I was taken aback when Mr. Fancy Schmancy shouted "A pox on both your houses!" as I was unaware that he knew of my summer home. Founding member of the Hogtown Irregulars, and former indentured short order cook still on the run. Professional Zamboni racer and bronze medal recipient in the 2010 All-Miami Outdoor Zamboni Championships.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Great Moments In Time
General in Pat Tillman Probe Reprimanded, Panel Receives Demotion Referral
"A friendly fire investigation was begun one day after Tillman's death but the soldiers and some commanders believed the information was "close hold" and classified due to the nature of the mission Tillman and his fellow Rangers were participating in at the time of his death.
Tillman was 27 when he was killed on April 22, 2004. He had joined the Rangers after walking away from a $3.6 million pro football contract. The Army has conducted seven investigations into the incident. Geren said Tuesday the Kensinger referral would be the last.
The Army secretary said they did not find any intentional cover-up. The Army inspector general did not conclude that Tillman was killed as a result of a criminal act.
"It's a perfect storm of mistakes, misjudgments and a failure of leadership," Geren said. Still, he said, "We have made mistakes over and over and over, an incredible number of mistakes in handling this. Still, he said, "the facts just don't support this conclusion. There was no cover up."
I've stayed away from commenting upon the Tillman story until I had most of the available facts. Well I still don't, but the one thing that was repeated over and over was the fact that the Army personnel involved thought they were following procedure in not disclosing sensitive information concerning a classified mission. If Pat Tillman were just another Joe Blow Jr. little of this would have mattered in the long run. The family would have been lied to, along with the media, then a formal (but without fanfare) apology would have been forthcoming as soon as the family members understood the gravity of the situation and were asked not to discuss it with anyone. There's an awful lot of bullshit lurking in that average-guy scenario, but thats how the Army works. It has always taken itself far too seriously regarding the sanctity of man-made laws that at the end of the day are mere formalities. Yes, he was involved in a secret endeavor. Yes, he was killed by friendly fire. Both of these unequivocal affirmations should have been a done deal, without the details, at the very START of the process to disseminate the truth. Secrecy Is important, but there are a myriad of ways in which to disclose the facts without making it appear to be a cover up from the get-go.
Words To Cringe By...
U.N. Security Council Approves Darfur Peacekeeping Force
UNITED NATIONS — "The U.N. Security Council approved a 26,000-strong peacekeeping force for Darfur on Tuesday to try to help end four years of fighting that has killed more than 200,000 people in the conflict-wracked Sudanese region.
The force — the first joint peacekeeping mission by the African Union and the United Nations — will replace the beleaguered 7,000-strong AU force now on the ground in Darfur no later than Dec. 31. The council urged that the AU-U.N. "hybrid" force achieve "full operational capability and force strength as soon as possible thereafter."
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called it a "historic and unprecedented resolution" that will send "a clear and powerful signal" of the U.N.'s commitment to help to the people of Darfur and the surrounding region "and close this tragic chapter in Sudan's history."
Britain's U.N. Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry called it "an unprecedented undertaking in scale, complexity and importance."
There, my friends, goes the neighborhood.
FYI
Fact of the matter is, it seems I've been Fudded. No skin off my nose, cause like I said, it was sort of a public service deal anyway. But I won't tolerate heavy handed bullshit from anyone. Particularly some jerkwad link that purports to be a friend of the 2nd but can go ahead and arbitrarily diss someone and not have the balls to answer why. As soon as I finish this post I'll delete these fraudulent asswipes from the list of links.
Harrassment Charges Against Red's Dropped...
Our attorneys have spoken with the US Attorneys office and they have agreed to neutralize the Third Status Concern in which they claim that I harassed and intimidated them. Although an apology would be nice, this will suffice. We are pleased with this decision and with the response that we have received from supporters across the nation who have been following this case.
There is still no court date in sight because of all of the attempts of the ATF to get the judge to terminate our injunction that was granted. I am assuming that the audits will continue but as I was pointing out in my now infamous blog that the scrutiny has dramatically increased, where as in our 2005 audit we had one inspector that covered 5 years worth of paperwork. In the last audit they flew in 2 Inspectors and an Area Supervisor to cover 2 1/2 weeks of paperwork.
Thanks to: The War on Guns.
I wouldn't Be Caught Dead In Cammy-ANYTHING, Because...
From: Himsworth SgtMaj Ronald D [mailto:ronald.himsworth@usmc.mil]
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 6:35 AM
Subject: ALMAR 035/07 WEAR OF THE MARINE CORPS COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM
Importance: High
UNCLAS 251400Z JUL 07 CMCUC
TO AL ALMAR(UC)
ALMAR
ALMAR 035/07
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/WEAR OF THE MARINE CORPS COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM//
POC/YA2 M. BOYT/-/MCUB/-/TEL:-(703)432-4607 OR DSN 378-4607 /EMAIL
MARY.BOYT@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/
1. FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, OUR CORPS HAS BEEN IN A
TRANSITION PHASE WITH REGARD TO OUR UTILITY UNIFORMS. THAT PERIOD
IS NOW ENDED. AS MARINES, OUR UNIFORMS AND MILITARY APPEARANCE ARE
AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR IDENTITY AND HAVE TRADITIONALLY MARKED US
AS THE NATION'S MOST DISTINCTIVE MILITARY SERVICE. AS SUCH,
UNIFORMITY AND AN OUTWARD PRIDE IN OUR APPEARANCE HAVE BEEN
CONSTANTS FOR EVERY MARINE - FROM PRIVATE TO GENERAL.
2. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ALMAR IS TO ENHANCE THAT UNIFORMITY; TO
FURTHER DEFINE WHAT ARE CONSIDERED EMERGENCY STOPS OFF-BASE IN THE
MARINE CORPS COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM (MCCUU); AND TO PRESCRIBE SEASONAL
WEAR AND APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS FOR THE MCCUU WHILE IN GARRISON. THIS
ALMAR APPLIES TO THE ACTIVE AND RESERVE FORCE. THIS ALMAR OUTLINES
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO CURRENT POLICY AND SHOULD BE READ IN ITS ENTIRETY.
3. THE MCCUU IS A FIELD UNIFORM AND IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR WEAR IN A
CIVILIAN ENVIRONMENT. WEAR OF THE MCCUU IS AUTHORIZED WHILE COMMUTING
TO AND FROM WORK VIA PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLE. HOWEVER, EFFECTIVE
IMMEDIATELY, AND AS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE REF, EN ROUTE STOPS
WHILE OFF-BASE ARE NOT AUTHORIZED EXCEPT FOR BONAFIDE EMERGENCIES, SUCH
AS MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, VEHICLE BREAKDOWN, OR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS.
4. MARINES MAY ONLY WEAR THE MCCUU AT OFF-BASE ESTABLISHMENTS WHEN USING
DRIVE-THRU SERVICES SUCH AS ATMS, FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS, OR DRY CLEANERS
WHEN THEY WILL NOT EXIT THE VEHICLE.
4.A. THE MCCUU IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR AT OFFICIAL / UNOFFICIAL
FUNCTIONS AND CONFERENCES HELD OFF-BASE OR OFF GOVERNMENT INSTALLATIONS
AND FACILITIES.
4.B. IAW ALMAR 054/06, MARINES IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION CONTINUE
TO BE RESTRICTED FROM WEARING THE MCCUU ON ANY FORM OF PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION, TO INCLUDE METRO, BUSES, AND SLUG LINES; AND AT ANY
DOD-LEASED, CIVILIAN FACILITIES, SUCH AS THOSE IN CRYSTAL CITY.
5. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, WHEN THE MCCUU UNIFORM IS DESIGNATED BY A
LOCAL COMMANDER AS THE UNIFORM OF THE DAY IN GARRISON, THE FOLLOWING
POLICY APPLIES:
5.A. DURING THE SUMMER SEASON, THE DESERT MCCUU WITH SLEEVES ROLLED UP
WILL BE WORN AS THE UNIFORM OF THE DAY.
5.B. DURING THE WINTER SEASON, THE WOODLAND MCCUU WITH SLEEVES DOWN WILL
BE WORN AS THE UNIFORM OF THE DAY.
5.C. LOCAL COMMANDERS WILL CONTINUE TO PRESCRIBE THE APPROPRIATE UNIFORM
FOR FIELD AND TACTICAL ENVIRONMENTS.
5.D. WHEN AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR, DESERT FLIGHT SUITS WILL BE WORN IN THE
SUMMER SEASON AND GREEN FLIGHT SUITS WILL BE WORN IN THE WINTER SEASON.
6. THE INTENT OF THIS ALMAR IS TO CREATE A STANDARD FOR WEAR OF THE
MCCUU FOR ALL MARINES. HOWEVER, IT IS RECOGNIZED THAT UNIFORM POLICIES
AT CERTAIN JOINT HEADQUARTERS, AND CLIMACTIC CONDITIONS AT SOME OF OUR
BASES OR STATIONS, MAY LEAD TO REQUESTS FOR WAIVER TO POLICY. SUCH
REQUESTS FOR WAIVER SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY COMMANDING GENERALS OR
COMPONENT COMMANDERS, WITH JUSTIFICATION, TO THE COMMANDANT. ANY SUCH
REQUESTS FOR WAIVER WILL BE CONSIDERED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
7. SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT
OF THE MARINE CORPS//
Translation: Marines were NEVER supposed to wear their utility uniforms
off base. Those guys you see running around
the airports in utility-type clothing are not Marines,
It's come to the attention of the brass that maybe, just maybe, some
Marines are wearing their
work clothes out in public.
The only clothing suitable for wear amongst the general
populace are dress uniforms.
Period. No cammy this or that.
My apologies that Blogger has trashed this posting all to hell
with regards to formatting.
I'm tired of trying to fix it, so to ALL HANDS:
Utilities are banned, okay.
At Club Gitmo...
"An inmate of Guantanamo Bay who spends 22 hours each day in an isolation cell is fighting for the right to stay in the notorious internment camp.
Ahmed Belbacha fears that he will be tortured or killed if the United States goes ahead with plans to return him to his native Algeria.
The London Times reported that Belbacha, who lived in Britain for three years, has filed an emergency motion at the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., asking for his transfer out of Guantanamo to be halted. He was cleared for release from Camp Delta in February and his lawyers believe that his return to Algerian custody is imminent.
Read the original report in the London Times.
Belbacha says that if he returns to Algeria, he faces the threat of torture by security services and murder by Islamist terrorists.
Zachary Katznelson, senior counsel with the human rights lawyers Reprieve and Belbacha’s lawyer, has asked the US courts to block any transfer."
This is how ludicrous it has become. If we send terrorists to this tropical island paradise, the loons weep. If we send them home, the loons weep. Now, I totally understand the concept of the good Lord providing us with liberals (its to make us feel better no matter how trying our own lives might be), and while I'd never feed one lest it followed me home, far too many others do just that so I fear they are multiplying at a rate faster than nature can knock them off via natural selection. When this occurs with other species, localities usually declare some sort of open-hunting season upon them, such as the gator winnow I'll be participating in in a few weeks time. Not that they don't do quite well in culling their own ranks, what with abortion on demand and all, but as of late it seems that everywhere I turn there's yet another overly inbred gaggle of loon-atics begging for attention.
As a Marine I'd never harm a woman or child, similar to the way deer hunters make the same considerations. But the Founding Father's knew when it was time to declare Redcoats an endangered species.
Maybe the Constitution needs a reboot? Isn't that kind of what the 2nd Amendment is all about?
Monday, July 30, 2007
HERESY!
"...If you could collect the average annual rainfall of the 900,000-square-kilometer Canadian province of Ontario — about 680,000 billion liters of water — and store it behind a dam 60 meters tall, you would produce about 11,000 Megawatts of electricity — which is only about 80 percent of the output of Canada’s 25 nuclear power stations, Ausubel says.
In other words, this works out to a power production rate of 0.012 watts per square meter of land. It would take 1 square kilometer of land to provide enough electricity for about 12 Canadians, according to Ausubel, who says this inefficiency is a key reason for the reduced demand for hydroelectric power.
Biomass is an even worse renewable source of energy than hydroelectric power in terms of ecological harm.
Large-scale power generation from biomass would require that “vast areas be shaved or harvested annually,” Ausubel says. It would take 2,500 square kilometers of prime Iowa farmland to produce as much electricity from biomass as from a single nuclear power plant.
“Increased use of biomass fuel in any form is criminal,” Ausubel stated in a media release. “Every automobile would require a pasture of 1-2 hectares.” He added.
Wind power? While it’s much less land intensive than biomass, that’s not saying much. A 770-square-kilometer area would only produce as much electricity as a single 1,000 Megawatt nuclear plant.
A wind farm the size of Texas would be required to extract, store and transport annual U.S. energy needs. “Every square meter of Connecticut” would have to be turned into a wind farm to provide all of New York City’s electricity demands.
Solar power is also quite a land hog. As photovoltaic cells are only 10 percent efficient and have seen no breakthroughs in 30 years, U.S. electric consumption would require a 150,000-square kilometer area of photovoltaics, plus additional land for electricity storage and retrieval.
The photovoltaic industry would have to step up its production by 600,000 times to produce the same amount of power as that generated by single 1,000 Megawatt nuclear plant.
Aside from land misuse, Ausubel also raises the other undesirable consequences of renewables: wind power produces low-frequency noise and thumps, blights landscapes, interferes with TV reception, and chops birds and bats; dams kill rivers; and solar power would require that large areas of land be essentially “painted black” with photovoltaic cells.
In terms of resource use, the infrastructure of a wind farm takes five to 10 times the steel and concrete used in a 1970-vintage nuclear power plant.
The first part of Ausubel’s heresy closes with a sobering assessment: “Cheerful self-delusion about new solar and renewables since 1970 has yet to produce a single quad of the more than 90 quadrillion BTU of total energy the U.S. now yearly consumes. ... Let’s stop sanctifying false and minor gods and heretically chant ‘Renewables are not Green.’”
There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Well, maybe. Nuclear power IS the closest, so of course its the one the Greenies detest the most.
Ingmar Bergman Dies at 89
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) - "Master filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, one of the greatest artists in cinema history, died Monday at his home on an island off the coast of Sweden. He was 89.
Bergman's dozens of works combined deep seriousness, indelible imagery and unexpected flashes of humor in finely written, inventively shot explorations of difficult subjects such as plague and madness."
Translation: The great-granddaddy of Chick Flicks.
Cue Twilight Zone Music...
By Joseph Farah
© 2007
"Over the years, I've noticed a schism develop between many law enforcement people and ordinary "civilians" – you know, the poor schlemiels who pay their taxes, empower the high mighty and employ the cops. This division takes many shapes and forms, but nowhere is it more obvious than on the issue of firearms. Many police officers have come to believe guns are only safe in their hands – that they cannot be entrusted into the custody of untrained, unqualified citizens. Obviously, this is a non-starter from a constitutional, freedom-oriented perspective. But there's a practical new reason for cops to begin rethinking where this anti-gun hysteria is leading our country." STOPPING THE MUSIC TIME Since police have had a big part in creating the anti-gun hysteria how in all hells is one supposed to align oneself with the enemy? So we all can be on the same page that reads CIVILIANS SHOULD NEVER CARRY GUNS? Like the cops think? Anyway, there's more, some of which you may very well happen to agree with: "I don't know how many of us thought to question passage of law 18 U.S. Code section 924(c)(1)(a), which calls for a mandatory 10-year sentence for using or carrying a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. Off hand, it sounds pretty good. Who could argue with a law that says, "Hey, if you commit a violence crime with a gun, you go to jail for at least 10 years"? I could live with that. It sounds just. I like to see bad guys put away for a long time. Anyone who commits a crime of violence and has a gun on them is probably a very bad actor. But, recently, much to the shock of some law enforcement people, this law has been used not against bad guys – but against cops! That's exactly what happened in the case of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, the two Border Patrol agents now serving sentence of 11 and 12 years respectively for their actions on the job in pursuit of a drug-smuggling illegal alien. The heavyweight sentence wasn't so much for their alleged misbehavior in discharging their weapons at a fleeing suspect or for allegedly covering it up later. The hard time was for being convicted of a violation of 924(c)(1)(a) – carrying or using a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. That's kind of a "Catch 22" for law enforcement officers convicted rightly or wrongly of a crime of violence since they are required to carry firearms as part of their job. Whenever government acts, with good intentions or evil, there are always unintended consequences. And in this upside-down, black-is-white, good-is-evil, left-is-right, right-is-wrong world in which we live, those unintended consequences are often downright scary – especially when lawyers get involved, which is, pretty much, always. This aspect of the Ramos and Compean case is perhaps the most controversial part of the prosecution by the U.S. Justice Department, which, let's face it, completely out of control under the Bush administration. U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton, a friend of W, is making the rounds defending every aspect of his case against Ramos and Compean. He's got an answer for every question. The only problem is that when he's finished answering the questions and demeaning the character of these two agents in every way imaginable, his official actions still reek of rank injustice." So let's get this straight then, shall we? Cops should be immune from punishment for committing crimes with guns but we shouldn't. Yeah. They'd LOVE that sort of alliance. They diss US every chance they get but WE go to bat for them when the chips are down. An alliance with the enemy really sounds like something a wackjob liberal would propose. The Constitution is clear on who's the boss, and I for one am not in the mood to go begging for whats rightfully mine to begin with.
Former U.S. Border Patrol agent Ignacio Ramos embraced his wife, Monica Ramos, two days before he was sentenced to 11 years in prison (Courtesy El Paso Times)
Agent Jose Alonso Compean (Courtesy: KFOX-TV)
Justice Roberts Hospitalized...
And on that note, someone check Chuckie-The-Shoe's* whereabouts for yesterday...
WASHINGTON — "Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts took a spill at his home and ended up being taken to the hospital on Monday.
A spokesman at the Supreme Court said Roberts fell while at his summer home in Maine, and he was hospitalized as a "precaution." He apparently took a fall around 2 p.m. ET.
"He's fine," said another source close to Roberts.
Roberts, 52, was taken to Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport, Maine, according to St. George Fire Chief Tim Polky. He was transferred from his house to the mainland on a private boat; from there he was transferred to an ambulance, Polky said.
"He was conscious and alert when they put him in the rescue (vehicle) and took him to Penobscot Bay Medical Center," Polky said.
