Abu Muqawama: Post
Abu Muqawama retains its autonomy and the views and beliefs expressed within the blog do not reflect those of CNAS. Abu Muqawama retains the right to delete comments that include words that incite violence; are predatory, hateful, or intended to intimidate or harass; or degrade people on the basis of gender, race, class, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. In summary, don't be a jerk.
Dakota Meyer
Bing West, of course, described it the most eloquently:
For a man to charge into fire once requires grit that is instinctive in few men; to do so a second time, now knowing what awaits you, requires inner resolve beyond instinct; to repeat a third time is courage above and beyond any call of duty; to go in a fourth time is to know you will die; to go in a fifth time is beyond comprehension.
Meyer's performance was the greatest act of courage in the war, because he repeated it, and repeated it, and repeated it.
Wonder if Dakota knows were
Wonder if Dakota knows were the Knob Creek gun range is? It is a popular family place that many in western Kentucky know about. One day I was walking around during a biannual event at KCR and this guy was standing on a box with a crowd of people gathered around. Person was talking about America and Freedom. The guy turned out to be Rand Paul, soon to be Kentucky's Senator.
Spent some time in and around Greensburg, Ky. Not too far from Bowling Green where you can take a tour of the GM Corvette factory. Further north is Fort Knox where America keeps its gold. It is the type of place that people still salute the American flag, gun rights are supported, and the bible is still something that is taken seriously. I was checking out at a super market and the person running the register was concerned that my food bill might be too expensive. People are friendly; if they bump into you they turn and give an apology and a smile. I have never been to a place where so many people are concerned about a stranger’s welfare.
There are a lot more Dakotas where he grew up. As one person explained to me in Bowling Green, “we still know how to take care of people”. I think they really believe that.
Happy that the spot light has fallen on their community, the American heartland.
Has anyone here been to Alice
Has anyone here been to Alice Springs, Australia? What's so special about that place?
Army Times has an interesting
Army Times has an interesting article discussing how an Army Captain involved in the fight with Meyer has not received any recognition for his heroics during that engagement. Until GEN Allen took a personal interest, that is.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/09/military-ganjgal-medal-of-honor-wi...
YEP. Amazing. I think there
YEP. Amazing. I think there is fully an element of personal character here. In fact, I'm sure nobody is debating that. But what it also highlights for me (a non military man, tho I do live in San Diego) is the cohesion and professionalism and everything else among the US armed forces. They seem to breed these types. And people say government-run things can't work . . .
So what kind of medal did
So what kind of medal did Sgt. Dakota Meyer's humvee driver get?
This is absolute BS, everyone who goes to Afghanistan should be awarded Medal of Honor medals. Hell, before they board these planes to Af-Pak region, they all should be given Medals of Honor, even the civilians and contractors, hell even the third country NATA slave labor we have toiling there. Hell, let's air drop a bunch of Medals of Honors. Let's all be heroes like we can all be artists!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0b90YppquE (here's basically what's going on in Af-Pak region)
Banksy Film on September 16,
Banksy Film on September 16, 2011 - 5:30am
Write a letter to the Commander and Chief, he determines who gets the MOH award.
http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C567.txt
Americans have to be careful what types of entitlement that we create. I am not saying that the MOH is an entitlement, but for some reason you think you are entitled to it. Maybe you are. There is no doubt that the MOH has a lot of politics wrapped around it. Not only does a candidate have to meet 10 USC 567, but someone has to see the action, then someone needs to recommend, and then the recommendation has to survive all the way to POTUS. Then POTUS needs to decide if POTUS needs a hero that day (It makes them look good too and perks it perks up the general public when they see it on the big screens at shopping at the mall).
Think every group of veterans have complained about not getting enough for their contribution. Not all, some. Some are valid complaints, others are not. The WW1 vets camped out in Washington and that generated a large concern. All that helped generate this.
http://us-code.vlex.com/source/us-code-veterans-benefits-1037
*Then there is the matter of the war dead. I guess they got a memorial. Think the Korean Vets finally got theirs.
*Vietnam Agent Orange and Desert Storm Chemical Exposure Vets are still working that issue, it is getting better.
Civilians that worked in the DOD plants are on their own.
*I know of one monument for Munition Plant workers, it is not in Washington, DC. There is a statue, it gets stolen from time to time. Not sure if is about the bronze value or if someone needs a yard monkey. Pay was triple time, but there were not enough pieces left to bury them.
