Some will want to make this a Trump/Biden thing. To me it is a federal government thing.
Reminder: both major parties appear to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars, wasteful and infective homeland security spending, (Has any presidential administration since 911 been able to create any shortage of cartel product anywhere in the US?) federal prohibition of marijuana, and treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.
Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?
“By Texas law, cops must keep their bodycams on while working. But it’s possible police will use the “dead suspect loophole” to keep anyone from seeing the footage.”
Sports culture is more open and honest. A bad call from the ref will be seen and reviewed instantly.
Small children killed at school and good people facing new restrictions on legal firearms – sorry folks, video and voice recordings from the crime scene are not available.
I am good with no conspiracy theories. The press could help if they were more about asking questions.
Do a proper investigation similar to those done after a plane crash. Release the findings months from now or whenever is appropriate.
Create credibility for the press and government agencies by keeping people fully informed.
Sports writers are OK with being critical of coaches, teams, players, the rule book, the league, referees, team owners, when the season starts and ends, etc.
Ever see a pro football coach or quarterback refer reporters to his press secretary for answers? Presidents do so on a daily basis. Professionals are hired to provide only the desired version of answers to questions.
Ever see a pro football coach or quarterback refer reporters to a public information officer for answers to questions?
Any Director of Message Planning to manage post-game interviews?
1:42
Responding to questions:
Why is the federal government involved in Easter events?
KOMO and some of the commenters make it more about personalities and less about what people think of ongoing information suppression.
Not too many years ago, American society was much less about information suppression.
Social media is big on it now.
Today, newspeople show a lack of initiative and curiosity in asking questions.
JFK speaks about the role of the press and voices of dissent in a free society:
Today, TV newspeople tend to report only one side of the story.
Much of what we get today is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.
Newspeople post this statement as is.
A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.
When is the last time all of Penn Cove was safe for recreational shellfish harvest?
Living on an Island near Puget Sound, there seems to be great concern for salmon, orca, eagles, recreational shellfish and clean water.
Has anyone ever seen the Puget Sound area press ask questions about Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls?
Has anyone ever seen any government agency, elected official or volunteer organization seeking answers related to one or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into the waters near Whidbey Island?
Coupeville
“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”
“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”
This article includes an excellent comment section that appears to be unfiltered/suppressed by politicians or the mainstream press.
Don’t feel too bad DOD.
Deep into the GWOT – No CBP inspection of rail shipments entering the US?
US Troops at the border, big El Chapo takedown, opioid lawsuits, REAL ID, Homeland Security grant money, CBP social media posts, strict post 911/GWOT security protocols and a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security fail to keep cartel from moving meth by rail into Canada:
“In the first public accounting of its kind in decades, an Associated Press investigation has found that at least 1,900 U.S. military firearms were lost or stolen during the 2010s, with some resurfacing in violent crimes. Because some armed services have suppressed the release of basic information, AP’s total is a certain undercount.”
Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog
Photo-
A symbol of fusion centers, and showing up two hours early at the airport to have time to squeeze the toothpaste out of the tube.
A symbol of sending troops to distant lands to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, while drug cartels are able to move product into all 50 states.
A symbol of military ordnance shipments that go unsecured and unsupervised inside the US, 20 years past 911.
A symbol of a press that fails to ask:
If REAL ID is critical to the safety of America, have travelers out at the airport been less safe since 911?
The new REAL ID requirement/deadline for domestic air travel has now been extended out more than 20 years past 911.
What keeps the terrorists of the GWOT from creating a disruption at the end of the screening line out at the airport?
A society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.
Operating a camera in a public place:
The family friendly, hometown pride-oriented local small town papers and TV news folks are more welcome to show up and do interviews related to public policy. Unfortunately, they seem to have moved away from asking questions.
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can elected officials of any party or any member of the press help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
If a right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?
Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?
If a right to vote is protected by the US Armed Forces, what becomes of that right when the US leaves Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc., without a victory?
If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $49.8 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?
$49.8 billion is spent every 12 months on the US Dept. of Homeland Security.
The Dept. of Homeland Security fails to keep cartel sourced meth, heroin and fentanyl from showing up all over the US.
Newspeople ask zero questions in this area.
The press release style of news reporting means that a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest drug bust/federal grant money award, etc. Newspeople post this statement as is.
