This is what the lefts arguments have come to….the amount of medals on the chest of a General:
Gen. David H. Petraeus may be as impressive a military professional as the United States has developed in recent years, but he could use some strategic advice on how to manage his sartorial PR. Witness his congressional testimony on the state of the war in Iraq. There he sits in elaborate Army regalia, four stars glistening on each shoulder, nine rows of colorful ribbons on his left breast, and various other medallions, brooches and patches scattered across the rest of the available real estate on his uniform. He even wears his name tag, a lone and incongruous hunk of cheap plastic in a region of pristine gilt, just in case the politicians aren’t sure who he is.
That’s a lot of martial bling, especially for an officer who hadn’t seen combat until five years ago. Unfortunately, brazen preening and “ribbon creep” among the Army’s modern-day upper crust have trumped the time-honored military virtues of humility, duty and personal reserve.
Unbelievably ignorant argument. Any officer called to testify to Congress would wear his dress uniform which requires the wearing of his ribbons. The author then makes some sly insults by insinuating that those medals were no big deal because he hadn’t seen combat until five years ago. But his main complaint is that he is wearing the uniform in the first place. Why o’ why cant he just wear a dishelved uniform like Grant?
Ulysses S. Grant accepted Robert E. Lee’s sword while outfitted in disheveled Union blue and muddy boots. Douglas MacArthur presided over the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on the deck of the battleship Missouri without donning so much as a necktie with his khakis. George Patton wasflamboyant, in his jodhpurs and riding boots, but he backed it up in battle after battle. His legend derived equally from brilliant tactics and an outrageous wardrobe.
Perhaps the best example, however — and one that Petraeus and his cadre should look to for inspiration — was set by two of the most politically savvy generals America has produced: Dwight Eisenhower and George Marshall. In photographs following World War II, with Ike fresh from rescuing Western civilization while Marshall was working to rebuild it, both men appear victorious, yet somber, cognizant of the challenges met and the challenges ahead. Eisenhower wears a single row of ribbons, Marshall three.
Memo to Petraeus: When you’re making the case for more patriotic gore, go easy on the glitter.
Yeah General….just wear a few less ribbons and then the left will all jump on the bandwagon.
One more reason why the MSM is going down the tubes, they employ ignorant writers like Matthew DeBord.
See author page
What embarassment for a US citizen.
It’s apropriate the fool auther of the story should reference Grant’s uniform worn at Appomattox Court House.
While suffering a headache, Grant rode his horse to the crossroads od Appomattox Court House, a messenger gave him the following message from General Lee:
“April 9th, 1865.
General: I received your note of this morning on the picket-line, whither I had come to meet you and ascertain definitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army. I now ask an interview, in accordance with the offer contained in your letter of yesterday, for that purpose.
R.E. Lee, General.”
After reading the message, Grant dismounted, sat by the road and wrote this reply to Lee:
“April 9th, 1865.
General R. E. Lee Commanding C. S. Army:
Your note of this date is but this moment (11:50 A.M.) received, in consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and Lynchburg road to the Farmville and Lynchburg road. I am at this writing about four miles west of Walker’s Church, and will push forward to the front for the purpose of meeting you. Notice sent to me on this road where you wish the interview to take place will meet me.
U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General.”
Just before 4 P.M., today in 1865, Lee surrendered to Grant.
Grant’s “disheveled Union blue and muddy boots” was the result of months of hard fought battle and field leadership. We do not fight wars in such manner today. rarely are generals in the fore of their charges, perhaps they should be, but they aren’t. Gen. Petraeus was not in the field, he was testifying before Congress. And a splendid job he did.
What a partisan, whiny, asinine ignoramus Matthew DeBord is! Since when has anyone in the service not appeared before a Congressional hearing in anything other than military dress uniform?
I suspect Matthew DeBord is of the background where sewing “200 club” patches onto your bowling shirt is optional, and equates to bragging.
And the comparison to Ulysses Grant? What would have been the appropriate look, for DeBord? If General Petraeus had rode into town in dramatic fashion, in a humvee wearing desert bdu, body armor, and hair disheveled with sand and sweat?
Perhaps the formal dress uniforms of the Code Whackos explains a lot on DeBord’s views on fashion appropriateness:
Curious, did the author complain about Gen Clark’s ribbons or any other General that wore their dress uniform to appear before Congress?
Exit question, what would the LA Times and others have said if General Petraeus had appeared before Congress in boots covered with Iraqi dust and a disheveled uniform ala Grant? Are they actually advocating that those who come from Iraq to speak to Congress just dress down?
Morons, duplicitous, hypocritical, lying morons.
BTW, my new promise of daily affirmation to the left is ABBin08! “Anybody But Bush in 2008!” I reiterate that I will not vote for President Bush in November.
What a disgusting and ignorant swine of a person to write this trash:
This POS could care less what each of these “medallions” and “brooches” mean so long as he gets to fling moronic insults at a man he is not fit to walk in the shadow of. Then this buffoon goes off and makes comparisons to previous Generals, all of whom possessed dress uniforms equally impressive for their eras.
