AAR from Press Conference with TX Rep John Carter
September 30, 2007
O.P. Ditch attended a press conference put on by TX Rep John Carter (R-Tx) on 9/28:
Ron Kirby and O. P. Ditch were there to represent The Gathering of Eagles. We were early enough to introduce ourselves and get on the list of “organizations” represented. We were first to be recognized, along with AMVETS and a couple others. The AMVET guy spoke briefly. AMVETs have put up a $5,000 reward to catch the vandals. We didn’t ask to speak (I’m not the real PR guy). Kristinn Taylor was on his way, but got held up by some problem on the Metro Red line. When Rep Carter got up to speak, We (Ron & I) were the first ones he recognized and Gathering of Eagles was mentioned. Several congressperson spoke, Sam Johnson, the former POW spoke, and was very mad about the defacing of the VN Vets Memorial. The congresswoman from New Mexico (Heather Wilson - AF ret) also spoke along with several other VN vets who are Congressman. Didn’t get all the names. (I have a video to work on). There were several news type cameras set up, but we didn’t identify any reporters to talk to. Most of the people who asked questions of us after were staffers. Kristinn was available at the end, but no press people were there. Rep Ted Poe, also of Tx spoke and his aide passed out a short comment that Poe had made on the House Floor on Sept 20. Which was entered into the Congressional Record. It is entitled “The Wall Desecraters.”
From Ron’s notes:
Other speakers
Mike Conaway TX 70-72 Army
Steve Pearce NM Air Force
Others there were and may have spoke
Christopher Shays CT
Thaddeus McCotter MI
Rodney Frelinghuysen NJ Army 69-71
Joe Wilson SC
Leonard Boswell I Army 56-76
Rep Carter did indicate after, that he had spoken with the NPS and the maintenance people who were working on the Memorial to clean it up. He indicated that it was not yet completely cleaned up. He also indicated that the NPS had some kind of security camera video that they were working on to gather clues. I guess someone needs to be appointed to continue to follow up with NPS so we can inform our members as to the status.
Chris Hill’s new “Legislative Aid” volunteer, Nicole Aquino, law student at American University (aquino.nicole@gmail.com) was also there today.
Video from 27 Sept Press Conference about the Defacing of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall.
Congressman John Carter has drafted a resolution condemning the defacing. He says he already has 100 cosponsors.
Videos on YouTube:
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Here is Rep Carter’s Resolution Draft:
110TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. RES.
Condemning the actions of September 7, 2007, resulting in damage to the
Vietnam Veterans War Memorial.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. CARTER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on ……
RESOLUTION
Condemning the actions of September 7, 2007, resulting
in damage to the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial.
Whereas the Vietnam Veterans Memorial serves as a memorial
to the 2,700,000 men and women in the United
States Armed Forces who served in the designated war
zone during the Vietnam Era;
Whereas 58,256 men and women died while serving in South
East Asia or as a result of their wounds or a service-connected
disability;
Whereas on Friday evening, September 7, 2007, the United
States Park Police reported being notified of a light, oily,
and unidentified substance that was spilled over portions
of some of the names, panels, and paving stones of the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial;
Whereas at least 14 of the 140 inscribed panels of the Memorial
Wall were damaged; and
Whereas the National Park Service has determined that the
damage was the result of an act of vandalism:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives condemns all attacks upon the memory of veterans and theirservice to the United States, as exemplified by the incident of vandalism of September 7, 2007.
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Here is the text of Rep Ted Poe’s statement on the house floor of Sept 20:
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THE WALL DESECRATERS
HON. TED POE
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Madam Speaker, “I do not believe that the men who served in uniform in Vietnam have been given the credit they deserve. It was a difficult war against an unorthodox enemy.”
These are the words of General Westmoreland in the war where “all gave some and some gave all.” But the disrespect continues. Now, despicable vandals have desecrated the sacred black granite Vietnam Wall. An oily, slimy, greasy substance was smeared over the Wall and the walkway. The Park Service is attempting to remove the damage, but the monument desecraters run free.
This monument bears the name of 56,000 warriors. They answered the call for America and they died in their youth. I grew up with friends whose names are on that wall.
The unpatriotic, cowardly, abusing criminals should be tracked down, prosecuted, and put in jail somewhere off the shores of America, maybe Guantanamo Bay.
It has been said that “Vietnam was a war that asked everything of a few and nothing of most in America.” Now America must be resolved to capture these outlaws and restore dignity to those who died for the rest of us.
And that’s just the way it is.
PRESS CONTACT: DeeAnn Thigpen
Deeann.thigpen@mail.house.gov or 202-812-1645
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Nat’l Dir of Ops Meets With Bush
September 30, 2007
Chris Hill visited with President Bush on 9/18 for breakfast at the White House to discuss Gathering of Eagles and the support our troops so desperately need.
Calling All Eagles: Make the Water Hot For Murtha
September 30, 2007
Pennsylvania (and other) Eagles: here’s a chance to let Big John Murtha know that the Eagles are onto him. Those of you who live anywhere near his district (and particularly those who live near where he’s appearing) are STRONGLY encouraged to attend his meetings and ask the questions that should be asked (e.g., “Could you comment on the federal judge’s decision requiring you to testify in SGT Wuterich’s suit against you?” “Do you still believe that US Marines murdered innocent civilians ‘in cold blood?’ Let’s make it hot for him!
Armstrong County:
Kittanning – 450 East Market Street, Courthouse Annex, 9:00 to 12:00 p.m., Thursdays October 4, October 11, October 18 and October 25
Fayette County:
Belle Vernon – Borough Building, 10 Main St, 9:00 to 12:00 p.m. October 10
Brownsville – Borough Building, Second & High St., 9:00 to 12:00 p.m. October 10 and October 24
Connellsville – City Hall, 110 N. Arch St., 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. October 17 and October 31
Salt Lick Township Building, 147 Municipal Rd, Melcroft, 9:00 to 12:00 p.m. October 17 and October 31
Uniontown - 20 N. Gallatin Ave., 9:00 to 4:00 p.m. October 5, October 11, October 12, October 15, October 22, October 25, October 26, October 29
Greene County:
Carmichaels – Borough Building, 200 S. Market St., from 9:30 to 3:00 p.m. October 4 and October 18
Waynesburg – Greene County Office Building, 93 E. High St., Room 303, from 9:30 to 3:00 p.m., Tuesdays October 2, October 9, October 16, October 23 and October 30
Indiana County:
Indiana – 827 Water Street, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Thursdays October 4, October 11, October 18 and October 25
Washington County:
Donora – Public Library, 510 Meldon Ave., 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. October 10
Centerville – Borough Building, 100 East End Rd., 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. October 10 and October 24
Washington - 56 W. Maiden St. (across the street from City Hall), 9:00 to 4:00 p.m., October 3, October 17 and October 24
Westmoreland County:
Latrobe – Borough Building, 901 Jefferson St., 8:00 to 12:00 p.m. Mondays October 1, October 8, October 15 and October 22
Lower Burrell – City Hall Building, 2800 Bethel Street, 9:00 to 4:00 p.m., Tuesdays October 2, October 9, October 16, October 23 and October 30
Eagle Help Needed in PA
September 30, 2007
Eagles! Those of you who live anywhere near Meadville, PA, have an opportunity to help one of us who needs help! Check out the story here, and then help Carrie!
