patrickg
Veteran Member
I'm assuming that "Off Topic & Just for Fun" is meant to be the same as "Off Topic & or Just for Fun"
That said, here is some "off topic" that is "RIGHT ON!"
A LESSON ON HOW TO TREAT WAR PRISONERS
- by Bob Lonsberry (c) 2002
Apparently, when the big Chinook kicked off, the SEAL fell out.
A 32-year-old guy named Neil Roberts. A petty officer first class,
one of the toughest in the American armed forces, in the back of
a big twin-rotor helicopter that was taking fire.
And he went out the side. Nobody's exactly sure how. But there's
a lot of movement and a lot of wind and a lot of gravity. And
when they got close to base and did the head count they were one
shy.
That's Afghanistan.
Which is a long way from Cuba.
Where a hundred and more captured Al Qaeda prisoners sit in cells
waiting for lunch. A good Muslim lunch designed to incorporate
their traditional foods and to be respectful of Islam's dietary
guidelines. Just like breakfast and supper. They eat good there,
and most of them have put on weight.
And most of them have been through the camp infirmary, a fully
functioning Army field hospital where they receive the same medical
care offered members of the American military. In fact, in addition
to treating any injuries sustained in their capture, American
specialists have also treated orthopedic and cosmetic injuries
sustained in battle months and years ago.
Al Qaeda detainees at Guantanamo Bay have received the best of
American medical and dental care -- for free -- being given
procedures and treatment simply unavailable in their native lands.
And they've been given a Muslim chaplain, flown in especially for
them, and copies of the Koran, and a big sign points the direction
to pray toward Mecca and the five-times-a-day Islamic call to
prayer is played on the camp loudspeaker.
That's what's happening in Cuba.
And yet, activists and officials from around the world have
publically condemned American treatment of the Al Qaeda men
captured in combat. Muslim governments, our European allies,
American leftist groups and Amnesty International-types have
all bitterly accused the United States of being inhumane. Some
have claimed there should be a United Nations condemnation, many
have called for international inspectors to go in.
The call has been loud, almost deafening, as the world has
condemned and cursed the way Al Qaeda fighters have been treated
in captivity by Americans.
That's in Cuba.
Which is a long way from Afghanistan.
Where one of those Prowler unmanned surveillance planes saw
Petty Officer Roberts come out of the helicopter, and lie there
injured but alive and conscious. The bigwigs saw this, live, back
at headquarters.
And they also saw the three Al Qaeda guys come out of the bush
and grab him. He was their prisoner. Captured in battle. And
they grabbed him and dragged him and took him away.
And then, it seems, they beat him.
And executed him.
They shot him to death. Bang, bang. A wounded man. A detainee.
No medical care, no food, no holy book, no chaplain. Just a
bullet.
Which has produced silence on the part of the world's activists.
Not one word.
Apparently it's OK to shoot a wounded prisoner, but if you
take him to a hospital and treat his injuries and feed him,
you've gone too far. Apparently killing an American detainee
is acceptable, while coddling an Al Qaeda detainee is not.
The same people who have seen a war crime in the treatment
of terrorists are unperturbed by the slaughter of a prisoner
of war.
We treat them with caring and compassion, and we get cursed.
They treat us with barbarism and butchery, and they get
blessed.
And that's not right.
Critics of the American detention of Al Qaeda terrorists in
Cuba aren't concerned about those terrorists, and they don't
give two hoots about human rights. What they want to do
is attack America, any way they can. The great many people
who hate the American people and culture have rallied to
the defense of the Cuba detainees.
And had nary a word of criticism for the pigs who executed
Neil Roberts in cold blood.
This war is about good versus evil -- no matter what you
hear. The forces of light are tackling the forces of darkness.
Civilization is taming savagery.
And Neil Roberts gave his life in that cause.
And, fortunately for them, the Al Qaeda detainees in Cuba
were captured by men instead of beasts.
------
Hold your head up high the next time Old Glory passes by, and sing the
National Anthem proudly--and loudly, even if you are off key. And say a
prayer for our military people in Afghanistan and those uniformed folks
provide them support around the world.
That said, here is some "off topic" that is "RIGHT ON!"
A LESSON ON HOW TO TREAT WAR PRISONERS
- by Bob Lonsberry (c) 2002
Apparently, when the big Chinook kicked off, the SEAL fell out.
A 32-year-old guy named Neil Roberts. A petty officer first class,
one of the toughest in the American armed forces, in the back of
a big twin-rotor helicopter that was taking fire.
And he went out the side. Nobody's exactly sure how. But there's
a lot of movement and a lot of wind and a lot of gravity. And
when they got close to base and did the head count they were one
shy.
That's Afghanistan.
Which is a long way from Cuba.
Where a hundred and more captured Al Qaeda prisoners sit in cells
waiting for lunch. A good Muslim lunch designed to incorporate
their traditional foods and to be respectful of Islam's dietary
guidelines. Just like breakfast and supper. They eat good there,
and most of them have put on weight.
And most of them have been through the camp infirmary, a fully
functioning Army field hospital where they receive the same medical
care offered members of the American military. In fact, in addition
to treating any injuries sustained in their capture, American
specialists have also treated orthopedic and cosmetic injuries
sustained in battle months and years ago.
Al Qaeda detainees at Guantanamo Bay have received the best of
American medical and dental care -- for free -- being given
procedures and treatment simply unavailable in their native lands.
And they've been given a Muslim chaplain, flown in especially for
them, and copies of the Koran, and a big sign points the direction
to pray toward Mecca and the five-times-a-day Islamic call to
prayer is played on the camp loudspeaker.
That's what's happening in Cuba.
And yet, activists and officials from around the world have
publically condemned American treatment of the Al Qaeda men
captured in combat. Muslim governments, our European allies,
American leftist groups and Amnesty International-types have
all bitterly accused the United States of being inhumane. Some
have claimed there should be a United Nations condemnation, many
have called for international inspectors to go in.
The call has been loud, almost deafening, as the world has
condemned and cursed the way Al Qaeda fighters have been treated
in captivity by Americans.
That's in Cuba.
Which is a long way from Afghanistan.
Where one of those Prowler unmanned surveillance planes saw
Petty Officer Roberts come out of the helicopter, and lie there
injured but alive and conscious. The bigwigs saw this, live, back
at headquarters.
And they also saw the three Al Qaeda guys come out of the bush
and grab him. He was their prisoner. Captured in battle. And
they grabbed him and dragged him and took him away.
And then, it seems, they beat him.
And executed him.
They shot him to death. Bang, bang. A wounded man. A detainee.
No medical care, no food, no holy book, no chaplain. Just a
bullet.
Which has produced silence on the part of the world's activists.
Not one word.
Apparently it's OK to shoot a wounded prisoner, but if you
take him to a hospital and treat his injuries and feed him,
you've gone too far. Apparently killing an American detainee
is acceptable, while coddling an Al Qaeda detainee is not.
The same people who have seen a war crime in the treatment
of terrorists are unperturbed by the slaughter of a prisoner
of war.
We treat them with caring and compassion, and we get cursed.
They treat us with barbarism and butchery, and they get
blessed.
And that's not right.
Critics of the American detention of Al Qaeda terrorists in
Cuba aren't concerned about those terrorists, and they don't
give two hoots about human rights. What they want to do
is attack America, any way they can. The great many people
who hate the American people and culture have rallied to
the defense of the Cuba detainees.
And had nary a word of criticism for the pigs who executed
Neil Roberts in cold blood.
This war is about good versus evil -- no matter what you
hear. The forces of light are tackling the forces of darkness.
Civilization is taming savagery.
And Neil Roberts gave his life in that cause.
And, fortunately for them, the Al Qaeda detainees in Cuba
were captured by men instead of beasts.
------
Hold your head up high the next time Old Glory passes by, and sing the
National Anthem proudly--and loudly, even if you are off key. And say a
prayer for our military people in Afghanistan and those uniformed folks
provide them support around the world.