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I don't have a lot of time this morning. I have a hundred things to get accomplished and have to get them all done by this evening. There are a few things I can write about but because time is short, I will keep it brief. I have to mention I am really bothered as I see this country continuing to make the same mistakes over and over again. As I watch the news, it takes me back to the end of the Vietnam war. We had the capacity to win that war, but the political system failed us. So many of my friends lost their lives because of it. In Afghanistan, I believe we could have destroyed the capacity of the Taliban, to take over like they are doing – like we had essentially destroyed the Al-Qaeda networks and ISIS - but we didn’t do it. The politicians seem to constantly get in the way of the military and force them to fail where they can succeed. Why? Because the business of the military is mostly very ugly. Even members of the military (for the most part) do not want to fight wars – but they understand sometimes they must be fought and when they are, it has to be a win or lose situation – it can’t be “half-assed”, or it is a loss. Now, I have to ask, all of those military personnel in Afghanistan who lost their life, is it in vain, like we lost them in Vietnam? If we are not going to be in a fight to win – then let’s not get into it in the first place – or get there and accomplish the mission and get out – like George H. W. Bush did in the first Gulf War. I was in the US Army, stationed in the outpost of Berlin when Saigon fell back in the 70’s and I was pissed-off to say the least. I know we could have won – but we didn’t. When we withdrew the Ranger Battalion from Mogadishu, those guys were not happy about it, some I knew personally. The mainstream media never reported they accomplished their mission as ordered. Instead they reported on everything that went bad. Why did it go bad? Because Washington would not allow the proper support elements to be stationed on standby. The team that had gone in to capture the warlords, knew they should have had logistical and tactical support on standby but there was nothing there because Washington wanted it to be a “low-key” operation. There is nothing “low-key” when it comes to life and death situations! After they got out the Rangers wanted to go back in and establish a rule of order, but they were not allowed. These are guys with a great deal of pride. They have a never lose attitude and this was a kick right in their teeth by their own Commander and Chief. My friends who were in that battalion said they thought it would have been a 24-hour operation to go in and establish order. But instead our politicians decided to get out. Yesterday I was at an event in our city. I saw issues in this city that can clearly be defined and taken care of but because these politicians lack integrity, nothing is done. They are more concerned about getting their friends and family jobs. If people do not start accepting personal accountability and understanding that our society is built on the cornerstone of integrity, then we are doomed to follow in the footsteps of every other great society that had come before us. Anyone who has studies history should be able to see this. Why do we as a society turn a blind eye to it? That is one of the reasons I am running for public office. I am a realist, so I know I am fighting an uphill battle against people who have been established in the political circle, but I have to try. If I do not try, I will have to live with the fact that I saw a problem and walked away from it. I know I can't fix everything, if I do win a seat on the city council, I hope I can move the bar a notch in the right direction. I know I will not be able to change everything, but I need to try. We all need to try and do the right thing each day. Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching – that is the bottom line. That is what really matters. So much for brevity – huh? lol – love you my FS friends – I am off, I hope you all have a fruitful Friday. PS - yfritz, I could not forget you - I had to post a picture of this fat boy on his "bagger" as we rode through the Badlands of South Dakota. I love the hot sunny, and dry climate of SD. Not to mention the great people there.
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2565 ккал
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Жир: 113,70г | Белк: 125,24г | Углев: 271,71г.
Завтрак: Boost High Protein Very Vanilla, Chobani Flip Almond Coco Loco, Watermelon, Living Essentials 5-Hour Energy Drink. Обед: Butter , Great Value White Sandwich Bread (47g), Baked Pasta, Beef, Veal and Pork Meatballs, Italian Sausage. Ужин: Mighty Taco Beef, Bean & Cheese Burrito, Watermelon, Banquet Chicken Pot Pie. Перекус/Другое: Watermelon. подробнее ...
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 Комментария
Good morning Jim. This is an awesome shot!! I will be saving both of your motorcycling photos. Was this taken at Badlands National Park? You look fabulous. You lead such a vigorous life, you are not afraid to act on your ideas. Made me reflect on so many things.
My view on the current development may be slightly different from yours. Nevertheless I will always support you on your campaign, fitness, adventures. Friends do not have to agree on everything, am I correct?
Thank you for the post!
21 авг 21 написано членом: yfritz
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Good on you for taking action, brother. Good luck with your campaign.
21 авг 21 написано членом: jimmiepop
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PS - You mentioned that you are a student of history. Have you read Smedley Butler? If not, strongly recommend. IIRC, he was the most decorated marine of all time and Commandant of the Corps.
21 авг 21 написано членом: jimmiepop
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Wtg rising to the occasion and running for office
21 авг 21 написано членом: cindylynnwho
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South Park is great too!!! 💪💪💪
21 авг 21 написано членом: Jkong321
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It’s very scary to run, those already established won’t want you there, NO CHANGES!!
Oh Skydiverjim, I will pray you get your foot in the door, and please keep trying!!🙏👍💕
Remember Lincoln!! Born into poverty, he was faced with defeat throughout his life. He lost eight elections, twice failed in business and suffered a nervous breakdown!
He could have quit many times - but he didn't and because he didn't quit, he became one of the greatest presidents in the history!!!
Go Skydiverjim Go!!!! BLESSINGS!!👍👏👏👏👏👏💪💪💪💪
21 авг 21 написано членом: Shrewdness
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Without spending time on the how and why, it is very sad that so many people, military and civilians lost their lives in Afghanistan over the last 20 years to end up where we are today. Now, the story might not be completely over, a whole swath of society over there experienced a different way of life and might not give it up so easily. If that happens, the sacrifice was not in vain.
21 авг 21 написано членом: Eral66
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yfritz, yes the Badlands National Park. Friends of mine and I often sit, as we relax and have "arguments" about political issues and world events, but we remain friends. It is difficult to explain in writing, completely how these thoughts are arrived at and in retrospect, this probably was not the place to vent my frustration but it brought back the memories of Vietnam to me so vividly I became upset for the first time in many years over what happened back then. I think it was more about my frustrations in Vietnam than it is about what is happening today. Sorry I brought the subject up.
23 авг 21 написано членом: skydiverjim
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Jim please don’t apologize and please don’t censor your words. I understand your thoughts completely.
23 авг 21 написано членом: yfritz
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jimmiepop, I am familiar with ”Gimlet Eye," although I have not read a lot about him – now that you brought him up, I guess I will have to. As I was saying to yfritz, I think that post was a result of my frustrations returning over the Vietnam war. We went over, as soldiers because we were ordered to, not for any other reason – because that is what soldiers do. We do not question the strategic value of a war. But when you have close to 60,000 young men KIA – and the government, who is more than capable of winning walks away, as an old man, that is too much for me to swallow. We went over to Afghanistan with a mission. That initial mission was accomplished. We then started a new mission. One of rebuilding a nation. But, we tried to build that nation in our image which may not have been right for them. We can't save the world. As someone who has served a decade in combat arms, I can tell you that I hate war. I truly believe it should only be entered into as a very last (and I mean very last) resort. The issues are too complicated to get into in this format so I am just going to say, sorry for a post that I should have kept to myself.
23 авг 21 написано членом: skydiverjim
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Shrewdness, funny you should mention "Honest Abe" he was one of my favorite people to study. Thank you for the uplifting message.
23 авг 21 написано членом: skydiverjim
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Jkong321, lol, did you know there is a real place called South Park?
23 авг 21 написано членом: skydiverjim
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Cindy, thanks for the encouragement. One thing I thought I would never do when I got out of the army was run for a political office. I did not care too much for politicians. Then after taking an early retirement from a Fortune 500 company, I was asked to go back to work and help as a Director at a State Agency. I worked with a lot of politicians in that job. I was disappointed in their lack of knowledge. When I quit that job and planned on going back into retirement - I was again approached by an organization and asked to run for office. At first I resisted but then after thinking more about it, I said why not!
23 авг 21 написано членом: skydiverjim
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23 авг 21 написано членом: skydiverjim
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Best of luck to you, Jim, i will always support a person with integrity. I don’t even have the words for all the things I’ve been feeling the past few weeks. God bless our troops in harm’s way. You’re not alone.
23 авг 21 написано членом: Katsolo
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I appreciate and have shared that same anger and frustration. Maj. Gen. Butler also shared that frustration. So much so that he wrote a book on the subject - War is a Racket. Helped me develop a more realistic understanding of why wars actually happen, and, by extension, the nature of the political action that would be required to make real change to war policy. Peace.
23 авг 21 написано членом: jimmiepop
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