Open Letter to NM Republicans, WST-9/12 and Oathkeepers

We are writing to you to express our grave concerns about Adam Kokesh, who is aspiring to become the Republican nominee for US Congress from New Mexico’s 3rd district. Mr. Kokesh has an extensive, and well-documented history of affiliations with radical leftist groups. In concert with these groups he has engaged in numerous anti-America and anti-military demonstrations and protests. Moreover, Mr. Kokesh does not appear to have any personal qualifications that would recommend him for serious consideration as a candidate for the Republican Party. He has a significant history suggestive of poor character and judgment, and he has notable incidents of direct activism against Republican office holders.

Affiliations with radical leftist groups
Mr. Kokesh joined the Iraq Veterans Against War (IVAW) in February 2007, at which time he was 25 years old. The IVAW was formed by the Vietnam Veterans Against War (VVAW), the now infamous group, formed by John Kerry in 1970, and responsible for the fraudulent maligning of our Vietnam veterans at the Winter Soldier Conference in 1971. It will be recalled that John Kerry now stands exposed as having repeated false accusations from that conference, during Congressional testimony in 1971. Similar to the VVAW, the IVAW is a virulently anti-military, anti-America group. It holds the view that our country is an imperialistic and expansionistic “One World Order” government, and that our military is but a tool of this government. Further, they believe that our soldiers are little more than marauders and murderers who, in the words of John Kerry, behave “in a fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan”.

Mr. Kokesh was active in the IVAW from 2007 to 2009, at which time he announced his candidacy for Republican Congressman from New Mexico. There are no indications that he has revoked his affiliations with the IVAW. As an active member of the IVAW, Mr. Kokesh was involved in numerous anti-military, and by explicit extension, anti-Bush/Republican activities and actions. While executing these actions, Mr. Kokesh knowingly and gladly, made common cause with a wide array of other well-known, radical anti-America and communist groups. The list of these other groups includes, but is by no means limited to, the following:
SDS
Code Pink
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
United for Justice and Peace
Communist Party of America
Muslim Brotherhood
Black Panthers
In cooperation with the above-named groups and the IVAW, Mr. Kokesh: participated in multiple anti-war demonstrations in Washington DC, and other cites throughout the country; organized and incited violent demonstrations at military recruiting stations; participated in an initiative to encourage active duty soldiers to desert their military post; organized and participated in a Winter Soldier Conference 2, an effort designed to malign and undercut the moral of our soldiers who were fighting and dying on the battlefield. Even a most cursory search of the Internet will yield a plethora of documents attesting to the veracity of these assertions.



Personal character questions, and anti-Republican Party activities
Apart from his considerable radical leftist affiliations and activities, there many concerns about Mr. Kokesh’s general personal qualifications for congressman; and we have specific concerns about the appropriateness of his being considered for being a Republican congressman. Mr. Kokesh has no history of personal accomplishments or achievement, yet he does have a notable history of poor judgment and illegal behavior. Moreover, he has no history of supporting the Republican Party, and in fact has been actively unsupportive and undermining of the Party

Mr. Kokesh’s personal accomplishments and achievements appear to be limited to his having served in the Marine Corps from 1999 until 2006, and his political activism with the IVAW from 2007 until 2009. His MC service was basically unremarkable, in terms of citations, medals, and commendations, and it was ultimately marked by a demotion in his discharge rank, from Sergeant to Corporal, and a downgrading of his discharge status from honorable to general. Mr. Kokesh’s tenure with the IVAW has been noted above and need not be repeated here.

There are no indications that Mr. Kokesh has ever maintained any private sector employment, and unless otherwise proven, it might be assumed that his ‘work’ with the IVAW was financed through contributions to that organization, finances that often originated in leftist organizations such as MoveOn.org. Other than an undergraduate degree in Psychology, there are no indications that Mr. Kokesh has achieved any academic standing that might, given his young age and his otherwise lack of general accomplishments, recommend him for serious consideration for Congress.

There are numbers of incidents in Mr. Kokesh’s personal life that suggest that he employs poor judgment, and that he has trouble coping with stress. Examples of his poor judgment include the following: he smuggled a gun home from Iraq, and then was apprehended when he bought it onto a college campus; he has incited protestors to engage in violent actions against military recruiting stations, and; he incited unrest on a college campus by hanging racist poster around the campus, and signed the posters as being a member of the college conservative Republican organization.

