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« Abu Ghraib: The View from the Top | Main | Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous »

October 28, 2005

Open Post

By Greyhawk

Ladyliberty.jpg
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Happy Birthday Lady Liberty!

The 119th Birthday of the Statue of Liberty is today, October 28, 2005. It will be celebrated on Liberty Island with a patriotic ceremony commemorating the original dedication of the monument that now represents freedom to the world.

HT: Soldiers' Angels Germany


Bookmark and Share - via email, facebook, twitter, etc.

Posted by Greyhawk / October 28, 2005 8:24 PM | Permalink

75 TrackBacks

Achieving "Critical Mass" - OoRah! from Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho on October 28, 2005 9:31 PM

Joke of the day: A Marine walks into the bathroom and finds a sailor at the sink washing his hands. The Marine does his business and heads for the door. The sailor, shocked at this crude behavior says, "Hey! In the Navy we learned how to wash our hand... Read More

With Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald handing down indictments against ‘Scooter’ Libby on charges of misleading a grand jury, giddy Democrats finally see hope for a victory that has eluded them over the last election cycles. “It’s been an uphill battle,... Read More

Miers Withdraws Acceptance To White House Halloween Bash from Political Satire Fake News - The Nose On Your Face on October 28, 2005 9:42 PM

In a surprise move earlier today, temporary Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers withdrew her acceptance to President Bush's Spooky Halloween Extravaganza. Miers cited a White House ban on shaving cream fights as the reason for the withdrawal. In respon... Read More

When Bloggers Go Wild from Ipso Facto Cartoon Blog on October 28, 2005 9:51 PM

TITLE: When Bloggers Go Wild URL: http://ipsofactocomic.blogspot.com/ IP: 66.159.239.140 BLOG NAME: Ipso Facto Cartoon Blog DATE: 10/28/2005 09:51:35 PM Read More

T'was the night befor Fitzmas, and through the White House Every creature was wondering how this thing would turn out. Lawyers with briefcases sat on their chair, In case that indictments soon would be there. The Kos Kids were nestled all snug in th... Read More

Open Trackback Fest Adding interesting links throughout the weekend, including... Mudville Gazette: Happy Birthday Lady Liberty and Ipso Facto: When Bloggers Go Wild Plus, read my review of Armstrong's book, "It's Not About the Bike" Read More

We said just a few hours ago that the Democrats would be dishonestly spinning the indictment of Libby: First, it’s important to recognize that these indictments are for actions relating to the investigation, none of them address any underlying crime... Read More

The Carnival of Kntting has been added to the Carnival Submit Form?70. The Carnival of Knitting seeks posts about knitting, crocheting, spinning, or weaving. In addition, for each edition there will be a special topic announced by the carnival organize... Read More

If you have a relatively new cell phone, it most likely has some form of Global Positioning System (GPS) locator technology installed on it. On my LG-4650, there are two settings for the GPS feature --- one broadcasts your position to anyone capable ... Read More

New York Times Publisher Arthur Sulzberger is saying some confusing things about his newspaper. I think I know how he got so confused. It's a lesson for all. Read More

Thhe need grows with the passing days. It does not wane because hurricanes arrive or Christmas approaches. It does not become less urgent because a couple dozen people have been helped so far. It does not pass away just because it passes from our con... Read More

The lefties are shouting: We should never have gone into Iraq! A free Iraq is not worth fighting for! Bring the troops home NOW! These self styled compassionate liberals would have abandoned Iraqi kids like these to live under Read More

Today's dose of NIF - News, Interesting & Funny ... Friday's are good, not so much for Scooter Read More

UPDATE: Valerie Plame was not a covert operative when this happened. Let me explain: Read More

Hooker Porn from HomefrontSix on October 29, 2005 1:14 AM

I was finally able to wrestle the digital camera away from MacGyver last night and upload the pictures he took of the unit loading on to the C5s to fly to Pakistan to assist in the earthquake recovery effort. Read More

Time to kick back and relax with a Halloween Trackback Party. You link me, I check trackbacks and I link you. Links can be on anything. Offer void after noon on Sunday. Read More

I'm off to muck stalls and tack up my horse this weekend so I'm starting our party early Read More

Life Canada has a national billboard campaign going on. The billboards alert women to the abortion-breast cancer cover-up. According to Women’s Health News, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation doesn’t like it. ... Read More

