One of my commenters noted about last night's blog that I might be trying to get our agents killed.
Far from it.
I didn't leak the story. I reported on what is available on various news outlets and TV. If someone is trying to sabotage our covert agents, I think we should be looking to Washington and whoever leaked the signing of the "secret" presidential order.
Was it the White House again playing fast and loose with American men and women risking their lives to provide the intelligence that gives the US a slight edge in these terrible activities. Or was it someone in the State or Defense Department who couldn't keep his or her mouth shut when the opportunity arose to be "in the know"? Or was it just the Beltway jungle drums that eventually uncover everything?
All I know is that we surely have agents in Syria, probably in Iraq, possibly even in Iran. They are in danger. They are performing a service for their country that most of us would find so frightening as to be beyond possibliity.
The fundamental question we ought to be asking is, "Why are they such patriots when most of us are simply armchair quarterbacks, who often criticize their operating methods and find offense at their tactics.
Would we be safer without them. Certainly not. Would we be happy to take their places and do the job ourselves - amateur patriots that we all are. Certainly not. We'd probably be dead in a matter of hours. Or in an al-Qaida camp spilling out our guts to avoid torture and death.
So, a thought for these men and women. A prayer, even. And the humility to appreciate that they do an outstanding job that is vital and very unpleasant in a world that is beyond most of our experiences or capabilities to imagine.
And perhaps, a thought for a certain Senator John McCain who is struggling to prevent such leaks and to place well-deserved blame for the leaks already made, to atone at least partially for those of our agents who have already suffered as a consequence.
In a free and open society it is unimaginable to most that there are men and women living on the edge of death each and every moment of their lives. I imagine that less than 1% of the readers of this article could even successfully complete the pretraining training, let alone have the basic skill sets to be selected to attempt the training cycle. This is not criticism of any one.
ReplyDeleteI once took upon myself to attempt to be trained in a very unique and unheard of occupation. The training lasted 57 weeks (to start with). The class size was 108 the first day. 57 weeks later the class size was 3. At graduation it was 2 - #3 decided it wasn't for them. Drop out and cuts had 1 common factor - the candidate just didn't have what was required either mentally or physically.
As with the old French Foreign legion. All the field agents are not super hero or born patriots willing to die for the ideals of life, liberty and freedom. No some may just be adventurers who like living on the so called edge. Like it or not they are hero's and patriots of the highest caliber. Their field of honor are the dark corners of the world. The limelight belongs to others, not them, for they don't seek it. That's not what they are about
God bless these men and women who give up so much for the rest of us. And shame and disgrace on anyone who would endanger their lives any more than they are alreday each and every day of their service.
Excuse the flag waving, but they deserve it from some of us like Casey Pops
I really don't think the comment last night was directed at Casey-pops but at the White House and the leaks no one seems to mind.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love flag waving. To me, it's a sport. Perhaps we could get it in the Olympics?
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Casey Pops my apology for using the wrong word, I said you and it should have been they. I never intended to make you think I thought you were the one leaking information. Have a great weekend.
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