I recently ran into some interesting info online, and was wondering what the Blackfive readers had experienced. All in regards to challenge coins.
For those that are not familiar, challenge coins are coins that are handed out by commanders, sergeants-majors, units, and others as 'mementos'. But that was not their original usage- while many units have varied histories around challenge coins, most will agree that it originates from WWI when a downed pilot used it to verify his background. From that point forward, the unit had everyone carrying a coin in a pouch around their neck.
Coins really took off in the Vietnam era, and many from that conflict are quite valuable- ones from MACV-SOG or other specialized unit are especially coveted. During my trips over there, I was not able to secure a 'real' coin but fakes are readily available.
Coin usage nowadays is not for combat; its for camaraderie. Any place, ANY time, a person holding a coin can issue a challenge; showers too! Those not able to reach their coin buys the round; those holding the HIGHEST RANK of coin gets rounds purchased by the others. IF, in a challenge, everyone comes up with their coin, one of two things can happen- either the LAST person producing the coin buys, or the challenger buys, depending on local/unit tradition. Personally, I'm never without a 4-star coin, ever. My most 'valuable' one is a Rumsfeld. He's known for having been especially strict on giving them out. Never, EVER challenge Blackfive. He's known to carry a Presidential one. Can't.be.trumped.
How do you acquire one? They are given as a 'reward' in many cases, similar to an award, but much less formality involved. Presenter places one in their palm, shakes hand of the recipient, and transfers the coin. This is the only TRUE method. You can, indeed, buy most if not all coins (even a Rumsfeld, but they are expensive, and fakes are numerous) but only those given and received in this traditional manner are really worth anything. My favorite coin was given to me by an Admiral in Iraq- his first coin, and his first coining, in theater.
One of my favorite challenge stories was in the summer of '86 in Camp Grayling, MI. The 101st Airborne provided some companies to act as OPFOR in the training areas, and when we came out of the field phase the usual nuttiness followed at the O' and NCO' clubs on post. One night, a particularly attractive lieutenant (from my guard HQ) appeared in the O' club on Grayling. For those who've never been there, to me, this is THE BEST officers club on any facility. She walked to the bar in the back of the club, slammed down the 101st Commanders Coin, and hilarity ensued when the guys from the 101st, who were mostly in the back of the room, bulldozed their way to the bar to slam their coins down. Over tables, over people, over everything to get to the bar in time. The place was PACKED, and damn, no one wanted to be last or without. No one was expecting HER to coin the 101st. I don't think the place settled down for the rest of the summer after that little stunt.
You got a good challenge coin story? Share it in the comments. I've got dozens of stories of coining in Iraq. Joint Chiefs chairman GEN Myers dumped an entire SLEEVE of his coins into the cargo pocket of a unit Sergeant Major to give out to troops on his behalf. I don't know what made that SGM more nervous- watching the Chairman do that to him, or the fact he was carrying 5 pounds of coinage in his pocket.
Drop a story or two into the comments..
Wolf
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Oh I hate to be the guy to ask why all these dirty, nasty, filthy , stinking legs got involved in this game.
Coin checks were a Spec Ops game for many years, now every chump with a few bucks stamps them out as he tours the game. No offense to those who serve and have gotten coins, BUTT.
On a C-130 jump in the Philippines, JM (HALO) looks at the stick and asks "Got Your coin?", then back flips off the ramp as no one answers.
Showers in Oki, sick bastard looks around and then drops a coin from between his cheeks.
And then me, Uncle J at Waterborne Infil Course in Key West, looks around at the fellas out partying and a Ranger is in black PT shorts and a tank top. Nowhere to have a coin. I drop mine, expecting a round in my favor. He takes off his Casio G-shock and shows the Ranger coin glued behind and I reach for my wallet.
November 2001, SF Detachment packing gear for the initial assault on Afghanistan. The maintenance technicians that checked their M4's slapped on the green tag and dead-lined every one of them for.....wait for it.....
....discolored gas tubes.
Yeah, the same gas tube that the -10 tells you will discolor.
My bud and I drove 4 hours north with a box of new tubes (we got a real sob story from the SF Captain and the maintenance trolls), narrowly avoiding two speeding tickets after we explained why we were in such a hurry (driving a GSA in uniform has its benefits :) ) Now, we were under the impression these tubes were totally trashed, melted down, sagging like pretzels....no.
Reality proved that #1: the technicians were full of shit, and didn't know a damn thing about M16's. And #2: even National Guard SF teams have the coolest shit in their vault. A quick glance showed not a damn thing wrong with the tubes, other than a slight heat tinting going on...whoopie. So, we checked each rifle as it was lowered into a Pelican case, then tore off the green tags as they were being loaded into the CONEX.
My shop ended up with 100 brand new carbine gas tubes.
While we were packing our tools back into the GSA, the 15 Soldiers and their CPT surrounded us, ordered us to attention, and coined both of us on the spot. Turns out, they would NOT have made their awaiting flight had we not arrived and cleared them that morning.
Got a bunch but one that appeals to my sense of humor is from my old AF Security Service outfit.
Slogan on it is
"In God We Trust, All Others We Monitor", Should have been in Russian, though.
High Level Strategery and Civilian Magic Ninjas
(12:14PM)
More signs that the "strategery" going on around the Afghan war is a soup sandwich being eaten in a chicken wire canoe while it is paddled up Shit Creek by a guy swinging a football bat wearing bowling cleats. Yeah I'm done tap dancing around this. Today's clusterf**k.
No one was happy to read in The Washington Post
that Eikenberry, who commanded the war himself from 2005 to 2007,
thinks that the Karzai government needs to demonstrate its commitment
to anti-corruption measures before the administration can responsibly
authorize another troop increase. The prevailing theory is that “he
leaked his own cables” because “he has a beef with McChrystal,” the
staffer said. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Eikenberry’s successor as NATO
commander in Afghanistan, has requested an increase in troops to
support a counterinsurgency strategy with a substantial counterterrorism component.
But Eikenberry — who also briefed the White House by teleconference
yesterday — reiterated his concerns. The ambassador told the NSC not to
send additional troops to Afghanistan “without an exit strategy” and
urged that the president to adopt a “purely civilian approach” with the
State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development in
the lead, not the military. According to the NSC staffer, Eikenberry
“wants a realignment” of USAID, the Afghanistan inspector general’s
office and the State Department’s stabilization and reconstruction office.
Eikenberry said President Obama “wants that” — although Obama was not
in the meeting — and he hailed the arrival of the new USAID
administrator-nominee, Rajiv Shah, “because he will not wage war when
the org charts start changing.”
I am not an expert on ret. LTG Eikenberry, but his ideas seem to be complete fantasy. His last tour in country was as Commander of Combined Forces Command- Afghanistan from 2005-2007. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that when things there went completely into the shitter?
Let's look at his cunning plan; he wants to make this a "purely civilian approach". That sounds so nice and has absolutely no chance of even happening. At the journalism fellowship Blake and I were at earlier this year we had this guy as a speaker.
Ambassador John Herbst, coordinator for Reconstruction & Stabilization, U.S. Department of State
He is the leader of the so-called civilian surge in the Stabilization and Reconstruction office Eikenberry mentions. They would be the ones to bring these non-uniformed magic ninjas to transform things into shangri-la. Keep in mind there are now only 1,000 US govt. civilians in Iraq and this guy has less than 350 to even add to that. We got a lot of time to ask him questions I let him have it from my long and fruitless experiences with State, USAID and UN civilians and their complete inability to affect conditions on the ground.
"Sir, if you are going to have any impact on the situation in Afghanistan your people are going to have to get outside the wire. It has been my experience that the risk-averse mentality of the State Dept. makes that highly unlikely. Are you willing to get a foreign service officer or other State employees killed in order to have success at your mission?"
After he was done spitting and spluttering, his answer was that as the military gave them space to work i.e. security, they would move into it. I want to state that I know there are brave folks on PRTs and other teams that do get out there all the time, but even they would admit they are the exceptions not the rule. So if wise Mr. Eikenberry is going to fix Afghanistan without military security, I sincerely hope that the cloaking devices his magic ninjas use to hide themselves from the Taliban are top notch, or maybe they can do a Team America valmorification and transform them all into terrorist look-alikes. Then a quick trip to language school to pick up some "Durka, Durka, Mohammed Jihad" and they are off to save the world. Team America World Bureaucrats.
"America, F**k Yeah. Coming again to teach you how to staff a memo. America, F**K Yeah. Admin is the only way yeah!
That'll strike fear in the hearts of the Taliban.
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If we could just make the Taliban spend a day at the DMV, I'm sure they would all surrender.
No one can inflict unnecessary pain like US Govt Bureaucracy!
Eikenberry is merely following the script. This is the Obama surrender plan designed to placate the left and being executed in slow motion stages to avoid any appearance of the desired end state to pull out. In the meantime, our forces fight a delaying action disguised as an Obama campaign inspired surge.
urged that the president to adopt a “purely civilian approach” with the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development in the lead, not the military. According to the NSC staffer, Eikenberry “wants a realignment” of USAID, the Afghanistan inspector general’s office and the State Department’s stabilization and reconstruction office.
I already talked about Eikenberry to Lewzer somewhere else. I did not know that he leaked his own memo. My bad. Apparently he catches onto the DC game quicker than I gave him credit for.
The above-referenced quote... but of course! If he was military still, he'd want money for troops. Now he's State. So he wants money for that. It's all about whose ox is being gored. Another DC game.
He's a sell-out who apparently brings nothing from the military side to State, but will end up detracting from both. He sees it as a zero-sum game. What the military gets is taken away from his pet projects. Instead of seeing that if the military "loses," he may hope they have one last helicopter to get him off the roof of the AMEmbassy Kabul before the guys with AK-47s pour over the fence. Or maybe that is the exit strategy he's most worried about....
People who learn nothing from history... grumble grumble mumble mumble....
By the way, I'm sure most Afghans don't follow US politics much... but I'm sure if they've learned one thing in the last 40 years, even they know that historically their country suffered most when Democrats held the White House.
