Army wives get phone death threats from Iraq

This story is about U.K. soldiers. But, it could just as easily be U.S. soldiers. The Royal Military Police "has issued a warning to all soldiers in Iraq to take great care when using mobile telephones to call home." That warning should be heeded by our military as well. What kind of people would threaten innocent women and children?

Army wives get phone death threats from Iraq

By Sean Rayment, Defence Correspondent(Filed: 25/06/2006)

Wives and family members of soldiers fighting in Iraq have received telephone calls, believed to include death threats, from insurgents, according to military documents seen by The Sunday Telegraph.

The "nuisance" calls have been made with increasing frequency over the past few weeks after insurgents managed to obtain home numbers from soldiers' mobile telephones.

The growing number of calls has led to an investigation by the Royal Military Police, which has issued a warning to all soldiers in Iraq to take great care when using mobile telephones to call home.

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Hundreds of WMDs Found in Iraq

Report: Hundreds of WMDs Found in Iraq

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WASHINGTON — The United States has found 500 chemical weapons in Iraq since 2003, and more weapons of mass destruction are likely to be uncovered, two Republican lawmakers said Wednesday.

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"We have found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, chemical weapons," Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., said in a quickly called press conference late Wednesday afternoon.

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Reading from a declassified portion of a report by the National Ground Intelligence Center, a Defense Department intelligence unit, Santorum said: "Since 2003, coalition forces have recovered approximately 500 weapons munitions which contain degraded mustard or sarin nerve agent. Despite many efforts to locate and destroy Iraq's pre-Gulf War chemical munitions, filled and unfilled pre-Gulf War chemical munitions are assessed to still exist."

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• Click here to read the declassified portion of the NGIC report.

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Road Kill

Every terrorist thug should end up this way-as a smear in the dirt. Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, bend over and spread 'em. The next missile is yours!

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Key figure in al-Qaida in Iraq killed
By KIM GAMEL, Associated Press Writer Tue Jun 20, 2:08 PM ET

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A key al-Qaida in Iraq leader described as the group's "religious emir" was killed in a U.S. airstrike hours before two American soldiers went missing and in the same area, the military said Tuesday.

Mansour Suleiman Mansour Khalifi al-Mashhadani, or Sheik Mansour, and two foreign fighters were killed as they tried to flee in a vehicle near the town of Youssifiyah, in the so-called Sunni "Triangle of Death."

U.S. coalition forces had been tracking al-Mashhadani for some time, American military spokesman William Caldwell said in announcing his death. He said al-Mashhadani was an Iraqi, 35 to 37 years old, and that one of the men killed with him was an al-Qaida cell leader identified as Abu Tariq

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'Rocket Man' Rocks Insurgents in Ramadi

I just wanted to make note of a brave Marine. God bless him and all of our soldiers, sailors and airmen.

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Marine has effectively fired 24 rockets using the Shoulder-Launched Multi-Purpose Assault Weapon or SMAW during combat operations in Ramadi.

By U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Joseph DiGirolamo

1st Marine Expeditionary Force

RAMADI, Iraq, June 14, 2006 — The crack of insurgents firing rounds overhead sends him into action to find his target and neutralize it - fast. The Marine assesses multiple enemy targets approximately 400 meters away. He sights in. His finger steadily squeezes the trigger as a single shot jets from his rocket launcher. The explosion rocks the earth as the perfect hit is rewarded by the now silenced enemy – courtesy of the "Rocket man."

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“They are calling me ‘Rocket man’ because of all the rockets I’ve fired since we have been here,” said Lance Cpl. Richard M. Mason II, of Medina, Ohio. “It’s an adrenaline rush to be the guy firing the rocket during a firefight.”

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Mason has accurately fired 24 rockets in combat and his teammates have dubbed him appropriately.

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The 21-year-old assaultman with K Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment has become a vital asset in the ongoing battle against the insurgency in the capital of Al Anbar province.

