Saturday - July 15, 2006

Bad Taste Award Winner

Posted by The Skipper     on 07/15/2006 at 02:25 PM   
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New Government Phone Menu

GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Press “1” for English.

Press “2” to disconnect until you have learned to speak English.

Posted by The Skipper     on 07/15/2006 at 02:16 PM   
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World War III

And so it begins. Just as in 1914 and 1939, a simple act of killing triggers a response and then a counter-response and before you know it countries are signing defense treaties and the alignment of opposing sides begins. The calm before the storm is over and the gods of war are rousing from their half-century-long sleep ready to plunge the world into global conflict all over again.

Forget the Cold War. That was only “realpolitik” taken to a new level. What is happening now is the first step to all out conflict. It has been a long time coming and once again we find ourselves in the dilemna of figuring out how to extricate ourselves from this mess. With the latest escalation, described below, we now have Iranian soldiers in Lebanon firing missiles at Israeli warships, killing Israeli sailors and even managing to sink a civilian Egyptian vessel as an extra bonus.

The insane leaders of Hezbullah and Hamas are going to get their war, it seems. They continue to ratchet up the verbage and scream shrilly for the destruction of Israel. Unfortunately for all of us, the surrounding countries are even now being drawn into the conflict. The killing spreads slowly at first and then takes on a life of its own as Hezbullah fires rockets into Israel and the IDF strikes back.

The Jews are fighting for their lives once again. Their backs are up against the wall and they are being left with absolutely no alternative. Fight or die. If you think they are going to calmly accept destruction, think again. What would you do in their place? You can’t reason with the Muslims in any shape or form. In 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973 the Muslims got their noses bloodied. They have yet to feel the impact of total warfare and that is why this will become the next World War.

Just as in 1914, people have forgotten how miserable, painful, shocking and damaging a conflict on this scale can be. The human race has too short a memory. We always forget the horror of total war in the periods of peace. So we rush blindly into the next big war expecting different results than the last time. Remember the definition of insanity? Based on that criteria, the human race, as a whole, is as barking mad as it gets. We never learn ...

Update I: Israeli has delivered an ulitmatum to Syria - 72 hours to back down or else ...

Update II: Russian Defense Minister - “other nations could be drawn into the escalating Middle East conflict, which he called ‘a war that has begun.’”

Update III: US evacuating American citizens from Lebanon

Israel Official: Iran Helping Hezbollah
—JERUSALEM (AP) - July 15, 2006

A missile fired by Hezbollah, not an unmanned drone laden with explosives, damaged an Israeli warship off Lebanon, the army said Saturday. Iranian troops helped fire the missile, a senior intelligence official said. One sailor was killed and three were missing.

The intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the information, said about 100 Iranian soldiers are in Lebanon and helped fire the Iranian-made, radar-guided C-102 at the ship late Friday.

The attack alarmed Israel because initial information indicated the guerrillas had used a drone for the first time to attack Israeli forces. But the army’s investigation showed that Hezbollah had fired an Iranian-made missile at the vessel from the shores of Lebanon, said Brig. Gen. Ido Nehushtan.

“We can confirm that it was hit by an Iranian-made missile launched by Hezbollah. We see this as very profound fingerprint of Iranian involvement in Hezbollah,” Nehushtan said in an interview with The Associated Press. Another Hezbollah missile also hit and sank a nearby merchant ship at around the same time, Nehushtan said. He said that ship apparently was Egyptian, but had no other information.

Nehushtan said the body of one of the four Israeli soldiers missing in the attack was found aboard the damaged warship. Other Israeli military officials said two bodies had been found. Israel launched an offensive after Hezbollah guerrillas crossed the Israel-Lebanon border on Wednesday and captured two Israeli soldiers. Israel has bombarded Lebanon’s airport and main roads in the most intensive offensive against the country in 24 years, while Hezbollah has launched hundreds of rockets into Israel.

The intense fighting has sent shock waves through a region already traumatized by Israel’s battle against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. With Israeli officials pointing fingers at Hezbollah’s close allies, Syria and Iran, the crisis could soon spread.

Posted by The Skipper     on 07/15/2006 at 10:27 AM   
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Cubicle Wars: Robot Defense

Man, I gotta get me one of these. Too many days I sit in the office and people sneak up behind me while I’m working and scare the Bejeezus out of me. With this little robot early warning system I can get some relief as the assaults are nipped in the bud. Now all I gotta do is figure out a way to have this critter launch some heavy artillery if it detects the boss. BOOM! BOOM! There’s yer performance review, Boss! Enjoy! BWH-HAH-HAH-HA-HA ....

Room Defender (Gadget Box - £23.99 [$44.06])

Ever had an annoying little brother or sister that takes items from your room? Missing any office accessories? A boss you dont like? The list could be potentially endless…

The Room defender is the kill and the cure. Reminiscent of the sentry robot from Robocop, but without the cost or violence.