BLUNT: HOUSE FINALLY GOES ON RECORD IN SUPPORT OF GEN. PETRAEUS, MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM
September 26, 2007
WASHINGTON – House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) issued the following statement this afternoon after the House overwhelmingly approved a resolution condemning “in the strongest possible terms” MoveOn.org’s personal attacks on General David Petraeus, as well as honoring “all members of the Armed Forces,” and their families, for “serving in harm’s way.” Seventy-nine Democrats voted against it.
“It’s been more than two weeks since the Republican Leader introduced a resolution condemning MoveOn’s personal smear campaign against Gen. Petraeus, and nearly a week since the Senate passed its own version and the House majority leader told me he had no intention of allowing a similar vote in our chamber.
“Today, we took matters into our own hands, forcing the House to take up a resolution repudiating these personal attacks, and reaffirming our support for and gratefulness to the men and women serving our country in harm’s way.
“Given the chance, more than three-quarters of the House went on record today in support of our Armed Forces, and in recognition of the extreme sacrifices they and their families make for our country on daily basis. My only disappointment is that a message as important and clear-cut as this couldn’t attract the support of every member of this chamber.”
NOTE: The House Committee on Foreign Affairs took up a similar resolution earlier in the day, returning a vote of 23-13 in favor of quashing the Petraeus resolution and preventing it from even being considered in committee. Many of those members voting in the affirmative came down differently on the issue when presented with the matter on the House floor.
Commentary on the motion by Chris Hill, Gathering of Eagles National Director for Operations:
The motion recognized the service of General Petraeus, as well as all other members of the Armed Forces and civilian personnel serving in harm’s way, as well as their families. It also condemned in the strongest possible terms the personal attacks made by the advocacy group MoveOn.org impugning the integrity and professionalism of General Petraeus.
79 Democrats opposed the resolution. Their names are below. If your member of Congress is listed below, call and ask them why they refuse to support our men and women in uniform. Ask them if this is what they mean when they say “I support the troops.” These 79 members of Congress had the chance to publicly support the troops, or support their cash cow MoveOn.org. They chose the latter. This is why we have to turn out in the streets. This is why we have to stalk the halls of Congress. This is why our mission to support our men and women in uniform hinges on each and every one of us. When elected officials will not even disavow a repugnant ad put out by an anti-American organization it is time for us, the Gathering of Eagles and our fellow patriots in other organizations, to remind them that they work for us.
The 79 members of Congress listed below sided with those who call our brave warriors war criminals. They sided with those who call the commanding general in Iraq a traitor. In short, they decided that it was better to have funds from an organization that believes in destroying our American way of life, than it was to stand up for those who have so bravely stood up for all of us. If this sounds eerily familiar to many of you it should. It is the same model used by the anti-American movement 40 years ago. Our men and women in uniform are under attack. The memorials to our war dead are under attack. Our very way of life is under attack, and it starts with these 79. Don’t let them get away with it again. Manchu.
Abercrombie (HI)
Ackerman(NY)
Allen(MA)
Baldwin(WI)
Becerra(CA)
Berman(CA)
Blumenauer(OR)
Brown, Corrine(FL)
Capuano(MA)
Castor(FL)
Clarke(NY)
Clay(MISSOURI)
Cohen(TN)
Conyers(MICH)
Crowley(NY)
Davis (IL)
DeGette(COL)
Ellison(MINN)
Filner(CA)
Frank (MA)
Green, Al(TX)
Grijalva(AZ)
Gutierrez(FL)
Hastings (FL)
Hinchey(NY)
Hirono (HI)
Holt(NJ)
Honda(NJ)
Inslee(WA)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson(LA)
Johnson (GA)
Jones (OH)
Kilpatrick(MI)
Kucinich(OH)
Lee(CA)
Lewis (GA)
Lofgren, Zoe(CA)
Markey(MA)
Matsui(CA)
McDermott (WA)
McGovern(MA)
Meek (FL)
Michaud(ME)
Miller (NC)
Miller, George(CA)
Moore (WI)
Moran (VA)
Nadler(NY)
Neal (MA)
Olver(MA)
Pallone(NJ)
Payne (NJ)
Price (NC)
Rush(IL)
Ryan (OH)
Sánchez, Linda T. (CA)
Schakowsky(IL)
Scott (VA)
Serrano(NY)
Sherman(CA)
Slaughter(NY)
Solis(CA)
Stark(CA)
Tierney(MA)
Towns(NY)
Van Hollen(MD)
Velázquez(NY)
Wasserman Schultz(FL)
Waters(CA)
Watson(CA)
Watt (NC) - MY REP
Waxman (CA)
Weiner(NY)
Wexler(FL)
Woolsey(CA)
Wynn(MO)
Yarmuth (KY)
Eyes of the Eagle 1
September 25, 2007
Every Eagle who attended last Saturday’s rally has a story. Eyes of the Eagle will bring you those stories. Welcome to the first installment. In this first chapter, Gary from Michigan has a good laugh, and retired Marine W.C. offers his impression of the moonbats.
Saturday, I was with the group at 1st and Constitution. The police had put up metal barriers on our corner and yellow tape on the other corner of the street. This bozo from the other side came down the street from our right, in between the barriers and the tape, waving his sign and prancing along giving us the “Kerry Salute” (if you know what I mean.). The cops motioned for him to leave, so he went over to the taped side and attempted to jump over the tape. He ended up catching his heel on the tape and crashed down flat on his backside then flat on the ground. We had a good laugh at that. I noticed one of the cops with his hand over his mouth, trying not to laugh out load. I looked at him and said, “You know you want to.” He nodded and kept his hand on his mouth. The bozo got up looking foolish, picked up his sign and walked off to our cheers and clapping.
Gary S
Michigan Gathering of Eagles
My oldest son and I attended GOE III. We had been there for frostbite during GOE I, and we knew had to attend this gathering because the moonbats obviously thought they would be unopposed. I had the unexpected honor of meeting the Gold Star families and getting my picture taken with Michelle Malkin, as well. The GOE rally was really motivating, especially the gathering of the Gold Star families on stage at the end. I thought that was a powerful statement, and I think GOE should look for ways to give the Gold Star families a public voice. During the march, it was clear that some of the protesters had been instructed to provoke us so that their omnipresent cameramen could get some propaganda pictures and videos. Almost all of the protesters used foul language in response to our challenges. Their camera crews were disconcerted to find that we were taking their pictures, too. In particular, it upset them to have our cameras flash in their eyes just as they were about to take a picture. Some of them got downright rude. I was struck by a raw egg thrown by a coward hiding somewhere in the middle of the crowd, but that did not dampen our enthusiasm for the struggle.
