H&I* Fires 15 July 2008

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Canada chooses to send a deserter back to the US.  Good.  Heh.  He might even come to where I'm at...   Fort Knox.  He should be happy about that.  They're closing the regional confinement facility here at Knox, and moving all the inmates to Fort Leavenworth.  I'm betting it'll be better here.  Though, the troops, even the inmate troops, aren't that fond of deserters, so he might find himself lonely.  But no worries, there's work for him with IVAW and as a diarist for Kos, not to mention that column over at HuffPo.  He'll do fine.  CAPT H noted, as he sent the article along, "...and STAY home!"  -the Armorer

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Answering the Whatziss....  Well done, players!  You did a good job, and got it mostly correct, in that several of you had correct, but perhaps incomplete, answers.  JTG was first off the mark, and technically the most correct, if he hid it behind mushy language.  USMC Steve hit it as well, if perhaps too specific in a way that made his answer off a touch.  I liked Outpost37's answer best... 

But yes, Virginia (and Maryland, and Maine) it is a rifle rack.  British, intended to hold Lee-Enfields stacked around the tent pole.  I'm intending to use it to stack the rifles that currently have no space in the racks, but it has a 1.5 inch diameter, and standard PVC pipe and wood is too large or too small.  I'll have to go large and do some creative sanding, since Castle Argghhhh! doesn't possess a wood lathe.  -the Armorer

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CJ Grisham takes a whack at Senator Obama...

In an interview with Military Times, Barack admitted that due to his lack of military experience he would have to work twice as hard to earn our respect and trust. "Precisely because I have not served in uniform, I am somebody who strongly believes I have to earn the trust of men and women in uniform." Since Obama's event was an invitation only event and the only ones on stage with him were anti-war veterans, how exactly is that going to earn the trust of men and women who are fighting and support their efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan?

The answer is that Obama just wanted to LOOK like he supported the troops by having a bunch of "veterans" behind him that made him look good. He was even introduced by the wife of an Army Sergeant at the event who got all veclempt at the opportunity. I guess when you're thinking about all the innocent children our Soldiers are "terrorizing" in the "dead of night", but the tears sure wowed the press and those in attendance. The Military Times writer said that "Corinne Gadzia's voice choked as she looked out over the audience."
 

You can read the rest here.  -the Armorer

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Unfortunately, not all your deserters are getting sent home, John.  In fact, the Foreign Affairs critic for the opposition Liberal party, a dyed-in-the-wool socialist named Bob Rae, argued in an op-ed the other day that Canada should keep them.

I disagreed here.  And my colleague Mark wrote a letter to the editor here.

As I heard after a few drinks at a mess awhile back, "F***ery knows no bounds."  Too true.  - Damian

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On a more positive note, this soldier's going places: Maj Louis Lapointe.  I'm guessing that taking home two awards from your Ranger course isn't particularly common.  And I know that nobody else in the Canadian Forces has been decorated twice for one tour in Afghanistan, as Maj Lapointe just was.

So there I am, getting more and more impressed by this officer's achievements, and I discover he's a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, the same university I attended.  Except Maj Lapointe is from the Class of '96...three years behind me.

I'm starting to feel old.  Not Bill, John, or Dusty old, mind you, just plain and ordinary old...

*running from the old guys!*

- Damian

P.S. For those who don't get the Shawinigan reference at the end of my post at The Torch, the most famous guy from that town in Quebec is this twit.  Hence my preference for Maj Lapointe.

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Remember when Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki said he wanted a timetable for withdrawal?  Actually, he didn't.

We finally have an explanation for the increasingly-partisan, cheap shot, unprofessional AP.  It's not an accident.  It has taken awhile, but I'm finally holding journalists in the same esteem I hold politicians.

On a lighter note: It's in her (or his) smile. - FbL

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It's official. 

Colonel H.R. McMaster, and an old artillery buddy of mine, Colonel Ross Ridge, made Brigadier.

The list is also notable for the number of women from mainline specialties on it (vice medical, legal, etc).

The leading edge of the expansion of women in the officer corps that started in the late 70's is making itself known: 

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced today that the President has made the following nominations:

 

Army Col. Heidi V. Brown for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. She is currently serving as effects coordinator, I Corps and Fort Lewis, Fort Lewis, Wash.

 

Army Col. John A. Davis for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently as deputy commander, Joint Task Force-Global Network Operations, Defense Information Systems Agency, Arlington, Va.