Synoeca reports on the relationships Russia is forging with China, Pakistan and Iran in a play to form a counterweight to US-led NATO. Read More

   Do you recall how the Lefties were all over how prepared for hurricanes Castro was compared to Chimpy McHaliburton President Bush. Like this from some group called "truthout":Merely sticking people in a stadium is unthinkable" in Read More

Hope everyone has a spooky Halloween, and gets lots of candy! So share your tricks and treats with us for our Halloween trackback party! Here is how it works. Edit a post to include a link to this post, and send a trackback. No link to this post... Read More

Well boys and girls it is time again for the trackback fest so Mr. Peabody, crank up the trackback machine and fill this page with trackbacks from any post you like. Trackback as many times as you like. Remember though to link to this site. I still... Read More

Friday Open Post Party from Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho on October 29, 2005 4:08 AM

Tommy says, "Check out these posts!" (and smile while you're doing it) 1. Test your History IQ; play the game PastMaster at the HistoryChannel.com 2. Visit MREater and leave a few encouraging comments as he gets ready to head back the the stat... Read More

Toxic hazard tests of both natural and man made chemicals are placed in a context of relative threat to mankind, showing that familiar and safe foods are ranked similarly in alleged threat to often maligned synthetic chemicals. ... Read More

Forwarded to me from Vietnam Veteran JR of the Vietnam Veterans Home Page. John Kerry and his fellow travellers continue their assault on Vietnam Veterans and the truth. John O'Neill Houston, Texas Dear Friend, Last year, when my fellow ... Read More

Today, the greatest guitar riff in rock-and-roll history will be played in Melbourne, Australia by 2,000 guitarists as they play the opening bars of "Smoke on the Water." This will break the 11-year-old record set by 1,322 guitarists in Canada in 199... Read More

Hero Of The Week from Stuck On Stupid on October 29, 2005 1:15 PM

A thread on Free Republicwas posted about the Palestine Hotel bombing and the soldier that saved the lives of many as a result of his actions to stop the cement truck that blew up prematurely before it got close to any buildings. This suggestion was m... Read More

Roger NadeauBeethoven once said, "Man has no nobler or more valuable possession than time..." Your Business Blogger was reminded of this yesterday. Major General Roger A. Nadeau gave a briefing on his portfolio to business leaders. I asked him... Read More

OPEN TRACKBACKS 5 from MacStansbury.org on October 29, 2005 3:00 PM

Sites with Open Trackbacks for this weekend (it will update often, so keep checking back) Read More

Joe Katzman writing at Winds of Change heralds "Chief Wiggles" book, Saving Babylon. Read More

Well, I've started a new job which is crippling my computer use during the day so please excuse this week's late edition of TGIF. I won't bother rehashing links to stories and articles which you've probably read ten times already... Read More

I wrote a few days ago about Cindy Sheehan preparing to tie herself to a fence once the 2000th soldier in Iraq had died. Well, didn’t go exactly as she planned it would seem. Read More

Drop Zone - OPEN POST from euphoricreality.net on October 29, 2005 5:28 PM

It’s Saturday and I’ve got study groups to attend, so here’s a Drop Zone for y’all to gnaw on until I get back. Daisy Cutter has a great post up about political prosecution. Michael Yon has new stuff up, and I gotta say - h... Read More

If its Friday, its Open Trackback time. Trackback AND link to this link and I will link to whatever you've trackbacked. You may trackback an unlimited number of articles. The trackback URL for this post is: http://www.adamsweb.us/blog/htsrv/trackback.... Read More

Reports From The Front Lines You May Not Have Read In The Headlines: Read More

VDH:


It is also time to step up lecturing both the American people and the Iraqis on exactly what we are doing in the Sunni Triangle. We have been sleepwalking...
Read More

I Too Was Once a 'Realist' from Architecture and Morality on October 29, 2005 6:04 PM

Krauthammer's depiction of Mr. Scowcroft, George H.W. Bush's National Security Advisor, reminded me how significantly my worldview had changed since college, and it almost makes me embarrassed to have ever been so cynical about human nature. Read More

Sick of SCOTUS from Something... and Half of Something on October 29, 2005 6:11 PM

That's right. All of my favorite places in the blogosphere have been yammering on and on and on for days and days and days on the same tired old subject, passing around the same rumors and analysis, pissing and moaning... Read More

