Recruiting: USMC vs. USA

Interesting discussion about recruiting at Outside the Beltway. Needless to say, I had to comment. Maybe you will, too.

From my comment:

A further challenge to the Army is the Air Force's tendency to attract the folks with a propensity to enlist with the motive of getting a technical job or training. While working on jet engines and M1 Abrams tank engines are very similar jobs, jets are a lot sexier than tanks. I guess.

What do you think?


Military

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She's At It Again!

My lovely bride posted something on her blog!!! Can you believe it?


Military

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Blog Expo 2008

I coulda sworn that "they" said that this year's Blog World Expo would be in August...

Turns out it is in September. So, good chance that I can go again... and bring the missus.

Anybody out there organizing any milblog goodness for this year's expo?


Military

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Blindsided

Even after all the blindsides in this past season of Survivor, I felt blindsided by the winner. I did not expect it to be Parvati.

Great season, maybe even better than season one. Maybe.


Military

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Oil

Basically, this is what I'd say about the whole mess we're in... if I were as smart and so inclined.

Really, though, Jay Tea hits another nail right on the head.


Oil Economy

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Style Magazine Features Fallen Heroes

I believe I've posted a link to Style's feature entitled, "The Fallen: Brothers in Arms". This latest one tells us about brothers Andrew and Freddy Velez from Lubbock, Texas. The latter was killed in Iraq, the former succumbed to his phantoms while in Afghanistan.

Rest in peace, my brothers.


Military War Iraq Afghanistan

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New Polls Up

I archived the old polls (The Surge and Baghdad) because they were really outdated. So two new polls are up, take a quick second to vote. I'll change them out a little more often. :)

Oh, if you have some ideas for poll questions, let me know.


Military

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Give You Up

Knowing the guy makes this so much more hilarious.

Genius in its simplicity. Simply brilliant.

Now the pressure is on to graph some other "great songs"... Air Supply comes to mind.

Thanks, Major, for a great laugh.


Military

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Group home for PTSD troops opposed

Via the Army Times, a month ago, but it still steams me up just thinking about it:

GUERNEVILLE, Calif. — Merry Lane, a cul-de-sac shaded by redwoods in Sonoma County wine country, would seem a pleasant place to recover from the psychic wounds of war. Nadia McCaffrey’s dream is to set up a group home there for veterans plagued by post-traumatic stress disorder.

But she is running into stiff resistance from the neighbors. They not only object to the brand-new structure itself, which looks like a four-story apartment house wedged amid their cabins, they are also worried that deranged veterans will move in.

Excuse me? "Deranged"?

I don't know the status of this case, but unless the folks of Guerneville have changed their tune, then my message is this: "Screw you, Guerneville, and the worthless turd you rode in on."

What about "tolerance"? What about caring for your neighbor? What about making sure Americans get the help they need? Much less a member of the military that put his life on the line and needs some help getting his mental health back to where it should be?

I swear, people treat plants better than their fellow humans in some parts of this country. Really makes me wonder.

Now, if something has changed since this article was published a month ago, I'd love to hear about it. If not, shame on Guerneville, CA. Shame.


Military Iraq War PTSD

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Stop, Drop and Roll

My girls are well-trained in the event of a fire emergency. Here's how I know:

Tonight, I threw a big slab of beef on our little indoor grill. JILL ARMY had been marinating this chunk-o-beef so some juice dripped onto the heating coil. The little bit of smoke from this prompted me to turn on the stovetop fan.

After flipping the beef over, I got the bright idea to pour some of the marinade on it. Of course, this caused a bit more smoke than I'd anticipated.

As I turned the fan on "high" the smoke detector beeped a couple of times. I came out of the kitchen to open doors and windows and I see the two little princesses on their hands and knees scurrying about the living room.

I couldn't help but grin when I told them that it's ok, the house isn't on fire, just dinner.

Heh.


Military Cooking

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Casualty Notification Officer / Casualty Assistance Officer

I have completed the training in order to serve as either a Casualty Notification Officer (CNO) or Casualty Assistance Officer (CAO). First, the training was excellent. The Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Center (CMAOC - pronounced "see-mock") put together a fantastic set of training modules that included videos depicting a casualty notification and assistance scenario based on interviews of real family members that have gone through the process.

