Collins Report

By Bruce Karlson

Democrat “liberals” are used to a free ride. They live in a world in which inspirational speeches define reality and lesser mortals take out the garbage. “Lesser mortals” include all who serve in uniform. “Liberals” think they are dumb to put up with the danger and sometime privation. They believe it is a function of the American military to simply follow orders, suffer the privations of the battlefield, and become convenient scapegoats if there is a public relations aim to be served.

In order to complete the circle, Liberals recruit senior flag officers who will enthusiastically sell out the troops for another star. The most disgraceful case of this occurred during our glorious victory in the Southeast Asian war games. Robert McNamara knew that LBJ, the Democrats and he were not prepared to win the war. He also knew the public would be very unhappy if the “effort” were abandoned. Ergo, he simply continued to send more Americans to die so the mess would be cleaned up during the next administration. Flag officers demurred as long as McNamara punched the right ticket for them.

“War Hero” John Kerry found it convenient to condemn his former comrades with an aggregation of lies to a credulous Congress. John Murtha accused and convicted Marines in Iraq of murder. The Marines were ultimately exonerated but went through a living Hell in order that Murtha could score a few cheap points. Less serious but equally emblematic was the treatment of uniformed Naval officers being asked to fetch the canapés at one of President Clinton’s White House soirees.

To Liberals these fighting men looked like pages.

Liberals never think about the price of defending the nation because it is always paid by others. Few “liberals” even know anyone in uniform. In some cases they don’t even know anyone who knows anyone in uniform. They treat members of the armed services as palace guards. That is, these guards must be paid and occasionally accorded a bromide accolade, but must never be trusted. After all, they kill people!!!!

“Liberals” live in a world in which there is always someone else to clean up their messes, which are never ending. President Obama found it convenient to pillory President Bush as he campaigned against Iraq and waxed on about the necessity of winning in Afghanistan. One imagines that, like all “liberals”, he was confident the Afghans would see his wisdom and comport themselves accordingly. He now blanches in the faces of the reality of combat, civilian deaths, and to him most importantly a growing rebellion in his own party.

The latter will be the nexus on which his “decision” on how to best undermine the effort in Afghanistan is made. He has been voting “present” for three months while the troops wait…and wait… Oh well, the troops are stupid, his lap dog Joint Chiefs venal, and the public restive. What to do??
His answer is simple: Pretend to be deep in thought, hold an advertised “strategy session” regularly, and go to fund raisers. Perhaps the “jerks” on the ground there hold it together until the next election.

About Bruce Karlson: Born New Jersey, enlisted in the Navy 1960, discharged in 1964, Kean College – BA, Fordham University – MBA. Sold computers in NYC’s financial district, retired 1992. Divorced, two high school aged children. Interests include bridge, history, politics and cooking.

This day in history Nov 14

1889 Pioneering female journalist Nellie Bly (aka Elizabeth Cochrane) begins a successful attempt to travel around the world in less than 80 days. She completes the trip in seventy-two days.

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