Thanks, Mr. President
Most here will not remember the Mayaguez incident, or how proud Gerald Ford made all patriotic Americans one day, but I do, and some of you will too. Today is a good time to recall how quick and decisive President Ford acted when confronted with piracy and kidknapping on the high seas, and thank him for his extraordinary presence of mind and courage for taking care of his own. It is also a good time to give a moment of your time to remembering those who gave their lives or suffered wounds in this event, and thank all who participated.
http://www.afa.org/magazine/valor/0991valor.asp
http://www.afa.org/magazine/valor/0991valor.asp
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Wow! 0 -
quote:thank him for his extraordinary presence of mind and courage for taking care of his own
Yeah - I remember how he took care of Nixon. That's why Jimmy Carter was elected - perhaps the worst President ever elected to the office. He was probably the first President since Taft who demonstrated it was OK for the highest politician - The President of The United States - to get a free pass if he got caught doing anything wrong - such as committing a string of felonies!
America was not on the verge of collapse over that - that's just a bunch of liberal press hype!It was just a big example of CYA - or in this case cover your buddy's azz.
Ford certainly did take care of his own (his old political buddy) and left most Americans furious - both Democrats and Republicans ... and charted the way for 12 years of Clinton - who by the way - passed out a record number (by far) of Presidential Pardons at the end of each of his terms.
... and we ask why only 35/40% of Americans even bother to vote anymore!??[:o)][:o)][:o)][:o)][:o)]
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quote:Wholesale_Tool:
I blame it on the educators.
I blame it the 'Twinkie Defense' - why not, especially after OJ and MJ.
... makes perfect sense to me![:o)][:o)][:o)]0 -
I remember and as a life-long, Democrat, President Ford came through on that one!
I remember I was fresh out of college (1976) starting a new career and all by myself in a motel in a new town, I was listening to Ford debate Carter and he looked at the camera and said something like, "the Eastern Bloc is not under Soviet domination!" I thought, "Oh my gosh I cannot beleive he just said that!" I do not remember Carter but he must have been smiling from ear to ear!
I voted for Carter that year but have always regretted it. That is the one I would like to do over. I did not vote for Carter in 1980 but did vote for Anderson.0 -
You're going to pass some day Zip. Just think of those in attendance who will be listening to what they consider a complete line of BS that someone says about you. 0 -
[kimi:
You're going to pass some day Zip. Just think of those in attendance who will be listening to what they consider a complete line of BS that someone says about you./quote]
[:D][:D][:D]LOLOL[:D][:D][:D] ... OK ... good point!
LORDY, LORDY!!! I HAVE SEEN THE ERROR OF MY WAYS!
Please FORGIVE ME - I HAVE ERRED - I HAVE SINNED!
Let me speak to a few other folks who have passed - and I AM SORRY to let
facts get in my way - I should speak only good of the dead!
Adolph Hitler was a very fine man. He didn't really mean to be responsible for the
deaths of 22 million Russians and 40+ million total in WWII! He had two very nice
German Shepherds (one of which he tested his poison on before he committed suicide)
and he LOVED CHILDREN![:D][:D][:D]
Poor Joe Stalin - when he murdered and starved those 15 million Ukrainians in the
1930's he was just slightly misunderstood - he was such a nice man!!!.
... and lets not forget Mao - most folks don't know how really nice he was to animals.
As for Saddam (he was unjustly accused of being the world's worst still living mass murderer and Pol Pot - they was framed, too.
Now ... when I die I hope nobody accuses ME of being full of BS ... I'm covering all the bases and not letting facts get into the way.
... and Jeffery Dalmer ... he was just hungry![:o)][:o)][:o)]
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Got enough money, but thanks anyway ZIP.
[:o)][:o)][:o)]0 -
quote:Originally posted by mateomasfeo
Got enough money, but thanks anyway ZIP.
[:o)][:o)][:o)]
[8D]0 -
When Ford gave Nixon the pardon, he was vilified by the press.
A few years later, when he was running against Carter, the media was still criticizing Ford for giving Nixon the pardon.
The pardon was the main reason Ford lost the election.
Today, the media has spent a week talking about what a genius Ford was for pardoning Nixon. In some cases, the same reporters who criticized Ford thirty years ago are now calling him a genius.
What a bunch of flakes!
