Obama blows off Medal of Honor recipients [Jonn]
According to TSO who was at the “Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball”, this newly sworn-in President for the first time in 56 years blew off the ball (that’s 14 Inaugurations).
Some background on the ball;
The American Legion sponsors the ball, which recognizes recipients of Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award. It started in 1953 for President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s first inauguration.
Event co-sponsors include 13 other veterans service organizations, among them the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
So where was our new President instead of honoring Medal of Honor recipients who by some miracle are still alive? According to Huffington Post, this was his schedule for Inaugural celebrations;
Later that day, the Presidential Inaugural Committee will host 10 official inaugural balls:
_ Neighborhood Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
_ Obama Home States (Illinois and Hawaii) Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
_ Biden Home States (Pennsylvania and Delaware) Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
_ Midwest Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
_ Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
_ Western Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
_ Commander in Chief’s Ball at the National Building Museum.
_ Southern Inaugural Ball at the National Guard Armory.
_ Eastern Inaugural Ball at Union Station.
_ Youth Inaugural Ball at the Washington Hilton.
Unofficial balls include:
_ Congressional Black Caucus Inaugural Ball at the Capitol Hilton.
_ Creative Coalition Inaugural Ball at the Harman Center for the Arts.
_ Recording Industry Association of America’s ball for Feeding America.
_ BET’s Inaugural Ball at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
_ Africa on the Potomac inaugural celebration at Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va.
_ American Music Inaugural Ball at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.
_ Inaugural Purple Ball at the Fairmont Hotel.
_ Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Ball at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel.
_ Inaugural Peace Ball at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
_ Impact Film Fund ball.
Mr. Wolf from Blackfive sends along this link to which Inaugural Balls Obama actually attended last night.
Category: Politics
A thought..What we learned in Vietnam was that in a guerilla war all you have to do is outlast the opponents. That’s what Aideed did in Mogadishu and the middle east saw that as a victory and bin Laden capitlized on it. By simply saying we are abandoning something we started we are admitting defeat again. It’s not like cutting your losses on a bad business deal. You can write those off and no one dies over it. “Cutting your losses” here tells all those who’s lives were forever altered through death as well as pysical and mental disabilities, along with all the families that sacrificed their husband/mother/father that we’re writing you off like a bad business decision. And what does that accomplish in the long run? A repeat on a grand scale of Mogadishu. I use that as an example because in the middle eastern culture they see things in terms of generations, not administrations. They’re still pissed about the Crusades and we’ve forgotten about 9-11! In Mogadishu they were able to claim victory over a relatively small force that was poorly supported because of a political decision not to send AC-130 gunships out of fear it would escalate the situation. If you’re the guy getting shot at the situation has already escalated beyond the politics but I digress. Imagine the cries of victory if we pull out before the mission is finished after the forces we committed over almost six years. Imagine what our allies think when we cut and run after tearing the place up. If the destruction of our enemies was the only objective we could’ve nuked them and called it done. In the movie “Charlie Wilson’s War” the very end highlights the void we created by simply using the Mujhadeen to remove the Soviets and then abandoning them. I remember the kids in the streets of Baghdad when the statue of Saddam was pulled down, and we were welcomed as liberators but we screwed up the win. Now if all the people in Iraq we convinced to help us were abandoned, guess what their fate… Read more »
[…] 22, 2009 by ThomasFiled under: Obama Obama is the first President in 56 years to snub the American Legion’s ‘Salute to Heroes’ Inagural Ball. Powered by Max Banner Ads Share and […]
Herk- Not sure where to start. First, you didn’t address any of my questions about how Obama’s timeline is an abandonment or admission of defeat while Bush’s timeline or some other timeline is not. If Iraq is ready to stand on it’s own in 16 months, then it will be Mission Accomplished.If anything, post like those of Raoul are an insult to our troops. They assume our troops have not done enough in the past 5 years to create a lasting peace and/or they will not be able to do enough in the next 16 months to finish the mission we started 5 years ago. Second, if the country no longer supports the cause we went to War for or it’s been shown that we went to War for the wrong reason etc.. then I don’t see how sacrificing additional men and women is the answer. I think this is where my lack of a military background hurts me the most. I can’t imagine the bond you feel between yourself and those the serve with and under you. The closest I have ever come is with a sports team and that obviously pales in comparison. So with that said, I can understand the need to finish what you started or to see through the mission that cost the lives of your friends, but that argument just begets violence upon violence. I think your Kosovo comparison is more apt and I think it is likely that the US and or some international coalition will remain in Iraq for much longer than the next 16 months. At some point we need to bring troops home from Iraq and see if that country can stand on it’s own. Nobody knows with much certainty when Iraq will be able to do so. For whatever reason many republicans assume 16 months from now is far too soon and a signal of defeat. I just don’t get that. The surge worked, remember, the Iraq is much better off than before the War, the “media” makes everythign look worse than it is, remember? That’s great and if… Read more »
A thought,
You traitors fail to see any of your treason.
