 |  |
 
July 2010
June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003
     |
 Greetings! You are reading an article from The Mudville Gazette. To reach the front page, with all the latest news and views, click the logo above or "main" below. Thanks for stopping by! April 20, 2009 On Point with Cpt HillBy Greyhawk"If President Obama is serious about righting the wrongs of the Bush years and winning the war against terrorists, here is a good place to start." That's a quote from a recent op/ed written by a USAF Colonel and General and an Army General. The specific wrong they'd like to see made right is prosecutorial overzealousness. That might be the first time the Bush administration has been accused of such, but as an example they cite the case of Captain Roger Hill - and it's a case well worth examining. "Catch 22" is usually a reference made with some degree of humor (specifically dark humor) but Captain Hill was caught up in something of a modern-day Catch 22 in Afghanistan, and nothing about it provokes as much as a chuckle. Short version: he had captured enemy, but without evidence to hold them was required under NATO rules to release them within 96 hours. However, he had evidence - but the evidence was classified. He couldn't use the evidence, so he had to let them go (and they knew it). Eventually he did - unharmed - but he wanted information from them first. So he fired a weapon somewhere out of sight of a detainee who was being questioned. Said detainee was then asked if he wanted to die like his friend. That action ended Captain Hill's military career. Another soldier, who later heard rumors that prisoners had been abused, promptly reported that up the chain of command - and the Army responded. Again - that's the short version. Details below. Here's an earlier interview with Tim Sumner. P.J. Tobia's on-scene account of the hearing appeared in the Washington Post. "I fear that this kind of story will repeat itself in other parts of Afghanistan again and again," Tobias concludes, "if only because U.S. forces know that their enemy's mission is clearer than their own." And from last night's NiteCap on Freedom Radio interview, (the other voices you'll hear are program host Pat's and mine) here's Captain Hill's story - as told by Captain Hill: One element of this story that stands out to me: two military professionals confronted with decisions of "the right thing to do". Such a situation isn't unusual, although the degree is extreme in this example, weighing right and wrong is universal among military and civilians alike. An example: one could argue that speeding is illegal, whether you are rushing a critically injured loved one to a hospital or not. We may sympathize with the speeder in that example, as we would with a witness who upon seeing a vehicle flying down the road potentially endangering others promptly phoned the police to make a report. We would be outraged to discover that the driver had first called an ambulance, but had been told "no". Captain Hill informs us that 1,200 - 1,500 soldiers will replace the 89 members of his unit in Wardak - a part of the "Afghanistan surge". If they're forced into a position to make the decisions he did that won't be enough. No number will. Captain Hill's site - More Than Brothers - is here. Posted by Greyhawk / April 20, 2009 1:23 PM | Permalink 2 Comments |
July 19, 2010Dawn Patrol 07/19/2010 [Greyhawk]
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our ongoing roundup of information on war and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world.
Always updating - refresh for updates.
AFGHANISTANProspects for stability in Musa Qala: challenges and possible solutions -- [Bill Ardolino /Long War Journal - in Afghanistan] Exploding Culverts -- [Kandahar Diary - in Afghanistan] Arbaki -- [Free Range International - in Afghanistan] Weather -- [A Major's Perspective - in Afghanistan] Fête Nationale -- [Field Notes: One Soldier's Perspective - in Afghanistan] Goodbye "FaST" Food (and good riddance) -- [FaST Surgeon - in Afghanistan] IRAQOn The Iran, Iraq Border -- [J.D. Johannes - in Iraq] WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISMSenators Look For Smoking Gun In BP-Lockerbie Link -- [AP] No Link Between BP And Lockerbie Release: UK Envoy -- [NPR news blog] UK's Cameron: Releasing Lockerbie Bomber Was Wrong -- [AP] U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLDAs Cameron and Obama Meet, BP Will Be Top Issue -- [NY Times] Afghanistan tops agenda for British PM's visit -- [Washington Times] WELCOME HOMEHomecoming -- [Rajiv Srinivasan - home from Afghanistan] STRATEGY & TACTICSISAF, SCR Address Military ROE and Tactical Directives -- [ISAF] SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYRaytheon's pain gun finally gets deployed in Afghanistan (update: recalled) -- [Engadget] Pain Ray Recalled From Afghanistan -- [Noah Shachtman/Danger Room] The Active Denial System: the weapon that's a hot topic -- [The Telegraph (UK)] World's Fastest Helicopter Boosts Battle Against Insurgents -- [ISAF]
POLITICSIs it time for a real GI Jane? -- [CNN] HUMOR/SATIRE(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.) Iraq, Afghanistan, War, Terrorism, Military, Politics, Media, MilBlogs, dawn patrol Mudville |
The Mudville Gazette is the on-line voice of an American warrior and his wife who stands by him. They prefer to see peaceful change render force of arms unnecessary. Until that day they stand fast with those who struggle for freedom, strike for reason, and pray for a better tomorrow.
 
 
 I like having visitors to my house. I hope you are entertained. I fight for your right to free speech, and am thrilled when you exercise said rights here. Comments and e-mails are welcome, but all such communication is to be assumed to be 1)the original work of any who initiate said communication and 2)the property of the Mudville Gazette, with free use granted thereto for publication in electronic or written form. If you do NOT wish to have your message posted, write "CONFIDENTIAL" in the subject line of your email. Original content copyright © 2003 - 2009 by Greyhawk. Fair, not-for-profit use of said material by others is encouraged, as long as acknowledgement and credit is given, to include the url of the original source post. Other arrangements can be made as needed. Contact: greyhawk at mudvillegazette dot com  |
As an Afghan veteran who relied on my interpreter, the biggest nightmare was learning that your interpreter was Taliban... or not learning and finding out the hard way. What's worse is finding out that your terp is a spy and then having to release him because your chain won't support taking more permanent custody of him and his cohorts.
These men lived that nightmare, followed by a worse nightmare; being railroaded by your own Army. This whole scenario pisses me off from beginning to end. Thanks for keeping it in the public eye. These men should never be forgotten for their efforts and the sacrifice forced upon them by their own for doing their best to keep their Soldiers secure.
God bless you, GH. Hearing this again makes me sick, and really question our staying in Afghanistan. My prayer list sure is growing. If I had family over there, I think I'd have to knock myself out for the entire deployment.