America to the Rescue

I read on a blog today how some people are reacting to the disaster caused by Hurricane Katrina is why he has such a such a low opinion of the human race.

I can under stand that there are going to be looters. Some people are stealing to feed their families. Some are just trying to get something for nothing. Looting is wrong, those doing it should be stopped, however the police do not have he resources to handle it.

I don’t think we as a people are as bad as the news portrays us. “If it bleeds, it leads” has long been the editor’s mantra in media outlets all across the globe. We rarely see good news stories.

Not everyone in the world is bad.

US Navy to send four ships carrying water and other supplies to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. The four Navy amphibious ships were to leave Norfolk, Va., over the next few days for deployment on the Gulf Coast. The Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida will be a base for the relief effort.

American Red Cross has opened 200 shelters in six states and has about 2,000 volunteers in the hurricane area or on their way.

The Coast Guard received hundreds of calls for help and has assisted in the rescue of more than 1,200 people, the Coast Guard had received reports that seven mobile offshore oil drilling rigs were adrift, and was working with companies on recovery and salvage plans. The Coast Guard was conducting search-and-rescue missions and damage assessments by air and water, and was flying supplies to affected areas. In addition, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff - whose agency oversees the Coast Guard - has authorized the call-up of 550 Coast Guard reservists to help in recovery operations

Texas Energy Companies TXU, Reliant Energy, Entergy are going to send more than 200 trucks and work crews to disaster zone to aid in restoring power.

Sam’s Club donates $1,000,000 as well as food to Salvation Army for Katrina relief efforts.
Michigan’s DTE Energy has sent about 400 workers and 75 vehicles to Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi to help restore power knocked out by Hurricane Katrina.

Houston opens Astrodome to 25,000 refugees.

Texas Children’s Hospital Opens its doors to New Orleans Hospital Patients

Battle Creek-based Kellogg Co., the nation's largest cereal maker, said it will provide more than $500,000 in cash and product donations to assist America's Second Harvest with hurricane relief efforts. Seven truckloads of Kellogg products such as crackers and cookies were en route Wednesday, with more planned.

In Response to Relief Agency Requests, Anheuser-Busch Ships 12,500 Cases of Canned Drinking Water to Support Relief Efforts

Sparta, MI-based Old Orchard Brands LLC has teamed up with Feed The Children, a nonprofit relief organization, to provide relief for victims by donating three tractor trailer loads of juice, worth $65,000. Feed The Children will oversee the distribution of the nearly 25,000 half-gallon bottles of juice and juice cocktail products.

The blogger concludes his post: "My life is usually easier when I remember to realize that most -- not all, but most -- humans are selfish, petty, stupid, and only care about one thing: Themselves."

Americans will step up and help out those in the Gulf Coast, just as we do the world over.
Why? The answer is because as a nation, we are made up of good people. There are many more good, decent people with open hearts than there are thugs and punks. We see more of that because the media thrives on bad news.

I wish to thank all my fellow shipmates and everyone else involved the relief efforts for the kindness they are showing. America will take care of her own.

All We Are Saying is Give Peace a Chance

It is a good thing that the government of Israel decided to give into the terrorists. Their capitulation to the hundreds of bombings perpetrated by “militants” has resulted in a safer more peaceful Middle East.

As pointed out on this blog by Frequent Commenter Nate; “Every…security measure drives even more Palestinians to commit acts of terrorism. It is a cycle of violence that cannot be broken easily. I think the Israelis need to win over the masses of Palestinians. Perhaps leaving Gaza/the West bank could provide such good will.”

What Nate suggests, and what Israel has done, is to give in to some of the demands of the terrorists in order to secure peace. This peace has arrived at a costly price, making it hard for some to accept. Thousands of innocent Israeli men, women and children have been killed by terrorists. They have blown up hotels, pizza shops, busses (a favorite target) schools and cars. These deaths, the blood of those people make it difficult for some to accept that Israel had to pull out of the Gaza Strip. Gaza is an area of land that Israel took by force of arms after they were invaded in an effort to completely destroy the nation. Israel decided to use the land as a buffer zone so that never again would a nation, or a block of nations, be in a position to launch a war of aggression.

