Friday, November 30, 2007

Osprey Over Iraq




An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tilt rotor Squadron-263, flies over the Al Anbar province of Iraq during a mission out of Al Asad Air Base. Based at New River MAS the Thunder Chickens are conducting the first combat deployment of the MV-22.Official US Navy Photo.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Two T-6 Texan Trainers Collide and Crash


11/28/2007 - COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Two Columbus Air Force Base T-6 Texan II primary trainers collided about 12:47 p.m. Nov. 28 near the Columbus AFB Auxiliary airfield in Shuqualak, Miss. At the time of the accident, the aircraft were conducting initial flight training operations. On-scene emergency response has located and confirmed all four pilots have parachuted safely. A board of officers will be appointed to investigate the accident. Additional details will be provided as soon as they become available.

(U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Allen)

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

What Is Wrong With Bush At Annapolis?

Any talk of more land for peace is just a pipe dream of many U.S. administrations including the current Bush administration. Inviting all of the usual suspect Arab countries the majority of whom will not recognize the State of Israel and who demand a retreat to the pre 1967 borders is nothing short of madness. The Palestinians have never honored any treaty or accord that has been signed and agreed to. The Syrians who were apparently building a nuclear weapon in the site that the IAF attacked 10 weeks ago have the gall to ask for the Golan Heights back after they were secured by the IDF after the Syrian participated in the 1967 war. As these talks proceed violent protests go on in Gaza and rockets continue to fall on Israeli towns. I guess Bush and Condi are worried about their legacy and Olmert and the left in Israeli have forgotten about how all this land was paid for in blood by brave Israeli soldiers.
Check out Caroline Glick’s article in today’s Jerusalem Post.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1195546731730&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Andrew C. McCarthy has a great article on the Syrian problem in NRO.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OWE1YTBmMzM2ZTY2ZjU5ODEyNWY5ZTY0NDMyMDQ1N2Q=

Court Says US Border Inspections Of Muslims Were OK

Common sense prevails in the court on a case brought to the courts by NYCLU. I just don't understand some of these lawsuits a little profiling might not be such a bad idea in a war with fundamentalist Islam.


The Associated Press
Monday, November 26, 2007


NEW YORK:
U.S. immigration authorities acted constitutionally when they subjected dozens of people returning from an Islamic convention in Canada to screening tactics usually reserved for people suspected of being terrorists, an appeals court said Monday.
The court upheld the conclusion of a federal judge that the 2004 inspections, which involved frisking and fingerprinting, did not violate U.S. constitutional rights to practice religion and avoid unlawful searches.
"We do not believe the extra hassle of being fingerprinted and photographed — for the sole purpose of having their identities verified — is a significant additional burden that turns an otherwise constitutional policy into one that is unconstitutional," a three-judge panel wrote.
The New York Civil Liberties Union had sued on behalf of five New York residents who attended the "Reviving the Islamic Spirit" conference in Toronto. The NYCLU sought a court order to prevent similar inspections, along with destruction of personal information collected during the stops.
The residents were searched after telling border officers they had attended the Islamic conference. They were frisked, fingerprinted and photographed, and their cars were searched. They were required to fill out several forms and were questioned about their past travels, what occurred at the conference and why they attended it.
Each plaintiff was detained and searched for between four and six hours, after which he or she was released into the United States, the appeals court said.
The U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection had received intelligence giving it reason to believe people with terrorist ties would be attending certain Islamic conferences during the 2004 year-end holiday season.
The court said the inspections were necessary because it was not possible for authorities to know who at the conference may have interacted and potentially exchanged identification or travel documents with people suspected of being terrorists.
NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman said she was upset by the ruling.
"The decision's deeply disappointing because the court refused to vindicate the rights of innocent American citizens who were detained at the border and treated as terrorists simply because they attended a religious conference," she said.
The NYCLU had not decided whether to appeal, she said.
The government had no immediate comment, Department of Justice spokesman Dean Boyd said.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Alaskan F-22’s Intercept Bear H


Alaskan based F-22 Raptors made their first intercept of a Russian Bear Bomber Thanksgiving day. Check it out on In From the Cold. http://formerspook.blogspot.com/


(U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Laura Turner)

Iraqis thwart enemy dressed as bride, groom


To good not to post. How desperate are the terrorists to get away?


