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

Category: Military issues

  • What’s in a name (or a report)

    Well one of the newest thing going around thanks to the group Rethink Afghanistan. The report is this one by a independent group titled The Effect of Civilian Casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq. So of course Rethink Afghanistan jumps all over it with this follow up story.

    Yea like we are not trying to do this already.

    Also the photo is worth a look.

    A few things come to mind. The first is a absolute desire from the person taking the photo to cause the viewer to become distanced from the Solider. Following that it is trying to do the opposite with the children in the photo. Lastly, does it not look like there is a cap on that M16?

    It is just frustrating I mean that people do not see things like this. I mean how would it change the story if they used a photo like this instead?

    Oh if that was not enough, Russia media is now claiming that the US military sent “Hardcore Neo-Nazi’s” to Iraq and Afghanistan.

  • Tik Tok

    My workmate Susie wanted to make sure that y’all saw this video of Israeli soldiers patrolling in Hebron;

  • Saturday Stuff

    Most of our readers and regular posters are enjoying their 4th of July weekend and not spending very much time near their computers, so I don’t expect a lot of posts or comments. For those of you who are like me and are staying home this weekend, here is some stuff that you should see.

    First, here is a video of TAH friend Pete Hegseth smacking down Elene Kagan in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

    If you got some extra cash and want to help elect some real warriors to Congress, donate to Vets for Freedom.

    This essay by dead communist historian Howard Zinn is making the rounds on far-left websites. Basically it says we should be ashamed of our country on the 4th of July. Pretty typical, but if you feel like getting pissed off, read it.

    Bite Me is in Iraq this weekend in order to help the Iraqis form a new government. Of course, Bite Me is perfect for the job of helping to form a unity government, especially considering he strongly advocated breaking the country into three seperate states… oh wait. Iraqis are tired of the violence. The Sunnis don’t want Al Qaida to come back, the majority of Shiites have turned agains the Sadrists, and the Kurds want a strong Iraqi state to deter Turkish incursions into their autonomous region. Iraq can work, but I don’t think we have the right people going over there to help.

    William Kristol slams Michael Steele for talking out of his ass about Afghanistan and states he should resign. Steele should have resigned a long time ago, but he has stubbornly held on to the position of RNC Chairman and has completely marginalized the RNC. Very few Republican candidates and conservative groups work with or get help from the RNC anymore. I hope this is the final straw for Steele, he is completely incompetent.

    I hope you all have a great 4th of July weekend.

  • Better late then never.

    Every once and a while I look up Fort Benning to see if anything comes up. Well today I found this.

    Richard Dion can tell the story of his service in Vietnam with a few specific numbers. There’s the number of times he was shot during his service: three. The number of years he served: three. He can finally put a number on another chapter of his story after an awards ceremony at the Paramus Memorial Veterans Home Monday. It’s the number of years it took to receive the medals he earned for his sacrifice: 43.

    I figured that we have been talking about losers and scumbags that we change subject.

    “It’s an honor,” said Dion, 66, who served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1967, including at the Ia Drang Valley battle, and lives at the Veterans Home. “It’s a long time coming, for one. I’m just proud to be able to have served and earned them.”

    Dion received five medals in a ceremony his family said was overlooked when he returned home from the war. Each medal was pinned on his chest by Rep. Scott Garrett, R-Wantage, who traveled from Washington, D.C. for the occasion. At the end, his 95-year old mother, members of his extended family and a crowd of residents and local veterans’ representatives shouted the word that, in the Army, covers everything from ‘Congratulations,’ to ‘Yessir,’ to ‘I’m at a loss for words:’ “Hooah!” they said.

    It is nice to see stuff like this get fixed. Seemed that this is more common then one would think. But it is not just about the awards, pins and medals. These are the things that represent the things the each person faced in war.

    … her father struggled with nightmares and asked his wife to help remove the shrapnel that periodically surfaced from a wound in his neck…

    It is something that fakes and phonies will never get. So going out with with a fitting quote I will have to go with this one.

