There Are No Real Pilots Anymore

This is pure entertainment! It's, actually, a short movie (9 minutes) that stars John Malkovich administering a dose of humility to today's commercial pilots (of which I am one). At the same time, it shows the essence of the fighter pilots of the past. Not only is it clever, but it has some great flying scenes. Click on the link, below, and zoom to "Full Screen" for some great entertainment!

Real Pilots

[My thanks to Paul DeSisto for sending me this video]

Men Beware: Avoid the Doghouse!

The holiday season is upon us, and this is the time of year we buy gifts for our loved ones. Women are very good at this process. Men, however, are not. Since the beginning of time, men, with the best intentions, have been buying the wrong gifts for their significant others. We know, only too well, the prices we've paid for such transgressions. The video link, below, is a warning for men of all ages to beware as we choose our gifts this year. We don't want to end up in the DOGHOUSE!

Beware of the DOGHOUSE

[My thanks to Greg Thew for forwarding this warning]

Stop the Madness: No More Bailouts!

In the few short weeks since Congress passed the $700 billion bailout bill we have watched helplessly as our tax money was diverted to everything but its intended use which was to save CRITICAL institutions from bankruptcy. We witnessed recipients take billions of dollars of bailout money to fund six figure executive vacations, line executive pockets with billions in bonuses and purchase other businesses with funds that were intended to reduce the red ink in their accounts. We, then, learned that, instead of buying up "troubled assets" from these institutions as promised, the government decided merely to purchase stock in the troubled institutions because, according to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, the original plan was "too difficult" to execute. He, then, addressed the country and told us that he was unilaterally changing the strategy, arrogantly stating, "I make no apologies..." for the change.

As soon as the election was over, House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and colleagues met and promised bailout money for everyone. And her words did not go unnoticed. Every group from realtors to credit card companies to the Big Three automakers began lining up for a piece of the action. President-Elect Barack Obama, showing a total lack of understanding of the economic effects of his plan, stated that the economic bailout would trump the budget deficit. In a recent "60 Minutes" television interview he stated the following:

The consensus is this, that we have to do whatever it takes to get this economy moving again, that we have to -- we're going to have to spend money now to stimulate the economy. And that we shouldn't worry about the deficit next year or even the year after; that short term, the most important thing is that we avoid a deepening recession.

Well, folks, there are potentially disastrous consequences to this plan that will, actually, DEEPEN THE RECESSION. First, our economy cannot handle the debt this bailout will cause. What was to be a $700 billion bailout has already become well over a TRILLION DOLLARS in a matter of weeks! And there is no end in sight. We are looking at, literally, TRILLIONS more dollars before this crisis is over! Once we start this process, we will have to continue bailing out companies when they ask for more because, then, we CAN'T allow them to fail. AIG has already petitioned the government for more bailout money because the funds they received did not do the trick. And, now, the Big Three Automakers are petitioning the government for another $50 billion! They already quietly received $25 billion the same day the $700 billion bailout package was approved and burned through it. This money was IN ADDITION to the $700 billion in the bailout package. And, as they sat before Congress with their request, they implied they would need more bailout money later on.

So what is the danger in providing trillions of dollars in a bailout? It will, very simply, bankrupt the government, leading to a TOTAL ECONOMIC COLLAPSE. Since we don't have that kind of money, the government will have to PRINT more. That will lead to RUNAWAY INFLATION and a WORTHLESS DOLLAR. How would you like to spend $50 or $100 for a cup of coffee? Sounds impossible, doesn't it. Well, in early October, the country of Iceland experienced a TOTAL ECONOMIC COLLAPSE. It CAN happen here!

The second dangerous consequence of a bailout is that it rewards incompetence and discourages businesses from instituting difficult cost-cutting measures and developing competitive new strategies. They remain fat, inefficient and void of initiative, expecting the government to continue to support and keep them going. This method has been tried and failed miserably in Europe. When a government supports businesses they lose the incentive to improve. FREE ENTERPRISE, the concept on which this country was built, demands that businesses stay competitive or be replaced by those that are.

The US Auto Industry is a perfect case in point. In 1979 Detroit owned the world. At that time, anywhere in the world you went, virtually all the automobiles on the street were made by the Big Three. The Big Three began to get fat. Chrysler developed financial problems and faced bankruptcy. Lee Iacocca secured $1.2 billion in loan guarantees from the Federal Government which saved Chrysler. Today, it turns out that was not a favor. Had Iacocca not secured those guarantees Chrysler would have had to reorganize and would have emerged much leaner and able to compete in the world market. Instead, it remained fat and began producing inferior cars in order to remain profitable. In order to compete with Chrysler, Ford and GM, which had also become fat, followed Chrysler's lead. Their production of expensive, inferior cars gave foreign auto manufacturers entrance into a world automobile market previously exclusively owned by Detroit. The rest is history. Today, as we know, the best cars are not produced in the US. Instead, Toyota, Honda, BMW and others have taken over the world market, and the Big Three have been struggling ever since. This crisis was NOT caused by the current financial meltdown. The Big Three have been slowly going out of business for the past 30 years! This week their CEOs traveled to Congress, asking for billions of dollars to support them with no plan to improve, cut back compensation or become more competitive. Despite their plight, their executives reward themselves with huge compensations (salaries and bonuses), fly on fleets of corporate jets, pay their employees $75 per hour and give them up to four years pay after a plant is shut down. If we bail out the Big Three now, they will be back in a few months with their hands out again. And behind them will be every other industry that has lost its ability to compete. There is no end to this kind of program!

