Aliens Among Us

From James Taranto's Best of the Web Today:

Gort! Klaatu Barada Nikto!

At least two U.S. senators are space aliens, and this isn't one of those supermarket-tabloid gags. We are as serious as a heart attack.

On Dec. 20, 2002, Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska shared a byline on a Washington Post op-ed titled "Iraq: The Decade After." Biden and Hagel, both of whom had voted two months earlier to go to war with Saddam Hussein's regime, warned that it would not be an easy undertaking and that America had to be prepared for a long-term commitment:

Although no one doubts our forces will prevail over Saddam Hussein's, key regional leaders confirm what the Foreign Relations Committee emphasized in its Iraq hearings last summer: The most challenging phase will likely be the day after--or, more accurately, the decade after--Saddam Hussein.

Once he is gone, expectations are high that coalition forces will remain in large numbers to stabilize Iraq and support a civilian administration. That presence will be necessary for several years, given the vacuum there, which a divided Iraqi opposition will have trouble filling and which some new Iraqi military strongman must not fill. . . . Americans are largely unprepared for such an undertaking. President Bush must make clear to the American people the scale of the commitment.

Today President Bush remains committed, while Biden and Hagel are among the leaders of the effort to retreat. Their "decade" turned out to last barely four years. The only plausible explanation is that the planet Biden and Hagel are from revolves around its sun in the equivalent of about 150 Earth days.

Against all enemies...

Senate Passes Cut-and-Run Supplemental

...foreign and domestic.

"Why you sad, American soldier?"

I have nothing to add to this.

Dear Family and friends,

As many of you may have heard by now, there was a major VBIED that exploded in [redacted]. The amount of explosives within the truck was enough to shake my CHU almost [redacted] miles away.

When we arrived at the scene, it was one of chaos and despair. There are not enough words to describe the carnage and evil that we saw. I saw it again a little later at the hospital. [numbers of Iraqi civilians dead and wounded redacted] I know, because I walked among the bodies to count them for my report.

At our initial stop at the hospital, it was total anarchy trying to get the wounded treated. We had Blackhawk Helicopters Medevac the injured to the hospitals at [redacted]. The less severe were being treated at the hospital [here] and the neighborhood clinics.

The dead were being piled outside in the yard and covered in blankets. Still, stray dogs found their way to the bodies, but Thank God there were enough people there, still with the sense of mind, to chase them away.

When I walked inside the doorway of the hospital there was a commotion going on. As I tried to get a grasp of what was happening, I looked to my left and saw more bodies, covered in blankets outside of the foyer. I asked [my interpreter] to come with me, so that I could document who these new bodies where or when they came in.

As I stepped closer to them in the dark, I realized I was looking at the bodies of small children. Some as young as 12 months old.

As I lifted the tiny blankets, I became numb; one infant had its tiny head missing. Others were disfigured and their bodies broken and mangled. I could not believe what I was looking at.

There was no semblance or the perception of a rough American soldier. I dropped to my knees and started to cry uncontrollably. All of the men, Iraqi Army and police, doctors and nurses all stopped to look at me. I did not care, I was beside myself. My interpreter did not say a word, he also sat there staring at me, but he knows me and understands.

One of the [Iraqi] men came to me and said, in a voice totally filled with compassion and caring, "Why you sad, American soldier?"

I looked up at him, and I could not say anything. I got up and wiped myself with my Arabic scarf and rejoined the group of men to hear their argument.

They told me that about some doctors did not show up. I asked them why. They said because the terrorist and insurgents had threatened them.

"Did not you and they take an oath to preserve life at all costs?" I asked them. "Why are you here and not them?"

They said it is a sad day in Iraq when an American soldier will fall on his knees and cry for children that are not American, but our own doctors will not come to help.

I asked them, why not send the Iraqi Army to their homes and force them to show up? The head doctor grabbed my by the elbow and said, "That is why God has sent you and given you a big heart." I told him that I would do everything in my power to see that it happens.

3 days prior, a suicide bomber detonated his bomb in a market area. Not just anywhere, but outside of a candy store.

These so called freedom fighters, Martyrs and defenders of the faith do not attack Iraqi army, police or soldiers like me, but innocent civilians, and children on top of that. They cannot win against the American fighting soldier, so they have to go to the weakest of the weak to spread their campaign of fear.

