NOVANEWS

 

150th Anniversary – War Between the States

by Jim W. Dean

with sesquicentennial guest commentary by Steve Scroggins

It is my pleasure to introduce VT readers to my old friend Steve Scroggins, a fellow founding member of the Georgia Heritage Council, its long time webmaster, researcher/writer and satirist extraordinaire.

GHC was founded to take more of a big tent approach to the heritage/culture wars heating up around the country. We correctly sensed the old ‘divide and conquer’ game was in full swing with some ulterior motives involved.

The ensuing devastation that the country has incurred proved us right. Most never saw it coming. We warned…’They want it all’, and were described sometimes as hysterical. The wealth of an entire generation of Americans was stolen. Hysterical? You bet.

Veterans Today is not a canary in the mine shaft, but hundreds of them. We also see things coming and do not whisper our concerns. The new website has had a great response and we thank you all. Our depth and breadth will continue to grow and hopefully we will have Steve on board soon as I can promise you he has a lot to share.

The Sesquicentennial is getting a yawn from most of the Yankee States. There are multiple reasons of course…no personal connection, no battlefields, and no cemeteries with 10,000 dead Yankee in them like the one I was at on Memorial Day, Marietta cemetery, with its 3000 unknowns. All were honored.

When the dead and the ghosts are all around you, it’s easier not to forget. Jim W. Dean …Heritage TV – Atlanta

New York’s Sesquicentennial Observance – Commentary by Steve Scroggins

In one of my favorite movies of all time, Lonesome Dove (based on a series of novels by Larry McMurtry), a lead character named Gus McRae (played by Robert Duval) had a fitting line.

After one of their cattle hands (fittingly enough a young Irish immigrant) had just been killed after falling into a swarming group of water moccassins in the Nueces River in southern Texas while trying to cross a herd of cattle on an historic drive from Texas to Montana. The line was… “I God, Woodrow, it’s a bad start.”

McRae, speaking to his partner Woodrow Call, was referring to the beginning of their long journey to Montana. A “bad start” is what comes to mind for this writer as he contemplates another writer’s efforts to get New Yorkers working on their Sesquicentennial observance of the War to Prevent Southern Independence.

First off, in full disclosure, I make no claim to adequate knowledge of New York state history, but I have read quite a bit on this time period in American history. The noted writer provides his own credentials:

“Bruce W. Dearstyne, Ph.D., of Guilderland, N.Y, is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland where he was a professor for 8 years. Previously, he was a program director at the NYS Archives, served on the staff of the New York Office of State history, and taught New York and U.S. history at SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Albany, and Russell Sage College. He is the author of Railroads and Railroad Regulation in New York, 1903-1913 and co-author of New York: Yesterday and Today.”

The opening page of his website is entitled, “New York and the Civil War: It’s Time to Re-enlist — 10 Reasons Why the Sesquicentennial Is Important for Our State.” Dr. Dearstynethen opens the list with this nugget:

May 24, 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the first Union officer killed in the Civil War. Colonel Elmer Ellsworth of Mechanicville, N.Y., was shot by an Alexandria, Virginia hotel owner after tearing down a Confederate flag flying defiantly from the hotel’s rooftop. Ellsworth’s heroic act initiated New York’s critical contribution to the war. New York was first among the states in troops (over 400,000), casualties (more than 46,000), war materiel production, and financial support.

I noted this story entitled, Local war hero celebrated 150 years after his death, a few days ago on a New York TV station website. Local hero? Given their efforts at the Ethnic Cleansing of Dixie in recent years, we’re surprised that the NAACP hasn’t declared Ellsworth a national hero and sought to make his martyrdom a national holiday.

OK, so let’s look at the bare facts. This Ellsworth they are deeming a “local hero” was offended by the “defiant” display of a Confederate flag.

So he went trespassing on another man’s property (the hotel) in another state that had legally declared itself independent, which just happened to be within eyesight of Washington, D.C., and stole the owner’s flag.  And he was shot and killed for his efforts.

And given the tensions at that time (Lincoln’s declared intent to make war, Virginia’s secession in protest after said declaration)…Ellsworth certainly had to know that venturing into Virginia to steal someone’s flag was a risky, if not foolhardy, undertaking.

Colonel Elmer Ellsworth

But he’s given credit for not sending some lowly subordinate to do it. How noble. The incident does give new meaning to Virginia’s state seal and state motto: “Sic Semper Tyrannis”… “Thus Always to Tyrants.”

The seal, which shows a defender with sword and spear standing astride a prone tyrant, is shown affixed to the Proclamation from Virginia’s Governor John Letcher in response to Lincoln’s appeal for troops with which to invade the South. As we noted tongue-in-cheek at the time on Facebook, “Slipping… We used to defend our Confederate flags with more passion.”
I’ll concede that homicide is perhaps an excessive response to such a theft — but we are reminded that it is the person who renders force necessary who has started the fight.

But the larger point here is that New York is putting forth this swaggering Yankee thief Ellsworth as a hero, the first Union Officer killed during the war. I’m almost speechless. Almost.

When you think about it, it does seem fitting that the first Union officer killed should be killed for stealing private property…and for having the audacity to think he was right in doing so. It seems the perfect allegory, the perfect parable for the morality play that was the war and it stands as a superior reason to start the war compared to Fort Sumter in which no one was killed by Confederate fire.

Two yankee soldiers were killed AFTER the surrender, but they were killed in an accidental explosion as they prepared to fire a cannon salute to their flag as they lowered it to leave Fort Sumter. Tragic ignorance writ large. We tipped our hat to author Thomas DiLorenzo back on April 12th, when he noted on the LewRockwell.com blogabout the 150th Anniversary that:

• Fort Sumter Death Toll: 1 horse, no humans

• Death Toll From Lincoln’s Response to Fort Sumter: 670,000 humans (including 50,000 Southern civilians); thousands of horses

With Ellsworth’s death, now we have a solid begin date –May 24, 1861– to put on Sherman’s Vandalism. In the end, that really summarizes the entire war effort. The Southern states were looted, burned and robbed for the financial benefit of the northern states…but the soldiers who carried out the crime were simply miffed because the Southern states were…”defiant.” They were offended that the Southern states exercised their right to self-government and self determination and they were determined—-at whatever the cost—- to force the South to bend to their preferences.

Dr. Dearstyne goes on to note that at least forty (40) Union generals hailed from New York including John A. Dix who is noted to be a former senator and future governor, and who was Secretary of the Treasury in 1861. According to Dearstyne, Dix telegraphed Treasury agents in New Orleans: “If any one attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot.”

