One goes up, one goes down

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

Courtesy of the Donovan we hear that we have lost a good man.

PFC Ray Jacobs, who helped raise the flag on Iwo Jima died today. He moves on to a better place, one of glory.

As John Says:

Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance, In Memoriam.

Well we have another dance we do here and it has to do with something similar to what PFC Jacobs was doing on Iwo, killing bad guys.

Today we also learn that a murderous dog took a rocket sled to hell, as an al Qaeda "mastermind" and a dozen or so other deserving souls were mertilized in  Waziristan. That's right we are now in the business of confirming we will whack bad guys inside Pakistan. This could have been done with drones only, but we have been increasing our cross-border ops and capabilities so it wouldn't surprise me if some fellas were sitting on a hill somewhere waiting to see if al-Libi was dumb enough to come by. Yep, he was.

"ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - One of al-Qaida's top figures, Abu Laith al-Libi, has been killed in Pakistan, an Islamist Web site announced Thursday. Pakistani officials and residents said a dozen people, including seven Arabs, died in a missile strike in northwestern Pakistan near the Afghan border."

That counts as excellent news and so we will have the dead tangos dance, which doesn't yet have a theme song.

Canadian Navy in the Arabian Sea

Posted By Blackfive

An approach team, on the right, from HMCS Charlottetown pulls alongside the fishing dhow Al Rahman in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Pakistan. The dhow’s captain told the Canadian's Arabic interpreter that he had just run out of gas. He would have had enough fuel to return to his home port if he had not shared his supply with another dhow he found in distress a few days before. In compliance with the Safety Of Life At Sea Convention, HMCS Charlottetown topped up the dhow’s tanks to ensure it would make port safely. As members of the maritime community, Canada’s sailors are always ready to provide life-saving assistance to fellow mariners on the high seas. HMCS Charlottetown is deployed for six months in the Persian Gulf-Arabian Sea region on Operation ALTAIR, Canada’s maritime contribution to the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism known as Operation Enduring Freedom. The frigate was conducting a maritime security patrol when the distress message was received.  Date Taken: January 24th, 2008.  Location: Northern Arabian Sea, PK.  Photographer: Canadian Forces Cpl Robert LeBlanc, National Defence Canada.

Sergeant Tyson Regier - Someone You Should Know

Posted By Blackfive Marquette, Neb. native Sgt. Tyson Regier, of B Troop, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne Division, poses with members of the Iraqi National Police prior to a joint patrol in the Sadr City area of Baghdad in an undated photo. Regier has been nominated for the Soldier’s Medal for his heroic attempt to rescue a fellow Soldier trapped in a burning humvee in June 2007. (Photo/Sgt. Tyson Regier)

Here's a good story, again from Staff Sergeant Mike Pryor, about a Paratrooper Team Leader who saved the life of one of his men.:

Heroic Rescue Puts Paratrooper in Line for the Soldier’s Medal
By Staff Sgt. Mike Pryor
2nd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. Public Affairs

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Usually, Soldiers possess better moods on payday. One non-commissioned officer uses payday to help motivate Soldiers.

Sgt. Tyson Regier enjoyed giving his Soldiers’ spirits a lift by reminding them to check their bank accounts.

One payday turned to be a very bad day; almost costing Rieger and his team their lives.

Regier, 22, a scout with BTroop, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd BCT, 8nd Airborne Division, was conducting a joint patrol with the Iraqi National Police in Baghdad’s Sadr City area on the ides of June in 2007.

Regier was acting as the truck commander of the last humvee in the convoy. The rest of his crew consisted of Spc. Ryan Aberle in the turret, Pfc. Sergio Chavez driving, and Pfc. Michael Beaumont in the rear passenger seat. As they began cruising the Baghdad streets, Regier didn’t detect anything out of the ordinary.

“It started off as just a routine patrol,” said the Marquette, Neb. native.

In an instant, that all changed.

One minute he was watching people walk by on the sidewalk, and the next minute his truck was ripped apart by an explosion.

“I looked back, and I could see the street behind me, because the entire back (of the vehicle) was gone,” he said.

Regier’s humvee had been hit by an improvised explosive device. The blast had crumpled the vehicle, flattening the back end and setting it on fire.

Flames began spreading inside the vehicle, setting off the truck’s supply of extra .50 cal machine gun ammunition. To the crew, it seemed as if they were under heavy fire. Regier knew he had to get out of the vehicle, but his door wouldn’t budge. There was a small opening a few inches wide where the blast had bowed the door away from the frame. It was so tight Regier had to remove his body armor in order to wriggle out. With an effort, he squeezed his way out through the hole and dropped to the ground...

Continue reading "Sergeant Tyson Regier - Someone You Should Know"

Fighting Storms in Afghanistan and at Home

Posted By Blackfive

Many of you know SC Eagle at A Storm in Afghanistan.  For those not in know, he was called home on a Red Cross when his wife discovered that she had breast cancer which had spread to her brain - she had terminal cancer.  They have three children.

Here is the link to the post about their discovery - My Hardest Post.

...and he told us that all of his tests had come out negative for any problems. And he believed that she really was having these problems. He showed us the MRI of her head. And then he showed us the tumors.

The breast cancer has metastisized to her brain. There are tumors in her brain. Brain cancer.
<...>
We drove home... numb, but with things we had to do.

Friday, we went back for more tests. We had x-rays, and another MRI, this time of the spine.
<...>
The news is this. There are eleven tumors in her brain. If you were to divide her brain into quadrants, then at least two of the tumors would be as large as the quadrant. There are also metastatic tumors in her lungs (again).

