Archive for January, 2008

Marines launch rescue effort to save Hadithah girl

Posted: 23 Jan 2008 in Military

Another great story likely to not make it to the MSM. As if anyone expected it to.

 January 24, 2008

Marines launch rescue effort to save Hadithah girl

Multi-National Force – West PAO

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – Marines operating in Al Anbar Province airlifted a young Hadithah girl in desperate need of a life-saving surgery, and her mother to the Jordanian border Jan. 22.

They were met there by a team of medical professionals who will escort them to Nashville, Tenn., for open-heart surgery.

Amina Al’a Thabit, a three-year-old who suffers from a congenital heart defect, was discovered by Marines assigned to 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, which is now part of Regimental Combat Team 5, patrolling the area as part of their daily interaction with the populace.

The battalion surgeon diagnosed her condition, and recognizing the gravity of the situation, coordinated arrangements with doctors in the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University who agreed to perform the surgery at no cost to the family.

The Marines, in concert with numerous government agencies, initiated a coordinated effort to transport Amina and her mother from their home in the Hadithah region to Nashville for the procedure.

Travel costs and incidentals were financed by private donors.

 Way to go Marines.

An Army Story

Posted: 23 Jan 2008 in Humor, Military

Trying to come up with one story out of many is one that is ridiculously hard to do.

I have many, but one that sticks out usually is on my first tour in Germany. I suppose it sticks out because there aren’t too many stories from my first tour that I remember. I think I was drunk most of my first tour. What do you expect from a 17 year old loose in Germany? I was still under 21 when I came back to the USA.

OK, here’s the deal. My roommate and I are out on the town after a long day at the railhead preparing to go to Grafenwoehr. We had the rest of the day and night to “prepare” to go to Graf. This usually meant packing the rest of your crap for the field, but since we already took care of that, we decided to prepare ourselves properly.

We spent the night into the wee hours of the morning drinking Mannheim dry. We stumbled our drunk asses back to the barracks, just in time to grab our gear and get on the train.

There was one small problem. My roommate couldn’t walk without assistance from me. As we approached the barracks, I had to let go of him in order to open the door and go grab our gear. When I let go of him, I propped him up against the vehicle stopping post, there’s usually two at each door. As I let go he spun around the post like a cork screw until he hit the ground. Almost cartoon like.

So our drunk asses had to make it from the barracks to the train with all our gear. Plus I had to carry his ass on top of it.

We made to the train in time, barely. Luckily for us, the military trains in Germany have the last priority, so it takes around 12 to 15 hours to make the trip. The cars we had were the sleeper cars, where the seats come out and three can sleep comfortably on the pulled together seats. Plus there were bunks that came out above that.

My roommate decided that the best place for him was under the main bunk on the floor. For the whole trip to Graf, whenever we lit up a smoke, all we would see is a hand come up between the seats with fingers spread for a smoke. Someone would light a smoke , stick it in his hand and we wouldn’t see it again for hours until we had another smoke.

The long trip to Graf gave us time to sober up and a hell of a kick start to a long field problem.

20 years in the Army and I still remember that particular drunk fest and follow on movement to Graf. I guess the biggest thing that sticks out is my roommate sticking his hand up through the seats for a smoke.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Machinists urge U.S. to halt technology transfers to China

Posted: 16 Jan 2008 in Politics

Machinists urge U.S. to halt technology transfers to China

WASHINGTON, 11 Jan. 2008. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is calling on the U.S. Department of Commerce to suspend a new program that allows companies in China to gain expedited access to sensitive U.S. aerospace technology, including telecommunication and composites technologies with potential military applications.

“It is naive to assume that relaxing export restrictions on sensitive aerospace technology does not represent a significant threat to U.S. jobs, companies, and communities,” said IAM International president Tom Buffenbarger. “It is equally naive to ignore the national security implications of such technology transfers to China.”

In a letter to the Under Secretary of the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, Buffenbarger took issue with one company in China that was recently approved for such expedited technology transfers under the Commerce Department’s Validated End-User program.

“The approval of one of these companies, Boeing Hexcel AVIC I Joint venture, will involve work on the Boeing 787 program that could have been performed by U.S. workers,” says Buffenbarger. “We find it very difficult to believe that your actions are good for U.S. workers or the U.S. economy.”

