tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-266254652024-03-07T16:28:11.518-05:00The Observation PostObservations of a Marine infantry officer and participant in the Global War On Terror.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1175466977869494462007-04-01T18:34:00.000-04:002007-04-01T18:36:17.870-04:00New LookThis blog's been stagnating for a while, mostly due to training demands and my increased posting over on <a href="http://www.op-for.com" target="_blank">OPFOR</a>. I decided to change the look a bit, and I'll try to keep it updated more frequently.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1166500029046250182006-12-18T22:38:00.000-05:002006-12-18T22:47:09.060-05:00Open SeasonOutstanding song by the band <a href="http://www.stuckmojomedia.com" target="_blank">Stuck Mojo</a> from Atlanta, GA.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ymLJz3N8ayI"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ymLJz3N8ayI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br /><blockquote><em><strong>I speak peace when peace is spoken, But I speak war when your hate is provoking</strong>, The season is open 24-7-365, Man up yo time to ride, No need to hide behind slogans of deceit, Claiming that you're a religion of peace, We just don't believe you, We can clearly see through, The madness that you're feeding your people, Jihad the cry of your unholy war, Using the willing, the weak and poor, From birth drowning in propaganda, rhetoric and slander, All we can say is damn ya</em></blockquote><br />You can download copies of their songs at <a href="http://www.stuckmojomedia.com" target="_blank">Stuck Mojo Media</a> for free. However I highly recommend that you shell out the $15 and buy a copy of the CD to support these guys.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1164479818171911402006-11-25T13:02:00.000-05:002006-11-25T13:36:58.186-05:00Airstrike flattens 15 homes in Ramadi?On November 15th, the <em>L.A. Times</em> ran a story titled "Iraqi resident says U.S. airstrike kills 30." The article had this to say: <blockquote><em>Baghdad - A U.S. airstrike in the restive town of Ramadi killed at least 30 people, including women and children, witnesses said Tuesday.<br /><br />....<br /><br />A Times correspondent in Ramadi said at least 15 homes were pulverized by aerial bombardment and families could be seen digging through the ruins with shovels and bare hands.</em></blockquote>I would try to debunk this myself, but <a href="http://patterico.com/2006/11/24/5419/is-the-la-times-repeating-enemy-propaganda-or-is-there-another-reason-the-paper-is-getting-basic-facts-wrong-and-failing-to-report-the-militarys-side/" target="_blank">Patterico</a> has already done an admirable job of showing the complete lack of journalistic integrity on the part of the <em>L.A. Times</em>. Can anyone honestly say that they are surprised? This is just an example of why distrust between the military and the media is at an all-time high.<br /><br />As you read <a href="http://patterico.com/2006/11/24/5419/is-the-la-times-repeating-enemy-propaganda-or-is-there-another-reason-the-paper-is-getting-basic-facts-wrong-and-failing-to-report-the-militarys-side/" target="_blank">Patterico's blog entry on this article</a>, take note of the fact that the report is entirely based on the word of an Iraqi stringer employed by the <em>Times</em>. In military intelligence circles, this is known as "single-source reporting", and is generally considered untrustworthy and unsuitable intelligence for launching an operation. Apparently, it <em>is</em> good enough for mass publication to the American public.<br /><br />Unfortunately, there are a number of other holes I could blast in their story, but I would have to cross, or at least stray dangerously close to, the OPSEC line in order to do it. Suffice it to say that, as a military forward air controller who recently worked in Al Anbar province, and who read the airstrike summaries Coalition Air Operations Center's (CAOC) webpage, an airstrike big enough to level 15 houses would require multiple sections of aircraft and enough ordnance to be <b><em>highly</b></em> unusual for any city in Iraq.<br /><br />Hat tips to <a href="http://patterico.com/" target="_blank">Patterico's Pontifications</a>, <a href="http://www.mudvillegazette.com/milblogs/2006/11/25/#007177" target="_blank">Mudville Gazette</a>, and <a href="http://www.blackfive.net/main/2006/11/is_the_la_times.html" target="_blank">Blackfive</a>.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1164160659918749752006-11-21T20:42:00.000-05:002006-11-21T21:01:05.823-05:00Six Steps... Part IIMAJ Egland, author of <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/930jbmte.asp" target="_blank">Six Steps to Victory</a>, says he has received an incredible amount of feedback. He plans to eventually publish a manuscript, but in the meantime he is trying to get the ball rolling on connecting American citizens with the counterinsurgency effort in Iraq. The following is excerpted from a letter to <a href="www.blackfive.net" target="_blank">Blackfive</a>: <blockquote><em>Hey, do you know anyone who is just about to deploy, or has just arrived in Iraq, preferably in a line infantry, ground-owner type unit? Goal is to implement Step 3--connect the American people to the effort by giving them the chance to directly support the guys on the ground.