Argghhh! The Home Of Two Of Jonah's Military Guys..: September 23, 2007

by Denizens on Sep 29, 2007 | General Commentary

A mix of Gunner's Zen and Karma...

If you get deep enough into collecting, you eventually meet up with some of the international arms collectors and dealers - most of whom make me look like a piker, as they're wrassling over... tanks and full size artillery pieces.

Here's some Gunner Zen and a Balance of Karma story from one of my buds in the biz.

I have had it for years. I fought the army 12 years ago to sell me three and some spares. During the procress they stole some of the spare barrels. I ripped into them and got them to ship to [deleted] for free, LOL, and then stored them at that base until I was ready to move them to my place. During the progress to this Port Arthur shooting happened and they wanted to deac my guns as they were not deac and they had put them out in the weather. The engineers skilled enough to deac the guns knew they were mine and refused. During the move down I removed the locks so when an officious army Lieutenant (I think you yanks call them shavetails) form ordnance went out with me to fight over the deac of the guns as they were still on army property. The night before they had rain... I arrived with tilt trucks to remove my guns then and there and to tell them to sod off from damaging them further, the shavetail saw the locks missing (not knowing I had them) and we fought for an hour on verbal issues. The engineers came down on my side saying they were sold to me as agreed and paid for and they were my property and he had no say. As he was outnumbered and getting put in his box he tried to save face pointing out the locks were missing and then went to open the breech that was shut. Even with lock missing it seals with a greased chamber and holds about 2 pints of water. As he went for the operating handle me and the engineers stood back as we all knew what was about to happen. Out of the chamber came the night's rainwater mixed with oil preservative and grease in a nice slurry that spewed all over his nice clean uniform. He was livid and it was the best we could do not to laugh. He had to report to the General of Log Command on his war with me afterwards and was screaming if anyone had clean uniform he could change into and I could "f--k off with my crap " as he stormed away to find showers etc.
When we came back later to load the guns and spares and the engineers had a great time telling me how they hated him and it was local legend how I nailed the prick. Well, that is the gun that got him. The three guns were set in for parts for other guns and out the three I would make that one complete and sold the other two off.

Ironically the fellow who bought my tank has recently bought one and then another associate has bought the other so they have changed hands twice since I sold them.

...the fellow who bought my tank has recently bought one... Someday, if my Lottery Retirment Investment Plan plays out, I'll be able to off-hand drop a line like that!

5.5-inch-gun.jpg

That would look *sooooooooooo* good sitting there between the Castle flagstaffs.

by John on Sep 29, 2007 | Artillery

H&I* Fires 28 SEP 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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Skippy-san could have written this, but didn’t. Wow is there a rather large amount of contractor hatred being tossed around lately or what?

(Anyone wondering what I meant by this should check out the comments section to this at Sir Lex’s.)
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So, what does this work out as per-capita I wonder? It does make me wonder a bit about why the Wife’s home state of Oregon is paying so much less than, say, Washington, but beyond that it easily breaks down to population. If you look at the map you’ll see that the most populous/high pop. density states are the one’s ‘paying the most’.
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Not quite sure what to make of this M. Hirsh piece about SecDef Gates and supposed on the Hill “Washington jujitsu” games being played.
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Bloodspite hasn’t gotten any play on the immigration issue in a bit, so these are for him.
1) Dishwasher from Guatemala, illegally here, decides to pack it all up and go home. Complication? He’s carrying $59k, cash, at the airport and that sets off all kinds of federal alarms.

2) A USA Today story about how things like the laws the city of Hazelton, PA put in place seem to be having some impact on the issue of illegal immigrants swamping social services. Make of that what you will, be it good or bad.
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And just because we can, let’s make today a Red Friday. To let our Northern Neighbors know we haven’t overlooked their contribution to the Long War and are glad they’re with us.
--
ry (Now, about this typing elbow Chief.....)

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In support of Ry's Red Friday call - this will flutter from the staff at Castle Argghhh! today.

Hosting provided by FotoTime

-the Armo(u)rer

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Oh - and if you haven't taken the opportunity to sign the "Support General Petraeus" petition over then in the right sidebar... well, go do it! It's not like it'll cost you anything. Well, except for that whole April 15 thingy. -the Armorer

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Strategy Page has a good joke. -the Armorer

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How many Armies in history did things like this? Especially as individual efforts on the part of soldiers, vice official policy?

During his tour of duty in Iraq, Army Sgt. Johnny Kempen thought he'd seen everything, until he met a little girl who saw nothing at all.
Kempen noticed one day, as soldiers threw candy to children in a tense Baghdad neighborhood, a little girl standing out.

Go to ABC News for the rest of the story of Zahraa, Sergeant Kempen and the residents of his hometown, Crandon, Wisconsin. -the Armorer

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--ry (Now, about this typing elbow Chief.....)

"...elbow comma Chief..."

And ya gots ta follow the Castle Style Book when referencing our Neighbo(u)rs and insert the U of Respect.

Which is entirely different from the U of Elided Snarkage or the U of CLA...

posted by BillT on September 28, 2007 7:21 AM

On behalf of your cousins to the north, thanks for the sentiments, folks. And on a snarkier note, it's nice to see that you can learn to spell with the proper number of vowels when you put your minds to it. ;)

posted by Damian on September 28, 2007 9:58 AM

I hold you guys, the Brits, the Ozzies, the Kiwis, and to a lesser extent, the Indians, to blame for the deplorable state of vowels in the Balkans.

I demand you use only your fair share, and wish the UN would tax you sufficiently on your vowels to be able to distribute vowels for Bosnia, Serbia, et.al...

posted by John of Argghhh! on September 28, 2007 10:05 AM

Dammit!! Made my eyeballs sweat AGAIN! Even as a Rotarian I can say, "God Bless the Lions." ML

posted by Mike Lehnherr on September 28, 2007 10:42 AM

Way to go SGT Kempen and way to go Crandon, WI. This is a great story -- wish we got more stories like this in the media.

posted by JimC on September 28, 2007 2:41 PM

Thank you for the link. I stand by my thoughts-I think that there needs to be a more serious look at where contrator support makes sense and where we are going into an area we probably should not be going into.

There is merit in some of the support things being given over to contractors ( until you start to look at their labor force and how little they are being paid in comparison to westerners-but that's a whole different argument)-however in the end combat is an extension of the national policy and will; and so should be under the jurisdiction of the national military. I truly believe that.

