How are you? I am doing so-so. Moving is not all it’s cracked-up to be, or is it? I feel as if I’m cracked! lol.
I wanted to let you know that I have moved. I decided it was time that I brought all of my sites together so that people could get a better feel or idea of who and what I believe and why.
The new URL is Rosemary’s Thoughts. I bought my own site, but I am now using WordPress from a seperate server. (Is that how it is said?)
Please come and join me. I need your input to help me stay the course and have fellowship. Thank you so much for all the encouragement you have given me in the past. God bless your families and you.
Update: It did not work out, so I can still be found at Rosemary’s Thoughts (blogger). I hope to see ya over there. God bless you.
I slept through the debate last night and as I hear, I didn’t miss all that much. Could someone please explain to me why Ron Paul-who has not won one primary-is still in the debates? Oh, and a vote for the Huckster is a vote for McCain. IMHO.
Let’s get down to the meat of the topic. I was over at Stop the ACLU, and they covered the debate for us. So did several others, and there are links to their sites. Here are some interesting ones:
I find this last one very disturbing, since just the other day he said he would sign the McCain-Kennedy amnesty bill. Oh my, that sure is some straight-talking for ya, eh? And they wonder why we do NOT trust them…
There are also several video versions so that you can decide for yourself. I choose not to waste my time, but that’s just me. Maybe I will later, but I’m just upset right now. We cannot a Juan McCain…
PS: I do not wish to give anyone the impression that I support Romney, because I do not. Now you can see my dilemna. I know enough him to make me sick. What a choice. Why is it that the largest state in the union gets stuck with the nuts? Oh well. I guess it’s to each their own. Just remember the most important thing. It is not your damn pocket. It is our men and women who are in harms way protecting your selfish butts from having your throat slit. Or have you forgotten already?
This is a place where you can trackback your posts all day and night long. Just make sure you include a link back to here when you do so. NO porn. Have a great day.
Please read the acts of this young Army Medic and the others who were awarded medals last September 2007. He is an amazing man. He was helping another unit with a casulty while another IED went off. After that, he continued to help his Sergeant and another medic. All this time, he never even knew he had received a whole in his helmet. Yes, his head was in it at the time. Please read the rest of the story.
I thank God that we are so blessed with men such as these. We all should be grateful. It is because of them that we may walk around and argue politics or whatever we choose. Hey, don’t forget to shake the hand of a Serviceman/woman today, and let them know how grateful you are. It only takes a moment, but it means more than you will ever know to them. Thank you.
This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
Posts I’ve trackbacked to at Linkfest and other sites:
Today we are going to start the news with two posts from Iraq the Model (I recently found out there were two posts), Gregg Jackson’s articles about things we should know about Romney and some news from Stop the ACLU.
Omar is studying for his American degree (he is already well educated in Iraq), and he finally had a moment to write to us to let us know that both Mohammed and he are well. Oh my! I just went to get the permalink, and there is another post! (For those who are new to the term, ITM=Iraq the Model.)
Here is an excerpt from the second post:
One more important finding makes my suspicion stronger. Could it be a coincidence that the percentage that Libyan nationals make up of total foreign terrorists has spiked during 2007? According to recently captured documents that US military captured in Sinjar, a town west of Mosul, one fifth of foreign fighters who came to Iraq between in the year leading to August 2007 were Libyan nationals. Or could it be another coincidence that Libya covertly sponsored a satellite TV channel in Iraq that was going to launch in late 2006, the same time the Libyan “surge” started? This is a new and surprising figure that suggests that there’s an organized effort to recruit and send fighters from Libya to Iraq; an effort not easy to undertake in a repressive police state unless someone above the law is involved. [Continue reading.]
This last link answers many of the questions people may have about Mitt Romney. Full disclosure: that is, if you don’t trust him like I don’t.
This next article is about an amazing young man who started sending care packages to our Troops since the beginning of this war. His heart must be filled with gold, because his offerings to the Troops has blossumed! Please read the following:
Troops in the Spotlight – May 25th and 26th 2008 K-Mart Plaza Hyannis, MA.
It is hard to believe that Troops in the Spotlight is just 4 months away!!! Plans are now under way but we can use your help. We are hoping that you can help get the word out – we are looking for businesses, schools, churches, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, community organization, and families to plan to do donation drives and/or fundraisers during the months of April and May; and then present their donations during Troops in the Spotlight. If you can help with this please let us know.
We are also looking for Airman, Army, Marines, Navy and Coast Guard personnel who would be willing to participate during Troops in the Spotlight. Last year we raised almost $20,000. in cash donations and over 80,000. worth of supplies were donated. This year the goal is to double those amounts!!!
We will have flyers, posters available within the next week or so and would be happy to send you some. We are also updating our drop off sites, and of course we are always looking for new drop off locations.
We are looking for representatives for each town that would help to get their towns involved. We will also be offering a raffle during this years event and are in need of raffle items.
We would love to hear any suggestions that you may have. We want to make this year’s event a huge sucess!!! So far, we have sent out over 2500 care packages to our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and continue to support several orphanages, schools and medical clinics in both countries. I made several visits to Bethesda Naval Hospital, and Brooks Army Medical Center. This year I hope to become more involved with our injured troops here at home, supporting not only our injured troops but also their families. Of course, I would like to send out another 1000 care packages by the end of the year!!! The goal for next year’s Christmas Care Packages is 200!!! This year we sent out 120.
Please mark your calendars now and plan to join us during Troops in the Spotlight. We really need a show of support during the event.
Thank you again for all your support, Cape Cod Cares for the Troops has been so sucessful because of the support I have received from everyone.
Sincerely,
Dylan DeSilva Cape Cod Cares for the Troops
PS Please feel free to forward this email to anyone who may be interested in helping to support our troops
Now for some news from Stop the ACLU. This first article is about who would be the best candidate on judges and standing up to the ACLU? Please feel free to pass these articles on to your friends.
…For most people that think fighting the ACLU and judicial tyranny are high priorities, an important question is: who can we trust to appoint constitutionalist judges that don’t write laws from the bench?
Lets not forget that McCain led the gang of 14. Mark Levin reminds everyone:
McCain also led the Gang of 14, which prevented the Republican leadership in the Senate from mounting a rule change that would have ended the systematic use (actual and threatened) of the filibuster to prevent majority approval of judicial nominees.
Well, it’s already tomorrow, so I’m going to stop right here. See the next post for ACT! for America, American Congress for Truth, and many more. I’m almost caught up. Gosh, ya take one day to go to the doctor, and the e-mail overfloweth! lol. Have a great day everyone.
Today (since it is morning already) is going to be an open trackback day so I can continue catching up with everything. Have fun!
These are the posts I’ve linked to because, well, they’re just that good! lol Oh, I will be using Linkfest to find these posts.
We really need to be careful about how these politicians mess with our free speech. I agree with Darrell. I should kiss the ground I walk on each day as I arise from the slumber Thou hast provided. Now. These are from Iraq the Model:
Today I went back to the hospital to get medication for my epilepsy, and I met a met a man who met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. WOW. He was nine when he met him, and this man-himself-was pretty remarkable. He was very kind. He was my bus driver, and I must say-a very good one at that! A lady pulled out right in front of us, and he had no problem missing her. (We were turning. Many other bus drivers would have plowed her down. Oh, wait a minute, we’re not in New York anymore, are we? lol)
I get to the hospital (there are many clinics in Harbor/UCLA student hospital), and I have to go through screening. What a freakin’ trip. Now you have to picture this. I’m using a walker, I’m wearing a heavy sweater that buttons because it is raining (HAHAHA, it was trickling), I have one wrist that still doesn’t work right (it’s very painful to pick up a soda, let alone a walker!), gotta empty those pockets (I learned from before to put everything in my other pocket, the hand that I could use), get through that, gotta go get blood tests, going through the x-ray machine they took off the two bags my brother tied onto my walker so I don’t have to carry anything), and there I am. Bagless, wristless, and useless!
I wanted to poke them in the eye when they said, “Well, you would have gone around, we wouldn’t have to do this.” WHAT? WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY SO??? Argghhh! So I’m standing there. Looking like an idiot. Yup. I cannot tie the bags back on, and no one was going to help me. No one did. I managed to get home, ate, and fell asleep. Missed the State of the Union (so what, right?!), and here I am. Oh, my bandaged/cast came apart, so I had to fix that. Thank God I was at home when it happened. I think I may have lost it otherwise. LOL.
No, I wouldn’t have lost it, but sometimes it’s fun to think of what that would look/feel like. Anyone have any ideas or pictures of what it would look like if I flipped out? I’d love to read/see them! Have a morning (Hey, I just woke up!).
Today you will be reading about someone you may never have heard of before, but that does not make him any less significant. This man was…WAS…an ambassador to North Korea. Why do I emphasize ‘was’? Condi made sure she tore him a new one, instead of admitting that she was WRONG about Kim Jong Il (as I could have told her before she even tried to buy off the North Koreans. When will these idiots learn that you can’t pay off a commie terrorist?).
I would like to start from the beginning, but I’m afraid my knowledge is not that extensive. I will start from when I became aware and started paying attention. This was in the 1990′s. I do know that we fought a war between the north and south over there, that we did not declare victory or defeat but instead we called a ceasefire (which means, in essense, we are still at war with them), that there is a demilitarized zone which is heavily armed by both sides, it is constantly compromised by the north, the northerners are constantly trying to escape even though the punishment is death or the gulag, and the south does not want to allow them into their country even though some of them are direct relatives.
There, are we caught up? Good. Now for the problems. Mr. Jay Lefkowitz. He was working for the State Dept. for many years, but he was made to resign. Why? Well, how dare he undermine Condi! He was speaking at the American Enterprise Institute a couple of weeks ago when he stated, ‘Noting that it has been more than two years since Pyongyang pledged to abandon its nuclear weapons program, and more than two weeks since it violated the latest deadline to disclose the full extent of that program, Mr. Lefkowitz observed that “it is increasingly clear that North Korea will remain in its present nuclear status when the Administration leaves office in one year.”‘
Wow. Pretty rough stuff, eh? Too bad the state dept doesn’t have to search for bark of a tree to eat for food on a daily basis so they don’t starve! This was the purpose of that statement: “Jay Lefkowitz, President Bush’s special envoy for human rights in North Korea, has recently pointed out that our current approach to Pyongyang is failing. Lord help a diplomat who tells the truth.”
Does anyone, besides me, remember why Bush hated Kim Jong Il so much? Yes, it was on the basis of humanitarian reasons. Of course there is the issue of nuclear weapons that have a role in this, but I would have thought he would take a hard stand on the humanitarian side. Over two million people have already starved to death, numerous have been murdered by the state, and no one says a damn thing. Thanks a heap, Bush. What happened to you? Who took your cajones?
To read the article over at the Wall Street Journal Opinion section, click here. Now if you will pardon me, I feel the need to beat up a pillow…
Posts I’ve trackbacked to at Linkfest and other sites:
There is a group named “Iraq Veterans Against the War” which is planning another lie-filled ‘investigation’ titled “Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan“, this March 13-16, 2008, (at the Capitol) to provide ‘information of the atrocities’ our fine men and women are committing in Iraq and Afghanistan.
They claim to have 4736 ‘people’ who support them. I find it ironic that they don’t use the word Soldier, don’t you?
It is not too late for us to infilitrate them. Remember, you must hold your tongues. You are just there to record everything. There is to be no violence. What you can do before you go is e-mail all of your friends and family members to ask them to stand with us against these liars.
You can get in by using this link. Make up a statement that they will want to hear. They may even ask you to speak at this display of disgusting dishonor. That will your opportunity to reveal the tapings you have made of THEM! The lies, the hatred for troops, and possibly who is sponsoring this meeting. Put it out there if you can get it.
We do not have much time. Please organize as if this was enemy terrotory and you were going in to save your buddies. In essense, you will be. Godspeed.
Posts I’ve trackbacked to at Linkfest and other sites:
Barack wiped the state of South Carolina with Hillary Clinton. He beat her with over 20 percentage points. He also beat her in almost every category. I LOVE IT! He may be wrong on many of the issues, but what an amazing Democrat. If we have to lose to a Democrat, I’d rather it be him.
Let’s face it. We have crap running for president. No, I will not vote for McCain just because the establishment believes he’s next in line. Have you ever heard of anything so ridiculous? We are not the Senate! LOL.
I will not vote for Mitt’s ‘hillarycare’, illegal alien policies, abortion forced into the ‘hillarycare’ on his way out of the door, and homosexual propensities. (Not him, his politics, so calm down.)
I would vote for Rudy. Why? Because I can trust what he says. I know he gets down in the streets and fights mean. I’M FROM NEW YORK. We all do. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, NK and China will all be afraid to have him as our president. That should tell you something right there.
He isn’t pro-life? No kidding. However he didn’t try to re-invent himself by lying to us about it, and he also promised to appoint constitutionally literate judges. That is the most we can do about the abortion issue right now, AND YOU KNOW IT. Sorry for that outburst, but I get tired of having to remind people that should these things.
PS. No, I have not lost my mind or my way. I’m just tired of RINO’s running the government we have fought too hard and too long for to watch another RINO give conservatives a bad name. We deserve better than that. I believe if we do lose, Sen. Obama will not try do to us what the Clinton’s did. You know, make us out to be evil, or have you forgotten? If we have to be ruled by Democrats, I’d much rather see it done by a true, good Democrat. Not some idiot RINO. They will not get the message if we keep giving them money, voting for them and they keep giving us crap…
Now for the Open Trackback. I suppose I am not doing it right. I am suppose to allow you to choose whether or not you would like share your material here. I’m also not suppose to use the ‘ping chooser’ at the same time I have an open trackback. I do not understand why, but if those are the rules of etiquite, then so it. Have at it, and have a nice weekend.
Have you ever given any thought to a ‘three-dimensional’ website? Look at it this way, we no longer live in a world where the net is a ‘flat earth’ development. To give you a peek inside this fact, Douglas Farah has written a very informative and chilling article.
At the Counterterrorism Blog, you will find just about any type of news that we are NOT hearing about on the news. Especially the type of news which we should all be looking for to keep our country safe. I suppose that could be because of the elections, but you would think our survival would be an election year topic. Oh well.
Jihadists Move to Encryption on Internet Sights.
…Today’s Washington Post carries an extensive look at the radicalization of two Islamists from the state of Georgia who were filming potential targets in Washington, D.C.
So, they think catching illegal aliens is too hard of a task? Check out this story from Jayson Javitz over at Wizbang!
Dragnet.
…’They think they’re pretty much home free once they get up here,’ said Bill Botts, of the Border Patrol’s Gulport, Mississippi, station. But Operation Uniforce, as the two-week crackdown started Jan. 13 is called, ‘is pretty much a shocker for the [alien] smuggling organizations.’
More than 300 illegal immigrants and alien smugglers had been arrested as of Tuesday, just over a week into the operation. [Continue reading.]
Now I will share with you some articles and their links and who they are written by in groupings. That is because there are too many of them! lol
First I would like to start with Michael Yon. This first post of his is Moment of Truth in Iraq, a book that Michael has written, and it is very good. I’ve read the first chapter of Danger Close (it is online), and you might like to read it also. He is one of the citizen journalists who tells it as it is, not the way we would like to hear it. I like that. It shows me respect, because he trusts that I can make up my own mind.
CORRECTION: It has been brought to my attention that Michael’s book is Titled “Danger Close.” Jon is correct. The link to the first chapter is right here and you may purchase it only at Michael’s site here. Thank you Jon for catching that for me. *blush*
This one is not technically a blogger (Former Ambassador to the USA, John Bolton), but he has written a very chilling warning to President Bush, Condi, and the new president of the USA in the Wall Street Journal’s opinion and commentary section. The title of this article is “North Korea’s True Colors.” Read it! Another article which they printed is “The Legacy, Bush of Arabia. This U.S. president is the most consequential the Middle East has ever seen. by FOUAD AJAMI.” It is a refreshing look at both President Bush (whom I have lost much hope of having anything positive get done) and the Iraqi people. It is a good read.
For the following articles from CentCom, I will put them in list form. There are many good articles!
Next I have for you some articles from ACT! for America is a great site to go to find patriotic people keeping an eye on legislation and other news that we can appreciate. They now have chapters that are posted on their website. You can also receive e-mails from them, if you wish.
This next news article is an interview between National Review Online and M. Zuhdi Jasser. This is the third part of the article. The title of this portion of the interview is “We Need a Hero, Looking toward 2008 and beyond.” Mr. Jasser has also had a press release, “FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award given to Zuhdi Jasser.” One more article here. It is written by Electa Draper at the Denver Post. The name of the article is “Moderate Muslim view outshouted by Islamists.” Oh, those so understanding and tolerant libs. You may read about him and keep up with him at AIFD. This acronym stands for American Islamic Forum for Democracy.
American Congress for Truth is a very fine site. It is run by conversatives who just happen to be black. This is an amazing site, and you really should add it to your sidebar. For example, they are on top of this internet problem which I started this post off with.
Terrorism Probe Points to Reach Of Web Networks.
In April 2005, police swarmed the U.S. Capitol to confront an erratic Australian man, carrying two suitcases, who they feared was a suicide bomber. After blowing up one of the bags, officers realized he was harmless.
The police never noticed the two nervous young men on a nearby sidewalk filming the Capitol during the standoff. But they might have been the real threat, according to newly released documents.
The men, ultraconservative Muslims from Georgia, were making surveillance videos that could help extremists plan “some kind of terrorist attack,” as one man later acknowledged, according to court documents disclosed last week. One of their videos was sent to a notorious al-Qaeda publicist in London, authorities said. [Continue reading.]
Does that give anyone pause? It does me.
Okay, that should be enough information to hold you through the weekend. Don’t worry. If it doesn’t, I will still be posting at my site. I am having an Open Tracktrack Alliance and an Open Trackback at Linkfest. Share with others your work. Before you trackback, please add me to your post. After you this, I will add your name and title to the main page. This way, everyone will be able to see your work and may come over to view it. Have a good weekend everyone!
Update: I just have to add this one last(?) post. It is very funny and is also a member of Open Trackback Alliance. Since I do not like to post a trackback on someone’s post who has not listed that post for today’s OTA, I have written this little piece about it. Oh, what is it? Study: Few Keyboards Actually Destroyed By Coffee. Enjoy!
Today is Wednesday. This is a day we set aside to honor those who are risking their lives so that we may remain free. We should not take that lightly. We must also do our part here at home.
Today I would like to introduce to you Staff Sergeant Jason Kimberling. He is from Rathdrum, ID, he is with the USAF’s 366th Mission Support Group and on that day, he earned the Bronze Star with a ‘V’ (I believe that stands for Valor.) Here is a taste of his character:
On a sweltering 115-degree day in August 2006, Staff Sgt. Jason A. Kimberling was part of a 3-person security force assigned to a convoy of 15 Afghan National Police (ANP) officers and 20 members of the Afghan National Army (ANA).
Bronze Star with “V” recipient.
A highway checkpoint in Qalat Province had come under attack, and the convoy was sent to assist. As Kimberling’s convoy searched for the enemy, they were attacked by more than 100 well-trained, well-equipped Taliban fighters. The coordinated ambush began with a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) that landed only about 5 yards away. After several RPG rounds had been fired from a base about 325 yards away, a barrage of machine gun fire began to spray the group from only about 55 yards away and came from a different direction.
The driver of the security forces Humvee, a fellow airman, created cover with the vehicle, allowing Kimberling to jump out and return fire. Their position was hit by an RPG that knocked down Kimberling and his driver. As Kimberling was recovering from the blast, he saw two enemy gunmen heading toward them from a house just 35 yards away – from a third direction. Kimberling exposed himself to gunfire to kill the two gunmen. His actions allowed the ANP and ANA members to regroup, killing additional enemy fighters.
Soon another round of shooting began from enemy fighters, and Kimberling did not hesitate to move from his protected position in order to return fire, giving an ANA soldier the opportunity to successfully throw a hand grenade into the enemy’s position.
The convoy was then able to move away from the ambush site and onto higher ground, though still under enemy fire. Kimberling exposed himself a third time to enemy fire so that he could use a satellite phone to communicate with the tactical operations center to coordinate air support that eventually ended the battle and allowed the convoy to return to base.
“And if all of that wasn’t enough, during the attack, Sergeant Kimberling had the situational awareness to call in close-air support from nearby Dutch NATO aircraft that were patrolling the area,” said Col. Thomas Laffey, 366th Mission Support Group commander. “He achieved this while under very heavy fire for more than two hours.”
An estimated 20 enemy combatants were killed in the firefight, without a single causality among the security forces, ANA or ANP. Kimberling was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor and the Army Commendation Medal for his actions.
These men and women are amazing. I just have to say, “Thank you for all you do. Stay ‘safe’ and much success.” If you would like to find out how to honor our troops, just go to DefenseLink.
Now this a post I am proud to offer as an Open Trackback. Not because I wrote it, because I did not. It is because of who it is about and so many others like him. To participate in this Open Trackback, you just add this permalink to your site, then you can trackback with whichever post you would care to share others. Please go to Linkfest and join. You don’t have to, but it really would be a big help to you as far as sharing your posts and meeting other people. The only rule is no porn. Thank you, and have a nice day everyone.
Posts I’ve trackbacked to at Linkfest and other sites:
First, let me apologize for taking so long to post your trackbacks. Ya see, they were not showing up on my site, so I didn’t know they were there. I do not know what is happening with haloscan, but I seem to have temporarily fixed the problem. It seems that somehow the trackbacks were put into moderation, which I did not have as my setting. I did not know what to do, so I e-mailed them. Of course, but I have not heard back. (I haven’t exactly checked, though, so I may be incorrect on that. lol)
Anyway, since I never used the moderation, I didn’t know how to ‘okay’ the trackbacks. So I proceeded as usual. I fidgetted. I tried a little of this and a little of that, and I finally hit the correct way. If this EVER happens to you, all you have to do is:
1. Go to ‘Manage Trackbacks’. 2. If you notice there are trackbacks there that have not shown up on your trackback page, continue. 3. On the left side is the name of your post, in the middle is the trackback, these are the two I am discussing. 4. Click on YOUR post’s link. 5. This will take you to YOUR trackback page. 6. I tested it to make sure, and my trackbacks were gone. 7. I tested the same link I tested, and it reappeared. So don’t freak out if it disappears.
That is our lesson for today about how to go around haloscan when the *itch doesn’t want to act right. Now I have to go so I can check my e-mail. lol. Have a great day everyone!
PS. I’ve just noticed that sometimes it shows and sometimes not. I found a way to fix that, too. Just hit ‘refresh’, and you should be good to go. If you try to leave a trackback and are still unsure whether or not I received it, please e-mail me. (It isn’t working for comments, either.)
Update: Haloscan has informed me about a ‘hard refresh’. To do this, simply use the Shift+Refresh at the same time. That’s pretty cool. I didn’t know that little trick. Thank you, Haloscan.
(Original post time is 4:12 am, but I want to move this up above the other articles. This way I can see if any trackbacks are being held back.)
DJIBOUTI, Horn of Africa (Jan. 09, 2008) — Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa personnel took time out of their busy schedules to donate school supplies and clothing to Horsed Private School of English, Jan. 7. The 35 boxes of supplies were sent by Living Waters Foursquare Church in Mooresville, N.C., to Army Staff Sgt. Rex Hipp, 1132nd Engineering Detachment well drilling team. Hipp is a member of the church’s congregation who is currently wrapping up a one-year deployment in Djibouti.
The boxes were filled with backpacks, books, pencils, paper, shoes and clothes. “The 75 church members raised $1,500 so they could buy school supplies and clothing that would benefit the children of Djibouti,” Hipp said. Having his church make such a thoughtful gesture allows the 1132nd well drillers to make one last impact before they return to Mooresville this month.
“For the past year, when we’ve drilled and repaired wells we’ve given out flip flops and school supplies to villages near some of our well sites as another way to help the Djibouti people,” Hipp said. “Now that we’re wrapping up our deployment, it was nice to coordinate with the CJTF-HOA Chaplain’s office and the school director to donate items that will improve the students’ quality of life in a big way,” Hipp said.
Marine Sgt. Derico Cooper, CJ-6 Tactical Networking, was on hand to deliver the supplies and see firsthand just how grateful the school staff was for the gifts. “Their standard of living and educational facilities are far different than what we have in the states, so anything we can do to help them out is greatly appreciated,” Cooper said.
Hassan Mahamed, a teacher at Horsed Private School of English, said he appreciates donations from American friends. “We appreciate everything the U.S. military does for us, because a lot of the families cannot afford to buy these items, which prevents students from having the proper items for school,” Mahamed said. “It’s nice to know that their friends stateside wanted to do something nice for our students here.”
Wayne George, chief religious programs specialist, CJTF-HOA Religious Ministries Department, said donations like these represent the true spirit of America and what it truly means to do something nice for people they’ll never meet. “I have observed thousands of charitable items donated by caring Americans who expect nothing in return,” George said. “They have done it in silence without expectations of recognition because it’s not about the cost, but the smiles it will bring to the faces of the children half a world away.”
Army Staff Sgt. Lisa Dumire, 1133rd Engineering Detachment well drilling team operations non-commissioned officer-in-charge, receives a box from Hassan Mahamed, Horsed Private School of English teacher, while unloading boxes of school supplies that were donated by Living Waters Foursquare Church in Mooresville, N.C. The congregation of Living Waters sent the boxes to Army Staff Sgt. Rex Hipp, 1132nd Engineering Detachment well drilling team, who is a member of their congregation. . Digg! Trackbacks to this post (most recent tb listed first):
DJIBOUTI, Horn of Africa (Jan. 11, 2008) — The surgeon cell from Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa met with the Djibouti Ministry of Habitat, Urbanism and Environment, Jan. 8 to tour the base and surrounding area to see first-hand environmental concerns and address sanitation issues. According to CTJF-HOA’s outgoing force protection officer, Lt. Cmdr. Karen Corson, there are concerns about the waste management measures in place outside of the perimeter of Camp Lemonier, however long-term goals and a commitment to an action plan will eradicate any potential future environmental issues.
“This is an educational exchange of information about the environment, where we get to show them what we in the military do here on base in order to protect the Djiboutian environment while we’re here,” Corson said. “We have an opportunity to take a look at their resources and together examine ways for them to fully utilize them when it comes to their landfills and waste management.”
Ministry representative, Dr. Ammar Abdo Ahmed said that as a result of CJTF-HOA personnel playing an integral role in local humanitarian efforts, he believes this collaborative meeting will also yield many positive results when it comes to working on solutions in the area of sanitation. “This is good that we are working as a team on a medical level, by looking at all of the factors and creating a long term action plan to take care of this problem,” Ahmed said.
CTJF-HOA incoming force protection officer, Navy Lt. Nick Martin, said traditional U.S. waste management solutions do not always translate to all regions in the world. “In the states we have many resources to set up a landfill, for example, you would have incinerators and heavy machinery to roll over the trash and you just don’t have those sorts of things available here,” Martin said. He stressed the importance of continued training and finding improved methods for handling waste.
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa works to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect coalition interests in east Africa and Yemen through humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, consequence management, and civic action programs. This includes medical and veterinary care, school and medical clinic construction and water development projects.
Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, Force Protection officers Lt. Nick Martin, left, Lt. Cmdr. Karen Corson and Ministry of Habitat, Urbanism and Environment, Secretary General, Aboubaker Douale Waiss visit the La Douda Waste Facility Jan. 8..
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Here is some breaking news about the Fed cutting rates by 3/4′s of point, and urging Congress and President to cut taxes quickly to avoid a recession. It is short, so I have the entire article for you.
WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Tuesday that Congress and the administration need to agree quickly on a package of tax cuts as the Federal Reserve cut a key interest rate by three-fourths of a percentage point to reinvigorate the economy.
“Time is of the essence and the president stands ready to work on a bipartisan basis to enact economic growth legislation as soon as possible,” Paulson said in remarks to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He spoke as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and leaders in both parties prepared to meet with President Bush at the White House to discuss a stimulus bill.
Such legislation presumably would involve tax rebates, business tax cuts and funding for a Democratic-led call for additional food stamp and employment aid.
The Fed’s decision to slash the federal funds rate — the interest that banks charge each other on overnight loans — apparently was the biggest one-day move by the central bank in recent memory. The Fed cut the rate to 3.5 percent from 4.25 percent.
Its action was the most dramatic signal that it can send of its concern about a recession.
You may not want my two-cents, but here it is anyway. I wish they would leave the daggone market alone. Really. The housing always gets into a bubble, and most of us were waiting were for the prices to come down before we bought our house. Thank you very much, now I cannot buy a house because you are falsely keeping the inflated prices high. This is NOT what a free-marketer does.
I understand the panic due to the other countries tanking in their stock markets, but may I remind you that China has an unsustainablely high (falsely high) rate of exchange on its money. What is it, the yen? They refuse to accurately disclose the actual trade-in value. I don’t give a damn if they tank! Doesn’t anyone remember that this is what they were trying to do to us?
Nor do I care that Mexico is having a problem with all the illegal aliens here are going home to Mexico. I have no sympathy for that government. They actually sent a delegation to Arizona’s STATE government to ask them not to follow Arizona’s laws! That takes testicles! Yes, they are feeling the pressure of having to deal with the high unemployment, health care, and whatever crap they robbed from us that they are no longer able to steal. But I am getting off track.
The facts are, the Fed is one that raised the rates in the first place. If there is any blame to go around, look to Bernacke. (sp?) The rest of the blame belongs not on the sharks who were able to get you to sign over your mortgages to them so that you could enjoy low payments. This really irks me. YOU are the one who knew you couldn’t afford the house. YOU are the one that enjoyed your house while I had to wait patiently for the bubble to burst. So why I have to pay for YOU to keep YOUR house? I SHOULD NOT, and that’s a fact. Good day.
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What an inspiring speech and a great communicator! Yes, I am a Conservative, but that does not mean I have to turn off my common sense because of politics. Not on this day. I happen to admire Dr. King. You must listen to Sen. Obama’s speech. Take off your political hat first, though.
Here is part of the text of his speech:
So let us say that on this day of all days, each of us carries with us the task of changing our hearts and minds. The division, the stereotypes, the scape-goating, the ease with which we blame our plight on others — all of this distracts us from the common challenges we face — war and poverty; injustice and inequality.
We can no longer afford to build ourselves up by tearing someone else down. We can no longer afford to traffic in lies or fear or hate. It is the poison that we must purge from our politics; the wall that we must tear down before the hour grows too late.
Because if Dr. King could love his jailor; if he could call on the faithful who once sat where you do to forgive those who set dogs and fire hoses upon them, then surely we can look past what divides us in our time, and bind up our wounds, and erase the empathy deficit that exists in our hearts. [The Corner, (not the NRO corner).]
You may read the entire text over there. I may not agree with everything he said and I don’t know about you, but if McCain is our nominee? I’m voting for Obama. Listen up, Republicans!
Update: Okay, let me clear this up right now why I would vote for Obama. If McCain gets the nod, we conservatives are out to pasture and the White House will be Lefter than any Democrat could ever possibly take it! Global warming? The Fairness Doctrine for the radio programs but not the TV or papers? More laws on freedom speech through campaign finance reform? You’ve got to kidding me, right?
The way Republicans performed under the Bush administration has been pathetic. If we are going to have a Democrat in the White House, it might as well be one from the DEMOCRAT party. This way, we should be able to light a fire up under those spineless Republicans…
Amazingly enough, even the New York Times gets it right once in a while. Today, the fourth article in their business section is Frontline Blogger Covers War in Iraq With a Soldier’s Eyes. I’ve read it, and Mr. Richard PÉrez-PEÑA has done a very good job on capturing the man we know as Michael Yon. Please go read it. Have a great day.
Anyone who knows me from My Newz ‘n Ideas, knows that I am a political junkie. It is sad, however, this situation I find myself in these days. As you may have noticed, I have not been writing about politics that often. There is a reason for this. I’m disgusted with the candidates we have. Plain and simple.
Duncan Hunter is out of the running because a bunch of sheeple listened to and believed the stupid people behind the microphones of talk radio (who have their own axes to grind or candidates they’ve been backing from the beginning) telling us that this person or that person is not electable. SHAME ON YOU FOR BELIEVING THEM.
We have now lost the only Conservative left standing. Who is going to build our fence now? Who is going to make Iran back down? Who is going to confront China? Who is going to throw all of the illegal aliens out of this country? If no one will, why do we even bother paying anyone to protect our borders? COME ON, SHEEPLE.
Well, there is one low-key conservative left. That would be Fred Thompson. You can say what you will about his performances. If you are looking for entertainment, turn on the tv and leave the politics to us grown ups.
Anyway, I didn’t start out with that rant. What is really bothering me is the talk show industry. Gee, I wish I would have had as much publicity when I decided to run for office. I’m seriously considering it again, just like my fried Chad T. Everson. He is running for office in Minnesota. That site is not his campaign headquarters! He is also the ideas-man behind Grizzly Groundswell. I have misplaced it temporarily. *oops*
The facts are, we don’t access to the press or talk radio programs. Know why? We did not play by ‘their’ rules. How do I know? I started running for a local office over 3 years ago. I was forced to drop out of the race. I could not gather enough ‘party support’ on the strength of my ideas. Apparently that didn’t even matter. Instead, it came down to ‘who’ I knew and ‘what’ I had for the party. I guess all of those years of volunteering (for free) to elect people to higher offices was nothing? You guys make me sick.
Well. That’s my rant. Sorry if it was boring, and I don’t even feel better…One more thought before I go. Remember when California had the recall to get rid of Gov. Grey Davis? Everyone wanted to vote for Tom McClintock, but we were told that he was UNELECTABLE. Funny thing, HE WAS A SENATOR! Hmm. I wonder how he got there if he was so unelectable? Well, now we have Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaarnold. The defecit is greater than when we recalled Davis! I VOTED FOR TOM MCCLINTOCK. I was not swayed by the big mouths. I voted for the correct person, the right candidate. I know, because now everyone is saying they wish they had, too. WELL, YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE. Don’t make the same mistake again. VOTE FOR FRED. Thank you.
This is the latest you can get it Sunday Nite Open Trackback. In order to participate, please go register at Linkfest. For those of you who really don’t want to do that, you may still trackback with your best article, news, cartoons, whatever. Just enjoy yourself. Oh yes, no porn is allowed on this site. Y’all have a good day.
Howdy y’all. I’m just sitting here wondering why we even bothered to waste our time letting Congress know how strongly we feel about illegal aliens when you, in South Carolina, are only going to vote for John McCain, author of the amnesty bill. Hey, it wasn’t me.
I would like to ask all of you to pray for one of our blogger friends. I was not given permission, so I will not use his/her name, but this person’s marital partner has had a heart attack and is in the hospital. With all of the medical breakthroughs we have had in the last few decades, he/she should be just fine. It is pretty serious, though. I don’t believe they have any breakthroughs to help people when they look death squarely in the face, whether it happens that way or not. It is very unnerving when you come that close to losing your best friend. God be with them every moment.
I caught up on some sleep I desperately needed. That feels good. I always feel a little ‘off-key’, however, when that happens. I do not do it on purpose. My body is sometimes the boss. *heh* (Thanks David for the *heh*. I’m stealing it. Isn’t there something that says imitation is a form of flattery? lol) Getting back my monologue. Okay, dribble.
There is also an article written at Counter Terrorism Blog by Andrew Cochran titled, “The “Cartoon Jihad” – The Lie That Doesn’t Die.” The terrorists just will not leave this alone until everyone is silenced. My words, not his. The whole ordeal started out with a lie, but it shall be put down by the Truth.
The next article is also from the Counter Terrorism Blog by Olivier Guitta. The title of this is, “Europe faces up to Iranian threat.” I found this one particularly interesting. Did you know, for instance, that the Dutch are considering banning altogether Iran students? They have already refused Iranian three students who wanted to study nuclear techniques. Very interesting how they are getting tougher while the Left in America are going soft of Iran’s nuclear weapons drive. Interesting indeed. This is happening because the NIE was released not too long ago. I guess no one read the part that said that Iran could start up their programs anytime they felt like it.
Just for the record. I believe, if they actually did stop progress on their nuclear weapons, it was because WE WERE RIGHT NEXT DOOR. Everyone talks about international pressure? There’s nothing like the good ol’ US of A’s Army and Marines to help you change your feeble-minded ways. When the Democrats started showing weakness, the war against Iran’s weapons was lost. They started back up. Thank you, you useful idiots. The blood will be on your hands.
The first one concentrates on terrorists financing and Congressional oversight with the IRS, while the second one concerns a newly released indictment. There is just one more that I would like to bring to your attention, and that is, “Al-Qaida’s MySpace”: How Suicide Bombers Are Being Recruited Online. It is written by Evan Kohlmann. Anyone who is following these monsters on the terrorists sites and forums, when they disappear, inform someone. They are showing up as suicide bombers for al Qaida.
That should be enough for now. Now I think I shall have a cup of tea (we don’t have any) and relax. Yeah right! Oh brother. Please God, help us to elect someone who will actually KEEP OUR SOVEREIGNTY and win this war they are having with us, because you sure as heck couldn’t convince me we are at war with ANYONE…
Each of the men writing for Counter Terrorism Blog is an expert in one field or another having to do with counter-terrorism. They do not always agree, which makes it a very good read. They do not act like children when they disagree, they present their facts and try to persuade the readers and the person with whom they disagree to agree with them. Or at least, if nothing else, to look at the data with fresh eyes. They are a very fine group of men, and I am very grateful we have them on our team.
Have a good day everyone.
Update: Debbie has written about the health of her husband and thanks us all for our prayers and concern, so it is okay for me to disclose her name. Please go to her site and send her your warm wishes, prayers, encouragement, and just plain old decent concern. Thank you.
What a day. I’m telling you! I wake up, go to my computer, and Norton tells me I have a problem. They say I am vulnerable, so I am not about to open anything. Nope, I shut it all down. Then I hit Norton, and go to FIX NOW. Yeah, right. It tells me I do not need any updates, but Norton insists I do. Okay, so I go to Help and Support. Yeah, that really helped. They told me the same thing, that there was nothing wrong. Um, then why do I still have an exclamation point telling me I am vulnerable?
Anyway, you can figure out I got it fixed because I am writing this. I wouldn’t open blogger until I was protected. Why am I telling you this? Because it is after 11 pm, and I have to get my Open Trackback Alliance Weekend submitted! (Actually, it is open trackback Friday, so I need to get it in today.) So everyone enjoy.
Share your best posts, your funniest posts, or some other adjective posts. Just be sure to link me to the post you trackback with first. Have a wonderful night.
I have also posted this directly from the post of origin so that people do not get the wrong impression and carry this further. The Update is below. Have a nice day.
UPDATE: Rite Aid has taken appopriate actions, thanks to the outrage of each community and blogger, and they have settled on a donation to Wounded Warriors in the amount of $10,000, they have disciplined the manager who handled this whole affair obnoxiatiously, but then they went on, like a Saudi, and tried to rationalize his actions by saying he also had a son in Afghanistan and was having a difficult time dealing with this issue himself. Unacceptable, but the family is not making an issue of it, so I won’t either. Here is more from Beth over at Blue Star Chronicles:
Digital Billboard placed in view of Rite Aid store, hooah!
Lamar Sign Company has posted a digital billboard out in front of the Rite Aid where Chris’ mother was working; here are the images that are being displaced at no charge to us… Thank you Lamar Sign Company, maybe you guys can teach Rite Aid what true concern for Fallen Warriors is all about, you are all true Patriots:
Rite Aid has contacted us, they say they plan to respond soon…
I am asking everyone on MySpace… and if possible on all the other networking communities, to light a candle in support of our Fallen Soldiers, and their families.
By lighting a candle and placing it as your profile photo you are letting the Warriors of Freedom who stand on the Battlefield, so we may sleep without fear of terrorism, know that if they fall their families will not stand alone.
We should all stand up and show Corporate America we stand for something that’s greater than ourselves, as Chris believed the flag of this great nation does. (ref: Chris’s MySpace page).
MySpace let us all show the world we stand with our men and women who pay in blood for our freedom.
If you do not have one or need one quickly you are welcome to use Chris’ candle. But but please place a candle of some type as your profile photo as soon as possible. Any candle will do. I am asking everyone to burn the candle until this issue with Rite Aid concerning the statement that compared losing a son or daughter in The War on Terrorism “is no different than someone’s house burning down”….. is resolved. And with all the pressue you folks are putting on them you can bet it will be soon.
“Strength and Honor” Cpl Chris Mason’s dad – Garland Mason (USMC / US Paratrooper retired)
Last week I received an email informing me that PalTalk was being targeted by jihadis who were trying to shut down an Arabic Christian chat room through a petition drive. It appeared that the ISP agreed to this, if they gathered one million signatures. Well, we received the confirmation today of that lie. They never agreed to any such nonsense, and they are going to stand strongly on the side of constitutional free-speech!
You really must read about this situation over at ACT! For America. They truly have a lot on the ball.
You may even think about signing up to receive their emails. I have learned more about things the news should be covering from these people about all of the little and large, cold and hot, wars we are being confronted with these days. Our freedom relies solely upon our shoulders.
There is a new Canadian blogger which just happens to be a Muslim who understands how precious liberty and freedom of speech are to a free society. Bravo!
Bravo, Ezra! BTW, would you like to know his crime? He published cartoons of Mohammed in the magazine where he works. His accuser? A Saudi radical idiot.
I will be adding this blog to my sidebar, because I believe this group deserves all the support we can give them. We want them to speak up, so when they do, we must speak up with them. We want them to be successful in their plight to make their voices heard. Thank you, everyone. Have a nice day.
BTW, there is a free petition to help Mark Steyn fight back against these jihadi nuts. Please sign it. It is on top of the page, right underneath the title to this site. Thank you.
UPDATE II: It is with a heavy heart that I must report to you that we may have been deceived. I can understand being upset with someone for what they wrote, but if you are truly in support of free speech, you should at least be polite about your disagreement. I’m afraid that is not the case with Muslims Against Sharia. I am very disappointed and saddened and angry. What we need is someone in the Muslim community to stand up so that others may follow suit, but no. How can they when others try to take advantage of the goodwill of people? They deceive people that do not know them so they can intimidate people who do know them. Well, I do not like this. Not one bit.
What happened to make me change my mind? You should read the vulgarity used while leaving comments on other peoples’ sites! It is terrible! My friend, StageLeft (Meet Ezra’s New Non-Muslim “Muslim” Friends! and Quotes from the Scholars at “Muslims Against Sharia”) has gathered quite a few of them for you to read. Please be forewarned, they are vulgar. I could not believe my eyes. I guess mohammed does not care what type of language is used while trying to get your message out. I know for a fact that JESUS DOES CARE.
The following is an article written by Beth over at Blue Star Chronicles. She has given permission to repost it, just be honorable and give her the credit. (I added that last part.) I believe this is important, more important than the lies the NYTimes is spewing out about the murder sprees the entire military is supposedly going on once they come home from war. Oh, you mean it isn’t every military man? Ten percent? One percent? NOT EVEN THAT? Why is it even a story then? Anyway, this is still much more important. Please pass it on.
After seven years of employment with Rite Aid corporation, this woman was forced to quit her job as opposed to being offered any kind of compassionate leave in order to deal with the death of her son. To say it is a heartless policy is an understatement. To compare the death of her son to ’someone’s house burning down’ is beyond the pale.
When she returned to her job, she lost her sever years seniority and was treated with something akin to contempt. Here’s the story from the Patriot Guard forum.
Rite Aid Corporation policy concerning Fallen Soldier Cpl Christopher E. Mason – “is no different than someone’s house burning down” (January 8, 2008)
Cpl Chris Mason’s mother [was] told Rite Aid’s policy concerning the lost of her son “is no different than someone’s house burning down” by Rite Aid Regional Human Resources Manager, while our oldest son still serving in Iraq. The mother of Cpl Chris Mason (Pictured above placing her hand upon a photo of our son). Cpl Christopher E. Mason, pictured above, killed in an Al Qaeda ambush 28 Nov 2006 while moving into position to support his fellow Paratroopers. Freedom Is Not Free My wife and I stand at our son’s grave site 02-20-2007.
He put her on the defense, forcing her to defend her position, it became a game for him. She tells me she is not sure of everything that he said because after the following statement she was so stressed she locked him out, but she cannot get this part out of her head, it wakes her up at night.
After the Human resources Manager snickered at her this is what Chris’s mother said to him: Chris’s mom: “Sir you are talking to the mother of a Fallen Soldier; my son was killed in the War on Terrorism”.
Human Resources Manager replied: Rite Aid’s policy is “That’s no different then someone’s house burning down”.
Chris’s mom quit her job at Rite Aid (Jan 10 2008) and is once again having a tough time with Chris’ death, and she is not sleeping at night….. the Human resources Manager still has his position within Rite Aid.
The CEO, Mary Sammons, was contacted by phone (Jan 11 2008) and email (Jan 8 2008) concerning Rite Aid’s policy, but she gave no response. Thank you for taking the time to read this message. I ask that you share it with others so they will know the policy of some companies in this country are the same as they were back during the Vietnam war, yes how some people consider the lost of our Warriors in combat “no different than someone’s house burning down” is beyond my understanding. “Strength and Honor” Cpl. Chris Mason’s dad
Before you say that the Mason family is trying to capitalize on the death of their son – they are asking for nothing for themselves. Read what they are asking for.
What the Mason family wants …
Here are the demands that I have placed on Rite Aid, you may repost if you desire to do so:
1. Regional Human Resources Manager that made the comment about our Fallen Warriors issue written apologies to Chris’s mom, myself (Chris’s dad), Chris (brother still serving in Iraq as a Chaplain), and to all the Fallen warriors and their families. Afterwards he is to be removed from his management position within Rite Aid.
2. Rite Aid makes a major monetary donation, in the name of our Fallen Warriors and their families, to a foundation such as “The Wounded warrior Foundation.”
3. Rite Aid places an apology in a national newspaper apologizing to all the families of Fallen Warriors that have paid for our freedom.
“Strength and Honor” Cpl Chris Mason’ dad – Garland Mason
If you would like to let the powers that be at Rite Aid know what you think of their policy and lack of compassion then I would encourage you to do so. You can contact their Board of Directors via contacttheboard@riteaid.com.
Please keep up with this article. Go over to Beth’s, or go over to Bear Creek Ledger. There is bound to be follow up on this subject. Imagine that in this day and age, we have so many cowards and traitors. How and why did we survive this long? Oh yes, because we have the greatest men and women in the world! Thank You, God.
UPDATE: Rite Aid has taken appopriate actions, thanks to the outrage of each community, and they have settled on a donation to Wounded Warriors in the amount of $10,000, they have disciplined the manager who handled this whole affair obnoxiatiously, but then they went on, like a Saudi, and tried to rationalize his actions by saying he also had a son in Afghanistan and was having a difficult time dealing with this issue himself. Unacceptable, but the family is not making an issue of it, so I won’t either. Here is more from Beth over at Blue Star Chronicles:
Digital Billboard placed in view of Rite Aid store, hooah!
Lamar Sign Company has posted a digital billboard out in front of the Rite Aid where Chris’ mother was working; here are the images that are being displaced at no charge to us… Thank you Lamar Sign Company, maybe you guys can teach Rite Aid what true concern for Fallen Warriors is all about, you are all true Patriots:
Rite Aid has contacted us, they say they plan to respond soon…
I am asking everyone on MySpace… and if possible on all the other networking communities, to light a candle in support of our Fallen Soldiers, and their families.
By lighting a candle and placing it as your profile photo you are letting the Warriors of Freedom who stand on the Battlefield, so we may sleep without fear of terrorism, know that if they fall their families will not stand alone.
We should all stand up and show Corporate America we stand for something that’s greater than ourselves, as Chris believed the flag of this great nation does. (ref: Chris’s MySpace page).
MySpace let us all show the world we stand with our men and women who pay in blood for our freedom.
If you do not have one or need one quickly you are welcome to use Chris’ candle. But but please place a candle of some type as your profile photo as soon as possible. Any candle will do. I am asking everyone to burn the candle until this issue with Rite Aid concerning the statement that compared losing a son or daughter in The War on Terrorism “is no different than someone’s house burning down”….. is resolved. And with all the pressue you folks are putting on them you can bet it will be soon.
“Strength and Honor” Cpl Chris Mason’s dad – Garland Mason (USMC / US Paratrooper retired)
Yesterday in the Wall Street Journal’s Opinion Journal section, there was a pretty interesting article about the new Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Yasuo Fukuda. It seems that Japan has been watching the US Senate, because they were put in a position where they had to use the ‘constitutional option’ in the lower house (two-thirds yes vote is necessary) in order to override the vote of the upper house. Pretty cool, eh? If only we had the stones here…
What was the vote needed to do? Since 1951, the constitutional option has not been used, but the upper house did not want to join in the war against those who are terrorize the world. Prime Minister Fukuda saw the situation differently. Apparently, so did the lower house! Please read the article. Have a great day.
O LORD my God! When I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed,
[Refrain] Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee. How great Thou art, how great Thou art! Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee. How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
This reminds me of how little we really know of Him or anything else for that matter. Imagine it. The knowledge it would take to create a universe so complex as ours and to keep it in balance for as long as it has been standing! The beauty, the danger, the temperatures, the axises, the tilt, the very precious flowers, the very tall trees, the winds, the clouds, the creatures, and man. To look out into the distance on a clear starry night, laying on a dewy field in the middle of nowhere, just counting the stars as they fall from the sky. Have you ever noticed that they don’t hit us? Why not?
When through the woods and forests glades I wander And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees; When I look down from a lofty mountain grandeur And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze,
[Refrain]
Nature is one of the gifts of God that I truly enjoy, but you must be careful not to test it. Nature is as dangerous as it is beautiful. It cannot be controlled by man (Al Gore), no matter how much we think we know. If we try to change something in nature in one area, it effects many changes in nature elsewhere. When we cannot possibly know of these consequences, we should not venture in where Angels dare not tread.
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in; That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.
[Refrain]
I couldn’t say it any better. I would like to say a couple words, though. For someone to display this amount of love for me when I was still a sinner, it is a debt I cannot repay. Fortunately for me, He asks not for repayment. Only that I pick up my own Cross and follow Him, and I have.
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation And take me home, what joys shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!
[Refrain]
Wow. I am awaiting this day with patience and excitement. Jesus has gone before me to prepare for me a room in the Father’s house. I can only imagine it will be worthy of someone who has lived a better life than me, but Jesus has covered my sins and made me white as snow. I know I will be satisfied with any room I am privileged to receive.
Oh my, I just had a thought. Imagine all the people I will be able to talk to? Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Joseph, Jacob, Mary, Ruth, Ezra, Paul, Jesus of course! I would have thought that would have gone without saying, but I had better include Him. lol. It’s only sad that I cannot tell all the people on earth what it is like once I leave this world. (Don’t panic. I’m fine.)
What caused me to think of writing this? I don’t know exactly. I was sitting there in bed and it just came to me. Is there someone out there who needs prayers? Edification? Reassurance? He is Faithful, and He will never forsake you. NO MATTER WHAT. Are you weak? That is when He is strong. He can bear your burdens. Just seek Him, let Him carry your yoke (weight), let Him love and heal you until you are able to do so yourself. Get well, my friend, and God bless you.
I am also using Open Trackback Alliance and Linkfest to spread the Word. If you would like to express yourself, please feel free to add me to your post and then trackback to me. It does not have to be religious in tone. Just feel free to share your best writing. Have a nice day.
Today I am going to provide you with a list of news articles I have already posted. Just in case you do not read here regularly, I have decided to include them along with my Open Trackback Monday. Enjoy!
Military News: Afghan, Iran, Iraq. This has three articles in it: Afghan Commandos graduate Armorer Training Program, Iranian boats approach U.S. Navy ships, and Marines train Iraqi Soldiers for battlefield success. There’s a little commentary written by me about this so-called ‘incident’. I’ve got your ‘incident’!
Terror in Musa-Qala, Afghanistan. This is an article written by an Afghanistani friend of mine, and it should get your dander up, too.
More Military News: Baby girl, students, clinic. This post has three articles in it, also. They are: Coalition, Afghan Soldiers save baby girl, Coalition troops aid Afghan students in Bagram, and Corps of Engineers completes al Mahaweel clinic.
Many of these articles discuss the good works that are taking place right under the looooooooong noses of the dinosaur media. Go figure, eh? Too bad there isn’t blood and gore connected with good works…
For this Open Trackback Monday, this is what you need to do. First, add my Permalink to your article. It doesn’t matter if you only take the permalink and use the name of my site to add it, just so long as you add it. Then give me a trackback, and I will do the same. That way, your post will get more exposure.
Another way to do this is to use Linkfest. It is very easy to join, and you be able reach many more people than you now. That is, if you care.
Coalition medics stabilize a 1-year-old girl who was badly burned when she fell into a fire used to heat her family’s home in the Lashkar Gah District, Helmand Province. Coalition and Afghan National Security Forces worked together to save the girl’s life and arranged her transport to another military outpost with more substantial medical capabilities. She was escorted to the new military outpost by her uncle. Photo by Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan.
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – ANSF and CF saved the life of a 1-year-old girl after she was badly burned falling into a fire used to heat her family’s home in Lashkar Gah District in Helmand Province. Coalition medics immediately began lifesaving efforts after her family brought her to a combined military outpost. Doctors assessed the girl’s condition and determined she was burned over 20 percent of her body, including burns to her face, arms, scalp and hands. Medics arranged for a helicopter to take the child, escorted by her uncle, to another military outpost with more medical capabilities in the nearby Washir District of Helmand Province. Doctors prepared, cleaned and dressed the baby’s burns. “While there are clinics and medical facilities in Helmand District, sometimes it is difficult for villagers in outlying areas to access that care,” explained a Coalition forces medic. “ANSF and Coalition forces were able to work together to save this little girl’s life. Even though insurgents have made life difficult for villagers in this region, ANSF are committed to providing for the well being and security of the Afghan people.”
I pray this young child lives throught this ordeal. I know the medics who worked on her certainly do, too.
A Coalition servicemember chats with a young student at the Jan Qadam School, near Bagram Village, Parwan Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 6, while Haji Enr Yatullah, the school’s principal and a village elder, look on. Servicemembers brought donated winter clothes, shoes, toys and school supplies to the school to show their support for villagers.
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — It was a banner day Jan. 6 for children attending the Jan Qadam School near Bagram village. Coalition troops assigned to Bagram Airfield stopped by the school, which is near the airfield, to visit with children, teachers and village elders, as well as deliver several boxes of school supplies and toys. The eight-room schoolhouse caters to more than 1,000 students daily, in three shifts. The students range in age from 5 to 15 years old. Fifteen servicemembers entered the village carrying boxes of supplies for the children.
Once they arrived at the school, village elders distributed the items to the children, boys in one classroom and girls in another. The children laughed and smiled as they received their gifts, which included notebooks, pencils, crayons and toys. Some students received new shoes and personal hygiene items.
Haji Enr Yatullah, the school’s principal and a village elder, said being good neighbors is important for the well-being of the village. “You not only help me, but you help all the villages around here,” Yatullah said. … In addition to delivering school supplies and other goods, CF met with village elders to see what other types of assistance they could provide. [Continue reading.]
Many Americans send supplies for the children, such as pencils, pens, paper, crayons, backpacks, and even clothes. If you are interested in sending something to the children, there are many organizations which you can go through. Soldiers’ Angels is a good source to find what you are for.
The Al Mahaweel Primary Healthcare Clinic in Babil Province was recently completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Gulf Region Division South district.
BABIL PROVINCE, Iraq — Work is complete on a primary healthcare center at al Mahaweel in Babil Province. The facility was constructed for about $1 million under two construction contracts and five non-construction contacts, according to Robin Parks, health sector program manager for the Gulf Region South District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. GRS does construction and reconstruction work in the nine southern provinces of Iraq. The money for the clinic was provided under the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund. The non-construction contracts provided medical equipment, plus installation and training, as well as electrical generators, furniture and office equipment, Parks said. [Continue reading.]
Our guys and gals are doing so many good works that go unnoticed by the dinosaur media day in and day out, it makes me wonder if they truly want us to win. Just thinking, ya know?
One of my Afghanistani friends has written a horrifying article about what is happening in Afghanistan under the control of President Karsai, and I don’t like it. No, not one bit!
Mullah Abdul Salam A Terror Loving Murdering Low-Life Lunatic and Massacring Maniac Is Now The New Chief Of Musa-Qala District
By: Mohammad Khairy
From the beginning of 2002, many Taliban top commanders were freed from Guantanamo Bay and Afghanistan’s jails by assurance of Karzai and his Pashtunsit team. Most of these commanders are implicated for civilian killings, women trafficking, raping, looting and imprisoning non-Pashtun citizens. The freed Taliban commanders rejoined Al Qaeda or were hired in many different position in the current government.
Mullah Abdul Salaam, a first degree murderer for the massacre of civilians and a former Taliban governor of Oruzgan Province and a senior Taliban commander was appointed on January 7,08 by President Karzai as the new chief of Musa-Qala district after US-troops and NATO recaptured it from the hand of Taliban. [Continue reading.]
This is an awful situation. All males are being summarily executed just so they do not have time to raise up against these animals. And we are allowing this? Hurry up with those 3,000 Marines!
I am very saddened. Please pray for these men, women and children who do not enjoy the same freedoms that you and I do. Pray for their lives, safety, and hope. Also pray for God to crush al Qaida and the Taliban. Those freakin’ animals.
The US Central Command has changed their layout, so I can now give you the link. Before, you would have had to move your mouse from side to side along the bottom of the screen to read the articles. Now it looks fantastic! (That reminds me, I have to change my link!) Here we go:
An Afghan National Army Commando weapons specialist, attending the inaugural Commando Armorer Training Program, demonstrates the proper procedures to clean, inspect and reassemble an M-240B machine gun. After graduating the eight-week course, armorers are responsible for the complete inventory and maintenance of all special equipment assigned to their Commando Kandak.
POL-E-CHARKI, Afghanistan — Eight ANA weapons specialists graduated from the first-ever Commando Armorer Training Program this month. They were taught how to use the unique specialties of a Commando sqaud. It was an eight-week course, and they learned how to use special weapons, become armorers, learn how to inspect, repair and reassemble all weapons systems used by the Commando Kandaks (battalions). [Continue reading.]
A small Iranian boat approaches a U.S. Navy ship in the Persian Gulf. (From Defense Department Video).
BAHRAIN (NNS) — Following a routine transit through the Strait of Hormuz Jan. 6, three U.S. Navy ships operating in international waters in the Persian Gulf were approached by five Iranian small boats that demonstrated irresponsible confrontational behavior near the U.S. ships. [Continue reading.]
If you want to hear more bs on why we didn’t blow them to smitherines, go ahead and read it. Yes, I am still pissed. Those are our men and women on those ships. Can anyone say, “USS Cole”?
The Strait of Hormuz is international water, at least where we were. We should not have had to give them several warnings. That is counted as cowardice. They should get one warning and if that is not adhered to, they should have been blown up. PERIOD. Who would challenge us for protecting our people? DO YOU REALLY FREAKIN’ CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT OPINIONS? Well, I CARE ABOUT OUR LIVES. So stuff it.
In this file photo, Iraqi Soldiers with 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Division practice clearing a building at Camp Al Asad, Aug. 18. Marines from 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division were working with the Iraqi Soldiers to teach them close quarters combat. The U.S. Marine Corps remains committed to training the Iraqi Soldiers to one day stand on their own. Photo by Cpl. Shane Keller, Joint Combat Camera Center.
QAIM, Iraq — Iraqi Soldiers are learning to fight and win on the battlefield with a little help from the U.S. Marines. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division, are not only are engaged in a constant training cycle with Marines at Combat Outpost North; they are excelling at it. In the brisk winter breeze, Military Transition Team members partnered with Marines from Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, integrated key Iraqi Soldiers into their execution of several reactionary drills.
The Iraqi Soldiers observed and then participated in immediate-action and break-contact drills with the Marines so they could, in turn, teach their junior Soldiers the same tactics and procedures. [Continue reading.]
Things appear to be coming along pretty smoothly when the Marines show up.
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Extensive renovations will soon be complete at one of Sadr City’s major hospitals in east Baghdad. Al Baladi Maternity and Children’s Hospital initially opened in 1982 and during the following two decades little was spent on routine maintenance, said Iraqi Project Engineer Mohammad Attar, who oversees the hospital’s upgrade for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “During Saddam’s time, patients there had to tolerate 100-degree-plus interior temperatures because the air conditioning system was broke,” he explained.
The $12 million, three-year renovation included the installation of four new chillers, four cooling towers and four new boilers. “Those improvements helped the elderly and infants, who have little tolerance for heat and cold. The hospital is now able to maintain a comfortable interior temperature in both summer and winter,” Attar noted. Other improvements include an oxygen plant, central vacuum system, nurse call system, intercom paging system, data communications network, new toilets and showers, new exhaust system to remove unhealthy air, new generator for emergency power, medical waste incinerator, and new water purification system.
The medical staff of eight doctors and thirty nurses is treating five times the number of sick people they saw prior to the renovation. They’re seeing 150 to 200 patients daily, 80 percent of which are children. Their obstetric department is delivering 30 to 40 newborns every day. “One of their main goals is reducing the infant mortality rate and the new equipment is making a difference,” Attar said. The two-story hospital has a bed capacity for 200 patients.
More than 100 Iraqis have been part of the construction crew. They installed a new roof, put in new plumbing and electrical, rebuilt the physicians’ family-size apartments, added a new cafeteria area and kitchen, new lighting, new plastering, redid all the floors and ceilings, new surgical theater suite and x-ray equipment.
“It’s truly rewarding to know we’ve helped some of the poorest people in Baghdad,” Attar said. “They were tolerating absolutely horrible conditions. The toilets were overflowing, the air was stagnant, the medical equipment was outdated and much of it didn’t work. Despite ongoing insurgency threats, the contractor kept making steady progress. Today, Sadr City families have a modern facility and access to equipment that was simply not available three years ago. We’re all proud to have been a part of the effort.”
An Iraqi woman cares for her child at a newly renovated hospital in Sadr City, Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo).
Good evening. I will be hosting an open trackback weekend, so feel free to share with others your fabulous works. I have quite a bit to do, so I shall be using this trackback post to add news and other information as the weekend progresses. Check back later, because I am going to adding some really great news from our military.
Now hold it! I said I was busy. This shall happen later or tomorrow. lol. Have a great weekend everyone, and say a prayer and/or hold good thoughts for our courageous men and women who are working to keep us free. We owe them more than we could ever repay. God bless them.
Update: As I had promised, I have three articles for you so far. One is about an amazing task that our Airmen were faced with when they reached Afghanistan, another is about the handing over of control of one of the bases in Iraq, and the best – a book that is written by the guys who actually went there and did that.
The team’s original mission was to mentor their Afghan counterparts and teach them medical skills to treat Afghan military and police members, said Air Force Col. Mike Skidmore, the team’s senior mentor officer and administrator.
All that changed when the team arrived several months ago, he said. The hospital was 500 days behind schedule, and instead of finding equipment and eager ANA medical personnel, the team found an empty, incomplete facility. “We had to move from a mentoring mission to a new mindset of equipping the hospital, opening it and then mentoring,” said Air Force Col. (Dr.) Thomas Seay, the senior medical mentor and chief radiologist. [Continue reading.]
Our guys are AWESOME! You really should continue reading this one. You will be amazed at what our men can accomplish but the government cannot. (lol)
Control of Multinational Division Baghdad changed hands during a ceremony here yesterday [December 19, 2007]. The 1st Cavalry Division will redeploy to Fort Hood, Texas, while 4th Infantry Division takes over operations in the Iraqi capital. Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, presided over the ceremony. He said the battle in Iraq has changed significantly during the last year, and that the success could be directly linked to the 1st Cavalry Division’s efforts in and around Baghdad.
“Significant events are often a result of the right people being in the right place at the right time,” Odierno said. “In the case of Baghdad in 2006 and 2007, the right people were the magnificent men and women of Multinational Division Baghdad and their dedicated Iraqi security force partners.” [Continue reading.]
Ah, the sweet sounds of progress…
Like many Soldiers deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, Soldiers from the Oregon National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry brought their personal cameras to Iraq during their deployment in 2004. They snapped photos of each other firing weapons, shot video of explosives they detonated and logged plenty of footage of their own commentaries intermixed with Soldier humor.
But they never expected that their day-to-day antics would one day represent deployed National Guard Soldiers everywhere, preserved in a feature-length documentary film called “This is War: Memories of Iraq.” [Continue reading, really.]
This is one heck of a documentary. Here is a list of sellers from Amazon.com that ranges in price for the DVD. (I think it’s a DVD.)
The next set of military news shall be on the next open trackback. I do have to catch up with my writing. Everyone have a nice weekend, and I’ll see ya on the other side…God willing.
30 November 2007 Staff Sgt. Mary Flynn Army News Service.
WASHINGTON – Like many Soldiers deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, Soldiers from the Oregon National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry brought their personal cameras to Iraq during their deployment in 2004. They snapped photos of each other firing weapons, shot video of explosives they detonated and logged plenty of footage of their own commentaries intermixed with Soldier humor.
But they never expected that their day-to-day antics would one day represent deployed National Guard Soldiers everywhere, preserved in a feature-length documentary film called “This is War: Memories of Iraq.”
The National Combat History Archive and Lucky Forward Films used the unscripted testimonies of nine Soldiers of varying ranks and experiences to narrate the events. Photos and video they shot with their own personal cameras illustrate their experiences.
“We wanted to make a very non-political film that took someone who’s never been to Iraq … to show what it means to go into combat,” said the film’s director, Gary Mortensen. “We told it in a non-specific way so that it could represent Soldiers everywhere – we wanted to tell a tale that anyone who has been over there can identify with.”
Mr. Mortensen added that the unique thing about the film is that these Soldiers had their own personal recording devices on hand, giving an intimate view of what they saw on a daily basis. The Soldiers had no idea any of it would be turned into a film, so the result is a very honest and raw portrait of their experiences.
“It’s very powerful,” said Sgt. 1st Class Phillip “Vince” Jacques, one of the Soldiers featured in the film. “It really represents the professionalism of these guys and shows exactly what troops are going through over there. They’re the ones fighting the war. You might as well hear their story.”
Present at various screenings of the film, Sgt. 1st Class Jacques noticed that the audience’s reaction was often one of awe. “Whether they support the war or not, they come away with a whole different view of what Soldiers are doing over there,” he said.
National audiences are also beginning to take notice. “This is War” won the Audience Choice Award and Best Documentary at the Idaho International Film Festival, and received the Jury Award: Best Documentary at the Florida International Media Market. It also took home awards for best documentary and best director at the Sweet Onion Film Festival in Walla Walla, Wash.
Unfortunately, the film isn’t available in local video stores yet; Mr. Mortensen explained that they are working on the film’s distribution and broadcast rights. It can be purchased by calling (503) 597-7030 or by checking out the Web site at www.luckyforwardfilms.com.
According to the site, all sales of the film help support the Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, the National Combat History Archive, the Iraq/Afghanistan Oregon Memorial Fund and the Wounded Warriors Project, a non-profit organization that helps injured servicemembers by providing programs and services to meet their unique needs.
Photo – The National Combat History Archive and Lucky Forward Films used the unscripted testimonies of nine Oregon National Guard Soldiers of varying ranks and experiences to narrate the events of the film “This is War: Memories of Iraq.” Photos and video the Soldiers shot with their own personal cameras illustrate their experiences. (Contributed Photo).
19 DEC 2007 By Staff Sgt. Mike Andriacco, USAF 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HERO, Afghanistan – Airmen in a medical mentoring team here have been working hard to ensure the successful opening of an Afghan National Army hospital for the past several months. The team’s original mission was to mentor their Afghan counterparts and teach them medical skills to treat Afghan military and police members, said Air Force Col. Mike Skidmore, the team’s senior mentor officer and administrator.
All that changed when the team arrived several months ago, he said. The hospital was 500 days behind schedule, and instead of finding equipment and eager ANA medical personnel, the team found an empty, incomplete facility. “We had to move from a mentoring mission to a new mindset of equipping the hospital, opening it and then mentoring,” said Air Force Col. (Dr.) Thomas Seay, the senior medical mentor and chief radiologist.
Most of the state-of-the-art equipment, to include a digital X-ray and digital ultrasound machines, were purchased by the United States, with some items – such as wheelchairs — donated by a nonprofit organization based in Canada, he said. The hospital is one of the most advanced of its kind in the southern region of Afghanistan.
“Phase one of the construction consisted of a $5.6 million, 50-bed main hospital,” Skidmore said. “It will serve the entire ANA 205th Corps, including four combat brigades, their associated garrison clinics and more than 27,000 ANA soldiers, Afghan National Police and their families. There are two isolation rooms, one trauma room, two operating rooms, and an intensive care ward that can accommodate up to six patients.” One of the most impressive elements of the project is the water processing plant, he added. It uses a multi-stage process to clean and sterilize water to the standard necessary for hospital conditions and also is being used as a model for future water plants throughout the country. Contractors also recently broke ground on phase two, a $2.6 million hospital expansion that will house an additional 50 patients, Skidmore said.
With the hospital ribbon-cutting held Dec. 15, the mentoring team now is looking forward to starting the job it came to do. The team is made up of a total of 18 airmen: three doctors, three nurses, three administrators, a radiologist, a pharmacist, a medic, two lab technicians, a pharmacy technician, a radiology technician, a biomedical equipment technician and a logistician. Team members will work with their Afghan counterparts to create a baseline of skills, Seay said. There also will be a lot of focus on sterilization and sustainment of equipment and resources, he added.
Together, the team hopes its efforts can help the Afghan National Army to rebuild the country and be effective at maintaining peace and security. “This is arguably the best ANA hospital in the entire country, given the building, the equipment and the water treatment plant, but the most impressive part of this hospital is its staff,” Skidmore said. “They are incredibly excited and enthusiastic to learn new clinical and managerial techniques in health care.”
