Nov 12 2008

The NYTimes exposes yet another secret program

Category: media,military,terrorismharmonicminer @ 4:07 pm

The NYTimes is again at work exposing secret US military operations.

The United States military since 2004 has used broad, secret authority to carry out nearly a dozen previously undisclosed attacks against Al Qaeda and other militants in Syria, Pakistan and elsewhere, according to senior American officials.

These military raids, typically carried out by Special Operations forces, were authorized by a classified order that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld signed in the spring of 2004 with the approval of President Bush, the officials said. The secret order gave the military new authority to attack the Qaeda terrorist network anywhere in the world, and a more sweeping mandate to conduct operations in countries not at war with the United States.

Continue reading “The NYTimes exposes yet another secret program”

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Nov 10 2008

No words needed

Category: military,USAharmonicminer @ 3:12 pm

Reveille

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Sep 25 2008

Russia has big military plans

Category: military,Russiaharmonicminer @ 9:08 am

Russian defense spending will increase by 25% for 2009, according to Pravda.

Russian lawmakers gave preliminary approval Friday to a 2009 budget that calls for a 25 percent hike in defense spending – a sharp increase for Russia’s military that comes only a month after it crushed Georgia on the battlefield.

The boost in defense spending fits in with Russia’s recent defiant posture toward the West, a stance that has seen relations with the United States and the European Union sink to a post-Cold War low after last month’s war in Georgia.

Presumably this doesn’t count the incredible amount of export profit Russia is making from supplying arms to the world, especially to adversaries of the USA, like Iran, Venezuela, etc.

One can only wonder exactly what threats or responsibilities Russia must face that require such expenditure. Must be all those former USSR territories that Russia still plans to invade. Or maybe Russia is just afraid that Lithuania will invade it.

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Jul 29 2008

Colonel Leo Thorsness, hero

Category: election 2008,McCain,military,politicsharmonicminer @ 9:34 am

Here’s a short excerpt, but you really need to read the whole thing to understand.
Power Line: Who is Leo Thorsness and why is he supporting John McCain?

Colonel Thorsness is one of the most remarkable men I have ever met. He is one of the few (fewer than 150) living Medal of Honor recipients. His name should be known and his story should be told. He may be one of the “great-souled” men at the summit of human excellence of whom Aristotle speaks in the Ethics. He deserves to be heard out.

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Jul 28 2008

Respect to our soldiers

Category: Afghanistan,election 2008,McCain,middle east,military,politics,terrorismharmonicminer @ 9:20 am

Soldiers recount deadly attack on Afghanistan outpost | Stars and Stripes

Walker and two other wounded soldiers distributed their ammo and grenades and passed messages.

The whole FOB was covered in dust and smoke, looking like something out of an old Western movie.

“I’ve never seen the enemy do anything like that,” said Walker, who was medically evacuated off the FOB in one of the first helicopters to arrive. “It’s usually three RPGs, some sporadic fire and then they’re gone … I don’t where they got all those RPGs. That was crazy.”

Two hours after the first shots were fired, Stafford made his way, with help, to the medevac helicopter that arrived.

“It was some of the bravest stuff I’ve ever seen in my life, and I will never see it again because those guys,” Stafford said, then paused. “Normal humans wouldn’t do that. You’re not supposed to do that, getting up and firing back when everything around you is popping and whizzing and trees, branches coming down and sandbags exploding and RPGs coming in over your head … It was a fistfight then, and those guys held ‘ em off.”

Stafford offered a guess as to why his fellow soldiers fought so hard.

“Just hardcoreness I guess,” he said. “Just guys kicking ass, basically. Just making sure that we look scary enough that you don’t want to come in and try to get us.”

You need to click the link at the top, and read this whole thing. And you need to show respect to our fighting men. These men are not victims, they are heroes who choose to serve us, and they deserve the best we can give them, including the leadership we elect for them.

hat tip: blackfive

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