Wrong is wrong, and Ford was wrong to give Nixon that pardon.0 -
History has judged Ford and found the pardon was the easy way out for the country. Nixon was even somewhat rehabilitated before his death. Ford doesn't get many accolades for his term, but he didn't screw up much either. He gets a pass. 0 -
I disagree ... but who cares.[:D][:D][:D] 0 -
I have a nice letter from President Ford regarding the Incident. One of my few treasures. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by kimi
Most here will not remember the Mayaguez incident, or how proud Gerald Ford made all patriotic Americans one day, but I do, and some of you will too. Today is a good time to recall how quick and decisive President Ford acted when confronted with piracy and kidknapping on the high seas, and thank him for his extraordinary presence of mind and courage for taking care of his own. It is also a good time to give a moment of your time to remembering those who gave their lives or suffered wounds in this event, and thank all who participated.
http://www.afa.org/magazine/valor/0991valor.asp
While Ford may have made the right decision, much like Operation Eagle Claw was for the Carter Administration, the assault on Koh Tang island was a tactical and military disaster for the United States. The assault on Koh Tang cost the lives of 44 American servicemen, the Khmer Rouge lost 60 men, and their main objective was not acheived. The crew of the Mayaguez was released before the battle even took place. And the worst part of all was that a machine gun squad of three Marines was left behind on the island due to a miscommunication. They were subsequently captured by the Khmer Rouge and brutally executed.
Not that any of that is Gerald Ford's fault. I believe that a military response to the capture of the Mayaguez was quite appropriate, just like Carter's decision to attempt a military rescue of the hostages in Iran was the correct decision, but due to bad luck and a lack of intel about the heavily-fortified Khmer Rouge force on the island, the attack on Koh Tang island turned out to be a blunder.0 -
Woofer: Now that you've "dwelled" mostly on the negative side of things regarding this issue, why don't you baffle us with your brilliance again on what good "might" have come from it. That is, if your id will allow any good at all, in addition to the little that you have noted, of course.
Comparing a successful mission to one that met with "only" disaster is not what one would call an appropriate analogy, unless "intent" is the sole identifier. Carter's intentions were good, but his plan was weak and shortsighted.0 -
quote:Originally posted by warriorsfan
quote:Originally posted by kimi
Most here will not remember the Mayaguez incident, or how proud Gerald Ford made all patriotic Americans one day, but I do, and some of you will too. Today is a good time to recall how quick and decisive President Ford acted when confronted with piracy and kidknapping on the high seas, and thank him for his extraordinary presence of mind and courage for taking care of his own. It is also a good time to give a moment of your time to remembering those who gave their lives or suffered wounds in this event, and thank all who participated.
http://www.afa.org/magazine/valor/0991valor.asp
While Ford may have made the right decision, much like Operation Eagle Claw was for the Carter Administration, the assault on Koh Tang island was a tactical and military disaster for the United States. The assault on Koh Tang cost the lives of 44 American servicemen, the Khmer Rouge lost 60 men, and their main objective was not acheived. The crew of the Mayaguez was released before the battle even took place. And the worst part of all was that a machine gun squad of three Marines was left behind on the island due to a miscommunication. They were subsequently captured by the Khmer Rouge and brutally executed.
Not that any of that is Gerald Ford's fault. I believe that a military response to the capture of the Mayaguez was quite appropriate, just like Carter's decision to attempt a military rescue of the hostages in Iran was the correct decision, but due to bad luck and a lack of intel about the heavily-fortified Khmer Rouge force on the island, the attack on Koh Tang island turned out to be a blunder.
You are both exactly correct. Good men died needlessly while doing the Right Thing! A classic irony.[:(]0 -
quote:Originally posted by kimi
Woofer: Now that you've "dwelled" mostly on the negative side of things regarding this issue, why don't you baffle us with your brilliance again on what good "might" have come from it. That is, if your id will allow any good at all, in addition to the little that you have noted, of course.
Comparing a successful mission to one that met with "only" disaster is not what one would call an appropriate analogy, unless "intent" is the sole identifier. Carter's intentions were good, but his plan was weak and shortsighted.
What the hell are you talking about? It was not a "successful" mission. Unbeknownst to the Marines, the Khmer Rouge had heavily-fortified the island because of a territorial dispute with the Vietnamese. As a result, the helicopters ferrying Marines to the island were eaten up by Khmer Rouge machine gun fire, 3 were shot down and several more damaged to the point where they could no longer participate in the mission. The mission was doomed from the start due to a lack of accurate intelligence about the strength of the Khmer Rouge force on the island.
And I already said in my original post that Ford made the right decision, even if it did turn out bad. Several good things came from it, the Marines recovered the empty Mayaguez container ship and Ford "drew the line in the sand" so to speak. No one dared seize an American civilian ship after that. So some good did come out of it because it discouraged further attacks at sea. And since you enjoy making fun of other people's usernames, I should point out that "kimi" is a girl's name.0 -
woofie! This is what I'm talking about, true story too:
Comparing a successful mission to one that met with "only" disaster is not what one would call an appropriate analogy, unless "intent" is the sole identifier. Carter's intentions were good, but his plan was weak and shortsighted.
Also, woof, you're right Kimi is a girl's name. Who said you were stupid, anyway?0
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