Raymond Collins

Raymond L. Collins

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Travel, Recruiting and A Helping Hand By Raymond L. Collins 12-9-04
Travel Away
Well, it's been awhile since I've been able to write. I just got back from time spent at Kadena AFB in Okinawa, Japan. I don't know how many of you have had the opportunity to travel overseas to other areas of the world, but if you get the chance, take it. I know that there's been a lot of turmoil in the world but that has been portrayed lopsided by the media. To many times, the mainstream media has displayed the "wacko" in front of the camera who tells of hatred and loathing towards Americans and our Nation. No matter what the media puts out over the airways, I've always had the best of experiences with every foreign national I've met. The media tends to bombard us with every foreign lunatic they can find but that does not represent those nations as a whole. So, while it is always a smart idea to be alert and careful when traveling anywhere, don't judge the rest of the world's views on a media that can only portray the people of other countries as disgruntled fanatics waiting for an opportunity to waylay any American abroad.
Free To Choose?
Earlier this week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in a 2-to1 decision, ruled that universities could bar military recruiters from campuses without the risk of losing federal money. The majority ruled that an earlier Supreme Court decision allowing the Boy Scouts to bar homosexuals from becoming scoutmasters created the same freedom of association for the law schools. I'd like to pass my own judgment on this action. A decade-old federal provision introduced by the late representative Gerald Solomon (R-NY) was the cause behind this court decision. The law prohibits the federal government from giving money to colleges and universities that block military recruiting. However, a group of law schools insisted that they should be able to keep recruiters away from their campuses since the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuality was a violation to their own policies forbidding discrimination against gays and lesbians.
Again this comes from schools that have a liberal bias and is in control of the education and decision process. If you take the top 25 schools and look at the organizations, affiliations, guest speakers, rallies, and just the day-to-day events that are allowed to occur on campuses in the name of "free speech", you'd see the hypocritical approach the schools have taken. Now, I agree that schools should allow free speech even if it is considered controversial; However, I see this as more of an attack against the military system than a right of free speech. While the schools, such as Harvard Law School, may have anti-discriminatory rules against sexual orientation, I don't think the military recruters hold up banners stating that homosexuals "beware". In fact, under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, the military organizations are not even allowed to ask if an individual is a homosexual. There are rules that any gay or lesbian individual wanting to serve in the military must follow: however, they have a free choice to either serve and follow those rules or not serve at all.
Essentially, the liberal crusade of separating the military from the rest of society has pushed the military ranks to become more conservative and ultimately more active in the political process. In fact, liberals who should be taking a different path to work within the military to change attitudes and policies, are instead, distancing themselves and creating an environment that is doomed to fell. The past election proveded that liberalism is not part of the mainstream and in many cases, condemns any freedom of speech that does not follow its core beliefs. But what do I know; I'm just an 18-year veteran that has felt the cold shoulder of today's extreme liberal. I know it takes a strong military to keep safe our way of life and to help those that can't help them selves. I see that and I'm not even a conservative.
A Helping Hand
I hope that everyone is enjoying the Holidays and giving to those around you. You don't have to have money to help someone that needs it. The time you can give will make a huge difference. Look to local groups and organizations that need help making their programs a success, delivering items, cooking, or just being there to offer support to those less fortunate. Look in your closet and if there is something that you can't wear, I'm sure there is someone who may need it. If you haven't done something like this before, you're in for a surprise. It's a wonderful feeling that you can't buy in a store.
Merry Christmas!

A Democratic Draft By Raymond L. Collins 10-2-04
It seems just too simple to work but it continues to keep spreading. There is a rumor that the administration is secretly preparing for a draft for all men and women between the ages of 18 and 26. Supposedly, this draft is going to take place shortly after the elections and that the administration is just trying to keep it hushed until then. It doesn't matter that the bills are being introduced by Democrats and are being introduced to gain momentum for the anti-war sentiment. A sentiment that would translate into votes this November from young men and women that are unwilling or unprepared to join the military service. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), is the author of House legislation to restart the draft and Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (D-S.C.), is author of the legislation in the Senate. While Hollings believes in the draft for different reasons and made an unsuccessful bid for president in 1984 with the draft as part of his campaign, Rangel knows exactly what his bill is intended to do. Rangel has already admitted that he knows that the republican lead Congress would likely not pass any such bill but continues to push it forward just to create a scare tactic, promote false allegations, and steal votes.
While I personally believe that the military builds character in most of the people who elect to enlist, I know it's not for everyone. There are some who join for the wrong reasons or find out after they joined that it's not something for them. After their tour of duty, they leave the service. For others, and myself, the careers we have chosen in the military have given us more than we'd ever have imagined. Pride in ourselves and those we have chosen to protect. Pride in what our flag truly stands for and the men and women who follow it. Pride for the freedom we have earned for our nation and for those whose blood has kept it free. It's that pride that makes it easy to understand why we only need a volunteer military.
A draft would burden the tax payers with supporting a mammoth military that is not what is required in today's world. A smaller, faster, better-trained military is what is required of us today. Doing more with less but better. A larger military would provide poor training and poor morale. The funds that would come from supporting the additional military members and their families could be spent on keeping our machines and weapons ahead of the rest of the world. Allowing us to successfully strike hard and fast against any possible adversary. We are not designed for occupation and as soon as the governments of Iraq and Afghanistan are stable enough to protect themselves from insurgents and terrorists, we will not longer need the massive troop buildup in the Middle East.
If you don't believe that it's important that Iraq is a democracy, than you need to look at a map of that area of the world. Look at where Iraq is located. It would be the only true democracy in that region. If you don't think that is a huge important accomplishment then your train has already left the station. No more tickets for sale.