A 16 month timeline gives the enemy hope.
The 36 month timeline doesn’t. They bad guys can’t sustain themselves for 36 months. They are back on their heels and losing. Our troops believe they can continue and finish the job within 36 months. The Iraqis have similar beliefs.
Herk,
The paragraph is your friend.
Blow off the people who he saids he is here for. THIS IS NOT GOOD, It takes heroes to give the freedom for thers. THIS IS NOT GOOD!
Raoul,
Traitor…? Hilarious. Why? Because I think that we have done a good enough job to leave Iraq after 6 and a half years of hard work by our troops? Yes highly traitorous.
“A 16 month timeline gives the enemy hope”- I didn’t realize you had polled the enemy on the issue.
“The 36 month timeline doesn’t. They bad guys can’t sustain themselves for 36 months.”- Ummm..they have sustained themselves for 5 years now while also fighting us in Afghanistan.
“Our troops believe they can continue and finish the job within 36 months. The Iraqis have similar beliefs.”- Wow..again I did not know you had polled our troops and the Iraqi people. So the troops don’t believe they can finish the job in 16 months? Why not?
Honestly, you can’t simply state your opinion as fact.
A thought…I appreciate your candor. Let me try another way. The rhetoric Obama campaigned on had no tie to success, it was simply “we’re leaving.” Since that sentiment was expressed President Bush, working with our allies and the Iraqis made an agreement for withdrawal that is based on present success and can be altered based on events yet to occur. That is a huge difference. One is “Whatever the circumstances, we’re leaving!” that so many Americans embraced and the other is based on accomplishing our stated mission and following through on our committments. Since then, Obama has matured and altered his position but he still has not provided for a change in the situation on the ground. Also, the Iraqi PM has stated he would hope the original agreement would be honored but if Obama wants to leave earlier then they will adapt. The difference is not time or even events now but rather honoring our commitments. We’re not talking about changing Americans’ or even Europeans’attitudes in order to prevent terrorism. The middle east doesn’t have elections every four years. Their culture appreciates a strong leader who rules for decades. It provides the stability they love. We, on the other hand welcome change every so often. We’re trying to influence a culture that doesn’t see the world as we do but sees us as people who come and go and are unreliable and therefore unworthy of their respect. They don’t differentiate between the government and the people. If we don’t follow through then we are unworthy of their trust and unreliable liars. Absolutely we need to bring our troops home, and your reference to republicans is valid and highlights some of our foreign policy problems. We as a people through our elected representatives are impatient and unpredictable. Whether republican or democrat, a politician is a politician. I disagree vehemently with Joe Lieberman on several issues, but he is balls-on right when it comes to dealing with terrorists. I agree with Arlen Specter on several things, but he is so wrong on so many things it ain’t funny. This isn’t politics… Read more »
Sorrry about the last reply and not completing it. I was just soon PI—- off that he blew them off and spent all that money Tuesday for what. They did it right the second time when he took the oath. I am glad it did not cost as much as the first time ( he would be ahead of Bush on spending) To blow off owr heroes that gave people like him the right to be President.THIS IS NOT GOOD
Raoul-
Duly noted. I’ll make more spaces next time.
Herk- You said it perfectly:
“The man made mistakes but not for his personal or political gain. Those mistakes cost me and those like me far more than it cost most Americans, yet he has our undying respect and gratitude. He kept my family safe and showed us respect in the process.
Obama could have that as well, or he can squash us like Clinton did. I can’t stand that SOB, but that’s another very long blog that doesn’t fit here.”
You rock!!!
[…] McDonnell’s devotion to our men and women in uniform serves as a nice contrast to the current occupant of the White House, who is the first President in the 56-year history of the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball unable to find the time to attend. […]
[…] For the rest of the story ….. […]
Herk and Defend-
How can you be so sure what Bush’s motivations were? I tend to agree with you but I only bring it up to point out how your perception of a person shades how you view their decisions.
