Thursday, December 3, 2009

Cadet Has Right Idea


A West Point Cadet has the right idea reading a good book while the one pontificates.
This Cadet is not like the rest with his decorations including the Comabat Ifantrymans Badge he has been there and done that already as an enlisted man.
REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Dean Obama - Victor Davis Hanson - The Corner on National Review Online

Dean Obama - Victor Davis Hanson - The Corner on National Review Online

Pic Of The Day


U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle, from the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, flies to a mission objective in eastern Afghanistan,.The 335th is deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Michael B. Keller)

Monday, November 30, 2009

Honduras Votes For Democracy

According to the Wall Street Journal Hondurans turned out in record numbers Sunday to elect their new conservative president Porfirio Lobo. This is great news and hopefully a lesson learned for both the State Department and the Obama administration. It shows that people want freedom not leftist socialism
From the WSJ

Neither of the two men claiming to be president during the past five months – Mr. Zelaya and interim President Roberto Micheletti – were on the ballot. Instead, Hondurans picked between Mr. Lobo of the conservative National Party and Elvin Santos of the Liberal Party – to which both Mr. Zelaya and Mr. Micheletti belong.
Voters were expected to punish the Liberal Party for the crisis and hand power to Mr. Lobo, who was narrowly beat by Mr. Zelaya four years ago.
“It’s going to be Pepe this time,” said Higenio Garcia Ponce, 74, an agricultural laborer who said he had just voted for Mr. Lobo. “There was a rupture in the Liberal Party over what happened with Zelaya.”



Sunday, November 22, 2009

Pic Of The Day


I've been super busy the last two weeks lots of OT so here is what I like best fast jets. This is a shot of Luftwaffe F-4 Phantom returning from the last patrol from the recent Baltic Quick Reaction Alert deployment.

(Photo: Luftwaffe)

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Happy Birthday USMC


On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of the Continental Congress. Since that date many thousand men have borne the name Marine. In memory of them it is fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the birthday of our Corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history.

Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall' . . .



Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall' . . .
Ronald Reagan

Monday, November 9, 2009

Obama To Sit Out Berlin Wall Anniversary


When I was stationed in the Netherlands at Soesterberg AB during the late 80’s we used to practice and train constantly for what we thought was inevitable, the Warsaw Pact coming west. I for one was riveted by the scenes streaming into my Dutch home of the Berlin wall coming down. My then High School aged daughter made a class trip to Berlin and has a chunk of this monstrosity. I guess it’s too much to ask the President of the United States the world’s light of freedom to attend the ceremony. I’m sure its because he wants us to have a society like the paradise the East Germans had, what a joke and parody this administration is.

Via Fox News

President Obama squeezed in a trip to Copenhagen last month to lobby, unsuccessfully, for Chicago to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. He plans to travel to Oslo next month to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, an award that even Obama has said he does not deserve. And this coming week, he sets out on a weeklong tour of Asia.
But the president does not plan to travel to Germany to attend the 20th anniversary celebration Monday of the fall of the Berlin Wall, drawing heated criticism from those who say he's ignoring a shining triumph of American-inspired democracy.
Click the title for the full article

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Monday, November 2, 2009

Blokes Under Fire in Afghanistan


Anyone who doesn’t think that UK is not with us in Afghanistan needs to check out this pic. I don’t know what unit this is but I can guarantee that these are hard men and they will take the fight to the Taliban. Cheers

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

More Obama B.S. at Jacksonville NAS.

In a speech Monday at Jacksonville NAS, The President made the following remark, he told the troops today that he won’t risk their lives unless necessary and then,“If it is necessary, we will back you up to the hilt.”

I guess he forgot about Afghanistan and the Generals request for more troops.

On a side note, is this guy ever in D.C or is his administration still in perpetual campaign mode?

