BLACKFIVE: March 2004 Archives

Liberal Radio Network Launches...

Posted By Blackfive

...Blackfive Prediction: That even in an election year, the liberal radio network will be either (1) off the air entirely or (2) be reduced to a tenth tier radio network before the election in November....

Here's more from the New York Times (it's long - I wanted to pull out the relevant parts because NYT has a logon req.):

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March 31, 2004 • Permalink • Comments (10) • TrackBack (0)
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Baathists Send The Wrong Message To Our President

Posted By Blackfive

This is sad news. Four contractors (3 were U.S. citizens) were killed while travelling through Fallujah. Among celebratory Baathist Iraqis, their bodies were beaten, mutilated, and then hung from a bridge before being dragged for miles behind donkey carts. The Iraqi police arrived at the scene 30 minutes after the incident and have, as yet, no suspects.

Continue reading "Baathists Send The Wrong Message To Our President"

March 31, 2004 • Permalink • Comments (32) • TrackBack (3)
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Free Vail Lodging...

Posted By Blackfive

...for returning Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans. Be sure to pass this on to anyone you know who might be eligible (especially, from Ft. Carson).

Operation Freedom Lodging Offers 1,000 Nights to Returning Troops From North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (NNS) -- Vail Resorts in Colorado is offering 1,000 free nights to service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, as part of “Operation Freedom Lodging."

Members from any branch of service who served for 30 or more days in these countries are eligible for up to three consecutive nights of lodging at Vail Resorts-owned and -operated hotels in Breckenridge and Keystone.

“Operation Freedom Lodging is a gesture of our appreciation for the courageous men and women who have been serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Tony Piringer, vice president of hospitality for Vail Resorts.

Qualified service members wishing to make reservations for Operation Freedom Lodging can call: Breckenridge at 1-800 832-3694, and Keystone at 1-800 270-4690. After making reservations, service members must verify their status by faxing a copy of their orders or a letter from their commander or senior enlisted supervisor to Fort Carson Morale, Welfare and Recreation at DSN 691-9453 or (719) 526-9453. Documents may be sent via e-mail to OutdoorInfo@carson.army.mil.

For more information on the verification process, call Fort Carson Morale, Welfare and Recreation at DSN 691-2083 or (719) 526-2083.

March 31, 2004 • Permalink • Comments (0) • TrackBack (0)
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Serbs Put Milosevic On Payroll

Posted By Blackfive

...This is the result of Wesley Clark and Bill Clintons' excellent policy. Unbelievable.

Serbs Award Salary, Perks to Milosevic
By DUSAN STOJANOVIC, Associated Press Writer

BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro - Serbian lawmakers on Tuesday awarded salaries, legal fees and other financial perks to former President Slobodan Milosevic and fellow Serbian war crimes suspects being tried by a U.N. tribunal in the Netherlands.

The new law also would cover travel and mailing expenses incurred by families of the two dozen Serb war crimes suspects currently imprisoned in The Hague.

It was adopted by a 141-35 vote in parliament and illustrates the surge of nationalism in the Balkan republic.
<...>
Since Milosevic is defending himself, the law will pay the fees of his numerous legal advisers. Prison visits by his neo-communist wife, one of the toughest critics of the previous Democratic-led government, and his two children will be paid for by Serbia taxpayers...

I usually don't say things like this, but, maybe, we need to bomb those idiots again.

March 31, 2004 • Permalink • Comments (4) • TrackBack (0)
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Welcome To Our New NATO Members

Posted By Blackfive

"NATO's core mission remains the same: the defense of its members against any aggression. Today, our alliance faces a new enemy, which has brought death to innocent people from New York to Madrid. Terrorists hate everything this alliance stands for. They despise our freedom, they fear our unity, they seek to divide us. They will fail. We will not be divided. We will never bow to the violence of a few ... we will face the mortal danger of terrorism, and we will overcome it together." - President George W. Bush

A big WELCOME to Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. More than 75 years ago, my grandfather left Lithuania after watching the Communists murder his family. He fled to Scotland (where he married a Scottish lass), then America. He's very happy about this - probably drinking krupnik right now.

More about the expansion of NATO here and Pravda's take on it is here.

