The Salute

Log Out | Topics | Search Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Thread Last Poster Posts Pages Last Post   Closed: New threads not accepted on this page

Author Message   Dee Posted on Monday, June 24, 2002 - 12:41 pm:    I recived this today and thought i would share it The Salute Have you noticed a difference in the salute given by our military men and women as President Bush walks by? Most folks would not notice anything, but military people see it right away. Watch: When President Bush leaves his helicopter or Air Force One, the honor guards salute and face him as he disembarks, then turn their faces towards him as he passes by. They continue to salute his back as he walks away. This kind of salute has not been seen in the previous eight years, though it is customary courtesy to the Commander-in-Chief. You see, soldiers aren't required to turn and face the President as they salute. They are not required to salute his Back. They are only required to salute. They can remain face-forward the entire time. And that is what they did during Bill Clinton's entire Presidency. Our soldiers were forced to obey Clinton's orders, but they were not forced to respect him. From their salutes, we can surmise that they did not. Why is such respect afforded to President Bush? He doesn't even know how to bite his lower lip and not get teary-eyed whenever he speaks! The following incident from Major General Van Antwerp may give us an insight. Gen. Antwerp is president of the Officers' Christian Fellowship. He lost nearly all his staff when the Pentagon was attacked Sept. 11. His executive officer LTC Brian Birdwell was badly burned and in the hospital when President Bush visited him. Our President spent time and prayed with Brian. As he was getting ready to leave, he went to the foot of Brian's bed and saluted. He held his salute until Brian was able to raise his burned and bandaged arm, ever so slowly, in return. The Commander-in-Chief never initiates a salute, except in the case of a Congressional Medal of Honor winner. The injured soldier did not have to return the salute. But he did, out of respect to his President -a Soldiers' President. Congressman JC Watts (R. Oklahoma) said, "Character is doing the right thing when nobody is looking." The nation and world learned some of what our last President did when nobody was looking. That President has been disbarred this week-the worst disgrace (other than imprisonment) to a lawyer. CNN will have a difficult time shining his or his wife's tarnished images. In this time of war and danger, I am grateful to have a President whom the soldiers salute-fully. On Special Report with Brit Hume, (hosted by Jim Angle this evening), at the close of the show when they normally have some funny video clip, they showed President Bush and the First Lady on their way to Marine One to leave for Camp David for the weekend. As the video starts, the First Lady is leading the way into the helicopter with the spaniel dog on the leash, and the president is right behind her with the Scotty on the leash. As the First Lady entered the chopper, the Marine at the gangway saluted and held his salute. The Scottie the president was walking decided it wanted to squat right when he got to steps. The president pulled on its' leash, but the stubborn Scottie persisted in squatting. The president bent down and scooped up the pooch and entered Marine One. After he entered, the Marine cut his salute and returned to the position of attention. Moments later the president reemerged from the helicopter and out onto the steps. The Marine was standing at attention, head and eyes straight ahead. The president leaned over and tapped him on the left arm. The startled Marine turned his body toward the president and received his returned salute! I was so impressed by this true act of respect for our military people by our president! He really does get it. Most any other person of his stature would have just continued his journey, disregarding the neglected return salute. Not George W. Bush. He is earning the respect of the military community, not expecting it-as most have and would.   Anonymous Posted on Monday, June 24, 2002 - 01:56 pm:    When Clinton was visiting troops in Bosnia, the soldiers he visited were not to have any loaded weapons around him, or was it that they had to have their firing pins removed?, it was a long time ago and I cant remember which.   Dee Posted on Monday, June 24, 2002 - 02:12 pm:    The only president I ever met while on Active duty was Ronald Regan, We had the same feeling about him back then, Jimmy Carter almost destroyed our military might and Reagan had very tough challenge to restore it. I was proud and honored to salute him directly and i did it out of respect and not because he was elected and I was forced. I would have had a hard time forcing a salute to Clinton. It might have been a middle finger one.. I Bush has earned my respect, All might not agree with him or his politics, but I am glad he is in the Oval Office on watch.... I think all magazines had to be removed   Kennith P. Whichard III (Kennith) Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 - 02:15 am:    I am in the military, and I can say I truely respect our current president. He has earned all the loyalty we can provide. It is good there are others who realize this, and take the initiative to speak out about it. Dee, I owe you a beer. Cheers, Kennith   grant Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 - 09:05 am:    Lucky, the canadian PM had his helmet on backwards when visting Sarajevo airport. no loyalty or respect for his troops....   