Snow and Ice Update

I found this article interesting with the Goracle latest flapping about global warming. I tend to agree with Robert Felix with his theory on ocean warming. Check it out at Not by Fire but by Ice link is on the web favorites on the right For more from Icecap check out the link,

By Joseph D’Aleo, CCM
With a major snowstorm in China and snow covering much of Asia and parts of the middle east and a decent snow pack in North America (recently NASA reported 60% of the lower 48 states and all of Canada was snow covered), our Northern Hemispheric snow cover is now 2% above normal and the highest level in at least 5 years. A rather amazing 25% of the northern Hemispheric is snow and ice covered. The next two images come from Dr. Bob Hart at Florida State University. In the first, the green line represents the normal snow cover extent for the date and the blue the actual snow cover.
In the second image the actual percent (black) is plotted relative to the climatological (green). We reversed a 2% snow and ice coverage deficit this past summer and now have a 2% excess (above normal).
December sea ice extent in the Southern Hemisphere was a remarkable 15% above normal and the highest of the entire record as was the case in the late winter (it is now mid-summer and the sea ice is diminishing but is still well above normal). This graph is from the University of Illinois National snow and Ice data Center and shows the satellite derived sea ice extent in the southern hemisphere for Decembers since records began in 1979.

Strike Eagles Over Afghanistan

A long week at work this past week, regular updates will start today. First some Eagles getting ready to help some Taliban meet 72 new girls.

(USAF Photo's)

USMC, Semper Fi

More Good News From Iraq

Airpower punishes al Qaeda ,

The Long War Journal: Coalition airstrikes pound al Qaeda in Iraq positions in southern Arab Jabour


Written by Bill Roggio on January 20, 2008 3:29 PM to The Long War Journal


Coalition forces have launched a major air offensive against al Qaeda in Iraq in the southern Arab Jabour region, Brigadier General Jim Huggins, the deputy commander for Multinational Division Center, told The Long War Journal in an exclusive interview Sunday. US bombers targeted "more than 30" al Qaeda in Iraq positions in the region southeast of the capital of Baghdad.

US Air Force B-1 bombers and Marine and Navy F-18 fighter-bombers dropped 35 bombs with a total weight of 19,000 pounds. The "specific targets" included al Qaeda in Iraq "save houses, deep buried IEDs [improvised explosive devices], and weapons caches," said Huggins. The intelligence-driven strikes were based on information provided by the Concerned Local Citizens, the local security forces fighting al Qaeda in Iraq in the region.

Today's strikes follow a similar raid launched on Jan. 10. The US Air Force struck 47 of 50 identified targets during pinpoint strikes in Arab Jabour. General Mustafa, the leader of a Concerned Local Citizens group in the Arab Jabour claimed 21 al Qaeda operatives were killed during the Jan. 10 raids, including Walid Khudair, the leader of al Qaeda in the southern belts of Baghdad. A follow-up strike was launched on Jan. 16, hitting 17 targets.

Operation Marne Thunderbolt, launched on Jan. 8 as a subordinate operation to Phantom Phoenix, is targeting al Qaeda in Iraq's infrastructure and safe havens in the Arab Jabour region. "Al Qaeda in Iraq is the enemy here," said Huggins. "There are no sectarian fault lines to deal with," Huggins said, noting that the Mahdi Army or the Iranian-backed Special Groups do not have a significant presence in the region. "We are in relentless pursuit of the enemy," said Huggins. "We don't give them a chance to regroup and get their balance."

The battle space for Marne Thunderbolt extends about 12 miles south of Patrol Base Hawkes to just north of Suwayrah on the border between Baghdad and Wasit provinces. The operation is targeting al Qaeda in Iraq's infrastructure along the snaking Tigris River. "Al Qaeda is organized in small cells of four to five members," said Huggins. "They are not a substantial force but wreak havoc" wherever they operate.

Deep buried improvised explosive devices are the main threat in the region. Al Qaeda in Iraq has seeded the roadways with these bombs. Deep buried IEDs can blow the turret off an Abrams main battle tank. The airstrikes are designed to neutralize the IED threat, while infantry forces move in behind to seize terrain and form the Concerned Local Citizens groups to provide for security.

There are currently three US infantry battalions operating in the Arab Jabour region. The 5th Battalion of the 7th Infantry Regiment became the third after it was redeployed recently from Ramadi in Anbar province to support Marne Thunderbolt.

