Landlocked Sailor 2004

New Landlocked Sailor

2007-09-23T20:27:00.000+02:00

Pete's back close to water, and my normal blog is having technical difficulties so I'm going to start posting here for a bit.

I'm landlocked somewhere in Germany. This has been the coldest summer I've ever experienced, and that includes the ones I spent in England. On the other hand, Sept has been pretty nice. This area seems to share the San Francisco weather pattern.

First rant: Dear CBS and Fox. Kill the sound effects you play every time you do a screen wipe during a football game. It's driving me nuts, and if I had a fancy home-theater system I think I'd be shooting at the speakers.

2nd Rant: CBS, please fire Shannon Sharpe. The man is one step away from enunciating as well as the adults in a Charlie Brown cartoon.

A Very Cool Day

2006-09-13T15:31:00.000+02:00

Just wrapping up a very interesting day...had an hour long meeting with the Afghan Minister of Defense, and then a working lunch with him...not me and a bunch of other people...just me and another US officer.
He was very engaging, spoke great English, and is passionately dedicated to his job. A real honor to meet him.

As for lunch, it was good. Have no clue what I ate, but I think it involved rice and lamb...there was other stuff, no clue what it was...They make excellent flat bread here.

Yesterday, I met with one of the deputy ministers of defense. Some days, I really like my job.

In the 'Stan

2006-09-11T17:45:00.000+02:00

I am now in country...nothing much has changed since I left in December 04.
A bit upset that it has taken me this long to get back here, but that's another story.
No pictures yet, my days have been filled with meetings.

What I have seen is that the Afghan people seem dedicated to improving their standard of living. They want an effective National Army and Police Force.

There are signs of progress. There are even more cell-phones than 2 years ago. In ministry buildings, I have noticed more computers. Leaders are buying into long-term planning...this is significant in a country where day-to-day survival was not a given for the last 30 years.

The Taliban are stepping up their activity in and around Kabul, but they are killing more fellow Afghans than military personnel. Despite this increased activity, life goes on. There were additional police on the streets today, and it was relatively quiet here in town.

So far the visit is going well. More to follow, and I hope with some photographs.

Back to the 'Stan

2006-09-06T09:49:00.000+02:00

I am going back into Afghanistan for a few weeks....stay tuned for updates.

It Didn't Work...

2006-07-24T15:17:00.000+02:00

No matter how much you polish a turd, you will not make a diamond.....

Hillary's campaign has paid $6,000 in hairstyling and makeup...

HILLARY GATHERS AN ARMY
INCLUDES 3G FOR STYLIST

July 24, 2006 -- WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign army has increased its ranks to 50 staffers and more than 20 consultants, specialists in everything from fund-raising to speech-writing to hairstyling and makeup.
Clinton, the likely 2008 Democratic White House front-runner, ponied up nearly $3,000 in campaign cash for her blond tresses to get some presidential pampering from acclaimed D.C. stylist Isabelle Goetz.
Recently released federal fund-raising records show Clinton shelled out $1,500 in April for Goetz to carefully craft her coiffure and another $1,000 for a camera-ready clip in May.
She passed off both styling sessions as "media production" expenses.
Clinton was so desperate for Goetz to style her gilded mane, she picked up the scissor siren's $405 travel tab in April and a $38 expenses tab in May.
Goetz, a fixture at the swank Cristophe salon and the favored stylist of John Kerry, has been clipping the former first lady's locks for years - she's credited for updating Clinton's coif from country to chic. To complement the touch-up of her tresses, Clinton invested another $3,000 for makeup maestro Barbara Lacy to brush on some blush.
Lacy is a Tinseltown pro who applied the makeup to actors' mugs in movies including "Minority Report," "Runaway Bride," "National Treasure" and "In the Line of Fire."
She can also take credit for working the West Wing - the NBC version. Clinton paid Lacy an eye-popping $1,600 for some eye-lining in mid-May and another mind-boggling $1,300 for some makeup two weeks later.
Again, Clinton justified the makeovers as a media production expense.
Campaign spokesman Ann Lewis said the "costs represent several days' film production for campaign use" - including film that was shown at state conventions and at house parties, and can still be seen on Clinton's re-election Web site.
The sly salon sessions were just a sliver of the $3.4 million tab to keep her political machine running, including bills of $285,000 for political polling, more than $650,000 for direct mail and $200,000 for postage.

Such utter....nonsense

2006-07-05T13:46:00.000+02:00

Not eating for peace...let's see how long this lasts...They said they will not eat until the troops come home from Iraq. Let's hold them to their word (especially Cindy) and hopefully we wont hear from them again.

Anti-war protesters begin July 4 fast

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About 150 protesters sat in front of the White House on Monday to savor their last meal before starting a hunger strike that some said will continue until American troops return from Iraq.
The demonstration marking the Independence Day holiday was organized by CodePink, a women's anti-war group that called on volunteers to abstain from eating for 24 hours from midnight on Monday.
Some protesters said their fast would continue beyond July 4th.
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, said she would drink only water throughout the summer, which she said she would spend outside President George W. Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.
"This war is a crime," Sheehan told a crowd of clapping, cheering protesters. "We represent millions of Americans who withdraw their support from this government."
The demonstrators crouched in the muggy evening next to a piece of pink plastic, spread down the road as a table and table-cloth in one. It was covered with wilted pink sunflowers and plates of vegetarian curry, white rice, and beans.
The demonstration aimed at highlighting the costs of the war, in which more than 2,500 U.S. soldiers and thousands of Iraqis have died, said CodePink spokeswoman Meredith Dearborn.
"We have to put our own lives on the line, and I'm willing to do that," said activist Diane Wilson, who pledged to fast until the United States withdraws from Iraq.
Dearborn said 2,700 other activists nationwide, including actors Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn, would work as a relay team passing the fast daily from one to another

Brilliant!!

2006-06-15T21:16:00.000+02:00

If you can't beat 'em. Join 'em ---

From Breitbart, via Drudge

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/06/15/D8I8LDC00.html

Cleric Calls on Bush to Convert to IslamJun 15 8:45 AM US/Eastern

By IRWAN FIRDAUSAssociated Press Writer
SOLO, Indonesia
A reputed leader of the al-Qaida-linked terror group blamed for deadly bombings across Indonesia on Thursday accused President Bush and Australian Prime Minister John Howard of waging wars against Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Militant cleric Abu Bakar Bashir also called on Bush and Howard to convert to Islam, saying it was "the only way to save their souls," adding that families still grieving after the 2002 Bali blasts that killed many foreigners should also become Muslim to find "salvation and peace."

Bashir, 68, was released from prison Wednesday after completing a 26- month sentence for conspiracy in the Bali bombings that killed 202 people, was at a hardline Islamic boarding school that has spawned some of Southeast Asia's deadliest terrorists.
The firebrand cleric also declined to directly condemn young men who carry out bombings in Indonesia in the name of Islam, saying they he still considered them "holy warriors," because they believed they were defending the oppressed.
But he also said they misguided and wrong to use bombs in a country at peace.
"Why use bombs in a non-conflict zone, preaching is enough," he said.
Jemaah Islamiyah is accused of carrying out church bombings across the world's most populous Muslim nation in 2000, the 2002 bombings on the resort island of Bali, attacks in the capital Jakarta in 2003 and and a triple suicide bombing on Bali last October.
The attacks together killed more than 260 people, many of them foreigners, and have thrust Indonesia onto the front line of the global war on terror.
Though the United States and Australia said they were disappointed at Bashir's release, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono noted Thursday that it did not mean his government was soft on Islamic militants.
"Abu Bakar Bashir was put on trial. He was punished," Yudhoyono said in Jakarta, adding that Indonesia has arrested hundreds of suspected terrorists and sentenced three linked to the 2002 Bali bombings to death.
Bashir, who has never been linked to the execution, preparation or commission of terrorist attacks, was asked Thursday about families still suffering from the Bali blasts.
He said the attacks "were God's will" and that survivors should "convert to Islam" if they wanted to soothe their suffering.
He had the same message for Bush and Howard, whom he criticized for waging wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying converting was "the only way for them to save their souls."
Both ideas were crudely expressed, but are in line with basic Islamic _ and Christian _ teachings on personal redemption and God's omnipotence.
Bashir also told Australia, which urged Indonesian authorities to keep a close eye on his activities, not to "intervene" in his nation's affairs.
"I don't interfere in Australian affairs, and you should not intervene in ours," he said.
Bashir called Bush an "infidel," but said he was happy the American people were starting to realize that their president had made a mistake when he decided to wage war on Muslims. He did not elaborate, but was apparently referring to sliding opinion polls.
"I feel sorry for the American people, but it seems now they realize he was wrong," Bashir told reporters who were invited to speak to him on the porch of his modest home inside the al-Mukmin boarding school complex, which he founded in 1972.
Bashir's freedom has raised concerns that he will energize Indonesia's small, Islamic radical fringe by making impassioned speeches at rallies and mosques, but few believe the cleric will play any direct role in terrorism.
Before the Bali blasts, Bashir was chiefly known for his campaign to make his secular nation an Islamic state _ something he said Thursday he would continue to do _ and his vitriolic criticism of the West.
Sidney Jones, a leading international expert on Jemaah Islamiyah, said she did not think Bashir's freedom increased the threat of bombings in Indonesia.
But, she said, "there is no question that his stature has grown in prison and that he's now seen as a symbol of defying the West and the United States in particular.
"For that reason, he will be a very popular speaker among many young Muslim crowds in many parts to Indonesia, including many people who have no interest in violence whatsoever."

I am sure that President Bush is already enrolled in a conversion class...

You Can't Make This Stuff Up...

2006-06-13T22:45:00.000+02:00

Clinton blames Bush for more ... Hurricanes?

No, really he does.

See - from Breitbart.com (via Drudge)

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/06/12/D8I6VEOO4.html

As Tropical Storm Alberto threatened to strengthen into the ninth hurricane in 22 months to affect Florida, former President Clinton predicted Monday that Republican environmental policies will lead to more severe storms.
"It is now generally recognized that while Al Gore and I were ridiculed, we were right about global warming," Clinton said at a fundraiser for the Florida Democratic Party. "It's a serious problem. It's going to lead to more hurricanes."

Gore's documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth," chronicles the former vice president's efforts to educate the public about global warming. It's in limited release around the country.
In his critique of the GOP, Clinton also touched on the war in Iraq, the rising federal deficit and high health care costs. The crowd of about 500 greeted him with loud applause and shouts of "We love you, Bill!" and "Four more years!"

Jeff Sadosky, spokesman for the state Republican Party, decried Clinton's rhetoric. "Bill Clinton's class warfare and race-baiting message gets us no closer to solutions for the issues he brings up," he said.

Sadosky referred in part to Clinton's comments earlier this month in Arizona. At that event, Clinton characterized Republican Party leaders as right-wing, white Southerners.

