US Troops Delight in Iraqi Rebel - al-Qeada Fighting

I'm not one to gloat out loud, but this is funny in a strategic way, if you know what I mean... It seems the Iraqi "rebels" and al-Queda guys are duking it out on the Syrian Iraq border, under the watchful eyes of our troops... Hat tip: Little Green Footballs...

A Little Computer Humor ala Abbott and Costello

If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their famous sketch, "Who's on first?" might have turned out something like this: COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you? COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer. ABBOTT: Mac? COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou. ABBOTT: Your computer? COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one. ABBOTT: Mac? COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou. ABBOTT: What about Windows? COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here? ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows? COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows? ABBOTT: Wallpaper. COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software. ABBOTT: Software for Windows? COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have? ABBOTT: Office. COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything? ABBOTT: I just did. COSTELLO: You just did what? ABBOTT: Recommend something. COSTELLO: You recommended something? ABBOTT: Yes. COSTELLO: For my office? ABBOTT: Yes. COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office? ABBOTT: Office. COSTELLO: Yes, for my office! ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows. COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need? ABBOTT: Word. COSTELLO: What word? ABBOTT: Word in Office. COSTELLO: The only word in office is office. ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows. COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows? ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W." COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "w" if you don't start with some straight answers. OK, forget that. Can I watch movies on the Internet? ABBOTT: Yes, you want Real One. COSTELLO: Maybe a real one, maybe a cartoon. What I watch is none of your business. Just tell me what I need! ABBOTT: Real One. COSTELLO: If it's a long movie, I also want to watch reels 2, 3 and 4. Can I watch them? ABBOTT: Of course. COSTELLO: Great! With what? ABBOTT: Real One. COSTELLO: OK, I'm at my computer and I want to watch a movie What do I do? ABBOTT: You click the blue "1." COSTELLO: I click the blue one what? ABBOTT: The blue "1." COSTELLO: Is that different from the blue w? ABBOTT: The blue "1" is Real One and the blue "W" is Word. COSTELLO: What word? ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows. COSTELLO: But there are three words in "office for windows!" ABBOTT: No, just one. But it's the most popular Word in the world. COSTELLO: It is? ABBOTT: Yes, but to be fair, there aren't many other Words left. It pretty much wiped out all the other Words out there. COSTELLO: And that word is real one? ABBOTT: Real One has nothing to do with Word. Real One isn't even part of Office. COSTELLO: STOP! Don't start that again. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with? ABBOTT: Money. COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have? ABBOTT: Money. COSTELLO: I need money to track my money? ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer. COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer? ABBOTT: Money. COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer? ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge. COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much? ABBOTT: One copy. COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money? ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money. COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money? ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT! [A few days later] ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you? COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off? ABBOTT: Click on "START."

My 4th of July Present and How We Can Return the Favor

I slept in this morning, and then lazily took my time getting ready for the day. I fired up "the Beast" and opened Outlook. It's the 4th of July on the email. It's from a young Navy Corpsman. I only know of this man from his words in the comments section of another blog, but I sent him and email last month, thanking him for his service. Today he thanked me for taking the time to do so. His words are telling, and worthy of your consideration, for they convey something we know is going on with the media's move to make the GWoT into something wrong and immoral. We can easily shake it off. We can link to the blog of a real person, with a real vision, with a real heart, in the middle of the sandbox, that gives us hope that all is not lost, that the young men and women, and sometimes not so young of the same types, are doing what others have done before them, so that we may sit in our backyards with our friends and families today. Our troops don't have that luxury. When the stacks of Time, Newsweek, NYT, etc, etc, etc are laying out on a table to read, and they have a precious moment of free tiem, they pick it up, anxious to see what's going on in the "world." They are routinely slapped in the face with headlines that their eyes must cross, that either directly imply, or clearly state that their efforts are either in vein, or bordering on criminal. Here's my proof:

"The majority of the news we get while in country is about anti war protests or one of our fallen brothers family dishonoring his death and renouncing the military and our cause."

What's their source of input to counter this flood of negativism? Your support...your emails, your letters, your care packages. My truth, which I have known, having been on the other end of this issue myself, is reinforced with his words this very day:

"And it's people like you that we think about while fighting in country."

I'm humbled, and I know I'm just one. I presume "like you" tells a story that he received many emails in support of he and his shipmates. I know you're all out there. In summary, it's a good day to take a moment to express your thanks and support to those who are not only in the sandbox, but to any serving member of the Armed Forces, for they all are necessary to keep us in fireworks, BBQ and potato salad today. It's sometimes hard to think how a mechanic under a tank at a repair depot, who may be so competent that he or she will never be allowed to transfer to a combat zone, is part of the GWoT, but they are deserving of our thanks, too. Thank all you can find, or think of. And, don't make it just a holiday thing, every day is a holiday for us, compared to what the troops in theater are putting up with in our name. Maybe, now that I think about it, do make it a holiday routine to thank them.... Here's the post where I reported on then HM3 Pell's (now HM2) journey to the graveside of his brother in arms....it's a good day to read it again...lest we forget the cost.

A Tale of 9/11 - One Man's Story...

Just read this story, the memory of that day of a Cantor-Fitzgerald employee... Hat tip to Right Thinking Girl

"I'd Still Do It... Here's Why"

A young woman has chosen to take a path to a military career out of high school. Here's her new blog, Politics of a Patriot, which is still new enough that you can catch up on all of her writing very quickly. If you read it all, you'll see her decision was cemented with the death of her cousin, LCpl Jerimiah Kinchen, USMC last year. She put up a site to help get stuff to the men he served with in the 4th Marine Recon. What really caught my eye was her sharing "I'd still do it," and it's posts like this that give me hope for the future of this country and the world. She certainly doesn't fit the media's mold of being part of a culture of entitlement. Check her blog out... Thanks for the open link, Mudville Gazette!!