So what is the answer? We need to let businesses (and people) sink or swim on their own. The Federal Government cannot not be the parent that bails out fat, inefficient industries or individuals that have lived far beyond their means. Industries and people must take responsibility for their own financial survival. Bankruptcy does not mean a company will go out of business. Most likely it will result in debt relief, restructuring and cost-cutting under the supervision of a bankruptcy court. The result will be a more viable company that is much better able to compete in the world market. Unlike the recent restructuring at UAL, to be fair, the bankruptcy judge must ensure that executives and management share in the cost-cutting and don't reap windfall profits while the rest of the company sacrifices to ensure the company's survival. And individuals who spend beyond their means must follow the same path and become responsible for their actions. Filing for bankruptcy will provide debt relief as they tighten up and learn to live within their means as the vast majority of Americans do.

There is no painless way out of this financial crisis. Let's not precipitate total economic failure by instituting measures that fool us into thinking there is. If we do not change our course, the consequences for this country and everyone in it will be disastrous. In the long run, a return to FREE ENTERPRISE will, both, save and create jobs as most businesses will survive and, then, become more competitive.

Veterans Day Tribute

Tomorrow, it is fitting we remember and honor those who served, fought and died to preserve the great American experiment and the freedom we enjoy, today. Take a moment to thank those that served and those who are serving, today. We owe them so much.

Click the link, below, for a moving tribute to the Vietnam Vets. The message is universal for all who served.

Tribute to Veterans

[My thanks to Linda Klink for forwarding me this video]

The Wizard of Washington

I think it's safe to say we all need a break from the stress of the election and the seriousness of the time. It's certainly not over, but a humorous take on these subjects can help. Below is a video that should give everyone a break and a few chuckles, too.

[My thanks to Phil Upman for forwarding this video]

First Glimpse of an Obama Administration

In my last article I stated that, although I had serious concerns, I hoped we would come together as Americans and that an Obama administration would rise above partisanism, move to the center and soften its socialist economic philosophy. Now, three days after the election, we are getting our first glimpses of what an Obama presidency will be like, and my optimism is fading fast.

I find Mr. Obama's selection of Congressman Rahm Emanuel as Whitehouse Chief of Staff very disturbing. Congressman Emanuel is one of the most notoriously combative and partisan members of the Congress. His choice as Chief of Staff in the new cabinet clearly calls into question statements made by the President-Elect in his victory speech just days ago when he said he wanted to rise above the immaturity of partisan politics. Americans are sick and tired of sending representatives to Congress to play a partisan chess game instead of caring for the nation and representing the people that elected them. If this first cabinet choice is an indication of things to come, we should be very concerned. James Carney said this in an article published today in Time Magazine about Congressman Emanuel:

Not everyone in Congress, or in Washington, particularly likes Emanuel, 49, the former senior Clinton White House official who just won his fourth term in Congress representing a portion of Chicago and who serves as the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House. Even some members of his own party (including members of the black and Latino caucuses) bear no affection for him, especially those who feel he has run roughshod over their prerogatives in pursuit of some greater goal — like wresting control of the House from the Republicans in 2006, a project Emanuel spearheaded. Others simply fear him.

Now it turns out that the money from the $700 billion bailout package did not go to the banks with government oversight as promised. The Fed merely purchased shares of the affected banks’ stocks. CEOs can, now, use these funds any way they want. They have already used some of these funds to purchase other banks; not an intended use for money allocated to reduce the red on their balance sheets. Another probable use will be to pay their legal defense costs when they are prosecuted for the wrongdoing that led to the financial meltdown. So the government and, therefore, the taxpayer, will be footing the bill to defend the criminals that got us into this mess using the $700 billion we entrusted to the government solely to fix the meltdown. Allegedly, the government FORCED Bank of America to take bailout funds when they didn’t even want them! And, now, everyone is in line asking for a handout, from the auto industry to the credit card companies to the realtors and construction industry.

At a meeting, yesterday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a, now, unbridled democratic Congress were already promising bailouts for everyone. They were calling for an additional $300 billion bailout package on top of the current $700 billion package and $25 billion more for the auto industry which already quietly received a $25 billion bailout the same day the $700 billion bailout package was approved. Where does it end?

This country is going bankrupt! While those that caused this mess (greedy bankers, poorly run corporations and people that overspent on mortgages and credit cards) will now get TRILLIONS of bailout dollars from the taxpayer, responsible Americans that lived within their means will inherit a partisan, socialist government with their fingers in everything from the banking and healthcare systems to the auto industry, a broken, debt-ridden economy with a worthless inflated dollar, and empty 401k's from a failed stock market. I am very concerned!

Election 2008 Epilogue

Today, as we move forward from this presidential election, it is critical that we find closure and reunite as a nation. Obsessive coverage has dominated our attention for two years, now. The anger and divisiveness it has caused among Americans must be healed. For me it is therapeutic to acknowledge and understand the many emotions that this election has left in its wake.