I am not embarrassed to say that it took all my willpower to keep from bawling like a little girl sitting in a room full of warriors while watching these videos. Fifteen years ago, nothing made me cry. Not even an asswhoopin'. Now, car commercials set me off., Needless to say, these videos were heart-wrenching... and they were scripted with actors. I sat there thinking, "there is no way I could perform this duty, I'd be too much of a crybaby to be of any assistance to a grieving family."

I realized that I could do it. I'd be honored to. As hard as it would be, it would be the least I could do for a fellow Soldier's family.

It'll be hard, but I'm ready to do it if called upon.


Military

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Best Ranger

It's over, and a team from the 75th Ranger Regiment won. Whodathunk?

I was rooting for the team that finished in 12th place. These two lieutenants came from my battalion and are both studs... and smart. Good guys who are going to go far in the Army.

"Congrats" to all the finishers and "good-on-ya" to the guys who even tried. I might have been up for something like this 15 years ago, but now my idea of an endurance event is trying to go the whole night without having to get out of bed to pee.


Military

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"Peace Thugs" Requests Help Getting Started

Received this email, thought I'd pass it along:

Please find below a message from our friend Karl, who has just launched PeaceThugs.com to highlight the aggressive tactics of “peace” protesters across the country. We encourage you to help him by providing content (peacethugs@gmail.com) for the site when you find it, and to use it as a resource. Thanks.
-Ryan Gill

Hi,

Karl from Leaning Straight Up here, and I would like to ask your help in the launch of a new blog site.

The site is called Peace Thugs and is dedicated to exposing the liberal left peace activists for what they are.

I designed and created the site and launched it over the weekend, with the assistance of Melanie Morgan, who has provided a shining example and some great content.

The site was partially inspired by the antics of Code Pink in Berkeley , and by the assault on the blogger Skye, at http://midnightbluesays.blogspot.com/. I decided enough was enough.

Melanie Morgan had coined the phrase Peace Thugs, and here we are.

The site has no direct connection to my blog, by design and intention. I want this to stand alone as an information site, not to drive traffic to me.

Here is where I make my pitch: Could you assist me in a few areas?

1) Content. I need as much content, story or video as I can, particularly that which shows the anti war people like Code Pink in their worst. If you have OP Ed pieces that discuss the liberal intolerance and thug tactics, those would be great features. I am sorting the stories by state and eventually want to map out the liberals as they grow more unhinged.

2) Contributers: If you have some spare time and want to upload content, I would love some help. If you are like me however, I won't hold my breath. :)

3) Referrals. Any story referrals that I can link to, please send them.

4) Props. Please spread the word to your readers about the site and the need for content.

5) Ad Space. I am working on getting budget to post ads, but if you would be willing to offer me a discounted ad space to help spread the word, I would greatly appreciate it.

Bottom line, I want this site to become a positive tool in the battle of common sense we seem to be in with the left. These activists are affecting troop moral, military readiness and are emboldening the enemy with their tactics.

Maybe this site will not stop them, but perhaps if they get exposed enough, it can slow them down.

Thanks for listening to my pitch, and I will appreciate any feedback or assistance you can provide.

Karl
LSU

After a brief glance, it looks to be an amusing site. I say amusing because the antics of the "peace movement" seems so trite and juvenile after what I've seen and endured in a warzone and twenty years of military service.

Anyway, check out Peace Thugs and if you are so inclined, help Karl out.

Good luck, Karl!

[update: fixed grammer error in original]

Military Protest Blogging

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JACK ARMY Reviewed by Blogged.com

The kind people at Blogged.com took it upon themselves to review JACK ARMY, and here are the results of that review:

Dear Thomas,

Our editors recently reviewed your blog and have given it a 9.0 score out of (10) in the Society/Government category of Blogged.com.

This is quite an achievement!

http://www.blogged.com/directory/society/government

We evaluated your blog based on the following criteria: Frequency of Updates, Relevance of Content, Site Design, and Writing Style.

After carefully reviewing each of these criteria, your site was given its 9.0 score.

We’ve also created Blogged.com score badges with your score prominently displayed. Simply visit your website’s summary page on Blogged.com:




Click on the "Show this rating on your blog!" link underneath the score and follow the instructions provided.

Please accept my congratulations on a blog well-done!!

