The Eagle's Nest Blog

Challenges that Face the United States!

I regret that the Victory Sign campaign and my very sick Labrador Retriever "Bear" has kept me to busy to write on world events. America was told after the fall of the Soviet Union that we no longer faced nuclear or military danger. The "Peace Dividend" resulted in more government spending on social programs to enslave voters to government handouts while cutting our military forces by nearly two thirds to pay for those programs.

Along comes 9-11 and our world changed because of global and state sponsored terrorism. Although we still have a 2 million man military (Active, Guard & Reserve) we find we only have 10 Active Army divisions. Fighting a two front war in Iraq and Afghanistan has left us with virtually the same combat troops revolving into and out of these theaters with only a year back home before redeploying somewhere.

To prove what a turbulent and violent world we still live in we have seen a political leader assassinated in Pakistan and its President resignation, Iran attempting to develop nuclear weapons while unleashing surrogate armies like Hezbolla against free nations, and Russia attacking its neighbor Georgia while bulling Eastern Europe and the Ukraine over oil and natural gas. 

Now America is deciding on who will be our next President and leader of the "Free World." This is not the time to choose a naive and untested politician who speaks in sound bites that have no substance or true understanding of the evil that confronts this world. For the sake of our national security we better go with an experience candidate, John McCain!

Victory Signs a Big Hit!

Yesterday we gave away 1,875 of the initial order of 2,000 "Victory Over Terrorism" signs. Again, I want to thank the Minnesota American Legion, the Minnesota Disabled American Veterans, and all those who volunteered their time and their support in making this initial printing and distribution possible. I would also like to thank Stephano's Restaurant, and the many members of Families United, Minnesota Vets for Freedom and the Minnesota Blue Star Mom's who stopped yesterday to get a sign or two.

The donations by those who picked up signs were extremely generous. We are going back to the printer to purchase an additional 3,000 signs for distribution before and on September 1, 2008 in Saint Paul.

Your support has guaranteed that when the anti-war, anti-military, anti-capitalism & anti-America crowd marches on the Excel Energy Center during the Republican National Convention, they will face thousands of patriotic American's holding the "Victory" signs and showing their support for our brave men and women in service to our nation.

Deb and I thank you all for standing up and being counted.

Media Alert!

Tom Hauser from KSTP - TV 5 will run a story on this evenings (Monday) news about the Victory Over Terrorism sign effort.

Is Time Running Out for Iran?

Is time running out to peaceably deal with Iran on their nuclear program? I've written before that many in the intelligence business openly feel that Israel is preparing to strike Iran's nuclear and long range missile sites. That possibility was confirmed by Barack Obama after his meeting in Israel two weeks ago when he reported back to Democrats in the Senate that Israel will strike Iran if sanctions don't work.

The New York Times reports the latest chest thumping by Iran (here), where they continue to threaten to close the Strait of Hormuz and attack shipping in the Persian Gulf. Time does appear to be running out since Iran last Saturday rejected the latest offer of incentives to end their nuclear enrichment program by the United States, China, Russia, France, Germany and Great Britain.

When dealing with religious and political fanatics, sanctions don't always work. They didn't work with Iraq or with North Korea. Unlike the situation leading to North Korea developing a nuclear bomb, there is another suspected nuclear armed country (Israel) who will take action on their own if the civilized world doesn't have the backbone to do it. As I have stated before, the Jewish nation will not risk the near annihilation it experienced in the 1930's & 40's at the hand of Hitler's Germany. They will strike first to eliminate this threat liked they did against Iraq's nuclear plant in the 1980's.

Again, this puts the US is in a no win situation. We will get blamed and our interests will be attack regardless of our involvement once the attack takes place. Iran will unleash Hezbollah and Shia extremists throughout the Middle East and the world. Many Persian Gulf nations will denounce Israel publicly, but applaud their actions privately because they also fear a nuclear armed Iran. Once again, I predict that Israel will take action shortly after their September elections and before the US elections in November. Unfortunately, I don't see this being resolved diplomatically.

If this isn't reason to hold on to our petroleum reserves and not to release part of it as Barack Obama has asked for, I don't know what is!

Afghanistan Still on Taliban's Target List!

Afghanistan remains on the target list of the Taliban some six years after they were sent fleeing into the mountains. Now they are regrouping and rebuilding in the safety of the tribal regions of Western Pakistan. Today's New York Times has an interesting evaluation of the status of the Afghan War (here).

The major problem in our effort to totally eliminate the repressive Taliban is their freedom of movement of men and supplies across the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Our continued pressure on the Pakistan government has yet to stop the training camps, terrorist recruiting, supply points and safe areas within the Pakistan border because of tribal alliances that date back decades. NATO and the US can not openly invade Western Pakistan without possibly causing the overthrow of the Pakistan government. We are using limited air strikes against targets in that region, but that has produced limited success.

The Taliban seem content to use hit and run tactics against NATO troops in Afghanistan while they wait for NATO to grow tired of the war and depart the field of battle. At that point the Taliban plans to resurface and take back control of Afghanistan.

The key to Afghanistan's survival is an "awakening" similar to that in Iraq. Once the Afghanistan government produces a military and police force in adequate number and loyal to them and not a tribal alliance, progress can be made. A large increase of US or NATO troops will not solve the problem, but might buy time for the Afghani people to provide for their own safety and security.

Al-Qaeda on the Run in Iraq

Buried deep in many newspapers today is the revelation that leaders of Al-Qaeda in Iraq have decided to flee to Afghanistan while the getting was good. Intelligence gathered from captured Al-Qaeda leaders indicate that there is a potential shift in priority as to where the main Al-Qaeda effort will be fought, Iraq vs Afghanistan. Seems too many of their terrorist buddies have been meeting untimely deaths or have been captured by the new Iraqi Army and our Coalition Forces. So some have fled into Iran on their way to Afghanistan.

Now surprise here, our soldiers in Iraq have been saying it for months now. The main stream media finally has been forced to report that the "surge" has worked. Iraqi's have more security, far less sectarian violence, their economy is beginning to flourish and Iraqi security forces have proven their ability to protect their people. Too bad that Barack Obama just can't bring himself to admitting it, but he's afraid of the spanking he would get from MoveOn.org, Code Pink and the Daily Kos folks. Now that's "change & leadership" for you!

Iraq became the major focus of Al-Qaeda's efforts to confront the United States when in 2003, Al-Qaeda's leader Osama bin-Ladin declared he would defeat the US in Iraq. Since then Al-Qaeda in Iraq, a Sunni based insurgency, has met with set back after set back as the Iraqi Government and Army has grown. The Iraqi Army has nearly 200 battalions in the fight and has greatly increased local security through the Sons of Iraq (SOI) program. The SOI program has grown to over 100,000 strong. It was only after the increase in US troops with the commitment of "the surge" that Sunni Sheiks came forward to commit to fighting Al-Qaeda. Now, US casualties are at their lowest point since the start of the war in March 2003.

We are winning. Now let our soldiers finish the job!

Finish the Job - The Surge has Worked!

A good friend of mine and a fellow member of Minnesota Vets for Freedom, Jason Meszaros has a great Opinion piece in todays Saint Paul Pioneer Press (here) on the importance of winning in Iraq. Jason served in OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) in Afghanistan in 2004.

Jason is right on when he says our mission in Iraq is not about partisan politics. I agree with Jason when he says must establish free, democratic, secure and stable nations in both Iraq and Afghanistan to defeat Al-Qaeda and win the global war on terror.

Our change in tactics "the Surge" is working and the main stream media has acknowledge that fact. For any politician to say differently is wrong and blatantly partisan.

Some Interesting Comments about My Obama Statement!

I have been getting some interesting e-mail from some very strange people. The most creative is the one at the bottom. Maybe some of my readers would like to drop them a line or two. These idiots show about as much "support to the military" as Barack Obama did in Germany last week! I wonder if they wear flag pins?

davebourgeois@mac.com

“Thanks Joe. Say it with me: "president Obama." I know it's tough for racists to say it.”

“Glad to see you're so pro military. You must have been a John Kerry supporter.”

robinmichael@verizon.net

“You do sound like an angry white man.”

“I do worry about people like you that have such thick skulls that your thinking is Neanderthal-like – enough to hunt and eat, but not enough to care for others.”

boblegere@roadrunner.com

“You support Bush a failure and a liar, and now you want us to support McCain, an old incompetant. The biggest military threat is the economy.

