You know a lot of people I talk to have their favorite news channel. Some like Fox. Some like CNN. Some like MSNBC, etc. It doesn't matter which news source you like, you have to read between the lines and do your own research like I do. Here's some interesting facts and/or stats that some may not know about but may find interesting.

You've probably heard all over the news that the US military is "stretched too thin". Who came up with that one? Kusinich? Van Hollen? Whom ever started that mis-informed statement had no idea what they were talking about. It's used as point in most debates about the war on terror and it's just not true.

According to my research and statements from General Abizad, who heads or headed the US troops (140,000 in Iraq, 85,000 in Afghanistan, the coalition troops(23,000), and the Iraqi troops(300,000), our military is just fine. The US has 1.2 million military personel in uniform, as you read this, here in the United States. The US has another 1 million military personel in the reserves and the National Guard. Keep in mind "the big one" unstretches everything. That would be the last option on the table.

Nato troops, as I have said repeatedly, are being deployed into Afghanistan(12,000 to date). This will free up 45,000 US troops to deal with Iran. REMEMBER THEM? General Abizad opined that more and more Iraqi units are becoming capable of defending the new government and most all of the provinces in Iraq are terror free. THE TERRORISTS IN IRAQ ARE STRETCHED TOO THIN!!! They converged on Baghdad to assault the new democratic government. Remember the purple fingers? By the time we need troops to deal with the nut in Iran about 70,000 troops will be available from Iraq and about 45,000 troops will be available from Afghanistan. Remember,  Hussein's elite Royal Guard was defeated within about two weeks, the statue fell, victory was declared, and the victory banner unfurled.  THEN THE TERRORISTS ATTACKED AS TROOPS WERE LEAVING. These are imported terrorists 

LOOK AT THE MAP!! Iran is stuck in the middle of Afghanistan and Iraq. With the "Blue helmets" going to Lebanon, Israel will be more than happy to assist against Iran. So, HOW IS THE US MILITARY STRETCHED TOO THIN? If sanctions and UN resolutions don't work(12 didn't work against Hussein) Iran will be dealt with. Tony Blair may have to be the one to initiate "military force".

Sanctions and resolutions take time and each day the Iraqi Army gets better. Don't you think the US already has intelligence gathering teams in Iran? There may even be some military units near the Iranian border. I was in and around Cambodia when our newspapers in the US said we weren't in Cambodia and Laos. GUESS WHAT? WE WERE!! I WAS THERE!!

One other note of interest is that air-power will take out Iran's nuclear sites. The US military is not stretched too thin, when "We", at any time, could send Stealths to the region and strategically "nuke" the sites. "Bunker-busters" will be used against the underground facilities that you and I both know exist.

Another generalization used to confuse and  professed by pro-immigration buffs is the notion that illegal border jumpers are doing the jobs Americans can't and won't do. Are you kidding me? Are they crazy? These people that spew this odious rhetoric can't possibly have talked to every unemployed American in the country. It's a general statement that sounds good in debate but it's just not true. Americans will do any job better than anybody else if they are fairly compensated for their effort. ILLEGALS who have less than nothing will work for little or nothing. The greedy employers that hire ILLEGALS are the problem.

Any of you ever hear of MIGRANT WORKERS? WHO? MIGRANT WORKERS!! You in the heartland of the country know what I'm talking about. Migrant workers came to south Florida from Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, you know, the mid-west, to harvest oranges, strawberries, etc. right here in our area from Miami to Ocala, Florida. ILLEGAL aliens were hired and when the MIGRANT WORKERS arrived to work, their jobs, that they had been doing for 10-20 years, were gone to ILLEGAL border jumpers.

This happened about 13-15 years ago. The employers took jobs from Americans and gave them to the cheaper labor. Those MIGRANT workers weren't even given a chance. Ask any of them that had their lives disrupted and had to collect welfare and food stamps instead of working if the ILLEGALS are doing the jobs Americans won't do. These Americans survived, eking out a meager living, by working the groves and fields and returning home to work the winter crops. They weren't even considered. When they left to go home their jobs were given to ILLEGALS.

Again, the statement is a myth. It's just not true. Read between the lines people, or do your own research. ILLEGALS are just that...ILLEGAL!! Only 2% of ILLEGALS actually "work the fields", while 41%, HOW MUCH?? 41% are collecting some sort of welfare. They've come from Latin America, etc. and retired on our welfare system. I have no sympathy for ILLEGALS that "butt in line". Do you like people butting in front of you at, say, the movies or a sporting event? Of course not. LEGAL immigrants should have a shot at the job market, not ILLEGAL border jumpers.

Pro-illegal immigration politicians, and we all know who they are, are looking at those ILLEGALS as a potential voting block. These ILLEGALS would have to contribute to the disappearing social security, also bailling out the previous administrations that used the social security money for failed investments.

In closing, these generalizations are, usually, not true. I have more examples of the mis-statements and will share them with you in other articles. Can you think of any? Make a list. We'll discuss them. They are spewed to mis-inform the voting public. Remember, opinions aren't always truths. Do your own research. Use your common sense and logic...if you have any.

Note: Article written 10/5/2006