In the Crosshairs- Steve Russell fm Baghdad & Murthapalooza
Posted By Uncle Jimbo
This week on the show David and I speak live with Blackfive correspondent LTC Steve Russell, who along with JD Johannes
and TIME’s Brian Bennett have spent the last two weeks in Iraq
reporting on current conditions. Steve spoke w/ Gen. Odierno who
commanded his division during his previous combat tour, as well as the
LT Governor of Diyala and many others. There is a rough cut
video of some time spent w/ US and Iraqi forces out in town.
U.S. Army Special Forces members disembark from a CV-22 Osprey aircraft during a fast-roping demonstration on Hurlburt Field, Fla., Oct. 22, 2008. The simulation provided members of Congress with a realistic view of special operation missions during a tour of the base. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sheila DeVera.
I really don't have anything else to say about the war, that this young gent hasn't said better, in fewer words, and with more conviction and commitment than 99% of us could ever muster.
Making a huge splash over the last few days is this You Tube video. Very well said. Perhaps Paul Rieckhoff, Phil carter and Scott Gould could take some time out of their busy Obama Support Matrix schedule and give it a listen to:
This is part of a series of interviews sponsored by Baen Books with some of today's top military science fiction writers. Links from here point to Amazon for those who want paper copies, while links at Baen point to their electronic webscription service.
Part 9 covers Honor Harrington, and how -- despite what some may say -- the series is not about the military. What is it about? Well, listen and find out. The subject of blogs, milblogs and a most interesting thought about responsible voting and responsible political decision making comes up towards the end.
Discussion of David Weber usually begins with a very good quetion: Where to start? Should you start with the first book in his hugely popular Honor Harrington series? Or should it be with the first book in his fantasy series where the god of war is also the god of justice? Perhaps his Empire from the Ashes series? Hmmm, wait, maybe the first book in his latest series? Or the first book with Linda Evans in the Hell's Gate series? His first collaboration with Eric Flint in the hugely popular 1632 series? No, no, no, wait -- his first book in collaboration with John Ringo in the Empire of Man series? Maybe his work in the Bolo universe of Keith Laumer?
Ultimately, it really doesn't matter where you start. No matter what you choose, you will be starting a good book and quite likely a good series. Almost no matter your taste, there is a book or series by David Weber that is likely to appeal to you. His work on combat, battle, and some of what lies beneath is recognized and highly praised for its accuracy -- yet, David Weber has never served in uniform or in combat. Some of his work in the Honor Harrington series has even been used in class discussion(s?) on military leadership. David's works explore that which lies behind leadership, justice, and loyalty. This series of interviews will explore a bit of that which lies behind his explorations of what lies behind, and with a certain amount of detail as he was kind enough to give Blackfive TV almost two hours of his time.
Part 8 can be found here. Part 10 can be found here.
I watched the PBS show The War Briefing and while the first 5 minutes or so had the usual suspects, it leveled out and was a decent look at the Afghan/Pakistan war. And yes that is absolutely the right way to describe it.
The opening quote from a talking brain set the tone as she led with "Took their eye off the ball" i.e. W screwed the pooch by invading Iraq instead of fixing the never been fixed ever Waziristan. They led with 5 or 6 smart pantses hammering the US and speaking of the US as they instead of we, which is telling. But they did have Kilcullen and Nagl and even a dose of Jack Keane so you have to give credit.
Historically you can see what Roggio has to say, from a bias perspective it was relatively fair, for PBS I mean.
Courtesy of the Jawa's, I found out today that the Navy is naming it's newest destroyer, the second Zumwalt class destroyer built, for Michael Monsoor.
For more on Michael Monsoor, please see here and here.
Sup. Uber Pig here. Need some help. A family friend is getting ready to join the Marine Corps. For some reason, his recruiter says he can't promise him a bonus, but he's going to everything he can to get him one. Unfortunately, he will only know what the bonus is, if there is a bonus at all, after my family friend has enlisted. I'm a little worried because at that point it's too late, as most of you with prior service already know. This is a good kid, though. I told him to make his decision based on no bonus, though there appears to be an attractive package of college money & educational benefits worth in the vicinity of $80k -- enough to pay for college. So if you are a Marine Corps Recruiter, or you know a Marine Corps Recruiter you trust and are willing to vouch for, please hit me up at enlisted swine at the G. Or in the comments below.
I forgot what a debacle I had left behind in Madison. All my stuff is just piled up in Kev's hooch and I am a homeless vet. My chores delayed the departure for PA and the Murthapalooza until tomorrow, but God gave us a brilliant day to make up for it. I took my compatriot The Obama on a trip to some of my favorite Mad City sights. My guy shares only one name with the Presidential candidate, he is kind of an anti-BHO. Tough to top his adventures on my birthday, but good fun anyhow.
"Grab it before the Pentagon orders it burned..." - Vanity Fair
"...nonpartisan patriotism is the common thread tying together these reflections, love letters and stories of combat. They make for riveting reading." - The Washington Post
Winner of the 2006 Gold Medal for Anthologies - Military Writer's Society of America
"This collection is an excellent introduction to an emerging form of war reporting." - Booklist
"...there is much to tell, and celebrate, in the tough, day-to-day work that our soldiers are doing in one of the most challenging environments any army has ever faced..." - The Philadelphia Inquirer
"...the collection is riveting...a worthy tribute." - The American Prospect
Click here
for more information and list of blogger/authors
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
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
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 -- 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
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 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 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 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
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 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
