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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Who'd a thunk it. Killing terrorists works. From my buddy Steve Schippert over at The Tank (someday I'll get posting privileges there...), regarding this bit from the International Herald Tribune:
For two years British troops staked out a presence in this small district center in southern Afghanistan and fended off attacks from the Taliban. The constant firefights left it a ghost town, its bazaar broken and empty but for one baker, its houses and orchards reduced to rubble and weeds.But it took the U.S. Marines, specifically the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, about 96 hours to clear out the Taliban in a fierce battle in the past month and push them back 10 kilometers, or six miles.
The operation stood in stark contrast to the events of March 2007, when a Marine unit shot and killed 19 civilians after a suicide bombing attack.
This time, the performance of the new unit of marines, in Afghanistan for seven months to bolster NATO forces, will be under particular scrutiny.
-the Armorer
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Now we know how the troops are coping with the thong shortage Bill waxes so eloquently about... H/t, Theo at Last of the Few, via CAPT H. -the Armorer
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Heh. In light of *this* I offer *this*. H/t, CAPT H again. -the Armorer
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SWWBO has posted a few pics of the midwest supercell that rumbled by yesterday. It was great fun standing out in the yard or under the deck and watch the roiling clouds go by (with the NOAA radio on and a clear path to the basement) looking for... rotation. She's got the whole series of pics posted here. -the Armorer
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Patrick Lasswell with a photo-essay on a visit by the US and Canadian fleets to Portland, Oregon. -the Armorer
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"For men, it is particularly insulting to be arrested by a female officer. Too bad."
- Malalai Kaker, the most senior policewoman in southern Afghanistan
- Damian
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Dogs and soldiers: loyal, fierce, and not particularly domesticated. Who knew the connection extended to sailors as well? ;) - Damian
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One of the most technology-laden armies in the history of armies on the move:
A U.S. Soldier from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 6th Infantry Division, assigned to Task Force Regulars receives a lift from an Iraqi boy and his mule on Route Douglas in the Jameela Market in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq, May 31, 2008. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Cohen A. Young/Released)
Of course, what is this 6th Infantry Division of which they speak...? Methinks they most likely mean the 6th Infantry serving with the 1st Armored Division, but I'm only guessin'. -the Armorer
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Just dumb.
1. CNN: "With gas prices reaching a national average of four dollars a gallon — a record high — John McCain is planning to resurrect his call for a national gas tax holiday, which became a staple of his stump speech in late April and early May."
2. Reuters: "Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Monday he would impose a windfall profits tax on U.S. oil companies as he sought political gain from Americans' pain over high gasoline prices."
Heh. #1 just takes money from the highway trust fund and will cause deferred maintenance on the highway system and give consumers not that big a break, and does.absolutely.nothing to address the core issue. But *this* is what candidate McCain is going for? Along with Barack Obama, many economists largely dismissed the notion of a gas tax holiday as a political ruse that would do little to lower prices, but McCain has repeatedly said he does not believe the proposal would be a panacea for America’s energy woes.
Instead, McCain argued, low-income families could save some extra cash to pay for their children’s school supplies this fall, or perhaps treat themselves to a nice dinner.Oh that will make everything all better.
#2?
"I'll make oil companies like Exxon pay a tax on their windfall profits, and we'll use the money to help families pay for their skyrocketing energy costs and other bills," the Illinois senator said.That will just incentivize my neighbor to shut down his wells and pump less. And will do. absolutley.nothing to address the core issue, but will probably serve to exacerbate it. Which means what, you gonna squeeze 'em again, because it's all their fault - and couldn't have anything.to.do.at.all with the fact that Congress (in a bi-partisan fashion) has restricted the ability to expand the supply, while doing nothing (in this case, probably not a bad idea, given the outcomes oft times when they *do* something) to reduce demand. Heh. Giving people money isn't going to incentivize a frigging thing. Except to keep consuming. So, this is the best they've got? Fie. Could we start over on the primaries? For both parties? Shut up, Kevin. -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. Another term of art that might be appropriate is "Free Fire Zone".
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