Close Combat III: Cross of Iron

Posted By Uber Pig • [September 09, 2010]

Have any of you folks played this, from Matrix Games?  I bought it and am totally obsessed.  My wargaming skills are now unstoppable. 

-- UP

Extraordinary Rendition legal

Posted By Uncle Jimbo • [September 08, 2010]

Well this is good news for our ability to deal with the evil bastards who kill innocents.

By a six-to-five vote, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, reversing an earlier decision, dismissed a lawsuit against Jeppesen Dataplan Inc., a Boeing subsidiary accused of arranging flights for the C.I.A.’s “extraordinary rendition” program, as it is known. The American Civil Liberties Union filed the case on behalf of five former prisoners who say they were tortured because of the program – and that Jeppesen was complicit in their treatment.

Judge Raymond C. Fisher described the case as presenting “a painful conflict between human rights and national security.” But, he said, the majority had “reluctantly” concluded that the lawsuit represented “a rare case” in which the government’s need to protect state secrets trumped the plaintiffs’ need to have any day in court.

Notice too that this was the Ninth Circuit one of the most liberal in our system making the ruling. Now this was a six to five ruling and the majority was so heartbroken by their requirement not to neuter the Executive Branch that they actually required the government to pay the plaintiff's legal fees. Oh and if you actually read the ruling it doesn't say rendition is legal, just that you can't sue about it because important secrets would inevitably come out. But hey, I'm not gonna let that influence me.

We have enemies hiding all over the world. It is a necessity for us to be able to go scarf them up and then take them somewhere for some serious questioning, which we no longer do. I give the Obama team credit for continuing to uphold the right of the Executive Branch to do what is required to keep all of us safe. That is not always a pleasant process and it is one that belongs in the shadows on the dark side not being adjudicated by bleeding heart lawyers anxious to splatter us with whatever shite they can dredge up or make up.

And that is one thing that has come through in the bulk of cases where torture has been alleged, the terrorists follow their training and come up with all kinds of heinous things nobody did to them. Now I'm not going to claim that no one ever got abused by some of the folks we turned these guys over to, I'm just gonna say I don't care.

Book Review- The Mullah's Storm

Posted By Uncle Jimbo • [September 08, 2010]

Elise Cooper for BLACKFIVE Thomas W. Young’s book, The Mullah’s Storm, is about a battle for survival, fighting the elements and the enemy in Afghanistan. The plot starts off when a transport plane, carrying a high-value Taliban detainee, is shot down in Afghanistan during a ferocious snow storm. The rest of the story depicts how the navigator, Major Michael Parson, and army interpreter, Sergeant Gold rely on each other to complete their mission and to keep each other alive.

This book appears to be a fictional version of the book War by Sebastian Junger. Young commented to blackfive.net that “I wrote the book for a few reasons. I wanted to write a compelling story about my worst fears, the thought of getting shot down and killed since I am a flight engineer for the Air National Guard in Afghanistan. Basically my job is to move cargo in and out of the war zone. I also wanted to give an insight into the people who are fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, the motivations and mindset of the people who serve there.”

It is a fast paced book that allows the reader to feel they are part of the battle. The reader is able to experience through Young’s very descriptive narrative the cold, hunger, sleep deprivation, fear, and mental strength that the characters had to go through to survive. He commented that the characters, Parson and Gold, “had a professional partnership. Major Parson is a country boy who has an outdoors skill which he used to help keep himself and Sergeant Gold alive. Sergeant Gold’s skills are the knowledge of the human terrain, the Afghan culture, and the Pashto language. “

Young avoids entangling the characters in a romantic relationship. He skillfully points out that the relationship is based on a professional partnership since, as he notes, “it would not have been realistic for them to form any kind of relationship because they were in too much pain, too tired, and faced too much danger. I never gave Sergeant Gold a first name so that she could keep a certain professional distance.”

The reader is able to understand the theme of the book through the way Young illustrates the challenges and difficulties faced by the service men and women in Afghanistan. His goal was to “show their professionalism and their dedication to the mission.” He definitely does that and more in this powerful, informative, and insightful book.

Koran Burning Church Connected to Fred Phelps?!

Posted By Blackfive • [September 08, 2010]

Apparently there is a connection between the Koran burners in Florida and the military-funeral-protesting jackwagons from Westboro, Kansas:

http://libertypundits.net/article/breaking-quran-burning-church-linked-to-west-baptist-church/

I thought it would be tough for the Dove church folks to amplify their stupidity, but now you have this...

