This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Author: Sporkmaster

  • Letters from Gadhafi to his “Son”.

    Get a load of this. It seems that Gadhafi sent a letter to President Obama asking for the Nato attacks.

    In the letter, Gadhafi implored Obama to stop the NATO-led air campaign, which he called an “unjust war against a small people of a developing country.”

    “To serving world peace … Friendship between our peoples … and for the sake of economic, and security cooperation against terror, you are in a position to keep Nato (NATO) off the Libyan affair for good,” Gadhafi wrote in the letter.

    “I am sure that you are able to shoulder the responsibility for that.”

    But it gets better.

    Gadhafi told Obama that a democratic society could not be built through the use of missiles and aircraft. He also repeated his claim that the rebels seeking his ouster are members of the al-Qaida terrorist network.

    Yea what he really means is NATO air strikes and not the ones that he ordered.

    But to top it off he ends with this.

    “We have been hurt more morally [than] physically because of what had happened against us in both deeds and words by you,” he wrote. “Despite all this, you will always remain our son whatever happened. We still pray that you continue to be president of the U.S.A. We Endeavour and hope that you will gain victory in the new election campaigne.”

    “We still pray that you continue to be president of the U.S.A. We Endeavor [sic] and hope that you will gain victory in the new election compaigne [sic]. You are a man who has enough courage to annul a wrong and mistaken action,” Gadhafi wrote. “I am sure that you are able to shoulder the responsibility for that.”

  • Iowa Senate retools the “Stolen Valor ” Act.

    Iowa Senate is working on creating a Bill, S.F. 397, that would make it a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,875 dollars and up to a year in prison. Sen. Dennis Black, D-Grinnell address the States Bill against the original 2005 Act.

    “It does not really go as far as I’d like but constitutionally I think it goes as far as we can,” Black said before senators voted 48-0 to approve an amended version of Senate File 397 and shipped it to the Iowa House for consideration.

    Which is important since that more people may will to abuse the new car license plate honoring those who have CIBs, CABs, CMBs, and CARs.

    Legislation that cracks down on unauthorized use of military decorations and medals also unanimously passed the Senate. Senate File 397 has been dubbed “Stolen Valor” because it protects those who’ve answered the call to military service from theft of the honor they’ve earned.

    This bill makes it a serious misdemeanor to impersonate a decorated military veteran to deceive another person with the intent to receive monetary gain, such as a job, promotion or political office.

    Both of these bills now go to the House for further consideration.

    The State Government of Texas will be looking into a similar Bill 431 in the near future.

    “It’s easy to fool the general populace,” says McEntyre. “They’re not going to question you.”

    And that’s why McEntyre doesn’t want to let the issue rest. Neither should lawmakers. The proposal next goes before the House Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee.

    “With the right amount of public awareness, it might make people (who are lying about a service record) think and realize that what (they’re) doing is wrong.

    “People think this is a victimless crime,” McEntyre said. “But (the liars) are victimizing all of us in our good nature, our willingness to help other service members.”

    Which is something that many people do not understand.

  • Sticks and Stones

    Considering what is happening in Afghanistan I thought this is cartoon would put things into perspective. Also given that there are some interesting things coming out from the Rethink Afghanistan community.

    Ok were to start.

    Well, okay, but…these were UN workers at a time when 100K+ troops were in the country. Doesn’t seem like the presence helped them much.

    Or this one.

    That Florida pastor should be banished to Afghanstan for starting such a malificent ruckus, that people are killed as a result. If you read Islam’s history? You will realized it greatest spread came in the first 100years, by military conquest. Why poke a stick at a sleeping tigre?

    But it is really just propaganda and never happened.

    Those dudes SO look like they are posing in that picture. Look at that dude to the far left and the one behind him. Angry mob my ass. lol Looks like a well done fashion shoot for urban couture to me. Me thinks this is just some more propaga…nda to depict just how “wild and crazy” those Afghanis supposedly are, thus vindicating the presence of the “moral, virtuous, and humane” foreign occupation forces to preserve all that is just and good. Let’s forget about the indiscriminate killings that have been going down on their side. I’m just saying.

