MilBlogs in Mainstream

The Wall Street Journal profiles MilBlogs.

A Pepto Bismol Kind of Day

The gals of Code Pink have drawn the ire of some bloggers today.

Michelle Malkin tells us that Medea Benjamin, chief Pinko, disrupted Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s speech to a joint session of Congress today. Classy.

SMASH has already posted his encounter with the Pink ladies and their I.V.A.W. buddy.

This morning, I published a post about Code Pink getting smacked down by Walter Reed security.

This group of aging hippies pride themselves on their radical, attention-getting methods. While they do get their fair share of attention, the more the public knows about them, the less harmless they appear, which is one reason I'm going to be keeping my eye on Code Pink, and those who cozy up to them.

An Afghan Riddle for you

See if you can answer this one.

Maritime Security: "Merchant" ship launched missiles

Some concern raised in the WaPo about a "real missile threat" posed by missile-capable merchant ships here:

If a country was serious about wanting to attack the United States with nuclear fire in a manner that would ensure surprise, leave no fingerprints and guarantee success, there's a much easier, better and cheaper way. It's one that could avoid the challenge of smuggling weapons into U.S. ports under the eyes of law enforcement, intelligence, customs officials and the Coast Guard: Put the missile on a ship disguised as a commercial freighter or private craft, sail near American waters and fire.

Suicidal Ambush in Afghanistan

From CENTCOM:

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – A Coalition patrol killed seven extremists on July 25 after they attacked Coalition forces in the Garmser District of Helmand Province.

There were no Coalition casualties in the fight. The Coalition unit received small arms, rocket-propelled grenade, machine gun and sniper fire from a group of extremists. The Coalition force returned fire, killing five insurgents.

Later in the same area, insurgents fired small arms at an Afghan National Army mortar team, with a Coalition embedded tactical training team attached. The combined unit responded with machine gun fire and killed the remaining two insurgents.

“If enemy extremists fire upon Coalition forces, we will respond with deadly accuracy,” said Lt. Col. Paul Fitzpatrick, Combined Joint Task Force -76 spokesman. “If they attack Afghan civilians, we will respond just as forcefully. We remain committed to engaging any threats to the peaceful future of the Afghan people.”

Afghan National Security forces continue to maintain a strong presence in the area of Garmser and provide security that will enable reconstruction and humanitarian aid projects to be delivered that will improve the lives of the Afghan people.

Deadly accuracy indeed. Good to see the Afghan National Security forces hard at work defending their own.

Baghdad Death Squad is Disappeared

I just love it when a good plan comes together:

Baghdad Death Squad Taken Down

The AP also notes that it is unclear whether the 'punishment committee' yanked off the streets was Sunni or Shi'ite. While clearly an important factor to US & Iraqi troops on the ground fighting the good fight, upon further review, it matters little from this distant perspective. One more down, lots to go. Good news for Iraqi civilians, one way or the other.

Bubblehead gets weird mail

You know, maybe it's because he glows in the dark or something, but Bubblehead has some unusual correspondents.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 9981

On this day in 1948:

EXECUTIVE ORDER 9981

ESTABLISHING THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON EQUALITY OF TREATMENT AND OPPORTUNITY IN THE ARMED SERVICES

WHEREAS it is essential that there be maintained in the armed services of the United States the highest standards of democracy, with equality of treatment and opportunity for all those who serve in our country's defense:

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, by the Constitution and the statutes of the United States, and as Commander in Chief of the armed services, it is hereby ordered as follows:

1. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. This policy shall be put into effect as rapidly as possible, having due regard to the time required to effectuate any necessary changes without impairing efficiency or morale.

Tuberculosis and the Navy

A USS Ronald Reagan sailor has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis. The entire ship's crew, air wing, and anyone embarked at any point during the latest deployment has been ordered to be tested for exposure. So far, the tests have returned a positive result in 34 of 776 cases, or 4.4 percent. The expanded test should net a lower percentage of positives, because it will include many people who had little to no direct contact with the sailor with active TB.

This has happened many times before in the Navy, and protocols are in place to prevent the spread of the disease throughout the crew and into the community. A positive test does not indicate active TB, but that the person is a likely carrier of the bacteria which causes the disease. Carriers of TB are typically not contagious unless they develop full-blown cases. Preventative treatment with heavy doses of antibiotics is highly effective at stopping these carriers from developing active tuberculosis.

Unfortunately, those who take the antibiotics must also abstain from drinking alcohol for the course of the treatment (usually six months) to avoid causing liver damage. That's got to be rough on a sailor just home from six months at sea.

Disgracing the Uniform

I run across an "Iraq Veteran Against the War" protesting outside the White House.

The results are predictable.

Truly A Man Of Honor

Master Chief Carl Brashear, the African-American Navy diver who was the inspiration for the movie "Men of Honor", passed away Tuesday at age 75. He truly lived life to the fullest, and is an inspiration to all who honor those who strive to excel.

Sailor, Rest Your Oar...