There were phony vets sprinkled in amongst the protesters. When confronted, the ones I say could not verify their service and wandered off mumbling. I found that the most effective tactic was to shake my head and to tell them how sorry I felt for them. This especially confused the younger ones. When we moved down to the Capitol for the “die-in” we found ourselves mixed in with the moonbats. We noticed that, except for the diehard professional protesters, most of the moonbats turned the event into a picnic. The “truthers” went off on their own to spout their idiocy, and many of the younger, unaffiliated marchers engaged us in conversation. The ones we spoke to really had no clue about ANSWER’s real agenda or about the facts behind the issues. They were there because they thought it was a good idea to be for peace. There were a number of youngsters who were totally surprised to find that there really was opposition to their march and that we were allowed to be there to express it during their march. Somehow they thought they were supposed to have the place all to themselves. It seemed pretty clear to us that they didn’t get the turnout they expected, and, just like the 60’s and 70’s demonstrations, many of the young guys were there just to be with the girls.
GOE Radio: Bev Perlson
September 25, 2007
Friday night will be a real treat for Front Line listeners, as Bev Perlson is my guest. Bev is a Blue Star Mother who you may have met at GOE rallies and other pro-troop events. She is the one-woman force behind Postcards for the Troops, and is also the head of Band of Mothers, a coalition of Blue and Gold Star Mothers who push for victory and support of our military and their mission.
If you’ve heard Bev on the show before, then you know she’s an incredibly entertaining, politically incorrect, intelligent and fun woman to speak with. I am pleased to have her back on the show, and I hope you tune in to talk about GOE, the anti-war forces, and much more.
You can catch the show live on BlogTalkRadio at 10 pm Eastern time, Friday night. If you’d like to comment or ask a question, feel free to call in at 646-915-9926.
Blackwater is the Anti-war Left’s Next Target
September 25, 2007
Even as echoes of the unfounded and cowardly attacks on General Petraeus fade in the media’s memory after his historical presentation to Congress, a second target was acquired for slander and innuendo. Blackwater USA shares the General’s plight - guilt by association. The Moyock, North Carolina, company did not start the war in Iraq, but they and General Petraeus have become unwitting scapegoats in a domestic political battle to see which party will determine the future of the global war on terror.
Both Blackwater and General Petraeus have distinguished records of sacrifice and performance. However, the tactics of character assassination, whether used against an accomplished US General or a great US Company, are now considered appropriate political behavior. The media feed off this - salivating as each unsubstantiated report, each unresearched allegation, is tossed like a small boat into a battering storm. Meanwhile, in Iraq, the two elements most concerned about Blackwater remaining in Iraq to protect
US diplomats are the very same elements that are known to be the principal instigators of both sides of the sectarian conflict. They are the corrupt Sunni-led Ministry of the Interior and the ever-vicious Mahdi Army, a Shiite force led by radical cleric Muqtada al Sadr.
There is no doubt that more Americans and more US companies will feel the sting of politically motivated anti-war attacks as we get closer to the 2008 elections. But wouldn’t it be nice if the media ceased their journalistic complacency and their unwitting (or witting) alignment with forces trying to degrade the US public debate on this war? If the fourth estate is truly the protector of our precious freedoms, wouldn’t be helpful if these media outlets shifted their investigative energies and attention to those in Iraq who seek to reap the rewards generated by hasty US departure?
Iraq Surge Report: 23 September
September 24, 2007
Here is the draft of [part of] my section from the “Iraq Surge” weekly report for the Air Force Strategic Communications Branch and the Joint Chiefs. This is open sourced and unclassified information derived strictly from the world wide web and internet bloggers.
It is valuable to show the positive developments and trends going on in Iraq and for you to get the word out to your readers, viewers, supporters and listeners.
First Lieutenant Jarred A. Fishman, USAFR
JRIU J2S StratCom
Pentagon 2B721
1) Iraq Violence Lowest since 2006 Mosque attack
By Paul Tait Thu Sep 20, 7:46 PM ET Violence in Iraq has fallen to its lowest level since before a 2006 mosque attack which unleashed the deadliest phase of the Iraq war, the deputy commander of U.S. forces in Iraq said on Thursday. Lieutenant-General Raymond Odierno said attacks in Baghdad had also fallen by half since January, just before Washington began pouring 30,000 extra troops into Iraq to try to drag the nation back from the brink of sectarian civil war. “There are still way too many civilian casualties inside of Baghdad and Iraq,” Odierno said, after telling a news conference the number of sectarian killings in the capital had fallen from an average of about 32 a day to 12 a day this year. U.S. forces launched a crackdown in Baghdad in February that spread to other provinces, targeting Sunni Islamist al Qaeda and other Sunni Arab insurgents as well as Shi’ite militias. “Al Qaeda in Iraq is increasingly being pushed out of Baghdad and the surrounding areas. They are now seeking refuge elsewhere in the country and even fleeing Iraq,” Odierno said. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki this month said his government had averted civil war and that levels of violence in Baghdad and surrounding areas had fallen 75 percent this year.
And on Thursday, President George W. Bush defended plans to withdraw about 20,000 U.S. troops by July, saying: “Progress will yield fewer troops.” Al Qaeda, however, has vowed to step up attacks during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. Odierno said there had been no sign of any reprisal attacks so far since a separate Baghdad shooting on Sunday involving U.S. security firm Blackwater in which 11 people were killed. U.S. and Iraqi officials have launched a joint inquiry into the incident, with Maliki’s government announcing it had halted the work of Blackwater, which guards U.S. embassy officials, and would review all local and foreign security firms. U.S. embassy spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo said Blackwater was still contracted to the State Department but had not done any work since a ban on U.S. diplomatic convoys leaving Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone was imposed on Tuesday. In Iraq’s north, the U.S. military said it had arrested an Iranian man it accused of being a member of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards Quds force who had smuggled deadly roadside bombs into Iraq. Iran said the man, detained during an early-morning raid on a hotel in Sulaimaniya in autonomous Kurdistan, was a businessman. Kurdistan and Iraqi government officials said he was a member of a trade delegation. Odierno said U.S. and Iraqi forces had been keeping al Qaeda and other militant groups “off balance” by targeting their leadership as they push out of large bases into smaller combat outposts and joint command centers.
He said 60 percent more weapons caches had been discovered in the first nine months of 2007 than in all of 2006, leading to a decrease in attacks by improvised explosive devices.
