THE VALUE OF MILITARY ANALYSTS
May 2, 2008
From: jcash1
To:
Subject: Emailing: THE VALUE OF MILITARY ANALYSTS
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:34:20 -0600
My friends, the New York Times and Ike Skelton (D-Mo) have stepped over the line on this one. I refer to the irrational attack from the Times and supported on the floor of the House by Skelton on our retired Military Analysts. I know many of these men, and they are the most professional patriots in the country today.
Yes, there are a few Wesley Clarks out there, but an eel is slippery, and a few slip through.
Attached is my answer to this far-left attack, and several other retired military have written the Times. I ask that you forward this to as many as you can to include Congress and talk show hosts. The story from the Times has gotten legs, and it definitely needs to be rebutted.
Thank you,
Jim Cash
THE VALUE OF MILITARY ANALYSTS
The most patriotic group of individuals found in this country today has just been assaulted by the New York Times and Representative Ike Skelton (D-Mo). I refer to the recent article in the New York Times concerning Military Analysts attempting to convey what is going on around the world from a military point of view. These men have spent their lives being schooled and living these issues. They are an invaluable source of information to the American public. Modern day issues are so complex that it is impossible to define them in a two minute TV segment, and these analysts normally follow up with articles which give greater depth and understanding. Who in this country is more qualified? Everyone I know is grateful for their efforts to add perspective.
The Pentagon realized long ago that news networks valued input by retired military professionals, so information was provided to these individuals. This effort was never meant to sway their opinion, but to insure they had accurate and current information to convey to the public. How many of you have ever tried to sway the opinion of a retired military member who served 20 or 30 years defending this nation? Try it sometime. I think you might be surprised, and maybe even entertained.
I am personally a good example. Altogether, I served over 35 years combined duty in the Army National Guard, Army Reserve and on US Air Force active duty (29 years active duty). I learned early how lucky I was to be born in this country. I have never taken for granted the freedoms we have, nor the price we have paid for them.
When I retired from the US Air Force, I vowed to come back to Montana to fish, fly airplanes, ride motorcycles, and enjoy life as long as health permitted. I had no desire to become part of the Military Industrial Complex (whatever that is), nor to make money based on any ill-conceived plan that could remotely hurt this great nation in any way, as alluded to by master distorters from the New York Times.
I have never taken one penny for my writings, appearing on talk shows, speaking locally or otherwise. I have not been on an Air Force Base in over 10 years, and avoided the Pentagon like the plague, even while on active duty. Also, I initially vowed to remain very quiet, and worked hard not to influence local opinion. It is the American way to let the people decide on issues, based on their own merit.
About two years ago, this attitude changed. I began to see the local, Socialist-Leaning, Far-Left types in our beautiful valley begin to dominate our local newspaper. You know who they are. They write almost daily, and are basically country hating, military hating, Bush hating, haters. Many of you read my articles, and write telling me that you refuse to read their stuff as soon as you see their names.
I woke up one morning and decided that someone had to at least attempt to set the record straight. The far-left diatribes were hurting the country and our state, especially when the country is being threatened to the degree it is today. I wrote an article, and it received such a positive response it was overwhelming to me. The people wanted to hear the truth, so I wrote another. FOLKS, THE PENTAGON HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MY DECISION TO SUPPORT WHAT IS RIGHT WITH AMERICA!!!!! I take real offense to the far-left comment, “B/G Jim Cash, whose columns are loaded with dire statistics that only a fool would believe he carries around in his head.” What he means is that the Pentagon is feeding me the statistics, so that I might influence you.
This is criminal in my opinion. These statistics are available from a multitude of different sources, and I simply put them together in, hopefully, an easy to read format. In fact, I do carry most of them in my head, as I was personally influenced negatively every time I served under a Democratic President. In this short article, I cannot convey to you how difficult it was to serve under Jimmy Carter. The Clintons like to tell you how terrible it is that our young men and women are serving 15 month tours in Iraq, when Bill Clinton’s downsizing of our military is the direct cause of those long tours. Retired military, as well as active duty, attempted to deter that massive downsizing, but Clinton was Hell-Bent on capitalizing on the non-existent “Peace Dividend” after the collapse of the old Soviet Union.
My friends, someone has to get the truth out to the American people, and the only group I see doing that right now is our retired Military Analysts. All others are wrapped up in petty squabbling and trying to win elections. Now, the far-left has sunk to the level of attacking the most patriotic group in America, our retired military. That is unforgivable.
