"Yesterday in a nameless spot in the Iraqi desert..." - Repost

This is a repost of a blog post from August 2008 as a part of a Best of Series.

"Yesterday in a nameless spot in the Iraqi desert..."

Via Blackfive:

What follows is a letter written by US Marine Corps Major General John Kelley to the parents of Sgt Michael Ferschke.

Sgt Michael Ferschke will be buried tomorrow, in Knoxville, TN at the Tennessee Veterans Cemetery.

This letter while short epitomizes the quality and caliber of the young men and women who enlist in today's military. They are not looking for war, but are all to willing to go off to war and do their jobs, more often than not, quite well. They suffer inumerable hardships that most American's can never comprehend, and they do so without hesitation. Yes they complain, that is the perogative of all soldiers. The saying: "When the troops stop bitching something is wrong..." is very true. However, their sense of duty is greater than any known.

They don't do these things because they know nothing else or because they have no other opportunities in life, they do these things because they know there is nothing else that they could do, no opportunity they could come upon in which they can do for so many and for their country.

Yesterday in a nameless spot in the Iraqi desert near the village of Ayn-al Faris east of Lake Tar-Tar, Michael was on patrol when they took fire from a seemingly abandoned house they were about to search. With him at the time were several other Marines two of whom were wounded and are recovering. They live and fight as a team, these young men, and his buddies did what Marines have done from the beginning of our history, something they do without thinking and always without hesitation—they risked their own lives to save his. In spite of grave danger from the continuing firefight they struggled to save his life, but he was already gone to God. They were with him when he died. He was not alone and was surrounded by the finest men on earth...

I did not know your son, but I am sure he was just like every Marine I have known in the three decades and more that I have served. Like my own two sons who are Marines and have served here in this war, I bet he was a good looking young man, fun loving, into sports and a good son—but not perfect—boys never are. He was also different Mr. and Mrs. Ferschke, because he chose to leave the comfortable and safe confines of his home and walk a different path than all the rest. The path he chose led him to be one of the nations finest, to be a Marine. When he did not have to raise his right hand and swear before his God to serve and protect this nation and its people, he did just that. We all owe him an eternal debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. We also owe you and all who loved him a debt—one that can never be settled...

In my private moments I well up and come near to tears when I think of them. They are not just tears of sorrow, but also of joy and hope that we still have men of substance who are not afraid to step forward and face our enemies without flinching or backing down. I never had the privilege of knowing Michael, but I will remember him, and pray for him and for all those who mourn his loss, for the rest of my life.

Rest in peace Sgt. Ferschke.

You are definately someone all American's should have known. Like so many other's we have met in these posts, while others debated, you served. Thank you.

Moon over Yusufiyah - Part II - Repost

This is a repost of a blog post from April 2008 as a part of a Best of 2008 series:

Moon over Yusufiyah - Part II:

As I left you in my last post, I was gazing at a moon rising over my home in the early morning hours of August 16, 2005 and thinking of my boy, SGT Mike Stokely as he was stationed at FOB Richardson in Yusufiyah, south of Baghdad . Just a few hours later, my world was to be turned upside down as I received notice that he had died from wounds sustained from a road side bomb (IED) while on dismounted patrol. In the earliest of moments of that day, and the 18 months
since, I have had to make a daily decision to live life as fully and happily as possible. I owe my boy to do that, but it is not easy. Some days, grief has a strong pull, and a downward spiral can too easily start.

Romans 8:28 is a bible verse I have clung to and the promise therein that God will work good from all things. Such has made it possible on the worst of days to keep trying to live that full and happy life my boy would expect of me. Some five or so months after Mike died, I came across a blog written by Kat in Georgia, "YIKES". She said nice things about Mike, mentioning she lived in his high school hometown where he is buried (Loganville). Mike lived there with his mom graduating from Loganville High; I live about an hour and half away in Sharpsburg, which was where Mike visited often on weekends, holidays, summers and lived with me full-time the year before he died.

Kat was just getting started in the blogging world, and I wrote and thanked her for the kind words. We soon struck up a friendship and introduced each other by cyber space to our respective families. She is married to Jeff, who also blogs and is known as Papabear. They are to say the least, remarkable people. Kat works as an administrative assistant full time and Jeff is a stay at home dad who volunteers day in and day out as a volunteer special needs child advocate in the County School System. Kat is outgoing, talkative, zany at times, while Jeff
is so soft spoken and deliberate, he almost fades into the background. Kat is a vibrant, get it done, work without ceasing supporter of our troops. Just to name a few of the accomplishments - countless dozens of cookies baked and shipped to combat zones; adopting so many soldiers that just the postage alone must be bankrupting them; organizing and ram roding the collection of 20,000 Christmas Cards sent to troops in combat theaters just a month ago; and this past week, while suffering from pneumonia, getting 5,000 Valentines Cards sent to Iraq . She likewise writes soldiers at Walter Reed and is a Patriot Guard Member, always showing up with coffee, doughnuts and biscuits for the morning missions. Did I mention she is a daily volunteer with Soldiers Angels? As if that were not enough, Kat goes to college at night.

Kat and Jeff have four children ranging in ages from a couple years old to a soon to be high schooler - two boys, two girls. They are a family of modest financial means, but seem to always find a way to do so much for so many when most of us would have let the cost blind us from helping in such a way. They are selfless and sacrifice in a way that is akin to Jesus parable of the Widow's Mite. Honestly, I think they must do without many necessities most days to give
so much to our troops.

They complain not, and have yet to find a soldier they didn't love to support. The families of fallen soldiers are dear to their heart. Certainly, they have done much for the Stokely family, including a scrap book of emails and letters and pictures from Mike's friends as well as strangers from around the world. They go as a family to put flowers on Mike's grave and this past summer, while the Loganville area suffered through a terrible drought, Kat lugged gallon jugs
of water to keep alive the new sod I planted on Mike's grave.

They make ends meet somehow, living in a small, cramped house trailer, which they rented for these past three years. They dreamed of getting a house - their first house. Room for the kids to stretch out, a bigger kitchen to bake cookies, and more room to collect, sort, and mail cards. A back yard for the two smaller ones, and a real neighborhood that the older ones could safely move about. But that takes money for a down payment and once in, the first year is a
juggle to meet payments, keep up maintenance, and buy the things you need for a bigger place.

Kat and Jeff heard about a TV show called HOMETEAM, hosted by Troy McClain of the Apprentice/Donald Trump reality show fame. This tv show is about finding a deserving individual or family and helping them get in their first home. The HOMETEAM buys the house, arranges an affordable mortgage, pays a 10% down payment and first year mortgage payment /taxes, completely furnishes the home with everything needed to move in and live. Here is the good part.

The HOMETEAM buys an existing house, takes the friends the listed on the application, and uses their labor, along with local contractors and suppliers to remodel the home inside and out. And yes, you guessed it - Kat and Jeff got selected, but they didn't know it till after all the work was done. A whole community and many in cyberspace kept the secret as the four day work project came together in a fury of activity. The HOMETEAM and friends do all of this
from Thursday to Sunday.

I got to be a part of this surprise for Jeff and Kat, working with HOMETEAM so many others to this home a reality for Kat and Jeff. There was hard work with many good friends, some I knew, and some I met for the first time. The good friends from Patriot Guard Riders (which Kat has also joined and supports) came to help, and were the bait to lure Kat and Jeff to the new home for the surprise today. Emails and calls from around the country asking for reports and helping
to keep the secret "secret".

Today/Sunday, at about 1:00 local, the happiest of shrieks and yells ever heard came to our ears as Kat, Jeff and the four kids drove up to the house being led by the Patriot Guard Riders (the ruse was the PG was filming a documentary, and Jeff and Kat even had a cameraman in their car). But, the ruse became a fantastic surprise as Jeff, Kat and the kids saw the HOMETEAM motor home and film crew there at this house and realized they had been selected to receive
this house.

No longer will this family of six live in cramped quarters. They now have a fully remodeled home and yard, newly furnished - the only thing "old" that they will have to bring is their tooth brush, clothing and personal effects. The HOMETEAM sponsor also gave them a check for $2,000 and their church The Orchard gave them a cash collection from that morning - $850 cash. Many others brought house warming gifts, and the Mayor and a city councilman who worked on the house gave them the key to the city. Kat also got two of her secret wishes granted - a flag pole and new computer. The Patriot Guard riders presented her with an
organization flag and it now proudly waves just under the red white and blue, lights shining at night.

Cameras rolling captured it all, and even the production crew and host were crying with joy. You want to see the goodness of America and community - watch the show the end of February (check the HOMETEAM web site for details when it will air in your local area).

As we all stood at the flagpole after the surprise was pulled off, Kat embraced me and through her tears, Jeff at our side, said "we can't possibly deserve this" to which I replied "you have done so much for so many, it is your turn to receive."

Tonight, as I look for the moon coming over the trees, I will think of my boy, Yusufiyah, and a closeness we had. Never will I forget his selfless sacrifice. I didn't have a choice in whether he lived that night, or died. But, I do get to make a choice at accepting the blessing of good things that God has brought out of his death, including the chance to get to know Kat and Jeff. These past few days, the blessing to me was giving back to someone else. Romans 8:28 blessing is what I call Kat and Jeff being in my life, and so many others, including many of you in cyberspace. I stopped on the way home and saw my boy, and told him his sacrifice has brought many unexpected blessing to our lives.

The Moon over Yusufiyah has connected again.