So, we have breast cancer, lung cancer, and brain cancer. And like the neurologist told us, while the situation is not hopeless, it is extremely serious. If we do nothing at all, she likely has no more than a few months.

What Now?

What now... That's the question we've been facing for the last several days. We've come to the acceptance that within a year, I'll likely be a single father. By acceptance, I don't mean to imply happiness or anything like that. More like many, many tears.

We have cried a lot. All of our hopes, dreams, and plans... well, those seem out the window now.

Everything we do now is seen through the prism of the cancer. Wondering what we can do to preserve her for the children. Crying over how young the children are and if they'll remember her.

It's been a long weekend. We're getting ready for her surgery.

My unit has been extremely supportive. My 1SG is amazing, and as my Commander spelled out to me, my place of duty is my family. The rest of the chain of command, likewise.

And now, we just try to go day by day.

She passed away on December 31st, 2006.  This is from SC's post about her - Pain, No More:

Ellicia died today. 3:20 PM. It was a long day, but the end was... peaceful. And heart-wrenching. She was told it was ok to go... but, she's stubborn you know...

She's gone now.  No more of the horrible hideous pain... for her.

Rest, in peace, my love... my friend... my companion. I will always love you... and I miss you more than you know. I am so happy you hurt no more, but I am selfish for one last twinkly smile, one last laugh, one last kiss.

You were a beautiful, strong, incredible woman whom I was blessed to know and share some time with. I will miss all that we left undone together, yet I look forward to what will come - one day.

I love you, Ellicia.

And now SC Eagle is asking for your help to combat breast cancer.  He is going to do the annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.  Those of you who know me know that the fight against breast cancer is a personal one for me.  I am asking you to support my pal SC Eagle by donating to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.  You can visit the blog or go straight to the Avon Walk site that SC Eagle set up as a tribute to his wife, Ellicia.

You can also go here and see how to join the fight against breast cancer.

For Ellicia and all women...

Further proof politicians are swine

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

Red-faced reprobate Bill Clinton has been busy with other things than reminding voters of Obama's melanin levels. Apparently he has had time to jet round the world undermining US foreign policy and his wife's political posturing in order to fatten up that legacy machine. Apparently Bill is a big player in the Uranium mining world (wonder if he's been to Niger).

Late on Sept. 6, 2005, a private plane carrying the Canadian mining financier Frank Giustra touched down in Almaty, a ruggedly picturesque city in southeast Kazakhstan. Several hundred miles to the west a fortune awaited: highly coveted deposits of uranium that could fuel nuclear reactors around the world. And Mr. Giustra was in hot pursuit of an exclusive deal to tap them.

Unlike more established competitors, Mr. Giustra was a newcomer to uranium mining in Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic. But what his fledgling company lacked in experience, it made up for in connections. Accompanying Mr. Giustra on his luxuriously appointed MD-87 jet that day was a former president of the United States, Bill Clinton......

Just months after the Kazakh pact was finalized, Mr. Clinton’s charitable foundation received its own windfall: a $31.3 million donation from Mr. Giustra that had remained a secret until he acknowledged it last month. The gift, combined with Mr. Giustra’s more recent and public pledge to give the William J. Clinton Foundation an additional $100 million, secured Mr. Giustra a place in Mr. Clinton’s inner circle, an exclusive club of wealthy entrepreneurs in which friendship with the former president has its privileges.....

"Both Mr. Clinton and Mr. Giustra at first denied that any such meeting occurred. Mr. Giustra also denied ever arranging for Kazakh officials to meet with Mr. Clinton. Wednesday, after The Times told them that others said a meeting, in Mr. Clinton's home, had in fact taken place, both men acknowledged it."

Really, there is a shocker. Here is an example of disrespecting the troops by VA Rep Moran, who decides since the service member didn't phrase his statement as a question he is free to ignore him. Chuck Z noted this Alex Trebek usurpation and was righteously pissed. Remember Sir Charles has a salty tongue and some new meds, so he is in fine form. Here is the vid of Moran and shockingly seated next to him is the Lummox Murtha. Get some SGT Seavy.

Add in the Maverick acting like a cranky old jerk in the debate and if I see a politician today they may take one to the mouth bone.

Not to forget that pundit types are scum as well Steve Sailer makes the following observation about McCain's competence.

Will McCain, who finished 894th out of 899 at the Naval Academy and who lost five jets, return competence to the White House?

What a jackass you are Sailer you pitiful sad little scribbler. I know Sailer not at all, he appears to write book and movie reviews. I guess never having had the stones to strap yourself into a cockpit and fly into the kind of shite that will get 5 planes blown out from under you, you still feel fine making fun of it. F**k you, you little punk. Talk about his politics all you want, but shut your festering gob when you reach warrior issues, you aren't a big enough boy to do that.

Is there a way not to get pissed off about this?

Posted By Deebow

OK, I am going to guess that is a rhetorical question...(h/t MM)

Members of the Berkeley City Council showed their opposition to a Marine Corps recruiting office in Downtown Berkeley last night.

Council members supported the two resolutions-one supporting anti-war protests and the other criticizing military recruitment practices-citing opposition to the war in Iraq, deceptive recruitment practices and the right to protest.

“By taking a stand against recruitment we are protecting the health and safety of our youth,” said PhoeBe sorgen, a member of the Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission. “I see the protest as taking a proud and courageous stand.”

Code Pink, a national anti-war grassroots organization, will be granted a parking spot for their regular Wednesday afternoon protests and will not need to apply for a sound permit for the next six months, under one resolution.

The other resolution more directly criticizes the presence of the center in Berkeley. The city manager was directed to send a letter to the U.S. Marine Corps saying they are “uninvited and unwelcome intruders” in the city.

