Author: TSO

I will have more on this tomorrow, including (hopefully) some interviews with some of the players in it.  But first go and read the excellent work of Sam Taylor on this issue.  I have emailed with Mr. Taylor in the past, and he was a consummate professional.  I have no idea where he falls on the Sanctuary issue, which is what reporters are supposed to do.

After you read that, go and listen to the podcast  go and listen to this podcast debate from a local radio station, the Dori Monson show. 

The callers are much better than the debate, which was a slaughter.

I’ve said before that I am not a particularly sociable guy at times. The only time I ever really approach strangers is if they are wearing a ribbon on their lapel, or something similiar. I’ve learned from IVAW that thanking someone for their service means nothing, but my experience has been drastically different than that. So, when I see someone wearing a CIB or like medal, I say hello. Not easy for me to do being the Hobbit I am, but I do it anyway.

Today I saw a gentleman on my Metro wearing a CIB, and so, as usual, I compliemented him on his choice of lapel accoutrement and told him I have one as well. And I thanked him for his service. We started talking, and only then, being the observant chap that I am did I notice that his left hand was missing, and he instead had a hook. Further discussion with him revealed we had some common acquaintences. This gentleman was Fred Downs, formerly of the 4th Infantry Division, now the head of the VA’s Prosthetics Division.

Anyway, our mutual friend told me to look up a video of him on 60 Minutes, and I did so. And I want to share it with you now. This kind of thing is exactly why I defend the military and VA medical systems when they deserve it.

On Edit, I corrected the spelling of Mr. Downs’ name, and per commenter Brian, am adding a link to Amazon for Mr. Downs’ book:
The Killing Zone: My Life in the Vietnam War.

From Amazon: About the Author
Frederick Downs received four Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star with Valor, and the Silver Star for his service in the Vietnam War. He is also the author of Aftermath and No Longer Enemies, Not Yet Friends. He is currently the Director of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids for the Veterans Administration.

[Update: If you have an IVAW truth deficiency story to tell, please leave it in the comments, if you have a link, supply it so I can update this post.]

It’s become a pattern.  As regular as the sun rising in the East.  As inevitable as gravity.  You might wait patiently for some sign of maturity, but personal accountability and responsibility are foreign to them.  So, you wait in vain, you attempt to get the story to resonate enough to mandate some action on their part, and you gnash your teeth when nothing happens.

The Rick Duncan/Strandlof affair is just the latest in a long line of irresponsible behavior on the parts of both IVAW and VoteVets. This post will analyze that history with regard to IVAW, and look at some of the latest from the Rick Duncan investigation from Sunday’s Denver Post.  Excerpts from that story will appear in bold and italicized.

A tattoo of an angel illustrates his right leg. A devil decorates his left.

But a trail of deceit has stamped Richard Glen Strandlof with another indelible mark: fake military hero who misled veterans, politicians and voters. Many had bought into the story of Rick Duncan, the wounded soldier rallying opposition to the Iraq war and support for struggling vets.

I started following IVAW as soon as I heard the name, particularly since they were founded almost to the day when I deployed to Afghanistan. I had a few posts back at the Sniper about them, but my presence on this blog started because of my attendance at Winter Soldier, where I was invited by Army Sergeant. As a stipulation of my attendance, I was required to submit my DD214. I suspect I am the only one besides Jonn who has ever had to submit documentation to IVAW proving service/rank/duty station.

Some Language Warning After the Jump

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I can’t even begin to tell you how pissed I am about this.  My buddy Chris emailed me this morning about it, and sure enough…

When one of you retards signed me up to receive “Out” magazine at home, I laughed.

When the ACLU set up shop outside my front door yesterday, I chuckled.  I tried to talk to the poor moron solicting funds, and then I laughed.

Now today I have PETA in front of my office handing out flyers.  Seriously, which of you assclowns is trying to drive me nuts?

The pamphlet in question is entitled “Vegetarian Starter Kit: Everything you need to eat right for your health, for animals, and for the Earth.”  So, as I sit back to drink my Nesquik reduced fat Strawberry Milk (where does one find strawberry cows?), eat some beef jerky and gummy worms (yes, my actual lunch today) let me share with you some quotes from actual celebrities who know things WAY better than I could.  But, just in case they are fallible, I will also put up my first gut response.

By opening this guide, you’ve just taken the first step toward one of the best choices that you can make for yourself, animals, and the planet. The pages that follow are packed with important information, tips, and recipes to help you establish eating habits that you’ll feel great about.
It’s easy to live and let live, and this guide will show you how. Dig in!