Do you know why you're voting? By Raymond L. Collins 7-26-04
As I was reading the Breathitt County Voice this past week, I came across the article "Is it inherited or just the way we look at it?" by James R. Fugate. I have read some of his stuff before but I always have to struggle to finish any of them. When he does actually have something intelligent to say, it's always buried behind his obvious anti-Bush/Cheney rhetoric. I consider myself more a moderate so I do find myself agreeing with him on some ideas but it's apparent that Mr. Fugate has some personal issues to work out. You can claim your a Republican or Democrat but don't let that blind you to your responsibilities to yourself, your family, and your community.
There's an old saying called "Shooting the Rooster" which means on Election Day, you vote your party regardless if you and your party selections have the same beliefs. Now I support Bush because he is strong on defense, his tax cuts, and the economy has been on the upswing and growing faster than it has in 20 years. It's a fact that the economy was in decline during the later months of Clinton's reign as President so he gets credit for the recession. President Bush and I disagree on Immigration and abortion except for Partial Birth abortions. There has to be a line drawn somewhere. President Bush's Health Care Plan is still on a wait and see approach. The problem with health care and the Social Security problems is that not one President has had the perfect answer but President Bush is at least trying. Now there were only a couple of Democrats running for President that I would have considered but Senator Kerry was at the bottom of the list. He is the number one liberal in Washington and number one poster child on how to scare the heck out of people. Now, remember that today's Liberal is completely different than the liberal of 40 and 50 years ago. Today's Liberal does more to blame and conspires than to actually offer a plan to fix the problem. However, unlike Mr. Fugate who takes every opportunity to bash President Bush and Cheney, I'm going to show you why I will not vote for him. I got most of this information verbatim from the Internet and it's all public record. I'm sure that most of you will be surprised at his voting record and what he actually votes for or against. Unless your just to stubborn to vote your own mind.
As of February 5, 2004, Senator Kerry has missed 459 Senate votes, which equates to missing 36% of the votes. I wonder if he has reimbursed the taxpayers 36% of his salary for not doing his job? Since Senator Kerry has been campaigning for President, he has missed over two-thirds of the Senate votes. What would happen if you missed two-thirds of your work? What were some of the votes he missed up until February this year?
Partial Birth abortion - at least 6 times (although he did end up voting AGAINST the ban)
Homeland Security, Military, and Defense - at least 65 times (very anti-military!)
Education - at least 21 times (Johnny can't read! Who cares!!)
Prescription Drug - at least 40 times (Just walk it off!)
Appointment Nominations - at least 55 times (Who needs law and order? I don't need any judge!)
Procedural Motions (REQUIRED ATTENDANCE) - at least 2 times
Unsolicited E-Mail (Everyone can relate with this.)
Child Tax Credit
Military Tax Credit
Many, Many, Many more!
Let's look at some Senator Kerry's voting record for when he actually voted.
He voted "NO" on the following:
No to banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds. (It doesn't matter who is best qualified, just meet a quota)
No to amendment to prohibit flag burning.
No to deducting Social Security payments on income taxes. (No tax breaks!)
No to prohibiting same-sex marriage.
No to banning human cloning. (Not another Kerry in the making somewhere!)
No to allowing personal retirement accounts. (Let the government chose for you)
No to funding Medicare prescription drug benefit. (I thought Kerry was for making it all better?)
No to legal definition of marriage. (That tree would make a good wife!)
No to mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms. (That's just wrong, period!)
No to limiting death penalty appeals. (I like feeding and educating murderers for years and years)
No to increasing penalties for drug offenses. (No need to fight crime I suppose)
No to allow Schools voluntary prayer.
No to $75 million for abstinence education. (Lets just keep adding to the population of kids having kids)
No to school vouchers in D.C.
No to Educational Savings Accounts.
No to school vouchers. (Forces local governments using our tax dollars to fund religious and other private educational schools through cash vouchers to students)
No to requiring ethanol in gasoline. (We have to get those gas prices up!)
No to funding forest roads and fish habitat. (Those firefighters don't need and stinking roads!)
No to preserving ANWAR oil drilling. (Again, lets keep relying on the Middle East for our oil. It's been working so well!)
No to more penalties for gun & drug violations. (I only shot two people this week, which is showing gun control. Hold on, I need some rolling papers.)
No to banning more types of Congressional gifts. (I wonder what real deal is here?)
He voted "Yes" on the following:
Yes to reducing funds for road building in National Forests.
Yes to granting legal status to Nicaraguans and Cubans that have lived in the U.S. illegally since 1995. (Come on in! I didn't need that job anyway!)
Yes to include an amnesty for illegal aliens in the Senate H-1B bill. (You aliens need the money more than us!)
Co-sponsored S.1645, which would lead to amnesty for certain agricultural workers. (Same old stuff over and over again)
Co-sponsored S.1545, the Dream Act of 2003, which would grant "in-state tuition and amnesty to illegal aliens" under the age of 21. (So let me get this straight. If I have been living in the U.S. illegally for at least 5 years, have a seventh grade education, and under the age of 21, I get money from the American taxpayer for college while the American children do not? What a wonderful place be break the laws and be rewarded!)
What about the taxes?
Senator Kerry has voted Against Tax reductions and FOR Higher Taxes at least 379 times! (more money you pay!)
Voted against Spending Restrictions that would reduce the national budget by $94 billion. (more money we owe)
No to Balanced-budget Constitutional amendment. (And he complains about the money and our deficit!)
No to an amendment that would increase the amount of the budget that would be used to reduce the national debt by $75 billion over 5 years. (Complains about it but does the opposite!)
