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rbshirley
Founder
Joined: 07 May 2004
Posts: 394
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 Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:43 am Post subject: Summer Soldiers: John O'Neill says ..... |
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| The New York Sun on Nov 21 wrote: |
Editorial & Opinion section; Page 9
Summer Soldiers
John O’Neill says that Kerry, Murtha & Co. don’t speak for the troops
John O’Neill:
Senator Kerry, supposedly defending Rep. John Murtha, said, “I won’t stand for the Swift-Boating of Jack Murtha!” As one of the 254 members of Mr.Kerry’s unit in Vietnam who belonged to Swift Boat Veterans and POWs for Truth, I found Mr. Kerry’s comments most ironic.
To us, Mr. Kerry’s comments meant that no one should do to Mr. Murtha that which Mr. Kerry did to all of us and our fellow Vietnam veterans, living and dead. Mr. Kerry’s disgraceful comments on many occasions in 1971 (while we were locked in combat), claiming falsely that we were “murdering” hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese and committing rape and mayhem on a daily basis, are a part of the public record for which he has never apologized. This might be called “Kerrying” our soldiers.
In his own strange way, in his recent comments, Mr. Kerry was trying by implication to compare himself to Mr. Murtha — the gravest of insults to Mr. Murtha, who was given a standing ovation by the House of Representatives (which then properly buried his immediate pullout suggestion 403-3). Mr. Murtha’s long military record stands in stark contrast with Mr. Kerry’s continuous self-promotion of his short and controversial service in our unit. More importantly, Mr. Murtha has never compared our troops in the field — now or then — to the “Army of Genghis Khan”or claimed our adversaries, whether the bloody communists and Khmer Rouge or the butchers of Al Qaeda, were simply democratic reformers. Can anyone — even in the cocoon of Washington or the incestuous world of Mainstream Media — imagine either side of the aisle spontaneously rising to clap for anything that Mr. Kerry ever did or said?
Mr. Murtha’s distinguished military record does not mean he is not wildly and completely wrong in his pullout proposal. Despite Mr. Murtha’s effort to present himself as speaking for our troops, all serious data is to the contrary. Thus, for example, an Army Times poll of October 3, 2004, found Mr. Bush beating Mr. Kerry among active duty troops by 74% to 18%. Other polls were similar.While there are a few active duty or retired personnel like Mr. Murtha on the pullout side, they are not as numerous as, say, Yankee fans in Boston. It is abundantly clear that the vast majority of military personnel simply wish to be left alone by the Kerrys and other politicians to finish a job which they believe is nearly done and which they know the John Kerrys and Nancy Pelosis of Washington are totally incompetent to direct and even understand.
The Democratic Party (notwithstanding its cynical expressions of concern for the same troops it periodically seeks to label as engaged in widespread crime) is regarded with intense distrust by many active duty and retired military personnel.They have been Kerried once too often. It was once the majority party that stopped the Nazis, Fascists, and North Koreans and that in words of a far different Kennedy summoned us “to fight any battle” for freedom. Sadly, the party of Henry Jackson and Franklin Roosevelt has become the party of retreat — from the Iranian Hostage Crisis to the retreat from Mogadishu; to opposition to the 1991 Gulf War; to the failure to avenge the 1993 World Trade Center bombing or the USS Cole bombing or the murder of our own troops and embassy personnel around the world. Indeed, this past Thursday night, the nation watched the bizarre spectacle of a Democratic Party speaking in favor of immediate withdrawal but too afraid to even cast a vote recording for posterity these convictions. And the drift from American values to the party of Mr. Kerry and Michael Moore has been matched by its shrinking base. Recent polls, for example, show vastly lower approval ratings — in the low 20s — for Congressional Democrats than even the low rating of Mr. Bush. As for many veterans and military personnel, they remember well the politicians who voted to send us to war then “Kerried” us while we were locked in combat, dishonoring both our service and our dead.
