Notice actor Jerry O'Connell.
I think this is the beggining of conservative actors
coming out of the conservative closet.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
You Can't Appease Everybody
After decades of comparing Nixon to Hitler, Reagan to Hitler and Bush to Hitler, liberals have finally decided it is wrong to make comparisons to Hitler. But the only leader to whom they have applied their newfound rule of thumb is: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
While Ahmadinejad has not done anything as starkly evil as cut the capital gains tax, he does deny the Holocaust, call for the destruction of Israel, deny the existence of gays in Iran and refuses to abandon his nuclear program despite protests from the United Nations. That's the only world leader we're not allowed to compare to Hitler.
President Bush's speech at the Knesset two weeks ago was somewhat more nuanced than liberals' Hitler arguments. He did not simply jump up and down chanting: "Ahmadinejad is Hitler!" Instead, Bush condemned a policy of appeasement toward madmen, citing Neville Chamberlain's ill-fated talks with Adolf Hitler.
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Tuesday, May 27, 2008
DUH!
Nuclear agency accuses Iran of willful lack of cooperation
Published: May 27, 2008
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PARIS: The International Atomic Energy Agency, in an unusually blunt and detailed report, said Monday that Iran's suspected research into the development of nuclear weapons remains "a matter of serious concern" and continues to need "substantial explanations."
The nine-page report accused the Iranians of a willful lack of cooperation, particularly in answering allegations that its nuclear program may be pointed less at energy generation than at military use.
Part of the agency's case hinges on 18 documents listed in the report and presented to Iran that, according to Western intelligence agencies, indicate the Iranians have ventured into explosives, uranium processing and a missile warhead design — activities that ordinarily would be associated with constructing nuclear weapons.
Nuclear agency accuses Iran of willful lack of cooperation
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Sunday, May 25, 2008
Memorial day meaning
On this Memorial Day, four young men who served in Iraq and Afghanistan will
not be at the malls, nor will they be at the family barbecue.
These young men are not much different from others who have served in the
past or those serving today in our nation's Armed Forces but for the fact
that they responded to extraordinary circumstances with extraordinary courage.
They are Corporal Jason L. Dunham, USMC; Master-at-Arms Second Class Michael
A. Monsoor, USN; Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith, USA; and Lieutenant
Michael P. Murphy, USN.
Their Medal of Honor citations read:
DUNHAM, JASON L. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his
life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Rifle Squad Leader,
4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced),
Regimental Combat Team 7, First Marine Division (Reinforced), on 14 April
2004. Corporal Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in the
town of Karabilah, Iraq, when they heard rocket-propelled grenade and small
arms fire erupt approximately two kilometers to the west. Corporal Dunham led
his Combined Anti-Armor Team towards the engagement to provide fire support
to their Battalion Commander's convoy, which had been ambushed as it was
traveling to Camp Husaybah. As Corporal Dunham and his Marines advanced,
they quickly began to receive enemy fire. Corporal Dunham ordered his squad
to dismount their vehicles and led one of his fire teams on foot several
blocks south of the ambushed convoy. Discovering seven Iraqi vehicles in
a column attempting to depart, Corporal Dunham and his team stopped the
vehicles to search them for weapons. As they approached the vehicles, an
insurgent leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham. Corporal Dunham wrestled
the insurgent to the ground and in the ensuing struggle saw the insurgent
release a grenade. Corporal Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines
to the threat. Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation, Corporal
Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the
explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast. In an ultimate and selfless
act of bravery in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of at
least two fellow Marines. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit,
and unwavering devotion to duty, Corporal Dunham gallantly gave his life for
his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the
highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
MONSOOR, MICHAEL, A. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of
his life above and beyond the call of duty as automatic weapons gunner for
Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula, in support of Operation
IRAQI FREEDOM on 29 September 2006. As a member of a combined SEAL and
Iraqi Army Sniper Overwatch Element, tasked with providing early warning and
stand-off protection from a rooftop in an insurgent held sector of Ar Ramadi,
Iraq, Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by his exceptional bravery
in the face of grave danger. In the early morning, insurgents prepared
to execute a coordinated attack by reconnoitering the area around the
element's position. Element snipers thwarted the enemy's initial attempt
by eliminating two insurgents. The enemy continued to assault the element,
engaging them with a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire. As enemy
activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine
gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. While the SEALs
vigilantly watched for enemy activity, an insurgent threw a hand grenade
from an unseen location, which bounced off Petty Officer Monsoor's chest
and landed in front of him. Although only he could have escaped the blast,
Petty Officer Monsoor chose instead to protect his teammates. Instantly
and without regard for his own safety, he threw himself onto the grenade to
absorb the force of the explosion with his body, saving the lives of his two
teammates. By his undaunted courage, fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion
to duty in the face of certain death, Petty Officer Monsoor gallantly gave
his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and
upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
SMITH, PAUL R. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his
life above and beyond the call of duty: Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith
distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the
call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Baghdad International Airport,
Baghdad, Iraq on 4 April 2003. On that day, Sergeant First Class Smith was
engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his Task
Force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force. Realizing the
vulnerability of over 100 fellow soldiers, Sergeant First Class Smith quickly
organized a hasty defense consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley
Fighting Vehicle and three armored personnel carriers. As the fight developed,
Sergeant First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the
enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the evacuation of
three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket
propelled grenade and a 60mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy would overrun
their defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under withering enemy fire
to man a.50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored personnel
carrier. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed
position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he
was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack,
and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the
safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers. Sergeant First Class Smith's
extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest
traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself,
the Third Infantry Division "Rock of the Marne," and the United States Army.
