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H&I Fires 29 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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A study in contrasts: Al Doura (Dora), Iraq. First up, Rolling Stone offers "The Myth of the Surge." Actually, a title more accurate to the author's apparent intention would probably be "The Myth of COIN," but their choice is revealing. Up next, "A Neighborhood, Reborn," in which a platoon leader returns to the neighborhood he once patrolled. Both articles discuss the same neighborhood, both were published this week. I don't know how to reconcile the contradiction. - FbL

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Does Obama know how to laugh at himself? I'd say evidence is: no. Perhaps a riposte such as, "No, thanks. I'm sure Hillary's been using it for the last 10 years, and I prefer mine new," would've been more appropriate? - FbL

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An argument for McCain over Obama from a European point of view. - Damian

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Andy Mickey Rooney hits back at the Orange Ribbon Brigade. As CDR Salamander says, Bravo Zulu!

Just read this. I don't want to spoil the punchline. - FbL

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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."

3 Comments

Fuzzy, dear - you mean Mickey Rooney, not Andy Rooney. Very different people!!!
 
So true, Barb. *cringe* Sorry, folks. Thanks to whomever fixed things. :) [Yer welcome. 'Course, the Adjutant *coulda* done it...]
 
I've always liked and respected Mickey Rooney, this just adds to the reasons! As for Obama Vs. McCain, I suspect some Euroweenies may still think Americans care what they think, so I am hoping they will throw their weight behind Obama. Almost guarenteed to push people to McCain. As for me, if Clinton wins the nomination, I might still vote for her over McCain, but I will never vote for Obama, no matter who he runs against--I'll vote for Nader as I did in 2000! I will not vote for a candidate just because he's black, and aside from his color Obama has nothing of any value whatsoever to offer this country. He claims he's not using his race, but I say that's nonsense. He looks in the mirror every day and he knows full well his color is the only reason most people are willing to give him a second listen, just as his handlers know the surest way to keep people interested is to pretend his color doesn't matter. For my part, I say Obama is a hypocrite for pretending he is not trying to capitalize on his color. What's really cool though, is how the democrats are tied up in knots by their years of playing at being politically correct. Clinton should absolutely be pointing to Obama and asking what besides his color makes him a worthy candidate. She can't go wrong, since she's damned if she does and damned if she doesn't. I will not vote for Obama because he's black; I will not vote for Clinton because she's a woman; and I will not vote for McCain because he's a former POW! My prediction: McCain vs. Clinton, Clinton will win; McCain vs. Obama, McCain will win. Everyone get out there and vote for Obama in the open primaries! Ha, ha, he, he, ho ho, they're coming....
 
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