First, the sheer length of the campaign (two years) has been a disservice to the people of this nation. ONE BILLION DOLLARS have been raised and spent by the candidates. This is an incredible amount of money. Imagine the social programs that money could have funded. And when one candidate outspends his opponent by a 3 to 1 ratio it gives him a huge unfair advantage. Some method must be devised that levels the playing field with regard to campaign spending. Further, the American people do not need two years of the divisiveness and anger that presidential campaigns create. I believe future presidential campaigns should be limited to one year. I think Congress should enact legislation to accomplish these objectives.

The next issue on my mind is the media. In my opinion, the news media failed the American people during this election. Along with the first amendment that guarantees us free speech and freedom of the press comes a huge responsibility. That responsibility is to provide the American people with RESPONSIBLE, UNBIASED reporting. The media have enormous power to mold the opinions of the people. Why do you think so many countries and dictatorships around the world control their media? If you control the media, you control the hearts and minds of your people. Hitler did it. The Soviet Union did it. Iran does it now. In the past, Americans were able to get unbiased reporting from the newspapers and the nightly news. During this campaign, however, the media overwhelmingly set out to mold the minds of the people in order to elect the candidate of THEIR choice. Of course the media have the right and the obligation to provide the people with commentary and editorials. But they need to label them as such. They did it in the past. Did anyone ever know Walter Cronkite's political leanings? I don't think so. How many of today's news anchors can you say that about? This year I found myself switching from conservative to liberal stations and newspapers in an attempt to get the true stories. Then I had to separate objective information from slanted. Thousands of Americans do not have the time or education to do that. Election outcomes should not be determined by the media. The people deserve better.

My third issue is campaign tactics. Each election the candidates and their parties let the American people down. Although they promise to stay on issues and not resort to smearing, they always do. The smear tactics and personal ridicule used against Governor Sarah Palin during this campaign, for example, reached a new low in presidential politics. Senators Obama and Biden, the Democratic Party and the media launched a personal smear campaign the likes of which I have never seen. I have no problem with them attacking a person's record or policies, but a hysteria campaign of this nature is just plain wrong. And both sides resorted to negative campaigning in the end. In addition, neither campaign laid out specific ideas and plans for their platforms. They continued the use of generality propaganda. How are we to decide which candidate has the better plan if they don't show them to us? I believe a contributing factor to Senator McCain's defeat was his failure to get the word out regarding the cause of the financial meltdown and why we went to war in Iraq (see my articles on the financial meltdown and why we went to war). That brings me to the subject of our outgoing president, George W. Bush.

The bashing of President Bush by both candidates has been grossly unfair. In my opinion, George W. Bush has been the most undermined president in the history of our nation. For partisan political gain, the Bush administration has been undermined since the last presidential election when Senator John Kerry began undermining efforts of the president and eroding the unity of the people while this nation was at war. And since that time, the Democrats, with the aid of the media, have undermined everything the Bush Whitehouse attempted to do, from the War on Terror to the reforming of Social Security, which everyone knows is bankrupt and in dire need of reform (again, read my articles on the financial meltdown and why we went to war).

The election is over, now. What's next? On January 20th, Barack Obama will take the reins as President. He will have an overwhelmingly democratic Congress behind him, resulting in nearly unbridled power. I remain seriously concerned about the same issues that concerned me during the election: Mr. Obama is one of the most far left members of the Senate with no history of bipartisan spirit, a man who wanted to pull our troops out of Iraq regardless of the consequences, who was against the surge and still won't admit it worked, who wants to cut military spending while we are at war, who voted to withhold funds for our troops at war, who does not understand how to deal with rogue nations and leaders that want to do us harm, who will redistribute wealth from some and give it to others who don't even pay taxes, who wants to increase corporate and capital gains taxes, who wants government run healthcare, and whose policies will abandon the principles of free enterprise that made this nation in favor of the socialist principles that have already failed in Europe and will cost the American taxpayer trillions of dollars.

In retrospect, now that Senator McCain has lost the election, I believe it may have been a blessing in disguise. You see, had John McCain won the election, he would have presided over an overwhelmingy democratic Congress that would have opposed and undermined every move and initiative he made, just as it has done with President Bush. Senator McCain would have had no chance of instituting any of the programs and changes he put before the Congress. He and his administration would have been blamed for the actions of the democratic Congress, just as George W. Bush has been blamed for the actions of the current democratic Congress. Now, whatever course our country takes over the next four years, the Democrats will have to take responsibility. I only hope that President-Elect Obama and his administration moderate some of their extreme left-wing, socialist principles when they take office.

I leave you with my final thoughts. The long campaign is over. It has angered and divided the American people. You have read my concerns and frustrations. I have serious concerns about our future. Our ability to objectively vote and determine who the leaders of our country will be is in serious question. Despite these issues we, now, need to put our differences aside, come together as Americans and fix what's broken. We have no other choice.

Iraq: A Political Tool for Obama?

What did Senator Obama really do during his recent trip to Iraq? Why does he refuse to acknowledge the success of the surge? Does the senator really care if we win or lose in Iraq? A recent article by Pete Hegseth of the VETS FOR FREEDOM website paints a disturbing picture of Senator Barack Obama's manipulation of the war in Iraq as a tool for his political gain. Check out the article by clicking the link below. Then you decide.