Hey UJ, that's dUrka-dUrka :) I'm trying my best to figure something smart and reasonable to write, but all I can think of is to just "shrug" and bring our troops home. When I went to Iraq in '03, I made peace knowing that my kids wouldn't have to fight this war. Now I'm not so sure. I'm no General, but at this point, I'd say f$%k the Af/Pak government, spend the next year bringing everything we have to bear to eradicate AQ and the taliban, then come home over Winter. This whole notion that we're creating little terrorists with the death of every big terrorist over there is starting to reek of PC. If we wait for these governments to become stable, we'll never see the end of this war.
Is all of this anti-corruption bs really about getting the CIA to cut loose Karzai's brother and other kin - so that State has the only voice on issues within the Afghan government. It is really hypocritical for a team of Chicago pols to be preaching about corruption.
If the strategy is to put more State guys beyond the wire without DoD support, does that mean Xe gets alot more work? Maybe LTG Eikenberry is getting a little baksheesh from EricP.
"at this point, I'd say f$%k the Af/Pak government, spend the next year bringing everything we have to bear to eradicate AQ and the taliban, then come home over Winter"
Everything (leaked or not) is from the top executive. TOTUS has made his decision, just trying out variations to see which version is most palatable to the public.
/yeah, so? I can't count? I'll remind you Joe 'the Brains' Biden had three-lettered word J-O-B-S, too.
I'm not so sure that Wes Clark's disciple, Eikenberry, leaked his own memo. As it coincides with Plugs Biden's thoughts on a surge, I wouldn't be at all surprised that Plugs or someone on his staff didn't leak it.
So, USAID and Stabilization and Reconstruction want to "surge" but they need "security"? WTF, talk about a circular firing squad..... The ambassador doesn't want security, but the folks he wants to do the heavy lifting won't/can't do anything without security? Are these people real? I mean, really?
Please, I don't even hold rank in my own home. "Rubble Doesn't Make Trouble" might not have been the way to go in Iraq, but we were trying to stabilize that gov't there from 03. Is our mission in Afghanistan still to kill bin laden and eliminate AQ? I know it's more complicated than that, but if that's what we need to do, our country needs to dispense with the pleasantries and make war. The kind of unapologetic war that freed Europe. The kind of war that we freely and happily give these "martyrs" their wish. None of this "uh, well, we need to let them live because death is what they want." That's total BS. Kill enough of them on-site, without another thought and see how effective it is.
When the deed is done, if we have the time and money, we'll help rebuild the country. I may be completely wrong in this, and I try to think rationally, I just think the rational course of action now is to completely unleash the dogs of war, or bring them back to the pen.
Consider that BHO is planning on a one-term Presidency. In that likely scenario he will take steps to make certain that his Presidency is not linked to the Middle East. Anything that distances himself and the progressive ideologues from the quagmire of conflict coupled with the Blame Bush for whatever is left will suit them fine. To them, getting beat up by the school yard bully, which apparently didn't happen enough, was a quagmire.
These people are only interested in social progressiveism and nothing about the military or foreign policy interests them at all. They will accept no responsibility or accountability for anything that happens. Gore is well on his way to becoming a billionaire going green with GE close behind. Nobody in their right mind sees an electricity generating windmill on their roof selling excess energy back into the power grid. Ditto that for solar cells on our roof cutting back on our use of the electricity grid.
I trust that General McChrystal understands that he is the throwdown in the Afghanistan conflict and governs himself accordingly. He is smarter, as are we, than the good ole' boys from Chi-town who are operating out of their league. They remind me of the person on the game show standing in a phone booth trying to grab as much money as possible as it is blown about inside.
In the meantime, the troops are on their own until we can start cleaning up the PC crowd putting us all at risk. Who will take the point?
Lest I forget, Rush today mentioned that 0 had an "Afghan-Pakistan" summit, back in May, to discuss the "way forward" on said two countries and their problems. I take it that the invasion of Pakistan was taken off the table then, but, I mean, holy s*%t, Batman. That was nearly 6 months ago, give or take. Can't he make up his mind on anything, except that it's really neat to have "summits", and holy crap, fire up AF1, we're going on a date, or we're going to Denmark, or the ME, or Asia, or, hell, Chicago for dinner.
I hope, for the sake of the troops, that he makes up his "blowin in the wind" mind, and soon.
"our country needs to dispense with the pleasantries and make war. The kind of unapologetic war that freed Europe. The kind of war that we freely and happily give these "martyrs" their wish."
Can I get an AMEN?
Are you running for office? Do you have a news letter I can sign up for. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT. WWII style war! Full commitment. These fucking goat-fuckers are laughing at us on the internet we created. I saw one of those dirty fucks wearing the kevlar of a Marine he killed and smiling... someone put that on the internet WE CREATED SO HIS FAMILY COULD SEE IT!!!!!
They are FAR more serious about this shit then we are.
Who gives a fuck about brutality towards their civilians? No one thought about ours on 9/11. They laughed as our panic stricken civilians weighed the impossible option of jumping or burning to death. They celebrated as parents tried to come to terms with the fact that they are about to die in an airplane with their 4 year old baby daughters sitting next to them... am I REALLY supposed to give a FUCK that a Predator's Hellfire MISTAKENLY killed some half-jihadi, resulting in the lowest collateral damage figures in the history of warfare?
Fuck them. Carpet bomb them with B-52s full of CBUs when they get close to a camera to bitch and moan using our own media to sway the opinions of the apologists that would dare listen them cry WAAAAAAAAAAA.
Thanks Jimbo; another fine job of analysis and reporting.
Also, much agreed on Eikenberry. It's human nature in those of us who are prideful at all, after leaving a job/post/billet (or if relieved of course)---to re-analyze the mistakes, the current strategy, the impact and results. This is especially true in the case of high profile military post's as the media ALWAYS conducts a very "public after action"...which is normally very ignorant and misguided.
He should simply put his pride away and sit back and let the new commander do the job now that he has moved on. It's the same reeason that past Presidents don't offer public critique of new Prez, no matter how much they may obviously disagree.
Too bad he probably won't.
Matt
the war against the Ruskies cost the Afghanis someplace between 1 and 2 million dead. That was when the GOP was in the White House. I was there in Afghanistan in 1976 and 77, the country was doing fine then. Were you ever there when the Dems held the White House ?
Chotor hasti, Johnny. Oh Johnny, where to begin???
You were in Afghanistan in '76 and '77. Well, sweetie, you left too soon. Besides, in 1976, a Republican was in the White House. Carter didn't take the oath till January 1977. So by the time he started doing much damage in his capacity as president, you were safely out of there. In '79, when CARTER was PRESIDENT, the Russkies rolled in with their tanks. THAT war started under Democrats. Brezhnev must have thought he could get away with it, seeing as how Carter let the Iranians roll us in November of that year. (Gee. Do I have to spell it out, Johnny boy?) I guess you weren't there with the Yellow Rain and the toy-shaped bombs and the mess created by the Russkies in 1980 and onward. It took REPUBLICANS to help them chase out the Russians. (Which president was that? Reagan? This ringing a bell with you, Johnny?) I believe much of the civil war and the Taliban takeover occurred....wait... when was that? Between 1992 and 2000? Hmmmm... who was in the White House? Who was ignoring Afghanistan then? I can't remember. Can you help me out with that? Please? My memory seems to be as off as yours.
And the sellout of the Afghan people will occur under which president? Get out your crystal ball, Johnny. I hope it works better than your date planner from the 1970s.
By the way, the person is an Afghan. Plural, Afghans. The money is an Afghani. Maybe you don't remember that part either.
By the way... what WERE you doing there? You weren't one of those hippies going through on your search for nirvana, smoking weed and giving Westerners a bad reputation, were you? Or were you a dependent of some State employee whose memories are limited to the American School and going shopping for knick-knacks on Chicken Street? Cuz you don't seem to have Afghanistan's history put in any real context at all.
"I was there in Afghanistan in 1976 and 77, the country was doing fine then."
You may want to look at a calender. Then read up on the past 32 years.
Regarding 76 and 77 all the way up to 80, I couldn't agree more. Iran in particular was doing just fine. We are living through a rebirth of Carter in black face. No offense obama but your such a clown I just couldn't resist.
I'd rather have Charlie Chaplin as president right now. He'd at least confuse not only us but our enemies.
Stephens Media has an initiative underway to spotlight our new generation of heroes on the pages of their newspapers and their websites call the American Valor Project. It salutes those who have gone above and beyond the call in the war on terror. You will recognize some of the names from our Someone you should know series.
I think it is wonderful whenever major media outlets cover these stories and bring them to an audience that gets far too little of this. The series started on Nov. 8th and there are several stories up at the link already. We will keep you updated as it progresses.
I'm going to be on Gordon Liddy's show just after 11 am eastern today talking Afghanistan and possibly Ft. Hood. Will post the podcast after. You can listen live here.
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I will be on CNN today, 12:15 Eastern covering Hasan and some of the intricacies of the military system.
SYDNEY – A bomb-sniffing dog that disappeared during a fierce battle in Afghanistan between Australian troops and militant fighters has been found and returned to its unit after more than a year.
And Sabi the black Labrador is getting a celebrity welcome home.
Sabi was with a joint Australian-Afghan army patrol ambushed in restive Uruzgan province in September 2008, triggering a gunfight that wounded nine troops and earned one Australian soldier the country's highest bravery medal.
But there was no sign of Sabi after the battle, and months of searching failed to find any sign of the retriever — until now.
Defense officials said Thursday that a U.S. soldier recovered Sabi at an isolated patrol base elsewhere in Uruzgan. Further details about the base were not given.
The dog was returned to the Australians' base in the province just in time for a visit by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who was photographed Wednesday along with the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, petting Sabi.
"Sabi is back home in one piece and is a genuinely nice pooch as well," Rudd told reporters.
You're right about letting senior NCOs and officers carry firearms on base and the need for armed guards to be increased. And if it was up to me almost everyone would be allowed to carry a gun. I knew something like this was going to happen. And Obama is a moron. He's willing to send 34,000 troops but not the 44,000+ McChrystal requested because he wants to make both the anti-war left and the pro-victory right happy? WHAT A FREAKING IDIOT.
Yeah, anyone qualified to carry should be allowed to carry. This has been coming since the one who banned firearms, BJ Clinton, ignored the muslim attacks on us, and treated them as a criminal offense, not terrorism.
Does Liddy still recommending killing federal law enforcement agents?
"Now if the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms comes to disarm you and they are bearing arms, resist them with arms. Go for a head shot; they're going to be wearing bulletproof vests." 8-26-94 radio broadcast.
