May 10, 2008
H&I Fires* 10 May 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.
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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New happenin's 'round the Demesne of Argghhh! - dang that's a purty sky!
Forrest Gump at Fort Riley. H/t, Larry K.
Overheard at the Moderate Risk household yesterday: So a Barack Obama ad comes on the tube last night and my lovely wife hits the mute button saying, "I don't want to hear it unless you are naming all 58 states."
68 years ago today... the German invasion of France and the Low Countries.
-the Armorer
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Some more Afghanistan. Two Iranians arrested for "spying" in Afghanistan.
Azad said the man was captured trying to enter the city of Zarang, on the border with Iran. "He had a camera that had photographs of weaponry indicating clear ties with [Afghanistan's] enemies," Azad said.
In a second incident, near Afghanistan's southeastern border with Pakistan, authorities say they detained an Iranian man who was preparing information for what they believe was an attack against NATO and Afghan security forces.
No Passport, Documents
Wazir Pacha, the assistant police chief in the southeastern Afghan province of Khost, said the man was not carrying any passport or documents and that he initially had pretended to be mentally ill. But Pacha says the man later confessed that he was on an information-gathering mission.
- Kat
Flash Traffic (extended entry) Follows �
*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".
� Secure this line!
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �
John...great pix.
Since you're serious about the Angora herd, are you aware of the necessity for blue chalk when you start the breeding season?
I can see Castle sweaters going for some very interesting numbers real soon. I'll take an XL with Logo...thank you very much. Do you take Visa?
by Fishmugger on May 10, 2008 4:42 PM
� Dismissed, Soldier!
May 9, 2008
H&I Fires* 9 May 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.
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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In a somewhat creepy way, it is refreshing to see a good 'ol-fashioned Red Square Military Parade revived once more. This wishy-washy way we are conducting this so called GWOT, makes me miss the days in which the ossified Politburo would wave to the Proletarian Masses on top of Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov's Mausoleum. At least then, some things were certain and unchanging - BOQ
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Perhaps not the flashiest of postings, but I looked at the Auditor General of Canada's report on supporting deployed operations (specifically the Canadian mission in Afghanistan). She says DND did a pretty good job, and that most of the problems she discovered are mirrored to one degree or another by both the American and British experiences, and therefore might simply be inherent to the enterprise.
It seems that gun tape, baling wire, and determination to do whatever it takes to get the pointy-end troops what they need characterized the Canadian support staff effort. BZ.
But there was a bureaucratic tip of the hat to the Scroungers that I thought was particularly instructive:
If you can decode the bureaucratese, what that means is that people order everything "high-priority," knowing full well it won't arrive in the time frame they're asking for, but also knowing that if they don't, their item will get bumped for someone else's "high-priority" item. When it's really, REALLY mission-critical, phone calls get made to flag stuff informally outside the system. There's nothing like the supply-chain mafia - mostly sergeants and higher - to get what you need when you need it. Scroungers are doing what scroungers have always done. There's a reason why it's such a valued unofficial skill in the military.
And this manipulation is serious enough that the department is redrafting its guidance on what constitutes "high-priority." Which means a bunch of supply officers are going to be leaning on a bunch of senior NCO's, who will then squeeze a bunch of junior ranks to not game the system. Which will work for awhile, until a crisis hits, and they need to start gaming the system to get what they need.
Which is how it should be. That tension between following the system, and going outside it to accomplish the mission has always been with us, and will always be with us. Leaders know how to balance the demands of each. And our military is chock-full of leaders from private to general.
- Damian
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No one took up the challenge on whose rules these were...
1. Simplify: Reduce all to a confrontation between Good and Evil.
2. Smear the opposition.
3. Manipulate the central values of the target audience to one's own purpose.
4. Use star performers to present one's views as the right thinking.
5. Repeat - endlessly repeat - the same message in different variations.
...though Frank did offer up some additions.
The answer is: Josef Stalin, as noted by Norman Davies, in his book, Europe, a History, published 1966. -the Armorer
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Meet Army Specialist Tom Owens, Georgia Army National Guard, a recent enlistee. He wears a Combat Infantry Badge. Awarded for his time in... Vietnam. Old warhorses paw the ground, when they hear the bugle, or the rumble of artillery. Some still have what it takes to hang with the young 'uns, too. H/t Bloodspite. -the Armorer
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John Hawkins over at Right Wing News did a survey on who the reich-wing knuckle-draggers feel are the most influential people of the Right.
Here's the bottom five:
#25: Mark Levin: 6
#21) Hugh Hewitt: 7
#21) George Will: 7
#21) John Roberts: 7
#21) Ronald Reagan: 7
#20) Victor David Hanson: 8
To find out who 1-20 are, click the link above. Sadly, once again, I didn't make the cut... ;^ ) -the Armorer
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Lex does us a service by laying out the issues and options for dealing with Iran. And he points us to Galhran, who offers further insight into which of those options may be most strongly in play: "The Fleet Positions Itself for War." Meanwhile, a face new to these parts adds the regional politics/gossip layer.
As a commenter said to Lex, "Sure you still want to leave?" - FbL
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Flash Traffic (extended entry) Follows �
*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".
� Secure this line!
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �
My response, which I have copied from my post at The Torch, to the Canadian logistics post:
One problem that leaps out of this discussion is that in the absence of a price system people resort to gaming the rationing system by declaring everything high priority, and then creating a parallel economy of favors owed and due actually to move things.
What I would like to see would be experiments with an auction system in which units would get monthly allocations of points to bid for cargo slots. Supply personnel could then decide which supplies they were requesting were sufficiently high priority to warrant large expenditures of points, and which were not.
Models (examples) of such systems exist. They are not perfect nor magic bullets, and require continuous refinement, but the current way of doing things is not working that well either.
by Acad Ronin on May 9, 2008 9:48 AM
Scroungers are doing what scroungers have always done. There's a reason why it's such a valued unofficial skill in the military.
There's also a reason most units squirrel away excess parts instead of turning them in. There's always pressure from On High to turn in excess so that it may be re-issued to units that need an item "Just In Time."
What actually happens is that the excess is centrally-warehoused until some bean counter decides that it costs more to warehouse the items than to purchase them new, so the items are auctioned. Kicker is, the new items never get ordered in the quantities needed, when they're needed.
Our maintenance officer got tired of waiting for The System to send an AH-1 pressure gauge we'd needed for two months and found one at an Army-Navy surplus store five miles away -- still in the factory packaging, sitting in a box labeled "Army Vehicle Parts"...
by
BillT on May 9, 2008 9:57 AM
Challenge? That was a challenge? I thought you were just making a snarkily-accurate observation about modern politics.