An Iraqi infantry battalion is also operating in the Arab Jabour region. The Iraqi battalion, which had been depleted due to heavy fighting during the summer of 2007 was recently "reinforced," said Huggins. A new Iraqi battalion will be repositioned from elsewhere to add combat power. "We're on the cusp of seeing a new Iraqi battalion moved in," said Huggins. Major General Rick Lynch, the commander of Multinational Division Central, said seven Iraqi Army battalions were needed in the Arab Jabour region. The Iraqi Army leadership has promised to send a full brigade (three battalions) to the region after it has been formed, Lynch told The Long War Journal on Jan. 15.

Three new patrol bases have been built since Patrol Base Hawkes was built in Arab Jabour. Patrol Base Stone has been built in Harijeb, Patrol Base Dolby was built in Adwaniyah, and Patrol Base Meade was established in southern Arab Jabour. From these patrol bases, US forces provide local security in conjunction with the Concerned Local Citizens and launch raids and offensives against al Qaeda in Iraq.


For more information on the Arab Jabour Region, read Bill Roggio’s embedded reports from the region in September 2007: Arab Jabour: “This is al Qaeda Country” and An interview with the “Lion of Arab Jabour.”

Zimbabwe Bank Issues $10million Bill

Just when you think it could not get any worse in Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) the central bank has issues a 10 million dollar bill. The country or what is left of it is prime example of what happens when a communist thug dictator takes over. Zimbabwe, which used to be known as the breadbasket of Africa has suffered hyperinflation for years as Robert Mugabe and his henchmen destroy the country from within. It’s too bad the left in the west refused to support Ian Smiths minority government. If the rest of the world had worked for a true democratic transfer of power were everyone’s right were respected the long suffering of the people could have been avoided. This is has happened country after country in Africa when left wing communist backed guerillas seize power after the Europeans left.

Below is the article from the Daily Mail.
Last updated at 12:47pm on 19th January 2008
Forget the glitzy restaurants of New York and London: only in Zimbabwe would a hamburger actually cost millions of dollars. The central bank of the southern African country has a issued a 10million Zimbabwe dollar note. The move increases the denomination of the nation's highest bank note more than tenfold.
Even so, a hamburger in an ordinary cafe in Zimbabwe costs 15 million Zimbabwe dollars. The hope is that such a move will help end chronic cash shortages and disperse long, chaotic lines at banks and automated teller machines. Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono said in a statement the 10 million Zimbabwe dollars notes will be issued along with 1 million and 5 million Zimbabwe dollars bills. Previously, the highest existing note, introduced last month, was for 750,000 Zimbabwe dollars. The new 10 million note is the equivalent of about £2 at the dominant black market exchange rate. A hamburger at an ordinary cafe costs about 15 million Zimbabwe dollars (£3). That hamburger has trebled in price this month amid shortages of bread, meat and most basic goods. Zimbabwe faces the world's highest official inflation of an estimated 25,000 per cent. Independent financial institutions say real inflation is closer to 150,000 per cent.
Acknowledging the inflation crisis, Gono said individuals would be allowed to withdraw an increased limit of 500 million Zimbabwe dollars (£100) in a single daily withdrawal, up from 50 million (£10). He said special arrangements were being made to pay soldiers, police and other uniformed services "because it is not desirable to see them queuing for cash". Gono said with higher denomination bills businesses might be tempted to again raise prices of scarce goods. "If this happens the whole objective of solving the cash shortages and to bring convenience to the people will be defeated," he said. In August 2006, the central bank slashed three zeros from the nation's old currency

Troop Hater Convicted in Chicago, Semper Fi

For those who don’t know Jay Grodner keyed a Marines car and was caught in the act by the Marine. He turns out to be a local Chicago attorney, what he did not count on was the tenacity of a Unites States Marine. Here is the original Chicago Tribune article ( click the post title)

Below is Michelle Malkins take on today’s court actions.