If this is true then just about all the worst fears we had about Obama as Commander in Chief are coming true.
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama does not plan to accept any of the Afghanistan war options presented by his national security team, pushing instead for revisions to clarify how and when U.S. troops would turn over responsibility to the Afghan government, a senior administration official said Wednesday.
He has already had the advice of his entire military chain of command with a near unanimous call for for reinforcements to move to the strategy that won in Iraq. We have watched as he has heard from the deep wisdom of Joe Biden and Rahm Emanuel. We have seen him dither and quibble and show a completely ineffectual and uncommitted face to our enemies and the rest of the world. Now months after his hand-picked commander has told him the situation is bad and getting worse, our troops in the field fight and die without the support of their Commander in Chief. He sent 21,000 more brave men and women there and now they are flappin' in the breeze. How can a squad leader look his men in the eyes and tell them to saddle up and head out on a patrol, perhaps to be the last to die for a cause their President no longer believes in?
You can't set the circumstances for victory before you commit to trying to win one. You can't set your strategy based on the hope that quality government will just spring up in the midst of chaos with no security. You can't just magic a functional, fighting Afghan Army out of nothing without competent US forces to first beat the insurgency down to a manageable level. Then they take the Afghans to the field for joint operations to build their confidence just like we did in Iraq. If your goal is simply to turn things over to the Afghans, then hand them the goddamn keys right now. Make a couple of passes over the worst Taliban strongholds, bomb the living shit out of them and then bring our troops home.
Whatever decision you end up making, you have shown a complete lack of leadership ability. You have made the job of our military more difficult everywhere as our enemies have seen you are not the strong horse. This entire process reeks of politics and the hands of your slimy Chicago fixers Emanuel and Axelrod. Why do I think you are looking for someone to hand you a plan that lets you start retreating before your 2012 elections and an appointment with your left wing? Well the rest of us get to vote as well sir, and we are watching your every back sliding step. America doesn't go to war based on an exit strategy, we go to win. Think about that. Also think about just how wrong you were about Iraq, over and over and over. Go in to win or bring them home now.
Is it me or did Obama say: Troops are Victims, on Veterans day.
“We call this a holiday, but for many veterans, it’s another day of memories that drive them to live their lives each day as best as they possibly can,” Mr. Obama said. “For our troops, it is another day in harm’s way. For their families, it is another day to feel the absence of a loved one and the concern for their safety. For our wounded warriors, it is another day of slow and arduous recovery. And in this national cemetery, it is another day when grief remains fresh.”
What will the extra troops exactly accomplish in Afghanistan?
Afghanistan and Iraq are quite different and just because the surge helped prevent a civil war in Iraq does not mean it will lead to a similar outcome in Afghanistan. The US is in a spectacular decline in the region and it is only lucky that the Islamist alternatives (ie: the Islamic Republic in Iran, AQ, Taleban, etc) have destroyed their own legitimacy among their Muslim constituency through their sheer barabarism and violence.
Read that today too, did a big WTF,then gave the benefit of the doubt to our commanders. He simply can't be this much of a jackass....surely....right?
If this is seriously what's happening, then I might find myself at one of those "Support the Troops: Bring'em home" rallies. If I can find a hipster costume and hippie cologne.
I was thinking some more on the topic, and noticing how I hear that "Afghanistan has been the burial ground for empires" BS for the past few days. I'm wondering if the White House is setting things up for a big excuse to pull out. And on Veteran's Day of all days. Could this and the Polish announcement a while back just be some lame coincidence?
Come over here son, lay down and roll over. I want to scratch your belly while I whisper something in your ear.
FUCK YOU MAGGOT!!
You said, "Afghanistan and Iraq are quite different"...
Oh shit, let's get the fuck out of dodge! IT'S DIFFERENT OVER HERE.
Who are you? Why do continually make posts that disparage the mission of our war fighters.
The point is that we can win with the proper resources.
In case you can't see into the future, you may want to look into the past.
Our military has a stellar track record of securing our national interests around the globe for more than a hundred and fifty years, give or take a battle or two.
Your asinine statement that AQ et al have destroyed their own legitimacy through their own barbarism is like saying, obama was elected despite his abject lack of experience.
Hmmm, maybe you have a point.
Ok, come back over here and let me scratch your belly again and whisper in your ear.
FUCK YOU, YOU IGNORANT ASSHOLE!
I know I am violating the spirit of intelligent discourse on this board when I make personal attacks and use foul language.
“In an era where so many acted only in pursuit of narrow self-interest, they’ve chosen the opposite.”
The president said in his brief remarks.
In other words, our country sucks, and these fools who I have made a token speech for today would never recognize the country and it's historic ideals, had they lived.
Because when I'm done with this country, even the living will wonder where the hell they are.
"Afghanistan and Iraq are quite different... The point is that we can win with the proper resources."
The point on the difference is an important one:
1- Iraq is/was a mostly urban based insurgency and Afghanistan has been a mostly rural based insurgency.
2- Iraq is a much more developed country than Afghanistan with far better infrastructure, bureaucracy, and governance capacity.
The question is what can the additional troops achieve in an environment like Afghanistan especially given the reality that the Afghan government will most likely continue being a dysfunctional entity at best, which will undermine ANY potential short term gains made by the additional troops. Blind faith doesn't bring victory.
"Your asinine statement that AQ et al have destroyed their own legitimacy through their own barbarism is like saying, obama was elected despite his abject lack of experience."
I think my statement was based on facts. In Iraq, for example, the AQI's undoing was its vicious attacks that resulted in the death and injury of many Iraqi civilians, which in turn led to them losing their legitimacy and the creation of the so-called Awakening movements that helped the US forces defeat the AQI.
Obama doesn't just want additional options, he wants a different war, one that will fit within a timetable and have clear and easily identified benchmarks to gauge success. He's a lawyer, that's how they think. Don't like the game? Change the rules. Make the problem fit the solution. It would be comical if it weren't so tragic.
I think the reply he said to each one of his advisors today that presented a plan was: "I want an Afghanistan plan that is easy, cheap, safe, and politically correct. Now come back when you have one.”
Awakening movements that helped the US forces defeat the AQI.
You have it backwards.
Us forces proved without a doubt, that the awakening movement could place their complete faith in the United States military as partners in the awakening movement.
It's still early, run out to a 7/11 and buy yourself some more kool aid.
To all those mothers who will lose sons and daughters in the days ahead, I did not wish this on you. I had hope for a CiC with war experience, who knew how to fight to win. I am so sorry that we instead have a CiC who is more interested in his personal agenda, who wants an easy out. For those new moms, prepare the way for another battle, for this one will be fought again. It may be here at home next time, but it will be fought again. We have not learned the lessons of history and are therefore doomed to repeat it.
Personally, I think folk who honestly believe Obama has any interest in winning this long war have their heads firmly up and lodged. The man was raised by Marxist wolves. He has no concern for anything other than reducing the US of A to yet another abomination of a horror story of idiotic early to mid 20th century Europer utopianist ideal.
check the man's background and upbringing. Check who the man's surrounded himself with as POTUS. All the signs are there.
Remember Obama isn't concerned about victory in Afghanistan, he is looking for a tactical win on Obamacare, a stalemate in 2010, and victory in 2012.
Until Obamacare is dealt with, maintaining tenuous alliances with the "progressives" is more important then tenuous alliances in remote Afghan valleys. To his "progressive" allies this dithering looks "thoughtful" and "considered" -- maybe he will have some more meetings.
His decisions on Afghanistan will only have a marginal effect on the 2010 elections, unless they are disastrous or depress the "progressive" turn-out. Our troops are not going to let a disaster happen - so his safe play is to dither.
Dithering, however, makes an 2011 victorious exit strategy dicey and threatens his 2012 re-election chances, so expect some movement after the Obamacare cloture vote in the Senate. If Obamacare goes down (or gets delayed) - then things get interesting: a victory on Obamacare allows him to essentially ignore Afghanistan with the progressives and allow the process answer to go forwards, a loss on Obamacare means he will need a new horse fast. He can jump on a green (red) horse and ride to the left on Cap&tax; or head to the center - which would include victory in Afghanistan.
Obama is doing a fine job protecting us from his enemies. He is on track to having them on their knees. Just give him the time he needs and he WILL succeed.
You just have to keep in mind who HIS enemies are. He wants to be king, not president, but that stupid US Constitution keeps getting in his way. You can't be king in a republic (we are not a democracy). But don't worry. Give him time and that enemy will be defeated too.
Don't forget that you also look like an emotionally disturbed alcoholic. LOL. Try to maintain, Brosef. You are embarrassing yourself. It's called "dignity". I think there might be a wikipedia page for it. Check it out :)
I think Petraeus should weigh in. He has already acknowledged that the fight in Afghanistan is both different and more complicated then the one in Iraq. I want to hear what HE has to say. He has proven to be an honoroable leader who knows how to win fights.
McCrystal has proven to be a politician with a PR problem thanks to the Tillman fiasco. I don't think anyone trusts his assessment as it was probably fed to him from his bosses with other agendas.
A couple of weeks ago, Radio Havana Cuba, during its news segment, announced that Obama has decided that he would insert an unspecified number of troops for a period of 18 months and then begin a withdrawal.
Let's see how close the report comes to being right. And IF they are correct, how did they get the information? (like I need to ask....)
What troops are available ?? The Joint Chiefs of Staff, as reported last Friday in the Wall Street Journal, has said that they could NOT recommend sending any troops into combat without them having had 1 full year back in the USA. This would mean that there could be no substantial increase until at least next summer, which is another 8 months away. Jimbo do you disagree ? Do you think that we should send troops over with less than 1 year to recover ? October had 16 soldiers kill themselves, more than were killed at Ft Hood, constant combat will destroy families and our army THE TROOPS NEED A BREAK. Now if we have 2 or 3 divisions in reserve some place here we might have more options. Here is the link to the Wall Street Journal in which the JCS gave their recommendation to not send any troops.Please post one that says that the chain of command says unequivocally to send more troops immediately. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125720469173424023.html
Recent reports suggest that 10% to 20% of the billions that we spend in logistics go to pay off the Taliban. After 8 years we have not yet secured the main road from Kabul to Kandahar OR any of the roads going into this landlocked country. The only way that we can continue to supply those men already in the field is to pay off our enemy.
