June 23, 2007
Compare and contrast.
Two news stories, same page.
Cameron Diaz... celebrity (who will happily advise us on how to live our lives), rich, glitzy - and admirer of commie chic...
While the bags are marketed as trendy fashion accessories in some world capitals, the phrase has particular resonance in Peru, where the Maoist Shining Path insurgency brought Peru to edge of chaos in the 1980s and early 1990s with a campaign of massacres, assassinations and bombings.
Elizabeth Cowie. Staff Sergeant, Indiana Army National Guard...
EDINBURGH, Ind. - Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Cowie's mission — and dream — of serving in Iraq almost ended before it began when tests on a tumor confirmed the worst: She had breast cancer.Her Army National Guard unit was told earlier this year it would deploy to Iraq this summer. But an Army-mandated mammogram in April revealed a tumor in her right breast that was later found to be cancerous.
The 42-year-old mother of two from Los Angeles is again poised for duty after an aggressive treatment plan — including a May 22 lumpectomy, a second surgery a week later and a five-day targeted radiation treatment. Staying behind wasn't an option, she said.
Diaz:
"I've been driving a Prius since they came out," Diaz said. "I carbon neutralize when I travel...I recycle. If we can get people to change one aspect of their lives, even do one thing, that's a step closer."
And traveling coach when flying, no doubt. And living what you preach...
Cowie:
"The commander said, 'Are you sure? You have an opportunity to go home and be with your family and go through this.' And I said, 'No, I have a family here. I have my civilian family, but this is where I need to be and where I'm needed,'" Cowie said.
Draw your own conclusion. I know who I'd rather have dinner with.
And it ain't the skinny chick in designer clothes. Gimme the one who puts her life where her beliefs are.
More gunner zen
This time, the breech end of the US 155mm Howitzer, M1918, a US-built version of the French Schneider 155mm gun.
Ahhhh. Nothing like an interrupted screw breech! Somebody make Maggie an appointment with her chiropractor. That probably spun her head so fast she pulled a muscle in her neck.
This gun was our standard medium howitzer at the end of WWI, and served through to WWII, with the M1918A3 "high speed" version (which had inflatable tires, vice the hard rubber you see here) seeing combat on Guadalcanal.
Some more thoughts on cars guns...
CAPT H pointed us to a post at Small Dead Animals, that discusses a little pre-emptive policing... regarding cars.
Well, actually, he pointed us to *this comment* on that post at SDA...
It's about time that the government did something about automobiles whose sole purpose is to kill pedestrians. As a physician I see the devastation caused by automobiles on a daily basis from vehicular trauma to deaths from diabetes and MI's which are directly the result of automobiles.Registration was tried with automobiles but it has proved be be an utter failure and prohibition appears to be the only solution. There is no need for anyone who lives in a large city to own an automobile and all of Canada's major metropolitan centers should be designate as automotive free zones in which the only vehicles present would be driven by police, the military or highly screened individuals who require them for work purposes (like doctors).
It goes on - you should click the link to read the whole thing. The first link for the post and context - the second link to catch the comment in it's entirety (saves you wading through the other comments should you not wish to do so...).
It's just a perfect encapsulation of the smugness of a Nanny-state bureaucrat wrapped in a smarmy blanket of self-righteousness.
June 22, 2007
H&I* Fires, 22 JUN 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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This is a rather interesting post on the abuse of economic theory and reports in relation to immigration. Don’t know enough economics to say much about it myself.
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Two different looks at the ‘Devil we shook hands with’ in Palestine(Fatah).
Unfortunately realpolitik comes to mind. Someone is going to be gov’t of the Palestinians. There are really only two factions to choose from. Both suck. One might, might, be weaned away from their past. At some point you have to accept that we’re going to have to shake hands with someone, both suck, and better to pick the one that sucks less unless you have a plan in the pipeline to do something hard core about it(No? Then grab a seat and accept that Abbas is about like Noriega in Panama to us at the moment. He’s useful, but an acknowledged SOB who we’ve shaken hands with to get something done for the moment.)
Ideological purity sometimes has to take a back seat to getting things done. That sucks, but is true(sometimes). I know Boyd would disagree, but he also said that anything after the first day wasn't effective doctrine but a dogmatic straight jacket. Go figure.
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I’m with Gen. Pace on this one. Yes, violence and deaths matter, but it isn’t the sole measure of success or failure in this endeavor we call war (Politics of another means).
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Two posts from Kent’s Imperative on the potential future of intelligence gathering.
--ry
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SWWBO had a tough week in Indiana. This is a pic of her when we got home last night early this morning... -the Armorer
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WAMEGO — Sgt. Harold Fechter was carrying a prayer card in his wallet when a German artillery shell killed him on an Italian mountain in World War II.
Welcome home, Sergeant Fechter.
Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance: In Memoriam.
H/t, Larry K.
Speaking of bringing home the lost...
TOKYO - A U.S. search team on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima is zeroing in on a cave where a Marine combat photographer who filmed the iconic flag-raising 62 years ago is believed to have been killed in battle nine days later, officials told The Associated Press Friday.-the Armorer
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Bloodspite honors a childhood hero.
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News from MNF-I:
U.S., Iraqi troops rescue 24 abused boys from orphanage
Iraqi, Coalition forces move forward despite attacks
Marne Torch continues clearing insurgent safe havens
Commando Eagle starts off strong
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Speaking of Iwo Jima, it ain't Iwo Jima anymore. Some say it never was.
And some where, in a galaxy far, far away, geeks at arms Zigguret Con [yes, I know we have posted on this before, but this one has a final report and many more pictures - besides, I like "geeks at arms"]
If you missed them this week (because I was busy and didn't get over here to link) don't forget to check out Wednesday's Heroes. On Wednesday's Heroes, we highlight Marine Cpl Valdez, a woman marine who was one of the casualties from the 2005 suicide bombing against a convoy that was carrying twenty such women returning from manning entry and search points in Fallujah. They dedicated a building to her. Not just because she raised her hand and said, "send me" (it was a volunteer mission) or because she was KIA on that fateful day, but because Cpl Valdez was personally involved in and a key player in developing strategies to defeat IEDs with electronics and radios.
Valdez’s most significant work was with Division’s Counter Improvised Explosive Device Working Group. The success of the tests conducted by CIEDWG was in a large part attributed to Valdez’s knowledge of single-channel radios.The impact Valdez made in her field was a driving force behind the dedication of a top communications training facility. [snip]
“We have not traveled these long distances to honor a building,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Sylvain, the communications information systems chief for Marine Forces Reserve. “We pay tribute to not only Corporal Valdez but what she represents. She’s a perfect selection to not only represent the communications community but the (noncommissioned officer) corps.”
Before the ceremony concluded, the crowd witnessed the first Radio Operators Course class graduation from the newly-named Valdez Training Facility.
Today's Friday's Letters From the Front: Greetings From Baghdad. Soldiers' Angels pins are becoming very popular for our deployed soldiers. Last week, we had a letter form a young sniper who wears his pin on his sleeve when he goes out on missions. This week, we received this note:
An Angel To Watch Over MeMr Bader [Patti's Husband],
My name is SGT Shamar I'm a friend of Mr Olivas. Thank you so much for everything you have sent me. All your prayers and support are greatly appreciated. Last week I started wearing my Soldiers Angel pin on my bullet proof vest and trust me it protected me. I was out on a routine convoy that was hit by an IED. I think my Angels has something to do with no one sustaining any injuries during the blast. Well I have to go because there are other soldiers waiting for this computer but in closing THANK YOU!
SGT Shamar
Go check out the rest of the letters! They are inspiring and humbling. One of our injured soldiers we supported was so inspired, he went out and got a Soldiers' Angels tattoo on his arm. [pics included]
-kat
Oh...and nearly forgot. I'll be at the KC VA Hospital for Stand Down today. If you're in the KC area, Soldiers' Angels has many events we are participating in to show our support for the troops. Find out where and come join us: KC Angels Events and Fund Raisers. We love to support our troops and we love to meet people who want to do the same. It is always great fun and inspiring.
-Kat
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Speaker Pelosi - I volunteer to help your web-monkeys with pictures of things military. Really. H/t, Ms. Malkin. -the Armorer
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Time for some Gunner Zen.
Italian 210mm gun firing at night.
The Mouse that Roared.
Heh. If only it were that simple.
John Hawkins over at Right Wing News gives us a little taste of what might be going on in the Senate regarding the immigration bill - and helps provide a little snapshot of why the approval rating for Congress is... %14.
Speaking of that, isn't it interesting that leaders of the institution nearly on the *bottom* of the list regarding who the American people trust and respect are calling the leaders of one of the highest-rated institutions... incompetent?
What I find more surprising, if gratifying, is that the American public feels that way about our military despite the way the war has been covered, as well as the military's "own goals" in terms of Abu Ghraib, etc.
It does show just how out of touch many of the elites in the nation are, doesn't it?
Of course, the elites would respond... "The American people are just too stupid to be left to handle their own affairs... a feeling in fact rather widely held amongst many of the Nanny-Staters, both Left *and* Right.
What I'm Doing on My Summer Vacation
I've gotta admit one thing: while the "Hurry Up And Wait" Syndrome is as alive and well in ContractorLand as it is in the Real Military, the actual pace of "Hurry Up" is geared to a moderate meander. I've gotten my ID stuff in record time, the briefings were crammed with info instead of fillers and (so far) most of the classes have been within a five minute walk -- although I *do* walk kinda briskly (ask FbL).
I've even had time to grab a map of this place (Fort Bragg) and check out the escape routes from the hordes of admiring females training area to the nearest bar. And, while memorizing said map (us old-timey aviators *do* that -- reduces the time in the E&E Decision Loop if when you're out of other options), wellllll, you remember, of course, that darn near everything on an Army post is named after someone who distinguished himself -- or herself -- in battle?
No luck with SWWBO Boulevard -- yet...
Oh, almost forgot. I'm now Import/Export Certified, even though the only thing being exported is *me* and I passed my Flight Physical, even though my BP was a tad elevated due (in equal parts) to the Threat Brief, my advanced years and the three cups of coffee I slammed for breakfast.
117/79.
Bummer...
Heh.
June 21, 2007
H&I* Fires, 21 JUN 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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(I’m going to break the rules here.)
Guidons! Guidons! Guidons! Incoming orders.
You are hereby ordered to spend the next twenty minutes writing an email to a Marine of the 6th Regimental Combat Team.
Cassie, Kat, and Grim over at Blackfive have left it up to your generosity to get the needed 6000 emails. It's not like it hasn't been seen. We’ve collectively failed in only gathering about 2000 in three days. Un-freakin’-acceptable.
Do it. We want the full 6000. NOW. Write two if you have to. By COB today. 6000. MOVE.
--ry
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Get your condensed good news from Iraq right here. Ralph Peters approves.
Floridians exercise their rights (and the press covers it well!).
In semi-related news, it looks like the civilian Walter Reed guards may need more range time. Psych evals wouldn't hurt, either. - FbL
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Gun stuff.
Last week, my federal Representative's staff called to ask me my thoughts on the new NICS bill (I'm generally in favor, though oversight will have to be firm) and the Tiahrt Amendment.
For 5 or 6 years now, cities suing the gun industry and anti-gun organizations have sought access to confidential law enforcement data on firearm traces-records that the BATFE compiles when it traces firearms in response to requests from law enforcement agencies.
And every year since 2003, the U.S. Congress has passed increasingly strong language to keep this information confidential. Well, *Republican* Congresses did. The legislation- enacted as a series of "riders" to the appropriations bill that funds BATFE-is known as the "Tiahrt Amendment," after its sponsor, Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.). This critically important legislation protects the privacy rights of law-abiding gun owners, the safety of law enforcement officers, and the integrity of criminal investigations by preventing inappropriate release of confidential firearm trace data except in the course of a bona fide criminal investigation.
Huh? Inappropriate release? How would that happen? Ask Mayor Bloomberg, who hires private investigators to go out to other states to play footsie with the law. See Cam Edwards on the subject.
Anti-gun Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee, has announced she will not include the Tiahrt Amendment in the CJS appropriations bill. In this manner, Senator Mikulski will ignore the request of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) and the Fraternal Order of Police-supporters of the Amendment-and instead chose to do the bidding of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (A newly-minted Independent). Supporters of this move generally point to the fact that the Chiefs of Police trade groups support this action. I will simply point out that most of them are political appointees who serve at the pleasure of their Mayors. Their rank-and-file workers (represented in the form of the FOP) do not.
Count me in with the FOP and ATFE on this issue. The Mayors, in the form of Mayors Against Illegal Guns don't need access to this information inasmuch as it will compromise on-going investigations. I urged my Representative and Senators to *support* the Tiarht Amendment.
Let's move on to some more fun with guns, media edition.
The MSM, in general, *hates* many provisions of the Patriot Act. Heck, I'm not keen on many of them, either, especially the virtual habeas suspension - though I understand where it comes from, and why, with this being a very different form of war than we're used to.
There's plenty of griping about the "Terrorist No-Fly List" eh? And for good reason, too. Many of those names get on there by accident, coincidence, and yes, malice - and it's damn hard to get your name off, especially since the government pretty much doesn't have to tell you why you're on it, which makes it somewhat of a challenge to get your name off of it, once you make it on the list.
How many of you have heard about about S.1237, titled the `Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2007'.
Hey, can't argue with that, eh? All Senator Lautenberg wants to do is "...increase public safety by permitting the Attorney General to deny the transfer of firearms or the issuance of firearms and explosives licenses to known or suspected dangerous terrorists."
No worries, right? Well... hmmm. "Suspected." Lots of room for mischief there, as we've found with the no-fly list.
The key graf in the bill is pretty much the same wording that makes getting your name off of the no-fly list hard:
(g) Attorney General's Ability To Withhold Information in Firearms License Denial and Revocation Suit-(1) IN GENERAL- Section 923(f)(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the first sentence the following: `However, if the denial or revocation is pursuant to subsection (d)(1)(H) or (e)(3), any information upon which the Attorney General relied for this determination may be withheld from the petitioner, if the Attorney General determines that disclosure of the information would likely compromise national security.'.
(2) SUMMARIES- Section 923(f)(3) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the third sentence the following: `With respect to any information withheld from the aggrieved party under paragraph (1), the United States may submit, and the court may rely upon, summaries or redacted versions of documents containing information the disclosure of which the Attorney General has determined would likely compromise national security.'.
(h) Attorney General's Ability To Withhold Information in Relief From Disabilities Lawsuits- Section 925(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the third sentence the following: `If the person is subject to a disability under section 922(g)(10) of this title, any information which the Attorney General relied on for this determination may be withheld from the applicant if the Attorney General determines that disclosure of the information would likely compromise national security. In responding to the petition, the United States may submit, and the court may rely upon, summaries or redacted versions of documents containing information the disclosure of which the Attorney General has determined would likely compromise national security.'
The bill essentially allows the Attorney General to administratively strip you of your rights, and sets a potentially high bar for you to contest the finding - especially since the government can just obfuscate and delay, simply because they are busy...
Oh - and if you're ineligible to *receive* a firearm... you're ineligible to *have* a firearm. Which means here, at Castle Argghhh, they'd bring up the U-Haul to take 'em away. And they don't always treat 'em well while they have them. And some places, like Denver, are known for just having 'em destroyed and going "oops."
If the "No-Fly list" as constituted and run as it is now is bad... then so is this bill, as written. But how many of you have heard of it, before today? I'm guessing not many... because the general bias of the MSM will, I predict, cause them to twist and squirm to point out how this is different from the "no-fly list". Because anything that takes guns off the street and reduces the eligible gun-owning population is good, and, unlike the no-fly list, won't affect too many of the MSM-types and their fellow-travelers. And that's only if they mention it all, until they are forced to.
Note to Representative Boyda - this bill, while laden with nice-sounding intent and good motives, opens a huge gaping door for malice and abuse, for political and personal reasons. The House bill is H.2074, sponsored by Representative Peter King (R-NY). I hope I don't see your name added to the list of sponsors... and if it does, well, I'd *love* to hear what you're going to do to *improve* the bill!
Living in Aitch-Eee-Double-Hockeysticks.
The Armorer's sister, who doesn't blog but is a reader of this space, has been keeping us apprised of the joys of a live-in remodel.
Thank heavens we won't have to live-in when we start work on the New Castle Argghhh! (closing is next Friday). Her first missive is here.
Did you know that zoysia grass is very sensitive to weight? For instance, if you put things like a backhoe, a bobcat, or chunks of concrete on it, or even drive the vehicles on it, it will die. Fifteen boys from the neighborhood playing football on it won’t hurt it at all, however. It also tolerates shade and drought very well. It simply doesn’t like weight.Well, the pilot light mystery has been solved. It wouldn’t light because there was no gas. The gas company surreptitiously moved the gas line and didn’t tell the contractor they had done so. We, of course, were blissfully unaware on Thursday evening as we happily used up all the hot water left in the tank. When I returned home on Friday evening it had almost been rectified and the project supervisor was embarrassed. I told him I have already begun a journal about living in my home while it is being remodeled. He told me that wasn’t a good sign. Not good for whom, I wonder?
No one came to empty the dumpster on Friday, either, so the concrete chunks stayed where they were for the weekend. They were removed on Monday. It is a puzzlement, but they left the bent, twisted pieces of rebar that resemble a nest of snakes. It is not a lovely modern sculpture for my lawn, but perhaps it will grow on me.
It rained after they removed the concrete. Rain and dirt make mud. The puddles that formed in the clay looked like they were filled with the broth from Campbell’s condensed navy bean soup because we have truly awful soil. Rain also meant that work was done for the day.
I can’t wait to get home and find out what happened today.
Check back tomorrow... and you'll find out what happened.
IPB - Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield. 21 JUN 2007
Bacevich goes after the institution of the Joint Chiefs, with gusto. GEN Pace does not receive glowing review here.
Excerpt:
“The armed forces deserve top-notch professional leadership. Civilian policymakers need expert military counsel, offered clearly and candidly. Yet to charge one small group of senior officers with fulfilling both functions makes it unlikely that either will be adequately performed. The dismal saga of the Joint Chiefs has demonstrated this in spades. At the highest levels a line should exist between the senior officers who advise on matters of national security policy and those expected to implement policy decisions. One way to draw that line might be to select advisers from the ranks of retired generals and admirals, independent-minded "wise men" no longer involved in running their services.”
J offers a dissenting from Bacevich criticism of JCS performance here.
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Is the State Dept failing to put people able to deal with Arabs in the region because of language barriers? It seems they’re not succeeding in Iraq very much. The comments section is hillarious.
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This may explain why killing the brand is a lot harder than killing the man and his organization.
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It’s China’s oil. If it was a war for oil it wasn’t, physically, oil for us given the physical amount of oil we import from that region.
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What should we do ‘after the war is over’ is a question being asked over at AFJ.
--ry
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June 20, 2007
H&I* Fires, 20 JUN 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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From Kent’s Imperative comes a bit about PTSD and the role society seems to play in the phenomenon.
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I always, or almost always, support this stuff. People have no idea how much basic science gets done because of places like DARPA and Navy Labs chasing after ‘wide eyed’ concepts. The femto-second laser is one thing I can think of off the top of my head which came out of a similar group, and has had major impacts on physical chemistry. It sounds stupid and wild eyed crap, but only when you’ve already made your mind half up on the issue.
--ry
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From MNF-I:
Start of 'Arrowhead Ripper' highlights Iraq operations
Blackhawk troops use more than body armor to keep each other safe
Artillery battalion trades steel rain for hearts and minds
Iraqi government cited after mosque attack
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Denizen Trias shows the once you've been bitten, the blogbug is hard to expunge. He logs on, he types, he blogs again!
CAPT H wants to shill his regiment, the Strathconas. Good enough - Canadians at War and, sometimes, play, too.
Need a "Laugh at the expense of others" kind of moment? AFSis provides a self-inflicted wound of that stripe. Trust me - you want to know... Where's Larry?