If Obama decides to pull out at 16 months and Iraq falls into disorder it seems pretty clear you will believe Obama made a decision out of political expediency. He will then not be worthy of your respect. You really won’t know if he had military advisors saying it was a good time to withdraw although I’m sure he’ll say his advisors said Iraq could handle it. I understand you have evidence to believe that it would be a political decision, since it was a campaign promise, but what evidence do you have that Bush had no personal or political reasons for attacking Iraq?
I guess I just feel let down by President Bush because I didn’t want to go to War, but when we did I hoped we had made the right decision and anxiously awaited the discovery of WMD’s only to be disappointed. After that I felt duped. I can understand your admiration for Bush since he never gave up and treated the troops with respect, but admiring someone for valiantly attempting to clean up his own mess is really faint praise.
A thought
In reference to your response to Raoul, upon what do you base your opinion that the troops have done a good enough job? They’ve done a great job but do you believe the stated mission is accomplished?
Any timeline with a date certain for pullout does give any guerilla force hope. I can stand anything as long as I know how long it will last. More importantly, it causes concern among those we have won-over. “Are we going to pay for our support of the US after that date or will the US stay and protect us if necessary?”
Either side can last as long as their support lasts…and not a minute longer. The question is “Who’s support will end first? The terrorists or the Americans?”
There are so many lessons learned after Vietnam. The military dissected the entire situation and was brutally honest with itself. Unfortunately the current visiting politicians of both parties were playing badmitton and missed that day of class. The guys and girls in uniform aren’t the end-all know-it-alls when it comes to dealing with other nations and the various thug groups but they at least know that. The politicians (both parties) are just stopping through while some of these military folks have spent the last thirty+ years studying the politics of military intervention and the unintended consequences of it.
I guess you have to have a certain level of arrogance to run for office but they should really check that ego at the door when it comes to sending young Americans to kill others and die themselves. Gotta stick with it once you make the committment or you’ll never be able to un-f*#! it. And you really should set the heroes a step above the donors on inauguration day.
“As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment – a moment that will define a generation – it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.”
I find it interesting that the POTUS said these words and yet could not find the time to attend the Salute To Heroes Inaugural Ball, or at the very least stop by and pay his respects.
A thought,
[Honestly, you can’t simply state your opinion as fact.]
If you won’t take your own advice, why should anyone else? And you’re not honest.
[Traitor…? Hilarious.]
No, you’re dangerous, you get Soldiers killed.
[Why? Because I think that we have done a good enough job to leave Iraq after 6 and a half years of hard work by our troops?]
That’s liberal BS. You don’t believe the troops do anything good. The job isn’t done, unless you know more that the Iraqis’ and Gen Petreaus.
Remember him, the guy you now quote but called “Betray Us”.
[Yes highly traitorous.]
On that we agree.
[“A 16 month timeline gives the enemy hope”- I didn’t realize you had polled the enemy on the issue.]
What do they tell you at your planning meetings?
[“The 36 month timeline doesn’t. They bad guys can’t sustain themselves for 36 months.”- Ummm..they have sustained themselves for 5 years now while also fighting us in Afghanistan.]
BS, they’re working out trial areas across the border, which until lately were off limits.
[“Our troops believe they can continue and finish the job within 36 months. The Iraqis have similar beliefs.”- Wow..again I did not know you had polled our troops and the Iraqi people. So the troops don’t believe they can finish the job in 16 months? Why not?]
I keep up, you should too or take notes so you don’t waste the rest of the group’s time. Or just stop lying.
The agreement between the US and Iraq, commonly called Status of Forces, concluded a few months ago and 36 months was the objective. That’s a fact.
“anxiously awaited the discovery of WMD’s only to be disappointed”. Guess you missed the 550 metric tons of yellowcake uranium then? You know, the uranium used in nuclear weapons processing. The 550 tons found in Iraq and sold to Canada, after OIF? Or the gassing of the Kurds?
As to the 16 month deadline, if you give your enemy your timeline for doing something, he just waits. I realize it’s a tough concept, not advertising your options, but give it some thought.
Herk-
I don’t know they have done a good enough job. It was sort of a rhetorical response to the traitor accusation. I would suspect that Obama knows whether they have or have not better than I do, or Raoul does.
I do know that Republicans have been bragging about the success that have occurred in Iraq over the last year or so, yet when a withdrawal is discussed, they acuse the Democrats of cutting and running and giving up or, in Raul’s case, call us traitors.
Is the mission accomplished? I don’t think we’ll know the answer to that until we leave and Iraq remains stable.