And they ask — is this all to happen to our soldiers again? Are the politicians like Mr. Kerry who led the campaign to send our kids to war (when it was popular) now to withdraw support while they are locked in combat and apparently succeeding because the task is difficult or unpopular? Will Mainstream Media “Kerry” our troops by portraying Abu Ghraib or isolated cases of prisoner mistreatment as the rule to demoralize our troops and nation, while ignoring the beheadings and butchery of those peacefully praying in Mosques or shopping in a Bazaar? Will the press’s selective glorification of isolated figures such as Cindy Sheehan, Mr. Kerry, or Mr. Murtha drown out the actual voices of the large majority of our servicemen? I hope not. We pay our troops little and subject them to considerable danger.We can at the very least support them with stability of mission and honesty of reporting.
Likewise, we ought not to “Kerry” our troops with after-the-battle second-guessing. The fog of combat produces in any war mistake and folly. Both World War II and the Korean War began with wholly avoidable military disasters — Pearl Harbor and the retreat to Pusan. Likewise, the Iraq War has had its share of mistakes and miscalculations (along with brilliant successes). But it simply Kerries our troops in the field to elevate network newsmen (who have likely never even spent a night in a tent) or self-promoted Congressional military heroes with two months of 35 years ago combat in a much different world into armchair Napoleons. That is why we rely instead upon the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the best professional military establishment in the world (when they are left alone). And we should remember the words of Thomas Dewey declining to make Pearl Harbor a campaign issue in 1944: “I would rather lose the presidency and win the war than the reverse.”
On December 23, 1776, with Washington’s army freezing in tatters at Morristown, Thomas Paine in “Common Sense” wrote, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” He noted many mistakes by the American army, but noted that “tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered” and that heaven charges a high price for freedom because it is so precious. It was a time when “the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot shrink … ” but those who stood firm would someday receive the love and appreciation of the nation.
Our nation and our soldiers, who have shown their courage, decency, and worth in desperate fighting on dozens of battlefields, deserve our support for their mission and themselves.They deserve infinitely more than summer soldiers, sunshine patriots, and armchair Napoleons, whose determination and purpose melts with the first winter storm.
Mr. O’Neill, an attorney in Houston,Texas, coauthored the no. 1 bestseller, “Unfit for Command.” After graduation from the Naval Academy, he served as a Swift Boat officer in Vietnam, and later, as a law clerk to Justice William Rehnquist.
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Last edited by rbshirley on Tue Nov 22, 2005 3:54 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Me#1You#10
Site Admin
Joined: 06 May 2004
Posts: 6503
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 2:08 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | And they ask — is this all to happen to our soldiers again? Are the politicians like Mr. Kerry who led the campaign to send our kids to war (when it was popular) now to withdraw support while they are locked in combat and apparently succeeding because the task is difficult or unpopular? Will Mainstream Media “Kerry” our troops by portraying Abu Ghraib or isolated cases of prisoner mistreatment as the rule to demoralize our troops and nation, while ignoring the beheadings and butchery of those peacefully praying in Mosques or shopping in a Bazaar? |
One of our members recently suggested that an SVPT response might be appropriate to Kerry's denegration of "swift boat". LE VOILA!
Move over QUISLING.
Here comes KERRY. |
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Navy wife
Research Director
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Posts: 353
Location: Arlington, VA & Ft. Worth, TX
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 2:40 am Post subject: |
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| I loved this article and have sent it to my son who is a Marine Reservist serving in Iraq! John O'Neill has such a great way of using words, doesn't he!! I'm proud to know him! I've also passed it along to others, and I hope it gets back to Kerry that we are all laughing at how O'Neill turned the tables on him!!! |
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Beatrice1000
Resource Specialist
Joined: 10 Aug 2004
Posts: 1179
Location: Minneapolis, MN
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 10:58 am Post subject: |
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| Brilliant. What an excellent, powerful article - it was a joy to read! Kerry seems so comfortable in using "Swiftboating" as a negative term -- he's fixated on it. He specifically chooses it. It just rolls out of his mouth without consequence. This article strikes a well-placed blow, right between the eyes -- thank you Mr. O'Neill! |
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fortdixlover
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 1476
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Me#1You#10 wrote: | | One of our members recently suggested that an SVPT response might be appropriate to Kerry's denegration of "swift boat". LE VOILA! |
'twas I at http://www.swiftvets.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=21201.