A Few Words About Immigration

2006-04-12T19:44:00.000+02:00

Truer words regarding immigration have never been spoken:

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Imagine if a current politician said this.

Day-freakin' - tona

2006-03-14T07:16:00.000+01:00

Had the opportunity to go to the Daytona 500. Being a keen observer of human nature, I could not resist this little excursion into "middle America". NASCAR is the number one spectator sport, so I knew the people watching would be great. I was not disappointed. I saw a lifetime's worth of high foreheads, mouth breathing and shallow gene pools....but thse three pictures captured the essence of NASCAR and its fans. It should be noted I did not PAY for the tickets....

What is the deal with this hat? What is this young "lady" trying to say?

This woman had the can of beer in her hand for the entire race. She stood and cheered her hero, Dale Jr, every time he went by.

Every lap, 200 of them, they would stand and point. I think Dale saw them, he seemed to drive harder down the "superstretch" just for them. The younger one would have a look of nervous anticipation. It seemed as if she wasn't sure that the cars would actually come by this time...

It was actually a pretty good time. Them NASCAR boys know how to put on a show, and any place where you can bring in a cooler full of beer is OK by me.

Technorati Tags: Daytona

Why?

2006-03-13T13:39:00.000+01:00

Were these people not beaten to a bloody pulp?
A group of protesters, 5 women, disrupted the funeral of a soldier killed in Iraq.
Not out of protest against the war, but rather...

"Five women sang and danced as they held up signs saying "thank God for dead soldiers" at the funeral of an army sergeant who was killed by an Iraqi bomb.

For them, it was the perfect way to spread God's word: America was being punished for tolerating homosexuality."

I don't care whether you think the war is right or wrong....and it takes alot for me to get mad. But if I EVER witness something like this I will not be able to restrain myself, and someone will pay. Dearly.

Read the story here: Funeral Protest

The Horror

2006-03-06T13:21:00.000+01:00

This needs to stop NOW!...
It appears that the Indianapolis Airport is run by a FOREIGN company....
Drudge Reports here

I have been to Heathrow and Gatwick. Their security operations are significant. I feel more secure traveling through the airports in the UK than I do any US airport.. and I don't have to take my shoes off...Maybe the US airports can learn something from this company.

The Oscars

2006-03-06T13:16:00.000+01:00

The Academy Awards were last night. Here are my thoughts on the winners:

Best Picture - Crash - Didn't see it.
Best Actor - Philip Seymour - Capote - Didn't see it.
Best Actress - Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line - Didn't see it.
Best Supporting Actor - George Clooney - Syriana - Didn't see it.
Best Supporting Actress - Rachel Weisz - Constant Gardner - Didn't see it.
Best Director - Ang Lee - Brokeback Mountain - Didn't see it. (Not that there's anything wrong with it)

....I need a life.

I'd have PAID to see this....

2006-03-02T20:54:00.000+01:00

SMASH went to a Cindy Sheehan speaking engagement...hilarity ensued. I love it when people get caught by their own words.....

Read on here: SMASH watches a Cindy Takedown

SMASH goes one better and exposes her for the ATTENTION WHORE she really is:
Here

Don't Fear Dubai Ports

2006-03-01T12:37:00.000+01:00

It really doesn't matter who owns the Port Operating Companies....They all have to follow the Federal, State and Local guidelines for operating ports, port security etc. And oh, by the way, there will still be American Longshoremen, Stevedores and Truck drivers....The whole uproar over the sale of the port operations in several US ports to a company from the UAE is nothing more than anti-Arab sentiment boiling over.
I have been to Dubai, and it is just like Smash describes at the link.
Smash gets it....Smash on Dubai

He's Back

2006-02-28T13:21:00.000+01:00

George Steinbrenner, on the Yankees (predicts a championship) and the World "Baseball Classic" a good read. April can't get here fast enough:

More visible Steinbrenner going strong at 75
By Hal Bodley, USA TODAY

TAMPA — New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, a recluse of sorts last year, is much more visible this spring, motoring around the team's training complex at Legends Field in a golf cart, occasionally stopping to chat with members of the media.

New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner: "I've said we're going to win it this year. We're going after it."
By Tony Gutierrez, AP

But in a one-on-one interview Monday with USA TODAY, the 75-year-old Steinbrenner blasted the World Baseball Classic, complained about the $110 million his team had to pay in luxury taxes and revenue sharing for 2005 and, yes, said he has mellowed. (Steinbrenner Q&A : One-on-one with George)

"Not mellow-mellow," he said. "I'm still The Boss."

Steinbrenner, who begins his 33rd season as principal owner, confirmed it took a meeting in Tampa after last season to ensure the return of manager Joe Torre, who has two seasons remaining on his three-year, $19.2 million contract extension.

Steinbrenner said Torre might have felt he wasn't appreciated, "But I appreciate him very much. The relationship is as good as it's ever been."

The Boss admitted he is out of character to predict the Yankees will win the World Series but said he feels that good about this team.

As for the inaugural 16-country World Baseball Classic that opens this week in Tokyo, Steinbrenner became angry when it was discussed. He praised outfielder Hideki Matsui for not playing for the Japanese team.

"I'll go on the record and predict somebody's going to get hurt badly in this damn thing," he said.

"I'm worried sick for (Commissioner) Bud Selig. I'm worried for baseball and worried for the whole thing. Somebody's going to get hurt and hurt some team. Baseball didn't need this. It's disrupting spring training.

"Some young people in baseball have sold Selig on it."

In summary, he said, "I'm very happy."

More from George Steinbrenner, who spoke as the Yankees prepare for the season at Legends Field in TampA:

USA TODAY: How's your spring going?

Steinbrenner: We're having a good spring. I think we're going to have a good team. We have good pitching, good depth in pitching. I think (general manager) Brian Cashman and (manager) Joe Torre are doing a good job. We've got a great staff.

Q: What does the addition of center fielder Johnny Damon mean to the team?

A: He's a very good player and is going to help us a lot. I've gotten to know him fairly well and like him. I'm extremely happy, though, with (Hideki) Matsui. I think he's going to have a very big year because he's concentrating here where he should be and not on that World Classic. It's crazy.

Q: So, what do you really think of the World Baseball Classic?

A: I think it's bull——. Some good player is going to get hurt and they don't have insurance on him. It's a bad situation. A lot of the players, the smart ones, are dropping out. I give Matsui a lot of credit (for not playing with the Japanese team).

Q: How's your health? Are you still working out?

A: Every morning. I get up about 7:30 and work out at home — I've got a setup there — for an hour or more. I lift weights and do a lot of exercises. I don't do any running because of my knees. I feel as good as I have in years. If you can't sit in the saddle, you can't lead the charge.

Q: How far can this team go? You haven't been to the World Series since 2003.

A: I've said we're going to win it this year. We're going after it. Yes, it's unusual for me to predict that. I see where some guys are picking Boston to win the American League East. They're a good team, but I don't believe it. We have to win the American League East and keep going right through the playoffs.

Q: Do you enjoy owning the Yankees and baseball as much as you used to?

A: I do when we come to a year like this. Yeah. I like being involved; I sometimes get too involved so I lay back and let (son-in-law Steve Swindal) do more of the stuff he should be doing. I'm laying back a little bit more, but I'm still in there. I know what's going on.

Q: When you announced plans for the new Yankee Stadium last summer, you said Swindal will eventually take over for you. Do you have a time frame for that?

A: I think he's coming along very nicely and is doing a fine job. My son Hank is going through a tough divorce situation, and when he gets that ironed out, he'll be in there as well as doing the horse stuff (Kinsman Stable). My daughter Jessica is getting into the horses big-time now. She has training aspirations.

Q: Speaking of horses, what's the latest on Bellamy Road (last year's Kentucky Derby favorite who finished seventh after being injured in the race)?

A: Bellamy Road is doing fine. I just talked to the trainers on a conference call. He's doing very well and will come back this year in the Breeders' Cup. Having the Derby favorite and not winning was a big disappointment. We've got some good Derby hopefuls this year.

Q: At the end of last year, even though he's signed through 2007, Joe Torre wasn't sure he was coming back. He indicated he might not be wanted. How was that resolved?

A: We have a great relationship now. He wasn't sure (after the season), but we had a good meeting here in Tampa. Steve sat in on it, and I'm very happy with Joe and his family.

Q: Is the relationship as good as it's ever been since he took over in 1996?

A: Yes, it's as good as it's ever been, and Steve deserves a lot of the credit for getting this resolved.

Q: Torre gave the impression he wasn't fully appreciated. Is that true?

A: It might have been, but I appreciate him very much. He's more relaxed, and Steve has a lot to do with that. Joe's a good human being. I think we have a whole staff of good human beings who care about our kids.

Q: GM Brian Cashman's status was also uncertain after the season, but his role has been redefined. Are you pleased with the new arrangement?

A: I'm very happy with Cashman. He had a situation with the right fielder (Gary Sheffield) the other day (regarding Sheffield's 2007 contract option), but he's a good man. A lot of teams would have liked to have him. He's doing very well.

Q: Is this a more stable operation now than in recent years?

A: I believe that's true. Look at the guys over the years who've gone on and done great things at other places. Look at the managers we've got out there. They had to learn it somewhere. They learned it here because we do have a good organization. (Team president) Randy Levine and (chief operating officer) Lonn Trost are great.

By Robert F. Bukaty, AP
Steinbrenner: "I think I have mellowed. Well, I am the Boss still, but I mean I'm not mellow-mellow."

Q: What's your view on upcoming collective bargaining agreement negotiations? The contract expires Dec. 19. You paid $34 million in luxury tax and $75.9 million in revenue sharing for 2005. Are you looking for changes to the current system?

A: I see in the paper today Boston is starting to whine about it. I think (commissioner) Bud Selig has a steady course now, but they can't continue to take so much money from us. It's crazy when you can't make money when you're doing like we're doing (4 million-plus admissions in 2005). I'm very supportive of Bud Selig but just hope he tempers it and makes it more equal. I'd like to see everybody competing, but we're not a socialist state.

Q: Are you going to be more active this year than you were last year?

A: A little more active but not really active. I'll go to as many games as I can. Yes, I backed off a little last year, but I'll be there. They'll know I'm there. I'm not going to retire. Just so you have a presence and they know you're there. I have a great love for New York and New York fans.

Q: Have you mellowed? But how can you, because you're 'The Boss'?

A: I think I have mellowed. Well, I am the Boss still, but I mean I'm not mellow-mellow. When I see (scraps of) paper on the ground and stuff I don't like, I'm mad about it. When I see security not doing the job, I'm all over them — that kind of stuff. I still demand certain things from my team. We had people from Latin America in here. We're working very closely with them on merchandizing and teaching our young players how to react because it's tough in New York.

Q: As former vice president of the U.S. Olympic Committee (1989-96), were you troubled watching the poor showing by United States athletes in this year's Olympics?

A: They didn't do well at all. When I was involved, I designed the future for them. It was a disappointment to watch them. That skier (Bode Miller) was out at night, chasing all over. That was no good.

Q: You've owned the Yankees since 1973. What are your fondest memories?

A: There are a lot of them. One that stands out was being in Cincinnati (in the 1976 World Series when the Reds swept the Yankees) that year when they beat us. We were in the big show, but to me we put up a good fight and I knew right then we could make it. Another was Game 6 of the 1977 World Series when Reggie Jackson hit those three home runs.

Q: How do you spend your time away from baseball?

A: I have 13 grandchildren, and they keep me going. They're all doing very well. Following them keeps me busy. There's nothing like being a grandfather. It makes you feel good, but it's tough to keep track of all of them. I try to be good to them. My wife Joan and I will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary on May 12. That woman is a goddess, spending all that time with me.

Q: How's your relationship with the players?

A: I think we've got a good group of players. They're working together. They took my golf cart the other day. It didn't get me upset. We found out who it was, and they were talked to. We told them please don't take it anymore because I can't walk that far to the complex because my legs bother me from football.

Q: Will you continue (to have) your publicist issue your statements?

A: I'll be using statements for the most part but will be around.

Han Solo's Crew Member

2006-02-17T20:26:00.000+01:00

Not a bad thing at all. Took a quiz, and found out I best match the crew of the Millennium Falconm. Very Cool.

You scored as Millennium Falcon (from Star Wars). The world around you is at war. Fortunately you know how to handle that with the greatest of ease. You are one of the best at what you do and no one needs to tell you that. Now if only the droids could be quiet for five seconds.

Coming on December 1, 2005:

Your Ultimate Sci-Fi Profile: which sci-fi crew would you best fit in? The Sequel

Millennium Falcon (from Star Wars)

100%

Nebuchadnezzar (from The Matrix)

81%

SG-1 (from Stargate)

81%

Galactica (from Battlestar: Galactica)

75%

Bebop (from Cowboy Bebop)

56%

Enterprise D (from Star Trek)

50%

Moya (from Farscape)

44%

Serenity (from Firefly)

38%

Which sci-fi crew would you best fit in? v1.0
created with QuizFarm.com

JUST SHUT UP

2006-01-25T13:44:00.000+01:00

Can someone arrange for Cindy Sheehan to remain in Venezuela? PLEASE?

CARACAS (AFP) - Anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan, mother of a US soldier killed in
Iraq, joined more than 10,000 anti-globalization activists in Caracas, where she hailed Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chavez.
"I admire him for his resolve against my government and its meddling," said Sheehan, who gained notoriety when she camped outside US
President George W. Bush' s ranch last year to protest the Iraq war. She said she hoped to meet Chavez later in the week.
Sheehan was among more than 10,000 people from across the Americas who took to the streets of the Venezuelan capital Tuesday in an anti-war protest that launched the six-day Caracas World Social Forum (WSF).
My government should not meddle anywhere, the "peace mom" told AFP during the march, which was marked by anti-Bush slogans.
We must stop the Iraq war, we must not let it happen again, said Sheehan, who has been arrested at least twice while demonstrating outside the White House.
Tuesday's march ended outside the armed forces headquarters, on an avenue usually reserved for military parades. "It's a peace route now," Sheehan said.
Sheehan, whose son Casey was killed in Iraq on April 4, 2004, said she would remain in Caracas until the WSF concludes on Sunday, and would address participants on several occasions.
She said Venezuela's foreign ministry sponsored her visit.

UPDATE: She has found a way to make Diane Feinstein look reasonable. Cindy apparently wants to run for the Senate. Oh, and she invited her new friend Chavez to camp out near the President's Crawford ranch. Sheesh.....

In Case You Care

2006-01-20T14:16:00.000+01:00

I am back home in Tampa.

Happy New Year

2006-01-05T07:16:00.000+01:00

I am back in another land that isn't quite right...what a way to start the year.

After 20+ hours of flying, I arrived safely at our forward headquarters. The landscape is absolutely lunar. Nothing green anywhere. We work in a warehouse, we eat in another warehouse, and for sleep, yep you guessed it, another warehouse. But even better, we sleep in shipping containers inside the warehouse. Refer back to pictures from November '04 for a shot of the shipping containers...

A few observations:
Fiesta Bowl....Speed kills. And it killed Notre Dame...my prediction - that is the last Bowl Game Weis will lose at ND.

Rose Bowl just ended...USC lost. 'nuff said. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of guys.

Luckily this is a short two week trip. Hope to post more frequently in '06.

Howard Dean is an Idiot

2005-12-06T14:30:00.000+01:00

Howard Dean made some comments on a Texas radio show that prove he is an idiot:

Saying the "idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong," Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean predicted today that the Democratic Party will come together on a proposal to withdraw National Guard and Reserve troops immediately, and all US forces within two years.
Dean made his comments in an interview on WOAI Radio in San Antonio.

He goes on with gems like this:
I've seen this before in my life. This is the same situation we had in Vietnam. Everybody then kept saying, 'just another year, just stay the course, we'll have a victory.' Well, we didn't have a victory, and this policy cost the lives of an additional 25,000 troops because we were too stubborn to recognize what was happening."

His big thinking leads to this conclusion:

I think we need a strategic redeployment over a period of two years," Dean said. "Bring the 80,000 National Guard and Reserve troops home immediately. They don't belong in a conflict like this anyway. We ought to have a redeployment to Afghanistan of 20,000 troops, we don't have enough troops to do the job there and its a place where we are welcome. And we need a force in the Middle East, not in Iraq but in a friendly neighboring country to fight (terrorist leader Musab) Zarqawi, who came to Iraq after this invasion. We've got to get the target off the backs of American troops.

Wow! A "strategic redeployment" that is some brilliant thinking. But then again, any redeployment of military force is strategic, dumbass.

The White House wants us to have a permanent commitment to Iraq. This is an Iraqi problem. President Bush got rid of Saddam Hussein and that was a great thing, but that could have been done in a very different way. But now that we're there we need to figure out how to leave. 80% of Iraqis want us to leave, and it's their country."

80%? Really? Is that 80% of all Iraqis, or just 80% of the insurgents/terrorists. Perhaps 80% of the former regime leadership? 80% sounds great, I would love to know where he got his numbers. Dumbass.

Dean also compared the controversy over pre-war intelligence to the Watergate scandal which brought down Richard Nixon's presidency in 1974.

More of the same old tired blather... Iraq is just like Vietnam (yawn) no wait, it is just like Watergate (yawn) I know Dean is just like a ..... Dumbass.

A Year Ago

2005-11-29T14:05:00.000+01:00

I was in Herat on Thanksgiving. Actually I spent the day in a helicopter (Russian Mi-17) between Herat and Khandahar. Had MRE's for lunch on the ramp at Herat, and flew into Khandahar for dinner. Of course, by the time we go to there, I had a migraine of epic proportions. I went to the DFAC (Dining Hall) and got food, which looked great, but could not eat.
This year...home for Thanksgiving. No helicopters, no migraine. The family together....much more relaxing. The food was good too.

What a difference a year makes.

Did You Know?

2005-09-15T14:33:00.000+02:00

That history is about to be made (again) in Afghanistan? Buried under the Katrina, Roberts and Bombs in Iraq News there is something about to happen on Sunday in Afghanistan.... An election. On Sunday, almost a year after electing their president, Afghans will again take to the polls and elect a parliament.
Afghans are embracing democracy. They registered to vote in the millions, and despite (hollow) threats from die-hard Taliban they will vote on Sunday. The predicted upswing in violence leading up to this election did not happen as was feared. An Islamic democracy in Afghanistan is being born. How many news stories have you read about this?
Sure, Afghanistan has a long-long way to go. Their Army and Police need more training and resources, the government must improve its reach beyond Kabul, the economy needs to be re-started, but overall, there is progress. Real progress. After more than 40 years of war, the signs of civil society are all over Afghanistan. The Taliban is irrelevant. Al-Qaeda no longer seeks haven there, law and order is being restored.

But, you wouldn't know about it unless I told you.

Bad Day to be a Terrorist in England

2005-07-08T14:39:00.000+02:00

I am not going to rehash what happened in London yesterday. It is all over the news. From my perspective, the desired response will not be what the Terrorists get. I am sure they feel this will lead to Britain pulling out of Iraq/Afghanistan as did the Spanish after the Madrid bombings. I think the response will be quite the opposite. I work with many British military officers. They are pissed (no not THAT way) and if anything are aching for retribution.
Anyone remotely related to terrorism in Britain will certainly have bad days ahead. This should be interesting to watch.

Pelosi Declares Afghan War Over

2005-06-23T19:30:00.000+02:00

Thanks. Now we can go home. Moron.

Read story here

Folks, the war in Afghanistan is not over. We are making significant progress, but there is still work to be done. Like in Iraq, an elected parliament must be seated. That vote will take place Sept 18. We must also ensure that Afghanistan has a capable Army and Police Force, as well as a judicial and corrections system. Finally, the Afghan Government must extend its reach beyond Kabul. That is all happening, despite Taliban efforts to derail the process.
This new government is starting from scratch, its gonna take time. The war is not over.

CAPTURED

2005-06-23T19:19:00.000+02:00

It's not Osama, but this guy was trying to occupy my property:

He's Still an Ass, But He Did Apologize....

2005-06-22T12:50:00.000+02:00

From the Chicago Tribune...

Durbin yields to onslaught, apologizes in full

By Jill Zuckman and Gary Washburn, Tribune staff reporters. Jill Zuckman reported from Washington and Gary Washburn from ChicagoPublished June 22, 2005

WASHINGTON -- His voice choking, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois took to the Senate floor Tuesday and explicitly offered "heartfelt apologies" for comparing America's treatment of prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention center to the atrocities of the Nazis, Soviets and other murderous regimes.The apology came after a week of drumbeat criticism against Durbin, the assistant Democratic leader, from the White House, from Republican senators, from conservative activists and, finally, from Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, a fellow Democrat.And Durbin's own halting efforts at contrition had seemed to only stoke more criticism until his mea culpa Tuesday."I'm sorry if anything that I said caused any offense or pain to those who have such bitter memories of the Holocaust, the greatest moral tragedy of our time," Durbin said as his voice trembled. "Nothing, nothing should ever be said to demean or diminish that moral tragedy. I'm also sorry if anything I said in any way cast a negative light on our fine men and women in the military."Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, also took to the floor, accepting Durbin's offering."All of us, I believe, who have had the opportunity to serve in public life from time to time have said things that we deeply regret," McCain said. "I know that I have. ... I would like to say to the senator from Illinois, he did the right thing, the courageous thing and I believe we can put this issue behind us."Earlier in the day, however, Daley came down hard on his friend."I think it is a disgrace," the mayor declared when asked about Durbin's comments last week. "He is a good friend of mine, but I think it is a disgrace to say that any man or woman in the military acts like that."Daley's son, Patrick, recently enlisted in the U.S. Army and now is in training."I believe our men and women in the military have a lot of common sense and passion and heart," the mayor said.`So disrespectful'"Read the history of the Holocaust," Daley said. "Nothing can compare with the Holocaust. . . . It is so disrespectful for all the victims of the Holocaust. You are talking about 6 million people intentionally killed. . . ."How many did [Stalin] kill?" Daley asked rhetorically. "Twenty-two million. Then you take what took place in Cambodia, and we are trying to [compare] incidents in Guantanamo Bay, where nobody has been killed, no one has been seriously injured, to that?"The controversy began June 14 with a lengthy floor speech by Durbin criticizing the Bush administration's policy on the U.S. prison at the Guantanamo Bay base in Cuba. Durbin read aloud from an FBI agent's e-mail describing the treatment of prisoners."If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags or some mad regime--Pol Pot or others--that had no concern for human beings," Durbin said.The next day, Republican senators, including the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, scalded Durbin with criticism. Durbin, however, initially refused to back down, arguing on the floor with Sens. John Warner (R-Va.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) about the propriety of how the U.S. treats its prisoners.By Friday, however, Durbin sought to quell the fury, issuing a statement of regret in which he tried to clarify his remarks but insisted he would continue to denounce the administration when he believed it was wrong. That prompted additional criticism over the weekend from Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.By Tuesday, Durbin said he had come to understand that his comparison of the interrogations at Guantanamo to the tactics of murderous regimes "was a very poor choice of words."Interrupting a Senate debate on energy legislation, Durbin announced that a senator lives by his words. "Words are the coin of the realm in our profession," he said. "Occasionally words will fail us, and occasionally we will fail words."Durbin said he was especially pained to think that he had let down the soldiers he had visited in Iraq a few months ago.

`They are the best'"When you look at the eyes of the soldiers, you see your son and daughter. They are the best," he said. "I never, ever intended any disrespect for them. Some may believe that my remarks crossed a line. To them, I extend my heartfelt apologies."This was not the first time a senator has had to issue multiple explanations and apologies to tamp down angry denunciations. In 2002, then-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) enthusiastically praised Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) at his 100th birthday party, citing his 1948 candidacy for president as a segregationist."I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him," Lott said. "We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either."Lott spent weeks trying to explain what he meant and trying to apologize before his Republican colleagues forced him from his leadership post.Durbin is unlikely to face a similar consequence. His remarks were immediately greeted by McCain and a handful of Democrats on the floor.`Let this be the end'"It takes a big person to apologize to the Senate," said Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.). "He has done it. I appeal to everyone to move on. Let this be the end of this."Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said she was taken by the emotion behind Durbin's remarks."We know Dick Durbin. We know he is patriotic. We know he cares about the men and women serving and we know he would do nothing, nothing, to ever mean anything to the contrary," said Feinstein, adding, "Let this be the end of it."In a statement, Frist appeared to signal that the end had, in fact, arrived."Sen. Durbin's apology was a necessary and appropriate step in repairing the harm his earlier remarks have had on the image of the millions of fine men and women serving in America's military," Frist said. "As members of Congress we must always be sensitive to the fact that it is their struggles and sacrifices that keep us safe in the war on terror."

Dick Durbin Compares Troops to Nazis

2005-06-16T13:21:00.000+02:00

I compare him to an ass.....

Read this.

BY JAMES TARANTO Wednesday, June 15, 2005 4:11 p.m. EDT
Durbin Supports the TroopsSen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, took the Senate floor yesterday and likened American servicemen to Nazis (link in PDF):
When you read some of the graphic descriptions of what has occurred here [at Guantanamo Bay]--I almost hesitate to put them in the [Congressional] Record, and yet they have to be added to this debate. Let me read to you what one FBI agent saw. And I quote from his report:
On a couple of occasions, I entered interview rooms to find a detainee chained hand and foot in a fetal position to the floor, with no chair, food or water. Most times they urinated or defecated on themselves, and had been left there for 18-24 hours or more. On one occasion, the air conditioning had been turned down so far and the temperature was so cold in the room, that the barefooted detainee was shaking with cold. . . . On another occasion, the [air conditioner] had been turned off, making the temperature in the unventilated room well over 100 degrees. The detainee was almost unconscious on the floor, with a pile of hair next to him. He had apparently been literally pulling his hair out throughout the night. On another occasion, not only was the temperature unbearably hot, but extremely loud rap music was being played in the room, and had been since the day before, with the detainee chained hand and foot in the fetal position on the tile floor.
If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime--Pol Pot or others--that had no concern for human beings. Sadly, that is not the case. This was the action of Americans in the treatment of their prisoners.
We are fighting an enemy that murdered 3,000 innocent people on American soil 3 1/2 years ago and would murder millions more if given the chance--and according to Dick Durbin, our soldiers are the Nazis.

I am not there and have not been involved in the interrogation of Enemy Combatants held at military detention facilities, so I will not engage in Monday Morning Quarterbacking of how we handle our detainees. I will say, however, that compared to what the Nazis, the Vietnamese, the Japanese, and the Insurgents in Iraq treated their prisoners, we show incredible restraint and respect for our prisoners. Remember, in the hours leading up to their capture, these people were trying to kill our soldiers. They know who their leaders are, and where they hide. Using techniques to extract that information is keeping our soldiers alive. Let's not forget that. I don't know what else to do, sit down and have tea during interrogation? What is being done to detainees is designed to make them feel uncomfortable to get them to talk. But don't call it torture, and certainly don't compare our methods to those of the Nazis. Last time I checked, there are no ovens at our detention centers with corpses stacked in them.

Stop the Insanity

2005-06-15T13:15:00.000+02:00

Common Sense Has Left the Building:
This UPI story left me scratching my head. Who would say something like this, and why UPI felt it needed to be published...A former economist for the Bush Administration suggests the WTC was brought down by controlled demolition and was part of some scheme. WTF??
Read this gem from the UPI: Sheesh.

A former Bush team member during his first administration is now voicing serious doubts about the collapse of the World Trade Center on 9-11. Former chief economist for the Department of Labor during President George W. Bush's first term Morgan Reynolds comments that the official story about the collapse of the WTC is "bogus" and that it is more likely that a controlled demolition destroyed the Twin Towers and adjacent Building No. 7. Reynolds, who also served as director of the Criminal Justice Center at the National Center for Policy Analysis in Dallas and is now professor emeritus at Texas A&M University said, "If demolition destroyed three steel skyscrapers at the World Trade Center on 9/11, then the case for an 'inside job' and a government attack on America would be compelling." Reynolds commented from his Texas A&M office, "It is hard to exaggerate the importance of a scientific debate over the cause of the collapse of the twin towers and building 7. If the official wisdom on the collapses is wrong, as I believe it is, then policy based on such erroneous engineering analysis is not likely to be correct either. The government's collapse theory is highly vulnerable on its own terms. Only professional demolition appears to account for the full range of facts associated with the collapse of the three buildings."

A Personal Story

2005-06-09T13:36:00.000+02:00

Michelle Malkin writes about the redesign of the site of the World Trade Center here:
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/michellemalkin/mm20050608.shtml

I want to offer my opinion on what should be done at "Ground Zero" it's really simple, yet powerful. Are you ready, I am going to yell:
REBUILD THE WORLD TRADE CENTER EXACTLY LIKE IT WAS!!! As for a memorial, do something in the courtyard, or in the lobby, but the buildings need to be just as they were. The terrorists of 9/11 defaced the city of New York. They knocked down something that was as much a part of the sky line as the Empire State building. To put anything other than what was there is a slap in the face to those who died there, and to the City and this country. No self-flagellating memorial, no whailing wall. Just rebuild the buildings.

Look, my Dad worked in the towers just after they were built. How cool is that for a kid? Your Dad works in the TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD? It was a source of pride for me. On the day they fell, I was pissed off. Later I went to the site. I thought I would be sad, but no, I was even madder at those responsible. If we don't rebuild the towers as they were, Osama and his boys win. They made us feel bad about ourselves and what we believe in. No the only proper response is to build the towers just like they were. It goes back to the playground....someone knocks over your sand castle, you rebuild it just like it was. Think about it....

Required Reading

2005-05-20T15:33:00.000+02:00

I have tried to stay non-political and light throughout this blog. But I just read something on this site http://www.ejectejecteject.com/, that is one of the most eloquent pieces I think I have ever read and captures how I feel about the war. Read "Sanctuary" parts one and two. It is powerful stuff.

Oops.....

2005-05-16T14:06:00.000+02:00

Apparently Newsweek made a mistake......

Newsweek says Koran desecration report is wrong

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Newsweek magazine said on Sunday it erred in a May 9 report that U.S. interrogators desecrated the Koran at Guantanamo Bay, and apologized to the victims of deadly Muslim protests sparked by the article.
Editor Mark Whitaker said the magazine inaccurately reported that U.S. military investigators had confirmed that personnel at the detention facility in Cuba had flushed the Muslim holy book down the toilet.
The report sparked angry and violent protests across the Muslim world from Afghanistan, where 16 were killed and more than 100 injured, to Pakistan to Indonesia to Gaza. In the past week it was condemned in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Malaysia and by the Arab League.
On Sunday, Afghan Muslim clerics threatened to call for a holy war against the United States.
"We regret that we got any part of our story wrong, and extend our sympathies to victims of the violence and to the U.S. soldiers caught in its midst," Whitaker wrote in the magazine's latest issue, due to appear on U.S. newsstands on Monday.
The weekly news magazine said in its May 23 edition that the information had come from a "knowledgeable government source" who told Newsweek that a military report on abuse at Guantanamo Bay said interrogators flushed at least one copy of the Koran down a toilet in a bid to make detainees talk.
But Newsweek said the source later told the magazine he could not be certain he had seen an account of the Koran incident in the military report and that it might have been in other investigative documents or drafts.
Whitaker told Reuters that Newsweek did not know if the reported toilet incident involving the Koran ever occurred. "As to whether anything like this happened, we just don't know," he said in an interview. "We're not saying it absolutely happened but we can't say that it absolutely didn't happen either."
INCIDENT UNDER INVESTIGATION
The acknowledgment by the magazine came amid heightened scrutiny of the U.S. media, which has seen a rash of news organizations fire reporters and admit that stories were fabricated or plagiarized.
The Pentagon told the magazine the report was wrong last Friday, saying it had investigated earlier allegations of Koran desecration from detainees and found them "not credible."
Newsweek reported that Pentagon spokesman Lawrence DiRita reacted angrily when the magazine asked about the source's continued assertion that he had read about the Koran incident in an investigative report. "People are dead because of what this son of a bitch said. How could he be credible now?" DiRita told Newsweek.
The May 9 report, which appeared as a brief item by Michael Isikoff and John Barry in the magazine's "Periscope" section, had a huge international impact, sparking the protests from Muslims who consider the Koran the literal word of God and treat each book with deep reverence.
Desecration of the Koran is punishable by death in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Newsweek, which said opponents of the Afghan government including remnants of the Taliban had used its report to fan unrest in the country, said it was not contemplating disciplinary action against staff.
"This was reported very carefully, with great sensitivity and concern, and we'll continue to report on it," said Newsweek Managing Editor Jon Meacham. "We have tried to be transparent about exactly what happened, and we leave it to the readers to judge us."
U.S. officials opened an investigation but maintained that members of the Guantanamo security force were sensitive to the religious beliefs and practices of the detainees in U.S. custody.
U.S. national security adviser Stephen Hadley earlier on Sunday stressed the report had not been confirmed. "If it turns out to be true, obviously we will take action against those responsible," Hadley said on CNN's "Late Edition."
Newsweek's Whitaker said that when the magazine first heard of the Koran allegation from its source, staff approached two Defense Department officials. One declined to comment, while the other challenged a different aspect of the May 9 story but did not dispute the Koran charge.
The magazine said other news organizations had already aired charges of Koran desecration based "only on the testimony of detainees."
"We believed our story was newsworthy because a U.S. official said government investigators turned up this evidence. So we published the item," Whitaker said.
"Our original source later said he couldn't be certain about reading of the alleged Koran incident in the report we cited," he wrote.

