Excerpt from the NYT story on the Nuclear Web Archive.

"The campaign for the online archive was mounted by conservative publications and politicians, who said that the nation’s spy agencies had failed adequately to analyze the 48,000 boxes of documents seized since the March 2003 invasion. With the public increasingly skeptical about the rationale and conduct of the war, the chairmen of the House and Senate intelligence committees argued that wide analysis and translation of the documents — most of them in Arabic — would reinvigorate the search for clues that Mr. Hussein had resumed his unconventional arms programs in the years before the invasion. American search teams never found such evidence."

Here's the piece that I would like to focus on.  We didn't go to war simply because Saddam had "resumed his unconventional arms programs" prior to the invasion.  One additional reason was that he had violated UN resolutions for 12 years regarding the destruction of his previous WMD programs.  Those allegations have been proven through WMD that has been found in Iraq (and subsequently discounted by the MSM) and made public by Senator Santorum.  The MSM has disputed any WMD that has been found in Iraq since the war started by claiming that it was 1. not the WMD used as justification for the war or 2. that the WMD was degraded enough that it did not count as WMD any longer.  Both arguments fail to recognize that the mere fact we are talking about WMD means, and this is important, that Iraq had WMD to begin with. 

While the story claims that "American search teams never found such evidence." they are only referring to the premise that Saddam had started up his WMD programs again and discounts his previous programs, which we have in fact found evidence of. 

This news from the NYT, as so many people have already pointed out, was a double edged sword for the NYT.  Do they break the story to make the Administration look bad or do they hold it and get accused of covering it up.  The Administration was in a win-win situation by allowing the NYT to be in the position of proving the Administrations previous assertions.  

Once again the fallacy of the WMD "lie" has been debunked.  How many times does the "lie" need to be proven to not be a "lie" before the MSM accepts reality. 

*** ST MICHAEL GOP NEWS***
**MESSAGE FROM THE BACHMANN CAMPAIGN**
 

Excerpt from a Speech on Jan 10, 2006 by President Bush to the VFW.

"Our work in Iraq in 2006 will be focused on three critical areas. On the political side, we will help Iraqis consolidate the democratic gains they made last year, and help them build democratic institutions, a unified government, and a lasting free society. On the security side, we will stay on the offense against the terrorists and Saddamists. We will continue to strengthen the Iraqi security forces -- with an emphasis on improving the capabilities of the Iraqi police, so that over the next 12 months, Iraqi forces can take control of more territory from our coalition and take the lead in the fight.

And on the economic side, we will continue reconstruction efforts, and help Iraq's new government implement difficult reforms that are necessary to build a modern economy and a better life. In all three aspects of our strategy -- democracy and security and reconstruction -- we're learning from our experiences, and we're fixing what hasn't worked. And in the year ahead, we will continue to make every change that will help us complete the mission and achieve the victory we all want. "

I am tired of the rhetoric about the Bush Administration not having a "plan" for winning the war in Iraq.  The President touched on 3 keys areas as the focus for winning the war in Iraq, Government, Security and Economy.  In a previous post I talked about giving a presentation to a group of College Republicans about what it takes to win the war.  I added a fourth category to the Presidents core 3 with the need for building infrastructure.

As the coalition forces continue to train the Iraqi security forces and the Iraqi government continues to grow and put the necessary laws and rules in place to establish a sovereign nation, Halliburton and the many other contract firms will continue to build up the infrastructure.  All of these factors will help provide for the growth of the economy. 

The key to this plan is that it does not happen overnight.  It doesn't happen in 3 years or 5 years.  It can take an entire generation to create a stable and self sufficient nation.  The experience the US has in nation building goes back decades.  The obvious examples are Germany and Japan from WWII, South Korea, Bosnia and Kosovo.  The geographic locations have been different but the foundation of the nation building exercise is always very similar.  Build a government, build security, build an economy and build the infrastructure.  As those items progress the people within the country will begin to see the differences in their lives as it improves.  As the lifestyle of the residents improves, the support for the insurgency will begin to weaken.  The security forces will eventually have the ability to train themselves and police themselves.  The coalition forces will move into an advisory capacity.  Again, this does not happen overnight.  It takes time and patience. 