I am so pissed I can't see straight. No posting today. Every other word would start with F, which is what John Ryan and Psyox can do to themselves also.
You know, Johnnie Boy, if you were running things back in the day, we'd still be fighting WWII. Because you would have pulled back all of the divisions to the US for R&R in 1943.
As to "10% to 20%" of the money spent, your fudging the amount leads one to believe you don't know what you're talking about, and you're citing a NYT article, which didn't know what THEY were talking about, they were just citing estimates, as they didn't have any facts to support their suppositions. But then, it IS the NYT.
As to the main road argument, uh, that's why they call it an insurgency. Our side gets to wear uniforms, they get to wear whatever they want and do things like blow up bridges and shit. But, I'm sure Gen. McChrystal could station a troop every 10 yards on the "Kabul to Kandahar" road, just to please you and make it look good.
Jimbo,
Ambassador Lt. Gen. Karl W. Eikenberry (retired) just met with the president to air his concerns about increasing troop levels in Afghanistan without getting demonstrable evidence that the Karzai government is tackling the inherent corruption within their administration. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/us/politics/12policy.html?_r=1&hp
As he was also a former commander of US forces in Afghanistan from 2005-2007, should his concerns not be addressed? This whole urgency meme on the right is a bunch of BS, it was sure never evident in the previous 8 years. Winter is setting in, Iraq still needs to show that their 2010 elections are on schedule so we can draw down there, and frankly Afghanistan is more than a military decision. No large number of troops will be arriving before spring anyhow. Lastly, no one but the president knows yet what his decision will be. Why don't you wait until its announced before you criticize. At least you will know exactly what you are arguing against then.
I guess your lapdog cant fathom fighting Rommel in Africa, or the Japanese on the Burma road, or Tarawa. Surely they were well developed urban centers, much more suited for our troops. Given the tools, this job can be done and in a way to leave the Afghani's in much better shape in terms of the human condition. The only liberal moonbat phrase I ever agreed with is "You cant bomb them back to the stone age, They're already there!"
"Why don't you wait until its announced before you criticize. At least you will know exactly what you are arguing against then."
We know already. He has the classic Democrat containment mindset. He's walking lockstep in the path of LBJ in Vietnam. He is *creating* another Vietnam -- a self-fulfilling leftist prophesy. It would require willful ignorance to say "Hey, let's wait until he takes us all the way down that path before we look where the path is heading." If Obama were really as indecisive as you wish, it would be a big problem -- indecisiveness in a leader is often worse than making other than the best decision. But he's not. This is a purely political delay where temporizing is an end itself.
You want to know what Obama's strategy is? Look back 40 years when another narcissist dealt with the same problem in the same manner:
Johnson’s strategic objective in South Vietnam, as articulated at Johns Hopkins, was the same one set forth previously by Kennedy in National Security Action Memorandum 52. In his April 1965 speech, Johnson limited himself to a defensive strategy of containment in Indochina. His limited goal was to keep North Vietnam from destroying South Vietnam’s capacity for self-defense, preserving its ‘independence and freedom from attack.’ Johnson never meant for American forces to win the Vietnam War by taking offensive action in the traditional sense. American soldiers were merely intended to act as guardians at the gate until the South Vietnamese could reconstitute their armed forces consistent with their collective national resolve.
Again, another NYT sycophant? What has the NYT ever done in the national security arena? Other than release US secrets, I mean.
To say that this administration is worried about the corruption in Afghanistan is the height of hypocrisy. Maybe Karzai should say that he's worried about aid and assistance from an administration that has trouble with corruption, like the Minnesota elections, overseas donations to a presidential candidate, czars.
Maybe comrade 0 is thinking of putting off his decision until Spring? After all, "winter is setting in".
Lewzer,
Retired Lt Gen Karl W. Eikenberry oversaw the largest expansion of the Taliban rule in Afghanistan. So you know to do the opposite of what he says. And if Empty Suit knows "The Plan" then he might want to share it with his Field Commanders so they can implement this Commander in Chiefs community organizational expertise.
Good luck with that closed mindset. Afghanistan was so much easier when George Bush was in charge. I mean we were this close to VICTORY until the traitorous Barack Hussein screwed it up. What were 55% of the American electorate thinking?
And I am so amused that you bring up Vietnam. If you are fighting a counterinsurgency, you require both troops to fight the insurgents and secure the populace and a government the people trust. You all keep talking about the first part and avoiding any talk about the second. The surge quieted down Iraq, but long term success there still is reliant on what the Iraqi people decide to do concerning their governance strategy. Afghanistan is much more complicated than Iraq, and yet you guys all think that we just need more troops. Whatever.
At this point, all Obama and his team want to do is to get rid of the hot potato (i.e., Afghanistan/Pakistan situation, and Overseas Contingency Operation) onto somebody else ASAP.
What Obama does not and has not realized is that Afghanistan is tied to his name forever, just as Iraq is to GWB. The president can not dodge his duty and say whatever the outcome somebody else OWNs it.
So you are criticizing the General because he tried to secure a mountainous nation with something like 25K US troops and limited support by the DOD that was focused on trying to get Iraq under control? So are you saying some other general could have done better under the circumstances? If so, why aren't you bitching about why he was not relieved?
McChrystal himself doesn't promise success even with a 100k plus troops if his request are met, and you are trying to demean Eikenberry's tenure with a quarter of the amount. What a joke.
And if Obama is doing such a bad job, why did the Japanese just pledge 5 billion in aid to Afghanistan? Its that kind of support in addition to military that will make or break a counterinsurgency.
"Afghanistan is much more complicated than Iraq, and yet you guys all think that we just need more troops. Whatever."
No. We have to choose to win, and develop a strategy to do that. Of course different theaters are different. But no wars are won *without* sufficient force, and none are won by the side that rejects victory. You think that Vietnamization of Afghanistan will work. I understand. It won't. It never has. It never will. You have no objective basis for believing it will work this time.
There is, however, a long history that tells us what *does* work. Both in ancient and in modern times. And don't pretend that Obama's going to come up with some paradigm-changing strategy. He won't, and you know it. He will simply choose defense and delay and hope that attrition will lead to compromise. It won't. It never has.
Choosing narrative over reality is choosing defeat.
You aren't arguing with me then, you are arguing with McChrystal and Petraeus and Gates and Obama. All of them are on the same page concerning the need for an afghan committment to this conflict. If you think US troops alone will solve this problem, you will be mistaken and the US populace will not support it.
And whats with we have to choose to win? That cliche may sound nice but Obama already has doubled the number of troops that Bush ever committed to that theater. The sept. elections made things more dicey and the American people don't want their loved ones to fight in an open ended conflict. The only way we win, is to somehow develop a somewhat workable Afghani government that is seen positively by a majority of Afghans. Otherwise, no matter how many we kill, more will be created.
Well if that's the case, Iraq took more than 5 years before Bush got it "right". You all seem to have a much lower tolerance for our current President to get a problem under control.
Ahem. Obama has explicitly stated that he does not want victory. When your Commander in Chief has abjured victory, it is not a "cliche" to note that choosing victory is important. And, yes, I am arguing with you, because you incorrectly state the position of the folk in favor of victory. Nobody has claimed that "US troops alone will solve the problem." The claim is that sufficient US troops are necessary for solving the problem. Necessary and sufficient are two different things. You will not get "afghan committment" if the Afghanis see that we are not committed to victory.
Lewzer, I was wondering who would be the first to cart out ol' Gen. Eikenberry. Figures it was you.
You're not familiar with DC and the "game" and what happens when old soldiers refuse to fade away and they wander down to the fevered swamps of the Potomac and get sucked into the gaping maw of political ambition. Some of them trade in their medals for striped pants (a poor trade to be sure!) and others trade their integrity for a seat at the big table and a spot on tv as a talking head.
As soon as Eikenberry's picture started appearing on my tv, I realized HE is the one Bobo will blame everything on. Whether he knows it or not, his cables (which he probably naively thought would stay private and classified) will be used to provide cover for Bobo's exposed ass as he beats a hasty retreat with the Taliban hot on his tail.
Now Bobo can claim "Eikenberry made me do it." See? Magic! Now defeat in Afghanistan is no longer Bobo's fault! The question of whether Eikenberry's judgment was skewed by hanging around with Mz. Hillary and the rest of the cookie munching crowd in Foggy Bottom is a subject for another day.
Eikenberry's concerns are legitimate. The mistake in looking at his concerns would be in saying troop buildups and cracking down on corruption are mutually exclusive and you only get one without the other. But that's how Bobo will read it.
By the way, Bobo took the Bush plan and enacted it in March. So don't give him credit for committing more troops than Pres. Bush ever did.
I do agree, though... what WAS the 55% of the electorate thinking in 2008?
the same people who are now arguing that we need the Afghan govt' to stand up or we are wasting our time, made the same damn argument about Iraq. They whined about no political progress and yet lo and freakin behold, once the security situation came around the political progress followed. You can't expect local authorities to poke their heads up when that will get them cut off.
Of course the Afghan govt is corrupt, like that's a damn newsflash to anyone. But no progress on that front or the Afghan Army can happen absent a large dent in the Taliban's ability to screw things up. The only ones capable of making that happen wear our uniform and we need many more rifles to do so.
The idea that we can build a strong government or just teach some peasants to shoot and turn them loose is fantasy.
All I know is that the Strykers have lost 1/3 of their guys since July. They need relief, support, and equipment to do their jobs. It is painful to follow their deployment. March is too late to send more Troops, and winter is coming. The CIC is failing them horribly. He is no leader, he does not love this country. I knew it would be bad when he was elected but never in my wildest dreams believe how fast he and his cronies could destroy our country. Iran is sending in the money and IED supplies, the IED's are huge, for years IED's were never much of an issue in the Stan, now they are the war. How about dealing w/that? AQ and the Taliban get Pakistan's nukes is a frightening thought. Obama is pro-muslim, he doesn't want to win the war. He failed Poland, he failed the freedom lovers of Iran, a huge missed opportunity. He is failing America.
I went to a military ball on Saturday, when the MC raised his glass to toast the CIC the room got so quiet you could hear a pin drop. No one wanted to toast him. A few Officers mumbled to the president to save face. Others mumbled derogatory things under their breath. It was an awkward moment to say the least.
