H&I* Fires, 13 June 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).

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

Mebbe I'm just suffering from paraskavedekatriaphobia, but - Bleah. It's *still* ugly.

Prototype 1 of the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon was unveiled, June 11, 2008, on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. U.S. Army scientists will put a total of eight prototypes through rigorous testing to ensure they meet performance requirements. U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe from Oklahoma, Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George Casey Jr., viewed the system. U.S. Army photo by C. Todd Lopez

Slightly larger version available here.

I'm not looking for this, or this:

We need some new guns. But gollee, that thing is just spud-ugly.

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

Here's our Iraqi sock-puppet doing what the Cheney and Halliburton tell him to do - NOT:

[Iraqi PM al-Maliki] ...says the initial framework agreed upon was to have been an accord "between two completely sovereign states." But he says the U.S. proposals "do not take into consideration Iraq's sovereignty."

The prime minister said Friday "this is not acceptable." The American demands "violate Iraqi sovereignty. At the end, we reached a dead end."

Poor President Bush. He can't even install a reliable puppet. Halliburton probably would have had him replaced this next election cycle even if he hadn't hit his mandatory retirement date. /satire.

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

John Hawkins over at Right Wing News polled 64 right-of-center bloggers (including yours truly) on 9 questions related to Barack Obama and election 2008. You can read all the results here.

Here are just some of the results...

56% of the bloggers polled think John McCain is going to win in November.
81% of bloggers polled don't believe Barack Obama is patriotic.
18% of the bloggers polled believe Barack Obama is a Muslim.
92% of the bloggers don't believe Barack Obama is competent and experienced enough to be President.

-the Armorer

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

The War They Still Fight

"The explosion," he says, "blew me up in the air, and I landed inside the crater. I just lay there thinking, 'What happened to me?' I didn't want to look at my legs. It felt like a baseball bat hit me."

He blacked out while being evacuated and woke up at Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas, having lost his left leg in an amputation. Waggoner describes this in the articulate, relentlessly upbeat tones of a U.S. Army public-affairs officer, which in fact he is. There is no hint of regret in his voice or demeanor. Plainly, he seeks no one's pity.

FCS Hardware Displayed on National Mall
Photo by C. Todd Lopez

June 13, 2008

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr., was on the National Mall, Washington, D.C., June 11, for the unveiling of the first prototype of the Non-Line of Sight Cannon. The NLOS-C is part of the Army's Future Combat Systems, and was one of several pieces of FCS hardware on display at the Mall. A total of eight NLOC-S prototypes will eventually be delivered to Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., by 2010.

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

First FCS Manned Vehicle to Make Public Debut Photo by BAE Systems May 30, 2008 Prototype 1 of the Non-Line Of Sight-Cannon will make its first public appearance on the National Mall directly in front of the U.S. Capitol Building, June 11.

Heh. This is the artillery's Crusader Consolation Prize... Oh, I know, Crusader was a an oversold, over-built behemoth beset by problems, but the Brits, Germans, and Danes are enjoying their eqiuvalents. Once they get us to fly 'em to Afghanistan for 'em... -the Armorer

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

The Health Nannies strike. In Japan. Interestingly, they go after employers if the employee doesn't get with the program. Heh. Might as well put me in jail now, as I'm going to be a criminal fat guy. -the Armorer

*********************************
Tsk. The Shanty Irish thumbed their noses at the Lace Curtain Irish - and in so doing, sank the Lisbon Treaty. Heh. The Eurocrats already having found a way to maneuver the creation of the Euro Super-State to be an exercise in Oligarchic politics, one wonders how they will get the Irish government to rewrite its constitution to get rid of that pesky let the people decide thingy. Of course, one does have to note, in honesty, that the United States was created in the same manner - the state governments, not the people-by-plebiscite, created the Union. But I do find the commentary from the elites revealing. The ignorant unwashed are just *so* vexing. -the Armorer

************************************
Amateurs talk tactics, professionals talk logistics. Glad to see both the Army and the Air Force, the latter being the largest consumer of fuel in the DoD, aggressively pursuing alternative sources. Of course, Congress is doing its level best to impede the short-term effort to maintain viable American military power where ever and whenever it can but perhaps saner minds will prevail. Or not. Then again, there's this which is, I think, exceptionally cool.

This kind of thing reinforces my belief that, while it's vital we go after the Islamofascists tooth and nail (and quickly) in the long run, these Middle Eastern despotisms and their rabid offshoots pose little long-term danger. Tribal societies simply cannot compete with either the West or the (Far) East. Of course, these societal primitives present a serious near-term threat, given our somnambulant approach to their pursuit of a nuclear capability. We may take some pretty serious hits (literally) but even Cannae was a temporary setback whose end result was the complete annihilation of the aggressor in relatively short order.

In the meantime, re: aviation alternate fuels, faster please.

P.S. I find John's garment rending and lamentations above on the appearance of an "ugly" arty piece...amusing. Welcome to the club. Heh.
************************************