On Monday I posted a video about Bert Brady and his participation in the Welcome Home a Hero Program out of Dallas Fort Worth Airport.
I want to thank everyone for their interest in welcoming home our heroes. Unfortunately, programs like this are few and far between. Bangor, Maine currently runs an operation for returning troops as their deployments end and National Guard units as well as Regular Army and Marine units tend to organize their own welcome home locally and through their FRG.
As for R&R flights (Mid-deployment leave) there are only two cities that the R&R flights fly in to, Atlanta and Dallas.
Dallas Fort Worth is the only city in the nation that has the meet and greet. All of Atlanta's operation is in the secure area so they are not able to have the public there to greet the troops.
So that doesn't mean we should be discouraged: you can still contact your local bases and airports to see about organizing welcome home groups when needed and if appropriate. Baltimore Washington International just recently joined the America Supports You program through the DoD and I'm sure that other airports will be also.
Keep looking for these progams near you and I'll continue to provide information on them as I obtain it.
Thank you!
If anyone out there has anymore infor please email it to me here and I'll get it out to everyone I can.
(Ed Note: This post is stuck at the top til 3/31/2007. New posts come in below.)
March 31, 2007
March 30, 2007
Golden Dragons Discover Cache Site, VBIED Production Site
Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
RELEASE No. 20070330-12
RUSHDI MULLAH, Iraq – Coalition force members detained three suspected terrorist,discovered three caches and seized a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device production site here March 28. Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade CombatTeam, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) participated in an operation intended to deny terrorist safe haven in the “Golden Dragon’s” area of operations.
The operation, which consisted of air-assault and river phases, proved to be successful when elements of 2-14 Inf. discovered a house that had a false wall. Behind the false wall was a large weapons cache.
In the cache were seven RPK medium machine guns, 10 AK-47s, 30 empty AK-47 magazines, 11 full AK-47 magazines, a semi-automatic rifle, 300 9mm rounds, three full and three empty G3 assault rifle magazines, 1,000 7.62mm rounds, 200 linked unknown rounds, 12.7mm caliber brass, an expended 155mm artillery canister, two.308 bolt action rifles, a mortar fuse and a U.S.-made submachine gun.
The two other caches that were discovered consisted of and IED trigger, eightAK-47 magazines, a bayonet, 100 AK-47 rounds, two full AK-47 magazines and a mortar sighting system. Also, during the operation a VBIED production site was discovered in the same area. Three vehicles and miscellaneous parts were found that were in the process ofbeing modified to be used as VBIEDs.
Three suspected terrorists were detained during the operation.
The contents of the cache and the VBIEDs were destroyed during a controlled detonation conducted by the explosive ordnance disposal team. The detainees were held for further questioning.
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
RELEASE No. 20070330-12
RUSHDI MULLAH, Iraq – Coalition force members detained three suspected terrorist,discovered three caches and seized a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device production site here March 28. Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade CombatTeam, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) participated in an operation intended to deny terrorist safe haven in the “Golden Dragon’s” area of operations.
The operation, which consisted of air-assault and river phases, proved to be successful when elements of 2-14 Inf. discovered a house that had a false wall. Behind the false wall was a large weapons cache.
In the cache were seven RPK medium machine guns, 10 AK-47s, 30 empty AK-47 magazines, 11 full AK-47 magazines, a semi-automatic rifle, 300 9mm rounds, three full and three empty G3 assault rifle magazines, 1,000 7.62mm rounds, 200 linked unknown rounds, 12.7mm caliber brass, an expended 155mm artillery canister, two.308 bolt action rifles, a mortar fuse and a U.S.-made submachine gun.
The two other caches that were discovered consisted of and IED trigger, eightAK-47 magazines, a bayonet, 100 AK-47 rounds, two full AK-47 magazines and a mortar sighting system. Also, during the operation a VBIED production site was discovered in the same area. Three vehicles and miscellaneous parts were found that were in the process ofbeing modified to be used as VBIEDs.
Three suspected terrorists were detained during the operation.
The contents of the cache and the VBIEDs were destroyed during a controlled detonation conducted by the explosive ordnance disposal team. The detainees were held for further questioning.
Coalition Forces Capture 11 Suspected Terrorists in Raids
MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER
Release A070330b
BAGHDAD, Iraq –Coalition Forces captured 11 suspected terrorists during operations targeting foreign fighter facilitator and al-Qaeda in Iraq networks Friday morning. During an operation near the Syrian border, Coalition Forces captured six suspected terrorists with alleged links to al-Qaeda and foreign fighter facilitation. Five more suspects with alleged involvement in foreign fighter facilitation were captured in a raid north of Karmah.
“These and other foreign terrorist facilitators are attempting to undermine the peace and stability the Iraqi people deserve,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.
COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER
Release A070330b
BAGHDAD, Iraq –Coalition Forces captured 11 suspected terrorists during operations targeting foreign fighter facilitator and al-Qaeda in Iraq networks Friday morning. During an operation near the Syrian border, Coalition Forces captured six suspected terrorists with alleged links to al-Qaeda and foreign fighter facilitation. Five more suspects with alleged involvement in foreign fighter facilitation were captured in a raid north of Karmah.
“These and other foreign terrorist facilitators are attempting to undermine the peace and stability the Iraqi people deserve,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.
MiTT Continues To Make Progress
By Spc. Alexis Harrison2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE PROSPERITY — A few months ago, Haifa Street was considered one of the most notorious places in Baghdad. The 4th Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment Military Transition Team had been training for the opportunity to reclaim that area and fight alongside their Iraqi brothers from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division.
As abruptly as the fighting ended, the team and its counterparts were reassigned to a different area in Hateen where they fought an equally aggressive enemy. After spending more than two months gaining trust and rebuilding the structure of the neighborhood, the Soldiers, both Iraqi and American, were called upon to move to another area.
Now, the team and the Iraqi army battalion patrol a predominately Shi'a sector just west of the International Zone. And after more than 90 days of tough lessons learned on Haifa, the team takes its training of their counterparts more seriously than ever.
(PHOTO: Barton, Vt., native and 4th Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment Military Transition Team commander, Maj. Chris Norrie, dismantles a makeshift sniper position atop a house where he and his team were shot at from March 19. Norrie and the team assisting the soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, came under contact during a routine patrol through the neighborhood. The sniper fled the scene but left behind evidence of his presence.)
Read the Rest...
Joint Operation Disrupts Anti-Iraqi Forces
BAQUBAH — Iraqi and Coalition forces began a joint operation targeting an Islamic State of Iraq power base at the Diyala River Valley Saturday.During the ongoing operation, Soldiers from the 5th Iraqi Army Division and U.S. Army 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division killed more than 15 anti-Iraqi forces, detained more than 15 suspected terrorists, and unearthed eight weapons caches.
“The Iraqi security forces, with our support, will maintain an aggressive approach to operations in order to secure the population and defeat the terrorists,” said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3rd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. commander. “Working together, we are attacking the anti-Iraqi forces in their perceived safe havens.”
(PHOTO: Iraqi and Coalition forces provide security for other Soldiers who cleared a house during a combined cordon and search. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tierney P. Nowland.)
Read the Rest...
OPERATION: THANKS FOR FREEDOM!
BEGINS NOW!
What's Operation: Thanks for Freedom?
It's a Fourth of July Card Drive for Troops! Let's show our troops we love and support them! Starting NOW, Contributor and friend of this blog, Kat will be collecting cards to send to troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you wish to participate, please send light-hearted, silly, cheerful, and encouraging cards to this address:
The cards can be handmade or store-bought... for that matter, they don't even have to be cards; a hand - written letter is just as wonderful! Let's all band together and overwhelm our heroes with support! This is a great project for Scout troops, churches, or other organizations to get involved with!
ALL CARDS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2007
Thank you so much for supporting our troops!
If you have any questions about this campaign, please e-mail Kat here. Also, you might wish join Kat's Yahoo Group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveFromHome in order to receive updates about the progress of this and other card drives.
**IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not a "dating service" of any type. Please do not send suggestive or otherwise inappropriate cards or pictures. Kat will be reading and screening every Card received to ensure that the above guidelines are adhered to (please DO NOT seal the envelope)! Any card deemed inappropriate will not be sent! Remember: This is strictly to let the troops know that we love them, we are proud of them and that we HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN them!
**IMPORTANT NOTE 2: This card drive is an individual effort and not done in conjunction with or on behalf of any organizations or groups.
What's Operation: Thanks for Freedom?
It's a Fourth of July Card Drive for Troops! Let's show our troops we love and support them! Starting NOW, Contributor and friend of this blog, Kat will be collecting cards to send to troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you wish to participate, please send light-hearted, silly, cheerful, and encouraging cards to this address:
Mrs. Kat OrrYou may also send a e-mail of support to this email address. Any e-mail received to this e-mail account will be printed and mailed, together with the cards.
Operation: Thanks for Freedom!
P.O. Box 1660
Loganville, GA 30052
The cards can be handmade or store-bought... for that matter, they don't even have to be cards; a hand - written letter is just as wonderful! Let's all band together and overwhelm our heroes with support! This is a great project for Scout troops, churches, or other organizations to get involved with!
ALL CARDS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2007
Thank you so much for supporting our troops!
If you have any questions about this campaign, please e-mail Kat here. Also, you might wish join Kat's Yahoo Group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveFromHome in order to receive updates about the progress of this and other card drives.
**IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not a "dating service" of any type. Please do not send suggestive or otherwise inappropriate cards or pictures. Kat will be reading and screening every Card received to ensure that the above guidelines are adhered to (please DO NOT seal the envelope)! Any card deemed inappropriate will not be sent! Remember: This is strictly to let the troops know that we love them, we are proud of them and that we HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN them!
**IMPORTANT NOTE 2: This card drive is an individual effort and not done in conjunction with or on behalf of any organizations or groups.
Web Reconnaissance for 03/30/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention.
