Air America cares about the kids..

Is there anything more amusing then finding out the liberal radio network Air America is involved in illegal loan swapping? If there is, it would be that AA stole from KIDS AND GRANNIES. If this was Rush or Sean Hannity involved, EVERY major source would be all over it. Since it deals with more liberal perfidy, it is up to the pajama bloggers to carry the water for the lamestream media.

Welcome to all new readers!

Thanks to Castle AARGH and Hugh Hewitt for their links. Just to flesh out a bit more on the premiere of "Over There": This show had the opportunity to demonstrate that not only is war horrible, but that sometimes it is necessary. They could have also paid homage to those who fight in it, as was done so well in "We Were Soldiers." After all, millions of Americans have a family member or a friend serving in the armed forces of the United States. Unfortunately, due to a lack of effort- Bochco short circuited any penetrating analysis of what is going on in Iraq. Instead, he has used Hollywood writers who seemingly have no military experience to write what they IMAGINE is happening. I don't know how many of my fellow mil-bloggers have ever seen an enlisted serviceman light up a joint in the middle of an ops area- but I have never seen it happen, and I doubt many other officers have!! To have major characters delve into "racism in the military" and "turning into savages" within six days of arriving in the Sandbox is fanciful. Let's be honest, most grunts are more interested in discussing Jessica Simpson centerfolds and the latest rap music than "the white man is holding us down." So, this series is woefully misguided on two parallel levels: it gets military tactics and strategy totally wrong (like how a transport squad ends up in ranger graves for three days outside a mosque WHILE AN ABRAMS TANK is just sitting there doing nothing). It also portrays a defeatist look at the political and strategic situation, showing the death and injury of war without shedding any light on the REASONS our troopers are willing to bear this burden. My longer review is below...

"Over There"

The new tv show by Steven Bochco finally premiered last night. I had been really psyched to see it from the previews over the past few months. Then, in the last week I started to read reviews and became much more hesitant. Anything that the lamestream media is going to praise about a military show means that it is going to pretty much suck. I have to agree with my brothers in the USArmy- this show sucked. The dialogue was stilted, dumb, and seemingly had no relation to the reality that is our military. I particularly enjoyed the two black soldiers: riffing on how the white man is keeping them down in society. Uh, wasn't this pretty much done to death in all of our "Vietnam Hellhole" movies back in the 1980's? Not sure which military these writers have ever been in (the imaginary one that lives in Hollywood), but Sergeants don't sit there and bitch and moan about protecting themselves when other soldiers are sitting out in the open taking fire- at least not a Sergeant I would want in my unit. The final scenes about our hero getting blown up by an IED- (nicely marked so the viewers could see it!) were meant to debilitate the war effort. So, we see the horrors of war, but of course very few of the young idiots portrayed actually seem to know why they are over there in the first place. "Our only mission is to stay alive!" one said. Really? I thought the mission was to accomplish a transition to a democratic and peaceful government. Then again, I am weird in that way that I didn't think the mission of my military was to protect myself. Maybe I can use that one on my Colonel when they call for volunteers next to deploy to the sandbox. "Hey, I would really like to help out Sir. But to be honest, my only mission is to get out alive. So, have to pass. Thanks" Oh, did I mention this show sucks from a military perspective? I know in the USAF we don't do alot of close in battle drill, but it would take a 4 year old to figure out we don't all hide within 15 feet of each other, and then walk SLOWLY toward the enemy in a STRAIGHT LINE. Uh, didn't we pretty much give that up about 1864? I can see why the government is not supporting this dreck- it is simply a downer about military life. It will only serve to further depress the public's willingness to support the war, much less to volunteer for it. Thank goodness we have patriots who don't buy into Bochco's fantasy land. If this was made in 1942 we would be speaking Japanese and German today.

Anti-Terrorism protests by Egyptian bloggers!

