Saturday, November 19, 2005

Iraq another Viet Nam 'quagmire'?

Is the war in Iraq another, as the Democrats would have us believe, "quagmire" in the mode of Viet Nam?

Yes!!

Many Americans, it would seem, are now coming to that conclusion - at least if you believe the Democratic and major media and their never-ending "polls"! But, let's look at the reality of this situation.

First, let me state emphatically that I do not believe that the US 'lost' the Viet Nam war - victory was given away be the same type of people that would willingly give away any chance for victory in Iraq. When the conflict in Viet Nam began, most American really did not know much about what was going on. Once the public began to realize what was happening in Viet Nam and why, they were largely supportive. Then the 'anti-war' crowd got into the act and the liberal press jumped on the bandwagon. It was at this point that the mood slowly began to change. Why?? Did the American people come to not believe in democracy? Did they come to not believe that America was attempting to give another - weaker - nation that same democracy which we so love? Did they come to believe that America was wrong to want to help a small nation that was trying to stop a brutal dictatorship from killing their people and committing unspeakable horors? NO!! The majority of the American public has always believed in democracy for the world and has always been ready to support other nations that seek what we have. Well, then, what changed??

The hate-America crowd (better known at the "anti-war crowd") began to become more vocal. The cowards among us who are more than willing to benefit from the goodness and liberty that is America but are not willing to pay the price began to fear that it would be they that would be called on to ante up. They began to fear that they would be asked to pay their portion of the tab - and we all know that the liberals deem it an outrage that they should have to pay for the ideas that they espouse - by actually having to defend their right to freely bash and hate this great nation.

This hate-America crowd was then joined by the major media. If you go back and look at the press coverage of the Viet Nam war - starting especially around 1968 - you will find that the media overwhelmingly 'covered' the negative aspects overseas and downplayed any good that was being done by our troops. The press continously broadcast American body counts (while, at the same time, decrying the military's use of enemy body counts), concentrated on images of 'civilian' homes and villages being destroyed (while ignoring the fact that these homes and villages were used by the NVA to hide troops and materials used to kill Americans), constant reports of "alleged" tortures and atrocities by American troops (while ignoring known and proven tortures and atrocities by the government of Ho Chi Mihn), and began 'questioning' the ability of the military and the 'winnablility' of the war.

Back home, the press became absolutely orgasmic in their reporting of the "anti-war" demostrations and individual protesters - while largely ignoring or vilifying any defenders of the war or the military! The major press rarely interviewed any soldier who supported the war - they seemed to seek out only those soldiers and/or commanders who would say the things that they wanted said (John Kerry is the most vivid example of this despicable tactic!), they rarely investigated any claim that blackened the American military, and constantly posed pro-war or pro-military troopers as killers! The press contiunously pressed the case that the fed government "lied" and/or manipulated the information that led us into the war and constantly sought to put the government and the military on the defensive with the American public. The press glorified draft-dodgers as people of principle and honor rather than what they were - COWARDS! And, the most honored of this group were not the ones who were willing to pay the price for 'convictions and principles' (risking imprisonment) rather they glorifyed those who ran!

Finally, the press and the hate-America crowd - backed, supported, and led by known communist groups - turned their hate, not only on the military and the government, on the individual soldier - the kid (and they were just kids!) who did not want to be in military in the first place and, more often, did not want to be in 'Nam, did not want to or enjoy killing people, and certainly did not want to die! These kids had no choice about what they were doing or where they assigned (remember, the bulk of the military was drafted at that time); they were simply doing what they were forced to do and trying to survive! Yet, these kids were villified and attacked, individually, as "baby-killers" or "war-mongerers" or "willing pawns" - is it any wonder that many 'Nam vets suffered, and still suffer, mental problems?

These actions by the Marxist/Socialist extreme left-wingers (now the leaders of the Democratic Party) and their cohorts in the major media led to drop in morale by the troops - they began to doubt that the American people supported them which led to doubts about what they doing - and empowering the NVA. The North VietNam government concluded that if they could wait out the mood of the American public (as presented by the American press), they could succeed in forcing the American government to simply give up. In other words, they concluded that they could win not through military means - the US military never lost a major engagement - but, through political means! And, it worked!!!

Finally, in 1972, the hate-America crowd and their media cohorts won the day - the US caved and simply packed up and went home! With their departure, VietNam immediately fell under the tryannical, brutal, and murderous dictatorial government of North VietNam - with retribution immediately implemented against the people of South VietNam. Over the next few years, literally millions of VietNamese were tortured, brutalized, and killed.

Worse, the American soldier and the families of those brave kids who sacrificed their lives and bodies were left to ask WHY?? Why were they sacrificed for nothing? Why did not THEIR country, at the very least, offer their thanks for the sacrifices? Why did not THEIR country, at minimum, sypmthasize with their plight and their situation??? Why were THEY singled out individually as a target of the hate?

