What going to war has done to me.

Going to Iraq had a major impact on my life. While war is a nasty and terrible thing, it has opened my eyes to many things and I am grateful for that experience.
During my time in Iraq I felt that I was actually doing something important and that my actions made an impact on everybody around me.
My fellow soldiers looked to me for guidance and at times protection and the people in the villages that we helped looked to us for help building their new nation.
I will never be the same person again and for that I am grateful.
There were times when you didn't know if you'd see tomorrow and I wasn't even in the worst of it. Rockets would come in while you were in the porta-john and shake the plastic walls that gave no protection from fragments....what a way to die! I spent my time on convoy duty and civil affairs missions and from time to time rockets and mortars would fly over your head or we find that we missed getting caught in an ambush by seconds.
After all of this I haven't become addicted to drugs, I don't drink more than a beer a week, I'm not afraid of going outside and I have never hit my wife but I have changed.
I know that it could all come to an end at any second so I'd better make every second that I have count. I love my family more than I ever thought I could, I know I can do anything that I put my mind to, I watch what happens around me and try to help make things better when I can.
There will be a time when I must leave my home and return to combat, after all I did pick a combat related job and not a nice office chair like some, but I will do it with my head held high knowing that no matter what anybody else thinks, the person to my left or right knows that I can do my job well and that they can count on me no matter what.

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans

Illegal Immigration must be dealt with!

I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and protect this country from ALL enemies both foreign and domestic.

One of the things that threatens the American way of life is not immigrants that come here to be Americans and live the American way of life, its those that sneak across the border, don't care to learn the language and don't care about being an American.

These people come from many different countries and while most are good hard working people, there are some that would wish to do us harm. Good or bad doesn't really mean very much when you look at the fact that they broke the law just by coming here the way that they did. Should we reward these people just because they have been here awhile? Should we show the world that as long as you make it here we will take care of you even though you show a disregard for our laws by sneaking across the border?

If you want to come to my country the proper way like my family and many of my friends did, I say Welcome to my country!

Its time that Americans put our money where our mouth is and demand that something gets done before we suffer a similar fate as Rome did.

Don't know what I mean by that? Maybe you should look it up.

We are starting to lose our national identity and that will always lead to a countries downfall.

Technorati Tags : Immigration, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans

JVERITAS - TRANSLATING THE IRAQ DOCUMENTS: March 2003 Top Secret Memo: TRANSFER OF SPECIAL AMMUNITION (POTENTIAL CHEMICAL WEAPONS) Translation

Below you'll find a link to what I believe to be a very important web site. This blog is run by a man born in Jordan that has become an American and loves his country. He has taken his own personal time and knowledge of Arabic and combined that with the captured documents from Iraq that have been released to the public. Do I know this man? No, I have heard his story on a local radio program and believe in what he is doing. While most natural born Americans sit on their couches watching the news and cussing out their country, this man is trying to lend a helping hand.

I will continue to post portions of his translations and links to the full text as well as links to the source documents as they are published.


Document ISGP-2003-0001498 ISGP-2003-0001498 contains a 9 pages TOP SECRET memo (pages 87-96 in the pdf document) dated March 16 2003 that talks about transferring “SPECIAL AMMUNITION” from one ammunition depot in Najaf to other ammunition depots near Baghdad. As we know by now the term SPECIAL AMMUNITION was used by Saddam Regime to designate CHEMICAL WEAPONS as another translated document has already shown. For example in document CMPC 2004-002219 where Saddam regime decided to use “CHEMICAL WEAPONS against the Kurds” they used the term “SPECIAL AMMUNITION” for chemical weapon http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1601810/posts . What is also interesting is that these “SPECIAL AMMUNITION” were listed as 122 mm, 130 mm, and 155 mm caliber shells which are not by itself SPECIAL unless it contain CHEMICAL WEAPONS. In fact the Iraqi have always used 122 mm, 130 mm, and 155 mm caliber shell as a main delivery tool for Chemical Weapons Agents by filling these type of shells with Nerve Gas, Sarin, Racin, Mustard gas and other Chemical Agents.


Beginning of partial translation of Pages 85-96 in document ISGP-2003-0001498


In the Name of God the Merciful The Compassionate


Top Secret

Ministry Of Defense

Chairmanship of the Army Staff

Al Mira Department

No. 4/17/ammunition/249

Date 16 March 2003

To: The Command of the Western Region

Subject: Transfer of Ammunitions

The secret and immediate letter of the Chairmanship of the Army Staff 4/17/308 on 10 March 2003

1. The approval of the Army Chief of Staff was obtained to transfer THE SPECIAL AMMUNITIONS in the ammunition depots group of Najaf and according to the following priorities:

A. The first priority

First. Ammunition (122 mm)

Second. Ammunition (130 mm)

Third. Ammunition (155 mm)

To the depots and storage of the Second Corp and the two ammunition depot groups Dijla/2/3

B. Second priority.

First. Ammunition (23 mm)

Second. Ammunition (14.5 mm)

To the ammunition depots of the air defense and distributed to the ammunition depot groups in (Al Mussayeb- Al Sobra- Saad).

2. To execute the order of the Chief Army Staff indicated in section (1) above, we relate the following:

A. Duty

Transfer of the ammunitions shown in sections (A) and (B) from the ammunitions depots of Najaf to the ammunition depots in (Dijla 2/3, and Al Mansor, and Saad, and Al Mussayeb, and Sobra and Blad Roz and Amar Weys from March 16 till April 14 2003.

Signature…

General Rasheed Abdallah Sultan

Assistant to the Army Chief of Staff- Al Mira

March 2003

End of Partial translation

The remaining pages of this 9 pages top secret memo talk about getting the special vehicles to transfer the SPECIAL AMMUNITION and the people assigned to supervise and execute the transfer and they were top Iraqi Army and Military Intelligence officers.

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans

Students protest to foce the Government to do nothing!

Now I've seen everything!

I don't know how it is in other parts of the country but here in Washington state we've had students walk out of their class rooms in protest of the illegal immigration problem that this country faces. Did they walk out to show the Government that we need change? Did they walk out in support of fixing a problem that has plagued nations for centuries?

