Orangekite1’s Weblog

ABC News July 14 (yesterday) had a story with Bob Woodruff, the reporter injured in Iraq, interviewing Joint Chiefs head, Adm. Mullen. Mullen described how US fighter pilots are not dropping bombs now, they will just fly over and scare the Taliban in Afghanistan. It also showed the Marines on the ground, and told the world and the enemy they are forbidden from shooting under most circumstances because a civilian may be killed. I saw with these restricted rules of engagement endangering our troops on the ground, they should come and the USA should bring its money with us. If all it takes to scare the Taliban is for a jet to fly low overhead, they take all US troops off the battlefield and just use jet fighters flying in off a ship to scare the Taliban.

Various links below from around the Global War on Terrorism. I did read  in the Wall Street Journal several days ago in an opinion piece by a general, that the pull back from Iraq shows how the mission was a success. I wrote my representative and senators and said I would like work to begin on an  IRAQ VICTORY MEDAL. Our troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom should have a victory medal.  Links:

1.) So, now are American military men forced to hold hands with the “villagers”? See photos, also it says US troops still wary. Why not send in Afghan troops and bring the US troops and our money home?  I will send this story to my representative and senators, it states that US taxpayer money is going to build mosques. I believe that is unconstitutional. At least they should build a church too if building a mosque. Actually I don’t think any religious building should be built with US tax dollars. Link:

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=63725

2.) DoD ID’s 2 Marines murdered in Afghanistan. May they RIP.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/07/marine_afghanistan_casualties_071409/

3.) Obama HOPES for new Afghan phase after election:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/07/ap_obama_afghan_elections_071409/

4.)  Status on Afghanistan some villagers say they don’t want us. Link:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/07/2009713112155517200.html

5.) Two deceased British soldiers, killed in Afghanistan,  lived for the Army:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/2531741/Pride-of-two-who-lived-for-Army.html

6.) Afghanistan mission creep watch:

http://www.democracyarsenal.org/2009/07/afghan-1.html

7.) Daily air power summary. I don’t know if it is worth the fuel and carbon footprint in the long run to scare the terrorists if they can come back to fight another day. Well, the flyovers scared the terrorists in this incident, but I am saying they will come back without bombings to kill them. July 13 airpower list. Link:

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123158576

8.) Al Qaida #2 speaking out, threatening again:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j6yJswHNxPEramynTgA44OZvclbQD99EOMK80

9.) Factbox from Reuters-it does state incorrectly 10,000 US Marines are in on the operation STRIKE OF THE SWORD. Apparently there are 4,000 Marines on the Strike of the Sword. I don’t know if Marines have used their sword either, with the restricted rules of engagement. It also states that a similar sized British operation in ongoing called Panther’s Claw, referring to the 10,000 figure. I don’t think this number is correct either.

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSSP506492

10.) US military deaths in Afghanistan at 663. Let’s pray it does not grow, that restricted rules of engagement do not get US and our allied troops killed. Link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/14/AR2009071403309.html

11.) Pride and anger as eight bodies of British troops killed by the Taliban return home: (be sure to look at photos. NATO and American forces should only be sent in to wars to WIN.)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jul/14/british-soldiers-killedby-taliban-afghanistan

12.) Afghan War buried bombs put danger in every step. This is why Gen. McChrystal’s orders, which he must be getting from the Commander in Chief, to let the enemy escape are dangerous to US and allied troops. Any enemy allowed to escape can set bombs or in other ways kill US troops and our allies. I am sending this to my members of Congress and the President. I suggest if you are concerned about the restricted rules of engagement getting US and allied troops killed, do the same: send to your reps, the President, and members of the Armed Forces Committees in the House and Senate. Link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/15/world/asia/15ied.html?hpw