In the News: (Registration may be required to read some stories)
Senate Sets Stage For Iraq Face-Off “Faced with his second rebuke in a week from congressional Democrats on Iraq policy, President Bush yesterday summoned Republican allies to his side in an effort to shift momentum in the escalating battle over the course of the war.” (READ MORE)
Grass Roots Planted In Cyberspace “If there's a social networking site that John Edwards is not a part of, we'd like to know what it is, pronto.” (READ MORE)
Iraqi Resident of Britain to Leave Guantanamo “An Iraqi resident of Britain who was seized in West Africa in a 2002 operation orchestrated by the CIA will be released from the U.S. naval prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, British officials announced Thursday.” (READ MORE)
French Politics in 3-D on Fantasy Web Site “In a battle between push guns and pig grenades, the exploding pigs won.” (READ MORE)
Senate OKs Iraq pullout “The Senate yesterday approved a bill calling for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq within a year, advancing the Democrat-controlled Congress toward a veto standoff with President Bush while money for troops starts to run out.” (READ MORE)
Bush urges GOP unity on troops “President Bush yesterday rallied his Republican troops, calling the entire Republican House conference to the White House for the first time since they became the minority party to urge lawmakers to stand strong against a Democratic push to withdraw U.S.” (READ MORE)
Militiamen return to Sadr City “Shi'ite militiamen, who melted away from Baghdad when U.S. and Iraqi troops began their security crackdown seven weeks ago, are rolling back into the city with fresh Iranian training, Iraqi and other officials said.” (READ MORE)
Fence firm hired illegals “The head of a California company hired by the U.S. government to help build a fence along the Southwest border to curb the flow of illegal aliens into the United States has been sentenced on charges of hiring illegals for the job.” (READ MORE)
From the Front:
Iraq Pundit: The Democrats' Post-Iraq World “‘We would hope that the president understands how serious we are,'’ Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told the press after Tuesday's vote to keep the troop-withdrawal date in the Senate's war-spending bill. And, he added, we would also hope that our enemies in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world understand that we're even more serious about them.” (READ MORE)
Mohammed: Quoted and Proud! “I would like to say a few words to the new visitors who are not so familiar with this blog. I have noticed that our traffic nearly tripled today and that most of the extra traffic is coming from pages talking about the recent speech by President Bush in which he mentioned a quote from our March 5 article on the WSJ…New visitors, welcome to ITM!” (READ MORE)
Acute Politics: Welcome to COIN “I'll try to keep writing about the winds here in Al-Anbar. I'll go out on a little bit of a limb and say that the insurgency is quickly approaching a tipping point. If things continue as they are right now, our military won't need a surge to chase the terrorists out of Anbar- the citizens will do it for us, which is as it should be. It's beginning to show already: more local tips, more police recruits (far more than anticipated), and sadly- in bigger and more desperate Al-Qaeda attacks.” (READ MORE)
Badger 6: Date Certain “So Congress has passed funding bill that gives a date certain by which the US Armed Forces are supposed to leave Iraq. This is supposed to incentivize the Iraqi Government and Security Forces to ‘get their act together and handle this situation on their own.’ This appears to be the logic; if the Government of Iraq and her attendant security forces are unable to take charge of the primary combat role by a certain date, based on set a of milestones, then the Coalition is going to pack up their bags and go home.” (READ MORE)
On the Web:
Jules Crittenden: Good News Bad News “Thing about news, there’s never any shortage. Good, bad, that’s another issue: There’s no avoiding the bad news. Al-Qaeda wants war and will have it. Al-Qaeda, taking it from three sides with pressure from the Sunni tribes, pressure from the hated Crusaders and Shiites standing down, pushes back against the surge.” (READ MORE)
Mike Gallagher: ';Exposing ignorance is admirable' “I hate disagreeing with people I like, folks like Bill O'Reilly, a man who fights hard for our country, our culture and its good and decent people. But hearing him go after Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban for distributing a kooky 9/11 conspiracy movie the other day left me a bit disappointed in my favorite ‘Culture Warrior.’” (READ MORE)
Ed Feulner: It's time for a dose of reality in federal health-care spending “‘If something's free, I'll take two,’ a mentor of mine once said. His point was that people don't value things they don't pay for, especially things the government ‘gives’ them.” (READ MORE)
Herb London: The influence of George Soros “Who is George Soros and why is he saying such awful things? Most Americans do not know this billionaire investor, but he, using his vast wealth, has become a force in left wing political circles. In some ways, he is the litmus test for Democratic politics.” (READ MORE)
Chuck Colson: No More Stains “For Americans over, say, fifty, the image of desperate Vietnamese surrounding the American embassy during the fall of Saigon is one we will not soon forget. Watching American helicopters fly away leaving people, many of whom had helped us, to their fates in Vietnam made me feel ashamed - a sense of shame that only grew when we learned what happened to many of those people.” (READ MORE)
Charles Krauthammer: The wars against radical Islamic insurgents “The Senate and the House have both passed bills for ending the Iraq War, or at least liquidating the American involvement in it. The resolutions, approved by the barest majorities, were underpinned by one unmistakable theme: wrong war, wrong place, distracting us from the real war that is elsewhere.” (READ MORE)
Oliver North: Road Kill “Modern warfare has made civilian contractors even more essential to our military -- and placed them at higher risk.” (READ MORE)
John Hawkins: 10 Questions For Al Gore And The Global Warming Crowd “I'll be the first to admit that like most conservatives, I'm deeply skeptical of the idea that mankind is causing global warming. Is that because I take payoffs from the energy industry, don't like Al Gore, don't like science, or any of the other silly excuses global warming alarmists come up with to explain why people don't buy their theory?” (READ MORE)
Rebecca Hagelin: Ethanol: Time to steer away “A new paper by The Heritage Foundation’s Ben Lieberman road-tests the latest boondoggle from Washington and finds that its earth-friendly claims are seriously overblown.” (READ MORE)
Tim Chandler: No Way, Poway: In Harper Case, High Court opts not to shirt the issue “The case sprang from an incident three years ago at a San Diego-area high school, when the school - with the support of many administrators, teachers, and students - hosted the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network’s ‘Day of Silence’ to encourage tolerance and support for those practicing homosexual behavior.” (READ MORE)
WSJ Opinion Journal: Accountability Act “When do the troops get the money? Congress leaves for Easter recess today, with Democrats congratulating themselves for having endorsed, by the narrowest of margins, ‘a deadline’ for withdrawal from Iraq. The press corps is also praising their ‘cohesion.’ Wonderful. Now that MoveOn.org is happy, maybe Congress will finally fund the troops. Democrats are calling this, in short form, the ‘Iraq Accountability Act,’ but the key word in that construction is the last one. This is all an act.” (READ MORE)
Bruce Thornton: Third-Worldism - What does Africa need? “I hate to use a cliché, but “bleeding-heart liberal” is just too accurate not to use. I suspect the phrase derives from those depictions of Jesus Christ with his exposed heart wrapped in thorns and dripping blood. This image nails the egocentric, self-righteous exhibitionism of most self-styled ‘progressives.’ These right-thinking, tender-hearted folks think that they weep for all the suffering and misery in the world because they are sensitive, intelligent, and morally upright.” (READ MORE)
Allahpundit: (Video) Rosie melts down on “The View” “I’m not exaggerating when I say that this is the video against which all future Rosie clips will be compared. Never has so much useful idiocy about so many subjects been compressed into so little time. It’s her finest hour.” (READ MORE)
Jay Tea: ...with TROOOOOOTH and justice for all the evil Rethuglicans. “On Tuesday, I received an e-mail tip from a reader about a forum on Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's official campaign page. I was vaguely curious, so I clicked over and my jaw dropped. Here's the brand-new governor of Massachusetts, the first Democrat to sit in that seat in 16 years, and here he's hosting some of the dumbest, most paranoid, most downright infuriating crap in existence today -- the ‘9/11 Truthers’ conspiracy insanities.” (READ MORE)
Baron Bodissey: The Same Old Snake Oil from the EU “We all know that Europe is descending into a sort of politically correct mass insanity. That’s been evident for quite a while. This morning a reader in Britain has brought to our attention an article from today’s online Telegraph which demonstrates that the slide into multicultural madness is in fact accelerating.” (READ MORE)
Blue Crab Boulevard: Repercussions “I've mentioned the unintended consequences the sudden mad rush to produce ethanol for fuel is generating. Rising cost of animal feed has already been seen and is predicted to go higher. The last warnings being generated focused on meat prices. They will continue to rise as feed costs skyrocket. At that time I predicted there would be more bad news for consumers.” (READ MORE)
Don Surber: None dared call it pork “Dana Milbank’s page two-er today, ‘Senate’s Bold Proposal for Iraq: Sugar Beets and Rural Schools — in the U.S.’ in the Washington Post, broke down some of the items added to the emergency spending bill for the war on terror.” (READ MORE)
Right Wing Nut House: Shias Rampage in Iraq: Idiots Rampage on the Left “A bad day in Iraq yesterday as violence has exploded in the formerly quiescent Tall Afar: ‘A day after twin truck bombings laid waste to predominantly Shiite neighborhoods in the northern Iraqi city of Tall Afar, marauding Shiite gunmen and police executed dozens of Sunnis in retaliatory attacks that many Iraqis feared might precipitate a resurgence of open sectarian warfare.’” (READ MORE)
Paul Mirengoff: The latest on the teapot tempest “‘Ex-Aide Contradicts Gonzales on Firings.’ That's one of two lead headlines in this morning's Washington Post. The Post goes on to explain that the aide in question, Kyle Sampson ‘spoke with Gonzales at least five times about the plan to dismiss selected U.S. attorneys [whereas] Gonzales has at times portrayed himself as more detached from the process of developing a list of prosecutors to be dismissed.’ But the process that culminated in the firing of the prosecutors lasted nearly two years. Five meetings in almost two years suggest substantial detachment.” (READ MORE)
Dr. Rusty Shackleford: Irony: Muslims at CAIR Complain About Those Disturbing Public Order “How does a ‘civil rights’ group like CAIR know when Americans make false reports with the intent to discriminate? That's easy. Any time someone urges an investigation of a Muslim, for whatever reason---DISCRIMINATION!. In the words of Dana Carvey as George Michael, It's a formula, but it works.” (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: Taliban, Pakistani security forces battle in Tank “Baitullah Mehsud's Taliban mass; 25 Taliban, 1 security officer killed after school principal kidnapped - The Taliban continue to challenge the Pakistani government's writ in the Northwest Frontier Province. Taliban forces, estimated at “more than 200 Taliban soldiers” by Tank District Police Officer Mumtaz Zarin, massed and attacked the city of Tank on Tuesday night.” (READ MORE)
Confederate Yankee: Embedded Frustrations “If you are a journalist or blogger who wants to embed in Iraq, good luck making it through the PAO system. As a pair of prominent bloggers tell us on the record, getting into Iraq can be all but impossible thanks to obstacles put in place by the U.S. military's Pubic Affairs Office, and once there, the PAO seems to delight in making the life of an embed a living hell.” (READ MORE)
Captain Ed: Arab Nations Offer Peace But No Partner “The Saudis have pressed in recent days for Israel to accept in principle their 2002 plan for normalization in the region. Calling on the Israelis to accept a return to 1967 borders and some version of the right of return, the Arab nations endorsing the plan seem to have forgotten that the Palestinians haven't even accepted the pacts that they have already signed with Israel:” (READ MORE)
Have an interesting post or know of a "must read?" Then send a trackback here and let us all know about it. Or you can send me an email with a link to the post and I'll update the Recon.
In the News: (Registration may be required to read some stories)
Senate Sets Stage For Iraq Face-Off “Faced with his second rebuke in a week from congressional Democrats on Iraq policy, President Bush yesterday summoned Republican allies to his side in an effort to shift momentum in the escalating battle over the course of the war.” (READ MORE)
Grass Roots Planted In Cyberspace “If there's a social networking site that John Edwards is not a part of, we'd like to know what it is, pronto.” (READ MORE)
Iraqi Resident of Britain to Leave Guantanamo “An Iraqi resident of Britain who was seized in West Africa in a 2002 operation orchestrated by the CIA will be released from the U.S. naval prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, British officials announced Thursday.” (READ MORE)
French Politics in 3-D on Fantasy Web Site “In a battle between push guns and pig grenades, the exploding pigs won.” (READ MORE)
Senate OKs Iraq pullout “The Senate yesterday approved a bill calling for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq within a year, advancing the Democrat-controlled Congress toward a veto standoff with President Bush while money for troops starts to run out.” (READ MORE)
Bush urges GOP unity on troops “President Bush yesterday rallied his Republican troops, calling the entire Republican House conference to the White House for the first time since they became the minority party to urge lawmakers to stand strong against a Democratic push to withdraw U.S.” (READ MORE)
Militiamen return to Sadr City “Shi'ite militiamen, who melted away from Baghdad when U.S. and Iraqi troops began their security crackdown seven weeks ago, are rolling back into the city with fresh Iranian training, Iraqi and other officials said.” (READ MORE)
Fence firm hired illegals “The head of a California company hired by the U.S. government to help build a fence along the Southwest border to curb the flow of illegal aliens into the United States has been sentenced on charges of hiring illegals for the job.” (READ MORE)
From the Front:
Iraq Pundit: The Democrats' Post-Iraq World “‘We would hope that the president understands how serious we are,'’ Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told the press after Tuesday's vote to keep the troop-withdrawal date in the Senate's war-spending bill. And, he added, we would also hope that our enemies in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world understand that we're even more serious about them.” (READ MORE)
Mohammed: Quoted and Proud! “I would like to say a few words to the new visitors who are not so familiar with this blog. I have noticed that our traffic nearly tripled today and that most of the extra traffic is coming from pages talking about the recent speech by President Bush in which he mentioned a quote from our March 5 article on the WSJ…New visitors, welcome to ITM!” (READ MORE)
Acute Politics: Welcome to COIN “I'll try to keep writing about the winds here in Al-Anbar. I'll go out on a little bit of a limb and say that the insurgency is quickly approaching a tipping point. If things continue as they are right now, our military won't need a surge to chase the terrorists out of Anbar- the citizens will do it for us, which is as it should be. It's beginning to show already: more local tips, more police recruits (far more than anticipated), and sadly- in bigger and more desperate Al-Qaeda attacks.” (READ MORE)
Badger 6: Date Certain “So Congress has passed funding bill that gives a date certain by which the US Armed Forces are supposed to leave Iraq. This is supposed to incentivize the Iraqi Government and Security Forces to ‘get their act together and handle this situation on their own.’ This appears to be the logic; if the Government of Iraq and her attendant security forces are unable to take charge of the primary combat role by a certain date, based on set a of milestones, then the Coalition is going to pack up their bags and go home.” (READ MORE)
On the Web:
Jules Crittenden: Good News Bad News “Thing about news, there’s never any shortage. Good, bad, that’s another issue: There’s no avoiding the bad news. Al-Qaeda wants war and will have it. Al-Qaeda, taking it from three sides with pressure from the Sunni tribes, pressure from the hated Crusaders and Shiites standing down, pushes back against the surge.” (READ MORE)
Mike Gallagher: ';Exposing ignorance is admirable' “I hate disagreeing with people I like, folks like Bill O'Reilly, a man who fights hard for our country, our culture and its good and decent people. But hearing him go after Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban for distributing a kooky 9/11 conspiracy movie the other day left me a bit disappointed in my favorite ‘Culture Warrior.’” (READ MORE)
Ed Feulner: It's time for a dose of reality in federal health-care spending “‘If something's free, I'll take two,’ a mentor of mine once said. His point was that people don't value things they don't pay for, especially things the government ‘gives’ them.” (READ MORE)
Herb London: The influence of George Soros “Who is George Soros and why is he saying such awful things? Most Americans do not know this billionaire investor, but he, using his vast wealth, has become a force in left wing political circles. In some ways, he is the litmus test for Democratic politics.” (READ MORE)
Chuck Colson: No More Stains “For Americans over, say, fifty, the image of desperate Vietnamese surrounding the American embassy during the fall of Saigon is one we will not soon forget. Watching American helicopters fly away leaving people, many of whom had helped us, to their fates in Vietnam made me feel ashamed - a sense of shame that only grew when we learned what happened to many of those people.” (READ MORE)
Charles Krauthammer: The wars against radical Islamic insurgents “The Senate and the House have both passed bills for ending the Iraq War, or at least liquidating the American involvement in it. The resolutions, approved by the barest majorities, were underpinned by one unmistakable theme: wrong war, wrong place, distracting us from the real war that is elsewhere.” (READ MORE)
Oliver North: Road Kill “Modern warfare has made civilian contractors even more essential to our military -- and placed them at higher risk.” (READ MORE)
John Hawkins: 10 Questions For Al Gore And The Global Warming Crowd “I'll be the first to admit that like most conservatives, I'm deeply skeptical of the idea that mankind is causing global warming. Is that because I take payoffs from the energy industry, don't like Al Gore, don't like science, or any of the other silly excuses global warming alarmists come up with to explain why people don't buy their theory?” (READ MORE)
Rebecca Hagelin: Ethanol: Time to steer away “A new paper by The Heritage Foundation’s Ben Lieberman road-tests the latest boondoggle from Washington and finds that its earth-friendly claims are seriously overblown.” (READ MORE)
Tim Chandler: No Way, Poway: In Harper Case, High Court opts not to shirt the issue “The case sprang from an incident three years ago at a San Diego-area high school, when the school - with the support of many administrators, teachers, and students - hosted the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network’s ‘Day of Silence’ to encourage tolerance and support for those practicing homosexual behavior.” (READ MORE)
WSJ Opinion Journal: Accountability Act “When do the troops get the money? Congress leaves for Easter recess today, with Democrats congratulating themselves for having endorsed, by the narrowest of margins, ‘a deadline’ for withdrawal from Iraq. The press corps is also praising their ‘cohesion.’ Wonderful. Now that MoveOn.org is happy, maybe Congress will finally fund the troops. Democrats are calling this, in short form, the ‘Iraq Accountability Act,’ but the key word in that construction is the last one. This is all an act.” (READ MORE)
Bruce Thornton: Third-Worldism - What does Africa need? “I hate to use a cliché, but “bleeding-heart liberal” is just too accurate not to use. I suspect the phrase derives from those depictions of Jesus Christ with his exposed heart wrapped in thorns and dripping blood. This image nails the egocentric, self-righteous exhibitionism of most self-styled ‘progressives.’ These right-thinking, tender-hearted folks think that they weep for all the suffering and misery in the world because they are sensitive, intelligent, and morally upright.” (READ MORE)
Allahpundit: (Video) Rosie melts down on “The View” “I’m not exaggerating when I say that this is the video against which all future Rosie clips will be compared. Never has so much useful idiocy about so many subjects been compressed into so little time. It’s her finest hour.” (READ MORE)
Jay Tea: ...with TROOOOOOTH and justice for all the evil Rethuglicans. “On Tuesday, I received an e-mail tip from a reader about a forum on Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's official campaign page. I was vaguely curious, so I clicked over and my jaw dropped. Here's the brand-new governor of Massachusetts, the first Democrat to sit in that seat in 16 years, and here he's hosting some of the dumbest, most paranoid, most downright infuriating crap in existence today -- the ‘9/11 Truthers’ conspiracy insanities.” (READ MORE)
Baron Bodissey: The Same Old Snake Oil from the EU “We all know that Europe is descending into a sort of politically correct mass insanity. That’s been evident for quite a while. This morning a reader in Britain has brought to our attention an article from today’s online Telegraph which demonstrates that the slide into multicultural madness is in fact accelerating.” (READ MORE)
Blue Crab Boulevard: Repercussions “I've mentioned the unintended consequences the sudden mad rush to produce ethanol for fuel is generating. Rising cost of animal feed has already been seen and is predicted to go higher. The last warnings being generated focused on meat prices. They will continue to rise as feed costs skyrocket. At that time I predicted there would be more bad news for consumers.” (READ MORE)
Don Surber: None dared call it pork “Dana Milbank’s page two-er today, ‘Senate’s Bold Proposal for Iraq: Sugar Beets and Rural Schools — in the U.S.’ in the Washington Post, broke down some of the items added to the emergency spending bill for the war on terror.” (READ MORE)
Right Wing Nut House: Shias Rampage in Iraq: Idiots Rampage on the Left “A bad day in Iraq yesterday as violence has exploded in the formerly quiescent Tall Afar: ‘A day after twin truck bombings laid waste to predominantly Shiite neighborhoods in the northern Iraqi city of Tall Afar, marauding Shiite gunmen and police executed dozens of Sunnis in retaliatory attacks that many Iraqis feared might precipitate a resurgence of open sectarian warfare.’” (READ MORE)
Paul Mirengoff: The latest on the teapot tempest “‘Ex-Aide Contradicts Gonzales on Firings.’ That's one of two lead headlines in this morning's Washington Post. The Post goes on to explain that the aide in question, Kyle Sampson ‘spoke with Gonzales at least five times about the plan to dismiss selected U.S. attorneys [whereas] Gonzales has at times portrayed himself as more detached from the process of developing a list of prosecutors to be dismissed.’ But the process that culminated in the firing of the prosecutors lasted nearly two years. Five meetings in almost two years suggest substantial detachment.” (READ MORE)
Dr. Rusty Shackleford: Irony: Muslims at CAIR Complain About Those Disturbing Public Order “How does a ‘civil rights’ group like CAIR know when Americans make false reports with the intent to discriminate? That's easy. Any time someone urges an investigation of a Muslim, for whatever reason---DISCRIMINATION!. In the words of Dana Carvey as George Michael, It's a formula, but it works.” (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: Taliban, Pakistani security forces battle in Tank “Baitullah Mehsud's Taliban mass; 25 Taliban, 1 security officer killed after school principal kidnapped - The Taliban continue to challenge the Pakistani government's writ in the Northwest Frontier Province. Taliban forces, estimated at “more than 200 Taliban soldiers” by Tank District Police Officer Mumtaz Zarin, massed and attacked the city of Tank on Tuesday night.” (READ MORE)
Confederate Yankee: Embedded Frustrations “If you are a journalist or blogger who wants to embed in Iraq, good luck making it through the PAO system. As a pair of prominent bloggers tell us on the record, getting into Iraq can be all but impossible thanks to obstacles put in place by the U.S. military's Pubic Affairs Office, and once there, the PAO seems to delight in making the life of an embed a living hell.” (READ MORE)
Captain Ed: Arab Nations Offer Peace But No Partner “The Saudis have pressed in recent days for Israel to accept in principle their 2002 plan for normalization in the region. Calling on the Israelis to accept a return to 1967 borders and some version of the right of return, the Arab nations endorsing the plan seem to have forgotten that the Palestinians haven't even accepted the pacts that they have already signed with Israel:” (READ MORE)
Have an interesting post or know of a "must read?" Then send a trackback here and let us all know about it. Or you can send me an email with a link to the post and I'll update the Recon.
Rocks and Dirt - Updated
Marcia the mother of Arron Kincaid for whom she is building a rock garden with a rock from every state has acceived her goal of obtianing all 50 rocks. Thank you all who sent one or more.
Robert Stokely, friend and contributor to this blog provides us with some insight into what she must be going through, and how important our assistance has been:
I look at Marcia and see what I felt at that stage of the journey at the six month mark - shock, realization, searching for answers when the questions have been begged - all to come down to the fact that your boy is dead and no matter what the cause, how much the support, or honor paid, you don't have him to share life with anymore. It is a most empty feeling, but things like a scholarship program, or rock garden can give you a sense of purpose and will to go on - a new cause that is associated with the son you loved so much and have lost.
I can tell you and the readers this - this project and their help has lifted her so much from the point in time six weeks ago when I met her. It will continue to lift her each time she goes out into her back yard and sees all those rocks from so many people, nearly all strangers until six weeks ago.
She will be continually reminded just how loved she is and how others share her loss and pain, that she is not alone, and that her son's life, and death counted for much with so many. That does not replace what she has lost, but it is a soothing pillow for the hurt she has suffered.
Isn't it amazing how something as simple as a rock and some dirt can provide us with a sense of purpose and help us ground our efforts with others who, were as Robert states, complete stangers until 6 weeks ago. This of course is the mystery of a living a life according to the purpose God has destined for you. Just as Michael Stokely's life has brought us together so has Arron Kincaid's. You can't hide from your purpose, Mike and Arron didn't for they knew just as Jonah did - God always finds you.
Nothing we do can ever replace the loss she has suffered for this country and our freedom as well as the freedom being extended to the Iraqi people, but we can help preserve the memories of such fine young men who did not hide from their purpose. If that means we find a rock and shoulder the load a little then so be it for we can not hide from our purpose either and each day we must resolve to continue the fight and live according to our purpose.
Remember, you can't hide from your purpose you can only delay your acceptance of it, stop delaying and accept it and join us on the front lines.
DADISM # 62
"What part of no don't you understand?"
Kid: Dad, can I go to the Ruptured Spleen concert tonight?
Dad: No.
Kid: But everyboy's going!
Dad: No.
Kid: But I've already bought the ticketss for fifty-five dolalrs each!
Dad: No.
Kid: I've got a date and a ride and everything!
Dad: What part of no don't you understand?
{Every day, all over the world, dads and their kids engage in the following kind of exchange:}
Kid: Dad, can I go to the Ruptured Spleen concert tonight?
Dad: No.
Kid: But everyboy's going!
Dad: No.
Kid: But I've already bought the ticketss for fifty-five dolalrs each!
Dad: No.
Kid: I've got a date and a ride and everything!
Dad: What part of no don't you understand?
March 29, 2007
Evan Sayet - Heritage Foundation Video
This video is making the rounds of the blogosphere. MaryAnn of Soldier's Angels Germany recommended I view it. Now I'm putting it here for you to view. Its long (45 minutes) but worth it.
Enjoy it before the moonbats cry havoc and have it removed from YouTube.
Enjoy it before the moonbats cry havoc and have it removed from YouTube.
Iraqi Security Forces Investigate Car Bomb Attacks and Help Wounded
Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
RELEASE No. 20070329-02
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
BAGHDAD – Two car-bombs killed four Iraqi Police officers and one Iraqi civilian, and wounded an additional 16 in southwest Baghdad March 29.
Initial reports indicate that the policemen and Iraqi civilian died when the bomb detonated near a patrol at about 8 a.m. near the Jihad neighborhood. Iraqi Army soldiers and the police were investigating a suspicious vehicle when it detonated, killing five and wounding nine other Iraqi security force members. At approximately 10:30 a.m., a second car-bomb detonated in Bayaa, wounding seven Iraqi civilians, including several children.
Iraqi security forces and Multi-National Division - Baghdad troops arrived on scene shortly following the attacks, established checkpoints and began to evacuate the wounded to local hospitals, while also searching for other possible car-bombs in the area. The incident is under investigation.
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
RELEASE No. 20070329-02
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
BAGHDAD – Two car-bombs killed four Iraqi Police officers and one Iraqi civilian, and wounded an additional 16 in southwest Baghdad March 29.
Initial reports indicate that the policemen and Iraqi civilian died when the bomb detonated near a patrol at about 8 a.m. near the Jihad neighborhood. Iraqi Army soldiers and the police were investigating a suspicious vehicle when it detonated, killing five and wounding nine other Iraqi security force members. At approximately 10:30 a.m., a second car-bomb detonated in Bayaa, wounding seven Iraqi civilians, including several children.
Iraqi security forces and Multi-National Division - Baghdad troops arrived on scene shortly following the attacks, established checkpoints and began to evacuate the wounded to local hospitals, while also searching for other possible car-bombs in the area. The incident is under investigation.
Coalition Forces Kill Four Terrorists, Detain 15 Others
MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER
Release A070329a
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed four terrorists and detained 15 others during operations targeting foreign fighter facilitator and al-Qaeda in Iraq networks Thursday morning.
In Mosul, ground forces entered a targeted building and were fired upon by four armed men. Ground forces returned fire, killing the armed terrorists. During the raid, ground forces also detained two suspected terrorists. Intelligence reports indicated the targeted individuals were involved in several improvised explosive device attacks on Coalition Forces in the area.
During an operation in Baghdad, Coalition Forces detained nine suspected terrorists allegedly involved in al-Qaeda related foreign fighter facilitation. A raid of a foreign fighter safe house netted two suspects northwest of Haditha and two others were detained during a raid south of Fallujah targeting al-Qaeda finance operations and foreign fighter facilitation.
“Successful Coalition operations continue to disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq operations, restrict the flow of foreign fighters and reduce the terrorist organization’s manpower pool,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.
Iraqi Police Train in Law, Human Rights
By Maj. Eric Verzola4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU — The Iraqi Police Sustainment Training program on Forward Operating Base Kalsu graduated its second class March 24 as part of Babil and Karbala provinces' journey towards provincial Iraqi control.
