I am a M**tha F*****!

By now, you all know the story of Lt Col Jeffrey Chessani facing serious charges based on a Time story in which Congressman John Murtha made unfounded allegations against eight Marines, one of whom was Lt Col. Chessani. Lt. Col Chessani had his honour and reputation called into question because Murtha said that in a town called Haditha in Iraq, civilians were killed by US Marines "in cold blood". This event was in November 2005, and it has been a long and sad road to June 17, 2008 when a military judge, Col. Steven Folsom dismissed charges against Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani after defense attorneys raised concerns that a four-star general overseeing the prosecution was improperly influenced by an investigator probing the November 2005 shootings by a Marine unit in Haditha.

"...The charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning they can be refiled, but Folsom barred Marine Forces Central Command from future involvement in the case. The judge gave the prosecution 72 hours to file a notice of intent to appeal. The prosecutors did not make themselves available for comment... [here]

Like everyone else I have been so outraged at the cavalier treatment these brave Marines have all faced. Of the eight charged, seven have already had all charges dismissed.

_____________________________

(pictures courtesy of Defend Our Marines)

This case is not in the headlines right now, but I am still outraged. I have thought what positive action we can take. And I have come up with a plan. No, it is not a novel idea, and certainly not unique. But, I am now officially a "M***tha F*****. So far, Congressman Murtha STILL has offered no apology to ANY of these Marines. All over YouTube are videos of his declaring over and over again what criminals these servicemen were.

As time has proved, sufficiently for military judges and for the rest of us believing in truth and justice, Murtha was way out of line. He owes these Marines way more than an apology. I figure it is long overdue that all of us do at least these three things:

One, we can contact Congressman Murtha and tell him - politely I suppose - what we feel about his actions, and demand he do the right thing; the right thing in this instance begins with a public apology.

The contact information for this 'public servant' is:

via email on the government website here:

https://forms.house.gov/murtha/IMA/issue_subscribe.htm

Call him at his office (the one paid for by YOU, the taxpayer)

800-289-2642 from Western PA (or) 814-535-2642 (or) 202-225-2065

You think a fax would help? Here's that number:

814-539-6229 -- District

202-225-5709 -- Washington

And if you feel the urge to write him an actual letter? Something he can hold in his dirty hands?

647 Main St, Suite 401
Johnstown, PA 15901

Two, you can contribute to Lt Col Chessani's legal defence funds. He is represented by the Thomas Moore Law Centre.

Chessani’s civilian attorney, Brian Rooney, said later that the case was far from over:

It’s almost as if you’re looking into the abyss,” he said. “We don’t know what is going to happen [here]

Lt Col Chessani is considering suing Murtha - and he should. Also, in my opinion, Time Magazine and the "reporter" should be held accountable. 'Accountable' in this case means they must pay BIG money for all they have put the Lt. Col. - and his other Marines - through. That takes money. The Thomas Moore Law Centre site is here.

In this war, more than ever, we have witnessed the lack of integrity from the mainstream media. They seemingly "can't handle the truth." What has become really evident in this whole debacle, specifically, is the fact that Time and the 'reporter' rushed to print with lies, with total disregard for not only the truth of the matter, but also what borders on treason for printing such propoganda fed to them by disreputable sources in a time when the country IS at war. They MUST pay, even though we all know that no amount of money will ever compensate any of these Marines and their families for what they have endured by domestic enemies!

The Haditha Marines' familes have been dragged through hell, because of the despicable, irresponsible behaviour of Murtha, and Time and their employee. The families have created many sites detailing their journeys, and to read any of them is to feel their pain. Here's a couple to check out:

http://murthamustgo.blogspot.com/2008/06/haditha-prosecutions-we-lived-it.html

http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.html

Both well worth reading, if you have a strong stomach.

Last, but by no means least, we need to get political. Murtha has proved he is nothing but the lowest form of political animal, so it is time to enter that area too. Murtha has proved in the past he is severely lacking in integrity but this time he has gone waaaaaaaaay too far. THIS time, even former Marines disgustedly disown this "ex-Marine".

"[Chessani's] Attorney Brian Rooney believes that Murtha made his "cold blood" statement for political gain:

"In my opinion, it's clear it was done during the election cycle, it was done to bolster himself in the party," the attorney said. "He was vying for a leadership position, and if he had to throw some Marines under the bus to do so, that was the cost of power for him."[here]

Lt. Colonel William Russell is a decorated combat veteran who has served in Desert Storm, the Iraq War, and the Pentagon on 9/11. He's a Republican, and he came home to run against Jack Murtha in November but they kicked him off the ballot [here]

That William Russell is on the ballot at all is a miracle. I think it would be poetic justice at its finest for this Lt. Col to whoop Murtha in the upcoming elections. And he can do it, if Americans help him, vote for him. Check out his site and see what YOU can do. Murtha MUST go!

So, what are you waiting for? Join me as a "M***tha F***** and let's get rid of Murtha.

Semper Fi, Marines!

Brat

Cross-posted at Assoluta Tranquillita, so far!

Marines need our help

Everybody knows that our Marines are very capable of handling anything they encounter in the frontlines of the current war efforts. Late last week though, a unit of Marines lost everything they own. Lima company camp was totally burned and the Marines now have only the clothes on their backs. A call has gone out, and yes, Soldiers' Angels is involved, to get the most basic supplies to the Marines in a hurry. The list of things these heroes need includes:

Pillows, running Shoes (Sizes 9-12) with the most common size being 10 1/2, socks, green pt short, green t-shirts (military) disposable razors, hygiene items, snacks, hydration of any sort....really just ANYTHING YOU CAN SPARE FOR THESE HEROES!!!

From the War on Terror News site comes this:

A total of 50 Marines lost everything and about 30 Marines lost half of their stuff. These men need us more now then ever. If you could please help. I can't do this alone. [here]

Kassie Claughton is co-ordinating the SA effort, and there are two ways you can help. You can email Kassie at:

mskassie @ centurytel.net
OR
soldiersangels @ gmail.com
(omit the gaps of course.lol)

and let her know what you can send. She will give you the mailing address. OR you can donate directly to a special fund set up through SA and indicate "Marine Fire Fund" on it and SA will get more supplies in the donors name and ship them over! SA main site for donations can be found at:

soldiersangels.org

Our Marines stand for us. Now they need to know we stand with them. Thank you for ANY help you can give.

Semper Fi, Marines.

Also on NewsBlaze. and Assoluta Tranquillita

Brat

Every Day Heroes

Meet Sergeant Crystal Johnson:

Automatic weapons fire, IEDs, and injuries would not be enough to stop a young Army corporal from giving life-saving first aid while defending herself and her comrades. September 2006 would change the life of then-Corporal Crystal C. Johnson of the United States Army. In a convoy of 17 moving through southeastern Iraq, Johnson was the driver in the lead vehicle. Suddenly the calm of an Iraqi night was broken by the deafening sound of an explosively formed penetrator – the most dangerous kind of improvised explosive device. In the chaos, Johnson brought her mangled and flaming truck to a halt as the convoy became the target of an ambush. Dazed, Johnson had to be pulled out the flaming cab by a fellow soldier, Specialist Truesdell, but she quickly regained her composure. Discovering their convoy commander had been slain in the blast, Johnson took control of the situation. With the burning vehicle illuminating the desert night, Johnson and Truesdell reached into the flames and struggled to extricate their badly wounded translator. They just got him out alive as spare ammunition caught fire and began exploding in all directions. The danger was not over. Unseen insurgents began firing at the marooned convoy, with rounds striking dangerously close. Truesdell began laying down suppressive fire with their only operational M16 and Johnson performed life-saving first aid on the gravely wounded man. As reinforcements arrived, Johnson refused treatment until all others were treated first, aiding many of the wounded with her own skills. Johnson, so moved by this episode and her own reactions under such severe conditions, extended her deployment and became a fully qualified Army medic. The September 12th incident would earn her a Purple Heart and an Army Commendation Medal with Valor, a more than promising start to a career of protecting and preserving human life.

