So through the night rode Paul Revere; And so through the night went his cry of alarm To every Middlesex village and farm,--- A cry of defiance, and not of fear, A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door, And a word that shall echo for evermore! For, borne on the night-wind of the Past, Through all our history, to the last, In the hour of darkness and peril and need, The people will waken and listen to hear The hurrying hoof-beats of that steed, And the midnight message of Paul Revere.
"You know the rest. In the books you have read." said Longfellow.
A word that shall echo for evermore? Through all our history, to the last? Perhaps. It certainly is the sort of thing that should be handed down through the generations. Not too very long ago schoolchildren memorized that poem, along with the preamble to the Constitution, and various other writings of profound significance to world history and our national psyche. (After introducing them to that poem, here's a great gift for any schoolkids in your life.)
Today, we mark the day in 1775 when Americans took up arms against their king, and bled, at the crack of terrible dawn.
It's the Massachusetts & Maine-only holiday that should be a national one.
I'll drink to that! (And apparently, that's what the originals would have done, too.) Speaking of the originals, "Here's how it unfolded that April morning 235 years ago today, in their own words..." sez Jules, who then delivers.
The eruption in Iceland has released a plume of volcanic gas and ash that moved southeast over Europe. The plume is quite attenuated, and represents no threat, but there has been a spectacular over-reaction by timorous authorities, and huge disruption to air travel. Essentially the system has shut down for much of the continent. Whole nations have closed their air space. Yet the plume is so thin that observers on the ground cannot even discern any haze in clear blue skies. How could it possibly gut jet engines?
That's from last Thursday. The ash cloud, to whatever degree there was one, has since dissipated further. This isn't the first volcanic eruption in the history of the world, but even without direct damage from the event itself, it may be the most costly.
How dangerous are the skies over Europe? It isn't evident from the reporting, but that's a question with only a theoretical answer. But regardless of whatever theory you might subscribe to, for the sake of accuracy it's more correct to blame fear of the volcano (or concern, if you prefer) for halting air travel in Europe rather than the volcano itself. As seen on TV, science says there's an invisible but deadly ash cloud over the continent - at all levels of the atmosphere where planes could otherwise safely fly. Governments have endorsed that science (they are the sponsors of the practitioners, so on the face of things that's neither surprising or suspicious).
Others - motivated by a desire to see science improve and bring improvements to our lives - may question the science, and in fact they are. It's good that can be done without fear of repercussion, of being branded as a threat to good order, a heretic or worse. We've certainly come a long way from the days when pronouncements from on high were thinly supported by calls to faith and accepted without question by a population that as a whole rarely pondered the difference between fact and superstition, when virgins were tossed headlong into the flaming maw to appease the volcano god, or fear of falling off the edge of the world kept mariners from sailing too far from shore, right?
In Iceland a volcano erupts - embedded in a massive smoke cloud, ash and other particulate matter are flung skyward. An impressive sight if you can get close enough to view it...
...but the ash cloud spreads and dissipates as it's carried downwind, and doesn't appear on infrared or visible satellite imagery.
US Air Force infrared satellite imagery, 18 April 2010
"Seeing" the ash cloud requires additional enhancement of the data - as in the (April 15) image below where it's visible as the grey band stretching left to right across the upper half of the picture.
This image, acquired on 15 April 2010 by Envisat's Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS), shows the vast cloud of volcanic ash sweeping across the UK from the eruption in Iceland, more than 1000 km away. The ash, which can be seen as the large grey streak in the image, is drifting from west to east at a height of about 11 km above the surface Earth. Photo: European Space Agency
And forecasts of the progress of that plume are based on computer-generated models, with output similar to the animated images below.
This animation shows the movement of the ash plume from the eruption of the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier in Iceland.
The information has been derived by a model using SO2 as particle tracer for the ash plume. This model has been developed at the Norwegian Institute for Air Research in the Department of Atmospheric and Climate Research.
This service was developed within the ESA Data User Element 'Support to Aviation for Volcanic Ash Avoidance' with the aim of generating accurate and timely satellite-based information to Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAACs) to assist the aviation community.
That was the only "view" anyone had of the ash cloud over Europe. By the time any spread over the Continent, it was not visible to the naked eye.
You've no doubt already heard that concern over the possible presence of that ash cloud has temporarily halted air travel in Europe. It's an unprecedented event on this scale. Volcanic ash, unlike "regular" clouds composed primarily of water, is solid particulate matter, and can wreak havoc on aircraft engines. Concerns are very real, and photos of empty major European airports or stranded travelers are a common site on the internet and television news this weekend. The financial impact is enormous, but the impact of halting flights over Europe goes beyond backlogged civilian cargo or business and pleasure travel to and from those many hubs.
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kim Price, 455th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight, checks on the condition of a wounded U.S. service member during a medical evacuation in a C-130 over Afghanistan, March 26, 2010. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeromy Cross)
Europe is the normal first stop (or last stop, if they are inbound) for all American military personnel departing the CENTCOM area of operations - whether they are troops rotating home at the end of their tours, going on leave, or evacuated for medical issues - including those wounded in action in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Members and volunteers of the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility carry a patient onto a C-17 Globemaster III, at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Feb. 11. The patient is one of seven receiving a medical transfer from JBB to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, where his care will continue. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Linda Miller)
On this day in 1945, war correspondent Ernie Pyle was killed by a Japanese machine gunner on the Pacific island of Ie Shima. The following column was never completed. A draft of it was found in his pocket the day he was killed.
On Victory in Europe
And so it is over. The catastrophe on one side of the world has run its course. The day that it had so long seemed would never come has come at last.
I suppose emotions here in the Pacific are the same as they were among the Allies all over the world. First a shouting of the good news with such joyous surprise that you would think the shouter himself had brought it about.
And then an unspoken sense of gigantic relief - and then a hope that the collapse in Europe would hasten the end in the Pacific.
It has been seven months since I heard my last shot in the European war. Now I am as far away from it as it is possible to get on this globe.
This is written on a little ship lying off the coast of the Island of Okinawa, just south of Japan, on the other side of the world from Ardennes.
But my heart is still in Europe, and that's why I am writing this column.
It is to the boys who were my friends for so long. My one regret of the war is that I was not with them when it ended.
For the companionship of two and a half years of death and misery is a spouse that tolerates no divorce. Such companionship finally becomes a part of one's soul, and it cannot be obliterated.
True, I am with American boys in the other war not yet ended, but I am old-fashioned and my sentiment runs to old things.
To me the European war is old, and the Pacific war is new.