The Karbala police sent 35 officers and the Babil police sent 15. After 10 days of training in the art and science of police work, the graduates felt excited and honored to serve the people of Iraqi.
"This was a good group of policemen who were willing to learn and were very excited about getting out there and doing their job," said Lonnie Webb, a native of Homerville, Ga., and member of the Homerville Police Department who assisted with the training.
"Like all law enforcement officers, training is the keystone to professionalism and training these Iraqi police officers during this program was effective," said Webb.
The effectiveness of the Iraqi police is important in a province's journey to provincial Iraqi control, and the officers want their country to be secure.
(PHOTO: A graduate of the Iraqi Police Sustainment Training program receives his diploma and shakes hands with Brig. Gen. Faris at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, March 24, 2007. U.S. Army courtesy photo.)
Read the Rest...
Program Sends Soccer Balls to Children
By Sgt. 1st Class Douglas SchultzLogistics Support Area Anaconda, Public Affairs Office
LOGISTICS SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA — A program that will provide hundreds of soccer balls to Iraqi children began with a mother who wanted to send them candy.
Spc. Daniel McCoy from Omaha, Neb., a soldier with the 134th Infantry Long Range Surveillance Detachment, said his mother, Sue Behr, wanted to do something for Iraqi children. He mentioned that soccer balls would be a good idea, since the children enjoy the game and are always asking for them.
Behr walks McCoy’s little sister to elementary school each day, and mentioned to a counselor, Nancy Wedberg, about her son being deployed to Iraq. When Wedberg asked what the school could do to support him, Behr suggested the soccer balls. In September, Wedberg began a program she called “Our Child to Child” and began speaking to parents and children at other schools she serves.
“I was talking about the project at the other school I serve as a counselor and the parents there wanted their kiddos to be involved,” Wedberg said in an e-mail interview. “Then the principal of a third school asked, so ultimately students from three elementary schools participated.”
(PHOTO: Spc. Daniel McCoy from Omaha, Neb., with the 134th Infantry Long Range Surveillance Detachment hands out soccer balls to children in Al Jamiah, Iraq, March 6, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Schultz.)
Security, Humanitarianism, Judicial Standards Enforce Fardh Al-Qanoon
BAGHDAD — A press conference discussing Iraq’s progress was held at the Combined Press Information Center in the International Zone Monday.
Rear Adm. Mark I. Fox, communications chief for Strategic Effects Multi-National Force-Iraq, and James L. Santelle, justice attaché, U.S. Embassy, Baghdad, talked about security, humanitarianism and judicial progress.
“Together, Iraqi and Coalition forces are clearing the streets of insurgent activity and taking back the neighborhoods of Baghdad, block by block,” said Fox.
He also said that Iraqi and Coalition forces are working hard to secure progress and to provide hope for the people of Iraq in order to build better communities.
Read the Rest...
Rear Adm. Mark I. Fox, communications chief for Strategic Effects Multi-National Force-Iraq, and James L. Santelle, justice attaché, U.S. Embassy, Baghdad, talked about security, humanitarianism and judicial progress.
“Together, Iraqi and Coalition forces are clearing the streets of insurgent activity and taking back the neighborhoods of Baghdad, block by block,” said Fox.
He also said that Iraqi and Coalition forces are working hard to secure progress and to provide hope for the people of Iraq in order to build better communities.
Read the Rest...
Web Reconnaissance for 03/29/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention.
In the News: (Registration may be required to read some stories)
Bush Derides Iraq War Measure “In his most combative comments yet, President Bush mocked Democratic lawmakers yesterday for including a deadline for troop withdrawals and ‘pork’ projects in an Iraq spending bill, declaring that ‘the American people will know who to hold responsible’ if funding for the war stalls.” (READ MORE)
A 'Law & Order' Presidential Candidate? “‘Law & Order’ star and former U.S. senator Fred Dalton Thompson is considering a bid for the White House that would test whether Hollywood can once again launch a Republican to the world's premier political stage.” (READ MORE)
Gunmen Go On Rampage In Iraqi City “A day after twin truck bombings laid waste to predominantly Shiite neighborhoods in the northern Iraqi city of Tall Afar, marauding Shiite gunmen and police executed dozens of Sunnis in retaliatory attacks that many Iraqis feared might precipitate a resurgence of open sectarian warfare...” (READ MORE)
Guantanamo Detainee Described as Lost Soul Seeking 'a Way Out' “When Australian David Hicks arrived at this island prison as it opened in January 2002, the U.S. government painted him as one of the world's worst terrorists, someone who would do immeasurable harm and needed to face justice.” (READ MORE)
Bush mocks pork in war funding “President Bush yesterday ridiculed House and Senate lawmakers for pork-laden Iraq war funding bills that set 2008 deadlines for full U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq, vowing to veto what he called ‘arbitrary’ limits on U.S. military commanders.” (READ MORE)
Earmark monitor's exit baffles, troubles GOP “The federal agency that tracked pork-barrel spending during the 12 years of the Republican congressional majority has discontinued the practice since Democrats took power, riling lawmakers...” (READ MORE)
Saudi king hits U.S. in Iraq “Saudi King Abdullah, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, yesterday slammed what he termed the ‘illegitimate foreign occupation’ of neighboring Iraq and called for an end to the ‘unjust’ U.S.-backed financial blockade of the Palestinian government.” (READ MORE)
Iran parades hostages on TV “Iranian state TV showed video yesterday of 15 British sailors and marines who were seized last week, including a female captive in a white tunic and a black head scarf who said the British boats had "trespassed" in Iranian waters.” (READ MORE)
When can clerks refuse to serve, citing religion? “Can a cashier or clerk wish a customer ‘Merry Christmas’? Must a pharmacist dispense birth control devices if his faith forbids it? Can a Muslim clerk refuse to touch a whisky or beer bottle, or a pork chop?” (READ MORE)
Nation's oldest female veteran dies "Charlotte Winters, the last surviving female American World War I veteran, died Tuesday at Boonsboro's Fahrney-Keedy senior residential home. She served in the war as a secretary at the Washington Navy Yard some 90 years ago." (READ MORE)
From the Front:
Michael Yon: RUBS 2 “Paradoxically, while reporting from Iraq becomes more difficult as the swamp gets deeper, more amenities are piling up on bases while more garbage piles up downtown. Swimming pools pocket larger bases such as Camp Victory, no doubt named on a morning when the sound of birds singing crowded out the crackle of bullets flying.” (READ MORE)
Michael Fumento: Short film of Zach Pentek, 1/506th, rated best Combat Video of 2006! “An interview from an observation post in Ramadi with Sgt. Zach Pentek by Ritterby has been voted the best Combat Video of 2006 by the military. Although I wrote two articles about my embeds with 1/506th of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), part of Task Force Currahee, Zach's platoon in A Co. will always have a special place in my heart because we were all together in the manic dash I dubbed ‘the Ramadi Run.’”(READ MORE)
Michael J. Totten: Meet Iran’s Armed Revolutionary Liberals “One of the roads leading out of the city of Suleimaniya in Iraqi Kurdistan might as well be renamed Revolutionary Road. Two armed compounds inhabited by exiled revolutionary Iranian leftists were built less than a mile away from each other. My colleague Patrick Lasswell and I accidentally found ourselves in the armed camp of the military wing of the Communist faction of the Komalah Party when we intended to meet with the more moderate social democrats up the street.” (READ MORE)
Jack Army: My Coin “I did something today that I never thought I'd do. I gave my brigade commander my unit coin. The XO designed a coin and had them sent over, I bought four. One to keep, one to give to my Iraqi Army counterpart and two to give away to deserving Soldiers. The brigade commander came to the FOB today to take care of some business. Everything went well with that and afterward we had the troops form up so he could speak to them. He started by asking what rumors the Soldiers had heard and addressed a few of them. The questions trickled to a stop so I piped up with, 'Sir, we've been here for eight months. How is the brigade doing? How do you see things?'” (READ MORE)
On the Web:
Ann Coulter: 'Sorry' doesn't seem to be the hardest word “When will Republicans learn to stop apologizing? The Bush administration is embroiled in the most ridiculous non-scandal scandal in human history -- set off when the administration stupidly apologized for firing its own employees.” (READ MORE)
Donald Lambro: Can Ensign turn the tide? “John Ensign, the new Senate Republican campaign chairman, knows the odds are against him in 2008 when at least five GOP seats are vulnerable, versus one or two for the Democrats.” (READ MORE)
Paul Greenberg: Attaway, Mr. President “Was that George W. Bush or the shade of Harry S Truman speaking immediately after the House of Representatives voted (218 to 212) to order American combat troops out of Iraq? They would have until September of next year to leave. The president's response: Hell, No!” (READ MORE)
Cliff May: A Dangerous Woman: Why Islamists want to kill Ayaan Hirsi Ali “Theo van Gogh was a modern Western man, a believer in reason, tolerance and multiculturalism. And so it is perhaps fitting that his last words were: ‘Can’t we talk about this’?” (READ MORE)
George Will: The 51st State? “Today's Democratic-controlled Congress wants to give D.C., by legislation, a full voting member in the House of Representatives. Having failed to achieve ratification of a constitutional amendment, sent to the states in 1978, which would have conferred statehood on D.C. (only 16 states ratified it, 22 short of the required number), Democrats now say an amendment is unnecessary, a statute will suffice to do essentially that.” (READ MORE)
Ken Blackwell: Equal rights under the Second Amendment “On March 9, a good thing happened for people living in the central and inner cities of America: the DC gun ban was declared unconstitutional.” (READ MORE)
Dana Joel Gattuso: Chilling Intolerance for Free Speech on Global Warming “‘When we've finally gotten serious about global warming, when the impacts are really hitting us and we're in a full worldwide scramble to minimize the damage, we should have war crimes trials for these bastards - some sort of climate Nuremberg.’ -David Roberts, Gristmill, Grist Magazine, September 19, 2006” (READ MORE)
William F. Buckley: John Edwards will give you Free Health “The word among professional Democrats is that John Edwards has set the stakes on the matter of health care, and no one who wants to be president can offer less than he is offering, which is -- of course -- guaranteed health. That is to say, guaranteed free health care.” (READ MORE)
Maggie Gallagher: Pandering to Child Pornographers “Hey, just what exactly is wrong with child pornography? It's not the sort of thing that most people feel they need to spend a lot of time thinking about, but thanks to the Supreme Court, now we do.” (READ MORE)
Arthur Herman: How to Win in Iraq “To the student of counterinsurgency warfare, the war in Iraq has reached a critical but dismally familiar stage. On the one hand, events in that country have taken a more hopeful direction in recent months. Operations in the city of Najaf in January presaged a more effective burden-sharing between American and Iraqi troops than in the past. The opening moves of the so-called surge in Baghdad, involving increased American patrols and the steady addition of more than 21,000 ground troops, have begun to sweep Shiite militias from the streets, while their leader, Moqtada al-Sadr, has gone to ground.” (READ MORE)
Kobayashi Maru: Being Smart About Iran “There's something about this picture of British Navy sailor Faye Turney that's both disturbing and reassuring at the same time. She's obviously under stress and duress (eyes closed as she thinks: get this freakin' head-scarf off me--positioned way back on her head). Yet the cigarette speaks volumes: a private Western attitude the mullahs' can neither understand nor touch. Then there's the pitiful immaturity of Iran's insisting that Britain admit to something it did not do.” (READ MORE)
Bryan Preston: (Video) President Bush knocks ‘em dead “Michelle and I were the guests of the Christian Broadcasting Network at the Radio and TV Correspondents Association Dinner in DC tonight. Highlights for me include meeting Bill O’Reilly and E. D. Hill (giving away where we spent the cocktail hour) and meeting US Army soldier Jacque Keeslar and his lovely wife Vanessa. And the prime rib, and just getting to enjoy the spectacle of it all.” (READ MORE)
Dean Barnett: Straight Talk Express Derailed? “In case you haven’t heard by now, The Hill has essentially buried John McCain’s campaign for the Republican nomination. It’s hard to see how the already floundering McCain can survive the revelation that not only did he consider switching to the Democratic caucus in 2001, his people approached the Democrats to begin conversations on the matter. By way of comparison, Lincoln Chafee and ultimate turncoat Jim Jeffords only began to mull treason after entreaties from the Democrats to do so. When you come out looking like a worse Republican than Lincoln Chafee and Jim Jeffords, it can’t be good.” (READ MORE)
Dafydd: Britannia No Longer Rules the Waves “On Friday, March 23rd, while British Royal Marines and sailors were inspecting a fishing boat for contraband in Iraqi waters, ‘a number of Iranian boats’ swarmed up and kidnapped the British military personnel. Iranians ‘interrogated’ the uniformed sailors and marines (violating the Geneva Conventions) and are currently holding them hostage. Iran has just released propaganda video of the hostages, in which they are coerced to confess and to praise their kidnappers (more violations of the Geneva Conventions).” (READ MORE)
Blackfive: Troop Reaction to the Democrats “Previously, I had asked for and received a lot of email from troops around the world (but mostly in Iraq and Afghanistan) about the Democrat resolutions for retreat...especially, in the face of the surge and a new Commanding General that the Democrats unanimously approved of...I haven't received one troop email that supports the Democrat position of cut and run.” (READ MORE)
