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Thursday, September 30, 2004

Want to know who have the best universities in the world? Go ask the Chinese! It looks like the America has a bunch of dolts lying around. Here is the European list.

While I was in Germany staying at the gasthaus, the only two English language news channels were CNN and BBC world. One interesting thing was that the BBC had advertising on it or those detested commercials. One was from Accenture business consultants staring Tiger Woods. The future of the BBC will be commercial with adverts!

Now I am somebody! David over at Davids Medienkritik linked to me for an article that I saw on the Stars and Stripes. Danke sehr!

Here are two faces of the future of America and the free world. Here and here. Who do you think will be more beneficial to the world?


When this came out lots of troops were rolling their eyes. All the soldiers felt this was a noble cause and with good intentions (Sept 29), but in reality it would be used selectively. Others felt since we are at war does not the Criminal Investigation Division have more important thing to look at? Not many troops are going to put Amsterdam as a destination on their leave slips any more.

Now the Germans really love us now.

When I was in uniform last week I would watch CNN or BBC world news, then check out the G-2 (intel) reports and it looks like there was two different Iraqs. One was where the hell was returning and the other where life is trying to getting back to normal. Now the word is getting out.
Update: Wretchard has more information. More from Chrenkoff.

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Guess what I did last night? I voted in the general election and today I will put it in the mail. The town clerk from my home town was easy to deal with. When I called her, she said I could fill out a form that I could down load over the internet or type out and sign a letter, and send it to her and she would in return send me a ballot. Easy as cake. My wife be came an American after I told her she could not whine about the state of local and national affairs unless she became an American and voted. It was pretty easy for her to become an American; just two interviews and a bit of paperwork that was nothing compared to buying a house. So don’t whine, just vote.

Sunday, September 26, 2004

Do we need to assimilate immigrants, legal and illegal? I do, my father who was legal immigrant was pretty well assimilated, and it struck home with him when we visited his family back in the islands. All he wanted to get back to the US quickly.

A “new” look at the Beslan attack, but created by Clinton?

Pseudo-protesters need to get real.

The future of France is not rosy by this post. This is not good for the western world.

Saturday, September 25, 2004

Thank god that the ‘60s are finally coming to an end

Over at the Braden files there is analysis from Stafford titled “The U.S. Election and the International System.” My experience living in England pretty well validates the thesis of this post.

Can masks makers forcast the future and election? Their past record is more accurate than the professional pollisters.


This bumper sticker asks a question that every American has to answer before they vote.

Planning for future operations for the US Army will be different than in the past while lessons learned from Iraq and Afghanistan are being digested. The Army is just not physically just pulling out of Europe, but also a new mind set is being cast. The battle for the Fuda Gap is history. Many soldiers are learning how to become fluent in Arabic and other languages of the region. The culture and traditions are becoming common knowledge throughout the force. You could say we are becoming “Arabsized” while waiting for next action. Tactics, techniques and procedures are being adjusted for operations for the region. This is the real transformation of the Army.

Friday, September 24, 2004

First it was the Germans with their toilets now the Dutch are going to out do them.

The real news from Europe.

A country study of Afghanistan. It has lots of detail and great for reading at airports. More here.

Here is a different view of protesters from Britain.

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Over at Stratgey Page they are saying: Al Qaeda Has Lost Its War in Iraq