Within the Navy at least-the whole outsourcing thing has gone more than a little too far.

posted by Skippy-san on September 28, 2007 6:56 PM

by Denizens on Sep 28, 2007 | General Commentary

GWOT: Developing Effective Strategic Communications

In a previous post regarding information operations, I made the mistake of linking IO (military Information Operations) to PA (Public Affairs) and State Department. The Armorer rightfully rebuked gently in the comment section: "Doctrine, Doctrine, Doctrine". In essence, an age old discussion among those who look at current day domestic and foreign information as well as military operations: who is responsible for relaying information to whom.

To clarify, it's about law, area of responsibility and target audience. But, as the Armorer notes, as have other bloggers on the subject, with the advent of global communications and media, these areas have continued to drift closer together and even overlap. Thus, when we discuss the matter, we have a tendency to view the situation from the "nine thousand mile" perspective: it is all one giant field of operations and every organization is responsible for it.

Add to that, every organization affects the operations and outcomes of the others. Finally, also based on the Armorer's comments and previous discussions, while approaching the field of operations from different angles, each of these organizations have to have the same overarching message to achieve the ultimate central goal: United States' Policy.

Where to begin?

GWOT: Developing Effective Strategic Communications
(continued in Flash Traffic)

Preface

Throughout history, man has sought to expand his ability to communicate over ever greater distances, using faster, more efficient and reliable methods. He has used these methods for a variety of reasons including personal communications, controlling an organization, economic growth, negotiating contracts, developing diplomatic relationships, affecting the outcome of battle and spreading ideas. The methods of communications have developed over eons as man has mastered his environment, available resources and quantum mathematics.

In the 20th century, the ability to communicate within days, hours, minutes and, finally, seconds has changed the way that communications effect every aspect of life. Humans are bombarded by information and ideas nearly every waking minute, from locations all around the world.

At the dawn of the 21st century, global, instantaneous communications have allowed people to collaborate on projects, develop life changing inventions, obtain wealth, perform surgery from half the world away and exchange ideas with people they may never meet or never previously had the opportunity to communicate with without the advancement in communications. As these advancements occurred, governments, businesses, private organizations and individuals have alternately sought to control and use this new resource for their own benefit.

The most effective use of these communication resources has been by individuals who have the least restrictions on time, content or relations and by corporations who have a long history of developing strategic communications to effect market growth among billions of potential customers. Corporations use market analysis tools to identify their target customers or audiences based on data points within selected communities.

Individuals use a less scientific though equally selective and sophisticated method of social networking. In exchanging emails, websites links and home made videos, they promote one idea over another, promote a relationship and shared goals to individuals and groups. However, opposite from the corporation "top down" method of searching for market share, individuals are often "self-selecting" or "bottom up" associating with a product, organization or an idea sometimes without another individual or organization ever reaching out.

In the Global War on Terror, a global war of ideas, this self-selection using global communications poses a unique problem in limiting participation in acts of murder, destruction and espionage on behalf of any state, organization or ideology in places all around the globe without direct relationship to a central conflict. This requires a new approach to developing communication strategies.

According to sociologists, the most common means of influencing individuals is through peers within a given community. Limiting the appeal of any organization or ideology that is contrary to the security of people or states will largely rely on the ability to persuade the greater community to reject and marginalize the ideology or any terrorist acts as unacceptable behavior. This includes communities in the real and virtual world.

Developing Effective Strategic Communications: Core Concepts and Working Theory

We have a tendency to look at effective communications from the top down. In other words, we tend to look at the organizations involved and try to decipher their responsibilities, appropriate message and correct actions from that perspective. Instead, we should begin this discussion from the bottom up: focus on "target audiences" and work backwards. In fact, from a "customer service" background, the most effective strategy is to first understand who the "customer" is, the needs and demands of the "customer" or "target audience" and then effect the delivery of message or product that best suits the "customer"..

Whatever the organization does to effect the "customer" and convince them to "buy" the message or product, in the end, it is to achieve the organization's over all goals. In business, it is to achieve majority market share, acceptable profits and the long term financial stability and success. In foreign affairs, national security and warfare, it is to achieve the goals of US policy.

Before we breakdown the "target audiences", develop messages, discuss methods of delivery and assign responsibility, we need to put forth a working diagram and a theory. That theory reflects our current and future adversaries: the use of global communications and media, the concepts of distributed networks, dissemination of information and recruitment of "actors" and sympathizers disregarding global borders. In fact, adversaries over the ages have sought to accomplish their goals using all of these methods. More so since the development of global communications and media. Our strategy must take this into consideration and develop around this core idea.

Recognizing Spheres of Influence

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

That theory being that, in a global war against such an adversary, using all of the above methods and comprehending the effect of global development on information and interconnectivity of people, there is no such thing as a "neutral" party to the war. In fact, every nation and individual is a potential "target audience" as well as a potential deliverer of the message. Their importance, how the message is shaped and who delivers it is based on the "target audience's" geographical proximity to actual areas of combat operations, their ideological relationship to the adversary or even to the US, including their own national or ideological interests.

All of which indicates their potential acceptance to "blue force/red force" communications and ideas. It also indicates whether they are an effective conduit of either message to other "target audiences" to: pressure the adversary; to pressure his sympathizers, to influence potential allies of either force or even to influence "neutral" parties to act or not act on behalf of either adversarial party.

This theory and its "9000 mile" view of "target audiences" obviously makes a large and unwieldy matrix to work with and plan the message, the method of delivery and the responsible parties. That requires a breakdown and identification of the "target audience" and their geographic and ideological relationship to either entity as well as the most appropriate method of delivery and responsible party. However, this diagram could be used to drill down to each level and category of "target audience", overlaid on each successive group of communities from a global, state and local perspective.

Definition of the Diagram: Spheres of Influence

The overlapping circles represent these ideas:

1) Every entity has a relationship with the other, directly and indirectly, through geography, ideology, economy, security and polity, and through individuals, populations, states or organizations
2) Every entity has influence on the other, through actions or reactions, directly or indirectly, through geography, ideology, economy, politics, security and polity: through individuals, populations, states or organizations
3) Every entity seeks to increase influence on the other to act or react, directly or indirectly, through geography, ideology, economy, politics, security and polity: through individuals, populations, states or organizations
4) Every entity has its own set of goals that it wishes to achieve that is either aligned or in opposition to the goals of the other entities. Such goals include economic, political and security.
5) The importance placed on these goals by an entity; their alignment with any other entity's goals; their relationship with any individual, group or state; the amount of influence each has or can improve on another, will determine what position or sphere of influence the entity occupies on the diagram.