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

NSA General Jones (USMC) anti Israel tool

General Jones needs to drive down to Quantico from D.C and leave his Eagle, Globe and Anchor at the gate, what a disgrace.
Via Atlas Shrugs

"We are clear, unambiguous and consistent," said Gen. Jones, "The time has come to relaunch negotiations without preconditions to reach a final status agreement on two states." The National Security Advisor emphasized that, "President Obama's dedication to achieve these goals is unshaken, is committed, and we will be relentless in our pursuit of achieving these." He said that ending the conflict and the occupation is essential because what is at stake is "nothing less than the dignity and the security of all human beings." "We must move beyond talking about talks and get to the hard work of addressing the core issues that separate Israelis and Palestinians," Jones said.

Great signs from SF


Some of the signs that greeted the president in the normally leftist enclave of San Fransisco.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Pic Of The Day


A 335th FS F15E Strike Eagle returning after a combat air patrol in Afghanistan.

U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. John Jung)

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Fear the Reaper


The virgin express is fired up again after a Reaper engaged terrorists planting an IED in the Khost province.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Navy's First Flying Helo Warrant Boards Bataan

Maybe the Air Force will get a clue card from this and bring back Warrant Officers. Not only in flying rolls but for most technically oriented jobs such as Aircraft Maintenance and Munitions.


Navy's First Flying Helo Warrant Boards Bataan
Story Number: NNS091006-02
Release Date: 10/6/2009 5:01:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephen Oleksiak, USS Bataan Public Affairs
USS BATAAN, At sea (NNS) -- Fourteen Sailors were selected in 2006 to become the Navy's first "Flying Chief Warrant Officers," and more than three years later, the "Flying 14" are still making history.

When Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Michael Adams, from Coalinga, Calif., reported to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, and embarked aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) in June, he became the first CWO helicopter pilot to complete his training and begin living his dream as a pilot in an operational environment.

Adams was no stranger to rotary aircraft, spending nearly nine years as an aviation warfare systems operator before his commissioning in December 2006.

"I was a rescue swimmer flying in H60F/H's, and I wanted to change seats," said Adams. "This program was the perfect opportunity for me to do that."

For Adams, the timing to switch seats could not have been better. According to the first NAVADMIN soliciting applications, the Navy was looking to supplement the current officer aviation force by placing qualified CWOs in the cockpit as pilots and naval flight officers (NFOs). The requirements specified candidates must be between paygrades E-5 and E-7, young enough to be commissioned by their 27th birthday (29 for NFOs) and must already possess an associates degree. Adams met every requirement.

"My wife and I were so excited when the message came back," said Adams. "It was surreal."

The new officer didn't have much time to look back on the hard work that earned him a selection. He spent the next two years attending various officer indoctrination courses, pre-flight schools and piloting schools before completing his training at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 2.

Adams has now settled in with his new squadron embarked aboard Bataan where he serves as the detachment's assistant operations officer and flight schedule writer, but he never misses an opportunity to step into the cockpit.

"His flying abilities are equal to any unrestricted line officer pilot that I've seen," said Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class (NAC) Aaron Gardner, from Benson, N.C. "Plus, his prior enlisted background gives him an understanding of the crew, which makes him a more approachable leader."

With 12 years of service under his belt, Adams has plenty of flight hours ahead of him, both in and out of uniform.

"This is an opportunity that will certainly carry me into retirement many years from now," said Adams. "When I've retired, I hope to be flying helicopters somewhere on the West Coast."

For more information on the Flying CWO program visit www.npc.navy.mil or contact your command career counselor.

The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group is conducting Maritime Security Operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations.

For more news from USS Bataan (LHD 5), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd5/.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

IAF F-15C's


Great shot of IAF F-15C models on the ramp. Check out all the Syrian kill markings on the fuselage under the cockpit. The Iranian Air Force must have nightmares thinking about these guys.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Dalai Lama Snubbed By The One


Obama slaps the face of The Dalai Lama by saying he will not meet with him this week. Funny in this town I see Free Tibet stickers on the bumper next to the Obama/Biden or Hope and Change. The one is a joke and the leftists that still support this train wreck must not be paying attention to what is going on
Hat Tip Gateway Pundit

From the Indian Express

In an attempt to gain favour with China, for the first time since 1991 the US President will not meet Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama when he visits Washington this week.

President Barack Obama who is scheduled to undertake his first visit to China next month has apparently decided not to meet the Dalai Lama son as not to annoy Beijing.