No to Bipartisan Plan To Balance Budget in seven years. (Again!)
No to Fiscally Responsible Budget that would cut spending and taxes. (Again!)
No to FY99 tax cuts. (Again!)
No to requiring super-majority for raising taxes. (Again!)
No to $792 Billion tax cuts. (Again!)
No to across-the-board spending cut. (Again!)
No to eliminating the 'marriage penalty' (Again!)
No to cutting taxes by $1.35 trillion over 11 years. (Again!)
No to $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years. (Again!)
No to a Balanced Budget amendment 5 different times. (And Again!!!)
How would Senator Kerry handle our National Defense and provide for a strong military.
Yes to CUT Defense spending by 2% (Use the old stuff!)
Yes to SLASH over $3 Billion from Defense. (We don't need to train every year!)
Yes to CUT $6 Billion from Defense. (We can always point our fingers and just yell 'BANG!')
No to Military Pay raise. (How much does it pay to protect our way of life? You'd be surprised and shamed to know on how many soldiers with families qualify for food stamps)
Yes to CUT Defense programs.
Cut the number of Navy submarines and crews.
Reduce the number of light infantry units in the Army down to one.
Reduce tactical fighter wings in the Air Force.
Terminate the Navy's coastal mine-hunting ship program.
Force the retirement of no less than 60,000 members of the Armed Forces in one year.
No to the Defend America Act of 1996. (This would specifically provide defense against any ballistic missile attack against the U.S. homeland. I guess it's not all that important to be completely safe in our homes)
Senator Kerry introduced an amendment that would SLASH defense spending by 4 billion dollars and intelligence spending by about 1 billion. Senator Inouye, a very liberal Democrat from Hawaii made the following statement on the Senate floor regarding the amendment.
The amendment offered by Senator Kerry would reduce the 1994 appropriations for national defense by about $4 billion. I believe the Members of this body should recall that Congress has already reduced DOD's budget in 1994 by more than $18 billion. Moreover, in each and every year in the past 10 years, Congress has cut the funds provided for defense. We have already cut defense spending drastically. ...
Now if I may comment on another section that reduces funding for intelligence programs, and this amendment would reduce such funding by about $1 billion. Madam President, the intelligence budget has already been cut by almost 18 percent over the past 2 years. An additional reduction of $1 billion would severely hamper the intelligence community's ability to provide decision makers and policymakers with information on matters of vital concern to this country.
These issues include nuclear proliferation by North Korea--this has been on the front pages for the past 3 or 4 months--peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia and Somalia, as well as terrorist threats against American citizens and property. ...
At a time like this, is it prudent to reduce funds for the very intelligence programs that we need to identify these targets? This amendment would do that. It would blind our pilots. Is this the time to cut the satellite programs that give our forces warning of attacks? I hope that we will keep this in mind... If we do and this amendment passes, then we are putting blindfolds over our pilots' eyes. ...
Senator Kerry later introduced another bill to SLASH the Department of Defense by 6.5 billion. (Believe or not but he couldn't find anyone to co-sponsor that bill. Not even someone from his own party!)
Yes to freeze Defense Spending for 7 years, SLASHING more than 34 billion from the defense.
No to strengthening the trade embargo against Cuba.
No to consider deploying National Missile Defense and amending ABM Treaty.
No to deploying missile defense as soon as possible. (Maybe I could just use my rifle)
Yes to closing more bases. (We can just park the tanks at home and leave the ships at sea)
No to capping foreign aid at only 12.7 billion. (That is 12.7 billion of you tax dollars going out of the U.S. And people are worried about jobs going out of the country? Kerry wants more to go out. How much is enough?)
Voted to cut or eliminate:
The B-2 Stealth Bomber (9 different times)
Missile Defense (18 different times)
Many of the items our military uses today! Night vision goggles, protective vest! Over 70 different items that keep the soldiers safe and able to combat our enemies!
So that's it. If you say your going to vote Democrat because you're a democrat or Republican because you're a Republican, then you're abusing your right to vote. Vote for Kerry if you know what he actually stands for and not what he is saying just to get elected. Vote for Bush if you believe in all he is doing or where he's leading us. Nobody's born to a political party. That's why this election, if the Democrats have nothing better than Senator Kerry or Edwards to offer, than it's President Bush in a large way. The majority of the Democrats are not as liberal as Kerry, Kennedy, or the Clintons and they need to take back the party if they want it to mean something again. So get educated on your choices and make your vote count. That goes especially for you Mr. Fugate so leave the conspiracy theories to Hollywood. See you at the polls!

Drive-in For A Good Time By Raymond L. Collins 7-14-04
I went to the drive-in this past 4th of July weekend and I still enjoy it as much as I did when I was a kid. With the sit-in theaters you get a climate-controlled environment but the atmosphere is much better at the drive-in. I grew up with the drive-in and missed the whole experience more than I realized. My parents operated two drive-ins when I was young and I was able to go just about every night while growing up. One drive-in was in Aberdeen, OH and the other was across the river in Maysville, KY. They also ran the local theater, which was one of those elaborate one-screen places.
With the world of movie complexes such as AMC and others, the drive-ins have become almost extinct. There are still over 40 operating in Ohio and I've been to 3 in the local area. If you have friends and you want to spend an enjoyable time together, I'd recommend finding a drive-in theater. You get to watch two and sometimes three movies for 6 to 8 dollars. You can bring you own food and drinks or use the concession stand. You can lie out on a blanket or lawn chairs. You don't have to worry about whispering or listening to a crying baby. You don't have to worry about the stranger sitting next to you or the tall guy sitting in front of you. If you on a date with that significant other than you can cuddle up as much as you want.
I use to work at the Jaxon Drive-in for a couple years cleaning it up each morning. I didn't make much money but I did get in for free and that was pretty cool. I spent a whole summer going with my girlfriend Patricia Marshall those days. My brother was dating her cousin Dosha so we'd go with them. My brother would take Dosha and they'd sit in the car while Patricia and I would cuddle up outside under a blanket in front of the car. I have to tell you guys that it's way, way, way better than the sit-in theaters. And Patricia, I'd like to thank you for all the wonderful memories of that time. They will always be special.
My son just took his girlfriend and another couple for their first drive-in experience and I don't think he wants to ever go any other place to watch a movie. They went in a convertible with a cooler and made sandwiches. They had a blast. He talked on and on about it the next day.
So now my wife and I are on the look for the perfect Drive-in. We're looking for one that still has some grass to sit on. Most of them now are all gravel and it's not as nice. The drive-in in Stanton, KY is still grass but I haven't been to it yet. The next time we head to Jackson for a visit, we'll make plans for a stop over to check it out. It's a shame that the Jaxon Drive-in was closed down. There's not enough for the young and teen crowd in Jackson to do so a drive-in would be a great place for them to hang out. If the leaders in Jackson want to get control of the drug problem, they need to start with finding things for the teenagers in Breathitt to do. Give them some different choices. Of course, Breathitt needs to elect officials that actually care about the problems and are not just a part of the problem. I don't even live in Breathitt and I can still tell you which elected officials deal or do drugs. Oops, need to get off my soapbox. But you know what they say, cops have the best drugs and in Breathitt they live by it.
Anyway, if you want to have a good time and create a lasting memory, then give a drive-in a try. It should be worth the trip. Here are some helpful hints to follow.
1. Clean up the car and windows. It makes a difference.
2. Make sure your FM car radio works. The movie sound is transmitted via radio. If not, then bring a portable. If you're going to sit outside, bring a portable anyway.
3. Bring a cooler with soda or water. If you're on a budget, stuff for making sandwiches or bring a fast-food meal. The wife and I like taking Donato's pizza and bread sticks with us. Don't advertise your food when entering the drive-in and leave the grill at home.
4. Paper towels and baby wipes. Accidents happen.
5. Blankets and pillows. Just trust me on this one.
6. Folding chairs or lounge chairs. Get comfortable. If you have a truck, back it in and sit in the back.
7. Anything that makes you happy. Remember it's not just a movie. It's a drive-in so just enjoy the moment and your company.
8. If you're going to hide in the trunk to forgo paying for your ticket, make sure you go with friends that will let you out once you're in. Its only funny if you're on the outside.
Keep it safe and have some fun!
Best quote I heard today: If God didn't want me to sleep with strangers, he wouldn't have put holes in them.

The Female Warrior By Raymond L. Collins 6-22-04
Here's the scenario. You run a company and have 28,000 employees. Over the summer you lose 280 employees without trained replacements. Some of those lost jobs were highly critical to achieving your goals. What do you do? The remaining employees have to do more with less. They have to pick up the burden left from those employees that are no longer available. Now put those lost employees in the war zone and its significance is amplified many times greater. That's exactly what is going on today and although I support females in greater roles within the military, some precautions have to be taken.
According to a presidential commission in 1992, pregnancy was a main reason why the rate of non-deployable female troops was three times higher than for men during the 1990-91 Persian Gulf conflict. This year alone almost a thousand women have left the Army service due to pregnancies. During the 1991 Persian Gulf war, the press branded the destroyer tender USS Acadia the "Love Boat" after 10 percent of the women aboard became pregnant while deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm. In 2003, British forces in southern Iraq sent home 82 women after discovering they were pregnant. Among some 2,000 female members of Task Force Ironhorse, a group of 33,000 soldiers anchored by the 4th Infantry Division, almost 20 pregnancies have been reported, according to Lt. Col. William MacDonald. That's a conservative 1% of the female troops within the unit; however, those numbers could be much higher but the military branches don't release the number of female troops removed from a war zone due to pregnancies.
In Operation Iraqi Freedom, women served in more combat roles in aircraft and ships than in any U.S. operation and although they are banned from ground combat, find themselves as members of supply convoys and military police units that experience firefights. Female troops totaled over 25,000 in a 269,000-troop invasion force in Iraq and currently number over 28,000. If only 1% of that force was to get pregnant, than 280 skilled assets would be lost and their jobs would be loaded onto those that remained behind. Now think about the hardships caused by the loss of personal if the percentage was greater as it was on the USS Acadia at 10 percent. During fiscal 2002, statistics show that the Navy reassigned to shore duty 2,159 pregnant women, or 12.3 percent of 17,543 enlisted women on ships. Does anyone see a problem here?
Now, I have a solution. We have a great need for our trained warriors to be functional and ready to participate in our countries needs. So what is wrong with birth control? Is it wrong to require women that are needed to deploy to areas around the world to be placed on birth control? I know that there are many kinds available including those that are placed under the skin. I also know that a lot of you would blame the men for being just as responsible and I agree. If there was a safe drug to prevent men from being able to impregnate women while deployed, you'd have my vote; However, there is another reason that is not something that we like to think about. Women that are captured usually have to suffer through rape. There's always going to be that possibility as women take on greater roles as a war fighter. It has happened and will happen again.
How hard would that be to live with and get pregnant?
The problem has to be addressed and women's right or not, the military has to be able to do its job and be able to trust the trained men and women will be there when called upon. The lives of those we protect are at stake as well as the military members that serve around the world. What should be done I ask you. Ask yourselves and be honest with your answer.

