Afghanistan Today-The GWOT Hotspot: 12-25-09-Fri.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A special Merry Christmas to our troops serving in what the US Marine Corps web site refers to as the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. 

 I hope the enemy at least had a cease-fire and ceased with the IED attacks in respect of the culture and religion of the Christians who celebrate Christ’s birth this day.  God bless American troops serving in Afghanistan and around the world. I can celebrate Christmas in America in peace due to their selfless service to keep our country free.

Various stories from around the Global War on Terrorism this Christmas Day as the GWOT continues and apparently will continue on into 2010 until America achieves total victory and unconditional surrender from terrorists they fight. Links:

1.) Faith during time of war:

http://www.ocregister.com/news/home-225755-faith-nunnally.html

2.) Violence erupts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan: In the Afghanistan attack a man driving a horse-drawn cart detonated explosives killing himself and eight others. Although not mentioned, I believe the horse would have had to have died too. Where is  PETA when you need them to denounce this senseless killing of horses and demand that animals not be used to carry out bombing attacks? Link:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/DN-bombs_25int.ART.State.Edition1.4b9e54b.html

3.) U.S. Marine: When you’re not getting bullets flying over your head, this is a peaceful place. Link:

http://waronterrornews.typepad.com/home/2009/12/marines-at-manbearpig-patrol-in-nawas-wild-west.html

4.) Baseball manager’s son joins the Marine Corps (officer):

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/columns/story?columnist=edes_gordon&id=4768399

5.) Marine shows true meaning of Christmas, lost both feet and ankles in IED blast in Afghanistan:

http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20091225/OSH0602/91225010

6.) Please remember our soldiers and Marines in prison this Christmas, here is one example and link for information:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704304504574610660008372886.html#articleTabs%3Dcomments

From above link:

• 1 day ago

• Kim Hatley wrote:

• URGENT: My husband was sent to PRISON. He was a highly decorated soldier who served almost 20 years for the US Army and had an exemplary military track record. He was an Infantry First Sergeant who led his company in the most dangerous area of Iraq, “Baghdad” in OIF 06-08. CNN in Nov, spent 2 weeks covering our story. If you would like to learn more: www.defendjohnhatley.com CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 did a 4-part story and following that, CNN aired a 1-hour documentary. CNN received an “overwhelming” response from the American public (viewers). Please, a lot of Americans do not know about my husband’s plight. The flawed “detainee catch and release” policy puts out troops in danger, still to this day in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Please visit the website and/or feel free to contact me directly at my email: kimcheepink@yahoo.com Please…………….help. My husband and 2 other soldiers were sent to prison for allegedly killing 4 “insurgents” (the enemy). Please contact me.

Afghanistan Today-The GWOT Hotspot-Thurs. 12-24-09

Christmas Eve in Afghanistan for our troops. May God bless them with victory and leaders who have a culture of victory so they can win this war and come home.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO OUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES. May they come home to victory parades soon. The Afghanistan Victory Medal can’t be awarded soon enough.

Links from around the GWOT:

1.)  Marine returns home from Afghanistan, wise Marine Mom has very insightful comments:

http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2009/12/23/sugar_land_sun/news/swssl-_soldier_returns_home_1223.txt

2.) He won’t be home for Christmas: A Marine mom talks about her brave son in Afghanistan this holiday season. Link:

http://www.andalusiastarnews.com/news/2009/dec/23/he-wont-be-home-christmas/

3.) Marine earns Navy Cross for Afghan heroics. In the story it states he was with Marine Special Ops (MarSOC) when the firefight occurred. Link:

http://www.military.com/news/article/marine-awarded-navy-cross-for-afghan-heroics.html?ESRC=marine-a.nl

4.) Teenaged  British soldier suffers horrific injuries in Helmand Province, treated at Camp Bastion, has both legs amputated. See photo of the soldier and his injuries as he receives campaign medal:

http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/inyourtown/melkshamnews/4818377.Melksham_teenage_army_hero_sets_new_year_goal/

5.) British soldier makes if home from Afghanistan tour only to die in what officials call a “horrific accident” at home. Helmand Province where he served described as “notoriouos”. Link:

