The DISRESPECTER in Chief … Barack Obama Salutes Two Marines with a Coffee Cup in Hand

The Latte Salute … or was it Chi Tea?

SHAMEFUL!!! Meet the Commander Community Agitator in Chief who could just care less about the military. Yesterday, President Barack Obama stepped off Marine One in NYC only to salute the two Marines at the bottom of the helicopter’s stairs with a coffee cup in his hand. HEAD SHAKING. It is being dubbed the “latte salute” although it is uncertain as to whether Obama was drinking Chi tea at the time. This president had just come from a White House photo op explaining to America the air strikes against ISIS that most informed Americans had already known about. In essence, he had just committed America to war in the fight against ISIS and Islamo-Nazi’s and somehow between the flight from DC to NYC Obama resorted back in longing for the days of vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard and golfing.

It is not required that a President salute, but if one is going to, don’t half-ass it. Then again, that has been the theme of the Obama presidency. The sick part about it is he did not even realize he did anything wrong. How disrespectful is that? The White House did not even think it was offensive as they posted it on their Instagram account. Obama should have realized his mistake, turned around, put down his coffee cup and provided a proper salute to both marines and then shook their hands and thanked them for their service.

President Obama saluting U.S. Marines while holding a coffee cup. Photo via White House Instagram

Some are calling it the “latte salute.”

When President Obama stepped off Marine One at the Wall Street landing zone in New York City, en route the United Nations, he saluted two Marines at the bottom of the stairs as he held a coffee cup in the same hand.

The unusual gesture appeared in an Instagram video posted by the White House on social media.  Obama is also wearing sunglasses as he arrived, with the first lady not far behind.

VIDEO Hat Tip – The Gateway Pundit: A NEW LOW – Obama’s Salute to Marines – Most Degrading Salute Ever to Men in Uniform

Steve in a Red State

State Department Evacuates U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, Libya

Another Barack Obama foreign policy failure …

CNN is reporting that the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, Libya has been evacuated due to the escalating militia violence raging out of control. According to news reports, about 150 personnel, including 80 U.S. Marines were evacuated from the embassy and were driven across the border into Tunisia under the protection of F-16,  MV-22 Osprey aircraft and drone patrol from above. The only option was to drive the embassy officials out as the Tripoli airport had been shut down due to the violence. The removal of the US Embassy staff took place without incident.  As reported at the BBC, It is the second time in more than three years that the US has closed its embassy in Libya. The state department has also urged US nationals not to go to Libya.

VIDEO – NBC News

The U.S. Embassy in Libya evacuated its personnel on Saturday because of heavy militia violence raging in the capital, Tripoli, the State Department said.

About 150 personnel, including 80 U.S. Marines were evacuated from the embassy in the early hours of Saturday morning and were driven across the border into Tunisia, U.S. officials confirm to CNN.

U.S. officials stress that this is a relocation of embassy personnel and the operations have been “temporarily suspended” until “the security situation on the ground improves.” The embassy will continue to operate from other locations.

A senior State Department official said some of the staff from Libya will be sent to other U.S. embassies in the region and others will come back to Washington.

VIDEO – CNN

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said that security and safety are a top priority and come first. Really? Also, while there appeared to be no direct threat of an attack against the embassy, it was the rising violence in Libya between the battling factions of warlords for control that caused the evacuation.  Too bad the Obama administration and State Department did not take the same precautions in Benghazi, Libya when violence was escalating and the US Ambassador Chris Stevens asked for more security.

“Securing our facilities and ensuring the safety of our personnel are top Department priorities, and we did not make this decision lightly. Security has to come first. Regrettably, we had to take this step because the location of our embassy is in very close proximity to intense fighting and ongoing violence between armed Libyan factions.

Militia fighting in the area of the embassy and airport has degraded security in Tripoli significantly.

Secretary of State John Kerry called upon various factions to engage in a political process, saying “the current course of violence would only bring chaos.” Good grief, are you kidding? That’s the Obama’s administration’s response?

Two Time Deserter Marine Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun who Disappeared in Iraq in 2004 Return to the U.S. to Face Charges

Two time deserter Marine Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun who disappeared in Iraq in 2004 is finally turning himself in to face charges.  What are the odds that Cpl. Hassoun saw the favorable treatment provided to Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl by the Obama administration and figured that this was his best chance to face the music of double desertion?

What, you mean Barack Obama did not empty GITMO to get Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun to return to the United States?

Pic: NBC – Twitter

A Marine who was declared a deserter nearly 10 years ago after disappearing in Iraq and then returning to the U.S. claiming he had been kidnapped, only to disappear again, is back in U.S. custody, officials said Sunday.

Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun, 34, turned himself in and was being flown Sunday from an undisclosed location in the Middle East to Norfolk, Va. He is to be moved Monday to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, according to a spokesman, Capt. Eric Flanagan.

Maj. Gen. Raymond Fox, commander of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Lejeune, will determine whether to court martial Hassoun.

In a written statement from its headquarters at the Pentagon, the Marine Corps said the Naval Criminal Investigative Service “worked with” Hassoun to turn himself in and return to the U.S. to face charges.

