25 Years Later We Still Remember

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2005 - America today honored eight
American servicemen who died trying to rescue American
hostages in Iran 25 years ago.

A ceremony here, on the 25th anniversary of their deaths,
brought together the families of those killed, their
comrades and those servicemembers who carry on the special
operations mission.

In November 1979 Iranian militants took 53 Americans in the
U.S. Embassy in Tehran hostage. It was the most egregious
violation of the principles of diplomacy in the history of
statecraft, L. Bruce Laingen, the highest-ranking American
taken hostage, said at today’s ceremony.

On April 25, 1980, the rescue attempt, dubbed "Operation
Eagle Claw," came to a flaming end on the floor of the desert
near Tehran. Eight Americans -- five airmen and three
Marines -- were killed when the rotor of a helicopter sliced
into the fuselage of a C-130 transport aircraft.

The eight killed in the failed rescue attempt were: Air
Force Maj. Richard L. Bakke, Marine Sgt. John D. Harvey,
Marine Cpl. George N. Holmes Jr., Marine Staff Sgt. Dewey L.
Johnson, Air Force Maj. Harold L. Lewis, Air Force Tech. Sgt.
Joel C. Mayo, Air Force Maj. Lyn D. McIntosh and Air Force
Capt. Charles T. McMillan II.

Today’s ceremony, sponsored by the White House Commission
on Remembrance, also brought together 10 of the hostages.
The hostages were finally released by the Iranians after 444
days in captivity.

There was sadness at the ceremony, but there was also
admiration for the courage the men showed and the knowledge that
out of the fires of Desert One -- as the site in Iran was
known -- came the impetus for a new, stronger, more
integrated military and special operations force.

Air Force Lt. Gen Norton Schwartz, director of the Joint
Staff, called the failure of the Iran hostage rescue mission
a seminal event in recent American military history. He
said the mission was “so important that the nation’s
self-image, it’s standing and reputation in the world community, and
the fate of a presidency hung in the balance.�

When the mission failed, media reports were full of
recriminations, and nations around the world called the United
States a toothless lion. “Yet at the same time, the memory of
Desert One propelled a generation, of which I am a part, to
assure that America would never again repeat that searing,
transforming experience of the 25th of April 1980,�
Schwartz said.

“Never again would we be so unprepared, so ill-equipped, so
entirely dependent on the skills, resourcefulness of our
people, who, despite shortcomings in force cohesion,
equipment and external support, lifted off into the darkness with
only one mission imperative: bring Americans home,� he said.

Schwartz said the often-maligned heroes of that mission
lifted off from the deck of the USS Nimitz with the
“conviction that completing the mission served interests far larger
than themselves, at a moment in time when the nation’s
reputation and American lives truly hung in the balance.�

The general said that all Americans share the grief of the
families who lost loved ones that day. But they died
trying, Schwartz said. They kept the promise. “Because on that
murky night, when they faced America’s adversary and their
own fears, your men did not submit,� Schwartz told the
families. “They did not retire. They didn’t then, and we, their
successors -- in large measure in their honor -- do not and
will not now.�

Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin was one of the would-be
rescuers that day. He said that accident “was the greatest
disappointment of my professional career because we didn’t bring
home 53 Americans.�

Now principle deputy undersecretary of defense for
intelligence and warfighter support in the Pentagon, Boykin also
called the mission one of the proudest moments of his career.
He said all the men in the rescue effort knew the risks.
“None of us wanted to die; none of us expected to die, but we
knew the risk,� Boykin said. “We knew that we were up
against an entire nation with a force of barely 100 people.�

Thomas O’Connell, assistant secretary of defense for
special operations and low-intensity combat, said the sacrifices
of those eight men were not in vain. Special operations
forces have been in the forefront of the fight against
terrorism today.

“If you need inspiration in these tough days, give thanks
for those who risked and gave all on this mission, but also
give thanks for those who survived and made great strides
for our national security,� O’Connell said.