*Some of the Defense Plants both private and government owned were pretty dirty. The nuke plants were the most well known, think Rocky Flats was a poster child. I can think of a lot of other industries that women were told that the chemicals they had work with for years caused birth defects and cancer. The private sector workers got their pay checks and a thank you for service and a don't call us we will call you from the human resource department.
Lot of people make contributions that go unnoticed. It does not have to be defense related.
A six-figure salary and a golden parachute sort of redefines Public Service. My mind trails off to the State of the Union.
May not be perfect, at least Dakota Meyer was wise enough to know it was not about him.
........Oh BTW....He will get $400 extra in pension, his children will be instantly admitted to any Military College of their choosing, and all the free military plane rides that he wants for the rest of his life.
Then every retired service member gets the plane rides, plus special rates at places like this.
http://www.military.com/Travel/Content1/0,,ML_afrc,00.html Yup, they accept DOD civilians too.
Taxpayer not allowed, you just get to pay and watch.
............It is hard not to complain. Too much source material.
@Banksy Film - the driver
@Banksy Film - the driver recieved the Navy Cross.
The most interesting part of
The most interesting part of Meyer's story in West's book was what happened afterwards. Specifically, him getting in trouble for telling a female Army Captain, who wouldn't get out of her truck or let her medics tend to the wounded during an ambush under the pretext that they "weren't infantry" to get fucked. Meyer got shipped home, and I'm certain that the Captain suffered absolutely no consequences for her cowardice and incompetence; odds are, she's now a major, and will probably be a lieutenant colonel, what with her comabt experience and medals (I'm sure she got at least a bronze star for her deployment.) The rot is systemic.
Or let me put it another way:
Or let me put it another way: who do you think has more to give to the military as a warrior-leader-Meyer, or guys like this: http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/16/wheres-my-generator-spy/ (warning, nausea alert)? Now, who do you think is more likely to stay for 20? More likely to be alienated by penny-ante stupidity? Less likely to get in trouble over bullshit? More likely to be elevated to senior leadership and a position to influence doctrine and training?
That ought to tell you something about our military's trajectory as an organization.
"That he did so in the face
"That he did so in the face of repeated refusals by other units to intervene -- a shameful dereliction of duty that has already led to two (criminal) investigations and three official reprimands -- is even more heroic."
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/cpl_dakota_meyer_hero_Y0...
The Medal of Honor confers special privileges on its recipients. By law, recipients have several benefits.
Each Medal of Honor recipient may have his or her name entered on the Medal of Honor Roll (38 U.S.C. § 1560). Each person whose name is placed on the Medal of Honor Roll is certified to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as being entitled to receive a monthly pension above and beyond any military pensions or other benefits for which they may be eligible. The pension is subject to cost-of-living increases; as of 2011, it is more than $1,100 a month.[36]
Enlisted recipients of the Medal of Honor are entitled to a supplemental uniform allowance.
Recipients receive special entitlements to air transportation under the provisions of DOD Regulation 4515.13-R.
Special identification cards and commissary and exchange privileges are provided for Medal of Honor recipients and their eligible dependents.
Eligibility for interment at Arlington National Cemetery if not otherwise eligible.
Fully qualified children of recipients are eligible for admission to the United States military academies without regard to the nomination and quota requirements.
Recipients receive a 10 percent increase in retired pay under 10 U.S.C. § 3991.
Those awarded the medal after October 23, 2002, receive a Medal of Honor Flag. The law specified that all 103 living prior recipients as of that date would receive a flag. (14 U.S.C. § 505).
Recipients receive an invitation to all future presidential inaugurations and inaugural balls.
As with all medals, retired personnel may wear the Medal of Honor on "appropriate" civilian clothing. Regulations specify that recipients of the Medal of Honor are allowed to wear the uniform "at their pleasure" with standard restrictions on political, commercial, or extremist purposes; other former members of the armed forces may do so only at certain ceremonial occasions.
Many states offer distinctive Medal of Honor vehicle license plates to recipients without additional charges or fees.
and my favorite one.....Saluting
Although not required by law or military regulation, members of the uniformed services are encouraged to render salutes to recipients of the Medal of Honor as a matter of respect and courtesy regardless of rank or status.
We salute you Dakota. Keep making us proud.
Semper Fidelis
B on September 16, 2011 -
B on September 16, 2011 - 8:29am
This might hurt you more...The Japanese call it the 5 Whys. It is a problem solving technique.
