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Women In The Military
The NY Times has an interesting piece about women in today’s military. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have forced gender integration well beyond what was originally intended — with surprisingly good results.
I’m very glad to see women for the most part doing well in the military. The contribution that women make to the armed forces is absolutely essential and should never be taken for granted.
As The Times article points out, women are increasingly seeing front-line combat action, something that was unthinkable in past wars. Cultural sensitivities require women to be part of combat patrols and other missions so the female soldiers can frisk and search female locals.
It’s not uncommon to see women sitting atop the .50 gun turret in a Humvee ready to shred the enemy at a moments notice. This too, is a good thing.
I think partial gender integration is a sham. Women should have the opportunity to do anything in the military that men do. Women should be allowed to become Navy SEALs or Army Special Forces if they so choose.
If a women can meet the physical requirements to become a special operator, why should she not be allowed to?
The old theory that combat soldiers simply can’t cope with seeing women blown apart on the battlefield is false. The two wars we’re currently fighting have unfortunately seen many women blown apart.
Soldiers don’t like to see their brothers or sisters blown apart in battle, but women have every right to be combat soldiers or special ops soldiers if they so choose.
Video: Captured U.S. Soldier Speaks
(hat tip Jawa Report)
I’m not sure what to make of this video, but Private Berdahl is clearly violating the military code of conduct. Initial reports about Berdahl’s capture alleged that he deserted his base without his weapon or body armor.
He’s allowing himself to be used as propaganda by telling outright lies about the military and giving up information about his unit.
It’s been less than two weeks since Gen. McCrystal gave new orders to do whatever is necessary to prevent civilian casualties. Berdahl knows that, but when asked about civilian deaths he lies to the world and says “there are no rules” and “civilian deaths don’t matter.”
Here’s what retired Lt. Col. Ralph Peters had to say about it:
(hat tip Michelle Malkin)
America Needs The F-22 Raptor
A heated battle is currently raging on Capital Hill over whether to continue funding the F-22A Raptor beyond the 187 aircraft currently budgeted.
Much to the chagrin of liberals, it’s America’s military might and technological edge that has kept this country the lone super power in the world.
The United States has the finest and best equipped military the world has ever known. Our great wealth has enabled us to develop technologies and weapons systems that are decades ahead of any other nation.
The F-22A Raptor is just such a weapons system.
Josh Painter over at Red State has an excellent piece on the F-22 debate and why the jet is so crucial to our national security.
Even if we don’t need the F-22 for our current battles, we will need it in the future. This is about maintaining our edge and staying several steps ahead of our enemies.
The F-22 is expensive, but you can’t put a cost on keeping this nation safe. Our president thinks nothing of pissing away $780 billion on phony stimulus packages, and hundreds of billions more on phony global warming, and another 2 trillion for a health care takeover.
One thing president Obama is not worried about is spending money. That being the case, we should spend money on shit that actually matters.
As an added bonus, the F-22 is in a way the first “green” fighter jet. It uses a classified new technology called “Supercruise.”
Supercruise allows the F-22 to fly at sustained supersonic speeds without using an afterburner. That means it burns significantly less fuel than other aircraft.
In fact, we should just copy the left and change the debate entirely. The F-22 is about building a greener and more eco-friendly Air Force.
The sooner the Air Force can get 1,000 F-22’s the sooner we can put a stop to global climate change.
Here’s a little taste of the F-22 in action:
-Chris Jones
Video: Watch 30-Mile Procession For Fallen Georgia Soldier
Video: Inside A Firefight In Afghanistan
The majority of people at NBC are scumbags, but I have to hand it to Richard Engel. Despite the anti-war stance of his network, Engel usually does some great reporting from war zones.
He’s a ballsy guy who goes places the majority of the media wouldn’t dare.
Take a look at this amazing footage Engel captured in Afghanistan while embedded with Viper Company in Afghanistan near the Pakistan border.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Troopathon Live Stream — Care Packages For Our Troops!
Here’s the live stream from the Troopathon going on right now. Troopathon is raising money to send care packages to our troops!
Troopathon is being hosted by Melanie Morgan and Andrew Breitbart. Look for appearances by Rush Limbaugh, Carrie Prejean, Mark Levin, Greg Gutfeld, and many others from Hollywood, talk radio, the blogosphere, and military support community.
PLEASE DONATE 2 OUR TROOPS AND HONOR THEIR SERVICE!!
Obama’s Phony Photo Op In Iraq
Here’s a story you’re not going to read about in the NY Times or hear about on MSNBC (The Obama Network). You know the photo that has been plastered everywhere of Obama’s surprise trip to Iraq where all the troops are hugging him? It was staged — completely.
It turns out Obama’s so-called “surprise” visit to Iraq — wasn’t a surprise at all. Commanders at Camp Victory were told 24 hrs in advance the president was coming.