In addition, the city attorney has been directed to investigate whether the city’s anti-discrimination laws can be enforced at the center, based on the military’s consideration of sexual orientation in hiring.

Marine recruiters did not return calls for comment yesterda

Thankfully, Move America Forward is spreading the word on this atrocity.  Many thanks to them for their continued efforts to counter these oxygen thieves who are stealing the air of someone who could use it to be more productive.

Here is what my plan of action would be...

Continue reading "Is there a way not to get pissed off about this?"

In the Crosshairs- Is Nancy Pelosi "Tom Cruise" Crazy?

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

This episode of "In the Crosshairs" examines Nancy Pelosi's nonsensical statements about progress in Iraq such as:

"The president's comments last night in his speech were yet again another example of the lack of reality that he brings to this discussion," Mrs. Pelosi told reporters on Capitol Hill. "For a president of the United States to come before the Congress nearly five years after this war [began] and deem it a success is just hard to understand."

She has even dumber and more deranged comments that ask the question is she approaching the Cruise zone of bats**t crazy.

Dates for VFF National Heroes Tour

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

Vets for Freedom has announced the dates for their National Heroes Tour. We will soon make an announcement about Blackfive's involvement with this excellent operation.

 

Nationwide Tour will Honor America’s Heroes
Supporting our troops and the missions in Iraq & Afghanistan

SAVE THE DATES
March 14-April 9

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                    
January 30, 2008

Tour Media Contact: Sanda M Pecina
(703) 967-2676
media@vetsforfreedom.org

Vets for Freedom Media Contact: Judy Mayka
(202) 338-4070                                                                                                                                                                                              
judy@vetsforfreedom.org         
WHO/WHAT:  The Vets for Freedom National Heroes Tour (NHT) is a coast-to-coast bus tour aimed at honoring America’s heroes, men and women who risk their lives by having served—and currently serving—in the armed forces, and their families. The tour also provides an opportunity for the community to show its support and commitment to completing the job in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Highly-decorated veterans from across the country will be carrying their personal stories and message to the American public in 15 states and Washington, D.C. Each of these heroes has an incredible story to tell, and will be recounting his experience in Iraq and Afghanistan while speaking about his commitment to success there. Three participants have published books about their experiences, and many others have noteworthy stories, including:

* David Bellavia—author of House to House (a memoir about house-to-house combat in Iraq), recipient of the Silver Star, and nominee for the Medal of Honor.

* Marcus Luttrell—recipient of the Navy Cross and sole survivor of a mission in which four Navy SEALS were sent into a Taliban stronghold on the Afghan-Pakistan border; Luttrell was badly injured yet managed to escape enemy capture and later author the New York Times best-selling book Lone Survivor.

* Marco Martinez—recipient of the Navy Cross for heroic action on the battlefield in Iraq and author of Hard Corps, Martinez was involved in gang activity in Los Angeles and joined the Marine Corps to straighten out his life. 

* Steve Russell—recipient of the Bronze Star medal with Valor Device for his actions in Iraq; Lieutenant Colonel Russell led the battalion responsible for the capture of Saddam Hussein.

In addition, the NHT heroes will be meeting with local heroes—veterans and their families—in each state.

WHEN:  March 14 – April 9.  Dates and event locations will be released prior to the event.

WHERE:   From San Diego to Washington, DC,—and New York, NY—and points between.  A rally in San Diego honoring veterans and their families will kick off the tour on March 14.  After making 21 stops in several states, the tour will culminate in a major media event in Washington, DC, on April 8. There will be satellite media interviews available that morning with Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who will participate in the event.
HOW:  See contact info above, or go to www.vetsforfreedom.org/heroestour for more information.

President McCain or President Obama?

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

This goes out to Michelle Malkin, Hugh Hewitt, Rush Limbaugh and the rest of those who now have the peasants all pitch-forked and torched up ready to take out the Maverick.

Since I am not a Republican or a conservative my advice may not mean all that much to you, but c'est la vie. Heck if Sarkozy can help the French make nice with the US, maybe a libertarian-leaning hawk can roost with true movement conservatives.

I am asking all of you to chill out and quit fanning conservative hate of John McCain. You can feature reader email outraged that the shamnesty King will destroy us all, but you all have spent months stoking those fires and made sure he was damaged goods.

So time to decide what's important to you, ideological purity or making sure we are not subjected to 8 years of President Obama. You can complain all you want about McCain's shortcomings, but how does he shape up against a true movement progressive. Obama's policies would be right at home here in the Mad City and unless Republicans field a candidate who can beat him, we will watch the socialism train travel around the country.

I wish Mitt Romney were a more compelling candidate, he would win any interview for the job of President conducted by a competent executive search committee. But the fact is he comes across as a conservative Ken doll and the only people he inspires are insiders. I agree with him on more policies than I do with McCain, but I also believe Obama would beat him and that matters more. I have to compare the damage a naive tool like Obama could do to our foreign policy, not to mention the progressive destruction of individual rights domestically.

So answer this one simple question before the next time you decide to hammer the Maverick, President McCain or President Obama?

Something we should have done to kick this whole thing off...

Posted By Deebow

This guy could be considered "urban renewal" in what is to become the new battlefield in the ATO.

It is about time if you ask me.

We should have been all over this with conventional forces in the beginning and not relied upon our Afghan brothers in the beginning to get this done without us.

The other thing we need to do is decide how we plan on proceeding and whether or not it is going to be like this  or if we are going to act like this.

