The Smallest US Military Force Since 1939: Why This Is Scary

The Obama Administration has determined that the US military will shrink to its smallest size since 1939.

Man for man we will remain the best.  Any US soldier, Marine, sailor, airman, Coast Guard, or National Guardsman is the best trained and most professional on Earth.  A few nations are close, namely Israel, Britain, Australia, Japan, and a few others.  None are better.

Experts say that a smaller force is less expensive and preferable.  They say that the challenges we face come from international operatives, terrorists, rogue nations and statelets.  The days of Great Power warfare are gone.

Not so fast.

China has stepped up its aggressiveness, claiming territory of friends, allies, and other states.  They want their sovereign claims over open ocean recognized.  They do not yet have a fleet that can challenge us.  But their army is massive and their military branches expanding.

They seek to revise the international status quo, starting first by establishing dominance over their neighbors.

A century ago, Great Britain ruled the waves much as we do today.  Her army was small compared to others, but it was trained and geared toward handling small scale conflicts. A 100 percent professional force, its man for man effectiveness far outstripped any other nation on Earth. Britain did not foresee having to use it in a major war of attrition against a revisionist power. While other nations counted millions in their armed forces, the British relied on hundreds of thousands.

And the British paid dearly for their error, suffering more casualties per capita than any other major power in World War I.

We are blindly stuck in the present, much as Britain a century ago.  We hope for the best, but our treaty obligations, much like Britain's with Belgium, put us square in the center of a possible coming conflict.  We are stripping our armored divisions, discontinuing production of a feared tank killer aircraft, and destroying any chance of quickly reacting, or even maintaining respect in the Far East.

Our military needs to ensure that it can respond effectively to both small war scenarios and a Great Power war.  We do not need many millions of troops, but we do need equipment and formations that serve as a foundation in case we need it.  Where do we get the money?  Start by slicing away at the bloated Defense Department bureaucracy.  Stop the foolish waste of money on "green fuels." Get back to making national security the only priority of the military.

Britain lost its entire prewar army in the first year of World War I.  They were not prepared or equipped to fight a modern war against another Great Power.  Obama is putting us in the same predicament.

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) Senate Floor Remarks on Afghanistan

US Solider defends the Constitution

This US Solider takes his oath to defend the Constitution to heart, both on the battlefield and in the political arena. This is how it should be.

Proud to be an American

200 years ago Islamic Pirates attacked ships off the world’s coast lines. They captured crews and ships and held them for ransom. It was then and seems to be now the policy of most of the world’s nations to pay the ransom and move on. Let’s face it, it is cheaper than confronting them, but it does nothing to stop the problem.

When the Islamic Pirates tried the same thing with a newly formed nation of the world, they found something different. At first the new nation tried to negotiate. In 1786 Thomas Jefferson and John Adams tried to negotiate with a representative of the terrorist. They were told, “It was written in their Koran, that all nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were sinners, whom it was the right and duty of the faithful to plunder and enslave; and that every muslim who was slain in this warfare was sure to go to paradise” by Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja.

This didn’t set well with the new nation and they responded in a way that the Islamic Pirates didn’t figure. The young nation sent its Navy to take on the pirates. On August 1^st, 1801 the frigate USS Enterprise engaged and defeated an Islamic Pirate ship in the Mediterranean that had been attacking US shipping. It was the first time that a nation had stood up to the Islamic terrorist. For the next few years the US Navy patrolled the Mediterranean defeating the terrorist on the high seas and US Marines attacked on shore. The battle of Tripoli, Libya is remembered in the Marine Hymn as one if the first overseas battle of the US Marines and it was against the Islamic Terrorist.

Fast forward almost 200 years and Palestinian Terrorist capture the Italian cruise liner Achille Lauro On October 7, 1985. They single out a defiant American in a wheel chair, Leon Klinghoffer, shoot him and throw him overboard. Islamic terrorist are extremely brave. After local authorities negotiated with the terrorist they were allowed to fly to Tunisia as had happened many times in the past with terrorist. This time it was a little different as couple US Navy F-14 Tomcats showed up and forced the plain to land in Italy. Again we don’t react like the rest of the world.

September 11, 2001 America was attacked by terrorist, but once again Americans reacted differently. On Flight 93 with knowledge of what was going on Americans took the initiative and attacked their highjackers. Unfortunately they lost their lives, but they stopped further deaths in Washington. The terrorist never expected Americans to fight back, but they should have.