By Michelle Malkin • January 18, 2008 08:49 PM
I mentioned this morning that lawyer Jay Grodner, accused of keying a Marine’s car on the eve of his deployment, was scheduled to appear at a hearing today. The hearing took place and reader Beverly Pearson e-mails an account of what happened:
It was awesome. There were probably 15 folks who showed up in support of Sgt. McNulty. Big guys with Marine Corp. jackets on! The creepy attorney was late again! His lawyer got up and told the judge Attorney Grodner was late because he wanted to let the “press” clear out! The judge was really mad then and ordered a warrant immediately. Then the lawyer says Grodner is coming and will show up within 30 minutes. The judge says he will be arrested when he gets here. Sure enough, Grodner walks in and two cops take him out and cuff him.
Sgt. McNulty did not have an attorney but the [State’s] Attorney was there for him. They all went into a side room to work a deal. Then they all come out and the judge orders a continuance. So we all leave and about 20 minutes later a Policeman came out and got those of us who were still there and told us they were going to settle and we could come back in. It was obvious the judge wanted us in the Courtroom.
Long story short, he has to pay $600 to a Semper Fi Fund (Marine [Corps] fund for the wounded) and he has to report for Social Services probation once per month for a year. Judge told him if he screws up and misses any he will be arrested and will serve 364 days in jail! He told Grodner that the reason the courtroom was so full was because Sgt. McNulty belongs to The Band of Brothers and this is what he can expect when he mistreats a Marine (not his exact words but the same meaning)…
He really admonished him and the part I really liked was when the judge made Grodner admit he keyed Sgt. McNulty’s car. He also explained to him about military plates and how people pay extra because the monies go into a fund for scholarships. I cried but they were tears of joy!!!!!!!!!!!
Sgt. McNulty’s damages were $2400 but his car is fixed and just like The Band of Brothers, he asks that this creep give $600 to a fund for his Brothers. God Bless The Band of Brothers. This is a story the whole world should read about.

F-16's Airborne

I must be getting soft for the lawn dart but this is a great shot of 2 F-16’s from Eielson wearing the new Aggressor paint jobm and one from the Wolfpack.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Quinton T. Burris)

Lawn Dart Down

1/16/2008 - HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) -- An Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed at about 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15 in the Gulf of Mexico near Key West, Fla.

The pilot was picked up by a Navy helicopter crew and flown to a local hospital, where a physician examined him.

He was released from the hospital. The pilot was flying a training mission at the time of the accident.

The F-16 was based at Air Force Reserve Command's 482nd Fighter Wing from Homestead Air Reserve Base.

A board of officers will investigate the accident.

(Courtesy of Air Force Reserve Command News Service)
(U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Joe Cupido)

Minnesota Bridge Collapse Due to Design Fault

The MSM and the Democrats wailed and cried when the bridge in Minnesota collapsed and killed 13 and injured dozens. They claimed it was the fault of the evil Bush spending all of our cash on Iraq and not spending dollars on infrastructure. Well the NTSB released their findings and what do we find, design fault. But of course we will never see any retraction or even coverage on any of the MSM outlets. Check out the article below.

By Del Quentin Wilber and Michael Laris
Tuesday, January 15, 2008; A03
A design flaw caused a Minnesota bridge to collapse last summer, killing 13 people and injuring 100 in an accident that focused renewed attention on the safety of the nation’s highways and bridges, according to federal sources familiar with the investigation.
The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to announce today that investigators have traced the failure to steel structures known as gusset plates that held together beams on the Minneapolis bridge, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the board’s findings.
Some gusset plates on the bridge, which carried eight-lane Interstate 35W across the Mississippi River, snapped during evening rush hour on Aug. 1, leading the bridge to crumple, according to the sources…
The sources said the fault in the Minneapolis span stemmed from the bridge’s design and would not have been discovered during detailed state inspections.
When the bridge was built in the 1960s, its gusset plates were not thick nor strong enough to meet safety margins of the era, the sources said. Over decades, renovations added weight to the span. It was undergoing a construction project with heavy equipment and material at the time of the collapse.
The sources said investigators were not sure what role those projects played in the incident. But investigators have speculated that the weight from equipment and materials may have triggered the plates’ failure, two of the sources said.
During the construction projects, the sources said, state officials and contractors did not recalculate how extra weight might affect the gusset plates. They said it was not standard procedure to do such studies.
The NTSB has not uncovered similar flaws in other bridges, the sources said.

McCain, RINO

I don’t understand how any basically conservative republican could even think about voting for McCain. He is a RINO in the worst way, the other candidates should be hammering this RINO who is nothing more than a liberal democrat in republican clothing. He was a hero once and I respect his conduct as a POW. But were was Mr. National security calling for an increase to the armed forces during his 20 plus year political career, I’ll tell you nowhere.
I cannot say it as well as Mark Levin here is his article.

The Real McCain Record
Obstacles in the way of conservative support.

By Mark R. Levin
There’s a reason some of John McCain's conservative supporters avoid discussing his record. They want to talk about his personal story, his position on the surge, his supposed electability. But whenever the rest of his career comes up, the knee-jerk reply is to characterize the inquiries as attacks.