But MaineCoastNow.com reported that St. George Ambulance responded to a call of a man who had fallen 5 to 10 feet and landed on a dock, hitting the back of his head. The patient was ashen and was foaming at the mouth. The patient had reportedly suffered a grand mal seizure..."
*AKA NY Senator Charles Schumer. Will answer to various names but reportedly favors Chuckie Cheese the most.
M-4-gery Goings On...
Headed for A Shoot-Out
"Earlier this year, Colt lost a lawsuit claiming sole right to use the M4 designation on short-barrel AR-15 type rifles. In that decision, the court ruled that the "M4" designation had become a reference for a type of rifle, not a particular rifle manufactured by a particular firearms company. In essence, the court put the "M4" into the public domain.
At issue is the one point that critics say should be the prime factor for selecting a front-line weapon for today's warfighters: reliability. Since it's introduction in the Vietnam War, the AR-platform has been criticized as being unreliable. Many of the improvements across the years have been modifications that have addressed the question of reliability. Some - including ranking Army officials - say it is now the best choice for our soldiers. Others say it is a good rifle platform, but "good" might not be "best".
Defenders of the platform say it would cost nearly a billion dollars to replace the existing AR-15s with another weapon. Critics respond that with more than a half-billion dollars in replacement and accessory purchases ready-to-go, it might be time to pay more attention to the criticisms of troops in the field.
Field forces say the rifle is excellent when kept clean and rigorously maintained., something difficult to do in the Middle East where sand - a very fine-grained variety - gets into every crack, crevice and pore, seemingly despite anyone's best efforts to keep it out.
In combat, force movement and general conditions in Iraq, it's not always possible to keep the M4 clean.
In February of this year, there were calls for competitive procurement of 5.56 carbines. The call was cancelled (sic) when Colt, the sole provider of the M4, lowered the price. Critics complained the price change reflected the fact Colt had used its sole-provider status to overcharge the military. The Army said they saved millions through the adjustment and moved on.
Critics finally got the Army to agree to a head-to-head test when they held up budgets and confirmation of a new Secretary of the Army. Now, we're apparently close to getting a biting question answered - is there a better 5.56mm option available for our troops?
Special Forces and Delta Force are both using alternatives- including the Hecker (sic) & Koch HK416. The 416 is basically an AR-15 lower with what experts say is a superior upper utilizing a short-stroke piston system to eliminate fouling concerns of the AR. It's been tested by Delta Force in mud and dust without maintenance, and fired every day. Under those conditions, testers say the HK416 only failed 1 time in 15,000 rounds - three times the reliability levels the Army has for the M4. The HK416, incidentally, has been ready since 2004. Delta bought the first 500 production rifles - and other countries are using it as well.
The 416 upper assembly, could be placed atop the Colt lower, eliminating the need for the Army to purchase entire new rifles - or replace the existing rifles in one massive movement.
The Army, however, won't consider the partial option. With them, it's all or nothing.
Hence, the demand for open testing. Manufacturers already know how difficult it is to change Army mindsets (one observer says it took 20 years to get a single extractor spring changed - despite the problems the original part caused). Confidentially, observers say the test will be like a championship fight - you can't just outbox the champ, you have to knock him out.
The tests next month will involve the M4 and three other contenders: the HK416 M4 derivitive, the FNH US-designed Mk16 SOCOM Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) and the previously-shelved H&K XM8 carbine.
Critics say the Army can "shade" the tests so as to minimize any potential problems for the M4.
One way would be the size of testing particulates in a dust chamber. The larger the minimum particulate, the harder to cause problems with fouling and jams. Problems in Iraq come with - you guessed it -smaller particulates.
Another is how the rifles are selected for the tests. Random testing pulls test guns out of inventories; "cherry picking" on the other hand, allows the guns to be "pre-maintained" to perform better than average.
The third way involves specifying the level of lubrication used. The Army has used "generous lubrication" to minimize problems. Advocates of testing want test standards based on either the manufacturer's manual for each weapon or the same lubrication for each weapon based on minimum recommendations of all test weapons.
The tests will include 10 samples of each weapon through which engineers will fire 6,000 rounds. Each weapon and loaded magazine will be exposed to "extreme dust" for 30 minutes then test fired with 120 rounds. Rifles will be wiped down and lubricated every 600 rounds, and fully cleaned every 1,200 rounds. Tests -and analysis- are expected to take five months.
Does this signal a backing off of the Army's position. Not according to Army spokesman Lt. Col. William Wiggins. The test, Wiggins told the media, "will be part of the ongoing Army assessment and requirements process - with the ultimate goal of continuing to provide the best possible weapons and equipment to our soldiers."
The key words in that comment would seem to be "continuing to provide" - and we'll keep you posted.
--Jim Shepherd
When they took away my M-14 and replaced it with a jamomatic plastic toy, it was full frontal shit fit time, case closed. The early 16's, and believe me when I tell you that the Marine Corps was given early M-16's, weren't good enough to be called a door stop let alone a main battle rifle. Yes, many of the outright horror stories were exaggerated and that's because what might seem like a minor pain in the ass to Mr. Chairborne Purchasing Agent was life or death to the average grunt and emotions ran hog ass wild. Lethality of the 5.56 round aside, it IS true that throughout the years the M-16 and its variants have evolved into a decent rifle. Decent isn't good enough when one is discussing a poodle shooter but I cannot see a snowballs chance in hell for any big changes. One fighting hole containing one dead Marine with an inoperative weapon means enough heads rolling to make the French Revolution seem tame, and screw it that the sandbox wrecks havoc with the innards because we've enough bad press coming out of Iraq and nobody wants even a hint of any more.
We don't need an HK upper as a temporary bandaid fix me up. We need a more powerful round in a more reliable platform. The perfect rifle has yet to be invented, comparing special-forces needs to general infantry requirements is dumber than dumb should get, and sure, Colt should get the contract to design a new battle rifle. Keep it here in America if possible, by all means. But someone please find the stones to at long last say that the love/hate affair with the M-16 is over and move on to a better weapon system. In my lifetime might be cool because then I could at least die knowing that not one more sorry ass grunt would have to make-do when making-do is for 3rd World asswipes and not the bloody United States of America.
