Stupidest. Statement. Ever.

[Bubblehead]

We all know that journalists can ask some dumb questions during military briefings, but I'm thinking we might have a new winner here. Check out this passage from an AP story on the recent fighting in Afghanistan:

In the clash in Farah province, attackers ambushed a highway police patrol, killing one officer before two attackers were shot dead, said Ghulam Dastagir Azad, the governor of neighboring Nimroz province.
The ambush also left six officers and three attackers wounded, he said.
Azad referred to the attackers as "enemies" -- a term usually used by Afghan officials to refer to the Taliban -- but he was unable to provide a motive for the ambush.

(Emphasis mine)
This story doesn't mention the context in which the reporter came to this conclusion directly, but here's how I imagine the exchange went:
Reporter: "Governor Azad, do you know what the enemy's motive might have been in attacking the police?"
Governor Azad: [Looks dumbfounded, wondering how anyone could ask such a stupid question. He wants to shout out "It's because we're at war, and opponents in war attack each other when they see each other!" -- but he can't, because the question is too stupid to justify a remark.]
Reporter: (writing in notebook) "Azad was unable to provide a motive."

A Blogging Question for Milbloggers

[ArmyLawyer]

In debating online, have any of you ever pulled rank on the person you were arguing with? Ever had them do it to you?

Had it done to me the other day, good times.

Weapons Grade Surfin' in Pismo

[Soldier's Mom]

Liquid love (the kind that goes from your heart straight to your eyes) about some Gnarmax Guys surfing in Cali... These guys were definitely packing large in the Stone Zone (for translation, see HERE)

Good Morning "Mom," I just want to thank you and all of the others who helped to support and get the word out about the Surfamp clinic in Pismo Beach this past weekend. As a member of the Pismo Beach Longboarders, I was fortunate enough to be a volunteer working with the vets all week, and it was an experience I'll never forget. We helped them to surf, but they showed us so much more. I'll think twice before I ever complain about lousy conditions or poor wave selection again.

Read the rest over at SOME SOLDIER'S MOM

("Weapons Grade" = Epic... Read more of that lingo HERE

2007 MilBlog Conference

[Andi]

May is National Military Appreciation Month. What better month to hold the 2007 MilBlog Conference? The date is May 5, 2007. The conference will take place in Washington, D.C. again. Look out CodePINK!

If you have photos from the 2006 Conference, I would appreciate it if you could send them to me via email. Do not send photos that you would not want posted on the conference site, or other public forum.

Email: andi at andisworld dot com

See you in May!

Meanwhile, back at the Iraqi Civil War

[Soldier's Dad]

Via Retuers - Security Developments for August 21st

COUNTRYWIDE - Iraqi army arrested 103 suspected insurgents during the past 48 hours in different cities of Iraq, the army said on Monday. ISKANDARIYA - Two policemen were wounded when a roadside bomb went off beside their patrol in Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said. BASRA - Gunmen killed Fadhil al-Magsusi, a colonel in the Facility Protection Services (FPS), on Sunday in the southern city of Basra, 550 km (340 miles) south of Baghdad, police said. BASRA - Gunmen killed two off-duty members of the Interior Ministry Intelligence Service on Sunday in Basra, police said.

72-0

[John of Argghhh!]

On the recent run-ins the Taliban have had with the Canadians (who, despite the snark-droids droll commentary) have obviously not forgotten how to fight:

“This was clearly a disproportionate use of force,” he said during a visit that included an inspection of mud huts destroyed by a NATO air strike. Thousands of civilians have fled the conflict.

"Canadians must take responsibility for not limiting the losses inflicted on the Taliban to numbers more in line with their own paltry losses in this conflict."

So... if they won't surrender, the Canadians have to like, pick, oh, 15-20 of their own guys and send them out naked to be shot or something? Egad. When I read this I first thought it was Scrappleface...

Oh, wait... it's KATE! You EVIL WOMAN you! Snerksnerksnerk... H/t, CAPT H.

For a more nuanced view of the fight, 72-0, read Damian at The Torch. Money Graf:

"They acted the way that we expected they would act and became decisively engaged and had insurmountable difficulties breaking contact with us."

Lessee, Allah's Quartermaster had to put in an emergency req for 5, 472 virgins, yes?

Examining a ruined school

[Major John]

February 2005, I went to go look at the school at Deh Qadzi. See for yourself what it looked like...

You Call That PTSD?

[Dadmanly]

Many months ago now I started a series of posts in an effort to wrap up my time in Iraq, from a military perspective, and more personally as a MILBLOGGER. It didn't get very far. For some things, you need to get pretty far away from the source to get the right shape of a thing. That's as true of experiences as it is for other landscapes.

I had quite a bit of time between STARTEX and ENDEX this past week -- what with all the inevitable PAUSEXs -- so I got down to finishing off a piece on Changes and After-Effects.

An excerpt, excuses, and appropriate warnings in the extended entry.

Milblogger Fantasy Football

[John Noonan]

As if you all needed any more reason to trash talk Zoomie LTs (coughdonovancough), any one up for a milblogger fantasy football league?

What's Worse for Your Brain?

[Grim]

What is worse for your brain -- exposure to an IED blast wave, or service in Congress?

We have our answer.

The perils of the sea...

[John of Argghhh!]

News you probably haven't heard, unless you have an interest in the Coast Guard.

Fair winds and a following sea, sailors.

The Pot Hasn't Been Stirred Up Enough Lately

[Chap]

Proof of the high quality training those studly fighter pilot types go through to do formation flying. Video here, from the post here.