MilBlog Archives

MilBlogs Archives Feb 05'

Free Lebanon!!

Air force pundit says those in Europe must stop endorsing the Syrian version of the cheat-and-treat game which consists of endless negotiations about Syrian troop "redeployment."

The genie of people power has come out of the bottle and no amount of political chicanery will send it back in.

Those who have wondered where next the flame of freedom may rise in the Middle East have their answer. After free and fair elections in Iraq, it is now the turn of Lebanon to break the shackles of tyranny and take the path of democracy.

Raising the Flag

Most Americans don't know the names, but they know the picture of six young men taken on February 23, 1945. On that date, Joe Rosenthal photographed these men raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi. This photo became the signature image of the U.S. Marines in the nation's most heroic battle -- Iwo Jima.

Daisy cutter has the names of these men and a great post that you must read.

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From Iraq

Readers here are aware that military family members aren't just "left behind" in the States when the spouse deploys - they often wait their loved one's safe return in remote locations all over the globe. But every member of the US Armed Forces faces unique challenges when deploying.

Major K dedicates a post to the spouses of Guard and Reserve members, who are often left at home in the states far from any military installation and the support available there. (Are there any in your neighborhood? Are you sure?)

Mustang 23 at Assumption of Command reminds us Don't Forget The Single Soldiers - those who come home to nobody. (And gosh - I hope all the single women out there don't start bugging this guy...)

By the way, these guys are two of the newer wave of military bloggers in Iraq. Visit often.

Hey Froggy...

You've got moonbats...

I've got a theme song for them (click on '1985' at link).

The War on Terror

Iraq War News has an abundant of resources of the war on terrror. Always informative and always a must read

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A Good Thing

Dadmanly gives thanks to Mudville:

Posting a couple of stories about the Iraqi election, as well as the experiences of some of our soldiers got me thinking it was time to try to join the MILBLOG and see if I could get listed on as one of the official MILBLOGs.
<...>
It went from 30, to then 40, then over 50 and even up to about 80 just as we were exchanging emails. I was wondering what happened, but Greyhawk said in one of his emails, "I just linked to your site." Little did I know what he meant. I didn't get it all fixed that night -- and I stayed up WAY too late -- so I figured I'd finish in the morning.

The next day (maybe 6 or 7 hours later), my site meter was around 380. I went to Mudville Gazette, and at first couldn't find the link to my site (I hadn't fixed the programming). But when I scrolled down the site, all of a sudden found out Greyhawk had linked to my blog.

...And in my email, I have 7 or 8 emails from people who posted nice encouraging comments on my site! Later that day I fixed my HTML code, and I am now an official MILBLOG blogger, and listed on Mudville and other MILBLOG sites. Just two days in, my Site Counter is over 800. (Exciting to me as I don't think I had an audience previously!)
<...>
Its just that now I get to meet a whole lot more people, and they get to meet me. And that's WAY cool.

You couldn't ask for a better accolade.

MilBlogs, it's a good thing. Join today.

Weekly Indroduction to the MilBlogs Ring

Dadmanly

Jack Army

Patrick Anderson

You Gotta Stand for Somethin'

Soldier, Soldier--A Tribute

All great additions, go check em out.

Robin Burk:

"Afghanistan opened its new military academy to their first class of cadets recently. Thought you might enjoy these photos, passed along by a US officer who's there for a few months. The Afghans visited academies in a number of countries before deciding to model theirs on West Point."

See them all here.

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If you're paying attention, you know that the Army is rotating large numbers of troops in and out of Iraq. This means lots of milbloggers headed home, and more "setting up shop" downrange. One of the first of the latest generation of MilBlogs in Iraq is Dadmanly - and now you can say you were one of the first visitors to his blog. Wish him well.

Turning Corners

Bill Faith, with news of progress:

Iraqi security forces foiled a trap set for a local security patrol by 40 terrorist in the village of Abu Mustafa south of Baghdad. After a confrontation between the two sides, the terrorists fled to a near by school. The Iraqi security forces among other forces pursued the terrorists and surrounded the school.

Read the rest here.

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The media, the military, and professional ethics:
thoughts on topic here.

The troops are returning from Iraq.
With the elections over, a few bloggers (or spouses of bloggers!) in Iraq will soon be "home" in Europe.

New Members

Outside the Beltway

Parrot Check

CJ\'s Henhouse (Formerly Chcknhawk\'s Harem)

Zero Two Mike Soldier

Let's give them a big welcome with a visit, please.

The original Blogger from the Sandbox

Awesome post from Smash. The original Blogger from the Sandbox is rightfully proud.

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Sgt. Rafael Peralta

If you aren't familiar with Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta you should be - he's one of the many heroes of the war on terror, and if not already he should become a legend of the Corps.

You still here?

Targeting Journalists

Roger is right, this sort of stuff may be dismissed by most Americans who see the utter absurdity of it, but it plays very well to an international audience eager to believe that the US is the Great Satan, or something by which their Nazi forefathers might not look so bad in comparison.

I, of course, target journalists all the time. But I use words - the same weapons they do, so all's fair.

Update: Speaking of targeting journalists, in my humble opinion Iraqi and Military bloggers provided the real story of the elections in Iraq, as journalists wrote excuses why they were too frightened to be out on the streets. (So I suppose we could be accused of violating some sort of union rules, or guild rules, or something...)

The latest violations come from The Green Side and Red Six, who also provides pictures here, here, and here.

Update 2:

Here, the coverage of the Iraqi elections from military bloggers. CNN couldn't touch this.

The run-up

Dagger Jag is a military lawyer who's been in Iraq for about a year, most recently helping prepare for the elections. His posts here and here were the earliest I've seen on the topic.

Mudville's countdown to the elections was actually my look at what was going on compared to what was being reported in the media, and ended with my prediction of success:

Eight - Delivering the ballots

Seven - Fighting back against the insurgents, the story the media doesn't tell

Six - Pre-election rhetoric from the media and some American politicians

Five - Democracy comes to Iraq from Ukraine

Four - How to identify a defeated foe, and how the media treats them

Three - Is the left really opposed to democracy in Iraq?

Two - A GI's daughter speaks up.

One - Good vs Evil, and who's on which side

Americans Blogging election day in Iraq (This is the good stuff):

The Questing Cat

Red Six

The Jersey Cowboy

A military photographer in Sadr City

The Green Side

Cigars in the Sand - Note this links the entire January archive with tons of separate posts and photos from election day.

I Should Have Stayed Home... - Once again, the entire January archive.

More

Around Iraq & Around the World - Mrs G provided a great collection of links.

Iraq Speaks - How can I offer my comments on this day when there are so many poets in the cradle of civilization?

The Day After

Greetings from a Land of Bent and Broken Things

We're not targeting journalists - we're just leaving them in the dust.

Are bloggers journalists? The answer is an emphatic "No".

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Austin City Limits?

Cruising through Austin Bay's blog today for his insight on Iraq (and there's lots of that there - Col Bay was here, after all) I found this post - which I must admit caught me off guard. But there's something about music and the military, I've rarely met a military person that wasn't a knowledgeable fan of one sort of music or another. And a pretty amazing number are actually talented musicians in their own right, as I witnessed in a recent talent show held right here in the camp I'm at.

Anyhow, for music or military, Austin Bay's blog is a daily must read.

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MilBloggers Spring into Action!

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Targeting Journalists

Roger is right, this sort of stuff may be dismissed by most Americans who see the utter absurdity of it, but it plays very well to an international audience eager to believe that the US is the Great Satan, or something by which their Nazi forefathers might not look so bad in comparison.

I, of course, target journalists all the time. But I use words - the same weapons they do, so all's fair.

Update: Speaking of targeting journalists, in my humble opinion Iraqi and Military bloggers provided the real story of the elections in Iraq, as journalists wrote excuses why they were too frightened to be out on the streets. (So I suppose we could be accused of violating some sort of union rules, or guild rules, or something...)

The latest violations come from The Green Side and Red Six, who also provides pictures here, here, and here.

Update 2:

Here, the coverage of the Iraqi elections from military bloggers. CNN couldn't touch this.

The run-up

Dagger Jag is a military lawyer who's been in Iraq for about a year, most recently helping prepare for the elections. His posts here and here were the earliest I've seen on the topic.

Mudville's countdown to the elections was actually my look at what was going on compared to what was being reported in the media, and ended with my prediction of success:

Eight - Delivering the ballots

Seven - Fighting back against the insurgents, the story the media doesn't tell

Six - Pre-election rhetoric from the media and some American politicians

Five - Democracy comes to Iraq from Ukraine

Four - How to identify a defeated foe, and how the media treats them

Three - Is the left really opposed to democracy in Iraq?

Two - A GI's daughter speaks up.

One - Good vs Evil, and who's on which side

Americans Blogging election day in Iraq (This is the good stuff):

The Questing Cat

Red Six

The Jersey Cowboy

A military photographer in Sadr City

The Green Side

Cigars in the Sand - Note this links the entire January archive with tons of separate posts and photos from election day.

I Should Have Stayed Home... - Once again, the entire January archive.

More

Around Iraq & Around the World - Mrs G provided a great collection of links.

Iraq Speaks - How can I offer my comments on this day when there are so many poets in the cradle of civilization?

The Day After

Greetings from a Land of Bent and Broken Things

We're not targeting journalists - we're just leaving them in the dust.

Are bloggers journalists? The answer is an emphatic "No".

CornerShot

The Quonset Hut is introducing a new weapon called the cornershot, a pistol accessory that enables the user to see, and fire, a pistol around corners.
Check it out

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Finally there

Reverse Retna is finally in Iraq. He arrives a few days before the elections

Talk about a fine how do you do! But I must say it was nice of the Jihadist Welcome Wagon to start my year off with a bang.

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Questing Cat Writes for Guardian and BBC

Nicholas Cademartori, aka The Questing Cat, has authored a piece for The Guardian on his Iraq service titled "I want to look back and be proud"

Full story here, in which the author requests "Any way, the link to this site is below, check it out and maybe leave a nice comment. I have a feeling I'm in the lions den over there...;-)"

Some sample comments on The Cat's piece at the Guardian:

Yeah right. And when Allawi is appointed supreme Bush ass kisser to continue running Iraq as has been planned all along you will still not get it. You still wont see the little girl with her legs blown off. If you get back in one piece you wont spend one day caring for the guys in the va hospitals who will never come out. You rah rah guys should be forced to spend one year caring for the wounded Iraqi,s and GI's before you are allowed to write anything. Comments posted by: ron at January 31, 2005 02:22 PM

I suspect the ballot papers in the boxes are exchanged to ensure that the winners are pro-Americans. Nothing is impossible when you can even cheat the whole world that Saddam had WMD. Don't you think so!! That is the work of CIA maybe.
Comments posted by: dodi at January 31, 2005 03:39 PM

I wonder how much Bush's Department of Defense had to pay this guy to put a positive spin on his opinion. Can anyone say "propaganda?"
Comments posted by: Teri Smith at January 31, 2005 05:15 PM

The elections are now over. Now the Iraqis must stand up to make a unanimous motion to charge King George Bush,Blair and Saddam as war criminals.The three of them are guilty for their heinous actions for causing deaths to thousands of innocent Iraqis.
Comments posted by: oliver twist at February 1, 2005 03:08 AM

A leopard will never change its spots. So a liar is always a liar. Knowing how ignorant and naive the American people are, they can be easily manipulated by a liar and a trickster like Bush. So, at the end of the day those who lie most will win the race.
Comments posted by: tom brown at February 1, 2005 03:15 AM

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"Combat" Photography

Blackfive with a must read post from a GI photographer who was in the infamous Baghdad neighborhood Sadr City for the elections:

It was late morning and our first trip was to a polling site where a suicide bomber had blown himself and two IHP into pieces (literally). I videotaped as they put the pieces into bags to be carried off. I think this was, without a doubt, the most disgusting thing I have ever seen. But I handled it like a troop- separating myself from the gruesome scene by way of my camera lens.

As they carted the men's body bags away, Iraqi people filed back in to continue voting. How about that?

She's Air Force, but certainly you all were reading that with a female voive in mind, right?

And yes, the "must-read" has been applied a lot lately - but this is an historic week for the world, so expect more.

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The Complete Russ Vaughn

Bill Faith has compiled an alphabetical list of Russ Vaughn's work. (Formatted as links to the individual poems, of course.) Great idea, Bill!

