Adopt-a-Unit effort aims to boost morale

Carolyn McCarthy's Web Log

Sunday 3:00 pm EST

We just got home. It will take a while to digest all I've seen over the past few days. Overall, I'm encouraged by the resolve of our troops. On the other hand, our reservists are having a very tough time. Many I talked to don't plan to re-up at the end of their tour. I think this could present a real manpower problem down the road.

Unfortunately, today brought news of a large attack on a major hotel in Baghdad. We don't know the specifics yet, but it's clear we're going to be dealing with these terrorist attacks for a long time.

But we're doing good things over there, and if we give the troops the resources they need and a doable plan to win the peace, the world's going to be a much better place. If that's enough for the soldiers getting shot at everyday, how could it not be enough for us back home?

So much for troop morale. And where is Reynolds on this latest entry? AWOL.

Fires Threaten 30,000 More Calif. Homes

DEADLY FIRES

CEDAR FIRE, San Diego County: 11 people dead, 206,664 acres burned, 528 homes destroyed. Started Oct. 25, apparently by lost hunter setting a signal fire. Air traffic nationwide was disrupted when flames forced evacuation of a Federal Aviation Administration control center. No containment.

DULZURA FIRE, San Diego County: No deaths, 45,291 acres burned. Started Oct. 26, cause under investigation. 17 percent contained. Briefly burned across border into Tijuana, Mexico.

PARADISE FIRE, San Diego County: 2 people killed, 57 homes destroyed, 30,000 acres. Started Oct. 26, cause under investigation. 15 percent contained.

GRAND PRIX FIRE, San Bernardino County: No deaths, 77 homes destroyed, 56,474 acres. Started Oct. 21, blamed on arson. 25 percent contained.

OLD FIRE, San Bernardino County: 2 people killed, 450 homes destroyed, 26,000 acres. Started Oct. 25, blamed on arson. 10 percent contained.

SIMI VALLEY, Ventura County: No deaths, 13 homes destroyed, 90,000 acres. Started Oct. 25, cause under investigation. 5 percent contained. Blaze moved past Ronald Reagan Library without causing damage.

VERDALE FIRE, Los Angeles County: No deaths, 9,000 acres. Started Oct. 24, blamed on arson. 85 percent contained.

CAMP PENDLETON, San Diego County: No deaths, 8,500 acres. Started Oct. 21 on the Marine base, cause under investigation. Contained.

PIRU FIRE, Ventura County: No deaths, 29,324 acres. Started Oct. 23, cause under investigation. 10 percent contained. Damaged small corner of Sespe Wilderness and Sespe Condor Sanctuary, but no condors are currently in the refuge.

MOUNTAIN FIRE, Riverside County: No deaths, nine homes destroyed, 10,000 acres. Started Oct. 26, cause under investigation. 55 percent contained.


FBI: al-Qaeda detainee spoke of fire plot

Rose Davis, a spokeswoman for the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, told The Associated Press that officials there took note of the warning but didn't see a need to act further on it.

Makes you really wonder.

Raimondo must have invaded Easterbrook's mind.

AP Exclusive: Records show teachers cheating on tests

I found out yesterday, why my friend's son-in-law's leave was cancelled. It was done because the Army didn't want anymore soldiers going AWOL.

My friend's daughter called from Italy and gave the reason. She also indicated that she has not heard from her husband in 1 week. Evidently, he was on a mission that involved the taking of an Iraqi house and setting up a field post.

While this is taking place, you have Glenn Reynolds posting a weblog of Carolyn McCarthy.

Friday 12:30am Kuwait City time (Thursday, 5:30pm EST)

Ever since we landed in Baghdad yesterday, I've been amazed at the morale of our troops. I talked to one soldier who said even though we haven't found the weapons of mass destruction, he's convinced that we are in Iraq for the right reasons. He felt that the conditions that the people of Iraq were facing under Hussein were so bad, that even being here just to help them free their country was reason enough. I've got a lot of reservations about the run up to the war in Iraq. Poor intelligence, lack of a coherent message from the Administration and a faulty plan for winning the peace are all problems, but seeing our work with my own eyes has been helpful. We're doing a lot of good over here.

I'm sure, she has gotten to see the hotspots across Iraq. But then again, she didn't have to go far to see what the troops come under daily.

