Somali Pirates Release Danish Ship Held 83 Days

[Eagle1]

Apparently, after payment of a ransom, the Danish merchant ship Danica White has been released and is under escort away from Somalia.

More here.

UPDATE: Earlier posts on the capture of the ship here, here and here.

As in most things. you will get more of what you are willing to pay for.

Into the Lion's Den

[Andi]

Don't mess with Army wives:

U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge on Tuesday was asked why his colleagues in Congress are tearing down the troops because of the war in Iraq.

About 50 soldiers and spouses ate lunch with Etheridge at the Pegasus Inn, the 82nd Aviation Brigade’s dining hall on Fort Bragg.

One of the military wives told Etheridge that every time one of his peers in Congress makes a statement against the war, that person is tearing down the soldiers.

“I can’t stop people from making their comments, but I understand what you are saying,” Etheridge said. “I don’t agree with them.”

Etheridge, a Democrat from Lillington, represents the 2nd District, which includes Spring Lake and parts of Harnett County. He assured the wives that every member of Congress supports the troops.

“They may not express it the way they should,” he said.

Wonder if he'll do that again...

USNA rejoins the military

[CDR Salamander]

It has been a tough few years (or decades depending on who you are) for those who have hope for the Severn School for Wayward Boys and Girls. The new Sup, Vice Admiral Fowler, looks like he is moving out of shoal water.

"This is not just a college scholarship program," Adm. Fowler said. "The taxpayers have paid money to develop officers here, and it's my job to ensure we minimize those distractions."

Very nice. More please.

Another Re: Scheduling

[Greyhawk]

The date probably doesn't matter because I can't hear you I'm not listening I can't hear you I'm not listening I can't hear you I'm not listening yayayayayayayalalalalaldadadadada I can't hear you...

A majority of Americans don't trust the upcoming report by the Army's top commander in Iraq on the progress of the war and even if they did, it wouldn't change their mind, according to a new poll.

So neener neener neener.

For the record - here's the General:

Q: ...And secondly, your recommendations in September, are you willing to countenance the idea that you may have to say to the president, this is not working, we should pull troops out, or are you more likely to say things are not going well, here are the adjustments and strategies we need to make?

GEN. PETRAEUS: Well, on the latter one, I mean, I have an obligation to some wonderful young men and women in uniform, and a lot of civilians, by the way, who are serving in Iraq and who deserve a forthright assessment from the folks at the top about the situation on the ground, and that's what I'm going to provide.

To make things more interesting September 11 only exists on our infidel heathen great satan calendars. A few days after that and the Ramadan deathfest begins (whenever the first sliver of the new moon is visible in Mecca). It will be my second Ramadan here. Good times.

Background:

January:

The U.S. commander in Iraq predicted yesterday that some of the extra troops President Bush is sending could make an impact and start returning home by late summer, an optimistic note in contrast to skepticism of the plan back home.

April:

Earlier this year, top Democrats in both houses of Congress refused to attend a bipartisan briefing offered by General David Petraeus to discuss the challenges in Iraq. Next week they’ll have another chance when the General comes to Capitol Hill to brief lawmakers in the House and Senate on our progress in the Global War on Terror.

General Petraeus was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate to be the U.S. commander of the Multinational Force in Iraq. He has a clear track record as a straight-shooter and as someone who gets things done. So one has to wonder why next week’s important briefing almost didn’t happen. According to Roll Call, when the Pentagon tried to schedule the briefing through House Democrats they were declined – twice – because Democrats were originally “too busy” to schedule anything.

However:

WASHINGTON - Hours before the House of Representatives narrowly passed a $124-billion bill to fund the war in Iraq, the commander of the multinational forces there delivered a classified briefing to Congress.
<...>
But at dueling Democratic and Republican news conferences after Petraeus' closed-door meeting with the House, it seemed as if the members had attended different briefings.

And then:

The White House Scales Back Talk of Iraq Progress

WASHINGTON, April 27 — The Bush administration will not try to assess whether the troop increase in Iraq is producing signs of political progress or greater security until September, and many of Mr. Bush’s top advisers now anticipate that any gains by then will be limited, according to senior administration officials.

(Note that "September" and "late summer" - from the January link - are actually the same thing, and nothing - outside of some headline writer's imagination - was "scaled back".)

Finally, this.

Re: "Courage"

[Greyhawk]

Mr. Cusack has said his desire to make the film was born out of anger at the decision by the Pentagon to ban publication of photos showing flag-draped coffins returning from battlefields.

What a douche.

(Have I mentioned before that corpse-porn freaks really piss me off? I believe I might have ...)

This post is almost exactly two years old:

There are two types of Iraq war veterans that have a tremendous appeal to the anti-war crowd - the fictional and the dead. Both types have a common, irresistible trait - others can claim to speak on their behalf.

Re: Scheduling

[Greyhawk]

"Congress is not in session because of the Rosh Hashanah holiday, very much the week leading up to that Saturday, September 15th."

YHGTBFKM.

Meanwhile:

A new Gallup Poll finds Congress' approval rating the lowest it has been since Gallup first tracked public opinion of Congress with this measure in 1974. Just 18% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, while 76% disapprove, according to the August 13-16, 2007, Gallup Poll.