More

When are we going to learn? You don’t give China shit. They will exploit it to no end. It isn’t just about jobs, this is about national security.

SWAT officers invade home, take 11-year-old at gunpoint

Posted: 14 Jan 2008 in Police State, Political Correctness

These people were terrorized by the town they live in from the paramedics to the judge that issued the warrant. All should be sued in this incident. These people’s rights were trampled upon with impunity by a Nazi-like regime that needs to be dealt with. This is America, not Nazi Germany of the 30s and 40s.

POLICE STATE, USA

SWAT officers invade home, take 11-year-old at gunpoint
Cops demand boy go to doctor because of fall during horseplay

  By Bob Unruh
© 2008 WorldNetDaily.com

Nearly a dozen members of a police SWAT team in western Colorado punched a hole in the front door and invaded a family’s home with guns drawn, demanding that an 11-year-old boy who had had an accidental fall accompany them to the hospital, on the order of Garfield County Magistrate Lain Leoniak.

The boy’s parents and siblings were thrown to the floor at gunpoint and the parents were handcuffed in the weekend assault, and the boy’s father told WND it was all because a paramedic was upset the family preferred to care for their son themselves.

Someone, apparently the unidentified paramedic, called police, the sheriff’s office and social services, eventually providing Leoniak with a report that generated the magistrate’s court order to the sheriff’s office for the SWAT team assault on the family’s home in a mobile home development outside of Glenwood Springs, the father, Tom Shiflett, told WND.

More 

This is unbelievable. Then again, this nanny state mentality that the left continues to force upon unwilling America is what we get for electing idiots from that party in the first place. 

 

Iraq News Round-up

Posted: 13 Jan 2008 in Military

January 12, 2008

Coalition forces targets al-Qaeda networks in Baghdad, Mosul; 15 detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained 15 suspected terrorists today and Friday during operations targeting al Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.

In Baghdad today, Coalition forces captured a suspected terrorist reportedly associated with the facilitation of explosive materials, vehicles and suicide bombers for use in terrorist operations throughout the capital city. The individual is believed to be a direct contact of the suspect detained Jan. 10 for his role in the network and his association with foreign terrorist facilitators, and al-Qaeda in Iraq and Ansar al-Sunna leadership (see MNF-I press release A080111b, “Coalition targets al-Qaeda leadership, media networks; two killed, 11 detained,” dated Jan. 11, 2008).

In addition to the wanted individual, the ground force detained two suspected terrorists on site.

Farther north in Mosul, Coalition forces detained 12 suspected terrorists today and Friday during coordinated operations targeting associates of al-Qaeda in Iraq media cells and senior leaders.

“We know it will continue to be a tough fight against al Qaeda; one that will test the courage and strength of the Iraqi people, the Iraqi forces and the Coalition forces,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman.  “But amidst this tough fight, we will continue to pursue al Qaeda wherever they attempt to take sanctuary.”

Link

January 12, 2008

Iraqi Soldiers find weapons cache in Saydiyah during Operation Phantom Phoenix
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – The Iraqi Army, working with Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers, found a weapons cache during a combat patrol in southwest Baghdad Jan.8 as part of Operation Phantom Phoenix.

Iraqi Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division located a cache consisting of two 82mm mortars, a SVIP rocket, a 155mm rocket, a mortar tube, hunting rifle, 10-feet of wire and 44 mortars of various sizes, during a patrol in Saydiyah.

The munitions were taken to the unit’s headquarters for disposal.

Earlier that day, Concerned Local Citizens in Doura handed over eight 82mm mortar fuses to Soldiers of Company D 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division attached to Task Force Dragon.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel destroyed the fuses at a Coalition base.

“Finding these munitions takes them out of the hands of those who will try to hurt Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces,” said Maj. Kirk Luedeke, Task Force Dragon spokesman. “The ISF continue to prove they are dedicated to making their country a safe and stable place for its citizens.”

Link

Coalition forces find prison facility, weapons caches in Diyala; 15 detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained 15 suspected terrorists during a multi-day operation Jan. 7 to 10 to disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq networks in the Diyala River Valley.

Coalition forces conducted operations in the Sherween Village area targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq networks associated with media and foreign terrorist facilitation networks. Reports indicate the region has become a safe haven for terrorists due to continued pressure from Coalition and Iraqi forces pushing al-Qaeda networks out of central portions of the country and into the Diyala River Valley. Recent operations in the Diyala River Valley have uncovered a significant amount of weapons caches, as well as execution sites, and torture and detention facilities.