The main battle rifle barrels keep getting shorter and shorter, but the ammunition hasn't been tweaked to account for this, and that's yet another big time snafu in waiting. High-velocity 5.56 rounds owe a lot of their lethality to raw speed, but of course. The M4's 14.5" barrel is too short to deal deadly doses of good old Yankee know-how, and lets not even go there with the H&K variants that feature 10.5" tubes.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
First Rule For A Gunfight...
Toy Gun-Toting Robber Shot By Victim
MAITLAND, Fla. -- "The Maitland Police Department received a 911 call from Kappy's Restaurant on Highway 17-92 late Thursday night.In a police report, the owner stated he was locking up the business for the night when a male came from one side of the business and another appeared from the opposite side, carrying a handgun.
The juveniles allegedly took the money bags from the owner and ran behind the business. The owner said he was carrying his own handgun and fired off several rounds at the robbers.
While authorities were responding to the emergency call, the on-duty police supervisor set up a perimeter around the business to locate the robbers. Police spotted one of the males near the post office in Maitland and the police K-9 unit located the stolen money bags near the area.
During the search, police located the second suspect nearby with a gunshot wound to the left shoulder. He also received bites from the K-9 dog.
The toy handgun was found behind Kappy's. Both juvenile suspects have been charged with armed robbery."
It must take a considerably brain dead man, or men in this case, to, armed with only a toy gun, rob a business owner here in Florida.
Find an able bodied adult male having anything to do with money and the chances are pretty damned good that he's packing heat. Hell, males aged 30-60 carry sidearms like women carry handbags so how these dolts thought they'd get away scot free is beyond me.
Single Action Sweetie
Snakes
Friday Without Archie
I do this driving gig because its simply the most rewarding thing I've done in quite a while. Loading a big old bus up with folks who can't get around by their lonesome means there's a captive audience for my bad jokes and since everyone is so grateful there's nary a bitch or moan that isn't genuine. Some can't walk, some can't see, some can do both but don't remember their name. None of them would get to go to a place like the Newberry Outdoor Barbecue joint for a rousing lunch, but they do and they are so happy to be there it makes your eyes water a little. I start them off with an old song or two as we hit the road, and the ones who can join in do so and its laughing and stuttering the whole ride long. Can't begin to relate what its like being around happy people. Sure, they're easy to please and take comfort from the most simple of courtesy's but comfort and courtesy can be free of charge so why the hell not.
Arch died early last week. One moment he was waving a finger at some idjit who thought Ty Cobb was over-rated, and the next he was gone. At 106 it can happen just that way. His heart gave up the fight and Arch went to sleep and there goes my walking, talking encyclopedia of everything important that happened from his first memories so lets say 1907'ish or so. Arch remembered his childhood days better than I can recall last week, but his legs were shot and he needed someone to hoist him around ever since the last of his children died of old age. He was always happy and self-deprecating, and the consummate gentleman. Helped too that he weighed maybe 90 lbs soaking wet and I could tuck him under an arm to get his silly ass onto a large vehicle and we'd joke as to when it was time to have a strap handle surgically attached for good.
Comes with the territory when one deals with old people. There, I didn't call them senior citizens. They don't, they call themselves old people and even if it isn't polite to do so face to face for this moment in time I'll talk like Archie did and call a spade a spade. I take old people shopping and to lunches. I watch over them the best I can and if some street punk thinks they're ripe for a hassle he finds himself upside down in the nearest garbage can awaiting the arrival of the local constabulary. This is Florida and they know what to do to those who frig with old people. I'm learning that too.
Archie won't be sending me porn pics via email anymore, and since like I said I'm selfish so I'll miss that. Helen is 97 and too frail to do much of anything but look at the scenery as it whizzes by but she's smarter than me so I guess I'll have to start talking to her a lot more. She was a semi-pro at tennis, climbed mountains as a hobby when she wasn't lecturing at MIT or some other fancy place, and who knows. She might even remember some baseball stuff. Helen was one of the few that Archie didn't refer as the-kid so he might even approve.
The Genius Of DaVinci
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Man With No Name 1851 Conversion
Watched Fistful of Dollars this afternoon, and damned if I'd forgotten Clint's waycool furniture. Obtaining a replica isn't all that hard, nor are they particularly pricey. And yes, for the umpteenth time I do know that the movie featured metallic cartridges instead of the cap and ball real deal but I still forgive them.
Man Who Stood Idly By As Wife And Daughters Were Brutally Raped And Murdered Wants People To Go Out And Do Something For Their Family...
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — "Dr. William Petit Jr. still bore bruises and gashes as he urged hundreds of mourners Saturday to "spread the work" of his wife and two young daughters, who were slain after burglars surprised them in their home.
Petit, the lone survivor of the violent attack, told more than 2,000 friends and strangers who crowded the memorial service about his wife of 22 years, who was a nurse; his college-bound daughter; and his youngest, who was just 11.
"I guess if there's anything to be gained from the senseless deaths of my beautiful family, it's for us all to go forward with the inclination to live with a faith that embodies action. Help a neighbor, fight for a cause, love your family," Petit said.
"I'm really expecting all of you to go out and do some of these things with your family, in your own little way, to spread the work of these three wonderful women. Thank you," he told the crowd."
Anytime else this'd be funny as hell. John Dillinger asking folks to respect banks. That kind of funny. The "man" renders me speechless.
STOP THE PRESSES
Gee...
Ya think?????????
CT Rape, Arson, Murder, Update
CHESHIRE, Conn. — "Two men accused of killing a physician's wife and two daughters and setting fire to their house in this upscale town are suspected in two other burglaries the night before, said homeowners who spoke with police.
Joshua Komisarjevsky and Steven Hayes, both on parole for nonviolent crimes, could face the death penalty if convicted in the slayings early Monday of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and the girls.
Authorities say the men broke into the home of Dr. William Petit Jr. and held the family hostage for several hours. One of them forced Hawke-Petit to make a withdrawal at a bank later that morning, triggering suspicion among bank employees, police said. Police rushed to the house, found it on fire and encountered the suspects fleeing. The two were arrested after crashing the Petits' car into police cruisers.
Ronald Bergamo Jr., who lives several miles from the Petits, said a police officer told him the suspects burglarized his home early Sunday as he slept along with his wife, 12-year-old son and another couple. The burglars, apparently entering through an unlocked door, took cash and left a large carving knife on a table in the family room.
