A Real American Hero- Thank You Cpl. Nicely We Owe You a Debt Which Can Never Be Repaid

Via Red State- Another TSA Outrage

If you are one of the few Americans that belief that the TSA is actually protecting Americans I think you will change your mind after reading this article.

Another TSA Outrage

 By Erick Erickson

A friend of mine sent me this about his TSA experience. He, unlike most of us, was coming back into the country from Afghanistan on a military charter.

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As the Chalk Leader for my flight home from Afghanistan, I witnessed the following:

When we were on our way back from Afghanistan, we flew out of Baghram Air Field. We went through customs at BAF, full body scanners (no groping), had all of our bags searched, the whole nine yards.

Our first stop was Shannon, Ireland to refuel. After that, we had to stop at Indianapolis, Indiana to drop off about 100 folks from the Indiana National Guard. That’s where the stupid started.

First, everyone was forced to get off the plane–even though the plane wasn’t refueling again. All 330 people got off that plane, rather than let the 100 people from the ING get off. We were filed from the plane to a holding area. No vending machines, no means of escape. Only a male/female latrine.

It’s probably important to mention that we were ALL carrying weapons. Everyone was carrying an M4 Carbine (rifle) and some, like me, were also carrying an M9 pistol. Oh, and our gunners had M-240B machine guns. Of course, the weapons weren’t loaded. And we had been cleared of all ammo well before we even got to customs at Baghram, then AGAIN at customs.

The TSA personnel at the airport seriously considered making us unload all of the baggage from the SECURE cargo hold to have it reinspected. Keep in mind, this cargo had been unpacked, inspected piece by piece by U.S. Customs officials, resealed and had bomb-sniffing dogs give it a one-hour run through. After two hours of sitting in this holding area, the TSA decided not to reinspect our Cargo–just to inspect us again: Soldiers on the way home from war, who had already been inspected, reinspected and kept in a SECURE holding area for 2 hours. Ok, whatever. So we lined up to go through security AGAIN.

This is probably another good time to remind you all that all of us were carrying actual assault rifles, and some of us were also carrying pistols.

So we’re in line, going through one at a time. One of our Soldiers had his Gerber multi-tool. TSA confiscated it. Kind of ridiculous, but it gets better. A few minutes later, a guy empties his pockets and has a pair of nail clippers. Nail clippers. TSA informs the Soldier that they’re going to confiscate his nail clippers. The conversation went something like this:

TSA Guy: You can’t take those on the plane.

Soldier: What? I’ve had them since we left country.

TSA Guy: You’re not suppose to have them.

Soldier: Why?

TSA Guy: They can be used as a weapon.

Soldier: [touches butt stock of the rifle] But this actually is a weapon. And I’m allowed to take it on.

TSA Guy: Yeah but you can’t use it to take over the plane. You don’t have bullets.

Soldier: And I can take over the plane with nail clippers?

TSA Guy: [awkward silence]

Me: Dude, just give him your damn nail clippers so we can get the f**k out of here. I’ll buy you a new set.

Soldier: [hands nail clippers to TSA guy, makes it through security]

This might be a good time to remind everyone that approximately 233 people re-boarded that plane with assault rifles, pistols, and machine guns–but nothing that could have been used as a weapon.

We entrust these highly trained soldiers with assault rifles and machine guns, albeit unloaded, but a pair of nail clippers is dangerous to the safety of the plane? The TSA is obviously full of morons and incompetents but we are told by our government that we must allow them to fondle our wives and children? I say no way in Hell will I allow that to ever happen to my family.

Happy Veterans Day! To all those who've risked their lives so we can live ours, thank-you!

The Bravest Man I Know

by Amanda Whitney

The bravest man I know.

Is a man I've never met.

He's a man who risks his life

To save a friend,

Not only to save a friend,

But to save a nation.

Risking his life

For those he does not know.

Stepping up

Leaving loved ones behind,

So that somewhere,

Someone else won't have to.

He is a man who follows orders

Even though he knows he might die.

The bravest man I know.

Is the man who would rather die,

So one more person could go home

To see his family again.

The man who stares death in the face,

But never blinks.

The bravest man I know.

Is the man who risks his life

So one day the world may be a better place for his children.

Or any man who goes against his biggest fear.

DEATH

Just to save someone he loves.

The bravest man I know.

Is the man who fights

So another man can have the taste of sweet freedom.

Not fighting only for his own benefit,

But for many others all over the world,

Fighting to make this world a better place.

That's the bravest man I know.

Back from Iraq, Frisco soldier finds home sold by HOA

This HOA group is completely heartless and unpatriotic. It is mindbogglingly to me as an attorney how a HOA has this much power in the first place. If someone is behind in paying their fees a lien would be an appropriate remedy not a foreclosure. I sincerely hope that the Clauers are able to get their home back.



After seeing this video if you would like to help Capt. Clauer and his family, a defense fund has been setup so that they can get back their home.  Contributions can be sent to:


Clauer Legal Defense Fund
c/o Plains Capital Bank
1629 Hebron Parkway West
Carrollton, TX 75010

Feel Good Video: Troops Surprising Loved Ones

Sometimes we forget the sacrifices of not just our soldiers but also the families they leave behind. This is a great reminder:

Trailblazing paratrooper broke color barrier in secret

Thank you Mr. Morris for your service to our country. While you may not have been honored then, because of racist policies your actions paved the way for so many others. We as a country are in your debt.

