and they did
More Than a Game
For most football fanatics, this is the time of year for watching the big conference championship games and wondering whether their favorite college team is going play in a major postseason bowl. Many of the players in these contests will be hoping to shine for the NFL scouts looking to recruit new talent. That's not the case this weekend.

Few of the players I'll be watching on Saturday are likely to get a call from Jerry Maguire. They won't be hearing an agent shouting "Show me the money!" In fact, all the players on the gridiron here in Philadelphia have already been "recruited." And the outcome of the game on Saturday isn't going to alter their paychecks next year by a single cent. They will be playing in one of our greatest sports rivalries – the 122 year-old contest between the United States Military Academy at West Point and the United States Naval Academy – known more widely as "The Army-Navy Game."

As the two teams take to the field, millions here in the United States will be watching on CBS. And around the world, tens of thousands more will be watching on the Armed Forces Network. Though officially frowned upon, wagers will be made aboard ships at sea, at lonely outposts in the shadows of the Hindu Kush and on U.S. military bases from Japan and the Korean peninsula to Europe and all the way to Mesopotamia. The seniors playing here won't be going to the NFL. Instead, many of them will go to war.

Within months of graduating, the cadets and midshipmen at these schools, and at the Air Force Academy and in ROTC and NROTC units across the country, will set aside their cleats and pads – and don flak jackets, combat boots and flight suits. Unlike many of their civilian peers, these young Americans won't be looking for work. Instead, they will prepare to go into harm's way to defend our nation.

Since 2001, graduates of our military academies could be almost certain that they would see combat in their near future. While the commitment in Iraq is over and the number of troops in Afghanistan will be significantly diminished by 2014, the world is still not a safe place. The North Koreans are about to conduct another intercontinental ballistic missile test. The so-called "Arab Spring" has created a host of new dangers. Syria is in flames. Though Osama bin Laden is dead, radical Islamists are ascendant in Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, Mali, Gaza, Yemen and Bahrain. And worst of all, the hagiocracy ruling in Tehran is racing to acquire nuclear weapons.

That's not much different than it was when my classmates and I graduated from Annapolis, West Point, and Colorado Springs in 1968. As we tossed our hats in the air, there were two things we knew for certain: the war in Vietnam awaited, and it had bitterly divided our nation.

By the time we reported to our first duty stations, the anti-war movement had become an anti-military movement. Returning heroes – Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Guardsmen and Marines - weren't being welcomed home to the cheers of our countrymen. Our wives and families didn't dare put bumper stickers on their cars proclaiming pride that they had a loved one serving in uniform. The treatment the veterans of Vietnam received was simply despicable.

That's why, when Operation Desert Shield – "Gulf War 1" – began 22 years ago, Lieutenant General Ed Bronars, USMC (Ret.) and I founded Freedom Alliance – an organization dedicated to fostering, honoring and supporting the men and women of our armed forces. We were adamant that what happened to those who served in Vietnam should never happen again. That commitment remains inviolate.

Freedom Alliance programs support those who serve with financial grants, gifts from home, hospital visits, "hero holidays" and "hero hunts" for those recovering from the wounds of war. Whenever possible, family members are included in these events. Thanks to my Fox News colleague Sean Hannity - and thousands of generous Americans - more than 230 children of service members killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty are receiving college scholarships this year.

The Army-Navy game provides an opportunity for us to thank our supporters, invite "hurt heroes" to an iconic event and remind our scholarship recipients that their fallen parent will never be forgotten. This year, on the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, Freedom Alliance pays tribute to veterans of that conflict with a special guest – Medal of Honor recipient Sammy Davis.

This gridiron contest in Philadelphia is more than a sporting event. It's a celebration of selfless service for those who place themselves at risk – not on a football field, but on the battlefield. For three hours or so, the teams and their fans will treat the opposition as it greatest foe. But when the game is over, they're all back on the same team – the brightest, best educated, trained and equipped military force the world has ever known.

Oliver North | December 07, 2012Philadelphia, PA –

Yep.

Yep, as long as he sucks Rupert's d!ck and there's a buck in it for him.

Unfortunately his military retirement was revoked for lying to Congress under oath.
But otherwise he's a great guy, just misunderstood.
But Congress overturned the decision and now the treasonous bastard gets it back.
Since you seem to like people who are despicable, here ya go Lilly.




A bill that would provide job training for military veterans failed Wednesday thanks to a Republican filibuster.

Supporters of the plan, which President Obama has endorsed, are ripping the right, insisting they're playing politics to avoid giving Obama any sort of legislative victory before Election Day. The GOP's opposition to the bill comes not long after the last jobs report showed unemployment among vets at a whopping 11%.

Democrats wrote the bill with a large amount of bipartisan support. In fact, as MSNBC's Rachel Maddow noted, four Republican senators—John Boozman of Arkansas, Mike Johanns of Nebraska, Richard Burr of North Carolina, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania— all wrote parts of the bill, then voted against it.




"They got what they wanted, then they voted no," said Maddow, adding that she'd hoped the senators would at least show a "minimum willingness to come together on the issue of veterans."

Former Patrick Murphy, a former Democratic congressman from Pennsylvania—the first Iraq War vet to serve in Congress—called the Republicans' obstruction a "disgrace."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"These men and women fight for us overseas," he said. "The last thing they need to do is come back home and fight to get jobs."

