Ercille I. Christmas

December 7, 2009: A Bridge to December 7, 1941
December 7, 2009

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

So declared President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as he asked Congress to declare war for the unprovoked attack by the Japanese military on Pearl Harbor. “A date that will live in infamy” became the easily identifiable phrase for December 7, 1941. Here was the US literally minding its own business as war raged in Europe. The Japanese decided that it was time to wake the sleeping giant. It took four arduous years, but Japan learned that it is best to let sleeping giants lie.

The US was totally unprepared after being struck by a devastating attack of treachery, which wiped out a good portion of its Pacific Fleet. But for the most part, it was united, and willing to fight back! The nation, and especially those men sent out to fight, would learn what Thomas Paine meant when he wrote “Those who want to reap the benefits of this great nation must bear the fatigue of supporting it.” “Fatigue” was only part of the struggle. Death was a huge part of the equation. American troops are buried in various graves throughout Europe, as testament to their unyielding service. The nation rediscovered its resiliency. While the men fought in the Pacific and Europe, the women “manned” the home front. Rosie the Riveter was born. Those who were opposed to American involvement in “Europe’s war” learned, “if we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately,” as Thomas Paine had exhorted his compatriots in Revolutionary Times.

On August 9, 1945, Japan was finally convinced that it was indeed a mistake to wake up that sleeping giant. World War II was all but wrapped up. The external enemy had been demoralized and defeated. The men later dubbed the “greatest generation” had done their work. The women left behind had also done their part. Detainee “abuse” was not an issue.

Here we are sixty eight years later. What is the one constant between then and now? It is the “cannon fodder,” the troops who daily go out and die and/or are maimed in our stead. Their heart for the job, the bravery in performing the job, and pride in serving their country, remain the same. Compared to 1941, they now have better weaponry and better training, as they deserve. Sixty eight years ago, most of the rest of America stood tall and supported the war efforts, with the exception of a few traitors whose desire was to see America be brought to its knees so that those “quaint” notions of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” could be outlawed. They lost – then.

So has anything changed from 1941 to 2009? The face of the enemy has changed. From 1941 to 1945, the organized armies of Japan and Germany faced down GI Joe. Those armies struck first and blinked first. For almost a decade now, in this 21^st century, the enemy, in the name and guise of religion, determined to destroy America, although without a conventional, established military, is in some ways more dangerous. The “soldiers” of this enemy do not fight mano a mano (hand to hand). They prefer the IED, manned by those who have been conned by the promise of an elixir of lust and religion, as in 72 virgins providing unlimited sex after death. They fight unarmed female flight attendants. They have declared war on American and other civilians. They do not fight according to the Geneva Convention. They know that militarily, they cannot defeat our troops, so they have pulled out their arsenal of deceit. They apparently will inflict wounds on themselves and blame our troops, and frighteningly too many in charge of those American troops, fall for the treachery.

“Treachery.” That is the bridge between December 1941 and December 2009. “Treachery” in this new century has not come in the form of a surprise attack on America by a recognized military armada. Treachery is being unleashed on American troops by less than gallant men, well versed in the art of dissimulation. The tragedy is that in too many instances, the word of this enemy, an enemy who is without valor and honor, is taken over the words of American troops. More and more American troops are being charged and put away for long stretches for winning on the battlefield against this new enemy. The message being transmitted appears to be “do not be all that you can be, instead behave politically expediently,” if you value your career.

In reading the stories of troops brought up on charges of “abusing” detainees, it seems that invariably, the brightest, bravest and best troops, have been targeted. Even if exonerated, quite frankly they may still bear invisible scars. I cannot even begin to fathom how a defender can feel, if after representing your country, killing or capturing the bad guys, you return home, to be greeted, not with a medal or parade, or even a peaceful civilian life, but with handcuffs. Meanwhile the accusers and the supporters of those accusers, are having a good chuckle at how easy it is to fool the infidels.

Captain Carl Bjork has even been returned to Baghdad to face charges of premeditated murder. The star witnesses are three Iraqi “insurgents.” When did this practice of returning US troops to a foreign land for trial, begin? Imagine when the US signs off on that famous, or infamous, depending on one’s perspective, so called World Court? US troops “just doing their jobs,” can conceivably be hauled in front of that court, which will have a built-in bias against GI Joe. If we cannot beat them on the battlefield, by golly, see you in the court of the world! Welcome to dhimmitude.

I would like to check in with Lt. Col. Chessani, who is now facing a BOI (Board of Inquiry) that began on December 2, 2009, and continues on December 7, 2009, “day of infamy.” I would also like to get the reaction of SEALs Matthew McCabe, Jonathan Keefe and Julio Huertas, to capturing a “most wanted terrorist” and being reported for bloodying the lip of the “most wanted.” All of a sudden “performance of duty” has been turned into “dereliction of duty.” Ironically, if these three SEALs had been captured by the enemy, their lips and the rest of their bodies would have been burnt to a cinder, most likely after they had first been tortured, and then hung up on a bridge in Baghdad. That fate did befall four civilian contractors, and the alleged ringleader is this “most wanted.” He must not be wanted badly enough why his captors are the ones facing charges, beginning on December 7, 2009, “day of infamy.”

I keep harkening back to the story of ILT Michael Behenna, perhaps because of the synergy between his years on this earth, and the sentence imposed on him. He is twenty five and he received twenty five years in Leavenworth for defending himself against an Iraqi insurgent. Should he have allowed himself to killed and dragged through the streets? Would there have been such strenuous efforts at securing justice for him, as has occurred in persecuting, prosecuting him? I doubt it. He would have become another KIA (killed in action) statistic. Suit up the next volunteer. Fresh blood is needed.

The irony of the situation is that these men and women who serve do not ask for much. Debbie Lee, Gold Star Mom of Marc Alan Lee, the first Navy SEAL killed in action in Iraq, wrote about the following words of thanks that she received from two of our defenders:

“We very much appreciate all of your efforts and are heartened by your continued support of the troops,” wrote Specialist Craig from Tallil, Iraq. “The smallest of kind thoughts are larger than complaints from the naysayers.”

We would like to thank you for the care package,” Daniel wrote. “Thanks for your support and feel free to write back. We would love to hear from as many people as possible. Letters and packages make our day.”

“Letters and packages make our day”...in which other country is freedom so cheap?

“The smallest of kind thoughts are larger than complaints from the naysayers”...profound words from a defender who signed on, fully aware that instead of “letters and packages,” he could be at the receiving end of an IED or other treacherous weapon. I listened and learned. How about you, persecutors? Will you?