He Got Off Easy

2005-05-13T13:32:00.000+02:00

My buddy Pablo got just three months hard labor, no confinement (other than being restricted to Naval Station San Diego for two months). Although he was reduced in rank to the lowest paygrade, it appears he did not receive an unfavorable discharge.
This immature little dirtbag decided that he did not want to deploy on the Bonhomme Richard because he thought the war in Iraq was unjust. Not only did he miss ship's movement, but he also made a spectacle of himself missing ship's movement. He notified the local press, wore a stupid T-shirt and basically mocked his shipmates in the process. He is lower than Pond-Scum.

As it turned out, the ship sailed short one fire control technician. These individuals operate a missile system that PROTECTS the ship from air attack and cruise missile attack. This is a defensive system. There are not many FC's on this type of ship, so the loss of one is significant. On this particular deployment, the ship ended up providing significant effort to the Tsunami relief in Indonesia....a humanitarian mission. He could have participated in something great.

What really bothers me about this coward is that he volunteered for the Navy. (In case you forgot, we don't draft people) He collected a pay check, had the opportunity for educational benefits and all of the other good things that come with military service. It was not until this deployment that he all of the sudded had an awakening and refused to go. He broke his contract with his country and his shipmates. It was the ultimate selfish act, and for that, he got a minimal sentence. I am very disappointed. I hope I never have the displeasure of meeting this idiot.

Japanese Government Extends Naval Mission.....

2005-04-22T14:08:00.000+02:00

in Afghanistan??
Uh, correct me if I am wrong but Afghanistan is LANDLOCKED. I should know (I was there)

Wall Street Journal (wsj.com)April 21, 2005
Japanese Govt Extends Naval Mission In Afghanistan
Dow Jones Newswires
TOKYO (AP)--Japan's Cabinet Friday extended its naval mission providing logistical support to the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan by six months.
The current mission, which had been scheduled to end May 1, was extended through Nov. 1, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda said.
Japan's navy has provided fuel for coalition warships in the region since November 2001. Friday's decision was the seventh time the half-year mandate has been renewed.
The dispatch to the Arabian Sea was the first in a series of decisions by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi that have tested the limits of Japan's pacifist constitution since he took office in April 2001.
Koizumi has also sent about 1,000 Japanese military personnel to Iraq and surrounding areas for humanitarian projects in support of the U.S.-led mission there.

Save the Bunny

2005-04-12T13:56:00.000+02:00

Now this is funny:

http://www.savetoby.com/

Canada Gets it Right

2005-03-25T15:16:00.000+01:00

Canada denies refugee status to deserter

(Washington Times)

Toronto, ON, Mar. 25 (UPI) -- Toronto authorities have denied refugee status to a U.S. soldier who abandoned his comrades on the eve of their deployment to Iraq.

The Immigration and Refugee Board members said Thursday that Jeremy Hinzman, 26, hadn't convinced them that he would be persecuted if he returned to the United States, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Friday. The board also denied asylum to Hinzman's wife and preschool son.

Hinzman faces five years in jail if convicted in a court martial as a deserter.
"Removal to the U.S. would not subject them personally to a risk to their lives or to a risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment," the board said in a statement.
"There are no substantial grounds to believe that their removal to the U.S. will subject them personally to a danger of torture."

I only hope that this trend continues. Eh?

GRRR!

2005-03-16T14:50:00.000+01:00

Notre Dame loses in NIT opener. It wasn't enough they didn't get in the tournament, but then they lose (At HOME) to Holy Cross. I guess the selection committee was right.

When does football season start?

From ESPN:

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Notre Dame didn't play like a team that just missed out on an NCAA Tournament berth.
Holy Cross looked a lot more deserving of such a berth, outhustling and outplaying the Fighting Irish for a 78-73 victory Tuesday night in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament, the first postseason victory for the Crusaders in 24 years.
"Nobody expected us to win any games in this tournament," said Kevin Hamilton, who led Holy Cross with a career-high 26 points. "We're a mid-major team and we're fighting for respect more than anything. The NIT is an honor to be invited to, it's a big tournament, so you have to make the best of your opportunity."
The Irish (17-12) turned the ball over 19 times and watched as the Crusaders (25-6) repeatedly beat them to loose balls.
"We just lost our composure," said Chris Thomas, who led the Irish with 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
The Fighting Irish trailed by 13 points early in the second half following a 23-5 run by Holy Cross, but they used a 9-2 run to close to 60-59 after a pair of 3-pointers by Thomas and a basket by Rick Cornett with 4:20 left. The Crusaders answered with five straight points and extended the lead to 10 points in the final minute.
Holy Cross coach Ralph Willard said he was proud of the way his team responded to a Bucknell loss in the Patriot League title game.
"Our guys were able to wash away the disappointment and look at tonight as an opportunity for redemption," Willard said.
It was the first postseason victory for the Crusaders since beating Southern Mississippi 56-54 in the first round of the NIT in 1981. Since then Holy Cross went 0-6 in postseason games, although it managed to throw scares into Kentucky in the 2001 NCAA Tournament, Kansas in the 2002 NCAA Tournament and Marquette -- an eventual Final Four team -- in the 2003 NCAAs.
The Irish, losers of five of their last six, lost an opening-round home NIT game for the first time in six tries.
"We haven't had much in the tank physically the last few weeks, and that's been evident," Irish coach Mike Brey said.
The Joyce Center wasn't a hard place for the Crusaders to play in Tuesday, though, with only 2,517 fans on hand, the smallest crowd for a Notre Dame home game in recent memory. Thomas was upset by the small turnout, saying he and fellow senior Jordan Cornette deserved better.
"Jordan and I gave everything we had to Notre Dame. To get 5,000 fans for our last game, we didn't want that and we didn't deserve that," he said. "What's there to do in South Bend on a Tuesday night?"
The two settled for setting school career marks. Thomas had three 3-pointers, finishing his career with 302, one more than Matt Carroll (1999-2003). Cornette had one blocked shot to finish with 201, one more than LaPhonso Ellis (1988-92).
Torey Thomas added 16 points for the Crusaders and Nate Lufkin had 11 points and seven rebounds. Colin Falls added 18 points for the Irish and Rob Kurz added 11. The Irish were without second-leading scorer Chris Quinn, who injured his clavicle against Rutgers.
Hamilton said the Crusaders are out to prove they are better than most people think.
"Hopefully this isn't the end," he said. "Hopefully we'll get to New York."

Please Don't Feed the Gators

2005-03-16T14:46:00.000+01:00

Not too far from my house:

From Fox News:
LAKELAND, Fla. — A Florida medical examiner says a man found dead in a pond was the victim of a nearly nine-foot alligator.
The animal has been captured and killed. It had the missing man's arm in its stomach.
Officials don't know what Don Owen (search) was doing at the pond about a dozen miles from his home in Bartow. He had been missing since Wednesday when he was seen at a convenience store.
His remains were found by several men fishing in the pond.
Residents said they had fed the alligator, which is illegal and dangerous. A Wildlife Commission spokesman says alligators normally flee from humans unless threatened or cornered. But he says alligators that have been fed by humans begin to look at them as a food source.

Why I am proud to live in Florida

2005-03-11T17:38:00.000+01:00

This is a real news story today (from Drudge):

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida's Legislature is flush with good ideas. Sen. Al Lawson's involves a 2 cent-per-roll tax on toilet paper to pay for wastewater treatment and help small towns upgrade their sewer systems.
The Democratic lawmaker's pay-as-you-go bill has been the source of many jokes - bathroom humor you might say - but he says the issue is a serious one, especially in some of the fast-growing Panhandle coastal counties in his district.
"They're experiencing a tremendous boom in growth and they're not able to accommodate the growth," Lawson said. "We've got 17 million people in this state and all of them can contribute to protecting our underground water supply."
In a Republican-dominated Legislature that doesn't like new taxes, the idea is likely to pretty quickly end up in the tank.
Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said he didn't think it would get too far, but didn't rule it out.
"We'll be getting to the bottom of it real soon," Lee said.
The House is skeptical as well.
"We're not wild about tax increases," said House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City. "But we'll certainly let it go through the system."
If it were to pass, the extra two pennies would start being charged in October. Lawson said it could generate $50 million a year.
It would also need approval from Gov. Jeb Bush. He said that if toilet paper is taxed, people might use less of it.
"That's not necessarily a good thing," noted the governor.
And what about consumers? Wouldn't they be squeezed by a tax on the Charmin?
No, says Lawson.
"Two cents is not going to hurt families at all," he said. "This is one thing people don't mind paying for."

The KABUL GANG

2005-02-03T04:45:00.000+01:00

Maj Jim:

Me and Maj (FR) Patick:

SGT Tim:

CPT Heidi:

CPT Heidi's Christmas tree (Sent by Pam), I think it really captures the essence of spending Christmas in Kabul:

LCDR Gary, Powerpoint Ranger:

Maj Mark - Drug Czar.

Maj Ralph - Army designer:

Maj Tim - He's a lawyer in real life:

Col Stopford - our leader in Kabul:

CPT Bill, he's happy to be going home:

Maj Steve, United States Marine Corps, travel buddy to Herat:

Col Jack, the voice of reason in the War House:

LTC Kyle, NATO plans 'R Us!:

CDR Jim A.K.A Uncle Skip, fashion challenged:

Maj Chris, USAF, Planner....