Off the coast of Somalia, like 200 years before, Islamic Pirates attacked a US cargo ship. They expect the crew to acquiesce like other nations, but true to form the American crew fought back. The captain Richard Phillips allowed himself to be taken hostage to protect his crew and the ship was retaken by its crew. The captain now a hostage escapes only to be recaptured, but the second time he escapes the US Navy, like 200 years before is ready. With Captain Phillips in the water the Navy finished the negotiations for his release with hot lead. Not a result the Islamic Pirates expected.

Problem is, they should have expected it and the rest world should expect it. For more than 230 years we have been reacting the same way, starting with our revolution when a bunch of farmers took on the most powerful military in the world to overthrow tyranny. We believe in freedom and whether we are in the military or not we will defend our freedom. We don’t wait for help to arrive we take the initiative.

I have always been proud to be an American, but today I stand a little taller, walk a little prouder and see the colors of the flag a little brighter. I am not the rest of the world. I am an American.

Warriors for Warriors Marathon

Operation Enduring Freedom.

Our soldiers are fighting for our freedom. They have seen their brothers fallen on the battlefield, they have heard their cries of pain, terror, and loss over the radio, and they have felt levels of pain and emotion we may never quite understand or experience. We owe them our support.

Below are two websites where you can show your support for our brave men and women fighting for our freedoms in Afghanistan. Remember the reason they are deployed to Afghanistan in the first place: September 11. Remember where you were, and at what moment your heart stopped for a second, or perhaps plummeted to your very core when you embraced the reality of the most vicious attacks on American soil and the perished lives of over 3,000 innocent people of every race, age, religion, and ethnicity. Remember the anger, fury, and fear that radiated across our nation. Remember, too, how quickly our flag presented itself everywhere - in homes, stores, on rooftops, cars, and buildings - all for the purpose of coming together as a nation.

This initiative emerged with warriors raising funds for fellow warriors, initially beginning on board the USS Roosevelt, which is now on its return home from Afghanistan after 6 long, hard months abroad. Servicemen supporting their own is a wonderful tradition where common ground is shared, respected, and understood, but support should not stop there. We can not and should not isolate the citizens in showing support for OUR servicemen as well, including our strongest ally, Great Britain.

Below is an email written by one of our "own," seeking support for the cause. Lt. Mhley has kept me abreast of his efforts along the way, and this email describes his initiative in a personal, authentic manner.

Family and friends, During the 5 months that our carrier and air wing have been supporting our troops in Afghanistan, we've been through the most difficult of situations with mainly British and American soldiers. We've helped them when under attack from Taliban, we've heard the cries of their wounded over the radio, we've mourned when an attack killed one of their brothers. During our time on station, 105 Coalition lives were lost, including 51 American and 29 British. As a tribute to the fallen, a few of the aviators out here are hosting a fundraising relay-marathon on the carrier's flight deck this Saturday to raise a worthy donation for the US Wounded Warrior Project and British Help for Heroes organization. We intend to present both donations in person on our way home. Many of you ask what you can do to help me endure these 7 months. Well, I'd rather you donate a few dollars to this event than send another box of chubby Oreos. We've raised about $2500 from the 200+ runners signed up so far. Many more to go in coming days. If anyone you know back home wants to donate, please reply and I will happily pass my bank routing number / checking account number to allow a donation via funds transfer. Below is the email we sent to our squadron about the effort, as well an info sheet. Thanks so much for your consideration. Looking forward to being back home next month! Very Respectfully, LCDR Mark Mhley VFA-213 / USS Roosevelt

Please scroll down below to donate just a few dollars to the cause. There are two different websites available. Each fund, one for the British forces, the other for US forces, goes towards recovery for injured soldiers, as well as those who have fallen at the arms of their fellow brothers. The money provides support for individuals and their families in literally every way necessary. Show your patriotism, show your support. Donate a few dollars to those risking their lives for our country.

Thank you.

US Wounded Warrior Project

UK Help for Heroes

Honoring those currently protecting freedom

This past weekend we celebrated the birth of our nation and most of did it with family and friends at picnics and festivals, then ended the day with fireworks. The start of the greatest nation on the face of the earth is definitely a day worth celebrating, but we should never forget those that maintain it and the freedoms it affords us.

