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The Ideal Ticket for POTUS 2024

2/7/2024

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                                      The Ideal Ticket for POTUS 2024
                                                         by Vito Tomasino

     The Democrats are pulling out all stops to prevent Donald J. Trump from running
for a second term as President. They have weaponized the DOJ, FBI, IRS, DHS, and
enlisted the help of some State Attorney Generals in a desperate effort to keep him
​off the ballot; even destroy his real estate empire and put him in prison. 
     Thus far their efforts have not only failed to dis-rail his candidacy they have made it
  stronger. Many more American people are seeing what the Democrats are doing to
  a former President—one who accomplished more positive things for our country in
  four years then all other Presidents combined since Ronald Reagan—and they don’t
  like it.
     If the last Presidential election taught us anything, it was that we cannot take
  anything for granted, no matter how good the initial results of an election appear to
  be. The late counting of absentee ballots without the closest scrutiny of both parties
  leaves the door wide open for cheating. If Trump is going to succeed in his bid for a
  second term we must be far more vigilant in our oversight of the election process
  than we were in 2020.
     As of this moment it looks like Trump will be the Republican candidate for President.
  Who he picks for his running mate will be far more critical this time than it was in
  2016. Democratic voters are still the majority and many of them are as concerned
  about the direction this country has been taken by the Biden administration, as are
  most Republicans. Thus, if he is going to win over enough of their votes, he will need
  a Vice President by his side who would lend real balance to the ticket. At no time in
  the history of our country has the choice for Vice President been as vital to the
  continuation of democracy in America as it will be for 2024.
     Donald Trump has, himself, often voiced those same concerns. “It’s not me they are
  coming after, it’s you. I just happen to be standing in their way.” And no one stands
  in their way better than that brash, street-talking billionaire from New York. He
  proved that in the four years he held the office, giving us a stronger economy, a
  secure border, a revitalized military, and the respect of every world leader. Indeed,
  he “Made America Great Again.” He can, and will do it again.
     But, he must first win this election; which brings us back to his choice of running
  mate. And no one, in my opinion, would be a stronger pick for the Vice Presidency
  than Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Yes, he is a Democrat, but unlike so many in his Party, he
  is first and foremost a true American patriot, and has expressed some of the same
  concerns, and voiced some of the same criticisms of Biden’s policies as Trump and
  most Americans. Moreover, he is almost as feared by the left-wing power brokers
  as Trump. His presence on the ticket, whether it be Republican, or Independent,
  would unite all true patriots in our country like we have not seen since WWII.
     Yes, I did say Independent. “The Deep State,” “The Swamp,” the real power brokers
  behind the governments of practically every country in the world—who think they
  know best how the rest of us should live our lives—may succeed in denying Trump
  the Republican nomination. Should that happen, I believe a Trump-Kennedy third
  party ticket could still win the general election—something a third party candidate
  has never done in the history of our nation.

                                                                 The End

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February 07th, 2024

2/7/2024

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Open Letter to Mr. Robert F. Kennedy,                                                            May 2024

In 2016 Donald J. Trump left behind a comfortable, stress-free lifestyle to take on the
most difficult job in the world, President of the United States. He did it over the objections
of his partying friends—such as the Clinton's, Bush's and a host of other rich, influential people--
knowing full well that he would be alienating himself from them. Why would he do that?
He did it because he is a true American patriot who did not like the direction they were
taking our country and wanted to stop it before it was too late to do so. He knew that
eight years of a Hilliary Clinton Presidency would have driven the final nails into America’s
coffin. They did not take him seriously then and, as a result, lost the election.

They have no intention of making that same mistake again and are pulling out every dirty
trick in the book to ensure they do not. Witness the recent sham trial that found him guilty
of all charges; which were nothing more than misdemeanors long past the statute of
limitations and upgraded to felonies by a vindictive Attorney General out to get Trump.
Because the Democrats have no positive record to run on, they are now trying to
scare the American people into believing that Trump is an evil dictator out to destroy
our country; even the world, who will never give up power once he is back in the Oval
Office—if you believe that enlightened sage from La-La Land. I challenge them, you,
anyone, to name one thing Trump did while he was President that would support
such an unhinged claim.

While you are trying to find that “one thing,” let me recount some of the accomplishments
of the Trump Administration: President Trump secured our southern border; lowered taxes,
giving us a  booming economy of low interest rates, an inflation rate of two percent, higher
wages for everyone, especially minority workers; made us energy independent; forced the
leaders of our NATO allies to pay their fair share in support of their own defense;
moved the American Embassy to Jerusalem (something previous Presidents promised
to do, but never did), re-negotiated trade agreements with Canada and Mexico, placed
tariffs on government subsidized Chinese imports to the USA, both of which helped
level the playing field for our workers and corporations, increased sanctions on Iran,
making it difficult for it to support worldwide terrorism, or continue their quest for
a nuclear weapon; cooled off the “Rocket Man” from North Korea, and let Xi Zing
Ping and Putin know we were still the most powerful nation on the planet.

President Trump accomplished all of these things and more within his first three
years in office. Moreover, he did so while under the most intense opposition from
both sides of the political aisle, endless investigations, and two impeachments. He
withstood those attacks from his political enemies like the brash New York fighter
he is; and stands stronger and more popular today then the day he first threw
his hat into the Presidential Ring. If this next election is only somewhat fair, he
will win it in a landslide victory even if he is sitting in a jail cell.

But, “therein lies the rub.” Fairness in our election process is no longer something
we can take for granted no more than we can assume equal justice under the law;
which is why I addressed this letter to you, Mr. Kennedy. You, and you alone, have the
opportunity to save our Democratic-Republic, and restore the legitimacy of our two-party
system, by throwing the weight of your popular candidacy behind a man with the courage
and determination to Make America Great Again. He did it once before, and staved
off the collapse of our great country, and he will do it again.

Given President Biden’s lack of support from his own party and the never-ending attacks
against former President Trump, I understand why you may believe your candidacy has
a chance to win the general election. But, that has never been accomplished in the history
of our country, and it is not likely to happen this time. Donald Trump’s popularity and
support is even stronger today than it was four years ago. Indeed, if the Biden
administration succeeded in accomplishing anything positive, it was to wake up a
segment of the American public who had once thought they could trust their elected
officials to look after their best interests, especially their President. I believe most of
them are true American patriots who will vote for Donald J. Trump—not you, certainly
not Biden. 

Once again, for the reasons I cited above, please consider my suggestion to drop out of the
race for the Presidency and put the full weight of your candidacy behind Donald J. Trump.
Doing so would not only assure his victory, but may well be the catalyst needed to restore
a legitimate two-party system in our Republic. You have the opportunity—when Historians
write of this critical juncture in American history—to reaffirm the prestige of the Kennedy name.
​
Respectfully;
Vito Tomasino

                                                       Crisis by Design

                                                         by Vito Tomasino

 

      Why would the President of the United States deliberately open the floodgates
to an invasion of our nation by people from all over the world, including our
enemies? The Democrats would have us believe that doing so will improve
their chances of harvesting more votes for the party and consolidate their hold
on power. Are their motives really that simplistic?
      Should it not be assumed—particularly by those government agencies
responsible for our security—that among the millions of souls pouring across our
southern border, are those sent here to reconstitute terrorist cells throughout the
country. Our FBI Director has only recently acknowledged that possibility and is
now warning us of a major terrorist attack happening this year. And let’s not forget
those who die on that long trek from Venezuela, through Central America, and Mexico
to get to our border, the women and children who are being raped and sex-trafficked,
and the drugs smuggled into our country, killing more of our young people every
year than were lost during decades of our involvement in Vietnam, Iraq,
and Afghanistan combined.
      Ironically, we spend billions more of our national treasure to protect the borders
of Ukraine and Israel than we do our own. Why is that? Why is Biden unwilling to
sign a bill that would tie the military appropriations for these countries with
money going to actually secure our own border, unless it is used for the processing
of even more immigrants?
      The State of Texas had no choice but to take action to secure its border only to
be sued by the Federal Government to cut the razor wire that was effectively
keeping the immigrants out. Governor Abbot took an oath to protect the citizens
of his State, as the President of the United States did to insure the protection
of all Americans. Abbot is fulfilling his oath. Biden is not only not doing so, he
is doing everything he can to stop him. Why?
      I have asked “why” four times in this essay. It’s time we addressed it. First,
let’s look at what it is not. Biden’s actions, and inactions are not due to his
obvious mental deterioration or incompetence, both of which were obvious before
he even became President. His “handlers” (for lack of a better word) are the
ones planning his every move and, as far as possible, scripting his every word.
What do they seek to achieve with policies they have instituted through their
puppet president, and the dismantling of the Trump policies that were working?
      They knew that an open border and the invitation to come to America by
this administration would result in an invasion of immigrants that would eventually
overload the resources of cities across our country and create a humanitarian and
financial crisis that would “fundamentally change the United States of America.”
We had a President, not too long ago, who promised to do just that. His name,
Barak Obama. He took up residence a few miles from the White House. No
less a puppet than Biden while he held the office, he is still seen as useful
​by the ultimate puppeteers—as a middleman puppeteer, if you will.
      What exactly did Obama mean by his promise to fundamentally change the
greatest, richest, most powerful democracy the world has ever seen? He, rather his
handlers, want to bring America to its knees, destroy its economy, weaken its
military, and establish a one-party system of government that would give them
absolute control over our lives and the lives of every human being on this planet.
These self-anointed “Emperors of the World,” seem to believe that their obscene
wealth gives them the wisdom to dictate how the rest of us should live our lives.
They tell us to eat bugs and laboratory produced meat, drive electric vehicles
and live in all electrically powered homes, while they sit smugly on “Mount Davos”
enjoying lavish caviar and filet mignon dinners, fly around the world in their private
jets, and hold court on their billion dollar yachts.
      The only major obstacle standing in the way of achieving their goal of one-world
government is the United States of America. If we go down, the rest of the world
goes with us. Thus, we must be taken down so they can establish a Socialist-
Communist dictatorship that will control our lives from cradle to grave. Under the
rule of these presumptuous gods we would be no freer to determine how we live
our lives than slaves.
      We have an opportunity—perhaps, the last—to take back our government
and secure the freedom so many of our men and women sacrificed their lives
to preserve. Choosing our next President in 2024 may be the most consequential
vote we ever cast. Trump has proven his ability to turn things around after eight
divisive years of Obama and I believe, if elected, he will clean up Biden’s
mess as well. His nomination looks to be assured, but so did his bid for reelection
in 2020. Based on past accomplishments he had more than earned a second
term. However, nothing can be taken for granted in today’s America; not free
and fair elections, not even equal justice under the law. Who the Republicans run,
however, is not as critical to the survival of our democracy as is wresting control
​from the power brokers behind the most influential throne in the world.
 
                                                                             The End
 
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The Unthinkable Truth

11/6/2023

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                                                                        The Unthinkable Truth                     Nov 7 ,2023
                                                                      By Vito Tomasino
 
With a large Russian military force poised on the border of Ukraine, President Biden was asked what our response would be if Russia did invade. He responded by saying something to the effect that it would depend on whether it was a minor incursion. His weak, equivocal answer was interpreted by Putin as an invitation to start the war on 24 February 2022. Had Biden taken an unequivocally strong stance there may not have been an invasion. Indeed, had he not deliberately taken America from energy independent to energy dependent, Russia would not have wasted its time and money massing its troops and weapons of war on Ukraine’s border. Why did he so act?

Shortly before Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, 2023, breeching one of the most secure, heavily defended borders in the world, IDS forces were pulled out of the area, leaving 1400 innocent Israeli’s to be massacred. Why did Israeli and American Intelligence fail to detect that an attack was imminent, and why were Israeli Military forces withdrawn from the area? Was this Israel’s invitation for Hamas to invade?

I realize, that to suggest both wars may have been deliberately sought by us and the Israeli’s is to ask one to think the unthinkable; that we are, in fact, as capable of lying and using our own people as political fodder to justify going to war as Hamas, or Russia. How else can you explain the above actions?

Recently, our FBI Director, Christopher Wray, warned us of the likelihood of a major terrorist attack in the United States. Really? Where was he almost three years ago when Biden’s executive pen dismantled every border policy Trump had put in place to give us the most secure border we ever had? Millions of people from around the world have since been pouring into our country; with hundreds of thousands of “got-a-ways.” Did he not think some of them might have been sent here by our avowed enemies to reestablish terrorist cells throughout the United States? I believe he did, but could not issue a warning then because the Biden administration wanted the border to stay open, and the timing was not right.
  
It is now; which is why we should take his warning seriously. With two major conflicts to distract us, and a Presidential election in 2024, this would be an ideal time for terrorist attacks against our homeland. Thus, a terror attack, and our engagement in two wars, would conveniently replace the 2020 Pandemic the Democrats needed then to take back the Oval Office. The terror threat, as Mr. Wray belatedly tells us, is not only very real, but likely to happen before we choose our next President.

A character in my novel, Kracek, had this to say about war: “That’s the whole point, Viktor, war is war, they are all the same. Good men get killed while others grow richer. If the choice is between preserving corporate profits and political power, or going to war at the risk of losing thousands, if not millions of lives, we go to war.”

That is “The Unthinkable Truth.”



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Not My Enemy

6/26/2023

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                                                                     Not My Enemy
                             
                                                                  by Vito Tomasino
 
 
     The guard escorted Whitfield to a hut commandeered by the Vietcong platoon leader for his temporary headquarters. Lt. Thanh was sitting behind a small unpainted wooden table, his hands clasped in front of him. With the exception of the empty chair opposite him, and an old straw mat on the dirt floor to his right, the room was bare. A lighted oil lamp on the Lieutenant’s desk provided some illumination, and unintentionally added a measure of warmth to the drab surroundings.
     He saw that Whitfield’s hands were still tied. “Remove his bonds,” he ordered.
     The guard, a mere boy, hurriedly complied, then stepped back with his AK-47 held at the ready. 
     “Please, sit down Colonel.” Thanh gestured to the chair in front of his improvised desk.
    Whitfield remained silent, and stared into the eyes of his interrogator, trying to read his next move. Thanh met his stare with equal resolve. He too wanted to get some sense of the man in front of him before beginning.
     He broke eye contact first, but only to scan through several pages of the manila folder lying on his desk. Closing it again, he looked up at his captive with the confidence of a man who seemed to already have all the information he needed without asking a question. When Thanh made a suggestion he wasn’t expecting, Whitfield’s stoicism was visibly breached. 
     “Before we begin Colonel, let us have some tea.” He motioned to the guard, who ushered in a peasant woman carrying a metal tea pot and two small white ceramic cups. She bowed to Thanh, who acknowledged her presence with an almost imperceptible nod.
     Her hands shook as she poured the tea. After filling both cups, she bowed again, then took her leave. Whitfield saw the fear in her eyes, and felt compassion for her, and the others like her whose lives were being turned into a nightmare by a war that should have never been. 
     His mind travelled back to Korea, when a North Korean pilot allowed him to float to the ground in his parachute, unharmed. There may be honor among warriors, he reflected, but there is no honor in war.
     “Drink Colonel, the woman makes very good tea.” Thanh picked up his cup and drank to show him that there was nothing more in the pot than tea. “There, maybe that will reassure you.”
     Whitfield conceded a slight smile and thirstily emptied his cup. Than refilled their cups. “Perhaps, now, you can tell me your name.”
     “William T. Whitfield, Lt. Colonel, United States Air Force, service number 1-2-0-3-2-6-8-2-3, date of birth June 6, 1922.”
     “What unit do you command, Colonel?”
     “William T. Whitfield, Lt. Colonel, United States…”
     “Yes, I know. The Geneva Accords require that you only give your name, rank, service number, and date of birth. It is your duty to offer nothing more. I understand. However, I had hoped you might be as interested as I am in knowing more about the enemy, not as prisoner and jailer, but as a human being.”  He paused, waiting for a response, but got none. Nonetheless, the look in Whitfield’s eyes told him that he had tapped into the older man’s intellectual curiosity.
     Than reopened the manila folder. “Never mind, I will tell you. It appears there is little that Hanoi intelligence does not already know about the Commander of the 429th Squadron, and the in-famous ‘Black Falcons.’ You have been a subject of interest for them since your arrival in Vietnam almost three months ago. The combat effectiveness of your unit was soon noted and reported to our leaders. It was not difficult to compile this dossier. Most of it is a matter of public record.”
     Whitfield displayed no emotion, but he was surprised by the thoroughness of North Vietnamese intelligence gathering. He was even more impressed with the sophistication of the Lieutenant’s interrogation technique—very mature for one so young. Thanh was also right in assuming that he would be interested in knowing more about “the enemy.”
     “According to this, Colonel, in World War II you shot down twenty eight German aircraft, making you an ace five times over. Quite an achievement for someone who could not have been any older than I am now. And, seven years later, during the Korean conflict, you shot down another fifteen Migs. With such an outstanding personal record, it is not difficult to see why your squadron is one of the most respected in Vietnam.” 
     Thanh paused momentarily to turn a few more pages in the folder. “I could go on, tell you where you went to school, what sports you excelled in, that you were number one in your aviation cadet class, and more, but it isn’t necessary. You see my point.”
     “Yes, I do, and you can see mine,” Whitfield replied, no longer able to hold back—nor wanting to. In a free democratic society—as we enjoy in the United States—such information is relatively easy to obtain. Admittedly, at times like this, it puts us at a disadvantage. However, no American would forfeit his freedom merely to protect against the small advantage it may give an enemy.”
     Whitfield’s candid response pleased Thanh. He tried not to show it, but a slight smile gave him away. “You need not fear revealing any secrets, Colonel. “There is little we do not know about every American combat unit in Vietnam, the weapons and tactics they use, and their fighting capabilities.
     We have not only survived your superior arms and technology, we have grown stronger. Eventually, no matter how long it may take, we will win this struggle because we believe in our cause. Do you?”
     Whitfield pondered Thanh’s remarks. He’s right. We may not have the will to see this war through to the end, to win it! All he had to do to reach that conclusion was read our newspapers and watch our television. 
     “Your silence gives me my answer, Colonel. In a way, I sympathize with you. You are a hero of two very different, yet justifiable wars fought by your country; wars in which the lines were clearly drawn and the goal was victory. You know, perhaps better than I, that is not the case here, and that is your weakness, one that will ultimately lead to your defeat.”
     “I don’t need, nor do I want your bloody sympathy, Lieutenant. I have questioned every war I’ve ever been in, and this one is no different. I too have beliefs. I believe in freedom and democracy, that these things are the birthright of every man, woman and child on this planet—good, honest people who want nothing more than to be allowed to live in peace, to express themselves without fear, and to grow without the oppressive weight of any form of  dictatorial government. 
     “This is why I am in Vietnam today. It was why I was in Korea, and why I fought in World War II. I am a soldier who loves his country, ready to give my life to protect the democratic ideals it represents—not only for my people, but for yours. Can you assure me that the communist regime you are trying to install in South Vietnam will guarantee these freedoms for its citizens?” 
     An angry Thanh sprung to his feet, knocking over his chair. The guard, confused by his commander’s reaction, stepped forward with his rifle raised to strike the prisoner, but was waved back by the Lieutenant. Whitfield’s impassioned discourse took the guerilla leader by surprise, and he silently cursed himself for showing emotion. He took a deep breath, picked up his chair and calmly sat down, allowing himself a few seconds to regain his composure.
     Whitfield watched him with studied interest. “Your reaction, is my answer, Lieutenant.”
     “Not quite, Colonel. I too am a soldier who loves his country, who also believes in freedom and democracy. That is precisely why we fight, because the corrupt administration in Saigon—illegally installed and supported by your government—denies us these very things. Nothing is black and white, as you Americans say. Everything is colored in many shades of gray. 
     “You are right freedom is a precious gift, which is why it cannot be doled out to anyone not ready, or unwilling to accept the responsibility that comes with it. In any society, freedom without individual accountability leads to anarchy. Ours is an agrarian culture largely populated by illiterate peasants, who are more concerned about feeding their children than they are with what form of government sits in Saigon.
     “These people—my people—view time in terms of centuries, not years. They are not ready for a fully democratic, one man one vote political order. Vietnam is better suited for a system that can channel the energies and talents of its people in a direction in which each of us can best contribute to the growth of our society, to raise it, and us, to the next level. Karl Marx put it best: ‘From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.’ That system is communism.”
     Whitfield was impressed with Thanh’s logic and grasp of communist ideology. He is not simply repeating propaganda fed to him by Hanoi, he believes it, he thought. “Your defense of communism is admirable Lieutenant, but it has one serious flaw.”
     “And what is that, Colonel?”
     “It doesn’t work. Communism, as it was envisioned by Marx
and Engels more than a century ago, does not exist anywhere in the world.”
     “But, you are wrong. What of the U.S.S.R., China, Cuba…?”
     “Dictatorships all, and not of the proletariat, but of one man, who rules with an iron fist. The people have no say in their government. In countries where they do have the vote they have no choice. They either vote for the candidate selected by the Communist Party leadership, or they do not vote at all. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of travel, the right to bear arms, and so many other freedoms that democratic societies take for granted are denied to them.”
     “It is true,” Thanh admitted. “Communism is not yet practiced
in its pure form—although China’s commune system may come close. However, it is still new. It simply needs more time.”
     “New? The idea was first put into practice in Russia in 1917. Can it be said, that the people of the U.S.S.R. are any better off now than they were under the Tsar? I don’t think so.”
     Thanh felt the anger rise within him again, but held it in check. “I do!  All we need is time. Fifty, one hundred years…this is nothing.”
        “Measured against the universal clock you’re right. Maybe your people are willing to wait centuries for the ideal to become a reality, but it’s not likely. Human history suggests the opposite; that they will not wait forever for their promises to be fulfilled. Their tolerance is not without limits, and they will eventually act to dispose of the existing government—if not by vote, than by force.”
     “You surprise me, Colonel. I did not think you to be a revolutionary.”
     “My country was born out of a revolution more than two hundred years ago. Every American citizen has a responsibility, indeed, a duty to protect against the loss of his or her rights and freedoms, whether they are threatened from without, or from within.
     “Are you saying that revolution is not only inevitable, but a duty? Interesting…very interesting.”
     “If it is the only way left open for the people to reclaim their freedom, yes. But that’s not the point I wish to make here.”
     “And what is the point, Colonel?” Thanh asked, impatiently.
     “For pure communism to exist, or any other ideal from of government, it must have perfect people…totally unselfish human beings who put the good of the whole above themselves, their friends, even their families.
     “They must live, eat, and breathe its precepts; which are not unlike those of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and all the other major religions. In the million or so years human beings have roamed the face of this earth, few, very few, have measured up to that ideal.”
     “But communism is not a religion. It in fact, renounces it.”
     “Isn’t it? If you examine the great religions closely you will find that they all make the same demands and require the same unquestioning devotion and allegiance of their followers as communism. The only real difference is they believe in a god; one that is sometimes merciful, sometimes vengeful, but always loving. You do not, and that makes your task of creating an ideal society all the more difficult and less likely to succeed.”
     “You make a compelling argument, Colonel, but nothing you have said has changed my belief that a communist government, under the wise leadership of President Ho Chi Minh, is the best one for a unified Vietnam. As to whether it can, or will prevail…”
     “You seem very sure of victory in this war, Lieutenant.”
     “I am, and for the reasons I gave you earlier. I noticed you had little to say to refute them, notwithstanding your patriotic diatribe. But we are through here. Guard!”
     “Wait.”
     “You have something more to say, Colonel?”
     “Yes. What do you intend to do with Brown and me?”
     “I see no reason not to tell you what you must have already guessed. Our leaders in Hanoi believe that the Commander of the infamous ‘Black Falcons,’ the renowned hero of two previous wars, will be of great propaganda value. They want you in North Vietnam.”
     “What about Brown?”
     “He will go with you. As a black American, and one of your pilots, he will also be useful. Our radio propagandist, the woman you call ‘Hanoi Hanna,’ is broadcasting word of your capture as we speak. When my people hear it they will rejoice, their spirits lifted. You will be seen as one of our finest victories. 
     “For me it is more personal, not because of the recognition and reward I may receive, but for what it cost us in lives and broken bodies to achieve. I can only hope that this will provide at least partial redemption for the men who followed me into a rice paddy a few days ago in a costly attempt to capture another of your airman.”
     Whitfield was stunned. This is the same man Kracek spoke of. “Yes,
I know about that, and I also regret the loss of life. As a commander, I know how you feel; but you must not blame yourself. You and I were only doing what we had to do; you, to carry out your orders, and I, to bring one of my men home safely. On that day we prevailed. Today, you did.”     
     “You are an unusual man, Colonel; as unusual, I suspect, as the man I faced in that rice paddy. Were it not for him we would have captured your pilot, and the helicopter crew as well. But, he flew like a man possessed, thwarting our every attempt to reach him. Never have I seen such flying. He is one of yours, is he not?” Thanh had already concluded as much, but he wanted confirmation.
     Whitfield didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. 
     “I’d like to meet him.”
     “But, he was trying to kill you.”
     “Yes, and I him. But he didn’t, and I must know why. 
     “On his final strafing pass he dropped so low to the ground that his jet exhaust lifted the water from the rice paddies high into the air. It appeared as though a giant water-breathing dragon was descending upon us—a vision so terrifying my men threw themselves to the ground in fear. I could not fault them. It was a sight we will never forget. 
     “Apparently he lost the use of his guns and was ready to do anything to keep us from reaching his wingman, even if it meant sacrificing himself. I was so frustrated, so filled with rage, that there was no room left in me for fear. In a futile attempt to shoot him down I emptied my AK-47 at him, then waited for the impact of his aircraft against my flesh.
     “Instead, he pulled up at the last second, missing me by inches. I was thrown down by the force of his jet exhaust and the mass of water that followed, but was on my feet in time to watch him fly off. As he turned away, the Black Falcon painted on the tail of his aircraft was clearly visible.”
     “You knew all along.”
     “Yes. It was my hope that, by telling you these things, I could learn more about the man in the flying dragon.”
     “You know I cannot, and will not, give you any information about him. However, I can tell you that his description of the encounter was remarkably similar to yours. Indeed, he was relieved he did not have to take your life.”
     “I knew it! It was as though I was in the airplane with him and he on the ground with me…as though we were of one mind.” 
     Whitfield was struck by the remarkable parallel between two men from opposite sides of the world. “I understand.”
     “Yes, Colonel, I believe you do.”
 
 
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Our Neglected Americans

9/19/2022

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I was driving in downtown Las Vegas to attend funeral services for a friend when, waiting at a stop light, a grey-headed old man approached me begging for money. He was tall, gaunt, and could hardly walk. He could not thank me enough for the money I gave him. I'll never forget the look on his face; an expression of deep gratitude. That emotional encounter prompted me to write the following essay.


Our Neglected Americans        by Vito Tomasino                                    Sept 18, 2022

America is the richest, most powerful nation on planet earth and, apparently, can afford to house, feed, clothe, provide medical care, and free cell phones to millions of illegal immigrants that flood our southern border before being flown to other parts of the country, while tens of thousands of American citizens are living on the streets of practically every city in our land begging for the money they need to stay alive for another day. Many of these same homeless are veterans of the wars we sent them to fight to preserve our freedoms and way of life.
     Rich as we may be, even we cannot afford to house and feed the world without destroying ourselves in the attempt. If that should happen, where then would the downtrodden of the world turn if there is no America? If we are to continue to be that “shining light on the hill,” that “beacon of hope,” we must remain strong, and we must demonstrate our commitment to that necessity by first taking care of our own.
    Many of our once great cities are in crisis today because of the increase in crime and homelessness in the streets and the uncontrolled influx of illegal aliens, almost none of whom have been properly vetted. The terrorist organizations we have been fighting for decades at the cost of our blood and treasure are still out there, still committed to the destruction of America. They will no doubt use our open southern border to reestablish terrorist cells throughout our country.
        Thus, while our own citizens are left to languish and die on our cities streets we spend billions of tax-payer dollars to aide and abet an invasion of illegal immigrants, some of whom may one day bite the hand that feeds them.




      
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The Thousand Year Reich         by Vito Tomasino                          August 12, 2022

8/22/2022

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      Hitler is dead, but his legacy lives on in a modern day Third Reich and resurrected Gestapo, that continue to spread his doctrine of hate, divisiveness and fear through-out the world, including the last bastion of hope and freedom for the human race.
      This latest attack against a former President of the United States is nothing short of Gestapo intimidation ordered by a Third Reich that did not die with its Fuhrer. This is America, not Nazi Germany!
      I fought with the U.S. Marines in the Korean War, with the United States Air Force  in Vietnam, and stood watch on bases around the world to ensure that Russia not only remained behind her "Iron Curtain," but removed her missiles from Cuba, my wife's homeland. In twenty five years of military service I could not imagine, that the greatest threat to the freedoms I risked my life to preserve would come from my own government.
      When the home of a former President of the United States can be raided without a single outcry from any of the major news outlets, save a few conservative ones, and so few voices, even from his own party, are raised to strongly denounce the unprecedented action, our democracy is in great peril.
      Our only hope is that there are enough true American Patriots in our land—including those on both sides of the Congressional aisle—for us to stave off its demise, but only if we are willing to put country before self.  

Personal note:

       I believe I speak for the seventy-five million patriots in our land who voted for that brash, street talking billionaire from New York because we instinctively knew, that the only one on that stage of nineteen GOP presidential hopefuls with the guts to take on the Washington Establishment and win was Donald J. Trump. Indeed, he accomplished more in his one term in office than any other President before him since Abraham Lincoln. Moreover, he did it while under constant harassment by the opposition party and little support from his own. We have not had a fighter like him as our President since Teddy Roosevelt. And never, since Abe Lincoln, have we needed one as badly as we need him now. If we allow The Donald to be taken down, I fear our country will soon follow.

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Lost in Barstow

6/9/2022

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Letter to Andre Schwammlein, CEO, FlixBus

      On June 3, 2022, approximately 3:45 PM, I received a call from, Frank and Rita Duca, who were left stranded in Barstow, California by the FlixBus driver. They departed Riverside, CA at 12:30 the same day and arrived at the Barstow Bus Station at 3:00 PM, where all passengers were let off for a 30 minute rest stop. When my friends returned to the bus it was already gone. They could not have been more than a minute or two late, if they were late at all.
      The driver did not ask everyone to synchronize their watches before leaving Riverside, and should have allowed for a several minute buffer, especially since she had to have known that Frank and Rita were not yet on the bus. Frank is 96 years old, a WWII veteran who can barely walk. His wife, Rita, is 90. They were the oldest passengers on the bus. Frank had even stopped to complement the driver before getting off.
      Their son, who saw them off in Riverside, made a point of asking the driver to please look after his mother and father. She responded by lacing every sentence she uttered with a four letter word. I’m sure her response did not inspire confidence. Rita would later overhear the driver tell another passenger that she was in a lot of pain. She obviously could not walk without a cane; leaving one to wonder why she was even driving that day. Should she have been?
      When their son, Phil, learned they were left behind in Barstow he called to talk to a FlixBus agent to see if another bus would be able to pick them up to complete the trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, and arrange for their luggage to be returned; which, he noted, contained all of their needed medications. The agent coldly told him there was nothing he could do; that it was the passenger’s responsibility to be on the bus at the scheduled departure time, not the driver’s. 
      When Rita called to tell me what had happened, I told her not to worry, that my wife and I would drive down from Las Vegas to pick them up…to wait for us in the Bus Station. It is more than a 300 mile round trip journey, but we were not going to let our friends spend a night in a strange town without their luggage. We got back to Las Vegas about 9PM that evening.
      As one of the most innovative, fastest growing, most successful transportation companies in the world today, I know you and your co-founders take pride in all you have accomplished, and look forward to even further growth in the future. You also recognize the importance of having good, motivated people to make that happen, especially at that level in the company in closest contact with the customer, your drivers.
      Had your driver waited just a few minutes longer; indeed, had she insured all passengers were aboard before leaving, as any responsible driver would, particularly when elderly passengers are involved, my friends would not have been put through an unnecessary ordeal, and there would have been no need to trouble you with this letter.
      A Lost and Found report was submitted the following day on the company website, but, as of this time, Frank and Rita have not heard from anyone at FlixBus regarding their luggage. A word from you would doubt move things along a bit faster.