M. K. Watson (Lrover94) Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 - 09:11 am:    grant, did he know it was on backwards? mike w   BW Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 - 08:45 pm:    Here is a story for you: A buddy of mine was on USS#### during Clinton's first term. Clinton was "visiting" the troops on this vessel. Of course a tour was setup and certain units were directed to have static displays ready for the tour. A SEAL team was on-board and took part in the static display. A variety of weapons were layed out on tables with the speacialist posted at the table to field any questions Clinton may have. One particular display had a sniper rifle. This sniper rifle was state-of-the-art, and had just been fielded to the team. The specialist at the sniper table was no fan of Clinton, but he was a professional and promissed his team leader that he would "keep his mouth shut". Clinton made his way to the sniper display and quickly glanced at the rifle. Clinton looked up at the specialist and in his SMUG tone asked "Are we still using these old things?" The specialist kept his promise. While at the position of "Parade Rest" he turned around without executing an "About Face" and placed his back to Clinton. He remained at that position until Clinton passed on to the next display. The best part of this story . . . the specialist was not reprimanded. His only punishment was that he would not be assigned to any future Presidential static displays! All The Way, BW   Bill Molnar (Circekat) Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 - 11:16 pm:    The worst day of my military career was the day that I retired. Not because my friends and extended family were still on the watch; because I received a Presidential Citation from Bill Clinton thanking me for over twenty one years of faithful and obedient service. My CO apologized for having to give it to me. Retired Navy CPO.   Anonymous Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 12:15 am:    I might be a little slow at times but i'm curious, what did clinton do that was sooo bad to deserve that kind of treatment?   Kennith P. Whichard III (Kennith) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 12:21 am:    It is a question of what he didn't do, anon. Cheers, Kennith   MTB Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 01:21 am:    he was a disgrace to our country and the world. What part of his 8 years don't you understand. military,Lincoln Bedroom,Monica,Tea fund raisers,travel gate. The list goes on. Every President has thier scandles but god damn that Putz had more than any other president. But I am sure that you are convinced it was right wing conspericy. Some day you may wake up The only thing I saw good about him, he was for abortion. Other than that he was worthless.   M. K. Watson (Lrover94) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 07:56 am:    annon., he was a man with no honor or truth. let us not dishonor the thoughts of a president who is a man of honor and of truth by bring up the one who failed every american. dee has brought us a wonderful thread, for those of us who have served know very well what it would mean to have a cheez-dick at the helm and what it means to be asked to go into the darkness of war by one truly cares for the soldier. its a small little thing but dont soil this thread by mentioning the name of that hick. mike w USN 78-87   Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 08:14 am:    Dee, My last two years in the Corps was serving as Marine One. It's hilarious how this story keeps popping up. Of course I am sworn to secrecy and cannot confirm nor deny the truth. Paul Sweatin it out in Maryland.   Gil Stevens (Gil) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 09:39 am:    there may have been alot of scandals.. but the amount of wealth generated during those 8 years will never be surpassed.. for all the mistresses and pardons, the guy sure made alot of us alot richer than we have any business being. not that he had total control over the economy, or any direct influence really, but it was under his "rule" that we saw the greatest economic boom of all time.   gp (Garrett) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 09:43 am:    so that's where he got his cigars from.........YOU!!! way to go Paul.   M. K. Watson (Lrover94) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 10:16 am:    wealth for who? mike w   Michael Noe (Noee) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 10:17 am:    So, Gil, WTF is your point? Yeah, see, the end justifies the means. Hmmmmm, that's the mindset that'll save us. Yeah, we can do anything we want, anything at all....as long as our goals are percieved as lofty and noble. Don't even look at the pardons that SOB granted. C'mon, pardons for sale? Sorry, this shit just drives me nutz.   