Maybe Mr. DeBord is upset that two men of class, character, and courage outshown the pathetic morons from Code Pink and fools like Biden and Rockefeller?
As for the General Grant comparison, Mr. DeBord fails to realize that if Grant had addressed Congress dressed as he was, the “front lines” would have been within modern rocket artillery range of said congressional hearings. Would Mr. DeBord be happy if the current “front lines” were so close to the Captial that our Generals would have to report in full battle dress?
I know Lennin refered to Western leftists as “useful idiots”…. I fail to see where the “usefulness” comes from.
Code Pink, dressed to impress and looking dignified and to be taken seriously. *snicker* and *barf*
From Levin’s botched intro, it’s a good thing Petraeus had the name tag… too bad he couldn’t figure the rank out though.
Sounds like a jealous, washout, sniveling whine to me.
(yet, his description sounded like he was turned on, but what do I know).
Check that guy for neuticles.
What a prick!
He is wearing the uniform of his profession. Called before Congress, he put on the uniform as per Army regulations. He is REQUIRED to wear the medals for such a formal occasion! What a moron. They don’t just give an Air assault badge, Master Parachutist badge, Combat Action Badge (all of which Gen Petraeus has). That “pristine gilt” is earned! Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines size each other up when they meet. The first thing they look at is rank, then they start scanning the uniform for awards, tabs, badges. That way you know the guy you are talking to has been there and done that.
Maybe next time, he should just swagger in with an M-4 slung over his shoulder, kick his dusty boots up on the table and answer questions while sharpening a K-Bar and spitting on the floor.
If they called a lawyer to testify, they would wear their uniform: a suit and a courthouse tan.
Methinks some little panty waist jealous!
In the words of Bugs Bunny – whatta maroon.
Now, I don’t particularly like the guys who wear their stuff on civilian clothes, but this is a totally different matter. When you put on your Class As, you put on every appliance you are authorized to wear; that’s all there is to it.
“… Eisenhower wears a single row of ribbons, Marshall three …”
Obviously, DeBord didn’t look through the photo archives too much. There are photos that show Ike and Marshall with the full complement of medals and badges they earned. Also, Patton had been awarded numerous medals, and chose to wear three rows. In full dress, Patton wore all those he earned. MacArthur in his khakis wore none, but in full dress I believe 9-10 rows. Audie Murphy, the most decorated individual in Army history wore one row, but in full dress, 8-9 rows.
If this is the best they can do, and it seems so, then GEN Petraeus was very effective in his presentation and testimony.
What a vile piece of shit. When I see the General on the TV all I can think of is “damn, he has had an interesting career”. I have 5 rows of ribbons on my service dress and have never seen combat. Every one of those RIBBONS and BADGES has meaning and the further up the rows you go, the harder they were to earn. He is representing the ENTIRE UNITED STATES ARMY. debord isn’t worthy to lick the sweat of the balls of the lowest ranking troop. The congressional whores who sat there preening and trying to undermine his report make me vomit. Pompous thieving cowardly anti-American scum who aren’t fit to be in the same room as the General. Must be a real slap in the face to the levins, rockefellers, klintoons, piglosi’s, reids, etc., of this world who haven’t done a hard days work in their pathetic lives to be in the presence of a REAL MAN and TRUE AMERICAN. He exposes them for what they are, cowards.
My son, Matt the Marine, wore his Corporal dress blues with the blood stripe to church when he was home over Easter. He has a total of 4 ribbons, with 3 more on the way. He wore them. On his Dress Blues.
That’s after a 6 month deployment witht he 22nd MEU to the Middle East, and going to Iraq toward the end of the year.
Did you guys see the vid of Code Pink being tossed? It was priceless. Here’s the link:
http://griffsnotesdc.blogspot.com/2008/04/protesters-getting-kicked-out.html
God bless General Petraeus — a man who has more courage in his thumb than leftists have in their entire bodies.
Excellent Post, Theresa, MSgt (ret), USAF
Matthew DeBord is a gut-less, jealous, punk. DeBord lamented the fact that the General had only seen combat for the first time, five years ago.
I wonder when Matthew DeBord saw combat?
DeBord is a turd that doesn’t rate to carry Petraeus’ piss and he’s too much of a pussy to list his email address.
My, after watching that video via Richard’s post of the police pulling out the code pink protestors, I must say I have a new respect for their patience. Even after the officer clearly states that “this is not a debate,” the code pink types continue to natter on, and on, and on… Cripes! I think I would have been faster to slam the door in their faces.
For those of you wishing just a bit more proof of how the “Party of Defeat” looks at our men and women in uniform, please take a look at this article I came across over at Frontpage Magazine about something that Sen. Jay Rockefeller said, and some of the other finer sentiments expressed by other Democrats on the Hill: http://www.frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=50F77CD6-F2A9-410B-81C2-DB43CAF0CF24
Happy reading!