<br /><br />I am trying to line up a few battalions who would want to get sponsored by a city here and use the WalMart 'wedding registry' to order what they need-- video games, dvd's and books for themselves; cell phone cameras, laptops and video cameras to give to supportive locals for help with spotting bad guys; and dolls, bicycles, microwaves and generators to strengthen relations with the locals.<br /><br />I have the list of deploying units, but prefer to go grass roots so I don't have to put up with some brigade XO tell me to send a white paper and powerpoint brief--only to never hear back from him.<br /><br />Let me know if you or your readers can connect me with someone from a combat battalion either in country or about to deploy in the next few months. I can explain that all they would need to do is go to WalMart.com and sign up for a gift registry account, tell their buddies in the unit, send me the account information and I will take it from there.<br /><br />Once they start getting stuff, they can take pictures and e-mail them back here so the folks supporting them can get the feedback to see that their efforts are really making a difference. I have mayors, CEOs, nonprofit presidents, church leaders, Rotary clubs, political groups and other local leaders from Alaska to Florida chomping at the bit to help out. People here really want to help but don't know how--beyond prayers, bumper stickers and care packages. Also, if one of your readers wants to sign their city up to sponsor a battalion, they can e-mail me at <a href="mailto:SixStepsInIraq@hotmail.com">SixStepsInIraq@hotmail.com</a>...</em></blockquote> If you know someone with combat experience in Iraq or Afghanistan, make sure to tell them that this is a chance for their voice to be heard. E-mail the Major and help the true grass-roots movement.<br /><br />Hat tip: <a href="http://www.blackfive.net/main/2006/11/six_steps_to_vi_1.html" target="_blank">Blackfive</a>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1164076985681253082006-11-20T21:51:00.000-05:002006-11-21T20:40:46.753-05:00Six Steps to VictoryThis is a repost of my most recent entry on <a href="http://www.op-for.com" target="_blank">OPFOR</a>. I put it here as well to give as much attention as possible to MAJ Egland's article.<br /><hr><br />MAJ Eric Egland USAFR recently came up with <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/930jbmte.asp" target="_blank">what I believe to be an excellent plan</a> for "changing directions" in our fight in Iraq. I found his article intriguing and very well thought out. I whole heartedly agree with some of his suggestions, and others challenge my own ideas on how to fight this war. I say "challenge" because they are forcing me to rethink my own ideas, and evaluate whether or not they are truly as sound as I thought they were. <br /><br />Just to give you a taste, the six points of his plan are listed below.<br /><br /><em>1. Encourage innovation by emphasizing small-scale technological solutions and rejecting peace-time bureaucracy.<br /><br />2. Improve pre-deployment training and abandon Cold War-era checklists.<br /><br />3. Allow local commanders to buy what they need and nationalize the war effort by connecting the American public with the troops and their mission.<br /><br />4. Strengthen intelligence sharing between tactical and national levels, and develop a national insurgent database.<br /><br />5. Take the offensive by reducing the predictable patterns on the ground while conducting operations that hunt, rather than chase, the enemy.<br /><br />6. Accept the realities of warfare in the media age by decentralizing the sharing of information with both the Iraqi and American public.</em><br /><br />The last point in particular should interest our readers, and Milbloggers as a whole. It's been said again and again that if DoD does not embrace blogging, it will end up being a huge problem for the Pentagon and detrimental to the war effort. If they take advantage of the perspective offered by military bloggers, perhaps even embracing Egland's "unit blogger" concept, it could very well turn out to be a huge advantage in the information war. <br /><br />MAJ Egland has some excellent ideas, and I hope that they garner the attention that they deserve. You can help by spreading the word about his article. In addition, for those with experience on the ground, MAJ Egland is actively seeking your thoughts and opinions. There is an e-mail address at the bottom of the last page of the article that can be used to submit your ideas. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/930jbmte.asp" target="_blank">Six Steps to Victory in Iraq</a>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1164077569388618842006-11-20T21:43:00.000-05:002006-11-20T21:57:05.036-05:00Soldier's Load<blockquote><em>Soldier's load has gone beyond the realm of sanity.</em></blockquote>An excellent point by the CO of 2d Reconnaissance Battalion. I couldn't agree more.<br /><br />Commanders are not allowed the flexibility to tailor the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) according to their mission and the threat in that particular Area of Operations (AO). What is appropriate for a foot patrol in the streets of Ramadi or Baghdad is <i>not</i> appropriate for the fields of Jazirah.