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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