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Information/Knowledge-Solutions/The-Five-Wh...
It works a lot better on paper. The problem was water, not a generator.
That is a heap of a load for a person straight out of high school. Use to be that we took'em young to put in battle. Why? Cause when your young and indestructible, you WILL drop the hammer. After about 30, you start to think of your family and about the guy's family that you're dropping the hammer on.
The trick is to size up the person your asking the five whys to. Some are insulted by being asked Why? multiple times.
Amish friend, flagged me off from thanking an Amish woman for a good meal. The response usually is, "If you did not think that you were going to get a good meal, they why would you be here?" A better question to ask, "may I have more."
It gets into cultural differences. Again that is a lot to expect from a person out of high school. Some people don't get it after living a life time.
The problem was not water or
The problem was not water or a generator. The problem is that this lieutenant has been taught, along with his peers, that the proper way to interact with Afghans is by being a suplicating little bitch. They treat the Afghans not like people, but like some sort of magical unicorn-like creatures whom you must avoid offending at all costs (when they're not going to the other extreme and treating them like a bunch of terrorist subhumans.) Not demanding respect, they get none, and rightly get played like the tools they are. Worse yet, they think that this is OK-the LT doesn't seem to be embarassed over being punked, nor even aware that this is not normal. He's too busy being ecstatic about his magical yogic abilities to emphathize with the Afghans, as fellow Brown People! And he's probably in the top tenth as far as US officers interacting with their counterparts-I mean, he sort of speaks a language they understand, and is at least trying.
Personally, I've NEVER been treated with such disrespect and discourtesy by the Afghans. And I've never seen them treat each other like that, unless there was some serious social status disparity (tribal leader vs. subordinate,) or a tribal conflict going on (watching grown dudes with beards bitchslapping each other is hilarious.) I've never even had IRAQIS act like that towards me, and those are the most arrogant and entitled people I've ever met. But I've seen more than one US military officer acting this way (kissing ass while being patronizing-I don't know how they do it, but they do,) and be treated like a prison bitch for his troubles. I think they like it-maybe it's a result of having the FRG force Three Cups of Tea down their throats.
In the calculus I don't know
In the calculus I don't know how you can justify Meyer's getting a Medal of Honor and the driver only getting a Navy Cross. Not to knock on Meyer, but give the driver the MOH too! From zero to hero and back to zero!
This Rajiv Srinivasan fellow will be in the news more, this guy is a nincumpoop. They should give him a MOH and hurry him to the CIA where we store our gullible over educated over empathized no common sense ijuts. Kinda like this explanatory video of why our education system has to change: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
B, If Rajiv was a prison
B,
If Rajiv was a prison guard in California, he'd be considered Santa Claus and his home would be visited by criminal elements sweet talking his daughters and his wife, eventually he'll be caught up in the web, his wife and daughters having sex with either Mexicans or Samoans (many times in front of him), he'll feel protective of his family, so he goes to work with heroin or cocaine inside a condom he keezters up his a$$ to deliver to the Mexicans or Samoans, because "he now understands" him. Being a b!tch in prison is the same in CNAS as well as the Af-Pak area.
and he was actually happy
and he was actually happy about being called a spy. what a moron. the title should be, "where's my generator, b*tch!"
Pitiful, reminds me of SNLII
Pitiful, reminds me of SNLII or Fnord. Victims forever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqlYghHCxkc (Mr. Srinivasan is more cosmopolitan and educated compared to that hick Meyer, who'll be stuck in a farm all his life while Rajiv will be a mover/shaker in DC as an Indian-American counterterrorist expert. MoH or not Rajiv used his resourcefulness and wit to out wit this rude Afghan, and made a friend in the end. What would you do, B? Make more enemies by putting on your "Ugly American" suit? Please.)
Rajiv better have my
Rajiv better have my genny
Rajiv better have it fast
Because if he don't have my genny
He gonna find my boot jammed up his ass.
(winning entry, Qandahar Pimp of the Year Regionals, 2010)
A "spy" in Afghan context is
A "spy" in Afghan context is synonymous to Bacha Bazi boy, many powerful Afghan men have one for the purpose of entertainment and pleasure but like a pimp also as a source of income. This Indian-American US military officer was this Afghan's Bacha Bazi boy and he treated him as such using the old Afghan love and hate approach. I'm sure that Afghan was enjoying the irony of his new Bacha Bazi boy's aptly Indian name.