The security crackdown was seen by Washington as an attempt to buy time for Iraq’s fractured government to reach benchmarks aimed at reconciling majority Shi’ites and minority Sunni Arabs. Maliki’s Shi’ite-led coalition has been paralyzed by infighting and the withdrawal of about a dozen ministers from cabinet, but a senior lawmaker said there were no plans for a no-confidence vote against Maliki’s 16-month-old administration. Deputy speaker Khaled al-Attiya also told Reuters that much-delayed legislation on a crucial oil law that will regulate how wealth from the world’s third-largest oil reserves will be shared would be debated in parliament in October.
2) Iraqi alliances spread
By Jim Michaels, USA TODAY 21 September Baghdad- Most of the major tribes in a strategic province northeast of Baghdad have signed agreements to support U.S. and Iraqi forces, a sign the alliance-building initiative that started in Anbar province is spreading. In Diyala province, tribal leaders representing 20 of the province’s 25 major tribes have signed agreements brokered by the local government, said Army Col. David Sutherland, a brigade commander there.The shift has led to more tips from citizens and a reduction in violence, the U.S. military says. Weekly attacks in Diyala province have declined from an average of 125 three months ago to 70 last week.The news comes as Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, the No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq, said Thursday that car bombings and suicide attacks in Baghdad are at the lowest level in a year. Odierno cited few specific numbers to back up his report.In the past, the U.S. military has touted progress, only to see conditions shift. For example, the bombing of a major Shiite mosque last year set off sectarian warfare and increased the power of Shiite militias.Initiatives such as those in Anbar and Diyala provinces reflect a U.S. policy shift toward promoting local security agreements, partly because the Shiite-dominated government has failed to create a consensus. U.S. officials are pushing for local agreements in parts of Baghdad, too.President Bush said Thursday, “As more reconciliation takes place at the local level, you’ll see a more responsive central government.”In signing the agreements, the tribal leaders have agreed to support Iraqi and U.S. forces and oppose al-Qaeda and Shiite extremists. Most of the tribal leaders have signed on in the past several months.If the agreements in Diyala province hold, the development could be more significant than the shift in Anbar province, a largely Sunni region west of the capital. Bush and the Pentagon have touted the Anbar agreements as a major sign of progress. Diyala province is strategically important because of its location — between Baghdad and the Iranian border — and its significance to al-Qaeda.Since being pushed from Anbar province, al-Qaeda declared its intention to establish a caliphate, or Islamic rule, in Diyala province, said Maj. Gen Benjamin Mixon, commander of Multi-National Division North, which includes Diyala. The province is among the top three in terms of enemy activity, according to the Pentagon’s quarterly report to Congress released Monday.Unlike Anbar province, which is predominately Sunni, Diyala is mixed. Of the 20 tribes that have signed, 11 are Sunni Arab, six are Shiite Arab and three are Kurdish, the U.S. military said. The 20 tribes represent about half the province’s 1.6 million population.”The most important piece of it is understanding who the important people are of influence,” Sutherland said.The military has little choice but to deal with tribes, since they are a critical part of Iraqi society, said Michael Eisenstadt, an analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and Army reserve officer. “We have to deal with these formal power structures,” he said.However, the policy carries risks, he said. For example, it could be seen as favoring one tribe over another. “You risk getting sucked into tribal conflicts and vendettas,” he said.
3) Standing up the Concerned Citizens in southern Baghdad
By Bill Roggio
September 15, 2007 11:53 AM Camp Victory, Baghdad Province: With the surge in full swing in southern Baghdad province, the increase in US forces has been matched with an unexpected surge in Iraqi forces – local Iraqi residents who have organized to defend their communities from al Qaeda in Iraq and Shia extremist groups such as the Mahdi Army and the Special Groups. In southern Baghdad province, the establishment of the Concerned Citizens, also referred to as Iraqi Police Volunteers, began to take hold in late spring. Initiated by tribal connections from Anbar province, the movement mimicked the rise of the Anbar Salvation Council in some respects, but differed in many ways. This bottom up process of local reconciliation consists of both Sunni and Shia tribes wishing to restore a measure of peace to the war torn regions south of Baghdad.
To adjust to the growing, grass roots movement spurred by the Anbar Awakening, Multinational Division Central, under the command of Major General Rick Lynch, established a Reconciliation and Engagement Cell in early May. The cell is tasked with devising strategies to get the local communities to provide for their security and become part of the reconciliation process, then to see these strategies through at the tactical level. The cell, which is comprised of three officers, Lieutenant Colonel Gloria Rincon, Major David Waldron, and Major Scott Matey, work long hours putting together the pieces of a complex puzzle, which includes learning the tribal relationships and influential sheikhs, demarking the geographic and sectarian boundaries. The Multinational Division Central area of operations is crisscrossed with “sectarian fault lines,” where often a road or canal literally divides communities. To do its job, the reconciliation cell works closely with the intelligence, plans, operations, and economic development sections of Multinational Forces Central, as well as the line companies in the field.The reconciliation cell received advice from the Marines in Multinational Forces West and from Lt. Col. Kurt Pinkerton, whose 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment. Lt. Col. Pinkerton was working through the same issues with the residents in Abu Ghraib in western Baghdad in the late spring. The Marines, who had extensive experience with the Anbar Awakening, warned the movement would be moving towards the MND-C’s area of operations southwest of Baghdad. “Multinational Forces West said this was a possibility in last spring,” said Major Waldron. “The movement spread in an arc from Anbar province into western Baghdad [Abu Ghraib] and then to southern Baghdad province.” The reconciliation cell also learned its craft on the job. “We learned what the 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain was doing [in the Yusufiyah region] on the fly,” said Waldron. This was required, as while similarities existed between the movement in Anbar and the uprising against al Qaeda in southern Baghdad and northern Babil provinces, the unique nature of the region southwest of Baghdad had its own solutions.The mix of Sunni and Shia enclaves and the interrelations between the tribes and sects created a complex problem set than the homogenous Sunni Anbar province. The Concerned Citizens groups were not centrally formed, as the Anbar Salvation Council was. The groups in southern Baghdad and northern Babil provinces popped up in local communities, and while tribal leaders reached out to their neighbors, there is no governing council to provide central direction. The reconciliation cell is also tasked with building these relationships.As the process of establishing the Concerned Citizens groups unfolded, there was resistance among the military officers. Many were skeptical about the effectiveness of these groups, their ability to provide security, and the inherent dangers in establishing armed groups outside the purview of the Iraqi Security Forces. “Now 99.9 percent of the officers are on board,” Waldron said. Military leaders were looking for guidance on “establishing left and right boundaries” on dealing with the Concerned Citizens. Those with “blood on their hands” must be arrested and prosecuted. A screening process was put in place and biometric data was gathered. This gave the military to identify past insurgents, as well as the added benefit of gathering date for any potential future attackers.The red lines are clear. The military can not provide weapons or ammunition to the local groups. Rewards are issued for “non-lethal assistance,” which includes identifying the location of IEDs and weapons caches, Waldron said. Weapons buyback programs are strictly prohibited. The Concerned Citizens could not be used as paid vigilante groups. “We do not unleash them to target insurgents,” Waldron said. “We vet the intelligence they bring to us with our own intelligence, then either act or pass.”