Oh! So, it’s OK to shoot people in New Orleans who might be offended by U.S. Flags… but if someone shoots a New Yorker in Alexandria, Virginia, for stealing flags, they risk creating a martyr. Hmmm… Appointed a general in the Union army, Dix adds to his heroic resume by arresting pro-Confederate members of the Maryland state legislature to prevent a vote on secession, negotiating prisoner exchange with a Confederate general, and commanding federal troops in suppressing the 1863 draft riot, and “working effectively withNew York City officials to organize peaceful resumption of the draft a month later.”

Col. Ellsworth – Shot by Jackson

Of course, Dearstyne didn’t mention the many deaths of civilians, immigrants and various citizens who died as a result of the “order” Dix restored. In the end, recruiting immigrants off-the-boat to go south and loot another country resumed to D.C.’s satisfaction. TheNew York Draft Riots did illustrate that many in the North and, in New York in particular, were not in agreement with Lincoln’s war policies or goals. It also illustrates that Lincoln was willing to use brutal force to suppress any dissent.

Arresting state legislators without legal cause or due process and killing civilians rioting over the draft…wow! Dix had some tough assignments, I’ll give him that. Perhaps he should have paused and reflected on his ultimate moral duty. Robert E. Lee faced similar assignments, had he remained in the U.S. Army, but Lee resigned rather than accept orders to carry out an illegal and immoral war against fellow Americans and citizens of his native state in order to suppress their rights. There’s little doubt, at least for this writer, as to which serves as the better moral example.

In Dearstyne’s defense, he does mention Erastus Corning and other New Yorkers who protested the draft and the arrest of civilians (after suspension of habeas corpus) by the Lincoln horde of loyalty brownshirts. He mentions New York City’s mayor who suggested that NYC should secede (we note the irony here) from the state and form an independent city apart from D.C. rule. He mentions the criticisms of the Emancipation Proclamation.

We should explore all these aspects in more detail. We should applaud Dearstyne’s efforts to generate New Yorker interest in the sesquicentennial and New York’s role in the war. Any effort to understand the facts and the truth is commendable, but given the majority of what the north and New York put forward as “heroic” and as “heroes”… we can understand why New York’s enthusiam is lacking.

What Dearstyne calls New York’s “modesty” would more properly be called shame. Or is it just confidence that “might makes right?” And, perhaps they just don’t want to gloat since their armies won the war…ignoring, of course, that ALL Americans lost liberties…and that the voluntary Republic our Founders gave us was destroyed by their efforts. War is always a terrible waste.

It is perhaps cliche to say that “Freedom isn’t free” but as we reflect on the sacrifices of our veterans this Memorial Day, it is fitting that we remember this most terrible of our wars. In human terms, it cost more American lives (620,000+ soldiers and 50,000+ civilians) than in all our other wars combined. It is remembrance of these soldiers that inspired the traditions that led to Memorial Day observances of various flavors in the South and across the country…notably at Arlington Cemetery, land stolen by the U.S. Government from Robert E. Lee and his heirs.

To honor all those Americans who made the ultimate sacrfice, we should resolve to put forth our best efforts and energies to prevent such sacrifice in the future and to restoring the liberties we have let slip away or be ripped away in the last 150 years. We owe it to our ancestors and to our posterity.

“[I]t wasn’t because our fathers knew what they were fighting for that they were heroes. They didn’t know what they were fighting for, exactly, and they fought on anyway. That’s what made them heroes.” —New York Commander of the Sons of Union Veterans, as quoted by James M. McPherson in his 1994 book, What They Fought For, 1861-1865 — Why the Terrible Destruction of the Civil War? – by Jeff Riggenbach

“Northern soldiers by and large said they were fighting to preserve what their ancestors had bequeathed to them: the Union. Southern soldiers also referred to their ancestors, but they typically argued that the real legacy of the Founding Fathers was not so much the Union as the principle of self-government. Very often we see Southern soldiers comparing the South’s struggle against the U.S. government to the colonies’ struggle against Britain. Both, in their view, were wars of secession fought in order to preserve self-government.” —Thomas Woods, Jr., from Politically Incorrect Guide to American History

“But slavery was far from being the sole cause of the prolonged conflict. Neither its destruction on the one hand, nor its defence on the other, was the energizing force that held the contending armies to four years of bloody work. I apprehend that if all living Union soldiers were summoned to the witness-stand, every one of them would testify that it was the preservation of the American Union and not the destruction of Southern slavery that induced him to volunteer at the call of his country. As for the South, it is enough to say that perhaps eighty percent of her armies were neither slave-holders, nor had the remotest interest in the institution. No other proof, however, is needed than the undeniable fact that at any period of the war from its beginning to near its close the South could have saved slavery by simply laying down its arms and returning to the Union.” –General John B. Gordon, from Reminiscences of the Civil War, page 19

“The Gettysburg speech was at once the shortest and the most famous oration in American history… The doctrine is simply this: that the Union soldiers who died at Gettysburg sacrificed their lives to the cause of self-determination – that government of the people, by the people, for the people, should not perish from the earth. It is difficult to imagine anything more untrue. The Union soldiers in the battle actually fought against self-determination; it was the Confederates who fought for the right of their people to govern themselves.” –H.L. Mencken [emphasis added]

NOVANEWS

by Sherwood Ross

If the CIA routinely lies to the American people, maybe that’s because its got so much to lie about, like killing millions of innocent human beings around the world. As far back as December, 1968, the CIA’s own Covert Operations Study Group gave a secret report to president-elect Richard Nixon that conceded, “The impression of many Americans, especially in the intellectual community and among the youth, that the United States is engaging in ‘dirty tricks’ tends to alienate them from their government.” According to Tim Weiner’s book “Legacy of Ashes”(Anchor), the report went on to say, “Our credibility and our effectiveness in this role is necessarily damaged to the extent that it becomes known that we are secretly intervening in what may be (or appear to be) the internal affairs of others.”

