So last night, true to form, the President decided to deliver a whole host of whoppers and zingers instead of substantive answers on important national security issues. As Commander-in-Chief you would expect Obama would acknowledge that lower numbers of ships spread across the same size oceans results in longer cruises, more crew fatigue, and shorter equipment life cycles. You would expect that he would understand that the Marine Corps and Army still have procured over 500,000 bayonets since 1984 and they continue to train extensively in their use for the close quarters engagements that are so common in low intensity conflicts like Afghanistan. At least he should be familiar with recent conflicts and how our troops have been engaging and destroying the enemy. This last item is especially telling as his own Vice President attended last years dedication of the America’s Response Memorial.
I mention this memorial specifically because it was raised, through private funding, to recognize those special operations soldiers deployed in the first weeks following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 It depicts a special operations soldier mounted on an Afghan war stallion while traversing mountainous terrain.. Sculpted by Douwe Blumberg, it was inspired by photos shared at the announcement of troop involvement in Afghanistan.
Alex Quade produced an award winning mini-documentary called Secret Mission: The Horse Soldiers of 9/11. The Daily Caller has been kind enough to host it on their site. The soldiers profiled in the film share a lot of inspirational stories and details about the early days of America’s response to the 9/11 attacks. This is one of my favorite bits:
“It was like out of the Old Testament,” says Lt. Col. Max Bowers, retired Green Beret, who commanded the three horseback teams. “You expected Cecil B. DeMille to be filming and Charlton Heston to walk out.”
President Obama’s callous and politically calculated amnesia at the debate dishonors these warriors and all those who followed behind them. They deserve a real Commander-in-Chief even more than America needs a new president.
If you want more information on these heroes who rode to war on horseback, you can read the fantastic Doug Stanton book called Horse Soldiers. Also, you should check out the U.S. Army M-9 bayonet and the U.S.M.C’s OKC3S bayonet. You can never be too prepared.
UPDATE: My father was in the Navy so I can’t let this tidbit slide. Someone needs to remind America’s self-anointed 4th Smartest President that ships that go under water have been sunk. Submarines are called “boats”.
The Clockwork Conservative 