Judge Alito for SCOTUS!! Let's Roll...

Bush picks Alito for Supreme Court WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush, stung by the rejection of his first choice, nominated conservative judge Samuel Alito on Monday to replace moderate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in a bid to reshape the Supreme Court and mollify his political base. "Judge Alito is one of the most accomplished and respected judges in America," the president said in announcing Alito's selection. "He's got a mastery of the law and a deep commitment to justice." Bush exhorted the Senate to confirm his choice by the end of the year. "The Senate needs to find out if the man replacing Miers is too radical for the American people," said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada. In contrast to Miers, Alito "has more prior judicial experience than any Supreme Court nominee in 70 years," the president said. So consistently conservative, Alito has been dubbed "Scalito" or "Scalia-lite" by some lawyers because his judicial philosophy invites comparisons to conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. But while Scalia is outspoken and is known to badger lawyers, Alito is polite, reserved and even-tempered. Wasting no time, the White House arranged for Alito to go to the Capitol after the announcement.The schedule called for Senate Majority Leader Bill First to greet him and accompany the nominee to the Capitol Rotunda to go to the coffin of the late civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks. "The Supreme Court is an institution I have long held in reverence," said the bespectacled judge, a former prosecutor and government attorneyt who has argued 12 cases before the Supreme Court. "During my 29 years as a public servant, I've had an opportunity to view the Supreme Court from a variety of perspectives." NAME — Samuel A. Alito, Jr. AGE — 55; born April 1, 1950 in Trenton, N.J. EDUCATION — AB, Princeton, 1972; JD, Yale, 1975. EXPERIENCE — Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 1990-present; U.S. attorney for the district of New Jersey, 1987-1990; deputy assistant to the U.S. attorney general, 1985-1987; assistant to the U.S. solicitor general, 1981-1985.

Welcome Magnum Conservative...

Another blogger joins my blogroll. Make sure you check him out along with "All Things Conservative" and Barb's Way on the left side of my blog. This week looking forward to Justice Luttig or Alito being put forward on the USSC. Trick or treat libs!

Good week for Republicans...

I know that the Kossacks and DU'ers drinking the kool aid are probably thinking to themselves that the GOP has had an awful week. I don't think so. Having Harriet Miers withdraw the nomination is a great thing for those in the GOP who believe in judicial philosophy, in excellence, in philosophy and ideals. She simply was not the best we can do. Hopefully the President will pick a heavy hitter who has a resume and experience in constitutional precedent. The fact that Karl Rove is still working in the White House this evening should send chills down the spines of the left. Anyone remember Clinton's scandals with Cabinet Secretaries Espy and Henry Cisneros? Didn't think so...

We salute A1C Elizabeth Jacobson...

