Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 8-27-12-Mon.

Two more Americans were killed by an Afghan soldier or soldiers today. Please remember our troops in your prayers. Contact your elected officials: CNN reported two Friday’s ago that the cost for current operations, which does not include the lifetime care of injured, etc. is $2 billion dollars. That is two thousand million dollars! The cost in blood and treasure is too much. God bless American troops. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) British Royal Marines train for Afghanistan, they previously served in deadly Sangin. Like the American Marines they are now being told to, out of cultural sensitivity to the Afghans, stop farting and cussing. Link:

http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Taunton-based-Marines-prepare-new-Afghanistan/story-16770318-detail/story.html

2.) American troops killed by Afghan forces. Meanwhile, the Taliban killed their fellow Afghans, they beheaded 17. Link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/28/world/asia/attacks-on-soldiers-and-civilians-leave-dozens-dead-in-afghanistan.html

3.) US troops punished for doing what they were ordered: burning enemy communication. This needs to be overturned, and only officers in charge punished, for the situation getting out, and not explaining that they were burning as ordered, enemy communication. The Koran was already defaced with their writing in it for enemy communications. Link:

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0827/US-soldiers-punished-over-Quran-Burning-in-Afghanistan

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 1-6-11-Fri.

The new year starts off with lots of change in the military. Yesterday President Obama gave a short speech about downsizing the military, followed by a press conference with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Army General Martin Dempsey.  God bless our troops and may they return home in victory from Afghanistan. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Story about yesterday’s speech on defense by President Obama, which was followed up by a press conference by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Army General Martin Dempsey. The subject was the downsizing of the US military and financial constraints on our military.

http://www.rr.com/politics/topic/article/rr/55255090/59031170/Obama_unveiling_strategy_for_slimmed-down_military

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 1-5-12-Thurs.

The war drags on in Afghanistan. God bless American troops. Links from around the GWOT:

1.)  Last Haditha defendant stands trial:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2012/01/ap-marine-frank-wuterich-last-hadithah-defendant-stand-trial-010412/

2.) Pilot alleged to have killed 3, then himself, including fellow pilot and sister:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2012/01/navy-shooting-coronado-murder-suicide-pilots-010412w/

3.) Removing gear from Afghanistan proves difficult:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2012/01/ap-afghanistan-removing-gear-proves-difficult-010312/

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 1-3-12-Tue.

Another week in a new year and US troops remain locked in battle in Afghanistan. May they win this war and come home in victory soon. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) The GWOT includes attacks on US soil, even before 9-11-01 there were attacks on the World Trade Center in the early 1990’s, then the attack on US Embassy property in the late 1990’s, continuing through today. This Congressional report lists threats and arrests made and details information about homegrown terrorists. Link:

http://homeland.house.gov/sites/homeland.house.gov/files/Investigative_Report_Homegrown_Terrorism_Military.pdf

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) Wed. 12-28-11

Another holiday season past us, another new year dawning. For U.S. troops in Afghanistan, it’s another day, another year at war. God bless American troops and may they secure victory soon and return home. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Marine General Mattis, head of Central Command offers guidelines on operations on Pakistan border. Again, the story refers to Pakistan’s lawless border area. If the area is “lawless” then it is not under the control of Pakistan. Why is it “lawless”? Link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/top-general-orders-commanders-to-improve-coordination-with-pakistan-correct-maps-of-border/2011/12/27/gIQA2LWwKP_story.html

2.) No welcome home parade planned for US troops this story says. I again wrote my elected officials and Pres. Obama and asked for not only a parade for Iraq war vets who served honorably, but also an IRAQ VICTORY MEDAL with motto: VICTORY THROUGH STRENGTH:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/27/as-iraq-war-ends-no-parad_n_1171414.html?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl4%7Csec3_lnk1%26pLid%3D123364

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 12-19-11-Mon.

Another week at war in Afghanistan while Americans head back to work in the countdown before Christmas. Shopping, eating, drinking hot coffee, our freedoms are secured by our troops serving abroad in Afghanistan and around the world. Merry Christmas to our troops! Links from around the GWOT:

1.) No way out! The US is depending upon the northern transit route to get supplies into Afghanistan for American troops. The various countries have signed on to let the supplies go into Afghanistan, but there is no provision for them to transit out! Right now, no way out! The State Department is working on it though. Link:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/12/ap-us-shifts-to-central-asia-for-supply-routes-121911/

2.) Another excellent post by Gold Star Marine Father John Bernard, himself a retired Marine. There are talks going on with the Taliban, read his comments here and pass it on. This thought-provoking article needs widespread distribution. Link:

http://letthemfight.blogspot.com/2011/12/us-taliban-talks-said-to-be-at-critical.html

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 11-30-11-Wed.

The war goes on in Afghanistan, while America’s involvement in Iraq comes to an end soon, at the end of December 2011. There is an end date for the Afghanistan War in 2014.

1.) Iran gets in the picture now, attacks British Embassy in Tehran. Link:

http://frontpagemag.com/2011/11/30/islamic-republic-bites-back/?utm_source=FrontPage+Magazine&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=5ff817b2cb-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) Sat. 11-26-11

It’s a shopping weekend in America after yesterday’s “Black Friday” crowds. And our freedom to shop is all brought to us by our U.S. troops, sacrificing to keep us free. God bless them as it seems they are forgotten on the frontiers of Afghanistan while America shops. Pray for our troops, for victory, so they can come home soon. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Pakistan is reported to have stopped NATO supply shipments to troops, including American troops, in Afghanistan after a reported attack on their troops. See the story for the details. Link:

http://www.rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/55254887/56362521/NATO_Pakistan_border_attack_being_investigated

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 11-19-11 Sat.

A weekend away from war for Americans, planning Thanksgiving meals, travel, and starting Christmas shopping this week. Time to live in peace, purchase food from our bountiful grocery stores, and prepare for the big meal Thursday. But, our troops in Afghanistan, other than a Thanksgiving meal they try to have prepared for them, face another day at war. God bless them this weekend and throughout the rest of this month as they celebrate Thanksgiving at war. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Family of Marine Lance Corporal Benjamin Schmidt, killed in action in Afghanistan Oct. 6, 2011 by friendly fire, speaks out:

http://homepost.kpbs.org/tag/lance-cpl-benjamin-schmidt/

2.) Marine Mom pursues justice for her fallen son and others:

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/capital-connection/washington/article638871.ece

3.) Book: The inside mission to kill Osama Bin Laden. I haven’t read the book, and don’t know what to believe, so judge for yourself.  I have heard the author on several radio shows, and in interview such as in this story. Yet, the US government has come out and said the story is not true. Can we believe them? Who can we believe? What really hapened? Link:

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=47471

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) Sat. 10-22-11

Another weekend at war for U.S. troops. May God bless the USA and keep our troops safe. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tells Pakistan to shut down terrorists operating in lawless areas on their border. Since these areas are described as ‘lawless’ then Pakistan does not truly rule them. If they are a danger to the U.S. troops or U.S. citizens who may be victims of plots hatched there, then the U.S. has a responsibility to strike there if need be, such as in the Bin Laden raid, I would think. Link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/22/world/asia/clinton-prods-pakistanis-again-though-more-gently.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y