NO!

They walked out in an attempt to force the Government to do NOTHING!

These protestors wave the flag of Mexico and call these reforms racist but offer no suggestions to help fix the problem of illegal immigration in to this country. They have no solution for removing the strain on our emergency rooms or the welfare system that these people have caused.

Should I be suprised?
Not after hearing some of these same students say that a US Marine that was awarded the Medal of Honor is not a good role model for young adults. What is this country comming to? Are we destined to suffer the same fate as Rome for the same mistakes? Should we reward the breaking of our laws so we don't offend anybody?

I support the people that want to come to America to be Americans, what I don't support are those that come here by sneaking across our borders and don't want to be Americans. These are the people that live off of our system and hold on to their home country's identity. These people don't care to learn the language or give back to the country that is supporting them.

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans

BlogMad is opening to the public!

On Monday March 20th, BlogMad will open its doors to the public with a payout rate of 2 credits for every blog that you view! I have been using this service for a little while now and it has really helped me reach out to many new people.
BlogMad also includes games and many more ways to earn traffic for your blog as well as meet new people. They have a Promisance server, cage fighting, puzzles and much, much more! Check them out by clicking the following image!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Last year at this time I was in Ireland drinking a Guiness....ahhhhhh the memories of what seems so long ago and so much like yesterday. Our plane from Kuwait back to the states made a stop in Shannon Ireland on St. Patty's Day and go figure, the bar was open even though it was something like 0300 in the morning and we were the only people in the airport! I called my wife to rub it in and let her know that I would be home the next day, that was a $60 phone call and worth every penny!



Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans

Civil war in Iraq!

If you read the news papers or watch CNN it sounds like Iraq is now tearing itself apart after the mosque attacks. Lets hear what real soldiers and people in Iraq have to say about this and not just the US, anti-Bush media in this country.

Head on over to The Real Ugly American to read more.

Get more traffic to your blog!

A new traffic exchange site is forming and looking for people to take part. Its still in the testing stages right now so they are offering 25 credits for signing up and 30 for each person you refer.

All you need to do is follow the link below, create an account and read up on the details that will come by e-mail.



Blogmad has gone in to beta testing and will be "live" in the very near future.

A soldiers Christmas

I have seen this poem posted in a few places and received copies in my e-mail. I just had to pass it along to you. This is how I spent last Christmas and there are thousands spending theirs like this on this Christmas. Never forget them while you are enjoying spending time with your family and enjoying that wonderful Christmas dinner.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

T'was the night before Christmas,
He lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house, made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney, with presents to give,
And to see just who, in this home, did live.
I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by mantle, just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung some pictures of far distant lands.
With medals and badges, awards of all kinds,
A sober thought, came through my mind.
For this house was different, it was dark and dreary,
I found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly.
The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor, in this one bedroom home.
The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,
Not how I had pictured an American soldier.
Was this the hero, of whom I'd just read?
Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?
I realized the families, that I saw this night,
Owed their lives to these soldiers,
Who were willing to fight.
Soon round the world, the children would play,
And grownups would celebrate, a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month of the year,
Because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.
I couldn't help wonder, how many lay alone,
In a cold Christmas eve, in a land far from home.
The very thought brought, a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees, and started to cry.
The soldier awakened, and i heard a rough voice,
"Santa don't cry, this life is my choice;
I fight for freedom, i don't ask for more,
My life is my god, my country, my corps."
The soldier rolled over, and drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it, i continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,
And we both shivered, from the cold night's chill.
I didn't want to leave, on that cold, dark, night,
This guardian of honor, so willing to fight.
When the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,
Whispered, "Carry on Santa, it's Christmas Day & all is secure."
One look at my watch, and I knew he was right.
Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night.

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans, Christmas

Update on our progress in Iraq

I'm tired of people saying that we aren't doing any good in Iraq, I'm tired of not seeing the real news stories broadcast on T.V. I'm getting sick of our supposed leaders saying that we should cut and run before this job is done and I'm really tired of listening to people that have never left the comfort of their own over stuffed couch try to tell me what is going on in Iraq and how messed up it is.

I want to share this document that includes an update of the number of attacks on our troops and some information on what is being done on a day to day basis by our troops. Get a clue people, stop eating up what you see on T.V. or read in blogs by the anti-everything people. Let me tell you how to find out the truth, its easy, not too complicated.....ASK SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR MORE THAN A DAY!!!!

Now that I've gotten that out of my system, here is the link to the .pdf file that I was talking about.

Click to read.

Lies!!!! Or are they??????

I had a reader complain about the quotes that I posted awhile back. This person seems to think that I'm playing a game or trying to be funny. I never wanted this to be about politics, I wanted to use this space to share my thoughts about comming home, give a different view on the events in Iraq and maybe give out some useful information.

What I can't stand are people that "forget" what they have said in the past to attack our President because they think that the people will turn on him. They set themselves up to gain from this mission in Iraq if WMDs were found and now that they aren't turning up in the numbers that we had expected they cut their support, call the President a liar and forget that they were saying the same exact things back in the 90's.

Stop following the party line and open your eyes to what is going on. Stop following the Kerrys and the Moores or the Clintons. Look at what is really going on and not just eat up the one sided view of the media. Look in to things for yourself, talk to the soldiers that have been there and who will go back. Ask us how we feel about putting our lives on the line in Iraq because we are the ones taking the risk for these people and not you, not the actors in Hollywood or the Dems in Washington, but us!

Truth or lies part 2

Well, I have had a few hundred people look at my list of quotes but only one has guessed who said any of them. Yes you are right, all of the statements were made by Democrats. What angers me is that when the Dems. said these things it was the truth but when the President was saying them he was lying. I don't understand how they could have such short memories.

The quotes that I posted weren't all from post 9/11 speeches either, some were made by the Dems. during the Clinton administration. Was he telling lies back then as well?

Check out the full text with the date and the name of the person that said it at Right Wing News.


Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Bush, Government, Politics

Resources for help with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

I have received a few requests for help with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from my readers and some of the people that I talk to locally. I thought I'd list some links to resources as well as some more information on what PTSD is.

The first thing that I suggest to the folks that I talk to is seek out your Chaplin or someone that you trust to talk with about your feelings. Not all of the feelings that you experience after returning from a war zone are true PTSD but may just be a reaction to the extreme change in environment. I always suggest that a person seek help and not try to handle this alone because you never know what might develop if you don't get your adjustment problems worked out in a timely manner.

The Community counseling Center on post along with the VA are wonderful places to start for either the person suffering from stress or depression or their family.

You might think that soldiers are more prone to suffering from PTSD but in my experience I have found that women that were raped or abused are much more common. This could be because of the training that a soldier receives helps them to deal with the harsh situations that they face but nobody really knows.

What I'm getting at is that this can happen to anybody at any time for many different reasons. Don't let it control your life, attack this issue by seeking help before it causes harm to your family, your career or yourself.

Help is out there!

Links:

What is PTSD?

Department of Veterans Affairs

Ft. Lewis ACS

Self Help Following Disasters

National Center For PTSD

I am not a health care professional, I am just a simple soldier that has been asked for help and I am trying to offer it in any way I can. Please seek help for you or your loved ones no matter how or where they experienced their traumatic incident or how long ago it was. All we have is each other.

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, Stress, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, PTSD

Iraqi Police, U.S. Soldiers Help Children Hurt in IED Attack

Iraqi Police, U.S. Soldiers Help Children Hurt in IED Attack American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2005 – Iraqi police and U.S. soldiers responded to help five Iraqi children injured in a Nov. 20 roadside bomb explosion in eastern Baghdad, military officials reported. Officials said the bomb most likely was targeting an Iraqi police patrol, but missed the target and detonated near a vehicle filled with children. Police and U.S. soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry, secured the site and took the wounded children to a local hospital for treatment. In other news, Iraqi police and soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team killed one suspect and injured two more Nov. 19 while responding to a roadside bomb attack in Tikrit, officials reported. Soldiers located the triggermen as they attempted to escape the area and chased them into a hastily prepared roadblock. Once the attackers saw the roadblock, they tried to turn around and began ramming other civilian vehicles on the road in an attempt to escape the containment area, officials said. Soldiers at the roadblock used several warning measures, attempting to stop the vehicles. When the drivers did not stop, the soldiers opened fire and stopped both vehicles, killing one occupant and injuring two others. All three men tested positive for explosive residue. A search of the vehicles revealed a large sum of money. Iraqi police took the two wounded terrorists to the Bayji hospital for treatment. About 150 Iraqi army soldiers and 300 Marines and soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Marine Division, began Operation Bruins in northern Ramadi on Nov. 19, officials reported. Operation Bruins is part of a series of disruption operations in Ramadi, military officials said, and is designed to set the conditions for successful elections in December. Forces are conducting cordon-and-search operations, blocking off known terrorist escape routes and searching for weapons caches. The operation comes on the heels of Operation Panthers, which disrupted operations in the Sophia district of eastern Ramadi. During Panthers, the team discovered weapons caches and detained suspected terrorists. Bruins also follows the Nov. 17 engagement in which the 2nd Brigade Combat Team successfully repelled a terrorist attack in downtown Ramadi, killing 32 terrorists. The caches found during Panthers, along with the recent capture of three high-value terrorist targets, have been part of continuous disruption operations in the Ramadi area, officials said. Attacks against Iraqi and U.S. forces in the Ramadi area have decreased 60 percent in the last few weeks, officials reported, as a result of these ongoing operations. Iraqi and Task Force Baghdad soldiers saved an Iraqi woman who had been shot by terrorists Nov. 19 in the Abu Ghraib area of western Baghdad. After being hit in a drive-by shooting, the woman was treated by combat medics on the scene from 1st Squadron, 11th Cavalry Regiment, a unit from Fort Irwin, Calif., and immediately was evacuated to a local hospital with the help of soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Division. The woman was shot in the chest with an AK-47 assault rifle fired from a white sedan as it approached a military checkpoint. She was reported to be in stable condition at the hospital. Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, operating in southwestern Baghdad, detained three suspected terrorists in two separate incidents Nov. 19. After striking a roadside bomb, the soldiers of C Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, searched the area and detained a man positively identified to have been tampering with explosive material. He also had multiple timers, detonators and initiators in his possession, officials said. Later in the day, A Company, 2-101st Brigade Troops Battalion, in support of 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, discovered a roadside bomb consisting of a propane tank with a timer attached to it. The patrol secured and searched the area, detaining two individuals who were positively identified to be tampering with explosives. Coalition aircraft flew 39 close-air-support and armed-reconnaissance sorties Nov. 20 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Air Force F-16s struck roadside bomb locations near Ramadi, while other U.S. Air Force F-16s provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy fighters near Hawijah and Husaybah. In addition, 12 U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Also, Royal Air Force fighter aircraft performed in a nontraditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors. (Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq, Task Force Baghdad and U.S. Central Command Air Forces Forward news releases.)

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military

On this Veterans Day

I don't have much time because of all of the Veterans activities that I have been supporting today but I wanted to leave you all with this brief thought.....

I don't care what service you were in, how long you served, or what your job in the Military was....... Today is OUR day! To all of you that have something against us, you are welcome! You are welcome for the right to have a different view of life and to speak out. You are welcome for the chance to sleep in your bed knowing that there are rough men standing guard over you while you sleep.

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans

Smoking ban passes in Washington State

Well it is happening, your rights as a business owner to choose how you run your business are being taken away. A new law in Washington State will be put in place on Dec. 8th 2005 to ban smoking in bars, restaurants and other privately owned establishments. What ever happened to the right of a consumer to go someplace else if they didn't like the way a business was run? If a business owner wants to only offer service to people over 6 feet with pink hair they should be able to and allowing smoking or not allowing it should be their right as well.

What happened to freedom of choice? If you don't like what I say you have the right to stop listening, if you are offended you have the right to leave, if you don't like eating or drinking near smokers GO AWAY! I had somebody tell me that they were offended by my cigarettes so I told them that I was offended by their breath and that they should leave before I complained to the police.