Last summer I wrote that I hoped the end of the war could be a gigantic relief, but not an elation. In the joyousness of high spirits it is easy for us to forget the dead. Those who are gone would not wish themselves to be a millstone of gloom around our necks.
But there are many of the living who have had burned into their brains forever the unnatural sight of cold dead men scattered over the hillsides and in the ditches along the high rows of hedge throughout the world.
Dead men by mass production - in one country after another - month after month and year after year. Dead men in winter and dead men in summer.
Dead men in such familiar promiscuity that they become monotonous.
Dead men in such monstrous infinity that you come almost to hate them.
These are the things that you at home need not even try to understand. To you at home they are columns of figures, or he is a near one who went away and just didn't come back. You didn't see him lying so grotesque and pasty beside the gravel road in France.
We saw him, saw him by the multiple thousands. That's the difference...
, Pyle died on Ie Shima, an island off Okinawa Honto, after being hit by Japanese machine-gun fire. He was travelling in a jeep with Lieutenant Colonel Joseph B. Coolidge (commanding officer of the 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division) and three other men. The road, which ran parallel to the beach two or three hundred yards inland, had been cleared of mines, and hundreds of vehicles had driven over it. As the vehicle reached a road junction, an enemy machine gun located on a coral ridge about a third of a mile away began firing at them. The men stopped their vehicle and jumped into a ditch. Pyle and Coolidge raised their heads to look around for the others; when they spotted them, Pyle smiled and asked Coolidge "Are you all right?" Those were his last words. The machine gun began shooting again, and Pyle was struck in the left temple (however, the Ernie Pyle State Historic Site in Dana, Indiana, contains a telegram from the Government to Pyle's father stating Pyle was killed by a sniper).The colonel called for a medic, but none were present. It made no difference--Pyle had been killed instantly.
He was buried with his helmet on...
In 1977 the National Society of Newspaper Columnists declared April 18th as "National Columnists Day" in Pyle's honor - but while many might hope to share his reputation there's never been another Ernie Pyle.
A reminder - an ever-growing collection of photos and links to online coverage of the Milblogs Conference can be found at the Facebook Fan of Milblogs page .
And that's open to posting by anyone - so you can even add your own. And it's not just about the conference - it's the online virtual milblogs conference that continues year-round. Have you found (or written) a story of interest to milbloggers? Link it there! Want to plan an in-person local/regional milbloggers meet-up in your neighborhood? This is the place to connect.
The Small Wars Foundation (Small Wars Journal's non-profit 501(c) parent organization), the Joint Irregular Warfare Center, the U.S. Marine Corps Center for Irregular Warfare, the U.S. Army / U.S. Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Center, and Noetic hosted a two-day Tribal Engagement Workshop (TEW) focusing on Afghanistan, March 24-25, 2010, in Fredericksburg, VA. The workshop was designed to address conceptual issues associated with tribal engagement and explore the considerations that operators and planners would have to address in order to implement a tribal or local engagement program.
A group of subject matter experts, all with firsthand experience with tribal engagement, or local operations in Iraq or Afghanistan were invited to participate. The group deliberately included individuals with significantly differing opinions on how to undertake tribal engagement or whether it should be undertaken at all. The ensuing discussion covered a variety of topics from strategic, operational and tactical perspectives.
Participants were tasked with evaluating the value and feasibility of a tribal engagement approach in Afghanistan; assessing what secondary effects adoption of a tribal engagement strategy would have on the political and military situation; and identifying the operational components of a tribal engagement approach in Afghanistan.
A 6-page summary report captures the key themes and ideas covered in the workshop, but is not intended to (nor could it) capture the rich debate participants engaged in. The major sections of this report include TEW findings, tribal versus community engagement, connecting Afghans to their government, addressing corruption, building Afghan capacity, transition, information operations and strategic communications, U.S. unity of effort from the strategic to the tactical, and how community engagement might fail.
TEW participants largely agreed that focusing efforts at the sub-national level could potentially provide a necessary game changer to the current ISAF mission, with some important caveats: (1) Tribal engagement must be recast as community - or local - engagement in order to reflect the wide variety of local social and power structures across the country. (2) Community engagement must be accompanied by reinvigorated efforts to link the national with district level governments - in essence , a "top-down, bottom-up" strategy must be employed or the international community risks further balkanization of Afghanistan. (3) The focal point for the engagement must be at the district level, as this is the level at which the interface between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) and the Afghan population occurs. (4) Government accountability and transparency must be improved at the district level, either through actually conducting district elections or by holding local community jirgas to appoint district representatives. Afghan communities will have little to no desire to reach out and interface with their local GIROA leadership unless District leadership is credible, legitimate and accountable.
Concerning tribal vs. community engagement it was agreed that the U.S. and the GIRoA should undertake tribal engagement, participants next considered the nature of those interactions. The general consensus was that engagement should occur with a variety of entities (alternately referred to as local or community, this document will refer to "community engagement"), not just tribes. Consensus was also broadly achieved on the need to simultaneously undertake 'top down' and 'bottom up' approaches in Afghanistan. TEW participants also addressed corruption, building Afghan capacity, transition, information operations and strategic communications, U.S. unity of effort from the strategic to the tactical, and how community engagement might fail.
Concerning how community engagement and how it might fail TEW participants identified four groups whose action - or inaction - could result in the failure of a community engagement program: the enemy, the U.S. government, the Government of Afghanistan and the Afghan people.
The resource is growing, integrating additional commentary and papers from participants in the project. The entry page is here.
For a introduction to the thinking that sparked the effort, try this.
It's worth noting that in many regards the "tribal engagement" strategy (at least a military component thereof - the current vision incorporates many non-military aspects) was used in 2001 - seen then as a quick, relatively low-resource (dollars, American troops and equipment) approach to toppling the Taliban. It was successful - insofar as Kabul and Kandahar fell much faster than the most optimistic predictions suggested* - but we rather swiftly turned our focus to creating and sustaining a strong federal government in Kabul. That, too was a decision prompted by economy of force considerations, as all such use of available resource decisions (in the military, government, or your household) are - and will be. So, as noted at the beginning of this post, those interested in the future of our efforts in Afghanistan will certainly want to spend some time here.
* For two recent, well researched, and highly accessible books on the Special Forces/boots-on-ground perspective of those first weeks in Afghanistan see The Only Thing Worth Dying For and Horse Soldiers.
Its been 18 days Since I've had to look at myself I don't wanna have to change If I don't then no one will Is it my state of mind Or is it just everything else I don't wanna have to be here I don't understand it now...
The opening lines of Saving Abel's song '18 Days' get stuck in my head, and the only thing I can do when songs are stuck in my head is let 'em out, sometimes louder than others. The family's used to the once-upon-a-time would-be rock star in the house...