MilBlogs Archive - Jan 05'

The Military Family Network
Grunt Doc is getting the word out that Help is urgently needed for combat Marine veteran, Lance Cpl. Christopher R. LeBleu, a native of Lake Charles, La. He is currently in very critical condition in Loma Linda University Hospital, Calif., for an unexplained complete liver failure.

Please spread the word.

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To all of you cynics, hoping for disaster in Iraq
Random Nuclear Strikes reports on the success of Iraq's election.

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Fallen soldier

Mamamontezz's Mental Rumpus Room introduced us to this fallen soldier. 1st Lt. Nainoa K. Hoe, the popular leader of the 2nd Platoon, C Company, 3rd Battalion of the 21st Infantry Regiment.

Curiouser and Curiouser

Where's all the support? 4mile creek would like to know.

He has an indepth article on the support for Iraq from the arab world or lack there of.

The Hate-America Crowd, Part I

The Old Patriot's Pen has a multipart series on America-Haters

Be sure to check in on the next installments

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Vaccine Info

Information you may want to know at the Homeland Security Policy Institute Group Forum Index

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"Just thank-you~"

Fellow MilBlogger Bill Faith receives an email:

Dear Mr. Faith,

I awoke this morning with a need to compose the letter I've attached below. I don't have a clue as to why, or why now.

Upon completion, I had no idea what to do with it, if anything.

A "Google" search provided your website, my first and only stop. I read "Will You Welcome Us Home Now?".

I don't know any Vietnam Veterans, so I decided to send my letter to you. At least, I'll have thanked one Vietnam Veteran today.

I hope you don't mind my sending you the letter below, since you don't know me at all.

Thank you.

Becky

Go read the exchange of emails here

FLASH: CHESTER TO BE ON FOX NEW LIVE--THURSDAY 12:45P ET

Chester will be interviewed on Fox News Live by anchor David Asman on Thursday, Jan 27th at 12:45p eastern time. He will be discussing Iraq, blogging, and many of the other topics featured here at the Adventures of Chester. Hope you can tune in!

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Something you can do for the elections in Iraq

DSS Hubris has a Prayer request from a Chaplain serving in Iraq.

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The Critic

Smash at Indepundit rips a critic apart.
Nothing like a good ole' spanking to put them in their place.

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Hero to Hero

Stryker has an article about the Hero to Hero project and the recovery of Larry Kaibetoney, who was seriously injured in the mess hall explosion.

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Meet Rambo

By Afghan standards, Udin had a good life. He had a steady job, an apartment, six children and a wife he adored.

The turning point for Udin, he said, came several years ago when a rocket-propelled grenade apparently fired by a Taliban soldier slammed into his apartment, killing his wife.

Go meet Rambo at 2Slick's Forum

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The Latest Email from Across the Big Pond

Iraq War News received this the other day, and wanted to share it:

Dear All,
I'm sorry to read that you've been savaged by some left of centre little twit from the UK. It happens that some people hate you just because you're you. You can't be famous without being hated by somebody - fact of life - like poverty and taxes.

The Final Raid...

The Questing Cat has an excellent post on a recent raid but don't stop there read everything there, it's all good.

War stories

John of Argghhh! has one heckuva warstory you gotta read.

and don't forget to go back tomorrow for the Details, details, details.

UpDate: Details

Blackfive has conducted a few interviews with some soldiers he has serverd with.
Here's the general consensus of their thoughts as BlackFive puts it.

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Translation

Small Town Veteran has an update from Haider. Haider has translated the Arabic newspaper ?Alsharq Alausat?

Headline:

?First poll conducted by the Iraqi Ministry of Planning shows 72.4% Iraqis will vote.

A pretty impressive poll, go ck it out.

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Keeping them Updated

Marine Corps Moms has an a letter from Major Holton from 2/24 Golf Company of updating parents and loved ones of the situation in Iraq. A must read.

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Semper Fi

A Collection of Thought Has an Update on the progress of Marine Corporal Casey Owens

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More Members to greet

Arkansas Bushwhacker & The Parrott Mountain Bully Boys

and

The Tadil Tales
This Blog need a special introduction, It's not a typical blog.

This Blog is for a group that are making simulation standards for
simulations for all warfighters....as a warfighter, they use
datalinks like Link16/JTIDS/TADIL-J for communications purposes.

Any of the milbloggers that are datalink users might have interest in
how this volunteer project is coming along, and might want to help
with other volunteer efforts for other datalinks. You can also use
the site as a place to talk about what improvements the warfighters
need (to the datalinks, etc) --without a bunch of contractors or brass
in the way. The point is to have a place that's
unofficial.
While there's a core group working on the standards part,
They're trying to get more people to comment on what's going on, get
their voices/concerns/comments. They occasionally (and are trying to
more often) post more "normal" blog kinds of articles that affect all
of us in the C2/C4I world. If you take a look at some of the older
archives, you'll see more notes on the news in the defense world.

I think this is the perfect place for them, don't you agree?

My warship had been transformed into a floating hotel for a bunch of trifling do-gooders overnight

Doubleplusgood Infotainment has a guest columnist and he's not happy, with the US NAVY being taken for granted.

As a result of having to host these people, our severely over-tasked SH-60 Seahawk helos, which were carrying tons of food and water every day to the most inaccessible places in and around Banda Aceh, are now used in great part to ferry these ?relief workers? from place to place every day and bring them back to their guest bedrooms on the Lincoln at night. Despite their avowed dedication to helping the victims, these relief workers will not spend the night in-country, and have made us their guardians by default.

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Send your thanks to the US Military

My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy would like everyone to give a Thank You to the troops
Hat tip to SlagelRock's Slaughterhouse

What are you waiting for, get going.

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How much is a Life Worth?

Froggy Ruminations has some opinions on Senate Majority Leader Frist's promise to increase in the military ?death gratuity

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Disgusted by the BBC

A MilBlogger in Baghdad, Rich at Beef Always Wins , is alittle disgusted to say the least from a BBC interview with Carrie Gracie questioning the Iraqi author Kanan Makiya, founder of the Iraq Memory Foundation.

I was in disbelief as I heard the BBC broadcast last night. What I heard was a shameless cut and paste job designed to paint the Coalition in a bad light despite whatever Makiya actually said. He was very articulate, and from the small bit I heard, I think his opinion on the current situation in Iraq would have been telling. I'm disappointed and utterly disgusted.

Seems to be a trend.

Go check out the interview and what Rich has to say

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Winds of War Briefing - 01/24/2005

The Fourth Rail is in a collaberated effort with Wind of Change and Discarded Lies to give briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday.

The Winds of War Briefing is a roundup of the latest news on the Global War on Terror with a quick summary of each article. If you are interested in the details, progress and setbacks in the global war thisis a must read.

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Going Down Range

Reverse Retna from the Sandlot is heading down range.

And The Doc in the Box is headed back there as well

Go wish them well.

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Welcome to MilBlogs Ring

The Fourth Rail
and
Beef Always Wins

Great to have you aboard.

MilBlogger killed in Action

Athough he wasn't in the MilBlog ring He was a MilBlogger

SPC Michael Smith was a member of C company, 1st Bat., 503rd Infantry Regiment. He leaves behind his family, friends, and a wife, who he married in Korea last summer before he deployed to Iraq.

An excerpt from his blog:

these are the flags i'm going to fight for. these are the flags i'm going to defend, i will fight so no one can degrade our flags. i will do this, in the name of the United States, in my home state, and for the people living there. my friends. my family. my brothers in arms. they are who i'm going to fight for, so that they may be free.

if this makes me a bad person, or someone you disagree with, then you give me one actual idea, that would work with the way things are going, and with an understanding of human nature. because it's all well and good to be an idealist, but when you can't face the facts of reality, you're in for a harsh ride and endless dissapointment and anger ahead of you.

Be at peace, soldier, your war is over.

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Support the troops?

Russ has an essay, you must read. Here are a few excerpts

It?s so easy to say you support the troops, regardless of which side you come down on in the issue of the War in Iraq itself. Yeah, you can send care packages and put yellow ribbon magnets on your car to make you feel all warm and fuzzy that you?re doing your own small part. You can do as I do and use forums such as this one to expound the viewpoint of the folks we send in harm?s way, hoping that someway, somehow, someone who can make a difference may read your rant and actually do that something that makes a difference.

But right now, folks, we have a rare opportunity, a seldom-held power for ordinary citizens, to actually do something for the troops that will bring them more comfort than any supportive letters or boxes of cookies and candy ever possibly could. You see, right now we have the ability to provide them with comfort of mind, to lift a mental and emotional burden that they all carry with them when they enter any theater of combat. We hold in our collective hands the ability to grant them assurance that should the worst befall them, we, their grateful nation, will provide for their loved ones in a manner that will approximate what they would have provided in the normal course of their lives.
<...>
So you say you support the troops? Then as soon as you finish reading this, start hammering that keyboard and let your two senators and your congressman know that you expect no less than their full support for early passage of the HEROES Act. To a person, they all swear they support the troops, regardless of party affiliation or individual positions on the war. Let them know, their future electoral efforts will, in your mind, be dependent upon their actions on behalf of those troops and those families who have given that ?last full measure of devotion,? to their nation.

Want a place to start? For a list of sites with congressional contacts, go here:
Contacting Congress

Get off your butts, America and show you really do support the troops.

Russ Vaughn

But hey that's only a few excerpts, you must read the whole thing

Eric's Random Musings, speak about what being a Cold War soldier was like by relating one specific event that he experienced, an alert that felt like the balloon had gone up with the Soviets

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Sea-borne Terrorist

"EagleSpeak is concerned over what looks to be possible training of a sea-borne terrorist force and the potential threat to our military sealift shipping."

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Memorial

Sarah at Trying to Grok is ticked at ABC for trying to politicize a military funeral, But she attended another military funeral and she shares her thoughts here

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A Letter from the Mad Ghosts

BlackFive has a letter from the "Mad Ghosts" that's about the Marines of the 2/24th Battalion. This is a must read

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Politics of Forgetting Our Fallen

Sisyphean Musings has had to correct a few false assertion made by a few politicians and has a chart that put's it all in perspective

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Attention, Milbloggers!

Via email:

1LT Neil Prakash, of ARMOR GEDDON fame, was just awarded the
Silver Star.

Since he's one of my very best friends, I thought I'd make him more famous
than he already is.

Sarah
Trying to Grok

Reflections

Chronicles of a Late Blooming Child Prodigy is reflecting back on a year in Mosul

Second Term

JibJab has done it again, just in time for the inaugural.

UPDATE: Jib Jab's latest includes a cameo "appearance" by GIs in Iraq, courtesy of Operation Give.

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Coming Home

From In Iraq for 365

?Listen and listen carefully. What do you hear?? said the first sergeant leading a series of redeployment briefings inside an old chapel at Dix. Nothing. ?Exactly. There are no mortars. No snipers. No IEDs. Just America, and we will get you home.? This group?s sole job is to take redeploying soldiers in transit and make sure they make it to the civilian airports and their flights on time. After 10 different people spoke about stuff I can?t remember because I was so sleepy, we then slept at this old, run-down church for about four hours and then re-packed all our gear in a different bus and headed toward the Philadelphia airport. We shared the bus with an ate-up unit. They failed to pack their bags in the typical military fashion ? tight with no loose strings ? and we had to help them repack their crap. One army, one team.
<...>
I had a nice surprise waiting for me in the crowd. A couple friends drove up from Milwaukee and gave me the biggest hugs I?ve received in a year. They bought my lunch at Panera Bread and dropped me off at Fort McCoy, where I?ll spend the next couple days receiving briefings about how to reenter society and to make sure I don?t have any strange diseases.

I used to hate this place. The barracks were made in WWII and the heat never works. It?s always cold here. And the MPs like giving tickets. But now, as I look at this snow-covered post called Fort McCoy, I realize it?s more like my home than a duty station. After all, home is where the heart is and my heart will always be in America, all 50 states.

Thank You for your service

And here's a collection of memeories of his time in Iraq, his last post in Iraq

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What makes a MilBlog

A milblog is of course someone blogging, who is military, that's a no brainer, but it is also a mix of young GI's, old Veteran's (or not so old), and spouse's of GI's. All that have something to share, whether it be the experience of the war of today or the wars of the past or what it's like to waiting for a loved one to return. There is experience and wisdom you'll find nowhere else but in these blogs, so when I find a blogger who fits this criteria, I ask them to join the MilBlogs Ring. I can be persistant if I feel someone has wisdom to share or a perspective that needs seen, like with Bunker Mulligan.