Open your eyes, the military industrial complex is your problem, a great President was able to see the enemy, some 50 years ago.”

wibint@aol.com

“You're a moron. Rant on. McCain will lose.”

hesiod_2k@yahoo.com

“How do you sleep at night knowing that you are such a disgrace to the armed forces you once proudly served? You have no honor.”
”Since you obviously cannot beat Barack Obama in a fair fight and with an honest discussion of policy differences, you have resorted to outright lying and disingenuous, hypocritical attacks. Shame on you.”
“If you have a shred of decency or honor, you will retract what you said and resign from the McCain campaign or disavow any further participation in it.”

ragin12@bellsouth.net

“I find your comments to be absolutely racist. You must have been a very light colonel in the KKK. Really you probably graduated at the bottom of your class, as demonstrated by the way you spell. I'm happy you're for McSame. Maybe you all can coddle each other after November and tell racist jokes. You Lose. LOL”

triperegrin@yahoo.com

“John McCain is not fit to be president. Joe, please listen, pay attention, and you too will support Obama.”

Planetjeffy

“Joe, I've read all you writings - good work. After reading everything, I can tell you might want to join a group like this - http://online.logcabin.org/ They might help you deal with your anger issues, by getting in touch with your real feelings. Much love, pj”

MCCAIN CAMPAIGN ON BARACK OBAMA'S CANCELLED TROOP VISITS

For the record, here is the official press release from yesterday on my comments:

Subject: MCCAIN CAMPAIGN ON BARACK OBAMA'S CANCELLED TROOP VISITS

For Immediate Release
Contact: Press Office

Saturday, July 26, 2008

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, retired Lt. Colonel Joe Repya issued the following statement on Barack Obama's cancelled visit to Ramstein and Landstuhl:

"The most solemn duty of a commander in chief is to fulfill his responsibility to the men and women who serve this country in uniform. Barack Obama had scheduled a visit with wounded American troops who have served with honor and distinction in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he broke that commitment, instead flitting from one European capital to the next. Several explanations were offered, none was convincing and each was at odds with the statements of American military leaders in Germany and Washington. For a young man so apt at playing president, Barack Obama badly misjudged the important demands of the office he seeks. Visits with world leaders and speeches to cheering Europeans shouldn't be a substitute for comforting injured American heroes."

Army Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Joe Repya served 30 years of duty and three wars, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was born in 1946 in Gary, Indiana. He was the oldest son of a disabled combat wounded veteran of the European Campaign of World War II. Awarded an ROTC scholarship he attended Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, graduating in 1969. Upon graduation he was appointed to the Regular Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. His 30 years of service in the US Army (12 years Active and 18 years in the National Guard & Reserves) lasted from 1969 until 2006. He served as a Combat Infantry Rifle Platoon Leader in Viet Nam in 1970/71 with the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment (Band of Brothers "Currahee's"), and an Aero Rifle Platoon Leader with A Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment. In Desert Storm 1990/91, he served as a Combat Helicopter Pilot and Staff Officer with the 4th Brigade (Aviation), 1s t Infantry Division (The Big Red One). He initially retired in 1998.

After the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, he was one of 12,000 US Army retirees who volunteered for Retiree Recall to Active US Army duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom. LTC Repya was selected as one of only 350 retirees who were returned to active duty status. At 58 years old on October 1, 2004 he returned as an Aviation Branch Officer for two more additional years of active duty service with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY. He served for nine months as the G-3 Air for the Division. In 2005 he served as the Senior Liaison Officer for the 101st Airborne Division with the Multi National Corps Headquarters at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq. He reentered retired status at the end of September 2006 at the age of 60.

Statement about Obama's Ignoring our Wounded Warriors!

“The most solemn duty of a commander in chief is to fulfill his responsibility to the men and women who serve this country in uniform. Barack Obama had scheduled a visit with wounded American troops who have served with honor and distinction in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he broke that commitment, instead flitting from one European capital to the next. Several explanations were offered, none was convincing and each was at odds with the statements of American military leaders in Germany and Washington. For a young man so apt at playing president, Barack Obama badly misjudged the important demands of the office he seeks. Visits with world leaders and speeches to cheering Europeans shouldn’t be a substitute for comforting injured American heroes.” Joe Repya, Lieutenant Colonel, US Army (Retired)

UPDATE: It appears that the statement I gave this morning to the McCain Campaign is being quoted on FOX News. I'll try to get video. Joe

UPDATE #2: WOW! I must have hit a nerve with the Obama Kool Aid drinking crowd. The hate mail has been flowing in non stop. Unfortunately, the only insults they seem to be capable of throwing is a misspelled word or two on a previous blog posting. Even the journalists at the New York Times have the same problem. Check out how the NYT's political writer spelled lieutenant (here). At the end of the day the fact remains the same, Obama made a major political mistake by not visiting our wounded. "Visits with world leaders and speeches to cheering Europeans shouldn’t be a substitute for comforting injured American heroes.”