Blogs Change the World

Even some places you wouldn't think of, like Malaysia, where opposition leaders and new-fangled cyber journalists alike take down an old despot. Mahathir Mohammed ruled with an iron fist for decades, but these days:

Bloggers like me would have been toast prior to Oct 31, 2003. Instead of sitting in an air-conditioned office and flying premium class, I would be in an adjacent cell from [famous Malaysian journalist, once imprisoned by Mahathir] Steven Gan, working out what details to pen in our memoirs about our time in Kamunting.... So pray do forgive me if I am slightly slow in understanding this thing called Freedom of Expression. I grew up during Dr. Mahathir’s time.”

North Korean Missile Launch?

Late Night Musings has some South Korean wonderings about a U.S. Navy ship that might or might not be off the North Korean coast, maybe waiting for something to happen.

Previous discussion here and here,

(Hat tip to Stop the ACLU)

My a$$, boyo.

Mother Sheehan goes to Canada to give aid and comfort to deserters.

Otay. Nothing remarkable about that.

Then I stumbled across this hero:

About 20 former U.S. soldiers, referred to as war resisters, have applied for refugee status in Canada. Organizers estimated there may be as many as 200 soldiers in the country who have not yet sought formal protection.

"They say we're traitors, we're deserters," said former Marine Chris Magaoay, 20, of the Hawaiian island of Maui. "No, I'm a Marine and I stand up for what I believe in, and I believe the Constitution of the United States of America is being pushed aside as a scrap piece of paper."

Hmmmm. Former Marine? No. "I'm a Marine." Um, well, yes, technically, until discharged by competent authority.

Deserter? Yep. That's the label. You're a deserter, Lance Corporal Magaoay.

That sums it up. Sign me up as one of "they," who call you deserter. It's not hard. It's what you are.

But wait - there's more.

This link may invite guests with an attitude, but here we find a *great* quote that displays the deep strategic and moral thought of Lance Corporal Magaoay.

Our hero is of the Lieutenant Ehren Watada School of Military Law:

“I am not against war as a whole,” he said. “I am against the war in Iraq. It was a war of aggression, which was not sanctioned by the United Nations, therefore making it illegal.”

Ah. So, even though there has been no such finding by any competent US authority which might give him cover, LCpl Magaoay has decided the United Nations (several UN resolutions and Congressional resolutions notwithstanding) trumps all relevant US law and statute and relieves him of his obligations.

In other words, he gets to choose which wars he will fight - as a uniformed member of the armed forces, *he* will determine which wars are legal and appropriate, and he seemingly doesn't appreciate that his opinion in this matter is not held in high esteem.

LCpl Magaoay, you're a fool.

Leave aside you joined to go off to war a year after the war started.

Once you swear the oath, you lose your veto in that regard. Those decisions, like it or not, rest in the hands of the elected representatives of the people.

If you feel strongly enough to defy that, then the only honorable course is not to flee to Canada, and whine like a weasel when people call you deserter all the time you assert you're a Marine. No, the only honorable course, if not necessarily one with a happy ending, is to take the path of Lieutenant Watada - who at least is taking his Quixotic quest on a path of greater honor than yours.

You are an oath-breaker. No more. No less. You are faithless. By your own words you condemn yourself - and reveal the shallowness of your thought.

I take your guitar, and I smash it against the wall.

Now, that done, Pinto, where's my beer? And where is everybody today? It's getting lonely in here.

The Last Project Valour-IT post for a while...

From Fuzzybear Lioness of Fuzzilicious Thinking (the drive behind PV):

Valour-IT Blogburst Wrap-up

Thank you so much to all of you who participated in the impromptu, low-pressure fundraiser to help Valour-IT get through our tight spot. Here are some of good things happening because of it:

Total raised: $18, 265--That's 2.5 times more than the goal!

Even better, that total does not include at least one new sponsor and six additional laptops that have been donated.
Laptops distributed since August 2005: 500.

Because of the exposure for Valour-IT the blogburst created, we have prospects both for much wider press coverage in the near future and for gaining the attention of some people who have expressed an interest in offering Valour-IT significant assistance.

People in a position to help with a Fall fundraiser are already offering their assistance.
Thank yous are hard for me--not because it's hard to be grateful, but because it's hard to express the depths of my appreciation and amazement at the way people keep coming through for Valour-IT. We sounded the alarm in hopes of getting 7 to 10 thousand, but ended up with over $18,000! And when I was laid low with illness, others stepped right up to the plate to lead (thank you so much!!).

From Patti Bader - the Soul of Soldier's Angels:

You cannot see me but I am giving each and every one of you the BIGGEST hug in the world. Thank you so much ,this is HUGE. Many a hero will heal just a little bit better, a little bit faster because of your caring.

You have my heart and eternal gratitude of a wounded hero. You might not know their name but I bet you know their smile. I am honored to stand with each and everyone of you.

You can read the rest (and you should) here.

Hmmm. I wonder if we could get the Capitol Hilton in on this... as penance?

Two things... both aviation oriented.

1. Standing there quietly stirring the fire, Aviator Edition.

2. All you auld helocapeter pilots and crewchiefs: Bill the Rotorhead has posted a poser - a bit of helo kit that he thinks we can't identify.

Thus far, he's right.

Come prove him wrong?

Our Man in Basra Sees the Sights

A fresh report from our Man in Basra.

View image

We've REALLY Done it Now...

We decided to give our friends over at RealClearPolitics an exclusive excerpt from Home of the Brave's
"spirited" afterword, "Have the Mainstream Media Ignored Our Heroes?"

As Andi pointed out, our friends over at the Media Research Center have now provided empirical evidence that further buttresses our argument.

Happy Father's Day!

To all fathers who have (and had) an answer when their kids ask, " What did you do in the war, Daddy?" --

Happy Father's Day!

And thanks!