M. K. Watson (Lrover94) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 10:33 am:    gentlemen, gentlemen and you too Gil, as i said let us not stain the good by bring up the bad. billy boy had his run and the legacy he leaves will not be one of greatness, but that of a liar and a cheat. let it rest and re-read Dee's first post and enjoy the fact that those who offer the most are being lead by one who cares the most. mike w   Michael Noe (Noee) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 10:41 am:    Mike: So right your are, thanks for slap. -Mike   Gil Stevens (Gil) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 11:30 am:    easy tough guy.. i never said he was a good man. yeah he was a liar and a cheat. i guess im just one of those who would rather the see positive side of something as oppossed to being all bitter and bent out of shape about it. the past is the past my friend.. move on. Bush is a better man from every standpoint, my point is this country wasnt all that bad off while billy was in office.   M. K. Watson (Lrover94) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 12:00 pm:    i must say Gil, having been within a stone throw of the former prez, i can not see the good. there is one thing a man has that stands him apart form the rest and that is his word. he took an oath and he lied. if you want to remember the good and perhaps forgive, the next time (if it was to ever happen) a police officer lies under oath at a trail dont hold the lie againest him remember the good he did. you see and oath is more than a promise, it goes beyond all that and when you turn your back on those simple words then you have crossed over into a world that i can forgive or forget, you one ole shit takes away from a thousands at a boys. its not that he got a blow job in the oval office that bothers me its the fact he lied, that in itself is bad, but to get infront of a group of people, put his hand on a Bible and lie well,,,you see how i feel. nothing againest you, but my word means more to me. mike w   Gil Stevens (Gil) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 12:19 pm:    I hear you Mike, but, not to start a war on the dweb or anything, but was he the first president to tell a lie? I dont think so. The big difference is that modern media is now willing to exploit the lies whereas, in the past, say Kennedys era, there was still a element of respect toward the office. Did Kennedy have affairs? Sure, but did we hear about it? hell no. Did Nixon lie? cmon now. Im certainly not defending Clintons actions, lieing is lieing period. BUt do you honestly believe that your government doesnt lie to you.. the American citizen? this is not the utopian society my friend, if we as citizens knew the truth about what really goes on, and we werent constantly fed "CNN" news.. if it can be called news at all, I think we might all be a little afraid. Clintons biggest mistake was getting caught in a lie. As you said, nothing against you personally Mike, but we have differing views and differing opinions. I dont belive anything that I see or read that comes from the "government", therefore Im probably not as taken aback when someone like wild Bill Clinton tells a lie.   Jake Hartley (Jake) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 12:38 pm:    The main thing about Clinton was that he was a socialist and he went to the USSR as an Oxford student. Let's not forget his decpetion of the draft and how he said that he "loathed the military". I am ashamed that he was my commander in chief during the last 8 years of my military career. This bastard is crooked and did NOTHING to help this country, he just fostered devisiness. And he had nada to do with the stock market.... Airborne - All The Way   Kingfish (Kingfish) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 03:04 pm:    Hey Gil, remember Nixon? He resiegned to avoid the disgrace that Clinton accepted (with a smile). He did it to avoid disgrace to the white house. At least he thought of something other than himself. As for the economy, Clinton had nothing to do with it. His first 4 years were thanks to reagan/Bush. The last couple years were thanks to the dot-com explosion (now implosion). Being disbarred in his own state is the most disgraceful thing that can happen to an attorney. But good 'ol willy takes it all in stride. Aside from all the scandals, the one that really bites me the most was how he switched satellite technology over to the department of commerce (who are big advocates of selling technology over seas) in order to skirt laws forbidding those types of sales to the chinese. What about his crony, Bill Richardson? You unfortunate New Mexico souls are probably familiar with him. He was placed as head of the Dept of Energy either because he is completely incompetant, or because he was easy to pay off. How many Los Alamos secrets did the chinese get while he was in power? I could go on and on....   niall forbes (Forbesn) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 03:49 pm:    Didn't Bush used to have a problem (sniff, sniff) when he was young? And aren't his daughters headed for AA? I also seem to remember reading that he was in the military but with a group of other children of priveledge and was pretty much kept out of harms way. Don't see how that's anything to brag about either. Nobody is perfect, whether you agree with their politics or not. Aside from that, I don't see why it would be so important that your presdent be a hard core soldier. That's not what his job is so wouldn't you be better served if he had more applicable skills and experience? Anyway, I can see where this thread is headed.   