President Bill Clinton, who first gave the CIA the green light to launch its illegal “renditions” (kidnappings,) told the nation on the occasion of the Agency’s 50th birthday (1997), “By necessity, the American people will never know the full story of your courage.” (Courage? For 22 agents to grab one Muslim cleric off the streets of Milan, Italy, and ship him abroad to be tortured?) Anyway, presidents who authorize criminal acts by the CIA, as virtually all have done since its founding in 1947, don’t want the truth out, either, lest knowledge of those “dirty tricks” sicken and revolt the American people when they find out what crimes the Agency is perpetrating with their tax dollars. As former CIA agent Philip Agee once put it, “The CIA is the President’s secret army.” This point was underscored at a luncheon by President Gerald Ford himself, which he hosted for New York Times top editors on Jan. 16, 1975. According to Weiner, Ford told them the reputation of every President since Truman could be ruined if the secrets became public. Asked by an editor, like what? Ford replied “like assassinations.”

One reason the Agency seeks to hide its operations is that it sadly is often guilty as charged. For example, take its complicity in the murders of American missionaries in Peru. As Reuters reported Nov. 21, 2008:

“The CIA obstructed inquiries into its role in the shooting down of an aircraft carrying a family of U.S. missionaries in Peru in 2001, the agency’s inspector general(IG) has concluded. The (IG’s) report said a CIA-backed program in Peru targeting drug runners was so poorly run that many suspect aircraft were shot down by Peruvian air force jets without proper checks being made first.” A small plane carrying Veronica Bowers, her husband Jim, their son Cory and infant daughter Charity was shot down by a Peruvian jet on April 20, 2001, after it was tracked by a CIA surveillance plane that suspected it was carrying drugs. Veronica and Charity Bowers were killed, while their pilot, Kevin Donaldson, who crash-landed the bullet-riddled plane into the Amazon River, was badly injured. The IG’s report said that in the aftermath of the 2001 incident the CIA sought to characterize it as a one-time mistake in an otherwise well-run program. “In fact this was not the case. The routine disregard of the required intercept procedures … led to the rapid shooting down of target aircraft without adequate safeguards to protect against the loss of innocent life,” the report from the Agency’s own IG said. (One might ask why the CIA didn’t wait for the plane to land to interrogate the passengers?)

The kicker in the Reuters account is “The IG said the CIA found ‘sustained and significant’ violations of procedure in its own internal investigation but had denied Congress, the National Security Council and the Justice Department access to its findings.” This raises the question of whether the CIA has become so powerful it can withhold findings even from the Justice Department and Congress? The answer is that it can, has, and likely continues to do so, because it is indeed both powerful and influential. After all, with the exception of President Clinton, who abetted the CIA’s crimes, presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush Jr., and Barrack Obama all have been directly on the CIA payroll as employees at one time or another. Bush Sr., of course, headed the Agency during 1976-77. Bush Jr. worked for a CIA front in Alaska, and President Obama worked for CIA front Business International Corporation after he got out of college.

The CIA’s influence is such that it can successfully forbid other agencies of government to conceal its crimes if they find out about them. Example: “The Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA) knew about and helped cover up the CIA’s involvement in Guatemala’s drug war murders, a former DEA agent said,” the AP reported on July 23, 1996. Although the DEA denied the allegations, Celerino Castillo, who was a special DEA agent assigned to Guatemala, said he and other DEA agents there “were aware of specific murders committed by the Guatemala military with CIA involvement and were ordered to lie to keep the crimes secret.” AP said the Intelligence Oversight Board issued a report stating CIA agents in Guatemala “were credibly alleged” to have ordered, planned or participated in human rights violations such as murder, torture and kidnapping.” (I.e., Castillo’s charges were true.) So it has long since gotten to the point that officials of other U.S. agents cannot report the CIA’s crimes either, as if they were under a Mafia oath of secrecy.

CIA employees themselves are forbidden by secrecy agreements (under the Intelligence Identities Protection Act passed under President Ronald Reagan) to write anything about the Agency without first clearing it with a CIA publications review board. Accordingly, the CIA recently cracked down on a former officer who wrote under the pseudonym “Ishmael Jones.” His “crime” was to publish two years ago “The Human Factor: Inside the CIA’s Dysfunctional Intelligence Culture.” The Associated Press quotes Jones as saying, “CIA censors attack this book because it exposes the CIA as a place to get rich, with billions of taxpayer dollars wasted or stolen in espionage programs that produce nothing.” Denying the truth, however, is a long established CIA practice. John Stockwell, for 13 years a CIA station chief in Angola or a top man in Viet Nam, said in a lecture, “What I ran into…was a corruption in the CIA and the intelligence business…what I found was that the CIA, us, the case officers, were not permitted to report about the corruption in the South Vietnamese army.”

Whether the Agency’s John Stockwell, Ishmael Jones or DEA’s Celerino Castillo, we note that many of the CIA’s critics are former American intelligence officers who have seen too much, men apparently with a conscience and respect for human rights. Stockwell, a former Marine who held high posts in the field for the CIA was in a position to know when he charged that over the years the CIA has killed “millions” of innocents. He says the victims were largely “people of the Third World…that have the misfortune of being born in the Metumba mountains of the Congo, in the jungles of Southeast Asia…in the hills of northern Nicaragua…most of (whom) couldn’t give you an intelligent definition of communism or of capitalism.” Stockwell estimated the CIA has perpetrated “10 to 20 thousand covert actions” between 1961, about the time of its Cuban Bay of Pigs fiasco, and 1987.

Stockwell concludes “We are responsible for doing these things on a massive basis to people of the world…we create a CIA, a secret police, we give them a vast budget, and we let them go and run these (covert) programs in our name and we pretend like we don’t know it’s going on…And we’re just as responsible for these 1 to 3 million people we’ve slaughtered and for all the people we’ve tortured and made miserable, as the Gestapo was of the people that they slaughtered and killed. Genocide is genocide.”

Is it? The Obama administration apparently has no plans to expose and bring to trial past CIA killers and torturers, much less those who obstructed justice by destroying tapes of their torture or lying to Congress about it. This is the same country—which is now waging war in four or five Middle East nations and has been responsible for the violent and bloody overthrow of dozens of foreign governments—that keeps a quarter of a million pot smokers in prison who have never hurt another human being in their lives. Pardon me if I ask whether my native land has not, in fact, become a lunatic asylum run by the criminally insane? #

NOVANEWS

by Denise Nichols

As gulf war veterans tried to reunite on their 20 year anniversary, they struggle to find their cohorts that they served with in Operation Desert Storm.  Many Vietnam Veterans at All Veterans Reunions have been wondering for years now, where are the Gulf War 90-91 Veterans?  With at least one in four receiving VA disability due to Gulf War Illness, many claims still caught up in the backlog, and then the mix up with the Gulf War Veterans data in 07  it is hard to discern the actual death rate and the age of death and causes of these deaths.

