Sgt Petry

[777 fixer]

Only the second living recipient of the Medal of Honor from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He's still on active duty despite losing his right hand.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43231604/ns/us_news-life/t/army-sergeant-who-saved-comrades-get-medal-honor/

 

[Ms Tree]

Wow. Pretty incredible story.

 

[Ms Tree]

I saw Sgt Petry on the Daily Show with John Stewart. Have you seen his prosthetic hand? I had no idea that they had progressed as far as they have. I know they have been doing research with limbs that can sense nerve commands and the like but I did not know they were in use already. I am glad to see that the service people who have been injured are getting some of the latest technology to make their quality of life as pleasant as possible.

 

[Ms Tree]

I found an article on the US army web site about his ordeal and the prosthesis. It's a pretty interesting read.

Apparently after the attack, they were able to patch him up and same most of his wrist. The wrist was damaged a bit and did not give full mobility. They had a mechanical wrist/hand that would give more mobility so he had another operation to remove the rest of his wrist. He know uses this elctro mechanical hand that has sensors to detect never signals and as well as sensors to detect resistance so when he closes his hand on something it will stop when it detects resistance he will not crush it object.

Army link to Sgt Petry

 

[777 fixer]

I saw Sgt Petry on the Daily Show with John Stewart. Have you seen his prosthetic hand? I had no idea that they had progressed as far as they have. I know they have been doing research with limbs that can sense nerve commands and the like but I did not know they were in use already. I am glad to see that the service people who have been injured are getting some of the latest technology to make their quality of life as pleasant as possible.

Yes I saw the interview and it was amazing to see him use the prosthetic hand. However what really amazed me is his description on how he lost the hand. All I can say is he must use a wheel barrow to carry around his cajones.

 

[SparrowHawk]

Not to in any way diminish the heroism of Sgt. Petry. He merely fought the war he was told to fight and he did an excellent job.

However ask yourself if you would have ever heard his name or seen his face if we had not yet again become involved in preservation of our empire?

 

[777 fixer]

Not to in any way diminish the heroism of Sgt. Petry. He merely fought the war he was told to fight and he did an excellent job.

However ask yourself if you would have ever heard his name or seen his face if we had not yet again become involved in preservation of our empire?

What "empire" are you talking about?

 

[SparrowHawk]

What "empire" are you talking about?

700 Bases in about 135 countries for a start. Everything from Embassy contingents of 100 of so all the way up to our questionable incursions in to the Sovereign Nations of Libya, Yemen, Iraq & Afghanistan under what could be best described as dubious reasons at and with no formal declaration of War from Congress.

I admire and respect the bravery of soldiers like Sgt Petry! What pisses me off is that we waste that heroism on populations that are not worthy of one drop of American blood being shed. We can no longer afford morally, ethically of fiscally to maintain our empire.

 

[777 fixer]

700 Bases in about 135 countries for a start. Everything from Embassy contingents of 100 of so all the way up to our questionable incursions in to the Sovereign Nations of Libya, Yemen, Iraq & Afghanistan under what could be best described as dubious reasons at and with no formal declaration of War from Congress.

I would hardly call an Embassy an example of an"empire". Usually when a country has an "empire" it means it has taken over anouther country and controls it through it's military. You would be hard pressed to say that the US conrtrols countries like Japan, South Korea, Germany etc. All these countries tommorow could ask us to leave and we would be obliged to do so.

You are also leaving out that a lot of these "bases" areof little signifigance. Or that a dozen or so servicemen in Sweeden hardly consitiutes an empire, or a couple hundred on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

 

[SparrowHawk]

I would hardly call an Embassy an example of an"empire". Usually when a country has an "empire" it means it has taken over anouther country and controls it through it's military. You would be hard pressed to say that the US conrtrols countries like Japan, South Korea, Germany etc. All these countries tommorow could ask us to leave and we would be obliged to do so.

You are also leaving out that a lot of these "bases" areof little signifigance. Or that a dozen or so servicemen in Sweeden hardly consitiutes an empire, or a couple hundred on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

Well would you rather continue spending on the maintenance of our "little" Empire or have that money spent here on our own citizens?

ANY country that has four open conflicts is empire building or empire maintaining.

 

[777 fixer]

I admire and respect the bravery of soldiers like Sgt Petry!

Given the fact you have used this thread for yet another one of your rants tells me you could care less.

 

[SparrowHawk]

Given the fact you have used this thread for yet another one of your rants tells me you could care less.

Think what you will!

I lived through the Viet Nam War and to this very day I remember my draft number and the high number taken. I wasn't drafted and I also wasn't going. I remember talking with my Mother about what I would do if I got drafted and I told her I was going to refuse induction and go to jail as I would not fight in a war that had no authorization from Congress and was therefore an unjust war.

Since that dinner table conversation in 1972 my view hasn't changed on the use of military force without a Declaration of War from Congress. There are thousands of Sgt Petry's out there, heroes of the highest magnitude, NONE of whom have fought in a declared war since September 1945. My Uncle was a decorated combat veteran having stormed the beaches at Normandy, fighting to rescue Bastogne with the 90th Infantry Division under Patton. My Dad was in the Army of Occupation in Japan.

The difference between my Uncle & Sgt Petry is my uncle was in the last great battle between the forces of good and evil. Sgt Petry was merely a pawn in a game of Global Empire building, Corporate Greed & nefarious politicians with an agenda. Same was true in Viet Nam.

It makes me mad as hell when brave men die or get wounded solely to further the interests of those who may not be true supporters of Freedom & Liberty around the world.

 

[SparrowHawk]

 

[777 fixer]

. I wasn't drafted and I also wasn't going. I remember talking with my Mother about what I would do if I got drafted and I told her I was going to refuse induction and go to jail as I would not fight in a war that had no authorization from Congress and was therefore an unjust war.

Since that dinner table conversation in 1972 my view hasn't changed on the use of military force without a Declaration of War from Congress.

Unless that use of force was under Ronald Reagan in which case you will make every excuse under the sun as to why he was justified to act without the consent of Congress. Which directly contradicts what you said about the use of force previously.

 

[SparrowHawk]

Unless that use of force was under Ronald Reagan in which case you will make every excuse under the sun as to why he was justified to act without the consent of Congress. Which directly contradicts what you said about the use of force previously.

Not a fan of Reagan's little incursions. However, he followed the rules set forth by the UN Charter and under the War Powers act. Since the advent of the UN, it's much easier to enter into conflicts without consent of the people these days and that's wrong.

What Reagan did with Libya was in many ways similar to how the world solved problems with rogue or upstart nations. When their were vast Naval Armadas at sea it was quite common to give intruding vessels a "Whiff Of the Grape" which meant firing one or two rounds of grape shot into the rigging. It sent a powerful message. Just as Reagan did with his one Day blasting of Libya. You'll note until recently we've not heard to much about Libya. Reagan's plan worked.

Obama's decision to go at Libya was/is a totally different thing due to the fact that it's ongoing to this very day, the Congress has not approved it, Obama in his arrogance didn't even seek consent of Congress. One incident shows respect for the rule of law while the other shows arrogance and contempt for it.

A typical Progressive move! If the law in inconvenient, ignore it and blame the other side. What Reagan did was started and over before anyone could even get their panties in a bunch over it and it kept Libya at bay for decades. Reagan acted in accordance to the law and COTUS