By Larry Shaughnessy, CNN Pentagon Producer

Washington (CNN) -- Thurgood Marshall, Hattie McDaniel, the Tuskegee Airmen and Walter Morris -- all African-Americans who made history breaking the color barrier. But while America's first black Supreme Court justice, the first African-American Oscar winner and the U.S. military's first African-American pilots are well known, you may never have heard of Walter Morris or his role in American history.

The War Department, as the Defense Department used to be called, wanted it that way. On Thursday, a ceremony at the Pentagon will undo that.

When Walter Morris first joined the Army just before World War II, he wasn't a "black" or "Negro" or "African-American" soldier -- he was "colored." And he was treated like all the other "colored" men who wanted to fight for their country.

"We were servants, we were not soldiers," Morris said. "Most of us had an inferiority complex and it was a result of what they had assigned us to do."

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/25/black.paratrooper/

You Can Be Forgiven If You Admit You Were Wrong

This man screwed up royally but he was man enough to admit he was wrong and take his punishment. If more people took responsibility for their actions maybe this country wouldn't be going down the toilet.

Flag action draws salutes
Case of man who was pilloried after burning flag gets national attention
By HUMBERTO MARTINEZ, Staff writer First published in print: Sunday, September 27, 2009

VALLEY FALLS--This is a red, white and blue village that is still seeing red after a flag that flew over Iraq was burned by a 21-year-old.

The payback? He was publicly humiliated last Sunday when he was duct-taped to the flagpole of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1938 he is accused of desecrating on Sept. 18.

Nick Normile, post commander and Vietnam War veteran, said he's been flooded with calls from media outlets since the events of last week received attention from local TV stations and newspapers. He's been asked to go live on a veterans radio show program from Tennessee, another radio show from Chicago and even received a call from NBC studios in New York City.

But Normile said he's not planning to let the story get any more attention and has declined appearances.

"I'm not trying to be some martyr or hero," Normile said. "I just did what I thought was right."

The 21-year-old appeared intoxicated when he entered the VFW post on the day of the alleged act, Normile said. When the man was refused service for not having a proper ID, he ran out in a fit of anger. He cut the rope of the flag, which had once flown over troops in Iraq, and ignited it with a cigarette lighter.

Two days later, Normile said the man was forced to sit in the sun pilloried for six hours as townspeople gathered across the street for a youth soccer picnic. A sign was hung around his neck detailing what he had done. It recalled the Middle Ages punishment, subjecting him to public humiliation and scorn.

"He'll never disrespect the flag again, I can tell you that," Normile said on Friday.

A week later villagers were hush-hush about the event, but patrons of the post bar gave a nod of agreement to the punishment, pointing proudly to a newspaper clipping of the event on a bulletin board.

Patriotism is on open display in this village of about 500, the walls of a defunct railroad bridge near it's entrance now brightly colored red, white and blue. Most of the historical homes have American flags of their own hanging from porches, some also adorned with the Don't Tread on Me flag, popular with Tea Party activists.

Normile said once he found out what the man had done, he knew he had to be taught a lesson. Normile said he went out hunting for him, but when he couldnt find him at his apartment, he sought the help of the man's uncle to bring him out.

"He manned up, he knew he had punishment coming, " said Normile, who described the young man he refused to identify as guilty and ashamed.

"I told him to think about those kids in the foxhole, and how they had no one to set them free, " Normile said. "It got to him, so I was satisfied. He showed a lot of remorse, no attitude."

Normile said the flag, whose pieces will be retired in a formal ceremony, had significant meaning. The villages auxiliary had been sending toiletries and other goods to soldiers in Iraq, who then sent back the flag that had flown over their bunker. It was received with great attention and a ceremony.

State troopers and Rensselaer County sheriffs deputies said no charges had been filed by either the VFW post or the man.

Reach staff writer Humberto Martnez at 454-5057 or by email at hmartinez@timesunion.com.



Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=846766#ixzz0SPDqVHSd

Veterans' promised tuition checks AWOL

This is shameful. Our soldiers risked their lives in defense of our country and we can't even make good on the promises we made to them. There is no reason for a situation like this to occur. I hope that the person in charge of this whole process is fired. Lets not forget that only a month ago the Transportation Department was understaffed and unable to handle the volume of cash for clunkers yet there are still people out there that really believe the government can run healthcare. If you are one of those people I have this great money making opportunity I learned from Madoff and I was wondering whether you would like to give me your life savings to invest. Please call me at 1-888-GET-REAL.

Veterans' promised tuition checks AWOL

White House Holds a Luau While Americans Lose Their Jobs

The White House held its annual picnic this year for the press and Congress. It looks like everyone had a great time even though they weren't able to have a traditional pig roast because of environmental concerns. They even were able to raise some money for charity. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_7b0GqKglE


Its no wonder that Americans disapprove of the job Congress has been doing. http://www.pollingreport.com/CongJob.htm While many hard working Americans are struggling to keep their homes, find new jobs or to simply put food on the table the elites in Washington are enjoying themselves at our expense. It must be nice to have a virtually limitless checking account (the American taxpayer) to fund these types of activities. Look even in the best of times these types of events are ridiculous. This is not an event to meet other heads of state, which are necessary although one could argue extravagant, but rather a party for our elected representatives. Most of these people are millionaires, including the President, it would have been nice if they opened their own wallets and paid for it since we are in the biggest recession since the Great Depression. But who am I kidding with budgets of between $2-4 million for each member in Congress plus a salary of $170k and the best medical care and pension plan money can buy these guys have it really tough. I mean when you compare the perks Congress has to what our soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan get, an average annual salary of between $12-30k including combat pay plus three meals, a cot and the daily fear that today could be your last day on earth, its equal right!?