Jimbo, that mindset goes back 60 years. Their grandpappies were probably the same ones who said because Japan and Germany were never democratic societies, ergo, they could never become democratic societies.
Exactly right, Jimbo. If you're in danger of having your head lopped off, you aren't gonna be out there standing up to the Taliban. But, that wasn't printed in the NYT, so Lewzer can't see that.
We tried the "teach some peasants to shoot" strategy once before, the result was that someone cut off their funds and threw them to the wolves. Again, history seems about to repeat itself. And those same people are the repeaters.
Back at ya, DB.
"Others trade their integrity for a seat at the big table and a spot on tv as a talking head". Yeah, like Wesley Weasel Clark and Colin Powell. Or Jim Jones. Now there's one who got sucked into the maw of political ambition, and a seat at the big table.
Your General got the troops he requested. The Community Organizer has not committed troops requested. Japan can pledge whatever, what does that have to do with the price of chai. You are running out of sanity Lewzer.
After reading this thread I have decided not to post my take on it all.
The usual Patriots posted, the usual Trolls posted and regardless, the Pretender in Chief,
Axlerod, Rahm the Ballerina Fairy of Death and Jones, the Politician in uniform, diddle around and posture while ACTION is required and don't know DICK about anything but stealing from Taxpayers.
drewzer, You are a complete idiot. Johnny ryan, an incomplete Idiot, see me after class.
Lt. Gen. Karl W. Eikenberry and Wes Clark are complete jackasses. Taking advice from Traitor John Kerry on anything just falls short of Treason.
Subsunk, I did NOT use the F word once but was thinking it. Off to Church and then the Berm to put some rounds down range. 7.62 x 51mm therapy from an old M-14 placed onto some paper targets at about 100 meters.
Chicken and the egg... the lefty liberal (was that redundant?) idealists always think there's a more 'intellectual' way to defeat an enemy....reason, discourse, discussion, pleading and God forbid so called diplomacy will never kill the enemy, maybe bore him to death. Afghanistan is untamed country, it will simply take X amount of combat strength to occupy the ground and kill the enemy. It's quite simple really, if you want to kill the snake you don't throw rocks at it, you blow it in to little pieces with a 12 gauge shotgun THEN go about your business. Obama has no clue...
Aww, Trooper, you shouldna' done it. Calling Johnny an incomplete idiot -- Now you've gone and made him proud of his self. He'll try harder to be a complete idiot now. You gave him something to strive for.
I agree with k9gs. More troops will provide much needed reinforcement for projects that are already bringing a glimmer of a new life to the Aghans at present. They can also do much to provide security so the following projects may continue.
There's the burn unit for children that my husband and his team are running. A lot of these wounds aren't IED's --they're cooking accidents caused by a combustible mixture of kerosene and whatever else they use. They do this not because they have to, but because it's the right thing to do. They do it day in and day out.
How about schools? For the first time, girls are being allowed to go to school.
Or how about women voting for the first time ...or even thinking or talking about it? There may have not been many this first time, but if allowed, the numbers will flourish.
There are also agricultural development projects that have us working with farmer on livestock and crop cultivation.
Even so, this is war. And I think wars have to be run all or nothing. Not halfway --we have had enough of that. However, it brings me no comfort to know that if we pull out, every single gain we have helped with will swiftly be lost. Those kids in the burn unit --dead. Those girls who go to school, maimed or dead, as with the women who voted. All of this should weigh heavily on us, because frankly, there is no clean cut solution.
Either way, he has to make a decision. Right now he is playing around, and his not making a decision is utterly neglectful.
Today, little Deebow asked me "Daddy, what are those for?" I told him that these were to honor the sacrifice of the men that Daddy was in the war with. Then he asked, "What's a war?"
I didn't know what to say.... I don't know if I ever will.
So instead, I tried to tell him what a "Hero" was.... I think he got bored and went and watched SpongeBob.
I helped send SFC Bernard Deghand home to his family. I wrote in my journal at the time something that I haven't shared up until now that you can see after the jump...
Major Larry Bauguess was killed just before I left to come home. When I found out the details of what happened, having only been on an operation with him and his boss at our firebase the week before, I was upset. I hope his family is doing well and I feel as if I have missed out not getting to know him better, because I know he was a good man.
And as many of you know, Earl was one of my soldiers. And that makes it all the more personal...
And to my off duty supervisor, Call-sign Household 6, Happy Veterans Day to you. And Happy Veterans Day to every veteran, at home, at war, and retired.
I am standing there in the dark and no one is saying anything.I can see the faces of my comrades and it seems hard for us to look at one another.It is all business as we go over the positions we will all be in as we carry SFC Deghand and where we will walk to the helicopter when it comes in.I can hear the bird coming and it comes to a slow hover and sets down.When the bird landed, we went in to the freezer, assumed our positions, picked SFC Deghand up slowly and carried him to the bird.I don’t know why at the time I felt this was important, but it seemed appropriate to say a little something before we put him on the bird, because the noise is deafening, and no one but me would hear it anyway.
“Our Father which art in Heaven.”
The rotors are still turning and it is really loud.The crew is in a hurry to get moving and it is late, and early.I don’t know if anyone can hear me, but I keep saying it anyway.
“Hallowed be thy name.”
SFC Deghand is lying on a stretcher and there is an American flag draped over him.The edges of it are flapping in the rotor wash as we walk closer the helicopter.It is like I am in a tunnel, I see the helo, the crew standing there, but they seem so surreal, so far away.I keep walking, but I don’t feel like they are getting any closer.
“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
It seems that we suddenly reach the helicopter.It surprises me that I am standing there.I stop and gently place him on the floor of the helicopter. The 1SG is yelling the commands and I turn to face the man across from me.No one makes eye contact.
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
We keep sliding him gently into the bird.The crew takes a hold of the handles of the stretcher as we slide him across the floor.No one is looking at anything accept the flag that is strapped to the stretcher.
“And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass.”
We salute him, turn about face, and march away from the helicopter.We get to the entrance to the pad about 50 meters away and form 2 ranks off of the pad.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
We all salute as the bird takes off.I can feel the wind increasing and there are rocks and dust stinging my face and I can’t see the bird.The wind is buffeting me and rocking me back and forth.I put my head down and close my eyes against the dust as I hold my salute.I can feel the dust sticking to my face as it is wet from the tears I cry for him and his family.
For thine is the kingdom of heaven, and the power and the glory, forever.”
And then as quickly as the bird was here, the bird is gone.The dust subsides and we all quietly walk back to our trucks for the short ride back to our barracks and to what remains of the time we have to sleep tonight.No one says a word, accept me.
“Amen….”
:: Comments left behind ::
You are a gifted writer, sir.
I know you don't want this to be about you. But I am grateful for people like you who can help us understand better what happened to heroes like SFC Deghand.
Thank you for sharing. Moments like yours prove to me that there are caring people out here, and we should never fear. May there be many, many more like you.
I look at my POW bracelet (Harley Hall, local boy, last POW in the Vietnam War and from around here.) and I wonder.
My wrist is scared from wearing it. I never take it completely off... sometimes there's rashes; cuts from working on my cars... dirt underneath... a part of me for 30 years... and nothing to compare to his sacrifice and that of all the others.
Harley's sister is a constant at out local VVA meetings. I can't begin to grasp what she has gone through, or the families of those in Deebow's post or the hundreds of thousands of other families who've shared this unfathomable pain.
"Dear God, what brave men I shall lose before this business is done."
General George Washington
Letter to the Continental Congress
June 1776
My grandfather, a machinegun company commander, came back from World War I a gas casualty that resulted in his death from tuberculosis when my father was eight years old.
My father built Martin B-26 Marauders in Omaha and was final assembly inspector on Douglas A-24 Banshees (Army SBD Dauntless divebombers) before joining as an Aviation Cadet. He flew the B-29. We lost him in 1999.
My brother served in the United States Air Force as a linguist and intelligence analyst, and returned from Vietnam with PTSD and some health issues.
I did my 20 enlisted, noncommissioned, and commissioned, mostly on tanks. I have friends who came home from wars and some who didn't.
I sit with my grandson and cry when I read this. I, too, hope your little Deebow and my Scooter never have to experience war. Thank you, thank those who have gone before, and God Bless America.
Deebow, you have remembered you comrades well, with the honor and the dignity they deserve. As one who has assumed the task of remembrance may God richly bless you and all the others who have a special place in remembering those with whom they have served in the cause of freedom. Thank you.
Warrior Legacy Foundation adapts new 'Fight Song' -
(09:35AM)
Blackfive posted up a few weeks ago a song and video that is just too HOOAH! not to listen to. You can find that post here for The Warrior Song.
Since then, the Warrior Legacy Foundation has worked with the song's creator, Sean, and his team to 'adopt' the song for the Warrior Legacy Foundation. Now, the WLF and The Warrior Song are one and the same in promoting its use for our Warriors! The WLF has 'adopted' the song as its 'fight song'.
It's such a perfect fit. If you haven't seen it, take a look at it now. Be sure to pick up a copy of it and spread it around!
:: Comments left behind ::
It just doesn't get any better than that. As you said, that song (and video) are just too HOOAH to miss!
AFSister, I enjoy those pictures too. Not only are they good, they're darn fun to look at too. (The soldiers... you were talking about the soldiers, right?)
Not only is it too HOOAH! not to listen to, it makes me wanna strap a Code Pink fool to a chair and put it on continuous loop. I had to "settle" for including it in my Veteran's Day "Thank You" emails.
Thank you for posting it a second time; I missed it the first time around.
To date it is the only song I've ever bought through itunes. Everything else I have on my ipod, I have the CD and I ripped it. (okay so I'm not a big music maven - heh) I wanted to contribute my leetle bit through purchasing this song though. Not to mention it's excellent.
Awesome! The next generation stands on the shoulders of those who came before them.
"Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You will have opportunities beyond anything we've ever known."
Ronald Reagan
"Democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man."
Ronald Reagan
"Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives".
Ronald Reagan
"Heroes may not be braver than anyone else. They're just braver five minutes longer".
Ronald Reagan
"Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
Ronald Reagan
"No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!"
Ronald Reagan
"Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong."
Ronald Reagan
"Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fall, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science.
Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth lasts for a thousand years, men will still say, “This was their finest hour!”