On a personal note, I know retired M/G Paul Vallely and LTG Tom McInerney very well, and I am proud to call them friends. I would put my life, and the life blood of this country, in their hands any time. Combined, these two patriots have devoted nearly 70 years to defending this nation. If money had been their aim, they could have easily gone into industry to become CEOs of major companies. To make an insane insinuation (as the Times did) that these two men, acting as puppets for the Pentagon, would distort what is happening during wartime is beneath contempt.
It is my considered opinion that the far-left has reached a new low. We have seen all the far-left radio and TV talk shows fail, or suffer low ratings that are leading to failure. This certainly includes the mainstream media. We have seen a few retired military members like Wesley Clark attempt to curry favor with the far left in an attempt to secure Cabinet level appointments should the Democrats win the Presidency this year. We have also seen the Democratic Party take control of our Congress and fail miserably.
On the other hand, we see the Conservative talk shows grow stronger, due in part to their use of military professionals committed to the welfare of this country. I would guess that well over 90% of retired military members are conservative in nature, and they are not reluctant to speak out. First, we recently saw the Left attempt to pass laws that would force radio talk show hosts to give equal time to the Left, as the left-leaning shows could not make it on their own. That effort failed. Now, the far-left, New York Times has convinced Missouri Democrat and House Armed Services Committee Chairman, Ike Skelton, to attempt to silence retired military members though congressional action.. It is as if he feels they are not worthy of the First Amendment’s right to free speech. Like most Democrats these days, he was foolish enough to bite on this nonsense.
My question to the nation is simply, HOW FAR WILL WE LET THESE FAR-LEFT LOONEY-TUNES go, before we vote them all out of office and stop buying their propaganda. I am in great hope that the good Americans of this country can see through the fog created by the far-left in an attempt to win elections, even though logic and truth are, and never have been, on their side.
Jim Cash
B/G, USAF, Retired (and proud of it)
Operation Warrior Wake Up
March 9, 2008
SFC Christina Bhatti
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team
“Warriors”
Public Affairs NCOIC
Camp Taji, Iraq
MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – BAGHDAD
Media Release HQ-MND Baghdad
Camp Liberty
Baghdad, Iraq
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080308-18 March 8, 2008
‘Operation Warrior Wake Up’ brings taste of Hawai’i to Iraq
Hawai’i coffee farmers donate Kona coffee to Soldiers
By Sgt. Jerome Bishop
2nd SBCT PAO, 25th Inf. Div., MND-B
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Every morning, thousands of Soldiers wake up to a steaming cup of “Joe” – whether it’s black as midnight or mostly cream and sugar, it’s part of their daily routine.
In association with the Hawai’i Gathering of Eagles organization, coffee farmers from the Big Island of Hawai’i launched “Operation Warrior Wake Up” to provide Hawai’i-based Soldiers deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom a little taste of the isles. Read more
Move America Forward Meets Berkeley Council, Gets Treated Like Sh*&
February 12, 2008
Move America Forward Meets Berkeley Council, Gets Treated Like Sh*&
February 11th, 2008 Posted By The Bashman
Just got an email from our friend Melanie Morgan of MoveAmericaForward.com
They went to Berkeley to meet with City Officials about their upcoming protest, and…well, here, I’ll just paste in her email:
Catherine Moy, our Executive Director for Move America Forward, met with Berkeley City officials today, including representatives of the police department about our rally and protest of Berkeley’s outrageous resolution condemning our Marines at the Recruiting Center as ‘unwanted and uninvited intruders.’
Um, it did not go so well. Read more
Et vous, Toledo??
February 9, 2008
Mayor to Marines: Leave downtown
He says urban exercises scare people
Toledo Blade
By JC REINDL
February 9, 2008
Staff Sgt. Andre Davis talks to his commanding officer as he leaves the Madison Building after Mayor Carty Finkbeiner requested that the Marines leave the downtown location.
A company of Marine Corps Reservists received a cold send-off from downtown Toledo yesterday by order of Mayor Carty Finkbeiner.
The 200 members of Company A, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., planned to spend their weekend engaged in urban patrol exercises on the streets of downtown as well as inside the mostly vacant Madison Building, 607 Madison Ave.
Toledo police knew days in advance about their plans for a three-day exercise. Yet somehow the memo never made it to Mayor Finkbeiner, who ordered the Marines out yesterday afternoon just minutes before their buses were to arrive.