With the help of numerous Iraqi local citizens, Coalition forces discovered four weapons caches, a former al-Qaeda in Iraq prison and torture facility, and an improvised explosive device-making facility during the four-day operation. Local Iraqis confirmed the use of the prison facility by al-Qaeda in Iraq, but said it had not been used recently due to the presence of Coalition forces in the region. In addition, Coalition forces also destroyed four buildings that were found rigged with explosives and a river-crossing point that was being used to facilitate the movement of terrorists.

During the four-day operation, Coalition forces also uncovered and eliminated several IEDs on various roadways.

Fifteen suspected terrorists were detained over the four days for possession of weapons, explosive materials, and confessions to being involved in terrorist operations.

“We will continue to dismantle the terrorist networks that threaten the security and safety of all Iraqis,” said Navy Capt. Vic Beck, MNF-I spokesman.  “We will not allow al-Qaeda in Iraq and other extremists to take back the hard fought gains that the Iraqi and Coalition forces have made.

Link

 January 12, 2008

By Maj. Virginia A. McCabe
1st BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. PAO
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

Local Iraqi discovers explosive formed penetrator at major intersection (SUQ ASH SHUYUK)

SUQ ASH SHUYUK, Iraq – A local Iraqi man reported a possible EFP to troops located near a combat outpost at a main highway intersection.

Soldiers from 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, with the help of the local Iraqi, found the device just south of the combat outpost.

The battalion’s recovery security team cordoned the area. The device was confirmed as an EFP with a video recording device located in the surrounding area.

The device consisted of one, 14-inch diameter EFP.

Link

Tips lead to destruction of booby-trapped houses during Operation Phantom Phoenix (Himbus)

Multi-National Division – North PAO

TIKRIT, Iraq – Multi-National Division – North Soldiers destroyed three booby-trapped houses in Himbus Jan. 11 during Operation Raider Harvest, which is part of the countrywide Operation Phantom Phoenix.

Local Iraqis told Soldiers of Company I, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment the location of the buildings being used by al-Qaeda in Iraq.

The Soldiers inspected the buildings and identified them as booby-trapped. Two of the buildings contained explosives and copper wire leading to all the doors. The explosives were arranged to collapse the buildings. The third building was in the process of being prepped as a house-born improvised explosive device. An ordnance explosive team destroyed all three buildings in a controlled detonation.

Link

January 13, 2008

CORRECTED: Coalition forces targets foreign terrorists, propaganda and IED cells; 13 detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained 13 suspected terrorists Saturday and today during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.

During an operation north of Taji Saturday, Coalition forces captured a suspected terrorist believed to be associated with a senior level al-Qaeda in Iraq foreign terrorist facilitator. Reports indicate the suspect was heavily involved in the terrorist network operating that is responsible for the flow of foreign terrorists and the facilitation of money and weapons into Iraq. Additionally, the suspect is alleged to have close ties to the car-bombing network operating in the Karkh area of Baghdad.

The wanted individual identified himself to the ground force and was subsequently detained, along with seven suspected terrorists. During a separate operation nearby, Coalition forces detained one suspected terrorist while targeting an additional associate of the network.

Also Saturday, two suspected terrorists were detained in Baghdad during a Coalition forces operation targeting an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq senior member of the terrorist media and propaganda network in the city.

In Mosul today, Coalition forces conducted an operation targeting a suspected terrorist who is reportedly in charge of an improvised explosive device cell operating in the Risalah neighborhood. During the operation, the ground force detained two suspected terrorists on site.

“Foreign terrorists who come here with the help of al-Qaeda to commit murderous acts against the Iraqi people have no place in the future of this country,” said Navy Capt. Vic Beck, MNF-I spokesman.

Link

Prof teaches ‘being gay’ with taxpayer funding

Posted: 11 Jan 2008 in Politics

Prof teaches ‘being gay’ with taxpayer funding

‘Being homosexual doesn’t mean you don’t learn how to become one’

A University of Michigan class that earlier prompted state lawmakers to consider a 10 percent budget penalty for the school and is taught by a homosexual professor openly endorsing the “uncompromising political militancy” of “lesbian and gay studies” is returning.