Now that I know that's a recipe from Stalin, it's just darn scary...
by
Casey Tompkins on May 9, 2008 12:37 PM
SOrry FuzzyB, I'm going to have to dissent on the hit Iran thing. Sure, NAvy and AF are underutilized and can rain down death like nobody's bussiness in this. The question is, what does it get us? Not much, not enough that justifies the costs. Doing it all air as an attempt to force political change is going back to LeMay and Harris theory of strategic bombing, and that stuff was outlawed for good reason since it didn't work the way they thought it did while racking up a goodly number of civilian casualties. All that's old is new again. Look at airguy's comments at Lex's. That's scawwwy.
I've seen Gahlran's link before. J over at Armchair had it last week. We've seen these ratchet ups before. They happen yearly, sometimes twice yearly, and many times are part of a rotation, but not always. I think it's more rattle than preperation for rumble. It could be a set-up for hitting things like IRG training cadre and bases near the Iran-Iraq border but the Full Monty is not happening.
Barnett's saying it too. I think they're all wrong. It isn't happening. Not on the level people seem to be talking about. Small level raids against IRG stuff? Si. Hitting the nuc sites and other infrastructure to halt nuc program and cause regime change? Not on your life.
by ry on May 9, 2008 12:38 PM
I'm with Ry on this - but, since I'm not a strategerist, just an operationalist, I admit it's outta my bailiwick.
But Lex has some insight on this kinda stuff, from previous experience, so I won't just discount it out of hand.
I just don't see the utility of poking Iran with a stick, big or small, given what I *think* our current posture in Iraq is.
But I'm as likely wrong as I am right on this one.
And the fact that I'm even commenting on it at all means I have *zero* insidery gouge on it.
by
John of Argghhh! on May 9, 2008 2:00 PM
Has anyone else considered the possibility that the current activity in Lebanon is Iran's way of diverting attention or is in actuality a prelude to something else?
I don't think many of us wants to bomb Iran, especially if we don't have the capability or will to finish what we start.
But I ask these following questions:
1) What are the consequences if the Iranians get nukes?
2) Can we accept or live with those consequences?
3) If not, then what do YOU propose that we do about it, given Iran's past and current support for terrorism, their current proxy war against us in Iraq and elsewhere, their very public threats to destroy Israel and the West ..... and the failure of "diplomacy" and "dialogue" to settle the issue so far?
4) Whatever path we take, what effects will it have? As our recent exploration of alt history shows, there are always Unintended Consequences, and Murphy's Law always reigns.
It's always safest to argue in favor of the status quo. But there are very serious consequences for INACTION as well as for ACTION.
by fdcol63 on May 9, 2008 2:37 PM
I didn't post those links because I wanted to convince anyone that the U.S. is going to attack Iran, or that it should. I just found them a thought-provoking analysis (Lex's post), a fascinating bit of connect-the-dots (Galhran), and some provocative gossip (Prairie Pundit). Altogether, they make for interesting discussion.
I am honestly very glad I don't have to make the call on this issue because (as Lex laid out so well) there are no good answers.
by
FbL on May 9, 2008 3:03 PM
Not a lot of reality on that top 25 most influential conservatives. Michael Savage with 10 million listeners beggars all but the grand poohbah at the top of the list. Mark Steyn in the top 5 Michelle Malkin number 2? Somebody must have been hitting the bottle.
by JimC on May 9, 2008 5:13 PM
Influential among... bloggers, Jim.
We're a self-absorbed group, though I think you dis Steyn a bit.
It was bloggers being polled, so of course La Malkin made the list.
I admit, she did *not* make my list.
by
John of Argghhh! on May 9, 2008 8:15 PM
Getting back to the Iran deal, the posters at the Belmont Club think the naval battle groups heading for Iran are not going to used in the Straits of Hormuz for technical reasons ie., It’s too small for maneuverability of big ships and war games have proven that the Iran speed boats will swarm big ships and damage or destroy them and so on.
I don’t know if this is true. But, I would assume we would have to have some naval power keep the sea lanes open and free of mines and other threats.
If anyone can verify that the US Navy battle groups would be ineffective in the confines of the Straits of Hormuz please speak up.
See: Islands in the stream
by
Ledger on May 10, 2008 6:16 AM
Re: Iran
There's a lot to be said about finishing a job before you move on to a new one. I know multifront wars do happen but I don't see them as preferred.
As Ry puts it what does it cost and what is the gain? This also includes a choice not to do it. What are the costs and gains from that? Think and be clear on it. Doing it just because they are a thorn in the side is just revenge politics and it's my firm opinion this isn't any good for anyone.
by
Argent on May 10, 2008 6:52 AM
Ledger - I've been a participant in some of those wargames, at least the ones from the early 00's.
If the Iranians have sufficient small boats with near suicidal crews, it can get ugly pretty fast. Enough so that people got very unhappy with some rule changes and had (I think at least partially justified) public tantrums on the issue.
But in the time since the games I participated in were played out, the Navy has "taken measures" to address that issue.
I have *no idea* of the gamed effectiveness of those measures, however, not being involved in subsequent efforts along those lines, much less their actual effectiveness.
And I rather suspect if I had been, I wouldn't be sharing those results any time soon.
But I think the Navy is well aware of the dangers, and I can think of several things I would do (and that's as a ground-fighter, not a naval warrior with real expertise) to mitigate those risks.
But yanno, there hasn't been a major fleet action since 1945, so it's all a crap-shoot in some regards, anyway. The Navy has been a mobile air and gunnery platform, gunnery especially during Korea, but as for fighting off threats to it's own hulls, it's been a while since the Navy has had to do anything other than game it.
I'm sure they've got plans, but ya always got to be a little nervous about 'em when they haven't actually been tested - except by the Brits in the Falklands, which showed that the lightly- built ships (in comparison to the armored monsters of WWII and previous) make "preventing" hits, vice "surviving" hits a premium skill, as the greater damage potential and less robust (in terms of steel and armor) ship structures mean hits generally cause a lot of damage.
by
John of Argghhh! on May 10, 2008 7:20 AM
� Dismissed, Soldier!
May 8, 2008
H&I Fires* 8 May 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.
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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Senator John McCain:
McCain attended the U.S. Naval Academy from 1954 to 1958, and was commissioned as an ensign in June of that year. He retired in April 1981 with the rank of captain. In that time he received 17 awards and decorations. Besides the Silver Star Medal, McCain also received the Legion of Merit with a combat "V" and one gold star, a Distinguished Flying Cross and a Bronze Star Medal with a combat "V" and two gold stars.