"'18 Days' - what's that title all about?" I asked Eric Taylor, the band's base player. "What inspired that?"
Producer Skidd Mills says it was that song that convinced him the band had a destiny beyond their hometown of Corinth, Mississippi. "It was '18 Days' that hooked me. The first time I heard it I was like, 'these guys are the real deal; they'll be doing this for a long time.'"
Cause its been 18 days Since I first held you But to me it feels just like It feels like a lifetime I'm trying hard to re-arrange Some say its the hardest thing to do But that's another 18 days
Without you...
And it's one of those songs that captures separation - and separation is one of those things that service is all too often about. So at first Taylor's answer surprised me.
"Buford Pusser. You know who Buford Pusser is?"
"Yeah - Walking Tall. Dude, I remember when that movie came out - I mean the first one."
Damn - I realized I'd reminded the rock star I was old enough to be his... er, older brother, but he didn't step back. We'd been talking for a while, he'd probably noticed that slight age difference early on in the conversation - and hell, these guys had even rocked some Creedence as part of the concert they'd just put on for us milbloggers. That's proper respect for the elders, says I. And while I'd already told him about how my own experience in a bar band led to a military career (a pretty common story, really) he was more interested in what I'd done in Iraq.
"Well, Pusser's from our part of the country," he continued. "And one day one of the guys in the band was watching Walking Tall, and there's this scene where Pusser's been in the hospital with his face bandaged up. They come to take the bandages off and he says 'It's been 18 days since I've looked at myself' - so that inspired the song."
"I remember that scene," I told him.
On the pre-dawn morning of August 12, 1967, Pusser's phone rang, informing him of a disturbance call on New Hope Road in McNairy County. He responded, with his wife Pauline joining him for this particular ride. Shortly after they passed the New Hope Methodist on New Hope Road, two cars came alongside Pusser's; the occupants opened fire, killing his wife and leaving Pusser, who had suffered a shotgun wound to the face, for dead. He spent eighteen days in the hospital before returning home, and would need several surgeries to restore his appearance.
Inspiration is a strange thing, from that point comes a song with universal appeal.
Time after time I've been through this You show me what it means to live You give me hope when I was hopeless As my days fade to night I remember that state of mind I'm soaring straight into your heart And I'll fly high...
"Then one of our fans whose husband is in the military made a video for him, and she used our song," Eric said, in a tone that showed he was awestruck that she had done it. "She put it on Youtube, and someone showed it to us. And that's where we got the idea for our own music video for it."
Cause it's been 18 days Since I first held you But to me it feels just like It feels like a lifetime I'm trying hard to re-arrange Some say it's the hardest thing to do But that's another 18 days Without you...
And it all made sense, that these guys from Corinth made a song inspired by a guy who cleaned up the neighborhood that inspired a video from someone whose husband had a similar job to do, and who felt how that music fit, and that circled back to the band who took it another step.
"We did the USO tour, it was incredible," Taylor told me. And he meant it was incredible to have a chance to perform for those crowds - to entertain the men and women who are putting it on the line. It sounds corny to say it, and he's not the first guy I've spoken with who's searched for the right words to describe it, (that might have been Robin Williams...) but that stumbling search for the right words is authentic. "You get a chance to let them enjoy a few moments, let them know there are folks back home who haven't forgotten them... it's just..."
I've been in the audience for those shows - in Baghdad and other garden spots, and it's much appreciated.
"And I saw the one you guys livestreamed," I told him, "that was a great show. I captured that video - it's awesome - but don't worry, I won't put that one up on the web..."
Which isn't to say I wouldn't put some highlights from it on the internet...
Because it was a great show - I hope they'll make it available on DVD some time in the future. The audio/video quality of the original is far superior to what a capture converted to flash (as in the above) can provide.
And I know what they say About all good things Will they come to an end But I'll fight this time So that we might Have a chance at this...
Eric and I had been talking since Ponsdorf grabbed me by the arm and said, "hey, tell this guy over here what milblogs are all about," and introduced us. Saving Abel's singer and guitar players were doing an unplugged show for the 2010 Milblogs Conference, leaving the drummer and bass player to hang out with the crowd.
"So yeah," I tell him, "there are guys here who wrote weblogs while they were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Just telling their stories, keeping in touch with the folks back home. I did it myself, but there are a lot of others - right over there is one who just wrote a book..."
"We were on tour over there," Eric tells me, "and we'd be at some little combat outpost, just hanging out with the guys, talking to them. And they're telling us about what they do, great stories, and it's getting really late, and we've got to sleep, and get up and get on a helicopter and go to another place, but we don't want to stop, we want to hear more."
Cause it's been 18 days Since I'd look at myself I don't wanna have to change If I don't then no one will Cause its been too many days Since I first held you But to me it feels just like It feels like a lifetime I'm trying hard to re-arrange Some say it's the hardest thing to do But that's just to many days without you...
And here they were, rocking the Milblogs Conference - they'd flown in on their own dime between a couple of other shows. And here I was, swapping questions and answers with a guy who was as interested in listening to me as I was in listening to him. These kids honestly think people who served their country are some kind of rock stars or something...
"These aren't just Iraq and Afghanistan vets," I told him. "There are family members here too. And we've got people here who served in Vietnam - even before. Hey, tomorrow we'll be joined by a guy who served with the Marines in the Pacific in World War Two - Tarawa and Iwo Jima."
The first album - autographed to the Greyhawks
"But tell me, when's the new album coming out?"
"June 8th. The recording's all done, just got to finish a few other things. But we've got a single ready to release this month, on April 19th. It's called "Stupid Girl (Only in Hollywood)"."
"Where'd you guys get your name?"
"Saving Abel? That came from hearing a preacher talk about the story of Cain and Abel. Once Cain slew his brother he felt great regret, but there was no saving Abel..."
And I know what they say About all good things Will they come to an end But I'll fight this time So that we might Have a chance at this...
But there is a Saving Abel - and I'm glad for that. Their web page is here (full music videos and free music downloads - sweet!), and Amazon store here, and more than a few fans of the group all over the world.
After Maj Hatch's panel, we broke for lunch. I was completely surprised when Mary Ripley of USNI invited me to join Maj Hatch and a group of other bloggers to break bread. I was very lucky to be able to sit next to Maj Hatch and across from fellow Marine and blogger Taco Bell as Maj Hatch told more stories from his time on Tarawa and Iwo Jima. I felt as history was coming to life around me and I could hear the sounds of war as he told each story. I can't believe how sharp he still is at the very young age of 89.
