Revisiting the question: What happened to the WMD?

Scott Malensek over at Floppy Aces (great site!) has a very interesting post today. It is about the WMD issue. Were they there? Were they not? Did he get rid of them? How? Who received them? He tries to answer these oh so old questions in a fashion that makes it new. He did a pretty good job.

He may have accidently told us what happened to those 3 ships that were in the Indian Ocean that were nonresponsive to anyone. They were possibly Russian ships getting rid of the evidence.

Either way, this was not a war just over WMD, as we have repeated until we are blue in the face. People are going to believe what they want. No, it is not okay, because facts matter. But how does one change stubbornness?

Come on, admit it. When it comes to that one thing you hang on to, you must admit that you, as well as I, are stubborn! I just hope it isn't over something that is factully wrong. Give this a read. It looks like he put a lot of research and hard work into it. Thanks, and have a great weekend.

Michael Yon: Death or Glory Part II of IV

Michael Yon used to be in the service, now he is out reporting the facts about what is really happening in Iraq and Afghanistan. Right now he is in Iraq with the British Queen’s Royal Lancers. He has an amazing story to tell. Anyone who remembers the Brits who were kidnapped by Iran will not recognize these people. Nor will you recognize them by the stories the dinosaur media has giving us due to the fact that they have never actually gone to find the truth. They rely on terrorists or people who don't actually know the truth. Anyway, here is the link. Have a nice day.

Update: Michael has completed "Death or Glory Parts III of IV." If you would like to support Michael, you may purchase his new book, "Danger Close." (You may read the first chapter online through this link.) To purchase it, go to Amazon.com. This is being sold by another publisher, but there are some with very good lifetime ratings (99%). You may want to buy it from Michael, but I could not figure out where the button is. Maybe you are a better sluethe than I. lol.

"Several chapters in "Danger Close" (first published in 1999) detail my early experiences with the press both favorable and unfavorable." (The book is on its 3^rd Edition.)

A glimpse at my 'work'

I have been over at my other sites again, and I have also added another writer to some of my sites. His name is Ronbo, and he certainly does speak his mind. I may not agree with the way he do so, but I will not censor him. After all, isn't that what we are fighting against?

Here are articles from DoD Daily News-2:

ANA aviators partner with U.S. counterparts. This is about a few Afghani pilots in the Afghanistan National Army working with our guys (actually, we are training them), and they seem to be enjoying it very much. They are coming along just fine.

US Navy Seabees improve Primary School in Ethiopia. This one is in a place where I have a soft spot for the people--the Horn of Africa. Our Seebees are working very hard at reconstruction, and they are paving the way for better relationships between our countries. I just love our guys!

Forensic science gives edge to warfighters. This is an article you are just going to love. These guys are a fabulous new asset. They do just as the title implies, they analyze the evidence right on the spot. We used to have to collect it, bring it in, do the paper work, send it off and wait for the results before we could act on it. Man, am I glad these guys are finally there. Yes, we've been better off with them right there. :)

New UK commander tells Iraqis 'We will stand by you'. The Brits have a new commander, and he seems pretty impressive. He reassured the Iraqis that the Brits were going to stay with them and support them for as long it takes. This was good, since some of them went home. He let them know that this was because they were not needed, because their section had been turned over their own ISF (Iraq Security Force). It is his 3^rd tour of duty in Iraq.

First LAR always on watch, even in enemy’s nightmares. I love the picture in this one. These guys are ready to go and kick some butt! They patrol every night so that no terrorist has an opportunity to plant any IEDs. What happens if they run into someone trying? Yes, these guys are al Qaida's worst nightmare. lol.

Dragon’ Soldiers Seize, Destroy Bomb Factory. YEAH! It may not seem like much because there are so many, but each one that is discovered is one less that is available to the terrorists. Also, there is much intel that can be discovered in these places. Great job, guys! Keep up the great work, and be careful.

Airmen receive first AF Combat Action Medals! It is about time they started to recognize the importance of our Air Force. They even created a new medal, especially for the Air Force, so they could claim it as their own. (Each branch has its own special medal.) Recipients of this award: Maj. Steven A. Raspet, Capt. Allison K. Black, Senior Master Sgt. Ramon Colon-Lopez, Master Sgt. Charlie Peterson, Master Sgt. Byron P. Allen and Staff Sgt. Daniel L. Paxton. You'll have to read the article to find out why, but these guys are great!

Leaders, Wounded Warriors Celebrate Army Birthday at WRAMC. It was very nice for the DOD to remember those who are wounded, especially on the 232^th birthday of the Army.