Godspeed Airman First Class Elizabeth Jacobson "Elizabeth’s father asked me to spread one message, do not let the cowards win. Do not let her die in vain. I ask all our leadership to get this word out to our forces." - CMSGT Baliko Airman First Class Elizabeth Nicole Jacobson, originally from Riveria Beach, Florida, was killed on September 28th while providing security for a convoy near Camp Bucca, Iraq. She was twenty-one years old. Here is a bit about her from Captain Kevin Tuttle who was the laison to the family during the funeral last week in Ft. Lauderdale: ...David Jacobson, Airman Jacobson’s father, told us stories about Elizabeth. He spoke of her love of the Air Force and her security forces duties; her desire to be a chief master sergeant someday; and the way she always volunteered to do the jobs no one else wanted. The fateful convoy mission was one such duty she had tried to get for a long time, rather than be in the guard tower where it was relatively safe. The part that was so surprising to me was the outpouring of support her family bestowed on the military members, for the jobs we all have to do to protect this nation. There were no sentiments of bitterness or anger toward the military... Retired Master Sergeant Theresa O. sends this great tribute to A1C Elizabeth Jacobsen: GOODFELLOW REMEMBERS A FALLEN HERO 17TH SECURITY FORCES SQUADRON SUPERINTENDENT Wednesday, 28 September 2005, on a dusty road just north of the Kuwait-Iraq border, Airman First class Elizabeth Nicole Jacobson was providing security for a supply convoy as a gun truck crew served weapons operator. The convoy was on a routine supply mission and traveling to Camp Bucca, Iraq. Somewhere along that road, terrorists set off an improvised explosive device as the vehicle Airman Jacobson was riding in passed. A tremendous explosion erupted; Airman Jacobson and the US Army driver in the vehicle were instantaneously killed. The US Army person in the gunner’s turret was critically wounded, and no further information is available at this time on his condition. Airman Jacobson’s sacrifice for her country made her the first security forces member to die in combat since 20 May 1975, when 23 defenders were lost in a helicopter crash in Thailand supporting combat operations to recapture the USS Mayaquez. Airman Jacobson arrived at Goodfellow AFB on 9 December 2003. From the very first day in the unit, people came to know her commented on her never ending smile and positive attitude. I would later find out that her favorite quote was “I also believe in love and here is my quote. We’re on this Earth for a little while, so live life to the fullest and carry a smile.” Elizabeth touched many lives in the short 21 years she was with us on this earth, and lived life to the fullest every day. She was a true role model and mentor for all people who serve in uniform. She was the picture of the Air Force core values, and the words “can’t”, “won’t”, or “impossible” did not exist to her. As with all security forces units, the 17th SFS is undermanned. With forty percent of our unit deployed fighting the global war on terrorism, we have been in and out of extended (12 hours) shifts since my arrival in July 2004. She found herself on the gate more than she would really admit she wanted to be. First working on the midnight shift, then transferring to days, I would see her a lot as I entered and left the installation. She was always smiling, happy and full of energy, no matter what the time of day or night, no matter what the weather. Many people at Goodfellow have approached me over the last two weeks and offered their sincere sorrow for her passing. Elizabeth always found the good in everything, no matter what the circumstances. In February 2005, the AEF Center sent a tasking order to AETC/SF asking for a 13-person squad for duty at Camp Bucca. AETC/SF tasked Goodfellow to provide this team and the senior leadership of the unit met to determine the best possible candidates in that AEF bucket to fulfill this mission. We did not have to look too hard for one. Elizabeth approached the unit leadership and stated it was her time. Elizabeth was very excited to be one of the thirteen and, as I entered the gate one day before the team left for pre-deployment training, stopped me and stated, “Thank you for your confidence in me, for putting me in for an SF annual award. I will not let you down. I will kick butt on this deployment, make senior airman below the zone, and one day sit in your office.” The senior noncommissioned officers of my unit met about two months before that to determine who we would recommend be nominated for SF annual awards. Elizabeth was the unanimous choice for the Julie Y. Cross Federal Women in Law Enforcement Award. Unfortunately, this award no longer a part of the SF annual award process. I have researched the criteria for the award and she will still be submitted through either civilian or DP channels.

Latest Centcom release..

NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 October 19, 2005 Release Number: 05-10-72 U.S. INVESTIGATES ALLEGATION OF LAW OF WAR VIOLATION BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The Army Criminal Investigation Division has initiated an investigation into alleged misconduct by U.S. service members, including the burning of dead enemy combatant bodies under inappropriate circumstances."This command takes all allegations of misconduct or inappropriate behavior seriously and has directed an investigation into circumstances surrounding this allegation," said Maj. Gen. Jason Kamiya, Combined Joint Task Force-76 Commander. "If the allegation is substantiated, the appropriate course of action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and corrective action will be taken." Service members are expected to abide by the highest standards of behavior and the law, he said. "This command does not condone the mistreatment of enemy combatants or the desecration of their religious and cultural beliefs," Kamiya said. "This alleged action is repugnant to our common values, is contrary to our commands approved tactical operating procedures, and is not sanctioned by this command. Our efforts to thoroughly investigate this allegation are a reflection of our commitment to the Government of Afghanistan and the Afghan people."

The real deal on Iraq...