    Not to forget the standard it is all our fault statements.

    Carly the 1.5 million drone planes that US citizens have to pay with their tax dollars are bombing a villages and killing civilians. Death toll has risen to 31% this year. over 2 thousand just last year have died. Why isnt this hitting american media? How many babies are being born with deformities from chemical bombs being dropped. Maybe there protesting for other reasons as well. LOOK AT THE US and what there already doing. US government are the HITLER of today

    But the rioters are not to blame.

    Yep you heard that right, we are using chemical weapons in Afghanistan.

    Did you forget the US killed millions of Iraqis in a war based on false evidence. Did you forget they submited torture. Did you forget that they started a civil war within the country thats killing over 32 thousand people. Stop blaming The opressed look at the dictators, how do you explain what they did?

    Oh and if anyone can translate this one please let me know.

    u have to understand even if u think all rlgs are fairy tales that Muslims honor the Quran more than any other Ppl value their holy scriptures, so I u dis it u dis the Ppl n that’s y they wana take some action n not just do lip s…ervice … A good analogy for the westerners is if someone cussed out the mist beloved thing to u n wanted to burn it ( cud be ur mom ., ur daughter ., etc)how wud u respond????
    n than after ur actions if everyone else who witnessed it called u barbaric ., I think that person is absolutely desensitized, which is majority the case with Ppl in the west who don’t give a shit abt anything….
    Terry jones is an ass.
    b4 judging afg Ppl n society, judge ur own.

  • Medic becomes the 4th woman to be awarded the Military Cross.

    I found this while trying to to look up a image for the Gallantry Cross for her actions in Afghanistan.

    Acting Lance Corporal Kylie Watson braved heavy Taleban fire to treat a wounded Afghan soldier on exposed open ground for 20 minutes before helping to evacuate him.

    On another occasion, the 23-year-old, from Ballymena in County Antrim, made a 100-metre dash in full view of the enemy, under sustained fire, to deliver lifesaving first aid to an Afghan soldier who had been shot twice in the pelvis.

    You know more and more we see people examples like this that are willing to put their own personal safety aside to help others but will not receive the same publicity as things like the rogue platoon.

    ADDDED: Here is more details thanks to JP.

    But L/Cpl Watson, who only told her family about receiving the Military Cross on Thursday – when she was back home in Ballymena for her sister’s wedding – hasn’t told her family exactly how she earned the accolade.

    “I think Kylie just keeps it all to herself,” her dad said.

    Her mum Lorna added: “I’m sure she’s seen many a thing, but she’ll not go into detail … we don’t know where she gets her bravery from.”

    Speaking of L/Cpl Watson’s “immense courage, willingness to put her own life at risk and absolute bravery”, the MoD credited her with saving lives and acting “as an inspiration” to her Platoon and their Afghan National Army partners.

  • Sergeant Dipprasad Pun wins Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for bravery

    Just ran across this on Facebook. Here is a quick background behind the story. He was awarded Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for bravery for his actions.

    Sgt Pun told yesterday how he was on guard duty at the base near Rahim Kalay in Helmand Province on September 10 last year when he heard a digging sound in the darkness in front of him.

    Grabbing two radios, a GPMP machine gun, his SA80 rifle, a grenade launcher and an arsenal of hand-held grenades he climbed onto the rooftop and opened fire.

    With rocket propelled grenades and gun fire flying over his head from all directions he defended the position for more than 15 minutes, killing three Taliban and forcing the others to flee.

    At one point the diminutive soldier turned around to see a “huge” Taliban fighter approaching him on the rooftop, a few feet away, having silently scaled the wall, and shot him.

