| R.I.P. General Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. Posted: 27 Dec 2012 09:27 PM PST  This is sad news indeed. 2012 has, apparently, decided to take as many good people with it on its way out as it can.
WASHINGTON — A U.S. official says retired Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, who commanded the U.S.-led international coalition that drove Saddam Hussein’s forces out of Kuwait in 1991, has died. He was 78. The official tells The Associated Press that Mr. Schwarzkopf died Thursday in Tampa, Fla. The official wasn’t authorized to release the information publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
General Schwarzkopf was a decorated veteran, a genuine hero, and by every account I’ve ever heard, a good man. According to Lt. General Hal Moore, Schwarzkopf earned his nickname “Stormin’ Norman” in Vietnam for his fits of temper when arguing with nearby helicopters to land for his wounded men. He also earned a few other things in Vietnam — the respect of his men and more than a couple medals. When Colonel Schwarzkopf received word that men under his command had encountered a minefield, he rushed to the scene in his helicopter. He found several soldiers still trapped in the minefield. Schwarzkopf urged them to retrace their steps slowly. Still, one man tripped a mine and was severely injured but remained conscious. As the wounded man flailed in agony, the soldiers around him feared that he would set off another mine. Schwarzkopf, also injured by the explosion, crawled across the minefield to the wounded man and held him down so another could splint his shattered leg. One soldier stepped away to break a branch from a nearby tree to make the splint. In doing so, he too hit a mine, killing himself and the two men closest to him, and blowing the leg off of Schwarzkopf’s liaison officer. Eventually, Colonel Schwarzkopf led his surviving men to safety. He was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery but, more importantly to Norman Schwarzkopf, he cemented his reputation as an officer who would risk anything for the soldiers under his command. Before the tour was up, Colonel Schwarzkopf would earn three Silver Stars and be wounded again.
He not only earned those Silver Stars, but also three Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, and three Distinguished Service Medals. We know Schwarzkopf best as Commander of U.S. Central Command and the man who commanded our troops in the first Gulf War. His confidence and command of a dizzying number of facts was never better displayed than during this now-famous briefing in which the General told the world how thoroughly we defeated Saddam Hussein’s army. The video takes roughly an hour, but it’s time well-spent as a history lesson and a clinic in how to give a public briefing. Take a few minutes as well to watch his 1991 speech to the Corps of Cadets at West Point. Gen. Schwarzkopf was a formidable man and his speech is a good reminder of what we lost.  |
| Clearing the Browser Tabs — In Which I Get My Podcast Guest-On Posted: 27 Dec 2012 03:31 PM PST So I did a couple of very cool podcasts over the past couple of weeks and I want you to listen to them. I’ve been told I ought to “be out there” more than I am and this, I believe, qualifies as being out there. But only if you listen and share the links and tell the great podcasters involved how much you enjoyed listening. - Here is my appearance with Bryan Goodwin on The Hayseed Report. We talked about conservative politics, social media, and telling good stories then swung around to some fun stuff about reality television.
- Here is my appearance with Andrew Langer and Mark Newgent on The Broadside. We chatted about my piece on the fiscal cliff and why going over it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, why Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is one of the greatest bits of cinema ever made, and why I’m not eager to see the new Star Trek movie. By the by, I’m working up a post on that last topic, now that I’ve had more time to think about it. It should drop this evening or tomorrow afternoon.
- Finally, here is the first episode of a new podcast on which I should make regular appearances, The PopCast. I hosted the inaugural episode, but I won’t host them all as I’m part of a pretty strong cast. We talked about The Hobbit, Christmas music, and who we think the most fascinating people of 2012 are.
And now, links! - Christmas does funny things to a man.
- We might just have won this round for the Second Amendment says Kurt Schlichter and he has some polling evidence on his side, some real numbers, and other evidence, too.
- Of course, we shouldn’t consider the battle over. Our rights, unfortunately, require constant protection, most often from those who don’t care to understand why we should have rights at all. Or laws that apply to everyone.
- Larry Correia, who is also a wickedly-skilled author, does understand how guns work and why we need them and wrote the essential piece on the new gun controversy. If you read nothing else, please set aside a half-hour to read his piece.
- You may have heard about the White House petition to deport CNN’s chair-warmer Piers Morgan. The plan would have worked if it had been conducted a bit more quietly. The Brits heard what we were up to and won’t let us send him back.
- My those global warming cultists are touchy, aren’t they?
- My friend Old Line Elephant has a touching and worthwhile piece on adoption and the current panic-wrought legislation in Russia to prevent children from finding loving adoptive parents.
- I have no idea what’s going on at FreedomWorks, but I am distressed by two points: 1) Dick Armey prefers to leak his news to ultra-left-wing David Corn and Mother Jones, and 2) I really don’t have a second point. Isn’t the first point bad enough? Seriously. Is there no one in conservative new media to whom Armey can talk, or does he distrust us that much?
- Ten Diabolical Fiscal Facts from Doug Ross. Oddly enough, I don’t think his headline is in any way hyperbolic. Decide for yourself.
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