"American special forces have carried out clandestine operations in the past, and Pakistan was not informed. The Taliban and al-Qaeda also did not realize what was happening with the quick-as-a-wink hit-and-run operations in the tribal areas."

This may be news to some, and I can't go into detail, but this has been happening for some time and knowing the ISI, it is probably good that we keep them in the dark as much as possible.

"However, with the new Kunar base, American special forces will carry out extended operations, which means a limited war against Taliban and al-Qaeda assets in the tribal areas. These clandestine operations can be done with or without Pakistan's consent."

And there are some very good reasons why this will become a new and interesting center of gravity in the Eastern Sector.

US intelligence spotted bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, twice in Bajaur Agency and attacked the area with Predator drones. Zawahiri was unscathed, but several militants and civilians were killed. Local Taliban sources tell Asia Times Online that Zawahiri had been moving in the area for more than 30 hours before he was spotted and targeted. Apparently, he was to meet with bin Laden.

Cry Havoc! And Let Slip the Dogs of War!

Embed report from Iraq, & GI Bill Stimulus

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

Here is a slideshow from Military.com's Christian Lowe who has been embedded in Iraq and reporting on the progress all are making.

And the Army Times has picked up on IAVA's call for a new GI Bill to stimulate the ecomomy. Makes sense to me, but don't hold that against the idea.

Stuck in the middle

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

I am going to have to retrench myself in the screw 'em all position as far as supporting any political candidates for national office. I had hope for the Fred, but he campaigned like the Sleepy Bear Jamboree at Disneyworld, the Maverick has taken to lying about Romney's reasonable statements about Iraq and acting crotchety. I have no beef with Romney, but he seems such a chiseled from conservative proto-flesh android he puts me off. I know Romney's a wonderful man but no one right of the right is going to vote for him.

So, clowns to the left, jokers to the right, same as it ever was. I guess I should support Hillary, because I can be much meaner to her as President than I can to the lightweight from Ill a nwah. I'm done snivelin' now and will atone for this weakness by doing a mean video about Hillary and Obama.

Someone You Should Know...

Posted By Deebow

As the guy on the right there standing next to the Marine...

This man is Dr. Bill Kristoff, now to be addressed as LCDR Krissoff, United States Navy Medical Corps.

His story should give anyone who is getting on in years and thinks they have no more contributions to make some pause and reflection on what exactly they can still do to make the world a better place.

The story, over at InstaPinch is truly inspiring.

Dr. Bill Krissoff was commissioned Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Medical Corps on November 17, 2007, at the age of 61. His decision to apply to the Navy Medical Corps to care for Marines came in response to the death of his oldest son. In December 2006, his son First Lieutenant Nathan Krissoff, USMC, who was serving as a Counterintelligence Officer with the 3rd Recon Battalion in Iraq, was killed in combat.

Inspired by his son’s commitment and dedication to serving his country, Dr. Krissoff decided to apply himself. Initially told by his recruiter that it was very unlikely that he would qualify because of the age limit, Dr. Krissoff did not give up. 

I will say that again for those in the cheap seats; Dr. Krissoff did not give up.

Continue reading "Someone You Should Know..."

SOTU- The line W came to deliver

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

He just made it worth listening to. He led up to it beautifully, and he delivered it with strength.

Ladies and gentlemen, some may deny the surge is working, but among the terrorists there is no doubt. Al Qaida is on the run in Iraq, and this enemy will be defeated.

That says why I voted for him twice just fine. He has always been fighting a long war and I thank him for that.

CJTF-82 No free speech for Dutch politician Wilders

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

I am stunned by something I just read at the CJTF- 82 website. Before you read what I think, go read what they posted on an official US military website.

Whoever is responsible for writing this and posting it on their site is so far off the reservation I can't believe it happened. In the barest terms we have the operational staff of a US combat unit telling a Dutch politician that he might want to cut back on exercising his free speech rights.

WTF? Once again this is US officers writing an Op-Ed on an official military site calling an allied politician and his followers fanatics.

While Wilders and the Party for Freedom stir the hate by blaming an entire religion for the actions of extremists, they also attract more of their own “fanatical” followers, increasing their own power.  The headlines that resulted from the violence, the fear generated in communities around the world, an increase in “suicide bomber recruiting” all further the terrorist’s goals.

If that doesn't chill your blood I don't know what will. I can't think of a single way this could possibly be kosher and I am more worried that somehow an attitude that would produce such sentiments would be allowed to fester. Let me be perfectly clear to those deluded folks who put this out. It is not now, nor will it ever be the job of the 82nd Freakin' Airborne to write ill-advised, ignorantly-reasoned, and UCMJ & Constitutionally non-compliant, polemics about the free exercise of speech by the politicians of our allies or our enemies for that matter. Your job is to conduct military operations in support of national security objectives. I realize the State Dept sucks Hoover, tough shite, they shouldn't be appeasing the Religion of Perpetual Outrage either. Which moves me to the important point.

The folks at CJTF-82 seem to think the world should adapt to the sensibilities of those who can kill over cartoons. Sorry there gentlemen you have that exactly bass-ackwards, they must adapt to a world that reserves the right to mock your god or anyone's. Geert Wilders is doing exactly what these confused officers swore to protect and defend. It may make it more difficult as you attempt to balance kinetic operations, counter-insurgency and cultural sensitivity, but tough shite. You don't start telling our friends what to do with their own freedoms.

I am not in any way interested in learning how I can live the rest of my life without somehow crossing one of the barbaric, arbitrary and yet fatwa and murder-worthy outrage lines they have drawn in the sand. Matter of fact I am interested in purposely causing outrage from time to time to make sure people understand, in a free country the right to cause outrage trumps the right to claim offense and silence or sanction me. Mark Steyn is suffering the fate the staff at CJTF-82 contemplates for all who might offend the local populace they must work with.

