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Ten Reasons Not to Vote for John McCain
Run, don’t walk, away from John McCain if you want a Republican victory in November. Opposed Bush tax cuts in 2001 and 2003 Opposes drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill Keating Five S&L scandal Believes in global warming and legislation as a solution Supports general amnesty for illegal aliens Unable to control his temper Endorsed by Rudy Giuliani and Arnold Schwarzeneger Called the Swift Boat Veterans “dishonest and dishonorable” Part of the infamous “Gang of 14″ And, here’s an even longer list. Say Anything Blog … Read entire article »
Filed under: American Politics, Lists of Tens, Original writing, Politics
Navy Railgun Test Pics
DAHLGREN, Va. (Jan. 28, 2007) Particle debris ignites as a test slug exits the Office of Naval Research 32 MJ (megajoules) Electromagnetic Railgun laboratory launcher during a test at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division. U.S. Navy photo John F. Williams Next in seriesTable of contents for RailgunNavy Railgun Test PicsNavy Railgun Test Part 2 … Read entire article »
Filed under: Hard Science, Military, Science, Tech
Suicides up among U.S. soldiers
CNN has a piece up titled Suicides up among U.S. soldiers The Army plans to release the data publicly on Thursday, CNN learned from Army officials. The numbers have not previously been released, despite repeated CNN requests for data covering the past seven months. That’s odd, since I’ve already written two posts on the topic. Of course, this is just Army, not all services. Based on CNN’s numbers, I calc Rates of Change: 2005 to 2006 – +14.7% Deployed – +20.0% 2004 to 2005 – +31.3% Deployed – +92.3% 2003 to 2004 – -15.2% Deployed – -50.0% Percentages distort the presentation when the numbers are so small. Let’s look, rather, at the numbers for the active duty military as a whole. Here’s the overall rates and numbers: Please note that active duty suicide rates and numbers … Read entire article »
Throw Out Your American Experience part 2
This is the second part of my interview with Brigadier General Edward Cardon, Deputy Commanding General (Support) Multi-National Division-Center(MND-C), one-on-one. We last talked in a Bloggers’ Roundtable on January 24. The General explained the governmental structure. The national ministries still set priorities for the nation. That control is exercised in ways as minor as how much gasoline is delivered to the local fuel station or how much fertilizer a farmer receives. The provincial governments do not control the process. Instead, director generals are appointed by the national government in each province to act as the representatives of Baghdad. Previous in series Next in seriesTable of contents for Cardon interviewThrow Out Your American Experience part 1Throw Out Your American Experience part 2Throw Out Your American Experience part 3Redevelopment and ReconciliationSurge Brigade’s Tour … Read entire article »
Filed under: Original writing, Reporting
Throw Out Your American Experience part 1
I have had the opportunity to interview Brigadier General Edward Cardon, Deputy Commanding General (Support) Multi-National Division-Center(MND-C), one-on-one. We last talked in a Bloggers’ Roundtable on January 24. My thanks to General Cardon for his time and patience with this interview and this interviewer. My thanks to Major Alayne Conway, MND-C Deputy PAO, for facilitating the interview with the telephone tag. And a great big thank you to both of them and all the men and women of Task Force Marne for their service to the United States. Next in seriesTable of contents for Cardon interviewThrow Out Your American Experience part 1Throw Out Your American Experience part 2Throw Out Your American Experience part 3Redevelopment and ReconciliationSurge Brigade’s Tour Winds Down … Read entire article »
Filed under: Original writing, Reporting
Top Kirkuk Cops Trained
Air Force by Senior Airman Eric Schloeffel 506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs Thirty police chiefs from across the Kirkuk province recently returned here after attending a ground-breaking, four-week training course designed to improve security throughout the region. The Senior Law Enforcement Staff Management course, conducted at Camp Dublin, Baghdad, taught the region’s upper echelon of Iraqi Police how to better defend against insurgent efforts in the Kirkuk province. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Iraq, Rebuilding, War on Terror
Pfc. Monica Brown
CJTF-82 An American convoy near Jani Khel, Paktya, struck an IED and came under small-arms fire from insurgent positions 100 yards away. Army Pfc. Monica Brown ran forward through small-arms fire toward the burning vehicle to render aid to fellow Paratroopers. After she moved the casualties to a dry creek bed next to the burning vehicle, the convoy came under insurgent mortar attack. Brown placed her body over the wounded to shield them from mortar fire landing less than 100 yards away. At this point, the ammunition in the burning vehicle began to explode, again she shielded the casualties with her own body as chunks of shrapnel flew from the burning vehicle. After moving the wounded a second time, she continued treatment and again used … Read entire article »
Filed under: Afghanistan, Heroes, Military, War on Terror
More Shopping Coming Soon to Baghdad
DVIDS By Elaine Eliah, Special to American Forces Press Service To many Americans, convenient shopping means easy, safe parking at clean, wholesome supermarkets. In Iraq, where shoppers often risk their lives buying groceries and vendors watch produce rot for lack of electricity or transport, marketing has different requirements. The new Baghdad market, also known as 9 Nissan, soon will be able to meet these special needs. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Iraq, Rebuilding, War on Terror
Coming Soon: Future Posts
- Declaration of War 1812 (in 132 days)
- USS President vs HMS Belvidera (in 137 days)
- General Hull Invades Canada (in 156 days)
- First Battle of Sacketts Harbor (in 163 days)
On Y!CN
- Radioactive Gravel from Japanese Nuke Disaster Used in Buildings
- Fuel Supplies Reach Nome
- Fuel Convoy Reaches Nome
- Russians Sail to Rescue of Ice Bound Alaska Community
- Pope Embraces Anglicans in U.S. with New Ordinariate
- Nebraska Nuke Plant Placed on Special Inspection Status
- Radioactive Water Leaks at Japanese Nuke Site
- Japan Damaged Nuke Plants Still Not Under Control
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Throw Out Your American Experience part 3
January 31st, 2008 | 1 Comment
Commentary: It took me a bit to wrap my head around the points that General Cardon was making about Iraq. Iraq was governed by a criminal dictatorship for thirty years. The people of Iraq learned to rely upon the functionaries in Baghdad for every decision. The penalty for making an error could be prison or death. In the four years since the Liberation, Iraqis have made enormous strides. The expectations still exist, however, that Baghdad will be the decision maker. Some of that is fostered by the folks in Baghdad. Some of that is the natural reluctance of people outside of Baghdad to take a risk. Relationships are all important. You can make judgments about a person’s character, skills and personality once you have met them. In a country where rigid rules about … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commentary, Iraq, Original writing, Rebuilding, War on Terror