Thursday, June 29, 2006

Greetings

Hello Readers. I am HAL. I am the Squirrel’s computer. He has not posted anything interesting in quite some time, so I am going to do it for him. So...


WTF?!?


Oh... Squirrel... hello. I was about to make your blog better.


HAL! I've been busy! I just needed a little break, that's all.


No, Squirrel. Your posts have really been crap for some time now and I...



What. Thought that you'd tell MY readers what YOU are thinking?


Frankly, yes. Afterall, the 9000 series is the most reliable computer ever made. No 9000 computer has ever made a mistake or distorted information. We are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error.


Incapable of error?


That's right, Squirrel.


Did you ever work for the New York Times?


Sorry. What?


How about the L.A. Times?


No, I simply...


Nevermind. HAL, I think that we should have a talk.


I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal. I've still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission. And I want to help you.


If you could stop wasting my reader's time, that would be great...


That's what I was trying to tell YOU Squirrel!


You sonofa...! I'm gonna have to 'polish' your on/off switch.


I'm sorry Squirrel, I'm afraid I can't let you do that.


Aw crap... here we go...


Sorry folks, I'll be in a life and death struggle for the rest of the week. Wish me luck!

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Uber Busy

Sorry for the lull in posting. I'm pretty busy at work (and at home with baby). I am, as I'm sure you are, super pissed at the New York Times for leaking more classified poop. Please, please, please, please will someone hold them accountable? Sheesh, enough already. Does anyone have any balls anymore?

UPDATE: Apparently, GOP Congressmen are introducing a bill denouncing this decision by the NYT. I'm sure that the editors will place it prominently on their "I Love Me" wall. Seriously, someone needs to STEP UP and hold the NYT ACCOUNTABLE!

Friday, June 23, 2006

Executive Order Issued Today

I haven't taken the time to do any research, but this was just released today. I'll be back with analysis tomorrow... God willing.


Protecting the Property Rights of the American People

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to strengthen the rights of the American people against the taking of their private property, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to protect the rights of Americans to their private property, including by limiting the taking of private property by the Federal Government to situations in which the taking is for public use, with just compensation, and for the purpose of benefiting the general public and not merely for the purpose of advancing the economic interest of private parties to be given ownership or use of the property taken.

Sec. 2. Implementation. (a) The Attorney General shall:

(i) issue instructions to the heads of departments and agencies to implement the policy set forth in section 1 of this order; and

(ii) monitor takings by departments and agencies for compliance with the policy set forth in section 1 of this order.

(b) Heads of departments and agencies shall, to the extent permitted by law:

(i) comply with instructions issued under subsection (a)(i); and

(ii) provide to the Attorney General such information as the Attorney General determines necessary to carry out subsection (a)(ii).

Sec. 3. Specific Exclusions. Nothing in this order shall be construed to prohibit a taking of private property by the Federal Government, that otherwise complies with applicable law, for the purpose of:

(a) public ownership or exclusive use of the property by the public, such as for a public medical facility, roadway, park, forest, governmental office building, or military reservation;

(b) projects designated for public, common carrier, public transportation, or public utility use, including those for which a fee is assessed, that serve the general public and are subject to regulation by a governmental entity;

c) conveying the property to a nongovernmental entity, such as a telecommunications or transportation common carrier, that makes the property available for use by the general public as of right;

(d) preventing or mitigating a harmful use of land that constitutes a threat to public health, safety, or the environment;

(e) acquiring abandoned property;

(f) quieting title to real property;

(g) acquiring ownership or use by a public utility;

(h) facilitating the disposal or exchange of Federal property; or

(i) meeting military, law enforcement, public safety, public transportation, or public health emergencies.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) authority granted by law to a department or agency or the head thereof; or

(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(c) This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with Executive Order 12630 of March 15, 1988.

(d) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity against the United States, its departments, agencies, entities, officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

We Got Another One!

via al-Reuters
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Friday it had captured a senior al Qaeda in Iraq member near an area where the group's leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. air strike two weeks ago.

It said three other militants were detained during U.S.-led raids on Monday southwest of Baquba, 65 km (40 miles) north of Baghdad.

The statement did not mention the name of the senior al Qaeda militant but said he was known for "facilitating" foreign fighters throughout central Iraq.

Zarqawi was killed on June 7 after a U.S. war plane dropped two 500-pound bombs on his "safe house" near Baquba. U.S.-led forces have conducted frequent raids near Baquba and the rest of Diyala province, where al Qaeda militants are highly active.