Barack Revealed

[My thanks to Tom Nick for forwarding this article]

Financial Meltdown: Which Party Is Responsible?

The number one issue on the minds of Americans, today, is the financial meltdown affecting everything from mortgage foreclosures to 401k depletion. It appears this issue could be the one that determines the outcome of the upcoming presidential election. The McCain campaign is, apparently, losing ground based on his link as a Republican to the current Administration. It turns out, however, that the Republicans and the Bush Administration have been, both, sounding the alarm and attempting to correct the situation since 2001. The Democrats, however, have been undermining these efforts by covering up, killing legislation and discrediting anyone who sounded a warning.

If you check the records, it was the Clinton Administration that initiated a program to sell "subprime mortgages" to low income families. Since that time Democrats have pressured lending institutions to sell these risky loans. It has been the Republicans that have been warning of the impending crisis and requesting regulation and oversight. The Democrats discredited and smeared every official who came forward and used their majority in the Congress to defeat any bill that threatened the ongoing risky subprime lending practices (see attached video).

Alan Greenspan, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, sounded the alarm in speeches and congressional hearings, but was ignored. The Republicans drafted bills to oversee and regulate these dangerous practices by lending institutions. Voting went down party lines, and the bills were defeated by the Democratic majority in Congress. One of these bills was championed by Senator John McCain. For the record, Senator Barack Obama was silent with regard to this impending crisis. It is noteworthy that Barack Obama is the second largest recipient of campaign funds from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. One has to wonder how contributions of Fannie and Freddie to Democrats contributed to their actions. Heather Nauert, political analyst, stated the following on 16 September:

The top three U.S. Senators getting big Fannie and Freddie political bucks were democrats and number two is Senator Barack Obama. Now, remember, he has only been in the Senate four years but still managed to grab the number two spot ahead of John Kerry, decades in the senate, and Chris Dodd who is chairman of the senate banking committee. Fannie and Freddie have been creations of the congressional democrats and the Clinton white house, designed to make mortgages available to more people, and as it turned out, some people who couldn't afford them. Fannie and Freddie have also been places for big Washington democrats to go to work in the semi-private sector and pocket millions. The Clinton administration's white house budget director Franklin Raines ran Fannie and collected 50 million dollars. Jamie Gurilli, Clinton Justice Department Official, worked for Fannie and took home 26 million dollars. Big Democrat Jim Johnson, recently on Obama's VP search committee has hauled in millions from his Fannie Mae C.E.O. job. Now remember, Obama's ads and stump speeches attack McCain and republican policies for the current financial turmoil. It is demonstrably not Republican policy and worse, it appears the man attacking McCain, Senator Obama, was at the head of the line when the piggies lined up at the Fannie and Freddie trough for campaign bucks. Senator Barack Obama, number two on the Fannie/Freddie list of favored politicians after just four short years in the senate.

It is important to recognize that the Congress, alone, did not get us into this crisis. Greedy executives in the financial sector enacted a policy of encouragement and execution of risky loans to enhance windfall short term profits and bonuses for themselves without concern for the long term health and viability of the institutions for which they had the obligation to safeguard. And, finally, the American people are responsible. We have developed a culture of living far beyond our means and overextending our credit. All of these players came together to cause the most serious financial crisis of our lifetime.

So which political party is responsible for the crisis we, now, face? In my opinion it is the Democrats. While, both, the Republicans and the Bush Administration have been warning of the gathering clouds and attempting to correct the situation before it became a crisis, the Democrats have been, not only, silent on the issue, but they have discredited anyone bringing attention to the issue and killed any legislation that would have fixed the problem (see attached video).

That said, it is difficult to understand is why this financial crisis has hurt the McCain campaign. In my opinion there are two reasons.

First, people generally hold the current president responsible for the economic health of the country, and Senator McCain, as a Republican, has been judged "guilty by association". The American people don't understand that it takes years for economic and fiscal policies to take effect. Remember, it was the Clinton administration that initiated this policy of making mortgages available to low income families and encouraging banks to sell mortgages to high risk clients. In addition, the Bush Administration HAS been sounding the alarm and, along with Republicans in the Congress, attempting to correct the problem. So the premise that the current Administration caused this crisis is, very simply, false.

The second reason this crisis has hurt the McCain campaign is, simply, that they have not gotten the word out to the American people. It is my long held belief that politicians do not give the American people credit for being as smart as they are. Again and again, I have seen them avoid taking complex issues to the people in favor of oversimplification or ignoring them altogether. That, I believe, is what the McCain campaign has done here. And that is why Senator Obama gets away with blaming John McCain and the Bush Administration for this crisis: because the American people are uninformed, and Obama knows it. If Senator McCain were to talk to the American people explaining the issues I have reviewed here, he would turn around the momentum of this presidential race.

The last thing the American people need or want is a smear campaign in the last month before the election. They need FACTS to help them decide which presidential candidate and party HAVE A HISTORY of supporting the issues that matter to them. You can't elect a president based on the promises made during a campaign. Those promises are made precisely to sway your vote. They are RARELY kept. The only method we have to intelligently choose which candidate and party are likely to support the things that are important to us is to LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN THE PAST. Since this financial crisis is the number one issue on the minds of Americans, then reviewing how both candidates and their parties handled this issue is critical to their choice before they go to the polls in November.