September 23, 2004: While al Qaeda manages to set off one or more suicide bombs a day in Iraq, it finds itself losing the war it is waging. The bombs are killing mainly Iraqis, and the Iraqis have noticed this. Al Qaeda expects the Iraqi Islamic radicals to benefit from the bombing campaign. But the only Iraqi Islamic radicals that support al Qaeda are the Sunni Arab ones, and these are a minority of the Sunni Arab (20 percent of the population) minority. Moreover, most of the muscle, and money, for anti-government violence comes from Sunni Arab supporters of the Baath Party. Saddam Hussein led the Baath Party for over three decades. While Saddam is locked up, as are most of the senior Baath Party leaders, the thousands of thugs and enforcers that maintained Baath's control over Iraq are still out there. Many of these guys are still doing what they have always done; terrorizing Iraqis into supporting Baath, or at least not opposing it. Baath has cleverly shaped it's message to sound like a patriotic call to "expel foreign invaders." But most Iraqis are not fooled. Opinion polls consistently show that over 80 percent of the population wants nothing to do with Baath. Yet the only alternative to a democratic government is Baath, or a religious dictatorship. Al Qaeda makes itself unpopular by killing hundreds of Iraqis with suicide bombs. Baath makes itself hated with its continued terror campaign, kidnapping and assassinations. The terror tactics of al Qaeda and Baath have succeeded in some other Arab countries, much to the dismay of the locals. Syria is the only other country run by the Baath Party, and it is another Republic of Fear. Iran is dominated by Islamic conservatives, who rule by intimidation and terror. Afghanistan, when ruled by the Islamic conservative Taliban, also suffered under unpopular applications of intimidation and terror.

Read the rest.

Maybe I will be able to use the super stink bomb in A-stan.

China versus the rest of the world for jobs? Maybe this will piss off China’s neighbors more than America.

The Fantasy World of the Modern Day Protester.

The future of the EU. I think it is a bit to rosey, but what do I know.

Hey, there are some good things going on in Afghanistan.

I might even go snowboarding there!

Also I think I will try to do something like this to help out. If you are a friend or reader send me your email address and I will reply with details once I get settled.

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

I am going to my new unit in Kaiserslautern in a few minutes. Time to drive the autobahn.

Red Sox vs the Yankees and politics.

Fox and the 1st Amendment.

Guess who are our new friends?

Sport and reality sometimes collide.




Tuesday, September 21, 2004

This guy has figured out a way to win the war. One heart and mind at a time. I served with his unit and I am glad that they are doing all right.

Guess who said this:
No, it is not. If I hear one more person tell me how lousy a candidate Kerry is and how he can't win... Dammit, of COURSE he's a lousy candidate -- he's a Democrat, for heavens sake! That party is so pathetic, they even lose the elections they win! What were you expecting, Bruce Springsteen heading up the ticket? Bruce would make a helluva president, but guys like him don't run -- and neither do you or I. People like Kerry run.


Put Away Your Hankies...a message from Michael Moore 9/20/04


It has been an interesting past two days. I flew to Frankfurt, Germany on Sunday and drove down to Heidelberg where my unit is at. There was a conference going on and it was interesting and everybody was in a good mood. A few there were cracking jokes, but then there was phone call from a unit down range in the box. A somber air came over the room. A few points from experience were relayed to units that are preparing to go down range. Get M-4 carbines for all troops. M-16s are hard to shoot when in a vehicle. Get all secure radios that you can lay your hands on. OPFOR don’t like slugging it out with infantry or armor units, so they go after service support (transportation, ordinance, ect..) troops-they are bearing the brunt of the conflict. One thing is that that struck me was that he was upbeat and he said whatever we heard on TV, we are putting a case of hurt on the enemy.

Then I received SIX immunization shots for all kinds of nasty bugs. Now I will start the anthrax series soon. That put a little damper my weight lifting routine. I also made a power of attorney letter for my wife and reviewed my will with the JAG.

Today I received dental examination and cleaning of my teeth and picked up an Army, Field Artillery, support your troops stickers for a friend back in the states. While waiting for my teeth to be cleaned a family was in line with their eight month old daughter. Looking at that cute baby made me miss my daughters. When the lady who was running the reception room at the dental clinic saw on my paperwork that I will be mobilized, she put me at head of the line. That was nice and people in the room wished me good luck when I headed to the dentist.

Tomorrow is personnel paperwork review. I will make sure my pay is squared away; life insurance will be bumped up, and ensure that clearances are up to date.

