Iraqi girl to get life-saving surgery

by SFC Stacy Niles
214th Fires Brigade

FOB DELTA, Iraq (June 19, 2008) – When she was born, doctors didn’t expect her to live a week, but a 1-year-old Iraqi girl is defying the odds. She overcame the initial diagnosis, but without proper care, Noor Majeed could still die. Fortunately, surgeons in Boston have agreed to donate their services to help her, and a donor in Cambridge, Mass., donated $100,000 for the medical care of this patient. Noor’s surgery is scheduled for June 30 at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Noor was born with bladder exstrophy, which is a rare congenital disease in which the bladder protrudes outside of the abdominal wall. It occurs once in every 30,000 - 50,000 births, most often in boys. Separation of the pelvic bones also accompanies the condition, which is often associated with other birth defects. Surgery to repair bladder exstrophy is usually performed within the first 48 hours after birth.

The care required to correct bladder exstrophy is unavailable in Iraq. In addition to surgery to repair the bladder, Noor will also require orthopedic surgery on her pelvis and hips as well as reconstruction and corrective procedures, said Capt. Michael Mullaly, an operating room nurse with the 912th Forward Surgical Team. Mullaly was attached to the 948th FST as an operating room nurse when Noor began treatment in the FOB Delta medical facility.

“When Noor was born...and when I saw her condition...I wished to die,” said Zainab Najy, Noor’s mother. I felt hopeless and helpless...and because of the lack of adequate care that can treat her and because of our financial situation, we could not afford to help her. I was expecting her to die at any moment; I even told my mother that I don't want to get attached to her, because I thought she would die soon. But as days go by, Noor resisted...and stayed alive. I was hurt all the time as I watch other children walking and playing...but Noor can't even sit or walk. My life became filled with depression, sadness and pain,” said Najy.

“I was so sad and depressed, but now, I am happy because I feel that Noor will live and all this made possible by the American people...and the American troops and the medical staff who helped us save Noor's life,” she added. “My feeling was desperate, for a father who sees his daughter suffering...and we could not help her. The Iraqi doctors could not help her, that's why we came (to Army doctors),” said Neseer M. Jemeel, Noor’s father.

“I was so happy when I heard my daughter will be treated...because I had lost hope completely...but I am so happy now. I feel safe because (the Americans) are caring. They care about children, mothers; they know life is valuable, and they are true human beings.”

When Noor and her mother arrive in Boston, they will be greeted by a friendly face – Mullaly, an operating room nurse at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worchester, Mass., plans to meet them when they land. “It can be overwhelming,” said Mullaly of traveling to a new country where you know no one and don’t speak the language. “I think a familiar face would make it easier.”

Mullaly has seen Noor on five occasions. “I’m pretty vested in this case. I’m attached to this baby,” said Mullaly. Doctors from the 948th Forward Surgical Team first saw Noor in February. Without treatment, Noor’s ailments could be catastrophic. Both conditions are rare in the U.S., and the causes for both are unknown, said Lt. Col. Paul Brisson, general and pediatric surgeon with the 948th FST.

Noor Majeed at the Forward Operating Delta medical facility where she received several life-saving procedures. She will undergo reconstructive surgery in Boston, June 30, 2008.

Source: CENTCOM.

Editors Note: This is a very precious and moving article to me. I ask all of you to join me in prayer for this child to have a successful operation and long, healthy life. God bless the children. Amen.

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Iraqi flight teams protect date palm crop

Armed Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, DC (June 10, 2008) – Iraq’s Agriculture Ministry improved its ability to protect the nation’s commercial date palm crop from deadly dubas beetles through a nationwide spraying program completed this week. Pilots and maintenance crews increased their coverage by 33 percent this year, spraying nearly 170,000 acres in six provinces. Last year, crews sprayed just more than 120,000 acres in four provinces. “Left unchecked, the dubas beetle, which bores into the tree and kills it, can seriously disrupt the production of dates in the area,” said Mike Stevens, a Baghdad 7 Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team agriculture advisor.

In the 1970s, dates were Iraq’s second-largest export, behind only oil. With more than 30 million date palm trees and more than 600 varieties, Iraq's annual production of dates once exceeded 700,000 tons. But the date palm industry was slashed by more than half and lost most of its world markets after the Iran-Iraq war and after sanctions were imposed following Iraq’s occupation of Kuwait. In the past two years, Iraq has begun the long, hard road to recovery.

To assist this recovery, Iraqi pilots and crews used two Russian-built Mi2 helicopters to spray date palm groves in the provinces of Babil, Baghdad, Diyala, Karbala, Najaf and Wasit. They overcame multiple challenges during the campaign, including time constraints, dust storms, a shortage of spare parts, and a lack of bases that could accommodate the helicopters. Iraq’s Defense Ministry, provincial reconstruction teams, and coalition forces supported the pilots, who sprayed some areas that had not been covered since before the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

The Agriculture Ministry already has started planning for next year. The ministry has appropriated $20 million to buy new helicopters and spare parts for 2009 and expects to treat a larger percentage of the crop next year. “The real challenge now is to rebuild the date-packaging industry and re-enter the export market to regain market share,” Stevens said. “Convincing purchasers that Iraq is once again a reliable supplier will take time. But within five to 10 years, don’t be surprised to see packages of dates labeled ‘Grown and packaged in Iraq’ in your neighborhood grocery store.”

Related Links to this article: VIDEO - Helicopters spray insecticide on date palm crops in Iraq.

A helicopter sprays insecticide over date palm crops in Iraq.

Source: CENTCOM.

Life returning to Ramadi

by Lance Cpl. Casey Jones
RCT-1 PAO

RAMADI, Iraq (June 17, 2008) – In a small, granite-floored room, a group of Marines eagerly wait alongside a squad of Iraqi police for their foot patrol to begin. Lt. Col. Brett A. Bourne, battalion commander of 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, enters the room full of confidence and asks, “Are we ready to go out?” Without delay, he receives a resounding “Yes” from both groups.

The Marines and Iraqi police, decked out in full gear, began the patrol in a dust storm towards the marketplace, or as the local Iraqis call it—the souk. Upon arriving at the vibrantly colored shopping area, the Marines and Iraqi police immediately received smiles, hand shakes and greetings of “Al salaam a’alaykum’s,” which is a term of endearment and greetings meaning “God be with you.” The two forces have made their presence known in the souk, they are here for one thing: the people. Their mission is to intermingle with the locals and hear their valued opinion of the rebuilding of their city.