Mr. Jerry - civilian planner and a straight shooter:

TSGT O, the glue that keeps the War House together;

MSGT U, our French NCO:

SFC F; Kept us all honest:

SSGT M the new, improved exec:

Maj Steve, detainee master:

These were most of my co-workes in Afghanistan, a great bunch of professionals (despite the appearances in the pictures) all of whom are dedicated to making Afghanistan a better place.

Still Here

2005-02-02T13:32:00.000+01:00

In the last two days, I have received comments or emails asking for updates. Never thought I would be in demand. It is amazing how quickly life returns to "normal". I am so consumed in the day to day stuff, that I did not realize how long it has been since I last posted.

I am knee deep in the daily grind. Out of the house by 0545, at my desk by 0630. My workspace is in a windowless building on MacDill AFB. It seems that whenever I live in a really nice climate, I end up working in a building with no windows. The same thing happened to me in Hawaii. The days are full, and usually the first I notice the time of day it is after 1700. I try to get out of the building at lunchtime, but I don't always make it, and can end up not seeing the sun. Drive home, in the house around 1900, see the girls, work out, eat and go to sleep just to do it again.

On the weekend, it is "honey-do's".

So that's my life in Tampa. Not quite the excitement of Afghanistan.

I speak to the gang in Kabul frequently. As a planner here, I still work Afghan issues. That gives me the opportunity to talk to my comrades. Even get to see many of them once a week during a VTC. They have had alot of snow in Kabul since I left. It is not snowing in Tampa.

Still not entirely sure what to do with this blog. I don't think my day to day life is blog worthy. Can't really write about my work. Don't really want to get political. I still have a few pics I want to post from Afghanistan, perhaps that and a few more stories will get this blog rolling again.

So, don't dump your bookmarks just yet. I am still here.

Another Bad Blogger

2005-01-06T18:46:00.000+01:00

I have been on a blogging holiday. It really is amazing how quickly I settled back into home life. Christmas was great, a really relaxing holiday and some really good food. For New Year's we hosted a neighborhood party. Was a great opportunity to see all of the neighbors after being gone.
Back at CENTCOM now, and the work continues. I still owe some photographs and stories.

Happy New Year

Home

2004-12-22T16:51:00.000+01:00

Made it home last night. All told, the trip took 29 hours. It's good to be back. My neighbors put up signs to greet me. I am humbled. Once I recover from the jet lag, I will get some new pics up.

Neat Christmas Greeting

2004-12-20T07:15:00.000+01:00

Cindy, one of my readers put a neat holiday greeting on her site for me: See it here:
http://annaqsattic.blogspot.com/

Doha, Qatar

2004-12-18T11:03:00.000+01:00

Back in Doha. The flight was good, as there were only 14 passengers instead of the 43 when I went into Afghanistan. Was able to spread out and get some sleep. No matter how you slice it, 6 hours in a C-130 is no walk in the park.

The Journey Begins

2004-12-17T04:15:00.000+01:00

I am heading home. Since I was on loan from CENTCOM, I had a relatively short trip to Afghanistan. I'll be home for Christmas. (I think there is a song in there) Today, I will fly out of Afghanistan to Qatar, spend a day or two there and then fly home via London and Chicago.

You would think that leaving would be easy. But the truth is, I am going to miss this place and look forward to my next trip. The people at CFC are doing a great job. They are making a difference in this country. The Afghan people are gracious, and they desperately want a better country, and they are getting it. We must see this through to completion.

One word of caution. Please don't apply 21st Century Standards to this country. As a society, I feel that this is about the late 1800's only with electricity and motor vehicles. The social systems will evolve over time. We just need to ensure that they are given the opportunity. The best thing we can offer Afghanistan is security, hope and encouragement. The rest will take care of itself.

For my co-workers at CFC, you guys are the greatest. I admire your resolve and your spirit as you do up to a year away from home. I am not leaving you guys. I am at the other end of the phone line, email and VTC, and I will do all I can to assist. This was an eye opening experience, and although only together for a short period of time, I know I have made lifelong friendships.

I hope to keep this blog going. But life back in the States will seem so mundane compared to this. So we will see what happens.

To the many of you that have commented on the blog, and to all who read this. Thanks.

There are more pictures and stories I want to post, but they will have to wait until I get home.

Cheers!

This Pisses Me Off

2004-12-15T05:21:00.000+01:00

You may have heard the story of Pablo Paredes. He is a Sailor who decided that he did not want to go on deployment to the Middle East with his ship. He may a very public display of his actions. The bottom line is he is a coward. I want to publicly state that he does not represent the typical sailor. Our Navy has thousands of great young people that endure incredible hardships, long working hours and long deployments. They do it with honor, courage and committment. This turkey has none of that, and while he is in Leavenworth, he will have a long time to think about his actions, and My Navy will be better with him gone.

Here is a link with more about him:

http://www.indepundit.com/archive2/2004/12/an_open_letter_1.html#

Here is an email I sent to the misguided youth:

Pablo (FC3)
I have followed your story, and I am quite disappointed in your actions. It is a dark day in our Navy when junior personnel make unilateral decisions to break a promises made when they enlisted. Whether or not you believe in the war in Iraq is not material to your actions. The only thing you accomplished is letting your shipmates down. That to me is unacceptable. While you are in Leavenworth, I hope you have a chance to review the Navy Core Values “Honor, Courage, Commitment”. You hit a homerun in disregarding these values, and that is the worst thing you could have done. Think about your actions. By being as public with your little stunt, you will bring the ire of Navy leadership upon yourself. I have full faith that you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible and that you will be confined, reduced in rank and discharged (hopefully with a dishonorable discharge. (That equates to a felony conviction) look it up, that comes with a lifetime’s worth of baggage that will follow you forever. Nice job, you have embarrassed yourself and my Navy. Hope it was worth it.
Regards
CDR Pete Laches, USN
Combined Forces Command, Afghanistan

Good Grammar Not Required:

2004-12-13T22:16:00.000+01:00

This is a direct quote from an email from someone relatively high in the chain of command. Please people, read your emails, or have someone else look at them before you hit "send".

"We are currently having too many negligent discharges on this compound; I’m going to recommend to the Commander that we start to issues UCMJ against individuals. Each section needs to ensure that they train their personnel on proper clearing procedures. We can not tolerate this unsafe act, and the lack of individuals to handle loaded weapons."

Awards Ceremony

2004-12-12T18:29:00.000+01:00

Here I am receiving a Commander's Coin from our new boss, COL (UK) Stopford:

Maj Patrick, (FR) receives the Army Commendation Medal:

The CFC-A Planners, a motley crew:

Maj Steve, CPT Andy, me and CPT Heidi:

Maj Jim's "Present"

2004-12-12T06:02:00.000+01:00

Maj Jim begins the task of unwrapping his desk upon his return from Norway. Yes I said Norway, while we remained in Kabul, he went to Norway for a conference. He got to drink real beer, and we got to wrap his desk in Christmas paper. A fair deal, I think:

Christmas in the 'Stan

2004-12-12T04:06:00.000+01:00

Spending time away from home is difficult. Even more so over the holidays. We try to do as much as we can to get in the holiday spirit. It usually works pretty well.

The stockings were hung by the whiteboard with care....in hopes that a ticket home would soon be there....

Due to security concerns, we need camoflauge Christmas hats...(I am kidding)

I don't think anyone would notice the antlers and bow on the helmet.
In fact, when at the North Pole the wearer could probably get close to the workshop undetected:

Heeerrrrees Santa!

Minimalistic Christmas tree:

Maj. Tim...in real life, he is a Lawyer, yeah, I want HIM on my side....

Capt Heidi, gettin in the Christmas spirit:

Maj Jim went away for a few days...to Norway. We missed him so. Here we are preparing for his return...Nothing like a little desk wrapping to say "we missed you":

The finished product, yes we wrapped the phones, computer, and coffee cup:

ND Has a New Coach

2004-12-12T03:31:00.000+01:00

The University of Notre Dame hired a new football coach. Charlie Weis, Offensive Coordinator from the New England Patriots, and a '78 graduate. Welcome home Charlie.
I think this is a great hire, and am looking forward to next year.
Now back to your regular programming.

Fire is cool....

2004-12-06T20:07:00.000+01:00

Here I am burning classified material.

SGT Tim: Hitman...

Crowded bus, just can't imagine a scene like this in the states. Gettin' a little close there buddy aren't you?

Kids like this attach themselves to the sides of vehicles in traffic. They try to sell you things or clean your windshield. But like seagulls, if you feed them, many more will come.

Street scene:

There is a Christmas door decorating contest on the compound. This is my entry, I think it is a lock for winning:

So....What do YOU do for Fun??

2004-12-05T13:16:00.000+01:00

Officers, waterguns, and Silly String don't mix....

Col George, from the UK, departed. He was our boss and a pretty good one at that.
Here he is at his farewell party. Yes, the beer is non-alcoholic.

A "friendly" card game.....

The making of "Professor" Jim...."What did you say my waist was?"

Maj Jim gets down to check a rug. He didn't know what I was doing. What am I doing?

Maj Patrick (From France) Doing his Yasser Arafat (He is still dead) impersonation.

Me making the coffee, apparently this doesn't happen too often. Well there are CPTs in the office.

Cleaning up the silly string under a barrage of water pistols:

The aftermath. We better clean this place up before the cleaning guy comes back:

A group goes to a local orphanage each Friday. Maj Chris and some kids:

Soccer is pretty popular in Afghanistan:

Cpt Andy, he is from West Virginia.....

Please...

2004-12-05T09:58:00.000+01:00

Tell me that this is a joke. http://www.bocanews.com/index.php?src=news&prid=10324&category=Local%20News;

What the heck is going on back home? The election is over. Get on with life. Sheesh!

It's Cold!

2004-12-02T14:34:00.000+01:00

Two days ago it rained. It was a cold rain, and now it is cold here in Afghanistan. The day before the rain it was warm. It was warm in Herat. But now it is cold. Not a big fan of the cold.
Whine off.

2004-11-28T07:46:00.000+01:00

Random Shots from the Herat Adventure

2004-11-27T19:54:00.000+01:00

Me, sleeping on the helicopter. At over 10,000 feet, you get tired.

Me, my rifle, and Herat in the background:

Me "concentrating" on the NAVC opening. After a short while, I started understanding Dhari.

The hall where the luncheon after the opening took place:

Hey! Who's that guy in the middle?

The Herat PRT (Provincial Reconstruction Team), these guys are living good:

Helo Fun

2004-11-27T08:09:00.000+01:00

LTC Frank, at lunch following the NAVC opening. What the hell is this stuff?

