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| Attack on our Embassy
Unlike when an Islamist military force attacked the US Counselate in Bengazzi, Libya, in 2012, our government didn’t wait when some Iran-backed crowds attacked our Embassy in Iraq. No, as our military was prepared to do during the Bengazzi fiasco, our military was deployed immediately by our current Commander-in-Chief. Hundreds of US paratroopers began a deployment to the Middle East the Army said, the morning after Defense Secretary Mark Esper ordered some 750 82nd Airborne Division troops be sent immediately in response to unrest in Iraq. “At the direction of the Commander in Chief, I have authorized the deployment of an infantry battalion from the Immediate Response Force (IRF) of the 82nd Airborne Division to the US Central Command area of operations,” Esper said in a statement. The rare rapid deployment, which adds to the nearly 14,000 troops that have deployed to the region to deter Iranian threats since this summer, comes after mobs waving militia flags stormed the US Embassy in Baghdad. “What you saw was Iranian-backed terrorists … come into the American embassy and posing a risk to American diplomats and personnel inside the embassy,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in an appearance on Fox News. CENTCOM had sent some 100 Marines from the theater’s crisis response Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force to bolster the diplomatic compound’s security in the wake of the assault. The first troops and equipment are from the Fort Bragg, NC-based 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, the 82nd Airborne said. “The remainder of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, the BCT currently assigned the IRF mission, and elements of the 82nd Airborne Division remain postured and ready to deploy,” the division’s statement said. Dubbed the All American Division, the unit is a rapid-deployment force that’s expected to be capable of planning, deploying and securing objectives within 18-hours notice.
Qasem Soleimani is Dead. So What? Despite his short stature and quiet demeanor, Qasem Soleimani was considered one of the most infamous military operators in the Middle East by the US and our allies. As leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ elite Quds Force, the 62-year-old bore responsibility for Iran’s clandestine operations overseas, quietly extending the military reach of Iran deep into foreign conflicts like those in Syria and Iraq. In the process, he had earned himself a near mythical status among his enemies and idolization by his Iranian hard-line supporters. Analysts have complained that Soleimani had more diplomatic clout than Iran’s Foreign Minister and pondered if he would eventually seek top political office himself. Some compared him to Karla, the fanatical, but fictional, Soviet spymaster in John LeCarre’s Cold War novels. But according to reports from Iraqi state media, his story came to an end early on Friday morning after a US strike near the Baghdad airport killed him and a number of Iraqi militia leaders. Soleimani’s death brings to an end a career that began in the early days after the 1979 revolution and helped shape the Islamic republic that followed it. “More than anyone else, Soleimani has been responsible for the creation of an arc of influence – which Iran terms its ‘Axis of Resistance’ – extending from the Gulf of Oman through Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon to the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea,” wrote Ali Soufan, a former FBI agent and national security analyst, in a 2018 profile. A young man from a poor family in Iran’s mountainous southeast, Soleimani had joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a group designed to protect the new republic and enforce its strict ideological aims, after the revolution. During the war with neighboring Iraq between 1980 and 1988, the Revolutionary Guard had gained political and economic power in the country and the bloody and brutal war in Iraq also helped shape Soleimani. Though only in his twenties, he undertook missions behind enemy lines, the sort of irregular warfare that would one day become the calling card of the Quds Force. He also found allies among Iraq’s majority Shiite population, some of whom backed Iran against the Sunni-dominated dictatorship of Saddam Hussein.
2020 Foreign Policy Challenges President Trump starts the new year knee-deep in daunting foreign policy challenges at the same time he’ll have to deal with a likely impeachment trial in the Senate and the demands of a reelection campaign. American troops are still engaged in America’s longest war in Afghanistan. North Korea hasn’t given up its nuclear weapons. Add to that simmering tensions with Iran, fallout from Trump’s decision to pull troops from Syria, ongoing unease with Russia and Turkey, and erratic ties with European and other longtime Western allies. Trump is not popular overseas, and, being an impeached president who must simultaneously run for reelection could reduce the time, focus and political clout needed to resolve complex global issues like North Korea’s nuclear provocations. Some foreign powers could decide to just hold off on finalizing any deals until they know whether Trump will be reelected. Trump himself has acknowledged the challenge in his Dec. 26 tweet: “Despite all of the great success that our Country has had over the last 3 years, it makes it much more difficult to deal with foreign leaders (and others) when I am having to constantly defend myself against the Do Nothing Democrats & their bogus Impeachment Scam. Bad for USA!” At the same time, there is widespread expectation that Trump never will be convicted by the Republican-controlled Senate, so 2020 could well bring more of the same from the president on foreign policy, said Ronald Neumann, president of the American Academy of Diplomacy. “America still has an awful lot of power,” said Neumann, a three-time ambassador and former deputy assistant secretary of state. “With a year to go, a president can still make a lot of waves, impeachment or not.” For Trump, 2019 was a year of two steps forward, one step back — sometimes vice versa — on international challenges. Despite claiming that “I know deals, I think, better than anybody knows deals,” he’s still trying to close a bunch. ***A thought. Think how great things could be for America if our president could apply his amazing negotiating and leadership skills at helping America instead of defending himself against people who hate him and lack any facts that justify the hate.