The most memorable story Maj Hatch told us over lunch took place after the flag raising when he returned to Washington, DC. He was a Warrant Officer at the time and a LtCol had met him with a car as he got off the plane. Hatch was expecting to return home after five days of traveling across the Pacific and the US, but that wasn't going to happen. Instead, he was taken to Henderson Hall where headquarters was during that time. The Commandant wanted to see him.
Major General David Hogg, Deputy Commanding General, Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan, live from Afghanistan to the milbloggers in D.C. Great Q&A, but what would you expect from this crowd?
Those interested in our future in Afghanistan will appreciate this, as everything about our strategy there hinges on training up the Afghan forces to replace us - and that's his mission. (Note: Use the lower "play" button on these vids - the one in the middle doesn't work...)
And it was great to meet Navy Lt Jennifer Cragg in person. She threatened me with bodily harm if I don't make good on my promise of more participation in upcoming blogger roundtables. I take being wanted as a compliment, and that's one I can't resist. :)
Garry Trudeau of Doonesbury fame was also in attendance - funny(ish) story - Taco Bell and I walked up to a gentleman thinking he was Garry - in our defense the two could be twins - and I asked him if I could get a picture of him with me... turns out that the Deputy Chief Information Officer for the Director of National Intelligence has a great sense of humor - who knew?
One of the few, if perhaps the only, serious attempt to respond to "Collateral Murder" is another YouTube video titled "Wiki Deception: Iraq 'Collateral Murder' Rebuttal"...
But...
UPDATE: The "rebuttal" video was removed from YouTube for "violation of the YouTube Community Guidelines." The cause of action: "graphic or gratuitous violence is not allowed in YouTube videos." The "rejection notice" at right was sent by someone close to the "rebuttal". Neither Collateral Murder nor the unedited video have been removed from YouTube. It appears the "rebuttal" video is a clear victim of manipulation by supporters of Collateral Murder or its cause...
Perhaps they'd claim the old excuse "all's fair in love and war" applies?
Like milblogs, the Milblogs Conference is a collaborative effort - one that's grown far beyond the ability of one person to capture and report - a team effort is required.
So we've made it easier to do that. Here's the Fan of Milblogs Facebook page. Anyone can post entries, links, photos, and videos there, and it's the place to go for just that. If you're looking for reports or images from the conference just click here and enjoy.
And if you've written about the conference (or just found something written online about the conference) have links, photos or videos to add, or just want to join the conversation there - don't be shy, jump right in. (For those who missed my message during the first panel - jumping right in is the future of milblogs...)
I also kind of wonder what went through Greyhawk's mind when the official MultiNational Corps-Iraq screensaver featured a screen shot of the Mudville Gazette emblazoned with the words "Bloggers--are you violating OPSEC (Operational Security)?"
I tried hard not to notice, but that was especially tricky whenever I walked into Division and saw it repeated 1,000 times in the 40 acre open cubical farm...
This was a great conversation in Baghdad, too:
Me: Hey boss, my wife is meeting with the President of the United States this week.
Boss: Really, how come?
Me: Well, he wanted to see me, but I'm too busy over here.
Boss: Get outta here.
At least that's the gist of it. Truth told, rules obeyed. Not believed? Not my problem.
Here's an example of what I meant by "more than a few veterans." This message (received here through very trusted channels, and authorized for public release) to the school from Norman Hatch, Major, USMCR (retired) offers a great lesson to students of history everywhere...
Dear Mr. Ragone,
It has recently come to my attention that one of your teachers has committed a terrible error in using the iconic Iwo Jima flag raising picture that took place on the fourth day, of a vicious month long battle in the Pacific during WW II. She super imposed a McDonalds advertising logo over the flag and showing it to her class as a supposed example of the nation fighting the war for commercial purposes.
I have more than just a personal interest in this matter as I am a retired Marine major who was on Iwo Jima, as the Photographic Officer of the 5th Marine Division. I had three photographers on the top of Mt. Suribachi that day and one of them S/Sgt William H. Genaust filmed the flag raising in motion pictures that have been seen around the world. Unfortunately he was killed eight days later and never had the chance to see the effect his film had on the public.
To think that a teacher, at the high school level, would stoop to the level of spin and rhetoric and confuse her pupils about the reason and history of our efforts at Iwo Jima where over 6000 Marines, Navy and Army died and over 16,000 were wounded is unconscionable. All died in a battle against the Japanese Imperial Forces that had first attacked us at Pearl Harbor.
I am unaware of what administrative measures you have to correct such ignorance but I implore you to take immediate action to see that such things do not happen again. History should not be prostituted to prove a point. I am a strong believer in the First Amendment but I think this particular action crosses the line, especially in a school of learning!
Sincerely,
Norman T. Hatch Major USMCR (Ret)
I imagine the folks at Langley High School will be a bit surprised to learn that many of the people who made the history they don't teach are still around - and more than willing to set the record straight.
(A recent post on Major Hatch - including his Tarawa video - here.)
Meanwhile, here's his Academy Award-winning documentary ("The footage of the carnage was like none that had been seen before -- President Franklin D. Roosevelt had to grant special permission for it to be shown to the public in newsreels. 'That footage that was shown of the bodies floating in the water bothered president Roosevelt quite a bit. He was afraid it would scare the people,' Hatch said.") With the Marines at Tarawa. Amazing color film of the battle.
A final quote from the ABC profile:
As much as Hatch and his generation accomplished during WWII, he now sees the men and women currently serving the United States as the ones to admire.
"We have been labeled the greatest generation, but I think the one's that's over there now is greater, doing their stuff in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various sources around the world. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list. Hat Tips to the Dawn Patrol are greatly appreciated.
What happens when the next soldiers come in? -Assistance to Afghans -- [A World of Troubles - in Afghanistan] I had a nightmare last night," a soldier from 2nd Platoon Able Co. told me, "that I was in Afghanistan."
He said it with a smile, the kind that comes from actually waking up in the dark and for the first few seconds thinking you might be somewhere other than your dirt bunker or plywood shack. But no, you're in Afghanistan, and the best thing to do is shake the cob webs, maybe take a Baby Wipes shower, chug a Rip It, get up and keep busy, whether it's burning trash, burning sh--, or ...
Death in the Morning -- [Free Range International - in Afghanistan]
Yesterday morning started with an event so senseless and evil that it is hard to describe. An American army patrol was moving through downtown Jalalabad when the villains detonated a bicycle mounted IED. This IED had no chance of even denting the paint job on an MRAP, but it did throw out a bunch of shrapnel, which killed one of the best diesel engine mechanics in town and wounded another 15 civilians - mostly children.
