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...
Time to add a new caveat, because from email it's not clear to some folks (mind you, if you don't read this it won't matter...) Being an open post, people (collectively, the Denizens) other than I post in the H&I. They sign their work (most of the time) - keep that in mind when you want to flame someone in email please - if it doesn't say "The Armorer" or "John" then I didn't write it! And honestly - if you don't like something said or posted... leave a comment, and hash it out (within the context of The Rulez which are clearly posted on the comment form, I would add).
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John Hawkins of Right Wing News has been out polling the Right Side of the 'Sphere:
"If the results of this latest blogger poll on John McCain are to be believed, he still has quite a bit of work to do to bring conservatives to his side. Currently, 25% of conservative bloggers say that they don't intend to vote for McCain and only 34% say that they consider him to be a conservative. Most of the rest of the results are similarly gloomy. Read them all here..." Color me mainstream on this poll... which hasn't always been the case.
Speaking of Senator McCain:
The nation’s top federal election official told Sen. John McCain yesterday that he cannot immediately withdraw from the presidential public financing system as he had requested, a decision that threatens to dramatically restrict his spending until the general election campaign begins in the fall.
The prospect of being financially hamstrung by the very fundraising system he helped create is the latest in a series of bitter challenges for the presumed GOP nominee, who still faces a fractured conservative coalition as he assumes the mantle of party leadership.
I was briefly in the rolodexes of two CNN producers who would ask me to confirm weapons and ordnance id's - I guess being accurate was a problem. Neither of them work for CNN anymore. -the Armorer
I agree with Rob over at Sharp As A Marble - this weapon was discharged negligently. Not accidentally. And the shooter's bosses seem to agree, since they are giving him a written reprimand. But they shouldn't pull their verbal punches. There is some precision involved in accountability here, not like calling a spade a shovel. -the Armorer
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Armchair Generalist, with an *excellent* discussion of military transformation:
There has been much bloviating about "Obama's Captain" - for a sampling, run through todays posts at National Review's "The Corner." Jake Tapper took the time to call the Obama campaign, and was put in touch with Obama's Captain. As usual, the story isn't quite what either side makes it out to be.
[updated thoughts on the subject - one should also know the story is 4 years or so old... and most sane observers of the war recognize two things in that regard: One, we didn't go into Iraq with the best long-range planning we've ever done; and Two, things are better in the context of this story, even if they aren't where we'd like them to be. Of course, one reason they aren't where we'd like them to be is because the anti side wants to criticize the war using a standard (total mobilization of the population and economy, ala WWII) that no one, not even them, have suggested we do for this kind of war... -the Armorer]
*A term of art from the artillery. Harassment and Interdiction Fires.
Back in the day, when you could just kill people and break things without a note from a lawyer, they were pre-planned, but to the enemy, random, fires at known gathering points, road junctions, Main Supply Routes, assembly areas, etc - to keep the bad guy nervous that the world around him might start exploding at any minute.
*Not really relevant to today's operating environment, right? But, it *is*
The UAVs (oops, can't call 'em UAVs anymore - they're now Unmanned Aerial Systems... some Colonel got his Legion of Merit for that change...), er, um UAS's we fly over Afghanistan and Pakistan looking for targets of opportunity are a form of H&I fires, if you really want to parse it finely. We just have better sensors and fire control now.
I call the post that because it's random things posted by me and people I've given posting privileges to. It's also an open trackback, so if someone has a post they're proud of, but it really isn't either Castle kind of stuff, or topical to a particular post, I've basically given blanket permission to use that post for that purpose. Another term of art that might be appropriate is "Free Fire Zone."
Look at the sheen on that Glossy "Glock". Chartruse Body with Candy Apple Red Slide, and Salt Taffy Grips. I bet it shoots real Hersheys' Kisses.
posted by Boquisucio on February 22, 2008 10:51 AM
Dude, I was just about to ask if we could eat that gun, too! I mean, wouldn't that be cool as both a spy gun and a survival tool? Fire and then eat it.
Of course, it would have to shoot those chocolate kisses or some skittles, cause I ain't eating any gunpowder taffy
posted by kat-missouri on February 22, 2008 11:45 AM
I don't like it actually, I keep thinking how kids might react to it. It's in a similar vein as the lighter story from AFSis. While I appreciate responsible gun owners would try to keep them out of kids hands the idea of making guns appear as toys is irresponsible in my view. And that, to me is the core of the US gun debate. Responsibility.
"...because the anti side wants to criticize the war using a standard (total mobilization of the population and economy, ala WWII) that no one, not even them, have suggested we do for this kind of war..."
I'm looking at this quote trying to understand exactly what you mean by it. Are you saying that both the Repugs and Dems wanted to fight Iraq on the cheap? Funny, I only remember Prez Bush saying "don't worry about the war, go shopping." Unfortunately, every military expert, from Clausewitz through Gen (ret) Powell, suggests that you go in hard, full bore, with the total effort of the country's assets behind you. A short war is a cheap war. This very expensive war, upwards of $10 billion a month - a MONTH - that has not allowed the successful end of post-conflict operations, clearly shows the failure of such a philosophy.
Tria...I think the point of the that gun post was that 1) It's not a glock and 2) it's fake. But John can clear that up I'm sure.
J...Based on the multiple "plans" presented under Democrat senators and pretenders to the presidency, John's statement would be correct. These plans have almost all insisted that the "war on terror" should have been, would have been a "police action" involving very few men and weapons, largely "covert" and would not have involved any overt economic sacrifice from the public.
thus, any idea that either a Republican or Democrat president would have engendered the American publics energies any more than it has is highly misleading.
Also, interesting that the "cost" of long, slow small wars in dollars is preferable to short, high intensity, many casualty, big wars except, as Clausewitz notes, in the waning of energies and support of the people for the war at all.
The problem, of course, stemming from the probable global impact of a very large war wherein every sort of treaty and national self interest of multiple nations becomes paramount and could, indeed, become a "global war" the likes of which we would not prefer to see.
Thus, money v. time, money v. casualties, money v. international instability.
I'm for spending the money. For now, anyway. Thus, either way, both the Dems and the Republicans would have been on or near the mark. The only issue is that I supported less than WWIV and more than spec ops and Interpol.
posted by kat-missouri on February 23, 2008 12:49 PM
Heh. J, you wear your heart on your sleeve...
But, pretty much what Kat said.
I have seen nothing from the left that suggests we should have fought, or should fight, or that they would fight, this war on a level of intensity approaching that of WWII.
I have seen that from the right, but not from the people in power.
But the Left will happily criticize any weaknesses in the prosecution of the war from a perspective of the effort put into Total War, ala WWII. That is somewhat disingenous, given that they would not prosecute the war in that fashion.
That was simply my point. I am not required to have a Right-bashing point to balance every Left-bashing point. I don't pretend to be balanced. I do try to be fair.
Trias - yes, my point was that CNN had the details wrong. It wasn't a comment on the trend. If you've been tracking my "Pretty Gun" posts, you can see I'm not a fan.
Your point is certainly valid. But I don't have to make all points in all posts, do I? Gad, they'll get even longer!
BTW, J, I was *never* been a fan of invading Iraq, and was *not* happy with the initial planning. Just to keep that straight - and have not been shy about saying so, and I do so here simply because you've chosen to lecture On War (I assume for the broader audience and I hope not because you think I am uninformed on the subject), and no, I'm not going to take the time on a blog to address every possible nuance of the subject. People will quit reading if I do. Besides, it gives you an excuse to show off your reading skillz.