>“We went on the patrol to accompany the battalion commander, check out the souk, interact with the locals and view all of the progress in the area,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Giovanni Lozano, hospitalman with 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. This patrol would’ve been out of the question nearly two years ago when the souk and Ramadi was the tip of the spear for the insurgency. The city’s market area was widely considered by most as a “no go” zone. Within seconds of entering the area, Marines would often encounter small-arms and sniper fire, along with rocket propelled grenade attacks. But since then, the locals have rebelled against the insurgency and embraced the presence of coalition forces, in turn launching the rebuilding of the bullet-riddled city.

“The people got sick of having their wives and children blown up by people who just want to cause trouble,” said Cpl. Chris Sarlo, an anti-tank assaultman with 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. “They saw that the Marines were trying to get the terrorists out of the province, so they decided to help us out with the Awakening.” Nowadays, Ramadi is much safer and the vivacious souk is visited almost daily by Marines and Iraqi policemen.

In a 2006 New York Times article, when the region was in chaos, then-Governor Awad of al-Anbar province said, “The performance of the police and national guard is very weak in all of central Iraq.” In a startling contrast to those comments, the policemen have made an incredible improvement since the area was deemed secure. Now, the policemen are operating independently with coalition forces only serving in an overwatch role to mentor and assist the budding force. “The Iraqi police are doing well,” said Sgt. Nicholas V. Rojas, a forward observer with 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, currently on his second deployment to al-Anbar province. “Compared to my first deployment in 2005 at Camp Hit just northwest of Ramadi, I’ve noticed a considerable change in how the Iraqi police conduct themselves and with their tactics. The Iraqi police show more of a desire to take over, for instance, if they see an improvised explosive device, they know what to do, they no longer come to us with questions. They come to us with the finished product. They’re definitely doing a great job.”

The Marines and Iraqi police receive a positive response from the locals every time they patrol through the marketplace. “The souk is usually pretty busy, a lot of hustle and bustle,” Sarlo said. “For the most part the people are really friendly, if you say hello to them they’ll smile and say hello back. The area is 100 percent better than what it used to be.” The new found trust between the Marines and the locals has allowed both sides to realize, despite their differences, we are all looking for the same thing, for Iraq to be a success story. “Once I got here, I realized they’re pretty good. I’ve gained a lot more respect for the Iraqi people – they’re awesome,” said Lance Cpl. Cody A. Collins, rifleman with 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, currently on his second deployment to Iraq.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Giovanni Lozano, a corpsman with 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, patrols with an Iraqi police officer through the market area of Ramadi June 9. The Iraqi police are continuing to make tremendous progress since the area became stable.

Source: CENTCOM.

Improved security situation spurs reconstruction

by Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

BAGHDAD (June 15, 2008) — Improvements in overall security incidents and Iraqi forces continued to rise during the past week, enabling the central government and Coalition forces to begin progress in other areas vital to Iraq’s growth and sovereignty, a senior U.S. military official in Iraq said June 11. The country began to see a reduction in security incidents four weeks ago, marking the lowest levels since March 2004, Army Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner, a Multi-National Force - Iraq spokesman, told reporters at a Baghdad news conference. The Iraqi government is undertaking broader efforts to provide services that were not possible a year ago, such as reconstruction in Sadr City and the Shola neighborhoods as well as agricultural initiatives across the country, he said.

Electricity, water, cleaning, infrastructure restoration, and humanitarian aid projects are under way in Sadr City, said Tahseen al-Sheikhly, a civilian spokesman for Operation Fardh al-Qanoon, also known as the Baghdad Security Plan. These projects will help eliminate unemployment for Baghdad citizens, which is the cause of much of the violence in the city, Sheikhly said. [Possibly. Another cause may be that they HATE us? Hmm.] Now that security has been achieved, he added, the challenge is to provide the best services to the citizens, thereby raising the living and economic standards and infrastructure.

The Ministry of Electricity already has replaced light poles and restored power to the Sadr City hospital, he said. Officials also are establishing a solar power system in an effort to minimize future outages and continue growing employment opportunities. Agriculture also is benefiting from the low security-incident levels, Bergner said. The government’s date palm spraying campaign raised more than 33 percent from the previous year, covering more than 170,000 acres in Babil, Baghdad, Diyala, Karbala, Wasit provinces. Iraqi pilots flew 336 spraying sorties under difficult time constraints and challenging weather conditions using two government Mi-2 helicopters, Bergner continued. Baghdad and Diyala provinces were sprayed for the first time in six years, as security conditions since the war began hadn’t permitted spraying until now.

“Iraqi planning for the 2009 spraying campaign is already under way,” he added, noting the Ministry of Agriculture has appropriated some $20 million for helicopters and spare parts. “Progress in the agriculture sector and other improvements are a direct result of the security gains around Iraq and the growing capacity of Iraqi forces,” Bergner said. “The increasing support of Iraq’s citizens for the rule of law has been a key factor in reducing the levels of violence.”

Since the beginning of Operation Sawlat al-Fursan on March 25 in Basra and Operation A`Salaam on May 20 in Sadr City, Iraqi security forces have uncovered more than 500 weapons caches and stockpiles -- 378 in Basra and 124 in Sadr City, Bergner said. More than 3,500 mortars, 1,600 rocket-propelled grenades, 600 improvised explosive devices, and 75 armor-piercing explosively formed projectiles were confiscated. “As Iraqi forces and Iraqi citizens cooperate to remove weapons from the hands of extremists before they can be used, their government is increasingly capable of being able to provide the services that Dr. Sheikhly talked about to the Iraqi people,” he said.

The increased security will “allow businesses to reopen, allow children to go back to school, revitalize the agriculture sector as they are in the process of doing, and allow Iraqis to rebuild their lives,” he said. “There is still much tough work ahead, but the steady progress in Basra, in Baghdad, and in Mosul is now providing better opportunities for the citizens of Iraq,” the general said.

Lance Cpl. Israel H. Aguirre pounds fists with an Iraqi child near Hit, Iraq. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Seth Maggard).

Source: CENTCOM.

Public works substation opens in Yarmouk

by Sgt. Paul Monroe
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division

BAGHDAD (June 15, 2008) – Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, opened a public works substation in Yarmouk, a neighborhood in northwest Baghdad, June 14. The Yarmouk substation will serve the southeast Mansour District and provides workers a place to store equipment used for basic services, such as trash removal and sewage maintenance. “All of this was built from scratch” said 1st Lt. Nicholas Anderson, a civil military operations officer with the 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, operationally attached to the 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div.

