Argghhh! The Home Of Two Of Jonah's Military Guys..: March 4, 2007

March 10, 2007 -- Saturday morning, 1010 hrs.

I just finished pre-registering, and I'm looking forward to meeting you.

V5

posted by V5 on March 10, 2007 9:12 AM

I'm registered too and in the process of nagging some others to register..

On Schumer, I am no fan of Don Imus but I happened to catch his little interview with Schumer.
Heh!!!

posted by Carrie on March 10, 2007 9:54 AM

"Berkely on the Hinkson"??? Sounds like you be at Mizzou, lad. The Hinkson was a stream polluted mostly with used latex when I went to that fine institution in 1961-63.

Gotta question. Have the son of a good friend of mine who has pre-enlisted and raises his right hand on the Fourth of July.

Between now and then, I would like to introduce him to firearms (he's shot a few times, has an incomplete Boy Scout experience).

What can I involve him with that won't mess up what the Army is going to teach him in a few months?. He is striking for Cavalry Scout. Consider that I can have him shoot almost any rifle (only one I don't have is an AR, but I can borrow several for this mission). Ammo not an issue, range time not an issue (well, up to maybe 10 or 12 sessions).

I had the thought of working him through the positions with a Ruger 10-22, then upping that to my CETME, and leaving out the AR, since he might form bad habits that I might not know to correct.

I opine that if he gets used to the positions with the light .22, then gets used to staying on target with the heavier 7.62 NATO battle rifle, he ought to do just fine with an AR when they introduce him to it.

What say you, Sir?

posted by Rivrdog on March 11, 2007 2:20 AM

Indeed, Rivrdog, you are correct. The Family Seat is in Columbia, where my father and I are both alumni of Mizzou and my mother and sister alumnae of Stephens. Father and sister both have advanced degrees from Mizzou - I went private for mine, at OCU. Mother felt that with all the hoity-toits surrounding her, she didn't need to pursue no stinking advanced degree. Dad was on the ROTC faculty as an instructor when you attended. He would have been the skinnier version of me, with the bald spot.

Dad was also later on faculty here as the Professor of Military Science, 72-75. He retired the day I came on, saying there was insufficient room at Crowder Hall for both our egos.

As for shooting - it matters not what he learns on, only that he learns well. If you teach him proper PMI, he'll be ready when the Drills get ahold of him.

Just tell him that if anything you teach him is different from they want him to do, do what they want while under their tutelage, but decide for himself which works best for him - and to do what works best for him when he does it for real.

If they're good at their jobs, they'll tell him that, too.

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 11, 2007 7:31 AM

by Denizens on Mar 10, 2007 | General Commentary
� Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator links with: President Names Seven More to Walter Reed Commission

More "Professional" Press Coverage of the Military

FbL Here: I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but some days when I read AP articles, I wonder if maybe that's a reasonable explanation...

One idea Democrats have floated as part of a "slow bleed" strategy is to force the DoD to give all troops a specific amount of "home time" between deployments, and other such standards of recovery or refreshment. Right on cue, here's the AP story about how the military already doesn't have the "fresh troops" it needs--prepares the ground for congress members to come to the rescue by hamstringing the President "because we care about the troops." [my comments follow, in bold]...

PENTAGON STRUGGLES TO FIND FRESH TROOPS

WASHINGTON - Military leaders are struggling to choose Army units to stay in Iraq and Afghanistan longer or go there earlier than planned, but five years of war have made fresh troops harder to find.

Yes, the military is stressed and the op tempo in many units is very high. But what does the AP offer as proof of this?:

The likely result will be extending the deployments of brigades scheduled to come home at the end of the summer, and sending others earlier than scheduled.

You mean, as part of the surge that is essentially the delayed return of some and the expedited deployment of others? This method of creating the surge has nothing to do with "freshness" of troops, but everything to do with logistics. To quickly increase battlefield numbers is impossible any other way, as only those scheduled to deploy soon would be at a point in their cycle to be ready for deployment!

Final decisions — which have not yet been made — would come as Congress is considering ways to force President Bush to wind down the war, despite his vow that he would veto such legislation.

Didn't I say something about a "slow bleed?" Interesting how they instantly connect the surge to efforts to attempts to "wind down the war" (another word for concede) and say "congress" as if there is a unanimity of opinion among congress members. If there were, we'd already have an "out of Iraq" resolution on President Bush's desk.

In the freshest indication of the relentless demands for troops in Iraq, Maj. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, commander of coalition forces in the north, told reporters Friday that his troops have picked up the pace of their attacks on the enemy in Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad.

"Could I use more forces? No question about it," Mixon said, adding that he had asked for more.

The top U.S. military commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, said a day earlier that it was likely that additional U.S. forces will be shifted to areas outside the capital where militants are regrouping, including Diyala. The region has become an increasingly important staging ground for militant groups, including al-Qaida in Iraq.

And here we come again upon the reporter's lack of understanding about the military. Mixon is not talking about bringing more troops into the Iraqi war theater (that would take months); he's talking about shifting those already in place in order to meet a changing battlescape. Basic battlefield maneuvering.

"There have been about 30 percent more offensive actions and attacks. Many of those are initiated by us; some are initiated by them," Petraeus said from a military base outside of Tikrit. "I am cautiously optimistic that in the next 30 to 60 days that we're going to see some significant differences in the security situation in Diyala."

Aha! This must be what the AP was talking about the other day with the headline "U.S.: Iraqi insurgent attacks intensifying" that wasn't addressed in the actual article about Patraeus' comments. Imagine that!: Engaging the enemy inspires a reaction! But what matters at the end is not how many times the enemy attacked, but who was left standing. Wow. Seriously unbalanced reporting.

If not, he said, he'll go back and ask for still more support.

Petraeus said Thursday that the U.S. buildup in Iraq would need to be sustained "for some time well beyond the summer" to garner the needed results.

Another symptom of "fast food culture" applied to war. "Why doesn't everything go exactly to plan? Why can't we have this wrapped up in 3 or 4 months?!!!" Short answer: because the enemy gets a vote and he's not gonna give up easily.

Maintaining increased troop levels, said military officials, will require troops to return for what could be their second or third tours in Iraq or Afghanistan, and force military leaders to juggle the schedules to give soldiers a full 12 months at home before returning to battle.

Really? Logistics and scheduling amidst conflicting demands and the shifting of strategy are a part of warfighting?! /sarcasm

The officials would speak only on condition of anonymity, because no final decisions have been made and no formal requests for the forces have come from commanders in Iraq. But they said it is beginning to appear likely that Petraeus will ask to maintain much of the buildup at least through the end of the year, and possibly into 2008.

Let's focus in on that italicized phrase. In other words, all that has come before this is based on conjecture, contingency planning among military leadership, and anonymous sources. Nice.

There's more, but I'll end with this:

Combat troops, meanwhile, are coming to realize that the Pentagon can't fulfill its commitment to give soldiers two years at home for every year they spend deployed.

At Fort Drum, N.Y., the 1st Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division is already training for a return to Iraq this summer. The brigade, which spent a year in Iraq and got home last summer, is not yet on any official list of units scheduled to deploy, but it's likely to go in late summer.

"It's prudent planning for us to be prepared to go back in a year," said Fort Drum spokesman Ben Abel.

The military and its personnel and materiel are stretched and challenged by the OPTEMPO, but after all that discussion and hand-wringing, the reporter can only come up with a unit that isn't officially scheduled to deploy, but simply--in typical military fashion--is preparing just in case.

I've said it before, but I'm once again reminded: Though an amateur, I'd probably make a better military affairs reporter than at least half the people out there today. Pathetic.

You can read the rest here.

� Secure this line!

by Denizens on Mar 10, 2007 | Media Morons

Yesterday's Whatziss...

The Land-Locked Sailor Gun Dealer (though there is a salt-water body nearby, it simply has no outlet to the sea), John S, was correct. It is in fact the fuze train of a black-powder time fuze (in this case, French) from the 1880-1918 era. Of course, he was also wrong. Because it's been an ashtray a lot longer than it ever served as a fuze...

Anyway, a fuze much like these. In fact, the fat one on the incomplete rusty relic (second from the right) is identical.

Bookshelf/ordnance storage shelf in The Arsenal

John's description was correct - a black powder fuze train filled those grooves.

First, take a spindle. Then, add the made-from-lead spiral, like this.

Fuze spindle

Lastly, then, wrap that in a thin lead sheet or wax-paper cover (needs to be waterproof) and put a calibrated cap on it, marked with burn times, so that the cannoneer can use his awl and punch a hole corresponding to the time of flight before detonating, whether for a shrapnel shell, high-explosive air burst, or illuminating round. The way it works is - you punch the hole, load the round, fire it, and the 'blow-by' hot gases when the round exits the muzzle ignite the fuze train. usually. Not always, especially if you are firing lower charges. Lastly, wrap it in a thin lead sheet to water proof the whole shebang until needed. Yes, this would be an *added* lead sheath - like this.

Or, you could remove the powder, take off the cap and powder train, invert them, stack 'em on the spindle, put a screw through it to hold 'em in place, and you could make a souvenir of service trench art ashtray out of it.

Like the one that sits on the Militaria Bar of Argghhh!...

Trench Art Ashtray.

by John on Mar 10, 2007 | Artillery

I am not a golfer...

...nor do I play one on TV. But I find the following joke (told in V29's inimitable style) downright chucklesome:

Four lawyers in a law firm lived for their Saturday morning round of golf. It was their favorite moment of the week. Then one of the lawyers was transferred to an office in another city.
It wasn't quite the same without him. Then, a new lawyer joined their law firm. A woman.

One day she overheard the remaining three talking about their golf round at the coffee table. Curious, she spoke up, "You know, I used to play on my golf team in college and I was pretty good. Would you mind if I joined you next week?"

The three lawyers looked at each other. They were hesitant. Not one of them wanted to say “Yes,” but she had them on the spot. Finally, one of them said it would be okay, but they would be starting pretty early, at 6:30 am.

He figured the early tee-time would discourage her immediately. The woman said this might be a problem, and asked if she could possibly be up to 15 minutes late. They rolled their eyes, but said this would be okay.

She smiled, and said, "Good, then I'll be there either at 6:30 or 6:45." She showed up at 6:30 on the dot and wound up beating all three of them with an eye-opening 2-under par round. She was a fun and pleasant person the entire round. The guys were impressed! Back in the clubhouse, they congratulated her and happily invited her to play again the following week.

She smiled, and said, "Sure, I'll be here at 6:30 or 6:45." The next week, she showed up at 6:30, but she played left-handed. The three lawyers were incredulous as she still managed to beat them with an even par round, despite playing with her off-hand. By now the guys were totally amazed, but wondered if she was just trying to make them look bad by beating them left- handed. They couldn't figure her out. She was again very pleasant and didn't seem to be purposely showing them up, but each man began to harbor a burning desire to beat her!

In the third week, they all had their game faces on -- but she was 15 minutes late! This had the guys irritable because each was determined to play the best round of golf of his life. As they waited for her, they figured her late arrival was some petty gamesmanship on her part. Finally, she showed up. This week, she played right-handed and narrowly beat all three of them. However, she was so gracious and so complimentary of their strong play, it was hard to hold a grudge against her. This woman was a riddle no one could figure out!

Back in the clubhouse, she had all three guys shaking their heads at her ability. They had a couple of beers at the 19th hole, which helped the conversation loosen up. Finally, one of the men could contain his curiosity any longer. He asked her point blank, "How do you decide if you're going to golf right-handed or left-handed?"

The lady blushed, and grinned. She said, "That's easy. When my Dad taught me to play golf, I learned I was ambidextrous. I have always had fun switching back and forth. Then, when I met my husband in college and got married, I discovered he always sleeps in the nude. From then on, I developed a silly habit. Right before I left in the morning for golf practice, I would pull the covers off him. If his thingie was pointing to the right, I golfed right-handed; if it was pointed to the left, I golfed left-handed.

All the guys on the team thought this was hysterical." Astonished at this bizarre information, one of the guys shot back, "But what if it's pointed straight up in the air?"

She said, "Then, I'm fifteen minutes late.

The premise is kinda far-fetched, though.

Not that the notion of a good-looking, ambidexterous, female lawyer with a dynamite personality who plays pro-grade golf is all that odd -- but a *punctual* female??? C'mon...

Heh. If I'd posted that during the week, the SB Brigade would'a shredded me...

by CW4BillT on Mar 10, 2007 | I think it's funny!

I went. I saw. I liked.

[Denizen Ry reviews the move 300]

300. I saw it. I liked it. It isn’t history or the only thinly veiled social commentary one expects from comics produced after 1995.

It draws heavily from history for its substance but it isn’t history, not even close. It’s also done in comic book style. Everything is at the extremes---mega-pretty or mega-ugly; mega-virtuous or mega-unvirtuous. It’s a binary world. Good guys wear leather Speedos and carry bronze shields (with the inverted V, but not done in red like I am used to seeing.). Bad guys wear not-leather Speedos and lots of gold.

Aside: “Then we will fight in the shade.” That line always brings a smile to my face, ever since I first heard it in The 300, the 1960s version of history. That ranks right up there with “Nuts” as one of the gutsiest military quotes of all time.

The talk of politics being inherent to the film shows some real shallow thinking; a real lacking grasp of the actual event and all of its particulars; and a refusal to see the piece for what it is in gollom’s opinion. It’s hagiography of the Spartans, King Leonidas in particular, done in full comic book super-hero over the top coolness. Live action anime would be a good description--- there actually were moments when I expected someone to yell ‘Hitten-misturugi style…” as they cut someone down, but that would be un-Spartan like.

It’s a comic book paeon to Leonidas brought to life without a whole lot of ‘lessons’ to be taken home, not even historical ones. Full stop. Going past that and you’re making straw men, revealing far more about you than the film itself.

At the end of the day gollum liked 300. It entertained him for two hours. If you’re a Castle regular you’ll probably enjoy it too.
--ry

by Denizens on Mar 10, 2007 | Testosterone Alert

H&I* Fires, 09 MAR 2007

Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite.

You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...

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Since I know FOX has done a recent story about Israeli air strikes against Iran it might be worth looking to see what such a raid could do. Oxford has released such a study(pdf-24 pages). That I found the study at the intensely anti-Iraq War War in Context it should tell you what their conclusions are. But it’s still an interesting read.
--
Grognards assemble! Unfortunately this is true. A game a buddy of mine has been working on for 10 years about conflict in the Formosa Straight can’t find a publisher because nobody will buy pen and paper games anymore. Most people find even Warhammer 40K too complicated and cumbersome to play. We’re a dying breed. What, with my rapidly graying beard the days of hardcore board gamers are now seriously numbered.(h/t J of ArmchairGeneralist)
--ry
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File under: Well Duh

They could have sent me the money and I'da told them the same blame thing. :)

*ducking and running for cover before he's skewered by the Castle Ladies :) *
-BloodSpite

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Oh, the horror! I tested out as... the Prince of Darkness! (Wesley Clark for those who don't understand the reference) I may have to rethink my whole approach!

[I got pegged as Robert E. Lee -- must've been all the grey hair... --Bill]

Fortunately, I did better on this test - along with Mike D, I got a 100, so I guess I should vote. How about you? Should you vote - or not? -the Armorer

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If you have an interest - the Internet Haganah's Top 10 Jihadist website list.

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In Brit military news... Corporal Budd's Victoria Cross is awarded to his widow, Lorena.

THE Queen presented the widow of hero Para Bryan Budd with his Victoria Cross yesterday — telling her: “Always be proud of him.”
Cpl Budd, 29, died during a brave lone charge at Taliban fighters in the southern Afghan badlands.

He freed up his stricken section to escape an ambush by killing three enemy at point-blank range before being gunned down himself.

Widow Lorena, 23, received the cherished medal — only the second given in 25 years — during a private 15-minute audience with the Queen in Buckingham Palace’s State Dining Room.

She said: “I am enormously proud of him and it has been an emotional day. He was a loving husband and father. He will always be missed, but his memory continues to live on. The award of the Victoria Cross recognises his conspicuous gallantry, inspirational leadership and supreme valour.

“He made the ultimate sacrifice by laying down his life. However, he did so doing the job he loved, serving in the regiment that meant so much to him.”

Always be proud of him.

Indeed.

Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance: In Memoriam, Commonwealth-style. -the Armorer

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From 1941 until present day he has protected America from Nazi's, Communists, and Criminals. He has fought madmen, genius's, war generals and common thugs. Unfortunately, this Childhood hero of mine, has been killed

Goodbye Captain America. We need you now more than ever, I fear. And what you stood for.
-BloodSpite

by Denizens on Mar 09, 2007 | General Commentary

Lookit what the DC Circuit Court said in a gun decision handed down today...

...about the 2nd Amendment.

To summarize, we conclude that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms. That right existed prior to the formation of the new government under the Constitution and was premised on the private use of arms for activities such as hunting and self-defense, the latter being understood as resistance to either private lawlessness or the depredations of a tyrannical government (or a threat from abroad). In addition, the right to keep and bear arms had the important and salutary civic purpose of helping to preserve the citizen militia. The civic purpose was also a political expedient for the Federalists in the First Congress as it served, in part, to placate their Antifederalist opponents. The individual right facilitated militia service by ensuring that citizens would not be barred from keeping the arms they would need when called forth for militia duty. Despite the importance of the Second Amendment’s civic purpose, however, the activities it protects are not limited to militia service, nor is an individual’s enjoyment of the right contingent upon his or her continued or intermittent enrollment in the militia.

Emphasis mine.

Read the decision here. I can't wait for the Gun-Grabbing Senators to attack this piece.

I've not had time to read the whole thing, and I'm not a lawyer, anyway. The suit was brought by residents of DC asserting that certain DC gun laws infringed on their rights.

by John on Mar 09, 2007 | Gun Rights
� Media Lies links with: A landmark decision by the DC District Court....

Alright! General Cody listened to me!

Heck, I'm sure he read the blog.

Okay, mebbe not. Probably not. Almost certainly not. But great minds think alike, right?

The Army did do something many of us recommended - including Army doctors. Sent a combat arms general to Walter Reed.

A combat-arms brigadier general from Fort Knox will take over as deputy commanding general of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, a move that Army officials said yesterday will allow medical commanders to focus on health care while battle-hardened field officers work to regain the trust of wounded soldiers.
Gen. Richard A. Cody, the Army's vice chief of staff, announced that Brig. Gen. Michael S. Tucker will come to Washington as part of a leadership restructuring at Walter Reed that will include the creation of a brigade focused on helping wounded outpatients navigate a treacherous bureaucracy. Cody, speaking to reporters at Walter Reed, said the changes are designed to attack problems and lapses exposed in a series of Washington Post articles and to ensure that veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan receive the care and respect they deserve.

Cody said he believes that new leadership is key to fixing problems that let outpatient soldiers fall through the cracks.

Woot!

Read the rest here at the Washington Post.

by John on Mar 09, 2007 | Observations on things Military
� Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator links with: Firing the Wrong General

The Whatziss... answered.

...Not! I don't know what it is either - though I agree with those of you who saw it as an azimuth measuring instrument, that might somehow use the sun. All I do know about it is that it's WWII, Soviet, and it dovetailed on to something else, probably an azimuth base of some sort.

This next one, however, I *do* know what it is.

Hosting provided by FotoTime

Here's another picture for you people who get so wrapped around scale...

One hint - it's a component of something, not a stand-alone.

All I do know about it is that it's WWII, Soviet, and it dovetailed on to something else, probably an azimuth base of some sort.

Hmmm... The USSR in the Great Patriotic War had something of a reputation for makeshift ways of aiming guns. Some of their fighter aircraft had "gunsights" that were no more than hand-painted circles on the windshields. They also had a problem with poorly educated and trained troops. Could this mysterious whatzit have been a dual-mode sight for light artillery: a mirrored and telescoped eyepiece for a gunner who knew what he was doing, and the string thing for someone who didn't? It takes training to read an azimuth; it takes none to line up the string on the target and pray.

Now, as to this one: threaded cone shape, concavity on the narrow end... Breech-block off a really early breechloader cannon, before they figured out the interrupted-screw design?

posted by wolfwalker on March 9, 2007 9:08 AM

Looks very much like the internal portion of a WW1 or earlier era artillery time fuze which used a powder train instead of clockwork. Not sure of the mechanics of how they worked, but the various time increments are marked on a cover that fit over a piece like this and were punched or something at the appropriate point to determine the setting. Just a guess.

posted by John S. on March 9, 2007 9:30 AM

Welp....it would appear that I'm screwed on this one.

Of course, that looks like a pretty nice sized screw, so I'm not in such a bad position afterall.

*runs from pg17c*

posted by WereKitten on March 9, 2007 11:07 AM

screw in replacement insert for the hole where the friction fuze what the lanyard pulls out.

posted by MajMike on March 9, 2007 3:52 PM

..ya know, like a vent-piece...

{scrolling thru Gibbon's to find the correct terminology}

posted by MajMike on March 9, 2007 3:57 PM

Does look like a screw in fuze, not sure if a delay element went in the center or the powder train went around the helical groove, if the latter then its a delay element itself and not the holder for same.

posted by Old Fat Sailor on March 10, 2007 6:22 AM

by John on Mar 09, 2007 | Gun Pr0n - A Naughty Expose' of the fiddly bits

Once again, the war touches the Castle.

Staff Sergeant Darrell Kasson, Arizona ARNG.

This time in the death of Staff Sergeant Darrell Kasson, a buddy of frequent commenter (and content contributor when he was deployed) Pogue. I'll let him pick up the thread.

I've attached the press release and photo. The cleaned up version is below. SSG Kasson was performing the function of a Gunnery Sergeant with our battery before he mobilized with the 259th. We'll miss him.
Pogue

An Arizona Army National Guardsman died Sunday in Iraq . Staff Sergeant (SSG) Darrel Kasson, 43, of Florence , AZ., was killed on Mar 4, 2007 in Iraq when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded near his vehicle. Staff Sergeant Kasson was deployed with the Arizona Army National Guard’s Phoenix – based 259th Engineer Company and was a member of Alpha Battery, 2-180th Field Artillery Battalion.

“Our thoughts are with Sergeant Kasson’s family, loved ones and unit members during this time,” said Major General David P. Rataczak, The Adjutant General of the Arizona National Guard. “Sergeant Kasson was a patriot who served his country selflessly. The Arizona National Guard has lost a valued family member.”

The 259th Company was mobilized in August 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They left Arizona for Camp Shelby , MS in August 2006 for training until they deployed to Iraq in November, 2006. The 259th Company’s mission in Iraq is to perform Security Forces Operations that includes area security, route security, and convoy escort activities.

Sergeant Kasson’s family would also like to add the following:

On behalf of the Kasson Family we would like to thank all of those who have been praying for Darrel these 6 months while he was deployed to Iraq .
Darrel loved the Lord, his family, and his country very much. Darrel is going to be missed by those who knew him in church, the community and the Department of Corrections where he had been employed for the past 19 years.

Darrel passed on doing one of his greatest passions and that was serving his country. He had served faithfully with the Arizona Army National Guard for the past 20 years.

Funeral arrangements are being made and are forthcoming.

Thank you very much for all of your concern for the Kasson family.

Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance: In Memoriam.

by John on Mar 09, 2007 | Something for the Soul

Fort Campbell GIs Earn Silver Stars

Army News Service | February 28, 2007
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - Just more than 200 Silver Stars have been awarded for Operation Iraqi Freedom since it began in 2003, and three of them now belong to Soldiers from one Fort Campbell platoon.

The 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, returned in November from the streets of Ramadi, Iraq, with stories of heroism. When a barrage of small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades pierced the night silence on March 13, Staff Sgt. Jeremy Wilzcek, Spc. Jose Alvarez and Spc. Gregory Pushkin discovered how they would react in an intense, deadly situation.

"I immediately freaked out," said Alvarez, who was able to regain his composure upon seeing his comrade, Staff Sgt. Marco Silva, incapacitated in the middle of the street.

Alvarez left cover and ran into the kill zone. He covered his buddy's body with his own and returned fire on the enemy. "I snatched him up and started dragging him away," Alvarez said.

While Alvarez dragged Silva to the safety of cover, two pieces of shrapnel plunged into his leg. "I was pretty laid out," he said.

Nevertheless, Alvarez quickly returned to the fight after receiving battlefield aid.

Pushkin and Wilzcek also darted into the line of fire, risking their own lives, to retrieve wounded comrades.

Pushkin kicked down the door of a home to provide cover for injured troops reeling from the intensity of the ambush. He laid down suppressive fire, then, he and Wilzcek pushed their way to a pair of troops pinned down and injured.

"Training took over," Pushkin said. "My mind just shut down, and I focused on what was in front of me, I had no sense of time at all."

After receiving their Silver Star from 101st Airborne Division Commander Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Schloesser at Lozada Gym on Fort Campbell Feb. 15, the three heroes were still humble about the actions that earned them the award for "gallantry in action."

"I feel honored to be recognized, but there are a lot of people in Iraq doing the same thing," Wilczek said.

Though the three downplay their acts of courage, Sgt. Michael Row has a much different take on the events of that night. "I was trapped in the street, and they pulled me out of there," Row said.

"All three men risked their lives numerous times to come to the aid of their comrades," said Lt. Col. Ron Clark, 1st Bn., 506th Inf. Reg., commander.

Schloesser also awarded 14 Bronze Stars with Valor to other unit members during the same ceremony. In all, nearly 200 awards were given to the Band of Brothers Soldiers, including 87 Purple Hearts and 91 Army Commendation Medals with Valor.

(Pfc. Paul David Ondik writes for the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 505th Infantry Regiment.)

"Training took over," Pushkin said. "My mind just shut down, and I focused on what was in front of me, I had no sense of time at all."

That's the purpose of good training - get the basics instilled at an instinctual level - leaving your higher brain function for analysis and decision-making - and the more "templates" you have installed (study your military history, junior leaders) the faster the ideas pop into your head.

Well done, soldiers!

by John on Mar 09, 2007 | Global War on Terror (GWOT)
� Nom de guerre: Rivrdog links with: War, in detail

H&I* Fires, 08 MAR

Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite.

You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...

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Via Heidi's Mom, a bit from the KGW (Oregon) Afghanistan Blog by their embedded reporter Scott Kesterton on the difficulties of Coalition Warfare.

Near the end of February, the clinic was finally opened. Lacking the promised Dutch funding, the US Special Operations Civil Affairs team took matters into their own hands. Using a limited amount of funds that were available to them through US channels, as well as their own labor and labor donated by the locals, the majority of the clinic was completed. The finishing touch came one afternoon with the arrival of a contracted supply truck that had been dispatched by the Afghan government with over $50,000 US worth of supplies for the clinic. Where the Dutch had failed, the Afghan government had come through.
Examples like this remain an ongoing problem here in Afghanistan for US command. While NATO and ISAF forces have deployed here, many of the promises and commitments made to the US are not being upheld. As one US soldier stated, "NATO and ISAF are unwillingness to accept risk, but are more than willing to accept credit for the work done by US forces." In this case, it's unclear who will officially get credit for the medical clinic at Oshay, even though the credit rests solely with the efforts and accomplishments of the US Special Operations Civil Affairs team lead by Stew and Suss. As for the the Dutch officers comment about trust and promises, it appears that they have a ways to go to fulfill their commitment.

Read the rest here, it's worth your effort.

Changing tack, CAPT H points out the *real* reason Prince Harry is being sent to Iraq...

This just in:

Fuzzybear Lioness on the dangers of getting your news solely from the headlines... and she thinks she knows *exactly* the answer to the question, "Where do we get warriors like that?"

I'm inclined to agree. -the Armorer

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Get some, flyboys. It's nice when it's this cut-and-dried - especially when the bad guy doesn't hide amongst the innocent. -the Armorer

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Last night there was a mini Castle Blogmeet near Boston. SangerM was in town and we got together over a pizza. Thanks to John, I have met some very interesting people......Maggie

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Really need some advice, gang.
The madness starts here and the latest rendition of it is here

I have never desired to be back in the military so much in my entire life as today.The complete casual disregard by every single person at the insurance company, my employer and the client has been a complete shock. At least in the Army (Walter Reed or no Walter Reed) you knew that someone was going to try to help you. be it JAG, Sick Call, First Shirt, or Commander, someone was going to help you get the ball rolling.

This, on the other hand, borders on pathetic, to me anyway.
-BloodSpite

by Denizens on Mar 08, 2007 | General Commentary

Today in history...

1862 Battle of Elkhorn Tavern, ends: Pea Ridge is an interesting fight. For those of you in the midwest, where larger-scale Civil War battlefields are scarce, it's a good one to visit. Trivia note - according to the Missouri Historical Society, there are more 'named Civil War engagements' in Missouri than any other state except Virginia. The Civil War was tough out here in Missouri and Kansas. But nothing like the bloodbath in Northern Virginia and Maryland. Although - while not as bloody in absolute terms, the fight out here was probably meaner and more venal.

Anyway - as the military history instructor at Fort Sill, I used to conduct Staff Rides to Pea Ridge. It's a nice small battlefield, well maintained and a good fight to study. It pretty much is a textbook example regarding the Principles of War, as published in US Army Field Manual FM 100-5 (now FM 3-0). My view of the principles is a little skewed... when I look at winners and losers, what I usually find is that the side that screwed up the least wins. Not always - mass can have a gravitas all it's own... ask the Finns. In this fight MG Curtis, the Union commander, screwed up the least. The mnemonic I use for the Principles is MOSSMOUSE.

Mass
Objective
Surprise
Simplicity
Maneuver
Offensive
Unity of Command
Security
Economy of Force.

In this fight, Confederate Commander MG Earl Van Dorn moves his forces out of winter quarters in northeastern Arkansas to attack MG Curtis' troops, who are gathered on the ridge south of ElkHorn Tavern (though that ridge is NOT Pea Ridge, which is just to the north). Van Dorn wins Offensive, Maneuver and Surprise as he makes a daring flank march (see Stonewall Jackson at Chancellorsville) to get behind Curtis' force. Due to chain of command issues - i.e., Missouri Militia General Sterling Price's forces are not yet assimilated officially into the Confederate Army, and MG Ben McCulloch feels he should be in command and not Van Dorn, Van Dorn splits his forces - with McCullochs' troops attacking on the west side of Pea Ridge, Van Dorn and Price's troops attacking from the east side of the ridge, at Elkhorn Tavern. McCulloch's forces include the formation of Native Americans, commanded by then-Colonel Stand Watie - who later rose to Brigadier General and commander of the First Indian Brigade - the last Confederate General to surrender his forces at war's end. However, Curtis has scouts out as he should, and detects the movement - score Security for Curtis.

Union Commander Curtis, even though his command includes a large number of ethnic Germans from the St. Louis area who don't speak good english under the command of MG Franz Sigel, wins Unity of Command hands down over Van Dorn. Sigel has his best day of the Civil War at Pea Ridge under Curtis - and it wasn't that good a day. Curtis did have the enormous leadership challenge of pulling his troops out of prepared positions to turn around and face an enemy coming at them from the rear - just about the most difficult thing you can do to any unit and not induce panic - but he had the advantage of a unified command with no real quarrels about who was in charge - and he had interior lines, so that he could control both sides of his fight with little movement between them, unlike Van Dorn who was trying to synchronize two separate fights miles apart. In this, Curtis also gets the nod for Simplicity, Van Dorn a big fat 'F'.

Early on, Curtis recognized that the most serious threat to his position was McCulloch's attack on the left. He left the Iowan, Col. Grenville Dodge and the 1st Brigade, 4th Division, supported with artillery, to bear the brunt of the fight that first day at Pea Ridge, while Curtis managed to defeat in detail McCulloch's disjointed attacks on the left. Dodge would later achieve fame as the Chief Engineer of the Union Pacific railroad - and the opening of the West. This act wins for Curtis the Economy of Force laurel - not trying to be everywhere at once. Accepting risk and dealing with the greatest threat.

By his economy of force choice at Elkhorn Tavern, Curtis also wins Mass - something the Confederates never achieved, piecemealing in as they did on both sides - though it's a very close fight at Elkhorn Tavern that first day. It's a good thing for Dodge that the Confederates didn't have sufficient ammunition for their guns - they were reduced, by the end of the day's fighting, to shooting rocks and scrap iron from their cannon - and the Union artillery was knocking off the Confederate batteries. Van Dorn's chain of command problems, lack of mass, and exterior lines of communication in effect allow Curtis to swipe Maneuver back from Van Dorn as during the night he shifted his forces to the east side of the battlefield and counter-attacked at the Tavern, knocking Van Dorn fully out of the fight, and making it a win for Curtis.