Sweeping the Middle East now, the future will be bright when our bloggers take over from the corrupt dicators.. "Anyway, the interview ends, we all shake hands and agree on trying to get a permit for the next protest and hope to organize it better. Karim calls me and thanks us for holding our ground and doing what we did. I thank him for thinking about it and organizing this all the way from Boston. Najla informs me that she knows people that would love to join us, and I am like "then we will call them next time. Hopefully we can pull something by Friday. But I want that permit just so we can shut them up!". She asks me what do I think of having the next protest in front of a mosque and I tell her that I am afraid that some idiots join the protest and start a riot and ruin it. She agrees with me that it's a real possibility and tells me "that the problem lies that everyone has a different outlook and approach to this situation, and they all squabble about their differences. It would be nice if we got over our differences for a greater cause." I tell her that that's our biggest problem, that this is what pisses me off, "that we are fighting on way too many fronts: against the government that doesn’t want us to protest, against the people who view our protest as an insult and the people who agree with us but have different approaches that threaten the message." For once it would be nice to hold something like that and be assured that no idiots will take it over and start rioting and then the police reacts and the message gets lost in the Mayhem of it all. She nods her head in agreement. "The important thing is to not to view today as a failure" she said and I responded " Who said I was? It's a great success, considering the little time we had and the disorganization. Not to mention, this isn't the end. This is just the beginning. We managed to do something to nobody did in this country before and we were less then 10 people. And we held our ground, for 2 hours, against the police's wishes and without a permit! A failure? This is an amazing success story" I finish with a relaxed smile. She smiles back at me. Later on I call Big Pharaoh and ask him how he feels about all this. "I loved it. This was great. For the first time I feel like I accomplished something!" he says. "I know what you mean" I respond. "And what's important , is that we got our message out!"

The Warrior Ethos

"In times of war or uncertainty there is a special breed of warrior ready to answer our Nation’s call; a common man with uncommon desire to succeed. Forged by adversity, he stands alongside America’s finest special operations forces to serve his country and the American people, and to protect their way of life. I am that man. My Trident is a symbol of honor and heritage. Bestowed upon me by the heroes who have gone before, it embodies the trust of those whom I have sworn to protect. By wearing the Trident, I accept the responsibility of my chosen profession and way of life. It is a privilege that I must earn every day. My loyalty to Country and Team is beyond reproach. I humbly serve as a guardian to my fellow Americans, always ready to defend those who are unable to defend themselves. I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions. I voluntarily accept the inherent hazards of my profession, placing the welfare and security of others before my own. I serve with honor on and off the battlefield. The ability to control my emotions and my actions, regardless of circumstance, sets me apart from other men. Uncompromising integrity is my standard. My character and honor are steadfast. My word is my bond. We expect to lead and be led. In the absence of orders I will take charge, lead my teammates, and accomplish the mission. I lead by example in all situations. I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity. My Nation expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down, I will get back up, every time. I will drawn on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and to accomplish the mission. I am never out of the fight. We demand discipline. We expect innovation. The lives of my teammates and the success of the mission depend on me-my technical skill, tactical proficiency, and attention to detail. My training is never complete. We train for war and fight to win. I stand ready to bring the full spectrum of combat power to bear in order to achieve my mission and the goals established by my country. The execution of my duties will be swift and violent when required, yet guided by the very principles I serve to defend. Brave men have fought and died building the proud tradition and feared reputation that I am bound to uphold. In the worst of conditions, the legacy of my teammates steadies my resolve and silently guides my every deed. I will not fail."

Islamist "B team" launches second attack on London

Explosions Hit Three Tube Stations, One Bus Thursday, July 21, 2005 PHOTOS VIDEO PHOTO ESSAYS Click image to enlarge Photo Essays:•London Attacked AgainSTORIES BACKGROUND •Musharraf Vows to Curb Extremism•Congress Debates Patriot Act•U.S. Response to Attack Cautious•Timeline: Latest London Explosions•Fast Facts: London Underground•Pakistan Grills Man With 7/7 Links•U.K. Gov't Plans Tough Terror Laws Two weeks to the day when terrorist attacks in London killed a total of 56 people, explosions struck three Underground stations and a bus Thursday afternoon. The London police commissioner confirmed that four explosions occurred in the subway and on a bus in the Hackney neighborhood of East London. None of the explosions appear to have detonated properly. Officials are hoping that the left-over explosives will provide a wealth of forensic evidence to help investigators hunt down the bombers. For more, go to these FOX News partners: Sky News | The Times of London | The Sun Police said there was one report of an injury. One Sky News reporter on the ground said officials said the explosive device on the bus appears to be the same type used in the July 7 bombings in London. The material is highly explosive, which is why such a large area around the bus has been cordoned off. Police also said an armed police unit had entered University College hospital. Press Association, the British news agency, said they arrived shortly after an injured person was carried in. Sky News TV reported that police were searching for a man with a blue shirt with wires protruding. Officers asked employees to look for a black or Asian male, 6 feet 2 inches tall, wearing a blue top with a hole in the back and wires protruding.