Robert Stokely
proud dad SGT Mike Stokely
KIA 8/16/05 near Yusufiyah
US Army E Troop 108 CAV 48th BDE GAARNG

Moon over Yusufiyah - Repost

This is a repost of a blog post from April 2008 as a part of the Best of 2008 series.

Part I: Moon over Yusufiyah

For those of you who don't know where Yusufiyah is, it is a small town about 15 miles or so south of Baghdad and is one of the corners of the Triangle of Death.

As I look at the moon tonight, full and radiant, I am reminded once again just how connective the moon can be in our lives.

We all see the same sun, but you can't stare at it very long cause it will burn your eyes and you'll see funny shapes and colors. The stars move around in the sky and hard to see unless you are really out where it is dark. But, the moon - it is soothing and simple to follow, and it doesn't hurt your eyes, although it can do things to the heart.

I had not realized how connective the moon can be until my "boy" SGT Mike Stokely entered the combat zone in Iraq , somewhere around the 25th of May, 2005.

I happen to live out in the country and have a great big wrap around porch, rocking chair and all. In fact, it is the rocking chair Mike so often sat in coming and going to put on or take off his boots for GAARNG drill and shoes for other occasions.

As a worried dad with his oldest son, who was but 23, in a war zone, I often could not sleep and would go out on my porch and sit in that rocking chair and look to the east and try to imagine what Mike was doing. Many such nights, I would see the moon over the trees, and on those bright moonlight nights, it just seemed to be a light that connected me to him in Iraq . You see, Yusufiyah is almost on the same latitude plane as my home in Sharpsburg GA - maybe about a
difference of about 25 miles more south and due east, 8 hours away.

Such was the same on August 15, 2005 as I was restless and watched the moon rise in the sky, about 84% waxing full. But that night was more restless than usual and little did I sleep and again, my trip to the rocking chair, looking east.

Finally, way over in the early a.m. hours I finally wound up sleeping in Mike's bed in his room at our home. Little did I know that just 8 short hours before, Mike, while on dismounted patrol on a lonely road near Yusufiyah had seen that same moon - and then, in an instant it takes for an IED to explode, he was dead.

I had told Mike about gazing at the moon from the rocking chair, and I told him that when he saw the moon, to know that I would see it just 8 hours later and that I would be thinking of him.

Such it was in the early morning hours of August 16, 2005 I saw the same moon he saw, and I thought of him and I am glad I did and that we at least got to share one last moon together. Even now, 18 moons later, I still gaze at that moon and I think of my boy, near Yusufiyah.

I'll be posting again Sunday Night local Eastern Time - it is a story about something good that is happening Sunday in a family's life and it will thrill and warm your heart. I was honored to be a part of this happening and it was a result of Mike's death that resulted in my even being invited to be a part of this great moment for this family. See you later tonight - don't miss it.

Robert Stokely
proud dad SGT Mike Stokely
KIA 8/16/05 near Yusufiyah Iraq
US Army E Troop 108th CAV 48th BDE GAARNG

Turning Our Backs on the Gold Star Families. - Repost

This is a repost of a blog post from May 2008 as a part of a Best Of 2008 series.

Turning Our Backs on the Gold Star Families.

Most of America just doesn’t get it. In point of fact, only a select few know what it’s really about.

To most of America, Memorial Day is the beginning of summer, the start of vacations and days at the pool, of sales and parties and friends all together to kick off the biggest party of the year…summer. A time when backyard parties occur for no reason other than everyone was available, the beer is cold and the sun still shines on warm summer evenings, but to some families Memorial Day still holds true to its original intent, a day set aside to honor their loved ones - who fell in combat.

Have we ever considered what a slap in the face it is on Memorial Day to the families of those whom gave the ultimate sacrifice? To see consumerism run amuck, sales and discounts and an extra 10% to active duty military when their loved one couldn’t take advantage of any discount even if they wanted to - because their loved one is dead. Yes dead, I said it, the word that scares so many people.

Dead.

“We regret to inform you that…” your son, or daughter, or husband or wife “was killed…” Have you heard those words spoke to you by the Casualty Assistance Officer when you answered your door and knew right away what the news would be? Have you America? Some of you have, in fact many of you have, as of May 22, 2008 - 4059 families have heard those words spoken to them since 2003 and yet most of America has no idea how we dishonor those who should be honored above all others. Memorial Day is not a day that should be devoted to sales and parties, eating BBQ and drinking beer. It is the one day we set aside to honor and remember the fallen. One day. Can’t we stop moving for one day and think what it is we are doing to the memory of our heroes?

Think about that for a minute corporate America and juxtapose that concept with your discounts and sales. There is no sale, no discount, and no honor you could bestow upon the families of the fallen that will in anyway make up for the price they have already paid. Can’t you take one day off to remember what it is they have paid for this country? Can’t you take one day out of the many to honor the fallen and their families instead of stabbing them in the gut by reminding them that the discount doesn’t apply to them because their service member is dead?

And what of the rest of America, why don’t we all get it? Are we so afraid of death that we try to make up for it by honoring the living?

While attending church on Sunday, I was struck by how out of place I felt. Not because I’m a heathen standing upon holy ground, but because on Memorial Day the pastor full of good intentions did exactly what so many in America do on Memorial Day, he recognized the living. When it came time to address Memorial Day he asked all active and former Military to stand, once we were all standing he asked that the congregation thank us for our service to our country, and while the applause subsided I thought, there are 4059 service members who should be the center of attention right now. We, the living have our day in November, Memorial Day is their day. Why is it so hard for America to speak of the dead and honor their service?

It is after all called Memorial Day for a reason.

They are dead, and we must honor them, not because they are dead, but because they lived, and served and protected all that we have. We must not let them be forgotten and we must not let them be replaced by a discount at the register.

A Proud But Broken Hearted Dad - Repost

This is a repost form September 2008 as a part of a Best of series.

A Proud But Broken Hearted Dad

What fear at times like these should our nation hold given the willing sacrifice of my son, SGT Mike Stokely and many others like him?

Wall Street may heave, it may even tumble. Some may lose their homes, and others their golden parachute, but the price of freedom is not devalued by the greed and failure of those who lead in politics or private business. Let us be careful, for while enemies like Al-Qaeda may seek from without to devour us, there are those of our own kind whose selfishness can lead to a similarly disastrous effect on our country.

In these coming days, when there are those who call-out to bail out Wall Street and others, who bails out the financial needs of soldiers who work for $63.00 and change in a war zone? When loved ones come home in a flag draped casket, their severance pay paltry compared to the golden parachutes that many corporate executives seek. Most recently the CEO of Washington Mutual, who after 17 days on the job walked away with $20,000,000.00 severance ($1.2 million per day, $50,000 per hour on a 24/7 time clock)?

And for those in the mortgage industry taking back the bad fruits of their ill given labor - billions in bad loans only an idiot would have made in the first place, consider this: Mike Stokely owned but one piece of Real Estate in his time, small as it is. For three years in a severe drought I have traveled 70 miles one way and fought to get grass to grow on his lawn in Georgia red clay. But, finally, a good stand these last few weeks, after hours of digging down two plus feet, taking out red clay and putting back rich organic soil with fresh cut sod on top and hauling water from a mile down the road to drench it, and keeping it drenched with a bucket brigade of friends.

DUTY - HONOR - COUNTRY


Grave of SGT Mike Stokely, Corinth Christian Church Cemetery, Loganville GA KIA 16 AUG 05 near Yusufiyah Iraq E 108 CAV 48th BCT GAARNG (Photo by author)

What you are willing to give, how much you get in return and what you are willing to worry about is relative.

Robert Stokely
proud, but broken hearted dad

Three Years On… - Repost

This is a repost of a blog post from August 2008. It is being posted as a Best of 2008 series...


Three Years On:

Sergeant Michael Stokely KIA August 16, 2005 near Yusifiyah, Iraq

It seems so fitting that today, 3 years and 3 days after Mike’s passing that I posted the letter from Major General John Kelley about Sgt Michael Ferschke, a letter that could very well have been written about Sgt Michael Stokely of E Troop 108 CAV 48th BCT Georgia ARNG. A letter that could very well describe the dedication and devotion to Duty, Honor and Country that Sgt Stokely exhibited through out his entire life. A letter that despite the belief by many liberals that our soldiers are nothing more than automatons following orders proves that they are anything but, for their devotion is unmatched by any other but those that wear the uniform of the US Military.

I never met Sgt. Stokely, but have been introduced to him through conversations with his father Mr. Robert Stokely. After only one conversation with Mr. Stokely it’s obvious that Mike was one of those men that you should have known: a devoted son he helped his father canvas for votes in his first election for County Solicitor, a son who according to his doctors was not supposed to live, but who in the end lived a life so full and purposeful that he touched, in a positive way, the lives all those with whom he came in contact.

Son, a simple three letter word, but one that is so full of meaning, a word that explains the conundrum of Mike Stokely and so many of those who have died in war and peace - a word that by itself in one breath defines the link to the father and the path to the future. It’s not hard to imagine after spending a few hours with Mr. Stokely the kind of son that Mike was, and by extension the kind of man he had become. Mike Stokely was without a doubt a man sure of himself and his place in this world. He knew not what to expect when he agreed to become a Scout in the U.S. Army, but he accepted that challenge like he accepted the challenge placed upon him by God. He lived his life’s purpose.

Mike like those before him, and the thousands of those who will follow, chose to leave the comforts of home and hearth, the predictable daily life of a civilian and took up the path of a warrior in service to his country. A life fraught with danger but also immense satisfaction and camaraderie, a life that most American’s will thankfully never know because men like Mike, serve while many debate.