“Funding for the boat was issued through the Homeland Security Grant Program under Operation Stonegarden.”
Took a quick look on the web to see if there is a post 911 history of maritime “cross-border activity” on Whidbey & could not find anything. If anyone has info, please post in comments.
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been able to intercept any inbound meth, heroin or fentanyl?
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been involved in any arrest or seizure related in any way to the US/Canada border?
Newspeople remain silent.
Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?
Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?
Newspeople remain silent.
April 1, 2020 C-SPAN
WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.
The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.
Love to see newspeople schedule an interview with the US Dept. of Homeland Security & ask:
Are passports/enhanced/Real IDs effective in keeping cartel-sourced heroin and meth out of the US?
Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.
Why have Joe Sixpack and the family line up for REAL ID, when cartels opt out on all that?
If there was a school district in Hometown USA, that had a poor record for educating students, or a fire dept. that struggled to get the job done, people and the press would ask questions.
The US Dept. of Homeland Security seems to get a pass from newspeople everywhere.
Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces in the years ahead?
The guys who did time in the Vietnam War may have grown up in a family where Dad was a WWII veteran.
The guys who did time in the Vietnam War may have been WWII veterans.
A Draft?
If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.
Before making any plans to start up a draft, let’s get the press to find out from elected officials how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.
It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.
The effort to stamp out misinformation in social media does not apply to major TV networks promoting the idea that US troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.
Never really understood the concept of having gunboat escorts for ferries on Puget Sound.
I do not advocate for increased security on Washington State Ferries. I am simply trying to make sense of ongoing war on terror/security theater mixed messages. Love to see more in the way of newspeople asking questions.
Washington State ferry passengers are advised via PA system not to leave backpacks or packages unattended during ferry crossings.
Meanwhile-on the car deck-cars, trucks, vans, commercial vehicles, etc. are left unattended during ferry crossings.
I have made dozens of round trip ferry crossings over the past 20 years. In many cases, there has been no security screening at either terminal.
Maybe security personnel are present at some specific terminals each day. Over the past 20 years, dozens of round trip crossings from various terminals indicate that in many cases- no security screening takes place prior to boarding ferries.
What is the point in having gunboats escorting ferries if terrorists are free to put their boat on a trailer and drive it onto the ferry?
If the Oklahoma City bomber rolls onto the ferry- how does the SWAT team help out an hour later?
What we get now is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.
What keeps the terrorists of the GWOT from creating a disruption at the back end of the screening line?
Has anyone ever seen any member of the press ask questions on this?
If sending US troops to Iraq and Afghanistan and creating a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?
Freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.
If there is an honest reason to send people away into decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas let’s hear all about it.
The Dept. of Defense has a truly poor track record for winning undeclared wars since DOD was established way back in 1949.
How does the USA plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?
Military Benefits – Bait and Switch
I’ve never been one to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.
Every few years, no matter what political party or personality is in power, there are moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.
The plan is to save cash by reducing the traditional DOD military benefits that were on the table when people began doing multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This is the same country where both major parties invite veterans to be momentarily honored at State of the Union events when they control the White House.
Football games are also used to honor veterans:
0:12 the man is barely conscious when greeted by team owner Jerry Jones:
Everyone seems to love it. When the made for TV event is over, veteran’s benefits may be up for grabs again.
Recommendation:
Insert language into recruiting literature and enlistment documents stating that rules concerning benefits may change at any time & that no definite benefit package will be provided in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service. No grandfather clause will apply. Have unit leaders refer to this disclaimer when promoting retention drives, giving re-enlistment speeches, etc.
Some will say that this has already been done, and that you will see it if you read the fine print. I say take it out of fine print and make it read like the warnings on a pack of cigarettes.
Recommendation for budget savings:
Phase out undeclared/unwon wars overseas.
The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
When the US Armed Forces are sent to Lebanon, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Vietnam, etc.-how is that defending the US Constitution-or our rights and freedoms, or our physical security?
Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.
A symbol of federal government credibility and followers of both major parties, elected officials, newspeople and school teachers not asking questions.
We are honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by forcing people to pay for bombing Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan, then lying and telling them that this is all to protect American rights and freedoms.
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
When the US Armed Forces are sent to Lebanon, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Vietnam, etc.-how is that defending the US Constitution-or our rights and freedoms, or our physical security?
Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.
“And only one of the protesters was seen wearing a mask. The county’s Public Health director confirmed that the unmasked people packed together on the side of the highway were violating the state’s COVID-19 rules.”
Should decent people be placed on hold because bad people were doing bad things at the same time 3000 miles away?
The mask rules apply to individual people no matter what political causes they may support.
“Some of the people who traveled in our planes yesterday participated in the insurrection at the Capitol today,” she said. “Their violent and seditious actions at the Capitol today create further concern about their departure from the DC area. Acts against our democracy, our government, and the freedom we claim as Americans must disqualify these individuals from the freedom of flight.”
How do you separate these people from those who were not involved in any illegal activity?
Causing disruption on commercial aircraft is not to be tolerated no matter if you represent the Girl Scouts, the KKK or no group at all. The article offers no explanation.
“Airbnb says it will cancel all short-term reservations in the Washington, DC area next week, an escalation of its efforts around safety and the presidential inauguration.”
People of good will, who have attended the parade in the past, where the President may step out and wave to the crowds are not able to book a reservation because bad people did bad things?
What happened to the strict post 911/GWOT security protocols meant to maintain order on Jan 6th?
Welcome Home Troops
Thanks for risking your ass in Iraq & Afghanistan-working to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.
Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
When the US Armed Forces are sent to Lebanon, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Vietnam, etc.-how is that defending the US Constitution-or our rights and freedoms, or our physical security?
Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.
Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog
Certainly, Americans do not live in a free and honest society.
Both major political parties are OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second class citizens.
Sales restrictions on alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms are in place for 18-20 year old adults.
Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20. Can elected officials of any party or any member of the press help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
I have seen comments saying Twitter is a private business and free to set its own rules. Does that also apply to the florist or bakery that does not want to create a product for a gay marriage ceremony?
Does that also apply to a tavern that wants to allow indoor smoking?
If I ran a bakery-
Store policy:
We do quality cakes for all occasions-no customer application/background check required.
Growing numbers of happy customers and building our positive reputation is our goal.
Please tell your friends & contact us at any time.
In a free and honest society customers would support or walk away from the businesses of their choosing.
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
When the US Armed Forces are sent to Lebanon, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Vietnam, etc.-how is that defending the US Constitution-or our rights and freedoms, or our physical security?
Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.
“…FBI is warning of plans for armed protests at all 50 state capitals and in Washington in the days leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, stoking fears of more bloodshed after last week’s deadly siege at the U.S. Capitol.”
Maybe there is a minimal terror threat these days.
If suicide bombers with concealed explosives packed on their bodies wanted to disrupt American society at the US Capitol, it looks like there would be no SWAT team to keep them out or to have them show ID and pass through the metal detector.
US Troops at the border, REAL ID, Homeland Security grant money, CBP social media posts, strict post 911/GWOT security protocols, a $51.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security, border wall efforts and the Post 911 surveillance state (fusion centers, license scanners, monitoring of e-mails, text messages, & social media sites, no fly/terror watch lists, tracking of cell phones, etc.) appear to have played no role in preventing these crimes:
The War on Terror has prompted law enforcement authorities to calm the public by looking into the future and announcing that no credible threat exists.
“While officials say there are no credible threats following the bombing in Nashville, Long Island residents say they are still concerned.”
Where was the threat forecast before the Nashville event?
If the good guys can tell what the bad guys will do before they do it-surely, these powerful crime fighting tools will be used to shut down gang and cartel activity, heroin trafficking, bank robberies, mass casualty shootings, etc.
Credibility of LE and elected officials at all levels of government is questionable.
Seattle protests on I-5 go on for 19 nights. Washington State Patrol allows Interstate highway public safety protocols to be suspended until a fatality after dark one night.
I do not favor the ugly side of politics. When I was younger, both major parties took turns in the White House. It was routine. It did not involve the TV making claims that this is the most important election in our lifetimes, etc.
I think the ugly side of politics is a reaction that comes from trying to force a one size fits all society.
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20. Can elected officials of any party or any member of the press help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
1967
Did the Joint Chiefs of Staff send The Troops to safeguard American freedoms?
Was it the Viet Cong that set up laws in 16 US states to prohibit interracial marriage?
A man on the moon in 1969. Church, Boy Scouts, patriotism, pledge of allegiance, the WWII generation in charge. Signing up for the Marines.
Families with married parents and maybe a stay at home Mom. It was common for your friends to have 3 or 4 brothers and sisters.
It started out with a positive sense of American culture.
Much has changed.
Over the past 40 years or so, both major parties have taken turns in power and have squandered credibility that would help in the current situation. A wide variety of political personalities have occupied the White House.
“But as other schools deliberate shutting their doors to slow the spread of the coronavirus, some parents may be left to wonder: If schools close, how will my child eat?”
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
In the 60s & 70s I never attended a Veterans Day assembly at school.
There were none.
Probably enough veterans around to remove most of the mystique, or maybe those veterans thought it was all just an average thing and did not want to be seen as a separate part of American society, or get head of the line parking spots over at the grocery store.
Each November, school teachers across America host Veterans Day assemblies– and promote the idea to children that The Troops are in distant lands-fighting for American rights and freedoms-as if the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.
In Washington State, these assemblies are mandatory.
Love to see a student ask: If The Troops fight for your right to sit, stand, kneel, etc.-why were black people still riding at the back of the bus after the big WWII victory?
Love to see a student ask: If the wars aren’t won-how can they protect our freedom?
Love to see a student ask: Whatever happened to lessons about Armistice Day?
“Because no matter who you are, no matter where you live, our parks, our monuments, our lands, our waters — these places are your birthright as Americans”
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
Politicians love to divide people into groups- then assign a separate value to separate groups:
Here’s how it works-
Parking pass for federal lands you paid for the same as the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan:
“…Varney revealed that he had brought classified information home once or twice a year, a situation that normally requires the authorization of a fleet commander or the chief of naval operations.”
If the good guys can tell what the bad guys will do before they do it- surely, these powerful crime fighting tools will be used to shut down gang and cartel activity, heroin trafficking, bank robberies, child abduction, etc.
“A terrorist attack can happen anywhere and the Department Of Homeland Security has warned local enforcement this week to be vigilant.”
So we’re on the lookout for improper nav lights, boozing, & lost children.
Thanks DHS for pointing us in the right direction.
Hey newspeople/school teachers, DHS & veterans-
How do these wars keep us more safe while we are constantly reminded of terror threats in the Homeland?
War on Terror-
Good guys able to stop bad guys in the early stages of planning-
Another badass terrorist holds hands with FBI agents while describing his violent plans:
If the arsonists were terrorists- they would have been stopped in the planning stages. This is what we are supposed to believe about how America is protected by fusion centers.
If the good guys can tell what the bad guys will do before they do it- surely, these powerful crime fighting tools will be used to shut down gang and cartel activity, heroin trafficking, bank robberies, child abduction, etc.
Can we expect the federal government to end marijuana prohibition in all 50 states?
It took a constitutional amendment to prohibit the sale of a glass of wine- why no constitutional amendment to authorize a federal war on drugs, drug czar, prohibition of marijuana, etc.
Can we expect the federal government to require the 50 states to authorize suspicionless highway checkpoints away from border crossings and ports of entry?
State and local law enforcement agencies do not conduct suspicionless checkpoints in Washington State. Check your state here:
“However, meth remains pervasive because Mexican drug traffickers continue to smuggle meth powder, liquid and finished “crystal meth” or “ice” from laboratories outside the state, the report says. Some production operations seem to have been transferred to California’s Simi Valley.”
Heroin-
“Again, most of the heroin is smuggled into Oregon by Mexican drug trafficking organizations, largely through California and sometimes through Arizona and Nevada.”
Not one mention in the article Re: how heroin gets past the US Dept. of Homeland Security and into the US?
Thanks newspeople.
Heroin traffickers are frequently successful at what they do. If terrorists were just as interested in entering the US- it appears that federal departments and agencies would have no way to stop them.
Enhanced ID has been required to cross into the US since 2009.
If it works to keep bad guys out- how are cartels moving heroin into the Puget Sound area in 2015?
As always- the big law enforcement success story comes with zero reporting or questions from newspeople about why the proud War on Terror is unable to keep heroin out of the US.
“The lunches are available to all children regardless of family income. The program is intended to make sure tummies stay full when children don’t have access to the school cafeteria.”
“The program is paid for by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.”
“There’s no registration or proof of income required. Also, children do not need to be enrolled in summer classes. They also do not need to attend an HISD school to participate in the program.”
It’s all just a normal thing. Kind of sad that it takes a giant federal program to help families in need.
Love to see this funded by voluntary donations & administered by churches or private charities- organizations that actually specialize in helping people.
Tax money- which some people intend to be used to help others via public assistance programs– also goes for a third try in Iraq & other wasteful spending on programs that might not stand a chance if people were given the choice to fund them.
Helping others by donating to churches or private charities, food banks, etc. can avoid these conflicts.
Donors are free to opt out if a charity misbehaves.
People should be able to keep more of their own money to donate to causes of their choosing.
The people who run both major parties & the conventions that nominate presidential candidates are OK with ongoing, undeclared/unwon wars overseas, the drug war racket, & a secretive, wasteful and ineffective Dept. of Homeland Security.
Ditto for the TV networks that host presidential debates & ask scripted questions of candidates.
Treat it like wine grapes. You are free to grow grapes in the back yard, make your own wine, share with friends and neighbors, buy at the grocery store, mini-mart, Costco, bars, taverns & restaurants, wineries, etc.
Two basic rules:
Do not furnish to minors.
Do not drive while impaired.
Did 20 years in the Marines, then football half time announcers ruined it for me- constantly reminding us that the The Troops are in distant lands fighting to protect American rights and freedoms.
If that’s all true- when do adults (18 & up) get to take delivery on all this freedom we hear so much about?
But- it’s against federal law.
It took a constitutional amendment to prohibit the sale of a glass of wine- why no constitutional amendment to authorize a federal war on drugs, drug czar, prohibition of marijuana, etc.
“A CNN analysis of passenger property loss claims filed with the TSA from 2010 to 2014 shows 30,621 claims of missing valuables, mostly packed in checked luggage. The rest occurred at security checkpoints. Total property loss claimed: $2.5 million.”
“Even the TSA has had problem employees. Since 2002, the agency has fired 513 officers for theft.”
Surely- the folks who have daily access to the secured areas of US airports are required to pass background checks and possess special IDs in order to keep the system safe?
“The vast majority of airport employees with direct access to the tarmac and airplanes do not go through any daily security screening, and only two of the country’s major airports have systems in place that require all employees with secure access to pass through metal detectors, a CNN investigation has found.”
“There is no federal requirement that the baggage handlers, mechanics, cleaning crews and other employees with access to the airfield and other secure areas get screened as passengers do.”
Please speak with our public affairs/information suppression specialist if you have further questions:
“TSA is implementing or considering a range of measures, including additional requirements for employee screening; conducting additional, randomized security countermeasures at employee access points; and introducing additional security patrols by TSA teams of law enforcement and screening professionals to specifically address these concerns.”
“The TSA identified workers with access to secure areas of airports as one of the greatest potential threats to aviation, according to a 2009 report by the Government Accountability Office.”
“The report said costs for full screening of airport and airline employees could range from $5.7 billion to $14.9 billion for the first year of implementation. The entire TSA budget for 2015 is $7.3 billion.”
Heroin traffickers are frequently successful at what they do. If terrorists were just as interested in entering the US- it appears that federal departments and agencies would have no way to stop them.
Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz has said of the upcoming Concert for Valor:
“The post-9/11 years have brought us the longest period of sustained warfare in our nation’s history. The less than one percent of Americans who volunteered to serve during this time have afforded the rest of us remarkable freedoms—but that freedom comes with a responsibility to understand their sacrifice, to honor them and to appreciate the skills and experience they offer when they return home.”
Since 911- US military operations have afforded the rest of us remarkable freedoms?
Because freedom comes from decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas, a 3rd try in Iraq, a no-show on 911, etc.
Almost Veteran’s Day again-
Look for folks claiming that Americans wouldn’t have the freedom to post comments on newspaper websites if people had not given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect that freedom.
Hey school teachers- where did this idea come from? Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?
Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?
Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?
Reaching for an honest understanding of US foreign policy makes more sense than “Thanks for your service.”
Don’t look for much in the way of explaining the meaning of Armistice Day & why that was thrown out for the purpose of honoring veterans.
Looks like the documents at the think tank were discovered just before the midterm elections.