Ralph Peters/New York Post October 18, 2005 -- RISKING death, Iraqis of every background came out to vote on Saturday. Terrorists proved powerless to halt the country's progress. The final count isn't in, but the people appear to have approved a new constitution. Never before in the Arab world have a country's citizens been permitted to vote on the laws that would govern them. Even had the draft constitution been rejected, this would have been a historic moment in the Middle East and beyond. Our media's response? The vote doesn't matter. The constitution's flawed. Iraq's Sunni Arabs will resort to civil war. Enormous problems remain. Well, big problems do remain in Iraq. There's certainly a potential for more internal strife. The constitution isn't perfect. But to suggest that at least 9 million Iraqis casting peaceful ballots don't matter is just sour grapes on the part of those journalists and editors who've have been relentless in predicting failure in Iraq — and who've been wrong every single time. If the day comes when the last U.S. troops leave a peaceful, democratic, prosperous Iraq, the headlines will read: "FAILURE IN IRAQ: THREE SUNNIS STILL UNHAPPY. " Iraq may yet fail as a unified state. Violence will continue. But what's frustrating is the determination of so many in our media to convince the American people that Iraq's a hopeless mess. It's an example of vanity, selfishness and spite virtually without precedent in the history of journalism.The greatest tragedy imaginable for our "mainstream media" would be to have to admit that President Bush was right about Iraq. A startling number of editors and opinion columnists have been wrong about every development in Iraq (and Afghanistan). First, they predicted a bloody, protracted war against Saddam's military. Then they predicted civil war. They insisted that Iraq's first elections would fail amid a bloodbath. Then they declared that Iraq's elected delegates would not be able to agree on a draft constitution. Next, they thundered that Iraq's Sunni Arabs wouldn't vote. Most recently, the sages of the opinion pages declared that the proposed constitution would be defeated at the polls by the Sunni Arabs. All along they've displayed a breathtaking empathy with the Islamist terrorists who slaughter the innocent, giving Abu Musab al-Zarqawi a pass while attacking our president and mocking the achievements of our troops. A herd mentality has taken over the editorial boards. Ignoring all evidence to the contrary, columnists write about our inevitable "retreat" from Iraq, declaring that "everyone knows" our policies have no chance of success. That isn't journalism. It's wishful thinking on the part of those who need Iraq to fail to preserve their credibility. We are dealing with parasitical creatures who, never having done anything practical themselves, insist that the bravery and sacrifice of others has no meaning. Their egos have grown so enormous that they would sacrifice the future of Iraq's 26 million human beings just so they could write "I told you so." And, of course, the greatest military experts are those who never served a day in uniform. The mission we've set for ourselves in Iraq is a tough one. Mistakes made it even harder. But any man or woman of integrity would have to admit that our troops have performed with remarkable skill and tenacity — and that the Iraqi people have displayed confounding courage in their efforts to build a just government for themselves. There are two things the "mainstream media" are simply unwilling to face regarding Iraq. First, the stakes are immensely high and the premature withdrawal demanded by the pundits would fatally increase the power and allure of Islamist terrorists. Second, we're not only asking a major state to change its form of government — we're asking people to fundamentally alter a failed civilization. Such a goal cannot be accomplished overnight. Or even in the course of a single administration. Iraq is about the greater fate of the realm of lethal failure stretching from Gibraltar to the Indus. But we won't see a rational discussion of the roots of the Middle East's cultural collapse — such honesty is taboo. Instead, we'll just hear more about our own "failure" in Iraq, no matter how many successes there are on the ground. Our columnists and editors resemble those diehard communists who kept on praising Stalin right through the purges, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and the revelations about the Gulag. We'll hear that Iraq's new constitution is flawed (so is ours — that's why we have amendments). We'll be told that the Sunni Arabs are dissatisfied (so are many American Democrats). Allegations of electoral fraud will never go away (sound familiar?). And political partisans will continue to claim that our military efforts are useless (as demagogues have claimed since the Civil War). Despite the attacks by international terrorists and the media, Iraq continues to move forward. The process is imperfect, as are all things on this earth. But the bravery and determination that Iraqis displayed at the polls again last weekend deserve better analysis than smug pundits' party-line declarations of failure.

The Purple Revolution Continues...

While the lame stream media in America continues to try to demoralize morale on the home front, the Iraqis are starting to vote on the next stage of their future. No one covers the truth of what is happening over there better than "All Things Conservative." Check it out.. http://allthingsconservative.typepad.com/all_things_conservative/2005/10/a_beautiful_sig.html

Our Military at Camp Katrina

http://www.campkatrina.typepad.com/ Check it out to hear more of the good things our military does EVERY day...

Tremendous news out of Baghdad!!

What with us taking apart Zarqawi up and down the Euphrates, with Zawahiri realizing they are losing the political battle, and now a joining of major Sunni parties into the Constitution this is the best day in Iraq since January 30... We must not let up now when victory is in our grasp.. (10-17 : link updated)

We are winning and must not flinch..

All Things Conservative and Bill Crawford are doing a great job in bringing out the good and truthful things that are happening in Iraq. Check it out..

Why we need to stay in Iraq and win...

Jalal Talabani calls for increased British aid- they know we are winning and have to see it through to the final victory..

Another terrorist meets Allah..

By ASSOCIATED PRESS CAIRO, Egypt A leader of an extremist Islamic group that threatened to use chemical weapons against US positions and the Iraqi government has been killed in Iraq, according to an Internet statement posted Tuesday. Al-Haj Othman, emir of the Mujahedeen of the Victorious Sect Brigades, was killed in fighting, according to the statement. No other details were available, including the time and location of his death. "He was one of the heroes of jihad and one of the knights of Iraq," the statement said. The statement claimed that Othman, 60, was one of the first mujahedeen in Iraq and a leader of the Islamic Army in Iraq, one of the largest insurgent groups. The statement, which could not be authenticated, was posted on an Islamic Web site known as a clearinghouse for militant messages. In an online statement last month, the group threatened to retaliate against US positions and the Iraqi government in Baghdad with chemical and unconventional weapons unless military operations in Tal Afar stopped within 24 hours. The US and Iraqi military had been conducting a massive operation against insurgents in that area of northwestern Iraq.