The McCain domestic record is a disaster. To say he fought spending, most particularly earmarks, is to nibble around the edges and miss the heart of the matter. For starters, consider:

McCain-Feingold — the most brazen frontal assault on political speech since Buckley v. Valeo.

McCain-Kennedy — the most far-reaching amnesty program in American history.

McCain-Lieberman — the most onerous and intrusive attack on American industry — through reporting, regulating, and taxing authority of greenhouse gases — in American history.

McCain-Kennedy-Edwards — the biggest boon to the trial bar since the tobacco settlement, under the rubric of a patients’ bill of rights.

McCain-Reimportantion of Drugs — a significant blow to pharmaceutical research and development, not to mention consumer safety (hey Rudy, pay attention, see link).

And McCain’s stated opposition to the Bush 2001 and 2003 tax cuts was largely based on socialist, class-warfare rhetoric — tax cuts for the rich, not for the middle class. The public record is full of these statements. Today, he recalls only his insistence on accompanying spending cuts.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, McCain was consistently hostile to American enterprise, from media and pharmaceutical companies to technology and energy companies.

McCain also led the Gang of 14, which prevented the Republican leadership in the Senate from mounting a rule change that would have ended the systematic use (actual and threatened) of the filibuster to prevent majority approval of judicial nominees.

And then there’s the McCain defense record.

His supporters point to essentially one policy strength, McCain’s early support for a surge and counterinsurgency. It has now evolved into McCain taking credit for forcing the president to adopt General David Petreaus’s strategy. Where’s the evidence to support such a claim?

Moreover, Iraq is an important battle in our war against the Islamo-fascist threat. But the war is a global war, and it most certainly includes the continental United States, which, after all, was struck on 9/11. How does McCain fare in that regard?

McCain-ACLU — the unprecedented granting of due-process rights to unlawful enemy combatants (terrorists).

McCain has repeatedly called for the immediate closing of Guantanamo Bay and the introduction of al-Qaeda terrorists into our own prisons — despite the legal rights they would immediately gain and the burdens of managing such a dangerous population.

While McCain proudly and repeatedly points to his battles with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who had to rebuild the U.S. military and fight a complex war, where was McCain in the lead-up to the war — when the military was being dangerously downsized by the Clinton administration and McCain’s friend, former Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen? Where was McCain when the CIA was in desperate need of attention? Also, McCain was apparently in the dark about al-Qaeda like most of Washington, despite a decade of warnings.

My fingers are crossed that at the next debate, either Fred Thompson or Mitt Romney will find a way to address McCain’s record. (Mike Huckabee won’t, as he is apparently in the tank for him.)

This campaign is turning into a huge joke, the Democrat candidates are all Marxists and most of the republicans are a joke, McCain a liberal, Romney to slick, Huckabee a republican Jimmy Carter, Ron Paul just plain nuts, Giuliani one issue and anti gun. This leaves Fred who I like but he seems like McCain light on many issues. We need leaders not more candidates who want to pick my pocket for the never-ending entitlements. If we don’t elect someone who will get a handle on entitlement and tax growth and at the same time be committed to pursuing the war against Islamic fascism then this country that I love is in bigger trouble than I thought.

Gen Petraeus Will Decide Troop Level

In what is an amazing act from micro managing Washington General Petraeus will decide what kind of troop level is needed. Of course Harry Reid is still a monumental jack ass.

By STEVEN LEE MYERS
Published: January 12, 2008
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait — President Bush said Saturday that he was prepared to slow or even halt further reductions of forces in Iraq, emphasizing that any decision depended on security and the stability of the Iraqi government.
After meeting with Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq, and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker here at a sprawling desert base in neighboring Kuwait, Mr. Bush noted the sharp reduction in attacks on American troops and Iraqi civilians in recent months, saying the decline in violence was too hard-won to be squandered.
“We cannot take the achievements of 2007 for granted,” he said. “We must do all we can to ensure that 2008 brings even greater progress for Iraq’s young democracy.”
With Congress returning to work on Tuesday and a presidential election campaign in full swing, Mr. Bush set the stage for a renewed political debate this year over the Iraq war.
As some brigades withdraw this spring and summer, the total number of troops in Iraq will remain at the level they have been almost from the beginning of the war in 2003, nearly five years ago.
Mr. Bush said that additional withdrawals would depend solely on conditions in Iraq, which are under review by General Petraeus. During an 80-minute meeting, the president instructed the general to make no recommendation that would jeopardize improvements in security.
“My attitude is, if he didn’t want to continue the drawdown, that’s fine with me in order to make sure we succeed, see,” Mr. Bush said to reporters inside a command center that oversees Army operations in a region stretching from Kenya to Kazakhstan. “I said to the general, ‘If you want to slow her down, fine. It’s up to you.’ ”
On General Petraeus’s recommendation, Mr. Bush approved in September the withdrawal of one Army brigade and one Marine expeditionary unit in December, or roughly 5,700 troops, and four more Army brigades and two more Marine battalions by July, effectively returning the American troop level to 130,000. About 160,000 troops are in Iraq now.
The war’s critics in Congress used the first anniversary of “the surge,” announced last Jan. 10, to renew their demands for a dramatic change in strategy, arguing that the military successes had not accomplished the goals the president himself had set.
Those included an Iraqi takeover of security by November, provincial elections and passage of legislation in Iraq intended to show reconciliation among the main ethnic and religious sects.
“No amount of White House spin can hide the fact that the escalation’s chief objective of political reconciliation remains unmet,” the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, said in a statement on Wednesday…