I have decided that, if I ever have to call 911 to report a bloody hole I have just loudly made in myself, I will call the cause an "Un-intentional Discharge", or UD. This avoids the negligence question.
Besides, an accidental discharge is possible, as anyone knows who's handled a Charter Arms revolver. I had the hammer fall on one of those without my finger being on the trigger. A neighbor had the same thing happen with hers. The Four Rules were observed in each case, the pieces actually were not loaded, but I am prejudiced against that brand of revolver.
posted by Justthisguy on February 23, 2008 8:09 PM
Yes I saw from the link it seemed to say it was not a glock but was a functional gun. Media making a factual error? It's kinda sad we accept that as normal. News sells emotion not truth, any view of CNN or FOXnews shows that in seconds.
I was unaware of the impact of bond-buying, and disagreed on national defense.
58 of 60, 96.6%. Of course, if I were to use the "feel good" grading system to enhance my self-esteem, I'd make that a 97%, especially since the number actually comes out to 0.96666666666666666666666666666667
Your turn - unless you've already done it at Lex's, in which case you can share your score from that comment stream. Besides, you don't want to embarrass yourself by getting a less-than-perfect score the second time around, eh?
Take the Civics Quiz here. I admit, it's a good thing I'd been brushing up on political philosophy because I'm reading Jonah's Book - Liberal Fascism - which, not surprisingly, is *much better* than Cliff suggested the last time he came to fling poo.
Whether or not you agree with Jonah's premise (it's a polemic, sometimes I think a touch overstated, but mostly well done from my admittedly conservative view of things) it's an eminently readable book that presents many aspects of American political history covered in ways I never got from school, and my own penchant for studying military history did little to fill the gaps. It has been an illuminating read.
I got a 90% when I took it yesterday (at Lex's prompting). Got lucky on the bond question and disagree on national defense as well.
posted by fmr_grunt on February 22, 2008 8:58 AM
i got a 90 this morning, same on national defense and bonds.
...and i don't care if the War of 1812 was a stalemate, the mere fact that we fought them to a stalemate established US as a major world power.
posted by MajMike on February 22, 2008 9:45 AM
...and i don't care if the War of 1812 was a stalemate, the mere fact that we fought them to a stalemate established US as a major world power.
Hmmmm. Except that no one in Europe (then, arguably "the world" for all that ignores the rest) really thought so until after the SpanAm War when we finally had a true deep-water Navy and showed we could use it.
Guess I'm not quite as brilliant as you folks; since I only garnered an 88.3% (but I beat Lex!) I did, however, get the Bonds and National Defense questions right.
That is correct, it is someone else's problem. I know you are using me as an example for others *not* to follow. However, as long as there is a Rotation, there is no need for me to come around to your way of thinking.
Feel free to use me as an illustration to educate others.....I am quite comfortable up here in Boston.
I notice you are not making a case for why there were so many economic questions in a civics quiz. Civics is the study of citizenship and government. Where does the price of theater tickets come into play?
I got 56 out of 60 93.33%, saw it at Lex's the other day.
The reason the econ questions are important is because if we don't understand our economic system, and how laws or regulations will effect that system, we the people will support laws that will harm the economy, leading to more bad laws and so on.
Not knowing the basics of how our economy works is just as bad as not knowing the basics of how our political system works, the freedom of both can be legislated away before we know it, not because some evil genious hood winked us, but because we wanted to protect ourselves from the ups and downs of a free market and free political thought.
And while I was using Maggie in just that fashion - the *attitude* - her answers in fact belie her true knowledge and understanding.
The point is that the kids who will make up a large chunk of the electorate is so woefully ignorant of the underpinnings of our society, they will vote for any demogogue, of any stripe, who comes along promising a chicken in every pot, and someone else will pay the bill, and not have the tools with which to analyze the dichotomy.
Until they start paying the bills for it. And that won't be until they have to start paying off their student loans with the money left over after taxes from whatever crappy job they got in a tanked economy.
Not knowing the basics of how our economy works is just as bad as not knowing the basics of how our political system works, the freedom of both can be legislated away before we know it, not because some evil genious hood winked us, but because we wanted to protect ourselves from the ups and downs of a free market and free political thought.
Andrew, I agree on needing to know the basics. However, I think these questions went beyond basics.
John - Since I fail so woefully in this area, does this mean you buy the drinks at the next MilBlog conference?
Heh. Maggie, when I said, - her answers in fact belie her true knowledge and understanding. , I was referring to this: You answered 56 out of 60 correctly — 93.33% - in that, despite your assertions in text, you *do* know your stuff.
Of course I'll buy. The first round, anyway. You can not only outdrink me (as can a goodly number of people) you can drink me into poverty... and unlike the Rotation, I won't even score in recompense for standing the drinks!
Not unless SWWBO has changed her mind on certain subjects, anyway!
Answers to Your Missed Questions:
Question #1 - D. 1601-1700
[why did I think Jamestown was at the end of the 1500's?]
Question #14 - C. 1901-1925
[er...guess I thought women got the vote in 1929, but that was the depression; 1921...duh]
Question #36 - D. The authority of a legitimate sovereign. [dangit...I missed that one last time, too]
Question #55 - E. increased for the lower and middle classes and increased most for the upper class. [average household income did not remain the same...duh]
posted by kat-missouri on February 22, 2008 7:13 PM
PS...I think I said this last time, but someone should have offered me a scholarship by now. :)
posted by kat-missouri on February 22, 2008 7:22 PM
96.6 here, too. I missed #52 and #58. I was leading at Lex's until Steeljaw showed up.
posted by Justthisguy on February 22, 2008 8:06 PM
Um, I shoulda wrote #32 and #58. Them's the ones I missed. I have never read all of Tom Paine's stuff, and the thought of bond finances just makes my eyes glaze over.
posted by Justthisguy on February 22, 2008 11:24 PM
Kat, #1 can be confusing because the first English colony in Virginia was founded in the late 1500s. However, Jamestown wasn't founded until the early 1600s.
Apparently you focused on "Virginia" and "first founded," while not processing "Jamestown."
Aviation pioneer Frank Piasecki, inventor of the tandem-rotor helicopter used in troop-transport missions and land and sea rescue flights, died Monday (11 Feb). He was 88.
Igor Sikorski was the first American to build a helicopter - Frank Piasecki was the second. His were more interesting, in the end (sorry, Igor, but hey, you'll always have the Illya Muromets!).
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to an immigrant Polish tailor, Piąsecki worked for autogyro manufacturers while still in high school. With his college buddy Howard Venzie he founded a small aeronautical company, Piasecki Helicopter. He built a single-person, single-rotor helicopter designated the PV-2 and test-flew it on April 11, 1943. This helicopter impressed the US Navy sufficiently to win Piasecki a development contract.
We know him because Piąsecki invented the concept of the tandem bladed helos. After the war, Piąsecki received a contract to build several military prototypes and this design principle came to be used in a number of helicopters that were very successful in both military and civilian use. These include the Piasecki H-21 (better known as the Flying Banana), which entered service in the 1950s, the Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight, and the CH-47 Chinook.
Piasecki eventually left Piasecki Helicopter Co. In 1955, he formed Piasecki Aircraft Corp. to continue exploring new technology. Piasecki Helicopter became Vertol Aircraft Corp. and was acquired by Boeing in 1960. Boeing still makes the Chinook and Sea Knight helicopters.
