The Wandering Minstrel

We have had Charlie Wilson’s War in our DVD collection for a couple of years at least. After the former Congressman’s recent death, the Better Half and I decided to watch the flick one more time. Sort of like a tribute, I guess, but more for our entertainment since we think it is an excellent film without too much left wing Hollywood crap in it.

In the flick, Tom Hanks plays the role of Charlie, a good ol’ boy politics playing Texas Congressman who gets transformed into a crusader against the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. Julia Roberts plays a role not unlike Kay Huchison, an activist anti communist socialite who prods Charlie into his eventual “war.” Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the gruff and profane CIA agent who acts as a catalyst in the transformation.

There was a sequence near the end of the flick, while Charlie Wilson is standing on the balcony with Gust Avrakotos during a party celebrating the defeat of the Soviet army in Afghanistan, Gust warns Charlie of future problems if he and the other members of Congress do not follow up on giving economic aid to the Afghani’s. As Gust finished this warning, Charlie thinks about what he said, and you hear an airliner flying over Washington DC. It is an obvious, ominous reference to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.

As I indicated before, it is very entertaining, has lots of weapons, guns, blowing shit up, doesn’t try and make a twisted political statement and ends on a reminder of where we now live in the age of Islamic terrorism.

I rate Charlie Wilson’s War a quarter star short of five, holding back just because it was directed by the ultra-liberal Mike Nichols.

UPDATE: Linoge points out that the expression “damn sight” is perhaps a bit too anachronistic for younger readers (see his comment below). In the context above, it means there is a significant effort remaining.

I got this poster today in an email from a former colleague, who correctly observes:

These were [created by] our parents. What in God’s name have we let happen?

I guess we are the last generation to see, or even remember anything like these [posters]? Whatever happened? Political correctness (or “re-education”) happened, lack of God’s name happened, lack of personal responsibility happened, lack of personal integrity and honesty happened, lack of respect and loyalty to our country happened, lack of being an American happened.

The Obamination and many in power in both houses of Congress seem to want the “Fight for America” and “Fight the Enemy” spirit to disappear. They demonstrate this by reading Miranda to terrorists, prosecuting men and women in the armed forces for “crimes,” and staging massive terror “circus trials” in order to demean the War on Terror.

Much of the WWII “get behind the troops” spirit seems to be gone.

(As an aside, note the venerable 1911 pistol the soldier in the poster is holding.)

I have a few candidates for the list - this will be incomplete, so feedback is welcome.

• Order to close Gitmo
• Buzzing NYC with Air Force 1
• The “Beer Summit” debacle
• 3.5 TRILLION dollar budget
• Nomination of tax evader Dashle to the cabinet
• Stimulus Bill - a.k.a “generational theft act of ‘09″
• Nomination of activist/racist candidate Sotomayor to SCOTUS
• Copenhagen I - Olympic failure
• Copenhagen II - Climate Ponzi scheme
• Genuflection before foreign monarchs except for our allies
• Waffling on Afghanistan policy
• Khalid Sheik Monkey-hammad trials
• Ignoring domestic terrorists - Ft. Hood shooter and crotch bomber

There are many more, I’m sure.

Wayne La Pierre, the Executive Vice president of the NRA appeared today on the Glenn Beck Show. Beck and La Pierre discussed the recent Fort Hood Islamic terrorist attack. In that discussion, La Pierre concluded that “Instantaneous Responders are ALWAYS superior to First Responders” and made a statement that inspired the graphic seen here. Beck and La Pierre also talked about the insanity of not having armed soldiers present on all military bases in a time of war. At Fort Hood, it was a coincidence that there were police officers in the area for the graduation ceremonies being held nearby. Had they not been there to hear Hasan’s shots, it would have been much worse.

The Military needs to realize that their soldiers ARE the “Good Guys.” I like the concept of “Instantaneous Responders.”

The Army charged Major Nidal Malik Hasan with thirteen counts of premeditated murder today. There will also be additional charges against this “soldier of allah” as the numerous aggravated assault and other charges are investigated and applied. The investigation, according to the official who read the charges of murder, is on-going.

What I would like to know is when will Hasan be charged with treason? He acted on behalf of enemies of the United States when he opened fire on unarmed soldiers and civilians at Ft. Hood. To me, that constitutes treason.

In addition to the terrorist acts he commited, Hasan may also have been funneling money to Pakistan. He also is alleged to have attempted to contact al Qaeda.

Authorities at Walter Reed in Washington, D.C. have described Hasan as being psychotic. He was often described as surly and difficult to talk to. One official was quoted as saying that anybody who knew Hasan would not want him in their foxhole.

No wonder Hasan has that shit-eating smirk - he knew he was going to be infamous someday.

Treason? You bet.

Firing squad? We can only hope they televise the execution. Pay-per-view - yeah! That’s the ticket . . .

In memory of the victims of the attacks on America on September 11, 2001.

Never forget. Never regret being angry against those that seek to destroy America. Never let anyone call you racist for pointing out the source of American hatred as originating in Islamic extremism. It is what it is.