H. Thomas Hayden was formerly the President and CEO of First Communications Company (FCC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a joint venture between Raytheon and a Saudi Company involved in Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) Systems for the Ministry of Defense and Aviation, Saudi Arabian National Guard and Ministry of Interior. Before retiring from the US Marine Corps, assignments included Commanding Officer (CO), Headquarters and Service Bn, 1st Force Service Support Group, which deployed to the Gulf War, CO Brigade Service Support Group – 9, which deployed to Somalia and CO MAU Service Support Group – 33, which deployed to The Philippines and Korea. He was Branch Head, Headquarters Marine Corps, Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC), and Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for SO/LIC with assignments to Central America. He has participated in combat operations or contingency operations in the Republic of Vietnam, Central America, Gulf War, Somalia, and Columbia. Tom has a MBA, MA in International Relations, and a PhD candidate in Business Management. He is the author of two books and is currently writing a third: SHADOW WAR: Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict; WARFIGHTING: Maneuver Warfare in the US Marine Corps. He has published over 40 articles and has been awarded the Navy League’s Alfred Thayer Mahan award for literary achievement.
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My daughter is a senior at University of California Santa Barbara, majoring in Global Studies and a minor in "languages." She was going to get a second major in French or Spanish.
Late last year I told my daughter that if she took a second major in French, she would get to pay for her senior year, because I would not.
She spent last summer in France. I was too late to take a stand on that. This year she wanted to go to Spain.
Guess what? Same deal: "You go, you pay and you also pay for your senior year at UCSB."
The latter was a little over the top, and of course I would pay for her senior year.
But she is not going to Spain this year, and I hope most Americans who were going to any part of Spain for vacation or business will not go this year.
Now she wants to spend part of the summer in England. Since she was born there, during one of my "hardship tours," my wife is English and her mother still lives there, my family and I will surely make a trip to England this summer. So, do not think I’m getting off cheap by saying no trip to Spain or France. They both will want to go somewhere.
I personally have decided not to buy that Mercedes 500, no more French wine, no more German beer and no more vacations to Tenerife, Spain.
Well, maybe I never planned to do much of the above this year. Tenerife was great some years ago. Would never buy a foreign car anyway.
I try to buy American almost all the time. It just happens that so much these days is made in Japan, China or some place not American. You may not know where something was made until you get it home and then take a better look at what you bought.
I did like the French wine Piat ‘dor. Not any more.
Have to take a hard look at French bread, French toast and French fries. But, I guess since they are made in America, I’ll buy them.
I checked the frig and my wife informed me about all the stuff we had in there from French Dressing to all the French cheeses - Brie, Camembert, Blue Cheese, etc.
Then there was Grey Poupon. I checked the label and found out that it was made in America from a recipe based on the original from Dijon, France. I decided not to throw it out.
One thing we do not worry about is Perrier water.
But, what about the liquors? What about champagne?
Never mind.
As my wife walked out of the kitchen she said something about don’t forget all the French perfumes, makeup, shoes, and top fashion designs.
I decided not to go check her perfume collection, nor her walk-in closet. Way too many shoeboxes to go through.
But, I did decide to watch the movie "The Longest Day." I particularly liked the part where the Allied fleet bombards the French coast.
Okay. Let’s see what I’ll tell the President, the next time I see him:
First, we have to stop all French imports. I bet they do not buy American.
Second, we have to get the French off the UN Security council. This pipsqueak excuse for a country has a position of prestige while the second and third most populous nations on earth are not on the Council - India and Indonesia. Pick one or pick both.
Third, he should recommend that all Americans stop visiting France. Include Spain & Germany for that matter.
Fourth, bring home all Americans buried in France from WWII. I believe we have about 10,000 troop buried in France. They need to come home.
Fifth, move NATO out of France. Oh, forgot, they moved us out some time ago. Never knew why we did not return the favor.
Sixth, stop celebrating D-Day at Normandy. We can have a nice ceremony on the cliffs of Dover.
Seventh, Americans have to stop celebrating Bastille Day on 14 July. That happens to be my birthday and I used to enjoy watching the French military parade down the Champs-Elysees every Bastille Day.
Oh well, some of this does not make much sense but it makes me feel better just to think about it.
Since I have never met George W. Bush, guess it might be a while before I see him to pass on my recommendations.