The Tortured Use Of The Word Torture By Raymond L. Collins 6-16-04
What an ugly terrible word. Torture. When you hear it you imagine scenes such as bamboos under the fingernails, burning with pokers or cigars, electrical shock to the regions (we'd never like to experience), medical experiments, or just the good old fashion beatings. Those who use those types of torture usually are not looking for any real information but only compliance or just for the fun of it. Information using those types of methods can't be assumed reliable.
So when I hear Senators Kennedy or Biden using the word torture to describe any discomfort of the enemy, I have to choke back the frustration of knowing that it's all politically motivated. The police have always used fatigue as a technique when questioning suspects. Why do you think they have you in a small room with questions and allegations being thrown at you for hours at a time? What about having a hood placed over a head? Is it torture or a way to keep a suspected terrorist confused and intimidated. If it were a plastic bag I'd understand the problem but that's just not the case. What about using dogs? Hey, if a big snarling dog puts the fear of God into them then use it often. If it prevents the terrorists from taking any lives, American or Muslim, then it needs to be done. We are not talking torture here. We are talking about aggressive interrogation to get information to save lives. Perhaps your life or your loved ones life. Are you willing to take the risk of not getting answers?
There will always be some who should not be allowed to interrogate prisoners. It is those that enjoy the power or sadistic side of interrogation. That is where I find fault in the problems we see today. The military leaders did not properly maintain a close relationship with the treatment of the suspected terrorist. Had there been a better overview of the way the prisoners were treated by their handlers, much of the problems we find ourselves having to answer for could have been adverted. Almost all the problems have come from not the interrogation but the abuse by the guards. Those individuals need to be punished. If closer oversight had been utilized by senior military and civilian personal then those who caused the problems would have been weeded out before the abuse. It seemed to be a case of blind justice. If they didn't see it going on then it never happened. Well, that didn't seem to work. There are pictures of that stupidity all over the Internet.
So now we see any type of interrogation described as excessive or abuse. Don't believe the hype. It's just a case of some in Washington looking to make a name or (as in most cases) those looking to bash the Bush administration regardless of the truth. You can't stop the terrorists by giving them cable television, cookies and bingo games on Saturday when they are in our custody. Those that chose to take a life or help others take a life need to be questioned and the methods used to get information should not be sugar coated. If there are those that believe otherwise then let them carry the coffins of those killed by terrorist. Let them explain to the victims' families what is being done. Let them explain to the victims' families why we should treat their loved ones murders with gentle kindness instead of firm resolve and effective interrogation. It's time to put it all in the proper context. If any of the allied forces behave other than our core values dictate, then they should and will be punished. Don't let those acts steer us from our object. To get the truth and protect our way of life.

Good O' boys By Raymond L. Collins 6-13-04
Well, some things change and then again some never do. I will always consider Breathitt my home even though I have lived in different areas of the world. I miss the days playing basketball until it was too dark. Sitting with my friend John Hays on his front porch and just talking about whatever. Walking 3 miles to town to swim at the city pool. Throwing eggs on Halloween. There are a lot of good memories there. I guess the one thing I don't miss is the good o' boy network. Where you can circumvent the system by calling up your buddy and getting a favor. That doesn't seem to have changed a bit. In 1982 or so, I remember being pull aside by the Jackson City police and escorted to Mayor Noble and who tried to scare me because I called someone a name. I also remember him turning a beet red when I informed him that under the same circumstances, I'd do it again. He didn't say another word as I turned and left. I'll always cherish that stupid look he had at that moment. The point is, I was pulled aside by police officers and pulled in front of the Mayor because someone made a phone call to a buddy. That was and is apparently is still the practice.
My stepdaughters' welfare father has determined that he would like to kidnap his granddaughter using that same good o' boy network. Accentually, he had an officer of the courts, behind his daughters back, try and give him custody of her granddaughter while she was visiting for a few weeks. Without any justification or foundation, he was able to get some type of order from the Breathitt County courts that would give him his daughter's baby. Well, step back and look at this for a minute. The courts in Breathitt county want to give a young baby to a person who has had drug charges and is committing welfare fraud and take it from it's mother who is going to college and working to help support herself.
I tried to understand it all. How the father and ex-stepmother could alienate their child and grandchild. I know they don't accept their daughter's choice of a relationship. But, I believe I know what it is now. It comes down to just over 140 dollars and benefits. They have become so integrated into the system that it's not the "baby's welfare" but the "states welfare" they are more interested in. That few extras dollars and benefits they would be entitled to. He's been trying to get his daughter to sign over custody of her daughter since the day she was born because he told her that she (the baby) would be entitled his social security if she did. So, when she tried to get her baby from her father after the visit, he "physically" refused her. So, my stepdaughter had to endure physical and mental abuse as her baby watched. Finally, she had to have the state troopers remove the baby from her fathers' house. Think about that for a second. The Kentucky state troopers had to rescue the baby from its own grandfather. And you think it's only on television you'd see something as sinister as that. Even as the state trooper was there to save the baby from this crazy atmosphere, her father reached and begged of the good o' boy system. He actually called his buddy (who is part of the Breathitt court system) at home and had the state trooper talk with him. Luckily, the state trooper did his job and was able to help my stepdaughter and her baby to a safe-place. To his credit, the state trooper didn't even relent after her father gave some deer meat to the trooper. He got some free meat and justice was still done.