Some Democrats Opposed 1982 Law At Center of Libby Probe! I say the media ignores this irony -- or as they call it when it is on the Republicans "hypocrisy." Read More

... I'll agree that what Dafydd suggests should have been done in addition to outing Plame, but I also think there are valid answers to Dafydd's question: ... Read More

As many of you know this old Dog is a retired United States Soldier. I am proud to have served my country and am willing to go back if ever needed to end the reign of terror throughout the world. There are many patriots out there and they are coming... Read More

Now is an opportune time to review the Clinton administration with the Bush administration. Yes Clinton cheated on his wife and had a tawdry affair in the oval office. But I prefer that to the criminal actions of Scotter Libby, Read More

Here at Theodore's World aka PC Free Zone Gazette. There are sometimes things that a photo speaks for itself, or there may be something that is not important enough to do an entire post about. Like spending more then a... Read More

Once Upon A time, In A Land Far Away... A regional panjandrum by the improbable name of Muhammad bin Saud met a fellow panjandrum cum mystic, then a radical islamist, by the equally improbable name of Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab and decided together that... Read More

In a surprise announcement, the Israeli Knesset agreed in principle with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, by accepting his offer to have Israel "wiped off the map." Read More

Do you recognize this photo? You may have seen it before if you read Michael Yon's blog. The photo was from Michael's post in July entitled Angel's Among Us. The soldier on the right is Walt Gaya who was... Read More

Political Teen: Two Los Angeles television stations caught on tape a hyped up mob of union activists intimidating and roughing up a woman who had the courage to speak out in favor of the four reform initiatives. Whipping the crowd into a frenzy w... Read More

I now understand that idealism is as important, in its own way, as realism in international relations. This week, I found that understanding has been useful in assessing the utility of several very good essays. Here’s an essay by Charles Kraut... Read More

Iran’s President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, made some statements earlier this week that provoked a fire storm in many UN nations. This idiot said that “Israel should be wiped off the map.” This is typical for leaders from countries that... Read More

After two years of hoping to see Karl Rove frog-marched in a perp walk, liberals got the veep's chief of staff hobbling on crutches. The New York Times had to admit: "Even after the indictment on Friday of I. Lewis Libby Jr., Vice President Dick Chen... Read More

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky has urged state school leaders to do a better job informing parents of their right to keep their child’s information away from military recruiters. A provision of the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act... Read More

Finally made it back to the house for a day after being stuck in Independence, MO with a load for a day. Some managed to screw up my appointment time so it ended up costing me a day. Delivered to one on the underground warehouse facilities. This place... Read More

Kevin at The Command TOC posted one of his typically aggravating posts, railing on about the liar Bush, and distorting both recent history, and the arguments that undergir... Read More

Radical Wackos from Doc in the Box on October 30, 2005 5:54 PM

Has anyone noticed that there seems to be a worldwide movement of radical Muslims against any religion that isn’t theirs or against other Muslims that aren’t radical enough? 3 school girls beheaded? What’s image does that put out to the world.? “L... Read More

Hey, girls and boys! It's time to play Name that Liberal Hypocrite! A few examples from the .pdf file by Peter Schweizer: Who says that conservatives are racist because they don’t support affirmative action but has an abysmal record of Read More

Harry Reid’s feelings must have really gotten hurt. Could he be any more of a baby? I don’t feel I need an apology Harry. Bush didn’t do anything to me or anyone else, why should he apologize for the actions of others? Read More

"I Heard It From A # 2 Pencil" from Political Satire Fake News - The Nose On Your Face on October 30, 2005 8:35 PM

During an interview on The Big Story With John Gibson last week, Louis Farrakhan told guest host David Asman the following:I was in a tiny village in Mexico on the 17th of September, 1985. And I had a vision-like experience Read More

That's the speculation being raised recently since his lawyer rested without presenting any more arguments in the trial that's been conducted against this terror-supporting professor who worked in South Florida, who also happens to have been a guest ... Read More

Meet Christina Goodenow. This 38-year-old resident of White City, Ore., bought a lottery ticket worth $1 million. And it may land her in prison. Read More

Jack Idema is a man who served this country for many years as a Special Forces Operator. After the war on terror erupted he went to Afghanistan to seek out Taliban terrorists and to hunt for Osama bin Laden. The military owes a great deal to him for... Read More

Meet Christina Goodenow. This 38-year-old resident of White City, Ore., bought a lottery ticket worth $1 million. And it may land her in prison. Read More

