The Laughing Wolf

Sacrifice The Lives Of Soldiers And Innocents For PC

I’ve known of this story for a few days now, but have held off posting for a number of reasons. Foremost, I could not believe that it was true, but it does seem to check out. Second, I had some trouble being able to discuss it in terms of rational discourse. Misha has the story here of Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D, Hawai’i ) who is telling the military that ammo manufactured in Israel can not and must not be used “under any circumstances” for anything other than target practice.

The military bought the ammo because they were low on ammo and needed it. The shortage of domestic ammo is something that is well known and discussed elsewhere, and it exists because there is a shortage of people willing to make ammo domestically. There are a number of factors to this, but legal liability is indeed one of them. Since the quantity of ammunition needed was not available locally, we being at war and all, the military got it from a certified producer elsewhere, who just happened to be Israeli.

Apparently, Rep. Abercrombie feels that these are some type of Jewish/Israeli super bullet, and that using them to fight terrorists of any stripe isn’t fair. Like gentlemen reading other gentlemen’s mail, it would not be proper to shoot a terrorist trying to kill innocents or our troops with such an evil thing. We have non-Jewish/Israeli ammo stored away, and should use it instead.

I am having a hard time not savaging this bit of ignorant bigotry as it truly deserves, for it is ignorant and bigoted on several levels beyond the obvious. It is disgraceful, to say the least because when you parse it out, the following is the result:

We are at war, a global war against terrorists and those that support them. In war, ammunition use is always higher than predicted. Ammunition stocks are low, and domestic production of same is limited and unable to meet demand. The purchase of ammunition from other sources is required. Restrictions on the use of “outside” ammunition is likely to impact the supply of ammunition reaching the front. When ammunition is unable to reach the front in sufficient quantities, combat operations are reduced or stopped. When ammunition is unable to reach the front in sufficient quantities, troops do not have the ammunition they need to do their duty, and to defend themselves and others. Both outcomes have a negative impact on the lives and safety of American citizens. Both outcomes have a negative impact on allies or others the United States has sworn to protect. Both outcomes have a negative impact on the war against terrorists, and offer the opportunity for potentially catastrophic results since the front lines could well be here at home, and not just in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere.

“By no means, under any circumstances should a round [from Israel]be utilized” ties the hands of every soldier everywhere. It means that if the choice is between killing Taliban or being killed by the Taliban, then the soldier must die rather than shoot the enemy with an Israeli-manufactured bullet. It means that if the National Guardsman manning a security checkpoint for the 4th of July celebrations sees a terror attack starting, and has the chance to stop it by shooting, they may not do so if there is any chance that the bullets they have were made in Israel. What it means is that Rep. Abercrombie is more than willing that you or our soldiers die, in whatever numbers may be required, so that political correctness (and folly, ineptitude, etc.) shall reign supreme. After all, what are a few lives and innocent blood compared to such a noble cause and goal?

Obviously, Rep. Abercrombie is most willing to sacrifice many things on the altar of political correctness. One wonders if he truly realizes what sacrifice he is ordering here? One wonders if he would have the courage and moral integrity to either conduct or make the sacrifice upon said alter that he is willing to order done in his name?

Jen Martinez has some contact information here, and I would urge you to use it. I also am going to offer a challenge of sorts to all of you out there. This outrage offends me on so many levels and in so many ways, that I hereby offer to any candidate of any party running against Rep. Abercrombie – or any other member of Congress who supports this travesty – a free BlogAd for a week on this site. The only proviso being that you/they must not support this action, and work against it. If this offer is not legal under Federal law, talk to me about your campaign and I may just cover it, provided you oppose this travesty. I hope other bloggers will take up this challenge and make a similar offer. Remember, ultimately it is our safety that is at issue here. And I do not choose to sacrifice any life to such a diminutive deity as this congresscritter or the concept of political correctness.

LW