"SCAPA" - A New Acronym...

The Supreme Court of the United States (hereinafter referred to as "SCOTUS") recently considered the question of whether a governmental entity could extend the power of "eminent domain" (hereinafter referred to as "ED") to include the taking of private property for "public use" as set forth in the Constitution of the United States Fifth Amendment could also cover "public good" situations, specifically in terms of razing a property to make way for some commercial development that would generate more tax revenue. I discussed some of my thoughts on this decision, as to why I think the alignment of who was on the majority side in this post a few days back... SCOUTUS handed down a 5-4 decision saying a local government could in fact confiscate your property, agsint your wishes, in order to place a more (tax wise) profitable establishment in it's palce. Most of you know this already. I propose a new term to be used to describe this confiscation: "SCAPA" - Supreme Court Authorized Property Acquisition. Use: "I just had my family's home of three generations taken by a SCAPA action." Use it often, so others can realize when govenments use ED, then you know to think of those fun justices at SCOTUS that brought you this confiscation act... and...ending on this note, see what some people are scrambling to do, because they can! I think there must be at least four other residences that could be bulldozed to provide more tax revenues, too... "It's always dangerous to set a precedent, for you never know when you'll have to live by it." - Me, 1988. Thanks to Mudville Gazette Open Posting!

History Repeats Itself in Iraq

The more things change, the more they stay the same. We invaded Iraq, and it was difficult, yet we managed to militarily subdue a nation is a very short time. The troops fought well against some dedicated opposition. We had seen the amount of conflict reduce as time went on. In reading blogs from those on the front lines, I noticed fewer entries about VBIEDs going off, and more posts that were substantive reports on getting to know the local population, helping out injured Iraqis, doing community projects... The in recent weeks, the number of attacks by the terrorists ramped up, and we began losing increased numbers of service members. As a result, members of our Congress began calling for a a timeline to pull out of Iraq, and began pronouncing the entire effort as the now well worn out word "quagmire." What's happening? The opposition is taking some shots at us. Where have we seen this before? In the center of Europe in late 1944, the was a little shoot-em-up recorded in history as "The Battle of the Bulge."

"The Battle of the Bulge which lasted from December 16, 1944 to January 28, 1945 was the largest land battle of World War II in which the United States participated. More than a million men fought in this battle including some 600,000 Germans, 500,000 Americans, and 55,000 British. The German military force consisted of two Armies with ten corps(equal to 29 divisions). While the American military force consisted of a total of three armies with six corps(equal to 31 divisions). At the conclusion of the battle the casualties were as follows: 81,000 U.S. with 19,000 killed, 1400 British with 200 killed, and 100,000 Germans killed, wounded or captured. In late 1944 Germany was clearly losing the war...."

We had breached Fortress Europe on the beaches of Normandy, fought across France and entered Belgium, enroute the invasion of Germany. I'm sure if you had been with the troops surrounded at Bastonge, you certainly wouldn't conceive that the Germans were, as the last line of the except above properly presents being characterized as "clearly losing the war." It was a last gasp for Hitler, hoping he'd make a big enough dent in the pending invasion to regain the offensive. Since we are so lucky to know the end of the story, we know his gambit failed. The Third Reich was crushed within the next 7 months. I think we are in this circumstance once again. The terrorists, like Hitler sense the end is near and need to score some big points and hope we'll go defensive and possibly have the will of the people broken. At the Battle of the Bulge, the situation for our troops was far more desperate, and there was a reasonable probability of them being overrun. How did the on scene commander respond? When asked by the German Commander to surrender, Gen McAulffie responded with a one word, famous answer: "Nuts!" A commander surrounded, using cooks and clerks and anyone else with a uniform, to hold off the Wermacht troops, stood his ground. Patton's Army did a "left face" and sped north to relieve the troops at Bastonge, no small feat for an entire Army. The outcome? Stunning defeat for the enemy. I once heard courage defined as hanging on for 10 seconds more than anyone else. I think that definition tends to fit will into this discussion of a battle 61 years ago. I think it's a thought we need to hold onto for today. My take is, like sharks, who can sense 2 parts per million of blood in the water, the terrorists have heard the cries from our own Congress, and are making an all out effort to make a splash. They want us to perceive they have been resurrected, and this spate of attacks is a foreshadowing of what is to come. It defies logic to believe an enemy, who has no "home court" at all, is composed of various competing groups, loosely held together by a hatred for the allied forces, with no effective means of secure communications, facing a well equipped and well trained military, armed with technological marvels to augment boots on the ground cannot have gathered the resources to mount a sustained offensive capable of dislodging our forces. On the other hand, having learned the lesson of both Vietnam and Mogadishu, know if they can spill some US soldier's blood and get Congress to begin howling for a pull out, there is a chance we will leave, only to later find out they were on a tactical "sprint," designed to appear as a strategic offensive. We also need to hold to these lessons. They are on the ropes, the country of Iraq is coming along well, we need to steel ourselves hang on for "10 more seconds." We have been here before, facing much worse at the Alamo, Gettysburg, at the Chosin Reservoir, in the Pusan Perimeter, and during the Tet Offensive. In each case, the US military stood up to the task with incredible dedication to a cause greater than themselves, and, while men were lost, the long term battles were won. To pull back now is to admit defeat and go home, not only dishonoring the sacrifice of the 1700+ service members lost in this war, but the loses of all before them on the battlefields here and abroad where we have fought to defend freedom. at's happening? The opposition is taking some shots at us. Where have we seen this before? In the center of Europe in late 1944, the was a little shoot-em-up recorded in history as "The Battle of the Bulge."