Apparently not one to slow down, a 88 Frank was still chief executive of Piasecki Aircraft, and testing is under way on his latest innovation. Seeking a new idea to replace the tail rotor of single rotor designs like the Blackhawk, the Speed Hawk helicopter has a rear-facing ducted propeller designed to improve stability and forward speed.
The music may be a little different for the non-veterans we honor here at the Castle, but now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance: In Memoriam, for Frank Piasecki, whose aircraft (including the Flying Banana) I've flown in, and upon whose ideas America's warriors still rely - as illustrated in the pictures that accompany this post. I'm guessing over in the Rotary Wing section of Fiddler's Green, there's a seat for Frank.
A old helicopter pilot told me Helicopters don't fly they beat the air into submission
posted by Spanky on February 22, 2008 8:54 PM
Dang! Seems like _Everybody_ gets to stop at Fiddler's Green, these days.
Is it just undistinguished sinners like me who have to go straight to hell?
posted by Justthisguy on February 24, 2008 12:35 AM
Oh, and Mr. Kaman built even weirder hellafloppers, and was that rarest of critters, an honest gummint contractor. (Which may have lost him the next contract) Did some musical innovations with the Ovation guitars, too.
posted by Justthisguy on February 24, 2008 12:46 AM
In a debate Thursday, February 21, Presidential Candidate Obama claimed that our armed forces in Afghanistan are "capturing" Taliban weapons to use because it is easier than getting weapons from the US government.
"They were actually capturing Taliban weapons because it was easier getting Taliban weapons than it was for them to get properly equipped by our current Commander in Chief."
Dear Obama,
You and your party for one global government continue to confuse our troops with our Allies. How many times is the Democrat party going to confuse the Canadians with US troops? This time, though, you've really done it. You have confused our British Allies and their weapons issues with our own troops. At least the Canadians live on this continent.
Andrew Walker, the coroner, said the "totally inadequate" resources led to them being "outgunned by a bunch of renegades". "The soldiers were defeated not by the terrorists but by the lack of basic equipment," he said.[snip]
Asked if they could have matched their attackers if they been supplied with Minimi machine guns and under-slung grenade launchers, Major Jonathon Bristow, the commander of the patrol, told the court: "It would have made a hell of a difference. We lost the initiative through a lack of firepower and thus the Taliban had a greater weight of firepower."
I can't locate the original story on the lack of light and heavy machine guns, but it actually indicated Brit troops were using captured Taliban weapons because they couldn't get the parts (mentioned in one of the above stories) to repair their weapons.
Anyway, Mr. Obama, I realize that the campaign trail is difficult and busy, but the job of President and Commander in Chief is even more difficult. Therefore, I am providing you with a brief guide on the difference between British and US forces (pictures included):
Mr. Free Market of Free Market Fairy Tales has had a couple of articles on this subject. This situation is of great interest to him since he is a English Veteran. Check him out.
posted by DE644 on February 22, 2008 8:57 AM
Ai! And the man thinks he's qualified to be President!?
BTW, Kat, that should be "American troops wear funny hats," not "where." Just a li'l heads-up.
Yes. Already saw that as well as the multiple other "partly true, partly misconstrued". As in, the story was from 2003-2004. Up armored humvees were being sent to Iraq because that is where IEDs were prevalent and it only became prevalent in Afghanistan more recently.
That they didn't capture weapons in order to use them because they were short, but because that is what they did, etc, etc, etc.
I still believe, to a degree, that Obama brought it up because he heard the stories coming out of England and got confused over whether it was a current event of US military or not.
Further, I will relate the multitudes of posts from various others explaining exactly why and what.
posted by kat-missouri on February 23, 2008 12:33 PM
Geez, J, yer such a slut. 8^ ) You only show up if I link you, and then you shovel stuff into the comments like we hadn't mentioned it elsewhere, like the H&I today.
Humph! I'm not in your RSS reader, like you are in mine, huh?
My thoughts are that, not that the story doesn't have some truths to it, though I believe it was presented erroneously as a current issue and as if the issues stand alone (ie, capturing weapons to use because they don't have enough of their own, working or otherwise), but that, the recent problems noted by the British in regards to their shortages have been extrapolated by the Obama campaign to represent a current issue within the US military.
posted by kat-missouri on February 23, 2008 3:21 PM
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...
Time to add a new caveat, because from email it's not clear to some folks (mind you, if you don't read this it won't matter...) Being an open post, people (collectively, the Denizens) other than I post in the H&I. They sign their work (most of the time) - keep that in mind when you want to flame someone in email please - if it doesn't say "The Armorer" or "John" then I didn't write it! And honestly - if you don't like something said or posted... leave a comment, and hash it out (within the context of The Rulez which are clearly posted on the comment form, I would add).
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Berkeley and now D.C.!
On Valentine's Day while most of America complained and blasted Berkely for their assinine actions against a Marine Recruitment Office, terror supporters in Washington D.C. occupied and vandalized a recruiting station at 14th and L Street in downtown Washington D.C. while police stood by and watched!
Funk the War storms, trashes 14th and L military recuiter [This work is in the public domain]
[excerpt}
After a loud commotion inside while outnumbered cops watched, recruiters finally managed to get protesters to leave-but not before literature and full-body length cardboard displays in the street window area were destroyed. In addition, hundreds more "Funk the War" stickers were plastered all over just about everything that would take them. By the time everyone was out it looked like a tornado had swept through the lobby.
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Bill, Neffi, Dusty! A fixer-upper for you! -the Armorer
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Heaven knows I throw enough darts online, so it's good to be able to hand out an Attaboy! as well. BZ to the prominent captains of industry who make up Canada Company, and who are handing out university scholarships to the kids of some fallen members of the Canadian Forces.
This may not sound like a big deal in the U.S., but for a country like mine that has largely ignored its armed forces for decades now, it's heartening to see the general population getting behind our men and women in uniform in a tangible way. - Damian
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Dude! Damian - when you open up the H&I to stick something in it - get it in and post it... you must have had this thing open for 30 minutes to blow away all this stuff I'm re-inserting here...!
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Heh. Not for homes with small children... or children on ADHD drugs. How long, I wonder, before someone loses a kneecap? Yes, I do believe that people will put a loaded shotgun in that rack. Heh, at the Castle, a dog mounting the mattress could cause a problem. It's an idea, though. -the Armorer
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More complications on the politics of the war - and whether or not people are listening to the "recieved wisdom" that the Dem leadership is putting out, from Kathryn Lopez at National Review Online:
A military Hill friend e-mails:
There were some interesting points in Gallup’s release this week of their poll on Iraq. For example:
This poll showed the “most positive assessment to date” of the effects of the surge. This assessment was consistent among both Republicans and independents
“
According to the poll, 43% of Americans say the surge of U.S. troops in Iraq is making the situation there better, a slight increase from 40% in late November, but up more substantially from 34% in early November. This is the most positive review of the surge Gallup has measured since it began.”
Assessment of the efficacy of the surge seems to inform respondents’ positions on timetables for withdrawal: those who believe the surge is working are “solidly against” a timetable for withdrawal
“
Americans who do not assess the surge positively overwhelmingly advocate a timetable…Meanwhile, Americans who believe the surge is working are solidly against (70%) a timetable.”
There has been a slight decrease since last fall among those who believe that the U.S. should “set timetable for withdrawal and stick to it” (now at 56, down from 60 in September); more people now say that the U.S. should “keep troops until situation gets better” (39 percent)
Most Americans are against an immediate and rapid withdrawal from Iraq. Even among those who prefer a timetable, two thirds believe it should be “gradual” and only 18 percent believe it should be “as rapidly as possible”
“All told, 18% of Americans favor removing troops from Iraq as rapidly as possible.”