Be it right or wrong, this policy of settlement lasted for forty years. Israel’s only claim to the land was that it was won in a hard fought war after they were invaded. The presence of the Jews in this area, along with the West Bank, Jerusalem, and as some would claim all of Israel is seen as offensive, inflammatory and an intolerable insult to Muslims in general and the Palestinian people specifically. The only thing to do, to right this wrong, was to protest, to throw rocks at the soldiers and when that didn’t work to switch to Molotov cocktails or shoot them. Once the soldiers fought back, it was time to hide, to attack by killing athletes, blowing up planes, and hotels. Israel responded by killing any terrorist they could identify, which further angered the oppressed terrorists. They started targeting children, mothers, fathers, men and women, anywhere that there was a group of people gathered they would try and detonate a bomb.

Israel would strike back
The terrorist would strike back
Israel would strike back
The terrorist would strike back
Israel would strike back
The terrorist would strike back
Israel would strike back
The terrorist would strike back
Israel would strike back
The terrorist would strike back
Israel would strike back
The terrorist would strike back

And it would continue…
Until Sharon decided “to win over the masses of Palestinians.” His vision was to give them what they had asked for, and in return the terrorists would stop killing people. It is a simple plan, so simple that it has not been tried before. Last week, Israel pulled the last of their citizens, some kicking and screaming, from their homes.

Not only did he make all of the Jews living there leave, he had them dig up all of the Jews that Had been buried there and removed them too. All the buildings and houses that had been built by the offensive Jews were bulldozed to the ground, so no poor homeless Palestinian family would not have to suffer the indignity of living in a home that was built by and for Jews.

Now that Gaza has been cleared, PEACE IS AT HAND

A PALESTINIAN blew himself up while trying to board a bus in southern Israel in the first suicide attack since the evacuation of settlers from Gaza, puncturing hopes that the historic pullout would break the cycle of violence.

Palestinian militant groups Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades linked to Fatah and Al-Quds Brigades of Islamic Jihad jointly claimed the bombing, in a statement sent to AFP.

"This operation is a response to the arrogance of the Zionist occupation, to the terrible massacre committed in Tulkarem against the mujahedin of the Al-Quds Brigades and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades," the groups said in a joint statement.

More

You see, success is at hand so join us when we proclaim:

All We Are Saying is Give Peace a Chance

Pat Robertson Makes Moronic Comments

Ok, I am a Christian. I make no apologies about that. I love my Lord Jesus Christ. I do not however, believe that every “Christian” speaks for me. As much as I loathe Cindy Sheehan’s actions I also abhor the most recent statement from Pat Robertson. A once respected pastor, he has sunk to the level of Al Zaquari, his statements have will only make him look like the mad mullahs calling for the head of George Bush. Robertson should be made aware that his comments are juvenile, and not helpful to any cause of removing Chavez from power. No one should be made a target of assassination due to his political beliefs, no matter how wrong they are.

It is a horrible idea for several reasons;

1. It gives fodder to the anti-Christians
2. It would only make Chavez a martyr for his cause
3. Any one who adopts that tactic should expect their own leaders to be targets (more so than they already are)
4. It erodes claims to morality authority from our leadership.

That said, going after the leader of a country you are at war with is different. He is the head of the armed forces and therefore a litigate target. Be it a shadow war like our attacks on Qadaffy in the 80's or a shootin' war like Iraq, that is a valid action and justified. But to go after the leader of a nation we are not at war with would only invite a war. If Butcrackastan tried to kill our president, wouldn't we declare war on them?


Comments like Robertson’s can not be taking seriously. Political assassination carried out by the United States would only cause more harm than any good that would come from the.

