Saturday, June 26, 2010

Finally! The World Cup stuffing effort is over.


RUSTENBURG, June 26 (Reuters) - United States 1 Ghana 2 - World Cup second round extra time latest.
At Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
Scorers
United States: Landon Donovan 62 pen
Ghana: Kevin-Prince Boateng 5, Asamoah Gyan 93
Halftime: 0-1; 90 mins: 1-1; 105 mins: 1-2;
Attendance: 34,976
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
Follow all matches live at http://live.reuters.com/Event/World_Cup_2010
(Editing by Patrick Johnston)


Let's face it.  We Don't Care!  We don't like soccer.

We don't care about this nonsense (sorry Europe/Australia/Asian/ African countries...we just don't like the "beautiful game")...

But we have suffered through having this stuffed down our throats for the last couple of weeks.

We have witnessed the "cultural" elite go through the show of being fans of this game.

Today we lost.

Thank God!

Merlin Recovery Op in Afghanistan.

A CH-53E Super Stallion flies overhead carrying an AW-101 Merlin from a forward operating base June 26. This early-morning operation to recover the Merlin is a prime example of the joint operations now taking place between the United States and the United Kingdom in the region. The Super Stallion is with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, "Bigfoot," which is a Marine Corps helicopter squadron under 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) here. The Merlin belongs to the U.K.'s Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) which is also currently operating under 3rd MAW(FWD) after the Joint Aviation Group joined the Wing June 1. The operation was also a testament to the work these "heavy haulers," have been performing in support of the Afghanistan national security forces and NATO forces in southern Afghanistan as they tote heavy cargo and troops across the area, under heavy enemy fire, on a daily basis.
Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Steven Williams

UPDATE* A commenter has stated that this is simply the result of a hard landing. He goes on to say that this was publicized in UK papers (The Guardian). I'm checking and will also contact ThinkDefence to see if he can verify this information.

"Yes" Man for Commandant.


The "insiders" in the blogging community hail the nomination of General Amos to be the next Commandant of the Marine Corps.

I have serious reservations.  This from the Washington Examiner...
Amos is seen as willing to support Gates and other senior Pentagon leaders as they spend the next several months looking for cost savings.
In choosing him, Gates and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus passed over Gen. James Mattis, an expert in counterinsurgency warfare who would have probably posed a stiffer challenge to proposed budget changes.
Amos is the service’s assistant commandant. He would replace Marine Gen. James Conway, whose four-year term as Marine commandant ends this fall. Gates proposed replacing Amos as No. 2 with Lt. Gen. Joseph Dunford.
So they've chosen a "yes" man to be the next Commandant.  Instead of picking a proven and dedicated warrior, Gates and Mabus chose a person that would NOT "pose a stiffer challenge to proposed budget changes."

Gates' has shown himself to be the ultimate Washington insider.  His decision is easy to understand.

Mabus arrived to the Sec of the Navy position with great fanfare.  But he is also showing himself to be well schooled in the ways of Washington.  His betrayal of Marine Corps tradition and the best interests of one of his departments is also easy to believe.

The person that I have the biggest gripe with is Amos himself.

General Amos is certainly aware of the lack of press coverage and the reason why he was picked over a more qualified 4 star.

He's certainly read the above press account.  He knows Marine Corps tradition.

But like a drowning man hanging on to a life preserver, he will still reach for the chair instead of understanding how he has already been compromised in the eyes of the Marine Corps.

Gates and Mabus have labeled him a push over.  A shill.  A flunky.  A yes man.

He should refuse the appointment.  You know that silly little word that's constantly pounded into the heads of young men the moment they hit the yellow foot prints....INTEGRITY.

But back to the blogging/news community and this appointment.


Why haven't the news media pushed the Defense Spokesperson on why they want someone who will roll over on future budget battles--are the proposed cuts so questionable that anything but a unified front will endanger them?  Why are military bloggers not asking some of these simple questions?  Why is this just accepted as an awesome move?

This whole thing stinks.  Roman politics in the Department of Defense.  Kiss ass media--Confused/not paying attention bloggers--group think at its worst.

If the Marine Corps loses missions and roles, we can all point to this moment when we let it slip away without a word.

Friday, June 25, 2010

F-35 CTOL B-Rolls.

Latest vids from Lockheed Martin.

LVT and the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

Interactive Tour of the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

A must see.  Visit it here.


Rules of Engagement to change.


Via FoxNews.

A military source close to Gen. David Petraeus told Fox News that one of the first things the general will do when he takes over in Afghanistan is to modify the rules of engagement to make it easier for U.S. troops to engage in combat with the enemy, though a Petraeus spokesman pushed back on the claim. 
Troops on the ground and some military commanders have said the strict rules -- aimed at preventing civilian casualties -- have effectively forced the troops to fight with one hand tied behind their backs. 
The military source who has talked with Petraeus said the general will make those changes. Other sources were not so sure, but said they wouldn't be surprised to see that happen once Petraeus takes command.
I've been watching the other military blogs and none have even mentioned this story.  This is huge news!

There's a saying that everytime you get a new Commander, they want you painting rocks...something to signify a change...this is something substantial and long over due.  If its true then well done General.

A pictorial history of the war in Iraq/Afghanistan.

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - During Operation Cobra's Anger, Marines with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, moved cautiously from compound to compound once they breached the city of Now Zad, Afghansitan. When there wasn't a clear route, heavy equipment operators used bulldozers to plow through walls, creating their own doorways through the city.
 BUBIYAN ISLAND, Kuwait - Tankers serving with Battalion Landing Team 2/4, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s ground combat element, prepare M1A1 Abrams for driving on this uninhabited island Nov. 21. Ground and logistics combat elements of the 11th MEU landed Nov. 20 from the amphibious transport dock ship Cleveland and the amphibious dock landing ship Rushmore. The tank detachment is from 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division.
Sgt. Major Michael Templeton, Dunham’s former company first sergeant, carefully clutches Medal of Honor recipient Cpl. Jason Dunham’s dress blue uniform as Maj. Trent A. Gibson, Dunham’s former company commander, stands at the position of attention during the christening of the Navy destroyer bearing Dunham’s name Aug. 1 at the Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Dunham’s parents donated his dress blue uniform to be displayed on the ship’s quarterdeck.
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.-The squad of trackers students provide security for their wounded after being ambushed by a simulated improvised explosive device and sniper team on range 131 July 24. The ambush was part of the tracking portion of the combat hunters course where the Marines where taught how to track their quarry while maintaining security and how to react in combat situations.
1st Lt. Josh Faucett, a joint terminal attack controller with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, reaches quickly for his radio handset to call for fire support just after Taliban insurgents ambushed their patrol Aug. 13. The fight lasted six hours and was the longest since July 4 here. Faucett is from Elwood, Ind.
MIAN POSHTEH, Garmsir District, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Lance Cpl. Josh Vance, a team leader with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, posts security on the corner of a compound just after clearing it during a six-hour firefight with Taliban insurgents here Aug. 13, 2009. Vance is from Raleigh, N.C. (Photo by 1st Lt. Kurt Stahl)
THE 1,000-YARD STARE
Marines serving under 1st Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, prepare to return fire after receiving enemy small arms fire in Lakari Bazaar, Afghanistan, July 19. The Marines were accompanied by Afghan National Army soldiers in efforts to deny freedom of movement to the country's enemies. The Marine battalion is the ground combat element of Regimental Combat Team 3, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan.