02-16-2010, 10:11 AM | #101 |
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Yes, I understand that. I'm just responding in anticipation to those who think this will be the death knell for the Taliban because their military commander was captured. Not quite, but for many other reasons both tactical (the moves over the weekend) and strategic (Pakistani intelligence is cooperating with U.S. intelligence), it is good news.
In other news, it should be noted that the NYT apparently found out about the operation on Thursday but agreed not to publish until given the green light by the WH (who did so when it became clear that word has spread in the region). |
02-16-2010, 10:21 AM | #102 | |
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Yeah, it was good to see that the media thought better of publishing the story right away. That wasn't always the case in the past. |
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02-16-2010, 01:58 PM | #103 |
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These guys are living right. Holy moly.
U.S. Marine Walks Away From Shot to Helmet in Afghanistan - WSJ.com |
02-16-2010, 03:23 PM | #104 |
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That's one hell of a way to get a story of a lifetime.
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02-16-2010, 03:37 PM | #105 | |
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I think when given specific reasons on why to delay a story the media has been very accommodating to the government. When the government demands that not run a story at all or refuses to acknowledge it is when conflicts arise.
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02-17-2010, 12:50 PM | #106 | |
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Another one caught. These seem to be higher quality "leaders".
Another Taliban Leader Captured in Pakistan - Declassified Blog - Newsweek.com Quote:
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02-22-2010, 07:22 AM | #107 |
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On a personal note, while we await my friend's return in March, I loved his Facebook status update this morning
3 Taliban + 1 Hellfire missle = 0 Taliban, It's just simple mathmatics!!!!
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02-22-2010, 07:35 AM | #108 | |
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I have no clue if this was related, but I saw something similar on NBC Nightly News last night. They called for two 500 lb. bombs to be dropped and you see this huge explosion. Despite that, they still were getting some sporatic sniper fire. So a guy puts a rocket on his shoulder and BOOM........no more sniper fire. |
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02-22-2010, 08:16 AM | #109 | |
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He should aim for more next time - those hellfire missiles can be expensive. |
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02-22-2010, 08:56 AM | #110 |
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in the meantime they lit up a convoy of civilians and while I know that there are unintended casualties of getting the job done it doesnt change the suck. Karzai came out and lambasted NATO again for it but he needs to know his role at this point that he's lucky to have a job. Im happy that were finally getting the job done right, I hope we dont pull the plug too soon, and then we can frickin' come home already.
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02-22-2010, 08:59 AM | #111 | |
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02-22-2010, 09:08 AM | #112 | |
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War. War never changes. Marines in Afghan Assault Grapple With Civilian Deaths - NYTimes.com To the Marines of Company K, and an embedded reporter accompanying them, one thing seemed clear: the company had not ordered a rocket strike on that house. At the time they were taking fire from many houses in the area. “The original target of the two rockets was a compound where insurgents were delivering accurate, direct fire on an Afghan-ISAF joint team,” according to a Sunday news release by the NATO-led force, the International Security Assistance Force. That team was Company K, with an Afghan Army unit attached to it. “The compound that was hit was not the one we were targeting,” the company commander said that day. After the Marines saw children stream out of the ruined house, the company commander immediately ordered a cease-fire. With Taliban snipers still trying to pick them off, his men raced across the flat, open expanse between their positions and the house, where medics rendered what first aid they could. They initially counted 11 dead, because one woman was still alive. Marine Corps medics worked to stabilize her condition, although she had lost three limbs. A helicopter came in to evacuate the wounded, but took so much Taliban ground fire that it had to lift off again before the wounded could be loaded on board. The woman died, making the death toll 12. ... In the mud-brick charnel house where the Afghans were killed, Hajji Karim, the local elder, took up Colonel Christmas’s offer of assistance on Tuesday. The victims had already been dead for more than two days. Muslims believe in prompt burial, but the family had no way to carry the bodies through the battlefield to the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah, 17 miles away. Would the Americans take them? Within hours, a Marine Corps Osprey, a transport aircraft that can take off and land like a helicopter, put down nearby, taking enemy fire as it came in, and the Marines grimly loaded the bodies aboard for the trip to the cemetery.
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"I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis Last edited by JonInMiddleGA : 02-22-2010 at 09:08 AM. |
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02-22-2010, 09:51 AM | #113 |
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NPR's Morning Edition had an excellent report this morning from a reporter embedded with India company. I'll try to link it when they put up the transcript tomorrow.
