Jornal de skydiverjim, 20 ago 21

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 kcal

Líp: 113,70g | Prot: 125,24g | Carbs : 271,71g.   Pequeno Almoço: Boost High Protein Very Vanilla, Chobani Flip Almond Coco Loco, Watermelon, Living Essentials 5-Hour Energy Drink. Almoço: Butter , Great Value White Sandwich Bread (47g), Baked Pasta, Beef, Veal and Pork Meatballs, Italian Sausage. Jantar: Mighty Taco Beef, Bean & Cheese Burrito, Watermelon, Banquet Chicken Pot Pie. Snacks/Outros: Watermelon. mais...

2568 kcal

Exercício: Jardinagem - 2 horas, Descansar - 15 horas, Dormir - 7 horas. mais...