The timeline argument is one of my favorites. All timelines give the enemy an idea of how long they need to last, but timelines also force the Iraqi government to become self-sustaining. So they aren’t without their virtues. How do you withdraw without a timeline? I do think it is foolish to make it public.
My larger point is the long term success of Iraq will not depend on whether we announce our withdrawal or have an established timeline. Can we alter the odds one way or the other short term? Yes. But what really matters is the will, heart and determination of the Iraqi people, its leaders and cooperation of ethnic groups that have long feuded. You quite clearly understand the complexity of the situation over there, probably much better than I do, but I think the Obama administration has a better grasp on it than the Bush administration did.
I’ve never spoken with President Bush about his motivations, but I have personally witnessed him passing up opportunities to elevate himself out of respect and deference for others. There was and still is a lot of evidence of WMDs in Iraq that gets scant media attention. Why did almost every senator and congressman in 2002-3 believe the information Bush had? Yet he never tried to dissipate the responsibility among the other politicians and instead stood up and took it all by himself. Congress approved and funded this war all the while pointing fingers at President Bush. Two days after every John Kerry speech there would be dozens of attacks on Americans in Iraq. Just like Vietnam and Tet. Destroy the will of the people and their support. Old and effective tactic for an insurgency. If Obama pulls out before the mission is complete it will be because that’s his choice. Where that choice comes from is the question. In my opinion he made a campaign pledge based on very few facts and zero experience, either personal or as a senator. Nor did he consult with experts until several months after making the pledge. His moral courage in the senate on the issue is un-inspiring at best, having taken the easy way out almost every time. Having said all that, any decision he makes is a political one just as every president’s military decisions are political and always will be. Ref. Von Clausewitz. All military activity is an extension of the political process. That’s not the issue. The issue is whether or not the man makes decisions based on what’s best for our country or what’s best for him and his party. Does he abandon Iraq because it’s the right thing to do or because it helps him politically at home? The man is the CinC and has all the cards so he has all the responsibility, just as President Bush did. My judgement of his decision will be based partly on his demonstrated respect for those in harm’s way and their families and partly on his rhetoric. We’ll never know… Read more »
Raul-
Please refrain from telling me that I believe the troops have never done anything good or that I ever said “Betray US”. I won’t have a debate with someone who tells me what I believe, think and do.
Just to show I am reasonable, I will agree that your last point is an excellent rebuttal. The Status of Forces is probably the best insight into their “beliefs” although I hesitate to be so bold as to speak for the beliefs of all our enemies, all our troops and all Iraqis as you do.
Up North- I was waiting for someone to bring up the Yellow Cake. The US and UN both knew about the yellow cake ever since the the first Iraq War. Why did it suddenly become such a threat that an invasion was necessary? The answer is it had not, nor was it the WMD’s the US told the UN about.
Thank you, Joe 216, for the clarity!
Some have gotten off subject.
[…] can put those concerns to rest…because the answer is a big fat juicy yes! According to TSO who was at the “Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball”, this newly sworn-in […]
a though,
[Please refrain from telling me that I believe the troops have never done anything good or that I ever said “Betray US”. I won’t have a debate with someone who tells me what I believe, think and do.]
Up yours…you’re quoting the liberal talking points, die by the liberal talking points.
And you’re NOT reasonable.
a thought,
“I hesitate to be so bold as to speak for the beliefs of all our enemies, all our troops and all Iraqis as you do.”
LOL, water is wet. Guess I just spoke for every water molecule.
A thought…
Believe me, I didn’t want to go to war either. I went and my nephew went. My son now serves and another is applying to the USMA this year. I want this over with ASAP, but I don’t want my kids to have to fight it in ten years either.
If you ever had to wear the Chemical Ensemble MOPP Level-4 in a 120 degree desert you’d be thrilled there were no WMDs.
The real WMDs are the human terrorists, not the physical weapons themselves. I’ll argue ideas all day long but if someone pulls out a weapon the conversation takes a decidedly different course. I’d suggest that decisively whipping some ass in Iraq has done more to protect us than many realize, even if grand stockpiles of WMDs were not discovered. And what if they had been there? Would people be arguing that Bush had no idea if they were going to be used against us so the war is unjustified? The message to the culture that spawned 9-11 is simple. You want to talk, we’ll talk. You want to kill our children? Fight’s on. That’s something they grudgingly respect. It’s un-f*#!ing what began in Mogadishu.
