Monday Morning Quarterbacks in War?

Those of you who think that prosecuting the CIA agents of the Bush administration time period for their actions to extract information from terrorists need to consider the consequences of such an action. Such an action will cause agents in the future to fear they too might be prosecuted. For those who don't believe that, please read Lone Survivor. It's the story of four U.S. Navy SEALs on a mission in Afghanistan. In short, a group of goat herders happen on the men. The four SEALs debate what to do with the goat herders. They agree the correct military action is to kill them; however, they let them go fearing they might be tried for murder in their own country. As it turns out, the goat herders notify the local Taliban who attack the four SEALs with about 100 soldiers. Our guys fight a running gun battle extracting a many times toll on the Taliban. Three of the four are killed with the last of the three being killed in an open area as he sacrifices himself to call for assistance. It would be bad enough if the story ended there but it does not. A rescue team is sent to assist. In attempting to land and deploy the rescue force, a rock propelled grenade strikes the helicopter killing twenty more brave U.S. soldiers. Twenty three dead because four of our own feared prosecution by their own courts for taking the correct military action. When the people we put on the front lines have to make decisions like that, it is going to cost American lives and it is going to leave us all less safe. War is hell and it is not something the average American should be making decisions about because we simply do not know enough about the realities of war nor are we ready to know and understand the realities. To Monday morning quarterback something this important is just dead wrong.

R.I.P Teddy

Edward Moore (Teddy) Kennedy and I agreed on very little. He is a champion of big government while I am not. He believed strongly that a national health care system was needed and I do not. One thing we do agree on, however, is that we should be working to make this country the greatest country on earth. It should be a model for freedom and equality that shines as a beacon of hope for those less fortunate. While we disagree on how to make that vision a reality I must admire and respect a man who so dedicated himself to the service of our country. Rest in peace Teddy and thank you. We're going to miss the "Lion of the Senate."