Service - that is the life Mike chose. Service to an ideal greater than any known to man for not only did Mike serve his country, he served his God. He accepted his purpose in life and lived it without question and in doing so he gave his only life in service to his God so that his brothers might live.

Sgt Mike Stokely died 3 years and 3 days ago in a place called Yusifiyah, Iraq but the memory of Sgt. Mike Stokely will never die for it lives on in all of us that continue his work, spread his message and live our life’s purpose. I can only hope that one day I grow up to be the man he expects me to be.


Others honoring Sgt Mike Stokely
Keep My Soldier Safe
Some Soldier's Mom


Sgt. Mike Stokely died Aug. 16, 2005, in Iraq. He was one of those extraordinary young men who have a tremendous impact on so many people even though his time among us was cut short. To honor his memory, Stokely's family has organized the Mike Stokely Foundation for the purpose of helping children and others who might not otherwise be able to afford it gain access to good books and the skills needed to read them for pleasure and learning. "Mike loved to read, from the time he was a small child till the day he died in Iraq. In fact, during the last call his Dad received on Aug. 8, 2005, he talked in glowing terms about how much he appreciated reading material sent to him."

In March of 2008 the Mike Stokely Foundation delivered nearly 1,000 pounds of school supplies via parcel post to Capt. Starz of 101st Airborne Division for distribution to schools in Yusifiyah. When the locals learned that the parcels had come form the family of a US Soldier killed there they wanted a picture of Sgt Stokely so they could use it as an example of forgiveness and understanding. Just another example how the life of Sgt Stokely, even in death, touched the lives of others, is it any wonder that his family totaly believes in Romans 8:28 - “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God.”

I urge you to help honor the memory of one of America's fallen, by supporting The Mike Stokely Foundation. Your donation can be mailed to:
The Mike Stokely Foundation
P. O. Box 833
Sharpsburg GA 30277.

The telephone is 678-416-1387

SOME GAVE ALL - Repost

This is a repost of a blog post from August 2008. It is being posted here as a part of The Best Of - 2008.

Some Gave All:

NOTR of the blog ROFASix reminds us to Never Forget that Some Gave All and posts a picture of a grieving fiancé Mary McHugh lying on her stomach in front of the grave of her late fiancé, James Regan, who was killed in Iraq this February by a roadside bomb. The photo taken by Getty Images photographer John Moore has sparked quite a controversy, some called it an intrusion into a private matter others claimed it was a bitter reminder of the sacrifice some families give during war.

Before I post the picture I want to tell you a little more about Sergeant James Regan.

Sergeant James J. Regan, 26, of Manhasset, New York, died February 9, 2007, in northern Iraq of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while on combat patrol. Regan was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia.

(Courtesy of the New York Daily News via Arlington National Cemetery Website) http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jjregan.htm
In August 2003, Jimmy Regan was coaching at a lacrosse camp, on his way to law school after giving up his lucrative first job on Wall Street. Then he surprised people by enlisting in the Army.

His friends assumed he would apply for officer training school, but Regan told his friends, ''You know, with my economics degree from Duke, they won't let me be in the Rangers.''

He went exactly where he wanted to go, first through the rigorous training of a Ranger, then to the dangers of Afghanistan -- twice -- and Iraq -- twice. Yesterday, Jimmy Regan, who was killed February 9, 2007, at 26 by a bomb in Iraq, was honored by family, friends and teammates as the ultimate team man.

He had all the perks of a star athlete from the North Shore suburbs who did not have to go anywhere near the military. But something called him into the Ranger uniform, after wearing lacrosse and football uniforms at Chaminade High and a lacrosse uniform at Duke University.
''It was sort of a surprise to all of us,'' said Cassese, who flew up from Durham to attend the wake Thursday. ''He sent us an e-mail, saying: 'This is what I have to do. Hopefully everybody will support me.' We're still thinking about what pushes a man or a woman to this higher calling.'' Regan was mourned on a day the House of Representatives voted, 246-182, to denounce the government's plan to send more American troops to Iraq. His father, James P. Regan, has been quoted as saying that criticism of the Iraq war undermines the troops over there, but yesterday at the funeral, he discussed his ''initial misgivings'' about his son's choice.

''The ultimate sacrifice flashed through our minds,'' he said with his wife, Mary R. Regan, sitting in the front row. ''His mother has had part of her heart ripped out.'' James Regan said he would have to live without ''my best friend,'' but he praised ''Jimmy, the team player'' and called his son ''a warrior.''

Regan's sisters, Maribeth, Colleen and Michaela, and his fiancée, Mary McHugh, listened to these tributes. Dan Chemotti described the look of sheer hatred between him and Jimmy before the opening face-off in a high school game. Later, they were teammates at Duke, where Regan turned their apartment into what Chemotti could only liken to a primitive Ranger obstacle course -- broken glass and all.

Rob Hotarek, Regan's best friend since grade school, and Richard Crawford, a friend in the Rangers, spoke of a young man who could be a cut-up and a late riser, but who also contained a faith and a purpose.

''He wanted to serve his country rather than himself,'' said the Rev. James C. Williams, the president of Chaminade, who taught Regan in high school.

The crowd in Manhasset made it clear that Jimmy Regan was part of a large and loyal team.
Moore says of the photo “After so much time covering these wars, I have some difficult memories and have seen some of the worst a person can see -- so much hatred and rage, so much despair and sadness. All that destruction, so much killing. And now, one beautiful and terribly sad spring afternoon amongst the rows and rows of marble stones -- a young woman's lost love. I felt I owed the Arlington National Cemetery a little time -- and I think I still do.
Maybe we all do."

And now the photo:


Getty Images photographer John Moore

From the Front: 12/31/2008

News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

In their own words:
Afghanistan Shrugged: Santa Gave us C4! - Those of you that have been reading Afghanistan Shrugged for a while or if you've looked through my posts; may remember a post in November about finding an IED underneath a building and then discovering that the building was an ACM headquarters. Yes, I'm still calling them ACM despite the popular move to call them EOP, Enemies of Peace, by our higher headquarters at CJTF-P. Boredom must have set in at Kabul and for Christmas they decided to give us a new acronym to call the bad guys. I'm still unsure why bad guys isn't descriptive enough, it's accurate (they're bad), simple ( we all know who we're talking about) and Infantry proof (even I can rememeber it). I'll drop this line of thought as it will force me into some tirade. Anyway, we'd visited this abandoned town previously and discovered a large IED. (READ MORE)

Army of Dude: Loose Interpretation - "Battle Five, Battle Five, this is White 7 Romeo. Radio check, over." "Roger out." Besides the soft, quiet hum of the radio at my side, there wasn't a sound in the makeshift combat outpost in the heart of Old Baqubah. After an impossibly long day of patrolling in the summer heat, we bedded down in an occupied house to await the next groundhog day of patrols, weapons cache destruction and ubiquitous firefights. At sundown we had filled a filthy kitchen sink with ice to cool down bottles of water and Gatorade. Hours later, only a warm pool remained in the sink, the bottles offering little relief from the torrid wind that swirled in from the open front door. It was barely fifteen minutes into my one hour watch when my eyelids began to betray my only task: to keep my sleeping platoon safe from anyone who might come through the courtyard gate. (READ MORE)

Brad's Excellent Adventure: Rule Number Two - Monday 29 December 2008 - 2100 - Yesterday did not go the way I had planned. Sunday is a regular work day for us, but is usually a relatively quiet one when I can get some things done without too many interruptions. I had several important tasks that have really been needing to get done and that keep getting pushed aside. Finally I had dedicated time for them, and was determined to get them knocked out. Unfortunately one of the NCOs in my section developed some alarming medical symptoms and had to be taken to the TMC (Troop Medical Clinic) for a consultation. Although I did get some work done in the morning in between taking him there and looking in on him from time to time, after lunch he had to go downtown to a civilian hospital for some tests, and I was the only one available to drive him there. So off we went. (READ MORE)

Down Range 46: Twas The Night Before Deployment - There was very little color present, other than the digital camouflage of an Army uniform. There were no stockings hung by the chimney, if there were they would smell to high heaven. But, the spirit of the holiday was thick and there were candies and cookies to munch on. This was an Army holiday celebration. 1Lt. Sarratt, dressed as one of Santa's oldest elves, brought the kid out in each of us and had us all sitting on the floor while he read two versions of The Night Before Christmas. The traditional version and a special 211th Commemorative edition, as penned by Sgt. Risner. (I'll publish that version as soon as I can get a copy of it from the author). Cookies and candies were provided by Maj. Daneker and in the end, we all felt warm and fuzzy. It was another one of those Mark The Moment experiences. (READ MORE)

Embrace The Suck: Today's Military Leadership... - WARNING: SEVERE BITCHING AND MOANING EMINENT. DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR ME BITCH. So I have been all high on the holidays for the last few posts, and now that is gone because I have been brought crashing down by the leadership around me, mostly above me. Military leaders today are nothing more than politicians who are quickly and quietly building a military that is incapable of winning wars without the assistance of their electronic toys. Today’s military is so technologically advanced that in some cases there is little to no need for actual boots on the ground soldiers to be there. So they are left with little if anything to do and because of that they invent things for soldiers to do and they invent new rules for soldiers to follow. Not to mention the tactical proficiency of some of them is so questionable that any private with half a brain could make superior tactical decisions with the same information. (READ MORE)

Free Range International: Dubious News Reports from Afghanistan - There were two interesting articles in the news concerning Afghanistan today which illustrate (to me) the dire straits we now face. One article reported on the clever use of Viagra by CIA case officers; the other was a mildly negative critique of the US AID reconstruction efforts made by a senior US AID officer. Both stories represent a total lack of situational awareness as 2008 draws to a close. When you have lived in a poorly understood, distant country like Afghanistan as long as I have it is easy to find mistakes in the international press. I am not nitpicking two main stream news reports because they report as fact things I know to be completely untrue. You get that a lot from the press these days. What I find alarming is that at least one of these two articles is obviously an entry into the discussion taking place amongst our national leadership. The other article about the CIA is so completely ridiculous that I have no idea what to make of it. (READ MORE)

Sgt B: Troop Support… - Waaay back in the beginning, there was a lady who went by the nomme de blog “Fuzzybear Lioness”… Fuzzybear Lioness was a diminutive school music teacher who was having a tough time of things, but still found time to try to understand the mindset of warriors. She solicited insight from such notables as Neptunus Lex (”aged king” my foot, skipper!!!), and The Veterans of Castle Argghhh!!!, John Donovan, Dusty the Warthawg Pilot, and Chief Bill the Rotorhead. She even tapped into my brain housing group. Along the way she met up with the likes of Chuck, Captain “Z” of From My Position… On The Way! And then the nightmare hit… Chuck got himself “blown up real nice” (that’s the term we use today among the Bonecrushers)… Once the smoke cleared, and Chuck had been pulled out of the canal by his XO, he was found to be missing some pieces/parts. They shipped him out of Country and into the medical pipeline to the States. Once there (to make a long story short), they patched him together, and got him mostly out of danger. (READ MORE)

Hillas' Histories: Holidays in Al-Hillah - We had an unexpected visitor to the Al-Hillah Regional Embassy Offices, where the PRT is located. At 8:30am I was informed that MNF-I Commanding General Odierno had arrived and after a brief ceremony with the military unit that is our neighbor, wanted to meet the PRT within 15 minutes. I set about rousting those not already awake, got the keys to our conference room and we pulled together about 20 people to meet with him. Al-Hillah was one of eight stops Gen Odierno made that day visiting troops and PRTs. As you can see from the photos below, he arrived and departed with a Santa hat emblazoned with 4 stars. Many of the contractors and local employees were tickled to be able to have a photo taken with him, making it a special Christmas moment. Some of us were dressed in old track outfits about to run a 5K race, but he didn't seem to notice -- or was too polite to say anything. (READ MORE)

Big Country: The Christmas Trip and Other Observations... - Hi Ho! Merry Bah Humbug and all that rot… Christmas is OVER thanks be to God! OK, granted the holiday is supposed to be a celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ and all, but to those of us here in Iraq its just another day, especially those of us who are missing our families… especially my kids. Christmas #4 away… God this’s lame, but hell, I had a good time despite the “missing my fam” thing. Specifically, I managed to get a flight out to Spiecher on Christmas Night. Now this in itself was a phenomenal thing in that I finally got to have a ‘birds eye view’ of the country again. My first flight left out of Victory kind of late. I’m not going to give specifics as there’s just too much danger in giving out info like flight times and locations and such… “Loose Lips Sinks Ships” is still a realistic fear. Case in point: While waiting for a flight out, I saw a ‘gentleman’ come walking up to the helipad. (READ MORE)

IraqPundit: Sign Up for Gaza? - When suicide bombers and other thugs killed Iraqi children, there were no demonstrations of thousands in the streets calling for the death of the murderers. Rather, the Muslims angry at the U.S. occupation recruited suicide bombers from outside Iraq. Those thugs traveled to Iraq to kill civilians to protest the American presence. They chose their targets carefully. Following that logic, the crowds angered by Israel's assault on Gaza should sign up to go murder Palestinians in Gaza to protest Israel's actions. How can Arabs and Muslims contain their anger? Iran has told them it's their responsiblity to act. Go ahead, repeat what you did in Iraq. I'm sure an endless list of volunteers is ready to sign up to blow themselves up in a crowd of Palestinians. (READ MORE)

June Cleaver After A Six-Pack: The Rambling Thoughts Of A Woman Going Crazy... - Some days I wonder if we'll survive this year... meaning, I fear that when he does come home for good we will be different. Will we be each other's best friend again? Will he want to always be with me and love only me? The mind is a horrible enemy for the wife of a deployed husband. How easily he has slipped from being someone I can reach out and touch to someone that I only get to talk to for minutes a day and when something happens in our lives here he may not ever even know about it. Just the other day he asked if the back window had ever been fixed. I had it fixed weeks ago but never remembered to tell him when we talked. I try and email him everything that is happening, but so much happens and emails are so tedious that somewhere along the line our messages to each other went from lengthy love letters to quick one-liners about the day and whether or not the oil in the van was changed. (READ MORE)

Knottie's niche: Rate Your Year - A favorite blogger titled his daily blog today " Rate Your Year" and it got me thinking. Of course my first thought was it was "my year was cursed". And it was but I also had to stop and think about all the blessings. You see this same blogger asked a question the other day to which I responded, " Curses and blessings usually come hand in hand". So here I sit thinking about the horrific pain I have endured and am learning to live with this year. The black hole in my soul that is so empty it is painful. I think about my other three kids and the pain they too endure and the helplessness I feel at times when I can not make it better. I think about my son's father's words..."I lost my son and my legacy". I think about the men who fought and lived beside my son and their pain. You see they loved him too. As much as I did with a bond I will never know. The curses... (READ MORE)

Bill Roggio: Pakistan shuts down NATO supply line through the Khyber Pass - NATO's vital supply link through the Northwest Frontier Province has been shut down as the Pakistani military launched an operation to clear the Taliban from the area. "Supplies to NATO forces have temporarily been suspended," Tariq Hayat Khan, the Khyber agency's political agent, told reporters. The main road between Peshawar and the border town of Torkham has been closed as the military launched attacks using "artillery, tanks and, helicopter gunships," Geo News reported. It is unclear if the operation is being led by the Army or the paramilitary Frontier Corps. The operation began in the Jamrud region just west of Peshawar. A month ago, the Taliban overran the Jamrud region. "The government has to take action or we shall see Iraq-like situation in the area in the coming few months," a Pakistani official told Daily Times on Dec. 3. (READ MORE)

Long Warrior: Christmas in Pushtunistan - Christmas is just about through. The party went off without a hitch. All of our Afghan counterparts came over our compound for some carols, Santa hats, a present lottery, and big plates of Christmas food. I also shared the baklava [thanks]; it was a big hit. The TOC (main office) is now just a big room with people exchanging little secrets and stories of what they did the last time they were deployed. Everyone seems to have the same remembrance of the rocket attack or the PSYOP truck with loud speakers blasting Jingle Bell Rock all around the base. I've the few Sinatra Christmas tunes I remembered to load onto the iPOD on repeat through some headphones. Turkey and fix-uns were delivered to all of the outer-FOBs that are beyond the reach of roads, and we all received some special Christmas wishes from 2ND graders from all over the United States. (READ MORE)

Michael J. Totten: What Would a Proportionate Response Look Like? - “If someone was sending rockets on my house where my daughters were sleeping at night, I would do everything to stop it, and I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.” – President-elect Barack Obama - Now that Hamas’s long war against Israel is matched with a short war in Gaza, protests are erupting everywhere from the blogosphere and Arab capitals to the United Nations, and they began on the very first day. Salon.com "blogger Glenn Greenwald calls the Israeli retaliation to more than a year of rocket attacks a “massively disproportionate response.” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay “strongly condemned Israel’s disproportionate use of force.” The Israeli counterattack is, indeed, disproportionate, but it could hardly be otherwise. “At last count,” J.G. Thayer wrote, “one Israeli and two Palestinians (sisters, ages 13 and 5) died from rocket attacks. So a proportionate response, one presumes, would have required Israel to kill a single Palestinian and two of its own citizens.” (READ MORE)

Notes from Iraq: 30DEC08--VIP Tragedy - A few days ago, there was an unfortunate incident, in which friendly fire resulted in death of new Iraqi lieutenant, LT Low'a. His battalion, fellow Soldiers and family mourn his death today. Tragic. I only know the rough version of what happened. The Iraqis Army was traveling on a major road south of Baghdad when they encountered an Iraqi VIP convoy. Perhaps the convoy was for Prime Minister Maliki, but I believe that this is speculation. The Iraqi Army vehicles approached the Iraqi VIP convoy at the fast pace at which they always drive. The Iraqi VIP convoy wanted them to stay back, firing a warning shot. This shot entered the lead HMMWV and passed through LT Low'a, killing him on the spot. The lieutenant was 19 years old and was recently engaged. His fellow officers explained that Iraqis believe that you subconsciously know shortly before you die and start saying goodbyes. (READ MORE)

Pink's War: Me And My Big Mouth - I have a bad habit of saying things I probably shouldn't to people I probably shouldn't be saying those things to. For example: Back in Basic Training, first day out at the range the Drill Sergeant asks, "Who forgot their ear pro?" I was the only dumbass to raise my hand and upon seeing my raised hand the DS said, "Well, you suck!" I thought about my options for a second. I could of argued with him that I do not suck and have to do push-ups for it, or I could agree with him and possibly still do push-ups. What I told him was, "Yes, yes I do Drill Sergeant." Needless to say, it never crossed my mind to keep my mouth shut and not say anything at all. Thankfully he was laughing too hard to make me do push-ups. (READ MORE)