Photo – Air Force Tech. Sgt. Edward Weaver, a medic deployed from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., instructs Afghan National Army medical personnel on spinal immobilization techniques at the newly opened Kandahar ANA regional hospital in Afghanistan. The medical mentoring team arrived to find the construction 500 days behind schedule and immediately took on the task of supplying the hospital and getting it opened before continuing the mission of mentoring Afghan National Army medical personnel. Photo by Col. (Dr.) Thomas Seay, USAF.
20 Dec. 2007 By Sgt. Jason Thompson 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs.
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Control of Multinational Division Baghdad changed hands during a ceremony here yesterday [December 19, 2007]. The 1st Cavalry Division will redeploy to Fort Hood, Texas, while 4th Infantry Division takes over operations in the Iraqi capital. Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, presided over the ceremony. He said the battle in Iraq has changed significantly during the last year, and that the success could be directly linked to the 1st Cavalry Division’s efforts in and around Baghdad.
“Significant events are often a result of the right people being in the right place at the right time,” Odierno said. “In the case of Baghdad in 2006 and 2007, the right people were the magnificent men and women of Multinational Division Baghdad and their dedicated Iraqi security force partners.”
Odierno said the soldiers of the “First Team” should be proud of what they accomplished during their tenure in Baghdad. He said the soldiers had a direct, positive impact on the Iraqi people’s day-to-day lives, which is apparent by the increased activity in all the Baghdad markets, traffic on the streets, numerous soccer games played in all the local neighborhoods, and the smiles on the children’s faces.
“The biggest success was the complete, full partnership they formed with their counterparts in the Iraqi army, national police, station police, patrol police and local leaders,” Odierno continued. “Because of their shared concern, genuine care and daily engagement, they earned the trust and confidence of Baghdad’s people. In turn, it sparked a grassroots movement among the millions of residents and empowered them to feel in control of their own destiny.”
The 1st Cavalry Division commander then addressed the audience of Iraqi and coalition leaders, looking back on a year’s worth of successes and sacrifices by his MND-B forces. “Although the cost has been high, and the toll on the lives of our soldiers has been great, our cause was just and noble, and we have prevailed,” Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil Jr., said. “We have fought together, side by side, and have won every time. Our soldiers know it, and the enemy knows it. There is not a place in Baghdad where the enemy feels free or a place to call his home,” he said.
Fil then thanked the Iraqi army soldiers and said his team’s success came with a partnership between the Iraqi and coalition forces. “We have done this in partnership. Whatever progress we have made, whatever success we have secured, is a testimony to that partnership and the result of our combined strengths,” he said.
With the colors of his division cased and ready to accompany him home, Fil said his thoughts were focused on the efforts of his soldiers and on the continued success of the 4th Infantry Division. “As always, at the end of a challenging tour, we leave with mixed emotions. It is quite reassuring to know that we are handing the battle over to such a capable division, and that’s the ‘Steadfast and Loyal’ 4th Infantry Division, led by the supreme command team of Maj. Gen. Jeff Hammond and Command Sgt. Maj. John Gioia,” Fil said, referencing the division’s motto, “Steadfast and Loyal.”
“I’m leaving totally confident that you’ll be able to quickly build and expand upon the efforts and that the Ironhorse soldiers are ready for the tests that lie ahead,” he said.
With the 4th Infantry Division Ironhorse Band accompanying the ceremony, Fil passed on the mantle of Multinational Division Baghdad to Hammond, who uncased his colors and assumed command of the MND-B mission as the division colors changed position in the honor guard procession. “As we, the 4th Infantry Division, return to Baghdad for our third deployment, we truly feel we have two homes. One in Fort Hood, Texas, and our other is clearly here in Baghdad. We look forward to once again serving with our Iraqi brothers.
With obvious pride in the troops of his new command, Hammond closed by thanking the 1st Cavalry Division troops for their great efforts in providing a smooth transition with 4th Infantry Division and took a moment to recognize all the forces that make up Multinational Division Baghdad.
“To Major General Fil and the 1st Cavalry Division, magnificent job. Your ‘Steadfast and Loyal’ efforts have improved security across Baghdad, but more important, I see hope for the future. We must build on this and continue progress. We still face determined enemies who threaten peace and security. There is still much work ahead. Our job, alongside our Iraqi counterparts, is to provide stable security and set conditions for improving life in Baghdad. This we will do as a team,” Hammond said. “It is my honor to represent the men and women of Multinational Division Baghdad.”
Photo – Maj. Gen. Jeffery W. Hammond (left), incoming Multinational Division Baghdad commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. John Gioia, incoming MND-B command sergeant major, uncase the “Ironhorse” colors during the MND-B transfer-of-authority ceremony Dec. 19, 2007, at Camp Liberty, Iraq. Photo by Staff Sgt. Luis Orengo, USA.
There is too much code that goes into doing this. I started at 7pm to put this up, but there were a couple of changes I wanted to make. Now it is 7:41 pm! lol. Continuing on, tonight is our Friday Nite Open Trackback Alliance and our Open Trackback at Linkfest. If you would to share with us some of your best, kookiest, cutest, or average work; feel free to add me to your post first, then trackback me to your link, then I will add you to my frontpage for all the world to see. Isn’t that wonderful?
Please check out Samantha’s OTA, the Linkfest trackback, and if you don’t fit into any of those cagegories, I have ‘other’ for you. This way, by sharing our posts, we may share our thoughts, opinions, questions about religion, life, politics/politicians, and/or whatever you like. Just remember, there shall be NO porn on this site. That is all I ask. Have a great weekend everyone.
While God performed many miracles during the time Moses was trying to free the Hebrew people, was there any evidence left behind to prove that the parting of the sea actually did happen? I’ll give you some sites, and you make your own conclusions.
First of all, there has been an archaeological find in the Red Sea which uncovered the presence of a very, very old chariot! One site is Wyatt Archaeological Research discusses the actual crossing, while part 4 discusses the actual discovery of an ancient chariot wheel. There are 5 parts altogether in this particular site.
Another site is World Net Daily. There is a word of caution from the wife of the archaeologist who first found an artifact:
“[At first] I thought everything was a chariot wheel!” Mrs. Wyatt exclaimed, noting how difficult it is for the untrained eye to distinguish an artifact from a piece of coral. “I’m just trying to be cautious about over-identifying too much. … It is God’s truth, and we can’t hype it up. We can’t add to it.”
However, she notes a big problem for explorers and scientists is that the Egyptian government no longer allows items to be removed from the protected region. Thus, someone claiming to find an artifact will have a hard – if not impossible – time verifying its authenticity, a classic catch-22.
This is very good advice. It is always wise to be cautious. It is also suspicious why the Egyptian government does not want the TRUTH to be known, if it is the truth. (I believe it to be true, artifacts or not.)
Here is another site for you to research: The Hebrew Red Sea Crossing (Exodus). It is quite long, and it includes Egyptian inscriptions that could be relevent to this event.
Maybe there is a group of scientists who are interested in this area not for Biblical purposes but for scientif accuracy? I searched the web over and I thought I thought found truth seekers, but phfffft I was wrong. No, seriously, there are some scientists who are interested, I’m sure. They just haven’t about it. I did leave a comment for one of them, so hopefully he will return my questions with answers.
I did, however, find a site that could bring some…uhmm…contraversy? (lol) The name of the site is Archaeology and the Exodus:
Biblical Archaeology is often divided into two camps: The “minimalists” tend to downplay the historical accuracy of the Bible, while the “maximalists,” who are in the majority and are by and large not religious, tend to suggest that archaeological evidence supports the basic historicity of the Bible text.
Oh my! Well, it is a Jewish site, and our brothers and sisters do love some color in their lives. (If there is nothing to discuss and agree or disagree, this is a day that has been wasted! lol) Ya know, I do believe many Christians are of the same cloth.
So why do I insist on all this evidence? I do not. I just believe it is rather interesting that people would prefer to believe that life can from nothing, babies are not babies until they can breathe on their own (does that mean they are not babies if they on an incubator?), and all other types of nonsense. Yes, you may believe that I believe in nonsense, but that gives me the right to tell you that it takes more faith to believe what you believe! By the way, where is your scientific PROOF that man evolved from a slimy creature in the sea? Why aren’t there more of us? Why do we compliment each other? I thought this supposed to be random? Hmm.
No matter. I find it interesting, and that’s what matters. After all, it is MY site. lol. Have a great day everyone, and to my Christian friends, God bless you. To my Jewish friends, G-d bless you.
Many people fall into the trap of, “I cannot go to that Church. There are too many hypocrites in there!” Yes, even I have been there and done that. Ya know what I found out? There was just one less hypocrite in the Church!
I know it is frustrating when we see people sin right out there in the open, but how many of us are sinning on the inside while we sit in judgement of those who sin in our sight? Do we approach them with love and the intention to edify and help them? Do we offer to talk with them about their sin to find out if they are even aware of it? Do we offer any guidance? Do we offer them a way back into the good graces of God? No? Then we have sinned and become the hypocrite.
By the way, why are we looking at others? Are we not there to worship our Creator? Are we not there to learn about our Creator? I suggest that before we decide who is ‘worthy’ or not of God’s grace [which is a decision I do believe God can handle very well, thank you], we look in the mirror. Are we right with God? If we were perfect, Jesus would not have had to die on the Cross for our sins!
If you are that good, then you are sinning by not giving of yourself to those of us who could learn from you. So you see for all Christians, we should go to Church. For those of us who physically cannot find a way to get to Church, there are a couple good TV Churches. Dr. D. James Kennedy (may he rest in peace) has a very good service. They are using tapes of his messages which are still pertinent today. Also, Dr. Stanley is a fine Paster. These are the only two I would watch, though. I am housebound, so I watch Dr. Kennedy every Sunday.
Let us step back for a moment and remember why we go to Church in the first place. Fellowship is also a huge part of it. We are in the world all the time, we need to be around like-minded people to get centered again. This is how we remain accountable to one another. One day you may be going through some awful experience in your life, and who will know unless you have a bond within your Church? I’m talking about someone who can help you spiritually. They can pick up on your need more effectively than someone who does not know you in the same way.
Maybe you could edify someone else just by your presence! Maybe it is your turn to help, or maybe it is your turn to be in need of help. Either way, would you care to take a chance on NOT being available because someone sinned against you or just was a hypocrite? HOW DARE YOU! Have you not heard the song, “Humble thyself in the sight of the LORD, and He will lift you up, higher and higher, and He will lift you up.”? Please allow Him to heal you using His children. None of us are perfect, and we are going to make mistakes. But do not forsake Him. He will never forsake you. God bless you, and I pray you read this. No names mentioned.
I woke up late, because I went to sleep around 8 am this morning. I woke up at 2 pm. I hate politics. Hillary apparently won in new hamphshire, and mccain won with the help of independents. Okay? It’s over there. Keep on moving. Nothing here to see. My head really hurts, so I think I’m going to lay down for a while and dream about Duncan Hunter…
If my thoughts have off, if my points have seemed pointless, if I have seemed angry, there is a good reason for this behavior. MAJ Andrew Olmsted was killed in action January 3, 2008, and I just do not have any words to say how sorry I am to his family and friends. I did not know Andy all that well, and I did not read blog very often. I have been so busy focused on myself that I miss out the best we have here while they walk amongst us. I am angry at myself, the animals who killed him, and just the plain ignorance of us all.
He did leave us one last post which he gave to hilzoy to post in such a case as this. So at least he deafed the grips of death with a final farewell. An excerpt:
What I don’t want this to be is a chance for me, or anyone else, to be maudlin. I’m dead. That sucks, at least for me and my family and friends. But all the tears in the world aren’t going to bring me back, so I would prefer that people remember the good things about me rather than mourning my loss. (If it turns out a specific number of tears will, in fact, bring me back to life, then by all means, break out the onions.) I had a pretty good life, as I noted above. Sure, all things being equal I would have preferred to have more time, but I have no business complaining with all the good fortune I’ve enjoyed in my life. So if you’re up for that, put on a little 80s music (preferably vintage 1980-1984), grab a Coke and have a drink with me. If you have it, throw ‘Freedom Isn’t Free’ from the Team America soundtrack in; if you can’t laugh at that song, I think you need to lighten up a little. I’m dead, but if you’re reading this, you’re not, so take a moment to enjoy that happy fact.
Please read the whole post. You will also be able read it on his site: Andy Olmsted. You may learn about this man, even now, through his archives. Please also send up a prayer for his family and friends, that God would comfort and strengthen them, and for him…Godspeed.
Other sites who have written about Maj. Andy Olmsted and trackposts of mine:
I have come upon a very distressing article written by Longstreet who is a Veteran. He lives in North Carolina where he has been following this desecration of the Christian faith from within the Veterans’ Administrations hospitals for some time now. His site, INSIGHT on Freedom, has some information I believe is necessary for everyone to read, whether you are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Atheist, etc. It is written by Laud Pitt, Jr., Ret. US Army Lt. Colonel, in the Fayetteville Observer.
Why do I suggest that people of other faiths bother with what appears to be Christian problem? Because if the USA government, which was created upon Judeo-Christian principles, can eliminate God-given rights for us, then they can take away your rights as well.
Why are they doing this? Political correctness? Does it really matter? My right to worship to my God is more important to me than my right to breathe. Should I give up that right as well? God-given rights are simply that, GOD-GIVEN…not government granted.
They have come after our speech, our ability to support whatever candidate we like so that they have to work everyday since they were elected to get re-elected, our ability to assemble with whomever we choose so that men can have their private playhouse (golf courses) and women may have their own private places, and so many more rights.
Do you really own your property when the government can tax it away from you? What happened to taxation without representation? Do we not have the fire in the belly anymore, or is it that we no longer know right from wrong?
Anyway, that is why we should all be concerned. To strip someone of their constitutional right to do one thing is to strip us all of our rights…eventually. It just so happens that people seem to think that Christians will sit back and take it over and over again. Let me remind you, it was the Christians, not Muslims, that ran the underground railroads to free the slaves. It was the Christians, not the Hindus, who fought for the right for women to vote. It was the Christians, not the Buddhists, who fought for the very freedoms we hold dear and separate from England. Those are just the facts. Live with it. Christians will allow it, others will not. Keep that in mind…
Now back to the issue. No longer may the Pastors bring a Bible or pray with patients at the VA. Read Longstreets post, please. He covers this rather well. Thank you, and feel free to spread the news. Call your Senators and Congressman toll-free at 866-340-9281 and let them know what you think of the way our servicemen and servicewomen are being treated. Even if they want their Pastor to pray for them, they cannot. Have you ever heard of any government being so intrusive? Stop laughing. I mean in the USA, not Iran or North Korea.
Join the Christians Against Leftist Heresy blogroll sponsored by FaultlineUSA. This is a group of wonderful people who would like to get back to basics and stop cutting corners, as the world would rather we do. NO WAY!
This is a beautifully created video using Toby Keith’s song, ‘Whiskey for My Men, Beer for My Horses.’ It is very moving and touching. If you are a whoos like me, I recommend a tissue or two. You will be filled with pride, and you will also find it within you to carry on. God bless you all, and come home soon and well.
This was submitted to YouTube by Phil. Thank you, Sir. God bless your family and you.
Update: I found something rather disturbing, and I would like to clarify this before I even post it. There is a subscriber to Phil who may or may not be a racist. I cannot tell, because I refuse to look at anything that has the Klan attached to it in any manner. You may look for yourself at huntermark94. Disgusting if true. Please let me know if you happen to watch it. I’d like to know what I am putting out there. I understand he is just a subscriber, but still. The stench…
It does not, however, take anything away from Toby Keith’s song or himself. He is a fine man and a great artist!
How would you react if one day you awoke to find there are now laws against what you cannot say, what you must say, extra taxes you must pay because of your religion or lack thereof, and your money has been confiscated because it was not kosher?
It is coming, unless we do something about it. I was posting an article that Debbie over Right Truth had posted, and I found that an Englishman will be taken into custody by the police for having written the truth about these animals–jihadists. It is true. His name and site are Lionheart and you can find this information also on his site.
This is England! I guess I could say this was England. How very sad. What do you say about bombarding 10 Downing St., London, England, with letters of disapproval and disbelief? Maybe if we raise such an uproar we can turn tide of jihadists in England. One thing is for sure. This is no way to fight a war…
Alas, if that were the only problem, but I am afraid the whoa is more and close.
Coughlin sacked.
By Bill Gertz Washington Times
Stephen Coughlin, the Pentagon specialist on Islamic law and Islamist extremism, has been fired from his position on the military’s Joint Staff. The action followed a report in this space last week revealing opposition to his work for the military by pro-Muslim officials within the office of Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England. [Continue reading.]
As for the banking situation, these money-grubbing bankers who belong to no country (or so they think) have embraced the Islamic Sharia Laws so much as to include them on the Board of Directors! So the world banks are now being managed by the BOD rather than the managers. Have you ever tried to reason with a board member? It is not as easy as you may imagine.
Here is an article for you to see what is actually happening to our finances and why.
…With Great Britain now pledging to become the Islamic banking center of the world, the stampede by all global banks to enter the world of Islamic banking is well underway.
[snip]
The implications for the west, and especially for the United States, are staggering. Because all Islamic banking products must be created and offered according to strict Shari’a law, global banks are doing for Islam what it could never do on its own: give legitimacy to Shari’a and infiltrate it into the fabric of western society. [Continue reading.]
There are 9 plagues in Exodus (the Bible) starting with ‘The Plague of Blood’ and ending with ‘The Plague of the Firstborn’. These are the plague of blood, frogs, gnats, livestock, boils, hail, locusts and the firstborn. Why did these occur, and what was the result of the disobedience toward God?
A little round up of the first 11 chapters of Exodus first, eh? As we learned from Genesis, Joseph was taken as a slave to Egypt where he rose to be the most respected slave. No matter his adversities, he always came out on top. His family finally came down to live with him during the drought, and then this generation died. The Pharoah of that time and his generation had also died, so the king of Egypt did not know about Joseph and his family.
The slaves were treated very poorly, and they were worked very hard. The LORD had heard their cries all the way up Heaven, and He remembered His promise to their fathers. So the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron to go up to Pharoah to demand the freedom of God’s people so they may worship Him. Pharoah kept making promises to them to let their people go, but God kept hardening Pharoah’s heart so he would change his mind.
Why did God harden Pharoah’s heart? I have a suspicion that He wanted to let Pharoah and the people of Egypt to suffer as the Hebrews had suffered under the hand of Pharoah. Also, God had a plan. That is why must trust, and not complain, when the world does not seem right. God is control of everything, and He has a plan for you and me. We must put our trust in this, while at the same time keep trying to do His Will for our lives.
Back to the summary. Each time Moses and Aaron would go to Pharoah to tell him what the LORD of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob had spoken to them, Pharoah would ask Moses to pray for him to relieve him of any plague. Moses would do so, but Pharoah would harden his heart and not allow Moses to lead God’s people out from Egypt into the desert to worship God.
In the final plague, Pharoah loses his firstborn and only son. Then he allows the Hebrews to leave. Then, of course, he changes his mind but it was too late!
Are we pretty much caught up to where I am? Good. I have thought about many of the situations that continue today, and I can see in every one of them the hand of God. How? Have you ever, EVER, seen the whole congress and senate turn on a dime? They did when they tried to push amnesty through in a few days last year, and the people of this country rose up against them. Is this because God does not care about the illegal aliens? NO! It is because we were filled with the anger and the will to correct what was being wrong to us. God also believes in Sovereignty. After all, He invented it.
I would be interested in what you have to say (not specifically about illegal aliens) about why you believe God hardend Pharoah’s heart, why Moses kept praying for him without first being out of the land of Egypt, ect. Thank you, and have a very wonderful day.
I know most people don’t like to read about personal stuff, but that’s okay. I’m going to write about it anyway. There are other topics I’m writing about as well: Military, Politics and Religious. Choose your medicine.
Have you ever entered a buccoo amount of code only to find that server just took you offline? Well, that’s what I’ve been doing tonight. I couldn’t believe it! How did anger the ‘ISP god’? (There is no ISP god, but something is going on there. lol) I was able to fix it and save my work. That is fantastic!
If you’ll notice, I’ve changed the font size and look for my posts and my links on the sidebar. I like my links smaller than the text so as not to distract the reader. I don’t know. I’m just weird like that. To be fair, I like it better like that.
I have now kept my promise to write once a day. Do I have anything else to say? You bet! I have some Military News that you may interested in reading. What I do is copy it off the CentCom website or feed or email so that it can be read without having to scroll over and back and over again. Their news is larger than the screen. I don’t like that. Otherwise, I would write a summary and send you there. We good on that? Okay, here goes:
New air traffic control tower to expand TQ’s capabilities.
05 December 2007 By Sgt. Wayne Edmiston 2nd Marine Logistics Group.
AL TAQADDUM, Iraq – The AN/TSQ-120B is a temporary air traffic control tower used by Marines in expeditionary operations until a more sturdy structure can be built. Although designed for just 90 days of continual use, the one at Al Taqaddum Air Base has seen more than its share of sorties since it was raised during the early stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom. [Continue reading this post on my site.]
USAF engineers improve Marine quality of life in Iraq.
05 December 2007 by Staff Sgt. Travis Edwards 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) – Airmen are improving the lives and operating conditions of Marines by constructing more than $9.8 million in aircraft shelters, taxiways and temporary shelters at Al Asad Air Base. Deployed in an “in-lieu-of” tasking in support of the 20th Army Engineer Brigade, 557th Expeditionary REDHORSE Squadron Airmen are completing numerous projects — from the design concept to completion — in a joint service environment. [Continue reading.]
CF Treat 450 Afghans During Medical Outreach.
30 November 2007 By Senior Airman James Bolinger, USAF Combined Joint Task Force 82 Public Affairs.
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan – The towns of Eskandareh and Pacha Khak hide deep within the mountains of the Kohe Safid district in Afghanitan’s Parwan province. Eskandareh is near the head of Tagab Valley, and Pacha Khak has been a stronghold for many armies throughout Afghanistan’s history. [Continue reading.]
I also have some information on the candidates’ positions on Iran:
Candidates views per Iran. As we all know, Iran is seeking to attain nuclear power. Some may argue that this power may be domestic only, while others suspect that it was desired for nefarious purposes. One of those purposes being nuclear weapons. Therefore the Israel Project asked each candidate for their position on this issue (Iran). [Continue reading.]
This should keep you busy enough for me to really dig into something so I can write about my personal views on it. If you didn’t know, I have given up blogging first thing when I wake up. Yes. It’s true. Why?
Because it became my god. Plain and simple. Did I worship blogging? Did I sing songs to or about it? No. Did I neglect my time reading the Word of God? YES. I confess my sin right here and now. I do not desire that anything should come in between my Saviour and I. There is NOTHING here on earth that ever could fulfill my heart and my life such He.
How do I know I was neglecting my time? I forgot verses and chapters and even the books I used to know in order to give answers to anyone who would ask me a question about God, Jesus, Church, etc. When that happened and I saw a lesson it this week, the Word convicted my heart. That only happens when I need it to happen. Sometimes I wish I would listen sooner, but better late than never.
So I shall be having Bible study with God and myself when I wake, and what a beautiful thing that is! If anyone would care to join in, just write me an email. I’m sure we could work something out, maybe through IM? Don’t worry though, God is in control.
Ezra is the fifteenth book in the Old Testament of the Bible, and it has had a very powerful impact on me. What I am about to share with you may be completely wrong (and if so, please correct me!), but this is what I came to understand from reading Ezra.
This book has been dated 440 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. These particular Jews were living in the land of Persia at this time during the kingdom of Cyrus. King Cyrus was moved by the God of Abraham to allow these tribes to return home to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the House of God.
From here on in, you could write it as if it were happening today. They did not steal this land, for there were some Jewish people already living there. These people had been enslaved throughout the time before they returned by the mercy of God. Their neighbors hated them. When the king died, his son, Xerxes, became king. Not much is said about him, however.
Xerxes did not keep his father’s charge. Some neighbors had complained to him with lies and deceit in their hearts. They wrote a letter demanding the stoppage of this rebuilding of the Temple, and it was granted.
Then when Xerxes’ son, Artaxerxes, become king, another letter was sent by a governor from the area. He demanded they be stopped, for the Jews had waited long enough and had started to rebuild. Artaxerxes did very much research upon this request from the neighbors in the area to destroy, only to discover that this was indeed the land of the Jewish people! He okayed the restarting of the building of the Temple, for they were ordered to stop after the foundation had been layed.
But their neighbors still hated them. The Jews had vowed to be faithful to God, to remain pure and holy, and they abided by what they were told to do. EXCEPT…they were found to be in sin. They turned away from God. Does this sound familiar? Only this time, they repented and were forgiven by God.
So why does it sound like today? The Jewish people, along with others, were enslaved, tortured, experimented on and murdered in WWII. They were allowed to return home to their ancestors after this horrendous war. Mind you, many Jewish people had stayed behind, so it was not as if they had no place there. This also occurs all throughout the Old Testament. The only difference is the dates.
That is because the Left has infiltrated Israel as well. Then and now. As they were to remain obedient to God then, they have become quite secular now. All throughout the history of the Old Testament, disobedience brings separation from God.
Just so anyone starts to think, ‘Ah ha! Those disobedient Jews!’, I beg of you to look in the mirror first. We are ALL disobedient. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.
This moved me in this way. Look at Iran now. When Cyrus was alive, King of Persia (Iran), they were permitted not only to live, but to go home. Then when he died, the neighbors wanted to destroy the Jewish people. Two thousand four hundred fifty-one years later, nothing has changed. People are still blinded to this fact, because they have decided they know much more than any God could possibly know. My only question to them is this: ‘If this were so, how come you haven’t created a world where there is no global warming, no poverty, no crime, no heartache, no tears or fears?’
I do know of such a place, and it is glorious. It is beyond my imagination, and a room is being prepared for me. My LORD has said so. He can also make one for you, if you would only open your heart to the possibility…
05 December 2007 By Sgt. Wayne Edmiston 2nd Marine Logistics Group.
AL TAQADDUM, Iraq – The AN/TSQ-120B is a temporary air traffic control tower used by Marines in expeditionary operations until a more sturdy structure can be built. Although designed for just 90 days of continual use, the one at Al Taqaddum Air Base has seen more than its share of sorties since it was raised during the early stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After years of planning by previous deployed units, combat engineers with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 were recently assigned to construct a new, state of the art tower. Working around delays caused by constant changes in the weather and aircraft flybys, the Marines poured the 30-by-30 foot concrete foundation and erected the prefabricated frame that will offer more capabilities to controllers.
The current expeditionary tower only allows controllers a 180-degree view of the airfield, but, once completed, the new one will provide an all-encompassing, 360-degree view, according to Master Sgt. Alexander M. Gutierrez, the Air Traffic Control Operations Chief for Marine Air Control Squadron 2.
“It lets (the controllers) work a whole lot better because they can see every aircraft they are working with,” said Gutierrez, a Kansas City, Kan., native. “It relieves a lot of pressure that comes with a challenging job.”
With more than 300 flights daily and 10,300 monthly, Al Taqaddum rivals most medium-sized commercial airports in the United States. The air traffic controllers here are responsible for ensuring the safety of all the inbound and outbound traffic, all of which is supporting the efforts of Multi National Force-West in Al Anbar Province.
The Marines working on the tower plan to have it completed within two to three weeks, according to the project’s staff noncommissioned officer in charge, Gunnery Sgt. Jason R. Gillepsie. “It takes considerable effort and a lot of skill to get something like this accomplished,” the Walla Walla, Wash., native said. And since it has taken this long to get a new tower started, the engineers said they are putting their skills to work and ensuring it is built to last above all else.
“This is going to be a structure that is going to be here for a while and a lot of people are going to see it and even work in it,” Lance Cpl. Michael A. Kemp, a combat engineer and Crawfordsville, Ind., native said. “It’s the gratification of getting to help your fellow Marines that I enjoy.”
Photo – AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (Dec. 1, 2007) – Marines inspect the metal frame of a new air traffic control tower. Combat engineers with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 are currently constructing an air traffic control tower to create a better working environment for its air traffic controllers. Photo by: Sgt. Wayne Edmiston.
05 December 2007 by Staff Sgt. Travis Edwards 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) – Airmen are improving the lives and operating conditions of Marines by constructing more than $9.8 million in aircraft shelters, taxiways and temporary shelters at Al Asad Air Base. Deployed in an “in-lieu-of” tasking in support of the 20th Army Engineer Brigade, 557th Expeditionary REDHORSE Squadron Airmen are completing numerous projects — from the design concept to completion — in a joint service environment.
“We’re here working on a Marine base, taking on an Army job while using Navy parts,” said Master Sgt. Richard Kapp, the 557th ERHS cantonments superintendent and acting first sergeant, deployed from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. “It’s an odd process.”
REDHORSE is an elite Air Force engineer squadron, whose main function is to take a strip of uninhabited land and turn it into a fully functioning base with running water, shelters and power. The REDHORSE team currently has 14 assigned projects. Six construction tasks are underway, and six more are scheduled to start soon totaling $9.8 million. One project recently completed was a $65,000 convoy briefing facility, which included three temporary shelters.
“Having this facility complete now allows Soldiers and Marines going out on convoys to have a place to brief before heading out on dangerous missions without having their mind distracted by the extreme cold or heat,” said Senior Master Sgt. Rob Townsend, the 557th ERHS superintendent deployed from Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
REDHORSE Airmen also are building other temporary-shelters throughout the base. “One of our sites will house more than $1.5 million in Meals Ready to Eat that normally would have been thrown away due to the high heat in the summer,” said Capt. Andy LaFrazia, the 557th ERHS spoke commander for Al Asad AB, deployed from McChord AFB, Wash.
The engineers have faced several challenges as a result of the nontraditional nature of the deployment. “Getting materials we need for a project is a problem on everyone’s mind. It’s a brand new system,” Captain LaFrazia said. “We are getting used to it and are pushing forward, keeping our mind on the mission.”
The Airmen are driven to improve the quality of life of their fellow military members. “Everyone here wants to make a difference,” Sergeant Townsend said. “We all have the same focus of getting the job done and done safely.” “We are building a better way of life for all the servicemembers who live and work in Al Asad,” said Senior Airman James Cox, a 557th ERHS electrician deployed from Shaw AFB, S.C.
Photo – Tech. Sgt. Chris Collins cuts a 2-by-6 piece of wood to use as a frame for a bench Nov. 24 at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. REDHORSE Airmen are currently working approximately $9.8 million in projects here. Sergeant Collins, a 557th Expeditionary REDHORSE utilities technician, is deployed from Minot Air Force Base, N.D. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Travis Edwards).
30 November 2007 By Senior Airman James Bolinger, USAF Combined Joint Task Force 82 Public Affairs.
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan – The towns of Eskandareh and Pacha Khak hide deep within the mountains of the Kohe Safid district in Afghanitan’s Parwan province. Eskandareh is near the head of Tagab Valley, and Pacha Khak has been a stronghold for many armies throughout Afghanistan’s history.
Members of 413th Civil Affairs Battalion, accompanied by Afghan National Police and the Kohe Safi Police Mentor Team, brought doctors and veterinarians to these two remote villages Nov. 27 for a village medical outreach.
Medical outreach missions are a way for the Afghan government and coalition forces to build a rapport with citizens on their own turf, said Army Col. Robert Nobak, of 413th Civil Affairs Battalion. “When possible, we like to work with Afghan providers and, when necessary, make referrals to Afghan medical facilities,” he said. “However, if there are cases where Afghan facilities are not readily available, we can make referrals to (Bagram Air Base).”
This was the first time such a mission has been held at either of these villages, and more than 450 men, women and children were seen. “The age range was from 2 to 95, so the spectrum was fairly broad,” Nobak said. “The most common complaint was joint pain, for which we have a variety of anti-inflammatory medicines.”
Maj. Jeremy McGuire, leader of the Kohe Safi Police Mentor Team, organized the mission. “I proposed the idea for a medical outreach to Parwan’s subgovernor and the local (Afghan police) chief,” he said. “They picked the villages, which are a political hot bed.” Pacha Khak was a Mujahedeen stronghold during the communist regime and was sympathetic to the Taliban when coalition forces took control of Afghanistan. Eskanderah villagers fought against the Taliban; in fact, an Afghan National Army general hails from the area, McGuire said.
The mission met “my expectations as far as the timeline, security and set-up,” said Navy Lt. Tammy Felker, a physician assistant with 413th Civil Affairs Battalion who attended to women and girls in the village. “It did not meet my expectations in that I would have liked to have seen more women of childbearing age. When we don’t see women of childbearing age in the clinic, then the village tends to be more traditional and suppress their women. The amount of women of childbearing age we see signifies the level of freedom the women have.” Still, Felker said, she felt the mission was still a success. “This is the first time we visited these villages. It takes time to develop a rapport with people,” she said. “The first part is establishing trust. I feel we established trust with this visit, so, next time we will see more women and children.
Helping people with their ailments wasn’t the only aspect of this mission. A veterinarian and an entomologist were also along for the ride. “I provide public-health assistance and education to the villagers, hopefully to implement long-lasting fixes for problems like insect-borne and food- and water-borne diseases, improving the overall health and well-being of locals, though I tend to assist the other medical or vet assets to accomplish their missions,” said Navy Lt. Jason Forster, a medical entomologist.
As the Humvees headed back to Bagram Air Base, chatter over the radios was all about the success of the mission. “On a scale of 1 to 10, I would call this (mission) a 9,” McGuire said. “We would have liked to get more Afghan doctors, but the ANP did an outstanding job with security.”
Photo – Sgt. 1st Class Jason Sealey, Kohe Safi Police Mentor Team, holds a calf still while Lt. Col. Richard Probst, 413th Civil Affairs Battalion, gives it a shot during a medical outreach visit, Nov. 27, 2007, in Afghanistan’s Parwan province. Coalition doctors and veterinarians saw more than 450 people and 330 animals during the two-day visit. Photo by Senior Airman James Bolinger, USAF.
As we all know, Iran is seeking to attain nuclear power. Some may argue that this power may be domestic only, while others suspect that it was desired for nefarious purposes. One of those purposes being nuclear weapons. Therefore the Israel Project asked each candidate for their position on this issue (Iran).
(Make sure you have enough room in your Windows Word Processor or you’ll get an error message, like I did. Grrr.)
How do you we suppose Iran is interested in a nuclear weapon?
ElBaradei: Iran will have nuclear weapons in three to eight years.
The timeline for an Iranian nuclear weapon was three to eight years, Army Radio quoted IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei as saying in an interview with the French Le Monde Monday.
“I cannot judge their intentions, but I can assume that Iran is indeed interested in obtaining a nuclear bomb,” ElBaradei said. [Continue reading the Jerusalem Post article.]
How does he come to this conclusion?
Iran says has built new long-range missile. Tue Nov 27, 2007
By Reza Derakhshi
TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran said on Tuesday it had built a new missile with a range of 2,000 km (1,250 miles), a step analysts said could add more power to Tehran’s conventional arsenal when tensions over its atomic plans are rising.
Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar did not say how the new weapon differed from the Shahab-3, a missile officials had previously said could hit targets 2,000 km away, far enough to reach Iran’s arch-foe Israel. [Continue reading the Chantix article.]
The Israel Project will be in Iowa and New Hampshire to keep these candidates informed about this issue.
To end this post for those of us who are not blind, I will use a quote from the president of The Israel Project: “The power of the purse should be used for peace– but time is running out as Iran is racing towards nuclear capacities that threaten the world,” said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, founder and president of The Israel Project.
I have a few articles for you today that should be brought to the attention of the world outside of China. The fight for civil rights is alive and well in China, but we hear little of this. It truly is a fight, because people are imprisoned when they get caught. While in prison, they are beaten badly.
This first article is about a man whose only crime was he saw the humanity in each person. For this, they threw him in prison where he was beaten.
Chinese Rights Lawyer Beaten, Staging Hunger Strike in Prison. December 28, 2007.
HONG KONG–Prominent Chinese civil rights lawyer Guo Feixiong has been beaten in prison and is now on the fifteenth day of a hunger strike, his wife and sister have told Radio Free Asia (RFA).
*snip*
“He told me he was beaten for a long time. The prisoner stopped beating him only when the onlookers began to boo and shush to express their displeasure. In the process of the beating, he fell from the stairs, about two meters,” Zhang said.
Guo Feixiong, the professional name of Yang Maodong, is serving a five-year sentence for conducting illegal business activities, after publishing a book about a political scandal and helping villagers lead a campaign to oust local officials accused of corruption. [Continue reading.]
There is also, in this article, news about his hunger strike, “Official says beating ‘impossible’” and international attention. Please read this article. Learn about China. You may think you know why you don’t like China, but find out how the people who live there are living. It may open your eyes to these claims of ‘free trade’.
I am a fair trader, not a free trader. Remember, there is NO SUCH THING as a free lunch. Just something to ponder.
There are many issues in this post that need broader attention. Slavery? Rape? Permanent most favored nation??? I think NOT!
I may not write another open trackback tomorrow, but we’ll see. I have to catch up with my military posts, so maybe I will make a post out them. I’ll give you the title and a little about the article. That’s if I do it. I’m still waiting for that phone call from across this land mass…so have a Happy New Year, I pray for many blessings to all of you, and post what you will. Just make sure you add a link back to me and include me in your post. Also, no porn. This is Rosemary signing off for now.
There are three articles in particular that should be of import. They concern a war in the Horn of Africa (Somalia), Hizbullah trying to disrupt the elections in Lebanon so Syria can come back, and the prayers of a maniac in Iran telling the people that USA should stop meddling in Lebanon’s affairs.
EXCUSE ME?! We have Hizbullah slaughtering the Lebanese people on a daily basis, we don’t do anything about that because we are trying to allow them room to work things out and hopefully get up the courage they showed during the Cedar Revolution to kick out the Hizbullah creeps. To no avail, apparently, but to accuse us of meddling? You’ve got some nerve! God does NOT like being lied to or about, especially when He can see for Himself!
Going to Africa, Ethiopia has left the area which they were controlling in Somalia to keep the peace, and who do you think came trouncing right back in to make sure there would be none? That is correct. The islamists. They have taken control of a town in south-west Somalia. And these misguided people in the USA want us to just cut and run? NOT IF I HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT.
Tonight was Saturday, but I can see that it is Sunday now. Whichever day you would like it to be, it is an open trackback day. Just add me to your post, trackback to me, and send me a ping. Have a great weekend, and stay home if you’re going to drink.
It is amazing to me how often ‘normal’ people are fooled by these punks. Okay, let’s do a little game called, ‘Connecting the dots.’
There was a war in Lebanon when the Izl-amists were trying to slaughter the Christians which were 50% of the at that time, and the Christians fought back. This started in 1975.
Israel stepped in to try to help.
We went in also to try to help stop the civil war.
On October 23, 1983 at 6:22 a.m., a large delivery truck drove to the Beirut International Airport where the Marine Barracks was located. The terrorist attack killed 220 Marines and 21 other U.S. service members who were stationed there to help keep the peace in a nation torn by war. [Source: Arlington National Cemetery.]
We left.
Syria moved in.
Christians fled instead of being slaughtered.
We have tried for decades to get Syria out of Lebanon.
Iran, through Hizbullah, blew up the Khobar Towers on June 25, 1996. Nineteen Americans were murdered and hundreds were injured. These were located in Saudi Arabia in 1996, and nothing was done about it. [Source(s): GlobalSecurity.org and OpinionJournal.com.]
The assassination of PM Rafik Hariri.
The rise of the Cedar Revolution.
Supposedly, Syria finally left Lebanon in April 22, 2005, after the Cedar Revolution. (What else was happening at that time? The ‘staying power’ of the USA during the Iraq War, perhaps? Hmm.) [Source: Spirit of America.]
Samir Kassir, a founding member of Lebanon’s Democratic Left movement, was assassinated by car bomb in Beirut. Along with this assassination in Lebanon and the UN refuses to release its findings of who ordered the first hit, Syria, Hizbulla, and Iran are all involved. [Source: Spirit of America.]
Which brings us to today’s articles.
I have not included many of the atrocities which have occurred in between these years for lack of space. Now Hizbullah is trying to interfere with the elections in Lebanon, and Iran is preaching in its Friday prayers that the USA should stop ‘meddling’ in the Lebanon elections. HUH? And these candidates for president want to talk to these people?
If you sincerely believe that talking to these people will bring about peace in that region, may I recommend you switch therapists? Seriously.
I have some rather disturbing news which was foreseeable, had anyone bothered to look. After the Ethiopians left Somalia overnight on Thursday/Friday, Islamists moved in quickly to overtake Guriel, a small town in south-central Somalia. Here is article from The Daily Star:
Islamists move in after Ethiopians leave Somali town. By Agence France Presse (AFP)
Saturday, December 29, 2007.
MOGADISHU: Islamist militia on Friday took control of a town in south-central Somalia after Ethiopian soldiers withdrew overnight, witnesses said. The Islamists, who briefly controlled much of south and central Somalia before they were ousted by Ethiopia-backed Somali government troops early this year, have since been waging near daily attacks against the joint forces. “The Ethiopian forces withdrew from the town overnight, and now I can see the former Islamic courts fighters,” said Mohammad Haji Elmi, a local elder. The Islamists took over Guriel town, some 300 kilometers north of the capital Mogadishu, which they had previously controlled. Somalia has been plagued by 16 years of violence that has defied numerous bids to restore stability. – AFP
Yes, we really know how to fight this war, eh? Why don’t we all just pick up and leave? This is the best evidence of why…NOT! We are not cut-and-runners. If we were, we would be speaking German or Japanese. Please, do not vote for anyone who suggests we can just come home and all will be well. It won’t. Don’t forget, we were helping the Somalians and Ethiopians in this war. See what happens when you run? HUH?
I hope everyone has a very nice weekend. Don’t drink and drive, please. I’m not there to kick your butt, but there are enough police officers out there to do it for me. Besides, it’s the right thing NOT to do. Let’s all start the next year with all of our pieces in the places they belong.
Also, I must admit that I will not be able to manually transfer over 7000 posts in a matter of days. The thing that bothers me the most is that I actually I could! LOL. Oh well. There will be projects that I shall try to accomplish that will seem impossible to others. Probably because they are, but I love a challenge.
Stay safe and God bless.
Posts I’ve trackbacked to at Samantha Burns’ OTA Weekend, Linkfest and others:
I have been trying to move all of my posts from 8 sites over to this one since June of this year, and here it, December 2007, and I am only on September 2004! (Start date: July 5, 2004.) Oh yes, I wake up early and go to sleep when my body gives way to the REM. I don’t really know if I can call it REM, since I may be too exhausted to dream in lala land. As it may be, I have wasted much time.
I listen to the radio to keep up with the news. When I do that, I sometimes read and reread because it is getting too hard to listen and read at the same time. I must be getting old! That is when I determine to play a game while they are talking and reading during the commercials.
Then I look up at the clock and declare, “Holy crap! It’s after 9pm and I haven’t written a thing!” Well, in order to keep my promise to myself about writing at least once a day (not including comments), here is my verbage. LOL. Now I really must get back to work…have a nice evening.
Singing the blues down by the riverbend Thoughts are racing through her head She’ll have a good cry, not caring why Just singing the blues until the sun is nigh.
The Christ child’s birthday has gone She’s left wondering what went wrong Why no one called from far away Not even to say, “Have a nice day.”
She tries to take the blame for them They have their lives, is what she’ll say She wasn’t there, that’s probably why No one cares if she cries.
Singing the blues down by the riverbend Tears are for cleansing is what someone said She’ll be fine until next year When she’ll be singing the blues down by the riverbend
Down by the riverbend There is Peace down by the riverbend Peace that the world does not know you can find Down by the riverbend, down by the riverbend.
Have you ever started out making sugar cookies only to find you have a new recipe for oatmeal raisin cookies? Well, that is what happened. It amazing what a slight of the recipe, an unorthodox measurement of indegredients, and a few other tricks can do a cookie!
So why I’m reporting this? So that I’ll have something to say. I made them, and they taste alright to me. Next time, I think I’ll even use peanut butter…
Oh my, what an oxymoron! Christmas time is a time when everyone is supposed to celebrate the birth of our LORD and Saviour, yet behind the scenes there is much work to be done. Yes, the cooking, the shopping, the cleaning of the clothes to wear to Church, the tree and decorating, and the blogging. A new phenomenon!
I have tackled most of it. It’s the blogging time I have a hard time finding. The only thing I want to really say in this post is Merry Christmas to all of readers, friends, family, and people I’ve yet to meet. God bless your efforts and you.
For those of you who are not Christians yet for whatever reason, to you I pray for peace in your heart. Peace that will allow you to allow me my LORD and my love for Him. You do not have to agree with me, but do not deny me. I won’t stand for it. Just as I won’t stand for anyone trying to force religion on you. Fair is fair.
I pray for all our troops who have served, are serving, and will serve our blessed country. May God continue to protect, guide, strengthen, love and grant them success in each mission. May He also make it possible for them to enjoy this day as best they can.
Please remember their families and other loved ones who are still here while they are yet thousands of miles away. Pray for them so that the distance will not be so hard to bear. They deserve so much gratitude and appreciation, but they also deserve our true support.
Please try to get to a Veteran’s Hospital today. They sometimes have no visitors, and today would be a great day to show up. Imagine that. All that is necessary is showing up. Wow. That is also that is necessary to bring a smile to someone who gave of themselves so that we may remain free. Protectors of Liberty. As Jesus came to offer us life eternal, a way to wash away our sins, these men and women protect us in their own way.
Am I comparing them to the Christ? No. Jesus came to grant life eternal to all those who would accept Him into their hearts and repent of their sins. He promises to wash them white as snow as far as their sins go, but I am saying that these men and women are taking a chance of laying down their lives for us as well. The one life they have while here on earth. I just happen to believe that is pretty awesome. I love our LORD. I love our military, also. May God bless them and you this Christmay day.
Oh my! Where did the time go? I must conclude with this:
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on
whom his favor rests.”
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke 2:1-20
Merry Christmas, and God bless you each and every one. I treasure you dearly. Stay safe, Morgan, and a special Merry Christmas to you.
I am going to share several articles I have accumulated while my computer was down. Some are from some Milbloggers, some are videos, some are news articles and some are just because. I hope you enjoy at least one of them. Have a very Merry Christmas.
Sen. Bond: NIE Emphasis is Wrong. By: Ronald Kessler.
The controversial National Intelligence Estimate on Iran should have emphasized that Iran continues to engage in centrifuge uranium enrichment activities that lead to developing nuclear weapons, Sen. Kit Bond, the vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, tells Newsmax.
“The NIE was based on very in-depth, very good intel work on what happened in 2003 [when Iran is said by the CIA to have halted its nuclear weapons program],” says the Missouri Republican, who has read the classified portion of the NIE. But, Bond notes, the NIE’s first point was: “We judge with high confidence that in fall 2003, Tehran halted its nuclear weapons…” [Continue reading.]
This next post is from Mark Alexander. He writes with the Federalist Papers, a part of the Patriot Post. I really enjoyed his Christmas message, and I hope you will, too.
The Shepherd’s Christmas. by Mark Alexander of the Patriot Post. Scroll down from “Happy Christmahanakwamadan!”
If you were to wish us “Happy Holidays,” we would puzzle over which one you meant. Independence Day? Constitution Day? Thanksgiving? Easter? Christmas? Our Patriot mission is to keep kindled the flame of liberty our Founders sparked on this continent, and we believe that all these national celebrations should unite us in gratitude to God for all the blessings He has showered upon our free land.
John Quincy Adams asserted, “In the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Saviour.”
Indeed, most of the Founders held these commemorations to be all of a piece, and that the events told and foretold in Scripture are true, fit as cornerstones for faith and governing principles.
Luke, in his Gospel, attests to the historical evidence for the Nativity, taken from “eyewitnesses” who could verify “the certainty” (Luke 1:1-4). Among the first eyewitnesses Luke cites were “shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night,” to whom an angel suddenly appeared, announcing the birth of Christ the Lord and providing directions to His location. After visiting the Holy Child, the shepherds related their experiences to those living in the surrounding countryside (Luke 2:8-20). [Continue reading. It is a magnificant article.]
This is copyrighted material, so please ask permission to copy any of their articles. They are very nice about it and if you are a member, it is okay as long as you follow the rules set in the copyright clause. They want to spread liberty, and they believe it is not theirs to hold from others. These people are a class above. Yes, indeed.
Here is a book I have not read, but I do agree that we have lost many of the State’s rights which were the strength of our individualism before this war. Here is a little bit about this book:
Finally, the true story of the War Between the States, in one captivating volume. With more than 530 illustrations, nearly 100 biographical sketches, and his attention-grabbing style, John J. Dwyer has radically transformed the tedious, uninspiring textbook rendering of the Civil War into what it should be America’s greatest epic.
Respected historians George Grant, J. Steven Wilkins, Douglas Wilson, and Tom Spencer are contributing editors to the The War Between the States: America’s Uncivil War, and over two dozen of renowned historical artist John Paul Strain’s greatest works appear. The book offers 700 action-packed pages of war-time drama that will forever change the way Americans view the Civil War.
Please Mitt, at least a mea culpa. An open letter to our former Massachusetts governor.
Dear Mitt:
Many of us from Massachusetts will be headed down to Washington, D.C. this January to join over 100,000 others in the 35th Annual March For Life, memorializing some 48 million pre-born children whose beating hearts were legally stopped by the sanction of the Roe v. Wade decision. Mitt, will you be with us? They’re betting that you won’t.
You made one of the smoothest transitions from being pro-Roe to anti-Roe of anyone I’ve ever witnessed, far less involved even than Norma McCorvey, the Roe plaintiff. Miss Norma told me that she had, in a worldly sense, everything to lose and nothing to gain by changing her position. Can you say the same?
We’re told that it was the studying of scientific data regarding embryonic stem cell research which led to your conversion to the Pro-Life position. This, after multiple years of publicity about the now-outlawed partial birth abortion procedure? Surely you knew about the courageous action of former Senator Bob Smith from our neighboring state of New Hampshire, who graphically depicted the gruesome procedure on the floor of the U. S. Senate. Where were you then? [Continue reading.]
I hope you find Gregg’s arguements as persuasive as they ought to be. He was a captive of that government. Can you imagine words like that being used with the full meaning–captive? Well, you should be afraid. It is our Life, Liberty and Property Rights we are fighting for in this campaign for president! READ IT! Now on to the next news article.
The Vets for Freedom recently went to London grand Westminster Hall, to join in a debate sponsored by Intelligence Squared. The attendance was over 2,200, and the topic of the topic was the defense of the idea that the surge in Iraq is working.
Of the 455 undecided voters who arrived in the hall, over half (234) later voted to support victory rather than defeat. By contrast, only 131 voted in favor of the motions “leave Iraq now” or “negotiated settlement.” Overwhelmingly, previously undecided voters left the hall convinced that we must win in Iraq. I was expecting a hostile audience, but these results prove that, with the credibility that we as veterans bring to the debate, it is not too late to shape the public’s perception of the war in Iraq.
The debate will be shown in its entirety on BBC World during the weekend of January 5th, and Vets for Freedom will send out a notice when it appears. In the meantime, visit this website for a podcast of the debate.
The title of the debate is The Future of Iraq. They also have another ad coming out to thank Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) for his steadfast support of the men and women fighting in uniform and those vets who are home fighting for their brothers and sisters right to win the victory. You can visit their website to view these ads.
What I can do is to get 5 people to sign up to support Vets for Freedom. Here is an opportunity for you to support those troops you say you support.
This is an excellent video from Blackfive. It was taped on the 90th birthday of the Army, and it has a lot of history in the short time allowed.
This is very sweet and moving video, again from Blackfive, that says to the troops, “Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!” It also says that we miss you, you are not forgotten, and we care. Greatly. We thank your families and you for your service, and we won’t give up the fight on our end either. (I just added that, but I know it to be true.) A shout out to Morgan, ‘B-Mo’ O’, Maniac, Major Stone Cold, Cookie Monster, Surferdude, T-Dog, Burt Schtickem, Coopage, Gonzo, Pineapple, Tater, Headspace, Sparky, Crash and Sack, and the Hometown Hero. God bless you all, and may your Christmas be safe, rememberable, and may you have the Joy that this world does not understand. Also, may God’s protection keep you from all harm and all evil. In Jesus Christ’s name I pray, Amen.
Many people will be with their families and/or friends this Saturday night, and that is good. But what about those who are so far away they cannot make it home? What about those who are answering the call of our country?
I pray, LORD, You will Comfort them, be with them, protect them, Love them, guard them from all evil and harm, and I pray they know You and have accepted You into their hearts as their LORD and Saviour. Share with them Your Peace that this world does not understand. Let us not be so brazen as to not remember them. Help us, LORD, to keep them in our hearts and prayers as well as their families.
For every empty chair at the table this year of one of our own patriots, no matter the cause, please fill this hole in each tiny face and heart. By patriot I mean someone from our coalition of the willing. Not from al qaida. May they all burn in hell. Please. In Jesus Christ’s name I pray. Amen.
This is good news for Rep. Duncan Hunter. To have one of the most Conservative senators (in New Hamphsire, no less!) endorse you is a big deal. Vermont is the first state to actually vote as we know it. Many people believe that whoever wins or suprisingly comes close to winning will go on to become president of the United States. Below is a copy of that endorsement:
Dear New Hampshire Friends:
After spending several weeks listening to all of the candidates, I have decided to support Congressman Duncan Hunter for President. I do not take this decision lightly. There are a lot of fine men running for this office and I know that many of you may have already made your choice. Your vote in the “First in the Nation Primary” is a very precious and personal right. Your decision will likely determine who will be the next leader of the free world. What an awesome responsibility! I only ask that you give serious consideration to the points that I make in this letter of endorsement for Congressman Hunter before you vote.
The Republican Party, but more importantly our nation, needs strong conservative and inspirational leadership as we continue to face the threats to our liberty in the form of immorality, corruption, terrorism, a mountain of debt, border insecurity, loss of jobs and attempts to weaken our national defense. Here is why Duncan Hunter is that leader!
I am sure that you are aware that I fought the battle for the conservative cause in New Hampshire for over 20 years. It was not an easy battle. Conservatives pay a heavy price for standing up for their principles. I can speak from personal experience on that. The Republican Party has lost its majority in Congress because it slowly and steadily has walked away from the “core values” that have made it a great party for the past 150 years in America . Remember Ronald Reagan? Liberals and moderates worked hard to defeat him in the New Hampshire primary in 1980 but he prevailed in spite of them! He will be remembered as one of our greatest Presidents because he stood on principle, but also because we conservatives in New Hampshire gave him the victory that propelled him to the White House! When President Reagan came into the oval office in the morning, he knew exactly where he wanted to take the country. He did not need an inbox full of directions, consultants, polls or focus groups to tell him what his core values were. There will never be another Ronald Reagan but fellow Californian Duncan Hunter can pick up the Reagan torch and light the way for America to come back from the dangers we now face. Congressman Hunter is a moral man, an inspirational leader and a no nonsense conservative who will always put “principle above politics” in the image of the late great New Hampshire patriot Meldrim Thomson.
I had the enormous privilege to serve with Congressman Hunter for 18 years in Congress. He has been my personal friend for nearly 25 years. I can personally attest that he is a man of impeccable moral and family values, a great patriot and a leader. I have seen him fight even when others were prepared to give up. Congressman Hunter inspired me and many other young conservatives in the 1980s to continue the fight even when it was bleak. This has not been an easy campaign for Congressman Hunter. While he has been out on the campaign trail his son has been serving in Iraq and the Hunters lost their entire home in the recent fires in Southern California . He has been largely ignored by the pollsters and the media. I urge the people of New Hampshire to send a message to the pollsters and the Washington media elite. The people elect a President not the pollsters! You have the opportunity to do for the nation what you did when you elected President Reagan in 1980 by sending Duncan Hunter out of New Hampshire with a big win and on to the White House in January of 2009! Can you imagine listening to CNN and all of the talking heads trying to explain how they were wrong as Hunter claimed victory? Wouldn’t that be worth the price of admission? You can make it happen with your vote in January! Do not be intimidated by these spinmasters. You control the destiny of America and not them!
The American people need to take control of this country. We are a republic, not a democracy. We elect leaders to stand up for us as they make decisions. Duncan Hunter has proven that he can lead. He has been tested. If given the chance as President, he will inspire people, young and old, to rally to our nation in this time of need. Congressman Duncan Hunter for 25 years has stood up for the rights of the unborn, to balance the budget, to cut the pork out of the spending bills, to strengthen our national defense by supporting our troops and providing them the weapons they need, to seal off our borders by building a fence along the US/Mexican border and to keep American jobs in America. He is a known entity. You do not have to guess about what he might do on these critical threats to our security. Imagine President Duncan Hunter leading our nation and using the “bully pulpit” to lead on these issues! I am proud to support this great American patriot for President. If you really want to see change, then I urge you to vote for him. He is what American needs now more than ever! Thank you!
Senator Bob Smith Tuftonboro, N.H. and Sarasota, Florida.
As I remember, for full disclosure’s sake, Sen. Smith did leave the Republican Party for about a month or two while he was running for president in 2000. Many people did not forgive him for that. I was one of them. At least for a while.
Why did I not forgive him? If you want change, if you want to help, then you should do it from within. That used to be my philosophy. I do not know what has happened to my party, but it certainly is not the fiscally responsible, pro-life, pro- all the Amendments – the Constitution – the Declaration of Independence, and just plain decency along with the will to fight for what is believed to be correct. I do not see this anymore, and maybe Sen. Smith saw this before I did. Either way, all is forgiven. How could it not when I am sitting here wondering where can I go?
Today is Samantha Burns’ OTA Weekend and Open Trackback Linkfest Haven Oasis. Please have a nice weekend, and please have a wonderful and safe Merry ChristMass. Please keep our men and women who cannot be at home during this season because they are protecting our liberties close to your heart. Also remember their families, the empty chair for Daddy or Mommy, keep them in your prayers. Maybe if you know someone like that, you may even bake them some cookies or see if there is a need. Come on. ‘Tis the season to give. Thank you.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO HALOSCAN USERS If you are using haloscan, please understand that I will have to leave my trackback in your comments section. For some reason, haloscan has not been available to me for 3 days now. It does not appear as though the problem will be solved soon, either. I am so p***ed off! (lol) Please leave your comment section open. Thank you.
No matter how much we enjoy giving and receiving gifts, eating large, and spending time with our loved ones; there would be NO reason for the government to completely shut down, for the mail to be overloaded, for that special glow in our hearts if Jesus had not been born into this world to sacrifice Himself so that we may be saved. Just think about that this Christmas Day, because, for most of us, it is not our birthday!
There is nothing I can think of that is more delightful than that of a newborn child. Don’t forget to take the time to smell the roses, notice the homeless and hungry, praise your brother/sister when they do something well, etc.
I realize that not everyone is a Christian. So what and why are celebrating? Could it be the peace and goodwill toward men that is filling the air? That’s okay. I much prefer it myself. You don’t need a reason to celebrate, just don’t try to take away mine and we’ll get along divinely. Otherwise, we are going to bump heads.
If my writing about my beliefs bothers you, tough. May I suggest you start your own blog? Families have members with which not everyone agrees all the time about everything. I have no expectation of my readers! It is called FREEDOM. Just be delightful about it and see if your life isn’t improved…
This is an open trackback Thursday. That means that if you would like to share some of your writings, you may do so here. It does not have to do anything with the topic above. Just remember to include my article in your blog. (You can just add my name with a link back to this article.) If you would like to join the Linkfest Haven, please click on the blue badge (or whatever those are thingys are called) and follow the directions provided. Also, no porn. Have a great day everyone!
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Did I happen to mention my computer crashed today? It was really weird. Too bad we don’t make computers in America anymore. If we did, I might look around…Anyway, I think I found a way to work this. Let us see, eh?
I am reposting this article about the murder of over 340 children and adults in a school in Russia, because Time decided to choose Putin as their Man of the Year. Also, because it brought back to me the words to express myself. I have forgotten how to write. I must admit, I have grown weary. I am not so weary, however, that I will EVER give up. Originally written on September 4, 2004.
I have been struggling with how to write this article and what to say. Obviously, my prayers and thoughts go out to the people directly affected and those indirectly affected. I am so angry and sad. If good reporters are not supposed to feel anything, then I guess I will never be a good reporter. I haven’t been able to write until I had to, to keep from…!
Some women (and I suspect men) Muslims took over a school Tuesday, August 31, 2004. They murdered most of the people and children. This was not about negotiating, revenge, liberation, or Putin. This happened because we are in WWIV, and people had better wake up to that fact. Today. Do you remember the bombing in Bali? Well, that isn’t America, so I guess that doesn’t include us, huh? How about on a train in Spain, Casa Blanca, Russia, Sudan, Kenya, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, England, Australia, Italy, Greece, and on and on? Well, that isn’t on American soil, so I guess it doesn’t really matter, right? THIS SOUNDS LIKE 1936, ’37, ’38, ’39, ’40, AND 41!!! Don’t be so ignorant! It makes me want to cry. I thought we learned that genocide would never happen again, and yet it is happening. You are the ones who want to let it happen. You would have gotten along well with Hitler.
What keeps coming back to me is this: Have you forgotten? We used to have Twin Towers in NYC. We had to repair the Pentagon, and a plane went down in a field in PA because some brave men gave their lives that we might live. Do you really want to spit in their face? Are you that brave? I call you cowards. You don’t want to fight because you either blame America or you are a communist. Either way, I would, at this point in time, put you all in a pile and make sure that the next attack happened precisely where you were. Ideally, I pray there is no attack, but you who don’t care-really make me mad.
Oh, you have your little sayings: We support the troops but hate the war, No blood for oil, It’s the economy stupid. This is Bush’ war, etc. Let me answer these for you. You cannot support the troops without supporting the mission. It is impossible. You depress them, and they are dying for you. Is that how you show your appreciation, you selfish childish people!
No blood for oil. Okay. Start walking and turn your heat/air conditioner off. No? Then shut the hell up. We pay for everything we use, unlike some of the parasites that live among us.
So, you believe that the economy is the most important issue? Have you ever heard the expression: “You can’t take it with you?” What good is money if you’re dead. Tell me! Now! I want to know! Can’t find a job? Join the Armed Forces that you support so damn much. What? You are too afraid? Don’t worry, not everyone is cut out to be the best.
This is Bush’ war? President Bush doesn’t live in all these other places, so it couldn’t be that. He was only in office 7 months when we were attacked for the third time on our soil. Third, you say? Do you remember Oklahoma City? Yes. Third. Forth if you want to count TWA flight 800. So, are you saying Bush asked for this war? You are a lunatic, and I will leave you to your own demise. Do you think he is going places he shouldn’t go? That is a discussion that could be had, except we are already there.
I seem to remember many on the left clamoring about connecting the dots. Well, he did, and Saddam was smack dab in the middle of it all. He (Saddam) paid terrorists. He harbored terrorists. He used chemical weapons against his own people. He had rape rooms, murdered or sent to die over 2 MILLION people. Are those enough dots for you? He was sending people here. Do you remember the first attack on the TWC? Where do you think the passport was from? Where did he go when he left NY? That is correct, Iraq. This is all known and documented. Get off the talking points, and my nerves, and RESEARCH.
I did not mean to go off on people with which I disagree, but you must understand: They declared war against us. It is up to us if we are up to the challenge or if we will rot in hell because we did nothing, as was the case until 1941. I vote to move forward and kick ass.
Please excuse my language. I am angry and I don’t have time for all these stupid idiot picketers. I didn’t even mean to bring them up, but when I get in front of the “typewriter,” I rarely know what will come up! I just hope it is good. Something good has to come out of this senseless murderous week. For every person murdered, we take out a whole city and leave them with a wasteland. I wish I could have a guarantee that only terrorists would be there at the time. I have made friends over in Iraq, and I want none of them harmed. Oh damn. Now what? And this is what the enemy knows.
Yeah, have a good day. Oh, and by the way, you might want to say a prayer for the people in Russia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sudan, Kenya, Taiwan, Thailand, Italy, Poland, England, Australia, Netherlands, etc. My God, and people don’t see this is a world war?
END OF POST
I am still working on the transfers, but it’s moving right along. I hope to have it done by New Year’s Day. Hope–remember–I said hope! lol. Merry ChristMass.
Howdy. Things appear to move along swimmingly. I am already up to September 2004. I have a question, though. Should I carry over the number of hits from these other sites since I will be using only this site from now on? I have left instructions as to where to find the post, should anyone look for a particular post. I hate going to a post that is no longer there. I think that’s how the spammers find us!
Have a wonderful Open Trackback Wednesday. I am enjoying Linkfest, and it is my hope you would join so I can read your great articles. However if you do not wish to join, you may trackback here as well. It is just a recommendation. Please follow the rules of respect, though. No porn, and treat others with a differing opinion with respect. That does not mean you can’t debate an issue. It does mean to remember that it is the issue you are debating, not the person. God bless each one of us.
These articles have been brought to my attention, and I would like to share them with you. The first one deals with Iranian weapons found in Iraq 12/13/07; the second is a joint statement about the car bombing on 12/12/07; the third is another joint statement concerning the transfer of security responsibilities in Basra province-12/16/2007; and lastly, this article is about the terrorists we killed at Helmand-12/18/07.
All of these are press releases from CentCom, and they can be reached at:
NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – A cache of Iranian-manufactured rockets was turned over to Coalition Forces based at FOB Delta Dec. 4, 2007. Iraqi Civil Defense Corps personnel delivered 14 107mm Iranian rockets and fuses to Kazakhstani Soldiers, said 1st Lt. Almaz Mukashev, the Kazakhstani liaison officer. The rockets were manufactured in 2006.
ICDC personnel have turned over munitions to Coalition Forces before, but this was the first time Iranian weapons were turned over from the force to Coalition Forces, said Col. Peter Baker, the 214th Fires Brigade commander. The ICDC specializes in explosive ordnance disposal. Its head is Iraqi Maj. Gen. Abdul Rasul. “This is another indication of the cooperation of Iraqi officials who in all earnestness want to have a better society,” Baker said. “They know these rockets are here illegally and that they are here to maim and kill Iraqi and Coalition Security Forces and innocent civilians.”
Baker said this is a sign that Iraqis are taking ownership of their area to bring about better security. “Iraqis have to be part of the security and reconstruction effort,” Baker said. “The more stable and secure the area is, the more projects we will be able to undertake and the more capacity building we will be able to accomplish, whether it is in health, education or fuel, all of which are benefiting the Iraqis.”
The Kazakhstani unit gave the munitions to Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Three Battalion for analysis. The Kazakhstani battalion provides EOD support to FOB Delta.
This is awesome. Unfortunately, this happens everyday over there, but the dinosaur press fails to report it. Is it not news when there is a tidal wave of change in a country, be it bad or good?
We join the people of Iraq in strongly condemning yesterday’s barbaric attack targeting the citizens of al Amarah in the Maysan Province. The United States extends its deepest condolences, support and prayers to the people of Maysan Province. The Maysan Provincial Reconstruction Team [PRT] and Multi-National Division South East [MND-SE] are working closely with Iraqi authorities to ensure they have sufficient medical supplies and humanitarian assistance for the citizens of al Amarah. We stand ready to provide additional support as needed.
Such senseless acts of violence against innocent citizens only serve to strengthen our resolve to stand against their perpetrators. We will work closely with the government of Iraq and with Iraqi Security Forces [ISF] to help bring those responsible to justice.
This was a horrible attack by cowards who hide behind women and cannot show their faces. To me, this is not bravery. Mohammed raises cowards? This is what I am to surmise, because that’s all I see from these animals. If you don’t like it, SPEAK UP AGAINST IT. Take back your religion. Only you can do that.
The United States and Multi-National Force-Iraq welcome the transfer of security in Basra Province to Iraqi responsibility as a positive step on the path to Iraq’s self-reliance.
Basra is the ninth province to be transferred to Iraqi security responsibility as the Government of Iraq and its security forces continue to develop and assume greater responsibility for governing and providing security for the citizens of Iraq. The first province transferred to Government of Iraqi security control was Muthanna in July 2006, followed by Dhi Qar, An Najaf, Maysan, Irbil, Sulaymaniyah, Dahuk and most recently in October 2007, Karbala.
The transfer of provincial security responsibility is particularly significant because it includes the city of Basra, the second largest city in Iraq. Basra played an important role in early Islamic history and was founded in the first century of Hijra. The country’s main port is located in Basra province and has been an integral part in the reconstruction and advancement of logistical efforts for the rest of the country.
Iraqi Security Forces in Basra have been successfully operating independently, maintaining their own security for the past four months. Working with local government and military officials, they have demonstrated their readiness to assume responsibility for the provincial security. Today this responsibility is theirs.
The transition of responsibility for security in Basra Province represents the most recent step toward a future of improved security, self-reliance and increasing prosperity that will benefit all Iraqi citizens. In order to attain sustainable security, the provincial and military leadership in Basra still have work to do and we will assist as requested. The United States and Multi-National Force-Iraq congratulate the Government of Iraq on this important milestone.
I am not as optimistic about this withdrawal as some may appear to be. Actually, I think they are doing more praying than anything else. al Qaida and Iranian National Guard (ING) are moving more of their troops into this vacuum. This is a time for action on our behalf to help the Iraqis in this area. They have been bombed in the past few days by al Qaida. One bomb, wait two minutes for civillians to come, another bomb. PLEASE TAKE THE CUFFS OFF OUR MEN!
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Several militants were killed during a precision-guided munitions strike Monday in Helmand Province targeting a Taliban command and control network. Coalition forces conducted a precision-guided munitions strike in the Kajaki District of Helmand Province targeting a Taliban commander believed to be facilitating the movement of foreign fighters and suicide bombers throughout the area.
During the course of operations, CF targeted several militants outside a compound and employed precision-guided munitions, which killed the militants, including one militant reported to be a Taliban commander. In a follow-on operation, Afghan and CF conducted a search of compounds in the Kajaki District of Helmand Province for individuals reported to be associated with the militants targeted during the strike. While conducting the operation, Afghan and CF, using small-arms, killed several armed militants who posed a credible threat to the combined force. During a subsequent engagement on the compound, the combined force was fired upon by a group of militants barricaded in a building. The combined force employed grenades, killing the militants barricaded inside.
