BIRDS OR BULLETS

Hipshots
Col. Miles

BIRDS OR BULLETS - San Antonians, including Mayor Hardberger, are taking a close look at Camp Bullis following reports that an endangered migatory bird could close Bullis and Fort Sam Houston.

The golden-checked warbler shows up at Bullis around spring time and heads south in the winter. As subdivisions and other businesses continue to build around Bullis the warblers are forced to seek refuge on the 27,994 acre reservation. Their presence as endangered birds interferes with the military training missons at Bullis.

In the event a compromise can't be worked out the military could decide to move the missions at Bullis to other military locations and force the base to be closed. Such a move could also threaten Fort Sam and Brooks Army medical Center by the base closure commission.

Hardberger has made it clear that he doesn't think a bird should close the base. He said, "I don't think a bird is the problem, here. The problem is encroaching development." Maybe, but the overall outcome is the same. A bird could close a much needed military base during a time of war. Just another way for the "endangered species" and anti-war, anti-military crowd to stick it to the military. This mindset shows just how far the country has sunk into the gutter since WWII.

Had this happened during WWII the endangered species wackos would have been rounded up and sent to prison. Sure, I like birds but aside from bird poop and eating a few insects what have they contributed to keeping America free compared to the military.

Camp Bullis has been around since 1917 when it was established to train troops for the upcoming WWI in Europe. Named after BG John Bullis, who as a lieutenant led the Seminole-Negro scouts during the Indian Wars, Camp Bullis continued to train troops through WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm One and the ongoing Iraq/Afghanistan War.

In 1977 the US Air Force established a training site called Victor Base to train securiy police. In 1996 Camp Bullis began creating more usable training areas for Army National Guard mechanized units, expand airflields, and setup training facilities for Fort Sam medical units. Marine units have since used the air strips for landing operations. Camp Bullis also boasts a well staffed hospital clinic that provides treatment to, not only active duty personnel, but military retirees and their dependents as well.

Hardberger and other politicians, military mission aside, realize the financial impact of losing Bullis and possibly Fort Sam would have on the economy. You can bet when politicians have a choice between dollars and birds our feathered friends are going to come out second best.

For the rest of us who believe in our military and winning the war on terror and a choice between bullets and birds the birds have to go. Let mother nature decide their fate. Defending the nation is more important.

DRILL NOW PAY LESS - San Antonians and the rest of the nation are still in a state of shock over rising gasoline prices. With a gallon of regular gasoline over $4.00 at the pumps folks are turning to smaller cars, motorcycles and motor scooters, car pools and mass transit. They are also begining to ask how we got into this fix in the first place.

The new Toyota plant just announced a lay off of 200 part-time employees as oil prices affect production of gas guzzeling pickups. Another wakeup call for the Alamo City. Rising food costs and higher utility bills are adding to the growing unrest.

The politicians answer to the oil crisis is to raise taxes on the oil companies and harass them before congressional committees. Leading the charge is Sen. Dick Durbin, D-ILL., who wants to pass a windfalls profit tax. Durbin, who compared US troops at GITMO to Nazi SS troops, wants to punish big oil for operating at a 4 percent profit while the federal government makes 15 percent on every gallon of gasoline sold.

The problem is not the big oil companies - the problem is the US Congress and politicians like Sen. Durbin who have placed oil and natural gas resources beneath federal lands and coastal waters off limits to development.

The American people are begining to see this and according to recent polls the percentage of voters blaming oil companies for rising gasoline prices has dropped from 34 percent to 20 percent over the last year. Support for more drilling in the US and off shore has increased to 57 percent from 41 percent.

America has plenty of oil in places like ANWAR Alaska and the Bakken fields beneath North Dakota and Montana. These oil fields hold an estimated 400 billion barrels of oil. In comparison, Saudi Arabia's biggest field, Gahawar, has an estimated 55 billon barrels. There is another 95 billion barrels offshore. Most is off limits thanks to Congress and envirnomental wackos.

No new refineries have been built in the US since 1976 again thanks to Congress and envirnomentalists who want to take America back to the stone age.

Don't expect much help from Obama and McCain. McCain is opposed to drilling in ANWAR and Obama had this to say about the energy crisis: "We can't tell other countries don't grow. We can't - drive our SUVs and you know, eat as much as we want and keep our homes on you know, 72 degrees at all times, and whether we're living in the desert or we're living in the tundra, and then just expect that every other country's going to say OK." Really. I guess Obama wants us to become a third world nation and this guy wants to be president.

When the Democrats won majorities in Congress in November, 2006 the average price of a gallon of gasoline in Houston was $2.03. Now that it's over $4.00 a gallon on their watch they want to tax the oil companies which will drive prices at the pump even higher.

Newt Gingrich, former Republican House Speaker, has a plan that he has dubbed Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay less. Makes a lot of sense to me.

The late economist Milton Friedman said it best, "The government solution to any problem is usually at least as bad as the problem." Amen to that.


ALAMO CITY HEROES - San Antonians, especially the family and friends of SA sons SFC Trey A. Corrales and Sgt Leonard Trevino, were elated when they were recently aquitted of murdering terrorist prisoners in Iraq. Both men were facing life sentences if convicted.

At last count 33 San Antonians , not to mention the number wounded, have been killed in the Iraq/Afghanisatn War by the same kind of murdering, scumbag terrorists Corrales and Trevino were accused of murdering.

It's tough enough that we send troops like Corrales and Trevino, both volunteers and heroes, to fight a bunch of cowardly terrorists who torture and murder, often by beheading, US troops and innocent Iraqi civilians, refuse to wear a uniform or follow any rules of warfare, and then charge them with murder.

US combat troops aren't a bunch of volunteers singing in the church choir on Sunday morning or helping old ladies cross the street. Fighting a war is just about the toughest, nastiest, dangerous job there is.

Unfortunately, Corrales and Trevino aren't by themselves in what has become an endless number of trumpted up court-martials of US troops accused of "murdering" terrorist prisoners or so-called civilians during battle. Fortunately, the majority of these case have ended in aquittals.

Two Marine officers in a unit that was accused of killing 19 Afghan civilians during a car bomb attack in 2007 were recently cleared of any wrong doing in the incident. Charges against Major Fred Gavin the unit's commander and Captain Vincent Noble a platoon leader were dropped following a Marine Court of Inquiry.

SFC Corrales has been in the thick of battle as evidenced by his many awards, including the Combat Infantry Badge, the parachutist badge, Ranger tab, the Bronze Star, two awards of the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and 14 other decorations. Sgt Trevino is also a decorated combat veteran.

Corrales, Trevino, Major Gavin, Captain Noble, and others are victims of what many view as an unpopular war. These brave troops were thrown under the bus to appease those who hate America and the military and those in Congress who oppose the war.

People like Rep. John Murtha, D-Penn., who called US Marines cold-blooded killers. Sen. Dick Durbin,D-Ill., who compared US troops at GITMO to Nazi SS troops. Sen. John Kerry who accused US troops of terrorizing Iraqi women and children in the dark of night. And Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., Senate Majority leader who said, "The war is lost and the surge is not accomplishing anything." When this kind of treasonous talk is made by members of Congress the damage to military morale is enormous.

The liberal media applauds this kind of defeatist talk by their Democrat pals in Congress. The terrorist are encouraged by such talk and the kangaroo trials of our troops.

When Gen. David Petraeus appeared before Congress to report on the Iraq War Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY., and ex-presidential candidate said, "The reports you provide us really require the willing suspension of disbelief." In other words she called Gen. Petraeus a liar and got away with it.

When one of America's top generals is subjected to such shabby treatment by members of Congress is it any wonder that our troops are victims of trumpted up court-martials.

Recent rumblings in the Pentagon among the top brass have led to persistent rumors that a show-down is imminent with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates over "kangaroo courts." More to follow.
Col. Jim Miles, TXSG (Ret)