I've been mad for days at this comment at Ed Cone's I've been mad for days at this comment at Ed Cone's Read More

Even the American Democratic party has traditionally been isolated and distinct from the international left and socialist parties of Europe. Seperated by the Atlantic and archaic modes of travel, and drawing upon traditional American free market prin... Read More

I enjoy CPU Magazine and look for that one first during my forays into Borders around the 20 something of the month. In the November issue of CPU, they had a short article on the Bionic Dolphin. Read More

It would seem that if a conservative black person is successful then he has sold out to the repressive white conservative. Any blacks who are successful are and are conservative are automatically labeled as Uncle Toms and Sambos. Condi Rice and Coli... Read More

The Opinionator just returned from the funeral of a remarkable woman, the grandmother of Mrs. Opinionator. It was held in what turned out to be enemy held territory, the suburbs of Philadelphia. Most of the attendees were from Philly, Manhattan and Los... Read More

JAMO writes here from time to time - albeit too infrequently. She and her warrior just finished two weeks of "mid-tour" R&R. She penned this after he went back to Iraq. She provides some wonderful insight into the spouses who stand behind our warrior... Read More

Per Fox News, which I am watching: Bush has picked Samuel A. Alito, according to the AP, as the next nominee to replace O’Connor at the Supreme Court. Samuel A. Alito, Jr., 55, is a judge on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circ... Read More

If you’re looking for pieces on Jack Idema and his team, please click on this link. This looks cool when it’s bigger…but I have trouble manipulating the images sometimes. Click here for the bigger one. Breaking News- Jack on the... Read More

President Bush announced the new Supreme Court nominee this morning after a weekend at Camp David. It is Samuel A. Alito, Jr of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. This from Law.com : The Mild-Mannered ScaliaThere's a nickname for federal appeals J... Read More

Good News Sunday from Wayne's World 2005 on October 31, 2005 11:44 AM

“I ran over an IED yesterday,” Wayne typed much too slowly for my caffeinated mind to comprehend. “That was interesting.” Read More

Islamic extremists have called for the murder of veteran Egyptian actor Omar Sharif Omar Sharif because he played St Peter in an Italian TV film. Of course, to call for murder because you don’t like the role an actor selected is pretty twiste... Read More

Not long ago, one Mark A York infested this neighborhood, this spot on the web that I call my blog. I banned said York following some rather vulger comments, and I deleted the most offensive of his verbage. I'm amazed at how trolls feel they have the r... Read More

The network of people who communicate via MSN Messenger are being subjected to a particularly terrifying joke. Essentially, someone has created a set of three animated smileys that appear to be a downloading virus. The standard method for applying the... Read More

A while back, Peg-Eye Nate asked me the first things I would do when I took over the world. There were two high priorities as I saw them: (1) Buy a controlling interest in Sargento's Cheese. (2) Pass a... Read More

5 Comments

The men who made the molds and poured the molten metals,
knew how to achieve their individual tasks.
There were few interrogatories into the project as a whole,
just blind faith in those who guidance they'ed ask.
What shall we ask then of those whose faith wanes
for no noble cause but political gains.
And how do they deal with the blood and the mayhem
of our Sons and Daughters who's resolve is above them.
That they would abandon the whole out of hand
whose Liberty seems they'd rathed disband.
"Throw rocks from the back and you'll just wound your own" the old weathered old Brujo professed.
As the Kennedys, Ralls and Boxers go on
I must still for their souls grace's press.

Apologies for the double post, feel free to delete one...Everytime it happens here, I contact Blog City about it and they swear the problem is here, not Blog City...I have no clue...Anyhoo, if you see any in the future please delete one of them. Sorry and THANKS, MKL

A Happy Birthfday to Lady Liberty. Thank you for reminding us.

It looks like you've been on vacation (sounds fun!). When you get back, please look for emails I've sent you about something VERY important and time-sensitive. Thanks!

Is this just an excellent rant or is it just the truth finally being told?