There were no immediate indications of injuries or deaths to civilians not taking part in hostilities. Continuing their search of the compounds, the combined force recovered several weapons and explosives, which were destroyed in-place to prevent further use by extremist forces. “Afghan and Coalition forces are having significant success in degrading the Taliban’s ability to conduct militant operations,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, Combined Joint Task Force 82 spokesman.
May I make an observation here? If you are close enough to the a**holes firing at us, you are involved in their activity. Have they forgotten that the driver of the get-away car is just as guilty as the bank robber who murders the guard? When are we going to start seriously fighting this war?
When I first started taking on the large task of moving 8 blogs into 1, it was quite an overwhelming thought. I had all of my blogs moved from Blogger over to WordPress, because they can import them into one site. They are numbered in the order they were imported. I didn’t realize it was going to be necessary to remember the order I imported them, but it is. That is, if you want to assign credit to the original post and where it came from. Oh well.
As I stated Monday, I had only completed 2 transfers the first day. Would you like to know why? Because I went through 7000+ posts by pressing ‘previous posts’ over and over and over again until I reached the beginning. YIKES!
Well, yesterday I found that all I need to do is pick out the month, leave everything else at ‘all’ or ‘any’ and press ‘filter.’ I did not know what filter meant, but it was worth the risk. Quick study, eh? lol. So now it is quicker to get to the posts I need to move over to here. Yippee! That is my good news for today.
This is open trackback Tuesday. If you have a post that you would like to share with others, feel free to post it here. If you would like to share your posts with many more people, why not join Linkfest? It is quite easy to join (it’s free), and it is mostly Conservatives. My, and they think we don’t have differing opinions? LOL. Have a wonderful day.
PS. I will get to your posts to transfer them to the front page as soon as possible. That probably means a while for some, tomorrow for others. It will, however, get done.
Starting today, I will be making every effort to finish moving all of my posts (written elsewhere) to this site. This is going to take considerable time. Almost all of my waking hours. I started very seriously yesterday and I got 2 finished, 7000+ to go. This is not encouraging! However, I am going to accomplish this task. (Please pray for me. lol)
I shall post a linkfest everyday, and I will add your post to the front page as soon as possible. Remember, I will be quite busy. So please be patient. I pray for everyone to have a Merry ChristMass with Good Will Towards Men. (Ladies, that includes us, because the Bible is referring to Mankind. So don’t allow your panties to get in a bunch! lol) Have a nice day.
What a game it was, too! You can find many stories written about today’s game between the Green Bay Packers and the St. Louis Rams, but I chose to go right to horse’s mouth.
“Favre then passed the Dolphins’ Hall of Famer on the first play of the Packers’ next series with 23 seconds gone in the fourth quarter. The game was halted as Driver hugged Favre and other teammates patted him on the shoulder pads. Public address announcer Jim Holder acknowledged the record, prompting a huge ovation, and Favre shook hands with referee Ron Winter before flipping the souvenir ball to an attendant on the sideline.”
Brett Favre has now passed the football for nearly 35 miles professionally! He made sure that Dan Marino received his due credit. “I’ve said this all along: I’ve never considered myself to be in the same league as Dan Marino,” Favre said. “What a great passer, maybe the greatest passer ever.” Dan Marino’s carreer passing record is 61,361 yards in 17 seasons. Brett’s record is now 61,405 yards in 17 years. Yes, what a game! (Read the rest of the article.)
PS: Ya know, you CAN digg my articles for me. If you like the article? If you just want to help me? Oh, go on! Do it! Please? lol.
I’m going to be moving many of my earlier posts over to this site tonight, so have some fun looking around. As I post them, I shall add them here. Does anyone remember Terri Shiavo? That is the first post that I can retrieve from Causes of Interest. It was written there on March 8, 2005, but it was originally posted at My Newz ‘n Ideas. You may notice that I give Causes of Interest the credit. That’s because I was just starting that site, and I want to give credit where credit is due. I almost always cross-posted back to my main site, My Newz ‘n Ideas. That is, before I opened this site. lol.
Have a great Saturday night, and remember our Troops. Say some prayers, send some cards, send a ‘Thank You’, but do something. Please. Let politics go by the wayside when it comes to the men and women are doing all they can to make sure we remain free to do all that we can. God bless them and you.
I love this little video, and hope you will too. It is an evil, gross, global warming enemy, and children attacking video. If you do NOT want your children to see this, ask them to leave the room, please. While this may be a funny video for those of us who are tired of being told how to live our lives, I just wanted to give you fair warning. Have a great weekend.
If you have no plans, no policies, no ideas, make up a big lie and have everyone including the press repeat it. Sooner or later they will give in and believe you. Rosemary
If you intend to run for office, have strong convictions, a way to easily convey your message, always remain true to your convictions, and be satisfied with the outcome. Rosemary
One of these quotes was written about the Left, one of them was written about Conservatives. It is up to you to decide which is which. If it takes you more than an instant, maybe you should do some soul searching and a lot more reading about the founding of our great country!
I have a few articles I would like to share with you in this post. The first one has to with an angry Senate who does not have the time to fund our troops, yet it can vote to hold in contempt Karl Rove, retired political advisor to President Bush, and Josh Bolton, President Bush’s Chief of Staff. Hat tip to Fox News.
Lawmakers of both parties say Congress shouldn’t threaten to cite someone with contempt and not follow through.
“I vote for the contempt citations knowing that it’s highly likely to be a meaningless act,” Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said. “In this context we have no alternative.”
Specter and Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, joined 10 Democrats to report the citation to the full Senate. All seven no votes came from Republicans. [Continue reading.]
Apparently the Congress would like to peek at privileged discussions about the firing of 8 US Attorneys, rather than do the work they were hired to do. If you ask my opinion, the president did not fire enough of them! Hey, do you think I can have a peek of Hillary’s notes taken by one her aides? Hmm…lol.
Next I would like to discuss my friend who happens to be a talk show host, Gregg Jackson. He was interviewed by Jan Mickelson because Gregg used to live in Massachusetts under Gov. Romney’s Commonwealth Care. There are many things the public has yet to learn about this man, and all you have to do is listen to Jan’s taped interview. The link for this the one which includes Jan’s name.
It is amazing to me how Conservatives can allow themselves to be led around by their noses just to remain in power. If we have no Conservative, I’d rather not be in office. At least that way, we would stop being blamed for all of these RINO’s. (Republican in name only.) I’m certain the Left feels as strongly about their candidates as I do. After all, we just have a difference of policy opinions. We are not enemies. At least I hope not.
For a change of venue, let us look at the House of Representatives. I don’t know if they are representing you and me, but they certainly are representing al Qaida! I love the way Jay puts it: “222 morons would rather have blood on their hands for following a moronic moral code that is politically popular than to do what’s necessary to save lives when it comes down to it. No matter, this bill’s final fate ends with the President’s veto pen. I have a feeling we will all soon be missing President Bush on some issue. Hat tip: Stop the ACLU.
This next one is an e-mail, and they don’t have a link for it. Therefore I am going to present it in its entirety, because it is that important.
Black Activists Condemn Philadelphia City Council’s Boy Scout Eviction.
Washington, D.C. – Black activists from the Project 21 leadership network are condemning the Philadelphia City Council’s decision to evict the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) from its regional headquarters after the city failed to reach a compromise with the Boy Scouts on a gay rights policy.
“I live close to Philadelphia and am aware of the problems plaguing the city,” said Project 21 member Jimmie Hollis. “The fact that the City Council is taking exception to the Boy Scouts is an outrage. With so much to fix, why are they so willing to instead hobble an organization trying to help people?”
On June 1, the BSA’s Cradle of Liberty Council will be forced out of the Bruce Marks Council Service Center because it will not rescind its policy of prohibiting homosexual members. City Councilman Darrell L. Clarke told the New York Times, “you cannot be in a city-owned facility being subsidized by the taxpayers and not have language in your lease that talks about nondiscrimination.” This date became final last week when the City Council broke off negotiations with the BSA.
BSA spokesman Gregg Shields told the Times, “we believe that open homosexuality would be inconsistent with the values that we want to communicate with our leaders.” This policy was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2000, when the Court ruled the BSA is a private organization that can set its own membership rules under the protection of the First Amendment.
The Marks Center was built by the BSA, but the half-acre parcel of land on which it is located is owned by the city. A city council vote last May struck down the ordinance that granted the BSA a special $1 a year lease. BSA leaders say they cannot pay the estimated market-value lease of $200,000 a year while continuing to serve their 69,000 local members, provide in-school training and after-school mentoring programs and send 800 needy children summer camp.
While the Cradle of Liberty Council was thought to be willing to enact a policy statement previously agreed to by the BSA’s New York chapters saying that “prejudice, intolerance and unlawful discrimination in any form are unacceptable” without dropping its homosexual prohibition, Philadelphia officials preemptively said that, if it did so, the BSA would still be violating the city law.
“If the Boy Scouts were anti-God, championed homosexuality and were anti-establishment, I would venture to say they would find themselves welcome in Philadelphia. It’s the fact that they stick to and seek to promote a responsible and reasonable code of ethics that makes them a target of the anti-family left that tends to dominate urban governments such as Philadelphia’s these days,” said Project 21 chairman Mychal Massie.
Project 21, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization sponsored by the National Center for Public Policy Research, has been a leading voice of the African-American community since 1992. For more information, contact David Almasi at (202) 543-4110 x11 or David Almasi, or visit Project 21′s website at Project 21.
This just really makes me want to cry. Maybe if we chopped off a few heads they would stop bothering us? Cowards!!!
I have saved one of the best for last. Have you heard about what Pope Benedict XVI had to say about the hoax of climate change? It is wonderful to finally be on the side of science, where we started, and to have all the fearmongers on the on the humanist, irrational side. If you would care to read a well reasoned article, the link is right here. Hat tip: Sonnabend.
Well, that’s enough for now. I must be going. I still have several still to read. lol. Have a wonderful evening.
The Vets for Freedom debated in England last night. Unfortunately, I just opened the email. There is an article, however, letting our elected officials know of the importance of funding our troops before they leave for another one of their vacations.
American troops are winning. By Pete Hegseth December 11, 2007
However, the more things change in Iraq, the more they stay the same on Capitol Hill. For the past month, with a few off-handed exceptions, Democratic leadership on Capitol Hill has largely refused to acknowledge success. They are stuck in the talking points of June, and stuck on a narrative of failure.
Despite the incredible progress made by our military — which has opened the door for real and sustainable political progress in Iraq — the Democratic leadership continues to insist that we de-fund the war and bring the troops home no matter what. Beholden to entrenched and noisy anti-war interest groups, the Democrat leadership in Washington seems willing to cut-off much needed funding, placing our brave troops in harms way. [Read the whole editorial.]
This editorial isn’t hard hitting, just factual. Maybe that’s why it isn’t getting the play that it should…
I don’t know about you, but this next article concerns deeply:
Saudis give big to U.S. colleges. “There’s a possibility these campuses aren’t getting gifts, they’re getting investments,” said Clifford May, president of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. “Departments on Middle Eastern studies tend to be dominated by professors tuned to the concerns of Arab and Muslim rulers. It’s very difficult for scholars who don’t follow this line to get jobs and tenure on college campuses.
“The relationship between these departments and the money that pours in is hard to establish, but like campaign finance reform, sometimes money is a bribe. Sometimes it’s a tip.”
The $40 million gift from the Saudi donor, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, was the latest in a tradition that started in the 1970s — Muslim donors pumping millions of dollars into American universities to fund Islamic studies, hire faculty specialists in Islam and fund books and seminars on the world’s second-largest religion. [Continue reading.]
What the h***?! Thanks for the tip, M. Zuhdi Jasser, MD.
For this next op-ed, here are words of one of the authors: “My sincere hope is that this op-ed will help serve as a sort of “political reconciliation” in our own country. It is time to put aside petty partisan differences, and rally behind the need for success in Iraq and in the Long War.” I couldn’t have said it better.
Getting Beyond Stalemate to Win a War. By John Batiste and Pete Hegseth Saturday, December 8, 2007; Page A17
Congress has been entangled in a war-funding debate that pits war “supporters” against antiwar “defeatists.” With all sides seemingly entrenched, a stalemate looms. The Pentagon, meanwhile, will soon begin stripping money from its training budget to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Our military men and women deserve better than partisan politics; they deserve honest assessments of our nation’s performance in fighting the Long War. [Read the whole article.]
It is about time, too. Thank you, Vets for Freedom.
M. Zuhdi Jasser has written another article in The Middle East Quarterly about the Flying Imams. He exposes them in a way only another Muslim could.
Exposing the “Flying Imams”. Creating intermediaries in order to claim false mandate remains the root of the imams’ strategy. Organizations such as the National American Imams Federation and the Assembly of American Muslim Jurists exist to impose hierarchy and, from that self-appointed hierarchy, to establish the mandate to speak on behalf of the entire Muslim community. The Islamic Society of North America, an un-indicted coconspirator in the United States of America vs. Holy Land Foundation et al. terrorism financing trial,[28] formed a Leadership Development Center to train and indoctrinate imams.[29] On March 7, 2007, it announced a leadership certifying program for imams in conjunction with the National American Imams Federation.[30] [Continue reading.]
No World News would be complete without an article from Michael Yon.
Infrastructure to MRAPs. Al Qaeda, in particular, however, has made a point of destroying as much critical physical and human infrastructure as possible. Despite spending enormous energy trying to win their war in Iraq, it seems safe to say that al Qaeda has lost or will lose in Iraq. Yet even on the ropes, al Qaeda is still dangerous. They still blow up bridges and attack power stations. But so many groups have turned on al Qaeda that they are having a difficult time just breathing. They are still present and dangerous, but even Ansar al Sunhah has turned against them. When a group as crazy as Ansar al Sunnah turns against al Qaeda, AQ must be evil.
Even criminal gangs—like local mafias—who feed off the chaos al Qaeda drags around like a fetid shadow, are now feeding information about them to American forces. [Continue reading.]
This is a powerful read. Michael has been to Iraq and Afghanistan without the aide of any big press. He does it all by our contributions, so you may want to think of slipping him a small (or large) donation when you’re there if you enjoy his writing. Thank you.
NATIONAL
I believe this great group of bloggers belong in this category, because they certainly do their best to shed the light on one of the most incidious organizations operating in this county, the ACLU. Stop the ACLU has done extensive work, and they willingly share it with us so that we are able to alert our readers as well. Check out these latest posts:
ACLU Disappointed: FISA Court Denies Access to Wiretap Records. Writing for the court, U.S. District Judge John D. Bates refused. Releasing the documents would reveal closely guarded secrets that enemies could used to evade detection or disrupt intelligence activities, he said. Sources could be outed, targets could be tipped off and diplomatic relations could be damaged.
“All these possible harms are real and significant and, quite frankly, beyond debate,” Bates wrote. [Read the whole article]
This one is hysterical. It also has the reaction from the ACLU.
Now for the next article:
ACLU Claims Religious Test ‘Proposed as a Necessary Qualification’ for President. If you can’t win your issue by the strength of your argument… then lie. Apparently that is the tactic of the ACLU if a recent “ACLU’s Diary” entry on the DailyKos by T. Jeremy Gunn is any indication. With all the talk of religion surrounding the various candidates for the GOP nomination for president lately it has obviously been driving our ACLU Director of Freedom of Religion and Belief out of his gourd. (Though, one is excused for thinking that his title is a bit misleading for it should probably be a Freedom from Religion and Belief, but be that as it may…) Gunn goes off half cocked over the supposed forced imposition of religion on the campaign for president. [Read the entire article.]
This is scary. They are supposed some big time constitutional lawyers? They should read the constitution again. THERE IS NO RELIGIOUS TEST. Yikes!
The National Center for Public Policy Research has sent out a press release to make us aware of an injustices and intimidation happening in Ohio by the NAACP’s local chapter. Here is an exerpt:
Black Activists Renew Condemnation of Local Ohio NAACP Chapter for Interference in School Play. Washington, D.C. – Members of the Project 21 black leadership network have renewed criticism of the Butler County (Ohio) chapter of the NAACP and its executive director over the group’s new call for federal intervention into a local school district. The NAACP is protesting a student presentation of the Agatha Christie play “And Then There Were None.”
Project 21 Chairman Mychal Massie says the local NAACP chapter chairman, Gary Hines, deceived him when Hines told Massie that he is not trying to intimidate Lakota administrators or its school board. Hines repeatedly insisted to Massie that he was not attempting to have the play canceled. Massie considers Hines’ request for federal intervention a contradiction of this assertion. [Read the entire press release.]
Sounds rather uncouth to me, as if anyone cares.
OMG! You may believe this next article, but how did we get here?
Democrats Vote Yes to Ramadan, But No To Christmas. War on Christmas? Bah!
From the office of GOP Rep. Steve King:
Congressman Steve King reacted this morning to the nine “NO” votes on his resolution to honor Christmas and the Christian faith. The vote shocked Capitol Hill observers because votes on similar resolutions honoring the holidays of Islam and Hinduism passed without any NO votes.
California Budget Deficit Reaches $14 Billion, Growing. Friends:
Six weeks after the legislature passed, and the Governor signed a “balanced budget”—in September, 2007, the deficit ballooned to $6.1 billion.
Then a month ago, the Finance Department announced the deficit was $10 billion.
All along, the California Political News and Views believed the two year budget deficit would be $20 billion.
Last night the Department of Finance announced that the deficit is now $14 billion…and could grow. We still have six and a half more months before the end of the fiscal year. We still believe the deficit will reach $20 billion. [Read the entire article.]
This is serious, because the state of California’s economic well-being or recession effects the entire United States. If you want to know what it is like to live under total democrat control, look no further than California. I have an inclination to run for office, just to save our state! We’ll see…
What irony. I just looked at my email and found this: California Piglet Book for California! LOL. You can go to that link and read all the hard work Citizens Against Government Waste and The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Foundation have put into collecting this data. Wow.
Here we are again, it’s Tuesday, and I don’t really have anything prepared. I’ve been relaxing, because I don’t want to allow the stress to get to me. Besides, I have too many e-mails yet to read. I will probably end up posting them tomorrow.
Anyway, this is Open Trackback Tuesday. If you are not already member of Linkfest, just click on the link and follow the directions. It really is good for readership, and you can meet some very savvy people. If you don’t want to join Linkfest, that’s too bad, but you can still trackback here. Just remember my rule, no porn. Everyone have a nice day, Happy Hanukkah or Merry Christmas.
Monday Nite Football is no longer on abc TV. It is on ESPN. That is all good and well if you are one of those people who wastes your money on cable TV! Yes, I consider it a waste, but that is not the reason I hate abc. Is the Super Bowl supposed to be on cable, too? Is this a silly question?
I think not. They claimed that they weren’t making money. Is this so? NO, it is not. Football is more watched than basketball and baseball. So why did they sell out? Could it be that it’s because the players are predominately black? No, I don’t think so, to be fair. I just thought I would throw that in their faces as they do to almost everything I believe in and take a stand.
So why do I hate them? They took it off the air. Monday Nite Football has a song, a theme, many, many fans, and it’s only on 16 weeks out of the year. That’s all there is to it. I don’t know why, and frankly I don’t care why. I just know that they ruined my life.
I can put up with all the democrat hacks they have on as ‘seriously objective’ talk show hosts on Sunday morning. I cannot live without my Monday Nite football. So, “SCREW YOU, ABC!”
Shweeh! I finally got that off my chest. Now if only I could figure out why it took me until after 6:30 pm to get on the computer today…
So the Democrats say they want to see more visible effort on Iraqi government and her people before they will pay our men and women for the work we sent them there to do? Well, check this out:
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – The number of Iraqi-led reconciliation efforts swelled over the past two weeks across Multi-National Division – Center as local Iraqi leaders seek to capitalize on an improved security situation by developing the institutions that will enable long-term stability.
With Coalition Forces and Iraqi Concerned Local Citizens working increasingly in tandem with the Iraqi Police and Army to solidify security relationships, a window has opened for local leadership to push forward business development and infrastructure repair and forge political relationships across sects and neighborhoods.
On Nov. 26, Khalif Haloos of the Sadr al Yusifiyah Nahia Governance Council hosted more than 500 sheiks from Sunni, Shi’a and Kurdish tribes. Also in attendance were Coalition Forces from the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), who were the invited guests of the Iraqis who organized the meeting. Security for this meeting, the largest of several important reconciliation gatherings in MND-C in recent days, was provided by the Iraqi Security Forces.
“This meeting was an example of Sunnis and Shias working together,” said Col. Dominic Caraccilo, commander of 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div (AASLT). “The ISF took the lead in providing security for the meeting, and we had representation from all the key players in that area. That dynamic, coming from the local level, could be an example for the national government.”
The sheiks discussed reconciliation issues, from the return of displaced families, to a pact that would allow Iraqis of all sects to travel freely through the sheiks’ territory without fear of sectarian reprisal. They also discussed restraining Iranian influence, suppressing the remaining insurgents in their territory, and ways to integrate their activities with Iraq’s central government.
On Nov. 27 [2007] at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, leaders of the Iraqi Army and Police met with elected officials and Coalition commanders to discuss security cooperation and coordination in Babil province.
Col. Michael Garret, commander of the outgoing 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, used the occasion to say goodbye to the Iraqi leaders with whom he had worked for more than a year. Working to build on those relationships now is Col. Thomas James, commander of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
Although it’s early in James’ deployment, his brigade has seen many examples of local leaders taking steps to improve their community through Sunni and Shia cooperation, specifically from the Sunni sheik and the police chief in Musayyib. Both will tell you that they are Iraqis first, not Sunni or Shia, and only want what’s good for their country and citizens, James said.
Another meeting was held Dec. 1 on the other side of MND-C at Forward Operating Base Hammer, east of Baghdad. Iraqi civic and tribal leaders in attendance offered frank assessments of their needs and asked U.S. and Iraqi officials for continued support with stabilization efforts.
Col. Wayne Grigsby, commander of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, said after the meeting, “I’ve spent 35 months of my life in Iraq, and this is the best I’ve ever seen it.” He noted, however, that there remain opportunities to synchronize U.S. and Iraqi efforts.
Part of that direction involves parlaying improved security and cooperation among the different parties to build a stepped-up reconstruction program. Similar to the reconciliation conferences that took place, the reconstruction effort is manifesting itself across MND-C as community development projects.
On Nov. 28, the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery, 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div. opened a new medical clinic in Narwhan after the project was approved by Iraq’s Ministry of Health. As a signal of its commitment to the initiative, the ministry hired three doctors to work at the facility, two of whom are female.
The following day, the 1-10th FA conducted a school bag and bottled-water drop in Sabah Nisan. School children there received 180 school bags and 3,500 cases of water, distributed by the Concerned Local Citizens.
On Nov. 26, the Al-Wehda Nahia council celebrated with Iraqi and Coalition Forces the completion of a well system in al Sadiq. The system includes water pumps, storage tanks, a generator and quarters for a caretaker. The project was a joint effort by local Iraqis and Coalition Forces.
Finally, on Nov. 28, Iraqis celebrated the graduation of a class of small businessmen from an entrepreneur training program in the Mada’in Qada. The program helps develop business skills and planning among local business owners and then provides them with micro-grants to revitalize their businesses. As part of the program, U.S. military and civilian officials assess the proposals of the Iraqi graduates and award grants of up to $10,000 to eligible candidates.
Now I want you to go to your phones and dial toll free at 1-866-340-9281, and tell the Democrats to PAY OUR MEN AND WOMEN! They wanted evidence? Here it is. To continue to ignore this fact, is to ignore any and all facts they with which they disagree politically. This is outrageous, and it should not be allowed to stand. Write about it, talk about it on the radio programs, do whatever you can. Our men and women did not ask to be deployed by the same people who are now refusing to pay them so that they can make political points back home. They really, REALLY, need to stop. Thank you.
Whatever you would like to share with others, feel to do so (except porn). I just cannot get it together today to write anything. I have over 90 unanswered emails, over 4000 posts that I still have to transfer manually over to this post, and I haven’t read any of my favorite sites in so long-I wonder if they’ll still remember me. Have fun, and God bless each of you. (G-d bless my Jewish friends as well!)
Today I am just going to post some of the articles I have already written, because I do not think I shall be posting anymore about the NIE. That is, of course, unless something is said about it that is wrong, Wrong, WRONG! Here we go:
From the list of my last 10 posts, I imagine you can understand why I hate to be distracted by beauratic idiots. IMHO.
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND Debbie’s interview with a man who served at Pearl Harbor in the 1980′s. To all of our men, women and children who have endured this unbearable era of our history, thank you for not being so selfish so that we did not lose our nation. You did well, and I thank you all for each sacrifice. God bless you.
Michelle Malkin also has a great passage for today’s 66th Year Remembrance of that day of Infamy. HAT/TIP: Steve who is a commenter at Right Truth.
I hope you enjoy them. This is my regularly scheduled day for the Open Trackback Alliance. It is run by Samantha Burns, and I would like anyone who is interested in joining to just click on the symbol below for more information.
I am also linking to Linkfest’s ‘Linkfest Haven Oasis.’ These linkfests are a fantastic aide for you to improve your readership, if you are interested. Just remember that at this site, there is no place for porn. If you want to place your cooking tips, sports scores and talk, politics, religion, international news, counterterrorism news, misc. or any such matter, it is welcomed here. Have a great weekend, and God bless you. (For my Jewish friends, G-d bless you, and Happy Hannikkah!)
Days after the initial release of the National Intelligence Estimate, there are yet more questions and articles. As I am not an ‘expert’ in this field, I would like to take this time to provide yet more ‘expert’ input.
A gentleman has left me a comment querying into the veracity of my last post. He was rather kind, while he may disagree with me, so I am going to attempt to try to satisfy his search for answers to back up my assertions. Here is his comment:
Try as I might, I couldn’t find a fact to back up your assertion that the intelligence community is anti-Bush. And even if these 16 separate intelligence agencies are anti-Bush, maybe it is because they are anti-bulls#*t and pro-American.
I have decided not to post his name, because I do not wish to be unfair to him. I only wish to clear up matters.
First I have Decoding the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate on Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program, written by Prof. Gerald M. Steinberg.
While the NIE states that the U.S. intelligence community has “high confidence” that the Iranians halted their nuclear weapons program in 2003, it also states that it has only “moderate confidence” that Tehran has not restarted the program.1 In contrast, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has said that while it is “apparently true that in 2003, Iran stopped pursuing its military nuclear program for a certain period of time,” nonetheless, he adds that “in our estimation, since then it is apparently continuing with its program to produce a nuclear weapon.”2 [Continue reading.]
Since this is a Jewish intelligence source, I shall also introduce another. This person everyone is well familiar with, because you either like him or him. No matter. He used to work at the State Department, and he also worked at the UN.
This is what Ambassador John Bolton has to say about the NIE:
The Flaws In the Iran Report
The real differences between the NIEs are not in the hard data but in the psychological assessment of the mullahs’ motives and objectives. The current NIE freely admits to having only moderate confidence that the suspension continues and says that there are significant gaps in our intelligence and that our analysts dissent from their initial judgment on suspension. This alone should give us considerable pause. [Continue reading.]
There are five very important points that he makes in this Washington Post editorial. He knows intelligence. He is an expert. I suggest you read this short article.
Maybe you would like to hear from a trusted Democrat, Sen. Lieberman?
CNBC “Kudlow & Company” Interview with Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) Interviewer: Larry Kudlow Subject: Iran’s Nuclear Program and the National Intelligence Estimate.
MR. KUDLOW: Today’s blockbuster headline from the New Intelligence Estimate says Iran stopped making nukes in 2003. But Senator Joe Lieberman, independent Democrat from Connecticut, told me that Iran is still a very dangerous place. Take a look.
(Begin videotaped interview.)
SEN. LIEBERMAN: Well, what I make of it is that there’s some encouraging news in this National Intelligence Estimate, which is that the Iranians apparently have stopped one part of their nuclear weapons program. But the headline you just read shows the danger here, which is that people will reach a conclusion that all of our concern about Iran building nuclear weapons was misplaced, it’s over, there’s no problem. If you read this report, this intelligence report, you see that that’s not true. It says very clearly Iran has both the capacity and intention to build a nuclear weapon. And in fact, they are focused now on the first, most important thing that they need to do, which is to enrich uranium. So this is not cause for complacency. There’s still a lot about what Iran is doing that should concern us and encourage us to keep the economic and diplomatic pressure on them. [You must be registered to read the rest. I am not.]
Please read them all. I could not even start to summarize all the data forth coming. This is a a link to keep on eye on the ME from Irsael Intelligence, and this is a great link to gather information on Iran. After you have read the links I have provided, I rest my case. I hope this satisfatory. I do not wish to mislead anyone who may read my posts. Thank you, and have a great day.
This is my Open Trackback Alliance and Linkfest post. I hope I can finally write about something other than this NIE. Really. There is too much happening in this world to be dragged into a non-debate over beaurocratic bs. I hope everyone is having a very nice day.
Many of the newspapers and TV Variety Shows (formerly known as newscasts) have found it their purpose in this war to sabotage all of President Bush’ efforts to keep us safe every since September 11, 2001. They will not show what happened that day, but God forbid someone should shoot someone in a war! They are right there and ready with a camera, getting all their information from the nearest terrorist.
Enough about them. Let us now turn our eyes on the three people who delivered the National Intelligence Estimate. You will find it quite interesting if I were to tell you that all three of these people were against the Iraq war from the beginning, they came from the State Department, and one even believes Iran should be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon [heard on Rush Limbaugh's program], would you not?
Therefore I am going to refer you to an article written by the Wall Street Journal’s Opinion Journal online:
Our own “confidence” is not heightened by the fact that the NIE’s main authors include three former State Department officials with previous reputations as “hyper-partisan anti-Bush officials,” according to an intelligence source. They are Tom Fingar, formerly of the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research; Vann Van Diepen, the National Intelligence Officer for WMD; and Kenneth Brill, the former U.S. Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
For a flavor of their political outlook, former Bush Administration antiproliferation official John Bolton recalls in his recent memoir that then-Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage “described Brill’s efforts in Vienna, or lack thereof, as ‘bull–.’” Mr. Brill was “retired” from the State Department by Colin Powell before being rehired, over considerable internal and public protest, as head of the National Counter-Proliferation Center by then-National Intelligence Director John Negroponte.
If you did not read my latest article, I specifical stated that Mr. Negroponte should have been fired in 2001 along with George Tenet for allowing the disaster of September 11, 2001 and a terrible run of the aftermath of the Afghanistan war, let alone the awful destruction to our foreign policy in Iraq.
Another odd and curious factor is that the only action I can recall (as the Journal also notes) is the invasion into Iraq. Is this the ‘international’ fear that scared Iran? It was enough to scare Ghadafi, so who knows. This use of force is, however, the only thing the Iran ‘government’ understands. Truly. So they stopped for a minute. How do we know this? Did they say so?
Well, I think not. This was also the time when Iranian dissidents showed us where there clandestine nuclear program was being used. Yes, President Bush did punt the ball over to the useless Europeans, but he had his reasons. Not that I agree with them, but so be it. It was years later that they finally went to their sacred cow, the UN. Remember, this was after Iran demanded that the Italian inspector be banned from the team, because he could not be bought or show symathy toward the Iranian ‘government’.
Which brings to the last paragraph of this article:
The larger worry here is how little we seem to have learned from our previous intelligence failures. Over the course of a decade, our intelligence services badly underestimated Saddam’s nuclear ambitions, then overestimated them. Now they have done a 180-degree turn on Iran, and in such a way that will contribute to a complacency that will make it easier for Iran to build a weapon. Our intelligence services are supposed to inform the policies of elected officials, but increasingly their judgments seem to be setting policy. This is dangerous.
One thing we may all agree on that we can take away from this NIE: Intelligence does not equal common sense. Too many people claim to be intelligent, not enough of our common sense folks are working in the government…hey! Is that another indication of good sense? Hmm…
This is my contribution to Open Trackback Wednesday. Enjoy.
I will most likely go off deep end while writing this post, because people are idiots and it’s beginning to really bug me. I try to be a nice person. I try not to call people names. I try not to insult other’s intelligence. So don’t insult mine, okay?!
I am going to list a number of issues that the National Intelligence Estimate leaves unanswered. (Scroll down to “Key Judgments”):
1. In 1991, the CIA was not aware that Saddam Hussein was only 6 months away from completing his first nuclear weapon. They did not know this until it was discovered by the Inspectors. Mistake number 1.
3. The CIA told us there were no WMD. They also declared these weapons could not have left the country. Oh? What are they, psychic? I know a good psychiatrist for them!
4. Then they went back to not knowing whether or not they had WMD, but we just haven’t found them yet. Could you rely on this type of information? I certainly wouldn’t! Especially after there is already troops on the ground. Whether or not Saddam was playing a game to fool his neighbors, he lied. You do not lie to the USA. And for you yahoos, you do not lie to the UN. Game, set, match.
5. In 2005, the NIE declared that Iran had reconstituted its nuclear program after talks with the EU-3 plus the USA had failed. Which is it? Did they stop in 2003 like Ghadafi, or did they not?
6. The NIC consists of over 20 different intelligence agencies, some of which we will never know the names of, unlike the CIA. Yes, CIA, that is a slap in your face. How can you be clandestine when you are always showing up on the front page of the NY Times with all of your leaks?
7. From all of those agencies, only about 30 people decided which intelligence to go forward with and assess. I believe these to be intelligence people.
8. This information then goes into the hands of the State Department. Does anyone who reads this site not know how I feel about the State Dept? I want it defunded and gone. Can I make it any clearer?
Then about 3-6 take all the intel from all the agencies and determine what they are going to say. That is how we end up with crap like this. Negroponte should have been fired along Tenet in 2001. George W., I do not understand you.
9. Iran claims they are working on them. ElBeirdi (sp?) says they have the 3000 centrifuges. Russia says they have a program (which Russia is helping them build), so they ought to know!
So why did publish a 2 1/2 page summary of 187 classified report (which some of the departments do not agree with their conclusions) at this time? Could it be political? Yes. They are supposed to display facts. They are not supposed to make any conclusions. That is the job of the president. I only wish many more people would realize their place in public office, such as the Congress. When will they pay our Soldiers?
Update: And one more thing. The onus is NOT on us. It is on Iran. They, after all, have been murdering us for 28 years. When are we going to stand up to these cowards?
Today’s open trackback will be dedicated to the way President Bush almost stood up to those reporters. It would be nice if he would stop using the same words over and over again. Oh well…
As I was reading the Press Releases from US CentCom, I came upon this article. I read it cautiously, yet eagerly. Yes, that is hard to do. lol. Let’s just say I am cautiously optimistic.
This article was written by someone at the Multi-National Division – North Public Affairs Office, and they did very well. IMHO. Here is what the article entailed:
COB SPEICHER, Iraq – Task Force Iron Multi-National Division – North, The University of Tikrit Law School and the University of Baltimore Law School began an official affiliation via a video teleconference held at Contingency Operating Base Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq, Nov. 27. The program will culminate in six Iraqi students attending the Master of Laws program in Baltimore, Md.
The program’s overriding goal is to “develop international relations, expand the international studies program at UBLS, and to further develop the graduates of the UTLS,” according to the official statement issued by the Provincial Reconstruction Team hosting the signing.
The schools formalized the association by simultaneously signing Memorandums of Understanding during the conference. The documents state that schools will “engage in the exchange of faculty, students and academic programs for mutual benefit.”
Additionally, the document notes that the schools will “collaborate with one another to establish, support and continue … the development of the Rule of Law and Civil Society.”
The U.S. Departments of Justice and Defense will fund “six qualified individuals … who are representative of Iraqi society,” according to the MOU. These students will then return to Iraq to help in reconstruction with regards to the rule of law.
“Iraq has been exposed to continuous wars, embargo, violations to human rights and occupation, and we hope from this agreement to improve all these conditions,” said Amir Ayaash, Dean of Tikrit University School of Law. “I hope this agreement will be the first step toward building and rebuilding an inclusive and full system in order to improve rightful relationship between Iraqi and American people. Universities play (a) fundamental role in all (of) this; thanks to (the) American people and Government to take this great step.”
He added that when America built its country two centuries ago, it was based on true and sound laws, respecting human rights and that within these two centuries, “America become a super power because of its sound and rightful laws.”
I find it encouraging that some Iraqis are going to learn our juris prudence. I just hope that the school they chose to perform this international relationship is not one of those Bush-bashing schools. I would hate for them to be betrayed once more.
I chose this article to be my open trackback post for today, because it is uplifting, interesting, and it is also news that you will NOT hear from the NY Times, WaPo, CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, or any of the other slew of useful idiots. Have a wonderful day.
As I sit here watching two football games on the boob-tube and listening to one on the radio, I am also reading and posting articles that should have been posted a while back. I am so glad all this information is stored in a computer instead of my room, because oh boy! what a mess that would be!
Now if only we could get our polititians to act like Americans…
So where is the chaos? Where is the confidence? I am in chaos, and God and our military is my confidence. (Mostly God, but I wanted to include our military. These fellas are doing great deeds.)
This is my Sunday Open Trackback post. Please, no porn. I’m pretty okay with any other discussion, but I will not tolerate the degradation of women. Or men, for that matter. Have a great weekend everyone.
Story by Capt. Michael Meridith Posted on 11.30.2007 at 12:27PM 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – When Chief Master Sgt. Stanley Burrows looks up at the U.S. and Afghan flags flying side-by-side in Camp Cunningham, he feels a special sense of satisfaction. The flags, which began flying around the clock for the first time today, represent the culmination of several months of effort involving Airmen volunteers from across the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing.
“I arrived here in early August and in my first couple of weeks the command chief master sergeant said there were some concerns that we were flying a smaller Afghan flag than the U.S. flag,” said Burrows, the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron manager from Herriman, Utah. “I told him that to me it was worse that we were flying the flag from a pole that was bolted to a building.”
That conversation was the spark that put Burrows into action. Within days, he had outlined a plan that would lead to the installation of two new (and much sturdier) steel flagpoles and a refurbished lighting system to allow the flags to fly 24 hours.
The first step occurred when Air Force Staff Sgt. Kevin Hill and Senior Airman Brian Holmes, volunteers from the 1st Expeditionary Red Horse Group, built a third concrete column to join two others already under the flagpoles. One column is inscribed with a dedication to the camp’s namesake, fallen pararescueman Senior Airman Jason Cunningham, killed in 2002 while moving wounded comrades to safety. The other column is inscribed with George Orwell’s quote: “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” [My enboldening.]
By Nov. 20, the flagpoles had arrived and were proudly carried to the site by a group of security force volunteers, said Burrows. Afterward, members of the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, including Tech. Sgt. Ken Payne, Air Force Staff Sgt. David Garcia, Air Force Staff Sgt. Scott Towner, Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeff Walker and Airman Rob Brodrick, moved on to the next phase of the project.
After the base of the existing aluminum pole was jackhammered away, a new concrete foundation was laid on Nov. 23. Less than a week later the concrete hardened and the poles were carefully installed and secured into place with a refurbished lighting system to support them.
“It’s a bit different than the types of jobs we normally do,” said Garcia, a Houston native. “I haven’t done anything like this before but it feels good to be able to contribute something lasting to Bagram that people will look at every day.”
That sentiment was echoed by Red Horse’s Air Force Staff Sgt. Kevin Hill. “It’s good to know that you can walk by and say ‘I did that,’” said the New Goshen, Ind., native. “It makes you feel proud to know you were part of it.”
The final touch to the project was the addition of a full-size, all-weather Afghan flag, donated by Burrows’ wife. After months of anticipation, Burrows’ dream became a reality when both the U.S. and Afghan flags were raised on their new poles, Nov. 30[, 2007].
“I think that if we are representing the U.S. and coming here to be a partner with Afghanistan, we need to have a flag that represents them well. Like the rumble of our F-15Es (Strike Eagles), seeing both of the flags up there, flying together, reminds me of why we’re here,” concluded Burrows.
The American and Afghan flags fly side-by-side after being raised on two new flagpoles at Camp Cunningham, Nov. 30, 2007.
Date Taken: November 30th, 2007 Location: Bagram Airfield, AF Photographer: Capt. Michael Meridith 455th Air Expeditionary Wing.
30 November 2007 By Cpl. Thomas J. Griffith 2nd Marine Logistics Group.
AL ASAD, Iraq — Lance Cpl. Allen R. Rossi said the closer service members get to a possible land mine or improvised explosive device, the less worried they become. “You won’t feel a thing if it goes off that close,” explained the Camden, Ohio, native.
That’s why the members of the Obstacle Clearing Detachment walk a few meters ahead of everyone else. ‘Never step where we haven’t swept’ is their motto and they live by it, sweeping the dusty, trash-laden roads to ensure quick and safe passage for the convoys behind them.
The Marines of OCD, Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 4, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) embed with convoys to clear the roadways of debris, minefields or anything else that could impede the movement of vehicles and troops. “They’re basically putting themselves in harm’s way so that the convoy can move safely and isn’t slowed,” said Gunnery Sgt. Michael A. Leisure, the chief of Combat Engineer Platoon and a Parkersburg, W. Va., native.
The team also searches for improvised explosive devices and weapons caches, and when it finds them, calls in an explosive ordnance disposal team for disposal. “The main goal is to find anything before it goes off,” said Sgt. Levi A. Gundy, a detachment team leader and Keokuk, Iowa, native. “It’s hard to explain how to get comfortable with it.”
By trade, these Marines are combat engineers, a job that normally entails building structures, breaching entryways and providing security. Assignment to the clearing detachment is an additional duty that poses its own potential dangers, but Marines like Cpl. Jamison A. Elsmore, a detachment team member, said they prefer the unique challenge the OCD missions provide. “It’s one of the most important jobs out here,” explained the Plymouth, Minn., native. “Wherever anyone’s going, they’re going to need to arrive safely. We’re one of the few guys who can offer that to them.”
The hardest part of the job, according to Elsmore, is the difficulty of spotting many of the dangers they are looking for. Often times, trash lines the streets and the roads are covered with a fine sand the Marines refer to as moon dust. The small size of many of the objects they’re searching for also causes a problem. Improvised explosive devices vary in size and shape and littered roadways are ideal for concealment.
Leisure said the OCD Marines are “true professionals” and although many of the Marines are on their first deployment, they handle the tasks assigned to them without hesitation. “They’re very efficient and by the time they come (back to Iraq), they’ll be maturing corporals teaching their Marines the same things,” he said. “We like to have fun, but as soon as we cross that (entry control point), it’s game on.”
Photo – AL ASAD, Iraq – Lance Cpl. Allen R. Rossi sweeps a metal detector in search of wires, improvised explosive devices, ordnance or anything that would impede the movement of the Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 15. Rossi and the other members of the Obstacle Clearing Detachment are responsible for clearing anything that would slow down a convoy. Rossi is a combat engineer and OCD team member with Combat Engineer Platoon, Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 4, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward). Rossi is a Camden, Ohio, native. Photo by Cpl. Thomas J. Griffith.
28 November 2007 By Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Hanson 407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs.
ALI BASE, Iraq (AFPN) — Seven local Iraqi firefighters shared a momentous occasion as they graduated from the Ali Base basic firefighter skills course. The 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron fire and emergency services flight firefighters put on a six-day training course to train Iraqi firemen of varying experience levels, from a province in nearby An Nasiriyah.
“Our Air Force firefighters are directly supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom by helping them improve the fire services in southern Iraq,” said Staff Sgt. DeRon Branch, course leader with the 407th ECES. The regional program is run in cooperation with liaisons from the Iraqi fire service.
The 80-hour Air Force curriculum was condensed into about five, four-hour blocks covering basic firefighting skills, search and rescue, live fire training, auto extrication and medical training to include CPR. Before the start of the course, students went through a vigorous Iraqi and American selection and screening process.
The first visit to the fire house included introductions and academic classroom work. But in the weeks following, the men got to put those lessons into practice. “My most memorable experience would be the eagerness each student possessed to become firefighters,” Sergeant Branch said. “They were all very hard working.”
“The training the men have received, we are very grateful for,” said an Iraqi firefighter. “We will use our training experiences every day by training others. Now we just need the right equipment to help us, so we can better respond and save lives.” The sixth and final day of training, the Iraqi firefighters went through a confidence course allowing them to apply the techniques they learned.
“Our mission is to save lives. And after all their training, they looked like they were ready to save lives too,” said Staff Sgt. Dan Erickson Jr., a fire protection crew chief with the 407th ECES. The firemen were each given a certificate of training during a special graduation ceremony.
Photo – A local Iraqi firefighter operates a hose while Staff Sgt. Joshua Wilson gives advice to effectively knock out a fire during training. The 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters conduct a live-fire training exercise for the Iraqi firefighters teaching basic skills of advancing a hand line, procedures on approaching hazardous environments and performing search and rescue. Sergeant Wilson is deployed from Kadena Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jonathan Snyder).
27 November 2007 Spc. Micah E. Clare 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan – A young Soldier rubbed sleep from his eyes as he stumbled into the giant machinery garage at 10 p.m., his vision flooded with harsh yellow light. He’d been working on various trucks and machines since 4 a.m., but he still had to work on one more.
Late nights are nothing new to deployed mechanics like Pfc. Carson Beaver, from the Headquarters Support Company, 864th Engineer Battalion out of Fort Lewis, Wash., whose main mission is providing “last stop” maintenance support for the continuing fight against the insurgency in Paktika Province, Afghanistan.
That night, Pfc. Beaver and his team had to fix yet another damaged Humvee returning from a late night patrol. After running some tests, they determined that the vehicle’s dirt-encrusted front differential needed to be replaced. “This vehicle is a four-wheel drive, and right now, it’s not driving with all four wheels,” Pfc. Beaver explained, adding that the repair would take at least four to five hours, but the vehicle would be ready to roll the next morning.
“We find ourselves fixing everything from gators (small utility vehicles) to five-tons (heavy transport vehicles),” Pfc. Beaver said, lying on his back while unscrewing bolts, with several tons of metal inches above his head. “This is a very important job though, keeping units coming through here on their feet. When they come to us needing something fixed, they know we’re reliable and they’ll be able to continue on their mission.”
“Missions would cease without proper vehicle maintenance because everyone relies so heavily on them out here,” explained Lt. Alex Faber, an HSC motor officer. “We’re a last-stop repair shop for units traveling into southern Paktika. Whether we’re just providing them with some parts or staying up all night to repair a broken vehicle, we’ll support anyone who comes through here.”
Because of the incredibly rough terrain and lack of paved roads these vehicles drive on on a daily basis, they take an unimaginable beating. Sometimes the team faces problems they don’t have any idea how to fix at first, which requires a brainstorm for newer Soldiers, even after their extensive schooling, Lt. Faber said.
“I tell every one of my new guys, unless you’ve fixed something out here, it’s like you’re doing it for the first time,” he said. “Sometimes it comes right down to pulling out the manual and taking it step by step, by the numbers. Our worst job was restoring a vehicle that had been submerged in water for an extended period of time. It took us over 30 straight hours to completely replace the front end with one from another broken vehicle.”
When the team finally completes a repair, the only way to find out whether it works or not is to start it back up and take it for a test drive. “You spend all this time fixing something, and you hope it works,” said Pfc. Beaver as they finished replacing the Humvee’s differential around 2 a.m. “If not, you get right back to work. That’s the real job.”
“We work 12 hours days mostly,” said Sgt. Emmanuel Lamsangam. “But we’ve learned sometimes that when we’re completely exhausted and not getting anywhere, we have to pack it up and start fresh in the morning. If it’s a mission priority though, we get it done. It just takes a lot of coffee.”
During those 12 hours, bloodied knuckles, grease stains, oil spills and many other unpleasant things are commonplace, said Spc. Rodolfo Sombra, another HSC mechanic. “These coveralls don’t always help,” he said while grinning and wiping fluid spillage off his face. “It makes a shower and a good night’s sleep pretty nice after a long day like this one.”
Even though the mechanic teams spend a lot of time working, they still make sure to get some off time every once in a while, said Pfc. Beaver. “You still have to have fun sometimes to keep you going,” he explained. “We play a lot of video games, mostly racing games. It’s funny when we custom create our racing cars with ease, replacing parts in seconds that would have taken us hours in the shop to do. I wish it was always that easy.”
On the few easy days they have, without the usual five to six vehicles to fix, they really clean up their work area. The large garage can become quite a wreck in the hustle to crank vehicles back to life and send them on their way, said Pfc. Beaver.
“Clean up will be tomorrow for sure,” said Lt. Faber, looking around at the garage, strewn with tools and oil spills. His team had finally been able to get the Humvee on its way. His Soldiers were definitely going to be given a few extra hours of sleep that morning.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s rewarding to push yourself,” said Pfc. Beaver as he slipped out of his messy coveralls. “I love this job, it’s the best thing I could be doing in the Army.”
To mechanics like him, being a Soldier doesn’t always mean being out on patrols, missions or firefights. “Having the state of mind to do whatever it takes to do your job and keep the mission going, that’s what being a Soldier is all about,” said Pfc. Beaver.
Photo – Mechanics from Headquarters Support Company, 864th Engineer Battalion raise a Humvee that needs repair up on jacks while determining how to fix it at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan, Nov. 7. Photo by Spc. Micah E. Clare.
This one is dedicated to The Paratrooper of Love, so it may ease the wounds of the arse-kickin’ he suffered yesterday at the Army/Navy game.
14 November 2007 BY Third Army Public Affairs.
CAIRO, Egypt — U.S. and coalition forces conducted a “Friendship Jump” at Koum Asheem drop zone in Cairo Sunday as part of Exercise ‘Bright Star’.
The joint-combined exercise continues through Nov. 19. It includes a computer-aided command post exercise, airborne operations, naval operations, and special forces training exercises conducted by the components of U.S. Central Command. This year’s exercise demonstrates the shift in modern warfare by focusing on technology as a battlefield enabler, USCENTCOM officials said.
The airborne operation began at 6:30 a.m. Sunday with about 200 paratroopers participating from the United States, Egypt, Kuwait, Germany, and Yemen. There was an airborne wing exchange at the conclusion of the jump. Nearly 7,100 Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Sailors from Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Pakistan, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and Yemen are participating in this year’s Bright Star exercise.
About 200 members of the New York Army National Guard’s 42nd Infantry (Rainbow) Division headquarters are part of this week’s command post exercise in Egypt. The division, with supporting elements from New Hampshire, New Jersey and Minnesota, will team with members of the Egyptian Army’s 9th Armor Division command and staff to replicate a multinational senior headquarters during the battle simulation.
Bright Star is designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships for U.S. and coalition forces while increasing awareness and appreciation of each participant’s culture, customs and professional military skills, according to the U.S Central Command.
Bright Star is the oldest and largest exercise in the USCENTCOM area of operations. It is a biennial joint/coalition exercise designed to increase regional involvement in pursuit of improved security and defense capabilities.
Photo – Paratroopers from five nations descend onto Koum Asheem drop zone in Egypt as part of Exercise Bright Star. Photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Buckley.
19 November 2007 By Cpl. Billy Hall 2nd Marine Division.
AL QA’IM, Iraq — Droves of Iraqi men lined the streets of Ubaydi. The awakening call of roosters could be heard over the murmur of a crowd nearing 400. A conglomerate of Marines, soldiers, sailors, interpreters and Iraqi Police readied nearby at the local police station to kickoff a two-day Iraqi Police recruiting drive with the hopes of identifying 75 qualified recruits.
The district Police Transition Team, who advise, train and mentor local police, work hand in hand with the Betio Bastards of Task Force 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, and the Iraqi Police to quell the need for additional local forces in the region.
“We are looking at hiring more policemen to [cover] the eastern part of Al Qa’im, in order to establish a police station north of the Euphrates River,” said Capt. Gerardo D. Gaje Jr., the district Police Transition Team leader.
In addition to providing sufficient security for the event, the elements of the recruiting team conducted a thorough screening of each applicant that included literacy testing, medical evaluations, administrative processing, security questionnaires and a physical fitness test. “For a lot of the (recruiting team), it was their first experience with recruiting,” said Gaje. “If they did recruit, it wasn’t to this extent.”
The Police Transition Team separated the massive crowd into groups and began to systematically arrive at the literacy testing station. Interpreters circled the classroom-like setting to help the staff administer the test designed to gauge reading and writing abilities.
When the applicant successfully passed the test, they moved on to be processed with the Biometrics Automated Toolset system, which is the database used in Iraq that identifies individuals through personal information, fingerprints, photographs from various angles and iris scans. A security questionnaire was also required to ensure they have no ties to criminal activity.
The magnitude of the turnout and the unpredictable environment proved to be a tasking challenge for coalition forces. “A couple of times the power went out, so we had to reconnect our computers,” said Cpl. John Michael Markle, an intelligence analyst with Task Force 3rd Bn., 2nd Marines, who assisted with the BAT system. “Really, the hardest part was the language barrier. We had only one interpreter between three BAT stations.”
Applicants still eligible after the initial stations were then ushered on to a comprehensive medical evaluation. Navy corpsmen took vital signs, height and weight measurements and tested range of motion to determine if they were fit for duty.
“A majority of them that were in the best physical condition were the farmers and fishermen,” said Hospitalman Anthony Eromosece, a Navy corpsman with 3rd Bn., 2nd Marines, and Bronx, N.Y., native. “You can tell they’re hard working men with their bodies intact. I think a lot of (the applicants) should make it.”
The final stage of the screening, overseen by Marines and soldiers, included a physical fitness test that involved pushups, pull-ups, sit-ups and a 100-meter dash. Men, of ages ranging from 18 to their late 40s, took on a competitive mindset to prove their physical prowess. Failure to perform to a specific standard rendered an applicant ineligible for duty.
“There was frustration amongst some of the people that couldn’t pass a test, but that’s expected,” Gaje said. “It’s just the fact that everyone wants a job, and right now, being a policeman is one of the better paying jobs.”
At the conclusion of the recruiting drive, 75 qualified recruits were identified and will attend the Habbaniyah Police Training Center for an 8 to 9-week course before reporting for duty.
At a time when Iraqi Police face considerable challenges, the willingness of the local populace to take on the rigors of the job proves their determination to make a better tomorrow for Iraq.
Photo – AL QA’IM, Iraq – Seaman Anthony Eromosece, a Navy corpsman with Task Force 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, and Bronx, N.Y., native, checks the height of a potential recruit during an Iraqi Police recruiting drive conducted by the district Police Transition Team and.Task Force 3rd Bn., 2nd Marines. Navy corpsmen took vital signs, height and weight measurements and tested range of motion in order to determine if applicants were fit for duty in the Iraqi Police. Photo by: Cpl. Billy Hall.
19 November 2007 By Staff Sgt. Markus M. Maier U.S. Central Air Forces Combat Correspondent Team.
KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, IRAQ — When servicemembers go outside the wire here, they occasionally have an extra set of eyes watching over them. Concealed, the members of the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron’s Close Precision Engagement Team observe, provide intelligence and, if necessary, neutralize threats.
The CPET consists of Air Force security forces counter-snipers whose expert marksmanship and ability to stay invisible allows them to sneak up to an enemy undetected and neutralize them if needed.
“A large part of our job here is reconnaissance for the Army and sometimes agents with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations detachment here,” said Staff Sgt. Curtis Huffman, the CPET NCO in charge. “When they have a mission outside of the wire we’ll set up near that location about an hour or more before they get out there. Concealed and out of sight, we are able to observe the area and give them real time intel before they even arrive.”
Through direct communication with the mission commander, the sharpshooters let the team know how many people are in the area, their exact location, if there are any weapons or if the people seem to be hiding anything. That way, the team knows exactly what to expect before arriving at the location. “Close Precision Engagement provides us with the ability to see into the future,” said Special Agent Christopher Church, the OSI Det. 2410 commander. “They provide us with a situational awareness that we would not have without them. Having them watch over us during missions makes an enormous difference.”
The sharpshooters’ skills also help save lives during counter improvised explosive device and counter indirect fire operations. “We respond to routes that get hit by IEDs a lot, or an area that is known for launching IDFs,” said Sergeant Huffman, who is deployed from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. “We’ll set up somewhere concealed along that route or that area where we can watch people setting stuff up so we can get them before they can hurt our guys. We could be there from 24 to 72 hours.”
CPE team members also respond to their own comrades. If security forces members on patrol or on a post perceives suspicious activities in the area, they can call on the team to come out and, using their trained eyes, optics and night vision capability, determine if there is an actual threat.
Each sniper team consists of two people, the spotter and the shooter. The spotter’s responsibility is to determine things like the distance to the target, wind direction and then provide the shooter with corrections, which are adjustments on the rifle.
“Spotters do all the mathematical equations for range estimation, windage, everything from start to end,” said Airman 1st Class Matt Leeper, a CPET member also deployed from Eielson AFB. “The spotter definitely has the more difficult job. Your spotter has to be quick and accurate when giving the corrections. There is no time for the shooter to think twice. Your spotter is always right.”
There are approximately 350 trained sharpshooters in the Air Force. Security forces members must show exceptional marksmanship abilities and attend three weeks of training at Camp Robinson, Ark., to become a counter-sniper. “The school is physically and mentally very challenging,” Airman Leeper said. “You are learning from the first day you get there.”
There, students are introduced to the M-24 sniper rifle, the military version of a Remington 700. “The trigger squeeze on this weapon is a lot lighter than the M-4 and it also has a lot more kick,” Airman Leeper remarked. “Your shoulder gets roughed up at school where we fire more than 100 rounds a day.”
Despite being a small part of their job at Kirkuk RAB, the shooting is often the most important aspect. “Only about five percent of our job is taking that shot and the other 95 percent is intelligence gathering,” he said. “But when you are in a situation where you have to neutralize a threat, you can’t really think about anything except you have positive identification on that target, they have a weapon or you know they are placing an IED. You put that target in your cross hairs, you imagine it’s just a blank target at your school house and you pull the trigger. You don’t have time to think about anything else.”
The counter-snipers accomplish many missions, but find the most rewarding to be watching over soldiers or OSI agents, they said. “This is the reason why I joined,” Airman Leeper said. “When we are out there giving them info and providing cover I feel like I’m doing my job. I don’t feel like I deserve a medal, nothing like that. This is what my job is, and what I joined to do. I joined to come to Iraq and I went through sniper school to be an asset to the Air Force.”
Photo – Airman 1st Class Matt Leeper slowly squeezes the trigger of his M-24 sniper rifle, the military version of a Remington 700 Nov. 14 near Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq. Airman Leeper is a memeber of the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Close Precision Engagement team. The CPET train as anti-sniper teams to target terrorist and insurgent snipers attacking U.S. and coalition forces in the area. Airman Leeper is deployed from the 354th Security Forces Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt Angelique Perez).
09 November 2007 Multi-National Division – North PAO 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division PAO.
BAQOUBA, Iraq – The 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., is in the process of expanding its area of responsibility to include all of Diyala province, Iraq.
The brigade is taking over the area of operations currently held by 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, which has begun redeploying back to its home station at Fort Hood, Texas. 4-2 will continue to own much of its current battle space, which includes northern Baghdad province and western Diyala province.
“Because the security situation here (northern Baghdad province) and in Diyala province has improved, we are effectively able to expand our area of influence from Baghdad up through Diyala,” explained Col. Jon Lehr, 4-2 commander.
The Stryker brigade’s new area of operations includes the strategically important city of Baqouba. Al-Qaida in Iraq considers the city of approximately 300,000 as the capitol of the Islamic State of Iraq.
This summer, 4-2 SBCT units supported successful operations to clear AQI from Baqouba, and U.S. officials now estimate that AQI has been degraded by 80 percent in the area.
“Baqouba has so much importance to the enemy, and it is critical that we hold onto Baqouba,” said Command Sgt Maj. John Troxell, 4-2 SBCT’s top noncommissioned officer, during a recon of the city Nov. 5 and 6. “We want to continue to empower Iraqi Security Forces and Concerned Local Citizens so that the threat of AQI and other insurgent groups coming back into this area are very minimal.”
Concerned Local Citizen is the term given by Coalition Forces for local nationals who are providing security in their own areas, including guarding neighborhoods and buildings and manning checkpoints. The U.S.-supported volunteers number more than 67,000 nationwide, according to military officials, and they play a crucial role in providing peace and security throughout 4-2’s expanded area of operations.
“You can’t over stress the importance of CLCs,” Lehr said. The intent is to find groups of people willing to prevent insurgent extremists from attacking local citizens, with the aim of eventually transitioning these men to legitimate institutions within the Iraqi government, turning them into Iraqi Security Forces, both police and Iraqi army. There may be certain individuals that go beyond being able to do that because there is just too much blood on their hands, but I am willing to work with any group that comes forward with true reconciliation on their mind – someone that says I am not resisting the efforts of coalition forces and the government of Iraq to make Iraq a stable, sovereign nation.”
Lehr outlined some of the new challenges that come with expanding into a new area, including increased geographic responsibility, working with Iraqi Security Forces and additional infrastructure rebuilding needs.
“When you think of operating on a piece of ground the size of Maryland, that really paints a good word picture of just the physical difficulties of expanding,” Lehr said.
“Unlike our current AO where we have very little influence over Iraqi Security Forces … we will have an entire Iraqi Army Division that we will have the ability to shape and influence, and that’s a good challenge,” Lehr continued, adding, “The third challenge is the condition of the infrastructure, meaning essential services throughout Diyala province.”
Before Baqouba and the surrounding area was cleared of insurgents this past summer, essential services were relatively austere compared to the neighboring Baghdad province in which 4-2 currently operates.
The brigade is gaining several new enablers to help with those challenges, including the State Department’s Diyala Provincial Reconstruction Team, the 4-2’s Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team and essential services teams.
The brigade is also in the process of fielding new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to replace its up-armored HMMWVs. The MRAP has a V-shaped hull designed to better protect passengers against improvised explosive devices and ballistic threats.
Lehr stressed that the overall strategy of conducting successful counter-insurgency operations will not change with the expanded battle space.
“Being a counterinsurgent is akin to being a police officer and how a police officer conducts community policing,” Lehr said. “This type of fight requires different skills sets beyond tactical and technical. It requires interpersonal and conceptual skill sets, to understand that along with the lethal operations, diplomacy is what we do down to the lowest level. I think our units across the board have done exceptionally well at this.”
The expanded area of operations marks the first time that 4-2 SBCT will be together as a whole unit since before its deployment in April. Two of the brigade’s battalions, 1-38th Infantry Regiment and 2-23rd Infantry Regiment, have been attached to other units, first in Baghdad and now in Diyala.
“When you organize, equip and train as a brigade combat team and then get in combat and get pulled apart, it hurts,” Troxell said, “but when you get it back together, it feels great. I know our Soldiers are great fighters, and as a team we will be successful.”
Photo – Command Sgt. Maj. John Troxell, the top noncommissioned officer of the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., speaks to Soldiers of Company C, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment Nov. 5 in Baqouba, Iraq . The brigade is in the process of expanding into Diyala province. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett.
There are some articles which seem to miss the newspapers and dead news for which I deem important, therefore I will be sharing them with you. Our Military is doing one heck of a job, and they deserve any and all recognition we can offer them. Please write some at your own site. You don’t have to be in the Military to write about it. Just ask the NY Times! /sarcasm
In a 30,000 square mile patch of desert, roughly the size of South Carolina, it isn’t easy to have eyes and ears everywhere. Regimental Combat Team 2, the unit in control of the northwestern piece of Iraq’s Al Anbar Province, has taken an elevated approach to the problem, and regularly fields an Aero Scout group to the far corners, cliffs and caves of the western Euphrates River valley. [Continue reading.]
This next article from CentCom is pretty riveting. Four men against over thirty trucks with heavy weapons, they are successful. It is an amazing story. I can only imagine it is one of many just like his.
Unfortunately, I’m afraid I am falling asleep. Therefore I shall add some news articles when I wake up. The link to this previous article is Pilots’ valor honored for thwarting ambush. It is fascinating, and I wish there were more like these out there.
Update: The Army/Navy game is on, so the other news will posted on my next article. Now it’s back to the Army-3; Navy-38 game. GO NAVY!
Update 2: The final score is in, 3-38, but it is not reflective of the great game the Army played. They had some very unfortunate things happen. Two fumbles, one at the ten yard line which we scored a touchdown, and the other was on the one yard line. You held our defense pretty well and our offense. I think you just gave up in the fourth quarter when the score was 3-24. (This was also the score at halftime.) It was a great game, and everyone should be proud the teams. Godspeed.
07 November 2007 By Sgt. 1st Class Rick Emert 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs.
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Set up in five trucks with heavy machine guns, enemy forces sat in wait for a helicopter to fly over their location west of Baghdad on the last day of May. It appeared their plan was to strike a blow to Multi-National Division-Baghdad by taking down a U.S. Army helicopter.
The enemy forces were trained and prepared with personnel to drive the trucks, man the guns and keep a lookout for any of the U.S. helicopters that patrol the skies of Baghdad in search of roadside bomb emplacers or insurgent mortar teams.
The 1st Air Cavalry Brigade’s Apache crews had become a thorn in the insurgency’s side by regularly disrupting terrorist attacks on Coalition Forces and Iraqi civilians.
As they waited, four Apache pilots from 1st “Attack” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st ACB, 1st Cavalry Division, were getting an intelligence briefing before heading out on their mission. The intelligence indicated that there were up to 30 gun trucks in a specific area, and the pilots’ mission was to check it out.
With both determination and caution, 1st Lt. Brian Haas, chief warrant officers 4 Steven Kilgore and Elliott Ham and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Cole Moughon took to the skies to check the validity of the report. All four said they thought from the onset that some sort of engagement was imminent. They expected to find at least several trucks with gun mounts that could easily be modified to attack air and ground assets.
The two Apache crews, each with a pilot in command and a copilot-gunner, came up on a truck and sedan that stopped suddenly; the occupants quickly exited the vehicles and low crawled toward a ditch. The crews didn’t know if this meant the people were being cautious, preparing for a possible engagement by taking cover, or if they knew that an engagement was imminent.
“That instantly heightened our awareness; something is going on out here,” said Kilgore, a Portage, Ind., native. “These people aren’t just scared of us. They may be a little bit, to an extent, but there’s something going on out here. We started keeping an eye open.” It didn’t take long for their suspicions to be confirmed.
“I remember … thinking this is weird; something’s up,” said Moughon, from Gray, Ga. “We (in the lead aircraft) heard (Kilgore) make the call over the radio: “Hey, I’m taking fire at my rear.” We heard (Haas) say there was a big gun. I looked over to my right, and I was about to say: “Oh, I got it.” I just got out “oh.” I could see the flash from the muzzle. I saw a stitch of dirt in the road coming up towards us.” It was even worse than the intelligence report had predicted; the trucks had more than just weapon mounts.
“We were looking for trucks with mounts – not trucks with heavy machine guns looking to kill us,” Moughon said. “At that point, it was pretty scary, because I knew – back in February, we lost an aircraft to heavy machine gun fire – we knew what the deal was right away. We knew that we were in something pretty dangerous.”
Kilgore spotted a gun truck about one-and-a-half kilometers away shooting at the helicopters, but there was a much more ominous threat. “We started taking fire from my right side about 1,500 meters away,” Kilgore said. “What I didn’t know is there was another gun about 300 meters away in the same line that started shooting at the same time. That rattled the aircraft. It didn’t hit … but rattled the aircraft.”
A seasoned Apache pilot with multiple deployments under his belt, Kilgore initially thought his aircraft had been hit. “We were so close to the gun that when the aircraft started to rattle, I thought I was taking hits,” Kilgore said. “I actually saw muzzle flashes from it. It was about 250 to 300 meters out my right door.” Within a couple of minutes, the Apache crews had gone from searching for the gun trucks to becoming the targets of a planned ambush by the enemy forces. “I was definitely at a position of a disadvantage, and I needed to gain an advantage,” Kilgore said. “That meant … moving out away from that (gun truck) to get out of his ability to track me. I was able to put a salvo of (rockets) on that gun truck and clear that gun truck. We came back later and destroyed the gun truck.”
Both aircrews broke contact safely, and then came back in to engage the trucks and insurgents. The trail aircraft had disabled one of the trucks, and Moughon and Ham in the lead aircraft took out another one on the second pass. “They broke off that truck, and we followed them out and then came back in. (Ham) called and said he had trucks fleeing to the north,” said Haas, from Ashley, N.D. “They came around and engaged there. We came in behind them and just kind of suppressed again as they were breaking. They shot another missile. I think we made two more passes.”
With nearly half of the gun trucks already disabled, the aircrews were not about to let some of them get away to launch an ambush on another aircraft. “I saw three trucks with machine guns in the back in kind of like a straight trail formation hauling … down the road,” Moughon said. “As soon as I got the sight on them, I launched the missile. I saw the guy swing his gun around and just a bright flash of the gun firing. The (driver) braked. The missile hit right in front of the truck and didn’t do anything. We broke, I think (the trail aircraft) suppressed, then we came back around and fired another missile.
“(It was) the same thing; the guy knew what he was doing. He slammed on the brakes, but this time it killed the driver. That caused him to careen into his buddy and pushed him off the road. We further engaged with the (30mm) gun and got several guys that were running away. We just started (destroying the weapon systems) from there.” The seemingly determined enemy forces had blinked and tried, without success, to flee.
“Once they knew that we weren’t going to run away from them, that’s when we got the advantage and just got real aggressive,” Haas said. “I think that helped us, because we got noise and rockets flying off the helicopter, and they saw that and they knew they were in for it.”
A couple of days later, with plenty of time to reflect on the engagement, the pilots realized there were some things they could have done differently. “In this situation, you’re going to make mistakes,” Moughon said. “It’s not like (training) back at Fort Hood where we’ve got time. Everything was heat of the moment. You had to get rounds out. It was all a matter of who made fewer mistakes – whether or not you were going to be going home. Obviously, we made fewer mistakes than the enemy.”