One more time with emphasis, freedom isn't free and we know you pay the hefty fee, but stick to your job.

SOTU preview- What a difference a year makes

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

I just finished a blogger's conference call with Brett McGurk, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Iraq and Afghanistan. He previewed the portions of the President's speech tonight dealing with those two countries. He noted that the President was going to invite Congress back one year when they  were howling for withdrawal and declaring the war lost. He will remind them that he told them of a change in strategy to Counter-Insurgency (COIN) and that he sent additional troops to help implement this policy. Then he gets to pull the judo throw of contrasting last year with our current situation.

Heck I spoke with Andrew Lubin from Camp Victory today and he is working on getting himself to Afghanistan so he has something to write about. Now that doesn't mean we have won in Iraq, far from it and that will be the President's point. We have made tremendous strides in security and even the start of some political progress with the Re-Baathification bill, but this is a Long War and we need to finish strong. Did you hear me Obama?

Pete Hegseth of Vets for Freedom also has some SOTU preview thoughts.

(Washington, DC) Last year, President Bush used his State of the Union address to make the case for a “surge” in Iraq, in order to regain the offensive and defeat Al-Qaeda.  One year later, sectarian attacks and deaths in Baghdad have decreased more than 90%, Iraqi civilian casualties have dropped 75% throughout the country, and monthly coalition casualties have dropped dramatically.  Political progress has sprung up at the local level, and national-level reconciliation is beginning to take place.  Without this bold move—and bold speech—America would not be succeeding in Iraq today.

As the President prepares to address the nation tonight, and as the brave men and women who wear our nation’s uniform continue to pursue victory in Iraq, Afghanistan, and all the battlefields of the Global War on Terror, Vets for Freedom proudly supports the Commander-in-Chief as he continues to do everything he can to pursue a more peaceful world, and a more secure America

Continue reading "SOTU preview- What a difference a year makes"

Leadership: Top to Bottom

Posted By Subsunk

Today there are a couple of items which caught my eye. Leadership is one of my favorite subjects. Men and Women who have what it takes to stick it out, in hard times and good times, to achieve the mission in various conventional and non conventional ways.  People who have what it takes to make an example of themselves and lead by that example.

Worlds are changed in such ways by these folks. Those who know me, know that I believe the way to change anti-American behavior by nations, when all other actions have been tried unsuccessfully, is to show our enemies the American Fighting Man and place him squarely on the necks of our enemies. There is no finer ambassador of the United States than the American GI with an M-16 in one hand and candy in the other. Europe and Japan, indeed all the World of the 1940s and 50s, was changed by just those types of Men.

The first post to catch my eye was Michael Totten's current post on Fallujah. The Men of the Marine Corps and the Iraqi Police Transition Teams have done wonders in that place. There is no better example of what it takes to change radical Islamic culture than this post. In order to change the Islamic/Arab/South Side Snake Handler (or whomever the enemies of America will end up being)mindset that America is evil, and the source of all that is wrong in the world, you give them the example of your average American neighbor, proficient at his job, willing to teach others his skills, compassionate and understanding, but firm in his convictions that you have to do the right thing....even when no one else is looking. Mr. Totten's post is full of examples of Marines and Texas National Guardsmen, and even courageous upstanding Iraqis who are dragging their world out of the Stone Age and towards the 21st Century. (The Iraqis are in the 18th or 19th century in some cases, but that is better than the 7th century AD, ain't it?)  Read all of this one.

Next, I saw the post at Gateway Pundit of the family that fights together, winning together. This Mom and Son story demonstrates that the average American who is willing to take matters into their hands and act on what needs to be done, is what makes Leaders in our country. And members of our military have all volunteered to serve their country since 9-11, making them the finest examples of Leadership in the face of adversity and war, in our country. Mom must be a right tough thing if she can join up when Junior joins up, and serve beside him in the worst places in the world right now. And she is just the latest example of patriotic Americans to do so.

Finally, at the top, is a story about how Leadership is frequently a lonely business. Sometimes you just have to know your way is right, and despite every naysayer in the world, you have to insist on Victory instead of walking away from a bad situation. It is eye-opening just how many of his advisors were ready to give up on the Iraqis and allow them to participate in a killing frenzy until they had worn themselves and their culture to a nubbin, just because no one, (except this Leader) thought that Winning was possible. It appears there were very few who thought winning was possible, and almost none inside the administration.

Men like Sir Winston Churchill knew that failure in the face of tyranny and evil, was not an option. The very existence of their country and their way of life depended on hanging on when everyone else was defeated, demoralized, and/or dead. Whatever you feel about this Man, you cannot deny he is a Leader. You may not like the way he leads or where he leads, but the final judgment that matters is whether he was correct and victorious in the end, or whether he gave up because too many cowards, skeptics, and laissez faire strategists said the job couldn't be done.

And then, we all hope fervently, he will be remembered as the Man who took the job which couldn't be done, ..... and just did it.

Subsunk

Carhartt, Inc. Will Help Paratroopers to Stay Warm in Afghanistan

Posted By Blackfive

Via Concrete Bob, TankerBabe writes about a company that deserves our thanks for supporting paratroopers in Afghanistan:

...Now, about one week later, we have learned that Carhartt, Inc. is donating 750 pairs of heavy weight thermal underwear and 5,000 pairs of wool hiking socks to the 173rd, 2-503.  Their donation exceeded our requested amounts. 

