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H&I* Fires, 08 FEB 2008

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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It must be the longest drive of your life, from Trenton to Toronto with a loved one or comrade-in-arms in the back of a hearse. This is what those who make that awful trip see out the windows. - Damian

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If you don't click on Damian's link - you are depriving yourself of something that shades to the sublime. -the Armorer

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*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."

7 Comments

I thought that some context would be appropriate for your American readers. All members of the Canadian Forces that die overseas, whether in Afghanistan or elsewhere, are flown to CFB Trenton and are then driven to Toronto for autopsy. The section of Highway 401 between Trenton and Toronto was renamed in 2007 as the Highway of Heroes. Members of police and fire departments, Royal Canadian Legion members and private citzens come out to salute the fallen, rain or shine, no matter the weather. Pat
 
Made me cry like a baby but I was glad for the link. Losing a servicemember is not supposed to be easy. It's supposed to knot up your stomach. I light candles every night and I always try to think of someone or the family of someone when I do. Tonight it was for the Canadians. Things like this should be on the news every damned night...not the latest Britney update. We shouldn't all be at the mall..the grownups should know.
 
That was AWESOME. I can't agree with Carrie enough, why is it always the bad (*expletive deleted*) that gets reported on the news, and not good things like this??
 
Right there with you on this one Carrie.
 
Our Canadian ALLIES are on the right side in the war on terror. We appreciate their service as we jointly fight our common enemy, and mourn their losses as our own. Unlike many of our supposed friends, many more threatened than either Canada or the US, the Canadian troops are in the thick of the fight, knowing the stakes are high. I am not sure their political leaders have the stomach for the Long War, but their troops are to be commended, and can be relied on. They have shared our losses in combat, (sadly including tragic friendly fire incidents) but freedom is not free. Duty. Honor. Country. Both of them! Ditto for our loyal British allies.
 
Thanks for that, Damian. Made my eyes wet, a bit. The lone guy in the t-shirt, with hand over heart; just this guy, ya know?
 
Yeah, Justthisguy, I know what you mean. My vision got a little blurry putting the post together.
 
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