A Small Town Veteran has an in-depth article on the Heros act. Sounds like a good bill to me. If interested in supporting this bill you can find a list of contacts here

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RaMrOd's has a welcome to Iraq that's all too real.
Warning rough language

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It's getting bigger and bigger

We have some additions to the ring we need to introduce.

Sisyphean Musings

Eric's Random Musings

And

The Adventures of Chester

These are all great reads you must visit.

Aiding and Abetting the Enemy: the Media in Iraq

Blackfive has an interesting essay by Lieutenant Colonel Tim Ryan - a Task Force (Battalion +) Commander in Iraq, this guy is not happy. This has been linked quite abit but if you haven't seen it, take your coffee and go , Greyhawk is still under the weather, but don't worry Greyhawk will spring back, just watch out when he does.

He's Back

2Slick is back - almost.

Mail Call

Excerpt

Dear American Soldiers,

As long as red, white, and blue flags still wave, yellow ribbons are still displayed, and Support Our Troops banners still hang, know that we are still thinking about you. We wish for your safe return home so you can be with your families, although you are all our sons and daughters. I consider you family and I understand why you do what you do. I will pray for you. America will pray for you. And when you come home, we will be waiting for you.

So for now I ask, what is it that we can do for you? We want to know. So tell us your stories and we promise to never forget. We promise to share it with America, so that America will never forget. And maybe one day all Americans will understand why you do what you do.

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!

Sincerely,
Aaron Mighty
Creator/Producer
An American Soldier

*******************************************
If you are a Veteran, active duty military or a family member of a fallen soldier and would like to contribute a story to the feature documentary film An American Soldier
Visit: an American Soldier (not the blog) or
Email to: stories@anamericansoldiermovie.com
*******************************************
To send thank you letters to soldiers via postal mail
Visit: A Million Thanks
*******************************************

An American Soldier is a feature documentary film (currently in pre-production) that will bring the stories of our American soldiers to the nation and the world. The film will aim to capture a compelling viewpoint of the American soldier, the lives they have led during and after war, and how they have paid the ultimate sacrifice to shape American society and world culture.

An American Soldier will not be a political film. The film will be a tribute dedicated to all American soldiers who have fought to preserve our freedoms and liberties here in America. Family members of soldiers who have lost their lives on the front lines will also share their stories.

This undeniably sounds like a must see film, but I hope they hold to their promise that this will not be politically motivated.

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

Dear Greyhawk,

I have some nice photos, forwarded from who-knows-where, of a C-130
crash in Iraq. From the camera date in one photo, these are fairly recent,
as recent as Dec. 30th.

Have a look and decide if this is something you'd want to link to.

I have gotten an email from a doc in Iraq who says he took care of
the injured from the crash (and was astounded photos were out), confirming
no deaths but at least one very serious injury.

Thank you for your service.

Grunt Doc

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

Hello, I?m a veteran of the US Air Force. And I decided to create an image on my site as a symbol of solidarity with our troops. It would be great if all the veterans did something like this to show they?re real and they support the war effort.

If you could pass the word on my idea , that would be great.

Thanks!

James Hudnall

And last but not least:

I thought you might like to know about a new MilBlog. I got an
e-mail from a soldier, thanking me for a letter I wrote to the troops.
He gave me a link to a section of his website where he has pics of he
and his Army buddies in Iraq. After looking at the pictures, I
checked out the parent directory, where I discovered that he was
setting up a blog about his time in Iraq.

Silent Chaos

There are only two posts there now, but it looks like he just started
the blog today.

Take care,
Ryan

Down but not Out

Well I?m battling a virus. Fever, cough, all of it. This doesn't keep me from my primary responsibilities but the grey parts of Greyhawk don't want to make words dance right now. I was going to tell you my plan for Mideast peace and the origins of global warming and reveal the secret recipe for DFAC chili mac, but that will have to wait for another day. Maybe more soon, but for now visit Lex.

Why? Glad you asked. I'll let you in on a secret. Lex is the Lileks of the MilBloggers. Lest you think I'd toss such a statement out there unsupported, I invite you to read his Christmas Post. (No - it's not too late. I meant to link it then, but server issues kept me off line. Besides, it has relevancy beyond Christmas.) Savor it, enjoy, thank me later. Then read his many subsequent musings, and don't miss his greatest hits which he conveniently lists in his sidebar.

Are you still here? Did you miss the virus part? Go before you catch it.

Must Read

Just go

A great look at the individual initiative and can-do attitude that
exemplifies our best and brightest, but unfortunately the last few
paragraphs seem to be a pointlessly tacked-on bit of Rumsfeld bashing.
The bulk of the story is must read, but the transition to
unadulterated lefty spew is jarring, as you'll likely see for yourself

_____

Progress in the 'Stan

Dear Mr & Mrs Greyhawk

Remember Afghanistan? The country which just had its first democratic election and whose reconstruction is making a steady progress?

The media doesn't.

However, here's the last four weeks' worth of good news from Afghanistan:

Chrenkoff

Opinion Journal

Thanks for spreading the good news.

Arthur Chrenkoff

Welcome to the Blogosphere and to MilBlogs

We have a new blogger, Sisyphean Musings, he's off to a good start by becoming a MilBlogger. Let's welcome him by visiting his very first post.

How to write to the wounded

Marine Corps Moms has suggestion for those who would like to write letters to the wounded.

_____

A Sniper You Should Know

Blackfive introduces us to a Marine Reservist Sniper that deserves our respect.

_____

Solidarity

Seeking Solace was surprised by the number of faded magnetic yellow ribbons attached to vehicles on the road. She wonders wonder if that is where it stops? By slapping a magnetized ribbon on your car does that give you a warm feeling that negates any further support?

_____

Deserter Deserts Again!?!?

SlagelRock tries to sort thru the facts of Marine Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun who was first believed kidnapped by terrorists then appeared to have deserted then again rumored to have been captured then freed and ultimately charged with desertion appears to have deserted again! Go make your conclusions.

Haider has translated some good news

News that you won't see in the MSM, because it just doesn't fit their agenda.
Here's a few excerpts

?500 Rabbies & Imams attend a Brussels conference together.?

The translation of the article is as follows:

?King Mohamed the VI of Morocco and King Albert the II of Belgium sponsored a Muslim ? Jewish conference for peace in Brussels. The goal of the conference is to get Rabbies and Imams together to rebuild the common historic, ethical and moral ground shared by Judaism and Islam.

?Over 500 Rabbies and Imams from all over the globe are attending this conference which is currently taking place in Brussels. The attendance exceeded the expectation of the organizers. The attendees discussed the history of relations between Islam and Judaism and the problems that brought about the deterioration of the relationship between the two religions. During a candid discussion of the common commitments and prejudices imposed by mutual respect and acknowledgement of one another, the Moroccan king?s consultant ?Azawlai? urged all in attendance to realize the scope of the difficulties & challenges faced by both the Muslim & Jewish communities. He said that in this context we have to bring back to the word of God the philosophical, moral, and spiritual connotation which imprinted and fed since ancient times the progressive and novel humanitarian relationships not the oppressive and radical ones.
<...>

?Arab Interior ministers condemn attacks on Iraqi & foreign forces & the way Arab media reports it.?
The translation of the Article is as follows:

?Arab interior ministers condemned the attack on foreign & Iraqi police and security forces and the kidnapping for foreigners in Iraq. The condemnation came at the closing of the 22nd convention of the Arab interior ministers, which started on Wednesday in Tunisia.

"The Iraqi interior minister Falah Hassan Al-Naqeeb asked at the opening of the convention that a statement be issued condemning the attacks on the Iraqi & foreign forces in Iraq. The Interior Ministers then denounced the news agencies that propagate and carry false news to entice terrorism. The ministers are referring to Arabic news, satellite and cable stations that refer to the attacks on Iraqi police, National Guard and Foreign forces in Iraq as resistance instead of terrorism.
<...>

Hat tip to Bill at Small town Veteran

The Tsunami was the result of an Angry God?

Dead Armadillos is glad his God is a much nicer one.

_____

Sticking the Taxpayers with a Loan for the UN's HQ?

My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy is supporting a petition to stop this and another one pushing for Kofi Annan?s resignation.

_____

Milblogger Hamilton's Pamphlets is unhappy with NZ Bear

_____

The Modern Military Wife/Spouse

Trying to Grok compares Military wife-ing of the past to that of today.

I've thought of this often myself.

More on Armoring Up!

John, at Argghhh! has some updates on sending M-113/A3 armored personnel carrier and the M-577 command post carrier. Both will be tougher and safer than newly armored Humvees.

_____

Combat Docs Down

Blackfive noted last week that the website of the 67th Combat Support Hospital docs had been ordered shut down. This week the Philadelphia Inquirer has additional details:

A Bucks County military doctor serving in Iraq says he was forced to shut down his Internet war diary last week after Army officials decided his gripping accounts of frontline medicine constituted a breach of Army regulations.

Maj. Michael Cohen, a doctor with the 67th Combat Support Hospital unit, had chronicled the bloody aftermath of the Dec. 21 mess-hall bombing in Mosul that killed 22. That account and 12 months of other postings on his Web log, www.67cshdocs.com, were replaced with a short notice:

"Levels above me have ordered, yes ORDERED, me to shut down this Web site. They cite that the information contained in these pages violates several Army Regulations," Cohen wrote, adding that he disagreed with the ban.

Military blogs have grown numerous since the invasion of Iraq, often providing a closer account of the war than traditional media. But such "milblogs" present a problem for military brass because the diaries are available to anyone with Internet access, including insurgents.

Lt. Col. Steven Boylan, a spokesman for coalition forces in Iraq, said the Pentagon allows blogging so long as authors do not disrupt discipline in their units, make statements on behalf of commanders or the Army as a whole, or reveal operational details that could aid attackers.

"Sometimes a blog might contain subtle nuances from which you can put together a complete picture of our operations, which insurgents can use to attack us," Boylan said. He said he was not aware of any bloggers facing court martial or other serious discipline. He could not confirm the investigation into Cohen's blog, saying it would likely be handled by field commanders in Mosul.

"We definitely don't want to impinge upon somebody's free speech. We're out here defending that. But it can cross a line," Boylan said.

_____

New MilBloggers Recruits

CDR Salamander has a great piece on Col. Sam Gardiner. Let's welcome him with a visit.

Mind in the Qatar II will be Playing in the Sandbox very soon, so be sure to keep an eye on him

Pass the Brass Is an MP who talks alot and has alot to say, he has some thought on rumors floatin around about the MP. Mp's are always welcome.

The everyday life of a Military spouseI Love my Soldier

And last but most definitely not the least the newest recruit,
dougpetch.com a two war veteren who doesn't hesitate to correct Andrew Sullivan. A perspective of a veteran is always a must read.

_____

Attention All MilBloggers

We have a mission to do and that is to spread this news far and wide.

Via Email from Stryker Brigade:

Greyhawk & Matt,

This is a message for the entire MilBlogs network, but
I'm still not sure how to do a mass emailing. We've
highlighted the work of Michael Reagan on our site
before.

Michael Reagen's portraits

Driven to draw

Michael is a very well known portrait artist and a
Vietnam veteran. He recently decided to retire and
focus exclusively on providing free portraits of
fallen service men and women for their families. He's
done this for a number of our Stryker soldiers. He's
trying to get the word out and I'd like to help him
accomplish that. In his own words via email:

"I'm about to retire early from my job and the reason
for that is the love I've received from all of you.
This hasn't been an easy decision, I've prayed a lot
about what to do but each time the answer is the same,
do the pictures. I need to reach as many parents and
families of those we are losing with my gift."

If you think it's appropriate you could mention this
on your blogs. Otherwise, keep the following link
handy and feel free to send it to the families you
hear about that have lost loved ones.

http://www.michaelgreaganartist.com/

Thanks and keep up the great work.

Regards,

Todd Sweet

Now get on your keybords and spread the news.

_____

Serving a Nation
Awesome!

2004 Year in Photos

Hat tip to the guys over at Argghhh!!!

