BlackFive

Marine Cpl David Elliot observes the beach during an amphibious beach exercise on Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 20, 2015. Elliot is assigned to 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. 
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler A. Andersen 

U.S. sailors line up before raising the barricade during a flight deck drill aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the Persian Gulf, March 21, 2015. The Carl Vinson is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. 
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott Fenaroli 

U.S. Marines assault a simulated objective during Exercise Eagle Resolve 2015 on Failaka Island, Kuwait, March 24, 2015. 
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Devin Nichols 

Perennial media darling (and President-anointed in waiting) Hillary Rodham Clinton weighs in on Bowe Bergdahl.

Among her erudite comments was this gem:

"If you look at what the factors were going into the decision, of course there are competing interests and values," Clinton told Sawyer. "And one of our values is we bring everybody home off the battlefield the best we can. It doesn't matter how they ended up in a prisoner of war situation.”

What is insane about all this are two competing, yet compelling problems:

(1) The circumstances under which Bergdahl was captured were essentially manufactured by his own stupidity.  That said, it is in our charter to bring back everyone we send to a combat zone. And if there is dishonorable conduct, we have methods to deal with that, upon recovery.

(2) The circumstances that led to the release involved an onerous penalty that included release of five notorious AQ operatives and (maybe) some transfer of funds.  We paid ransom.  This would be a scandal if the detained person/POW were captured in otherwise honorable conditions.

Either one of these is bad.  When the two situations are merged, it should be cause for removal of exective leadership.  For the former Secretary of State cum presumptive Dem nominee to rationalize the second action under the guise of the first is doubly damming.

But this is the world we live in these days.   Someone said it during Slick Willy's administration and it is still true. HRC is like a soap opera villainess. They never die, even when they get killed. In the sane world that we used to live in - before being transported to this dystopian world we currently occupy - this woman would have been relegated to the dustbin of history years ago. It is unreal how she remains not only omnipresent, but still touted in many circles as damn-near inevitable as the next President of the US.

Washington Post story linked here:  Hillary - What Difference Does it Make (again)

As a Chicagoan, it's not my preferable airport, but it bears a name that many don't know... Butch O'Hare.

In 1942, LtCdr Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare became the first naval ace of WWII when he destroyed 8 bombers headed for his carrier, USS Lexington, in the Pacific.  He was the first sailor to receive the Medal of Honor during WWII.  The MoH citation reads in part:

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in aerial combat, at grave risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, as section leader and pilot of Fighting Squadron 3 on 20 February 1942. Having lost the assistance of his teammates, Lt. O'Hare interposed his plane between his ship and an advancing enemy formation of 9 attacking twin-engine heavy bombers. Without hesitation, alone and unaided, he repeatedly attacked this enemy formation, at close range in the face of intense combined machinegun and cannon fire. Despite this concentrated opposition, Lt. O'Hare, by his gallant and courageous action, his extremely skillful marksmanship in making the most of every shot of his limited amount of ammunition, shot down 5 enemy bombers and severely damaged a sixth before they reached the bomb release point. As a result of his gallant action--one of the most daring, if not the most daring, single action in the history of combat aviation--he undoubtedly saved his carrier from serious damage." 

On the night of November 26, 1943, O'Hare's fighter group fought with a group of Japanese torpedo bombers.  Reports after the fight indicated that O'Hare's F6F Hellcat was shot down.  That was the last anyone ever saw of Butch O'Hare or his fighter (never recovered).

On September 19, 1949, Chicago's Orchard depot airfield was renamed in honor of LtCdr O'Hare.

And this politician *spit* wants to rename it Obama International Airport.

Could Mayor Rahm Emanuel be thinking about renaming Chicago’s airports, perhaps after President Barack Obama? 

Emanuel brought up the airports' names during a candidate forum Wednesday night atChicago State University

Mayor Emanuel quickly backtracked on talking about renaming O'Hare or Midway (named in honor of the WWII naval battle).

“Look, I made a mistake, and I was quick to change it. I’m not perfect. When I make a mistake, I hear it and change it,” Emanuel said. “And I don’t have a problem saying that. But I won’t make an apology for the fact I think President Obama is a great president. I wanted to honor him. I wanted to be the city to have the first high school named after him. In my rush to do it, I clearly offended people, so I backed off of it. I will never back off of my love and affection for a great president. But I made a mistake.”

You know what the real mistake is, Mr Mayor?  That you and your friends in the administration don't understand why the names O'Hare or Midway should never be changed.  You worry more about the sacrifices made to get votes than the sacrifices made to keep to the world safe.

Mayor Daley should kick your ass.

Soldiers conduct an after action review following a night live-fire exercise on Neibar drop zone on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, March 23, 2015. The soldiers are paratroopers assigned to the 25th Infantry Division's 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. 
U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Daniel Love 

Army Spc. Jacob Ostolaza provides security during a forced-entry parachute assault as part of a tactical field exercise on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, March 18, 2015. Ostolaza is assigned to the 25th Infantry Division's 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. 
U.S. Air Force photo by Justin Connaher 

While I appreciate that the Marines stopped using lava monsters in their commercials long ago, they always tend to have the best ones.  Here's the latest USMC commercial...and, as usual, no mention of benefits, jobs, or college, only being a part of something greater than yourself..."The Wall":

 And here the Army talks about sports...or do they? "The Team":

And the Navy, after foundering on a Global Force for Good campaign, has also followed suit with "To get to you, they have to go through us...". Here is "The Shield":

So Air Force, it's been a year since the "Its what we do" commercial...what you got?!

Good news that Bergdahl will face a jury of his peers for his actions. Two questions, should we have brought him back? Absolutely yes. Did we pay too high a price for his return? Absolutely yes.

U.S. Marines conduct a fast-rope exercise as part of amphibious integration training aboard the USS Green Bay at sea, March 10, 2015. The Marines, assigned to Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are conducting a spring patrol with sailors in the Asia-Pacific region. 
U.S. Marine Corps photo by GySgt Ismael Pena