By Sameer N. Yacoub - The Associated PressPosted : Monday Nov 26, 2007 9:53:52 EST

BAGHDAD — Suspicious Iraqi soldiers thwarted terror suspects disguised as a bride and groom trying to pass through a checkpoint along with their “wedding procession” outside the Iraqi capital, the Iraqi Defense Ministry said Monday.
The procession Sunday near Taji, about 12 miles north of Baghdad, raised suspicion among the soldiers because most of those celebrating were men, an official in the ministry told The Associated Press. Soldiers searched the car carrying the purported bridge and groom and discovered the “couple” were two wanted men: Haider al-Bahadili and Abbas Latif. Two other terror suspects were detained along with them, according to the Defense Ministry statement.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to ministry orders, said the investigation into the suspects was ongoing and declined to release further information.


(Photo Iraq Defense Ministry)

Monday, November 26, 2007

Oakland Wins Again!

Well the Raiders finally one another game and broke 3 bad streaks, first off they snapped a 17 game losing streak to the AFC West, they snapped 6 game slide and most importantly beat Kansa City for the first time in 9 games. If any of you can remember when this was a great game between the Raiders and the Chiefs, then you to are a long-suffering Raider Fan. With Vargas and his 139 yards he became the first Raider back in 29 years to rush for over 100 yards in K.C.
With luck the momentum will build and we can beat the Pesky Ponies next week at home.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

More Coalition Success in Iraq

More coalition success in Iraq,
Iraq – Coalition forces killed six terrorists and detained 10 suspects Tuesday and Wednesday during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders in central and northern Iraq.
Articles you will never see in your local fish wrapper or by the talking heads on TV are available daily at CENTCOM HQ. Here is the link for the whole story.
http://www.centcom.mil/sites/uscentcom2/Lists/Current%20Press%20Releases/DispForm.aspx?ID=5771&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecentcom%2Emil%2Fsites%2Fuscentcom2%2FLists%2FPress%2520Releases%2FCurrent%2520Releases%2Easpx

Monday, November 19, 2007

Fleet Week











Fleet Week went on as advertised despite some of the best efforts of the lunatic left in the San Francisco Bay Area. After the Iowa debacle I felt the Navy should pull the plug on Fleet Week, but an further reflection there are still decent people in the Bay Area that deserve to see a fine show and activities that center around the armed forces. Check out the pass photos from BZ of the Blue Angels #5 jet. Picture courtesy of BZ

AP Proves Again It Can’t Do Research

Last week the AP came out with a story sensationalizing desertion rates in the Army and Marine Corps. About 15 minutes of research would by the reporter would have found that we are not at the highest rate since 1980. But of course this would not fit the agenda of Iraq is a quagmire. The reporter also interchanges AWOL (Absence Without Leave) and desertion using the terms as the same thing when in fact they are totally different. Deserters of an all-volunteer force are the worst scum I can think of. After all you know what you are getting into, the ARMED FORCES!
Here is the original article Army desertion rate up 80 pct. since '03 - Yahoo! News and I’ll put up Alan Fraser reply that you can read on, http://www.americanthinker.com/2007/11/military_desertion_rates_and_t.html
This is another indication why no ones buys newspapers anymore.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Strike Eagle Back In The Air


The Air Force announced today that the F-15E Strike Eagle grounding will be lifted as the aircraft complete a one-time inspection of hydraulic lines, certain longerons and panels near the ESC bays, this announcements only covers the Strike Eagle. I thought from day one that the Strike Eagle with its more robust frame would be the first jet released. According to local Seymour Johnson officials the Strike Eagles of the 4th Wing will start flying again on today. All other F-15 models A,B,C,D,J reamain grounded.

Pelosi and Dems Pass Another Surrender Bill.

Pelosi and the Dem majority passed what is basically an Iraq withdrawal bill. Once again this is a slap in the face of all service men currently deployed and faces a certain presidential veto if it somehow gets past the Senate.
My own House Rep Mike McIntyre who I have voted for more than once again, voted with the majority. Mike has passed himself off for years as a Blue Dog but ever since the surge resolution and even back to the fall of 2006 he has consistently voted with Pelosi and her ilk, voting to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Like it are not we are committed in Iraq and Afghanistan, our elected representatives should be doing all they can to ensure victory and the defeat of Islamic terrorists not only on the current AOR but around the world, they should not be pandering to the Code Pinks and other far left organizations. It’s almost hard to belive how many politicians have forgotten that just over 6 years ago over 3,000 of our fellow Americans were murdered by Islamic terrorists. The threat of Islamic terrorism will just not fade away; our enemies are relentless and patient. We need to accept the fact that this whole effort will be a long haul far into the future.