Individual circles:

1) Blue Force/Red Force represents the main protagonist and antagonist, whose goals are similar (such as achieving communications superiority), but directly opposite the other.
2) Green Centers of Influence represents outside entities that share a relationship, influence and some or all of the goals of any entity that it makes contact with. Centers of Influence have their own goals which they attempt to achieve by either supporting the goals of or attempting to influence any of the other spheres it has a relationship with. These spheres of influence are sometimes interchangeable with any other entity on the diagram, most often the "target audience".
3) Yellow represents the "target audience". The target audience depends on a community's direct or indirect relationship to the whole or part of the conflict, it's own goals and from what level it is being viewed and addressed (ie, global, state, local or individuals).

Global Community: Relativity and Friction

Due to the global nature of communications and media which facilitates the global distribution of ideas, the relationship of nations, organizations and individuals invested in global economics, politics and security, this connectivity continuously causes friction which simultaneously maintains those connections.

Achieving Communications Superiority And Limitations

An ideology that bases its primary activities on disseminated and distributed relay or outsourcing of its message and activities, eschewing national borders, a state, or physical assets that can be targeted, nor recognizing any neutral parties to the conflict, cannot be completely eliminated by physical interdiction. For such an ideology to be rendered ineffective, it must be equally marginalized within all public spaces and polities.

This requires the engagement of all parts of society, at all levels, within the global community.

However, we must accept that defeating an ideology does not necessarily equate to eliminating it. The worst ideologies of the 20th century still remain with us today in the form of books, movies, music, internet websites and organizations that continue to attempt to re-establish their organization and ideology. It is only through vigilance and continued influence of the greater polity that these ideas remain marginalized and unable to retain the power that they once held. That may be the most we can expect from any sustained effort against such adversarial ideologies as Islamic extremism where information is retained and reflected in a never ending state on the world wide web.

� Secure this line!

Very interesting, kat. Thank you.

I agree completely with your last paragraph, but would like to hear your opinion on the following:

There's no doubt that threatening ideologies will linger and always remain with us, no matter how much we marginalize them, and that the key is to influence the greater polity to reject these ideologies.

However, my opinion is that it usually takes 2 things, either together or individually, to do this:

1) TIME and OPPORTUNITY for the information to be absorbed by the polity before the opposing ideology becomes a direct security threat.

2) An external CATALYST, such as armed conflict , collapse of government or a natural catastrophic event, that reduces the adherents of the opposing ideology.

What are your thoughts? If the internet had existed in the 1930's-1940's, would Nazism, fascism, or Japanese militarism have been marginalized before attacking the US homeland without the horrors of WW2? Would Soviet Communism have failed when it did without the financial, political, and military pressure of the US and Western Europe? Will Chinese Communism fail on its own, before China becomes a direct threat, if the Communist regime is able to continue to suppress the free flow of internet information there with the collusion of Microsoft and Google?

Will we be able to influence the Iranian polity to reject the threatening ideology of the mullahs before Iran becomes a direct threat to us?

And would we have had any chance to influence the Iraqi polity via the internet, or that of the rest of the Arab world, had we simply maintained the status quo with Saddam in power?

posted by fdcol63 on September 28, 2007 8:26 AM

GWOT?
Be Prepared!

Cheers

posted by J.M. Heinrichs on September 28, 2007 3:28 PM

Working backwards, we have to recognize that Saddam and many other societies are "closed". They control even the internet though I think their "control" is not as good as they think it is. People are always figuring out ways around the "system".

What is its impact? I think it would depend on the internal abilities of the citizens to form through these internet communities. It could be very slow. You have to admit, China changed through direct relations and commerce, though not enough. It changed through other media interface.

However, they have had over half of century to develop their ideology. We are going "slow" over the last 40 without direct control. China could be a "hundred year" project.

Thus, countering them would depend on what sort of threat they were posing. Determining if an ideology will represent a real threat in the future and needs to be countered is a difficult question. Hence the rise of communism, nazism and our current adversaries. Particularly since we have a tendency to alternate towards great expansion and isolationist stagnation.

Maybe a better question is how do we spread our message better so that it is the message that grows more often than these others spring up?

This also goes to our very internal struggle over "manifest destiny" or "multi-cultural, live and let live". Or is that "detente"? Are we the worlds policemen? Should we be "militant" in the approach and spread of our ideology? Not necessarily "military", but in continuously doing so?

We can't decide on that internally even. I think that is a huge factor in people's concern about Iraq and any rather militant statement by the president about fostering democracy. Are we the exception or the rule?

Truthfully, I think that is a reason why we are always "shocked" by the rise of some ideology that decides that, yes, in fact, they should militate their ideology and expand, even with violence. I think we get caught up in our egalitarian ideas, imagining that those ideologies are someone elses internal problems. We put blinders on and then get blindsided.

And, I don't know if we are going to change. We have a deep fear of "militant ideology" because we are so often the direct adversaries of such as we are so often considered the most danger to their ability to militate. Hence the 9/11 attacks.

We fear becoming the same so we go "ostrich" when its out there and refute the necessity to militate against it.

And, I think this is a really huge problem in a globally connected world. When you can get to Japan in 14 hours by plane (that's indirect flight) or get to Pakistan in 20, talk to someone on the other side of the planet via telephone or instantly via computer, what should we be doing?

Finally, the question of can we counter ideologies before they become a threat and could we have countered Nazism with the internet or counter China without war? I am not sure we can set some sort of metrics to that to determine it. Ideologies spread through people and local situations can cause an ideology to spread like wild fire.

Physical destruction to stop an ideology definitely depends on whether the threat out paces our other capabilities (or if we even use them).

so, yes, I suppose, some will be destroyed physically. Its just that these adversaries we currently face understand how ideologies disappear after direct physical confrontation between states, so they eschew them while working to infiltrate the general population. I believe this is why a National Strategic Communications Policy needs to be in place. We're going to be fighting an information war for much longer than we are going to be fighting a shooting war.

posted by kat-missouri on September 29, 2007 1:12 AM

by Denizens on Sep 28, 2007 | Global War on Terror (GWOT)

News from Afghanistan.

...our Man in the 'Stan is heading home, leaving us uncovered in the 'Stan as Mr. T's Haircut goes through the "Get Ready To Deploy" process.

Okay - Mr. T's Haircut needs to read this next bit closely, as he's my next hope of scoring cheap iron from the 'Stan... No, of course not, people - that's not my prime reason, it's getting the stories out! If I can get a historical artifact out (that isn't a significant component of the Afghan National Heritage, we're not Looters here) that's just gravy. Okay, it ain't reason number 1, but I'll admit to reason number 1.0000000000000000000000000000000001. And since I'm 0 for 2 with Afghan correspondents... you can see how hard the pressure I put on people is...

How To Get Your Pistol Home From Afghanistan.

