Broken Trust
by John Donnelly…….
The United States of America was attacked again last week, on its homeland. It was not a sneak attack, concealed and unannounced, without the knowledge of our government. Those who’ve openly declared war on us, have been gathering intelligence, recruiting soldiers and training said recruits, while formulating precise battle plans that have successfully targeted and killed the Americans identified in their stated goals and mission.
This time, unarmed members of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy were massacred by one lone gunman. An individual killed 5 members from the aforementioned groups, while wounding several others as he drove around Chattanooga, TN; from one killing field to another, amassing mayhem and terror, before he was felled by a law-enforcement officer.
Fanatical Islamic Terrorists have been successful in killing, wounding and assassinating those that they are at war with. It appears that these ‘operators’ are able to proceed at will within the confines of the United States without much interference; while we fight with one another, unable to agree upon a ‘term’ to call those who’ve sworn to kill all Americans, by whatever means necessary.
Sitting or crawling, as you cower before the one who is going to kill you, does not conjure up the images I have of the “American Fighting Man and Women”. Furthermore, the chain of command that put these Marines and Sailor into that position to be slaughtered, right on up to the commander-in-chief; all need to be examined for their culpable negligence, given the successes of our enemies, as they’ve triumphantly carried out prior assignments to kill members of the military in similar situations. During the preceding six years, many battle plans for such attacks have been uncovered, while several have been victoriously carried out.
On June 1, 2009 in Little Rock, Arkansas, two soldiers were targeted in a ‘jihadist ambush’ by Abdulhakim Muhammed at a military recruiting center. This assailment left one soldier dead and the other wounded. Al-Qaeda and all of its affiliates, continue to advertise, direct and order their soldiers to aggressively proceed with these types of assaults.
Lest we forget, five months later on November 5, 2009 in the ‘gun free zone’ at “Ft. Hood’s Soldier Readiness Processing Center”, when doctor Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan did not obey the law and brought a firearm with plenty of fire power on base, killing 13 unarmed soldiers, while wounding 32 others, for no apparent reason other than they were Americans.
Mealy mouthed, quivering politicians; along with bureaucratic career loving generals at the pentagon, bring little if nothing to the table, when it comes to effectively shooting and killing those in active pursuit of taking our lives.
The fabric of our society and laws of our land, as delineated in the “Constitution of the United States”, authorizes the citizenry with the right to defend themselves. Do citizens lose this right when they become members of the military? Particularly, when such enlistments prioritize their exposure and risk, as determined by the enemies of this nation, who are determined to actively engage and barbarously butcher said individuals assigned to serve at these designated military targets.
As a United States Marine, along with all members of our Armed Forces under contract with a sworn allegiance to protect and defend the “Constitution”; having placed our names and lives on the line, we must not be denied the means to defend ourselves, our team members and country; by presidents and their civilian leadership perplexed and bewildered by the behavior of our enemies.
As usual, people getting shot until SOMEBODY who also has a gun without malicious intent is able to shoot back. This is not limited to deranged religious zealots.
I dated a former hospital administrator from Jackson Memorial who was dragged from her car with a knife across her throat at the hospital parking lot entrance while her co-workers helplessly honked their horns. Her former fiance was shot in the face by a mugger who was robbing him at a traffic stop. He made no resistance. Unarmed onlookers witnessed it all. Violent terrorists with either an individual agenda or a group agenda depend on an unarmed populace as victims. I don’t carry, but as a responsible citizen who would get involved instead of watching people murdered, I probably should.. There is seldom time to wait for a badge with a gun. I hope somebody intervenes to save my butt if i am ever in a crisis situation. How about you?