[Click on the link, below, to view compelling video of actual congressional testimony showing Republicans and Bush Administration officials warning of the developing crisis and the Democrats undermining, discrediting and smearing them. This video is a must see!]

Democratic Coverup of Freddie and Fannie

Memory Check: Why Did We Go to War in Iraq?

While watching the first presidential debate last week I watched Barack Obama hammer John McCain for supporting President George W. Bush sending our troops to war in Iraq. Senator McCain uncomfortably avoided a direct answer to the question. This reawakened a festering frustration I have been harboring since John Kerry first used this tactic during his run for the presidency in 2004, and it reemerges each time someone brings it up to attack the Bush administration. Apparently, we, the American people, can't remember what happened and what we were feeling five years ago. So, below, I have compiled a history of this decision for your review.

At the conclusion of Desert Storm, many wanted to complete the job and take out Saddam Hussein. Countless people that I spoke with were disappointed that we did not. We could easily have done so. But our stated mission was to free Kuwait. George Bush (Senior) had put together a remarkable international coalition of both Arab and Western countries based on that limited mission. To continue to Baghdad would have destroyed the delicate alliance with our Arab allies and would have created distrust around the world toward the US for years to come. So, the President made the decision to leave Iraq and Saddam Hussein intact.

After 9/11, the George W. Bush administration received intelligence reports that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and that he was likely to turn them over to terrorist organizations for use throughout the world, including the United States. Our intelligence agencies contacted sources around the world to confirm this finding. ALL the intelligence agencies (British, Israeli, French, Russian and more) confirmed this finding.

President Bush, now, had a decision to make. What should he do about this potential threat? Should he wait until he had some kind of proof? If he waited too long there might be another terrorist attack on US soil. The next one could come in the form of a chemical, biological or, even, a nuclear attack. We knew Saddam had chemical and biological weapons that he had used against the Iranians and on his own people. And he had nuclear material from his failed nuclear weapons program (you may remember the Israelis bombed his reactor). A "dirty bomb" with nuclear material, therefore, was also a potential threat. The President exercised great restraint. He exhausted every possible non-military option. He went to the United Nations. Resolutions were passed that were ignored by Iraq. Inspectors were sent that were not allowed to inspect facilities.

In the end, President Bush felt he had no option but to go into Iraq, preemptively, to ensure the security and safety of the United States. He took his case to Congress and the American people. Congress gave an unprecedented overwhelming approval (Democrats and Republicans alike) for the action. The American people overwhelmingly supported this decision as well. In fact, I think it safe to say virtually everyone was behind this decision until the 2004 presidential election when John Kerry began rewriting history in an effort to undermine a very popular George W. Bush who had a whole nation and most of the civilized world behind him in his efforts on the War on Terror.

So, we went into Iraq. We deposed the most tyrannical dictator since Adolf Hitler. We did not find any weapons of mass destruction. Maybe there were none. Personally, I am not so sure. We know Saddam did, in fact, have massive stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons. Remember, he used them on his own people and against the Iranians. Where did they go? And what about the nuclear material he had been using in his nuclear weapons program? Where did it go? I believe those items may be in Syria and/or buried somewhere in the hundreds of square miles of desert.

Regardless of whether or not we ever find WMDs in Iraq, we cannot judge our decision to go to war in Iraq based on information we did not have in 2003! At that time intelligence sources throughout the world reported that Saddam Hussein did have WMDs. We had to act. For the Democrats and Barack Obama to criticize President Bush and Senator McCain is ludicrous and hypocritical! Conveniently, the Democrats continue to forget that they, too, overwhelmingly approved our decision to go to war in Iraq.

Personally, I have had it with politicians that rewrite history and manipulate the American people for partisan political gain. I truly hope the next time Barack Obama brings up this subject (and he will) that John McCain gives him and the American people a history lesson they sorely need.

Priority Crisis: AF Ponders Uniform Change

Why are Air Force staff members designing and analyzing new uniforms? (Click link below to view article) Last I checked we are a nation at war. It seems to me all our efforts should be focused on winning it. Staffers that are spending their time redesigning uniforms are being improperly utilized while we are a nation at war. The Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force do not need to be distracted by inquiries about the status of a new uniform at this critical time. WHERE ARE THE PRIORITIES?

First, our commanders, leaders and staffers need to be TOTALLY COMMITTED TO THE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES we are facing now (like fighting and winning the War on Terror, maintaining our force, convincing our politicians to fund research and development of future aircraft and equipment, fixing our internal problems, welfare of our airmen, etc).

Second, new uniforms cost MONEY. Our budget has already been slashed beyond bare bones. How can our Air Force leaders even ponder shaving 125 MILLION DOLLARS from the mission in favor of "LOOKING STYLISH"? We could buy 15 MQ-9 Predator UAVs with that money to fight the War on Terror!

Third, the uniform is part of OUR TRADITION, and the men and women that wear the uniform should wear the same uniform that I wore and that the next generation will wear. The only acceptable reason for change is OPERATIONAL NECESSITY.

Fourth, and of least importance, that uniform is not practical, would be uncomfortable and extemely warm with that neckline, and it looks ridiculous.