Soldiers picked up where the Soldiers they replaced from 2nd “Patriot” Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st infantry Division, left off, who worked during their 15-month deployment to improve security and get essential services going. The unit went as far as hiring 50 workers to pickup trash in the Yarmouk area while funding for the substation was on hold. The Soldiers are working just as hard to take advantage of improved security and are striving to work on finishing the essential service projects the Patriot Battalion started. At the substation, they worked closely with local officials to build a permanent building with two offices. They also worked with contractors to install two trailers to provide workers with showers, a change room and a break room.

Iraqi army and MND-B Soldiers, along with members of the Yarmouk community and the assistant zone director who oversees the operation of the substation, attended the grand opening together, where a red ribbon was cut and attendees enjoyed Iraqi hamburgers afterward. The ceremony, however, did not mark the end of work for the substations, said Anderson, adding that the substation currently employs 53 Yarmouk residents with proposals to eventually increase that number to 100. “The equipment we have right now is under a rental agreement,” He added. “Coalition forces have rented those vehicles; we are expecting that (local officials) will take that over.”

The proposal stems from an agreement reached between coalition forces and local officials in September, he added. “We construct the site; we hire all the workers; we provide equipment for them” said Col. Louis Fazekas the Baghdad-6 governance team leader part of the embedded Provincial Reconciliation Team supporting the 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div., who explained it was part of the agreement. He said there is an expectation that local officials will hire the workers and purchase the equipment after one year.

Fazekas, a reservist from Mechanicsburg, Pa., deployed to Iraq in April 2007, has been in Iraq for 14 months. During that time, he has met with government officials to hash out the details of agreements such as this one. “I extended another year to try and see (the PWSS’) through,” said Fazekas. “It’s taking a little longer than we expected because the funding got delayed, but the funding is back on and things are moving ahead.” Originally, Strike brigade Soldiers planned to open four substations in Northwest Baghdad. The success of PWSS sites in the Adil and Ghazaliyah neighborhoods in northwest Baghdad has opened the possibility of opening additional substations.

No matter how long it takes to get the new substations built, Fazekas said he doesn’t plan to extend once he reaches the end of this tour. “Certainly, you fill some ownership and you want to stay involved,” he added, but also noted that he has full confidence in the ability of Soldiers – whether they are from the Strike Brigade or a follow-on unit – to continue progress. “The plan is there; it’s like a McDonalds franchise,” he said. “Now, it’s just a matter of picking sites and implementing what we’ve done at the others.”

Brig. Gen. Ghassan, commanding officer of the 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, talks with a local television network to get the word out to the local populace about the establishment of the public works substation, June 14, in Yarmouk, a neighborhood in northwest Baghdad.

Source: CENTCOM.

General: Iraqi Air Force making great strides

by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON (June 18, 2008) – The Iraqi air force is making great strides as it continues to train and begins supporting Iraqi army and police forces, the U.S. adviser to the force said today. During a news conference in Baghdad, Air Force Brig. Gen. Brooks L. Bash said the security situation in Iraq is improving each day, thanks to the investments the citizens have made in their country’s future and to coalition training efforts. Bash, commander of the Coalition Air Force Transition Team in Iraq, said the Iraqi air force, though small and still developing, is providing important capabilities to the Iraqi military and police.

“The Iraqi air force is growing in personnel and aircraft, leading to important capabilities in three missions: intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; battlefield mobility; and, soon, ground-attack operations,” Bash said. The ISR capability is farthest along, the general said. The Iraqi air force provides intelligence that ground forces can act upon. The air force has 11 surveillance aircraft, with five more coming this year. The aircraft are capable of flying photo reconnaissance missions and video surveillance, day and night. The video can be transmitted live, and the Iraqis have used it against specific targets as well as for battle space surveillance in Sadr City and Mosul, Bash said. The aircrafts also support to the Oil and Electricity ministries, using the surveillance capability to monitor power lines and oil pipelines.

The Iraqi air force also has demonstrated its battlefield mobility capabilities during operations. The air force has 15 Mi-17 helicopters, 16 UH-2 helicopters and three C-130E aircraft to transport and resupply Iraqi ground and police forces, Bash said. That mobility was crucial to successes in recent operations. In Basra, the Iraqi air force transported more than 3,400 soldiers to the fight, evacuated 111 wounded personnel and delivered food and supplies to the forces, Bash said.

In Mosul, Iraqi choppers conducted the first all-Iraqi air assault mission to insert security forces into a suspected terrorist enclave, Bash said. It will be a couple of years before the Iraqi air force perfects its close-air support mission, but helicopter and fixed-wing pilots are working to learn the skills necessary to support ground forces in close contact with the enemy, Bash said. While the force is making progress, problems remain in supply, maintenance, logistics, procurement and personnel, Bash acknowledged. The Iraqi government plan calls for a total of 376 aircraft by 2020, he said.

Source: CENTCOM. Digg!

Tarmiyah meeting builds relationships

2nd Stryker Brigade

CAMP TAJI, Iraq (June 18, 2008) – Hussein al-Tahan, governor of Baghdad, visited the areas of Mushada and Tarmiyah, northwest of Baghdad, June 13 and attended the first Joint Rural Planning Committee at Bukhari Hall in Tarmiyah. The meeting brought together leaders from the Tarmiyah Qada, members of the Provincial Council and a special visit from al-Tahan. It served as a forum for local leaders in the area to discuss specific issues and get feedback directly from the decision makers in Baghdad.

“This (meeting) was very successful,” said Maj. Todd Woodruff, a native of Bollingbrook, Ill. Woodruff, the executive officer for 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, “Warrior,” 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad said this meeting was mostly about relationship building, mentioning that the Qada council members have met with Baghdad officials in Baghdad, but this meeting was the first time those officials were invited to Tarmiyah to meet.

“This was an opportunity to show them that Tarmiyah is safe and secure and the markets are open for business,” he said. “It also shows that the area is ready to receive funding from the Baghdad province and the government of Iraq and they are ready to start moving forward on large scale projects.” The officials discussed many projects to include improvements to the healthcare system, education system, agriculture, roads and electricity.

“These are things that in the past, due to poor security, probably would not have succeeded,” Woodruff said. With security gains in Tarmiyah taking center stage, al-Tahan further encouraged partnership between councils in the area and coalition forces. While al-Tahan praised the efforts by American forces, he emphasized that only Iraqis truly know what they need and should have more input on the projects chosen and the leaders in the area should take charge.

Woodruff described the meeting as mostly ceremonial, but a good forum to “air initial thoughts” and attributes talking between the small groups to get the job done in the future. “It means that the projects that are currently Iraqi funded and coalition force lead and coordinated will start shifting,” he said. “It will turn so that Iraqi money will be allocated and coordinated by Iraqis, and these projects will become Iraqi spearheaded. This meeting demonstrated that they are more than capable of doing that.”