John, Although I mourn the loss of human life for idiotic reasons, as is the case here, I find the tone of this article to be off key. John, undoubtedly, your military experience correctly has built a strong bond between you and others with a similar experience, and your grief for these soldiers is totally acceptable. But you are asking the wrong questions here. What you should be asking is why we have so many enemies? How many times have I read something by you lambasting the horrific wars our country has instigated in recent history? Don’t you think this has something to do with incidents like the monstrous one in question here? When it comes to our “enemies” John, I’d have to say, like the famous expression, it is “us”, at least as much as “them”. There are no good guys and bad guys John, just human stupidity. Thanks for your work, I’ll always respect it.
Mr. Donnelly:
If you were to take your first paragraph, but ascribe the blame onto the U.S. Government and the people who pull their strings, where it belongs, perhaps your outrage would be mitigated to the point of radicalism. Did you see bodies, ambulances, blood, or carnage of any kind save a few bullet holes? Neither did I, nor anyone else.
Sir, the only people who have declared war on you, and me, are the very people who pass the laws and decide on your life and death through their imperialist perpetual war mongering; a war mongering designed solely to benefit their owners. The only people in this world who can directly affect/effect your freedom are sitting in Washington D.C.
The whole war on terror is a fraud. There is no clash of civilizations or religions. There is only misdirection, manufactured to get you to look for an enemy that does not exist, so the real enemy can suck you dry, and do it in plain sight, and with your consent.
You are right in thinking there is a great enemy out there wishing to do you harm. You just need not look any further than home to find it.
Halloween,
Excellent comments that are spot on. The extraordinary descriptions you detail via your life’s experiences are written with integrity and certainty.
Your honesty and credibility shine through the communiqué. The well-written and thoughtful insights that you’ve shared are sincerely appreciated. Thank you.
Blessings & Respect
.
Jerome,
Always appreciate your thoughtful comments and insights. I will attempt to address your very relevant and authentic questions.
On many fronts, as a nation we’ve moved towards becoming a one trick pony. Agree, think, behave and conduct yourself as we deem appropriate;;;or;;; sanctions, bombing, invasion and personal attacks will follow.
We have failed miserably, for a very long time, to bring out the best in those nations/religions/governments that misunderstand and dislike us. We have not been a magnate of good will, nor attracted the respect and cordial relations one would expect coming from nations, who once viewed our country as a beacon of light and hope for the rest of the world. In many circles, we are distrusted and thought of as weak.
The masquerading themes of diplomacy have been a joke and facade. Lacking depth, wisdom, experience and intelligence our presidents, congress and civilian leadership have failed miserably in their attempts to authentically relate with the rest of the world. The American people continue to re-elect politicians inept and unfit for public office.
These are the same misfits that wage war with utter incompetence; lacking any viable plan of action, strategy or technique to successfully secure a military objective and withdraw combat forces.
War is the ultimate insanity, and yes, the enormous killing of innocent children and civilians in the countries we invade has caused an abounding increase in soldiers of every caliber, who want to pay us back for the pain, suffering and murder that we’ve brought to their shores.
Dangerous, sick and disturbed leadership has gutted the moral fabric of the United States.
There isn’t anything good about war; except for the industrialists securing their extraordinary profits.
As the political elites attempt to figure it out, destabilizing the world and creating enemies via their ineptitude and uselessness, our men and women in uniform must not be held out as unarmed targets to be preyed upon.
Blessings & Respect
Keysbum,
Good to hear from you. Appreciate the comments. I will attempt to respond to your communiqué.
You are far too intelligent to initiate your comments with anything ridiculous and trite. The presence of bodies, ambulances, blood and carnage were a clear and present reality for this nation on the day in question.
I respectfully request that you view my response to Jerome’s comments, regarding the second paragraph contained within your comment.
The misdirection suggested in the third paragraph, has at least in part, created a clash of civilizations where war and every manner of terror have become the ‘new norm’. Our way of life, in every way imaginable, has been altered and compromised by the real or imagined war on terror.
Again, please read my response to Jerome. I’ve made it clear, either by design or through incompetence, I have my eye on all those who’ve gotten us into and continue wars, which are ‘Constitutional Defined’ as illegal.
If what we are suggesting is true, what are we willing ‘to do’ about it???