For those that don't know - "V" is an identifier for valor. Gold stars mean for the Navy what oak leaf clusters do for the Army - a subsequent award of the same medal. Mind you, flying combat missions over Vietnam no more qualifies you for the high strategic job of CinC anymore than conning a Swift Boat on the Mekong does, or flying CAP for the US mainland in an F106, despite what people might want to claim. All three jobs were dangerous, some more often than others, and in different ways. H/t, Mike L. -the Armorer
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Recipe for hilarity... two goats, two dogs, SWWBO, and a skunk. In the barn. At night. With the Armorer watching bemusedly from the open tailgate of the Castle F150, with a cat in his lap.
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For those that don't know - "V" is an identifier for valor. Gold stars mean for the Navy what oak leaf clusters do for the Army - a subsequent award of the same medal.
That would be the same for the Air Force.
Mind you, flying combat missions over Vietnam no more qualifies you for the high strategic job of CinC anymore than conning a Swift Boat on the Mekong does, or flying CAP for the US mainland in an F106, despite what people might want to claim.
True enough, but only one of the three this sentence indirectly refers to obviously tried to associate his service in Indochina with his suitability for the highest office in the land, by "Reporting for Duty!" at his nominating convention. Just sayin'.
All three jobs were dangerous, some more often than others, and in different ways.
Mmmmmmmm, no. Disagree, respectfully. Based on my rather limited experience, CONUS CAP is a little less dangerous than rolling in for a LALD (low-angle, low-drag) delivery with releases well inside small-arms range (to say nothing of the heavier stuff) using dumb bombs in a relatively unsophisticated fighter in the most heavily defended enemy nation since the Second World War...and then going back to the carrier. I'd wager the brown water op was not even equivalent, although it was certainly #2 on that list.
Granted, Mac ain't Ronnie but he's no slouch when it comes to the single biggest threat we face right now. And seeing as how "...Support the Common Defense..." is fairly high up on the Founders priorities, I think McCain is a better choice (no contest for me, but you knew that). Basically, all things being equal, I want a C-in-C who's character has been demonstrably tested to some degree. Of course, the Nutroots will eventually start a 9/11 Troofer-esque routine on McCain ("he was never tortured...") but that'll be an indication that even they think it's important.
Personally, I want an adult for a president. While I VEHEMENTLY disagree with some of John's (McCain, not Donovan) positions (suppression of political speech as defined in his campaign finance reform legislation being #1), I know I'm getting someone who won't cave when things get dicey, domestically or internationally. I also feel--and this is just as important--that with the Mac-ster, I'm getting someone who sincerely believes this country is special and good and honorable and just...or tries to be, as much as it can, in this imperfect world.
Finally, I was taught how to understand and cherish a code of honor by many of John's fellow Hanoi Hilton inmates. These were, and are, men. Men who had their arms trussed up so tightly behind their backs that their sternums split down the middle while hanging from the rafters. In this environment, when offered a chance to bug out, McCain said, "Stick it."
Alas, McCain is notorious for not talking about his past, his achievements, his character or his many private good works since returning from Vietnam. That's a shame because I think it would make America's choice easier in the vast "mushy middle" who otherwise has to listen to Michelle Obama tell us how tough life's been for her and her husband.
Maybe that's why Hamas wants Barack to win.
Rant over.
-Instapilot
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Heh. Stomped on my VE Day stuff, too, puttin' up that rant. Sigh.
One more time, with feeling...
63 years ago today - VE Day.
Above -- At Piccadilly Circus in London, a U.S. soldier gives a hug to a motherly looking English woman celebrating Germany's unconditional surrender. (Photo credit: U.S. National Archives)
Interesting how the LA Times covered it that day...
Heh. I still want to take back the "V-for-Victory" handsign. It's a sad commentary on the parlous state of history education when I approach "Peace Sign" flashing younglings at protests they get all confused when I walk up, shake their hand and say "Hey! I'm with you! I'm for Victory too!" They usually stare blankly, and I don't think it's because the weird bearded fat guy came up and shook their hand... -the Armorer, prodded by Jim C.
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In terms of H&I Fires, is this what's referred to as calling in a strike on oneself...?: I just got off the phone after 30 minutes with MG Rick Lynch.
Maggie in 5... 4... 3...
If I'm still alive, I'll have a report on the interview tomorrow.
We covered a lot of interesting ground, including his thinking behind the proactive relationship 3ID has with local and new media, the "broken" army, and progress/issues in development of the Iraqi military and police forces.
*headed for the bunker* - FbL
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Looks like the rant bollixed the sidebar, too -- the Blogspawn and Denizen links have gone straight into the garderobe...
Whoop! H&I hat trick! -- Bill
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Not on my machine, Bill. -the Armorer
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Is a strike into Iran getting closer and more finalized? This seems to assume so. I wonder if we'll have a major bruhaha over the legality of it all. (Looks in the general direction of the usual suspects.)
--ry
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My apologies for stomping all over John's VE Day post...should have seen it coming.
OK. Now then. This is the first b**ch slap I have seen come out of the McCain camp. Superb. Let's hope the team keeps it up. Ooorah! -Instapilot
H/T to Andy McCarthy at The Corner (Buy his book!)
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Flash Traffic (extended entry) Follows �
*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".
� Secure this line!
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �
Please be careful with the peace sign. If you remember how Winston Churchil used to rotate his hand when giving the victory sign. One was very nice for victory the other was a taunt to French Knights for cutting off the fingers of English long bowmen. Had a message with a connotation of something stronger then "Up Your".
by Fishmugger on May 8, 2008 10:59 AM
...the other was a taunt to French Knights for cutting off the fingers of English long bowmen.
Nice legend, but only a legend. In medieval warfare, only nobles were worth taking prisoner, because their kin would pay ransom -- commoners (infantry and archers), being po' folk, were slaughtered out of hand. One reason the ground troops wore minimal armor was the expense -- the other was that they could run faster without the excess weight...
by
BillT on May 8, 2008 12:29 PM
BillT,
OK on the history part, but the V sign with the back of hand forward is still something akin to our "flippin the bird"...correct.
During trips to the UK, the locals loved talking about the great battle of Angincourt(sp) and the start of the legend. Maybe I had a couple too many pints.
by Fishmugger on May 8, 2008 1:40 PM
All - more than you ever wanted to know about holding up your index and middle finger in a 'V' shape. (Vice that old Vulcan thang...)
by
John of Argghhh! on May 8, 2008 1:53 PM
Ok, the post is so nice. I found some good information about 2nd world war moment. I like the post very much. Thanks for your post.