Then soldiers were asked to raise their hand if they voted for Obama and those who did were hustled into the meeting place to await Obama’s arrival. Officials even handed out cameras and told the soldiers to hold them up. You can tell in the photo that all the cameras are the same.
MacRanger over at Macsmind learned about this from a letter he received from a sergeant in Iraq who was actually there. Jim Treacher has some interesting analysis of it as well over at Hot Air.
What makes this particularly galling is that the liberal media has used that photo to brag about how much the troops love Obama.
I can assure you that commanders didn’t have to put people in place to welcome president Bush to Iraq. The troops knew their commander-in-chief supported their mission and they loved him for it.
Contrast that with Obama who visited Iraq after his overseas America bashing tour in which he repeatedly told European audiences that Iraq was a “distraction” that will be brought to a close soon enough.
I’m sure that made the soldiers who are still spilling their blood and guts in Iraq feel great.
-Chris Jones
Navy Attacks Pirates, Rescues Captain
The U.S. Navy ended the standoff today with a small group of Somali pirates holding an American cargo ship captain hostage. Navy SEALS attacked the drifting lifeboat killing 3 pirates and taking 1 into custody. Capt. Richard Phillips escaped unharmed and is resting comfortably on a U.S. Navy ship.
Baggage Fees For Soldiers Heading To War?
I realize that before long the airlines are gonna be charging for bathroom access, but the least they can do is allow our soldiers heading off to war the ‘luxury’ of a few extra bags for free.
The airlines contend that soldiers are reimbursed by the military for the extra baggage fee, but soldiers complain that it’s just another hassle and another level of bureaucracy they have to content with.
American, which recently charged two soldiers from Texas $100 and $300 for their extra duffel bags, said it gives the military a break on the cost for excess luggage and that the soldiers who incur the fees are reimbursed.
Most major carriers allow military personnel traveling under orders to check two bags free, and then charge $100 for a third bag.
When soldiers receive their travel orders, they should make sure that excess baggage is authorized and that soldiers can be reimbursed for additional fees that airlines impose, said Army spokesman Paul Boyce.
“We can help them with additional expenses for travel, but soldiers have to submit a receipt and it has to be looked at by our finance people,” Mr. Boyce said.
The VFW has submitted a written request to the Air Transportation Association asking them to exempt all military personnel traveling under orders from all baggage fees.
I hope the ATA will honor the VFW’s request.
Video: Father Of Haditha Marine Speaks Out Against John Murtha
Bodies of Two Kidnapped U.S. Soldiers Found In Iraq
The bodies of two U.S. soldiers kidnapped in Iraq more than a year ago have been found and sent back to the United States.
The remains of two U.S. soldiers kidnapped more than a year ago in Iraq were found and are back in the United States, according to the father of one of the soldiers.
The military has not yet issued a public confirmation, but Ramon “Andy” Jimenez said in a broadcast interview that officers visited his Lawrence, Massachusetts, home to tell him the body of his son, Sgt. Alex R. Jimenez, 25, was found.
The officers told Ramon “Andy” Jimenez that information from an informant led investigators to the remains of his son and those of Pvt. Byron W. Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Michigan, on Wednesday, Jimenez family friend Sandy Almonte said.
The senior Jimenez, a native of the Dominican Republic, said the military told him the soldiers’ remains were identified in the U.S. by their dental records.
The father said his son died for a cause he cared about.
“He decided since he was young to join the Army,” he said. “I’m very proud of my son.”
The military did not give the family any other details, such as where the bodies were found, Almonte said.
Gordon Dibler spoke of waiting for news of his stepson Army Pvt. Fouty after military officials came to his home, The Associated Press reported Thursday.
“Every day that he’s been missing has been a day of `what could have been’ … but after hearing the news … I’m still in shock,” Dibler said.
Major Dan Elliott with the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division confirmed to CNN that human remains were found in the division’s area of operation in Iraq. He said the remains were sent to the United States for positive identification.
This is a very sad example of why critics of harsh interrogation are so wrong. Critics often argue that we shouldn’t mistreat detainees because our soldiers will be mistreated if they’re captured. That’s total nonsense, because regardless of what we do, our enemies don’t observe the rules of war.
U.S. Rejects Iraqi Demand For Withdrawal Timeline
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has been playing politics the last few days by telling the U.S. media that a firm withdrawal date must be part of any status of forces agreement. His demands were swiftly rejected today by the U.S. State Department. A spokesman said any withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq will be conditions based rather than Maliki based.
Maliki has apparantly forgotten who made it possible for him to even be Prime Minister of Iraq. The Iraqi Army wins a few battles and suddenly the Iraqi govt. thinks they can takeover security for the whole country?
Yeah, right.
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