That respect is the foundation upon which our soldiers are distributing toys from our children to Iraqi and Afghan children. And our military doctors are treating their families. They’re building the relationships politicians have ignored for decades which will stop someone from even becoming a terrorist. Organization like Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross do far more to enhance our security before a conflict than our military can do with a conflict, in the long term. But that requires we stipulate that our government should get out of the way and let these charities do what they can. Not a cornerstone of the democratic party platform, but I digress.
Just wanted to address everything you mentioned. Look Raoul! Paragraphs!
a thought,
“I was waiting for someone to bring up the Yellow Cake. The US and UN both knew about the yellow cake ever since the the first Iraq War.”
Really, and where did it come from? When? For what use?
a thought,
“I was waiting for someone to bring up the Yellow Cake. The US and UN both knew about the yellow cake ever since the the first Iraq War.”
So now you’re speaking for both the US and the UN? Wow…
Herkpilot,
Sehr gutt.
Herk-
To get back on subject: How is having the MOH recipients on stage at the commencement or acknowleding them at the CinC Ball a snub? Did previous Presidents have them on stage or at the CinC ball? When you talk about the dedication and sacrifice the troops, past and present, have made, urge others to follow their example, have them on stage, acknowledge them at teh CinC ball; have you not shown enough honor or respect to them?
To get back off subject: Please feel free to share the evidence the media is ignoring. You don’t even need to give me links, just enough information to google it myself.
I apologize for my role in guiding us off target. Reading back I see how it happened.
It’s unfortunate the new CinC became the first in 56 years to miss this event. I’m willing to chalk it up as his administrations’ first military faux pas, though I don’t really have that right since I’m not a recipient of the MoH. There will be more, however. Let’s see if they’re as egregious as Clinton’s who will never regain any respect. Leaving the Football at a political event was supremely evil. Let’s see if Biden can tighten up his shot group.
Regarding the yellow cake:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/yellowcake.asp
Herk- Totally agree on not wanting to fight this war again in 10 years and your skepticism of the 16 month withdrawal.
I agree to a lesser extent about the War in Iraq keeping us safe. It has cost the lives of over 4,000 Americans and tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians so it’s not as if the terrorists have not killed Americans. Does it make sense that fighting them there made it less likely that we are fighting them here? Yes, that makes sense. That does not mean it was the only way or even the best way to keep us safe. There are also questions about whether the invasion of Iraq and situations like Abu Ghraib created more enemies and made recuriting terrorists easier. And since you tie it together with 9/11 you bring up the question of whether Iraq had anything to do with 9/11. I’ve never had a problem with the war in Afghanistan and wish we would be harder on Pakistan.
Well done on the shot at the Democratic Party Platform. I can’t disagree with anything you said in that last paragraph.
A thought… The military thrives on tradition and history, It’s what esprit de corp is based on. Ask any Marine about the history of the Corps and you’d better bring food cuz’ you’re in for a long day. As an Army Ranger I had to memorize minute details of the lineage. You just don’t want to be the guy who brings discredit to your family or your unit. This tradition of attending this ball is 56 years old and transcended political party and he’s the first one to forgo attendance so he could hang with the Hollywood elite and racist rappers. If he skipped it to visit wounded troops at Walter Reed or Bethesda that’d be one thing. If he sent a note apologizing for not attending, that’s a little better. But he abandoned a 56 year tradition, and what for? Evidence of WMDs would be quite a long discussion and way off topic but I’ll try to be brief. First though, you have to agree on the definition of WMD. Do they have to kill or are they sufficent to maim? There were several mobile labs discovered as well as artillery shells and aircraft capable of delivery. There was also equipment discovered in a Copehagen scrap yard shipped just before the invasion that still had the UN inspector stickers on it. Hosni Mubarak of Eqypt told Gen Tommy Franks that Saddam had WMDs and would use them. He had quite a history of using them on Iranians as well as Kurds (Chemical Ali). Might have to take a small step to piece it all together but in the context of post-9 11 concerns it ain’t a leap. Diesel fuel and fertilizer by themselves are not a concern but mix them together and watch out. We now monitor agricultural fertilizer very closely because of Terry Nichols and Ok City. It’s difficult to discern intent but Iraq had all the pieces to make crude but effective WMDs and deliver them, and it’s all been documented. You just have to believe that was his intent, and based on history I’d say it… Read more »
[…] new CINC attended quite a few gatherings last night, but as This Ain’t Hell reports, the Salute To Heroes Inaugural Ball was not one of them. For the first time in 56 years, a […]
Herk,
Only liberals will have you believe that a regime with “Chemical Ali” and “Doctor Germ” as two prominent members would not have WMDs.