Winston Churchill
Another mission, the powers have called me away
Another time to carry the colors again
My motivation, an oath I?ve sworn to defend
To win the honor of coming back home again
No explanation will matter after we begin
Unlock the dark destroyer that?s buried within
My true vocation and now my unfortunate friend
You will discover a war you?re unable to win
I?ll have you know
That I?ve become
Indestructible
Determination that is incorruptible
From the other side, a terror to behold
Annihilation will be unavoidable
Every broken enemy will know
That their opponent had to be invincible
Take a last look around while you?re alive
I?m an indestructible master of war!
Another reason, another cause for me to fight
Another fuse uncovered now, for me to light
My dedication to all that I?ve sworn to protect
I carry out my orders without a regret
My declaration embedded deep under my skin
A permanent reminder of how it began
No hesitation when I am commanded to strike
You need to know that you?re in for the fight of your life
You will be shown
How I?ve become
Indestructible
Determination that is incorruptible
From the other side, a terror to behold
Annihilation will be unavoidable
Every broken enemy will know
That their opponent had to be invincible
Take a last look around while you?re alive
I?m an indestructible master of war!
I?m indestructible
Determination that is incorruptible
From the other side, a terror to behold
Annihilation will be unavoidable
Every broken enemy will know
That their opponent had to be invincible
Take a last look around while you?re alive
I am indestructible
Indestructible
Determination that is incorruptible
From the other side, a terror to behold
Annihilation will be unavoidable
Every broken enemy will know
That their opponent had to be invincible
Take a last look around while you?re alive
I?m an indestructible master of war!
A New Campaign for the Warrior Legacy Foundation
(08:47AM)
In honor of this very special Veterans Day, the Warrior Legacy Foundation is letting you all in on a little secret- they are letting out a sneak preview of a new fundraising and awareness campaign- all led by WLF Board Member and Country Singer Derek Sholl.
This is a teaser of what is to come, and what they are working on with his team to accomplish. Headlined under the banner ''For a moment, put yourself in their shoes..'' and have celebrities, entertainers, leaders and others be photographed in the boots of our Warriors. Here are some sneak pictures of SOME of those who have already committed to getting photos done (and many more to come...)
The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the returning Warriors and their unique needs, as well as those of their families. The WLF was set up to help care for our Warriors and their families. Events being planned include billboard postings, a huge New Media campaign, Bus Tour, and Concert Tour.
Just send me an email at the.mr.wolf@gmail.com and I'll put the entertainment types together. We have real industry types coordinating this, so they won't have to deal with someone they're not familiar with, if that helps.
We'd LOVE to have some more join us! Simply, we send the photog out to them, in THEIR OWN setting that they prefer; photog brings a set of boots, and takes a few shots. Its all donated...
Mr. Wolf-
After the WONDERFUL job Fox Sports did in Baghram on Sunday, I'm willing to bet each of those commentators would be more than willing to join the campaign. Let me tell you, it was a special moment when Jimmy Johnson told the viewers about his "sacrifice" upon arriving in AFG, and they pale in comparison to what our guys go through in the field every day over there. Meeting our soldiers made him "get it". It was a beautiful thing to watch unfold.
I wrote this in 2006 and wanted to share it today.
-----------------------------
Anyone who doubts all veteran's are heroes need
read no further. But for the vast majority of you who do, I'd like to
take a little different slant in my tribute than you might read
elsewhere. Most of the time when you read tributes to vets, they're
filled with the stories of those who've suffered in combat and we see
pictures showing the battle-weary combat vets which pointedly make the
argument about the sacrifices our veterans have made and continue to
make.
But not all sacrifices are made on the field of battle.
While infantry, armor and artillery are the combat arms - the tip of
the spear - they, better than anyone, know how important the team that
makes up the rest of the spear are to their success on the battlefield.
Those
F-16s don't show up on target at the right time unless that kid flying
the boom of a KC10 tanker at 30,000 feet at 2am doesn't do his job.
That sabot round from an M1A1 fired at a threatening T72 isn't there
unless the truck driver hauling ammo day in and day out gets that ammo
where it needs to be when it needs to be there.
Veterans are the
guys like the cook who gets up every morning at 3:30 am and begins to
prepare breakfast for his guys and gals. The young man below deck on an
aircraft carrier who makes sure the F/A 18 he's responsible for
maintaining is in perfect shape and ready to fly. The nurse who holds a
dying soldier's hand as he takes his last breath, wipes away the tears,
straightens her uniform and heads out to do it again.
He's the
kid in the fuel soaked coveralls who hasn't slept in 2 days gassing up
another Bradley from his fuel tanker before they roll to the final objective. The company clerk who makes sure
all of the promotion orders are correct and in on time, or the
instructor in basic training who ensures those he trains get his full
attention and who puts his all into helping them learn important
lessons that will save their lives. He's the recruiter who'd rather be
where the action is, but does what is necessary to make sure he gets
the best and brightest available for his branch of service. Or the MP
at the gate who shows up every day, does her job to the very best of her
ability and never complains.
Most vets have never seen combat in
the sense we think of it. But every single solitary one of them has
contributed in vital ways to the success of our combat efforts and making this the finest military ever. Without
those who support the combat troops, success would impossible. Without
the wrench turners, truck drivers, fuel handlers, cooks, clerks and all
those like them, the greatest military the world has ever seen is an
"also ran."
It doesn't matter what a vet did during his or her
service, it matters that he or she chose to serve and do whatever vital
job they were assigned to the best of their ability. It isn't about
medals, it isn't about glory, it isn't about what job they did. It is about
the fact that when their country called, they stood up and answered.
They are all, every one of them, heroes.
To all the vets out there - Happy Veteran's Day.
And thank you for your service.
:: Comments left behind ::
Behind the tip of every spear is a long handle to support and guide it. Otherwise, it is another paper weight.
Happy Veterans Day to my brothers and sisters who answered the call and stood tall to make this country exceptional.
Although St. Crispins Day was on 25 October this applies on Veterans Day as well:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
********************************************************
From Shakespeare's Henry V, written in 1599 but as relevant today as it was then.
Our British, Australian and New Zealand Cousins and Allies celebrated their Remembrance
Day a few days ago. http://www.fmft.net/archives/004305.html#more
As long as there is evil in the World and Freedom at risk there will be those that will step up and answer the Call. The Profession of Arms has been around for Centuries. Almost as long as the Worlds Oldest Profession. I'm not sure if the Oldest One is Prostitution or Career Politicians whose Failed Foreign Policies send folks off to wars. If You have an answer get back to me on that.
Freedom has never been Free. Every Generation pays an installment on it. Thanks for Your Service!
Thanks McQ, proud to have served USN 79-83. My father was USAF Korean War, Uncle was USMC Korean War, Father in law USN WWII. Thanks to all who have worn the uniform and done the job, past, present, and future.
Thanks for recognizing those of us who provide, or in my case, provided, the support for the Warriors on the frontlines. I was a career 3A and damn proud of my contribution to the mission. While I would never assume my job was any way, shape or form as hard as the combat troops, I busted my ass to make sure my part of the mission was accomplished on time, every time. I now work for the VA and do the same for the clincians who help our Vets day in and day out. God Bless our deployed Warriors and God Bless America.
Thanks for this, McQ. I served 2 years (81-83) in the Army as a 95C - not even a real MP, but a corrections specialist. :-( I always hesitate to identify myself as a vet to other vets, especially living here in Hooah-Land (Fayetteville), where you can't swing a cat without hitting a combat vet. A couple of years ago I wrote to my son the OEF vet a little about this - I told him that I didn't think I had done much, but I had volunteered and done what was asked of me. And that's still more than most. To my fellow rear-echelon non-combat vets, thanks for your service. It did make a difference.
I couldn't agree more. Thank you. It reminds me of a story by LT Smash for those who might remember his blog, who wrote a story about some Navy person who weasled out of deploying at the last minute. Smash's point was someone was now going to have to take his place - at the last minute. And I felt for the person who had to take his place.
Being a road warrior in the business world for 10 years or so, I didn't like being away from home for 2 weeks. It didn't help that something traumatic always happened when I wasn't there to provide any support. A family pet dying. A mechanical problem. Drove me nuts. Sure puts into perspective what millions of people have to go through all the time who are in or family members of the military personnel.
Veterans Day - Part II - It's About The Living
(01:38AM)
Pearl Harbor survivor Houston James of Dallas embraces Marine Staff Sgt. Mark Graunke Jr. during a Veterans Day commemoration in Dallas. Graunke lost a hand, a leg and and eye when he was injured by a bomb in Iraq last year. (AP Photo)
:: Comments left behind ::
By ULA ILNYTZKY, Associated Press Writer Ula Ilnytzky, Associated Press Writer – Tue Nov 10, 4:08 pm ET
NEW YORK – The famed Navajo Code Talkers, the elite Marine unit whose unbreakable code stymied the Japanese in World War II, fear their legacy will die with them.
Only about 50 of the 400 Code Talkers are believed to be still alive, most living in the Navajo Nation reservation that spans Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Many are frail or ill, with little time left to tell the world about their wartime contribution.
But on Tuesday, 13 of the Code Talkers, some using canes, a few in wheelchairs, arrived in New York City to participate for the first time in the nation's largest Veterans Day parade, set for Wednesday.
The young Navajo Marines, using secret Navajo language-encrypted military terms, helped the U.S. prevail at Iwo Jima and other World War II Pacific battles, serving in every Marine assault in the South Pacific between 1942 and 1945. Military commanders said the code, transmitted verbally by radio, helped save countless American lives and bring a speedier end to the war in the Pacific theater.
They were sworn to secrecy about their code, so complex that even other Navajo Marines couldn't decipher it. Used to transmit secret tactical messages via radio or telephone, the code remained unbroken and classified for decades because of its potential postwar use.
One of the most touching pictures I've ever seen. Thank you Veterans. I'm so proud to see the commitment to service, acts of heroism and selfless sacrifice that the men and women of the U.S. military have shown in Iraq & Afghanistan.
Dam'. Dust in my eyes made the picture blurry somehow.
Does anyone know if Marine Staff Sgt. Mark Graunke Jr. is still on active duty? If Mr. Graunke Jr has retired from serving the forces, please let us know what we can do to help him in the civilian society. Not as a 'helpless victim' but as a positive contributer.