[You're welcome. Better you hadn't used it for an online ad... Somehow, however, I'm thinking that someone in Germany didn't learn too much about WWII from this post... but they did generate a bill for $500 per the unsolicited advertising rate notice in the sidebar... -the Armorer]
by
Photobuch on May 8, 2008 2:04 PM
when are we going to get the full, annotated, illustrated play-by-play of the Skunk Incident?
...and a hearty "Halz Mund!" to photobuch
by
bad cat robot on May 8, 2008 2:33 PM
That's a tale for SWWBO to tell...
by
John of Argghhh! on May 8, 2008 2:46 PM
FbL - As long as you conveyed my love and affection...........
Now that I am Goddess of the Navy Blogging Strike Group, I must be gracious.
by
Maggie on May 8, 2008 5:17 PM
So why can the AP get a copy of McCain's service record with a simple FOIA request, but French looking one's records are still sealed after four years?
It's not like the AP is a relative of McCain or anything.
by
The Thomas on May 8, 2008 7:33 PM
Because McCain signed an SF180 allowing them to be released to anyone who made the request and Kerry wouldn't. Although he said he would, so I'm sure he will any minute. It's only been four years. Please try not to rush my poor junior Senator.
I've seen blogs that have a counter in there sidebar that notes how many days it's been since he announced he would sign it.
by
Maggie on May 9, 2008 8:48 AM
� Dismissed, Soldier!
May 7, 2008
H&I Fires* 7 May 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.
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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Argent (nee Trias) informs me that today might be... Adjutant Brab's Natal Day! Even if she has turned into something of a blog-slug, she sent me pictures of a cannon that she snapped while vacationing in Europe, so she's a Good Egg in my book. -the Armorer
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Some people simply cannot forgo whacking a small ball with clubs.
This is golf, Green Zone style.
One recent afternoon - squeezed in between sandstorms and incoming mortar rounds - a colleague and I hit the links. We dubbed it the Baghdad Open.
But there's nothing really open about it. The nine-hole Crossed Swords Golf Course is closed in by 15-foot concrete blast walls and watched over by humorless Gurkha guards from Nepal.
You can catch the rest by clicking here. H/t, Kevin G. -the Armorer
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Over at The Torch, a blog about the Canadian Forces, some discussion on the new Western Way of War... "We're not in Afghanistan to burn gas and shoot bullets..." -the Armorer
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Kansas Sage El Borak notes an interesting dichotomy about the Middle East. Republican George Bush decides to engage in regime change, while Democrat Hillary Clinton wants to engage in market intervention... to smash the OPEC cartel... -the Armorer
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Just in case you missed it elsewhere:
Navy Secretary Names New Guided-Missile Destroyer USS Michael Murphy
Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter announced today at a ceremony in Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y., the name of the newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer will be Michael Murphy. Designated as DDG-112, the name honors Lt. Michael Murphy who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during Operation Red Wing in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005.
Navy SEAL (Sea, Air, Land) Lt. Michael P. Murphy lead a four-man team tasked with finding a key Taliban leader in the mountainous terrain near Asadabad, Afghanistan, when they came under fire from a much larger enemy force with superior tactical position. Mortally wounded while exposing himself to enemy fire, Murphy knowingly left his position of cover to get a clear signal in order to communicate with his headquarters. While being shot at repeatedly, Murphy calmly provided his unit's location and requested immediate support for his element. He returned to his cover position to continue the fight until finally succumbing to his wounds.
Michael Murphy will be one of the U.S. Navy's most advanced, state-of-the-art warships in the fleet. With the combination of Aegis, the vertical launching system, and advanced anti-submarine warfare system, advanced anti-aircraft missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles, the Arleigh Burke-class continues the revolution at sea. Utilizing a gas turbine propulsion system, Michael Murphy will be able to operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups, and underway replenishment groups.
Michael Murphy will be the 62nd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The 9,200 ton ship is being built by Bath Iron Works, a General Dynamics Company and will be 509.5 feet in length, have a waterline beam of 59 feet, a crew size of 323 (23 officers and 300 enlisted) and she will make speed in excess of 30 knots.
-the Armorer
********************************
Flash Traffic (extended entry) Follows �
*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".
� Secure this line!
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �
Re: "Green Zone Golf"
Talk about, "sand traps", GOOD GRIEF! How do you find the "the greens" in the Green Zone. Sorry, I just couldn't resist. (snicker, snicker) Have a GREAT DAY!
Grumpy
by Grumpy on May 7, 2008 10:30 AM
Thanks for the Natal Day wishes, always appreciated. The 8th is my actual birthdate, but I'll take all the wishes early :-)
I do have a couple more pics for you, John. I just need to finish sorting through the pics and find 'em. Did you figure out where that one is situated yet?
by
Barb on May 7, 2008 11:00 AM
Barb - Nope, I haven't. In fact I'm prolly gonna use that as an Internet Snipe Hunt for the blog.
by
John of Argghhh! on May 7, 2008 11:19 AM
hehe gotta remember we're ahead in the world over here, it is the 8th :)
Happy Birthday!
by
Argent on May 7, 2008 12:27 PM
...not that I would in reality accuse Hillary of intending to micromanage the economies of the Middle East based on evidence so flimsy as her own claims, but if she actually wished to, and if she really had the power to, and if she somehow got laws passed implementing such economic controls, I can't think of a better name for them than "The Navigation Acts."
After all, they worked so well for America the first time.
by
El Borak on May 7, 2008 12:57 PM
Oh, now, Borak, there you go expecting the young 'uns to have some knowledge of the activities of dead white euro patriarchs.
Everybody knows there isn't time nor space in the curriculum for old stuff, unless it highlights womyn and other oppressed peoples, and denigrates any possible accomplishments by DWEPs, which we all know in fact stole all the good ideas from womyn and other oppressed peoples.
Though the Navigation Acts would be a good choice, since it can be used to make mock of bad decision-making by DWEPs.
by
John of Argghhh! on May 7, 2008 1:27 PM
This is golf, Green Zone style.
Seen on a T-shirt in the DFAC last week:
"Green Zone -- the Ultimate Gated Community!"
by
BillT on May 7, 2008 1:28 PM
BillT, "This is golf, Green Zone Style." I really like the line from the tee-shirt, "The Green Zone - The Ultimate Gated Community!" I understand this is a VERY EXCLUSIVE COMMUNITY FOR THE VERY BEST.
Grumpy
by Grumpy on May 7, 2008 1:50 PM
You know that I'm in support of anything that can be used to make mock.
by
El Borak on May 7, 2008 2:12 PM
Argent - good point on the date. And thanks for remembering :-)
by
Barb on May 7, 2008 3:11 PM
In the category of "Its a small world" and please don't sing; I sent my brother the web site for the Green Zone Golf Course. My brother works for "The Donald" building golf courses. He had a great laugh about the most dangerous holes in golf.