While that may have been true about their actions during the 15 intense minutes that the engagement lasted, the Apache crews were simply more prepared, thanks to a whole team of Soldiers from the 1st ACB who provided support back at home base, Kilgore said. He explained that the information on the gun trucks from the brigade’s intelligence report, the operational briefing from the brigade operations staff and the aircraft maintenance and armament personnel all contributed to the mission’s success.
“All of that led to us being successful in this engagement,” Kilgore said. “Yes, we were the executors – the four of us – but, there is a big picture here that goes into everything we do. It’s really the Army aviation team that led to this win, this success. I think we can all take pride in that. We, 1ACB Army aviation, defeated the enemy. We did it pretty much by ourselves as aviation. We didn’t have ground forces with us. We didn’t use artillery. “We can see th[e] teamwork that went into it – across the board teamwork – we can see that tenacity that is being exhibited every day by these guys. I think it’s something we can all take pride in. This was a big win for the whole team.”
For their quick and heroic actions in the chaotic scene on May 31, the pilots were awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses – the top aviation-specific military award. The awards were presented Oct. 28 by Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, Multi-National Corps-Iraq commanding general.
“I’ve been an aviator my whole career, and I’ve always wanted to be an aviator, since I was a little kid,” Kilgore said. “The Distinguished Flying Cross … is a special award. For me to be included in that group that has received the Distinguished Flying Cross – it feels a little humbling. There have been a lot of great aviators who have received the Distinguished Flying Cross and great aviators who haven’t received the Distinguished Flying Cross. How do I match up to that? I don’t know; maybe it’s a one fight thing, and it was something special enough that someone took notice and thought that we deserved the Distinguished Flying Cross for it.”
For Moughon, it still hasn’t sunk in that he earned the prestigious medal. “When I got to the unit, my commander (for Company B, 1-227th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion) had gotten a DFC for acts in OIF II. I got to looking at it, because I wanted to know what it was,” Moughon said. “Then, I realized who all had got it before him. When somebody mentioned that we might get it, I thought: ‘I am not in their company.’ I’m just two years out of flight school. I was just trying to stay alive. Receiving the award was a very humbling experience and almost embarrassing. There are guys out here that do just as much every day – sacrifice every day to go out there and find the enemy and kill them. They don’t get recognized for it.”
While the pilots couldn’t pin down what made their actions heroic, perhaps how they approached the engagement itself is telling as to why they received Distinguished Flying Crosses. In the initial moments of the engagement, with bullets and tracers flying past their aircraft like something out of “Star Wars” – as Moughon said – and with the Apaches outnumbered nearly three to one by gun trucks on the ground, the pilots never even considered high-tailing it to safety.
“I can’t say that I thought: ‘We should get out of here.’” Haas said. “I don’t know why, but it never crossed my mind. Maybe that’s just the way we are. I didn’t come here to say: ‘Yep, there’s bad guys out there. I’m not going out there.’ I came over here to – I’m not going to be naïve and say to make a difference – but I came over here to do my job and do it to the best of my ability. There’s a lot of the guys that I’ve flown with before, and they’re the same way. The hard part is finding (the enemy). We fly around Baghdad where there are millions of people and they all look the same; unless somebody is shooting at you, you don’t know. When they shoot at you first, that makes it easy.”
“The initial contact was scary, and you thought about – yeah, this was a big deal,” Moughon added. “At that point, it was like they say in the westerns: ‘If you’re in for a penny, you’re in for a pound.’ We were in it, so we had no choice. If we had just flown away, they probably would have been there to take somebody else down. We’re a gunship; that’s what we do. We don’t get low and suppress and run. We stay and fight. Our job is to go out, find the enemy and kill them. That’s what we do.”
Photo – Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, commanding general of Multi-National Corps-Iraq, (left) presents the Distinguished Flying Cross to Onawa, Iowa, native Chief Warrant Officer Elliott Ham, (second from right), as Portage, Ind., native Chief Warrant Officer 4 Steven Kilgore, (right), waits in a ceremony Oct. 28 at Camp Taji, Iraq. Four Apache pilots from 1st “Attack” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, earned Distinguished Flying Crosses for their actions against five gun trucks with heavy machine guns on May 31. The Distinguished Flying Cross is the U.S. military’s highest aviation-specific award. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Rick Emert, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs.
11 November 2007
By Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser
2nd Marine Division
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq — In a 30,000 square mile patch of desert, roughly the size of South Carolina, it isn’t easy to have eyes and ears everywhere. Regimental Combat Team 2, the unit in control of the northwestern piece of Iraq’s Al Anbar Province, has taken an elevated approach to the problem, and regularly fields an Aero Scout group to the far corners, cliffs and caves of the western Euphrates River valley.
Aero Scout is made up of Marines from different military occupational specialties ranging from infantry to administration. The team uses helicopters to quickly search areas of interest and scout out possible targets. “We fly around to areas that may be difficult for ground units to get to, and scout out any nefarious activity,” explained Cpl. Kyle D. Christian, the team’s radio operator. “We make the enemy feel like there is nowhere to hide, and we play a large role in reconnaissance also.” The group flies to large areas of open desert where they suspect illegal activity may be taking place, and take a closer look.
“We are a reconnaissance asset,” said Maj. Robert B. Brodie, the Aero Scout mission commander. “Recon slash interdiction and disruption, that’s what we do. It comes down to economy of force. We enable the regimental commander to have a force that can do recon and show a presence across his entire area of operation.”
According to the aeroscouts, in addition to their scouting mission, they also help out nomadic civilians on their frequent aerial exploits. “We do cache searches, vehicle searches and sweeps, but we also provide a humanitarian aspect to our mission,” said Sgt. Jason R. Carmody, the team’s platoon sergeant. “We hand out speedballs, backpacks filled with water, chow, toothpaste and other hygiene gear, and handbills with phone numbers they can call and photos of the most dangerous insurgents in their area.”
Brodie, a Beaufort, S.C., native, explained the nomadic Bedouins the aeroscouts frequently come into contact with do not have the luxuries or communication assets local villagers may have access to. “They don’t get television or radio, so we help them out by providing them with information about what is going on in their country and who the bad guys are. We better enable the overall mission by opening more lines of communication and information sharing,” Brodie said.
The Marines on the Aero Scout team said they enjoy what they do, and love the chance to get out and make a difference. “I get to go out and at the end of the day feel like I did something that mattered. It doesn’t make a difference if we rolled up a bad guy, found any weapons, or just collected some good intel, in the end it all fits together to help eliminate the threat to the Iraqi people,” said Christian, a Hallettsville, Texas, native. “There are no more stupid insurgents, they died a long time ago, so we are trying to fight very smart individuals who know what they are doing, and every piece helps fit the puzzle together so we can catch him.”
The group usually takes a fire team of Iraqi soldiers with them on the helicopters to not only help with communication, but also show the civilians how far the Iraqi Security Forces have come in their training and dedication. “This lets the civilians know we are working together to take the weight of safety and security off their shoulders, so they don’t have to worry about getting attacked, the good guys are watching,” Christian said.
“Simply put,” explained Brodie, “We are positively affecting the people of our AO by providing a secure environment in which we can cultivate nationalism.”
The Aero Scout team has been working together for about four months, and has completed nearly 20 successful missions in support of RCT-2. “This is a regular group of guys, not specially trained, but because of their eagerness and will to make a difference, they were able to come together and make a successful unit and successful missions,” Brodie said.
Photo – Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason S. Gamble, a corpsman with Regimental Combat Team 2’s Aero Scout team, provides security while the rest of the team searches a group of Bedouin tents. Aero Scout, technically a large squad of the provisional rifle platoon, is a mix of military occupational specialties ranging from infantry to administration. The team uses helicopters to quickly search areas of interest, and scout out possible targets. Photo by Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser. Digg!
I managed to get my emails down to one page, and it’s just about 6:30 pm. I cannot believe this, but it looks like I’ve just about turned my hours around. I have to go to sleep pretty soon, because my body says so, but I will be back to finish with the news.
I would, however, like to share my condolences with the Hyde family and say good-bye to Congressman Henry Hyde. He was a good man. May he rest in peace.
(He was 83 years old, and he died a day or two ago. There are many articles out there, but my bed is calling. Actually, I’m afraid to fall asleep in my chair again. Good night.)
It isn’t bad enough that the dead news stations know we don’t trust them, but then they have to go out of their way to prove why. Tonight was the GOP Debate held by C(linton) N(ews) N(etwork) and YouTube. I am not saying that anyone shined, because I don’t think anyone did. Is Hillary so afraid of us that she had to plant a video and have the homosexual ex-general actually come to the debate to argue with the candidates? Hmm.
If you would like the real scoop on this, please go to Stop the ACLU and Webloggin. They both have documents and proof of the fact that this homo is on one of Hillary’s steering committees.
Funny thing happened to us on the way to the debate tonight dear…
I received some disturbing news this evening. Have you heard anything about this? Apparently this Somalian refugee was plotting to blow up a mall in Ohio in the year 2002 because he didn’t like the way the war was being fought in AFGHANISTAN. Ya see, the reporting about USA Soldiers killing innocent Afghanistanis bothered him. Hmm. I wonder who was reporting that? The New York Times? The Washington Post)?
So you see, words DO mean something. So when you open your mouth, write an article, or communicate in any form, make sure it is accurate and stand by it. Say what you mean and mean what you say. That is why your poll numbers are so low, George.
Now that that’s off my chest, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Back in the day when you stole a man’s horse, they hanged you. Today? You can give material aid to our enemies and what happens? Nuradin Abdi only has to wait 10 years before he can carry out his plan! What the hell? I am living in the Twillight Zone. Scottie, beam me up…
This is my Thursday’s Open Trackback, even though I wrote it yesterday. I need some time to clean out my emails. lol. Please go to Linkfest to find other posts or join the Linkfest yourself. If you run into something you don’t quite understand, just email me. I will help you join. Thank you.
Today I have reached 5001 hits! (I know it’s odd, but I missed the 5000th.) I am very grateful for this seeing as I’ve only opened this site on June 12, 2007, and I’ve been back and forth to a paid site and this one. I’ve decided to stay right here.
Today is Wednesday’s Open Trackback Day. If you would like to share your post, please feel free to do so. The only request I have is that is not porn. I would also like you to join Linkfest, a Conservative Open Trackback community. If you do not belong to this group yet, you may still add your trackback. I’m not a creep. lol. Just please, check it out.
No excuses. I did some reading, answered some emails, made some comments, added the links to the front of my site, played some games, and I’m tired so I’m going to sleep and you can’t stop me! LOL. Have a good night, all.
Gregg Jackson has written another wonderful article about some of the facts about Mitt Romney, candidate for president of the United States, in a very thoughtful and well researched manner. I shall attempt to simplify each of the 8 points into a single sentence. It is still better if you would go read the article in whole, since he lived in Taxachusetts and I did not.
Romney: Secrets The Media Are Hiding From You.
1. Mitt Romney was elected governor of Massachusetts on a pro-homosexual, pro-gun control and a pro-abortion agenda.
2. Is he that liberal? He resided over the Big Dig which killed several people, yet he left it under democrat control, and he imposed a mandatory health care disaster only Hillary could love.
3. What about pro-life? His health care plan covers abortions, and his record strongly supports his political leanings to pro-abortionists.
*4. Well, family values are better? He not only signed into law the homosexual marriage law, but he went as far as to fire anyone whose religious beliefs contradicted with his ‘family values’ in the clerks office.
**5. Okay. Maybe he’s a fiscal conservative? Health care premiums have doubled, and Taxachusetts now pays 75% of their income in taxes.
6. What about judges? He passed over 27 of 36 conservative and/or GOP judges to place Democrats, independents and two homosexuals on the bench.
7. But can we trust him? In a Pew Center Poll, only 12% of the people thought of Mitt Romney as being honest. Just ask Teddy Kennedy why…
8. I will allow myself one quote from the article: ‘If pragmatic means “what works,” then what is it about Mitt that works? When most Americans wouldn’t vote for Mitt in spite of all the money he’s thrown out and all the media glorification, doesn’t that seem to be the opposite of pragmatism? Contrary to conservative talk radio common wisdom, Mitt is the un-pragmatic choice. If Mitt does to America what he did to the “Birthplace of American Democracy,” America will be in a nose-dive by 2012.’
And we have run the gammit. Do you want to take a chance with someone who reminds me so much of Bill Clinton that it’s eerie? If not, you can help Duncan Hunter to rise to the top. It isn’t too late. All he needs is enough face time as they gave this loser.
I’ll be honest with you. I do not like him. NO. It is not because of his religion, so shut up about that. He cannot use that to hide behind every time someone tries to show you the facts about his record. My God. We USE TO debate about issues. Do we need to walk on eggshells now because he chose to be a Mormon? I think not! What does everyone expect? Is it now just a beauty contest in these dangerous times we live?
UPDATE: See what happens when you try to trim important news articles? I got it wrong.
*”4. Romney never “signed” any same sex marriage bill. There is no law. That is the point. He ordered justices of the peace and town clerks to perform same sex marriage ceremonies or be fired, and also authorized changing the certificates from husband and wife to “partner A” and ‘partner B.” He actually broke the law by doing this since the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling in Goodridge was only an opinion that it was “unconstitutional to ban same sex marriage.” But since court decisions are just opinions and not LAW, Romney illegally ordered that same sex marriage ceremonies be performed.”
**”5. I never said in my article that Mass. citizens pay 75% taxes. I only wrote that they will – in the future – as his socialist Health Care plan raises costs.”
It’s good to have him help me when I make a mistake or a misquote. I do not want anyone to think I never make mistakes. I do. I rely on all of you to help me to correct them as soon as possible! That is why I have always suggested you go directly to the source.
Gregg has also offered a very good site of someone who has covered this in depth. His site is BizzyBlog, and he is our (well, mine anyway!) economic advisor. (By reading his blog. lol)
You can make your voice heard by joining Linkfest and sharing your posts with others. Check it out.
This is the day, Nov. 25, six years ago that CIA Special Operations Mike Spann was ambushed and murdered in Kala-Jangi (Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan) during the beginning of the war. He was interrogating Jihad Johnny at the time. We know of this jihadist because he was brought home to the states, given a trial, given a chance to live, and given another opportunity to live which he denied for Mike Spann. Am I bitter? What do you think?! (I think the little punk deserves the death penalty by a firing squad.)
I wish I could separate the two from my mind, because Mike is so much different than that traitor. Be it as it is. That is all I will say about it.
Mike was a very good man. He was a wonderful husband and son, His Mother and Father have a site in his honor named Honor Mike Spann. Please visit it. There is a place for you to comment. I would suggest words of encouragement. If not, do not bother. They have suffered enough. They don’t need to suffer creeps who have an axe to grind with George W. Bush. So please be respectful.
Blackfive has written an article about Mike Spann as well, so it would be a good idea if you went over to read that one. I shall end with the words I borrowed from him that are from Mike’s wife:
Mike’s wife, Shannon, gets the last word, “Mike is a hero not because of the way he died, but because of the way he lived.”
I am opening this post for open trackbacks at Linkfest. Please remember to add my link in your post, and please, for Heaven’s sake, no porn! Yes, you have all been very good at this. This is for those who are new.
I’ll tell ya, I forgot about my hand being out of use, and I baked some chicken. Don’t forget, my brother was also sick, so he couldn’t go to the store. Besides, I cannot for the life of me get him to celebrate anything. He is not a bad person, he just believes that people should do the kind of things we do on HolyDays all year long. I couldn’t agree more, although traditions are a favorite for this gal. lol.
Well, I forgot I only had the use of one hand, and it was something else. You should have seen me going at it. It sure was a sight for sore eyes. Good thing I had a stroke before, because I learned how to do things with only one hand. The only problem I had was the hand that I couldn’t use is the hand that learned how to do everything. Oh well.
I’ve been pretty sleepy a lot, so this will be short. Many of the times I feel obliged to put some of the e-mailed news here, and it doesn’t feel right. Not that it isn’t important, it is. It’s just that I did not write it. On Thursday, that was my writing. It felt good to finally be free to write something of my own. Sometimes I ramble, but who cares, right? LOL.
Well, that’s all for now. Thank you for stopping by, and may God bless your families, other loved ones, and you.
The Florida Masochist has fallen off the face of the blogosphere, and I am worried about him. He is a good friend and a great writer. I know he wasn’t feeling well, so I am asking you to pray for his health and healing. I want him back here. Thank you.
I cannot write too much when I am worried, so I will just allow others to speak for me in this open trackback alliance and Linkfest. Thank you.
Update: HE’S BACK! Thank you for all of your prayers. Have a wonderful day.
In the year 1620, the Pilgrims came to America by ship only to find a very harsh and unwelcoming country. The weather was colder than they had ever been exposed to before, and the food was scarce. They almost decided to go back where they came from, but there was ‘a thing’ that stopped them. That ‘thing’ was the Mayflower Compact.
This set forth a government based on the faith and belief in Jesus Christ, our LORD and Saviour. As irony would have it, a communal (communist, anyone?) system was created. No one owned land. No one was to keep whatever they created or harvested. Everything belonged to the government.
During that first winter, only 50 of the 110 people who had set forth had survived the winter. It was a horrible time. There was an Indian man, Squanto, who had been taken to Spain only to be sold to someone in England (where he learned English) who allowed him his freedom to return to his home which by this time had no longer in existence. Imagine. Squanto was enslaved during the time his whole tribe had starved to death, then he returned home at a time when there are people in need of him. You cannot tell me that God’s hand was not upon him and upon the Pilgrims.
When the harvest came at the end of the year, they gave thanks to our LORD. The lie you have been told is that there was plenty of food. There was not. Remember, they were living in a commune. To each according to his need, from each according to their ability. Because of this creed, some people did not work. What they ate that first Thanksgiving was 5 kernels of hard corn. The corn they ate is not like the corn is today.
When the Governor saw this, he decided that this was not the right way to promote God’s will. So he made up his mind to allow the people to own their property and be responsible for it. There was no longer to be the idea of everyone putting everything they made into the same bin as everyone else. The next year’s Thanksgiving, in the year of our LORD 1622, there was an abundance of food! Capitalism had come to America! (And it worked!)
This practice of giving thanks to our LORD, if you will take note, took place in good times and in bad times. The eating together was for the fellowship, but the true meaning of Thanksgiving was to have a public honor and remembrance of God. It was to thank Him for His protection, His Mercy, His Love, His Grace, His Mysteries, His Son Jesus Christ, and so much more.
Do not allow the athiests or anyone else deprive you from this Holy Day. It is, after all, up to your attitude as to whether or not you will enjoy today or not. Just remember, it is a day to honor God, the Giver and Taker of life. The Almighty King, Comforter, Holy Father.
If you happen to feel sad today, I pray for you to receive the Joy that this world does not understand (PHIL 4:2-6). If you feel weak on this day, I pray for you to cry out to the Father, for He will Comfort you (PSALMS 72:12-14). For those of you who feel you have sinned too much to ever be forgiven, I know how you feel. I was there, and it is a LIE! A lie from satan. (ROMANS 6:15-23). I must confess, I have not been reading my Bible. No, I am not going to say, ‘Not like I should have been’, because I know I should have been. I just put it to my side to use passages when I want to do so. Please pray for me to find the courage and strength to do as I want to do, which is to read the Bible, rather than to do as my flesh wants to do. Thank you, and have a very Happy Thanksgiving.
I would sometimes cut/paste posts back and forth. Knicerbocker News is the more professional sites I had. I did allow others to write there, but it got too hard to do my posting and editing theirs. It wore me out. I wanted to get the fun back. I’m afraid I won’t be able to do this until I get all of my posts over here. Arghh.
I pray for everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. I will be writing a post about the truth of the first Thanksgiving and how we became a capitalist society. Coming attraction!
God bless our troops, our country, our families, and the new media! And God bless you.
These are two stories entwined into one that we should wake up to reality of how close this is becoming to America. What is ‘it’? ‘It’ is the reach of the Saudi Arabian government’s ability to silence those who do not agree with Wahhabism.
Update: Please forgive me. I just noticed that this was in draft instead of published, and I can tell why by looking at it. I wanted to get it to your attention, but I just didn’t. No excuses. You can catch it on their site, though. I hear it is very good. Again, I am sorry I didn’t get it to you in time.
As some of you may have noticed, I have been posting close to midnight. I really don’t like doing that, because I have promised myself I would write at least once a day. When I write so close to the deadline, I end up taking all of the morning and into the afternoon to finish whatever dribble or masterpiece come out of my heart. lol.
That is why I am writing this now. I am so sleepy that my body may take me to that wondrous place where the cherebim dance and the children play. Yes, I am talking about sleep, but I drifted off there for a minute and started remembering some of my childhood dreams. Boy, were they far out or what?! I could fly, how about you?
There’s quite a bit about myself I’m not going to tell you, now or ever. I will tell you some things you haven’t heard before, to be sure, but I won’t tell you why I know what I know. Just see if it seems right to you. [Continue reading.]
They became sheepdogs. Once you march to the sound of gunfire you are a different person and that matters. When you get back most people will have absolutely no idea what you feel like, where you have been, or what you have done. That is not a lick on you, if anything that is a flaw in their life experience. Is there a greater honor than to have served your country in wartime? [Continue reading "Sheepdogs in civilian society(more coming home)"]
As a result, he (Secretary Gates) said he is faced with the undesirable task of preparing to cease operations at Army bases by mid-February, and lay off about 100,000 defense department employees and an equal number of civilian contractors. A month later, he said, similar moves would have to be made by the Marines.
[Among other things...] Troops will not get paid. [Continue reading]
I called the Dallas Mavericks front office today to express my displeasure at Mark Cuban’s funding of Redacted. I started the conversation by saying, “I hope this isn’t the only phone call you’re going to receive like this, but I am a soldier and I never raped nor murdered anyone.” The woman on the other end of the line said, “Why would you blame Mark?” When I responded, “Because he funded the project,” I found myself talking to dead air. [Continue reading.]
Now for some politics. Gregg Jackson is both a Christian and an active participant in today’s political scene. He also shares a radio program with Kevin on Sunday nights from 7-10 pm EST (there’s also a streamline) and is a friend of mine. He brings us Romniacs ignore evidence against their messiah. This is a very good article which voters should read. Just so that you are armed with the Truth, not so that you will hate anyone. You know me, and I do not promote hate. However, I do promote truth, whether or not it hurts. After all, which do you value more? Truth? Politics? With Romney, you have to wonder about both, IMHO, and if you truly do stand with him. Read Gregg’s article. He used to be a citizen of Taxachusetts.
Reading the usual newspapers and wire services this morning, I was surprised to find that there’s no mention of the war in either Iraq or Afghanistan. D’ya think we’re weary of the war and that’s why the Washington Post doesn’t even have it’s usual link to the US casualties on the front webpage? Nope, I don’t think that’s the reason at all. The war is beginning to go the way it should have gone four years ago. [Continue reading.]
This is a very good and easy read. He talks about politics, because politics is affecting his life, he also talks about several articles he has read. Please go give him a visit. He is fighting for your right to be free. It’s the least you can do. Oh, and leave a comment of encouragement, but only if you are sincere. There’s enough bullcrap going around. I’m quite sure he doesn’t need anymore. Thank you.
For those of you who are first time visitors to this site or others who simply just don’t know, I do get much of my information from Milbloggers, Iraqis, Afghanistanis, Persians, Venezuelans, etc. If I relied on the news that is put out these days, I’d be writing about the demonrats talking points. No thank you!
I see that it is 11:30 pm, and I haven’t written a post yet. Oops. I guess the easiest thing to do is to have an open trackback. I was planning on writing, don’t get me wrong, but I kept falling asleep while I was doing the research for another post. Oh well. The world isn’t going to stop turning on its axis, the rain won’t stop watering our beautiful countrysides, the air won’t stop exiting, so I am okay with this. I hope you are, too. lol. Have a nice day. Oh yes, and get your buns into Church! Make that Pastor talk about how the Bible DOES relate to today’s current events. Stop boring us to tears! Whoa. Where did that come from? Well, do it anyway! Just be nicer about it…why? Hmm…maybe not. Our Churches need to wake up and get back to basics if they expect us to continue attending. There is evil out there, and if they will not address it? Then they would be better off tying a mulberry bush around their necks and jumping into the sea!
[Possible slow showing of trackbacks on this page, but they are showing on the 'trackback' button if you choose to hit it [due to football games, lol)]
Blackfive has a great link to Greyhawk who hits the nail on its head about Iraq. He sets the record straight between the reality of on-the-ground circumstances in Iraq vs. dinosaur media defeatism. Hey, he’s been there and done that, have you? An absolutely must read.
I just have to add this article that I just read to this post. For those of you who actually read what I write, lol, this has the potential to be outstanding:
Colorado Supreme Court Approves Ballot Language for Abortion Amendment.
by Steven Ertelt LifeNews.com Editor November 14, 2007.
Denver, CO (LifeNews.com) — The Colorado Supreme Court has affirmed the ballot language a group wants to place on the 2008 ballot that would restore personhood to human beings from the moment of conception. The measure has already sparked a heated debate over abortion as abortion advocacy groups have filed suit to prevent a vote. [Continue reading.]
Everyone should at least admit that the discussion should move forward. Why are people in groups like NARAL so afraid? All you have to do is understand that they came into existence to get rid of our black brothers and sisters. Yup.
Here is an article to prove to you that the first article, written by Greyhawk, is true. This verifies what we’ve all known about those who begin a sentence with, “We support the troops, but…”
Boy Scouts Accused of Being Too Pro-War.
In a nutshell, a troop of Boy Scouts tried to raise money for the the U.S. troops. Some moonbat cried that the message was too pro-war and so the city removed the donation boxes. Talk about appeasing the appeasers. Outrageous! [Continue reading.]
If you read this, you will understand why I have not a word to add. At least not one that would make it more clear as to my anger at these beaurocrats…
Most Reverend Shlemon Warduni, Auxiliary Bishop of the St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Diocese for Chaldeans and Assyrians in Iraq officiated standing directly beneath the dome under the Chaldean cross. Speaking in both Arabic and English, Bishop Warduni thanked those American soldiers sitting in the pews for their sacrifices. Again and again, throughout the service, he thanked the Americans.
Update: I just have to share this with you. Michael Yon is a citizen journalist in Iraq, and he recently wrote an article about Christians and Muslims placing the Cross on top of St. John’s Church. Today he writes about the phenominon of Muslims and Christians worshipping together so that these Muslims may make a plea to their Christians neighbors and friends: Please come home. This caption belongs with this picture.
Today, Muslims mostly filled the front pews of St John’s. Muslims who want their Christian friends and neighbors to come home. The Christians who might see these photos likely will recognize their friends here. The Muslims in this neighborhood worry that other people will take the homes of their Christian neighbors, and that the Christians will never come back. And so they came to St John’s today in force, and they showed their faces, and they said, “Come back to Iraq. Come home.” They wanted the cameras to catch it. They wanted to spread the word: Come home. Muslims keep telling me to get it on the news. “Tell the Christians to come home to their country Iraq.”
This is open trackback Friday for Linkfest and the Open Trackback Alliance by Samantha Burns. Please remember to link back to this post if you wish to participate in the open trackbacks. Also, I will use my right to pull your post if it is pornography. Fortunately, I have been introduced to a great group of people who also agree with me on this area, so I haven’t had any problems. Thank you, LORD. Yes, I can invoke the name of the one and only true God, so there!
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan – Khost Provincial Governor Arsala Jamal and all 12 of his district sub-governors hosted the first Khost Provincial Leadership Conference here Nov. 3, 2007. Also in attendance were Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, commander of U.S Central Command, key leaders of the Afghan national security forces, and leaders from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.
Khost province is recognized by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and coalition commanders as the “provincial model of success.” Khost has accomplished more in the past 10 months than in the previous five years, and that is due to the trust and collaborative efforts of all people living in Khost — Afghans and coalition forces alike, officials said.
Jamal is leading and training his sub-governors and military leaders at the provincial and district levels to work directly with the people of Khost and in concert with the coalition units who train and live with their Afghan counterparts in all district centers in Khost. This arrangement has made it possible to remove the shackles of the Taliban and criminals and allow development, education, and security to flourish once again in Khost, officials said.
Army Lt. Col. Scott Custer, who commands the International Security Assistance Force unit in Khost, said Jamal wanted to meet with all the key players to help shape and develop the future of Khost. “This is a monumental day for Khost. The purpose of today’s meeting is to build upon the strong relations among the central government of Khost province,” Custer said. “Providing a forum for the sub-governors to discuss security matters with Governor Jamal and to create the provincial development and security plan for Khost over the next 12 to 24 months ensures continued growth throughout the province.
“Additionally, it provides the sub-governors the opportunity to share their methods of success with their peers and request any additional resources they may need from the governor to reach their goals. The responsibility is on their shoulders to take Khost into the next two years; the leaders and the people of Khost have ownership of their future.”
Fallon praised Khost provincial and Afghan security forces leaders for their collaborative efforts and commitment toward building a safer province. He encouraged all Afghans to follow this example. “I’ve come here to see Khost for the first time,” said Fallon, who visits Afghanistan frequently. “I see the security situation as very good. I am very happy with the (development) progress that I see. I am very, very pleased to be in the company of the governor.”
When asked why Khost was important to him, Fallon replied, “Khost … is a great example of good leadership with the governor (and) the sub-governors working closely with the ISAF units to provide security and stability for the people of this area, this province.”
The CENTCOM commander added that Khost is the model that all other provinces should aspire to. “I want to encourage the governor and other leaders in the region to continue with the good work because I believe that this is a wonderful example to the whole country of Afghanistan,” Fallon said.
Several government and security force leaders said the admiral’s visit shows the strategic importance of Khost to the overall security of Afghanistan.
(From a Combined Joint Task Force 82 news release.)
Photo – Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, commander of U.S. Central Command, talks with local media after meeting Khost Provincial Governor Jamal sub-governors at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, Nov. 3, 2007. Photo by Spc. Nathan W. Hutchison, USA.
I could not locate this news release. I do believe it is a huge mistake to allow the Taliban to have anything to do with the government or the people of Afghanistan. They are afraid and they have every right to be. The Taliban is murdering them. I have sources from Afghanistani people who live there and here for this information. I offer you this site (without the comment).
07 November 2007 By Cpl. Billy Hall 2nd Marine Division.
AL QA’IM, Iraq — Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.”
Prepared to unearth any remnants of those who intend to plant fear and insecurity in western Iraq, the Betio Bastards stand ready. With the final elements of the battalion arriving to their area of operation, the Marines and sailors of Task Force 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, are primed and in place to maintain stability and bring prosperity to the region.
The infantry companies are set in motion and have started providing security and orienting themselves with the local populace. The numerous support elements of Headquarters and Support Company have also hit the ground running, providing intelligence, logistical support, communications and transportation, to name a few of their many missions.
Months of intense training have paid off in dividends, allowing the battalion to kick off their deployment without missing a beat. Lt. Col. Peter B. Baumgarten, the battalion commander, met with the mayor, leaders of the Iraqi Police and Army, and numerous sheiks, to publicly assume command of the area of operation from Lt. Col. Jason Q. Bohm, the battalion commander of Task Force 1st Bn., 4th Marines.
“I, like Colonel Bohm, look to fill the shoes of my predecessors in a way that will be very positive to the people of Al Qa’im,” Baumgarten said. “I look forward to meeting each one of you and working together in the future months to be successful.” The atmosphere was optimistic and productive as key leaders discussed several pressing issues and plans for the future, such as reopening the point of entry at the Syrian border in the town of Husaybah.
The sheiks spoke of unity amongst the many tribes within the region and setting a path of success for the rest of Iraq to follow. At the conclusion of the meeting, the local leaders and sheiks treated the Marines to a traditional Iraqi meal. In customary fashion, there were no utensils; everyone ate with their hands from large platters of rice, vegetables and goat. The meeting and luncheon helped to lay the groundwork for the battalion’s transition into their third deployment to Iraq in three years.
During the initial days of operation, the battalion’s progress has been substantial. Cooperation and coordination with the local leaders and forces are proving to be the crucial elements contributing to maintaining the security and bringing prosperity to Iraq. The Betio Bastards will continue working steadily to uproot any instability that remains.
Photo – Lt. Col. Jason Q. Bohm (right), battalion commander of Task Force 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, and Lt. Col. Peter B. Baumgarten (center), battalion commander of Task Force 3rd Bn., 2nd Marines, speak with a sheik after the meeting where Bohm publicly relinquished command of his area of operations to Baumgarten. The mayor, leaders of the Iraqi police and army, and numerous sheiks attended the meeting to discuss several pressing issues and plans for the future.
05 November 2007 BY Cpl. Nathan Hoskins 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs.
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – When most kids get a new electronic toy, they play with it until it no longer interests them. But a small portion of those kids, when they get bored with the toy, simply grab some screw drivers and take it apart to see what makes it tick.
It’s quite possible that the majority of those kids that take apart their toys end up as aircraft maintainers in the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. Aircraft maintainers from Company B, 615th Aviation Support “Cold Steel” Battalion, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div., recently hit their 200th phase – a major maintenance mile stone.
There are two different types of phases that most helicopters go through, a preventive maintenance inspection 1 and preventive maintenance inspection 2, said Fajardo.
The difference between them is that in PMI 1 the Soldiers take the aircraft apart and visually inspect it, sometimes replacing a part here and there. For a PMI 2 they take everything apart knowing they’ll be replacing certain parts and any others that might need it along the way, Fajardo said.
The Avengers have five platoons that assist with phases. Each platoon plays an integral role in completing a particular phase.
First, there’s the Headquarters Platoon which handles the paperwork and scheduling for every phase bird. Next is the Forward Support Platoon which disassembles, inspects, and reassembles the aircraft. The Shops Platoon provides support to engines, hydraulics, rotor heads, and different structural pieces. Then there’s the Avionics Platoon which does inspections and repairs on aircraft radios, aviation survivability equipment and more.
Last, but not least, is the Armament Platoon which removes, inspects, repairs and reinstalls all of the Apache weapon and sighting systems, and works on all of the electrical and avionics systems.
It’s easy to see that the phase process is no child’s play – it’s a lot of hard work done by dedicated teams throughout Co. B.
For this maintenance phase team, formed of too many Soldiers to list here, it is not only their 200th phase, but their last phase before they head home, he said.
The Avengers have been working around the clock since they took over the mission from the 4th Infantry Division November 2006. Most of them didn’t even know they had done so many phases, said Spokane, Wash., native Capt. Christian Ruddell, a platoon leader for the Avengers. “When we had been here a while I asked someone … how many they’d thought we’d done, and they said 35 when we had really done 120,” said Ruddell.
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico native, Sgt. Anthony Bermudez, a line shop leader for the Avengers, said the Soldiers don’t keep track, they just want to keep the aircraft moving through. “It didn’t even seem like 200. When you’re out there working on the aircraft, you’re not thinking ‘this is the tenth aircraft I’ve done,’ you just do it, get it over with and bring in the next one,” said Bermudez, whose team works on all things electronic.
For the 200th phase, the Co. B maintainers completed a PMI 1 on a Black Hawk.
Although they aren’t flying in Apaches killing the bad guys or flying the Chinooks and Black Hawks moving Soldiers safely through the air, they are still an integral part of the mission in Iraq, said Midwest City, Okla., native Sgt. Patrick McTheny, a technical inspector for Co. B. “Our job is to keep aircrafts flying. We reduce the footprint on the ground; we reduce IED exposure; we’re saving lives by keeping them in the air,” said McTheny.
And they’re doing it at break-neck speeds, he said. “Our turn around time is really good. The standard is 21 days (to complete) a PMI 2, but I’d say we’re averaging them in 15 to 18 days. That’s because of the experience we have on our phase team and good leadership,” said McTheny.
When standing back and looking at their deployment thus far, there is more to be said about hitting the 200th phase than just the large number, said San Antonio native Spc. Jared Rivera, an airframe structural repairer. “It’s not that the 200 isn’t important, but it’s also how far we’ve come in our jobs,” he said.
With all these phases and numerous other jobs that come up along the way, some of the novice Avengers have matured into experts in their craft, said Milford, Ohio, native 1st Sgt. Timothy Johnson, the senior noncommissioned officer for the Avengers. “When we first deployed in October of 2006, we were undermanned and had a lot of troopers who were going on their first deployment; quite a few were straight out of (Advanced Individual Training) and had never performed a phase inspection before,” said Johnson.
“Thanks to the experienced NCOs and officers of our company, the phase teams pushed through the rough times in the beginning of the deployment and became the quality aircraft mechanics and maintenance technicians they are today,” he said.
“Rough times” is one way to put it, another way to break it down is to say that Co. B did seven years of work in one year, said Ruddell. “Experience-wise, you’d have to be in the states for six or seven years to get this much experience. We’ve condensed six or seven year’s worth of work down into a one-year time frame,” he said.
“I remember my first (sheet metal) job took me about six days. Now that same project would last me two hours, three hours maybe,” said San Antonio native Spc. George Ponce, an airframe structural repairer for Co. B. While the phase maintenance keeps the Soldiers busy, they are simultaneously working on other maintenance projects. Like all machines, things tend to wear out, break down, and – sometimes – get shot at, said Ponce.
While working on a phase, if an aircraft comes in that has battle damage it gets special attention to get it fixed and back out on mission, he said.
Contracted civilian maintainers augment the Soldiers during the phases and other maintenance missions. “We assist the Army; that’s our main function here is to assist the Army,” said Lucky Luciano, a civilian contractor from L3 Vertex Aerospace.
They’ll take up tasks just like the Soldiers in a relationship where it’s a give and take, Luciano said. “If we don’t know about something, we’ll ask them. If they don’t know something, then they’ll ask us. It’s 50-50,” he said.
Another L3 contractor, Charles Frye, knows the teamwork between the two groups created the right environment for 200 phases to be completed. “To produce that many phases with minimal deficiencies is a testament to the will and the character of the (Co. B and L3) phase teams,” said Frye.
“I’d compare our unit to the (National Football League’s New England) Patriots right now … because they’ve got more power players than they know what to do with. And that’s what we’re like right now; we look like a Super Bowl football team,” said Ashland, Pa., native Staff Sgt. Ron Bolinsky, an Apache technical inspector with the Avengers. [I protest! The NE Pats suck! lol]
Gone are the days of taking apart toys for these Soldiers and civilians. Now are the days of contributing to an important job in Iraq that directly affects the daily aerial missions. They take their job seriously and the 200 phases are a result. So, leave the child be who wants to take that toy apart … they may have a higher calling some day.
Photo – Soldiers from Company B “Avengers,” 615th Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, pose near the UH-60 Black Hawk that they worked for their 200th major scheduled maintenance task – called a phase. A phase is when Soldiers take apart nearly the entire aircraft and inspect, repair or replace the parts, said San Diego, native Sgt. Justin Fajardo a squad leader for Co. B and the 200th phase team leader. Standing in front of the Black Hawk is a small part of the phase team. From left to right: Phoenix, Ariz., native Spc. James Eldridge, a hydraulics repairer; San Antonio native Spc. Jared Rivera, an airframe structural repairer; San Antonio native Spc. George Ponce, an airframe structural repairer; Fajardo; Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, native Sgt. Anthony Bermudez, a line shop team leader; Lakeland, Fla., native Sgt. Robert Evans, a Black Hawk mechanic; and Midwest City, Okla., native Sgt. Patrick McTheny, a technical inspector. Photo by Cpl. Nathan Hoskins, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs.
07 November 2007 By Capt. Michael Meridith, USAF 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan – A nine-person team deployed from 49th Material Maintenance Group at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., recently completed the largest deployable aircraft shelter in the Air Force.
The team began construction on the 225-by-70-foot aircraft hangar Oct. 22 and completed it Nov. 5. The hangar, which is intended to simultaneously house three of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing’s HH-60 Pave Hawk combat search-and-rescue helicopters, dwarfs the Air Force’s 150-by-70-foot “standard model” hangar.
“Normally, these shelters are designed to hold one aircraft. This is basically two and half shelters grafted together, and is the largest one like it in the Air Force,” said Master Sgt. Samuel Tran, of Salem, Mo., who leads the team.
Tran’s team, which deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in August, is the only one of its kind in the region. As such, it stays in high demand. Because of their busy operations tempo, Tran said accomplishments like the hangar are “just part of the job.”
Prior to its arrival here, the team had already tackled several large projects, including erecting three 6,000-square-foot shelters and one 4,000-square-foot shelter and dismantling one 4,000- and one 8,000-square-foot shelter.
“It’s very exciting, especially being part of a unique team that goes out and does stuff like this,” said team member Staff Sgt. Adam Boubede, of New Orleans. “We go out and get the job done as fast as we can, then move on and do it again. Everywhere we go, it’s something new, whether it’s repairing, reconstitution or building the biggest (deployable aircraft hangar) in Air Force history.”
The four-month deployment is a first for several of the team members, but many are satisfied to put home-station training to use in support of expeditionary missions. “It’s a good feeling,” said Senior Airman Brad Hellberg, of Lancaster, Pa. “Without us, they wouldn’t have the shelter. Back at home we train for this, then we come out here and do the work.”
Tran said the team members have received a tremendous amount of positive feedback for their work, but added that their motivation is something that comes from within the team itself.
“We look at each job as a challenge and see if we can beat our own record. Our motivation is internal; it’s not something that comes from the outside. We don’t compromise safety for speed; it has to be a marriage between the two,” Tran said.
Photo – Airmen deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., work to build the largest deployable aircraft shelter in the Air Force. U.S. Air Force photo.
24 October 2007 By Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.
KHAN BANI SA’AD, Iraq – Working off a tip from a Concerned Local Citizen, Coalition Forces discovered a massive weapons cache Oct. 23 during the raid of a home in Sa’ada village, Iraq.
The cache marks the largest discovery of explosively formed penetrators ever found in Iraq at one location. The cache included 124 fully-assembled EFPs, 159 copper disks of four different sizes used in making EFPS (including 12-inch disks – one of the largest ever discovered in Iraq), 600-plus pounds of C4 and other explosive materials, 100 mortar rounds of various caliber, 31 107mm rockets, two mortar tubes and 20 claymore-type mines.
Soldiers of Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team from Fort Lewis, Wash., detained the cache owner in the raid.
“My first concern was for my Soldiers,” said Capt. Jason Rosenstrauch, B Troop commander. “I was worried that the room was unstable because it smelled like explosives and nitric acid.
“A find like this helps keep my Soldiers morale up because they know they’ve made a difference,” Rosenstrauch continued. “It makes them feel good that they are saving Soldiers lives through their work.”
Sa’ada Village is located approximately five miles south of Khan Bani Sa’ad, a city in Diyala Province with a population of approximately 100,000 – half Sunni and half Shia. Six weeks ago, Iraqi Security Forces planned and executed Operation Justice League, clearing many al-Qaida in Iraq and anti-Coalition militia members out of Khan Bani Sa’ad. Before Justice League, CF, ISF and Iraqi civilians were regularly attacked by enemy insurgents, and local citizens were afraid to work with CF for fear of reprisals.
Rosenstrauch said the citizens of Khan Bani Sa’ad are now working closely with Coalition Forces to keep insurgents out of the city.
“We have a lot of peace in the city center now,” Rosenstrauch said. “We have had a ton of CLCs reporting on enemy activity. The people are turning on the insurgents and telling us where they are.”
Photo – Soldiers carry mortar rounds found in a hidden room in a home in Sa’ada Village, Iraq, Oct. 23. A tip from a concerned local citizen lead Soldiers to a massive weapons cache in the home. (U.S. Air Force phot/Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr.)
TRIPOLI: Libya on Tuesday confirmed it will turn away Western visitors to the North African nation unless they provide Arabic translations of their passports. “Libya will not reverse its decision, nor will it take into consideration the international reaction” and uproar triggered by the new restrictions, a Libyan official told AFP.
“The West demands that we translate our passports into English and therefore we must act in kind. It is only normal,” said the official. “Travelers arriving with foreign language passports are perturbing officials at border posts and airports because they don’t know foreign languages.”
Hmm…where have I heard that before? lol.
FORGET ABOUT IT! I have started this 4 freakin’ times, and now I couldn’t get back onto blogger for almost 12 hours. I don’t care anymore about what is happening out there. I want to know what is happening here! Sheesh. Sorry ya’ll. I’ll get back to it later. Have a good day.
Thank you for this beautiful day. Thank you for the days that are far too glum. Thank you for the days I smiled. But most of all, thank you for my freedom.
Thank you for the roof over my head. Thank you for my comfortable bed. Thank you for my running water. But most of all, let us never forget our dead.
Thank you for the fresh air I breathe. The breath of freedom, I do concede. Thank you for all your sacrifices. Just so this stranger may live free.
Thank you for your love of country. Thank you for the love you share amongst your brothers. Thank you, families left behind, for enduring the long, lonely nights. Thank you for fighting for the freedom of others.
Thank you to those who are far from home this day. I cannot imagine your struggles. Have faith, my dear friends, hang on. The day shall come when you receive all your huggles. (New word.)
You are so special to me, as you may tell. I cannot find the words of gratitude you are due. My hope on this day is that ya’ll will know, Yesterday, today and tomorrow I will owe a debt to you.
Not a debt of money, for that would tarnish your honor, Not a debt of worldly words, for those you’ve heard before. Yet I do believe that if it were not for you, America would exist no more…
Dear Morgan, thank you. It is not my best poem, but it is for you and all the others. Keep the faith, my dear friend. We do appreciate you so very deeply. Our prayers are with you, and ‘O’ and Maniac. Also your teams. Take care on this and every day. God bless you, and God bless America. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.
That is the only word I could think to use to describe my feelings about the news I read at Blackfive’s site this morning. On Veterans’ Day no less. We all must come together to help this man, Lt Col Chessani, fight the Left bastards who are trying to ruin him. He is the father of five children, with one on the way, and he may lose his pension for a crime that NEVER happened. Thanks a lot Murtha…you scumbag.
Just a little background:
Two separate investigations by U.S. Army officers, a colonel and a general, found no evidence either of a “massacre” or a “cover-up.”
Chessani traveled to the site of the “massacre” to investigate and reported to every echelon of his chain of command what he did not find there.
An Article 32 Investigation also found no evidence of a “massacre” or a “cover-up.
This is Veterans’ Day weekend, and I have an e-mail I would like share with you. They, better than I, can voice what and how I feel about this precious and solemn day.
HONORING AMERICA’S VETERANS
. This week, Americans across this great country will join together to honor our military veterans. From the blood-soaked beaches of France to the bombed-out back-alleys of Fallujah, the American G.I. has fought-and died-opposing that which is evil and oppressive, and defending all things good and free.
Veterans Day is about one thing: honoring the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans, and passing their collective story to the next generation. These stories, and the men and women who bear them, are the backbone of this American experiment and must never be forgotten.
As John Stuart Mill once said, “War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing [is] worth a war, is worse.” The second we believe our freedoms inevitable, we cease to live in history and sour the soldier’s sacrifice. Our freedoms – purchased on the battlefield – are indeed “worthy of war.”
And today, with America still at war, it is fitting that we remember the troops currently serving in harms way. Because, as any veteran can attest, just one moment, one explosion, or one bullet separates Memorial Day from Veterans Day. Soldiers currently in Iraq and Afghanistan are fighting for our freedoms today, knowing it’s possible they may never see tomorrow.
Vets for Freedom beseeches our membership to honor America’s veterans this week. Whether at a ceremony, in a letter to the editor, or with a simple “thank you,” find a way to ensure that every veteran – young and old – feels appreciated.
Please visit Vets for Freedom’s website to keep up with news on WWIV. This is a great group who keeps up with the news we never seem to have access to for some reason. Interesting…
I would also like to throw into this special weekend a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARINES! (11/09/07) Time got away from me, but that is no excuse to not say how much I appreciate you. Yes, the Navy sure did make you good. LOL. (No, I won’t take that back, so don’t bother asking.)
Today is the first time I am going to be doing a double open trackback, Linkfest and Open Trackback Alliance. If you would like to participate, please leave a trackback and a link to this post on your site. Oh, and no porn!
Samantha has an Open Trackback Alliance which is very classy and is really helpful to those of us who would like to expand our readership while reading others’ sites. It is one more way to expand your horizons in this huge new world of technology. You really should give it a chance.
There is a FAQ page, so don’t feel intimidated if you have no idea what to do or what I’m talking about. She is there is to help you. If it just so happens she is very busy (which is not unusual for people with lives, lol), feel free to e-mail me. I am making NO promises!
So. They want us out of there, right? Then explain this:
Thanks and Praise: I[, Michael Yon,] photographed men and women, both Christians and Muslims, placing a cross atop the St. John’s Church in Baghdad. They had taken the cross from storage and a man washed it before carrying it up to the dome.
I find this quite amazing and encouraging. Do you think we’ll ever see this on the evening news? Yes. Sadly, me neither. It does not fit the mold of the sectarian civil war. That is why it is so important that we have people such as Michael Yon on the ground bringing us the truth. [He is over there with only the support we provide for him. If you like hearing the truth and would like to support to support him, you may do so here. Thank you.]
I would like to share with you a couple of paragraphs he also wrote in this post.
A Muslim man had invited the American soldiers from “Chosen” Company 2-12 Infantry to the church, where I videotaped as Muslims and Christians worked and rejoiced at the reopening of St John’s, an occasion all viewed as a sign of hope.
The Iraqis asked me to convey a message of thanks to the American people. “Thank you, thank you,” the people were saying. One man said, “Thank you for peace.” [This one made me tear up with pride.] Another man, a Muslim, said “All the people, all the people in Iraq, Muslim and Christian, is brother.” The men and women were holding bells, and for the first time in memory freedom rang over the ravaged land between two rivers. (Videotape to follow.) [Continue reading.]
Actually, the whole article has me beaming. Imagine a city, a state, a country who has finally found freedom after so many years, decades of oppressions.
Our men and women are the best in the world, but they do not like that label. They are so humble. THAT is why I will stand up for them when they are attacked by idiots who know not of what they speak and when they are arrested unjustly. You bet your sweet touchy. God bless you for our freedom, and thank you for all your sacrifices. When you come home, I pray it is a joyous occasion. Godspeed.
This will be Thursday’s Open Trackback. It must be shared. If you are from the press, READ HIS WARNING for this post. There are ways to find you, and he shall not be ripped off again.
If you backtrack from here, all I ask is that you place a link in your article leading back to this article. Oh yes, no porn, also. Other than that, have at it, and have a great day.
House bill H.R. 4088 is a bill that we must first read carefully (if they ever put it on the docket) before we throw our whole hearted support behind it. As I understand it as of now, it appears that many freshman to Congress ‘got it’ when we demanded enforcement instead of amnesty.
I learned about this over at The Pirate’s Cove. One of the most amazing things about this bill is that 44 DEMS and 40 REPS are sponsoring this bill. They claim to want bi-partisanship, yes? Yeah right! Just so long as everyone agrees with San Fransisco!
This is exactly where you and I come into the picture. We need to spread the word about this bill. Please go visit this post, because he has more details than I do. I can supply you with committees which this bill has been sent. (This is their way of burying it, that is why we need to keep it alive!)
Committees: House Homeland Security; House Judiciary; House Ways and Means; House Education and Labor; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Armed Services; House Agriculture; House Natural Resources.
Latest Major Action: 11/6/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, Armed Services, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
This is a bunch of rotten eggs. We cannot allow this bill to get buried. Thank you, everyone, who helps us to keep our Sovereignty against these elitists who have no clue…
PS. If anyone can remember which blogroll(s) covers anti-illegal aliens amnesty and our Sovereignty, please leave me a comment. I would like to join them. Thanks.
I am opening this post up for trackbacks, because we never get heard by one voice. But one voice+another voice+a few more voices…we can do this! Please remember, if you trackback to me, please add a link to me to on your post. Also, no porn.
I have watched both of these videos, and I must say they are thrilling. The missile test I wish was a little longer though. Wait until you see an inflight (plane?) land on a ship!
Once again we are confronted by the Marxist leanings of our edu-propagandist system. No wonder. It is alright to have the children mock the Muslim religion by pretending to participate in it, you must, but any mention of our national anthem? OH MY GOD! You really should read this article about the Kern High School District who are taking a vote on whether it is CONSTITUTIONAL or OFFENSIVE or not. Huh?
Hat tip: Stop the ACLU: California School Battles Over “In God We Trust”
When things like this get so bizzarro, we end up with ugliness such as the next article.
Would you consider this child abuse or brainwashing?
Help us to stop this abuse for all of our children. They are entitled to grow up, learn how to discern for themselves, and understand logic. It is only right and fair.
Hat tip: Stop the ACLU: Westboro Baptist Cult’s Child Abuse.
Jay would like us spread this news, so I am going to do that by using this post as my open trackback with Linkfest. If you have not joined yet, just hit the picture and go from there.
If you want to trackback to this post, remember to mention my site in the post you have chosen to do so. After all, it is only courteous.
31 October 2007 by Sgt. 1st Class Kerensa Hardy 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – The nondescript building at the Radwaniyah Palace Complex Civil Military Operations Center appears unassuming, but the Government Information Center represents a beacon of hope for some Iraqis. While the GIC provides several services, one of the most invaluable for local residents is the paying of legal claims.
With the Commandos of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), on their way back home, this is just one of many missions the Rakkasans of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division have taken over.
“(Local Iraqis) come in with all kinds of complaints,” said Huda, the GIC administrator, who also translates between the Iraqis and the U.S. Soldiers processing the claims. Huda and Faik, the Iraqi attorney who works at the GIC, do most of the claim work.
“(People) come in with requests to be paid for damages, and I help (file) new claims,” Huda said. Faik determines whether or not a claim is legitimate. He and Huda prepare the paperwork and collect the evidence required to prove that the claim is valid. The 3rd BCT legal office personnel determine whether or not the United States is actually responsible for damages and whether or not the claimant will be paid.
“Sometimes it is not for the United States to pay; it is the fault of an explosion by terrorists,” Huda explained, adding over the 2.5 years she has worked at the GIC there have been months when less than half the claims are found to be legitimate. When Faik deems the claims valid, the packets are forwarded to the 3rd BCT legal office for a final review and payment.
“By the time it gets to me, it’s already been determined that the claim is legal,” said Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Williams, from Tampa, Fla., senior 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div., paralegal and foreign claims pay agent. He actually makes the payments to the claimants.
“My job is both good and bad,” Williams said. “Obviously, I pay money when the damages were caused by the United States. But at the same time, when a claim is denied, I have to explain that the United States is not going to pay.”
The CMOC is a blessing for some Iraqis, Huda said. She said now the Iraqis feel that they have a means to get assistance. “It’s very great for them and they are grateful for it.” She added, “I like to help; it is good for me because I help the (Iraqi) people and the U.S. Army.”
Photo- Faik, an Iraqi attorney who processes claims at the Radwaniyah Palace Complex Civil Military Operations Center Government Information Center, discusses a new claim with Capt. Jonathan Gross, from New York City, claims adjudicator with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kerensa Hardy.
29 October 2007 BY Cpl. Nathan Hoskins 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs.
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – For the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division’s medical evacuation unit, the horrors of war are all too real. But, those missions of transporting hurt and dying patients are over for a few troopers.
About a dozen Soldiers from Company C, 2nd “Lobo” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, loaded up onto non-MEDEVAC UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters for a change, and began their journey home, Oct. 25. They are the first group of Soldiers from the 1st ACB to redeploy.
“It feels good to be going home after 15 months,” said Rochester, N.Y., native, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Bryan Sills, a MEDEVAC pilot for the Co. C “Witch Doctors.”
Like most units in Iraq, when the final orders came down, Co. C. was extended to 15 months. This made the deployment more difficult, said Orchard Park, N.Y., native, Sgt. 1st Class Jon Spiller, a flight medic for Co. C and the brigade’s senior medical noncommissioned officer. “This was my third deployment and it was probably the roughest one I’ve been through; mainly because of the extension,” Spiller said.
Even after they knew the extension was going to affect them, it didn’t really hit the Witch Doctors until the 12-month mark, Spiller said. “Once we heard about it, we all prepared for it, but when you hit that 12-month mark and you know you should be going home, you kind of feel a little different about it,” he said.
The extension aside, Spiller felt the Witch Doctors did some good while they flew over Iraq. “I really think we made a difference over here. We helped out the best we could. I’ll be happy when everybody gets home,” Spiller said.
Day in and day out for 15 months the troops from Co. C saw the horrors of war, but they made it a point to be a part of the change taking place in Iraq – even if that meant making amends with those who seek to kill Coalition Forces, said Spiller.
One patient in particular was an insurgent who had a gun shot wound to the leg, said Spiller. “We seemed to kind of connect. We couldn’t really talk because we were in a helicopter and plus he didn’t speak English,” he said “I just kind of did some hand gestures and helped him out.” Spiller, as a sign of kindness, tried to give the wounded enemy fighter a bracelet he was wearing at the time, but the man only gestured as if he didn’t deserve such a gift, said Spiller.
“I know a lot of our medics are doing things like that, where they want to make sure these people understand we’re here to help them whether they like us or not,” he said.
But those times are now memories with which to tell stories to their friends and families – for the most part. Spiller can’t wait to see his wife and three kids, he said. After three long deployments, another shorter deployment and basic noncommissioned officer school, he estimates that he has been gone from home almost five years straight, said Spiller.
Although he just got done saving lives in Iraq, Spiller heralds his wife, Kris, as a hero for keeping it together through all of his deployments. “She’s tried to keep her sanity. She’s definitely kept the household together with me gone. I’m just looking forward to being back at home with my kids and make our family whole again,” he said. Spiller plans to spend lots of time with his wife; his son Tyler, 15; and his two daughters, Victorya, 13, and McKellen, 8, when he gets home. That doesn’t mean his mind isn’t on good ‘ole American sustenance.
He is already thinking about the steak he’ll eat if he arrives in the evening or that quaint little coffee shop if he arrives in the morning, he said. “If it’s dinner, steaks; if it’s around breakfast time, we have a couple little places we like to go. I’ll have a nice coffee cappuccino, sit down, enjoy the view and be glad to be home,” said Spiller.
For some of the Witch Doctors, arriving home means time with the family, for others it’s that and the start of a new life altogether. Bay City, Mich., native, Sgt. Robert Witbrodt, a UH-60 Black Hawk crew chief for Co. C, will be joining the civilian ranks soon after his arrival home, he said. With three tours in Iraq complete, Witbrodt will be heading to school to study engineering, he said.
Still, he is proud of what he and his unit accomplished while in Iraq, said Witbrodt. “I like the mission here. Saving lives is pretty (darn) great. Sometimes it’s hard on you, but it’s rewarding,” he said. Other than school, Witbrodt is fairly laid back about what he’ll do once stateside. “I don’t really have any big plans other than just spending time with my wife and maybe a little snowboarding, but that’s about it,” he said.
Although each Soldier’s plans are varied, all that really matters to them is that they’re headed home. The rest of Co. C will soon follow their fellow Witch Doctors, but will first hand over their mission to another MEDEVAC unit taking their place.
Photo – With 15 months of medical evacuation missions behind them, Soldiers from Company C, 2nd “Lobo” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, load up their gear onto a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter before they start their trip from Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, back to the United States Oct. 25. Photo by Cpl. Nathan Hoskins.
This first story is from Michael Yon. He is correct that many people got upset with his on the ground reporting, because I was one of them. It wasn’t because I didn’t believe him, it was because I did. I was angry that no one else was paying attention.
Iraq is looking better month by month. But at the current rate, surely we shall fail in Afghanistan:
Opium Funding Afghan Unrest
KABUL The top U.S. general in Afghanistan said yesterday he estimated that Afghanistan’s rampant opium poppy cultivation was funding up to 40 percent of the Taliban-led insurgency.
Gen. Dan McNeill, head of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, added he had been told by an international specialist that his figure was likely low and could reach up to 60 percent.
The cultivation of opium 93 percent of whose world supply comes from Afghanistan, according to the United Nations is undermining everything the government and its international allies were trying to do, he said. Afghanistan’s opium production grew by 34 percent this year, according to a U.N. survey.
[Continue reading.]
We also have an article from Michael that was printed in the New York Post on Sunday.
Statistics in reports about faraway places can blunt the reality of what those numbers mean. But when it is a bomb in a road you are about to drive on, it takes on a whole new cast, as I found yet again when I spent most of May in Anbar Province.
I visited a former labor camp nicknamed “Coolie Village,” or what remained of it, after a truck bomb locals attributed to al Qaeda had flattened it. Not surprisingly, the anger and frustration in response to this mass murder helped the villagers overcome their fear of the thugs who had taken hold of their community. [Continue reading.]
Next is an article from a talented young writer, okay, maybe not that young, but he certainly is talented. He has written many 10 questions…mostly to the candidates. This time he has written about Christianity. Preciously, to the Evangalical community.
A disturbing sign of the state of American evangelicalism has appeared in the seventh year of the 21 st century in a Townhall.com article dated October 18,2007 entitled, “Why Evangelicals Should Support Mitt Romney” by Wayne Grudem. One of America’s most popular evangelical theologians, Grudem is trying to persuade evangelicals to vote a Mormon for president. Wayne Grudem’s “Systematic Theology” is the gold standard of evangelical doctrine and a sacred fixture in evangelical seminaries, pastor libraries and Bible studies.
In it, he defines Mormonism as “clearly a false church.” He shows why Mormonism has never been included in the Christian Church: It contradicts major Christian doctrine regarding the person of God, Christ and His work and salvation plan. A cornerstone of the Mormon Church, Grudem writes, is the classic heresy of Saint Paul’s day – angel worship. In his book, Grudem insists that an orthodox Christian must practice the theology he reads. So why would he step forward to become part of the Mitt Romney propaganda blitz trying to mislead evangelicals into doing what would shock most evangelicals in American history: elect a Mormon for president? [Continue reading.]
While some may find this contraversial, mainly those outside of the Church, there are many good questions in this article if you read it with an open mind.
On the political side of the news, we have Congressman Duncan Hunter calling for the defeat of the Law of the Sea treaty (LOST).
Explaining the dangers of the treaty, Hunter detailed, “It is imperative that our nation does not surrender decision making power for military navigation or resource extraction, especially in this age of terrorism with technology and weapons proliferation. And adding a new set of UN bureaucrats with license to tax and adjudicate disputes is the last thing this country needs.” [Continue reading.]
“Representative Ellison’s proposal is fundamentally flawed and potentially harmful to the integrity of our democratic process,” said Project 21 chairman Mychal Massie. “Why invite that which can only lead to unimaginable fraud and corruption?” [Continue reading.]
You will probably believe this, but I want the same treatment for airplane tickets, opening bank accounts, social security cards, work, etc. Then see what they have to say!
A court in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan has convicted of subversion a Tibetan nomad who called for the return of the Dalai Lama at a horseracing festival in August.
Ronggyal Adrak was tried at the Ganzi Autonomous Prefecture People’s Court in Dartsedo (in Chinese, Kangding) on Monday, Oct. 29, on charges of seeking to “split” the country and subvert state power during a public meeting Aug. 1 in Lithang county, sources in Lithang told RFA’s Tibetan service.
Ronggyal Adrak told the judge from the dock: “When I shouted ‘Long live the Dalai Lama’ and called for the release of Tibetan political prisoners, I was detained and then formally arrested.” [Continue reading.]
Another reason why we should cut all ties with the PRC Communist party, and invite Taiwan to join the UN in place of the unrecognized hoolagns!
I am going to try once more to have an open trackback. Why not? I am just hoping to Jesus that everything is fixed. I know you guys are not mean, and I apologize for my last entry. I just don’t understand why you are not trackbacking to me while I continue to trackback to you…
San Diego, CA – - – Presidential candidate and current Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Duncan Hunter, today called on former Governor Mitt Romney to send a “clear statement” to the leadership of the company he founded, Bain Capital, to terminate a proposed business deal with a controversial Chinese corporation seeking to acquire U.S. defense contractor 3COM. Bain Capital is attempting to form a business arrangement with Huawei Corporation, a Chinese corporation founded by an officer of the Peoples Liberation Army of Communist China, which faces allegations of assisting Saddam Hussein in the targeting of U.S. aircraft and in helping the Taliban develop surveillance equipment.
“I am extremely concerned that Governor Romney’s company would tout a highly suspect Chinese corporation as a strategic partner,” stated Hunter. “Forming a business partnership with a corporation known to have direct ties with terrorists and dictators while, at the same time, openly seeking to acquire a major U.S. corporation that performs vital cyber security work for the Department of Defense, can only be characterized as irresponsible.”
A resolution has been introduced in Congress, H.Res. 730, which states; “The preponderance of publicly available evidence clearly suggests that as currently structured, the proposed transaction involving Huawei threatens the national security of the United States and should not be approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States .” A copy of this resolution is provided.
Hunter stated in his letter to Governor Romney, “…while it is true that you no longer control Bain Capital, the contributions you have received from its principals as its founding member indicate that your influence within the company remains strong.
“Further, while the Committee on Foreign Investment has yet to rule on the Huawei transaction, this corporation’s connection to Saddam Hussein, the Taliban and the Army of Communist China should clearly disqualify them from becoming, in the words of your former company, “a strategic partner” in acquiring a U.S. firm such as 3COM, which performs vital cyber-security work for the U.S. Department of Defense.
“This letter is a request that you immediately issue a statement of policy that this transaction should be terminated on the grounds of national security. Please let me know what you intend to do.”
A copy of Congressman Hunter’s letter, as well as two articles regarding Huawei acquisition efforts are provided. Media are encouraged to contact Gary Becks at (619) 334-1655 for additional information or to arrange an interview with Hunter.
# # #
Hunter for President, Inc. 9340 Fuerte Drive La Mesa, California 91941 United States.
Will Romney answer the demand? Not if he believes Rep. Hunter has no chance of doing him harm. This is a sad situation, because there are many people who support Duncan. They are just being persuaded by the media and even radio talk show hosts who, after speaking to Duncan, really like him but are tied into ‘their’ candidate. That is why he cannot get his message out. If you would like to know more about Rep. Duncan Hunter, please visit his site or come here. Thank you, and have a nice day.
31 October 2007 By Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Caldwell 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Under the cover of darkness, soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne), air-assaulted about three miles south of their forward operating bases in the Pech River Valley earlier this month as part of Operation Rock Avalanche.
Operation Rock Avalanche was a multiple-company mission that ran Oct. 19-25 in the Chapa Dara, Korengal, Shuryak and Pech river valleys. Participating were “Able,” “Battle” and “Chosen” companies from 2nd Battalion; Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry (Airborne); and multiple companies from the Afghan National Army’s 201st Corps. The companies were positioned into different areas of Kunar province at different times, hoping to flush insurgents out of one area into another, where U.S. and Afghan forces would be waiting for them.
Working from a vantage point 7,500 feet up, overlooking the Shuryak and Pech valleys, Able Company’s four-day mission was to locate and destroy insurgent command-and-control and logistical elements operating in that area, Army Capt. Louis Frketic, the company’s commander, said.
After setting up a perimeter and establishing a command post on the top of Phase Line Ridgeway, 2nd Platoon was dispatched to the nearby village of Aybot. Previous intelligence had suggested that Taliban leaders might be holed up in that area. “We were looking for two named (high-value targets). One of them is the commander of the entire Shuryak forces, and the other guy is an IED specialist,” Frketic said. “We searched their compounds, and they were not in there or in the area.”
Frketic and his paratroopers were not dissuaded. A low-level voice-intercept team from Company B, 173rd Special Troops Battalion (Airborne), was tasked to Able Company for the mission. The team had begun listening to Taliban radio traffic as soon as they hit the ground and already were getting “a bead” on insurgents operating in the surrounding valleys. The team was an invaluable asset, one that Frketic said he uses every chance he gets to collect intelligence on the enemy. “A lot of times we will start getting locations, and then we will pick up names,” he said. “It is usually specific to that cell what kind of things they are talking about. Sometimes they will start talking about people, fighters, locations, ammo, or weapons systems that they have.”
Even the smallest details, including specific words used, can yield valuable information, Frketic said. “A couple days ago, right before the mission started, we heard a cell talking about their fighters and their leaders in the terms of soldiers and officers. Other times, we’ll hear them talk about fighters and commanders. The one talking about officers and soldiers, that is a professional organization. Little details like that are very critical in my mind,” he explained.
With so much Afghan National Army and U.S. military activity on the surrounding mountains and in the surrounding valleys, the Taliban were never sure of Able Company’s position and never mounted an attack on the company. The voice intercept team used the time to continue to collect intelligence on enemy in the area. The formerly suspected enemy locations were now known.
Around noon Oct. 24, Frketic put that information to use and launched soldiers from 1st Platoon, Company D, into action. The platoon is a heavy-weapons platoon attached to Able Company for the deployment and commonly referred to as the Dragon Platoon. They had air-assaulted onto the ridgeline with their MK19 grenade launchers and M2 machine guns. A mortar team with an 81 mm tube from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-503rd, also was put into action.
Their fire destroyed one command-and-control node operating in the Shuryak Valley. But destroying the enemy position was probably the easiest part of the mission for the MK19 gun team, said Spc. David Hooker, from Palestine, Ark., and a Dragon Platoon member. “I’ve never air-assaulted in with a MK19 before,” Hooker said. “But since we just set in and manned a blocking position, it was OK.”
“The weight is the biggest challenge, getting it in and out,” he said. An MK19 without a tripod weighs 75 pounds, and ammo cans weigh between 40 and 60 pounds each, depending on the number of rounds in them. Many cans were brought for this mission.
The mortar team, one of the busiest in the battalion, also spent most of the day putting rounds on target. The team averages firing more than 1,000 rounds per month. “As far as firing goes, this is hands-down the most intense deployment that I have been on,” said Army Staff Sgt. Brandon Thomas, of Nashville, Tenn.
While Howitzers are available for fire missions throughout Kunar province, the mortar teams are able to react the quickest when indirect fire is needed, Thomas said. “We have eyes on a lot of the targets, and our response is a little bit quicker,” he said. “The channels to clear the 155 go all the way through battalion and then back through their fires. Ours are cleared right here. If we are in direct contact, I can engage freely.” [It's about damn time!]
The number of rounds fired combined with the danger of their job has earned the team the respect of Thomas and the unit’s leadership. “These guys are awesome,” he said. “Everybody has been put in for valor awards.”