The Beginning of the End of the State of Israel

The beginning of the end of the state of Israel was completed today as the pull out of the Gaza Strip was conclude.

After the settlements are completely evacuated and demolished, Israel is to turn Gaza over to Palestinian control for the first time.

Does this in of its self lead to the destruction of Israel? No. Prime Minister Arial Sharon has a plan and believes that this plan will lead to peace in the region.

"In order to move to the road map, terrorism must stop _ terrorism, violence, incitement _ terror organizations must be dismantled, their weapons confiscated, serious reforms carried out"

It is clear that he thinks that pulling out from Gaza will be the first step in the Peace Process. However, we are getting statements like this from the other side:

”The implementation of the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip marks “the beginning of the end for Israel” - Hamas political bureau chief, Khaled Mashaal.

And this gem:

”We, however, see the withdrawal as first step for full liberation and achieving all of our legitimate rights. Today Gaza and tomorrow the West Bank and later every inch of the land.”

And he is not alone

”We, however, see the withdrawal as first step for full liberation and achieving all of our legitimate rights. Today Gaza and tomorrow the West Bank and later every inch of the land. We will continue the struggle until we have reclaimed all the land of Palestine.” – Mohammed Khatif, a Gaza shop owner.

And

”The armed struggle is the only strategy that Hamas possesses. As long as Palestinian lands remain under occupation, Hamas won't lay down its weapons” – Ismail Haniya, “Resistance” Leader in Lebanon

It is sad that for the first time in almost 40 years, Israel is making concessions, but the terrorists see the concessions that were made in a hope of real peace are a vindication for their tactics of blowing up kids in restaurants.

A lesson is here, one learned time and again through history; you can not negotiate with terrorists and expect a lasting peace. This just may be the beginning of the end of the state of Israel.

Thanks, everyone

UPDATE 8/22/05

As seen on Darth Apathy

As everyone knows, I spent the weekend in New Orleans visiting my sister. While I was there, I had the chance to speak at length with a couple of her doctors. They've admitted they cannot stop the spead of cancer; they can only slow the progress with radiation and chemo.

As it turns out, and as I had predicted, their estimation of a year was overly optimistic. Right now they're saying she probably won't see the end of this year.

********************************************

First of all, I would like to thank everyone for their well-wishes, support, and prayers regarding my sister.

Sadly, they have all been in vain.

After a series of bone scans, CAT scans, and MRI's, we have learned the true extent of the spread of cancer. In addition to the breast cancer and the bone cancer, which we already know about, there have been additional complications. The cancer has spread to the lymphatic system, to the spinal cord, and to the liver. According to the doctors, the prognosis is terminal. At this point, it's just a matter of time.

-Vic

An Answer

Cindy Sheehan has asked why her son had to die. Here is one answer.


Photos Removed - LEAVE CINDY ALONE!!!

A special thanks to Michael Yon for the use of his touching photos. If you would like a real view of Iraq with all of the politics stripped away we beg you to visit this freelance journalist's site.

Criminal Mischief is too Small a Charge

NBC 10 KWTX

We do not know this man’s politics, but we feel that we can safely say he is an asshole.

Complaint Filed After Driver Crushes Crosses At Anti-War Protest Site

Larry Northern, 59, of McLennan County, was charged Tuesday with Criminal Mischief Over $1,500 and under $20,000 after a pickup truck tore through a row of white crosses erected by anti-war protesters gathered near the President’s ranch in Crawford.

Bail was set at $3,000.

The crosses bear the names of U.S. military personnel who have died in the war in Iraq.

Witnesses said the driver swerved the truck in and out of the makeshift memorial Monday night.

The protesters who are camped out in Crawford expressed outrage at the vandalism.

We do not care who put those crosses up, we don’t care they are crosses; they are memorials to brave men and women that have given their lives for this nation. No matter the politics that put the markers there, they should be respected. We hope the local district attorney prosecute this cretin to the fullest extent of the law. What this “man” did is reprehensible and shows that he has not an ounce of honor.