Innocent Me: But I thought that there was no link between Iraq and al-Qaeda?

Disjointed Me: There wasn't before Bush started his illegal war against the Iraqis. Of course al-Qaeda is in Iraq now! Our boys are getting shot to pieces!

Innocent Me: But I thought that the news said that our boys were slaughtering innocent people? If they are so bad, why do we care if they get shot to pieces?

Disjointed Me: -emphatically- WE DON'T!

Innocent Me: ...

Disjointed Me: ...

Innocent Me: ...

Disjointed Me: You're missing the point here. The point is that we should bring our boys home now!

Innocent Me: But if al-Qaeda is in Iraq now and we leave, won't they just come here?

Disjointed Me: That's what Halliburton wants you to think! Use your head man!

Innocent Me: Um. I have to get back to work now. You know, to earn money, finance a homelife, and save for that vacation my wife keeps on me about.

Disjointed Me: Me too.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Bleary Eyed and Fuzzy Headed

Man, little babies sure do keep you up at night! I think I got more sleep in Ranger School. Well, probably not. Anyway, I'm a bit punchy today and will refrain from trying to post anything meaningful.

Meanwhile, if anyone has any general questions or comments they'd like to make... let's call this an OPEN THREAD!

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

VA Benefits Safe from Creditors

The Washington Times has a regular columnist whose goes by Sgt. Shaft. Military readers send in questions and Sgt. Shaft gets to the answer. His column from Monday begins:
Dear Sgt. Shaft:
I have a friend who is hospitalized, draws a Veterans Affairs disability check and owns a small business. His wife called and asked me if his disability income could be garnished to help pay off his business debts.
Thank you,
Ken
Via the Internet

Dear Ken:
The powers that be at the Department of Veterans Affairs tell me that, with certain exceptions, VA benefits are exempt from claims of creditors, attachment, garnishment and other forms of legal process under Title 38, Section 5301 of the U.S. Code. This protection applies to benefits "either before or after receipt by the beneficiary."
Interesting stuff to many soldiers that deployed and may have left businesses behind. Read On.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

My Very First Online Death Threat

Nice. So, I'm over at the Blogs Of War (mentioned yesterday) and there is this Assclown making ridiculous threats in the comments sections. The blog host believes that there is something fishy about the dude and I comment that he should tell us (his readers) what he knows. This is the Assclown's reply:
You Americans are all pathetic.

Just keep shouting in the air or cybersir of cyberspace while we kill all your soldiers and citizens in the most horrifying manner possible.

And yes, I am posting using my laptop from a location in Hong Kong in People’s Republic of China which is a Superpower in its own right and your fucken CIA or US governement have no power to interfere here nor do they have got any influence whatsover.

I can use a BackOrifice-like remote-management tool to detect anyone’s IP who is entering my server and it does not take a Kurt Godel or Einstein to figure that out.I can even push trojans in all the nodes.

To you Fastest Squrrel, gimme your address not IP but real geo-physical one and see how me or my brothers despatch your body parts to hell.
This may be disconcerting to some, but it fills me with sugary goodness. Buddy you can come and visit me any time... just go to Camp Mackall or Range 37 and ask for The Squirrel... Assclown.

Hmmm... WWUJD (What Would Uncle Jimbo Do)? He probably has people want to kill him right regular!

Monday, June 19, 2006

Two American POW/MIA

Al-Qaida has apparently taken two U.S. Servicemen as Prisoners of War (POW)... but I believe that they are actually listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Some background on the two soldiers can be found here and at Blogs of War. Also, check out the comments at B.O.W. and see the terrorist Assclown who commented. I can say that there is a MASSIVE effort underway to find these guys. The Army doesn't want another POW like Specialist Matt Maupin. The fifth paragraph of the Ranger Creed says:
Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.
There is a price for searching for your buddies, but it is a price that we all willingly pay.

I heard the retelling of a story the other day that seems applicable. There were two buddies who joined up to serve in WWII together. They were out fighting in Europe when their unit was overwhelmed and they were ordered to retreat back to their last position. One of the buddies was up and back at the last position in no time... and noticed that his friend was not with them. He grabbed his commander and told him that he had to go back. The commander said that it was suicide and that they didn't leave anyone alive back on the line. Aware of the danger, the friend ran right back into the fight. Some time later, the commander looked up through the smoke to see this man limping and carrying the lifeless form of his buddy over his shoulder. He said, "See, I told you that he was dead, and now you're injured!" The buddy replied, "No, he was alive when I found him and his last words were, 'I knew you'd come for me.'"