Gil Stevens (Gil) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 03:57 pm:    honestly kingfish... no, i dont remember Nixon. but i do remember reading about him in history class im in no way advocating mr bill clinton, nor am i saying i think he is a good man, as stated before. im just saying that the guy had a target on his back from day one, and that there were many others who performed similar actions, but were not called on them. Like I said, i wouldnt trust anyone in washington anymore than I would trust the local car salesman..   Ron Ward (Ronward) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 05:23 pm:    Did someone say Bill Clinton is the reason for the economic prosperity of the 90's? Good Lord, that is a silly notion. I suppose Al Gore gave us the Discoweb too, huh? Ron Ward   Gil Stevens (Gil) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 05:35 pm:    well no ron Al didnt give us discoweb, but he did give us Internet, for which without it we would not have discoweb. So, in a roundabout kind of way, I guess Al can be credited with the discoweb. I never said he was the reason for the prosperity, all I said was those 8 years were very very good for many people, point being.. all was not horrible during clintons terms.   Kingfish (Kingfish) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 06:22 pm:    Niall, you seem to miss the facts.... Bush never had a coke problem. He probably used it at some time or another, but was never a "coke head" As for his daughters, that's their business, they dont run the country and I dont give a crap what they do. As for Bush being in the military and kept out of harms way, he was flying jets in the National Guard. No harm in his way (except an accident)! Gore went to vietnam as a reporter (and the son of a congressman) and had a squad of personal body guards with him at all times. He didnt even stay for a year. Which is worst? I love to hear different opinions, even yours, but you can't seem to get any of your facts straight. If you keep talking out of your ass, nobody's gonna listen anymore.   BW Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 08:31 pm:    Niall, I don't think anyone expects the President to be an ex-hard-core soldier. Ever since the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986 the President of the United States has been the Commander-in-Chief. There are ONLY two suits in the Chain-of-Command, the President and the Secretary of Defense. The President has 5 Theater Commanders who have geographic responsibilty and 4 Commanders who have worldwide responsibilty. These Commanders have a direct link to the Secretary of Defense and the President. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs(GEN Meyers) is only an advisor, not a Commander. It's a bonus if the President has experience both for the morale of the service members and for the common ground he can establish with the Chairman and the Commanders. Excuse the "lesson". I just wanted to put emphasis on the fact that not much exist between the President and the Commanders of the free world. All The Way, BW   Ron Ward (Ronward) Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 08:38 pm:    I'm not buying it Gil. You wrote "the guy sure made alot of us alot richer than we have any business being" then followed up with "I never said he was the reason for the prosperity, all I said was those 8 years were very very good for many people..." Ron Ward   MTB Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 10:18 pm:    The 8 years that Putz was in office people did make tons of money. But what you need to remember is that when he took office we were just starting to come out of one of the worst recessions, the only place to go is up. It would not have mattered who was in office at the time. On the same note I see the Prez as a spokes person for the country, congress & the senate run our country. Why people would give credit to Putz for all the prosperity in the 90's is beyond me. If anyone that should get credit I feel Greenspan deserves alot of that credit. Please name something that Putz did good for the country in his 8yr Frat Party. except for fucking up 8yrs and making people come to thier sences to vote Republican.   Gary Posted on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 12:28 am:    Seven years of deficit free spending and a large surplus. With the election of Bush the former ended and the latter evaporated.   Dee Posted on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 01:41 am:    I am glad all enjoyed the "Salute Story" Most Americans are starting to see Clinton and his band of criminals for what they realy were. Those who don’t will never see. Oh well such is life I don't have to go to bed at night knowing I could have prevented the death of so many souls on 9/11 had I been doing my job. And yes his administration could have prevented it. Osoma's plan was set in motion while Clinton was on watch. America was so preoccupied about Bill getting a blow job from a woman I would not spend 5 bucks to screw. We made it too easy for them. Paul, LOL on MC1, if wall's could talk in DC they would probably puke, I have my camp fire stories maybe ill see you out there some time... Niall, I would not go on any Canadian BBS and talk shit about your elected officials but you feel compelled to voice it here more than once. What point are you trying to make with the campaign mud slinging? Thats old news true or not I dont think GW cutting lines on his desk in the Oval office. I think he has proven him self to us and the world. So what if his daughters are in AA, i will start to worry if he attends And yes a President should have strong ties with or have served in the Military he commands it helps keep the casualties down. MTB, your right on the Money so to say about Dr Greespan, Ill give Clinton that much credit.   