"The US pressured Tibetan representatives to postpone a meeting between the Dalai Lama and President Obama until after Obama's summit with his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, scheduled for next month," Washington Post reported.

The Dalai Lama has met every sitting US president since George Bush senior in 1991. China accuses the Dalai Lama of being a ‘splittist’ aiming to separate Tibet from it.

The last time Dalai Lama was here, in 2007, however, George W Bush became the first sitting President to meet with him publicly, at a ceremony at the Capitol in which he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress's highest civilian award.

Friday, October 2, 2009

A-10 on attack

Video of an A-10 using the the Avenger 30MM cannon against Taliban motorcycle convoy. Surely a bad thing to be them. look like a whole herd of 72 virgin allotment were used up.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

FedEx 777F


FedEx has taken delivery of its first 777F cargo aircraft. The 777F powered by a pair of magnificent General Electric GE90-110 engines offers the best load and fuel burn of any large cargo aircraft. With 30 firm orders FedEx will be the largest operator of the 777 freighters.

Photo Boeing

Austrian Typhoons



The Austrian Air Force has taken final delivery on its 15th Eurofighter Typhoon. They all serve with the 1st Wing at Zeltweg AB. The Typhoon is one good-looking aircraft.
Both images © Dietmar Fenners/EADS

Monday, September 28, 2009

Border Patrol

Can someone explain to me that as the Federal government is adding jobs at a terrific rate, why is the Obama administration is planning on cutting 300 Border Patrol Agents?

Last KC-135E Retires


After more than 50 years of service the last serving KC-135E Tanker was retired last Friday at Davis Monthan AFB. Tail number 56-3630 will continue to serve for years to come as it is stripped of parts for the rest of the fleet. Its age and service like the rest of the fleet are a testimony to solid design and great maintenance over the years.

(U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)

Friday, September 25, 2009

Strega Wins Reno



In a repeat from last year Team Strega won the Reno Gold unlimited race fro the second year in a row last weekend. What made this victory unique was the age of winning pilot at 22. Steve Hinton has become the youngest champion ever.

Steve Hinton photo David B. Parker/RGJ

Thursday, September 24, 2009

UN Speech, Epic Fail.

Once again the President throws the U.S., Israel and common sense toward the global warming fraud under the bus. Check out John Bolton’s comments from Fox. As far as Kaddafi, it’s a crying shame that he wasn’t home when the 48th FW F-111 came calling.
Good on the Canadians waking on the Iranian dirt bag.

Click thr title to go to Fox News for Amabassdor Boltons comments

Monday, September 21, 2009

Sergeant First Class Jared Monti, MOH



Citation from the Medal of Honor presented to the parents of Sergeant First Class Jared Monti.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Staff Sergeant Jared C. Monti distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a team leader with Headquarters and Headquarters troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Calvary Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, in connection with combat operations against an enemy in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, on June 21st, 2006. While Staff Sergeant Monti was leading a mission aimed at gathering intelligence and directing fire against the enemy, his 16-man patrol was attacked by as many as 50 enemy fighters. On the verge of being overrun, Staff Sergeant Monti quickly directed his men to set up a defensive position behind a rock formation. He then called for indirect fire support, accurately targeting the rounds upon the enemy who had closed to within 50 meters of his position. While still directing fire, Staff Sergeant Monti personally engaged the enemy with his rifle and a grenade, successfully disrupting an attempt to flank his patrol. Staff Sergeant Monti then realized that one on his soldier was lying wounding in the open ground between the advancing enemy and the patrol’s position. With complete disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Monti twice attempted to move from behind the cover of the rocks into the face of relentless enemy fire to rescue his fallen comrade. Determined not to leave his soldier, Staff Sergeant Monti made a third attempt to cross open terrain through intense enemy fire. On this final attempt, he was mortally wounded, sacrificing his own life in an effort to save his fellow soldier. Staff Sergeant Monti’s selfless acts of heroism inspired his patrol to fight off the larger enemy force. Staff Sergeant Monti’s immeasurable courage and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Calvary Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, and the United States Army

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Ex-Commandos Rescue US Woman Imprisoned in Arab Home

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133453
By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
(IsraelNN.com) Former IDF commandos secretly entered a Palestinian Authority village on Monday and rescued an American woman and her 2 1/2-year-old son from her Muslim husband, who had beaten and and held her captive for three years. The woman and child flew to the United States Wednesday night and are en route to her family’s home in Ohio.
The Arab met the woman during a visit to the United States and enticed her to return with him to Israel and to the house where he lives with his first wife and several children, according to Voice of Israel government radio military reporter Carmella Menashe, who reported the story.
“She had no idea of where she was and was unable to escape,” Menashe reported. The woman wore Muslim clothes, including a veil over her face, and the man threatened her that she never would see her child again and that security agents would pick her up if she fled. She was kept under guard to make sure she could not reveal details of her ordeal on the telephone.
Her family, knowing she was somewhere in Israel, unsuccessfully tried to get the U.S. Consulate in eastern Jerusalem and the Palestinian Authority to help, and the family turned to a friend, a former Israeli combat soldier, who contacted a friend in Israel who also was a former commando in the Israeli Defense Forces.
The commando, who did not reveal his full name, explained that he gathered nine comrades, and they used their own intelligence connections to locate the house where she was being held.“We carried out surveillance around the house, wore civilian clothes and staged the operation without any danger. We were unarmed, but part of the group was armed in a waiting vehicle in case there was trouble," he said.
They carried out the secret operation in broad daylight without resistance and when the captor was not home, whisked the woman and child into a car and brought them to an apartment already prepared for them near the American Consulate. Her husband had destroyed her American passport, and after she signed documents and obtained a new passport, she and her son were driven to Ben Gurion International Airport, where they boarded a plane to New York. The commando who was interviewed by Menashe pointed out that the IDF and American government were not involved in the mission although the Consulate was updated so officials could be prepared to help the woman after her rescue. He said there was no problem entering the Arab village and that the rescuers crossed the IDF checkpoint when they knew there would be a minimum number of soldiers.He said they carried out no illegal activities, and that they did not care if they were stopped on their way to Tel Aviv from the village because they had accomplished their mission of freeing the woman.The woman’s family will pay the commandos for their work, he said. Asked if he would carry out the same type of operation to free kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, he said that is exactly what the government should be doing.


I'm not surprised that our Stae Deparment did nothing to help locate and rescue this women.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

SEALS 1 Somali Terrorist 0


Monday, September 14, 2009
Justin Fishel


Navy Seals from US Special Operations Forces conducted a raid in southern Somalia on Monday that killed Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, one of 4 co-conspirators wanted in the 2002 bombing of an Israel owned hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, two senior U.S. military officials told Fox News.
Ten days ago President Obama signed the Execute Order for Nabhan, who since 2006 was on the FBI's list of most wanted terrorists. He was also wanted for the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Kenya in 1998.
They called it operation Celestial Balance: at least two AH-6 Little Bird helicopters deployed from one of two U.S. Navy vessels near Somalia's coast strafed a vehicle Nabhan was using to go back and forth between meetings.
Intelligence operatives had been monitoring Sabhan prior to the attack. The helicopters passed once, firing on the vehicle, and then circled back around to retrieve the body so they could make a positive identification, according to an official.
The attack in Mombasa took place on Nov. 28, 2002 - involving a suicide bomber that blew up the lobby of the Israeli owned Paradise hotel. On the same day the attackers unsuccessfully attempted to shoot down an Israeli owned Boeing 757 civilian jetliner run by Arkia. They fired surface to air missiles and missed.
Nabhan's Somali group, Al- Shabaab, has links to Al Qaeda.