Movie Assignment Remember, this month’s film review; I assign a film to watch each month—and give you a link to it; you’re invited to email in your comments—and we’ll review it on the last show of the month. Share the link with your friends or tell them that they can find the link on the Blog section of FrontlinesOfFreedom.com. The movie for this month is: Punte’s Wheel. You can watch it for free at: HERE Please send me your thoughts about the movie: Denny@FrontlinesofFreedom.com
PONDERABLE “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
Features
The 82nd Airborne Deploys Early Wednesday morning, Army paratroopers in Operational Camouflage Pattern uniforms and body armor loaded planes wearing weapons, such as M4A1 carbines, slung securely across their chests. Some carried overstuffed airborne rucksacks while old-timers shouldered customized versions of the Army’s Vietnam-era ALICE packs. They were ordered to the Middle East on short notice in response to efforts by Iran-backed militia members to breach the US Embassy in Baghdad. The deployment also served as the debut of a revamped crisis response capability. This is “the first time” Fort Bragg’s 82nd Airborne Division has conducted an emergency deployment as part of the new Immediate Response Force — a new, joint construct the unit began transitioning to last year, 82nd spokesman Lt. Col. Mike Burns told Military.com. “It’s no longer the Global Response Force; the joint force has re-designated it as the IRF, the Immediate Response Force,” Burns said, saying nine years had passed since the rapid-deployment unit deployed paratroopers on a short-notice operation in 2010 to provide emergency relief to earthquake victims in Haiti. The new IRF construct is designed to provide the 82nd and other XVIII Airborne Corps units with more enabler units for increased capabilities, Burns said.
Russia vs US Cyber Command Military cyber officials are developing information warfare tactics that could be deployed against senior Russian officials and oligarchs if Moscow tries to interfere in the 2020 US elections through hacking election systems or sowing widespread discord, according to current and former US officials. One option being explored by US Cyber Command would target senior leadership and Russian elites, though likely not President Vladimir Putin, which would be considered too provocative, said the current and former officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the issue’s sensitivity. The idea would be to show that the target’s sensitive, personal data could be hit if the interference did not stop, though officials declined to be more specific. “When the Russians put implants into an electric grid, it means they’re making a credible showing that they have the ability to hurt you if things escalate,” said Bobby Chesney, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin. “What may be contemplated here is an individualized version of that, not unlike individually targeted economic sanctions. It’s sending credible signals to key decision-makers that they are vulnerable if they take certain adversarial actions.” Cyber Command and officials at the Pentagon declined to comment. The military has long used psychological operations – dropping hundreds of thousands of leaflets in Iraq, for instance, to persuade Iraqi soldiers to surrender to the US-led coalition during the Gulf War. But the Internet, social media and smartphones have vastly extended the reach and precision of such tactics. The development comes as numerous agencies within the Trump administration seek to ensure the US is shielded against foreign efforts to disrupt the 2020 elections, even as President Trump himself has cast doubt on or belittled his own intelligence community’s finding of Russian interference in 2016. The intelligence community last November issued a classified update – a “national intelligence estimate” – assessing that Russia’s main goal in the 2020 campaign continues to be to sow discord. “It’s always been about exacerbating fault lines in our society,” said one senior US official.