“The mayor asked them to leave because they frighten people,” said Brian Schwartz, the mayor’s spokesman. Read more
Violence Down, but party not over
December 21, 2007
Petraeus: Violence in Iraq Down, But Fight Not Over
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
BAGHDAD - Violence in Iraq has dropped significantly in recent months, but it’s still too soon to declare the home stretch in U.S. operations here, the commander of Multinational Force Iraq said today.
Army Gen David H. Petraeus cited significant security progress during a roundtable with reporters at the Multinational Task Force headquarters at Camp Victory. Following the roundtable discussion, the general spent an hour with visiting Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.
Weekly attacks in recent weeks are roughly 60 percent of the levels they were in June, Petraeus said. High-profile attacks are down 60 percent from their high in March, and attacks overall have dropped during the last seven weeks to levels not seen here consistently since spring 2005.
As a result, fatalities are down, too. Civilian deaths have fallen dramatically to rates not seen since late 2005. And during a year Petraeus acknowledged has witnessed the most U.S. combat losses since operations first began in Iraq, the figure for November was its lowest in 20 months.
But Petraeus told reporters it’s far too early to talk about turning a corner or seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Nobody in uniform is doing victory dances in the end zone, he said. There is much hard work still to be done and that there are numerous difficulties, enemies and issues that still must be addressed.
The challenge, he said, is to continue bringing down violence and building Iraqi security forces to confront it themselves while promoting similar advances on other fronts.
Petraeus credited the formula that’s brought about security progress: More coalition and Iraqi forces — conventional, special operations and counter terrorism — are in the fight. They’re infusing intelligence to target terrorists, and as they clear al Qaeda strongholds, they’re pursuing terrorists who flee to other areas.
As a result of our combined efforts, we have taken away a number of enemy sanctuaries, killed or captured numerous enemy leaders and rank-and-file members and disrupted enemy networks inside Iraq, Petraeus said.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi people who have tired of violence are becoming partners in the fight. Petraeus cited Sunni Arabs widespread rejection of al Qaeda and extremist ideologies. As a result of this development, we have increasingly received important support and information from citizens in areas that used to be al Qaeda sanctuaries and bases, he said.
Local citizens are committing personally to security in their areas, as well. They’re volunteering for the police, army or local citizens groups that are keeping once-violent neighborhood clear of al Qaeda. They’re providing tips about terrorist activities and weapons. Petraeus credited their efforts for nearly doubling the number of weapons caches uncovered.
We believe the cumulative effect of these finds has gradually degraded our enemy’s ability to conduct attacks, Petraeus said, emphasizing that the capability certainly still remains.
Petraeus also cited more aggressive action by Iraq’s neighbors, including Syria, to crack down on the flow of foreign fighters across their borders into Iraq. He expressed hope that Iran will live up to the promises its seniors leaders made to their Iraqi counterparts to stop training, funding, arming and directing groups that threaten Iraq’s security.
Another promising development is radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s declared ceasefire this summer to rid his Mahdi Army militia of criminals and assassins. ‘We applaud al-Sadr’s action, even as all of us in Iraq, including those in his units, recognize that some elements connected with the militia continue to carry out criminal actions and thus must be dealt with by Iraqi and coalition forces,’ Petraeus said.
He said these recent positive trends and factors that have produced them are changing the context in many parts of Iraq.
But the general conceded that the fight is far from over. “We have to be careful not to get feeling too successful,” he said, noting the need for a continued amount of very tough work.
You just keep your head down and keep moving, he said, conceding that while officials push for more progress, there will be setbacks along the way.
Success in Iraq is not akin to flipping on a light switch, he said. It emerges slowly and fitfully with reverses as well as advances.
As troops ’soldier through’ those successes and strive to build on the momentum, Petraeus expressed hope that Iraqi leaders will take advantage of the security gains that have been purchased through the sacrifice of Iraqi and coalition forces.
Unite For Victory!
August 27, 2007
Eagles,
Have a look at some videos made by a few patriots.
Web Banner for Operation Eagle Justice
August 17, 2007
Let visitors to your blog or website know you’ll be standing proudly in D.C. on the 15th of September as a member of Operation Eagle Justice! Download the following banner and be counted. Also available in the GOE Media folder, where I’ve put up some flyers and new posters!
New Media Up!
August 14, 2007
Courtesy of our graphics guru, GOE now has more media for you! Feel free to download them for flyers, posters, or whatever else you want them for. All we ask is that you use them all over the place!