As lifestyle improves for the Iraqi people, and it will, we will accomplish the most important part of the nation building exercise.  Winning the Hearts and Minds of the people.  Every child that get's candy from an American soldier will remember that.  In Afghanistan I had a little girl come up to me and say "Thank you for saving us".  At that moment I knew that we were doing the right thing.  I have heard and read many similar stories from Iraq veterans.  The soldiers know what is at stake.  The children are the future of Iraq and they will remember the difference the American troops made in their life.  When insurgents were killing people, the children will know that the American soldiers were fighting to save them. 

It is imperative that we do not set a timeline that we cannot keep.  In Bosnia in the late 90's President Clinton kept setting and moving the timeline for removing troops from Bosnia.  I was in Bosnia when one of those dates passed and the troops knew that we weren't going home anytime soon.  The troops understand what is at stake in Iraq and are willing to return 3-4 times to make a difference for the greater good of the world.

Establishing a stable democratic government within the heart  of the Middle East is imperative for the safety of the world.  We could have invaded any given Middle Eastern country and been justified with the State Sponsor of Terror argument.  Iraq was the most logical country for a number of factors including its geographic location, its ties to terrorism, its history of violence in the region, the sadistic dictator, the number of Al Qaeda that fled Afghanistan to Iraq, the number of terrorist training camps and of course, the WMD.  All of those factors contributed to the decision to invade Iraq. 

America cannot fail and America cannot lose our will to fight.  The election on Nov 7 will be a test of our resolve.  Are we willing to commit to the long term fight knowing that it will be costly?  I believe we can win in Iraq and I believe that we will win the War on Terror.  I believe that America is the best country in the world.

Most important, I believe the American people will have their voice on Nov 7.

*** ST MICHAEL GOP NEWS*** 

More information on the 3 bus tour stops in Wright County that Congressman Kennedy will be at on Friday or Saturday this week.  We would love to have each of you at whichever or all of these events you can attend.  And please bring your friends and family too!

Please arrive at all these events at least 10-15 minutes early!
Number 1:
DATE: Friday, November 3
EVENT: Meet & Greet
TIME: 10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
LOCATION: Riverview Community Bank, 9040 Quaday Ave NE (CR 39 & Hwy 101), Otsego, MN 55330Contact on arrival is Patsy

Number 2:
DATE: Saturday, November 4
EVENT: Evening Rally
TIME: 8:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Culver's on  Highway 55 East, BuffaloContact on arrival is Dan Husom (and Amy  Koch)

Number 3:
DATE: Saturday, November 4
EVENT: Evening Rally/Meet & Greet
TIME: 9:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
LOCATION: River City Lanes, 101 Chelsea Ln, Monticello (bowling alley)

*** ST MICHAEL GOP NEWS***

Republican Friends-

I want to let you all know that Congressman Mark Kennedy, our candidate for the U.S. Senate, will be holding a rally in Monticello as part of his five day bus tour on Saturday November 4 at 9 PM.  The event will be held at the River City Lanes, 101 Chelsea Rd.  This will be a great opportunity to show your support for Mark and the other Republican candidates, Michelle Bachmann has been invited but at this time I have not yet heard if she will be able to attend.  All other local officials are invited.

Today we witnessed the disgraceful words of John Kerry.  Lets show the Democrats that their liberal agenda is not right for Minnesota, or the country, by showing our support for our Republican ticket. Please make your best effort to attend and bring your friends and family! 

Where: River City Lanes, 101 Chelsea Lane, Monticello

When: Saturday November 4 @ 9 PM, please arrive by 8:45 PM.

Purpose: To celebrate the Republican ticket!