Thank you, Mr. O'Neill.
-- FDL
_________________
"Millions For Defense, Not One Cent For Tribute" - Thomas Jefferson on paying ransom to Muslim corsairs (pirates). |
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Jarhead
Ensign
Joined: 19 Aug 2004
Posts: 70
Location: Port Saint Lucie, FL
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 4:11 pm Post subject: Re: Summer Soldiers: John O'Neill says ..... |
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John is a national hero in my book. This is a classic for sure and has now been officially adopted into my arsenal when verbally sparring with radical leftists and/or peace loving dope smoking, maggot infested anti-war types.
Here's a link to it over at FR also:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1526695/posts?page=1
_________________
Semper Fi'
Jarhead
USMC 71-74
"I am a bold Internationalist, I will only disperse American troups around the world at the discretion of the United Nations" - John Kerry
$UCK THE CORRUPT UNITED NATIONS - I am a Jarhead and I approve this message |
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Deuce
Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 589
Location: FL
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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Wow, Powerful words, all true, again John O'Neill says it best...You can't 'Kerry' A Nation....twice. Once shame on us, twice shame on Kerry! John did his best to Swiftboat Kerry in '71, and finally succeeded bigtime in Swiftboating him in 2004, and now again in 2005. Could there be a book in there somewhere? 
Deuce |
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Me#1You#10
Site Admin
Joined: 06 May 2004
Posts: 6503
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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John's commentary has been picked up by Michelle Malkin...it's getting some nice attention. Lucianne?
Confessions Of A Pilgrim notes that Kerry has been "verbed" while Brainster's Blog observes that the first "verbing" of Kerry may have been by "ACE" of Airborne Combat Engineer (scroll WAY down)...
| Quote: | *kerry is a new word, meaning:
1. to hestitate on difficult decisions, then flip-flop later
2. to use "nuance" (spin) to wiggle out of embarassing positions caused by flip-flopping as in 1. above
"Kerrying" is an art. |
Comments welcome as to the "definitive" definition |
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rbshirley
Founder
Joined: 07 May 2004
Posts: 394
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Me#1You#10 wrote: | | Comments welcome as to the "definitive" definition |
From Merrymaams-Webstirr Online Dictionary:
Main Entry: "to kerry"
Pronunciation: 'ss-kair-ee /s
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): kair·eed; kair·ee·ing; kair·ee·ized;
Common usages:
: to DEFAME using falsehoods with malice and greed
: to cut and run leaving our allies to suffer hardship and death
: to flip flop on key issues dependent on political polls and personal gain
Synonyms: pelosized, shummered, kennedy-ized, fulbrighted, reid-ed
Never forget the tragic consequences of the above actions by these politicians
....................  ..........................
..... "Graduates" of South East Asia "Cut-and-Run Re-education Institutes" .....
------------ Can we allow this to happen again in the Middle East? -----------------
------ The scenes of the killing fields outside Baghdad are prophetic --------------
Have we learned the lessons of Vietnam or will we repeat the same mistakes?
...... The victims of the 9/11 Twin Towers cry out for us to be wise and firm ......
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mtboone
Founder
Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 470
Location: Kansas City, MO.
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| Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 3:52 am Post subject: |
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| rbshirley wrote: | | Me#1You#10 wrote: | | Comments welcome as to the "definitive" definition |
From Merrymaams-Webstirr Online Dictionary:
Main Entry: "to kerry"
Pronunciation: 'ss-kair-ee /s
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): kair·eed; kair·ee·ing; kair·ee·ized;
Common usages:
: to DEFAME using falsehoods with malice and greed
: to cut and run leaving our allies to suffer hardship and death
: to flip flop on key issues dependent on political polls and personal gain
Synonyms: pelosized, shummered, kennedy-ized, fulbrighted, reid-ed
Never forget the tragic consequences of the above actions by these politicians
.................... ..........................