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/burtonmail/displayarticle.asp?id=473083

6.) Christmas wishes posted online for British troops at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan:

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=473013

7.) British troops try to bring a touch of Christmas to the front line:

http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Troops-try-to-bring-a.5936748.jp

8.) White House Christmas without Christ? Link:

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/18270

9.) Logistical problems with Afghanistan surge:

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/12/23/the-afghanistan-surge-a-logistical-ballet-with-a-cast-of-thousa/

An incident — a downed planeload of soldiers, a crucial bridge blown, an insurgent rocket attack that leaves burning cargo planes blocking a single runway — could derail the entire sequencing of the surge. “We could lose everything . . . there are a lot of things that could come down,” said the man at the center of it all, Air Force Gen. Duncan J. McNabb. He heads the U.S. Transportation Command and is responsible for all movement of military people and equipment worldwide, by air and sea..he worries about “a catastrophic failure.”

10.) More U.S. families are taking care of their injured warrior at home after being injured in Iraq or Afghanitan. God bless these folks, they are the best the USA has to offer.

Injured troops being care for by their spouses, mothers, or fathers, need our support: suggest getting in touch with our lawmakers and demand that Congress pass the stronger Senate measure mentioned in the story, a stipend for family members who care for injured troops at home.

Perhaps while contacting our lawmakers ask them to only support generals who lead on the ground and have a CULTURE OF VICTORY; so the war can be WON and the troops can come home, and we won’t have more injured troops like this.

In the meantime, to give the family members relief, members of Congress such as their senators and representatives from the district where they are hospitalized or where they will live when they go home should be REQUIRED to report to the homes of these injured troops, or their hospital so they can take care of them and see what it is really like. They can perform many orderly tasks, and lift the soldier, turn him, wipe him after using bedpan, etc.

 In addition, the leaders of their respective branch of service, and Sec. Gates should take turn caring for the injured man so they can see what their decisions have resulted in with the disability. This would extend to the generals who were responsible for this injury happening on their watch. If they need to cancel their vacations, so be it. They should report with a “pep in their step” for duty caring for the injured soldier as they have all limbs and faculties. If they have to give up their vacation villa, they can give it to the wife, parents, or family of the injured so they can have a break.

From the story below:

RyAnne and Ivonne are hoping all the good people they notice driving around with “Support Our Troops” stickers might get in touch with their lawmakers and demand that Congress pass the stronger Senate measure. That would be real support. The two wives seem impassioned enough to go out themselves and wave down traffic for their cause. But, as RyAnne says, “We can’t leave our guys.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/opinion/24thu3.html?_r=1

Afghanistan Today-The GWOT Hotspot-12-23-09-Wed.

Countdown to Christmas and our troops remain in Afghanistan. Pray for them as they celebrate Christ’s birth in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and that the Afghan people will be receptive to this Christian celebration and respect American culture on Dec. 25th, as our troops are fighting for their freedom and their right to have an Islamic Republic of Afghanistan which gives freedom to all races, creed, sexual identity, and welcomes all religions.

Story #1 is long, eight pages if you print it, but really a must read for those following news of the US military in Afghanistan. This Stryker unit was trained for Iraq and diverted to Afghanistan. Some troops want to go with the counter-insurgency (COIN) strategy of passing out candy and drinking tea with the Afghan villagers, but first it seems to me that the Commander had to kill the enemy and have the Afghan soldiers disarm the mines near the village. It did become confusing to me, other than to realize it is a total mess over there it seems. It seems now, more than ever, new generals and leaders need to be brought in by the Commander-in-Chief, who have a CULTURE OF VICTORY. If we are not in the war for victory, then the troops should come home, and the State Department, Peace Corps ACORN, and Ameri-Corps should take over and drink tea with the Afghans. Let the US military come home and train for wars and be ready when they are needed in another theatre of war. Links below to stories from around the GWOT:

1.) Stryker soldiers say commanders failed them:

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/12/army_afghanistan_mixed_signals_122109w/

 

Afghanistan Today-The GWOT Hot Spot-12-22-09-Tue.