Rocinante's Burdens: Elvis Has Left the Building - I departed from Iraq today. My tour is done and I am going home. Now I am waiting transportation in Kuwait. From what I hear, it could be a week or longer. Lots of soldiers have scheduled their leaves during this time. And there were a few flights canceled, rolling all those passengers back. They are a little behind here. Also they still have the normal emergency leaves to deal with, and helping those time-sensitive travelers is still a priority. So now I am in a bleak, desolate camp, with nothing to do. With so many stranded passengers, sharing the internet is a long wait. (READ MORE)

Ramblings from a painter: Gary Hansmann, Artist, RIP - I just found out that my friend Gary Hansmann passed away on December 22. Gary was an artist. He was big, explosive, impulsive, loud, obnoxious, and generous. Gary would agree wholeheartedly with all but that last. He was a Individual (with a capital "I") in a world that didn't necessarily appreciate individuals. Gary loved fine art, fine drinks, fine food, Paris, cats, and friends. I learned etching from Gary. He taught me, not only the techniques, but also the mental approach. Art, good art, is not something you just throw off. You come at it like a priest comes to church. You give it your all and you make it as good as you can. Expression is important, because without expression it is nothing. But technique is important, too: technique is the sum knowledge of all the other master artists who have gone before you. And if you're not willing to give it your all in either expression or technique, then get the hell out of here because you're wasting everybody else's time. (READ MORE)

S4 at War: Transition Transition Transition - We’re working hard towards implementing the security agreement on 1 January (actually, I don’t have a huge role in that particular area. I’m more focused on closing bases). I’ve been busy trying to understand all the legal hoops we have to go through in order to hand over our FOBs to the GOI. Beds, bookshelves, anything not bolted down all has to be offered to any DOD agency, then any State Department organization, then Homeland Security before it can be given to the Iraqis. I think I’m repeating myself but it seems like someone way above me is content to draw this out as long as possible. It would help if the American people all agreed that they didn’t care about some government waste, that we could just give everything to the Iraqis. But I digress… (READ MORE)

CPT Beau Cleland: YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN - I made it. Barring some mundane tragedy here in Kuwait, I will have survived deployment number two. A cursory review of the odds reveals that this isn't a statistically significant event, but if you're a member of the unlucky percentage you would probably disagree with that statement. I haven't been in significant danger since I left Sadr City after Mookie cried uncle back in June, but there was always the chance of a random rocket or mortar. On the whole, it still feels good -- there were a couple of episodes where my team and I could have easily been casualties, but we made it out with just one Purple Heart among us. I thought that the last several months of being on staff (and a fobbit) would help me unwind from the tension that comes with being out on the street all the time, but by and large it hasn't. I've enjoyed the novelty of not having to wear armor or carry a weapon for the past week on this rear-echelon base in Kuwait, but I feel a great disconnect from (and not a little bitter hostility towards) the inhabitants of this place. (READ MORE)

Two Brothers, Two Countries, One Army: Home, Afghanistan, Germany, Afghanistan - Well, that has been the order of where I have been. I guess I need to explain all that don't I? Well, most of you know that I hurt my foot while I was on leave and went through therapy and treatment at Fort Campbell for a little while. Well, I got back to Afghanistan about 6Dec and now here I am in Germany at the hospital. On Fri I went to the hospital in Bagram and found out I had Gallstones and needed my gall bladder out. I was sent to Germany and I had it taken out yesterday morning. I will be spending the two weeks here in Germany recovering and then it is back on to Afghanistan to finish my mission. I am glad that I am going to get to finish my mission and come home with my unit and not go home alone. I really wanted to go home, but I also wanted to finish my mission. I asked God to give what he felt was the best, and he did. It is hard on Tessa and me for me to have to go back, but we both know the right thing is for me to back and finish my job. (READ MORE)

Big Tobacco: My Contract With You - The 2008 Weblog Awards - If there is one thing I’ve tried to give everybody over the past couple of months, it is quality and inconsistency. When you come to this blog, you never know exactly what to expect. The banner may be changed. The essay may be funny, or poignant or irreverent. But here is what I know: you guys seem to like stopping by, and I try to give you a piece of quality writing. Looks like the quality has paid off. I am a finalist for the military portion of the 2008 Weblog awards. I need your vote. If you vote for me, you will practically guarantee that I will be published as a genuine author with a genuine book. If you like reading what I have now, imagine holding an extended edition of my blog in your hands as a paperback that you could read on the subway or wrap in paper and give as a gift to your friends. If you like my “True” stories, imagine what my fiction could be like? (READ MORE)

Dena Yllescas: 2008 is coming to a close... - It's hard to believe 2008 is almost over. The year went by so quickly. It's ironic how we started the year with the birth of our precious baby and ended it with the passing of Rob. I truly pray that 2009 will bring us much happiness. I also pray that it brings all of you much happiness and the rest of Rob's unit home safely. There is not a day goes by that I don't think of his men and all the other military men and women. Even though I knew something like this could happen to Rob, I never truly thought it would. The chances of this happening to HIM was almost like the chances of winning the lottery. So, this opens my eyes to all the danger our men and women put themselves in for our freedom. About a month before Rob was injured, my friend Ali was really worried about her husband who was with Rob. I remember telling her "Ali, of all the soldiers in Afghanistan, what are the chances something will happen to OUR husbands?" Wow. No longer can I be naive. (READ MORE)

Zen Traveller: Green Zone Chaos - The Iraqis, on the first of January, are assuming security responsibilities for the International Zone, aka the Green Zone. In the past, the U.S. military controlled access to the "city within a city"; home to the Coalition and the seat of Iraq's government. As of tomorrow the U.S. Army will turn over all of the access control points (checkpoints) to the Iraqi army. I shudder. For the past couple of weeks the Iraqi army has been doing a "left seat-right seat" with the Americans, shadowing them as soldiers dutifully checked ID cards, vehicles and pedestrians entering and exiting the zone. Over time the Iraqis have assumed primacy at the checkpoints while their American counterparts remained in in the background. As a result the Iraqi army has quadrupled the number of soldiers manning the access points. Now when you drive into the checkpoint you're greeted by a hoard of AK-welding Iraqi soldiers all seriously directing you to do "something": (READ MORE)

News from the Front:
Iraq:
Sons of Iraq members lead Soldiers to huge munitions find - CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, TIKRIT, Iraq – At approximately 2 p.m., a member of the Sons of Iraq led Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, to a weapons cache southwest of Samarra. The cache contained 153 artillery rounds, 130 mortar rounds, 81 rocket rounds, 21 rocket mortars and 36 empty rounds of various munitions, which could be used to make improvised explosive devices. (READ MORE)

MND-B Soldiers disarm IED at SoI checkpoint - BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers responded to a Sons of Iraq checkpoint to disarm a roadside bomb Dec. 29 in Baghdad’s Rashid district. At approximately 8 p.m. in the Aamel community, SoI members reported a roadside bomb to Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, MND-B. (READ MORE)

ISF net small-arms weapons, ordnance in Baghdad’s Rashid district - BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces seized small-arms weapons and ordnance in Baghdad’s Rashid district Dec 29. At approximately 3:30 p.m., Iraqi Army soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 24th Brigade, 6th IA Division, partnered with Soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, confiscated six AK-47 assault rifles from a house in the Saydiyah community. (READ MORE)

Iraqi Army finds large weapons cache - FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Iraqi Army Soldiers discovered a large weapons cache in the Jurf region during a patrol Dec. 28. IA Soldiers of the 4th Battalion, 31st IA Brigade reported to Coalition forces the location of a cache consisting of 657 37 mm anti-armor munitions with cartridge cases. (READ MORE)

ISF capture 5 terrorists during separate operations throughout Iraq - BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces captured five suspected terrorists during separate operations throughout northern Iraq, Dec. 26-27. During an operation Dec. 27, Baqubah Special Weapons and Tactics team arrested two suspected terrorists while serving warrants. These individuals are allegedly responsible for improvised explosive device and rocket attacks against Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces. (READ MORE)

Diyala Sons of Iraq transfer underway (Diyala province) - BAGHDAD – Along with a new year, Iraq is ringing in an important step toward national reconciliation and sovereignty on Jan. 1, 2009. On that date, the nation’s government will take over control of the Sons of Iraq from Coalition forces in four key provinces across the country -- including Diyala, one of the most diverse provinces, where al-Qaeda in Iraq once terrorized and intimidated local residents. (READ MORE)

Primary School Brings New Beginnings to Students in Mushada - CAMP TAJI — A ribbon-cutting ceremony signaled the completion of refurbishments on the Al Gil Al Jadeed Primary School in Mushada, northwest of Baghdad, Dec. 29. Approximately $90,000 in Iraqi Commander’s Emergency Response Program funds were spent to improve the existing structure, repair electrical work and ensure students have a good place to go to school, said 1st Lt. Jesse Ozbat, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. (READ MORE)

El Salvadoran Minister of Defense Visits Iraq - BAGHDAD — Maj. Gen. Jorge Molina, El Salvadoran Minister of Defense, traveled to Iraq earlier this month to meet with Dr. Mowaffak al-Rubaie, Iraqi National Security Advisor; Mr. Michael Corbin, Senior Political-Military Ministerial Counselor, U.S. Embassy - Iraq; Rear Adm. David Buss, Chief of Strategy, Plans and Assessments for Multi-National Forces – Iraq; and his own Salvadoran forces deployed here. (READ MORE)

IA, U.S. Soldiers Assist Sadr City Students - BAGHDAD — Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers delivered backpacks, food and water to children of the Nahareen Girls Primary school in the Thawra I region of Sadr City, Dec. 25. Many of the children received backpacks already through efforts of the headmistress, Miriam Mohsen, and teachers of the school. When the platoon arrived, the headmistress called the girls from their classes and assembled them in the courtyard. (READ MORE)