120 Days of Wind in Afghanistan -- [One Marines View - in Afghanistan]
It sweeps across Afghanistan's desert steppes and mountains at speeds that can top 100 mph, pummeling the country relentlessly with sand and dust.
Known as "The Wind of 120 days," the phenomenon is a blessing and curse for the millions of people who live in its path.
"We have a saying," said Bagram resident Mohammad Safa, 54. "If you eat poison little by little, eventually you'll get used to it."
Cold Water -- [Memorandum for the Record - in Afghanistan]
Spring has crashed upon us with all the fury of the so-called "Wind of 120 Days" that occupies this country through the summer. ... The winds have blown the Taliban out of their winter hibernations in gentler lands and into my lap. Work hours have extended into infinity and many times I find myself floating above my body, bewildered, as my corporeal self continues busily about its tasks.
I think we're winning. I hope we're winning. We're throwing every gram of flesh and blood and brain we can muster at the people of Afghanistan. We're wishing and hoping and begging for them to believe us, to believe in their new government, to believe in the beauty and future of their land instead of always the cheapness and futility of life.
Interview with Former Mujahedeen Commander -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
...The ANA Major and I discussed some tactics and military strategy used by the Mujahedeen against the Soviets. He confirmed when the Soviets would find an IED, at times they would gather around the explosive device for a group picture. Meanwhile one of his fighters would patiently wait for this opportunity and set off the explosive. The Major also explained how his Mujahedeen fighters would travel in small groups and ambush the Soviets, similar to the tactics used by the Taliban in attacking coalition forces today. The key to a successful attack was in planning. The Mujahedeen fighters would take advantage of the dense vegetation and hide among the trees so they could not be seen by the Soviet helicopters. They would also attack in early morning or evening when the helos were not present.
Major Shah and I also discussed the use of mines and IEDs as part of their arsenal. He explained
Corruption - My Last Straw -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
...While sipping our chai, he revealed some information about the ANA school supply distribution. Some of his soldiers participated on this mission. According to his soldiers, after the school supplies were loaded on the back of a truck, they made a detour before arriving at the school. The truck stopped at the ANA Brigade Surgeon's house and he had the soldiers off load several boxes of school supplies and a portion of the Beanie Babies. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Here was a man I entrusted and to save face and keep our promises, I divided the school supplies and Beanie Babies for distribution to the village school. This is the same village where the ANA surgeon was born at. Now I find out he deprived his own people of goods only to enrich himself.
Putting the Seat Down -- [Rajiv Srinivasan - in Afghanistan]
The 6th Kandak Battalion Commander, LTC Abdul, has always been a mild-mannered and pleasant individual to deal with. He rarely panics or becomes rude. He's always treated me with the same respect that he'd show any of his direct coalition counterparts, even as a Lieutenant. So last week, when a winded ANA private came beating down the door of our Company CP yelling, "Commandan mekwahat ke bah shemah bebenat...The Commander needs to speak with you!" I felt a sense of urgency.
Wikileaks video is just cover for troops haters -- [This Ain't Hell...]
I read comments by Josh Stieber and his friend and I commend them for defending the soldiers (although it's half-hearted) however that's not what folks are thinking. Some anti-war types are using it as an excuse to condemn the troops. For example, someone sent me some screen shots of Dede Miller's Facebook Wall. For those of you who may not know, Dede Miller is Cindy Sheehan's sister.
On the Afghan Convoy -- [Starbuck ]
Most of you have heard about an incident in Afghanistan where American troops mistakenly shot a bus which contained civilians. One of my trusted friends in Afghanistan contacted me after the incident, and, not violating security procedures, noted that the American patrol had signaled for the vehicle to stop several times before firing at it.
While the deaths of civilians is certainly a tragedy, the US military's public relations people have been a little more quick to mitigate the PR effects than they were with last week's Apache video.
African-American expected to be named US Commander in Iraq -- [The Grio /AP]
The senior U.S. general in Iraq since 2008, Gen. Ray Odierno, will be succeeded by a leading Pentagon general at the end of the summer, military officials said Monday.
His replacement is Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin, the staff director for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the officials said.
Military officials spoke about the change on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not been made.
Supporting Small, Local Government in Iraq -- [Sgt Stryker]
In the southern province of Dhi Qar in Iraq, the US military is continuing the mission of peace in Iraq by helping the small scale local government there. The Army's civil affairs teams and the United States Agency for International Development have got together to create a District Government Support Team. That team has solved a host of governing issues, helping to strengthen the democratic process at the city and village levels in Iraq.
Iraq's Forces Prove Able, but Loyalty Is Uncertain -- [New York Times]
Iraq's security forces, once mocked for deserting firefights and feared as a sanctuary for rogue death squads, crossed a crucial line of competence during the recent parliamentary elections: With little American help, they kept the nation overwhelmingly safe for voting. But as recruits return after the election to this dusty training outpost, the army and the police face new questions, not only about remaining gaps in ability, but also about loyalty in an uncertain period. More than a month after the election, there is still no new government, no certain leader that the security forces can look to - and few precedents for a peaceful transfer of power.
Iraq plans $1bn tourism development -- [AMEinfo]
The Iraqi ministry of tourism and the Wasit province investment commission have announced plans to build a $1bn tourism development near the Wasit capital city of Al-Kut, Meed has reported. Overlooking the Tigris River, the 500,000 square-metre Wasit Tourist City will include hotels, apartment blocks, private chalets, swimming pools, an amphitheatre, public gathering space and an amusement park for 2,000 people. The provincial government is relying on public and private funding at home as well as foreign investment from private developers abroad to fund the project, the magazine reported.
Terrorist Plot to Attack Najaf Shrine With Hijacked Airliners? -- [Iraq the Model]
A government delegation arrived in Najaf Wednesday afternoon to discuss the closure of Najaf's international airport. The delegation included the ministers of defense, transport and national security.
....Najaf's province council chief Fayid Shemmeri announced Tuesday that a protest against the closure of the airport has been postponed after PM pledged to find a solution for the situation. Other sources stressed that the airport was shut down because of threats of an attack on the Imam Ali shrine using a civilian airliner.
Officials say Iraqi forces foil 9/11-style plot -- [AP]
BAGHDAD (AP) -- Iraqi security forces disrupted a 9/11-style plot by al-Qaida in Iraq to fly hijacked planes into Shiite religious shrines, Iraqi and U.S. officials said Wednesday....