The war in Afghanistan continues on with our brave American troops standing at the ready to fight and kill the enemy on their way to victory, as in World War II in famous battles such as the Battle of Okinawa, Iwo Jima, and others.

The United States can win any war we want to. If our political leaders want us to win this war, they need to put in place generals and admirals who will instill a CULTURE OF VICTORY on the battlefield and in the men they lead. Americans demand even their football coaches be winners, the same should be the case with U.S. generals. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) “Defining Victory” a long story, but a good one about a father who was a writer, who reports on his son’s deployment to Afghanistan and answers or asks questions as to what victory means in Afghanistan. Link:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/79778267.html

2.) Good story describing the last Marine infantry unit in Iraq, and the history of the Marines in Iraq in general:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/12/marine_iraq_121909w/

Afghanistan Today: The GWOT Hotspot: Mon. 12-21-09

The work that today’s American troops do on the ground is incredible.

What is needed in addition to our enlisted men and women on the ground, is a CULTURE OF VICTORY and leaders who also lead from the front. This would help in the way forward toward a win in this war finally, and victory so our troops can come home and receive the AFGHANISTAN VICTORY MEDAL they have earned.

An IRAQ VICTORY MEDAL needs to be awarded to those troops who also served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Links below to various stories around the GWOT:

1.) Story of missing dog…the rest of the story….Link:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6963548.ece

2.) While U.S. troops are being sent to land-locked Afghanistan, another terrorist state emerges in Somalia:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6963512.ece

3.) German soldiers drink too much to fight Taliban in Afghanistan:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,526835,00.html

4.) Marine Corps Base Quantico: Closed due to snow. The base in Virginia received over a foot of snow. Could be good training for the officers, to go out in the snow and get used to living in a tent with no heat, such as their forward based enlisted Marines in Afghanistan. There should be a Quantico-Forward where the training is focused on a CULTURE OF VICTORY so this war can be won in Afghanistan and the troops can all come home. Link:

http://www.marines.mil/unit/mcbquantico/Pages/IntensesnowfallclosesMCBQuantico.aspx

5.) Marines protect thousands in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan at Camp Leatherneck:

http://www.marines.mil/unit/iimef/2ndmeb/Pages/MarinesprotectthousandsaboardCampLeatherneck.aspx

6.) Army Brig. Gen. John W. Nicholson and his need to apologize for the false accusations he made against the MarSOC Marines:

http://moaablogs.org/inside/2009/09/to-wong-foo-thanks-for-everything-john-w-nicholson-jr/

7.) There will no nowhere to run from the new world government:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/janetdaley/6845967/Therell-be-nowhere-to-run-from-the-new-world-government.html

8.) Michael Yon report on Afghanistan; much history, Soviet information:

http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/myon/2009/12/13/arghandab-and-the-battle-for-kandahar/

9.) Fuel convoy into Afghanistan-Soviet era; looks similar to what happens to fuel headed for US troops today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IdPJ27gQ5o&feature=related

10.) The Russian Factor: US supplies and troops, possibility of going non-stop from Chicago to Afghanistan with help from Russia. Link:

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/12/airforce_airbridgeside_121909/

Afghanistan Today-The GWOT Hotspot: Sun. 12-20-09

The countdown to Christmas marches on, five days to go. Meanwhile our troops are at war still in Iraq and Afghanistan. God bless them. Links below from around the GWOT:

1.) Christian monastery in Iraq near Mosul on US base. US tries to restore the site. Good story to read and learn more about history. Link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/19/world/middleeast/19monastery.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

2.) Family welcomes home Marine who lost feet in Afghan blast. Read the story, but BE SURE to watch the video. In it the 19-year old Marines describes how he was there to train the Afghan police. I would like to know if the attackers were arrested and what their outcome was at trial? God bless this Marine. Link:

http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20091219/OSH0101/312190098/Family-welcomes-back-injured-Marine

3.) Crowds gather for Marine’s funeral:

http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2009/12/18/news/local/455903.txt

4.) Logistics problems in Afghanistan:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/14/AR2009121403123.html

5.) Interesting information on Ft. Hood terrorist attack and connections. Link:

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/17969

6.) Is the U.S. president a Muslim? This story gives information to answer the question:

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/17881

7.) Counterinsurgency and the global jihad:

http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.5015/pub_detail.asp

8.) Americans face challenges in delivering equipment and perosnnel to Afghanistan:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/world/asia/15mullen.html

9.)  Good site: Reconnect America. This is to reconnect the American people with the military. It has been advertised on TV too. Link:

http://www.military.com/giveback/

10.) Sec. of Defense Gates in the LA Times:

 http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-afghanistan-civilians9-2009dec09,0,718686.story

11.) Obama releases 12 Gitmo detainees to Yemen, Afghanistan, Somalialand. Bottom line: Does this make it safer for USA troops on the ground in the Global War on Terrorism, and does it make it safer for US citizens? Have these detainees ever attacked a US guard at Gitmo and were they charged? What were they charged with which put them in Gitmo in the first place? Did we ever really determine their real names? Bush, for example, released a detainee who turned out to be a Taliban commander and returned to the South of Afghanistan to fight again. Link:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/12/obama-administration-transfers-12-detainees-to-yemen-afghanistan-somaliland.html

12.) US troops on agricultural mission are attacked in Afghanistan. I don’t know why the US is having troops go on agricultural missions before the war is won. It seems it would be best to have these troops spending their time killing the enemy. Once the enemy surrenders or is killed, then these programs can be carried out, I would note, using Afghan money and resources. I would like to know how many enemy fighters were killed and how many captured? Were any previously arrested and released in the catch and release program? Link:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-california-afghanistan21-2009dec21,0,7331995.story

 

 

 

 

 

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT HOTSPOT-Sat. 12-19-09

Saturday is a day off work for many Americans, a day to shop for Christmas presents. But, for our troops in Afghanistan it’s just another day at war and they will spend the holiday season in Afghansitan. God bless them. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Russia and the quest for cyberpeace, by Ralph Peters:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/cyperpeace_is_not_russia_goal_2UjRadkfm9EyglKYLIvuzH

2.) Letter to Sec. Gates: stop Muslim lectures to our troops attacked by terrorist at Ft. Hood:

http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.5051/pub_detail.asp

3.) General Larry Nicholson, USMC: Marines will hit Taliban hard in 2010. I guess that means the Marines will call in the bombers and kill the Taliban? Link:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121563524

4.) PowerDozer for military use. See story #3 about clearing the mines on way into Marja, Afghansitan. Hope they use this Power Dozer or something similar which I read somewhere that they have now. Link:

http://powerdozer.com/Military_Detail/military_detail.html

5.) A very Marine Christmas in Afghanistan:

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/2009/12/a-very-marine-christmas-in-afg.html

6.) Burn pits do cause health issues:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/12/military_burnpit_data_121809w/

7.) Congress puts Ft. Hood terrorist attack probe on hold:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/12/army_fort_hood_121709w/

8.) Tepid support for Afghan war in AP report:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/12/ap_poll_afghanistan_121709/

9.) From NPR: In Afghanistan fighting the battle of logistics:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121624242&ft=1&f=1001

10.) Wounded Ft. Hood soldier headed to Afghanistan, heard Hasan shout, “Allah Akbar,” from the story:

“Every time I see someone from that kind of religion I’m always stopping and thinking ‘I wonder if he’s a terrorist?’” said Carroll of how he looks at Muslims now.

Link:

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Wounded-Ft-Hood-Soldier-.html

11.) 19 yr. old Marine hero who lost his feet in Afghanistan gets flight from volunteer group. I am glad to see this group help, I have donated to them in the past. I also wonder who has been arrested, and what the punishment was at trial for the enemy who did this to our Marine? Are they in jail now? Link:

http://www.wbay.com/global/story.asp?s=11695876

Afghanistan Today-The GWOT HotSpot-12-18-09

Friday at war for our troops in Afghanistan. God bless them and may they have a wonderful Christmas filled with Christ’s love during this difficult time at war. Links from around the GWOT, the Global War on Terrorism below:

1.) 2004 report on Afghanistan’s opium problem. Posted online now, link.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/19660232/Afghanistan-OPIUM-SURVEY-2004