<br /><br />Discuss.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1163248215708212652006-11-11T07:26:00.000-05:002006-11-11T07:30:22.183-05:00Last DayWell, folks, this is it. The last day of the Project Valour-IT drive. Teams Navy and Marines have reached their individual goals, but the entire drive is still about $18,000 short. For those of you who gave to the Navy and Marine teams, thank you for your support, but it's not over yet. Time to support our brothers and sisters in the Army and Air Force so that we can reach our goal today.<br /><br /><script src='http://www.donationbooster.com/booster/showbutton.php?i=63&item=3&width=70&direction=Vertical&showtop5=Yes&showgraph=Yes&background=white&graph1=FF0066&graph2=990000&text=000000&link=990000&fsize=2&fface=Arial&border=1&bordercolor=000000'></script><br /><br /><script src='http://www.donationbooster.com/booster/showbutton.php?i=63&item=4&width=70&direction=Vertical&showtop5=Yes&showgraph=Yes&background=white&graph1=FF0066&graph2=990000&text=000000&link=990000&fsize=2&fface=Arial&border=1&bordercolor=000000'></script>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1162873506982240912006-11-06T23:19:00.000-05:002006-11-06T23:25:19.240-05:00Halfway ThereI noticed that we just passed the halfway mark in our fundraising drive for <a href="http://soldiersangels.org/valour/" target="_blank">Project Valour-IT</a>. Many thanks to all of you who have given so far, please continue to support this important project by encouraging friends and family to contribute as well. We have just a few days left to reach our goal, and we need the help of everyone, regardless of service, to make this happen.<br /><br /><script src='http://www.donationbooster.com/booster/showbutton.php?i=63&item=2&width=70&direction=Vertical&showtop5=Yes&showgraph=Yes&background=white&graph1=FF0066&graph2=990000&text=000000&link=990000&fsize=2&fface=Arial&border=1&bordercolor=000000'></script>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1162775352424016462006-11-05T20:03:00.000-05:002006-11-05T20:31:26.790-05:00Cross Into The BlueIn celebration of Team Marines passing Team Chair Force the other day, I thought I'd add a motivating Air Force recruiting commercial. Finally, the boys in blue have put out a video showing what it's really like to serve in America's Air Force.<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lGUmZodnaAM" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed><br /><br />Airpower!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Update:</strong> In other news -<br /><br /><blockquote><b>Washington (AP)</b> The Air Force unveiled its new Battle Dress Uniform today. The utilitarian thing about the new uniform said Air Force representatives was that it has a built-in reversible Hawaiian shirt.<br /><br />"This helps keep troops at the ready, " said one Air Force Official. "If they are off duty they simply turn the shirt inside-out and come into work."</blockquote><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/1600/air_force_uniform.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/400/air_force_uniform.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/1600/air_force_uniform.gif"></a><br />For that matter, they could probably just wear the Hawaiian shirt to work, I doubt anyone would notice.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1162429659007300662006-11-01T19:57:00.000-05:002006-11-01T20:09:39.110-05:00"America's Battalion" Corpsman Upholds the Tradition<a href="http://www.imef-fwd.usmc.mil/imef/InfolineMarines.nsf/0/7E0C67C48999BB97C325721000302CFF/$file/061019-M-4675V-DOC1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.imef-fwd.usmc.mil/imef/InfolineMarines.nsf/0/7E0C67C48999BB97C325721000302CFF/$file/061019-M-4675V-DOC1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.imef-fwd.usmc.mil/imef/InfolineMarines.nsf/0/9C20409446A458E1C3257210006319B9?OpenDocument">Hospitalman Aaron P. Maggard</a> recently proved to his brothers in Echo Company 2/8 why a "Doc" is a Marine's best friend. After an IED exploded on a foot patrol, wounding two Marines and an Iraqi <i>jundi</i>, Doc Maggard rushed to their aid, ignoring shrapnel wounds to his own face.<br /><br /><blockquote><em>"Doc was hit in the face with shrapnel," Walker said. "It had busted his jaw. It looked like someone hit him with a baseball bat."</em></blockquote>After the QRF arrived, Doc Maggard continued to treat his brothers even as they were loaded on to the medevac vehicle and driven away.<br /><br />Doc Maggard is currently recovering from his injuries, safely back in the United States. Outstanding job, Doc, you've done us all proud.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1162345743331624932006-10-31T20:29:00.000-05:002006-10-31T20:49:03.506-05:00Press OnThe <a href="http://soldiersangels.org/valour">Project Valour-IT</a> drive is getting interesting. Those blasted <a href="http://www.blackfive.net">Doggies</a> are proving hard to catch, but it's only a matter of time. The <a href="http://op-for.com">Zoomies</a> were going strong earlier today, but are falling behind as I write this. There must have been a late tee time at the golf course. The <a href="http://chaoticsynapticactivity.netfirms.com/nfblog/">Swabbies</a> are lagging a bit behind, but to be fair it's probably due to someone sounding "Sweepers, sweepers, man your brooms" over the 1-MC. Make sure you give that ship a good sweepdown, fore and aft, boys. Don't forget those ladderbacks.