Spank That Donkey

The USS George Washington put into the port of Valparaiso today, and conduct joint naval exercises with the Chilean Navy.  This is the third year in a row for joint exercises, think Chile and the US is telling Hugo something?

When I visited in September 07' I was amazed at the port, and no joke the Chilean navy was in and out of the harbor constantly.  They have a great naval tradition, and one of the largest navies in South America.  As part of their Constitution 10% of all of the profits from the Copper mining in Chile must go to purchase equipment annually in Chile.  Pretty interesting policy huh?

Undoubtedly we would conduct exercises meant to control access to the nearby Panama Canal clearing the area of submarines.

Greg over at BVBL is taking me to task on revealing that Del. Marshall would move our 35,000 military personnel now in Germany to the Mexican Border in an effort to stem if not stop the influx of illegal aliens into the USA.

Let's check out the argument point by point:

BVBL - "Yeah, “fencing” and “border patrols” are working so well for us now."

STD -  Absolutely agreed, if the GWB Administration put the Transportation Safety Board nazis, who shake down my grandmother's carry on luggage; and 'redeployed' them from our airports to the border crossings, not only would illegal immigration be halted, but the smuggling of  nail clippers would also be severely curtailed in the USA.  I guess GWB's priority of hassling legal citizens far out weighs illegal citizens?

BVBL -   but I have to admit that the prospect of replacing our non-construction of a border fence, and hugely discredited “virtual fences” with folks like the Berlin Brigade sounds darned enticing. I’m certain that drug smugglers who readily engage our Border Patrol with automatic weapons fire, and cartels that murder illegal alien “mules” in the employ of other cartels would demonstrate a considerably higher degree of respect for our border if instead of having the 6,000 National Guard soldiers currently engaged in civil engineering and logistical support we had a Division-plus of fully equipped combat troops.

STD:  Undoubtedly the GWB Administration sent our National Guard to the border without weapons, so our guys wouldn't kill anyone, much less the drug smugglers.  If that were to happen, undoubtedly some Human Rights attorney would file a law suit at the Hague against our National Guardsman, GBW, Condi, and anyone else they could think of.  Accordingly, the USA would be roundly denounced at the UN, ala the treatment that Brazil, Bolivia, & Venezuela etc. gave Columbia.  You see Columbia went into Ecuador to kill terrorists attacking Colombians. 

Reality here is that our current, or future President's attitude towards illegal immigration is what will secure the border. 

BVBL:  Those soldiers in Germany effectively ensure that we provide for the defense of Europe so Europe doesn't have to.

STD:  This is a valid point.  However, I would argue that 35,000 military personnel is really bare bones compared to how many troops we had stationed there during the Cold War.  Old Europe is now having to step up to the plate, as Russia has twice now cut off natural gas supplies to the west.  Currently, we are expanding NATO into the New European nations of Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary.  Hopefully, when we draw down troop strength from the Middle East they will begin establishing expanded bases with our new allies in Europe.

Worldwide peace will not be won along our Southern border.  It will be achieved by keeping Russia's Putin in check.  I guess what I mean to say is that illegal immigration is a political problem, not a military one.  NATO was a very successful military alliance, and we should expand it to insure the continued growth of capitalism in the world.  Putin has been moving Russia backwards, and not forwards in terms of Democratic/Republic government.

Let me put it this way.  I would be more impressed with Del. Marshall if he were thinking more in terms of securing the USA's and capitalism's future worldwide.  We all know that illegal immigration is nothing more than cheap labor, and along those lines; the Mexican immigrants of the 1990's -2010 may parallel the Irish immigrants of the 1860's....  Just a thought.

Bottom Line, I want legal immigration and an assimilation of those coming to the USA, under one flag.  Meanwhile, Old Europe has become a powder keg by allowing unfettered Muslim immigration into their nations.  We can not afford to lower our presence there should things turn nasty.  Furthermore, we need to insure that the New European nations do not come under the boot of the Old Soviet Bear as Russia uses it's vast natural resources to rearm, and black mail Europe in general.