"The Battle of the Bulge which lasted from December 16, 1944 to January 28, 1945 was the largest land battle of World War II in which the United States participated. More than a million men fought in this battle including some 600,000 Germans, 500,000 Americans, and 55,000 British. The German military force consisted of two Armies with ten corps(equal to 29 divisions). While the American military force consisted of a total of three armies with six corps(equal to 31 divisions). At the conclusion of the battle the casualties were as follows: 81,000 U.S. with 19,000 killed, 1400 British with 200 killed, and 100,000 Germans killed, wounded or captured. In late 1944 Germany was clearly losing the war...."

We had breached Fortress Europe on the beaches of Normandy, fought across France and entered Belgium, enroute the invasion of Germany. I'm sure if you had been with the troops surrounded at Bastonge, you certainly wouldn't conceive that the Germans were, as the last line of the except above properly presents being characterized as "clearly losing the war." It was a last gasp for Hitler, hoping he'd make a big enough dent in the pending invasion to regain the offensive. Since we are so lucky to know the end of the story, we know his gambit failed. The Third Reich was crushed within the next 7 months. I think we are in this circumstance once again. The terrorists, like HItler sense the end is near and need to score some big points and hope we'll go defensive and possibly have the will of the people broken. At the Battle of the Bulge, the situation for our troops was far more desperate, and there was a reasonable probablity of them being overrun. How did the on scence commander respond? When asked by the German Commander to surrender, Gen McAulffie responded with a one word, famous answer: "Nuts!" A commander surrounded, using cooks and clerks and anyone else with a uniform, to hold off the Wermacht troops, stood his ground. Patton's Army did a "left face" and sped north to relieve the troops at Bastonge, no small feat for an entire Army. The outcome? Stunning defeat for the enemy. I once heard courage defined as hanging on for 10 seconds more than anyone else. I think that definition tends to fit will into this discussion of a battle 61 years ago. I think it's a thought we need to hold onto for today. My take is, like sharks, who can sense 2 parts per million of blood in the water, the terrorists have heard the cries from our own Congress, and are making an all out effort to make a splash. They want us to perceive they have been resurrected, and this spate of attacks is a foreshadowing of what is to come. It defies logic to believe an enemy, who has no "home court" at all, is composed of various competing groups, loosely held together by a hatred for the allied forces, with no effective means of secure communications, facing a well equipped and well trained military, armed with technological marvels to augment boots on the ground cannot have gathered the resources to mount a sustained offensive capable of dislodging our forces. On the other hand, having learned the lesson of both Vietnam and Mogadishu, know if they can spill some US soldier's blood and get Congress to begin howling for a pull out, there is a chance we will leave, only to later find out they were on a tactical "sprint," designed to appear as a strategic offensive. we also need to hold to these lessons. They are on the ropes, the country of Iraq is coming along well, we need to steel ourselves hang on for "10 more seconds." We have been here before, facing much worse at the Alamo, Gettysburg, Wake Island, Chosin Resevoir, in the Pusan Perimeter, Ia Trang Valley, Khe Sanh and during the Tet Offensive. In each case, the US military stood up to the task with incredible dedication to a cause greater than themselves, and, while men were lost, the long term battles were won. The enemy of today isn't anywhere near the caliber of the other amred forces we encountered in those battles. Our forces are today every bit as good as thier predecessors wearing the uniforms of the United States. This entire push by the left is what we used to call a "banana." Put something stupid in your staff work, near the front, to catch the boss' eye, let him harange you for it, correct that and come back to get it signed out "because it reads much better now." Don't buy into it, "read" their entire message... To pull back now is to admit defeat and go home, not only dishonoring the sacrifice of the 1700+ service members lost in this war, but the loses of all before them on the battlefields here and abroad where we have fought to defend freedom, particularly in desparate circumstances. Update 6/30/2005: Reference my speculation above, see what Major K has to say about the terrorists' huffing an puffing (before being smoked like a cheap cigar....) Thanks for Mrs Greyhawk of Mudville for the "Dawn Patrol" link.

"Excuse Me, Sen Durbin, Your Lack of Courtesy is Showing"

I found the below article via a Daily Read Board entry by Yankee Sailor. Here it is. Peachy!

"Durbin Offers Vets Apology for Remarks Email this Story Jun 25, 11:12 PM (ET) By JAN DENNIS PEORIA, Ill. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin apologized to war veterans Saturday for his remarks earlier this month comparing interrogators at an American-run prison camp in Cuba to Nazis and other historically infamous regimes."

I guess Dick Durbin thinks we fell off the cabbage truck yesterday, but does anyone else notice something completely disingenuous here?

""I think when you've done something hurtful to people you have to stand up and say I'm sorry," Durbin said at a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Peoria, five days after he apologized for the comments on the Senate floor."

