There is a war going on, but not one you think about as a war - I'm not referring to Afghanistan or Iraq or any other hot spot on the planet.
I'm talking about the war for your mind. For your beliefs. For your ignorance.
No, I'm not going to counsel wearing tin foil hats, nor am I hearing voices from my dental fillings. I'm talking about the constant battle that is ongoing through what we call the "Mainstream Media".
The Mainstream Media, or MSM, is actively engaged in what can only be called an information warfare campaign to modify your behaviors, and by extension, your belief structures. Sound paranoid? Let's review a few basic facts.
Most Americans get their news from media corporations through either television or the internet. Both are "visual" mediums, which increases the rapidity and scope of the impact on us - after all, we are visually oriented creatures. These media corporations exist as capitalist entities to make money.
The primary source of income for both television and internet news is advertising. Advertising rates are set based on viewership. Thus, the advertising rates for the Superbowl are astronomical while the advertising rates for my blog are nil.
The way that media networks maintain viewership is to provide engaging content - to do whatever it takes to keep your attention just enough to keep you from turning the channel or clicking a bookmark to another network or web page. To to this, they use every psychological trick in the book - graphic video, the teaser line before the commercial, powerful music and graphics. All is fair in the quest for your attention.
Now here's the great secret. I think it's been known for a long time, but really first reared its impact with Orson Welles' 1938 Halloween broadcast of H.G. Wells "War of the Worlds". He "made" people believe that Martians were actually landing in Grovers Mill, New Jersey, and several small panics ensued. He did this by making his broadcast sound like actual "routine" programming - a radio orchestra being interrupted by news bulletins that gradually escalated into live broadcasts from the scene. Brilliant - it was "Wag the Dog" without the dog - which is the point.
The great secret is that "Fear Sells". All we have to do is make you afraid and you will not change the channel. In fact, if we advertise it up front, we can get you to watch without knowing what you will be afraid of. Think of all the "Very Special Episodes of..." that you've heard advertised. What did that mean? Something bad was going to happen to a main character on a normally comedic show and you were going to share the pain and uncertainty with them. Pain and uncertainty - two roots of fear.
Now think about the central message of most of what you see on what passes for television news today. Pain and uncertainty. Even when something good happens - a peace treaty is signed, rain comes to a drought ravaged region, a baby dolphin is reunited with its mother - the reporters or the anchors will end it with the "It remains to be seen what happens next with the warring parties," or "Forecasters fear that the rain may be too little, too late," or "We have no way of knowing whether baby Flipper's mother will accept him back into the fold - if not, he will surely die." Why do they do this - pain and uncertainty leading to an implied promise that, if we find out anything, we'll update you.
What are the right-wing television and radio talking heads doing with Obama? Pain and uncertainty. Be afraid, be very afraid. In the spirit of fairness, the left-wing television and radio talking heads did the same thing during the Bush administration - what few there were, but they do not have the same traction with the public.
The other day I received, as I'm sure many of us do, a forwarded email of a right wing pundit's column or blog or whatever. Now, I am aware that the person who sent it to me has far different political beliefs than I do, and we playfully throw stuff at each other from time to time. This one was a great example of what I am referring to here - here it is, as sent...
XXXXXXXXX
It's Hillary in 2012, if Obama even makes it that far
By Bryan Fischer
There is virtually unanimous agreement that President Obama is toast. Mort Zuckerman says the air is out of the balloon, and even Der Spiegel is saying that, for German commentators, the hope is gone. In my judgment, Obama is now a lame duck president with 75% of his first (and only) term remaining.
ObamaCare, his signature issue, is dead in the water and Democrats are floating belly up right next to it. Think Corzine, Deeds, Coakley, Dodd, Dorgan, Snyder, Nelson, Lincoln, etc. etc.
If the Democrats do not insist that Obama resign from office ¬ politically unlikely to be sure ¬ they are liable to be dessicated, withered and powerless by 2012. His coattails are just long enough to drag them all under unless they detach themselves immediately if not sooner.
The natives are restless. If I've observed any one thing over time in politics, it's that the only thing that matters to 95% of politicians is getting re-elected. They will sell their soul to anyone who will ensure re-election and abandon any principle and any friend who serves as a drag on their electoral hopes.