Captain Ed: It's Safer To Hate Us “Germans, in a recent poll, believed that the US presented a greater threat to world peace than Iran. Forty-eight percent of Germans agreed with that statement, opposed by only 31%, and the number goes to 57% among younger Germans. In his essay in Der Spiegel, Claus Christian Malzahn skewers his countrymen for their reflexive and ignorant anti-Americanism:” (READ MORE)
TigerHawk: Iran and the Geneva Convention “Four years ago, Slate's Jack Shafer -- and a host of others -- made a pretty good argument that putting prisoners of war on television violated the Geneva Conventions. The stories arose when Donald Rumsfeld complained that Iraq had violated the Conventions when it put American prisoners on state television for propaganda purposes, and half the world's NGOs used the moment to tag him back for Gitmo (where, among other things, the press had been allowed to photograph the prisoners on parade).” (READ MORE)
Robert Mayer: The colossal failure of the UN Human Rights Council “Foreign Policy's Passport blog has a post up about how the UN Human Rights Council has become a complete joke, a shadow of its supposed ideals. It writes about latest developments this week in Geneva: ‘In Geneva this week, any pretense of utility or fairness that clung to the United Nations Human Rights Council finally evaporated.’” (READ MORE)
Don Surber: Feinstein blazes trail for women “… and that trail could lead to prison. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein was forced to resign as chairwoman of the Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee amid reports that her husband, Richard Blum, owned two major defense contractors, which were awarded billions of dollars for military construction projects approved by Feinstein.” (READ MORE)
Right Wing Nut House: Brits Yawn as Iran Declares War “The British hostage ‘crisis’ is proving to be a real eye opener both for London’s allies and any potential adversary. In fact, in some ways the British response to this outrageous and provocative act of war by Iran has been truly frightening – a sense that for a variety of reasons, the British people and their government are sleepwalking through history, living a dream that reality cannot intrude upon.” (READ MORE)
Jules Crittenden: Saudi “King” Thinks “Illegal” US Occupation of Iraq Should End “… that’s funny, I was just thinking the same thing about the occupation of Arabia by a tribe of backward thugs from the desert whose descendants to this day make their women wear gunny sacks over their heads and give our money to terrorists in places like … Iraq. Same crowd that was more than happy to have us come in and keep Saddam at bay.” (READ MORE)
Scott Johnson: Covering (up) the home front in our back yard? “Reader Ray Van Dune writes from Seattle: ‘On Saturday March 24, National Public Radio, correspondent John McChesney, who was until recently embedded with the Minnesota National Guard in Iraq, told us about his 700-mile trip through Minnesota, interviewing families who have loved ones serving in Iraq: ‘Reporter's Notebook: A Delayed Homecoming.’” (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: Al Qaeda suicide attacks: cause and effect in Tal Afar “Suicide bombings may have caused a police backlash, however the reporting is still in question - Yesterday's dual suicide strikes in Shia markets in Tal Afar appears to have been a major success for al Qaeda. The largely Shia city, which has been a model of governance and security in Iraq, had at least 63 of its citizens murdered. Al Qaeda, which has claimed responsibility for the attack, has struck at Shia civilians in the past in order to stir up sectarian violence.” (READ MORE)
Reformed Chicks Blabbing: Pelosi, you're the one who is holding up funds... “And everyone knows it. What you want to do is unconstitutional, why in the world would anyone expect Bush to sign away his rights? That just nuts. What you are counting on is the stupidity of the public but I think it's pretty clear that you guys are going on vacation while you hold up funding for the troops. Some support!” (READ MORE)
Dan Riehl: Democrat Leadership Should Be Arrested And Tried For Treason “This is the final disgusting bit of news one needs to realize just how anti-American and ultimately treasonous is today's Democrat Party leadership. During a time of war their message to the troops is, we'll see ya when we see ya! What's the rush, right? They can spend the pork they packed into what was supposed to be a war funding bill at their convenience. Spring break checklist for Congress: A plane ticket back home, chocolate (or matzo) for the family and a war spending bill for the president.” (READ MORE)
Lightning: Will America Turn Its Back On Us? “Allow me to introduce you to Cathy Floyd. Mrs. Floyd is the mother of one of my childhood friends, and her family has been friends with mine for over 15 years. One of her sons is a graduate of the Citadel, that little trade school down in Charleston that tries to imitate VMI. Following his graduation, he commissioned into the Army as an infantry officer, and served a tour in Iraq with the Mississippi National Guard's 155 BCT.” (READ MORE)
John Hawkins: Democratic Corruption: Does Diane Feinstein Belong In A Cell Next To Duke Cunningham? “Diane Feinstein: Was she, ‘leaving grievously wounded veterans to rot while her family’ raked in the money? Some people seem to think so. From Metroactive, ‘SEN. Dianne Feinstein has resigned from the Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee. As previously and extensively reviewed in these pages, Feinstein was chairperson and ranking member of MILCON for six years, during which time she had a conflict of interest due to her husband Richard C. Blum's ownership of two major defense contractors, who were awarded billions of dollars for military construction projects approved by Feinstein.’”(READ MORE)
Confederate Yankee: Send a Chickenhawk to War “Time and again, we've heard liberals call conservative bloggers ‘chickenhawks,’ and tell them that if they care so much about the Iraq War, they should go join it (interestingly enough, I do know of a single liberal blogger that has volunteered to go serve in the Afghan theater, the war they ostensibly support. I've never claimed liberals were smart, nor consistent). Now is the time that my liberal readers have a chance to put their money where their mouths are. If they care so much about conservatives going to Iraq, here's a chance to finance a trip.” (READ MORE)
Amy Proctor: Story of Valiant Soldier Missed by Media “Bottom Line Up Front: A soldier serving in Iraq injured by an IED re-enlisted for 3 more years of service from his hospital bed, but main stream media outlets continue ot focus on bogus stories painting soldiers in a negative light. If the main stream media were reporting this story, it would go something like this:” (READ MORE)
Have an interesting post or know of a "must read?" Then send a trackback here and let us all know about it. Or you can send me an email with a link to the post and I'll update the Recon.
In the News: (Registration may be required to read some stories)
Bush Derides Iraq War Measure “In his most combative comments yet, President Bush mocked Democratic lawmakers yesterday for including a deadline for troop withdrawals and ‘pork’ projects in an Iraq spending bill, declaring that ‘the American people will know who to hold responsible’ if funding for the war stalls.” (READ MORE)
A 'Law & Order' Presidential Candidate? “‘Law & Order’ star and former U.S. senator Fred Dalton Thompson is considering a bid for the White House that would test whether Hollywood can once again launch a Republican to the world's premier political stage.” (READ MORE)
Gunmen Go On Rampage In Iraqi City “A day after twin truck bombings laid waste to predominantly Shiite neighborhoods in the northern Iraqi city of Tall Afar, marauding Shiite gunmen and police executed dozens of Sunnis in retaliatory attacks that many Iraqis feared might precipitate a resurgence of open sectarian warfare...” (READ MORE)
Guantanamo Detainee Described as Lost Soul Seeking 'a Way Out' “When Australian David Hicks arrived at this island prison as it opened in January 2002, the U.S. government painted him as one of the world's worst terrorists, someone who would do immeasurable harm and needed to face justice.” (READ MORE)
Bush mocks pork in war funding “President Bush yesterday ridiculed House and Senate lawmakers for pork-laden Iraq war funding bills that set 2008 deadlines for full U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq, vowing to veto what he called ‘arbitrary’ limits on U.S. military commanders.” (READ MORE)
Earmark monitor's exit baffles, troubles GOP “The federal agency that tracked pork-barrel spending during the 12 years of the Republican congressional majority has discontinued the practice since Democrats took power, riling lawmakers...” (READ MORE)
Saudi king hits U.S. in Iraq “Saudi King Abdullah, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, yesterday slammed what he termed the ‘illegitimate foreign occupation’ of neighboring Iraq and called for an end to the ‘unjust’ U.S.-backed financial blockade of the Palestinian government.” (READ MORE)
Iran parades hostages on TV “Iranian state TV showed video yesterday of 15 British sailors and marines who were seized last week, including a female captive in a white tunic and a black head scarf who said the British boats had "trespassed" in Iranian waters.” (READ MORE)
When can clerks refuse to serve, citing religion? “Can a cashier or clerk wish a customer ‘Merry Christmas’? Must a pharmacist dispense birth control devices if his faith forbids it? Can a Muslim clerk refuse to touch a whisky or beer bottle, or a pork chop?” (READ MORE)
Nation's oldest female veteran dies "Charlotte Winters, the last surviving female American World War I veteran, died Tuesday at Boonsboro's Fahrney-Keedy senior residential home. She served in the war as a secretary at the Washington Navy Yard some 90 years ago." (READ MORE)
From the Front:
Michael Yon: RUBS 2 “Paradoxically, while reporting from Iraq becomes more difficult as the swamp gets deeper, more amenities are piling up on bases while more garbage piles up downtown. Swimming pools pocket larger bases such as Camp Victory, no doubt named on a morning when the sound of birds singing crowded out the crackle of bullets flying.” (READ MORE)
Michael Fumento: Short film of Zach Pentek, 1/506th, rated best Combat Video of 2006! “An interview from an observation post in Ramadi with Sgt. Zach Pentek by Ritterby has been voted the best Combat Video of 2006 by the military. Although I wrote two articles about my embeds with 1/506th of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), part of Task Force Currahee, Zach's platoon in A Co. will always have a special place in my heart because we were all together in the manic dash I dubbed ‘the Ramadi Run.’”(READ MORE)
Michael J. Totten: Meet Iran’s Armed Revolutionary Liberals “One of the roads leading out of the city of Suleimaniya in Iraqi Kurdistan might as well be renamed Revolutionary Road. Two armed compounds inhabited by exiled revolutionary Iranian leftists were built less than a mile away from each other. My colleague Patrick Lasswell and I accidentally found ourselves in the armed camp of the military wing of the Communist faction of the Komalah Party when we intended to meet with the more moderate social democrats up the street.” (READ MORE)
Jack Army: My Coin “I did something today that I never thought I'd do. I gave my brigade commander my unit coin. The XO designed a coin and had them sent over, I bought four. One to keep, one to give to my Iraqi Army counterpart and two to give away to deserving Soldiers. The brigade commander came to the FOB today to take care of some business. Everything went well with that and afterward we had the troops form up so he could speak to them. He started by asking what rumors the Soldiers had heard and addressed a few of them. The questions trickled to a stop so I piped up with, 'Sir, we've been here for eight months. How is the brigade doing? How do you see things?'” (READ MORE)
On the Web:
Ann Coulter: 'Sorry' doesn't seem to be the hardest word “When will Republicans learn to stop apologizing? The Bush administration is embroiled in the most ridiculous non-scandal scandal in human history -- set off when the administration stupidly apologized for firing its own employees.” (READ MORE)
Donald Lambro: Can Ensign turn the tide? “John Ensign, the new Senate Republican campaign chairman, knows the odds are against him in 2008 when at least five GOP seats are vulnerable, versus one or two for the Democrats.” (READ MORE)
Paul Greenberg: Attaway, Mr. President “Was that George W. Bush or the shade of Harry S Truman speaking immediately after the House of Representatives voted (218 to 212) to order American combat troops out of Iraq? They would have until September of next year to leave. The president's response: Hell, No!” (READ MORE)
Cliff May: A Dangerous Woman: Why Islamists want to kill Ayaan Hirsi Ali “Theo van Gogh was a modern Western man, a believer in reason, tolerance and multiculturalism. And so it is perhaps fitting that his last words were: ‘Can’t we talk about this’?” (READ MORE)
George Will: The 51st State? “Today's Democratic-controlled Congress wants to give D.C., by legislation, a full voting member in the House of Representatives. Having failed to achieve ratification of a constitutional amendment, sent to the states in 1978, which would have conferred statehood on D.C. (only 16 states ratified it, 22 short of the required number), Democrats now say an amendment is unnecessary, a statute will suffice to do essentially that.” (READ MORE)
Ken Blackwell: Equal rights under the Second Amendment “On March 9, a good thing happened for people living in the central and inner cities of America: the DC gun ban was declared unconstitutional.” (READ MORE)
Dana Joel Gattuso: Chilling Intolerance for Free Speech on Global Warming “‘When we've finally gotten serious about global warming, when the impacts are really hitting us and we're in a full worldwide scramble to minimize the damage, we should have war crimes trials for these bastards - some sort of climate Nuremberg.’ -David Roberts, Gristmill, Grist Magazine, September 19, 2006” (READ MORE)
William F. Buckley: John Edwards will give you Free Health “The word among professional Democrats is that John Edwards has set the stakes on the matter of health care, and no one who wants to be president can offer less than he is offering, which is -- of course -- guaranteed health. That is to say, guaranteed free health care.” (READ MORE)