2.)  Marines in Afghanistan, Combat Outpost Payne mentioned too:

http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/public/InfolineMarines.nsf/ArticlesListingReadCurrent/8D55528C5B59FDAB85257322006CACF9

3.)  Glenn Beck describing what he calls the latest anti-military movie:

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/videos/?uri=channels/338017/730085

4.) Afghan elders to US: let us do the fighting:

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/12/18/world/worldwatch/entry5994615.shtml

5.) Terrorists in our midst:

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/18065

6.) One battalion’s problems in Afghanistan:

 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/world/asia/18afghan.html

7.) Senator calls for more oversight of Afghan contracts:

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/17/AR2009121704654.html

 8.) Military burn pits can cause long-term problems in U.S. troops:

Link:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/18/military.burn.pits/index.html

 9.) Lawyer: Germany must pay Afghan victims:

 http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/12/16/world/international-us-afghanistan-kunduz.html

10.) Ralph Peters + & – on Afghan war second surge:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/afghanistan_weighing_the_war_MFMXUi5ovICSMDdMQA8ESM

 

 

Afghanistan Today-The GWOT HotSpot-12-17-09 Thur.

The war ramps up in Afghanistan. There is concern now that the second surge has been announced, about getting supplies including fuel into landlocked Afghansitan. Various links from around the GWOT, the Global War on Terrorism. Links:

1.) NATO asks for Russia to help win the war in Afghanitan:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BF38D20091216

2.) Taliban sneak past Marines in Southern Afghanistan:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gvwu275sWYLvoLYi_uuOYvNJDxYQD9CK7AT84

 3.)  Hasan terrorist attack at Ft. Hood probed:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-militaryfiles_16nat.ART.State.Edition2.4bede79.html

 4.) Terrorists beat system in American prisons:

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/terrorists-federal-prisons/story?id=9346833&page=1

5.) U.S. troops lack training, gear: US reps. Link:

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9CK283G0&show_article=1

6.) Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James Conway on upcoming operations in Marja, Afghanistan. From the story; what he says the Sunnis told the Americans in Iraq:

We know what they do. We’re tired of the murder and intimidation and we’re going to turn on them, with your help, we will slaughter them.’ ”

Link: (read the whole story for clarification)

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/12/marine_conway_121509w/

7.) Retired general advised Corps, pitched gear. Is there not one winning general who knows how to WIN a war left in the Marine Corps? I love the Marine Corps, but I WANT A VICTORY IN THIS WAR IN AFGHANISTAN SO THE TROOPS CAN COME HOME! Link:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/12/gns_military_generals_contractors_121509/

8.)  Bring back the Prussians!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/opinion/16iht-edgreenway.html?tntemail1=y&_r=1&emc=tnt&pagewanted=print

9.) HQ to Marines in Afghanistan: sleep in a hole! Link:

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/12/16/hq-to-marines-in-afghanistan-sleep-in-a-hole/

 

 

 

Afghanistan Today-The GWOT HotSpot-12-16-09-Wed.

Getting fuel into Afghanistan for US troops to use is a difficult mission. See story at #1. Check #2 for a web site I just found today which deals with military issues.

May U.S. troops be led by generals who have field experience (Field General) and are seeped in and project a CULTURE OF VICTORY.

In the meantime, some Gitmo terrorist detainees are being brought to Illinois. This is a disgrace, but each day it seems the news gets more and more grim.

In the war the US faces in Afghanistan, the news becomes dire, because the American generals now have a culture of nincompoopery. They need to be replaced with generals who have a CULTURE OF VICTORY. The U.S. can win any war we want to. The key is “want to”. We need to regroup and focus on VICTORY and total surrender of the enemy.

God bless our troops, may the culture of victory surround them and lead them on to win this war and bring them all home soon.

1.)  Supplying American troops in Afghanistan with fuel will be real challenge for Pentagon. Link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/14/AR2009121403123.html

2.) Web site dealing with the military:

http://waronterrornews.typepad.com/home/2009/12/driving-ambulances-in-helmand-afghanistan.html