Xenophon had his Anabasis, Sir John Moore the retreat to Corunna, and Sherman the March to the Sea. Me? I get to spend most of the morning traipsing around Camp Eggers trying to mail a pistol home.
First stop is legal, where it turns out that they only do customs forms for weapons between 0900 and 1000. I missed that window, but as I was an officer who had to walk over from ISAF, and they were doing absolutely nothing, I got in. Once there I get into a discussion about antique weapon exemptions to the Gun Control Act, black powder cartridges and spend a considerable amount of time convincing the lawyers that .476 Enfield fits the “if cartridge, a caliber not common to the United States” exemption clause. I survive and get the paperwork.

Second is the MP office. They take a look at it and say I can’t send a weapon home that doesn’t have the date stamped on it. They suggest that I take it back to the guy I bought it from to have it stamped. After a rather dejected lunch, I start looking over the pistol to see if the date is hidden anywhere. Now on the back face of the cylinder is a proof mark. Proof marks are tapped onto any gun that has been tested by the military prior to service. This one consists of a tiny crown and yes, the date. Now the cops, unlike the lawyers, aren’t looking for a reason to deny my request, so after a brief explanation of why the paperwork says 1881 (date the model was admitted to service ) and the gun says 1886 (date of manufacture) I get stamped and off we go, only to find out the post office is on lunch break.

So we tramp back across base for a cup of coffee, and then back to the post office with my four copies of the forms. Now I had heard horror stories about having to pack and repack boxes to get this accepted by the post master, but this went fairly smoothly. They gave me a box and said it had to be wrapped completely in brown paper. “Like a Christmas present” he says (and anyone who has ever seen me wrap a Christmas present is laughing right now.)

Anyway success. Two things that were going through my mind were: Uncle Joe never went through this to bring his Luger back from the ETO, and what use was it voting for Republicans all my life if I can’t just mail a gun back from a war zone? Where are we, Canada?

Two things that were going through my mind were: Uncle Joe never went through this to bring his Luger back from the ETO, and what use was it voting for Republicans all my life if I can’t just mail a gun back from a war zone? Where are we, Canada?

I'm thinking *that* goes in the Notable Quotes section of the sidebar...

Finally, Coda to Joe's tale of this trip to the Sandbox:

Well folks its been a fun couple of months but I will be on the plane home in two days. In fact I probably won’t be on this email again.
It’s been a fascinating, frustrating and fun time working in a NATO command. My roommate came up with a fitting description: “It’s just like an isosceles triangle, but it has four sides.” Anyone who is used to the US way of war is dumbfounded by the staff practices and chain of command in this headquarters. Bu once you get used to the differences, they are a professional bunch, and most have been around the block here before, or in places like Bosnia and can get the job done.

When I left home my kids asked why I had to leave. I didn’t talk about operational net assessment, or planning cycles or measures of effectiveness,. I said “there are bad men in Afghanistan who like hurting kids and daddy is going to help the people that are trying to stop them.”

I still feel that’s the mission here and it’s a noble one. I don’t think anyone can “fix” Afghanistan but the Afghans themselves, but they can’t do that until the really evil people here who do like killing innocents either die or have a change of heart. We might not always do the right thing over here, or do it very well, but NATO’s heart is in the right place.

Thanks for everything. I’ve enjoyed the chance to send these updates and it kept me connected to the outside.

I’ll see you when I get home.

On the plus side, Joe may get back into the "Motivators" business...

BZ, Sailor. Fair wind and following seas on the voyage home!

by John on Sep 28, 2007 | Observations on things Military

Friday Two-Fers

Yesterday, ry ~~walked all over it with golf spikes~~ was kind enough to remind me that I ~~walked all over it with football cleats~~ hadn't yet announced the winner of the new tagline contest from a couple of weeks ago.

Ahem.

According to the rules of the contest, which you *all* read, agreed to, and then consigned to memory -- with the evident exception of ry -- nobody won. There were some really, really, *really* good one-liners that *nobody voted for*. So, it looks like I'm stuck with answering the once-a-month e-mail with "It's an OH-58D" in the subject line. For the time being. And it's all your fault, slackers.

Eeeep! I'm channeling John...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
However, with me, you always get a shot at redemption. First, for those of you who ~~have been stuck in a two-year time warp~~ remember this one from a little while ago, congratulations on your admirable ability to restrain your curiosity for this length of time. Second, for those of you who are new to the site (and we *all* know who you are, but like you a lot anyway), here's the synopsis:

Every once in a while, regardless of what your particular job happens to be in the military, you hear a comment or a call over the radio that makes you realize how badly it sucks being you at that particular instance and in that particular point in space. One morning, I shook a bunch of them out of the *Ohhh-Boy!* compartment and listed them -- there's a TINS! that accompanies each -- and I asked you to vote for the particular one you ~~figured would bore you the least~~ deemed most interesting.

1. "Ooops!" [#1] -- from a gunship, two seconds after his rocket hit the (flooded) paddy I was just about to land in. Right underneath me. Instant concussive waterfall.

2. "Holy sh*t! They said Charlie didn't have any flak down here! One-Five, are any of you guys still alive in there?"

3. "Ooops!" [#2] -- from a different gunship, one nanosecond before my crewchief screamed that a rocket had just passed between our right skid and the belly of the aircraft.

4. "Hey, One-Five, you look like Niagara Falls. I thought those fuel cells were supposed to be self-sealing."

5. "Aaaaah! One-Five's dead!" -- from my copilot, right after I took a direct hit in the chicken plate that slammed me flailing off the controls while we were at flat pitch in an LZ. I thought I was dead and his squeak didn't do anything to lessen my depression.

6. "Sir? The world's biggest tracer just came offa Nui Coto an' -- geez, it's following us!" -- my introduction to the game of helicopter vs. heat-seeking missile. I won. Barely.

7. "Chalk Four, you've still got a tailboom. Couldn't say for how much longer, though."

8. "The SEALs are ready for pickup, sir. Along with about a platoon of VC on the other side of the treeline they're in."

9. "Sector TOC wants you to check out a possible 37mm site west of Nui Hon Soc. The others they sent there never called in."

10. "Hey, One-Five -- uhh, ya do know yer on fire, don't ya?"

Number 6 won. 'Fess up. You guys wanted to see if I really *did* get out of these things alive, didn't you...

However, there are still nine more to go, each one ~~a bigger yawner than the last~~ leading to a small vignette of a TINS! Pick a number and pop it into the comments -- the biggest vote-getter gets posted. And remember, one legit addy,

*glowering at a certain Denizenne blogtwin with multiple persona disorder*

one legit vote.

And then we'll do it again. And again, and again, and again until I figure you're ready to take on the sidebar -- again.

Two-Niner's allowed to pass, although he'll probably pop in to snark, because he either made some of the calls or knows the story already.

He *thinks* so, anyway.