Pea Ridge is not a battle you hear much about - I suggest precisely because Curtis won the fight. The battle of Shiloh was a month away. If Curtis had been badly defeated and his small army dispersed or captured, the threat to Missouri would have been immense. Missouri was a strategically significant source of lead (for bullets), mules, and food, clothing, and fodder for whoever held the state. The great concentration of forces for Shiloh might not have happened, if General Halleck decided to pull significant forces back to protect St. Louis and the west bank of the Mississippi. A rousing Confederate victory at Pea Ridge and significant inroads into the State of Missouri, with the pro-Southern Missouri Governor Sterling Price at the head of the Missouri State Guard, the Union would have had to respond. Alternatively, Van Dorn's 10,000 troops, fresh from a victory at Pea Ridge might have made a decisive difference on the first day at Shiloh. But because MG Curtis won - we'll never know, and so there is a very nicely maintained, if not all that easy to get to, Civil War battlefield in northeast Arkansas that's worth a visit!

84 years later...

1945 The Remagen Bridge is captured by the 9th Armored Division. Interesting tidbit about the 9th Armored. The division was originally an element of Patton's FUSAG, First US Army Group, the 'ghost' army created as a part of the pre-Overlord deception plan. Two of those units did in fact get stood-up. The 108th Infantry Division and the 9th Armored. Most armored divisions named themselves and incorporated that name into their shoulder insigia. 1st Armored, "Old Ironsides", 2nd Armored "Hell on Wheels", 3rd Armored, "Spearhead", etc. The 9th tooks it's name from it's origins, "Phantom". Another interesting bit about the deception plan was the level of detail undertaken to underpin the story. To the point that shoulder insignia were designed (in case there were spies who would note the absence of such things) and as the story relates in the link - the fact that patches were produced. I have a relatively extensive patch collection I inherited - and I have examples of all of those patches.

by John on Mar 08, 2007 | Historical Stuff

A new whatziss...

So, tell me - what *is* this?

A new whatziss!

I'll be more charitable than usual... here's two more views. One. Two.

by John on Mar 08, 2007 | Gun Pr0n - A Naughty Expose' of the fiddly bits

Thinking about military health care...

...at 4:30AM this morning while driving to Wal-Mart to buy some coffee because I forgot to get some yesterday, I had this epiphany.

I'm having a bit of a negotiation with TRICARE over them paying for a procedure I want done - oddly enough, they are willing to pay for the riskier and far more expensive procedure, and not the much simpler, less risky, just-as-effective procedure, which doesn't make sense on the surface of it. Until you realize that if they do approve the cheaper, less risky, just-as-effective procedure - demand for it will dramatically increase - and doctors will be more likely to recommend it - which will quite possibly increase their costs. That or they're just dimwitted bureaucratic dinosaurs wrapped up in process. Both are plausible explanations.

That led me down a different path in thinking about the system.

Setting aside that the individuals actually providing the care to the patient are interested in positive outcomes and good patient care - the *system* actually has a disincentive to do that, especially for the retiree class of consumers. And there are few market mechanisms at work, it being essentially a government monopoly - and one where a decrement in patient load is in fact a net plus. That is exactly what Secretary Rumsfeld was after with the increase in TRICARE fees, he wanted to lose customers/reduce demand, because he knew he wasn't going to be allowed to make money or break-even. He essentially wanted to shed some of his excess population no longer of value to him in order to maximize his dollars for his still-useful (active duty) population, given how the budget works.

If you really go all morbid on the subject, having us die off is a net plus to the department in several ways. There's a reduction in the subsidy for the medical system. The pension ends, and the reduced surviving spouse benefits are paid from a pool that the retiree contributed to, and the death costs are borne by the VA. If they provide truly excellent health care... we keep drawing on the health care dollars, we keep drawing our pensions, and they don't get a thing out of it anymore.

I'm not suggesting anyone besides the actuarys are really thinking it through that way - but it does beg the question, doesn't it... how do you manage a system with that kind of incentive structure...?

Just thinking out loud. Not proposing anything, just musing.

A few years ago there was a website who portended that the way to solve the worlds hunger, political and medical issue's was to kill off 70% of the population.

And that was the solution. No discrepancy on age, sex, race or otherwise because as they put it "That would be racial genocide, and thats not our cause" but the total and systematic elimination of 70% of the population.

Their motto? "I can handle the smell."

Extreme yes. Thought provoking as well when compared to what your presenting here as well.

I don't have an answer. Part of it I think is that through the wonders of modern medicine, and because some folks just come from the deep end of the gene pool, a lot of Veterans are living a lot longer than when the system was introduced. That of course creates an older threshold burden.

When Administrations go budget cutting for the VA they don't evaluate it like they do the DOD. The Dept of Defense is for war (lets keep it simple). The VA is for Vets. If we're not at war, then the VA doesn't need any more money.

Then suddenly we're in action and the VA is over loaded.

The short sightedness of the situation has created yet another situation. And here we sit.

That all make sense? Or do I need to go get another cup of coffee before I start prattling about life/death medical philosophies?

posted by BloodSpite on March 8, 2007 7:45 AM

In the book Reagan published while in office, Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation, there was an essay included by another author titled “Slippery Slope to Auschwitz.” The author mentioned that during the Weimar Republic, before the Nazis were taken seriously, the German government decided to euthanize disabled WWI veterans in order to control costs. This decision came shortly after abortion and euthanasia were legalized.

posted by Oldloadr on March 8, 2007 12:08 PM

John,

There is just one small flaw in this logic, today's young people are NOT as DUMB as some of our leaders would have us think. They sit back and observe, not just see, but actually observe, then process the information into a decision. Don't forget, we need to get new blood into the military. We can not have a bunch of 95 year old NCO's running this war. The problem is this is exactly where we are headed. The neat thing is something that was said a long time ago, "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation." -George Washington, 1789. The VA is looking at many different strategies for treating service-connected disabled vets.

Thanks,
Grumpy

posted by Grumpy on March 8, 2007 3:04 PM

by John on Mar 08, 2007 | Observations on things Military

H&I* Fires, 07 MAR 2007

Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite.

You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...

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Fuzzybear Lioness found this way kewl - er, cold. Yeah, that's it - COLD. Me? I like the website banner, even if the owner has execrable taste in men. -the Armorer

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The answer to the Whatziss... Rod Thorsen would have been completely correct if he'd left it at "starter cartridges" without adding the "recip engines." They're jet engine starter cartridges. Brit. Rod gets credit for a correct answer, even if a bit skewed... 8^ ) -the Armorer

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The Canadian Prime Minister is considering awarding our first indigenous, minted-at-home VC to Canada's Unkown Soldier, but is running into some opposition from veterans groups. Here are posts for and against the idea. - Damian

**********************************
BillT, watch yer six ... that enraged water buffalo could be looking for you.
Angry Moose Brings Down Helicopter
-Bad Cat Robot

Can do that at Ft Wainright, AK as well.
One of my fellow NCO's showed me the trick while I was there on TDY. Except it turned to Ice, not snow.

The temps there can get 60 below zero. Not joking. Recess for school kids is only canceled if it's lower than 20 degree's below zero. Again not joking. And you don't even want to know how cold it has to be for them to cancel PT......

posted by BloodSpite on March 7, 2007 8:05 AM

So... Fuzzy... "Jarheads make me horny"?? Yeah. that IS way kewl!!!! I love it! I'll have to snag that for my own site. Wonder if there's a "Soldiers make me horny" banner...?

OH!

MY
GOODNESS

um... that's not what you thought was kewl, was it? um... yeah! that water into snow thing is way cool too. honest. i knew exactly what you meant....

*resumes chandelier swinging*

posted by WereKitten on March 7, 2007 8:30 AM

But the cartoon lady isn't zaftig, John. What's making your eyes go big like saucers?

posted by ry on March 7, 2007 10:26 AM

WK - When you find that store, order me up a set of "Sailors........Marines.......Army.....Mass State Troopers........." In that order please.

posted by Maggie on March 7, 2007 10:31 AM

I'm a semi-regular reader at her place, and I have to say... I've often been tempted to snag that banner for my place. But then I remember that's not the image I want for my blog...

*sad sigh*

(Just imagine what work is like for me these days, haha! *GRIN* Sitting across from two of 'em here in the library this very moment... A little too young for me, though...)

posted by FbL on March 7, 2007 11:21 AM

Ladies, Gentlemen .... and Bill.

For all your warning sign needs, I give you ...
The Warning Label Generator!

I think you can take it from there.

posted by bad cat robot on March 7, 2007 12:28 PM

Maggie - I'm hurt you left out Airmen. I guess you don't go for intellectual, yet slightly rugged types...

posted by Oldloadr on March 7, 2007 2:08 PM

Emphasis on... slightly.

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 7, 2007 2:32 PM

John - the slighly, of course, is relative to the profession and does not take into account the normals. (best comeback I could think of -- guess I'm slipping on the intellectual front, as well) Oh, I have an excuse: I've spent this week teaching foctory workers to drive forklifts...

posted by Oldloadr on March 7, 2007 3:34 PM

You see, John.... Oldloadr is merely pointing out that women like their men to be both sensitive AND rugged at times, so "slightly rugged" gives us the best of both worlds. And considering the high ASVAB requirements for the Air Force... "intellectual" is also an accurate statement.

*kisses Oldloadr's forklift-drivin, edjumacated cheek*

posted by AFSister on March 7, 2007 3:47 PM

*Blush*

posted by Oldloadr on March 7, 2007 4:03 PM

Oldloadr - I've not had an Airman who impressed my enough to make the list. You are welcome to step up to the plate and try to knock one outta the park.

AFSis - You can have the sensitive ones.

BCR - Am I supposed to be using that thing to warn potential candidates for the Rotation what they are in for? I don't think so. I don't hunt, but I'm pretty sure you don't do it with an airhorn.

posted by Maggie on March 7, 2007 10:58 PM

Now, by "execrable", you do mean "the best", right??? Sorry, I am just a little biased.

posted by sandman6actual on March 8, 2007 10:27 AM

Maggie – Since I have no desire to crash the Wife 2.0 operating system, I’ll have to ask for volunteers among my fellow Zoomies. I’ll recommend that the intrepid individual that accepts this low-level, deep penetration mission insures his package includes the AIM 7.5 Moisture Seeking Missile.

posted by Oldloadr on March 8, 2007 10:44 AM

Wife 2.0 on my 6... Chaff/Flare! Chaff/Flare!

posted by Oldloadr on March 8, 2007 10:47 AM

See what I mean? The "slightly rugged and intellectual types" are rather cute when aroused....

LMAO

posted by AFSister on March 8, 2007 12:08 PM

Maggie, shame on you! Mass State Troopers? Those guys are the very iconic archtypical image of the Jack-Booted Thug!

Sometimes I wonder what goes on in the female mind...

I note that you did not mention USN officers in Summer Dress Whites, with sword. No, please tell me you don't have a, uh, *thing* for (spit) cops!

posted by Justthisguy on March 10, 2007 2:31 AM

by Denizens on Mar 07, 2007 | General Commentary

LTG Kiley, kindly resign your position and retire. Now, you clueless pusillanimous jerk.

And as a Brigadier, the last rank at which you served competently. You unmitigated, self-absorbed failed excuse for a leader.

You shame the Army. You shame the uniform. You shame me. You shame the system that has given you so much. Most of all, you shame yourself, yet you haven't a clue.

Compare and contrast at the hearings on the Hill, while MG Weightman turned and faced the soldiers and family members attending the hearings - and apologize, LTG Kiley seemed to act as if it was a failure of his subordinates. He apologized to the committee, but in a self-serving and pro-forma fashion.

You, sir, are an embarrassment.

You didn't create the mess, but you let it happen, and let it fester. You didn't lead. So you created a situation that lead to these hearings in which the Chief of Staff, Army, General Schoomaker, embarrassed and shamed just like the rest of us, just about lost it in front of the committee and was put in his place like an errant 6th grader.

Well done, General Kiley. You aren't responsible for General Schoomaker's frustrated lapse in front of the committee - but YOUR FAILURE OF DUE DILIGENCE IN COMMAND put us all in the wringer. You've achieved the pinnacle of your career - three stars is as far as a military doctor can go in uniform. I honestly hope, General, that when the smoke clears, if the rules allow and the facts support - you retire at least as a Major General, and preferably as a Brigadier General. And I'd love to see it as an administrative reduction for failure to perform - just to make sure your pension takes the hit.

Note to the Army leadership. Go to school on the Marines. They know how to handle their wounded. On this issue, we have just flat failed our soldiers.

I am so deeply, deeply, shamed by all this. And infuriated. I, too, was an Army leader. I am proud to have served, and am willing to serve again. And most of us are all trying to do the right thing.

But.this.is.just.unacceptable. Not just what happened, but the leadership reaction to it. And Dana Priest, whatever you may think of her reporting and analysis on other issues - she gets the credit for this - because it was only her words that made this thing come to light as it has.

And how sad is that - that is the greatest failure of the leadership. You didn't listen to, nor take care of, your soldiers.

Can Kiley. Let's ruck up and soldier on.

Yeah, I know. I broke my own rule. Too bad. It's my rule.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQEVcCv_xkQ

It's a bitter pill to swallow that Dana Priest broke the story but if, in the end, things get fixed and our recovering heroes get properly taken care of...
Fine...I'll have a large maragarita to help it go down....

And I'm with you, John....I'm utterly disgusted.

posted by Carrie on March 7, 2007 8:29 AM

nice rant, John.
and rightly so

posted by AFSister on March 7, 2007 8:31 AM

Works for me!! Screw the rules...

posted by SangerM on March 7, 2007 8:54 AM

In 25 years the military hasn't really improved much on the medicine home front.

Deny, Cover up, find a Scape Goat.

I will never understand why they approach things in this way. When it's not the Navy, it's the Air Force, when it's not the Air Force it's the Army.

But every 10 years or so a major story comes out regarding military medicine. And it starts a firestorm. And people get involved.

And then it goes away.

I'm with you, but I'm cynical regarding it.

In '87 during the Senate Sub Committee hearing's we attended regarding my Dad, then Secretary of the Navy John Lehman swore "This will never happen again, and is unacceptable"

Caspar Weinberger, the then SecDef, swore he would help make changes. Which promptly got buried with the Iran Contra affair, and he resigned shortly thereafter.

All the Statesmen and Senators who spoke so strongly for us at the time, Sasser, Gore Jr., Nunn ...all vanished shortly there after and nothing was done.

Save for one.

The article I E-mailed you John?
If you look at Doctor that caused all the ruckus?

He was made the Head of Ear Nose and Throat Bethesda. For removing a sailors skull.

You know I support this, and I support nuking anyone who had anything to do with it. But I'm afraid that they didn't learn 20 years ago....and they don't seem to care about learning now.

posted by BloodSpite on March 7, 2007 9:10 AM

I'm no expert on how the Army does things so I'll keep my comments short. Everyone who has served in any of the armed services is well aware that there is NEBER enough money to do all the maintenance that is called for. As a result we have all had to deal with substandard facilities. It's not good, but it is part of wearing the uniform, and it's hardly the world shaking news that the media makes it out to be at Walter Reed.

Secondly, I've never been treated at WRAMC, but I've known many who have and my impression has been that the medical care there is really first rate.

One of the early lesson I learned in the Marine Corps was that you could tell if a unit was good, or bad, almost as soon as you walked through the hatch (that's the door for you Army types). And it's possible to spot piss poor leadership at a 1000 meters. And it should be obvious to anyone who has read the Washington Post articles (and I almost NEVER believe the WaPo) that the root of these problems has been an absolute failure of Army leadership starting with LGEN Kiley and going right down the chain to the lowest NCOs.

The first, and most sacred duty of every officer and noncommissioned officer is to trake care of your people. You look out for your people, particularly those who cannot lookout for themselves - that's Leadership 101. And I see NO evidence that anyone at WRAMC gave a rat's ass about taking care of their wounded warriors.

LGEN Kiley served as CG at WRAMC and knew of the problems there. He lives on board and has to see some of the most obvious problems. Witnesses have testified that those problems were directly brought to his attention. And he hasn't done squat. He deserves to be relieved for cause. If fact, he probably should be charged with conduct prejudicial to the good order and discipline. And I think a retirement as Colonel might be appropiate.

