The second thing that got me going was the whole world without nuclear weapons bit.  I do not for one second believe that if we had no weapons we would all get along.  An argument can be made that the longest period of prolonged peace has been since the invention of nuclear weapons.  To think that we would be liked and listened to if we were weak is naive.  It is a nice idea to hold onto in college but in a world leader it shakes my confidence.

Tonight was a disappointing night.  Obama went to West Point to elevate his stature.  He failed.

- FOP Vermillion

I think the investigators (F.B.I., DOD, whoever) felt like they had a great lead here.  Here was a guy who was connected with radical mosques was a true believer and was a Major in the military.  If there was a serious sleeper cell in the area, they would want to recruit Hasan and use him to pull off something big.  A Major in the US Army would have access and be able to go places terrorists could only dream of even being in the medical field.  Armories, bombs, or entry to sensitive areas would all be juicy targets for terrorists.  I think Hasan was allowed to run free and do his thing because he was bait.  The investigators probably felt it was a matter of time before they would get a lead to a big fish.

If that is the case I can hardly blame them.  Let’s face it… Hasan was highly educated and had been in the system for years and had done nothing more than express sympathies for the enemy.  Not the type of behavior you would want in an officer and a gentleman but not the profile of a lone gunman.  However, the London bombers were also highly educated individuals.  In hindsight, there were probably signs we have not heard of yet that might have made us think he was going to do something.

-FOP Vermillion

While people think of the military as being the people with the guns, the truth is that a base/post is one of the biggest gun free zones there are.  All the governments weapons are strictly controlled and the rules are strict on personal ownership.  If there was a weapon within several blocks of the shooting, I guarantee it was in a locked building with several layers of security.  So once again, we have a shooting in an area where we have made it easy for the shooter to go about his business with minimal risk for the first critical moments of the attack.  Bret Baier spent much of his time talking about how many bullets the guy must have fired.  I am sure there will be much talk about the tools this murderer used today.  However, I for one can’t help but think of the tools denied to so many of the victims.  A few guns in the hands of the people in the building could have saved many lives.  I think it is safe to assume nearly everyone shot today had training with a weapon and would have been able to effectively defend themselves given the opportunity.  The ironic part is that if this happened in theater the shooter, rather than the victims, would never have stood a chance because of the hail of bullets.

- FOP Vermillion

Prove me wrong Mr. President.  Don’t make this a one time thing.  Honor our warriors and their sacrifice.  They deserve it and they have earned it.

- FOP Vermillion

Update:  Well it looks like Hot Air has caught the friends of the White House at the NY Times covering up the fact that the trip to Dover AFB was a calculated move that looked good.  The operative phrase is “intended by the White House to convey to the nation that Mr. Obama was not making his Afghanistan decision lightly or in haste.”  I would rather have been proved wrong.

- FOP Vermillion

• Someone spent too much time reading the dictionary.
• These people have serious us/them issues.
• The recruiters must either have mind control powers or teenagers are morons.
• The war is “racist”?  News to me.

The statements by those opposed to the military and recruiters have little basis in reality.  Overall, I have to say I am fine with pacifists not joining the military.  In fact, I would prefer that they do not.  However, I want those who don’t join doing so based on logic and reason.  There are many good reasons to join.  We have a great country and way of life and it is worth defending.

I am glad general McChrystal is sticking by his guns and demanding what he needs and I believe the mission in Afghanistan is the right one.  We need to help make the region safer, kill those who would try to kill us, and build a better image of the US in the area.  If we will not stand up for ourselves, who will?

However, based on the administrations current stance, please do us all a favor and PULL OUT THE TROOPS.  I would willingly put my life on the line for our country and to take up the cause for freedom and lives will be lost in the cause.  If the prize is worth it, we will make the sacrifice.  I suspect that this is not the attitude of our current leadership and it is just a matter of time before they find a reason to pull the troops and come home.  Well I don’t want to see a repeat of Somolia where we see dead American soldiers in the streets and then we pull up and go home.  If you don’t have the spine or stomach to do what needs to be done and commit the blood and treasure required to win, pull out.

Do everyone a favor and be honest with yourself and us and get out and save countless lives.

- FOP Vermillion

Please go to Micheal’s page to read the entire article.

- FOP Vermillion