    “This was not the reception he got when he came home, she said. “This was our time to do it right.”

  • Petraeus to review ROE

    I picked this article up from Ace of Spades from the Telegraph which claims that the new commander in Afghanistan, General Petraeus is going to review the Rules of ENgagement that the troops there have been laboring under for the past year;

    “There will be no change in overall policy but all aspects of tactics and implementation will be looked at afresh,” a Pentagon official told The Daily Telegraph. “The issue of ‘courageous restraint’ is a controversial one on the ground and there may be ways it can be modified.”

    Changes to allow soldiers more flexibility in using lethal force are likely to be welcomed by both American and British troops.

    This month became the bloodiest of the nine-year war yesterday after four British were killed when their Ridgeback vehicle rolled into a canal in Helmand.

    Yeah, Petraeus had better put a more flexible ROE in place before that dick Eikenberry gets his greasy, ham-handed paws on them. Knowing Eikenberry like I do, he’d rather have the troops shoot each other than the Taliban.

    A British official who also worked with Gen Petraeus said: “Gen McChrystal imposed courageous restraint as a mantra whereas the big theme of Gen Petraeus was strategic patience.

    “The difference between the two is important. Gen Petraeus believes in getting all elements in place through a slow strategic build up but he also prizes the importance of momentum by walking through the streets and taking them on.”

    Anything that kills bad guys and brings more Americans home alive.

  • Wanat commanders reprimands overturned

    Jerry920 sends us a link from ABC News which report that the letters of reprimand for three officers involved in the battle at Wanat, Afghanistan have been overturned;

    Letters of reprimand are seen as career-enders in the military because recipients are passed up for promotion.

    Campbell originally had determined that the officers should receive the punishments for what he saw as dereliction of duty in failing to prepare adequate defenses at a base that that had been established only days prior to the attack.

    But he reversed himself after the officers had an opportunity to appeal the decision and they presented their case.

    Uncle Jimbo and I have tipped glasses with some of the Wanat heroes and I always defer to him for expert analysis of the battle and the ensuing discussion afterwards.

    Blivethead Virginia senator Jim Webb released this statement in regards to the decision, according to the Army Times;

    I find it deeply troubling that the Army has exonerated these officers and in the process rejected the findings of the independent review. This development raises concerns regarding the principle of command accountability in the Army.

    There’s that disconnect again. Since Webb wasn’t present for the investigation, I have to wonder how he arrived at that conclusion.

  • Waiting on the McChrystal verdict (UPDATED)

    The way this story has sucked all of the oxygen out of the news coverage, I can’t help but think that the Obama Administration wants to keep the story going to get our minds off of their failures to manage the oil spill.

    VoteVets‘ updates on the story today are up to number 6 and equate to “Nothing new”, which mirrors the cable TV half-hourly reports.

    Meanwhile, if you’re still interested in the McChrystal subject, there is unequaled analysis from The Armorer at Castle Argghhh!, Grim, up there in the big leagues at Blackfive and Greyhawk.

    The word is that Obama is going to announce to the press what his decision is on McChrystal in the Rose Garden at 1330 hrs. Sucking up as much oxygen in the news cycle as he can manage.

    I’m sticking with my twin dickhead (Eikenberry/Kerry) prediction. It’s as valid as any of the other guesses – and the absolutely worst-case scenario which is what we’ve come to expect from this administration. I guaren-damn-tee you that if Joe Bite Me was in the room, it was considered. As well as stepping up ninja zombie robot attacks.

    UPDATE: McCrystal is out and Petreaus will replace according to Major Garrett on Fox News

  • Small favors

    I’m sure there are some drill sergeants at Fort Sill that are glad this little princess went AWOL;

    Here’s the blotter from the OC Register if you can’t read it in the video;

    Pine Valley Lane: arrest, April 23. Rebecca Ann Pinson, 29, of Newport Coast, was arrested on warrant charges related to desertion of the US Army.

    Next time you read in the HuffPo or WaPo about the out of control military desertions, remember Princess here. I’ll bet her recruiter is still giggling about this one.