Heh -- you don't think I only have *nine* stories left, do ya?

Yeah, I walked all over it. And got a rapping of my knuckles by Cassie for my efforts too. I'd swear that woman was a Catholic School Nun if I didn't already know better. (Maybe I shouldn't say that in this crowd. Who knows what mind in the gutter comment will be made next.)

And I wouldn't mind hearing Oooops#1.

posted by ry on September 28, 2007 7:33 AM

*sigh*
I have FAILED MY TWIN! Not ONE VOTE? For ANY OF THEM?
I demand a recount! And I vote for HF6's "the ground repels them" comment. Lurv that one.

As for a new TINS story, I promise to play by the rules for ONCE in my life and will only vote one time. For #8. After all, who wouldn't love a story that involves SEALs?

posted by AFSister on September 28, 2007 8:05 AM

Who knows what mind in the gutter comment will be made next

With this crowd? Not a one.

After all, who wouldn't love a story that involves SEALs?

Me. For about five hours -- uhhh -- *minutes*, anyway.

Does anyone know where the love of God goes
When sustained automatic weapons fire turns the minutes to hours?
Sorry 'bout that, Gord-O.

posted by BillT on September 28, 2007 9:26 AM

The love of God is concentrated in the efforts of your Guardian Angels... the reason you are here to *relate* the TINS.

Geez, Bill, that was an easy one.

posted by John of Argghhh! on September 28, 2007 9:28 AM

I, for one, vote for #10. Fire ALWAYS makes for a good story, and it's even better if someone else has to inform you about it!

posted by NinjaFluff on September 28, 2007 9:34 AM

I vote for #6. I wanna see if you survive. And I *know* you have more than nine stories left -- yer just waiting for the statute of limitations to expire on the rest.

posted by bad cat robot on September 28, 2007 9:38 AM

Speaking of Numbah 6 - I call Beauchamp on you. I don't believe your Crew Chief used the word, "Geez" you fabulist!

posted by John of Argghhh! on September 28, 2007 9:45 AM

One of the limitations on the R-44 heliothwopter is max altitude of 9000 AGL. The book states this because in case of fire you have a five minute firewall, and above 9000 it will take you longer than that to autorotate to a landing. That's got to be a long 5 minutes...

I want to hear #10!

posted by Pogue on September 28, 2007 9:49 AM

Fire ALWAYS makes for a good story
[Memo to self: TINS!-bait pulls NinjaFluff out from the draperies -- evidently schools with the other Denizennes when in stealth mode]

Aaaand BCR chimes in with a vote for Number Six. Won't she be surprised...

I don't believe your Crew Chief used the word, "Geez" you fabulist!
He most certainly did. Granted, it was the polysyllabic version, but it really-truly *started* with "Geez"...

...in case of fire you have a five minute firewall...
Betcha you could get a Robinson on the ground *real* fast if the fire started on the wrong side of the wall, though...

posted by BillT on September 28, 2007 10:29 AM

*giggles as BCR*

lolololol

posted by AFSister on September 28, 2007 10:34 AM

I still want to hear them all. But I will echo NinjaFluff's vote for #10, which was one of my choices wayyyyy back when.
*grin*

posted by Barb on September 28, 2007 10:43 AM

37mm HE vs Bell spam-can! #9's gotta be good!

posted by Neffi on September 28, 2007 11:50 AM

#6.
... to see if the story has been 'adjusted' in the past several years.

Cheers

posted by J.M. Heinrichs on September 28, 2007 12:03 PM

*giggles as BCR*
Not because you've fixed the death ray, I hope? You'll still chortle as WK, right?

... to see if the story has been 'adjusted' in the past several years.
Nope. Still there, warts and all. And I still lived. And the crewchief still said the G-Rated versio(u)n of what he really said.

posted by BillT on September 28, 2007 1:02 PM

[Memo to self: TINS!-bait pulls NinjaFluff out from the draperies -- evidently schools with the other Denizennes when in stealth mode]

Nah... I just don't comment when I have nothing to add to the conversation. "Better they think you're a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt!"

That being said... I think I heard about a whole bunch more votes for #10 somewhere around here... *grin*

posted by Ninjafluff on September 28, 2007 1:21 PM

Fiends.

posted by BillT on September 28, 2007 1:46 PM

Or you could always give your side of this story ...

posted by bad cat robot on September 28, 2007 1:58 PM

I *did*:

A foul canard.

I get up at 0530, *not* 0700. And the spider had a satchel charge...

See? Vindication.

posted by BillT on September 28, 2007 2:54 PM

And these days, I get up at 0415. Gaby got hold of a sour vole last week and her GI tract has been in revolt ever since.

If I had it to do over again, I would've gone for the rancher with the drainage hole in the kitchen floor...

posted by BillT on September 28, 2007 3:00 PM

First read and damn near laughed my ass off... Having done a few of those myself, I've got to vote for #9.

posted by Old NFO on September 28, 2007 9:21 PM

Poor little pup - she just needs to spend quality time with Bigfoot all by her little self ;-)

posted by Barb on September 28, 2007 11:29 PM

...she just needs to spend quality time with Bigfoot all by her little self.

If you mean getting ear-chin skritches whenever she takes a break from trying to tackle Scout, jumping over Jake (while he's standing up) and boxing with Muffy the Maleficent, that -- plus leaping onto my lap whenever I sit down -- is the normal drill. She's turning into WereKitty...

posted by BillT on September 29, 2007 12:06 PM

Number 9, please.

Although number 10 sounds fascinating, don't the Vietnamese consider that number unlucky? Maybe he should call that one "10a" "10+1"... ;)

posted by Casey Tompkins on September 30, 2007 1:01 PM

Not unlucky, just the pits, as in "Choi oi, Numbah Ten."

Or, if it's really, *really* super-bad, "Choi-duc oi, sinh loi, Numbah Ten Thousand!"

posted by BillT on September 30, 2007 2:18 PM

by CW4BillT on Sep 28, 2007 | Helicopter Pr0n - 10,000 fiddly bits all flying in formation... | I think it's funny! | This is no Sh*t!

H&I* Fires 27 SEP 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...

**********************************
Hmm, let’s see. We still have two contests outstanding. The first contest was finding a replacement for Chief Bill’s caption on the sideboard. The second one was the privy plaque for the outhouse/tool shed for the new digs. Have we any winners on those yet?
Let's try not to take on one of Cassie's bad habits. (Damn it all, now there's a big ol' "The Deathstar blew up Alderan" -sized hole to fill.)
--ry

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

And for all you new-agey huggy-feely types (the Armorer is *not* a huggable bear, regardless what he looks like)... Hug This! -the Armorer

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

by Denizens on Sep 27, 2007 | General Commentary

The Bush Interview...

