”

George Washington: “I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.”

Thomas Jefferson: “On every question of construction of the Constitution, let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollected the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed.”

The quotes above are examples of the character and substance of the men who make up our forefathers, the original “Founders” of this great nation, its Constitution, and delivered to us a free, independent, and envied nation. How proud their mothers must have been, be it while they lived, or in the afterlife, with their creator, God who blessed this nation, blessed the people who would find a way to govern while creating the basis of governance. How happy those mothers must have been. To those, and to all mothers of America, and all mothers around the world, I bid you; “Happy Mother’s Day,” today, May 9th, 2010.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

If Only To Return To Celebrate Our Silent Victories



Today we celebrate our victories against “Terrorism” by applauding that we caught the bad guy, how fast and with such professional skills, and I take nothing away from our dedicated “Agents” , “Soldiers”, and “Law Enforcement” involved, but am somewhat miffed by it all when I think of it. We caught the “Bad Guy” at Ft. Hood only after he killed 17, wounding many more, of our heroes. We caught the “Bad Guy” when, while on an aircraft, he lit his crotch on fire and the hidden explosive failed and he was taken down by passengers. And we are currently celebrating the quick action of catching the “Bad Guy” after his attempt to blow up a SUV filled with explosives failed; fizzling out when a heroic street vendor (Vietnam Veteran) notified the police and it was extinguished by responding firemen. Each event was followed by our current President making a statement on how fast we reacted and that we will get all those involved.

I recall a time in the intelligence community when we silently celebrated preventing acts of terrorism from taking place, watching Americans, and citizens of other countries, go about their business never knowing that anything at all ever took place. “Ignorance is Bliss” is or was a truism that has meaning to those of us who help create an environment of “Blissful Ignorance” enjoyed by so many! Believe me when I say our then President, and those of us in the Intelligent community, went through a few prior to 9/11, and then more silent celebrations for another eight years after. But, that was before this self indulged egotist enjoys his power and unending presence of his face on our flat screen televisions reassuring us that our “Law Enforcement” actions will continue to keep us safe while putting on trial those captured fools who, thank God, either screwed it up or after killing so many managed to get wounded so he was unable to escape. All the while, this President, for political reasons only, is coming to the realization that he is going to have to call “Terror” what it is, but only with great reluctance.

My mind keep going back to the days when I was stationed in Africa, under a conservative President, and was involved in assisting providing the intelligence to get an intelligence (collection ship, details will remain unmentioned) activity that was captured by a foreign government, released without the American people ever being made aware of the near disaster and potentially devastating end result where families would have lost their loved ones. But, it was celebrated in silence, by those involved in providing that intelligence, which back then was kept secret, and there were no public announcements of our success. We did not need what this administration needs, recognition, glory, praise, and the unending love of his oblivious and ignorant followers. All we needed was to succeed and know we got the job done, and people lived, be Americans or those loved ones of other countries, who went home to their families never knowing they might have died had it not been for those dedicated silent warriors of the secret war against our enemies.

Only under Liberal and or progressive Presidents can I recall the missed opportunities and or plain mismanagement of the greatest intelligence resources known to mankind. Does Beirut Lebanon and USS Pueblo ring a bell? How about Clinton refusing to accept Osama bin Laden when offered by Yemen, and other times not mentioned, along with the attack of the USS Cole, where we lost 17 patriot heroes, and I could go on but it depresses me, and should depress you as well. Where were the celebrations then? Why did these failures, regardless of President, not cause more of a reaction than lobbing a few cruise missiles into deserted terrorist camps, as we warned many of our pending superficial attacks to demonstrate we can? We lost our edge when we President Clinton ended or seriously reduced our HUMINT “Human Intelligence” efforts as we did not want to depend on sources of “questionable” character. And it was under President Carter where he nearly destroyed our intelligence collection efforts (I am not at liberty to say, but those who were serving then know, and that is all that is important to me), and not only that, but it was under his watch that our Embassy in Iran was seized by thugs, one who now calls himself “President” (The so called President Ahmadinejad) who is close to having the ability to not only have a nuclear warhead, but deliver it! Where is the deterrence that would stop him? Will the great and powerful “America” depend on the tiny country to go in and take out the threat that would destroy them as not only a country, but as a people? Who will be celebrating then?