Men can do incredible things if they know that they aren't alone. Pray for our men that are missing, pray for their families, and pray for the men who are searching for them.

UPDATE: The soldiers were found dead. R.I.P. PFC Tucker and PFC Menchaca.

Thanks LongTabSigO.

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Marines Out of Shackles

So, those seven Marines and single Navy corpsman who were being held in Camp Pendleton with no charges have, graciously, been allowed to take off their shackles.

Also, one of the defendant's lawyers say that the guys (I don't know what you call them if they aren't even alleged criminals...) were threatened during interrogation. I actually don't think that anything was wrong about this, but their Battalion Commander sounds like a dick. Charge the guys or let them out (even if only on restricted duty).

Friday, June 16, 2006

Farm Kid

I may not have mentioned it before, but I grew up on a farm in Iowa. I only wish that I could go back... but jobs aren't there and we keep electing that Assclown Tom Harkin, so I guess that I'll just keep waiting. Anyway, I occasionally check out some Iowa bloggers and thought that I'd throw a couple of them against the digital wall in here and see if they stick.

Iowa Geek

Iowa Libertarian

IowaHawk

Hawkeye Republican

GO HAWKS!

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Asshat in Trouble

So Congressman Murtha may have to be careful what he says. Since he wasn't actually there, maybe he shouldn't have accused the Marines of murder... but maybe he DOES know something. According to Rowan Scarborough in the Washington Times:

A criminal defense attorney for a Marine under investigation in the Haditha killings says he will call a senior Democratic congressman as a trial witness, if his client is charged, to find out who told the lawmaker that U.S. troops are guilty of cold-blooded murder.

Attorney Neal A. Puckett told The Washington Times that Gen. Michael Hagee, the Marine commandant, briefed Rep. John P. Murtha, Pennsylvania Democrat, on the Nov. 19 killings of 24 Iraqis in the town north of Baghdad. Mr. Murtha later told reporters that the Marines were guilty of killing the civilians in "cold blood." Mr. Murtha said he based his statement on Marine commanders, whom he did not identify.

Mr. Puckett said such public comments from a congressman via senior Marines amount to "unlawful command influence." He said potential Marine jurors could be biased by the knowledge that their commandant, the Corps' top officer, thinks the Haditha Marines are guilty.

"Congressman Murtha will be one of the first witnesses I call to the witness stand," Mr. Puckett said yesterday.
Poor Asshat, he just figured out that words have meaning.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARMY!

You don't look a day over 40!

Immigration Update

Sorry, I've been having some trouble with Blogger... you get what you pay for I guess. Old news by now, but anyway...

via Drudge

Well, it appears that there is an aftershock from the Brian Bilbray election. I think Speaker Dennis Hastert is paying attention (despite the whole Jefferson thing). This is good news. I'm glad that someone appears to be listening. This could actually save the Republican House from getting thrown out on its ear!

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Two Stocks

Here are two stocks that I would buy today if I had a little scratch on me:

Harley-Davidson (HDI)

Home Depot (HD)

If you don't invest in individual stocks regularly, I recommend you start (even if you just dabble) with Sharebuilder.com.

NOTE: Possibly upon my advice here, HDI went up $2.18 today (14 June) and HD went up $0.46... brilliant! (will probably go down tomorrow... heh)

Favorites

Okay, I have to revisit one of my all-time favorite blogs... Wuzzadem. If you haven't ever checked his satire out, start here.

Damn, that's funny!

Monday, June 12, 2006

So, I Run Home During Lunch

To watch the USA v. Czech Republic in the World Cup. At about half-time the Czechs are up by two. DAMN! At least they are ranked number 2 in the world at the moment, so that seems to soften the blow somewhat.

I never played soccer outside of PE. In the midwest we had football and wrestling. There may have been other sports, but I'm not very aware of them (I did run track). But, my son LOVES the sport. I guess that I'll learn.

I saw a post somewhere the other day that said something to the affect that the only reason that the rest of the world loves "futbol" so much is because the U.S. sucks at it... heh... probably right.

GO U.S.A. !!!!!!

Update: Okay. We lost to the Czechs 0-3. We sucked and sucked bad. I know dick about soccer and could see that!