"Jihad Watch Board Vice President Hugh Fitzgerald explores some of the delusions that pass for truth today, and how it is that they have become so widespread:

The world of Islam is a world of nonsense and lies and denial and deception and filial piety that refuses to face up to facts. It could be called, too sweetly in my view, the "Dream Palace of the Arabs." Come to think of it, it has been called that by Fouad Ajami, who is too intelligent not to know the truth about Islam, but too afraid that he would be cutting his ties, and his career prospects, and his usefulness, if he were to engage with the real subject that underlies his "we were all Nasserites in those days, sitting in Beirut cafes and drinking endless cups of thick muddy coffee..." (or words, and shtick, to that effect).
The Arab Mind by Patai is said to be read earnestly at The Pentagon. Fine. But it continually failes to relate the behavior of Arabs, as uber-Muslims, to Islam itself. A better book for those purposes, which has been mentioned endlessly at JW, is Andre Servier's The Psychology of the Musulman, last published in 1923..."

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/008758.php#more

Please, Read it all.

Papa Ray
West Texas
USA

Mrs G copy.png

November 18, 2009


Dawn Patrol 11/18/2009
[Mrs Greyhawk]
Bookmark and Share - via email, facebook, twitter, etc.

Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various sources around the world. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list. Hat Tips to the Dawn Patrol are greatly appreciated.Refresh for updates.


Support Our Troops, Read Their Stories

----------------------------

AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN

Boondoggle -- [3rd Time, New Country - in Afghanistan]
I know I am a little late on posting to my blog, but I returned from a boondoggle out to Mazar-e-Sharif in the Northern provinces. I even have some pictures to post with this entry. First, let me recap last week. We did make a normal trip to NDS. It was actually a clear, cool morning which is a rarity here in Kabul. The pollution is so thick that it is very rare to see the distant mountains. So, here is a picture of the snow-capped mountains, west of Kabul. This picture was taken last Monday. I haven't seen the mountains since. Other than that, it was a normal week of mentoring. There are always little things to work on and improve in the OT. Friday was another violent day here in Kabul. The Taliban used a SVBIED outside Camp Phoenix a little before 0800. There were no American casualties, but there were injuries.

Clinton in Kabul for Karzai's inauguration -- [Foreign Policy - AfPak]
U.S. President Barack Obama reportedly told CNN today that he is "very close" to making a decision about whether to send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan and plans to make an announcement "in the next several weeks," after more than two months of deliberations (Reuters, Reuters). Obama is reportedly angry about the stream of leaks that has come out about his Afghanistan decision, telling CBS, "For people to be releasing info in the course of deliberations is not appropriate" and said yes when asked if that is a "firing offense" (CBS, Politico). Meanwhile

The war of leaks -- [Foreign Policy - AfPak]
The Obama Administration's social media prowess has been a novelty among latter day political media machines. It helped to crowd-source the campaign funding needed to put Barack Obama in the White House, and generated a populist gloss that was, at the time, convincingly fresh and transparent. What was equally admirable was its apparent internal discipline over when information made the transition from government secret to press release. Controlling the flow of data and keeping secrets secret is a challenge under any circumstance. Combine that with a predilection for Facebook and Twitter, and a hyperactive security officer might expect policy waters to muddy more quickly than they would under normal circumstances.
So when U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry's expressed his "discomfort" last week over a possible troop surge, via diplomatic cable to Washington, it's no wonder that the message ended up dominating headlines.

Ridding Afghanistan of Corruption Will Be No Easy Task -- [Los Angeles Times]
Afghans have a name for the huge, gaudy mansions that have sprung up in Kabul's wealthy Sherpur neighborhood since 2001. They call them "poppy palaces." The cost of building one of these homes, which are adorned with sweeping terraces and ornate columns, can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Many are owned by government officials whose formal salaries are a few hundred dollars a month. To the capital's jaded residents, there are few more potent symbols of the corruption that permeates every level of Afghan society, from the traffic policemen who shake down motorists to top government officials and their relatives who are implicated in the opium trade.

Afghan Minister Accused of Taking Bribe -- [Washington Post]
The Afghan minister of mines accepted a roughly $30 million bribe to award the country's largest development project to a Chinese mining firm, according to a US official who is familiar with military intelligence reports. The allegation, if proved true, would mark one of the most brazen examples of corruption yet disclosed in a country where the problem has become so pervasive that it is now at the heart of Obama administration doubts over Afghan President Hamid Karzai's reliability as a partner.

Vision for Victory, Part I -- [Washington Times]
The news from Afghanistan all year has been dispiriting, and the last few weeks have been especially tough in terms of the violence. Yet most foreign and Afghan officials and officers who I encountered on a recent weeklong visit sponsored by the U. military are guardedly optimistic about our prospects. How can this be so?