Kingfish (Kingfish) Posted on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 07:46 am:    BW, actually back "in the old days" a presidential hopeful benefited by being a war veteran. Due to todays lack of morals and "not my duty, not my problem, not my fault" attitude, it doesnt mean much (flag burning Clinton). JFK was actually sent to the Pacific in WW2 by his father, as he was setting him up for politics, seeing how his oldest son bit the big one. It meant a lot to be a war veteran. Carter went to the Naval Academy, Bush Sr was in WW2, Nixon in WW2, and of course Eisenhower had a "little" military experience (freeing europe). I don't think Reagan was in the military, but I could be wrong.   Michael Noe (Noee) Posted on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 08:23 am:    Yeah, but Reagan was in that movie "Bonzo Fights the Germans" wasn't he? Sorry, couldn't resist. I think part of it has to do with respect. I'll go out on a limb here and make a value judgement: respect is a positive attribute. It's a powerful thing that many today are not being taught. In many ways, it gives us civilization and what we give of it, breeds in others for return. From initial observations, Bush seems to have it; respect for himself, his family, his fellow man and the office he currently holds. The last guy just didn't seem to have it, I think that has a lot to do with why he never received it.   grant Posted on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 08:43 am:    a lot of ex and military on the discoweb. after 10 yrs of full time service i am in a reserve unit where i get to go wheeling occasionally. check us out www.qyrang.org all you history buffs will appreciate the link to rogers rangers, and the queens rangers the latter of which was the only british unit flag NOT captured in battle during the American Revolution. It hangs in the officers mess in Toronto. Swift and Bold 97 XD   Moe (Moe) Posted on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 09:23 am:    Damn, you stay off the board for a bit and it turns into a Bush lovefest. I think it is a little early to be talking up the Bush legacies. His first great achievement was to turn a $130 billion surplus into a $100+ deficit. Nice job, that left us in a great position to fight a war or face a recession Around the world he is generally percieved as an idiot and a 2nd class leader, and actually considered a small embarassment on the part of the US. He has demonstrated a habit of renegging on past agreements and treaties, and his administration will certainly isolate European allies. Not meaning to spoil the party, just offering a view that isn't full of While I would never defend Clinton, it is ludicrous to blame him for 9/11.   M. K. Watson (Lrover94) Posted on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 10:01 am:    ok lets put this to bed. gil i agree you really cant believe anyhting that comes from washington (dc that is). the only govt. you have any conrol over is the local govt. no i dont believe everything and yes Pre. Bush is making some of what i believe to be bad calls, but he is in charge and i must say i am taking a wait and see attitude. nialls my friend, yes GW had some issues in his youth, but he did admit to those problems, even tho he always led the press away from them, he did however acknowledge them. the putz "put it to his lips but never inhaled", that is way too funny to even address, but another of many lies. again its not the blow job that bothers me, but on the teley in fromt of millions the boob raised his right hand and while his left layed upon the Bible he SWORE to tell the truth. there comes a point in time that youmust accept the cost for what you do and if you dont then you have no credibilty. sad this statement about the man who doesnt bragg about getting a uh, well we know. now on to the issue of wealth an econmics. now i am not by no means an expert in this field. however i know if i put a dollar in the bank today i dont see much for it til sometime down the road. what i am saying is the weaqlth we saw during the putz's time was made by the wise investments made in years past. the govt is and should be ran like a business. you cant walk into an office a CEO today and noon and expect a profit by 17:00. think about it. also if the truth be known and it will never be, was there such prosberity then or was it another case of wagging the dog. enron and now MCI are examples of big business lying, could the putz and his peeps been lying as well. i dont know about the rest of you but i didnt have any more in my pocket in that 8 years. now as far as the current people in office, dont blame them for the books they only have to work