Arming the militia?Military officers are emphatic that the US was not complicit in providing weapons to the Concerned Citizens. Arming these groups is a “red line,” Waldron stated. “People think we are arming Sunnis; that is not true.” This sentiment was echoed by Captain Christian Cosner, the commander of Bravo Troop, 1st Battalion, 89th Regiment of the 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division operating in Al Haswa. “We are not arming the Iraqi Provincial Volunteers,” said Cosner at Combat Outpost Corregidor. “These guys have all the weapons they need, we’re just having them point them in the right direction,” against al Qaeda and the Mahdi Army. “They are armed to the teeth,” said Lieutenant Kevin Grilo, Bravo Troops’ Second Platoon leader, as we sat at a recruiting event in the home of a prominent Shia sheikh in the Al Haswa region during a recruitment drive. Lieutenant Colonel Avanulus Smiley, the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry regiment, which has seen action in Baqubah during Arrowhead Ripper and throughout Baghdad province, also denied the US is arming the Concerned Citizens. “We’re not arming them,” Smiley said in an interview at Camp Victory. “They’re sufficiently armed.”The rumors of the US military arming the Concerned Citizens arose in the Multinational Division Central area of operations after the Shia community became concerned the US was legitimizing the Sunni insurgency. These concerns have largely dried up as the Shia began to embrace the process and for their own groups. “The Shia are just as fed up with Shia extremists groups,” Lieutenant Colonel Rincon said.
IntegrationThe rise of the Concerned Citizens groups has given the Iraqi government pause. While the Anbar Awakening was eventually approved by the government, Anbar is largely removed from central Iraq. The Concerned Citizens in western and southern Baghdad are far closer to the seat of power, and there has been resistance in supporting these groups.Iraqi National Police and Army units operating south of Baghdad are also skeptical, and would like the volunteers to join their ranks. There are over 15,000 Concerned Citizens in the Multinational Division Baghdad area of operations, Waldron said. These numbers grow daily: I witnesses almost 300 Sunni and Shia in the Haswa region volunteer in two days. Over 7,000 of the existing Concerned Citizens wish to join the National Police or Army. Others wish to remain in their communities and are concerned that joining the Iraqi Security Forces will force them to deploy away from their homes.The Integrating this force of volunteers into the Iraqi Security Forces remains an unresolved issue. In Anbar, the local tribal fighters were given training and established as Provincial Security Forces. But in southern Baghdad, this solution has not yet taken hold due to concerns of the Iraqi government.But the government is interested in the development of the Concerned Citizens, and has begun to inquire on the cost of funding the Concerned Citizens. The US military is attempting to get Prime Minister Maliki to sign order to allow the volunteers to work locally and prevent them from being deployed throughout Iraq. In Mahmudiyah, the mayor, a Shia, has accepted the Concerned Citizens and is working on land grants to establish local police stations. In Madain, members of the Concerned Citizens have joined the 1st Iraqi National Police Brigade.
Paying the Concerned CitizensThe impact of the Concerned Citizens on security in regions where these units have been established is unmistakable. In Haswa, IED attacks have dropped by 80 percent. Casualty causing IED attacks have dropped by 60 percent throughout Multinational Division Central’s battlespace. Markets are beginning to reopen and reconstruction projects are moving forward.The establishment of the Concerned Citizens comes at a cost to the US taxpayer. With over 15,000 volunteers and growing being paid an average of 10 dollars a day – less than is being paid an Iraqi soldier or policeman – the US is paying over 150,000 dollars a day for the local security forces.While officers and enlisted alike grumble at the likelihood they are paying former insurgents, they agree the price is worth it. “The cost in civilian, Iraqi Security Forces and US soldiers lives, plus the ability to keep the roads clear and the markets open is nothing in the cost of this war,” said Waldron. Several soldiers admitted that we are “paying terrorists,” but remarked that it was hard to argue against the results.
Beyond securityThe establishment of the Concerned Citizens has opened the doors for reconstruction projects to begin in local communities. To capitalize on this, Multinational Division Central formed an Economic Stabilization Cell. The economic cell focuses on programs such as vocational training, microgrants, and the Commander’s Emergency Response Program [CERP]. These programs allow the military and security progress to be immediately followed with economic support, and empowers the local sheikhs who are committing to the security process. The vocational training program was described as a “work in progress” as the school is in need of repairs and tools for training. There are three schools in the region capable of enrolling over 1,000 students per class, but currently there are 158 enrolled. Microgrants are issued to small businesses and enables existing businessmen who may have had to flee the fighting reestablish their businesses. The economic cell reported a growth in small businesses such as internet cafes, garages, and tailor shops. The Commander’s Emergency Response Program [CERP] has had great success in the region. The CERP program allows commanders to “use money as a weapon” by providing supplies and equipment for reconstruction where it is needed. CERP programs include building outposts for Concerned Citizens, dredging of canals and road repairs.
Security to politics Just as the Anbar Salvation Council evolved into the political movement known as the Anbar Awakening, the security movement south of Baghdad is evolving as well. “Recently, the Awakening has really taken hold” in the Mahmudiyah and Iskandariyah regions, Waldron said. “The people are beginning to look for those who can provide security and services” instead of adhering to sectarian lines.While sectarian tensions remain a serious problem in the region, there is evidence the rifts are not irreparable. In Sunni dominated Jurf As Sakr, a respected Shia tribal sheikh was elected mayor. One of the mayor’s first moves was to fly to Jordan to ask Sunni tribal leaders who fled the violence over the past several years to return to rebuild their communities. The battle is by no means ended south of Baghdad. Al Qaeda and the Mahdi Army will not give up easily. Despite the success in Anbar, al Qaeda pulled off the assassination of Sheikh Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, the leader of the Anbar Awakening. A tribal leader near Yusufiyah was murdered in an al Qaeda suicide attack, and night letters have been distributed in the region. The decentralized nature of the movement in southern Baghdad and northern Babil will make the leadership far more difficult to target.
Stop Democrats From Tying the Hands of Our Troops
September 23, 2007
This comes in from our friends at Vets For Freedom:
As a pro-mission veterans group Vets For Freedom supports General Petraeus and his recommendations for victory in Iraq. Lately many of our nation’s senators have attempted to hamper the military’s ability to implement those recommendations, and as a result have made our ability to win in Iraq and Afghanistan all the harder. Ohio Senator George Voinovich is one such senator.