_____

Request Denied

This is not approved:

Some of you may not know this, but in two months I'll be a civilian for the first time since I was 17. Yep, I'm getting out of the Army. It's an Unqualified Resignation from Active Duty- no National Guard, no Reserves. A clean break. This is a decision I made a few years ago, so it's not like I've been doing a lot of soul searching or anything like that. I've enjoyed every minute of my time in the service, and the Army's done more for me than I'll ever be able to put into words. I'm just ready to move on and enjoy other things in life. That doesn't mean I'll stop supporting the cause. I'll just be serving in a different way.

2Slick: Unfortunately at this time we must refuse your request. If you wish you can re-submit in triplicate for further consideration prior to additional rejection.

If I can use my combat experience and things I've learned on Active Duty to help debunk fascist mythos or help people understand what's going on over here, then I'm honored to do so. Mostly because I know that it will ultimately help those who chose to answer the call- as well as those who care enough to support them.

Hmmmm... okay, but I'm going to encourage people to go encourage you to keep that blog going!

Go go go...

Journey to War...

American Soldier is about embark on a trip that many MilBloggers have faced or will soon enough.

...And Back again

2slick Will be coming home, hanging up his boots and parking his Black Hawk.

______

Let's welcome some new members to the MilBlog Ring

Thank My Recruiter is a group MilBlog a definite good read.

Old Patriot's Pen A 26 year veteran speaking from experience.

Don't be Stingy

_____

Military Blogs Not yet in the Ring worth taking a look

Fred Schoeneman has something he feels strongly about here

11/22/04

New additions

I'd like to welcome our newest members to the MilBlogs Ring:MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, 2Slick's Forum and American Soldier, not to be confused with current member An American Soldier.

_____

Attention to all those sending packages to soldiers

The military's capacity to transport mail and packages to overseas areas, principally combat theaters, is so strained that the Defense Dept. has announced it will not accept any mail or packages addressed to "any soldier" serving overseas.

(Hat tip to Donald Sensing at One Hand Clapping)

Accordings to ABC News:

Last December, the military postal system received eight million pounds of packages and letters, much of it addressed, "to any soldier." This year, with full combat in Fallujah and increased attacks on convoys carrying fuel, bombs and bullets, the Department of Defense is limiting the mail to items addressed by name only — and asking that they be sent only by immediate family and friends

But don't be discouraged there are ways to get items to our GI's

The right solution is to support organizations like Soldiers Angels, Adopt a Platoon, Adopt a Sniper, Operation Gratitude , etc. They have POCs and can get stuff where its needed.

The Web site, America Supports You , will be a place where Americans can send messages.

AND here's an Update from Adopt Any Soldier

WHAT? NO MORE AnySoldier.com MAIL??? NO, NOT TRUE!

Due to the massive confusion and panic caused by the message that mail sent to "Any Soldier" will be stopped, we state the following: The Pentagon announced that it could not handle the massive amounts of mail and requested that unsolicited mail not be sent, that packages addressed to "Any Soldier", Any Service Member", etc would not be delivered. The mail from this program IS solicited by the contact, and IS addressed TO the contact. If they withhold mail, it is a federal offense (18 USC 1700-1705)... Please also see "Note #2" on the bottom of "How to Send" I wrote a year ago... Some postal employees and many in the news media are unable to distinguish the difference. To avoid conflict and to ease the tensions of those involved, please put "ATTN: Any Soldier (or Sailor, Airman, or Marine as it applies) under YOUR name in YOUR return address and NOT in the address to the contact. We will resume normal procedures after the holidays. Thank you for your patience and your support! -Marty

EX:
FROM: GI Joe's supporter
ATTN: Any soldier (GI)
return address

TO: GI Joe
APO address

USPS now says only 13 days left (Dec 6) to mail packages (Priority only) to the soldiers to make it by Christmas!
Note this is simply a guide, so send EARLY!
Please Spread this around.

_____

Good news keeps pouring in

Dear Mr & Mrs Greyhawk

As the old joke goes, sometimes a cigar is just cigar. In Iraq, contrary to the impression one can often get from watching the news, for most part a car is just car, not a carbomb, and there are a lot of them driving around.

More good news from Iraq:

Good-news-from-iraq-part-15

Opinion Journal

Wind of Change

Thanks for your help in spreading the good news.

Best regards

Arthur

11/20/04

Greyhawk's Guide to Military Blogs

In my travels through the blogosphere I sometimes find sites that have attempted to compile a comprehensive list of military blogs. A formidable task, since the MilBlogs Ring membership alone now exceeds 100 and probably contains less than half of all military folks with blogs. Unfortunately most those lists are wrong (though not for lack of trying and in spite of good intentions) or outdated. Not surprising since military people tend to change their status frequently and bloggers in general come and go rather steadily. But invariably someone will list a blogger as military who is not, or as being deployed somewhere they are not, or just capture about one tenth the total number of military blogs out there. As the founder of the MilBlogs Ring I'm a little more in touch with who's who among MilBloggers, ring members and otherwise, thus I present the following, Greyhawk's Guide to the Military Blogs.

This is work in progress, so expect to see this grow and change continuously. Please don't send me any names of sites I've omitted just yet, I'm moving through a long list. However, if you spot any innaccuracies in my categorizations, please don't hesitate to comment or email.

Note that blogs will be listed under all categories for which they are qualified, so expect to see repeated names.

Oh - and those so inclined are encouraged to right click, view source, and plagiarize to your hearts content.

____________________

Currently deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF):

Afghanistan (OEF)

Dogtulosba
Sgt Hook

Iraq (OIF)

Able Kane Adventures (Joe Kane)
Dagger JAG
A Line in the Sand (Sgt Missick)
The Mudville Gazette (Greyhawk)
My War (CBFTW)
The Questing Cat (Questing Cat and the Jersey Cowboy)

Elsewhere in the Middle East:

2Slick's Forum

____________________

Previously deployed for same

Afghanistan

Signaleer (RTO Trainer, Afghanistan)

Iraq

American Soldier
Chief Wiggles
Chrome Dome Zone
CPT Patti
Doc in the Box (Sean Dustman)
Iraq Now Note: now called 'Countercolumn' (Jason Van Steenwyk)
Life as a Baghdad Babe (Rebecca)
Magic in the Baghdad Cafe (Maj Paine)

Elsewhere in the Middle East:

LT Smash (now Citizen Smash)
Hardtack and Havoc (Ed)

____________________

Other Active Duty Troops

Overseas (non OIF/OEF)

Budaechigae (Korea)
Kommentariat
The Mudville Gazette (Germany)
Neptunus Lex (Somewhere at sea)

US

American Soldier (Drill Sergeant Rob)
Chapomatic
Haze Grey and Underway (Jaybob)

____________________

Guard/Reserve

Citizen Smash

____________________

Spouse/Family

An Army Wife Life
Army Sergeant's Wife
Chrome Dome
CPT Patti
Just an Army Wife
Magic in the Baghdad Cafe (Bear)
Marine Corps Moms
Mama Montezz Mental Rumpus Room
The Mudville Gazette (Mrs Greyhawk)

____________________

Retired

Baldilocks
Snugg Harbor

____________________

Veterans

Argghhh
Balloon Juice
Blackfive
Froggy Ruminations
Grim's Hall
Intel Dump
Ipse Dixit

____________________

Group Blogs

Sgt Stryker's Daily Briefing

____________________

Support, organizations, other

2nd Battalion 94th Artillery
A Collection of Thoughts
Iraq War News
Stryker Brigade News

____________________

That's all for now - but this post is growing daily! Check back soon!

_____

Hail to the Chief

Chief Wiggles was under investigation for running Operation Give? (Or something else…?) {Interesting story (or is it several stories?) developing here} – complete with cameo appearances by Tom Brokaw, shady Iraqi officials, the President of the United States, and God.

_____

The Army Motto

What Army's Motto is "Blood and Fire"?

Give up? The Salvation Army!

I think you feel differently about charities you've seen in action - you'd have to, knowing the work they do is real, and that it matters. Among my ribbons is a Humanitarian Service Medal - I got it for doing relief work in the aftermath of a hurricane some years ago. Amidst all the devastation, the Salvation Army set up shop to feed the volunteers who'd come to help in the recovery.

Even before then I always put something in the kettle. I won't be in America for Christmas this year, so I won't hear the bell ringers, and that's one of the many things I'll miss greatly. So it goes. Those bells of Christmas never bothered me, even though I couldn't afford to put money in every kettle every time I entered a store and I always felt a tiny bit guilty passing the ones I couldn't help.

I can't spend Christmas in America, so I won't hear the bell ringers. Neither will you, if you do all your shopping at Target.

If you pass one elsewhere, please drop a quarter for me.

11/19/04

Mom & Dad

Sryker Brigade News has a letter home you must read.

_____

Not the least bit Sorry

I'll bet you can determine with 90% accuracy how someone views America simply by asking them how they feel about this picture

You may have seen it before, but I'm putting Risawn’s picture here for the benefit of all Jihadis who might wander by this page. This is what you're up against. Sweet dreams, boys.

Oh, and by the way she's not pretending - she's military and a blogger. And she's not sorry. Here's her military page.

She's got great reports here detailing what basic training is all about. Any guys out there who are considering signing up should probably read her description of basic and see if they're tough enough to take it.

Lots more photos here too.

11/17/04

Takin' it to the Streets

Me, last week: where are the protestors? Must be the wrong Tuesday in November.

Smash: Hey! Look over here!

_____

Awww Shoot...

Issues on the shooting of a combatant in Fallujah:

This fact seems to be undisputed: the man was a combatant, and not a very nice boy. He had very recently been actively shooting at US Marines from a mosque. Sorry Charlie, there are numerous movies about people shooting at US Marines and the fate they generally meet. This guy may never have seen one - if he had this whole thing might not have happened. We must work harder at spreading our culture.

Here's the best quote I've seen in mainstream media on this so far:

Charles Heyman, a senior defense analyst with Jane's Consultancy Group in Britain, defended the Marine's actions, saying the wounded man could have been concealing a firearm or grenade.

"In a combat infantry soldier's training, he is always taught that his enemy is at his most dangerous when he is severely wounded," Heyman said.

If the injured man makes even the slightest move, "in my estimation they would be justified in shooting him."

In other words, an enemy who knows he is dying is probably willing to take you along. That truism must be considered when dealing with legal combatants and wounded suicidal maniacs too.

You'll find several good points and a great comment thread here.

And a tip of the hat to 2Slick, who says everything I would about the incident, and thus saving me alot of typing time.

And reminder: if you see a corpse of any sort around these parts (much less a living guy, wounded or not) it's best to think of it as an IED rather than a dead body.

Unless you want to be dead too.

_____

Get a taste of Reality

from our fellow MilBlogger, American Soldier (in Iraq)

PART I

Date: The Past Time: Early Place: Iraq

The convoy was preparing for a push north. All the soldiers were waiting anxiously by their vehicles. Some quiet, some reading excerpts from their bible and others just trying to make the time go by with jokes and small talk.

The officers had just finished up with their briefing and dispersed back to their squad members.

"So the Intel we have is pretty solid. We will most likely encounter some local sects of resistance." Lt. X say announces.

"We're also going into an area that is known to have a shit load of IED's and Roadside bombs."

*a few sighs*

"Yeah, so be alert, you all know what to look for."

"What about Hajji, what are the rules?" Sgt. A questions with some reservation.

"If Hajji is shooting at you then do what have to do, but you know the rules of engagement."

*small rumbling*

"Look, its going to suck. Just be alert, we'll deal with it, if it happens!"

Con't reading - See what happens next

PART II

We arrived at our destination point. It was an area that was on the outside of a fenced in parimeter, just a few roads over. Intel told us that these goons were inside a small slum compound. They were making IED's and blowing fellow Soldiers up. So the amount of energy between us all was very revealing.

"Why don't we just blow these fuckers up with Artillery?" SPC E said aloud.

"Woman & children are inside." I replied.

"So?" SPC E responded.

*Me looking stern at him*

*Him looking away*

Read on about this soldiers story

____

19 hours in Fallujah shooting gallery

MilBlogger Florida- cracker has found some intersting reading.

11/16/04

A Round of Welcomes...

... to our new MilBlog members:

The Rebel 'Rouser

DSS Hubris

The Bull Speaks

11/15/04

Scott Ritter is back ,,, at al Jazeera
Just when you thought he was long gone
MilBlogger Eagle speak catches Scott at it again

_____

Good news from Afghanistan

Dear Mr & Mrs Greyhawk

And it's so much more than just the election...

http://chrenkoff.blogspot.com/2004/11/good-news-from-afghanistan-part-6.html

http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110005895

http://www.windsofchange.net/archives/005887.php

The mainstream media certainly doesn't - so thanks for your help in spreading the good news.