The mortar team and the pit in which they work are favorite targets of the Taliban, making it a dangerous job. “There is no overhead cover, and they stand out there and fire throughout the entire engagement and also in support after,” Thomas said. “It’s pretty remarkable what they do.”
Early on the morning of Oct. 25, members of Able Company began what would end up as a 10-hour trek down treacherous, slippery and steep terrain back to their base — no small feat for even the most fit paratrooper, yet a regular occurrence for soldiers in Kunar province.
“We go on ruck marches into the mountains every other day or every third day,” said Staff Sgt. Brian Mading, from Bonita Springs, Fla., and a member of Headquarters Platoon. “The first couple are tough. Then, of course, the more you are doing it, the more you get built up.” “The guys that come here right out of basic or other units usually get broke down pretty quick or get into it pretty quick depending on what their physical fitness level was before,” he said.
All of the gear these paratroopers carry is heavy: helmet, protective vests, rucksacks, weapons, ammunition, and water. It makes packing before the mission extremely important, leaving little room for extra cold-weather gear or even extra food. During the trip down the mountain, the Able Company soldiers had hoped to “drop in” on some insurgents the low-level voice intercept team had confirmed were hiding out in villages in that area. But none were spotted, and no contact was made.
Frketic stressed that wasn’t a problem. “Those villages are only a three- to four-hour walk from our base,” he said. “They’ll be getting visits from us again soon.”
Wow. Our guys are fantastic! I wonder if the people of those villages truly approve of the Taliban or if they are afraid of them? Keep up the great work guys. You have much support back home. Thank you for your service, and come home victorious and soon.
Photo – Army Sgt. Chad Mohr (left) watches rounds land on target as Army Spc. David Hooker fires the MK19 machine gun at a known insurgent position Oct. 24, 2007, during Operation Rock Avalanche. The “Dragon Platoon” soldiers of Destined Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne), were occupying a ridgeline between the Pech and Shuryak river valleys in Afghanistan’s Kunar province. U.S. Army photo.
This is a must read. It is an amazing article of our men and the Iraqi men working side-by-side so the Iraqis can achieve the knowledge to run their own country and our men can come home. This is also an open trackback weekend. I’m not expecting too many, because I haven’t received too many except from some loyal friends. I do, however, would appreciate it if you would at least read it. For them.
30 October 2007 By Spc. Shejal Pulivarti 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs.
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – “Left, left, left, right,” the 30-man platoon of Iraqi Police in training shouted in Arabic while marching to their next class. The Military Police Platoon from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment developed a 10-day preparatory class to implement the basics for Iraqi Police recruits prior to attending the Baghdad Police Academy which initiates them as official police officers.
“This course is designed to give … IPs a basic understanding on what their job will consist of,” said Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Brinson, the MP Platoon’s top sergeant for HHC, 1st Squadron, 7th Cav. Regt.
The trainees, waiting to attend the academy, come from various stations in the surrounding area to learn basic policeman skills, he added. It’s an orientation, ensuring all baby IPs go into the academy on the same level of general knowledge.
“The training covers basics on ethics, principles, Iraqi law, first aid, basic rifle marksmanship, responding to a crime scene and search techniques in various scenarios. The recruits follow a structured daily schedule emphasizing teamwork and discipline,” said Brinson, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla, native.
The 10 days are spent introducing the material in the classroom and then actively applying them. The last two days consist of practical exercises that incorporate the entirety of the course.
“Everything learned has to be applied during the hands on scenarios. The situations gradually get harder to test their understanding,” explained Brinson. “Everything is a perishable skill; they have to practice it in order to retain it. They understand the task; they are definitely learning what they need to know to be successful.”
“The trainees get better every day. The course helps them become good IPs and work with the coalition forces to do our job,” said Iraqi Police 1st Lt. Hesham Saman Ali Sauba Boor, a course instructor.
Each IP station is responsible for sending an academy graduated officer to teach the new IP recruits various topics. Military personnel rotate through as instructors from the MP Platoon and are also assisted by the Iraqi Army liaison officers.
“Having the IP officers teach them accomplishes a lot; it mainly helps the Iraqi Police force become self-sufficient,” Brinson said. “It’s another step in the progress to make security forces stronger.”
As he watched the IP recruits successfully complete a bounding exercise, Brinson noted, “I see the trainees take more pride in themselves, and this course is helping them to become a cohesive unit to accomplish the mission.”
Staer Gabar Abedallah, a trainee, shared that he chose to become an Iraqi Police officer to serve his country, secure his community and stop the terrorists.
“The training is a great opportunity to concentrate on training and help the Iraqi people move forward in self governance,” said Stonington, Ill. native, Sgt. David Ashbridge, a military police team leader for HHC, 1st Squadron, 7th Cav. Regt.
Photo – Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Brinson, the platoon sergeant for the Military Police Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, instructs an Iraqi Police trainee in a 10-day preparatory course how to properly bound when under direct fire at Camp Taji, Iraq Oct. 27. Photo by Spc. Shejal Pulivarti.
This is a great article of accomplishment. I never believed in a huge central government, and I’m glad the Iraqis are finding it is within their own power to make their lives better. Ya know, after WWII, we DID write Japan’s constitution for them and look at them now! We should have written this one…
While this is an article by CentCom, I would like to share it with you. There is much information out there, if we are willing to find it, to fight back those who have no moral standing in this war. No, I am not saying that if you are against this war then you are immoral. What I am saying is that the kooks who believe we did this to ourselves, we deserved it, we should share classified documents so our enemies can know what and where and how we are finding them are traitors, and they need to be stopped. The way to fight back is easy…inform yourself.
That is why I am using this artlcle for Open Trackback Friday at Linkfest. (Join us!) Please remember that if I send you a ping, please send me one. I’m down to 3 people who ever send me a trackback, and I KNOW I send more pings than that! I will soon be making a list of everyone who is naughty and everyone who is nice…lol. Yes, it’s that time of the year sneaking up on us rather quickly! Anyway, if I don’t receive a trackback, I shall stop trackbacking to you. It is, after all, it is time-consuming. It is also only fair…
25 October 2007 By 1st Lt. David Herndon Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Affairs.
NAGAD, Djibouti — A culmination of smiles and laughter filled the air as Airmen and Marines provided live entertainment, toys and water to the residents of Nagad village, Oct. 23 [2007].
Nagad was the site of a Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa [CJTF-HOA] civil affairs engagement, teaming Airmen of the United States Central Air Forces’ Expeditionary Band and Marines of the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion. The event marked the second time in October the two services joined together to provide humanitarian assistance to Djiboutian villages.
“I think it’s great that we can bring some of our culture to our friends here in Djibouti and share goodwill with our neighbors,” said Marine Capt. Christopher Crim, 3rd LAAD Batter B commanding officer. “Regardless of service, we are all on the same team, the American team, and we look to once again spread our goodwill to our friends who are so kind and gracious to host our efforts.”
The CENTAF Band’s mobile expeditionary performance group ‘Live Round,’ currently based out of Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, performed a blend of current and classic rock ‘n’ roll musical selections to entertain the crowd of nearly 200 villagers, primarily consisting of school-aged children.
“We all speak different languages, but music seems to be something that unifies us all,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Joseph Grasso, CENTAF Band superintendent. “It is important that we reach kids at this age so we can let them know what America is all about and what we hope to accomplish in the region, which is to deter extremism.”
For the Marines, who are deployed to CJTF-HOA from Camp Pendleton, Calif., this type of engagement is an additional mission to their primary duty of providing security to Camp Lemonier.
“Tactically, civil affairs engagements are important to us because they accomplish the important goal of ensuring the local population views our presence as a benefit to them,” said Lt. Col. A.F. Potter, 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion commanding officer. “Civil affairs engagements are not only about economics and security; they are also about friendship-building, mutual trust, and genuine commitment. Targeting these things will create security and foster stability.”
The band spent nearly two hours performing for villagers before 3rd LAAD Marines began passing gifts and water to village elders and children, an experience enjoyed by all.
“Everyone knows that the Americans are very open here in Djibouti,” said Idriss Akmed Khayre, Nagad Village chief. “[CJTF-HOA] military members do so much good for us and we appreciate it. I look forward to working with [CJTF-HOA] again in the future.”
According to Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Paul Eschliman, Live Round’s chief vocalist, the event served as a creative way for Airmen and Marines to work together to prevent conflict and extremism by fostering positive relationships in the local area. “This type of event will pay long-term dividends that most wouldn’t believe,” said Eschliman. “Making friends now will help our relationships grow exponentially in the distant future.”
Civil Affairs engagements, similar to the Nagad concert, serve as opportunities for CJTF-HOA personnel to reduce the specter of conflict, war and extremism in the Horn of Africa. “We know that simply throwing money at a problem will not yield the desired results,” said Potter. “We must be truly genuine in our efforts to make friends and civil affairs is our ounce of prevention.”
CJTF-HOA is a unit of United States Central Command. The organization conducts operations and training to assist partner nations to combat terrorism in order to establish a secure environment and enable regional stability. More than 1,500 people from each branch of the U.S. military, civilian employees, coalition forces and partner nations make up the CJTF-HOA organization. The area of responsibility for CJTF-HOA includes the countries of Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Yemen.
Photo – Air Force Tech Sgt. Michael Mason, a vocalist with the U.S. Central command Air Force’s expeditionary band, Live Round, sings ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ for villagers in Nagad, Djibouti, Oct. 23. The band is touring Djibouti to perform a series of morale and community outreach concerts. Photo by 1st Lt. David Herndon.
This is such a great program, please help us to show these wounded Sailors how grateful we are for their unselfish sacrifices. What this program entails is creating for them a life that is closer to the one they used to know before their injuries.
I will be trying to raise more money than the Army, Marines and everyone else! for our Sailors to receive a laptop computer that is voice activated. This way, they can communicate with loved ones through e-mail, blog, keep a diary of their progress, etc.
Soldiers’ Angels started this program a few years back. Won’t you consider saying, “Thank you” by donating today?
The white rectangle says, “Make a Donation.” All monies go directly to the program. I receive nothing, and I would not accept anything. This is about them. So come on. Dig deep! We’ve got to beat the other branches, and we are behind. No matter. We always beat them in football, now we need some foot-soldiers to help put us over the top.
Thank you so much for any amount you spare. It all adds up, ya know.
Update: Stix Blog has a very touching, angering, sweet, hard and emotional post that we all must read. For most of us, some of these are photos we’ve seen before. He has tastefully arranged them with commentary included. Please, if you read no other blog today, read this one. Write about it, pass it on, understand it to the best of your ability. This is what these brave men and women do to keep us safe. The least we can do is to honor them.
Update 2: There are other sites for the other branches of our military, and I think it is only right that I provide them for you.
Seriously though, all the money goes into the same program. It’s just fun having a little competition. GO NAVY!
Now to let you know that this is an open trackback. You must come to this site to read this post, but I shall post my URL and trackback over at a site I no longer use. lol. Please, someone, anyone (except porn sites), please trackback here! lol. We are working on the little bug that gives you my URL for this site and the trackback for a site I’m not using anymore. Thank you.
I don’t know of too many persons who have not heard of the horrific fires in the state of California. The firemen and police officers did a wonderful job, as is supposed to be the case. But this time, there were at least 12 different fires occurring in 12 different areas. This was a catastrophe.
Update: The first link above will lead you to a wonderful article written by Blackfive. Please stop over and read it.
Update: It has been brought to my attention by xformated that it was the Navy Pilots, and not the Marines (although the Navy does try to help them when they need it, lol. Go Navy!), who were flying the Navy’s Combat Support Squadron’s HCS 85′s that flew that mission. So I am told. If you have a disagreement with this, the beginning of the clip states what I’ve already noted. Go find out from Blackfive and/or xformed. Gee, I hope I’m not starting anything in the middle of the NAVY trying to whip the Paratroopers’ of Love butt…lol.
The Vets for Freedom are reaching out to many of us bloggers and members of their site so that we might spread the good news and good works which is happening in Iraq. I am now challenging you to join with us so that the Marxists do not have a chance to defeat America.
To give you a teaser of their new item, Progress in Iraq. You will find it on the right sidebar in a rectangular button.
Despite an aggressive counter-insurgency posture, U.S. troop deaths have dropped, because they have slowly gained the trust of the population groups they are protecting (alongside Iraqi forces).
Fact: Since June, Coalition Forces casualties by IED have dropped by 78.3% (74 in June, 16 in October).
This is a worthy cause and one we’ve been searching to join. Well, here’s your opportunity. Just think about it. All you have to do is write about the truth about what is happening in Iraq! You want to be a foot soldier? Join here. Thank you so much.
I just have to spread this news. For those of you who are having trouble finding me, I will be placing my URL on top of each post I use for open trackback at Linkfest. I hope to see you soon.
Below you will visit some videos. Remember, these are pieces of history. Even if the dinosaur media chooses not to allow you the right to view them, doesn’t mean the news isn’t out there. Maybe it’s because they do not have such work?
Shadows of Baquba, Part 1
Shadows of Baquba Part 2. (I guess they don’t watch COPS. lol)
I stated this earlier but in case you missed it, I am going to clean out my emails now. Most of it is news, opinion, or politics. I hope you enjoy it.
Will the Real Mitt Romney Please Stand Up? by Gregg Jackson.
…Romney Care also significantly expanded government bureaucracy establishing at least a dozen new boards, commissions, and miscellaneous institutions. One of the commissions is charged with the responsibility of eliminating “racial and ethnic health disparities.” [Continue reading.]
In the beginning, the Bible was regarded as the “Good Book,” but today it is under relentless attack from left-wing audiences, novelists, and screenwriters to justify their own political agendas. But fear not, award-winning religious journalist Robert J. Hutchinson refutes the mockers, skeptics, and deniers in his new book, The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to the Bible. [$13.95.)
And there is one more piece by Stop the ACLU. This one has to do with one of the victims of the DC sniper murderous shootings. Please check this out.
10 Questions for all the "Islam is a Religion of Peace" Multi-Culti Crowd. by Gregg Jackson.
1. "Islam and Christianity are equally violent and intolerant religions." The purportedly "moderate" Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has claimed that gay men and lesbians should be killed in the most extreme fashion possible — a belief that is mainstream in the Koran and practiced by Muslims around the world. Can you name any renowned Christian leaders or organizations that are either advocating the killing of gays and any that are actually using the Bible to justify doing so? [Continue reading.]
Is it no wonder that we feel differently about the people of Iraq, when the American media only reports sensational news? If it doesn’t bleed or explode, you just aren’t going to see it on the evening news. I received a press release from Baghdad today, which I know the mainstream media will not pass on to you all. Here is an example of Iraqi charity and gratitude which touched my soul. Imagine how incredibly generous these soldiers are. They have little to support their own families. It’s not enough that they are fighting daily to bring peace to their country. They are actually reaching out to help unfortunate Americans. [Continue reading.]
No Nightmare – Why the Surge is Working. by By PETE HEGSETH.
October 23, 2007 — THE former top com mander in Iraq – Army Lt.-Gen. Ricardo Sanchez (ret.) – recently called the situation in Iraq “a nightmare with no end in sight.” Citing insufficient prewar planning and a strained military, he painted a dismal picture of American prospects there.
War critics painted a similar picture when violence in Iraq peaked in ’05 and ’06 – using terms like “civil war” and “sectarian violence” – as they pushed for a rapid draw-down or immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces. An Iraq “at war with itself” shouldn’t be America’s problem, they argued. In fact, the existence of a “religious civil war” remains the chief antiwar talking point to this day. [Continue reading.]
Islamism on Trial. Author: M. Zuhdi Jasser. Source: The Family Security Foundation, Inc. Date: October 26, 2007.
The verdict in the federal prosecution against the Holy Land Foundation and many in its leadership was finally read by Judge Joe Fish this week after 19 days of jury deliberation by the Dallas jury. To listen to the press conferences and read the press releases of American Islamist organizations, one would think that the defendants were unanimously exonerated “with prejudice.” The Dallas Morning News reported that Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation Executive Director Mahdi Bray stated that “the government failure to get any convictions was evidence of the power of religious freedom.” He went on to say, “Feeding people is not a crime, and we aren’t going to let the American government make it a crime.” Mr. Bray must be counting on the fact that most citizens, like the jury in the trial, will be so dazed by the sheer volume of evidence that they will lazily swallow the propaganda of the Islamist spin machine. [Continue reading.]
Michael Yon. Greetings:
Iraq is on the mend, al Qaeda is on the run, and the civil war has abated to a point where the term “civil war” no longer applies.
Accurate war coverage is increasingly important. Even prominent seemingly well-informed persons can get it wrong, such as retired Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez who previously commanded the war in Iraq. His recent public statements –selectively excerpted and then widely dispersed by the hot winds of media – made it clear that this former senior commander is far out of touch with the current situation.
But there are commanders with a finger on the pulse.
When earlier this year I wrote about the 1-4 CAV transforming an abandoned seminary in a Baghdad neighborhood that had been decimated by civil war, the “surge” had not even begun; but already pundits, politicians and editors had declared it a failure. Though I’d spent only a few days with LTC Crider and his 1-4 CAV soldiers at the new COP Amanche, I ended the dispatch on a note of hope based on observation. I recently received an email from LTC Crider with an update on that Baghdad neighborhood. Please read “Achievements of the Human Heart” and see for yourself.
I was in al Basra province when I saw news reports claiming that Basra city had descended into chaos in the wake of an announcement about the draw down of British Soldiers. I emailed the facts about Basra to several bloggers who hold the media accountable, and the resulting effort got the attention of Tom Foreman who anchors CNN’s “This Week at War.” We were able to make a CNN interview, and the result is a segment that accurately reflects a complex and changing situation. Bravo to CNN for setting the record straight, and to the tireless bloggers who are making a substantial difference in the way news about the war is delivered.
There are major developments to share with readers in upcoming dispatches. If things go at-least-mostly according to plan (which is all we can hope for in war), and if I can rely on the help of readers who share my frustration with the lack of accurate reporting, we can significantly widen the stream of news flowing from Iraq so more people can obtain a truer picture. This will require the will and generosity of readers. But more on that, soon.
Michael Basra, Iraq
Resistance is futile: You will be (mis)informed. by Michael Yon.
All describe the bizarro-world contrast between what most Americans seem to think is happening in Iraq versus what is really happening in Iraq. Knowing this disconnect exists and experiencing it directly are two separate matters. It’s like the difference between holding the remote control during the telecast of a volcanic eruption on some distant island (and then flipping the channel), versus running for survival from a wretch of molten lava that just engulfed your car. [Continue reading.]
HONG KONG — Police in China’s southern Guangdong province used electric prods to break up a crowd of several dozen villagers as they pressed a village leader over suspected graft, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reports. Witnesses said three elderly residents were injured and four people were detained
“Yesterday afternoon, more than 70 police vehicles pulled up,” one resident of Huangchong village in Shunde’s Beijiao township told RFA’s Mandarin service of the Oct. 25 clash.
“There were up to 1,000 policemen. Some were anti-riot police. But at the time there were only 30-some villagers there. Three elderly villagers were injured after being beaten by police with electric prods,” the villager said, speaking on condition of anonymity. [Continue reading.]
Project Valour It. by Stop the ACLU. (There is a competition in each branch, of course. lol. Stop the ACLU is supporting the Air Force this year. Please give as much as you can, to whichever branch or all branches if you can.)
Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, helps provide voice-controlled and adaptive laptop computers to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries at major military medical centers. Operating laptops by speaking into a microphone or using other adaptive technologies, our wounded heroes are able to send and receive messages from friends and loved ones, surf the ‘Net, and communicate with buddies still in the field. The experience of MAJ Charles “Chuck” Ziegenfuss, a partner in the project who suffered serious hand wounds while serving in Iraq, illustrates how important these laptops can be to a wounded service member’s recovery. [Continue reading.]
Now I am going to introduce you to two articles that peaked my curiousity. They turned out to be quite good, with few exeptions. These two articles are from Opinion Journal.
I’m weary of seeing news stories about wounded soldiers and assertions of “support” for the troops mixed with suggestions of the futility of our military efforts in Iraq. Why aren’t there more accounts of what the troops actually do? How about narrations of individual battles and skirmishes, of their ever-evolving interactions with Iraqi troops and locals in Baghdad and Anbar province, and of increasingly resourceful “patterning” of terrorist networks that goes on daily in tactical operations centers?
The sad and often unspoken truth of the matter is this: Americans have been conditioned less to understand Iraq’s complex military reality than to feel sorry for those who are part of it. [Continue reading.]
The war in Iraq was always going to be won by the Iraqis, and so it has proven. But the Iraqis who have won it are on our side.
It was in the spring of 2004–a month or so before I first arrived in Baghdad in a taxi to stay in a small hotel–that the Sunnis launched their disastrous insurgency. Its defeat is becoming ever more clear this autumn as new reports reach us of the patriotic stand of the Anbar tribes, the pacification and nascent prosperity of Fallujah and Ramadi, the isolation of al Qaeda, and the peace overtures of defeated Baathists. [Continue reading.]
This is Open Trackback Sunday. Please stop by with some of your posts. Please remember to use this Permalink and trackback. Not the ones from my other site. Oops.
There is a marvelous group known as The Conservative Voice, and they e-mail me news each day. You may sign up for their e-mails as well. I highly recommend it. Tonight I am going to show you why.
Here are some of the articles they produce:
The Latest Opinion Columns:
Supreme Court Case Proves “LOST” Must Sink, by Phyllis Schlafly. A case now before the Supreme Court proves why the Senate must defeat the United Nations Law of the Sea Treaty (known as LOST). The oral arguments heard this month by the justices didn’t mention the treaty, but the parallels are powerful.
The case concerns Jose Medellin, a Mexican rapist-murderer who is now on death row in Texas. Medellin was convicted and sentenced to death after he confessed in 1993 to the savage rape and murder of two teenage girls in Houston. [Continue reading.]
Chinese Woman Nabbed in Conspiracy to Export Military Equipment to China, by Jim Kouri, CPP. A Chinese national who lives in Connecticut has been indicted by a San Diego federal grand jury for conspiring to purchase and export military-grade accelerometers used in “smart bombs” and missiles from the United States to the People’s Republic of China.
Qing Li, 36, of Stamford, Conn., is charged with attempting to buy and export piezoresistive accelerometers for what her co-conspirator described as a “special” scientific agency in China. The charges are the result of a seven-month undercover investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS). ICE and DCIS agents arrested Li at New York’s JFK International Airport Oct. 14 as she was checking in to board a flight to China. [Continue reading.]
Prosecuting Our Friends, by Mona Charen. Imagine that you are a human rights lawyer who would like to establish the legal principle of “universal jurisdiction” — the notion that former leaders should be vulnerable to suit anywhere on earth. You gaze around the globe and notice Buddhist monks being mowed down in Myanmar; women stoned to death for supposed adultery in Iran; rape victims murdered by their families in Pakistan for the sake of “honor”; torture, rape and killing of hundreds of thousands in Darfur. Any of those get your juices flowing?
Not if you are a standard issue, liberal human rights type at the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School or the Center for Constitutional Rights in Manhattan. No, they’ve teamed up to sue 77-year-old Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, former president of Bolivia, who now lives in the United States. Lozada, a free market reformer and staunch ally of the U.S., is accused of complicity in the death of 67 people in La Paz in 2003. [Continue reading.]
These are a few of the opinions and commentary. There are a few more.
There are six topics under Headlines, and they each have three articles. I shall choose only one article per section.
Top U.S. News Headlines. Jury: Execution in stolen-baby case. With a confession and DNA evidence linking her to the killing of a pregnant woman and the theft of her unborn child, Lisa Montgomery’s trial focused not on whether she committed the crime but her sanity. [Continue reading.]
Top International Headlines. Kurdish rebels: Prisoners could be freed. Kurdish rebels said Saturday they are considering a lawmaker’s request for the release of eight Turkish soldiers captured just under a week ago – an incident that increased already heightened tensions in the area bordering Iraq. [Continue reading.]
Top Political Headlines. Edwards camp asked to pull student story. A University of North Carolina professor said Friday that John Edwards’ campaign demanded that he pull a student reporter’s television story that focused on the upscale location of the campaign’s headquarters.
C.A. “Charlie” Tuggle, an associate professor at the school, said the Edwards campaign contacted the reporter, second-year master’s degree student Carla Babb, asking for a video of her report to be removed from the Internet. When that failed, the campaign demanded in three calls to Tuggle that the TV story be killed, he said. [Continue reading.]
Top Strange Headlines. Toying with doll lands man in hoosegow. A man was arrested after a government agent allegedly found him in an office building restroom lying next to an inflatable, anatomically correct doll with his pants down. Craig S. McCullough, 47, was charged Wednesday with indecent exposure, a misdemeanor. [Continue reading.]
Top Business Headlines. Senators want probe on content blocking. Two Senators on Friday called for a congressional hearing to investigate reports that phone and cable companies are unfairly stifling communications over the Internet and on cell phones.
Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, said the incidents involving several companies, including Comcast Corp., Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc., have raised serious concerns over the companies’ “power to discriminate against content.” [Continue reading.]
Top Health Headlines. House leaders hope to rescue health bill. …Until now, House Democrats have largely avoided direct talks with these Republicans, who oppose the Democratic-drafted bill to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program but suggest they might be open to compromise. Instead, Democrats dealt this week with the few dozen Republicans who broke with President Bush from the start, counting on them to convert at least a dozen GOP colleagues. [Continue reading.]
I know this is a lot to read, but maybe there is one or two topics or articles that might grab your interest. You may also join TCV. This way, you can make your own decisions rather than having me make them for you. That is quite kinky, isn’t it? lol. Have a great day.
PS. I meant the part about me making the decisions. I then thought that if you want me to make the decisions of what power that would give me. Then I started thinking…well…nevermind what I thought! LOL.
First, I would like to thank all of you who found me. I’m having slight problem with Linkfest at this time since I’ve decided to return to my original site. It is NOT their fault. It’s just how the ball bounces. Please remember to use the permalink and trackback which I provide until the problem is resolved.
Now that we’ve resolved that problem, let’s have a great time. Bring your articles over here. I love to read them. So do my other readers. See, I never left here. I was writing here as well as over there. It did not resolve my problem! Back to the issue…please remember that I do not accept porn. Now, for you guys (and gals?), that does NOT mean you cannot post something tasteful. It just means I don’t like the hard-core stuff on my site. After all, I am a Christian. Now for the links.
Today is Friday, and I haven’t a thing to say. Well, that’s not exactly true. I have too much to say, so I will be writting another potpourri of articles over the weekend (I hope). Until then, this is an open trackback. If you have an article you would like to share with others, please post it here. The only two things I request are no porn and you must leave a link for me.
I have been trackbacking to many people who never bother to trackback to me. (I must find out what is happening.) Do you think that is fair? Go ahead and have a vote on it! It’s as if everyone disappeared except for the people who actually read what I wrote over at Rosemary’s Thoughts.com. I’M NOT THERE ANYMORE. I am at Rosemary’s Thoughts.blogspot.com.
There are many events that occur in our country where I am supposed to just shut up and take it because of other’s First Amendment right, but I must not remain silent for this. As you are aware, there is a ‘so-called church group called the Westboro baptist church’ that protests our brave men and women when their families are at their most vulnerable. They throw the most hateful speech I’ve ever heard and being a First Baptist Church member, this is NOT a church that has any affiliation with us. I DENOUNCE YOU, whatever your name is.
It is one thing to disagree with a policy, it is quite another to destroy another human being. FOR ANY REASON. They don’t care. They only want publicity, so they desecrated the funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, son to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Snyder.
Think about this for one moment, please. Could you bear the loss of your child? This child was a man, and a brave one at that. He served our country well. So well that he gave the ultimate sacrifice…his life. His family desired only that they have a private funeral to say good-bye to their beloved son, but that was not to be.
Now? Finally, someone is taking them to task. They are being sued in a Maryland court for an unspecified amount of damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress. You may read more about this story at Stop the ACLU. I find this totally disgusting and reprehensible. I have to stop here before I say something very un-Christianly.
If this post is self-explanatory, this is an open trackback. If it is not, if you do get it, GO AWAY. I’m sick and tired of your sort. Also, if I trackback to you, please return the favor. From now on I shall be watching. I received NO trackbacks for my last post. Hmm…
Deployed soldiers participate in mass re-enlistment ceremony.
18 October 2007 By Sgt. Marcus Butler 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) 25th Infantry Division.
BAGHDAD, Oct. 18, 2007 — One hundred forty-one paratroopers decided to stay Army in a mass re-enlistment ceremony held on Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq, Oct. 14. The paratroopers from 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, made the decision to continue their service in the Army after being deployed for over a year.
Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, commanding general of Multi-National Division–Center, made a special trip to FOB Kalsu to lead the oath of enlistment for these paratroopers.
“To re-enlist this many paratroopers after being deployed for a year is truly amazing,” said Master Sgt. Douglas Goodwin, senior career counselor for the 4th BCT (Abn.), 25th Inf. Div. “It says a lot about the leadership and the patriotism of these paratroopers.”
After the ceremony, Lynch thanked each paratrooper and posed for pictures. To this date, the Spartan Brigade has re-enlisted nearly 1,300 soldiers; approximately 70 percent of them have decided to stay with the brigade for another tour.
“Soldiers are special people and to see these paratroopers making a commitment to continue serving their country when the operational tempo is so high proves they trust in their leadership,” Goodwin said. “It also shows how much they believe in what they are doing and stand proud as United States paratroopers ready to defend our country against the ever-growing threat of terrorism.”
Photo – One hundred forty-one paratroopers from 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, re-enlisted Oct. 14 on Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq, in a ceremony conducted by Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, commanding general of Multi-National Division–Center. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Marcus Butler.
Two C-17 air crews completed a record airdrop, simultaneously dropping supply loads in Afghanistan.
17 October 2007 By Staff Sgt. Trevor Tiernan U.S. Central Command Air Force Combat Correspondent Team.
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Oct. 17, 2007 — Two U.S. Air Force C-17 crews recently completed a mission for the history books with one of the largest single airdrops in Afghanistan since Operation Enduring Freedom began.
“What sets this mission apart from previous ones is this is the first time we’ve used two aircraft to drop simultaneously on the same drop zone in the AOR (area of responsibility),” said Tech. Sgt. Marvin Mosley, a loadmaster on the Oct. 11, 2007, mission.
It also was the first time in combat that cargo has been air-dropped in a formation scenario. The two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron dropped more than 60 bundles of cargo, weighing more than 85,000 pounds, over the Paktika province in southeastern Afghanistan.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Brian Robinson, Air Mobility Division chief, Combined Air and Space Operations Center, said the drop contained supplies needed to operate through the winter, said. Poor road conditions leading to the forward operating base and force protection concerns drove the decision to make an airdrop, Robinson said. “Airdrop[s] could deliver all the supplies in two to three minutes using the C-17s and minimize [coalition forces’] exposure on the ground and in the air,” said Robinson.
The crews flew from Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, to pick up the cargo at Bagram Airfield before heading to the drop zone. Air Force Capt. Ryan Orfe, one of the pilots on the mission, said the airdrop not only got the needed supplies to the troops well ahead of harsh winter weather, but also helped keep convoy drivers out of harm’s way.
“Hopefully we’re doing good and taking convoys off the road,” said Orfe. “That seems to be where a lot of the attacks on our troops come from. The more we can keep [the convoys] off the road, while at the same time keeping ourselves safe flying at higher altitudes … it’s a win-win for everybody.”
Photo- A second Air Force C-17 Globemaster drops Combat Delivery System bundles just a few hundred feet above another set floating down to coalition soldiers waiting below, Oct. 11, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Micah E. Clare.
This is an article about a Hero who gave his life for his three other friends. There is a book written by the Lone Survivor about this very incident. ($14.99) God bless them all.
Update: Below please find other links from Milbloggers.
22 October 2007 By John J. Kruzel American Forces Press Service.
WASHINGTON (NNS) — President Bush today posthumously presented the Medal of Honor earned by Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL who sacrificed his life in an attempt to save fellow SEALs during a fierce battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
The Medal of Honor, accepted by Murphy’s parents, Maureen and Dan Murphy, during a White House ceremony, is the highest military decoration. Murphy’s is the first Medal of Honor awarded for service in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
“Today we add Lieutenant Michael Murphy’s name to the list of recipients who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” Bush said. “By presenting Michael Murphy’s family with the Medal of Honor that he earned, a grateful nation remembers the courage of this proud Navy SEAL.”
On June 28, 2005, as Murphy led a four-man SEAL team in search of key terrorist commander, the unit came under attack by some 50 Taliban fighters. The lieutenant is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his teammates, according to a summary of action published by the Navy.
Despite intense combat around him, Murphy — already wounded in the firefight — moved into the open where he could gain a better transmission signal and request backup from headquarters. At one point, Murphy was shot in the back, causing him to drop the transmitter. The lieutenant picked it back up, completed the call and continued firing at the enemy as they closed in.
By the time the two-hour gunfight had concluded, Murphy and two others SEALs had been killed. An estimated 35 Taliban died in the fighting.
As a somber postscript to Murphy’s bravery, the helicopter that he requested crashed after being struck by a rocket- propelled grenade, killing everyone on board. In total, 19 Americans died in what Bush referred to as “the deadliest for Navy Special Warfare forces since World War II.”
The president characterized Murphy as a born Navy SEAL.
“SEALs get their name from operating by sea, air and land, and even as a toddler, Michael could find his way through any obstacle,” Bush said. “When he was just 18 months old, he darted across a neighbor’s yard and dove into the swimming pool. By the time his frantic parents reached him, Michael had swum to the other side with a big smile on his face.”
In addition to his physical strength, Bush said Murphy’s strong moral character also was apparent at an early age.
“One day in school, he got into a scuffle sticking up for a student with a disability. It’s the only time his parents ever got a phone call from the principal, and they couldn’t have been prouder,” Bush said. “Michael’s passion for helping others led him to become a caring brother, a tutor, a life guard and eventually a member of the United States armed forces.”
The president welcomed Murphy’s parents and brother, John, who hail from Patchogue, N.Y., to the White House’s East Room, noting that Murphy’s decision to join the U.S. military was not easily accepted by his family. “As a Purple Heart recipient during Vietnam, Michael’s father understood the sacrifices that accompany a life of service. He also understood that his son was prepared to make these sacrifices,” Bush added.
Murphy is remembered by fellow SEALs as a wisecracking friend who went by “Mikey” or “Murph,” a patriot who wore a New York City firehouse patch on his uniform in honor of the heroes of 9/11, Bush said.
“And they remember an officer who respected their opinions and led them with an understated yet unmistakable sense of command. Together Michael and his fellow SEALs deployed multiple times around the world in the war against the extremists and radicals,” Bush said. “And while their missions were often carried out in secrecy, their love of country and devotion to each other was always clear.”
Murphy is one of three servicemembers to receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry in action during the war on terror. The president has presented medals to the families of Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith and Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, who died in Iraq.
Photo – President George W. Bush presents the Medal of Honor to Daniel and Maureen Murphy, the parents of Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy, during a ceremony at the White House. Lt. Murphy was killed during a reconnaissance mission near Asadabad, Afghanistan, while exposing himself to enemy fire in order to call in support after his four-man team came under attack by enemy forces June 28, 2005. Murphy is the first service member to receive the honor for actions during Operation Enduring Freedom and the first Navy recipient of the medal since Vietnam. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brien Aho.
<a href=”http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://rosemarysthoughts.blogspot.com/2007/10/bush-presents-medal-of-honor-to-parents.html&title=Bush Presents Medal of Honor to Parents of Navy SEAL&bodytext=This is an article about a Hero who gave his life for his three other friends. There is a book written by the Lone Survivor about this very incident. ($14.99) God bless them all.
Update: Below please find other links from Milbloggers.”>
Part II, Part III and today’s Part IV of Which Islam? Whose Islam? All Muslims Own Interpretation of the Koran. This was written at The Family Security Foundation, Inc. by M. Zuhdi Jasser. (9/14/07)
Muslim group touts local political clout, by Audrey Hudson, Washington Times. (10/1/2007) Dr. Esam S. Omeish’s appointment to Gov. Tim Kaine’s immigration commission was quickly retracted amid Islamist suspicions.
I understand the reluctance some may have to reading any of these articles, but this is the voice you have all been denied to hear. The voice you’ve been seeking. You ask, “Where are the Muslims speakint out against this?” He has been speaking out since September 11, 2007. Now it is up to you to read what the struggle between the Islamist and this man (and those whom are still afraid to speak out except through him) to keep abreast of the news you will never see anywhere else…
This is my Tuesday open trackback. Please be so kind that if you trackback to me, leave a link back here. My trackbacks seem to have slipped very much, except for a few faithful friends.
3 Oct 07 by MC2 Regina L. Brown Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, Public Affairs.
TADJOURA, Djibouti — After spending eight years in the United States Marine Corps as an adjutant and logistics officer, Capt. Erin Nalepa, a Dearborn, Mich. native, decided she wanted to do something different with her life, so she joined the reserves and started on a nursing degree. She never imagined that an opportunity to get hands-on experience in the medical field would be available to her while on deployment at Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa in Djibouti.
Army Lt. Col. Alana Conley offered her the opportunity to help the 350th Civil Affairs Command functional specialty team with a Medical Civic Action Program that was conducted in the villages of Dalay-Af, Alaili Dadda and Obock, located in Djibouti from Sept.15-27, and Nalepa immediately jumped at the chance.
Nalepa already had experience helping others through the time she spent volunteering with the American Red Cross. Some of her volunteer experiences include visiting patients at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C., teaching classes to students at the United States Marine Corps School of Infantry at Camp Geiger, N.C. on the process of Red Cross Emergency Messages and teaching first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation at Orange County ARC in Anaheim, Calif.
Being a staff secretary to CJTF-HOA Chief of Staff, Navy Capt. William Sizemore, Nalepa doesn’t get out of the office much, but Nalepa was able to break from her job and dedicate four days to help with the MEDCAP.
“I hear about all the things that go on here at CJTF-HOA, but I haven’t been able to see anything until now,” said Nalepa. “This is just amazing to see all the logistics and all the planning that happens when we come together out here. Seeing what we’re actually doing for these people is pretty great.”
Nalepa was given the job of fitting patients for adaptive eyewear during the MEDCAP. The strength of the glasses is changed using syringes which adjust the amount of liquid in each lens. The syringes used to make the changes can then be removed. Even though the job required no medical expertise, Nalepa was still able to gain experience helping others.
Throughout her life, Nalepa has admired the bedside manner of not only her family doctors, but her mother as well. Nalepa’s mother, Janet, is an X-ray and mammography technician at the Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center in Dearborn.
“I think of the way the doctors made me feel better and comforted me when I was sick and I want to be able to do that for others,” said Nalepa.
The MEDCAP gave her the perfect opportunity to get hands on experience with helping people and to do her part to support the mission of CJTF-HOA, which is to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect coalition interests in east Africa and Yemen through humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, consequence management, and civic action programs to include medical and veterinary care, school and medical clinic construction, and water development projects.
“This MEDCAP has really given me a much better perspective of what we do at CJTF-HOA, as well as giving me a chance to do work in the medical field,” said Nalepa. “After participating, I feel even stronger about becoming a nurse.”
Nalepa is currently completing pre-requisites and will apply to a nursing program as soon as she returns from deployment in mid-October.
Photo – Marine Corps Capt. Erin Nalepa fits a patient for a pair of adaptive eyewear prescription glasses during a Medical Civic Action Program held in the village of Alaili Dadda in Djibouti. Service members deployed to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa offered medical care to remote villages throughout Djibouti from Sep. 15-27 during the MEDCAP. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Regina L. Brown.
BAGHDAD — Communication in Baghdad can be an exercise in frustration, a hit-or-miss proposition due to both geography and technology issues. That will change as reconstruction of a major communication facility continues.
The war resulted in the destruction of Al Mamoon telecommunications. The Al Mamoon was the technology hub where telephone and cell phone calls, as well as other forms of telecommunications, were routed. The new facility will restore that function as Iraqis and the Coalition continue to work reconstruction projects, which are vital for the normalization of the country.
The Al Mamoon is being rebuilt by Alfa Consult for the Ministry of Communications. The new complex will include a glass-faced 41-meter-high building, housing new telecommunications switching equipment. This will enable residents to place phone calls in and around Baghdad and throughout Iraq, allow for faster Internet access, as well as house new satellite and cell phone equipment.
The construction plans also include a 200-seat auditorium, conference rooms and a cafeteria able to serve 150 people. There will be a new Post Office that provides access to FedEx and DHL, as well as a four-story parking garage. The grounds will be landscaped and rows of trees will line the walkways.
“This building is considered the heart of Iraq,” said Mohammad Abdula, the project manager.
The old Al Mamoon, according to Abdula, was a landmark. “It was a very famous building to Baghdad people in time of Saddam. Ask any person in Iraq ‘Do you know Al Mamoon building?’ and they will say ‘yes’,” said Abdula.
The rebuilding has not been easy. While the project employs 175 workers, it took 10 months to clear the site of debris. Curfews delayed the project for several months. Some building materials have to be trucked in from Dubai. The contractors wanted to run two shifts to speed up the complex’s construction, but security concerns did not allow it. The Ministry of Communications has made this a high priority project and crews have been working hard, still the project is one to two months behind schedule.
Still, Abdula remains excited about the project and the centers potential. “It will connect Iraq with the world,” he said.
Photo – Construction continues on the new Al Mamoon telecommunications center in Baghdad. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jerry Saslav.
24 Sept 07 By Air Force Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente CJTF-HOA Public Affairs.
NAGAD, Djibouti – Marines assigned to 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion and Heavy Marine Helicopter 464 out of Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, participated in a community relations project by painting a schoolhouse in Nagad Sept. 20. Reaching out to villages is a supplemental mission for the 3rd LAAD, the security force of Camp Lemonier.
“Our purpose here is to build relationships in the area as well as maintain and enhance security of the base,” said Marine Capt. Christopher F. Crim, 3rd LAAD Battery B commanding officer. “Marines have a long history of working with locals to accomplish the mission. We will help the local villages help themselves, provide security for the base and assist the Djiboutian police and military to maintain stability in the local area.”
Daoud Zeid Hassan, Arta School Region supervisor, stopped by the schoolhouse while the Marines were there. Hassan supervises seven primary schools and one secondary school.
“There is a strong friendship with the Marines,” said Hassan. “They help us a great deal with the schools. We feel they help where we can’t finish.”
The Marines visit the schools frequently to see what assistance they can provide, whether it’s painting walls or building additions.
“It’s great to be able to conduct goodwill missions, like painting the Nagad School, and to build friendships with the villagers and leaders in the local area,” Crim said.
The Marines of 3rd LAAD replaced the 6th Provisional Security Company Sept. 16 and are working to see what assistance the villages require.
“We are currently in the process of identifying the needs of the villages near Camp Lemonier,” said Crim. “Then we will make an assessment in coordination with other agencies on the camp to develop a plan of action.”
The efforts of the Marines are also appreciated by those who benefit most directly.
“Americans are very good,” said Daoud Omar Gousieh, a Nagad native. “They have been here for seven years, and they always give.”
The mission of more than 250 Marines assigned to 3rd LAAD is to provide perimeter and external security for Camp Lemonier in support of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect coalition interest in order to prevail against extremism.
Photo – Marine Gunnery Sgt. Rongalett D. Green and Marine Cpl. Vincent C. Girardi help a Nagad child paint the schoolhouse for 150 children. Green is the administrative chief and coordinator for the Horn of Africa Marine Corps Coordination Element. Green is deployed from Quantico, Va., and her father lives in Sacramento, Calif. Girardi is a guard for the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente.
24 Sept 07 By Spc. Nathan W. Hutchison 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.
GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan — With the help of American and coalition forces, the Afghan national security forces are gradually earning the respect and acceptance of the Afghan people.
Embedded tactical trainers spend their days training and coaching Afghan national army and police how to conduct themselves during and outside operations.
“Our biggest job is showing ANSF what ‘right’ looks like,” said Army National Guard Maj. Chris P. Guziec, ANP ETT district commander. “We take what they think is right and mold it into something that is workable. This helps them better understand the steps to take and the reason for the changes.”
Guziec said this type of training requires flexibility for both groups, along with consideration for Afghanistan’s cultural and religious foundation.
“We are the ANP’s mentors; making sure they are being professional at their jobs and not exploiting their power,” explained Army National Guard Cpt. Jason E. Knueven, ANP ETT district team chief. With the mentoring, Knueven said he notices positive changes in the Afghan security forces in each of the missions he oversees.
The most recent mission involved the ANA and ANP securing several villages and searching houses based on intelligence gathered by coalition forces and ANSF.
“They were being professional at their job,” Knueven said. “They weren’t going in and stirring up the houses. The people took it really well because the ANSF was doing it the right way.”
American soldiers working with ANSF in operations and exercises also see improvement in their Afghan colleagues’ performance. “The local populace needs to be able to build that trust with its own military and police,” said Army 1st Lt. Brian M. Kitching, 2nd Platoon Leader, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. “ANA and ANP working to catch the bad guys will do that. It’s a slow process and a gradual process, but I definitely see an improvement in the way they plan and execute missions and control their forces.”
But Kitching said the ANSF has to do more than catch bad guys to earn the trust and respect of the Afghan people. Afghan civilians need to know they can rely on their military and police to protect them, he said.
“The good people want the bad people out, too, but they have to trust the people searching their homes,” Kitching said.
Photo- An Afghan national army soldier checks an area of recently disturbed soil searching for possible hidden weapons or explosives during Operation Jam Morad, Sept. 12, in Ghazni Province. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathan W. Hutchison.
AL ASAD, Iraq — History is a big part of the Marine Corps, every Marine is taught to honor the legacy of the first Leathernecks in 1775. Tradition has permeated so far into the Marines that it is not just the history of the Corps that Devil Dogs honor, but the feats of individual units as well.
Marines in one of the oldest heavy helicopter squadrons in the Marine Corps, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, are upholding a tradition of excellence that has extended almost 25 years with 70,000 Class A mishap-free flight hours.
“Its very rare,” said Lt. Col. Brian Cavanaugh, the Ugly Angels’ commanding officer. “Hardly any squadrons get this high, so we’ve been fortunate to reach this milestone. It’s a good mark, and we want to keep it going. Especially in combat, because it’s not like flying at home in the states, it’s desert (operations) with a high operational tempo. To be able to continue to do things safely is a testament to the high caliber of the Marines.”
The squadron’s mishap-free streak, which started March 28, 1983, is an accomplishment that has taken years of hard work, according to Maj. Richard Matyskiela, the HMH-362 operations officer.
Part of that hard work was completed in combat. Since they arrived in Iraq the squadron has flown just over 2,800 hours, according to Matyskiela, a Silverdale, Pa., native.
“That’s four to five times what we fly back in (Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii),” said Matyskiela. “Every aircraft out here is at about 60 hours per month. And along with that, our maintainers are doing a few years worth of maintenance out here. In six months out here they are probably getting a good two years worth of maintenance under their belt. Out maintainers are doing a phenomenal job out here.”
The “Ugly Angels” of HMH-362 have a deep history that dates back 55 years. They have the proud distinction of being the first Marine aircraft unit to deploy in support of the Vietnam War, and they also currently have the oldest CH-53D “Sea Stallion” in the Marine Corps, according to Cavanaugh.
“This squadron has a rich history,” said Cavanaugh, a Baltimore native. “We celebrated our 55th anniversary this year back in April. So this is one of the older squadrons in the Marine Corps. This squadron was in Vietnam, it was in the first Gulf War, it’s been to Haiti. So there is a lot of tradition, a lot of heritage, within the unit. This is just another benchmark to show that this squadron is a very, very good squadron. One of the best in the Marine Corps.”
The Marines of HMH-362 operate the same way they have done for the last 55 years, by the book. It is the dedication of the junior Marines that has allowed the Ugly Angels to continue the streak as long as they have, according to Capt. Nick Turner, an HMH-362 pilot and the flightline officer in charge.
“The pilots and the officers don’t do it around here,” said Turner, an Elliot, Iowa native. “I mean, sure we give a little guidance, but it’s the sergeants and below. They are the pulse of the squadron. Our frontline is out there on the flightline making sure that the aircraft are mission ready. And they do it with a smile on their face, without a complaint, every day. It’s impressive.”
Turner, who is the pilot credited with flying the mission that helped the squadron reach the latest milestone, attributes the Marines’ pride in their squadron and in maintaining the reputation they have built over the years to their success.
“They have an enormous sense of pride, not only in this aircraft but in this squadron,” explained Turner. “They know the great history of this squadron, I mean it goes all the way back to 1962 in Vietnam. My dad was an original Ugly Angel back in 1965 in Vietnam. They have an enormous amount of pride, not only in the aircraft and the history, but in preserving it.”
From the moment a Marine arrives at the squadron, they are taught the history of the Ugly Angels, and they become part of the Ugly Angels family, according to Lance Cpl. Jorge Toledo, a crew chief with HMH-362
“It definitely motivates us, especially when we watch old videos of the squadron that date back as far as Vietnam,” said Toledo. “As the years went along, we’ve always remained Ugly Angels. It’s just the way we do things. It’s 100 percent all the time, no less. Whenever you feel down you think about what the people did that were here before you, and it motivates you to keep on going, to work that much harder to get things done.”
So the Ugly Angels are celebrating their latest achievement, and looking forward to adding more to their long list of accomplishments.
“People come and go, but the way the Ugly Angels do things remains the same,” said Turner. “This patch has stayed the same the whole time. Regardless of who’s been here, nothing’s changed.”
Photo – Capt. Nick Turner, a pilot with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, skillfully pilots a CH-53D “Sea Stallion” through a turn during a mission, Sept. 15. The Marines of HMH-362, the “Ugly Angels,” have racked up over 70,000 Class A mishap-free flight hours. Photo by Cpl. Zachary Dyer.
22 Sept 07 By Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser 2nd Marine Division.
HADITHA DAM, Iraq — Mention of the U. S. Navy usually conjures images of huge battleships cruising across the oceans, but the Navy is also responsible for much smaller boats and waterways. The Navy has fought on rivers and lakes at home and overseas since its establishment during 1775.
During the War for Independence, sailors fought on tiny boats against the huge warships of the Royal Navy on colonial waterways. The War of 1812 found sailors on the Mississippi River aiding Gen. Andrew Jackson during a major British assault on New Orleans. With the beginning of combat operations in the Republic of Vietnam during the 1960s, the Navy joined forces with the U.S. Army to form the first Riverine squadron, known at the time as the Mobile Riverine Force.
The Navy officially stood up the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, responsible for fielding a new Riverine force in Iraq, Jan. 13, 2006, in Little Creek, Va. Sailors in the new command began training during June 2006 in preparation for their upcoming deployment. Less than a year later, during March 2007, Riverine Squadron 1, Riverine Group 1, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, deployed to Iraq’s waterways in support of Regimental Combat Team 2, in Al Anbar Province.
Now, for the first time since the Vietnam War, a Navy Riverine unit is wrapping up their tour of duty, turning over their area of operations, and preparing to come home.
“When we controlled the rivers during Vietnam, it was a huge hit to the enemy and a major U.S. success. [My bolding.] It’s the same here,” said Navy Chief Petty Officer John V. Flanagan, a damage control chief with the squadron. “Manning boats and guns is the Navy’s job. We just scaled down the boat, the gun, and the size of the operations. It feels good to be the first ones back in this position. Those are big shoes to fill, but I think we did pretty well.”
Flanagan, as well as the other sailors in the unit, commonly referred to as riverines, is pleased with the success the squadron has had in Iraq.
“My measure of success is this, in seven months we’ve only been shot at twice and we never hide. We are doing things right and the enemy stays away. They know if they mess with this unit they will be leveled. It’s the most significant Brown Water Navy contribution to the war so far. They came in, ramped up training and deployed in less than a year. We haven’t lost anyone and we’ve completed every mission. That’s success plain and simple,” said Flanagan, who is serving on his third deployment.
The months leading up to the riverines’ deployment were filled with various schools, exercises and training sessions. Every riverine in the squadron attended the Marine Corps School of Infantry East, in North Carolina. Boat captains and crewmen attended Special Missions Training Command, to learn more about the watercraft. Gunners went through the Marine machine-gunners course, and selected sailors even attended the Defense Language Institute for an Iraqi immersion course. Riverines assigned to Maritime Interdiction Operations Teams, a ground combat element, went through a specialized combat course provided by Blackwater, a private civilian security firm. In addition, most of the riverines also completed a combat lifesaver course.
“The training was great,” said Chief Petty Officer Michael E. Bennett, a boat captain with Detachment 3, Riverine Squadron 1. “Before we deployed, we met some of the riverines who served during Vietnam, and they emphasized the importance of what we are doing and got us excited about coming. Then, when we got here, the Marine Dam Security Unit trained us and prepped us for the takeover of (Haditha Dam). We’ve been set up for success since day one, and when we got her,e we just wanted to work and help out. We wanted to leave our footprint and get experience.”
The riverines are responsible for the security of the Haditha Dam, but in addition, they work with other units within the regiment on various combined arms operations.
“We’ve worked with Marine Anglico guys, They were awesome. We provided support for the Navy Seals sometimes. We worked a lot with the regiment’s Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, doing blocking positions and sweeps, and provide security for various units,” said Bennett, a 35-year-old Seguin, Texas, native. “A lot of times, we transported people and gear, because the waterways are safer than roads to travel on. Once, we even worked with the Air Force on an operation. We don’t care, we just want to help out.”
Many of the riverines say their new role in the war has given them a better perspective for the type of life a Marine or soldier might have, and most of them are happy to share that warrior heritage.
“We definitely have more appreciation for Marines, soldiers, and groundpounders in general,” laughed Bennett.
“We are proud of the fact that the only difference between us and the guys on the ground is the water under our boat. We share hardships, we know what that type of lifestyle entails, and we’re proud to have a claim in that,” agreed Flanagan. “There’s no rivalry or bickering, because we’ve been trained by everyone, Marine, Army, Navy, even civilians, its one team, one fight.”
Photo – Navy riverines with Detachment 1, Riverine Squadron 1, Riverine Group 1, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command man their machineguns during a patrol on the Euphrates River. The squadron was stood up, trained, and deployed in less than a year, and is the first Navy riverine unit to be deployed since the Vietnam War. Photo by Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser.
While I did not write this article, Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser did, I believe it one that should be shared. Our men have done well since their inception of the Navy (and all other branches), and it is about time we all stood up and said so. Let’s support our men and women. Pass this story along.
This is why I have chosen this post for today’s Linkfest. Please join us at the Linkfest and remember, no porn!
21 Sept 07 By Spc. Robert H. Baumgartner 82nd Sustainment Brigade.
CAMP ADDER, Iraq — Whether pioneering coalition air drops or providing critical support to major offensives like Operation Marne Torch, the 82nd Sustainment Brigade paratroopers’ logistical contribution to the security of Iraq has been considerable.
Arguably one of the most far-reaching and longest-lasting contributions has been the brigade’s commitment to “growing the future” by implementing realistic, reactive training programs through the creation of the Black Scorpion Combat Logistics Patrol Academy.
The program is designed to keep soldiers’ existing skills sharp, teach them new skills based on the most current information available and train them to handle situations they may encounter on the road.
Since January 2007, more than 1,000 soldiers have completed the training, which includes casualty extraction and treatment, improvised explosive device detection and escalation of force procedures.
Army Capt. Robert Walls, 82nd operations officer in charge, said the goal is to give combat escort teams the ability to evolve as the insurgency evolves.
“The insurgency is adapting to our tactics at a rate that is inconsistent with our deployments,” Walls said. “The enemy has had four years to study us. We only have one rotation to get a step ahead of him.”
This lag in tactical knowledge creates a deficit that can increase soldier’s susceptibility. The academy program creates a bridge to give soldiers the edge they need to be successful in a rapidly changing asymmetric environment.
“A lot of what we teach can be practiced in the unit motor pool, the squad leader or convoy commander can run them through the scenarios,” said Army Sgt. 1st Class Chris Patterson, commandant of the academy. “But we allow a more in-depth range of possible scenarios. We can provide all the resources needed to conduct the training and make it a little more realistic.”
One scenario designed to improve real-time decision-making requires students to drive vehicles down a road at convoy speed to be confronted by an instructor driving a white pickup truck.
Soldiers are then expected to exercise escalation of force procedures, flexible to each unique situation. Sometimes the instructors comply with the soldier’s overtures. Sometimes they do not.
“We try to drive home the point that their efforts to stop a vehicle may not be as effective as they think they are,” Patterson said. “Each of the students gets a chance to sit with us in the pickup truck while their buddies go through the EOF procedures so they can get an idea of what it looks like. It gives them a better understanding of how to effectively communicate their intentions when time is so limited.”
Photo – Army Spc. Octavio Garza pulls security while his fellow soldiers treat a mock casualty at the 82nd Sustainment Brigade’s Black Scorpion Combat Logistics Patrol Academy on Camp Adder, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Robert H. Baumgartner.
by Maj. Adriane Craig 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) — Kyrgyz controllers from Manas Air Base got the chance to see air traffic operations on a whole new level with an orientation trip to the United States Sept. 3 to 17. Seven Kyrgyz air navigation controllers spent nearly two weeks touring the training and advanced operations sites that comprise the United States flight network.
U.S. Central Air Forces sponsored the trip as part of the on-going education and exchange program between Kyrgyz air navigation and the 376th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron at Manas Air Base. The two organizations work closely because the base is collocated with Manas International Airport.
The controllers visited civilian air traffic control centers belonging to the Federal Aviation Administration and the military air traffic control tower at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. They also traveled south to visit the military air traffic controller school house at Keesler AFB, Miss.
Air operations in another country was a real eye-opener for some of the participants as the Kyrgyz controllers got to see firsthand the high-tech equipment used in daily operations and training.
For Aibek Akmatov, a senior air traffic controller with the KAN, the training facility was one of the biggest surprises.
“You can talk with the computer,” said Mr. Akmatov after seeing the simulator used at the military ATC school.
The group spent three days at the schoolhouse, where hundreds of military controllers are trained each year. The schoolhouse provides realistic training to better prepare controllers for the challenges they’ll face on duty.
The size of the airports that the groups visited also impressed the Kyrgyz controllers, along with the amount of air traffic they handle.
“Seventy percent of the global air traffic flows through the United States,” said Maj. Michael Smith, the 376th EOSS commander, who accompanied the controllers on the trip west.
The Kyrgyz controllers were exposed to large-scale operations, which enhanced their understanding of the big picture of safe air traffic control.
“Now I have a clear view of how our American colleagues work. The command air traffic control centers in Washington, D.C., work with 20 sectors across the country and provide a good flow of air traffic,” Mr. Akmatov said.
Photo – David Maddox explains the layout of the airfield to Igor Kulik, Taalaibek Alisherov, and Lev Semenovykh Sept. 6 at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Mr. Maddox is the Federal Aviation Administration shift manager responsible for tower operations at Andrews AFB. The Kyrgyz air traffic controllers visited Andrews AFB and several other facilities in Virginia and Mississippi as part of a two-week orientation sponsored by U.S. Central Air Forces. The trip is part of an ongoing education and exchange program between Kyrgyz air navigation and the 376th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron at Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan. The two organizations work closely together because the base is collocated with Manas International Airport. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Alexy Saltekoff.
by Sgt. Matthew Clifton 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE CHAPMAN, Afghanistan – You only have to say two words to invoke that feeling of rivalry that is oft-present between two of the largest armed services in the United States.
“Army-Navy.” GO NAVY!
Upon hearing those words, one’s mind is immediately drawn towards collegiate athletics and although there may be some slight truth in the rivalry each Soldier or Sailor has towards the opposite service, one unit (comprised not of Soldiers and Sailors, but Servicemembers,) has demonstrated how the rivalry, when it comes down to it, is just good-hearted fun.
The truth is, whatever feuds the Army and Navy may have, they are certainly taken with a giant grain of salt.
No one unit better proves this point than the Khowst Provincial Reconstruction Team. Made up of uniformed personnel from both services, the Khowst PRT plays a key role in the development of the Khowst province by funding and contracting projects like the building of schools, roads and hospitals.
This mission is a huge task and one that would not be possible without the complete and total teamwork of all its members, Army and Navy.
“This is the first time I’ve ever been in a joint environment,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeffrey Caffey, master at arms, Khowst PRT. “I’ve never experienced the ‘Army thing’ before and at first it was a total culture-shock.”
The “culture-shock” was best remembered through his pre-deployment training at Fort Bragg, N.C.
“I think the biggest thing for the Navy guys was the ruck-marches we went on,” said Staff Sgt. Michael A. Sheets, civil affairs noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Khowst PRT. “I think it was difficult for the [Navy] guys, not because they couldn’t handle it, but because they were so used to being on a ship.”
“It was fun teaching the guys about marching formations, what way to point their weapon and things like that,” Sheets continued. “They were completely cooperative the whole time and I don’t think I’ve ever seen any one group of guys more eager and willing to learn.”
Caffey, a New Braunfels, Texas native, laughed at the recollection of the ruck-marches, mentioning that, although he “walked” a lot during his Navy basic training, he had never before donned full “battle-rattle” and walked for miles in a formation.
“It was definitely different,” Caffey added. “Some of our guys had a tough time, but I think some of the Army guys also had to get used to having a Navy commander.”
None of the Soldiers in the unit had ever worked on a ship and both Caffey and Sheets agreed the Navy “slang” used by the commander was something the Soldiers had to get used to.
“There is an enormous amount of service-specific slang the commander uses in his speeches,” Sheets said jokingly. “He always says something about ‘fair winds.’”
Caffey was quick to add “fair winds” means everything is going fine, like “smooth sailing.”
“The Army just says ‘hooah’ for everything,” Sheets, an Ohio native, retorted.
All-in-all, the unit spent three months training at Fort Bragg and after being in the Army for more than four years, this was Sheet’s first experience with the Navy.
“The tact shown by these guys during training can not be matched,” Sheets said. “Our commander is one of the smartest guys I know.”
Sheets referred to the way their commander, understanding he needed experienced leaders, made Sheets and other combat veterans “team leaders” during their training time.
Before they realized it, their training had stopped and they were in Afghanistan doing exactly what they had trained for. By that time, there was no longer the distinction between the Army and the Navy. They were just “the team.”
Daily life for Caffey and Sheets is seen by both as being vastly productive. Working at the district center in Tani, a small district in Khowst, they literally live among the people of Afghanistan, helping to rebuild the area through funding and reconstruction projects.
“We work with the local government officials and police officers to ensure the continued stability of the district,” Caffey said. “They are an all-around good group and I feel proud that they are doing what’s best for their citizens.”
Straddling the half-way mark of their deployment, the lines of “Army and Navy” have gone from blurred to nonexistent.
“I don’t even see a difference anymore, its just one big team,” Caffey said.
Neither Caffey nor Sheets had ever worked in a joint environment before and that they, along with their entire unit, bonded so instantly and permanently says something about how trivial and “elementary” any type of rivalry really is.
“I’m completely shocked at how everyone left their egos at the door and came together to be the best possible unit,” Sheets said. “We have a good government to work with in this province and because we work so well as a team, I feel good about the future of our district.”
Photo – Staff Sgt. Kirtis Hoursch, a squad leader with the 158th Infantry Battalion, Arizona Army National Guard, attached to the Khowst Provincial Reconstruction Team, inspects a Soldier and a Sailor prior to heading out on a mission, at Forward Operating Base Chapman, Afghanistan. Photo by Sgt. Matthew Clifton.
19 Sept 2007 by Master Sgt. Ruby Zarzyczny 380th Air Expeditionary Wing.
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) — The commander of U.S. Central Command visited Airmen from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Sept. 17 at their forward deployed location in Southwest Asia.
Adm. William J. Fallon was greeted by Brig. Gen. Lawrence Wells, 380th AEW commander; Col. Bruce VanSkiver, the 380th AEW vice commander; Chief Master Sgt. Angelo Wilson, the 380th AEW command chief, and host nation and U.S. Embassy officials.
Admiral Fallon and his staff attended a unit mission brief given by the wing commander. During the briefing, General Wells explained how the 380th AEW missions contribute to contingency operations throughout the area of operation and the war on terrorism.
“Admiral Fallon took special interest in how we provide unblinking (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) support to the combatant commanders. He highlighted the fact that our wing has been instrumental in the positive outcome of recent combat operations and praised our Airmen for their dedicated service,” General Wells said.
After the briefing, Admiral Fallon toured a hangar where he was briefed by Airmen and civilian technicians on the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, Global Hawk and E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft missions.
“Our goal was to introduce Admiral Fallon to as many young Airmen as possible,” General Wells said. “We knew he would be impressed once the Airmen started talking about their mission. And our Airmen were fabulous; they all made me very proud hearing them explain in great detail how they were a key part of the war effort.”
Retired senior master sergeant James Cheeley helped brief the admiral on the capabilities of the U-2 aircraft. Mr. Cheeley is the 99th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Lockheed site manager. The retiree is also a 20-year Lockheed veteran with more than 32 years combined experience working with the U-2, and is considered a U-2 subject matter expert.
“I explained how it was built and delivered to the Air Force in April 1989,” he said. “They were surprised because they thought all U-2s were 50 years old.”
The 380th AEW also hosted a luncheon for Admiral Fallon and his staff, to which several Airmen and their commanders were invited. Admiral Fallon visited with each Airman and acknowledged their contributions to the mission by presenting them with a CENTCOM commander’s coin.
“Receiving a coin from the admiral was a great honor,” said Staff Sgt. Luvelle Pemberton, a command post specialist with the 380th AEW. “I love doing my job but I know that without the ‘One Team, One Fight’ concept, we could not be victorious in our fight. I try to give 100 percent every time I walk through my office door.”
Sergeant Pemberton also served on the honor guard detail present during the admiral’s arrival.
“Just seeing his aircraft with the words United States of America written on it made me proud to be serving my country,” the NCO said. “To be honest, I was a little nervous to meet him. He sat right next to me and started asking me about my stay here. My lasting impression of him is that he holds a position in which he has to make tough decisions and stand his ground on what he feels is right for our armed forces and nation. But, take away all the stars and you will see a Sailor, as we are Airmen, proud to serve our country.”
Near the end of the luncheon, Admiral Fallon grabbed his chair and sat with every Airman selected to meet him. He asked where they were from and what they liked most about supporting the CENTCOM’s mission.
“It was amazing talking about strategic initiatives from the actual general officer that controls the face of our future in the current AOR from a strategic perspective as well as from an angle supporting national and political objectives for the United States of America,” said Maj. Anthony Mullinax, the 380th Expeditionary Logistic Readiness Squadron operations officer. “It’s not often you get an audience and are able to provide a perspective to leadership at that level.”
“Admiral Fallon was quick to praise the families and friends back home for their support of our deployed Airmen,” General Wells said. ” It was good to know that he appreciated our time spent deployed and that he recognized the importance of the encouragement we get from our loved ones.”
Photo – Adm. William J. Fallon talks to Airman 1st Class Alfred Roldan (left) and Senior Airman Aaron Austin during a luncheon Sept. 17 at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia. Admiral Fallon is the U.S. Central Command commander. Airman Roldan is with the 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron and Airman Austin is with the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ruby Zarzyczny.
20 Sept 07 by Air Force Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente.
ASSAMO, Djibouti – National Guardsmen assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa were visited by the senior enlisted leader for the National Guard Bureau for three days.
Army Command Sgt. Maj. David R. Hudson, NGB senior enlisted leader, traveled to Djibouti Sept. 12-15 to learn about the HOA mission, visit well drilling sites and check on the morale of the Guardsmen.
“As a person who testifies before Congress, I wanted to come and see how they were doing and if they were in need of any supplies or equipment,” said Hudson.
While the sergeant major has visited several camps in theatre, this was his first time to Africa.
“It was a neat opportunity to come and see what kind of impact Guardsmen are making,” he said. “A lot of people don’t know about Djibouti, where it is or what we are doing here.”
Hudson met with the 1132nd Well Drilling Detachment of the North Carolina Army National Guard Sept. 15, and traveled to Assamo to view three of the five wells the servicemembers completed.
“Well drilling is an important contribution here because it helps prevent illness,” said Army Staff Sgt. William R. Brown, 1132nd Well Drilling Detachment lead driller and acting first sergeant.
The difference between the hand-dug wells the Djiboutians use and the wells the Guardsmen install is that the well drillers encase them, which makes them sanitary and keeps bacteria from getting into the water.
The well drillers test the water each time they return to the site using a hydrologist water test kit. While there is no regulation or other requirement for this process, the Guardsmen go an extra step further to make sure the process is still intact.
“We do it as a courtesy, because we care about what we’ve done,” said Brown. “We want to make sure we have left a positive impression on the people.”
The NGB senior enlisted leader felt the trip was educational, and he enjoyed meeting members of the HOA mission.
“I personally learned a lot,” said Hudson. “I didn’t know about the well drillers and what they bring to the HOA mission. The men and women of the National Guard are hard workers. The well drilling unit is doing a wonderful job.”
The command sergeant major also appreciated the assistance of the CJTF-HOA commander and command chief.
“Rear Adm. James M. Hart and Air Force Chief Master Sgt. John R. Harris were great hosts during my time in HOA,” he said. “They have their own duties, and they put them aside to help me in making sure I could see as much as I could in a short amount of time.”
Army Sgt. Phillip W. Lawing, 1132nd Well Drilling Detachment lead well driller and mechanic, enjoyed the senior enlisted leader’s visit.
“Someone from that position who takes an earnest interest in what we are doing is nice,” said Lawing. “Knowing someone came from Washington, D.C., means they’re aware that we’re here and that’s pretty special.”
At any given time, there can be 70,000 to 90,000 Guardsmen deployed to 44 countries around the world. About 200 are in the Horn of Africa.
The well drillers are part of the CJTF-HOA mission, serving with more than 1,800 coalition and U.S. servicemembers who are part of the operational effort to prevent conflict, promote regional stability, and protect coalition interest in order to prevail against extremism.