Once upon a time they used to
Once upon a time they used to make movies about young men like Dakota Meyer.
I don't know about Dakota or
I don't know about Dakota or Rajiv, but ever since I've had Quinoa regularly in my diet here in A-stan, I've had the most therapeutic mind altering game changing and consistent poops every day. The kind of poop that seems to release all the negative carcinogenic elements in your body and rejuvenates. I usually take a capsule (1 of 2) Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega for the high DHA and wash it down with Lemon Grass tea, after my 2 meals. I'd say I'm healthier than Stan McChrystal himself, maybe not as virile, but hey I'm not constipated anymore and not to too my own horn, but this probably calls for a Medal of Honor.
And what is up with this captcha? Pissing me off.
Gotta feeling Mr. Rajiv will
Gotta feeling Mr. Rajiv will end up at CNAs.
If this guy can star in over
If this guy can star in over 30 movies...
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001559/
A Director in Hollywood should offer Dakota minimally one film.
Hell, and it shouldn't be something serious....a film / comedy (like Kelly's Hero's) written with lots of sarcasm and golden Iraqi / Afghan War folklore and stories. Could be another American Classic Film.
Anyone recommend any modern books (with plenty of sarcasm and/or laughs on the War on Terror) non-fiction, that can could easily be converted into a screen play for Dakota to star in?
One book for me comes to mind.... "Kaboom".
B on September 16, 2011 -
B on September 16, 2011 - 10:51am
Depends on which level you look at the problem, there are multiple solutions. Give them water, give them a generator, leave the country. For the mission, that is something that you do not get to decide, the water was the solution. You can only disobey an order unless you feel it is illegal. Not to meet the requirement could be a reprimand.
Guess I would have to ask, B why would you volunteer? No one got drafted for this war. You knew it was not going to be a cake walk when you joined up.
For reasons unclear to me,
For reasons unclear to me, this post about the best kind of American brought out the worst kinds of idiots. In a moment that did not need to be politicized, tainted by bizarre screeds, or commented on by anything more than "Thankyou, Sgt Meyer" we got a bunch comments ranging from hateful polemics to nutty street dweller wierdness.
Seems like it might be time to enact the following:
"CNAS retains the right to delete comments that include words that incite violence; are predatory, hateful, or intended to intimidate or harass; or degrade people on the basis of gender, race, class, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. In summary, don't be a jerk."
As a Marine, I can only say thanks to Sgt Meyer for displaying the best aspects of our Corps. Semper Fi.
Free speech. Sorry it
Free speech. Sorry it bothers you.
This will put you in a "jam". http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/63669.html
Clinton is the most popular national political figure in the country today, with 64 percent of Americans polled holding a favorable view of her, the Bloomberg poll shows.
.
And 34 percent say they think the U.S. would be in better shape if she had won the election over President Barack Obama.
Wonder who she would pick for the MOH, the female Army Captain???? Make a bet? Yes, we can.
Of all the figures in US history, why Saul Alinsky to put on a pedistal?
http://rakesprogress.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/hillaryclintonthesis.pdf
Think this is the Rosetta stone of Chicago politics. Obama used it, Hillary used it, Rahm used it. Think Chicago and Illinois are broke. I am tired of "firsts".
How about this for a change?
A Bureaucrat that knows how to make a Village work without going BROKE doing it.
Pete Ellis' Pinky Toe on
Pete Ellis' Pinky Toe on September 17, 2011 - 5:48am
I think there should be a Medal of Honor Tax.
There is a separation of Honor in the military. This is creating hard feelings and impacts team play. Too many people sacrifice in providing service in rear areas and are not available for the MOH. The people that fight the war on the front lines should pay an "Honor" tax.
Sounds stupid? Why do it with wealth?
Can we run a Village without taxing everything that moves dead or alive?
This day in history... Jimmy
This day in history...
Jimmy Carter files a report that he's seen a UFO , 1973.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/carter-files-report-on-ufo-si...
Funny and distracting news, no? But these are the types of people / the intellectuals we have to make decisions on our foreign policy and leading our country.
Still NO new news or information on where about's of Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi or how are those rebels are going to win the civil war in Libya. Why do we have U.S. Government assets there again?
Dakota has been a good distraction for a majority of this weekend.
This is turning out to be the slowest coup d'état in the history of the planet.
Do we have any explanation as to why the DoD is not speeding this up? This lull in the fight is making the decision to get involved look like, it was one of the worst decisions we've ever made.