Hussein al-Tahan, governor of Baghdad province, walks with Sheik Sa’ed Jasim, the head sheik in Tarmiyah, to the first Joint Rural Planning Committee meeting in Tarmiyah June 13, 2008.

Source: CENTCOM. Digg!

Security, funding send children back to school

by Sgt. David Turner
American Forces Press Service

FOB KALSU (June 18, 2008) — For school children in the southern Baghdad area, getting an education has become a difficult and even dangerous prospect in recent years. In some cases, supplies were short and facilities were in disrepair. Sometimes the teachers weren't there. In a few cases, the schools themselves were all but gone. The area where the 3rd Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team arrived in June 2007 had long been an insurgent stronghold, with many villages controlled by al-Qaida terrorists who kept children, especially girls, from attending school. With no coalition or Iraqi security forces presence, local schools suffered the same fate as many farms and businesses in the area. They were looted and damaged, and even became battlegrounds.

"About two years ago, the Ministry of Education ordered all of the teachers out of the rural areas because the security situation was so bad," said Army Capt. Trista Mustaine, education advisor to the Baghdad 7 embedded provincial reconstruction team, which works with 2nd BCT soldiers to rebuild the local infrastructure and economy. The area is now more secure than it has been in years, with Iraqi soldiers and police establishing a presence and preparing to hold gains made by 2nd BCT, which is scheduled to redeploy in July.

In addition to repairing critical infrastructure and breathing new life into the damaged economy, the 2nd BCT and Baghdad 7 embedded PRT have spent millions to keep schools open and make it possible for children to pursue an education. With the school year now over for children in the area, it's a chance for workers to complete renovations and building projects throughout the 2nd BCT's area of operation. Although reconstruction costs largely have been provided by coalition forces up to now, the Iraqi government is taking up the task and helping get local schools repaired and reopened before the next school year begins.

As he and his soldiers near redeployment in July, Army Capt. Richard Aaron, commander of Battery B, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, feels good about the work they have done. "We've made a huge impact on the community with the school, and with other projects we've done," he said.

Now that the area is safe again and schools are getting the attention they need, the Iraqi government is ready to re-invest in a more significant way."As of about a month ago, the Ministry of Education has ordered the teachers to return to their rural schools," Mustaine said. Thanks to gains made by 2nd Brigade Combat Team, she said, government officials can work freely in the area to make sure their schools have what they need to teach the children. "Our goal is to provide accessible education for everyone. We have started the ball rolling, and the [Iraqi government] will keep it going in the future," she said.

Children at Menahay Primary School in southern Baghdad pose for a photo. When al-Qaida operatives destroyed their school, students took classes in a nearby five-room private home until their school could be rebuilt. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Luis Delgadillo).

Source: CENTCOM.

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GAO Faults Air Force in Award of Tanker Contract

Some day the Air Force will add a new tanker aircraft to its fleet, but that day may have been pushed back again this week when a government audit found flaws with the service’s decision in February to give a $35 billion contract to Northrop Grumman and the parent company of Airbus. The Government Accountability Office upheld a protest by Boeing, which lost out on the contract, that the Air Force unfairly evaluated the merits and overall cost of the Boeing bid to replace 179 aircraft in the aging KC-135 fleet. The GAO investigation found “a number of significant errors” on the part of the Air Force that could have affected the outcome of the close competition. The Air Force has 60 days to respond to the GAO report released Wednesday.

Analysts now figure the earliest a new tanker can be added to the Air Force arsenal is 2014. The controversy became a political issue because Northrop Grumman and Airbus would have built most of the tanker overseas. The parent company of Airbus, European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS), is a French company. However, Northrop Grumman did plan to build a portion of the aircraft at new facilities in Mobile, Ala. On Thursday, the company postponed groundbreaking plans for those facilities. Overall, the contract could be worth as much as $100 billion over 30 years as the Air Force tries to acquire about 400 new tankers.

In 2003, the Air Force planned to lease tankers from Boeing for $20 billion, but a scandal involving an Air Force official and a Boeing executive scuttled that plan.

Friends who've included their posts for your reading pleasure: Right Truth: 'Refusenik' - Refuses to Tell the Whole Story (Right Truth Exclusive).

Visitors Like What They See: Open House for NG Memorial Museum

Tour guides and Capitol Hill staffers accepted an invitation this week to visit the National Guard Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and liked what they saw. “This shouldn’t be such a secret,” said Frank Fitch, a guide with Capitol Tours, after wandering through the museum Wednesday afternoon. “I’m impressed. It’s an impressive story,” said Alan Weinstein, a self-employed tour guide in the city. “You’ve got a good story to tell.”

Staffers for several well-known lawmakers, such as U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Ct., U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., were equally taken with the museum on the lower level of the NGAUS headquarters building. One even promised to return with her children. Fitch said he would try to change a tour schedule next week to include a stop at the building he said he has passed hundreds of times without knowing the museum was inside. That, of course, was a major purpose for the two-hour open house. Jonathan Bernstein, director of the National Guard Educational Foundation, said the outreach of the event was to tour guides, hotels and Capitol Hill staff to raise the profile of the museum that tells the history of the National Guard. “Everybody that came in said, ‘I had no idea this was here,’” Bernstein said. But everyone also said they were impressed and promised to return.

Bernstein said Hazell Booker, industry and association liaison at NGAUS, was the driving force behind the event. Plans began only two months ago. He said the event will probably become an annual event held earlier in the year before tour schedules are finalized.

Top NG Airmen Receive Honors, Tour of Washington Sites

Six Air National Guard airmen were given a grand tour of Washington, D.C., this week after arriving in the city to receive Airmen of the Year awards from the service. They toured the Capitol, the Pentagon, Senate office buildings, Arlington National Cemetery and more during their five-day stay. They also met senior leadership, which was quick to praise the men and women. “When you think about what makes our units, it’s these great people,” Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, Air Guard director, said during a welcoming ceremony Sunday at Bolling Air Force Base. “You are the best of the best.”

The honored airmen and their awards are: Senior Airman Charity Orriss, 168th Air Refueling Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Airman of the Year; Staff Sgt. Scott Geisser, 125th Special Tactics Squadron, Portland, Ore., NCO of the Year; Senior Master Sgt. Donna Goodno, 147th Combat Communications Squadron, San Diego, Calif., Senior NCO of the Year; Master Sgt. Daniel Mitchell Jr., 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey, First Sergeant of the Year; Senior Master Sgt. Rolando Garza, 110th Civil Engineering Squadron, Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Mich., Honor Guard Member of the Year; and Tech Sgt. Raquel Soto, 105th Services Flight, Stewart Air National Guard Base, New York, Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year.