Taji Soccer Tournament Scores Big - CAMP TAJI — Soccer players put on a display of footwork and skill during a Taji Qada soccer tournament at the stadium here, Dec. 26. Four teams, consisting of 11 players from Rekiya, Taji, and Hammiat, along with a fourth team from the Strykehorse Squadron, participated in the round-robin tournament. Staff Sgt. James Pepoon, an avid soccer player, said he came up with the idea to host a soccer tournament with the residents in the area. (READ MORE)

Anbar River Police Stand Ready - LAKE THAR THAR — Al-Anbar Iraqi River Police officers aced their final exam. Select Iraqi Policemen here with the Anbar Iraqi River Police force, which was established to patrol the local waterways independently from Coalition forces, finished a week-long certification course, Dec. 21. This was the first class taught by the Navy “River Rats” of Detachment 3, Riverine Squadron 1, Regimental Combat Team 5 on Lake Thar Thar. (READ MORE)

Wednesday Hero - 2nd Lt. Christopher Loudon

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Kathi

2nd Lt. Christopher E. Loudon
22 years old from Brockport, Pennsylvania
1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
October 17, 2006


2nd Lt. Christopher Loudon graduated from Slippery Rock University with a Baccalaureate Degree in Environmental Health in 2005. Upon graduation, he entered the United States Army on September 9, 2005. He received his commission as an Infantry officer and was assigned to 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas. He deployed to Iraq in July 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

2nd Lt. Loudon’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Ranger Tab.

He was KIA in Baghdad, Iraq when an IED detonated near his vehicle. Also killed with him were; Corporal David M. Unger, 21, of Leavenworth, Kansas ;Corporal Russell G. Culbertson III, 22, of Amity, Pennsylvania and Specialist Joseph C. Dumas Jr., 25, of New Orleans, Louisiana.

He leaves behind his parents, Randy and Susan Loudon ; his wife, Jacey Loudon ; a daughter, Isabel Loudon ; two brothers, First Lieutenant Nicholas Loudon ,and Jonathan Loudon ; his paternal grandmother, Florence Loudon and his maternal grandfather, Everett William Campbell.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Adopt a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine

"Sure you might not be here on the front line, covered in filth, smelling like hell, your heart going a mile a minute, not knowing what's coming next: if your next step is on that TRP, or if your going to be the latest recruiting tool for some insurgent's new video while they take pot shots at you. But, what you all do with those cards, care packages, cookies is just as important...

When I get a box (or anyone else gets a box) its hard to describe. You find a nice quiet corner and everyone knows not to bother you. You sit there and look over the box as if you had never seen anything like it before. You read who it's from, and a smile crosses your face--you recognize the name. You might already know what's inside, but it does not matter. Some tear it open as fast as they can, others take their time and enjoy every second of it. Once inside, you go through it, every little item once, twice, sometimes three times. It's a very delicate process. You breathe it in and you think of the person who sent it to you. You think of home, family, cars, summer--everything all at once. And for a very short time, you are there away from this SH*T hole. You are grateful. Then you look around and there's always a buddy who is down or having a bad day. You share your box--sometimes just with the one guy, sometimes with everyone--and it's electric. Everyone catches that feeling, and we start talking about home, about things we miss, things we are going to do when we get back, and the heaviness of the day lifts and it's not so bad....

It's not the "things" that are sent that matter to us, it's the thought. That's the power ALL of you have who take the time to send things. You can change the worst day into the best day, in a split second.

- An MP in Iraq

Keep that feeling going and Adopt a Soldier, sailor, Airman or Maine today:

The length of each adoption depends on the branch of service your soldier is in and a number of other factors, but generally averages between six (6) months to twelve (12) months. On occasion, they can be extended, but this is the average. When you adopt you are committing to sending a card or letter each week, and a minimum of 1 or 2 care packages a month. This is one of the most important things that can be done to help bring home a healthy hero; it is so very important for each of them to know they are loved and supported, and your letters and care packages prove just that.

Care packages do not have to be expensive: you can put together your own (we have a detailed list of the most-requested items for you--snacks, hygiene products, and games or magazines). http://www.soldiersangels.org/

Many Ways to Support our Service Members:

Donate to Soldiers' Angels - If you would like to assist Soldiers' Angels in its troop support activities, please consider a financial donation. Donations of every size help provide aid and comfort to the troops through our many projects and activities. You can also donate stock, old electronics, air miles, care package items and much more. For details go to http://www.soldiersangels.org/

Join a Soldiers' Angels Team - If you want to dig deep into the Soldiers' Angels mission, we invite you to join one of our many teams. The 30+ teams of Soldiers' Angels specialize in filling specific servicemember and family needs. You can get involved in sending handmade blankets to the wounded, supporting our military chaplains, helping soldiers distribute toys and clothing to children in Iraq and Afghanistan, and much, much more! To find a team that fits your interests, please see the complete list in the center of our homepage at http://www.soldiersangels.org/

Yeah...I'm Back

I know, I'm a terrible host, I just up and disappeared for a few days....but really it wasn't my fault. Apparently we have a holiday in this country in fact most of the civilized world celebrates it. Did you all know we celebrate a holiday called Christmas?

Honestly I had no idea, I always thought the holiday season referred to other, well holidays. Anyway, apparently I am required to purchase gifts for my wife, kids, other family members and friends for this Christmas thing. Who knew?

So you see it wasn't my fault, one minute it was Thanksgiving and the next thing I know its this Christmas thing. How is a man supposed to keep up? Next thing I know its' going to be Valentine's Day and I'll be required to get my wife something for that! Do I have to do that? Damn, I knew I did.

Anyway, my posting really suffered during the past week, and I thank all 2 of you that emailed me checking in to see if something was up.

Of course, with the owork schedule the way it has been....there really won't be much posting from me the rest of this week either although I promised a few of you that I would continue to do the From the Front series. So hopefully alter today you'll see that.

Thanks for sticking around.

Another Stealth Jihadist Plants Another Evil Hidden Islamic Message

What could be as evil as sneaking a memorial to the 9/11 terrorists onto the Flight 93 crash site? How about sneaking a hidden message of Islamic indoctrination into the soundtrack if an adorable baby doll, repeated every 30 seconds to thousands of 2-5 year old girls without parental knowledge?

If you haven’t heard it before, check out this AP video from October:



If Mattel wants to sell a doll that Muslim parents can use to brainwash their own toddlers, they need to label the doll as Islamic. Instead, Mattel has been engaged in outright cover-up for three months now, claiming that they “did a lot of tests” and found that the doll “just coos and says ‘mama’.”

Liars. If they even listened to the sound track they are fully aware that the suspicious segment is completely unlike the rest of the recording. In contrast to the inarticulate coos and burbles of the otherwise quite compelling baby sounds, the offending part is very clearly a sentence, almost staccato in its articulation.

The AP video above only contains the offending sentence itself. Here is the full sound track (five inserted indoctrinations in 2 minutes):



How many thousands of two year old girls are right now having their hearts opened by this doll’s repeated love cries, only to have a jihadist jab in his poison needle a hundred times an hour? This is the Islam of al Qaeda: a self proclaimed religion of deceit, using deceit to snake its tendrils around the most vulnerable members of our society.

Release the uncompressed audio file

Mattel’s claim that the injected sentence contains no Islamic message is just as fraudulent as its claim that there is no sentence. Here is a slowed down version of the sound-track:



The exact intonation is either “Islam is the light,” or “Iglam is the light.” Since "iglam" is not a word, and since the full segment is clearly spoken as a sentence, the intended word has to be Islam.

Mattel says that the doll’s audio “may be imprecise or distorted” because “the original sound track is compressed.” So why don’t they release the uncompressed file?

No one is hearing things that are not there. Mattel suggests that people are being influenced by “the power of suggestion,” but we can test that hypothesis.

If people can hear whatever they want, then they should also be able to hear a superficially similar Christian message: “Aslan is the light.” Yet even in compressed form, the recording very clearly does NOT say Aslan. The vowels and consonants are distinct. Mattel is in effect denying that there is such a thing as language.

This too is very similar to the Memorial Project. Defenders of the giant Mecca-oriented crescent fantasize in the newspaper that anyone can see Mecca-oriented crescents wherever they want, if they just look for them. No. The only reason anyone can see a half-mile wide Mecca-oriented crescent in the Crescent of Embrace memorial to Flight 93 is because architect Paul Murdoch put one there.

Mattel needs to conduct a real investigation and it needs to be transparent

Why should anyone ever buy a Mattel toy again when Mattel's response to clear evidence that their toys are being used in a plot against children is an obviously dishonest cover up? It would make a lot more sense, if they want to stay in business, to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation of how the clearly out-of-place and apparently subversive segment of the sound track got included. The forensic history is on their hard drives. Mattel should uncover the jihadist plotters in their employ, or in the employ of their sub-contractors, then refer them to the FBI and sue them for fraud.

There is even reason to think that the plot goes beyond just the sound track, and involves the entire the Cuddle and Coo doll project. According to the Muslim ex-Marine who blogs as 5-Pillar Column, Mattel's doll is also wearing a "hijab" (used by fundamentalist Muslim women to hide their hair).

Like the Islamic symbol shapes in the Flight 93 memorial, this is something that western society is not attuned to, so we don’t notice it, but Muslims immediately do. That doll has its hair covered:



5 Pillar speculates that it is the hijab that is causing "bigots" to take offense, but he seems to be the first one to have noticed that the doll can be seen as wearing a hijab.

