January 06, 2007
H&I* Fires, 6 JAN 2007
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. [Admittedly, I'm fibbing. Trackbacks are still broken]
You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...
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CAPT H sends this interesting discussion of Discretion in Reporting from the War Zone.
He also provides this bit of naughty yet mild humo(u)r.
Miss Beatrice, the church organist, was in her eighties and had never been married. She was admired for her sweetness and kindness to all. One afternoon the pastor came to call on her and she showed him into her quaint sitting room. She invited him to have a seat while she prepared tea.As he sat facing her old Hammond organ, the young minister noticed a cut-glass bowl sitting on top of it. The bowl was filled with water, and in the water floated, of all things, a condom! When she returned with tea and scones, they began to chat.
The pastor tried to stifle his curiosity about the bowl of water and its strange floater, but soon it got the best of him and he could no longer resist.. "Miss Beatrice", he said, "I wonder if you would tell me about this?" pointing to the bowl.
"Oh, yes," she replied, "Isn't it wonderful? I was walking through the Park a few months ago and I found this little package on the ground. The directions said to place it on the organ, keep it wet and that it would prevent the spread of disease. Do you know I haven't had the flu all winter."
Jay, over at Stop The ACLU has Pig Races. Yes, you *do* want to click that link.
And, just in case you missed it - there is this offering for Charity - Pinups For Vets (though I can't imagine too many of you haven't seen this one already, but they asked me to post it...)
There is a Honeydew List today... and things may get weird periodically - we're back to tinkering in the guts of the software. -the Armorer
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The following is posted as a public service to our Canadian readers. From CAPT H:
Good to see their moonbats don't spell any better than our moonbats, and that the cross-floor snark is alive and well in the Land of Maple-Syrup Swilling. -the Armorer
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Golly, Milblogs is simply chock full of toothsome goodness today. Just read it all... -the Armorer
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Drudge: ISRAEL PLANS NUCLEAR STRIKE ON IRAN
Me: D-uh.
And Syria.
And Egypt.
And Saudi Arabia.
And Jordan (well, maybe not, but probably).
And... they still have their Iraq plan in the safe, too.
Just like we have nuke target folios for... Russia. China. North Korea.
And they're secret, too.
The Israel Defense Force General Staff would be incompetent not to have a plan.
The question - thus far unanswered... is it a CONPLAN, or an OPLAN. Contingency, vice Operation. The current one, or an old one, if contingency.
If it's an OPLAN, *then* it's a story. And whoever leaked it should be locked into a very small, dark, hole. With rats.
Well, actually, if it's the current CONPLAN, whoever leaked it should be locked into a very small, dark, hole. With rats. Because there's a lot of intel analysis (and the reverse engineering thereof) locked into that document, depending on what it *actually* is.
Frankly, even an old CONPLAN gives away stuff. Same hole. With rats.
Otherwise, *yawn*.
Of course, if it's a sanctioned leak - then the target isn't Iran. It's us. To keep the West focused on the threat - and what Israel may choose to do about it - without our permission (which they don't need) or agreement (which they would like to have). And the plan may only contain data they want to share with us, anyway.
Jay, over at Stop the ACLU is running a reax post. Okay Jay, that's my reax.
Until you tell me it's an OPLAN, I'm not interested, except in that warrior geek way that I'm always interested in stuff like that.
Well, that's not entirely true. The old targeteer in me would like to see it, just to see what the Israelis consider the target set to be. But I wouldn't share that with you. I'd just giggle quietly in the corner playing with my data.
Oooo. Bad image.
Gratuitous Historical Pic.
Armored Train... kewl.
Soviet Armored train MBV F34, used on the Leningrad battlefront
January 05, 2007
H&I* Fires, 5 JAN 2007
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. [Admittedly, I'm fibbing. Trackbacks are still broken]
You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...
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Zenpundit is someone I always wish I read more often. He's always a portal to lots of good stuff, as well as his own commentary and observations. This post is just one of those portals to good chit for us wannabe (and you actual) theorists.
ry
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One of the fun things about what I do is that I get to hang around and look at all the "good ideas" coming down the pike. Because I work on it, I don't talk about it too much - but this one is safe, it being something I have nothing to do with, but still can keep an eye on via my network. Behold - Heinlein's Mobile Infantry is closer than you think. -the Armorer
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Interesting poll from Gallup: Majority of Americans View Media Coverage of Iraq as Inaccurate. The really interesting part is which "side" of inaccurate they think it falls on.
The Jamil Hussein story moves sideways. More from Michelle Malkin, who is in Iraq. In a related matter, Flopping Aces has some thoughts about Reuters stringers. UPDATE: Cassandra has a great post on the AP Hussein issue.
Mogadishu is celebrating its newfound freedom. - FbL
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Most times, a typo is a typo. Sometimes, it just may be our subconscious tossing something into the light. Like this bit from Brit Hume and Fox News...
It turns out that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's vow not to seek a second term wasn't the half of it. Maliki tells The Wall Street Journal that he regrets accepting the job in the first place — and wishes he could get out of it early. Maliki was sworn in for a four-year term last spring. He says he only agreed to the job to serve the national interest. His goal was to reign in secular violence, but the fighting has increased and Bush administration officials have questioned his ability to govern.
Emphasis added. -the Armorer
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Meanwhile, across the pond... Tom Newton-Dunn, writing in The Sun:
THE Army is facing a massive crisis as troops in frontline fighting battalions quit in droves over poor pay and slum homes.All but one of 39 bayonet battalions are undermanned — and overall they have only three-quarters of the men they need.
Yet some of the worst-hit units are STILL being sent on dangerous operations to do the job expected of a full-strength battalion.
A whopping 14,560 troops left the Army last year, with the infantry suffering by far the greatest losses.
Recruiting is also falling short of targets after years of Government underfunding and “overstretch”.
Many battalions have done three six-month tours in Iraq or Afghanistan in as many years.
The shocking state of the Army is revealed in a classified document leaked to The Sun.
Read the rest, here. Come along, Mr. Blair. Lead. Or get out of the way. -the Armorer
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Fresh off the presses The Moat Monster Rules. - BOQ
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Dangit! We've got Microsofters amongst our readership! Where's yer loyalty! How come we Denizens didn't get in on this? I want my Vista Laptop! Yeah, we aren't tech-bloggers... so what? 8^D Waidaminnit! The Bassids! They're Indian-Givers! (oops, was that offensively non-PC?) Some people were not amused. Ah, the heck with it - I'll still take a free laptop. -the Armorer
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More from across the pond - this time the Royal Navy.
Royal Navy commanders were in uproar yesterday after it was revealed that almost half of the Fleet's 44 warships are to be mothballed as part of a Ministry of Defence cost-cutting measure. Senior officers have said the plans will turn Britain's once-proud Navy into nothing more than a coastal defence force. The Government has admitted that 13 unnamed warships are in a state of reduced readiness, putting them around 18 months away from active service. Today The Daily Telegraph can name a further six destroyers and frigates that are being proposed for cuts. A need to cut the defence budget by £250 million this year to meet spending requirements has forced ministers to look at drastic measures. MoD sources have admitted it is possible that the Royal Navy will discontinue one of its major commitments around the world at a time when Sir Jonathon Band, the First Sea Lord, has said more ships are needed to protect the high seas against terrorism and piracy. News of further cuts to what was once the world's most formidable fleet comes as critics say failings across the Services are becoming increasingly apparent. More details are emerging of the near-squalor that soldiers are forced to tolerate in barracks when they return from six months of dangerous overseas operations. Questions have also been raised about the poor pay for troops and equipment failures which continue to dog operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
From one angle, the Decline of the West continues. Viewed from the other side, "About time we made it impossible for these people to go adventuring."
Read the rest here, in The Telegraph. -the Armorer
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Meanwhile, enjoy your tax filing for this year. The Dems are clearing the decks for next year. Larry Kudlow notes in The Corner:
John Fund reports today in Opinion Journal's Political Diary that the new Pelosi House has opened the door to tax hikes. Yesterday's package of new rules to govern the lower chamber erases the three-fifths majority that was required to raise taxes under the old Republican House rules. The new rules allow tax hikes through a simple majority vote. This is a bad sign. I wonder if today's stock market decline isn't picking up this high tax threat.
And... the New Kids On The Block are firing another one over the President's bow? Off of Drudge right now: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have sent a letter to President Bush saying 'surging forces' in Iraq is a failed strategy and calling for phased redeployment instead... DEVELOPING... -the Armorer
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The Letter:
January 5, 2007
President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500Dear Mr. President:
The start of the new Congress brings us opportunities to work together on the critical issues confronting our country. No issue is more important than finding an end to the war in Iraq. December was the deadliest month of the war in over two years, pushing U.S. fatality figures over the 3,000 mark.
The American people demonstrated in the November elections that they do not believe your current Iraq policy will lead to success and that we need a change in direction for the sake of our troops and the Iraqi people. We understand that you are completing your post-election consultations on Iraq and are preparing to make a major address on your Iraq strategy to the American people next week.
Clearly this address presents you with another opportunity to make a long overdue course correction. Despite the fact that our troops have been pushed to the breaking point and, in many cases, have already served multiple tours in Iraq, news reports suggest that you believe the solution to the civil war in Iraq is to require additional sacrifices from our troops and are therefore prepared to proceed with a substantial U.S. troop increase.
Surging forces is a strategy that you have already tried and that has already failed. Like many current and former military leaders, we believe that trying again would be a serious mistake. They, like us, believe there is no purely military solution in Iraq. There is only a political solution.
Adding more combat troops will only endanger more Americans and stretch our military to the breaking point for no strategic gain. And it would undermine our efforts to get the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future. We are well past the point of more troops for Iraq.
In a recent appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee, General John Abizaid, our top commander for Iraq and the region, said the following when asked about whether he thought more troops would contribute to our chances for success in Iraq:
“I met with every divisional commander, General Casey, the Corps commander, General Dempsey. We all talked together. And I said, in your professional opinion, if we were to bring in more American troops now, does it add considerably to our ability to achieve success in Iraq? And they all said no. And the reason is, because we want the Iraqis to do more. It's easy for the Iraqis to rely upon to us do this work. I believe that more American forces prevent the Iraqis from doing more, from taking more responsibility for their own future.”
Rather than deploy additional forces to Iraq, we believe the way forward is to begin the phased redeployment of our forces in the next four to six months, while shifting the principal mission of our forces there from combat to training, logistics, force protection and counter-terror. A renewed diplomatic strategy, both within the region and beyond, is also required to help the Iraqis agree to a sustainable political settlement. In short, it is time to begin to move our forces out of Iraq and make the Iraqi political leadership aware that our commitment is not open ended, that we cannot resolve their sectarian problems, and that only they can find the political resolution required to stabilize Iraq.
Our troops and the American people have already sacrificed a great deal for the future of Iraq. After nearly four years of combat, tens of thousands of U.S. casualties, and over $300 billion dollars, it is time to bring the war to a close. We, therefore, strongly encourage you to reject any plans that call for our getting our troops any deeper into Iraq. We want to do everything we can to help Iraq succeed in the future but, like many of our senior military leaders, we do not believe that adding more U.S. combat troops contributes to success.
We appreciate you taking these views into consideration.
Sincerely, Harry Reid
Majority LeaderNancy Pelosi
Speaker
-the Armorer
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The letter above just set me off. For what it's worth (and not much, at that), I had to rant about it. So, my own "translation" of the Pelosi-Reid letter. - FbL
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What a difference...
...63 years makes in how a headline reads.
And, if General Shalikashvili, my first DIVARTY commander and the originator of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has his way..., that headline may read differently *again* in a few years, making Uncle Jimbo and Gay Patriot happy (and *not* making me unhappy, btw).
The Whatziss from yesterday.
Not too many takers on this one. Which is interesting, given that there is boatloads of data out there on this particular beast.
That said - only two takers, but #2, Pat - got it mostly correct when he identified them as rounds for the M8C Spotting Rifle. His only error (obliquely) was continuing on and tying it to the 106mm recoilless rifle.
These were used for the M8C rifles used on the British Wombat recoilless rifle - a quibble, certainly, except the red paint in the flutes indicates their Brit origin.
This website (the Armorer wants one of these guns) has a nice set of pictures of a before and after restoration of a 106RR.
The spotting rifle is used by the gunner to acquire his target, without wasting main gun ammo, and with a lessened signature to give away his position. The M8C is a gas-operated semi-auto, which means the gunner just pings away with it until he sees a hit on his target at which point he fires his main gun. The use of a special cartridge with the M8C, vice a regular .50 cal round, is because you want the ballistic performance of the round to be roughly equal to the trajectory of the main gun - speed of flight isn't as important as trajectory matching is.
Tanks can use their coaxial machine guns for the same purpose. The Israelis even mounted M2 .50s on their M109A1 155mm howitzers for the same purpose - to make it easier to use the guns in direct fire mode.
Now for the fun part - doing some research for this post, I found this very nice picture of an M50 Ontos - the USMC reckless rifle carrier of the Vietnam era.
And I found this website with a lot of great pictures of the Ontos, certainly one of the odder weapon systems we've developed over the years. A lot of firepower on that little tracked chassis - but all served from outside the vehicle, on a vehicle, by the very nature of the weapon, that is going to attract a *lot* of attention.
Enjoy.
Caption Contest!
Somebody once defined helicopter flying as "Hours and hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror."
You could define helicopter *combat* flying as "A couple of minutes of aggravation, agitation and autogyration punctuated by a whole bunch of cussing -- before, during and after the impact."
Heh. V29 demonstrating the proper blend of nonchalance, insouciance and "Send me in *again*, Coach" attitude. I taught him well...
Go for it!
January 04, 2007
H&I* FIRES, 4 JAN 2007
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. [Admittedly, I'm fibbing. Trackbacks are still broken]
You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...
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This is a bit familiar - though back in the day before all the comms were secure, our RTO procedure was a bit tidier, methinks. Which isn't being anal about rules - it's being anal about clearly understood comms. Not safe for work (soldier-under-combat-stress language and actual combat footage). You know your co-workers better than I do. At my place, this would simply draw a crowd, though I'd keep the sound down in consideration of others not watching.
Heh. Cindy Sheehan - free speech for me, but not for thee. Especially if it ain't what I'm looking to hear you say.
And lastly for the moment - Reason #569,485 that you didn't get that great job with the law firm. Or the investment banking house. Or Wal-Mart greeter, either. -the Armorer
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Maryann, of Soldier's Angels Germany, made todays Stand-to! email (news round-up for Army folk) with this worthy post - about our Canadian Brothers-in-Arms. -the Armorer
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4 January 1951...
General Matthew Ridgway, WWII Airborne hero, stands on the last bridge across the Han River, as the combined forces of North Korea and China take Seoul for the second time (and last) time in the war.
ES42-6-56 (SC355598) LT General Matthew B. Ridgway, CG, U.S. 8th Army (front row, left), and Co. Itschner, Engineer, I Corps (front row, center), give the order to begin dismantling pontoon bridge after the last of the UN Forces evacuated Seoul. 4 Jan 1951. (US Army Photo)
ES41-6-56 (SC355548) A tank of the last UN Forces units in Seoul evacuated the city, withdrawing across the Han River on the remaining pontoon bridge which will be demolished as soon as they have passed. 4 Jan 1951.
And demolished it was.
ES71-19-62 (SC356266) A Han River pontoon bridge out of Seoul, Korea, slowly burns and sinks after the first charge of TNT has been set off by members of the 8th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. 4 Jan 1951.
Whatziss?
The red paint in the flutes is a clue as to origin. That will help you narrow the field.
I'll take away the easy answer - they're dummy rounds used for function-checking by Armorers and training by users. The real question is - what weapon were they intended for?
Taking time out from hanging around public lavatories...
...looking to score - George Michael is soliciting me for investment help!
Happy New Year my dear,
I know that you will be surprise reading from unknown person but all I will like you to understand is that, God have already bless you and your entire family in this 2007 through this proposal. In a brief introduction, my name is George Michael. My intention of contacting you is to help me handle the investment of 12.6 million usd that I inherited from my late father, which he deposited in the bank before his sudden death. Urgently confirm your willingness to help me handle the investment of this money with honesty, without betraying my trust in you.
I will be waiting for your reply as you finish reading this message with your direct telephone number to enable me call you immediately and furnish you with more details, upon my confirmation of your willingness to assist me.
Best Regards,
George Michael
Maggie - I gave him your number... 8^P
Buddies, source, differences by.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Get upset if you're too busy to talk to them for a week.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Are glad to see you after years, and will happily carry on the same conversation you were having last time you met.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Are the reason you have no food.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. And Mrs.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Call your parents mom and dad.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Bail you out of jail and tell you what you did was wrong.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Would be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...we screwed up...but man that was fun!"
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Cry with you.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds ass that left you behind.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, "I'm home!"
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Are for a while.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Are for life.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have shared a few experiences...
MILITARY FRIENDS: Have shared a lifetime of experiences no Civilian could ever dream of...
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you've had enough.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say, "You better drink the rest of that, you know we don't waste...that's alcohol abuse!!" Then carry you home safely and put you to bed...
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will talk crap to the person who talks crap about you.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Will knock them the hell out for using your name in vain.
H/t, Dom J.
January 03, 2007
H&I* FIRES, 3 JAN 2007
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. [Admittedly, I'm fibbing. Trackbacks are still broken]
You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...
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You know, I wish the UN would make up its mind. Over the issue of genocide in Sudan they say they can't go in or even craft harsh sanctions because of limits imposed by the plank respecting national sovereignty. They're criticizing Ethiopia for going into Somalia and not respecting sovereignty. But when it comes to whether one chooses to use capital punishment, in this case for what would be a Class A war criminal at Nuremberg if he was tried then, it's not okay for the new UN Sec-Gen to respect sovereignty as he did?
Call me when they make sense over there on Turtle Bay. -Ry
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Your phone won't ring anytime soon, Ry. Remember - it's the United Governments. When you look at it that way, it limns much more clearly. -the Armorer
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Fuzzybear Lioness brought up the NYT's latest problem with shoddy journalism in an earlier H&I. That said, mistakes happen. You measure greatness by the response to the mistakes. In this case, the NYT seems determined to measure themselves for the grave of responsible journalism. Byron York today over at The Corner:
THAT'S ENOUGH OF THAT [Byron York]A few days ago, New York Times public editor Byron Calame revealed that the paper had seriously misrepresented a key fact in a story about abortion in El Salvador. The paper's editors told Calame they have no plans to issue a correction. Now, the New York Observer reports the Times is considering taking action: the action of eliminating the public editor position. Calame's term is up in May, and Times editor Bill Keller tells the Observer there is support for not replacing him: "Some of my colleagues believe the greater accessibility afforded by features like ‘Talk to the Newsroom’ has diminished the need for an autonomous ombudsman, or at least has opened the way for a somewhat different definition of the job," Keller said.
What a bubble these guys live in.
No, they aren't alone. -the Armorer
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Chuck's in a funk. Please drop by his place and see if you can brighten things up a little... - FbL
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Ry - think of the UN as the NYT with plate glass walls. Won't make it any more easily understood, but it'll be more fun to watch... --BillT
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Somebody is either whipped or outgunned. I just know which it would be in my house.;)
ry
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Fun poltiical quiz. I'm a 24. - FbL
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Bravo!...
Many (probably most) readers will probably disagree with me on this, but I frankly am not disturbed by the way Saddam Hussein spent his last few conscious minutes.
Last night I watched Glenn Beck commiserate with the chia pet-haired Baghdad New York Times Bureau Chief over the way the executioners heckled the murderous son of a b***h before they snapped his filthy neck. Oh, how awful it was. Oh, how insensitive, Oh, how it sullied our reputation and illustrated the ineptitude of the Maliki regime.
Bollocks.
I was first and foremost disappointed that Beck chose the NYT lizard for color commentary on the post-execution "mood on the streets." Hell, why not have Ramsey Clark on for a "fair and balanced" look, eh? Sheesh.
Second, I wish I had been on to ask Glenn: Where were the cigarette burns on Saddam's face in that hanging video? How about the sulfuric acid burns to his eyes? Any hint of broken bones? Electrified genitalia? Fingernails missing? Now THAT'S abuse, and was part and parcel of the way Saddam's goons treated fargin' WOMEN and CHILDREN, for crap's sake!
Honestly, these guys who lament such things just don't get it yet. And maybe that's a good thing, because I wouldn't wish on anyone in the world the kind of treatment Saddam visited on his own people for 30+ years. Think of it, gentle reader with children--one night a knock on your door and two thugs demand your daughter accompany them to a place where she loses her virginity to the son of your President...because they can...AND she's then killed...AND you're responsible for cleaning up the mess. The chattering classes, the media minstrels, the carnival barkers that are today's mainstream media journalists can't put themselves in the executioners' shoes because they will never, ever be exposed to that kind of horror (thank God). And so we suffer through their naval gazing...
Taunting before neck stretching? Shite, you betcha.
Personally, I thought the Shiites showed remarkable restraint in conducting the dispatch of a malignant thing who was the most deadly tyrant on the planet for the period he was alive and in charge.
I guess I was born in the wrong century...if I was developing this war's strategery I would step back and get the attention of our enemies before continuing with the civil affairs stuff, the nation building stuff and all the other hearts-and-minds stuff that is also critical to success.
I would take my cue from 1) the Romans; 2) the Mongols (BEFORE they converted), and; 3) the Borg Collective. The first believed in their civilization and its exceptionalism. The second weren't afraid to inflict maximum damage during and after the attack. The third are, albeit fictional, technologically superior, insanely adaptive and utterly implacable.
Instapilot, Token Barbarian
Jan 3, 1944 (1945) [Dangnabbit!]
Some of these pics should bring back memories for those of you warrriors who did the winter of '81 in Germany - the coldest winter since... 1944. Especially those Jan '81 maneuver rights ARTEPs 1st Tank conducted in the area around Graf and Hohenfels - which, IIRC, were the swan song of the M60A2s, they being swapped for the A3 RISE Passives that spring.
Captain Travis Patriquin, "good in the woods".
This is old news in the sense that this broke into the news cycle around December 15 on ABC. I missed it because I was involved in the Specialist McGinniss story and it was further swamped by the death of Marine Major Megan McClung, which is interesting, since Captain Travis Patriquin died in the same IED explosion. This won't be news for some of you, but for others, it will. It came to me from a different source, so, even late, I'm posting it, if for no other reason than a cyber-memorial to Captain Patriquin and as a source for those who may not have yet seen it.
Captain Travis Patriquin's "How to Win In Anbar."
Given what has and hasn't worked thus far, there's no reason this shouldn't be on the table. Granted, Blackfive has posted on it, and it got a blurb at Milblogs, when I googled it, it was mostly news and lefty sites that came up, nature of how google operates.
I suppose I *should* do some value-added:
From Martha Raddatz's article (the ABC reference above):
In a military known for its sleep-inducing, graphically dizzying PowerPoint presentations, the young captain's presentation, which has been unofficially circulating through the ranks, stands out. Using stick figures and simple language, it articulates the same goal as the president's in Iraq.
Powerpoint - one of the greatest obstacles to communication ever created. Not Microsoft's fault - the users misuse it. Just like it isn't Ford's fault people flee crimes in a Ford, it's not really Microsoft's fault that people create crimes with Powerpoint. It's called restraint, people.
Which brings to mind an AUSA Convention I attended in the 90's. I was walking down the hall where the breakout rooms were and I saw a group of officers standing in the hall looking into a room. On the screen was a Powerpoint presentation that had all the bells and whistles - graphics sliding in from the sides, fades, dissolves, cute noises - all the things that annoy me about Powerpoint and people who can't control their urges to destroy a briefing. The kicker was two guys walking by with divisional patches on their shoulders - they took a look in the room and said "Huh, must be a TRADOC briefing. No one else has the time for that crap."
Heh.
My other pet peeve? People who don't understand the embedded meta-data in their presentations - generating 50 meg presentations they could reduce to two - if they'd just compress/convert their graphics. You know, that sexy graphic, with 200 graphic elements, each merely a re-sized full-size graphic stolen from some other presentation and "grouped," so that each contains the full data of the original.
Every Once In A While...
...I stumble across this old chestnut.
Suitably updated, naturally, from Being All that It Could Be in the Army of One to being Army Strong.
"Sir! Why, Sir, did the chicken cross the road, Sir?!?"
USAAVNC: The purpose is to familiarize the chicken with the tasks, conditions and standards inherent in road-crossing. Road-crossing should be performed only between the hours of sunrise and sunset. Solo chickens must have at least three miles visibility and a safety observer. Special considerations: MOPP Level IV Not Authorized.
HQ, DA: Due to the needs of the Army, the chicken was involuntarily reassigned to the other side of the road. This will be 1-year unaccompanied tour and the chicken will have a stabilized 3-year tour upon its return. The chicken will not be eligible for re-deployment until at least three months after its return. Every chicken will be required to accomplish one road-crossing during its career, which will not affect its opportunities for future promotion.
TRADOC: This event will need confirmation by repeated iterations of road-crossing using various chicken breeds, road types and weather conditions in order to confirm whether it will consistently occur within the parameters specified for chickens and the remote possibility that they might be tasked with crossing Thruways/Interstate Highways. Commanders will insure that a Risk Assessment Worksheet is completed for each set of specified conditions.
USAREUR: The purpose is not important. What is important is that the chicken remained OPCON to SFOR and was not sliced to KFOR on the other side of the road. Without slicing, the chicken was able to achieve a seamless road-crossing with near-perfect, real-time, in-transit visibility.
USASC: The chicken was instructed to "Hold Short" of the road. This Road Incursion incident was reported in a Hazardous Chicken Road-Crossing Report (HCRCR). Commanders will re-emphasize that chickens are required to read back all Hold Short instructions.
CECOM: The legacy "stovepipe" chickens of today will be replaced with multi-functional, supportable, affordable, integrated and interoperable world-class Warrior and Supporting-Element Chickens (WSEC), enabling them to dominate the digital roads of today and tomorrow. However, previously-committed funding for legacy Comanche software development will require the Service to further slip initial fielding of the WSEC to the right by two-to-four years unless Congressional plus-ups are approved.
CENTCOM J-6 Chicken Systems Program Office (C2J6-CSPO): In a partnering relationship with the client, CSPO assisted the chicken in rethinking its physical distribution strategy and core-paradigm processes, thereby enabling the chicken to implement change in order to continue meeting its mission. However, the actual crossing of the road has not yet occurred due to the number of action items still open from the meeting.
SOCOM: Chicken? What chicken? You did *not* see a chicken, understand?
Acronymed out? See Flash Traffic...
Farewell Mr. President.
[sound of smashing shot glass]
Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance: In Memoriam.
January 02, 2007
H&I Fires* 2 Jan 2007
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. [Admittedly, I'm fibbing. Trackbacks are still broken]
You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...
************************
Associated Press back to their old Jamil Hussein tricks? Quite possibly
And the NY Times has a scandal on its hands:
This is major journalistic scandal, not so much for the initial error (bad as it is, especially the reliance on advocates for basic translation services) but for the stonewalling which has followed revelations of the lie. It is one thing to be sloppy, even unethical in journalistic practice, using biased sources as translators. It is quite another to stonewall in the face of facts.
Update on wounded milblogger JR Salzman at Blackfive (earlier updates by Laughing Wolf here and here). He's continuing to post on his own blog with his wife's typing assistance, though he will soon have the software and training for a voice-controlled laptop via Valour-IT.
Jim Sheeler of Rocky Mountain News continues his superb coverage of the fallen with an article on the burial at Arlington of Christopher Anderson, Corpsman of Marines and a man whose life he saved. An earlier article covered the fellow sailor (and dear friend) who brought him home. More links at the bottom of my post.
And finally, something to balance the darkness of the above... Posted on Christmas Eve, I suspect it got lost among the Holiday festivities: Christmas Spirit at the USO. - FbL
**************************
O. Scott Card. Decent guy.
This is his iteration of something John has said quite forcefully in this space before: don’t hurl feces in Church during a memorial service.
You’re pissed that there’s a war. Fine. You hate the military and everything it stands for. Fine. Let the family be.
There are other places and other times for you to have your say. There are people of real power to change things to whom you can say your spiel to. But the family, they only get to live through this once. Let them get through it, ‘kay? Don’t add to their pain, and yes, you are definitely adding buttloads of pain, by being a jackalope---which you would be if you’re picketing the casket coming off the plane or hurling eggs at the hearse--- during their time of grief. Show some human decency and compassion.
It ain’t always about you.
ry
[Update - just in case Ry's commentary didn't inspire you to read the linked piece, how about this extract?
Instead, his experiences were with demonstrators of an older, more familiar variety. "Hippie college students," he called one such group. "They egged the hearse."On that occasion, the brother of the dead soldier was so hurt and angry at these strangers who dared to defile his brother's memory and worsen his family's suffering that "he clocked one of them."
So the brother was arrested for assault and could not be with his family for the rest of the services in honor of one of America's fallen.
The demonstrators suffered no penalty. In fact, they received extra credit from a college professor because they had "taken part in a demonstration."
Emphasis mine. Feh. -the Armorer]
**************************
This is a sad story, on several levels. But it does indicate our commitment to honor the dead (now if we can just get VA the funding to honor the commitment to the living...)
HEIDELBERG, Germany — She had traveled many miles in her short life.
She had lived on three continents, known several languages, become a soldier and an American citizen. But after she died, her father wanted her remains taken home to her birthplace.
In November, Pfc. Lena Karungi — accompanied by 10 V Corps soldiers and a U.S. Army Europe chaplain — was buried with military honors on a farm in Uganda.
Read the rest here.
This is another interesting story:
Day to Day, January 1, 2007 · Helen Gerhardt enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 2000. She was 33 years old. Three years later, having just completed a double undergraduate major in fine arts and English literature, she found herself in the Middle East with the Missouri Army National Guard, 1221st Transportation Company.Gerhardt drove eighteen-wheeled tractor-trailers throughout Iraq. In an e-mail to loved ones back in Missouri, Specialist Gerhardt shared her first impressions of the Iraqi people and their country. The e-mail, entitled "Here Among These Ruins," was chosen as part of the book Operation Homecoming.
Helen Gerhardt is currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Nonfiction at the University of Pittsburgh. She is writing a book about her unit's experiences in Iraq and the larger culture wars which divide us both nationally
Read the whole thing at NPR, here. Creative Non-fiction? Isn't that a NYT in-house training program? 8^)
Bouhammer writes a long story about a long trip to Kabul.
The other day we had a mission to Kabul and to our Task Force HQ. It was a short mission that only had us from our home FOB for a few days. We had to take a lot of guys up there to drop them off for leave and pass. We also had some administrative business to take care of while we were there. We have done this mission many times, and except for the snow that we expected on some of the dirt roads, it should not have been any different than normal.
Read the rest here.
A little smidgen of good news:
(CBS/AP) NEW YORK An 8-year-old boy from Afghanistan stood in Times Square Monday welcoming a new year that will bring him corrective surgery thanks to the concerns of twin Army doctors who met him while they worked for six months in his war-ravaged country."I'm happy. It's the first time I've seen something like this," Khatibullah Farqirzada said on a morning that also marked his birthday as he stood in the bright lights of one of the world's most famous landmarks.
"In Afghanistan, everybody celebrates in their homes. Here, everybody comes out to be together," he said.
His father, Shafi, said: "My hope is my son (has) a new year and a new life."
And you can catch the rest of that here. -the Armorer
************************
Scott Ott, the master of satire, responds very seriously to a so-called real editor. Must read goodness ... h/t to Teresa at Technicalities.
-Barb
************************
With all the grim news in the world, I just felt the need to declare my satisfaction with 2006. Nothing special, but it felt good to get it posted.
Year's end '06.
Happy New Year! -Sanger
**************************
The good news that I mentioned on New Years Eve...
...but didn't follow-up on yesterday. I was waiting for the pictures.
The BAM Cuitlahuac/USS John Rodgers no longer belongs to the Mexican Navy. She's back under the US flag, as the property of the Beauchamp Tower Corporation.
Here she is getting ready to leave her berth at the naval base.
This has been a long time coming - I know we thought we'd have her here in September or October but three things intervened.
1. Bureaucrats in two governments.
2. The loss of an investor (paying for the tow, not that it mattered short term because of item 1)
3. The Mexican elections.
When I say bureaucrats, I should be clear that does not include the Mexican Navy, who have been consummate professionals during this process.
DD574 has been made ready for her transit of the canal, and arrangements are being finalized for her trip back to the US Gulf Coast.
Here's something that's not been seen in a while - a Fletcher-class destroyer on the move. She may not be moving under her own power... but she's feeling the water move around her hull in ways it hasn't in 7 years.
Inbound to her new berth - it almost looks like shes moving on her own.
That said - we've still got one big hurdle.
There's still one set of government bureaucrats to push the final paperwork through. The ones in the US.
And I apologize to those of you who I was sending emails to about updates - I've lost the addresses.
Mind in the Qatar
Since Trackbacks aren't working yet (still looking for a blog-mechanic!) MajChaz of Mind in the Qatar asked me to post these two gems... and today's H&I is already pretty long, so I'll put 'em up here.
Long Live Military History (Word!)
Long Live Military HistorySaving a disappearing portion of Academia
A long important part of the study of history, has been the study of the subset of military history. It is incredibly important to understand both U.S. and global military history, as many significant events across time have involved and been driven by military influences of one form or another.
However in the increasingly leftward tilt of the ivory tower of higher education, military history is "...dead at many other top colleges and universities as well. Where it isn’t dead and buried, it’s either dying or under siege..." This according to John Miller in his National Review article "Sounding Taps" from earlier this fall.
Read that here.
And his suggestion we quit trying to fix the MSM, but simply supplant it.
Much has been made over the last couple of years (and especially in the last several months) about the major media's (aka main-stream media, drive-by media, or alien-media nation) inability to provide balanced news coverage about major events shaping our world....especially in Iraq.Several times I suggested that a "Good News Hour" would do wonders to combat all the negative reporting, and possibly avoid a decline in public opinion on Iraq. Unfortunately we have turned that corner, and can only now hope to regain ground. Truth and good news still have a place in our media environment.
Perhaps as Glenn Reynolds suggests, the Davids born of the blogosphere could produce an adequate alternative. The Alternative Media Network (AMN) if you will. In my mind, a lot of the ingredients for the recipe are already in place....
Start with some hearty 'Army of Davids' stock, add heaping cup of Pajamas Media ingenuity, mix in a bushel each of Bill Roggio's and Milbloggers, and finish with a dash of Paul Harvey.
Read the rest of that, here.
With trackbacks hosed, don't be shy about asking for links. They may not all make it - but hey - it makes life easier sometimes when the Muse is on vacation.
January 01, 2007
H&I Fires, 1 Jan 2007
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. [Admittedly, I'm fibbing. Trackbacks are still broken]
You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...
************************
The Castle's reach in 2006...
We didn't get to as many countries as last year, Africa certainly seems to have lost interest. We have had about an 8% growth in visitors. It's been slacking off this last quarter, however. Must be getting stale, not to mention the ever-increasing amount and quality of the competition. Thank heaven's I'm not trying to make money at this! Well, that and the fact that the military service's net-nannie software is blocking us sporadically, so traffic we used to get daily now shows up on weekends (weekend traffic has been climbing to match the decline in weekday traffic, that's my guess as to the cause. In which case, I appreciate you guys who take time on the weekends to drop in! I appreciate you all - but those of you who have to take the extra effort... well, thanks.
We're gonna try to improve load times and get this place fully functional again. The last attempt at the software upgrade still has bits and pieces that went all kerblooey. We're seeking a qualified blog mechanic - and it's a paid position. -the Armorer
************************
Christie Blatchford gets a whiff of the essence of soldiering. Where are *our* MSM reporters, our Ernie Pyle? I'm not talking Yon, or Roggio, or Fumento - I mean a big network, big newspaper reporter? Sigh. H/t. CAPT H. -the Armorer
************************
Speaking of reporters. Looks like the MSM decided to roll in the New Year with a Front page Banner Headline regarding the death toll in Iraq. Some of us celebrate with champagne. Some of us celebrate with children. The MSM celebrates by dancing on graves, it seems, to attract the populace's attention.
-BloodSpite
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The armed forces...are considering expanding the number of non-citizens in its ranks." Well, du-uhhh -- that's taking a page out of the playbook of forty years ago. Used to was, any well-intended citizen of the Outside World (including WarPac escapees) could enlist in a branch of the US Armed Forces (most entered the Army, for some odd reason) and, after serving for two years, would receive US citizenship
a. the day he was released from active duty or
b. the last day prior to beginning his second term of enlistment.
How do I know that? Simple -- I had three Panamanian Spec Fours working for me as ammo specialists in '71 and 72 at Mag #2 on Fort Dix and a Costa Rican NCOIC, an E-6 who had already become a citizen and was on his *third* enlistment.
Arroz col pollo for lunch every Saturday. Yum!
Two of my First Platoon pilots in the Delta were Canadians.
Half our neighbors in the 135th Assault Helicopter Company (okay -- they lived in Dong Tam and we lived in Can Tho, but that's close enough for neighborliness) were Ozzies. 'Course, they didn't come for the offer of citizenship, they came for the fighting...
I knew three Green Beanies who came to the Army from Latvia (by way of Finland). BTW, Latvia and Finland have all the vowels that Bosnia should'a been issued.
And don't forget Frequent Visitor and Honorary Denizen V29, who's Caledonia-born.
Enuff history -- Happy New Year!
Some Armorer Zen...
061203-N-3560G-052 Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. (Dec. 3, 2006) - Construction Mechanic 2nd Class Albert Guerrero of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Four (NMCB-4) mans the M2 .50-caliber machine gun during field exercise Operation Bearing Duel. NMCB-4 is homeported at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, Calif. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ronald Gutridge (RELEASED)
Ah, night sights and a blank adaptor... kewl look on what may be the longest-serving machine gun design - the M2 traces back to 1918, when we took the German T-gewehr 13mm anti-tank round and made it into the 12.7mm round better known to most of us as the .50 cal. Sergeant B will be drooling over this pic.
December 31, 2006
H&I* Fires DEC 31, 2006
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. [Admittedly, I'm fibbing. Trackbacks are still broken]
You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...
************************
Good riddance to 2006. Though, truth be told, I'm not looking forward all that much to 2007. It has the potential to be much worse on a personal level, and just as boring on a professional level. You guys need to entertain me!
CAPT H is doing a pretty good job of that, with this link to Canadian War Stories.
New Year's Eve will be pretty tame here at the Castle. I'm building a trebuchet (with hollow axles, natch) and SWWBO and I will probably be asleep before midnight, if the last few years are any indication. We don't hang with a crowd that parties 'til dawn, and we're lazy. If the neighborhood behaves as it did last year, we'll have every critter in the Herd save the horses in bed with us, as our neighbors scare away the demons with loud explosions. (You'd think the demons would be used to this by now, and at least have developed some form of hearing protection...)
I might go see Apocalypto. SWWBO will demur from that one, I'm pretty sure.
What are your plans?
Oh, and for the recipe collectors - Carnival of the Recipes is up. -the Armorer
***********************
Just call me mean, but I think it would have been better that Saddam's body been burned and the ashes dumped at sea, as we did with the Nuremburg criminals, to prevent their graves being a focus point. Any bets on how long it takes for a shrine or mosque of some sort to appear, whether we pull a Murtha or not? Mebbe I'll get surprised. -the Armorer
************************
Forget my plans, you gotta wonder what these people surveyed are going to do for New Years' Eve. I mean, "one in four predicts the second coming of Christ" within the next year?! Where did they get their sample?! I mean, I run in religious circles and I don't know a single person who believes that. - FbL
************************
Happy New Year to Murray, Trias, Geoff, and any other of you guys Down Under! -the Armorer
***********************
Let me go on record over this item:
By Bryan Bender, Globe Staff | December 26, 2006WASHINGTON -- The armed forces, already struggling to meet recruiting goals, are considering expanding the number of noncitizens in the ranks -- including disputed proposals to open recruiting stations overseas and putting more immigrants on a faster track to US citizenship if they volunteer -- according to Pentagon officials.
You can read the whole thing here.
1. I don't mind expediting citizenship for those willing to serve to earn it... but.
2. I don't like the idea of overseas recruiting. If we're going to create a Foreign Legion, then create one. My visceral reaction is not good. The staff guys are paid to think up ways to get things done - commanders are paid to sort through 'em. I hope the overseas recruiting bit falls off the table.
Hard enough to screen the people who've been in the country long enough to have some presence in our systems. The problems with screening foreign nationals, not already present, bothers me. Especially if we aren't going to essentially make it clear that it's a pathway to citizenship.
But all that aside - if we can't get enough citizens to volunteer, then just perhaps we should accept that we can't have the size of Army we think we need. And reopen the draft debate. With all that entails. Heh. We had a 700,000 man all volunteer Army in the 80's. The available pool is larger now. If we can't match the services of the 80's out of the available pool of 2006, then perhaps it's time to consider the limits of our power and the citizen's support of that power, vice recruiting foreigners to do it for us.
On a related note: would this allow an increase in the numbers of Europeans and Asians allowed in the country? Or would we be building a Hispanic Division? Currently, we allow hispanics in the country in far greater numbers than any other group. Europeans have very small quotas available to them. Are we going to relax those limits? Or will enlistees count against those quotas - essentially meaning that if you're a Euro who wants to escape the Euro-state, you have little choice but to join the US military? Just sayin'. This isn't about race, it's about equity and the underlying premise of US military service. -the Armorer
************************
Oh - and the answer to the last Whatziss? A US Military .357 Magnum round. -the Armorer
************************
Oh - and, Happy New Year, everybody. I actually did get some good news tonight... which I'll share in the morning. -the Armorer
***********************
Dec 31, 1944
Having shown a bit of what we're doing this year's end, I thought I'd show a different year's end...
SC 253856. The 101st Airborne troops move out of Bastogne, after having been besieged there for ten days, to drive the enemy out of the surrounding district. Belgium 12/31/45
SC 197832. Three members of an American patrol cross a snow covered Luxembourg field on a scouting mission. White bedsheets camouflage them in the snow. Left to right: Sgt. James Storey, Newman, Ga.; Pvt. Frank A. Fox, Wilmington, Del., and Cpl. Dennis Lavanoha, Harrisville, N.Y. (30 Dec 1944). Lellig, Luxembourg Signal Corps Photo #ETO-HQ-45-5003 (Hustead)
SC 198400. Tankmen of the U.S. First Army gather around a fire on the snow-covered ground near Eupen, Belgium, opening their Christmas packages (12/30/44) -5th Armd. Regt
Operation Beastmaster
Dec 29, 2006 BY Staff Sgt. Kason Fark, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regimen -BAGHDAD - Staring down at an empty lot, Spc. Craig McBaine wondered how such a tranquil neighborhood could be the scene of so much carnage.
Nicknamed "IED Alley East," this 700-meter stretch of barren earth has been the scene of many attacks against coalition and Iraqi security forces.
On this day, the patch of land, bordered on three sides by once-beautiful three-story houses, is occupied by up-armored Humvees, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Abrams Battle Tanks, all in support of Operation Beastmaster.
During Beastmaster, troops from the 4th Battalion, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division cleared three large neighborhoods in the western Baghdad suburb of Ghazaliya. The sight of much sectarian violence, Ghazaliya is the battle ground for Sunni insurgents trying to push back the overwhelming Shia population in the northern and eastern areas of Baghdad.
"Alternate Supply Route Sword," the U.S. military's name for the largest road running through southern Ghazaliya, is also the in-road from Fallujah to Baghdad proper.
Having just arrived weeks ago, Soldiers of Company D, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, have set upon the goal of taking over the security of Ghazaliya from the Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.
"It's been pretty crazy already," McBaine said. The Florida native's patrol would later be hit multiple times by small arms fire, a rocket-propelled grenade and a roadside bomb.
Based out of Fort Bliss, Texas, 2-12 Cavalry is part of the 1st Cavalry Division's newest brigade - the 4th "Long Knife" Brigade Combat Team. While the unit may be new to El Paso, Texas, it is no stranger to combat.
2-12 Cavalry was de-activated shortly after its return from Operation Iraqi Freedom II in March 2005. The unit has also earned streamers in other conflicts such as World War II, Vietnam, and Desert Storm. The unit was the first U.S. unit in Leyte and Japan. The unit re-activated at Fort Bliss 18 months after returning from Iraq.
Participation in operations such as Beastmaster with the Iraqi Army is the key to handing Iraq back over to its people. The Iraqi soldiers involved were being observed by coalition forces to gauge their ability to perform urban warfare tasks.
Overall, Operation Beastmaster was a huge success. In the course of three days of house to house searches, the Iraqi Army troops uncovered seven weapons caches, numerous roadside bomb-making materials and captured a high-value target.
.
Mebbe it's just Clobbering Time.
.
Just sayin'
.
"The Iraqis don't want Saddam back - they want the stability. But they want the stability without being fed into industrial chippers."
. -The Armorer, on Hugh Hewitt, 27 December 2006.
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Drudge: ISRAEL PLANS NUCLEAR STRIKE ON IRAN
Gratuitous Historical Pic.
H&I* Fires, 5 JAN 2007
What a difference...
The Whatziss from yesterday.
Caption Contest!
H&I* FIRES, 4 JAN 2007
4 January 1951...
Whatziss?
Corner of the Bar Gang
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