Mrs. Mikey arrived and we spent some time with him together, talking and teasing him, hoping he'd open his eyes more, but he was tired and continued to sleep. The nurse came in to turn him and noticed he'd pooped. Yay! You really have to know how hard that is for a patient to do when they've not eaten for two weeks and everything has been at a standstill.
So, we stepped out of the room to give the nurses a chance to clean him up and get him settled. We went outside for a breath of fresh air. When we came back in we saw Mrs. Smash standing outside the doors to the ICU.
]]>The argument boils down to this: All those draconian measures we've taken to prevent another 9/11 have been proven useless - because there haven't been any more 9/11s!
By fighting them, we are losing. By fighting, we reveal our weakness. We only fight them out of fear, and fear is what they want. By killing them we make more of them. If we fight them, they win.
BECAUSE OF BUSH!!!!
]]>The San Antonio-class will functionally replace more than 41 ships (LPD 4, LSD 36, LKA 113, and LST 1179 classes of amphibious ships). This new class of ships will provide the Navy and Marine Corps with modern, sea-based platforms that are networked, survivable, and built to operate with 21st century transformational platforms, such as the MV-22 Osprey, the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV), and future means by which Marines are delivered ashore.
]]>BAGHDAD (Army News Service, Jan. 27, 2006) -- A series of tips here enabled coalition forces of the Multi-National Division, Baghdad, to bust insurgent shooters and bombers, and led to several caches of weapons, explosives and ammunition.
]]>Interestingly, while I was on active duty the docs and prescriptions were at no cost to me. Although I get 6 months of Tri-Care health insurance, after I ended leave the treatment began to cost me. Doesn't matter that it's clearly related to active duty, I still have to pay. (Not a lot, but still a payment). An active duty guy my shoes wouldn't pay anything. One on hand I'm glad to have the insurance, but on the other it just doesn't seem equitable. And I wonder about this crud I brought back from Iraq. Is it really just a sinus infection, or did all the toxins I was exposed to make me the lucky recipient of some type of Gulf War Syndrome? Doubtful, but it makes a guy wonder.
]]>Here's a case where Demorcatic Senators may use a visit to wounded troops at Walter Reed as political cover. At first, I didn't pay attention to this event as I didn't think it would gain much traction (afterall, what kind of person would use troops like that?...especially, a US Senator?). But it may yet happen... we'll see this afternoon who abstains from voting on Alito's confirmation and just happens to be at Walter Reed...
]]>According to The Washington Post, Illinois, along with 4 other states are considering legistlation banning demonstrations at funerals. The bill would keep protesters at least 300 feet away from any funeral or memorial service as well as ban demonstrations within one hour before or two hours after a service. A violation of this law would be punishable by a three-year prison term and a $10,000 fine.
]]>It seems that Theresa Thoma, in Elkader, Iowa thinks I should be home in the U.S. cleaning up after Hurricanes or doing some other civic duties. Well Theresa, I've got some news for you, I'm an Officer in the United States Army. I do what I'm told. And right now, I've been told to come to Iraq, fight a war against the insurgency and help the people of this once proud country to rebuild their government.
]]>So you are anti-war. You think we invaded Iraq "illegally." You think we're over here slaughtering innocents and trying to extend an American empire into the heart of the Middle East. You've protested. You want to impeach Bush. You believe America is headed down the wrong path. And you're completely wrong about all of it.
]]>In Vietnam, we called the enemy Charlie. In Operation Iraqi Freedom, he has earned the moniker of Haji. I don't mean it disrespectfully, but it's easier than saying terrorist or enemy or insurgent or "freedom fighter," so I choose to use it. Haji doesn't like this weather. Apparently he doesn't want to get wet. Coalition forces still get killed and injured. Iraq can still be a dangerous place. But in my little chunk of this ancient country, fewer mortars and rockets get fired at the FOB when the wind is gusting across this massive desert and the rain clouds hover like a foreshadowing of evil. I suppose that where he is the ground is also now a morass of mud and puddles that are deeper than they appear at first glance.
]]>MNF-Iraq reports that Operation Koa Canyon is wrapping up in Hit, a city along the Euphrates west of Ramadi. This cordon-and-knock operation began Jan. 15, and was a search for terrorists and their weapons caches. It takes courage to conduct these kinds of operations. Though it isn't all out free fire combat, you never know what's waiting behind the next door, in the next cave. The operation involved both Iraqi and US forces, and is yet another example of how the Iraqi security forces are performing well.
]]>John Walker Lindh aka John Walker aka Suleiman Ferris aka Abdul Hamid aka The American Taliban is a person that I will mostly likely to be associated for some time to come. I am sure on my obituary there will be a bombastic note that I was "the journalist who 'discovered' Lindh after the battle at Qali Jangi" (the afghans have that dubious honor) Many have told me that Lindh's story was a big deal back in the States. I will never know, I was in Afghanistan covering combat operations with in the ongoing war against the Taliban for CNN so I will never have the chance to the get the full impact of finding an American professing his love for the Taliban.
]]>One week of developments in Iraq - and the home front.
From our Department of Headlines from the Associated Press we thought we'd never see: Iraqi Army Getting Stronger.
Temperature data from Hell will be provided when possible. Numerous terrorists have been sent there recently (details below), but none have reported back as yet.
]]>10 suspected pirates seized in the Indian Ocean were flown to Mombasa on Sunday.
]]>What a smart guy would have done is retain his anonymity. I was way too public and open about this thing from the start. My name, my unit, all the details... dumb-ass! I've seen "Mystery Bloggers" who can report more honestly what they see here without fear of retribution. For instance, if you want to write about an incident involving Colonel Witless, and in doing so you make him look like an idiot. It's far better for your career that Colonel Witless never finds out who you are. If he does, you might just find yourself at Ft. Leavenworth, in a very dark cell being spooned by a very large inmate, saying something like, "Oh Bubba, can't you just 'hold' me tonight?"
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