France, once again

Imagine sitting in Staunton’s Gypsy Hill Park on Independence Day with your kids running around playing, friends and family in lawn chairs next to you, and the area packed with holiday revelers, some five-to-ten deep lined up to watch the 4th of July parade.

Red, white, and blue balloons bob up and down on the arms of little ones … vendor awnings are decorated in patriotic colors to add to the festivities. There’s conversation and laughter as folks wait to see friends on floats and politicians in cars, and children riding tricycles and pulling wagons while waving small American flags.

Imagine a tractor-trailer truck making its way up Thornrose Avenue where floats are lining up, and turning slowly into the park on the route parade participants will follow shortly. Imagine folks quizzically looking around thinking the driver was lost and had turned the wrong way.

And then imagine that truck speeding up as it takes aim at the crowds of families and vendors lining the street, the driver plowing down as many pedestrians as possible while aiming a gun out the window and shooting everyone within range, as he proceeded from the Thornrose entrance of the park to the entrance near the former Tastee-Freez.

That’s what happened yesterday in Nice, France, on their Bastille Day — their Independence Day — as a terrorist drove a tractor-trailer into the crowds packed in to watch fireworks, and continued driving for over a mile. This morning 84 people are reported to be dead including 10 children and teenagers, with more than 200 injuries.

The dead included two Americans, a father and son, traveling together through Europe. The dad was 51 and coached his son’s baseball team; his son was 11. They were from Austin and had started their European vacation in Spain before ending up in Nice and encountering every family’s nightmare.

France, once again, has become the epicenter of violence as the world weeps for those who were lost, and for the never-to-be-seen-again innocence of the past … and the war with terrorism continues.

Augusta County schools closed over Islam controversy

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The Islam controversy at Riverheads High School in Augusta County has hit news outlets nationwide. I wrote the following and posted it at Bearing Drift where it has over 200 comments as of Saturday evening. It begins:

Augusta County schools were unexpectedly locked down late Thursday after regular classes concluded, and all after-school activities were canceled including sports events and a holiday concert at Wilson Memorial High School. Parents received automated phone calls notifying that Friday classes, the last day before holiday break, were canceled.

The move came after the rural area located in the Shenandoah Valley of western Virginia unexpectedly found itself in the middle of a fire storm of controversy after a world geography class at Riverheads High School caused concern among some parents. Students were asked to participate in a calligraphy lesson writing the Muslim statement of faith, a lesson that has not settled well with some in the community. Conservative news outlets picked up on the controversy and news of it has spread across the country.

The result of so much publicity was a decision by Augusta County’s school board and law enforcement to cancel classes. A message was posted late Thursday on the school system’s website noting that schools and administrative offices would be closed on Friday.

Check out Bearing Drift to read more and follow the comments voicing opinions about this very hot topics.

Pearl Harbor and 9/11 … have we forgotten?

By Lynn R. Mitchell

(Originally published in the Washington Examiner on 12/7/2010)

Today is December 7th … Pearl Harbor Day.December 7, 1941 … 74 years ago America suffered the worst attack ever on our soil at the hands of the Japanese who conducted a sneak attack on our Naval base in Hawaii. It was, in the words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, “a date which will live in infamy.”

Or so we thought.

Sixty years later, on September 11, 2001, America came under an even larger attack on our soil and it wasn’t on an island in the South Pacific. It was right here on the mainland. America was attacked in New York City and Pennsylvania and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. More people died that day than in 1941. The big difference was that they were civilians.

Have Americans forgotten Pearl Harbor? Most who are alive to remember are now in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. Many of the survivors have passed away … the rest are increasingly in frail health.

How on God’s green earth do we expect people to remember Pearl Harbor, an event that happened 74 years ago, when many have already forgotten the terror from 9/11 that occurred just a short 14 years ago? Have Americans lost their resolve? Their will? Their courage? Their honor? Their willingness to stand up for the home front?

USA Today column answers the question, ‘Why France?’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

After the terrorist attacks on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris ten months ago followed up by Friday’s terror on the streets that took the lives of over 100 innocent victims and injured hundreds more, attention is once again centered on terrorism as some ask, “Why France?”

