Large Scale Central

First hand account of Obama's Iraq trip

General Discussion
#1

Steve wrote: I received this email from a friend who got it from his friend in Afghanistan. It makes for interesting reading.

"I don’t know each of your personal political convictions, and apologize if anyone finds this offensive.
I thought it was important enough to share. This is Jeff’s first hand view of Senator Obama.

Hello everyone,
As you know I am not a very political person. I just wanted to pass along that
Senator Obama came to Bagram Afghanistan for about an hour on his visit to ‘The
War Zone’. I wanted to share with you what happened. He got off the plane and
got into a bullet proof vehicle, got to the area to meet with the Major General
(2 Star) who is the commander here at Bagram.

As the Soldiers were lined up to shake his hand he blew them off and didn’t say
a word as he went into the conference room to meet the General. As he finished,
the vehicles took him to the ClamShell (pretty much a big top tent that military
personnel can play basketball or work out in with weights) so he could take his
publicity pictures playing basketball. He again shunned the opportunity to talk
to Soldiers to thank them for their service.

So really he was just here to make a showing for the American’s back home that
he is their candidate for President. I think that if you are going to make an
effort to come all the way over here you would thank those that are providing
the freedom that they are providing for you.

I swear we got more thanks from the NBA Basketball Players or the Dallas Cowboy
Cheer leaders than from a Senator, who wants to be the President of the United
States . I just don’ t understand how anyone would want him to be our
Commander-and-Chief. It was almost that he was scared to be around those that
provide the freedom for him and our great country.

If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry but I wanted you all to know what
kind of caliber of person he really is. What you see in the news is all fake.

In service,
CPT Jeffrey S. Porter
Battle Captain
TF Wasatch
American Soldier?

edited to put quotes around that which is quoted.

#2

I know I am new here but I will not let this type of internet trash go by unanswered, wether for or against any candidate. Always, always search first, then post. One view, transmitted and retransmitted over and over…many views for many reasons. See below for a more balanced assesment…

Before I am labelled as “liberal” do not confuse my distaste for internet ‘viral e-mail’ with a desire to see any one particular candidate elected. I have a long history of voting Republican, mixed with a fair number of Democrats. This is dirty politics, no matter who is the subject of the letter.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/afghanistan.asp

#3

Boy, that didn’t take long, did it?

Are you sure, though? Snopes doesn’t always get it right.

#4

Friend who got it from a friend?
Pretty inflammatory. Can you verify the authenticity ?
Ralph

#5

I find two very bizzare statements in the e-mail that seem to point this out as someones political diatribe…

“As you know I am not a very political person”. The very first line of a so called letter home??? Not “Hey Ma, doing good, how are you”?

And this…“He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle, got to the area to meet with the Major General (2 Star) who is the commander here at Bagram”. Wow, the author pointed out “He got into a bullet proof vehicle”. Good Lord, the nerve! Aparently this is meant to suggest some type of cowardice. Seems to me there are a lot of people over there in bullet proof vests, cars, whatever. Seems a logical choice for a visiting VIP. Are we to believe that Bush and Chaney visit in T-shirts driving around on mo-peds?

I wanted McCain as Pres 8 years ago…he did not get the nomination, a real shame as I believe he would have been a great Pres over the last 8 years. I have not decided if I support him now or not but I do tire of these attacks to both sides.

#6

The original ‘email home’ is disgusting in its blatant lies, and in the fact that it is represented as coming from military personnel at the front.

Equally disgusting is the posting on Snopes that is represented as being from military personnel that have been ‘cleared’ to speak. The one promoting Obama and slamming McCain is just as bad as the original posting.

One blatant lie shouldn’t trigger another, and the military should stay out of politics. If this is representative of our military units in Afghanistan, it would seem that these guys and their leaders are out of control.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

#7

Steve,
(quote) “I don’t know each of your personal political convictions, and apologize if anyone finds this offensive.
I thought it was important enough to share. This is Jeff’s first hand view of Senator Obama.”

      Your political convictions are well known,  as are your military credentials and your unreserved pride in any military engagement that American forces have participated in,  either in agreeance with United Nations mandates or not.  You 'innocently' post this load of garbage and then reply - (qoute)   "Boy, that didn't take long, did it?"   Then when someone counters your opinion of how the world should be run you resort to intimidatory personal tactics.  You do not like Barack Obama and your opinions have been well voiced by your numerous political postings criticising either the man or his party.

       Like others,  I was disappointed when John McCain missed out on preselection as the Republican candidate eight years ago and then four years ago.  Apparently,  much of his campaign funds were self funded.  Yes,  he would have responded similarly to dumb 'dubya' in the circumstances post-911 and he most likely would have invaded Iraq and most likely imposed the draconian anti-terrorism laws that the government imposed post -911 (assuming he was using the same neo-con team that dumb 'dubya' and George Snr. used back in the intial Iraq conflict).  Just for interest research what was actually happening back in 1990 as regards who was stealing whose oil and the sham Kuwaiti 'personal' eyewitness accounts of Iraqi attrocities.  We were all duped in the original Iraq war and in the 2003 invasion.  But hey,  what would I know,  I am simply an un-American anti-American critic.  

