MJ vs. US

This is written by a young man serving his third tour of duty in Iraq. Thought you might find his take on the Michael Jackson news interesting.

Okay, I need to rant. I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson. As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villian to many people. I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn’t the point of my rant. Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their minds with grief. When a man dies whose only contribution to the country was to ENTERTAIN people, the Amercian people find the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood, and even Congress sees the need to hold a “moment of silence” for his passing? Am I missing something here?

ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he’s a freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades? What about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States of America. Where is their moment of silence? Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them because they made the ultimate sacrifice? Why is it when a Soldier dies, there are more people saying “good riddence,” and “thank God for IEDs?” When did this country become so calloused to the sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and instead, throw themselves into mourning for a “Pop Icon?” I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. They need to PUBLICLY recognize every life that has been lost so that the American people can live their callous little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE, those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for them. But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never make millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit songs that the world will listen too. We only shed our blood, sweat and tears so that people can enjoy what they have. Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it.

Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military; “So that others may live…”

Isaac

2nd MEB makes gains, expects more fighting

By Dan Lamothe – Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jul 8, 2009 17:35:31 EDT

After seven days of seizing poppy-rich areas of southern Afghanistan, the Marine Corps is planning a shift to gain the trust of Afghan civilians but expects the Taliban to return and fight for the land, the top Marine commander there said Wednesday.

Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson, commander of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, said that although Marines have engaged the Taliban only about 20 times in the first seven days of a massive operation to take control of Helmand province, he expects more resistance in coming months, once insurgents realize the Corps isn’t leaving anytime soon.

“The enemy isn’t just going to stay away,” Nicholson said in a telephone conference with reporters at the Pentagon. “This area is far too valuable to the Taliban.”

One Marine has been killed in combat since the Corps launched Operation Khanjar (“Strike the Sword”) on July 2, sending some 4,000 Marines and 650 Afghan soldiers into rural areas of Afghanistan that have been controlled by the Taliban for years.
Call for partnership

Nicholson said the relative ease with which Marines have laid claim to the region is encouraging, but he’d eventually like to see every 1,000-strong Marine battalion in Afghanistan partnered with an Afghan battalion, which each have about 500 troops. Every Marine company involved in the operation has about a platoon of Afghan service members working with it.

“I’m not going to sugar coat it,” he said. “The fact of the matter is we don’t have enough Afghan forces, and I’d like more.”

In the meantime, Marines and Afghan soldiers have begun to reach out in the villages and towns they have captured. Small unit leaders have met with local Afghans leaders in several locations, and rank-and-file Marines are beginning to settle in existing settlements with Afghan villagers, Nicholson said. They’ve been instructed to interact with civilians while remaining ready for combat.

“I tell my guys you should expect some of both [combat and interacting with villagers] and you better be able to hand out Jolly Ranchers and 5.56[mm] ammunition with equal enthusiasm and accuracy,” he said.

To date, the biggest threat Marines have faced is heat. Helicopters are flying in pallets of water “day and night,” but the temperature regularly exceeds 100 degrees and is “hot like fire,” Nicholson said.

On Monday, about 500 Marines with Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion rolled into Khan Neshin, the southernmost town in Helmand before the Afghan-Pakistan border. The seizure of the town marked the first time coalition forces have established a long-term presence in a city that far south in Helmand.

On Wednesday, the provincial governor visited an area castle with 18th-century roots and raised an Afghan flag there for the first time, Nicholson said. He compared the moment to the famous raising of the U.S. flag on the island Iwo Jima during World War II.

The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten

The mission of their website is to help ensure the rights of the residents, Marines/Naval personnel, dependent family members and civilians who resided in military base housing aboard Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, that were exposed to long term chemical release of volatile organic compounds into the drinking water of their homes from 1957 until 1987.

http://www.tftptf.com/

STILL GOT THAT OBAMA BUMPER STICKER ON YOUR CAR?

