Kerry in '08

Based off of this... I think he's going to throw his name back in the pot for '08.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/washington/

NOW... he's pushing back. NOW... he's making a case. It's still a lie. I've read his accounts and the Navy's. I have read O'Neill's book. Kerry is a fraud. And I hope he runs. Finer men have sacrificed far more for much longer than he.

Like the bumper sticker a good friend has... "JOhn KErry". Nice.

The Guard and the Border

As I mentioned before...because politics got it's dirty little fingers into a military operation, they jacked it all up.

21 days per unit/ soldier? Annual Training will be spent loading up and moving to the southern region. Approximately 10 days will be be spent "gainfully employed" on the border. It's all show and no teeth. What a waste.

I imagine that a battalion's worth of troops will have to be dedicated fulltime to head the mission. That's about 800 troops at the most. The rest will be transitory. Will it amount to anything? More than likely not. As with the GWOT, let us run it. We'll get in done in half the time if political correctness and election year results are not in the equation.

Fast track to getting booted

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?

It's amnesty. Call it "banana"... or "earned citizenship". It is still putting illegals in the front of the line for breaking the law. It's also a fast track for those in the Senate to be voted out in November. And by that... I mean the GOP. Way to go guys. Quit pandering and start leading.

Real or just politics?

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News

With the FBI raid on Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-La.) congressional office, the GOP is crying foul. Is this politics to dispell the left's label of "Culture of Corruption" or are they afraid that they will be next? Hmmm....

My bet is that it's petty politics by showing that the GOP stands with thier brethren against unwarranted searches. That way, they can put the appropriate face on things and show that they have nothing to hide in response to the left's attack on the right. It's pretty transparent and tacky. A day late and a dollar short. But at least they are trying.

National Guard and the U.S. Border

Now that it's a political football and has become clear that any use of the Guard will be in a support role... how effective will it be? Any teeth that the ARNG would bring have been knocked out.

It would be an outstanding training opportunity. Combat support elements would get pushed to the front and flex their muscle. Just a few ideas

• GSR (ground survelliance radar)
• UAV coverage
• MP units could process personnel in mass numbers.
• Medics tend to injured or dehydrated.
• MI units get thier interrogators to develop information. Overlays and markers?
• Signal elements to ensure comms are up and running, between units and civ/fed LE.
• BlueForce trackers - because it's a great asset even outside of a combat zone
• Mechanics for wheeled vehicles
• Infantry and Cav Scouts - LP/OP's

It's about two Brigade Combat Teams worth of bodies. Roll it up into a task force and move out.

But, sadly, what will more likely be the case is that units and personnel will be handed out piece meal and any real punch will be lost. I'll tell you why: It's the politics of the issue. It's appeasing those who don't have the stomach for direct action. It's making nice with Mexico. It's about an election year.

But, then again, what do I know? I'm just an infantry sergeant, in the Guard. I'll still volunteer for it.

Assimilated American

Remember... you heard it here first: "Assimilated American".

While I generally don't approve of hyphenated terms, I do like my term for "me". Both terms are equally operative. I stake this claim for this title. I coined it. Let's see if it gets used.
Assimilated - because we all need to become part of the society. Not that you forget where you came from, but you are here now and part of American culture.
American - because that's the goal. 'Nuff said.

Liberal anthem circa 1986

Have lyrics ever just jump out at you, even though you've heard the song hundreds of times? I recently put the "Pretty in Pink" soundtrack on my iPod and was stopped in my tracks by Suzanne Vega's "Left of Center". I've known this song since my teen years back in the mid to late 80's. Funny when you notice something for the first time.

All music is open to interpretation by the listener, no? So, I'm sure that Ms. Vega would have no problem with my conclusion that this is a covert left leaning identity declaration.

If you want me
You can find me
Left of center
Off of the strip
In the outskirts
In the fringes
In the corner
Out of the grip
When they ask me"what are you looking at?"
I always answer"nothing much" (not much)
I think they know thatI'm looking at them
I think they think
I must be out of touch
But i'm only
In the outskirts
And in the fringes
On the edge
And off the avenue
And if you want me
You can find me
Left of center
Wondering about you
I think that somehow
Somewhere inside of us
We must be similar
If not the same
So i continue
To be wanting you
Left of center
Against the grain

(Repeat Refrain/Chorus)

Still a great song, great solo. Despite the stealth meaning, at least it's honest.