France’s longtime head of intelligence, Count Alexandre de Marenches, warned 20 years ago of the danger that faced his country. In the Age of Terrorism, the principal challenge to France is the presence “within our nation of another nation we do not understand, whose language we do not speak, whose customs we do not know, whose hopes and aspirations we do not share,” as noted by David A. Andelman in USA Today.

Downtown Fredericksburg flies French flags in show of unity

Photo by Garrett Watson

Every street light in downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia, was decked out with French flags Saturday night to honor the victims of multiple terrorist attacks that took place Friday night in Paris. Fredericksburg’s sister city is Fréjus, an historical seaside town located where the Alps reach the Mediterranean Sea along the French Riviera. Tonight Fredericksburg and Fréjus stand as one in unity against worldwide terrorism. (Many thanks to Garrett Watson for the pictures.)

Photo by Garrett Watson

Mill Mountain star honors Paris terrorism victims

Roanoke’s famous Mill Mountain star is lit in red, blue, and white, the colors of the flag of France, to honors those who perished in Friday night’s terrorism attacks in Paris, according to the Roanoke Times. The display is expected to continue through the weekend. It is just one of many gestures throughout America and the world as they stand with France after over 100 were killed and hundreds more were injured in six separate attacks by gunmen and suicide bombers. Vive la France.

GWB: ‘If America shows uncertainty and weakness, the world will drift toward tragedy’

“I believe the most solemn duty of the American president is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty and weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch.” –President George W. Bush

America responds to Paris terrorism attacks

By Lynn R. Mitchell

In the wake of the Paris terrorism attacks on Friday night, America has responded. At 8:30pm EST, Sky News is reporting 158 dead as the death toll continues to rise….

The Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas lights itself in the colors of the French flag to honor victims in Paris pic.twitter.com/TsU9WUikkD

— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) November 14, 2015

President Barack Obama held a news conference.

Praying for Paris tonight. America will stand with you against terror. — Jeb Bush (@JebBush) November 13, 2015

 

My prayers are with the people of Paris and of our ally France tonight. #ParisAttacks — Condoleezza Rice (@CondoleezzaRice) November 14, 2015

All 2016 presidential candidates have responded.

The targets were areas with large numbers of people. French authorities have warned the fatality numbers may go up. They also confirmed there were SIX areas attacked Friday night.

America needs to be alert. It has been 14 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We are not immune.

Jim Gilmore responds to Paris terrorism attacks

By Lynn R. Mitchell

In the aftermath of Friday night’s terrorism attacks in Paris, America has responded. One of those was former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore who understand terrorism and the dangers facing the world in a way others do not. Here are his remarks following the attacks:

Paris is presently under a major terrorist attack. Reports are coming in of many deaths, and even a major hostage situation. This follows last year’s terrible attack on the French newspaper “Charlie Hebdo.” Major explosions occurred in Beirut, Lebanon, yesterday.

No country will lead on its own without the U.S. showing the way.

Multiple terrorism attacks hit Paris … dozens reportedly dead

By Lynn R. Mitchell

It’s a sad night in Paris as terrorists hit four locations killing dozens, injuring dozens more, and 100 held hostage. France is under a state of emergency — the military controls the streets. The borders are closed, police can enter private homes without warrants, they can close down the subway system, and whatever they deem necessary to keep France safe. All are on alert in the event more attacks come later tonight.

Just before 11pm Paris time, 4pm East Coast time, a rock concert, soccer stadium, shopping mall, and restaurant were attacked by gunmen and explosions. The head of France was at the soccer stadium but safely escaped. The borders have been closed; a search is on for the terrorists who escaped.

Fox News Channel reporter Geraldo Rivera’s 21-year-old daughter was at the soccer match but escaped outside and was trying to make her way home along the streets.

The hostages at the rock concert are now reportedly being executed one-by-one with the sound of gunfire heard live on French television.

Reuters is reporting five explosions have now been heard near the concert hall. Paris is under curfew for the first time since 1944 at the height of World War II.

Paris is under siege … pray for the people of France tonight.