...wherein the Armorer demonstrates why this place doesn't charge for content.

Of course, I don't claim MSM journo credentials. I'm a pamphleteer and proudly Blog Nekkid.

During our visit with the President, most of us got to ask a question.

In his remarks and in response to questions raised before I posed my question, the President talked about how he firmly and passionately believes that the war in Iraq was necessary, and how the fight won't be over, (though we may not see operations on this scale again, especially if we get it right in Iraq and Afghanistan) for some years yet. He spoke of how it was the President's job to "See over the horizon, beyond the Gallup Poll."

So my question was this: "Mr. President, since you clearly see the war as necessary, and lasting beyond your administration, how do you set the conditions to ensure that the effort will continue beyond 2008, regardless of who wins the White House?"

His answer was along the lines I expected, and neutrally stated. Mr. Bush responded, "The private rhetoric of the occupant of the Oval Office may be much different from their public rhetoric once they have access to the information the President has access to." He added that "Iraq has asked for a permanent political, economic and military relationship with the US" which I took to mean that Mr. Bush would be putting formal relationships into place that would make it more difficult for his successor to just repudiate things. Hopefully if that's the case, it won't be a Congress of the 1974-76 era holding the purse strings...

I've long noted chatting with friends that candidates will say silly things on the campaign trail that they'll regret when they start getting their classified briefings when they assume the office. Mr. Kucinich would probably be the exception to that rule - I expect that once he starts getting those briefings he'll say "Oh my! Bring them all home and demoblize them and everyone will love us! We'll make them all Peace Corps people!"

Little did we know that the President was putting his money where his mouth is - by paving the way to help his successor not have to go through huge, agonizing contortions, once they started getting their briefings.

My first hint of that was in this article, by Bill Sammon in the Wichita Examiner:

President Bush is quietly providing back-channel advice to Hillary Rodham Clinton, urging her to modulate her rhetoric so she can effectively prosecute the war in Iraq if elected president.

CDR Salamander notes the phenomenon as well, attributing it to the Power of Petraeus.

I'm guessing it's both. The President's private urgings, plus General Petraeus' report (*and* MSM reporting on the Surge from Iraq) that is causing the shifts in the candidate's public musings - much to the annoyance of the 'Netroots and their fellow travelers such as Andrew Sullivan, mugged conservative:

If Clinton is that comfortable with a permanent occupation of Iraq at this point in the election cycle, how comfortable do you think she's going to be next year? You think a politician so obsessed with gaining and wielding power is happy to relinquish any in the Middle East?

My point about my not being MSM-ready (no real loss, I'm not *trying* to replace them) is that I'm not able (nor interested, at root) to take the time to get the real interviewing done that lays it out more forcefully... as Mr. Sammon did:

In an interview for the new book “The Evangelical President,” White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten said Bush has “been urging candidates: ‘Don’t get yourself too locked in where you stand right now. If you end up sitting where I sit, things could change dramatically.’
Bolten said Bush wants enough continuity in his Iraq policy that “even a Democratic president would be in a position to sustain a legitimate presence there. ”

I'm just here to tell you that the President has been consistent in that message. He gave a virtually identical answer to the conservative journalists who were invited over last week. His time with them was pretty much identical to ours, in terms of the main message he was trying to convey.

" ... I'm a pamphleteer and proudly Blog Nekkid. ... "

I could have gone without THAT image seared into my brain. LOL

posted by fdcol63 on September 27, 2007 7:33 AM

...candidates will say silly things on the campaign trail that they'll regret when they start getting their classified briefings when they assume the office.

Name one who's *ever* said, "Ooops -- guess I goofed" after he's gotten himself elected.

JFK campaigned on the nonexistent "Missile Gap" and never even brought the subject up after January '61.

posted by BillT on September 27, 2007 8:02 AM

Trackbacked by The Thunder Run - Web Reconnaissance for 09/27/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.

posted by David M on September 27, 2007 12:27 PM

Yes, I just read two articles before this that basically were the journo's starting to refer to Hillary as "hawkish" on Iraq.

I do think this is her reaching out to reporters to try and reshape her image after all that anti- baloney.

However, I do want to say something on that...I'm not impressed with this "strategy" because I do believe it shows a serious opportunism on her part. not that I didn't know it, but it is in our faces right now. An opportunist maybe a good political strategists, but I don't like that for president or for CiC in war time.

Particularly with Iran, Syria, etc as they are AND particularly because liberty has been pushed forward in some places and lost ground in others.

We do need another plan and not one that says one socialist government is as good as another.

posted by kat-missouri on September 27, 2007 12:51 PM

The opportunism of Hillary and the Dems, and their "public rhetoric" despite knowing much of the same intelligence accessible to the POTUS by virtue of their Senate and House committee memberships, have sapped public confidence and will in the war effort AND provided reason for our adversaries to believe that they can hold out just long enough until we withdraw our forces from Iraq, thereby ensuring an American defeat.

Quite frankly, if this is not "giving aid and comfort" to our enemies, I don't know what is.

On another blog, a lefty commenter made the absurd statement that "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."

I responded by saying:

"No. Being willing to die to protect the freedoms enjoyed by those who dissent is the highest form of patriotism."

"However, it is the obligation and responsibility of all citizens to remain constructively critical of their government and its policies, and to object and dissent when necessary."

"Dissent just for the purpose of dissenting is merely anarchy."

posted by fdcol63 on September 27, 2007 3:32 PM

"Dissent just for the purpose of dissenting is merely anarchy."

I disagree completely, Frank.

It's either:

a) Childish, or,
b) The modern equivalent of singing "I gave my love a cherry that had no stone" in the hopes of getting into that womyn's knickers.

How typically neoconnish rethuglican of you to smash his rhetorical guitar, Bluto.

posted by John of Argghhh! on September 27, 2007 3:36 PM

"How typically neoconnish rethuglican of you ... "

Schuldig, Herr Richter! LOL

posted by fdcol63 on September 27, 2007 3:46 PM

"I don't seem to have enough roses. Some of you fellas are going to have to share."

posted by ry on September 27, 2007 10:58 PM

Figures *that* would be the line Ry remembers...

posted by John of Argghhh! on September 28, 2007 4:16 AM

Well, I thought it better than doing the real easy 'Did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor', and I didn't know how to write out D-Day's making noises scene. And 'Hey Niedermeyer,' was too easy. Plus, I think you screwed up. Ain't it 'I gave my love a cherry that had no stem' instead of 'stone'? Hmmm?

posted by ry on September 28, 2007 7:47 AM

Ain't it 'I gave my love a cherry that had no stem' instead of 'stone'? Hmmm?