By Neal Boortz @ July 2, 2009

I know, it’s hard to admit that you were wrong, isn’t it? I mean, after all, how in the world can you admit that voting for someone with absolutely no experience at all – a former ACORN street organizer – someone who gravitated to Marxist professors and communist student groups in college – someone with no record of significant accomplishment at any endeavor – and someone who ran for office on the basis of focus-group slogans – how can you ever admit that such a vote might have been a mistake?

Do you see our economy improving? Have you noticed the improving employment figures?

Are you impressed by the burgeoning national debt that your children are going to have to pay back?

Are you looking forward to seeing your health care rationed?

How about the nationalization of General Motors, Citigroup and others? That’s why you put that bumper sticker on your car, isn’t it? So Obama could use some of his immense business experience to run some of our major industries. You do know he will nationalize the banks soon, don’t you? Is that the change you had in mind?

Don’t you see how smart this “sort-of” God really is? He’s raising taxes while other nations are lowering business and personal taxes to fight the economic downturn. You knew that he knew something that the other world leaders didn’t know … didn’t you?

How about our shows of determination and strength to North Korea and Iran? Obama really has the Gargoyle and Shorty in a tizzy, doesn’t he? And I’m sure you’re very impressed by Obama’s instantaneous backing of that wannabe dictator and Chavez acolyte from Honduras.

So … still got that Obama bumper sticker on your car? It’s one thing to have been so profoundly ignorant in the last election. It’s quite another to advertise it.

‘Say and speak my name correctly’

MOLLY K. DEWITT
June 26, 2009 – 6:26PM

Po-tay-to, po-tah-to. To-may-to, to-mah-to.

Leh-june, Luh-jern?

The correct way to pronounce “Lejeune” is a subject of controversy. But, Patrick Brent, a former Marine and friend of Lt. Gen. John A. Lejeune’s family, said there is no question – the proper way to pronounce it is “Luh-jern.”

Lejeune served as the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps and is known for being the first Marine to lead an Army division and for developing the Marine Corps amphibious warfare doctrine.

“There’s a lot of things that don’t matter, corps, colonel, these are frivolous comparisons … But General Lejeune is very easily considered to be the greatest leatherneck of all time,” he said. ” … There is no other pronunciation. It is incontrovertibly the way the name is pronounced and respected.”

At an event aboard Camp Lejeune Friday, Brent explained to members of the media the proper pronunciation of Lejeune and urged them to help get the word out – to not only the civilian population but to Marines as well.

“It’s an uphill battle because when people have been saying something so wrong for so long it’s hard to change,” Brent said. “We’re going to stand tall. I want you to pass the word. Each and every Marine here, pass the word.”

The Lejeune family, who are natives of Baton Rouge, La., prefer the French-Creole pronunciation and Brent said they “cringe” when they hear it pronounced otherwise.

“At all times, General Lejeune and his while family, for the last couple of hundred years have said Luh-jern,” he said. “To honor the man we should pronounce his name appropriately.”

Last year, attempts were made to integrate the proper pronunciation of the Lejeune name back into the Marine Corps community aboard Camp Lejeune with several posters and billboards outlining the correct way to say it.

One such sign read: “Welcome home … to the most disciplined and aggressive fighting force the world has ever known! And Marines … say and speak my name correctly: Luh-JERN. Semper Fi!”

The signs were eventually removed, and there has been no further visible effort aboard the base to address the issue.

“Somewhere along the line everybody changes the general’s name,” Brent said. “When I was in the Marine Corps it was always said correctly and what happened is the last generation has let it lapse.”

First Lt. Joy Crabaugh, public affairs officer for the training and education command at Quantico that sets criteria for recruit depots, said there is no formal period of instruction for recruits as to how to pronounce the Lejeune name.

Crabaugh said it’s more likely that the correct pronunciation is taught through the mentorship that happens between Marines.

“I think it’s one of those things that’s passed that way vice formal periods of instruction at recruit depots,” she said.

However, 2nd Lt. Brian Villiard, media officer for Marine Corps Base Quantico said during his time at basic school in Quantico he received a class on the history of the Lejeune family name and the proper way to say the name.

“We did get taught why it’s pronounced ‘Luh-jern’ instead of ‘Leh-june,’” he said.

