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:
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