I wish people like Cindy Sheehan, Michael Moore and the leftist elite in the Media and Hollywood would come here and volunteer their time and talents. Let them try to count and cover the broken bodies of infants.

If the Coalition Forces leave from Iraq this will be an everyday occurrence until one of these groups, who believes they only should exist, takes over through such terror and murder.

If you have children, whether sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, little cousins or your neighbors kids, hug them and appreciate the fact that you will not have to see their life end in such a brutal and cowardly fashion.

Pray for these people, for these children, and for all of us.

In addition to the redacted names, place names, etc. I have also edited complete passages for the sake of clarity and length.

Update: Because this Soldier was subsequently shown on TV being carried on a litter, a buddy wrote to tell us he was ok. Turns out he was trying to protect a child from being trampled by a crowd in the chaotic and violent aftermath of this incident. While doing so he fell down a flight of stairs, causing a concussion. He briefly collapsed.

He was back on duty within a couple of hours. In a reference to his Greek heritage he quipped, "It is going to take a lot more than about 400 Turkomen to stop a Spartan."

Keep charging, Spartan. We love you.

Update 2, 02 April: "Why you sad, American soldier?" - Part 2

The Roots of anti-Americanism

Found this at Drudge. It's Evan Sayet speaking at The Heritage Foundation. He's a writer, lecturer, and pundit who for 20 years was a top Hollywood writer and producer for the likes of Bill Maher and Arsenio Hall.

The title of the 45-minute lecture is "Regurgitating the Apple: How Modern Liberals Think", but forget the labels. It's a fascinating analysis of what he calls "indescriminateness of thought", often called moral equivilancy. The indescriminateness of thought which has led to much of today's anti-America, anti-Military agenda.

Sayet makes several references to Allan Bloom's book, The Closing of the American Mind, which is also well worth your time.

Prayers for DJ

Leslie and DJ
This is a difficult post to write, but many of you have been asking about DJ. There have been ongoing complications and his condition is very serious. Over the past 3 days the doctors have been forced to amputate both of his legs in an effort to control the infection that is plaguing his body.

Corporal David "DJ" Emery Jr. of 2/4 Marines was severly wounded in a terrorist suicide attack on February 7. He was sent here to Germany and then on to Bethesda Naval Medical Center on Februrary 18. You can find previous posts about DJ here and here.

My hearfelt gratitude to all of you who have kept DJ and his family in your thoughts and prayers. They are much appreciated and needed more than ever now.

The other day Cassandra posted the beautiful words below about faith for DJ and his family. They have been a true comfort during this difficult time and I'd like to share them with you here.

Faith

Who can know what tales are told in the whispers of an angel,
Who can see what mighty deeds he does in the name of the Lord,
What eye can see or mind conceive of how he sees this world,
Dark and light is angel sight: the battle brave, and souls are saved.
Demons flee when we're set free, and angels there attend.

- Dennis Carlson Ragsdale



Click to read more stories about DJ here at SAG.

Dereliction of Duty

House votes for surrender in Iraq, selling out our troops and their mission - our national security - for 30 pieces of silver.

CINC: "As I have made clear for weeks, I will veto it if it comes to my desk. And because the vote in the House was so close, it is clear that my veto would be sustained."

Full text and video here.

U.S. Marine Awarded British Distinguished Flying Cross

Queen Elizabeth II presents U.S. Marine Maj. William D. Chesarek Jr. with the British Distinguished Flying Cross in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace Wednesday. Chesarek is the first American to receive the honor since World War II. Photo courtesy of British Ceremonial Arts Limited.

Maj. Chesarek has served as the weapons and tactics instructor with the British 847 Naval Air Squadron since 2005 as part of an exchange program between the two countries.

An AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter pilot, Maj. Chesarek was awarded the equivalent of the American Silver Star for his actions which helped save a British marine’s life in Iraq.

The mission started late on the night of June 10, 2006, as Chesarek and his crew were preparing to support about 100 British marines from the 20 Armoured Brigade as they looked for an insurgent weapons cache in the city of Amarah.

He was piloting a Lynx AH47 helicopter, which usually supported each battle group of a few hundred British troops.

As the ground force prepared to leave Amarah after wrapping up the weapons search, one vehicle became disabled. And insurgents took advantage.

“It kind of delayed the process, and now it’s going from night to day,” Chesarek, 32, recalled. “They started taking more fire as well.”