The president is now dead weight, an albatross around the neck of every Democrat member of the House and the Senate. They simply cannot afford to be linked to him anymore. He is blindly pursuing policies that the great majority of Americans flatly reject, and yet he soldiers on, oblivious, perhaps through sheer hubris, to the fact that voters aren't buying the swill he is trying to sell as champagne. Congressional Democrats have got to get as far away from him as they can, and they will. Sheer self-interest will dictate separation.
Obama is a disastrous 0-5 on the campaign trail, in his first year after an inauguration attended by unmatched euphoria and expectation. Few in political history, apart from appalling scandal, have fallen so far so fast. He is the Tiger Woods of the political world. He got hosed in Copenhagen, trying the bag the Olympics for Chicago. He got hosed again in Copenhagen, trying to impose economy-destroying carbon caps on the entire world.
And he got hosed in New Jersey, Virginia and Massachusetts when he tried to lend his now vanished charisma to troubled candidates. He's now preparing to make it 0-6 by going to Nevada to prop up the dismal fortunes of the thoroughly unappealing Harry Reid.
Congressional Democrats now can safely ignore their own president, and in fact must do so to preserve any chance of survival. Dick Morris is surely correct when he says that the president will never be able to pass a significant piece of legislation ever again. The American people are watching, they know he cannot be trusted, and they will beat the daylights out of any politician who supports his disastrous agenda.
He has grossly misread the American public, perhaps again because in his insular and self-adulating world he believes he is the smartest person in the room and is sure that his brilliance will inevitably be recognized by the great unwashed. Ain't gonna happen. The American people are a lot smarter than he thinks, maybe even smarter than he is, and surely wiser when it comes to politics. They will never trust him again about anything.
The president is catastrophically weak and naive when it comes to our war against Islamofascism. He is indifferent, desultory, casual, and lacking in seriousness regarding the threat. The American people know this. He waited three days to say anything at all about the Tighty-Whitey Bomber of Christmas Day, his Pentagon whitewashed completely the jihadist attack on Ft. Hood by refusing to use either the word "Islam" or "Muslim" anywhere in its 86-page report, and he nominated a manifestly unqualified man (Erroll Southers) to head the TSA.
If there is another successful Islamic attack on the United States, and a planeload of innocent Americans gets blown up, I believe that will be the last straw for this vain and incompetent president. The American people will hound him out of office. He won't be able to show his face in public because the reaction will be so visceral and angry. He will become as isolated as Dick Nixon became in his last days in office.
He'll crank up the Oval Office thermostat to 72 degrees and hunker down in an effort to ride out the storm.
Hillary Clinton is of course watching, and I have been predicting for months now that she will launch a primary challenge to Obama in 2012. Rush Limbaugh said much the same thing this past week. The campaign of 2012 is her last realistic shot, and she is shrewd enough to see that he is finished as a politician and she'll just be too old in 2016.
Surely the Democrats in the party will see the same thing, and know that if they back Obama in 2012 they will be backing a loser. Believe me, there will be an underground movement among Democrats to plead with Hillary (or somebody) to save what shreds will remain of their party from The One in the next presidential election.
President Obama has no chance at a second term. And eroding chances of completing his first one.
© Bryan Fischer
XXXXXXXXXX
Are you afraid? What is the message? Obama's a loser. As Americans we don't back losers. We like to win. Therefore, you should fear to associate your beliefs with Obama.
My response to my friend was the following:
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Anytime I hear a commentator use terms like “virtually unanimous” I remember what an old boss of mine told me when I wrote something similar in an analytical piece - “Scott, there are no modifications to unanimous – it is either unanimous or it is not. If it is not, it may be a majority, but it is intellectually dishonest to try to imply something that simply isn’t.” He was one of the smarter guys I worked for over the years – and the best Commander I ever had.
Last time I checked, “Obama-Care” had morphed into “House and Senate Care” – with Obama agreeing only that it was better than doing nothing. It wasn’t “his” plan by the time the Congressional sausage grinders got done with it.
I will agree that Obama has failed – but what he has failed to do is communicate with the people who elect those Congressmen and Senators. Those same people who elected him.
Anytime I hear anyone mention Obama’s “birth status”, I want to puke. The man is President. Every court in the land that this issue has been raised in has rejected it out of hand. But that’s not good enough for politics these days – no, we’ll keep on beating the dead horse because there are still idiots who will believe it and pass it on, whether out of ignorance or out of thinly disguised racial prejudice or undisguised political prejudice.
Think about how far this country has fallen intellectually in the past 40 years. Do you remember, as I do, the Vacuum Tube Testers that used to be in the front of stores like Skaggs or Thrifty Drugs? Where you could pull a tube out of your television or radio at home, bring it in, and plug it in to the tester to see if it worked or not – and if it didn’t, they were right there for you to buy a replacement – that you then could put back into your television by yourself? We can now text 30 words a minute with our thumbs, often while driving, but we can’t change the oil in our own cars because we’ve turned into a nation of idiots – no curiosity, no skills at anything beyond mere existence. How many kids today can tune a carburetor by ear? How many kids can actually make something from nothing to play with? That’s one of the reasons I’m so indulgent with the boys with their Legos – at least they are creating something. I know technology has made vacuum tubes and carburetors obsolete, but it illustrates the point - but what is the modern equivalent? Playing golf under par on the Wii?
I am very suspicious of the motivations for most of these pundits, commentators, etc. Pure and simple, they make their money by counseling “fear” – fear of the evil Democrats, fear of the evil black man, fear of anything “non-Christian”, fear of anything not 100% Republican party – and even then they will turn on each other like sharks if any one of them deviates the slightest degree. Their incomes and livelihoods are based on spreading fear, spreading rumors, walking right up to the line for slander and libel, then hiding behind the very legal system they decry when they are called on their inaccuracies. Their tactics are taken straight from the masters of the game – Goebbels, Stalin, Mao, Castro – repeat a lie often enough and it gains a truth of its own.
Why deal in fear? Manifest the things you fear and you will find things to be afraid of. Why not have faith in our system of government and faith that most of our leaders are doing their best every day to make America better? I’ll give George W. Bush that much credit – I think he was doing what he believed was right, much as I disagreed with the things he did. I can disagree politically, religiously, philosophically, and personally and still respect the individual for who he is, what he attained and how he has dared stand in the arena. Teddy Roosevelt said it best…
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
How many of us can say that we have risked what Obama has risked to pursue what we believe in?
XXXXXXXXXX
I think that many of these commentators, pundits, etc., have forgotten or confused just what the real arena is – they think they are the gladiators out there jeering at Caesar, when in fact, they are mere spectators, often loud ones, but spectators, nonetheless.
As Americans, we can choose to be informed or ignorant - no one makes us pay attention. But apathy is insidious - and ignorance is ripe ground for the practitioners of political or media information warfare.
Next time, we'll talk about how we've failed to apply these similar lessons in Afghanistan. There - a teaser with no fear involved.
Hooah
SLK
FOB Walton, Afghanistan
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Retirement
On December 28th, I was ceremoniously retired from the Armed Forces of the United States. I say ceremoniously because, well, that's when the ceremony was. Officially, I retired back on 30 June, but haven't been in the country since then to do the ceremony.
As retirement ceremonies go, I think it was pretty routine. I was awarded several medals and presented with the certificate of retirement and certificates of appreciation. My wife was presented with a certificate of appreciation as well, as is customary.
Then it was my turn. I gave my retirement speech. I hope you enjoy it.
XXXXXXXXXX
Thank you all for coming.
I believe that retirement speeches should serve two purposes. First, they should offer heartfelt thanks to comrades, friends, and family who have also shared the ride that has been this career. The second purpose is to offer one last piece of advice, make one last attempt to achieve immortality, of a sort - to be remembered. So, here it is, my thanks, and my attempt to pass on something of myself so that I might be remembered someday by someone else on this stage. Of course, in the best traditions of an intelligence officer I will be accompanied by a 48 slide presentation and the entire thing will be classified SECRET NOFORN. I will also be reversing the order, saving the thanks for last, as an OPSEC measure.