Please let me know if you'll be able to attend.  I'll try to pass along more details as soon as I know more.  Thank you

Keith Becker

Mark Kennedy '06

keith@markkennedy06.com

651.491.0065

*** ST MICHAEL GOP NEWS***

Get Out The Vote Phoning  --.if you haven't volunteered yet, or feel that you haven't done enough - please stop by the Monticello office in the old Loch Jeweler's location one block west of Hwy. 25 on Broadway (look for the Republican signs in the window).  The office is open now from 9-9 today through Monday; except on Sunday (opens in the afternoon) and on Tuesday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

There is a need for phoners, door-knocking, people to find and put up sign locations, election day drivers, election day morning and evening road rally volunteers (hold signs re: voting for Kennedy, etc. on busy intersections) and more.

You can just show up at the Monticello office or call Rachel Horn at 952-013-8426.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Finally...an quick update on the Kennedy campaign...though the polls haven't favored us, they haven't discouraged us either and the race is tightening...what happens these next few days will make the difference!  Remember 2000, when no one thought Kennedy could win?  Well as you know, he did, because of the determination of the volunteers to get every call made, every house lit dropped, etc.  Congressman Kennedy is working hard for all of us and will be making both a Buffalo (8 p.m.) at Culvers, Hwy 55 and in Monticello at River City Lanes, 101 Chelsea Road with appearance (9 p.m.) on Saturday, November 4.

Thanks for all you support, commitment and for caring!  Please pass this invite on to others you know.

Deb Steiskal

I found this posting on another blog.  It paints a pretty clear picture of the pattern Senator Kerry has followed throughout his career.

http://kevinmccullough.townhall.com/g/e10c5e2e-8cf2-41c2-8b0d-051afa6e7aad

Unjust War keeps getting thrown around by the MSM as the consensus of America.  The MSM is supposed to give us the news and instead we get opinions.  Opinions of reporters, opinions of the network.  Opinions that overwhelmingly affect American opinion on the war.  If they truly wanted to present "News" they would give us unbiased information and let America make up its mind.  They would present the American people the whole picture of Iraq, Immigration, Terrorism, Economy, etc.  Instead we get snippets that support the MSM bias.

I gave a presentation to a group of College Republicans last night and presented them with some evidence about the war in Iraq.  The actual progress that is being made and how it fits into the "plan" that will ultimately win the war.  Yes, I said the Bush Administration has a plan. 

That plans revolves around a large number of factors (Infrastructure, Government, Economy, and Security just to name a few) that all must be accomplished in order for us to be successful.  The MSM only focuses on the factors (i.e. security) that fit their agenda.  In this case Security is the easiest to criticize and the MSM has done a great job of that. 

The real stories get buried deep in the back pages of the MSM.  The stories about WMD being found, about major milestones in forming the government, about infrastructure improvements, etc, etc.  The stories that get the press are the ones that stir the pot and get emotions flowing.  The emotions that can affect an election.  Yes, I am stating the MSM is influencing (or trying to) the election. 

All I am asking for is that they do their job unbiased.  Provide us with facts and stories that show the reality and not the opinion of the reporter or the network.  Playing words games like saying "Iraq was connected to 9/11" instead of "Iraq was connected to terrorism". Changing out the word "terrorism" for "9/11" to make the Bush Administration look wrong or worse claiming they lied.  What we should be hearing is "Iraq was a State Sponsor of Terror".    

We need to expect more from Congress, they have plenty of issues but we also need to expect more from the MSM.  The rhetoric about the "moral high ground" and "values" get thrown around like buzz words.  To some Americans, like me, they actually mean something and they should mean something to all of us.

I believe the Bush Administration is letting America make up its own mind about the war in Iraq.  They have stated since the end of Major Combat Operations that we have a long, hard road ahead.  Nobody said it was easy to build a nation from scratch.  Lucky for us we have done it in the past (Germany, Japan, South Korea, Bosnia, Kosovo, all of which had issues)  As Americans we need to decide if the price is worth it.  I have fought the terrorists and I have sat face to face with them in the interrogation booth.  My opinion, is the war is worth fighting.  