Gates says video of U.S. helicopter attack in Iraq out of context -- [Los Angeles Times]
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Tuesday took a swipe at the website that released secret military video of a 2007 helicopter gunship incident in Iraq in which civilians, including two news agency employees, were killed. Gates said the videos released by the group WikiLeaks were out of context and provided an incomplete picture of the battlefield, comparing it to war as seen "through a soda straw." "These people can put out whatever they want and are never held accountable for it," said Gates, speaking to reporters aboard his plane en route to Lima, Peru, for a defense ministers conference this week. "There is no before and no after. It is only the present."
Comments about the Military -- [A Major's Perspective - in Afghanistan]
The derogatory comments made, focus around the general thought that all Soldiers are a bunch of murdering, rapist, thugs. One person even goes so far as to say that as long as the Military is comprised of the bottom 10% of society, what do you expect. This is the area of the article I want to rebuke.
U.S., Russia Finalize Plutonium-Disposal Accord -- [Voice of America]
The United States and Russia Tuesday finalized an agreement committing them to eliminate a total of 68 tons of weapons-grade plutonium. The deal was signed on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.
The two major powers had agreed in principle on the plutonium disposal project at the end of the administration of former President Bill Clinton.
Gates: No Iranian Nuclear Weapon for 'At Least a Year' -- [Voice of America]
Gates made the comment Tuesday on a flight to South America. He was responding to a declaration by a top Iranian nuclear official that Iran will join the "world nuclear club" within a month to deter possible attacks on the country.
Iran's Fars news agency quotes the deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization as saying "no country would even think about attacking Iran" after it joins the nuclear club.
Syria Gave Scuds to Hezbollah, U.S. Says -- [Wall Street Journal]
Syria has transferred long-range Scud missiles to the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah, Israeli and U.S. officials alleged, in a move that threatens to alter the Middle East's military balance and sets back a major diplomatic outreach effort to Damascus by the Obama administration. Israeli President Shimon Peres on Tuesday publicly charged President Bashar Assad's government with transferring Scud missiles to Hezbollah's forces inside Lebanon. Syria and Hezbollah both denied the charges. But the allegations already are affecting U.S. foreign policy: Republicans pressed on Capitol Hill to block the appointment of a new American ambassador to Damascus, according to congressional officials. The White House said it was pressing ahead.
U.S. and Pakistan adapt their approach on divisive issue of North Waziristan -- [Washington Post]
So far, however, Pakistan has resisted U.S. appeals to turn its attention to the north, thought to be the base for separate groups of Taliban fighters, whose attacks are aimed primarily at American troops in Afghanistan. It is also thought to be the base for al-Qaeda's leadership. To launch a major campaign in North Waziristan this spring, as the Obama administration has proposed, would be impractical and strategically unwise, the Pakistani army says. U.S. officials have expressed frustration about Pakistan's reluctance. But a rare visit to the restricted region by two Washington Post reporters offered a fresh vantage point into Pakistani thinking, and it suggested that the two sides are trying to find common ground in addressing what Washington sees as the epicenter of the terrorist threat.
Holder says US still hopes to take bin Laden alive -- [AP]
Under fire from Republican critics, Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday the U.S. still hopes to capture and interrogate Osama bin Laden but expects the al-Qaida leader won't be taken alive.
The attorney general was on the defensive from the outset in his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, peppered with criticism of his handling of terrorism issues
Spiritual Warfare Needed - Todd Nicely - Updated -- [Blackfive]
Update April 13th, 2010: On the Friday of the Fifth Annual Military Blog Conference, MaryAnn of Soldiers Angels Germany went and visited Todd and his amazing family and delivered a Valour-IT laptop.
I have been relaying messages from his unit back to him through MaryAnn and Kassie and now he'll be able to stay in contact with his Marines in Afghanistan. He was concerned about his squad (as the leader).
So....
Care Packages -- [A Major's Perspective - in Afghanistan]
A lot of people have written asking me what should they send in care packages to the Troops. And by no means is this a solicitation or the absolute answer. I've always felt kinda silly to be honest saying the typical things that Ive seen a million times before or stating the things that can't be sent. But, today I saw something that I had not seen talked about and I thought would be something useful to pass along.
Txt to Donate -- [SpouseBUZZ]
On the back of our AAFES flyer was an ad from M&Ms. They are having a vote for your favorite color sweepstakes but have added some covers for us military families.
The best part was seeing that they will be donating one dollar for each vote to the Fisher House.
In addition to voting on the website, you can text your favorite color to 41513. No charge from the candy company, but your service provider's regular messaging rates will apply.
A soldier's angel -- [Burleson Star] HT: SA Germany
When a soldier steps off American soil and onto the sand of a foreign country there is constant danger until they are home again.
Month of the Military Child -- [Soldiers' Angels]
Military Children of OIF/OEF veterans are eligible for a special gift during Month of the Military Child. Click here for details!
Thank You Soldiers -- [You Served]
Remember all those teachers indoctrinating our youth in the liberal ways of stupidity and supporting socialism and marxism? Remember the teacher at Langley High School that decimated the honor of our Iwo Jima veterans by putting a McDonalds sign on top of the famous flag-raising photo and inciting students to "discuss" it for a grade? Well, I've actually found a teacher who found an honorable way to recognize our troops with a positive song that understands the true sacrifice of our troops.
Phony charity busted -- [This Ain't Hell...]
TSO sends this link to an article about a California man who set himself up as a charity for Vandenburg AFB and claimed to be a Navy commander;
Are You Settled? -- [SpouseBUZZ - Andi]
It seems with military life, we're always "settling." I don't mean settling in the "settling for less" way. I mean settling in the sense that military life is ever-changing. Military families are always moving and settling in a new house and a new community. Settling into new friendships and relationships. Our spouses are often gone for lenghty periods of time so we settle into a routine when they leave. And when they return, we settle into another routine.
Settling. We do a lot of that.
Keeping The Home Fires Lit -- [Ranger-UP]
I was listening to the radio on the way to work the other day and I was reminded, yet again, of the brilliance of publicly funded studies. You know the ones; they cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and tell us things we already know, like $400K to discover that repeatedly hitting oneself in the head with a hammer can cause a headache. Duh.
This particular study highlighted the problems women (not all spouses; this one dealt with wives) experience while their husbands are deployed.
Each new fact was punctuated by an overdramatic pause by the reporter, like she was laying some kind of revelatory "There is no Santa" bombshell on a bunch of seven year olds.
30th Brigade returns home from Iraq -- [BlueNC]
The Guard's 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team made history with its second deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom last year, becoming the first National Guard unit to deploy twice and have its own area of ...
