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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Interesting quotes from the ground in Helmand province, about short-term prospects in the opium trade:
Drug eradication efforts that were a shambles last year because police and government officials systematically took bribes to spare all but the most impoverished farmers appear to have been more successful this year.The Telegraph spoke to two low-level drug smugglers in Helmand last month who claimed that Afghan eradication teams had been more resistant to bribery in 2008.
"In the past the eradication police came from Kabul and they all took bribes," said one 35-year-old man, talking under the alias of Ahmad Wali.
"This year, there were many different organisations involved and each one was afraid to take the bribes because of the others."
Two steps forward, one step back. - Damian
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Getting paid to drink. Sorry, the position is already filled. But really, this story is more about filial devotion and auld soldiers than beer.
The Times of London asks the dreaded question: "So how did a military novice, using untested troops, succeed where thousands of British forces had failed?" Ironically, in an attempt to bash the Brit military, they acknowledge the awful truth of success in Iraq.
Doc in the Box has tracked down a legend of Iraq: The Little Black Bunny of Doom. - FbL
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Over at National Review, there has been a brief kerfuffle over Representative Broun's (R-Ga) bill to ban the sale of Playboy, etc, in military exchanges. He does not approve of federal funds being expended to provide this service. When he was told the Exchanges were self-funded, he and his staff didn't blink an eye. They said "soldiers are paid with federal funds, therefore..."
No, really. I've been contemplating a response. While I've been dithering, Patrick Lasswell of Moderate Risk put up something I can live with as a response. I would note that troops buy tobacco and alcohol and fatty foods, fast cars, and motorcycles with those *federal* dollars. As do I, as a retiree. Perhaps the Congressman wishes me to account for all my purchases, and find another source of funds for those things he might find offensive.... -the Armorer
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Speaking of ANZAC Day - for those of you who happen to be in New Zealand, in proximity to Gladstone Range - you might check out the WMD (Weapons of Medieval Destruction) event going in there - 22AD. Click here for info. Castle Metalsmith Murray is in charge, and the Castle is an official sponsor...
If the Armorer could be there, the Armorer *would* be there. -the Armorer
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Since the Castle Armory has acquired the Sniper Rifle, that's off the market - but Neffi shows us you *can* get one of the bullets fired at Senator Clinton during her famous combat experience! -the Armorer
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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 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 that particular topic. It's also an open trackback, so if (Don Surber uses it this way a lot) 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".
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