Despite projections to the contrary, the Iraq positions of the presidential candidates don’t lead to a stronger position for Democrats among respondents
“Both Democratic presidential candidates, Obama and Hillary Clinton, favor a timetable, while the GOP's likely nominee, John McCain, strongly opposes one. Obama is advocating a fairly rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, which would have all troops out within 16 months of his taking office. Clinton favors a slower withdrawal, which would be complete by 2013. Thus, no candidate's position really represents the views of most Americans, but the poll suggests that currently McCain's and Clinton's positions are closest to the largest number of Americans. This is not to suggest that Americans would necessarily oppose any of the candidates' Iraq policies should they be elected president.”
Bad Cat Robot points out that even though she is employed, actually pays taxes, etc - she is worse off than the average poor person. Which begs our definition of... ."poor," methinks. -the Armorer
*A term of art from the artillery. Harassment and Interdiction Fires.
Back in the day, when you could just kill people and break things without a note from a lawyer, they were pre-planned, but to the enemy, random, fires at known gathering points, road junctions, Main Supply Routes, assembly areas, etc - to keep the bad guy nervous that the world around him might start exploding at any minute.
*Not really relevant to today's operating environment, right? But, it *is*
The UAVs (oops, can't call 'em UAVs anymore - they're now Unmanned Aerial Systems... some Colonel got his Legion of Merit for that change...), er, um UAS's we fly over Afghanistan and Pakistan looking for targets of opportunity are a form of H&I fires, if you really want to parse it finely. We just have better sensors and fire control now.
I call the post that because it's random things posted by me and people I've given posting privileges to. It's also an open trackback, so if someone has a post they're proud of, but it really isn't either Castle kind of stuff, or topical to a particular post, I've basically given blanket permission to use that post for that purpose. Another term of art that might be appropriate is "Free Fire Zone."
And as always, the Indymedia crowd is hooting and hollering over how they "stuck it to the man".
Buncha morons that, if in a one on one situation would wet themselves and then run like a dog, if you ask me...
posted by Jon the Mechanic (From Germany) on February 21, 2008 8:56 AM
I may be wrong but would the general public and police have ignored such in the past? As I brought up before to AFSis i think it was, when you look at this it's the resonance of the general public with these actions which is the real problem and can and probably will spring up all sorts of this kind of thing.
I'm guessing the DC police chose not to make martyrs out of the protestors. What makes sense in small crowd law enforcement doesn't always make sense in large crowd law enforcement.
If the police had gone in with batons swinging, these guys would Heroes of the Revolution.
As it is - they look like the vandals they are - and however they are spinning this, they didn't get what the wanted - which was some nice violent confrontation with someone. The best of which would have been the recruiters.
But..., I would love to have practiced a little, "Wall-to-wall counseling" with the trespassers!
Love, ;)
ParatroopRN
posted by Alan Briley, RN on February 21, 2008 9:30 AM
Russki choppers... is it the ultimate validation of the classic Socialist/Capitalist Cold War face-off that Russki helos are now for sale out of Pigeon Ford, Tennessee?
Sheesh.
posted by Neffi on February 21, 2008 9:45 AM
Nope. No resonance here. There is a sort of Sein Fein / IRA symbiosis between these people and the political partisans in the media.
The media reports bring the troops home, end the war, etc. with pictures, too.
The unedited view of these protests shows bring the troops home, destroy Israel, end the war, destroy Israel, etc. With the power of the internet that whole view is available with unedited pictures, too.
posted by Fred on February 21, 2008 11:20 AM
WELL DONE to our friends from the northern tundra who are providing scholarships to kids of their brave and capable troops killed in the war on terror! We salute their service, and mourn your losses as our own.
I am proud to report that our state Legislature just approved free college tuition for dependents of state residents killed it the war. (We passed free tuition for Purple Heart recipients a few years ago!)
Too bad if a couple of sports scholarships have to be dripped to pay for the above.
posted by John on February 21, 2008 11:31 AM
Y'all probably already know. Major P is back in Iraq.
Cuba this, Cuba that; Cuba blah-blah-blah. Ever since one of those two megalomaniacs decided to spend the remaining days of his life planting red petunias, all we hear is Cuba-Cuba-Cuba. Well, growing-up in the Island of Tropical Breezes, you couldn’t help but hear about Cuba all the time.
We all know that Miami is the nexus of Cuban exiles World-wide. But few of you know, that my island is home to over 20,000 Cuban-born exiles, not counting their direct descendants who over the decades have been born and raised in Puerto Rico. Given that both islands share the same language, and in the case of Eastern Cubans, the very same culture, it is not surprising that many chose to settle in Puerto Rico instead of the U.S. Mainland. Cubans from the area around Santiago are almost undistinguishable in accent, culture and mores to Puerto Ricans. Cubans from around Habana, on the other hand are very different from us.
Though for over 500 years, Cubans have settled in Puerto Rico, they came in mostly in dribs here and drabs there. 1959 changed all that. The first mass wave came in shortly thereafter. Growing-up in The Island during the 60’s and 70’s you couldn’t help having a Cuban Doctor, Engineer, Accountant and/or Teacher as your neighbor. Just when the fervor of many of these exiles began to wane in 1980, the Marielitos gave their community a shot in the arm. As a result of their migration the Puerto Rican economy and culture benefited greatly. Those highly educated yet destitute Cubans came not seeking a hand-out. Instead came with a fire in the belly to rebuild where they had left; creating in their wake much needed new businesses, services and employment in The Island.
One of those luminaries, is this MAN, Padre Enrique A. Méndez, S.D.B.. One who became my greatest mentor, cheerleader, pastor, teacher and confessor. Among many things, you can “blame” him for sparking a life-long thirst for Latin and Classical Studies. You see, this priest was born and raised in Santiago Cuba in 1926. The following year this other MAN was born in a nearby neighborhood. Though their families knew of each other, their lives didn’t meet until both went to study at the La Salle Middle/High School in Santiago. From that point on, they hung-out, romped in the streets, and even shared altar-boy duties at their local parish. Can you imagine little Fidel carrying a Brass Censer all fuming behind his priest? Fidel also had a snot-nosed brother, whom Padre Méndez still refers to as Raulito (Little Raul).
Well the Castro Brothers grew-up to become leftist rabble rousers, while Padre Méndez answered to a higher calling.
Years latter, The Castro Brothers had taken over all of Cuba, while Padre Méndez became the headmaster of a Salesian High School near Santiago. That’s when this WOMAN almost had two degrees of separation with this other BEAST. You see, one of his disciples impudently made a wrong comment against Castro and his new regime. His secret police rounded him up and threw him in jail. When the school had their class picture taken, they bravely left his chair empty in a show of solidarity. Well, THIS picture almost cost Padre Méndez his life. (That’s the good Padre sitting in the middle). Once the picture was published, the secret police rounded Padre Méndez up, and threw him into a baseball stadium. The stadium served as an impromptu Stalag, where many middle class men (accused of been class enemies) were been thrown in. They all awaited for the following day´s processing through the Tribunal de Depuración – The Kangaroo Court presided by The BEAST, to rid Cuba off all “bourgeoisie depravity”. According to Padre Méndez, he could hear the firing squad do its work all throughout the night, right over the wall. What saved his skin was that one of the guards recognized him as a family friend, and absconded him to safety. With that cue, the good father left his island and came into mine.