Anyway, one part of the report kind of underlined how hard this is for NATO forces. They had a company of Marines that was pinned down by Taliban snipers who were sheltering in houses and the Marines were witholding fire for over an hour while figuring out whether or not civilians were in the houses. Eventually they determined that no, there probably weren't any civilians in the houses and called in helicopter gunships. Well yep, there were civilians in the houses. Given that the Taliban will gladly sacrifice innocent civilians (including children), it's easy to see how difficult these decisions are for our soldiers on the ground. |
02-22-2010, 09:54 AM | #114 | |
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Here it is: Taliban Resistance Strong In Southern Afghanistan : NPR
Here's an excerpt: Quote:
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02-22-2010, 10:45 AM | #115 | |
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Yeah, he shot me in my ass you stupid &%()&)#%&()@&$_!&$ !!!
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02-22-2010, 01:06 PM | #116 |
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03-18-2010, 07:23 PM | #117 |
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Just a personal update here ... got an email a few minutes ago from the wife of our family friend (heck, I dunno what to call him really, regulars know who I mean) ... he's now cooling his heels at Bagram Air Base, awaiting a flight to Manis AB sometime in the next few days, and that would be followed by the multi-leg trip home.
Not out of the woods quite yet since Bagram gets some rocket fire every few days but a vast improvement over his recent deployment so far in the boonies that he went more than a month without a shower. Thankfully (mostly for the guys in his unit) that streak was finally broken a few days ago
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03-18-2010, 09:02 PM | #118 |
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Good to hear. Here's hoping he makes it back safe and sound.
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03-18-2010, 09:09 PM | #119 |
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Thanks JP, I won't relax until I see him back in the States with my own eyes but Bagram is hella safer than where he's been.
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03-18-2010, 09:21 PM | #120 |
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I recently read Krakauer's book on Pat Tillman and it was an eye opening read on the terrain and operational difficulties for the average Ranger. I'm happy for every service member that makes it back with both their body and mind intact.
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03-18-2010, 09:23 PM | #121 | |
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On behalf of the various Ranger friends I've been privileged to know over the years, I'm obliged to point out that there's no such thing as an "average" Ranger
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03-18-2010, 09:40 PM | #122 | |
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Amen (Also glad to hear your friend is on his way home and safe) JR, regarding the terrain. I hear quite a bit from a friend of mine in the Marines over there, he says it borders on hellish most of the time, especially with the rules of engagement they are forced to follow. He told me those rules directly cost him a friend. Last edited by BYU 14 : 03-18-2010 at 09:41 PM. |
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03-19-2010, 08:51 AM | #123 |
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Glad to hear he's on his way home, Jon.
Saw this in today's NYT: The Shrine Down the Hall - Bedrooms of America's Young War Dead - Slide Show - NYTimes.com |
03-24-2010, 07:49 AM | #124 |
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Not much of an update but since the GOOD news has me sitting here crying with relief, I figured I'd share it anyway.
Got an email late last night from our friends wife (our former intern turned employee turned de facto family member) ... there's a chance that Dan will be on a flight landing in Georgia (the US one) tonight. I say "a chance" because, as of 930pm Tuesday, the family coordinators had not received a manifest telling them which individuals were actually on that plane. Whenever the troops do arrive, they are tentatively scheduled to be reunited with their families on March 30th after roughly a week of demobilization processing. Basically, he ain't home quite yet, but it's getting awfully close. On an even more personal note, I'm virtually certain I'll say this again but I want to say it now too: I appreciate both the support that's been expressed here as well as just the opportunity to talk about it at times. It's almost hard to do here at home since we're all dealing with it in our own way, tough enough just to deal with our individual worries without adding each other's to the pile too often. Having had this outlet has helped me cope (and Lord knows coping skills aren't something I have a surplus of) and I appreciate it.
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"I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis Last edited by JonInMiddleGA : 03-24-2010 at 07:49 AM. |
03-24-2010, 07:53 AM | #125 |
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Buy him a beer and put in on FOFC's tab.
Good to hear he's almost home.
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03-24-2010, 07:55 AM | #126 | |
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Heh, that reminds me, I ain't ever actually gotten drunk with that boy. After everybody gets done celebrating his return, I may have to correct that oversight
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03-24-2010, 07:59 AM | #127 |
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Happy for you, Jon!
Just as a side note, I figure this is just as good a place to post this as anywhere else. Read a great article about Warthogs over in Afghanistan at Michael Yon's site if anyone is interested. Warthog |
03-24-2010, 08:57 AM | #128 | |
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That's GREAT news, Jon! I know how I felt when I heard that Ben had landed in Kuwait (prior to Germany and then the U.S.). The feeling of relief was immense. Hell yeah. I'll paypal you money for that beer, if necessary. |
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03-24-2010, 08:58 AM | #129 | |
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Heh Watching Air Force missions and all the checklists is reminiscent of watching space launches. Checklist after checklist of obscure terms. Occasionally they say things normal people might recognize, like “brakes.” Good stuff, thanks for the linkage.