I suggest General Schwartz cut orders and send the staffers that ordered and worked this proposal to Iraq and Afghanistan. There, they would be much better utilized and would get firsthand experience to "recage" their priorities. They've obviously been sitting in their air conditioned offices at the Pentagon for too long with too much time on their hands and have lost track of "the mission".

New Air Force Uniform

Remembering 9/11: 7th Anniversary

It is seven years since the horrific events of September 11th, 2001-- events that changed our country and the world forever. Unfortunately, too many have forgotten the horror and the lives lost on that day. As a country we have lost both the resolve and the unity we possessed to defeat the perpetrators and to protect ourselves from future horrific acts of terror. Our partisan politicians and news media have undermined every effort of the Bush administration to win the war on terror. From David Letterman to countless democrats to the liberal press to Hollywood celebrities, all have demeaned the dignity of the office of the President of the United States and sabotaged every effort and move he made to win the war in Iraq. How can we expect our enemies to respect and fear us when we show no respect for our own Commander-in-Chief?

We have signaled our enemies that we have neither the character nor stomach to stay the course of a protracted war that we can not quickly win. You don't win a war unless you demoralize your enemy, and we gave our enemies hope and the motivation to continue! Our enemies have watched and read our news reports. As they watched our divided Congress threaten to stop funding the war and recall our troops, they sent dozens more suicide bombers and IEDs, and redoubled the terrorizing of Iraqi civilians with the belief that we would eventually retreat in defeat.

We, as a nation, should be ashamed of how short lived our unity has been. We have been fighting among ourselves and undermining the Bush administration beginning with John Kerry's run for the Presidency in 2004 and continuing to this day. Had we shown the same disunity and lack of resolve during World War II, Hitler surely would have defeated us!

On this, the anniversary of 9/11, please click on the links below and take some time to review the events of that day. Although it is painful, we must, again, feel the anguish we felt on September 11, 2001 and regain the unity of purpose we had then. WE MUST NEVER FORGET!

Lest We Forget

America Attacked

Flying the "Unfriendly Skies": The Pilots Step Up

Several days ago, I published an article which told the story of how United Airlines' inexcusable cancellation of a family's reservations denied them the opportunity to visit their father and grandfather prior to his impending death. Since that time United has come up with excuse after excuse (all of which were fabrications) and never made any attempt at restitution to the family.

Yesterday, the pilots at United, through their union, the Airline Pilots Association, stepped up and presented the family with a check for $11,693 to reimburse them for the funds they forfeited as a result of United's actions and failure to accept responsibility.

The pilots' union at United issued the following statement along with their check to the family:

United’s treatment of this family not only is inexcusable; it is an embarrassment to the dedicated and professional pilots and other employees who take pride in this airline. United Airlines, even after the bumbling chain of events by management created such a devastating financial loss for this family, refused to accept responsibility and take any actions toward making them whole. The pilots of United Airlines, however, could not stand idly by and allow this to happen.

Gerry Braun, columnist for the Union Tribune in San Diego, wrote the original and follow on articles detailing United's despicable treatment of this family and the pilots' attempt to make things right. Check out the original article and Mr. Braun's follow-up article by clicking the links below.

Flying the "Unfriendly Skies": A Despicable Story
United Full of Excuses, But Family Gets Relief

Leave No One Behind: Author's Considerations

Last month I posted an article, Leave No One Behind: What Would You Do? The author, Capt Rick Rubel, USN (Ret), a distinguished professor of ethics at the US Naval Academy, presented a commander's most difficult moral decision: How many healthy servicemembers will I risk to bring home one servicemember or a body?

Capt Rubel recently posted his analysis of the scenario on the MOAA website. His insight is worth reading. Check it out. Below are links to, both, the original article and Capt Rubel's analysis. While you are on each site, be sure to check out the readers' comments at the bottom. They, too, are very illuminating and great food for thought.

Leave No One Behind: What Would You Do?

Leave No One Behind: Author's Considerations

Flying the "Unfriendly Skies": A Despicable Story

We all know how the flying experience in this country has deteriorated over the past 30 years. This deterioration was not a result of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. It was well underway by that time, although the terrorist attacks may have exacerbated the situation. In fact, this deterioration was the result of greedy, unscrupulous CEOs and airline managers stuffing their pockets while competing in a deregulated market. They did so to the deliberate detriment of their employees, their airlines and the flying public. You know some of the names: Frank Lorenzo, Carl Icahn, Richard Ferris, Steven Wolf, Glenn Tilton, etc. United Airlines may be the worst of all, thanks to the most corrupt top and middle level management imaginable. I know. I was a pilot with United for nearly 13 years prior to my retirement. There are, literally, hundreds of stories of the airlines' horrible treatment of passengers.

Below, is one such story of United's despicable treatment of a family that had plans to visit their father one last time prior to his impending death. The family had this trip planned a year ahead of time and had purchased tickets a full six months before the flight. Thanks to the misguided policies and brazen response of United Airlines, this family never had their last reunion with their father before his death. Gerry Braun, columnist for the Union Tribune in San Diego, wrote this article. Contrary to the title, there are countless stories like it. Click on the link, below, to read it.

