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 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/08/tf160_and_the_seals_in_afghanistan.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:00:28 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification From an email: By the way, the Afghan family that hid the SEAL survivor is now out of Afghanistan and safe. FYI: Bert has been stationed in Afghanistan for a year and is coming home this week. He just completed his last mountain mission before returning and should be on his way home. Read the account of the attached letter concerning the SEALs. -----Original Message----- FINAL UPDATE, 18 JULY 2005 Hello everyone, this is my final update. Let me start by telling you that I am in excellent health and in good spirits. I apologize for not keeping you informed... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/08/tf160_and_the_seals_in_afghanistan.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/08/tf160_and_the_seals_in_afghanistan.html Thu, 18 Aug 2005 10:49:54 -0600 I got to this blog by tracing back a blog that has a family member of one of the fallen asking questions....questions they don't need to be asking because it puts a doubt in their mind about something their loved one did or didn't do, felt or didn't feel, knew or didn't know, etc. that doesn't deserve to be there." Every time I've had the gut-wrench of speaking with those Left Behind, I've answered their questions about the circumstances surrounding the deaths of their Soldiers to the best of my ability. They want to know, not from some morbid curiosity, but because the empathy it evokes in them, a feeling of having been close when the end came. A last intimacy, a final touching, and each one thanked me for being honest with them. Sorry, "Flag," but they do need to ask those questions and they need the answers just as urgently... ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/08/tf160_and_the_seals_in_afghanistan.html#comment-30924 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/08/tf160_and_the_seals_in_afghanistan.html#comment-30924 Fri, 19 Aug 2005 12:13:23 -0600 BS - here's my problem... I stated my source, an email, and offered little other comment. Now I have you coming in and essentially telling me that it's bullshit, you know better, and I really oughta just pull it off, and STFU because I don't know what I'm doing. Okay. And you are credible because...? You left a bounce-back email address, and sent no follow-up email that would allow a discussion on the subject. So, now I have a he-said, she-said situation, where I *do* at least know the sources of the email where the bit came from. So, now I'm supposed to pull something because an anonymous emailer asks me to? See my problem? Unlike the edit suggestions (though it's past the time the Googlebot comes by) from Froggy, whom I know by reputation and can reach directly, you are just ghost in the machine. Gimme more than that, and I might well take it down - but it's *all* over the .mil email system and beyond. And no, I *don't* need the BS that "I'm an operator, I can't divulge that stuff" crapola either. There are ways to establish bona-fides among those of us on the inside of the .mil firewalls that don't reveal anything that should be kept locked up. If you're serious, drop me a line. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/08/tf160_and_the_seals_in_afghanistan.html#comment-30921 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/08/tf160_and_the_seals_in_afghanistan.html#comment-30921 Fri, 19 Aug 2005 10:11:14 -0600 While I appreciate the sentiment expressed in this story, it is factually incorrect and should not be passed off as fact. Perhaps a better approach would be to say this is what I heard or this is what I think happened. I KNOW the facts. I got to this blog by tracing back a blog that has a family member of one of the fallen asking questions....questions they don't need to be asking because it puts a doubt in their mind about something their loved one did or didn't do, felt or didn't feel, knew or didn't know, etc. that doesn't deserve to be there. Patience is something sorely missing in the world today. I have no doubt that all the facts will be known soon enough. Until that time, please do not pass rumors as fact. While patriotic and nice to read and comment on, it also tears apart grieving families who are still reeling from the tragic loss of such fine men. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/08/tf160_and_the_seals_in_afghanistan.html#comment-30910 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/08/tf160_and_the_seals_in_afghanistan.html#comment-30910 Fri, 19 Aug 2005 06:08:36 -0600 You should probably edit the name and descriptions of the author. Execution checklist prowords are not good to put out on the web either. He shouldn't have emailed it to whoever, but since he did it would be good to edit it out. Just my 2 cents. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/08/tf160_and_the_seals_in_afghanistan.html#comment-30908 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/08/tf160_and_the_seals_in_afghanistan.html#comment-30908 Fri, 19 Aug 2005 01:57:57 -0600 good news travels fast. you beat me to it. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/08/tf160_and_the_seals_in_afghanistan.html#comment-30887 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/08/tf160_and_the_seals_in_afghanistan.html#comment-30887 Thu, 18 Aug 2005 11:39:01 -0600 now THAt rocks! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/08/tf160_and_the_seals_in_afghanistan.html#comment-30886 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/08/tf160_and_the_seals_in_afghanistan.html#comment-30886 Thu, 18 Aug 2005 11:34:58 -0600