Happy (belated) Birthday to our Marines, and Happy Veterans Day for all our service men and women.
Oh, Storm... if it's any consolation, my 7th grader knows about code talkers as a result of a reading assignment in school. It wasn't a handout- it was bound in the text book. I was shocked to see something so profound in his grammer book- that's something I thought would appear in a history book instead. I was incredibly impressed. Most of his previous texts had made-up stories in them that the kids didn't learn anything from other than grammer. This year's book is completely different- each reading selection teaches them something historical. It's very cool.
With text books, stories, and the Code Talker movie... they have nothing to fear. Their legacy will live.
Veterans Day - Part 1 - We Start With the Late Great Mike Royko
(01:30AM)
"A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards." - Theodore Roosevelt
Again this year (sort of a Veterans Day tradition), I wanted to offer up my favorite Veterans Day article from the late, great Mike Royko (1932 - 1997) who penned it in 1993. I don't care if you were a paratrooper, cook, medic, grunt, pilot, or ran the laundry and bath point, you have my thanks for serving our country.
I think Mike's got the right idea about how to celebrate Veterans Day, GI-Style:
I just phoned six friends and asked them what they will be doing on Monday.
They all said the same thing: working.
Me, too.
There is something else we share. We are all military veterans.
And there is a third thing we have in common. We are not employees of the federal government, state government, county government, municipal government, the Postal Service, the courts, banks, or S & Ls, and we don’t teach school.
If we did, we would be among the many millions of people who will spend Monday goofing off.
Which is why it is about time Congress revised the ridiculous terms of Veterans Day as a national holiday.
The purpose of Veterans Day is to honor all veterans.
So how does this country honor them?...
...By letting the veterans, the majority of whom work in the private sector, spend the day at their jobs so they can pay taxes that permit millions of non-veterans to get paid for doing nothing.
As my friend Harry put it:
"First I went through basic training. Then infantry school. Then I got on a crowded, stinking troop ship that took 23 days to get from San Francisco to Japan. We went through a storm that had 90 percent of the guys on the ship throwing up for a week.
"Then I rode a beat-up transport plane from Japan to Korea, and it almost went down in the drink. I think the pilot was drunk.
"When I got to Korea, I was lucky. The war ended seven months after I got there, and I didn’t kill anybody and nobody killed me.
"But it was still a miserable experience. Then when my tour was over, I got on another troop ship and it took 21 stinking days to cross the Pacific.
"When I got home on leave, one of the older guys at the neighborhood bar — he was a World War II vet — told me I was a ----head because we didn’t win, we only got a tie.
"So now on Veterans Day I get up in the morning and go down to the office and work.
"You know what my nephew does? He sleeps in. That’s because he works for the state.
"And do you know what he did during the Vietnam War? He ducked the draft by getting a job teaching at an inner-city school.
"Now, is that a raw deal or what?"
Of course that’s a raw deal. So I propose that the members of Congress revise Veterans Day to provide the following:
- All veterans — and only veterans — should have the day off from work. It doesn’t matter if they were combat heroes or stateside clerk-typists.
Anybody who went through basic training and was awakened before dawn by a red-neck drill sergeant who bellowed: "Drop your whatsis and grab your socks and fall out on the road," is entitled.
- Those veterans who wish to march in parades, make speeches or listen to speeches can do so. But for those who don’t, all local gambling laws should be suspended for the day to permit vets to gather in taverns, pull a couple of tables together and spend the day playing poker, blackjack, craps, drinking and telling lewd lies about lewd experiences with lewd women. All bar prices should be rolled back to enlisted men’s club prices, Officers can pay the going rate, the stiffs.
- All anti-smoking laws will be suspended for Veterans Day. The same hold for all misdemeanor laws pertaining to disorderly conduct, non-felonious brawling, leering, gawking and any other gross and disgusting public behavior that does not harm another individual.
- It will be a treasonable offense for any spouse or live-in girlfriend (or boyfriend, if it applies) to utter the dreaded words: "What time will you be home tonight?"
- Anyone caught posing as a veteran will be required to eat a triple portion of chipped beef on toast, with Spam on the side, and spend the day watching a chaplain present a color-slide presentation on the horrors of VD.
- Regardless of how high his office, no politician who had the opportunity to serve in the military, but didn’t, will be allowed to make a patriotic speech, appear on TV, or poke his nose out of his office for the entire day.
Any politician who defies this ban will be required to spend 12 hours wearing headphones and listening to tapes of President Clinton explaining his deferments.
Now, deal the cards and pass the tequila.
- Mike Royko
Amen, Mike, Amen.
Now, where is that tequila?
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God Bless You, Mike. Almost spewed coffee at the end, "politician who defies this ban will be required to spend 12 hours wearing headphones and listening to tapes of President Clinton explaining his deferments.", indeed.
Milwaukee muggers see Army ID, return wallet
By CARRIE ANTLFINGER
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- A Milwaukee Army reservist's military identification earned him some street cred Tuesday, when he says four men who mugged him at gunpoint returned his belongings and thanked him for his service after finding the ID.
The 21-year-old University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student said he was walking home from work about 1:15 a.m. Tuesday when he was pulled into an alley and told to lay face down and with a gun to his neck. Four men took his wallet, $16, keys, his cell phone and even a PowerBar wrapper from his pants pockets, he said.
But the hostile tone quickly changed when one of the robbers, whom the reservist presumed was the leader, saw an Army ID in the wallet. The robber told the others to return the items and they put most of his belongings on the ground next to him, including the wrapper, the reservist said.
"The guy continued to say throughout the situation that he respects what I do and at one point he actually thanked me and he actually apologized," said the reservist, who asked not to be identified Tuesday because the robbers still had his keys.
The reservist said he asked the men, who all had hoods or hats covering their faces, if he could get up and they said he could before starting to walk away.
"The leader of the group actually walked back, gave me a quick fist bump, which was very strange," he said.
Milwaukee police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz said the reservist is credible and that officers still were looking for the suspects Tuesday.
The reservist didn't realize until later that his keys were not with him and he doesn't know if the robbers intended to keep those, he said. Still, he said he feels lucky.
"I'm just kind of awe struck that everything was given back to me due to just being in the military, " he said. "I realize in pretty much every other situation that wouldn't happen."
He said he's never been deployed, only having signed up for the Army Reserves about a year ago. He said he is the first person in his immediate family to join the military.
Schwartz said there were two other incidents within 40 minutes in the same area and police suspect the four men were involved in all of them. The robbers were unsuccessful at 12:35 a.m., when the 39-year-old man they approached ran into the street and started screaming.
Schwartz said within 10 minutes of that they approached a 47-year-old man - a convicted burglar who had a Department of Corrections inmate ID in his wallet - ordered him to the ground and pointed a gun at him. They took his wallet, apparently unfazed by that ID.
If America truly wants to honor her veterans, I think all male veterans of all wars should get a letter of appreciation, and a copy of the Carrie Prejean tape. Actually, to save on shipping, you can hold the letter.
All female veterans can get a smiliar videotape made by Jimbo.
How the New York Times does Veterans Day
(08:59PM)
I know you're not surprised. I guess I still expect more from "professionals". For posterity, here's a screen shot of the NYTimes Veterans Day Section (archive):
On the right for web headlines about Veterans Day issues, the NYTimes lists:
Michael Moore - This Just In GOP to send Veterans Day letter to Obama asking for troop increase to Afghanistan
CNN Political Ticker Senator: 131,000 homeless vets a 'disgrace'
TAPPED Think Tank Round-Up: Obvious Benefits to the Economy Edition.
VetVoice Coal Front Group Hijacks Veterans, Dishonors Veterans' Day
BLACKFIVE Five Student Veterans You Should Meet
I realize that it's pulling a feed. But still, a little editing here?
When Michael Moore's voice counts on Veterans Day to veterans, that's the day I'll know this country is done. But for now, it's the NYTimes has Moore for stories on vets. And VetVoice, CNN, Moore, etc. are in the rotation.
Here is a list of their articles about Vets on Veterans Day which some seem more appropriate (at least a few of them):
Gridiron Gladiators: Block That Metaphor! - “Fox NFL Sunday,” which was broadcast from Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan, glorified fake warriors and their game, and played to a crowd of real warriors locked in an eight-year-old conflict.
Back From War, but Not Really Home - A sense of dislocation has been shared by veterans returning from war since Homer conjured Odysseus’ inauspicious return some 2,800 years ago.
Echo of a Distant War -To seek peace, to oppose war, to cherish memory is a way to honor veterans on this day of armistice, this Veterans Day.
A Holiday to End All Wars - For Americans, Veterans Day celebrates the survivors of all the nation’s 20th and 21st century wars. In France and Britain, by contrast, the mood is altogether more somber.
All in all, I'd give the NYTimes Veterans Day Section a D+.
Mike Royko's article about Veterans Day is the best I've ever read. We republish it here every Veterans Day. I'll be at work but I'll set it to post for you all tomorrow.
Pass the tequila.
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RIGHT ON!!
btw, being the nosy nellie I am, I noticed you have 34,000+ unread emails in your inbox. HOLY SHIT!!
Seriously, you are getting upset over nothing. If you notice, those headlines you find so distasteful or disrespectful are generated using a news aggregator called blogrunner.
Blogrunner is basically sending a stream of posts containing the words "veterans day" to that section of the NYT veterans day page. You can see that if you click that part of the page (http://www.blogrunner.com/snapshot/t/reference/timestopics/subjects/v/veterans_day/). So if Michael Moore posted an article or link with the word Veterans Day in it, it will get posted. That story was not there when I looked at the NYT page, rather the top story was one by Hot Air, which I assume you would find more palatable.
There's no conspiracy here. Its a very standard web crawler sending stories that might be of interest to those going to the Veterans Days page of the New York Times. Your reaction, however says more about your extreme sensitivities to imagined slights than anything nefarious on the part of the NYT.
Well at least I didn't write a whole para stating the obvious. You must have missed this line:
I realize that it's pulling a feed. But still, a little editing here?
I just would expect more.
And if you go through all of the articles (and I posted the first ones listed which you seem to have missed), there are some that aren't either victimizing Veterans or making them out to be ready to go on a ramage.
You are exhibiting classic troll behavior - stating that there's nothing when there is something.
B5, you said you expect more from "professionals"? Don't forget, professionals are, in most cases, amateurs who get paid to do something, usually very poorly.