Clue for Senator Durbin: You got that right, but what you got wrong is: (Oh how I wish Sam Kinison was here right now and I could record him saying this) "WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME, SENATOR DURBIN!" Maybe Sneator Durbin should have listened more closely to the words spoken in the 2004 Presidential Campaign.... Why did you go to the VFW in Illinois to apoligize? Did you say anything on the floor of the Senate about how Americans service members in WWII, Korea, Vietnam or GWI acted like Nazis, or did I really miss the "revised and extended comments" you guys always make and pretend like you said something on the floor of the Senate Chamber, when you really never said it to any audience? (Back to Sam Kinison initaion) "IT WAS THE MEN AND WOMEN AT GTMO YOU INSULTED AND THEY ARE IN GTMO, HAVING FECES THROWN AT THEM, WITH TERRORISTS THREATENING TO KILL THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES, WHILE YOU HAVE A BEER WITH PEOPLE YOU DIDN'T INSULT!" I'd really like to know, after all the "trips" you have taken on my tax dollars, Senator Durbin, why you couldn't pick up the phone and ask for the United States Air Force to pick you up and fly you to Camp X-Ray, so you could humble yourself before the men and women who have shown remarkable restraint, unlike you, in the performance of their duties? You know they would have done that for you, despite their personal feelings. Our Air Force, like their Army MP counterparts at GTMO are professionals.

"Initially, Durbin refused to apologize, but he relented as the firestorm over his remarks continued."

Yep, and so for my Kinisonion "WRONG TIME!" comment. Five days later? Did your staff sheild you from the reality of what the outcome of your actions on the Senate Floor, or did you plan to have it simmer in the public view for this long, to make sure it's toxicity saturated deep enough?

"Durbin received a standing ovation from most of the crowd after his speech Saturday. Charlie Brimm, 55, said Durbin's comments upset veterans, but most think his apologies are sincere. "It took a pretty big man to come up in front of a veterans group after the comments he made just a week or so before," said Brimm, a former state VFW commander and Army veteran of the Vietnam War."

Open comment to Mr. Charlie Brimm: Thank you for your service to our nation, but please do not accept what is not yours to take credit for. I think it took a lesser man to come before you, than to stand in the very presence of those he defamed before the world. By your acknowledgement of his "apology," you give Senator Durbin a false seal of approval he will use to excuse his egregious behavior. You, sir, have been used for his political gain. I think you would have done more service to this country, to compliment your past service, by holding your applause and directing a comment to the speaker such as this: "We veterans here in Peoria cannot accept this apology. It is not our place to do so. We were not there, we did not have a hand in the situation of which you spoke of on the floor of the Senate. We do know where the people are who are owed your words in person. They are our brothers and sisters in arms, across the ages, connected by the common experience of service to this country while wearing the uniform of the Armed Forces. Those who you have spoken ill of are stationed at Camp X-Ray, Gauntanamo Bay, Cuba. Go there and stand in their presence and apologize." Clue for the clueless: If you wrong someone, go to them and make amends. Surrogates are not acceptable if you are sincere. If you are using surrogates, then it's clear what your motivation has been... Thanks to Mudville Gazette's open posting!

We're All in This Together - Part I

I'm not sure if this will really become a multipart post, but I suspect it might end up that way, hence the "Part I" label. The decision last week by the Supreme Court regarding the extension of "eminent domain" to be used by local governments is something we all have, unfortunately, have had a part in. Please stick with me on this one, and don't dismiss this discussion too quickly. I dislike the decision, and my father was a land appraiser for the federal government, so I understand the concept. In the early years of my life, much of his work was involved in the very issue, working for the Army Corps of Engineers, and working across the northern mid-West to procure land for the Minute Men silos. That sure seems like a reasonable use of "eminent domain" in the public Constitutional context...for the great good (defense) rather than for the greater dollar in taxes. I first thought it was interesting that the "liberals" on SCOTUS sided with developers, AKA "BIG BUSINESS." Shocking!, I thought....but as the evening wore on, I started to get it. The outcome of developers getting access to just about any piece of property is, as was argued before the Court, to generate a greater tax revenue base than the property currently does. That's the key: Taxes. The liberals "got in bed" with the "BIG BUSINESS" so there would be more taxes put in the hands of the local governments, and therefore more capital to use to, shall I say politely, "purchase voting power." Taxes. The key, the locus of this discussion. Mystery solved as to "WHY?" DANGER! DANGER! Will Robinson! - or What's the possible and not completely out of the question "unintended consequence" of this SCOTUS poor judgment? Hmmm...lemme see...I envision large buildings on nice property that happen to have a "tax exempt" status held by the "owners" (in quotes, for it seems like SCOTUS doesn’t think anyone can own any property). Any type of commercial activity on the same property would automatically yield more tax dollars. Do the (very simple) math.... What sort of places are these? Yep, religious (and that means all of them who have done their paperwork) organizations. But, don't forget, each and every 503(c) organization that has picked up property is in the same boat. While I'm sure the People for the American Way are licking their chops at the prospect of getting a lot of their "competition" wiped out, the American Red Cross, the Cancer Society and so many other organizations of great merit are now subject to the same interpretation. If there is enough differential in taxes to be pulled in, nothing is safe where it stands. Now the part that I think is important. We all had a piece of this. As with any business, if you need more capital, then you have a few ways to get it. One is to cut efficiencies, the other is to go out and get more (increased sales, etc). Our local and federal governments have provided many things to us, and, on "both sides" of the aisle, we benefit and have become comfortable in those things we take for granted. Those things are paid for by taxes. I perceive that nation has become far more self-centered, but still, we are generous, and this has helped drive us asking our governments to do more. We also have great demands placed on our state and local agencies by federal legislation, that directs states to carry out the actual leg work, with these laws basically being unfunded (to the states). Two cases in point are Megan's Law and the other was the Brady Bill. Each has their merit in the eyes of their proponents (but that's not part of the discussion), and each imposed administrative and resource demand, "unplanned" (in the budgetary terminology) at the state and below levels. Funding demands increased, even with the locals getting a say in it. Then we have all those pet projects, usually funded by bond issues, and they end up being white elephants. The aquarium here is not pulling the projected revenues, but it's doors are still open. The local stadium owners got loans from the public pocket at incredibly low rates and with a 99 year term. It's making money, but the lack of the money being paid back for the cost of construction has similar implications. There are many other examples to draw from, and I'm sure you're all aware of similar things where you are. You probably just thought of a few while you read. In all of this, we have failed to exercise our powers to think of the reasonable costs of any benefits/projects when we let them go thru. In many cases, our compassion overruns our thoughtful analysis of what can really happen if we pass "program X?" One of the ones I see coming home to roost one day is one I think the Democrats did an outstanding job of strategic planning to get through: About 5-6 years ago, when the big deal was to hammer the tobacco companies for their purported (and I haven't followed this well enough to know the truth - please forgive me) intentional making smoking products more addictive, the big tobacco guys were being sued by all manner of governments in the feeding frenzy. Congress increased federal taxes on tobacco products. It seemed as though it would be a good method for helping people see the price increase, passed to them, to quit smoking/dipping/etc. At the same time, they designated the increased tax revenue go to fund medical insurance for under-privileged children. This is one of those things that makes sense at one level, and is part of our overflowing compassion. Look at this closely. Congress is trying to bankrupt the evil business that has a product that cause cancer. To do so, they tax it heavier. The adage is: If you want less of something, tax it! Congress, cheered on by many citizens and businesses, commence to try and eradicate the industry. Now, if this happens, the tax money from the increased taxes, and then the money from existing taxes will dry up and go away. OOPS! The tax money goes for a program that provides health care to the needy, but specifically to the children. But, we're trying to get rid of the industry. Our heads begin to explode, as the tax money goes away. The poor children aren't getting the medical we have been providing them (and this will be couched as though this program has been around for centuries, the dirty details above being left out), so we have to take some of the money for the moment, from another program, and then we'll have to find another taxation source to replace the lost revenues. BZ, democrats who planned this, for we'll not let the children, who will have been receiving the benefits from this program for many years now, go without, and it will just be a program that has been around for a long time... The point is not to discuss the rightness or wrongness of these programs being used as examples, but to use the reality of them to show the intricacies of the tax system and how it is manipulated. The other way to keep our governments thinking is to do this: Demand they quit looking for ways to help anyone who "shows up at the door" asking for a hand out. Intelligently decide, given the constraints how much is enough. Keep the bottom line within the positive range by managing the money. We're in this together because we don't seem to get involved enough. Let me say this: Getting involved is not merely reading a few headlines and making a sign, it's thoughtful research on the issues at hand and then working with the appropriate government officials to get the money under control. Once this discipline is in effect, then it will be far less likely that our elected people will be open to hunting up more tax revenues, by taking our property. No matter how “feel good” some “fix” to the issue of the moment seems to be, engage your brain and think how it will affect the community in the long run. Thanks to Mudville Gazette for the open posting!