Machiavelli,
Happiness is the farthest thing from my mind when I read Rockefeller’s, and other ilk such as his, words.
Grant wore a disheveled and muddy uniform at Appomattox because the Army of the Potomac had to move so fast in trying to corner Lee that the armies baggage trains were hopelessly lost in the rear and could not be found, Grant had no other uniform to wear.
The good General has earned every one of those ribbons. EARNED. No ‘social promotion’, no ‘self-esteem riser’. EARNED.
He can wear them with pride. It shows he actually had to do something, master something and be willing to risk everything (including his life) to get those ribbons.
And what to these putzs sitting in judgment of him have?
Mrs. Clinton – attended public school in Park Ridge, Illinois; graduated Wellesley College, BA 1969; graduated Yale Law School, JD 1973.
Mrs. Pelosi – A.B., Trinity College, 1962
Mr. Reid – graduated, Southern Utah State College 1959, Utah State University 1961, and George Washington School of Law 1964
Source for the Distinguished Putzes: http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp
Now, let’s look at the good General.
General Paetreaus – Lieutenant General Petraeus was commissioned in the Infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1974. He has held leadership positions in airborne, mechanized, and air assault infantry units in Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, including command of a battalion in the 101st Airborne Division and a brigade in the 82nd Airborne Division. In addition, he has held a number of staff assignments: Aide to the Chief of Staff of the Army; service as a battalion, brigade, and division operations officer; Military Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe; Chief of Operations of the United Nations Force in Haiti; and Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Lieutenant General Petraeus was the General George C. Marshall Award winner as the top graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Class of 1983. He subsequently earned MPA and Ph.D. degrees in international relations from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and later served as an Assistant Professor of International Relations at the US Military Academy. He also completed a fellowship at Georgetown University.
Ribbons – Awards and decorations earned by General Petraeus include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of the Defense Superior Service Medal, four awards of the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal for valor, the State Department Superior Honor Award, the NATO Meritorious Service Medal, and the Gold Award of the Iraqi Order of the Date Palm. He is a Master Parachutist and is Air Assault and Ranger qualified. He has also earned the Combat Action Badge and French, British, and German Jump Wings. In the fall of 2005, he was recognized by the U.S. News and World Report as one of America’s 25 Best Leaders.
Source: http://www.zimbio.com/General+David+Petraeus/notes/1/Lieutenant+General+David+H+Petraeus.
And he is being judged by a couple of 4th rate lawyers and a BA grad. Please.
Their major claim to fame is being able to get people to vote for them without having any real skills or talents. I believe that is how high school politics is run.
As far as their ‘respected positions’, seniority will do that for you. Seniority is the ticket if you have no abilities to earn things on your own.
And with all respect, ‘their years of service in politics’ does not even being to equate to the academic and real-world leadership experience that the good General has received and promotions he has EARNED.
It’s way past time that these putzs get their clocks cleaned and compare them ‘Apples to Apples’ with people who have really accomplished things in their lives. Our political leadership wouldn’t know how to lead a parade if they weren’t riding in the car at the front.
Anyway, just MAHO.
Fox made false video and lied about Obama’s pastor.
Fox news doctored and falsified the video of Obama’s pastor Wright. Wright did not preach those words himself. He was quoting a White Man.; Ambassador Edward Peck. And he is a retired, white, career U.S. diplomat who served 32-years in the U.S. Foreign Service and was chief of the U.S. mission to Iraq under Jimmy Carter. The complete video below will show that Pastor Wright is telling his audience that “I will tell you what a white man named Ambassador Peck said”. And then he will quote Mr. Peck. And he ends by reminding his congregation “A white man said this, I didn’t say it”. Fox didn’t show that because they wanted people to think it came from Pastor Wright.
Fox news is the bottom of the barrel; Full of hate and thoroughly racist.
Here’s the evidence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ&feature=related
Here’s the proof that Fox knew it was a lie because Peck said these words on Fox News after 9/11 and that’s where Pastor Wright got the quote from.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/21/meet-the-white-man-who-_n_92793.html
And after they made the false tape, Fox put it out on the internet and nobody knew where it had come from.
Sojourner Truthe,
Aside from being on the wrong topic, you are also posting drivel from useless idiots like Huffingtonpost.
Sorry, we have heard and seen more of that racist Wright than we EVER want to, and not from FOX, but from his own pamphlets and “sermons”. You want a racist, look no further than Wright and Obama.
But this thread is not about him or his racist, hateful rants.
I definitely don’t want to pull this off-topic; not for this post. But I can’t let Sojourner Truthe’s lies stand.
I listened to that entire sermon, and nothing was pulled out of context. The cherry-picked quote (the “faith footnote”) is representative of the cherry tree from which it was plucked from. The whole sermon is laced with hand-wringing “what did we do to deserve this” blowback navel-gazing.
Even your Huffington Post link can’t hide the America-blame in the sermon.
I guess the left has a problem with those ribbons, patches and rank insignia because you have to EARN them.