Turmoil …but SOME HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN

As we watch the raging and Embassy burning, some have not forgotten about the contributions of Americans around the world. These sacrifices may not make the history books of other nations…or modern-day TV.

Here are a few statements that place a different light on things and bring silence to those who would be quick to throw the first stone:

President Kennedy’s Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, was in France in the early 60’s when DeGaulle decided to pull out of NATO. DeGaulle said he wanted all US military out of France as soon as possible.

Rusk responded,“Does that include those who are buried here?”

When in England at a large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of ‘Empire Building’ by George Bush.

Mr. Powell answered by saying,“Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom

beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.”

There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying, “Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intend to do, bomb them?”
A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: “Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck.”

Ready to help

There are people around the world who have had their lives saved and freedom made more probable by the actions of the United States of America. Our dead are buried, not only in our National cemeteries, but in graves around the world because we dared to help.

Americans assist wounded on hospital ship

Our nation is made up of many cultures who are free to live their lives as they see fit. This is why many thousands of people come here. This is why America is a great nation . Many may look for our help in the future. Hopefully they will not forget those who gave their all to help in time of trouble. They may burn our embassies and kill our people but it may all come back to haunt those who need help the most. Time will tell.