U.S. Turns to Local Guns-for-Hire to Guard Afghan Outpost -- [Danger Room - Noah Shachtman]
The U.S. military is turning to guns-for-hire to guard one of its outposts in Afghanistan. But Blackwaters of the world, take note: simply hiring former G.I.s or American cops or even Nepalese Gurkhas won't do the trick this time. At least half of the 50-man force has to come "from within a 50 kilometer radius" of the base, according to a contract solicitation issued by the U.S. Air Force. Over the summer, the American military signaled its interest in hiring an army of contractors to help handle security at as many as 50 outposts in Afghanistan. It's one of several efforts efforts designed to free up uniformed troops for combat and counterinsurgency work. Now, U.S. forces appear to be taking the first step towards building that country-wide private security force, by soliciting bids for a team that watch over Forward Operating Base Lightening, in Paktya province.

NATO Chief Confident Afghanistan Will Have More Troops -- [Voice of America]
The NATO secretary-general says he is confident the United States and other NATO allies will send more troops to Afghanistan, where insurgent attacks have surged in recent months. He spoke at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Meeting in Edinburgh, where Britain's foreign secretary outlined the strategy his nation would support.

Germany to extend Afghanistan mission another year -- [AP]
Germany will extend its mission in Afghanistan for another year, the government said Wednesday, despite the growing unpopularity of the war at home



Pakistani Successes May Sway US Troop Decision -- [New York Times]
A month after the Pakistani military began its push into the Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan, militants appear to have been dispersed, not eliminated, with most simply fleeing. That recurring pattern illustrated the problems facing the Obama administration as it enters its final days of a decision on its strategy for Afghanistan. Success in this region, in the remote mountains near the Afghan border, could have a direct bearing on how many more American troops are ultimately sent to Afghanistan, and how long they must stay. Pakistan has shown increased willingness to tackle the problem, launching sweeping operations in the north and west of the country this year, but

Where are Taliban and al Qaeda commanders, US media asks Pak -- [Daily News & Analysis]
Washington: A day after senior Pakistani army commanders claimed that their forces have captured all major towns and population centres of the extremist-ridden South Waziristan, Taliban and foreign militants appear to have disappeared and not been eliminated.

Pakistani Army Shows Off Captured Taliban Posts -- [Washington Post]
A toy car booby-trapped with explosives, chemistry textbooks and handwritten case files from a Taliban court were among the debris left behind by fleeing Islamist militants in this remote village in the conflicted tribal region of South Waziristan. The now-deserted village, which was retaken by Pakistani army forces two weeks ago and visited by Western journalists on Tuesday for the first time since, had been a stronghold of Taliban forces for nearly five years.


IRAQ

Iraqi Kurds Warn of Election Boycott in Dispute Over Seats - [Washington Post]
Kurdish officials threatened Tuesday to boycott the upcoming national election in the three provinces they control in northern Iraq unless more parliament seats are allocated to the region. The threat came two days after Iraq's Sunni vice president said he would veto the election law passed last week unless more seats are set aside for representatives of Iraqi refugees. The majority of Iraqis abroad are Sunni. Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi has until Wednesday to veto the law, which legislators approved after weeks of wrangling, primarily over how the vote would be held in the disputed northern city of Kirkuk. The two ultimatums underscored the deep divisions among Iraqi politicians and raised fresh concerns about Iraq's ability to hold a credible election by Jan. 18.

Iraq's national elections in jeopardy as Sunni VP issues veto
-- [McClatchy News]
BAGHDAD -- Iraq's pivotal national elections were thrown back into turmoil and potential delay Wednesday after Vice President Tariq al Hashemi vetoed part of an election law and sent it back to parliament.

US has time to reconsider Iraq drawdown plan-Odierno -- [Reuters]
The US military does not have to decide until April or May whether to push back the end of its combat operations in Iraq due to...

A few words from medics for the 41st Brigade -- [The Oregonian]
I spent an hour or two last month with Oregon National Guard medics who are based at Al Asad Airbase, discussing a little of what they've observed since coming to Iraq this summer. The discussion, as you might think, covered issues in two categories: The physical and the mental. The Physical - CPT Scott Johnson of Newport, who is the highest-ranking soldier in the medical support unit at Al Asad, said that medics are seeing a significant share of orthopedic issues that stem from the heavy loads that soldiers carry. Even though the war has wound down considerably over the last few years, soldiers on convoys and at checkpoints still wear a lot of body armor and carry a lot of ammunition and weaponry, as much as 65 pounds or even more. Over time, even young soldiers experience increased stress on their joints from walking, running and jumping with that much gear.