Michael Shaara, in his book "The Killer Angels" made perhaps the most poignent observation about the military that I have ever come across. He attributed it to Confederate General Robert E. Lee in a conversation with General Longstreet. "To be a good soldier, one must love the Army. But to be a good officer, one must be ready to order the death of the thing he loves. No other profession requires that." All of us have chosen to wear the uniform and swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foregn and domestic, amongst other things. My challenge to you is to live that oath every day.
The challenge is to defend the Constitution against complacency. It must take the form of a constant struggle to make things better, for your subordinates, your peers, and for your superiors as well as for your organization. By constantly seeking to improve your position, you create a culture that embraces change and seeks out ways to capitalize on change, for change is one of only two inevitables in life, the other being death.
As for my career, Wow, what a ride. I've been places I never would have dreamed of; seen things both wonderful and terrible to behold; done things that many just dream of; and best of all, I know I have made a difference.
I cannot imagine a better epitaph to a career. "I made a difference." I wasn't the best officer, the best leader, the best boss, the best husband, or the best father over the past almost 30 years in uniform. But I think it's fair to say that I have become better in all of these roles as time went on. Perfection isn't the standard, learning and improving are the standard by which we should measure ourselves.
So, there it is, my nuggets of wisdom for you all. All I can hope is that they resonate for someone here, makes their path a little clearer from here on out.
The people I owe for this success are legion. First and foremost is my wife Kim. She stood by me through the bad bosses and the long deployments and the 80 hour workweeks and somehow held it all together. Thank you, my dear - I know that today I am as much in love with you as I was in 1982 when I was that JROTC Geek.
I thank my two boys, Preston and Liam for constantly reminding me why this career is important - for if it is not for our children that we make a better planet, who is it for? Thank you both.
I am grateful to my parents who instilled the work ethic to do it right then keep going from there. Dad, you also were one of the best bosses I ever had the privilege to work for - serving as your intelligence officer was the highlight of my career.
I am grateful for my brother, who allows me a peek into the next generation's mindset and who reminds me to have fun in doing the job.
Over the years I had some great bosses and mentors who exemplified professionalism. LTCs Clair Armstrong and Kent Thomas, MAJ John Midgely, and COL James Sfayer from my West Point days. COL G. Pat Ritter, COL Robert M. Williams, COL Mike Altomare, COL Steve Lemons, COL Greg Fontenot, Col. Bill Shawver, COL John Goodale, COL Tim Kelly and COL Rob Lytle are just a few of the great officers and men for whom I have worked for or with and grown from the interaction.
No officer can hope to be a success without the support of his subordinates, and I had some great ones over the years. SGT Larry Halminiak my first gunner and Specialist John Stehley, my first driver were the first of many. Sergeant Major Bill Moore, First Sergeants Dana Sullivan, Mitch Andreasen, and Ric Holmes. Sergeants First Class Sean Kelly, Lonny Grout, Theodore Berryhill, and John Martin and Sergeant Marie Ristow all contributed immensely to my success as an officer over the years. It was a pleasure to serve with them.
Finally, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my peers all along the way. They were the ones that kept me sane when things were tough and provided the support to keep going. You all, collectively, make up my "Band of Brothers" and I have no doubt that our friendships will last beyond the military. COL Steven Sauter, LTC Dave Dahle, LTC Tony McClure, LTC Albert Gomez, LtCol Bruno Plourde, LtCol Drummond Fraser, Maj Jerry Hager, and Maj Klaus Fisher - I owe you all for doing your jobs so well, which made it so much easier to do mine.
Finally, a Parthian Shot - and for once I won't explain the background as I've been talking too long already. Google it if you care. Perhaps the most important lesson I learned here in Idaho - It's better to know which battles to fight than it is to win all of the battles that you do fight. Choose your causes wisely.
Again, Thank you all for coming. I genuinely wish you all the very happiest of holiday seasons and a joyous and bountiful new year.
XXXXXXXXXX
There it is, short and to the point. The best part is that I truly believe the points I was attempted to convey.