Although Gulf War Veterans advocates have called on the VA to establish registries to be set up on diagnosed illnesses and undiagnosed multisystem disorders, and to have that information openly available to researchers and to the veterans, that has not occurred.

They are becoming the unseen and unmentioned veterans.  Those that are there noticed the lack of recognition for the words Gulf War 1990-91, Operation Desert Storm from the majority of Memorial Day Ceremonies.  The survivors of these veterans surely were not highlighted in any media coverage.  The widows/widowers and their children have not had any coverage or been welcomed into the fold because those are the invisible injuries that are not discussed.  Will we let another group of veterans just vanish without recognition?  Certainly now with DOD Congressional Mandated Gulf War IllnessResearch  funding on the block at the House of Representatives- Appropriations Committee vote on Defense Department Funding on Tuesday would be appropriate time to review just the latest deaths that we have found since the end of May.  This list is by no means complete but it is a start!

Veterans are asking why DOD and VA can not acknowledge them and recognize the Gulf War Illnesses, it has been 20 years and our troops are almost home now from the Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Certainly this nation can start being more accountable to what happened to Gulf war veterans who served in 1990-91.  The veterans express frustration and anger concerning the hidden reasons for the lack of transparency and feel they have waited long enough!

Here are the obituaries and the taps to honor these veterans.

John C. Snyder

MANCHESTER, MO: John C. Snyder of Manchester, MO went to be with the Lord Sunday morning, June 5, 2011 at the age of 41. He was born January 20, 1970 in Mansfield, Ohio. He was enrolled and graduated from the Madison School System in Mansfield. After graduation John joined the U.S. Marines and went through basic training at Camp Lejune in North Carolina. He served aboard the ships, the Saratoga and the Iwo Jima as security and then served in the wars Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After four years of service, John was honorably discharged. Upon returning to Mansfield, he attended Ashland University to major in education and religion. John was married in 1996 and became book room manager at the Ashland University bookstore. In 1997 John and his wife moved to Columbia, MO to work in the IT department at MBS Textbook Exchange, INC. In 1998 he moved to St. Louis and joined Penski’s IT department. In 1999 he became employed at Genelco and later completed an Associate Degree in computer information systems. In 2005 he joined Magellon Health Services.

He is survived by his parents, Ralph and Brenda Snyder of Mansfield; brother, Michael T. Snyder; one niece; one nephew; three sons, Alex, Isaac, and Evan and their mother; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Friends may call Sunday, June 12, 2011 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Diamond St. Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 98 S. Diamond St., Mansfield. Funeral services will be held Monday, June 13, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home, conducted by John’s uncle, Pastor Kenneth DeVinney. Friends may also call one hour prior to the service from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Military graveside services conducted by the Richland County Joint Veteran’s Burial Detail will follow in Mansfield Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the John Snyder Memorial Fund for the benefit of his sons.

Online guest registry at www.wappner.com

Dale Snyder, age 61, of Baker, Fla., passed away peacefully at his home Thursday evening. Dale was a proud veteran the U.S. Air Force, serving over 20 years, including tours in Vietnam and Desert Storm.

He is survived by two daughters, Heather Derrick and Sabrina Gonzalez; his father, Lyle Snyder; brother, Keith Snyder; sisters, Faith Daniels, Vicky Frankovich and Lesa Lingle; and three grandchildren, Candice Marie Derrick, Caleb Michael Derrick and Kaylee Gonzalez.

A time of visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, June 13, 2011, at the chapel of Whitehurst Powell Funeral Home in Crestview.

Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, at the funeral home. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Fla.

Arrangements are entrusted to Whitehurst Powell Funeral Home in Crestview. Guest book and condolences are available online at www.whitehurstpowellfuneralhome.com.

Published in Northwest Florida Daily News on June 12, 2011

ROBERT E. NAYLOR, M.D.

Col., USAF (Ret.)
On Thursday, June 9, 2011, peacefully at Grand Oaks Assisted Living in Washington, DC. He is survived by his four siblings, Michael Naylor (Chris) of Washington, DC, William Naylor (Theresa) of Clifton, VA, Martha Naylor (Hope) of Downingtown, PA, and Mark Naylor (Karen) of Chester Springs, PA. He is also survived by 14 nephews and nieces and other extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, William R. and Mary L. Naylor, his brother Christopher R. Naylor and sister, Mary D. Fitzgerald. A 40-year active and reserve veteran, Dr. Naylor served in Vietnam and Desert Storm. Prior to his move to the Washington DC area in 2008, Dr. Naylor spent the last 25 years of his career as a cardiologist in the Sunnyvale, CA area. The family will receive friends at the Joseph Gawler’s Sons Funeral Home, 5130 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC on Monday, June 13, 2011 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. At a time yet to be determined, a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Ft. Myer Chapel in Arlington, VA followed by Interment at Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name may be made to the American Heart Association .

www.josephgawlers.com

Sean Paul McMillan, 38 of Kirkland died Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at Kishwaukee Community Hospital.

He was born on Feb. 5, 1973 in Sycamore. The son of Robert A. and Susan Jo (Peterson) McMillan. He was a graduate of the Sycamore High School, Class of 1991. Sean was a veteran U.S. Army, serving in Desert Storm.

Sean was a member of the American Legion and the VFW. He enjoyed motorcycle riding, fishing and was always there to help people. He had a big heart and loud laugh.

He is survived by his parents, Robert A. and Susan McMillan of Sycamore; his children, Shaina Marie, Dawlton Garrett and Kaelab Allen McMillan, along with their mother, Debbey, all of Mississippi; one brother, Robert P. McMillan; one sister, Mary Katherine McMillan, both of Sycamore; his life companion, Jessica Wade; his uncle, Jim (Nancy) McMillan; one niece, Kara Marie McMillan and two cousins, Ryan and Matthew McMillan.

A Paraliturgical Service will be on Monday, June 13 at 11:00 AM at the Butala Funeral Home and Crematory in SycNEWPORT NEWS amore, with Fr. Frank J. Timar officiating. Burial will be private.

Visitation will be on Sunday from 3:00-7:00 PM at the Funeral Home.

Memorials can be made for Sean McMillan in care of the local family owned and operated, Butala Funeral Home and Crematory, 1405 DeKalb Ave.,Sycamore, IL 60178. For info go to www.ButalaFuneralHomes.com or call815-895-2833 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 815-895-2833 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

– Mike A. Baker, 45, passed away suddenly, on Saturday May 28, 2011. A native of Big Stone Gap, he was a resident of Newport News for 17 years.

Mike served as a Senior trooper with the Virginia State Police and had been with the Sex Offenders Registry. AnArmy Veteran, he served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Two of his greatest loves in life was boating and NASCAR.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Buford Lee Baker.

He is survived by his sons, Aaron and Andrew Baker; daughter-in-law, Ashley Harbeck; the mother of his children, Terri M. Baker; his mother, Brenda Baker; his granddaughter on the way, Andrea; and his brother, Hobert Baker. He also leaves behind his chosen sons, Turtle Parsons and John Harbeck; special friend, Lisa Calloway and her son, Jake; as well as a host of friends throughout Newport News and Southwest, Va.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Peninsula Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The American Heart Association 500 Plume St. East, Suite 100, Norfolk, VA 23510. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.

Published in Daily Press from May 30 to May 31, 2011

Dan L. Baxter

Funeral services for Dan L. Baxter, age 46, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 4, 2011 in the chapel of Arrington Funeral Directors. Burial will follow in Ridgecrest Cemetery with military honors.

Mr. Baxter died on Tuesday, May 31, 2011.

Dan was born in Louisville, KY on February 2, 1965, the son of Connie Lovelace Baxter Bausman and the late George Dan Baxter. He enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of seventeen, and was a fifteen year veteran serving in Desert Storm. He enjoyed computers and working in the yard. He collected porcelain eagles and was an avid NASCAR fan. Dan was dedicated to his family and his job. He would do anything he could to help a friend.

He is survived by his wife, Tammy Banks Baxter of Jackson, TN; four sons, Bradley Baxter of San Diego, CA, Chad Crocker of Hernando, MS, Hunter Webb of Jackson, TN and Chance Webb of Jackson, TN; four daughters, Cheri Williams and husband John of Lexington, Nikki Webb of Jackson, TN, Christina Garcia of San Diego, CA and Michelle Prince of San Diego, CA; his mother, Connie Bausman of Jackson, TN; two brothers, Ron Baxter and wife Cathy of Pekin, IL and Grady Kiestler and wife Jennifer of Jackson, TN; a sister, Vanessa Schwoob and husband Joe of Warren, IL; his grandchildren, Nathaniel Barnett, Anthony Barnett, John Williams, Alexis Dubose and Victoria Prince; his father and mother-in-law, Larry and Mary Banks of Medina, TN; grandparent, Neddia Congiarbo of Jackson, TN; aunt, Mary Alice Collins of Gibson, TN; very special friends, Joe and Emma McCoy; nieces, Jessica Wolfe, Nicole Schwoob, Kaylee Kiestler; nephews, Brandon Baxter and Joey Schwoob, and a great niece, Abbigail Wolfe; and Bella, his Tea-Cup Yorkie that he loved.

Dan was preceded in death by his father, George Dan Baxter; grandparents, Lawrence and Elizabeth Lovelace and James Baxter.

Pallbearers serving will be Ron Baxter, Grady Kiestler, Wayne Sporcic, Joe Schwoob, Scott Banks and Jeff Martin. Honorary Pallbearers will be Chris Collins, B.J. Bright, James DeBerry and Brandon Baxter.

The family is requesting any memorial contributions be directed to the American Heart Association , 2170 Business Center Dr., Suite 1, Memphis, TN 38134; or to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516.

The family will be receiving friends on Friday, June 3, 2011 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., at Arrington Funeral Directors, 148 W. University Parkway, (731) 668-1111 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (731) 668-1111end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

EARLES

David Wayne, age 51 of Independence, KY passed away Friday May 27, 2011 at his residence. He was a Machine Operator for Eagle Manufacturing. He served in the Army during Desert Storm. Son Ralph Earles preceeded him in death. He is survived by his wife Shelia Earles. Daughters Scarleto Gibbs and Maronda Pratt. Son Christopher Earles. Sister Melanie Tipton. 2 Grandchildren. Visitation will be held at Cooper Funeral Home, Alexandria from 5-8pm on Tuesday. Services will begin at 8pm. Graveside Services will be Wednesday June 1 at 10am at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery in Williamstown. Online condolences can be left atwww.cooperfuneralhome.net.

Published in the Kentucky Enquirer on May 30, 2011

Link “Chuckie” Howard IV Link “Chuckie” Howard IV departed this life on May 23, 2011 at Scripps Memorial Hospital in San Diego, CA. He was born November 16, 1975 in Mt. Clemens to Martha and Pastor Link Howard III. Link was a graduate of Port Huron High School in 1993. Link accepted Christ at a very young age while a member of Greater Morning Star Baptist Church in Mt. Clemens. He later became a member of Interfaith Community Church (now Faith Christian Community Church). He served in the U.S. Navy during the Desert Storm Era and was discharged in San Diego, CA where he remained until his untimely death. Home going services will be Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at Faith Christian Community Church, 1640 Cleveland Ave. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. and all remarks and tributes will be honored during this time. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. The Reverend Dr. Jeffery A. Williams will officiate and Bishop Joseph D. Wiley-Taylor will give the eulogy. Burial will be in New Haven Centennial Cemetery. Military honors will be conducted under the auspices of the St. Clair County Allied Veterans Council. Funeral care was entrusted to Pollock-Randall Funeral Home. To send condolences, visit pollockrandallfuneralhome.com

Published in The Times Herald on May 30, 2011

Kevin M. Michalik

AGE: 49 • formerly of Sayreville

Kevin M. Michalik, age 49, formerly of Sayreville passed away Sunday, May 29, 2011 at his home in Bushkill, Pennsylvania. Born in South Amboy he had resided in Sayreville before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1981. Kevin retired from the Air Force in 2004 after 23 years of service with the rank of Master Sergeant with the 82nd Airborne Flying Tigers, where he was an aircraft mechanic on the A-10 Wart Hog attack aircraft. He served during the Desert Shield in Kuwait, Desert Storm in Iraqi, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He was a communicant of Saint Stanislaus Kostka R. C. Church in Sayreville.

Surviving are his parents Frank & Maryann Sewell Michalik of Sayreville, his siblings and their spouses Florence & Ernie Nemeth of Fords, Frank & Laura Michalik Jr. of Jackson, Lorraine & William Bobber of Connecticut, Regina & Jim Colligan of Scotch Plains, Stephanie & Keith Methner of East Brunswick and Collette & Joseph Williams of Berkeley Heights and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral services will be held Thursday 10am from the Maliszewski Memorial Home 121 Main Street Sayreville followed by a 10:30am mass at Saint Stanislaus Kostka R. C. Church in Sayreville with burial and full military honors to follow at Saint Stanislaus Cemetery, Sayreville. Calling hours at the funeral home will be held Wednesday from 6pm to 9pm. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations in Kevin’s name to the Veterans Administration Solders Home Menlo Park, Edison, N.J.

Published in Home News Tribune

PERRY Ricky L. Perry, age 35, of Galloway passed away Thursday, June 2, 2011, in Doctors West Hospital. He was born August 17, 1975 in Columbus. Ricky graduated from The Ohio State University School of Architecture and was a U.S. Air Force Veteran of Desert Storm. He is survived by his parents, Ricky B. and Betsy A. Perry; daughter, Nexes Perry; sister, Tracy (Johnny) Milburn; fiancée, Sondra Norris all of Galloway. Family and friends may call 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday in the RADER-MCDONALD FUNERAL HOME, West Jefferson where Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Monday. Burial and Graveside Military Service will follow in Sunset Cemetery, Galloway.

Published in The Columbus Dispatch on June 4, 2011

from May 31 to June 1, 2011

James Larry Reaves, age 58, of Gulfport, died Sunday, May 29, 2011 in Biloxi. He was born in Greenwood, MS and had been a resident of Gulfport for the past 20 years. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of Vietnam, Desert Storm, Persian Gulf and Iraqi Freedom retiring after 23 years. He served 11years as an Independent Duty Corpman providing medical attention to fellow soldiers. He received a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University in 1984 and loved to ride motor-cycles, especially his Harley. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and mentor to his family and those who knew him.

Mr. Reaves was preceded in death by his father, George Reaves, Sr.; and a brother, John Reaves.

He is survived by his wife, Crystal Reaves of Gulfport; a daughter, April Reaves and fiance’ Calvin Nobles of Pensacola, FL; two sons, Andre Reaves (Ashley) and Sterling Reaves (Shona) all of Gulfport; a sister, Diane Reaves of California, two brothers, Michael Reaves of California and George Reaves, Jr. of Missouri; and his mother, Mary Reaves of Mexico, MO; and three grandchildren, Nakiah Reaves, Cameron Reaves, and Londyn Reaves.

Visitation will be held Sunday, June 5, 2011 from 1 until 3:00 p.m. at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, O’Neal Road, Gulfport. The funeral service is Monday, June 6, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with interment following at Biloxi National Cemetery.

View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com.

Norris J. Townsend Jr.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Norris J. “J.R., Jake” Townsend Jr. of Cape Coral, and formerly of Laurel, passed away Monday, May 23, 2011, at Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers, Fla. He was 63.

He graduated from Mardela High School in 1965. He attended the University of Maryland and Salisbury (State) University. He enlisted in the Maryland National Guard in 200th MP Company and proudly served in the Persian Gulf War in Operation Desert Storm.

He was a former member and past commander of American Legion Post 64, life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars 194 in Salisbury and DAV member in Delaware.

He is survived by his loving wife, Betty Sue; two sons, Bryan of Hawaii and Alex of Florida; mother, Betty Alexander; sister, Janet Vilkas (Brian); nephew, Jacob Lewis; niece, Brittony Townsend of North Carolina; sisters-in-law, Debbie Townsend of North Carolina, and Anita Cole (Carroll Jones) of Salisbury; brothers-in-law, Charles A. Parsons Jr. and Edward Hitchens of Delaware; aunt, Peggy (Giggy) Taylor of Salisbury and several cousins.

He was preceded in death by father, Norris Townsend Sr.; brother, Alex “Lex” Townsend; stepfather, Charles “Bill” Alexander; uncles, Carl Pollitt Jr. and John “Bob” Pollitt; grandparents, Carl and Mamie Pollitt, and Alex and Lena Townsend; mother-in-law, Anita Parsons; and father-in-law, Charles A. Parsons Sr.Published in The Daily Times on June 2, 2011

VANN
Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann, Sr., Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, went to be with our Lord and Loved Ones on Saturday, May 28, 2011. He was a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in 1981 and attended San Antonio College. Kenneth was a Veteran having served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Operation Desert Storm. He became a Deputy Sheriff with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office in 1985. Kenneth began his service in the Detention Division, transferred to Law Enforcement where he served as a Patrolman, then as a Traffic Enforcement Officer and later transferred to Court Security. He was then promoted to Investigator; and promoted to his current rank and position as a Sergeant in the Patrol Division. Kenneth was a Supervisor and member of the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team. He proudly served the citizens of Bexar County for more than 26 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rosaura Saucier Vann and Roland Vann, Sr.; his brother, Roland Vann, Jr.; brother-in-law David Rice Calvert; uncle, Rodger Keiser. He is survived by his wife, Sgt. Yvonne Villarreal Vann, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office; his children, Rachael Michele Vann, Justin Michael Vann and Kenneth Gary Vann, Jr.; his aunt, Rosalinda C. Keiser; sisters, Gloria Saucier Calvert, Virginia Saucier Jimenez and husband, Tony and Patricia Ann Saucier; brothers, George A. Vann and wife, Yolanda, Richard M. Vann; Carl Rodriguez and Fred Rodriguez and wife, June; mother-in-law, Sulema Villarreal; sister-in-law Teresa Lynn Garza and husband, Michael; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; lifelong friend, Michael F. Gregoire and wife, Dolores.

Robert A. Baggett – GLENNVILLE – Robert A. Baggett, 73, passed away Thursday, June 2, 2011 at his residence under the care of his family and Hospice. He was born in Dublin, GA on November 12, 1937 to Alfonzo and Revia Warren Baggett. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War receiving the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and the Sharpshooter Medal. He was also a Gulf War Veteran. He was employed with Georgia Power for 18 years and retired from civil service at Ft. Stewart with 20 years of service. He was a member of Ohoopee Hunting Club and Oak Grove Baptist Church. Survivors include wife, Brenda R. Baggett of Reidsville; sons and daughters- in-law, Robert Jr. and Brenda M. Baggett of Claxton, Joseph Clinton “Clint” and Debbie Baggett of Reidsville; brothers, Charles Baggett of Louisiana, Warren Baggett of Macon; sister, Janice Joiner of Dublin; grandchildren, Josh Baggett, Danielle Baggett; step- grandchildren, Heidi, Kim and Heather Ernst, Katherine Durdan, Henry Hall and Kimberly Hall, 13 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews also survive. Visitation will begin at 6:00 pm, Friday, June 3, 2011, at Brannen-Kennedy Funeral Home in Glennville. Funeral Services will be 11:00 am, Saturday, June 4, 2011, from the Chapel of Brannen-Kennedy Funeral Home in Glennville. Burial will follow in Brewton Cemetery in Hagan. Brannen-Kennedy Funeral Home Glennville Chapel www.brannenkennedy.com Savannah Morning News June 3, 2011 Please sign our Guest Book at savannahnow.com/obituaries .