Marines Train Servicemembers in Martial Arts. This one is so cool. I always wondered why we didn't learn this skill, now I don't have to wonder. Check it out. They even have a 57 year old man getting in on the training!

NGAUS Notes and NGAUS: What's Happening in Congress? These are weekly reports for the National Guard.

Reconstruction Advisory Team working with Iraqis in Baghdad. When the surge began, there were not just Military men sent. No. There were also reconstruction people sent. They are small teams of experts that go out with the brigades. This gives them a better chance to see the whole picture, and they also get an opportunity to assess what is necessary to each sector. They are doing a great job!

Mukki places blame on USA for Golden Mosque and Turkish incursion. This is short a short paragraph (how fitting, lol) about this terrorist.

Iraqi Security Forces foil suicide car bomb attack. This a fantastic article. You cannot tell me the ISF isn't doing their job!

The Lion of Fallujah: Marine Corps Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec. He is one of our finest. He is also someone you should know. What a courageous, patriotic, honorable man and determined. He earned the Bronze Star for last battle. Rest in peace, dear friend.

Here is an article from Causes of Interest:

Jack Idema's free, now let's help him get justice. The title should make this article self-explanatory. :)

Here are some articles from Love America First-2. These are mostly written reprinted by CNN.

Billy Graham: Wife 'had a great reception in heaven'. What a beautiful, loving marriage. What a wonderful woman. May she rest in peace.

N. Korea: Atomic inspectors can return. Ho-hum...what next?

Four North Koreans get their wish. This is wonderful news, if they are not North Korean spies. I wish them (conditioned on their loyalty) all the best.

China taking on U.S. in cyber arms race. Let's keep selling our sovereignty to them so they go to war with us. Great and wise thinking...what stupid senators we have!

India escapes U.S. list of worst human traffickers. India has been an abuser of Christians as long as I can remember. This article, however, is focused on countries that are still involved with human trafficking, the penalties and names some of those countries.

Sudan accepts revised plan for joint Darfur force. I'll believe when I see it.

Advertisers not wary of 'Genocide Olympics'. No wonder. They've been punished for NOTHING. Not even trading with countries that have sanctions on them. Oh my, what a wonderful body that corrupt UN is, let alone our own congress!

Chad may allow peacekeepers on Sudan border. This is more believable, because Sudan has been attacking them also.

North Korea test-fires missiles. Everyone is claiming that it's only a regular missile, not a ballistic missile. And the point is?

So you can see I have not been just sitting around doing nothing. (I don't like using double negatives in a sentence, but I couldn't figure a way not to. lol) I hope you enjoy at least one article. Gosh, I worked hard to get them all posted! :)

Oh my! Has Bos'un got an article worth reading!

One of my writers who has been with me from the start has captured this story Wednesday, June 6, 2007. What a day to release a story! If you are interested in NOT getting blown up, this is a must read. Thanks Bos'un (from over at Bosun's Sail Locker.) Have a great day.

Hajj Hameed, AQ-I's Chief Justice of Shari'ah, DEAD

There has been heavy clashes between AQ-I (al Qaida in Iraq) and the Old Guard (Baathists and nationalists) for the past two day in the Amiriya district of Iraq. We have heard that there were some clashes by the AP, but we were told that the Iraqi people rose up against the terrorists. Unfortunately, this does not appear to be true.

Omar, from Iraq the Model, has the real news about what is happening in his country. I chose to grab a hold of this little (big) tidbit:

One correction to the AP story, Hajj Hameed was the chief of the Sharia courts of al-Qaeda in Amiriyah, not the leader of the network. Only god knows how many innocent people were executed by orders from this terrorist. Whether killed by Baathists, fellow terrorists, good Iraqis or American troops….Good riddance! [Continue reading.]

I could not agree more. Squirm in hell, you bastard.

What a beautiful world in which we live!

It is so good to be alive in these trying times. Am I insane for believing this? I do not think so. What better time to be alive than that when you can actually contribute of yourself, even if no one shall ever know you existed. Yes, I do declare, this is noble.

Are there terrorists in my country? Yes, and we hunting them down. Are you keeping your eyes open? Are you helping in anyway? Then you are doing a fine job for your fellow man.

Are there gangs? Yes. Are you going to your Church, Synogogue, or Mosque, to offer our youth a better path? Are you spending time just being there for your own children? Then you are doing a fine job for them and your fellow man.

Are there diseases and disasters? Yes, but there always has been. Today we are finding the cures that God Almighty has created for us to find, and we are finding them. Take good care of your health by having early and regular check-ups. By doing this, you will be helping yourself and your fellow man.