The military is not like any other "job" - and we should continually emphasize that point, to the recruits, to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines; but most importantly, we need to remind the American People of that - and their elected Representatives and Senators.
Likewise, I see the danger to the Constitution, and by extension America, isn't that of radical change, it's of complacence, somnolence, and apathy. The words in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States are not just quaint creative writings - they are the bedrock of what we are as a nation. We must be on guard that we do not chip away around the edges to the point where nothing remains.
Finally, I am proud to say that I HAVE made a difference, however small. I think that that is all that any of us can hope for.
That all being said, I'm glad that my time in uniform is done. It's time to move on to the next chapters in this adventure called life.
BTW - I can't resist - the Parthians were follow-ons to the Persian Empire in what is now Mesopotamia. They successfully resisted the Roman Empire's expansion to the East. One of their favored battle tactics was to conduct a cavalry charge, then at the last minute, wheel about, as if they were going to flee - then turn and fire a volley of arrows over the rumps of their horses - directly into the ranks of the defenders, who, more often than not, had risen and shifted out of position to begin pursuing. As an Armor Officer, we called these "rear deck engagements" - firing the main gun over the back of the vehicle as we displaced from our fighting positions. Same thought, different technology. Hence, the Parthian Shot is a powerful volley fired as one retreats from the battlefield.
Hooah
SLK
FOB Walton, Kandahar, Afghanistan
As retirement ceremonies go, I think it was pretty routine. I was awarded several medals and presented with the certificate of retirement and certificates of appreciation. My wife was presented with a certificate of appreciation as well, as is customary.
Then it was my turn. I gave my retirement speech. I hope you enjoy it.
XXXXXXXXXX
Thank you all for coming.
I believe that retirement speeches should serve two purposes. First, they should offer heartfelt thanks to comrades, friends, and family who have also shared the ride that has been this career. The second purpose is to offer one last piece of advice, make one last attempt to achieve immortality, of a sort - to be remembered. So, here it is, my thanks, and my attempt to pass on something of myself so that I might be remembered someday by someone else on this stage. Of course, in the best traditions of an intelligence officer I will be accompanied by a 48 slide presentation and the entire thing will be classified SECRET NOFORN. I will also be reversing the order, saving the thanks for last, as an OPSEC measure.
Michael Shaara, in his book "The Killer Angels" made perhaps the most poignent observation about the military that I have ever come across. He attributed it to Confederate General Robert E. Lee in a conversation with General Longstreet. "To be a good soldier, one must love the Army. But to be a good officer, one must be ready to order the death of the thing he loves. No other profession requires that." All of us have chosen to wear the uniform and swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foregn and domestic, amongst other things. My challenge to you is to live that oath every day.
The challenge is to defend the Constitution against complacency. It must take the form of a constant struggle to make things better, for your subordinates, your peers, and for your superiors as well as for your organization. By constantly seeking to improve your position, you create a culture that embraces change and seeks out ways to capitalize on change, for change is one of only two inevitables in life, the other being death.
As for my career, Wow, what a ride. I've been places I never would have dreamed of; seen things both wonderful and terrible to behold; done things that many just dream of; and best of all, I know I have made a difference.
I cannot imagine a better epitaph to a career. "I made a difference." I wasn't the best officer, the best leader, the best boss, the best husband, or the best father over the past almost 30 years in uniform. But I think it's fair to say that I have become better in all of these roles as time went on. Perfection isn't the standard, learning and improving are the standard by which we should measure ourselves.
So, there it is, my nuggets of wisdom for you all. All I can hope is that they resonate for someone here, makes their path a little clearer from here on out.
The people I owe for this success are legion. First and foremost is my wife Kim. She stood by me through the bad bosses and the long deployments and the 80 hour workweeks and somehow held it all together. Thank you, my dear - I know that today I am as much in love with you as I was in 1982 when I was that JROTC Geek.
I thank my two boys, Preston and Liam for constantly reminding me why this career is important - for if it is not for our children that we make a better planet, who is it for? Thank you both.
I am grateful to my parents who instilled the work ethic to do it right then keep going from there. Dad, you also were one of the best bosses I ever had the privilege to work for - serving as your intelligence officer was the highlight of my career.
