Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 1-7-12-Sat.

A weekend at war for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. God bless them and keep them save as they strive for victory. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) President Obama discusses defense budget cuts, does not get specific:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/05/2575612/obama-outlines-leaner-military.html#disqus_thread

2.) Forgiveness doesn’t apply to war enemies: Letter to the editor:

http://www.jdnews.com/articles/main-99124-editor-problem.html

3.) In the discussions about the Department of Defense budget cuts, little is said about the veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who are in the VA system. Read this important McClatchy report and click on the data base by zip code showing all the injured, not just those combat injured.

From the story, important figures, click at link for full story:

For the VA system, that means costs will grow for years to come — even as the country is entering a period of belt-tightening that could reduce the size of government and put a damper on the agency’s ability to find the money to pay these expenses. The fatalities in war are only a small portion of its ultimate human cost. Soldiers back from the war in Afghanistan, which began in 2001, or the war in Iraq, which began in 2003, carry with them a lifetime of physical and mental reminders. According to VA and Department of Defense information compiled by the advocacy group Veterans for Common Sense, 2.2 million service members have deployed to one of the wars since Sept. 11, 2001; 942,000 have deployed two or more times. Of those, 6,300 service members have died, and 46,000 have suffered non-fatal wounds in action. But more than 600,000 veterans have filed for VA disability benefits, and more than 700,000 have been treated in the VA’s medical system. “Right now, VA is getting about 10,000 new Iraq and Afghanistan claims and patients per month,” said Paul Sullivan, executive director of the National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates, which helps veterans file their disability claims. “The numbers are devastating.” Compensating veterans for those injuries is the duty of the VA.

Link:

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/12/05/131870/as-iraq-and-afghan-wars-end-costs.html

4.) McClatchy had to use the Freedom of Information Act to get this information. Search for war wounded in the VA, not just combat injured, but all injuries, via zip code. Link:

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/12/03/132079/search-va-disability-database.html

5.) Pentagon undercounting injuries due to concussions: “Concussions missing from U.S. casualty list”-USA TODAY report. Compare to the McClatchy report on the number of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan in the VA disability and/or medical system. Link:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2012-01-05/concussions-war-casualties/52397238/1

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) Sun. 10-23-11

Another Sunday at war for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. But, for U.S. Marines, the fight continues on since this day in 1983, the day the U.S. Marine barracks was hit in Beirut by a huge bomb, killing, I believe, 241 Americans, mostly Marines, but a few Americans from other service branches. Restricted rules of engagement contributed to the bombing in Beirut being so deadly, but today in Afghanistan our troops toil under rules of engagement which put them in danger, and thus the American public in danger. God bless our troops. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Several Marine food service specialists died in the Beirut bombing 10-23-1983. This site provides information on some of the Marines cooks who died that day. Link:

http://mikefishbaugh.homestead.com/BeirutFallen.html

2.) Camp Lejeune Marines honor their fallen in Beirut attack 10-23-1983:

http://www.jdnews.com/articles/anniversary-96461-beirut-camp.html

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) Sat. 8-20-11

The war plods on in Afghanistan. God bless US troops. Meanwhile, ghosts of wars past are in Washington DC, with chemical munitions from WWI era being discovered. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Chemical munitions from wars past being found in Washington DC:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/08/military-chemical-munitions-plague-washington-neighborhood-081911w/

2.) Another American Marine death in Afghanistan, this time a 19-year old from Camp Lejeune:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/us/20list.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

 

Afghanistan Today-The GWOT Hotspot-Sun. 9-26-10

A Sunday in America, where we can attend the church of our choice and freely practice our Christian beliefs; something not allowed in some of the countries our troops are now stationed in. God bless the USA and God bless our troops who secure our republic and our freedoms. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Pentagon destroys thousands of copies of military officer’s memoirs, burns books:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/25/books.destroyed/index.html

2.) Marine becomes father of twins while deployed to Afghanistan; describes attempt to win hearts and minds of Afghan citizens:

http://montgomerynews.com/articles/2010/09/25/springford_reporter_valley_item/news/doc4c9ac397f1566914661983.txt

3.) Vermont Marine killed in Afghanistan:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2010/09/26/marine_from_vermont_killed_in_afghanistan/

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot-Mon. 9-20-10

Hard to believe another month at war for U.S. troops is winding down. The war’s not winding down, but the month is almost over is what I mean. In Afghanistan another election cycle over the weekend and more battles for U.S. troops there. Meanwhile, at home, bedbugs infest barracks at Camp Lejeune, another battle to get rid of them, made more difficult, as the story at #1 points out, without the use of DDT. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Bedbugs infest Camp Lejeune Marine barracks:

http://www.jdnews.com/news/barracks-82756-first-case.html

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hot Spot-Wed. 7-21-10

It’s hot in Afghanistan as U.S. troops work to secure victory. Pray for our troops, and contact your elected officials about this undeclared war, I suggest telling them: LET THEM FIGHT OR BRING THEM HOME.

This link at #1 is the web site of Gold Star father John Bernard, a retired Marine whose Marine son was KIA in Afghanistan in 2009.