Our newest military recruits :)

Has U.S. military recruiting hit a brick wall? Common wisdom says yes. The war in Iraq is unpopular, the thinking goes, and daily "body count" reports are discouraging potential recruits. Clearly, our armed forces face recruiting challenges. Nevertheless, in June, the Army, Navy and Air Force all exceeded their recruiting goals. So did the Marines, who account for about 11 percent of our forces in Iraq but about 30 percent of combat deaths. What motivates our country's newest soldiers? To find out, I dropped in on the Army recruiting station in Hopkins, where Sgt. Bridgett Burns is station commander. I chatted with new recruits who were learning to march and salute before shipping out for basic training. One was Matthew Dodge, 18, a recent graduate of Eden Prairie High School. Dodge - soft-spoken, thoughtful - has been accepted at college but has chosen to join the Army to become a combat engineer. He'll do college later. Dodge believes military service will make him a stronger, better person. He can tick off the Army's "Seven Core Values": loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. He wants to live by those principles but believes society often doesn't encourage young people to follow them. Dodge also wants to become a leader. "In high school, I was kind of quiet. In the Army, I'll have to step up -- to lead. I haven't found any other place where you're given responsibility right from the start." Dodge sees signing up as an initial step toward leadership. "I know quite a few kids who aren't prepared for college but they're going just because they think it's expected. I want to be different." Sgt. Burns, the station commander, confirms that the "Army way of life" attracts many young people. "We see quite a few kids who've been given everything. Basic training can change them in amazing ways. They go off as a civilian -- aimless, pants down to here. They come back a soldier --disciplined, self-motivated, goal-oriented." Sitting around after drills, the recruits -- excited and enthusiastic -- talk about what to expect from basic training. Three recruiters chat with them easily, alternately advising and joshing. I ask whether parents, teachers and friends back the young men's decision to enlist. Some say yes -- "100 percent" -- others shake their heads. Burns confirms the problem. "Parents' opposition is often the biggest obstacle our potential recruits face." Parental concerns about safety are understandable. But as I listen to Burns and the recruits, I begin to suspect that some parents still view the military through the prism of Vietnam and are skeptical about the value of any armed service. Others see Army life as rigid and restrictive, and want to protect their children from losing their individuality. The Hopkins recruits understand parental concerns about safety but don't want to be "protected." They see American power as a force for good in the world. Their advice for Mom and Dad? "Parents should not baby their kids. Let kids do what they believe they have to do." The recruits are also unconcerned about losing their individuality. Steeped in a "self-esteem" culture, where kids often get prizes for just showing up, they seem to thirst for challenge. These young people believe respect must be earned and are eager to earn it. They're proud to be part of a team with a noble purpose, where -- as one puts it -- "we're all working for the same objectives. I would trust these people with my life." Public support is important to the recruits. In June, for example, these future soldiers attended a Twins game, where they marched onto the field to repeat their oath of enlistment. "When I heard all the applause," says Dodge, "I knew that I'm doing exactly what I should be doing." What about the risks in Iraq? Life, the recruits reply, holds many risks. They are choosing to take a risk for a noble cause. "If I lost a leg in Iraq," says Dodge, "in a way it would be an honor, really different from losing it in a car accident." But while the recruits at the Hopkins station seek to build character and become part of a team, something larger is at work. Dodge -- like the other recruits -- explains that he's joining the Army to defend America's freedom. "I'm here because I want to show my respect for all the people who served and are serving," he says. "I know what I owe them." The recruits chatting at the Hopkins station are little different from their predecessors of centuries past. Since Valley Forge, those who have chosen to enter America's armed forces have understood the importance of vigilance in the defense of freedom and gratitude to those who have won it for us. Like their predecessors, the new soldiers shipping out from Hopkins will live and breathe the Soldiers' Creed: "I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat ... I will never leave a fallen comrade ... I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American soldier." Katherine Kersten is at