Photo – Sgt. William R. Brown, left, uses a hydrologist water test kit as Army Sgt. 1st Class Danny D. Hunter records the various levels from a well drilled for local Djiboutians. The Guardsmen are not required by any rules or regulations to measure the pH levels, hardness, salinity, and other traits of well water, but do so as a courtesy check to ensure that the well is intact and because they care about what they’ve done. Brown and Hunter are members of the 1132nd Well Drilling Detachment deployed from Mooresville, N.C., Army National Guard. Brown is lead driller and acting first sergeant and Hunter, is team leader commander. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente.
18 Sept 07 by Marine Staff Sgt. Luis P. Valdespino Jr. Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan Public Affairs.
KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghans lead best when in the lead and in the Basic Warrior Training Course at the Kabul Military Training Center, this responsibility falls on the shoulders of Afghan drill sergeants.
The mentors call this progress. They describe their jobs as being only temporary – the goal is for the Afghans to take charge in all facets of their army with coalition forces acting in a supporting role or as an enabler.
The Afghan national army leaders have “improved a lot on tactics and leadership,” said Army Master Sgt. Roberto Garcia, a senior mentor at KMTC. “They still have a long way to go … but they are hard workers and they work a lot of hours.”
Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan mentors assigned to BWT in the past have seen their jobs go from dominant in the training and development of ANA soldiers to more of a supporting and advisory role to ANA non-commissioned officers and officers at KMTC. The new soldiers training at KMTC are experiencing this transition first-hand.
“NCOs are ready to take on the responsibility,” said Garcia, a drill sergeant assigned to the 218th Army National Guard Regiment’s Brigade Combat Team at KMTC. “It’s sometimes hard for us to (step back), but we have to remember that we have to be patient. We just have to realize that our military has been around and developing for over 200 years. We can’t expect (for theirs to develop) in five years.”
The senior mentor to the ANA Advanced Combat Training brigade commander, Army Lt. Col. Daniel A. West, echoed Garcia’s perspective.
“We can’t implement our system here,” said West, also a member of the 218th BCT. “They don’t have the same equipment or personnel in place.”
However, the ANA has implemented a training system in which their NCOs are increasingly at the helm. Soldiers are assigned to train new recruits at BWT, the NCOs are being trained to be drill sergeants and NCOs are training BWT graduates for further responsibilities and assignments within the army.
A new class of recruits begins BWT about every two weeks at KMTC, and NCOs are taking the lead at teaching course materials.
“It was mostly officers, mixed with some NCOs (teaching the classes). That’s what I saw when I got here,” Garcia said. Now it’s mostly the NCOs teaching, with officers occasionally helping out.
During a recent live-fire training exercise of ANA soldiers at KMTC, ANA NCO instructors oversaw soldiers in their initial firing of 82 mm mortars and Russian-made SPG-9s, which fire 73 mm grenades.
The exercise was the “smoothest since I’ve been here,” said Army Master Sgt. Anthony J. Harris, a senior NCO mentor for combat arms assigned to the 218th BCT. “They are pretty self-sufficient.”
The soldiers themselves are responding to the new ANA leadership.
“They’re always excited,” said Spc. Seth R. Hungiville, a weapons specialist with the 218th BCT. “There (are) a lot of similarities in how the soldiers are very fascinated with the weapons systems just like we are when we get to fire a new weapons system.”
Photo – An Afghan national army drill sergeant demonstrates weapon functions of an AK-47 to ANA soldiers during Basic Warrior Training at Kabul Military Training Center. Coalition soldiers assigned to the 218th Brigade Combat Team at KMTC mentor Afghan national army Basic Warrior Training drill sergeants. Photo by Staff Sgt. Luis P Valdespino Jr.
18 Sept 2007 By Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs.
FALAHAT, Iraq – Soldiers from “Dagger” Troop D, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st “Ironhorse” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division joined with members of the brigade’s Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team and Company A, 492nd Civil Affairs Battalion to assist local tribal sheiks and villagers with several construction projects, Sept. 16.
Working side by side, villagers and Soldiers moved construction supplies to include wheel barrows, shovels and wood among other building materials from a truck provided by Dagger Troop that transported the materials to a site where a store is being built. Additionally, the troops delivered a brand new generator to be used once the store is completed.
Dagger Troop coordinated the effort that will donate the store to a local family that has no source of income due to the sole breadwinner being disabled. Building supplies delivered to the site will also be used to build a house for a Falahat family, currently living in a mud hut, and to repair a second house in the village that was damaged during an insurgent attack nearly five months ago.
“We’re glad to see that security has improved enough to where we can begin reconstruction here and it’s especially important to do this during Ramadan because it ties in well with the Islamic principle of Zakarat which means charity,” said Capt. Martin Wohlgemuth, Dagger Troop commander and a native of Anchorage, Alaska. “All of the families we’re helping are poor so it makes this just that much more special.”
“It’s helping us to build better collaboration and improve our relations with the locals here,” said 1st Lt. Mike Blake, a platoon leader in Dagger Troop and a native of Baltimore. “We’ve gotten to know the people extremely well and they trust us. During events like this, the whole community comes together to help each other and they treat us just like we’re part of their community.”
A few days prior to this particular event, Soldiers from Dagger Troop had already transported 4,000 bricks and 26 tons of mortar to the building site.
A local Iraqi contractor is providing the labor and overseeing the building projects.
The Ironhorse EPRT paid for the building supplies with quick reaction funds from the U.S. State Department which are funds the department sets aside for non-profit organizations, businesses and for special construction projects such as those in Falahat.
“It’s all about facilitating Iraqi efforts to promote accelerated social and economic development,” said Maj. David Parker, an EPRT transition officer and a native of Savannah, Ga., explaining the purpose of the funds.
“This is a great opportunity to help them rebuild their own country and see them take pride in ownership,” said Maj. Jesse Larson, Ironhorse EPRT civil affairs officer, who hails from Kansas City, Kan. “Eventually as the security situation continues improving, the Iraqi government will step up and be taking over these types of projects.”
After all the supplies had been delivered to the site, the Iraqi contractor began working with laborers, who he hired to work on the project, to create a foundation for the store. They dug trenches in which to emplace bricks for the walls of the structure and set several of the bricks in place.
According to Wohlgemuth, it should only take about five to seven days for the contractor to complete the store with the construction and repairs on the two houses to be completed over a period of several weeks.
Recent successful reconciliation efforts in the area have helped to accelerate projects in the village and Soldiers said they have been amazed by the village’s transformation.
“There’s been a very dramatic change, it’s been four months since we’ve had a major attack, and we used to be attacked nearly everyday,” said Staff Sgt. Nicholas Lien, an acting platoon sergeant in Dagger Troop who hails from Whitewater, Wis. “We’ve worked closely with local tribal sheiks and the (Iraqi security volunteers) to kick out insurgents and the difference has been like night and day.”
“It’s pretty fantastic to see that the people here are showing their support for reconciliation efforts in the area, and this has been an incredible success when you compare it with how things were before,” said Pfc. Warren Griffen, a Dagger troop forward observer and a native of Rochester, N.Y.
So far, the combined efforts of Dagger troops working with the Iraqi security volunteers have led to the finding of many improvised explosive devices, weapons caches and the detaining of several Al Qaeda in Iraq fighters greatly improving the security situation, said Blake.
Future projects for the village, said Wohlgemuth include the refurbishing of schools, the fixing of water lines and the pursuit of more projects, similar to the construction effort, that will put the villagers back to work.
Photo – Staff Sgt. Nicholas Lien, left, an acting platoon sergeant, and Staff Sgt. Kevin Sartor, center, a forward observer, both from Dagger Troop, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regt., offload building supplies with the help of a local Iraqi man in Falahat, Iraq, Sept. 16, as part of a humanitarian effort to rebuild the socio-economic infrastructure of the village. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp.
19 Sept 07 By Sgt. Anthony Guas 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward).
AL QAIM, Iraq — Just like a guide dog helps a blind person or a ground guide assists a heavy equipment operator, air traffic controllers are on the ground to help pilots. Wherever there are Marine Corps aircraft[s] flying, there are air traffic controllers ensuring that the pilots know when they can take off or land, how to approach the airfield, or what is in the airspace.
For Al Qaim, those are the controllers of Marine Air Traffic Control Mobile Team for Marine Air Control Squadron 1, Detachment C.
“The mission of any air traffic controller, whether it be back in the states or here, is the expeditious flow of traffic into or out of our airspace,” said Staff Sgt. Jimmy Houser Jr., MMT leader for MACS-1, Detachment C. “Here it’s all helicopters, we don’t have a runway for any fixed wing aircraft.”
The controllers are responsible from the surface of Al Qaim to 3,000 feet, 5 nautical miles from the center of the airfield. They are split into six-hour shifts in which they land and depart as many as 20 helicopters a day.
“We de-conflict any type of flight into or out, (unarmed aerial vehicles), weather balloons all that stuff,” said Houser.
Since the size of Al Qaim does not accommodate fixed wing aircraft, the controllers spend their time dealing with just helicopters. The limited number of aircraft operating in and out of Al Qaim makes the operational tempo for the controllers a little slower than usual.
“The traffic here is slow, we do just over 40 operations a day,” said Houser. “Most of the Marines are from (Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.) and I’m from (MCAS Yuma, Ariz.), which are two of the busiest airports in the Navy and Marine Corps so we are used to 40 operations in an hour and we do that in a 24-hour period here.”
The slower operational tempo allows Marines like Cpl. Blaze Crawford, who previously worked in radar, an opportunity to wet his feet working in the tower.
“It’s new, when I first started I didn’t know the aircrafts flight and where they were going to come in, I had no clue what was going on because I never see them in radar,” explained Crawford. “When I’m in the radar room I’m in a box, I don’t see them, they are a dot. It’s exciting to actually see what I’m doing.”
Although the operational tempo may be slower, the Marines are determined to give their best effort by increasing the quality of air traffic control that they provide.
“We’re doing great so far,” said Sgt. Nicholas Foster, air traffic controller, MACS-1. “I’m glad that it’s such a small group of guys. It could be bad because there could be one or two that don’t know the job, but we kind of lucked out in that we are all kind of seasoned. Nobody has to baby-sit anybody, everyone knows their job, they know what they have to do, they know the Marine Corps.”
While battling the normal difficulties of a deployment, the ATC Marines also have an added number of obstacles that they must hurdle on a daily basis.
“What makes the job difficult here is limited visibility and limited equipment,” explained Houser. “Basically the austere environment and the wear and tear of the gear.”
Despite the lack of accommodations to do their job, the Marines are adjusting to their environment and compensate for the shortfalls by increasing their proficiency in other areas.
“The Marines study the airspace as much as they can,” explained Houser. “There are a couple of different things that you can learn around here.”
Whether it is reading manuals or memorizing the rules for the airfield, the controllers are always working hard to ensure that they are a positive source of information for the aircraft pilots.
“There is a manual that teaches you everything about the airfield, a course rules brief that tells all the pilots how to get into and out of the airspace, what we expect them to do,” said Houser. “As long as we continue to train to everything in the airspace, train on the radio, train on the equipment to pass information whether it be mIRC (Internet Relate Chat), (e-mail), that’s how we compensate for some of the shortfalls.”
Another service that the controllers provide is navigational aid when there is inclement weather or limited visibility. To ensure that the navigational aid is always ready the MMT has a technician on call 24 hours a day.
“We provide tactical aid navigation for aircraft to find the airfield in case of inclement weather or some type of outage or shortage,” Houser explained. “(The tactical aid mechanic) provides service to that (system) 24 hours a day.”
Although they are a small air traffic control team and their mission is smaller than usual, the Marines know that they are having positive influence on the mission in Al Qaim.
“I think its great that we’re out here, normally if there is any type of a Marine aircraft flying there’s always a Marine air traffic controller that’s talking to them,” explained Houser. “We do play a vital role when it comes to the (medical evacuations), getting them out as quick as possible. That’s probably the best feeling that we have, knowing that there’s troops in contact, we need to get a gunship out or there’s somebody injured and we need to get them medevaced into or out of the airspace.”
Photo – Sgt. Nicholas Foster, air traffic controller for Marine Air Control Squadron-1, looks on the mIRC (Internet Relate Chat) for information on incoming flights to Al Qaim, Aug. 31, 2007. Foster is part of the Marine Air Traffic Control Mobile Team that manages the airspace in Al Qaim. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Anthony Guas.
I did not write this, but I am supporting Duncan Hunter. Please give him a chance and listen to the grassroots who are supporting him. Thank you.
PS. If you missed the program, do not worry. They tape it so that you may listen later at your convenience.
Join us Thursday night October 18, 2007 beginning at 9:00pm EST, 8:00pm CST, 7:00pm MT and 6:00pm PST for The “Hunters Rangers” Internet Radio Show sponsored by the following:
This show will provide insight on the Grassroot efforts for Supporters of Duncan Hunter as well as sharing your thoughts and ideas in an effort to educate volunteers, supporters, as well as first time listeners.
Everyone is encouraged to either call in or send us an AOL or Yahoo instant message.
Our guests will be:
Nevada Co- State Directors Kristie Parker and Tim Shepard to discuss the CLC this past weekend in Sparks, Nevada
Florida State Director Dennis McCarthy to discuss the upcoming Presidency IV Conference in Orlando on October 22nd.
This show will be “On-Demand” as well available 1 hour after the show has aired.
Tune in every Thursday Night at 9:00pm EST for “Hunters Rangers” Internet Radio Show The Grassroots Effort for Duncan Hunter
Below is the information:
Studio Line: 317-565-1392 Skype: monksmedia AIM : feelgoodstation Yahoo IM: feelgoodstation Listen Live: www.monksmedia.com (Click on the listen live link on the left hand side of the page)
If the link doesnt not work, please go to www.winamp.com and download the free program.
THIS SHOW IS NOT AFFILATED WITH OR ENDORSED BY THE DUNCAN HUNTER FOR PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE THAT OF THE HOST, LISTENERS, AND GUESTS AND ARE NOT ENDORSED BY THE DUNCAN HUNTER FOR PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN
“LETS GET THIS TRAIN ROLLING” Thank You
Sean Cole Midwest Regional Director IA, MO, IL, IN, KY, OH, and WV Hunter for President 08
Hunter for President, Inc. 9340 Fuerte Drive La Mesa, California 91941 United States
I hope you tune in, I really do. That is why I’ve decided to post it and present it as my post for open trackback at Linkfest. Thank you.
U.S. Army welders designed and built the first up-armored truck for the Iraqi police to use at checkpoints.
11 October 2007 By Pfc. Bradley J. Clark 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq, Oct. 11, 2007 — Members of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division here are often faced with unusual and difficult tasks, most recently creating an up-armored truck for the Iraqi police.
Welders from the 27th Brigade Support Battalion, currently assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment said that designing and building the up-armored pickup truck was a novel, and difficult, experience in part because it had never been done before.
“Especially the doors,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Jewell Loving, “because we had to make our own hinges and fabricate a lot of stuff for them, but we had all the supplies that we needed. The project took us two-and-a-half weeks from start to finish.”
The purpose of the pickup truck is to provide security for the IPs manning checkpoints.
One of the things the welders worried about was the added weight as a result of up-armoring the pickup truck. “Even though the vehicle isn’t intended to chase after insurgents when it was taken on a test drive it had pick up, it wasn’t top heavy and it handled well, very well,” said Loving. Because the welders did such a good job accomplishing the task put before them, they have been tasked to up-armor four more pickup trucks.
“The next ones will be less time-consuming because we already have the design and we are in the process of receiving more equipment for them,” said U.S. Army Pfc. David Durham.
Accomplishing a mission as difficult as inventing something that cannot only help save lives, but also help secure a nation, made these soldiers feel great.
“I get a sense of pride by having the ability to do this for the IP,” said Durham. “We were able to work with the equipment and materials that we had. On top of all of that, I gained much more job experience due to this project.”
Photo – U.S. Army Pfc. David Durham completes the final part of welding on the first ever up-armored pickup truck for the Iraqi police on Forward Operating Base Marez, Iraq. Durham is a metal worker with Bravo Company, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bradley Clark.
I’m not going to be posting this for the Linkfest anymore. I’d rather keep it personal.
The doctor thinks there may be something wrong with his liver. I do not. It isn’t because I know more than the doctor, I do not. But the hospital said he was anemic, the doctor said he is missing 5 pints of blood, and he claims it looks like someone who has been drinking. John hasn’t had a drink in over 22 years. There simply is no way that could be the cause.
He did order many tests, so I feel good about that. We have to go back tomorrow, because he needs to have not eaten or drinking anything. Water is okay, though.
He also ordered some prescriptions. I had them filled after sending him home. He was tuckered. Well, that’s about it. I’m bushed, so good night.
BAGHDAD – An officer accused of aiding the enemy will stand trial Oct. 15-20.
In a pre-trial session held at Camp Liberty, Iraq, Oct. 7, Lt. Col. William H. Steele plead guilty to three of the seven charges facing him. The charges Lt. Col. Steele plead guilty to carry a maximum penalty of six years confinement, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and dismissal from the service.
Those charges include:
CHARGE IV: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 92
Specification 1: In that Lt. Col. William H. Steele did, between on or about 18 February 2007 and 21 February 2007, violate a lawful general regulation, to wit: paragraph 7-4, Army Regulation 380-5, dated 29 September 2000, by wrongfully storing classified information in his living space.
Specification 2: In that Lt. Col. William H. Steele did, between on or about 1 September 2006 and 21 February 2007, violate a lawful general regulation, to wit: paragraph 4-32, Army Regulation 380-5, dated 29 September 2000, by improperly marking classified information.
Specification 4: In that Lt. Col. William H. Steele did, between on or about 18 February 2007 and 21 February 2007, violate a lawful general order, to wit: paragraph 2e, Multi-National Corps-Iraq General Order Number 1, dated 16 December 2006, by wrongfully and knowingly possessing pornographic videos.
Lt. Col. Steele still faces four remaining charges. The charges below do not represent a finding of guilt and Lt. Col. Steele is presumed not guilty.
CHARGE I: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 104
Specification: In that Lt. Col. William H. Steele, did, between on or about 1 October 2005 and 31 October 2006, aid the enemy by providing an unmonitored cellular phone to detainees.
CHARGE II: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 134
Specification: In that Lt. Col. William H. Steele, did, between on or about 31 October 2006 and 22 February 2007, having unauthorized possession of classified information, violate Title 18, United States Code, Section 793(e), by knowingly and willfully retaining the same and failing to deliver it to the officer or employee of the United States.
CHARGE III: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 133
Specification: In that Lt. Col. William H. Steele, did, between on or about 1 December 2005 and 11 December 2006, knowingly and wrongfully provide special privileges to and maintain an inappropriate relationship with an interpreter, wherein such acts constituted conduct unbecoming an officer in the armed forces.
CHARGE IV: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 92
Specification 3: In that Lt. Col. William H. Steele, having knowledge of a lawful order issued by the 89th Military Police Brigade Deputy Commander, did, on or about 22 February 2007, fail to obey the order.
The trial has been previously postponed twice. August and September trial dates were delayed to allow additional trial preparation. Lt. Col. Steele is expected to remain in confinement at the Theater Field Confinement Facility at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, until trial.
Charges against Lt. Col. Steele were referred to a general court-martial June 10. The remaining charges carry a maximum possible punishment of life imprisonment.
Yesterday night (Sunday), I was afraid my brother was having a stroke. Since I had previously had a few, I knew what to do. I started giving him the neurological tests, and he failed terribly. My brother has not seen doctor in over 20 years, that I am aware of, and I was not going to wait until morning. I had waited 18 hours before I called operator, and I received brain damage due to that. So I called the ambulance.
They made the mistake of asking him why he called them! They would not let me talk. This was very frustrating. Especially since he couldn’t get out of the bed nor call anyone. He was trying to talk, but his words were illegible.
We got to the hospital, and I remembered to grab a shirt for him. (Forgot the shoes and socks, though. Oops.) We arrive a litte before 2 am. He saw a doctor that ordered so many tests. I was grateful for this. He even gave him a prostate exam (which I have been begging him to get done for several years now). I was relieved by this.
Well, he wasn’t having a stroke, and I am super grateful for that! Instead, he is anemic, he has some pulminary spots (lungs), and some other things. After I heard spots on his lungs, I couldn’t hear anything else.
We caught a cab home which the hospital paid for, I went to my doctor’s appointment and embarrassingly fell asleep, nothing was accomplished there but I did pick up my medication that was ordered one week ago (John has been sick since a day before he took me to this hospital), I bought some Chinese food (hey, I may hate their government, but I love their food, lol), and he ate a little bit for the first time since last week.
I am afraid of those spots, so please pray for him that God will heal him totally.
I am grateful that he is home, he doing well, and he is not going leave me anytime soon.
I am angry that people are not more understanding or willing to hear the truth. I CALLED, dang it!
I am relieved that I was wrong. That’s right. He was not having a stroke, and he finally had the exam he so badly needed. Who knows? Maybe my fear may have caught something worse from happenging? Let us pray so.
Lesson learned: Do not doubt that inner voice when it says, “It’s time to call the ambulance.”
PS. I have broken my promise to write at least once a day. In this instance, I forgive myself. I hope you can also.
This is rather personal, but I do believe it may save the life of some other loved one. That is why I am sharing it in this Linkfest. We would appreciate any and all prayers available. God bless you, and thank you.
I have three articles for you today, and I do believe these are news articles that need to be reported more broadly. Saying that, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty:
These articles include good news, good works, progress, successes and all the things the Marxists (or should they be called jihadis?) hate to report. I’ll leave that up to you to decide…
Some good news should be shared by all, and we sure could use some! That is why I am submitting this short article to the open trackback Linkfest. If you are not already a member, I encourage you to join. There are many wonderful people who have open trackbacks from here, and many of them have thought-provoking and wonderful articles. Thank you, and have a nice day.
Ah, the great people behind the scenes. Back home, I hate doctors. They are so full of themselves. Not out here…
Please allow me this one moment to say I AM NOT IN THE MILITARY. I know there is a big to-do about phony soldiers, and I do not want to give the impression that I am. I just love and appreciate our troops so much. That’s all folks.
1 Oct 07 by Capt. Christopher Moore 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) — Army Sgt. Scott Boomershire injured his ankle kicking down doors in Iraq. However, it’s up to Airmen here, stationed hundreds of miles from the infantryman’s unit in Baghdad, to help Sergeant Boomershire get the medical care he needs to put him back in the fight.
Members of the 386th Expeditionary Medical Group’s Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility team are charged with preparing injured servicemembers for transport to medical facilities around the world.
“If we receive someone who looks like they can be treated in the area, we’ll make sure they are cleared for travel and send them to a regional medical facility for treatment and return to duty,” said 1st Lt. Elizabeth Quinn-Wilber, a CASF nurse deployed from Travis Air Force Base, Calif. “If medical conditions are too severe, we’ll prepare the individual for flight aboard one of our C-130 (Hercules aircraft) and they’ll be flown to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, for advanced care.”
The CASF receives patients via C-130 from bases throughout the region or via ambulance from nearby military bases. Once patients arrive, the CASF staff makes sure their vitals are within normal limits, changes dressings if necessary, and prepares the servicemembers for their next journey.
“Most patients we receive are actually pretty close to being ready to go,” said Senior Airman Elle Liza Marie Franz, a CASF medical technician also deployed from Travis AFB. “We keep the patients for about 12 hours — usually just long enough for transportation to be arranged.”
The CASF processes more than 300 patients a month, with ailments ranging from hernias and broken bones, to gunshot wounds and improvised explosive device-related injuries.
It’s those patients arriving after being hit with IEDs that draw the most attention at the CASF. The CASF has implemented a “Battle Injury Program” where American flags are presented to those with combat injuries.
“It’s the least we can do,” said Maj. Cheryl Spray, the officer in charge of the CASF’s medical control center and also deployed from Travis AFB. “It’s a way to show that we appreciate the sacrifices that they make for us and it’s a small reminder of what we’re fighting for.”
Photo – Senior Airman Elle Liza Marie Franz conducts a vital check on Army patient Sgt. Scott Boomershire at the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility Sept. 24 in Southwest Asia. The CASF is a 24-hour medical holding and staging facility, which averages about 300 patients per month. Airman Franz is a 386th Expeditionary Medical Group medical technician. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tia Schroeder.
Many people are unaware of the major work we have been doing in the Horn of Africa known as the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). This is a part of WWIV that fascinates me. Our men and women are doing such a good job and many good works, and it all goes mostly unnoticed.
I might add this is while America and the HOA is fighting the ships and pirates from al Qaida by capturing there ships which have been kidnapping people, enslaving and murdering them, and stealing whatever they please. Now on to the article from CentCom.
2 Oct 07 By Maj. Wesley P. Miller IV Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa Public Affairs.
SANA’A, Yemen — Dozens of children rushed through the doors of Socotra’s newly built Usama Bin Zaid Primary School, eager to see their new learning environment.
The project dedication ceremony held for the people of Socotra, Sept. 23, was the result of a combined effort of the U.S. military, U.S. State Department, United States Agency for International Development, the Government of Yemen and the Hadibo local council.
U.S. Ambassador to Yemen Stephen A. Seche, Rear Adm. James Hart, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa commander, as well as numerous other U.S. and Yemen government leaders attended the ceremony.
“There’s a significance and [a] value in education – a degree of excellence – one which the youth of Socotra are deserving. It has been stated that every person has a right to an integral education, an education which responds to all of the needs of the human person. We hope that these refurbishments will make this process a little easier,” said Hart.
The project dedication is an event Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa holds when they complete a civil-military project. The dedication symbolizes turning over the completed project to the local community. The U.S. military delegation traveled to the island to dedicate the Usama Bin Zaid primary school to more than 2,000 residents.
The Dayshes school, built by a local contractor Faiz Abdullah Salem and funded by the U.S. government, will become a learning center for more than 250 children, ages 6-14. Before erecting the school, there were limited structures to house the children and many had to attend class in grass huts.
With a U.S. and Yemen flag flying atop the school, Seche and Hart officially dedicated the school to the village of Dayshes. The $40,000 invested by the U.S. government in building and outfitting the Usama Bin Zaid school are part of a total U.S. government assistance program in Socotra, Yemen totaling more than $1,900,000 in projects for 2007.
Hart said that refurbishing the Usama Bin Zaid school began with CJTF-HOA’s assigned Civil Affairs team joining forces with local elders and contractors to repair the school.
Other projects completed or ongoing on Socotra include: the Omar Bin Kattab school, a health clinic for women and children in the Qalansiyah district and nearly 20 water storage tanks completed or nearing completion throughout the island. Civil Affairs Teams are working to fund 374 more water storage tanks to help provide potable water throughout Socotra.
Through building schools, water storage tanks, health centers and conducting numerous other Civil-Military Operations, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa is building capacity throughout the Horn of Africa to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect coalition interests in order to prevail against extremism.
“It is my hope that all the people of Yemen continue to feel the benefits from the strong and growing U.S. – Yemen friendship. Geographically, Socotra may be far from Sana’a and the Embassy, but cooperative projects like this school will continue to draw us closer together,” said Seche.
One thing that was not mention but is clearly evident to me is the fact that along with this clean water, we are also educating these people on health issues from dirty water. Yes, great job, guys!
Photo – U.S. Navy Rear Adm. James Hart, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa commander (center), presents a dedication plaque to Faiz Abdullah Salem at the Usama Bin Zaid Primary School in Socotra, Yemen, Sept. 23, 2007. Salem is a local contractor who helped in the construction of the newly erected school by teaming with United States Agency for International Development and CJTF-HOA personnel. U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Stephanie Addison.
I woke up today and ended up over at my computer. I cleaned out the whole system because sometimes you can really get a bunch of unwanted spiders and other crawly things in there. No kidding! They make the computer slower than molasses.
After doing this, I went to my email to find this link to Right Truth. It is quite interesting, to say the least. She claims that we bloggers may be spending too much time on our computers and I must confess, she is correct.
I am a home bound person, which means I was just sitting in my house doing nothing but waiting for my number to be up. That is, until I found the net! This brought life back into my little part of the world. Before I knew it, my little part had grown so large! Do I spend too much time here? Probably. What would you have me do? Watch that crap on the just-for-boobs-tube? NO! (Not unless there’s a football game on or an old show. lol)
I am only 47, but my first stroke was when I was 22. Bummer? NO! How can I say this? I had a diabolical plan for when I graduation which was adverted. THANK GOD! Are you kidding? No, I’m not going to you ehat it was. lol. Too much info, don’t ya think?
Getting back to the point…go check out Right Truth’s post. If you’ve ever been over there before, you know she covers many issues in one post. This woman is better than I. My hats off to ya, Debbie.
I have earned the honor of being included in her article, so I believe it’s only fair for me to return that honor. That is why I am choosing this post, along with the fact that this is an important issue, for today’s Linkfest. Do you have a post you’d like to share? Come on, it will be good here. Just remember…NO PORN. My Christian site is being bombarded, and I’m sick of it. Well, that a post for a different day…
2 Oct 07 By Capt. Michael Meridith 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan — Two new flightline ramps have opened at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, bringing new capabilities to coalition air operations, NATO and U.S. Air Force officials said.
“These ramps represent a vision of continuous improvements in our warfighting capability,” said Royal Netherlands Maj. Gen. Freek Meulman, the International Security Assistance Force’s deputy commander for air. “They will serve as launch pads and resting sites for the long-term commitment of our coalition in the fight to achieve safety and security in Afghanistan.”
The $9.3 million joint venture between the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency and the Yuksel Construction Co. provides significantly more parking space for helicopters and the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing’s F-15E Strike Eagles and A-10 Thunderbolts, said Kevin Cullen, the project manager.
“These ramps represent quite a bit of capability for Bagram,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Dan Debree, the vice commander of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing. “I fly in the F-15E and this is something we desperately needed. Although ramp space here has increased by 70 percent in two years, it doesn’t matter because a quick look will show you that every bit of it is used up.”
Meulman said the ramp is one of a continuing series of projects designed to increase Bagram Air Base’s ability to support coalition efforts throughout Afghanistan.
“We will continue to work together in building what I call an overwhelming capability in our common mission toward security and stability throughout Afghanistan,” Meulman said. “This new ramp will provide a long-lasting base for our dedicated airmen, who are committed to executing their challenging job here in Afghanistan.”
Such projects also help fuel the local economy, said Cullen, noting that 80 Afghan workers were hired for the project, which was finished on time, on specification and within budget.
Photo – U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jamie Cabral helps land an International Security Assistance Force helicopter on one of two new ramps that were opened to aircraft at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, Sept. 27, 2007. Cabral is a transient alert quality assurance evaluator for the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing. U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Michael Meridith.
I received this email Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007, from Michael Yon. It blew me away, and that was without reading his article! That is somewhat of a great achievement, since I’m used to not believing our dinosaur media. Well, it must be worse than I thought for it to have surprised me. I feel foolish for having fallen for the news I had believed.
What am I referring to? I’m referring to the conditions in Basra and the British Army. Please read Michael’s wonderful article. After all, he is there. He’s not getting his news from the terrorists…
Michael has the real news about what is happening in Iraq in his sector, and it is reliable. That is why I am deciding to include this post, even though I have registered a few in the past couple of days. I believe these people need our support and recognition. That is one of the reasons I have joined Linkfest. To get important messages out and maybe just a little silly, unimportant, light stuff. lol.
Below you will find an amazing article written by John from Stop the ACLU. I hope you enjoy it.
The video above is from ADF and is practically a commercial for them, but I don’t see anything wrong with that at all. I urge you to go join and donate!
By the way, Kender inspired this post. He wanted to write the blogburst, but his rant inspired me and I wanted to add more. So, I’m gonna use Kender’s quotes throughout.
It seems a German citizen claimed that the CIA abducted him, drugged him and sent him to a prison in a third world country where he was tortured and finally released on a hilltop in another country in a case of mistaken identity.
What I want to know is WHY a group that calls itself the AMERICAN Civil Liberties Union is so concerned with the civil liberties of a German citizen? The last time I checked, our civil liberties did not apply to the citizens of other countries, and the ACLU is not the arbiter of international law.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the U.S. Human Rights Network today urged the U.N. Human Rights Committee to hold the U.S. government accountable for flagrant and repeated violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
“Locally, nationally and globally, the United States has repeatedly failed in its responsibility to uphold basic human rights,” said Ann Beeson, Associate Legal Director of the ACLU. “We are appealing to the international arbiters to hold the U.S. accountable to basic human rights standards.”
As sickening as this is, it is only one step in the ACLU’s agenda to undermine America’s sovereignty and freedom that so many soldiers have sacrificed and died to preserve.
The ACLU is obviously frustrated by their inability to advance their radical agenda more quickly under the U.S. Constitution and are now determined not only to convince the American judiciary to look to international law, but also to use it as a means to their ends. They hold it as a higher authority than our own Constitution and are more than willing to sacrifice our sovereignty in their pursuit to radically force change on America to fit their own radical views.
The sad thing is that they don’t have to try very hard to convince our judiciary. While they lost ground in the case above, they win enough cases to make it scary. Last year, former ACLU lawyer and current Supreme Court Justice, Ruth “Snoozer” Ginsburg, gave a speech that argued explicitly for the relevance of foreign law and court decisions for the interpretation of the American Constitution. She isn’t the only Justice that buys into this philosophy. FIVE Justices believe that international law should bear weight in interpreting our constitution.
The ACLU sponsored a conference at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, October 9-11, 2003, to promote the use of international law in U.S. courts. The conference was titled “Human Rights at Home: International Law in U.S. Courts.” Publicit for the event stated, “The emphasis throughout the conference will be on using international law and human rights norms to advance justice in U.S. courts or on behalf of U.S. clients.” Some of the alleged human rights “injustices” cited were in the areas of “environmental justice,” “homosexual, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights,” and “children’s rights.”
The ACLU publicity included comments from ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero and conference organizer Ann Beeson. Romero said, “Our goal is no less than to forge a new era of social justice where the principles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights are recognized and enforced in the United States.”
Beeson added, “From the grassroots level all the way to the Supreme Court, international human rights law is beginning to emerge as a tool for the victims of discrimination here at home.”
Editors Note: What? Do you mean the Civil War never happened? Do you mean the laws passed in the 60′s and 70′s never occurred? You ignorant idiots!
The ACLU’s rhetoric and efforts to use international law to rewrite, undermine, and bypass the Constitution has already gone beyond academic debate into the realm of actual use. As stated earlier, there are plenty of judges that have already adopted the philosophy and the ACLU are already participating in court cases where the judge uses international law in their decisions. It isn’t only at the federal level, but has penetrated even into the state level.
All through the confirmation process of Justice Alito, the ACLU and leftards were screaming that Alito was a racist bigot that would undermine judicial precedent. However, this judicial philosophy has more potential to undermine judicial precedent than any current philosophy being espoused, and it has already proven to do so.
The purpose of the judicial branch is to interpret the law and determine if laws are constitutional or not. There are several major flaws in the use of international law in our courts. Not only does it undermine the very authority of the Constitution deeming it impotent of any power, but it also gives the judicial branch a power that was never intended to be granted to it; the power to write law.
Followers of this philosophy view the Constitution merely as a persuasive authority, equated with foreign law, to be relied upon if they are in line with her predetermined beliefs. It doesn’t really matter if their beliefs are inconsistent with the Constitution itself, they can simply find a foreign law that is consistent with their beliefs.
New rights, such as homosexual rights or abortion, should not be stretched from our Constitution that never granted them. If new rights like these are to be given, then the people should have some say in that. There is a process set in place by the founders to do just this. They should be granted through law or a constitutional amendment. They should not be granted via judicial fiat.
Editor’s Note: These justices better be careful, or they will have a hard time explaining why Shari’a Law is unconstitutional! Remember, it will be Hollyweird and the judicial system that will be the first to go...
Besides the issues within our own judicial system and its decay, the ACLU is also turning to international sources to undermine our nation’s sovereignty and national security.
For [example], the ACLU filed a formal complaint with the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention against the United States, stating that the United States violated international law when it detained 765 Arab Americans and Muslims for security reasons after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on our nation. Eventually, 478 were deported.
ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero said, “With today’s action, we are sending a strong message of solidarity to advocates in other countries who have decried the impact of U.S. policies on the human rights of their citizens. We are filing this complaint before the United Nations to ensure that U.S. policies and practices reflect not just domestic constitutional standards, but accepted international human rights principles regarding liberty and its deprivations.” Source.
Editor’s Note: How in the world am I responsible for what Bashir is doing to the Darfurians or Ahmadinejad’s actions towards the Persians?
Romero, of course, makes the United States sound like some rogue nation with no regard for human rights, not the beacon of liberty that so many have come to – escaping from tyranny and the bonds of oppression.
“Inciting homophobic hatred will become illegal, the justice secretary, Jack Straw, announced last night following a campaign by homosexual rights groups. The introduction of an offence of rallying hatred against homosexuals follows similar measures to tackle religious hate crime[s], which were passed earlier this year after lengthy rows over freedom of speech.
“It is a measure of how far we have come as a society in the last 10 years that we are now appalled by hatred and invective directed at people on the basis of their sexuality. It is time for the law to recognise this,” said Mr Straw, introducing the second reading of the criminal justice and immigration bill.
Editor’s Note: So. Mr. Straw. Do you mean to try to convince me that bigomy, pedaphilia, insect, and ALL types of SEX are acceptable are you? After all, it’s only sex. You cannot blame someone for the sexual orientation, and you certainly cannot hate them. So please answer me this. What would you do if one of these men raped your 4 year daughter, you lying hypocrite!
If you can’t imagine the ACLU helping make the same thing happen here, you need to wake up. All of this should concern you. You may think that it doesn’t directly affect you in your everyday life, but it will eventually. The ACLU’s embrace of international law seeks to hypocritically do the opposite of what the ACLU claims to protect, and the Constitution forbids; nor prohibit the free exercise of religion.
In spring 2003, a group from the United Nations Human Rights Commission, of which former ACLU officials Paul Hoffman and John Shattuck are a part, met and discussed a resolution to add “sexual orientation” to the UNHRC’s discrimination list. Homosexual activists at the meeting called for a “showdown with religion,” clearly intending to use international law to silence religious speech that does not affirm homosexual behavior. Source.
After the first amendment, the next thing you can kiss goodbye with international law is the second amendment.
Editor’s Note: You can have my guns, out of my cold, dead hands!
It is a direct threat to our very freedom of speech and religious exercise. In some countries, laws are being pushed and, in some cases enacted, that essentially criminalize forms of religious speech and activity if they do not affirm homosexual behavior.
The ACLU, the NYT and other groups and organizations that fight against our government on the GWOT, are basically attacking freedom and the safety and security of this nation, putting Americans in harms way in their misguided attacks on our governments attempt[ing] to track [down] and deal with [these] terrorists.
What I want to know is this;
When the islamists get control and impose sharia law, will the ACLU have the balls to stand up and say, “no way achmed”, or do you think it more likely that they will realize that speaking against the caliphate is a death sentence?
I am betting they will shut up and become good little dhimmis.
If we are going to turn the interpretation of our laws to international jurisprudence and decisions of foreign courts, judges, and legislatures, the question begs…why did we fight a war of independence? If the ACLU are successful in their agenda for international law, the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution will eventually become irrelevant documents. More and more of America’s freedoms, and our very sovereignty will be sacrificed for international law. Our freedoms will vanish. The ACLU’s vision of freedom that includes the public sale of child pornography, the silencing of Churches and ministries, and unlimited abortion and euthanasia will replace them.
These are critical issues for the survival of our nation. Please, at least check it out to see if you would agree with these people. I know I do. That is why I am going to have this post as my Linkfest open trackback. Please remember not to include porn. Yes, I personally am cencoring porn from my site. I, as an individual and not a government entity, have the right to do so. Amazing how little the screechers know about that which they screech! lol.
It has come to my attention that our cartoonist, Chris Muir, is going through a family crisis (emergency) at this moment. I encourage everyone of you to post a prayer request or a request for encouragement through these difficult times. After all, he has been a great source of humor for us when we desperately it. We should be there for him in his time of need.
PS. I’ve decided to go back to my blogger trackback, because otherwise I have difficulty trackbacking to some sites. I will still be posting at both sites, and I will provide the URL for the tb at each site for your convenience. Thank you for your patience.
I’d like to share this with those who may not receive Chris’ cartoons on a daily basis. Please, no porn. No kidding. My site, my rules.
If you have not already joined up with the Linkfest, please reconsider. It truly is a great group of people to ‘hang out’ with, plus it will increase your readership. Well, that depends on whether or not you comment on other’s sites. I find it fun and informative. You may, also. Have a great day!
For those who care but have not been able to follow this, I will try to put the beginning in a nutshell for you.
1. I fell backward off the bathtub from where I was standing, and I hit my back and head.
2. Two days later, my wrist and thumb were paralyzed.
3. I waited several days to go to the hospital because I had a doctor’s appointment.
4. Doctor wouldn’t look at it, wouldn’t refill prescription, because apparently I had no appointment.
5. Went to the hospital the next day.
6. Diagnosis: Left radial nerve palsy. This is a form of localized paralysis.
Everyone caught up? lol. I have a cast on my left arm, apparently to keep me from moving my arm. Do not worry. I am only typing with one finger. Yes, it is a pain in my neck!
Getting back to the pain. My wrist and thumb are numb, but they also tingle. The area around them is what is starting to really hurt. The muscle near my elbow and upper arm are in pain as well. The part that hurts is not my wrist or thumb, but other areas close and far away. I have learned, from a podiatrist, that just because the pain is located in one place does not mean that the source and/or the cure is not in a different place in the body.
I have removed the cast twice now (three times, shortly) to scratch my arm because it’s itching. I’ve tried putting lotion on it so it would stop, but that only lasted a while.
My brother was kind enough to take me both times to the doctor. Now his muscles are eating him alive. See, this is the first time we tried out my wheelchair, and she’s no lightweight! When you don’t exercise for a while, this can happen to you.
My recommendations? Don’t stand on your bathtub without something to grab onto. I now need new shower curtains! lol. Do not put off going to the hospital, no matter how silly you think it is. You’re not the doctor. I did not know about this palsy stuff. It could be more serious than I first thought. If you can, take a cab! This way, you don’t injure those around you. EXERCISE!
Please pray for John to heal quickly. I believe it’s a bad case of tendinitis. But then again, I’m not a doctor…
PS. No kidding, you have to watch this. No2Liberals sent this to Nuke’s News & Views, but I just had to ‘borrow’ it. You will laugh your fanny off. Thank you for making me feel better.
<a href=”http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://rosemarysthoughts.com/2007/10/08/i-think-my-arm-hurts-but-im-not-sure/&title=I think my arm hurts, but I’m not sure&bodytext=1. I fell backward off the bathtub from where I was standing, and I hit my back and head. 2. Two days later, my wrist and thumb were paralized. 3. I waited several days to go to the hospital because I had a doctor’s appointment. 4. Doctor wouldn’t look at it, wouldn’t refill prescription, because apparently I had no appointment. 5. Went to the hospital the next day. 6. Diagnosis: Left radial nerve palsy.”>
Because of my ‘condition’, I would like to open up this post to an open trackback. I truly enjoy reading most of the posts that link here, and I have a feeling I’m going to have to take Jungle Mom’s advice for a while. Please join in the Linkfest!
Yes. We must gather whatever strength we have left and keep bloggin’ on, so here I am. I’m sitting here at my computer with over 38 emails that I still have to read and consider posting. Oh, the pain of it all! lol.
Truth is, I haven’t got a darn thing to say. What? The Left wants us to lose the war and become marxists, the rupukians don’t have a candidate, the Middle East is on fire with many may or may not turn into fires, we shouldn’t leave so we can be there when that time comes, the crazies want us out because they’re tired of the war (could someone please tell me why? they haven’t done a damn thing to help the cause!), China, Zimbabwe, Burma, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Venezuela, Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Cuba, and many other countries have real prroblems, and all I get to hear on the Sunday shows is a crock of crap! Damn it, people are being murdered. Doesn’t anyone care?
Well I know our Soldiers, Marines, Seamen, and the such care. They’re the only ones making sacrifices while we sit here grumbling. Their families as well. So frankly, I’d appreciate it if you could take at least one minute out of your oh so important day and pray for them and their success. Thank you.
Did I happen to mention that this is a late Sunday/early morning Monay open trackback?
Sorry I’m so late, but I’ve been setting up a site for someone who has about as much knowledge about blogger.com as I had about it when I first started. Wow. That brings back so many memories! I’ll never forget the time I forgot to save the template BEFORE I tried playing with it. Now I save them all just for the heck of it, even when I need to! lol.
Anyway, I’m going to be busy for a minute. I’m going to add the trackbacks to my last post. I don’t really like to have my personal life out there, but I hope it helps someone who ends up with wrist drop. I may have a cast on, but I see no reason for that to stop me from blogging. Maybe just a little slower, but not quit. lol.
Kind people who’ve trackbacked to this post at my blogger site: 1. Global American Discourse: CNAS: Intellectual Support on Foreign Policy for Hillary Rodham Clinton. 2. Global American Discourse: Media and Jurists’ Humiliation to the Iraq War and the War on Terror.
Trackback for this post: http://rosemarysthoughts.com/2007/10/06/howdy-yall/trackback/
i would like to thank everyone for their heart-felt prayers for me, first of all. I was correct. it was a nerve. gee, i hope it wasn’t me! lol. if that doesn’t make sense (and it doesn’t, lol), please don’t worry. they put a cast on my wrist from my fingers all the way to my elbow. just thought i’d let those who were concerned how i am doing.
Open Trackback: and they thought they couldd keep me down. lol.
Oh my! I’ve been so busy answering emails that I completely forgot to check out my next page. Did I find a surprise there! I have so many videos for you that I’m just going to post the URL’s. Check them out. I know you will enjoy them.
This article by Ken Conner discusses the importance of us Christians not to sit out of this election because of the lack of respect we have been given. Remember, it was our lack of involvement that brought about the situation we find ourselves in today. Would you care to give the Communist Party 30-40 more years before you attempt to speak out again?
Let me warn you, whatever we say after one term of them in power our speech may be considered a crime. They tried to slip into the emergency military funding HATE SPEECH. What will you do then? Hmm…
I know I am pretty late with these three reports from Michael Yon, one of our most valued reporter, but I do believe you should at least have the opportunity to read them. After all, you may have missed them when they did come out. One never knows, right?
This last one I am very grateful to have received, not that the others are not as good. It’s just that I wanted to know the truth, and I can always count on Michael for that. This is such different news than what we hear every night, if you are one of those that still bothers watching it. lol. Have a good day.
Update: September 25, 2007, Michael has arrived back in Iraq. He has a report for us already: The General Lee Comes Home.
I posted these yesterday, which means I am late to the gate. I still have about 10-15 more articles to post. I would, however, like you take a look at these in the time being:
Now we come to the Tuesday OpenTrackback. Please be kind to those with those whom you disagree. If it is necessary, I can take care of it. I want everyone to feel welcome here. I do ask that you do not post any porn, seeing as I’m a Christian and this is my site. I appreciate all the support I have received, and I would like to thank those of you for your support. You know who you are.
This article is especially special to me, since the guy I’ve been talking to is over there to do the same thing. These guys do a great job, and they also go through many hardships. Personally, I pray for everyone over there not to have survivors guilt.
11 Sept 07 by Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE MEHTAR LAM, Afghanistan (AFPN) — Afghan instructors are training Afghan national police officers in a series of security forces classes here, while two American Airmen provide watchful mentorship. The Afghan national police sustainment training is a giant step forward for the future of the Afghan National Army and the Afghan military, said Staff Sgt. Daniel Smith, Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team’s police technical adviser.
Sergeant Smith and Senior Airman Zackary Osborne, both deployed from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., are mentors for the instructors.
“From this point on, the Afghans will have a more active role in the development of their police and security forces,” he said. “In the past, coalition and government forces supplied the training to the Afghans, but now, as the instructors receive qualification, we can step back and let them train themselves.”
The month-long classes cover a wide variety of security-related topics, such as arresting procedures and riot control, and are required by all first-year officers. Once the course is completed, the police officers are no longer considered “rookies” and are given a pay raise.
Already, Sergeant Smith said, he can see a difference within the classroom. “The students’ attention is held when the Afghans are instructing,” he said. “They go through the material a lot faster, since nobody has to pause and wait for an interpreter to translate everything. And we can see how they are catching onto things a lot faster. At this point, all that we (Americans) do is stand back, observe and give suggestions every now and then. They are running the show.”
The instructors were trained by a U.S. government-contracted security firm at the Regional Training Center in Jalalabad, a city east of Laghman Province where forward operating base Mehtar Lam is located. In a few months, construction will be complete on a provincial training center near the FOB, so more instructors can become trained and qualified locally.
“We will be able to hold our classes there at the PTC, rather than inside a tent on the FOB,” said Sergeant Smith. “There all their training needs can take place.” These classes are only part of the Laghman PRT’s mission, which serves to provide international aid to the area via security backed by national and coalition forces, reconstruction projects and humanitarian aid delivery. They are also responsible for disarming and demobilizing militia forces and terrorist activity throughout the region with the help of the locals.
“I’m extremely proud of what my Airmen are doing here with the Afghan military and the Afghan police,” said Lt. Col. Robert Ricci, the PRT commander deployed from Pope Air Force Base, N.C. “They have allowed the local authorities to expand their capabilities for security, and because of that, Laghman Province is a lot safer and that allows all of us to work harder to get this province, this country, on its feet.”
Photo – Staff Sgt. Zachary Osborne listens as Afghan National Police instructor Maj. Muhammad Omar teaches a class on patrol procedures to Afghan National Auxiliary Police trainees Sept. 3 at forward operating base Mehtar Lam in Afghanistan’s Laghman province. Sergeant Osborne is an Air Force security forces member deployed from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. He is assigned to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team police technical advisory team and works as a mentor to the Afghan instructors. The course is now being taught entirely by ANP instructors. The PTAT’s role has now shifted to monitoring the course’s progress and mentoring the ANP instructors. U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi.
May God be with all of them, and may no one need comforting…
These men and women are the people that don’t really get many kudos, except maybe from the troops. They are the ones who are behind the scenes making sure that all the repairs necessaey are done and done well.
10 Sept 07 By Sgt. Anthony Guas 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (FWD).
AL ASAD — Whether it is building or renovating, combat engineers are always working hard to ensure that service members have what they need to make work or life a little better. Recently, the Marines of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 took on a mission that has an affect on service members throughout Iraq.
The engineers of MWSS-271 have started the Rapid Runway Repair project, which is designed to fix problem areas on Al Asad’s runways. “The problem is that there are holes in the runway from where the concrete expands and contracts from the heat and it starts breaking up,” explained Sgt. David Poole, a combat engineer for MWSS-271. “When you have holes in the flightline, the planes have trouble landing or taxiing.” The repair on Aug. 11 was the second of many upcoming repairs that will be conducted by the 271 engineers. The repairs are completed in small sections, so that they do not interfere with normal operations.
“We go in and cut out the portion that is starting to come up where there are holes and we jackhammer all the stuff out and put in pavement, which is runway repair material,” said Poole. “It gives it a solid surface and stops it from cracking.”
The engineers have primarily been focused on minor projects around the base, before starting on the runway repair. “We have been building SWA huts, gyms for units, a detention facility for (the Provost Marshal’s Office), just small construction projects,” said Poole. “It’s a big change, definitely different. It’s part of our job and I feel like I’m really doing my job out here doing (runway repair) because I know it means something.”
Although the MWSS-271 engineers have primarily been tasked with small projects, their performance during the first runway repair was the catalyst for more work. “They finally decided to give us a shot at it to see how we could do it, and we ended up doing it ahead of schedule,” Poole explained. “We had two nights allotted to us on the flight line, where they shut it down for us, and it didn’t even take one full night. So now they see that we can and we are going to be repairing a lot more.”
Just like any other group of Marines in the Corps, the engineers attribute teamwork to their success. “Everyone gets along well and knows their job” said Poole. “It’s all planned out before we get out there, so everybody knows exactly what they will be doing and when they’ll be doing it.”
If planes cannot land or taxi, then supplies cannot get where they need to be in a timely matter. The engineers understand and relish the fact that repairing the runway is essential to the overall mission here. “(Rapid runway repair) is one of the only projects that’s an asset to the (whole) base,” said Cpl. Jessica Torelli, a combat engineer for MWSS-272. “We usually work fast and efficiently. When things need to be done, we work together pretty well.”
The first two projects went well and the engineers plan on continuing their success, according to Poole. “We have a couple more missions signed up and all the Marines are excited.” said Poole. “This is important to the overall mission in Iraq, it’s not like building a desk for somebody. We are doing something that is going to be noticed and needed for the mission.”
Photo – Cpl. David Strathman, a drafting and survey technician for Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 and Lance Cpl. Zach Brown, a combat engineer for MWSS-271 jackhammer a piece of runway that is being replaced, August 11. The combat engineers are repairing areas of the flightline that have holes as part of the Rapid Runway Repair project. Photo by Sgt. Anthony Guas.
God bless them, each and every one. It takes all of them to complete the missions, and they are important, too.
This is an article that has me all choked up again. The well-spoken Soldiers who are but young men, the spirit, the purpose, sureality of it all. Please read this, even though I am late posting it.
11-Sept-07 By Sgt. Jim Wilt, USA Special to American Forces Press Service.
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan – At 5:16 p.m., the only sounds that could be heard here were the distant drone of helicopter rotors and the flap of flags in the wind.
In the United States, it was 8:46 a.m., Sept. 11, six years to the minute after a plane hijacked by terrorists struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York.
For one minute, servicemembers attending a memorial ceremony here were silent.
For one minute, these servicemembers honored those who perished that fateful day.
For one minute, these servicemembers honored those who fought back on a plane.
For one minute, these servicemembers were reminded why they are here.
“The world that was behind me when I went into school that morning was gone forever, and the new one waiting for me that afternoon was wildly different,” said Army Sgt. Gregory J. Barbaccia during a speech at a ceremony commemorating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Barbaccia was a 17-year-old high school student in lower Manhattan when the attacks happened. Barbaccia, who is now 23 and serving here, was one of several speakers at the memorial. His speech revealed his memories of Sept. 11, 2001. “Downtown that day looked like exactly what it was, a war zone,” Barbaccia said. He painted a vivid picture of what that war zone looked like with his words.
“A layer of ash covered the streets and a cacophony of alarms refused to cease. I remember the 60-block walk home where my friends and I walked north up the middle of 6th Avenue, which was completely void of all traffic, except for sporadic rescue vehicles from neighboring counties with unfamiliar demarcations rushing downtown, their sirens piercing the eerie silence. Crowds of people gathered outside any establishment with a television, standing like statues in anesthetized silence,” he said.
“From virtually all points in Manhattan, one could look to the south and see a huge plume of smoke hovering over the rubble where two towers once stood, two majestic American symbols, symbols representing both commerce in the free world and democracy,” Barbaccia added.
For Barbaccia and his friends, the impact of what happened didn’t hit him until the evening of the 11th. “When the death toll was repeated that evening in the media, my friends began grasping the horror that their parents might not be coming home,” he said. “As for me, in that strange and surreal moment, the die was cast,” Barbaccia said. “A seed in my mind was deeply planted and roots already taking hold.”
Following the attacks, Barbaccia said, he and his friends spent their time handing out supplies to rescue workers near “Ground Zero.” “In my enthusiasm and focus to do what I could, there was no discerning morning from afternoon or day from night,” he said. “Just knowing that I was there to serve, I was there to show my gratitude, I was there to say, ‘Yes, I believe.’ “We kept handing supplies to the unending convoy heading into the abyss, and the people kept cheering,” Barbaccia said.
The terrorist attacks left their mark on Barbaccia as they left their marks on many others. “I’ll never forget the acrid smell, the fearful and numbed look on people’s faces, the sounds and the sour taste in my mouth,” he said. Those memories led him to join the Army. “I knew it was my duty to wear this uniform,” he said. “America needed help, and life in (America) has been very good to me, and I wanted to give back.”
“Due to the way my father raised me and the strong service ethic instilled in me from my high school, I always felt it was my duty to serve, only I was unsure in what capacity,” said Barbaccia, who also has had two tours in Iraq. “The violence of the Sept. 11 attacks helped me decide to join the military.”
Six years after the attacks, Barbaccia said he believes fighting terrorism in Afghanistan is the right thing to do. “The Taliban had tyrannical rule over this country and robbed its citizens of inherent rights and freedom,” he said.
During the ceremony, Army Brig. Gen. Joseph Votel, the Combined Joint Task Force 82 deputy commanding general for operations said Barbaccia “represents the highest quality” of servicemember. Votel also voiced his own feelings on the events. “I can recall how angry I was that someone could perpetrate an attack on our country,” he said.
Army Maj. Gen. Bernard S. Champoux, the International Security Assistance Force deputy director for security, said he was struck by Barbaccia’s speech. The attacks were “our generation’s Pearl Harbor,” Champoux said. “Events that day changed us as a person and as a nation,” he said.
Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Bill Hayes, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing safety superintendent, was at Ground Zero the day of the attacks. Hayes, who is part of the New York Air National Guard, was a fire fighter aiding in the rescue efforts. “My main focus was to rescue as many people as possible,” he said. “We worked and worked until we couldn’t work anymore.” “My wife didn’t know if I was dead or alive,” he said. Today was an emotional day for many people. Hayes said he had a lump in throat all day.
In his closing remarks, Barbaccia echoed the thoughts of many servicemembers. “That morning terrorists gave their lives to cause those attacks,” he said. “So here we stand, six years later, prepared to give ours to prevent further ones.”
Photo – Army Sgt. Gregory J. Barbaccia, who was in New York during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, gives a speech at the Combined Joint Task Force 82 Sept. 11 memorial ceremony at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, on Sept. 11, 2007. Barbaccia, 23, was in school in lower Manhattan during the attacks. Photo by Sgt. Jim Wilt.
What nation are we to be blessed with such men as this?
I am going to tell you about the struggles I am having with my left hand. A few days ago, it was working fine. I found myself sleeping at the computer again, and I had lost the feeling in my hand. Well, not actually the feeling because it was tingling, but I could not move my fingers.
I have had 3 strokes before, so I know the symptoms. It was not stroke related. It is not even related to my fingers, oddly enough. The problem starts with my wrist. I can find pressure points all up and down my arm and even underneath my arm! Crazy how our bodies are connected.
I’ve still not gone to a doctor, but my fingers seem to be regaining strength. I can actually pick something up now, as long as I don’t have to raise it over my head. I have a suspicious it may be only a slight bit of tendinitis. I’ve been trying to rest my hand by using just one finger. lol.
The odd thing is I cannot use my thumb. This is also affecting my movements in my wrist as far as peripheral reach. (The area of stretchability or reach.)
So there’s really no big story here. I’m fine. I’m sure my wrist will be back in action soon. Until then, I have some really cool military stories that I have permission to copy/paste. If you choose to ‘borrow’ any of them, please give the credit to the person(s) who actually wrote the article. You could also be kind enough to let people know where you found it.
Well, I guess that’s it. Not too much to it, eh? That’s the GOOD news! Have a great day.
PS. I have reached 3000 hits on my blogger site, but I do not know who to give credit for it. Therefore, I shall give the post the credit, and all who came to visit my blogger site. It is one of my Military sites posts which I have permission to copy/paste their articles, so please give the person who actually wrote the article credit if you chose to ‘borrow’ any of them. Thank you.
UPDATE: 18. Leaning Straight Up: San Francisco’s Anti Military Disease Spreads to Oakland. A MUST READ, says me. Toll free to the Capitol: 866-340-9281. Do the right thing.
Bill Roggio has a new site: The Long War Journal. What I read today, gives me great pleasure. I would like to share a bit with you to get you to go read it. I’ll give you a hint, a top AQI bites it.
Senior al Qaeda in Iraq leader killed in airstrike. By Bill Roggio, September 29, 2007, 12:00 AM.
The intelligence-driven raids against al Qaeda in Iraq’s command structure has netted two senior operatives in the past month, a senior American military intelligence official told The Long War Journal. On September 25, Task Force 88, the hunter-killer teams assigned to kill or capture senior al Qaeda operatives, killed Abu Usama al Tunisi, who is described as the possible successor to al Qaeda in Iraq’s leader Abu Ayyub al Masri. On August 31, Task Force 88 killed Abu Yaqub al Masri, al Qaeda’s military advisor to units operating in and around Baghdad. [Read more.]
How about that, eh? Way to go guys. Keep up the good work. The sane among us support not only you, but your mission as well. Godspeed.
PS. My left paw isn’t working, so it is hard for me to write. That also makes it difficult to write the trackbacks on the front page. Please forgive me for this. I will correct this as soon as possible. I think it is my wrist, because I can move fingers a little but I cannot lift my hand. Hmm. NO, I will not go to the doctor. For what? So he can tell me I have a pinched nerve? Well…duh. lol.
UPDATE: 18. Leaning Straight Up: San Francisco’s Anti Military Disease Spreads to Oakland. A MUST READ, says me. Toll free to the Capitol: 866-340-9281. Do the right thing.
I have no idea why I cannot use my left hand. It won’t work (no pun intended. You know, left+work=welfare. I guess ya had be there). That is why I am going to direct you to my hero’s site: “Bill and Bob’s” Excellent Afghan Adventure. He has returned after a mission which took over two months. Please read it, and leave him a comment of comfort. I would love to run all the way over there to comfort him, but somehow I believe I would cause more harm than comfort!
(To use Digg, please go here: http://rosemarysthoughts.com/2007/09/28/this-hurts-but-not-my-hand/ Thank you.)
For this reason, I choose this post as my Linkfest post of the day. Thank you for understanding.
Trackback for this post: http://rosemarysthoughts.com/2007/09/28/this-hurts-but-not-my-hand/trackback/
These are the posts I’ve trackbacked to:
These are the kind people who’ve trackbacked to this post (in case I am unable to write the one finger at a time, you may also find their articles in the comment section. Thank you for understanding):
I was sent an e-mail that a friend of mine, Jack Lewis, sent to Stop the ACLU. He is a wiz with computer codes and the such, so I am going to use this instead of my own. lol. Enjoy.
Recently, the ACLU set their doomsday clock at six minutes before midnight! Once it reaches the ‘dark hour’ of midnight…we will be slaves to the ominous and evil ‘surveillance society’. This isn’t science fiction. This is typical scare tactics from the ACLU.
They prey upon the paranoid. This is how they get donations to fund their machine. They cry about “American citizens being spied upon” when in fact there is no evidence that anyone has been hurt by the government’s terrorist surviellance program.
While the ACLU cry that they are the guardian’s of liberty, and that privacy is one of those liberties….they have been exposed as being violators of that very liberty. They have a massive database of their own member’s private financial information they use for soliciting donations.
The group’s new data collection practices were implemented without the board’s approval or knowledge and were in violation of the ACLU’s privacy policy at the time, according to Michael Meyers, vice president of the organization and a frequent internal critic. He said he had learned about the new research by accident Nov. 7 during a meeting of the committee that is organizing the group’s Biennial Conference in July.
He objected to the practices, and the next day, the privacy policy on the group’s Web site was changed. “They took out all the language that would show that they were violating their own policy,” Meyers said. “In doing so, they sanctified their procedure while still keeping it secret.”
“The government does not have a constitutionally sufficient justification for making private sex a crime,” said the ACLU. “It follows that an invitation to have private sex is constitutionally protected and may not be made a crime. This is so even where the proposition occurs in a public place, whether in a bar or a restroom.”
But then the ACLU went a step further, arguing that there is not only a right to solicit sex, but also to engage in it, in a public restroom.
“The Minnesota Supreme Court,” said the ACLU, “has already ruled that two men engaged in sexual activity in a department store restroom with the stall door closed had a reasonable expectation of privacy. They were, the Court held, therefore acting in a private, not a public place.”
The conflated logic of the ACLU’s bathroom briefs seems to be that someone entering a public restroom intending to use it for traditional purposes has no protection either from the gender sign posted at the door or from the otherwise vaunted right to privacy. Someone entering a public restroom intending to solicit and engage in sex, on the other hand, is protected by both the First Amendment and the right to privacy.
This about sums up the ACLU’s worldview. To the ACLU, the only “freedom” the ACLU truly believes in is “sexual freedom” and the concomitant “right” of people who choose aberrant sexual behavior to be free of any criticism and free from anyone else exercising common sense (and more threateningly, religious liberty) if it “infringes” on these “rights” recently invented by the ACLU and its partisans.
It’s me now. They do a very good job over at Stop the ACLU. You can find out what court cases are pending, when they are coming to a neighborhood near you, what silly little things they’re defending now and what horrific people, such as terrorists, they are trying to give more civil rights than they wish you to have.
I would just like to add one thing. THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT GIVE US OUR RIGHTS. GOD DID. For if the government had indeed given us our rights, then they surely could take them away, no?
Have a beautiful day.
I would like to use this post to help more people become aware of the great work they are doing over at Stop the ACLU. If you are not yet a member of Linkfest, it is easy to become a member. Would you like to meet other conservatives? We even a rather friendly liberal who is brave enough to sign up! Kudo’s! We are tired of our posts being buried over at digg and other liberal social stations. Talk about open mindedness? HA! Increase your reading over here at Linkfest. Also, please don’t forget the rules of no porn and to be kind to one another. Thank you.
This is the trackback for this post: http://rosemarysthoughts.com/2007/09/27/my-contribution-to-stop-the-aclu/trackback/
There is going to be another debate which will be held at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center at the University of Michigan (Dearborn). It will hosted by the Michigan Republican Party. Congressman Duncan Hunter will be participating in this debate. As stated, it will be held on October 9, 2007.
The TV coverage will not be for those of us without cable, but if you do have cable you may watch it on CNBC who will be broadcasting the two-hour debate beginning at 4:00PM. MSNBC will re-broadcast the event at 9:00PM the same evening. I do believe that is Eastern Standard Time, but you may want to check with your TV guide.
Have a great time, and write about it. I wantt to know how it goes. Would someone please keep count of the number of questions Duncan Hunter is allowed to answer without being cut off? He is my nominee, and I am getting tired of everyone else getting all the face time. If only they could hear him, then the party would not need to be so annoyed.
Duncan Hunter is the true conservative on this stage, and he has served his country, our country, not only in the Congress, but also as a Marine and a Ranger. Check him out! His son is also running for Congress: Hunter for Congress. At this moment he is unable to campaign however, because he is in Afghanistan on his third tour of duty! (You may still help his campaign with a donation.) Vote Hunter! (Both ways, both times, and often. lol)
Update: Duncan Hunter was interviewed by The Philadelphia Jewish Voice. It is a good interview. You should read it if you would like make an informed choice. Thank you.
I awake this feeling almost everyday. I’d be lieing if I claimed everyday. Some days I forget or am too wrapped up within myself to see the bigger picture. But for a moment, then I remember, gratefully. I am alive, I live in the greatest nation ever on the planet earth, I can walk, I can talk, I can breathe on my own, I can laugh, I can create, I can write. All of these things I can do at my will without fear of repercussion.
We may be only 4% of the world’s population, but we are the wealthiest in spirit, wealthiest in materialistic ways, wealthiest in choices and wealthiest by the grace of God. Had He not had His Gracious hand over us, we would have surely met disaster many times over.
So why is it that people would like to make this a muslim nation when each and every muslim nation is horrendous? Why would they desire we forget about our Creator? Could it be because they do not like what is right and love what is evil? Could it be possible that it has been so long that they do not know the difference?
Aha! But I say, “NO!” Why? Because the Bible says no. In Romans 1:18-32, (all bolding is mine)
God’s Wrath Against Mankind 18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–His eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images that were made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator–who is forever praised. Amen.
26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Wow. That’s a mouthful, eh? Have I ever done any of these things? Yes. Do I struggle at times still? Yes. But I know that there is One who Save me from death’s grip, and that is Jesus Christ, my LORD and Savior.
Remember as a child how we used to push our parents to find out where the bounderies were? Well, at the time we may not have known that’s what we were doing, but we all did it. That is because every creature, every human being, needs direction, guidance, love, discipline and correction.
That is why I am so grateful that I can practice my faith as a Christian in this country, no matter whether you like it or not.
Back to those verses, though. They say very much and give so much insight to the many seemingly unanswered questions we have of God. The answers can be found in this Bible and in these verses. Why does evil happen? Because we have turned away from God, we have told Him He is no longer needed in our schools, and His Ten Commandments? Why that’s illegal! Poppy-cock! You may sit down for this and allow it to happen, but I will not.
It is necessary for us to fight the American-Communist-Legal-Union (ACLU) with everything we have. The truth is on our side, and if we don’t, then who will? Could you please answer me that? We fought the godless communists, only to find them in our schools teaching our children and throwing out God! HOW DARE THEY! They were able to do this because we were asleep. Also, we did not know our own Constitution! They knew it better than we did.
Well my dear readers, it is time we educated ourselves. They have infested our Churches to the point where no one even speaks about Hell or fire and brimstone! Are you okay with that? This is not a church. It is a place where people gather to pretend they are christians. If you attend such a Church, I recommend you quickly find one that knows the Word of God and teaches it to everyone. We are all His disciples, not just the Pastor. Do not leave all the work up to him. You have your own Cross to bear.
Excuse me, I get upset when I consider the state of affairs of my beloved country and the world. But the reason I am so grateful?
The LORD Appears to Solomon: 2Chronicles 7:11-22. 11When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, 12the LORD appeared to him at night and said:
“I have heard your prayer and have this place for Myself as a temple for sacrifices.”
13“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among My people, 14if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will always be there.”
17As for you, if you walk before Me as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe My decrees and laws, 18I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a man to rule over Israel.’”
19But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20then I will uproot Israel from My land, which I have given them, and I will reject this temple I have consecrated for My Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21And though this temple is now so imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshipping and serving them–that is why He brought all this disaster on them.’”
Wow. It is absolutely amazing how we can search for answers in the Bible and go to two entirely different books, the first being the New Testament-the latter being the Old Testament, and we come right back to the righteousness of the LORD. I was seeking the prayer in which God promises to heal our land, but I do not like to take verses out of context. That is why they are so long. In case you were wondering. lol.
