Archive Logo.jpg

March 13, 2008

H&I Fires 13 March, 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).

**********************************
Morning Snerk:

"My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world.

I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it." -- Barack Obama

Heh. Talk about unfortunate use of context... but I thought that the whole concept of 'American Exceptionalism' was a taboo for a good left-leaning Progressive Liberal? I thought we were past all that and that America is no better than anyone, and in fact, is oft times the worst?

Oh, wait. He's running for office. Never mind. C'mon people, it's funny. Off for one more day of confabulation in Orlando. -the Armorer

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

Since I'm recycling today... What If WWII Were A MMORPG?

*Hitler[AoE] has joined the game.*
*Eisenhower has joined the game.*
*paTTon has joined the game.*
*Churchill has joined the game.*
*benny-tow has joined the game.*
*T0J0 has joined the game.*
*Roosevelt has joined the game.*
*Stalin has joined the game.*
*deGaulle has joined the game.*
Roosevelt: hey sup
T0J0: y0
Stalin: hi
Churchill: hi
Hitler[AoE]: cool, i start with panzer tanks!
paTTon: lol more like panzy tanks
T0J0: lol
Roosevelt: o this fockin sucks i got a depression!
benny-tow: haha america sux
Stalin: hey hitler you dont fight me i dont fight u, cool?
Hitler[AoE]: sure whatever
Stalin: cool

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

What's that old saw? Something like "War is long stretches of boredom interrupted by brief moments of sheer terror?" Well, Doc in the Box has mastered the boredom side of things. Let's hope the sheer terror side never makes an appearance this tour.

Speaking of boredom, LT G probably would've opted for that over the clueless and obnoxious pogues who dropped by for a visit:

I stuck my hands in the pockets of my fleece and glared at my laughing comrades. No respect for the senior platoon leader. “The real Iraq, huh?” I said. “To see real life Iraqis in real Iraqi homes with real Iraqi poverty?” CPT Whiteback nodded, familiar with my brand of rambling, overindulgent sarcasm. “Can’t they just read my blog instead to educate themselves?”
In terms of mastery of the language, it's probably LT G's best writing so far. And pretty darn funny, too! - FbL

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

Here's some animal-y goodness inspired by John's post below: A visit to the Baghdad Zoo. - FbL

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

The Spring Offensive?

Iraqi troops to seize Basra Port from militias

The Challenges of Bringing Peace to a Divided Village -Kat
************
A Boy Named Sue -Kat

*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."

Denizens | Permalink | Comments (9) | General Commentary
Comments on H&I Fires 13 March, 2008
Pogue briefed on March 13, 2008 3:10 PM
clueless and obnoxious pogues
Ouch, Fuzzy, haven't I always been nice to you? :-(
Murray briefed on March 13, 2008 3:42 PM

To be a prick that would read more like.

*Hitler[AoE] has joined the game.*
*Churchill has joined the game.*
*benny-tow has joined the game.*
*deGaulle has joined the game.*
Churchill: wheres Roosevelt & paTTon?
T0J0: they have home work be by lata

AFSister briefed on March 13, 2008 4:04 PM

Awwww, come on now... if she was really talking about you, Pogue, she would have said something like "brilliant, thoughtful, patriotic and dedicated pogues".
;-)

John,
Where did you get that brilliant Obama quote?

John of Argghhh! briefed on March 13, 2008 5:55 PM

Ah, Murray - you know how slow we 'Murican's are to do anything.

FbL briefed on March 13, 2008 7:35 PM

AFSis is absolutely right, of course! :D

And as I've said before, Pogue, i believe your self-chosen moniker is rather inapt. :P

jim b briefed on March 13, 2008 9:13 PM

As usual I am posting something that has to do with nothing on H&I.

It is a post from a proud father.

"Thoughts of a Soldier to us and DawnMarch 13th, 2008
Ya know I got to my new job and the boss man asks me and the other new guy why we came. The other guy replied right away with patriotism and 9/11. He got shot down right away and much that was said about why his reasons weren’t good … weren’t true…. and I could see the bosses point.

I was rushin around today and a country song came on named “Where were you?” about 9/11. I remembered that although this man was right about many things it was a pessimistic way of looking at things. I listened to the entire song, remembering where I was when that happened.

I remember the way I felt going to church and seeing pictures of buddies of mine from grade school in uniform with their names in the back of church. I remembered the way I felt that Pete had a family and was sacrificing his time to help out and I remembered that I’m doing this because I am able to do this and I need to do this and it’s a job that chooses you, you don’t choose it. I’ve come to that determination.

I can’t answer that question of why I did this. I can’t explain, I can’t put into words and even if I attempt anything I say can and will be questioned, shot down, or just sound crazy.

(note … Son to this day, I cannot answer the question, “Why did you join the Marines?” Yes I was asked many times. All the answers were and are phony. They will just not understand. It was my destiny, it is yours. No answer is good enough. It’s like that line in Blackhawk Down … “Hoot, why do you do it man, are you some kinda war junky?” You remember his answer, “Know what I tell them? …. Nothing. They wouldn’t understand anyway.”)

I hear when you’re out there the patriotism goes away under fire and it’s about you and the guys your with. but if you ask me that IS patriotism. I’m there to protect my country and as far as I’m concerned my country was established with soldiers blood, soldiers own the country and fighting to keep the guys next to you safe is fighting for your country.

I know very few will understand. I know that among civilians I’ll have to laugh at what they understand it to be. (with the wrong ideas of what we do and why we do it) “it’s not for everyone” I’ve heard that nearly every day for two years. Fact is …it’s not. Because not everyone will understand. I feel a bit sad for those who won’t understand. they are missing out on a great thing. I don’t think some of the closest people to me will understand everything. They try though and that’s awesome so I try to help them.

I’d have to say it all comes down to it’s in my blood, that’s the only words I can use to explain my occupation. It’s not easy, some days I’m scared shitless, other days I’m excited as hell, EVERY night I go to sleep proud and no matter what the next day brings I know pain is temporary, the easiest day is yesterday, and I got the coolest job in the world.

(’some days I’m as scared as shit.’ … Son .. Courage doesn’t mean you are not scared. It means you go anyway.)

Just some random thoughts,

Dude"

And a video.

Murray briefed on March 14, 2008 12:53 AM

And yet you keep claiming you "saved" the rest of us.

We wouldn't need saving if you guys listened for the starters gun.

Its usually some little island country in the south pacific that fires it.

John of Argghhh! briefed on March 14, 2008 1:14 AM

What's your point? ;^ )

*Usually* when we get into a war, we're behind the curve and being led by a liberal...

And when a conservative changes the paradigm... people get all pissy about it.

John of Argghhh! briefed on March 14, 2008 1:18 AM

Jim B - the H&I post *and* the comment thread are *intended* for *just* this sort of thing.

Quit apologzing, wouldya?