Jeb Bush’s op-ed on Trump’s false 9/11 claims

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Donald Trump ran up against the Bush family, and Jeb isn’t backing down. With false accusations that President George W. Bush was responsible for the terrorism attacks of 9/11, Governor Bush has responded in an op-ed that was published today in National Review:

A Clear Choice on National Security

By Jeb Bush

In the latest episode of the reality show that is Donald Trump’s campaign, he has blamed my brother for the 9/11 terrorist attacks on our nation.

That Trump echoes the attacks of Michael Moore and the fringe Left against my brother is yet another example of his dangerous views on national-security issues.

This is a man who has previously stated he would prefer Hillary Clinton had led negotiations on the nuclear agreement with Iran. He has expressed a willingness to allow Vladimir Putin to dominate the Middle East by aligning with Iran and propping up the ruthless Syrian dictator, Bashar al-Assad — an action that would only worsen the existing refugee crisis and endanger our national-security interests and those of Israel. And he has been ignorant and dismissive of the world’s most dangerous terrorist organizations, saying that we shouldn’t have gone into Afghanistan to hunt al-Qaeda and end the safe haven for terror provided by the Taliban, only to retreat from that stance this week.

Ignorant Trump blames George Bush for 9/11

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Donald Trump stepped over the line with his latest outrageous accusation, as noted by Marybeth Glenn (see Donald Trump goes after George Bush for 9/11):

There’s a thick and blurry line between being politically incorrect, and being a total schmuck with uncontrollable word dysentery; Trump took to pole vaulting over it like two months ago. Now he’s taking it to a whole new level.

Donald Trump took an unprovoked slap at George W. Bush in an interview broadcast Friday, blaming the former U.S. president for not preventing the 9/11 terror attacks.

Asked by Bloomberg Television anchor Stephanie Ruhle how Americans might trust him to keep them safe, the Republican presidential front-runner bristled at the mention of Bush’s role as comforter-in-chief after 9/11, and President Barack Obama’s similar position following the December 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

‘OK, I think I have a bigger heart than all of them,’ he said. ‘I think I’m much more competent than all of them.’

‘When you talk about George Bush – I mean, say what you want, the World Trade Center came down during his time.’

Governor Jeb Bush immediately responded by tweeting out, “How pathetic for @realdonaldtrump to criticize the president for 9/11. We were attacked & my brother kept us safe.”

Jeb about W: ‘He kept us safe’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The biggest applause and loudest cheers from Wednesday’s CNN Republican presidential debate came when Jeb Bush defended his brother against negative comments from Donald Trump (see Jeb Bush defends brother, says George W. Bush ‘kept us safe’):

Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush defended his brother, former President George W. Bush, against criticism from Donald Trump Wednesday night, saying “he kept us safe.”

“Your brother and your brother’s administration gave us Barack Obama,” Mr. Trump taunted the former Florida governor. “It was such a disaster those last three months [of George W. Bush’s administration] that Abraham Lincoln couldn’t have been elected.”

Jeb Bush retorted, “As it relates to my brother, there’s one thing I know for sure: he kept us safe.” The audience at the debate cheered.

“You remember the rubble [at the World Trade Center]?” Mr. Bush asked. “He sent a clear signal that the United States would be strong, and fight Islamic terrorism, and he did keep us safe.”

Mr. Trump replied, “You feel safe right now? I don’t feel so safe.”

Here’s a question for Mr. Trump: What part of “no bombs falling on your head” do you not understand? President Bush kept us safe. His leadership deserves thanks.

NGC: ‘George W. Bush … The 9/11 Interview’

On the tenth anniversary of 9/11, National Geographic Channel aired this in-depth, first-person interview with President George W. Bush titled “The 9/11 Interview.” It is as relevant now as it was then.

Listening to the president’s own words, this documentary is a must-watch for those interested in yet another historical look at an historic day as we go behind the scenes to hear what the president was thinking as each event unfolded on that fateful day.

LynnRMitchell.com remembers 9/11 … may we never forget.

President George W. Bush and the bullhorn speech

It can never be said enough … we cannot forget the terrorism attacks of 9/11 and the 3,000 innocent souls who perished that day. I hope those who were too young to be impacted by the events of that day will listen to those who were there.

“USA! USA! USA!” Spontaneous chants roared from the crowd of rescue workers on September 14, 2001, three days after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, as President George W. Bush stood at Ground Zero and, with bullhorn in hand, said the words that were heard around the world: