By Stephan Andrew Brodhead
Ich Bin Ein Defeatist
Obama the Cliff note candidate
Foreign Affair Cliff Notes for a Cliff Notes style first term senator
I just saw a pro Obama Video from Germany. While plucking a ripe Romano tomato from my Oregon victory garden, my mind took me back to my time as an airman fighting the 'War on terror'.
You know they say you can grow anything in Oregon.
It was August 2003 in beautiful Sicily. Mount Etna loomed in the back ground. After several months bunking three or four to a room at Mildenhall Royal Air Force Base, this C-141C aircrew was in Italy. Our mission had changed from hauling weapons to hauling wounded. From here on out, we would get to work with the best flight nurses, techs, and doctors in the entire world. We would have the honor of caring and transporting our wounded boys and girls from the field of battle. An honor I had been training for my entire adult life.
This sunny Sicilian day I thumbed a ride to the little town of Roda Sicily. I had learned from the Navy folks there that all one had to do to get a ride is stand at the side of the road and make a hand gesture.One finger meant Sigonella Naval Base. A peace sign, or two fingers meant Roda, and three fingers meant Tequila, naaa just kidding. I can't remember what town the third finger meant. Anyways, I was headed for Roda flush with Italian cash in my pocket. I was picked up quickly after flashing the two fingers and away we went!
When one works, eats, and sleeps with the same people 24 hours a day for three or four weeks at a time under stressful conditions, one needs a little time off. Although, I thoroughly enjoyed the big dinners and cold German beers with fellow aircrew after a successful mission, I also liked to enjoy cultures on my own time and in my own way!
Today I was looking for that famed plate of Sicilian spaghetti. Roda sits on the lower slopes of Mount Etna. I walked through a maze of steep cobble stone roads amongst vibrant old stone buildings, mom and pop shops, and children riding scooters. After several attempts, I found someone who spoke a little English, and he directed me to the Paradise restaurant. He stated that they had the best food in town. I negotiated several more blocks and found the Paradise just opening. They had just finished washing their marble and stone entryway, and placed freshly cleaned carpet. I received a smile and a warm 'good afternoon,' in broken English.
I sat down at an old wooden table among a triage of mosaic tile, hanging plants in every corner and made my order. While waiting for my fair, I sipped on a glass of superb local red wine, and nibbled on fresh bake garlic cheese bread. The main course was incredibly delicious complete with fresh Sicilian tomatoes, fresh, locally grown herbs, and locally made thick pasta. Needless to say I licked the plate while no one was looking. I topped this wonderful meal off with a cappuccino and some chocolate.On my way back to the base , I purchased a dozen large cans of Sicilian tomatoes, some true Italian seasoning, and several packs of pasta. Getting back to the base carrying 30 pounds of groceries was a chore , but I flashed the customary index finger, was picked up quickly, and made it back to the base for crew rest. I would haul these precious goods in my flight bag under the scorns of fellow crewman during every clinking 'Bag Drag'! 'You and your Sicilian tomatoes,' they would say! The delicious event would be duplicated with my wife as soon as I could get 'back home'
Enough about tomatoes.
The next day, we were tasked with flying a C-141C with pressurization problems back to Germany to get it fixed. We had clearance to fly across France at 10,000 feet. It was a clear day and I was able to see France from 10,000 feet from the Mediterranean to the English channel. It was green and gorgeous. 90 percent of France's electrical needs are generated from nuclear power. Obama doesn't support nuclear power. John McCain does. 90 percent of the French do not like George Bush and think the Clintons were vogue, and cool. 90 percent of the French didn't support the war and didn't lift a finger to help us. Obama didn't support the war and didn't lift a finger to help us. The French were defeatist. Obama is sweet talking defeatist.
I wonder if they will not like Bush when they sell 10 times more crappy new Peugeots to a burgeoning Iraqi middle class.
We landed at Ramstein Air Base late in the day. Ramstein Air Base is a trough of American task base. Billions of tax dollars earned off of the backs of the American middle class subsidize the German economy. If we pulled every military installation out of Germany and put them in Afghanistan or 'the soft underbelly', their economy would collapse. A very large chunk of Iraq war expense is spent in Germany. George Bush's War was a boom to the German economy and has kept them off of the Democratic Socialist ropes of economic failure. 70 percent of Germans do not like George Bush and think Obama is a good idea. My cousins in Bavaria did like GW. Just like here, most hard working country folk like Conservatives. Germany is no different. Socialists like OBama because he seeksto drag the US into their European style Demcratic Socialism, andMissery loves company.
Never trust the opinion of socialists that will take utter billions from George Bush and then bad mouth his policies.I wonder if they will not like George Bush when they sell 10 times more quality BMWs to a burgeoning Iraqi middle class.
The Obama campaign is rubbing elbows with his Democratic Socialist mentors and a biased European public. He is seeking to harvest unwarranted dislike of George Bush and attach this stigma to John McCain. George Bush has won in Iraq. George Bush will go down in history as one of best presidents ever. He was consistent and did what he said he was going to do. Who cares what Europe thinks about John McCain! They were wrong on Iraq !They are wrong on Obama! They are wrong about John McCain!
Now Obama is standing with defeatist Socialist that were against our troops that he is finally for. I am utterly and completely confused now!
So when Obama seeks to harvest European dislike for Bush, and attach it to John McCain, and then harvest some skewed Kennedyesque like affiliation, he can stand in front of the German people and say 'Ich Bin Ein Defeatist,' otherwise, he is lying to your face!
Kennedy made his famous speech after the Berlin wall was erected by the Soviets and the Iron Curtain was complete. Reagan tore that wall down. Obama's Berlin speech comes after George Bush tore down the wall of tyranny in Iraq. If Obama was true to historial form, he would have stated 'Ich Bin ein Iraqi' while in Baghdad! Or how about 'ich stehe mit unseren Soldaten'! I stand with our soldiers!Moreover, to stay completely true to form while in Berlin, Obama should have stated, 'Ich bin ein dummes und unerfahrenes demokratisches sozialistisches wanna be'! Look it up on babelfish.
Obama's campaign takes extreme liberties with political poetic licence. They violatehistorical context and weave it to their bidding.Liberal democrats must not know their history, so Obama can say and do anything he wants.Most older Americans will see his acts for what they are.Most older Americans understand that Obama stands for what America has always fought against: Liberalism, tax and spend, Socialism and Communism.
Obama is insulting to all Patriot Americans that pay the bills. It takes the average college student 3 months to learn basics international relations 101. To suggest Obama is a world authority on International relations after a week long seminar talking to a few socialists, and a photo op with General Patraeusisinsulting.
Americans shouldnot give Obama credit for his Cliff notes style foreign affairs experience or his Cliff Notes style senatorial experience. He does not know the subject matter and did not bother to show up for class.
www.IraqERAVeteranGIBill.com