The Pensacola Shootings On December 6, a Saudi pilot trainee shot and killed 3 American sailors & wounded 8 other people in a mass shooting at the Navy’s premier pilot training base in Pensacola, Florida. That should no longer shock us. The spectacle of a Moslem killing innocent people in Europe or the US has become, if not an everyday occurrence, one we see with depressing regularity. What is shocking, or should be, was the response, or lack thereof. Why, on a military base, did people have to wait until sheriff’s deputies arrived to take out the shooter? If our military cannot defend itself, how can it hope to defend our country? The reason was not a lack of courage on the part of our sailors. One of those killed, Ensign Kaleb Watson, a recent Annapolis graduate, did what every man should do in an active shooter situation: he attacked the gunman, saving the lives of others in the process. According to the December 9 New York Times, he had previously told his parents that if confronted with an active shooter, “I’m going in full force.” He did exactly that. Airman Haithim, who also died, reportedly did the same. But with all these military men around, why did no one just shoot the Moslem gunman? Because, as the December 7 NY Times wrote, “Weapons are not allowed on the base other than for security personnel.” In other words, we do not trust American sailors to carry guns. The reason, I’m sure, is “safety”. Well, war is dangerous. If you’re looking for safety, join the Salvation Army. A case might be made that letting the most junior servicemen carry weapons on base could result in some of them shooting themselves in the foot (remember, their generation can’t stop their thumbs from moving, even if said thumb is on safety). But why is it not routine for staff NCOs and officers to carry pistols? A sidearm, whether sword or pistol (even swords would be better for confronting a gunman than bare hands) are traditionally a sign of an officer’s or staff NCO’s authority. So, for the latter, is a spontoon, a short spear. And yes, the guns should be loaded. As a Marine friend of mine said recently, “An unloaded gun is just a stick.” The facts in this article are good; the conclusions—not so much.
A Canadian on Gun Control Outside of the US, no other nation really has anything akin to the Second Amendment. Other nations may pay lip service to the right to keep and bear arms, but they always justify limits on that right. No one really has our protections. The country that I’d have said was closest, at least until recently, was our neighbor to the north. Canadians have a vibrant gun culture, a love of hunting, and a great many have an appreciation for AR-15s and similar rifles. Now, all that is changing, but a recent op-ed really nails the attitude toward gun owners by anti-gunners, not just in Canada but here as well. The progressive dislike of handguns and certain kinds of rifles in Canada isn’t a public policy issue. It’s an ideological preference. Millions of Canadians do not understand how tight our laws already are, how they could be reasonably improved, have no interest in shooting sports and cannot fathom why anyone would feel differently. They’d rather live in a country with fewer guns. For a brief moment last year, there was a news story that gave their cause ammunition, but even when that story was completely debunked, the focus on legal guns remained. This isn’t about gun control. It’s dislike for guns and gun owners.
Worse than Govt Gun-Grabs in Virginia If you haven’t been at least monitoring what is going on in VA regarding State Government actions to negate 2d Amendment Rights by making owning and training others how to use guns a felony, then you need start watching. Huge percentages of counties are declaring themselves Sanctuaries for 2d Amendment and large numbers of towns are also doing the same. Published articles by members of National Guard make it clear the Guard will not follow orders to search for and seize guns from citizens. Given this much public protest, I would think that the next step is to start a recall effort against all those politicians that came up with and supports the anti-2nd Amendment laws, etc. The Anti-gun folks are upset, too. This will be interesting to watch. Check out the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL).
Taliban Cease Fire The Taliban said they have agreed to a temporary cease-fire nationwide. It provides a window during which a peace agreement with the US could be signed. A peace deal would allow Washington to bring home its troops from Afghanistan and end its 18-year military engagement there, America’s longest. The US wants any deal to include a promise from the Taliban that Afghanistan would not used as a base by terrorist groups. We currently has an estimated 12,000 troops in Afghanistan. The Taliban chief must approve the agreement but that is expected. The duration of the cease-fire was not specified but it is being suggested it would last for 10 days. The Taliban officials familiar with the negotiations spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. A key pillar of the agreement, which the US and Taliban have been hammering out for more than a year, is direct negotiations between Afghans on both sides of the conflict.
Hard Luck Automotive Services A former Army paratrooper and helicopter mechanic, Adam Ely developed asthma, hearing loss and post-traumatic stress syndrome in Afghanistan, where he served for four years. Since 2007, he has received federal financial assistance, which supplemented the paychecks he earned as a civilian aircraft mechanic once he returned home. Because his wife Toni is still working as a B-52 bomber program manager at Tinker Air Force Base, they decided they would be able to get by financially if Adam left his job to focus on Hard Luck Auto. “It made sense to us,” said Adam Ely, who taught himself to repair cars as a hobby when he was younger. “When I first started fixing cars for free, it was in my spare time when I wasn’t working on aircraft,” he said. “But it wasn’t long before my days off were busier than my days on the job. It was obvious to me that people were in need of some help.” The Elys have always owned reliable cars, and they live in a cozy three-bedroom, two-bath log cabin on several acres, he said.