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“During almost every engagement he has stopped enemy fire by destroying insurgents held up in a building,” said 1st Lt. Carlos M. Goetz, 2nd platoon commander. “Without hesitation he has exposed himself to enemy fire numerous times in order to execute my intent and help his fellow Marines.”

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The Pressure is On!

Keep them running and out of breath!

Post-al-Zarqawi Raids Kill 104 Insurgents
By KIM GAMEL Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- American and Iraqi forces have carried out 452 raids since last week's killing of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and 104 insurgents were killed during those actions, the U.S. military said Thursday.

Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, said the raids were carried out nationwide and led to the discovery of 28 significant arms caches.

He said 255 of the raids were joint operations, while 143 were carried out by Iraqi forces alone. The raids also resulted in the captures of 759 "anti-Iraqi elements."

Papers show 'gloomy' state of insurgency

How did an article that states that the insurgency in Iraq is weakening end up in the MSM?

AP - Thu Jun 15, 12:51 PM ET
BAGHDAD, Iraq - A blueprint for trying to start a war between the United States and Iran was among a "huge treasure" of documents found in the hideout of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Iraqi officials said Thursday. The document, purporting to reflect al-Qaida policy and its cooperation with groups loyal to ousted President Saddam Hussein, also appear to show that the insurgency in Iraq was weakening. The al-Qaida in Iraq document was translated and released by Iraqi National Security Adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie. There was no way to independently confirm the authenticity of the information attributed to al-Qaida.

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Flag Day

Flag Day, June 14, 2006

If you are interested, click on the following links:

I Am Your Flag!

Old Glory.

Battle of the Flag.

The Star Spangled Banter

The latest from Russ Vaughn.

The Star Spangled Banter
(Zarqawi Version)

Oh say did you see that bright flash of light?
You so proudly we nailed at the twilight’s last gleaming…
Though we bet you saw stars on your very last night,
O’er the networks we watched your ass silently steaming…
And the rockets red glare spreading your ass everywhere,
Gave proof through the night that you’re no longer there…
Oh say does our banter now waft o’er your grave,
From the land of the free and the home of the brave…

Russ Vaughn

"....you've always got that Ranger spirit."

I read this story and I reminded myself to remember that these old men that you see marching in parades on Veterans Day and other patriotic holidays, wearing funny hats and vests, were young warriors once. The fought for you and I and their country. they deserve our respect and gratitude.

Former Army Rangers swap stories in Lawrence
Associated Press

LAWRENCE - A cadre of Army Rangers who traded bullets with their Nazi counterparts more than 60 years ago gathered last week to exchange stories.

More than 50 former Rangers met for a three-day reunion, wearing baseball caps with their unit designations and the tan berets of today's Rangers. Most are in their 80s and 90s, some walking with canes and others coasting along in wheelchairs.

"We come here to see each other and hear the same damned old stories," said LeRoy Button, 91, of Buchanan Lake, Texas.

Sixty-two years to the day after he was shot and wounded in France, Button sat in his wheelchair at a Lawrence conference center and recounted his World War II experience.
Button was with a headquarters unit and was among those who made the first push ashore at Omaha Beach. He was aboard a landing craft driven by a British crew and nearly fell victim to a booby-trapped obstacle on the beach.

Lewis Haight, 82, of Swannanoa, N.C., recalled a friend being shot and killed by a German soldier.

Haight shot and killed the German moments later.

"I still remember the look on his face," Haight said. "He knew what was going to happen next."
Red Gilbert, 85, of Milton, N.H., was at a replacement depot in North Africa when someone arrived asking for volunteers to join the Rangers. Gilbert and a friend signed up.

"I think we were getting tired of hanging around the depot waiting," he said. "Once you get in, you've always got that Ranger spirit."

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Every Dog Has His Day

I received this e-mail from Robert Stokely (see earlier post). He responded to Zarqawi's death as I would expect any father who has lost a child to that butcher, should respond. Not at all like Nick Berg's dad did, by comparing Zarqawi to the President. Thank you, Mr. Stokely for having the stones to stand up against terrorist thugs and having the dignity not to kiss their sorry asses.