Maggie Gallagher: Pandering to Child Pornographers “Hey, just what exactly is wrong with child pornography? It's not the sort of thing that most people feel they need to spend a lot of time thinking about, but thanks to the Supreme Court, now we do.” (READ MORE)
Arthur Herman: How to Win in Iraq “To the student of counterinsurgency warfare, the war in Iraq has reached a critical but dismally familiar stage. On the one hand, events in that country have taken a more hopeful direction in recent months. Operations in the city of Najaf in January presaged a more effective burden-sharing between American and Iraqi troops than in the past. The opening moves of the so-called surge in Baghdad, involving increased American patrols and the steady addition of more than 21,000 ground troops, have begun to sweep Shiite militias from the streets, while their leader, Moqtada al-Sadr, has gone to ground.” (READ MORE)
Kobayashi Maru: Being Smart About Iran “There's something about this picture of British Navy sailor Faye Turney that's both disturbing and reassuring at the same time. She's obviously under stress and duress (eyes closed as she thinks: get this freakin' head-scarf off me--positioned way back on her head). Yet the cigarette speaks volumes: a private Western attitude the mullahs' can neither understand nor touch. Then there's the pitiful immaturity of Iran's insisting that Britain admit to something it did not do.” (READ MORE)
Bryan Preston: (Video) President Bush knocks ‘em dead “Michelle and I were the guests of the Christian Broadcasting Network at the Radio and TV Correspondents Association Dinner in DC tonight. Highlights for me include meeting Bill O’Reilly and E. D. Hill (giving away where we spent the cocktail hour) and meeting US Army soldier Jacque Keeslar and his lovely wife Vanessa. And the prime rib, and just getting to enjoy the spectacle of it all.” (READ MORE)
Dean Barnett: Straight Talk Express Derailed? “In case you haven’t heard by now, The Hill has essentially buried John McCain’s campaign for the Republican nomination. It’s hard to see how the already floundering McCain can survive the revelation that not only did he consider switching to the Democratic caucus in 2001, his people approached the Democrats to begin conversations on the matter. By way of comparison, Lincoln Chafee and ultimate turncoat Jim Jeffords only began to mull treason after entreaties from the Democrats to do so. When you come out looking like a worse Republican than Lincoln Chafee and Jim Jeffords, it can’t be good.” (READ MORE)
Dafydd: Britannia No Longer Rules the Waves “On Friday, March 23rd, while British Royal Marines and sailors were inspecting a fishing boat for contraband in Iraqi waters, ‘a number of Iranian boats’ swarmed up and kidnapped the British military personnel. Iranians ‘interrogated’ the uniformed sailors and marines (violating the Geneva Conventions) and are currently holding them hostage. Iran has just released propaganda video of the hostages, in which they are coerced to confess and to praise their kidnappers (more violations of the Geneva Conventions).” (READ MORE)
Blackfive: Troop Reaction to the Democrats “Previously, I had asked for and received a lot of email from troops around the world (but mostly in Iraq and Afghanistan) about the Democrat resolutions for retreat...especially, in the face of the surge and a new Commanding General that the Democrats unanimously approved of...I haven't received one troop email that supports the Democrat position of cut and run.” (READ MORE)
Captain Ed: It's Safer To Hate Us “Germans, in a recent poll, believed that the US presented a greater threat to world peace than Iran. Forty-eight percent of Germans agreed with that statement, opposed by only 31%, and the number goes to 57% among younger Germans. In his essay in Der Spiegel, Claus Christian Malzahn skewers his countrymen for their reflexive and ignorant anti-Americanism:” (READ MORE)
TigerHawk: Iran and the Geneva Convention “Four years ago, Slate's Jack Shafer -- and a host of others -- made a pretty good argument that putting prisoners of war on television violated the Geneva Conventions. The stories arose when Donald Rumsfeld complained that Iraq had violated the Conventions when it put American prisoners on state television for propaganda purposes, and half the world's NGOs used the moment to tag him back for Gitmo (where, among other things, the press had been allowed to photograph the prisoners on parade).” (READ MORE)
Robert Mayer: The colossal failure of the UN Human Rights Council “Foreign Policy's Passport blog has a post up about how the UN Human Rights Council has become a complete joke, a shadow of its supposed ideals. It writes about latest developments this week in Geneva: ‘In Geneva this week, any pretense of utility or fairness that clung to the United Nations Human Rights Council finally evaporated.’” (READ MORE)
Don Surber: Feinstein blazes trail for women “… and that trail could lead to prison. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein was forced to resign as chairwoman of the Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee amid reports that her husband, Richard Blum, owned two major defense contractors, which were awarded billions of dollars for military construction projects approved by Feinstein.” (READ MORE)
Right Wing Nut House: Brits Yawn as Iran Declares War “The British hostage ‘crisis’ is proving to be a real eye opener both for London’s allies and any potential adversary. In fact, in some ways the British response to this outrageous and provocative act of war by Iran has been truly frightening – a sense that for a variety of reasons, the British people and their government are sleepwalking through history, living a dream that reality cannot intrude upon.” (READ MORE)
Jules Crittenden: Saudi “King” Thinks “Illegal” US Occupation of Iraq Should End “… that’s funny, I was just thinking the same thing about the occupation of Arabia by a tribe of backward thugs from the desert whose descendants to this day make their women wear gunny sacks over their heads and give our money to terrorists in places like … Iraq. Same crowd that was more than happy to have us come in and keep Saddam at bay.” (READ MORE)
Scott Johnson: Covering (up) the home front in our back yard? “Reader Ray Van Dune writes from Seattle: ‘On Saturday March 24, National Public Radio, correspondent John McChesney, who was until recently embedded with the Minnesota National Guard in Iraq, told us about his 700-mile trip through Minnesota, interviewing families who have loved ones serving in Iraq: ‘Reporter's Notebook: A Delayed Homecoming.’” (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: Al Qaeda suicide attacks: cause and effect in Tal Afar “Suicide bombings may have caused a police backlash, however the reporting is still in question - Yesterday's dual suicide strikes in Shia markets in Tal Afar appears to have been a major success for al Qaeda. The largely Shia city, which has been a model of governance and security in Iraq, had at least 63 of its citizens murdered. Al Qaeda, which has claimed responsibility for the attack, has struck at Shia civilians in the past in order to stir up sectarian violence.” (READ MORE)
Reformed Chicks Blabbing: Pelosi, you're the one who is holding up funds... “And everyone knows it. What you want to do is unconstitutional, why in the world would anyone expect Bush to sign away his rights? That just nuts. What you are counting on is the stupidity of the public but I think it's pretty clear that you guys are going on vacation while you hold up funding for the troops. Some support!” (READ MORE)
Dan Riehl: Democrat Leadership Should Be Arrested And Tried For Treason “This is the final disgusting bit of news one needs to realize just how anti-American and ultimately treasonous is today's Democrat Party leadership. During a time of war their message to the troops is, we'll see ya when we see ya! What's the rush, right? They can spend the pork they packed into what was supposed to be a war funding bill at their convenience. Spring break checklist for Congress: A plane ticket back home, chocolate (or matzo) for the family and a war spending bill for the president.” (READ MORE)
Lightning: Will America Turn Its Back On Us? “Allow me to introduce you to Cathy Floyd. Mrs. Floyd is the mother of one of my childhood friends, and her family has been friends with mine for over 15 years. One of her sons is a graduate of the Citadel, that little trade school down in Charleston that tries to imitate VMI. Following his graduation, he commissioned into the Army as an infantry officer, and served a tour in Iraq with the Mississippi National Guard's 155 BCT.” (READ MORE)
John Hawkins: Democratic Corruption: Does Diane Feinstein Belong In A Cell Next To Duke Cunningham? “Diane Feinstein: Was she, ‘leaving grievously wounded veterans to rot while her family’ raked in the money? Some people seem to think so. From Metroactive, ‘SEN. Dianne Feinstein has resigned from the Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee. As previously and extensively reviewed in these pages, Feinstein was chairperson and ranking member of MILCON for six years, during which time she had a conflict of interest due to her husband Richard C. Blum's ownership of two major defense contractors, who were awarded billions of dollars for military construction projects approved by Feinstein.’”(READ MORE)
Confederate Yankee: Send a Chickenhawk to War “Time and again, we've heard liberals call conservative bloggers ‘chickenhawks,’ and tell them that if they care so much about the Iraq War, they should go join it (interestingly enough, I do know of a single liberal blogger that has volunteered to go serve in the Afghan theater, the war they ostensibly support. I've never claimed liberals were smart, nor consistent). Now is the time that my liberal readers have a chance to put their money where their mouths are. If they care so much about conservatives going to Iraq, here's a chance to finance a trip.” (READ MORE)
Amy Proctor: Story of Valiant Soldier Missed by Media “Bottom Line Up Front: A soldier serving in Iraq injured by an IED re-enlisted for 3 more years of service from his hospital bed, but main stream media outlets continue ot focus on bogus stories painting soldiers in a negative light. If the main stream media were reporting this story, it would go something like this:” (READ MORE)
Have an interesting post or know of a "must read?" Then send a trackback here and let us all know about it. Or you can send me an email with a link to the post and I'll update the Recon.
March 28, 2007
They Can’t Move On (Part 98567)
When it was announced that Tony Snow’s cancer had returned I waited for the left to jump on the band wagon and wish him good luck in his battle. Actually I was waiting for the left to pile on and wish him good riddance in the most painful method possible, they didn’t disappoint. Actually they did disappoint but at least it was expected.
Anyway, over at The Huffington Post a thread titled “Tony Snow has Cancer” had to be shut down because so many of the tolerant left piled on and wished him all the best in his pending death that Arianna had to close the thread and remove it from view. Today R.J. Eskow writes in his post Can Americans Reconcile? With Best Wishes For Tony Snow:
Of course with such hatred coming out right up front it’s no surprise that the loyal Huffington posters piled on again with their hatred for anyone that thinks differently than they do:
Anyway, over at The Huffington Post a thread titled “Tony Snow has Cancer” had to be shut down because so many of the tolerant left piled on and wished him all the best in his pending death that Arianna had to close the thread and remove it from view. Today R.J. Eskow writes in his post Can Americans Reconcile? With Best Wishes For Tony Snow:
“What will it take before Americans can reconcile with each other? Just five years fter that unprecedented spirit of post-9/11 unity, Americans are more divided now than they've been in the decades since Vietnam - and possibly since the Civil War. The bitterness and anger run deep.”But then focuses all of his anger at the division towards those of us on the other side of the aisle:
“That division is the result of a cynical cabal's calculated exploitation of 9/11. They tried to exploit a tragedy for selfish ends, to create a generation of hegemonic Republican leadership.”That’s how you build bridges Mr. Eskow, you burn them first.
Of course with such hatred coming out right up front it’s no surprise that the loyal Huffington posters piled on again with their hatred for anyone that thinks differently than they do:
I will pray for Tony Snow. He should and will receive the finest medical care. But I will remain appalled that his party, the Republicans, continues to fight against equally good care for tens of millions of Americans, including not only mature men and women but also the youngest children.That's tolerance from the Party of Tolerance for you. Now if you don't mind you are going to have to go and read the rest…I can’t do it anymore, and as long as the Left is angry as they are, I will have to answer in the negative towards Mr. Eskow's question, they obviously aren't ready to face reality yet.
By: jjllss33 on March 27, 2007 at 09:17pm
I don't pray, but I do wish him well. I assume the "Tony Snow Has Cancer" thread was shut down because too many others did not wish him well. And I also assume that some of those venomous posts were written by "his side" to make "our side" look bad. Sad, isn't it?
By: paligap on March 27, 2007 at 09:52pm
your points are well expressed- but if the US ever wants to be seen as credible on the world stage we must impeach bush and dick to show that when US foriegn policy is Hijakkked for personl, political and monetary gains, those responisible for these illegal war crimes will be punished according to law.
By: noamjunior on March 27, 2007 at 10:30pm
I am ready to forgive, and even embrace, anyone who is willing to renounce their godforsaken Conservative beliefs and work hard AGAINST the political right from
now on.
That's all it takes--Just coming clean, and giving up the juicy and tempting Evil that Conservatism has become for too many sadly susceptable people.
By: nikto on March 27, 2007 at 11:05pm
I confess, my first thought was that Snow should undergo faith healing alone to show the white house's confidence in the method they've chosen for so much of the rest of the nation.
By: jmpurser on March 27, 2007 at 11:33pm
Sure, we wish Tony well. We also wish for him to pray and come to terms with his professed faith. You can't be a Christian and tell lies regarding Bush's policies and cover up for Bush's crimes. So pray a great deal because you have been doing the DEVIL'S WORK!
P.S. Stay away from Katie Couric.
By: VOTER on March 27, 2007 at 11:45pm
You write: "After all, we're in this thing together." No. We're not in it together.