Lessons from Vietnam - The Ripple Today

Something profound has happened in this country, as a result of the changes caused by the Vietnam War. I do know there was more support for the War than the HBM would have you realize, as I was present of a speech at the Naval War College in 1988, where the speaker proved, using notable polls, that the people were behind the war, and college educated people had some of the highest percentages. The analysis tracked the polls, such as Gallup, over about the last decade of Vietnam, and will things went down, noticably after the Spring 1968 Tet Offensive, the majority was always supposrtive of the war, except one group...Congress. The enemy had there ear then, as it has grabbed in now. For all the educational background and life experience of those who go to represent our personal, local and National interests, they are the ones I see that didn't get it then, and don't get it now. Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results... On the other hand, those of the American population, with out all the connections and campaigning, and education, it appears they "get it" and in an amazing way. Marine Corps Mom shares an email on her blog from Capt Steve Alverez, USA. If you're prone to getting teary eyed, grab your kleenex, if not, you just might be a little, for this man tells us how he has been supported, and it is nothing like the "support" our fathers received when they came home from Vietnam. It will give you hope and a warm feeling, knowing "we" care for our troops....

SCOTUS Ten Commandments Decision

CNN News on the Ten Commandments Decision....

"Supreme Court bars Ten Commandments at courthouses Justices allow Commandments at state capitol Monday, June 27, 2005; Posted: 11:32 a.m. EDT (15:32 GMT) story.generic.scotus.jpg RELATED • CNN/Money: High court victory for cable • Court refuses to hear reporters' appeals YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Supreme Court or Create Your Own Manage Alerts | What Is This? WASHINGTON (AP) -- A sharply divided Supreme Court on Monday upheld the constitutionality of displaying the Ten Commandments on government land, but drew the line on displays inside courthouses, saying they violated the doctrine of separation of church and state. Sending dual signals in closely-watched cases, the high court said displays of the Ten Commandments -- like their own courtroom frieze -- are not inherently unconstitutional. But each exhibit demands scrutiny to determine whether it goes too far in amounting to a governmental promoting of religion, the court said in a case involving Kentucky courthouse exhibits. In effect, the court said it was taking the position that issues of Ten Commandments displays in courthouses should be resolved on a case-by-case basis. In that 5-4 ruling and another ruling, involving the positioning of a 6-foot granite monument of the Ten Commandments on the grounds of the Texas capitol, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was the swing vote. The second ruling, likewise, was 5-4.

Chase the link at the top of the page for the entire story...

A Message from the Ghost of Patton

This is a flash presentation worth seeing... General George S. Patton updated for the new millenium, complete with recent pictures and salty languages to get his point across... Hat Tip: moonbatslayer in an open post comment section on Little Green Footballs. Thanks for Mudville Gazette for the Open Post!