Given the above, it is our position that Mr. Kokesh is in no way qualified to represent the Republican Party in Congress. In fact, if his history is any indicator of his future performance, it is most likely that he will behave in a manner that is antithetical to the positions and values of the Republican Party. In our view, a Kokesh candidacy will at best, precipitate much conflict within the Republican Party, and, at worst, invite derision from outside of the party.

Like you, we are interested in maintaining the integrity of the Republican Party. We understand that this is a time when the party leadership is striving to reconcile disparate ideas within the party, and to clarify its unified voice. A Kokesh candidacy would be completely at odds with those strivings and ideals.

We are urging the Republican Party to withhold any endorsement of a ‘Kokesh for Congress’ candidacy. We look forward to hearing from you.

A Petition for the Congressional Progressive Caucus

Link to sign petition here.

Blogs referencing Winter Soldier and IVAW:
This Aint Hell
Thus Spake Ortner
The Talon
Winter Soldier

In March 2008, the anti-war organization Iraq Veterans Against the War held an event entitled Winter Soldier-Iraq and Afghanistan at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, MD. The event was self-consciously patterned after the 1971 Winter Soldier Investigation held in Detroit by the Vietnam Veterans Against the War(VVAW). During that event, over one hundred purported Vietnam veterans "testified" to widespread and horrific atrocities committed routinely by American forces in Vietnam.

....the general theme of the 1971 Winter Soldier Investigation of widespread atrocities committed by American forces in Vietnam passed largely unchallenged into much of our culture. It has been a mainstay of the film industry for decades. It has harmed the image of America in general, and the honor of three million Vietnam Veterans in particular.

Various sources on the Internet and in print, including the IVAW, the VVAW and the Veterans for Peace as well as other organizations associated with them claimed that "testimony" given in March covered a variety of matters including widespread atrocities, indiscriminate and unwarranted killing of civilians and destruction of property and infrastructure, torture of detainees, mutilation of corpses and the illegal use of Afghan bodies for medical "practice", rampant sexual misconduct, racism and drug/alcohol use by American soldiers and on and on. IVAW is now reporting that they will provide the results of their investigation to your caucus on May 15, 2008. We the undersigned request that the Congressional Progressive Caucus take the following steps:

* Make request of the Iraq Veterans Against the War that member(s) of the Caucus be provided video of the entire Winter Soldier Investigation testimony proceedings and be provided access to all those who testified,
*That the Caucus require any testimony given by IVAW be presented in the following format:
D: Date(s) - When did the incident occur?
U: Unit(s) - What military units were involved?
P: Personnel - What are the names of the participants and witnesses?
E: Event(s) - What exactly happened exactly where?
S: Signature(s) - Was this reported at the time or later and were reports, affidavits or depositions signed, or will they now be signed?
* That in the event that staff determines that there has been testimony given that touches on areas where, in the words of Senator Warner, the members of the SASC "have a responsibility to establish where in the military chain of command rests the 'accountability,' depending of course, on the accuracy of the facts", the Caucus forward the information to the House Armed Services Committee (HASC),
* That the Caucus request and all documents and records, signed statements and recordings, audio, video or digital, that bear on the claims made and being investigated,
* That the Caucus demand that those making such claims or professing publicly to verify those claims be requested or subpoened to appear before the HASC under oath, to answer questions.

In 1971 the Senate of the United States was derelict in its duty of both oversight and follow-up and in the reasonable regard and respect it should have shown in consideration of the sacrifice and service of the American armed forces and veterans. We request that the members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus not allow what happened to a previous generation of veterans be allowed to happen to this generation of Warriors.

Link to sign petition here.

In Case You Missed It

Here is the segment from Cao's (pronounced "key") BlogtalkRadio with Rurick and me.

Winter Soldier Roundup

Winter Soldier II, or as I like to call it, "those delusional lying bastards", is over.

Here is a roundup:

Update and moved to top: I just found another GREAT blog: VeteranAmerican. Just scroll down and enjoy.

Of course, to start there is everyone's favorite Marine: every hippie's favorite Daddy, Concrete Bob.

Then there is Ronald Winter, who is, demonstrably, very intelligent since he links to Bob.

Denis Keohane, at Orbiter Dictum, has a Reporters’ Guide: Winter Soldier Investigation 2008
along with many other IVAW posts.

The Real News on You Tube is chock full of video goodies about Winter Soldier.

And of course, there are the Vets for Freedom. Check out the Troop Blogs.

The Democracy Project has quite a few entries, including one showing just how "balanced" the Washington Post is in their coverage. Just scroll through the site.