Nope. Report to the rack.

posted by BillT on September 30, 2007 4:54 PM

by John on Sep 27, 2007 | Politics

The Castle is prepping it's next "Man in the 'Stan"

Who, oddly enough, is another sailor. S'okay with me, I've been trying to get a pet sailor for this place for some time. Small downside, he *is* of the aviation community, like *that's* a perspective not over-represented around this place... and the Castle continues the trend of having land-locked sailors not doing Navy things as our correspondent from Afghanistan.

Nothing wrong with that - it encapsulates the war, in many respects, and the transformation, in fits and starts, of DoD.

Any, meet Mr. T's Haircut- who will be posting here and over at the 'Phibian's place (but we're senior, we invited the Haircut first). He'll hone his skillz talking about getting ready to go and getting there, and then really start earning his non-existent pay...

A Haircut goes to war.
Note: I chose the Nome de guerre MR T’s Haircut as a way to express life in my contribution to the blogs. “In Short”, the Haircut really does make the man.

I am an active duty Sailor who has over 20 years in the Naval Service. I am the proverbial Son of a Sailor, so that makes my Son, the Son of a … well you get the picture. I am an aviation Warrant Officer and have flown as a crewmember in rotary and fixed wing aircraft. I am married, enjoy NASCAR and Fishing. I support the Constitution and in particular, I support the 2nd Amendment. My opinions are my own.

I am pleased to have been asked by John the Armorer to replace Joe as “the Man in the ‘Stan” Correspondent. I am due to deploy to Afghanistan in May – June of 2008. I will pass on my observations as an “Individual Augmentee” supporting the good fight as I join the sister service, the Army, as a “Fleet of One”.

Due to my sarcastic sense of humor and habit of crossing the PC line, I have decided to remain semi-anonymous when I make my contributions to the Castle. I also love to read and post on CDR Salamander’s blog and have been asked to contribute by our fine Phibian’ and agreed to contribute my observations from time to time to his fine website as well.

So please tune in as I give a Sailors perspective of a deployment of an Individual Augmentee, deploying to a combat zone singularly and with the normal cast of characters that a Sailor would be used to deploying with.

To put it in perspective, when a Sailor normally deploys, he does so after completing numerous mind numbing qualifications on a weapons systems or aircraft platform. He further must pass a series of drills and exercises as part of the crew or team in integrated combat scenarios. This usually consists of weeks of deployments leading up to a long duration exercise and then finally deployment. By this time the deployment is anti-climatic and the Sailor plans for the inevitable return home to port to turn around and begin the cycle anew… in other words, this entire IA thing is going to be fun! - MTH

Welcome aboard, Sailor!

by John on Sep 27, 2007 | Shameless Self-Promotion

News from our Man in the 'Stan...

In which we learn our Castle Correspondent can put some wood to the ball, and that not being able to drink apparently means the Air Force can't play ball, either.

Most importantly, we learn how to control staff officer over-population...

Joe, the Castle's Man in the 'Stan, does his part spanking the Air Force - oddly enough, this is an official DoD photo.

I wanted to talk a little more about the 9-11 ceremony we had. As I said it was at night here, to coincide with the time of the attack. We had three speakers, all officers who had been in the Pentagon on that day. Two things that were said really struck me, the first was that we are now walking around the same areas of Afghanistan where Osama used to freely go, and the second was the mention of a recent suicide bombing in a market down south. The only difference between that attack and 9-11 he said, was of scale. The same evil and the same intent were present on both days. We lit candles afterwards, and when the crowd left the gardens there was dead silence, and most kept there candles burning all the way out and back through the camp. I’d call it a steely resolve mixed with sadness.
We had GEN Smith, JFCOM commander come for a visit last weekend. He came to see how the support was going and was really pleased. He gave me one of his personal four star coins (which a certain person, and he knows who he is, can still trump.) [Preen -the Armorer] When getting ready for the visit our boss was trying to put a briefing together for the general and was trying to get a slide off the intranet which he couldn’t download. Someone said “just screen capture it and port it into PowerPoint.” And he replies “how do I do that?” Now saying PowerPoint in front a bunch of staff officers is like spraying catnip. Three seconds later there were four of us looking over his shoulder offering advice.

“Control V then paste”

“You need to crop it”

“You have to get the picture toolbar”

There is a type of IED called a “come-along” which is designed as bait to sucker you into the kill zone. If the Taliban wanted to hurt the staff they should use a badly formatted PowerPoint brief.

“Courier New? Nobody uses that font fo…BOOM…”

The Air Force had a sixtieth anniversary celebration. Part of that was inter-service softball. I played even though I fall in the casual player category and never really did it a lot. Now put a lot of naturally competitive military people out in the field, playing for the honor of their service, and things get serious really quickly. There were quite a number of us older types limping around for the next few days, from trying to play like kids again.

For the record the scorecard in the Kabul Cup is Army 2-0, Navy/Marines 1-1 and Air Force 0-2. We were pretty close in the game we lost to Army, but had a few bad breaks. We sent a couple of players back down to the minors in Khandahar and Tirin Khot to work on their basics.

My line of the night:

Air Force Captain “Hey are you going to the cookout tonight?”

Me: “Sure, are you guys going to have birthday cake? Because we gave you your spanking this afternoon.”

Probably time for one more update before the fun ends.

by John on Sep 27, 2007 | Global War on Terror (GWOT)

H&I* Fires 26 SEP 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...

**********************************
Former Iraqi Interpreter seems set to turn on his comrades and reveal them on the internet. Simply put: this *sucks*.
--ry
********************************

Via Milblogs, Lex senses a business opportunity, laid out over at End of Empire. I volunteered to be a Gunner's Mate aboard this adventure. But I'm thinking the Salamander got there first... -the Armorer

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

Got G-Mail? Might wanna check your filters. Mine are clean (hint - they're in your settings tab).

As a buddy of mine said, "Just another good reason not to drink bad beer." In this case (ooo! a pun!) the bad beer is Miller Beer. -the Armorer

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

Well, what we figured was a one-shot charity deal -- pinup calendars done in 1940s Retro style for troops laid up in polytrauma wards -- not only picked up a whole buncha momentum over the summer, it latched onto an American Legion post as a co-sponsor. Heh. Gina’s saluting style may not be by-the-reg, but it’s enthusiastic… -- Bill

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

Sometimes I despair at what passes for leadership in my country. A single-digit point swing in the next election, and this man could be Canada's next Prime Minister. - Damian

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

RE: disgruntled Iraqi translator

This is a perfect example where being able to hack into this website would provide a great opportunity to insert the names of the bad guys we'd really like to get rid of. Red on Red reprisals would do some of our work for us.

posted by fdcol63 on September 26, 2007 8:12 AM

As far as Lex and the Phibian.....I think AW1 Tim already dicussed this very plan here at the Castle a while ago. We were all signing up for jobs. I can't think when and I don't know how to serch your archives without a date. Maybe I'll email Tim. But he was the first.

posted by Maggie on September 26, 2007 10:19 AM

Maggie,

I wish i could remember the daye, but als, such are the wages of maturing... sigh...

