This weekend, we celebrate Memorial Day, a time honoring those who have fallen in battle, serving the just cause of Liberty, for the citizens of our great nation.  I make no reservations about the fact that the men and women in our American Armed Services are among the most qualified and dedicated people in the world.  With a long standing tradition of honor and duty, they serve to uphold and protect our Constitution, even if the terms of this obligation cost life or limb.  To that, I am eternally grateful of the service that our service men and women and for those who have given the greatest sacrifice and have traveled on to greener pastures, I humbly salute you and the families you have left behind.

It is, however, completely unacceptable the manner in which our political class has tampered with and desecrated the honor which American men and women... warriors one and all, have died to lend meaning too.  Far too often, war is trivialized to serve some other purpose, something that poses no threat to the shores of America whatsoever.  Too often, war in today's arena is waged for corporate greed and profit.  For what purpose did we go into Iraq?  We, the People were told of Weapons of Mass Destruction, which were intended to kill American citizens... and none were ever found.  Did we invade there to promote a staging point for invading Iran?  Or does the operation title "Iraqi Freedom" ring a bell?  really?  We went to war to liberate the Iraqi's? 

I don't think that we will ever know the real reason for invading Iraq.  I suspect that it was most likely that we invaded there to "stabilize" the region, so that we could exploit its oil reserves.  I am sure that there were many other "reasons" for it, but I am sure none of them were very Constitutional.  Nor do I think that our activities in Afghanistan are very Constitutional either.  Our Government is going bankrupt trying to chase down a sickly and half cripple rouge Saudi prince that is supposedly hiding in some cave there, when we are largely certain that he isn't there any more.  Afghanistan... the graveyard of empires.

So, as I look out at the world, from my mountain top, and I see American flags waving in the wind... (mostly made in China, by the way) I am reminded that there were many before me that have fought, bled and died in foreign lands for a purpose that is greater than themselves.  To the soldier of today, I pray for you.  I pray for all of you to return to our shores safe and sound, alive and well... and I pray that you live long and honorably in the land which you defend, under the Constitution that you swore to protect.  To the people of America, I pray that you respect the men and women that put their lives on the line every day because they love this Country and its Constitution, which makes us all equal in the eyes of the law.

But to those of you that are in political and corporate power in America, that seek to defile the honor and glory of this nation by playing games with the lives of our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters... I can only say Sic Semper Tyrannis, for you have become exactly what this country was formed in contrast to.