Strike Eagle down

An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 391 FS Mountain Home AFB ID crashed During flight operations in Southwest Asia. Killed in the crash was Capt Francis Imlay, the other crew member was injured and treated at a medical facility. The Air Force has said the crash was not combat related and a crash investigation will be conducted.
Our prayers are with Capt Imlay and his family. Godspeed Warrior.

Commando II

The Air Force announced and name change today for the MC-130J Combat Shadow. From today the aircraft will now be known as the Commando II. I think this works as it better represents what the aircraft does in it's day to day role.

Texas Border War

I love Texas, they are doing what our almost worthless Feds won't do, protect our borders. Illegal aliens are becoming more of problem here in NC because of the economy. We need our state legislature to get tough like OK did two years ago.

Rueters story via Free Republic
Texas unveiled the second of six new ‘interceptor’ gunboats on Thursday, similar to Navy swift boats that plied the rivers of Vietnam during the Vietnam War, to patrol the waterways of the Mexico border.

The Texas Department of Public Safety, which oversees the Texas Highway Patrol and the Texas Rangers, said the 34-foot shallow water crafts would be deployed on the Rio Grande and the Intercoastal Waterway, which separates the Texas mainland from Padre Island.

“They have night vision capabilities, they have ballistic shielding, and the first couple of boats have fully automatic machine guns,” department spokesman Tom Vinger told Reuters.

Texas Governor Rick Perry has repeatedly called on the Obama administration to send National Guard troops to boost security on the Texas-Mexico border, which is heavily trafficked by often gun-toting drug smugglers from Mexico.

Vinger said the boats would mainly patrol the Rio Grande, and would be geared toward stopping smugglers of drugs, weapons and illegal immigrants.

Patrol

U.S. Marine Sgt. Guillermo Floresmartines, an assistant squad leader with Alpha Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and 25-year-old native of Menifee, Calif., wades through a canal during a patrol here, Feb. 16. Marines and sailors with 1st LAR and India Co., 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, conducted clearing and disrupting operations in and around the villages of Sre Kala and Paygel during Operation Highland Thunder. Marines with 1st LAR led the operation on foot, sweeping for enemy weapons and drug caches through 324 square kilometers of rough, previously unoccupied desert and marshland terrain. Mobile units with1st LAR set up blocking positions and vehicle check points while India Co., 3/3 conducted helicopter inserts to disrupt insurgent freedom of movement. Photo by Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez

We should leave Afghanistan tomorrow, leaving only Special Forces and on call TACAIR to deal with the scumbag Taliban. Instead Obama and his minions telegraph our with drawl and more GI's are needlessly killed and wounded.

SEALS

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 20, 2012) SEALs and divers from SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team (SDVT) 1 swim back to the guided-missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN 727) during an exercise for certification on SEAL delivery vehicle operations in the southern Pacific Ocean. The exercises educate operators and divers on the techniques and procedures related to the delivery vehicle and its operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kristopher Kirsop)

I'm glad these guys are on our side. If you have no seen Act of Valor, go and enjoy a high speed tale.