Here are the comments by Rep John Boehner’s after the vote:
“By Christmas, some 3,000 American troops will return home from Iraq after achieving remarkable success in our fight against al Qaeda. And how is Congress welcoming them back? By passing yet another politically-motivated measure that cuts off funding for those continuing to serve our nation in Iraq and hamstrings the commanders who are leading them to victory. This measure will never be signed into law, and it represents yet another failure for Democratic leaders intent on putting politics before accomplishment.
“Congress would be better served by sending the President the long-overdue veterans and troops funding bill, which enjoys broad, bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. But the Majority leadership has played politics with this critical legislation, stalling its completion to take up today’s cynical proposal to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in Iraq. Consequently, returning troops and their families will face more hurdles and take more time to get the housing and health care benefits they deserve – all thanks to Congress.
“Under General Petraeus’ strategy, our troops are routing al Qaeda in Iraq, improving security for the Iraqi people, and laying the foundation for critical political reconciliation in that country. Congress should not undermine this success and risk having al Qaeda stand back up. Instead, Members of both parties should recognize that the Petraeus plan is working, continue to solidify our troops’ gains, and work to bring them home after victory, not defeat.”

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

State Department Appeases Cowards In Their Ranks

A little over a week ago the State Department announced that they were going to send Foreign Service Officers to Iraq to fill up the various open positions. If they did not get enough volunteers they would force chosen individuals to go. I did not pay too much attention to this until the FSO had a town hall style meeting and wailed and moaned about Iraq being a death sentence, all this to fill 48 slots. Well the whiner’s and cowards seem so far to have gotten their way as it was announced today that the State Department will extend the window to try and keep from forcing unwilling candidates to go to Iraq.
An incident like this is one reason why most military members have such a low opinion of diplomats, they talk and the GI bleeds. As far as I’m concerned give the assignments if you don’t want to go resign or be fired. Can you imagine if the Armed Service’s put up with this kind of B.S? Now not all FSO’s are worthless check out the smack down article by FSO John Matel and a complete follow up and background on Michelle Malkins blog.

http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/iraq_colleagues/

http://michellemalkin.com/2007/11/13/state-department-showdown-wimps-weenies-and-a-few-brave-men/

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Great Shot from Iraq


Why do we never see pictures like this in our local fish wrappers? Thanks Blackfive for the shot


.

Brazil announces new oil reserves

This is great news, light crude coupled with the Brazilians expertise in deep water extraction can only help the oil futures market and hopefully start a sell off by the crazed speculators. Make you wonder how much oil is actually off our own coast that we cant touch thanks to years of interference by the liberal Democrats and their environmental wacko allies.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7086264.stm

King Carlos of Spain Hits Nail On Head

Chavez the communist thug who has set himself up as the dictator in Venezuela (No wonder the left love him) was running his mouth at the recent Latin Summit being held in Santiago Chile. King Juan Carlos said what huge numbers of people feel. With any luck diminishing Venezuelan oil production coupled with huge borrowing and bad oil deals with China plus the recent student protests may fuel an uprising that topples this dirt bags regime and return Venezuela to a true democracy.
In this vein, Jimmy Carter (Noted Anti Semite and failed President) should hang his head in shame if that is possible for legitimizing the Chavez elections in 1998 and 2000, 2004. Carter and all other scumbag leftists that love and embrace Stalinist thug dictators around the world should all be run out of town on a rail.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8SR2R2O1&show_article=1

ARMY Lt Awarded Distinguished Service Cross


Since the MSM won’t carry stories about American heroes I will.