Please do not forget that even--or espicially--through adversity is the time when we grow. We are living in historic times. How many people were aware that their mere existence would alter the course of history for the entire world? Now we must decide. Are we going for TOTALLY VICTORY or are we going to cut and run?

I know what my decision is to be. I am willing to fight for my country and the world. I shall be in prayer until this world war is over (even after), and I shall do what is required of me. How about you?

In the meanwhile, I shall be at peace with God and myself, I shall stop and smell the roses along the way, I shall be grateful for life itself, I shall talk to anyone about God--just as long as they wish to talk, I will serve our men and women through words of encouragement and other means, and I shall enjoy each and every day of my life.

THAT is what it takes to be an American, IMHO. Have a blessed day.

PS: I would like to share a site with you of a man who has recently gone to Afghanistan to fight for our very existence. He is moving from where he was to where he is going to be for a while. He is an excellent writer, and I really enjoy his honesty. I think you will, too. Please send him some of your very own encouraging words. The title of his site is "Bill and Bob's Excellent Afghan Adventure." Thank you.

Hilarious Photos of 'Surrender Monkeys'

Move America Forward has some hilarious pictures from their San Francisco 'Surrender Monkeys' protest.

'You Call...We Haul'

This article will introduce those of you who do not know what the Iraq Assistance Group (IAG) does, and it is a good read for those of you who are aware already. They understand the Personal Security Platoon (PSP), and these guys are the bomb (if you'll pardon the pun). These are the guys that get you from point A to point B alive. Read about these guys. They truly are the people behind the scenes we never hear about, but we couldn't get our jobs done without them. Kudos to you guys! :)

Military News: 15 May 2007

There are some difficult articles and some really good articles in today's report. Let's start with a reconstruction in Basra article.

Basrah Public Works Initiative Complements Provincial Reconstruction Teams.

BASRAH, Iraq – Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) began as a concept in Afghanistan, developed by then U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad. They proved to be so successful that when Khalilzad was named Ambassador to Iraq in June 2005, he decided PRTs would be a good way to develop capacity in that country as well. PRTs are now being established in each Iraqi province. [Continue reading.]

This is the story I want everyone to put their hearts and prayers into. This is about the three men missing in action in Iraq.

General Cites ‘Massive Effort’ Under Way to Find Missing Soldiers

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2007 – The U.S. military, coalition partners and Iraqi security forces are making a “massive effort” to find three American soldiers missing in Iraq since May 12, a senior U.S. military officer said today.

“We are using every asset and resource available to the United States and our Iraqi allies in these efforts,” Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq, said during a videotaped release broadcast on the Pentagon Channel today. [Continue reading.]

Here is a story of a man who found himself in a different kind of war and himself.

Former Infantryman Finds Calling in Civil Affairs.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GHAZNI, Afghanistan — It was clear to Army Sgt. Drew Pylant as his convoy pulled up to the district center, framed against the snow-capped mountains of eastern Afghanistan, that he wasn’t fighting in the same kind of war that his father and grandfather fought in.

On an icy February morning in Ghazni Province, many years ago, he pulled up his neck gaiter to try and fight off the penetrating cold as he sat behind his M-249 squad automatic weapon. Even though he spent years running and training with this same weapon, he doubted his skills with it would come in use that day, or ever, because his mission had changed. [Continue reading.]

This is a wonderful article about the first Muslim to be in command of an Aviation Squadron!

First Muslim to Take Command of Aviation Squadron.

USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea – Cmdr. Muhammad Muzzafar F. Khan relieved Cmdr. Timothy Langdon as commanding officer of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 31 during a ceremony held at sea aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) May 13.

Khan is the first Muslim to take command of an operational aviation squadron in the U.S. Navy.

The “Topcats” of VS 31 are assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, embarked aboard Stennis, and currently deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO). [Continue reading.]

That is quite a mixture of stories. I just wish our media was willing to supply us with such diversity...

An article you may even like about al Anbar!

Have you noticed we haven't been hearing several stories per day about al Anbar? You and I know why that is, but it is sad that they couldn't even take the time to write a good article for a change. Oh, that's right. I forgot we're losing. BS.

Anbar Province Still Dangerous; Getting Better.

For example, 22 joint security stations in the town of Ramadi now are helping to tamp down violence, Marine Brig. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, ground forces commander for Multinational Force West, said during a news conference.

Continue reading.

Click on the title to read the article. I sure will be glad when all the naysayers have to eat their words!

Moderate Muslim Voices Silenced

As I have been informing you, PBS has been silencing the true moderate Muslims. This is wrong. I am glad to state that some of our newspapers are beginning to see the light as well.