Now, today, the same tactics are being used in the hate-America crowd's opposition to the war in Iraq - led by the very same major media that did so much damage in the '60's and '70's. And, even worse, these hate-America tactics are being used by the very Democratic leaders that sent the men and women over to fight the war in the first place!! These Marxist/Socialist extreme left-wing Democratic "leaders" who, through their votes to approve the war, sent these brave men and women to war are now giving the terrorists the weapons they did need to defeat us - namely the loss of support of the American people. Is it any wonder that 'support' for the war seems to be declining? Thanks to the major media (as with the VietNam war) and Marxist/Socialist extreme left-wingers in the Democratic Party, the public is never given any positive information. The hate-America crowd and their press allies constantly trumpet that the war is based on lies and manipulation of intelligence, question the ability of the military and it's commanders, glorify ANY information that casts a negative light - accepting as fact any negative statement by an individual, while at the same time discounting any positive information produced by a mulititude of people and documents - that the war is not "winnable", and attempt to "explain" why the terrorist want to kill us!

And, don't for one minute, believe that this hate-America crowd support and love the troops. As this war continues and the Marxist/Socialist extreme left-wingers see that their current tactics are not producing the results they want, they will give up this charade and turn on the individual soldier!! And, when this happens (not if, but WHEN), it will be even more ugly for the individual soldier than was displayed to the 'Nam vet - after all, the military is entirely volunteer now, unlike 'Nam.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Illegal Immigration debates - "Knee-jerk Solutions"

As often happens when dicussions turn to the illegal immigration problems, the reactions are invariably "Seal the borders!". All of the proposals seem to center on this concept and the "solutions" put forth echo this - increase the Border Patrol funding and agents, support groups such as the Minute Men, install fences and walls and sensors, and other such measures. But, these are only "knee-jerk" solutions and they will not work and this is the reason that the libs and the Marxist/Socialist extreme left-wing of the Democratic party appear to support such measures. Never dare to assume that the Marxist/Socialist extreme left-wing of the Democratic party actually wants to see a positive and effective program to decrease the influx of illegals - they see these people as their upcoming power base and they don't want to negatively impact that potential source. Oh, they will "mouth" the proper phrases as this is a hot topic right now and the American public is fed up with this problem.

But, let's look at the deeper problems concerning illegal immigration!

Sealing the borders and apprehending a few illegals is the easiest and least productive solution. Yes, you will stop a few - for the moment - from entering the country and it will make people feel a little better. But, as we all know, these people will simply reenter the country illegally a short time later. Why?? Because the benefits of entering this country illegally outweigh the risks!

Under our current system, put in place by the liberals and the Marxist/Socialist extreme left-wing of the Democratic party, - these same people who are now echoing the conservative cry for tighter border control - illegal really do not suffer any punishment. Thanks to the Marxist/Socialist extreme left-wing and their "enablers" - the ACLU - these people are treated as disadvantaged CITIZENS rather than as the criminals that they are! They are given "hearings" to insure that their Constitutional rights are protected (disregard the fact that the Constitution is meant to apply only to US citizens); if an illegal woman gives birth, not only do we pay for the hospital care, the baby is automatically a US citizen (then the illegal is afforded the right to stay so as not to "break up the family"); they are given medical care and welfare; and on and on and on. And, even when an illegal is actually caught - either at the border or after having been in country illegally for a number of years - they are merely shipped by to their country of origin (at taxpayer expense, of course) with the 'severe' warning of "Don't enter the country illegally again!". Only to turn right around (usually at the origin country's airport arrival terminal!) and begin immediately plotting ways to return - illegally!!

From the Los Angeles Times, 10/30/05, highlights this situation: (added emphasis is mine)

SAN SALVADOR -- On a sweltering afternoon, an unmarked white jetliner taxies to a remote terminal at the international airport here and disgorges dozens of criminal deportees from the United States. Marshals release the handcuffed prisoners, who shuffle into a processing room.Of the 70 passengers, at least four are members of Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, a gang formed two decades ago near MacArthur Park west of the Los Angeles skyline.

For one of them, Melvin "Joker" Cruz-Mendoza, the trip is nothing new. This is his fourth deportation — the second this year.Wiry with a shaved head, the 24-year-old pleaded guilty in separate felony robbery and drug cases in Los Angeles. "MS" covers his right forearm. Other tattoos are carved into the skin above his eyebrows.In the last 12 years, U.S. immigration authorities have logged more than 50,000 deportations of immigrants with criminal records to Central America, including untold numbers of gang members like Cruz-Mendoza.But a deportation policy aimed in part at breaking up a Los Angeles street gang has backfired and helped spread it across Central America and back into other parts of the United States. Newly organized cells in El Salvador have returned to establish strongholds in metropolitan Washington, D.C., and other U.S. cities. Prisons in El Salvador have become nerve centers, authorities say, where deported leaders from Los Angeles communicate with gang cliques across the United States.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-me-gang30oct30,0,5805265.story?page=1&track=hpmostemailedlink

Further in the article, more information concerning Cruz-Mendoza: (again, added emphasis is mine)
Cruz-Mendoza has been riding the merry-go-round for eight years.He was a minor when he was deported in 1997 and again in 1998, federal immigration officials said.In December 2003, he was convicted of attempted robbery, after he shoved a woman into a fence while trying to steal her purse at a South Los Angeles bus stop, court records show. As he demanded money, she said, he made threatening gestures and reached into his pocket, where police found a six-inch steak knife when he was arrested shortly thereafter.In March 2004, he pleaded guilty to a second felony of drug possession, which was dismissed in a sentencing deal for the attempted robbery.After serving little more than a year in jail, Cruz-Mendoza was deported for a third time in January, records and interviews show.U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested him in Arizona a month later. At that point, he could have been charged with a felony for reentering the country after deportation, which could have landed him in federal prison for as long as 20 years.Instead, federal court records show he struck another plea deal with the U.S. attorney's office in Arizona, admitting to a "petty offense" of being in the country illegally. He was ordered to serve 90 days and pay a $10 fine, and was put on the July flight to San Salvador.

This article, in my opinion, highlights the current problems in dealing with and solving the problems of illegal immigration. To solve this problem we must, not only, look at ways to prevent the entrance of illegals - but, our overall system of dealing with them on a judicial, economic, and social level. And, again in my opinion, the solutions are quite easy if approached in a Common Sense outlook - although, admittedly, my solutions will require long-term applications.

First, illegals, both those caught at the border and those now living in the country, should be agressively pusured and apprehended - so far, agreement with the "seal the border" contigent. Once apprehended, the illegals should be immediately deported - unless they can prove that they are refugees fleeing legimate persecution in their home country (and, I will deal with this situation later in this post) - with the strict admonishment that the next apprehension will result in immediate imprisonment, at hard labor, of a minimum of five years - without benefit of pardon or parole -and, upon release, the illegal would again be immediately deported. Upon the second, and any succeding, apprehension(s), there would be no hearing, no negotiations, no appeals! Seem harsh?? Maybe so - but, remember, by entering the country in violation of our immigration laws, the illegal has already admitted his guilt; why waste taxpayer monies and court time?.

For the refugee fleeing their own country out of fear of persecution - and, I can understand that some circumstance (although only in extremely rare cases) might occur forcing this person to enter this country illegally - they would be given a hearing within sixty days and must prove, beyond doubt, an absolute for the basis of their fear. If that case is proven satisfactorily, the illegal will be given a visa but be required to obtain citizenship within five years. Should the persecution not be proven, then the person would be considered an illegal and subject to the above solution.

Next, should the illegal require medical care, it should be given only if the condition is immediately life-threatening. If the lack of medical care would result in the short-term loss of the illegal's life, then, of course, we should do everything humanly possible to save that person's life!! But, once the person's health is stabalized and they are no longer in danger, they become nothing more than the illegal that they are and subject treatment I described above!

If a pregnant female enters the country illegals and the birth is due immediately (within say a couple of weeks), yes she should be given the proper hospital care for the birth and the baby should receive the poper post-netal care. But, once the mother and child are stabilized, both are then immediately deported under the terms outlined above! And, further, the child should not be awarded automatic citizenship simply because it was born, illegally, on American soil!!

As a further proposal, illegals now living in this country should not be entitled to ANY taxpayer funded assistance - welfare, education, housing, etc. -, driving priviledges, working priviledges, and so on. The only thing an illegal should expect in the form of assistance is medical care to prevent immediate life-threatening circumstances (as pointed out above).

In other words, people, the solution to the immigration problem is to make the illegal's possible risks greater than the possible benefit. The only way to effectively control illegal immigration is to, not only, take away the incentive enter the country illegally but, also, provide an incentive to NOT attempt to enter illegally.

Now, I know that you are sitting there thinking (even if you agree with what I am saying): Well, if there were no jobs available, then the incentive for coming to this country would be greatly reduced. And, you are exactly right!! So, I would propose that employers' who knowingly employ illegals should be vigoursly pursued and prosecuted -- and, should an employer be found guilty, they should pay massive fines, serve (at minimum) three years imprisoment, and lose their license to do business. Now, don't get me wrong - I do not believe that illegal enforcement should lie solely with the employer, but, if the above proposals (no drivers' licenses, no social cards, no legimate ID would be available to illegals) were enacted and enforced, then the employers would face little burden in documenting the immigrant as "legal"; and it would also ease law enforcement in nailing the illegal employer.

I hope I have gotten you to thinking about the larger issue of illegal immigration and not just the short-sided (and largely ineffective) "solution" of simply sealing the borders. Additionally, I hope I have shown that the Democrats are only mouthing the usual 'feel good' platitudes that they are so famous for uttering. When it comes to illegal immigration, only a comphresive, exclusive plan will solve this problem.