Best regards

Arthur

_____

In the Neighborhood

More and more MilBloggers every day. 2Slick is a Blackhawk pilot somewhere in this AOR, and like your's truly enjoys watchdogging the media coverage of our activities.

(Hat tip: Rightwingsparkle )

_____

Blue State Nightmare

Speaking of Rightwingsparkle… heh

11/13/04

Who does the General report to?

If you're looking for the full picture on Fallujah no one provides a better perspective on the latest news from the front and what you can do to support the Marines there then the Marine Corps Moms.

Update: Sorority girls love the Marines? Looks like it in the pictures on the mom’s site. Must be the hair cuts.

11/10/04

Anniversary

Veterans Day also marks the anniversary of the start of the MilBlogs ring – I meant to do a bit more of a post on this happy occasion but problems with servers and issues with anti-Iraqi forces kept me busy.

Here’s a high-speed low drag cake. Enjoy.

_____

Technical difficulties

Might see Mudville come and go in the near future.
Just a server problem.

11/09/04

An American Hero

More than a few folks predicted that after the elections there would be a shift in the tone of coverage of the Iraq war. Whatever the reason, credit the NY Times for publishing this profile of an American hero, Sgt Rowe Slayton.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HEADHUNTER, Iraq - Wearing 60 pounds of body armor over his desert camouflage uniform and cradling a black M-4 rifle, Sgt. Rowe Stayton looks every bit the typical Army infantryman in Iraq.

He is not.

An Air Force Academy graduate and former F-15 fighter pilot, then-Major Stayton left the Air National Guard 17 years ago to run his civilian law practice in Denver and rear his six children. But his life changed not long after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, when he enlisted in the Arkansas Army National Guard in what he says was an act of patriotism.

Now Sergeant Stayton, 53, is leading three other soldiers young enough to be his sons on an infantry fire team that regularly runs combat patrols in the Haifa Street section of Baghdad, one of the riskiest missions in the Iraqi capital. More than a third of the 119 soldiers in his Guard unit, Company C of the First Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, have been awarded Purple Hearts for being wounded in action since they arrived here in April.

"That's one club I don't necessarily want to join," said Sergeant Stayton, in full battle gear one recent afternoon while his platoon acted as a quick-response force to back up another unit on patrol.

Pentagon officials have been expressing fear that the sweeping call-up of tens of thousands of Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers for yearlong tours in Iraq and Afghanistan may soon cripple recruiting and retention in America's part-time force. But Sergeant Stayton's story echoes those of a small number of other reservists with prior military service who have answered the nation's call to arms.

Military personnel specialists say that his case is unusual in several other ways too: the long gap since his previous service, his willingness to enlist as an Army sergeant after a career as an Air Force officer and fighter pilot and his willingness to volunteer for infantry duty when the Army is searching for every able-bodied foot soldier to battle the insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It all raises the question, "Why?" to which Sergeant Stayton smiles and patiently tries to explain, obviously not for the first time.

"This country has been so good to me," he said. "I just have so many things to be grateful for. It's an honor to be here."

<...>

Sergeant Stayton is a self-effacing man who initially declined to be interviewed for this article and agreed only after being assured that his fire-team comrades would be included.

<...>

For a high-flying aviator, the life of a muddy-boots ground-pounder has been an adjustment. "It's taught me humility," Sergeant Stayton said. "I'm not at the bottom, but I can sure see it."

Then again, there are not many Army sergeants whose college classmates are now senior generals in Washington and in Japan.

Sergeant Stayton graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1973. He rose quickly through the ranks, first as a T-37 instructor and then as a pilot in the first operational F-15 fighter squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va.

But he said he became disenchanted with the military. It was during the Carter administration, and he was frustrated with cuts in military spending and capability. He left active duty to attend law school in Denver, but remained in the Air National Guard, commuting to a unit in Des Moines for seven years.

In 1987, he decided to leave the Guard. By then he was a major and more promotions seemed likely. But the cold war was winding down, and he had never been deployed overseas, much less seen combat. His family and law practice beckoned.

When the Persian Gulf crisis broke out in 1990, he looked into volunteering, but the war ended before anything came of that.

It was not until the Sept. 11 attacks that he again felt the calling. This time, he said, he was determined to find a combat unit. An Air Force recruiter told him that he had been out too long and had lost his officer's commission. "I was too old to fly anyway," he said.

On a trip to his summer home in Arkansas in 2002, he stopped at an Army National Guard armory in Arkadelphia, where a recruiter listened to Sergeant Stayton's story and promised him a spot if he passed a physical exam. That was easy for Sergeant Stayton, a stocky, muscular man with cropped graying hair. After nearly a year of bureaucratic snarls during which the Guard lost his records twice, Sergeant Stayton finally took his oath of service in June 2003 and reported for two weeks of annual training.

The deployment has taken its toll on his personal and professional life, as it has for many other reservists. His law partner married, and he had to close his practice. "Clients don't really like their lawyer being in Baghdad," he said. (Nonetheless, he has filed two appellate briefs from here.)

Sergeant Stayton sent his 11-year-old son, James, the only one of his children left at home, to live with the boy's mother. He said he regularly called and sent e-mail messages to his son, but had underestimated how difficult his deployment to a combat zone would be on James. Despite the danger and hard stares he and his unit get from many Iraqis in the streets, Sergeant Stayton said he still believed in America's mission in Iraq. "While out on patrol recently, I had an older woman walk alongside me," he said. "She kept her eyes straight ahead so no one could see she was talking to me, and she kept thanking me for being here."

An amazing story. There's a picture of Sgt Slayton on the Time's page, complete with DCU pilot and jump wings.

11/08/04

SWIFT JUSTICE

Bold John sailed forth in his faux scow,
Till the Swiftees fired across his bow;
And legions of irate attorneys,
Could not defend Cambodian journeys,
Nor stories of his fabled hat,
So voters sensed they smelled a rat.
And while the networks denied them prime,
The Swiftees surely got their time.

While John screamed it was all a smear,
O’Brien came across sincere,
And forced Big John to duck the press,
To run, to hide from his specious mess.
But relentless those old Swiftee guys,
They bit, hung on, exposed his lies.
These brave old warriors once again
Stood for their country, for their kin.

They made us all look one more time
At the traitor who’d charged them with crime,
And gave false witness to their deeds
For nothing more than political needs.
It’s a smear proclaimed the New York Times
Those liars all committed crimes.
Chris Matthews raged, foamed at the mouth,
Still the turncoat’s campaign headed south.

So the Swiftboat Veterans’ charges stuck
And made poor John a sitting duck.
He had no answers, no glib replies,
To cover up his treasonous lies;
That made us think, our minds aware,
The Swiftees had some truth in there;
What if he’d faked his combat valor,
Were all those medals tinged with pallor?

Dan Rather would not pay them heed,
But still the Swiftees made John bleed.
The mainstream pundits called them liars;
But no lefty slant could staunch these fires.
The blazes that these Swiftees set
Were burning John Boy’s ass you bet;
And those Swiftboat fires just burned away
Till they fried John’s ass on election day.

Now all you heroes on that Wall
Take solace seeing Kerry fall.
This scheming pol who stained your name
Has been denied his claim to fame.
The Swiftees stood and did their best,
Denied the traitor his life’s quest.
You can rest in peace our honored kin
Your honor restored by honorable men.

Russ Vaughn
2d Bn, 327th Parachute Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Division
Vietnam 65-66
_____

The Forecast Calls For Fog

The fog of war, of course.

Expect everything you read everywhere about Fallujah for the next few days to be wrong. It's certainly not true - some things will inevitably (and inevitably accidentally) be right - but start with that basic premise of wrong and you'll have a good understanding of the very fluid situation there. (Spare me the links to web sites of experts - I've seen them. Thanks.)

That said, the past weekend was an ugly one, as insurgents launched rather feeble yet deadly attacks outside Fallujah, ostensibly to draw off the impending assault. These accomplished nothing of any tactical military value but did give sympathetic reporters the ability to publish sentiments similar to this: "Widespread lethal attacks prove that even as coalition forces mass for the inevitable battle in Fallujah, control of the broader situation remains elusive for the Americans and their allies". The attacks have no other purpose save to provide those lines to the media, without whose support the insurgency in Iraq would fall.

That same media tends to ignore the insurgent attacks that fail; witness this CENTCOM news release:

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq – An Army unit assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force, discovered and defused an explosive-laden youth center in Ramadi Nov. 4, which was rigged by insurgents to detonate and potentially kill dozens of Iraqi children. They also discovered more than two tons of explosives hidden in a mosque.

The discoveries were made during a sweep of the city looking for improvised explosive devices.

After a thorough investigation of the youth center, the Soldiers discovered that the explosives were rigged to detonate three ways: through a light switch, a remote control and by wiring that ran from the youth center to the nearby Al-Haq Mosque, where the unit discovered the firing mechanism.

At another mosque, a search yielded the discovery of more than two tons of ammunition, explosives, mortar systems and RPGs. Artillery rounds; assault rifles and various IED-making materials were found, as well. Fifty suspected insurgents were also detained during the sweep.

Mosques are granted protective status due to their religious and cultural significance. However, when insurgents violate the sanctity of the mosque by using the structure for military purposes, the site loses its protective status.

Great care is taken by the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines of I Marine Expeditionary Force, who are committed to assisting Iraqi Interim Government in providing security to Iraqi people.

A Marine officer near Fallujah describes similar atrocities in an email home:

The enemy inside the town have come to fight and kill Americans. Nothing will sate their bloodlust and hatred other than to kill everyone of us or at least die trying. It is hard to fathom as a Westerner as rational thought would dictate that we will only be here for a relatively short blip in their history and while we are here, billions of dollars in investments will pour in and opportunity that is beyond comprehension will open up for anyone willing to work. This is not Kansas and this enemy does not think like that.

If we build a school or clinic, they destroy it. They would rather deny medical care or education for the children of the citizens who live nearby than to have any symbol of the West in general and America specifically among them. It is hard to comprehend. Frankly, we are done trying.

For eight months, we have been on our chain. The enemy has fooled itself misinterpreting our humanity and restraint for lack of will and courage. For eight months, we have watched Marines, Soldiers and Sailors maimed and killed by invisible cowards hiding behind some wall or in a canal as he detonates another IED. For eight months, we have been witness to suicidal sociopaths driving vehicles laden with explosives into crowds of Iraqis and into our own convoys.

<...>

Every day, the enemy takes more hostages, assassinates developing Iraqi leaders and savagely beats suspected collaborators. I will give you just one recent example that happened last week. One of our patrols was moving down a street when they saw what looked like a fight. The Marines closed with the scene. It was a family that had come to Iraq on religious pilgrimage that was taken hostage and was being taken into Fallujah. The muj stopped for some reason and the father began fighting. The Marines interdicted and captured two of the kidnappers. Two more ran and the Marines could not get a shot without fear of killing/wounding others.

Every day, insurgents from inside Fallujah drive out and wait for Iraqis that work on our bases. Once the Iraqis leave they are stopped. The lucky ones are savagely beaten. The unfortunate ones are killed.

A family that had fled Fallujah in order to get away from the fighting recently tried to return. When they got to their home, they found it taken over by terrorists (very common). When the patriarch showed the muj his deed in order to prove that the house was his, they took the old man out into the street and beat him senseless in front of his family.

Summary executions are common. Think about that. Summary executions inside Fallujah happen with sobering frequency. We have been witness to the scene on a number of occasions. Three men are taken from the trunk of a car and are made to walk to a ditch where they are shot. Bodies are found in the Euphrates without heads washed downstream from Fallujah. To date we have been allowed to do nothing.

I have no idea the numbers of beheadings that have occurred in Fallujah since I have been here. I have no idea the number of hostages that have ended up in Fallujah since we have been here. I just don't know that Americans would be able to comprehend the number anyway. Unfortunately, the situation has only gotten worse. There is no hope for any type of reasoned solution with an enemy like this.