 

Army Col. Edward P. Donnelly Jr. for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as special assistant to the chief of staff, Army, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

 

Army Col. Karen E. Dyson for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. She is currently serving as deputy director for Army Budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (financial management and comptroller), Washington, D.C.

 

Army Col. Robert S. Ferrell for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently enroute to serve as director, Future Combat System Strategic Communications, Army Capabilities Integration Center-Forward, Arlington, Va.

 

Army Col. Stephen G. Fogarty for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as director of intelligence, J-2, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

 

Army Col. Michael X. Garrett for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently enroute to serve as senior military fellow, Center for a New American Security (CNAS), Washington, D.C.

 

Army Col. Thomas A. Harvey for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as assistant chief of staff, C-4/J-4, U.N. Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea/deputy commander (support), Eighth U.S. Army/deputy commander, U.S. Forces Korea (advanced element).

 

Army Col. Thomas A. Horlander for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently enroute to serve as director for resource management, Installation Management Command, Arlington, Va.

 

Army Col. Paul J. Lacamera for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving at U.S. Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.

 

Army Col. Sean B. MacFarland for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as commander, Joint Task Force North, U.S. Northern Command, Fort Bliss, Texas.

 

Army Col. Kevin W. Mangum for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as senior commander, Fort Drum, Fort Drum, N.Y.

 

Army Col. Robert M. McCaleb for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as deputy director, Program Analysis and Evaluation, Officer of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

 

Army Col. Colleen L. McGuire for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. She is currently serving as director, Senior Leader Development, Office of the Chief of Staff, Army,Washington, D.C.

 

Army Col. Herbert R. McMaster Jr. for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently enroute to serve as director, concepts development and experimentation, Army Capabilities Integration Center, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, Va.

 

Army Col. Austin S. Miller for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as deputy director for Special Operations, J-37, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

 

Army Col. John M. Murray for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as deputy commander, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

 

Army Col. Richard P. Mustion for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as commander, U.S. Army Soldier Support Institute, Fort Jackson, S.C.

 

Army Col. Camille M. Nichols for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. She is currently serving as commander, U.S. Army Expeditionary Contracting Command, Fort Belvoir, Va.

 

Army Col. John R. O'Connor for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as deputy commander/director of operations, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, Fort Eustis, Va.

 

Army Col. Lawarren V. Patterson for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as chief, Joint/Current Operations Division, Office of the Army Chief Information Officer, G-6, Arlington, Va.

 

Army Col. Gustave F. Perna for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as commander, Defense Supply Center - Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.

 

Army Col. Warren E. Phipps, Jr. for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as deputy commander/assistant commandant, U.S. Army Aviation Center, Fort Rucker, Ala.

 

Army Col. Gregg C. Potter for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving at U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command, Fort Belvoir, Va.

 

Army Col. Nancy L. Price for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. She is currently serving as deputy program manager, Future Combat System Brigade Combat Team, Program Integration (network/complementary programs), Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

 

Army Col. Edward M. Reeder Jr. for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as executive officer to the commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

 

Army Col. Ross E. Ridge for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as chief of staff, Strategic Effects, Multi-National Forces- Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq.

 

Army Col. Jess A. Scarbrough for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as assistant deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (acquisition, logistics and technology), Washington, D.C.

 

Army Col. Michael H. Shields for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as assistant deputy director, Politico-Military (europe and africa affairs), J-5, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

 

Army Col. Jefforey A. Smith for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as assistant division commander (support), 10th Mountain Division (light)/ Multi-National Division - Center, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq.

 

Army Col. Leslie C. Smith for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as commandant, U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School/ deputy commander, Material and Technology, U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

 

Army Col. Jeffrey J. Snow for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as commander, 20th Support Command (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high yield explosive), Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

 

Army Col. Kurt S. Story for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as deputy commander (operations), U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

 

Army Col. Kenneth E. Tovo for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as deputy commander, Special Operations Command Europe, U.S. European Command, Germany.

 

Army Col. Stephen J. Townsend for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as executive officer to the commander, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

 

Army Col. John Uberti for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as commander, Installation Management Command, Korea Region, Korea.

 

Army Col. Thomas S. Vandal for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as deputy commander (maneuver), 3d Infantry Division (mechanized), Fort Stewart, Ga.

 

Army Col. Bryan G. Watson for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as chief of staff, 1st Armored Division, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq.

 

Army Col. John F. Wharton for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as deputy commander, U.S. Army Field Support Command, with duty as commander, Army Materiel, Command Forward-Southwest Asia/G-4, U.S. Army Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

 

      Army Col. Mark W. Yenter for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. He is currently serving as executive officer to the deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.