And the rest is history. Padre Méndez took this YOUNG LAD under his wing; which decades latter led to an evening of Pupusas at a Salvadorian restaurant in Silver Spring Maryland with this FINE LADY. But don’t be to harsh on her, she’s an upright citizen in this great land. Just blame the Rican for making her rub shoulders so close to ilk like THEM .
And her degree of separation with THIS other miscreant? Just one, but that’s just another story.
It's weird, ain't it, Boq? When I was a co-op at Marshall (Redstone Arsenal) I shook hands with people who shook hands with people who had shaken hands with Adolf Hitler.
The nice old lady who used to live around the corner, and whose cat I inherited, and who poured excellent whisky, had shaken hands with Eleanor Roosevelt, who had done so with maybe Molotov, and Churchill, etc.
Didn't Fidel have a sister, or a cousin, or something, who lived in Miami for a while?
posted by Justthisguy on February 22, 2008 12:38 AM
Oh yeah, his lil' sis is now a firebrand anti-castro living in Miami. I understand that she even has a talk radio show in that market.
posted by Boquisucio on February 22, 2008 11:03 AM
...and has a *much* better take on Michelle Obama's speechifying that so torqued me this morning. BCR puts a very positive spin to Ms. Obama's oration:
Heh. Here's my interpretation, which probably would have Madame Obama's head spinning and spewing pea soup ...
Barack Obama will require you to work.
No more welfare. Poorhouses will be built, complete with corporal punishment for slackers.
He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism.
No more claiming conservatives delight in oppressing minorities/foreigners/polar bears without documented proof. Any newspaper that prints the words "only went to Iraq for the oil" will be shuttered, burned, and salt strewn on the smoking wreckage.
That you put down your divisions.
We are gathered here to mourn the passing of identity politics and affirmative action.
That you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones.
You will be required to have friends with different political views than your own. If you have none, the Politburo will issue you some.
That you push yourselves to be better.
We don't care how you feel about it, what's the right answer to that math problem? Self-esteem doesn't build bridges or cure cancer. No literacy, no diploma.
Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. That you put down your divisions. That you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones. That you push yourselves to be better. And that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, uninformed.
Get your nose out of my business, Michelle. I am involved, I am informed. You just may not like how I'm involved and how I perceive my information. Shed my cynicism? Up to Senator Obama to show me why. Come out of my isolation? From what? Move out of my comfort zone? How droll. Push myself to be better - what, I don't get enough of that from my company, my friends, and my God? I need your husband to do that? Engage? ENGAGE? I'm already there, Ms. Obama - and you just made yourself a target to be engaged. Demand? DEMAND? Lead, Michelle. I already work 50+ hours a week at work, and 21+ hours on the blog, and then there's that whole volunteer thing I do, which at least sometimes overlaps the blog. I'm not busy enough for you? Get outta my face. I don't want you preaching to me about what to do any more than I want a Republican preaching to me.
No, I didn't take that little bit of speechifying well, did I?
Heh. Here's my interpretation, which probably would have Madame Obama's head spinning and spewing pea soup ...
Barack Obama will require you to work.
No more welfare. Poorhouses will be built, complete with corporal punishment for slackers.
He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism.
No more claiming conservatives delight in oppressing minorities/foreigners/polar bears without documented proof. Any newspaper that prints the words "only went to Iraq for the oil" will be shuttered, burned, and salt strewn on the smoking wreckage.
That you put down your divisions.
We are gathered here to mourn the passing of identity politics and affirmative action.
That you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones.
You will be required to have friends with different political views than your own. If you have none, the Politburo will issue you some.
That you push yourselves to be better.
We don't care how you feel about it, what's the right answer to that math problem? Self-esteem doesn't build bridges or cure cancer. No literacy, no diploma.
And that you engage.
The Enemy. Always attack into an ambush.
There, doesn't that make you feel better? ;-)
posted by bad cat robot on February 21, 2008 11:26 AM
It does, it does indeed!
I am obviously a glass half-empty to your glass half-full!
IMHO, your hubby's Party elites and their outriders pretty much have the lock on that, m'dear. And they do a pretty fair job of putting down the smaller units, too.
Such as USMC Recruiting detachments.
BTW, hiya from the Ali al Salem LSA, kidlets. If I had an Mi-2, I'd a-been upcountry by now -- does e-Bay take dinars?
I come before you to stand behind you
And tell you something I know nothing about
posted by kat-missouri on February 21, 2008 1:10 PM
We've already got one of those here.
We're about to burn her at the stake. Take it as a warning America, socialism sucks puss.
posted by Murray on February 21, 2008 2:37 PM
I got stuck on the "Goblins" word. Armorer and Dusty should enjoy this totally unrelated video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcikXH_Cwfs
More totally unrelated, I'm making my infamous spaghetti and meatballs, just ran out of oregeno. Suggested replacement? Please!
The next time I pay attention to the 2008 Presidential campaign will be election day November, 2008!-
ANSF, Coalition forces recover weapons caches in Nangarhar
Heh. Intent matters. The picture below looks a little bit like what Castle Argghhh! did when the collection was in transit from the Auld Castle to the New Castle.
And, I'm sure, there are those in this country who would see little difference between the two, and would like to see the Castle Armory treated in a similar fashion. Of course, a major difference between the two assemblages are that the ones at the Castle are, 1. Inert, and 2., generally in better shape.
Heh. That RPG-2 and associated B4 rocket look pretty tatty. The Armorer would be reluctant to pull the trigger on that one. The same is true for the RPG-7 rounds - their booster cartridges look... dangerous. And if the mortar rounds have been stored without their fuze well covers... well, it's no wonder that sometimes the bad guy's mortars blow up when they fire them.
Still, much of that stuff can be salvaged for the explosives or fashioned into IED's.
080214-A-3325A-001 - Afghan National Security Forces, assisted by Coalition forces, recovered a suspected insurgent weapons cache near Shamakalay Village, Khogyani District, Nangarhar Province. The cache included a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, eight rocket-propelled grenade rounds, five rocket-propelled grenade boosters, two hand grenades, a mortar fuse and a stockpile of 25 mm ammunition. (U.S. Army photo)
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan citizens supplied information leading to the recovery of several weapons caches in Kot and Khogyani Districts, Nangarhar Province, Feb. 8-14.
Afghan National Security Forces, assisted by Coalition forces, recovered a suspected insurgent weapons cache near Laghurji Village, Kot District, Feb. 8, consisting of 10 anti-tank mines, three 60 mm mortar rounds and two 82 mm mortar rounds.
Another weapons cache was found Feb. 12 in Kailoaghu, Khogyani District. This cache consisted of two anti-personnel mines, a hand grenade, and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher in good condition.
The final cache, discovered Feb.14 near Shamakalay Village, Khogyani District, was the largest. This weapons cache included a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, eight rocket-propelled grenade rounds, five rocket-propelled grenade boosters, two hand grenades, a mortar fuse and a stockpile of 25 mm ammunition.
According to a Coalition forces servicemember, the weapons were in fair condition when found.
“Recovering these munitions reduces the insurgents’ ability to conduct attacks in Nangarhar Province,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, Coalition forces spokesman.
Earlier this month, residents of Fateh Mina Village, in, Lal Por District, Nangarhar Province, discovered a suspected insurgent weapons cache in the area. Afghan National Security Forces were able to secure the area and safely remove the weapons from the cache site. In that cache, 30 rocket-propelled grenade rounds and 32 82 mm mortar rounds were secured.