PBS won't show 'Islam vs. Islamists,'
but you should see it, says ROD DREHER.
02:19 PM CDT on Sunday, May 13, 2007

I've asked myself a thousand times since 9/11: Where are all the moderate Muslims? We're assured that there's a silent majority of Muslims who want nothing to do with the jumped-up jihadists. But those voices are few and far between.

Here's the good news: The makers of the PBS-commissioned documentary, "Islam vs. Islamists: Voices from the Center," did find some outspoken moderate Muslims and profiled them and their astonishing courage. The film shows these men mounting a lonely resistance against Muslim leaders in the West who are fronting a false moderate face to the public while using oil money from Gulf Arab sources to make their hard-line version of Islam the norm.

Here's the bad news: PBS refused to air the film as part of its recent "America at the Crossroads" series, even though it had been scheduled. I saw Islam vs. Islamists and concluded that it's absolutely vital to informed public debate. That PBS decided not to show, at least for now, such an important film is shocking. [Continue reading.]

It boggles my mind that people, while faced with danger to their homeland, will team with the enemy because they don't care for their leaders. It isn't about them. Grow up. For Christ's sake, grow up and join the rest of us who love this country.

Religion of Peace: UK-5 found guilty; Video

Imagine that? Such nice young men. All they want is your head. Is that too much to ask? Come on! The democrats believe them, why don't you? Could this have something to do with it? Aww, but these are peaceful people.

Hat tip: LGF.

Video of the Religion of Peace 5 found guilty

Imagine that? Such nice young men. All they want is your head. Is that too much to ask? Come on! The democrats believe them, why don't you? Could this have something to do with it? Aww, but these are peaceful people.

Hat tip: LGF.

They make it so easy! Go Michelle!

I just couldn't refuse. This is just too cute.

Hat tip: Uncle Jimbo over at Blackfive's and Michelle Malkin over at HotAir.

Open letter to Reid by LT Nichols, USN, MNF-I, Baghdad

Below is a letter that was sent to Sen. Reid after his comment that the war in Iraq was lost. I cannot add a thing to it.

The following letter was written by Lt. Jason Nichols, a Naval officer who is currently serving in Baghdad. He is also the head of Appeal for Courage, a group of American active duty and reserve service personnel who are appealing to Congress to stay and finish the war.

...To be brief, your words are killing us. Your statements make the Iraqis afraid to help us for fear we’ll leave them unprotected in the future. They don’t report a cache, and its weapons blow up my friends in a convoy. They don’t report a foreign fighter, and that fighter sends a mortar onto my base. Your statements are noticed, and they have an effect. ... [Continue reading.]

Please write to your own Senators and Congressperson. This must be answered. Thank you.

Update: My friend, Nathan Bradfield, has an open trackback every weekend. He was kind enough to allow me to share a link back to this article, and I forgot to mention him! How rude! Please, when you trackback to anyone, use the proper etiquette and mention them in your post!

His trackback for this past weekend is here. He has a wonderful site all week as well! Please check out his writings. He is a very talented Christian man. (BE POLITE!)

Stop the politics at the waters edge. We are at war

To whom it may concern,

First allow me to acknowledge that I know none of you politicians give a damn. I get it. However I am going to make my plea and my case here. In this fashion, the rest of us are able to voice our opinions.

Since before this war began, I am referring to the whole war-not just one theatre, you have been calling it a quagmire. I remember when you did so in Afghanistan. You said we could not do what the Communist USSR could not do. I'm glad to see how much faith you have in your own country's ability to defend herself. Not.

Then there were the so-called pre-war protests. Then the anti-Bush protests. Never was there an actual pre-war protest that did not have the interests of our enemies involved with them, and you fell for it. How sad of a human being you are.

Now you are acting like the French. Let me revise that. At least the French are not putting up their white flags this time. How much of a coward can you be to be less than the French?

You have been beating the same drum since your inception. You have not even changed a word. You are so familiar and so stale.

You also know that if you repeat your big lies often enough, people that do not know anything about that topic will start to believe you. Great. You have given Stalin what he never could have gain on his own. Oh, what useless idiots you are!

Now. When our men and women go to war to defend our country, our lives, our way of life; shut up. We have only one commander-in-chief, and you are not he. You have every opportunity you need at your fingertips to speak to him. Do not express your weakness of fear to the enemy. It is not you who will pay the price for your reckless disregard of our troops, but it is you whose hands will be stained with our blood. Al-Jazeera will make sure of that.