Many US Diplomats Disagree With US Iraq Policy

It looks like Foggy Bottom is worse than even I thought. These so called diplomats have a job to do and part of that is putting forward U.S. policy whether they personally agree or not. We have known for years that the State Department has been filled with leftists, but this survey conducted by, this is rich their union shows how sorry many of these so called diplomats are. When you read the article you can understand why most members of the military hold the State Department diplomats is such low regard.

Agency France Press 1/8/8

Some 48 percent of US diplomats who would refuse to volunteer to work in Iraq cited disagreement with President George W. Bush's policy as a factor, according to a survey released Tuesday. That reason ranked behind separation from family and security concerns, according to a survey by their union, the American Foreign Service Association. In the survey in which 4,300 of the 11,500 US Foreign Service members responded, some 68 percent opposed forced assignments as unnecessary and undesirable. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stirred controversy late last year when she warned diplomats they would be forced to serve in Iraq or risk dismissal if not enough came forward. In the end, there were enough volunteers. As for assignment specifically to Iraq, some 2,113 of respondents said they would not consider volunteering because they did not want to be separated from their families. Some 2,037 respondents checked security concerns for not volunteering for Iraq duty; 1,398 cited obstacles to performing assigned duties, and 1,592 checked disagreement with policy. On the other hand, for those respondents to the poll who had served or would be willing to serve in Iraq, 1,347 said their main motivation was the extra pay involved. Some 1,182 listed patriotism and duty, as a motivating factor for going to the war-torn post; and 964 checked career enhancement. Adventure and challenge was the motivation for 796 willing to serve in Iraq. The survey also found that almost half of the US Foreign Service thinks Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is doing a "poor job" looking after their material and professional needs. The survey revealed serious staff complaints about salaries and other personnel issues, as well as about staffing at the US embassy in Iraq. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack questioned how scientific the survey was, calling it self-selective. There are 11,500 Foreign Service personnel within the State Department, the Agency for International Development, the Foreign Commercial Service, Foreign Agriculture Service, and the International Broadcasting Bureau.

F-15 A- D Models Cleared For Return To Flight

According to published USAF reports today the majority of the A-D Eagle fleet will be returned to flight status. After multiple groundings since the in flight structural failure of a Missouri ANG F-15 this comes as welcome news for the AF and the F-15 pilots.
According to the release “Inspections are more than 90 percent complete. Remaining inspections have primarily focused on the forward longerons. The longerons are a critical support structure. Time compliance technical order inspections have discovered nine other aircraft with longeron fatigue-cracks. Additionally, approximately 40 percent of inspected aircraft have at least one longeron that does not meet blueprint specifications. Deviations in these longerons will be analyzed at the WR-ALC. The analysis is expected to take approximately four weeks to complete. Once the analysis is complete, ACC will be able to better determine which aircraft will need further inspection, or repair, before returning them to flight. “
The longerons in question did not meet specification and are a result of manufacturing problems when the A/C were built. I wonder if Boeing will absorb any liability and cost of repair, Boeing took over MCAIR years ago.
One thing I do find amusing is right after the accident the Air Staff was crowing about aging aircraft and this proves we need more F-22’s. When the realty was this was a hidden defect caused by quality control failures when the jets were first built not simply flight fatigue. The Air Force’s negligence during the 90’s, sacrificing the existing fighter force for the F-22 has led us down the path of disarmament caused by bad procurement practice. Instead of buying additional Strike Eagles to help recapitalize the fleet they continued to pour money into the F-22 black hole. At the end of the day as the F-22 procurement winds down we will have a much smaller fighter force than today and one that will not have the same strategic war fighting capabilities of the current force

Iranian Gunboats Swarm US Navy Ships In Gulf

Check out more and excellent comments on the Cdr Salamander blog. http://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com/ I can’t belive one Captain let a boat get within 200 yards of his ship without opening fire. If it were a suicide bomber they probably would not have been able to stop it.