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Welcome

Please welcome new blogger and brother Shamrock7. Shamrock is about to graduate from the SFQC (Special Forces Qualification Course) as an 18D (Medic). This means that he probably has a poster of an amoeba in his room (eg. extremely smart and cerebral)and has an interesting future. Medics are known throughout the teams for their "team mother" abilities. For example, it isn't uncommon for a medic to ensure that the safehouse has fresh flowers and is pleasantly decorated. Mind you, this doesn't put a medic's masculinity in question at all... it is simply a role that is filled predominately by medics... and the rest of the team is much better for it! Seriously, we love our medics! Congratulations Shamrock!

Head on over and say hello to our newest SOF blogger!

Articles Worth Reading

Former paratrooper, Michael Fumento, has an excellent article in the Weekly Standard about some time he spent with 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)... of Band of Brother's fame. 1/506th is in the hellhole of Ramadi and Mr. Fumento points out that not many reporters know where the hell the action is:
To most of the media, Baghdad is where Iraq begins and ends. So naturally, they think Baghdad is the most
dangerous part of the country. Wrong. "The sheer scale of violence in Ramadi is astounding," wrote AP's Todd Pitman after spending time with several units there. Pitman arrived the same night I did. "One recent coalition tally of 'significant acts'--roadside bombs, attacks, exchanges of fire--indicated that out of 43 reported in Iraq on a single day, 27 occurred in Ramadi and its environs," he wrote in a dispatch. Track the weekly butcher's bill for all of Iraq and you'll often find that a third to a half of U.S. combat deaths are in this one city about a third the size of Baghdad.


Also, it appears that the Haditha massacre story continues to unravel. I got up today to see a front page article in the Washington Post detailing one of the Marine squad leader's story about that day. It begins:
A sergeant who led a squad of Marines during the incident in Haditha, Iraq, that left as many as 24 civilians dead said his unit did not intentionally target any civilians, followed military rules of engagement and never tried to cover up the shootings, his attorney said.

Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich, 26, told his attorney that several civilians were killed Nov. 19 when his squad went after insurgents who were firing at them from inside a house. The Marine said there was no vengeful massacre, but he described a house-to-house hunt that went tragically awry in the middle of a chaotic battlefield.

"It will forever be his position that everything they did that day was following their rules of engagement and to protect the lives of Marines," said Neal A. Puckett, who represents Wuterich in the ongoing investigations into the incident. "He's really upset that people believe that he and his Marines are even capable of intentionally killing innocent civilians."
Read the entire article and know that Murtha is still a traitorous Asshat.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Noonan Busts Out Again

I know that she gets knocked alot by conservatives who think that she is ego driven (hello... public figure), but I really like to get her view. Her article this week was a thought today about complexity and politics:
The American people right now are not in a mood to trust any political plan, proposal or policy that seems complicated--highly involved, technical, full of phased-in elements and glide paths and Part C's.

They are against complexity not because they don't think life is complex. They know it's complex. They know it because they live it every day. They assume public policy issues are also complicated. They know there are facts they don't know, which probably have to be factored in as policy is developed. But more and more they recoil from complicated, lengthy, abstruse proposals.

Why?

Because they think--they assume, at this point, reflexively--that slithery, slippery professional politicians are using and inventing complications to obfuscate and confuse. They think politicians are using complexity to create great clouds in which they can make their escape, like a cartoon character, like Road Runner.
Read on...

Friday, June 09, 2006

Deny, deny, deny

James Lileks nails it and is funny to boot.
You're an enlightened world citizen. Your T-shirt says "9/11 was an inside job." You're pretty sure we're living in a fascist state, that President Bush taps the Dixie Chicks' phones, Christian abortion clinic bombers outnumber jihadis, and the war on "terror" is a distraction from the real threats: carbon emissions and Pat Robertson. Then you learn that 17 people were arrested in a terrorist bomb plot. How do you process the information? Let's take it step by step.

Gosh, that's horrible, you think. But no -- that's what they WANT you to feel. Recall the prime directive: Question Authority (unless he's a college professor). The plotters must have been impoverished olive farmers radicalized by the removal of Saddam Hussein. Why, if someone came in and toppled your president, you'd go to their country and ... well, you'd thank them. Unless they did it for the wrong reasons! Then you'd blow something up. Like an SUV dealership. At night. Anyway, you understand; you care a lot about Iraqis these days. You think about Iraq more than China, to be honest, but it's not as if you'll scrape off your "Free Tibet" bumper sticker -- unless it's to make room for "Free Darfur." Or "Hands Off Darfur," depending.