Find other links to stories about this amazing young hero here.

Thank you for your service, Sgt. Johnson.

Brat

Diggers Welcomed Home...

Heroes' welcome for brave diggers More than thirty years since Australia's Vietnam veterans were denied a welcome home parade, and spat on for their services to their country, Australia's current crop of troops sent to fight in a foreign war have returned home to a hero's welcome. In Brisbane's CBD thousands of people turned out to cheer more than 700 soldiers, recently returned home from Iraq, as they marched to the War Memorial in King George Square in the city. While many in the crowd waved flags and yelled messages of support to the returning diggers, among those yelling loudest were former Vietnam vets Chris Brown, Popeye Sams and Ocker Greaves. They stood beneath a banner across the Adelaide Street pedestrian overpass that read "well done digger ... welcome home". Read more here...

Jess Thompson watches for friend James "Haro" Harris during the Welcome Home Parade.

Two armoured vehicles lead the troops in the Welcome Home Parade.

Diggers home from Iraq proudly march through the streets of Brisbane City.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Defence Force head Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston prepare to take the salute from the returning diggers.

Soldiers on an armoured vehicle prepare for the Welcome Home Parade

Corporal Shane Williamson kisses partner Candice as five-ear-old Dylan watches from above after the Welcome Home Parade.

Corporal Luke Robinson who has returned from a six-month deployment to OBG west in Iraq, holds daughter, three-year-old Lilly, after the Welcome Home Parade.

Welcome home Diggers...

AC

POV - Leaving the Wire

Those of you who know me in the 'real' world, know that one of the reasons I became a journalist - that I write - is to give others a voice. Everyone has a unique point of view(POV), and I plan to continue a series I began on Tanker Bros. Read on:

Leaving the Wire A professional soldier doing what he is called to do Is hard to comprehend unless you are one of the few. Some draftees felt the momentary flash of that desire To save the world, help people, set an enemy on fire. There is a young soldier, an old timer in that world, Who is in the middle of a rush, fighting, all a-whirl, Doing things he trained for, despite danger and all. He lives a motto, to be all that he can, to stand tall. Weeks without much word, left my heart disturbed. It is hard to describe being the parent of a believer. He has seen the results of our soldiers’ work, knows They can succeed, making a difference if left alone. The electronic age is enlightening but ignorance is ok. There was an e-mail that turned on a bright light today. He shared his ambition, his goal and a step in his plan. I cannot ask him to back off; I must be more than dad. When the warrior leaves the wire he enters his realm. He is the captain and the battleship; he has the helm. They who trained him well created someone to defend The defenseless of the world, badly in need of a friend. There is feeling ignited in him when leaving the wire. Every nerve, every sense, every fiber is transformed. He leans forward with eagerness, ready, embracing Any action that unfolds when protecting this nation. He is very ready, with his skin tingling; his eyes seek Any sign of opposition and danger within their reach. Excited, he would quiver but that is misunderstood. Adrenalin and pride demand he prove he is that good. Leaving the wire leaves a soldier wired, invigorated. Outside the wire a soldier is challenged, motivated. Inside the wire a soldier is just another garrison grunt. Outside he is the king of the jungle, alert, on the hunt. Leaving the safety a life changes, expands, demands That he be prepared for anything in the air or on land. It is hard to tell how a fear of death makes him alive. His task is to break things, win, protect, and survive. He stands beneath a flag flown over other heroes too. Soldiers do not want to kill but do what they must do. Inside that wire is his country, outside are invaders. Home must be held, his heart and soul do not waiver. I do not want him to prove that he is alive by dieing. I pray he walks with care, his job not caution-defying. He has a wife and son he loves, but he has a mission. We all pray for his success and want him here, living. I can see a white-knuckled grip on his ready weapon. His mind does an inventory as he searches the horizon. I read his mind as he hopes his men are as ready as he. There is no question; the task is to keep all people free. Has he taught them enough? Are they tough enough? Can he handle losing one of his own? Are they with him, in that warrior’s zone? Leaving the wire is, is for him, going home. It is his world, a place he understands, he alone. Others like him know what he knows, are linked To him with a bond others do not understand. They are not savages, war-mongers, haters of men. No, they are the opposite; they love humanity. They want people everywhere to have freedom, Choice, joy, a chance; those things are the things They defend When they leave the wire. Mike Mullins, 6/24/08 author of Vietnam in Verse, poetry for beer drinkers...Dco. 3/7 Inf., 199th Light Infantry Bde. book available @iUniverse.com, Barnes&Noble.com., Books-a-million.com and Amazon.com. POW print available via e-mail and book to c.d. coming

Thank YOU, Mike!