Last week Ohio veterans taking part in the Vets For Freedom trip to Capitol Hill had a meeting with Senator Voinovich. At the end of the meeting the senator gave them a copy of his proposed resolution that would set timelines for Petraeus’ recommendations. The resolution has not yet been introduced to the Senate but we at Vets For Freedom feel it is necessary to condemn the proposed resolution outright.
As veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan we understand the battlefield is constantly changing. Any attempt to set strict timelines for the military can be potentially harmful as a result. While Senator Voinovich may believe he has the best interest of the military in mind we believe General Petraeus should be allowed to operate without politicians hampering his ability to do his job.
Vets For Freedom urges senators to support victory against America’s enemies by allowing the military to do its job free from political constraints. Instead of more resolutions what we call for is support for General Petraeus as he has already shown his policies like the ‘surge’ in Iraq are working. Given more time we believe the quickest way out of Iraq is through victory.
Contact Senator Voinovich and Tell him not to propose legislation that would tie the hands of our military. It is not up to congress to tell our Generals how to fight the war. Also, voice your support for General Petraeus and victory in Iraq. Urge him to allow the military to do its job through to completion.
Senator Voinovich-(202) 224-3353
Vets for Freedom is a nonpartisan organization established by combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Its mission is to educate the American public about the importance of achieving success in these conflicts by applying our first-hand knowledge to issues of American strategy and tactics namely “the surge” in Iraq. Vets for Freedom is the leading voice representing troops and veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information, please visit www.vetsforfreedom.org , or contact Ohio VFF leader Lee Crognale at lee@vetsforfreedom.org.
Protest of Iran Presidential Visit to Ground Zero
September 23, 2007
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinijad will be visiting Ground Zero in New York City, the site of the most horrific terrorist attack on American soil. He is also scheduled to speak at Columbia University, and Americans everywhere are disgusted, appalled, and furious that our country would allow him anywhere the site of 9/11.
If you’d like to stand with Eagles and other American patriots on Monday, September 24, the protest will run from 1-3 PM at 116th Street and Broadway in New York City.
Let’s send a message that the leader of a sworn enemy of the United States is not welcome on our soil, and certainly not welcome at Ground Zero!
Hope Rides Alone: SGT Eddie Jeffers
September 22, 2007
The following letter was given to us a few months ago by the father of a hero serving in Iraq. His son Eddie wrote this, a plea borne of sorrow and anger at the failure of so many in our nation to understand what he and his brothers in uniform go through every day.
Eddie Jeffers was killed in Iraq this week, and though the only part of him I will ever know are the words he wrote to his countrymen, I feel as though I have lost a friend. Eddie Jeffers did not lose his life–he willingly gave it. How blessed are we, that men such as this defend us?
Hope Rides Alone
By Eddie Jeffers
I stare out into the darkness from my post, and I watch the city burn to the ground. I smell the familiar smells, I walk through the familiar rubble, and I look at the frightened faces that watch me pass down the streets of their neighborhoods. My nerves hardly rest; my hands are steady on a device that has been given to me from my government for the purpose of taking the lives of others.
I sweat, and I am tired. My back aches from the loads I carry. Young American boys look to me to direct them in a manner that will someday allow them to see their families again…and yet, I too, am just a boy….my age not but a few years more than that of the ones I lead. I am stressed, I am scared, and I am paranoid…because death is everywhere. It waits for me, it calls to me from around street corners and windows, and it is always there.
There are the demons that follow me, and tempt me into thoughts and actions that are not my own…but that are necessary for survival. I’ve made compromises with my humanity. And I am not alone in this. Miles from me are my brethren in this world, who walk in the same streets…who feel the same things, whether they admit to it or not. And to think, I volunteered for this…
And I am ignorant to the rest of the world…or so I thought.
But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi, Iraq, the cries and screams and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I will be thrust back into society from a life and mentality that doesn’t fit your average man. And then, I will be alone. And then, I will walk down the streets of America, and see the yellow ribbon stickers on the cars of the same people who compare our President to Hitler.
I will watch the television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al Frankens, and the rest of the ignorant sheep of America spout off their mouths about a subject they kn ow nothing about. It is their right, however, and it is a right that is defended by hundreds of thousands of boys and girls scattered across the world, far from home. I use the word boys and girls, because that’s what they are. In the Army, the average age of the infantryman is nineteen years old. The average rank of soldiers killed in action is Private First Class.
People like Cindy Sheehan are ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the results of their idiotic ramblings, or at least I hope they are. They don’t realize its effects on this war. In this war, there are no Geneva Conventions, no cease fires. Medics and Chaplains are not spared from the enemy’s brutality because it’s against the rules. I can only imagine the horrors a military Chaplain would experience at the hands of the enemy. The enemy slinks in the shadows and fights a coward’s war against us. It is effective though, as many men and women have died since the start of this war. And the memory of their service to America is tainted
by the inconsiderate remarks on our nation’s news outlets. And every day, the enemy changes…only now, the enemy is becoming something new.
The enemy is transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans. The enemy is becoming the very people whom we defend with our lives. And they do not realize it. But in denouncing our actions, denouncing our leaders, denouncing the war we live and fight, they are isolating the military from society…and they are becoming our enemy.
Democrats and peace activists like to toss the word “quagmire” around and compare this war to Vietnam. In a way they are right, this war is becoming like Vietnam. Not the actual war, but in the isolation of country and military. America is not a nation at war; they are a nation with its military at war. Like it or not, we are here, some of us for our second, or third times; some even for their fourth and so on.
Americans are so concerned now with politics, that it is interfering with our war.
Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the internet…and there is no outrage, but an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle, and there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even jailed…for doing their job.
It is absolutely sickening to me to think our country has come to this. Why are we so obsessed with the bad news? Why will people stop at nothing to be against this war, no matter how much evidence of the good we’ve done is thrown in their face? When is the last time CNN or MSNBC or CBS reported the opening of schools and hospitals in Iraq? Or the leaders of terror cells being detained or killed? It’s all happening, but people will not let up their hatred of Bush. They will ignore the good news, because it just might show people that Bush was right.
America has lost its will to fight. It has lost its will to defend what is right and just in the world. The crazy thing of it all is that the American people have not even been asked to sacrifice a single thing. It’s not like World War Two, where people rationed food, and turned in cars to be made into metal for tanks. The American people have not been asked to sacrifice anything. Unless you are in the military or the family member of a servicemember, its life as usual…the war doesn’t affect you.
But it affects us. And when it is over, and the troops come home, and they try to piece together what’s left of them after their
service…where will the detractors be then? Where will the Cindy Sheehans be to comfort and talk to soldiers and help them sort out the last couple years of their lives, most of which have been spent dodging death and wading through the deaths of their friends? They will be where they always are, somewhere far away, where the horrors of the world can’t touch them. Somewhere where they can complain about things they will never experience in their lifetime; things that the young men and women of America have willingly taken upon their shoulders.
