We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:44:50 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification This combat video is not for the faint of heart. But some of you out there ask what it's like. Well, this is as close as I can get you. It's not work-safe if you don't work for the military. Not for the squeamish or children. Definitely rated R for combat violence. But, in the final analysis, this is what we warriors do. We kill people, break things, and control what's left - at the direction of the civilian leadership of this nation. As for the Iraqi soldier's in this video, well, they had a rendezvous with death - and... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html Wed, 14 Jan 2004 12:52:57 -0600 Plowing at Night? Have you never heard Santana's Moonflower? Nocturnal Farmers Unite! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1771 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1771 Thu, 15 Jan 2004 23:39:25 -0600 Uff Da- 7.5 inasmuch as is possible, I prefer my stuff in the configuration of the military user, not the product of the fevered imagination of a "Century Wizard" trying to find a way to get the public to buy 'em. Make's 'em more challenging/expensive to shoot, but from my collecting perspective, that's true to what I'm after, tools of the trade, vice tools of the 'murican consumer! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1770 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1770 Thu, 15 Jan 2004 23:34:17 -0600 Plowing at night? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1769 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1769 Thu, 15 Jan 2004 23:13:51 -0600 Went to ABC and got the rest of the story.It looks like a righteous bust.Thanks http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1768 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1768 Thu, 15 Jan 2004 22:54:14 -0600 Yes, there is a story at ABC news.com which describes the whole deal. The snippet is just of the "good" part. you have to be a subscriber to ABC.com (something i would never do) to see the whole clip. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1767 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1767 Thu, 15 Jan 2004 22:24:29 -0600 Amazing footage but I didn't see them drop anything.It looks like they were out plowing a field.Maybe something was in under the tractor the second guy was pulling out.The MAS 49's.308 or 7.5? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1766 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1766 Thu, 15 Jan 2004 21:45:41 -0600 Sir John, Your last post over after AIR cracked me up, swishing away after gathering up your skirts! But you're right, i didn't realize the faux pas of grabbing your content and commenting over there; albeit that is where i first saw your link to it. My apologies. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1763 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1763 Thu, 15 Jan 2004 19:46:52 -0600 Moriarty - exactly the way I deal with it. Absent the innocent caught in the cross-fire, which we in the Anglosphere above pretty much all else strive to avoid - everybody I ever did this to in some way or another made choices that put them in my sights. I don't lose sleep over them. And I was fortunate enough in the combats I was involved in, directly or indirectly, to be almost positive that no noncombatants died as a result of anything I did, so I don't have any of them to be concerned about. I feel more guilt over the animals I killed in survival training than I do over the soldiers I killed in combat. But that's the subject of a different post, I suppose. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1752 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1752 Wed, 14 Jan 2004 22:35:29 -0600 Just a quick comment on the (inevitable) yattering that is sure to arise - that this video trivializes killing: I've never served in the military, but I certainly know death. I've been immediately present as lives of every age have ended, some peacefully and some horribly and traumatically. Through acts of omission and comission, I have assisted in the act of dying. I have had to tell mothers, fathers and families that their loved ones - sometimes children - have died. I'm a physician, sworn to protect and preserve life and its quality. Some might imagine that I would watch this video with horror. I do not. You see, none of my patients assumed guilt for their fate. None bore arms against me, my family or my country. That enemies of my nation died, in the manner they did, gives me the faint satisfaction in knowing that there is at least some small measure of justice in the world. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1751 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1751 Wed, 14 Jan 2004 22:05:08 -0600 The only nit I have with that tape is I wouldn't have waited for movement against the truck before pulling the trigger. Then again, I'm not an Apache pilot, nor am I privy to the circumstances. From this son of a Jarhead, GO ARMY! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1750 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1750 Wed, 14 Jan 2004 20:40:07 -0600 Isn't that the greatist gun in the world? By the way, the unit that did that is right next door to me. I also fly the same aircraft over here so here's the real story. The weapon they're dropping in the field is a shoulder fired heat seeking missile. There were serveral more found in the vehicle along with RPG's. This is the same weapon that took down a Chinook a few months ago and killed 31 soldiers. The Apaches were blacked out (no lights on) so that's why the terroists thought the had a chance to ditch the weapons and get away with it. They had been followed for some time and ground units were enroute, however when you see someone go for one of the only weapons that can take out your 40 million dollar helicopter along with you, you pull the trigger. Although I wouldn't hand out a tape like that, they completely did the right thing. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1749 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1749 Wed, 14 Jan 2004 18:02:42 -0600 This has been popping up everywhere, and I haven't yet heard any negative comments. Maybe I'm not in the right place at the right time. IMO it should be viewed by everyone -- happy or not. Too many Americans avoid reality. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1748 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1748 Wed, 14 Jan 2004 16:25:18 -0600 Good Shooting guys! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1747 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/01/rendezvous_with_death.html#comment-1747 Wed, 14 Jan 2004 16:17:09 -0600