But in case you haven't noticed, you weren't invited to the party you sapper.
When someone like you goes out of his way to explain that a so called major national newspaper (who is going bankrupt and will soon be owned by a mexican national) can't be held accountable because it uses a web crawler to report on non essential issues (per the editorial board), weell, why would you come here and shoot a blank into a band of brothers.
Why can't the NYT's assign one individual to filter content on this particular subject for just one day?
They sure as hell filter content the other 364 days a year.
Your defense of a paper that never hesitates to divulge state secrets and makes it clear that the only way this country can move on dot org is via the obama highway is ridiculous.
We are almost there, or are we? Times are tough, but there is always more we can do. Yet, sometimes we need a bit more incentive to go do it. Well, we have some incentive for you. Patti and others are willing to go bald if you will take it over the top. With an example like that, how can I fail to step up?
If Team Army gets to $50,000 by Wednesday evening, I will go bald as well. I will even arrange to have photos or video taken if you can kick it up to that level.
So, what's it to be? Shall we just barely equal the Marines, or show what Army Strange Strong really means.
LW
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I actually went and volunteered to shave my head should the Marines win. Niiiiice! Starting to look like I'm going to have to make good on my promise, eh? I still need to get my pic and paragraph over to Shelle, though.
We crossed the finish line but completely acknowledge that the money we ALL raise goes to ALL servicemembers regardless of branch.
we ALL win when our teams cross that finish line so the our team is throwing what a tiny little org called the jarheads can throw behind the Army team.
(h/t HA) Holy crap. This might be funnier than those MMA guys giving wedgies. The most realistic depiction of life during wartime you may ever see short of enlisting yourself.
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LOL thats great loved the part about the m249 at the end.
What surprises me the most is that the Onion is actually aware of this stuff. But then again, some of the sick and twisted humor they put out could only come from Vets. Probably those of the E-3, E-4 variety.
I had some of those missions. My favorites - we get to a new position, I dig a deep latrine for a long stay - we move out an hour later. Or we get to a position and notice a bad stench, locate the camel carcass - and order all the Privates to bury it.
(h/t Steve Hayes) President Obama's National Security Adviser is ret. Gen. James Jones. He recently gave an interview to the German magazine Spiegel in which he makes some statements that evoke questions about his commitment to our efforts in Afghanistan.
SPIEGEL: The Obama administration is reviewing the strategy for
Afghanistan. General Stanley McChrystal, the top US commander in
Afghanistan, is asking for additional troops.
Jones: Generals always ask for more troops. Take it from me.
SPIEGEL: You would know. You're also a general and you were in Afghanistan from 2003 to almost 2007 ...
Jones: ... and of course when I was there I asked for more
troops. When we started in 2003, we had to develop a plan. So by
definition, you have to ask for people.
SPIEGEL: And now you support General McChrystal's demand for 40,000 additional troops?
Jones: We are in the middle of a process with the president and
all of his advisers in assessing the overall situation in Afghanistan.
I believe we will not solve the problem with troops alone. The minimum
number is important, of course. But there is no maximum number,
however. And what's really important in Afghanistan is that with this
new administration we insist on good governance, that it be coordinated
with economic development and security, and that we have much, much
better success at handing over responsibility for these three things to
the Afghans.
Now so far I find little to disagree with although his somewhat flippant remark that Generals always ask for more troops is a warning sign.
SPIEGEL: Afghanistan is famously referred to as the "graveyard of empires."
Jones: I know and that's why I say we cannot solve the problems
with only military forces. You can keep on putting troops in, and you
could have 200,000 troops there and the country will swallow them up as
it has done in the past. There are many empires who tried to make
Afghanistan a stable and different country, and there have always been
neighbors which were not interested in a stable and centralized
government.
"You can keep on putting troops in, and you
could have 200,000 troops there and the country will swallow them up as
it has done in the past." That is the bit that worries me. It is a fair point to make, but coming from Jones who has already talked a little smack about McChrystal keeping his mouth shut etc, and his over all unhappiness w/ Karzai and the situation there I think he is a voice against fully resourcing the COIN efforts. The press continue to report that the options McChrystal asked for low medium and high risk topped out at 40k troops. That is not the case, he was told not to officially request the 60+ k that he felt were really warranted. So any triangulation down from 40k is already increasing the risk. I am sick as hell of the constant game of leak and counterleak as this administration attempts to fly what a prominent defense analyst this week told me is a "fleet of trial balloons".
Win or lose, victory or defeat. Make the call sir!
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Last Friday the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that they could only recommend more soldiers being sent to Afghanistan IF they had one full year between deployments. If this recommendation was followed there could be no large increase in the number of troops before next summer. Here is an excerpt from the Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125720469173424023.html "At a White House meeting Friday, the Joint Chiefs of Staff urged President Barack Obama to send fresh troops to Afghanistan only if they have spent at least a year in the U.S. since their last overseas tour, according to people familiar with the matter. If Mr. Obama agreed to that condition, many potential Afghanistan reinforcements wouldn't be available until next summer at the earliest."
Jimbo do you think that the JCOS are being wussy about this ? Do you think that there should be at least a year in between deployments ?
Do you think that USMC Gen Jones should take the strain that it puts on our army in shortening time between combat deployment s
Make the call Jimbo !! all the troops requested immediately or less troops with more time between deployments !!
Dry your eyes and quietly bear this pain with pride
For heaven shall remember the silent and the brave
And promise me they will never see, the fear within our eyes
(my eyes are closed)
We will give strength to those who still remain
So bury fear, for fate draws near
And hide the signs of pain
With noble acts, the bravest souls
Endure the heart's remains
Discard regret, that in this debt
A better world is made
That children of a newer day might remember
And avoid our fate
(I've waited all day in the pouring rain, but nobody came, no, nobody came)
And in the fury of this darkest hour
We will be your light
You've asked me for my sacrifice
And I am Winter born
Without denying, a faith is come
That I have never known
I hear the angels call my name
And I am Winter born
Hold your head up high-for there is no greater love
Think of the faces of the people you defend
(you defend)
And promise me, they will never see the tears within our eyes
(my eyes are closed)
Although we are men, with mortal sins, angels never cry
So bury fear, for fate draws near
And hide the signs of pain
With noble acts, the bravest souls
Endure the heart's remains
Discard regret, that in this debt
A better world is made
That children of a newer day might remember
And avoid our fate
And in the fury of this darkest hour
We will be your light
You've asked me for my sacrifice
And I am Winter born
Without denying, a faith in God
That I have never known
I hear the angels call my name
And I am Winter born
And in the fury of this darkest hour
I will be your light
A lifetime for this destiny
For I am Winter born
And in this moment..I will not run
It is my place to stand
We few shall carry hope
Within our bloodied hands
(bloodied hands)
And in our Dying, we're more alive-than we have ever been
I've lived for these few seconds
For I am Winter born
And in the fury of this darkest hour
We will be the light
You've asked me for my sacrifice
And I am Winter born
Without denying, a faith in man
That I have never known
I hear the angels call my name
And I am Winter born
Within this moment now
I am for you, though better men have failed
I will give my life for love
For I am Winter born
And in my dying
I'm more alive, than I have ever been
I will make this sacrifice
For I am Winter born
I'll take Gen. McChrystal's operational assessment over the Joint Chiefs and retired Gen. Jones. He said that the conditions were dire and getting worse. I will agree to as long a rest for our troops as you can negotiate w/ the Taliban, but I don't see how we do them any favors letting them rest at home while the Taliban dominates more of the country.
I would agree to an increase in the Army's end strength to alleviate the problem.
Jones: Generals always ask for more troops. Take it from me.
Not all generals accomplish the same with those troops, however. Jones from Afghanistan should be thinking about that now that McChrystal is looking to trump him on achievements if he is given resources required.
Ok dont get me started on any general that would willingly work for the UHHH in chief.
WTF IS THIS.
"There are many empires who tried to make Afghanistan a stable and different country, and there have always been neighbors which were not interested in a stable and centralized government."
What empires have tried this? Russia? Russia tried to subjigate the afghains.
I have a serious problem with people who casually refer to america as a empire to often they seem to agree with people like obama's terrorist buddy.
Here's a question would you rather wait for a year knowing that the taliban could be in control of the whole country when you get there or start cleaning them out now?
Jones said, "We are in the middle of a process", which translates to, we can't even find our heads to pull them out of our asses yet. Biden insists on drones and ninjas, Michelle insists on building up her arms, and 0 insists on whatever happens reflecting positively on him. And if it fucks up health care, heads will roll.
And besides, SanFranNan needs a couple of new planes, take it out of the budget for the non-war on non-terror.
That "can't win with military force alone" is a sure sign that the speaker is a douchebag.
There's been no time, in any of our current battle fronts that anyone has suggested the fight could be won by military force alone. None of our current battle fronts were EVER approached from a military force alone aspect.
This numbnut also serves to remind that during extended periods of peace, the upper ranks of the military command structure, both enlisted and officer, will become saturated by those who rose up through the ranks simply because they were good at massaging report data, getting reports in on time with the data "selected" to please those above them and had extensive amounts of time to sit around pulling their puds on grand, make believe, sounds nice type "strategy".
I don't want to sound too cynical, but my experience with *some* General Officers has been that their value system is one in which self-promotion and promotion of the country run neck and neck in importance. I remember being involved in an event that affected a large number of folk at the Pentagon. When it happened, we wasted a good deal of time while the various Generals and Admirals argued about who was going to be in charge of dealing with it. Eventually, the message got across that if they didn't get it together, a civilian interest would fill the void. It was only the threat that *none of them* would be in charge that got them to work in some sort of concert.
I see the same sort of thing happen when General Officers, and some Council-of-Colonels-level O-6s retire, they are no longer in the position to be boss. Then the Gore Vidal dictum kicks in: "It's not enough to succeed. Others must fail." Retired Generals don't get press when they spend their time supporting the decisions of the officers on active duty. They only get press when they are contrarian. It's even worse when the carrot involves an upper level government position.
It seems that retired General Officers tend to go one way or the other. Either they end up criticizing their former colleagues to the amusement of whoever is not the majority party or they follow Omar Bradley's dictum that "... the best service a retired general can perform is to turn in his tongue along with his suit and to mothball his opinions."