Insurgents frequently use these weapons to terrorize Afghan citizens or attack Afghan National Security and Coalition forces throughout the Nangarhar, said Belcher.
“The citizens of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan are committed to government objectives to thwart insurgent activity in their neighborhoods,” said Belcher. “Afghan National Security Forces continue to take these weapons out of the hands of insurgents, making Nangarhar safer for residents.”
Geez, that stuff looks just as bad as the things we used to find wrapped in ponchos and buried alongside the paddy dikes. My guess is that the dudes who put that stuff there went non-combatant (in one way or another) before they could retrieve it *or* they scooted into the Border areas and became occupied with more important things -- like dodging Pak Cobras.
You'd get a kick out of the pix that MH took of the caches they found in Iraq. Virtually all of them in all-too-operable condition due to them being stored in bunkers and such.
[FbL here, with another installment in a series of interviews with the leadership of 3rd ID/Taskforce Marne.]
Wednesday morning I spoke by phone to Brigadier General Edward Cardon, Assistant Division Commander (Support), 3rd Infantry Division, currently in Iraq. In thirty-five minutes we covered a great deal of ground, focusing mostly on reconstruction, redevelopment and political engagement. 3rd ID functions as leadership for Multi-National Division—Central (MND-C), covering a band of land just south of Baghdad City from east to west, and south past Karbala and Najaf.
I began by asking BG Cardon about operations and engagements in the two weeks since I spoke to CSM Andrews. He reported that attacks remain at a rate of roughly four per day, though there were no attacks Wednesday. Their biggest activity this week has been disposing of discovered weapons caches. He said the Sons of Iraq (formerly Concerned Local Citizens) have been reporting weapons caches at such a high rate recently that it is challenging Coalition disposal personnel (EOD, etc). Among the caches have been a number of Explosively Formed Penetrators (EFPs, the most deadly IEDs); BG Cardon reports they have observed no direct evidence of Iranian activity, but the EFPs are “associated as Iranian.” The EFP issue seemed to neither surprise nor alarm him.
I asked BG Cardon about efforts to knit together local governance and national leadership, and how the Sons of Iraq and the challenge of the Sunni-Shia divide fit in. He said that the SOI are largely tribal, but the leaders of SOI groups participate in local councils, which are then linked to local governments, Nahia, Kada, and finally the Provinces. He gave the example of Baghdad Province, in which the Shia governor has been visiting leadership in Mahmoudiyah, Arab Jabour and Salaman Pak, which are Sunni regions. He reports that these meetings have been productive as the leaders are developing contacts and getting to know each other. Right now, the Sunnis in the area have little representation at the provincial and national level because they largely sat out the elections of 2005. However, they are anxious to participate in the elections this Fall, and so these contacts are setting the stage for future governance. BG Cardon described this--and building government from the ground up--as a grassroots action.
However, the Coalition is walking a fine line in using SOI as an organizing force for governance because participants in some areas have been showing signs of trying to organize themselves into political parties, which is a big concern. “We watch this closely….We don’t want a militia to form. One of the problems here is that every political party has an armed wing.” BG Cardon was emphatic that such things are not tolerated. “If you want a political movement, you’re no longer part of the Sons of Iraq,” which means no more money in exchange for SOI activities such as neighborhood checkpoints.
Getting local Iraqis hooked into the national government has been a big challenge in recent years, as corruption, incompetence and other barriers to effective governance have disillusioned many. However, BG Cardon reports that he has observed a shift in Iraqi attitudes toward the government in his AO since he arrived. The Iraqis seem to be a bit more patient about rebuilding and redevelopment. “[There is] a growing understanding that Iraq didn’t get this way in a day and won’t take a day to improve it. The national government is also doing a better job of explaining what is going on and how it will take time, and so people are more patient.”
Locals are showing a real desire to engage with the central government because they see it as being the source of services to their areas and having the capacity to facilitate the transfer of goods in their locale. As an example, BG Cardon mentioned that in a recently-secured area, one of the first things that was done was to bring in the Iraqi government construction teams to pave the roads, which thrilled the village. Things such as this are becoming more common because local governors are “more active in getting out and about,” developing contacts with town/tribal leaders that enable them to identify needs and spend their money more effectively.
BG Cardon said that something he’s found particularly encouraging lately is the level of private (foreign) investment interest in Iraq. “There have been more [inquiries about investment] in the last three weeks than I saw in the last ten months. There have not been very many deals completed yet, but “companies are very encouraged by what they find.” He acknowledges that people have a perception that security is still a huge issue in MND-C’s area, but says they are incorrectly “extrapolating” based on reports from Northern Iraq, not realizing that things are so much calmer south of Baghdad. For example, he reported that there is no need to wear body armor in Najaf, and described taking a private investor to visit. “Is security like this all the time,” the investor asked? “Been like this for several months,” Cardon said he replied, to the investor’s astonishment.
This is the big story that Cardon expects to become more obvious in the near future, “The real story over the next several months is going to be political and economic.” He pointed to the recent legislation passed, but also talked of Iraq’s great economic potential: “With the resources, the people, they could resume their role as the breadbasket of the Middle East.” He also mentioned opportunities to develop a strong tourist industry as the area becomes safer—Shia shrines, sites of historical significance to Christians, etc.
As he talked of Iraq’s economic prospects, he stopped to caution that things can still go wrong on the security front, but his enthusiasm and excitement about the future kept spilling over, as he discussed the potential for foreign investors who would bring industry and jobs to Iraqis. He said now is the time for business to come and take a look. “This is a country of personal engagement…. Getting here early is a good thing if you want to have a long-term business arrangement.”
[Coming up, in Part II: the nascent work of engaging women’s leadership and addressing the medical infrastructure, the State Department, and the next big challenge for South-Central Iraq.]
He [Brigadier General Edward Cardon] said now is the time for business to come and take a look. “This is a country of personal engagement…. Getting here early is a good thing if you want to have a long-term business arrangement.”
I like that idea. How do we go about conducting business in Iraq?
We need to get hooked up with a finance person that can explain about doing business in Iraq. I would agree. Does the BG have any recommendations?
I would be happy to do the interview for that segment.
posted by kat-missouri on February 21, 2008 10:46 AM
I don't have direct access to Cardon or any of the other leaders outside of the phonecall(s). It seems to me that contacting a Civil Affairs unit in Iraq would be a good place to start.
I'm headed to Pasadena for the weekend, but I'll see what I can do.
Tuesday night I heard on the news that a pilot had seen a "meteor" over the Pacific Northwest burn up on entry. Video from a Idaho national guard armory shows a rather bright, burning ball of fire streak across the sky, a brief "explosion" and then it was gone. (story and video here)
The pilot thought the meteor had hit the ground, but no one has found it yet. He described it as "suitcase sized". A scientist from the observatory said that the sky often plays optical illusions on people and size is too difficult to tell. It could be seen as far away as Montana.
My first thought on hearing about the meteor was, "Oh! Did we shoot down the satellite?" and somebody mistook it for a meteor?
Then, Wednesday, reports that we shot the satellite down...on Wednesday, after the shuttle landed, 130 miles over the Pacific. In order to keep the shuttle from being endangered by any debris. The Pentagon said:
"Nearly all of the debris will burn up on re-entry within 24-48 hours and the remaining debris should re-enter within 40 days," it said.
Typical naming strategies to recover the pieces: Burnt Frost.
Who was reading the Frosted Flakes box when they came up with that?