These gummy worms taste nothing like worms. I wonder what this cow thought when someone was yanking on her teats? Damn this jerky is good.

Casey Affleck: “I don’t eat meat or any other animal products…because they’re unhealthy and they’re the product of a violent and inhumane industry.”

Who the hell is Casey Affleck?

Constance Marie: “I stopped eating meat … when I was working on the movie Selena. During the shoot, I had to hold a chicken for five hours—if you hold it and feel its little heart beating for hours, you just can’t think about eating it.”

Well. I’d say that is bad news for lesbians. BTW- Who the hell is Constance Marie?

Alicia Silverstone: “Since I’ve gone vegetarian, my body has never felt better and my taste buds have been opened up to a whole new world. It’s one of the most rewarding choices I’ve ever made and I invite you to join me in living a healthy, cruelty-free lifestyle.”

Never felt better eh? I’ll be the judge of how your body feels. I’d like to invite you to do something as well, but since it involves leather, a ball gag and a ping pong paddle, maybe I’ll just email it to you.

Kristen Bell: “I have always been an animal lover. I had a hard time disassociating the animals I cuddled with—dogs and cats, for example—from the animals on my plate, and I never really cared for the taste of meat. I always loved my Brussels sprouts!”

I’m not normally one to judge, but you seem kinda hot to be getting it on with animals. And what were dogs and cats doing on your plate? Did you ever have something on your plate that just sat up and licked it’s butt one day? Is “Brussels Sprouts” a euphimism like dogs having lipstick?

Carrie Underwood: “I do it because I really love animals and [killing animals for meat] just makes me sad.”

*Blink * Blink *
How is it you have managed to live this long without stabing yourself in the eye with a spork?

Joaquin Phoenix: “Animal rights is a part of my everyday life. When you live by example, you create a certain level of awareness. Friends of mine, people I have never discussed animal rights or vegetarianism with, are adopting vegetarian habits because they see it.”

Heh. Oh wait, you were serious? What the hell is an animal right? Yeah, maybe you should stick to rap dude.

Russell Simmons: “Chickens raised for food today are covered in excrement, they’re diseased, and they’re drugged up with all sorts of toxins that you are ingesting if you eat chickens. One recent study found that chicken flesh in this country has four times as much arsenic—yes, arsenic, the poison (which is used in the drugs the chickens are given) as any other meat … I have been a vegan for many years.”

You’ve totally got the recipe all screwed up. You roll the breasts in aresenic, THEN you smother in a layer of excrement before adding another layer of toxins. If you are feeling really froggy, you can crush some Flinstones chewables on the outside which makes a good coating. Sort of a “Chicken Cordon Chew.”

Anyway, whoever is sending these asshats to my office, please stop.

Soltz:

The old saying from Santayana is “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” We can’t learn from recent history unless we know everything about the recent history of torture. That’s why we need to investigate the whole truth about torture, now.

Reason in Common Sense, George Santayana, Page 284:

Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

Aw shit, I’m guessing you didn’t like that stuff repudiating change, did you LT?

I believe it was Oscar Wilde who once said:

I seen a peanut stand, And heard a rubber band. I’ve seen a needle that winked its eye. But I been done seen about everything when I see a motor pool LT screw up quotes from 1903 just because he couldn’t master the ancient skill of googling it.

This is pretty much it for me today, I’m punching out early to go watch cartoons. Read what this father has to say, and if you would, go tell him that we care.

The flight the next evening was very similar with the all of the same going on. There was a bit of a difference as there was one man on the plane who had a special story for us. I met my son’s 1st SGT. He was with my son seconds after the blast and held his hand during all of the activities of the fine medic to stabilize him and stayed with him until the put him into the medivac chopper. He told me that my son gave him that same silly smile as they put him on the bird. This man was obviously hurting and I talked with him and we came to an understanding that these men did everything they could do and that my son died doing exactly what he wanted to do and he was among the finest men and finest friends that he would every have the honor of knowing. I had a few conversations with some of my son’s closest friends. I only hope that we all gained a little more understanding and peace over the subject. I know that these men are all affected by my son’s life and untimely death. I only hope that they realize that there is really absolutely nothing that they could have done to stop this, there is no ill will or blame on our parts towards anyone but the assholes who set up the attack. We all have lost Micheal, but there is no sense in trying to kick the lid off of the “what if” bucket and torture ourselves with that. I know that these are the finest men in the planet and all of them did what they could.

RIP SPC Phillips. We’ll keep an eye on your dad for you.