Once again, we are being asked by citizens who have fled the city to go in and take the city back. They are willing for us to literally rubble the place in order to kill the terrorists within. Don't get me wrong, there are still many inside the town that support the terrorists and we cannot expect to be thanked publicly if we do take the city. There is a sense of de ja vu with the refugees telling us where their houses are and asking us to bomb them because the muj have taken them over. We heard the same thing in April only to end up letting the people down. Some no doubt have paid with their lives. The "good" people who may ultimately buy into a peaceful and prosperous Iraq are again asking us to do what we know must be done.

Of course, among the first news reports from any coalition offensive in Iraq will be the inevitable footage of wounded children in the hospitals (see here here here ) - or perhaps not:

Iraqi troops backed by U.S. Marines have seized Falluja's main hospital, the first objective in a push to retake the city from insurgents, hours after Iraq's interim prime minister declared a 60-day state of emergency across most of the nation.

Gunfire and artillery echoed across the town overnight Sunday, but it remained unclear when the bulk of the U.S.-led force outside Falluja would begin moving.

The hospital -- on the western edge of the city -- was taken by the 36th Iraqi Commando Battalion with only minor resistance late Sunday, according to a pool reporter.

U.S. military officials said the hospital needed to be secured so hospital workers could attend to casualties without facing intimidation by insurgents, and to end its use as a source of anti-U.S. propaganda.

In the past, hospital officials have said U.S. airstrikes killed only innocent civilians, a claim the American military disputed.

Expect a different sort of backlash and outcry to result from that action.

Meanwhile, far from Iraq, Kofi Annan times his actions to match the opening shots in the long-anticipated campaign:

MilBlogs Archive Oct 04'

10/31/04

Happy Halloween

I have some treats for our MilBloggers. New banners can be found here There's plenty for everyone!

10/26/04

"Exercise the Right We Fight For!" - Get out the vote campaign

To all MilBloggers, we're launching a non-partisan get out the vote campaign, and have provided a logo for it here, on this page. The motto is "Exercise the Right We Fight For!" Will start in full on Wednesday and run through the final week, so if you want in please think of some entries explaining to people why they should vote next week. Non-partisan, but you can have all the other entries on your blog say anything you like, of course. Expect this effort to be high visibility.

10/25/04

Truth, Lies & Common Sense " is the 100th member of the MilBlogs Ring.
When this started I thought there might be twelve or fifteen. Welcome to the MilBlogs Ring

10/14/04

Iraq Files

Found this site in referrel logs. Looks interesting, has an awesome collection of "support the troops" links and it was started by this GI and his girlfriend.

Oh - and he's looking to rename his blog, and requests suggestions.

10/13/04

"You did say that the poets are welcome at Mudville, so I thought I'd throw this out. I wrote it for Poets For The War before this whole thing began, and it has to do with sand. You might find it appropriate, especially now that you're pouring the blood of the wicked instead of the innocent back into the old sands. Thank you for your bravery."

Sands of Babylon

We are the land and the dream of the land.

We have grown drunk on the power of kings.
We are the ancient sands of Babylon.

We tasted the knees of the proud laid low
And laughed to scorn our foes’ demands
And slumbered long under the heavy sun.

We have drunk deeply of rain and sun,
We have drunk deeply of blood and loss,
We have drunk deeply the woe and dismay
Of conquerors that we shift and swallow.

But newly our draughts are poison to us,
And a sour substance sickens our sands.
The blood we drink has no sweet savour
Of proud or wicked or righteous death.
We taste innocents, babes, our murdered own.

We are roused, roused, ready and watching,
Scouring the garden to shake out the snake.
Someone has entered us, given us poison,
Find him out, root him out, swallow him deep!

We thirst now for blood, blood of the wicked,
The life of the tyrant, murderer’s soul!
Feed us injustice! let justice remain.

Death to the wicked is our poison’s cure.
Restore the new Babylon! then may we sleep.

We are the cleansing sands of Babylon.

Slarrows
_____

10/11/04

Words of a veteran

...while good men died.
visit Bill Faith's new site, Small Town Veteran
_____

We'll Bid a Fair Adieu..."

"And flip the finger to, the Taliban", as Toby Keith sings so well.

Free elections in Afghanistan - I know how Sgt Hook must feel. I look forward to the same here in Iraq.

I can only imagine (Via Instapundit) how the opposition camp must feel - under that descending pall of gloom at Democratic Party headquarters as the free people of Afghanistan voted this past weekend.

From Kerry's web site :

Evoking Gerald Ford?s 1976 comment, ?there is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe,? George Bush said yesterday that the ?Taliban is no longer in existence,? underscoring the point that he isn?t being straight with the American people about his wrong choices in Iraq and Afghanistan.

BUSH?S FANTASY WORLD:

?That's why I said to the Taliban in Afghanistan: Get rid of al Qaeda; see, you're harboring al Qaeda. Remember this is a place where they trained -- al Qaeda trained thousands of people in Afghanistan. And the Taliban, I guess, just didn't believe me. And as a result of the United States military, Taliban no longer is in existence.? [Bush, 9/27/04]

THE WORLD THAT THE REST OF US LIVE IN:

Taliban is Resurgent: ?Nearly two years after their defeat? the Taliban has re-emerged as a growing security threat?? [United States Institute for Peace, 3/04]

<...>

And up to 90% of Country is Under Taliban Control

<...>

Taliban Violence Threatens Elections: The pre-election period has been marred by repeated attacks against voter registration workers and facilities, mostly carried out by Taliban forces. The Taliban has vowed to sabotage the election -- the first national poll in Afghanistan in three decades of war and turmoil, and the country's first-ever presidential election.

All topped by the ever-popular body bag stat:

Violence Against Americans in Afghanistan is Increasing: More than twice as many Americans have been killed in combat already in 2004 than in all of 2003.

But here's the World Afghanistan is in

The Taliban vowed to turn the Afghan election into a day of bloodshed, but the rebels mounted only a smattering of small-scale attacks on police and civilians and a larger clash that left many of their own dead.

After months of what proved to be empty threats, military commanders and ordinary Afghans said Sunday the vote was a serious setback for the holdouts of the hard-line Islamic regime that was driven from power by U.S. bombs almost three years ago for harboring Osama bin Laden.

"Yesterday was a big defeat for the Taliban and a huge defeat for al-Qaida," Lt. Gen. David Barno, the top American commander in Afghanistan, told The Associated Press. "It shows that the political process is overwhelming any influence they may have."

Voters also said the Taliban had been exposed as weak.

Though they'd humbly refuse it, more than a little credit for what has happened in Afghanistan most be given to the American soldier - Pat Tillman is just one example among many whose sacrifices made this possible. Contrary to some claims, America has not turned its back on Afghanistan, to say otherwise is an unforgivable insult to those who served there and those who are serving now.

Hook is there now, and I like his perspective:

So, instead of discussions about deadly attacks on voting centers or assasination attempts on candidates, we debate about purple ink that some say washed off. Welcome to democracy Afghanistan, isn?t it grand?

Slam dunk Hook - slam dunk.

Some Americans might fail their GIs, but American GIs don't fail. Go read it all.

_____

Good News

My husband isn't the only one - our friend Chrenkoff has more good news from Iraq.

_____

The Sound of Distant Thunder

Last night the flashes on the horizon were lightning, the rumbles thunder. Tonight the sky is nearly clear, I think it's something else. I saw precision demonstrated in the land of chaos today - and some other time I'll tell you more but for now be proud to be American, you who are, and know that sometimes something other than cold can send shivers down a spine. It was nothing, really - if you're the sort that feels pride in his heart and tears in his eyes when our national anthem plays then you likely understand anyway, and need no more explanation, and if not you have my pity.

On another note, I was close enough to hear the booms again, but far enough to only imagine the screams that must have followed. Amazing that this story would be used to bury this one:

On Saturday, a breakthrough peace initiative to end battles in the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City was announced by Iraq's interim government and militia loyal to rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Attacks on U.S. and Iraqi soldiers and almost daily U.S. airstrikes have been going on for weeks in the sprawling slum, which is populated by 2 million people.

Under the plan, al-Sadr's Mehdi militia will hand over medium and heavy weapons during a five-day grace period beginning on Monday.

Thousands of weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and mortars will be handed in at various centers controlled by police, the National Guard and City Council officials, according to Iraq's interim government.

And in the process, Iraqi security forces, backed up by U.S. forces, will take control of the area.

They would be allowed to conduct weapons searches and operations against those who oppose the initiative.

Interim National Security Adviser Kasim Dawood called the plan a "breakthrough" deal and a "big achievement" toward consolidating national unity in Iraq.

What we have here, IMHO, is a guy loosing support for his "insurgency" as casualties mount. Suddenly, the lightbulb comes on - he can achieve power through Democratic means!

Too good to be true? Perhaps. We'll see. If it is true, it's momentous, and it's inexcusable to bury such a story.

But this means nothing to foreign fighters or others who await the fate that Allah wills them in the Sunni triangle. But it does mean more Americans and Iraqis will be free to deal with them when the time comes.

And as I said, the flashes and booms on the horizon tonight are happening for reasons other than nature's fury, though certainly there's fury none the less.

Speaking of fury, look how unhappy these guys are, posing with the man who sent too few of them to do the job right (/sarcasm):

The Muslim calendar is a lunar one. Early tomorrow the crescent moon will rise, a scant bit over 10% of full disc. Soon it will be gone.

Soon it will be Ramadan.

_____

10/10/04

A Paratrooper Responds to Sheepdogs

Russ Vaughan has a new post at Blackfives
_____

A hero to be remembered

Go visit Sarah at Trying to Grok She got to know him just enough.

_____

Desert Reads
Wow - I just finished this book and now this one is available.

Can't wait!
_____

10/06/04

A Hero Needs Help

Bill Faith has been a great help during my travels, as should be obvious to all who visit here. And he never brought any one's attention to this post which he put up on his blog at the start of my journey. I found it by pure chance (or by something else) and I ask you all humbly to please go read and consider helping this man in a time of real need.

This post stays on top today.

You and yours are in our prayers Bill.

_____

A Hero, During Combat, Away from Combat, and During Vacation

A story about local Marine 1st Sgt. Fletcher Armstrong III that appeared in The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC) front page on Sunday. The story is written by a local staff reporter and is not a wire service report so it may not get wide play, but it surely deserves it.

To summarize, 20 year marine and OIF vet was on vacation in Dominican Republic when Hurricane Jeanne hit. The resort was flooded and 500 guests stranded. What this guy did to save guests and get them evacuated is incredible. He deserves to be recognized

...AND A DAMN VACATION.

_____

10/05/04

AH -OH

The "we have a right to photos of dead troops" crowd is crawling out from under its rock again. Sick

_____

Jingle Bells

Yes, that's right, Chistmas is right around the corner, and this time of year can be very hard on our troops. Let's lift their spirits with gifts of love. Please help by donating a stocking and an AT&T phone card so all our military members may call home and share the holidays with their families.

And close to my home. Christmas is coming to the wounded Heroes at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany? and YOUR help is needed to make it special!!!

Also, Angels are needed to sew blankets for the wounded.

And some children need some shoes to go with their stocking, Operation Shoe Fly, is making that happen. But stills needs help.

And last and very urgent, lets help out Chief Wiggles, so a little girl will still be here for chirstmas.

_____

10/04/04

American Style

Via reader e-mail (thanks Moss), here's one about some more American-style crisis management, a story about two GIs who found a way to help wounded Iraqi citizens:

Staff Sgt. Chris Cummings, a member of the Army Reserve's 478th Civil Affairs Battalion from Miami, ran a prosthetics company before he was mobilized.

Now, to help Iraqi amputees in Baghdad, Cummings has combined his background in prosthetics with Capt. Steve Lindsley of the Mississippi-based 112th Military Police Battalion. Lindsley is a certified prosthetist with the Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Monroe, La. The two Soldiers have identified more than 60 Iraqi amputees, many of them children and teenagers, who would like to have new limbs.

"Captain Lindsley came up with the idea of starting a free prosthetics clinic in Iraq for local people regardless of age," Cummings said.

"Captain Lindsley's civilian boss, Chris Wallace at MRC, has been very supportive with materials," Cummings said, "and the Army has been supportive by providing us with time and a place to help people in need."

The two Soldiers are working almost every day at the Grey Wolf Forward Operation Base in Baghdad's International Zone, taking measurements for the construction of new limbs for Iraqis in the program. Work is also performed on bracing limbs that cannot support themselves.

Cummings was scheduled to go home in early October, but he has chosen to stay and help more Iraqi amputees.

