As the nation pauses today to honor the men and women who have put on the uniform and served their country in wartime and peacetime, consider this: There are approximately 23.2 million military veterans in the United States, according to the most recently available figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. That includes 18.3 million whites, 2.3 million blacks, 1.1 million Hispanics, 276,000 Asians, 160,000 American Indians or native Alaskans and 27,000 Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders. Some 1.8 million veterans are women. There are 9.2 million veterans age 65 or older; 1.9 million are younger than 35. Thirty-three percent of all veterans -- 7.8 million -- served during the Vietnam era. Some 5.2 million have served in the Gulf since 1990, while 6 million served during peace time. Around 5.5 million veterans have some type of disability; 3.4 million have service-connected disabilities. American Hispanics have a proud history of serving in the US Military. Over 500,000 Hispanic soldiers served in World War II, and nearly 40 Latinos have won our nation’s highest award, the Congressional Medal of Honor. More than 53,000 Hispanics were on active duty in 2003 and another 1.1 million are veterans of the U.S. military. Many have also been honored with American citizenship as a result of their military service; more than 25,000 immigrants who have served in the military have become U.S. citizens through a special wartime military naturalization statute.
Today, Hispanics make up 13.35 percent of the civilian labor force 18 to 44 years old, the typical age range for enlisted service. In Iraq, according to the Washington Post, Hispanics have a death risk about 20 percent higher than non-Hispanics. They are over-represented in the categories that get the most dangerous assignments -- infantry, gun crews and seamanship -- and make up over 17.5 percent of the front lines.
Veterans Day is a day to remember all of our Veterans, of ALL ethnicities in our Cultural Melting Pot, for their service to our Country. God Bless America and God Bless our Veterans!
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Last Night Sean Hannity of Fox News said that America lost the Vietnam War because of lack of Decision, Will, etc .... Let's Analyze this !
I can't find Sean's Video in YouTube.com to post it here.
This is a very grave accusation and may fall over several prominent Politicians and Statesmen like :
Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense, serving under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson and these two presidents.
Richard Nixon's Secretary of State : William P. Rogers until 1973 and then Henry Kissinger.
Melvin Laird was Richard Nixon’s secretary of defense.
I always thought that these guys were hardened politicians, decent Americans, brave Americans.
I know that Lyndon Baines Johnson and Robert McNamara had great Psychological pain when things turned sour.
I am very interested in the Psychology of these Statesmen.
And in knowing if Sean Hannity is speaking words of truth, or just blather.
From Wikipedia :
More than 3 million Americans served in Vietnam. By war's end, 58,193 soldiers were killed, more than 150,000 were wounded, and at least 21,000 were permanently disabled. Approximately 830,000 Vietnam veterans suffered symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. An estimated 125,000 Americans fled to Canada to avoid the Vietnam draft, and approximately 50,000 American servicemen deserted.
In some areas of southern Vietnam dioxin levels remain at over 100 times the accepted international standard.
The U.S. Veterans Administration has listed prostate cancer, respiratory cancers, multiple myeloma, type II diabetes, Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, soft tissue sarcom, chloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, peripheral neuropathy, and spina bifida in children of veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
End of Wikipedia - Now my conclusion :
After his Historical Analysis, Sean Hannity began to rant against President Obama as a coward and fool. And a Sissy against the bad guys and bullies of this World. Of course those were not the exact words, but you get the idea.
The Future of Foreign Policies :
Prophesizing.com
Vicente Duque
Mr. President, Bring the Troops Home - Demonstrate leadership and do not appear to be dragged along - By Ed Koch, former Mayor of New York City
I don't think that the Drones are such a Good Idea, but I agree with Mr Koch in the uselessnes of this War. The War is fought in the Hearts and Minds of the Afghans and can't be won with Technology, Bullets, Bombs or Rockets. Ron Paul and Ed Koch are right in asking for withdrawal, Paul and Koch are brave, valiant and courageous.
Washington Post and Real Clear Politics
Mr. President, Bring the Troops Home
By Ed Koch
Ed Koch is the former Mayor of New York City.
November 18, 2009
Mr. President, Bring the Troops Home
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/11/18/mr_president_bring_the_troops_home_99196.html
Some excerpts :
The Times reports, "The rough formula used by the White House, of about $1 million per soldier a year, appears almost constant." The same Times article quotes Congressman John Murtha (D-PA), chairman of a subcommittee on defense appropriations, as saying that "total spending on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars would surge past $1 trillion next year, which could hamper the economy for years to come."
It is almost a foregone conclusion that the president will not authorize the 40,000 soldiers requested, but in all probability, he will authorize a smaller number. Any increase, as opposed to embarking upon an immediate exit strategy, would be a grave error.
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If our army were comprised of draftees instead of volunteers, we would have already seen massive marches in the streets calling on the president to bring our soldiers home as was the case in the late 60s and 70s. I believe that while our country on the domestic front in the congressional election next year will concentrate on the need for jobs, the public will also be marching to end the war and bring our troops home.
Bringing the troops home does not mean the terrorists have won. The focus of our efforts should be the tribal areas of Pakistan where the Taliban and Al-Qaeda are entrenched and allegedly receive aid and comfort from parts of the Pakistan army and its intelligent services. The terrorists undoubtedly hope ultimately to cause the Pakistan government to fall. We now use drones and special forces to pursue the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Pakistan. We can continue to pursue those terrorists in both Pakistan and Afghanistan from offshore ships and missile launchers.
I believe that next year's election will be decided on what each party proposes to do in Afghanistan. If we Democrats expect to win, we will have to convince the public that we intend to bring our troops home. If President Obama wants to pursue his expensive and expansive domestic programs, he will need to enhance his majorities or at least minimize the normal biennial congressional losses. I urge him to signal his intention to bring our troops home soon. There isn't much time left to demonstrate leadership and not appear to be dragged along. The marches will soon begin.
The Future of Foreign Policies :
Prophesizing.com
Vicente Duque
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