<br /><br />To my fellow Jarheads, keep it coming. We're the smallest in both size and budget, yet we're giving the heavily-overfunded Zoomies a run for their money. Big Army, you're next.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1162268243162902632006-10-30T23:03:00.000-05:002006-10-30T23:43:35.876-05:00Interservice Love<a href="http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/valourit/Air%20Farce.jpg"></a><br />As the Valour-IT drive kicks off, you can positively feel the love between the services. Soldiers, sailors, and zoomies all break out their wittiest rhetoric and proceed to lob shots at one another.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/006594.html#006594">Argghhh!</a> took this cute little potshot at John Noonan of OPFOR.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/1600/Air%20Farce.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/320/Air%20Farce.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />They also thought it would be cute to list the Marine team and our team leader (<a href="http://www.villainouscompany.com/vcblog/">Villainous Company</a>) in a hot pink font.<br /><br />The Navy is not to be left out of the "snarking", as Neptunus Lex delivers a pretty humorous riposte to the doggies of Team Army.<br /><br /><blockquote><em>The race is on as the sojers have once again <a href="http://www.blackfive.net/" target="_blank">stolen a march</a> on us in the dark o’ the night, what with their load-bearing equipment and muddy boots, brutally severe haircuts and pinched, shrewish faces all cammied up like.</em></blockquote><br />If you haven't been by <a href="http://www.soldiersangels.org/valour/">Project Valour-IT</a> yet - well, what are you waiting for!?<br /><br />Seriously, if you can think of a better cause please let me know, because I'm hard-pressed to myself.<br /><br /><strong>EDITED TO ADD:</strong> We've already passed $10,000 in just the first day. At this rate, as the word continues to spread, we are well on our way to reaching our goal. Swing by Valour-IT if you haven't already, and throw your weight behind your favorite service. And if you have already, sit back and enjoy the interservice shenigans as Arrghhh, Neptunus Lex, OPFOR, Villainous Company, et al. "snark" each other for the next 2 weeks.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1162254619540800942006-10-30T19:08:00.000-05:002006-10-30T22:18:12.126-05:00Project Valour-ITFriends,<br />I apologize for the way I have neglected LFTS over the past weeks. I have been a sometime contributor at <a href="http://www.op-for.com" target="_blank">OPFOR</a>, as well as getting back into the swing of things back in the real world. It does feel good to be back at work with ANGLICO and preparing for our next deployment.<br /><br />Now that the lame apologies and excuses are out of the way, on to the business at hand.<br /><br />Some of you may have heard of <a href="http://soldiersangels.org/valour/index.html" target="_blank">Project Valour-IT</a>. If you have not, allow me to introduce you to an amazing project. Project Valour-IT was started by an organization called Soldiers' Angels. It's goal is to provide voice-controlled laptop computers to our wounded warriors. Many of these warriors are unable to use their hands due to wounds received in Iraq or Afghanistan. With the laptop computers provided by Project Valour-IT, they will once again be able to connect with family, friends, and comrades through the internet.<br /><br />Numerous Milbloggers have teamed up to raise $180,000 for Project Valour-IT. I have added LFTS to the Marine team to assist in the effort. Please visit and make a donation to help my wounded brothers.<br /><br /><a href="http://op-for.com/valour-IT.jpg"></a><a href="http://op-for.com/valour-IT.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://op-for.com/valour-IT.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><script src='http://www.donationbooster.com/booster/showbutton.php?i=63&item=2&width=70&direction=Vertical&showtop5=No&showgraph=Yes&background=FFFFFF&graph1=FF0066&graph2=990000&text=000000&link=990000&fsize=2&fface=Arial&border=1&bordercolor=000000'></script>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1161227634634597272006-10-18T22:54:00.000-04:002006-10-19T06:16:42.250-04:00Movie Review<a href="http://media.movieweb.com/galleries/3779/posters/poster1_large.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://media.movieweb.com/galleries/3779/posters/poster1_large.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Please excuse my brief hiatus from the world of blogging, I've been spending a wonderful 3 weeks with Stephanie. You know, exscuse it or not, I loved every minute of it.<br /><br />We were able to find some time to go view <em>The Guardian</em> with Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher during that time. For some reason, I did not have high hopes for this movie. Maybe it's because I've never been a big fan of Costner, and I suspected that Kutcher was a bit of a "one-trick pony" who had reached his zenith with the <em>Punk'd</em> series. Color me pleasantly surprised by his latest performance.