The Reverend Charles Dinkins, age 49, entered eternal rest on Tuesday, May 24, at Medical Center Barbour.

Home going celebration will be held Wednesday, June 1 at 1 p.m. CST at St. John A.M.E. Church. The Rev. L.C. Green pastor and the Rev. T.A. Reynolds will officiate.

Interment and Dove releasing ceremony will follow at Shiloh A.M.E. Church Hwy 30, Clayton. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 31, from 1-8 p.m. at the Funeral Home according to Eufaula Funeral Home.

The Rev. Charles Edward Dinkins was born to the late Mrs. Martha (Dinkins) Sims and Williams Henry Sims.

He was preceded in death by his mother Martha Sims, his brother Eugene Sims, and his grandmother Martha Dinkins.

He confessed Christ at an early age at the Shiloh A.M.E. Church.

He was a preacher, a faithful employee at Cooper Lighting for 28 years, a veteran member of the U.S. Armed Forces (Army National Guard) having served in Honduras and Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War, a Prince Hall Mason, and an upstanding member in his community.

He leaves behind a cherish his memories: wife, Barbara Dinkins; three children, Kevin (Veronica) Williams, Krystal Dinkins and Charles E. Dinkins, Jr.; two grandchildren, Tylia Matthews and Akiria Williams; three brothers, James Sims, Joseph Sims and Robert Sims; two sisters-in-law, Gloria (Tommy) Biddings and Lisa (George) Baker; two brothers-in-law, Mack Williams and Michael Thornton; Uncles and Aunts, Simon (Emma) Dinkins, Mary Harris, Geneva (Willie) Morrell, Eddie Dinkins and Tony (Mary) Dinkins; a host of nephews, cousins, relatives and many sorrowing friends.

“Lean not on your own understanding, but acknowledge God in all thy ways and He will direct your path.”

“By being a preacher, I’m a living testimony, I know that I’ve been changed. I’m just waiting on Jesus. I’m going on a long journey one day and when the gates swing open, Jesus is gonna to tell me to come on in my room, because I already know who is in charge.”

Sign the online guestbook for Rev. Dinkins at www.eufaulatribune. com.

May 31, 2011

Gerard M. “Jerry” Rettenmyer, 68, of Scotrun, Pa., died Tuesday, May 31, 2011, upon arrival at Pocono Medical Center, East Stroudsburg, Pa., after being stricken earlier in the day. He was the husband of Nancy (Marchetti) Rettenmyer. Born on March 31, 1943, in Wilkes-Barre, he was the only child of the late Joseph and Mary (Murray) Rettenmyer and lived in Monroe County for the past 30 years. He was a Staff Sergeant E6 in the U.S.Army having served from 1964 to 1968 in Germany with the United States Security Agency. He was also a Gulf War Veteran and a Criminal Investigator in the Criminal Investigations Command (CID) United States Army. Jerry was a retired Pennsylvania State Police Corporal having last been stationed at the Belfast barracks. He was a member of Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church, Tannersville, Pa.; an officer with the title of Marshall and Past President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 1106, Stroud Township, where he was editor of the bulletin. His community service also included being Past Commander of the Monroe County American Legion; Deputy Commander of the American Legion 30th District; serving on the American Legion Pennsylvania State Law and Order committee; and being a co-founder, charter member and Post Commander of the American Legion Post 425, Tannersville. Jerry was active in the Pocono Irish American Club and served on the parade committee. He was preceded in death by his dogs, Hailey and Hunter. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children, Nicholas Rettenmyer and his wife, Jennifer, of St. Sulpice, Switzerland, Joseph Rettenmyer and his wife, Jamie, of Canadensis, Pa., and Margaret Taber and her husband, Sean, of Spencer, Mass.; and seven grandchildren, Alexis Rettenmyer, Joei Rettenmyer, Adam Rettenmyer, Kai Rettenmyer, Dane Rettenmyer, Axel Rettenmyer and Christian Taber. There will be a viewing from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at the William H. Clark Funeral Home, 1003 Main St., Stroudsburg, Pa. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church, Cherry Lane Road, Tannersville, Pa., with the Rev. Richard Czachor as celebrant. Burial will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hanover Township. Because of Jerry’s love for dogs, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances be made in Jerry’s honor to Animal Welfare Society of Monroe, P.O. Box 13, Stroudsburg, PA 18360. Arrangements by William H. Clark Funeral Home, 1003 Main St., Stroudsburg, PA 18360; www.wmhclarkfuneralhome.com .

SPEESE, Matthew J.
Howard City
Formerly of Wayland

Passed away suddenly June 1, 2011. Matthew was born August 27, 1963, in Union Lake, the son of Richard and Julie (Diver) Speese. Matthew was a 1981 graduate of Wall Lake Central High School, and following graduation, Matthew enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he proudly served during the Gulf War. A member of the VFW Post 7581 in Wayland, Matthew served as the POW MIA Chairman. An avid outdoors man who loved fishing, Matthew will be remembered as a hands on father and grandfather. Matthew is survived by his daughter, Stephanie Speese; a son, Sean Speese; granddaughters: Lillian Buchanan, and Ava Walker; brothers, David (Kristi) Speese, Mark (Carolyn) Speese, and Scott (Becky) Speese; sisters: Susan Kneeshaw, and Melissa (Steven) Elken; an aunt, Jeannine McGlynn; uncle and aunt, Thomas and Kay Speese; special friend, Nancy Kowalczyk; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Matthew was preceded in death by his parents. His family will receive friends, Sunday 5:00 to 8:00 PM, at the Beeler-Gores Funeral Home in Middleville, where a funeral service with military honors will be conducted, Monday, June 6, 2011, 11:00 AM. Burial will take place in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Kalamazoo. For a more lasting memorial please consider memorial contributions to the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Please visit beeler-goresfuneral.com to view and sign Matthew’s online guest book.