MURPHY, MICHAEL P. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk
of his life above and beyond the call of duty as the leader of a special
reconnaissance element with Naval Special Warfare Task Unit Afghanistan on 27
and 28 June 2005. While leading a mission to locate a high-level anti-coalition
militia leader, Lieutenant Murphy demonstrated extraordinary heroism
in the face of grave danger in the vicinity of Asadabad, Konar Province,
Afghanistan. On 28 June 2005, operating in an extremely rugged enemy-controlled
area, Lieutenant Murphy's team was discovered by anti-coalition militia
sympathizers, who revealed their position to Taliban fighters. As a result,
between 30 and 40 enemy fighters besieged his four-member team. Demonstrating
exceptional resolve, Lieutenant Murphy valiantly led his men in engaging the
large enemy force. The ensuing fierce firefight resulted in numerous enemy
casualties, as well as the wounding of all four members of the team. Ignoring
his own wounds and demonstrating exceptional composure, Lieutenant Murphy
continued to lead and encourage his men. When the primary communicator
fell mortally wounded, Lieutenant Murphy repeatedly attempted to call for
assistance for his beleaguered teammates. Realizing the impossibility of
communicating in the extreme terrain, and in the face of almost certain
death, he fought his way into open terrain to gain a better position to
transmit a call. This deliberate, heroic act deprived him of cover, exposing
him to direct enemy fire. Finally achieving contact with his Headquarters,
Lieutenant Murphy maintained his exposed position while he provided his
location and requested immediate support for his team. In his final act of
bravery, he continued to engage the enemy until he was mortally wounded,
gallantly giving his life for his country and for the cause of freedom. By
his selfless leadership, courageous actions, and extraordinary devotion to
duty, Lieutenant Murphy reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the
highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
In my lifetime, I have been honored to know five men who have been awarded
our nation's Medal of Honor. To a man, they are among the most humble Patriots
I have ever met. To a man, they have told me that they did nothing more than
the men next to them would have done, but for fate, it was their turn to act.
All five of those men are now in the company of their Creator. Each of them
could claim 2 Timothy 4:7: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith."
not be at the malls, nor will they be at the family barbecue.
These young men are not much different from others who have served in the
past or those serving today in our nation's Armed Forces but for the fact
that they responded to extraordinary circumstances with extraordinary courage.
They are Corporal Jason L. Dunham, USMC; Master-at-Arms Second Class Michael
A. Monsoor, USN; Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith, USA; and Lieutenant
Michael P. Murphy, USN.