But so is the opposition.

The class at the tax-funded University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is called “How to be Gay: Male Homosexuality and Initiation,” and is taught by David Halperin.

It surfaced in 2000, returned the following year and again a couple years later. Now university officials have confirmed it is returning, and Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan, said “it was and remains an outrageous abuse of taxpayer dollars.”

“Each time it has been offered we have renewed our objections to it. The first time around the Michigan House of Representatives came with a few votes of cutting the university budget by 10 percent,” he said.

He said Halperin “makes no bones about it on the other side of the world, knowingly using tax dollars to promote the militant political agenda of homosexuality.”

More

This school should lose all federal funding until they stop this professor. This is beyond stupid.

 

And in related news:

 

War over indoctrination moves to initiative arena

Pro-family groups seeking to overturn ‘gay’ mandates

The battle in California over a new state law that would mandate a positive – and no other – portrayal of bisexuals, homosexuals, transgenders and others choosing alternative sexual lifestyles in public schools has moved into a campaign for an initiative.

Officials with Save Our Kids made the announcement yesterday after confirming that their effort to obtain 434,000 signatures for a referendum fell short, coming up with 350,000 names.

“For a completely volunteer-driven campaign to obtain this number of signatures is unheard of,” said Karen England, director of the Save Our Kids campaign, and executive director of Capitol Resource Family Impact.

“We had to overcome incredible difficulties during our signature gathering, including the holidays, and the results are astonishing,” she said.

More

 

Plot to Blow-up Eiffel Tower

Posted: 11 Jan 2008 in Anti-Islamo-Fascists, Terrorism

Terror plot to blow up Eiffel Tower uncovered

A plot by Islamic terrorists to blow up the Eiffel Tower has been uncovered.

A scrambled short-wave radio conversation exposing the planned attack on the world’s most visited monument was picked up by Portuguese air traffic controllers and passed on to French spy chiefs.

The 1,060ft high tower has more than six million visitors a year – an average of more than 16,000 a day.

A successful strike on the 7,500 ton iron tower, which was looked down on Paris since 1889, would be a French 9/11 and could cost thousands of lives.

The threat was uncovered in a “vague and muffled” radio conversation picked up by air traffic controllers in Lisbon on Thursday.

It comes after a spate of other threats made in recent days on the websites linked to Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda terror network, calling for the “brothers of Islam to strike Paris”.

More

 

New Rifle

Posted: 10 Jan 2008 in Guns

And you though I was kidding when I said I was stocking up on weapons and ammo.

keltec_su-16b.jpg

Here’s is my new rifle. Well not quite here. It will arrive at my FFL’s location on Monday. It will be at my location 10 days later. Brady law sucks. California gun laws suck.

You can read a review of the rifle here: Kel-Tec SU-16 Review

All in a Day’s Work

Posted: 10 Jan 2008 in Military

January 10, 2008

Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq IED specialists (Hillah)

Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained two suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq improvised explosive device specialists in separate raids Dec. 28.

The Hillah Special Weapons and Tactics team and U.S. Special Forces detained a suspected AQI terrorist believed to be a primary facilitator of improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces.

Additionally, the suspected terrorist is thought to have helped foreign fighters enter the country and facilitate suicide bombings in northern Babel province.

He is also believed to be responsible for the murder of numerous Iraqi citizens.

Near the city of Balad, Iraqi Special Operations Forces and U.S. Forces detained a suspected AQI terrorist who specializes in IED construction.

He is also believed to belong to a terror cell that is responsible for IED emplacement and weapons trafficking as well as the intimidation of Iraqi citizens.

No Iraqi or U.S. Forces were injured in these operations.

January 10, 2008

Air strike engages suspected IED emplacers during Operation Phantom Phoenix
Multi-National Division – North PAO

BAQUBA, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed four enemy personnel and wounded three more shortly after an engineer vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device during Operation Raider Harvest, which is part of the country-wide Operation Phantom Phoenix, Jan. 8 near Muqdadiyah, Iraq.

Soldiers from the 38th Engineer Company, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division were struck by an IED while clearing a route in the Diyala province, a known al-Qaeda in Iraq safe haven. No CF Soldiers were injured in the attack.