Story and photo from the Army News Service:


Nov. 2, 2007: First Lt. Walter B. Jackson [Oak Harbor, Washington] became the seventh Soldier since the Vietnam War ended in 1975 to receive the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action.
Secretary of the Army Pete Geren presented the DSC, which is second in precedence to only the Medal of Honor for valor in battle, at a ceremony held in the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes this afternoon.
A second lieutenant at the time of his heroic action on Sept. 27, 2006, Lt. Jackson was cited for selfless courage under extreme enemy fire while serving as a company fire support officer with company A, Task Force 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
Lt. Jackson was engaged in combat operations with his unit against insurgents and while he attempted to recover a disabled vehicle, his unit came under heavy machine gun fire, which resulted in several Soldiers being wounded. As he applied first aid to a severely wounded comrade, he too was shot in the thigh.
Lt. Jackson’s citation in part reads: “Upon regaining consciousness after being shot, second lieutenant alternated between returning fire and administering first aid to the Soldier. Second Lt. Jackson was hit again with machine gun fire as he helped carry his wounded comrade to safety, but he never faltered in his aid. Although his own severe wounds required immediate evacuation and surgical care, 2nd Lt. Jackson refused medical assistance until his wounded comrade could be treated. Second Lt. Jackson’s selfless courage under extreme enemy fire was essential to saving another Soldier’s life and is in keeping with the finest traditions of military service…”
Before the presentation, Lt. Col. Thomas C. Graves, former Task Force commander, recounted part of that September 2006 day when he arrived at the medical aid station to see his wounded Soldiers and the first words to come from 2nd Lt. Jackson were of concern for the wounded captain he’d rescued.
“All the leadership schools, classes and years of experience never really prepare you for that moment in time when you are standing among heroes who have given their all, where their first concerns still remain with their fellow Soldiers,” he said. “It reinforces duty and commitment unlike any other experience.”
After Secretary Geren made the award presentation, 1st Lt. Jackson spoke to the packed room, humbly thanking his family, his West Point classmates and the Soldiers he’s served with in his short two-year career and saying simply, “I believe I just had to do what I had to do in that situation… I think many Soldiers would have done the same thing.”
1st Lt. Jackson has been recovering from his wounds at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, having undergone more than a dozen surgeries. While recovering at WRAMC, he volunteered as an intern with the Judge Advocate General’s office. He is awaiting orders to take over a multiple launch rocket system platoon in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division Fires Brigade.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Happy Birthday USMC













Today the United States Marine Corps celebrates its 232nd birthday, on November 10, 1775; the Continental Congress passed a resolution stating, "two battalions of Marines be raised" for service as landing forces with the fleet. This established the Continental Marines and marked the birth of the United States Marine Corps. The first Marines were recruited at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia PA. I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to go through recruit training at Parris Island in 1978 and serve in the USMCR. The things I learned there and the discipline helped me throughout my twenty plus year career in the active USAF.

A special birthday congratulations to my daughters boyfriend and his fellow Marines of Delta Company “OUTLAW” 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, none of these men are POGS.
SEMPER FI

Friday, November 9, 2007

Reaper drops first precision-guided bomb, protects ground forces


By Staff Sgt. Trevor Tiernan U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs 11/8/2007 -


SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- The MQ-9A Reaper demonstrated it's unique precision strike capability as a hunter-killer attack platform by dropping its first precision-guided bomb Nov. 7. "The beauty of the MQ-9 Reaper is that we're able to synchronize and integrate unmanned aerial attack platforms over the skies of Afghanistan, allowing us to persistently and consistently track the enemy and ensure that we place the appropriate ordnance on target when required, and maintain that persistent presence after weapons release," said Lt. Gen. Gary North, U.S. Central Command Air Forces commander. The Reaper, the Air Force's unmanned aerial attack vehicle, was operating over the Sangin region of Afghanistan on the hunt for enemy activity when the crew received a request for assistance from a joint terminal attack controller on the ground. Friendly forces were taking fire from enemy combatants. The JTAC provided targeting data to the pilot and sensor operator, who fly the aircraft remotely from Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The pilot released two GBU-12 500-pound laser-guided bombs, destroying the target and eliminating the enemy fighters. The ability to carry bombs, in addition to AGM-114K Hellfire missiles, is just one of the features that set the Reaper apart from its smaller brother the MQ-1 Predator. "The MQ-9 gives us an incredible addition to the arsenal," General North said. "It's larger, carries an increased payload and is able to fly longer, higher and faster. It's an incredible addition to our attack capability in the CENTAF force lay-down." The Reaper has flown 49 combat sorties since it first began operating in Afghanistan Sept. 25. It completed its first combat strike Oct. 27, when it fired a Hellfire missile over Deh Rawod, Afghanistan, neutralizing enemy combatants.