Come to find out that The Donald sends golf balls and clubs over to some ministry in Iraq for the Green Zone. Sure would like to find out if they're playing with Donalds balls over there.
If anyone is near a Trump course and needs an intro for a charity event, give a yell. We raffled off a three some for $1700. Only three, you need to play with a member. The round was donated to us.
My brother gets to play golf for a living. He's not a bad brother but I still hate him.
by Fishmugger on May 7, 2008 8:06 PM
There's a driving range up here, according to a couple of the guys who think golf is actually a sport of some sort. They checked it out last week -- spotted chunks of red-painted rebar driven into a flat spot, figured those were the Permanent Tees, and started popping balls downrange.
Couple of Iraqi Engineer types came sauntering up and casually informed them they were teeing off on suspected UXO markers...
by
BillT on May 8, 2008 1:48 AM
� Dismissed, Soldier!
May 6, 2008
H&I Fires* 6 May 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.
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).
*************************
Here's one for Bloodspite... dude, you're a rabid football fan - but are you as dedicated as Specialist Benton Thames?
Over at VA Mortgage (no, not spam, a blog hosted there) CJ has two posts echoing themes that have played out in this space. The leadership needed to make sure Soldiers have the courage to face their emotional problems resulting from combat (which includes restructuring the culture so that acknowledging people can be affected, yet still be effective), and CJ's take on the "comparative costs" of the war, a theme we hit on just last week. -the Armorer
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Ok, so I've done it. I've participated in my first DOD Blogger's Roundtable.
The Armorer said "Now FbL will have some competition as the sultry-voiced fox on the 'fone".
Here's the audio. What do you think? I don't think sultry is the word. LOL
Although, I've received my frist grade over at Information Dissemination and he has pronounced:
"Enter one of my favorite bloggers, Boston Maggie, who we'll refer to as the goddess of the naval blogger strike group keeping us all honest. Maggie kicked ass today at the roundtable, giving us something to talk about with this issue, which I was not sure was actually possible. Even better, she did it with one good question."
My ego is out of all bounds! Even I think I'm insufferable now........
Maggie
*******************************************
Flash Traffic (extended entry) Follows �
*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".
� Secure this line!
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �
That article from CJ was pretty good. Hopefully, most NCOs think like him when it comes to mental health issues.
by
LT Nixon on May 6, 2008 8:18 AM
Hrmm. A tough choice. Lock'em out for almost 3 hours to watch my precious Vols play or watch the highlights later?
I might go for it with my ol M4 and BDU's, but never with a damn M14 and a Tomb uniform.
He gets mondo credit for that one!
by
BloodSpite on May 6, 2008 9:14 AM
The Armorer said "Now FbL will have some competition as the sultry-voiced fox on the 'fone".
Here's the audio. What do you think? I don't think sultry is the word. LOL
Don't feel bad, Maggie. ;) The Armorer only said that because the first time he heard me on a roundtable I was still getting my voice back after the flu and had to speak in a low sultry voice or I would squeak! LOL Sadly, I am now back to my typical soprano-girlish range.
by
F\bL on May 6, 2008 10:02 AM
Ms Maggie,
Over the past 7 or 8 years I've worked the Pocono and Penns 500 races for charity. The race track can't find enough people to hire for just a couple of races a year so they contract with many local clubs. Considering where the track is located it is amazing how many and from where people come to view the races. Since we do the Line Up shirts, and are the only trailers that sell them, we get to see just about everybody.
People take their vacations to go to these races. They are from Minn to Miss to Ga to Montreal. Some foreign, a smattering of African Americans but growing, some Asian and a good portion of Latino. The vast majority is male/female white below the age of 35. Not many unescorted females but a good number unmarried. Big family day with children of all sizes living in campers and burning dogs on the grill.
Junior is always a hero. His following is huge. He has multiple trailers hawking hats and shirts; as does Gordan and Stewart and other first class drivers. Dale Senior had trailers still selling months after his death.
For the Navy, based on what I heard, this is a great venue. Very patriotic crowd, all walks of life. Tons of families with teenagers with lots of time on their hands. This is a Friday, Saturday Sunday event. Somewhere around 125 to 150,000 over the three days. And then there is television where Junior is always followed.
The Navy seems to have thaught more about this then the Army has. Exposure is great. One of the things I don't know is whether the Navy has logo's on all Juniors stuff sold at the track. Everybody buys at least a hat or a shirt and maybe all the way up to a $200 coat.
If you want more data ask John for my e-mail.
by Fishmugger on May 6, 2008 2:09 PM
Sadly, I am now back to my typical soprano-girlish range.
Hah! And you chide *me* for saying you look like you should be cramming for your SATs...
by
BillT on May 6, 2008 3:23 PM
Heh. People get their noses outta kilter for Navy to advertise with NASCAR, but not being able to find a computer/console gaming magazine without seeing at least 2 in that issue causes nothing. Good, I say.
by ry on May 6, 2008 4:02 PM
Ry, I haven't read those magazines for years. That's what the net is for. If those submarine's weren't built here and I saw that I'd be hard pressed to be say we have a Navy.
The Navy likes em young and patriotic. Nascar is obvious, what's the big deal? They already advertise so if that's the problem one has then focus on the problem. How to rope in girls? Wedding Planners? Sign up and get through boot and we'll throw in a free honeymoon? Sign him up and we'll throw in a years supply of babyfood?
Ohh MREs that's a a baaaad thought.
Oh Maggie your voice is fine. Definitely not sultry. But clear feminine and it isn't dull.
by
Argent on May 6, 2008 9:33 PM
I don't think sultry is the word.
Heh. Maggie could make *chow-dah* sound sultry...
by
BillT on May 7, 2008 6:03 AM
Argent - Feminine and not dull? I'll take it.
My Darling Chief - I love you baby!
/r
Goddess of the Naval Blogger Strike Group (NBSG)
by
Maggie on May 7, 2008 10:59 AM
� Dismissed, Soldier!
Why I fly boxes...
Because many humans are scum.
It also explains why many flight attendants look upon people the same way cops do...because they see a side of humanity they shouldn't have to, too often. (That would be every flight.) Trust me. I'm married to a former flight attendant who quit for that reason.
What really chapped my a$$ reading the article was the myriad excuses passengers and psychologists came up with to "explain" the phenomenon.
Bollocks.
There is NO reason--NONE--to go feral in an airplane just because its an airplane.
Sheesh.