=============================
After the Chinese decide to bail out the EU - for Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Ireland debt, we are going to have some serious problems internationally.
No jobs in the private sector, USG agencies like DoD, USAID and etc...that are over-staffed and bankrupting our country with their wasteful and unaccounted for spending..
When are we going to start making positive decisions?
Anyone?
B, from the above
B, from the above thread.
Just finished reading the chapter in Bing West's book "The Wrong War". The chapter is called "The Bravest Warrior". For anyone interested, it is a pretty clear story from beginning to end of the engagement that got Dakota Meyer the MOH. Details the five trips into no-man's land and Meyer's exit from the service. It only makes me think of how the guys in WW1 walked into crossing fields of 8mm or 30-06 belt-fed machine gun fire from fully trained and supplied armies in protected positions without real air support, your armor was the guy in front of you. The dough-boys climbed out of those trenches in waves. WW1 dead was in the 10’s of millions; you knew what would happen when exposed. Those guys had balls and a real cause. I am not diluting Meyer’s contribution, just pointing out how equipped we are. We forget the contribution of the civilian taxpayer and country.
West’s point of mentioning Meyer was to make a point. The upper ranks did not give guys like Meyer the attention; the focus was on people like Mortenson who wrote, “Three Cups of Tea”.
Does COIN work? To get that answer, you have to answer the question, “Was Bush’s invasion of Iraq the correct thing to do?” All is linked by American politics and failure to comprehend the basic problem. Bush gave Iraq liberty and Obama is giving Afghanistan a Nation. Peel the onion, ask the five whys, do the nine steps of problem solving and ask the question.
Do these people we are trying to help really want liberty or a new Nation? Is America offering a real solution? Is it just an American political solution?
Each American political party thinks it has the answer, at the end of the day we scratch our heads and ask, “Why didn’t that work? It sounded so good.” How many strategies have we had in this war? Time will tell who was right, by that time it will be too late. Are we going to keep this up for another ten years?
I am really surprised that the debate to end the war is not part of the 2012 election discussion, it should be. Nation building does not clean the left’s conscience of this being a war. People are dead; Dakota’s are coming home with haunting questions.
I salute Dakota Meyer he is the only true humanitarian; war should not be made into handing out generators or water. War should be the solution of last resort and feared above all else. The true and worst tragedy is to have the people fighting this war coming home and asking themselves if what they did had meaning.
We owe all the Dakota’s of this war a debate to end the war in the 2012 election.
2012 election, are you nuts?
2012 election, are you nuts?
That does an election have anything to do with us pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan? Screw that. We should have been out Iraq and Afghanistan several years ago.
We should be holding our elected representatives accountable. We should be holding ourselves accountable.
Screw the election, placing the decision to be made on an election is ridiculous. Us being there right now will be the reason I will not be voting for Obama next year and yes, I voted for the guy in the last election! Unless there is a better candidate, Rick Perry already has my vote. No more lies and B.S..
Rand Paul Country., you have to realize.... Companies like Lockheed Martin - who pays the bill for CNAS Website, also companies like SAIC, Northrop Grumman and all the other big contractors like Triple Canopy, Xe, Dyncorp, Wackenhut, etc...These people are running both war's, not our U.S. Department of Defense, the White House or anyone else.
In reality, there is absolutely no accountability going on. Why hasn't there been any discussion to have an accountability and review board for our departure from both countries? Ask yourself that question and stick the other five where the sun don't shine.
Osama is dead, Most of Al-Queda has been killed and few are left. Leave Special Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, but bring everyone else home. NO MORE.
You're just singing to the
You're just singing to the choir.
Yup, lot of contracts out there. Still the money flows down hill. The money is the source of contractor's control.
Really do not think you will get a argument out of the US House. My Republican Rep is tired of the war spending. He knows that we are building schools and roads in Afghanistan at the sake of those in his district. You might get some foot dragging out of districts were the defense jobs are located. Over all, those districts cannot pull a majority vote. Problems is, the house will not leave the GI's high and dry for support. Have to look higher for the solution. The current Senate is going to back POTUS. Still have to go higher.
It has to come out of the WH. Generals are not going to walk away, they fight wars they do not walk away from them. POTUS is Commander and Chief and source of American FP. OBee1 can not delegate this one away to some CZAR post.