"Convoy of female Marines Struck" - St Pete Times

That's the headline on today's paper. I think it communicates the utter confusion this nation is suffering from. Since this news broke, where a Marine convoy, which happened to have some female members assigned to it, was attacked by the terrorists, the not so subtle message in the HBM is the complete HORROR that our females are being killed and wounded. Maybe they don’t read each other’s reports. What I can’t find are the details where the operation order had the Marines load up a bunch of women to deliver them to some location. To me, that would be a convoy of women. Think about this: if a group of trucks had been hauling fuel to a FOB and it was attacked, then the HBM would have run a headline like “Supply Convoy of Fuel Attack – Big Explosions Resulted,” They wouldn’t have reported it as a “Convoy of Men.” The headline also implies the convoy was made up of women, as opposed to having had some women service members with the men, who also were part of the force. In addition, the women were part of the convoy in order to be able to search any Muslim women they may have encountered and suspected of wrong doing. It’s amazing that our military can bend over backwards to minimize cultural conflict, and all we hear about is how some of our women are killed. Women Marines is what they were. I suspect that if they were here to speak for themselves, they might correct me and say they were simply “Marines.” It would have been a nice balancing point in light of how badly the military is accused of treating the terrorists in GTMO. Sorry, no good news for us! Please excuse me for doing something so un-“PC” as to replay a little history for the masses: It's called equal rights. I'm not talking about the equal right to be killed, I'm talking about the push through the 70's and 80's that said women are required to have every opportunity that the men of our society do. This is still a work in progress, more often played out in much less contrasting ways, when we see surveys saying women are still not earning as much as the men. Thankfully, in many ways, we have come to grips with the equality issues and there isn't the acrimony in the discussions that there was a few decades ago. We have come a long way indeed. Part of the equal rights for women has been a long standing push for women in the military to have every field opened up to them. In the attack yesterday, we see the outcome of such a societal desire. I mourn for their loss, yet am saddened that the liberally leaning media, which was always on the side of the women being treated equally equation, now seems so incredulous when women share in what men had traditionally had for themselves. The military has been enriched by the addition of the women, but it has not been without it's problems. Like everything else, we learn to deal with the right thing to do. My own career took me about 16 years to accept women as equals, and when I was "taken to school" by a very competent officer, I realized I had been wrong. If I can admit that, I'd hope the press can do that much. To pull a few threads together, the women were there particularly in order to make our presence less obtrusive in the Middle East. I think it is logical to say the very policy of equal rights had two impacts here: 1) The fact they were serving members of the armed forces gave our commanders an ability to be sensitive to local cultural issues. The women in the military concept most likely never envisioned this as a capability. It is an “unintended consequence” in a very positive way. 2) The equal rights requirements put these women in a position to be killed. That certainly has not been a unforeseen consequence, yet it has had a very negative impact on our nation and their families. I ask, which is the greater consideration? Open note to the HBM: Make up your mind, for your hypocrisy is showing. You are either for women’s rights and ALL that that means, or you must admit you are no longer in favor of that. You can't have this one both ways. Thanks for Mudville Gazette for the Open Post!

Back to the Age of Sail?

Back to the age of sail. Geez, think of the fights the CHENG and the 1st Lt are going to have over who is more important! Innovative new sail kite system could halve maritime diesel usage

"WHERE ARE THE WMDS?!?!?!!?!?" - Here.....

Remember the Jordanians who were gonna set off a few fire works? Well, there's some WMD reality. The trial of those caught planning to kill about 80,000 people is getting ready to begin....I bet we find out all sorts of stuff.....

Life At Sea

This turned out to be a long post, but if you'd like a "flavor" of what it's like working aboard a Navy ship, get something to drink, and make sure your chair is comfortable, and you won't be interupted for about 20 minutes, and you'll find out from some of those who have been there, the little things that define the moment to moment realities of this lifestyle. Yankee Sailor is becoming quite a good read, with a daily "read log" posting, a great summary of news. I commented on one of his posts, where he described a watch rotation, which was very different from what I was familiar with for 24 years. I knew watches on a ship as: Written as, Actually Stood, Called: 0000-0400, 2345-0345, Mid Watch 0400-0800, 0345-0700, Morning 0800-1200, 0700-1145, Forenoon 1200-1600, 1145-1545, Afternoon 1600-1800, 1545-1745, 1st "Dog" 1800-2000, 1745-1945, 2nd "Dog" 2000-0000, 1945-2345, Evening This schedule is pretty much as "old as the sea" and goes back to the British Navy, and I'm sure well before that. The watches were marked by a bell being rung every 30 minutes (yes, in the days before we all had watches), with each bell representing 30 minutes, so a watch was 8 bells long. The bells are sounded in a pattern of pairs, and I'm sure this remark will make you recall the backround of the bells ringing in all those navy documentaries and movies. Sometimes, usually when you only had two shifts of people, it wasn't uncommon to shift to 6 hour watches, beginning at midnight. The new watch rotation I wonder about. Since Yankee Sailor is on a "Big Deck Gator," and the aviation influence abounds, it might be something unique to that type of ship's culture. We all are aware some of our brown shoe brethren have a fondness for doing it differently to show they are "different." What's most humorous in this is that in the link above, another SWO guy, Cdr Salamander posted this comment, as a short testimonial to the realities of the watchstanding life. It's far funnier if you have found yourself in the similar thoughts/situations, and I'll vouch for the accuracy of his report (any notes I put in here are in "[]" for clarification):