Some versions of the doll show a wisp of hair, as Sharia law allows for girls, but all have the look of a proper hijab.



Pink version, shows wisp if hair. The hijab-like hair covering remains. (From MAMA’s Label That Doll home page.)

By itself, the possible hijab would be nothing, but together with the clearly articulated message of Islamic indoctrination, it suggests that the entire Cuddle and Coo team needs to be investigated. If Mattel is not forthcoming, the recourse is obvious.

Duped parents should sue Mattel into bankruptcy

Company officers evidently think that denial is the least damaging strategy for Mattel’s reputation and profitability. They need to be proved wrong. By covering up clear evidence that its product is being used as the vehicle for a jihadist plot against the children of its customers, Mattel has opened itself to tremendous liability. If they get sued into oblivion for the harm to children that their fraudulent denials are enabling, it will let other companies know that cover-up is not a good business decision.

Mattel did stop including the suspicious portion of the sound track in new production of their “Cuddle & Coo” doll, but instead of issuing a recall of the original dolls, the company is assuring the public that the warnings of Islamic intent have been investigated and been found to be without merit. That leaves untold thousands of these assault-toys preying on the minds of toddlers whose parents have been given false assurances, which continue to this day.

Here is Mattel's October 17th statement:

The power of suggestion has a lot to do with it. Our department did a lot of tests. It just coos and says ‘mama.’ We will not be pulling the doll.

On Christmas eve Mattel reposted a dismissive statement that earlier had been withdrawn from their website without explanation:

The Little Mommy Cuddle ‘n Coo dolls feature realistic baby sounds including cooing, giggling, and baby babble with no real sentence structure. The only scripted word the doll says is “mama.”

There is a sound that may resemble something close to the word “night, right, or light.” To avoid any potential misinterpretation, we have eliminated that segment of the sound file from future production.

Because the original sound track is compressed into a file that can be played through an inexpensive toy speaker, actual sounds may be imprecise or distorted.

We remain confident in the high quality standards of our Little Mommy Cuddle 'n Coo dolls.

By persisting in its dishonest denials, Mattel may have sealed its legal doom. Any lied-to parents out there who want to get rich in the service of a most important cause?

The Memorial Project is also headed for legal trouble. The Mecca orientation of the giant Crescent of Embrace makes it a mihrab—the central feature around which every mosque is built—and it is unconstitutional to build a mosque as a national memorial.

Anti-vigilance

Like the memorial project, Mattel got duped by a stealth jihadist. In the middle of our ongoing hot and cold wars against Islamic supremacism, such things are going to happen. 9/11 exposed the nature of our terror war enemies: that they hide amongst us, pretending to be trustworthy friends while plotting acts of war. There is no shame in being the victim of Islamic deception.

What is inexcusable is to be willfully blind to Islamic plots once they are uncovered. Flight 93 is supposed to be the symbol of our woken vigilance, yet time and again we see this anti-spirit of Flight 93: a determined refusal to be vigilant, enabling even discovered plots to proceed.

All who have learned about the hidden Islamic messages in either the jihadist baby doll or the Flight 93 memorial, please learn about the other. Maybe together we can stop them both.

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Wednesday Hero - Men and Women of the United States Military

To the Men and Women of the United States military, and all the armed forces around the world, thank you for everything that you do. And to those who are laying their heads down tonight in a foreign land, away from your loved ones, thank you so very much. Stay safe, you're in our thoughts and our hearts. Merry Christmas.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Web Reconnaissance for 12/23/2008

A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.


In the News: (Registration may be required to read some stories)
More Rockets From Gaza - AFTER SIX months of relative calm, hostilities once again are escalating between Israel and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Between Friday and yesterday some 60 rockets were fired from Gaza at Israel, whose air force responded with strikes against the launchers. (READ MORE)

European Countries May Take Detainees - European nations have begun intensive discussions both within and among their governments on whether to resettle detainees from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as a significant overture to the incoming Obama administration, according to senior European officials and U.S. diplomats. (READ MORE)

5 Men Convicted in Plot to Kill Soldiers at Fort Dix - A federal jury in New Jersey yesterday convicted five foreign-born Muslim men of conspiring to kill U.S. soldiers at Fort Dix and other military installations as part of what prosecutors charged was a plot to launch an Islamic "holy war" against the United States. (READ MORE)

Pakistani Jets Scramble As India Hardens Tone -NEW DELHI, Dec. 22 -- In signs of growing regional tension since the Mumbai attacks last month, Pakistan scrambled fighter jets over several of its larger cities Monday, and India's foreign minister told a gathering of Indian diplomats in New Delhi that the country is keeping all its options open... (READ MORE)

Bush and Scooter Libby - Rarely can Presidents improve their legacy in an Administration's twilight days. But President Bush now has that opportunity, by undoing a measure of the injustice inflicted on I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. (READ MORE)

Colombo the Asbestos Sleuth - Good legal news for a change: The courts keep making progress against phony asbestos lawsuits, this time in Michigan, where Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Robert Colombo, Jr., has risen to the challenge of a case we wrote about in November. (READ MORE)

The Domestic Threat - The Fort Dix plotters were convicted Monday of conspiracy to murder members of the U.S. military, a charge that could send the five Islamists to jail for the rest of their lives. The jury's verdict is notable because media coverage of the plotters' arrest and trial traveled a familiar arc: (READ MORE)

Obama wants Bush war team to stay - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is asking many of the Bush administration's 250 Pentagon political appointees to remain on the job until the incoming Obama administration finds replacements -- a move designed to prevent a leadership vacuum with U.S. troops engaged in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. (READ MORE)

Mullen urges trials for terror suspects - Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen urged Pakistani leaders on Monday to prosecute cases against members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the militant group charged with carrying out last month's terrorist attacks in Mumbai. (READ MORE)



On the Web:
In From the Cold: The S-300 Saga Continues - U.S. officials are demanding answers on Russia's reported sale of S-300 surface-to-air missiles to Iran. A senior intelligence official tells the Associated Press that the U.S. believes that Moscow is selling the advanced air defense system to Tehran. However, the official said it appears that equipment deliveries have not yet occurred. With a maximum range of more than 150 miles, the S-300 poses a threat to American aircraft operating over the Persian Gulf and in Afghanistan. The S-300 also has the ability to intercept tactical ballistic missiles. The intelligence official's comments offered a bit of clarification on the system's status in Iran. Last week, a Russian press agency reported that deliveries of the S-300 to Tehran had already begun. That claim was reprinted in other outlets, including Aviation Week's defense blog. (READ MORE)

The Virtuous Republic: Bias, Thy Name is The New York Times - How is it possible to assign blame for the housing mortgage crisis with naming Bill Clinton and the Community Reinvestment Act and the incestuous relationship between Democrats like Dodd and Frank with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae? Impossible you say? Well, not at The New York Times. In fact, it was so bad, the White House officially responded. You can tell the Bush administration is at its end, because they certainly took off the gloves. Too bad liberals have outgrown shame: “Most people can accept that a news story recounting recent events will be reliant on ‘20-20 hindsight’. Today’s front-page New York Times story relies on hindsight with blinders on and one eye closed.” (READ MORE)

The Belmont Club: Going forward - James Howard Kunstler argues that the current Crisis — for want of a better word — has undermined trust and therefore legtimacy in American institutions. It isn’t that people don’t see the problems, it is that they don’t see the solutions. “The tipping point seems to be the Bernie Madoff $50 billion Ponzi scandal, which represents the grossest failure of authority and hence legitimacy in finance to date in as much as Mr. Madoff was a former chairman of the NASDAQ, for godsake. It’s like discovering that Ben Bernanke is running a meth lab inside the Federal Reserve. And out in the heartland, of course, there is the spectacle of Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich trying to desperately dodge a racketeering rap behind an implausible hairdo. What seems to spook people now is the possibility that everybody in charge of everything is a fraud or a crook. Legitimacy has left the system.” (READ MORE)

PoliticalWarfare.org: New York Times faked out by forged letter - The New York Times didn't bother to verify the authenticity of an emailed letter it received, purportedly from the mayor of Paris, France, and went ahead and published the contents anyway. The email criticized Caroline Kennedy for seeking the US Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton. "We French can only see a dynastic move of the vanishing Kennedy clan in the very country of the Bill of Rights. It is both surprising and appalling," the email said. The author supposedly was Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe. A sharp-eyed editor of a Franco-American website discovered the hoax, thinking the wording sounded out of place for a mayor of the French capital city. Delanoe's office pronounced the letter a forgery. "We have asked the New York Times for a denial and an apology," a spokeswoman tells the Associated Press. "Clearly, this was never sent by Bertrand Delanoe." (READ MORE)

Right Wing News: Retailers Taking The Christmas Out Of Christmas - Anyone suprised? Now, personally, I do not mind when people say "Happy Holidays!" and retailers use "holiday(s)," depending on their intent. It is the holiday season, and I remember growing up and people using those words and phrases as a way of denoting Thanksgiving, Hannukka, Christmas, and the New Year. Of course, growing up in NJ, people often said "Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas!" But, sometime over my 41 years, the intent, particularly from retailers, has changed. Now, they just do not want to offend anyone, as the article points out. Heck, you go in to many retailers and all you see are snowflakes and such, not even a Christmas wreath in evidence. And because the companies are afraid to say "Christmas," the people working there are often afraid to say. They have been conditioned not to. I know I rarely do at work, unless it is a customer I know, or the customer says it to me first. (READ MORE)