When contacted by MSNBC, several GOP staffers tried to squirm out on a technicality, arguing that their bosses hadn't voted against vets per se, but merely against a rule that would have needed to be waived for the Senate to vote on the entire bill.

Ridiculous, said Murphy.

"These guys are looking for excuse after excuse after excuse" to obstruct any progress "because there's an election six-and-a-half weeks away."

He continued: "It's blatant partisan politics. And this is why America hates the Senate and hates the Congress."

Thanks, informative. Not to worry tho. That zit in the White House
wants more executive power and less congressional input. Kinda sounds
like the new Chancellor in Germany, 1933. Gave himself lots of executive power.
Thank the zit for the new $63./month most will pay for their health
care.

Treason? John Kerry, Jane Fonda for example. Hell Kerry may well become Sec of State. Now that's forgiveness.
Bravo Ollie

Ah still believing the swift boaters for truth, you are a dumbfuk.
Time to swill another koolaid.
My question is why does someone with an IQ of 148 need other people to do their thinking?

cause it's so much fun poking pins in the stuffed heads of jerks like you.

I don't criticize American veterans, unless they have been convicted of a crime, only a mindless dumbfuk would do a thing like that, serving one's country isn't partisan, trying to make it so only shows a disrespect for the our country, and those who go in harms way to protect it.
You sir are a low life.

John Kerry and Collin Powell were not convicted of lying to Congress.

Lying liars calling liars liars. The irony drips

No it just proves people that hate America think alike.

'tis amazing that the fall back position of the jerks is calling someone
America haters. America has survived because of the so-called
America haters, and America lovers, and American parasites, and
the doers, and the drones.
Immigrants all if you except the 500 Nations.
Keerist how silly can you get?
Benedict Arnold, Jane Fonda, John Kerry, peas in a pod.

Jane said she was wrong and sorry for what she did, I have no idea what you think Kerry did, North has never admitted wrong doing.

What actions? Are you taking about Dipsh1ts For Truth?

Again, what is it Kerry has done?

Served when his opponent was f'ing off in the TANG.

It's an outrage, really.

Lower than whale sh1t on the ocean floor.

You should catch up on 1972 current events. Kerry went to Paris, against the government's taboo, to play at being a diplomat with the Viet
Namese delagation to Peace Talks going on at the time. He ended up
being run by one of the Viet's femme agents. He was her and Viet
Nam's agent here in the states. Of course he didn't register as an
agent of a foreign state. WTF, he wanted to be an international
big shot even then. Swift Boaters be damned. The man had an
agenda. Treasonous? Yes.

Citations you dimwit.

Maybe LeadDrifterEaterFurious will come back and cite The Blaze for you.

Fish on...

Todd

John Kerry wasn't the only Vietnam vet to protest the war, he actually testified in front of Congress, some of us just marched in protest in the street.
Irregardless it doesn't nullify his service to his country.
You can disagree with his politics and his philosophies, but you can't disregard or mock his sacrifices and duty to country.
And only a dumbfuk would ever consider doing so.

They are dumfuks. What they and their disgusting ilk did to Kerry and Max Cleland takes less class than a common slug has.

And, because they are classless jackasses...they'll not only do it again the second they get a chance, they'll have all the mindless sycophants parroting their drivel, just like they do here every time.

Fish on...

Todd

John Kerry protested a stupid and unwinnable war.

Oliver North participated in a scheme that sent weapons to a sworn enemy of the United States, and funneled the proceeds to an opposition group in another country, in violation of US and International law.

Yeah, exactly the same.

Fish on...

Todd

See, one is politics you don't like.

The other is treason, and violation of several other US and International laws.

That's why you guys will always be hypocrites. It's also why of all the felons who are currently political commentators, they are all Republican gasbags.

Fish on...

Todd

I would be fun to hear about your service to the country Todd.

Disregarding North's various medals earned in combat seem so reasonable
for you dimwits I can imagine you being able to see the difference between Ollie's actions and Kerry's actions.
The mob in the streets protesting the Viet Nam war and spitting
on the vets that managed to return really is your style Illahee and Todd.

North was a respected Marine once but became a whore after he served his country. My Dad (rip) was a WW2 Marine. He said North should have done the Corp a favor and put a bullet in his head after becoming just another politcal liar.

I personally believe that the Colonel did his job, served his country,
closely served the CinC. and as usual no good deed goes unpunished.
As far as being a liar goes, anyone closely associated with the doings
of the inhabitants of the White House and the Joint Chief of Staff
and his crew have to be liars to do their jobs. Hell all our politicians
are liars. Follow the leader.
I thank your father for his service Chuck E. He is entitled to his
opinion as are all of the citizens of this country. That includes todd
and illahe, no matter how silly and uninformed they are.

Selling weapons to Iran is a "good deed"?

As I recall, the CinC "didn't recall" anything at all about the entire operation.

Fish on...

Todd

"As I recall, the CinC "didn't recall" anything at all about the entire operation."

Do you find that surprising?

This recording will self-destruct in 5 seconds.

I'd be surprised if Ronnie could remember what he just said or did five minutes before.

Fish on...

Todd

You gotta admit todd, that was kinds lame.

I think it kinds of sounds about right to me, Ron was, by many accounts, suffering from symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, which would account for a lot.

That's quite easily explains why I thought todd's comment was LAMEm
but then gotta expect that kind of no class comment from todd and
his ilk.