Ahhhh.... 2200-0300: Watch 0330: Headbreak if needed or not["head" = bathroom] 0345: Rack 0-something too bleary-eyed to see: Revelry [Reveille]. Close eyes. +15 minutes: needle gun [meaning someone is chipping paint with an air powered tool, that has a bunch of little rods that hammer the paint free of the metal, and yes, the metal structure is quite efficient at transmitting this noise with full fidelity and volume, far better than air, to be precise - envision LOUD and without rhythm - making sleep impossible, unless you are about 2 minutes from dead]. Feeling of hopelessness. 0715: Stale corn flakes, milk, coffee. 0730: Coffee, need smoke. 0740: Feel bad for the folks waiting in line at the Enlisted smoking sponson [smokers are banned to the far corners of the vessel in designated areas, on the "weather" (outside) decks. Sponson is a blister type thing sticking off the side of the basic hull form of the ship, where they mount weapons and extra electronics stuff, out of the way of aircraft decks] 0750: Working on third smoke. Think about buying more Cuban cigars. More professional. 0755: Don't give a damn about professionalism right now. Lighter busted and just spilled your last bit of coffee. 0810: Some guy from the TACRON [Tactical Air Control Squadron - people who make sure the close air support from the ships is properly integrated into the battle - if not doing this, they have little to do besides be in the way, from a SWO's perspective, since they don't help make the ship go]is bitching about his career [we all like to do this, conversations usually begin with some reference to questionable lineage of the "detailer" who is "working" for us - topic of completely separate series of posts]. Starting to get another headache. Need more coffee. Leave sponson. 0815: Nail head on overhead [ceiling] valve [these things are all over the place on the bulkheads (walls) and overheads and decks] on the 02 Deck right after you remember your 0800 meeting. 0820: Try to look alert as you walk in to your meeting late. The boss shows up at 0822. You try to look like you have been there the whole time. Don't notice he keeps looking at that big red spot on forehead. You think he is trying to catch you falling asleep [and you thought only GTMO detainees suffered from sleep deprivation]. 0935: Remind yourself to shoot whoever decided to make RM into IT [CDR S, if you're reading this - I helped. Are you wearing an "E" on your pistol ribbon?]. Your Outlook Personal Folders are hosed again [I never had this luxury. Paperwork with cellulouse fibers was king - the real deal]. 1010: You realize you have been talking to your Chief for the last 20 minutes with your fly open [in "the OLD Navy" not too much cause for alarm - it was all guys, at worst a cause for a nickname or "callsign" for you to be referred to as that wouldn't be permitted in polite company; in the "New Navy" possible courts-martial for exposing yourself]: at the same time you notice that everyone can see the goofy underwear your wife bought you. You have been wearing them for the last 3 days. Don't care [the laundry cycle, planned with military precision many times was anything but regular]. 1115: Manage to make it back to your room. Look at the rack. Think about lunch. Needle gun goes off again. Curse. Leave your room listening to your bunkmate snoring [roomie is taking a "nooner" - term for the nap you grab after you slam down lunch, sometimes even when you cheated and ate with the on going watchstanders, to avoid small talk and the XO running the list of things to get done while you tried to eat, so you could get about a full hour in the bag before "Turn to" was passed at 1300]. Go back to smoking sponson. The head nearest is secured. You get to the head port forward and realize you left your smokes in your room. Get to room realize your zipper is open again. It’s quiet. You look at rack. Needle gun starts again. Feeling of hopelessness. Grab smokes. 1230: Your "buttphone" goes off [must be one of those fancy FRS like systems so your boss can tag you anywhere on the ship. I know we had walkie talkies for the deck guys and then for damage control we sometimes used like this, but that was before the cell phone era]. The boss wants to know why you missed the 1200 Human Capital Strategy brief. You mumble something about TQL [AHHHH..Thank you Adm Kelso and Dr Deming for such a wonderful gift that keeps on giving!] and make your way to frame 49 [ships have a method of labeling places by using references to the ship's structure, e.g. 49-02-0-L would be the "room" called a "space," with it's forward bulkhead at the 49th frame of the hull, on the second deck above the main deck, being set on the centerline of the ship and it is a berthing (living) space. This system helps for finding your way around during routine and emergency times, sure as when you hear "FIRE, FIRE, FIRE, Class BRAVO Fire in Compartment 130-5-0-M."] 1232: You walk into the boss’s office to discuss other non-HCS [human capital strategy, I'm guessing - what a "girly man" way of saying personnal issues] issues and realize you still have a pack of smokes in your hand. Boss asks how you’re doing. "Heck, I can go 40+ hours without sleep..." 1250: Buttphone goes off again. Your Chief reminds you of the stack of evals [enlisted people's performance reports] waiting for you and needs to talk about the urinalysis results with you. Rinse-Repeat. CDR Salamander

While there is a degree of humor mixed with the reality CDR Salamander presented above, it's a story of a hard profession. Here is a account written by a Neptunus Lex describing the life of an enlisted sailor, and it is exceptionally well detailed with those things that define the environment for our service members at sea. I need not comment on it further, as the Captain writes it well enough that all can comprehend it. Please take the time to read it an know what those young men and women face, on any Navy vessel that leaves port in defense of this country, wheter it is a sub, aircraft carrier, oiler or destroyer. Here's the teaser:

"A day in the life aboard an aircraft carrier at sea. 0330 – the alarm goes off in a coffin rack in the Ops berthing. A hand gropes in the darkness behind the rack curtains to silence the alarm. The curtains serve as a demarcation line – they mark this space as the owners. This space is his only privacy, the only thing that is truly his own in a berthing area shared with 100 other men, themselves stacked in bunk beds three high, arrayed in cells that fade into the greater darkness."

