03Oct06

Grasseaters in high places:

"As an experienced, oil-field technician, I volunteered to be a part of a team sent to Iraq last year, in an effort to get the local oil-producing infrastructure back on line. As civilian employees of the Army, we were al l told directly that, while there, we would be issued, and allowed to carry, a pistol. When we arrived, we discovered that we had been lied to! We were subsequently informed that the 'general' (never did find out which one.) had decided that civilian employees would not be armed, at any time, in his domain. Naturally, we all ignored his pompous, half-witted 'order,' acquired guns, ammunition, holsters, and blades (all locally), and carried them, concealed , all the time we were there.

When I finally asked our JAG why we were (ostensibly) unarmed in an zone of

active fighting, he thoughtlessly dismissed my question with the comment tha t we were not 'trained in such things.' Not willing to let i t go, I offered to challenge him personally and beat him, hands-down, at any pistol course he could name. He suddenly discovered he was needed elsewhere and abruptly turned and walked away, never answering my question. I later checked for m yself and learned that the carrying of defensive weapons by forward-deployed civilians is in full keeping with both the laws of land warfare and US Army

tradition.

I guess I was not prepared to believe that our own military management (the

term 'leadership' does not apply) declines to attach any value to our lives ! When we're killed or kidnapped, they must figure they can always hire more!

Not surprisingly, those of us who initially volunteered have all declined a

second tour, denying the Army our immense, collective experience and knowledge. I love my country, but I don't enjoy working for people who car e nothing for my personal safety, even my very life!'

Comment: The American military's ghoulish fear of guns (and people c arrying them) creates yet another needless, pointless defect in the War effort. Th e Republic cannot long endure at this rate!

/John

03Oct06

School Shootings:

Why is it that sociopaths, when they get the urge to harm the innocent, select places where, when they arrive in possession of a gun, they know they will be the only one there so equipped? Why don't "school shooters =9D ply their trade at the local police headquarters or at commercial gun retailers? Cou ld it be that they know full well most people in those places will be armed? Sociopaths may be demoniac, but they're not fools! In Israel, all teachers and school officials are continuously armed. Curious that we don't hear of school shootings there, do we?

We've all heard of the "separation of church and state," but public schools in America have no compunction about advocating religion, the faith of =9C Learned Helplessness." In public education, personal initiative, p ersonal courage and boldness, and personal achievement are all discouraged and punished as " aberrant behavior." What is relentlessly nurtured, encouraged, and rewarded is (1) personal helplessness, (2) victimhood, and (3) cowardice. American children are taught, from infancy, that even occasionally wanting some capacity for independent action is unthinkable. Rather, being a "go od victim" is one's ultimate expression of patriotism. In fact, we learn that th e government won't even like you until/unless you are a victim (and remain one your entire life).

When they leave school, American youth discover that "learned helple ssness" had mutated into "enforced helplessness." Personal ownershi p of guns, for example, while not strictly illegal in some places (though leftist politicia ns are doing their best to correct that), is still publicly discouraged, in every conceivable way and at every level. Gun owners are marginalized by government and media alike as deviant and unpatriotic.

In Israel, where things are even more exciting than they are here, society has long-since come to their senses with regard to personal security. Ther e, they know where there are gatherings of innocent children, there must also be responsible adults who are armed. They also know and understand that most of those responsible adults will not be police officers. The vast majority

are armed citizens, who don't think "being a good victim" is in their, or their nation's, best interest.

Additional video cameras, additional reams of "procedures," and additional media hand-wringing will not provide protection for innocent children. Arm ed teachers, parents, and school officials will. When, as a nation, we stop worshiping at the feet of the false god of "Learned Helplessness, " we will collectively see the wisdom of really, physically protecting children, not j ust continuing to wallow in self-deception.

Several years ago, my friend and colleague, Mas Ayoob, suggested training and arming teachers as they only real way to protect innocent children in schools. He was instantly denigrated by the media, and even some in our ow n camp, for even suggesting such a preposterous thing. As always, he was ahead of his time!

/John