We have home owners groups that can put a lien on your home for painting it an un approved color or having a flag pole that is too big. The state can tell business's how to run their stores.

I guess I'd better check the state approved dress code before I leave the house.....I wouldn't want to offend anyone!

Technorati Tags : Smoking, Laws, Government, Election

Military.com Launches Career Resource for Veterans

The Department of Defense news service has released the following information about job placement for separating service members.

About 250,000 people leave the military each year, Christopher Michel, president and founder of Military.com, said. A goal of the new network, found at www.military.com/network, is to help veterans capitalize on the training they received in the military by connecting them with employers who value this type
of training and to make that connection more efficient.

They talk about how it has been made easier for employers to find veterans to hire.

To make it easier for those wanting to hire a veteran to find one, veterans' resumes are literally "flagged" in Monster.com's resume database. A small American flag has been added next to veterans' resume listings, Michel said.

This is a great article for all vets to read and I suggest that you all check it out over at the DOD web site.


Technorati Tags : Employment, Jobs, Veterans, Vet, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Air Force

My take on the Paris riots

To all of those in Paris, good luck, stay safe and remember..... You know where to find us when you need us.... as always.



Technorati Tags : Paris, Riots

Truth or lies, you tell me!

I found some quotes of government officials and I thought I'd play a little game with them. I want you guys to use the comments section for your answers. I will post my source and the person or persons that made the quote in a couple of days.

Lets get started!

1) "[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs."

2) "This December will mark three years since United Nations inspectors last visited Iraq. There is no doubt that since that time, Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to refine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer- range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies."

3) "What is at stake is how to answer the potential threat Iraq represents with the risk of proliferation of WMD. Baghdad's regime did use such weapons in the past. Today, a number of evidences may lead to think that, over the past four years, in the absence of international inspectors, this country has continued armament programs."

4) "The community of nations may see more and more of the very kind of threat Iraq poses now: a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction, ready to use them or provide them to terrorists. If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow."

5) "There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein's regime is a serious danger, that he is a tyrant, and that his pursuit of lethal weapons of mass destruction cannot be tolerated. He must be disarmed."

Lets stop for now and see how many of you get them correct. Please format your answers like so:

1) (True or False) or like this (Dem or Rep)

Either true / false or political party answers are ok. Good luck to all!

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Bush, Government, Politics

Have some fun at Blogshares!

I know that this is way off topic but I have just started playing the Blogshares trading game. I'm sure that most of you have heard of this by now but I am new and just love it. The idea is that you trade shares in blogs like they were stocks, a good blog with links is worth more than one that has few links.

Blogs produce "ideas" that can be grouped in to bonds and traded on the bond market. If you click the link to blogshares on the right side of this page you'll be taken to the status page for this blog, if you just want the main page, click here.

Check it out, its a lot of fun and the people are really helpful.



Technorati Tags : links, retail, blogs, blogging, marketing, traffic

Some things to think about after the 2,000th American death in Iraq

I guess its about time that I added my 2 cents to the news of the last couple of days. It has happened, we have now lost our 2,000th soldier in Iraq. I feel for the families of all of those soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen that have lost their lives or had them forever changed.

Mine was forever changed the day I left my family for 13 months, that's 13 months that I will never get back with my 70 year old parents, my beautiful wife or my 9 year old son. I am forever changed by the events of my time in Baghdad and the things that I have seen. Some may say that I lost a year, I say that I lived for that year.

There are children and families in Iraq that are able to vote, to choose their own future because of what my brothers in arms and I have done. Do not make this political, do not try to divide our country as it was during Viet Nam. What we are doing is just, it is necessary and it should have been done a long time ago.

Do not cry for our service men and women, hold them high for what they are doing. Keep them close to your hearts and offer them thanks. If we were afraid to pay the price to spread freedom and democracy the French, Belgians, English and most of Europe would be called Germans. China and the far east would be a part of Japan. We didn't stop because it was hard or we had lost too many people during that struggle, we continued to fight the good fight and we made the world a better place. Germany and Japan were about as much of a threat to us back then as Iraq or any other "enemy" of our is now.

According to the D-Day Museum, we suffered 1,465 killed in action during the Normandy landings. On Iwo Jima during the 36 day battle for the island we lost 6,000 American soldiers.
During the Civil War at a place called "Little Round Top" the armies of the north and the south suffered 51,000 casualties during fighting that lasted only 3 days.

Freedom is not free, it is bought and paid for by the people that have the will to leave their homes and their families, to go and knowingly put them selves at risk not only to protect their current family but to protect future generations. To offer a future not only to Americans but to every person on this planet.

Today you hurt for the loss of a loved one either dead or far away, do not cry for them, support them and help to keep the memory of their deeds alive for future generations to look back on so that they may decide if it was just or not.


Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines

New Link Exchange Program for blogs and retail sites

Everything Below Retail is offering a new link exchange program for your blog or retail web site. Right now it is set up for outdoor related blogs, sporting good and automotive sites but I bet if you ask for a new category one will be added for you. Get the full story over at the EBR Blog

Technorati Tags : links, retail, blogs, blogging, marketing, traffic

Response to comments from my last post

This post is for the person that left the long winded comment in my last post about the uninformed. Click here to read the comment.

I am educated and so are my men. Everybody on my crew has atleast an AA if not a BA, mine is in electrical engineering. We are the highest educated fighting force that America has ever fielded so I can tell that you are far removed from the American soldier. I can tell you what makes a terrorist, poverty like none you have ever seen in America, a lack of hope for tomorrow, a life that isn't a life. That is what I saw when I arrived in Iraq. Have you been there? Have you seen the new look of hope in the faces of the young and old alike? Have you seen the warm welcome and the thanks that the Iraqi people offer up to the American soldiers? I think not! If you had you would know that we are doing the right thing by offering those people a chance to choose their own life, to be free of a mad man. I don't know where you get your "facts" but maybe you should put your boots on the ground and see for yourself like I have and will do again! Stop swallowing everything that people like Michael Moore are feeding you because it is full of slander, half truths, and utter nonsense.


Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military

The uninformed are everywhere!

Check out what this guy has to say and be amazed at the level of stupidity that some people posses. I hate to even link to this page but when I read it I didn't know if I should fall out of my chair laughing at this person or choke the living sh*t out of them. You figure it out for me please!

Attitudes we need to fight!


Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military

The Combined Federal Campaign is seeking donations for many different causes!

DoD Kicks Off 2005 Combined Federal Campaign By Donna Miles American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2005 – Acting Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England kicked off the 2005 Combined Federal Campaign here today by thanking Defense Department employees for their generosity in supporting hurricane-relief efforts and encouraging them to continue that same level of support for other important causes. England acknowledged that this year's CFC goal of $12.8 million might be challenging in light of more than $1 billion department employees and other U.S. citizens have donated to hurricane-related charities. This year's CFC campaign includes several hurricane-related causes, along with hundreds of others whose needs "did not go away because (Hurricane) Katrina happened," England said. "Many people are in need of help from Hurricane Katrina and Rita," the deputy secretary told a group of service and DoD agency leaders and CFC key workers. "But we must not forget that there are also regional and national and international charities that need our support." Speaking in a room decorated with red, white and blue balloons and a banner urging, "Please Give," England encouraged department members to continue their long history of generous support to the CFC campaign and to support this year's theme, "Be An Everyday Hero." England praised the "uniquely American" spirit in which DoD workers open their hearts and their wallets to others in need, in most cases, to people they've never met and never will. "You don't know the lives you've changed and the effect you've had," he said, noting that CFC donations cause a "ripple effect" throughout local communities and the nation as a whole. England referred to a famous Winston Churchill quote in urging department members to give during this year's CFC campaign. "You make a living by what you get," he said. "You make a life by what you give." Goals for this year's campaign, by organization, are: Department of Defense -- $12.8 million Navy and Marine Corps -- $3.45 million Army -- $2.95 million Air Force -- $1.75 million Defense Intelligence Agency -- $800,000 Office of the Secretary of Defense -- $780,000 National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency -- $560,000 Defense Information Systems Agency -- $525,000 Defense Logistics Agency -- $347,000 Joint Staff -- $275,000 Defense Threat Reduction Agency -- $195,000 DoD Inspector General -- $170,000 Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences -- $169,000 Washington Headquarters Services -- $136,000 Missile Defense Agency -- $132,000 Defense Contract Management Agency -- $115,000 Defense Contract Audit Agency -- $96,000 Defense Finance and Accounting Service -- $95,000 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency -- $80,000 Pentagon Force Protection Agency -- $50,000 Department of Defense Education Activity -- $40,000 Pentagon Federal Credit Union -- $32,000 Defense Security Cooperation Agency -- $25,000 Defense Security Service -- $14,000

Related Site:

Combined Federal Campaign

Technorati Tags : Donations, Charity, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, DOD, Government

Child Firearm Safety Program

Check out this post for more information on child firearm safety and order your free safety kit with 2 gun locks today!
Read More



Technorati Tags : Guns, Shooting, Kids, Safety, Firearms,

Resources for the Army family

Everybody knows that military life is tough. Not only is it tough on the soldier but it is tough on the entire family. A soldier's day can pass quickly while in training or on deployment but there is always somebody that is left behind at home. Children are missing a parent to talk to, play with and provide guidance. There is a spouse that has to become mom and dad, handle the kids and home on their own and pass the down time alone.

The Army is trying to make this transition as easy on the family as they can by extending assignments and trying to stick to published training schedules. As anybody that has ever served knows its best to live by the motto "Semper Gumby" meaning always be flexible.

I'd like to direct all soldiers and their families to the Army family web site called, My Army Life Too. This site is full of resources for the entire family and includes things like child development, deployment preparation, adjustment to post deployment life and many other resources.

Check it out!

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military

Leo Damascus knife at Everything Below Retail $305 plus free shipping!

Everything Below Retail

A truly rare and unique piece of work blending the centuries-old art of hand forged Damascus with a piece of history. The Leo Damascus a high performance Damascus steel was made available to Boker through a noted European Damascus forger Markus Balbach. The steel used in this knife is forged out of the barrel of the German battle tank Leopard I thus Leo Damascus. This speciality steel is not available to the market and there is no material number even assigned to it because it was only used by the military.

Herr Balbach was fortunate to acquire some for the exclusive use of Boker. A chromium-manganese and vanadium tool steel alloy was added to this extremely wear-resistant barrel steel. The result is a remarkably high hardness for Damascus steel (63-65 HRC). A very high performance Damascus. The pattern provided on the blade is labeled "small pyramid" providing a spectacular work of art; and as with all true Damascus every blade is different.

Handle material is hard coated 6061-T6 aluminium and features exotic desert ironwoods inlays. Liner locking. Includes certificate of authenticity and gift box. Serialized.

Overall length: 7 7/8". Blade length: 3 3/8".

Everything Below Retail

Technorati Tags : Shooting, Fishing, Knives, Hunting, Army, Military

'Operation Restoring Rights' to secure Tal Afar

September 13, 2005


BAGHDAD, Iraq (Army News Service, Sept. 13, 2005) – At least 119 suspected terrorists have been detained since Sept. 10 by Iraqi security forces and Coalition troops in northern Iraq as they continue operations to purge insurgents from the city of Tal Afar, about 30 miles west of Mosul.

In a cordon and search Sept. 10, Coalition forces detained 41 individuals suspected of terrorist activity, officials said. Security forces also seized a mortar system with multiple rounds of ammunition and a cache consisting of hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

“Operation Restoring Rights is being conducted to remove terrorists and foreign fighters operating in Tal Afar,” said Col. Billy J. Buckner, spokesman for Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

“This operation is in support of the Iraqi government’s efforts to bring safety and security to the citizens of the city,” Buckner said. “The local government requested Coalition assistance in setting the conditions needed to establish permanent Iraqi security for the people of Tal Afar that will allow them to vote in upcoming elections.”