We are the hope of the Iraqi people. They want what everyone else wants in life: safety, security, somewhere to call home. They want a country that is safe to raise their children in. Not a place where their children will be abducted, raped, and murdered if they do not comply with the terrorists demands. They want to live on, rebuild and prosper. And America has given them the opportunity, but only if we stay true to the cause, and see it to its end. But the country must unite in this endeavor…we cannot place the burden on our military alone. We must all stand up and fight, whether in uniform or not. And supporting us is more
than sticking yellow ribbon stickers on your cars. It’s supporting our President, our troops and our cause.
Right now, the burden is all on the American soldiers. Right now, hope rides alone. But it can change, it must change. Because there is only failure and darkness ahead for us as a country, as a people, if it doesn’t. Let’s stop all the political nonsense, let’s stop all the bickering, let’s stop all the bad news, and let’s stand and fight! Isn’t that what America is about anyway?
GOE Radio: SPC Jake Altman
September 21, 2007
Tonight on The Front Line I have SPC Jake Altman as my guest, the soldier from Walter Reed who accompanied me at the rally and march last weekend in D.C. We’ll talk about our experiences…but we want to hear from you! Call us at 646-915-9926 and tell us how GOE 3 went for YOU!
Listen to the show at BlogTalkRadio, starting at 10 pm Eastern.
UPDATE: If you missed the show, you can catch it here.
GOE 3, Part 2: In the Face of Evil
September 20, 2007
The weather cleared a bit and became fairly pleasant as the day wore on, but it was the only thing becoming more pleasant. Outside the Capitol where Jake and I were, the mood was so tense it was palpable. We sat with Michelle Malkin and Bryan Preston for a while while Michelle live-blogged, and we tried to ignore the straggling moonbats as they shuffled by in twos and threes, screaming obscenities and giving us the finger. I told Jake not to waste his time and energy on the individuals walking by–there would be far more of them soon enough.
My words became true after another hour of waiting, and soon the street was awash in a sea of coward’s yellow. Signs screamed everything from “Get Out of Iraq” to “Stop Bombing Lebanon.” Were we bombing Lebanon? I didn’t know that. Those moonbats were sure well-informed. I asked a few of them as they walked by if they could name the countries bordering Iraq but their only answer was unprintable and had something to do with Bush and Halliburton.
After only a short while, we found ourselves in the middle of them, as their march route brought them right through our area on their way to the Capitol for the die-in. In the span of a few moments, we went from properly segregated to completely integrated…and suddenly, it was like organized chaos. “Peace” marchers kicked me in the shins out of sight of the police, daring me to hit them and retaliate. Old hippies still lost in the 1960’s jumped into my face and called me a terrorist. Kathy Upton called me then from her post up at the Capitol.
“Where are you guys?!” I hurriedly told her where we were and said I needed to hang up. There were moonbats everywhere around us, and they were all angry. One woman, decked out in flowers and buttons calling for “love for everyone,” screamed that “American troops are the f—ing problem!” I moved aside so she could see Jake standing there and screamed right back.
“Why don’t you tell him that to his face, you stupid piece of trash?” She didn’t miss a beat as she proceeded to do just that. Jake started moving toward her with a dark expression and I pulled him back.
“Not worth it…don’t even bother. Time for a cigarette break?” He agreed and we stepped back from the front to smoke and calm down a bit. He angrily vented about the idiocy all around him as I listened.
“These people, ” he spat angrily, “don’t even understand why we’re there. They don’t even know what’s going on. This is like spitting in my face, and the faces of all my fellow soldiers. These people are sick and disgusting.”
To lighten the mood a bit, I started pointing out the ridiculousness of the people marching by.
“Look at this idiot,” I chuckled as I gestured to a horribly obese woman wearing pink spandex and carrying a sign calling for the “liberation” of Palestine. “This girl’s only here because it’s her only chance to be within 4 feet of the opposite sex.” Jake laughed, and we went on like that for a bit, laughing at the utter stupidity of their costumes, their signs, and their complete inability to carry on an intelligent conversation about what they believe. After a bit, he felt ready to go back to the front, and we took our places again, ready to do battle with those who hate us and what we stand for. We traded insults and profanity for a while, and every so often we’d step back and take a break so Jake could calm down a bit.
Kathy found us, and we walked across the street to the far side of the Capitol circle. As we stood there, I suddenly realized I had made a critical error in Jake’s preparation–I had forgotten to tell him about the flag-draped casket that always seems to find its way to these marches. It was there in front of us–a casket adorned with the photo of a fallen Marine, an upside-down American flag, and a pair of combat boots on top of the flag. Jake’s face crumpled in a mixture of fury and grief.
“How can they do that? That is just…” he stopped, unable to continue. And then it happened, so fast that none of us saw it coming.
An Eagle ran over to the casket and snatched the Marine’s photo from the end. Tucking it to himself, he ran…towards us. Suddenly he was tackled to the ground only five feet from us, and the scene erupted as Eagles jumped in to defend their brother. I heard a scream like nothing I’ve ever heard before, and as I turned, I saw Jake, his face filled with rage, going toward the fight. I grabbed him in a bear hug from the back as I heard his mother yelling at me not to let him get hurt, and Kathy came to assist as Jake’s sheer fury powered him–and dragged me–toward the men wrestling on the ground. There was no way we were letting go.
It took both of us and Jake’s mother, but we held him back and pushed him to the bushes lining the sidewalk, guarding him from the sights and chaos around with our bodies. He finally collapsed into deep, wracking sobs, and Kathy and I simply held him and talked to him as the madness swirled around. We were all crying as his mother begged us to get him out of there, but he refused to leave. We stood there forever, it seemed, and after a while he calmed down and we moved aside to allow the police to swarm the area. Chris Hill had already neutralized the situation, and had gotten bit by a moonbat for his trouble.
The rest of the march was fairly uneventful, and thankfully we were greeted with a bit of comic relief at a time when we all desperately needed it. A few men walked by wearing red tutus, and when we yelled and jeered at them, one of them stopped.
“Do you want me to shake my ass for you?” he lisped. Turning around, he lifted his skirt to reveal a pair of red panties. Jake stepped forward with his cane but stopped short when he saw the wet spot and obvious brown stain on the moonbat’s panties.
We erupted into howls of laughter. “You crapped yourself!” we yelled while trying–and failing–to control our laughing.
Walking back to the Metro station, we were still surrounded by anti-war protestors. We were the only patriots in our Metro car, and we held our heads high. We had ruled the day, and as I looked at the soldier standing next to me, I was prouder than ever before. I may be a female veteran with no combat experience, but I had done battle with evil today–and I had taken care of my brother.
Experiencing the rally and march through his eyes made everything so much more real. I saw his pain, his rage, and his pride. I am honored to have worn the same uniform as people like Jake. I am humbled by his sacrifice and his gift to this country, and later that night, I went to Mologne House and met more heroes just like him. All of them deserve our gratitude, our respect, and our undying loyalty.
