WTH Are THEY Smoking?

Posted By Mr Wolf

Yeah- you've probably read it recently- calls for a ban on smoking in the military.  Telling all our joe's that he/she can't light up anywhere.  The iconic joe lighting up on the battlefield would become a thing of the past...

If you weren't already aware, DoD banned smoking in all buildings (along with a general ban in US Gov't buildings) years ago.  There are a few 'smoking rooms' in some buildings, but generally, smokers are banished like lepers to tents and smoking areas outside.  Now, it seems that in addition to RP's and stuff, we'll have to get used to a new 'SP'- ''smoking point'' during patrols and movements.

Now, I'm NOT a smoker.  Except for the odd 'victory cigar' or 'war cigar' I've never lit up in my life.  My mom quit years ago, but I've never had a compunction to smoke.  I've got relatives that seems to only be living because of the nicotine in their system keeps their hearts beating.  But I'm no ban-smoking evangelist- nor would I foist this total ban on anyone.  If you want to smoke, that's YOUR choice.  Just like taking a drink.  Its a legal substance, its been around for THOUSANDS of years, so what's the deal?

Continue reading "WTH Are THEY Smoking?"

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Following My Mother's Advice

Posted By McQ

My mother, who was a wise and wonderful woman (and also a vet) always told me that if I couldn't say something nice about the recently departed I should keep quiet.

So I'll let Joe Galloway, Vietnam's "Ernie Pyle", sum up my feelings about Robert McNamara's death

"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." —Clarence Darrow (1857–1938)

Well, the aptly named Robert Strange McNamara has finally shuffled off to join LBJ and Dick Nixon in the 7th level of Hell.

McNamara was the original bean-counter — a man who knew the cost of everything but the worth of nothing.

'Nuff said.

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Captured Soldier - Some Good News

Posted By McQ

I understand that's a relative term, but here it is - he's alive and it looks like our guys have a pretty good idea of who has him and where he might be. CNN reports:

An American soldier captured in southeastern Afghanistan is being held by a notorious militant clan, a senior U.S. military official said.

The American and three Afghan soldiers were captured by low-level militants and then quickly "sold" to the clan led by warlord Siraj Haqqani -- believed to be deeply involved in the action.

The Haqqanis operate on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and are well known to the U.S. military. They are assembling shuras, or local councils of leaders, to talk and try to "legitimize" what they have done, the official said.

U.S., Afghan and Pakistani troops are sealing off the area and also are talking to tribal chiefs, village elders and leaders.

They are telling them to "do the right thing and solve this," the official said.

The U.S. military is telling people not to let Haqqani operatives move through their area and to find the American and return him. The military wants to make sure there is "no shelter" for the militants holding him.

"We want to make sure there is no place to hide," the official said.

I'm sure some of our folks at Blackfive or our readers can give us more of an idea of who the Haqqani's are and their association with the Taliban, but frankly it appears we may be getting a handle on this.

The Taliban has claimed they captured the soldier, who they claim was drunk at the time.  The Taliban have been known to lie every now and again.

Meanwhile, prayers for the soldier's safe return are still appropriate.

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A New Park In Hawaii

Posted By Mr Wolf

A new monument and park has opened near Diamond Head on Oahu, Hawaii.  This new park is in honor of those who died in Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan.

A couple of weeks ago I was talking to Blackfive, who was on vacation there and he commented on the new memorial not yet completed or dedicated.  I tweeted the question (twittered? twatted?? tooted??) and got a quick reply that, not 2 days after Blackfive was there, the park was completed- the monument was finished and the park had a dedication ceremony.  So Matt had an answer to his question- what was going on?

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Liberty and Patriots on the 4th of July

Posted By Mr Wolf

Uh, nope.  This won't be an entry like you're thinking about from the title above.

This one is about...cars.

Like my bio in the right-hand column states, I'm an avowed gearhead.  Motorhead.  Bleed Signal-orange 10-weight Valvoline.  Permanent grease under the fingernails.  It's the one diversion I have that doesn't involve semi-legal activity (depending on where you live, of course).  I can shop for cars the way women can shop shoes or clothes.  ALL DAY LONG.  Debating value or cost of a car purchase with a salesman is as much fun to me as an economic debate can be at Harvard or Yale.  Scrounging thru pick-n-pull yards is a true sport- I can spot and determine the car I need to pull parts from just by glimpsing a roof-line or part of a tail light. Drag racing for years (until moving to the altitude in Colorado) and a bit of street racing in my stupid days.

Continue reading "Liberty and Patriots on the 4th of July"

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Soldier Captured In Afghanistan

Posted By McQ

Some very disturbing news:

A U.S. soldier missing from his base in eastern Afghanistan since Tuesday is believed to have been captured by Taliban militants, the military said Thursday.

In a statement issued from U.S. military headquarters in Kabul, officials said "we are exhausting all available resources to ascertain his whereabouts and provide for his safe return."

Military officials in Afghanistan, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the situation, said the soldier appears to have walked off his base into an unsecured area. It was not clear why he had apparently done so.

Another report says he was captured along with 3 Afghan guards (that report has not been confirmed).

Prayers are appropriate.

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US Coast Guard Rescues 33 people Near San Francisco Yesterday

Posted By Blackfive

B-roll of the U.S. Coast Guard rescuing 33 people from a vessel that is taking on water near Suisun Bay, San Francisco, California.
Video courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco.

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Col. Ed McMahon Dies

Posted By McQ

I know you probably knew him better as Johnny Carson's side kick, but Ed McMahon, who died today at the age of 86 was a proud former Marine.

 He enlisted in the Marines for WWII and became a fighter pilot and served as an instructor pilot and test pilot. In 1946 he left active duty for the reserves and went to college. After college he returned to active duty and in 1953 he went to Korea where he flew 85 tactical air control and artillery spotting missions in an unarmed O-1E Bird Dog. After Korea he remained in the reserves retiring as a Col.in the Marine reserves in 1966.

 In an interview in 1999, McMahon was asked what he would like to be remembered for. His answer?

"Two things. That I was a good broadcaster and a great Marine."

Semper Fi, Col McMahon and God Speed.

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OH HELL YES I'm STOKED...

Posted By Mr Wolf

They just announced that the new Spielberg/Hanks mini-series is due out March 2010, and the first trailer is out.

If this is any indication of how it may go, PLEASE send me the DVD's now- I can't wait.  Band of Brothers is something I could watch an episode of every day.  The BEST part, however, are the interviews with the men of the 506th at the end.  I HOPE they do the same with this series.

I can't see how they could make this end up sucking...  enjoy!

Wolf

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Rooting For The Monsters

Posted By Laughing_Wolf

Over at my place, I have a short piece about why I root for the monsters, and how someone I know being stalked reminded me of that. 

LW

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