GATHERING OF EAGLES DVD IS IN STOCK AND IN THE MAIL!
August 8, 2007
The DVD of the historic Gathering of Eagles I is finally here! Pre-orders have been shipped and should be in your mail boxes within days.
This two-hour-plus film includes pre-rally interviews with Eagles, most of the rally held near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and highlights of the victorious counter-protest of the anti-American ANSWER march to the Pentagon.
The GoE DVD was professionally filmed and edited to capture the day when patriotic Americans, led by Vietnam veterans, protected the Wall and stood up for this generation of our nation’s servicemen and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The rally features heartfelt speeches by three generations of veterans, Gold and Blue Star families, the beautiful singing of Angela Lashley, Lloyd Marcus and Kit Lange and a moving tribute to our Fallen Heroes.
This is the rally the news media did not want the American people to see. Tens of thousands of flag waving veterans and civilians cheering our troops to victory in the war on terror, calling traitors “traitors” and vastly outnumbering the anti-American protesters did not fit the media’s template of a nation yearning for defeat. This DVD is our proof of the media’s lies about March 17, 2007 in Washington, D. C.
An initial run of 1000 copies of the GoE DVD has been pressed. We’d like to suggest that, as you order your copy, you buy extra copies to send to a serviceman or woman, or a military family, as a morale booster.
The triumphal memories of that cold wind-whipped day live on in the hearts of those who were there. Now it lives on in the Gathering of Eagles DVD. Whether you were able to participate or not, this DVD is history worth owning and sharing with your loved ones.
Proceeds from the sales of the GoE DVD will go to funding GoE III which is being held on September 15, 2007, in Washington D.C. Cost is $15 plus $5 shipping and handling. Additional copies purchased in the same order are $12 each. For shipping rates for bulk orders, please e-mail Kit Lange at kit@gatheringofeagles.org.
UPDATE: To order the DVD, simply make a donation through Paypal for the total amount ($20 for one copy, $32 for 2), and email your confirmation number to me. We’ll get a copy out to you immediately!
CEO of U.S. Naval Institute to Speak at GOE Eagles of Valor
August 3, 2007
Tom Wilkerson is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Naval Institute will be the key-note speaker for the GOE Eagles of Valor Dinner on September 22, 2007.
As CEO, Tom is responsible for formulating and executing the goals, objectives and strategy of the Institute; he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute and the Naval Institute Foundation.
Tom is no stranger to the Naval Institute, having served first as a member of Naval Institute’s Board of Directors/ the Editorial Board and then as a member of the Naval Institute Foundation Board of Trustees. Tom has also been a contributor to Proceedings magazine, and a frequent participant in the Naval Institute’s seminar program.
BRAND SPANKIN’ NEW!
August 1, 2007
Eagles can now get this brand new T-shirt, just in time for September events!
The shirt (featured) is available in both Men and Women sizes and the prices range from $18.00 -$20.00.
You can get your shirts at the Ranger Up website! Be sure to wear it on September 10, September 15, and of course on your travel to Chicago September 21-23!
Good Surge, Bad News?
July 31, 2007
It seems the House Democrats are beginning to worry that the surge results won’t be what they have prayed hoped for.
Many Democrats have anticipated that, at best, Petraeus and U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker would present a mixed analysis of the success of the current troop surge strategy, given continued violence in Baghdad. But of late there have been signs that the commander of U.S. forces might be preparing something more generally positive. Clyburn said that would be “a real big problem for us.”
Notice he said a positive report on the surge would be a problem for Democrats and not good news for the country. Would it be too much to ask our politicians to put our country first (if only in time of war) and party concerns second?
The full story is at Clyburn: Positive Report by Petraeus Could Split House Democrats on War - washingtonpost.com
NY Times Reports and Prints Story from the Right
July 31, 2007
(Published in the New York Times written by MICHAEL E. O’HANLON and KENNETH M. POLLACK)
“there is enough good happening on the battlefields of Iraq today that Congress should plan on sustaining the effort at least into 2008.”
The New York Times printed this? New York Times Reporters wrote this? Something has undeniably changed. Two of their top reporters got a surprise when they return to Iraq two years later to get the story of a failing policy. Instead, they found the right opposite. They discovered that the troops morale was up under the leadership of Gen. David Petraeus, and the new surge efforts is paying off big time.