Respectfully,
Vito Tomasino

P.S. I too talked to one of your agents about the lost luggage and, unlike the insensitive response Phil received, the young lady I spoke to could not have been more sympathetic, or helpful. Her name is Jonyetta (not sure of the spelling).
The Security Officers at the Barstow Bus Station also took good care of my friends until my wife and I could get there.
The booking number for Frank and Rita is: 301 213 5822


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Human Life - When Does It Begin  by Vito Tomasino

5/17/2022

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     When does human life begin? Is it the moment of conception, as pro-lifers believe,
the first heartbeat, or that point in its development when it can survive outside the womb?
Or is it not until the baby is outside the womb and breathing on its own—as some pro-
abortionists would have us believe? This is the single most important question to be
answered before we can engage in a reasoned dialogue regarding the rights of women
versus the rights of the unborn child, which many of us believe has as much right
to live as the mother. The question is, at what point in a woman’s pregnancy is that
life within her a viable human being?
      Those who believe that a woman has a right to choose what is best for her
health and well-being by aborting a pregnancy at any stage do so with a total
disregard for the rights of the unborn. Abortion laws in some states allow a
woman and her doctor to decide the fate of the child even after delivery; which
one could argue, is nothing less than consensual murder. And, if that were not
callus enough, the organs of the baby are often harvested and sold to the
highest bidder.
      No one questions a woman’s right to make decisions regarding her health. It
is, indeed, her body. Nonetheless, that other little body within her is not. Abortion
is not the same as removing a ruptured appendix, or even cutting off an arm. It
results in the termination of the life of another human being, one that has no
voice, nor means of defending itself.
      Most, if not all arguments for or against abortion ignore the fact that
half of the new life growing within the mother contain the genes of the father.
Should he not have a say in any decision regarding the life of their child? Even
if he forfeits his right and leaves it for the mother to decide, it still does not resolve
the unanswered question of when human life begins. No one can say with certainty
when that occurs, though many would argue that point in defense of, or opposition
to, abortion.
      Some pro-abortionists would abort a live, fully formed baby as late as delivery
if the mother and her doctor agree. Eight states and the District of Columbia have
enshrined that right into law. Most state laws ban late-term abortion, but allow
exceptions for the mental and psychological health, even the age of the mother.
      There are extenuating circumstances, such as in the case of rape or incest—
particularly where a minor is involved—or when the life of the mother is in jeopardy.
After careful deliberation of such cases abortion may be justified. In those cases where
the mother or father simply don’t want the responsibility of raising the child, adoption,
rather abortion is a far more humane option. There are thousands of childless couples
in America who would consider it a privilege to assume that responsibility.
      While eight states have codified the right to abortion up to the point of birth,
forty-two have not. This seems to indicate that most Americans (pro-lifers and
pro-abortionists alike) believe that, at some point in its development a fetus
is a viable human being with a right to live equal to the mother. Since neither
side can defend their position with indisputable facts the argument becomes moot,
and we are still left to ponder the question.
      Does life begin in the third trimester, the beginning of the first heartbeat, or
at the moment of conception? No one can say with certainty if any of these are
correct. Given that uncertainty, it would be prudent, certainly more compassionate,
to err in favor of life rather than death.
      If we believe in the sanctity of life we cannot kill a child simply because the
mother and/or father do not want it. Moreover, even if there are extenuating
circumstances to consider, any decision taken must be based on the assumption
that life begins at conception.
 
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Psychological Warfare

3/30/2022

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Let the Devil Receive His Due

                                                Let the Devil Receive His Due
                                                               by Vito Tomasino 
 
