Stoney
June 27, 2011, 22:58
The President addressing the 10th Mountain Division yesterday at Fort
Drum:
"First time I saw 10th Mountain Division, you guys were in southern
Iraq. When I went back to visit Afghanistan, you guys were the first
ones there. I had the great honor of seeing some of you because a
comrade of yours, Jared Monti, was the first person who I was able to
award the Medal of Honor to who actually came back and wasn't receiving
it posthumously."
As we all know, SSG Sal Giunta, of the 173rd Airborne, was the first
living recipient (2011) of the MOH who fought in Iraq/Afganistan. SFC
Jared Monti, 10th Mountain Division, was KIA in Afghanistan in 2006. He
was posthumously awarded the MOH by Obama in 2009.
How does the Commander-in-Chief mix these heroes up? He put that medal
around Giunta's neck and he stood with Monti's parents as they grieved.
These fallen heroes leave such a great legacy, and we should know all
their names. The ironic part of the speech, and this comes after the
announcement of the politically pressured drawdown of troops in
Afghanistan, was Obama's closing remark, "Know that your
Commander-in-Chief has your back."
It shouldn't take a teleprompter for the C-in-C to get it right.
A Clueless, Callous Commander-in-Chief
Russ Vaughn
Obama's bumbling, bungled delivery at Fort Drum yesterday represents far
more than mere confusion; it clearly demonstrates a lack of care, an
inattention to detail in matters very important to his audience, an
insensitivity to the families of dead warriors, a dismissive disrespect
of SSGT Giunta, and a casual slap in the face to the entire United
States military.
If you are going to be the Commander-in-Chief, Barry, then as this old
sergeant would have instructed one of his troops after such a
disgraceful performance, "Soldier up fool and get your sh*t straight.
You are talking about recipients of the highest award for valor their
nation can bestow upon their warriors. You have flippantly dishonored
the award itself and all those to whom it has ever been awarded. You are
an embarrassment to the world, your country and most importantly to the
troops you supposedly command."
What a sorry, sorry performance...what it demonstrates most clearly is
why gradually increasing experience and leadership responsibility are
essential before anyone should even be considered for the
Commander-in-Chief's position.
Among the many roles a president must perform, that of leader of our
military forces, is the one most difficult to fulfill successfully
because the men and women who comprise those forces are those very
Americans who suffer fools least gladly. They have been there and done
that and are quick to spot the fast-talking phony who has not. That is
why military personnel wear campaign and accomplishment ribbons on their
uniforms-those brightly colored little strips, meaningless to civilians,
provide a quick read to fellow warriors as to where you've been and what
you've been through. It's the equivalent of your military history
displayed for your fellow warriors to see. Our current C-in-C hasn't a
single, earned ribbon.
And, brother, is it ever obvious....
Barry is nothing more than a great pretender, a community organizer
elevated far beyond deserved rank, completely oblivious to the gravitas
of his role. I deplore the overuse of the term offended in today's
society but, can there be anyone associated with the military who is not
offended by this clueless, callous affront to all warriors?
SSGT Russ Vaughn
2d Bn, 327th Parachute Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Division
Vietnam 65-66
AS LONG AS THERE IS A UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
THERE WILL BE A UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Drum:
"First time I saw 10th Mountain Division, you guys were in southern
Iraq. When I went back to visit Afghanistan, you guys were the first
ones there. I had the great honor of seeing some of you because a
comrade of yours, Jared Monti, was the first person who I was able to
award the Medal of Honor to who actually came back and wasn't receiving
it posthumously."
As we all know, SSG Sal Giunta, of the 173rd Airborne, was the first
living recipient (2011) of the MOH who fought in Iraq/Afganistan. SFC
Jared Monti, 10th Mountain Division, was KIA in Afghanistan in 2006. He
was posthumously awarded the MOH by Obama in 2009.
How does the Commander-in-Chief mix these heroes up? He put that medal
around Giunta's neck and he stood with Monti's parents as they grieved.
These fallen heroes leave such a great legacy, and we should know all
their names. The ironic part of the speech, and this comes after the
announcement of the politically pressured drawdown of troops in
Afghanistan, was Obama's closing remark, "Know that your
Commander-in-Chief has your back."
It shouldn't take a teleprompter for the C-in-C to get it right.
A Clueless, Callous Commander-in-Chief
Russ Vaughn
Obama's bumbling, bungled delivery at Fort Drum yesterday represents far
more than mere confusion; it clearly demonstrates a lack of care, an
inattention to detail in matters very important to his audience, an
insensitivity to the families of dead warriors, a dismissive disrespect
of SSGT Giunta, and a casual slap in the face to the entire United
States military.
If you are going to be the Commander-in-Chief, Barry, then as this old
sergeant would have instructed one of his troops after such a
disgraceful performance, "Soldier up fool and get your sh*t straight.
You are talking about recipients of the highest award for valor their
nation can bestow upon their warriors. You have flippantly dishonored
the award itself and all those to whom it has ever been awarded. You are
an embarrassment to the world, your country and most importantly to the
troops you supposedly command."
What a sorry, sorry performance...what it demonstrates most clearly is
why gradually increasing experience and leadership responsibility are
essential before anyone should even be considered for the
Commander-in-Chief's position.
Among the many roles a president must perform, that of leader of our
military forces, is the one most difficult to fulfill successfully
because the men and women who comprise those forces are those very
Americans who suffer fools least gladly. They have been there and done
that and are quick to spot the fast-talking phony who has not. That is
why military personnel wear campaign and accomplishment ribbons on their
uniforms-those brightly colored little strips, meaningless to civilians,
provide a quick read to fellow warriors as to where you've been and what
you've been through. It's the equivalent of your military history
displayed for your fellow warriors to see. Our current C-in-C hasn't a
single, earned ribbon.
And, brother, is it ever obvious....
Barry is nothing more than a great pretender, a community organizer
elevated far beyond deserved rank, completely oblivious to the gravitas
of his role. I deplore the overuse of the term offended in today's
society but, can there be anyone associated with the military who is not
offended by this clueless, callous affront to all warriors?
SSGT Russ Vaughn
2d Bn, 327th Parachute Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Division
Vietnam 65-66
AS LONG AS THERE IS A UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
THERE WILL BE A UNITED STATES OF AMERICA