Treats often work to get the animals to bring back pieces of the solar system and galaxy that they've chosen to hide so they can watch the two footed rolly polly folks run around all crazy like.
posted by kat-missouri on February 21, 2008 10:55 AM
Big John,
And now when my kids get asked "What does your daddy do?" They can reply "he kills terrorists and bad people, breaks things...even in space!"
posted by Desert Sailor on February 21, 2008 4:46 PM
Kat,
Just like John's subsequent post referring to "Goblins" sent me off on a totally unrelated link, so does your reference to "Meteor". http://www.vectorsite.net/avmeteor.html
Dusty would understand!
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...
Time to add a new caveat, because from email it's not clear to some folks (mind you, if you don't read this it won't matter...) Being an open post, people (collectively, the Denizens) other than I post in the H&I. They sign their work (most of the time) - keep that in mind when you want to flame someone in email please - if it doesn't say "The Armorer" or "John" then I didn't write it! And honestly - if you don't like something said or posted... leave a comment, and hash it out (within the context of The Rulez which are clearly posted on the comment form, I would add).
*************************************** This is why I won't go back to coaching youth sports. Setting a bad example there, with the slamming of clipboards and then physically assaulting(legal term, not literal) a minor acting as referee for the game. Sports should be fun(and, boy howdy, is winning fun), but at the below HS level being that worked up isn't ensuring winning or making it fun.
So, coaches, remember that to care about winning, and thereby not destroying the fun of competition by making it all namby-pamby no-scoring affairs, doesn't mean you need to be all Bobby Knight. Sports is supposed to be fun. It's also a life lesson teaching activity when below the professional/semi-pro level.
I'd weep for the future of the profession but I think I'll cough up a lung first.
--ry
******************************************
Thanks for the image, Ry. From MoveAmericaForward.org: Gold Star Mother Debbie Lee, whose son was the first Navy Seal killed in Iraq, delivered a powerful short speech to the Berkeley City Council last Tuesday.
-the Armorer
***********************************
Heh. I got a letter with phrasing like this once:
Now I know that the Army has told you that this assignment won’t hurt your career, and so long as you’re not too interested in an OER or an end-of-tour equivalent to what you would have got in a maneuver unit, you have been told the truth.
Go read the rest of Charlie's post at Abu Muqawama. If you've ever served as an officer, this will just resonate. Remember those guys at PERSCOM/HRC - they're just here to help! H/t, Adrian T. -the Armorer
**********************************
He hesitated just a bit as he rounded a corner inside Dulles International Airport yesterday and spotted the flock of television cameras and cooing journalists awaiting him. Then, with posture erect like a soldier's, he trotted straight toward the action -- he was used to bomb blasts and gunfire, after all, so this was nothing.
***********************************
Hmmmm. Once again, I'll be voting against people/policies rather than for them. I'm not a fan of Senator Clinton, but I prefer her to Senator Obama, who thus far had been a skilled demagogic orator but otherwise a rather empty suit to be pinning a Presidential lapel pin on. Apparently Chris Mathews of MSNBC agrees:
MSNBC's Chris Matthews: "You are a big Barack supporter, right, Senator?"
State Sen. Watson: "I am. Yes, I am."
Matthews: "Well, name some of his legislative accomplishments. No, Senator, I want you to name some of Barack Obama's legislative accomplishments tonight if you can."
State Sen. Watson: "Well, you know, what I will talk about is more about what he is offering the American people right now."
Matthews: "No. No. What has he accomplished, sir? You say you support him. Sir, you have to give me his accomplishments. You've supported him for president. You are on national television. Name his legislative accomplishments, Barack Obama, sir."
State Sen. Watson: "Well, I'm not going to be able to name you specific items of legislative accomplishments."
Matthews: "Can you name any? Can you name anything he's accomplished as a Congressman?"
State Sen. Watson: "No, I'm not going to be able to do that tonight."
*A term of art from the artillery. Harassment and Interdiction Fires.
Back in the day, when you could just kill people and break things without a note from a lawyer, they were pre-planned, but to the enemy, random, fires at known gathering points, road junctions, Main Supply Routes, assembly areas, etc - to keep the bad guy nervous that the world around him might start exploding at any minute.
*Not really relevant to today's operating environment, right? But, it *is*
The UAVs (oops, can't call 'em UAVs anymore - they're now Unmanned Aerial Systems... some Colonel got his Legion of Merit for that change...), er, um UAS's we fly over Afghanistan and Pakistan looking for targets of opportunity are a form of H&I fires, if you really want to parse it finely. We just have better sensors and fire control now.
I call the post that because it's random things posted by me and people I've given posting privileges to. It's also an open trackback, so if someone has a post they're proud of, but it really isn't either Castle kind of stuff, or topical to a particular post, I've basically given blanket permission to use that post for that purpose. Another term of art that might be appropriate is "Free Fire Zone."
A long time ago on a Navy gunboat far, far away; there lived a dog named Blackie. The four-footed member of our crew. Blackie had been with the ship since commissioning and had lived through combat in Vietnam, two transits of the Pacific Ocean, and a voyage to Italy. While in Italy, Blackie was ordered off the ship by our Division Commander (you know who your are.) Blackie was taken in by a Gunner's Mate on our sister ship, and lived ashore with his family. When "Gunner" was transferred back to the US, he paid thousands of dollars our of his own pocket to bring Blackie back with him. Blackie is buried in Gunner's back yard, in Walla Walla, Washington - the state Blackie was born in. Blackie was a true friend and shipmate. We'll meet again at Fiddler's Green - I'll save a cold Carlings for you.
Image! Heh! I think of the Prostetnic Vogons, with their Poetry Appreciation Chairs, with Imagery Intensifiers.
Hmm. Work with me here; Isn't Arabic supposedly the best language for poetry, not so swift at expressing precise thought? Why waterboard when you can make 'em gag and hyperventilate by reciting bad poetry at them, in their own language, electroneurally enhanced?
Don't tell the beef-headed Saxons about this, they're likely to use it on us sensitive artistic Celtic folks!
posted by Justthisguy on February 20, 2008 5:30 PM
74, when I think of Naval critters, I think of Simon of HMS Amethyst, awarded the Dickin Medal for courage under fire in action against the Chicoms, though seriously wounded, and Oscar, of Schlachtschiff Bismarck, and HMS Cossack, and HMS Ark Royal. A torpedo magnet, Oscar was. He was retired and sent to England.
By air, I betcha.
posted by Justthisguy on February 20, 2008 5:56 PM
P.s. I suppose y'all know that the kitty who premonished the deaths of all those people in that old folks' home was also named "Oscar."
Be very wary of any kitty hight Oscar. If you meet one, make sure yer will is up to date!
posted by Justthisguy on February 20, 2008 6:10 PM
So....we all know I am a girl who peeks.
I followed the link from Cannoneer No. 4....and the link in that.....and a link from there....and now I have more stuff to read.
I am overwhelmed.
I am drowning.
Somehow I doubt that damn Cannoneer No. 4 even cares what he has done to my evening.
Well, for once, Chris Matthews doesn't play footsie.
Mark it down on your calendar.
posted by kat-missouri on February 20, 2008 9:20 PM
Blackie was the first ships mascot I got to sail with. A couple of years later, I was stationed on an ocean-going salvage tug and we had a Guamanian Boonie Dog for a mascot. Master Chief Dawg. BD for short. Unfortunately, I don't know what happened to BD; as I left the ship three months before it was decomissioned. I bet he found a good home with one of the crew though.