OBee1 is still making noise that the draw down will happen before the election. I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard Vietnam would end by Christmas. Be careful what you wish for, you think the economy is bad now. The late 70's (for the whole country) and mid 90's(defense contractors) were not fun times. Hang on to your money, you'll need it. You might have a chance to see the boomers get tanked on their retirement.
How Afghanistan ends could be a career limiting moment for a lot of politicians. I think they are just holding their breath hoping it will go away.
BTW, I feel the same what about the five whys, they have their limits. Americans get huffy, you have to approach them in a different way. Japanese are a lot more respectful, elders are given grace. Still they will hand your ass to you, just more elegant about it. It just falls off and you do not know it. They keep those samurai blades sharp for a reason. Banzai !
Caring for the aged is not
Caring for the aged is not one of the seven virtues of Bushidō (it is associated), but respect is the primary virtue. Better use a good soap stone for that blade.
American's are huffy because as of lately, it's become a norm for us to screw each other over, at one's own advancement. Look around, talk to the most disgruntled and you'll be sure to get an ear full.
America: "We eat our own", type of mentality is being embraced and passed down from generation to generation, why do you think the Baby Boomer's are so distrusting of Government and the younger generation?
When their retirement money, the Medicare and the Social Security dries up for the Boomer's don't be surprised when they start committing violent crimes, robbing banks, commuting fraud, doing whatever it takes to ensure their own survival. That or our Senior Citizens will be committing suicide in record numbers. Does that give you a warm fuzzy feeling?
I'm beginning to believe Osama won, we are almost bankrupt and our military industrialization complex is out of control.
Sad state of affairs.... indeed.
Visitor on September 18, 2011
Visitor on September 18, 2011 - 11:13pm
It really comes down to priorities. People get caught up in a life style cause it is the only thing they know.
Case study: The Amish. They do not pay taxes(some not a lot). They do not drive cars. They are not forced to purchase health or car insurance. They reject technology(to a point). Ones that I know of do not use doctors, don't think that they are afraid of meeting their maker. They are a hard working people. Many live off of five acres of land. Good number have retail business on their properties. At an early age, the children become part of the business. The children that I have encountered are pretty well educated, they are allowed to chose their life style when they come of age. I have not met an unhappy Amish person yet.
The English (that's us). By law we pay taxes. Our cars break and the dealers over charge us. We live so far from work we commute. We are forced to pay for car insurance, soon health insurance. We fret over healthcare costs. Many municipalities regulate retail in residential areas so people do not bother their neighbors. Many Farm communities are regulated to "Agriculture" only business. We are not allowed to make a living from our own homes, we have to have a business address. Commercial property is expensive, the taxes on that property is multiples higher than residential rates. We have unemployment problems. We tend to let the Intranet raise our children. Lot of English are not happy campers.
We tend to make our own problems.
Think about it, once you get past health care, taxes, communication, and transportation costs there really is not too much left to steal or kill for. You can feed you family on five acres and trade for what you can not make.
First step is to take the complications out of your life.
BTW. funny story.
Guy had a stand of oaks on his property in eastern PA . He was taxed at "unimproved" rates. From everything on the property, he made a home. Even the inside walls were oak, not plaster. No electrical, local plumbing. Peg and hole construction. The local taxing authority changed his tax rate to "Improved residential", a considerable change. The guy won his case in court and had the tax rate changed back to "unimproved".
His argument: "The property did not change, it is the same trees, the same land".
Paying for someone's agenda can be stressing.
1. What a bunch of strange
1. What a bunch of strange comments.
2. SGT Meyer did what he had to do that day.
3. He was blessed to survive and appropriately honored.
4. He is doing well, so far.
5. Have known a bunch of MOH recipients over the years.
6. A very impressive group. All geezers now, of course -with three exceptions.
7. Whether they were that way to begin with or grew into the medal, don't know.
8. Several of them remarked that they had to learn "how to wear the medal."
9. Wish SGT Meyer peace, comfort and the opportunity to represent the profession of arms for many years.
V/R JWest
For this blog....1. What a
For this blog....1. What a bunch of strange comments.
They call that diversity.
Send each member of Congress your book Mr. V/R autographed.
1. Thanks from the depths of
1. Thanks from the depths of my heart goes to Mr. Meyer. If you've never fought in Kunar, you don't have a clue how big this guy's balls are.
2. I'm disheartened that this post got so politicized. Maybe a spinoff post that captures that debate. I'm sure it spills over through many of the posts.
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