..... "Graduates" of South East Asia "Cut-and-Run Re-education Institutes" .....
------------ Can we allow this to happen again in the Middle East? -----------------
------ The scenes of the killing fields outside Baghdad are prophetic --------------
Have we learned the lessons of Vietnam or will we repeat the same mistakes?
...... The victims of the 9/11 Twin Towers cry out for us to be wise and firm ......
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I know Robert Shirley, Officer of and owner of www.PCF45.COM site; which is the best for knowledge of Swift boats in the World, and this issue of VN and Iraq has divided the Swift Boat group to some extent just like it did in the last election.
We can not have repeat of the politics of Vietnam and the Cut and Run policy as we did then in 72, this would only make the members of the Military to question their effort, their sacrifice and was it worth the cost. Why does some in America wish to dishonor our troops, I am troubled by their efforts.
_________________
Terry Boone PCF 90
Qui Nhon 68-69 |
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BuffaloJack
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Joined: 10 Aug 2004
Posts: 1637
Location: Buffalo, New York
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| Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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I am totally behind Bob Shirley and Terry Boone on this topic.
Our troops deserve our support and admiration to the highest level that we can deliver. They are doing a superb job in a difficult situation that is being politicized by the leftist in this country that hate and despise everything our great country stands for. These young men and women who stand between us and the harm our enemies would inflict upon us represent the finest our country has. Anyone speaking otherwise doesn't deserve to breathe the air of freedom. Freedom is not free and our men and women in the armed forces are making the payments that guarantee our freedom and safety. They have my utmost admiration.
Jack
_________________
Swift Boats - Qui Nhon (12/69-4/70), Cat Lo (4/70-5/70), Vung Tau (5/70-12/71) |
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republicanveteran
Commander
Joined: 29 Jul 2004
Posts: 333
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 3:20 am Post subject: |
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As usual, Great article by John O'....
If swifboating is a negative, I am glad I did my small part in making it a never forgotten word.... |
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Stevie
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Joined: 25 Aug 2004
Posts: 1451
Location: Queen Creek, Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 7:46 am Post subject: |
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ok, I haven't read all this yet, but I've copied out several articles to Word so I can enlarge the print and read them!
I did read that someone thinks John O is a national hero - and I
agree!
I was soooo glad to see him on a Fox show the other week.
wow, just love the way he talks, keeps his cool and makes sense.
Me? I'd be grabbing Colmes by the tie and pulling....hard! 
_________________
Stevie
Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage
morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should
be arrested, exiled or hanged. |
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Stevie
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Joined: 25 Aug 2004
Posts: 1451
Location: Queen Creek, Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 8:06 am Post subject: |
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ok, I just read John's article...
and all I can say is WOW, WOW, WOW !
And if I ever need a lawyer, I want John.
you tell 'em John!
that 'll do a lot more good (or damage to Kerry, Pelosi etc) than my
yanking on Colmes tie!
that's about all I can read tonight.... ; will read others tomorrow!
YOU GO JOHN! (where's my pom poms???)
_________________
Stevie
Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage
morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should
be arrested, exiled or hanged. |
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Doll
Commander
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Posts: 339
Location: The Beltway
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Navy wife wrote: | | I loved this article and have sent it to my son who is a Marine Reservist serving in Iraq! John O'Neill has such a great way of using words, doesn't he!! I'm proud to know him! I've also passed it along to others, and I hope it gets back to Kerry that we are all laughing at how O'Neill turned the tables on him!!! |
You certainly are correct that we are all laughing at him!!!! Excellent article by John O'Neill and you are blessed to know him Navy wife! 
_________________
The HILL Chronicles
Soldiers' Angels
"Wednesday Hero - Google It!" |
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