<br /><br /><em>The Guardian</em> is pretty formulaic, if you work at it you shouldn't have much trouble predicting most of the plot points. As noted elsewhere, it borrows heavily from <em>Top Gun</em>, <em>Heartbreak Ridge</em>, and <em>An Officer and a Gentleman</em> - to name a few. Kutcher's character has much in common with Tom Cruise's Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (even down to the sunglasses, or "clamps" as they were known at VMI).<br /><br />However, I have to say that I was impressed by Kutcher's portrayal of the young, maverick (OK, is using that adjective a bit over the top?) rescue swimmer. All things considered, he did a very solid job, and made his character very believable. You can feel the arrogance of the high school star swimmer, yet there is something else lurking beneath the surface that you can't quite put a finger on until Kevin Costner's character does some digging.<br /><br />All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by Kutcher's demonstration of his real acting chops, and I hope to see more of him in similarly dramatic roles. Having seen him in this movie, I think he does have a bit more to offer than <em>Punk'd</em> and <em>My Boss's Daughter</em> let on. Costner does a good job as the salty senior chief, and I can forgive the film's formulaic plot because it is such a fitting tribute to the real-life rescue swimmers. If you think those guys don't earn their pay, then consider this: I've been shot at a time or two, and I know for a fact that I don't have the <em>cojones</em> to jump out of a hovering SH-60 into freezing waters.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1160084263790190462006-10-05T17:14:00.000-04:002006-10-05T17:52:38.136-04:00Yet Another ANGLICO BloggerToday I came across another blog by a fellow ANGLICO Marine, Mark Glesne's blog <a href="http://markglesne.blogspot.com/">Truth, Life, and Political Honesty</a>.<br /><br />Mark is an 0861 Fire Support Man with 3rd ANGLICO in the Marine Corps Reserve. In civilian life he is a Marketing Specialist with a company in California. He completed a deployment to Iraq with 1st ANGLICO earlier this year.<br /><br />Mark's posts lean a bit more to the right of center than my own, but they are very well written and insightful. Enjoy.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://markglesne.blogspot.com/"><strong>Truth, Life, and Political Honesty</strong></a></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.scubateam.org/images/blog/markrooftop.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.scubateam.org/images/blog/markrooftop.jpg" border="0" /></a>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1159895629336823142006-10-03T12:37:00.000-04:002006-10-05T17:45:50.296-04:00The League of Disgruntled MajorsNow that my site has been officially added to the MilBlogs ring, I did some exploring of some other sites on the ring. If you click "Previous" it will bring you to <a href="http://www.disgruntledmajors.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The League of Disgruntled Majors</a>. Although there's not a lot on the site just yet, it will be a good one to keep an eye on. Of particular note is the <a href="http://disgruntledmajors.blogspot.com/2006/08/manifesto.html" target="_blank">Manifesto</a> posted by the Grand Poobah.<br /><br />I have to admit, as a company grade officer and a still-active warfighter, I have often had malicious thoughts about various majors that I have come in contact with. Yet, I also felt pity for them. After all, who <i>wants</i> to be a major? They are the bitches of the field grade community. They shoulder some of the most difficult and least glorious burdens. They are almost universally despised or pitied by those beneath them, who frequently criticize them and ridicule them behind their backs. Of course they know this, because they did it too when they were still in that blissful status known as "company grade". Anyway, I would recommend keeping an eye on the League and its activities. Why? It's a <strong><em>League</em></strong> of <strong><em>Majors</em></strong> for God's sake. Can you imagine a more evil organization? It's like something out of a James Bond movie.<br /><br />You know, there are only two ranks that wear gold rank insignia - second lieutenant and major. Coincidence? I think not.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.disgruntledmajors.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">The League of Disgruntled Majors</span></strong></a>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1159499300447702722006-09-28T22:14:00.000-04:002006-09-28T23:51:09.963-04:00Assassination and Bin LadenWhile perusing Military.com I came across an editorial by Oliver North regarding President Clinton's exchange with Chris Wallace on FOX News. It seems LtCol North was a bit put off by President Clinton's proclamation:<br /><br /><blockquote><i>“I worked hard to try to kill him. I authorized a finding for the CIA to kill him. We contracted with people to kill him. I got closer to killing him than anybody has gotten since.”</i> -- William Jefferson Blythe Clinton, 24 September 2006 </blockquote><br />LtCol North seems to believe that President Clinton's outburst constitutes an admission of a crime - that of sanctioning the assassination of Usama Bin Laden. He points out the reaction to Rev. Pat Robertson's call for the assassination of Hugo Chavez, and asks why there was not a similar backlash against Pres. Clinton's statement.