Cindy Sheehan in Her Own Words

********************************************

UPDATE

I TRUMPED DRUDGE!!!

I made this post over 24 hours before Matt Drudge posted this on the Drudge Report. I know in the grand scheme of things this means nothing, but it feels good!

*********************************************

At a pro-Lynne Stewart (convicted terrorist) rally held on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at San Francisco State University:

“The biggest terrorist in the world is George W. Bush. How many more people are we going to let him kill before we stop him?”

Bigger than Osama, Bigger than Stalin, Bigger thn Castro, Bigger than Pol Pot? Wow and they have turned the economy around too, man they must have been busy!

“we have to impeach everybody from George Bush down to the person who picks up dog shit in Washington”

That is kind of harsh, does she blame the dog poop guy for her son’s death too? I mean how did his policies kill her son?

“The mainstream media is a propaganda tool for the government”

Is that the same media, Mrs. Sheehan, that only uses very carefully edited sound bites of yours, designed to make you look perfect and not your anti-American/Anti-Semantic drivel?

I was raised in a country by a public school system that taught us that America was good, that America was just. …I passed on that bullshit to my son and my son enlisted.”

I often hear that “she gave her sons life for the country” I thought he was a responsible adult that enlisted of his own free will.

“I'm going all over the country telling moms: "This country is not worth dying for." If we're attacked, we would all go out. We'd all take whatever we had. I'd take my rolling pin and I'd beat the attackers over the head with it. But we were not attacked by Iraq. We might not even have been attacked by Osama bin Laden if 9/11 was their Pearl Harbor to get their neo-con agenda through and, if I would have known that before my son was killed, I would have taken him to Canada. I would never have let him go and try and defend this morally repugnant system we have."

Casey Sheehan is an American Hero, too bad his mother didn’t move to Canada, well on second thought, what did Canada ever do to us?

"What they're saying, too, is like, it's okay for Israel to have nuclear weapons. But Iran or Syria better not get nuclear weapons. It's okay for the United States to have nuclear weapons. It's okay for the countries that we say it's okay for. We are waging a nuclear war in Iraq right now. That country is contaminated. It will be contaminated for practically eternity now. It's okay for them to have them, but Iran or Syria can't have them. It's okay for Israel to occupy Palestine, but it's--yeah--and it's okay for Iraq to occupy--I mean, for the United States to occupy Iraq, but it's not okay for Syria to be in Lebanon".

Israel out of Palestine? Where is Palestine? Who created the divisions of land that created Israel and gave land to the Palestinian people? Who launched wars (that they lost) to take that land from Israel? Who’s stated goal is to remove Israel from the middle east?

Palestine is a small town in Texas, half way between Houston and Dallas

The United Nations Created Israel and gave land to the Palestinians

Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Jordan have all launched wars on Israel

Iraqi President Rahman Aref announced(in 1965), "This is our opportunity to wipe out the ignominy which has been with us since 1948. Our goal is clear--to wipe Israel off the map

More than 51% (of Palestinians, Mid Eastern, not East Texan variety) see the liberation of all historic Palestine - and the removal of Israel from the map - as the true goal of the intifada

Hezbollah

Hamas political bureau chief, Khaled Mashaal stated: “This is the beginning of the end for the Zionist project in the region and an important and historic turning point in the Arab - Israeli conflict."

What was that about walking like a duck and talking like a duck?

And at a Church she said:

"the US government is now ruled by murderous hypocrites...criminals who should be arrested, charged appropriately, confined behind bars, and then tried in a court of law...not only here in our own country, but also in all the other countries which have suffered their incomprehensible greed. In their secret hiding places, while celebrating newly won fortunes with their fellow brass, these men must surely congratulate themselves with orgies of carnal pleasure as they mock the multitudes who are yet so blind as to mistake them for God's devoted servants."

And there you have it, Mrs. Sheehan in her own words. Make of it what you will. We expect the left to embrace them and think of her as a hero, and the Right to pitty her in her America-Hating, Socialistic, Anti-Semitic rage and think her son as the real hero in the family.

Hypocrites Abound

One of the latest “battle cries” of the left is:

”You call yourself a Christian, and yet you support the war, that makes you a hypocrite”

The goal is to “prove” that the Christian is a liar, and therefore his arguments in support of the war are null and void because a hypocrite mad them.

The argument fails and Brian B. at Memento Moron explains who the Hypocrite in this argument really is.

Anti-Semite refuses to Pay Taxes

The latest American Media Political Party “doll” makes interesting comments recently:

"You get America out of Iraq and Israel out of Palestine and you'll stop the terrorism,"

Where do these sage words of advice come from you ask? Why, it is a direct quote from grieving mom Cindy Sheehan, darling of the all the media/leftists everywhere.

The anti-Semite also said:

"My son was killed in 2004. I am not paying my taxes for 2004. You killed my son, George Bush, and I don't owe you a penny...you give my son back and I'll pay my taxes. Come after me for back taxes and we'll put this war on trial."

We wish some one would remind her that she is speaking in public. While we dislike paying of taxes, it smacks of communism to us, we do recognize the need for roads, schools, police forces, health care and other beneficial services that the entire community enjoys, we do pay our share.

The insane grieving mother however, feels that she speaks for ever parent who has lost a son in the war on terror also thinks that it makes her exempt from paying her fair share to keep her local, state and federal governments running.

She also offered us this jewel:

"And now I'm going to use another 'I' word - impeachment - because we cannot have these people pardoned. They need to be tried on war crimes and go to jail."

Someone needs to remind her that it was the left’s most scared of institutions, the United Nations, that authorized the sanctions that Iraq flaunted which led to war. It (the war) is neither illegal, as congerss voted for it, nor is it immoral. Yes, it is tragic that anyone has died, but sometimes to do the right thing it hurts. Instead of honoring her dead son, WHO VOLUNTEERED to join the army, she has chosen to make a mockery of his service by acting like…well a spoiled little girl.

Mick Jagger is a Washed Up 62 Year Old Rock-n-Roll Rebel

The Rolling Stones, who some claim are the best band ever (which I disagree with) have another album coming out. Who cares? Well, it seems that there is a song on it called Sweet Neo-con. Some of the lyrics include:

You call yourself a Christian, I call you a hypocrite/ You call yourself a patriot. Well, I think you are full of shit!

How come you're so wrong? My sweet neo-con, where's the money gone, in the Pentagon

It's liberty for all, democracy's our style, unless you are against us, then it's prison without trial.

Why do we bring this up? Is it because we think Mick and the other geriatric members of the band should be censored for not spewing the Party line of the “neo-cons”? Is it because the lyrics are just bad from a poetic sense? Is it because the only word he could rhyme with hypocrite was shit?

No.

What we take issue with some one who says this in the telegraph:

"It is direct," Sir Mick said of the song Sweet Neo Con, admitting that guitarist Keith Richards was "a bit worried" about a possible backlash because he is based in the US.

Unlike many other entertainers Sir Mick usually shuns heaping vitriol on President George W Bush, but his dig at the neo cons is aimed at the heart of the Bush administration..

And then says this in the Washington Post

"It is not really aimed at anyone," Jagger said on the entertainment-news show's Wednesday edition. "It's not aimed, personally aimed, at President Bush…"

So our question is for Mr. Jagger; do you think we are so stupid as to not notice? You want to be seen as a Bush-hating nut job fine, go right ahead. You are insulting anyone with more than two brain cells. But don’t pander to the left with this song then tell us it is not about President Bush. You are trying to have it both ways. You must think we are stupid if you think that you can write “lyrics” that make those statements and then think someone, ANYONE will believe that it is not about Bush.

It makes YOU Mr. Jagger, a Hypocrite.