John is right that the Army ought to look to the Marines. But what they need to learn is the rule that we drum into every Marine's head from day one - We Take Care Of Our Own!

Marine6 Sends

posted by Marine6 on March 7, 2007 9:47 AM

John, please forgive me for hijacking the thread a little..
Marine6's comment reminded me of a project the Marines of Quantico are undertaking for the families who have wounded/injured at NNMC.

Weekends at the hospital, the food court and cafeterias are closed. Family members either have to eat from the snack machines, eat at McDonald's, or leave their loved ones' bedside to go off the grounds for meals.

The Marine schools and Base at Quantico are taking turns bringing food up every Saturday and Sunday so that the families have another choice.
A truly great example of Marines taking care of their own.

posted by Carrie on March 7, 2007 9:58 AM

THe acute cause was leadership. The chronic cause isn't. We need to get real about what having a first rate military costs and budget accordingly. We, the civilians, failed to do that and continue to do that. There's more than enough blame to go around.

Kiley's head on a pike doesn't change what happened. But it will serve as a reminder to future commanders to pipe up good and loud when things are sour.

posted by ry on March 7, 2007 10:23 AM

Carrie - I actually don't mind that it was Dana Priest. I know the MSM plays gotcha with this administration all the time, but this needed to be uncovered. I wouldn't have minded if this story was broken by Jane Fonda if it meant that the situation got fixed.

John - I am ALWAYS for breaking the rules.

posted by Maggie on March 7, 2007 10:38 AM

Warning! Shameless self-promotion ahead:

Here is my take on the leadership failure... though admittedly, I'm only looking at part of the picture.

posted by FbL on March 7, 2007 10:43 AM

Maggie,
Don't misunderstand. I too want the situation fixed.
Yesterday even so as I said, I'll deal with it that it was Dana Priest.
That doesn't mean I have to like it.

posted by Carrie on March 7, 2007 10:43 AM

Look, the system sucks and the paperwork sucks. The medical treatement itself is good.

Thep problem is the guys who are "in between". They are no longer inpatients. They were in a separate building off of campus and they were essentially out of site out of mind, both in treatment and process.

There are two failures actually. Leadership and the process. The process is so labor intensive and paper intensive that it is a wonder anyone gets to leave med hold or go to any other place for treatment.

Its the same at Ft. Campbell and a few other places I could name. You just haven't heard about it yet.

I didn't have time to write last night since I was closing out the February for my office, but I have a lot more to say about the sheer ineptness of this process that is supposed to insure proper treatment, keep the soldier with pay and benefits and maintain accountability of all soldiers.

It's a train wreck and the only thing people have done to fix it is to add some stuff to it and change the name.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the next "road to Walter Reed"

posted by kat-missouri on March 7, 2007 12:04 PM

Don't hesitate to say what you really think, John, especially when I so agree with you! Well said, indeed.

posted by htom on March 7, 2007 12:43 PM

MAggs, no, really?(dodging M&Ms)

posted by ry on March 7, 2007 12:43 PM

Marine6, for what it's worth, while the Army could learn from the Marines, in my career, the mantra was plainly and clearly: mission, people, oneself, and there was no question in my chain of command (at any place I served) that each soldier was responsible for the person below, the person above, and the people to the right and left. Especially leadership types (that's why we got the green tabs...). And it extended to non-obvious things, like: if one of my soldiers had got frostbite, it was my butt on the line, and as is appropriate, leaders always ate last, washed last, arrived first and left last; and I never went home until all of my folks had either returned to post or I knew they were accounted for and safe, doing whatever mission they might be on, if it was going to keep them overnight, etc. I know people are people, and the Corps takes this a bit more seriously 'institutionally' than the Army, but I think most Army people believe just as strongly in that oath...

Which is one reason I am always baffled by the failures like what happened at WR. It seems to simple to me, really it does. The mission is clear, the rules in hospitals are even more structured than those in regular military life (assuming mil hospitals are like the civ hospital I worked at), and so on. And I agree: From top to bottom, General to lowest ranking NCO; if there was not on record a formal complaint or MFR detailing a problem and requesting guidance, then the whole lot of them should be cashiered. I know that's extreme, but it does matter...

BTW, Brooks Army medical center gets high marks as far as I can tell, and the VA hospital in San Antonio is excellent, or at least it has been, given the stress on the system there. I was impressed.

Of course, I guess that gets back to leadership, eh?

V/R

posted by SangerM on March 7, 2007 1:24 PM

I watched some of the hearing yesterday with the two soldiers and the spouse, describing what they tried to do to improve their situation.

I never felt embarrased for being an officer before, I did then.

posted by monkeyboy on March 7, 2007 2:28 PM

John,

Just reread your ran for the fourth time and I don't see where you broke your rules.

First, it is definetly PG-17 (and for that I commend you).

Second, you did not attack what he said you attacked what he did or FAILED to do.

Reads like a support document for a bolo OER.

This old NCO would have said far worse.

posted by Old Dog on March 7, 2007 4:47 PM

In the water to snow department. Old news, consider taking a p*** behind the shed at -50 as so very often happens here at Fairbanks.

posted by Rod Thorsen on March 7, 2007 6:34 PM

Rod - I'll consider it when you post your comment on the right post... ;^ )

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 7, 2007 6:43 PM

I recognize that by writing this email, I am taking one hell of a personal and professional risk, but I do not give a damn. Our soldiers deserve much better medical care than that which they have received lately.

So, having said that (and trusting the honor of a fellow warrior that I have never met)….here goes:

I have known Kevin Kiley since 1990 or so…back then, he was a brand new Letieuntent Colonel (LTC), Medical Corps, US Army, and was both the Division Surgeon of the 10th Mountain Division, and the Commander, 10th Medical Battalion, 10th Mountain Division. He was an unmitigated disaster at both jobs, in my opinion (in fairness, I must admit that I was a prior service (seven years as an enlisted man…as an Infantryman, Special Forces Operator, and/or Dustoff Medic) First Lieutenant (P) Medical Service Corps officer in those days (P, or Promotable…which means I had been selected for promotion to Captain), so that colors my opinion somewhat).

Years later, I had the misfortune of working for him again. He was a COL (P), and the commander of Landsthul Army Regional Medical Center in Germany (BTW, a friend of his (a Two Star General Officer at the Headquarters, US Army Europe, or so I heard) approved “frocking” Kiley. That meant that he wore his one star as a Brigadier General for almost a year before he was actually promoted). By then, I was a Major (O-4) Medical Operations Officer. The things I PERSONNALY saw and observed would turn your stomach…Kiley is a complete and total self serving, narcissistic, self centered, egotistical scumbag as a leader and officer. Having said that, I must be totally fair and admit that his patients LOVED him. He is one hell of an OB/GYN doctor, but a lousy officer and leader. He is, however, one of the “Perfumed Princes” that Col(R) David Hackworth (new deceased) used to call the scourge of the modern US Army.

I left my beloved Army in ’97 due to medical problems that could not be fixed at that time…so I have not seen/worked with/for Kiley in years. However, my bride is still an active duty Army officer, and I am now the owner of a small business that builds Medical Equipments Sets (MES) for the US Army, amongst other things.

Having said that, PLEASE DO NOT USE MY REAL NAME OR EMAIL ADDRESS. It would cause me and my bride of almost 25 years all sorts of grief (both professionally and in the business world). The reality is, however, that I have, in all probability, given you (or anyone on Kiley’s staff) enough info to well and truly screw over my bride and my little company, if you so choose to do so. I hope not, but tough s—t!!!

My bottom line is this: Kevin Kiley. LTG, MC, US Army, is a total and complete loser, and deserves to go down in our Army’s history as the first Surgeon General to be truly “relieved for cause”. Our soldiers, past, present, and future, deserve better leadership from our medics than that which Kiley can and has provided.

There, I have now vented an entire week’s worth of spleen. Use my comments (MINUS MY NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS) as you see fit, or not. I hope and pray that Kiley is sacked (like he should have been in the 90’s), and that our medics (and the GREAT soldiers they support) get the kind of Surgeon General that they truly deserve.

All the best,

Dustoff 339C

posted by An Old Army Medic on March 7, 2007 10:41 PM

OOPS, I thought the vidio link to tossing a cup of boiling water into -35 air on a mountain top was near the top of yours. Musta been the other tab. Boy am I redfaced!!!

posted by Rod Thorsen on March 7, 2007 10:44 PM

Just in my own self-defense, here it is.

Real Sorry.

posted by Rod Thorsen on March 7, 2007 10:46 PM

Well said. Exception to rule noted - and praised.

posted by CDR Salamander on March 8, 2007 2:14 AM

SangerM - If my post was perceived as an indictment of the entire U.S. Army then I must not have been clear enough. I specificly limited my comments to the obvious total failure of the leadership at WRAMC.

I don't dispute that the Army has a policy of taking care of your troops. And I don't dispute that, in general, that policy is observed throughout the Army. Perhaps that is exactly why the absolute failure at all levels of leadership at Walter Reed is so odious.

I believe that the systemic failure at WRAMC starts from the very top. When people down the chain see that the most senior officer in the chain (in this case LGEN Kiley) just flat doesn't care about the welfare of the troops, then why should they?

I am NOT denegrating the medical care at WRAMC. From everything I have heard and read about the actual medical care it appears to be outstanding. And for that the Army should be proud.

But where is the concern for taking care of all of the other needs of these wounded warriors? No one seems to care about ensuring that they get needed appointments, or that their administrative needs are addressed, or that their morale is high.

I believe that LGEN Kiley, and all of the others in leadership positions at WRAMC, have failed the basic leadership test. They should be held accountable.

And this really isn't an Army versus Marine rant. It's a rant against all those who fail in their duty to take care of the people entrusted to their care. Rank does have its privleges, but it also has its responsibilities. And the first of those is to take care of your troops.

Marine6 Sends

posted by Marine6 on March 8, 2007 10:54 AM

Good post John, and it isn't a rant. You called it as you saw it. 'Nother reason why your blog is a must read.

As well as the boiling water to snow. Made my science projects a bit easier. Now I don't have to do that.

heh.

And FWIW, regardless of the branch of service, taking care of our own should always be the very first thing we do.

posted by Cricket on March 8, 2007 11:03 AM

by John on Mar 07, 2007 | Observations on things Military
� The Thunder Run links with: Web Reconnaissance for 03/08/2007

Dies Irae

The Time: 0530 on the morning of a day two weeks after the defoliation mission.

The Place: The bunker beneath the wayhouse constructed by the work detail from Tay Do Two battalion.

Phouc was finding it more difficult to maintain his Revolutionary Ardor with each basketful of earth he hauled from the bunker to scatter into the dead grass. Sergeant Van had been displeased with the implications of the message Phouc had relayed from Colonel Trinh and had placed Phouc in command of the bunker-construction detail -- which consisted solely of Phouc.

As he hauled what he had decided was this night’s final basket of damp dirt from the hootch to the grass, he misstepped and slipped, dropping the basket and losing half its contents. Fine, he thought. The load will be that much lighter. After he scattered the remaining dirt into the grass, he returned to the spill and halfheartedly spread the dirt with a handful of dead palm fronds. He glanced around and realized that he could now discern separate shadows. Ghost’s dawn, he thought. Time to go home before the Government soldiers manning the guardpost on the main road awaken…

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Heya, Tut.”

“Heya, Steve. What flavor is the bug-juice this morning?”

“Green.”

“My favorite. I think I’ll stick with coffee.”

“That’s green this morning, too. You AMCing the CA today?”

“Nope. Single ship COORDS mission. But with three Copperheads for company.”

“Ah-hah. Single ship and a heavy fire team? Sounds like the excrement is gonna hit the impeller -- wanna borrow my Swedish K?”

“No, thanks. If Sir Charles gets that close, I’ll beat him to death with the survival kit.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As Pham Giang Xuan approached the newly-constructed wayhouse, he glared at the scattering of darker earth outside the door. Idiots. Why didn’t they just erect a sign reading “Occupied”? Pham didn’t bother to search the sky for the helicopters he had been hearing for the past hour -- the low muttering of the blades was well to the north, probably emanating from the American airfield west of the city. Stay up there, he thought. I have enough difficulties without your annoying presence. Pham scanned the entrance for the small knots warning of boobytraps. Seeing none, he entered the hootch, peering into the cool shadows. Very well, I am early. But it is still not proper that I should be unmet. He walked the few steps to the field table beside the newly-finished bunker, turned to face the doorway and struck a pose. Pham hadn’t risen through the Byzantine maze of Vietnamese politics to his present position without developing an appreciation of the theatrical.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

We were at flight idle, waiting for our pax on the raised helipad outside the COORDS shack that sat on the eastern side of Can Tho’s soccer field, viewing the world through the semicircular bounce caused by one main rotor blade being slightly out-of-track. We figured any outfit called Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support had to be a front for spooks; the missions the COORDS guys came up with were either incredibly boring or brain-freezing scary. We’d learned that pax waiting on the pad usually meant the latter, because the planners would be anxious to get rolling, get done, and get back. The absence of pax did not bode well for our hopes of an interesting flight.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Senior Sergeant Ly Doan Chinh halted at the line of dried leaves and the file of men behind him froze in place. Ly quickly scanned the brown vegetation surrounding the clearing for movement and, seeing none, began a deliberate visual search. The tree-killers have been efficient, he thought. Even the pond scum is brown. When we built the wayhouse, it was invisible beneath the forest canopy -- now, it sits in the middle of a bunch of wooden pillars. He eyed the roof with distaste. Extravagance. The money for those tiles should have been spent for repair parts for the radios. Ly made a mental note to have the two youngest soldiers camouflage those portions that were not already covered with a layer of dead leaves.

He listened for a moment. The helicopters were well to the north, he decided, and presented no threat. Ly did not fear helicopters -- he had been awarded a medal for shooting a small one down three years previously -- but he had a great respect for what they could do. He raised his left hand and gave three signals that sent four flankers to opposite sides of the clearing, then mentally tracked their progress. When his mind told him they were in place, he stalked along the well-used trail through the clearing toward the wayhouse, carrying his AK-47 at waist level, right forearm braced against his hip. When he reached mid-clearing, he stopped, looking at the wayhouse but listening to the woods for untoward sounds.

If there were enemy troops in the area, they would not be able to resist firing at him.

Ly waited for the shots. He counted to one hundred, heard nothing to alarm him and resumed stalking toward the wayhouse. Five others emerged into the clearing and followed in a well-spaced file – his battalion commander, the major from Hanoi, their two bodyguards and Sergeant Van, the trailwatcher. As he drew closer to the wayhouse, Ly saw a shadowy figure within. Damn. The Junior Emperor is here already. Ly observed the damp earth as he drew closer and thought, The bunker detail has been exceptionally careless or Junior has a weak bladder…

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“How are you guys doing this morning?” our passenger shouted as he entered through the left cargo door and sat down in the jump seat just to the rear of my seat.

“Just fine and dandy, sir -- where are we going today?” I hollered back.

Our passenger was wearing unmarked tiger fatigues and appeared to be armed solely with a map and a PRC-6 walkie-talkie. He placed the map on the radio console so I could see it without dislocating my neck and pointed to an area he had circled with a black grease pencil. “Right here.”

I blinked. It was the same Free Fire Zone we’d drenched with Orange a few weeks previously.

“Nasty area. I sprayed that whole place a couple weeks back, so whatever you’re looking for won’t be too hard to find.”

He gave me a grin and said, “You have no idea how much I hope you’re right.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ly assumed guard stance just inside the doorway of the wayhouse as Colonel Trinh and the Northerner major entered. Pham Giang Xuan had neither moved nor spoken.

“Good morning, Eldest Brother,” said Trinh, with a slight bow. “I trust you breakfasted well?”

“Good morning, Right Hand of the Revolution,” replied Pham. He ignored Trinh’s polite inquiry to reinforce his authority and added, “And good morning to our Brother from the People’s Army.”

“Good morning, Province Chief Pham.” Major Nghiem Trong Tri was equally blunt and unimpressed with Pham’s position as Governor of Phong Dinh Province. “What news of such import have you that could not be entrusted to a messenger?”