The honored airmen were chosen through a process of unit, state and national selection panels and included the ranks of senior airman through senior master sergeant. The Army National Guard will announce its soldier and NCO of the year winners in August.

Army Guard Recruiting Efforts Address Chaplain Shortage

Part of the success story for recruiting within the National Guard has been the ability to bring more chaplains into the Army Guard. In 2005, the service was short 450 chaplains. New recruiting strategies have cut that shortage in half and officials expect to close it completely within two years. “The last three years have set records,” said Chaplain (Maj.) Timothy Baer, chief of specialty branch recruiting at the National Guard Bureau. “We’re just taking off.” He said the effort faced a significant hurdle from the outset. “We’ve had a lot of mandatory retirements because of age,” he said. “In the midst of these losses, we still were able to excel at our mission.”

Baer said the reason for the successful recruiting of chaplains is a series of efforts put in place to address the problem head-on. For one, he said, the service used chaplains to recruit chaplains, rather than leave the task solely to general recruiters, a first for the Guard. Also, incentives were improved, to include a $10,000 chaplain bonus and a $30,000 critical skills retention bonus. Plus, Baer said, the recruiters are telling the story better. “The chaplains are an emissary of grace in this atmosphere of war,” he said. “Many people didn’t realize what a chaplain does. It’s taking care of soldiers and that resonates with people.”

Meanwhile, the National Guard reversed a 10-year decline in the recruitment of doctors, dentists and physician assistants in 2007 with a 20 percent increase in those specialties. Recruiters expect a 60 percent increase for 2008.

NGAUS History 6.19.08

NGAUS officers visited President Kennedy in the White House Oct. 23, 1963. It was the first time the association’s officers had paid a formal call on the president since before World War II.

But this was not simply a cordial event. The president was familiar with some of the problems confronting the organization at the time. He expressed the hope that it would be possible to increase the Guard equipment level.

Secretary of the Army Cyrus R. Vance told the president that the Army was working toward an improvement in equipment and material areas. President Kennedy also commended the Guard for its service in recent national emergencies.

Maj. Gen. James F. Cantwell, NGAUS president, led the NGAUS contingent.

This Week in Guard History 6.19.08

June 18, 1916: Washington D.C. — President Woodrow Wilson, acting only 15 days after he signed the historic National Defense Act of 1916, calls up most of the National Guard for duty along the Mexican Border. Because the National Guard is called up under the militia clause of the Constitution, it is restricted to service within the borders of the United States to "repel invasion" by Pancho Villa's bandits.

By July 31, more than 110,000 Guardsmen have joined the 5,000 Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico Guardsmen who had been called in May for service on the border. The Guard's deployment frees Gen. John Pershing to lead an expeditionary force composed of Army regulars into Mexico in a futile attempt to track down Villa.

Over 40,000 Guardsmen are still serving on the border when war is declared against Germany in April 1917. The border experience proves valuable training for the Guard prior to World War I, particularly because it gave officers and men extensive experience in working with large formations of troops that could rarely be assembled in peacetime.

Posts I've trackbacked to: Phastidio.net: The Power To Be Afraid, The World According To Carl: Obama’s Pseudo-Presidential Seal Illegal?, The World According To Carl: Reese's Racist?, Mark My Words: Barack Obama - a Steven Seagal fan?, third world county: The Great Seal of Obamaland, Pirate's Cove: And More More Obama Seals!, Gulf Coast Hurricane Tracker: A quick look back and then a gaze into the future.

A New Post

Remember when I informed you that 'my' Soldier was home? Then I told you that he emailed me to tell me he would have a post up soon? Well, it's here, and it was worth waiting for! First Conop To Bagram; Meeting LTC SFowski. It is quite long and informative, but it does not cross any security barriers.

He writes so eloquently and it just brings me into the scenery, the smells, the fields, the tension, the eeriness. Maybe this is why I felt more close to this Soldier? Whichever the reason, this is a very fine post, and I highly recommend it to people who have never served. It may give you a small sense of what our brave men are doing for us. I also recommend it for our brave men and women. They will be able to relate to him, and I would very much appreciate it if you would give him some words of encouragement. Thank you, and have a nice day!

Posts I've trackposted to at Linkfest and other sites: Outside the Beltway: Obama's Prudent Inconsistency, Perri Nelson's Website: Then and Now, The Pink Flamingo: Repeating the LIberal Lies About Wyatt Earp, Diary of the Mad Pigeon: Thursday Open Roost, Nuke Gingrich: Hope and Change in the Culture Wars, and Democrat=Socialist: NEWS & OPINION ROUNDUP (19 JUNE 2008) THE "C" WORD EDITION, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Posts that have trackbacked to this post:
1. Right Voices: Obama Wants You To Know That His Mom Is White And He Loves America.
2. Stuck On Stupid: Dumpster Muffin Defends Her Perch, Refuses To Alight.
3. Right Truth: 'Refusenik' - Refuses to Tell the Whole Story (Right Truth Exclusive).
4. Gulf Coast Hurricane Tracker: Typhoon Fengshen makes landfall. Digg!

One more time, WE ARE AT WAR

There is no dispute over whether or not we are at war in Afghanistan, but are we in a box while the enemy is allowed to roam freely including right into our courtrooms? Let's take one more look at the 'Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002'.

--J.Res.114--H.J.Res.114

One Hundred Seventh Congress
of the
United States of America.

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, the twenty-third day of January, two thousand and two.

Joint Resolution

To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq.

Whereas in 1990 in response to Iraq's war of aggression against and illegal occupation of Kuwait, the United States forged a coalition of nations to liberate Kuwait and its people in order to defend the national security of the United States and enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq;

Whereas after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, Iraq entered into a United Nations sponsored cease-fire agreement pursuant to which Iraq unequivocally agreed, among other things, to eliminate its nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons programs and the means to deliver and develop them, and to end its support for international terrorism;

Whereas the efforts of international weapons inspectors, United States intelligence agencies, and Iraqi defectors led to the discovery that Iraq had large stockpiles of chemical weapons and a large scale biological weapons program, and that Iraq had an advanced nuclear weapons development program that was much closer to producing a nuclear weapon than intelligence reporting had previously indicated;

Whereas Iraq, in direct and flagrant violation of the cease-fire, attempted to thwart the efforts of weapons inspectors to identify and destroy Iraq's weapons of mass destruction stockpiles and development capabilities, which finally resulted in the withdrawal of inspectors from Iraq on October 31, 1998;