While Chesarek and his men in the air tried to find the sources of insurgent attacks — he estimated it was the work of five to 10 groups of three to five men — civilians started emerging, making it more difficult for the helicopter to single out and fire back at the insurgents.

“Obviously that has a huge impact on everything the guys on the ground are doing, as far as trying to avoid anything with noncombatants, and trying to effectively engage insurgents,” Chesarek said.

As the summer sun got higher in the sky, attacks on the marooned ground forces increased, and one British marine was shot in the head. Chesarek and his crew landed and evacuated the casualty.

Chesarek also drew enemy fire away from the ground troops and called in other air support that helped disperse the insurgents.

As the chopper pulled away from the scene, a rocket-propelled grenade barely missed its tail.

Though he had supported U.S. Marines on similar missions, those close calls never stop feeling too close for comfort, he said.

“I had been through some scenarios which age you significantly,” he said. “You’re that much more prepared for it when it happens again, and you’re grateful when it misses you. I remember looking behind me in the face of my door gunner and laughing briefly at the expression on his face just after that barely missed.”

Update: More on Maj. Chesarek at OPFOR.

Strykers in Baqubah

MNF-Iraq B-roll of soldiers from the 3rd Stryker Brigade as they take and return fire in Buhriz, Diyala Province, Iraq, on March 14, 2007.

The Strykers have begun operations in Baqubah and elsewhere in Diyala Province where elements of al Qaeda have regrouped after fleeing Baghdad. Look for continuing operations here in the coming weeks.

Let's make a deal

Your Congress at work:

You want U.S. troops out of Iraq immediately? What'll it take to get you to vote on the supplemental's 2008 withdrawal date?

Will $750 million for kids health care do the trick?

How about $400 million for rural Northwest schools once dependent on federal timber sales?

Or an extra $2.9 billion in hurricane relief?

Let's make a deal.

Not sure what all this pork has to do with the Global War on Terror. But then again, I'm not a member of Congress.

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself. -- Mark Twain

Message from Iraq: American people are the "tipping point for our success"

A message from Iraq to Soldiers' Angels.

Thanks so much for the great packages for our soldiers here. I can't tell you how much it means to our men.

For my men and me - the notes, care, compassion and thoughts that come from you are immeasurable.

The Army provides for us more than any other Army. We are well equipped, clothed and even compensated.

However, no amount of encourgement or words of wisdom from our politicians or military leaders and even myself has the same impact as the thoughts from our friends and families back in the United States.

You don't realize, everything you do for our men helps to turn this war around and is the tipping point for our success.

And here's one from Afghanistan:

From a deployed service-member, heartfelt thanks to Soldiers’ Angels.

In the waning days of my year-long deployment to Afghanistan, I have begun to reflect on the things that have made a huge difference to me during my tour.

When I started this journey to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that I would be wearing body armor and carrying around an M-16. As a Sailor, I was nervous about what I had gotten myself into. As a service member, I knew that it was my time to answer my nation's call. Whatever was needed of me, I would do it.

After getting over the initial shock of being over here, I discovered the America Supports You campaign. I was amazed by how much love and heartfelt gratitude my fellow Americans had for all of us deployed personnel.

After a little web-surfing, I happened on the Soldiers’ Angels network. Little did I know at the time when I put my name in for it what a profound impact SA would have on me and my troops serving “over there”.

Within weeks, I was flooded by countless postcards, letters, care packages, and emails from ordinary, extraordinary Americans who were genuinely concerned about how I was doing. Was I getting enough to eat? Am I cool or warm enough? Do I have a special treat that would make life a little easier? Where was I from?

I was taken aback by so many new friends who were honestly concerned for my well-being and of the troops around me. I was shocked and awed to say the least.

We all get homesick and depressed being on the other side of the planet, not knowing if today was going to be our last day. Whenever I felt a little down in the dumps, I always had an Angel to turn to who lifted my spirits. My Angels were there when I needed them the most, when I felt like there was no one in the world understood what I was going through.

With only about thirty days to go until I start heading home, I’m now training the young men and women to do the job that I’ve done for the past 11 months. I hope that they listen to my tips and tricks to keep them safe.

Most of all, I hope they take a little time out of their day to understand how much love their fellow Americans have for them.

From the deepest recesses of my heart, I want to personally thank each and every Angel. We couldn’t do what we have to do without having you there beside us, each and every step of the way.

You are all your heroes, heroes.

Won't you step up and become a Soldiers' Angel?

Because, as a nation, we have a choice...