Good Ole Fashion Mortars

Spcs. Jonathan Hernandez (left), and Christopher Delgado, both with 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry Regiment, New Jersey National Guard, prepare to fire a mortar round during a Joint Training Exercise at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Nov. 20, 2004.

Straight Up

A F-15a Eagle from the 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard, releases flares to gain the attention of a civilian aircraft violating a restricted area, Jan. 7, 2004.

Media Myth Making

As I write this blog I'm reminded that most people do not keep up with world events unless the main stream media deems them worthy on an individual basis by broadcasting these events on their nightly shows. As such, many events go unreported. There could be A, B, C, D news events at any one time but because the Main Stream Media is the "middleman" they may only report on A and leave the rest out for that evening. As a result, the public is only "influenced" by the event of A, if they watch the MSM at all. Consequently, a few myths have grown over time perpetuated by the MSM since the days of VietNam that have infected public opinion in a way that could prove to undermine Operation WARTS (WAR on Terror States). Let us briefly cover them here:

The Guerrila Warfare Myth. Lets face it, the media has a love affair with marxist rebels and rebellions in general. Guerilla warfare is characterized by small bands of men attacking a target and causing death and mayhem then retreating back into oblivion such as a jungle or wilderness of some sort. They have no staying power in that they do not intend to occupy something for long. Their aim is only to embarras the ruling government. For them chaos is the engine for "change". Their destructive actions they believe "de-legitimizes" the established government. However, never in history has a guerilla force ever defeated a conventional army. The MSM would lead you to believe that even though a government may be imperiled by guerrila warfare that conventional armies are also subject to their whims. This could not be further from the truth! Conventional armies always defeat unconventional armies. Our very own George Washington was the head of a conventional army of his time, that of the Continental Army. Using conventional tactics and strategy and with the help of France, defeated a conventional army in his day. Though some of the tactics may have been revolutionary by in large they were conventional in nature. The VietNam war is another case were the United States defeated the guerilla army of the Viet Cong as well as the conventional army of North VietNam. Never was there a defeat of our forces in the Jungles of VietNam by the VC or the NVA. Some engagements may have appeared as losses but in fact were American victories. While we were militarily engaged in VietNam it never fell to the enemy, a key indicator that we may have lost the war. In the end, Southeast Asia was lost by the politician not by the General.

The Casualty Myth. Many dead soldiers means we lost the war/battle, if you are the MSM that is. Never was there a battle when soldiers did not perish. Some battles are bloodier than others. Some wars are bloodier than others. Just because soldiers die doesn't mean that all is lost. The US Army lost nearly 5000 dead on D-Day alone and yet how would the media act today if we lost 500 in one day in Iraq? The objective of an operation is the sole indicator if the battle has been won or lost. If the objective has not been acheived, then the battle has been lost. But simply counting the dead does not equate to operational success or defeat. In terms of casualties in Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom would have to be considered a complete success.

The Quagmire Myth. VietNam was lost to the communist because the United States refused to meet the enemy on their soil in North Vietnam. Instead, we chose to fight the communist on South Vietnamese soil. This strategic decision was a direct result of the Korean War. If you recall, McCarther was fired by President Truman for demanding to carry the Korean war to Beijing. As a result, American Foreign Policy would be defensive in nature for nearly 51 years thereafter until the World Trade Center attack in 2001. Even so, while being defensive in nature, we were victorious militarily where ever we fought. Korea was "easy" to defend because it only had one front. The peninsula was surrounded by water which was 100% in our favor, politically speaking. There could be no outside interference unless the enemy could defeat the US Navy, which of course never happened. VietNam on the other hand was not so easy to defend, politically speaking. She had 3 fronts: North Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Though we defeated the enemy in battle after battle, the communist still had the luxury of deciding when to attack and where. Because we chose not to attack them in an offensive war outside the theatre of South Vietnam, all we could do militarily is kill them as they came at us. As a result of political consideration we had perpetual war until WE decided to come home. The Soviets also experienced this same problem when they invaded Afghanistan in the late '70s. They did not leave Afghanistan because they were militarily defeated but because they would not make the political decision to invade Pakistan and/or Iran which was the base or arsenal of the Moojahadeen in Afghanistan. The quagmire myth does not take into account the ingredient of victory: Offensive Operations.

These myths taken together usally breed confusion on the part of the citizen. Knowing what the myths are you can now move past these false pretenses and anticipate with relative accuracy the next moves by the United States on the War on Terror.

Fire when ready

U.S. Army Spc. Chris Horn, a cannoneer for Battery F, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, pulls the lanyard on a 155mm howitzer and sends a round down-range during a live-fire exercise Nov. 20, 2004, at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan.

Bazooka

A Marine with 3rd platoon Charlie Co., 1/3 fires an AT-4 into a building after taking fire from insurgents with his squad looking on.

Ready to Rock

An F-14B Tomcat assigned to the "Swordsmen" of Fighter Squadron Three Two (VF-32), launches off of the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Oct. 20, 2004.

Persian Prometheus

With the admission by Western Intelligence agencies of their failure to identify the extent of Iraq's WMD program or lack thereof, the doubts being raised over Iranian Nuclear Weapons are a harbinger of things to come. I for one don't believe the public image of the CIA as being completely inept in their field of study. It is always a good thing for the enemy to think you are weak when in fact you are strong. We must remember when it comes to Central Intelligence that they can "neither confirm nor deny". With that being said let us put Iranian WMD's in perspective.

We know the Iranians have been developing a regional if not intercontinental delivery system in the form of a missle. They have had SCUD missles in the past which were fired at Iraq during and after the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 - 1988. Whether they were smart enough to incorporate more than just a high explosive warhead has yet to be seen. Their experience with SCUDS thanks to Russia has been invaluable. Notwithstanding Iran has friends in low places. North Korea and Iran have jointly planned and built a missle that North Korea calls Nedong and Iran calls Shehab. Together these two nations have built a delivery system CAPABLE of being used as a vehichle for a nuclear/chemical/biological weapon.

If Iraq was able to develop nuclear energy before the '80's, with the assistance of the international community from Russia to China to France, then how much more so is Iran able to profit from the fire of Prometheus in the 21st century? We know Israel and India have not only pursued and demonstrated their nuclear capablities but that Pakistan, Libya and Egypt are not far behind. So, should we be surprised that Iran whose geopgraphical proximity to these nations developing Nuclear Weapons are also on the verge if not already there in the field of Atomic Bomb development and manufacturing? Answer: No.

Now combine the capabilities of delivery and destruction with the fanaticism of militant Islam and we've got real problems. In the Post 9/11 era that we are currently in, this tenuous position is simply unacceptable. Its interesting to note that both Iran and North Korea have their fatalistic and fanatical systems of government aimed directly at the powerful West. Islam and Communism are eternal enemies and yet we see these two dictatoral ideaologies of Eurasia hugging each other in one last embrace of compromise before the curtain is drawn on their tragic play.

Looking Back

F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 62nd Fighter Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., fly over southern Florida during a flight from Luke to Key West, Fla., Oct. 16, 2004.

The Meaning of X

Some of you may have wondered what the "X" stands for in Xmarine. It is a play on the word "ex-marine" in that I did once serve in the Corps in an active duty status from '86 - '90 and then inactive for four more years after that. Yes, once a Marine always a Marine. I would have to say that this is no mere cliche but is in fact truth. I still fall back on the Marine Corps as a point of reference for many things in my life.

However, the meaning of "X" does have other applications as well:

1) X = An unknown quantity. When men join the USMC and go through the rigors of boot camp and infantry training there is an unknown factor of physical and mental ability that has yet to be tapped or may not show itself until crisis appears. Sometimes the unknown quantity is a positive; at other times it is a negative.