I was watching German TV last night and it is funny to watch and listen Whoppie Goldberg speak German. It is just not right. Also I saw some rapper on TV. He had bling, bling all over him, the baggy pants and baseball cap on sideways, but when I was listeneing to him, I thought he had rocks in mouth. Then I realized he was rapping in German. His lyrics were pretty racy and little German girls were squealing in joy.

While driving back to barracks I saw some kid ride one of these. They look pretty cool to me.


My German is not that good and I was trying to follow the news on Deustche Welle, but this does not bode well for politics in Germany.

Are we going to start fighting like ants and bees? More here.

I scored in the 70s so I am par with the world’s best.

My new toy,but this would be better or fired the same round.

One piece crap from Germany that I can do with out.

Sunday, September 19, 2004

Is there a new star system in Hollywood?

These Japanese people are too cool for me.

A good list of Sci-Fi films.

Is this a way to help to the Palestinians?

A list of bogus election issues.

Political and policy trends and polling in the UK. Do the elections refect the polls? We will find out if an election is called.

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

From the New York Times:

They have taken their eye off the real ball," Mr. Kerry said, his voice almost shaking in anger. "They took it off in Afghanistan and shifted it to Iraq. They took it off in North Korea and shifted it to Iraq. They took it off in Russia, and the nuclear materials there, and shifted it to Iraq."


All I can say if the US dropped the ball, why am I going over to Afghanistan? I will remember these famous words in November.

Guess who are new friends?

Sport and reality sometimes collide.

China versus the rest of the world for jobs? Maybe this will piss off China’s neighbors more than America.

The Fantasy World of the Modern Day Protester.

The future of the EU. I think it is a bit to rosey, but what do I know.

My oldest daughter, who is three, knows something is going on. I told her that she is going back to the States in a few weeks. She tells everybody that she is “going to’merica tomorrow.” Before she would go to bed last night I had to chase the monkeys out of her room and at 2:00 am she wanted me to sleep in her bed, because she was afraid. I just want her to understand I am not leaving her because she was “bad” and I tell her everyday that I love her.

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Do you want to know where the troops are at? Look here. One small detail, caught my eye, one of the tables has the military is planning nine brigades in Iraq in 2007. We will be there no matter who is the president. Sounds like some of the scuttlebutt is making it to the press. Here is a pretty good overview of the military in plain English with a general analysis of doctrine.

Here is a short brief on Islam for those who read junk filled newspapers, like the Mirror. It is a bit different from what Osama preaches.

Some information on military rotations to Afghanistan with a detailed listing of troops and units. This list will be outdated, but gives you an understanding what is going on, the scale of operations and what types of military forces will be there in the future. Task Force Angle and their civilian counterparts never make the news.

That is where the some of the action is at. Nothing classified, just a pretty detail listing of UN (International Security Assistance Force - ISAF 4) troops in Afghanistan. They will be replaced by the EU Euro Corps soon. More here.

Wifey and I have developed a plan to get her back to the states by mid November.
She is very organized and could be a great staff or battle officer. She is really the officer in charge of the house. I think her radio call sign should be household six.

Before I got the call to deploy I would read a few articles at lunch and if they were good, I would copy the URL to a file to store and post them to this blog. Now I will be busy clearing my desk at work, getting the wife and kids to America and preparing to deploy. I will not have time to do more reading, so I will be cleaning my to blog page off with in the next few days. After that I will be posting about the days events.

If you want to me to send you an email after I deploy let me know. It has been heartening to receive emails showing there support for Wifey, the girls and me. Many English friends are lending a hand. You would never know they would be supportive from reading the press here. The Vicar of my church told me his Grandfather served in Afghanistan with the British Army and gave him a .455 that he used. He said it was effective in keeping the enemy in the ground and I might need something similar.