"We were within 24 hours of being that family," a shaken Bergamo said of the Petits. "We aren't the quaint town any more."
No, Mr. Bergamo, you never WERE that quaint town to begin with. There ARE no quaint towns. That you believe in such fairy tales is proof positive that somewhere along the line you forgot what it was to be a man, and in charge, and responsible. There's a good reason these scumbags targeted you and your neighbor, Mr. Bergamo. That reason happens to be the fact that there are victims, and then are VICTIMS. And to the screaming multitude of weepy naysayers, no, not everyone is a victim in waiting. Some take life on planet earth seriously. Knowing full well that the police are around to avenge the dead and return the stolen, but its up to every last man alive to protect himself and his family. That's why the Founding Father's made absolutely certain that all men would forever be "allowed" to own guns because the best protection starts at home. Always has, always will.
Bottle Water To Come Clean
"So you thought the water in your Aquafina bottle came from some far-away spring bubbling deep in a glen?
Try the tap.
The company behind Aquafina, the best-selling bottled water brand, has bowed to pressure to change their labels so consumers know the drink comes from the same source as tap water.
All of PepsiCo Inc.'s water bottles will now be labeled "P.W.S." meaning it comes from a "public water source."
"If this helps clarify the fact that the water originates from public sources, then it's a reasonable thing to do," PepsiCo spokeswoman Michelle Naughton said.
PepsiCo is the latest company to change its labeling after pressure from a group called Corporate Accountability International.
The organization, which campaigns against what it calls misleading marketing practices, says the blue Aquafina label with its mountain logo gives the impression the water comes from a spring.
In reality, Aquafina water is taken from public sources and purified in a seven-step process."
Now, I'm the farthest thing from a yuppy-puppy one can be, but refuse to drink tap water derived from the swill ponds that Gainesville Florida laughingly refers to as potable water reservoirs. First of all I detest chlorinated water, and while the stuff in these parts is infinitely better than the scum-laden excuse for water found in say, Sioux City, Iowa, it's still far too chlorinated and has a bitter aftertaste that I find to be most objectionable. Yes I was spoiled by being reared on NYC H2O which has one of the cleanest, most delicious tap water in the country, but was, and remain appalled at how godsawful the liquid offal is around our nation.
I really don't blame people for drinking bottled water. Of course the loons take it to the extreme, and far be it for them to be merely thirsty, hells no, they must HYDRATE whiles the rest of us mere mortals simply sip. But I'm tempted to give even them a pass because most local water supplies are barely fit to bathe in let alone drink.
At any given point in time one or more of the local stores are practically giving the stuff away, and the worst of the lot is much better than what can be found from any faucet in town.
Fantasy Island: AKA Gitmo
July 28, 2007 -- "Good news from Pakistan in the War on Terror: Abdullah Mehsud, a senior Taliban commander in that country's rebellious western provinces, blew himself up last week to avoid capture by government forces.
That's one more dead terrorist.
The catch: He shouldn't have been there in the first place. Mehsud, you see, was captured in Afghanistan in December 2001. He was then held at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay . . . until his release in March 2004.
He immediately returned to the fight, bragging publicly about how he deceived his captors into thinking he was just another innocent Afghan tribesman.
Thankfully, the Pentagon has since then instituted a more rigorous system for determining which detainees would pose a threat if released.
But the question remains: Would Mehsud have slipped through the cracks if The New York Times, et al., were as adamant about making sure the bad guys stayed at Gitmo as they are about the condition of the Korans in the camp?
Mehsud's death is an explosive reminder of something that five years of constant hand-wringing over the fate of the Guantanamo detainees have only served to obscure: By and large, these are very dangerous men - and until this war is over, America needs someplace to keep them.
Guantanamo Bay has become in the public imagination a place where innocent Muslims are not only denied their rights, but also subject to regular beatings by Dick Cheney.
In other words, it's not so much a real place as it is some dark, demented cartoon.
It's certainly possible that some Gitmo detainees have been largely innocent, but that's because the thugs killing American troops in Afghanistan don't wear uniforms, so it's hard to distinguish them from noncombatants.
Meanwhile, it is beyond dispute that some very guilty guys are to be found there - witness the further adventures of Abdullah Mehsud.
Plus, as his case demonstrates, the Pentagon has made a good-faith effort to distinguish the real unlawful combatants from the innocent bystanders caught in the same net.
But that's not enough for some, who wouldn't stop until every captured Taliban fighter had a court-appointed attorney and the opportunity to post bail.
Let's not forget that this is a war."
Picture can be found at Rush Limbaugh's Club Gitmo. The above editorial from the NY Post. All abject stupidity concerning the lefts fantasy about treating our avowed enemies as simple scofflaws courtesy of Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Nancy Pelosi, Al Gore, John Kerry, Harry Reid, Hussein Obama, and a cast of thousands of other Blame-America-First moonbats.
Congratulations Gunny Zins
Gunnery Sergeant Brian Zins has recently won his 8th...no one else has ever won 7...NRA National Pistol Championship. The headline link will take you to from whence this pic came from, but The Shooting Wire has an in-depth discussion on the matter.
Dispatches From The Front...
"...The idea is to get the Iraqis to run their own cities but most of the old leaders are gone, and the new ones are like throwing babies to cow udders. Many just don’t know what to do, and in any case, most of them have no natural instinct for it. So our soldiers are mentoring Iraqi civil leaders, which is a huge education for me because I get to sit in on the meetings. The American leaders tell me what they are up to, which amounts for free Ph.D. level instruction in situ: just have to be willing to be shot at. (The education a writer can get here is unbelievable.) Meeting after meeting—after embeds in Nineveh, Anbar, Baghdad and Diyala—I have seen how American officers tend to have a hidden skill-set. Collectively, American military leaders seem to somehow intuitively know how to run the mechanics of a city.
Watch video of LTC Johnson in action at a meeting with Iraqi Army officials to plan for the delivery and distribution of diesel fuel, another commodity formerly under al Qaeda control.