They Should Be Investigating Nancy Pelosi Instead Of Tom Delay

House Republicans yesterday called on Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to provide documentation to prove that a Washington lobbyist firm did not pay for a trip she and other Democrats took to Puerto Rico in 2001.
"We feel that such lingering questions undermine the integrity of the institution and we hope [the questions] will be cleared up as soon as possible," wrote Republican Reps. Patrick T. McHenry of North Carolina and Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia.
The Washington Times reported earlier this week that Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Ohio Democrat and member of the House ethics committee, listed a registered lobbyist as the trip's sponsor. House rules prohibit registered lobbyists from paying for travel by members.
On travel disclosure forms filed with the House clerk, Mrs. Pelosi and others on the trip listed a group called Todo Puerto Rico con Vieques as its sponsor.
After the discrepancy was made public, Mrs. Jones amended her travel disclosure form to match those of Mrs. Pelosi and other travelers. A spokeswoman in Mrs. Jones' office blamed the conflicting information on "human error" but declined to provide proof that the trip was paid for by Todo Puerto Rico con Vieques, rather than D.C. lobbyist Smith, Dawson & Andrews.
Mrs. Pelosi also refused to provide any such documentation, and testily dismissed questions yesterday about the matter.
"There's no discrepancy in the records on my trip," the California Democrat said. "So that's all I can answer for."
Meanwhile, Rep. Tom Feeney, Florida Republican, yesterday became the latest to be ensnared in the escalating bipartisan hunt for ethical lapses in congressional travel.
Mr. Feeney and his wife traveled from Orlando to West Palm Beach, Fla., to deliver a speech in November 2003. According to records he filed with the House clerk, the $1,946 tab for the trip was picked up by Rotterman & Associates, a North Carolina-based lobbying firm.
Mr. Feeney amended his report this week, saying the California-based Center for the Study of Popular Culture had funded the trip.
The charges and countercharges about congressional travel come amid a prolonged standoff between Democrats and Republicans that has kept the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct from meeting this year.
The questions also come after months of claims against Majority Leader Tom DeLay, accused of accepting a trip paid for by a lobbyist. Mr DeLay and the nonprofit group he listed as the trip's sponsor insist the lobbyist did not pay the bill.
Mrs. Pelosi has called for a full investigation into that matter, which is an inconsistency, say Mr. McHenry and Mr. Westmoreland.
"If you are serious that the mere allegation that a lobbyist paid for member travel warrants a full ethics investigation, it would seem that a member actually disclosing it as fact would more than merit it," the Republicans wrote.
"We would hope that you would come forward with any and all documentation your office has proving that in fact the group, Todo Puerto Rico con Vieques, initiated and paid for your trip," Mr. McHenry and Mr. Westmoreland added. "Ms. Jones' disclosures that a lobbyist in fact paid for it, and her subsequent statement that the lobbying firm handled the logistics, has created an appearance that the true source of the funds may not actually be Todo Puerto Rico con Vieques."
Jose Paralitici, who organized the group to oppose the U.S. Navy bombing range in Vieques, yesterday returned a telephone message left earlier in the week by The Times. Mr. Paralitici said he operates the group from his home and that the group paid for the 2001 trips.
Mr. Paralitici said he hadn't spoken to anyone in Congress this week but that he was volunteering the information after coming across The Times story on the Internet. He said the money to pay the more than $8,000 in travel bills came from "a lot of donations."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Gee Nancy!!! Looks like you have done some things in your past also!!
I would back off Tom Delay if I was you. What comes around goes around and when it comes back at you sometimes it bites you on the ass!!!
Tom Delay hasnt done anything more than some of you Democrats have done at one time or another. He has been charged with nothing, and I dont see him getting any thing more than bashed by the Liberal wing of the Democratic party that are still mad they lost the election. GET OVER IT!!! Find something else to do with your party, like get a vision, a plan, a direction for your party to go. Bashing Republicans isnt going to work anymore.

Holding Up Bolton-There's More To It

The campaign to defeat John Bolton has its roots with last year's
campaign of Senator John Kerry for President.

Whether you voted for or against Mr. Kerry for president shouldn't
change the fact that John Bolton is too good of a man to be
sacrificed for those who wish to retract the elections results
of 2004 and 2000.

When John Bolton was first nominated, those who were critical of him
ranted on endlessly about how 'dangerous' he was because of his vocal
criticism of the United Nations.

The problem for Bolton critics was that polls showed American attitudes
towards the UN are the most negative they've been in the institution's
history. Just 37% of adults view the UN "favorably" (Rasmussen
Reports) and according to a poll commissioned by Gallup a sizable,
"61% of Americans believe the UN is doing a poor job addressing the
problems currently facing the organization."

So trashing John Bolton for being too negative towards the UN wouldn't
work.