March 30, 2004 • Permalink • Comments (0) • TrackBack (1)
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Tuesday Blog Stuff

Posted By Blackfive

1. The Commissar has a new map of Africa up at the Politburo Diktat.

2. GeorgeWBush.com has the Kerry Gas Calculator that will give you the cost of a Kerry $.50/gallon tax increase.

3. John Hawkins at Right Wing News has more on the Benedict Arnold issue for John Kerry.

More to follow...

4. Harvey of Bad Money takes a look at the benefits of appeasement.

5. Bill Whittle has Chapter Two up at EjectEjectEject.

March 30, 2004 • Permalink • Comments (2) • TrackBack (0)
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Colonel Aaron Bank

Posted By Blackfive

All of you Special Operations soldiers out there, listen up. Scott sent me an email on the status of Colonel Aaron Bank. The 104 year old soldier's health is deteriorating. The leader of the OSS in WWII and founder of the Special Forces, Col. Bank is being moved to hospice care. Keep the Colonel and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

March 30, 2004 • Permalink • Comments (5) • TrackBack (0)
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SMASH 'EM!

Posted By Blackfive

Smash went to his Congresswoman to talk about enacting legislation to protect Reservists returning to their civilian jobs. Looks like the idea is catching on...

And, he's organizing a Support the Troops rally for April 3rd. If you have experience in organizing rallies, send him some advice.

March 30, 2004 • Permalink • Comments (0) • TrackBack (0)
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French Futility

Posted By Blackfive

James Taranto posts the infamous Frenchman letter with responses from his readers. Check it out.

Milt's File points the way to a Washington Times article about traditional French foods that are more un-healthy than a Big Mac.

As if this news wasn't bad enough for Herr Chirac, his party is getting its collective butt kicked. He's going to have to make cabinet changes based on the losses his party incurred. Not that it would make much of difference, but I wouldn't mind seeing de Villepin given his walking papers.

March 29, 2004 • Permalink • Comments (4) • TrackBack (0)
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Reunion!

Posted By Blackfive

Some of you have read about the Carrasquillo family on this blog (must read link) and have seen the photo blog I put together for them. Bobby Sr. has a web site to honor his two sons - both paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne Division.

Specialist Bobby Carrasquillo, a medic with the 2/325, was wounded in Iraq.

Private First Class Alex Carrasquillo, a Scout with the 3/505th, hit the Green Ramp at Pope AFB at 9:30AM on Saturday. Safe and sound.

It's 10AM and I am going to have a drink (hey, I'm on vacation) in honor of the Carrasquillo family.

To a great American family,

All the way, boys, ALL THE WAY!

March 29, 2004 • Permalink • Comments (3) • TrackBack (0)
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The Blog of War

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The Authors

Blackfive
Former Paratrooper and Army Officer, "Blackfive" started this blog upon learning of the valorous sacrifice of a friend that was not reported by the journalist whose life he saved.
Email: blackfive AT gmail DOT com
Jim Hanson
Retired Special Operations Master Sergeant, Jim Hanson ("Uncle Jimbo") is now focused on writing about the military, politics, intelligence operations and foreign policy.
Email: jimbo AT unclejimbo DOT com
The Laughing Wolf
Writer, photographer, and raconteur C. Blake Powers is the Laughing Wolf. He is independent in politics and covers topics including journalism, military, weapons, preparedness, space, science, cooking, food and wine, product and book reviews, and even spirituality.
Email: wolf1 AT laughingwolf DOT net
Laughing Wolf's Amazon Wish List
Grim Beorn
Grim -- an Old Norse name that means 'one who wears a mask' -- blogs on issues of intelligence, information operations, and foreign relations.
Email: grimbeornr AT yahoo DOT com
Pinch Paisley
Instapinch Bill Paisley, otherwise known as Pinch, is a 22 year (ongoing) active and reserve naval aviator. He blogs over at www.instapinch.com on a veritable cornucopia of various and sundry items and will bring a tactical naval aviator's perspective to Blackfive. Readers be warned: any comments of or about the F-14 Tomcat will be reverential and spoken in low, hushed tones.
Email: wpaisley AT comcast DOT net
Mr. Wolf
Mr. Wolf has over 26 years in the Army, Army NG, and USAR. He’s Airborne with 5 years as an NCO, before becoming an officer. Mr. Wolf has had 4 company commands. Signal Corp is his basic branch, and Public Affairs is his functional area. He recently served 22 straight months in Kuwait and Iraq, in Intel, PA, and senior staff of MNF-I. Mr. Wolf is now an IT executive. He is currently working on a book on media and the Iraq war. Functional gearhead.