    While the mass of Taliban fired from an area of open ground, another crept into the compound and tried to climb the wall but he spotted him.

    “I tried to fire my SA80 but it wouldn’t work,” he said.

    “I don’t know if there was an obstruction or the magazine was finished.

    “I threw my SA80 down and grabbed a sandbag but it wasn’t tied and all the sand dropped out.

    “As I tried to jump into the sentry post I found a metal rod from the GPMG (machine gun) tripod and pulled it round and hit him.”

    As he ran towards the Taliban fighter he gave a shout of “Marchu Talai” Nepalese for “I’m going to kill you.”

    It also seems that his unit has a proud history as well.

    “The Brigade of Gurkhas is one of the most decorated British Army Regiments and 13 of its soldiers have been awarded the Victoria Cross,” the Telegraph says. “The Gurkha motto is ‘Better to die than be a coward.’”

    Seems that he took that to heart that day.

  • It was approved and things that go with it.

    My recommendation for my Combat Action Badge that I was out in for was approved. I got the memo and permanent orders this Wednesday. Also because my S1 managed to get my ERB updated just right before I was going to to the Soldier of the Month Board this past Thursday, I was able to wear it. It added a big boost of confidence and I was able to win the board, making this my third board win out of six tries. It might be something to do with finally getting it after waiting for almost three years to get it.

    So on Friday I was wearing my CAB and someone asked why I never wore my badge before. I explained that it was newly approved as of March 18th. Someone asked if they did a ceremony and I told them no. So before I knew it I was told that they were planning something for me at the end of the day safety briefing. So when the time came I was called up in front of the clinic and talked about how I won the SOM board. He also made a point to talk about the CAB and why it this is means a lot. Also he made a comment that he expected to see me as a NCO in the near future. Oh course if anyone knows me I am not that great of a public speaker so I was blushing like crazy. I also had my wife Christine in front of everyone and gave me a chance to publicly thank her fore everything that shes does for me and gone through because of me.

    Also later I ‘Earned” my CAB by having previous badges winners put on my CAB without the damnits. Yep it hurt a lot ,but I would felt like something was missing if I had not gotten that. They had to pull the CAB out twice because it stuck to the skin.

    Good Times.

  • Really Cindy?

    Going to piggy back on Jon’s post about here with this story about the local’s reaction to the American pilots who crashed in Libya.

    Six Libyan villagers are recovering in hospital after being shot by American soldiers coming in to rescue the U.S. pilots whose plane crash-landed in a field.

    The helicopter strafed the ground as it landed in a field outside Benghazi beside the downed U.S. Air Force F-15E Eagle which ran into trouble during bombing raid last night.

    And a handful of locals who had come to greet the pilot were hit – among them a young boy who may have to have a leg amputated because of injuries caused by a bullet wound.

    A second aviator – the F15’s weapons officer – was found in a field full of sheep and was greeted like a hero by locals and anti-Gaddafi rebels.

    As the officer was surrounded by villagers, he held his arms out, calling ‘okay, okay’, according to the Evening Standard – but the grateful Libyans queued to thank him and give him juice.

    Younis Amruni told the newspaper: ‘I hugged him and said “Don’t be scared, we are your friends”. We are so grateful to these men who are protecting the skies.’

  • Don’t worry, I am a musician.

    You know, I have to ask what makes people think that they can be subject experts something completely unrelated. Like take the following below.

    Let’s attend the Austin rally for the Int’l Day of Action/Million Musician March

    This is the event we discussed at the last Meetup. It’s the annual event led by Austin musicians spotlighting the terrible financial and human costs of the ongoing wars. Event at State Capitol 12pm to 3pm, parade through downtown from 3pm – 4pm
    Sponsored by Instruments for Peace

    Contact: Richard Bowden

    Except that the numbers were much lower then their name suggested. Oh and the Under the Hood/IVAW regulars were there. They also seemed to be in smaller numbers compared to their protests in July at Fort Hood.