Thank you to all the Eagles to I met that day. We made a difference, and I am proud to be among your number.
EAGLES UP!
GOE 3, Part 1: Perspective
September 18, 2007
I was there in March, when the mud and the frigid wind couldn’t stop tens of thousands of us from standing up to say, “Never again!” to the anti-American Left at the first Gathering of Eagles rally.
I was there in May, when the unforgiving sun beat down upon thousands more of us as we stood before Lincoln to honor those who have gone before, and those who go today.
I was there Saturday, when the “peace-loving” hippies threw eggs, kicked shins, pointed fingers, and started fights, all in the name of peace. But this time, I didn’t see them through my eyes, those of a peacetime veteran. I saw them through the eyes of a soldier who has given more of himself than all of those rainbow-clad freaks marching under a coward’s yellow banner.
GOE 3: Got Photos?
September 16, 2007
If you went to Washington, D.C. this weekend for GOE 3/Operation Eagle Justice, then you know it was an amazing weekend, filled with both pride for our nation and pain at how our troops are being treated; joy at seeing old friends and fellow warriors and fury at the disgusting trash that spilled into the streets of our nation’s capital.
If you have a short story to share, or if you have a few photos you’d like to contribute, please send them to me at kit.lange@gatheringofeagles.org, and I’ll include it in a series of Eagle Reports. We’d love to hear from you, so start writing and sending!
- Please keep photos no larger than 1024 x 768 if possible, and if you contribute a story, please keep it to under 1000 words. Content may be edited for clarity and length.
- Include your full name (or however you’d like to be credited), home state and/or town, and email address (which I will not publish).
- All entries need to be in by Wednesday, 19 September.
Thank you for being there to support our men and women overseas, and thank you for your support, your donations, your messages of love and devotion to those who defend what we hold so dear.
EAGLES UP!
GOE on TV!
September 13, 2007
Recently, Chris Hill has been in discussions with Maria Sheehan, a Cable TV Producer from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, about the possibility of a GOE Cable TV Show. After several weeks of discussion, the GOE Board of Directors wishes to announce our Cable TV Show called;
The Eagles Nest
Americans Supporting The Troops And Their Mission
The show will be hosted by one of our own Eagles, Paul Couturier of Massachusetts, and produced by Maria Sheehan of Shrewsbury (MA) Cable Television. Those of you who frequent the Forums know Paul is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and is fully committed to GOE’s Mission Statement. The debut show, due to be recorded in October and distributed in time for Veterans Day, will have as guests (this is tentative!) our own Chris Hill and Capt Larry Bailey, discussing with Paul the history (as brief as it is) of GOE, our Mission Statement, and what GOE is and is not. Also, we are seeking submissions from GOE members of digital pictures and videotape (in either DVD or MiniDV formats) taken at past rally’s (especially GOE3) to be broadcast on the show, to further show our audience what GOE is up against and what we have accomplished so far! So take plenty of pictures and video on Saturday. We know there’s already lots of pictures and video shot at GOE1 and 2, plus various smaller rally’s that GOE has been present at!
Future guests will include people and organizations supporting the troops and their mission, Veterans Advocates, and Veterans of the War on Terrorism, among others.
Eagles, we’re going to need YOUR HELP in distributing our Cable TV Show to your local cable TV stations. More information will be coming on this (as well as other show info) in the near future.
Paul will be in DC for the rally on the 15th, so you can all meet him then. He looks forward to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with all of you as we support his brothers and sisters and their mission in the war on terrorism.
Eagles Up!
Task Force Eagle Results
September 12, 2007
On Monday, 10 September we rallied outside the Capitol Building in Washington, DC to demonstrate our support for both General Petraeus and victory in the War on Terror. Approximately 30 Eagles were addressed by Rep Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan’s 11th District. We then broke into teams and took to the halls of Congress.
In the end result we visited somewhere in the order of 70 Congressional offices, left our business cards and letters of support for victory in Iraq. In the offices of those members of Congress who have been holding the line for our guys, we were well received. In those where the opposite is true the reception was, at times, downright chilly. We were granted personal interviews with Senators Lieberman and McConnell. Both men thanked us for our service and our efforts. They also promised to hold the line for our guys, no matter the cost.
Code Pink and Cindy Sheehan were in evidence, but not more than a dozen were ever congregated in any one area. They were mainly shrill, and quite nearly a caricature of themselves. At one point we were accosted by them verbally and, at another, several of their members were arrested. We were, of course, on our best behavior. All should be proud of the forces that gathered and undertook the mission. It was unusually hot and humid and we sweated in our good clothes, but no one complained. Everyone could not have been more professional and focused. It was an honor to stand with these great patriots and you can rest assured that we made a noticeable difference. Even The Washington Post referenced us in a positive way. This may have been the first task force, but it will not be the last.
A 18 year old light –fighter bound for the 10th Mountain Division on 14 September and an officer candidate at Catholic University joined us on our rounds and were downright gleeful that we would, in their words, “stand up for us like that.” I admit to not a little mistiness when I heard those words. We are making an impact. We are helping our brave warriors in combat, and we are being heard. Saturday is the next battle and I look forward to seeing all of you, my brothers and sisters there. Manchu.
Chris Hill
National Director of Operations
Once Again We’re Baby Killers
September 11, 2007
This full-page ad was run by MoveOn.org. The people who have from day one said, “You can’t question our patriotism because we’re against the war,” have suddenly resorted to their tried and true methods. They have questioned not only the integrity of the commanding general in Iraq, but his patriotism. They have all but called him a traitor and suggested that he is a liar. In fact, the ad is nothing but lies. These are the people we will be countering on 15 September. These are the people who constantly parrot the slogan “We Support the Troops.” Yet, when evidence of positive results from the Surge emerges they resort to their old ways. When we confront them in the streets they call us war criminals. Their cronies spit on our wounded at Walter Reed. Enough is enough.
We will not be silent in the face of their hypocrisy and lies. We will not tolerate them disparaging our brave men and women in uniform, and we will not allow them to walk through our nation’s capital unchallenged. We will wave the flag we all love so much and sing the songs we all know so well. Once again we will let them know that America is the land of the free because of the brave. Ruck up brothers and sisters, it’s time to Charlie Mike one more time. See you all in DC. Manchu.
Chris Hill
National Director of Operations
GOE on the Radio Tonight with Melanie Morgan!
September 10, 2007
Tonight at 10 pm Eastern, 9 pm Central, I will have Melanie Morgan from Move America Forward to talk about the caravan moving across the country toward D.C., and I’ll also have Chris Hill and Larry Bailey from GOE to talk about what happened today when Eagles descended on Capitol Hill. Don’t miss this show!!
Feel free to call in! 646-915-9926 is the number.