Maj. Carl Redding, public affairs officer for Headquarters Marine Corps, said the current Commandant, Gen. James Conway, will pronounce the name any way the family would like him to.

“He understands the history itself of Camp Lejeune and he’s willing to essentially follow the family’s wishes,” he said. “If historical data reflects that you pronounce it ‘Luh-jern,’ then the commandant supports that.”

Camp Lejeune’s base commander, Col. Richard Flatau, was not available for comment but a public affairs representative said that Flatau and others pronounce the name properly.

Brent said while he realized it is a difficult task to get people to properly pronounce the Lejeune name, he has hope.

“We all have a hard time changing something we’ve been doing for a number of years, but we’ll get there,” Brent said. “Marines are respectful and honorable … The least we can do is get his name right.”

Murtha speaks?

by Christian Lowe
DefenseTech.Org

As you all well know, I’ve been dogging Rep. John Murtha, the powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee, pretty hard ever since his fly-off-the-handle accusation of murder by a squad of Marines in Haditha back in mid-2006.

Well, I nervously attended a roundtable interview this morning in DC with Murtha and a group of the country’s top defense writers — figuring I might get the cold shoulder from the Democratic Bull. But I was surprised to find that he was remarkably candid, brewing with news and even friendly. A far cry from the confrontational chairman I’d peppered with questions in the past.

He said a lot of stuff on defense tech issues — info we’re going to build into longer stories in the coming hours — but what I thought I’d do is give you all a data dump of the basics of what he said…a sort of tear out of the pages of my reporter’s notebook, if you will:

Tanker — Murtha said he was strongly in favor of a split buy because he thought no matter who “wins” a recompete, there will be yet another protest that will delay the fielding and hamper global reach efforts. He wants a production throughput of three planes per month which he says even with the split buy, will save money in the long run because of the near crushing maintenance costs of keeping the KC-135s aloft. Murtha had just met with DefSec Gates the previous day, and though Gates has said publicly he’s against a split buy, Murtha said “I don’t know that he’s against it” hinting that the White House might be driving that argument and Gates might have some flexibility on the issue.

Raptor — Lots here. First, Murtha is against the shut down of the F-22 line for what he says are purely national security issues. He says he’s going to try and find $3.2 billion (my notes said $20B but i re-listened to the recording and he said $3.2B — not sure why I wrote $20B) to build 20 more next year and has asked Gates to provide him with some national security threat estimates that would justify NOT buying more Raptors. Murtha says he’s concerned about a rising China competing for energy resources in the coming years and noted that “World War II started because we cut off Japan’s energy supply” (though I gather some historians would object to that characterization). Murtha said he’s 50/50 on whether he can get the money for more F-22s, but he said “Lockheed has given up” on getting the extra orders.

Also, Murtha touched on the issue of an export version of the F-22 — principally to Japan who says only the F-22 can meet its range and speed requirements for a new interceptor. Murtha said Sen. Daniel Inouye is working with Japan to come up with the cash needed to “de-militarize” the F-22 (to remove the secret gadgets and gizmos from the US version) which he estimates will be around $300 million. Murtha thinks that’s way too optimistic and that gutting the F-22 for export will cost more along the lines of $1 billion.

Murtha said he’s worried about the high cost of maintaining the Raptor as well — that it might be difficult to bring that cost under control and will contribute to major sticker shock among lawmakers (and a White House) who are looking for money to spend elsewhere.

F-35 — Murtha said he was just as worried about the long term costs of the F-35 and the delays in production and technological maturity with that program as he is with the travails of the F-22. He said that even though the JSF is a priority for the Obama administration, his committee may not give them the requested money for 2010. “I’m for the F-35. I’m for buying the F-35. But I’m not necessarily for buying it this year.”

EFV — Murtha was stunned when his staff learned that the EFV had an aluminum underbody that would be warm butter to a mine or IED when ashore. He told the commandant that the EFV program was “on the bubble” and that he’d better get control of it and make good on the billions invested in the program already. Murtha talked to Gates about the EFV as well at his meeting the previous day and revealed that Gates has his critical eye on the program as well. “This has been going on for 25 years, this research, and it’s expensive as hell. You can’t keep spending money on research and then come to us and say you’re just going to cancel the program. That’s just not acceptable.”

VH-71 (Prez Helo) — The bottom line is that Murtha wants to make use of the $3.2 billion already spent on the program to field at least some portion of the fleet that’s already been built or is close to being finished. He said there are nine choppers either built or nearly built that we should field. He also leveled sharp criticism at the Secret Service for loading down the program with unnecessary requirements — “We continue to try to convince the administration on the VH-71. … This was Secret Service who said we need all these things on this airplane. … They said they were going to push it off to the Obama administration and there was so much bad publicity about it, I think they reacted to the publicity.” Murtha said he tried to convince White House officials and Pentagon brass to keep the program and try to see how the Congress could salvage the money already spent. They reportedly told him “okay, okay” then they went ahead and cancelled it.

We’re slicing and dicing more of the roundtable for DT, DoD Buzz and Military.com so stay tuned for more.

– Christian

Report of Favre to Vikes Confirmed

Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Posted By Mike Florio 10:17 PM

I love the smell of vindication in the morning.

It smells like Febreze.

Mark Rosen of WCCO reports that, indeed, the Vikings and quarterback Brett Favre have agreed to terms on a contract, and that Favre will attend training camp.

Unless, you know, he doesn’t.

Rosen also confirms our report that purple jerseys bearing Favre’s number and name already have been ordered.

From our perspective, there was no doubt about it. Though the manner in which it came to us was unusual, the point was that a source in position to know the truth thereafter told us, “I can’t tell you anything, but I will not deny it either, and I’ll leave it at that.”

Chance Phelps Foundation Donates $10,000 to ‘Hope for the Warriors’

Chance Phelps Foundation Donates $10,000 to ‘Hope for the Warriors’
American Forces Press Service ^ | Sharon Foster

WASHINGTON, June 19, 2009 – A foundation formed by the family of a fallen Marine whose story was told in the HBO movie “Taking Chance” has donated $10,000 to a group that works to help wounded veterans and their families.

Hope for the Warriors, a national nonprofit group, received the donation from the Chance Phelps Foundation during Fleet Week activities in New York on May 22.

Gretchen Mack, mother of Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Chance R. Phelps and founder of the Chance Phelps foundation, said her family decided to make the donation based on what they experienced last year in New York at a Hope for the Warriors event that included wounded warriors involved in extensive rehabilitation at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio for loss of limbs, eyesight, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“We spent a lot of time with these servicemembers, and were very impressed and touched,” Mack said. “This year, we decided to donate to Hope for the Warriors because what they do for those that serve is incredible.”

The Chance Phelps Foundation, founded after Phelps was killed in Iraq in April 2004, is a nonprofit organization that raises money for donations to various charities that support quality-of-life issues for servicemembers, particularly those who have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Tina Atherall, Hope for the Warriors vice president, said the contribution was gratefully accepted and will assist the group in its mission of “No sacrifice forgotten, nor need unmet.”

“We are forever grateful for their dedication and support to the wounded, their families and the families of the fallen,” Atherall said. “This donation will help enhance our various programs: Immediate Needs, Above and Beyond, Hope and Morale, A Warriors Wish, Spouse Scholarships, Family Support Program, Wounded Warrior Barracks and Warrior House.”

Mack and the fallen Marine’s father, John Phelps, presented the donation to Robin Kelleher, president of Hope for the Warriors.

Mack said money donated to Hope for the Warriors was given to her family after she lost her son, and the family wanted to pass the money on.

“Hope for the Warriors help veterans with quality-of-life issues that they and their families may face after deployment,” Mack said. “This may include physical injuries, financial issues and, of course, making sure they get the medical treatment they need and an opportunity to enjoy some well deserved rest and relaxation. We are very passionate about being a part of helping our veterans and their families.”

Hagan: Report left out key documents regarding water contamination

Hagan: Report left out key documents regarding water contamination
June 16, 2009 – 11:52 AM
AMANDA HICKEY
The Jacksonville Daily News

A report released Saturday on water contamination at Camp Lejeune left out key documents, according to Sen. Kay Hagan.

“The NAS study released Saturday is simply a review of previous scientific literature on hydrocarbon solvents, reports on Camp Lejeune water contamination, and published epidemiologic and toxicological studies,” Hagan said in a Tuesday morning press release.

She said it failed to explain conclusions of “previous epidemiological studies that found an association between volatile organic compounds exposures and childhood leukemia and presents some direct contradictions to the EPA’s maximum containment levels of VOCs in drinking water.”

The National Academy of Science (NAS) and National Research Council (NRC) study mentioned little about benzene and vinyl chloride and downplayed the established links between adverse health effects and exposure to VOCs that were present in the water at Camp Lejeune, the release said.

“For these reasons, I cannot stand behind the validity of the NAS study. Former personnel and residents of Camp Lejeune need closure on this issue and one way to help facilitate that is through a hearing in the Armed Services Committee,” Hagan stated.

According to the report, there is not sufficient evidence of a causal relationship or association between contaminants in Camp Lejeune water and specific health outcomes.

There are 14 health conditions that could be due to the contaminants, but evidence of a direct connection is limited, according to the report. Another 45 conditions are listed that do not have enough evidence to determine whether or not there is an association between the condition and the contaminants.

The study omitted historical documents regarding high levels of benzene found in an operating well on July 6, 1984 in the Hadnot Point water system and the 1979 leak of 20,000-30,000 of fuel at the Hadnot Point fuel farm, according to the release.

“The time has come for Congress, the Department of the Navy and the Marine Corps to work together to develop a plan to resolve the longstanding issue of water contamination at Camp Lejeune,” Hagan said.

Jerome Ensminger, a retired Marine whose 9-year-old daughter died of leukemia, couldn’t agree more.

“I think that is a very gratifying feeling to know that we have some elected officals working for the American people that will take a strong stand against something that is just obviously immoral and a total act of misconduct by an organization that is supposed to take pride in its honor and integrity,” he said Tuesday.

Hagan sent a letter to the Navy with Sen. Richard Burr last week, asking 14 questions to determine if there was prior knowledge of trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, benzene and vinyl chloride in the water supply before the wells were shut down.

The Navy and Marine Corps have until June 25 to respond. Hagan and Burr plan to meet with Navy Secretary Ray Mabus to address the study and their questions before August.

WHERE’S MY OPRAH AND AMERICAN IDOL?

By Neal Boortz @ June 15, 2009

It happened just as we predicted. Around 12:30 last Friday afternoon the switches were thrown and America’s television stations turned off their analog signals. All that was left was digital. We’ve known about this for over a year. For over six months virtually all of these TV stations were broadcasting announcements about the switch. If you watch TV even a little you’ve seen hundreds of announcements telling you that the switch was coming and that you needed to take steps to make sure you could still watch your precious boob tube. The government was handing out coupons whereby the dumb masses could tap the taxpayers for the cost of a converter box. There were volunteers out there attaching the conversion boxes for people who still haven’t managed to master the ballpoint pen. Everything that could be done was done. And yet … on Friday afternoon the calls came pouring in to the TV stations …….

“What happened to my soap opera?”

“Where can you get one of them converter things?”

“I can’t afford one of them converter things.”

“Where is Barack Obama’s birth certificate?”

“Why didn’t you warn us this was going to happen?”

“I have a right to TV.”

“The government needs to do something about this.”

We are presented with a great opportunity here. Let’s get the names of all of the ignoranuses who couldn’t figure this thing out by Friday and get them converted to digital … with one condition. They surrender their voter registration cards. We have enough idiots voting in this country … and since there is no Constitutional right to vote in a federal election, we need to find ways to cull the herd. Clearly anyone who couldn’t figure out this analog-to-digital conversion thing isn’t bright enough to cast an intelligent vote. Sure … we need them. Someone has to cook the French fries … but we don’t need them voting.