“News that must be closely held, lest it generate disaffection. Messengers are soldiers, soldiers talk, and soldiers’ talk does not always reinforce revolutionary zeal.” Pham proceeded to recount the litany of recent setbacks…

Senior Sergeant Ly frowned. The muted sound of the helicopters to the north had changed pitch, becoming clearer and louder. He could now discern three, possibly four, different helicopters. Frogs, not sharks, he thought. Too many for a resupply mission and too few for an assault landing. And definitely coming closer. He did not hear the higher pitched sounds indicating the presence of the small scout helicopters, which would mean a reconnaissance mission, but then he remembered that the heavily-armed gunships of one particular unit did use the small scouts…

“Ly-anh, see what manner of Frog becomes so intrusive and report their flight direction.”

Ly stepped from the door of the wayhouse just as the lead helicopter flashed past, not twenty meters away.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Geez! Hey, Back Seat -- Chuck had a hootch with a red tile roof under all those trees!”

“That’s what--”

“Got fresh dirt in front of it.” “Footprints!” “Fresh trails all over the place -- ”

I banked hard right and saw a guy in black PJs and web gear step from the doorway and dart back inside. “Armed male in the hootch!” Hah! First time I’ve ever seen a VC’s eyes get that round…

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ly turned and shouted,“Nói thầm chết!” Muttering Death! He took in the sight of the three men scrambling to roll into the bunker, calculated his chance of getting inside through the press as less than zero and thought, Well, maybe I’ll get another one before they get me. He wheeled in the doorway --

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As I rolled level and kicked the Huey out of trim to give my crewchief a clean shot into the hootch, I saw the VC turn and raise his AK just as the first rocket hit the red tile roof. The walls of the hootch flashed into four clouds of smoke, dirt and grass, the roof shivered, shattered and collapsed, and the guy in the doorway evaporated in a pink mist.

“Got two guys running --” “Bust ‘em!” “Got another one on the west side -- he just went into a spider hole!” Ten 40mm grenades from one of the M-5s followed him down the hole. “Got a runner in the treeline!”

A minute later, the only movement in the area was a thin cloud of drifting smoke.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Time: 1340, three days later.

The Place: The office of the S2, 164th Aviation Group, Can Tho Army Airfield, RVN.

I glanced from the Captain to his Staff Sergeant to the civilian from COORDS who were all standing with their arms folded across their chests. “Were you the AMC on a mission three days ago that destroyed a hootch with a red tile roof about ten klicks south?”

“Yes. Is that why I’m here?”

The COORDS guy said, “Captain, you killed the Province Chief.”

Oh, crap! I’m going to jail!

He grinned. “You also killed an NVA major, the Tay Do Two Battalion Commander and six other VC.”

My heart crawled back down where it belonged. “So, I’m not in trouble?”

The S2 said, “No. This gentleman just wanted to see what somebody worth 500 bicycles looked like. By the way, did you ever figure out what you did to piss Colonel Trinh off?”

“His name was Trinh? No.” I shook my head. “Sorry, but I haven’t got a clue.”

As I walked back along the dirt road to Tent City, I noticed Rat Catcher Six fiddling with a yellow Nguy Hiem box and gave him a small wave.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sergeant Van Lanh Thu returned the pilot’s wave and watched as he faded into the distance. Then he resumed his work with the rat-box, thinking, You should have offered five thousand bicycles, Brother…

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Postscript: The names of the Vietnamese characters are mixes of common Vietnamese names; except for the ARVN Captain in Sequel As Prequel, who flew with us on several missions and whose real name I did *not* use, I have no idea what any of their true names were. Their actions in the weeks preceding this final portion of the story is only conjecture on my part, but based on the events -- all of which happened pretty much as I've timelined them -- *something* brought all the players together at that place and time, and I think I crafted a plausible (and sorta-kinda entertaining) scenario.

I *do*, in fact, know for certain
1. why "Colonel Trinh" wanted me whacked,
2. why the COORDS spooks were adamant about sending a heavy fire team to the site and
3. that one VC -- most likely a trailwatcher -- escaped the area.

And I know the Green Beanie who led the patrol into the area after we departed. He recovered a money belt full of VC Liberation scrip that the Province Chief had been wearing and said it would have been just enough to buy 500 Peugeot bicycles...

Dang, Chief! You have exceeded yerself with this one, you excessive person, you! Obviously some poetic license there, but as Hollywood says, "Based on a True Story."

P.S. And if the truth is less entertaining, emotional, and evocative than that, I don't wanna hear it.

posted by Justthisguy on March 7, 2007 4:14 AM

Come to think, BOATS is less rude than TINS when de-acronymized.

posted by Justthisguy on March 7, 2007 5:06 AM

Well, geez, JTG, I'm a rude and crude Neolithic knuckle-dragger. Whaddya expect? The cut-and-dried version actually was pretty emotional, albeit mostly in the dialogue, and there *are* Ladies who visit.

Plus Mizz Thang reads over ry's shoulder...

posted by BillT on March 7, 2007 5:15 AM

Haven't read it yet because I just realized I missed the previous installment. Anybody have the link for it?

posted by FbL on March 7, 2007 6:34 AM

"sorta-kinda entertaining"...surely you jest. It was full on entertaining. Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to share your experiences.

posted by Capo del Fuoco on March 7, 2007 7:06 AM

FuzzyBee - Check your mail. But you didn't miss the previous installment, it just wasn't partic'larly exciting. Heh...

Capo del Fuoco - Grazi, Signore, grazi. Benvenuto a "Castel Argghhh!"...

posted by BillT on March 7, 2007 7:37 AM

"there *are* Ladies who visit"

surely... you jest.
*wink*

Thanks for giving us a glimpse into how you earned that chest full of medals and ribbons, Chief.
Even more glad you're here to tell the tale.

posted by AFSister on March 7, 2007 8:39 AM

SB,
Guess what song is on my ipod right now? "Magic Carpet Ride"

always reminds me of you. "why don't you come away with me, little girl, on a magic carpet ride...."

ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

posted by AFSister on March 7, 2007 8:50 AM

wow. bravo!

more more more!!!

posted by MajMike on March 7, 2007 9:16 AM

It's CORDS: "Civil Operations for Revolutionary Development Services."

Look up Robert Comer, William Colby and John Vann.

Your story could have been on the XRay Sierra mapsheet. Wikimapia shows that it grew back.

posted by rickg on March 7, 2007 3:18 PM

rickg - COORDS was the way CORDS was spelled in Can Tho. Got no idea why, but that's what was painted on the sign in front of their hootch and that was the spelling on the mission sheets. Maybe there was originally another word in the acronym (Can Tho was one of the first established) or maybe the Viet sign painter charged by the letter. Xray Sierra was across the Ba Sac -- see what WS89480253 turns up.

Most of the areas we defoliated *did* grow back after the following rainy season. One of these days, I'll do a post on the stuff, including how it worked. Or how we were *told* it worked.

AFSis - Ain't a chest full, just the left half and part of the right. And I got most of that stuff just for having a discernible pulse.

No, really. Honest to Pete.

Ummmm, would you believe that they had some extras and gave me a couple? And I got one in a box of Cracker Jax, I think...

posted by BillT on March 8, 2007 12:04 AM

Excellent story, Bill - fitting the (potential) actions into the known timeline made it a tense read ;-)

No, we won't believe they had extras, but we'll believe they gave you your share. And not just for breathing, neither. But don't forget the Captain Crunch box one ...

posted by Barb on March 8, 2007 11:24 PM

What I wanna know is, is there a Celestial Psychiatric version of Soldiers' Angels for poor old Carborundum? I mean, I betcha he's getting some bad wing cramps in that straight jacket.

What with the Delegated Omniscience, we just know he starts frothing and headbanging when Chief Bill starts to think about flying a hellaflopper.

posted by Justthisguy on March 9, 2007 1:46 AM

by CW4BillT on Mar 07, 2007 | This is no Sh*t!

H&I* Fires, 06 MAR 2007

Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite.

You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...

************************
Sometimes a cigar is a cigar. I thought people went to movies to forget the outside world and not to have their world view reinforced nor receive little pep talks. Jeez. The Spartans were the Spartans. Miller re-did the battle of Thermopylae, but anything else you see there is a reflection of you and not the event, or the movie, itself. Get a grip people.
--
More on le affair Coulter.

Think Progress is doing exactly what I thought the left would---treating it like someone just dissed them before the SuperBowl. The quote says it all: “…it’s really not that scary to attack liberals.” Ann. It should be attacking liberalism, the ideology, and not the people. You used to do that. Now you just seem to want to collect scalps. Doing the former made you a great voice for the right. The latter is making conservatives look like jokes by playing down to DailyKos level.

Capt. Ed has some thoughts about it too.

[Armorer's interjection: What Captain Ed discusses is one of the reasons this space imposed the Rulez (attack the message, not the messenger) back before it was popular... and, in truth, I have to credit Jack of Random Fate and the Commissar for getting me to think about it from that perspective. Over time, I have found it to be a great vaccine against trolls. Plus, I've discovered that many normals lurk here because... we're civil. The normals don't like all the snarky bluster. Not that we don't appreciate good snark. But mostly when it's done with the touch of a master, like that Rotorhead Tuttle. And while the readership dropped for a while - it's back to earlier levels. -the Armorer]
--
Some people just refuse to be happy.
--
Follow up on the UW and Pappy Boyington scandal. Pappy’s going to get his monument.
--
Kat should’ve linked to this herself. A survey of the history of the bureaucratic nightmare that is the ‘tail’ of DoD.
--ry

*********************************

Over at Lex's place - "This better be good." It is. So, read it. H/t, Fuzzy.

Jules Crittenden being himself...

But I can say that this is quite possibly the most ridiculous thinking on Iraq I’ve heard yet. Must read for full appreciation of its precocious child-like admonishing charms.

Read his thoughts here..

I read the piece in question, the LA Times Op-Ed by Harvard prof Samantha Power. On this one, I don't really agree with Jules. While Power puts in some swipes at the administration, if a touch over-stated, they aren't flat out wrong, either. And while some of her rhetoric is sloppy, the overall thrust of things she proposes are not all that unlike what I hear from the field grade officers I chat with regarding options for the way ahead in Iraq. -the Armorer

********************************
Last week-end another of Putin’s detractors had a close encounter with a deadly piece of heavy metal. No – In this case, it was not Polonium; but more akin to the type that comes in the 124/158gr. variety. Luckily, he is being patched-up at a local hospital, and wish him a speedy recovery.

What caught my attention on this piece, is that this happened just down the road from our other home down in Maryland. Why – He’s practically a neighbor of mine. – BOQ
****************

Ignore that little glitch. I didn't see Ry already linked part I on my Walter Reed story. Thanks.
[PS...I am still available for any civilian panel reviewing processes and policies - Kat]

If anyone hasn't read Boyington's autobiography, get it now. An abolutely unvarnished look at himself, and a great read about an interesting man.

posted by monkeyboy on March 6, 2007 7:09 AM

I'm actually hoping to see 300 in the theaters. Something I never do (go to theaters)

Not because of the political mumbo jumbo, but because it looks like a dang good "popcorn movie"

posted by BloodSpite on March 6, 2007 7:19 AM

From the article about "300"...

“Don’t you think it’s interesting that your movie was funded at this point?” Mr. Snyder recalled being asked in Berlin. “The implication was that funding came from the U.S. government.”

Really shows how very different the U.S and Europe are, huh?

posted by FbL on March 6, 2007 8:18 AM

Another of Putin's detractors, Ivan Safronov, committed "suicide" last week.

posted by Carrie on March 6, 2007 9:20 AM

yeah...putin's "friends" are dropping like Vince Fosters in the park.

posted by kat-missouri on March 6, 2007 12:00 PM

I like coming here because of the civility. But to be honest I like going to the Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler because I know whatever said there will be at least snarky and usually right on the point. Different hangouts have different expectations. Your policy is just right for where you are, as is His Imperial Grumpiness for where he is.

posted by NevadaDailySteve on March 6, 2007 4:49 PM

That's why we're Misha's Imperial Armorer...

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 6, 2007 5:37 PM

Lex wrote: "But the lesson stuck with me: We’re not all the people we appear to be.

John wrote: "In my world, commanders who fail to understand that statement as it applies to themselves… are the most dangerous of commanders. Mostly to their troops, not the enemy."

You cannot imagine how strong a chord both of those statements struck in me. I don't know why, they just did, and a memory of me as a buck sergeant (E5) came rushing in. Nothing special, really, no great tale in this, but I think a reaction to simple recognition of a universal truth one has had to learn the hard way.

There is a compact between the leader and the led, and while it is good for the leader to expect much from the led, and to challenge them to excel beyond what they feel capable of, it is also important that the leader be most critical of himself, and constantly, constantly reassessing motives and abilities.... To ensure faithful service to those who follow us, is how I tend to think of it.

Z'at make sense?

posted by SangerM on March 6, 2007 7:46 PM

Never laid eyes on the graphic novel 300 is based on but I have read "Gates of Fire".

posted by big al on March 6, 2007 9:56 PM

Umm, one of the reasons I like to hang out here is that I am *not* normal in the "normal" sense of the word "normal."

Now I do understand that I am a "normal" in the way the word "normal" is used here,but I must protest against anybody's saying that I am normal, in the way normal people think about what "normal" means, when they use the word "normal"!

There are weird folks who are not soldiers, some of whom sympathise with, and share some interests with soldiers.

posted by Justthisguy on March 7, 2007 4:33 AM

For a while I was appalled by the Coulter supporters after her latest slime job; "just a joke," "the liberals are worse," ad nauseum. Now I just nod dumbly as Yet Another Conservative proudly recaptures the moniker "Stupid Party" for the GOP...

Worst of all CPAC has been playing coy about condeming Coulter now, and possibly inviting her back next year.

Dumb move. Really, really dumb. I'm sure John, Barak, and Hillary appreciate the help... {/snark}

posted by Casey Tompkins on March 7, 2007 11:37 PM

by Denizens on Mar 06, 2007 | General Commentary

Okay, Libby has been convicted.

For lying to the FBI, who were investigating a case in which... there was no actual crime committed, and the only charges to come out of the whole thing were against Mr. Libby for lying. Note - no charges that what he said was actually illegal, just that he lied about what he said.

Gottit. Lying is obstructing justice, and that's what he was convicted of.

Senator Reid jumped in early, saying that President Bush better not pardon Libby for his heinous acts.

Heh. Okay.

It will be interesting to see what happens to Mr. Libby come sentencing.

Why? Oh, I don't know, there was that seated President lying thing which resulted in a huge legal penalty. Not.

Then there's the Sandy Berger thing. Ditto.

If Mr. Libby gets more than a fine and some community service... that will have a lot to say about Justice now, won't it.

Discuss among yourselves.

Update: Interesting view from NRO.

There has been some talk amongst the jurors that Libby was a "fall guy" for someone else in the administration, like Rove, indicating that at least one of them thought this was bigger than the perjury charges. I don't know how you can claim someone is a fall-guy for choosing to speak words on their own, but such words are just fodder for an appeal.

Combined with the juror's notes, which indicated that they were having problems with simple concepts like "reasonable doubt," I would not be surprised if this whole thing was successfully appealed away.

posted by J-P on March 6, 2007 1:48 PM

Funny that one of the jurors, a journalist, would trust 2 other journalists' memories over a White House official's memory. I guess we couldn't have seen that one coming.

posted by Tim on March 6, 2007 2:19 PM

Hey, Martha Stewart went to prison for a year over very similar crimes. no biggy.

IF true, it does worry me that jurors were making more of this than was what they were told to consider---did he lie to the FBI.

posted by ry on March 6, 2007 3:46 PM

No biggy? Care to elaborate?

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 6, 2007 4:04 PM

Why the jury convicted him is almost impossible to appeal unless tampering can be shown. I don't think the jury's statements in the press are going to be grounds for appeal.

posted by Hawk on March 6, 2007 4:28 PM

Ry has let his fast fingers get away from him, I'm sure, because his 'no biggy' comment rates right up there with some of the dumbest things I've ever said.... :-)

It is a biggy. But the fact is that there is no guaranteed justice in this nation, never has been, only a guarantee of rule of law, which is a different thing entirely boys and girls. There is only justice in this country by accident. A jury--a mind made up of 12 parts--is no more competent to judge the facts or validity of a case than one well-informed individual. Law is manipulable, Justice is a victim of law as much as it is a beneficiary. Never, ever, _ever_, expect to get Justice in the United States unless you have a good lawyer, the facts support your argument at least a little, and the jury selection process can be manipulated in your favor instead of the opponent's.

