General Taken To Task by Clueless Congresswoman
September 28, 2010

Just when I thought I’d heard it all then I read House of Representatives member, Gabrielle Giffords’, comments as she took General David Petraeus to task for willful disregard of the environmental impact of our war effort; stating, "There is no policy, no plan to minimize carbon emissions in our military activities.” I couldn’t believe an apparently well-educated member of Congress could be so clueless!

She magnanimously insisted she was not demanding immediate halt to current military operations in the Middle East. She was just saying that battle plans should include an environmental impact assessment as a regular part of the process before an attack was launched!

In case she hasn’t heard, no military in history has had the time to call for an impact study of anything connected to war, except a genuine respect for the collateral deaths of innocent civilians. Further, only a very small number of nations which have gone to war have been concerned with even that aspect.

We are one of the most humane nations -- if not the most humane nation -- on the planet. After all we were soft-hearted enough to even trust Muslims and look what it has cost us in American military and civilian lives.

Representative Giffords’ last shot across the General’s bow not only shocked me. I found it to be irresponsible and an indication of total ignorance of what all combatants and their leaders are faced with on a daily basis.

She suggested the Army put more emphasis on less-damaging methods, like "stabbing or clubbing enemy forces in order to minimize the carbon output.”

Let us stop and review what she was asking. She would like our U. S. Army to issue clubs with all the other life-ending armament the troops must carry (100 lbs) and get close enough to the enemy to stab or club him? Remember, the enemy is armed with AK-47 assault rifles and rocket propelled grenade launchers and last, he knows the territory much better than we do. Please, Representative Giffords, tell all the rest of America just how YOU would develop a more environmentally friendly battle plan -- keeping in mind that all commanders are dedicated to keeping more of our combatants alive than they are the enemy. It is known as "Winning instead of losing.” That is the cardinal rule. Win with the least casualties on our side than the enemy side. We have the finest commanders in the world and, right now General Petraeus -- one of our most experienced and able tacticians -- is in the "cat bird” seat.

Why would Representative Giffords opt to take on a hero, such as General David Petraeus, on a subject she knows little or nothing about? I’m certain there are numerous serious problems with which Arizona is struggling she and others of her party in the People’s House should be concerning themselves. The most important being supporting Governor Brewer in her efforts to elicit assistance from the majority party - of which Representative Giffords is a member – to relieve Arizona from the bankrupting servitude of supplying hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens pouring into Arizona using up millions of dollars in medical services, welfare subsistence and housing as well as employment at a fraction of the US minimum wage. The escalating unemployment throughout the United States of America is mainly because companies do not want to pay even a federally imposed minimum wage to their own people.

There are more dire threats to not only Arizona but to the entire US, i.e., unknown numbers of terrorists entering our country through the borders of Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico who are jihadists determined to kill as many Americans as possible. There are drug cartel members armed with AK-47 assault rifles who have murdered civilians and law enforcement officers and US Border Patrol agents. And coyotes (renegades) engaged in human trafficking who are known to murder their human goods if they are detected.

I must strongly consider that Representative Giffords’ motive(s) are purely political. Does she really believe the environmental damage of our bullets and bombs rises to the level of harming the environment that is being done by the collective efforts of Iran, Syria, Palestinians (HAMAS), Lebanon (Hezbollah), Al-Qaeda and the Taliban? Iran is on the verge of polluting the atmosphere with radioactive fallout much more dangerous. I believe the responsibility for curtailing carbon emissions which are blamed for global warming was considered by a former Democrat Vice President as the most dangerous issue. If so, then isn’t the United Nations -- the entity lax in its policing and curtailment of all under its purview -- a more accurate target for misplaced ire than the caveman weaponry Representative Giffords has suggested General Petraeus add to his arsenal?

In closing I suggest that Representative Giffords and the entire majority party consider showing some respect and appreciation for their protectors because the day may soon come when we will be forced to engage the enemy on our own turf. Should this come to pass, I’m certain Representative Giffords and every other American will forget the issue of carbon emission and just hope they can live through the war.