I can recall times when we in the intelligent communities silently celebrated victories as we prevented so many events of terror that would have taken place had so many dedicated young men and women not been at their stations doing what no one knows about, and should never know about. We did not need the glory and attention then, and I am certain that these young men and women do not need the glory or attention now. But every other day we read in the New York Times, or other news media about secrets of our methods, success, when we have them, and recently our own Secretary of State (Another Clinton) providing to the world, what had been one of our most sacred secrets, the total number of Nuclear warheads, and I believe even providing the location of our intercontinental missile launch sites. Where is the logic of this thought process? If I recall the headline on ABC News was; “Clinton, Pentagon Reveal State Secret: Size of U.S. Nuclear Arsenal”! Who is celebrating this I wonder? ABC reported that “For those who doubt that the United States will do its part on disarmament, this is our record, these are our commitments, and they send a clear, unmistakable signal,” said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton before the U.N.’s conference on Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. (Her comments were a direct rebuke to those made earlier that day by Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad) Since when does the United States respond to any leader or Head of State of a country who is a “Terrorist State”, trains, supports, and provides logistical support to Terrorist groups with weapons and materials to make the IED’s (Improvised Explosive Devices) that are killing and maiming our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan? Who is celebrating now? I’ll bet those who harbor, assist, and provide the “Terrorists” who hate and kill Americans and their allies.

All of America can celebrate our victories, known and unknown, but none of us should be celebrating the compromising our threats, our secrets, our capabilities, all the things this Administration believes will cause an Ideology that is intent on destroying Israel, many places is Western Europe (most our allies) and of course the people of the United States to pick flowers and kiss our feet, because we are so nice. Who are they (This Administration) fooling? I think they are fooling only themselves as each progressive Administration has; only far more so than anything any of us have ever witnessed. The ignorance of this congress, this Administration, those who elected and still are happy they did, is beyond anything I have seen in my 65 years, certainly my 20 plus years serving in the Intelligence community. The terror to me is becoming more and more that my own Government and its incredible lack of ability to understand the threats or the pending results of those threats, and our Government’s own ignorance will actually cause a disaster beyond anything America has ever witnessed. If that happens, who will be celebrating then? I think we can all guess.

Well, if this inept Administration, led by an inexperienced President, unless you consider his service as a “Community Organizer” credentials for being the leader of the free world does not get us destroyed before November, we have a chance. Just look at the places where he was a community leader, any major success that come to mind that can be celebrated? In November we will not have to celebrate in silence as we did with our successes during my days in the serving our country while in the Intelligence Community. We can shout out the joy of winning back the Congress, both House and Senate, Oh, and of course the biggest celebration will be in November, only in 2012 when America elects a conservative to office of “President of the United States of America”. We can give great credit to our hard working , behind the scenes heroes in Law Enforcement, and the Intelligence Community, along with any ordinary citizen who assisted in providing the information needed to not only apprehend this “Terrorist” who recently became a citizen of the United States. Born in Pakistan, now U.S. Citizen Fisal Shahzad has admitted trying to set off a car bomb in Times Square will be facing “Terrorism and mass destruction charges” accordingly to Attorney General Eric Holder, another radical of this Administration, who said: “Based on what we know so far, it is clear that this was a terrorist plot aimed at murdering Americans in one of the busiest places in our country”. Do ya think? I am ready to celebrate whatever intelligence is gathered to help protect this country against those who would harm us. But I’ll never celebrate those who are gloating over “luck” rather than solid intelligence gathering that might have prevented it in the first place.

I’ll wait till November of this year and again in 2012, and along with most of you, will then celebrate as we foiled the transformation of America, and planed redistribution of wealth, that would destroy the strongest economy in the world. Together we can shout out our joy of not “winning” but more important, not loosing! And you can bet this old beat up Vietnam veteran will be celebrating, wishing my father, mother, brother and son could be here to witness what returning America back to “We the People”, my America, the one I love so much and miss right now. We will see her come home. (Ho, to be back in the silent, secret war!)

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Glenn Beck "Educates America"




The more I watch the Glenn Beck College class on U.S. Political History, Monday through Friday, at 5:00PM, Atlantic Time, I realize just how much I missed during my formal education while attending the “University of Maryland” while stationed overseas back in the 70’s and 80’s. As much as I thought I learned way back then, it just does not compare to the hour a day, five days a week that I get watching Glenn Beck on FOX. This week has been an eye-opener that will stay with me for far longer than what I learned way back when. “Crime Inc” will have new meaning after Glenn’s explanation of the working of Washington and this current Administration.