I hope all of you reading this will join us in thanking Carhartt, Inc. for their more than generous donation.  Additionally I hope that you will go to their website or to any retail store that sells their durable, warm and comfortable clothing and order from them the next time you need the type of clothes and accessories they manufacture and sell.  Carhartt, Inc. didn't have to choose to make a donation at all and they certainly didnt' have to make one the size they did.  They asked what the NEED was and we told them.  As a result they fulfilled the entire need. 

The Sky Soldiers have been notified and are overwhelmed by the generosity they have received from each of you and will be receiving from Carhartt, Inc.. While our brave Warriors are fighting the difficult fight on the front lines it takes all of us working together as a team in order to accomplish the mission...

More over at TankerBabe's place.

[You can send Carhartt a thank you note at this site.]

The Public Editor Responds to "Trail of Death" Caused by Veterans

Posted By Blackfive

The New York Times Public Editor responds to accusations from us about their "War Torn" series:

...The Times was immediately accused — in The New York Post and the conservative blogosphere, and by hundreds of messages to the public editor — of portraying all veterans as unstable killers. It did not.

But, the first article used colorfully inflated language — “trail of death” — for a trend it could not reliably quantify, despite an attempt at statistical analysis using squishy numbers. The article did not make clear what its focus was. Was it about killer vets, or about human tragedies involving a system that sometimes fails to spot and treat troubled souls returning from combat?

Finally, while many of the 121 cases found by The Times appeared clearly linked to wartime stresses, others seemed questionable. One involved a Navy Seabee accused of arranging her ex-husband’s murder during a bitter child custody battle, and another involved a soldier who was acquitted of reckless homicide in a car crash after a jury concluded that his blood alcohol level was below the legal limit and that many other accidents had happened on the same stretch of road...

The end of the piece discusses the motivations of the reporters - concern for veterans returning from a war zone.  As all of us know, the system doesn't work very well and many vets are not cared for.  There are lots of reasons for this - and certainly there are very many dedicated people in the VA trying to help - but the VA needs money and, most likely, a new plan.  A "Surge" for veterans care, if you will.

I, for one, believe the New York Times reporters were concerned about the vets.  But I am also inclined to believe that they were pushing a stereotype, one that began with Viet Nam vets, and their stories fit their own mental narratives.  Obviously, I cannot prove that.  But it does ring true for anyone who's experienced that kind of bias before - "Soldiers and Dogs Keep Off the Grass".

In the end, I think we can all agree that war sucks, it affects everyone, and that our vets deserve all of the support that we can afford to give.  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) are NOT being addressed at the level that they need to be addressed.  I don't know anyone who believes that our veterans are being effectively treated.  No. One.

One of you readers sent me a very compelling email but asked me to withhold it.  Bottom-line:  If you have a lot of veterans who have been trained to kill and they are all very likely to become unhinged, there would be a lot more murders than less than 121.

If you've been around here long enough, you know that I've tried to help a few returning vets who've wound up in prison.  In most cases, they did the crime and need to do the time, but they also need support to help them recover (they don't get medical and mental support they need in prison).

To be fair to the New York Times, I reached out to the reporters, Lizette Alvarez and Deborah Sontag, and I'll put the reply from Lizette Alvarez after the Jump.   

Continue reading "The Public Editor Responds to "Trail of Death" Caused by Veterans"

A Nation's Flight of Honor

Posted By Blackfive

Russ Vaughn reminds us that many of the WWII vets have not seen their own memorial on the Mall.  His first post about the issue is from 2006 and is a must read.  It's a call to action to get the vets to DC to see it.  Now, there is a group taking up the challenge.

A Nation’s Flight of Honor

 

Think of it this way: there’s a terrible epidemic raging which is taking 1200 American lives every day; no cure exists but there is a palliative treatment available which makes the passing of these thousands much less painful, affording them a way to go to their graves with a sense of fulfillment, a sense that, yes, they really did make a difference. Knowing this, would you want to see more of these 36,000 Americans who are dying every month have access to such palliation to ease their passing?

 

Of course you would and there is a way you can. These legions of dying are our WWII veterans, most, like my father-in-law, are now octogenarians, very fortunate octogenarians to be sure, who share the good fortune of having lived through the cataclysmic world events of the 1940’s where hundreds of thousands of their brothers gave up their lives to defend our world against fascism.

 

And they are among you, these dying survivors. You don’t see them as much any more as you once did, walking through Wal-Mart or sitting in the Legion hall with those brightly festooned baseball caps that proudly proclaimed their membership in that brotherhood of Americans who put their lives on hold and went off to exotic foreign shores to do the right thing. I love those caps and the men who wear them. They provide a foundation for the pride I feel in wearing my own Vietnam veteran caps. As the young would put it nowadays: been there, Dude, got the T-shirt.

 

So no, you don’t see them as much now because so many of them are enfeebled, confined to moving about in wheel chairs, or for far too many, confined to their beds, whether in their homes or in the many facilities that shelter our old. Oxygen devices anchor many of them to their beds or favorite recliners, limiting their range to that which is essential.

 

There is a common symptom of this epidemic shared by far too many of these old warriors: they have never seen the memorial erected in their honor on the National Mall in Washington D.C., more than fifty years after their service and sacrifice. As is so often and so sadly true, we Americans belatedly got around to building a memorial to the deserving, and a truly beautiful memorial it is, its circular design and generous use of water and fountains poignantly evoking the global, transoceanic theaters of war in which they served. I was there with my father-in-law on a gorgeous summer day a few weeks after it opened and I can assure you, as taxpayers, this time we got our money’s worth, although most of the construction costs came from private donations.