At least six rockets struck the Al Rasheed Hotel early Sunday, the military said, blasting holes in the front wall and causing unspecified casualties in a building that is home to many Americans and seen as a symbol of the U.S.-led occupation.

Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who appeared shaken as he spoke to reporters after the 6:10 a.m. attack, said he had unconfirmed reports that one American might have been killed.

Any bets on her next weblog entry and what it will say?


Update: It is being reported by local news out of Long Island that Peter King had left the hotel 12 hours before the attack. There is no information on McCarthy. Both King and McCarthy went together on a "fact finding" visit.

The Quagmire

13 June 2003

Dear Delta Battery FRG members,

My name is CPT Shay Howard and I recently took over command from CPT Christopher Lambesis on 30 May 2003. I am originally from Texas and attended a small college in Oklahoma. I have been stationed in Korea, Fort Campbell, and Fort Bragg prior to coming to Italy. I am told that we have an excellent FRG. That is very comforting to hear. I am very excited to be working with your husbands and look forward to meeting you.

The “Doghouse” is currently living and working in and around Kirkuk, Iraq. However, we’ve done a lot of moving and working in other places prior to settling here. On March 26th, our Fire Support Personnel jumped into Bashur Drop-Zone, in Northern Iraq. It was a nighttime jump with a very soft landing because of all the mud. But that mud made for awful slow movement and miserable conditions. Our “Fisters” had no injuries and quickly helped to secure the area so that over the next few days, the Firing Battery and Headquarters Platoon could land on the runway - this time in airplanes! - complete with vehicles and 6 howitzers.

Over the next two weeks the Doghouse remained in Bashur. The Fisters conducted mounted patrols through the countryside with their infantry companies. The firing battery and headquarters platoons conducted a live fire training event shooting rounds into a nearby hill. That training paid off for the Doghouse because from April 06th thru April 10th, 3rd Section, 5th Section, the Fire Direction Center, and the COLT and Fisters from the 1-508th Infantry conducted two attacks on Iraqi forces occupying a ridgeline just South of the city of Irbil. These Doghouse soldiers did their job superbly, firing over 150 rounds at the enemy. With these efforts, Delta Battery can proudly state that they fired the first shots in anger from the 173rd ABN BDE since Vietnam in support of our country. These attacks were the first and, hopefully, the only conventional combat that the 173rd ABN BDE participated in since arriving in Iraq. I am very proud of the members of Delta Battery! Your husbands did their jobs well under the most difficult conditions- combat! They are true professionals!

Since then, conditions have improved. Shortly after these attacks, Delta Battery and the 173rd ABN BDE moved operations to Kirkuk. Two howitzers and their crews occupied and remain in position ready to fire at all times. The FDC runs a 24 hour operation from an abandoned building (it use to be an Iraqi fighter pilot school), and the Fisters conduct patrols in the city of Kirkuk with their infantry companies. While all this is going on, Delta Battery also guarded a Gas-Oil Separation Plant for over a month (our efforts were featured in a Stars and Stripes newspaper) and I’m sure you’ve heard from your loved ones how hot, boring, and most of all, horribly smelling that place was. That detail lasted for over a month!

Now, the Firing Battery and Headquarters platoons have moved on to another task - running the Brigade detention facility. When Delta Battery Fisters patrol the city with their infantry companies, they detain individuals with automatic weapons, looters, car thieves, and other suspicious people with the intention of cleaning up the streets. They bring these people to the Bayonet Detention Facility. Your husbands process them into the detention facility, provide food, water, and shelter for them, and watch over the site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your husbands work with translators to ensure the rules of the detention facility are understood and are followed by the detainees. Usually after a couple of days and a hearing, the detainees guilty of minor crimes are given a second chance and released. Other detainees guilty of more serious offenses remain there longer. Through it all, your husbands maintain a professional demeanor and conduct themselves in a manner that sets the example for the Iraqi people.

The Fisters of 2-503d Infantry conducted a large scale operation recently. They had the opportunity to move from here to down south on helicopters to capture several high ranking Iraqi personnel. They completed this with a high level of success and will be returning shortly.

