IF IT WALKS LIKE A DUCK…IT IS WHAT IT IS

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ISIL

In President Obama’s speech outlining his strategy for dealing with ISIL he emphatically made a point to separate ISIL from Islam. “ISIL is not Islamic” he stated. This may be news to the leadership and fighters of ISIL, all of whom are followers of Islam and fighting and committing horrific acts in the name of Islam.

The President made his case by stating “In a region that has known so much bloodshed, these terrorists are unique in their brutality. They execute captured prisoners. They kill children. They enslave, rape, and force women into marriage. They threatened a religious minority with genocide”. It seems the President has chosen to forget history or perhaps never knew it. These barbarous acts he described are exactly how Islam spread as a religion 1,200 years ago. The President’s own words and logic not only refute his argument, they make the point on how completely wrong he is.

It would take political courage on the world stage to call ISIL what it is and that is something we have learned not to expect from this president, the same president seen by many in the Middle East, most notably Egypt’s Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, as an outright ally of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Perhaps the Australians would believe President Obama that ISIL is not Islamic. But perhaps not since this morning 800 Aussie police officers served 25 search warrants that apparently prevented the random public beheadings of innocent Australians in the name of ISIL and Islam.

Saying that ISIL is not Islamic is like saying the Crusaders were not Christian, the Nazis were not German and the North Koreans are not Communist. It does not change the fact by tepidly tip-toeing around reality, they are. It’s a duck (with apologies to ducks), not a Dove.

OBAMA TRADES LIVES FOR A PHOTO OP

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ap_obama_bergdahl_140531_16x9_608Photo ABC News

If you think Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is a hero, stop reading now. If you can’t handle the truth of what this man is, stop reading now. More importantly, if you think President Obama has the best interest of this country in mind by negotiating with terrorists in this case, please, stop reading now.

There is no way for President Obama and his administration to sell their story of rescuing an American hero to even the most naive and ignorant among us, numerous though they may be. No, no…no. Bluntly, almost no one can be so stupid as to accept it. But you have the usual howling group of mendacious politicos giving it lip service even though they know the truth.

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How do we know the truth? Don’t ask the politicians. Don’t ask the media. Don’t even ask the generals (they have their gag orders, you can be sure). Ask the men who served with Bergdahl what they know. Ask them independently, ask them collectively and compare their stories. You will see remarkable consistency and thought on Bergdahl, and none of it is related to the Obama spin machine.

“The fact of the matter is, he deserted us in the middle of Afghanistan to go and find the Taliban.  People calling him a hero, people calling him this great soldier, it’s a spit in the face to the soldiers who were there… and more importantly it’s a spit in the face to the soldiers who died as a direct result of him leaving.”  said former team leader former Army Sgt. Evan Buetow to CNN.

Former Sgt. Matt Vierkant, a member of Bergdahl’s platoon at the time he deserted on June 30, 2009 told CNN “Bowe Bergdahl deserted during a time of war, and his fellow Americans lost their lives searching for him”.

Also, many soldiers in Bergdahl’s platoon said Taliban attacks increased in Paktika province in the weeks after his disappearance.

“Any of us would have died for him while he was with us, and then for him to just leave us like that, it was a very big betrayal,” said former U.S. Army Sgt. Josh Korder

Keep in mind that, according to CNN, the 7 men who served most closely with Bergdahl as well as those in the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, were ordered to sign non-disclosure statements regarding Berfdahl’s desertion and the deadly efforts to rescue him, efforts that killed 6 Americans and wounded others.

Bergdahl tweeted anti-American comments before he deserted his post. Bergdahl shipped home personal items such as his guitar before he left his post. Bergdahl laid down his rifle before he left his post. This was a conscious, planned desertion, not an impulsive act of frustration.

And lest you think we are part of a right wing or Republican effort making these statements for political gain against the president, talk to Senator Diane Feinstein, Democrat, “I strongly believe that we should have been consulted, that the law should have been followed. And I very much regret that that was not the case…”.

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But the most disturbing story is not Bergdahl, it is the president. Bergdahl will be dealt with in time. As for the president?   He apparently broke the law.  He set a dangerous precedent by negotiating with Terrorists and it will cost us lives in the future.  He released a handful of senior Al Qaeda members from Guantanmo. Again, that will cost us lives in the future. He dishonored the six men who died trying to rescue Bergdahl, the others wounded and all of those that have sacrificed in the war in Afghanistan. And he did this for what?  A photo op?  Who is the real traitor here?

LEFT COAST PATRIOTISM SIGHTED IN MARIN COUNTY CALIFORNIA ON MEMORIAL DAY

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Photo by Frankie Frost, Marin Independent Journal

Marin County, California is rich with the 5th highest per capital income in the US.  It is also Caucasian (86%), educated (55% Bachelors degree or higher), small (260,000 people, 520 square miles) and politically Berkeley-esque.  It is a prime market for Teslas and BMWs and Priuses.  It is the home of John Walker Lindh, the American Islamist terrorist captured as an enemy combatant during the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.  Marin County is many things but good old fashioned Rockwellian patriotic is not usually considered one of them.  People should reconsider that.