<br /><br /><blockquote><i>The silence has been deafening from the barons of bombast and political potentates who went nuts last year when Rev. Pat Robertson suggested that Venezuela 's tin-horn dictator Hugo Chavez should be “eliminated.” Then, there were calls for an investigation of Dr. Robertson. Not so for Bill Clinton.</i></blockquote><br />With all due respect, come off it. Where was the outrage when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a deliberately targeted operation? Was no one outraged because AMZ was an enemy combatant who targeted American troops and interests? What is the difference between that and a Presidential finding authorizing the CIA to kill Bin Laden? I'd be real interested to hear the difference between the targeted killing of AMZ and authorizing the CIA to kill UBL. On the other hand, while Hugo Chavez may not be the friendliest man when it comes to our interests in Latin America, you'd be hard pressed to justify calling him an enemy combatant. That's why Robertson's statement was immediately attacked, not necessarily because of partisanship, as LtCol North seems to want you to believe.<br /><br /><blockquote><p><i>The tape of a former President, arrogantly proclaiming on international television that he personally authorized the killing of a foreign foe may be great stuff for the screenplay of “Rambo V” -- but it's specifically forbidden by U.S. and international law.</i></p></blockquote><br />Personally, I believed both then and now that Usama Bin Laden should be hunted and killed by any means possible. I fully expect that the Bush Administration will sanction killing him if we locate him in the near future, and I will lose absolutely no sleep over it. I suspect that neither will LtCol North. Frankly, I think his article smacks of an attempt to attack President Clinton along partisan lines, rather than legal or ethical ones. And the reference to <i>Rambo V</i>? Come on, sir, isn't that a bit melodramatic?<br /><br />Before you think that I am squarely behind President Clinton on this, let me elaborate on my views. I do not think that President Clinton tried as hard as he would like us to believe. Both the <i>9/11 Report</i> and the excellent book <i>Ghost Wars</i> by Steve Coll indicate that President Clinton beat around the bush about killing Usama Bin Laden; leaving the CIA and many of his advisors unclear on what measures they were authorized to take. There seemed to be very much a sense that if the attempt did not go perfectly that the CIA would be left to take the blame. I don't know much, but one thing I've learned as a leader is that if you want to authorize your subordinates to take decisive action, <i>you</i> have to be prepared to accept responsibility if they fail.<br /><br />The <i>9/11 Report</i> makes it pretty clear that <i>neither</i> administration did enough about UBL before September 11th. So how about we dispense with the partisan bickering and focus on the business at hand?<br /><br />Either way, your Marines and soldiers on the "bleeding edge" (note to Mr. Morris: hope you don't mind, but I really liked that phrase) will continue to suit up and do just that. But it would be nice if we heard a little more of that "bipartisan" spirit that used to be vogue, and a little less partisan bickering.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1159045434349854962006-09-23T16:52:00.000-04:002006-09-23T17:03:54.366-04:00Shift FireOK, since this blog has outlived its original purpose, I've been faced with a choice to retire it until next deployment, or keep it going and shift focus. I've decided to go with the latter and add commentary on current events and various military-related topics as I get the opportunity. In addition, I will be posting on another related blog, <a href="http://www.op-for.com">OP-FOR</a>. I'm currently working on a piece about my personal observations following the deployment, and how I think the war is progressing based on the small piece that I experienced in Jazirah.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1159026383724386642006-09-23T11:37:00.000-04:002006-09-23T11:46:23.736-04:00HOMEI've been a bit behind on posting this, but I make absolutely no apologies - I was spending time with my beautiful girlfriend.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/1600/Charlie&Stephanie17Sep2006#1.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/320/Charlie%26Stephanie17Sep2006%231.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We left Kuwait at about 8:30 Local on the morning of 17 Sept. We made a brief stopover in Amsterdam (where we were segregated from the rest of the concourse by barriers and police with H&K submachineguns) before landing at Cherry Point at 5:00 PM Eastern time. Of course it was another 3 hours or so before we actually made it to the reception area. Once I tracked down my family and finished hugging Steph, I grabbed my bags and we bailed. I almost felt bad for not introducing Steph around, but not really.<br /><br />More to follow.