While we rightfully have great ceremonies that honor those who have served in the past, the town of Valley Point, WV has found a way to honor those currently defending freedom. The 3^rd of every month people from around Preston County gather around an old Oak tree in Valley Point decorated with yellow ribbons. The yellow ribbons are labeled with names of each Preston County solider currently deployed defending freedom.

The ceremony opens with a prayer, moves on to those in attendance singing the national anthem and reciting the pledge of allegiance. Those returning home from overseas are given a certificate of appreciation for their service to the nation, their name is removed from the oak tree and they are welcomed home. The names of those newly deployed have their yellow ribbons added to the tree and prayer said for their safe return.

The honoring is held the 3^rd of every month at 5 in afternoon. Just as our troops stand guard in rain, snow, and blazing heat without fail, the ceremony is never canceled due to weather without fail. If our troops can do it, then those honoring them can as well. On a rainy muddy July 3^rd between 100 and 200 people stood praying for the safe return of those that keep us safe.

This is a great way to honor those currently defending freedom. I think it would be nice if we could find an Old Oak tree in Mineral County where would could do that same.

All Veterans Ought to be Able to Order a Beer

If you really want to get people's hackles raised at you, do the following. Walk into a roomful of people and suggest that the drinking age as it stands at 21 is too high.


People will blast you, condemn you, and ask how many lives the higher drinking age probably saves. A real inconsistency exists here, though. A young man or woman can sign up for the military at 18, go into battle, kill or risk being killed, get captured by the enemy and be potentially tortured, even win the Congressional Medal of Honor. If he returns alive before the age of 21, this young person can still not legally go into a bar and order a beer.


One could suggest that those with military IDs be allowed to drink, but not those under 21 outside the military. This sounds like a good compromise, but still does not offer real justice. A citizen between 18 and 21 can vote for president, get a loan and practically have credit cards shoved down his or her throat. Advocates for allowing these decisions on the part of these citizens claim that the ability to make judgments does exist. Bankers and the Democratic Party benefit most from this allowance. We all benefit from the sacrifices made by those that make the serious decision to defend their country.


Either these young men and women are citizens or they are not. Make 21 or 18 the legal age for all military, credit, and voting decisions. End the hypocrisy one way or the other.

Memorial Day Tidings to the Troops From Rockefeller and the Left in Congress

If you criticize someone when they deserve it, you also ought to take time and praise someone. Although I disagree with Senator Robert Byrd's spoken position on the Iraq theatre of the War on Terror, it must be pointed out that his most recent vote, with the majority against cutting off funds for the war on a certain date, was for the troops. Left wing congressional Democrats have tried to undercut our troops by delaying or even halting funding for them while they still serve in the field. Byrd's vote does not indicate a change of mind so much as it demonstrates that he does not want our troops left without the tools they need to fight. Hopefully it also means that he does not support cutting out in such a humiliating fashion.

Right now left wing congressional Democrats have no concern for America's fighting men and women. They have no concern for those that have supported us and believed in us in Iraq who will suffer greatly if we leave prematurely (or come to the US in large numbers looking for assylum.) They have no concern for America's leadership position in the world, which recent European elections have shown is at a very high level right now. Count Senator Rockefeller among these people.

Except for a handful this stand does not reflect principle, but politics. They see certain opinion polls and change their stripes to reflect what they consider to be the popular mood. Many published polls show a minority supporting the war. Less publicized polls also show that most Americans do not support leaving prematurely. Rockefeller has probably not seen them. He voted for the war, but then claimed he did not understand the information presented to him as ranking Senate member on the Intelligence Committee.

Rockefeller knows that he is vulnerable, but he does not understand that this vote may have killed him should a strong and well-funded opponent appear. With so many West Virginians in the Iraq theatre needing the essentials to fight and do the job we sent them to do, Senator Rockefeller voted to cut off their funds. This will send a loud and clear message that the West Virginia GOP should make sure every West Virginian hears by next fall.

Unfortunately the message from this vote, taken so close to the day when we are supposed to honor our fighting men, sends a message to our enemies as well. It tells them to hang in there just a little longer. Unless moderate, patriotic Democrats and Republicans stand firm, the left wingers can win the war for the terrorists.