As to "letters of marque", I am all for it. Regardless of international treaties, our own Constitution still allows for it.

The other option, of course, is to form a Naval Security Company, sort of an international blue-water repo service. You could prolly get venture capital for initial outfit, and then ip a business plan that compensates you for recovered cargores, vessels and cres at a percentage of gross value. This could be paid for by either the shipping concern(s) or the underwriters (insurance companies) or both, etc.

You also charter the company in a nation with no extradition treaties. I would suspect that with that sort of a legal barrier, plus the bevy of lawyers and counsels retained by the big boys like Lloyds, etc, you could have a pretty safe work environment, at least legally.

Basically, you'd want to have a couple of larger vessels outfitted as blue-water bases that you would station in the general area, and then operate small boats and heloes for surveillance, with trained shore/boarding parties for the actual recoveries.

No reason it can't be done. Lots of reasons it SHOULD be done.

Respects,

posted by AW1 Tim on September 26, 2007 1:04 PM

Unless I'm mistaken, Maggie, this is the thread you were talking about.

posted by Damian on September 26, 2007 1:12 PM

If this indeed be the screed, it mentions the Salamander and Eagle1...

posted by John of Argghhh! on September 26, 2007 1:19 PM

Damian - You are exactly right! I see now that it was Salamander and EagleSpeak who started it. I remembered Tim because he was the one rounding up the crew. I offered my services as a figurehead, although WK would be much more impressive.

posted by Maggie on September 26, 2007 1:42 PM

Anti-pirate pirates?

posted by kat-missouri on September 26, 2007 1:46 PM

Anti-pirate pirates?

I prefer to imagine them as "Wild Weasels of the Waves." The YGBSM-types.

posted by Damian on September 26, 2007 2:04 PM

Where do I send in my application for this cruise? Somebody's gotta work the radio...

posted by SFC D on September 26, 2007 2:20 PM

Doesn't "Tawk like a Pirate Day" bring up the pirate stuff?

Here's a note from Insp. Jacques Clouseau's notebook .. "when disguised as a pirate .. avoid ze inflatable parrot on your shoulder .... they tend to leak, and keeping ze air pump under your arm results in ze awkward arm pumping motions to keep it inflated.

I would ask if you have a “leesence for ur minkee,” but I can’t spell it.

posted by jim b on September 26, 2007 3:44 PM

"Repentant Interpreter" sounds like a clumsy piece of propaganda; something written to scare off interpreters and reduce our will to fight.

Hopefully Iraqis will see it for what it is and we will, too.

posted by w3 on September 26, 2007 4:21 PM

I am sure Gina's salute beats that limp wristed one JeanFraudeKerry gave us three years ago at the Democratic Convention.

Ry, if I am reading the story correctly, there is more at work going on...the interpreters have put innocent people in jail and the media has been going on about how the American forces have been stomping on the rights of Iraqis. There is no compulsion for a Muslim to tell a non-Muslim the truth because they are talking to the infidel.

Ahmadinejad could not be pinned down on how his nukes were to be deployed; peacefully or otherwise.

Am I alone here in seeing this?

posted by Cricket on September 26, 2007 5:47 PM

Well, let's face it, Muslim or not, heads of state and other officials are rarely likely to tell the truth unless it suits the immediate needs of their policy.

Claims of piety I disregard because politician is synonymous with obfuscating weasel.

posted by kat-missouri on September 26, 2007 7:56 PM

I read it like W3 did: it sounds like a propaganda-istic attempt to scare away interpreters.

posted by FbL on September 26, 2007 9:01 PM

"the interpreters have put innocent people in jail and the media has been going on about how the American forces have been stomping on the rights of Iraqis"

Yeah, that is the story. Even if true I look at it the same way I would a paid informant being wrong in municipal PD without lying. Nothing is perfect and sometimes people simply get the facts wrong(Rashomon Effect anyone?). I am taking it at face value right now. It could be a propaganda piece. I don't know. But it is a translated piece from an Iraqi newspaper and not a story from an Western paper. So I don't think the 'can lie to the Zinfidels' even comes into play.

We'll know which it is when one of two things happen: 1) we start hearing of a dip in interpreter recruitment; 2) an increase in interpreters winding up killed execution style. Maybe both?

Either way, that this story even exists sucks.

posted by ry on September 26, 2007 10:43 PM

Talking about Gina, the green army trucks she's posing next to? I know the guys who own 'em...

Lucky rascals!

I was thinking about doing something like that with the trucks we had in our groups, but it kinda fizzled out...

posted by Sgt. B. on September 26, 2007 11:00 PM

Re: Gmail: Thanks! Since I use my Gmail for when I don't want to give out my real email, then I hope the hackers enjoy all the fookin spam filling my inbox!

Re: Gina: Her salute was the last thing I noticed...good on her!

posted by Blackhaw on September 26, 2007 11:13 PM

With all due respect to CDR Salamander, his post seems to be this past summer while my post of a couple of days ago on End of Empire was based on an article I wrote, the first draft of which was submitted to a publication in December 2006. It was later accepted by Orbis and published this past week. I also suggest that Letters of Marque are not THE option, but ONE option. The third option, pursing private naval companies, should not be seen necessarily as privateers since that would require an act of Congress. These would fall under the Executive Branch/DoD as do all military contracts including those for contract service support as well as construction of platforms.

posted by Adeodatus on September 27, 2007 6:09 AM

Adeodatus - the crediting of the 'Phibian was mostly in relation to the 'Circle of Friends' aspect of things.

But we welcome the additional information and tidying up of facts and dates.

posted by John of Argghhh! on September 27, 2007 7:41 AM

by Denizens on Sep 26, 2007 | General Commentary

Okay, let's answer the Whatziss.

Here it is, complete.

Italian Benaglia Rifle Grenade.

The Italian Benaglia Rifle grenade, a rod-grenade used against the Austro-Hungarians and Germans in WWI. This example is battlefield recovered from the high alpine battlefields, which is one reason it's in such good shape.

Ya know what it really is?

An excuse.

After all, I've got an Italian rod-grenade. But no Italian rifle to display it with. Therefore, a WWI Italian rifle must be acquired, or this will simply be... lacking, bereft, incomplete.

And we can't have that.

Want a slightly larger view - click here.