Hassoun disappeared from his unit in Iraq’s western desert in June 2004. The following month he turned up unharmed in Beirut, Lebanon and blamed his disappearance on Islamic extremist kidnappers. He was returned to Lejeune and was about to face the military equivalent of a grand jury hearing when he disappeared again.

Background on the double deserter:

Ten years ago, in June 2004, Marine Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun disappeared from his base in Fallujah, Iraq.

Within days he appeared in a poorly-staged hostage video, and within a month he mysteriously showed up unharmed at the U.S. embassy in Beirut.

After a five month investigation back in the United States, military prosecutors accused Hassoun of faking his kidnapping and charged him with desertion and theft of a Humvee, which he allegedly used to drive off his base in Fallujah.

In Jan. 2005, Hassoun fled the U.S. through Canada, returned to Lebanon where he was born, and the Marines charged him with a second count of desertion.

19 Year Old Lance Cpl. US Marine Brandon Garabrant Prevented from Wearing His Marine Uniform During High School Graduation Last Year Has Been Killed In Afghanistan

These are the heroes that make up our US military … sadly we have lost another and so young.

19 year old US Marine Lance Cpl. Brandon Garabrant was killed by a roadside bomb Friday morning in Afghanistan. Just last hear Brandon Garabrant the powers that be at ConVal Regional High School in Peterborough, New Hampshire prevented Garabrant from wearing his Marine uniform at graduation. Garabrant was also a volunteer firefighter in Temple, New Hampshire. Thank you for your service and ultimate sacrifice. May you forever Rest in Peace.

Lance Cpl. US Marine Brandon Garabrant…Rest in Peace

A Marine from New Hampshire has been killed in Afghanistan.

Lance Cpl. Brandon Garabrant, 19, was one of three U.S. service members killed by a roadside bomb Friday morning.

“The entire State of New Hampshire is devastated by the tragic loss of Lance Corporal Brandon Garabrant, who was bravely serving his nation in Afghanistan,” Governor Maggie Hassan said in a statement. “Our service men and women courageously sacrifice every day to protect their fellow citizens and defend the enduring value of freedom that is our very core, and in doing so, Lance Corporal Garabrant made the ultimate sacrifice.”

Garabrant graduated from ConVal Regional High School in Peterborough last year. He had requested to wear his uniform during graduation, but the school did not allow it.

More on the death of Lance Cpl. US Marine Brandon Garabrant who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Before becoming a Marine, Garabrant was a volunteer member of the Temple Fire Department, a police Explorer with the Peterborough Police Department and worked at Touchstone Farm in Temple.
In a statement, Gov. Maggie Hassan said the state was devastated by Garabrant’s death.

“As a volunteer firefighter and dedicated Marine, Lance Corporal Garabrant was committed to serving his fellow citizens, and he was tragically taken from us far too soon,” she said. “It is our responsibility as Granite Staters and Americans to come together to support his family and his community.”

Members of the congressional delegation also said the state would honor Garabrant.

“Our hearts are broken by the loss of Lance Corporal Brandon Garabrant, a true American hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country that he loved,” Sen. Kelly Ayotte said.

“Lance Corporal Brandon Garabrant was a hero in every sense of the word. He valiantly served our country and epitomized the bravery and sacrifice of every member of our armed forces for which we will be forever grateful,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said.

Memorial Day – 2014: Remembering, Thanking & Honoring Our Military Heroes For Their Service & Sacrifice

On this Memorial Day 2014, please take the time to remember, thank and honor those who gave their lives for our freedom.

Freedom is never free and it is our brave men and woman of the United States Armed Forces from The Revolutionary War, to World War II to Afghanistan who we all owe a debt of gratitude to. Those who went off to war to create this great country to those who persevere its freedom who never came home.  Thank you for your service, dedication and ultimate sacrifice to this country. So on this special day as your spend it with family and friends and celebrate the day in your own special way, take the time to remember those who gave their lives to allow you to live yours in Freedom.  These are true American heroes who should never be forgotten.

Arlington National Cemetery: Photos of American Sacred Ground.

We not only thank those who never came home, but to those who did come home and have passed. There are so many who have served and have sacrificed. We say thanks to your families as well who’s futures were so drastically changed so that our futures would be safe. We honor those who have lost their lives so that we may live.

TAPS

Ronald Reagan: Remarks at Memorial Day Ceremonies Honoring an Unknown Serviceman of the Vietnam Conflict – 5/28/84

The words of President Ronald Reagan, Arlington National Cemetery, May 31, 1982: (read the entire inspirational and beautiful speech HERE).

“The United States and the freedom for which it stands, the freedom for which they died, must endure and prosper. Their lives remind us that freedom is not bought cheaply. It has a cost; it imposes a burden. And just as they whom we commemorate were willing to sacrifice, so too must we — in a less final, less heroic way — be willing to give of ourselves.” [...]

“As we honor their memory today, let us pledge that their lives, their sacrifices, their valor shall be justified and remembered for as long as God gives life to this nation. And let us also pledge to do our utmost to carry out what must have been their wish: that no other generation of young men will every have to share their experiences and repeat their sacrifice.”

As always, not a day goes by that I do not think about my namesake, Uncle Red, and remember him fondly and thank him for his service. You will never be forgotten and are always missed. God Bless.