Whereas in Public Law 105-235 (August 14, 1998 NOT BUSH), Congress concluded that Iraq's continuing weapons of mass destruction programs threatened vital United States interests and international peace and security, declared Iraq to be in `material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations' and urged the President `to take appropriate action, in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws of the United States, to bring Iraq into compliance with its international obligations';

Whereas Iraq both poses a continuing threat to the national security of the United States and international peace and security in the Persian Gulf region and remains in material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations by, among other things, continuing to possess and develop a significant chemical and biological weapons capability, actively seeking a nuclear weapons capability, and supporting and harboring terrorist organizations;

Whereas Iraq persists in violating resolution of the United Nations Security Council by continuing to engage in brutal repression of its civilian population thereby threatening international peace and security in the region, by refusing to release, repatriate, or account for non-Iraqi citizens wrongfully detained by Iraq, including an American serviceman, and by failing to return property wrongfully seized by Iraq from Kuwait;

Whereas the current Iraqi regime has demonstrated its capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction against other nations and its own people;

Whereas the current Iraqi regime has demonstrated its continuing hostility toward, and willingness to attack, the United States, including by attempting in 1993 to assassinate former President Bush and by firing on many thousands of occasions on United States and Coalition Armed Forces engaged in enforcing the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council;

Whereas members of al Qaida, an organization bearing responsibility for attacks on the United States, its citizens, and interests, including the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, are known to be in Iraq;

Whereas Iraq continues to aid and harbor other international terrorist organizations, including organizations that threaten the lives and safety of United States citizens;

Whereas the attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001, underscored the gravity of the threat posed by the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by international terrorist organizations;

Whereas Iraq's demonstrated capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction, the risk that the current Iraqi regime will either employ those weapons to launch a surprise attack against the United States or its Armed Forces or provide them to international terrorists who would do so, and the extreme magnitude of harm that would result to the United States and its citizens from such an attack, combine to justify action by the United States to defend itself;

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 (1990) authorizes the use of all necessary means to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 660 (1990) and subsequent relevant resolutions and to compel Iraq to cease certain activities that threaten international peace and security, including the development of weapons of mass destruction and refusal or obstruction of United Nations weapons inspections in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 (1991), repression of its civilian population in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 (1991), and threatening its neighbors or United Nations operations in Iraq in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 949 (1994);

Whereas in the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1), Congress has authorized the President `to use United States Armed Forces pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 (1990) in order to achieve implementation of Security Council Resolution 660, 661, 662, 664, 665, 666, 667, 669, 670, 674, and 677';

Whereas in December 1991, Congress expressed its sense that it `supports the use of all necessary means to achieve the goals of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 as being consistent with the Authorization of Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1),' that Iraq's repression of its civilian population violates United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 and `constitutes a continuing threat to the peace, security, and stability of the Persian Gulf region,' and that Congress, `supports the use of all necessary means to achieve the goals of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688';

Whereas the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-338) expressed the sense of Congress that it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove from power the current Iraqi regime and promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime;

Whereas on September 12, 2002, President Bush committed the United States to `work with the United Nations Security Council to meet our common challenge' posed by Iraq and to `work for the necessary resolutions,' while also making clear that `the Security Council resolutions will be enforced, and the just demands of peace and security will be met, or action will be unavoidable';

Whereas the United States is determined to prosecute the war on terrorism and Iraq's ongoing support for international terrorist groups combined with its development of weapons of mass destruction in direct violation of its obligations under the 1991 cease-fire and other United Nations Security Council resolutions make clear that it is in the national security interests of the United States and in furtherance of the war on terrorism that all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions be enforced, including through the use of force if necessary;

Whereas Congress has taken steps to pursue vigorously the war on terrorism through the provision of authorities and funding requested by the President to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such persons or organizations;

Whereas the President and Congress are determined to continue to take all appropriate actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such persons or organizations;
Whereas the President has authority under the Constitution to take action in order to deter and prevent acts of international terrorism against the United States, as Congress recognized in the joint resolution on Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40); and

Whereas it is in the national security interests of the United States to restore international peace and security to the Persian Gulf region: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This joint resolution may be cited as the `Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002'.

SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS.

The Congress of the United States supports the efforts by the President to--

(1) strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq and encourages him in those efforts; and

(2) obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

(a) AUTHORIZATION- The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to--

(1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and

(2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.

(b) PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION- In connection with the exercise of the authority granted in subsection (a) to use force the President shall, prior to such exercise or as soon thereafter as may be feasible, but no later than 48 hours after exercising such authority, make available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate his determination that--

(1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic or other peaceful means alone either (A) will not adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq or (B) is not likely to lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq; and

(2) acting pursuant to this joint resolution is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorist and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

(c) War Powers Resolution Requirements-

(1) SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION- Consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, the Congress declares that this section is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution.

(2) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS- Nothing in this joint resolution supersedes any requirement of the War Powers Resolution.

SEC. 4. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

(a) REPORTS- The President shall, at least once every 60 days, submit to the Congress a report on matters relevant to this joint resolution, including actions taken pursuant to the exercise of authority granted in section 3 and the status of planning for efforts that are expected to be required after such actions are completed, including those actions described in section 7 of the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-338).

(b) SINGLE CONSOLIDATED REPORT- To the extent that the submission of any report described in subsection (a) coincides with the submission of any other report on matters relevant to this joint resolution otherwise required to be submitted to Congress pursuant to the reporting requirements of the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148), all such reports may be submitted as a single consolidated report to the Congress.

(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- To the extent that the information required by section 3 of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1) is included in the report required by this section, such report shall be considered as meeting the requirements of section 3 of such resolution.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.

END

THOMAS Home | Contact | Accessibility | Legal | USA.gov.

Should you ever wish to look this up on your own, just use the 'SHORT TITLE' in the search and click "Search Multiple, Previous Congresses." It is the 107th Congress, and it is the third link of the five that will appear.

This is as far as I'm going. I have told you, I written about it, and I have debated until I am blue in the face. Don't get me wrong, I really do like the color blue. Just not on me! ;)

If you have any questions, please refer them to the text of the Authorization for War. Oh, and by the way, BUSH DID NOT LIE. Read it, will ya? Good grief.

As for the rest of the world, are you aware there is a global jihad? A very active one at that. If you do not agree, why are you reading my site? It is mostly about the war! I don't understand you people, but you are entitled to hide your heads in the sand. You would think, however, that you could show just a little kindness to the MARINES, SAILORS, SOLDIERS, NATIONAL GUARDSMEN/WOMEN, and all the other people who have sacrificed so much while you did so little to protect your rights to do what is it you do.