Me, LTC Frank, Maj Steve and a local guy at the luncheon:

During one of many helo trips, getting some spades in:

We landed in the middle of a sand storm in the center of nowhere:

Maj Steve, and a local boy who we were taking to Kabul, at Herat Airport:

Thanksgiving Day lunch at Herat Airfield. MREs al fresco:

It gets pretty cold over 10,000 feet:

The helo on day one of the trip:

I'm gonna fly in what?

An old Hind Helo outside Kabul airfield:

OK, this got me a bit worried, in the middle of the flight the crew pulls out a paper map and a ruler:

Refueling in Gardez:

Herat NAVC Grand Opening

2004-11-27T08:02:00.000+01:00

I was in Herat to attend the grand opening of the local National Army Volunteer Center.

Making final preparations for the ceremony:

The newly completed building:

Dead Goat Walking:

Same goat:

Mullah, opening the ceremony:

The master of ceremonies:

The NAVC Commander:

The governor of Herat:

The recruiting General:

School Girls singing:

Closer:

Dead goat:

Raising the flag:

Aerial Shots

2004-11-27T07:54:00.000+01:00

Views from the helicopter:

Outskirts of Herat:

The most water I have seen since being in country:

New snow on the mountains:

Outskirts of Kabul:

Herat

2004-11-27T07:50:00.000+01:00

Herat is on the Western side of Afghanistan, bordering Iran and Turkmenistan. Unlike other parts of the country, the wars did not affect this region. The Taliban did not establish as strong a hold on the area due a strong governor, and probably the proximity of Iran.

However, it is still catching up with the rest of the world. But the province appeared more lively than what I have seen in Kabul. Also much greener with more trees and even some grass.

Horse cart moving some steel:

Saw more Burkhas than in Kabul, but also saw more people, so I am not sure if the burkha is more prevalant in Herat:

The little guy looks thrilled to be on the motorcycle. I have seen entire families (4 people) on a single bike, and these are not large machines:

Many three wheelers like this one:

Governor's office, we had lunch here after the NAVC grand opening:

Busy street in Herat:

New on Discovery Channel - Afghanistan Chopper, wonder if the boys from OCC started out like this:

Fancy three wheeler:

Caution: Camel crossing:

C-130 at Herat Airfield:

Tree lined boulevard:

Herat had many horse drawn carts decked out with roses:

Back street:

Me in my body armor at Herat Airfield:

Herat "international" airport:

Shops on the outskirts of Herat:

Really nice park downtown Herat:

View from Governor's residence:

Me with Herat in the background. The minarets over my left shoulder are pretty famous:

Some buildings outside Herat, in the hillside below, some cutouts for tactical vehicles:

Expended artillery shell, no shortage of this in Afghanistan:

Another view of the buildings outside Herat and the cutouts:

Herat:

Container buried in the hillside, probably used to store military supplies:

Unexploded mortar round:

Letter to "any soldier"

2004-11-27T04:34:00.000+01:00

We get lots of letters addressed to "any soldier" this one was particularly moving, and I thought I would share it with you:

"My name is ******, I was a nurse (male) in the USAF 60-76, Vietnam War. I worked in the burn unit. I am now 100% service connected. I am in a wheel chair but don't let any of this get in my way. I am divorced and live in St. Louis, Missouri. I have no children.

but I do have three daschunds. Their names are Mollie, Casey and Phoenix is the pup and a holy terror. He gets into everything.

I just recently lost my Mom, Dad, and Brother all within a months time of eachother. I have a sister, named *******. She lives in St. Louis also. I recently underwent heart bypass and a eight hour back surgery. I did fine with both surgeries.

I recently graduated from Maryville University with a degree in Psychology and also a degree in Paralegal, emphasizing criminal Law. I am presently taking home course for Pharmacist. I am unable to work, but I do have plenty of degrees to look back at and see what I all accomplished in life.

I am a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America. I am the Editor of our newspaper and I am presently working on the October issue. I am also a freelance writer for two military magazines, Empower is the name of one. I will send you a copy soon. I am also on our finance committee for the VVA.

I am owner and CEO of OperationHelpingHandAfghanistan. I began this journey when the war broke out. We send letters and care packages to all the troops in the Stans. I have several fund raisers in the works to assist in mailing packages and paying postage. I also use the funds to help in Operation Holiday Cheer, which is our Christmas program. I am sending Christmas trees, decorations, and stockings to all the men and women serving in Afghanistan.

I also have a store on line to raise funds. We have clothing for the entire family including the do and cat. There is also stationary, purses and much more. I am enclosing a pins demonstrating what we are all about.

My hobbies consist of reading Tom Clancy Books, Listening to stereo (50-60's music) hey I am giving my age away hahaha. I love militarym espionage, murder and mystery. I don't really care for SCI-FI. I have a beautiful garden that I love to attend to. I hate heavy metal music. I really didn't like country music until I heard Toby Keith sing, and I have been sold since.

Well I think I told you all about me, now it is your turn. What sort of work do you specialize in the service? Where are you originally from? Are you engaged? Are you career military? What are your hobbies? Do you like to read? If so, what kind of material. Who are your favorite authors.

Do you need anything? I am enclosing a survey sheet in order that you may fill out and return to me.
Please fill out the survey and return it to the group ASAP!!! I also want to tell you, how so proud I am of you serving, God Bless you and every person serving today.

Let me know if I can help you in some way? Take care and I do wish you well. Please stay in touch. Peace and friendship to you all."

We are sending our response today...,

Happy "Thanksgiving"

2004-11-26T09:37:00.000+01:00

Had an interesting week to say the least. Started out early Monday with a helicopter trip to Herat. We were going out there for a "three day tour". The mission was to attend a grand opening of a National Army Volunteer Center and to scope out Herat. The trip, in a Russian built Mi-8 helicopter was uneventful. We spen Monday Afternoon touring Herat, checking out the recruiting center and attending a lunch hosted by the governor of the province. Tuesday was also good. We attended the recruiting center grand opening, had another local lunch, and had time to see more of Herat.
Wednesday, the fun began. We got up, loaded up the helo and took off on a three hour trip. About 90 minutes into the flight, the pilots (Russians) informed us the weather is not good and we are going back to Herat. Fine. About an hour later, I notice the helo is getting ready to land...in the middle of nowhere. We set down in a pretty good dust storm and waited for it to pass. About 30 minutes later, we take off and return to Herat. OK, no trip to Kabul that day.
Thursday morning, we do it again. We take off and get about half way out, and once again, we return to Herat. This is getting ridiculous. So we refuel, and decide we can go to Khandahar, and then to Kabul, this way, we can avoid the highest mountains. We finally take off, enroute Khandahar. That flight is uneventful, and we land at approximately 1700 (about 12 hours after we got up).
So we had Thanksgiving dinner at Khandahar. Unfortunately, I had the mother of all migraines and could not eat dinner. Instead, I went to sleep at 1900, after getting some extra strength Tylenol.
Today, we got up early once again, and loaded the helo. After an uneventful flight, we finally returned to Kabul. I never thought I would be happy to be here.
Pics to follow.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Seen Along the Road

2004-11-20T08:26:00.000+01:00

Roadside tire store

Jingle Truck..almost every truck here is ornately painted and decorated.

Oncoming traffic, note the guys on top of the minivan. I have seen some with 7 or 8 on top of the car.

Roadside police, they get paid to stand there:

Bet you never saw this on the freeway:

A U.S. Patrol on the Bagram road, always good to see:

Shops in Bagram:

Kids with "thumbs up"

More kids in Bagram:

Commerce, arriving in Afghanistan:

Bagram:

Blown up building, check marks mean it was cleared:
One of many Highway Police Stations on the Bagram road. No vehicles, just police:

Highway policeman:

Friday Catblogging, 'Stan Style

2004-11-20T08:21:00.000+01:00

There are a bunch of cats that hang out near the safe house. We had a BBQ last night, and they came to visit. This is the north end of a northbound cat.

This is the south end of a northbound cat.

It was pretty playful.

Stop Signs for Afghanistan

2004-11-20T05:41:00.000+01:00

I have been thinking, what can I do for Afghanistan that will make a difference and leave a lasting legacy.

My idea? Stop signs for Afghanistan.

This will be a charity where we can donate stop signs to a nation that desperately needs traffic control.

Vehicles coming out of sidestreets simply don't stop. I can't tell you the number of times we have dodged cars, truck, bicycles and donkey carts coming out onto the road from a side street. Something needs to be done.

We need to stop the senseless killing of these vehicles.

Stop signs are the answer.

Help however you can.

How Not To Clear Your Weapon

2004-11-17T13:49:00.000+01:00

Sorry for the gap between posts...

This is a funny story. It is also a true story. It did not happen to me. When we return to the compound, we have to clear our weapons. This is to ensure that at least once a day they are verified as clear as in not loaded, as in not ready to fire.
This is a simple procedure. But some people have problems with this. In the most recent of many events, male bravado, coupled with stupidity resulted in the needless shooting of an innocent clearing barrel.
As the story goes, the gentleman approaches the barrel, beside a female co-worker. He dutifully draws the slide back and a round ejects, which he manages to catch before it hits the ground. Apparently the young lady was impressed. To which the he-man, soon to be fool, says: You ain't seen nothing yet. He pulls the trigger BLAMM! and shoots the barrel.
You see, he forgot one simple step. Remove the magazine before doing anything at the clearing barrel. Some lessons are learned in blood, others in steel and dirt.
I wish I could say this is a rare occurence, but it happens once a day or so.

Travelling Hula Girl

2004-11-13T19:47:00.000+01:00

We took a drive over to Camp Julian today. Thought we'd give you a view of Afghanistan with some Hawaiian Flavor..
The King's Castle in the background.

Dancing through traffic:

You can almost hear the Ukele music echoing in the hills...

Country road, take me home....

Action shots...(probably best to right click and download)...
Hula movie here

Major Professor Jim

2004-11-13T06:03:00.000+01:00

Where's my pipe eh?

Handmade Afghanistan Jacket: 30.00

Matching Trousers: 20.00

Professor Look: Priceless.

Card Night in Kabul

2004-11-12T09:36:00.000+01:00

Maj Patrick and Cpt Andy ready to start a hand of Spades:

Me again, enjoying a "fine" cigar, and a non-alcoholic beer:

CPT Heidi, a very good card player:

The whole gang, upstairs playin' a bit of Texas Hold 'em. The beer is still non-alcoholic:

Starting with me, clockwise, Cpt Andy, Maj, Patrick, Mr. Lin, Cpt Heidi, and Mr. Jerry

This is too Funny

2004-11-11T13:05:00.000+01:00

You gotta read the story, and more importantly see the photo.

Here is the photo:

Veteran's Day

2004-11-11T12:52:00.000+01:00

Today we celebrated Veteran's Day. We had a short speech from the Commanding General out here. He observed that we are here not for personal gain, but rather as a down payment on the future for our children and later generations. The struggle in which we find ourselves engaged in Afghanistan and Iraq is comparable to what our fathers and Grandfathers faced in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Our actions today will set the tone for the future.
Kinda made me feel good about things. See ya at the local VFW.

Afghan Classified

2004-11-11T07:19:00.000+01:00

Seen in my email traffic:

"Single vehicle, two people w/long rifle looking for same for a mutually gratifying trip to Bagram tomorrow. Anybody going? Or need to go?"

This may have the makings of a new reality TV show.

Happy Birthday, Marine

2004-11-10T13:21:00.000+01:00

Today is the Marine Corps Birthday. If you happen upon a Marine, wish him/her a Happy Birthday. OOOHH RAHH!

Earthquake

2004-11-10T04:37:00.000+01:00

Almost forgot to mention. Night before last we had an earthquake. Nothing big. It was about 2200, and the house started shaking. It lasted just long enough that I was getting ready to get out of bed and head downstairs when it stopped. So now I have checked the Afghan Earthquake block. Apparently they are fairly common occurrences.

A Good Week

2004-11-09T11:13:00.000+01:00

This has been an interesting week. In the course of a few days, I have seen a bit more of the country, as shown in some of the recent pictures. I also attended meetings with the Deputy Defense Minister and the Chief of Staff of the Afghan National Army. They both expressed gratitude for the ongoing work being done by our Department of Defense in rebuilding the Afghan Army. It's weeks like this and the visible progress being made that make this trip seem worthwhile.
Progress is being made here. Everyone who has been associated with Operation Enduring Freedom since the early days has remarked that the level of bustle, and evidence of commerce has increased in the last two years. It is quite an opportunity to witness and participate in the rebirth of a nation.
Even after I return to Tampa from this trip, I will still be working on important issues regarding the future of Afghanistan. Stay tuned for more.

Sodom and Gomorrah in the 'Stan

2004-11-08T06:18:00.000+01:00

This sign was outside the Kitchen at the ISAF Camp:

Hostage Released!

2004-11-08T06:09:00.000+01:00

After grueling round the clock negotiations and a daring early dawn raid, the Cup has been liberated and returned.

Haole Kitsch

2004-11-08T03:10:00.000+01:00

This is on the dash of Maj. Jim's vehicle. It is wrong on so many levels, but funny nonetheless. Yes, she dances on the bumpy roads.

Mr. Lin conducting a staff meeting.

Broken Things #1

2004-11-07T07:44:00.000+01:00

Went on a field trip to the Kabul Military Training Center. The eqipment shown below is stuff that was turned in by the various warlords throughout the country. These guys were well armed.
Field Artillery:

Rocket Launchers:

More Artillery

Missiles:

Another missile:

Broken Things #2

2004-11-07T07:43:00.000+01:00

Kabul Military Training Center:

Another view of a missile launcher (Former Warlord Equipment):

OK, I liked the missile launchers:

Bigger Missile:

Broken Things #3

2004-11-07T07:42:00.000+01:00

Most of this broken stuff was left behind by the Russians when they pulled out of Afghanistan.

Mandatory tourist shot in front of the broken stuff....

More broken stuff:

Another view of KMTC:

Broken Things #4

2004-11-07T07:41:00.000+01:00

Broken Tanks:

Another broken tank:

I didn't do it...

I found it this way...

Lots of broken stuff...

Broken Things #5

2004-11-07T07:37:00.000+01:00

Security Drill

2004-11-07T07:26:00.000+01:00

We had a defense of the compound security drill last night.
All of us had to put our body armor and helmets on and wait for the all clear.
Here is Maj Jim:

Maj Patrick

The team "reviewing" the base defense plan:

Cpt Heidi and Maj Jim modeling the latest in combat gear:

Hostage Situation

2004-11-06T07:29:00.000+01:00

When I arrived at the office this morning, my coffee cup was missing. I found this note on the bulletin board. I am waiting for negotiations. The captors have not spoken...yet....

G'Day LCDR Paul

2004-11-06T07:28:00.000+01:00

My travel mate, Paul departed for Tampa this morning. He is running a Marathon in a week and is getting ready for his two year tour in the States to end. Cheers mate...

I Drove in Afghanistan

2004-11-04T18:02:00.000+01:00

No rules, full on combat driving. It was a blast!

Afghan Ballot and Properly Marked Thumb

2004-11-04T07:23:00.000+01:00

Slacking

2004-11-04T07:18:00.000+01:00

Maj Jim caught me recharging my batteries....

Two Words

2004-11-04T02:55:00.000+01:00

Bush Won.

Road Trip

2004-11-04T02:47:00.000+01:00

I am going to Bagram today. Should have some more pics later.

Response to Did You Know...

2004-11-02T03:44:00.000+01:00

From a valued reader:

http://www.flaglerelections.com/kids/firsttuesday.htm

An explanation of why we vote on Tuesday. Apparently, old habits are hard to change.

Did you know....

2004-11-01T07:19:00.000+01:00

That voting in Australia is compulsory? Australians are required to vote, or face a fine.
I bet they have pretty good turnout.
Can anyone answer why we vote on a Tuesday, when most of us are at work, and not near our local polling place? What would happen if election day was on a Saturday? Think there would be better turnout? Idle minds think about odd stuff.....

Go Fly a Kite

2004-11-01T05:07:00.000+01:00

In Afghanistan, that is a good thing. Kites are a symbol of freedom here. Kite flying was banned under Taliban rule. On any given day driving around Kabul you will see Kites.
Will get a picture of this later.

A Note From A Cousin

2004-11-01T03:31:00.000+01:00

This is an email from one of my cousins. He asks some good questions, so I will answer them here:

What’s new in K-town?
Nothing much, the city is relatively quiet following the elections. The recent bombing and kidnapping are believed to be relatively isolated events.

Can’t believe that we are all still alive after the Sox won the series. Unbelievable! Did you see that Pedro got beaned with a baseball during the victory parade? I love the irony that the Yankees will be there when they get their rings! All the Cubs fans are wondering when it is their turn. I think the value of the Sox franchise has peaked. The owners should sell because it’s all down hill from here.

Could not agree more. I am sorry I missed Pedro getting beaned, that would have been so worth it (He didn't get hurt, did he?) I think the only way the Cubs break the curse is sacrificing a live goat on the pitcher's mound. (Sorry that was a bit gross). Yes sell the Sox and all the players, get set for another 86 years! Muahhahhahhahh!

From all the pics you have posted it looks like there are a lot of trappings from home there. How much stuff did you bring with you? I imagine that there is some sort of commissary set up?

Good question, I brought two "A" bags, which are large canvas/nylon bags to throw all your stuff. Mostly brought my uniforms, a sleeping bag and all of my "cold weather" gear. So it added up.

Saw that Karzai won the election. I think the NY Times buried it in the classified ads! Not sure if you have access to the WSJ but their editorial page has been excellent lately. Any immediate changes for the Afghan government?

The votes are counted, and it appears that Karzai will win. The official announcement has not been made. They are still clearing up some investigations of alleged fraud.

How long will you be in Afghanistan?

Still not sure, I think I may be home for Christmas (Sounds like a song) but will not be sure for a week or so.

Do you have much contact with the locals? Not much, I pretty much spend my days on the compound, and when we do go somewhere, the trip is non-stop, and we are all armed. So no time to chat.

The pictures are great. My co-workers and I think you guys look like you are having way too much fun!

I am enjoying my time here, and I hope the pics tell a good story. You and your co-workers are welcome any time out here. You all can have my rack.

Do you need anything from the States? I’m assuming you can get packages but you will probably be back at home by the time you got it! How about ordering from Amazon?

I personally don't need anything, but packages from home are always welcome. I will email the address instead of putting it on the web. Mail takes about 10-14 days to get here. Any mail order place that lets you ship to an APO will work.

In any case…keep in touch. Love to the girls!

Thanks for the note. Miss you all at home.

French vs American MRE's

2004-10-31T19:12:00.000+01:00

Not many captions to add, the pix speak for themselves. Just to be sure, the French is on the left, and US is on the right. The French package is designed for one soldier for 1 full day, the US plans for three packages per soldier per day.

Score: Presentation FR 1; US 0

Opening the French package looks like a walk through the supermarket, while the US is more brown packaging.

FR 2; US 0 for Packaging Appeal.

Close up of the U.S. "Food"

Meatloaf with Brown Onion Gravy. MMMMMM! (U.S.)

From the French, the first meal of the day is Fish with rice and vegetables, the yellow packet is broth and the red is the heat source.

Here is the US MRE, crackers, the meatloaf, Oh! and a cookie. Yummy.
The second course, rabbit (Tastes like Chicken I hear), with 2 mustard sauce.

I did not do a side by side taste test yet, but will do so in the near future.

IED Strike

2004-10-30T05:51:00.000+02:00

Out in the hinterland, read not Kabul....
All survived with minor scrapes.

IED Attack

Landlocked Sailor 2004

New Landlocked Sailor

A Very Cool Day

In the 'Stan

Back to the 'Stan

It Didn't Work...

Such utter....nonsense

Brilliant!!

You Can't Make This Stuff Up...

A Few Words About Immigration

Day-freakin' - tona

Why?

The Horror

The Oscars

I'd have PAID to see this....

Don't Fear Dubai Ports

He's Back

Han Solo's Crew Member

JUST SHUT UP

In Case You Care

Happy New Year

Howard Dean is an Idiot

A Year Ago

Did You Know?

More Required Reading

Bad Day to be a Terrorist in England

Pelosi Declares Afghan War Over

CAPTURED

He's Still an Ass, But He Did Apologize....

Dick Durbin Compares Troops to Nazis

Stop the Insanity

A Personal Story

Required Reading

Oops.....

He Got Off Easy

Japanese Government Extends Naval Mission.....

Save the Bunny

Canada Gets it Right

GRRR!

Please Don't Feed the Gators

Why I am proud to live in Florida

The KABUL GANG

Still Here

Another Bad Blogger

Home

Neat Christmas Greeting

Doha, Qatar

The Journey Begins

This Pisses Me Off

Good Grammar Not Required:

Awards Ceremony

Maj Jim's "Present"

Christmas in the 'Stan

ND Has a New Coach

Fire is cool....

So....What do YOU do for Fun??

Please...

It's Cold!

Random Shots from the Herat Adventure

Helo Fun

Herat NAVC Grand Opening

Aerial Shots

Herat

Letter to "any soldier"

Happy "Thanksgiving"

Seen Along the Road

Friday Catblogging, 'Stan Style

Stop Signs for Afghanistan

How Not To Clear Your Weapon

Travelling Hula Girl

Major Professor Jim

Card Night in Kabul

This is too Funny

Veteran's Day

Afghan Classified

Happy Birthday, Marine

Earthquake

A Good Week

Sodom and Gomorrah in the 'Stan

Hostage Released!