They've sacrificed the Constitution, the city of New Orleans, New Yorkers before 9/11 with inaction and after 9/11 with lies, half a million Iraqis, thousands of American troops, many American Muslims, the economic fate of our country and -- worst of all -- our environmental future. Their corruption and arrogance doesn't include anyone not on their donors list.
Make nice if you want, but until they're out of power and in jail, then karma, cancer, or simple American justice will do. Until then, let's not look for excuses to excuse them.
By: wiltmellow on March 27, 2007 at 11:49pm
I do feel compassion for Tony Snow, but I can never reconcile with the people who support a criminal enterprise, and a traitorous one at that. This group that Mr. Snow has been covering for, have as their sole purpose, the destruction of our democracy, the implosion of the middle class, and the grossly obscene and bloated enrichment of billionaires.
There are over three thousand young Americans, who will spend eternity in their coffins, owing to an insane notion of an imperial presidency.
We are without health care, because of this, and without proper funding for the stem cell research that can eradicate horrific disease, like cancer.
At the end of the day, I know that Mr. Snow was only following orders, and that is sad, but true.
By: judygee on March 27, 2007 at 11:58pm
Ironic, isn't it, that cancer attacks Mrs. Edwards and Mr. Snow who seem to be well-liked by people on both sides of the divide?
Mr. Snow is a spokesman for a corrupt regime that murders people in Iraq and denies health care to its own citizens.
I will send out a lot of sympathy for those victims. If I have any left over, I might send some his way.
By: Leftyliberal on March 28, 2007 at 12:09am
Tony Snow doesn't get a pass. He has smirked and lied and played the GOP hate and smear game. He had colon cancer and talked about his faith and family and his appreciation of life. His appreciation of life apparently was all about HIS life. Nevermind our soldiers and their suffering. He lied and twisted the truth to support his employer...Bush. He will need to tell the truth...the whole truth if he wants
forgiveness. Feel free to post hate mail about what a small person I must be. I am.
By: nonbeliever on March 28, 2007 at 12:31am
Mr. Snow is a spokesman for a corrupt regime that murders people in Iraq and denies health care to its own citizens. I will send out a lot of sympathy for those victims.
If I have any left over, I might send some his way.
By: Leftyliberal One can sympathize with Elizabeth Edwards because she is an honest, genuine person. One may sympathize for Tony Snowjob's medical condition (we progressives can handle that, unlike the WHACKADOOS, such as Rush Oxycontinbaugh, implying that the Edwards are godless) but not for the endless lies he tells when before the press corps...what a difference in integrity.
By: TTP on March 28, 2007 at 01:16am
The only way this USA will reconcile is when we realize that the deaths of the Iraqi citizens deserve as much sympathy and more, than that which you mention for Mr. Snow. What the hell makes an American life more important than an Iraqi life? Tell me, I want to know. If anybody out there knows, pls tell us. Let's do this: for all the innocent Iraqi's killed in this OCCUPATION (it is not a war) by the grand ol USA, let's take a life of an American, starting with the Senator's and Congressman's families....
By: Monkelis on March 28, 2007 at 01:33am
Forgive me if I have some irreconcilable differences, because American security forces use torture, and they fear no American court.
By: disintaGreatNation on March 28, 2007 at 01:58am
The Tony Snow I see today is the same one I saw yesterday... the main propagandist for a criminal regime. Only difference is that today we know his cancer has returned.
By:
cunningham on March 28, 2007 at 02:21am
These past 6 years must have really changed me.
I can't find an ounce of pity for Tony.
By: wallygator on March 28, 2007 at 08:00am
That huffpo has been taken over by the neocon's is evidenced by the disallowing comments about Snow. All I can say is that the profound advice by our esteemed Resident Bush that prayer will heal Snow. However, it makes me wonder if Snow's cancer story is concocted so that Bush can claim his connection with god because of his advice for prayer, in Snow's behalf, resulted in remission of Snow's cancer thereby allowing Bush to declare his divinity as he has previously proclaimed.
By: predator3x2 on March 28, 2007 at 09:00am
I see evil rotting from the inside. Compassion is only for those who do not wish to destroy me.
By: NoOtherWay on March 28, 2007 at 09:29am
The John Doe Manifesto
Michelle Malkin has written The John Doe Manifesto, she says...pass it on.
So I am.
Dear Muslim Terrorist Plotter/Planner/Funder/Enabler/Apologist,
You do not know me. But I am on the lookout for you. You are my enemy. And I am yours.
I am John Doe.
I am traveling on your plane. I am riding on your train. I am at your bus stop. I am on your street. I am in your subway car. I am on your lift.
I am your neighbor. I am your customer. I am your classmate. I am your boss.
I am John Doe.
I will never forget the example of the passengers of American Airlines Flight 93 who refused to sit back on 9/11 and let themselves be murdered in the name of Islam without a fight.
I will never forget the passengers and crew members who tackled al Qaeda shoe-bomber Richard Reid on American Airlines Flight 63 before he had a chance to blow up the plane over the Atlantic Ocean.
I will never forget the alertness of actor James Woods, who notified a stewardess that several Arab men sitting in his first-class cabin on an August 2001 flight were behaving strangely. The men turned out to be 9/11 hijackers on a test run.
I will act when homeland security officials ask me to “report suspicious activity.”
I will embrace my local police department’s admonition: “If you see something, say something.”
I am John Doe.
I will protest your Jew-hating, America-bashing “scholars.”
I will petition against your hate-mongering mosque leaders.
I will raise my voice against your subjugation of women and religious minorities.
I will challenge your attempts to indoctrinate my children in our schools.
I will combat your violent propaganda on the Internet.
I am John Doe.
I will support law enforcement initiatives to spy on your operatives, cut off your funding, and
disrupt your murderous conspiracies.
I will oppose all attempts to undermine our borders and immigration laws.
I will resist the imposition of sharia principles and sharia law in my taxi cab, my restaurant, my community pool, the halls of Congress, our national monuments, the radio and television airwaves, and all public spaces.
I will not be censored in the name of tolerance.
I will not be cowed by your Beltway lobbying groups in moderate clothing. I will not cringe when you shriek about “profiling” or “Islamophobia.”
I will put my family’s safety above sensitivity. I will put my country above multiculturalism.
I will not submit to your will. I will not be intimidated.
I am John Doe.
Trackbacked by:
Tel-Chai Nation
So I am.
Dear Muslim Terrorist Plotter/Planner/Funder/Enabler/Apologist,
You do not know me. But I am on the lookout for you. You are my enemy. And I am yours.
I am John Doe.
I am traveling on your plane. I am riding on your train. I am at your bus stop. I am on your street. I am in your subway car. I am on your lift.
I am your neighbor. I am your customer. I am your classmate. I am your boss.
I am John Doe.
I will never forget the example of the passengers of American Airlines Flight 93 who refused to sit back on 9/11 and let themselves be murdered in the name of Islam without a fight.
I will never forget the passengers and crew members who tackled al Qaeda shoe-bomber Richard Reid on American Airlines Flight 63 before he had a chance to blow up the plane over the Atlantic Ocean.
I will never forget the alertness of actor James Woods, who notified a stewardess that several Arab men sitting in his first-class cabin on an August 2001 flight were behaving strangely. The men turned out to be 9/11 hijackers on a test run.
I will act when homeland security officials ask me to “report suspicious activity.”
I will embrace my local police department’s admonition: “If you see something, say something.”
I am John Doe.
I will protest your Jew-hating, America-bashing “scholars.”
I will petition against your hate-mongering mosque leaders.
I will raise my voice against your subjugation of women and religious minorities.
I will challenge your attempts to indoctrinate my children in our schools.
I will combat your violent propaganda on the Internet.
I am John Doe.
I will support law enforcement initiatives to spy on your operatives, cut off your funding, and
disrupt your murderous conspiracies.
I will oppose all attempts to undermine our borders and immigration laws.
I will resist the imposition of sharia principles and sharia law in my taxi cab, my restaurant, my community pool, the halls of Congress, our national monuments, the radio and television airwaves, and all public spaces.
I will not be censored in the name of tolerance.
I will not be cowed by your Beltway lobbying groups in moderate clothing. I will not cringe when you shriek about “profiling” or “Islamophobia.”
I will put my family’s safety above sensitivity. I will put my country above multiculturalism.
I will not submit to your will. I will not be intimidated.
I am John Doe.
Trackbacked by:
Tel-Chai Nation
Good News From The Front
Despite what the Mainstream Media would have you believe there is good news every day out of Iraq, Afghanistan the Horn of Africa and everywhere else the War on Terror is taking place.
On Sunday Iraqi and Coalition forces reunite kidnapped victims with families, just another example of Senator Kerry’s terrorists at work.
Also on Sunday the Independent Radio and Television Network officially launched during a ceremony held in the heart of Iraq’s troubled Diyala Province. Rafed Mahmood, IRTN co-founder and general manager, spoke passionately at the event about his commitment to the station and what it meant to him to help spread an independent voice of reconciliation throughout Iraq. Although Mahmood was optimistic in his remarks, he was realistic about the price that must often be paid for freedom; however, he urged those who would work tirelessly toward a free Iraq to not lose heart in the face of adversity.
Speaking of optimism, every day US and Coalition Forces working alongside Iraqi Army and Police units are taking more terrorists off the street and disrupting their ability to create bombs that are more and more being used against their own people all done by extremists in an effort to reignite violence between people who have lived in peace despite being from different sectarian and ethnic groups.
Even the much maligned Iraqi Army is stepping up and producing results that are cutting into the money making schemes being used by the terrorists.
In Afghanistan US forces are winning the hearts and minds of the populace one school at a time. While the Taliban burns schools US and Coalition Forces work to promote the conditions for a self-sufficient, secure and stable environment. These relationships are paying off especially in Panjshir Province which has become a model of success because of the strength shown by the people living within the valley:
On Sunday Iraqi and Coalition forces reunite kidnapped victims with families, just another example of Senator Kerry’s terrorists at work.
Also on Sunday the Independent Radio and Television Network officially launched during a ceremony held in the heart of Iraq’s troubled Diyala Province. Rafed Mahmood, IRTN co-founder and general manager, spoke passionately at the event about his commitment to the station and what it meant to him to help spread an independent voice of reconciliation throughout Iraq. Although Mahmood was optimistic in his remarks, he was realistic about the price that must often be paid for freedom; however, he urged those who would work tirelessly toward a free Iraq to not lose heart in the face of adversity.
“Some of us may die,” Mahmood said. “That may be the cost of freedom, but let us not be so afraid of dying that we forget how to live. God gave us life to live; so, let us live.”Now that is optimism, something that our own Congress could use right now.
Speaking of optimism, every day US and Coalition Forces working alongside Iraqi Army and Police units are taking more terrorists off the street and disrupting their ability to create bombs that are more and more being used against their own people all done by extremists in an effort to reignite violence between people who have lived in peace despite being from different sectarian and ethnic groups.
Even the much maligned Iraqi Army is stepping up and producing results that are cutting into the money making schemes being used by the terrorists.
In Afghanistan US forces are winning the hearts and minds of the populace one school at a time. While the Taliban burns schools US and Coalition Forces work to promote the conditions for a self-sufficient, secure and stable environment. These relationships are paying off especially in Panjshir Province which has become a model of success because of the strength shown by the people living within the valley:
“Panjsheeris are providing the muscle behind security, cultivating a fertile environment for construction projects and humanitarian-aid assistance.”Now if we could only get some of those good feelings within the halls of Congress and stop using our troops as fodder to attract pork projects.
Web Reconnaissance for 03/28/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention.