Here's my point. There is a system in Breathitt to protect a baby and her mother and it's not suppose to be used like someone's personal law office. How much more deer meat has her father had to give out. The voters in Breathitt need to make sure the people they elect will be there for them and follow the laws of the state as they were intended. You may be a buddy but there is always someone a little closer. What are you willing to lose? Her father is still trying to get the baby and the system, as it is in Breathitt, is still helping him. The good o' boys are still rubbing each others' butts and telling each other what they need to do and who they need to call to get help from the other good o' boys in the network while trying to remember if they have a secret handshake or not. Still, it's all good. He went to Tennessee trying to find her and kidnap the baby at your taxpayer's expense with the help of the court system and organizations at his disposal. She's not there. She lives with me and is a resident of the state of Ohio and they know as long as she is a resident of the state of Ohio that it takes more than just a phone call to a buddy and false charges to kidnap a child. I gave the stepmother my address and invited them to come and try to play their games here. We'd have some papers of our own for them. Evidently, they didn't believe. They wasted hours on their drive here to find out I don't joke... sometimes. We had them served with protection orders. And with today's gas prices that must have been an expensive dip into that welfare fund the taxes payers are giving them.
I'm happy to report that baby and mother are doing well and mother is looking on getting back into school and work as soon as possible. Yes, her dad is still using the courts in Breathitt to try and get them back to Kentucky so him and his ex-step wife's buddies can circumvent the system but it won't work. As the officer said when we gave him the papers to serve him, there is a system in the state of Ohio that everyone must follow. I guess the good o' boys haven't learned that yet.

A Little Prospective By Raymond L. Collins 5-14-04
I tried to put it into prospective but I just couldn't. I looked at the pictures from Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison and read of the abuses that went on and I'll be the first to agree that those involved should be punished for their crimes. You cannot brutalize the people in your control. It's morally wrong and it's against the basic core values that we abide by in the military. There isn't any type of special training required to know what NOT to do! However, even though I condemn what happened at Abu Ghraib prison, I cannot even put that situation on the same level as the events surrounding American Nick Berg. Not even in the same breath. What happened at the prison was brought on by stupidity and an apparent lack of leadership, but what happened to Mr. Berg was cruel, cold-blooded, evil.
A hooded Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, with four hooded brainless cowards by his side, spouted his fanatical rhetoric as he read from couple pieces of paper. Mr. Berg sat in front of the group with his hands and feet bound facing the camera. After about five minutes, Zarqawi pulled out a large knife, forced Mr. Berg onto his side, and began cutting his off head. It was 30 seconds of pure evil as Nick Berg was helpless to stop what was happening as the four hooded cowards held him down and chanted "God is great" in Arabic. All the young American Berg could do was scream.
Nicholas Berg traveled to Iraq in December with hardly anything but a desire to find work repairing transmission towers. He knew it was a hazardous opportunity but he hoped to find the chances available to individual contractors willing to brave the war-torn area. During his time spent searching for a job, he had been robbed, detained twice, and held by the Iraqi police for almost two weeks. He disappeared April 10th, 2004. His body was to be found hanging from a highway overpass. His head was missing.
The son of a wealthy Jordanian landowner, Zarqawi, married and a father of four, never finished school but was passionate about the Quran. He began his terrorist training in Afghanistan in the late 1980s by joining the mujahedeen against Soviet troops. A young leader, he shares the goals and the religious fanaticisms of Osama bin Laden, but controls a separate terror organization, al-Tawhid, or Unity. Zarqawi lost his leg as a result of U.S. bombings of terror camps in Afghanistan in 2002 and at the age of 37, is becoming a leading terrorist figure against the United States. I would put him as number two, right behind Osama. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's claim that the murder of Nicholas Berg was in retaliation for the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners is a cruel ruse. They killed him simply from the same mad reasons that their Al Qaeda cohorts used to slaughter thousands on Sept. 11, 2001.
You should be outraged. You should want something done. The soldiers and contractors guilty of abuses should be and are in the process of being punished for the acts against the Iraqis detained at the prison. What should be done is being done. What of Nick Berg? Where are the true feelings of outrage there? All I keep hearing from the majority of the democrats is "what of the abuse of the prisoners?" "It's the worst thing I ever had to witness!" I know it's an election year and the war has become politicized, but it has gone to far. If they want to see abuse, then I have a 5-minute and 37 second video they need to watch. Actually, all they need to do is close their eyes and just listen to the last 45 seconds of the video. They'll quickly understand the reason why you have to hunt down evil and stamp it out. If anyone believes we should turn a blind eye to the rest of the world and ignore the true nature of brutality out there, it just shows that even ignorance can fester here. We did that before and all it did was invite the evil onto our front door. Now it's time to knock on their door.
As I always say, get the entire story and get involved. Don't let headlines be your guide. If you believe the opposite of anything I say, then you have that right. Just make sure you believe in something because you know the whole story, not just because it was something you heard on the news or you hate a particular political party.
One more thing before I end. In an article from the London Times dated 13 May 2004, it reported the Vatican as saying that the "self-inflicted" scandal over abuse of prisoners in Iraq was "a more serious blow to the United States" than the September 11 attacks. Can't we get a little proper perspective folks?

A Double Standard By Raymond L. Collins 5-13-04
I suppose that most of the U.S. population has been swamped with pictures, stories, and theories about the abuse and mistreatment of Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison. Now I'm going to throw in my two cents worth. I agree much that has been released to the public has been beyond acceptable. This situation will make authentic interrogation of suspects that much harder with all the new eyes looking over the interrogators shoulders. Second-guessing everything that is done in the quest for information. While there is a line you just don't cross, I firmly believe that you have to use aggressive interrogation in many cases. Most of the situations are time sensitive and when lives are at stake, you cannot get the answers needed by handing out flowers and candy and worrying about the difference in cultures. A good interrogator would use the knowledge of the enemy's culture to find weaknesses to use against them. Sweet-talking may help at times but you have to break down the individual first. You just have to do it by the rules. Now everyone ever detained will be claiming abuse.