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03-24-2010, 09:06 AM | #130 |
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03-24-2010, 09:17 AM | #131 |
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03-24-2010, 09:33 AM | #132 | |
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I think one thing most everyone here can agree on is, despite politicial, religious or personal beliefs, most have been touched by this conflict in the middle east in some way. FOFC has always demonstrated strong support for the Troops and those whose lives have been impacted in one way or another, and it is good we can all put differences aside for things like this. Happy to hear the good news Jon and thank your friend for all us. |
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03-24-2010, 10:40 AM | #133 |
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Well, a few more days at this point shouldn't be the end of the world. Just got copied the following from Dan's wife.
The dates for my flight out of manas just got pushed back and we will be home on the 28th. Shits going crazy and our company is having a hard time believing that people have been working on our return home all year and yet they are totally incompetent. edit to add: I believe we could probably add something to the Fallout 3 signature voiceover ... "War ... War Never Changes ... And Neither Do Problems With Military Logistics"
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"I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis Last edited by JonInMiddleGA : 03-24-2010 at 10:41 AM. |
03-24-2010, 10:46 AM | #134 | |
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"Amateurs study war. Professionals study logistics." Or something like that.
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03-24-2010, 10:48 AM | #135 | |
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I think our amateurs may be better at their jobs on most days Hey, I'm just happy to be able to joke about it at this point.
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03-24-2010, 11:47 AM | #136 |
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Very cool news indeed, I'll pitch in for that beer fest.
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03-24-2010, 02:16 PM | #137 |
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Good news here. It now takes a Gitmo resident 4 months or less to return to the ranks of the Taliban once they are released........
Former Gitmo detainee targeting Afghan charities - The Long War Journal |
03-24-2010, 02:32 PM | #138 | |
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If you read the article, you'll note that it takes a Gitmo recidivist (of which the current rate is maybe 20% - depending on how you measure) an average of 18 months to return to the Taliban.
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Stop making stuff up. |
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03-24-2010, 05:20 PM | #139 | |
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That obviously wasn't the case with this guy. Sounds like they're improving the turnaround time. Either way, I'm surprised that anyone would make the argument that it's OK because a) it takes an average of 18 months b) only 20% of them go back in |
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03-24-2010, 05:31 PM | #140 |
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I don't think anyone was making that argument, I think Flere was pointing out that you obviously didn't read the article because your hastily posted editorial was incorrect and you continue to be intellectually lazy by making another stupid comment. You either need to learn reading comprehension or get off the nut sack medicine.
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03-24-2010, 05:32 PM | #141 |
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Nobody is making the argument it's okay. The argument is that you're making shit up.
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03-25-2010, 11:58 AM | #142 |
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Looks like the Administration is getting serious about fighting the Taliban:
U.S. bases in Afghanistan say goodbye to Whoppers, DQ – Afghanistan Crossroads - CNN.com Blogs
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03-25-2010, 12:08 PM | #143 |
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How the hell can a soldier be expected fight w/o Orange Julius!!!!!!!!
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03-28-2010, 06:43 PM | #144 |
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I don't think I've ever seen any out of focus picture I liked better than this one
He's back on US soil as of about an hour ago, apparently they've already found a restaurant. We're due to go down to Savannah to meet them on Thursday/Friday with him likely to be finished with the demob on Saturday or Sunday. Thanks again to all here for their prayers & support. And I thank God for seeing so many prayers answered.
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03-28-2010, 09:06 PM | #145 |
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Wish him our best.
Gotta say, though, that picture looks Photoshopped.
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03-28-2010, 09:30 PM | #146 |
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Nah, just a crappy picture taken under crappy light with a phone, then uploaded via FB mobile.
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03-29-2010, 09:02 AM | #147 |
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CHEER
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06-14-2010, 10:18 AM | #148 | ||
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Approval for the Kandahar offensive from the tribal leaders (or so they say) and $1T worth of lithium deposits.
Karzai, McChrystal in Kandahar to sell military operation - CNN.com Quote:
FOXNews.com - U.S. Discovers $1T in Afghan Mineral Deposits Quote:
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06-15-2010, 11:09 AM | #149 |
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Guess we won't be leaving, then.
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06-27-2010, 06:11 PM | #150 | |
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I love almost anything Bacevich has to say.
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