I am grateful for my brother, who allows me a peek into the next generation's mindset and who reminds me to have fun in doing the job.
Over the years I had some great bosses and mentors who exemplified professionalism. LTCs Clair Armstrong and Kent Thomas, MAJ John Midgely, and COL James Sfayer from my West Point days. COL G. Pat Ritter, COL Robert M. Williams, COL Mike Altomare, COL Steve Lemons, COL Greg Fontenot, Col. Bill Shawver, COL John Goodale, COL Tim Kelly and COL Rob Lytle are just a few of the great officers and men for whom I have worked for or with and grown from the interaction.
No officer can hope to be a success without the support of his subordinates, and I had some great ones over the years. SGT Larry Halminiak my first gunner and Specialist John Stehley, my first driver were the first of many. Sergeant Major Bill Moore, First Sergeants Dana Sullivan, Mitch Andreasen, and Ric Holmes. Sergeants First Class Sean Kelly, Lonny Grout, Theodore Berryhill, and John Martin and Sergeant Marie Ristow all contributed immensely to my success as an officer over the years. It was a pleasure to serve with them.
Finally, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my peers all along the way. They were the ones that kept me sane when things were tough and provided the support to keep going. You all, collectively, make up my "Band of Brothers" and I have no doubt that our friendships will last beyond the military. COL Steven Sauter, LTC Dave Dahle, LTC Tony McClure, LTC Albert Gomez, LtCol Bruno Plourde, LtCol Drummond Fraser, Maj Jerry Hager, and Maj Klaus Fisher - I owe you all for doing your jobs so well, which made it so much easier to do mine.
Finally, a Parthian Shot - and for once I won't explain the background as I've been talking too long already. Google it if you care. Perhaps the most important lesson I learned here in Idaho - It's better to know which battles to fight than it is to win all of the battles that you do fight. Choose your causes wisely.
Again, Thank you all for coming. I genuinely wish you all the very happiest of holiday seasons and a joyous and bountiful new year.
XXXXXXXXXX
There it is, short and to the point. The best part is that I truly believe the points I was attempted to convey.
The military is not like any other "job" - and we should continually emphasize that point, to the recruits, to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines; but most importantly, we need to remind the American People of that - and their elected Representatives and Senators.
Likewise, I see the danger to the Constitution, and by extension America, isn't that of radical change, it's of complacence, somnolence, and apathy. The words in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States are not just quaint creative writings - they are the bedrock of what we are as a nation. We must be on guard that we do not chip away around the edges to the point where nothing remains.
Finally, I am proud to say that I HAVE made a difference, however small. I think that that is all that any of us can hope for.
That all being said, I'm glad that my time in uniform is done. It's time to move on to the next chapters in this adventure called life.
BTW - I can't resist - the Parthians were follow-ons to the Persian Empire in what is now Mesopotamia. They successfully resisted the Roman Empire's expansion to the East. One of their favored battle tactics was to conduct a cavalry charge, then at the last minute, wheel about, as if they were going to flee - then turn and fire a volley of arrows over the rumps of their horses - directly into the ranks of the defenders, who, more often than not, had risen and shifted out of position to begin pursuing. As an Armor Officer, we called these "rear deck engagements" - firing the main gun over the back of the vehicle as we displaced from our fighting positions. Same thought, different technology. Hence, the Parthian Shot is a powerful volley fired as one retreats from the battlefield.
Hooah
SLK
FOB Walton, Kandahar, Afghanistan
Nice Break
Apologies for the long absence - I took a wonderful three week vacation home for the holidays, then have spent the last three weeks here getting myself back in order.
The good news is that my Afghan Adventure is starting to come to a close. As of today, I've got about 43 days left in Afghanistan before I go home for good.
Anyway, lots of things to write about, so stay tuned.
SLK
FOB Walton, Kandahar, Afghanistan
The good news is that my Afghan Adventure is starting to come to a close. As of today, I've got about 43 days left in Afghanistan before I go home for good.
Anyway, lots of things to write about, so stay tuned.
SLK
FOB Walton, Kandahar, Afghanistan
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