That brings you up to speed on what we do so now I’ll discuss our living conditions. 1SG Mitchell scouted out an abandoned building that previously was a pilot training school. We use it now for a command post and the Fire Direction Center. No air conditioning yet, but we do have intermittent electricity, latrines, and showers (cold water, but we are not complaining) in the building. The Firing battery lives in an abandoned airplane hangar that keeps them out of the sun but close enough to the howitzers to answer if called to fire. The ammo section lives in an abandoned airplane hangar as well. They have been assisting the Air Force in destroying the multitude of Iraqi ammunition that the units have been discovering.

We conduct PT once a day; usually in the early mornings or after sunset. With temperatures now consistently over 100 degrees, it is too hot to even think about running. The Brigade provided the Battery with a stationary bike, and some of the guys fashioned a make-shift weight set out of sand-bags and antenna poles. The Fisters continue to work and live with their infantry companies out of the “safe houses” - many of which are former high-ranking Ba’ath Party member homes - so they are fairly comfortable.

While the Doghouse is working to make life better for the Iraqi people and ourselves everyday, we all know there is no place like home. Many thanks for the letters, packages, phone calls, and e-mails that come from our supporters reminding us for whom we fight for. I can personally attest that your support for your loved ones makes the Doghouse a better unit!

The 1SG and I would like to congratulate the following personnel on their well-deserved promotions.

(Names Witheld)

We would also like to welcome the newest doghouse member: (Name Witheld)
Also joining us very soon will be the recent arrivals to Doghouse:


(Names Witheld)


A very heart-filled goodbye to CPT Christopher and Erin Lambesis. Thank you so much for the leadership, friendship, and helpful hand that has contributed so much to the Doghouse FRG. Without your talents, the Doghouse would not be where it is today. We will miss you.

Sincerely,


Shay Howard


This was a letter that was sent to the many spouses of military members stationed in Iraq.

This however was done prior to the letter that found it way in newspapers across the country. The letter explained how well things were going in Iraq. Things are not going well.
My friends son-in-law has been stationed in Iraq since March. He has had no leave since he has been in Iraq.

In November, he was supposed to take leave in Germany, but it has been cancelled. His morale is low. He has stated that when asked what he wants to do after his tour is over, he stated he wants out.

The picture painted by the Bush administration is merely information that the top brass in the Pentagon want Bush to have.

Some argue the news is biased and tries to present a negative picture of Iraq. If this was the case, then why are the wounded underreported in the press?

I have heard personal accounts from my friend's son-in-law that the units in Kirkuk come under attack daily and that the Kurd's have threatened U.S. soldiers if the Turks come to help out in Iraq.

The enemy is no longer clearly defined and the uncertainty of who the enemy is, is cause for soldiers to overreact. Iraq has clearly become a quagmire.

Panel readies report faulting pre-war Iraq intelligence

LeBoutillier thinks it is payback.

Tenet was on the hot seat for awhile. He will be on the hot seat again. LeBoutillier isn't even close.


Let the spy games begin.

Want to do something for the troops?

Donate your air miles.

Distributor and Opening Are Set for Mel Gibson's Film on Jesus

Jesus actor struck by lightning

Describing the second lightning strike, McEveety told VLife, a supplement of the trade paper Variety: "I'm about a hundred feet away from them when I glance over and see smoke coming out of Caviezel's ears."

Signs?

Gibson Talks With U.S. Film Distributor

Prediction: A smaller distributor picks the film up and releases it and Murdoch will have wished otherwise.

Know Them By Their Mouths

Tim Rutten: Storm in cyberspace

Worse, in his apology and in an interview with the New York Times Thursday, Easterbrook pointed to a column he wrote last week, assailing Mel Gibson for a history of violent filmmaking while defending his controversial re-creation of the Passion. "I raised the exact same question about a Christian," Easterbrook said Thursday, and "there was not a single peep."


True, however, Easterbrook tries to excuse his statements by his remarks about Gibson. Moreover, the violence in Mel Gisbon's movies are not even close to the violence in Tarantino's films. And the bigotry shown towards Gibson should be attacked equally.

As for Easterbrook, the Christian, he may not like what Christian's are saying about Easterbrook, the Christian.

Audio of Said Riyadh Attackers Surfaces

Iraq tells bin Laden to stay out of its affairs

The official of the US-installed interim council warned al-Qaeda against "falling in the Iraqi quagmire, because the Iraqi scene is very complicated and doesn't need to be more so".