On the surface of it - this looks like a slavish devotion to Rules by jot and tittle, with no judgement as to the situation applied. H/t, Toluca Nole. [Link fixed, t'anks, Brab!]
CAPT H sends us to Oleg Volk (quirky photographer who likes things gun-ish) for a little size comparison. Let your inner Freud run wild.
Bloodspite's partner-in-crime, kdwill, posts from the frontlines of the immigration debate. -the Armorer
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The Man With The Golden Gun... is a woman. And Australian. Really. Golden Gun. Honest. Courtesy the Screaming Eagles. H/t, Mike L. -the Armorer
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RitaMatic sighting!
-bad cat robot
More on SFC Henderson.
Update: More info from the family of SFC Henderson (and explains a bit why Heartless Libertarian, a Fort Lewis resident, made the comment he did):
Fort Lewis releases statement on behalf of family of Fort Riley SoldierFORT LEWIS, Wash - According to the Dept. of Defense, Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Henderson, 35, of Hillsboro, Ore., and two other Soldiers died June 17 in Panjway, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. He was
assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (Transition Team), Fort Riley, Kan.Fort Lewis releases the following statement on behalf of Jennifer R. Henderson, wife of Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Henderson:
"I, Jennifer, and our daughter, Kayley, would like to deeply express our thanks both to the Army, local, and national community for the great amount of love and support that we have received during this difficult time of SFC Christopher Henderson's death. I would like to personally thank Chris' Army brothers and their families on the MiTT team for their love and friendship toward him, and also would like to extend our support to them as well during this period as we know it is hard for them as well.
"Many people have already told me my husband was and is a hero, but we already knew that. He was always a hero to us. SFC Henderson, or Chris as those that know him well call him, loved the Army and the many positions he has served in the Army from paratrooper to Air Assault to Drill Sergeant to MiTT (military training team) team member. Chris wore his uniform with pride, and we stood and still stand beside him with pride now. When he first volunteered for the MiTT deployment, he told me it was because he wanted to help others do better for their country and also so he could better the world for our daughter and myself. A sergeant major told me he was a "warrior" and Mike, you are right, he is a great "warrior." Chris will be missed and is loved by so many people not only here but around the world.
"Chris always had a smile on his face and never really had enemies because of this. He was always willing to help people and many times went out of his way to help someone. Once on a deployment to Kosovo, he told me that a local family's son had been killed and no one in the family knew how to tie a tie. Chris stepped up and tied the tie for them. This is the kind of man my husband is: always willing help, always smiling, and always our hero.
"Chris was a loving husband and I can't begin to describe how great of a father he was to our daughter. They were best friends and always will be. While deployed he never missed calling on holidays or special events. He loved us deeply and made sure that even though he was thousands of miles away that he was here for us. This is who he was.
"I now ask that the community be patient and respectful of the difficult time that our family is going through.
Many thanks, Jennifer R. Henderson."
Military Spouse, one of the toughest Military Occupational Specialties in DoD.
Okey-dokey.
The official editorial position of the Castle is: We're all for legal immigration, and for immigration reform. We think an infusion of forward-looking, entrepreneurial people is a net good to society - it helps counter-balance the native-born slugs who don't want to work, or who think the government should provide for them (this would be distinct from people who have fallen, so to speak, and need the hand up).
We reject nativism per se. We strongly support assimilation and will resist the tendency of the modern liberal to encourage balkanization by disincentivizing assimilation.
Other authors who post here may differ - but as the billpayer, that's the *official* position of the Castle.
So, let's take this bit from the White House at face value:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS Today, the White House Council of Economic Advisers is releasing a white paper examining the economic impact of immigration on our nation. The paper was prepared by the Council of Economic Advisers under the leadership of Chairman Edward P. Lazear. The white paper is attached and will be available shortly at www.whitehouse.gov.
“Our review of economic research finds immigrants not only help fuel the Nation’s economic growth, but also have an overall positive effect on the income of native-born workers.” - Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Edward P. Lazear
The key findings of the report include:
On average, US native workers benefit from immigration. Immigrants tend to complement (not substitute for) native workers, raising natives’ productivity and income.