Thanks again for your astuteness, allowing me the opportunity to clarify my thoughts. I value your input and insights.
Blessings & Respect
John, This is an excellent conversation and, I repeat, I appreciate your efforts in creating it. Here is where I think you are missing the point: you make reference to the incompetency of those waging these wars, how they have really messed things up with their idiocy. Agreed, the people who waged our latest oil war in Iraq were completely ignorant as to what they’d be up against. But that is not the real issue here John. The real issue is that all our wars since WWII have had NO MORAL BASIS to underlie them. They are nothing more than self centered imperial ventures with no other purpose than to enhance our own … what? Wealth? Happiness? Power? You tell me. Wicked, that is what it is, no more or less than those who attacked our soldiers in Chattanooga. Idiocy, nothing more than that, and we have been the main catalyst to all of this. As for arming soldiers at such places … useless! You have to get to the real root of the problem before such acts will stop. And “what am I willing to do about it”? Change our foriegn policy. No more of these stupid, lucro-instigated military adventures. Enough! Talking with Iran is a great first step. They are no more or less human than ourselves. They are fighting the same war we are with different tactics. It is time to start talking. Luv’ya John, keep writing.
Jerome,
Magnificently adroit and courageous comments.
A departure from the ‘Constitutional’ rule of law (congress is the only entity that can declare war); has made it significantly easier for the nefarious actions of our leadership to take root. Killing approximately 3 million innocent children and civilians in Vietnam, while reducing approximately 11 million Vietnamese civilians to refugee status; was the work of madmen.
I lived in their villages for a time, running ambushes, day patrols and security; while digging some wells and repairing their thatched huts damaged by an assortment of weaponry. I loved the village chief’s daughter and I believe she loved me in kind. I wasn’t able to complete the process necessary to marry her or find some way to bring her back to the United States. My wounds disrupted the operation I had set up with her, to accomplish our mission.
Shortly after my arrival home and before I could figure out a way to return to Vietnam, I received a phone call from Da Nang informing me that the girl I loved had been executed by the Viet Cong.
Prior to writing this reply to your comments I didn’t realize I was going to go ‘There’ with my response. I had some other and different things to say.
However, at the moment, I’m very sad and heartbroken by the loss of this beautiful girl; who was my dearest friend. My tears and sobs are 48 years too late. I let her down. Somehow, someway; I hope I’ll be able to see her once more, and ask her forgiveness.
is there ever a moral basis for war?? you guys really should should look into history, that is history as researched by historians, not government text book authors. all major wars are fought over money. world war 2 was no exception. if you research, you will find that that war was instigated by Great Britain at the behest of the Bank of England and other international financiers. these people financed the Nazi’s, and when Hitler went off script, it was on.
these people are not ignorant, idiots, incompetents, or anything of the kind. Iran doesn’t have a Rothschild owned central bank. that is what’s wrong with them. just like Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Libya before them.
c’mon guys… a person can’t even get on a bus sans ticket without 20 cops beating the crap out of him, and you think some guy can unload with an assault rifle, then drive 7 miles and do it again?
nothing happens “organically.” all this stuff is planned, it just doesn’t “happen,”
Keysbum, I think there can be a moral basis for any conflict that falls under the umbrella of a “revolution”, that is, a change in the social order that could be considered “moral”. I’ll agree, Hitler was caused by conditions all of the western powers created, but once the personality of his regime became evident, you might say there was some moral basis to stop him. ciao, PCM
take 15 minutes and watch this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbp6umQT58A
John, That is a touching story, and I’m sad it turned out as it did, especially for the young lady. I’m not here to tell anyone that the Vietcong is my ideal of perfection, but the actions you describe were instigated by us. None of that would have happened without our attempts to maintain a colonial framework for Vietnam. She fell to us as much as the Vietcong. Sad, truly sad, and it seems we have not learned a thing from it.
Keysbum,
Many of your arguments have a ring of truth to them. For the most part they are all well-written and persuasive.