Everywhere they turned Army and Marine units focused on securing the Iraq population, working with Iraqi security units, creating new political and economic arrangements at the local level and providing basic services; electricity, fuel, clean water and sanitation to the Iraqi population.
Eagles to Land in Washington
July 30, 2007
(Contributed by Dan Parsons in the Washington Post, Special to the Daily News)
The weekly peace vigils on Stewart Parkway protesting the Iraq war have stirred opposition. Tonight, Gathering of Eagles plans to match wits with the gathered group, it was announced Thursday night at a meeting of the Down East Republican Club.
In response to those vigils, Gathering of Eagles Chairman Larry Bailey said Thursday that he plans to represent “the negative side,” something he said he finds to be effective in politics.
“I have found that I am most effective when I go against something,” Bailey said. “There is a place in politics for the negative side.” Read more
Breaking Action News: Sheehan to Pollute Central Park
July 26, 2007
Who: Cindy Sheehan
What: Gathering of faint Hearts Rally/Concert
Where: Central Park, East Meadow, 5th Ave & East 97th Street (Opposite Mt. Sinai Medical Center)
When: Sunday, July 29th, Noon to 6pm
Plan: Gather at 5th Ave & East 97th Street at Noon.
We will proceed into the park and stake out a prominent location. We will voice our Support for our Troops and disdain for Ms. Sheehan as loudly and vocally as possible. We will use our first amendment right to free speech to interrupt her traitorous bile. Remember, Casey was a Hero, Cindy is a Zero!
Bring flags, signs, banners, cow bells, duck callers anything you might need for a day in the park with moonbats. If you arrive late just enter the park through that entrance and look for the cluster of American flags (we can be certain the traitors won’t have them). Read more
Sheehan Blogs about GOE!
July 19, 2007
(Contributed by CLEVE R. WOOTSON JR. published by Charlotte Observer)
”At the School of the Assassins in Columbus, GA, and in Charlotte, NC, we ran into similar problems: police presence that seemed to be there to foster violence. At both places the neo-Nazi, pro-war fascist group “Gathering of Eagles” came out to mostly try to intimidate us from our mission,” Sheehan writes in her blog. Read more
GOE wants YOU for Webstaff!
July 18, 2007
Have you ever wanted to write an article for The Gathering of Eagles? Have you ever been interested in where the stories come from? Well, here is your chance!The GOE Webstaff Team is currently looking for volunteers to fill the following positions:
- Content Editor (involves writing and editing posts to place on the site)
- Event Editor (involves adding and editing events for the onsite calendar)
The volunteer position requires a min. of 5 -10 hours per week and is set to your schedule.
If you are interested, email:
webmasters@gatheringofeagles.org with the position you desire in the subject line. Include your name, address, phone number, and all previous writing and web design or web application information.
Thank You!
Sincerely,
The Webstaff
The Senate: Chamber of Shame
July 18, 2007
Imagine this conversation between Franklin. D. Roosevelt and General Dwight D. Eisenhower during April 1943…
FDR: “Ike, you’re going to have to get the Normandy Invasion completed by June this year.”
Ike: “But I need at least another year to assemble troops and materials, establish logistics and strategy and train the men for the battle.”FDR: “Sorry. Several senators are feeling very uncomfortable with the war. Frankly, they have just had it. And several of them are worried about their re-election.”
Ike: “My men are fighting and dying for yards in Italy right now — and even so, they can’t wait to take the war to Hitler next year in France. Tell those pantywaist senators to unloosen their girdles, take an aspirin and go to bed — and leave the fighting to my men.”
FDR: “But we could lose the Senate.”
Ike:” Better to lose the Senate than the war.”
FDR: “I’m with you, Ike. You beat Hitler, and let me beat the Senate.”
Ike:” My men thank you, Mr. President.”Of course, it is an absurdity to imagine such a conversation would have been possible during WWII. And it is a tragedy and disgrace that we are, in fact, having precisely such a conversation today.
THE YELLOW DUCK STRIKES AGAIN
July 17, 2007
Shallotte activist is ‘local and vocal’
Veteran has unique way of supporting troops
(Contributed by Jason M. Rodriguez - The Sun News)
George Samek is sending his message of supporting the troops in Iraq one rubber yellow duck at a time.
Breaking News: Troop Withdrawal Within 120 Days
July 12, 2007
(Published by AP, Courtesy of www.FoxNews.com)
House Passes Bill Requiring Troop Withdrawal Within 120 Days
The House has approved legislation that would require the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq beginning within 120 days.