Team Rubicon - Pakistan Update

Posted By Blackfive • [September 08, 2010]

Here's the latest update from Team Rubicon's Pakistan Team Leader, William McNulty:

The Team Rubicon Pakistan mission is in many ways a pilot program for American medical professionals who are apprehensive about working in this country. Over the past few days TR has treated over 2,500 patients in various parts of southern Punjab, an area devastated by the floods and resulting water-borne disease. We treated patients for heat stroke, malaria, multi-drug resistant TB, scabies, boils, diarrhea, and severe dehydration. We were able to reach remote villages because we developed a local partner who facilitated our entry, security, and other logistical needs. Dr. Eduardo Dolhun noted that many of his colleagues wanted to travel to Pakistan but were just too scared to commit. Given the barriers to entry, including fear, I think we’ve proved that developing a trusted local partner – in conjunction with local security forces – is a safe way to bring medical relief to the 20 million plus Pakistani people who have lost their homes due to the flooding crisis. God knows they need it.

William McNulty
Team Leader
TR Pakistan

Be sure to check TR's blog with all of the updates (but a warning, as with Haiti, some of the photos are not for the weak hearted).  When you donate to TR, this is what is done with your hard earned money - TR saves lives.

TR members working with/teaching Pakistani children on how to stay healthy during the floods.

Out of scalpels due to the amount of boils TR has seen. Used 14 gauge needle to lance 3 boils on this girls face. “7 year old girl with multiple boils on her head. Very anxious and screaming when she arrived. Premedicated with augmentin and diazepam” says Dr. Dolhun.

With disease, flooding, and of course, extremist elements, TR is doing the best that they can to help the people of Pakistan.  Go here to read more.

The Danger of Regime Collapse in the DPRK

Posted By Grim • [September 08, 2010]

Our friend and United States Special Forces Colonel David Maxwell appears on this Marine Corps University Panel, discussing the dangers associated with collapse of the Kim family regime in North Korea.  His remarks begin at 25:28, if you are interested in only his portion of a very interesting two-hour program.

The Theater of War

Posted By Uncle Jimbo • [September 08, 2010]

Greyhawk is doing another of his extended exposes, this time about how public perceptions of the war don't match what was actually happening. As always it is extremely informative and well worth your time.

As noted then, the purpose of this series is to examine why the American public's perception of Iraq was so far divorced from the reality on the ground. In part two we looked at the media's own characterization of their coverage through the period of the rapid decline in American combat deaths

A fallen hero is welcomed home

Posted By McQ • [September 08, 2010]

These sorts of stories always bring a tear to my eye anyway, but when you see a town turn out like this to welcome home a fallen hero, well, there’s also a certain welling of pride that comes forward – pride in the fact that most honest, decent Americans still deeply honor and appreciate the sacrifices our military and their families make for us.

 

Thank you Griffin, Georgia. And may God bless LCpl Christopher Blake Rodgers and his family.  Rodgers, a Marine, was killed in action in Afghanistan on September 1st:

As the motorcade left the airport to return to Griffin, the family watched as all southbound traffic on Interstate 75 was halted. Once again, as the procession advanced, many additional vehicles joined in to show respect for Rodgers’ sacrifice.

Still in awe at the outpouring of support in Rodgers’ honor, his family members expressed disbelief as four helicopters also joined the procession, and were unprepared for the sight of nearly every overpass along the route being manned by personnel standing at attention.
Once in Griffin, the motorcade began to pass thousands of people who had turned out to welcome Rodgers home. From the very young to the elderly, many openly cried and waved American flags as the motorcade passed.

While none in his family were prepared for the overwhelming community response, each was thankful that so many chose to honor Rodgers’ ultimate sacrifice.

Read the rest of the story here.

Important Day Coming Up

Posted By Blackfive • [September 07, 2010]

A reminder...

This commercial only played once...during Super Bowl XXXVI on February 3rd, 2002.

...Stand and Never Yield!

Petraeus says Koran burning could endanger troops

Posted By Uncle Jimbo • [September 06, 2010]

A church in Florida is planning to burn some Korans to prove, well I don't know what. I guess that Muslims don't love Jesus. This has Gen. Petraeus concerned.