So, punish those that crossed the line and those that looked the other way. There is a right from wrong and inside ourselves we know where it lies. No one needs to have it written down to know that what was happening was a mistake. Make an example of the soldiers and contractors involved and let us move on.
However, as I read the stories and watch the news of events involving the detainees at Abu Ghraib, I was amazed at the apparent double standard towards the treatment of persons held captive by the U.S., its allies and the Arabic countries and organizations we are fighting. We are shocked and horrified by scenes of dismembered soldiers and civilians dragged through crowds and hung like banners from bridges, but does anyone get punished for those crimes? We are prosecuting the individuals involved in the humiliation of Iraqi detainees but to many times I don't see the Arabic world stopping their own atrocities from being committed or punishing those involved. Why do many in the world seem to tolerate those atrocities while at the same time outraged about the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison? There has been rape of soldiers by the enemy. There has been torture and abuses by the enemy. There has been humiliation of individuals by the enemy. Just this week, a communications contractor, Nicholas Berg of West Chester, Pa., was beheaded and the video shown on an Islamite Web site with associations to Al Qaeda. Does anyone believe justice for Mr. Berg will happen anytime soon or any convincing outcries in the Arabic world.
While I believe that most of the people in the Middle East are hard working and just want to get on with there lives, there are still to many that have a free hand within their communities to commit grievous acts and crimes against the coalition forces and even their own people. Whether it's claimed as a tribal function, religious act, patriotism, or a terrorist act, to many times it is accepted as a normal occurrence in the daily lives of the populace. Even the U.S. and other western countries seemingly close their eyes to horrific crimes as not to offend Middle Eastern leaders. I like the fact that we as a nation are willing to go out and get justice; I just don't want us to make any compromises. If these terrorists are willing to die for their beliefs, I have no problem helping them along. The sooner the better so the rest of the world can sit back, relax with their families, and have a barbecue and a nap.

The Right Reason By Raymond L. Collins 5-3-04
Well, it's been over a year since we invaded Iraq. What has that year brought us? In February, as reported by the Washington Post March 22nd 2004, the Oxford Research International released a poll for ABC News, the BBC, Japan's NHK and Germany's ARD that showed that the majority of Iraq's are upbeat. The poll showed that 70 percent to 29 percent described their lives as going well. There were 57 percent that believed their life was better than before the war compared to the 19 percent that believed it to be worse. I wonder of that 19 percent, how many belonged to the former Iraqi regime? The loss of unbridled power over your fellow man can be a letdown I suppose. A vast 72 percent polled wanted a democracy with 67 percent desiring a strong leader to go with it. I suppose it's much easier to report or dwell on the few things that go wrong instead of what's been good. You have to wonder what you being force-fed in the majority of the liberal news and why.
Let's look at the people that blame the U.S. for the death of civilians. What are they basing their ramblings on anyway? In the same Washington Post report, Sayyed Farqat al Qizwini, while in Washington, was asked by reporters if the Iraqi people had been better off before the war. 'No,' he reportedly responded with a wave of his hand. When pressed, his reply was as follows; 'You don't know how many he used to kill every day'. During the 1991 uprising in Babel, 'Saddam Hussein's tanks were unable to move on the streets due to the mass of flesh and bones of the people.'
I've seen tanks roll over cars without slowing down, so you can imagine the number of bodies that were strayed throughout the city. If you haven't seen pictures of those killed during that and other events, I suggest you get on the Internet. I don't have the words myself. Look at the history and path of Iraq over the last 30 years and the life those people were forced to live. Any loss of an innocent civilian is tragic. When you fight against an evil that doesn't care who gets hurt, puts weapons in and around civilian homes businesses, hospitals, temples, and schools, it's nearly impossible to ensure complete safety for everyone. You just have to hope and pray for the best and that it will end soon.
What type of weapons was used in Babel on those men, women, and children? Could it have been Weapons of Mass Destruction? So we know they had them, we know they wanted more, and we know they were after the ultimate weapon. Don't believe that WMDs have not been found. A treasure trove of chemicals in mass quantities has been located but that has not been reported widely. Saddam had many years to hide and move all that he had developed. Do you think that countries such as Syria would turn over any of Saddams' WMD's? It's very likely they have some if not most of what was produced. However, when our troops find tons of chemicals in bunkers that are covered and painted with camouflage or buried 6 feet deep, what do you think the purpose of those chemicals could have been? Why doesn't the mainstream news report it? Alone each chemical may be, for the most part, harmless, but when mixed become nerve agents, blister agents and toxic gases. Did you believe we'd find barrels labeled nerve agents nicely stacked in warehouses with signs proclaiming chemical factory? The weapons are there, you just have to read all the signs and pull your head out of the sand. It should not be made a political agenda and the truth that the chemicals are there and were available should be told.
Take, for example, the details of the plot to explode trucks in Jordan this past month. The trucks were to crash through the gates with special battering rams and rigged with approximately 20 tons of explosives. The explosion would have helped disperse a toxic cloud of chemicals to include nerve and blister agents. The targets were to be the U.S. Embassy, the Jordan Prime Minister's office, and the national intelligence headquarters. The number of possible dead was estimated to be about 80 thousand people. Most of which would have been innocent civilians comprised of men, women, and children. I wonder were those chemicals came from?
