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

Category: Geezer Alert!

  • Folks in Israel Will Sleep Better Tonite

    In a move that must have led to dancing in the streets of Tel Aviv Washington has  acknowledged that:

    The White House says it believes Israel “has the right to defend itself” against attack and that the Israelis will make their own decisions about their “military tactics and operations.”

    So this particular story is only the AP via Fox News. Still I can’t  find ANY story, anywhere,  that indicates that our government has officially said that it will actually support Israel.

    Also can’t find any stories that suggest the Israelis  are leaving their shelters over this heartfelt show of support so probably not much dancing going on after all.

    Oh yeah… It’s all on Israel – not us.

  • Rumors of War

    Jonn already noted via UJ that things are stirring.

    More recently our pal David Bellavia noted an uptick on FaceBook.

    Here’s the link that matters: From Haaretz

    Just the lede:

    Rockets strike Holon, Rishon Letzion; IDF: Expect a night without calm in central Israel’ three soldiers wounded in attack on Eshkol region; Military sources: more than 250 rockets fired by Gaza militants explode in Israel since beginning of operation, Iron Dome intercepts 105; IDF strikes over 250 targets in Gaza.

    Slow news day?

    Watch it happen blow-by-blow and consider what comes next.

    Of course someone was watching OUR election results!

    ETA: Also try this one.  Israel National News

  • Can Kerry Unite Us?

    Two things prompted this missive.  Of course Jonn’s post where I made a comment that said in part –  Back in ’04 Kerry managed to bring disparate groups out of the woodwork to unify in condemning his Presidential run. And a reply to that comment from Nik – That’s a good sign, right? He can get people to work together who might not have otherwise.

    I doubt you can find ANY MilBlog that is thrilled with the notion of Kerry as SECDEF, that isn’t what I’m trying to address here.

    “Swiftboating” entered our vocabulary in ’04 following the Kerry Lied Rally in DC.  The MSM used it as pejorative while some embraced the term.

    Thing is that Kerry’s effort was stopped then.

    The fact of Kerry’s ascension to public consideration for ANY office higher than those in Massachusetts keep re-electing him for  could/would/should bring the old Kerry Lied crew back together.

    Will this particular resurrection of Kerry be enough to stir up that which needs to be stirred up?

    Aside: I am genuinely curious.  That Kerry’s name even CAN be mentioned for a cabinet post has me befuddled. I do hope there is a bright side.

  • Today in History For You Young Folks

    Thanks to Concrete Bob I didn’t forget.

    Lawrence Joel. Been to his grave at Arlington.

  • Not New, or News, But Free Stuff is Not Bad.

    I feel oddly conflicted about this Veteran’s Day. A Nam Vet pal (Marine) passed away earlier this week, and is being buried today. And our country just entered territory that some feel has all the earmarks of a mine field.

    However, there are some others who still remember and acknowledge a debt.

    More than 24,000 businesses will offer discounts for vets and service members on and around this Veteran’s Day, according to the Military and Veterans Discount Center.  Here are some of the national chains where the brave men and women who have served and still serve our country can get treated to some free food.

    There are other businesses, as well as state and local governments that  offer discounts, etc.

    It is something to keep in mind.

  • Postcard From the Ridge…

    As Jonn noted below our part of WV got slammed with over 2 feet of snow. Power has been out for over a week thus far, and we just got our internet back last evening. Being one of them ‘prepper’ types we haven’t missed a beat. Many trees down and roads impassable for a day or two.

    Did I mention that we had no internet for a WEEK?  The Wife and I had to actually talk to each other. etc.

    Friends and neighbors had the road passable before the state could get here.

    None of this fits here at TAH save this bit. Went to vote and passed a couple of NG guys in uniform coming out.  Said hey and asked if they were having fun yet. Also got a chuckle when I commented that their HUMVEE would been more impressive with MA-Deuce in the turret.

    These guys are out there and it makes me proud to know that.

  • You Are All Racists

    Been having an exchange on FaceBook with Joe Galloway.

    Should add for you younger folks: We Were Soldiers.

    Based on this: Colin Powell’s former chief of staff: ‘My party is full of racists’

    Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, Colin Powell’s chief of staff during his time as secretary of state, decried John Sununu’s comment that Powell only endorsed Barack Obama because they are both black. “To say that Colin Powell would endorse President Obama because of his skin color is like saying Mother Teresa worked for profit,” Wilkerson told Ed Schultz.

    When I brought up Allen West Joe suggested he is just a token black.

    I am sorry, I have no/zero/nil idea how to to deal with this. I am annoyed enough to dump it here. Joe is one of my heroes, but I don’t understand.

    Gonna post this. Sorry Jonn. There is some sort of divide that has me grasping.

  • Old men forget

    Just words I guess, powerful to some and silly to others…

    We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
    For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
    Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
    This day shall gentle his condition:
    And gentlemen in England now a-bed
    Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
    And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
    That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

    Ol’ Willie nailed it and today is the Feast Day.  That thread that binds most of us here together is not yet broken.

    ETA: I’ve been told my posts tend to be terse and/or obscure. With this one I acknowledge that criticism and embrace it as well.

    If you need Google-fu to get it that ain’t a bad thing. I’ve always loathed to be talked down to myself. Thanks Folks.