As Glenn, in his masterful way, paints a picture of corruption and lack of moral ethic in the places we should expect nothing less than the same virtues of our forefathers, and the virtues displayed by them as they formed what became the greatest country in the world, and without the ties to organized crime expected in many countries where corruption is the rule rather than the exception, I was reminded of the many who gave so much, never expecting to witness the events of this past year and a half. What was America thinking at the voting booths in November of 2008? Did they not pay attention to the promises our current President made on the campaign trail? Did they not believe him when he promised to redistribute the wealth, and transform America into a Socialist state (demonstrated by those he appointed to his administration?) or (the White House visitor’s sign in sheet reflecting numerous visits by those of questionable character, according to reliable sources)?

Friday Glenn Beck educated America, at least the ones that took the time to watch his show, on Samuel Adams:
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 Date of birth: September 27, 1722
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 Date of death: October 2, 1803
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 Profession: Politician
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 Nationality: American
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 Cause of death: Parkinson's disease
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 Place of birth: Boston

You know, when I looked up “Samuel Adams” on the internet, the first thing that came up was:

• Samuel Adams – America’s World Class Beer
Informational site with detailed information on beers, brewer and beer history, tasting techniques, tips for home brewing, a virtual brewery tour, beer encyclopedia, company details ...

What I find amazing is that the “Beer” in priority came before one of our founding fathers, and signers of the Declaration of Independence. He helped guide Congress towards issuing the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and helped draft the Articles of Confederation and the Massachusetts Constitution. Adams returned to Massachusetts after the American Revolution, where he served in the state senate and was eventually elected governor. Yet, beer is where the information network would take us, instead of one of America’s most patriotic heroes. It demonstrates just how screwed up we have become with our priorities. But listening to Glenn Beck, I feel as if I am learning what I should have been taught in High School, then in what little college I did attend while in the military. As I look back on just how progressives are working at making money and power the important things in life rather than God and Country, along with family. Boy, did Glenn come along at the right time. God really does work in strange ways. WOW! I almost bought into it all, believing that our Congress and Presidents were all patriots who, like our forefathers believed in America, the people of this great nation, and that man, not God, decided our rights. It really is time for all of us to step back, take a breath and learn about who we are.

Are we like those in Congress and the White House who worship money and power, or are we like our forefathers who worshiped God and had faith in the Country that God blessed and provided to us? I pray that it will never be, at least for me and those I love, what the progressives, who America elected, because they had faith, are and are proving to be every time they step in front of a TV monitor spewing what their plans are for this country. God help us all if we ever fall for their lies and deceit ever again. It is so important that we search for the right men and women, with the right belief systems, to lead us again, as we were once led, by honorable men and women who led by example and never lost sight of how we became a nation, a nation of “Christians” who trusted in God, believed in their fellow men, but never took the people of this wonderful nation for granted. They left it up to us to keep America what it is and should remain. We owe it to those who sacrificed all, for all of us.

I am sure that there are much smarter men and women than I and that what I am now learning for the first time they have always known. Well, if you know this, then you should be leading the charge, along with Glenn Beck, ready to carry the fight to the very halls of Congress and the White House, willing to be heard and never to be silenced by the intimidation of those who are in power, a power they have only because we allowed them to have it. Should they not remember why they were elected and by whom they were elected, it is time for us to remind them, especially in November of this year when we go to cast our votes for men and women who’s “God” is not money, greed, nor power, but patriots who love this country and place the people of this nation above their personal agendas and needs. Somewhere in all of this vast great land called America, there must be a few who are made of the same substance as “Samuel Adams” and others who emulate our “Founding Fathers”. As I watch the numbers swell, ordinary Americans coming to terms that it is in our hands, not theirs (our elected leaders) as to the future of these United States of America, my confidence grows and my faith reignited, hope building deep in my heart, that all is not lost, not as long as God continues to bless us, which I believe with my whole being that God is and will continue to do just that, bless us!

I remember listening to Glenn Beck when he was on the radio here in Atlanta, with his wild and “different” approach to bringing the news, as he saw it, and even then thought there was something special about him. Little did I know then, what I know now, he is very special indeed, very special and those who are critical of him, who mock him, fail to understand just how much this man truly loves this country and is afraid, like many of us, of the possibility of losing what we have in her. A land, a country, blessed by God, that is, yes I said is, and I believe will remain, the envy of the world. No matter where she is at this moment in time, she is the America I remember and love and call the greatest land of all, just because God blessed her, and entrusted her to “We the People”. And God does not make mistakes!