Goodbye to Iraq, and thanks -- [The Oregonian]
The soldiers of Oregon's 41st Brigade are about halfway through their Iraq deployment, but I'm finally home after a gruelling passage through Kuwait and a misadventure or two. I said goodbye to my last acquaintance in the Oregon National Guard on Monday afternoon in Salt Lake City. SSG Tom McNeil of Central Point was peeling off to fly to Medford, close to his home in Central Point, while I continued on to Portland. Have a terrific Thanksgiving at home, Tom. Thanks to all the folks along the way, especially the soldiers of Oregon's 41st Brigade Combat Team, for the many kindnesses extended to me during my sojourn among them. This toast to you, and I'm starting with you two, since you challenged me to do this, Scott and Mike


U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

US, China in Strained Diplomatic Embrace -- [Wall Street Journal]
President Barack Obama was set to leave China on Wednesday after an awkward summit with some achievements but a long list of unfinished business - a result that suggests challenges ahead for the US as it struggles to come to terms with Asia's increasingly assertive superpower. The president secured a far-ranging framework for cooperation Tuesday with Beijing. But that deal was announced as frictions between the two nations appeared to increase over human rights and economic policy. President Obama and Chinese leader Hu Jintao issued their ambitious statement on cooperation in a clumsy fashion - at a media "availability" where they took no questions, didn't address each other and exhibited body language that seemed to say they had been frustrated by the entire exercise.

Obama: 'We've restored America's standing' -- [CNN]
A little more than a year after his election, President Obama said his administration has laid the groundwork for success on global and domestic matters. -- "I think that we've restored America's standing in the world

Somali Pirates : Maersk Alabama Attacked, Fights Back -- [Eagle Speak]
On the early morning of 18 November 2009, 350 nautical miles east from the Somali coast, pirates attacked MV Maersk Alabama, a US flagged, Danish owned, 155 meter long, Container ship.

Iranian COS Warns Russia: Your Security Is Tied To Ours -- [Memri Blog]
Iranian Army chief of staff Hassan Firouzabadi has warned Russia that delay in the supply of S-300 missile systems could harm Russia because its security is tied to that of Iran.




WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Suspected Fort Hood Shooter Believed to Be Self-Radicalized -- [Wall Street Journal]
Some lawmakers briefed Tuesday on the Fort Hood shooting said the suspect, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was most likely a self-radicalized extremist. The briefing for select members of Congress came as Republicans with oversight of national-security issues called on Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to open a full congressional inquiry into alleged government miscues in the case of Maj. Hasan. He is charged with murdering 13 people Nov. 5 on the sprawling US Army base where he served as a psychiatrist.

Guantánamo Won't Close by January, Obama Says -- [NY Times]
President Obama acknowledged for the first time on Wednesday that his administration would miss a self-imposed deadline to close the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, by mid-January, admitting the difficulties of following through on one of his first pledges as president.


SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

No Man Left Behind -- [Knottie's Niche]
We've all heard the military quote "No Man left behind" But it wasn't until last weekend as I sat listening to a veteran Marine talking to an Army Sgt about how the Army helicopter pilot who saved him and many others in Vietnam by flying in a hot zone repeatedly to save men that it hit home. The words took on a whole new meaning to me. When Micheal was killed the Army did not leave us behind. It started with a visit to tell us the news and they did not leave until there was no more they could do for us in that moment. Then there was the email to let us know no one else had been hurt from one of the medics. The Army did not leave us behind when they assigned us a causality assistance officer who walked us through each step, even offering to go to the store for us at any hour of the day if we needed anything at all. Then the emails, calls and instant message conversations from the men who served with Micheal began.

LTC Tim Karcher Update -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Wonderful update on LTC Tim Karcher, Commander of the 1st Cavalry Division's 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, wounded June 28 in Sadr City.
4 weeks later, after fighting for his life in Iraq, here in Germany, and at Walter Reed, the loss of both legs was the least of his problems:

Support SA while Christmas shopping this year! -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Through Soldiers' Angels, patriotic Americans can do their Holiday shopping or planning and support the troops at the same time!
The easiest way to do this is shop online at all your favorite stores. If you stop by GoodShop and Shop to Earn before you start, you can visit all your favorite online stores, purchase anything you want at the usual great prices, and a portion of what you spend will be donated to Soldiers' Angels--at no extra cost to you! On GoodShop, be sure you select Soldiers' Angels as the charity you are "GoodShopping for."

Trees for Troops: Helping Military Families -- [AdAge.com]
Military families. Transportation. Tree growers. Logistics. These seemingly incongruous words provide a case study in cause marketing.

FOX 5 Special: I-Team VA Loans -- [FOX News]


A FOX 5 I-Team investigation uncovered allegations of a nationwide scheme by banks and mortgage companies to defraud U.S. military veterans. The scheme, spelled out in court documents, claims banks are overcharging veterans on home refinancing loans.
The question raised in a racketeering and class action law suit is how many of those loans involved banks defrauding U.S. military veterans.



MILITARY

Muslim discrimination in the U.S. military. Not. -- [Castra Praetoria]
I'm done listening to any more bellyaching about how Muslims have it bad in the American military. It's a lie.
At this very moment there are American Muslims serving in our armed forces with valor. Muslim interpreters work along side us daily who aren't even American citizens and they have proven themselves as well. All these pansies wailing and moaning about discrimination against them because they are Muslims are not doing anyone any favors. Take it from a guy who has served along side Muslim Marines and Sailors in combat; worked with Jordanian and Iraqi interpreters in country; trained with Iraqi-Americans who have contributed to the effort by working as role players and training our troops in culture and language classes.

Time to revisit firearms policies on military posts -- [Atlanta Journal Constitution]
Just as legitimate questions were raised following the mass killings on the Virginia Tech campus in 2007, both military personnel and civilian citizens

Army's Record Suicide Rate 'Horrible,' General Says -- [Washington Post]
Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli on Tuesday called the Army's record suicide rate this year "horrible" and said the problem of soldiers taking their own lives is the toughest he has faced in his 37 years in service. As of Nov. 16, 140 soldiers on active duty and 71 soldiers not on active duty were suspected to have committed suicide. "We are almost certainly going to end the year higher than last year,"




WELCOME HOME

Veterans' descendants welcome troops home to Fort Campbell -- [Clarksville Leaf Chronicle]
Their day concluded with the Welcome Home ceremony for 80 soldiers who returned from a year in Afghanistan. "We are descendants of our country's first

'Greywolf' Among First CAV Troops to Return Home -- [DVIDS]
Once the buses arrived at Cooper Field, chants of "move that bus" were heard from Families waiting to welcome home their Soldiers. Tommy Tatum, from Kempner


THE MEDIA

Where are Taliban and al Qaeda commanders, US media asks Pak -- [Daily News & Analysis]
Washington: A day after senior Pakistani army commanders claimed that their forces have captured all major towns and population centres of the extremist-ridden South Waziristan, Taliban and foreign militants appear to have disappeared and not been eliminated.

Army officials said that they have killed as many as 550 Taliban militants a month after the military began its campaign into the lawless territory, yet they acknowledge that hundreds, perhaps thousands more have melted away.
As the offensive into the area, considered to be a sanctuary of al Qaeda and Taliban militants gained momentum, Boston Globe said, "Vast numbers of Taliban and foreign terrorists had disappeared into the vast desert scrub and craggy hills surrounding their strongholds of Sararogha and Ladha".
"Where are they? That's what bothers me," New York Times quoted a senior American intelligence officer as saying.




POLITICS

Republicans Criticize Obama's Call to Delay Hill Inquiries on Fort Hood -- [Washington Post]
The Obama administration's request that congressional committees slow their investigations of the Fort Hood shootings sparked denunciations Tuesday from Republicans on Capitol Hill, who pushed for an immediate inquiry of any warning signs before the massacre. House and Senate Republicans, emerging from the most detailed briefings given to Congress since the Nov. 5 attack killed 13 at the central Texas Army post, said delaying investigations would put off legislative efforts to give military officials the tools to prevent similar tragedies in the future. They said such an effort would not interfere with the criminal investigation of shooting suspect Nidal M. Hasan, an Army major who was scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan.


Obama Approval Dips Below 50% For First Time
-- [Quinnipiac University]
Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Support For U.S. Troops In Afghanistan Drops Below 50% -- President Barack Obama's job approval rating is 48 - 42 percent, the first time he has slipped below the 50 percent threshold nationally ...


HUMOR / SATIRE

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