By Andrew GrayMon Jan 7, 10:14 AM ET
Five Iranian Revolutionary Guard boats harassed and provoked three U.S. Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping route off the Iranian coast, during the weekend, Pentagon officials said on Monday.
The captain of one of the U.S. ships was in the process of giving an order to fire but the order was not implemented as the Iranian boats then moved away, one official said.
The official said the five Iranian speedboats "pretty much swarmed" the three U.S. vessels in international waters with the Iranians threatening that one of the U.S. ships would blow up in minutes.
U.S. officials, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, were confirming a report first aired by CNN.
Oil prices got a brief boost from the news about the confrontation as dealers weighed the threat to oil shipments along the key shipping route. Crude futures jumped 49 cents to $98.40 a barrel before slipping back into negative territory.
The incident took place about 11:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, or late Saturday night in Washington, the officials said.
According to the officials, the radio transmission from one of the Iranian ships said: "I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes."
The officials said it was not unusual for Iranian boats to get close to U.S. ships in the strait but the radio transmission was unusual.
The officials said the Iranian vessels also dropped small white boxes into the water. It was not clear what the boxes contained.
One official said the move may have been an attempt to ascertain what tactics the U.S. ships would use if objects were dropped into the strait.
In October, the United States designated the Revolutionary Guard Corps a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction and its elite Qods force a supporter of terrorism.
The incident occurred on the eve of a visit to the Middle East by U.S. President George W. Bush, who said last week that one of the aims of his trip was to counter Iran's ambitions in the region.
Washington has been engaged in a long standoff with Tehran over Iran's nuclear program.
In March, Iran seized 15 British sailors and marines in the Gulf and accused them of trespassing in Iranian territory while they inspected a merchant vessel. London maintained the British personnel were in Iraqi waters.
The British personnel were held for almost two weeks before being freed in what Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said was a "gift" to the British people.
In Tehran, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman had no immediate comment on U.S. accounts of the incident in the Strait of Hormuz.
(Writing by Doina Chiacu and Andrew Gray; Editing by Bill Trott)

Lets Catch This Scumbag

Lets catch this scumbag Yaser Abdel Said who murdered his two daughters in Texas in what may be an Islamic honor killing. He needs a date with the needle in Huntsville.
From The Dallas Morning News
Before the service, the girls’ mother and brother issued a public appeal for Mr. Said to surrender. Patricia Said said her husband needed to be brought to justice so that her “girls can rest in peace.” She said that she and her son would remain in hiding until her husband is captured.
“I just want him to pay for what he did to my girls,” Mrs. Said said.
Islam Said has previously disputed widespread rumors and media reports that his Muslim father’s religion may have been the reason for the killings. Some have speculated that the deaths may have been “honor killings,” a practice in which a man kills a female relative who he believes has somehow shamed the family.
Patricia Said mourned the loss of her daughters at a Baptist service Saturday at Rahma Funeral Home.
Irving police have said that they are exploring all possible motives for the slayings. Police have acknowledged that the family had some previous domestic problems.
Gail Gartrell, the sisters’ great-aunt, said Saturday that Mr. Said had physically abused the two girls for years. Around Christmas, the girls’ mother – Ms. Gartrell’s niece – had fled because of Mr. Said’s threats to kill the girls after he learned they had boyfriends, she said.
“She ran with them because she knew he would carry out the threat,” Ms. Gartrell said. “This was an honor killing.”
She said her niece returned after Mr. Said told her that he would move out so they could reconcile. Within a few days, she said, the girls were dead.

http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=51983

Aircraft Maintenance –The Unsung Hero’s

Nice shot of F-15 maintainers doing and engine run on an Eagle. I spent the majority of my career on the ramp and I can tell you it’s a great place to work. The only problem I ever had was the whole darn base getting the day off when the flying units made the sortie goal. The argument was it’s a team effort, funny I never saw the blue suit support staff working twelve’s to keep the jets FMC. Just another reason I’m glad I’m retired