PRESIDENT Clinton lied while under oath (I have a recording of his lies coming from his mouth for anyone who doesn't remember them). He violated the most sacred American oath a person can make after marriage vows (oh wait, he violated those too), and he lied to the American people, and not just to those who didn't like hm, but those who elected him (of which I was, sadly, one--both times)... Clinton is a LIAR, he lied under oath, but HE was never charged for that crime. By my standard, no one should ever be convicted in the US again for lying, at least until Clinton serves some time.

There are also questions about the death of the staffer in the whitehouse (suicide, people going through his stuff illegally afterward, etc...).. and so on. Clinton walked and now his wife thinks she's going to waltz back into the whitehouse as if everyone has forgotten that stuff. Well a lot of us haven't, and Libby's conviction is just one reason. Kerry is, IMO, a traitor and should have been prosecuted. Biden was caught plagiarizing in his bid for the whitehouse, but now he's in power. Liars! All of them and serving under the same oath I took, essentially. So what, eh? No biggy?!?

It is a big deal! Libby is being taken to task for something (several) more powerful democrats have got away with and laughed at the American system about (think we got the truth about Chappaquiddick). The greatest travesty in our history would be for Bill Clinton to be allowed to live in the whitehouse again.

And yet for Libby, there is no Justice. Just law.

Our legal system sucks. It may be better than in other places, but it still sucks. People with money can buy their way out of trouble most of the time, and people without money get screwed unless organizations come to their rescue. I may hate the ACLU, but we sure need it (or something less biased, perhaps), because not only does the Law wear a blindfold, it has no heart, and those scales are made to balance a rendering opposite the money it takes to get that rendering. Bear in mind, the scales are empty--nothing gets you nothing.

I really need to go to Law School!!

posted by SangerM on March 6, 2007 7:14 PM

I'd agree with most of what you've got there, Sanger. But Libby not having the money? Nah, I doubt it.

I haven't followed the Libby case day-to-day, but here's what I thought had happened: Libby testified to something, then he or his legal team found HIS OWN EMAILS that contracted his testimony. He turned in those emails to the prosecutor and said, "Oops. I was incorrect; here's the correct info." And my understanding is that THAT is the heart of the "lies" he as convicted for. Huh???

posted by FbL on March 6, 2007 7:37 PM

Oh, I know...and you are correct FbL..

I wasn't really thinking about Libby anymore when I wrote that, because even if he didn't have the money, he would have been given it by someone. No, in his case, I just consider the target was lased and he wasn't going to get away no matter what. I had segued in my head to the law in general...

posted by SangerM on March 6, 2007 7:48 PM

Does anybody here really believe that Libby had a faulty memory? or are do you just support what he lied about and believe the ends justify the means?

posted by Hawk on March 7, 2007 12:12 AM

For my part, neither. I really truly don't think anyone should ever go to jail again for lying until AFTER Bill Clinton and the secret docs-in-the-pants guy do. It's that simple for me.

I wouldn't care what he lied about, it is simply not Justice being served that he is convicted of something that a rather large number of notable Democrats have got a get a pass on.

The legal system is broken, and it has been for quite some time. This just breaks it a little more. Another emminent domain case, maybe another unreasonably contested election, and I think we'll see some serious rumblings about the need for legal reform and accountability of people in power. Until then, I think he should just be told "don't do it again" and let go home.

posted by SangerM on March 7, 2007 4:11 AM

I doubt libby will get much.
Reid has a lot of nerve bi##hing about pardons after Clinton's pardon-fest at the end of his term.

posted by jimmyb on March 7, 2007 4:38 AM

Anarcho-Tyranny, as I mentioned over at Lex's place. Sorta like what they got Martha Stewart for, that is, nothing. She lied about something that would not have been a crime, had she done it.

I thought that (as Jerry Pournelle wrote) the best thing that ever happened for freedom was the posting of the Twelve Tables of the laws in ancient Rome, so that all could know the law, know what was permitted, what was forbidden, and by avoiding the doing of the forbidden, be safe from the punishment of the law.

posted by Justthisguy on March 7, 2007 4:57 AM

Hawk - the issue never would have come up if Libby and his legal team hadn't gone through some emails, discovered a discrepancy, and pointed 'em out to the prosecutors.

As for me - based on the standards seemingly applied in the Libby case, I'm in deadly trouble if I'm ever hauled in front of a Grand Jury and asked to remember every detail and jot and tittle. I really suck at that.

Reading what the juror had to say - I can empathize to a point with them. I get the sense that they didn't really think they should have been there at all. I've been on a courts-martial panel that heard a case that never should have been brought. We acquitted on all the charges relating to the offense in question - and ended up having to convict on a very minor charge. A charge that never would have been a charge if the whole thing had been handled properly by the people who made the complaint and the command which ended up referring it to court.

But we just couldn't get around it, so we very reluctantly voted to convict, and *blasted* the Prosecution and Defense and really hammered the chain of command and local JAG.

And we sentenced the guy to a $1 fine. Which isn't as easy on him as it sounds - he was still a convicted federal felon. But the penalty would allow him to make it clear to people in the future that the whole thing was picayune, and might well form the basis for a pardon application.

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 7, 2007 6:11 AM

You didn't have to convict. You coould of said not guilty. While the defense may be stopped from arguing jury nullification, the jury never has to convict.

Clinton was impeached and tried. Sandy Berger plead guilty. And I don't think Scooter Libby was as cooperative as you make him out to be. I would guess those e-mails were part of a discovery request.

posted by Hawk on March 7, 2007 9:06 AM

No, I couldn't really vote not guilty. He did it. But if they bogus prosecution hadn't been brought, he never would have been in the position he was in.

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 7, 2007 9:13 AM

Hawk: Clinton was impeached and tried.

True. But that doesn't mean he didn't lie. He lied, not only to a grand jury but to the world. There is no question about this fact.

He was not convicted by the Senate, however, for mitigating reasons; namely, that it was a travesty in the first place for him to have been brought to impeachment over something that had nothing whatsoever to do with the original investigation of the GOP's witch-finder general KStarr. I was glad to see Clinton was not kicked out of office, but I do believe he should have resigned after the fact. And for the record, I wrote to my congressmen and to the president several times before and after that circus expressing exactly those opinions.

Thus: While it's true Clinton got away with it, he was nonethelss more clearly guilty of a crime than OJ, just as was Kerry, Berger, Biden, and many others. And it is with all of that in mind that I would have no problem at all with Libby being given a $1 fine or even being acquitted.

Oh, and that $1 fine of the military person spoke whole libraries more about the opinions of the court than an acquittal would have done. I would not have wanted to be the prosecutor or the command chain that pushed the trial. Talk about a spanking! Wow.

posted by SangerM on March 7, 2007 1:52 PM

Let's use Martha Stewart to put the current case in perspective.

First, recall that Stewart was never charged with, nor convicted of insider trading. Period. End of fracking story.

She was convicted under Federal Code section 1001, wherein it is a felony to lie to any federal agent -and here's the kicker- even if you are not under oath!!

So if you tell someone (anyone) definable as a "federal agent" that you were getting an oil job for your car (when you were in fact getting a lube job from your mistress), while they were interrogating you about unrelated charges of embezzlement at your place of employment, they can charge you with a felony. They just may do this, if they think blackmailing your into cooperation will help them prosecute their case.

Martha Stewart was never convicted of any of the original charges for which she was investigated. But she was eventually convicted for something...

Food for thought.

John makes an excellent point about his court martial experience which relates to president Clinton. Yes, he lied under oath, and yes, that's perjury.

So, yes, he should have been impeached.

On the other hand, the original thrust of the Starr investigation related to alleged improprieties invoving Whitewater. To my knowlege, the (literally) tens of millions of dollars and several years of effort of the Starr investigation resulted in precisely ZERO charges relating to Whitewater. Whether or not Clinton cheated on his wife, or whether he "had sex with that woman" had nothing to do with the Whitewater investigation. Period. It wasn't relevant to the original investigation.

So Clinton should have been impeached, but he shouldn't have been convicted.

This relates to John's experience in that the actual charge (perjury in one, a non-specified but minor charge in the other) had little to do with the actual case, but both charges were, in fact, accurate.

Call it "trivial, but accurate," in a twist on the "fake, but accurate" meme. ;)

So Clinton was impeached, and lost his ability to practice law for a couple years. John's guy was charged $1.

In this case I seem to stand in a different corner than SangerM. True, Clinton perjured himself, but on the other hand the topic wasn't relevant to the original investigation. Even a United States "special" prosecutor isn't a member of the Star Chamber; s/he isn't entitled to freely peruse someone's entire life on the off chance s/he might find something juicy. S/he should be strictly limited to what is relevant to the current investigation, in the same manner one executes a search warrant.

Otherwise we have a nearly-literally unlimited warrant to investigate anything, under any circumstances, as long as funding and justification may be found.

I'm purt darn sure that's a violation of several parts of the Constitution, especially due process.

posted by Casey Tompkins on March 7, 2007 11:12 PM

Sending the prosecution a message with a $1 verdict does little for the guy with the felony conviction.

If you felt the soldier's actions fit the letter of the law but not the spirit of the law you can acquit. Its called jury nullification. Nobocy has the authority to question it. The defense cannot argue it as a valid defense, but there is nothing stopping a jury from voting that way. Justice is not always black and white.

posted by Hawk on March 7, 2007 11:21 PM

Casey Tompkins, I don't think we disagree at all... I'm not sure what part of my stuff you were looking at but my point was yours: that KStarr was way out of bounds on this, and that's why I was opposed to his conviction by the Senate... I still felt he should have resigned, even though 'acquitted.' As it is, he committed adultery in his government office (either part of which which would get any caught military person in beaucoup trouble), and then he lied about it on top of it. Yes, I agree the Whitewater investigation had nothing to do with it, but as it stands, he committed two crimes while in office (literally) and he walked.

And THAT just pisses me off.

posted by SangerM on March 8, 2007 12:01 AM

Hawk - I 'm aware of the concept of jury nullification, and have some understanding of the pluses and the minuses. Though it's really intended as a "people's defense" against perceived unjust laws, not bad prosecution.

We did, in effect nullify the bad prosecution by returning the Not Guilty verdict on the bulk of the charges.

But the bald fact remained that a Sergeant First Class with 18 years of service falsified a document. And essentially admitted falsifying a document.

Because he was tired of the hassle, and wanted to take an easy way out - and this was *before* he knew he was facing a potential prosecution on the over-arching issue.

I voted to convict. If he hadn't done it, he would have walked. He wasn't entrapped. He succumbed to temptation and falsified an official document. He decided to short-circuit the system, flawed as it was.

Sorry if the Lieutenant Colonels, Majors, Captains and 1SGs on the panel just couldn't take ourselves around that one. And we tried. But reality is, he chose to do it and didn't have to.

Sorry if that bothers you. But sometimes the choices all suck. It's like being involved in an accident. The guy who hit you is at fault, and t-boned you in an intersection where you clearly had the green light and right of way.

But you were drunk.

The accident wasn't your fault - but you're going to get hit for the DUI anyway.

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 8, 2007 6:38 AM

by John on Mar 06, 2007 | Politics

Soldier's Angel Holly Aho seeks some assistance...

...to aid a journalist. From an email forwarded by Denizenne Fuzzy:

I thought I'd ask your help in this since you were very helpful last year in spreading the word on the problems here at the Minneapolis VA Hospital. Because of the latest news interest in Walter Reed I think reporters everywhere are hoping for their own 'scoop', to ride the tail of popularity..but in any case an investigative reporter from Fox News here in MN contacted me after reading my posts about the visitor problem here. Since nothing that I'm aware of has changed in the visitor policies at the VA, perhaps this will be a help, silly timing or no. Anyways, this reporter would like to hear from families of injured soldiers, or the soldiers themselves, on whether or not they believe visitors and volunteers to be helpful to their recovery. Since this is a local reporter, it would be especially good to hear from those that are or were treated here at the VA. He'd also like to hear from any families that had difficulties in visiting their soldier as often as they would have liked (travel or other obstacles) and would've appreciated their soldier receiving supportive visitors or volunteers during those times they could not be their themselves. Finally, he's looking for anyone that has personal experience with the difficult visitor policies at our VA, either family members that didn't like the policies, or wondered why their soldier didn't get any, actual visitors like myself who had a hard time being able to visit...that kinda thing. Anyone interested in talking with this reporter can email me and I'll send them the reporter's contact information so they can talk to him directly. Not sure if it'll be productive or not, but it sure would be nice if it was!

See her post here.

by John on Mar 06, 2007 | Observations on things Military

A little olio for the day...

The Alamo circa 1914.

The final assault came before daybreak on the morning of March 6, 1836, as columns of Mexican soldiers emerged from the predawn darkness and headed for the Alamo's walls. Cannon and small arms fire from inside the Alamo beat back several attacks. Regrouping, the Mexicans scaled the walls and rushed into the compound. Once inside, they turned a captured cannon on the Long Barrack and church, blasting open the barricaded doors. The desperate struggle continued until the defenders were overwhelmed. By sunrise, the battle had ended and Santa Anna entered the Alamo compound to survey the scene of his victory.
While the facts surrounding the siege of the Alamo continue to be debated, there is no doubt about what the battle has come to symbolize. People worldwide continue to remember the Alamo as a heroic struggle against overwhelming odds — a place where men made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. For this reason the Alamo remains hallowed ground and the Shrine of Texas Liberty.

Visit the Alamo here.

On this day in 1831, Edgar Allen Poe was expelled from West Point.

Poe didn't want to stay at West Point being a poorly paid Army officer. No one could simply drop out of West Point. Poe knew that the only way to get out of West Point was to be expelled. He disobeyed orders, stopped studying. Once he obeyed orders too literally. He saw a bulletin that said that only one kind of belt should be worn. He wore the belt only, no other clothing. He was expelled from West Point in March 1831. He went to Baltimore, Maryland, and not much is known about what happened in this time

Moving on to Afghanistan - even given the parlous state of her forces under the Blair government (a condition effected by other Brit regimes as well, but Mr. Blair sits in the catbird seat at the moment) the Brits are still there and still slugging it out. These pics are from recent operations in Afstan.

Brit mortar crew in Afghanistan

I put the best on display - indirect fire is so much more mentally engaging than simply shooting at things you can see (and can see you...)

But this pic and this pic and this pic show Private Atkins and his tools to good effect as well.

by John on Mar 06, 2007 | Gun Pics | Historical Stuff

The power of forgiveness.

...and on the nature of just being tough. And the moral cost of war on the participants. And the costs of torture. And worthy of a stand-alone post.

Read Lieutenant Lomax's story here. Just.go.read. H/t, Jim C.

What a great man. And what a valuable lesson.

posted by Cricket on March 6, 2007 7:33 AM

My mind cannot wrap around the concept of inflicting so much pain and torture upon another human being, and for what? A radio? I know that despicable people throughout time have studied how much abuse a human body can take before dying, but the mental anguish suffered by the survivors is just as real and even more devastating.

I am equally amazed by our ability to forgive those who trespass against us, and I firmly believe this can be done only with the help of God. How else could we muster the strength to face, and forgive, anyone who has inflicted so much pain upon our lives? I don't think of myself as a deeply religious person- I can't quote the bible nor can I forgive myself as my Father has forgiven me... but I hope that someday I will, just as Nagase was eventually able to.

My mind just cannot fathom the dedication, courage, faith, and strength it took to inflict OR endure such beatings.

posted by AFSister on March 6, 2007 8:14 AM

As a reminder, to the Japanese, due to the code of Bushido as it was in WWII, soldiers who surrendered were no longer men. They had no rights at all and were to be treated as they pleased. I am not making excuses for the horrors the Japanese inflicted as one would expect a people with a long history of civilization would have advanced more morally. Our German friends were no better. That Americans and English remain so moral amid the horror of war is something that should be studied.

posted by JimC on March 6, 2007 9:07 AM

Wow. That story gave me tears and chills.