Task Force Freedom detained 78 more suspected terrorists during operations in Tal Afar Sept. 12 as Operation Restoring Rights continued.

Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment detained 57 individuals suspected of terrorist activity during two operations.

Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 3rd ACR detained 15 terror suspects during a cordon and search operation.

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment detained four suspected terrorists.

Soldiers from 3rd ACR also detained two individuals suspected of terrorist activity while patrolling. The suspects are in custody with no Multi-National Force injuries reported

Since Aug. 26, Iraqi and Coalition Forces have captured 211 terror suspects, killed 141 terrorists and confiscated nine weapons caches, MNC-I reported.



(Editor’s note: Information provided by two press releases from the Multi-National Force-Iraq Combined Press Information Center.)

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military

Updates on the offensive in Tal Afar

The offensive in Haditha is in full swing. The Army along with soldiers from the Iraqi army are moving in to secure the town. Read more at In The Bull Pen

Iraqi Soldiers Donate to Katrina Victims

Iraqi soldiers collected 1,000,000 Iraqi dinars for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

By Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq

TAJI, Iraq, Sept. 9, 2005 —

Iraqi soldiers serving at Taji military base collected 1,000,000 Iraqi dinars for victims of Hurricane Katrina.Iraqi Col. Abbas Fadhil, Iraqi base commander, presented the money to U.S. Col. Paul D. Linkenhoker, Taji Coalition base commander, at a Sept. 5 staff meeting.

"We are all brothers. When one suffers tragedy, we all suffer their pain."
Iraqi Col. Abbas Fadhil“We are all brothers,” said Abbas. “When one suffers tragedy, we all suffer their pain.”The amount of money is small in American dollars - roughly $680 - but it represents a huge act of compassion from Iraqi soldiers to their American counterparts, said U.S. Army Maj. Michael Goyne.

“I was overwhelmed by the amount of their generosity,” Goyne said. “I was proud and happy to know Col. Abbas, his officers, NCOs and fellow soldiers. That amount represents a month’s salary for most of those soldiers.”

Abbas read a letter he wrote after giving the envelope to Linkenhoker.

"I am Colonel Abbas Fadhil; Tadji Military Base Commander,” Abbas wrote. “On behalf of myself and all the People of Tadji Military Base; I would like to console the American People and Government for getting this horrible disaster. So we would like to donate 1.000.000 Iraqi Dinars to help the government and the People also I would like to console all the ASTs who helped us rebuilding our country and our Army. We appreciate the American's help and support. Thank you."

Technorati Tags:
New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina, Military, Iraq, Disasters, War, Army

Sep. 11th 2001, a day hard lessons were learned. Remember 9/11

Its been 4 years since that terrible day and a lot has changed. We are engaged in 2 theaters of war, our transportation systems are guarded like never before, there is great debate amongst the masses regarding our foreign policy, we know without a doubt that America is a target.

Before 9/11, we lived in our own little world where the bad things that happened to us were of our own making. Now, we have an enemy. Not only does this enemy dislike us because of our freedoms, they hate us for our religion. To them we are the enemy no matter where or if we worship, how much money we make, or what we do for a living. These people believe that by killing us they will earn a reward in heaven. We must NEVER forget what happened on that morning 4 years ago, we must never stop working to prevent things like this from happening EVER again.

Some think that we brought this on ourselves......I ask, how? Afghanistan is better off for our being there, Iraq will be better off very soon. So what if Saddam bluffed us about the WMDs....or did he? I have been there and seen what we are doing in Iraq, and I will always say that we are preventing future attacks on our country with our actions in the middle east. We are making the lives of the people in Afghanistan and Iraq better and we are killing terrorists in their own region and not on the streets of America. Find the enemy, fix the enemy and kill them. That is how we can protect America.

Never forget the pain in your hearts when you saw the twin towers come crashing down, never forget the sight of people jumping to their deaths, never forget the hero's that we saw during that time and the feeling of community that we as Americans haven't had since Pearl Harbor.

Finally, NEVER forget who the enemy is and that only the American people can stop the enemy from trying to change our way of life. Be proud to be American, there is no other country like ours. We make mistakes, we don't have all of the answers, but we try and we care about each other. We have chances that people in other countries could never have, protect that.

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military, WTC, 911, Terrorism,

The Civilian Marksmanship Program

For anyone interested in shooting but that doesn't know a lot about it, or those that are or have been in the Military, I have a wonderful resource for training and the purchase of M1 Garand rifles.

Its the Civilian Marksmanship Program.

This program was started to provide training and low cost rifles for citizens so that they would have basic marksmanship training to speed up the draft process. It followed the every man is a rifleman theory that during the time of war, everybody should be able to work a fire arm to defend their country or themselves.

Technorati Tags : Army, Military, America, Shooting, Hunting, Guns,

Our prayers are with those in the path of hurricane Katrina

Our prayers as well as our thoughts go out to you all..........

Technorati Tags:
New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina, Alabama, Mississippi, Disasters

One more example of news not covered by main-stream media. I guess Cindy Sheehan is more important!

I don't know about you but I haven't seen any coverage of this part of the Cindy Sheehan story.

Move America Forward has a caravan of people, to include parents of slain soldiers, moving across the country to promote support for the troops and the President. Where are the cameras?
Where are the head lines about the families that are proud of the sacrifice that their children made?

I guess they either don't think anybody cares, or they don't want people like you and me to know that there are some Americans left that believe in the President, our soldiers, the job we are doing in Iraq, or in America itself.

You Don't Speak For Us, Cindy!



Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military, Cindy Sheehan, America

Large selection of knives and accessories at Everything Below Retail.

Well, I knew this would happen sooner or later....the famed shameless plug! Wel, we all do have to eat after all, and most of us know what the Army pay scale is like. ;-)

For a large collection of outdoor items to include knives, hunting gear, fishing tackle, camping equipment, gun accessories, and much, much more.... visit Everything Below Retail.

Thanks to those that have already checked out the new store and to everyone, I ask that you let me know how you like it. After all, what good is a store that is missing what people need, doesn't work properly, or is just plain ugly? I can't wait to hear your feedback.