One thing will not change, the United States provides the bulwark of Freedom in our world.  We can insure our, and our Allies Freedom by continuing the employment of 'Forward Defense'.  Retreat from Germany to secure Texas is hardly promoting Freedom throughout the world.

BVBL:  Bob Marshall is spot-on here, and I can’t imagine why Jim Gilmore wouldn’t wholeheartedly endorse this idea.  He doesn’t want to look weak here and continue to put our overwhelmed Border Patrol officers at risk, does he?

STD:  I do not know this for a fact, but after serving in Army Intelligence against the Soviets, Gov. Jim Gilmore would probably be more inclined to see the benefits of 'Forward Defense' in Germany, vs. a retreat to Texas.  Again, the bottom line here is that illegal immigration is a political issue that begs for a political solution, and not a military one.

 During Del. Bob Marshall's speech to the Republicans gathered at the Waynesboro Mass Meeting this week;  he stated he would redeploy the 35,000 troops we now have in Germany to the Southern Border of the United States.

It skipped my mind to ask him if those troops could have been more useful in protecting the Alaska Pipeline, as he felt we needed to be cautious about drilling in ANWAR , because it was so far away from the United States, and risked terrorist attack.

What his statements really highlights his lack of strategic vision in Military matters.  This contrasts with Governor Jim Gilmore who served in US Army Intelligence in Germany near the height of the Cold War with the Soviet Union.

The bases we maintain in Germany are vital for our strategy of 'Forward Defense' that was utilized to win the Cold War, and keep the peace in Europe.  Stripping those bases of personnel is foolhardy, as those bases, and our personnel were attacked by Left Wing Terrorist Cells during the Cold War.  Furthermore, those bases have played a vital role in the War on Terror, and specifically for staging the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Moving those assets to our own border is completely foolhardy.  The Southern Border of the USA can be secured with fencing and border patrols, it's complete overkill to place M-1 Tanks and AH-1 Attack Helicopters on our southern border just to deter illegal immigration.

Delegate Marshall having never been a veteran, also misses another aspect of maintaining bases abroad.  It is a great recruiting tool to attract young Men and Women who seek adventure in their lives to be stationed in Germany, Italy & Japan etc.  I can assure you one of the best year's of my life was spent in Okinawa Japan.

It has always been clear that Governor Jim Gilmore is the best candidate to defeat Governor Mark Warner this November.  He stands head and shoulders above either of the other candidates for the office on military, and foreign policy matters.

Governor Gilmore not only chaired the Gilmore Commission prior to 9-11 but also implemented the actual plan that was followed in case of a terrorist attack on Virginia in May of 1999.  He signed Executive Order 41 fully two years before the attacks on the Pentagon.

Delegate Marshall is a good Conservative, but he needs to add a few more books to his library on exactly how many lives the USA lost taking and securing bases abroad during the history of our nation.  Forward Defense means our military protects our citizens not in our streets, but in the streets and high seas away from our shores. Governor Jim Gilmore knows that, and that is why he should be the Republican to replace Senator John Warner this coming November.

 This has seriously got to hurt.  A snippet:

It has taken nine bloody and difficult months, but the deployment of 30,000 additional U.S. troops appears at last to have brought not just a lull in the sectarian fighting in Iraq, but the first tangible steps toward genuine political reconciliation.

(Click 4 Message)

 I went to my monthly Marine Corps League meeting tonight and discussed last nights primary results with my fellow Marines.  The consensus is pretty much summed up in this graphic. 

I am in no way happy with McCain, and I am thoroughly disgusted in how the Super Tuesday primaries were set up.  I know Gov. Huckabee would be a good President, especially with Rep. Duncan Hunter as his Secretary of Defense or Vice President.  I have also expressed in previous posts that I understand why Virginia's GOP Leadership has backed McCain.

Having said all of that, I am prepared to stand by the Will of the Commonwealth of Virginia's Republican primaries results, and it's Leaders.  This concept is lost upon some, but then again, they just don't understand loyalty to one's home.