In the News: (Registration may be required to read some stories)
Democrats' timetable clears Senate “Senate Democrats yesterday thwarted a Republican effort to strip a troop withdrawal timetable from the Iraq war funding bill -- speeding Congress toward a veto showdown with President Bush.” (READ MORE)
Blair warns Tehran of next 'phase' in standoff “British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned Iran yesterday of a ‘different phase’ in the standoff over 15 detained British sailors and marines...” (READ MORE)
House GOP seeks to shield 'John Doe' “House Republicans yesterday surprised Democrats with a procedural vote to protect public-transportation passengers from being sued if they report suspicious activity -- the first step by lawmakers to protect ‘John Doe’ airline travelers...” (READ MORE)
Senate Backs Pullout Proposal “Senate Democrats scored a surprise victory yesterday in their bid to force President Bush to end the Iraq war, turning back a Republican amendment that would have struck a troop withdrawal plan from emergency military funding legislation.” (READ MORE)
Failures at FBI Acknowledged “Angry senators accused FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III yesterday of management failures that resulted in the dispatch of hundreds of national security letters and intelligence surveillance warrants based on false information, and Mueller said he accepted that characterization.” (READ MORE)
From the Front:
Michael Yon: Tabula Rasa “From Baghdad - Recent mention of cooperation with FOX News kicked rumor into high gear, leading some long-time readers to lament my “selling-out” to a major outlet. Simultaneously, thousands of new readers via the FOX website have little idea why my work suddenly is featured there. This dispatch will hopefully quell both concerns.” (READ MORE)
Acute Politics: The winds in Al-Anbar are changing “The intra-Sunni fighting in Al-Anbar province is continuing, and the violence is rising. Bill Roggio has done a good job synthesizing the information here, here, here and here. I'll also try my hand at laying out some of the recent events below, and explain a little bit of how the various elements you may hear about in the news are related.” (READ MORE)
On the Web:
Ben Shapiro: Committing Suicide, One Step At A Time “How far will the West be pushed? For decades, Iran has embraced a strategy of carefully feeling its oats, prodding at the West, testing our mettle in inches.” (READ MORE)
Tony Blankley: Hillary on Track for Nomination “With every passing week it becomes more likely that Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic Party nominee for president. This thought, alone, should provide the strongest possible motivation to the Bush administration and the Washington Republicans to get their acts together so that the eventual Republican nominee for president doesn't start the general election campaign in too deep a hole.” (READ MORE)
Bruce Bartlett: Coulter Consequences “One of the reasons why I wish columnist Ann Coulter hadn't used the F-word in a recent speech - the one that is a derogatory term for being gay - is because it gave liberals yet another excuse to label all conservatives as homophobic, racist and sexist, which writer Rick Perlstein did last week in the New Republic.” (READ MORE)
Michelle Malkin: The John Doe Manifesto “I am John Doe. I will never forget the example of the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 who refused to sit back on 9/11 and let themselves be murdered in the name of Islam without a fight.” (READ MORE)
Walter E. Williams: Global Warming Heresy “Among the many findings that dispute environmentalists' claims are: Manmade carbon dioxide emissions are roughly 5 percent of the total; the rest are from natural sources such as volcanoes, dying vegetation and animals. Annually, volcanoes alone produce more carbon dioxide than all of mankind's activities. Oceans are responsible for most greenhouse gases.” (READ MORE)
Paul Weyrich: Earmarks - Another Promise Down The Drain “This January, in an attempt to appeal to the voters of both parties as they basked in the glow of their recent victory, the majority leadership team in the House of Representatives promised many reforms. Among other things, the American people were informed that the new Congress would enforce a one-year moratorium upon certain special projects that often go unnoticed when they are slipped into major legislation. These appropriations are a version of what used to be known as ‘pork’ and a way for a House Member to ‘bring home the bacon’ to his or her constituents.” (READ MORE)
Cal Thomas: Vote Buying “In the scandalous, shortsighted sellout of American troops in Iraq, a slim Democratic House majority passed a measure that speaker and top vote buyer Nancy Pelosi claimed would ‘end the war in Iraq.’ The claim is preposterous because, even if the Senate were to pass such a measure, there are insufficient votes to override a presidential veto.” (READ MORE)
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Policing Terror “Some people think the reason there have been no successful terrorist attacks in the United States since 9/11 is because the threat from Islamofascists and others wishing us ill has been overblown. Actually, our enemies have never stopped trying to inflict additional death and destruction here.” (READ MORE)
Pete du Pont: Year of the Donkey “Are the Democrats rising, or just listing to the left?
We do not know who will be the next president, but for now we know the worm has turned: The Democratic Party is gaining and the Republican Party is losing control of the government.” (READ MORE)
Kobayashi Maru: Iranian Machinations: Sun Tzu Would be Pleased “In between starting up two paying projects, traveling cross-country (and back), helping my older daughter sort through college acceptances (and put into perspective the wait-lists and rejections) and running myself into a quivering, physically exhausted heap in preparation for the Boston Marathon, blogging has not been at the top of my priority list.” (READ MORE)
Bryan Preston: Flying imams shot down by Congress “Congress does something that makes sense? And defends average Americans from racial mau mauing? This Congress? I might faint. ‘House Republicans today surprised Democrats with a procedural vote to protect public-transportation passengers from being sued if they report suspicious activity — the first step by lawmakers to protect ‘John Doe’ airline travelers already targeted in a lawsuit by Muslim imams that charges profiling.’” (READ MORE)
William Teach: Lawsuit Against Rummy Dismissed. Take That! “Good to read that there are some judges in this country who aren't complete moonbats. ‘Former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld cannot be tried on allegations of torture in overseas military prisons, a federal judge said Tuesday.’” (READ MORE)
The Marching Camp: British sailors and Iran “Well, everyone knows the substance of this story, which is that Iran snatched some British sailors, and is accusing them of espionage. Certain elements of the Blogosphere are up in arms about this accusation, claiming that it violates ‘Article 46 of the Geneva Convention’ which specifically excludes from charges of espionage those gathering intelligence data while in military uniform.” (READ MORE)
Dymphna: American Justice for All? No Way! “David Hicks, the Australian convert to Islam currently residing in Guantanamo, has pleaded guilty to ‘providing material support for terrorism.’ The 31-year-old Muslim convert, arrived at Guantanamo in early 2002, a month after being captured in Afghanistan in December 2001.” (READ MORE)
The Augean Stables: Humiliation and Terrorism: Goldhagen’s Analysis “Daniel Goldhagen has an excellent discussion of the problem of ‘humiliation’ and Jihad. While for polemical reasons he may be dismissive of ‘humiliation’ as an explanation of Arab/Muslim ‘rage,’ his overall point — there’s much more to the problem than ‘humiliation,’ is crucial, especially when it comes to policy options. I’ve highlighted particularly significant passages and added some notes.” (READ MORE)
Baron Bodissey: Holger, the Guardian of the West “Regular readers know that I have recently become enamored of Holger Danske. The Islamic threat from al-Andalus meant more to Holger than his quarrels with his Frankish neighbors, and so he became a hero of the Western World at Poitiers in 732. That part of his story is recorded in history, but now we come to the myth.” (READ MORE)
Don Surber: Congress parties first, supports troops later “After looking at the list of items that the 49 Democratic senators (and Chuck Hagel) thought were equal to supporting our troops in Iraq yesterday, I discovered something even more disgusting today, via The Politico:” (READ MORE)
Right Wing Nut House: Astonishing Cynisism Shown by the Democrats “I’ve been following politics for going on 40 years and during that time, I have witnessed the high, the low, the principled and unprincipled, the sheer human drama of democracy’s workings on display in all of its glory and shame. But what has made politics a lifelong fascination for me have been the men and women who perform its rituals, parading across the great national stage in Washington – some making their mark, others going through the motions hoping not to get anyone angry at them lest the voters toss them into the street come election time.” (READ MORE)
ShrinkWrapped: When Will They Ever Learn? “On Sunday, Richard Landes reminded me of an article by Danial Pipes from December of last year which described How the West Could Lose. Pipes noted three major weaknesses that the West has in fighting against the Islamic fascists. Pipes describes pacifism, self-hatred, complacency and elaborates on all three points in his article, which is well worth reviewing. I would concentrate on complacency, since that is the primary danger that arises from the apathy of the majority, especially on the liberal end of the political spectrum. I do not see them as evil, or in league with the enemy, but I do find most liberals to be intellectually lazy and complacent:” (READ MORE)
Jules Crittenden: Surrender Now! “Senate files meaningless squeak-by vote for surrender. WaPo calls it a ‘surprise victory’ though it is not entirely clear to me how it is either a ‘surprise’ or a ‘victory.’” (READ MORE)
McQ: Spinning the Senate Vote “As I tried to explain yesterday in a brief paragraph at the end of this post, the minority leadership in the Senate were attempting to fight, but not too hard, since they knew that the bill in question was going nowhere and the funding deadline was approaching. In essence, as Sen. McConnell has said, they wanted to get the veto out of the way so they could concentrate on getting a bill together the President would and could sign.” (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: Fallujah government center struck by chlorine suicide attack “Iraq Police, Army stop bomber short of target; dozens wounded, poisoned - Al Qaeda in Iraq is conducting a full fledged chemical war in Anbar province. Today, Al Qaeda conducted yet another chlorine gas suicide bombing, this time directed at the Fallujah government center, in the very heart of the city of Fallujah.” (READ MORE)
Flopping Aces: The Democrat Bill To Embolden The Enemy Passes “Big surprise here....Chuck Hagel, the man who has doomed his Presidency run even before it began....supported the cut n' run strategy today that he opposed two weeks ago: ‘Senate Democrats scored a surprise victory yesterday in their bid to force President Bush to end the Iraq war, turning back a Republican amendment that would have struck a troop withdrawal plan from emergency military funding legislation.’” (READ MORE)
Reformed Chicks Blabbing: Reid is playing chicken with the safety of our troops “This is so arrogant and unconstitutional, do these people really think they are going to get away with playing chicken with the funds necessary to keep this war going? Do they really want this show down at the expense of the safety of our troops? No president can accept the terms they are offering.” (READ MORE)
Dan Riehl: Blair Gets Tough With Iran “Showing his great resolve, Britain's Tony Blair went from saying ‘Release our hostages’ to Iran, to saying ‘You better release our hostages.’ Sources close to the British PM suggest things could escalate from there, moving to loud talking and possibly almost yelling some day. Naturally Iran saw this war mongering behavior as unhelpful and replied ‘Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah nyah’ - Persian for ‘Ooooo, we're really scared!’”(READ MORE)
Pinch: The Junior Varsity Senator from Virginia “The Senate with its vote today to lose the war just reminded me of how much I hate idiots and Jim Webb, the junior varsity senator from Virginia - but I repeat myself. So, I fired off this email to him from his Senate website (hackneyed useless gesture, I know, but it made me feel better for a moment or two):” (READ MORE)
Cassandra: On Deaf Ears “‘...it is an awful irony of this debate that many of the same people who consistently and correctly call on the United States to do more to stop the bloodshed in Darfur now demand we abandon the Iraqis.’ Senator Lieberman, at least, has the courage of his convictions.” (READ MORE)
John Hawkins: When Liberal Bloggers Start Treating Matthew Yglesias Like They Treat Ann Coulter, Then I'll Stop Calling Them Hypocrites “Isn't this ‘joke’ that prominent liberal blogger Matthew Yglesias told on his blog yesterday remarkably similar to the sort of jokes that liberal bloggers rip Ann Coulter over mercilessly? ‘Why not let Senators pack heat as they roam the corridors? Then, next time Dick Cheney tells Pat Leahy to go f*ck himself, Leahy can pull out his piece and fill Cheney's belly with lead. Even better, if Cheney tries to shoot back, he'll probably wind up missing and taking out half the Republican caucus.’” (READ MORE)
Little Green Footballs: The Beam in the Washington Post's Eye “Yesterday Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post took a slap at LGF, labeling our commenters ‘vile,’ equating them to the lunatics at Huffington Post, and suggesting that blog comments need better policing. So let’s have a look today at the comments section of the Washington Post—one of the largest news organizations in the US—under the article about Tony Snow’s illness, shall we?” (READ MORE)
Jack Army: Recruiter Stomps on Flaming Bag of Poo, Gets Stinky Hot Foot “Well, she did it, there's no doubt about that. Army Recruiter SGT Ramode's fingerprints are all over the 'incriminating' emails, that's for sure. Here's the story: SGT Ramode sent an email to Corey Andrew after finding his resume online. His response indicated that he was gay to which she responded that he was unqualified. Up to this point, only Andrew is rude and sarcastic in his email, but he can't let Ramode's response go ("WELL IF YOU ARE GAY WE DON'T TAKE YOU. YOU ARE UNQUALIFED.").” (READ MORE)
Captain Ed: Tony Blair: Carter Or Thatcher? “Tony Blair seems to grasp the disaster awaiting Britain if it takes the Jimmy Carter strategy on Iranian hostaging of its sailors and Marines. He warned Iran that anything less than an immediate release of British servicemen would move the confrontation to a ‘different phase’, as the US quickly filled the Persian Gulf with warships:” (READ MORE)
Justin Levine: Notes From A Proud Global Warming Skeptic (Part 2) “Remember Carl Sagan? He wasn’t only a famous astronomer, but he was a self-proclaimed ‘skeptic’ who tried to convince himself and others that he was dedicated to scientific principles over ‘pseudoscience and irrationality’. However, that didn’t prevent him from falling into the common trap of using his ‘scientific credentials’ to try and feign credibility on topics well beyond his area of scientific expertise: nuclear war, SDI, environmentalism, etc.” (READ MORE)
Yankee Mom: Minds Wired “I’ve been thinking about the different mindsets of people lately - more so since the latest two large protests in DC. Being a CSPAN junkie, I hear our politicians’ speeches about our war against the Islamic fascists. So many are disconnected from the boots on the ground, even though they visit the troops for a day or two and supposedly have enlightening talks with soldiers (read: photo op).” (READ MORE)
Cool, Calm & Collected: How Sweet. “Today while I was at the cemetery, I went over by the flag pole, and just looked around at the valley below. I saw an elderly man walking along the wall where some who are cremated are... Then he went to the headstones.... This man looked at each and every headstone, marker, brick and plaque there was.” (READ MORE)
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