Urgent Prayer Request

Vic at Darth Apathy is one of my best friends. I don’t mean best friends as in he is fun to party with. I mean the kind of best friend that would:

help you move (4 times so far)

Watch your cripple wife while you go out of State to pick up kids for spring break

Get you a job

Not drink all of your beer

Game at the drop of a hat

Watch you kids after school

Restrain you from exploding after dealing with your ex wife

Get you free tickets to Astros Playoff games, Styx, Deep Purple, Billy Squire, Poison, David Lee Roth/ Sammy Hagar, Vince Neal, Kiss (2 times), Scorpions, and many others.

Walk you through any computer problem you have, multiple times.

And not ask anything in return. Vic and I were Shipmates in the Navy, Roommates after we got out and was at my wedding. If I have a problem I know I can call on him, just as he knows he can call on me. He is one of the true friends that I know will always be a friend.

Vic’s sister, Star (yes her name is Star) needs your prayers. She was diagnosed with Breast cancer last month. She had a tumor the size of orange. The operated on it and felt they got it. They also think it may have spread to her lymph nodes, so they removed those too. Monday we found out that Star was having pain in her back, they took her in and there is a tumor in her L4/L5 area and one in each hip. Vic talked to her boyfriend. He and star have been keeping some information from the family. Star has a total of nine possible tumors in her back, hips and right leg. The doctors are saying that there is a ten percent that she can live out the year, and it will be very painful for her during that time.

Please pray for her and her family. It is not easy. I lost my mother last year to cancer and it is a scary thing. Star’s situation is compounded by the fact that there have been several relatives that have succumbed to aggressive breast cancer.


Star, Our prayers go out to God for you.

Mother Changes Story to Politicizes Son’s Death

The sun beats down on the dust Texas town, hats are required if one plans to spend any time out side. On a lawn chair, with a bottle of water, sits one distraught mother. She is in Texas as part of her Anti-war Media Tour. In Crawford, Texas she went on the media blitz to decry how President Bush "killed an indispensable part of our family and humanity."

Excuse me? Ma’am, I understand that the death of a child is extremely painful and I offer my condolences to you and your family. That said, your son joined the military of his own free will and he was a mechanic. How was he “indispensable to humanity”?


She has vowed to continue her protest in the scorching Texas sun, until she can personally ask Bush: "Why did you kill my son?"

Chatting with Wolf Blitzer she claimed Bush "acted like it was party" when she and her family met with the President last year.

"It was -- you know, there was a lot of things said. We wanted to use the time for him to know that he killed an indispensable part of our family and humanity. And we wanted him to look at the pictures of Casey.

"He wouldn't look at the pictures of Casey. He didn't even know Casey's name. He came in the room and the very first thing he said is, 'So who are we honoring here?' He didn't even know Casey's name. He didn't want to hear it. He didn't want to hear anything about Casey. He wouldn't even call him 'him' or 'he.' He called him 'your loved one.'

Every time we tried to talk about Casey and how much we missed him, he would change the subject. And he acted like it was a party.

BLITZER: Like a party? I mean...

SHEEHAN: Yes, he came in very jovial, and like we should be happy that he, our son, died for his misguided policies. He didn't even pretend like somebody...

But just last year Cindy was telling a much different tale of the encounter. Vacaville, California’s The Reporter newspaper printed an Cindy Sheehan’s own account of the meeting with President Bush at Fort Lewis, Washington in a much different light.

”I now know he's sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis,” Cindy said after their meeting. “I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith.”

The meeting didn't last long, but in their time with Bush, Cindy spoke about Casey and asked the president to make her son's sacrifice count for something. They also spoke of their faith. The trip had one benefit that none of the Sheehans expected. For a moment, life returned to the way it was before Casey died. They laughed, joked and bickered playfully as they briefly toured Seattle. For the first time in 11 weeks, they felt whole again.

"'That was the gift the president gave us, the gift of happiness, of being together,' Cindy said."