A well-deserved welcome home for 30th Heavy Brigade -- [FayObserver]
Lusk said he knew his troops were glad to be home, trading the desert sand for pine tree pollen. "All our guys did a phenomenal job over there," Lusk said
The Four Reasons I Never Respond to Emails about Veterans Today -- [The Burn Pit - MOTHAX ]
Every now and again someone sends me an irate email citing to Veterans Today and asking me to comment. I even had some emails occasionally from authors over there asking me questions. I refuse to answer their questions, and when I get an email asking me to comment on something they write, I kindly but forcefully refuse to do so. There are four main reasons for that, none of which has anything to do with politics. Because lately they have been engaging in some sort of vendetta with The American Legion, I thought I would lay out the case here why I refuse to discuss them, so that any further emails either from or about Veterans Today I will respond with a link to this post. I tried posting comments there to correct the record, but it simply does no good.
Without further ado, this is why I don't respond to them:
PLAying with Veterans' Jobs -- [The Burn Pit - Demophilus]
Executive Order 13502, signed by President Obama, went live yesterday. The Order directs federal agencies taking bids for government construction projects to accept only those from contractors who agree in advance to a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) that requires a union work force. How does that affect veterans you ask? Read on!
SOS - RED ALERT - New York Times About to Put American Troops in Deadly Peril -- [Big Journalsim/Breitbart]
I have just received word that the New York Times is preparing to go public with a list of names of Americans covertly working in Afghanistan providing force protection for our troops, as well as the rest of our Coalition Forces. If the Times actually sees this through, the red ink they are drowning in will be nothing compared to the blood their entire organization will be covered with. Make no mistake, the Times is about to cause casualty rates in Afghanistan to skyrocket. Each and every American should be outraged.
General Petraeus,interviews with attendees and conference footage at Milblog 2010
2010 Milblog Conference Highlight: Meeting up with Military Blogger Matt Gallagher (aka LT G), author of KABOOM -- [Milblogging.com]
This past weekend at the Fifth Annual Milblog Conference, I finally got a chance to meet Matt in person - only to be surprised by how mild-mannered he really is. Having read his brutally honest, raw military blog, and watched the coverage it received from the mainstream media, MTV, and literally hundreds of websites and organizations over the years, I half expected to meet my basic training Drill Sergeant from Fort Benning. But Matt was the opposite. Reserved, modest, polite, and friendly.
View from the top at 2010 MilBlog Conference -- [Army Live]
ShareA panel of military leaders, moderated by Jamie McIntyre, spoke this afternoon at the 2010 MilBlog Conference.
Price Floyd, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs (whew), joins this year's panel and is a great proponent for social media within the Department of Defense. Having just released DTM 09-026, opening up access to social media across the DoD network, Floyd speaks candidly about his encouragement of social media but also his awareness of the potential risks and the need to mitigate those. (My kind of guy - he understands the power but hasn't drunk the kool-aid).
Floyd also takes a very un-self-serving perspective on social media, noting that as a senior leader in the Department of Defense it opens up critical opportunities for two-way dialogue. The engagement works to not just inform the audience but also inform my understanding, said Floyd.
TR At the MilBlog Conference -- [Team Rubicon - Jake]
Team Rubicon member William McNulty, and Board of Advisors members Gary Cagle and Matt Burden enjoy a few beers at the MilBlog Conference in Washington, DC. Matt Burden is being awarded "Veteran's MilBlog of the Year" for his site BlackFive.net. It is extremely important that Team Rubicon continue to embrace the military and veteran community in order to ensure success in its missions.
Is the military starting to embrace new media? -- [The Burn Pit - MOTHAX]
This is going to be a two for the price of one post, since I have been holding off posting about my trip to the Army's Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) for a while, and I wanted to let folks know about the Military Blogging Conference I just attended in DC. Since the issues involved sort of overlap, figure I will do it all in one post.
Milblog Conference after reaction report-- [Good Friends - Good Times]
For the past five years, military bloggers have formally congregated, either in Washington D.C., or Las Vegas, NV, to discuss the challenges and the future of military blogging, share ideas and best practices, and meet new people and further strengthen the bonds previously forged in the depths of cyberspace.
Hey, isn't that...?: Garry Trudeau -- [Washington Post]
Garry Trudeau quietly taking notes at the Military Bloggers Conference at the Ballston Westin on Saturday. Plaid shirt, khakis; recognized by a few other attendees. The "Doonesbury" cartoonist runs his own military blog, the Sandbox, and is said to draw inspiration for his own war-themed strips from others.
The 2010 MilBlog Conference -- [AW1 Tim's Blog]
MilBlogs are more than just journals and news sites. They have become a modern calling tree, something similar to what the old (and still around) ham radio networks were. MilBlogs have become a number of things, but to my mind, they have been the conduit through which soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, both active and veterans, have been able to become a true extended family. Although it is still very much a work in progress, the seeds first planted have born fruit through any number of events. From showing a young, grieving widow that her loss and her words have had an impact far beyond what she could ever have imagined, to getting the word out for support for Team Rubicon to such an extent that it is demonstrable that Haitians are alive today that would not have survived had they been forced to endure the wait for typical NGO assistance.
The Military and DoD have also seen the impact that MilBlogs can have on troop morale, PR situations, and even in supporting and sometimes changing TRADOC, and various other missions, from procurement to training to supply to accessing and developing new media, to combating terrorism. MilBlogging is a tool, and how this form of social media is used, supported, and developed remains to be seen, but to date, it has had a great and positive impact in all parts of our military and national environment.
Saving Abel Rocks the Milblog Conference -- [Kiss My Gumbo]
So....here I am in DC with all my dearest Milblog friends in the world (a few were missing) and right in front of us, we have our own private Saving Abel performance (and I knew many of the songs already)!!! It was freaking amazing!
What I Saw at the Milblogger Conference -- [Sgt Mom]
...No one that I talked to at the conference had been mil-blogging longer than I had. I started in August, 2002 - the Dark Ages of mil-blogging - and am still at it, although I have drifted into wider circles than a strictly military/veteran focus. Which makes me rather famous in those circles, although no one asked for my autograph.
Pentagon Media Strategy- REVEALED!!! (Satire) -- [A Line of Departure]
While attending the 5th annual milblog conference this weekend a senior defense official slipped me a copy of a highly-unclassified PowerPoint slide outlining the Pentagon's internal strategy for dealing with the news media.
I am publishing the slide EXCLUSIVELY here at lineofdeparture.com to pull the curtain back on the techniques the powerful Pentagon Press Office uses to successfully influence news coverage.