I figure I will be in back home in bbq’ing a T-bone and filet mignon, drinking a beer with my wife and watching the kids play in the backyard in a few months. The road home will take me through training grounds in Germany, maybe Italy, points between Afghanistan and back to New Hampshire. Life is strange, interesting and never boring.

Here are a few small and interesting posts:

Tricks of the trade for everyday life. I like the pulling price tags off tip.

A comparison of life in New Jersey, Japan and China. Pretty good!

Do we sign a truce with Islamic Terrorist?

Last post for today.

A big congratulation to Marty and Rebecca for the birth of their new daughter! I bet she will save rock and roll!

Saturday, September 11, 2004

I think the cat is out of the bag. Maybe I might be able to go snowboarding there. Look at the side bar at the bottom for my unit. Now it will be the task to take care of my family and get them stateside to start life all over again. Just think I thought I would not have any material to blog about. More information here.

Friday, September 10, 2004

WTF. I just got a phone call that said I was mobilized and going down range. No details yet. By the middle of next week I should have a good idea of what is going on. I am trying to figure out where my wife and kids will go. Since my job here in England will be over, I will have to ship all my house hold processions back to America. The real big question is do I tell my renters, sorry, you’re out or let my wife live with some friends or family. It sucks for them the most.

Thursday, September 09, 2004

This is a big game in Europe, but most of troops who were watching it on German TV during the Olympics called it a game for “wimps” or worse.

Do you want to know why some of the military dislikes the press?
This happened outside of Goose Green during the Falkland War:
Starting early May 27 and through May 28 2 Para approached and attacked Darwin and Goose Green which was held by the Argentine 12th Inf Regt. After a tough struggle which lasted all night and into the next day; seventeen British and 200 Argentine soldiers were killed and 1400 Argentinian troops were taken prisoner. Due to a gaffe by the BBC the invasion of Goose Green was announced on the BBC World Service before it actually happened. It was during this attack that Lt Col H Jones, the CO of 2 Para was killed. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. See also Battle of Goose Green.
More reaction to the BBC actions are here.


Football Madness starts again. A statistical analysis of the upcoming football season and the Pats are rated number one! Do I hear the word dynasty? Here is a good and simplified explanation of the west coast offense. More here.

This makes me kind of old, but at least they are smiling.

The worst dictators in the world. I bet we might be having some words with them soon.

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

Remember the keyboard player in Prince’s old band who dressed up like a doctor? Here is his web site, he sounds smooth and funky, I guess Prince has an influence of his sound.

Over at Highway 99 there is a great post about Saudi Arabia and what mess it is. That is one place that I think we will have to watch from the sidelines, while it implodes.

List of military articles.

Wishful thinking of Europe might not happen no matter who is elected.

I used to listen to Alice when I was a little kid when hanging out at my friend’s house, because his older brother had an eight track player with his tapes.
But he hit it on the head with:
"To me, that's treason," Cooper told the Canadian Press. "I call it treason against rock 'n' roll because rock is the antithesis of politics. Rock should never be in bed with politics."
"When I was a kid and my parents started talking about politics, I'd run to my room and put on the Rolling Stones as loud as I could. So when I see all these rock stars up there talking politics, it makes me sick.
"If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we're morons. We sleep all day, we play music at night and very rarely do we sit around reading the Washington Journal."

Saturday, September 04, 2004

It looks like Moore’s Minutemen has struck again. Shooting kids in the back, what bunch of pussies. Here is a first hand account of what went down. I feel sorry for the victims and their families, but the Russians are now going to take off the gloves in Chechnya and Chechnan innocent bystanders will be feeling the brunt of the Russian fury. I bet al Queda stringers in the US are planning to do some thing in America along the same line. Only vigilant citizens will help catch guys like this. I bet he was scouting out targets.

Even the Coast Guard is in on the fun.

Is this true?

Oh yeah, now they are coming through the Mexican-American boarder.

God is smiling right now!

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