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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Saturday, yours truly and She Who Will Be Obeyed (SWWBO) undertook a trip to our local Wal-Mart Supercenter (horrors! cry our more 'progressive' readers) to acquire new litter boxes. We're always sampling the latest and greatest (well, unless it costs $100) in litterbox tech, what with the Interior Guard numbering 7 full-timers and one part-timer. Before we left, our neighbor had come over for a tour of the Arms Room and to pick up some excess fence posts we had salvaged from the fencing plan that existed when the Castle Demesne was previously a dairy farm.
Anyway, off we go on our errand, and our neighbor scoots off in his ATV to gather t-posts.
Our return to Castle Argghhh! looked very similar to this - except substitute horses for cattle.
A herd of cattle surrounds a U.S. Army Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle during Operation Fire Fortress in the Diyala province, Iraq, June 2, 2008. Operation Fire Fortress was launched to clear the influence of al-Qaida in the towns of Qubbah and Mukhisa in Iraq's Diyala province. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Paul Seeber
Our neighbor, because the horses weren't in sight when he went into the south pasture to get the fence posts, forgot about the horses and left the gate open, and the F150 of Argghhh! was surrounded by gnoshing equines as we toiled up the motte to the bailey. Fortunately, SWWBO and I are on good terms with the horses, and were able to persuade them all back into the enclosure with a few bribes of cracked corn. Heh. Anyone who tried to "command" those beasts (we know of a smug "horseman" of that stripe) would have spent all day chasing peeved horses. Treating horses like family has it's advantages. -the Armorer
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Speaking of SWWBO - she has several of her photographs entered into contests - so be a good, loyal reader of Argghhh! and go visit this site - and rate SWWBO's pics! Well, rate them if you like them. If you don't like them, um, don't rate them, 'k? 8^ ) -the Armorer
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This has got to be a bit demoralizing, if you're an Afghan Freedom Fighter insurgent:
Patrol attacked: 20 insurgents killed in Deh ChopanBAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 16, 2008) – Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces killed 20 militants after they attacked a combined reconnaissance patrol in Deh Chopan District, Zabul province, Sunday.
The militants attacked the ANSF and Coalition forces with rockets, mortars and small-arms fire in a mountainous river valley.
ANSF and Coalition forces returned fire and called in precision aircraft strikes to kill the militants.
No ANSF or Coalition forces were injured during the engagement.
20 to zip. Ouch.
Heh. Or, 15 to nil. Not much better.
15 militants killed in Sangin DistrictBAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 16, 2008) – 15 insurgents were killed after they attacked an Afghan National Security Force and Coalition patrol in the Sangin District, Helmand province June 14.
While on patrol, the soldiers observed a large group of women and children leaving a village.
As the patrol moved closer they observed a group of men near the tree line. These men opened fire on the ANSF and Coalition force using rockets and small-arms fire.
ANSF and Coalition forces returned fire and moved to a better location to engage the extremists and to guide Coalition aircraft for precision air strikes. After about two hours of fighting, the enemy positions were destroyed, killing 15 militants.
In the meantime - if they'll stand and fight - this will provide an opportunity for some more attritional warfare of the type that reduces the willingness to... stand and fight.
-the Armorer
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Small town governance at it's best. There are many state, and dare I say, national, institutions which might benefit from this sort of benign neglect. Just because you have the job, doesn't mean you have to *always* be meddling with something. Heh. Actually, small town/county politics can be the most brutal, since the press usually doesn't give a flying fig, a lot happens behind closed doors. H/t, Kevin. -the Armorer
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Given what I did for Father's Day yesterday, this would have been more funner [sic]. Especially if someone else was paying for the ammo!
Biggest Gun on Mythbusters - The funniest home videos are here
H/t, Kevin. -the Armorer
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Fun stuff over at Fix Bayonets! -the Armorer
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I'm not sure how much play the Kandahar prison break got in the U.S. press, but it sure has received a pile of play in the Canadian media. With lots of commentary about how much of a strategic setback it is, and how embarrassing for the CF, etc.
"It's a big blow. It's a very significant development," said CBC's Susan Ormiston, who visited the prison last April.
The usual suspects are having a field day.
Today, the Taliban is celebrating its Bastille Day. The dramatic jailbreak at Kandahar's Sarposa Prison -- which freed not some prisoners, but nearly all 1,000 prisoners in the jail -- is a massive strategic blow for the Canadian Forces. And it was totally avoidable.
As usual, our CDS puts it in perspective with a steady, calming hand:
Canada's top soldier downplayed a spectacular, commando-style prison break in Afghanistan on Saturday, where hundreds of captured Taliban insurgents were set free.Outgoing Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier, in Calgary for a Military Families Fund fundraiser, said soldiers weren't at higher risk after the escape of an estimated 800 prisoners - among them Taliban.
"What I would emphasize is it's a small splash in the pond," Hillier said Saturday evening.
"We understand the Taliban are not 10 feet tall, but they are capable, at times, they can pull off an operation like this."
Man, I'm going to miss having this guy in charge... - 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 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. Another term of art that might be appropriate is "Free Fire Zone".
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