Hard to believe the One signed the order to get this scumbag. The leftists will go nuts.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Discovery Home



The space shuttle Discovery is home after a 14-day mission in support of the space station. Discovery landed at Edwards AFB Friday evening after inclement weather prevented its landing at the Kennedy Space Center. These guys make it look easy

We Remember the 2996


This picture brings a human face to the 2996 people murdrded by Islamic terrosrist on 9/11. I can remember thtat day the shot from msulim dominated countries around the worlds showing people dancing and celebrating. Nothing makes my blood boilmore than thinking of all the liberals in this country that want to forget and just do not undersatnd that these people will not stop. They only respect the big stick and Uncle Sam needs to be swinging it more. Unfourtunaly this won't happen with current crop of ass hats that are running the show in D.C.
Hat TIp the Jawa Report

Friday, September 11, 2009

9/11 A day of Infamy





Today is 9/11 the eighth anniversary of the surprise attack by Islamic radicals that brought death and destruction to our great nation. I hope that today people take a minute to remember the hero’s and the victims of that tragic day and to remember who did this to us. Our enemies will not stop and we must accept this fact. Pray for our nation and the fallen and pray that the current crowd in Washington does not leave us open for another attack.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

'We're pinned down:' 4 U.S. Marines die in Afghan ambush

This is an absolute disgrace the new ROE see’s to these needless casualties. This is why the Russian ended up pulling out. The bottom line is we cannot nation build were there is no nation. Special Forces units should be used with massive firepower brought to bear to kill the Taliban off. This type of kinder gentler BS does not get it. US Marines from Camp Lejeune have been taking the brunt of the recent casualties. There is no excuse not to give troops in contact all that they need from airpower and artillery that is available. This will become a if we let it a meat grinder that will be an albatross around the current administrations neck. An exert from the McClatchy news article, click the title for the whole article. This incident is under investigation as to why the request for artillery support was not
granted.
I would also like to know why there was no TACAIR availble and why did the helicopter take 1 hour to arrive?

GANJGAL, Afghanistan — We walked into a trap, a killing zone of relentless gunfire and rocket barrages from Afghan insurgents hidden in the mountainsides and in a fortress-like village where women and children were replenishing their ammunition.
"We will do to you what we did to the Russians," the insurgent's leader boasted over the radio, referring to the failure of Soviet troops to capture Ganjgal during the 1979-89 Soviet occupation.
Dashing from boulder to boulder, diving into trenches and ducking behind stone walls as the insurgents maneuvered to outflank us, we waited more than an hour for U.S. helicopters to arrive, despite earlier assurances that air cover would be five minutes away.
U.S. commanders, citing new rules to avoid civilian casualties, rejected repeated calls to unleash artillery rounds at attackers dug into the slopes and tree lines — despite being told repeatedly that they weren't near the village.
McClatchy Newspapers 2009

Friday, September 4, 2009

F Company 2/8 Marines



Marines from F company of the 2/8 are seen responding to fire from a Taliban ambush.
Photo's Jack Hill/The Times

Semper Fi

Station Fire Decalred Arson!


From the Wall Street Journal
The Station fire raging in the mountains east of Los Angeles was caused by arson, the U.S. Forest Service said Thursday.

Teams of forensic investigators had spent the past two days combing the area believed to be the fire's origin, looking for clues.

The area has been cordoned off with yellow tape and deemed a crime scene.

Last Sunday, two firefighters died while battling the blaze when their truck overturned, falling more than 800 feet, as they tried to escape the flames.

After the cause of the fire was ruled to be arson, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said that it had begun a homicide investigation in relation to those two deaths.

Though firefighters have been able to contain 38% of the fire, up from 28% a day earlier, and have successfully shielded many of the most populated nearby communities, the blaze is expected to burn for close to another week.

The fire has consumed close to 150,000 acres, or about 234 square miles, making it the largest fire on record in Los Angeles County.

The fire began on Aug. 26, and has cost about $3 million a day to fight.

Much of that cost came from an air assault, involving multiple air tankers that blanketed portions of the fire's perimeter with fire retardant and water.

The evacuation has been lifted on 6,400 households and people returned to their homes, though officials were concerned about one community that may still be at risk.

At least 64 structures were consumed by the blaze, making the damage to property relatively light, considering the size and intensity of the fire.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Col William A. Jones III MOH Citation



Col Jones showed that he was one of the ultimate warriors on this mission. Until I saw this on http://www.thedonovan.com I had never heard of this mission. Col Jones dies in an aircraft accident before he could accept his award.



