Thursday, November 1, 2012

This Man Says it All!

Gentleman sent this to my home paper to be published.


The Benghazi debacle


This is the Random House Dictionary of the English Language definition of “Feckless”: (fek’lis), adj. 1. ineffective; incompetent; feeble. 2. Without worth, spirit, or value; indifferent; lazy.

The entire security apparatus of the Obama administration breathed new life into that definition on Sept. 11, with their handling of the terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi that resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including the American ambassador.

With a drone operating in the area, providing real-time video feed of the tragic hours-long event, directly into the White House situation room, as well as other key defense, CIA and state locations, the administration had ample intelligence to size up the situation. The two former Navy Seals who were on the ground had positioned themselves with the capability to “paint” the attackers’ positions with laser target designators. U.S. air assets were within easy striking distance.

And yet, and yet, the order came down from on high: “Stand down.” Those words will surely live in infamy.

Said Secretary of Defense Panetta, “You don’t deploy forces into harms way without knowing what’s going on. (We) felt we could not put forces at risk in that situation.” Are you kidding me, sir? That’s what our military trains for: to put our enemies “in harm’s way,” even at risk to themselves. If Panetta’s decision making model had been in effect in 1944, D-Day would have been cancelled!

In December 1776, Thomas Paine wrote, “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country, but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: It is dearness only that gives every thing its value.”

In the fall of 2012, these are, once more, “times that try men’s souls.” Voters can serve their country next week by ridding our country of the feckless crew that deserted our fellow Americans in Libya.



Bob Carlson, USMC (Ret)

Wilson

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