What Day is It?

[Eagle1]

Why, it's National Maritime Day!

As proclaimed here:

In times of war, the Merchant Marine is the lifeline of our troops overseas. By carrying critical supplies, equipment, and personnel, merchant mariners provide essential support to our Armed Forces and help advance the cause of freedom. Today, merchant mariners are supporting operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and their devotion to duty is a tribute to the generations of men and women who have served our Nation with courage and determination in every conflict in America's history. On this day, and throughout the year, America is grateful for their service.

Redo's

[Soldier's Dad]

I wonder what the world would be like if -
The US had left a sizable stabilaztion force in Europe at the end of WWI
The US had not passed the neutrality act of 1936
Rather than create the State of Israel in 1948..force the Palestinians to accept an unlimited right of return of the Hebrews(the original idea).
North Korea had been carpet bombed in '52
Rather than collapsing after a few rather unsubtantial protests in '53, the Iranian parliament had adopted good governance.
Joe McCarthy had spent his energies pointing out the weakness of communism rather than conducting a witch hunt against communists.
Congress had left 25K or so advisors and some aid on the table for South Vietnam.
Carter didn't pull the plug on the Shah of Iran and insisted on incremental reforms.
Carter didn't believe Breznev's assertion that the Soviets wouldn't invade Afghanistan.
The Looney Left hadn't killed the Nuclear Power Industry in the US in the '70's
We had leveled the Iranian Parliament 30 seconds after the US hostages were released.
Bush Senior had actually gone to Baghdad when we had a much larger Army.
Clinton hadn't cut the size of the Army.

Unfortunately...we don't get redo's in real life.

American hostages seen alive

[CDR Salamander]

No, not what you are thinking. Look at these three Americans - held hostage by terrorists for almost 4 years.

Relatives of kidnap victims call it "proof of life."

Almost four years have passed since Gene and Lynne Stansell received any confirmation that their son, Keith, a U.S. defense contractor who was taken hostage by left-wing guerrillas in Colombia, was still alive.

Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes, and Marc Gonsalves. Mostly forgotten by all but their family - and they were working for us.

The three Americans were captured in February 2003 after their single-engine plane crashed in the Colombian jungle on a counterdrug reconnaissance mission.

A gaunt looking Pinchao said he escaped the prison camp in the country's eastern jungle lowlands on April 28. He last saw the Americans on the day he fled, he told reporters. One of the Americans, Gonsalves, was suffering from hepatitis.

Yes Virginia, there are still Communist terrorists out there. Narco-Communists - but Communists nonetheless. Do Keith, thomas, and Marc rate the POW/MIA flag as well? If so, who in our government cares? Ever hear anything but an "oh by the way?" Anyone trying real hard to find them? SOUTHCOM, looking for work? Is it part of the CUB? CDR SOUTHCOM calls it "...one of the top priorities.." but a search for "FARC" on the SOUTHCOM website finds just six news bits and nothing else. Your Command Strategy 2016 only mentions FARC once. Once. Just wondering....you mention "diversity" twice....