Smash Might Enjoy This

Courtesy the Tank (with analysis) is a report of one of those VVAW guys getting criticized for being out of uniform for a political goal. VVAW guy apparently got a little mouthy to a commissioned officer when called on it, too.

Check out the quote from the guy:

"I love the Marine Corps," he said. "I always have loved the Marine Corps, and that is why I'm particularly offended to see it being used for political ends."

Khowst Provincial Reconstruction Team's Getting It Done

A little uncomfortably close to Waziristan is a team of guys, led by a submariner type, which is Doing Good Work. Note what they're saying about the situation so close to the border and during the "big Taliban resurgence":

"Good security is vital for the PRT's mission to be successful," said 2nd Lt. Cory Marr, platoon leader for 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment, Arizona National Guard, who provides security and maneuver support to the Khowst PRT.

The security is beginning to take care of itself, he said.

The overall security in Khowst has improved greatly, which is the result of locals seeing the many improvements that have come in the past year, the fruit of their efforts in securing a safe environment. This has allowed the PRT to extend its reach, he explained.

"There's no place we're afraid to go," 2nd Lt. Marr said. "We work with the Afghan National Security Forces and get plenty of intelligence from the locals. For instance, we stop at police checkpoints as we enter an area, and they update us on the local situation. We always have a good understanding of the areas we're going into."

"In some of the more remote places we go, the locals have become extremely helpful to us," said Spc. Doug Schletz, an infantryman in 2nd Plt. "They used to look at us like we were aliens, but recently they've seen what we're here to do for them, like seeing us helping the ANSF provide security for many of their events."

This increased security is so successful, international reconstruction agencies and foreign investors that have, in the past, shied away from helping Afghanistan due to safety concerns are being drawn back, Cmdr. Adams said.

Odds and Ends

Chap sez:

Of course Arkin misspells the name of our favorite milblogging public figure from OPFOR. (So now in the space of months, he's gotten his name, rank, and job gotten wrong in the MSM--so much for the legions of fact checkers!)

Yah, next time I do a media spot I'm just going to tell them that I'm Air Marshall Noonan, Chief of the Air Force's legendary Zepplin Bombardment Group. We'll shove it down the pipe and see what comes out the other end.

BTW, is Mrs. G going to make her recent (and frequent) appearances more regular? Cause y'know, I'm totally down with that.

Also, since this post seems to have no purpose whatsoever. Did anyone announce the results of the Milblogger March Madness bracket? I lost to Jimbo by ONE FREAKIN' POINT and I'm still pissed. Stupid Georgetown.

Wow!

A young Iraqi seeks shelter behind a U.S. soldier following a suicide blast.

HT: Gateway Pundit.