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1158379443857125542006-09-16T00:00:00.000-04:002006-09-16T00:04:03.856-04:00One Step CloserBrief update: after a week at Al Asad, we arrived in Kuwait early this morning. We should be home within the next 48 hours.<br /><br />On a sidenote, after a few complaints I decided to remove the background image to make the blog easier to read.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1157734822680921462006-09-08T12:36:00.000-04:002006-09-08T13:00:22.760-04:00Homeward BoundWe've made the first step of our trip home. I left the OK Corral this morning to head back to Camp Habbaniyah. I'll post a few more short updates as we keep making our way back to North Carolina.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/1600/DSC00251.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/320/DSC00251.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/1600/DSC00246.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/320/DSC00246.jpg" border="0" /></a>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1157369251086464472006-09-04T07:08:00.000-04:002006-09-04T07:35:00.600-04:00Rest In PeaceOne of our interpreters, Tom (not his real name, obviously) didn't return from leave last week. It wasn't the first time he had been late, so no one thought too much of it at first. However, his family reported that he left his house in Baghdad on time, so we began to get concerned. Two days ago we confirmed that his family located his body, he was killed by insurgents while trying to return to the COP.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/1600/Tom%201.2.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/320/Tom%201.2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-size:78%;">Tom carrying a M249 ParaSAW on patrol near the Euphrates River</span></em><br /><br />On the face of it, Americans might think that it shows a lack of commitment on the part of the Iraqi interpreters and <em>jundi</em> to take 10-15 days of leave every month. Most of us go without seeing our families for 6-7 months, so you would think that the Iraqis could go without taking a "vacation" every month.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/1600/Tom%202.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/320/Tom%202.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>Posing on top of an Amphibious Assault Vehicle from a platoon that wandered into our COP</em></span><br /><br />A little digging would reveal the ignorance of that assumption, however. For one thing, Iraq does not have a working bank system, so the soldiers have no way to get money to their families without physically carrying a wad of cash home.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/1600/Tom%203.1.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/320/Tom%203.1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-size:78%;">Me posing with Tom in front of the same AAV</span></em><br /><br />Additionally, one of the ironies of this war, from the Iraqi perspective, is that the terps and soldiers are frequently in more danger at home than they are here in Jazirah. Many of them are from Baghdad, and have to conceal the fact that they are in the Iraqi army, or else they face kidnapping or murder by criminals or insurgents.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/1600/Tom%204.6.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/368/493/320/Tom%204.6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For those who doubt the dedication and commitment of the Iraqis who are fighting alongside of us, never forget that their tours never end, and they have to deal with the dangers of this war not only while fighting with their units, but also when they return home. <br /><br />To get back to the real subject of this post, Tom was a friend to all of us here, and dedicated to helping the Coalition and the Iraqi Army improve the security of his country. Rest in peace, good friend.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1157271456819576512006-09-03T04:10:00.000-04:002006-09-03T04:17:36.840-04:00Another ANGLICO BloggerWhile running a Google search, I stumbled across Mike Chankij's blog. Mike is a team leader with 5th ANGLICO, attached to 2nd ANGLICO for this deployment. His team is working in the Fallujah area. I was originally supposed to be working alongside Mike's team, but my team was shifted to Habbaniyah shortly before I arrived in-country. Anyway, Mike's blog is a pretty interesting read, have a look.<br /><br /><a href="http://mike.chankij.com/wordpress">Mike's Blog</a>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1156446309824646482006-08-24T14:38:00.000-04:002006-08-24T15:05:10.046-04:00Why Men Love WarI just stumbled on a great essay by William Broyles, Jr. Broyles was a Marine platoon commander in Vietnam, before becoming editor of <em>Newsweek</em> magazine and an accomplished screenwriter. Mr Broyles has written numerous screenplays, including <em>Apollo 13</em>, <em>Castaway</em>, <em>Jarhead</em>, and the soon-to-be-released <em>Flags Of Our Fathers</em>.<br /><br />The essay I'm referring to was published in <em>Esquire</em> in November of 1984. Surprising that I just stumbled on it now, isn't it? Broyles ran into his old radio operator while visiting the Vietnam Memorial some 15 years after he had returned from Vietnam, and his friend's pronouncement sparked the reflections that turned into the essay.<br /><br /><blockquote><em>"What people can't understand," Hiers said, gently picking up each tiny rabbit and placing it in the nest, "is how much fun Vietnam was. I loved it. I loved it, and I can't tell anybody."</em></blockquote>The rest of the essay is a great read on the conflicting emotions that inexorably attract us to war. I found a lot of the article resonates deeply with me - I may not enjoy the patrols in 120 degree heat or cringing every time someone slams a door in the Marine house, but there is something that keeps drawing me toward Iraq. One of the unhappiest times of my career so far was about a year and a half ago, when I was told I could not transfer out of my unit to join another unit that had an impending combat mission in Iraq. I was, frankly, a bit depressed that I missed one of the most eventful periods of the war thus far, sitting it out on a ship or in North Carolina. I have friends who have said, with complete seriousness, that when they returned to Iraq for a second or third time they felt relieved, like they were at home.<br /><br />Another good quote from the essay:<br /><br /><blockquote><em>Part of the love of war stems from its being an experience of great intensity; its lure is the fundamental human passion to witness, to see things, what the Bible calls the lust of the eye and the Marines in Vietnam called eye fucking. War stops time, intensifies experience to the point of a terrible ecstasy. It is the dark opposite of that moment of passion caught in <em>Ode on a Grecian Urn</em>: "For ever warm and still to be enjoy'd/ For ever panting, and forever young. " War offers endless exotic experiences, enough "I couldn't fucking believe it! "'s to last a lifetime.</em></blockquote>Anyway, enough of my thoughtless and unimaginative writing, Broyles says it much better than I ever will.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wsu.edu/~hughesc/why_men_love_war.htm"><span style="font-size:130%;">Why Men Love War</span></a>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26625465.post-1156435043783161342006-08-24T11:24:00.002-04:002006-08-24T14:38:11.186-04:00President Bush pessimistic about Iraq?<p><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14473431/"><span style="font-size:130%;">Bush Shows Pessimism on Iraq</span></a></p><blockquote><p><em>For three years, the president tried to reassure Americans that more progress was being made in Iraq than they realized. But with Iraq either in civil war or on the brink of it, Bush dropped the unseen-progress argument in favor of the contention that things could be even worse.</em></p></blockquote><p>Obviously I am limited to what I can say on this subject, being a professional Marine officer, but this article screams out for some commentary. 3 and a half years ago, I believed whole-heartedly that we were doing the right thing in ousting Saddam Hussein, and I still do. </p><p>Hindsight being 20/20, now I would say that we should not have made the alleged weapons of mass destruction the linchpin of our case against Saddam, but I never believed that was the administration's primary motivation. I still believe that the policy-makers latched on to that issue because it was the easiest to sell to the American public. After all, I believe most of us thought that the hardest thing about the war would not be fighting it, but getting the American public to support it.</p><p>Most of the Marines I talked to in February and March 2003 expected a somewhat difficult fight followed by a quick and easy occupation. I differed from many of them in that I thought the occupation would be longer, but I never thought a full-fledged insurgency would break out. There was a general sense of optimism, that we would steamroll the Iraqis just like we did in 1991. However, when I was trained to be a platoon commander, I was told to plan not only for what I believed to be the enemy's most likely course of action, but also his most dangerous course of action. I believe we either planned for the wrong most dangerous course of action, or ignored it outright. Once the war became an all-out insurgency, it should have been obvious to everyone that it would continue for several years. Counter-insurgency campaigns are never short or easy, and anyone who expected this to be over by now was misguided at best and delusional at worst. </p><p>One of the most frustrating things to me has been the talk of immediate withdrawal. If we withdraw and the Iraqi government fails or is taken over by anti-American fundamentalists, then our enemies will all know that they can beat us by using insurgent tactics and outlasting us. Whether you wanted this war or not, it has happened and we must deal with it and continue to fight until we have achieved our goal of a <em>completely</em> self-sustaining Iraqi government. </p><p>I will tell you that in just the short time I have been here, this Iraqi Army battalion has made significant progress in securing the nearby villages. Their performance leaves plenty to be desired, but the civilians who live near the COP have said on numerous occasions that they feel much safer around their homes than they did just 4-5 months ago. Progress <em>is</em> being made here, and it will continue to be as long as we are allowed to do our jobs.</p>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10542083255553621461noreply@blogger.com2