"All the Iraqi people want is to end the occupation as soon as possible. Encouraging terrorist activities would only give the occupying forces a reason to continue the occupation."


(emphasis added)

The Quagmire Continues

2 GIs Killed in Attack on Patrol in Iraq

Sullivan states:

MORE REASON: For Wesley Clark to become Howard Dean's running-mate. It would be a great, centrist Democrat-Republican ticket.


Yep, he is a brainiac. (sarcasm as if it should be pointed out.)

But then again what can be said about someone who comes up with support for Easterbrook and does so over Easterbrook's anti-Semitic comments about Jews and money.

New tape bolsters Bush’s message

The health of bin Laden is worsening. It wouldn't be too surprising to see video footage of bin Laden's son coming out.

The number one googled word for this site is mouths.


??????????

This whole issue of Boykin's comments made to Christian groups should be played with an article written by Mary Mostert on then Col. William Boykin who was commander of the Delta Force.

If there is one argument to be made, it is Boykin is incompetent. From the Iran hostage rescue to Waco, to Kosovo, he has had a hand in the mistakes that were made. As for the comments about Islam? Boykin was for the Kosovo involvement. Which aided the Muslims.

Aside from that, did Boykin find religion after Waco or does he just follow and say what he thinks will keep himself in goodkeeping with the current administration.

Career brass do that.

Kerry, Lieberman urge ouster of Army officer

The Democrats are having a field day with this guy.

Arab-Americans supported Bush by a considerable margin in the 2000 election, but recent polls show a shift toward Democrats among the 4 million Americans with Middle Eastern roots, many of them clustered in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, New York, California, and New Jersey, all must-win states for any Democrat. Three issues appear to be driving this shift: dismay over the Iraq war, concerns about racial profiling of Arabs by domestic security agents, and perceptions that the US blindly supports Israel.

Talk about trying to get a political gain.

Calif. Immigrant License Law Repeal Sought

On tense visit to Manila, Bush pledges US help to fight al-Qaida-linked terrorists

Dutch call in Iraq WMD inspectors

The Quagmire

U.S. Forces Surround Office of Iraq Shi'ite Cleric

Is it live or Memorex.

To those who think bin Laden is dead, show us the body. The CIA has audio tapes to say otherwise.

Well my friend's son-in-law called and indicated that his R&R scheduled for November has been put back till February.

He has been in Iraq since March and has not had any leave. It is amazing to hear the bullshit from the military brass on how well morale is among the troops.

Ten to one odds that the Bush administration is not getting the complete picture of how bad troop morale is.

Stars and Stripes may have helped present a better picture of what is going on. It is unfortunate that the Bush administration has put its faith in Army brass like Boykin and others.

Poll: Many troops in Iraq dissatisfied

My friend's son-in-law who is in the 173rd has made the same exact comment. And as for the letters that were signed by the soldiers that were finding their way in newspapers; that letter was first distributed to the spouses of soldiers who were in Tikrit and Kirkuk.

Never cared for Easterbrook and his comments about Michael Eisner are just assinine.

Why his Jewish heritage even enters the equation is beyond reason. Bullworth revisted. As for Eisner he tends to be bigoted towards Christian movies.

Which raises the question if Eisner is a bigot. Having a friend who WAS a producer for Buena Vista and knowing who she was, I wasn't too surprised to hear that she left.

ACLU Whines

But the amount of punch cards in question are not enough to bring a suit.

It's a Family Affair



Twins

Loser.

Election Results

Loud Mouths called it on the California Recall

NOTE: This is the latest line from Campaign and Elections. We disagree with the line on Dean. And we feel that the race between Bustamante and Schwarzenegger will not be as close as suggested.


This guy has it in the bag. Bustamante, Davis and McClintock don't. It doesn't matter what the 9th ruled, Schwarzenegger will win hands down.

LOL

Vignettes of a Recall

Porn star Mary Carey went to church Tuesday — to vote.

"I voted for the most qualified person on the second ballot and you can probably figure out who that is," he (Davis) said.

Bustamante, who brought his parents to the polls, said he'll be able to work with a Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, if need be.