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �
I think this is a whinge. Used diapers, chocolate bars, sex...Oh it just doesn't bear thinking about.
Anyone with half a brain would figure out being stuck on a plane for hours with bad rubbish disposal means those front pockets are going to become rubbish bins. There's nothing in those pockets a garbo wouldn't have seen before. Hell there's nothing mentioned there I haven't seen before.
Here's a nice simple explanation no excuses required. Plane travellers are exhibiting normal behaviors in the circumstances. There's nothing there that people haven't done on the ground. The only real difference is that it can be observed because planes are sardine cans. So you are going to see all those awful, disgusting things that garbos, cops, doctors and other ppl (like say flight attendants) who essentially clean up after humanity see all the time. Much of which is not a big deal. like Diapers. babies crap. Sometimes it's nicer to wrap it up with a diaper than let it run over the seat. Oh gee where does one see a way to get rid of it. Hmm there's the front pocket or the flight attendant. Who attends you at mealtimes only. Or you can try to squeeze along the aisle and find a bin somewhere, hopefully not dropping it in someone's chicken alla plastqiue along the way, assuming you're allowed to leave the seat of course. Perhaps just shove it under the seat so someone can use it as a lifejacket. Maybe you can hand it to the guy in front as a Christmas present.
All i can say is TG they have toilets for adults.
by
Argent on May 6, 2008 9:19 PM
'Clinical Aviation Psychologist' ??!!
Oy vay
by Neffi on May 6, 2008 9:32 PM
Dusty,
Sent on WSJ link to all my good buds,of both sexes, and family, only the bro, who have had a lifetime in the airline business, Captains, FA's & Station Agents, last are truly unrecognized heroes.
Even tho' there was an A&E series a few years back, title escapes me. Trust other blog readers will soon supply.
Mike
BTW, talk to The Armorer about my "shame", and then go read "Lone Survivor", as should everybody, I know you're legion, who's reading this comment!
by Mike on May 6, 2008 9:41 PM
Argent,
Hey, thanks for proving the half a brain theory!
If you had half the brain you think you have, you'd have twice the brain you actually have.
by Mike on May 6, 2008 9:46 PM
Argent,
You ARE joking, right? Just want to make sure....
by Dusty on May 6, 2008 9:49 PM
Hello Mike. No theory on half brains provided, nor claims of my or your brain capacity. Do read. Insult not required, assuming it is that. If you feel the need to do so publicly please come up with something that works.
Dusty: Of course I'm joking, I haven't made special use of a full diaper since the Wedding Cake Incident of '52, but I do think the article was too much whine and there would be far worse an average frequent flier or flight attendant might be exposed to than chocolate bars and the mile high club. Glad you are well, I think the Armorer misses your contributions.
by
Argent on May 6, 2008 10:53 PM
Ok wait... we can say "bollocks" but we have to dollar sign "ass"?
Full frontal verbal nudity is ok but a little ass makes us go all girly and giggly?
Sorry but some of us need to know.
by Murray on May 7, 2008 12:13 AM
The slobs, like the poor, have always been with us -- the only thing that's different is that they can now afford the price of a ticket on an airplane.
In case anybody's interested, I've noticed that the Slobification of the US took its Great Leap Forward when it started becoming unfashionable to be polite in public. Such as being gentlemanly and holding the door open for a lady.
Almost had my head handed to me for doing that in NYC a couple years back -- and not by the guy she was with, either.
However, should the Deployed Gentleman hold the door open for a Warrior Princess over *here*, he will be rewarded with the *nicest* smile...
by
BillT on May 7, 2008 4:01 AM
Thank you, my friend. Thank you. From all of us garbage collectors up in the sky.
by
Aviatrix on May 7, 2008 9:45 PM
I'm one of those people who nuts when someone leans back into me. How do I respond? First, I ask the person to not lean so far back. Then, when they get up to go to the bathroom I simply push the seat up and when they come back hold my arm against the seat back. Simple, effective, and speaks to the problem. I don't take it out on the aircrew.
People just like being rude. Period. Like UB says. Same thing with kids in movie theatres. Parents drop off little Billy and Jane at the theatre, they make a ton of noise, you yell at the little twits, they page daddy so he's waiting out in the parking lot for you to get you for yelling at his little darlings. Where-ever we're at we're sooo cool we don't have to be nice. We're Queens/Kings of our Universe and nobody else blippin' matters.
by ry on May 8, 2008 5:00 PM
� Dismissed, Soldier!
May 5, 2008
H&I Fires* 5 May 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.
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).
*************************
Patti Patton-Bader, founder of Soldiers’ Angels , is one of the fifteen semi-finalists in NBC’s “America’s Favorite Mom” contest. There are five categories, and she is nominated with two other mom's in the "military mom's" category. The winner receives a $250,000 cash prize, and Patti has said she’d like to use the money to build a ranch for soldiers and their families to vacation at with assistance from Angel families.
Patti was featured this morning on NBC’s Today Show, and all day Monday (but ONLY Monday) folks will have the opportunity to vote at http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Favorite_Mom/ in her category. All the mom's are deserving, so whether you choose to vote for Patti or not, check it out! (the above is shamelessly stolen from N.Z. Bear.) -the Armorer
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From Celestial Junk via CAPT H - Service of the Piece, Canadian style. Ah, the smell of powder...
Also via CAPT H - Jules Crittenden waxing eloquent about a Canadian at Fort Leonard Wood waxing eloquent about viral insurgenices.
Lieutenant General Sanchez opens fire in the battle to reclaim his reputation. I'm interested in the book - I'm not so sure that LTG Sanchez will do as much for himself as I'm pretty sure he's going to do some damage to Secretary Rumsfeld. H/t, Jim C.-the Armorer
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Flash Traffic (extended entry) Follows �
*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".
� Secure this line!
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �
May 1, 2008
H&I Fires* 1 May 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.
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).
*************************
I've always had a weakness for Indiana Jones. I would've swooned if I'd ever met this guy!: Nazi treasure, giant scorpions... and a crystal skull: The adventures of the REAL Indiana Jones. [h/t Grim]
The Man Who Grew a Finger. Or, to be more specific... regrew it. Be sure to scroll down to the article.
This is the absolute best political photoshop evah. Evah, I tell ya! (Commentary's pretty good, too). - FbL
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A noble and selfless local police officer escorts ducklings across busy multi-lane road. No casualties. We like our duckies here in the soggy corner of the map ...