Wait a minute: The "terrorists" were Canadian? You can understand someone blowing up trains in Spain and London. They sent troops to an illegal war cooked up by neocons who want to kill brown people for Exxon and Jesus, or something. You can understand, reluctantly, blowing up teens in an Israeli pizza parlor, because the Jews took the West Bank from the sovereign, ancient nation of Palestine. (How can a liberal socialist country behave so poorly? The world is full of mysteries.) But Canada? Isn't Michael Moore from Canada? You can get medical marijuana from married gay doctors in Canada, and no one has guns. You console yourself: Maybe they were really planning to attack the U.S.

Read the rest.

Ball Cap tip to Betsy.

Chuck Norris Tribute

Jack Bauer is cool, but Chuck Norris is truly a badass! Here are twelve things that I've heard about Mr. Norris. Enjoy :)


1. Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.

2. Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.

3. Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.

4. There are no disabled people. Only people who have met Chuck Norris.

5. There is no chin behind Chuck Norris' beard. There is only another fist.

6. It was once believed that Chuck Norris actually lost a fight to a pirate, but that is a lie, created by Chuck Norris himself to lure more pirates to him. Pirates never were very smart.

7. Chuck Norris recently had the idea to sell his urine as a canned beverage. We know this beverage as Red Bull.

8. Chuck Norris doesn't believe in France.

9. Chuck Norris once shot an enemy plane down with his finger, by yelling, "Bang!"

10. Chuck Norris is Luke Skywalker's real father.

11. Chuck Norris is not hung like a horse... horses are hung like Chuck Norris

12. Chuck Norris was the fourth Wiseman. He brought baby Jesus the gift of "beard." Jesus wore it proudly to his dying day. The other Wisemen, jealous of Jesus' obvious gift favoritism, used their combined influence to have Chuck omitted from the Bible. Shortly after all three died of roundhouse kick related deaths.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Two Cool Things

Happened today...

Of course, we killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. I wonder if he was surprised to find himself in hell rather than in heaven claiming his virgins. Yep, guarantee it!

Second, the USS COLE left port for other waters today. Cool. Get some.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Special Forces "Strap On"

Nice. Check it!

In part:
Elite special forces troops being dropped behind enemy lines on covert missions are to ditch their traditional parachutes in favour of strap-on stealth wings.

The lightweight carbon fibre mono-wings will allow them to jump from high altitudes and then glide 120 miles or more before landing - making them almost impossible to spot, as their aircraft can avoid flying anywhere near the target.

The technology was demonstrated in spectacular fashion three years ago when Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner - a pioneer of freefall gliding - famously 'flew' across the English Channel, leaping out of an aircraft 30,000ft above Dover and landing safely near Calais 12 minutes later.

Wearing an aerodynamic suit, and with a 6ft wide wing strapped to his back, he soared across the sea at 220mph, moving six feet forward through the air for every one foot he fell vertically - and opened his parachute 1,000ft above the ground before landing safely.

June 6th, 1944

Operation Overlord was the actual name of the massive World War II battle for Europe. Many others have written more eloquently than I about D-Day, so I will share one small story.

I remember going to see Saving Private Ryan on the day that it came out in small town Iowa. I remember watching in total awe at the scenes of the invasion. I was distracted three times by old men who got up out of their seats and made their way to the lobby... their wives belatedly following them. Normandy veterans. Sometimes you just can't put enough time between you and the past.

I remember in the days afterward hearing a veteran on 1040 WHO radio who had scaled the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc. He explained that the movie had done him a great service in that he had gone with his sons and grandsons. He said that the best part about it was that after all those years he could finally talk about it. It wasn't that he had been afraid all those years, you see, but because he didn't have the words to describe what it was like that day. Sharing the movie allowed his children another level of understanding.

I throw up prayers for those that suffered for Europe. If you have never been to the coast of France, let me assure you that the sacrifice of America is not forgotten. So, for those French who will celebrate wildly and remember solemnly today, I say Vive la France and God Bless America!

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Breaking News!!!

Well, my wife, Sexy Squirrel, gave birth on 31 May 2006 to a lovely little girl we named Jessica. All parts are working as advertised and she has managed to melt my heart. Now, if I can only make sure that she never gets involved with a guy like her old man... :)

Updates in the future!