In Iraq, he received the moniker of Mr. Wolf after the Harvey Kietel character in Pulp Fiction, when "challenges" arose, they called on Mr. Wolf...
Email: TheDOTMrDOTWolfAT gmail DOT com
Deebow
Deebow is a Staff Sergeant and a Military Police Squad Leader in the Army National Guard. In a previous life, he served in the US Navy. He has over 19 years of experience in both the Maritime and Land Warfare; including deployments to Southwest Asia, Thailand, the South Pacific, South America and Egypt. He has served as a Military Police Team Leader and Protective Services Team Leader and he has served on assignments with the US State Department, US Air Force Security Police, US Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the US Drug Enforcement Administration. He recently spent time in Afghanistan working with, training and fighting alongside Afghan Soldiers and is now focused on putting his 4 year Political Science degree to work by writing about foreign policy, military security policy and politics.
McQ
McQ has 28 years active and reserve service. Retired. Infantry officer. Airborne and Ranger. Consider my 3 years with the 82nd as the most fun I ever had with my clothes on. Interests include military issues and policy and veteran's affairs.
Email: mcq51 -at - bellsouth -dot- net
Crush

Chris Carter is a former USAF firefighter and now civilian firefighter who covers military history, national security, and baseball. Find out more at his website.

Twitter: @CrushingChris
EMAIL: crushnik AT yahoo DOT com
Tantor

Tantor is a former USAF navigator/weapon system officer (WSO) in F-4E Phantoms who served in the US, Asia, and Europe. He is now a curmudgeonly computer geek in Washington, DC, picking the taxpayers pocket. His avocations are current events, aviation, history, and conservative politics.
Long Tab Sig O
Twenty-three years of Active and Reserve service in the US Army in SF (18B), Infantry and SOF Signal jobs with operational deployments to Bosnia and Africa. Since retiring he's worked as Senior Defense Analyst on SOF and Irregular Warfare projects and currently ensconced in the emerging world of Cyberspace.

The Authors Emeritus

Major Pain
Major Pain -- A Marine who began his blog in Iraq and reflects back on what he learned there and in Afghanistan. To the point opinions, ideas and thoughts on military, political and the media from One Marine’s View.
Email: onemarinesview AT yahoo DOT com
Froggy
Froggy is 21 year Navy SEAL corpsman and vet of the War on Terror. Follow Froggy on Twitter @FroggyRuminates
Driven
"Driven" is an OIF vet, Sergeant and team Leader in the 82nd Airborne Division...
Uber Pig
Uber Pig was an Infantryman from late 1991 until early 1996, serving with Second Ranger Battalion, I Corps, and then 25th Infantry Division. At the time, the Army discriminated against enlisted soldiers who wanted use the "Green to Gold" program to become officers, so he left to attend Stanford University. There, he became expert in detecting, avoiding, and surviving L-shaped ambushes, before dropping out to be as entrepreneurial as he could be. He is now the founder of a software startup serving the insurance and construction industries, and splits time between Lake Tahoe, Boonville, and San Francisco, CA.

Uber Pig writes for Blackfive a) because he's the proud brother of an enlisted Civil Affairs Reservist who currently serves in Iraq, b) because he looks unkindly on people who make it harder for the military in general, and for his brother in particular, to succeed at their missions and come home in victory, and c) because the Blackfive readers and commenters help keep him sane.

Email: enlisted swine (at) gmail (dot) com.
COB6
COB6 spent 24 years in the active duty Army that included 5 combat tours with service in the 1st Ranger Battalion and 1st Special Forces Group . COB6 was enlisted (E-7) and took the OCS route to a commission. COB6 retired a few years back as a field grade Infantry officer. Currently COB6 has a son in the 82nd Airborne that just returned from his third tour and has a newly commissioned daughter in the 4th Infantry Division.
Subsunk
Subsunk is a retired US Navy Submarine Officer.