Their Medal of Honor citations read:
DUNHAM, JASON L. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his
life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Rifle Squad Leader,
4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced),
Regimental Combat Team 7, First Marine Division (Reinforced), on 14 April
2004. Corporal Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in the
town of Karabilah, Iraq, when they heard rocket-propelled grenade and small
arms fire erupt approximately two kilometers to the west. Corporal Dunham led
his Combined Anti-Armor Team towards the engagement to provide fire support
to their Battalion Commander's convoy, which had been ambushed as it was
traveling to Camp Husaybah. As Corporal Dunham and his Marines advanced,
they quickly began to receive enemy fire. Corporal Dunham ordered his squad
to dismount their vehicles and led one of his fire teams on foot several
blocks south of the ambushed convoy. Discovering seven Iraqi vehicles in
a column attempting to depart, Corporal Dunham and his team stopped the
vehicles to search them for weapons. As they approached the vehicles, an
insurgent leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham. Corporal Dunham wrestled
the insurgent to the ground and in the ensuing struggle saw the insurgent
release a grenade. Corporal Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines
to the threat. Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation, Corporal
Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the
explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast. In an ultimate and selfless
act of bravery in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of at
least two fellow Marines. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit,
and unwavering devotion to duty, Corporal Dunham gallantly gave his life for
his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the
highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
MONSOOR, MICHAEL, A. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of
his life above and beyond the call of duty as automatic weapons gunner for
Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula, in support of Operation
IRAQI FREEDOM on 29 September 2006. As a member of a combined SEAL and
Iraqi Army Sniper Overwatch Element, tasked with providing early warning and
stand-off protection from a rooftop in an insurgent held sector of Ar Ramadi,
Iraq, Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by his exceptional bravery
in the face of grave danger. In the early morning, insurgents prepared
to execute a coordinated attack by reconnoitering the area around the
element's position. Element snipers thwarted the enemy's initial attempt
by eliminating two insurgents. The enemy continued to assault the element,
engaging them with a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire. As enemy
activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine
gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. While the SEALs
vigilantly watched for enemy activity, an insurgent threw a hand grenade
from an unseen location, which bounced off Petty Officer Monsoor's chest
and landed in front of him. Although only he could have escaped the blast,
Petty Officer Monsoor chose instead to protect his teammates. Instantly
and without regard for his own safety, he threw himself onto the grenade to
absorb the force of the explosion with his body, saving the lives of his two
teammates. By his undaunted courage, fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion
to duty in the face of certain death, Petty Officer Monsoor gallantly gave
his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and
upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
SMITH, PAUL R. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his
life above and beyond the call of duty: Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith
distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the
call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Baghdad International Airport,
Baghdad, Iraq on 4 April 2003. On that day, Sergeant First Class Smith was
engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his Task
Force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force. Realizing the
vulnerability of over 100 fellow soldiers, Sergeant First Class Smith quickly
organized a hasty defense consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley
Fighting Vehicle and three armored personnel carriers. As the fight developed,
Sergeant First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the
enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the evacuation of
three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket
propelled grenade and a 60mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy would overrun
their defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under withering enemy fire
to man a.50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored personnel
carrier. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed
position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he
was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack,
and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the
safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers. Sergeant First Class Smith's
extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest
traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself,
the Third Infantry Division "Rock of the Marne," and the United States Army.
MURPHY, MICHAEL P. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk
of his life above and beyond the call of duty as the leader of a special
reconnaissance element with Naval Special Warfare Task Unit Afghanistan on 27
and 28 June 2005. While leading a mission to locate a high-level anti-coalition
militia leader, Lieutenant Murphy demonstrated extraordinary heroism
in the face of grave danger in the vicinity of Asadabad, Konar Province,
Afghanistan. On 28 June 2005, operating in an extremely rugged enemy-controlled
area, Lieutenant Murphy's team was discovered by anti-coalition militia
sympathizers, who revealed their position to Taliban fighters. As a result,
between 30 and 40 enemy fighters besieged his four-member team. Demonstrating
exceptional resolve, Lieutenant Murphy valiantly led his men in engaging the
large enemy force. The ensuing fierce firefight resulted in numerous enemy
casualties, as well as the wounding of all four members of the team. Ignoring
his own wounds and demonstrating exceptional composure, Lieutenant Murphy
continued to lead and encourage his men. When the primary communicator
fell mortally wounded, Lieutenant Murphy repeatedly attempted to call for
assistance for his beleaguered teammates. Realizing the impossibility of
communicating in the extreme terrain, and in the face of almost certain
death, he fought his way into open terrain to gain a better position to
transmit a call. This deliberate, heroic act deprived him of cover, exposing
him to direct enemy fire. Finally achieving contact with his Headquarters,
Lieutenant Murphy maintained his exposed position while he provided his
location and requested immediate support for his team. In his final act of
bravery, he continued to engage the enemy until he was mortally wounded,
gallantly giving his life for his country and for the cause of freedom. By
his selfless leadership, courageous actions, and extraordinary devotion to
duty, Lieutenant Murphy reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the
highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
In my lifetime, I have been honored to know five men who have been awarded
our nation's Medal of Honor. To a man, they are among the most humble Patriots
I have ever met. To a man, they have told me that they did nothing more than
the men next to them would have done, but for fate, it was their turn to act.
All five of those men are now in the company of their Creator. Each of them
could claim 2 Timothy 4:7: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith."
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