A worthy shoot, if you've the time and can get there. I'll have the .pdfs with the data up later.
Byers, Colorado, May 2-3-4 2008
REMEMBERING THE BRAVE FOUNDATION
&
The Colorado Rifle Club
present the
1st Annual Armed Forces Memorial Match
Honoring
LCpl Andrew Riedel ~ HM3 Christopher “Doc” Anderson
GM2 Danny Dietz ~ SSgt Sam Holder
LCpl Kyle Burns ~ LCpl Tommy Slocum ~ PFC Jesse Givens
SSGT Justin Vasquez
The parents of these American Heroes will be there to present the Memorial Trophies and plaques to the competitors and to enjoy the day with everyone there.
Please come out to meet them, thank them, and honor their son’s memories.
Match limited to 100 competitors, so register early!!
Open practice 09:00 Friday 2 May 2008!
Free Coaching Available
Saturday 3 May 2008 (07:00 Show/Stats open at 06:30)
SSgt Sam Holder Memorial Trophy Match
600 yrd Any Rifle/Any Sight
Unlimited Sighters/20 rnds for record in 25 min
LCpl Kyle Burns Memorial Trophy Match
600 yrd Any Rifle/Iron Sights
Unlimited Sighters/20 rnds for record in 25 min
(All may shoot but only Iron Sight Rifle competitors can win)
LCpl Tommy Slocum Memorial Trophy Match
600 yrd Service Rifle
Unlimited Sighters/20 rnds for record in 25 min
(All may shoot but only Service Rifle competitors can win)
Sunday 4 May 2008 (07:00 Show/Stats open at 06:30)
LCpl Andrew Riedel Memorial Team Trophy Match
600 yrd Police, Military & Veteran only Match Any Rifle/Any Sight
Unlimited Sighters/20 rnds for record in 25 min
(All may shoot but only police/military/veteran competitors can win)
HM3 Christopher “Doc” Anderson Memorial Team Trophy Match
600 yrd Service Rifle
Unlimited Sighters/20 rnds for record in 25 min
(All may shoot but only Service Rifle competitors can win)
GM2 Danny Dietz Memorial Team Trophy Match
1000 yrd Any Rifle/Any Sight
Unlimited Sighters/20 rnds for record in 30 min
PFC Jesse Givens Memorial Trophy Match
600 & 1000 yrd Prone
Overall Service Rifle Aggregate Match
SSGT Justin Vasquez Memorial Trophy
Match
600 & 1000 yrd Prone
Overall Match Rifle Aggregate Match
Colorado Cup
600 & 1000 yrd Prone (Any Rifle/Any Sight/FClass)
Match costs $60.00 per shooter, which is 100% tax deductible. $20 per shooter for the team
matches. Funds go to support the Remembering the Brave Foundation.
Visit www.crci.org for directions or call David Jennings at: 303-393-1001 or Tony Stahl at 303-494-5721
I do, three. Though just telling us about it is good, and like me, I reckon you have things going on preventing you from going. If I could get there with a half-day's drive I'd be there and borrow a rifle and participate, though I pierced the paper not even once.
posted by Justthisguy on February 20, 2008 6:21 PM
Yes, John, now that I have decided not to compete you have a shot. So you should definitely enter now that I won't be there to show you up.
I'm crying here on the east coast, as I own a 1903-A3 Springfield in 30-06, an Enfield in .303 British, and a M16-A1 in 5.56X45mm. I shoot all of them open sights, and am a former Top Team AMTU Sniper School graduate. (Fort Bragg, NC.)
Airborne, All the Way!!
posted by Alan Briley, RN on February 20, 2008 8:55 PM
This is a vehicle you do *not* want to try and rush...
...from the side.
Senior Airman Travis Hummel (standing) and Airman 1st Class Adam Giebitz patrol Feb. 10 in an M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier at the Theater Internment Facility at Camp Bucca, Iraq. Airmen Hummel and Giebitz are deployed from Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and are assigned to the 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron's quick response force. The QRF responds to issues within the TIF in which a show of force or escalation of force is required beyond the capabilities for the TIF's guard force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Jason McCree)
Those Claymore mines on the side of that M113 make that a very dangerous vehicle, and clearly only usable in a very specific situation - i.e., crowd control where the crowd contains no one but legal targets. Which is the purpose of this vehicle, as the caption notes. Not coming to a police force near you anytime soon. But something like this might well come to a police state near you...
If you want a larger version of the picture, click here.
Update: In the comments, Murray makes an important point. While the vehicle and it's mines may be scary - the guy inside is who you have to be *really* respectful of...
Update 2: The strength of blogs... someone usually knows something you don't - in this case, OldGaijin. His contribution in the comments were that the "Claymores" are far more likely to be M5 Modular Crowd Control Munitions, or MCCM's. So, I went trolling for them - and what I found likely confirms OldGaijin's information - and my reaction to the picture validates the concept:
M5 Modular Crowd Control Munition
The M5 Modular Crowd Control Munition (MCCM) is a non-lethal munition used to incapacitate large group of personnel with the Flash Bang and Impact of rubber balls. It can be deployed by mounted or dismounted troops and provides a visual deterrent due to similarity in appearance to the M18A1 Claymore munition. The MCCM can be fired singularly or in a group and has an effective range of 5 to 30 meters with a 60 degree coverage.
I used to caryy a co2 revolver when i was driving a 113.
The infantry used to delight in running up the front of the wagon and butt stroking the driver with their SLR's.
I only had to shoot two cabbage heads in the face before they worked out which wagon not to try it on.
Respect has to be earned, but fear is faster.
posted by Murray on February 20, 2008 1:33 PM
Those "Claymores" are probably (better be) M5 MCCMs (Modular Crowd Control Munition)loaded with rubber balls vice steel pellets. DODIC is WA97 vice K143. Explosive weight is .0321 vice 1.57 pounds.
[I've never even heard of 'em before - but it makes sense. I think I'd still view them as Claymores... -the Armorer]
posted by oldgaijiin on February 20, 2008 2:32 PM
M5 Modular Crowd Control Munition
The M5 Modular Crowd Control Munition (MCCM) is a non-lethal munition used to incapacitate large group of personnel with the Flash Bang and Impact of rubber balls. It can be deployed by mounted or dismounted troops and provides a visual deterrent due to similarity in appearance to the M18A1 Claymore munition. The MCCM can be fired singularly or in a group and has an effective range of 5 to 30 meters with a 60 degree coverage.
The Modular Crowd Control Munition is similar in operation to a claymore mine, but it delivers nonlethal effects to the threat by delivering a strong, nonpenetrating blow to the body with multiple submunitions (600 rubber balls). This round has a wide range of capabilities for tactical, law enforcement, I/R, and US military detention operations. In crowd control, it provides a nonlethal counterpersonnel capability that can be used to break contact, enforce a buffer zone (standoff distance), or demonstrate a show of force. This round is designed to be fired at the center mass of adult threats at ranges of 5 to 15 meters. It has a shot arc covering between 60 to 80 degrees (laterally).
The MCCM will be utilized in the ground employment. In the ground employment mode it will increase fixed site and area security capabilities against potentially hostile forces without the sole reliance of the application of deadly force and will be used by military forces to apply the minimum force necessary while performing missions of and site and area security of key facilities. The MCCM is intended to be a direct fire, low hazard munition that produces an N-L effect upon impact by incapacitating personnel through robust flash-bang and stinging
![American troops wear[spelling corrected] funny hats](http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb224/kehenry1/WarrickPin.jpg){kind=link}