Link below to stories around the GWOT.

1.) Excellent information at the LET THEM FIGHT OR BRING THEM HOME WEB SITE:

http://letthemfight.blogspot.com/

2.) More excellent stories at this link, by Diana West:

http://dianawest.net/

3.) Female American troops teach female Afghan soldiers:

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/07/19/americans-empower-women-taliban-kill-women/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicsdaily.com%2F2010%2F07%2F19%2Famericans-empower-women-taliban-kill-women%2F

4.)  North Carolina hit hard by combat deaths, I noted one vehicle hit an IED and 4 soldiers were killed. The US needs to fight this war to WIN! Link:

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/07/20/589074/nc-is-hit-hard-by-troops-deaths.html

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot-4th of July 2010-Sun.

Another Independence Day spent in Afghanistan by U.S. troops who are at war, while many in the country and upper echelons of the political and military class seem to be “at the mall.” (Or on the golf course).  The best way to WIN this war is with a quick VICTORY. Get some generals off the golf course, pull some back from retirement, and think of plans to WIN. Don’t let Gen. McChrystal retire with four stars, as I read in stories it is required to serve at least 3 years in that position before you can retire at that rank. Put him to work the next two years if he wants to retire at four stars, by presenting and coming up with plans to win the war, besides the losing counterinsurgency plan he followed the last few years. For the sake of our warriors, the politicians AND generals, and other officers who want to move up, MUST have a CULTURE OF VICTORY they can instill in the troops they lead.

I have also heard many quotes, even today on CNN by Rep. Duncan Hunter, and I like him a lot, that the U.S. “won” the Iraq War. I have written my representative and two senators and sent a fax to President Obama at the White House to PLEASE issue immediately for all who served honorably in Iraq, the IRAQ VICTORY MEDAL. This should be done ASAP!

Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Maybe new rules for VICTORY should be issued to American officers too:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704699604575343603185954846.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

2.) Vermont National Guard soldier murdered in Afghanistan. Has the murderer been arrested and held accountable:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/03/afghanistan.soldier.death/?hpt=T2

3.) China invests in Afghanistan:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g8SC2Cv9tmF8F3ikTseBTnL_apEAD9GO0EO01

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot-6-5-10-Fri.

Again, not much in the way of American victory to report.  Not much in the way of winning battles for the Americans to report either. I pray for the day that American secures victory in this war and the troops can come home and the US brings its money home with them. In the meantime, more deaths of US troops, more US tax dollars being spent, etc. Links from around the GWOT below.

1.) Another Marines dies in Afghanistan, another brave hero laid to rest. God bless his family, link:

http://www.freep.com/article/20100603/NEWS04/6030333/Fallen-Marine-felt-duty-to-serve

Afghanistan Today-The GWOT Hotspot-2-9-10-Tue.

Marines prepare for the battle of Marjah.  Marine Brig. General Larry Nicholson says we are not there to kill the Taliban but to make friends with them and/or the villagers. We will see how this plan goes down when it happens. God bless the USA. God bless the US Marines. Links:

1.) Marines prepare for battle of Marjah. I don’t see how it can be a victory for the USA if they are saying BEFORE the fight they will show restrainint in use of air strikes and artillery. God bless the USA. Link:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-afghan-civilians9-2010feb09,0,7485061.story

2.) All U.S. Marines leaving Iraq. Now let’s have them leave Afghanistan and take our money with us. Link:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/02/marine_withdrawal_020810w/

3.) Afghans to lead and play big role in battle of Marjah. Let’s hope the enemy is killed and the US troops can come home in victory after 9 long years. Link:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/02/ap_nato_afghans_020810w/

4.) Kabul Gorge: You have to read this and see the photo about this highway in Afghanistan:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/world/asia/08road.html

5.) U.S. troops sacrificed for government of Afghanistan. Read this story and please contact your elected officials about the deadly situation US troops face due to restricted rules of engagement which must be dropped. Link:

http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/02/08/2197043.aspx

Afghanistan Today-the GWOT Hotspot-1-15-10-Fri.

The Afghanistan war goes on, but in the meantime, the Marines will be sent to Haiti as well. God bless the U.S. Marines and our troops around the world.

The point of posting Haiti stories here? I just think because it shows there are other situations which happen and need U.S. military help besides Afghanistan. Should the USA get bogged down in land locked Afghanistan? With the reports of Taliban-led anti-American riots and crowds shooting and throwing rocks at U.S. troops in Afghanistan, maybe they don’t want us there and we should focus on other countries? I don’t know, just an idea.

Links from around the GWOT:

1.)  Haiti earthquake report:

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/18940

2.) Here come the Marines! Called to secure Haiti in 2010. The Marines basically ran Haiti when they were there from 1915-1934. Link:

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N14193646.htm

3.) Gangs of men armed with machetes run the streets of Haiti, some describe it as hell on earth. Link:

http://wcbstv.com/national/haiti.earthquake.haiti.2.1427143.html

4.) General supports courts martial for Navy Seals:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1968527,navy-seals-trial-defended-010110.article