Published in Kalamazoo Gazette on June 4, 2011

NOVANEWS

by Asif Haroon Raja

Our suspicions about ill-designs of USA and its strategic allies Israel and India concerning Pakistan’s nuclear program are now turning into reality. President Ahmadinejad’s recent statement that USA has evil designs against our nuclear program has further heightened our anxieties. Psychological war on our nuclear program was ignited by US government and Jewish controlled think tanks and media sometime in 2004 and became more and more vicious with each passing year. Pakistan’s nuclear program was made to look unsafe after overplaying threat of terrorism, which was also inflamed by USA and its allies by occupying Afghanistan and then pushing terrorism into Pakistan.

While launching of military operations by the Army in Waziristan at the behest of USA led to emergence of Pakistani Taliban, two drone attacks in Bajaur Agency in 2006 instilled hatred against the Army particularly when October strike on a seminary killing 80 students was wrongly owned by the Army. Brutal military action against inmates of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafza in July 2007 triggered recruitment of young Taliban. It also ignited spate of suicide bombings in cities. Thereon, it became easy for the senior members of TTP to motivate young boys aged 12-16 years to become suicide bombers.

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) established in December 2007 under deceased Baitullah Mehsud, which has its tentacles in all seven tribal agencies as well as in settled areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Swat, Malakand, South Punjab, Pashtun belt of Balochistan and its long arm can reach any part of Pakistan is of chief concern for Pakistan but of no concern to USA. Several foreign agencies are providing massive funds, weapons, equipment, explosives, training facilities, guidance and manpower reinforcements from Afghan soil to TTP since they desire this force to possibly defeat or as a minimum contain bulk of Army.

But for foreign support in huge quantities, it would not have been possible for the TTP to rebound after its backbone had been broken in the two decisive battles of Bajaur and South Waziristan in 2009. Footprints of foreign hands were clearly seen in all the regions that were recaptured from the militants. In the Bajaur battle which raged from August 2008 till February 2009, large number of Tajik and Uzbek fighters supplemented Mullah Faqir Muhammad force. Even now Afghans are involved in Bajaur, Mohmand and Dir.
Once the main bases of militants were dismantled and its leaders sought refuge in Afghanistan, the conspirators then shifted terrorism to major cities. This was made possible after the induction of Blackwater in 2008. Several security companies like Dyncorps cropped up in capital cities. Dozens of militant groups affiliated with TTP and al-Qaeda and linked with Blackwater are wreaking havoc in cities.

While the people have not come out of the shock of two attacks in May, the foreign and local media is adding to their apprehensions by floating rumor balloons of despondency and trying to undermine the capabilities of armed forces. An impression is being created that the military is incapable of safeguarding our vital interests. Great majority in Pakistan distrusts USA and suspect that it will again strike Pakistan to denuclearize it. They are not convinced with John Kerry assurances that the US is not interested in Pak nukes particularly after NATO Secretary General’s statement that it is the collective responsibility of international community to secure nuclear assets of Pakistan.

Despite multi-layered system of security evolved by Pakistan which is second to none, doubts are still being aired by vested interests that Pakistan’s nuclear program is unsafe and needs to be secured before they fall into wrong hands. Although our leaders are claiming that no harm can befall upon our strategic assets, in my humble view the threat is of different nature about which our policy makers have given no thought. Their eyes are fixed on local terrorists about whom the US is repeatedly ringing alarm bells.

The biggest threat is not from US or Indo-Israeli direct assault, or from local terrorists who are anti-American, but from foreign backed terrorists trained to undertake special operations, like the ones against GHQ and Mehran Base. Another possible dangerous threat is from pro-American elements or sympathizers of foreign sponsored terrorists working inside nuclear setups who may be bribed to steal fissile material and fuses and pass them on to wrong people. One must not forget that CIA had been able to buy the loyalties of several scientists working in a nuclear plant in 1990s. Brig Imtiaz working in ISI had busted the band on the payroll of CIA, after he accidentally found out from a girl ditched by one of the scientists belonging to this group.

I am certain that the heavy CIA network established in Pakistan since 2010 must be continuing with its efforts to cultivate scientists, officials and security guards employed in sensitive organizations. The theme of nukes falling in hands of religious extremists was purposely floated to provide smoke screen to its own covert actions. USA, Israel and India are the actual thieves bent upon stealing or destroying our nukes. Varieties of contingencies have been prepared to destroy, steal or overpower the arsenal. The noose has been sufficiently tightened and the thieves have prowled closer to the intended sites and believably have stealthily encircled them.

After performing the gory act, irrespective of marginal success or complete failure, red alert will be sounded and the whole blame put on al-Qaeda/affiliated groups. The UN and the world will be ready to accept US contention since the latter has already poisoned the minds of world power centers. Our rulers too would promptly blame local militant groups. The UN will then come into action and will seek immediate closure of our nuclear program and demand transfer of all the nukes along with fissile material to safer location outside Pakistan.

With regard to the last option of destruction by drones and bombers, or physical occupation by US Special Forces, complete homework has been done. The only thing left is to decide the date and time. In my reckoning, this reckless option may coincide with final phase of withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan. God forbid, if our adversaries succeed in their evil designs, that will be day of mourning for Pakistan and a day of rejoicing for USA, western world, Israel and India.

Pakistan Army managed to get out of the deathtrap laid by its adversaries in Swat and South Waziristan. USA has now prepared another deadly deathtrap in North Waziristan and is once again trying to lure in Pak Army with a hope that this time it will get trapped. It is only when major portion of our combat divisions get embroiled in the war in northwest that India will make its Cold Start doctrine operational on the weakened eastern front. 5/2 and 5/22 incidents have already helped our adversaries in creating despondency, in discrediting armed forces and intelligence agencies and in spoiling civil-armed forces relations. Economically, Pakistan has become dependent upon IMF and US aid. Politically it is polarized and dysfunctional. Socially the society stands divided. Pakistan has been brought to this abysmal situation under an orchestrated program to make it helpless. Unfortunately our media stalwarts, PML-N, Asma Jahangir and even higher courts instead of defeating foreign propaganda are providing strength to foreign agenda against armed forces.

Since 2007, the US is trying to remove highly enriched uranium from a Pakistani research reactor. While I pray that our security forces are able to thwart hostile attempts made on our nuclear arsenal and delivery means and are able to safeguard the frontiers against foreign aggression under such insalubrious environments, what I am worried is that we have still not identified our foes and snakes in the grass and taken preventive measures. Unless we guard against the designs of our foes pretending to be friends and Mir Jaffars, we will not be able to confront the worst threat which is looming over Pakistan’s horizons.