Careful studies of the long-run fiscal effects of immigration conclude that it is likely to have a modest, positive influence.
Skilled immigrants are likely to be especially beneficial to natives. In addition to contributions to innovation, they have a significant positive fiscal impact.
Alrighty then. You've made the case for immigration. You haven't made the case that the bill in question is a good way to go about it.
Thank you for your interest in immigration affairs. Now, get back to reworking (or, better yet, starting over) the bill in question and quit trying to ram it down our throats and calling us names because we don't agree with you.
That is all.
/rant.
IPB - Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield. 20 JUN 2007
Sy Hersh is at it again. There’s a lot in this piece to consider. Was Taguba given a fair shake? What’s the effect of putting assassination in play? Is it a CYA conspiracy like Hersch et al claim?
I dunno. But Abu Ghraib is the stink that just doesn’t wash off our hands.
Related: KingDaddy of Arms and Influence on ‘The Authority to Whack’
Cassie’s pre-empted me on this front though.
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Why did Sec. State Powell say that there was an active cbrn program in Iraq, and more importantly who told him it was solid info?(Fixed, 0945 20/06/07)
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One from Hidden Unities: Disposable People.
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The debate over ‘doing Iran’ continues, and some see it as a less than optimal strategy for getting the strategic outcomes we want.
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This is a reading list from The New Republic about Afghanistan in the aftermath of OEF. Might be of interest to someone we know around here. Maybe. Sorta.
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J over at Armchair has a less than glowing opinion about recent terror plots and recent anti-terror initiatives out in the state of NY.
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A look beyond simple cannon counting in relation to COIN can be found here.
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Just had to do this one. Had. To. It’s so odd, but you get to know what the fringe is thinking and saying so as to know how to deal with them, if you have to.
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Last one, I promise, is from PDA dealing with armed humanitarian intervention. An excerpt:
This contribution focuses on armed interventions on behalf of the international community, which differ from traditional peacekeeping missions (using "blue-beret" contingents) in at least one vital aspect: the role of lethal force. Whereas in blue-beret missions weapons have been normally (and ought to be) confined to personal self-protection, the kind of military expeditions discussed here cannot, as a matter of principle, rule out the use of force above the individual level. Indeed, they imply the systematic application of combat power, if necessary.--ry
� The Thunder Run links with: Web Reconnaissance for 06/20/2007
Tough Week for the 1st Infantry Divsion out at Fort Riley.
And they're taking the punches in Iraq *and* Afghanistan.
THREE TRANSITION TEAM SOLDIERS KILLED IN AFGHANISTANThree transition team Soldiers died of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle June 17 in Panjway, Afghanistan.
Killed were:
Captain Joshua E. Steele, 26.
Sergeant 1st Class Christopher D. Henderson, 35.
Sergeant 1st Class John M. Hennen, 26.
Steele was an active duty engineer serving on a transition team assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. His home of record is North Henderson, Ill. He entered the Army in December 2002. [There is currently no photo available]
Henderson was an active duty infantryman serving on a transition team assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. His home of record is Hillsboro, Ore. He entered the Army in August 1991, and he deployed with the 1st Infantry Division transition team in January 2007. This was his first deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
Hennen was a mobilized Army National Guard infantryman serving on a transition team assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. His home of record is Vinton, La. He entered the Army National Guard in December 2003.
FORT RILEY SOLDIER KILLED IN IRAQ
Private First Class David A. Wilkey Jr., 22, died June 18 from wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit June 17 in Baghdad, Iraq.
Wilkey was an infantryman assigned to 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. His home of record is Elkhart, Ind.
He entered the Army in January 2006 and began serving with the 1st Infantry Division in May 2006. This was his first deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
To date, 112 Fort Riley Soldiers have been killed while serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
I'm sure your comrades have grabbed a table and added it to the 1st Infantry Division's Stammtisch - and those frosty mugs of your favorite beverage are sitting on cheesy coasters.
Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance: In Memoriam.
June 19, 2007
H&I* Fires, 19 JUN 2007
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