Milblog Conference 2010: The Wrap-up -- [Starbuck]
After a great visit with the CNAS crew, it was off to the Milblog conference. I was quite amazed--when I told people I was attending a conference for milbloggers, most thought it was going to look like a Star Trek convention. Far from it. The event was attended by Admiral J.C. Harvey, Gary Trudeau (of Doonesbury), Jamie McIntyre, and featured a recorded message from General David Petraeus, who thanked milbloggers for their contributions.
MilBlog Conference 2010 -- [SWJ]
Military bloggers gathered in Arlington, VA this weekend for the 5th Annual Milblog -- Conference. The "Milbloggers" came from all walks of life: from veterans, to journalists, charity workers, even Gary Trudeau, the author of Doonesbury. The conference kicked off on Friday night with a panel entitled "It's a Marathon, not a Sprint", which chronicled the early days of the milblogosphere. Led by pioneers of milblogging
Mil Blog conference 2010 -- [Sandgram]
...My wife thinks that this conference was all about "playing," but in reality, it has become quite clear that those in positions of power are giving credence to the Mil Blog community just by the participation of such folks as Gen David Petraeus and MG David Hogg USA, Col Gregory Breazile USMC, and Admiral JC Harvey, Jr., Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, who has his own blog at usfleet-forces.blogspot.com. Since the military has now started embracing MilBlogs, I have stopped feeling like the cockroach hiding in the dark while I type away. Ha!!
I have to say that one of the most exciting things to happen for me this weekend was having the honor of meeting Major (Ret) Norman Hatch USMC, the combat cameraman who brought back the film from Iwo Jima, and also produced and won the Academy Award on his film about the Tarawa invasion.
Military Blogging Conference -- [Anne's Spot]
A summary of my observations are:
* Military bloggers are passionate, as you would expect.
* Military bloggers who began blogging in 2002 and 2003 were leaders and drove a grass roots movement that led to identifying military bloggers in a loosely structured group, but tightly connected and networked individuals. The blog sites are aggregated on the Military Blogging web site.
* Thousands of non-profit organizations serve military, soldiers, veterans, and families.
* Throughout this community of military bloggers, they all have a sense of responsibility toward families.
The 2010 (Fifth Annual) Military Blog Convention - Part I -- [BlackFive]
First of all, I would like to personally thank Andi of SpouseBuzz and the great folks at Military.com and Milblogging.com for yet again exceeding expectations and hosting/managing the Fifth Annual Military Blog Conference.
I would also like to mention that USAA went above and beyond, as a sponsor and they donated to Soldiers Angels and Homes for Our Troops - two fantastic organizations (more on that later). I have been a member/customer of USAA for more than 20 years. They rock!
MilBlog Conference Update. -- [Rebellion University]
The 5th Annual Milblog conference is in the can. My attendance there this year caused me to reflect on a few things that are interesting to me, and so I write them here.
The face of the Milblogging landscape is changing. Not for the better. The Blog, and its specialized cousin, the Milblog, is, at its core, journaling by people doing something that interests them and writing about it, for the interest of others.
There is a word -- [From My Position...]
There is a... woman (definitely not a lady) here who is a member of IVAW. If you're interested, that's Iraq Veterans against the war. Naturally, she is attending the milblog conference to gain understanding of all the good things our service members are doing in theater. If we're lucky, she'll even burn a flag or two while she's here.
Tribal Engagement Workshop -- [Small Wars Journal]
The Tribal Engagement Workshop, cosponsored by Small Wars Foundation, the U.S. Joint Forces Command Joint Irregular Warfare Center, the U.S. Marine Corps Center for Irregular Warfare, the U.S. Army / U.S. Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Center, and Noetic Group, was conducted 24-25 March 2010 at Gari Melchers Home and Studio, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
...This TEW Summary Report captures the insights and opinions (agreement & disagreement) of the group. The final version incorporates many revisions from participant comments on a 4/1 draft for a more accurate summary. However, no 6 page summary can represent the expertise of the group or the many considerations for tribal engagement or other bottom-up approach to Afghanistan. Additional commentary from the participants is being integrated into a web-based resource presenting amplifying information to be perused by future practitioners who are interested in more detail, as conflicting as it may be. That product is being developed now with the input received to date, and will be linked in to this page shortly...
Republican websites pledge allegiance to flag -- [Politico]
House Republicans are far more likely to emblazon their campaign websites with the American flag than their Democratic rivals, according to a new study.
A comprehensive review of House reelection websites by the University of Minnesota's Smart Politics blog found that GOP incumbents are 36 percent more likely to incorporate Old Glory into the banner of their page, with nearly half of all House Republicans positioning the Stars and Stripes as the main image on their website. Just a third of their Democratic counterparts prominently place the flag as a backdrop, according to a survey of 368 campaign websites.
Robert Gibbs Considers Different White House Role -- [CBS News]
Robert Gibbs is tired of being White House press secretary and has his eye on the job held by senior White House strategist David Axelrod if and when Axelrod leaves that job to focus on President Obama's reelection campaign.
At least that's the portrait painted by a Gibbs profile in the Washington Post, which suggests the press secretary is far more invested in his private role as an adviser to the president than his public one dealing with the media.
Today's Medal of Honor Moment for 14 April -- [Castle Argghhh!!!]
There are eight Medals awarded for actions on this day in our military history. Five from the Civil War, two from World War II, and one from Operation Iraqi Freedom. Two awards are posthumous.
Remembering Eagle Flight - Annual Memorial on BlackFive -- [Blackfive]
"They came to save us, and to give us dignity. Their sacrifice will remain in the minds of our children for the rest of their lives. We will teach their names to our children, and keep their names in our books of history as heroes who gave their lives for freedom." - Kurd Sheik Ahmet, April 17th, 1994 memorial service in Zakhu, Iraq.
The Mudville Gazette is the on-line voice of an American warrior and his wife who stands by him. They prefer to see peaceful change render force of arms unnecessary. Until that day they stand fast with those who struggle for freedom, strike for reason, and pray for a better tomorrow.
nanahawk: Thanks for the satellite imagery, etc. Although this has been read more
Kate: Saving Abel was one of many highlights of a fantastic read more
Ol Sarge: People will probably still complain about no Whoppers at the read more
Lisa-in-DC: Talked with family members of some wounded Marines who were read more
Greyhawk: Hi Tim - I'm the most cautious, serious, risk-averse weather read more
AW1 Tim: I can't see the "over-reacting" part. Volcanic ash in read more
AW1 Tim: It's true that there will never be anyone quite read more
AW1 Tim: You know, regional conferences or meet-ups is a very read more
SK: Excellent post! I too got to hear the cut from read more
ponsdorf: Young dude, you owe no apologies... Just get that history read more
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