Monday, November 5, 2007

USAF Suspends Non Critical F-15 Operations

(Update 11/07)
Kyodo News
The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force has grounded its F-15 fighter jets since Sunday following a recent crash of the same type of aircraft in the United States, Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday.

Ishiba told reporters that ASDF commanders ”instructed the suspension of flights of F-15 aircraft Sunday afternoon for the time being” until the cause of the crash is determined.


(Update 11/06) It looks like the forward fuselage had a structural failure. Its hard to tell but it appears from picture on KCTV5, St Louis that the forward fuselage had separated before it hit the ground.

Following the crash of a Missouri ANG F-15C from the 131st FS last week all non-critical F-15C/D/E operations have been temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure. This is not the first time in the Eagle or for that matter any first line fighter aircraft that has either had its operations limited or even grounded until the defect was found and inspected for. In my career I saw this happen a few time and the results were usually a one time inspection of the other aircraft in the fleet to make sure they are free of whatever defect was determined to be the main contributing factor to the accident. The preliminary investigation in this case indicates a structural failure may have occurred. Here is the article from http://www.af.mil/

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123074547

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Blast From The Past F-104 Starfighter
















I’ve always liked the F-104, my first exposure was as a small boy hearing the sonic booms of the F-104’s flying out of Hamilton AFB CA and seeing them fly over our house. The F-104 was designed by Clarence “Kelly” Johnson of the Skunk Works after input he received from pilots during the Korean War. The F-104 entered USAF service in 1957 with Air Defense Command, was surprisingly used in Vietnam and was finally retired from service with the Puerto Rico ANG in 1975. While the Starfighter was never very popular with the USAF it saw extensive service with many allied nations, to include Canada, Belgium, Netherlands, Greece, Pakistan, Turkey, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Japan, Taiwan and of course Italy.
I saved Italy for last since the Italian Air Force only retired the last of their F-104ASA aircraft in 2004 after over 40 years of service. The S stood for Sparrow was a modification to allow the Starfighter to carry the Aim-7 air-to-air radar guided missile. In the mid 80's the Italians upgraded some of their S models to the F-104ASA standard which was an avionics modification to achieve look down and shoot capability, these were the aircraft I would see periodically parked at transient alert when I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath in the late 90’s.
Specs
Length 54 Ft 8inches
Height 13 ft 6 inches
Wingspan 21 Ft 9 inches
Max Takeoff weight 29,027 pounds
Engine, General Electric J-79 afterburning turbojet, 15,600 pounds of thrust in burner
Max Speed 1328 mph
Service ceiling 50,000 Ft
Armament, 1 20mm M-61 Vulcan, 4 sidewinders (2 Sparrow F-104S) and up to 4000 pounds of other stores.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Keep the C-17 Line open


All I can say is the C-5A needs to go to the bone yard yesterday. Use the funds to re-engine the C-5B’s, upgrade the avionics and build more C-17’s. Kennedy and Biden are both tools that just happen to have C-5 units in their states. There is a great common sense op ed on the subject by Congressman Jim Saxton. Strategic airlift is what we need now not more F-22’s.
Here are links to both articles




(Photo USAF)

Westboro Baptist Church Loses Case

In what I thought was a great verdict the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka KS was found liable by a jury in Baltimore, Maryland for invading the privacy of the Snyder family at their son Marine Lance Corporal Mathew Snyders funeral. For those of you who don’t know the members of this church have been harassing family members at funerals of our fallen servicemen for years now. They hold up signs and shout slogans like “ Thank God for Dead Soldiers” and “America is Doomed”, they claim that the soldiers deaths are a result of Gods punishment for the tolerance of homosexuals in the military.
Their antics have brought about great operations like the Patriot Guard Riders who have been invited to many funerals and provide a screen against the people from Westboro Baptist. The Patriot Guard Riders try to ensure that there is respect at the funerals of our fallen hero’s and I take my hat off to them. Words cannot describe the loathing I have for the members of this so called church that show such disrespect to our hero’s.
Check the Patriot Guard Riders out at the link below and the link to the Baltimore Sun article.

http://www.patriotguard.org/Home/tabid/53/Default.aspx

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-westboro1031,0,7191706.story