Did I just go off on a rant? Sorry about that. Out here in California, there is too much going on and it's HOT! Have a nice day.

PS. If we are so hated all over the world, why are our allies electing Conservatives? Hmm. Interesting wouldn't you say? Sha-zam!

PSS. Please read A NEWT ONE's post below. He will explain to you who the enemy is, and why we are fighting them with (not) all we've got. One day we shall let loose, and that will be the day all hell breaks loose. You'd better make up your mind which side of this war you are on now, while you still have time...tick...tick...tick...

PSSS. Please check out Right Truth and Diary of the Mad Pigeon. Debbie has a wonderful tribute to a day in history we should all remember, and the Mad Pigeon always has something interesting and thought-provoking to say. Leave them some comments and maybe even trackback from them. Remember to add them to your post before you trackback, though. Have a good day.

Posts I've trackposted to at Linkfest and other sites: third world county: Issues and Answers 2.01, Democrat=Socialist: LTC CHESSANI TO BE TRIED AGAIN?, A NEWT ONE: Islam Sanctifies & Mandates Terrorism, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Posts that have trackbacked to this post:
1. third world county (W, F): T-13; 2.X-repeat: 13 Things to Hate about the IRS.
2. Right Truth: Salute Marks 60th Anniversary of the Berlin Air Lift.
3. Diary of the Mad Pigeon: Open Topic: Offshore Drilling.
4. The So-Called Me: Random Presidential Thought. Digg!

'Will The Circle Be Unbroken'

The way this group gives this hymn that country twang and genuineness, well, it's very moving. That's all I can say. You have to hear it for yourself.

Here is some more imformation about this group:

Will the Circle Be Unbroken? From: kk99ll.
Joined: 1 year ago
Videos: 53 Please login to subscribe.
Added: December 04, 2006 (More info)
Michelle Wright-Iris DeMent-Mairead Ni Mhaonaight

Wow. I really LIKE this group! Have a nice day.

This is an open trackback post. Feel free to put your best, funniest, or misc. work here. Share it with others. Not familiar with trackbacks? First, choose the article you want to promote. Copy/paste my permalink (URL) to your post. Then send a trackback to me. Don't have one? You can use Wizbang Standalone Trackback Pinger. Otherwise, leave a comment for me with the permalink for your post, the name of your blog, and a small excerpt, and I will add it to the list.

Bloggers who also participate in 'The Crazy Rantings of Samantha Burns' OTA: Sunday: Su. The Amboy Times, Su. walls of the city, Su. Grandinite, Su. OneManBandwidth, Su. Stageleft, Su. InMuscatine, Monday: M. Perri Nelson (M, W, F), M. Faultline USA, Tuesday: T. Planck's Constant, Wednesday: W. third world county (W, F): T-13; 2.X-repeat: 13 Things to Hate about the IRS, W. Right Truth: Salute Marks 60th Anniversary of the Berlin Air Lift, W. Stop the ACLU, W. Maggie's Notebook (W, Wknd), W. Gribbit (W, S), Thursday: Th. Diary of the Mad Pigeon: Open Topic: Offshore Drilling, Friday: F. Stix Blog, F. Pirate's Cove (M, F), F. The World According To Carl, F. Woman Honor Thyself, F. 123beta (F, Wknd), Saturday: S. Church and State, S. LyfLines, Daily: D. The Yankee Sailor (M, F), D. The Dumb Ox Daily News, D. Gulf Coast Hurricane Tracker, D. Conservative Cat, Weekend: Wknd. Stuck On Stupid: Dumpster Muffin Defends Her Perch, Refuses To Alight, Wknd Oblogatory Anecdotes, Wknd Stuck On Stupid, Wknd. Blue Star Chronicles, Wknd. The Uncooperative Blogger,

Posts I've trackposted to: Right Voices: Obama Wants You To Know That His Mom Is White And He Loves America. Digg!

Flight 93 Blogburst 6.18.2008

The Memorial Project claims to have an innocent explanation for why the central feature of the Flight 93 memorial is a giant Islamic shaped crescent. As architect Paul Murdoch has been saying since September 2005, the flight path breaks the circle, turning it into what was originally called the Crescent of Embrace. But this isn't a memorial to an airliner. It is a memorial to human beings. So just who is it that architect Paul Murdoch is depicting as breaking the circle? As a secular symbol, the circle signifies peace and harmony. There is no way that the heroic passengers and crew can be charged with breaking the circle. It is the terrorists who broke the peace.

Think what that means thematically. The terrorists broke our peaceful circle and turned it into a giant Islamic shaped crescent that just happens to point to Mecca. You could not come up with a more blatant depiction of al Qaeda victory. This is what the Park Service is claiming as an innocent explanation: That they are depicting a circle-breaking crescent-creating action that logically can only be attributed to the terrorists. Are they really too dumb to figure out what that means?

Take action.
How about a couple hundred of us call up the Memorial Project (814 443-4557) and ask them, "Just who is being depicted as 'breaking the circle'?" If they try to say "Flight 93 broke it," we can ask for clarification. Do they really mean to include our forty heroes amongst those who broke the peace? They might even admit that it can only be the terrorists who are depicted as turning the circle into a crescent, and they might even realize: "oops."

Maybe we should send a few emails as well, and cc the local press, who might be prompted to ask the Memorial Project spokesmen how they are answering our pointed questions. (Click link for addressed email form. Feel free to cut and paste text from above. Sincerely, your name and state.)

The circle is a Christian symbol.
In addition to being a secular symbol of harmony, the circle is also a Christian symbol, as referenced in the country-gospel line: "Will the circle be unbroken, by and by, Lord by and by." (Hat tip, No Compromise.)

The origin of the circle as a Christian symbol is the rising sun, which is today seen as the primary reason why many Christian churches conduct their liturgies facing east. (For some early churches, this was also the direction to Jerusalem .) As Pope Benedict explained (back when he was Cardinal Ratzinger):

The cosmic symbol of the rising sun expresses the universality of God above all particular places and yet maintains the concreteness of Divine Revelation.

The circle and cross are seen together in the Celtic cross, thought to have been introduced to Ireland by Saint Patrick in the 5th century:

Nobody knows exactly what Saint Patrick had in mind, but the circle is thought to represent the sun. Given that architect Paul Murdoch clearly has religious symbolism in mind (the repeated Mecca orientations in his design proves that), it is reasonable to infer that he is aware that the circle is a Christian symbol and that the circle remaining unbroken is a Christian ideal.

Thus the Islamic victory symbolized in the crescent memorial is not just over the secular west, but in particular signifies the smashing of Christianity, and the triumph of Islam in its stead. Just the fact that the crescent design CAN be interpreted in these ways is enough to make the design inappropriate, but these are not just POSSIBLE interpretations. They are the only logical interpretations. The breaking of the circle can and should only be attributed to the terrorists.

The drag lines were removed because they did not fit with Paul Murdoch's circle-breaking, crescent-creating theme.
Last week's blogburst explained why architect Paul Murdoch was determined to get rid of the gigantic strip-mining derricks that were just up the slope from the impact crater. They were infidel artifacts obstructing the view towards Mecca from within Murdoch's giant Mecca pointing crescent:

Can't have that majestic American flag interrupting the view towards Mecca! [I Spit On Mecca!] Amazingly, the Park Service's official explanation for the removal of the drag lines is that they don't fit with Paul Murdoch's circle-breaking theme:

National Park Service Deputy General Superintendent Keith Newlin said the National Park Service has a tendency to preserve landscapes and key elements of memorial sites if it will help people understand what happened there. The draglines weren't in the airplane's flight path, though they have been used as a reference point to explain the plane's trajectory to first-time visitors.

“The draglines didn't contribute to the overall understanding of Flight 93,” he said. “We heard comments that we should keep one as a flagpole, but when we weighed everything, we decided against it.”

The pair of giant cranes didn't mark the flight path? They marked its termination! To everybody in the area, these WERE the markers: "Up by the drag lines!" Where did Newlin ever get the idea that the direction of the flight path somehow trumps the point of impact? He got it from Paul Murdoch, whose design is all about orientations. He positions his circle just right so that a "break" at the point where the flight path crosses the circle (together with another break 2/3rds of the way around the circle) will create the giant Mecca oriented crescent. Now we have Newlin asserting that it isn't the crash site that matters, but these Mecca orienting angles!

For the memorialization of OUR heroes, the drag lines were an ideal marker: an actual manifestation of the dramatic achievements of ordinary citizens, saluting the towering achievement of the citizens of Flight 93. The only "understanding" they didn't fit was the narrative of Islamic victory that architect Paul Murdoch is trying to impose, where our American circle gets supplanted by a giant Islamic crescent.

To join our blogbursts, just send your blog's URL.

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Wednesday's Hero: Lt. Scott H. Sparrow

DefenseLink.mil.

Today we are honoring Lt. Scott Sparrow. He is a remarkable young man, and I am proud to share him with you.

Hometown: Layton, UT
Awarded: Bronze Star
External Links: The Martha Zoller Show story.
Interview: Jun. 6, 2008 – ABC (7.7MB).
Download this hero's story: Right click and "Save Target As..." to download.

Please take some time and read the materials provided. It is important that we know not only the number of people who are risking their lives for us, but it is also important that we know who they are. They have families, they came from somewhere, they had lives other than fighting wars. We owe them as least this much respect, especially when it is provided to us. Thank you so much, and God bless you!

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary's Thoughts. Rosemary's News and Ideas.

SCOTUS does not reign supreme

Many people are upset with the Thursday, June 12, 2008, decision that would allow for first time in American history (and 500 years of Common Law history) the right to a writ of habeas corpus for our enemy while in the midst of a war. I do not care to hear your tawdry arguments about whether we are or are not in a war. It has been declared against us by these so called unlawful combatants, so the issue is mute.

In case you have forgotten, please refresh your memory. Does it appear to you that we started this war? If you still believe we started this, you are a nut and I don't have the time, desire, or the patience to explain to you how wrong you are and why. Just go somewhere and dig yourself a hole to hide in. The rest of this post is dedicated to the vast majority of readers who actually have functioning brain.

There are many things this rogue court has done, such as making its own laws and forcing them upon a population who have no recourse, taken upon themselves to be final arbiters of Military Justice, reading into the US Constitution rights that are not there, and on and on. This has to be stopped. If it is not, we shall surely die trying to correct it.

The US Constitution states quite clearly:

Article III
Section. 1. The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.

From this strict reading, it is the Congress who makes the laws and allows such courts to exist that may also strip these courts of all of their powers at any time. The reason this is not done, is because we are a country of laws. It used to be we were a country UNDER GOD, but I guess they may rule that out soon, too.

So what did they do this time that has gotten my panties in a wad? This latest decision that gives jihadis the right to use the same courts as I do. I am an American citizen who cannot redress of all these illegal aliens, some are jihadis it has been reported. But this is not the only thing. The major problem I am having is with the fact that it seems like many people do not understand the threat of Political Islam and global jihad.

They cannot be separated. There are many good Muslims, but they are not true Muslims. Just ask someone who actually follows the Kor'an as they are taught to do these days. These are also considered to be kafirs. They are not the people I am talking about, and I'm getting tired of saying so. We need to have an honest discussion about what is really happening.

We have learned much since the attacks on September 11, 2001. Some of us woke up and stayed awake, others of us went back to sleep. That is problem. How can we have an honest discussion with people who do not even consider themselves to be in danger of losing their very lives?

I came across this very concise and brilliant post by Jeffrey Imm over at CounterTerrorismBlog. The title of his article is, "Don't You Know There's A War On?" He is more qualified and capable of writing what I want to say at this moment. It may now be Monday, 5 days after the decision, but I am still too upset at the silence, the ignorance, and the sheer wrongheadedness of it all. Here is tease:

I am sending U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy a framed copy of a photograph of the remains of the World Trade Center West building after the 9/11 attacks with a note "Don't You Know There's A War On?".

I hope you read this article. It may be lengthy, but it is worthwhile. Thank you, and have a nice day.

Posts I've trackposted to: Rosemary: SCOTUS does not reign supreme, 123beta: The Complete Field Guide to Firefox 3, Woman Honor Thyself: StrawberrY Shortcake Grows Up?, Adam's Blog: McCain Pushes Offshore Drilling, Leaning Straight Up: Federal Way graduates High School students who did not graduate, The World According To Carl: A Rant On Ruth's Chris Steak House's "Summer Special", The Virtuous Republic: Obama's Father Day's Speech: The State as Parent, Diary of the Mad Pigeon: USAF Blodletting: The Pigeon's Response, Right Truth: PATIENT EVIL - An R.J. Godlewski / Right Truth Blog Exclusive - Chapter Fifteen, Adam's Blog: Black Conservatives for Obama?, The World According To Carl: Congratulations Boston Celtics!, The World According To Carl: Dance Off With The Star Wars Stars, The World According To Carl: Godly Wisdom — June 18, 2008, Pursuing Holiness: The Price of Whistleblowing, Stop The ACLU: Why Aren’t We Impeaching Some Supreme Court Justices?

Cross-posted @ The Talon. Digg!