News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.
In their own words:
Back In the Army Now (at 54): Chicken Hawks - When I first enlisted there was a draft, and there were draft dodgers. Many people avoided the draft including a large segment who became conscientious objectors or pacifists during the draft and then flipped to become pro-military conservatives during the Reagan presidency and beyond. In the late 80s these past-service-age patriots came to be known as Chicken Hawks. Among their number are some current icons of patriotism like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly. I know a lot of people who listen to these guys. It seems to me that a draft dodger's opinion on patriotism should carry the same weight as Gene Simmons views on abstinence. So I reread my favorite writer CS Lewis. In particular, his essay "Why I am not a Pacifist." Lewis wrote the essay during World War 2. He was a twice wounded veteran of World War 1. He served in the trenches as an infantry lieutenant. Here's the end of his essay (He is speaking to a pacifist): (READ MORE)
Collabman's Thoughts: Best of the Best... - Evening...For those tracking...happy hump day. We can't have many more can we? Ok, maybe a few...The info hounds tipped a story that was carried in an Iron Strong Daily titled Dragoon Warriors Test Mettle. I really enjoyed this read - imagine the effort put forth by the warriors who represented each squadron from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. Think the competition was keen? You know it...Reread the opening para above...what more could we ask of these warriors? Chris, I love you buddy! Winding down and taking care of business...I couldn't be prouder son! (READ MORE)
The Left Captain: Down South - Writing from southern Afghanistan. I wrote in my journal that the area is just a sun-blasted desert (southern Nevada) dotted with small villages. I don't know how people survive here. This area is much more remote than the north-- very small mud villages with roads that are nothing more than two-tracks through the desert. I flew here with a layover at a huge base to the northwest of my location. I stayed in transient tents from about 3am until 7am, ate breakfast, and then sat around at the air terminal for about 5 hours. I didn't even go to the main part of base because I would have had to drag around my weapons, body armor and two small packs-- about 80 pounds of gear. Better to just sit and wait, so I read a bad novel. The FOB I am at now isn't bad. Let me enumerate the positives: there isn't much direct or indirect combat in this area (the area is so vast that the Taliban just avoid US forces): (READ MORE)
Lt. Col. Paul Fanning: Feeling the strain - Over the last week, more than 200 New York Army National Guard soldiers “ripped out” from Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, having completed their one year active duty tour. In typical Army parlance, we have created our own verb from the acronym of R-I-P for Relief in Place. They have been replaced by other Army National Guard soldiers from Illinois, who are now doing the job the New York team has been doing here in Afghanistan since last December. As I write this entry, soldiers from the Hudson Valley, Capital District, North Country and Central New York are winging their way back to the United States in a series of flights. They will be arriving at an East Coast base for demobilization and then they will be sent home to be re-reunited with their families. (READ MORE)
Rocinante's Burdens: Day 96. Sight Seeing - We recently did a little sight seeing. We got to look at the ruins of Babylon. Or as the locals call it "Babil". We had to get special permission to see it because the person in charge does not like American soldiers on the property. In any case, here is what we saw. As I said on a previous occasion, these "ruins" are actually re-creations that were built during the Saddam administration, over the tops of the ancient ruins. So many wonderful and unique artifacts dating back to 1000 BC were destroyed to make this cheap imitation. (READ MORE)
Big Tobacco: Coming Clean - Remember that scene in Saving Private Ryan where Corporal Upham, the TOC Bitch, admits to writing a book? I am that TOC Bitch now. I’ve found myself with plenty of time and not enough to do. The blog can only fill so much time, and you can only masturbate, what, five times a day, max? When dust shoots out of the tip of your penis when you come, it is a sure sign that you need to cut back. I’ve been asked my multiple people to “please write a book” so they can still enjoy my writing when I’ve redeployed and the blog is done. Well, you are going to get your wish. It’s too late for me to take masters classes at school, so I’ve decided to start writing… a novel. Wow! That sounds incredibly pretentious. Can you imagine me signing books at a Borders? (READ MORE)
News from the Front:
Iraq:
Ongoing Projects Increase security in Ninewa Province - "A project of this magnitude in the middle of Mosul is unique," said Mike Miller, construction representative in the Mosul Resident Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region Division. The Baghdad Police College (North) will house 1,000 Iraqi police cadets and 100 cadres when occupied, and increase training capability of Iraqi Police forces in and around the city of Mosul and Ninewa Province. (READ MORE)
Making Iraq a safer place one enemy weapon at a time - BAGHDAD – Leaders from the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq J4 (logistics) section met with the director of the Iraqi Unexploded Ordnance Mine Clearing Organization, Zahim Jehad Mutarand for an initial facility visit at IMCO’s office in the International Zone. IMCO is an Iraqi non-governmental organization developed and funded by the U.S. Department of State Weapons Abatement Program. IMCO’s main charter is to conduct UXO and mine clearance operations for the benefit of the Iraqi people. (READ MORE)
MND-C Soldiers deliver water filters to Jelawiya locals - FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Soldiers from Company C, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Center, with the assistance of Sheikh Khalil, took part in a humanitarian aid drop in Jelawiya Sept. 12. The Soldiers delivered water filters to the citizens of Jelawiya after ongoing concern by Iraqi citizens on a number of cases of cholera occurring recently. (READ MORE)
Coalition forces capture seven suspected terrorists - BAGHDAD – Coalition forces operating in central and northern Iraq arrested three wanted men and seven additional suspects while targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq leadership and improvised explosive device networks Wednesday and Thursday. An operation Wednesday in Fallujah, about 55 km west of Baghdad, targeting a wanted man believed to conspire directly with a longtime regional AQI “emir” resulted in the arrest of three suspects. (READ MORE)
Iftar meal brings faiths together in spirit of reconciliation during Ramadan - FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – In a spirit of reconciliation, Sunni, Shia and Christian leaders joined local government officials and Coalition force representatives for an Iftar meal in eastern Baghdad Sept. 15. More than 300 guests from the 9 Nissan, Karadah and Rusafa districts attended the evening event. For the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims fast during daylight hours but partake in an Iftar meal to break their fast after sunset. Iftar is not only a break from the fast but also is a celebration of sacrifice. (READ MORE)
ISOF, ISWAT captured three suspected criminals in separate operations - BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces captured three suspected criminals in separate operations throughout central Iraq Sept. 20-23. Iraqi Special Operations Forces captured a suspected criminal leader in Sadr City Sept. 23. The man is allegedly responsible for multiple attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces and possibly involved in the bombing of a district advisory council. The individual is also believed to be a member of a kidnapping cell. (READ MORE)
Iraqis Soldiers and airmen deliver humanitarian relief - NAJAF, Iraq –The Iraqi Air Force and Army took another step toward taking care of their citizens when they delivered a planeload of humanitarian goods to displaced residents in the Najaf Province. The shipment came from private charitable organizations in the United States, but was coordinated and delivered by Iraqi Security Forces. The shipment of supplies was loaded onto a C-130 cargo plane owned, piloted and crewed by IqAF, at New Al Muthana Air Base in Baghdad. The hour-long flight took the material to Najaf in the Southwest area of Iraq. (READ MORE)
Hundreds Receive Medical Care in Iraq’s West Karmah Region - KARMAH — Approximately 500 Iraqis were treated during a combined medical engagement (CME) here, Sept. 15. Iraqi doctors and a surplus of primary healthcare medicine were made available to citizens during the CME, which was held by Marines of Regimental Combat Team 1. (READ MORE)
Joint Air Operation Tightens Clamp on Remaining Few AQI - BALAD — In 2006 the city of Balad was a melting pot for sectarian violence. Today, it’s an example of security and economic progress. This progress is a direct reflection of 12 months of successful Coalition and Iraqi operations which have placed a clamp on major insurgent activities in and around the predominately Shia city. (READ MORE)
Afghanistan:
U.S. 'sub-zero' in world opinion - The U.S. military and its allies in Afghanistan have to do a more thorough and public investigation when civilians are killed by multinational forces in their fight with the resurgent Taliban, the former United Nations high commissioner for human rights said Wednesday in San Diego. Louise Arbour, a Canadian lawyer and former war-crimes prosecutor whose four-year term in the U.N. post expired in June, said the U.S. and NATO forces are deeply alienating the Afghan people and undercutting Afghan President Hamid Karzai. (READ MORE)
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