 

I said you could help and you can. Honor Flight, an organization created by an inspired physicians assistant working in a Veterans’ Affairs clinic, who recognized that far too many of these old veterans simply could not afford to make the trip to Washington to receive the thanks of their nation. That PA, retired Air Force captain, Earl Morse, has managed to scrabble together sufficient donations and volunteer assistance to transport more than 7,000 of these veterans to their long overdue memorial, cost free, affording them an opportunity to bask finally in the warmth of our nation’s gratitude before they leave us. Having been there with my own Dad, I assure you that as you move through the various campaign areas of the memorial, seeing and listening to the almost joyous camaraderie of these old warriors you quickly realize that this is a far better form of thanks than handing a sobbing widow a carefully folded flag with a murmured, “With the thanks of a grateful nation.”

 

Please, go to their website http://www.honorflight.org/ and give them what you can, money of course, but also your time. Volunteer some time to make this program grow. Start a local chapter, serve as an escort or simply spread the word. Most of these old warriors are not Internet savvy and have no idea such an organization exists. And they don’t live in environments where it is likely they will ever hear of Honor Flight unless we all make an effort to take it to them.

 

Remember, you won’t have to do it forever: we’re losing them at the rate of 1200 a day.

 

 

Russ Vaughn

Operation Browning Underway

Posted By Laughing_Wolf

Soldiers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, move over terrain in southern Arab Jabour Jan. 21 during Operation Browning. Company A troops air assaulted into the region to track down insurgents cells and help residents establish Concerned Local Citizen checkpoints. Photo by Sgt. Luis Delgadillo

On my last embed, I was extremely fortunate in that I got to split my time between two outstanding units. The second half of the embed was spent with the 1/30 of the Third Infantry Division, commanded by Lt. Col. Kenneth Adgie. He doesn't mince words, preferring to use terms such as attack, assault, capture, and kill. I've wanted very badly to be back over there, and here is why:

1-30th Inf. Regt. completes Operation Browning, prepares for next big launch into enemy territory

Story and photos by Sgt. Luis Delgadillo, 2nd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – For three days, Coalition Forces weathered harsh cold and deadly pressure plate improvised explosive devices to secure a foothold in southern Arab Jabour, beginning with an air assault Jan. 20.

Continue reading "Operation Browning Underway"

Zawahiri Q&A- al Qaeda goats & Islamic Rage Boy

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

Bumped from the weekend.

A while back al Qaeda asked for questions to be answered by their #2 Dr. Ayman al Zawahiri. Since bin Laden has trouble doing much of anything being dead and all, I have managed a pirate satellite link and have gotten answers to a few vital questions. Major revelations about al Qaeda's possible beef with PETA and also a scoop about Islamic Rage Boy's parentage. Animal love content, and Zeke calls Zarqawi an a-hole.

Do take a look at the Nose on Your Face's interpretation of Bill Clinton's MLK Day snooze, Brilliant.

Interview w/ the Army of Dude

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

I spoke this afternoon w/ Alex Horton who wrote the blog Army of Dude while in country, and now writes at VetVoice the VoteVets blog. He got back and eventually ETSed and is a civilian now with the obligatory, crappy job. We talked about how the political conversation plays out for active duty folks and he brought up something I remember just as well. You can talk about anything in the barracks or the team room. Anything anyone holds dear is a target for abuse, and once you strip away the veneer you can actually talk about anything. He noted how that's tough to do with civilians as they don't play like that. I agree wholeheartedly and that's why I play the way I do. It was a rambling conversation about politics and brothers in arms regardless of their political persuasions or at least their openness to an actual discussion.

The audio is here. Opinions on audio quality requested as I am working with new gear.

Let me check to see if I am surprised...

Posted By Deebow

Uhhh.... Nope....

I don't have a high enough clearance to know what is going on in these meetings about national strategy or defense policy.  I do know a couple things though...

When you do not take, or deny key terrain to an enemy, they will use it against you.  If you do not act decisively, the enemy will act for you.  If you do not move to counter an enemy, they will continue to do as they please.

So, it really came as no surprise to me that as I was cruising the internet that I came upon this little gem of a story about how Iran continues to do as they please, because of our indecisive actions.

Now, I am not talking about carpet bombing the entire country, or even bombing them at all; but I do know that they are key terrain (located exactly between Iraq and Afghanistan) and that they are using it against us on both battlefields.  The introduction of these weapons (and the logistics frame work to get them there) is definitely not good.

It remains to be seen what we will do to counteract this move by Iran.  I do hope it figures prominently in someone's morning meeting agenda in the Puzzle Palace.

Because if I was at a firebase out in Herat right now, it would figure prominently in my planning process.

Veterans for Obama? Puhleaze.

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

I have always enjoyed Intel Dump, Phil Carter's blog, and consider it an excellent aource of quality analysis. I got an email from Phil that gave me cause to wonder about his judgment. He sent this about Veterans for Obama.

One of my colleagues from the Obama campaign, W. Scott Gould, sent me this dispatch from the campaign trail in South Carolina. By way of background, Scott's a retired Navy officer and OEF veteran who's one of the sharpest guys I know on veterans policy issues, and I've been honored to work with him for the past several months as part of the Obama veterans policy committee. Here's his dispatch:

"BEAUFORT, S.C. -- Veteran issues were front and center for Barack Obama on Wednesday at a rally in Beaufort High School home of the Blue Dolphins. Stirring introductions by Kent Fletcher, a recent Marine combat veteran from Iraq and a powerful endorsement by retired Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps John Estrada raised the need for strong leadership in national security, demanded that the country stand behind our wounded and called for an orderly and responsible end to the war in Iraq."