Each year at the Veterans Auditorium of the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Marin Civic Center, itself a National Historic Landmark, Memorial Day services are held.  The usual local mendacious politicians sit on stage but so do representatives of various American Legion and VFW posts and until recently, a Pearl Harbor survivor.  His empty chair makes as much of a statement as the MIA/POW table does.

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Photo by Frankie Frost, Marin Independent Journal

There is a featured speaker, usually an active or retired military person.  This year it was retired Lt. Commander Ted Robinson, 95, who as a young PT boat Ensign was the man who rescued John Kennedy and his crew after their famous PT109 was cut in half by a Japanese destroyer in 1943.

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Photo by Frankie Frost, Marin Independent Journal

The Lt. Commander had the strong voice of a 40 year old and the sharpness of mind as well as humor of a comedian.  He enthralled the audience who interrupted him twice with standing ovations.  In that audience was a stream of old fashioned patriotism; high school ROTC students, Blue Star Moms, Patriot Guard Riders, and many former and current military who all had a chance to stand up and be recognized by great applause when the band played their service song.

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Photo by Gail Giacimini

After the indoor service concluded hundreds of people walked outside to the Avenue of the Flags where they witnessed various wreath laying by different organizations at the Army, Navy, Marine Corp, Air Force and Merchant Marine statues of different wars.  They then stood silently and for some, with tears as Taps was played.

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Photo by Gail Giacimini

Marin County: Rich, Democratic, Liberal, …and patriotic on Memorial Day.

SEALS ON THE BEACH, VETERANS ON THE STAGE, GENEROSITY IN THE AUDIENCE

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The SEAL-Naval Special Warfare Family Foundation http://www.sealnswff.org fundraising event May 3 in laid-back Santa Monica exceeded the collective high expectations of the 1,000 guests.  Personally, they had us as we passed through the camo-netting covered portal entering the beautiful sand beach of the Jonathan Club. The exclusive beach club never rents out their facilities but in a wonderful act of generosity (to be the theme of the evening) they provided the facilities without any cost to the NSWFF.

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In true LA fashion there were celebrities, high-end booze, outstanding food, a beautiful beach setting caressed by perfect weather, overt and covert security, a book signing, live and silent auctions, very cool technology and the cutest service-puppies-in-training  you will ever see.  And this was all before the festivities began.

 

Throw in a boy band, Vaja belting out a heart-felt Star Spangled Banner, the USC Marching Band and a dozen former Navy Seals parachuting onto the beach in front of us, one with a 2,500 square foot American flag, and you get a hint of the excitement of the event that raised $3,000,000 for the foundation.

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People were generous for a wonderful cause and at times we could not help but wonder if the event could ever have occurred in our home San Francisco Bay Area.   It’s not that there is a lack of wealthy donors nor a suitable stunningly beautiful venue.  And there are enough patriotic folks to make up a 1,000 seat audience.  No, it is more about political correctness.  How so?  Sniper rifles.  Yes, a couple of sniper rifles that were auctioned off at $150,000 each.  Or maybe even the 3’ by 5’ $1,000,000 check donated  by Michael Liberty purportedly written on a cut out part of a “Jihadist Tent”.  Let the public debate begin!  No matter, it happened in the progressive enclave of Santa Monica and all was right with the world for a few short hours.

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We had two questions before the event.  First, why do the SEALs need help with their families?  That question was answered here http://www.sealnswff.org/programs/. Second, why is the government not taking better care of the SEALs?  That question remains unanswered.  However, private individuals and companies dug deep and did the right thing for the SEALs families, again.  Well done.

 

SEAL-NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE FAMILY FOUNDATION: YOU DON’T KNOW THEM, BUT YOU SHOULD

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The SEAL-Naval Special Warfare Family Foundation (SEAL-NSWFF) isn’t one of those charities familiar to most Americans.  They don’t have cute commercials on late night TV nor do they have folks annoyingly asking for contributions outside your favorite chain grocery store and you will never have them ring your doorbell.  But this is an organization that deserves some sliver of your over-worked attention capacity if not a few bucks of your hard earned money.

Frankly, until we were contacted by Merrill Marketing Communications (http://www.merrillmarcom.com) in San Diego, we had no idea such an organization existed.  But we’ve been given the honor to attend the latest SEAL-NSWFF event this May 3 in Santa Monica and it looks like a spectacular event, certainly sure to be the most engaging, dramatic and interesting fundraising event we’ve ever attended or are likely to attend.

Before we get on a (positive) rant about this event, be aware that they do wonderful, honorable and important work for the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) families.  They raise awareness and funds for multiple activities and services on a local, national and global scale.  Check them out at http://www.sealnswff.org.

On May 3, at the Jonathan Beach Club, the wine will be excellent, the food approaching sublime, the music from the top of the charts and the Hollywood ‘Be-Seens’ shiny and bright.  But, the real stars are the men and women who have made great sacrifices for this country, for you, for us.  We have a Medal of Honor winner keynote speaker, we have state of the art Tactical Gear, Lasers, Drones, K9 War Dogs to say nothing of ex-Seals parachuting onto the beach and bringing along some seriously cool special effects with them.  And we are told there will be more but it is apparently top secret at this time.

Assuming we survive the event and don’t try to enlist, we will report back and post photos too.

For more information see http://www.eliteforcesevent.com/home.html

@sealnswff