Aside from the obvious weapons, do you think its not our concern when mass graves are filled, rape rooms are operated, and mutilations, murders, and tortures are committed daily? If that's your belief, perhaps you need to go to church more than you have lately. It's all of our responsibility to protect our fellow beings whether it's in the U.S. or outside. I would go to Iraq for that reason alone. I'm not asking you to go, that's why it's a volunteer military.
So, where has the battle against terrorism taken place since 9/11? We've taken it to their front door and that's where we plan on keeping it. So, please go shopping, dancing, or just out for a walk and don't worry about the next possible attack here in the United States. We, as soldiers, know where the battle should be fought.
Find out what's really going on in Iraq and whom we are fighting there. Get in the know about the positives and not just the problems. Read it all and learn the truth. You have that freedom and now so do the Iraqi people. Isn't that amazing?

Battle Buddies By Raymond L. Collins 4-26-04
Just a bit about myself before I get started. I graduated from Breathitt High in 1983 and followed that with a year in college. I moved to Virginia Beach where I started a family prior to joining the Air Force in 1986. While in the service, I've spent time in Japan, South Korea, and England as well as Maryland, Florida, Texas, and Ohio. I still live in Middletown, Ohio and work at Wright-Patterson AFB for the National Air & Space Intelligence Center. My wife Charlotte is from Jackson although I actually met her while I was stationed in Florida. It's truly a small world. I have been serving in the military proudly for 18 years and I just reenlisted for a couple more. While I know it's not something for everyone, it has been a personal choice to serve in the military. This leads me to one of my personal pet peeves. The celebrated "weekend warrior". The one weekend a month, two weeks a year, battle ready soldier. Don't get me wrong; I know that most of the men and women that serve in the guard or reserves are helping win the battle against terrorism. Like in most cases though, it's those few spoilers that seem to get all the media attention that ruin it for the rest of my dedicated brethren.
I have a few questions to those complaining about being deployed away from their families. Did you get paid? During all that time you were playing warrior on the weekends, did you get paid? Did you spend any of the weekend warrior money? Did you reenlist at any point? Did you receive any bonuses? Did you receive training? Did you get any benefits from the government for being a weekend warrior such as education or medical? Most important, did you lift you right hand and swear an oath? I believe that oath was a personal choice and a commitment. It took away your right to complain about doing a job you continued to get paid for.
So now it's a different story and you have to earn your benefits, use your training, and follow through on your oath. You are now my fellow full-time warrior buddy! Glad to have you aboard! I do feel for you my friends because I had to spend a whole year without seeing my family. Even now I could be sent to the Middle East for however long it takes, but that is why I get paid. So, stop the complaining, do yourself, your family, and you country proud and take the fight to those that need it!
Lastly, for the families that are doing without your spouses as they are fighting the terror groups and their misguided followers. Support your soldier without question and hope that they all return to your arms. Look at your children and know that battles are being fought today in hope that your children don't have to fight them tomorrow. There is evil in this world and it needs to be confronted no matter where it's practiced. The days of sanctioned rape, torture, and killings by dictators and religious fanatics has to come to an end. Perhaps I'm just to optimistic that everyone would want such debauchery to end; however, I just don't think just using the magic word please works on evil. I know a big stick upside the head helps.

Just The Facts Please by Raymond Collins 4-21-04
It must be really amazing knowing when to take advantage of a situation. You know, that moment when you see something and you just smile to yourself knowing you have a winning opportunity. What makes it a sure thing is when you don't care what is the truth or half-truth but what you can say that somebody would want to hear. Finding that proverbial soapbox and yelling out loudly views just to draw a crowd. It doesn't matter if what you saying is fact or fiction, just that it's dealing with a hot topic and you can sound convincing enough. It's an easy way to make a dollar I suppose.
This brings me to Bob Woodward. There was a point when I was a fan of his work but that ship has sailed regrettably. I will always support creativity and truth but you can't have creativity without truth when you state, "these are the facts". In his new book, "Plan of Attack", Mr. Woodward makes plenty of statements of he said this or she said that and he convinces the reader that this must be true. Why not, he did interview all those officials and isn't it easy to record what was said and just type it up? Maybe it's just me and I live in a fantasyland. It's as simple as this. If I interview people, write a book on what those people said, then those people say I was wrong in what I wrote, well, then I play the tape showing what I was wrote was in fact the truth! At least show a document I based a fact on. Simple enough, right?
Lets take the hot topic from his book that is in the news and we as everyday people understand. Gas prices are to high. Mr. Woodward stated that the Saudi Prince Bandar made a promise that they would lower the oil prices by Election Day. Well, where is the proof that was actually said? Where did Mr. Woodward get that amazing bit of news? The Saudi government has said it never made such a promise. The White House has stated no such pledge was made. And as far as I can tell, Mr. Woodward has offered no proof that such an event occurred other than words in a book. A book he wrote. I think I know where he pulled that bit of information out of but I'll be polite enough not to say so here.
John Kerry made the statement, "If, as Bob Woodward reports, it is true that gas supplies and prices in America are tied to the American election, then tied to a secret White House deal, that is outrageous and unacceptable to the American people". What does it say about Kerry when he has to use someone else's words to fall back on? I hope you noticed what the first word that came out of his mouth. I'll give you a hint, if. If, Mr. Woodward had something true to say, he'd have the means to back it up. Instead, when asked about the statements he wrote about the gas price fixing, he couldn't say exactly when Prince Bandar made his pledge, and wouldn't use the word "deal." But he stands by his story.
Anyway, the book is riddled with alleged statements and facts but not one shred of proof to back any of it up. I wouldn't say that all is wrong with Mr. Woodward's book. It's very well written and convincing in the material. It should be available at your local library in the fantasy section very soon.