That's when the allegations of "serial abuser" began to work their
way into the lexicon of Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee.

And that was the reasons cited for yesterday's grandstanding show by
Democrats who ranted, raved, and screamed until turncoat Republican,
George Voinovich capitulated and blocked Bolton's nomination.

But what you haven't heard in the mainstream news media is that the
two people cited as witnesses to John Bolton's have histories
involved with Senator John Kerry and the campaign against President
Bush.

It's personal for the leftist Kerry-Boxer wing of the Democrat Party,
and their opposition to John Bolton is all about politics and nothing
about their stated concerns for Mr. Bolton's temperament.

The first anti-Bolton accuser was Carl Ford. You remember him? He
was the man who claimed he didn't have a political axe to grind, as
he was a "conservative Republican." Well, did the mainstream news
media tell you that this so-called "conservative Republican" gave
campaign contributions of $1,000 to far-left Democrat Charlie Rangel?
Did the mainstream media tell you that Carl Ford gave $500 to liberal
Senator (and Democrat presidential candidate) John Kerry? Did any of
the major television networks report about the $1,250 Carl Ford gave
to liberal Democrat Congresswoman Jane Harman? Or did any major
metropolitan newspaper report to you that Carl Ford, the supposed
"conservative Republican" gave $500 to Democrat Senator Daniel Inouye?

But wait, folks, it gets better! Wait until you hear about the person
who stepped forward at the last minute and reported that John Bolton
yelled at her and pounded on her door... That would be Melody Townsel.

And when liberal Senators Joe Biden and Christopher Dodd ranted
yesterday about how crucial it was to "get to the truth" behind
Ms. Townsel's accusations, what they neglected to tell you was the
complete truth - because that would have been damaging to their
faulty claim. They didn't inform anyone that Ms. Townsel is a
Democrat party activist who launched the Dallas-based chapter of
"Mothers Opposing Bush" during the last presidential election.

The entire "Stop John Bolton" campaign is really an exercise in
partisan politics by liberal Democrats who are trying to destroy
everything that President Bush does or stands for because they lost
the election and refuse to accept the results.

But this battle shouldn't be about President Bush. What we care
about is fighting for the principles that underscore the ideology and
basis for our organization - most especially the importance of
Americans unifying to win the War on Terrorism. And supporting John
Bolton - a man who puts America's interests ahead of the corrupt
dictators and despots that run the United Nations - is extremely
important to all Americans and us.

So, when someone like Senator George Voinovich teams up with the
"Blame America First" crowd, you can bet we are going to take action.
Whether or not other individuals or organizations will tolerate
falling victim to such political dirty tricks or not, the point is
we won't.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For More Info Visit http://www.moveamericaforward.com
Or Click The Title Of This Blog

Remembering Those That Perished 4-19-1995

---------------------------------------------------------------------
We Will Never Forget The 168 Lives That Perished In the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building April 19, 1995

Pope John Paul II

Sleep well Father............

After The Last Few Weeks Time To Lighten Up A Bit

American Diplomacy (Bush is smarter than I thought he was)

George Bush received a call from Russian President Putin. He says to
Bush "Our largest condom factory has exploded. My people's favorite form
of birth control. This is a true disaster!"

"Mr. Putin, the American people would be happy to do anything within
their power to help you," replied President Bush.

"I do need your help," said Putin. "Could you send 1,000,000
condom ASAP to tide us over?"

"Why certainly! I'll get right on it," said Bush.

"Oh, and one more small favor, please?" said Putin.

"Yes?" said Bush.

"Could the condoms be red in color and at least 10" long and 2"
in diameter?" said Putin.

"No problem," replied the President.

Mr. Putin hung up and started laughing with his aides about how
those stupid Americans will fall for anything.

George Bush hung up and called the CEO of a condom company "I
need a favor. Can you send 1,000,000 condoms right away over to Russia?"

"Consider it done," replied the CEO of the condom company.

"Good! Now listen, they have to be red in color, 10" long and
2" in diameter."

"Easily done. Anything else?"

"Yeah," said the President, "Print 'MADE IN TEXAS, SIZE: SMALL
on each one!!!"

Hell No, "Kofi Annon Says To Resignation Demands"

The interim report on the Oil for Food investigation by Paul Volcker
has come out, and Kofi Annan is fighting off growing calls for the
U.N. General Secretary's resignation.

