Having some familiarity with his visit to ABMC cemeteries in Europe, I will vouch that this visit was his own time, effort and expense and was not a ‘globe-trotted’ junket. Responsibility, seriousness of task and donation of effort without recompense seem to be traits those writing from the left don’t seem to understand.

As a bit of information for the many who have not ventured to the American Cemeteries of WWI and WWII in Europe, since 1923 the ABMC (American Battlefields Monument Commission) has been tasked with operating and maintaining military cemeteries and monuments in foreign countries. The cemeteries containing the remains of soldiers, sailors, Marines and citizens who died as a result of combat or other casualties of war are located in granted lands from the host countries, but they are not given or considered U.S. soil.

The Superintendents of our cemeteries are those who have served with the Armed Forces and come into their jobs with a respect for the tasks with which they are charged. They may be among the most underappreciated civil servants in government. Each day, they respectfully tend, maintain, oversee the repairs, keep records and most importantly, greet the families who have relatives buried at their respective locations. For the most part, the Superintendents have little or no further American civil servant staff. Much of the daily work is accomplished by foreign nationals from the vicinity of the cemeteries who are amazingly dedicated to (appreciative of?) those interred.

Dignity and equal treatment is given each grave with out regard if it is one of a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, the lowest ranking enlistee or the all too many unknown soldiers. Whether it is Meuse-Argonne with 14,246 military dead, the largest single cemetery in Europe, or the Luxembourg American Cemetery, the resting place of General George Patton, or the Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, each honors those interred as we would hope and anticipate. Normandy, for a number of reasons including a ‘Saving Private Ryan’ effect, welcomes over 1,000,000 visitors, but Luxembourg sees less than one tenth those numbers and with the fading memories of The Great War and only one remaining WWI veteran, Muese-Argonne only has about 30,000 visitors of all nationalities. Yet these three and the others in Europe, Africa, Central America and the Philippines carry on a perpetual mission to never forget the fallen.

Dr. Hanson was asking what help, assistance or needs those who watch over our military dead on foreign soil needed to better accomplish their mission. The Superintendents who watch over the cemeteries are tough and grizzled, yet someone asking them what they needed instead of the reverse and then thanking them for what they do on a daily basis was not a usual situation for them. However make no mistake, their mission is always in the front of their minds as when a visitor not with Dr. Hanson, but who had a relative in the cemetery appeared. There was not a moment’s hesitation to leave the conversation with Dr. Hanson and immediately respond to the most important person, the relative of a fallen soldier.

An American President or candidate for President would do well to visit some of our lesser known ABMC cemeteries around the world, not merely Normandy. A citizen would do well to do the same.

Comments on using real names? It would not have occurred to most people to not use real names. These “message boards” are not real life. “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”.

My advice to those that are afraid to use their real names in this so called “war”—get in a real war and know the difference.

Think of a young 18, 19, year old soldier in Iraq when you express your fear of simply using your real name. His/her direct actions are what count in the end-to affect the outcome. What are your actions other than a inflated view of the “fearful” impact of your “words” not even actions.

Only the left thinks in these terms. Are they (the left) “dangerous”–you bet but only because they are in the shadows and do not have the guts or intelligence to come into the light with their real ideas–essentially anarchy, chaos and then control due to PC fear or some such other trivial thing that allows the tail to wag the dog. All nonsense.

Only in their vague shadow world of PC and non-specific words can they survive. An Internet approximation of a “dream world construct” that does not exist except for the impact it has on those fearful such as you–the anonymous. You are playing a video game–not real life.

Why play their anonymous games? Stand up a be counted—other wise you don’t count.—and they “win” over you because you are afraid of them without even knowing them or they you. Given your thinking you may not even register to vote! Get help.

I believe the name Coward would apply. Read the Wizard of Oz if you need courage. Stay away from Dr SEUSS–your world is filled with enough nonsense.

I understand. But you’d be surprised…it’s very liberating. It makes you feel free and brave.

:- )

About 40 billion barrels of new oil have been discovered in the last two years. 5 billion in the Gulf of Mexico (the Jack Field), up to 30 billion barrels in Brazil, and 5 billion barrels in the Jidong Ninbao Field in china. This oil will begin to come to market and make a difference in about two years. In the addition, the Bakken Formation in Montana, North Dakota, and Alberta has potential to produce another 3 billion barrels due to enhanced drilling and recovery techniques. The problem there is getting enough drilling rigs to drill the necessary wells. So, the cavalry is coming.In the meantime we pay through the nose.

If Congress would move to allow new exploration off Florida, in ANWR, and off the West Coast, it would be a signal to the oil markets that a lot more oil will be coming on the market in the future. Might ease some of the speculative pressure.

Meanwhile, one can only marvel at the unseen force that seems to suppress all rational discussion of the U.S.’s energy needs; for all our vaunted productivity, we have managed to bury the notion of taking practical steps in honor of some mythical environmental shibboleth – or better, a flat-out commandment in the “Thou shalt not” tradition that forbids any harm coming to the Earth – how much longer before a lawsuit names the planet as the injured party, and charges the U.S. with assault?

Thanks for the clear thoughts and enlightening insights.

Congratulations on the recognition and award.
While America sleeps and BHO preaches the dogma of envy (socialism), we have our night watchman-VDH-keeping tabs and shining the light. My only regret in reading this today is I am not able to attend your lectures on the globe trotting boon doggle in Europe. I, too, walked all of those grave sites and battle fields while living in Europe from 1985-1992. Best of all-I saw people experience freedom for the first time when the Soviet Union was pushed into the ash bin of history.

2. VDH to be on Book TV this coming weekend. I don’t know if it is a repeat or a new interview.

3. Also about time someone framed this gas price and ANWR debate is a better way. I saw Sen. Amy from MN talking about conserving fuel, renewable fuel on CSPAN. Unlike her rich Twin City friends, the average people of Minnesota spend a fortune driving from Detroit Lakes to Frazee to Rochert and back.

Sen. Obama, Sen. Amy, Senators Boxer and DiFi all *fail* to realize that it is a world oil market and China and India are only going to consume more in the future. And to top it off, the Chinese subsidize fuel to the tune of about 50%.

Here’s another way to reframe the issue: Pres. Bush should – by executive order – start drilling in ANWR for the purpose of supplying oil to the US Armed Forces.

Defend the country or save the caribou? You decide.

The Allies defeated Rommell in North Africa because the Nazis ran out of fuel. It helped that the US and Brits engaged in “domestic wiretapping” at Betchley Park and knew when the ships were sailing from Italy to North Africa so we could sink them.

Could the US military run out of fuel? Maybe. Maybe not. But who wants to risk it and find out?

Although he is the son and grandson of admirals, Sen. McCain has fallen into the no-drilling in ANWR trap. By reframing the issue in a pro-defense way, Pres. Bush takes an issue that is negative to Sen. McCain and helps him.

Pres. Bush’s Executive Order would send a powerful message to the oil market, the US is going to increase domestic production because it is a national security issue. The United States can’t depend on Nigeria and Venezula to supply our Armed Forces.

The day Pres. Bush issued this Executive Order, the price per bbl would drop at least 10%.

I want to see Obama explain that one! He is, after all, an academic from the University of Chicago; home of free market economics.