The Battle of the Bulge Seventy-five years ago, at the Battle of the Bulge (fought from Dec. 16, 1944, to Jan. 25, 1945), the US suffered more casualties than in any other battle in its history. Some 19,000 Americans were killed, 47,500 wounded and 23,000 reported missing. The American and British armies were completely surprised by a last-gasp German offensive, given that Allied forces were near the Rhine River and ready to cross into Germany to finish off a crippled Third Reich. The Americans had been exhausted by a rapid 300-mile summer advance to free much of France and Belgium. In their complacence, they oddly did not worry much about their thinning lines, often green replacement troops or the still-formidable Germany army. After all, Nazi Germany was being battered on all sides by Americans, British, Canadians and Russians. Its cities were in ruins from heavy bombers. Yet the losing side is often the most dangerous just before its collapse. In retreat, the Germans were shortening their interior lines. They had the element of surprise, given confident allies who assumed the war would soon be over.
The State of Virginia vs The Second Amendment Virginia Governor Ralph Northam apologized for his medical school blackface stunt, but he will have much more to apologize for if he signs into law a bill that attacks Virginia citizens’ Second Amendment rights. The measure is Senate Bill 16, which would ban “assault” firearms and certain firearm magazines. Since Democrats have seized control of Virginia’s General Assembly, they are likely to push hard for strict gun control laws. Those laws will have zero impact on Virginia’s criminals and a heavy impact on Virginia’s law-abiding citizens who own, or intend to own, semi-automatic weapons for hunting or their protection. As a friend once explained to me, “I carry a gun because I can’t carry a cop.” I am proud of my fellow Virginians’ response to the attack on their Second Amendment rights. Firearm owners in the state have joined with sheriffs to form Second Amendment sanctuary counties. That means local authorities will be required to protect Second Amendment rights in the face of any attempt by Virginia’s General Assembly to abrogate those rights. Eighty-six counties — over 90% — in the Virginia commonwealth have adopted Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions. Spotsylvania County’s board of supervisors voted unanimously to approve a resolution declaring that county police will not enforce state-level gun laws that violate Second Amendment rights. Sheriff Chad Cubbage said, “Be it be known that the Page Sheriff hereby declares Page County, Virginia, as a ‘Second Amendment Sanctuary,’ and that the Page County Sheriff hereby declares its intent to oppose any infringement on the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.” Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins made a vow during a board of supervisors meeting, where the board unanimously agreed to declare the county a Second Amendment constitutional county, to “properly screen and deputize thousands of our law-abiding citizens to protect their constitutional right to own firearms.”
A Mass-Shooting in a Church—ALMOST Two people are dead and one is in critical condition after a gunman opened fire during service this morning at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas. The shooting was caught during a live internet stream of the church service (the streamed video on YouTube has since been taken down). A man dressed in a black trench coat with a hood jumped up and started shooting members of the church. Luckily, at least five armed members of the church instantly responded and jumped into action as soon as the shooting started. Within three seconds of the first shot, one member shot the shooter and killed him before he could harm more people.
USS Abraham Lincoln Head Home – At Last More than nine months after embarking on what was supposed to be a seven-month round-the-world deployment, the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln is finally on course for its new home port of San Diego. The ship, which has been operating in and around the Middle East since May, left the region in mid-December and is bound for home. When the carrier left Norfolk, Virginia, on April 1, its crew knew it was in for a deployment that was outside the norm. Not only was it deploying to the Middle East, but it also was switching home ports from the East Coast to the West, originally due in San Diego around Halloween. Many Lincoln family members moved across the country over the summer — without the help of their sailors — in order for children to start school in time for the new school year. World events — and maintenance issues on another carrier — led to the ship’s mission being extended well beyond its original return date. In August, the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman, which was slated to replace the Lincoln in the Middle East, experienced an electrical failure that resulted in an extra three months of repairs. The Lincoln would need to remain on station until relieved. The delay came at a time of heightened tensions with Iran and a subsequent boost of military resources in the region.
A Real Hero Robert Howard served five tours in Vietnam in the US Army. On three separate occasions he was nominated for the Medal of Honor.