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EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY - OF RECKONING THAT IS, AND TODAY, THE LUCKY DOG IS ZARQAWI.

ONLY ONE OTHER PERSON AS DESERVING, AND HE OUGHT TO LOOK OVER HIS SHOULDER DAY AND NIGHT, FOR THE FOOTSTEPS HE HEARS ARE THOSE OF A TEAM OF DEDICATED AMERICAN SOLDIERS LOCKED AND LOADED!!!!

Just think about the team effort that went into today's mission. Some group of guys were tracking on the ground, days, weeks, maybe even months. Somewhere on an American Landing Strip or Carrier Deck, American Service personnel maintained a plane and then hung important ordinance on board. An American Pilot took that plane and ordinance and with multiple layers of peronnel guiding and updating information, including those brave soldiers on the ground, delivered American Payback in the form of two 500 lb. calling cards. Proud to be an American is all I can say, well and:

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

SGT MIKE STOKELY, SGT GEORGE DRAUGHN, SGT BOBBY HOLLAR, ALL THREE ECHO TROOP 108TH CAV, AND 2400 plus AMERICAN HEROES - THIS ONE'S FOR YOU!!!!

Robert Stokely
always proud to be the dad of SGT Mike Stokely
KIA IED 8/16/05 near Yusufiyah Iraq, south of Baghdad

SGT HOLLAR and DRAUGHN KIA same IED near Mahmuhdiyah 9/1/05, south of Baghdad

al-Zarqawi is...

DEAD!

No virgins for you!

The rest of the Story.

Special forces to use strap-on 'stealth wings'

Yeah, but, does it come with frequent flyer miles?

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Special forces to use strap-on 'stealth wings'

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Elite special forces troops being dropped behind enemy lines on covert missions are to ditch their traditional parachutes in favour of strap-on stealth wings.

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The lightweight carbon fibre mono-wings will allow them to jump from high altitudes and then glide 120 miles or more before landing - making them almost impossible to spot, as their aircraft can avoid flying anywhere near the target.

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The technology was demonstrated in spectacular fashion three years ago when Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner - a pioneer of freefall gliding - famously 'flew' across the English Channel, leaping out of an aircraft 30,000ft above Dover and landing safely near Calais 12 minutes later.

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Wearing an aerodynamic suit, and with a 6ft wide wing strapped to his back, he soared across the sea at 220mph, moving six feet forward through the air for every one foot he fell vertically - and opened his parachute 1,000ft above the ground before landing safely.

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Taking a Moment to Remember

D-Day, the Sixth of June, 1944.

Official Apologizes For Saying Bush Should Be Shot Between Eyes

I could be wrong. But, isn't what this idiot said, a Federal crime? I rarely post political stories, preferring to support the troops. But, I would never, ever suggest anything like this dumbass did and I think that threatening the President of the United States should not go unpunished.

NEW YORK -- State Comptroller Alan Hevesi publicly apologized Thursday for a "beyond dumb" remark about "putting a bullet between the president's eyes."

Hevesi hastily called a mea culpa press conference hours after putting his foot in his mouth at the Queens College commencement.

The Queens College media relations office said it had videotaped the commencement but could not immediately provide a copy of the tape or a transcript.

At the press conference, a contrite Hevesi repeated what he recalled saying in the speech. The comptroller said he was merely trying to convey that Sen. Charles Schumer has strength and courage to stand up to the president.

"I apologize to the president of the United States" as well as to Schumer, said Hevesi. "I am not a person of violence."

"I am apologizing as abjectly as I can. There is no excuse for it. It was beyond dumb."
Hevesi said he hadn't been in touch with the White House but he hoped his apology reached President Bush.

Hevesi also called his comments "remarkably stupid" and "incredibly moronic."
"I do speak extemporaneously," he said. "And I've never said anything like this."

Well, sir, you did!