David Freddoso: See Jane’s Big Carbon Footprint - Before they boss us around, shouldn’t Obama’s science team act like they believe in global warming? What’s your carbon footprint? Next year, it will probably be much smaller than that of Jane Lubchenco. The renowned climate-change crusader and professor of marine biology is Obama’s choice for administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). National Review Online has obtained an e-mail from Lubchenco’s husband, Oregon State University professor Bruce Menge, suggesting that the couple will contribute mightily to global warming next year after she takes the job by making frequent cross-country plane trips. In the e-mail, Menge is enthusiastic about the appointment, but he also mentions the “the hardships it will impose on us and our academic family.” Their solution? “The plan is for her to be in WDC and me to remain in Oregon at OSU, with frequent weekend trips back and forth,” (READ MORE)

Robert Stacy McCain: Rousing the Rabble - Evidence that Democrats consider Sarah Palin a potent political force for the future continues to mount. A Huffington Post blogger went rooting around the comments at the Team Sarah website over the weekend and emerged to announce that he had discovered "something very ugly happening out there in the hinterlands these days -- a brewing cauldron of racist anger being directed at President-elect Barack Obama." This accusation of "mean-spirited bigotry" was based on a relative handful of comments, far less dramatic than the huffy HuffPoster's hyperbolic introduction suggested. The Christian ladies who run Team Sarah -- Marjorie Dannenfelser, Jane Abraham and Emily Buchanan of the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List -- responded immediately with sanctions against commenters who cross the lines of political decorum. (Of course, decorum is not even an afterthought at Huffington Post, DailyKos or any number of liberal blogs where the comment fields routinely boil with vitriol, but conservatives have long since become accustomed to this sort of double standard.) (READ MORE)

Michael Laprarie: It's hard to be a Healer - It's hard to bring people together. It's hard to transcend partisanship. Just ask Barack Obama. Last week, he announced that Rick Warren would deliver the invocation at his Inaugural. Warren is, I believe, a very good choice. He is easily the most visible leader of the American Evangelical movement, which indicates that Obama -- unlike so many Democrats and high-profile progressives -- isn't going to cast aside Evangelicals simply because they tend to vote Republican. Warren is also a relatively fresh face in the American political scene, and he might be a good replacement for the Left's somewhat shopworn faith gurus like Tony Campolo and Jim Wallis. And unlike Campolo and Wallis, Warren is not a spontaneous apologist for the Democratic party. But in the eyes of the Left, Warren epitomizes the worst kind of evil -- "HATE" -- because he supported California Proposition 8. (READ MORE)

Bob Owens: The Op-Ed the New York Times Wouldn’t Run - An FBI informant's response to Bill Ayers' rewriting of history got the cold shoulder — but you can read it here. On December 5, the New York Times afforded former domestic terrorist Bill Ayers a chance to publish an op-ed, in which he defends himself from various charges made during the 2008 presidential campaign. That Ayers was given such an opportunity by the Times seems extraordinary; Barack Obama’s other mentors, former pastor Jeremiah Wright and Father Michael Pfleger, were subjected to as much public scrutiny as Ayers for their extremist politics and multi-decade associations with the president-elect, and yet it seems only Ayers was presented editorial space in the Times to defend himself. Perhaps even more extraordinary, however, is that the Times allowed Ayers to publish obvious lies about his terrorist past and rejected a rebuttal by the former FBI informant who lived through the history Ayers tried to rewrite. Ayers claimed in his fantasy that: “I never killed or injured anyone. I did join the civil rights movement in the mid-1960s, and later resisted the draft and was arrested in nonviolent demonstrations.” (READ MORE)

Warner Todd Huston: Euro Journo Sides With Muslim Hate Over BDS Shoe Toss - Mitch Potter of the Toronto Star is the quintessential example of a self-hating European, I must say. He is a journalist that sides with those who advocate the destruction of his own culture just so he can puff himself up that he “gets it” and he does this willingly ala the useful idiots of old. In his latest pretense at journalism, Potter takes such glee indulging his Bush derangement syndrome (BDS) that he ends up accepting the terms of what “insult” means among Muslim hatemongers and terrorists and employs that as a weapon against Bush and the USA. It does not occur to this writer at all that we should scoff at what they think is an insult because he accepts their cultural concepts in place of our own. First of all, the Toronto Star gives our Euro-weenie the exalted status of “Mitch Potter, Europe Bureau,” though it would have been better grammatically — less clumsy at least — to say he is “Mitch Potter, European Bureau,” but be that as it may. (READ MORE)

Right Truth: Re-evaluating America's Biggest Threat - When I began Right Truth blog, my goal was to share information on the terrorist threat to America. Over the past seven years since the attacks on September 11, 2001, I have come to several conclusions about the threats to the US and also the enemies of America. As Vincent Gioiasays, "The people in any country are only able to protect themselves and assure their freedom if they are aware of what is going on that affects them. ... The unfortunate consequence of filtered and selected news reporting is that the public is not told all the facts and is generally deprived of information that would waken them to imminent threats to liberty. " That is where are are today. “With this in mind I call attention to what is the biggest threat to America that is largely unreported to Americans or merely glossed over or explained in a politically correct manner. That threat is ISLAM. Unless the Islamic threat to our liberty is made clear in no uncertain terms, the public will not insist on taking action to avert a disaster.” (READ MORE)

McQ: Britain, War, Obama, Political Leadership and the Military - Michael Portillo writes an interesting column on the thesis that "Britain has lost its stomach for a fight". After saying that Britain failed in Iraq and the primary reason was political, he covers the secondary reason for their failure: “The secondary cause of failure was a misplaced British disdain for America, shared by our politicians and senior military. In the early days in Iraq we bragged that our forces could deploy in berets and soft-sided vehicles while US forces roared through Baghdad in heavily armoured convoys. British leaders sneered at the Americans’ failure to win hearts and minds because of their lack of experience in counterinsurgency. Pride has certainly come before a fall. British commanders underestimated both the enemy’s effectiveness and the Americans’ ability to adapt. Some apparently failed even to observe how much had changed. At a meeting in August 2007 an American described Major-General Jonathan Shaw, then British commander, as “insufferable”, lecturing everyone in the room about lessons learnt in Northern Ireland, which apparently set eyeballs rolling: ‘It would be okay if he was best in class, but now he’s worst in class.’” (READ MORE)

Neptunus Lex: Popularity Contests - Will Kristol notes that the two most unpopular politicians of their respective parties are Dick Cheney and Rod Blagojevich. Compare and contrast. (It turns out that Blagojevich has read Kipling. Which is really only surprising because it means that he can, you know: Read - Who knew?) Perhaps Cheney’s image would have been softened by doing in public what he did in private. Meanwhile, it’s Christmas in Baghdad. And although I do like Kipling, for my own part - in this context, at least - I prefer Theodore Roosevelt: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and gain, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” (READ MORE)

Jules Crittenden: Kumbayah, My Whatever - I was getting ready to snark on this Melissa Etheridge post at Huffpo, as heartfelt celeb activist statements are eminently snarkable. But it actually seems to represent a sincere effort to bridge divides, understand others, and get away from labeling everyone a homophobe who doesn’t like the way a handful of judges are reordering society … to include some gays who feel like they are being dragged into a banzai charge they don’t agree with, up a hill they don’t particularly care about or intend to hold. Gay people do have a tough road in life. I am very sympathetic to that and have known people who have had to deal with it, including violence. Their road has often been bloody, horrible and disheartening. But “From being blamed for 9/11 and Katrina …” is a tad overly dramatic. Don’t forget Iraq and the “God hates fags” crowd, as long as you’re shouldering the burden of religious extremists’ ridiculous statements. (READ MORE)

Ed Morrissey: Disclosure’s for peasants! - Caroline Kennedy really wants to replace Hillary Clinton in the US Senate, but ambition has its limits. While JFK’s daughter tries to make the case that she can campaign for the seat in two successive elections in 2010 and 2012, she’s already refusing the normal disclosure rules candidates would follow. Kennedy won’t reveal her investments or even her criminal record, the New York Times reports: “If she were applying to be, say, an undersecretary of education in Barack Obama’s new administration, Caroline Kennedy would have to fill out a 63-item confidential questionnaire disclosing potentially embarrassing text messages and diary entries, the immigration status of her household staff, even copies of every résumé she used in the last 10 years.” Paterson says he will require any potential appointee to submit that information prior to selection. Paterson just got bit by the disclosure bug himself when his closest aide’s failure to pay income taxes for five years surfaced a few months ago. It seems unlikely that he’ll rely on Caroline’s assurances of propriety before sending her to Washington. Besides, what would Caroline need to hide? (READ MORE)

Don Surber: Afghanistan - Maybe having the US go it alone (for the most part) will work. I have had doubts about the Afghanistan War since it began. Given the terrain and the people and the history, the prospects were unhopeful and it has been 7 years of warfare there, light as it is. Nato covered it while and the Canadian army proved to be quite heroic. The rest, well, the Germans are the Beermacht. The announcement that we would add 20,000 troops next year made me nervous. But now, I am thinking the lessons learned in Iraq can be applied here and if tehUSA commands everything without the Eurobureaucracy, we can succeed in a final push to extricate ourselves from Afghanistan. The LA Times reported today: “Many military officials think a short-term troop increase would help, but they believe it should be paired with improved efforts to train local militias, strengthen provincial governments, coordinate U.S. policy on Pakistan and Afghanistan, and make better use of U.S. civilian expertise. (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.