      It is Obama's diplomacy that will make this world a better place.  Military people like a military solution.  Should we invade Iraq? - gee let's ask a five-star general for his opinion.  Do we ask the common folk in the street, or the college students on the draft list?  Well,  there is enough here for you to get your teeth into Steve,  but then your intention was your typical 'hit and run' topics.
#8

O’bama’s diplomacy?

Okay.

First, we will never know the truth of what happened, as the left-wing media has taken up an infatuation with O’bama.

Second, no serviceman would ever put into print anything traceable to him.

Some moron would try to courts-martial him.

So, it was done carefully, if it was done at all by a serviceman.

You do know there is some truth to most rumours?
Something of a factual nature created this.

Like I said, we’ll never know.

#9

Dave,
Barack Obama is to many, like Michael Jackson. He is a black man (with no disrespect intended) trying his hardest to be a whiteman. Quite likely he will be America’s first negro president. However, is he really a black president? Will he really represent the black population in the oval office. It will be another wishy-washy Kennedy rerun. Kennedy was a catholic and inspired the catholic Irish and not quite legal Italian/Sicilian vote with his well-known Chicago connections. When in office he turned his back on those who were responsible for getting him elected. I do not think a Democrat Obama presidency will be any better. Similarly, Hillary in the office would have been just as negative result as with Barack. Who else is left? John McCain, an aging, cancer prone president who may or may not last the full term. Any vital decisions he makes will be left to his vice-president to fulfill - another Kennedy/Johnson rewrite. For the sake of all, McCain better have a decent second in command. 300 million and these are the best candidates for the presidency, the most powerful political position in the world.

#10
Tim Brien said:
Steve, (quote) "I don't know each of your personal political convictions, and apologize if anyone finds this offensive. I thought it was important enough to share. This is Jeff's first hand view of Senator Obama." 
      Your political convictions are well known,  as are your military credentials and your unreserved pride in any military engagement that American forces have participated in,  either in agreeance with United Nations mandates or not.  You 'innocently' post this load of garbage and then reply - (qoute)   "Boy, that didn't take long, did it?"   Then when someone counters your opinion of how the world should be run you resort to intimidatory personal tactics.  You do not like Barack Obama and your opinions have been well voiced by your numerous political postings criticising either the man or his party.</blockquote>

First of all, Tim, you really know nothing about me at all. I did not write the line that you attribute to me. That is not my style at all.

You only think that you know my political convictions.

Who have I intimidated this time?

Tim, you have take a dislike to me simply because I have the gall to post something that you disagree with.

#11

Steve,
definately not a personal dislike, quite the contrary. My responses are simply observations, based on my experiences with life, as are yours. Has nothing to do with emotions. You like to post potentially stirring topics so must expect a response. I answer politically charged postings, I do not raise them. I have no emotional attachment either way. In fact I actually admire your gall at posting some of the topics that you do and your wit, as you come up with some surprisingly funny postings. Post away anything, but remember that when you post something controversial then you definately will get a response, that I guarantee. But, is that not why you post controversial items. You like to bait the hook and dangle the line.

#12

Truth of the matter is Senator Obama has more in common with the average white man than he has with the average black man. He was not raised in an underprivileged environment.
He certainly did not emerge from the Chicago ghettos.
Senator Obama made a huge political error in canceling his trip to visit with the wounded American soldiers. What ever his reasons at the time, I’m sure he regrets it now.
Ralph

#13

These kinds of letters are political “baiting”, I see this trash on both sides of the political fence and just wish it would go away.

I truely look forward to the debates for I believe this is the first time in my voting history where we have two men of character running at the same time. It is also the first time in my personal history where no matter who wins the election, I win too. I will try to reserve future comments for what these men say and not what others say about them.

#14
Mark Verbrugge said:
These kinds of letters are political "baiting", I see this trash on both sides of the political fence and just wish it would go away.

I truely look forward to the debates for I believe this is the first time in my voting history where we have two men of character running at the same time. It is also the first time in my personal history where no matter who wins the election, I win too. I will try to reserve future comments for what these men say and not what others say about them.


I wish I could share your enthusiasm for either candidate.
One represents “business as usual” while the other speaks of “change” while offering nothing of substanance to indicate real change.
Just the usual political BS from both.
Ralph

#15
Curmudgeon said:
O'bama's diplomacy?

Okay.

First, we will never know the truth of what happened, as the left-wing media has taken up an infatuation with O’bama.

Second, no serviceman would ever put into print anything traceable to him.

Some moron would try to courts-martial him.

So, it was done carefully, if it was done at all by a serviceman.

You do know there is some truth to most rumours?
Something of a factual nature created this.

Like I said, we’ll never know.


Nah, we know it’s crap. Read the Snopes piece. Obama was not where the letter said he was and did not do the things the letter said. There are pictures, and video, released by the dept of defense, showing Obama doing what Porter claimed he didn’t do. Then there are emails sent to Snopes claiming that Porter’s account is wrong. Or maybe it’s just that reality has a liberal bias?

That being saind, I’m sure there are servicemen who feel resentful about any politician’s visit. Ever see one in operation? Here in DC it’s a common thing to sit for 20 minutes at an intersection waiting for the presidential motorcade go by, or some Senator’s entourage. Then a long line of black SUVs rolls past, sometimes with some of them with open back doors and guys with automatic weapons pointed out. Then when the imperial motorcade goes past, the peasants get to resume their duties. You sit there thinking “wait, isn’t this a republic we live in?” It used to be–now it’s like imperial rome.

So if some big shot rolls into town or onto the base of course there will be people who feel like they are being shoved aside, or belittled. So there’s your “basis in fact.” The difference is this is being circulated as a political hit piece, designed to suggest that Obama “hates the troops” or is a cowardly elitist snob. And CPT. Porter was making that s&%t up. Same tired ploy they’ve been running for 30 years. I’m surprised people of advanced age and experience keep falling for it.

Obama, like McCain, is a politician. He’s scripted and managed and lives in a bubble of media and flaks and strategists and image consultants and secret service. His life is nothing like a normal person’s and neither is McCain’s. His actions are never “real” or genuine the way yours or mine are. Remember recently when a reporter asked McCain when was the last time he bought gas? and McCain couldn’t remember? The guy hasn’t pumped his own gas in 20 years.

This letter is just a distraction, designed to fan your resentments. Don’t fall for it. Vote for policy, not symbolics.

#16
mike omalley said:
................

Ever see one in operation? Here in DC it’s a common thing to sit for 20 minutes at an intersection waiting for the presidential motorcade go by, or some Senator’s entourage. Then a long line of black SUVs rolls past, sometimes with some of them with open back doors and guys with automatic weapons pointed out. Then when the imperial motorcade goes past, the peasants get to resume their duties. You sit there thinking “wait, isn’t this a republic we live in?” It used to be–now it’s like imperial rome.

…


I’d say it’s a good thing they’re not riding elephants or camels. :lol: But there must be a number of donkeys etc. in those processions.

#17

Once, early in my Navy career, President Lincoln… er, I mean Ford, visited the Navy Recruit Training Center at San Diego, CA. I was selected as one of the young sailors to escort the party and have dinner with them. The guy I was supposed to have dinner with was someone named Dick Cheney, whoever that was. As luck would have it, the Secret Service agents screwed things up and put me together with Allen Greenspan. Mr. Greenspan was quite a character, and I got to sit across the table from the President. When he found out that I was a football center, too, we started swapping lies… er… stories about playing the position.

Too soon, the dinner was over, and they had to haul ass in their motorcade. They went the wrong way, and were last seen speeding out the back gate. I always wondered if their guide was shot for felony stupidity.

#18

Thats a great story Steve. I’ve met a lot of politicians, and they can be incredibly charming, and in the main, being incredibly charming is a huge part of their job. Some of them are razor sharp, and then sometimes you wonder how they tie their own shoes without help. I think a lot of the are decent people who get caught up in a system that comes to control them.

When I first came to washington, you could drive right past the white house. It was literally on a main road through DC, maybe 50 yards from eastbound traffic. It always made me feel proud and also, seeing how close the White House was, gave me a feeling that our govt. really belongs to the people. You could walk right into the Capitol. It was fun to bring visitors around and they were always surprised about how accessible everything was. Harry Truman would take walks around town, and as late as the 1990s my sister in law was jogging around the tidal basin and there, running right past her, was Clinton with a small secret service detachment.

Now Penn. Avenue is closed off, screwing up traffic in the city. You can’t go into any govt. building without being treated like a suspect. The big politicians travel with a huge twenty car entourage of black SUVs, like dictators in a banana republic. There are “bollards” everywhere blocking vehicles. The whole city feels less friendly and more like the gvt. is some distant thing we’re all supposed to serve and obey, instead of something we own that serves us. Today if the president wanted to jog by the Jefferson memorial they’d close off the whole area and have a helicopter flying overhead. We, the citizens, are an inconvenience.

In my opinion Americans just completely peed their pants after 9/11, just acted like cowards. Yes, it was a terrible attack–I live a couple miles from the Pentagon. But we gave into the worst tendencies to panic. Lots of countries live with/have lived with much worse terrorism problems and don’t hide under the bed. We lived with Russian missiles aimed at us and didn’t panic. Reagan got shot and nobody closed off PA Avenue.

#19

I’m no fan of Obama, but I’ve seen enough “viral emails” to make me suspicious of this one. I agree with the poster who advised checking up on the veracity of such emails before spreading them.

#20
mike omalley said:
In my opinion Americans just completely peed their pants after 9/11, just acted like cowards. Yes, it was a terrible attack--I live a couple miles from the Pentagon. But we gave into the worst tendencies to panic. Lots of countries live with/have lived with much worse terrorism problems and don't hide under the bed. We lived with Russian missiles aimed at us and didn't panic. Reagan got shot and nobody closed off PA Avenue.
I agree Mike. We made the terrorist action successful by our reaction. I continued to work that terrible day. I worked the next day also. The streets were deserted. We allowed the terrorist action to disrupt the entire nation. And it continues to this day. Ralph