But I do not find the forgiveness so hard to believe. Anger and hatred--even when justified--will eat one up. To let it all go in forgiveness is to severely reduce the hated things power over oneself, as the British soldier learned when his nightmares almost disappeared after he forgave. What I find more amazing is the courage of the Japanese soldier to own his transgressions and attempt to redeem himself, even to the point of meeting a man upon whom he heaped so much abuse.

posted by FbL on March 6, 2007 9:19 AM

Lex wrote: "But the lesson stuck with me: We’re not all the people we appear to be.

John wrote: "In my world, commanders who fail to understand that statement as it applies to themselves… are the most dangerous of commanders. Mostly to their troops, not the enemy."

You cannot imagine how strong a chord both of those statements struck in me. I don't know why, they just did, and a memory of me as a buck sergeant (E5) came rushing in. Nothing special, really, no great tale in this, but I think a reaction to simple recognition of a universal truth one has had to learn the hard way.

There is a compact between the leader and the led, and while it is good for the leader to expect much from the led, and to challenge them to excel beyond what they feel capable of, it is also important that the leader be most critical of himself, and constantly, constantly reassessing motives and abilities.... To ensure faithful service to those who follow us, is how I tend to think of it.

Z'at make sense?

posted by SangerM on March 6, 2007 7:42 PM

Oops... I put this in the wrong post... Meant it to be under H&I Fires (for 6th)... so I'll put it there too...

posted by SangerM on March 6, 2007 7:46 PM

by John on Mar 06, 2007 | Something for the Soul

H&I* Fires, 05 MAR 2007

Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite.

You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...

************************

The Coulter story won't go away, so I'll keep playing with it too... Over at The American Mind (on of the "official" bloggers for CPAC) they have an open letter to the CPAC organizers...

Ann Coulter used to serve the movement well. She was telegenic, intelligent, and witty. She was also fearless: saying provocative things to inspire deeper thought and cutting through the haze of competing information has its uses. But Coulter’s fearlessness has become an addiction to shock value. She draws attention to herself, rather than placing the spotlight on conservative ideas.

Read the whole thing here.

Interesting, and a topic of discussion, even 'mongst us here at the Castle. -the Armorer

*********************************

Some humor for the morning: Caption this

Then, some great reads that I came across yesterday. One in particular really struck me, the Warden of Falloujah (free registration required - or check excerpts at "things to read").

It's not personal.
The enta (arabic - you) who screams "meesta!" every 10 seconds for 48 hours straight isn't doing it to infuriate you, his captor. What it boils down to is that he can't pronounce "mister," and he was carrying that 155-millimeter round in the back of his pickup, and he was going to try to blow you up, and the reason he was picked by the insurgent leaders to haul the shell is that he's soft in the head, which is why he cannot stop screaming "meesta!"

Other interesting reads here.

And a quick update from Kansas City Soldiers' Angels on upcoming events and projects.

-Kat
***********

Can we dance in memoriam ninety years later? I give you Private Herbert Peterson, and the unidentified Canadian soldier who died trying to save him:

Here's what McKillip and his team of investigators figure happened. Peterson, of Berry Creek, Alta., was at the leading edge of the raid – "in the thick" – near German trenches when he was grievously wounded.
"We're talking nasty shrapnel wounds to both his legs and his abdomen," McKillip said, citing "obvious" signs of trauma to the remains. A fellow soldier came to Peterson's rescue to evacuate him away from the front lines.

"He was then picked up by the second soldier in sort of a fireman's carry and was being carried back toward the Canadian line when an overhead shell burst over them, killing the both of them and driving them into the ground," McKillip said. "Which is why they weren't found," he said.

...

"The natural inclination of any human being under these circumstances would be to lie down, crawl, keep below ground," he said.

"This soldier chose to pick up Pte. Peterson ... He stood up in the middle of this maelstrom of fire to carry this wounded comrade," he said. "Arguably, that cost him his life."

BZ, and rest in peace gentlemen.

***********

Damian, of course we can.

Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance, : In Memoriam, Commonwealth-style. -the Armorer

*********************************

by Denizens on Mar 05, 2007 | General Commentary

If the Democrats want to show some leadership and forethought..

> Washington Post March 2, 2007 Pg. 1
Shortages Threaten Guard's Capability
88 Percent of Units Rated 'Not Ready'
By Ann Scott Tyson, Washington Post Staff Writer Nearly 90 percent of Army National Guard units in the United States are rated "not ready" -- largely as a result of shortfalls in billions of dollars' worth of equipment -- jeopardizing their capability to respond to crises at home and abroad, according to a congressional commission that released a preliminary report yesterday on the state of U.S. military reserve forces.

The report found that heavy deployments of the National Guard and reserves since 2001 for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and for other anti-terrorism missions have deepened shortages, forced the cobbling together of units and hurt recruiting.

"We can't sustain the [National Guard and reserves] on the course we're on," said Arnold L. Punaro, chairman of the 13-member Commission on the National Guard and Reserves, established by Congress in 2005. The independent commission, made up mainly of former senior military and civilian officials appointed by both parties, is tasked to study the mission, readiness and compensation of the reserve forces.

"The Department of Defense is not adequately equipping the National Guard for its domestic missions," the commission's report found. It faulted the Pentagon for a lack of budgeting for "civil support" in domestic emergencies, criticizing the "flawed assumption" that as long
as the military is prepared to fight a major war, it is ready to respond to a disaster or emergency at home.

We already know what the Administration plans to do. How 'bout the Democrats? They need to lay out their plan to deal with this issue. Because if they want to occupy the White House next round, this bill will come due on their watch. Let's hear how they intend to deal with it?

The Bush administration has chosen to kick this can down the road, as they continue their attempt to fight the war on the cheap - and even though Senator Clinton seems to feel that it is the duty of a previous administration to have no "slop overs" (heh, Bosnia and Kosovo, anyone?) that simply isn't going to happen. So, she and the rest of the herd can put their grown-up pants on and tell us how they intend to deal with this issue. And fund it. And saying that they aren't going to deal with it, or only partially so, because Universal Health Care (or fill-in-the-blank 'progressive' issue) is more important, is a fine answer, one that the voters can evaluate based on the merits. After all - it's their side of the aisle that's calling for an answer, too. Governor Sebelius of Kansas for example...

For immediate release: Nicole Corcoran , Press Secretary February 27, 2007 785.368.8500

Sebelius: Guard equipment shortage leaves state vulnerable

Governor calls for replacement of National Guard equipment left in Iraq

The reliance on National Guard troops and equipment in Iraq is leaving states vulnerable. That was the message delivered by Governor Kathleen Sebelius at a Capitol Hill news conference today.

Sebelius expressed strong concern that sending the National Guard on repeated tours through Iraq compromises states’ ability to respond to natural disasters, terrorist acts, and other threats to public safety.

“Time and again, when the people of Kansas need help, the Kansas National Guard has responded without hesitation,” Sebelius said. “Now the Guard needs Washington ’s help. The President and Congress need to step up to the plate and give our Guard members the support they deserve.”

It is estimated $3.1 billion worth of National Guard equipment will not return to the United States . This figure may even be a low estimate, as more than $22 billion worth of equipment remains overseas at this time.

Currently, about 16 percent of the Kansas National Guard’s equipment, valued at over $117 million, will not return to Kansas . With the potential for the amount of equipment left overseas to double, Sebelius is concerned about the impact this will have on the Guard’s primary mission back home.

“The Guard cannot train on equipment they do not have,” Sebelius continued. “The more resources that are left behind, the less able our guardsmen are to prepare here at home. And in a state like Kansas , where tornados, floods, blizzards and wildfires can seemingly happen all at once, we need our Guardsmen to be as prepared as possible.”

While in Washington , Sebelius, along with Adjutant General Tod Bunting, visited three Kansas National Guard soldiers at the Walter Reed Medical Hospital , one of whom is a member of the Battery B, 161 Field Artillery unit. This unit consists of 114 soldiers whose tours were extended as part of President Bush’s troop surge. Several soldiers from this unit were wounded in the recent attack which claimed the life of Kansas Guardsman, Staff Sergeant David Berry of Wichita .

So, Senators Obama, Clinton, Edwards, Speaker Pelosi, Representative Murtha, et.al., what's the plan?

Is there a legal barrier preventing the individual states from purchasing equipment for their National Guards?

Cheers

posted by J.M. Heinrichs on March 5, 2007 8:54 AM

Y'know, I don't know. I suppose not, they'd just carry them on a different property book.

There's a huge budgetary roadblock, however.

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 5, 2007 9:18 AM

I would say that the cost would be prohibitive. Right now, Kansas would be lucky to be able to buy trucks.

I find it interesting that Obama and Hillary are the two "front runners" for the democrats. If they are elected, I'll be shocked.

posted by kat-missouri on March 5, 2007 10:05 AM

It's early... Ugh. What we've got left to go through yet...

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 5, 2007 10:24 AM

Funny conversation with my youngest brother last night (this brother has severe BDS), they were showing Hillary and Obama in Selma on the news last night. He said, "It's a d**n good thing Bush can't run again, because, if the democrats do not run a conservative, white man, they aren't going to get in office."

I said, "you don't think a black man or a woman can get elected?"

He said, "What, are you kidding? We're at war. They haven't got a snow balls' chance in h**l."

This is the guy that thinks Bush is satan. Most of the time, when he's ranting on about Bush, I roll my eyes and mutter "F'n moron" under my breath. I think the Democrats ought to be concerned when somebody like my brother says these folks aren't electable.

posted by kat-missouri on March 5, 2007 11:33 AM

The states can buy for the Guard. All of our TA-50 and uniforms come out of state budgets, and when we deployed we were issued stuff by the state as well as by DOD. Arizona doesn't have very deep pockets so there was always a tug of war over who was going to issue what, but Arizona did try to make sure the unit had what it needed. There is a lot of musical chairs going on with equipment, however. In our case as an artillery battery we're not effected very much since we didn't deploy on an artillery mission, but there's a lot of Guard equipment deployed "for the duration"

posted by Pogue on March 5, 2007 3:42 PM

Why do you only want to here the plan of the Democratic canidates? Do you just assume that a democrat will win, or do Guliani, McCain and Romney get a free pass?

posted by Hawk on March 5, 2007 10:53 PM

Hawk - fair question.

The Dems are officially in control of the the power of the purse, so I'd like to hear their plan.

I know what the administration officially proposes. I also know (within some limits) what the Army, at least, is asking for in the preliminarys of the POM.

I did mix and match on the Dem side in a way I did not on the Republican - because in the back of my mind, if the Dems propose anything substantive, then the front-running Republican candidates will respond.

It's early yet - but given that the Dems are running on the war, the ball sits in their court. I don't see the Republican candidates addressing this particular issue unless the Democrats do.

And while the outcome is not inevitable, I think the Presidency is the Dem's to lose - which they are fully capable of, especially if they bend a knee to their basest instincts (see Kat's comment above).

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 6, 2007 5:19 AM

by John on Mar 05, 2007 | Politics

A new whatziss.

No subterfuge. No hiding things. All markings revealed.

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Headstamps here.

They probably aren't what your first thought is - I wouldn't make this *that* easy!

Or would I?

by John on Mar 05, 2007 | Gun Pr0n - A Naughty Expose' of the fiddly bits

H&I* Fires, 04 MAR 2007

Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite.

You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...

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Time for a Denizen round-up, me thinks. Btw, notice that the Denizen sidebar is now properly noting the blogs with new content! Now on to the content... - FbL

Murray wants to build a trebuchet. He needs some sponsors,too.

Alan takes a took at stout types... beers, that is. He also celebrates March.

Sgt. B offers his thanks for advice given, while Rammer has some global warming advice of his own.

Cassandra offers her theory of an Ann Coulter/Glenn Greenwald Love Connection

Trias closes up shop. He'll still be a Castle Denizen, though.

Barb makes sure we see the full MoH citation for Bruce Crandall. She has video, too!

Maggie is even busier than usual and Kat has apparently lost nothing of her blogging edge during hiatus. She breaks down the good and bad news from WRAMC.

FbL spotlights the draftees of the GWOT and tries to explain that "too fond of war" thing.

The Victoria Cross is returning to Canada, reports The Torch.

BCR experiences a strange sight while suffering the effects of global warming. Perhaps it was the heat?

Beth offers up The Impossible Quiz Deluxe, humanitarian that she is. And last but not least, one more quiz: AFSis is a chocolate cake. I'm sure Were-kitten and her associates will have comments. Need the PG-17, Sis?

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Why wait for them to attack in the Spring when you can put them off balance now
--ry

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Another Kansas City "Shout Out to the Troops". Spread the love around. We want our men and women to know that there are real people supporting them. -Kat

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Homefront Six has a problem: Deployment bugs.

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by Denizens on Mar 04, 2007 | General Commentary

Coulter vs Edwards, con't.

I know, if we'd ignore this stuff, it would go away. It's like watching a train hit a bus. In slow motion. It's going to be going on for almost two more years...

Following the lead of Ryan and I, the leading lights of the Republican presidential wannabes pile on Ann Coulter. [Heh, there's a film starring Ron Jeremy somewhere in that sentence]

Coulter responds:

Ms. Coulter, asked for a reaction to the Republican criticism, said in an e-mail message: “C’mon, it was a joke. I would never insult gays by suggesting that they are like John Edwards. That would be mean.”

While I may not read her much unless someone emails it to me - she can twist a dagger, can't she? Of course, fair's fair - I'm pretty sure she doesn't read me, either.

This is the best Edward's people could come up with, which is pretty bold for a guy who consistently polls #3 or #4...

Mr. Edwards’s aides responded with an e-mail message that attacked Ms. Coulter and urged supporters to donate to Mr. Edwards’s campaign. “John was singled out for a personal attack because the Republican establishment knows he poses the greatest threat to their power,” said his campaign manager, David E. Bonior. “Since they have nothing real to use against him, Coulter’s resorting to the classic right-wing strategy of riling up hate to smear a progressive champion.”

I'd of thought, personally, that a "Progressive Champion" would at least live *near* some people, and turn all the resources at his disposal to helping people, rather than livin' large and spending all that money on himself, his family, and running for President so that you can take everybody else's money (hey, you made yours, right, so raising taxes isn't going to have that big an impact on you) and spend it on... oh, wait. Yes, you *are* a progressive champion. Never mind.

Almost quintessentially.

Actually, I was thinking more like Mel Brooks, in period French attire, playing chess. But that's me.
'He didn't give me a harumph.'

posted by ry on March 4, 2007 7:25 AM

Comrades,

Interesting that. Seems like the left can off-handidly toss out the most vile and horrible epithets to those whom they dislike, with nary a passing glance by the media.

Yet, when a woman who has twice the style, mental ability and vocabulary of anyone the left admires makes a comment refering to the obvious, well, then it just brings out all the girlie men amongst the left, swinging their verbal purses like some cheap floozy caught non-decorum.

Silky Pony ought to consider this situation a ranging shot.......

Respects,

posted by Gwedd on March 4, 2007 8:33 AM

More proof that Ann really isn't the sharpest knife in the shed...(see video)
http://minor-ripper.blogspot.com/2006/12/ann-coulter-gets-owned.html

posted by Minor Ripper on March 4, 2007 9:25 AM

So, Gwedd, I take it you approve of calling people faggots under the venue of serious political debate?

Would calling Barak Obama a nigger tickle you as much? Or should we recall some of Coulter's other bon mots, such as her raghead crack at a previous CPAC, or the time she accused several women who lost their husbands during 9/11 (she called them the "witches of Eastwick") of enjoying their media status as "famous widows."

I presume the "silk pony" crack comes from the now-infamous video where Edwards gets his hair prepped before a public appearance. Yes, he looks pretty silly. I don't suppose you know virtually every politician does the same thing? I've been told Michael Moore included footage of several GOP leaders under the same circumstances in Farenheit 9/11 for just that reason: to make them look silly. Does this mean they're all faggots as well?

For the record, I have no use for Edwards; he's a lightweight with no real political experience; but insulting jerks on the left shouldn't mean jerks on the right get a free pass.

By the way, not everyone on "the left" is part of some monolithic group-think, so making statements like "the left can off-handidly toss out the most vile, etc." just confirms in their mind that "the right" consists of mindless drones who lap up everything people like Coulter say.

posted by Casey Tompkins on March 4, 2007 11:08 AM

Comrade Casey,

So..... struck a nerve there?

Sorry, but I find that, especially on this issue, the hypocrisy from the left so overwhelming that the meters must've blown up trying to measure it.