(CNN) -- The U.S. commander in Afghanistan on Monday criticized a Florida church's plan to burn copies of the Quran on September 11, warning the demonstration "could cause significant problems" for American troops overseas.

"It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort in Afghanistan," Gen. David Petraeus said in a statement issued Monday.

The guy running the church seems to be a really deep thinker too.

In a statement on its website, the Dove World Outreach Center said it plans to burn Qurans "to warn about the teaching and ideology of Islam, which we do hate as it is hateful." Its pastor, Terry Jones, has written a book entitled "Islam is of the Devil," and the church sells coffee mugs and shirts featuring the phrase.

They hate it because it's hateful. I think there has been some cousin lovin' going on in the Dove World Outreach Center. Petraeus is also right, this may cause some trouble for our troops.

But guess what, none of that trumps the First Amendment, so these land apes can burn Korans if that is what gets them to paradise. In the same way that Mr. Bridge Builder has the right to build at Ground Zero these clowns have the right to burn Korans. They just shouldn't. Neither one of them. But the bottom line is we should recognize and uphold the right to the most offensive kinds of speech. And the idea that this should be banned under the concept of "fighting words" is wrong. Tolerance does not mean that we have to accept any cry of offense a group claims rises to that level. Muslims have been pushing their comfort zone further and further. If Piss Christ is OK then Mohammed Bomb Head and Koran burning is too.

UPDATE: The perfect solution

Mr Wolf said...

Let's simply do this:

Burn the Quoran's at the Ground Zero Mosque site.

Everyone's happy.

Wolf

Former soldier surrenders after taking hostages at Ga. hospital - USATODAY.com

Posted By Blackfive • [September 06, 2010]

The Army Major nurse in this article is a HERO.

Not many other details available so let's wait to make any other judgement calls. USAToday - Former soldier surrenders after taking hostages at Ga. hospital:

http://usat.me?39997216

Posted via email from blackfive's posterous

British Chinook in action

Posted By Uber Pig • [September 06, 2010]

The last video I posted of a Chinook pinnacle landing was amazing, from a visual perspective, and got me to searching around on YouTube for more.  And there is plenty more.  But most of it's visual, from air show acrobatics to formations of helicopters doing it Ride of the Valkyries style.  But this video is very much more.  Shot by a British camera crew using a collection of cockpit mounted cameras, it shows a supremely professional crew up close and personal.  Speeding through their preflight checks, nervous because even with Apache support, they know Chinooks are vulnerable to Taliban CSAR traps, and brave because they don't waste a second talking about it.  And sad, because the British Army soldier they were pulling out ended up DOA.  

RIP, Private Chris Gray. 

To watch the video, click this link, as embedding has been disabled on it.

An Advertising Opportunity: And Much More

Posted By Laughing_Wolf • [September 06, 2010]

After the Wedding of the Century yesterday, Blackfive suggested we go public with part of something that we are working on. 

Short version for now, but there is a chance to send one of us on embed for at least three months, and to maybe do some good things for the troops while that is being done.  What we need are advertisers/sponsors who would like to have their organization thanked, linked, and possibly even their logo displayed on every post that goes up here (and maybe even at another well read site).  To sweeten the pot, in addition to Sole, Prime, and Choice advertising/sponsorship opportunities, there is a way to obtain some tax advantages as well.  Finally, above the embed, is the chance to sponsor some special events during that period of time. 

If you are interested in the possibility of being an advertiser/sponsor, drop me a line at wolf1 at laughingwolf dot goes here net and I can send full details including marketing demographics.  

LW

Wow

Posted By Uber Pig • [September 06, 2010]

These guys are nuts.

Iran pays bounties on US dead

Posted By McQ • [September 05, 2010]

Seems to me it is past time to re-clench the fist – this time with a big hammer in it:

Iran is paying Taliban fighters $1,000 for each U.S. soldier they kill in Afghanistan, according to a report in a British newspaper.

The Sunday Times described how a man it said was a "Taliban treasurer" had gone to collect $18,000 from an Iranian firm in Kabul, a reward it said was for an attack in July which killed several Afghan government troops and destroyed an American armored vehicle.

[…]

In addition to the $1,000 bounty on U.S. troops, the unnamed man said Iran paid $6,000 for the destruction of a U.S. military vehicle.

Full story here.