Bad Airline Stories Are Nothing Like This

F-16 Flameout Approach Video

Check out this compelling video of an F-16 performing a flameout approach and landing. All single engine fighter pilots in the Air Force practice and maintain proficiency in flameout approaches. But performing an "actual" one is very rare. The view is through the Heads UP Display (HUD). Watch how the pilot in the emergency aircraft and his wingman work together to get the aircraft safely on the ground. The wingman monitors his progress and approach, makes suggestions and all the radio calls to Air Traffic Control so the pilot in the emergency aircraft can concentrate on running checklists and flying his approach to the runway (no second chance without an engine). Notice how cool and calm both pilots remain throughout this incident. These two well trained, professional Air Force pilots did a superb job that saved a multimillion dollar aircraft and, probably, some lives, too!

F-16 Flameout Approach Video

[My thanks to Phil Upman for forwarding me this video]

Leave No One Behind: What Would You Do?

The latest MOAA newsletter contains a compelling case study about a rescue squadron's CO faced with a most difficult moral decision: How many healthy servicemembers will I risk to bring home one servicemember or a body? The author, Capt Rick Rubel, USN (Ret), a distinguished professor of ethics at the US Naval Academy, presents you with one of the most difficult moral decisions a commander can make. You will find yourself at the edge of your seat while reading the scenario, then reaching deeply into yourself to decide what you would do. THIS IS A MUST READ!

Leave No One Behind: What Would You Do?

Maxine's Solutions for America

Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately.
1. Illegal Immigration
2. Hurricane Recovery
3. Alligator Attacks in Florida

Not me. I concentrate on solutions for the problems. It's a win-win situation.
1. Dig a moat the length of the Mexican Border.
2. Send the dirt to New Orleans to raise the level of the levies.
3. Put the Florida alligators in the moat along the Mexican border.

On singing OUR National Anthem in Spanish
I'm sorry, but after hearing they want to sing OUR National Anthem in Spanish - Enough is TOO much!

NEVER did they sing it in Italian, Japanese, Polish, Irish-Celtic, German, Portuguese, Greek, French or any other language because of immigration.

It was written by Francis Scott Key in English and should be sung word for word the way it was written.

The news broadcasts gave a translation that's NOT EVEN close.

Sorry if this offends anyone. THIS IS MY COUNTRY!

Would you allow me to come to your country and then allow me to demand that you sing your National Anthem in ENGLISH?

On Immigration in General
You are welcome here in my country; welcome to come through, that is, like everyone else has.
1. Get a Visa!
2. Get a sponsor!
3. Get a place to lay your head!
4. Get a job!
5. Live by OUR rules!
6. Pay YOUR taxes!
7. Learn the Language!
LIKE ALL OTHER IMMIGRANTS HAVE IN THE PAST!!!

And please don't demand that we hand over our lifetime savings of Social Security funds to you.

When will Americans STOP GIVING WAY THEIR RIGHTS?

We've gone so far the other way, bent over backwards not to offend anyone. But it seems no one cares about the AMERICAN that's being offended!

Well, it's MY COUNTRY and MY SOLUTIONS. If you don't like it, GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM and HAVE YOUR COUNTRY DO WHAT YOU'RE ASKING MY COUNTRY TO DO!

[My thanks to Tom Nick for this]

Irena Sendler: WWII Heroine

Irena Sendler was credited with saving 3000 Jews during WWII. The heartwarming story about this heroine that recently died at age 98 is in Snopes.com. In 2007 Irena was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. She didn't get it. Check out who got it in her stead. Click on the link below.

Irena Sendler Story

AFA President Responds to AF Criticism

AFA President, Michael M. Dunn, just published a detailed response to a recent inundation of negative articles and accusations about the Air Force in the media. His article is insightful, forward thinking and right on the mark. He TELLS IT LIKE IT IS! If you want to get beyond the politics and know the true facts about the Air Force's performance of its mission as well as concern for its future viability, this is a MUST READ. We need to be very concerned about the capability of our armed forces to "fight the next war" because the Secretary of Defense is not!

The Pile On Effect - AFA President Response to AF Criticism

NFL Flyovers

This video documents military flyovers of NFL events. It's a fun video that shows the planning of these events and what they mean to the fans, players and coaches. Watch it and enjoy!

NFL Flyovers

Illegal Alien Healthcare Costs

Every day, illegal aliens are treated in hospitals across the country, costing American citizens millions of dollars. You will be amazed at how much these costs are. In 2007, the cost of treating illegal aliens in Florida, alone, was one hundred million dollars. The cost each year, nationwide, is well into the billions of dollars! The Federal Government is apparently not interested in sending these illegals back to their home countries for care and treatment. Something must be done to fix this. Check out this 3 minute video of testimony from one Florida hospital.

Illegal Alien Healthcare Testimony

[My thanks to Linda Klink for forwarding this to me]

B-2 Crash Video

Check out this video of the B-2 that crashed on takeoff (the second B-2 is the one that crashes). The accident investigation board determined it was the result of moisture in the sensors. As it is “fly-by-wire”, the pilots were unable to override the erroneous control inputs and ejected safely. This was the most expensive crash in Air Force history at $1.4 billion (cost of one B-2).

B-2 Crash Video

Firing the SECAF and CSAF: More Than Meets the Eye

Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, recently fired the Secretary of the Air Force (SECAF), Michael Wynne, and Air Force Chief of Staff (CSAF), General Michael Moseley. Although he acted within his rights as Secretary of Defense in doing so, it appears there may have been other reasons beside the stated nuclear incidents that were really behind this action. Both Wynn and Moseley were pressing Congress for funds to maintain the viability of our Air Force in the future. Our fleet is seriously aging, let alone in need of modernizing to prepare for future conflicts. And it takes decades to plan and develop air power. Secretary Gates has accused the Air Force (and all the Services) of "planning for the next war" as if that were a crime. Failure to plan ahead is a fatal course of action which will not become evident until it is too late.

Michael M. Dunn, president of the Air Force Association, issued a statement regarding the firing of these two men which I believe sums it up very well. Check it out:

AFA President Statement on Air Force Leadership Change

Protect Your Personal Credit Information

Do you get preapproved credit card and loan offers in your mailbox? When you check your credit report do you wonder who all those agencies are that submitted inquiries and received your credit information? Are you concerned that the credit agencies are giving your personal information to anyone that requests it? Do you feel the indiscriminate dissemination of your personal information to anyone that requests it just increases the possibility that some crook will steal your identity? If you do, then you need to check out the government website I just found.

The Federal Trade Commission’s Protecting America’s Consumers website outlines a number of options available to individuals who want to limit the dissemination of their personal credit information. This is a legitimate government website. Among the options, the national credit bureaus offer a toll-free number that enables consumers to opt-out of all preapproved credit offers for five years with just one phone call. It is my understanding that this action also restricts the credit agencies from disseminating your personal credit information to these same agents. Be advised that you will be required to submit your Social Security Number during the registration process.

Here's the link: Protecting America’s Consumers

The Away Game: A USAFA Cadet's Insight

The following was posted on a website for Air Force Academy Admissions Liaison Officers. The insight of the cadet who wrote this is quite compelling:

First year cadets at the Air Force Academy are allowed to leave the Academy without penalty up through the end of first-year Christmas break. Those who come back are assigned to write a paper on why they chose to return. Here is one young cadet's masterpiece, which has begun to be widely publicized...

Why return to the Air Force Academy after Winter Break?

So after our sunburns have faded and the memories of our winter break have been reduced to pictures we've pinned on our desk boards, and once again we've exchanged T-shirts and swim suits for flight suits and camouflage, there still remains the question that every cadet at U.S.Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs has asked themselves at some point: Why did we come back? Why, after spending two weeks with our family would we return to one of the most demanding lifestyles in the country?

After listening to our 'friends' who are home from State or Ivy League schools chock full of wisdom about how our war in Iraq is unjust and unworldly, why would we return? And after watching the news and reading the papers which only seem to condemn the military's every mistake and shadow every victory, why would we continue to think it is worth the sacrifice of a normal college life?

Is it because the institution to which we belong is tuition-free? Anyone who claims this has forgotten that we will, by the time we graduate, repay the US taxpayer many times over in blood, sweat, and tears. Is it because the schooling we are receiving is one of the best undergraduate educations in the country? While the quality of the education is second to none, anyone who provides this as a main reason has lost sight of the awesome responsibility that awaits those who are tough enough to graduate and become commissioned officers in the U.S. Air Force.

I come back to the Academy because I want to have the training necessary so that one day I'll have the incredible responsibility of leading the sons and daughters of America in combat. These men and women will never ask about my Academy grade point average, their only concern will be that I have the ability to lead them expertly; I will be humbled to earn their respect. I come back to the Academy because I want to be the commander who saves lives by negotiating with Arab leaders... in their own language.

I come back to the Academy because, if called upon, I want to be the pilot who flies half way around the world with three mid-air refuelings to send a bomb from 30,000 feet into a basement housing the enemy...through a ventilation shaft two feet wide. Becoming an officer in today's modern Air Force is so much more than just command; it is being a diplomat, a strategist, a communicator, a moral compass, but always a warrior first.

I come back to the Air Force Academy because, right now, the United States is fighting a global war that is an 'away game' in Iraq - taking the fight to the terrorists.

Whether or not we think the terrorists were in Iraq before our invasion, they are unquestionably there now. And if there is any doubt as to whether this is a global war, just ask the people in Amman, in London, in Madrid, in Casablanca, in Riyadh, and in Bali.

This war must remain an away game because we have seen what happens when it becomes a home game... I come back to the Academy because I want to be a part of that fight.

I come back to the Academy because I don't want my vacationing family to board a bus in Paris that gets blown away by someone who thinks that it would be a good idea to convert the Western world to Islam.

I come back to the Academy because I don't want the woman I love to be the one who dials her last frantic cell phone call while huddled in the back of an airliner with a hundred other people seconds away from slamming into the Capitol building.

I come back to the Academy because during my freshman year of high school I sat in a geometry class and watched nineteen terrorists change the course of history live on television. For the first time, every class currently at a U.S. Service Academy made the decision to join after the 2001 terror attacks.

Some have said that the U.S. invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan only created more terrorists... I say that the attacks of September 11th, 2001 created an untold more number of American soldiers; I go to school with 4,000 of them. And that's worth more than missing a few frat parties.

Joseph R. Tomczak Cadet, Fourth Class United States Air Force Academy

(U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colorado) had Cadet Tomczak's essay read into the Congressional Record, and at a meeting of the Air Force Academy Board of Visitors he presented Cadet Tomczak with a framed copy of the essay.)