3D Printing saving our Military Billions In my job, I get to see some amazing military technology: high-speed weapons that penetrate seemingly impregnable defenses and swarming microdrones dispensed from fighter jets. I keep mementos of these wonder weapons in my office. Something unusual just joined their ranks: a latrine panel from a C-5 Supergalaxy cargo plane. It’s an odd-looking piece of molded plastic, about the size of a toaster, and its job containing wastewater is more necessary than cool. But I keep it in my office because it represents a significant advance in military parts purchasing. Using a 3D printer, our Air Force engineers made this latrine panel for $300, saving $8,200 compared to the open market prices we once paid through the Defense Logistics Agency. Though our military is replete with cutting-edge equipment like stealth aircraft and flying emergency rooms, there’s a side of weapons-buying that’s highlighted less often: the maintenance of older systems, like the amazing C-5 cargo plane. The C-5, which entered service in 1969, moves the military’s heaviest equipment, including tanks and helicopters, and must be kept war-ready 24-7.
Iraq is Not Attacking Iran-backed Groups in Iraq US airstrikes against an Iranian-backed militia group were the direct result of the Baghdad government’s failure to act against repeated attacks on American bases in Iraq, US officials said. In unusually harsh wording aimed at an ally in the fight against the Islamic State, three top State Department officials, speaking on background in a briefing to reporters, said that we had no choice but to hit back at the Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH) militia when Iraq’s security forces took no action following at least 11 attacks on US bases in the last two months. “We have warned the Iraqi government many times and we’ve shared information with them to try to work with them to carry out their responsibility to protect us as their invited guests,” one official said. The turning point came when a barrage of more than 30 rockets hit a US base near Kirkuk in north-central Iraq, killing an American contractor and wounding four US troops, the officials said.
General PX Kelley Died at 91 Gen. Paul X. Kelley, the 28th commandant of the Marine Corps, died in December at age 91, according to current Commandant Gen. David H. Berger. “We should honor Gen Kelley’s lifetime of service to the Corps and to the nation,” Berger said on Twitter. “From his service in Vietnam, to leading our Corps through the Beirut bombing aftermath, Gen Kelley served with honor and distinction.” Kelley, a Boston native and 1950 graduate of Villanova University, served as commandant from 1983 to 1987. capping a 37-year career in the military. In Vietnam, Kelley earned a Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with Valor device, and two Bronze Stars with Valor device. From 1970 to 1971, he commanded the 1st Marines. As a civilian, he served as chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission. I met General Kelley when he became the first (and only) commander of the Rapid Deployment Task Force—a sub-command of US Readiness Command. I was the Middle East war planner for USREDCOM and worked with the RDJTF. When Gen Kelley traveled, I was normally with him. To make an understatement, he was an outstanding military man and an outstanding human being. After we both retired, we both got politically active. When Bob Dole ran for President, Gen Kelley was one of his spokesmen, and I chaired Veterans for Dole in Michigan. Mrs. Dole was speaking at an event in Detroit and Gen Kelley was also speaking. The event was held at a Marine Corps League facility and was packed. I was to introduce the general. I said a number to true things about this amazing man. I concluded with at statement to the effect that, if there was such a thing as reincarnation, that Gen Kelley was good enough to come back next time and be in the Army. Needless to say, the crowd went wild. General Kelley nailed me later. I will miss that great American. God bless his family.
10 Odd Jobs of WWII Today’s military has some jobs that might surprise you — for example, did you know the Army and Marine Corps have instrument repair technicians? These troops repair musical instruments for the military bands. But during WWII, there were a lot of jobs that would seem strange in today’s technologically focused military. Over the course of the war, technological advances reduced or eliminated the need for many manual occupations. This transition is captured in the War Department’s list of military jobs from 1944, where entries like ”horse artillery driver” appear just a page away from ”remote control turret repairman.”
