I thought I'd throw together some links to some interesting military and GWOT news. A little too much to put in H&I Fires. To save on space, etc, I've put them in Flash Traffic.
To whet your appetite, a quote from Lt. Gen. Odierno:
“Their sacrifices were (not) and will not be in vain,” he said. “And because of them, Iraqis have the right to choose their own destiny. Let us forever remember our noble and gallant warriors who gave everything so others can enjoy life and liberties of a truly free people.”
The Last Ball: Lt. Col. Gadsdon, double amputee, inspires Giants to win Super Bowl, receives last ball thrown by Favre in the NFL.
Little by Little, One Word At A Time: Marine earns Bronze Star for using self taught Arabic and cultural information in Ramadi
They Don't Grow on Trees: Spec Ops Increasing by 5% Yearly
Navy Awards Contract for New Walter Reed Facility
Don't lose site of some important congressional issues during the inundation of all politics all the time: War-Funding Delays Harmful Within Months, Deputy Secretary Says
Aufweidersen: 1st Armored begins to leave Germany Ft Bliss is going to be HUGE.
They'll Make You Famous: Soldier's who drink and drive on Ft. Drum will have their names published
The British Are Coming, The British Are Coming! To Kansas?
So are the Russians, but the Navy does not consider them a concern or a threat.
They Don't Grow On Trees II: Trying to build Iraqi Army NCOs
Military Working Dogs and Their Handlers in Mosul are checking for explosives and denying the enemy the tools of their trade (shocka: one of them is a woman, on patrol, outside the FOB, not driving a truck or humvee).
USACE: The Longest Road
Mosul, the Center of Al Qaeda Terrorism
Lt Gen. OdiernoOdierno emphasized that gains made in Iraq have come with big sacrifices in injuries and lives lost.“Their sacrifices were (not) and will not be in vain,” he said. “And because of them, Iraqis have the right to choose their own destiny. Let us forever remember our noble and gallant warriors who gave everything so others can enjoy life and liberties of a truly free people.”
Video: Brig. Gen. Huggins, 3rd ID on the Surge "More room for optimism here than I've seen in ever before here in my three times (tours to Iraq)"
The truth is in the pudding: Gate Way Pundit Posts Latest Brooking's Institute Numbers on Attacks and Casualties. One word: shocka!
Long War Journal says Al Qaeda leader target of bombing in Somalia
To Die or Not To Die? That is the question. Chemical Ali in the cross hairs.
Not to Die: Iraqi Girl Get's Help From Marines and Surgery at Vanderbilt
SoI leader still concerned about the deployment of the al Muthana Iraqi Army Brigade to their area. Both sides thinks the other is bad.
The Forgotten War: Not So Bad After All?
Taliban swears to keep fighting "foreign forces". Of course, their friends in Pakistan are a little busy fighting the "near enemy" and getting blown away by the "far enemy".
For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.-Sun Tzu
Protesting MPs from Logar demand Afghanistan government break ties with Netherlands and Denmark.
There are about 1,500 Dutch troops and 630 Danish soldiers in Afghanistan as part of the multinational NATO-led force fighting Taliban militants and rebuilding the war-shattered country.Those few troops have led a considerable number of operations against the Taliban in their region. AQIZ tried similar tactics of discrediting coalition forces in Iraq by fomenting protests against the concrete walls that separated the neighborhoods and provided secure crossing points that limited AQIZ's ability to move freely about the city. That protest eventually died and peace essentially broke out.
US Airmen (women) spearhead ANA (military) women's seminar
The general (Khotul) also encouraged the women to look and behave as soldiers and look to the American females as role models. She thanked the Airmen for their part in the seminars.‘I offer thanks to our sisters for having left their families to come here and help us,” said Khotul. “We very much appreciate them.”
Teaching people to build things and not blow them up in Afghanistan.
A Dirge For the Fallen Comrade: 79th Canadian Soldier dies in Afghanistan. God bless the Canadian Soldiers.