I wonder which one of Sheehan’s OWN accounts is true?

Is it the stupid unconcerned party boy?
Or
Is it the President who gave her family a “gift of happiness”?

Sheehan is using her sons death to get her 15 minutes of fame and to drive her politics. The Angry left wasted no time to jump on her cause and repeat her anti-Bush/war quotes.

The Martian Anthropologist – George Bush: The Unfeeling President

Democrats.com - Cindy Sheehan Brings "Impeachment Tour" to Crawford and Asks Bush: "Why did my son die?"

The Cranky Liberal Pages – Taking a Moment

Democrats Abroad Japan - Mainstream Media Covering Cindy Sheehan Protests the War at Bush's Crawford Ranch!

Daily KOS - Today in Crawford, TX with Cindy Sheehan; “Today is the beginning of the end of the occupation of Iraq”

Again, I’d like to thank her son for his service, it is tragic when anyone dies, but he died with dignity and honor for his country, and no matter the antics of his mother, that makes him a hero.

It is sad that her son died in the service of his nation. It is sadder that his mother has decided that she will use his death for fame and political power. Perhaps the saddest part is that the left will pounce on this like a pack of starved stray dogs. They will consider anything she says as proof of wrong doing, but they will never stop to question her as to why she was saying something different last year. Logically when we hear her two stories, it begs us to question her credibility and to wonder what her motives are.

Happy Ending

As one of the contributors to this Blog with family Navy ties (including a cousin on a boomer), it's with joy and relief that I update Vulture's entry from Friday with the now old but still good news that all 7 Russian sailors were rescued.

God bless the men of the U.S. and Royal Navies who effected the rescue, and our congratulations to all the sailors involved in the effort, regardless the flag under which they serve, and to the families who will see their sons and husbands and fathers come home.

Update:

To our Eternal Father, who is quick to save and Whose mighty arm bound the restless wave, we offer our thanks to you for the safe return of the brave, stranded mariners. Trapped as they were, without air and hope, You showed Your mercy to them and their families. We thank you Lord, for their return and for the good will between nations that the rescue efforts has fostered.
Vulture 6

7 Sailors trapped on Ocean Floor

As all of the authors here at Vultures Row are Sailors or directly related to Sailors, Our hearts and prayers go out to the crew of AS-28, a Russian deep Submergence vehicle that was tangled in a fishing net while conducting exercises in the Pacific Ocean. The screw was fouled by a steel cable and the vessel is now without propulsion and resting on the ocean floor. Russia has launched an all hands effort to rescue the crew of seven that have approximately 20 hours of air left.


AS-30, sister ship to the stricken AS-28 

To the crew of the AS-28 We offer the following prayer

"O eternal Lord God, who alone rules the raging seas; grant safety to sailors in peril and please grant your most gracious protection. Please preserve those who venture the waves from the dangers of the sea and that they may be a safeguarded to return to their country and to their families. Please, Lord, grant your mercy to the noble mariners who pass upon and under the seas in the course of their duties so that the inhabitants of their lands may be in peace because of the service of men such as these. God, to the glory of your Name and through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen."

Russia has also asked Japan and the United States for assistance in the rescue efforts. Japan has agreed and is sending four vessels including one carrying submarine rescue gear, but they are not expected to arrive at the scene until early next week.


Area where the mini sub is stranded 

The US Navy is sending a DSRV from the elite Deep Submergence Unit stationed at NAS North Island, San Diego, CA. The Deep diving mini sub will be flown to Pearl Harbor aboard an USAF C-5 Galaxy transport.

Russian vessels in the meantime are attempting to snare the disabled craft and pull it to the surface.


We wish the best to the crew and also to the man and women in the rescue effort.

More on the Story:
CNN
FOX
Houston Chronicle

A Warrior at Rest

Froggy Ruminations has an excellent post that is touching and moving. Though I never served with SEALs directly we were all shipmates in the same Navy. Godspeed Petty Officer Suh, and thank you for your service and paying the ultimate price for freedom.