"I promised a lot of people I was going to help them - I can't go back on my promises," Cummings said. "I am extending to keep those promises. We hope to have new arms and legs for people starting in mid-October of this year."

UPDATE: Apparently we have a bad link, so I provided a cached link.

_____

E-mail from the Front

I'm stationed in Baghdad, and we are a National Guard Unit from Kansas. I must say that our troop morale is much higher than I ever expected it to be. When I was on active duty, stationed at Ft. Sill, OK, the unit morale was in the toilet. We worked late nights and through lunch and it drove morale down even more because we didn't see the point in it. When this unit deployed I thought that I had seen the highest that our morale would be for the next year. However our morale only seemed to go up. Once we got to Kuwait we were anxious to get to Iraq. The low point of the deployment so far was at Kuwait where the training seemed tedious and redundant. Once we got to Baghdad our morale only went up from there. After being here for 9 months our morale is still high. Just today there was a group of us on the bus headed back to our Hooches (trailors) and someone got a package. The package contained a funny hat, a stick on mustache, and a bouncing balloon with the rubber band on it. Suddenly a song came on the AFN (Armed Forces Radio) station and just like that it became a party bus. The balloon was being bounced all over the bus everyone was dancing, and joking and singing along. There isn't one day that goes by that someone doesn't do something to make everyone laugh and smile. I can't speak for every unit, but as far as this unit goes we are very much a family. We count on each other for every thing. Especially our good spirits.

Robert D. Truitt

SGT

U.S. Army

____

The Neighborhood

More from in-country, the two bloggers at the
Questing Cat
are a daily must-read. Like Mudville and Able Kane , these are sites you're not likely to see covered in MSM stories any time soon.

10/03/04

Another Hero
Here's a great story from the Strykers. There's nothing desirable about being wounded in war, but there's something heroic about those who are, and their stories are too seldom told. Don't miss this one

____

10/01/04

THERE WAS A MOMENT in last night's Presidential Debate

Lt Smash says despite his honorable service in Vietnam, Kerry should refrain from critiquing military strategy, specifically the Afghanistan campaign --
because he doesn't have a clue.

____

Recruiting, Retaining

"Prospect of combat no deterrence"

Rowan Scarborough offers more reasons why I don't worry about the Cocco kids showing up here any time soon:

The U.S. Army, which has done some of the toughest and longest fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, has met its recruiting and retention goals for active-duty soldiers in the fiscal year that ends today.

The Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps also achieved those goals at a time when the 1.4-million-person armed forces is under intense deployment pressures because of the global war on terrorism.

Scarborough even offers insight to some of the National Guard's problems:

The Army did suffer setbacks in the government's fiscal 2004. The National Guard will miss its recruiting goal of 56,000. It had signed up only 43,827 by Aug. 31. Critics say frequent call-ups and 12-month deployments are driving prospects away, but the Army cites the fact that more soldiers are being kept on active duty, which means they are not available for Guard recruiters.

Both reasons are likely equal factors. A significant number of "new" recruits to the Guard and Reserve come from those folks leaving active duty. As less people are doing so (by choice and by stop loss) the pool shrinks. The Navy faces a similar problem, without stop loss:

The Navy will meet its marker of 39,700 enlisted recruits, as it has for every year in recent memory, except 1998. The branch might miss the goal for 11,000 new naval reservists, partly because active duty retention rates are so high the pool of available recruits is shrinking for certain skills.

Elsewhere

The Marine Corps, whose amphibious units have fought in Afghanistan and patrol the notorious Anbar Province in Iraq, says it is on track to meet a goal of 36,773 recruits this fiscal year.

The Air Force three months ago exceeded a goal of retaining 55 percent of first-termers, garnering 68 percent. In fact, the branch is 20,000 over its budget-authorized personnel strength and is transferring some airmen to the Army.

<...>

Edgar Castillo, spokesman for Air Force Recruit Services at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, said the branch actually is slashing accessions from 34,080 this year to 24,000 next year.

"There are people right now that want to join that we can't accommodate," Mr. Castillo said.

Which will likely result in some going to the Army.

Fresh from the past year's numerous failures to predict success, several media sources are already predicting disaster for next year .

To bad they're not here with me. It's always good to have someone around who can keep a fire burning with little to no fuel.

MilBlogs Archive - Sept o4'

9/30/04

Bring Your Pen and Courage

This story has a punchline at the end, but don't skip ahead. But while reading ponder this question: is it easier for a GI to write or for a writer to become a GI?

This from theAtlanta Journal Constitution

Four sharp explosions jerk me from my sleep -- incoming mortar rounds cracking the predawn peace of our tent camp.

We are being gassed. My eyes and throat begin to burn as I scramble beneath my cot, feeling for my gas mask with shaking hands. Seconds are ticking. I try to not to breathe.

A minute later I would have been dead -- except that the U.S. Army doesn't use nerve gas during training. It uses pepper spray. Trust me, though; it burns like hell.

Along with three other University of Georgia journalism students, I spent six weeks at Fort Irwin, the Army's National Training Center in California's Mojave Desert.

<...>

Two of us met our doom in the Mojave, kidnapped by terrorists, and gunned down by American soldiers raiding our captors. At INN, we put together a touching piece on our fallen comrades.

The bullets were blanks in our desert, of course, but the situations and attitudes of the soldiers we reported on were as real as they come. It was tremendous training to see talented young men and women pouring energy into rebuilding a hospital or clearing a cave of possible chemical agents. We saw soldiers, soon to be serving in Iraq, fully engaged in their mission to build and maintain peace.

When we saw a busload of voters get "blown up" because a soldier made an honest mistake while protecting his own, we grasped the difficulties of the war. And when we heard men proudly describe how efficiently they and their weapons can kill, and have killed, we understood, as perhaps few civilians do, the callous warrior mentality.

For the soldiers, Fort Irwin was the beginning of a long and arduous period in their lives. For us, it was six weeks of discovery. Now we are walking the vibrant streets of Athens while they patrol some bomb-shelled town.

Maybe one day, one of us will have the courage to go and tell their stories.

Because they can't do it themselves?

By the way, I'm laughing out loud while I write this. Really, people are staring.

_____

9/29/04

Oh Yeah? Well What About Next Year?

Or: "Bias? We don't need no steenking bias..."

Gotta Love that WaPo

The Army and Army Reserve expect to meet recruiting goals this year, largely because nearly half the recruits who signed up last year were not counted until they reported for duty, officials said. But military observers say the picture could be bleaker next year, when that delayed entry pool is depleted.

Maybe next year those "observers" will stop staring dumbfounded and join.

The Army's goal was to recruit 77,000 new active Army troops and 21,200 Reserve troops. As of Aug. 31, the Army had 70,479 new recruits and the Army Reserve had 19,642.

But like the title above says...

And there's more bad news (for some) with less spin from USA Today:

Despite The Danger, Iraqis Line Up For Security Jobs

High salaries, national pride outweigh risk of being killed, many say

BAGHDAD ? They leave their homes before dawn, their police academy uniforms jammed in a bag and their laminated police identification cards hidden ? often inside the sandwiches they bring for lunch or, if they are women, in their headscarves.

Navigating Baghdad's darkened streets, the police cadets try to avoid checkpoints periodically set up by a militia loyal to radical Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Most have received death threats pinned to the doors of their homes or relayed in whispers by people on the streets.

Despite this, young Iraqis are lining up by the thousands every day for police and army jobs or for positions with multinational contractors. "I can't tell you how many thousands we turn away," said Melvin Goudie, a Scotsman who is director of the Baghdad Police Academy. "I've always thought after the latest attack that no one is going to come back. ... They keep on coming back."

They keep coming back. Read the whole thing. Then read Ali, an Iraqi, responding to something he read in an American Blog:

Allawi?s speech was articulate, impressive and honest and most Iraqis I talked to lately share the same opinion with me, but much more impressive was the reaction of all members of the congress who were there. That was the American people there, the whole American nation not just republicans, standing and cheering not Allawi but what he stood for; IRAQ. They were showing support and friendship to Iraq not Allawi and that was a rare moment in history where the two nations Iraq and America stood as equal friends, no actually it was more like family as one American friend described. Insulting Allawi and Bush and the whole speech, speaking so harshly of that unique moment is an insult not to Bush or Allawi but to both the Iraqi and American nations, and yes that goes for everyone did that.

<...>

I?ll never stop telling what I believe is the truth and won?t stop fighting for that regardless of all the silly accusations and even threats sometimes. I?m not pro-Bush and I?m not pro-Allawi but I stand firmly with the new Iraq and with America.

No link to the sad little American blog in question here - it's typical sewer stuff that plays so well to the Mike Moore crowd, and Ali links it anyway.

And the bottom line is that there's a war, and Ali and I are on one side of it and those folks aren't.

Finally, check this site. A lot of "voices in the wilderness" are making themselves heard over here. And yes, there?s a lot of noise to shout over, and a lot of folks don't want to hear, but the funny thing about truth is that it doesn't run and hide.

And the next time someone tells you it's worse than you think or that we're losing the war, before you tell them they're wrong be sure to ask them which side they're on.

_____

9/28/04

The AP's Ellen Simon takes a look at military blogs.

What do you do if the electricity goes out while you?re sitting in the latrine, leaving you in complete darkness with a dead flashlight? Blog answer: Reach into your cargo pocket and crack open a Chemlight.

For the record, my Blog answer would be you better not let me catch you without a working flashlight. But kudos for having the Chemlight backup plan. There's better stuff in the story, by the way. Read the whole thing.

My War gets 'ink' of course, as does Sean Dustman's Doc in the Box. (There's a picture of Sean in some online versions of the story.) DaggerJag gets a mention also - the latter two are long time MilBlogs Ring members.

Some of the story reads like a rehash of several previous MSM stories (WSJ, NPR, and LA Times have covered the subject before) on the topic, and almost all have included those blogs. But surprisingly, html links to all mentioned sites were included in several online versions of the story - to my knowledge a first. Kudos to all involved in making that happen.

Unfortunately, all those blogs mentioned are blocked by websense, so not all troops in the war zone have access to them.

Tell websense to "Free the Blogs".

____

The Eyes of the Undefeated

The trees sag. I mentioned it to another guy in the truck on the way to the chow hall at another camp, he'd noticed it too.

"It's the heat" He said. "You'd sag too if you stood in that all day."

Droopy trees.

Did I say chow hall? Here's your Iraq Faq of the day (Iraqui Faque Du jour, as the French might say, were they here): It's a dining facility. DFAC, for short, pronounced DEEFAK. Now you too can pose.

I saw it first thing early this morning, headed for the shower tent and noted the droopy state of the trees. One of the first things I noticed in country was the number of trees. Not a lot, but more than expected. Then the droopiness of them.

They look defeated. Maybe they're a good metaphor for a war-torn land. They stand, but they look pathetic in some ways, beaten down. Like you could topple them if you leaned against them. But still they stand, so you respect that. In little oasis groves here and there through camp they stand, now with folding chairs arranged around their bases - the designated smoking areas.

No smoking in the tents of course.

And the tents themselves? Droopy. You need a bit of slack in your tent, it has to give a little, and it's fabric, after all. So it sags.

There you have it, camp saggy. Drooping tents and trees. Standing there for a moment taking it in on the way to the shower tent in the cool of the morning that name occurred to me: Camp Saggy, Iraq.

And hours later driving to lunch I find a couple other guys who noticed that saggy look too. Not everything slouches though, I'll get back to that in a minute.

Because it seems that more than a few pundits in America would have you believe otherwise. I'll summarize their main points here:

"Iraq is a failure, we're headed in the wrong direction, "ground truth" is different then what the current administration would have you believe, the troops are demoralized, it will be impossible to hold elections in Iraq as scheduled..."

On and on, ad nauseam. Now through the elections expect a 40-day relentless barrage of this sort of thing, from many quarters, and from some individuals who should know better. And (que the "insurgents") expect a different sort of barrage to result over here. Everyone I've spoken with does.

Small wonder if the troops that move among these drooping trees, that sleep within these sagging tents, that sweat beneath this burning sun, aren't beginning to droop a bit themselves. Those same pundits would certainly have you believe it's so.

But here's what I noticed in the DFAC today: young faces. Young determined faces. Not much older (but far wiser and much more mature) than the crowd at a high school lunch room. You can tell without asking what these guys think. They look you in the eye. And if you can stand to look back you'll see into the eyes of the undefeated. There is no quit here, no early out, no cut and run. These are young men with an ugly job, America's finest sent to do our worst and best, and they make me feel old and inspired all at the same time.

