...for our shortsightedness.

Today - and every day - we should take the time to pray for and thank our veterans and those still fighting for our freedom. I am saddened that we have turned over the reins of power to the party which has been trying to legislate their defeat for the past seven years, but our military will endure. They are the stuff of Real America - a fighting spirit and rugged individuality. When someone makes a negative comment about our young people today, I point to the 18-year-olds and above who are over there right now, selflessly securing our freedom and doing things that most of us would not even consider doing. They are enduring hardships we cannot imagine, and they are doing it *voluntarily*.

Let us not forget our brave men and women and their families as they sacrifice for us. We owe them everything.

God Bless America

Land that I love

Stand beside her, and guide her

Through the night with a Light from above.

From the mountains, to the valley, to the oceans white with foam,

God bless America, my home sweet home!

God bless America, my home sweet home!

The American people were SHOCKED when they learned the federal government decided this past winter to award a $35 billion contract to a consortium that includes European Aeronautical Defense Systems (EADS), the parent company of French Airbus, to build the U.S. military's fleet of next-generation aerial refueling tankers.

And, when one considers that EADS is owned, in part, by foreign governments - including France, Germany and even Russia -- that openly oppose America's foreign policy interests and goals, the decision becomes all the more troublesome.

How could our government award such a critical defense contract to foreign governments that openly oppose us?

Thankfully, following an intensive and comprehensive three month investigation, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) discovered that the process by which the federal government selected the EADS tanker was unfair, riddled with mistakes and that EADS should not have been awarded the tanker contract.

The GAO report confirmed what tens of thousands of Americans have been saying since this decision was first announced: awarding a huge contract of such sensitivity and substance to a European consortium is a dangerous decision that cannot stand.

But the process isn't over.

We must now make our voices heard even louder to ensure that the Air Force complies with the GAO's recommendation and selects the best tanker.

Please take a moment right now to tell your Members of Congress to keep our military capabilities and 44,000 manufacturing jobs here in the United States.

Together, we can ensure that our leaders know that Americans will not tolerate such a misguided decision, based on a flawed process that threatens our nation's national security.

Take action now!

Yours in Freedom,

Jeff Mazzella

As we approach Independence Day, Freedom's Watch asks you to pause for a moment and express your appreciation for our servicemen and women.

In the midst of the barbeques, the fireworks, and the fun, remember those who cannot be with their families because they are fighting to defend the unalienable rights enshrined in our Declaration of Independence - life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Because of their efforts, freedom is now more than a distant ideal to millions of people around the world.

Please take a few moments to express your gratitude to an active duty soldier or veteran by visiting Show Your Support, an online resource by the Department of Defense. And share this message with your friends and family so that the cost of our freedom will not be forgotten.

From all of us at Freedom's Watch, we hope you have a safe and happy Independence Day.

Sincerely,

Joe Eule
Chief of Staff
Freedom's Watch

How can this be?  Haw-Haw Murtha mastered the art of mind-control?:

The Marine Corps is appealing a military judge’s decision to dismiss criminal charges against Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Chessani in the killing of twenty-four Iraqis in Haditha in November 2005…

“This case has turned into the persecution of one of the Marines’ finest combat commanders,” said Richard Thompson, chief counsel of the Michigan-based Thomas More Law Center, which is representing Chessani.

Chessani, 44, is charged with dereliction of duty and failure to obey a direct order for not launching a war-crimes investigation into the killings…

In its filing with the appeals court, the prosecution did not cite any basis for its appeal. Folsom had given prosecutors three days to appeal his ruling. He also permitted the Marine Corps to refile the charges although he ruled that the refiling would have to be done by a new convening authority not connected to the Camp Pendleton-based Marine Forces Central Command.

A little context on Lieutenant Colonel Chessani:

Lieutenant Colonel Chessani’s official 2006 Combat Fitness Report, which includes the time frame in which he is facing criminal charges, declared him “a superb leader, who knows his men, knows the enemy, knows his business,” and recommended him for promotion. The reviewing Major General added, Lieutenant Colonel Chessani has “unlimited potential and value to the Marine Corps,” and also recommended him for promotion.

Could that perhaps be why he didn't reflexively launch a "war crimes" investigation?  Because the legendary Corps buckled to the bellicose seditions of a corrupt congresscritter instead of standing by one of their own, while Colonel Chessani refused to sacrifice his honor by dutifully and cravenly falling on his sword to appease Jack Murtha's scalp-quest?  Must have been pretty obvious for the charges to be summarily dismissed as they were.  And now the Marine JAGs are actually appealing this ruling?  For what Earthly purpose?  To curry anti-war favor?  To beg Haw-Haw to stop a witchhunt that has already fizzled spectacularly?  Could the dismissal actually be reversed?

Disgusting.  And inexplicable.  But at least it's unlikely this persecuted hero will be retried.  Time will have to tell whether he still considers a country that would betray so decorated and honorable a warrior worth continuing to put his life and those of the soldiers under his command on the line for.

That that supposition is so highly likely rhetorical speaks volumes - about everybody involved in the Haditha witch trials.