Rank and organization: Colonel, U.S. Air Force, 602d Special Operations Squadron, Nakon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. Place and date: Near Dong Hoi, North Vietnam, 1 September 1968. Entered service at: Charlottesville, Va. Born: 31 May 1922, Norfolk, Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Col. Jones distinguished himself as the pilot of an A-1H Skyraider aircraft near Dong Hoi, North Vietnam. On that day, as the on-scene commander in the attempted rescue of a downed U.S. pilot, Col. Jones' aircraft was repeatedly hit by heavy and accurate antiaircraft fire. On one of his low passes, Col. Jones felt an explosion beneath his aircraft and his cockpit rapidly filled with smoke. With complete disregard of the possibility that his aircraft might still be burning, he unhesitatingly continued his search for the downed pilot. On this pass, he sighted the survivor and a multiple-barrel gun position firing at him from near the top of a karst formation. He could not attack the gun position on that pass for fear he would endanger the downed pilot. Leaving himself exposed to the gun position, Col. Jones attacked the position with cannon and rocket fire on 2 successive passes. On his second pass, the aircraft was hit with multiple rounds of automatic weapons fire. One round impacted the Yankee Extraction System rocket mounted directly behind the headrest, igniting the rocket. His aircraft was observed to burst into flames in the center fuselage section, with flames engulfing the cockpit area. He pulled the extraction handle, jettisoning the canopy. The influx of fresh air made the fire burn with greater intensity for a few moments, but since the rocket motor had already burned, the extraction system did not pull Col. Jones from the aircraft. Despite searing pains from severe burns sustained on his arms, hands, neck, shoulders, and face, Col. Jones pulled his aircraft into a climb and attempted to transmit the location of the downed pilot and the enemy gun position to the other aircraft in the area. His calls were blocked by other aircraft transmissions repeatedly directing him to bail out and within seconds his transmitters were disabled and he could receive only on 1 channel. Completely disregarding his injuries, he elected to fly his crippled aircraft back to his base and pass on essential information for the rescue rather than bail out. Col. Jones successfully landed his heavily damaged aircraft and passed the information to a debriefing officer while on the operating table. As a result of his heroic actions and complete disregard for his personal safety, the downed pilot was rescued later in the day. Col. Jones' profound concern for his fellow man at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

LACFD RIP


Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt Tedmund "Ted" Hall, above left, died along with 34-year-old Arnaldo Quinones, above right, when they drove off the side of a treacherous road in the Mt. Gleason area, south of Acton. While searching for an evacuation route for a 55 man inmate crew.
RIP Brothers

Monday, August 31, 2009

Big Brother And The Internet

Just when you think the Obama administration has done enough check out the Senate Bill proposed by reliable leftist Jay Rockefeller D WV. How does this man get reelected by the fine people of this state is a wonder. Click the title for the CNET article

“Bill would give president emergency control of Internet. They’re not much happier about a revised version that aides to Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, have spent months drafting behind closed doors. CNET News has obtained a copy of the 55-page draft of S.773 (excerpt), which still appears to permit the president to seize temporary control of private-sector networks during a so-called cyber security “emergency.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

2nd Amendment Quote

Interesting thought, I need to follow up to make sure it is not out of context

The Second Amendment is a doomsday provision, one designed for those exceptionally rare circumstances where all other rights have failed - where the government refuses to stand for reelection and silences those who protest; where courts have lost the courage to oppose, or can find no one to enforce their decrees. However improbable these contingencies may seem today, facing them unprepared is a mistake a free people get to make only once.
2009 Judge Alex Kozinski

Monday, August 24, 2009

Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi Released




Of course the UK government says it was for compassionate reason since he is dying of cancer. To bad the victims from the Pan Am bombing never got the same chance.
The Daily Mail reports the release of the bomber was linked explicitly to trade deals benefiting Britain. Click the link for full details.
Another thought, would the UK actually release this scum bag without getting a nod from the current administration?

