Written By a retired Marine fighter pilot

Cowards?... nope. 'Jacking a jet and driving it into a high-rise at 300 
knots.... No, not cowards. I wouldn't do it. They don't have an air force
so they used our training and our planes, and with great execution... far 
better that our fiasco in the desert to save the hostages in Iran. 
Although glued to the TV for the last 48 I haven't heard any talking heads 
speak with anger and outrage. They act like it's "Columbine" and we have
to cope with this "tragedy" with counseling before resuming our lives..... My 
guess is you don't hear that talk from blonde air heads in Israeli TV... 
'course they have Uzis in their briefcases.... They're a nation with some 
cajones. 

This is the picture of America after more than a decade of "sensitivity 
classes", of "hate speeches". Of training males and females together in
the Army, Air Force and Navy (and thank God NOT in the Marine Corps). Of
Shannon Faulkner. Of A Navy sub captain crying his eyes out on national TV after
his boat took out a fishing vessel. Of the last US President having 
to be taught by aides how to salute because as a draft dodger, he never 
learned. Of our TV and motion pictures "heroes" vowing to leave the
country because an election didn't go their way ... then not leaving. 

Of having no draft, of modified escape and evasion training at the Air
Force Academy because one female threatened a lawsuit (after accepting a
$750,000 education courtesy of the US taxpayer) because she felt "sexually
harassed," as a female. 
Of Army Blackhawk pilot who refused to fly because it was her kid's 
"constitutional right" to breast feed... AND her Army Blackhawk pilot 
husband helping bring the lawsuit against the Army. Of the meandering 
definition of what "is" is by the leader of this country. Of career
military officers getting masters degrees and PhDs at taxpayers expense-- yet
having no clue on how to "fix bayonets" -- let alone lead a charge

Of Hillary Clinton being set up as a role model. Of the Air Force not 
allowing the painting of pin-up nose art on the aircraft of men who might 
just be required to fly said craft to their deaths -- all because some 
lesbian from the National Organization of Gals (NAG) threatened a branch
of the United States Military. Of a 15 year-old needing parental permission
for a tattoo -- but not for an abortion. Of our tax money being used to pay an 
"artist" to immerse a crucifix in a jar of urine and another one pissing
in his buddies mouth on camera. 

Of American citizens complaining about the noise military jets make when 
flying over their house...and going to court to get the target runs 
changed... and succeeding. Of a citizenry that cannot distinguish between
an admiral and a chief petty officer, or between a pilot and a bus driver. 

We don't have John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart...we have Jason Priestly and 
Yanni.

We don't have Ernie Pyle and Walter Cronkite...we have Peter Jennings and 
Tom Brokaw -- in short... we have been feminized... not in the Maggie 
Thatcher, Golda Meir kick-your-ass way... but in the whining, ACLU whining 
get in touch-with-your-feelings, men-are-enemies kinda way ...and
therefore, we cannot, repeat: must not, deploy troops on a large scale to some
 place like Afghanistan. 

Our military (except for a few elite units) does not have the fire in the 
belly it requires. Our enemies have not taken any sensitivity classes. And 
thanks to Bill Clinton and his ilk we have an eviscerated combat force and 
given away most of that forces combat weaponry secrets. That same force is 
top-heavy with fat ass, butt-boy flag officers, and short on NCOs willing, 
capable and prepared to skewer Achmed with a bayonet. We will now pay the 
piper for electing Bill Clinton, not once, but twice. It will be clear
when we mount whatever military response we eventually choose. 

Smart bombs and Cruise missiles (if we have any left) fired from offshore 
will only make us look more impotent and less committed. And yet, I know, 
Clinton will still have his defenders despite the fact that because of him 
we cannot defend ourselves in the manner required of the world's only 
superpower. And NOW the same people that voted for this moral and physical 
coward, will want our servicemen and women to go in harm's way... and to
do so will have them pay the ultimate price because one arm has been
literally tied behind their backs. 

It's been over three decades since I fired a shot in anger in a war we 
weren't firmly committed to, and yet we were in a far better mind set to
do what had to be done then, than the poor kids we're going to send into
battle now. 

Thank God curbside check-in has been abolished; I'll sleep better tonight. 

Keep five yards, Semper Fi,  
 "Monk"