We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/hiya_from_hurri.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:31:44 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification My Sur'n Baptist bud was a tad taken aback to learn that Iraqis know what Easter's about. So, in return for the enlightenment, he introduced the stoo'nts to an ancillary side of the day -- the Chocolate Easter Bunny. Heh. Ever seen a bunch of 25-year-old 12-year-olds? Aaaand speaking of 25-year-olds(Oh, right. Like, *that* will get me off the hook), Happy -- Albeit Belated -- Birthday(s) to Maggie and kat! However, as a (very) belated, Joint Present, here’s the Whatziss in context. The muted *thud* you just heard was John’s bewhiskered chin hitting the bedrock floor of ry’s digs under... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/hiya_from_hurri.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/hiya_from_hurri.html Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:48:39 -0600 and the box on the end of their recuperators matches the one in your pic. Unless that's one of the Finn guns - both in your pic and in the link above.. Britain sold 30 Mk 2 guns on Mk 2 carriages with pneumatic tires to Finland during the Winter War but they arrived too late to be used. They were used as "84 K/18" during the Continuation War of 1941 - 1944 by Field Artillery Regiment 8, 17th Division, so the one in the link might be a captured gun - and the Finns using Russian tires makes sense, too. Regardless, she's had an interesting life to end up there as yard art. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/hiya_from_hurri.html#comment-71043 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/hiya_from_hurri.html#comment-71043 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:30:59 -0600 ...the Finns used these guns and mebbe they used that kind of wheel. So did the Sovs, and that's Russkie rubber on them thar disks. I figgered the carriage for a Mk 1, but you're the expert. Dunno if the Brits left any souvenirs here after they pulled out, but my Most-Logical-SWAG on it is that it went from GB to the USSR, got the Sov wheels installed, got fired until the lands wore down, then was foisted off on Saddam (along with at least one MiG-15bis) as part of a Fraternal Socialist Military-Modernization Aid Package -- which would also neatly explain why all the *other* artillery I've seen here is of -- heh -- ChiCom origin. Got more pix? Megs of 'em. Why? *heh!*]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/hiya_from_hurri.html#comment-71041 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/hiya_from_hurri.html#comment-71041 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:31:28 -0600 this one and this one and this one?]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/hiya_from_hurri.html#comment-71038 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/hiya_from_hurri.html#comment-71038 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:44:18 -0600 link to the CNN article- it's actually the transcript of Wolf Blitzer's show last night. The part I quoted is maybe halfway through the script. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/hiya_from_hurri.html#comment-71036 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/hiya_from_hurri.html#comment-71036 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:57:25 -0600 Hurriyya means "Freedom"... does it get any better than that!!! I was reading a CNN article this morning which quotes Iraq's national security advisor as saying "This is global terrorism hitting everywhere, and they have chosen Iraq to be a battlefield. And we have to take them on. If we don't prevail, if we don't succeed in this war, then we are doomed forever....I understand and sympathize with the mothers, with the widows, with the children who have lost their beloved ones in this country. But honestly, it is well worth fighting and well worth investing the money and the treasure and the sweat and the tears in Iraq." Well said, Mr. Mowaffak al-Rubaie! And that's exactly why we need to finish this thing the right way, so that ALL Iraqi's can experience hurriyya. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/hiya_from_hurri.html#comment-71035 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/hiya_from_hurri.html#comment-71035 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:52:33 -0600