-Bad Cat Robo(t)
Castle Ducklings Abbott and Costello give Two Wingtips Up and a amiable flick 'o the tail feathers to Officer Friendly and the well behaved drivers who facilitated the crossing. -the Armorer
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WE GOT ONE! Al-Qaida in Somalia head targeted in US strike
"Our brother martyr Aden Hashi, has received what he was looking for — death for the sake of Allah — at the hands of the United States," Robow told The Associated Press by phone.
Yep. he sure did. -Kat
Update: The report says that the strike might harden "moderate Islamist" sentiment against the US prior to the peace conference to be held in Djibouti next week. Jawa says that's bunk because Ayro was threatening to kill anyone who attended that conference. -Kat
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We have a stain on our flag. It's called Iran.
From the Carter administration forward to the current administration, we have always found excuses not to strike Iran, even when faced with undeniable proof. We have never had a stain on our flag like the rogue Iranian regime has continuously imposed on us.
-Kat
Flash Traffic (extended entry) Follows �
*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".
� Secure this line!
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �
Hitting Iran just to get even doesn't sound like great strategy to me. High oil prices. I don't care. Presidential elections? I don't care. Is it smart? That I care about. It doesn't produce a better peace doing it the way the good Adm says. Hitler did that to Britain and we did that to Germany, neither budged. I'm not seeing it working as he says it will.
I'm not against doing Iran. Not at all. But if we're going to let's do it right and do it smart. Otherwise we're setting ourselves up for something far worse. We have sufficient cause, me thinks(just like we have sufficient cause for DPRK), but now isn't the right time because we cannot do it the right way. I vote against 'cruise missile diplomacy', whoever advocates it.
by ry on May 1, 2008 1:40 PM
"Our brother martyr Aden Hashi,...
Memo to Robow: Glad to oblige. We'll do our best to help you out in that area.
by
ZZMike on May 1, 2008 3:25 PM
� Dismissed, Soldier!
by
Denizens
on
May 01, 2008
April 30, 2008
H&I Fires* 30 April 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.
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).
**********************************
Rusty over at My Pet Jawa skewers Stockholm Syndrome Poster Child Richard "Better a Hamas jailer than American!" Butler of CBS News- so I don't have to. CBS News in trouble and decline? I wonder if those dots connect.
Speaking of that - looking at the circulation declines of major organs of journalism, and the rapidly imploding CBS News operation, this bit of a conversation I had with a "Senior Government Official" yesterday comes to mind:
Well, you can tell 'em for me... it's a good thing the truth didn't get out about what you just said - or we'd have savaged them for being... idiots.
We're not children. Oddly enough, neither is the bulk of the American public.
But the major media and PA flacks treat us like we are.
Which might be one reason the NYT and CBS are in such trouble, but blogs are doing fine.
We don't treat our readers like idiots, either.
Moving on...
Jule Crittenden on Brits surprised to find that visiting America is not like visiting... Baghdad.
Iowahawk on Senator Obama's "Advice for the Lovelorn..." It's a hoot, click that link!
Dusty - this link's for you a bomb-dropping R/C A-10. H/t, Lex. -the Armorer
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Now if only we could find some bath-water to accompany them on the WAAAAAaaaayyyy Down. Alas, a new generation of acrophobics is born. If you ask me, they should stick to playing with Cobras - BOQ
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Local impact of gas prices. I live in a county that pumps oil, but often enough, the little horseheads aren't bobbing. They've been bobbing steadily now for months. Even bigger impact? My neighbor has a drill rig on the former dairy farm he just bought. Drilling for oil. -the Armorer
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Just for fun.
Costas Now yes that Bob Costas, has an interesting segment talking about the internet, sports and blogging.
During which time Buzz Bissinger goes on a rampage regarding bloggers, basically attacking a blogger who was on a panel with him on the show.
I would have responded, but my Sports Blogging Idol, Orson Swindle of Everyday Should Be Saturday (EDSBS) beat me to the punch with a great response.
Watch your 6 in your reading cubicle as strong language warnings apply, but still an excellent read and I think it applies to most bloggers out there period.
-BloodSpite
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Reporting on hunger in Afghanistan: who needs context when you have an agenda to push? Need I mention how disgusted I am? - Damian
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Having now found a video of the Costas/Bissinger/Leitch foofaraw that Bloodspite linked to - all I can say is - that segment is the video demo of why I have The Rulez. But I also understand that when you are as successful as Will is - moderating a blog with that kind of traffic can be a real bear. Keep that in mind, however, next time the Crushing Boot appears in the comments... I don't want to have my next panel discussion (which will be at the GI Film Festival in DC on 18 May) disrupted this way. -the Armorer
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Flash Traffic (extended entry) Follows �
*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".
� Secure this line!
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �
John - I hope you own the mineral rights to The Castle.
by fmr_grunt on April 30, 2008 10:51 AM
We do. There have been two oil leases (neither actually drilled) on this property before we bought it. We hold all rights to the land.
by
John of Argghhh! on April 30, 2008 11:04 AM
I think a bunch of those A-10 models flying around jihadi land would spook 'em real good.
by Fred on April 30, 2008 1:40 PM
Interesting parallels between sports blogs and milblogs, John. Be prepared to counter action hero sock puppetry during your panel discussion.
The Guild is desperate.
Too many computer-literate ex-consumers of their "product" have seen the man behind the curtain. Not just sports but all reporting and punditry can be done over the Internet by anybody who wants to do it. Their hit counters tell them how well they are received. That's a meritocracy
that doesn't care about Bissinger's Pulitzer.
Old Media is dying off. I say kick 'em while they're down. But I can say that, because my real name is not Cannoneer No. 4.
by
Cannoneer No. 4 on April 30, 2008 6:55 PM
TV Networks Remain Mum on 'NYT' Pentagon/Media 'Propaganda' Story -- Critics Keep Firing
Probable replacement for "OPSEC violation" as the Next Great Cause.
by
Cannoneer No. 4 on April 30, 2008 10:26 PM
I may be odd, but I've always felt Sports blogging to be on the cutting edge of blogging.
Of course many immediately say "Why?"
The answer is basic numbers.
62 Million.
Thats the total of all the voters who voted Republican in the last Presidential Election.
59 Million. Thats the total number who voted Democratic.
Total of 121 Million and change.
97.5 Million. Thats the nuber of people who watched last years SuperBowl.
The biggest difference lies in the fact that major elections happen every 4 years and we hear constantly how they want more people to actively vote in the smaller elections.
Sporting events happen every year, the contestants (ie teams) rarely change, the players last 6 to 10 years on average and build a hollywoodesque fan base.
Sports blogging has both sides of any political aspect, to meet in the middle to discuss things related to, nothing but sports.
The end result is, because of the, whats a good word? Active? No thats not right either. But basically because the nature of the sports world
is a constant eb and flow of stats, gambling, money, and action I think you end up with a wider readership. Things that happen slowly in the political or military relm, like the roundtable discussions that happen in the last year, are things that have been happening for a good bit in the sporting arena.
Essentially I'm agreeing with Canoneer. If you want to see a herald of things to come, start watching the reactions of sports writers versus blogs, analyse sporting venues vs blogs and take a look at sports blogs to military blogs for example.
From my perspective, having entered the college football blogging world the last 2 years, the parralels are eerily similar.
And I think we may start seeing more and more folks like Buzz in our own realm of blogging in the near future.
Which leads me to orson Swindle. He makes a very excellent point.
They don't know who is behind the keyboard, and the stereotype that is placed on us thanks to MySpace, Geocities, Twitter, Facebook, etc makes it difficult for the more mainstream blogs like our own (I'm probably giving myself more credit than credit is due by lumping my puny blog with yours ;) ) to rise above the masses as being intellectual, and thought provoking.
Hrmph. Looking at my comment I think I need to get more sleep. These late nights are making my brain hurt heh!
by
BloodSpite on May 1, 2008 9:02 AM
Bloodspite - just like *any* brand, you have to establish it, and your bona-fides, and meet your audience expectations.
People can draw what conclusions they like from that.
I'm never going to be the NYT (nor, in truth, do I want to be).
But I value my reputation, and work to preserve that. And one thing blogs have to come to grips with is the potty-mouth vitriol that shows up.
Because it affects your brand, and you can't just go, like Will did, "Those are *commenters*, not me!" and expect that defense to stand up.
You are identified with what you tolerate, like it or not.
by
John of Argghhh! on May 1, 2008 11:57 AM
� Dismissed, Soldier!
by
Denizens
on
Apr 30, 2008
April 29, 2008
H&I Fires* 29 April 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.
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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Sometimes, after all that text and Deep Thoughts and stuff, ya just needa gunpic. -the Armorer
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Continuing the theme of policy from my TINS story below - another quoteable quote from a Senior Government Official:
I hesitate to say we need more policy but in a policy driven organization we may have to write a policy to delete policy and then change the policy to allow less policy.
An encapsulation of much that is wrong with government in general, not just DoD. -the Armorer
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Jamie Lee Curtis over at the HuffPo on the Miley Cyrus kerfuffle:
Today's generation of performers have had to navigate the treacherous shoals of adolescence in full frontal viewberty of the peering voyeurism of the media and it's voyeuristic participants.
Viewberty. Great line. -the Armorer
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Flash Traffic (extended entry) Follows �
*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".
� Secure this line!
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �
Definitely a general problem re policy. Maybe that Vulcan idea of a Shiva-like agency destroying law and policy isn't so silly at all.
by
Argent on April 29, 2008 11:29 AM
I got to shoot a MAT 49 once, at a private range outside San Antonio. A *very* private range... it functioned like a champ, streams of 9mm hosing the silhouettes. Great ergonomics, very easy to hold on target for 3-4 round bursts- one of the better second-gen subguns out there, IMHO.
The 20mm Solothurn AT rifle was fun, too!
by Neffi on April 29, 2008 7:50 PM
JLC writes for HuffPo?
Damn.
There went that fantasy.
by
og on April 29, 2008 8:13 PM
� Dismissed, Soldier!
Whatever his "power issues," the face of venality...
...outside of their carefully constructed environment, is, in the end, sad, lonely, and pathetic.
Monsters rarely look like monsters.
Like Pol Pot, without the blood.
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �
But John you display the body not the mind. It's like a tank. This one is quite old yes? But who's inside?
A "leftie" concept is there are no monsters and evil. So displaying this man's mind would be revealing disordered distorted thinking with causes rather than the dark powers of the Devil.
This concept is, of course, not popular on your side of the fence. At the stated level I fully agree with this idea. There reaches a point though where even if one like him isn't intrinsically evil... even if it's all causative, then one still should lock up and perhaps in some cases kill them. But that's an argument for another day.
Because I fully disagree with the usual "leftie" consequential of this concept involving pity, mollycoddling, saying they are just misguided and letting them do it again.
I guess when you live with a real disability you know how vile Pity really is. Real help is valuable, pity is disgusting. Something at least some on your side would understand.
Not that I'm cold hearted, on the contrary. This has damaged one girl's life beyond measure and probably his as well. It's a very sad story. She deserves the support because at a very basic level the buck stops with yourself. Self responsibility. Something I fear many US and Aussie citizens on both sides of the fence stink at. We love our individual self empowerment, but the idea of individual self responsibility doesn't quite gel. One wonders how I'm doing myself.
Hey Kat here's a moral value for you. Self responsibility.
by
Argent on April 29, 2008 11:14 AM
Hmmm, so this guy has kept his daughter prisoner and she has had three children during this time and he DOESN'T admit to incest. -- Does he think the authorities are going to buy immaculate conception?
by
74 on April 29, 2008 12:26 PM
Actually, 74, the link is dated. DNA tests were conducted and they proved paternity. His.
Argent - the vebiage coming out of Austria contains much psycho-jargon, much, if not all of it, germane and apt.
I can accept all of that, and have no problems with the authorities acting from that premise... as long as they remain cognizant of... the evil that lurks inside - regardless of source.
I don't have problem with the label of evil, and in a religious context. Drive out the evil, with whatever tools make sense and comport with our idea of civilized behavior.
I was more interested in how pedestrian evil can be.
by
John of Argghhh! on April 29, 2008 12:56 PM
Hows the old saying go?
I trust everyone..its the devil inside them I don't
by
BloodSpite on April 29, 2008 1:35 PM
I, for one, sincerely hope there is a very special and very dark place in HE11 reserved for evil, sick ba$turds like this who rape and torture children.
Give our regards to Mengele when you see him, Fritzi.
by fdcol63 on April 29, 2008 2:09 PM
Well his daughter was about 18 or 20 when he locked her up. He was about 50. The wife claims not to have known or wondered where the daughter was. or more likely, she was equally abused and cowed.
Odd what some can get used to after awhile. apparently the wife did not complain about his disappearing behind the basement wall for hours on end or the extra food bills, etc, nor about adopting any of the children.
oh...I could go on. John is right...banality of evil.
Kind of reminds me of reading mein kampf and realizing that Hitler was just a man who tried to make everything "reasonable" including industrialized murder.
by kat-missouri on April 29, 2008 4:02 PM
� Dismissed, Soldier!
April 28, 2008
H&I Fires* 27 April 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.
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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Some things over the weekend you might have missed...
Success, failure, tribalism, and the power of money:
