Keep Your Powder Dry
and other rebellious thoughts, like this about our Military.

Outrage: Obama Administration Targets Military for Pay Reductions President Barack Obama Ñ who came to power with the help of government employee unions across the nation and has lavished on them hundreds of billions in stimulus funds to keep them on federal, state, and local payrolls with no strings attached Ñ is moving to cut spending on salaries for military personnel.

Watch for 2 1/2 minutes! If you have the guts!

Many Israelis want to know: why didn't the soldiers at Ft Hood return fire when attacked by a U.S. Army major, who was actually a terrorist.

When a MuslimÊin Israel shouts "Alla Akbar", he is typically shot to death by someone within seconds.

In contrast with the typical Israeli experience, it tookÊ10 minutesÊbefore aÊcivilianÊpolice officerÊat Fort Hood was able to shoot and stop Muslim fanatic Nidal Malik Hasan.

How could that happen?ÊÊHow could so many people trained in the strategies and tactics of modern warfare be so defenseless?

The answer is that the victims wereÊunarmed.ÊÊU.S. soldiers are not allowed to carry guns for personal protection, even on a 340-acre base quartering more than 50,000 troops.

Fort HoodÊis a "gun free"* zone, thanks to regulations adopted in one of the very first acts signed by Bill Clinton in March, 1993.

Israelis, who have had to combat terrorism all their lives, are not afraid of guns.ÊThey are armed and ready, willing, and able to defend themselves and their country.

*"Gun Free Zone" in the U. S. means only criminals and terrorists are allowed to carry guns.

  • Love your FREEDOM? Thank the Military!!!

    • NOTE: The source for the following essay is unknown. We would like to credit the source.... if someone knows the source, please let me know.

    (The Cindy Williams referenced here is NOT the "Laverne & Shirley" Cindy Williams. This Cindy Williams is an Assistant Director for national Security in the Congressional Budget Office). Ms. Williams wrote a piece for the Washington Times, denouncing pay raise(s) for service members, in which she stated 13% wage increase was more than they deserve.

    This is an Airman's response to Cindy Williams' editorial in the Washington Times about MILITARY PAY; it should be printed in all newspapers across America.

    Ms Williams:

    I just had the pleasure of reading your column, "Our GIs earn enough" and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account.

    Checking my latest earnings statement I see that I make $1,117.80 before taxes per month. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through the calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and $10,490.40, after.

    I work in the Air Force Network Control Center where I am part of the team responsible for a 5,000 host computer network. I am involved with infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment.

    A quick check under jobs For Network Technicians in the Washington, D.C. Area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years experience with my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year.

    No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum............ I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.

    Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you NEVER had the pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces.

    Before you take it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off of WIC and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN; I leave the choice of service branch up to you.

    Whatever choice you make, though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it will guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends, thus giving you full "deployment experience."

    As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families are still unsure of how they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone.

    Obviously they've been squandering the "vast" piles of cash the government has been giving them.

    Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are perennial favorites. And when you're actually over there, sitting in a foxhole, shivering against the cold desert night; and the flight sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember this: trade whatever MRE (meal-ready-to-eat) you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything. This gives some flavor.

    Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't nearly be long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the points you present in your opened piece.

    But, tomorrow from KABUL, I will defend to the death your right to say it.

    You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis, my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb your collective nose at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe. We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we can't offer the stability and pay of civilian companies.

    And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we deserve? Rubbish & BULLSHIT!

    Signed: A1C .........

    It's the Military, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press. It's the Military, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It's the Military, not the politicians that ensures our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It's the Military who salutesÊthe flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag.

    Now take a look at this tribute to our American Military in Action. It's a pdf file about 5 MB, so give it time. You may want to save it.

    The attached photos forwarded from one of the last U.S. Marine companies in Iraq. They would like to have it passed to as many people as possible, to let the folks back home know that they remember why they're there and that they remember those who've been lost.

    And here is a tribute video to American Soldiers.

    "When I joined the military service it was illegal to be homosexual, then it became Optional. I'm glad I got out before it becomes Mandatory."