In a press conference following release of the U.N. appointed
committee's investigation into the Oil for Food scam, Annan answered
a reporter's query of "would he consider resigning" with a defiant
response of simply: "Hell No."

Brash statements from Kofi Annan aside, the U.N.-appointed committee
investigating Oil for Food has uncovered a huge amount of
incriminating information on Kofi Annan, Kojo Annan, Benon
Sevan and the United Nations.

We've summarized just some of the more startling revelations of
the report involving Kofi Annan and his son, Kojo.

You can read it here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1373284/posts

Don't be surprised when some of the U.N.'s strongest defenders still
insist that "there's been no wrongdoing."

Sandy Berger's Past

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy Berger's Past

Sandy Berger is under criminal investigation because he took highly classified documents from the National Archives. Following is biographical information on Berger.

— Unpaid senior adviser to Sen. John Kerry's Democratic presidential campaign.

— Chairman of Stonebridge International LLC, an international strategic advisory firm based in Washington, DC.

— Senior advisor to Lehman Brothers, international strategic advisor to law firm of Hogan & Hartson.

— National security advisor to President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2001. During Berger's tenure, the United States engaged in military operations against Iraq on four occasions.

— Deputy national security advisor, 1993-1996.

— Deputy director of the State Department's policy planning staff under Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, 1977-1980.

— Previous government service includes: special assistant to former New York City Mayor John Lindsay, legislative assistant to former U.S. Sen. Harold Hughes of Iowa and to Rep. Joseph Resnick of New York.

— Author of "Dollar Harvest" (1971), a book on American rural politics.

Sandy Berger To Plead Guilty- Finally

WASHINGTON — Former national security adviser Sandy Berger will plead guilty to taking classified documents from the National Archives, the Justice Department said Thursday.

Berger, who served in the Clinton administration, will enter the plea Friday in U.S. District Court in Washington, said Justice spokesman Bryan Sierra.

The plea agreement, if accepted by a judge, ends a bizarre episode in which the man who once had access to the government's most sensitive intelligence was accused of sneaking documents out of the Archives in his clothing.

The Bush administration disclosed the investigation days before the Sept. 11 commission issued its final report. Democrats claimed the White House was using Berger to deflect attention from the harsh report, with its potential for damaging Bush's re-election prospects.

Berger previously acknowledged he removed from the National Archives copies of documents about the government's anti-terror efforts, and forein policy papers, and notes that he took on those documents.

He said he was reviewing the materials to help determine which Clinton administration documents to provide to the independent commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. He called the episode "an honest mistake," and denied criminal wrongdoing.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The "Socks Docs" probe forced Berger, who was President Clinton's national security adviser, to step down as Democrat John Kerry's top foreign-policy adviser last summer.

"It may have been off the front pages, but the investigation has been active," said a source with knowledge of the probe.

"[Berger] has been interviewed several times by federal agents — FBI and prosecutors."

Berger admits removing 40 to 50 top-secret documents from the archives, but claims it was an "honest mistake" made while he vetted documents for the 9/11 commission's probe into the Twin Towers attacks.

Berger has also acknowledged that he destroyed some documents — he says by accident.

It's unclear if he destroyed documents with handwritten notations that don't appear on other copies.

Some Republicans, such as House Speaker Dennis Hastert, have charged that Berger pilfered the documents because they were embarrassing to Clinton and Clinton aides such as Berger.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah! An Honest mistake, stuffing the documents down his underwear is an Honest mistake? Odd how alot of those documents Berger heisted had to do with Foreign Policy, and John Kerry on the campain trail, gave a foreign policy speech the day after Sandy Berger stole the Documents!!!
Ironic isnt it?
Just another reason to not trust Liberals! EVER!!!
I hope they throw the book at the Underwear Burgler!!!
That is if they have a judge that hasnt been bought off.

This Is Beyond Cruel

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You got your wish Michael!
Terri is gone now. But I hope what you have done haunts you for the rest of your life.
Since YOU decided (With the help of the court system) that it was Terri's time to die, the least you could do now is give her back to her family!
If I was Terri's mom, you would have been gone long ago.
Sometimes you have to take the law into your own hands. Apparently.
And the Judicial system wonders why we do take the law into our own hands.
They need not wonder anymore after this massive mistake.
If you dont at least return her to her family, the Mother who gave Birth to her I hope you..
Burn in HELL Michael! Burn in HELL!!!