Its Is The Soldier


What is a vet?
By Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity. Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can't tell a vet just by looking.
What is a vet?
He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.
He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the38th parallel.
She or he is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.
He is the POW who went away one person and came back another or didn't come back AT ALL.
He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat, but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.
He is the parade riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.
He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.
He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb of the Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep.
He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket-palsied now and aggravatingly slows who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being, a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.
He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.
So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say "THANK YOU." That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.

It is the soldier,
not the President who gives us democracy.

It is the soldier,
not the Congress who takes care of us.

It is the soldier,
not the Reporter who has given us Freedom of Press.

It is the soldier,
not the Poet who has given us Freedom of Speech.

It is the soldier,
not the campus [community] Organizer who
has given us the Freedom to Demonstrate.

It is the soldier,
who salutes the flag;
who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
that allows the protester to burn the flag.

~ Father Dennis O'Brien, US Marine Corp. Chaplain

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Pic Of The Day


Aggressor's at Nellis

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Pic Of The Day


A flight of F-15 Eagles making a formation pass.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Captain Scott Speicher, USN, RIP


Friday Naval aviator Captain Scott Speicher was returned home to his family in Jacksonville Florida. Speicher who was lost when his F/A-18 Hornet was shot down on the first night of Desert Storm was initially declared KIA but later his status was later changed to missing/captured until a USMC search team found his remains in the Iraqi desert. That discovery was made two weeks ago at a location near the wreckage of his downed fighter

Over the years, critics said the Navy had not done enough, particularly right after the crash, to search for the pilot. I personally do not believe this was the case, As a fellow aviation Desert Storm veteran I know first hand how wild and crazy the first few days of the air war were, there might have been extenuating circumstances when he first went down that none of us are aware of.

Today has brought closure for Capt Speicher and his family, RIP.

Eternal Father, Strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty Ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.
O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
and calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!
Most Holy spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!
O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea


AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Bob Self

Friday, August 14, 2009

Pic Of The Day



Just because I love these magnificent BUFFS

2/3 Marines



Grunts doing what Grunts do best, close with the enemy and kill them.
Hat Tip Op For and Fox news

A combined force of 500 Marines and Afghan soldiers have begun an air and ground assault in Afghanistan called Operation Eastern Resolve which aims at liberating a key town in the Northern Helmand province of Taliban control and to secure a strategic pass used by Taliban fighters.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Endeavour Landing


Another great landing by the space shuttle

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

F-22 DOA


Unless someone comes to their senses and allows the F-22 to be sold to Japan and Israel the Senate vote on Tuesday effectively ends the production run of the F-22 Raptor. While I have never been a big fan and the FMC numbers and other data back up my earlier complaints not buying more is a huge mistake for a couple of reasons. First off 187 birds is simply not enough to ensure Air Dominance in any future conflict especially with the F-15C getting extremely long in the tooth. The other big reason to keep building is it keeps highly skilled workers on the job. If we can spend billions on Government Motors and the joke that is known as Chrysler we can surely build another 100 Raptors

Hat Tip: Ace Of Spades

"The Senate on Tuesday voted to strip $1.75 billion on seven additional F-22 jets that President Obama said was unnecessary and would doom a $680 bill authorizing defense spending plans for the coming fiscal year.
The 58-40 vote prevents Obama from carrying out a threat to use the first veto of his presidency if senators had kept the designation in the defense bill.
...According to Lockheed Martin Corp., the main contractor, 25,000 people are directly employed in building the plane, and another 70,000 have indirect links, particularly in Georgia, Texas and California. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., a supporter of the program, said there are 1,000 suppliers in 44 states.
Dodd, speaking on the Senate floor last week, questioned why Congress should approve $65 billion to prop up the automobile industry but can't spend $1.75 billion to support an important segment of the aerospace industry."

Monday, July 20, 2009

Eagle decent to landing



What is amazing is the alarm call outs 1201 and 1202 which were computer overload failures. By all rights Houston should have had Armstrog and Aldrin abort but like was stated in the documentary From the Earth to the Moon, Armstong was the captain of his ship and it was up to him and Buzz to get the Eagle down.

Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.





This is one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.
40 years ago today Astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon. What a glorious day to remember for all Americans, we can surely take pride in what this mission accomplished.