I have wondered now for two years why is it that American military leaders somehow seem to naturally know what it takes to run a city, while many of the local leaders seem clueless. Over time, a possible answer occurred, and that nudge might be due to how the person who runs each American base is referred to as the “Mayor.” A commander’s first job is to take care of his or her forces. Our military is, in a sense its own little country, with city-states spread out all around the world. Each base is like a little city-state. The military commander must understand how the water, electricity, sewerage, food distribution, police, courts, prisons, hospitals, fire, schools, airports, ports, trash control, vector control, communications, fuel, fiscal budgeting, fire, for his “city” all work. They have “embassies” all over the world and must deal diplomatically with local officials in Korea, Germany, Japan and many dozens of other nations. The U.S. military even has its own space program, which few countries have.
In short, our military is a reasonable microcosm of the United States – sans the very important business aspect which actually produces the wealth the military depends on. The requisite skill-set to run a serious war campaign involves a subset of skills that include diplomacy and civil administration."
Friday, July 27, 2007
THEY Get Letters
To: CBIRF_Officers; CBIRF_SNCOs
Subject: FW: Luke AFB wake up call
Importance: Low
A Wake Up Call From Luke AFB, AZ
Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization
that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that
it was there long before they were. A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB
deserves a big pat on the back.
Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local
paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the
mall. When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it
must have stung quite a bit.
The complaint:
"Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the
morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 a.m., a tight formation
of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over
Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom
Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to
impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special? Any response would be
appreciated."
The response:
Regarding "A wake-up call from Luke's jets" (Letters, Thursday): On June 15,
at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four-ship flyby of F-16s from the
63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt.
Jeremy Fresques. Capt. Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously
stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial
Day. At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland
Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend.
Based on the letter writer's recount of the flyby, and because of the jet
noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or
my words to the widow and Parents of Capt.
Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the
United States and all those veterans and servicemen And women who understand
the sacrifices they have endured. A four-ship Flyby is a display of respect
the Air Force pays to those who give their Lives in defense of freedom. We
are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what
the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their
ultimate respects. The letter writer asks, "Whom do we thank for the morning
air show?" The 56th Fighter Wing will call for you, and forward your thanks
to the widow and Parents of Capt. Fresques, and thank them for you, for it
was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their
lives.
Lt. Col. Scott Pleus CO 63rd Fighter Squadron Luke AFB
As Promised...ATF Investigator Linda Young Revealed...
"Despite their asbsurd and tyrannical attempt to restrict the use of images involving their activities and personnel, I have decided to post the first internet photos of BATFU Area Supervisor Linda Young on site at Red's Trading Post."
The only ladies I am not polite to are commie ones like Rosie O, or this particular beast who's our burden. Not that I'm an expert in photography, mind you, but I would recommend a wide angle lens next time.
Boxer dies of gunshot injury
The 6-foot-9 Nigerian-born boxer won a bronze medal at the 1986 Commonwealth Games and retired from the ring in 1996.
Metropolitan Police said Oyebola apparently tried to break up a dispute between staff at a west London bar and three customers, reportedly about enforcing the recent ban on smoking in public places.
The argument happened just after midnight Sunday and involved three men and security over smoking in the covered courtyard in the back of the bar. Witnesses said four shots were fired and the suspects fled. No arrests have been made."I believe nary a word of the above. In London, guns are illegal for civilians to own and carry, so it MUST have been yet another of the Brit SAS men disguised as cops, just like the ones who tackled then executed that poor electrician after the London bombings. Mr. Oyebola was obviously the target of a government "hit" so don't look for his killers to be apprehended anytime soon.
Cue Twilight Zone Music...
America's Moral Paralysis
By THOMAS SOWELL
July 27, 2007 -- "THE term "moral paralysis" has been used to describe the inaction of France, England and other European democracies in the 1930s, as they watched Hitler build up the military forces that he later used to attack them.
It is a term that may be painfully relevant to our own times.
Back in the '30s, the governments of the democratic countries knew what Hitler was doing - and they knew that they had enough military superiority at that point to stop his military buildup in its tracks. But they did nothing to stop him. Instead, they turned to what is still the magic mantra today - "negotiations."
"Moral paralysis" came from many things. The death of a million French soldiers in the First World War and disillusionment with the peace that followed cast a pall over a whole generation. Pacifism became vogue among the intelligentsia and spread into educational institutions. History may be interesting but it is the present and the future that pose the crucial question: Is America today the France of yesterday?
We know that Iran is moving swiftly toward nuclear weapons while the United Nations is moving slowly - or not at all - toward doing anything to stop them.
It is a sign of our irresponsible Utopianism that anyone would even expect the U.N. to do anything that would make any real difference. The U.N.'s history demonstrates again and again that going to such places is a way for weak-kneed leaders of democracies to look like they are doing something when in fact they are doing nothing.
The Iranian leaders are not going to stop unless they get stopped. And, like Hitler, they don't think we have the guts to stop them.
Nuclear weapons in the hands of Iran and its international terrorist allies will be a worst threat than Hitler ever was. But, before that happens, the big question is: Are we France? Are we morally paralyzed, perhaps fatally?"
So what is this guy? Some kind of fruit cake? How many wars does he want us fighting all at once? Doesn't he know that a legion of spooks are swarming throughout Iran, looking, always looking, for the best way to take these suckers out with just the right surgical strike? Isn't he aware of how very many plots and schemes and outright dirty tricks our invisible warriors are throwing the kibosh to, each and every day?
We are currently expending more money and resources than the rest of the world combined deciding the best means to hit the Iranians and hit them hard. What is this guy? Some pre-schooler who thinks wars happen overnight and with the flick of a switch?
In the real world, things, you see, take time. Bill Clinton gutted the military, Rumsfeld saw one too many video games then decided that Star Wars gadgetry was better than boots on the ground, and we've an all-volunteer armed service that is stretch a little thin. Not as thin as the loons would ask you to believe, but without a draft it isn't easy getting EVERYTHING done all at once.
Buck
"There Was Murder In That Little Boy's Eyes," Says Robbery Victim
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- "Malinda Samuel, a Jacksonville native, has been in car accidents before, but she says the experience she had in her car on Tuesday was far worse than a car accident.
Samuel was parked in front of her friend's house, with her friend in the passenger seat. She said they were chatting with the windows down, when two teenagers rushed over and pointed a gun at her friend through the window.
"All of a sudden, I went from talking to my friend to my life being threatened," Samuel said.
Samuel's friend gave up her purse, then Samuel yelled the only thing she could think of: "Take the purse, don't shoot us and go on."
Thankfully, the teenagers did. They got away with the purse, but Samuel and her friend were physically fine. However, mentally, they were shaken because of something they saw on one of the teen's faces.
"There was murder in that little boy's eye," Samuel said. "It was so sad to see. He had no respect of life. Our life was worth nothing."
Ma'am? You can legally keep a gun in your car. No license necessary. Next time someone with murder in his eyes approaches your vehicle, then do the right thing and defend yourself.
I'm just saying.
Oh, and by the by; it would have been nice to include a DESCRIPTION of the skel.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Don't Be A Lawbreaker In Kennesaw: Pack That Heat!
GCO Urges Kennesaw to Repeal Parks Carry Ban
"GCO has written the attorney, mayor, and council for the City of Kennesaw, urging them to repeal a ban on carrying firearms in city parks. Kennesaw is the city that requires heads of households to own a firearm and ammunition. The letter may be viewed here:"
http://www.georgiacarry.com/city/kennesaw_parks/Kennesaw attorney 07-23-07.pdf
City councils are manned by idiots, trolls, and ne'er-do-wells, so it should come as no surprise that a town that legally requires all able bodied males to own a loaded gun would place restrictions on where it's okay to defend themselves and/or their families. People need their guns in parks just as much as they need their guns anywhere else. No-Gun-Zones are simply stockyards for sheeple awaiting the slaughter, and one would have imagined Kennesaw, of all places, to know better.
Prosecutor to Seek Death Penalty in Deadly Connecticut Home Invasion
MERIDEN, Conn. — New Haven State's Attorney Michael Dearington said Thursday that he will seek the death penalty against two convicted burglars accused of killing the wife and two daughters of a prominent Connecticut physician in a home invasion and arson this week.
Joshua Komisarjevsky, 26, and Steven Hayes, 44, were charged Thursday with six counts each of capital felony, which could bring the death penalty.
Komisarjevsky and Hayes, convicted burglars with lengthy criminal records, were out on parole when the attack occurred. They had been roommates for a time at a drug treatment center and halfway house in Hartford last year.
Murder committed in the course of committing first-degree sexual assault, murder of a kidnapped person, murder of two or more people at the same time, and murder of someone under age 16 are capitol felonies punishable by either the death penalty or life in prison in Connecticut.
Komisarjevsky, of Cheshire, and Hayes, of Winsted, had already been charged with assault, sexual assault, kidnapping, burglary, robbery, arson, larceny and risk of injury to children. They were each being held on $15 million bond.
Petit's wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, was strangled and their daughters — 17-year-old Hayley and 11-year-old Michaela — died of smoke inhalation, according to the state medical examiner. The suspects were apprehended after they crashed their getaway vehicle — the Petit's car — into three police cruisers." Pictured: Mrs. Petit and daughter Hayley. The women were sexually assaulted then killed, because they were easy prey. Criminals don't go after the difficult one's. Do your family a favor and make it hard for someone to kill them.
We Get Letters
Fellow Marines - Good morning everybody. Your support of my Marines here in Iraq is appreciated more than you know. Touches of home mean the world to these guys and gals. Particularly those who don’t have anyone else.
Thank you again to all the people who have been sending items…. The ice-pops some of you sent are a serious hit. Also soups (dried or microwaveable), cigars, trail mix and the like are always sure to please.
I apologize for not writing as often as I probably should. Shame on me. It is summer though, and I am assuming you all are vacationing. Hitting the beach and enjoying your lives beyond awaiting the next installment of "As The Dustbowl Turns" from me.
This was a significantly warm week. Note the enclosed picture.
No, your eyes are not deceiving you. That is 138 degrees at approximately 3:30 in the afternoon on the 11th of July. Now I don't care where you grew up, but unless it was in the Western Sahara, 138 is Dad-blasting, mother-freaking HOT! On the bright side though, it did cool down to about 100 by around 11:00 that evening. We're watching our people closely in this stuff. I would much rather be careful than lose someone to a heat injury.
Tonight was cigar night, and should anyone wish to pop in and join us sometime please feel free.
Major Patrick Burns, MALS-29, MAG-29, 2NDMAW FWD
______________________________________________________________
Aloha from Iraq,
Thank you for all your support. As you can see, some of our living conditions are not the best but the Marines don’t seem to mind – they just make the most of it. No running water, no electricity – no problem. They keep themselves occupied with the little things – scorpions, Camel Spiders, IED’s and an occasional insurgent or two. I will share the items with my fellow Marines. The coffee is a hot item. I have been working on an old medical clinic building we have taken over. The tool box is greatly appreciated. Once again, thanks for the support! Semper Fi, 1stSgt K.D. Nessl, 1st Bn, 3rd Marines, Weapons Company.
______________________________________________________________
If you want to show your support to these troops and contribute to Project Marine Care, please make checks payable to:
MCL DET 942
And send to:
John Wintersteen
436 Sycamore Cir.
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 837-7750
Our Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 68-0379040 and our California State Franchise Board Organization Number is 2254883. Our State Charitable Trust number is 120356. The Department of California, Marine Corps League, is a non-profit Corporation under Section 501 (c) (4) of the IRS Code. The Marine Corps League has an exemption that allows donations for our troops to be tax-deductible.
Please pass this on to anyone you believe would like to help our TROOPS IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, PHILIPPINES, DJIBOUTI, KUWAIT and anywhere in “harm’s way”. While most of our packages go to Marines and Navy Corpsmen, we also ship to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Seabees any time a request comes in for them. If you would like some information on how to send boxes, email me at steenmarine@yahoo.com and we'll send you a Package Protocol and a list of goods that we update periodically.
Please put "Packages for Troops” or something similar on the Subject line so I'll know it's not "spam".
Thank you and Semper Fidelis,
John Wintersteen - Mt. Diablo Detachment 942, Marine Corps League, Lafayette, CA
_________________________________"America is not at war,
Our troops are at war ;
America is at the mall."
_____________
As an aside, I keep telling nice folks like the Major who send invitations to stop on by, that well sure I'd re-insert the pin but no one has so far answered me yet on my request to find an outfit that'll point to what needs killin' then leave me be until I come a ' calling for more ammo.