Room Defender - An automated motion sensor sentry detterent, capable of shooting up to 16 foam disks at any intruder that enters your bedroom or office. Load the disks set the direction you want the sentry to fire at, arm the room defender with 1 of 4 security settings:- Target - Ambush - Warning - Assault

It will detect any motion and blast anyone that comes into your room/office. Remote control unit supplied with this item.

Posted by The Skipper     on 07/15/2006 at 09:51 AM   
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EXTRA! Read All About It!

Posted by The Skipper     on 07/15/2006 at 09:41 AM   
Filed Under: • Democrats-Liberals-Moonbat Leftists • Media-Bias •  
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Saturday Silliness

Posted by The Skipper     on 07/15/2006 at 08:44 AM   
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Thanks

Posted by The Skipper     on 07/15/2006 at 08:39 AM   
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Quote Of The Day

“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.”

-- Albert Einstein

Posted by The Skipper     on 07/15/2006 at 08:23 AM   
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   Friday - July 14, 2006

Common sense in PA

The Hazelton, PA City Council approved an anti-illegal immigrant…

... wait a minute. These are not ‘illegal immigrants’. Immigration is a legal process. these are hostile illegal aliens.... done ranting…

The Hazleton, Pa., City Council approved a law Thursday night designed to make this small city in northeastern Pennsylvania among the most hostile places in the U.S. for illegal immigrants to live or work.

The 4-to-1 vote came after nearly two hours of passionate debate. Opponents argued it was divisive and possibly illegal, but supporters argued illegal immigrants’ growing numbers have damaged the quality of life here.

“We must draw the line, and we are doing it tonight,” Mayor Lou Barletta told a packed council chambers.

Barletta proposed the Illegal Immigration Relief Act last month as a response to what he said were Hazleton’s problems with violent crime, crowded schools, hospital costs and the demand for services.

The ordinance would deny licenses to businesses that employ illegal immigrants, fine landlords $1,000 for each illegal immigrant discovered renting their properties, and require city documents to be in English only.

I particularly like the English only provision.

Posted by Christopher     on 07/14/2006 at 09:20 PM   
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Meanwhile, In Korea…

At a time of heightened tensions in the Koreas, Washington and Seoul are considering separate commands.

SEOUL — The United States and South Korea are considering disbanding their combined command and creating independent military commands, with a restructured U.S. Forces Korea focusing on air and naval power, according to USFK commander Gen. B.B. Bell.

Gotta admit, I don’t get the timing of this. With all the trouble with North Korea why would you want to add a layer of command that would just slow down response to enemy action?

Bell said that since October, the U.S. and South Korea have been studying Seoul’s request for independent operational command of its troops during wartime. Current agreements call for Bell — also commander of the Combined Forces Command and United Nations Command — to direct all combat operations.

“While no final decisions have been made, we are considering creating two independent commands — one ROK and one U.S., with U.S. forces in a supporting role, and restructured to take advantage of U.S. air and naval warfare capability,” Bell said.

It was unclear Friday whether the restructuring Bell mentioned could mean a drawdown of U.S. soldiers or an increase of Air Force or Navy personnel or equipment.

“It’s inappropriate for us to speculate on force-structure changes to basing or any other future development,” USFK spokesman Col. Franklin Childress said.

I should hope it is inappropriate. No sense in telling the North all of our plans.

Posted by Christopher     on 07/14/2006 at 08:48 PM   
Filed Under: • Military • North-Korea •  
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Lebanese Bloggers

My source in the Mideast sends a blog for our attention. The blog’s mission statement:

This blog was created to honor the memory of heroes of all the Lebanese sects who were assasinated for their patriotic stands.... May God bless their souls and bless Lebanon.

Find out what the Lebanese think. A few quotes:

I don’t know what to say anymore. Sayyid Nasrallah is still alive and declaring an open war. Where is our President? Where are our Ministers? Prime Minister? Members of Parliament?

All these institutions and the guardians of these institutions are obsolete at this point. Nasrallah is leading the show. He’s defying everything and everyone. He is assuming the position of the guardian of the Prophet’s Family, against all odds. This is not about Lebanon anymore; this is about Nasrallah’s pride.

The Iran-Syria Axis has just fully materialized!

An Israeli warship was hit on the coast off of Beirut, the same warship that hit Hizbullah’s headquarters which housed Nasrallah.

Lebanon is a hostage and all the Lebanese people are a pawn in the hands of the few.

Update: Rumours in the streets of Saida are that the Israelis have landed a ground force. The rumours are unfounded, but the city is terrified!

No doubt. The city should be terrified. But I feel for people like these bloggers. They appear to be innocent and against their government’s policies re Israel. A website to keep an eye on in the coming days of the newest Arab-Israeli war.

