H&I Fires* 14 AUG 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.

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From David's Medienkritik:

This is a shocking about-face in one of the German media's harshest Iraq war critics. Now Der Spiegel declares:

"The US Military is more successful in Iraq than the world wants to believe."

What is behind this sudden and radical change in attitude? More here.

Jules Crittenden elaborates on the subject: Sprechen Sie Deutsches Mit Einer Tauben Welt - Speaking German to a deaf world.

Chuck Simmins on one of those US Military Myrmidons:

A two year old falls into a well. His father runs to the local outpost and begs the Americans for help.

We help. And when the dangerous part comes up, the officer leading the
unit does the digging himself.

Tell me again how it's all about the oil.

My response to Chuck was -

Well, false comparison, Chuck. It's *never* been about the oil for the troops. That's *Cheney's* thing.

8^ D

Lastly - go here, right now - and demand that Murray make some Castle Exclusives!

Okay, it's your turn - the Armorer

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Some interesting finds the last few days. For instance, last month the DoD announced a contest to build a better, lighter battery pack for troops to use in the field. During evening perusal of the news, I discovered this interesting invention: Flexible Battery.

When they say "flexible" they literally mean paper thin and bendable. The applications could be infinite, on or off the battle field. I keep thinking of the computer screens and keyboards that literally roll up or fold away to pocket size. Now there is a battery that does the same. In the field, beyond the computer, this little beauty could literally be rolled in sheets and used to line back packs or any other equipment to reduce bulk and provide huge amounts of resources on the field. One problem: possible cost issues. But, hey! When has that ever stopped the DoD? Might even be worth it.

My perrenial pet peeve about conservative views on women in combat comes alive as Elizabeth Donnelly at NRO lets loose with half true/half bunk complaint about the recent RAND report that she thinks the Army is trying to push quietly in the background so it can go on doing dastardly things like "forcing" women to serve in combat or combat related roles at the "mercy" of their commanders. In a strange twist, she d*mns these women with faint praise, calling them "brave" while making them into victims of a big bad army just like the left likes to do to our serving men and women in general. That is just bunk.

Finally, as an editorial comment, I've seen a lot being made about the "attacks on US forces down 50%" report. People, it is high summer. Almost too hot for us to operate. It affects the insurgents, too. Further, we've seen these trends before as we press forward operationally, the insurgents go to ground or run to the next place which looks like Ninevah and Salahdin provinces. Do not get excited by statistics. General increases or decreases mean nothing unless they are sustained. For four years now, we've been getting such thrilling reports only to see the insurgency turn back around and be worse than it was. What we need is sustained reduction in attacks over months, not a quick thirty day view.

In this war, statistics mean little until the trend line shows the minimum amount of combat effort coupled with the minimum amount of attacks. (note, I do not say "no attacks" or "no combat"; that's not how a multi-factional insurgency works). Don't get me wrong because the Anbar situation coupled with this report makes me pretty optimistic, but I am not going to declare the war won until it is and that includes many more "statistics" beyond how many mortars are lobbed, IEDs taken or casualties. That seems like a recipe for setting up early withdrawal.

Something I was thinking about when I read the Der Spiegel "Pigs Are Flying Over Germany" article coupled with some interesting back pedaling by the Dems and our press. Are the Dems now going to use a favorable report to "Declare Victory" and bring our troops home "with honor" tact? [yes, yes...I am alluding to Vietnam pre-fall of Saigon and the Paris Treaty] If I've learned anything from our friends on the left, it is cynicism.
-Kat
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Featured YouTube Smackdown video for August 14:
islamic state in iraq : TOTAL DESTRUCTION humer ied's - nitcharizdoing

[Armorer's note - these are graphic combat videos - be aware of that.]

We're noticing a big increase in the number of flagged video's that YouTube is keeping online but putting behind the meaningless 'Click if you're over 18' button. This may be connected to the suspension of huz999's account. He was one of the big digital jihadi uploaders, and he may have raised enough of a stink that YouTube thinks this is a 'compromise' gesture. As they say, developing... - Rickbert

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Obama steps in it again. And wait'll you hear his ideas on who should be occupying Iraq. Unbelievable (and frankly dangerous) ignorance on display. - FbL

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