London attacked today: 4 bombings

From Polipundit: The one thing I knew I would hear raised, when I heard about the London attacks, was said on Fox News early this morning. The person who said it was on the phone, not on camera, and I did not catch the name or title, but I suspect that it has been repeated by others today. The point raised was that President Bush says we fight terrorists over there, so we don’t have to fight them at home. I guess their point was that fighting them there, does not keep us from also having to fight them here – at least it does not keep Britain from having to fight them at home. First, it was never said by the President that we would never be attacked again. In fact, Dick Cheney was criticized at one time for saying that we definitely would be. The goal of fighting the terrorists “there” (wherever that may be) before they can get here, is to disrupt and thwart as many opportunities for the terrorists to strike as possible. There have been many terrorist attacks that were planned against Great Britain (and the U.S.) that have been averted. Some have been discussed today, such as the one involving ricin that was discovered. I am certain that there have been many others that we may never know of for obvious reasons. But even if we fight terrorists where they live, and disrupt plans they are making for additional attacks, we have to be 100 percent right, 100 percent of the time, to prevent an attack. The terrorists can come up with a thousand different plots, and even if we can foil 999 of them, the one that we miss can cause serious damage and loss of life. The terrorists have to be right only one time to inflict pain on those they wish to destroy. This is exactly why we have to fight them where they live. If democracy and freedom take hold in the Middle East, there will eventually be less hopeless, angry individuals willing to blow themselves up. Does that mean that at that time there will be no more terrorist attacks? Probably not, just as there will probably always be hopeless, angry individuals here who will snap and go shoot up the office of the company that fired them. The less of those people there are, though, and the less they are allowed to congregate and organize, the less damaging and effective their attacks will be. One thing the attacks today reinforced for me is that the terrorists are not people you can reason with. Nor are they people to be afraid of offending, lest you “make them madder.” Their mission in life is to kill as many infidels as possible. We have already made them as mad as they can be simply by existing. As President Bush has said on many occassions, the fight will not be easy, and it will be a long one. I pray that we continue to be blessed with leaders that are resolved to continue that fight.

For the liberals pulling the Chickenhawk card...

Loss of SEALS/SOAR in Afghanistan...

Steve Reich: always a ‘hero’ Local soldier presumed dead after being shot down in Afghanistan July 01, 2005 By Robert Miller STAFF WRITER Courtesy of Reich family Major Steve Reich, shown above with his wife, Jill, on their wedding day March 19, and 16 other Americans are believed dead after their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan Tuesday. When Steve Reich took the mound for Shepaug Valley High School in the 1980s, he stood in perfect control – of his pitches, his mind, his emotions. There was nothing out of place. Everyone who saw him then will swear today he could have pitched for the pros. But he had a different path in mind – West Point and the U.S. Army, helicopter pilot, command of Special Operations units in some of the most dangerous spots of the world. When he went to Afghanistan for what stretched to four tours of duty, his friend assumed Major Reich’s innate strength – his focus, his determination, his control – would see him through. Wednesday, Major Reich’s friends and family were almost numb, as if one of the stars in the heavens suddenly went out. Major Reich was one of the 17 troops aboard the Army Special Operations MH-47 helicopter that a rocket-powered grenade brought down at dusk Tuesday in the wild mountains of eastern Afghanistan; he may have been its pilot. And while storms have prevented at Army team from reaching the crash site, longtime Reich family friend Gary Fitzherbert said the Army has notified the family about the crash, and they are assuming Steve Reich perished there. “We were all concerned about him,’’ said Scott Werkhoven, his close friend and former teammate. “But everyone felt that if anybody could handle it, it was Steve,” Mr. Werkhoven said. “It’s not a good day.’’ “He was married three months ago to a lovely girl, Jill Blue,’’ Mr. Fitzherbert said. “That makes this even sadder.’’ Major Reich is the second area man to die in the wars of the Middle East. Marine Lance Cpl. John T. Schmidt III of Brookfield was injured in Iraq in January after only two weeks in Iraq. He was awaiting orders when an ammonia tank he was sleeping next to exploded, severely damaging his lungs, esophagus and skin. He died May 11. Steve Reich, 34, was raised in the Marble Dale section of Washington. His father, Ray, is a teacher at The Gunnery, the town’s prominent prep school. His mother, Sue, is a emergency room nurse at New Milford Hospital. He had two sisters – Megan and Annmarie. In a family that stresses volunteerism, social concern and decency, Steve was a perfect fit. “Right in the heart of Washington, there’s the Reich family,’’ said First Selectman Richard Sears. “This is an all-American family, and Steve was an all-American kid – a boy of Washington, a boy of America. “His death,” Mr. Sears said, “is a horrible thing.’’ “They are a wonderful family,’’ said Dave Werkhoven, Scott’s father and coach of the Shepaug Valley High baseball team when the two boys played for it. “They raised their son to be a gentleman.” “Pick the best person you know,’’ Mr. Fitzherbert said. “He wouldn’t have measured up to Steve.’’ “He was a great friend,’’ Scott Werkhoven said. And at Shepaug Valley High School, he was the star pitcher, the handsome lefthander who, without fuss or flash, led the varsity baseball team to a state championship in 1987 – he pitched the final game – and, then, back to title contention in 1989. Although he kept his composure, he was a fierce competitor. “He had a great fastball, he had great control and command of all his pitches,’’ Scott Werkhoven said. “He really had a sense of all the field.’’ “He always wanted to do the toughest things,’’ Dave Werkhoven said. “You want your pitchers to have a 2-to-1 ratio of strikeouts to walks. Steve’s was something like 30-to-1. In his senior year, he only walked nine guys, and five of those were intentional.’’ And while Steve would always listen to his coaches, Dave Werkhoven said, mostly, they just let him pitch his own game. “He had such talent,’’ Mr. Werkhoven said. And while Steve could relax and have fun, Scott Werkhoven said, his friends knew if there was something he wanted to do, he would find a way. “He was just one of those guys who could just do anything,’’ Scott Werkhoven said. Early on in his high school career, Mr. Fitzherbert said, Steve set his mind on another goal – winning a place at West Point and a commission in the U.S. Army. Given his focus and determination, he did just that. “It really was his wish to go to West Point from high school on,’’ Mr. Fitzherbert said. “And he loved it.’’ At West Point, he was, again, a star pitcher as well, with one of the lowest collegiate earned run averages in the nation during his years there. After graduation in 1993, he pitched briefly for a Baltimore Orioles farm team. But rather trying for the big leagues, Steve Reich took his drive to the field of field of combat. “He was one of those guys who makes us feel comfortable here because we know he is over there,’’ Dave Werkhoven said. The local product rose to the rank of major and for the past six months was a company commander in the 160th Aviation Regiment – a Special Operations unit known as “The Nighthawks.’’ Major Reich learned to pilot three different models of Army helicopters, including the MH-47, a special operations model of the CH-47 Chinook helicopter that crashed Tuesday. Knowing Major Reich, he was probably at the controls, when the craft went down, Mr. Fitzherbert said. Army officials said the crash occurred in the eastern Afghanistan province of Kunar in the mountains near Asadabad. The unit was taking part in an offensive against al-Qaida militants in what the Army calls Operation Red Wing. The helicopter and its 17 troops were fighting the growing insurgency by Taliban and al-Qaida forces against the newly-elected Afghan government and its American allies. His friends said that Major Reich never expressed a single doubt about the American mission in Afghanistan or his role there– even after his marriage. “His family said he told them once, ‘I love my wife and I love the men under my command,’ ’’ Mr. Sears said. And that All-American purity may also have been at the core of Steve Reich, who in all things, was a star. “He was a hero in high school, and now, a hero again,’’ Dave Werkhoven said. And like a star – not some meteor flashing in the sky – his light, his memory, will shine for a long time to come. “We sit here and wonder why this is all happening,’’ said neighbor Nancy Mygatt. “There are things you just have to work out for yourself. But for Steve, it was all about serving his country. “I don’t think he ever thought why he was over there,” she said. “He just thought it was the right thing to do.’’