2) X = As in X-MEN. I really loved these movies and a lot of times I feel Marines exhibit what would appear to be extra-curricular powers when under adverse conditions. Perhaps crisis is what brings out the Marines abilities so amazingly. Some might say they are reckless or even stupid when performing their brave and selfless acts of heroism on the battlefield, but I would have to say it just goes with the territory of being in the Corps.

3) X = Power of the Cross. I was pleasantly surprised to find as many good Christians serving the Corps as I did. The impression given by most people is that the Marines are a bunch of savages who love to drink the blood of our enemies after a glorious battle. Though the visual imagery may be impressive, the reality is that Marines are a disciplined lot on the whole and not only do they seek victory on the battlefields of man they also seek victory over the souls of men by the power of Jesus Christ. For God, Country and Corps. Semper Fidelis/Always Faithful.

So there it is.

Hornet Sting

An F/A-18C Hornet, from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 (VMFA-232), launches from the flight deck of USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) while underway in the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 15, 2004.

Pit Stop

U.S. Marine Corps AV8B Harriers prepare to refuel from a KC-10 attached to the 380 Air Expeditionary Wing over Iraq, Oct. 3, 2004.

Sea Sparrow

Sparrow surface-to-air missile launches from USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during a live fire missile exercise in the Pacific Ocean, Oct. 18, 2004.

JFK

11/03/04 - USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) steams through the Arabian Gulf, Nov. 3, 2004, while underway in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Nederlander Effect

With the murder of Theo Van Gogh by Islamic terrorists, the Netherlands has been the splash that disturbed the turgid waters of multiculturalism in Europe. The gruesome and blasphemous death of Van Gogh, shot several times including his throat cut and a dagger stabbed in his chest, has sent shock waves not only throughout docile Holland but all of Western Europe. How can a liberal and licentious society abide a people that hates freedom of expression and deplores the exposed flesh of men and women?

It was not enough that these Islamic terrorists murdered Theo Van Gogh as a "protest" to his documentary about moslem women but like a scene straight out of a mafia movie they penned a note to Van Gogh's body with a dagger warning all others of their fate if they too dare raise their voices against the Mohammaden. The attack on Van Gogh was an attack on all of Holland. What are the open-minded Dutch to do?

The Law of Diminishing Returns has finally passed a point that no longer can be ignored. The days of limitless immigration, gracious social programs and tolerance of all things anti-western will now come to a close. The Dutch society will demand accountability and this in turn will bring about a regional clash between the Hellene culture of Europe and the near-sighted reactionary fifth column of the Moslem community.

The spark that lit the powder keg in Holland will burn itself to all points in Europe that are more conservative and establishment-minded. From Madrid to Oslo and from Paris to Vilnius, from Stockholm to Rome the spectre of anti-semitism will awaken from its sleepy bog. And like the Spanish Inquistion of old but with a 21st century twist, all who are not for ECUMENCIAL RELIGION will be cast out! Anyone considered not part of the whole, such as Islam, Judaism and Christianity will be expelled if not "converted" to a new and rising force in Europe that rejects fundamentalist and nativist religion.

The Dutch have spoken and mosques have been burned down. Moslems in turn have burned churchs and schools in retaliation. Who will win this battle? Where will it stop? Will the Catholic Church in conjunction with the ruling governmental powers unite in response to the threat posed by militant Islam and impose their own pantheistic religious order in Holland and Western Europe as well? I suspect the reaction of Europa will be the rejection of the semite both Jew and Arab as well as its semite-friendly cousins, the Prostestants. We will see the arbiters and purveyors of ecumenical religion, the Catholic Church, rise to dominate Europe once more.

Happy Birthday plus One

The Marine Corps at 229 and still going strong. Happy Birthday Marines! I will always look back fondly upon my time in the Corps where I grew up physically, mentally and spiritually. I didn't always like being there but I now know I made the right decision to join as I still draw upon its lessons after all these years.

We all thought of ourselves as men even though we we just a mere 18 years of age. Just boys really. I met some of the finest men while serving and will never forget them. Yes, some were jerks but most were decent beautiful young guys serving their nation under arms. To my pleasant surprise, a lot of them were faithful Christians who loved God, their Country and their Corps. Some of my happiest thoughts looking back was my first year in the Marines while in Gtmo, Cuba. My first time away from home I got to see what serving in the military really meant. It forced me to expand my thinking and to appreciate life more fully.

I still try to unofficially recruit young chaps to join the Marine Corps. They think I'm crazy I'm sure, but it holds so many possibilities for them once they are in. They may hate me after signing up and going through boot camp but I have a strong feeling they will thank me later.

If I had to do it all over again, I would still join and perhaps make more fun out of it than I originally had. Nothing like the comraderie of men when placed into harms way. Thank you Marine Corps for teaching me lifes valuable lessons.

Semper Fidelis

Pillars of Salt

In the Book of Genesis, God judges the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their continual evil thoughts. God then sends two angels to sequester the only remaining believer in the city of Sodom. The angels tell this person to leave the city immediately, taking only his family. A stern warning is given to this family: do not look at the city while it is being destroyed. If they did, the angels warned, then they too would be destroyed with it. In fact, if they looked upon the doomed city while it was being obliterated then they would instantly die where they stood, petrified into a pillar of salt. The story goes, that when Lot and his family had left the city and were on their way Lot's wife turned to see the great city for one last time and was consumed immediately.

The election of 2004 is one of those rare moments in history in which looking back and longing for "the good ole days" may get you killed. John F. Kerry wanted to take America back to Sept 10th, to the days when terrorism was just "a nuisance". Senator Kerry insisted on harkening back to the days of Viet Nam and establishing his fortress on the sands of forgotten battles and places. He longed for the days when Communism was ascendant and lectured us that America had made monsters in the jungles of SouthEast Asia. An Era when America was on the defensive and would not ride out to meet the enemy in the open field. He was a European at heart and felt that America should bow to all things Red. A Sodomite through and through. That was then.

This is now. September 11th destroyed the era of Sodom and Gomorrah. All those who turned their attention to that old era where consumed were they stood on November 2, 2004. They knew that we were in a new era but just couldn't quite release themselves from the "good ole days". They did not want to believe. So they turned to look one last time at a time period that John F. Kerry personified and by their vainglory were turned to pillars of salt. The old things have passed away.

Behold! The majesty and terror of war. America has arisen and an angry visage is upon our face. We will no longer suffer the contempt of petty tyrants who threaten the sovereignty of free nations. America is the land of thunder and lightning, of earthquake and tornado and the terrible sight of an erupting volcano! With a righteous fury we will consume their men who have murdered our citizens, lay waste to their cultures that have clung stubbornly against the passage of freedom's time and break their idols whom they worship as false gods! All things have become new.

Spirit of America

America from its inception has ever been the nation that was born from Europe but not of Europe. We have a number of important government, economic and military institutions that were derived from European origins but that are now uniquely American.

Americans themselves also reflect this dichotomy. Either you embrace the old world or you indulge in the new. Either you accept you are American or you accept some other nomenclature that sets you apart from America. I believe U.S. citizens are either American at heart or they are European at heart. Being born in America doesn't necessarily make you American. Being either American or European at heart has nothing to do with race but everything to do with attitude. Either America is central to your thoughts or the ancien' regime of Europe is the central core of your thinking.

The heart of the American says this country isn't perfect but is the best place on earth. The heart of the European says this country isn't perfect and is thus not the best place on earth. The American generally views Christianity, Commerce and Constitution in a positive light as the supreme foundations of this country. The European generally views Athiesm, Socialism and Centralized Government as the pillars of a more progressive society and should be embraced post-haste.

From these two world views our current political system has forever been petrified with one looking West and the other looking East. Americans look West for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The European looks East for leisure, licentiousness and the pursuit of control. For the American we are a republic. For the European we are a democracy. This is the spiritual divide that now engulfs America.

Long live the Republic.