All the boo-hoo 'bout what that mean ol' Ms. Coulter said... meanwhile Gore and Edwards are talking out their collective backsides about 2 Americas, pontificating on what Americans should be doing, while buying their own way out of any meaningful conservation because, well, because they belong to that "other" America that doesn't have to follow it's own advice.

Kerry's still trying to gigolo his way into more money, while Big Teddy is trying to sober up enough to string together a coherent sentence.

Hillary is, well, biding her time before she can politically assisinate anyone who tries to stop her from becoming America's first Queen, and desperately hoping that her Marxist thesis stays out of the MSM until she's elect, er, annointed.

Mr.Obama... well, when he get's his act together he might well make a decent senator. beyond that, only time will tell. Right now he's a wannabe, his strogest suite being the left's version of Ross Perot, with likely the same results of his political carreer lives long enough for him to actually make a serious stab at the White House.

When the left can return to the common decency of Senator Leiberman, then I'll listen to what they have to say. Until then, they are just so much teenage angst and wasted DNA.

Other's mileage may, of course, vary.

Respects,

posted by Gwedd on March 4, 2007 11:58 AM

What worries me is all of this non-government, group censorship. I mean really, if some shallow, greedy Hollywood producer can claim to have found Jesus’ body and “family,” then why can’t Ann Coulter call Edwards a faggot? There is a difference between being rude and criminal. Maybe she has a point: the left doesn’t seem to listen to polite debate. Remember that outburst in a California college against the Minutemen?

posted by Oldloadr on March 4, 2007 1:32 PM

Coulter's remark, and yes i know what she said, was insulting and a typical gay slur I hear all the time. Her wrapping of it was neither clever nor original.

Support of that sort of thing as 'the obvious' etc is how it extends out into the nodding heads community.

There is a big difference between not going down the PC path and just being an egotist that can't make a decent joke.

If i had more fire in me I'd be angry enough to do and say something which would make any difference but I've heard this crap for a long time in and out of the closet directly indirectly and in lots of ways. I'm too tired to be bothered much anymore. Calling people gay in one way or another to symbolise something bad is popular and widely supported so I know it's mostly a loosing move to counter it as will probably be seen in posts after this unless it's stonewalled.

So let the arseholes spit on I can't be bothered anymore.

posted by Trias on March 4, 2007 2:16 PM

so I know it's mostly a loosing move to counter it as will probably be seen in posts after this unless it's stonewalled.

Er? Here, or elsewhere? I'm afraid I don't quit understand what you mean - and feel free to respond in email.

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 4, 2007 4:09 PM

As I was debating a liberal friend of mine, I pointed one thing out that he refused to believe: Neither side holds the moral high ground. Both are guilty of the political equivalent of war crimes, so don't come crying to me next time a lefty or a righty plays dirty.

Of course, he suffers from DDS, with a sligh amount of BDS.

I am simply no longer surprised that there is such name calling and bruised egos in poltics.

posted by Geo on March 4, 2007 6:27 PM

"Both are guilty of the political equivalent of war crimes..." Geo

Name-calling may be rude and a sign of failed parenting, but it's not a crime of any kind (at least that's how I read the 1st ammendment). When did this country become so thin-skinned that all we ever seem to talk about is who offended whom? I don't feel sorry for Edwards or the gay community. I've been called everything but a milk cow in my life and I lived through it. Words are not IEDs, period.

posted by Oldloadr on March 4, 2007 7:30 PM

Comrades,

FWIW, the current kerfluffle over Ms. Coulter's recent remarks is nothing compared to that of years gone by. Those who claim to to wax fondly for the "good old days" might be some surprised at the level of animosity displayed in political speeches, as well as newspaper articles and editorials. For heaven's sake... Hearst started the Span-Am war with his own lies and yellow journalism.

Not making a judgement, just sayin'.....

And I would add, however, that the depth of a person's liberalism might well be measured by their outrage at simple words. Good thing liberals want to take away everyone's guns, otherwise they might themselves be gunning for conservatives at every imagined slight.

Respects,

posted by Gwedd on March 4, 2007 8:25 PM

I've been called everything but a milk cow in my life and I lived through it.

Must.control.urge.to...

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 4, 2007 9:20 PM

John - I often have to control the urge to rip off some idiot's head and sh** down his/her neck, but hey that is what military discipline is all about...

posted by Oldloadr on March 4, 2007 9:32 PM

"At the time of the Suez disaster, Bevan saw Prime Minister Anthony Eden enter the House. He instantly stopped grilling Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd explaining: "Why should I question the monkey when I can question the organ-grinder?" "
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2212/stories/20050617001508200.htm

We need better political invective ...

Cheers

posted by J.M. Heinrichs on March 4, 2007 10:11 PM

Mullah Cimoc say this example how woman of ameriki become filthy and dirty and not having the baby and this woman she having so big adam's apple.

This process for making the ameriki man to be like homosexual and passive for woman command all usa man. calling it the training of pavlov dog.

me not knowing why this happen but knowing this sign of collapse the great empire like roman time but now so fast in computer communication time. not the 500 years.

stop1984now@yahoo.com

posted by Mullah Cimoc on March 4, 2007 10:47 PM

oldloadr, I didn't mean to blow it out of proportion, you are right, it is just words. I was just pointing out that in this era of low blows, I'm not going to notice or care about another one.

posted by Geo on March 4, 2007 11:12 PM

There's some bad thinking going on here.
Marcotte and her pal at ShakSis got ruined over this. So Lefty's don't get to say anything they want and get away with it. There's limits to what one can say and be taken seriously.

The left plays the class warfare card? Yeah, and we play the soft on defense card. That's acceptable. You're arguing points of view and facts and processes to proceed forward. What Coulter did was nothing near this. It was stupid as hell. It made all of us conservatives look like clowns and gives credence when we get accused of being homophobes(or racist or whatever). Absolutely f'n stupid. In case you aren't paying attention we lost the last election because we lost the middle---which doesn't tolerate this kind of nonsense.

Words? Yeah, they're only words. But words can get you fired and ruin your reputation. Allow the other side to so malign your ideology that nobody takes it seriously. We shouldn't play this way. 'Censorship?' Baloney. There's little room for this in public debate. Oh, but we shouldn't care because it's only words.

It wasn't funny. It did us little good if any at all. It made us look stupid and like a bunch of homophobic rednecks; as opposed to decent, loveable, wholesome rednecks. Bravo. Let's just shoot ourselves in the foot a couple more times and then try to do anything on the political front. There's a time to be inna you face, and there's times not to. If you can't tell which is which you don't belong in politics. Period.

posted by ry on March 5, 2007 9:54 AM

ry -

1. I actually thought her 2nd comment was funny, but then I am a knuckle dragging redneck. I don't like the term homophobe since it implies that I fear the gays when in fact I'm just disgusted by them. I use to just feel sorry for them until many of them tried to convince the world that sexual perversion is a civil right. Which reminds me, I don’t think people’s feeling about homosexuals should be equated to racism. Race is an accident of birth; sexuality can be controlled (I know what they say about a “queer gene” but that has not been proven and it doesn’t make sense if you think about it). I believe the Catholic Church’s position is that if one can’t live a heterosexual life, then they should choose a celibate life.
2. You are right, we may loose the middle as things stand today, with over the top rhetoric, but maybe we gain some in the middle if they see we are not back-pedaling and we got the guts to say what we think. Anyway, Coulter isn’t running for anything and the professional politicians have done a bang-up job of covering their own a$$e$ by condemning and distancing themselves. Like I said before, calling people names may be rude, but it’s not a crime and I believe Ann is self-employed so she doesn’t have to worry about being fired and I bet her book sales just went up.
3. My attitude on words are just words comes from a fear of the constantly shifting language because of societal pressure. Why are the news media afraid to even utter the word faggot, even in a quote? I think that is scary and 1984ish and that's why I said what I said about people getting over themselves and growing skins and keeping words versus physical violence in perspective.
4. Anyway, as usual, I agree with your assessment as it applies to real-politic, but I’m still idealistic enough to rail against the sweeping tide of everyone constantly acting offended. After all, nowhere in the US Constitution does it say that we have the right to not be offended.

posted by Oldloadr on March 5, 2007 1:20 PM

Gwedd, only to the extent that I'm appalled at the apologies I've seen for Coulter.

I completely agree that most leftie commentors (bloggers, columnists, politicos, etc) are mostly hypocritical about this. That's not the point. Defending Coulter by (as you do in your reply) pointing out how worthless the Democratic candidates are is a weak tu quoque along the lines of "but mom, billy threw rocks at the window too!"

I don't care if Dems are hypocrites; in fact accept that as an axiom for many left politicians. I don't even disagree that much with your analysis of the current Dem crop. On the other hand, there's a lot of conservative/Republican hypocrites as well. Both sides have warts. What I'm more concerned about here is killing the conservative warts.

Apparently you prefer to point out the mote in your neighbor's eye, instead of worrying about beam in your own. In case you haven't noticed, the GOP hasn't been very supportive of any minority these days, except the military. ;)

What Coulter said wasn't just insulting, it was stupid, as it gave Edwards & Co. all sorts of fresh ammo to paint the GOP as a bunch of homophobic haters. That's about as dumb as the old "Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion" crack.

posted by Casey Tompkins on March 5, 2007 3:26 PM

[The Armorer wanders in, mutters something about "Attack the message, not the messenger, and avoid putting words in other people's mouths" and wanders out again.]

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 5, 2007 4:35 PM

That's cool Loader. I get where you're coming from. But it doesn't help us much.
And I have no problem with rednecks. Many are just good people. Some are jerks. Just like with everyone else. In this it helps to be more Larry the Cableguy than David Duke. COulter is making us all look like David Duke.

John? Huh? I'm not seeing anything that is a personal attack here. nobody else is acting like anything was a personal attack. Care to highlight the offending bits via email so I don't go there?

posted by ry on March 5, 2007 5:15 PM

While I may not read her much unless someone emails it to me - she can twist a dagger, can't she?

I hardly think Coulter's weak Dennis Miller ripoff line (Miller: "I'd call the French scumbags, but that of course would be an insult to bags that are filled with scum") could hardly be construed as really "twisting a dagger," JoA.

I'm sure you can guess what I think of Coulter. But I think conservatives would do well to distance themselves from this hateful, blonde-haired troll. She does indeed make neoconservatives look more like the members of the Westboro Baptist Church than a group of people whose ideas should be taken seriously.

posted by brogonzo on March 6, 2007 10:52 AM

Brogonzo - I was referring to her total oeuvre, not that one comment. Gimme some credit here, boyo.

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 6, 2007 12:36 PM

Well, we all proved Michelle Malkin's point on O'Reilley last night. She said everybody is talking about Coulter's comment and nobody noticed anything else that come out of the conference.

posted by Oldloadr on March 6, 2007 4:38 PM

Well, I wasn't particularly impressed with the total oeuvre, either.

And I wish people would quit saying she's attractive, because she's not. She looks like she'd be more at home in Chelsea, saving up money for a special operation.

posted by brogonzo on March 6, 2007 5:47 PM

I think I shall send Miss Coulter a "You go girl" letter.

Cheers

posted by J.M. Heinrichs on March 6, 2007 10:25 PM

by John on Mar 04, 2007 | Politics

Smirk.

Son asked his mother the following question:

"Mom, why are wedding dresses white?"

The mother looks at her son and replies,

"Son, this shows your friends and relatives that your bride is pure."

The son thanks his Mom and goes off to double-check this with his father.

"Dad why are wedding dresses white?"

The father looks at his son in surprise and says,

"Son, all household appliances come in white."

I would note at Castle Argghhh! they're all black. I don't think that's going to save me, but I thought I should note it anyway.

Oh, good grief! *rolls eyes*

posted by FbL on March 4, 2007 7:09 AM

That is a lie!

They also come in almond, black, stainless steal and some even have natural wood veneers. ;)

I just thank the lord above that the colors "avacado" and "toasted banana" are no longer envogue.

posted by kat-missouri on March 4, 2007 7:13 AM

Woke up the distaff side this morning!

Heheheheheheheheheheheh

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 4, 2007 8:11 AM

I suspect that you're going to pay for that, John...

posted by Carrie on March 4, 2007 8:41 AM

Woke up the distaff side this morning!

I suspect they were already awake, merely taking a quick break between cooking breakfast, darning socks, painting the living room ceiling, weeding the truck patch, scrubbing the bathroom utilities, loading the washing machine and taking the dog for a 10km jog.

*re-adjusting big target sign on back, donning flak vest and k-pot*

posted by BillT on March 4, 2007 8:53 AM

Heh - Bill, that was pretty close to what SWWBO *is* doing today, while I goof off on the road.

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 4, 2007 9:30 AM

[insert] ...feeding the horses, mucking out the stalls, straightening out the baling wire for re-use,...

Okay -- that oughta cover it until noon, or so.

posted by BillT on March 4, 2007 10:16 AM

Kat, as I recall, the colour's official name was "harvest gold." And what a butt-ugly colour it was, too.

posted by Damian on March 4, 2007 10:43 AM

sigh.
John, you never learn!

posted by Beth on March 4, 2007 11:43 AM

Heh. Love that one :-)

posted by Harvey on March 4, 2007 12:56 PM

Distance from SWWBO obviously helps John's cheerios float to the top.

I suspect they will sink rapidly as the city limits approach. LOL

posted by kat-missouri on March 4, 2007 1:03 PM

Damian,

There are some colors that should never be on appliances, cars or carpet, yet, looking back at my youth, my parents' generation obviously lacked a serious appreciation for the color palette (as well as some qustionable clothing choices)

posted by kat-missouri on March 4, 2007 1:11 PM

You do this often enough to warrant building a bunker.

I thought the dresses were white because Queen Victoria spilled some cocaine on it on the wedding day.

posted by Trias on March 4, 2007 2:22 PM

No, they were/are white because some one keeps changing her mind.

Remember, a woman's mind is cleaner than a man's because she changes it more often.

posted by J.M. Heinrichs on March 4, 2007 2:50 PM

Kat: There are some colors that should never be on appliances, cars or carpet, yet, looking back at my youth, my parents' generation obviously lacked a serious appreciation for the color palette (as well as some questionable clothing choices)...

Oh, yeah! We had an avocado chair, a burnt orange (possibly 'sienna') couch, a black fake-leather recliner (that today would be an office chair), some kind of 'gold-orange-green looking carpet, copper fridge and color coordinated oven; and a yellow station wagon. Oh, and our couch and chair were covered in plastic slip covers (yep) and those were covered with foam-back ugly-a$$ throw-covers because there was no A/C in old Philly 3-story homes, and plastic sticks to sweaty people... And there were the old wooden end tables, my mother glued white 1" bathroom tile to make them look all mod (remember that word)...

I hate those colors you are talking about, and I don't know about color palettes, but my mother and the parents of a lot of my friends just lack taste.

The only thing I hated more was Mediterranean furniture with all the gilded lamps and dark maroon velvet material, and just UGH...

You know there was something to be said for Ford's any color as long as it's black attitude...

posted by SangerM on March 4, 2007 7:08 PM

Oops, I got the colors backwards, it was the orange chair, green couch...

And John... good luck with that... heh.

posted by SangerM on March 4, 2007 7:12 PM

I thought our family was the only family to go "spanish". It was horrific. And, if you stubbed your toe on it you had to have it amputatede.

Matching red velvet matador paintings.

posted by kat-missouri on March 4, 2007 8:47 PM

Euw. While I am a modern type of person, I do love the Mission style and Arts and Crafts
furniture and bungalows. There is something cozy about a bungalow.

I also love Victorian houses. Could that be because we lived in one in Monterey and then my parents bought a Mediterranean Arts and Crafts bungalow in Salinas? My mother went nuts when she took off the shag carpeting in the bathroom (gold no less) and discovered hexagon shaped
lilac ceramic tile on the floor...which led to a one year restoration of the bathroom and my bedroom. Cheesy paneling nailed over wallpaper pasted on plaster and lath. That was fun getting all that stuff off the walls.

Restripped and refinished the hardwood floors, restored the wood finishes on all the trim and repainted the walls in a creamy ivory. I loved that bedroom.

I didn't have a summer that year. For the next
five years I lived at home, we worked on a room.
We never did finish all we had to do, but it sort of gave me a bug...

posted by Cricket on March 6, 2007 8:10 AM