God Loves Us Scott McChrystal is a retired Army Colonel, Chaplain. Here are some of his insights that I think you’ll find appropriate. Overcome the Fear Factor in 2020 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV) As 2020 begins, let me ask you a question? Has it been your experience in past years to set a bunch of New Year’s resolutions, only to find that at the end of the year not much has changed? If “yes” is your answer, please don’t feel alone in this. Many, if not most folks, have that same kind of track record. I can certainly identify. What to do? As I have asked the Lord for wisdom to do better with resolutions/goals this year He surprised me. I was expecting a bunch of tips along the lines of setting priorities, establishing realistic goals, or simply having more faith. That didn’t happen. Instead, He has impressed upon my heart to deal with my fears. Fears? Really? I thought I was asking Him about how to set goals and get things done. The more I’ve thought it, the more I realize that fear does undercut efforts to accomplish goals or to fulfill resolutions. One of my biggest fears is not having enough time. Even on small stuff like taking time to keep my desk area clean and organized, I have usually chosen to put off doing it because “I didn’t have the time.” I’ve read 2 Timothy 1:7 over and over in an effort to apply this truth to my fear of not having enough time- For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. “Ok, Lord. I know you haven’t given me a spirit of fear. I know that to be true. Please help me take some steps toward overcoming this fear about use of time.” Back to a simple issue like keeping my desk area clean. Applying 2 Timothy 1:7, I took the time to clean and reorganize my desk area. Amazingly enough, it only took about 90 minutes. Since doing that a few days ago, I find that I have more time to do other tasks because I know where things are and don’t waste time looking for stuff. This may sound like a very small issue, but to me it wasn’t. I have felt a weight lifted off. You might want to take this verse and apply it to your fears. • You want to lose weight but you’re afraid to try because you’ve failed so many times My friend, God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but rather a spirit of power, love, and self-control. I encourage you to take the first step by confronting your fear and taking action toward fulfilling a particular goal or New Year’s resolution. Don’t try to conquer everything at once- one at a time. God will surely help you overcome your fears.
Wise Words Retired Navy CAPT Joe John has done many things in his life; I’ve asked him to share a few words of wisdom with us:
Civil War History Here are some questions on the Civil War; we’ll post the answers in the next newsletter.
Here are the answers to the last issue’s questions: 1.Robert E. Lee was a graduate of what college? The US Military Academy at West Point 2. Lee was offered command of what army—but he declined it? President Lincoln offered him command of the Union Army—but Lee’s loyalty to his state caused him to decline. 3.Where did Lee stand on slavery (for or against)? Lee opposed slavery.
Here are the new questions: 1. In what major battle were two Confederate generals killed who were buried in the same cemetery? 2. Who were they? 3. In what cemetery are they buried?
Military Music You’re in the Army Now
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Two quotes to consider. Hard pressed on my right. My center is yielding. Impossible to maneuver. Situation excellent. I am attacking. There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time.
Programming: You’ll want to tune into the show (live or by podcast). 11-17 Jan: Congressman and retired Marine General Jack Bergman will discuss the Iran situation. Then retired Navy Capt Joe John will present Combat Veterans for Congress. Finally, Robert Frisk from the Navy Federal Credit Union will discuss finding jobs after military service. 18-24 Jan: Ilya Feoktristov will discuss his book, Terror in the Cradle of Liberty–why Boston is becoming a hub for terror. Then Capt Dale Dye will present his book, Last Full Measure. I’ll then Shoot the Bull with Korean War and Vietnam War veteran Ed Allander. And Skip Coryell will discuss the book he and I will be publishing in March.
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Humor The “PC” Police have registered some complaints during this past Christmas Season, so the following deletions will be taken before the end of this year. Since several radio stations decided to pull “Baby it’s Cold Outside” from playlists because someone was offended, these other holiday songs must also be removed as they are potentially offensive as well. Egads! 1. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus: subjecting minors to softcore porn 2. The Christmas Song: Open fire? Pollution. Folks dressed up like Eskimos? Cultural appropriation 3. Holly Jolly Christmas: Kiss her once for me? Unwanted advances 4. White Christmas? Racist 5. Santa Claus is Coming to Town: Sees you when you’re sleeping? Knows when you’re awake? Peeping Tom stalker 6. Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Everyone telling you be of good cheer? Forced to hide depression 7. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Bullying 8. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas: Forced gender-specific gifts: dolls for Janice and Jen and boots and pistols (GUNS!) for Barney and Ben 9. Santa Baby: Gold digger, blackmail 10. Frosty the Snowman: Sexist; not a snow woman 11. Do You Hear What I Hear: blatant disregard for the hearing impaired 12. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas: Make the yuletide GAY? Wow, just wow 13. Jingle Bell Rock: Giddy up jingle horse, pick up your feet: animal abuse 14. Mistletoe and Holly: Overeating, folks stealing a kiss or two? How did this song ever see the light of day? 15. Winter Wonderland: Parson Brown demanding they get married…forced partnership
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It is our mission to get to know the people that are supporting us, so please be sure to add a picture with your message. Please encourage other like-minded folks to do the same–especially those presently serving in our nation’s military. If you know someone who would like to start receiving this e-newsletter, they can sign up on the homepage of our website. Sincerely, Lt. Col. Denny Gillem (Ret.) denny@frontlinesoffreedom.com |
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