Posted by Christopher     on 07/14/2006 at 07:49 PM   
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Iraqi logistics

Another article sent in by an Army Staff officer playing in the big sandbox overseas.

Iraqi Soldiers Trying To Clear Logistics Hurdle
(From Mideast Stars and Stripes By Anita Powell)
July 11, 2006

IRAQI ARMY BASE AL QUDISS, Iraq — To hear it from an Iraqi soldier, the needs of the nation’s developing army are heartbreakingly simple: Soap. Bullets. Weapons. Better food.

To ask an Iraqi officer — or an American soldier from one of the Army’s Military Transition Teams, which help train Iraqi forces — logistics is a serious issue that has stymied an eager and increasingly competent force.

Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, which is based in Tikrit, spin a familiar tale: things are improving. Citizens’ trust is increasing. Soldiers are better trained. Patrols and missions are up. For the 3rd Battalion, roadside bombs have decreased by a whopping 70 percent in recent months thanks to greater vigilance on the roads.

But the relationship with American forces is still a dependent one, and may be for years to come, leaders say.

“This battalion cannot conduct the majority of operations without the help of the (military transition) team,” said battalion executive officer Lt. Col. Hamid Ali, 41. “They give us support in fuel, equipment, weapons. Our battalion cannot get any equipment from our chain of command without the team’s support.”

American officials agree that the Iraqi army’s logistical issues — which are ultimately the responsibility of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense — need addressing.

“The only thing keeping them back is their logistical system,” said Lt. Col. Jeff Martindale, commander of 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, the Iraqi 3rd Battalion’s sister battalion. “It’s got a lot of problems.”

“It’s something we’ve said all along,” said Maj. Chuck Adkins, a career logistician and head of Military Transition Team 0413, which works with the Iraqi battalion. “(Logistics) was overlooked. Coalition forces and the (Ministry of Defense) have come to the realization that they’re going to have to work on logistics if they want us to be able to get out of here. It’s probably going to have to take a couple more years for that to come together.”

Iraqi battalion officials agree.

“It’s not the right time to make the U.S. Army leave us,” said 3rd Battalion commander Col. Shojaa Jawad, 50. “They help a lot with the intelligence. And they help with logistics, with weapons. The only request I have is to give us better weapons, trucks.”

However, leaders in this ethnically mixed area northeast of Baghdad say the ethnically mixed battalion (just more than 50 percent is Shiite, the rest Sunni) has met with great success given the logistical constraints.

The 3rd Battalion regularly accompanies the American 1st Battalion on missions and large operations, and the two units collaborate at the company level, Martindale said.

But the Iraqi battalion also has grown to be more autonomous.

“Before we got here, they ran combined missions with coalition forces,” said Capt. Jamal Hatcher, a member of the training team. “Now they run independent missions … This battalion is light years ahead of its sister battalions in its division.”

Iraqi battalion officials say they have more control of their battle space than ever before.

“We can secure our area of operations 100 percent: 75 percent ourselves and 25 percent with American help,” said Hamid, the battalion executive officer.

“The trust is building,” Adkins said. “Not just at the personal level, but at the professional level.”

Posted by Christopher     on 07/14/2006 at 06:07 PM   
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The Grand Wizard

The Mississippi Preacher

The Mississippi preacher said to his Congregation, “Someone in this congregation has spread a rumor that I belong to the Ku Klux Klan. This is a horrible lie and one which a Christian community cannot tolerate. I am embarrassed and do not intend to accept this. Now, I want the party who did this to stand and ask forgiveness from God and this Christian family.”

No one moved. The preacher continued, “Do you have the nerve to face me and admit this is a falsehood? Remember, you will be forgiven and in your heart you will feel glory. Now stand and confess your transgression.”

Again all was quiet. Then slowly, a drop-dead gorgeous blonde with a body that would stop traffic rose from the third pew. Her head was bowed and her voice quivered as she spoke, “Reverend there has been a terrible misunderstanding. I never said you were a member of the Ku Klux Klan. I simply told a couple of my friends that you were a wizard under the sheets.”

The preacher fainted, and the congregation roared.

_{(-- thanx to Babylonandon for this one --- with one tiny editorial change --)}

Posted by The Skipper     on 07/14/2006 at 05:56 PM   
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Through The Looking Glass

“South Rim - Grand Canyon”
<sub>-by-
Jon Sullivan

(click image for larger view 1024x768 in popup window)</sub>

Posted by The Skipper     on 07/14/2006 at 04:00 PM   
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Not that very many people ever read this far down, but this blog was the creation of Allan Kelly and his friend Vilmar. Vilmar moved on to his own blog some time ago, and Allan ran this place alone until his sudden and unexpected death partway through 2006. We all miss him. A lot. Even though he is gone this site will always still be more than a little bit his. We who are left to carry on the BMEWS tradition owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we hope to be able to pay that back by following his last advice to us all:

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It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.

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