Even though Arnold Schwarzenegger had to put on glasses to read the ballot, he said he had no trouble finding his own name among the 135 candidates to replace Gov. Gray Davis.

Prediction, the Democrats in California will whine.

Actor's Female Fans Reject Groping Tales

Schwarzenegger Defended by Women


The L.A. Times and the Davis campaign self destruct.

The L.A. Times is reporting according to Newsmax.

”Elizabeth Rothner, 45, who said Schwarzenegger lifted her sweatshirt at a popular Santa Monica bar in 1979, exposing her bare breasts before a crowd.

Surprise, Surprise

Andrew Sullivan comes up with a logical argument on Clinton versus Schwarzenegger.

BILL AND ARNOLD: What's the difference, some ask? Item one: Clinton was faced with actual civil lawsuits, claiming sexual harrassment. Once private life gets dragged into the courts, the press has no option but to cover it. Item two: most of Clinton's sexual targets were women who worked for him or were under his direct authority. Some of Arnold's targets were on movie sets where he certainly had social power but where he was, as far as I know, not the owner or direct boss. Item three: none of Arnold's incidents involve actual sex, or exposure of sex organs, or alleged rape, whereas Clinton's did. Item four: Arnold has fessed up. Clinton lied under oath. Item five: Arnold hasn't exactly gone around saying he is a champion of women's rights and the dignity of women. Clinton did. Item six: all of Arnold's incidents were one-off. Clinton, for the most part, pursued the same women over time. That said, they're not entirely different. If Clinton hadn't had to deal with a lawsuit or two, I'd have had a very similar response. In fact, in the early days, I refused to cover the Gennifer Flowers stuff at the New Republic for exactly those reasons. But when the lawsuits occurred and the full extent of Clinton's abuse of public office for sexual harrassment purposes became clear, I think the situation changed. Clinton used state troopers and federal buildings to abuse and manipulate women. So far, Arnold has been a private citizen. Moreover, after the early Sixty Minutes interview where Clinton telegraphed that all this was over, I was more than happy to let this stuff pass (remember I endorsed Clinton in 1992). But it was when it was apparent that he had lied in that interview and continued his lies and sexual abuse in office that I realized we had a sociopath in the White House. So here's a promise: if Arnold gets elected and any of these incidents recur, I'll hammer him. Until then, his honesty, apology and promise get him a pass from me. May the Eagle win.

Prediction the love-fest or honeymoon between Sullivan and Schwarzenegger will be short lived. Gay marriages will be the cause for the divorce.

Core Democratic groups lean to Schwarzenegger

LATINOS: MANY REJECTING CALL TO RALLY BEHIND DAVIS


It didn't work and what did we say on August 30th.?


Bustamante comes across as anti-small business and what and whoever tries to imply that small business owners who are Hispanic will support Bustamante, they are nuts.

Operation Gold Bridge

This gentleman is member of the unit my friend's son-in-law is. I haven't had a chance to discuss the matter with my friend's son-in-law, but it will be interesting to see how it pans out.

"It is mushrooming," said retired Judge Rene Gonzalez, Paul's father, naming cities that have shown interest in Operation Gold Bridge -- from Boston to Portland to San Diego, and states from Florida to Texas to New Jersey.

Alaska Ear is on the Plame case.

CHECK YOUR YEARBOOK ... Earwigs following the outing of Valerie Plame, former covert CIA operative, were excited to discover she was born in Anchorage. Plame is the spy outed by columnist Robert Novak, who claims he got his information from high Bush administration officials who wanted to punish Plame's husband, Joseph Wilson, a former ambassador who questioned the "weapons of mass destruction" reason given for invading Iraq and now the Department of Justice is supposedly investigating everything.

Got it?

Anyhow, an NYT story Thursday said Plame's father, Lt. Col. Sam Plame, was stationed at Elmendorf when she was born and "moved to the Lower 48 in time for Ms. Plame to graduate from Lower Moreland High School in Huntingdon Valley, Pa."

So does that mean she went through school here? She's now 40 years old. If you remember her, it's time to share what you know about the most famous spy in the world who's still alive and not in prison.

Stop the Presses

That Gumshoe Raimondo is on another hot scoop

One source used? Larry Johnson, the guy that puts Wilson's wife in the CIA at the age of about ten.


Yep, Raimondo is hot on the trail.