An air weapons team operating in the area spotted several armed personnel running from the IED site into a nearby house. An air weapons team engaged the house with a missile, killing four and wounding three others.

Based on the extent of the explosion caused by the missile, military officials assess that the house was being used as an al Qaeda in Iraq safe house and weapons cache.

January 10, 2008

Al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist behind Oct. 11 attacks identified as Mullah Jasim

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces identified a terrorist detained during an operation Dec. 29 as Jasim Mohammed, also known as Mullah Jasim.

Jasim is suspected of coordinating multiple attacks against Coalition forces and Iraqi police, to include a car-bombing attack Oct. 11, which killed 10 Iraqi citizens and two Iraqi police.

Believed to be a terrorist cell leader in Hawija, Jasim is also thought to be a close associate of Abu Harith, the legacy al-Qaeda in Iraq Kirkuk leader who was killed during a Coalition forces operation Nov. 21 (see MNF-I press release A071128a, “UPDATE: Coalition forces positively identify terrorists killed in recent raids,” dated Nov. 28, 2007).

Jasim is suspected of facilitating weapons, providing training, and giving direction on improvised explosive device attacks. Reports indicate he has a history of involvement in interrogation and torture operations, to include association with an Ansar al Sunna training camp in Hawija, which was also used to torture and kill people. Jasim allegedly received funding for operations from Syria, one of his known safe havens.

Intelligence indicates that Jasim is also associated with other al-Qaeda in Iraq and Ansar al Sunna groups that conduct car bombing and suicide attacks against Coalition and Iraqi forces. While supporting criminal operations in the capital city, Jasim allegedly sent three foreign terrorists to the al-Qaeda network leader in Baghdad for use in suicide operations.

Jasim is believed to have numerous contacts within the Iraqi Security Forces that help facilitate his operations by providing him with information on the presence of Coalition forces in an area.

“This was a dangerous terrorist who is off the streets and no longer part of al-Qaeda in Iraq networks,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman. “We will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorist leaders who are trying to deny the Iraqi people a future of their choice.”

January 10, 2008

Citizen tip leads Coalition to cache (Baghdad)

4th IBCT PAO, 10th MTN DIV

Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Acting on a concerned citizen’s tip, Soldiers from Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, reported finding a weapons cache in the 9 Nissan district of eastern Baghdad while returning from a patrol Jan. 9.

The cache contained copper plating, two explosively formed projectiles, two rocket-propelled grenades, one AK-47 assault rifle, five 105 mm mortar rounds, eight anti-personnel mines, wire and three artillery rounds of undetermined size.

The Soldiers confiscated the cache without suffering any casualties or incurring any damages to equipment.

January 10, 2007

UAV, Apaches tag team to take out IED emplacers (Yusufiyah)

By Maj. Vinston L. Porter Jr., 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT)

Multi-National Division – Center PAO

BAGHDAD – An Apache air weapons team killed four insurgents emplacing an improvised explosive device on a dirt road south of Yusufiyah Jan 6.

An unmanned aerial vehicle initially spotted the individuals emplacing the IED, and then observed them cross a foot bridge and hide in reeds nearby.

The air weapons team from 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, consisting of two AH-64 Apache helicopters, was called in to engage the insurgents. The pilots were able to identify the targets with the help of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

The Apache helicopters fired a Hellfire missile and 30 mm rounds, killing the IED emplacers.

“It’s good to see how my job fits into the larger picture and helps the air assets to successfully take out the target,” said Spc. Matthew Westhoff, from Jacksonville, Fla., mission commander for the UAV, Company B, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

 

It’s all in a day’s work.

Keep up the fire!

Upon Further Review

Posted: 9 Jan 2008 in Military, Politics

I think the Navy screwed the pooch.

The Navy should have sank all five Iranian boats to send them a message. Mess with the USA and we’ll knock your ass in the dirt. But they gave the Iranians a pass.

What the Iranians did was threaten US Navy warships in an act of aggression both physical (dropping the boxes and charging the ships) and verbal (“the U.S. ships would explode”) . This is to me, an open act of war, and should have been dealt a heavy blow. The blood and treasure that we would likely save from that act alone would have been worth the temporary political headache.

As soon as those assholes said the latter, they should have been sunk.

Now we look like a bunch of pussies and those assholes will do shit similar to this in the future, likely with more dire consequences.

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