Orangekite1’s Weblog

Now word comes out that Iran is closer to a nuke than we thought. Imagine that, our intelligence being off again! God bless our 17,000 troops going to Afghanistan for the troop surge. Pray for our 8,000 U.S. Marines from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina deploying for battle in the Global War on Terrorism, back to the GWOT hot spot-Afghanistan. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) The Taliban are “civilians” as they don’t wear uniforms! They are the ones endangering civilians if they go into their homes and start shooting at US troops. God bless the USA and the US troops. Link:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-afghan-civilians_barkerfeb18,0,3871580.story

2.) U.S. troop buildup defining moment for Pres. Obama:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0219/p01s01-usfp.html#

3.)  Fallen Marine’s funeral, died from wounds suffered when he hit an illegal landmine in Afghanistan. Link:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/easton/news/x82781647/-It-is-overwhelming-Hundreds-attend-funeral-for-fallen-Marine-in-Bridgewater

4.)  BBC on the Afghan troop surge:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7897761.stm

5.)  “Taking Chance”, HBO films movie about a Marine officer taking a fallen Marine home. Link:

http://www.hbo.com/films/takingchance/

6.)  Iwo Jima: 65 years ago this week, now if the leaders in today’s Marine Corps would just untie their hands and let them fight and win the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Link:

http://www.silive.com/news/advance/index.ssf?/base/news/1235135711292160.xml&coll=1

7.)  Afghanistan commander welcomes additional troops. The president should call him in and fire him for not fighting and not winning. The rules of engagement he put in place make the war in Afghanistan unfightable and thus unwinnable. Air strikes should continue to be used rather than sending in these new troops on the ground to have their legs blown off or killed by illegal landmines. I don’t know why the UN isn’t out there sweeping for landmines and filing charges against those who set them, against international law? Link:

http://www.centcom.mil/en/news/afghanistan-commander-welcomes-additional-troops.html

8.)  US receives eviction notice from base crucial for supply route into Afghanistan:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/02/20/2009-02-20_kyrgyzstan_issues_eviction_notice_to_key.html

9.)  First 3,000 troops sent for Afghanistan surge in battle already:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/02/17/2009-02-17_start_of_afghanistan_surge_newest_us_tro.html

10.)  Main character in “Taking Chance” crunched numbers at Quantico rather than go to war. I believe Quantico and the Command College should be located FORWARD and signs put on their doors: OUT TO WAR. What better place to learn about war than on the battlefield?

Link:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/02/marine_takingchance_022009w/

11.) Taliban at our door:

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Feb212009/netmail20090220119727.asp

12.)  No habeas rights at Bagram:

http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/us-no-habeas-rights-at-bagram/

13.)  NY Times will now spell Marines with a capital “M”:

http://topics.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/when-every-letter-counts/

14.) Hamas slipped note to Obama via Sen. John Kerry! Link:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/20/kerry.letter/index.html

15.) Iran closer to nuke than thought:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/20/iran.nuclear/index.html

The Global War on Terror has its hot spots; today it’s Afghanistan; but tomorrow who knows? Who would have expected the attack in India? On 9-10-01 who would have ever have even thought of an attack on U.S. shores? Who would have thought of attacks on trains in Spain or buses in England? Worldwide the terrorists are out to, as their name implies, terrorize. Not only that, but to terrorize by killing Americans and other citizens of countries in the Western world.

Our brave troops soldier on, another year at war, with an increase in troops being sent to Afghanistan. God bless them and say a prayer for victory for our American troops and their allies in this GWOT. Links below to stories from around the GWOT.

1.)  Afghanistan surge is a losing battle. One writer’s opinion. That’s what makes America great, we have the freedom to express our opinion. That’s what our troops on the front lines are fighting for. Link:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123143672297764875.html

2.)  Mother of fallen soldier helps injured troops at Landsthul, Germany hospital. A true hero her son was, and she is too. God bless this mother, her son, a captain was murdered in Afghanistan. I hope they have arrested his murderer, although I know they had a big jail break in Afghanistan releasing the terrorists. Link:

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59885

3.)  Jaywalking Lt. Col. hit by bus in Korea and killed. This is sad, but I wonder why he was jaywalking across a bus lane? Now I understand why they give all those tickets for jaywalking, they don’t want soldiers and Marines to do it for safety reasons. This officer was 3 weeks short of retirement. I am sad for his family and that it happened, perhaps some good will come out of it. We also tend to forget our soldiers and Marines are still in Korea all these many years after the shooting stopped. Although, technically the North and South Koreans are still at war. Link:

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59893

4.)  More charges against Army soldiers for actions in Iraq. I am just not sure what to make of all these cases against soldiers and Marines for actions during time of war, it seems they are doing their job and charged for things which the “greatest generation” from WWII were never charged for. Many civilians were killed in Japan and Germany in WWII and I can’t think of a string of charges against our soldiers and Marines like this. Link:

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59859

5.)  Hidden bomb in Sadr city mosque parking lot kills U.S. soldier. I hope the Iraqi government apologized to us for the death of  this soldier by one of their citizens. I would like to read the apology it or see it on YouTube. I also would like to know if the murderer has been arrested and is in a secure jail? We don’t need a bomber like this hiding more bombs in or around mosques or elsewhere in Iraq. You might write your senators and representatives and ask them these questions. Link:

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59864

6.)  U.S. adds eight bases in Afghanistan, and this is even before Pres. Obama is sworn in. The GWOT hot spot has been determined to be Afghanistan, and the American troops have to have quarters and supplies.  From the story and link:

“One of the most notable FOBs in the south is the former compound of Mullah Omar, the reclusive Taliban leader who fled the country during the initial U.S. invasion. That base is used by secretive special operations forces and the CIA.”

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=30169

7.)  A recent story posted recounting a fight with 250 Taliban taking on 30 Marines. The Marines were allowed to fight, no criminal charges have been filed against them so far as I know, and won the battle, killing many enemy Afghans, thus helping clear the way for the troops coming in the surge. Link:

http://www.examiner.com/x-2304-DC-Republican-Examiner~y2009m1d8-250-terrorists-pick-a-fight-with-30-US-Marines—-and-get-crushed

8.) Strong group of Marine lance corporals doing their job in Iraq:

http://www.examiner.com/x-2304-DC-Republican-Examiner~y2009m1d8-250-terrorists-pick-a-fight-with-30-US-Marines—-and-get-crushed

9.)  Marines: At their best when things are at their worst. Link:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-camp-pendleton-awards9-2009jan09,0,7148192.story

10.)  Camp Lejeune Marine who told his father he didn’t “feel safe” found dead in his room on base. Link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28581472/