Thus Far Un-Tarnished

From Dee Cee:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican and Democratic leaders of the U.S. Senate on Friday said Robert Gates should win speedy confirmation to lead the Pentagon as he promised the Iraq war would be a top priority.

Gates met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill 10 days after voters angered by the Iraq war swept Republicans from control of the next Congress.

"If I am confirmed .... clearly, one of the highest priorities, if not the highest priority, will be looking at the situation in Iraq," Gates said in his first comments since being picked by President George W. Bush as the next defense secretary.

Badly Tarnished

Let's play "Spot the Typo" (SECRET HINT I've included a subtle hint for folks born yesterday):

Nancy Pelosi has managed to severely scar her leadership even before taking up the gavel as the new speaker of the House. First, she played politics with the leadership of the House Intelligence Committee to settle an old score and a new debt. And then she put herself in a lose-lose position by trying to force a badly tarnished ally, Representative John Murtha, on the incoming Democratic Congress as majority leader.

Update: In fact, now that I think about it, How dare they question his patriotism!!!

More here.

And here.

DoD Announces Units for Next Operation Iraqi Freedom Rotation

The Department of Defense announced today the first of the major units scheduled to deploy as part of the next Operation Iraqi Freedom rotation. This announcement involves one Army division headquarters and five Army combat brigades consisting of approximately 20,000 service members. The scheduled rotation for the forces identified in this announcement will begin in early 2007.

Force levels in Iraq continue to be conditions-based, and are determined based on the recommendations of military commanders in Iraq and in consultation with the Iraqi government. U.S. force rotations will be tailored based upon changes in the security situation. Iraqi security forces continue to develop capability and assume responsibility for security in Iraq.

This rotation continues the U.S. commitment to the stability and security of Iraq, yet is flexible and adaptable in order to meet the evolving requirements for the mission.

For Operation Iraqi Freedom, the major units announced today are:

3rd Infantry Division Headquarters, Fort Stewart, Ga.

4th Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Ks.

4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wa.

3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C

173rd Airborne Brigade, Vicenza, Italy

The department also alerted approximately 27,000 active duty and 10,000 reserve component troops in combat support and combat service support units smaller than brigade-size elements for deployment beginning in 2007.

DoD will continue to announce major unit deployments as they are identified and those units are alerted. The individual services will announce the smaller, supporting units for this rotation.

My son's brigade is on this list. I'm not ready. I'll never be ready. I am a soldier's mom... just some soldier's mom, but I am not ready.

DoD Announces Unit for Next Afghanistan Rotation

The Department of Defense announced today that the 218th Brigade Combat Team, South Carolina Army National Guard, will deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to train the Afghan National Security Forces. The scheduled rotation will begin in early 2007, and will include approximately 1,500 service members as presently envisioned.

The department also alerted approximately 6,200 active duty and 600 Reservists in combat support and combat service support units smaller than brigade-size elements for deployment beginning in 2007.

This deployment reflects the continued U.S. commitment to Afghanistan. Force levels in Afghanistan continue to be conditions-based, and are determined based on the recommendations of military commanders in Afghanistan and in consultation with the Afghan government. U.S. force rotations will be tailored based upon changes in the security situation. Afghan security forces continue to develop capability and assume responsibility for security in Afghanistan.

DoD will continue to release major unit announcements as they are identified and alerted. The individual services will announce the smaller, supporting units for this rotation.

A Voice from the front, and a casualty notification.

Over at my place.

Captain (P) Dave Baer on winning:

If you want to win in Iraq, you have to take the gloves off like we did in OIF I and OIF II. We were aggressive and violently kinetic. It worked and the bad guys were deathly afraid of us and the people of Iraq respected us. Now we use kid gloves and the bad guys walk all over us and the people of Iraq don't think they should support us because we may pack up and leave and then they would be the object of reprisals. It's the hard right (lots of offensive action and firepower and not afraid to use it in a city) or the easy wrong (the kinder, gentler approach to dealing with terrorists to try and avoid casualties).

You can read the rest here.

Fort Leavenworth had its first official casualty this week (vice soldiers from the area). Colonel Tom Felts of the School of Advanced Military Studies was killed in Iraq on Tuesday. Details here.

Something Shiny and New

A new blog debuts, and its sole focus is on items that you couldn't have done without during your military career. Beyond Standard Issue. Check it out.

News of Afghanistan ۲۹

29th installment of the News is up.

"29? Gosh, it seems like only yesterday that Major John started at this..."

RE: Wanna Be an F-117 Pilot?

That is too bad. Made models of Nighthawks when I was a kid. And the F-117 was the star of one of the best armed forces recruiting ads ever.

Personally I say we should sell em on the cheap to Israel, and let the Iran nuke crisis work itself out that way.

Just sayin, is all.

This is DNN

More here, and here.

Re: House Dems Dis 'da Murth

Not surprised. Here's why.