Also, Saddam gave us an inventory of his WMDs as part of the Gulf War ceasefire. And the UN spent a decade looking for them. I don’t recall any UN puke coming out and saying there were not WMDs during that time.
The arabs were asking us what the big deal was with Abu Ghraib because no one was killed, no one had their eyes gouged out or were sodomized. Stupid? You bet! Earth Shattering? Only here and in Europe.
Germany never attacked us in WWII either. How many troops do we send to find bin Laden? Do they follow him into another sovereign nation, basically another invasion? How long do we chase a man who’s combat ineffective simply for revenge? Then what? Bring him here for a trial? What are the rules of evidence? Do I want the SOB dead? Oh, dead and buried in a pig carcass. But at what price is the revenge?
Clinton gutted our humint capabilities because he didn’t want to pay nefarious characters for intel. Who do we think hangs around with these thugs? Boy Scouts? We could have had him in Nigeria long ago but Clinton declined. There are ways of getting things done without all the noise. Ask the Mossad about Nazis. We like the series “24” but only in the abstract. Getting bin Laden is the one straightforward promise Obama has made. How he plans on doing that is going to be interesting.
Did I mention I didn’t care for Clinton? Man, I wish Obama would’ve gone to that ball.
There was no Medal of Honor ball held this year.
http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/people/capitalcomment/10034.html
Jonn wrote: It must suck to be late to the party, huh? That’s been brought up and shot down. My partner was at the Ball.
Herk-
I think it’s pretty obvious that I don’t fully grasp the military mindset, but this conversation has been illuminating in that respect and I certainly better understand the anger or disappointment some feel due to Obama’s decision. I guess I only ask that any discussion of the snub be accompanied by an acknowledgement of the measures Obama did take to honor men and women like yourself.
That is often the problem with conversations like this. Two sides simply talk about what supports their position while ignoring points to the contrary. It’s not actually a conversation just people talking to themselves to make themselves feel better and justify their beliefs all while learning nothing. I think you and I have avoided this.
Yeah, we’re best off not addressing the WMD issue when we are unlikely to reach an agreement on the very definition of WMD’s. I guess I’m basing my understanding of the issue on Colin Powell’s UN speech. I will say this though, even President Bush has admitted to being disappointed at not finding WMD’s so I think arguing otherwise is just spin.
Really, there was no ball to snub. Medal of Honor recipients were at the Commander-in-Chief’s ball.
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60160
Jonn wrote: Geez. Did you just wake up and come in here with these links? Try reading the preceding comments.
It’s always better to listen to understand and not to refute. That doesn’t mean you have to abdicate your position but you do get smarter and have more credibilty.
POST 154 I enlisted in the Marine Corps 46 years ago rookie.Wheeler Capt.USMCR
Did anyone notice at the “Neighborhood Ball”, he said, I paraphrase, “Neighborhood, that’s what it’s all about, “we’re all neighbors”. What about the HOOD?
Jonn, there really was no Salute to Heroes ball this year. It’s a lie.
Jonn wrote: Yeah, you need to read all of the comments I’m not repeating myself again.
Herk, what’s your website.
Where’s the ball’s website, then? Pictures from said ball?
You won’t find them. It didn’t happen.
Jonn wrote: You’re a lazy turd. If you bother to read the post right below this one, you’d see the pictures, you’d read the story. If you read the comments, you’d see that there were people that were there commenting. Now, if you’re not going to do the simplest work to inform yourself, you need to go back to barbie.com or where ever the fuck you came from to pester these other other fine people.
Thank you. From a retired USAF BSC Officer.
All you’re doing is making yourself look foolish. Don’t be so trusting. 🙂
Obama hosted a great ball for the troops. The American Legion was nice enough to cover that. Funny how they don’t mention their own ball. Because they didn’t have one this year.
Jonn wrote: OK, if you’re so sure, call this Hotel and ask them if they had the Ball there Tuesday night.
A thought 232
I’ve found Snopes to be less than reliable and oddly somewhat left leaning in their analysis of the truth. They frequently will assign a judgement that is not supported by their text and sometimes their evidence actually contradicts their assessment of the situation. Not a terrible place to start but I wouldn’t finish there.
I’m just a very critical thinker who thinks paranoia is a heightened state of awareness.
Mike H. 245
No website and I never blog. A link was forwarded to me and I started unravelling it and here I am. I’ve probably done enough damage and should move on.