Now the fact that Obama has vets stumping for him shows more about the diversity of our military than Obama's appeal as a candidate. Every thing I have heard him say about the military or national security has been dangerously naive. It is all well and good to mouth feelgood platitudes about a new way and change, but a political tool with zero relevant experience is not much of a choice if you consider our world a dangerous place. You can state that you want a new voice and an upbeat message, just don't try to BS me and pretend that he has any qualities or experience that make him suitable to be Commander in Chief.

He doesn't! So support the joy-bringer, but spare me any Obama-like support for the troops. You see like most lefties he supports the troops, but only the wounded ones, and the veterans and the dead all of those who need his compasion because of the harm done to them by Bush's illegal and immoral war. He and the progressives only talk about those troops. Well we all know they are important, read the tenets of this blog for starters. But what the compassion-mongers boldy ignore is the troops who are still the pointy end of the spear, the ones on the ground turning terrorists into dead tangos, those are the troops Obama and the left don't support. Go read Obama's Veterans page on his site, chock full of compassion but not one mention of victory, not one mention of the battles we have fought and won, and certainly no mention of dead tangos or our live enemies. Heaven forbid we talk about that.

Obama remains a lightweight who has no business ever commanding the US military, but if we elect him President he will do just that. I don't think I can support any of the Republicans, even my favored Maverick is now lying about Romney's statements on Iraq, that's shameful Senator. So I guess I'm back where I've been since the last vote I cast for Reagan, I will vote against whomever the Democrats nominate because either Hillary or the Cakeboy would set us back down the path of appeasement and proto-pacifism and we can't afford that. So poxes on all their houses and I am out of here for a walk in the crisp, clean, above freezing after two weeks of zero and below, Wisconsin air.

More Zawahiri Q&A- Do you know Islamic Rage Boy?

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

I managed to get the old goat molester back on the satellite and asked him whether he knew Islamic Rage Boy. The answer was surprising and involved bin Laden and a lover with IRB as the lovechild. I added it to the 72 goats exchange and all in all it is a telling tale of al Qaeda's purity.

Surgery #35

Posted By Blackfive

Chuck Z of From My Position!...On the Way! had surgery number 35 yesterday.  It went well.  Chuck even called me afterward to let me know he's okay.  Same Chuck as aways, had me laughing in two minutes - talking about how he talks to his pharmacist like a bar tender.  "No, I don't want Gordons in my tonic, I want Sapphire."  Chuck's version about meds was hilarious.

Go over and wish him well.

A Pirate Looks at Forty

Posted By Blackfive

Yes I am a pirate, two hundred years too late
The cannons don't thunder, there's nothin' to plunder
I'm an over-forty victim of fate
Arriving too late, arriving too late

Thanks for all of the birthday wishes.  Inbox is full of them.  It's amazing that some of you remember this kind of stuff.  So I'll combine the thank you with a message about one of our best allies. 

Mother, mother ocean, after all the years I've found
My occupational hazard being my occupation's just not around
I feel like I've drowned, gonna head uptown

My birthday is shared by another magnificient birthday.  Today is the day that Australia was born in 1788.  So I'm heading uptown tonight to be surrounded by my Aussie mates in Chicago, and I'll be celebrating at the Australia Day Ball.

And I have been drunk now for over two weeks
I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks
But I got stop wishin', got to go fishin'
Down to rock bottom again
Just a few friends, just a few friends

So, if you get the chance to raise a glass tonight, join me in saluting the Diggers on Australia Day!

Berri boys Sergeant Jason Glen Keightley and Private Daniel Adcock proudly display their Australian flag in Baghdad. The men are members of Australian Defence Force's Security Detachment that is providing protection to the Australian Embassy, Ambassador and staff in Baghdad.Source Australian Departmnt of Defense.

Yet Another Reminder Of Why

Posted By Laughing_Wolf

Some people need to learn to keep their floppy mouths shut. The discussion is good, and much needed; but, I agree with Hook that "officials speaking on condition of anonymity" because they are NOT supposed to be talking to the press need to zip it. There are many ways to give aid and comfort to the enemy other than divulging classified information and programs to the Shady Lady that is the New York Times (though there are many who seem to love to do that these days). One quick way is to do things that mess with the expectations of the troops, and hence, their morale. Just because it is politics as usual in Washington and useful to you personally in some power play does not make it right. Have the discussions, make plans, and do what is right for the troops and the effort. That is what is important, not you, your ego, or your advancement. That is all.

LW

I Promised Everyone a War Story....

Posted By Deebow

The silliest, most draining day I ever had in Afghanistan was the day we chased a legless man.

We were looking for a guy that had been a logistics support guy for the Taliban lurking in our AO.  Previously, myself and my Afghan Soldiers, along with a number of SF Soldiers and their contingent of Afghan National Police, had kicked in the doors of a number of homes and a mosque earlier in the week in the middle of the night.

Have I mentioned that nothing says "Knock Knock" like a 6' 3", 250 Pound SF Soldier smashing your door with a 48 pound battering ram.

We nabbed a few shady looking guys, but the big shots we were looking for had moved out.  This is not unusual, it is a hit or miss thing.

But today, we had some solid intelligence we gained while conducting a MEDCAP with the 82nd Airborne that morning for some of the locals right outside our firebase.  The intel was really good and the guy told us that he knew the "exact" house that this guy lived in.

My boss Captain Jack tells me about the "exact location" part as we are getting in the truck and lining up our convoy.

My only question was:  "Afghan exact or American exact?"

For those of you who have not dealt with your average Afghan and their ability to tell direction and distance, the definitions of "exact" can be very different....

Continue reading "I Promised Everyone a War Story...."