Definition of Opinion:  A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof.

Please be respectful to others with differing opinions. 

DeWitt Bacon

C'mon, David, are you serious?

Regional enemy? Iran is a threat and an enemy to every free nation in the world, especially the U.S.That's why we care. Left unchecked, Iran would become a powerful nation with nuclear capabilities and would pursue its goal of taking over the world. You can have your opinion, and I can have mine, but under Sharia law, we would be shot if our opinions didn't conform to the leaders.

Or maybe you like the idea of "DEATH TO ISRAEL-DEATH TO AMERICA."

Jim Coats

Maybe not ALL democrats, BUT the Democrat leadership who have pledged to protect our country are on the wrong side of history.  It's a mystery to me.  Are they not aware of videotape showing previous Democrat action in the Middle East?  Do they not understand that they sound insane?

And by the way....LOOK at what Iran is doing....without a nuclear weapon....to its neighbors.  This is with MOST of their leadership eliminated by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu.  Just IMAGINE.

The foregoing outlines why I will NOT debate a democrat or liberal or left wing progressive (whatever the hell that is) because it is NWMT!! 

GOD BLESS AMERICA.  God Bless President Trump for standing up when no other American President has and God Bless Prime Minister Netanyahu for continuing to fight the fight.  Pray for the safety of our troops.

P.S.  Thank you to Senator Fetterman for his commitment to the safety of America and our allies.  He is the singular voice of reason on the left in congress.

Frank Wiley

I just watched a small portion of Bill Clinton's deposition's opening statement.  He says he didn't know anything about any of Epsteins illegal/sick activities.  I still want to hear an explanation of the young girl (Not Chelsea) sitting on his lap?  He would probably respond, "It depends what the definition of sitting is!"

Michael Kelly

Well Frank, If Bill was not wearing his Santa Claus outfit, that excuse is out.

I am seeing some really outstanding Posts on Facebook showing the Wildflowers that are blooming in the Arizona Desert. Here in California, in Kern County, going North on the 14 Highway towards Ridgecrest, you can see the same amazing varieties of flowers blooming along side the road. It has been a Hobby of mine to  get out and walk in the desert and make pictures of thiese amazing assortment of Colors and Varieties of Flowers. I especially like to see the Blooms of  Indian Paintbrush that grow this time of year. 

Lester Cox

I'm so thankful the safety of America is not resting in the hands of Kamala Harris or Joe Biden right now. 

Lester Cox

Oh by the way Frank, I am down for the beer summit and will be bringing my wife, Pat. 

Bob Bishop

Frank Wiley

Hi Les and Bob, Les I'm happy your Wife is coming to the "Beer Summit"!  Bob, You'll be surprised I agree with you about Vietnam.  I apologize for the length of this.  My motivation for joining the Marine Corps and volunteering for Vietnam was based on JFK's words in his speech, "Ask not what America can do for you.  Ask what you can do for America?"  I was in a unique position in Vietnam because I was a Combat Correspondent.  I had taken a couple of Journalism courses at Phoenix College and put them on a resume when I joined the Marines.  A funny story about the progression of listing that.  The day before graduating from Boot Camp we were put in formation and assigned our M.O.S. (Military Occupational Specialty which has a number.)  My Platoon Commander yelled out "Wiley-4312"!  Then he yelled, "Wiley, what in the hell is a 4312?"  I'm still alive so I didn't say what I thought which was, "I've been in the Marines for 8 weeks and you've been in for 10 years, how am I supposed to know what a 4312 is? ".  In Vietnam I was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division (which became attached to the 1st Marine Division).  Because of my job I interacted with many Officers and even up to Staff Officers.  One Officer I interacted most with was a Lt.Col..  J.W.P. Robertson was an U of Alabama Graduate and loved football.  One of my first reactions with him he asked me if I liked football.  I answered, "Yes Sir."  He then asked, "Who's your favorite college team?"   I answered, "Sir, it's ASU."  Surprised he questioned, "Appalachian State?"  I replied, " No Sir, Arizona State."  He said, "Oh."  That was my first introduction to education of the SEC and why it was superior.  Of course I never argued.  One time when I was in his presence after a bloody Operation in which we lost 20 Marines and many wounded Col. Robertson's mood was very sad and dark!  (as was ours). He said to his Senior Enlisted Officer, "Top, do you know what this War's all about?"  Top answered, it's about stopping Communism Sir."  Col. Robertson answered, shocking us all, "No Top, it's about putting people to work building weapons, and killing off some of the work force!"  My point is that that is not what Iran is about!!  Vietnam, in fact no other country except maybe Germany or Japan, (and I've never read that they said, "Death to America" or called us, "The Great Satan" has been a more "Clear and Present Danger than Iran .  Thanks!

Jim Coats

Frank.  0311.

Frank Wiley

Jim, and I respect you for it!  Semper Fi!

Jim Coats

This morning, Trey Gowdy on Fox, in response to the Sec. of War and Chairman of the Joint Chief's status report said something I actually had not put together.

Gowdy said that Iran, for 47+ years has called the USA and Israel the Great Satan and called for our deaths.  He asked.... "How would you  like to have a neighbor who called you that?"  Well, in effect, we have that right now as the leadership of the democrat party has consistently called Trump HITLER.  The Democrat party is NOT the party of my father.  Unfortunately, they have morphed into something unhinged and despicable.  I hope our country can survive their venomous "representation of We The People."

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ISRAEL IN THEIR NOBLE UNDERTAKING

GOD PROTECT OUR TROOPS

Jim Coats

Thank you Frank, but not necessary.  Any Marine who set one foot outside the wire....and I will define the wire as the Continental US....was a Marine Rifleman.  My Drill Instructor pounded that into my fuzzy brain at Parris Island in 1967.  Semper Fi.

P.S.  I'll be at the Beer Summit.

Patty Meyers (Anderson)

Jim, Frank, Buzz was also 0311.  I think that means a grunt.

Michael Kelly

Frank, Jim, Les, Patty  Marines were called "Jarheads" and Army were called "G'unts" many others were called "Dodgers" and Aspiring Chaplains.

Everything was done within a Framework of Limited Capability artificially imposed upon us by those Large and in Charge. 

It is refreshing to see thet DJT is not using this same Philosophy on the Middle Eastern Wars. He should bring that Strategy into use between the War between Russia and Ukraine. So far the kvetching about an Exit Strategy has not had a lot of Media Play probably due to Biden's version of an Exit Strategy in Afghanistan. 

Jim Coats

Michael Kelly, Esq.  Combat Marines were commonly called grunts.  Nobody ever called another Marine a Jarhead when I was there, but that IS a name for Marines.  Also, this Oo-rah or Hoo-rah stuff must have come along after I was out.

And thus another Marine History Lesson from an old Teufel Hunden (Devil Dog).  And nope....nobody ever called me that either.

Frank Wiley

Good synopsis Jim.  The best explanation of "Grunt" that I've heard is what we did moving by foot into position on Operations.  The reason is because we were carrying weapons, ammunition, canteens of water, plus a back pack which weighed as much as 40-50 pounds.  In addition to that it was normal for us to carry a belt of machine gun ammunition which weighed about 30 pounds.  So it was totally normal to grunt while taking steps (especially going uphill).  P.S.  The reason the backpacks were so heavy was because many times we were carrying two days of canned food (C-rations).

Patty Meyers (Anderson)

While we are traveling and we see a Marine Buzz does not know, he will say "Hello, Devil Dog".  It seems that term is a Marine to Marine greeting, but what do I know?  Buzz would never call another Marine Jarhead.

Jim Coats

If I see ANYONE representing themselves as a veteran (hat, shirt, etc.), I'll give them the "Thank you for your Service" greeting and reach out for a fist bump.  If I'm wearing my USMC ball cap, they'll thank me as well.  It gets real if it's another Marine.

If it's a Navy or (choose your branch here) vet, I'll go up and start with "Hey, Navy!"  And we'll go from there.  They're sometimes startled, but that fades immediately to a smile.  I think everyone appreciates the recognition and the kinship I reflect as I treat them like brothers.  AND, if I find they were either a helicopter pilot or, ESPECIALLY, a Navy Corpsman, I'll say with absolute sincerity, that "I really love you guys" and after they learn I was a grunt in Nam, they know why.  They always know.

Patty Meyers (Anderson)

Buzz has a lot of respect for Navy Corpsmen, he had a number of them as clients, some of which is is still in contact with.  One of his good friends was the head corpsman in charge at the Beirut Marine barracks when it was bombed in 1983.  Before that he was in Vietnam with the 9th Marines.  We see him and his wife when we are in Christchurch, New Zealand.  He is still carrying a lot of psychological scars from that bombing.

Frank Wiley

Good on Buzz and you too Jim!  My best friend in Vietnam was a Consciencious Objector Navy Corpsman.  Although he was anti-war he still wanted to Serve his Country.  He refused to carry a weapon.  I was with him when he was killed.

DeWitt Bacon

"SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE SHIELD OF THE AMERICAS." Now, is that an impressive title or what?. I never heard of it. That is a hard way for Kristy Noam to learn the lesson that 1. you don't get on the wrong side of Tom Homan, and 2. As a cabinet member, you don't do anything that makes the President look bad. If I were her, I would leave Washington, get off the national stage, and go back to South Dakota. She could run for governor again or for some other state office. Don't get me wrong. I like Kristy and always have. She made some mistakes and now has to pay for them.

Frank Wiley

National Women's Day--Without Women---none of us would be here!!  Thanks!!

Frank Wiley

The Iranians used chemical weapons in their war against Iraq.  I am against troops on the ground in Iran!!

Bill RIHS

Frank, I agree, no troops on the ground. I am concerned about what to do now to weed out the rest of the radicals. It appears they are somewhat organized.

Jim Coats

I am WITH President Trump in the Iran campaign.  It was a long time coming....47 years.  Finally....a President stepped up.  It's too bad he is not supported by democrats in Congress.  That is just wrong!

But, here's what I fear.  The IRGC (and similar military organizations) in Iran is a bloodthirsty, radical Islamic corps.  The reporting is that Iran has a 1million man Army and I doubt if those numbers have been severely dissipated in Operation Epic Fury.  I fear that they will start slaughtering unarmed Iranian citizens OR, as someone said on FOX today, start setting up their missles in civilian population areas....or BOTH ala Hamas in Gaza!  They would do this to, in their minds, cause the US and Israel to cease attacks.  I don't think this tactic will work, but I pray it doesn't happen.  The "GOOD" people of Iran have no way to defend themselves against this rabid force and that would give democrats something to screech about.

PRAY for the good people of Iran and the Troops of the USA, Israel and our other allies..

I ALSO HOPE we never have to put boots on the ground in Iran, but I think it may be inevitable.