H&I* Fires 3 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.

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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We're going to start Monday off right. All your postz are belong to Kat!

First, Lt Nixon posts something that's sure to get you're blood pressure up: Smokin' With Al Qaida (and, yes, LT, the AQ scumbags have definitely killed people for smoking.)

The War In the South: Chavez orders 10 battalions to the Venezuela-Colombia border and orders all Colombian government personnel out of the country. Apparently because Colombia had the gall to use an air strike within Ecuadorian territory to kill the #2 FARC leader. I'm not sure if Chavez is ticked off because Colombia killed the #2 of his would-be proxy force in Colombia or if he's ticked off because Colombia flew into the air space of his leftist ally in Ecuador. Just as likely, though, is Chavez simply taking another opportunity to insert himself into something that has nothing to do with him or Venezuela. Keeps the international spotlight on him, don't it?

Where are all the "super heroes"? Well, sir, they are in Iraq and Afghanistan and places in between. They don't wear a cape and they aren't bullet proof, but they are the kinds of heroes that people ought to look up to.

Locally, Sen. Bond (R-MO) says that the delay in MRAPS is being caused by Pentagon Red Tape.

This is for J. and Armed Chair Generalist: The Filthy Rich and Taxes

Oh, and for a good laugh, if you haven't read it already, Ahmadinejad's remarks on his visit to Iraq. Everybody keeps quoting the "Iraqis Hate Americans" comment, but my favorite was, "there were no terrorists in this region" until the American's came. I'm still laughing.

If you missed it, the USS New York was christened on March 1, 2008. Video of news report with details and another video of the actual Christening and speeches. On its "seal", the twin towers of the WTC and the words "Never Forget". (see USS New York blog, let's hope the navy keeps this blog open throughout New York's service)

May God bless this ship and all who sail in her! - Mrs. Dotty England, ship's sponsor

"If the USS New York has to follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell, PCO Jones and his crew ... have my full support," Vito Fosella, R-NY

The News castor on Channel 4 asked a USMC Major (the ship being an amphibious assault ship), if he was a terrorist training to attack America, should I be worried about this ship. Major Cedric Ingram said, "You should be afraid, very afraid." Newscastor, "Why's that?" Major, "Because we're the United States Marines. And, we're coming for you. The Marines are coming and we will find you."

Hoo-Aah! Get some New York!
-Kat

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Um, Ryan and *I* posted today too, Kat. Just not as early as you!

Yesterday was a good day. 50 rounds at the spinners through the Castle Vis (which is the Homestead Defense Handgun) - 48 hits and skeered 'em badly twice, at 75 feet. Then, just because I like the push-back on my shoulder, 50 rounds through the the Castle M1A. Ahhhhh. And all I had to do was step out the back door. Neener neener neener! -the Armorer

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How NATO sees the security situation in Afghanistan - with a pretty coloured map! - Damian

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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."