with what was left for them. if billy was being lying about the wealth of the nation and if we understand how good business works then we know what we are looking at is what was started over eight years ago. well as it stands we were made weak by clinton and his backwoods buddies. they and i include billery in this were small people that cared for just thmeselves. cheap small people who while in and on the way out of office committed crimes (we forgot about the missing items and damage left behind to computers and such) it happens and i know that they all have done it, but never did any other adminstraion ever smile about screwing up and getting caught. and nialls careful lad, canada is a glass house and we do see what is happening up there. anyways PEACE to all mike w   Marc Posted on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 10:03 am:    MTB, Not getting into the Clinton/Bush squabble, just nitpicking. You said: "Please name something that Putz did good for the country in his 8yr Frat Party. except for fucking up 8yrs and making people come to thier sences (sic) to vote Republican" The country, as a whole, did not vote Republican. -Marc   M. K. Watson (Lrover94) Posted on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 10:08 am:    oh and befoer we go into the debat of the elect. college, study it first and see why the fore fathers put into place. mike w   Mike Rupp (Mike_Rupp) Posted on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 10:12 am:    Quoting Gary, "Seven years of deficit free spending and a large surplus. With the election of Bush the former ended and the latter evaporated. " Gary, where do you get your data from? Why don't you get the actual data: http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=1821&sequence=0&from=7#t1. Seven years of defecit free spending? From 1992 to 2000, total defecit spending amounted to $611.2 Billion. The reason that the little amount of surplus evaporated is that the economy cooled off at the end of Clinton's term and handed off a poor economy to Bush. And Moe, the fact that Bush may be considered an idiot around the world probably should be considered a good thing considering that the bulk of the rest of the world are socialists.   KJ Posted on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 12:56 pm:    Weeeeeeeeeel, say what you will about Bill, the man was a hard worker and one helluva multi-tasker. A mere blow job did not keep him from doing business on the telephone at the same time. I liked Bill, I don't like George, and I don't feel like debating my feelings. Rover on, y'all. Karen   niall forbes (Forbesn) Posted on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 06:49 pm:    BW, good point. I can see how military experience would be an asset. Dee, sorry, didn't see the "Republican Americans ONLY beyond this point" sign at the door. I'll go back and check for it. I'm not so much trying to shit on the guy as trying to keep discussions here a little less tilted in one direction. I like to look at both sides of a story rather than just have a "lovefest" as Moe so eloquently put it.   Dee Posted on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 08:59 pm:    Niall, No love fest was intended my point was if you dont vote for our Political parties dont complain, seeing your from up north that's a given. Dont fool yourself into thinking a president who is not popular with his military will be able to call on them to protect us, this war is far from over and we will see more blood shed The Salute article was based on a shift of attitudes and perceptions within the ranks of our service members. Not a Bill vrs George Mike N, Regan was in the reserve Army corps prior to WW2 I heard from his mouth he was Calvary Officer, But in reality when he was called to active duty he was General Hap Arnold's PR man assisting with the propaganda war machine Moe, I was not trying to indicate Bill pulled the pin, but if you look really hard at the facts not the liberal interpretation about the Clinton White Houses leadership specifically the middle east and the Al-Queda your opinions might change, then maybe not....   Kennith P. Whichard III (Kennith) Posted on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 11:39 pm:    Yet another elementary remark by Mr. Watson. America IS a business. He is right about Clinton's economic boom being the result of past president's efforts. He is also right about the fact that his efforts caught up to him at the end of his term when he handed Bush a dead flower. I like Bush for a lot of reasons, I dislike Clinton for a lot of reasons, but these reasons have nothing to do with his sexual escapades. Clinton depleted our armed forces, right when we should have been boosting them. It was only a matter of time before our middle eastern meddling would have effects in America. Now we are going into war without the massive amount of resources we had in the early 90s. Say what you will, but if someone slaps the biggest kid in school, and he does nothing...all the little kids will swarm him. This policy of taking action is just what we need to eliminate this damn middle eastern threat. You have all seen what happens when we do nothing, we get hit, hard. In war, soldiers like me die. In neglect, Civilians like your families and childeren die. Take your pick. Cheers, Kennith