Yes, this is my great hope. That we would all repent of our sins, turn from our wicked way, and seek the LORD with all of our heart, our mind, our soul and our strength. Day and night. Do you need a reason to pray? Pray for our men and women in uniform who are keeping you free. Show them your gratitude, although they may never know it. God will know it, and He will account to you. Pray for the sick, the elderly, the lost. There are so many things about which you could pray!
The most important prayer of all, though, is the prayer you pray when you make the decision to ask the LORD Jesus to come into your heart and forgive your sins. Yes, it is by far the most important. That does not mean the others do not count, they do! We are just talking, you and me, about which is the most important.
If your Church no longer asks people if they are Christians, then it is not a Christian Church. RUN out of there. Just because the building claims to be a Church, does not make it so. Please, come with me. We can have Bible study over the net! It is better than worshipping other gods. No, you do not have to be a Christian to join a fellowship, but you must abide by the Christian commandments. They are the same as the Jewish commandments.
I am grateful that the LORD has taken my place and freed me from my sin. I am grateful for His direction. He leads me away from evil. I love Him, and I am very grateful that He loves me. God bless you all. Have a wonderfully blessed day.
The trackback for this is: http://rosemarysthoughts.com/2007/09/26/gratitude-abounds/trackback/
Hunter warns Columbia University Cancel Invitation to Iranian President
September 24, 2007 Manchester, NH… At 11:30 a.m. this morning Congressman Duncan Hunter is holding a Town hall Meeting at the New England College, 98 Bridge Street, Henniker, New Hampshire in the Simon center. Hunter will issue a statement directed to Columbia University and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visit.
In a recent press conference Hunter said “To host the leader of Iran when he supports terrorists that are moving deadly roadside bombs across the Iraqi border to be used against American troops is a slap in the face for the entire 165,000 men and women in Iraq and to those that have served before them.”
“If President Lee Bollinger follows through with this hosting of the leader of Iran, I will move in Congress to cut off every single type of Federal Funding to Columbia University. If the left-wing leaders of academia will not support our troops, they, in the very least, should not support our adversaries.”
“This event, following the slanderous action of MoveOn.org, depicting General Petraeus as “General Betray Us,” in the New York Times represents the emergence of the extreme left-wing in American politics.”
This is what is happening now. There are many people who have opinions about this, but the only opinions that will matter, factually, are those in the Middle East. Did this president of a university insult many more Iranians than Ahmadinejad has done? Did anyone consider the culture of the Middle East and how they would react to an insulting introduction making it possible for this Hitlarian to claim victimhood? I can answer that. Insulted.
This is precisely why so many of us who follow the affairs of the world, not just our next door neighbor, are so adament about not allowing this facist into our country to ‘speak freely’ so that they may be better understood.
We already understand him. He and his minions want to kill all of us. Do you not understand this? I suppose not. What they may not be aware of is that Ahmadinejad offered them to join Islam in Farsi, which is traditional to do before they murder you. See, they offer you to join their cause so that you will be ‘saved’. But who will save you? God or the devil?
Who believes in death and who believes in life? Who came to give life, and who is the source of the many wars all over this world? It was Jesus Christ who preached life. Not muhammed. Jesus warned that many would come after Him. Are we so blind that we cannot see? So deaf that we cannot hear peple saying, “I want to kill you!” and they mean it? I shall pray for America to repent of her sins and for God to our land. I hope you will join me.
I am going to be bold by selecting this post as my open trackback today. May God help us all.
I’m having some trouble with my links since I bought this new site, but I realy have some very cool sites. Some you may like, some you may hate, but I’m sure there is at least ONE you will find that you will like. BTW, if any of techies could tell me what’s wrong, I’d be mighty obliged.
I’d really like to learn how to read the code on my wordpress template. My good friend has suggested a site where I could get some information, but he also said there wasn’t any ‘good’ ones over at the wordpress that they offered.
I’d ask him, but he’s already done so much for me. I don’t want to take up all of his time. I like to fool around with my templates, and sometimes I get carried away. That is why I need to know what I’m doing. Thanks for understanding. Have a great day.
There has been a documentary made concerning global warming by scientists that have been called heretics for the hoax that it really is. As it is, global warming is such a huge business that if the truth were finally allowed to rise through the feces, many people who work at claiming it is real would actually have to go and get a real job. This they do not wish to do.
Also, many of these people have made global warming a political religion. Where have I heard those two words together like that? Oh yes, Islamic Facism! You are treated in the same manner if you do not actually believe what they tell you to believe or just go along with the crowd.
Dare to be different. Dare to stand up against this evil lie. Dare to speak the truth. Dare to educate yourself not by my words, but by your own research and actions. This is the purpose for this documentary, “The Great Global Warming Swindle.” It has French subtitles, because the link to it came from France. As a suggestion, you may want to start with understanding what the sun’s variations are, and see how they are involved in global warming.
Share this with your friends. Get everyone together and watch it like a movie. Get some popcorn, some butter, and some chocolate. Gotta have that chocolate! lol.
You may even want to call your favorite radio show to talk about this topic and inform them about this documentary. You may also want to contact the directors of this documentary: Great Global Warming Swindle. There is a contact field for you right there. Their website is Great Global Warming Swindle. This will be in England. If you would prefer to call them with some questions, you may reach them with these numbers: Tel: +44(0)20 7688 1711, Fax: +44(0)20 7680 1702, Email: info AT wagtv DOT com, Web: WAGTV. If this does not work, there was a 1 that I did not include at the end. You may want to add it.
I would like to let you know that I have NOT finished watching the documentary, but I am very impressed with it so far. As I said, you must do the research yourself. Don’t anyone’s word for it, not even mine. I say this, because we should all know what we are talking about when we speak. This way, we may speak with authority. Thank you, and have a great day!
I think this one will make a great open trackback! Do you? Please join Linkfest so that you will know when I have written something I find interesting. Remember the decency rule, no porn, no spam, etc. Please be kind to everyone, even if you disagree with their point of view. Discussions and debates are very stimulating to have. Calling each other names is a total waste of time. Okay, that’s piece of mind for this morning. lol. Have a great day.
You will be able to trackback to the site where I’m having the Linkfest here: http://rosemarysthoughts.com/2007/09/23/the-great-global-warming-swindle/trackback/
It is now time for tomorrow’s game 3 of this year’s season, and I am here with the match-ups for you. As the games play, I will also provide you with their scores. I will pick who I think will win except for three teams: Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots and the St. Loius Rams. Why? Because I do not like them at all.
In the line-up I just posted, I noticed a few things I’d like to mention before continuing. I really do want Buffalo to crush NE Pats. Arizona is looking pretty good this season, but I chose the Ravens because while the Ravens may have been a young team, they have shown grit. Green Bay over San Diego. I know. How dare I! Every time I’ve rooted against the Pack, they’ve won! I want San Diego to win…or GB. lol. I just wish the Steelers were performing better. I think they may tomorrow. The same with my Eagles. Detroit is a contender. Miami sucks. Look, don’t yell at me! I’m not the coach nor the players. They need to get a move on! That’s as simple as that. That’s about it for this round. Now we are coming up to the five games that are going to play at 4:15 pm EST.
There is another game later tomorrow night at 8:15 pm EST. This team is Dallas Cowboys vs. *Chicago Bears: Final: DAL 34; *CHI 10. Why not? Someone has to root for them.
Monday Nite Live at 8:30 pm EST: Tennessee Titans vs. *New Orleans Saints: Final: TEN ; *NO .
I hope everyone has a wonderful game weekend. Should I keep putting these up as a Linkfest? I think so. Otherwise, how will everyone remember? Even if football is not your ‘thing’, you can still stop by and see if your favorite team won. Hopefully, right? lol. Everyone have a great weekend, and don’t forget me!
On Tuesday, September 18, 2007, Sierra Leone made history. One of the war-torn countries of Africa is now on the first steps towards a weak democracy. While it has been a quasi-democracy in the past, they were constantly at war with Charles Taylor, war-lord ousted of Liberia by the USA.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — War-ravaged Sierra Leone’s peaceful transfer of power through the ballot box bodes well for a continent that has struggled against repression and conflict for half a century.
But violence often simmers behind the democratic facade in Africa, where corruption is rife and a dying breed of tyrants remain.
Sierra Leone’s run-off, in which Ernest Bai Koroma defeated Vice President Solomon Berewa, saw the opposition oust the ruling party — a rare occurrence in a region where power-hungry leaders keen to stay on have long used the machinery of state to their advantage.
Observers praised the relatively smooth transition, though street brawls accompanied campaigning and looters ransacked Berewa’s party headquarters Monday as Koroma was sworn in. Police fired into the air to disperse the crowd and two people were electrocuted in the melee.
Still, Sierra Leone’s vote strengthens hope for democratic change in Africa.
Hope is the backbone of many beginnings. Just as important as peace, let us not forget about Sierra Leone is our prayers.
Prior to the election, however, there was some very nasty assualts and riots. I didn’t have the time to write it down because I was busy moving, but I do remember reading about it. I knew there was something, and here it is! This is when the president was threatening to call a state of emergency. I would still offer caution.
Here is some more background:
After the brutality of the colonial era and the coups and dictatorships that followed, democracy began making inroads on the continent in the early 1990s, when the end of the Cold War spelled the collapse of support from the West or Moscow that had propped up so many tyrants. Leaders allowed opposition parties and held elections to show they were changing, but many were shams.
Today, the state of democracy in Africa is mixed. Sierra Leone’s two neighbors provide an illustration: Liberia, emerging from its own civil war, held elections two years ago and has become a shining example of good governance. Guinea, on the other hand, is ruled by Lansana Conte, an aging dictator who has clung to power for 23 years through fear and fraudulent elections.
To understand the significance of this election (or the problems that may lay ahead), I have decided to ‘borrow’ the rest of the article. Most of time, CNN moves its articles, and I want you to have a place of reference.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” said Charles Doukubo of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.
Ozong Agborsangaya-Fiteu, a Cameroonian who works for the Washington-based democracy advocacy group Freedom House, said there had been “notable progress” in the last few years, citing recent elections in Liberia, Congo, Senegal, Mali and Mauritania that have been deemed free and fair.
When Freedom House began ranking global levels of political rights and civil liberties in 1977, only three African nations were considered free. “Today there are 11,” Agborsangaya-Fiteu said. “There’s definitely movement in a positive direction, but we need to see more.”
Freedom House’s 2007 report lists 23 other countries on the continent as partly free, with 19 more “not free.”
“Democracy means more than being able to hold a peaceful election,” said Gross-Umstadt, Germany-based Eric A. Witte of the Democratization Policy Council, a nongovernmental advocacy group.
The biggest challenge for Sierra Leone now is what happens after the vote. Will Koroma’s administration be able to tackle corruption and ease massive unemployment? Will it be able to keep the peace?
Koroma’s party, in power for the first time since a 1992 coup, carries with it the baggage of years of mismanagement and corruption allegations.
Witte said the elections largely reflected “ethnicity and patronage politics,” with Berewa doing well in ethnic Mende strongholds in the south, and Koroma doing well in Temne areas in the north.
The vote “did not revolve very much around the very important issues that face Sierra Leone. It was more a popularity contest, a test of loyalties among different ethnic factions,” Witte said.
Similar criticisms have been made against upcoming elections due by year’s end in Kenya, where the governing party is running on the endorsement of the corruption-addled party it defeated five years ago — back when it was hailed as the clean opposition.
Witte said Sierra Leone’s people were unanimous in their widespread disgust with the ruling party’s failure to curb corruption. Carolyn Norris, Dakar-based West Africa Project Director for International Crisis Group, agreed.
“They voted for substantial fundamental change — but actually instituting that change is the challenge now,” Norris said. “The new president will have his hands full.”
The vote also reinforced the idea that a sitting president can stand down, Norris said. “There are still people around the continent who aren’t prepared to do that.”
Sierra Leone’s departing President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah was barred by law from running for a third five-year term. Other countries have put constitutional caps on terms in office, including Nigeria and Mauritania’s former military junta, which organized a free vote and returned power to civilian rule earlier this year. Gabon, Uganda and Chad, on the other hand, have gone the other way, amending constitutions so incumbents can stay on.
And many have.
Cameroon’s Paul Biya has held power since 1982, Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe since 1980, Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang since 1979. Gabon’s Omar Bongo has been president since 1967, the longest-serving head of state in Africa, second in the world only to Cuba’s Fidel Castro.
Successful elections don’t always herald peace — and can sometimes be divisive.
Burundi’s 1993 vote installed an ethnic Hutu in power, but the president was killed shortly after, sparking a civil war that only ended recently. A long-awaited presidential poll in Ivory Coast has twice been delayed because of the cocoa-producing nation’s civil war. The vote, expected next year, is likely to be tense, and a test of whether the country can turn its back on conflict.
Nigeria’s elections this spring were deemed flawed by local and international observers who cited ballot-box stuffing, vote-rigging, lack of ballots in polling stations and voter intimidation.
“Democracy in Africa is a work in progress. You can take a step forward, then take two steps back,” Doukubo said. “Africa is trying to embrace change, but … it needs time.”
Sound familiar? I hope no one intends on ‘helping’ these people. They must learn to work out their problems on their own, and they are off to a great start. They have Charles Taylor incarcerated, he will face a court of some sorts (although if it’s from the UN? Don’t hold your breath!). Of course if they ask and the need is great, can we turn such a blind eye as we did in Darfur? Think about it…
Although it was told to us today that he would not be allowed to go to ground zero, he is defying all warnings and going anyway. Why shouldn’t he? WE HAVEN’T DONE ANYTHING to convince him that we are the kind of people that will stand up to him and kick his arse for coming near sacred land.
Why does he want to go there? For the photo op. You can bet al Jazeera will be, and it will be all over the news in the Middle East. What will the Middle East think? That we are COWARDS. And I can’t say as I blame them. After all, he was told no, he did it anyway, and he will have OUR SECRET SERVICE to protect HIM!
You just do not know how much I wish I were there so I could ask him about those political prisoners in Evin Prison Room 209, the murder of innocent women, the lack of payment for work performed, why they are not allowed to unionize, etc. I hate this worthless piece of skin and bones so much, you just do not know.
I’m not the whipped chic you find around here. I’m from New York. I know when there is an enemy in our midst. I just never thought our government would play the role of this cretons protector or go along with his plans. They should arrest this damn terrorist!
He will never get to see ground zero, go home and brag about how brave his 19 men were, and live to tell about it. I’m counting on the the brave Americans that I used to know to do to him what his own people are in prison for as I write. Speak their heads off! Loudly and longly. Ya know, you don’t need a permit if it is spontaneous…
I am going to use this post so that all of you who believe he is not going there will be alerted and can call your government officials toll free at 1-866-340-9281. PLEASE.
Update: Columbia University’s claim that they had cancelled Ahmadinejad’s invitation to speak is a big fat LIE. You, sir, are a LIAR! That would be President Bradley A. Blakeman of Columbia University. Yes, you are scum. You invite our enemies into clutches, but you deny our ROTC to step foot on OUR property? You really should reconsider the roll in this world, seeing as if Iran takes over (which is their plan), you will be one of the first to be hanged. HANGED. Ask the teachers in Tehran. Oh, wait a minute. You cannot. THEY’RE DEAD. So much for free speech…
Anyone who gives money to Columbia University is supporting terrorists, and they are also using our tax dollars to do it. His convey, which is almost as large as President Bush’, comes out of yours and my pockets. Nice, eh? NO TO TERRISTS! NO TO THEIR LEADER, Ahmadinejad! Thank you for your time.
Dost Thou look upon thee with adorning eyes? Searching my soul for my every care. Such blessings I humbly accept with the knowledge that I am less than rags upon Thou’s sight. How merciful and graceful Thou art to me. Thou hast come at my time of desperation.
How dost Thou know? Why dost Thou care? You are surely Omniscient and Compassionate. He has entered in again where he has no place nor right. I pray Thee, protect me. Do not allow mine enemy to find me.
I pray, LORD, please keep watch over Morgan and his team. Crush his enemies before him, do not allow them sight before him. I pray, LORD, help him in everyway and everyday. The other two that went with him, please protect them and their teams. Even more precious, protect their families with a hedge of protection around them. Morgan and his teams as well.
You have been doing such a magnificent job. I thank You with all of my heart. What can I do that is worth of Your grace? I have accepted Your Son, Jesus Christ, as my LORD and Saviour. I have repented of my sins. I have asked for the Holy Spirit to abide in my heart. That is all? But that is so simple!
You have already paid the cost for my sins, and I am so sorry that I put You in that position. I thank You so much for Your love for me. I know You offer it freely for all those who will seek Your face. I pray everyone does.
Whenever I look around and lift mine eyes up to You, I can see some of Your creation and it is good. It is beautiful. I love those mountains with snowcaps, the valleys with the green, green grass. The streams that run silently with the purest of water. Such a delight!
I still remember to thank You for my legs, that I may walk. My lungs, that I may breathe again without tubes everywhere! The little and the big things You have blessed me with are so grand, and I thank You.
Lastly, but certainly not leastly, I thank You for the wonderful people You have surrounded about me. They are caring, intelligent, thoughtful, creative, and they all remind me of You and Your attributes. Yes, I am the most blessed person alive, and that also is due to You. Thank You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Oh my, I almost missed my deadline! Well, it’s a deadline I gave to myself when I was just beginning blogging. I used to blog every once in a while. I didn’t take it as seriously as I thought I should, so I promised myself to write at least once a day.
It has been rather difficult these days. During this move, I am finding things I’ve forgotten I needed to move. My friends are helping me move, yet I sometimes have the email turned off. I am doing a lot of behind the scenes work, like transferring links, and I’m forgetting to check for trackbacks.
Well, that last one was not entirely my fault. I could not understand why no one was trackbacking to me, so I went to investigate. Then I noticed that one of friends had put the moderator on, to my surprise! I’ve never used this (except at sites that I don’t visit), so I was a little relieved to be honest. Then I spent hours trackbacking to the wrong post and unable to correct it.
If I have trackbacked to you about the wrong topic, please let me know. lol. I will try to correct that. I don’t know how I’m going to move my pictures over to my new site. I also added www. Now, it doesn’t matter if you use the www. or not, because I have them both set to accept either.
I have to get my feedburner going correctly, and so many things I should have thought of before I said it was okay. NEVER say it is okay until you have changed everything you want to take with you. I have a sitemeter which I thought about first.
My goodness. Why didn’t anyone tell me that I was going to need to do all of these things? That is the reason I writing this post. So that anyone who is thinking about moving will know that you cannot do it in a hurry. Especially if you are going out there on your own. More importantly, especially when you can’t read the language! Argghhh!
I am quite sure I have not covered everything, so if you feel the need to switch your IPS, please feel free to e-mail me. I’m sure I’ll more to say about this. Have a great day.
This is my post for today’s open trackback. I believe it is my duty to warn you! (OMG! It’s 6:49am the next day, Wednesday, because I fell asleep at the computer again! I am still going to count it as written last night, because, well, I did. I just never got it posted. lol) I would appreciate it very much if you would at least give Linkfest a chance. This group of people are wonderful, and they have given people like me the opportunity to meet some very wonderful people through these open trackbacks. I also get to read all these articles that I did not have a chance to write. They really make me feel like I have everything covered because of them. You may still trackback from here, but please join us at Linkfest. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
I was watching this particular game last night, the Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos, in overtime. From 52 yards away, the field goal was made by the Raiders. They put the 3 points on the scoreboard, and the game was won. It was over. People started on their way home. But wait!
What is this? They’re taking the points off the board! What is happening? The Raiders have to try again. Why? What is the penalty? They’re trying to kick it at the same line? THERE IS NO PENALTY? So what happened?
Ah, Denver called a time-out…when? If it was not recognized before the play, it is never accepted as being a time-out. At least not until now.
I want an investigation. I want to know how much in debt those refs are, and I also would like to know which ref saw the time-out. Did anyone see it? I certainly did not.
Of course the Raiders missed the second attempt at a 52 yard field goal, so Denver went on to win the game with their own field goal. Too bad we don’t cheat, eh? Even if we had called for a time-out, it would not have been recognized.
Maybe some of you who are into football do not care about either the Broncos or the Raiders. That’s fine. What are you going to do when this happens to you and you know for a fact it is a lie? That you got cheated? Don’t expect others to stand up for you if you are not willing to stand for others. That’s all I’ve got to say.
This will be my post for today’s open trackback. I am too angry-still-to write anything cute or nice. Just don’t send any porn, or you will be banned. How’s that to let you know my mood?! Grrrrr.
I would to thank everyone here who has been just as kind as anyone could hope for in any era. I remember when I asked which of the two sites you liked better. Some of you liked both, some, like me, could not make up their mind. Trust me, I know how hard it is! You wouldn’t believe how many sites I’ve looked at in the past days.
That is one of the reasons I’ve been so busy. Do not worry if you do not see your name linked on the new site. I have a plan! I am going to add them gradually. That way, I can hopefully get more from TTLB. lol.
The name of the new site is the same, so it won’t be that hard. The only difference is that it is now a .com and not a blogger. Yippee! Please take a look, and leave any comments you want either here or over there.
I will still be writing here, but the links will go over there. Honestly, what was I going to write about in these past few weeks? Fonts, HTML or XHTML, CSS, presentations, editors, and all this stuff I’m learning all over again? I think NOT! LOL. My goodness, I have very little readership as it is!
I know about the news that I’ve missed. Bin Ladin, Chavez, Ahmadinejad, and the rest. Can you tell me one they said that was new that did not sound like it came straight out the Democrats talking points? There are some things I want to write and say, and I shall be able to soon. Maybe then you can judge my work better. I just pray you will not forget about me just because I am a Christian and write about Christian things. I also write about everything else you never read about here. It’s almost as if they censored the news all their little egoist selves. Hmm…Thank you.
I am going to use this post to let everyone know of the good news (and so I don’t lose them!). If anyone would care to trackback to me with your bright, witty, funny, newsy, or ordinary post, please feel free do so. I really like Linkfest, and I recommend you go through there. It is okay if you do not, it is just my preference. They are very good and you can meet some very people. The one rule I have, and I must insist, no porn. I do not like cussing, but if it is about WWIV and you have an article which has been written by a milblogger (or you are a milblogger), then I have a special exception for you. Just let me know ahead of time, okay? lol. Thank you.
Many times we are serious, silly, non-chalant in our writing; but today I would like to ask a favor of you. Please, go to this site and send Kevin your best wishes and prayers.
Kevin Everett is one of the Buffalo Bills tight ends. He has suffered a major cervical spine injury in last Sunday’s game, and he was immediately taken to surgery from the field. You may read more about his condition and the reaction of the team here.
He was visited by his teammates, but he cannot speak as of the writing of that news article. We are asking you to go to the first link and send a message of encouragement, get well, prayers, whatever you feel like saying EXCEPT do not send any crap. I will hold you personally responsible, and so will God. You got that? Good.
I am going to introduce this as my open trackback instead of tomorrow’s games finals, because you will still be able to find those stats right here. I believe this is more important, because it involves one of our brothers in Christ. Please use the first link above. There is another link that provides you with an update and a little information about his conditition. Thank you, and God bless you. (For you athiest, thank you for your good deed.)
Hello there guys and gals. How are you doing today? Getting ready for the weekend, I hope. The College games will be played on Saturday, but I do not cover them. Carl may be able to help with that. Are you ready for some football? (LOL)
There are 8 games that will be playing at 1 pm EST. Again, I shall give you the names of the games and my pick, the final scores as they happen, and any other little tidbits. Here we go:
1 pm EST. Houston Texans vs. *Carolina Panthers, Final: HOU 34; *CAR 21. I don’t like Carolina, but I do believe they will beat Houston. (Great game, Houston!) Next we have Cincinnati Bengals vs. *Cleveland Browns, Final: CIN 45; *CLE 51. I think Cincinnati was doing well last year, but that was last year. Cleveland is at home. ‘Nuf said. WOW! *Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans, Final: *IND 22; TEN 20. I’ll take it. New Orleans Saints vs. *Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Final: NO 14; *TB 31. The only hope I can give to New Orleans, who I really want to win, is to root against them. Weird, eh? Oh well. lol. *San Francisco 49ers vs. St. Louis Rams, Final: *SF 17; STL 16. I hate the Rams, and I will never root for them. On the other hand, I like the 49ers. Now HERE’s my game! *Buffalo Bills vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Final: *BUF 3; PIT 26. (Boo-hoo.) Okay, this is not fair! Both of my teams suck, even though I like them both. Geez. Green Bay Packers vs. *NY Giants, Final: GB 35; *NYG 13. This is what happens when both teams suck. Oh well. Finally we have Atlanta Falcons vs. *Jacksonville Jaguars, Final: ATL 7; *JAX 13. Do I believe the Jaguars will win? I do not care. Not until the Atlanta coach comes out and makes a public statement that the creep (Vick) is never permitted to step foot on their grounds again.
4:15 pm EST. There are 6 games being played at 4:15 pm EST. They are Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals, Final: *SEA 20; ARI 23 (Good going, Cardinals), Dallas Cowboys vs. *Miami Dolphins, Final: DAL 37; *MIA 20 (this is a tough call for me. Both teams are sucking right now), Minnesota Vikings vs. *Detroit Lions, Final: MIN 17; *DET 20, *Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos, Final: *OAK 23 and I don’t care; DEN 20, but actually it is 20, 23. The Raiders won that game. The refs did something I’ve never seen before. They never even called a penalty, but the Raiders had to do another 52 yard field goal. Why are they at the same line if there was a penalty? I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH THOSE REFS GAMBLE!!! BTW, we are in OT. A flag was thrown against Denver, but it was picked up. Now they are near the 10 yard line. This is not a fair game. DENVER CHEATS. They are now claiming that while the game in progress, Denver called for a time out. WTH(eck)? Kansas City Chiefs vs. *Chicago Bears, Final: KC 10; *CHI 20 and *NY Jets vs. Baltimore Ravens, Final: *NYJ 13; BAL 20. I know this last one is dangerous, but what can I say? I’m from NY!
There is one game that will be played at 8:15 pm EST. That is ****San Diego Chargers against the cheating, no good New England (I can’t call them Patriots, so I will call them) THIEVES, Final: *SD ; NE . (Right now we are stinking up the field. 0, 24. Gee whiz.)
Monday Nite Football’s game will be Washington Redskins vs. *Philadelphia Eagles, Final: WAS ; *PHI .
Don’t worry if you miss a game or two. You can always come here to find out what the scores were. Have a nice weekday!
Again, I will be using this for my open trackback so that all those that are interested in the NFL will know where they can find the information about the games. Well, at least the final scores. Everyone have a nice weekend!
Update: As many of you know, Kevin Everett of the Buffalo Bills was injured very seriously in the last game. If you would like to be a good sport or just a good person, please take a moment to show your support and send some good wishes. With all of my heart, thank you.
I do not have a Hemmingway nor a Faulkner pressing my mind at the moment for you, because I am overcome with a feeling that is very foreign to me. It is overwhelming. It is raw. It is good. The feeling for which I am referring is Friendship.
I have written my old blog for over 3 years, and I have made a few friends over there. Some very thoughtful and longlasting friends. I will not be listing names because I know I will inadvertantly forget one person or two, and I am not in the business of hurting anyone. Well, maybe OBL, but that’s a different subject!
Whenever I am struggling with a problem, no matter how silly, they are always there to guide me through. They make me laugh a lot, they share with me themselves, they are the most fantastic human beings I know.
God has surely blessed me. I just hope I remain worthy of this of blessing. (I know in God’s eyes I am a sinner, nothing but rags on my best day. Thanks to my LORD Jesus Christ, I am made white as snow. Thank you, Jesus.) Have a nice day everyone, and God bless you all.
I am going to share this with my friends at Linkfest through an open trackback. Maybe this is something you will want to try now. After all, I never would have met some of these remarkable people without being open.
I have been very busy today moving everything I’ve ever written over to Rosemary’s Thoughts (at WordPress). I would like everyone who would like their blog on my blogroll to leave me a comment so I can add it. Also, I need to know if you like the new site or should I stay where I am?
It’s very easy for me to operate over at WordPress.com, and I’m very disgusted with blogger.com. I don’t know what to do! I need all of your help, and that is why I am putting this post on the open trackback today. PLEASE answer me! I cannot make this decision on my own. If you love me, you will help me. LOL.
I’ve been through many things in my life, and I’ve come out of each of them scathed but alive. This thing? I still do not have the words. Nothing compares. My apologies.
I have found some people who have written beautifully about people they did not even know. Maybe they speak for me?
First we have one from 123beta called, “Never Forget.” It is beautifully written and well researched. Very great job. Then there is an article from Blue Star Chronicles called “More Thoughts on 9/11. This is a well thought and researched article. I can only imagine the difficulty as they went deeper into this person’s life.
The one that touched me the most, however, was written by DeMediacratic Nation. It is called, “2996 Jill Marie Maurer Campbell: A 9/11 Tribute. Maybe it’s because of Jill, or maybe it’s because of the research. Somehow, I was very touched.
Last year (or was it the year before?) there was an opportunity for bloggers to receive a name and to do a story about that person’s life. I was misled into believe it was spam. I regret that now, but I don’t know if I could have handled it, to be honest. Thank you to everyone who stepped-up to the plate and did your (and my) part in remembering these beautiful people.
Lest we forget…
On this day, let us remember also all of those who are in harms way to protect us here at home. Whether they are first responders or Rangers in the Marines, I want to send a great big THANK YOU to you. You are not forgotten, no matter what you may read or hear. For every piece of trash that is out there, you can be sure that there is at least 100-1,000 times more support for you that will never hear about because it does not fit the agenda. But don’t you ever think that this support doesn’t exist. Just ask Morgan, my Hero.
No day of remembrance would be complete without the inclusion of Blackfive’s site. One of the authors, Mr. Wolf, has written a very good article about another site, Home Of Heroes. This man, Mr. Doug Sterner, is collecting all of the information about the medals EARNED, no matter their rank or service, or even when they served. This is an awesome site that I highly recommend. Even when you are not losing heart!
Blackfive has posted an article about a man who KNEW he was going to die, but he went back into the inferno to save those who were still inside. This is the kind of man he has always been. Now we are trying to get President Bush to honor him with the Medal of Honor. Please sign this petition for Rick Rescorla. You may read Blackfive’s ‘Someone You Should Know’ here.
There is so much more at Blackfive’s site. Please visit his site today and often.
There is also a site I would like to include. This would be Mudville Gazette. This is a fine site that is run sometimes by Greyhawk’s wife when he is called to serve. He is a true man. He answers the call. He also has a fine post about Rick. He has some more and different information that may interest you. Please check it out.
I’d like to write more, but I can no longer see the screen…have a nice day.
On this day, 9/11/2007, I choose this post for my open trackback. What better post than one which is devoted to both on that horrific day and for our Troops who are yet in harms way?
Would you like to host a copy of the petition that is for Stand by the Mission in Iraq for our Troops on your website or blog? Visit Victory Caucus to find out how to have your own petition. You could also go to Loving God Holy to get the instructions.
Please feel free to put this patch or words on your sidebar. It will take visitors to Victory Caucus so that they may sign the petition as well. As we sit around wondering what we could do to fight back against the MoveOn.org crowd, this is one of the best things we can do. The troops will surely appreciate this also. Thank you.
PS. Just in case you do not have a website or a blog and would like to call to Congress toll free to show your support for the Troops, you may reach them at 1-877-222-8001. Have a nice day.
If you do agree with MoveOn.org, you will not like what I have to say. You may spend your time better by not reading these facts. I know how facts just happen to mess up your minds. Good riddance.
Now for all the normal people that stop by here. Hi. Once again there is another New York Times advertizement out today, the day of Gen. Petreaus’ report to the Congress (Senate). If you like to read it, use your own google, please. I’d prefer not to link to them.
Have you heard of Vets for Freedom? Allow me to introduce to them if you have not. These are Vets from every war and walk of life, including the current war we are in, no matter what front. They have a response to this un-American, anti-troops insult:
Washington, D.C. (September 9th 2007) – Pete Hegseth, executive director of Vets for Freedom and Iraq War veteran, issued the following statement.
“Tomorrow – as General David Petraeus provides his Iraq assessment to Congress – the anti-war group, MoveOn.org, is running a full – page advertisement in the New York Times with the headline: General Petraeus or General Betray us? Cooking the books for the White House.
“Let’s be clear: MoveOn.org is suggesting that General Petraeus has ‘betrayed’ his country. This is disgusting. To attack as a traitor an American general commanding forces in war, because his ‘on the ground’ experience does not align with MoveOn.org’s political objectives, is utterly shameful. It shows contempt for America’s military leadership, as well as for the troops who have confidence in him, as our fellow soldiers in Iraq certainly do.
“General Petraeus has served this country for over 35 years with honor, distinction, and integrity. And this is not just about General Petraeus. After all, if General Petraeus is “cooking the books,” then the entire military chain of command in Baghdad, and all the staff, military and civilian, who have been working with General Petraeus are complicit, since Petraeus did not write his report in isolation. They are all, apparently, ‘betray[ing] us.’
“MoveOn.org has been working closely with the Democratic congressional leadership – as an article in today’s Sunday New York Times Magazine makes clear. And consider this comment by a Democratic senator from Friday’s Politico: “‘No one wants to call [Petraeus] a liar on national TV,’ noted one Democratic senator, who spoke on the condition on anonymity. ‘The expectation is that the outside groups will do this for us.’
“So, veterans who served in Iraq ask the Democratic leaders in Congress: Does MoveOn.org speak for you? Do you agree with MoveOn.org? Or do you repudiate this despicable charge?
“MoveOn.org has helped frame the core choice: Whom do we trust to run this war – MoveOn.org and its allies in Congress, or Gen. David Petraeus and his colleagues?”
Vets for Freedom is a nonpartisan organization established by combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Its mission is to educate the American public about the importance of achieving success in these conflicts by applying our first-hand knowledge to issues of American strategy and tactics – namely “the surge” in Iraq. For more information, please visit www.vetsforfreedom.org.
For more information or to schedule interviews with Pete Hegseth or our other veterans please contact Adriel Domenech at 501-412-1224 or adriel@vetsforfreedom.org.
I could not agree more. Please let your Congressperson and Senators (toll free at 1-866-340-9281) know that you find this ad disgusting, and you would like to know if they agree with this group’s statement or are willing to distance themselves from this group. Do not take, “I cannot answer that question” for an answer. Ask to speak to the press secretary. You may use the name of your blog as your credentials. BE POLITE. Thank you.
I shall be using this post about the NY Times ad and the Vets for Freedom response to it for this open trackback, because I believe very strongly that all of us must do all we can to help defend our men and women who are out there risking it all so that we can remain free. A phone call is the least we can do. If the toll free number is busy, keep trying. If you get tired of that, the numbers are 1-202-224-3121 and 1-202-225-3121. Thank you.
Sept 07 By Spc. Ben Hutto 3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Amid various media reports of water shortages in Baghdad, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Heavy) continues to help the residents of the Mada’in Qada find short- and long-term solutions to insurgent-created water distribution problems. Soldiers from the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Heavy), performed an assessment of the Al Bawi pump station, outside Salman Pak, Sept. 4, 2007.
Holland, Ohio, native Lt. Col. Todd R. Ratliff, 42, Brigade Special Troops Battalion commander, inspected the building, the pumps and the generators at the facility. “This was an assessment to verify information we were getting from the Qada Council,” he explained.
The Mada’in Qada Council is working to rebuild the pump station damaged in an attack by Sunni insurgents, March 17, 2007. The insurgents targeted the station in an attempt to deny irrigation and drinking water to the Shia population in the towns of Nahrwan, Wahida and Jisr Diyala.
Maj. James Carlisle, 42, from Palm Beach, Fla., chief of Civil Military Operations, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, said he is pleased with the progress of the station. “The Iraqi government continues to install more pumps and increase water capacity,” he said. “The progress we see exceeds Coalition forces’ expectations.”
At the station, workers are trying to overcome power issues that prevent the station from running effectively, explained one of the site workers through an interpreter. The station has five generators. Only two of them are currently working. “The power grid is not reliable,” said Ratliff. “They need a new electrical system out there. You could see wires hanging everywhere.”
Ratliff sees some signs of progress. “They are doing okay with what they have,” he said. “What we will do now is go back and review what we have and see what we can do to help.”
Photo – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Todd R. Ratliff, 42, commander Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Heavy), 3rd Infantry Division, talks with workers at the Al Bawi pump station, outside Salman Pak, Sept 4, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ben Hutto.
I have filled out a petition to put an end to the theives over at the ACLU. Are you aware that our very own government PAYS them to do to us what we would not allow the government do? Nice, eh? NO! It isn’t. That is why we must put a stop to it right away.
Would you please help me to do this by signing this petition today: Stop taxpayer funding of the ACLU. We always sit back and wonder what we can do. THIS is what we can do. Thank you so very much.
I will be using this post as my Sunday open trackback post. I hope many of you would give this a mention on your own site. this really burns my hide. Thank you to all of you who help us.
I am a disabled person, so I have to go to Church on TV. Dr. James Kennedy was my Pastor for many years, but he had a stroke many months ago. Today was his last. He has asked that we do not shed a tear for him for he is now without pain, he is the House of God! What a joyfulness!
We will certainly miss you, Pastor Kennedy. I pray that you rest in His Peace.
Many of my readers are familiar with the Daily News from Iran which is written by Dr. Zin. I have learned why we have not heard from him recently or seen any news on his site. It appears that they have frozen his site because he could not afford to keep running it without our contributions. Well, I’m not going to sit by and allow this to happen. Unfortunately, I am not rich. The total he needs is over $1000. I am going to be contributing $15. It may be small, but it will help. If we all give $15, it will only take 70 people to help get wonderful site back up and running. Remember how much information he brought to us? I believe he deserves this help. If you would like to heop, you may donate by PayPal (I don’t have the address) or at this address:
Regime Change Iran PO Box 3373 Tustin, CA 92781
Thank you.
I have several articles and videos from John over at Stop the ACLU that you may have missed. Here they are ones I kept:
Many of you know that I have been following a ‘moderate’ Muslim and what he has to say. I believe we should give him a chance, while others are not open to this idea. It is a decision that is totally up to you. I do, however, have a few articles from him if you are interested (and even if you’re not! lol). Here is an article written by Frank Gaffney: CAIR-TV on September 5, 2007 concerning CAIR.
Last, but by no means least, I have two articles from Michael Yon. These are always must reads, so I’ll just say that before I post them. Here they are: A Marine. A Mentor. A Model Approach. and Ghosts of Anbar, Part IV of IV. Michael has also started a channel on YouTube. If you would like to subscribe to it, click here. Then click on the subscribe button right there by Michael’s name.
Well, I guess that’s enough news for a little while. Boy, I can hardly wait for tomorrow…arghh! This is just the news I’ve saved. Oh brother!
This is Saturday, and everyone is probably out having a great time. I hope they are. I received some sad news tonight as I was putting this together, but I am not at liberty to discuss it. All I can do is ask you to continue praying and supporting our men and women in the Armed Forces who are protecting our butts so we can write crap like this that means so little when you realize what we are really facing…this is my open trackback post.
For a blogger this is supposed to be a time of relaxation, because the traffic (people reading our stuff that we deem important, funny, and all that jazz) has slowed down. This is the time we have found that we can fiddle around with those things we’ve been trying to get done but could not. WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT THAT?!? (lol)
I’m just saying this because, as many of you know, I am in the process of moving over 4,000 posts from other sites over to this one, Rosemary’s Thoughts. I’m not going to erase the other sites, just in case someone happens to stop by. I’ll let them know I have moved and to where. This is how much fun I’ll be having. STOP LAUGHING!
Sheesh. You’d think my friends would care. You’d think they would let me know a teeny-weeny bit of their knowledge as to how to do this in one step, but noooooooooooooo. They’d rather sit there and laugh at me! Well, I must confess, it is kind of funny if you know what I’m talking about and you don’t have to do it! LOL.
That is why this is going to have to be my open trackback post for today. I know. It is neither funny, entertaining, informative, intelligent, or anything else, but it’s what I’ve got. Deal with it. (j/k)
These are the people that have either forgiven my poor attempt at humor or haven’t read my post yet. lol. They are also kind enough to trackback to me:
New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts will play tonight in the opening of the professional football season! (Final: NO 10; IND 41.) The game will start at 8:30 pm EST. Who wants to win more? I know the Saints would love a win, and I’d like them to have it, but I have to go with the Colts. They’re looking pretty good, and it’s no time to be picking favorites for the heck of it.
The next games will be played on Sunday at separate times. Some will play at 1 pm EST, three will at 4:15 pm EST and yet one will play at 8:15 pm EST. There will also be two games on Monday, but there is no more Monday Nite Live. Grrrr. I will just give you the teams, my picks, and the final scores. Have a great football weekend!
Here are the three teams playing at the 4:15 pm EST time. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. *Seattle Seahawks: Final: TB 6; SEA 20 (good game), Chicago Bears vs. *San Diego Chargers: Final: CHI 3; SD 14, and Detroit Lions vs. *Oakland Raiders: Final: DET 36; OAK 21.
This is the game that plays at 8:15 pm EST, NY Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys: Final: NYG 35; DAL 45.
Oh no! I just remembered that Reggie Bush is with the Saints. It is almost half-time, and the teams are tied at 10 points each. Under these conditions, I am giving myself permission to change my mind. I want the Saints to win. HEY! I’m a woman. Deal with it. After all, I had to deal with my computer freezing up on me again…uh oh. I think I’ll stick with my first instincts from now on. grrrrrrrrrr.
Here are the two teams that will play on Monday starting at 7 pm EST and 10:15 pm EST respectively. *Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals: Final: BAL ; CIN , and Arizona Cardinals vs. San Franscico 49ers: Final: ARI ; SF .
PS. Sorry, Debbie. I’ve been so busy that this is the only thing I have time to post. I promise not tell anyone, though. lol.
Well. It seems like my instincts won again. Boo. I only time to write one post today, because I’ve been busy trying to get all of my other posts over to my new site. So this is it. I hope you don’t mind.
As some you may know, I have over eight blogs. I think I’ve solved the problem of having to manually transfer them over to here. I’m using WordPress to import my blogs, then I will export them to here. Cool, eh?! I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner. If you ever decide to change your blog to a site or somewhere else but don’t want to go through the hassle, use WordPress. The only problem is that it takes so freakin’ long!
I’m going to use as my open trackback today, basically because this is only thing I’ve had time to write and it may help someone else. The last post was a funny one, but I don’t really like the way they portrayed the addicts. Not everyone uses needles, not that I would know, ya understand.
These are the people who were kind enough to trackback to me: (My apologies for being so late at posting your articles to the front page. I’m still trying to move everything!)
95%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?LOL. There is no way this test of 14 questions can be accurate. Just because I found something I like, and I can find more news online does not make me an addict! Just because I’ll blog about anything (such as this!) does not make me addict. Just because I have over 5 blogs, they did not allow me to explain that I’m trying to move each site over to this one so I could blog quicker and about everything right here. No, this is not nor is it an accurate test of my character. I refuse to be an addict, plain and simple! Come on, guys, I already gave up the booze. What more do you want?!
Update: On a more serious note, here is an article that everyone should read about President Bush’ visit to the al Anbar province: The Gettysburg of This War, by Frederick W. Kagan.
I do believe this is just the right post to give everyone a chuckle, so I am going to use it for my trackback today. After all, could we all use a chuckle every now and then, right?
No, it is not my title. It is the title of an Israeli man, Abe, who is friends with a friend of mine, Bos’un. Bos’un sent me this e-mail because Abe does not yet have a blog of his own. I am proud to post his words and thoughts here.
That elusive thing called peace. Israelis write love-songs and dedicate poetry to peace. Children are introduced to the concept in kindergarten and grow up believing in ultimate peace in the Middle East. Songs that have come out during Israel’s many wars have a verse or part of a verse dedicated to peace.
What is this peace and how is it viewed? Israelis have a very naive and childlike picture of peace. As one battle hardened veteran tank officer once confided in me, “Peace means that we would go to their houses and they would come to ours.” A “cold peace” such as exists between Israel and Egypt was not imagined by most Israelis. Egypt turns a cold shoulder towards Israel but maintains a condition of “no war,” which is apparently as close as it permits itself to come to “peace.”
Jordan, the other Arab country to have a peace agreement with Israel also distances itself from Israel socially. While the country has agreements with Israel that include agricultural, industrial and transportation, the people themselves are not exactly brimming with joy at the fact. This can be explained partially by the fact that over 70% of Jordan’s population is Palestinian.
There is another reason why the two Arab countries that have a peace agreement with Israel seem standoffish towards it: Neither one of those two countries is a democracy. Israel is a democracy, and a very loud one. As Israel’s first Prime-Minister, David Ben-Gurion, said, “It’s difficult to be a Prime-Minister in a country full of Prime-Ministers.” Israelis are very vocal in their criticisms of politicians, authors, actors and many other “performers”. A friendly discussion between Israelis looks, to outsiders, as if a full-fledged battle is about to erupt.
Not so in Egypt or Jordan. Criticism of the government is downright dangerous in Egypt. In Jordan it isn’t wise unless you are participating in a demonstration that is pro-Palestinian and, of course, anti-Israeli. The governments of both countries are wary of having their people get too close to Israelis and pick up their cavalier attitude towards government. French soldiers, while serving in America’s War of Independence, learned about democracy and about speaking out. They were one of the many seeds that eventually produced the French Revolution.
The Arab governments of Egypt and Jordan wish to maintain control over their respective populations and, naturally, wish to keep them away from those “independent-minded troublemakers,” the Israelis.
What do the people think? The regular Egyptian is a very friendly individual. He hates nobody and just wants to support his family (a very, very tough job in Egypt). On my first trip to Cairo after “peace” was established, I walked up to a street-vendor of peanuts and asked him how much the peanuts cost. Noticing that my Arabic was Palestinian dialect, he asked me where I was from. When I told him that I was from Israel, he thanked Allah and the prophets for permitting him to see the day that an Israeli could legally walk the streets of Cairo. He then told me that, for me, a serving of peanuts was free of charge. He was obviously a poor man and the price was, no doubt, considerate of Egyptian third-world incomes. My income, in Israel, was astronomic compared to his, and I argued with him, telling him that I wished to pay. He wouldn’t hear of it, and called to a friend, half a block away, a vendor of cold drinks, to give me a discount on such a hot day. I ended up sitting on the curb eating peanuts and drinking ice-cold “Tamar-Hindi” (a delicious drink derived from the “heart” of the date palm), while carrying on a hearty conversation with half a dozen Egyptians. The whole picture seemed surreal (and still does).
And how about the Palestinians?
I’m glad you asked me that question. This calls for a story: Once upon a time in 1968, I was in a car driven by a reserve infantry officer. I was at the time a tank driver and the third occupant of the car was a fellow tanker, a gunner, from my company. We were on our way to our camp at the Mitle Pass. We were passing through Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, when the driver realized we were low on gas. We drove through the town looking for a gas station. We finally asked a local who told us there was one near the market. We drove to the open-air market and, indeed, there was a gas station. Manning the pump, we looked around. We were surrounded by Arabs, all jabbering and trying to get close to us. We had an interesting conversation while filling gas. We were at their mercy, having two Uzis and a pistol between us. The crowd could have disarmed us and torn us to pieces in seconds. Instead, we enjoyed friendly banter and a loud, “Go in Peace,” when we were done.
Later, I became very friendly with the workers at my sister’s farm. My sister and brother-in-law operate a farm just three km from the Gaza Strip border near Rafah. The workers would come every day and were like family. They demonstrated a willingness to support their families and live in peace. The last thing they wanted was to blow themselves up and take my brother-in-law with them.
All this, of course, means nothing when the terror organizations come into play. The “silent majority” of the population will not lift a finger against Hamas in Gaza. They are terrified of them and just bow their heads waiting for the storm to pass. In the meantime, Hamas fires rockets at Israel (including my sister’s village) and Israel holds back because of the innocent people in Gaza. Israel retaliates when Israelis get killed. There is a bit of quiet, and the story begins again within days.
Peace in the Middle East? It can only come about when a common enemy unites the moderates. I remember in 1969 (I think) General Shlomo Goren landed with a helicopter in the middle of our tank park. The battalion was parked in two rows with a large empty area of desert in the middle. The Bell Huey landed in the center sending a whirlwind of sand down our throats. The Chief Chaplain of the IDF General Rabbi Shlomo Goren stepped out and began to speak. He was a great speaker and we were mesmerized. One thing remains stuck in my head from that speech: “The lord doesn’t rely on the Jews. He knows we can’t be relied upon. Rather, he relies on our enemies. He knows that they will not lay down their arms until we have attained everything he intends us to.”
Maybe, just maybe, the extremists are doing just that; forcing the moderates to co-operate. The less extreme Arab countries are beginning to realize what the monster is capable of, and they see that Israel is a solid force to rally behind. Many problems can be solved under the threatening shadow of Muslim extremism.
But then again, maybe I’m just a nai¯ve Israeli.
Abe
He writes very movingly, and I hope you will all visit Bos’un’s site to let him know. This way, he can encourage his friend to go ahead and set up a blog and let ‘er rip!
Who remembers when George Washington or Abraham Lincoln were born? No one? A few people? That is because the federal government, in all its (un)wisdom, decided to make it presidents’ day. Does anyone know why this happened or when? It happened because we wanted to add President Ronald Reagan to the list. The Left had a fit. (Or so that’s the way I remember it.)
Then they came up with the bright idea of allowing everyone to be included, even those of untawdry character. Not only do they not celebrate those men of great importance, they clump them all together so that the GOVERNMENT can have a four day weekend. Great. How unholy do can they get?
Okay, now let’s take Independence Day. The Declaration of Independence was signed of JULY 5TH, 1776. That doesn’t bother me so much as the fact that it can no longer be taught in our schools due to outsiders. We wouldn’t want to offend anyone, right? WRONG! This is my country and if you want to be here, you better love it and know it as well as I do. Tough toodles if you don’t like it. I don’t disrespect your country while I’m there. To be fair, I don’t go to other countries, except Mexico and Canada, because of personal reasons.
We have so many unholy days that I could really take apart so many that it would take me too much time to write. Getting to Labor Day. Everyone is out bar-ba-quing, right? NOT ME. I cannot leave my house. So what am I supposed to do? Why aren’t you WORKING to support LABOR day? After all, it is about how we built this country (you know, doing those things Americans don’t want to do) and we did it without government help.
Government has always been the hinderence. Why does everyone look to it to solve the problems they created? Dang, this is a good title. I just wish I had some witty and serious comebacks for you. I guess I’m just so bored out of my skull that my brains fell out. Excuse me, but I must go and look for them. I might have left them in the bathroom, where the rest of the country is heading…
This is going to be my open trackback for this day. The piece I submitted earlier was written yesterday. Please join us in this Linkfest. The only thing I ask is that you do not trackback to any porn.
I’ve learned that he wrote this while he was ill, and that is why it wasn’t posted over at Linkfest. It would nice if everyone could go over just to say hello. Cheer him up, ya know? Thanks.
This is an Afghanistan friend of mine who is keeping track of what is happening to his home. He sends me articles that he writes once in while. I hope you will find them as enlightening as I do. I hope that we may be able to change this landscape for all the good people of Afghanistan, including the girls and women.
These two articles are very informative, and they give an insight into a land that is war-torn, yet beautiful, isolated, yet it used to be one of our great resouces, oppressed, yet on its way toward a democratic republic. If you would like a peak into the heart of Afghanistan, you will read these articles. It is at least, if nothing less, the revelations of one man who has been there and longs for peace. Thank you.
Since I believe it is important for us to understand the culture and some of the obstacles in our way to success, I am chosing this article for my open trackback. I hope you read it. He is a very nice and gentle man. Thank you.
There is a group of men, one in particular, who are training the Afghan National Police in every aspect (starting from the ground up) of police work. Finally, after being out in the middle of only God knows where, he has had an opportunity to post to his blog. I encourage you, I implore you, if you do nothing else today, please visit his site. It is named, “Bill and Bob’s Excellent Afghan Adventure. The date on this post is August 31, 2007.
He is wonderful man with an ex-wife who is very kind (I think) and 4 children whom he loves ever so dearly. His children adore him as well. His brother and sisters are helping him while he’s overseas, and they are very supportive of him. So am I. I am very proud of him.
He volunteered to go over there. He is in the National Guard, and he wanted to do what he deemed necessary. He is with the PMT (Police Mentor Team), and his team and he are trying to train the ANP (Afghan National Police) to be able to stand up to the terrorists on their own. We are not walking away from these people this time, and I am glad for this.
It takes a minimum of ten years to quell an insurgence. I just don’t know how long it will take to ‘quell’ a war with people who want you dead just because you exist. We have no choice but to find out, because victory is our only option. Have a nice day.
This is a wonderful man and a wonderful article he has written. Since I would really like everyone to read it, I am going to open this post up to an open trackback. Please join me by using your Linkfest link. For those of you who do not have one, do not panic. All you have to do is click here and follow the directions. Thank you.
Most people are familiar with President Sarkozy’s speech that he gave this week to a group of diplomats. Because it was to a group of diplomats, it took me a while to get around to forcing myself to read it. WOW!
…On Afghanistan, he told the assembled diplomats, “the duty of the Atlantic Alliance as well as that of France,” is to “increase efforts.” He then announced he would be sending additional trainers to assist the Afghan Army. On Israel, he said he “would never budge” on its security. He warned about Russia, which “imposes its return on the world scene by playing its assets with a certain brutality,” and he cautioned against China, which pursues “its insatiable search for raw materials as a strategy of control, particularly in Africa.”
…
In his speech this week to the diplomats, Mr. Sarkozy warned of the need for tough diplomacy, including “growing sanctions,” to avoid the “catastrophic alternative: the Iranian bomb or the bombing of Iran.” That doesn’t sound far from Senator John McCain’s useful formulation that “There’s only one thing worse than the United States exercising the military option; that is a nuclear-armed Iran.” The important point is that Mr. Sarkozy has put on record that he won’t let Iran develop a bomb under cover of feckless Western diplomacy. [Continue reading.]
I knew I was happy to see Chirac leave (hope your jail cell is as rotten as you are), but I did not expect such a good replacement. Finally, France has learned to stand on their own two feet. Good job, France, and thank you. It gets kind of tiring being the only country in the world who gives a damn…
What will the Democrats do now? They say they want to ‘fix’ our relationships with our allies. Our allies are moving to the right. Oops! Then they go and visit our enemies. Is this what they mean? They desire to speak with the same people whose only thoughts are about destroying us? Hmm. Indeed, they are in more than a pickle!
Breaking news: Sorry to ‘distract’ you with this, but Larry Craig just gave a press release stating that he has the ‘intent’ of leaving the US Senate on September 30, 2007 so that he can pursue his legal options without ‘distracting’ the necessary work the Senate must do at this very serious time of war. Phooey! I had to write it, but that doesn’t mean I had to enjoy it.
This is today’s Open Trackback. Please read the article. It really is a good one by Opinion Journal online.
As always, I would like you to sign-up at Linkfest to participate in these open trackbacks. For my friends, you can still trackback, but really, check it out.
Larry Craig is going to announce his resignation from the US Senate on Saturday, September 1, 2007, but he remains sturdy about his innocence. He will stay in the Senate until September 30, 2007. There will be a special election held in Idaho for his Republican seat. As it stands, the Republican governor will fill the seat with someone of his choosing. (I’m pretty sure.)
After I listened to the taped ‘confession’ given by the senator, I was almost convinced he was telling the truth. Almost, however, is not a word that works well in the Republican Party when you screw up this badly. See ya!
This is going to be an Open Trackback Weekend for all those lonely souls who have no place to go this Labor Day Weekend. I always thought, however, that LABOR day was a day when EVERYONE WORKED. Who knew? lol.
I shall be here. Ho hum. Don’t worry, though. I like it wherever I am as long as I have my computer.
Ah, as I was choosing the posts to backtrack to, I ran across MacBro’s Place. Apparently they do not like the kind of OTB’s where that’s all it is. I AGREE! HooYah! They are the most boring things I’ve come upon. So why is my post short? I plead NOT GUILTY! I have been posting my little fingers to the bone, and if you don’t believe me? Just check out my home page.
PS. Thanks, Mac. I did feel like there was something missing. Some jazz! lol.
This next article is from Michael Yon, and it is called, “Ghosts of Anbar, Part III of IV: A Model for Success.” (If anyone happens to have part 2 of this series, I would appreciate it if you could email it to me. I don’t remember seeing it.)
I am opening this post up for trackbacks from Linkfest. If you have not yet become a member, okay. You may trackback also, but please check out this site above.
These are the posts that have trackbacked to me (if you do not see your name here, it is not because I did not want to post you. It is because I did not see your name.):
Stuck on Stupid: LBJ’s Gay Sex Scandal. I don’t know why, but for some reason my stupid IE won’t allow me to view your site to give you a trackback. Maybe if you could email the tb, I could do the same favor for you? I don’t have s-e-x as a blocked item. At least I don’t think so. If anyone could help me with this, I’d sure appreciate it. Now that I can’t read it, I really want to! LOL.
Now that I seem to be getting back into the grove of reporting these games, I shall just give the names of the teams, my pick, and the final scores. (Hey, leave me alone. I’ll get to last week’s scores as soon as I finish here. lol)
Thursday, August 30, 2007. New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles. I want the Phillies to win, but the Jets are winning right now. Come on, Eagles! Final: NYJ 13; PHI 11. Darn. New York Giants vs. New England Patriots. I want the NYG to win. Final: NYG 20; NE 27. Green Bay Packers vs. Tennessee Titans. Gosh, Tenn. is really whomping my Packers, but I’ll give them this one last one chance… GB 14; TEN 30. Okay. Time to face facts. Boohoo. Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings. Hmm. I don’t know. I have something against both of them, but I’ll go with…Dallas. No, wait! The Vikings. No, make that the Cowboys. See? Final: DAL 14; MIN 23. Houston Texans vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Final: HOU 24; TB 31.
I can’t keep up with the scores, so I can’t honestly pick a team. I already know too much about them, and I’m still losing! Arghh!
Today, August 29, 2007, someone who lives in Lambeth, London in the country of the UK looked at or used my site at 2:12 am UK time. I don’t know who it was, because they covered their tracks. lol. Anyway, thank you for stopping by. You were my 2,000 visitor! Wow. Well, can’t think of much more to say, other than woohoo!
Today’s open trackback shall be open to everyone, but I would prefer it if you would please register with Linkfest. It is much better for all of us.
28 Aug 07 by Staff Sgt. Paula Taylor 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs.
TAL ‘AFAR, Iraq – Soldiers of D Troop, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, have a unique mission that requires several trips outside the security of Forward Operating Base Sykes.
The Soldiers, who belong to D Troop’s “Outsider” Platoon, have conducted more than 350 re-supply missions since their operations began in November, said Spc. Joseph Moore, motor transportation operator.
Most recently, the Outsiders completed their 100th mission within the past two months, delivering food and water to local villages that were devastated by vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices that killed hundreds of local citizens.
The explosions, which began the evening of Aug. 14, set in motion a chain of events that would test the fortitude of the Outsiders and keep them on the road and in harm’s way for several days. “We got word that the villages needed emergency supplies around 11 o’ clock Tuesday night,” said Pfc. Mathew Fisher, motor transport operator. “Within an hour, we were loaded up and ready to go.” The next day, the Outsiders drove 10 pallets of water and eight pallets of food and met with the reconnaissance element near the villages of Al Jezeera and Khahtaniya.
“We linked up with B Troop who showed us where we needed to go and drop our supplies,” said Moore, an Albion, Penn., native. “Fisher and Sgt. [Jason] Bedore unloaded the food and water—they were walking around and delivering to people’s doorsteps because there were children and elderly people who couldn’t carry it. They were just helping everyone out as much as possible because the destruction was pretty massive. One of the [blast] holes was about the size of a bus.”
After delivering the emergency supplies to the villages, the platoon returned to Forward Operating Base Sykes, where they had just enough time to eat dinner before loading their trucks for their next supply mission that required a trip to Combat Outpost Nimur the following morning, Aug. 16.
“They went out there to deliver a forward repair system, a field feeding kit, Class I rations such as food and water, and Class III fuel supplies,” explained their Troop commander, Capt. Kenneth McGraw. “The forward repair system is a maintenance system for repairing vehicles. It has tools and a lift for hoisting engines; it’s a mobile garage. Within the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment’s area of operations, wherever there are Soldiers, it’s our job to provide them with necessary supplies, in addition to delivering emergency supplies to locals in times of crisis.”
The platoon continued their emergency deliveries on Aug. 17 where they delivered an additional 16 pallets each of water and food to the Iraqi police stations in the villages, Fisher said. “The [vehicle borne improvised explosive device sites] were pretty sad to see,” explained Spc. Randy Johnson. “I’ve never seen anything like that before. The destruction—the houses were just leveled. There were women and a whole bunch of people crying. The terrorists were cowards for attacking innocent civilians like that; they had no means of defending themselves. They destroyed innocent lives for no reason.”
Although Johnson admits these types of catastrophes are hard to witness, he appreciates the opportunity to help the people when they need it the most. “It’s good to see smiles and watch the little kids running around with the food and water. Hopefully they forgot, at least for a couple seconds, what happened,” the Lindenwold, N.J., native explained. “I enjoy my job—driving to different [combat outposts] where our troops are and supporting them. Even the humanitarian missions are rewarding, just knowing we’re helping people out.”
McGraw shares the platoon’s enthusiasm for helping people and lauds his Soldiers’ tenacity. “I’m so proud of them.” McGraw said. “They work really hard and never complain. It’s been nice to be able to watch them grow and learn every day.”
Photo – Sgt. Marshall Wright, D Troop, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, helps members of his unit and the Iraqi Army distribute water in Al Jezeera, Iraq, Aug. 15, during a humanitarian mission. The mission, which was formulated after a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated in the village on Aug. 14, was to deliver 10 pallets of water and eight pallets of food rations to the local people affected by the blast. Photo by Sgt. Paula Taylor.
29 Aug 07 By Cpl. Ryan M. Blaich, II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD).
HABBANIYAH, Iraq – When a group of American military advisors deployed to Iraq and took over a small combat outpost on the outskirts of town recently, they knew the task ahead might get tough, but each day would be rewarding. The Marines and sailors that make up Military Transition Team 13, working alongside the 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, are increasing the security of the area and the quality of life for local residents as well.
They operate out of a dusty, war-faced outpost named the OK Corral. They usually work long hours, patrolling streets with Iraqi soldiers or standing post overlooking the Euphrates River. They cook each meal themselves, because there is no chow hall to feed the 14 Marines, two corpsmen and company of Iraqi soldiers. They have learned to adapt, dealt with sweltering heat and braved the roadways of a foreign land.
Many of the men of MTT 13 have been to Iraq before, making them ideal candidates for an advisory team. The soldiers that make up 1st Battalion are veteran war fighters as well; hardened by battles past, experienced in combat operations. Perhaps that is why the people in this area trust the Iraqi soldiers.
Habbaniyah acts as a corridor in a crucial area, known as Jazerria, located between the once terrorist safe heaven cities of Fallujah and Ramadi. Nowadays, people go about their lives freely while searching for jobs, attending schools, plowing fields and shopping in crowded markets without fear of being shot in the crossfire of combat.
“The IAs have won the trust of the people,” said Cpl. Jason Syvrud an infantryman attached to MTT 13. “People see that they’re here, the area is safe, they are happy that their families aren’t at risk anymore. The IA is here to help the whole country and get this back on its feet. The people are loving to see the change. The country as a whole is trying to rebuild.”
Syvrud is only 22, but is currently serving his third tour in Iraq. He has been in cities where it was difficult to trust the citizens. But now he has seen a significant change in the war and in the people. He feels pride in his advisory role, knowing each day is bringing comfort to strangers he once felt uncomfortable around.
“I’ve seen in the three times I’ve been here this country has done a complete 180. It’s gone from everyone not knowing what to do and being scared to do anything, to them starting to come out and finding out what a democratic society would be like,” he said. “Now, they are really trying to get involved. They are building their schools up, they’re building up the mosques, their homes. They’re trying to find jobs. It looks more and more like a typical American rural area. The majority of the people seem happy. They’re doing what they have to do to survive and building a life out of this.”
Safety is what brings out the smiles and trust of the townspeople Syvrud said. The locals are involved with the Iraqi Army now. They help locate possible terrorists. They have begun to rebuild their community by fixing up schools, roads and mosques. The province is still early in reconstruction efforts, but the transition seems to be working as planned.
Getting the soldiers to understand the benefits of civil engagements, such as the civil medical engagements, is a priority for MTT 13 team chief, Lt. Col. Thomas Hobbs. Transition teams have assisted in several CMEs, which provide medical care to people who would normally have to travel to Ramadi to see a doctor. With more than 16 years of experience in the Marine Corps, Hobbs said focusing on civil affairs can not only counter the insurgent’s propaganda, but win the hearts and minds of law-abiding citizens.
“This battalion tends to be very focused on conventional operations. What I mean by that is in a counter-insurgency environment they are enamored with cache sweeps, security patrolling,” Hobbs said. “They should be focusing on civil affairs information operations and focusing on the population as a whole. The security level right now allows for that, so I’m trying to teach them to think in that manner.”
Hobbs praised the Iraqi company commanders for understanding the impact civil affairs has on the war efforts. “They have been very willing to get out and meet the population and doing civil affairs projects on their own, even without money. We’ve been really successful in getting the companies to move and they’re actually initiating a lot of things I want to change or make better,” he said.
Hobbs said the predominately Shiite Army has been received with open arms by the Anbari locals, who are mainly Sunni. A huge reason for this may lie in the idea of getting his team of advisors to stress the importance of making the population comfortable to Iraqi leaders. It is his philosophy that if the people are happy and satisfied with their life, then the terrorists will no longer have the ability to move freely within the community. He said the company and platoon leaders have begun to buy into the civil affairs mindset. As a result, the city has not seen any escalation in force in more than two months.
The soldiers of 1-3-1 can fight, that has been proven during the past year and a half of combat operations. Hobbs said the battalion is known throughout the Iraqi Army for its ability to engage and defeat the enemy, and that is what the terrorists should realize. The mission now is to concentrate on keeping this rural area safe and prospering. The smiles on children are evidence enough that the plan is working.
“I feel proud when I look around and see the kids and people smiling,” Syvrud said. “They’re happy when the Army and Marines come walking around, they aren’t afraid of us anymore. They’re happy with themselves, they’re happy with the environment around them and they’re striving to get better. They’re not just satisfied with things, they want it better, just like any American does.”
Photo – Lt. Col. Thomas Hoobs, team chief for Military Transition Team 13, talks to members of the Iraqi Security Forces during an inspection of a local bridge. Keeping roadways safe and drivable not only helps navigation of anti-terrorist traffic, but is part of a wider ranging civil affairs mission of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Iraqi Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division.
This is a remarkable article about the Iraqi’s coming together against the terrorists. The Sheiks, the Clerics, and other religious figures who met in Cairo on the 24th of August will meet again in Dubai on Friday, August 31, 2007, if I remember correctly from Hugh Hewitt’s radio program. What I heard was fascinating.
Imagine WWII and there was a country wrought with war. Also imagine that the German people were finally sick and tired of this little pipsqueak, so they had decided to overthrow the government. Would we have helped them? Remember, we had a different media back then. We were all in this together, and there was no mistaking that.
This is HUGE! These religious people have decided to go to their followers, one of them has 20 million followers alone, and they are going to give the fatwa that states, “… end terrorist violence, and to disband militia activity in order to build a civilized country and work within the framework of law.” Do you realize what this means?
When a Sheik or a Cleric makes a fatwa, it is considered law. The people must obey. This time, this fatwa, this means they and we are having much progress. For the first time in a long time, the Sunnis realize publically that there is room for them in this new government, and they want to participate. The Shia’s also want the violence ended. It is better to have a united Iraq than a divided one.
Wait a minute…I thought I heard the media…nope. It was just a bug…
I listened to them and believe me, it is much more powerful when you actually hear him. He has that old cowboy back, and he isn’t playing around. It’s about time.
(In case anyone is wondering, I will be starting the Open Trackback tomorrow. That is why you do not see any action yet. Okay? lol)
Okay, it is now Wednesday, so I can post this news as one of my Linkfest posts. Please follow these simple rules: No porn.
For those of you who do not who Michael Yon is, he is a citizen journalist who has been in Iraq and Afghanistan for most of the war with the only support coming from you and me. He is giving us the news that most ‘journalists’ are afraid to go forth and find the facts about their articles. Michael, on the other hand, goes right out there with the Marines, Soldiers, and whomever will have him.
These are all must reads, so I cannot say which one to prefer. If I had to, however, I think it might be the last one (but certainly not the least one!). Please find his donations tab, and help him with whatever you can. He truly appreciates any amount you can spare. Like I said, he’s on his own (with us and for us). Thank you.
I have chosen this article as my Linkfest today because I really admire Michael Yon. I may not agree with him all the time, but hey? How boring that would be! lol.
PS. If I’ve trackbacked to you and your name is not on here, that is because I went to your site and my name was not on your post. My apologies if I made a mistake. Please notify me, and I will correct it. Thank you.
There is fear in this African state where there has already been too much violence for any one people. The president, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, is thinking about declaring a state of emeregence. So what is taking place?
President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone, whose ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) faces the prospect of losing power in the second round of a presidential election, is threatening to impose a state of emergency, news agencies report.
The BBC reported today that Kabbah warned, in a television address made yesterday, that he might declare an emergency after two days of clashes between rival parties.
His warning came as the SLPP issued a statement complaining that supporters of the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), had “brutally assaulted” SLPP supporters.
Kabbah was quoted as saying that “The government shall not hesitate for one moment to declare a state of public emergency if the current state of intimidation, molestation and violent acts is not stopped immediately.” [Continue reading.]
Here is more information from CNN (I know, but maybe they may say something that is correct. lol)
Police declared a curfew in the eastern border region with Liberia on Monday, a center of the illegal diamond mining trade which fueled a 1991-2002 civil war, after dispersing more than a thousand demonstrators from rival political groups.