People in power control the information, narratives and the content of our children’s text books.
Money is the mother’s milk of politicians. Wars require enormous sums of money to fight. A 16 year war in Vietnam, a 14 year war in Iraqi and a 12 year war in Afghanistan; required wealth beyond imagination to initiate and maintain. Poverty, homelessness, disease and starvation could have been eradicated many times over with only a fraction of the money that we’ve spent to kill other human beings.
Perhaps the real targets of our discontent have not been addressed. These alleged suspects appear to have become quite diverse in the arts of deception, diversion and sleight of hand.
Power people always have access to money. Sometimes they create their own wealth or use another’s bankroll to fund their causes; or persuade another to do their dirty work.
For the most part, I’ve made my way marching to my own drummer, addressing the manifested evil of others and myself, as I blazed a trail that made sense and had purpose for me.
Keysbum, I value the input and expertise that you put forth regarding this topic. Thank you.
Jerome,
Great comments.
An un-awakened populace, ignorant of the answers to their own suffering and discontent; are malleable for the secular conditioning and indoctrination meted out by school curriculums, government institutions and religious doctrines. I make a clear distinction between ‘religion and spirituality’.
Self-Actualized or Self-Realized individuals do not wage war nor mistreat people. This type of scientific/spiritual training is available for all. Yet, it is not taught in any of our public schools. This sound instruction, which would revolutionize the world, is not taught to our children.
Foreign Policy is not generated in a vacuum. It comes from the serious flawed minds and spirits of individuals educated in the American Public School System. Garbage In, Garbage Out…
Nothing Changes, If Nothing Changes. 100 years from now, no matter who’s in office, we as a nation will continue to accept and celebrate in the killings of our next targets, if we don’t advance an evolved state of consciousness within our students.
When our idiots go up against the idiots of another nation, religion or ideology; what do you expect? Brilliance, Trust, Solutions and Good Will…
MAN’s finite ability to raise his consciousness, understanding and compassion to where it needs to be, in order to bring loving relationships throughout this planet, are absent, and will forever remain absent, until we prioritize the development of awareness within the children of the world, as to who and what they authentically are. Otherwise we will just continue changing chairs on the Titanic.
As a teacher serving in a classroom for 25 years, I’ve witnessed significant changes in my students. Most of them for the better. As in the ‘butterfly effect’ and other transferences of energy, we changed the world one student at a time.
All schools and classrooms must be transformed, or we shall strangulate as individuals, a nation and a planet; on the regurgitated toxins spewing forth from our own bloated egos and unrealized selves.
John, In any complex, modern society, public education is necessary. I’d also go on to say it is the job of the public schools to inculcate its students into the basic fundaments of the culture it operates in. The question is, what are these schools teaching? In a sense, our public schools are actually doing a very good job of inculcating its students into our culture’s dictates. AND THAT IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM. Our culture is an abomination, an adolescent, aggressive, competitive, materialistic monstrosity. Our schools are turning out exactly the citizen unfettered capitalism needs to survive, that is, brain dead consumers. If this is the goal of our schools, then wars and terrorists and crime and … name the problem, will continue to exist. You are entirely correct: we need a new consciousness, a new paradigm for life, in order for us to evolve higher. Good stuff John, I appreciate your ability to make me use my brain. ciao, Jerome
http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/scientists-earth-endangered-by-new-strain-of-fact-resistant-humans
“Our research is very preliminary, but it’s possible that they will become more receptive to facts once they are in an environment without food, water, or oxygen,”
Jerome,
I sincerely appreciate and value your extraordinary insights and comments concerning our discussion. Thank you.
As you know: “Pretentiousness, along with an aggrandized sense of self-importance, are diseases easily diagnosed”. Our society is riddled with experts who purport to have the answers for everything, yet they wallow in the filth and bondage of their own self-created misery and discontent. They are good talkers and excel at judging others, while directing everyone else in their wake, how they should think and live their lives. They ARE NOT VERY GOOD AT “DOING” or “CREATING” MUCH OF ANYTHING.