Our duty as Americans is to make an informed decision about the course of this country.  Sadly, the majority of the informed part comes from the biased opinions of the MSM. 

 “You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”  John Kerry

From a personal perspective, this comment makes me feel nauseous.  I earned my Bachelor's degree and I was working on my MBA when I was deployed to Afghanistan.  I guess that makes me "not smart". 

I am not surprised by Senator Kerry's comments, coming from a guy who threw his medals back, has spent a political career bashing the troops, and his own troops (Swift Boat Vets) will not support him.  Senator Kerry is not a leader that people will follow.  That was made extremely clear in the 2004 election when he was soundly defeated by President Bush.  The American people voiced there opinion with the power of the vote.

What's makes our military great is the technology, the weapons, the training, the experience and most importantly the intelligence of our soldiers.  We no longer have the days of "go to war" or "go to jail".  We have an all volunteer force that serves proudly and believes in the mission.  We have higher educational requirements because we need people who can operate the complex weapons and technical systems that enable us to have the greatest military in the world.  There's a reason we are the only superpower left and that reason is the soldiers!!!!!

*** ST MICHAEL GOP NEWS***
Hi Everyone:  YES, that time is HERE!!!!  It's GET OUT THE VOTE phone calls to be made in Wright County and make a DIFFERENCE!!!  This is when we can make sure to GET EVERY VOTE in WRIGHT COUNTY!!!!!!        

"VOTE PLUS 2006!!!!"   
     Where:  Bachmann Victory Office
                  148 W. Broadway, Monticello
      When: STARTING OCTOBER 16- Monday-Friday - EVERY NIGHT 6pm-9pm

******STARTING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25
EVERY DAY AND NIGHT
Shift 1:  9am-12pm    
Shift 2:  12pm-3pm   
Shift 3:  3pm-6pm     
Shift 4: 6pm-9pm

**SUNDAY SHIFTS: 
Shift 1: 12pm-3pm 
Shift 2: 3pm-6pm  
Shift 3: 6pm-9pm

SIGN UP for your Shift you would like to help out with now!!!!

There are also other opportunities to help out:
 *Poll Challenger on Election Day
 *Attorney's who would like to help the Republican Party of Minnesota Election Day Taskforce  
 *Poll Observer:  Observe the counting of the ballots on election day!!!  Very Fun!!!
Please pass this email to other Wright County Republicans you think would like to help out.

ONWARD TO VICTORY!!!!!  
God Bless America, Again Don
Chair, Republican Party of Wright County

 

(Yesterday), Vice President Dick Cheney spoke at a rally for the 101st Airborne Division. Here's an important part of the speech everyone ought to read:

The terrorists know they cannot beat us in a stand-up fight. They never have. The only way they can win is if we lose our nerve and abandon our mission. So they continue committing acts of random horror, believing they can intimidate the civilized world and break the will of the American people. They base this view, in part, on the history of the 1980s and '90s, when they concluded that if they killed enough Americans, they could change American policy. In Beirut in 1983, terrorists killed 241 of our service members. Thereafter, US forces withdrew from Beirut. In Mogadishu in 1993, terrorists killed 19 Americans. Thereafter, U.S. forces withdrew from Somalia.

The attacks continued: the first bombing at the World Trade Center in 1993; the murders at the Saudi Arabia National Guard training facility in 1995; the attack on Khobar Towers in 1996; the simultaneous bombing of our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998; and the attack on the USS Cole in 2000. With each attack, the terrorists grew more confident in believing they could strike America without paying a price. So they kept at it, and eventually struck the homeland here on September 11th and killed 3,000 of our fellow citizens. Bin Laden continues to predict that the people of the United States simply do not have the stomach to stay in the fight against terror.

Cheney gets it. President Bush gets it. Republicans get it. Democrats don't. They want to cut and run and hand deliver a victory to the terrorists.

 ***ST MICHAEL GOP NEWS***
**Message from Wright County GOP Chair**

Hi Everyone: Wright County will be having a full time phone bank every day!!!!
Calling will start on  Monday    10/16    6:00 p.m -9:00pm
at   Old Loch Jewelers   148 W. Broadway, Monticello.