The unrest spread to the suburbs of the capital Freetown late on Monday, where supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party and the opposition All People’s Congress took to the streets with machetes, local radio said.
U.N. sources said one person was believed to have been killed in the violence.
“The people of this country have suffered long enough,” Kabbah said in an address broadcast late on Monday.
“I’m deeply distressed by events at the weekend. … From henceforth the government shall not hesitate to declare a state of emergency,” he said.
The polls in the West African country are the first since United Nations peacekeepers left two years ago following the civil war, a brutal conflict in which children were drugged and forced to fight and civilians were mutilated with machetes. [Continue reading.]
NEAR KARMAK, Iraq – The strength of any democracy is the equal representation of various cultural interests; thus, the power of a military force can be measured by diversity as well. American culture takes pride in boasting equal opportunity in public service roles. Iraqi culture mirrors this attitude, and the warriors of the Iraqi Army’s 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division – currently conducting a force integration with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines – are a simple, flawless example of strength in diversity.
Speaking from an office at Combat Outpost Golden in Al Anbar Province here, Iraqi Col. Ali Jassimi, 1/2/1 commanding officer, explained the cultural representation within his unit. “My staff is Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish. We have officers from many different areas of Iraq; Mosul, Baghdad, Ramadi – and we’re all here working together,” he said. “There are many people around the world who would think this would be a problem. We are a perfect example that it is not.”
Jassimi, a native of Southern Iraq, said there is a preconceived notion in some global media circles that various sectarian issues create problems within the new Iraqi Army. To combat this, he said, he avoids prejudice by ignoring religious preference altogether. “When I get a new officer, I do not ask him if he is Shiite or Sunni. I don’t care.” The recent history of the diverse organization’s success in Falluja (a primarily Sunni area), conducting security and stability operations is a testament to the camaraderie of junior enlisted troops (Juundis) who come from all walks of life, said Jassimi.
“We’ve had great success in Falluja, and it’s because of the Juundis– they’re all brothers.” The colonel went on to explain that junior enlisted troops in his battalion ignored sectarian issues during operations. “If anyone needed help, we helped them. We visited mosques, and no matter if it was Shiite or Sunni, we prayed with them.”
Captain Mustafa Al Jaaf, a Kurdish staff member of 1/2/1, echoed his commander’s sentiments. “We are from all over Iraq, and it makes a stronger force. You can see now Falluja is a much safer place.”
Originally from Ramadi, Capt. Basim Ashumari said his anger over foreign fighters – Al Qaeda subordinates historically from Egypt, Jordan and Syria – caused him to join the new Iraqi Army and fight for his countrymen, no matter what religion they were. “In Ramadi, I saw men from another country come and kill civilians, so I decided to join the new Iraqi Army. No matter what religion they are, these officers here are on a mission to keep the Iraqis safe. We are one team with one goal.”
Marine Lieutenant Col. Woody Hesser, Military Transition Team commander, said within the MTT, the ethos of “one team, one fight” is clearly evident during joint operations. Hesser and his team have shadowed 1/2/1 since January, and he says with each patrol a shared interest in Iraqi security is obvious. “We’re here fighting a war, and when we go on patrol, it’s one fight. There have never been any sectarian issues,” said Hesser. “Really, it’s almost like another Marine unit taking over, but it’s not about ‘Marines’ and ‘Iraqis,’ it’s about good guys versus bad guys.”
As Marines have always kept close the ethos of “brothers in arms,” the Iraqi Army shares the exact ideal. During a nightly dinner with 1/2/1 staff, uniforms and language are the only visible difference between 3/1 Marines and Iraqi Army forces here. The staff laughs, jokes and singles out members with good-natured scrutiny. At the end of the night, they shake hands and go on with business. Officers constantly duck in to the commander’s office to have forms signed and plans authorized. The parallels between US and Iraqi forces are striking.
For the Iraqi Army, however, it is not a mimicking act – it is an old way of life. “I’m from the north and I’m a Sunni,” began Maj. Istabraq Ashawani. “That man over there,” he gestured, “is a Shiite. That man over there is Kurdish … everyone in this battalion is a family. We eat together, sleep together and pray together. Anything you hear on the news about us being ‘different’ is not true,” he exclaimed. “Ask any Juundi or officer … we’re all the same.”
Photo – Colonel Ali Jassimi, commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army division, speaks proudly of the ethnic and cultural diversity within his unit. Despite claims by liberal media that the IA is one-sided, Jassimi said, his battalion is a perfect example of strength in diversity. Photo by: Sgt. Andy Hurt.
This is one article I just could not pass up. It is absolutely NEWSWORTHY, and you will never read about it in the news. For this reason, I am going to have two posts to Linkfest today. Thank you for induging me, and please read it. (http://www.linkfests.us/cgi-bin/.track.cgi/2873)
27 Aug 07 By Staff Sgt. Cassandra Locke 380th Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.
SOUTHWEST ASIA – SOUTHWEST ASIA — Global Hawk and U-2 aircraft provide critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and in order to be efficient and effective the technological sensors on these aircraft cannot be subjected to heat for extended periods of time.
Due to the compact size of the Global Hawk and the freezing temperatures at its normal operating altitudes, the aircraft does not have a robust environmental control unit to keep the numerous electronic systems cool in very warm temperatures. “That is why the hangar the aircraft are kept in has air conditioning and we perform almost all of our launches and recoveries at night when it is ‘slightly’ cooler,” said 2nd Lt. David Bates, 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, referring to the Global Hawk.
The tolerance for hot temperatures for the main operating computer on the Global Hawk is 105 degrees Fahrenheit. This was a major factor recently when one of the aircraft was returning to base with an in-flight discrepancy, according to Bates. “We were unable to launch the spare aircraft due to difficulties with the communications hub on the aircraft and subsequent faults,” said the lieutenant.
After the first shutdown on the Global Hawk, the team was in the process of devising a system that would allow them to be able to launch the aircraft in mid-day heat. Then an opportunity presented itself. After troubleshooting the aircraft for hours in the midday heat, 380th airmen were concerned about the aircraft compartment temperatures. The call was made to press with the launch and the aircraft was able to taxi onto the runway and begin to take off. “Only seconds later the aircraft autonomously stopped the takeoff roll due to an over temperature indication,” Bates said. He said that if the aircraft’s onboard fuel, used to cool the sensor systems, got too hot during operation, the system was designed to halt operations in an effort to save its expensive components. “It was just very unfortunate timing that it stopped right after it started to take off because as soon as it gained some altitude it would have cooled quickly,” he said.
Shortly after the event, the team members found themselves in a “nightmarish” repeat of what happened days earlier. Another one of their aircraft was returning to the base and they had to turn another aircraft to get the mission complete in the middle of the day. “This time we were already working on the aircraft to troubleshoot some issues; we only have three jets and were flying every day, so maintenance had to use whatever time they could and so it had been already outside for some time,” said Bates. Due to the winds that day, they also had to tow the aircraft to the opposite end of the runway, about a 45-minute and two-mile tow on the ramp that, at the time, was about 145 degrees Fahrenheit. “The time required to tow plus the time it would take to prepare and launch the jet would almost certainly send the temperatures of our compartments through the roof,” Bates said.
Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Brogan, 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, suggested getting a water truck from the fire department and hosing down the aircraft wings where the fuel that cools the components is stored. “The fire department’s responsiveness was impressive and they were quite eager to assist,” said Bates. Capt. Fernando Colon, 380th EAMXS, took another initiative and got a pressure washer so they could cool the aircraft wings while towing. Once on the spot, they were quick to pre-flight and get the aircraft in the air; from engine start to takeoff was about 18 minutes. “Operators indicated that the internal component temperatures were cooler than some of the launches we do at night. The aircraft launched and completed a successful mission,” Bates said.
For the U-2 aircraft, the purpose is to develop the most efficient aircraft and sensor cooling process possible and minimize the amount of time aircraft and sensors are exposed to heat as well. The maintainers’ greatest challenge is keeping the aircraft and sensors cool until the aircraft gets airborne. “In order to do this, we have orchestrated a “NASCAR” pit crew style launch,” said Capt. Randal Hoewt, 380th EAMXS. The team has 10 people involved with the launch process; each person has a choreographed job that must be done in conjunction with the other members to ensure the launch goes smoothly.
“Another challenge we face is keeping the aerospace ground equipment from overheating,” said the captain. “After experimenting with different configurations of equipment we found the optimal set-up that ensures max cooling air and prevents the equipment from overheating.” One solution to this problem that squadron airmen suggested was to include work with the AGE flight maintainers to inspect the AGE equipment and replace all worn hoses, gaskets and seals. According to Hoewt, they also determined optimum AGE positioning for aircraft launch by marking all positions, creating an AGE template around the aircraft so there would be the same set-up for every launch.
They eliminated the cooling cart, power cart and air cart repositioning by developing an AGE driver drop box. They eliminated unnecessary cooling hoses by positioning the equipment safely as close to aircraft as possible, resulting in maximum airflow volume with minimal cold air dissipation. While the maintainers are minimizing the amount of time the aircraft and sensors are exposed to the heat, they ensure sensor nose covers are installed at all times and cooling air is applied a minimum of three hours prior to flight and left on aircraft until the last possible second. “We minimize the time the aircraft and sensors are exposed to the heat on recovery as well,” said Hoewt. “We will tow the aircraft back into the hangar as soon as we can.”
Squadron maintainers also have created a seven-minute launch sequence mentality across maintenance and operations, according to the captain. By working with the operators, they were able to reduce the pre-launch time from approximately 25 minutes down to seven. This has paid huge dividends in sensor reliability and also reduced aircrew discomfort. Cruising at extremely high altitudes, Global Hawks and U-2s survey large geographic areas with pinpoint accuracy to give military decision-makers the most current information about enemy location, resources and personnel.
Photo – Master Sgt. Kevin Wirth hoses down the wing of a Global Hawk in an effort to cool it off. The Global Hawk and U-2 aircraft at this deployed location in Southwest Asia provide critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and in order to be efficient and effective, the technological sensors on these aircraft cannot be subjected to heat for extended periods of time. Wirth is with the 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. U.S. Air Force photo.
26 Aug 07 by Multi-National Division-North Public Affairs Office.
BAGHDAD – Operation Lightning Hammer concluded Wednesday after a 12-day, large-scale operation to disrupt al-Qaeda and other terrorist elements in the Diyala River Valley, a complex area of villages and palm groves in Iraq’s Diyala province.
The operation, which involved approximately 16,000 Iraqi and Coalition forces clearing approximately 50 villages, was a key element in Multi-National Corps-Iraq’s overall operation, Phantom Strike; and resulted in 26 al-Qaeda members killed, 37 suspected terrorists detained and the discovery of 10 weapons caches. “The strength and determination of the fighting men and women from the Iraqi and Coalition forces showed great results during Lightning Hammer,” said U.S. Army Col. David W. Sutherland, commander of Coalition forces in Diyala province. “We have continued to diminish their supplies and disable al-Qaeda’s abilities to disrupt the population.”
Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, partnered with members of the 5th Iraqi Army Division, initiated the operation with a late-night air assault into targeted locations on Aug. 13, and conducted an additional three air-assaults during the course of the operation. Residents of most villages welcomed the security forces, providing tips and intelligence about recent activities in their towns, and were interested in joining the Iraqi Security Forces. Following clearing operations, the Iraqi Army provided medical assistance and humanitarian aid to the local citizens, many of whom said their villages were recently influenced by al-Qaeda.
More importantly, more than 80 tribal leaders and representatives, some of whom had not spoken in over a year, met Aug. 19 to discuss their grievances and swore on the Quran to unite in their fight against terrorists and become one tribe of Diyala. “As I conducted my battlefield circulation and talked with many of the citizens, they repeatedly thanked our Soldiers, but more importantly, their security forces, for liberating their towns from the terrorists – specifically al-Qaeda,” Sutherland said. “Because their villages have been cleared, the local and central governments will now be able to provide those essential services al-Qaeda destroyed, and the people feel a sense of security they have not known for some time.”
Throughout the operation, the Task Force Lightning Soldiers also discovered 22 improvised explosive devices, 11 of which were discovered based on tips from a police chief in the river valley, and reduced three house-borne IEDs and six vehicle-borne IEDs, all of which could have been used to harm a large portion of the population or security forces. Additionally, an al-Qaeda command post was discovered in the village of Shadia, and an al-Qaeda medical clinic was located in Qaryat Sunayjiyah.
The command post, which was surrounded by fighting positions, contained bed space for 20 individuals, supply requests, records of munitions, a list of families supporting the element, a list of al-Qaeda members detained by Coalition forces and other terrorist propaganda. “Although we didn’t find many of the terrorists, the operation proved to be a great success because we disrupted al-Qaeda, causing them to run,” Sutherland continued. “Their fear of facing our forces proves that the terrorists know there is no safe haven for them in Diyala.
“And though this specific operation is over, our fight is not over,” he continued. “We will continue to aggressively target al-Qaeda, and ultimately, they will be brought to justice.” The results of Lightning Hammer cleared the Diyala River Valley of al-Qaeda and allowed Iraqi and Coalition forces to maintain a permanent presence in Mukeisha, a village in the heart of the river valley area.
Photo – Spc. Samuel Melendez, Bravo Trop, 5th Battalion, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, patrols a mrash outside of Qubah, a small village in the Diyala province. The patrol was part of Operation Lightning Hammer, a maneuver to flush insurgents from the area. Photo by Sgt. Patrick Lair, 115th MPAD.
25 Aug 07 By Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs.
HERO CAMP, Afghanistan – Airmen and soldiers are blending medical supply logistics with a dose of Afghan National Army partnership in a dusty warehouse at ANA’s Hero Camp near Kandahar Airfield.
It’s a prescription for successful mentoring as the Afghans prepare for a new hospital opening here, said Capt. Jay Snodgrass, a medical logistics officer and ANA mentor deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The American servicemembers are helping install medical equipment into a new $6.5 million, 50-bed hospital at Hero Camp. “We’re simply here to help them improve the processes they already have in place, to share with them the lessons we’ve learned about hospital administration and logistics,” Snodgrass said.
The airmen and soldiers helping transfer equipment are medical logistics, administrators and equipment technician members for their respective services assigned to the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, which is headquartered in Kabul, Afghanistan. While in Kandahar, the servicemembers work side-by-side with their Afghan counterparts, who are responsible for supplying and equipping the Hero Camp hospital, as well as other ANA clinics and brigade support throughout the region.
Mentoring doesn’t always come easy, said Tech. Sgt. Curtis Miller, a medical logistics technician from Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. While Miller’s focus is to teach Afghans how to maintain hospital equipment, he and other embedded transition team members use every available opportunity to give advice where needed. “There is a learning curve,” Miller said. “A lot of the things we take for granted in the United States, such as changing gloves for each patient, are things Afghans typically don’t consider in a hospital. We try to spend time educating them on the benefits of sanitation and ways to prevent infection.”
Miller said when he first began as a mentor, he was a little unsure how a young, American noncommissioned officer would come across to an Afghan military man who has served longer than the sergeant has been alive. It was unnerving to say the least. “There is an Afghan colonel we work with who was put in prison during the Russian occupation two decades ago,” Miller said. “He was given execution orders and was two days away from being put to death when the Russians pulled out of Afghanistan — two days away from being killed. Now, he has those orders on display in his office. You see this and you think, man, these guys have been through a lot.”
Nevertheless, the Afghan officials are eager to learn and work with their American mentors.
“My mentor, Captain Snodgrass, and I are very close,” said Afghan Maj. Abdul Ghafar, the 205th Hero Corps warehouse commander. “The Americans work fairly with each other and with us. We interact as equals.”
The relationship between the Americans and Afghans is a result of respect and tolerance from both sides, Snodgrass said. “Major Ghabar has 27 years military experience,” he said. “He knows a lot about leading troops and warfare. What he doesn’t have full knowledge of is how to manage a warehouse of this magnitude, to take care of the logistics of supplying a hospital and an entire region with 30,000 troops. So, that’s why I’m here, to help him become familiar with the various processes.” Snodgrass pointed out that the Americans are not there to impose their way of life on the Afghan people. Instead, they are learning from each other.
“We’ve had a lot of conversations about our different cultures,” he said. “They wanted to know about some of the Christian holidays I celebrate. It’s not a big deal to them that I practice a different religion than they do.”
At the same time, Snodgrass and his team of Americans try to accommodate the Islamic traditions of the Afghans into their work. “We try to work around their prayer schedule,” he said. “Sometimes, we have to keep working through the prayer times, but then we step away and give them their space to lay out their prayer rugs and do what they need to do. We try to be aware of their holidays, too. For example, I won’t eat or drink in front of them during Ramadan, when they fast. When it comes down to it, it’s just about respecting each other.”
Snodgrass said he is confident about Ghabar’s leadership, and that the hospital and its warehouse will do well in the future as the Afghans gain experience in stocking and equipping such a vital mission. “What we are doing here is just part of an overall mission to help Afghans stand up a viable, safe, world-class healthcare system,” he said. “The day they can take on these operations themselves without our assistance will be a very good day for all of us.”
Photo – U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Doug Suddueth (bottom left) and Army Sgt. 1st Class Antonio Rivas move a load of medical equipment to a truck Aug. 18 in Afghanistan. Suddueth is deployed from Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Rivas is deployed from Fort Sam Houston, Texas. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi.
25 Aug 07 By Spc. Henry Selzer 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALAGUSH, Afghanistan – Just like the people of the U.S., the people of Afghanistan are very proud of their independence, which means Aug. 19 is a date marked by celebration.
When the people of Nuristan province were invited to celebrate the U.S. independence on the Fourth of July with Soldiers here, the idea of holding an Afghan Independence Day celebration for the citizens of Nuristan was brought up. “It seems that the bigger more eventful celebrations are in the larger cities,” said Navy Cmdr. Samuel Paparo, 43, of Philadelphia, commander of the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team. “Holding a celebration out here for the people who can’t make it to the big celebration is our way of celebrating with them and to help connect them to their government.”
Afghans living in Nuristan were invited to the celebration where they were given a chance to interact with the Soldiers of the FOB and enjoy a variety of the local food, which was prepared by Army cooks. Not only did holding the Afghan Independence Day celebration give Soldiers a chance to interact with the people of Nuristan, it showed Afghans that Soldiers care about them and are here to support them.
“To[o] often when we see each other it is about business, but today is all about you and your independence,” said Army Lt. Col. Steve Maranian, 40, of Natick, Mass., and commander of 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, during the Afghan Independence Day celebration.
The celebration highlighted a common history the people of Afghanistan share with the United States. “We use the 4th of July to celebrate our independence from the British, and we wanted to take today to get together and help you celebrate your independence from the British,” said Paparo.
Today the U.K. along with the U.S., Afghan National Security Forces and many other multinational partners all work together toward the common goal of making sure the Afghan people can freely celebrate many more Independence days. “We are very glad that you accepted our invitation to celebrate your independence and share a meal together and hopefully we can do it again soon,” said Maranian.
Photo – An interpreter with the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team helps a town elder with his food during the Afghan Independence Day celebration on forward operating base Kalagush Aug. 19. Photo by Spc. Henry Selzer.
This is little bit of progress we never hear about, and it is one of my favorite holidays. That is why I chose it for today’s Linkfest. If you are not already a member, just click on the blue icon above to join. You can also post your best (or funniest) work here. Just think about joining the Linkfest. It is really worth your time, and it is free. Thank you.
23 Aug 07 By Sgt. Brandon Aird 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team PAO.
KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The first U.S. casualty from an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan was Army Sgt. Jay Blessing, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Nov. 14, 2003. Blessing was in a convoy that was attacked just seven miles from camp in Afghanistan’s Kunar province.
United States and Afghan national security forces of the camp Blessing [who were?] failed to [be] reach that day started calling their camp, Camp Blessing to remember and honor the fallen Ranger. “He gave his life helping the Afghan people,” Collin Johnson, who served with Blessing, said at the time, “This will remind every Soldier that comes here of his sacrifice.”
Four years later, Soldiers from 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based at the camp that bears his name now carry on Blessing’s hopes for a free Afghanistan. The once small outpost has expanded dramatically to become the base of operations for Task Force Bayonet.
One constant, despite the changes, is that military personnel still drive the same road to Camp Blessing that was used four years ago. Keeping the road safe is even harder now than when Blessing’s convoy traveled it. Al-Qaida has influenced Taliban and other extremists in Afghanistan to use IED attacks against forces supporting the legitimate government of Afghanistan in more frequent numbers.
Blessing was the only service member killed by an IED in 2003. In 2004, 12 members died from IED attacks. Eight months into 2007[,] IEDs have killed 45 military personnel, according to www.icasualties.org, a Web site that tracks these statistics closely.
The numbers would be even higher if it wasn’t for a special group of people travelling the roads ahead of convoys to help reduce the threat and number of IEDs. The Route Clearance Package for Task Force Rock is from Alpha Company, Special Troops Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. The RCP patrols the roads seven days a week searching for IEDs.
The RCP is Task Force Rock’s first line of defense against IED attacks. The RCP clears roads to all of Task Force Rock’s forward operating bases and fire bases. On Aug. 15, the RCP cleared the road into Chowkay Valley, which has been a site of fighting for several years. Task Force Rock recently lost Army 1st Lt. Benjamin Hall, a platoon leader in Destined Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), during a fire fight in the valley July 31[, 2007].
“There is one spot where three separate attacks were carried out,” said Army 1st Lt. William Cromie, a[n] RCP Platoon leader in Alpha Company, who is from New Jersey. The spot Cromie spoke of is a bend in the road a few miles into the valley. Destined Co., 2-503rd, Afghan Security Guard and an element from Cromie’s platoon have been attacked by Taliban extremists at the bend.
A few weeks prior to the patrol, the RCP found an IED a few hundred feet in front of the ambush point. Cromie’s platoon has found two IED’s since arriving in [the] country three months ago. “I love what I do,” said Cromie. “It’s a very unforgiving job, but the job is extremely rewarding when we find something.”
Photo – Army 1st Lt. William Cromie, Alpha Company, Special Troops Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, watches his Soldiers, Aug. 15, from an overwatch position as they clear an ambush point previously used by Taliban extremists in Chowkay Valley, Afghanistan. Photo by Sgt. Brandon Aird.
23 Aug 07 by Master Sgt. Dwayne Gordon 407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs.
ALI BASE, Iraq (AFPN) – Approximately 80 Iraqis from the city of An Nasiriyah interacted for the first time with Airmen and Soldiers at the Ziggurat historical monument Aug. 21 at Ali Base.
It has been more than 10 years since any Iraqi native has been allowed to visit the Ziggurat of Ur, which is the most dominant landmark on Ali Base, because during the reign of Suddam Hussein the installation was used by the Iraqi army.
The Ziggurat was constructed more than 4,000 years ago by worshipers of the moon god Nanna living near the ancient city of Ur. Rising more than 70 feet above the ground, it is one of the best preserved structures of its type in the world. The life of the Ziggurat is closely tied with the city of Ur itself. Passages in the Bible’s Book of Genesis describe Ur as the starting point of the migration westward to Palestine for the family of Abraham around 1,900 B.C. Ali Base is said to exist alongside the ancient city of Ur.
After processing through base security, two bus loads of Iraqi families arrived at the Ziggurat greeted by more than 100 Airmen and Soldiers. The families were then led to the top of the Ziggurat where, Sheik Mohammad, the spiritual leader of the group, gathered the families together and while holding the Iraqi flag, they began to sing an Iraqi song. After the song, Sheik Mohammad spoke to the American servicemembers about how long it has been since any Iraqi was able to visit the site and how they respect anyone who respects them and their historical sites.
“Events like this help the Iraqi people have a positive outlook on Americans,” said Airman 1st Class Robin Lumm, a 407th Expeditionary Communications Squadron small-computer technician who helped coordinated the event. She is deployed here from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., and a member of the 407th Air Expeditionary Group First Four organization who took on the task of planning and coordinating the visit by the Iraqi families.
With orphaned children from Ur making up most of the visiting group, the First Four organization decided to donate items for the children. Items such as stuffed animals, toys, soccer balls, school supplies and candy were collected, and after down from the Ziggurat the children were led to a tent filled with the donations. Each child was able to come away with a few items.
“Events like this improve relations between us and the Iraqi people,” said Staff Sgt. Tracey Cowan, a 407th AEG information manager deployed here from Moody AFB, Ga.
Afterward, an impromptu game of soccer was started with teams mixed with American servicemembers and Iraqi children.
“The initial idea came from an Iraqi contractor who works on the installation,” said Senior Master Sgt. Gary Hillman, the 407 Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron first sergeant. “He contacted security forces to see if a visit would be possible. He said he receives a lot of questions from the kids in the city about the American troops and thought it would be great if they could see and interact with them.”
To cool off from the heat, the visit ended with a water fight as Iraqi children doused their American hosts, and then it quickly turned into a battle — a different kind of battle than the one being fought throughout the country, as this was a friendly battle between new friends.
Photo – Airmen, Soldiers and local Iraqi citizens play soccer during an Aug. 21 visit by 80 Iraqi citizens to the historical Ziggurat located on Ali Air Base, Iraq. The Ali AB First Four Council sponsored the visit. This is the first time in more than 10 years that Iraqi civilians have been allowed to step on the grounds of the historical site, which was built in the ancient city of Ur and includes the house of the biblical prophet Abraham. U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Robert W. Valenca.
I enjoyed this one so much that I would like to share it with my friends over at Linkfest. Others may participate in this open trackback, but you would have much more fun if you hooked up with Linkfest.
Soldiers from the 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy); 1st Construction Company, 100th Republic of Korea Engineering Group; and Polish 1st Engineer Brigade, are working together to construct metal building systems (K-Spans), roads, ditches, culverts and sewage lagoons here. TF Pacemaker Headquarters Support Company Soldiers, led by Army Capt. Eric Parthemore, from West Liberty, Ohio, are not only engaged in supporting the battalion, but also manage the missions of the multi-national forces.
The Polish engineers provide both additional capacity and leadership to multiple horizontal construction projects. Polish soldiers, led by Polish Army 1st Lt. Radoslaw Teleżyński, are working to improve the roads here by ensuring that proper drainage and sewage structures are constructed before the rainy season begins. The Polish army has been deployed in places such as Lebanon, Syria, and Africa to support many humanitarian missions since the war on terror began in 2001.
“I didn’t know what to expect or what missions we would have, but working with American Soldiers has been a great experience. They have been very helpful,” said Teleżyński. I have been able to learn different training techniques from the American Soldiers and compare them to our techniques. I changed our technique to what works best to accomplish the mission successfully.”
Polish Pfc. Rafaz Soboń added, “This is my first time deployed and it has been a new and interesting experience. We learned about different cultures in class, but it is better to learn from first-hand experience.”
The 1st Construction Company from the Republic of Korea focuses on K-Span construction. According to Parthemore, the Korean engineers are especially meticulous and bring a vertical construction capability to the HSC that it does not have. The company is commanded by Korean Capt. Bo Geol Choi from Seoul, Korea. Once completed, the K-Spans will enhance maintenance operations and provide more space for supply support activity here. Even though K-Spans are not common in Korea, the soldiers were previously trained by civil engineers in their country, said to Choi.
“We are very proud to be part of this mission. Our main goal is to bring the proper engineering assets for future Coalition forces,” says Choi. “There have been a few challenges over the language gap as well as different working systems, but over all, the construction progress and the relationship with American Forces are going well.” Korean soldiers, Sgt. Chi-Keun Lee and Cpl. Min-Gi Kim agreed, “It is fun learning about different cultures, even though sometimes we have to use hand signals to communicate with each other.”
“The addition of Polish and Korean engineers along with Afghan contractors, gives our task force a tremendous capability that we do not normally have,” said Parthemore. Simply working on a single jobsite with engineers of four nationalities working together toward a common goal is very satisfactory. Also, our common understanding and respect for safe operations keeps us accident free despite the communication difficulties,”
Photo – Polish Pvt. Piotr Oparski, Polish Engineer Platoon, works on the final touches of a culvert in Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan, as a scoop loader hauls the rest of the dirt. U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Kenya Virginia Saenz.
BARWANAH, Iraq – Progress continues to be made in Al Anbar Province. A city once threatened by small arms fire, populace intimidation, improvised explosive devices and snipers is experiencing a renaissance.
This renaissance is due to the continued presence of the Marines assigned to Alpha Company, Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2 in and around the town, and the recent build up of Iraqi Security Forces.
“When we first got here things were running very slow and not many stores were open, but now a lot of new businesses are opening and people seem to be a lot more friendly and helpful with us,” said Sgt. Anthony C. Galloway, a section leader with Weapons Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2.
Galloway, a veteran of the Battle of Fallujah has seen combat at its most intense but was still a little reserved upon his arrival in country. “You never know what to expect when entering a combat zone,” said Galloway . “I was imagining it was going to be just like my first deployment to Iraq, which was all out war and nothing but combat.” This deployment has been less intense than what Galloway experienced two years ago, but there have been numerous challenges faced by 1/3. It takes time to win over the local populace, but Galloway has noticed a big change since Alpha Company first arrived here and is impressed by the way the local people have taken to his Company.
“You can tell a lot by the attitude of the local people,” said Galloway. “They give information to us about terrorists or suspected insurgents, when they couldn’t before for fear of their lives. With the stability of the city though, the local people have such freedom now to give the Marines information.”
Lance Cpl. Bryan P. Stutts, a machine gunner in the Company, has also noticed how the local populace seems to be much more accepting of the Marines. “They seem to be very thankful for the security we provide. A lot of times they will come out to say hello, or give us sodas while we’re on a patrol,” said Stutts. “That’s the one thing that stands out, the people. This is my first deployment, but I didn’t expect the people to be so friendly, they’re awesome.”
Stutts said although the situation has improved, he still remains aware of the enemy. “Even though I feel safe here, I still keep my guard up and keep the mindset in case the time comes when we do get contact,” said Stutts, a Texas native. “You never know when you may go around a corner and get blown up or take contact.”
Cpl. Anthony P. Mitchell, an intelligence analyst with the Company, said due to a berm that was built around the city in December as a part of Operation Majid, the IEDs inside the city are rare. “A lot of the caches were found along the edge of the Euphrates,” said Mitchell. “We don’t see them nearly as much due to the increase of the company’s patrols in the area.” Mitchell went on to explain another reason for the success seen today was due to the units who operated in Barwanah prior to 1/3’s arrival.
“The Marines from second Battalion, third Marines and second Battalion, fourth Marines had a big mission to secure the city. By the time Alpha Company arrived, it already had much, not all, of the qualities and stability we see today,” said Mitchell, a native of Burlington, Colo. “The problem we faced when we arrived here was maintaining that stability and building the Iraqi Police and Army force.”
Prior to April, the Iraqi police force in Barwanah was minor, both in size and impact. However, with the help of the local community leaders, specifically the mayor and city council chairman, the force’s size has increased significantly. It currently stands at 150. Their presence, as much as the Marines, has been a driving force behind this new found progress.
“The Iraqi Police in Barwanah are all locals from the area, so they’re able to know who the bad guys are,” said Mitchell. “This makes it a lot easier for us when it comes time to detain the people because the Iraqi Police know exactly who they are and where to find them.”
The population is now able to enjoy its city and spend more time outdoors. “At night, children will play soccer until the 11 p.m. curfew. I don’t know many American parents who would feel comfortable allowing their eight or nine-year-old child to stay out that late,” said the 21-year-old Mitchell. There has been a strong connection made between the Marines, sailors, Iraq Security Forces, and people of Barwanah. This connection has shut down the insurgency within the city and uplifted progress.
Photo – Sgt. Anthony C. Galloway, section leader, 1st Squad, 4th Platoon, Alpha Company, 1/3 briefs his Marines while holding security at a bridge in Barwanah. Photo by: Cpl. Rick Nelson.
22 Aug 07 By Tim Kilbride Task Force Marne Public Affairs.
BAGHDAD – Rather than clearly drawn lines in a Sunni vs. Shia sectarian battle, the driver of much of Iraq’s current violence is the murkier struggle for “power and influence,” a coalition commander said Aug. 19.
“This is not black and white here. It’s all shades of grey, and there’s a mixture of extremist elements and terror elements and criminal activity. It’s all of the above,” said Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander of Multinational Division Center and Task Force Marne, during a lunch with journalists.
In conversations with Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. in 2006, when Maj. Gen. Lynch was a deputy commander for Multinational Force Iraq and Gen. Casey the commander, the two agreed that the biggest motivator for violence in Iraq is the question, “Who’s going to be in charge?”
“We came to the conclusion that the primary concern inside of Iraq was a struggle for power and influence. It’s naive to believe that all sorts of violence inside of Iraq is Sunni vs. Shiia or Shiia vs. Sunni; that’s just not true. And when you find intra-Shiia rivalry, it’s primarily a function of the struggle for power and influence,” Maj. Gen. Lynch said. “We see that a lot across our battlespace.”
Multinational Division Center’s area of operations includes Najaf, Karbala, Babil and Wasit provinces, with additional areas of Baghdad and Anbar provinces. The provinces form what the military calls a belt around Iraq’s capital.
“We’re way past the point where we lump extremists as ‘anti-Iraqi forces,’” Maj. Gen. Lynch explained. “What you have to do is have great precision as you talk about the enemy. The best question that’s out there is, ‘Who is the enemy?’”
There are many layers to the security situation, and it varies by area, the commander said. However, he outlined three general sources of violence: Sunni extremists, Shiia extremists, and Iranian interference in the form of equipment and training.
Specifically, Maj. Gen. Lynch said, many of the rockets and explosively formed penetrators, a deadly type of improvised explosive device, used in attacks against U.S. forces originated in Iran. The bulk of these Iranian weapons uncovered so far have been found in Shiia hands, he said, but they have also been discovered in Sunni weapons caches.
Maj. Gen. Lynch said he does not yet know how Sunni militants acquire the weapons, whether on the black market or through direct contacts. He noted, though, that most of the training by Iranian forces goes to Shiia extremists, some of it taking place inside Iraq. “We have in our battlespace some number of members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps,” Maj. Gen. Lynch acknowledged. “They’re here. We watch for them. We will target them.”
However, Maj. Gen. Lynch said, no Iranian forces have been captured or killed in his area of responsibility.
The effects of the training have been evident in recent weeks as the lethality of attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces increases. The number of EFP attacks is up, and “the enemy is indeed now more aggressive than we’ve seen him to be,” Maj. Gen. Lynch said.
Forty-six percent of attacks in his area of responsibility are being conducted by Shiia extremists, Maj. Gen. Lynch said, but with drivers of violence spread across the sectarian divide, he explained, U.S. forces have no choice but to treat each enemy in the same fashion. “What you want to do is take away the enemy’s leaders, take away the enemy’s munitions, and you want to take his ability to train,” the general said. “So you attack all three of those things simultaneously.”
To that end, Maj. Gen. Lynch said, his Soldiers have conducted a series of month-long operations to target various centers of violence around his area. The latest, Operation Marne Husky, launched Aug. 15th and targets the Tigris River Valley southeast of Baghdad, in the area between Salman Pak and Suwayrah.
The first two operations, Marne Torch and Marne Avalanche, aimed to clear and hold areas south of Baghdad. But with success in those efforts, extremists fled to new areas, Maj. Gen. Lynch said.
“Did we defeat the enemies in those sanctuaries?” he asked. “No, that’s too strong a term. But we surely disrupted his ability to do what he wants to do,” he said.
Faced with a finite number of U.S. and Iraqi troops available for holding ground, Maj. Gen. Lynch said, he arranged for his combat aviation forces to launch Marne Husky as a “disrupt” operation, intended simply to keep the enemy unsettled and incapable of regrouping. “The phrase is ‘tactical momentum,’” Maj. Gen. Lynch said. “We believe that we have the enemy on the run. We believe that we’re in a pursuit phase of this operation.”
While not capturing new ground, disrupt operations help prevent attacks on civilians and Soldiers alike by keeping the enemy on the defensive and denying him the opportunity to reclaim territory, Maj. Gen. Lynch explained. “The enemy’s got this amazing capability of filling the void,” Maj. Gen. Lynch said. “If we go to an area and we conduct an operation and we leave, in about 48 hours he now controls that area again. So you just can’t let him rest.”
Strategically, Wasit province, where the bulk of Marne Husky is being conducted, is key to curtailing Iranian influence on the security situation, Maj. Gen. Lynch said. “Wasit province is of particular concern because of the Iranian-Iraqi border,” he explained.
The province shares a 200 kilometer stretch of border with Iran, leaving the way open for weapons smuggling, Maj. Gen. Lynch said.
And with combat operations taking place in the western half of the province, equally important work is being done to shore up security in the eastern half, along the border, Maj. Gen. Lynch said.
Maj. Gen. Lynch’s deputy commander, Army Brig. Gen. Ed Cardon, explained that in addition to training being given to Iraq’s border guards by U.S. forces, a series of forts extend along the border with Iran.
At the one legitimate point of entry from Iran into Wasit, Brig. Gen. Cardon said, the border crossing is overseen by the Iraqi government. At that point, every inbound truck is unloaded and searched for weapons, he said.
As a further precaution and to account for smuggling routes, a series of six checkpoints are scattered on westbound routes in areas behind the border crossing, Brig. Gen. Cardon said. These will be manned by an incoming unit of 2,000 troops from the Republic of Georgia, he said.
“If we control these areas, it will be hard to move weapons in trucks through Wasit,” Brig. Gen. Cardon said. However, he added, “We’re under no illusions … that the flow of weapons is going to stop from Iran.”
In a development that could potentially bolster the program, Brig. Gen. Cardon said, Shiia tribes in the border area have approached his commanders, volunteering to assist in curtailing smuggling. U.S. forces will present the government of Iraq with the Shiia offer, he said.
Similar arrangements have greatly enhanced security elsewhere in the Task Force Marne area of operations, Maj. Gen. Lynch said, pointing to the success of the Sunni and Shiia “concerned citizens” groups in securing their villages. “We want the security of Iraq to be accomplished by the people of Iraq,” he said.
“The solution is a sustained security presence by the Iraqi security forces,” but the concerned citizens groups act as a crucial transition in areas with inadequate Iraqi security force protection, he said.
But in a region where tribes form the bonds of society at the local level, and family loyalties compete with any sense of national identity, critics including the Iraqi government have wondered whether encouraging a new breed of neighborhood militias is in Iraq’s long-term interests.
“This is the challenge that you have: as you increase the authority of the tribes, how does that impact the authority of the provincial government?” Brig. Gen. Cardon stated.
The hope, he said, is that both the tribes and the Iraqi government build themselves up at the same time.
Photo – Maj. E. E. Smith gives a thumbs-up to Iraqi National Police Col. l. Ahmed Hatem Hamid Taher after observing no violence in the streets of Al Furat, Aug. 9, during the 7th Imam holy day. Maj. Smith is a team chief assigned to the National Police Transition Team. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Brian L. Boone.
Gregg has been thoughtful and gentle in his asking of these questions. What we would like to know is what the candidates truly believe, not what is politically correct. Many times what may seem correct can do much more damage to one’s soul than ever thought. Read the very simple first question:
12 Questions For Pro-Same Sex Marriage Presidential Candidates GrassTopsUSA Guest Commentary By Gregg Jackson 08-23-07
1. To those who say: “Banning homosexual marriage is a form of discrimination, similar to the banning of interracial marriages, which makes homosexuals into second class citizens.”
Anti-miscegenation (interracial marriage) laws were struck down by the Supreme Court in 1967 (Loving v. Virginia) because they frustrated the core purpose of marriage in order to sustain a racist legal order. Since the decision didn’t change the fact that marriage was still between one man and one woman, how is banning “same sex marriage” discriminatory? [Continue reading.]
Very simple, straightforward and no wiggle room. What do they believe? This is not a matter philosophy, for if it were there would not be so much ‘to do’ about it. Come on, candidates. Truth or dare. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE AND WHY?
21 Aug 07 by Staff Sgt. Les Waters 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) – Members of the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group recently saw their efforts come to fruition during a hand-over ceremony of humanitarian medical equipment from the United States to three hospitals in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as part of Operation Provide Hope.
The largest single U.S.-assistance project for Kyrgyzstan since its independence, Operation Provide Hope is a humanitarian medical program coordinated by the State Department and supported by the Department of Defense and private donors.
This summer, the 376th EMDG worked closely with the State Department to inventory, inspect, install and train on millions of dollars of medical equipment to improve medical capability in three local hospitals. Bishkek City Hospital No. 4 (Center for Scientific Research), Bishkek City Hospital No. 1 and the National Center of Oncology were selected by the State Department to receive the equipment.
“It was a great pleasure to work with the U.S. Department of State and support the Operation Provide Hope hospital upgrade mission to the Kyrgyz Republic,” said Col. David Hocking, 376th EMDG commander.
The hope is that the upgraded equipment will translate into enhanced medical care for patients.
“It was like you are taking a good thing and making it better,” said Maj. Stephanie Gardner, 376th EMDG nurse anesthetist. “The care that is given in the hospitals is excellent, and the hope is that the equipment will make things easier to provide even better care. I feel like I helped them to ease the workload so they can concentrate on continuing to give excellent care.”
The ceremony was held at the National Center of Oncology, one of the locations Major Gardner helped install equipment and train people. “I had a hand in training the medical staff and setting up … I guess I felt like a proud parent because the equipment was all set up and the hospital looked really nice,” said Major Gardner. Part of the training the base medical staff provided included reviewing and highlighting equipment-operating manuals for translation, as well as assisting at all the locations that received equipment. It is training that is ongoing.
“We will continue to provide assistance and on-going training as much as the mission permits,” said Maj. Melissa Rokey, 376th EMDG administrator and project officer for this operation. “This ongoing assistance will hopefully further develop the relationship between our staff and the local hospital staff. This relationship is extremely important in many ways, to include our continual awareness of their ability to help support us in case of any contingency. It is our hope that we can continue giving something back to the community and their medical staff.”
Colonel Hocking said that the assistance translates on a larger scale the relationship between the two countries. “The critical support provided by our team ensured the overall success of this operation and demonstrated to the Kyrgyz people we’re a deeply compassionate nation as well,” Colonel Hocking said.
It was a team effort beyond the medical group. None of this would have been possible without the C-17 Globemaster IIIs bringing in the pallets and then maintainers and logistics Airman unloading it onto other vehicles. Security forces also arranged base entry for vehicles to take the equipment downtown.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of the efforts … from unpacking boxes, to installing the equipment, to training, our team performed flawlessly and still never missed a beat in our primary mission at Manas AB,” said Colonel Hocking. Humanitarian assistance through Operation Provide Hope totals approximately $42.3 million over the past three years. The project was coordinated with the government of Kyrgyzstan, including the executive administration of the prime minister and the Ministry of Health.
Photo – Maj. Stephanie Gardner provides training to Chinara Djanaera, an operating nurse from the National Center of Oncology, following the hand-over ceremony of humanitarian medial equipment from the 376th Expeditonary Medical Group to three hospitals in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Col. David Hocking, 376th EMDG commander, and two other nurses observe the training. The National Center of Oncology was one of three hospitals to receive the medical equipment. Major Gardner is a nurse anesthetist with the 376th EMDG. U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Les Waters.
21 Aug 07 By Staff Sgt. Kenya Shiloh Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa Public Affairs.
DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti – Members of the 350th Civil Affairs Command Special Functions Team donated eight pallets of excess medical supplies valued at $800,000 to the Pelltia Hospital in Djibouti, July 25.
Items such as pajamas, oxygen masks, sheets, gauze bandages, knee braces, surgical instruments and humidifiers were flown in from warehouses in Qatar and Bahrain to be delivered to the hospital. From there, the supplies will be dispersed to hospitals and clinics throughout the region.
“The pallets are excess medical property and if we don’t accept it, it’s literally just buried in the sand and it all goes to waste,” said Army Lt. Col. Alana Conley, 350th medical team chief. “Basically every clinic and hospital in Djibouti and throughout the Horn of Africa can use medical supplies. Items that are usually expendable to us, they’re reusing. The supplies will be used to improve patient care overall.”
Dr. Christian Oman Glele, acting chief of staff was on-hand to accept the property once it was offloaded from the trucks with the help of people in the local community. “Thank you a lot for the medical supplies,” said Glele. “Offloading the material is a big job, but now patients have access to good equipment which is very beneficial for the hospital.”
Other civil affairs teams throughout the Horn of Africa also received medical supplies to distribute to hospitals and clinics in their respective countries. “Everywhere we’ve been, every hospital and clinic we’ve looked at, didn’t have enough supplies,” said Air Force Maj. Pauline Lucas, 350th public health officer. “Some hospitals even rewash bandages. We know that with this property, we could do more for them. We went to look at their supply warehouse and it was bare. When we looked at it, we were like wow, we have all these excess items; we can fulfill their need.”
In the future, the 350th Civil Affairs Command Special Functions Team plans to send first aid shelter kits to field hospitals in Garrissa and Bal Bala, Kenya, as well as clinics throughout Tanzania and Djibouti. Dr. Madian Said, the Pelltia Hospital’s chief of staff who also runs medical caravans throughout the country, will use some of the first aid shelter kits to help fight cholera outbreaks in the region.
Photo – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jeffrey Swain, and Air Force Maj. Pauline Lucas, 350th Civil Affairs Command Special Functions Team, offload medical supplies at the Pelltia Hospital in Djibouti with the help of local residents. More than eight pallets of supplies and equipment valued at $800,000 were donated to the hospital, July 25. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kenya Shiloh.
American Islamic Forum for Democracy is a great site if you wish to follow the writings of a man who is trying to speak out against the Islamists. I realize many people are skepitical, some for their own reasons, some because they haven’t heard voices speaking against terrorism before, but that is because the media is ignoring this group on behalf of CAIR. Anyone who can make CAIR sweat, I’ll listen to hear what they have to say! lol.
Here are some of the articles he has written or have been written about him as of late:
Author: M. Zuhdi Jasser Source: The Family Security Foundation, Inc. Date: August 24, 2007
These are just a few articles he has written in his war against Islamofascism. He claims to be trying to get his religion back from the thugs who have stolen it. It may be worth your time to at least give him a chance. After all, isn’t this what we’ve been asking for? He has been doing this since at least 2002, if not earlier. Thank you.
What have I accomplished today? Let’s see…I went through emails, I worked on my open trackbacks, I got a new mouse that had a cord that was too short (actually, my brother got it for me because I don’t leave the apartment, but that’s a whole different story), my computer froze up on me so I had to shut her down and turn her back on again, oh yeah, I left a comment somewhere–no, I’m not going to say where–that could literally ruin any chances of me ever having a political job. Yeah, I’ve been real busy today.
Everything I have built my life up for I destroyed in one comment. Actually, it isn’t really the comment that I left, it’s more the facts that are in it. We all have lives outside of this computer, especially us older folks. Many of us have had a hard life, which makes us perfect to know and understand the ins and outs of what works and what doesn’t, what’s good and what isn’t, what’s right and what’s wrong.
I shall worry about this anyway. God, I wish I could talk about it. I have held it in for so many years now. It is a burden that I will have to carry silently. Sorry. Have a good day.
I’m not quite sure why I’m using this post as an open trackback, but it’s the only post I’ve written so far today. It’s already close to 7pm. I hope everyone is having a great weekend!
I would like to introduce you to the United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM). These are the people behind the scenes who do all they can to ensure that we are safe and secure. Please visit their site, and you may receive news through the e-mail by subscribing to their site. This is one of their articles which I am sharing with you. I did not write this, but I sure do like it! lol. Thank you.
Robert Pursell from U.S. Joint Forces Command Public Affairs blogged live Aug. 22 from Noble Resolve 07-2, the latest in the command’s series of experiments examining ways to improve information sharing between various levels of government and improve military support to civil authorities both before and after natural and man-made disasters. The experiment brings together numerous partners at the federal level, such as the Department if Homeland Security and U.S. Northern Command, and at the state level, such as the state of Oregon.
Editor’s note: USJFCOM Public Affairs provided a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed for this liveblog all day. This allowed readers to track Robert’s entries in real time as they are posted. Click here to add this feed to your RSS reader. To learn more about RSS and other feeds USJFCOM offers, click here..
12:15 p.m. – I’m here in Suffolk, Va. today for the third day of U.S. Joint Forces Command’s (USJFCOM) Noble Resolve 07-2, a series of experiments designed to improve information sharing and enhance homeland defense measures and military support to civil agencies during natural or man-made disasters.
Although sponsored by USJFCOM, Noble Resolve is an experimentation campaign plan supporting U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM). You might remember NORTHCOM was the command set up after 9/11 to work the military aspects of homeland defense. Noble Resolve participants look at this as a great opportunity to open the lines of communication by sharing information in the event that there was ever a real threat aimed at the U.S. and its interests.
I’m situated in the middle of the Joint Operations Center at USJFCOM’s Joint Futures Lab where I have a first-hand view of everything that’s going on. There are three huge projection screens in the front of the room, each showing something different. I’ll get to what those are later. There are also about 50 people here, each with their own computer. It shows how far technology has come in the last couple of decades and how it’s being put to good use.
This portion of Noble Resolve is focused on the Pacific theater. In April’s Noble Resolve 07-1, the scenarios involved threats in Norfolk, such as a terrorist threat on a ship in the city’s harbor and what would happen if a massive hurricane came into town, how would authorities react and share information? Today, some of the scenarios will include a tsunami hitting Hawaii and an earthquake causing a dam break in Oregon.
Just as I typed that, someone on the loud speaker just announced that there was tsunami warning off of Hawaii, so I guess we’re on our way. In my next blog, I’ll discuss some of the technologies and tools that participants are using for these experiments.
2:31 p.m. – At this point in the experiment, the scenario dealing with the Hawaiian tsunami has officially become a disaster. Officials have just announced that the tsunami has hit Waikiki Beach and water has come up to the first floor of beach hotels. When all this is going on, especially with Hawaii which is miles from the mainland, one might ask, “How will they receive any support?” That’s what Noble Resolve is all about.
As I noted earlier, this event it using state-of-the-art technology to its fullest in order to share information in a high-speed fashion. USJFCOM officials are particularly excited because it’s a chance to use some of its own modeling and simulation (M&S) tools.
I had the chance to talk to Navy Capt. John Kersh, the experimentation director of Noble Resolve who explained to me what I was seeing in the front of the room on the three huge displays.
He said the first screen on the left, showed the Event News Network, along with C-SPAN.
“It’s a Web site for just the participants where all of our video pieces are parked,” he said. “You can click on them and bring them up. We’ll put up video that we’ve created displaying simulated footage of the disaster. We have our own news network, kind of like CNN.”
The middle screen shows the Integrated Common Analytical Viewer (ICAV), owned by the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS). In the weeks building up to Noble Resolve, organizers seemed excited over the chance to use this tool.
“It is the common operational picture that DHS is using. It allows us to work through processes with first responders at the different fusion centers,” said Kersh.
ICAV looks like a map of the area they’re focusing; in this case it is Hawaii. Participants can apply different layers to give different looks for the area. For example, you can apply a layer that shows all of the hospitals in the area so you can figure out a plan as to which hospitals are available or closest to the impact zone. Also, because ICAV is web-based, it’s easier to access as well
Kersh said the screen on the right displayed the master scenario event list which indicates which scenario is being executed and its description just to keep people on the same page.
Another announcement was just made. As part of the simulated event, it seems that the Oregon earthquake scenario just kicked off. The announcement, which I now know is coming from the Event News Network, said buildings in Portland are on fire and the Beaver Dam just collapsed causing wide-spread flooding. It seems like there’s a lot going on at once here, yet everyone is calmly doing their job.
4 p.m. — Sitting in front of me are foreign officials from Japan and Finland. In addition to the state and government, USJFCOM is also partnering with foreign liaison officers from other countries for Noble Resolve 07-2. One of those liaison officers is Col. Byungjin Park, from the Republic of Korea.
He discussed with me what he is looking to get out Noble Resolve for his country, which has a long history as an active geological region.
“We have the same situation with our changing environment,” said Park. “With the military we have to coordinate with the civil authorities, so in terms of that, we use the scenarios here to develop a process to provide assistance to our disaster areas.”
He said once his government takes all that is learned from past disasters in their region and develop their own process, they’ll be in good enough shape to provide support to other countries.
“We are going review our own process to help provide support to international disaster areas,” said Park. “We have lessons learned from Katrina, from the tsunami in Asia in 2004, as well as the Pakistan earthquake situation. It has also allowed us to review our own government process.
Park also noted that the opportunity to work with such intricate information tools is beneficial.
“With some of the experimentation tools, such as ICAV, it will be very interesting and helpful to update our own systems,” he said.
After speaking with Col. Park and looking around at the other liaisons busy at work, those countries are really going to benefit from their involvement here.
6:31 p.m. – When looking around, all you see is people busy talking and clicking away on their keyboards. But what are these people actually doing and what piece of the puzzle are they to fit into this Noble Resolve campaign? That’s sort of the untold story around here for an outsider. I decided to go around and talk to a few people to see what their role in this was.
One person I talked to was Mark Nesselrode, a training analyst from Old Dominion University. He was brought in help set up the training portion of the event and keep a watchful eye on it. Once things wrap up, he’ll evaluate and offer recommendations on where to improve the training process.
I also talked with Lisa Orloff, founder and executive director of the World Cares Center. She explained why her organization is participating.
“We saw after 9/11 a larger way that we need to utilize our citizens more effectively in disaster response. They need to be not only asked to serve but educated and trained properly so they can be used as force multipliers for disaster response,” she said. “We’re here to observe and to see if the technologies can be used to more effectively to allow responding agencies to access those resources.”
I also had the chance to converse with Matt Begert, an executive for the National Institute for Urban Search and Rescue. Like the others he’s here observing for his organization. He said the process was extremely beneficial and it’s a great first step.
I talked to Marine Corps Lt. Col. Brad Stillabower. He is a reservist who, based on his experience with FEMA, is a role player acting as a representative from there.
“They have role playing slots associated with different agencies and they didn’t have anyone here from FEMA so they asked me to pretend that I’m from there and answer questions and simulate as if I worked there,” he said.
7:40 p.m. – So far, we’ve discussed everything that’s been going on here in Suffolk, however, most of the action is out west. I was given the opportunity to speak with Air Force Maj. Marty Plotner of the Oregon National Guard. He’s the guy in charge out there.
Plotner said so far things have been going well.
“We’re thrilled with the opportunity to get the experience and work some of the systems that other agencies are also examining,” he said. “The internal review on some of our procedures is fantastic and it’s a great opportunity for us to expand our relationship building because we have a number of first responder and local folks participating and it’s a great network for us.”
He explained the benefit of working with USJFCOM.
“The biggest benefit is that USJFCOM is actually actively testing these systems and trying to work both the interoperability and information distribution processes.”
Plotner discussed what’s next for everyone out in Oregon.
“Our next step is taking some of the lessons learned and some of the tabled items that we weren’t able to resolve this week and problem-solve that out and to continue to expand the networks that we’re working with,” he said. “It’s also going to be important to ask questions of the agencies that we’re working with, including the Office of Emergency Management and local first responders, and get ready for the next exercise. The hope is that we’re well-prepared and well-suited when the first emergency does arrive.”
That just about wraps things up for the third day of Noble Resolve. As I noted earlier, this is an information sharing event. This is a great way to experience it, without it actually happening. If a similar threat were to occur, authorities can draw back on their experiences from Noble Resolve and say, “Hey, this is what worked in Noble Resolve, let’s apply that to our current situation.”
Watching things up close and personal, there are some extremely bright and intelligent people, along with some sophisticated tools, on the right path to creating processes for dealing with disaster.
I have decided to post this article (that was written by the USJFCom) because I would like to give them some exposure. They do so much for us that we are unaware of, and I would just like to give them so kudos and gratitude. Thanks and have a great day!
I have written an article to introduce to the Committee to Protect Bloggers (CPB). Now I will introduce you to the very great work they do.
This one is about Abdul Kareem Nabeel Suleiman. He is a young Egyptian blogger who has been sentenced (back in February of this year) to 4 years in prison for ‘contempt of religion’ and 1 year for ‘defaming the president of Egypt.’ There is, however, a group (Free Kareem) which has been trying to free this man. Their campaign would you sign a petition, and I am asking you to do so as well. You may reach them at their site. Thank you.
If you think your freedom of speech has been infringed, listen to this:
Mideast Youth reports that Kuwaiti blogger Bashar Al-Sayegh was arrested on August 19, according to the blog Forza Kuwait. According to the blog The Kuwaiti, “Bashar Al-Sayegh was arrested and beaten yesterday by the Kuwaiti Secret Police for an anonymous comment on Bashar’s forum regarding the Amir (which was deleted).”
An update on The Kuwaiti’s post says Bashar has been released. The Kuwait confirms it and sends pictures.
This, too, is care of CPB. Now on to one of those friendly allies: Turkey.
This is still very odd. Some say it was on purpose, others an accident. Some say the military was involved, some say an Islamic creationist.
Nice guys, eh? All of you people using WordPress have cause to be as upset as I am. So you did not think they could come after you because you are in America?
If you become aware of a threat to a blogger, or of the action of a government that is likely to have an effect on blogging, please let us know. Also, if you have been called in for questioning, let us know and indicate whether you would like us to post on it, or to have a post ready in the eventuality that you do not return home by a certain time. We have done this for bloggers in the past.
Please do not wait until there is no one left to help you before you respond…
This group, the Committee to Protect Blogger (CPB), is one of the most useful sites I have come across in my three years of blogging. These people really go to bat for us to protect our free speech, and they warn us and inform us about the people who have been imprisoned in different countries so that we can come together, no matter our political stripes, to try to free these people.
You have absolutely no idea how many people are taken away never to be heard from again until there is in outcry from the international communitees. While these countries, Iran-the ME-China-etc., do this on a continual basis; they do also do not like the negative attention given them. These are countries that actually care what their reputation outside of their respective countries are. It is up to all of us, Liberals and Conservates and everyone in-between, to shame these countries so that we may possibly save some lives. It has been done.
Have you ever noticed that sunlight is the best disinfectant? Yes, it has been and will continue to be. I hope I count on you to spread the word that CPB is back in business, and I also expect you to put this organization on your sidebar. Why? There is no telling when it may be YOU they are after next…
I would like to open this post up so I can reach as many people as possible. This is one of the most important posts I have ever written. Please post about it, visit the site (if it gives you an error message, just refresh it), find out more about CPB. We cannot do this without you. Thank you.
These are the posts that were nice to trackback to me: (please wait just a moment for the Potbelly Stove’s and The Florida Masochist’s URL’s. My computer has a mind of its own, and it is being disobedient! lol. Okay, everything is functioning now. Take care.)
20 Aug 07 By Gunnery Sgt. Eric Johnson 2nd Marine Division.
HADITHAH, Iraq – The morning of July 4th started out like any other day inside the Hadithah Police Station. The Iraqi Police conducted morning police call, uniforms were set straight, and reports were prepared. The Marines of the Hadithah Police Transition Team (PiTT) gave guidance to their Iraqi counter-parts, making corrections wherever necessary. As the heat began filling the building, the anticipation for the day’s events grew.
Within the building’s multi-purpose room, the morning formation lined up. However, the formation wasn’t made up of Iraqi police officers standing at attention, ready for drill practice. In fact, no one was standing at attention. July 4th was the first Youth Soccer Day held at the Hadithah Police Station.
Over 200 local children gathered at the police station for a chance to play soccer with their police officers. The police and children were equally excited for the day’s festivities. The first hour was spent posing for pictures. After the initial photo op and introductions, soccer balls were passed out. Through donations from friends and family back in the United States and from some Iraqi Police Officers, over 100 soccer balls were given to the kids. Along with the soccer balls, hundreds of toys, stuffed animals, and backpacks were also donated.
Lieutenant Col. Mazher Hasan Khazal, the Hadithah Police Chief said, “today is a great day, not only for the Iraqi Police, but for all of Hadithah. We will never forget what our Marine brothers have done to make this possible.” The current Iraqi Police Station is actually a hardened building, which once served as the city’s Youth Center. The Marines and Iraqi Police took over the building in October 2006. For the past several years, there hasn’t been a need for a youth center, most of the city’s children would rarely go outside.
The need for some type of outlet for the kids during their summer school break, a time when terrorists recruit young children, prompted the PiTT Marines to come up with a youth-oriented soccer program. Members of the PiTT team were sitting around talking about their families one night with the Iraqi leadership. They tried to explain the Boy and Girl Scouts of America to the police chief, and he asked if they could help set something like that up in Hadithah. That’s when the PiTT came up with the idea for a soccer camp. The police chief loved the idea
Friendliness from the locals toward Marine and Iraqi Forces over the last few years has been minimal. Anyone approaching a Marine or Iraqi patrol was looked at as a possible insurgent, and not allowed to get too close. The city has seen a shift in the security and the attitude of the local people. The success of the Youth Soccer Day provided the rebirth this city has seen. Marines and police alike were covered with hugging hands and grabbing fingers.
“I thought that at one point the kids were just going to mob me over,” said Cpl. Joseph Dayner, PiTT communications advisor. “I just kept pushing through the crowd passing out toys.”
The Youth Soccer Day was a testament to the successful counter-insurgency campaign 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines is conducting in the Hadithah Triad. The Iraqi Police have played a large role in the city’s stability. The force is a lot larger, more professional, and the people of Hadithah readily accept them. It is a sign of hope that the situation here has turned the right corner.
Photo – Gunnery Sgt. Eric Johnson, operations chief of the Hadithah PiTT plays soccer with local Iraqi children in front of the Iraqi Police Station. Photo by: Cpl. Stephen M. Kwietniak.
20 Aug 07 By Sgt. Sara Wood American Forces Press Service.
WASHINGTON – U.S. troops serving in Iraq will have a little more protection soon, as two of the military’s newest armored vehicles are on their way to the theater.
Two Buffalo Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, known as “MRAPs,” were loaded onto C-5 Galaxy aircraft Thursday night at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., to be shipped to Iraq. This latest shipment is part of the Defense Department’s push to get as many of the new vehicles to troops in combat as quickly as possible.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has been pushing the production and delivery of MRAPs, which boast a V-shaped hull that deflects bomb blasts and protects troops inside better than the military’s current vehicles. The Defense Department awarded two more contracts for the vehicles the week of Aug. 10, which brings the number of vehicles on contract to 6,415. An estimated 3,500 MRAPs are expected to be shipped to Iraq by Dec. 31.
The MRAPs are shipped to Iraq by the 437th Airlift Wing, out of Charleston. The vehicles are part of the 300 tons of cargo the unit moves on a daily basis. It typically takes two days to airlift the MRAPs to Iraq, said Cynthia Bauer, a public affairs officer with U.S. Transportation Command, which oversees the movement of the vehicles. A small number of MRAPs are taken by sea, which takes between 22 and 30 days, she said.
As of Aug. 9, Transportation Command had shipped 701 MRAPs and MRAP-like vehicles to the Central Command area, Ms. Bauer said. The command will continue to ship the vehicles as military commanders in theater request them, she said.
MRAPs come in three categories: Category I vehicles are designed for urban combat operations and can transport six people; Category II vehicles have multi-mission capabilities, including convoy lead, troop transport, ambulance, explosive ordnance disposal and combat engineering, and can transport up to 10 people; Category III vehicles perform mine and IED clearance operations and explosive ordnance disposal and can transport six people, or five with additional equipment. The Buffalos that were shipped Thursday fall under Category III.
The troops who participated in loading the vehicles yesterday told local media that they feel their job is important, because the MRAPs have been proven to save lives in combat. “It’s absolutely critical. It saves lives every day when they have them,” Air Force Master Sgt. Jared Breyer, with the 437th Airlift Wing, told ABC News.
Photo – A Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle is loaded onto a C-5 Galaxy aircraft Aug. 16 at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. Air Mobility Command assists with the movement of MRAP vehicles to U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility as directed by the National Command Authority, the Joint Staff and U.S. Transportation Command. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Robertson.
Holy cow, this one snuck up on me. Green Bay is beginning to play, and I am busy doing something else. They’re playing Jacksonville, and I’ll stay with my Packers. (Jaguars v Packers) I’ll be back to fill in the rest. Thanks.
Oh well. I should have known better than to stick by my Packers. Everytime I do, I jinx them. Also, I don’t know if the Jaguars have a fine defense or if the Packers are just back to their same old routine of turning over the ball. Anyway, the final score was Jacksonville Jaguars 21; Green Bay Packers 13.
New Orleans Saints are kicking Kansas City Chiefs butt! I can’t choose one in this game, because it is the 4th quarter with 1:18 to go. It wouldn’t be fair. lol. I can conclude, with the score being New Orlean Saints 30; Kansas City Chiefs 7, that the Saints have it in the bag. It is now a done deal, and the score stands. On to Friday’s games.
I’m just going to give the name of the team and the time of the game. My mouse died, and this one really awkward. Thank you for your patience.
ABOARD USS ENTERPRISE – Enterprise Carrier Strike Group commenced operations in the Persian Gulf Aug. 10, where they are currently deployed to support maritime security operations as well as Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
20 Aug 07 USS Enterprise Public Affairs
Rear Adm. Daniel P. Holloway, commander, Carrier Strike Group 12/Enterprise Strike Group, said the strike group is ready to do what it takes to accomplish the mission. “This is part of what we are out here to do,” said Holloway. “We are a nation at war and we will continue to do our part to stabilize the current situation in Iraq and eliminate terrorist threats.”
Enterprise CSG’s deployment will help reassure U.S. allies in the region of the Navy’s commitment to set conditions for security and stability for vessels operating in the Persian Gulf. Maritime security operations have a strong track record of providing security and stability in the maritime environment through coordinated operations with coalition partners that complement the security efforts of friends and allies in the region.
The presence of Enterprise CSG in the region allows the coalition to flex multi-dimensional task force capabilities and demonstrate the ability to respond to threats to maritime security. Enterprise CSG also commenced the first combat missions of their current deployment Aug. 12 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing 1, stationed aboard USS Enterprise, conducted multiple-strike missions by providing air support to coalition ground forces.
U.S. naval and air presence in the region is the continuation of a six decade-long U.S. policy to stand by friends and allies among Gulf Cooperation Council nations and protect the free flow of commerce. These relationships support and encourage regional stability and cooperation. U.S. forces will continue to maintain this regional presence to deter destabilizing activities, while safeguarding the region’s vital links to the global economy.
The squadrons of CVW-1 include the “Checkmates” of Strike Fighter Squadron 211; Knighthawks” of VFA-136; “Sidewinders” of VFA-86; “Thunderbolts” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251; “Dragonslayers” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 11; “Rooks” of Electronic Attack Squadron 137; “Screwtops” of VAW-123; “Maulers” of Sea Control Squadron 32; and the “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40.
Photo – The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise conducts maritime operations in the Persian Gulf, Aug. 17, 2007. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Brandon Morris.
Speaking for myself, I was raised by a very strong Father. Regardless as to whether he was right or wrong, us children knew where we stood. One time I asked him how to know the difference between right and wrong and he said, “If you wouldn’t do it if I were there, then don’t do it!” This turned out to be a very good rule to live by. It’s just a shame I didn’t. Why didn’t I?
Because when it came down to the testing time (I was 14 when he caught me smoking a cigarrette), he failed. He did not follow through on his threat of, “If I ever catch any of you kids smoking, drinking, doing drugs, etc…” I caught the bus and went home. I was home before he was. I was ready to confess to my Mother and quit for good. Nothing ever happened. I give you this story in order to help you to understand what comes next.
Men, you have to stand up to the plate. You were put on earth for a reason, even if the libbers would have you think otherwise. You are responsible for the way societies evolve. If your neighborhood is going to hell in a handbasket, it is your fault. You are the one we look to for guidance.
Oh sure, you may not hear that much, and the schools truly are trying to change the make-up of a true CIVILIZED society, but it will never work. You are necessary, wanted, and appreciated. Please, come back and take your place in society.
Dear Ladies,
Do not stand in the way of your man, but gently discuss your disagreements. Be wise as to which battles you choose do fight on, for it may be the battleground upon which you die.
We do not have to yell and scream like Rosie O’Donnel to get our message across. No, we are much wiser than her type. Men are a very necessary part of our lives, although many of us have been taught we don’t need them. Oh really? Is this true? Let’s think about that…were you Daddy’s little girl? I was, and it was the greatest sense of security I ever felt. This is a feeling neither my Mother nor any other woman could fulfill. Remember this when people are trying to convince you that you don’t need a man.
Yes, it is possible to live life without a man, but don’t expect the government to be your Daddy! I’m sick of it, and I’m sure many other women are as well. So what is your responsibility? Ah, this is a tricky one. Are you religious? Then it should not be so tricky. This, however, will work either way. We are to support the men in our community by helping them think up those decisions for which they will claim as their own! LOL. It is quite easy if we could only learn to allow them to take the credit for our ideas.
I went off on a different tangent there. I wanted to speak you, my lady friends, about something more meaningful. Ladies, you do not have to have a job. You do not have to have all those other luxeries to be considered a lady. It is preferred (BY YOUR CHILDREN and by many women and men) if you stay home and raise your children. This a very hard and rewarding JOB. It also takes a true measure of true grit. Down to earth common sense that will whoop butt each and every time applied.
We do not need to follow other women. After all, have you ever heard of the blind leading the blind? That’s right, jump all over me because you misunderstood what I said. For any group or individual to follow any group or individual because they don’t want to take the time to examine the facts themselves is FOOLISH and BLIND.
We are such beautiful creatures with the power to build up or tear down a whole society. The tearing down has already started because we have not been loud enough in standing beside our men. It is not too late for this to change. Let us beautiful people come together, even if it is only with our spouses and/or neighbors, and plant the seeds of reconcilliation. After all, isn’t this what we are asking of a country which has lived through tyranny for most of its existence? Hmm…we can do this. God bless the women of the world, as well as the men.
I would like to open this post up to trackbacks in the hope that some of you will read this post. I surely would like some comments as to whether or not you agree, disagree, have something to add, feel better, feel worse, etc. Thank you.
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