Click here for...the rest of the story

Democrats are Afraid of Up or Down Votes

It was a dark and stormy night in the nation’s capitol. The driving rain beat with a rhythm on the windows of the white house. Just days ago the noble protectors of democracy, the Congressional Democrats left the city to seek out some much need rest and to prepare to fight the evil that has swept into town 5 years ago. Little did they know the President would, once again, act in a devious method. He would do something so dastardly so heinous that he could only do it when the noble democrats had left town. The President would use a recess appointment for John Bolton.

Ted Kennedy* has already come out and started crying about it. Kennedy has said

"It's a devious maneuver that evades the constitutional requirement of Senate consent and only further darkens the cloud over Mr. Bolton's credibility at the U.N," Kennedy said."

Mr. Kennedy, was it devious when your brother, President John F. Kennedy, recess appointed Thurgood Marshall to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in October 1961, getting around opposition from Southern DEMOCRAT senators?

As I recall, Justice Marshall is considered to be one of the best justices to have ever served. Were you, Teddy Boy, calling that a devious act?

* Mary Jo Kopechne was unavailable for comment.

All the President is asking for is an Up or Down vote on his nominations. Why have they not gotten this Up or Down (YES or NO) vote? It is because the democrats will not allow any to happen. The nominee has to go through a committee and then be sent to the floor for the vote. The democrats are holding the nominations in the committees, thus denying the votes. The reason they are doing this is because the

Democrats are afraid to allow a vote

they know that the can not defeat a candidate through voting because they do not hold enough seats. The Democrats will not allow any vote that they can not guarantee that they will get their desired out come. And thus brings us to this little gem from perhaps the most delusional member of congress:

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said Bolton was a "seriously flawed and weakened candidate." He charged that Bush "chose to stonewall the Senate" by using a recess appointment.

Pot calling Kettle, com in kettle, over.

Mr. Reid how dare you stand there and make the comment that the President of the United States of America is stonewalling the Senate, after you have done nothing but STONEWALL his nomination for this very position. It maks you, Mr. Reid nothing more than a hypocrite and seem like a child throwing a playground tantrum. The people of Nevada should be ashamed of themselves for not taking the time to find someone better to replace Mr. Reid. I understand there is quite a homeless population in Las Vegas. I’m sure anyone of them could take the position and have more personal credibility, honor and integrity than Harry Reid.

In a surprising move, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan welcomed Bolton's appointment.

” We look forward to working with him as I do with the other 190 ambassadors, and we will welcome him at a time when we are in the midst of major reform,"

He also said the manner of Bolton's appointment was Bush's prerogative. I am impressed. For once I agree with Annan. This is one of the few examples where he has shown true diplomatic skills.

President Bush did the right thing by using the recess appointment. Bolton for good or bad will have time to show if he is right for the job, and in the end he will get his Up or Down vote. The senate will have to vote yes or no at the end of this congressional term.

Recess appointments have a long history and have been used throughout the history of the Presidency. George Washington made the first appointment. President Clinton made 140 recess appointments, and as previously mentioned President Kennedy appointed one of the icons of American Justice by using the recess appointment. Was it devious in any of those cases? No, and it is not devious, immoral, underhanded, sneaky or evil now.

Conspiracy Theories

While surfing on BE, I ran across The Bulldog Manifesto. When you read it two things become clear. Bulldog hates President Bush and believes in conspiracy theories. I’m not passing judgment on Bulldog, I’m just amused by his belief that the terrorist attacks were orchestrated by Bush.

His amusing little rants got me to thinking on the topic of conspiracy theories. The internet has made it much easier to spread them, and as a result more people are repeating them, if not buying into them. I do have to admit that the topic is mildly interesting. I would not go out of my way to research a theory but if I stumble on it I may spend a few minutes reading it.

What are your thoughts on Conspiracy Theories and do you have any favorite ones?