Leadership... "American Soldier: General Tommy Franks, Commander in Chief - United States Central Command" is an autobiography published in 2004. General Franks was the head honcho in Afghanistan and Iraq during and after 09/11/2001. For more info, just click on the picture. Or you can read this book, but it is not a quick read. I won it as a door prize at one of the Cooke County Republican Women (CCRW) meetings. I found it very interesting because in 2001 I was doing college things. I wasn't paying attention to current events. I remember when we went into Iraq TWO YEARS later, and it felt like "REALLY, why has it taken us SO LONG??" But of course our troops were in Afghanistan only about 4 months after 09/11 happened. Of course the big issue that we all remember about Operation Iraqi Freedom is the issue of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and how there didn't turn out to be any, and President Bush got blamed for chasing after oil interests instead of the possible WMD. General Franks makes a very solid argument for why the intelligence on WMD in Iraq was solid. He also makes clear that it wasn't all about WMD. Unfortunately, his argument for the Iraq War takes over quite a bit of the book because I guess he felt that he needed to defend his actions and those of our country in general. Other than that, it's a very interesting book which covers a time in my life when I was not yet engaged in political matters.

I am certainly engaged in political things these days!! Of course I will be an Election Judge on Tuesday for the Presidential Election. I was fairly new at the job during the last presidential election. It's always fun to see everyone in Precinct 18 come through the doors, and the turnout in my town is very encouraging. I wish that every citizen in this country would understand how important their vote is. Also on the political involvement topic, I don't know if you heard that I'm set to be the President of the CCRW for 2017. This ain't like being class president or 4-H president. I'm actually going to have to work...and LEAD!! I'm actually quite terrified. It would be better if I wasn't President of the Saint Jo Riding Club (SJRC) at the same time, but I try to see these positions as opportunities for greatness. You're supposed to take those when they come along. And you're supposed to be grateful!! I'm working on that part. Leadership is tricky. They try to groom all young people to be leaders. I personally think that being an honorable follower is equally important - the type of follower who isn't just a lemming who goes along with the crowd, but a person who will help other soldiers along in the battle that is life. But leadership...I saw an excellent example of leadership yesterday at the SJRC meeting where we elected new officers for 2017. The incoming Parade Marshall said, "I just want our group to glorify God." Amen and Amen. And that's what was missing from General Franks' book. He wasn't lacking in faith - he had it in his wife and in his army, but he never mentioned a higher purpose. I pray, and I ask you to join me in praying, for our leaders (including me!) who will be trying to glorify God with our lives in 2017. We heard that in church just this Sunday: "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior..." (1 Timothy 2:1-3).