Much has been written about the living condtions of our Army and Marine counterparts "on the beach," which help us understand what they deal with, but Neptunus Lex will introduce you to the life of those who make it possible for the F/A-18s to be lurking overhead to deliverprecisely guided ordnance on the bad guys, when the call goes out for air support. These people face a degree of danger themsleves, not from hostile fire, but incredibly complex machinery, which, when it fails, generally takes out peple and equipment on a large scale. Thank you, the GreyHawk Team, for Open Posts. I'm close to the 10,000th visitor to my blog now, and most of the hits have come because of the graciousness of the founders of the MilBloggers Web Ring!

Why Didn't We Attack Saudi Arabia?

The answer is simple and complex, but this irrational question, which is usually made as a statement is just plain...ignorant to the core. What people fail to grasp, is that this is a war unlike any other in modern history. In the international arena, war is conducted between sovereign nations. While most of the 9/11 attackers were Saudis, they were not wearing, nor were they a part of the established military of the Kingdom. Really basic, for in the context of interantional law, they were doing nothing more than if a bunch of plain old US citizens went to some country and blew some stuff up. They are criminals and subject to the laws of the country in which they committed their crimes. Being Americans alone does not then give the attacked nation the right to declare war on the US and head our way. This, of course, does not satisfy these people, for they are going "tilt!, Tilt!" since we are engaged in fighting in Iraq. This is where you have to remind them of history (the real stuff, to include even the MSM reports of 2002, and not the twisted things of the MSM's current reporting) on how Saddam had WMDs, the UN told him they had to go, then he still refused, so we suited up, on the assumption that the UN meant what they said, and then the UN lost their courage (they needed Dan Rather to get them motivated). Simple analysis for the moment. More ideas stored on my cell email (as a handy voice recorder) of other topics to come....

GTMO Exercise plan

Bad news. I fear we are harming the "detainees" in GTMO Camp X-Ray. It seems they have put on an average of 18 ponds during their torture. Here's the scary part: Will they come back and sue the US Govenrment in civil court for clogging their arteries with the stuff we eat, which will cause them to suffer from heart disease? I was posting a comment elsewhere and it occured to me we have taken away their main source of exercise: Dodging JDAMs raining down from above. What an exercise program we made for those trying to kill us. Think of the cadio workout you get, when you are roused from sound sleep (on the floor of your cave) to run like crazy from the sound of impacting 250, 500 and 750 (and possibly 1000)lb MK 80 series bombs rigged with GPS guidance systems. That surely has to keep the arteries clear of any plaque build up. We can't really offer and easy alternative for this form of exercise, because the people on Puerto Rico got enough support to close down the range at AFWTF on Vieques Island. That's reasonably close to GTMO, yet still is OUTCONUS. We could have shuttled the "detainees" over about once a week, or all the time when a carrier battle group was working up for cruise. The "detainess" could have the run of the island during these fleet exercises, and have plenty of practice for this new skill set. The best part for the "detainees" is they wouldn't have to sign any long term contracts, wondering how soon before the Government would sell the "exercise area" and sell it to competitors, and reopen it under a new name, and demand new membership. No fees either. We would just be nice to not bill them for each month. Just call it a gift from the American (compassionate) taxpayer... The next closer spot may be Avon Park near central FLorida, but then we'd have the ACLU trying to kidnap the helpless detainees.....

In the Market for Land Walker?

Ever think it would be cool to be the first one in your neighborhood to have a land walker? Jus think, you cold get out and get real exercise instead of sitting in front of a computer playing Mech Warrior... Chase this link and get out your check book!

They Understand it Not At All, Or Too Well

Vietnam, a word burned into our collective memory, even for those who were not old enough to experieince it. The name of that far away country conjures up powerful demons.... I sit back and watch the current lines of "debate" and it occurs to me that the liberals of our country either know nothing of what they are doing, or are "dumb like a fox." The "demands" are growing for us to withdraw from Iraq. In daily conversations, I have been asked by friends "how much longer should we be there?" with the issue of "we need to set a deadline" hanging in the air so thick you can cut it with a knife. I take to expalining we should be there as long as it takes and then launch into the discussion regarding how you never tell your enemy when you're leaving, for they merely get deeper in their foxholes, knowing they will soon be able to proceed on their mission with impunity. Somehow, I don't think they want to hear that. So they call for a pull out, most likely figuring that we can just deposit a bunch of munitions and arms, and supplies for the fledging Iraqi Army and Police and run, ala "Vietnamization." Possibly good idea, but the timing they ask for makes for bad execution. Sort of like pulling all the teachers out of elementeary schools, and telling the kids "hey, you're on your own now, but never fear, there are books in the library and food in the cafeteria. Do great things." Now, this being the set up, I look at the situation like this: 1) Either they recall the circumstances that prevailed at completion of Vietnamization, and are counting on the same thing to happen here (Failure) OR 2) They are completely clueless about what the likely outcome of their demands may produce. If we leave now, or announce a timeline that has a terminal date, we are bound to meet with more failure. I would be cynical to believe that the liberals are purposely after this course of action because they need to find a way to allow the time to pass and show a massive failure, as the Sunnis and Baathists return to take control. This would tube the President for the remainder of his time in office, and damage the next Republican to make the run for the Oval Office. I'm more likely to concede that the libals are doing this completely unconsciously. It fits their "MO" like a glove. Besides, the accepting that this would have been planned indicates there is someone with an ability to think strategically in the DNC, but that seems like a long shot. We should go when the Iraqi government is able to stand enough to show they can take care of themselves, and not a moment sooner.