Life has made it a habit of keeping me humble, causing me to improvise, adapt, overcome and evolve as a person; so that I might survive to build a sense of purpose and worth for my existence, based upon the “WISDOM OF THE AGES”.
This is what I want from our EDUCATORS and SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Jerome, I believe we are close, if not on the same page with this argument.
Offsetting what some continue to purport; if the Rothschild’s had the opportunity to be exposed and instructed with the principles and training of Self-Realization and Self-Actualization, they would not find it necessary to geo-politically fund wars, as a means to generate wealth.
There’s plenty of ways to make money. Perhaps these types, in their ignorance and derangement, have encased themselves in a darkness blanketed with deception and delusion. However, it only takes the flicker of a lighted match to forever alter their view of themselves and the world in which they live.
John, Yes, I believe we have a similar world view, one that very few ever arrive to, mainly because of the propaganda mechanisms that suffocate most people’s ability to decipher the culture they live in. In my case, I’d say my middle class upbringing gave me the chance to experience a wide range of environments and experiences which at least gave me the chance to expand my horizons. In your case (and I’m only guessing) your experiences with the horrors of war, real war, probably had a bone rattling effect on you. In any event, public education is only one piece in the puzzle. I’d say that the commercial propaganda that inundates our lives everyday, is the most intensive form of propaganda the world has ever known. BRUTAL! John, next week I’ll have an entry pertaining to the trophy hunter death of that lion in Africa. Some how or other, this is all related. ciao, Jerome
Too bad no one here has the time to write about the 18 month old baby that was burned alive by “Israeli” settlers this week. Oh that’s right, that child was just a Palestinian, no big deal.
Sister,
Good to hear from you. Thanks for taking the time to share your valuable and informative comments.
There wasn’t much, if any, coverage of this barbarous murder on the news channels that I scanned through. I probably would not have known of this attack and killing without your input. Perhaps I didn’t search out news outlets as far and as deep as I needed to, to keep abreast of what’s happening in the world. I stay busy and am involved with a lot of projects. I dropped the ball on this one. Forgive me.
As I don’t have all the facts, I will address this matter in a cursory manner with the details you provided.
Does a culture of hatred and murder exist between Israel and Palestine? For how long have these people/nations been killing one another?
It’s hard for me to understand how the mothers, fathers, people and leaders of these two countries, have allowed their citizens to be used as cannon fodder for approximately 70 years.
I have not seen the world’s leaders really expend the interest, energy and time necessary to ease hostiles in the Middle East; creating partnerships and incentives that would provide wealth and growth to the surrounding nations, as a result of moving towards de-escalation and peaceful relations. Business and corporate cooperation has the potential to provide Palestine with the infrastructure, medicines, health care and education, which has the promise to enhance the quality of their lives.
Concerning the firebombing of the Palestinian houses, along with the burning and murdering of the innocent child; expeditiously apprehend all criminals associated with this act, while bringing the full weight and consequences of the law upon their shoulders, would be a start.
I believe the fate, survival, destiny; or destruction, of these people will be determined by the type of leadership that takes hold there.
Are there exceptional and courageous leaders within their ranks? Who will rise to fit the bill?
The luxury of time is running out for them….
Blessings & Respect
John, The fact of the matter is that the Jews and Palestinians (Arabs, etc.) have not been killing each other for very long. It really all got started with the ill advised creation of Israel after WWII. The Sephardic Jews who are native to the Middle East have always lived side by side with the Arabs, but they only make up a tiny part of the world’s Jewish population. The rest (the Ashkenazi) are really from Europe and make up almost all Jewry in the world. My ancestors are Ashkenazi and lived for countless generations in Russia and Poland before my grandparents came here around 1908. Personally, I don’t think the creation of Israel was justified. I’ve written about this and will post some of it someday. ciao, Jerome