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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country
of West Texas
Opinion
Sage
Views
By Smokey Briggs
Tuesday, August 3, 1999
Guard and Reserves
equals honorable service
Well, the democrat/liberal types (and a few others) have apparently decided
that answering the call to duty matters.
After eight long years of Bill "the draft dodger" Clinton, democrats
are pointing accusing fingers at Republican presidential hopeful George
Bush.
"See, he's no better than Bill," they say in self-riteous tones. "Bush
only served in the National Guard," they say with a smugness that illustrates
their ignorance.
They are correct in only one statement — George Bush, like Bill Clinton,
did not see combat in Viet Nam.
The reason he didn't, however, is wildly different than Mr. Clinton's.
Bush answered his nation's call to duty. He joined the Air National
Guard. He became a fighter pilot and stood ready.
That is honorable.
Had the United States ever gotten serious about winning Viet Nam, George
and his airplane would have found themselves delivering ordinance over
Hanoi.
But the United States was never serious about winning in Viet Nam.
Unlike any other major conflict in this nation's history, almost no
combat arms reserve units were committed to action.
President's Johnson and Nixon both understood that if they committed
reserve units, a different demographic group would be coming home in body
bags.
A group much stronger politically than the 18-year-old kids swept up
by the draft.
Reservists tend to be an older crowd. A crowd more apt to have families,
and decent paying jobs.
A crowd that would and could scream much louder about getting killed
in such a poorly orchestrated war.
So the reserves weren't sent in. Not because they weren't standing ready.
Just because the political price was too high for the politicians making
the call.
For the liberals to accuse reservists of dodging Viet Nam is pathetic.
By the same standards anyone who was on active duty but didn't volunteer
for duty with an infantry platoon deep in the jungle "dodged" Viet Nam.
Of course, most of the men on active-duty during the Viet Nam war didn't
serve in line-units. Most, served in support units and in combat arms units
stationed in other parts of the world.
Their service was no less honorable than those that won the lottery
to travel to South East Asia.
Unlike Bill Clinton, who never bothered to stand up and say, "I'm ready.
Call me if you need me."
EDITOR'S NOTE: Smokey Briggs is the editor and publisher
of the Pecos Enterprise whose column appears each Tuesday. He can be e-mailed
at: smokey@pecos.net
Our View
New weapon systems keep the peace
The F-22 fighter aircraft, the Theater High-Altitude Area Defense
missile system and other developing weapon systems have been taking fire
lately as being too expensive and unnecessary.
It is an old story replayed many times in this nation's history — politicians
itching to scrap weapons development to save money for domestic programs.
As it has been every time in the past, such "budget-saving" measures
are short sighted.
Whether the research and development of the F-22 and the THAD system
have been over-priced is worth investigation.
Historically, research and development of weapon systems is very expensive.
Some of that expense is no doubt the product of defense contractors
milking the government cow for every last dollar.
Often, however, the price tag reflects the quality of the product being
purchased.
When American troops go into combat, they shouldn't be armed with weapons
built by the lowest bidder.
As for new systems being unnecessary — such statements are foolish.
New weapon systems are of vital importance to maintaining a strong military.
History has shown that a strong military capability is by far the best
deterrent for would-be aggressors.
Just as importantly, when aggression cannot be deterred through a show
of force, troops armed with modern weapons and properly trained in their
use, have taken the first steps to securing victory.
Your views
Student enjoys reading news on internet
I love to read our newspaper on the net. It's nice knowing what
is going on in our friendly little town! Keep up the good work!!
ALVA ALVAREZ
Stonewalk journey going according to plans
Hi! My name is Bliss and I am Earl's (Standberry) sister. I am writing
to update you on the Stonewalk journey.
Earl is great and truly motivated for this cause. They were in New York
City the weekend of July 17th where they were camped all weekend and staged
a prayer vidal outside the U.N.
Everything is going according to plan and although it has been hard,
they have been blessed with people who have stepped up to help along the
way. They are in Pennsylvania now and due to arrive in Washington, DC the
weekend of Aug. 8th.
As of this time, they have not been granted access into Arlington Cemetery
to place the headstone, but have been contacted for negotiations. They
are hopeful that everything will work out.
For more information, you can check out the website at http://peaceabbey.com
or contact me at bliss@dpmicro.com.
I have been in contact with Earl several times and I am sure that your
prayers and support mean the world to him. He should be in contact with
you at the end of this journey.
God Bless!
BLISS STANDBERRY
America not made up of losers or quitters
In reference to the editorial on why drugs should be legalized:
Unbelievable. The words, "integrity," "indomitable spirit," and "perseverance"
contract sharply with "drug use," "giving up," and "whining." My father
was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division in World War II. They
were taught never to give up a fight. Considering what he and others have
gone through I can only imagine the indignation he would feel about the
politically correct concept that we've lost the war on drugs so we should
give up now. America is not made up of losers or quitters.
China once gave up and legalized drug use. Soon too much of their population
was more concerned about being high than every day life. No one worked,
no one went to school, no one felt like being a doctor, or a carpenter
and everything went to...well you know. Considering the pain and suffering
many have gone through due to alcohol, I don't think we should be patting
ourselves on the backs on that one at all.
And for those moms and dads who have watched a child grow tall and envisioned
that wonderful child of theirs giving them happiness and grandchildren,
and then lose all that to drugs, do you really think it matters whether
someone gave their child heroin or someone sold their child heroin? And
if their child feels that two doses of heroin the government gives them
is not enough will they go to an illegal drug pusher to get more, or will
the government simply give till a fatal does is received. A drug user won't
stop, you know.
And what about rape? We haven't been able to win that war either. Why
not win again and make rape legal also. Hey what about stealing...
KELLY DAVIS
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Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Peggy McCracken, Webmaster
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
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