We are also looking for someone to be the Call Center Manager.  This would be a paid position.  Anyone interested can contact Amy.  763-300-8492.

The Delano Location for Governor Pawlenty is at Dave's Town Club on River Street downtown - 3pm - Friday - October 13.  Hope to see you there!!!
ONWARD TO VICTORY!!!!!  

God Bless America, Again Don

"Here's my strategy on the Cold War:
We win, they lose."
- Ronald Reagan

"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
- Ronald Reagan


"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant: It's just that they know so much that isn't so."
- Ronald Reagan

"Of the four wars in my lifetime none came about because the U.S. was too strong."
- Ronald Reagan

"I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandment's would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress."
- Ronald Reagan

"The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination."
- Ronald Reagan

"Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other."
- Ronald Reagan

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."
- Ronald Reagan

"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program."
- Ronald Reagan

"I've laid down the law, though, to everyone from now on about anything that happens: no matter what time it is, wake me, even if it's in the middle of a Cabinet meeting."
- Ronald Reagan

"It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first."
- Ronald Reagan

"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."
- Ronald Reagan

"Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book."
- Ronald Reagan

"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.
- Ronald Reagan

This is how it started for me.

I was working on a task force that was dedicated to the fight against terrorism. The purpose of the task force was to build cases against the terrorists mainly in Guantanomo but also in Afghanistan and Iraq, and wherever else we captured them. Those of us in the combat zones had additional duties beyond interviewing, yes interviewing, not interrogating detainees. We were responsible for evidence collection on the battlefield during the capture of High Value Targets. That ensured that if and when they went to trial in front of the military tribunal the evidence would be collected and documented. The discrepancy with the detainees that were captured early in the war was that they did not have any evidence against them. That has since changed and the detainees that we captured will not and should not be released based on the evidence we collected.

 

Meeting the Navy SEALs

I had been in AF for approximately 3 days when a couple bearded guys walked into the office and were looking for assistance when they captured high value targets. They had been in AF a number of times previously and watched as prisoners were released due to inadequate evidence. Larry (not his real name) and Brian were veterans of the Navy SEALs.

Larry had been in the Navy for 24 years and been a SEAL for the last 14 years. He had many stories to tell, most of which I can’t repeat. My favorite story was about the Kennedy sisters that he met in St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands while on shore leave.  Another favorite is the sky diving exhibition in Florida.  I wish I could expand on those stories but sadly I cannot. 

Brian also was a veteran SEAL and I regret not having more time to get to know Brian. Brian was killed in roadside bomb placed by Mohammed Issa and ordered by Roze Khan on May 29, 2004.  Both Issa and Khan have since been killed by coalition forces.  I was part of the mission that killed Khan (I'll address that in a later post).

Here is an excerpt from the Associated Press about Brian:

Associated Press

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A Navy SEAL based in Virginia Beach was one of four U.S. special forces members killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, Navy officials said.

Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Ouellette and three other service members traveling in a Humvee were killed in Zabul province, about 240 miles southwest of Kabul, the nation’s capital. The four were members of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force Afghanistan.

Ouellette, 37, was a member of Navy Special Warfare Group Two at Little Creek Amphibious Base and is the fifth SEAL from Virginia Beach to die in Afghanistan.

Naval Special Warfare spokesman Chief Petty Officer Tom Jones said that Ouelette was on a mounted patrol near the cities of Jahak and Seleh.

A native of Needham, Mass., Ouellette enlisted in the Navy in 1990 and became a SEAL in 1991, the Navy said.

The other Special Forces soldiers who died in the incident, according to the Pentagon, were Army Capt. Daniel W. Eggers, 28, of Cape Coral, Fla.; Staff Sgt. Robert J. Mogensen, 26, of Leesville, La.; and Pfc. Joseph A. Jeffries, 21, of Beaverton, Ore.

This was my first experience in Afghanistan that I actually knew the people who died.