Brat

Constitutional Void at California OC for Military

Cops and Criminals in Orange County, California. (..but I repeat myself…) If you exercise your constitutional rights in Orange County Civil Courts, specifically the Lamoreaux Justice Center; and your female-and military; the likelihood of liberty, honor, due processes and dignity are drastically reduced to zero. Female soldiers with children who find themselves having to enter the enclave of the Lamoreaux Justice Civil Courts Center to file and submit forms for their child custody cases, or attend pre-trials and hearings, or any assortment of business one would normally conduct in a typical Civil Court House; are suspiciously being cornered, threatened, detained, arrested for trespassing(?), beaten, molested, put in isolation, and arrested without warrants that are later produced and changed to “fit” the “need.” Then the cycle repeats as many times as the courts, judges, referee’s and officer’s of the court find folly in doing so. However, it doesn’t stop with the Lamoreaux Justice Center. The OC Jail-Santa Ana shares in the brutality. OC officers there enjoy beating female military soldiers as well; “wishing they had done more,” according to an audio recording of one such incident. Did I mention that they have a lovely show called “Jail” that air’s locally for Orange County, California; on Channel 13 at 9 pm PST. The makers/producers of COPS filmed a few episodes out of the IRC. As the cases drag out and the female soldiers continue to exercise their constitutional rights the enormity of the battle grows so much that, a soldier is often left feeling isolated. It is no longer a simplistic case of a singular issue IE: regaining custody, a hearing for a child’s offense, or shared custody within a divorce, etc. It becomes the SOLDIER against the SYSTEMS. The irony is most military personnel live paycheck to paycheck, and affording a private attorney costs thousands. JAG is not available in civil cases such as these; they have defining boundaries for representation. The Civil Courts at Lamoreaux not only expect, but demand that if you do not have a private attorney right there with you, then by default you will “contract” with their system and be represented by their hand-picked crop of public defenders. In this system though, it also means you have just signed over all of your rights, and you will follow to the letter everything handed to you. You have been assimilated. CPS gets a share in the profits, the county gets a share in the profits, and your public defender makes sure the outcome is slanted to benefit the Court and County, and less for the defendant. (Who signs his paycheck??-- THE COUNTY) This is not a conspiracy theory. I wish it was I truly do. Recall Sheriff Corona who was recently indicted. Of all the elected positions in the county-- one would expect that the highest law office in the county, and those that serve in it would be as close to squeaky clean as possible, and/or at the very least demonstrate the highest level of moral and personal character, plus a respect for the laws that they are sworn to enforce. MUCH LIKE THE MILITARY. Not only has this office been rocked by criminal activity, but Corona is gone, and it appears it has NOT made a difference in their MORAL character, their respect for the people they serve, or the laws that they are SWORN to enforce. Four months ago, I honestly thought it was a sequence of events that perhaps did not align properly and there was going to be some perfectly decent explanation for all of it. That was until today, when yet another female soldier made contact. Two known female soldiers are being abused by the Courts and system of OC. How many more does it take before someone pays attention? Does another Chamberlain death accident have to occur? You know the one: Theo Lacy jail guards relying on inmates to enforce order while they watched TV, slept, played card, and video games, read girlie magazines, and engaged in cell phone text chats and conversations. The ordered suspensions include the three jailers, jail guard Kevin Taylor, Deputy Jason Chapluk, and Special Officer Phillip Le all on duty when John Derek Chamberlain was tortured, sodomized and beaten to death by fellow inmates. The beating took place within a short distance of the guards and by design just out of the view of the jail camera monitoring system. RICO anyone? How about Joshua Dominic Wilson, 20, a defensive back for semi-pro football team the Southern California Smash. He was beaten because of an outstanding traffic ticket, and because he couldn’t hold his arms up high enough to appease an officer. He was handcuffed, outnumbered and unable to see because of the pepper spray, he was punched and kicked so severely they fractured his nose in three places, ripped his lip, busted his eye socket and ribs, pounded his jaw, cut his leg and bruised his shoulder. Next, they hog-tied him, twisting his legs behind his back. The motion/hold aggravated an old knee injury, and he pleaded, “Please stop! Please stop!” But the deputies only pushed harder. Finally they threw him in a cell, made him wash up for his “interview” and threatened him and told him they were going to press charges against him for assaulting them. (?) So many more…..

I have cross-posted this from -The Poison Pen- .

I am familiar with one of these stories, and yes, I have researched and read all the other cases Poison Pen mentions. We WILL be following up on this. This is absolutely no way to treat ANY of our troops. Seems to me, something is VERY rotten in the OC 'justice' department.

Stay tuned.

Brat

"From the Frontlines"

$1,055,719!!!!!!!!!!!

That's a whole lot of support for the troops

Brat

B*N*S*N!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back by popular demand! Well, actually, because I WANT to share GOOD NEWS!

Iraqi army shows great growth in year WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Jun. 26, 2008) -- The Iraqi army has grown by 60 percent in the last year, and stands now at nearly 180,000 soldiers. The army is also now training its own soldiers, and its effectiveness in combat has allowed it to concentrate more on improving logistics and supply chains. Brig. Gen. Steven L. Salazar said that during the last year, the Iraqi army has built up internal momentum and has taken the reins for themselves on many soldier training functions. "More and more the Iraqis are doing training for themselves now," Salazar said.... A soldier from the 2nd Battalion, 31st Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division, talks with a Sons of Iraq member during Operation Gunslinger Prowl I, a combined Iraqi and Multi-National Division - Baghdad mission focused at ridding the Taji Qada, northwest of Baghdad, of illegal weapons and improvised-explosive devices June 19. The Iraqi army, now nearly 180,000 soldiers, has grown 60 percent in the last year. The army is growing in both capacity and capability. Photo by Sgt. Brad Willeford

And that's just ONE B*N*S*N which you can read the rest of here.

Brat

One picture...

Hook, line and sinker! Photo by Courtesy photo June 21, 2008 Sgt. 1st Class Douglas W. Anderson, Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment hooked this fish at Camp Slayer, Iraq, June 1. He tried luring the fish with turkey sausage, but the line kept snapping. Finally after six lines broke, he used a 30-pound trilene with half of a bagel for bait and reeled the behemoth into shore. The fish was 5 feet, 10 inches long and weighed 105 pounds. [source]

Brat

Because - YES We CAN

A few days ago, I published a piece called "A REAL Army Wife speaks".. You can find that here.

Later, I posted the series of video ads and counter-ads. They are all under one minute in length, so if you haven't seen them yet, you can go here and here.

In the comments of one of these pieces, it was said that all we need now is the thousands of other military wives/mothers to speak up. Well, another one has. Mrs Hooah writes on Knee Deep in the Hooah! here. She has the creds, trust me. And yes, before any of you get your knickers in a knot, she IS writing as an individual, for herself - because she CAN! - and NOT a mouthpiece for any government agency. She also has a few words to say about the current climate in American politics as they relate to our military. She has given me permission to publish her latest and it IS a must-read (as are the comments...lol)! Read on:

Sockin’ it to the military moms! Brat posted an ad put out by the same liberal, divisive, group that accused our good General of being a betrayer. The ad shows a woman holding her baby, and she tells Senator McCain that when he says ‘we will stay in Iraq for 100 years if that is what it takes to win’, then he can’t count on her baby. The ad is pure tripe. If you don’t get caught up in the “warm fuzzies” the ad is constructed to give (actually I figured out later it was a bowl of chili that caused mine…) you will feel insulted that these people think you are stupid enough to be scared that anyone is asking you to hand over your baby. I have said it before, and I will say it again… a wild dingo is a greater risk to your babies than the US Military. They don’t want your little ones. Calm down! I can honestly say, whole heartedly, as a military mother, that no one came to my home and ripped my babies from my arms. I can also assure you all that I did not take them to recruiter’s station and beg them to take them off my hands. No matter what the ad says, my sons’ decisions to join the military were their own. There is a concept in our Country called “freedom.” Freedom allows young men and women 18 years and older to make their own decisions. Sometimes young adults can sign on before their 18th birthday if their parents agree to it. Babies grow into full grown, voting, legal adults. They make decisions and no matter how much their mother may agree or disagree, there is no legal recourse for her to stop him from doing what he wants to do within the realm of the law. Making decisions for oneself is also called “self determination.” It’s quite a wonderful concept, and something that my adult children practice everyday. I do not tell them what they can and can’t do. I do not tell them what career paths to take. I do not tell them who to vote for. I do not tell them what to eat. They are adults and are perfectly free to make their own decisions in life. I trust them. I trust their abilities to make good decisions. I can trust them because I did my job when they were little and under my care. Sentaor Obama and Senator McCain, listen up; as a military mother times two, I love my sons who are soldiers more than life itself. I have never met a single military mother who is happy, thrilled or at peace that her son or daughter is serving during a time of war, and I am no exception. I do, however, respect the adult decisions of my children, and I support them 100%. Now, if you want to come to my home and take my baby, you can’t have her! She’s only four and I most certainly do have authority over the decisions made in her life. However, if my grown children sign up to serve this great Country and defend our Constitution, I will love and support them — and fully acknowledge that this is their decision to make, on their own. Now, as far as taking innocent ground hogs off the streets and recruiting them at a terribly young age… well, the picture speaks for itself....

HOO-frickin-AAH!

Brat

Cross-posted, with permission, at Assoluta Tranquillita and Miss Beth's Victory Dance

"From the Frontlines"

Week in, week out, those of us in the troop support community send care packages to our troops - no matter where they are stationed. Every day, someone is sending a care package to a soldier, a sailor, an airman, or a Marine.

This Thursday, June 26, 2008, a telethon is being hosted by the pro-troop group Move America Forward. This telethon's aim is to send the largest shipment of care packages - EVER! - to our troops. This grand finale will be live-streamed and many famous names are going to be there as their contribution to making sure that THIS July 4th is one our troops will never forget.

Melanie Morgan of MAF, and Michelle Malkin are hosting the telethon, and just some of the people planning to be part of this history in the making are:

And, of course, you will have to go over to NewsBlaze for the "who, what, why.." etc..Go here.

Be a part of history in the making!
Move America Forward

Brat

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Hero Was Suggested by Mary Ann

Staff Sgt. Jude Voss
1st Battalion, 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne)

His courage illustrates a combat truth to these veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam: Soldiers aren’t thinking about glory or ideals in the midst of a battle. They fight for the men to the left and right of them.

And that’s just what SSgt. Jude Voss did in September of 2006 when, without consideration to his safety, SSgt. Voss ran through enemy fire and the burning, smoking debris of a truck to rescue Sgt. 1st Class Greg Stube. Sgt. Stube was in a bad way. Uniform burning and legs busted, but because of the actions of SSgt. Voss he is alive today.

Because of his actions that day, SSgt. Voss was nominated for and received the Silver Star Medal for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action. “I did what everybody out there would do” Voss said. “I was just the closest guy.”

You can read SSgt. Voss’s story here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We’re In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don’t Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Mooooooooooooooooove on

Another response to those ads.

Former Air Force Major Eric Egland is running for Congress in the 4th Congressional District in California. He is married to Ania Egland. Here is Ania's :30 second video response:



The blurb on this one says:

Ania Egland grew up under communism and is the wife of Eric Egland who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. She is also the mother of two boys and is expecting another child next month (note the belly :).

Thanks to CJ for heads up on this one.
Brat

Trikes for the troops

Rick White - a software engineer out in Colorado, is riding a tricycle Wednesday to raise money for Soldiers' AngelsValour IT program. He has raised almost $11,000 to date, and has a little comments section on his website.

On June 25th Rick is teaming up with SA to take part in Colorado's Bike to Work Day to raise money for the Valour-IT programme. You may remember I wrote about this programme during the annual bloggers' fundraising effort to raise money to buy the voice activated laptops which make a huge difference to our wounded heroes. To remind yourself, (lol) read that post here.

Rick has a website set up for this latest endeavour:

Rick White	Soldiers' Angels	The New Trike

You can find his site Trikes for Troops here. Last year he raised $3,500, which he used to send care packages to the troops. Already this year he has raised almost $11,000., which will buy more than a few laptops.

Check out Rick's website, and even if you can't make a donation, feel free to leave a message of support.

Brat

Energy Response From Senator Hutchinson...

As any American Citizen interested in our government, I make it a point to send letters to my elected representatives whenever I take issue with somthing they do.

Recently, I wrote to Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson concerning America's dismal failure at energy self-sufficiency. While it's true that this is an economic issue, what many people fail to realize is the huge effect on the Global War on Terror.

You have to understand that the high cost of fuel translates into higher costs for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. You also have to think about the stupidity of depending on nations that have a less-than friendly attitude towards the United States for our energy needs. While it's absolutely true that a large portion of our oil comes from Canada and Mexico, you have to remember that even though NAFTA offers some protections, the fact of the matter is that the price of a brrel of oil is set globally. Even if we get a huge chunk of oil from our neighbors, that doesn't mean that China, India, and other large emerging economies also import from our neighbors in the same percentages.

This means that when Venenzuela, Iran, or Saudi Arabia chokes off their end of the the supply network, it adversely affects th price we pay from Canada and Mexico, as well.

The bottom line is this: we have to do SOMETHING. And inaction accomplishes absolutely nothing.

Without further ado, below is Sen. Hutchinson's response to my concerns:

Thank you for contacting me regarding our nation's energy policy. I
welcome your thoughts and comments on this issue.

I support a comprehensive energy strategy that combines conservation, the development of alternative sources of energy, and an increase in domestic oil and gas production. We are increasingly dependent on foreign sources of energy - importing over sixty percent of the oil we use today. Preliminary research data suggests there
may be as much as 125 billion barrels of oil and over 565 trillion cubic feet of natural gas located in designated production areas of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) combined. The domestic oil reserves in both the OCS and ANWR, when coupled with existing U.S. reserves of 21 billion barrels, are more than Iran’s total oil reserve of 136 billion barrels. However, Congress has enacted a moratorium on production in these areas.

In order to bolster domestic production and reduce our reliance on foreign sources, I cosponsored the American Energy Production Act of 2008, which repeals current misguided policy and provides access to America's domestic energy supplies in ANWR and the OCS. The bill also allows access to alternative sources, such as one trillion barrels of shale oil in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. These sources, which presently sit unused, are equal to three times the reserves of Saudi Arabia.

I have also supported numerous initiatives to encourage alternative energy use through market- and incentive-based approaches. On March 28, 2007, I introduced the Creating Renewable Energy through Science and Technology (CREST) Act. It promotes the research and development of renewable energy sources, including wave, solar, wind, geothermal, and biofuels. I am very proud to say that Texas is the nation’s leading producer of wind energy, illustrating our state’s commitment to alternative energy production.

Our nation’s energy policy must be proactive instead of reactive. Some of my colleagues in the Senate believe that imposing a windfall profits tax on oil producers or suing the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is the solution to our country’s energy crisis, when, in fact, neither of these proposed plans produces one more ounce of energy. The burden of this tax would be passed down to the consumer, causing record-high fuel prices to rise even higher. Additionally, a windfall profits tax would discourage oil companies from increasing refinery capacity and furthering exploration and production of our own domestic resources. These are not solutions. Instead, a comprehensive energy policy that combines conservation, the development of alternative sources of energy, an increase in domestic oil and gas production, and a safe nuclear energy program will lower energy costs and help our nation become energy independent.

You may be certain I will keep your views in mind regarding any energy legislation offered in the 110th Congress. I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope that you will continue to keep in touch on any issue of concern to you.

Sincerely,

Kay Bailey Hutchison

United States Senator

284 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

202-224-5922 (tel)

202-224-0776 (fax)

http://hutchison.senate.gov

Violence Down In Iraq!

Fox is reporting that weekly attacks (violence) in Iraq is down.

Way down.

In June 2007, there were in the neighborhood of 1200 violent attacks weekly. In June 2008, it's more around 200.

Anyone that argues that the Surge was a bad idea is an idiot. It's obviously working, one has but to look at the absence of Iraq from the nightly news.

An alleged "Pregnancy Pact" by seventeen high school girls somewhere in America is waaaaayyyy more interesting than the amazing progress the Coalition is making in Iraq.

Right?

Whoops, Almost Forgot...

If you happen to like books, a buddy of mine tipped me off to a great literary site: GoodReads

If you're interested in what I have been reading, and would like to read some of the reviews I have written (Adding more all the time! I just started!), you can find me on GoodReads HERE.

If you decide to create an account (it's free), be sure to drop me a line!

Are You F**kin’ Kidding Me???

File this under the “We can’t think of anything else to beat the Army up with today” category:

ATTENTION! LOTS OF NUMBERS BELOW!!!

I was checking out the Drudge Report this morning (I will freely admit I am what can best be described as a “News Junkie”; I have a constant stream of RSS feeds on my cellphone, I listen to my news radio podcasts on my iPod at the gym everyday, and I don’t even know if the radio in my truck HAS an FM band).

Anyway, it seems like it’s huge news: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell hits Women Much More…”

But is it?

Consider the article, if you will:

While women make up 14 percent of Army personnel, 46 percent of those discharged
under the policy last year were women. And while 20 percent of Air Force
personnel are women, 49 percent of its discharges under the policy last year
were women.
By comparison for 2006, about 35 percent of the Army's discharges
and 36 percent of the Air Force's were women, according to the statistics.

WHAT? Oh the humanity! Forty-Six percent??? That’s HUGE!

Overall, the number of gay men and lesbians discharged in 2007 rose to 627 from
612 a year before, according to Pentagon statistics. Those figures represent a
drop of about 50 percent from a peak in 2001, before the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
According to the statistics, the Army in 2007 discharged 302
soldiers under the policy, up from 280 the year before. The Air Force dismissed
91 people, down from 102 in 2006.

It’s all about statistics, people, and how you can “lie” with them to make your case. The Mainstream Media knows this very, very well. So they tweak the language. Consider, if you will…

Waitasec… taking out my trusty calculator, and what do I find? That 46% of 302 is 130 females that were discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 2007. And in 2006, the number was 101-ish (36% of 180 is 100.8 Soldiers discharged under the same policy).

Wow. That sure seems like a lot of Soldiers that were discharged for violating the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy (that, I may add, was proposed and implemented by a Democratic President and a Democrat Congress).

But put those numbers in perspective: let’s assume that those 130 females for 2007 were all Active Duty Soldiers (the article doesn’t say). According to the FY2005 Total Army Strength (PDF link), there were 488,579 Active Duty Soldiers (Active, Guard, and Reserve population was 1,010,761). So, out with the calculator again:

130 divided by 488,579 = 0.00026%

Yeah.

Seriously.

Those 130 females kicked out for violating the policy represented less than three ten thousandths of a percentage point of the total Army population. (Can someone double-check my math?)

And this is news?

Even considering that 14% of the Active Duty Army population is female, that means that less than two tenths of one percent of Active duty females were discharged for violating the policy. As opposed to, oh, I dunno… Radical Islam, where homosexuals are executed.

Is the Army really so horrible? Recruits who sign up to enlist know the policy. It’s no secret. The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is briefed over and over again during a tyical career. And when someone violates it, what happens?

They get discharged.

Not imprisoned. Not beat. Not executed.

Discharged.

Something I have maintained since I started this blog three and a half years ago was that I found it absolutely amazing that the Left despises the US Army.

Why?

It represents the perfect liberal utopia: everyone has a job, free preventative and acute healthcare, healthy meals, personal freedom is dictated by the government, everyone wears the same uniform, works towards the same purpose, thirty paid vacation days a year, regulations on top of regulations, etc… There is no hunger, no unemployment, your whole family is cared for…

The perfect Utopian society.

Well, except for two glaring differences:

We exist to provide security for the American people, by force and extreme violence to our enemies.
More importantly, the Army is based upon a values system (Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage), and violation of that values system means expulsion (removal) from our society. The values above obviously don’t mesh well with the Liberal lifestyle.

Do you know what I think?

I think that with the US Military making unprecedented success in Iraq and Afghanistan, there was nothing to beat the Army up with. So some egghead decided to see what numbers he could tweak to create a story. And in the Lefty euphoria that’s been sweeping the nation in breathless anticipation of an Ephialtes, I mean, Democrat presidency looming on the horizon… I think the MSM is getting a bit bolder, and more editorial, in their blatantly agenda-led reporting.

And that scares me.

What do y’all think? As usual, comment link is below this post.

A real Army Wife's response to Obama

Army wives. For a huge part of the American population, "Army Wives" is the name of a prime time show on television. Unless you are connected to the military, as a viewer you will have no idea how accurate the portrayal of Army life really is.

However, REAL army wives - oh, you know those who LIVE the military life, day in, day out - are very aware of the inaccuracies, of the absurdities of what is portrayed. And yes, most army wives are very politically aware.

Brenda Freeman is one such army wife, and she is one pissed off wife. Freeman, who has been an army wife for 35 years as her husband has fought for the US, has a dose of her own reality she is dishing out. Freeman sent me the following:

I watch a bit of television. Most all of it is History Channel, Science Channel, Discovery Channel, and so forth. Brain Food I call it. I do not like reality TV of ANY kind, or soap operas. Last time I checked, an Opera was comprised of musical talent and a stage, neither of which Soaps contain. However, I do keep track of nonsensical programs that try to mimic military life or military drama. I mostly do this to pick it apart, and either blog it to death, and write nasty grams, or send posts on their web sites through the roof pointing out all of their flaws and oversights and errors. Hey, I get my kicks occasionally. (shrug) So... the latest on my list is Army Wives. It is on Lifetime Channel. Yea yea yea so what. The point is, I watched it all season last year, and it was "ok" with a few things wrong here and there, I overlooked them. This year is off to an odd start, and I have sent only ONE email complaining that an American Soldier would NOT blow himself up in defiance of a problem - regardless of PTSD, he would shoot a M**F**ker first, "one and done" type deal. HADJI's and terrorists are the chicken Shiites that blow themselves up! Get the SCRIPT RIGHT dumb asses! I hate writers sometimes - But last night I was pissed. No, pissed doesn't begin to describe my mood. It was beyond pissed. I can't even find a word for it still. BETRAYED fits. In the middle of the program there are commercials. One 30 second spot commercial was BHO, saying "Never forget the sacrifices the military spouses make. Then he went on to say that HE KNOWS its hard waiting for your loved one to come home on R&R, and the agony of never really knowing if they are ok or not, and so forth. It is tough being a military spouse. He knows. For more on military spouses, visit Lifetime TV. WELL! What the hell!! First of all, it hasn't been called R&R since WWll. It is called LEAVE. Second of all, what point of reference does he have for "knowing" anything about the trials and tribulations of a military spouse? NADA! ZILCH! NONE! Third, what does he know about the military? (See previous comments.) Fourth, excuse me, but aren't you the same Jr Senator who votes NO on military spending time and time again? Why yes... yes you are! So I repeat myself - WHAT THE HELL! Fifth, isn't it interesting that most of the time, commercial ads have a little logo in the lower right sidebar that say who the ad was paid for by, and lo and behold, from the verbiage, and the LOGO, Lifetime took this cookie! Yes, I looked and pay attention! So, I gathered the typical information such as who writes for the show, who directs the show, who financially supports the show, and so forth, and sent them all a nasty gram. I AM OFFENDED. TOTALLY and COMPLETELY OFFENDED. I also added a post to their blog. I sent emails, and so far today, over 6104 people have done the same from blog spot, my space, and several other places like yahoo, and MSN groups. PATRIOTS ARE NOT HAPPY that we can not simply sit and watch a program without ***** (sorry! I did edit this somewhat... insert your own name for BHO. lol) being shoved in our faces. And to have him speak about knowing a damn thing about the military is blasphemy! That is actually similar to me saying I know a thing or two about flying to the moon because I saw it once on the NASA station and went to the Cape to see a shuttle launch. Yep, know all about it, sure do. NOT. Ok, I am done ranting. For now. Sheesh. Brenda.

My question has to be: Do you think if someone sent this to Obama, he would actually "get" ANYTHING that Freeman is saying? For him to get any sense of what Freeman says here, would demand a radical "change" in who he is. Not going to hold my breath "hoping" for him to get a clue.

Brat

Things that make you.....

....want to vomit:



John McCain is up on the air with TV ads in a bunch of key states and Obama isn't. There's a big vacuum to fill. Luckily, we've got a secret weapon. Our new Iraq ad is the most effective ad we've ever put together. This isn't your average political ad--it lays out the truth about McCain's Iraq policy in a personal and compelling way. We just got the results back and polling shows that voters found it to be more persuasive than any other ad we've tested before.

Brought to you by the delusionists at MoveOn.org. There follows a very convenient way to contribute They even have a special chart to make it easy for you to contribute your dollars to their ad campaign. No! I will not give you the link.....;)

Then, in another contribution to the political debate, I had this sent to me:


This was sent in by our good friend Howie (some may also know him as John Howell who wrote quite a few Reader’s Posts at our old website format, also a Marine veteran) and was made by Tommy Chandler & Crew over at Chandler’s Watch in response to the “John McCain Wants To Kill My Baby” ad from MoveOn.org…heh heh…[but I got it courtesy of Pat Dollard here]

Semper Fi. Ooh-rah, Marines!

And for a great commentary on this debacle, head over to Wake Up America here. 'Nuff said.......lol

Brat
(H/T to Terri for the idea for this post.lol)

A small place for three soldier brothers

The Diggers have begun the process of withdrawing from Iraq, with many feeling satisfied that they have done their job well enough that those who are set to take over will be able to do so with minimal disruption to the locals. There has been significant coverage in our media of how Kevin Rudd kept his election promise (well he had to keep one of them right??) to pull our Troops out of Iraq.

But for those who don't know, the Diggers are still playing a significant role in Timor Leste.

Operation Astute, which began on the 25th May 2006 is now one of the main areas of operation for which the Australian Defence Force are deployed, outside of Afghanistan.

I recently came across the following images of the ADF Soldiers deployed in this region and wanted to share them. So many times we have documented how the children in these war torn regions never seem to have any fear of the Soldiers. I guess if part of their job is winning the hearts of the locals, then these Soldiers have done their job and then some......

It's a "Small" world; (Left to Right) Transport Corporal Jeffrey Small 24, with brothers, Infantry Rifleman, Private Andrew Small from the 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) and Infantry Rifleman, Corporal Gary Small from the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) in Same, Timor-Leste.
Stepping out; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Infantry Riflemen, Private Ben Currie and Private Sean Williams make their way down from their Forward Operation Base to the town of Same, in Timor-Leste.
Colourful; International Stabilisation Force (ISF), Infantry Rifleman, Private Andrew Small from the 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) takes in the colours of the market place, as a local woman walks past in Same, Timor-Leste.
Friendly Faces; Private Sean Williams, 20 of Mildura, Victoria, smiles as local children smile back at him while on patrol in the town of Same, Timor-Leste.
Small Patrol; (Left to Right) Infantry Rifleman, Private Andrew Small with the 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR), with fellow brothers, Transport Corporal (CPL) Jeffrey Small, and CPL Gary Small from 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), chat during a patrol in the town of Same, Timor-Leste. It is the first time they have caught up on Op Astute.
Happy Days; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Private Robert Wiedman, 18 from Milmerran, QLD waves to locals as he strolls through the Same Markets in Timor-Leste.
'Bootielicious'; soldiers from the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Corporal Gary Small, has fun while he sizes up a T-Shirt on Private Robert Wiedman, at one of the shops in Same Timor-Leste.
Time Out; Private Sean Williams, 20 from Mildura VIC, waits on the side of the road for the rest of his patrol as local children and a stray dog look on with interest in the town of Same, Timor-Leste.
Friends in hand; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Private Andrew Small puts his hand out as children give him ' Fives' in the town of Same, Timor-Leste.
Time out in Timor; International Stabilisation Force (ISF), Infantry Rifleman, Private Andrew Small with the 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) waits for his patrol vehicle, on the side of the road with other Australian soldiers as local children gather to sit around them in Same, Timor-Leste.
Convention centre; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Infantry Rifelman, Private Robert Wiedman, 18 from Millmerran, QLD holds locals attenion as he waits with his patrol, for vehicle extraction in Same, Timor-Leste.
Dealer; Infantry Rifelman, Private Robert Wiedman, with the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) shows local children some card tricks as other members of his patrol look on in the town of Same, Timor-Leste.
Local Boys; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Infantry Rifleman, Private Robert Wiedman, 18 from Millmerran, QLD with the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) chats to local boys from the town of Same, Timor-Leste.
A "Small" bit of fun in Timor-Leste; The three Small Brothers (Left to right) Transport Corporal Jeffrey Small with brothers, Infantry Rifleman, Private Andrew Small from the 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) and Infantry Rifleman, Corporal Gary Small from the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) catch up, discussing how hard it has been to meet up. They finally managed it at Same Forward Operating Base Timor-Leste.
Foot Patrol; Australian Soldiers with the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) from the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) Alpha Company make their way along the road in Same, Timor-Leste.
Lead the way; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Infantry Rifleman Private Shane Johnson, 24 from Eaton, near Bunbury WA with the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), Alpha Company, moves with his patrol in Same, Timor-Leste.
On patrol in Same; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) from the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) make their way down the road with an Interpreter, to the town of Same, in Timor-Leste.
Wait out; Australian Soldiers with the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) from the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), Alpha Company, sit on the side of the road waiting to meet up with another patrol in Same, Timor-Leste.
Knuckles; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Infantry Rifleman Private Robert Wiedman, 18 from Millmerran, QLD with the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) shows children a 'cool' way to greet each other in the town of Same, Timor-Leste.
Local interaction; International Stabilisation Force (ISF) soldiers from Alpha Company 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) (Left to Right) Private Sean Williams, Private Robert Wiedman, and CPL Gary Small. Converse with local children in the town of Same, Timor-Leste.

AC

Iraq parliament plans to exit Green Zone

Never at any point since I first started on TB have I enjoyed reading the news as much as I am right now. FINALLY, the world is seeing what we knew all along......

We're winning the War in Iraq.....

Yet more proof:

BAGHDAD - Iraq's parliament will start holding sessions outside the U.S.-protected Green Zone in the fall, the deputy speaker said Tuesday. The 275-member legislative body currently meets in a heavily guarded convention center inside the Green Zone, a sprawling maze of concrete barriers and checkpoints in central Baghdad. Deputy parliamentary speaker Khalid al-Attiyah told lawmakers they will move to the Saddam Hussein-era parliament building for the next legislative term, which is due to begin on Sept. 1. The National Assembly building that was used by the Iraqi parliament under Saddam is in the Allawi district, about 500 yards from the blast walls that form the perimeter of the Green Zone on the west side of the Tigris River. It was looted and burned in the chaos that followed the fall of Baghdad to U.S. forces in April 2003. But al-Attiyah said its reconstruction has been completed. The announcement comes as the U.S.-backed Iraqi government tries to bolster public confidence in recent security gains and assert its independence. "There is progress in the security situation and the reconstruction has been completed of the new building," al-Attiyah said, adding the new accommodations will be large enough for the full legislature and staff members. The Green Zone, which also houses the U.S. and British embassies and the Iraqi government's headquarters, is one of the main symbols of the continued American presence more than five years after the U.S.-led invasion that ousted Saddam. Iraqi legislators hold sessions in a former convention center amid tight security that was reinforced after a suicide bomber slipped through the checkpoints and blew himself up in the building's cafeteria, killing a lawmaker, on April 12, 2007. Read more here..

I am so amazed at the progress being made. But what amazes me more is that this much progress could be made despite the lack of support from home. While politicians argued, Soldiers got the job done. This is a credit to the blood, sweat and tears so many have shed for so long. To know that the tides are turning, that confidence is growing in Iraq is a tribute to everything and everyone lost. It was never for nothing and in the future, a prosperous Iraq will reflect that.

AC

Surge turns the tide in Iraq

As the tide on the Iraq War turns and the world (somewhat grudgingly) is forced to acknowledge the successes of the Troops, the Troop Surge and the ability of the Iraqi's to come together to fight for their freedoms, it is interesting to note that those seeking political gain are still looking to negate the efforts of those who have fought in a bid to win votes.

Ok, so it's more pathetic than interesting, but here is an Australian spin on this Saga....

From Greg Sheridan:

Diggers walk away too soon Greg Sheridan, Foreign editor | June 05, 2008 THERE is something perversely Australian about walking away from an incredibly difficult battle just as we seem to be winning. That is one way you might interpret the decision to withdraw the Australian Overwatch battle group from Iraq. You don't hear much about Iraq these days, mainly because the US-led coalition forces are doing very well, as is the Iraqi Government. The situation remains maddeningly complex but by any measure the US troop surge, with its renewed emphasis on classic counter-insurgency, has been an unqualified success and the Iraqi Government is establishing its own authority. The speeches on Iraq by Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson on Monday were both remarkably good. As so often in Australia, there is very little difference between Labor and the Coalition on this issue now. Nelson said that had the Coalition won the election, it would have transformed the battle group into a training force. Rudd outlined Australia's ongoing commitment to Iraq. This is substantial. It includes a naval commitment in the Gulf, protecting Iraq's port, a security detachment of 110 soldiers protecting our embassy in Baghdad, our own headquarters group, a contribution to coalition headquarters, Hercules and Orion aircraft, and a few other odds and sods. Moreover, our aid to Iraq this year is a whopping $313 million. A large part of this, $238 million, is debt relief. There is also $60 million of regular AusAID assistance, $10million to help Iraqi refugees and $5million for the Australian Federal Police to provide training. Rudd acknowledged that Australia's presence in Iraq today, like the US presence, is wholly legal. He had grave doubts about the legality of the original invasion but the presence today is mandated by the UN and by a request from the legitimately elected Iraqi Government. You can read the rest of this Op/Ed here

From Martin Chulov:

Surge turns the tide in Iraq Martin Chulov | June 06, 2008 AS the last Australian troops in Iraq this week folded their base camp flag, their coalition colleagues marked their lowest monthly combat casualties since the fall of Baghdad five years ago. A light armoured vehicle is directed onto a flat-bed truck as part of Australia's drawdown from southern Iraq. Picture: Defence The diggers' departure was sold as an honourable withdrawal at a time when people have grown tired of talking about the war. But there are growing signs the battle zone they leave behind is markedly different to the one they entered. A total of 19 US soldiers were killed in Iraq during May, the lowest monthly figure since the war began in March 2003. More instructively, death tolls for each month so far this year have been lower than at any time since early 2005. A body count has never been a reliable barometer of a war's success, but trends matter, especially in the politically loaded environment that still consumes three war-weary nations: Australia and Britain have seen the backs of their war leaders and the lead coalition partner, the US, will soon see theirs lift off from the White House lawn. The trend lines have heartened US commanders, but other developments in Iraq have led some strategists and intelligence figures to sound convincingly upbeat about what lies ahead after five years of blood-soaked counter-insurgency and bitter political realities. CIA director Michael Hayden, who is not known for grandiose statements, all but claimed victory over al-Qa'ida in an interview with The Washington Post earlier this week. "Near strategic defeat of al-Qa'ida in Iraq, near strategic defeat for al-Qa'ida in Saudi Arabia, significant setbacks for al-Qa'ida globally," was Hayden's score-sheet. He neglected to mention Afghanistan, where the spectre of al-Qa'ida's brains trust, Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, still haunts the landscape and where Australian troops are set to be redeployed to tackle a resurgent Taliban and its enduring nexus with al-Qa'ida. Nor did he discuss North Africa, where Islamists aligned to bin Laden's world view have turned Algeria into a lawless frontier and are increasingly wreaking havoc in neighbouring Tunisia and Morocco. But recent gains in Iraq have been significant. Hayden, along with the chief of coalition forces in Iraq, US General David Petraeus, attributes much of the relative success to the surge strategy, which brought 30,000 extra troops into the key combat zones in and around Baghdad. The surge took place at the same time as key tribal leaders began to tire of the jihadi foreigners in their midst and responded to a US push to either inform on them, or deny them safe refuge. You can read the rest of this Op/Ed here..

Whether any of us believe the Diggers roles were or weren't scaled down to soon is not important here. What I believe is important is that the world is finally acknowledging that the Surge did, in fact, work. Australians are now seeing the important roles our Diggers took on in Iraq and the importance of the Coalitions role as a whole.

FINALLY, people are setting aside their ideas concieved from the WMD debate and acknowledging that in the future, Iraq will be a better place for all of our roles there.

And one day, maybe, the world will see that former Prime Minister Howard, President Bush and former Prime Minister Blair did, by all accounts, do the right thing when they agreed to enter Iraq in 2003.

I guess the one sticking point for me, through all our countries elections, is this. What would Obama have done on that fateful day, 9/11/01?? What would Clinton have done?? Or Rudd?? With the benefit of not being the person that had to make the decisions and carry the weight and safety of the world as their personal burden, they have attacked, constantly for their own gain. What concerns me now is that the bond of Howard, Bush and Blair is no longer there. The unwavering support between 3 countries traditionally allied has been splintered. That history may condemm them because of the slanted view of the media, because the public misunderstood or are uneducated as to the reasons for us entering Iraq, or because the negatives were used as a tool for political gain.

Typically as the news becomes better it also becomes less public. But still, the news is good and that's what will count to the future generations of Iraq.

AC

History Repeats Itself...

Now that the movie 300 has come and gone (wayyyy gone...), I think that it's good time to talk not about the movie, but the history behind it. The past few days, I have been reading one of my favorite books: "Gates Of Fire" by Steven Pressfield. In the eighteen months, I think I have read that book at least five times.

Though relatively recent (1998), the book is highly regarded in military circles, especially by combat leaders recommending it to their subordinates. It was given to me, as a matter of fact, by a Infantry Captain this last time I was in Iraq. This was before the movie "300" came out.

While the movie was undoubtedly a great work for the big screen, battle in the ancient world was rarely cinematic. There was no rocking soundtrack, no enemy king with more piercings than most entire punk rock bands, no choreographed "battle ballet". There were 300 Spartan infantry, their squires, and a ragtag army gathered from throughout Greece defending the pass in depth, fighting as one. Pushing, trampling, stabbing, slicing. When the weapons and shields lay broken, when a Spartan's comrades lay dead all around him, he fought with every weapon at his disposal: enemy weapons, limbs hacked off an enemy, rocks, fists, fingernails, and finally, teeth.

It was a suicide mission. The Spartan king, Leonidas, knew that his meager force of 4,000 under his command would die in the "Hot Gates". The Greek historian Herodotus wrote that the Persian Army who fought at Thermopylae numbered two million. (Modern estimates put Xerxes' army at about 200,000-250,000). Leonidas was ultimately defeated, but only when the Persian Army outflanked and surrounded the Spartans via a small mountain pass. History tells us that Ephialtes of Tracis, motivated by self-preservation, greed, and contempt for his fellow Greeks, betrayed the Spartans.

While the Persian King Xerxes won a (costly) tactical victory, Greece won a crucial strategic one. With the Persian fleet decimated by the Athenian Navy at Artemisum, Leonidas' sacrifice at Thermopylae served to embolden and unite the Greek Army. Shortly thereafter, the Greeks dealt another crushing defeat to the Persian Navy at Salamis, and routed the Persian Army at Plataea.

Since the Battle of Thermopylae, history is littered throughout with allusions and homage to the 300 Spartans who defended the pass. The famous "Come And Get It" line is directly related to the battle, when the Persian King demanded that the Spartans lay down their weapons. In the first battle of the Texas Revolution (the Battle of Gonzalez), a Mexican Lieutenant tasked to retrieve artillery pieces from settlers at the town of Gonzalez was greeted with a banner inviting him to "Come and Get It", and a volley of fire from the cannons in question. In the Battle of the Alamo, 183 volunteers fought valiantly against a vastly superior Mexican force. While the Texans lost the battle, the sacrifice inspired the Texan Army to rout the Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto soon after (with the battle cry of "Remember the Alamo!") Once again, we saw this when the Spartans sacrificed themselves at Thermopylae, and the inspired Greek Army decimated the Persians at Plataea.

One thing I have always wondered, though... is what would have happened if the Traitor Ephialtes had not sold out his fellow Greeks? Would the Spartans have held out longer, perhaps even pushing Xerxes to sue for peace, or even retreat? Would Plataea even have been fought? By all accounts, the Spartans were crushing the Persians right up until their encirclement.

I know it was a long build up, but now look at the Battle of Thermopylae in the context of modern times. We are fighting a war where the enemy outnumbers us, and we hand him defeat after defeat. By all accounts, we are crushing the enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet, who is/are our Ephialtes of Tracis? Who sells us out, hoping for our defeat out of spite for their country? Who sells us out for greed? Who conspires to offer aid to our enemies, by weakening our forces and exposing our methods of interrogation and intelligence gathering?

Think, people. Think this out before you make your decision this Fall. Because, sadly, Victory or Defeat rests on whether or not we elect a Leonidas... or an Ephialtes.

No, This Is How The US Treats TERRORISTS...

Everyone is following the upcoming US Presidential Election. Even our enemies are following the developments closely. Personally, I think one of the biggest issues that concerns the American Public at Large is how the War on Terror will be conducted in 2009 and beyond.

I don't think my feelings towards the Anti-War movement are a secret.I have nothing but the utmost disdain for people who would make a conscious effort to work against everything we have accomplished in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Let's be honest, though. Barack Obama is the "Anti-War" candidate. No matter what his personal stance on the issue is (though I am 100% convinced it mirrors his public stance), I think it would be the biggest mistake to abandon our efforts to combat the most serious threat to our National Security in the history of our nation.

While enemies we have fought in the past have threatened our military forces, our allies, and our National interests, never before has an enemy targeted our civilians. It is absolutely critical to the safety of our civilians and the security of our nation to bring justice to those who plot harm on the Unites States and its allies.

The US Supreme Court dealt a stinging defeat to our efforts last week. Never in the 232 years of our soverignty have enemy combatants taken prisoner been offered unprecedented access to civilian courts. Do you realize the pain they can put the judical system through? Will Soldiers who have captured these scoundrels have to testify in Federal Court, defending their methods and use of force? Will Soldiers have to read Miranda to detainees?

Sen. Obama took the opportunity to chime in his two cents:

And the fact that the administration has not tried to do that has
created a situation where not only have we never actually put many of these
folks on trial, but we have destroyed our credibility when it comes to rule of
law all around the world, and given a huge boost to terrorist recruitment in
countries that say, 'Look, this is how the United States treats Muslims...

No, Sen. Obama. You are absolutely wrong. This how the United States treats terrorists. The fact that all the prepertrators of the 9/11 attacks, from planning to execution of the attack, were Muslim is of no consequence or bearing. The fact that 99% of the terrorists we caputre or kill in Afghanistan and Iraq are Muslim is of no consequence. The operative word is terrorist.

I stand in awe at how much ground we have given to the defeatists in our midst since this war began. For being defeatists, they sure are racking up a whole bunch of victories. First, they made a point of publishing our electronic surveillance efforts to the world, causing Al Qaeda to dramatically change their methods. Then, they attacked the treatment of prisoners in Guantanamo: where the prisoners eat better, are afforded better health care, and enjoy more religious freedom than the US Soldiers who are guarding them! To add the icing to the cake, now they want to give these self-admitted killers and murderers, most of which were caught red-handed in the perpretration of their crimes, unparallelled access to our Federal Courts!

So what's the answer, Tanker Brothers and Sisters??? Hand them over to the Afghan and Iraqi governments for incarceration and prosecution, with access to the prisoners for interrogation and intel? Or how about a "take no prisoners" approach?

And in a recent development, now these defeatists want to add a stipulation into the 2009 Defense Authorization Act to prohibit the US Military from holding press conferences, arguing that these press conferences amont to propaganda.

Last month, the House of Representatives passed legislation to prohibit the
military from engaging in “any form of communication in support of national
objectives designed to influence the opinions, emotions, attitudes or behavior
of the people of the United States in order to benefit the sponsor, either
directly or indirectly.

Like, you know... telling the truth about our victories in Iraq and Afghanistan. You know those press conferences by LTG Odierno and MG Lynch from Iraq? According to The Democrat majority in Congress, this amounts to propaganda. Equal to, say, Commissars in the Red Army during WWII. Amazing.