So here is the first impression of your fine young sons: They walk straight and tall with heads held high in this war-torn world, in this sagging land. I wish you who can only read of defeat trumpeted in your newspapers or on your TVs could have walked among them and seen this for yourselves.

I read where someone said George Bush and Dick Cheney are the only people in America who think Iraq is going well. That may be so, but I don't believe for a minute they think it's a picnic.

And I saw 300 young Americans in Iraq today who didn't look like quitters.

_____

9/25/04

Blogs Off Limits" for GIs Downrange

Looks like many GIs will have to rely on CBS and other such outlets
for their news, since many weblogs are blocked by Websense, a
company apparently selected by the Air Force to keep the troops away from
objectionable material online.

I'm not talking about work computers either, these are in the morale tent,
designed for use by GIs while off duty.

Which blogs, you ask?

Instapundit is blocked, Hugh Hewitt is not. Roger Simon is blocked, LGF is
not. Daily Kos is not blocked.

Blackfive: Blocked.
Sgt Hook: Blocked.
Chief Wiggles (who was publically praised by President Bush for Operation
Give): Blocked.

My guess is Websense determines who goes on "the list" and the Air Force
simply subscribes to a package. Those so inclined are urged to visit the
Websense page here and request these sites be removed
from their list.

_____

The Veteran in the Wall

Here I lay within this wall,

And cry out to be heard.

I committed no crimes

I served,

Purely and simply,

I served,

Bravely and honorably.

I did not serve any political belief,

I served my country.

I gave up every good thing that I had,

And volunteered for this fierce duty,

To do the will of this nation

To defeat an enemy

That threatened our well-being.

So here I lie, moldering,

Close by the oaks of Arlington,

Wondering, wondering,

Will ever my voice be heard?

-Russ Vaughn

____

9/24/03

Unconquered Men

(With veneration to Ralph Waldo Emerson?s Concord Hymn)

From Swift Boats they did brave the flood,
Their flag to autumn?s breeze unfurled,
Here again, embattled sailors stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.

Their foe no longer silence kept,
Believing that the veteran sleeps;
That Time?s assured his treason?s swept
Down history?s stream which backward creeps.

Tween hostile banks of media?s stream,
They fixed the sights of truth?s own gun;
Seeking but their honor to redeem,
And stay the march of Judas? son.

Their Spirit made these warriors dare
To keep their nation?s honor free,
But Time and Nature will declare
Their honored place in history.

Russ Vaughn
2d Bn, 327th Parachute Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Division
Vietnam 65-66
____

9/23/04

A visit to Landstuhl Marine Corps Moms has an account of a Marine wife's trip to visit wounded troops at Landstuhl

____

Cassandra reports from the Vietnam vet's rally in DC. Lots of photos included.

____

Another Vietnam vet with a blog. Whenever I find a Vietnam veteran blogging I'm reminded of this great quote from one of the VFW members who turned his back on John Kerry during his address to their proud organization:

"He turned his back on me when I was in Vietnam in 1971," said Hill, a former state commander of the Massachusetts VFW. Hill said he had prayed for the day when he could protest against Kerry before a national audience.

Truth to power.
____

Lots more on the WSJ story (mentioned below) here.

____

An American Soldier responds to the WSJ story below.

____

MlBlogs in the Wall Street Journal - a picture of CB and some details of what's been going on with his blog - all under a slightly misleading headline.

I have a tough time writing headlines too.

Gripe: Would it have killed the WSJ folks to put a hyperlink in the text? If so, couldn't they have at least put the url for My War? Watch:

http://cbftw.blogspot.com/

Both at once!

____

Mudville had its 500,000th visitor. Thanks for stopping by.

In a related note: Blogads are now available on this site, at a special introductory rate (see sidebar link).

Big things are coming to Mudville, but as I've noted, my future travels require gear, if I'm to continue to report the goings on in my shifting corner of the world. I'm not seeking profit, just trying to stay online.

For all those who've contributed via a donation or a link or just by being a reader my humblest of thanks. Your generosity is noted and won't be forgotten.

____

Chapomatic asks:

'Hawk,

Twenty four year old kid gets a Silver Star. He was an E-2 at the time! Where do we get such heroes?

I don't know, but generation after generation there seems to somehow be a few available when needed.

By the way, don't miss the comment thread at Chap's (linked above).

But Chap, I see your 24-year old and raise you one 19-year old:

BAGHDAD -- An 18-year-old private earned the first Silver Star medal awarded to a soldier from the 1st Cavalry Division serving in Iraq after he helped fight off a deadly guerrilla ambush in May that killed two of his comrades and wounded five.

Pfc. Christopher Fernandez of Tucson, Ariz., received the Silver Star from the division's commander, Maj. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, on Aug. 13. The Silver Star, the military's third-highest combat medal, is given for uncommon valor in combat.

Then, without even leaving Chicago:

With 4 inches of plaid boxer shorts visible above sagging jeans, Tony Mihalo fit almost perfectly into the teen crowd idling away the night in a Naperville bowling alley. Only a tight haircut hinted that he was different.

On Tuesday, the beefy 19-year-old will board a flight to San Diego, where, by nightfall, he will be chin-deep in the caldron of Marine Corps basic training at Camp Pendleton. That is the initial stop on what he expects to be a path leading to infantry duty in Iraq.

Mihalo enlisted in December as a senior at Naperville North High School but chose to delay his entry until fall, after graduation. That has given him a final summer at home, three golden months of movies, road trips and late-night sessions playing video games.

<...>

Naperville is a wealthy town where children are expected to go to college. Few enter the Armed Forces--only 10 of the 788 students in Mihalo's graduating class enlisted--and some sense a prejudice against those who do.

"If ... I say I have a son going into the military, all of a sudden, it's like, `Oh, you're letting him do that?'" said Mihalo's mother, Debbie Wolfe. "They look at him as though he's not educated."

And all ye gathered here will of course want to read them both in their entirety - a new generation of heroes walks among us.

Then go watch the MTV video of John Kerry, he who would be Commander in Chief of these fine men, and hear his message for the youth of today.

____

Speaking of MilBlogs - here's one that will disappear soon without your help.
____

The Stryker Brigades point us to an article on military blogging from the military's perspective. This may help end some of those "they're cracking down on MilBlogs" stories I've seen here and there about the web.
____

My War is back.

____

More on the increasing visibility of military blogs:

I was interviewed for a story by one of our soldiers in Iraq about military blogging and the need for OPSEC (Operational Security). It is going to be published in an army command publication and may be picked up by the Scimitar, which I guess is a newspaper printed in Baghdad for the general military population in and around Iraq. I was quoted three times in the story. :)

I'm not going to reprint his story until I get permission, but I will reprint the interview here....

An excellent read, and it's here.

____

A strange place, this blogosphere, where everything you could possibly want is available, somewhere...

Like Hook's MIA blog entry - which someone else saved here.

How 'bout that?

____

The LA Times:

Other wars produced poetry and novels and memoirs. But the war in Iraq has brought a new kind of literature. In real time, on the Internet, officers and enlisted men and women are chronicling the war on weblogs ? better known as blogs.

This sort of coverage is somewhat of a mixed blessing for military bloggers, many of whom really don't want large audiences and are only seeking to maintain contact with widespread family and friends in a highly efficient manner. (Disclaimer: I've generally stopped linking to milblogs that don't give me express written consent to do so. I urge others to follow suit.)

But this following statement is unsupported, to the best of my knowledge, though I've seen similar (and, I believe, incorrect) claims made on other blogs:

Two weeks ago, one of the most popular war bloggers, a soldier stationed near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul who identified himself only as CBFTW, was disciplined by the Army for violating "operational security."

Emphasis added. Could be a case of loose definitions of "disciplined", but CB himself never reported such an event. The Times piece is unattributed, but I've got a few requests out for more info.

"Developing", as they say.
____

A special for MilBlog's page readers, the debut of Russ Vaughn's latest:

VETERANS? DAY

How liberals do defy the mind
For nothing in theirs? can we find,
That willingly will look with reason
At how their man committed treason,
Skulked off to Paris this effete
To grovel at the Madame?s feet,
Betraying his sworn officer?s oath
To become the turncoat we so loathe.

Our law is clear you shall not treat
With America?s foes nor their cadres meet;
Give aid nor comfort to enemy forces
Nor espouse a view from hostile sources.
Without a mandate from the state
Wherefrom your right to negotiate?
Was treason, John, and is treason still
To this very day your unpaid bill.

Don?t try to hide behind your youth.
You knew the law you knew the truth.
You knew your faux negotiation
Would further tear our war-torn nation
And all for what, John, your career
So you can shameless brazen here,
And claim now that you?re fit to lead
The very nation you made bleed?

And yet before us there you stand
With medals blazing you demand
Such treachery we must ignore
Your treason that lost us our war.
But hold on, John, we veterans say,
You had your turn, now comes our day.
You thought we slept, forgot your crime?
Oh no, John boy, it?s come our time.

Some say let you apologize
But that won?t do it in our eyes.
A man astride of each position
Could we believe your true contrition?
The vindication we?ll accept
In settling up this long-held debt,
Is each of us will do his best
To deny you, John, your lifelong quest.

Listen carefully John to what we say,
November 2d is Veterans? Day.

____

Smash is back on his regular site, and wants to match Governors.

But speaking of the Gov, how cool is this? (Via Chromedome.) Smash probably has one from ol' whasisname.

I've got photos of Schwarenegger visiting the wounded at Landstuhl - I decline to post them here out of respect for privacy concerns for those in them. Plus I don't have any photos of the speakers at the Democratic convention visiting, and I try to be impartial here.
____

What MilBlogs would be like without the internet.
____

Smash has returned from active duty and is blogging on his backup site, where he provides a first-hand account of a San Diego "peace" protest turned violent.

A nice welcome home, eh?
____

Vietnam veteran Bill Faith is blogging up a storm. Scroll scroll scroll...

____

Our first MilBlogger from England, welcome Kommentariat to the MilBlogs Ring! Spanning the globe like no other news organization ever.

____

Happy Birthday!

____

Ghost Battalions

A reminder found while housecleaning the blog this weekend: Just Another Soldier. Interesting in light of this week's discussion on the fate of military blogs in general.

Closing Blogs is nothing new. So many site's owners just give up on their own. They come and go, you know, these MilBloggers do. Like any other sort of blogger. Many post in the lonely down hours far from home, spill their guts for the world, then abandon their spots when the tour of duty is up. They have lives again somewhere in the world, and no need to share the details. So it goes.

Many are truly gone - no site left at all. "The page cannot be found." Other blogs remain, like abandoned defensive positions in shifting desert sands. Once some bold soldier was here, now no more. The ghost battalions of the web. How you doin', Major Pain? And look, here was Thor. And here stood Moja. Farewell, Will.

They are more than the thoughts they left behind, but now only those orphaned thoughts remain, left for any to see. Museum pieces, like tombs, offering something to the scholar or the scavenger, or enjoyed in passing by the casual traveler.

Here Tim waited for Patti. Is Chromedome's Zone next?

Zeros and ones you know. On one level that's all they ever were. Enjoy them while you can.

____

As of this post, My War has had all archives pulled. I can think of several reasons for this, not all of which involve suppressing free speech.

And Sgt Hook's blog is MIA.

Developing.

Update: Problems with the WWW? A disturbance in the force? Since there are two sites I'm unable to reach today, could there be some common cause?

Update 2: Okay, now panic.

Update 3 Okay, I've heard from Hook and from someone who is in touch with CB. Both are fine. The military is not now nor has it ever been suppressing blogs. Please note the title of this post

------

Welcome No Pundit Intended to the MilBlogs Ring

------

Doc in the Box, now out of the box.

An American Soldier, in the land of heat and sand.

------

NPR offers a misguided and condescending look at MilBlogs - specifically "My War".

Do not mistake what follows for any attempt on my part to speak on behalf of CB. He speaks for himself quite well. I will also mention "the Army" throughout this discussion. Note that "the Army" is a large group of individuals. Long years of experience have led me to this fact: An individual in the Army is usually responsible for all complaints targeted at the institution. Since I've no idea what specific individuals might think on this topic I will use the generic "the Army".

There are obvious problems with the NPR story:

1. Moments after we hear from the real blogger, (audio available at above link) they play a "dramatiz