North Korea Threatens US

According to a BBC news article, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) accused the United States of flying "aerial espionage missions" over its territorial waters on June 6, 8, and 10 with a USAF RC-135 aircraft. North Korea suggested it would shoot down US spy planes if these flights continue.

The North Koreans have a certain credibility when they make this threat. In 1969 they shot down a US Navy EC-121 off the North Korean east coast, killing all 31 crew members.

The Humble Patriot knows some Air Force guys who fly and operate the RC-135 Rivet Joint. For a country the size of North Korea, they can collect all the intel we need by flying over international waters. With the capabilities of the Rivet Joint there is no need to invade North Korea's airspace. I am certain the US will continue flying these missions, as the signals intelligence this aircraft gathers is vital to our operations in South Korea.

Link: Background on 1969 shootdown of an EC-121 by North Korea.

Bud Day Responds to John Kerry

Retired USAF Colonel George "Bud" Day has a response to John Kerry's newest attempt to resurrect his dubious Vietnam service in preparation for another presedential campaign. "It isn't about medals, it's about honor betrayed." As the most highly decorated living serviceman, Col Day knows a thing or two about honorable service. He is also Chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Legacy Foundation, a non-profit organization of several POWs and the wife of a POW who are the targets of ongoing lawsuits filed by Kerry campaign aides last year. The VVLF POWs are accused of libeling and defaming Kerry and his anti-war followers in a 2004 documentary, "Stolen Honor: Wounds that Never Heal."

The recent New York Times article, "Kerry Pressing Swift Boat Case Long After Loss," revealed Kerry plans to re-ignite the issue of his Vietnam service and medals, roundly disputed by virtually all of his former commanding officers and shipmates who were part of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth campaign.

According to the Times, Kerry has gathered "new evidence" to support his claims that he is a war hero. One piece of that "new evidence" is a "hat" the Massachusetts Senator says was given to him during a highly disputed "secret mission" into Cambodia on Christmas 1968.

"No matter how many versions of his four months in Vietnam Sen. Kerry literally pulls out of his 'hat,' or the medals he shunned then embraced, all of that is nothing but reportorial smoke and fog designed to obscure the far more important issue - John Kerry's deliberate betrayal of his countrymen." Col. Day added, "That alone compelled many POWs and most Vietnam veterans, Swift Boaters included, to stand firm against this poser, this strutting would-be hero and turncoat."

Read the Military.com article about Col Day's service that earned him the Medal of Honor
Read the Oct 2004 Human Events interview with Col Day.

Zarqawi Killed by CENTCOM Forces

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the self-proclaimed leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, was killed in an airstrike a few miles north of Baqubah on June 7th. In the opinion of the Humble Patriot, Zarqawi was the most evil of men. His war against Shia Muslims and coalition forces utilized suicide bombers, and some estimate he is responsible for 700 dead in Iraq.

Link: CENTCOM news release
Richard Miniter's article: Zarqawi's Final Atrocities

Commie Teachers Descend Upon LA!

The Humble Patriot is in Los Angeles for a two-week Air Force Reserve commitment. Staying in a nice Hilton hotel, I have seen the typical hotel gentry: business travelers, wedding parties, tourists visiting Hollywood, etc. I even met a middle-aged Australian man named Allan who flew 14 hours to come here with his adult daughter. His purpose: To give his daughter a two-week tour of the greatest country in the world. When I told him I was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, he insisted upon buying me a drink at the hotel bar. I was a little overwhelmed to have a foreigner telling me about the greatness of the United States, and your Humble Patriot got a little teary eyed. He also said I would feel right at home in Australia because Dewar's is the favorite drink there!

The next day, with high hopes for humanity after experiencing the magnanimity of Allan from Australia, the hotel atmosphere changed. The weekend was beginning and the business travelers were mostly gone. However, this Hilton seemed to be getting busier. The lobby was more crowded, and wait times for the elevator were getting longer throughout the day on Saturday. These new hotel guests were rather kooky looking. I was starting to wonder if a hippie convention was on the weekend schedule, or perhaps the Greens party was having a meeting. I saw a lot of unkempt hair, questionable personable hygiene, plus a lot of Birkenstocks and other "comfortable" shoes. I found myself riding up the elevator with an older guy wearing grubby jeans and a t-shirt that read, "A Defense Budget Leaves Every Child Behind." I was mentally preparing a question for him when he broke the ice by making a wisecrack about my short hair style! I laughed at his silly joke and took a step closer to see if he would feel uncomfortable. I commented, "Wow, there sure is a big group coming in to the hotel."

Grubby Bush hater replies, "Yeah, it's the State Council meeting of the California Teachers Association. There's over a thousand of us here for the weekend."

"One thousand of these guys," I was thinking. That explains the bad odor the hotel was developing. I was about to point out to him the free soap the Hilton puts in every room, but before I could say anything the elevator doors opened to the mezzanine and he disappeared into a sea of teacher's union representatives.

Later, after getting off the elevator on my floor I noticed an easel had been erected in the hallway, apparently for these CTA people to post flyers and notices. One of the postings was letting people know about the Black Panther's stance on education! Another was inviting people to the CTA Greens Party caucus. I was beginning to understand that this CTA council meeting is not so much about making children better through education, but about politics, money, and power.

Since the Humble Patriot is staying another week here, I'm certainly glad the Communist Teachers Association is wrapping up their council meetings today. On Monday I intend to give a hug to the first business traveler I see!