      Putin invaded a peaceful country of no threat to Russia, attacking apartment buildings, hospitals, even a nuclear power plant, resulting in the massacre of thousands of innocent men, women and children and disrupting the lives of millions more. His own ill supplied, demoralized army is also paying a huge price in human life and material loss, all to fulfill his dream of forming a new Russian Empire. With a few notable exceptions, he has been condemned by almost every country in the world.
      The United States and its NATO allies responded to this blatant disregard for human life by belatedly imposing weak economic sanctions targeting rich Russian Oligarchs, which had no effect on Putin’s ability to finance the war. Indeed, we, and our allies continued to buy his oil, and were thus personally complicit in helping him finance the very war we were condemning. It was only after we realized the war would not be over in a few days, and unable to explain this embarrassing contradiction, that we reluctantly stopped buying Russian oil.
      The United States and our allies have publicly decried Putin’s actions, calling him a war criminal who will be held accountable for his crimes. Some have described him as the devil incarnate. This man “cannot remain in power,” declared a chagrined U.S. President. Yet, here we are, more than a month later with the war still raging—thousands more innocents killed and millions more displaced—wringing our hands over what we can, or cannot do to end the senseless bloodshed.
      The sad truth is we know exactly what needs to be done. The Ukrainian Army has proven itself more than capable of taking on the Russians. Give them the weapons that will not only enable them to defeat the Russian soldier on the battlefield, but control the skies over it; i.e., surface-to-air missiles and Mig-29 fighter jets. Without such weapons they stand little chance of winning a war of attrition against a far bigger opponent with unlimited resources.
      U.S. and NATO military experts and their government leaders know this to be true.  Poland was ready to provide the Mig-29’s weeks ago in exchange for our F-16’s. The Biden administration would not allow it. We later agreed to provide the high altitude surface-to-air missiles, but they have yet to be delivered. Why? Why, given the proven capability of the Ukrainian Army to hold the Russians at bay, even drive them back, are we denying them the weapons they need to finish the job?
      We have heard their lame excuses for not providing the Migs and missiles; that they are offensive weapons and might prod Putin into declaring an all-out war against NATO, which could escalate into a nuclear exchange. However, in a world in which the Soviet Union and the United States have faced each other in a Cold War for decades—each possessing enough nuclear weapons to destroy the planet several times over—they have never resorted to their use. Even Premier Krushchev—during the closest event the world had ever come to a nuclear holocaust, the Cuban Missile Crisis--was wise enough to understand this. I don’t think Putin is any more suicidal, or any more likely to be allowed to press the “red button.”
      What is an offensive weapon, anyway? Is there such a thing as a non-offensive weapon? Are not the weapons currently being sent to Ukraine offensive weapons? Indeed, all weapons are, by their nature, offensive, either when used by an invading army, or used by the people of the invaded country to defend itself. The only difference between the offensive nature of the weapons we have already sent, and those we have not, is that the former can only forestall the inevitable defeat of an outnumbered, outgunned Ukrainian Army, the latter can bring it victory.
      If we dismiss the plausibility of igniting a Third World War in which nuclear weapons are deployed, what then are we to believe is the reason for us to deny the Ukrainians the arms they so desperately need? Could it be, that we are more fearful of Putin losing, than we are hopeful of the Ukrainians winning? This is a question we can debate after the war.
      For now, send them the God-damned weapons and Let the Devil Receive His Due!


       I wrote this two weeks ago and have since learned that the Ukrainians are indeed
using internet and cell-phone technology in their psy-war effort, which has
apparently been effective in getting the truth to the Russian people at home. But
what of the soldier in the field? He may not have been allowed to take a cell-phone
with him. If a few did manage to smuggle one into the combat zone they only dared
use it at the risk of their lives, and trying keep it charged would compound that risk.
      Thus, to get to the Russian soldier in the field, the old methods mentioned
below (leaflet drops and loud speaker propaganda) may still be the best way to
reach him.  

      Hungary, demoralized Russian soldiers, told they would be greeted as liberators
are now aware of that lie, the world’s opposition to the war, and the protests against
it by their own people, and would be very vulnerable to psychological warfare. If
it is being used, it must be stronger. If not, it may be the most effective unused
weapon in our arsenal—one that could end the war. It would also be the most
cost effective weapon we could use, and at little cost (if any) to human life.
      If needed by Ukraine, support could be gotten from any number of NATO
countries, including the United States. In past wars we used leaflet drops and
powerful loud-speakers directed at the opposing army—and they at us. Today,
with internet and cell-phone technology we have even more effective methods
of “getting into the heads” of our enemy.
      I cannot imagine a situation more vulnerable to psychological warfare than
Putin’s unlawful invasion of a peaceful neighboring country.
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The Voice of the People     by Vito Tomasino

3/10/2022

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 The people of the world are voicing their opposition to the “War on Ukraine” and their compassion for the Ukrainian people. They, and the protests against the invasion by the Russian people themselves, inspired me to write the following essay.     

​                                          The Voice of the People                     

Putin’s attempt to take over a country that posed no threat to Russia has been met with fierce resistance by the Ukrainian people, who are demonstrating a willingness to fight to the death for their country and God-given right to live as free men and women. The indomitable spirit they are displaying has captured the emotions and admiration of freedom-loving people across the globe, including, and certainly more significantly, the Russian People themselves.
      Putin, may have indeed felt he had legitimate cause to take such drastic action, but some of his own generals advised against it, and thousands of his people have taken to the streets at great risk to themselves and their families to protest the war. I don’t recall that ever happening in Russia before.
      The sanctions, though late in coming, are taking a toll on Russia’s economy, but more needs to be done in that regard. There should be a worldwide boycott of Russian oil, the sale of which is financing his invasion of Ukraine. How ironic…how damming is it, that those same countries sending arms into Ukraine are still buying Russian oil and indirectly helping Putin finance the war? Is this not a conflict of interest? To those nations, especially mine, I ask, where is your commitment to peace? Where is your honor? If your words are not matched by your actions, they
are meaningless, and you have none! If you, our world leaders do not have the moral courage to put aside your personal concerns to hold onto power, then we, the people must do it for you.
      In this age of computers and cell phones we have the capability to know what is happening anywhere in the world the instant it happens. Through the internet and social media platforms we can make our voices heard loud and clear. If the billions of people with access to these platforms flood the “airways” with their voices of support for the Ukrainian people while issuing a strong condemnation of Russian aggression, we will be heard.
      Why? Because the self-anointed few among us who think that they know best how the rest of us should live our lives will find it in their personal interests to end the conflict to protect their power and fortunes. Putin would find himself isolated, and thus expendable.
      Toward that end, I ask all to whom I send this message to forward it to everyone on your mailing list, post it on your Facebook page, and write your own individual message of support for the Ukrainian people and condemnation of Putin’s brutal aggression against a peaceful nation on every other social media platform you use. Share your concerns with those that represent you in your respective governments, and write the editors of your local newspapers. Together, we can end this war.
     
     

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