John Kerry (Did you know that he served in Viet Nam?) gets confronted about WSII on a video link at Illusion Or Reality.

Pictures of the GOE March in DC at Marooned in Marin.

Great pictures and video at MidnightBlue. Did you hear me? Video! Scroll down, more than one post on patriots.

And the Sniper is on target.

Jonn Lilyea nails it in seven indepth posts about WSII and the GOE rally. Click on the "Recent Posts" over on the Right to find them.


And a fun time was had by all. Wish I could have gone.

What A Difference A Year Makes

In keeping with my Brother Blogger Cargosqiud's theme of one year anniversaries, I give you Eagles one year later:



What a difference 366 days will make. To all who came out, Thank You!!!
To those who couldn't make it, you missed a great time, and I hpoe you'll consider DC in April. It will be interesting.

Support the troops in D.C. The lies have started again. John Kerry would be proud.

Winter Soldier II and the IVAW (Idiot Veterans Assisting Wahabbiism) are in DC this weekend, undermining our troops.

The one thing that I will say about the IVAW. There are some, some, troops in that organization that are honorable. The rest do not have the well meaning of our country in their hearts. I've seen too many posts by their members advocating violence against their fellow service members and actual sabotage of the war effort. Too many fake soldiers have been put forth in their effort to besmirch the reputation of our military. There are soldiers that are actually against the war and have become objectors. But, if you wish to be respectable, don't associate with enemies of our country like A.N.S.W.E.R. and Code Pink.

Col. Riley of Eagles UP has a good article at Human Events: Lock Arms with American Defenders
"When anti-American organizations and demonstrators march through our city streets spewing hatred and venom, many Americans simply shrug their shoulders, assuming without question that the streets belong to the malcontents.

I disagree vehemently. As a professional soldier I do not believe in the concept of conceding any portion of the battlefield to the enemy..."

From Mike Connelly, in response to a comment that protesters are just exercising their 1st Amendment rights: "The mere act of protesting does not make someone the enemy. But when protest become vile displays of hatred toward our commander-in-chief, flag burning, defacing memorials, spitting on veterans, standing outside Walter Reed Army Hospital chanting that our wounded and recovering soldiers deserved their injuries, then I count these "protesters" as enemies of America and enemies of mine."

And from Carl Branstetter: John writes: "The protestors are not "the enemy" but American citizens engaged in the enjoyment of their First Amendment rights."

False dichotomy. Exercising one's rights, and being a domestic enemy, are not mutually exclusive acts. We observe the media fully shielding itself behind the 1st Amendment as it provides aid and comfort to our enemies and demoralizes our troops, leaders, and populace.

The wicked commonly employ the virtues of the good as a weapon against them."

If you have the time, Go to D.C. and support the troops.

IVAW Shut Down; Resolve to Win Update; Haditha

The only thing stronger than a warrior, is the warrior's mother.

Update on Haditha Marines via FreeRepublic.

Nat Helms will be reporting for NewsMax on the trial of the Haditha Marines.
Nat is the author of "My Men Are My Heros" The Brad Kasal Story, and was a door-gunner in Nam with the 282nd Assault Helicopter Company, the 'Blackcats', out of Marble Mountain, Hue, and Quang Tri in 1968-1969. The book link will take you to an interview with Micheal Yon, the Marble Mountain link will take you, well, to Marble Mountain.

OK I keep coming back and adding to the original post.
Resolve to Win has stepped off and there are some great pics at NC GoE. I think our friend Bubba had something to do with this.
Keep checking back, because they'll be here before you know it, and I really want Virginians to turn out for this.

Yes, I Remember You

Yes, I Remember You

Yes I remember you
I saw you on the screen today
Your words I remember
You in a doper’s haze for all the world to see

You knew more than me in sixty-eight
Still smarter than me now
Screaming stop the war again
Trade the rifle for the plow

We were better men than you back then
Our sons are better still
Once again they go to fight and die
While you talk of the Bill

You damned the draft in sixty-eight
Heck no, you wouldn’t go
We stopped the draft just for you
But the patriot you don’t know

Don’t claim to care about our sons,
Your words are never true
You claim I don’t know you now,
But, yes I remember you

You burned my flag, damned my name
Your story so untrue
Today in the halls of power you stand
But I remember you

Hand over heart and eyes closed
You stand before my flag
But I remember way back then
When you treated her like a rag

So prattle on about honor boy
Tell how war makes you blue
Avert your gaze as I stare you down
Because, yes I remember you

Major Mark "Zippo" Smith, USA, Ret.

Eagles Up!