I do not know why we are not following the Constitution and throwing you in prison for treason. It very well could be due to the idiot AG who is giving his testimony today about how much he does not know. What a terrible shame.

Why do you tell the media not to show our successes? Why do you not allow us to participate in this war? Why do you continue to give our secrets to the New York Times? Why are they not in prison for aiding and abetting our enemies?

Just a few questions the AMERICAN PEOPLE are asking. Oh, I know you have the big mouths. I know they get most of the attention. That is because you agree with them, and you are using them as a surrogate.

A word to wise, if there are any to be found, in the Democrat party. (Republican Party, too.) You did not win this election based on anything for which you ran. Many of us did not bother fighting for either party because we are AMERICANS, and we want you to start acting like it as well. We want this politicizing the Global War on Terrorism stopped. Now.

What has caused my ire? Iraq war 'lost' says top Democrat by al-Jazeera.

Heroes in the Global War on Terror

Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Jason Taggart and Former Kentucky National Guard Spc. Ashley Pullen each received a Bronze Star with Combat "V". CPO Taggart received his for commanding two of the first personnel security detachment teams in Iraq, and NG Spc Pullen received her's for helping stave off a large insurgent ambush on her convoy in Iraq. Read more about this and others at MNF-Iraq and USA Today. They are both amazing!

Thank you for your service and keeping us safer and free. Welcome home Spc. Ashley. Welcome home (when you get here) Chief Petty Officer Jason Taggart.

Source: Heroes in the War on Terror.

Campus Forum on Islam and how to handle 'them'

I found a great article over at LGF today about a panel that was held last night. The panel included Yaron Brook (more quality information on him here), Wafa Sultan (see her famous video here), and Daniel Pipes. Very impressive panel.

Needless to say there protesters there, but this time it was different. If you want to find out how it was different, you must go to Student of Objectivism's and Infidels are Cool's sites to check out what happened. There are pictures and video as well.

Wow! I have just finished reading Exclusive Coverage Of Drs. Sultan, Pipes, And Brook At UCLA Panel Discussion On Islam With Protests [video/pics] *Updated*, and it is very good. Check it out. This is the one by Infidels are Cool. Have a great day.

Hat tip: LGF and Bereft.

Cause and Effect in Real Life

Since Imposing the Law began, many things have changed while many have stayed the same. Baghdad has become somewhat quieter, but that means it has become more dangerous in other areas. It is the old theory of the path of least resistance. Only now we are trying to weed out those areas. In the meanwhile:

In the west, particularly in Anbar, the Anbar Awakening Council announced the capture of what appears to be an intelligence treasure. This is what sheik Hameed al-Hayis, a member of the Council told al-Sabah yesterday:

We captured so many of their document and these contain the names of al-Qaeda groups in the province, the letters that were exchanged among those groups, the surveillance reports they were filing to their Emirs about civilian people of Ramadi like clerics and college students as well as details of trials [and executions] to which innocents were subjected.

The al-Qaeda terrorists in Anbar continue their campaign to terrorize the population that is turning against them. This morning another attack with a chlorine gas bomb struck western Ramadi killing and injuring dozens of civilians and policemen. [Read the whole article.]

This was a few days ago. It was 'quiet' for a day, so to speak. There were only about 10,000 (tops) of Sadr's Medhi Army--er--protesters yesterday as the rest of the people stayed home and quietly celebrated the 4th year of Independence from 'old Iraq.' That is, if they did celebrate.

Today was pretty busy as far as weapons go.

During the morning more US and Iraqi forces rushed into the scene and cordoned the area while two f-18 fighter jets and some Apache gunships patrolled above. The fighter jets withdrew after a while.

The fighting became more intense and at around 11 am several explosions were heard in the area but the cause remained unknown. [Read the whole story.]

Those are two different articles written by Omar from the ITM. He is one of the brothers who live in Baghdad, Iraq and have written on this blog since the war. They may have written before the war, but I am not aware of it. I don't think Saddam would have allowed it! Check them out. His brother's name is Mohammed, and his brother Ali no longer writes here. I cannot find his blog, but I will add it when I do. Thanks, and have a good day.

Two Reporters: On the ground take on Iraq

The Wall Street Journal's Opinion Journal Online has an article there in which Bing West, a correspondent for The Atlantic (who is currently on his 12th trip in Anbar Province) and Owen West, his son (who is a managing director at a Wall Street bank and just returned from Anbar where he was a Marine adviser) have written an article about what they saw. It is quite nice to know that if people would only go to Iraq and get out of their comfort zones, they can actually learn something which they can then report back to us. Great job, guys.