Have a great day and keep your powder dry!




Technorati Tags : Shooting, Fishing, Knives, Hunting, Army, Military

Does the war in Iraq really have no heros?

I have heard it said that America doesn't have any heros to look up to in the Iraq war. To them I say, you are wrong!

This a hero........

This is a hero......

This is a true hero, SFC Paul R. Smith, Medal of Honor winner.

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military

Send a service member a care package!

Here are some links to find information about sending care packages to our
troops.

I will tell you that there is nothing like being away from home and getting a
letter or package from ANYBODY.

Any and all mail we received was counted as a blessing.


Adopt a Platoon

Any Soldier

Operation
Care and Comfort

Operation Care
Packages

Operation Gratitude


Operation Holidays

Operation
Military Pride

Operation
Military Support

Operation Mom

Operation
Morale

Operation Paperback

Operation Support



Operation Troop Appreciation

Operation We Care
US Troop Care
Package

USO Care Packages

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Air Force, Marines,

Help our service members call home!

Here are links to help deployed service members contact their loved ones.

Please let me know of any other links that I should add or if any of these
links are broken.

Cell Phones for
Soldiers

Freedom Calls
Foundation

Help Our
Troops Call Home

Operation Uplink

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Air Force, Marines,

Resources for service members in need of family support

Here are some links that I found for service members needing family support.

Please contact me if you find more links that I should add or if any of these
links are broken.

Air Force Enlisted
Village

American Heroes Tribute

American
Military Family

American
Red Cross

Armed Forces
Foundation

Armed Services YMCA

Army Emergency Relief

Association of the U.S.
Army Family Programs


Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund

Citizens Helping
Heroes

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance


Deployed Soldiers Family
Foundation

Marine Moms Online

National Military Family
Association


Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

Operation Child Care


Operation Family
Fund

Operation Homefront


Our Military Kids

Salute Our Services


The Military Family Network


Yellow Ribbon
America

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Air Force, Marines,

Tired of income tax?

Look at the Fair Tax Act and let me know how you feel about changing the current tax code. Do you feel that taxing people on what they make or how they spend their money is more fair? Our founding fathers didn't like taxes and the big government that it helped create, so why should we have them now. Income tax was ment to fund the world wars but was never repealed like it should have been.

Look at the Fair Tax Act!

Technorati Tags : Tax, IRS, Government

The Brookings Institute released information on Iraq

Look at the report from the Brookings Institute on the condition of Iraq and the public opinion of the progress made. This is about as close to the truth as you are going to find and I suggest everybody checks it out.

Click to view report

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military

Tips for deploying soldiers

I found this wonderful post full of tips for soldiers deploying to Iraq.

Check it out!

Thanks to Austin Bay Blog

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military

The first Atomic Bomb was dropped on Hiroshima 60 years ago today

Currently Japan is a friendly nation but 60 years ago the country of Japan was a much different place. Today is the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the question "Was it necessary" has been asked. The answer is no, but the result of of not dropping such a powerful bomb would have been far worse for both Japan and Allied forces if we had invaded the island country. It is a fact that more people were killed in the coventional bombing of cities than in the atomic blast. It is a fact that the Japanese government was preparing every citizen to fight in the event of an amphibious landing on their shores.

Looking at the landings on Iwo Jima and Okinawa as examples, you will see that the Japanese were dedicated to their country and were willing to fight to the last man rather than giving up to save themselves. No estimate of casualties was below 2 times the number of deaths caused by the bombing. It was expected that we would have over 200,000 killed while Japan would suffer 3 to 400,000 killed during an invasion. We would have pounded every inch of every city to dust and had to face mobs of civilians fighting with sticks to take that island. It is hard to say how many would have given up and how many would have fought with no chance of success.

The Japanese war department wanted to fight on after Hiroshima and again after Nagasaki but is was the Emperor Hirohito that put an end to the war.

In Germany, the Allies bombed cities in response to Hitler attacking England's cities with V-1 and V-2 rockets. This carried over to the pacific theater of war because the plants that made war material were placed in the cities. Today we have the ability to pick our targets with care but back then we could only flatten the city block that held the factory with the hope that we wouldn't need a second bombing run to finish the job.

Some have chosen to try to show American as evil for dropping the atomic bomb but how many know what the Japanese did in Nanking? How about in Nanjing in the 1930's?

I have no hatred for the Japanese but I want to show that they were not victims, they were a ruthless enemy and President Truman did what he felt had to be done to put an end to this war once and for all.

Technorati Tags : Hiroshima, WWII, War, Army, Military, Japan, Hirohito, Nanking,

In response to some comments I received about Gitmo.

I never said that our troops were perfect. I am sure that some of the detainees aren't being treated with kid gloves but it angers me when the media wants to hang our government and our soldiers every change they get. They NEVER come out and call for a terrorists head on a platter after a beheading, but they want our soldiers ruined after taking some STUPID pictures in Abu Ghrab. Lets say a detainee dies of an actual heart attack in gitmo.... The press will blame it on the way he was treated even if nothing "bad" actually happened, by the time the story is dropped, the guards and the unit in charge have been drug through the mud so much that the American people will assume the detainee died of abuse. If a reporter has two stories in front of them to pick from, they will ALWAYS pick the one that is about a soldier screwing up, or getting blown up.

Nobody except our local papers EVER reported about the schools that we opened, the medical clinic that we opened, the sewer that we put in, or the power we brought to people that didn't have and electricity before we came to Iraq.

The media is doing a great disservice to the American people by only reporting the part of the story that they think will sell advertising or the parts that back their political agenda.

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military

I guess a quick lesson is required.......

After reading a couple of the comments I received from readers, I decided that a quick lesson was needed to straighten a couple of things out.

Bad Guy

Good Guys

Atrocity

Handing out donations

Any Questions?

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military

Stop making excuses for terrorists!

Condoleezza Rice made a good point in an interview on the "Jim Lehrer New Hour" the other day. I'm glad to hear her put it in actual in your face words and not the normal "PC" speak.

You can read this story on American Forces Information Services.

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military

Terror Cell Leader Captured; Nine Terrorists, Two Marines Killed

Terror Cell Leader Captured; Nine Terrorists, Two Marines Killed

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2005 – U.S. troops captured al Qaeda terror cell leader Ammar Abu Bara, alias Amar Hussein Hasan, during a July 27 cordon-and-search operation in Mosul, Iraq's third largest city, U.S military officials reported today.
Bara, reportedly one of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's most trusted operations agents in Iraq, was arrested by troops of the Army's 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team,) and Iraqi army soldiers. Bara replaced Abu Talha, former terror cell leader for the Mosul area, following his capture in early June.

Officials said a number of al Qaeda terrorist leaders have been captured in recent months in northern Iraq, leading to a more secure environment in the region. These captures have led to the systematic dismantling of the al Qaeda network in Mosul, military officials said.

Camp Fallujah officials reported that two Marines were killed in Cykla, about 120 miles west of Baghdad, July 28 when their unit came under attack by small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. The Marines were assigned to Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

Officials at Camp Blue Diamond in Ramadi reported that Iraqi security forces and U.S. Marines killed nine terrorists, five of them reportedly were Syrian nationals, who were using buildings as safe houses and firing positions in a small village west of Haditha.

Iraqi soldiers and U.S. Marines were conducting a security patrol in the city of Cykla when terrorists attacked them with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire from three different buildings. The joint patrol consisted of Iraqi soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, and Marines with 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team.

Air combatants from the 2nd Marine Air Craft Wing struck enemy positions with three laser-guided bombs and one Global-Positioning-System-guided bomb. The air strike destroyed all three buildings and caused minimal collateral damage to the surrounding community, according to U.S. officials. Coalition forces also detained two terrorists for questioning.

A single-vehicle accident claimed the life of a Task Force Baghdad soldier in central Baghdad on July 28. The soldier was taken to an Iraqi hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His body was later recovered by U.S. military authorities.

A 30-year-old Iraqi detainee died July 27 at the U.S.-run Camp Bucca prison camp in southern Iraq as a result of renal failure and other organ failure due to chronic malaria, U.S. military officials reported. The detainee was admitted to the field hospital July 3 following complaints of nausea.

Hospital officials said they believe the detainee contracted malaria prior to arriving at Camp Bucca in December 2004. The detainee was not diagnosed until recently, as he did not exhibit any symptoms, they noted, adding that he did not pose a contagious hazard to other detainees. His body will be transferred to his family upon completion of an autopsy, which is standing procedure for all detainees who die while in custody of coalition forces, officials said.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Task Force Baghdad news releases.)



Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military

Saddam Music Video

Here is a funny music video sung to the tune of Jlo's Jenny from the block! I almost fell out of my chair!!!

Click To Watch!

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military

Look at these pictures of abuse!

Check out this link I got from a retired soldier and let me know what you think of the abuse and mistreatment that is going on.

The worst pictures you could ever imagine!!

Read the full article and let me know how you feel about our troops....are we monsters or Nazis like some think? I'll see if I can find the menu for the chow hall on gitmo and we'll see how many Americans eat as well as the detainees.....I know as a soldier I don't eat that well!!!

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military

What side is the press on anyway?

I just wish that the American news would remember what torture really is. They show photos of a frat party at gitmo while they should be showing what is happening to American prisoners.....Maybe they think its a crime to take a picture of a naked detainee and its OK to chop off the head of an American.....hmmmm.....Sometimes I wonder what side the press is on. I want the American people to see the planes crash in to the WTC, I want them to see the terrorists cut the head off of an American, I want them to be as mad as I was while watching the Nick Berg video on AFN while I was sitting in Baghdad. I don't want the American people to ever forget that we are fighting an enemy with no honor, no morals, and the will to do whatever they think is necessary.



Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military

Have you watched the new FX show "Over There"?

I watched this new show about soldiers in Iraq and I have mixed feelings. If I watch it as a soldier that has been to war, I am unimpressed and a little offended by how the soldiers are stereotyped. If I watch it as a piece of entertainment and don't try to pick apart the tactics as well as remember that it is Hollywood's view of soldiers, I can actually enjoy the show. Currently I am on the fence on this one.......I am looking forward to the next show because the preview looks pretty good but I won't get my hopes up. Let me know how you feel about this one, I'd love to know.

Check out what sgt mom has to say about the drugs use of one of the soldiers.

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Here are some more photos from Iraq.

Most of these photos were taken around the time of the Iraqi Elections. Its hard to believe but I actually miss being over there when I look at these.

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War on Terror, OIF, Army, Military

What should we do if terrorists explode a nuke in the U.S.?

Since coming home I have been thinking about what a good response to the terrorist threat in the U.S would be and now somebody in the government has said something I agree with. You can read the story here.

Congressman Tancredo's answer to a radio host's question about what we should do if terrorists explode a nuke in the states in right on the money in my opinion. There is only one thing that these people understand and that is violence...I wish it weren't so.....GOD how I wish but you can't fight these people by attacking a country, you fight them by threatening their families and the one thing that matters to them the most, their religion. I'm not saying to blow these sites up just because we can but as a response to an attack from them. It is the terrorists that want this to be a war about religion and to that I say to the NORMAL Muslim people.....Take care of these crazy people before the world starts to hate all of you for what they are doing. It is them that give you a bad name and it is up to you to stop them before they do something really stupid.

I don't want everybody to think that I am painting every Muslim as a terrorist because I'm not, in fact, if 9/11 was caused by blond haired, blue eyed Icelanders I'd expect to be watched more than any other group of people simply because I look like and have the same background as the attackers.

That's it for me for today. Send me your thoughts and have a great day.

Terrorist Attacks in London

Well, they are at it again. This time it was in London, tomorrow it might be Seattle. These people are nothing but cowards, they are too afraid to face real soldiers and only know how to kill women and children. I don't care if they are Muslims, Christians, Jews, or don't even know what god is, religion doesn't matter!!!! They are COWARDS plain and simple!!! They need to be hunted down one by one and wiped from this earth like vermin! Don't believe me? Look at what happened today in London and decide for yourself.

London Attacks.