Austin, Texas Chapter
The Association for all Military Officers
Companion Bulletin -April 2005
| Norma Jean Anderson has been in the hospital for the past two weeks
with a heart problem, so remember her in your prayers. You can check on
her progress at the following website: www.caringbridge.org/tx/normaanderson
Meeting, 14 April. 2005Holiday Inn Northwest (Mopac & Hwy 183) The cost for the evening is $18.00. If you are not called by 6 Mar., contact COL Szendrey (388-1005). Schedule:
Menu Speaker |
Chapter Officers
| 
March speaker: FBI Special Agent G. Charles Rasner
Don Bosseman reading the preamble.
|
|
LEGISLATION Two bills pending in Congress would increase the amount paid to families of GIs killed on active duty. H.R. 292-the Military Death Benefit Improvement Act of 2005-in the House and S. 77-the Honoring Every Requirement of Exemplary Service (HEROES) Act of 2005-in the Senate would boost the payment to $100,000 from the current $12,000, and be retroactive to Sept. 11, 2001. In addition, S. 77 would increase the Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI) maximum benefit from $250,000 to $400,000. VFW supports both bills. In Committee deliberations, Members of the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees voted to approve the inclusion of a health care enrollment fee of at least $230 a year for some veterans in the FY 2006. The votes were taken as the Committees developed their "Views and Estimates," which will be forwarded to the Budget Committees for consideration. Quotes To Ponder *Either war is obsolete or men are. | Items of Interest Branson, Mo., is staging Operation Homecoming USA between June 13-19 to honor Vietnam veterans nationwide. The tribute includes a festival of Vietnam-era entertainers and unit reunions. For further information, contact: Operation Homecoming USA, 1756 Bee Creek Road, Suite F, Branson, MO 65616; Tel.: 1-888- 265-8387 or (417) 336-5719; E-mail: info@operationhomecomingusa-com; Web site: , www.operationhomecomingusa.com. The Vietnam Unit Memorial Monument Wall- honoring the Navy and Coast Guard- will be dedicated May 21, 2005, at the Amphibious Base in Coronado, Calif. It lists, on 26 stainless steel plates, the names of naval personnel killed in Vietnam and will include three restored boats of the "Brown Water Navy.' The Military Coalition (TMC), an umbrella organization of 35 military-related organizations has published its legislative goals for 2005. These goals represent the combined input of all TMC associations and expand on work being done by individual organizations. To view the goals and learn more about The Military Coalition, go to: www.themilitarycoalition.org. |
|
Ending America's Dependence on Middle East Oil In both World War Two and the Cold War, the side best deploying scientific innovation and technological advancement achieved superiority. The turning point in the war on militant Islam will similarly arrive in the form of innovation that deprives the enemy of its current advantages. Today, however, the U.S. finds itself in the position of financially supporting both itself and its enemies in the "War on Terror." This is a consequence of the U.S.'s growing dependence on oil, particularly as a transportation fuel. The Muslim world, in contrast, depends on oil far less while possessing 75% of the world's oil reserves. As the U.S. continues to invest in the oil economies of the Middle East and the Muslim world, these economies continue to use their oil revenues to spread radical Islam, promote anti- Semitic and anti-American ideas, and in some cases, develop unconventional weapons. Every time an American goes to a gas station, he is sending money to America's enemies. To complicate the matter, America is not the only country with a growing demand for foreign oil. China and India, hosting two of the largest and fastest growing economies, are also experiencing a steep rise in their demand for transportation fuel. China, for example, will likely enter into Middle Eastern politics in order to meet this demand. | It will need to enhance
its diplomatic relations in the region and possibly increase its weapons sales
to the Muslim world's oil moguls. Foreshadowing this potential development is the Pakistani nuclear bomb, which
was built by the Chinese and financed by the Saudis. The steeply rising demands for oil today means that the disruption of petroleum production causes oil prices to rise. America's Islamist foes are aware of this reality and view it as America's Achilles' heel. According to an al-Qaeda spokesman, the October 2002 attack on a French oil tanker off the coast of Yemen was a victory against the "Crusader nations." After the terrorist attack against oil employees in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, al-Qaeda leaders bragged that the consequent rise in oil prices caused Americans to suffer The U.S. needs to get serious about gradually reducing the demand for foreign oil and bringing about the turning point in the current war. To do so, it must promote scientific and technological advancement by tapping into homegrown fuel sources that can be used for transportation purposes. These include: electricity, coal, and biomass (agricultural waste). Unfortunately, current U.S. energy policy is looking elsewhere, towards seeking oil reserves outside the Middle East. This is at best a short- term and ultimately shortsighted solution. |
| If we deplete the oil reserves outside the Middle East before we deplete the reserves in the Middle East, we will become in time more dependent on Middle Eastern oil than ever before. To avoid these outcomes, there needs to be a "Set America Free Plan" that will utilize alternate energy sources. In order to effectively implement its principles, leaders of this initiative must use the conservative political movement in America as its avenue to the American public. Usually, environmental political groups endorse energy initiatives of this nature as part of environmental preservation or anti-global warming campaigns. These campaigns, however, fail to resonate with the American public because of a general apathy toward the environment and distrust of anti-capitalists causes. Contrarily, if the initiative is presented by the conservatives and linked to the national security agenda, it will gain the necessary public support for implementation. Consequently, liberal political groups will also look to endorse the new energy campaign, further bolstering its appeal. Essentially, America will not be able to win its "War on Terror" if energy security is not at the top of its agenda. - Excerpts, Institute for the Analysis of Global Security | Chaplain's Selection "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." - Psalm 46:1 How Can You Live Without Knowing This?
Austin Chapter Website
Staff Meeting
Did you know that it only costs $10.00 to sponsor each of our 26 ROTC recipients with medals, certificates and presentation folders? See Companion Mary Kelso for details. |