Sincerely,

Amy Liu
Editorial Department
amy@blogged.com
http://www.blogged.com

I'm humbled. First, I'd like to thank my sweet JILL ARMY, without her, none of this would be possible...


Military Blogging

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Fast Attack

Got to attack one of the US Navy's SSN's today.
Second time in as many decades.

I am still fascinated by submarines, though I'd never want to serve on one. I admire the men that do. Simply amazing.

UPDATE: Wow! Uh, how did that slip through the censors? I did not attack a submarine, rather I toured one. Thanks, A.C. for pointing out my failure to proofread! I'd hate to start a flame war with the venerable submariners out there. Not sure I ever mentioned this, but my grandfather prowled the Pacific in a diesel boat in WWII.

The first submarine I toured? The USS Albany.


Military Navy

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Infantry Magazine Writing Contest

The current (hard-copy) issue of Infantry Magazine (AKO login/password required for online version - link in sidebar) describes a writing contest, top prize is $300 and a year's subscription. I'm thinking of re-writing this research paper and submitting it.

What do you think?


Military

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Break Update

Three pins to set the bone... yeouch! She's quite a trooper, cried more from the IV going in than from the broken arm. Amazing. I think she's a bit stoic about stuff like that, just like me... I whine like a baby when my nose is stuffy but grit through twists, sprains, bruises and such (never broke a bone of my own /knock on wood/).

They'll put on a hard cast tomorrow which she'll wear for about four weeks, then they remove the hard cast to remove the pins, replace the hard cast and wait at least six more weeks. So we are looking at about ten weeks or so of casts - which means ten weeks of pain in the rear bathing, bathrooming, and such.

It's not such a pain, though, for someone so cute!

Thanks, again, for your prayers and thoughts. I'm glad I'm home to help deal with it. Having to hear about it while 12-bazillion miles away in the desert would be terrible. Thanks to the men and women that do it, though. They make our country, and, I am convinced, our world, a better place to live.


Military

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Break

The littlest Princess broke her arm yesterday. Completely broke in half, right humerus, not funny.

Broke my little heart when I first saw her. That was in the hospital (Tripler, the big pink one). See, I was hiking and was about three miles away when it happened. I ran back as fast as I could, but it wasn't that fast. Running up and down ravines, through jungle... ugh.

Anyway, after three pins, a soft cast and a night in the hospital later, she's home and resting comfortably, mostly.

Thanks for the well wishes.


Military

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Break

Three classes done, several to go...

I'm on a two-week break, so I'll try to get some posts up. I'll change out the polls, makes some changes to the sidebar, and put up a post or four.

We'll see.

Don't hold your breath.


Military

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Counterinsurgency and College

I wrote a paper. It earned 98 out of 100 points. It's ok, not the best I could have done, but still, some great reading in order to write it.

RESEARCH PAPER:
GENERAL PETRAEUS RE-INTRODUCES COUNTERINSURGENCY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

FEBRUARY 22, 2008

General David H. Petraeus has recently taken the reigns of command in the United States military efforts in Iraq, doing so amid a storm of accusations that the Bush administration, and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in particular, bungled the aftermath of the March, 2003, invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq. Petreaus, with experience studying and later practicing counterinsurgency, seemed to be the right man at the right time to direct a change in strategy in Iraq. Abandoning the previous strategy of turning over control of areas to Iraqi Security Forces and pulling back into large Forward Operating Bases (FOB’s) and turning to counterinsurgency requires a thorough knowledge of the principles and concepts needed to win against fanatical fighters who easily blend into the local population, have no compunction about who they hurt or kill, and whose primary aim is to cause chaos and confusion in order to drain the American public’s support for the war and thus gain the strategic victory, though certainly not a tactical one.

This method had proven itself as a bone fide means of controlling the world’s only superpower: in Vietnam, and again when the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan leaving a power vacuum that the Taliban easily filled, and Al Qaeda felt it understood well the lessons learned there. Again and again this lesson was reinforced: when the 1991 bombing of the World Trade Center was treated as a criminal act instead of the act of war it was intended to be; when the United States abruptly pulled out of Somalia in 1993 after loosing eighteen Rangers in a failed raid; the international indignation when the U.S. bombed an aspirin factory in Africa; and on and on. General Petraeus, it was thought, would be the man to change that trend and show the world, particularly current and would-be terrorists that America had finally learned the lesson, too, and would not run from this fight.

Counterinsurgency, or COIN as it now referred to in military circles, has another name these days, especially in America’s media: “The Petraeus doctrine.”1 Changing the strategy being used in Iraq from the previous one of “whack-a-mole” and consolidation of forces on huge FOB’s to a strategy based firmly in counterinsurgency doctrine became General David Petraeus’ mandate when he took command of Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) February 10th, 2007. This wasn’t his first time in Iraq. He commanded the 101st Airborne Division during the invasion in 2003 and during the first several months of the occupation phase. It was during this period that his Screaming Eagles killed Saddam Hussein’s sons, chased Baathists and began reconstruction and community public works projects.2
This also isn’t the first time Petraeus has spent time thinking about counterinsurgency. Graduating from the US Military Academy too late to go to Vietnam, he wasn’t too late to gather enough information about the lessons learned during that difficult conflict.3 He noted that there were “misgivings” in the American military establishment over the willingness of future politicians to “stay the course” in fighting an insurgency, not whether or not American troops were capable, but in whether or not the American public could be convinced that staying was worth the price. Petraeus recognized that there were elements that doubted whether the US military could develop forces necessary to defeat an insurgency. He quotes one officer who said,

“I submit that the U.S. Army does not have the mind-set for combat operations where the key terrain is the mind, not the high ground. We do not take the time to understand the nature of the society in which we are fighting, the government we are supporting or the enemy we are fighting.”4

There were those that understood that a different kind of unit needed to be created and trained to specifically fight insurgents. President Kennedy recognized the potential of the US Army’s Special Forces in this area, deploying them to Vietnam in 1957.5 It is no secret, as the quote above shows, there was still doubt about the actual capabilities of Special Forces and of the entire military to handle counterinsurgency operations. What is heartening, though, in this current conflict, the War on Terrorism, is that the lessons of the past are not being ignored, rather studied in an attempt to avoid repeating them.6 It should also be noted that along with Special Forces, other types of units grew out of the post-World War II, Korea and Vietnam experiences, such as Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations units, both of which joined Special Forces in becoming their own branches, thus gaining the recognition that their contributions to the battlefield warranted having Soldiers that were specially and specifically trained for these types of missions.

General Petraeus’ assignment prior to taking command of MNF-I was as the commanding general of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, where he oversaw the rewriting of the Army’s and Marine Corps’ Counterinsurgency Field Manual, FM 3-24. The opening paragraph of the introduction of the manual seems to point directly at Petraeus’ observations of the after-effects of Vietnam,

“The United States possesses overwhelming conventional military superiority. This capability has pushed its enemies to fight U.S. forces unconventionally, mixing modern technology with ancient techniques of insurgency and terrorism. Most enemies either do not try to defeat the United States with conventional operations or do not limit themselves to purely military means. They know that they cannot compete with U.S. forces on those terms. Instead, they try to exhaust U.S. national will, aiming to win by undermining and outlasting public support.”7

What is remarkable about this manual is that it addresses not only the military aspects of fighting an insurgency, but discusses the political, economic and social or cultural factors that have much more influence on the outcome of such a protracted fight. It is interesting that the authors researched insurgent/counterinsurgent battles throughout recorded history, but felt that the most appropriate lessons would be drawn from those in the 20th Century and onward.8 Thus we now see a departure for conventional forces in that a paradigm has emerged, that of approaching counterinsurgency operations as important as, or more so depending on the scenario, maneuver operations. In other words, no longer is the idea that understanding maneuver warfare is enough and you can scheme your way though “the little stuff” (i.e. post-high intensity conflict) but that good leaders, indeed all troops to varying degrees, need an understanding of “Operations Other Than War” as well.9 The idea that the “strategic corporal” and “strategic lieutenant” will have as much if not more influence on the overall outcome of counterinsurgency operations sounds new, but is really that old idea that “battles are sometimes won by generals; wars are nearly always won by sergeants and privates.”10

Petraeus’ understanding of counterinsurgency and how he would apply it effectively as the MNF-I Commander was primarily honed during the time he spent in Mosul, still as the 101st Airborne Division’s Commanding General where he directed the “Clear and Hold” strategy to rid the city and surrounding area of insurgents. The concept requires the methodical clearance of an area of insurgents and their caches, then to “hold” the area with security forces, whether with Coalition Forces, Iraqi Security Forces, or a combination of the two, and immediately commence economic- and infrastructure-building projects along with humanitarian aid and lending legitimacy to the local governmental officials and agencies. General Petraeus did it well in Mosul and as MNF-I Commander took as a top advisor another commander that performed similarly well in Tal’ Afar, Colonel H. R. McMasters. Petraeus’ point is that, “if you are going to secure the population, if that’s job one, then you have to live with the population that you are going to secure.”11 This is why in Baghdad there are now dozens of patrol bases, Joint Security Stations and Combat OutPosts with Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces located throughout the city.

It is with this experience in mind that General Petraeus has engineered “The Surge”, the placement of four additional brigades in and around Baghdad, in an attempt to replicate his previous success in Mosul. Added to the American military brigades, the Iraqi Army has “surged” a large number of additional forces to the Baghdad area and conducts many of the security operations there unaided and independent of Coalition Forces. This is encouraging, as it shows that one of the key steps to Iraq overcoming the insurgency and establishing a safe and secure environment is well on its way. However, this is only part of the strategy. While the military focuses on rooting out insurgents and providing security for the citizens of Baghdad, the Iraqi national government is expected to take advantage of those conditions to work on policies that will ensure the people are drawn to support the government rather than the insurgents.12 This comes right out of the COIN field manual, chapter 2, “Unity of Effort: Integrating Civilian and Military Activities,” particularly the note that the military must fill the gap created with civil agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) cannot conduct the economic, social and political programs that will get its society out of war and into a peaceful coexistence with itself and its neighbors.13

There those, however, that remain doubtful as to General Petraeus’ ability to lead the counterinsurgency to a successful conclusion. Not because they doubt his abilities, but because they feel that President Bush will thwart his attempt. They point to past policy decisions such as disbanding the former Iraqi Army, the de-Baathification of the civil service among other things that appear to be in direct contradiction to the military’s new COIN manual, using the manual’s “Do’s and Don’t’s” lists to check off the administration’s handling of the war until then.14 These same critics give the COIN manual high marks for pointing out the complexities of fighting a counterinsurgency but still question whether Petraeus will be given the latitude to conduct the mission as his experience, doctrine and knowledge will guide him. The fact that Petraeus’ strategy sounded similar to the previous “whack-a-mole” or “squeeze the balloon” themes that chased insurgents out of an area only to allow them to return or to set up operations in a new area also caused doubts. In fact, his strategy seemed similar only in that it had numerous combat operations engaged simultaneously, but what differed is that when, in previous strategies, the enemy was engaged and the battle won, Coalition and Iraqi Forces would withdraw to the safety of their FOB’s while the enemy regrouped elsewhere and planned further attacks, bombings and terroristic activities. Petraeus wouldn’t allow them to rest, instead continuing to pursue the insurgents until they were captured or dead, denying them time to regroup or find sanctuary.

General Petraeus himself has stated that it is time that may be the mission’s worst enemy.15 He believes there is the will to succeed and not just by the Americans but by the Iraqis, from the top national leadership down to the common Iraqi who is glad to be rid of Saddam Hussein’s regime. There has been a shift of focus from security towards building the economy of Iraq, especially in areas where security has greatly improved and Iraqis begin to reclaim their homes, businesses and everyday lives. In order to maintain that progress and thus bolster security which will again allow further opportunities for improvement, General Petraeus is pushing the revitalization of markets, refurbishing and rebuilding of schools and the re-establishment of critical civil services in order to capitalize on the security successes of the Surge brigades.16 He sees signs of progress on the political front as well. Important legislation and opposition to insurgents are advancing but Petraeus maintains that for the country to create a secure political, economic and social environment, problems “must be resolved by Iraqis in an Iraqi way.”17

Other experiences in college helped the general in Iraq as well. He drew on that learning when in Mosul he realized that the folks there were heading for trouble even though the insurgents were on the run. As civilians got jobs and pay, he saw that they had relatively few goods to purchase, a sure sign that inflation and a whole host of problems were on the way. The Iraqis convinced him to open the border with Syria in order to trade and avoid severe economic problems in the area. Of course, that in itself did not make Mosul terrorist-free, but that along with the improved security environment created conditions that allowed local leaders to start rebuilding.

The leadership and judgment of General Petraeus is being used in more ways that just leading the counterinsurgency in Iraq. According to Ed Morrissey, “Senior leadership understands now that they need to produce an entire generation of Petraeuses.”18 In order to do so, the Pentagon recalled Petraeus to Washington, D.C., in order to advise the board of generals that selected forty colonels for promotion to brigadier general. While he did not vote on the selections, his involvement was meant to send a signal to junior officers that the top brass knows that a fundamental shift in military thinking had to occur and that they “got it.”

While insurgents and counterinsurgents have been battling each other through the ages, many in modern times failed to understand the nature of such conflict. Whether through ignorance or the deliberate mislabeling of terrorist activities, it has only been since September 11, 2001, that the world has taken notice of terrorists as a force worth fighting with military force rather than law enforcement agencies. We’ve even seen a slight redefining of the term “insurgency” since Al Qaeda’s goals don’t match the traditional definition.

The War in Iraq was initiated because Saddam Hussein tricked the world, including his own generals, into believing that he had so-called “weapons of mass descruction” (WMDs).19 The threat he posed, or more accurately that he portrayed himself to portray, after 9/11 was not a threat that President Bush was willing to risk, especially given the eleven-year track record of Saddam ignoring United Nations resolutions and violating the “Oil For Food” Program for his personal benefit. Whether one believes that invasion was warranted or not became immaterial once the invasion occurred. America then assumed the responsibility of helping Iraqis sort out how to best reconstitute their government and protect their own citizens. Al Qaeda seized the opportunity during this period of chaos to attempt to take power, drive the United States military and her allies out of the country and use it to establish a radical state in which terror reigned and terrorists could launch further 9/11-style attacks against anybody really, but most likely aimed at western countries such as the United States. What Al Qaeda did not count on is President Bush’s determination to defeat them, despite initial missteps or poor decisions, he continues on, changing leaders and strategies when necessary.

And such a change has brought General David Petraeus to the mantle of leading the War in Iraq. He has demonstrated time and again that he learned the lessons of Vietnam. He did so once again when Senator John Kerry cautioned,

“Not since 1967, had a U.S. general played such an important role in making U.S. national-security strategy he said, likening Petraeus' testimony to that of William Westmoreland, the army general who told Congress that things were getting better in Southeast Asia, only for the war in Vietnam to continue for 8 more years.”20

So, when asked if the Iraq war was “making America safer,” his answer? “Sir, I don’t know actually.”21 While the current use of counterinsurgency warfare isn’t the first time that the American public has been exposed to it, the current generation is just learning of the concept and have therefore linked it to the man who updated the book and then took it to Baghdad.

Notes

1. Charles M. Sennott, “The Petraeus Doctrine.” Boston.com, 2007. < http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/01/28/the_petraeus_doctrine/> (January 18, 2008)

2. Ibid.

3. Rachel Dry, “Petraeus on Vietnam’s Legacy.” Washingtonpost.com 2007.

4. Ibid.

5. Vietnam Studies U.S. Army Special Forces 1961-1971, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C., 1989. Page 3.

6. Greg Jaffe, “As Iraq War Rages, Army Re-Examines Lessons of Vietnam.” The Wall Street Journal (online), 2006.

7. FM 3-24 Counterinsurgency. Headquarters, Department of the Army, December, 2006. Page ix.

8. Ibid, page 1-3.

9. David H. Petraeus, “Lt. Gen. David Petraeus – Interview.” Interviewed by Aaron Lobel and John Haas. September 17, 2006. Page 3. < http://www.americaabroadmedia.org/media/On%20line%20extra%20materials/COIN%20-%20Patreaus%20Intvw.doc>

10. Ibid; and quote attributed to F.E. Adcock (web search)< http://books.google.com/books?id=zNdFW5LIBzgC&pg=PA61&lpg=PA61&dq=%22battles+are+sometimes+won+by+generals+wars+are%22&source=web&ots=CAq3VWzjVm&sig=4nlAF44WlUOc6c98GD2nmWgkUjo&hl=en#PPA61,M1>

11. David H. Petraeus, “A Chat with General David Petraeus.” Interviewed by Rich Lowry. March 29, 2007. Op-For.com. < http://op-for.com/2007/04/a_chat_with_general_david_petr.html>

12. Ibid.

13. FM 3-24, page 2-1.

14. Kristen Williams, “Counterinsurgency 101.” Inthesetimes.com, March 5, 2007. < http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3056/counterinsurgency_101/>

15. H. D. S. Greenway, “General Petraeus’ ‘Coy Mistress.’” Boston.com, July 31, 2007. < http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/07/31/general_petraeuss_coy_mistress/>

16. Lolita C. Baldor, “Petraeus: U.S. Must Shift to Building Economy.” Armytimes.com, December 31, 2007. < http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/12/ap_petraeus_letter_071228/>

17. Petraeus, David H. “Lifting the Pall: Petraeus on Iraq War.” Interviewed by Ralph Peters July 10, 2007. The New York Post, 2007. < http://www.nypost.com/seven/07102007/postopinion/opedcolumnists/lifting_the_pall_opedcolumnists_ralph_peters.htm?page=0>

18. Edward Morrissey, “Consulting Success.” Captain’s Quarters, November 17, 2007. < http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/016028.php>

19. Jim Kouri. “NY Times: Saddam’s Generals Believed They Had WMD to Repel US.” Renew America, March 13, 2006.

20. “Newsmaker: General David H. Petraeus.” CNN World Weekly, September 14, 2007. < http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/09/13/ww.petraeus.profile/index.html>

21. Ibid.

Bibliography

Arkin, William M. “The Overrated General Petraeus.” The Washington Post Online, January 5, 2007. < http://blog.washingtonpost.com/earlywarning/2007/01/the_overrated_general_petraeus.html>

Baldor, Lolita C. “Petraeus: U.S. Must Shift to Building Economy.” Armytimes.com, December 31, 2007. < http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/12/ap_petraeus_letter_071228/>

Barnes, Julian E. “An Open Mind For a New Army.” U.S. News and World Report, October 31, 2005.

Bartlett, Eric S. SPC. “Petraeus led 101st into combat and rebuilding phase in Iraq.” The Pointer View, March 5, 2004. < http://www.usma.edu/publicaffairs/PV/040305/Petraeus.htm>

Beeston, Richard. “Transcript of The Times Interview With General Petraeus.” The Times Online, June 20, 2007. < http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1963400.ece>

Department of Defense News Transcript. “News Briefing With Lt. Gen. David Petraeus.” U.S. Department of Defense – Defenselink.mil, October 5, 2005. < http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=1497>

Dry, Rachel. “Petraeus on Vietnam.” Washington Post Online, January 12, 2007.

FM 3-24 Counterinsurgency. Headquarters, Department of the Army, December, 2006.

Gehriger, Urs, and Matthias Rueb. “Petraeus Q&A.” The Daily Standard, December 22, 2007 (interview conducted on December 17, 2007). < http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/527ynguz.asp>

Greenway, H. D. S. “General Petraeus’ ‘Coy Mistress.’” Boston.com, July 31, 2007. < http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/07/31/general_petraeuss_coy_mistress/>

Jaffe, Greg. “As Iraq War Rages, Army Re-Examines Lessons of Vietnam.” The Wall Street Journal (online), March 20, 2006. http://fairuse.100webcustomers.com/fuj/wsj1.htm

Kouri, Jim. “NY Times: Saddam’s Generals Believed They Had WMD to Repel US.” Renew America, March 13, 2006.

Krystol, William. “Gen. David Petreaus, Man of the Year: Time Magazine Got It Wrong.” The Weekly Standard, December 31, 2007. < http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/518ffvyn.asp>

Morrissey, Edward. “Consulting Success.” Captain’s Quarters, November 17, 2007. < http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/016028.php>

Multi-National Force-Iraq, Official Website, MNF-I Commanding General (January 17, 2008) http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=16

“Newsmaker: General David H. Petraeus.” CNN World Weekly, September 14, 2007. < http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/09/13/ww.petraeus.profile/index.html>

Petaeus, David H. “A Chat with General David Petraeus.” Interviewed by Rich Lowry (March 29, 2007). Op-For.com, 2007. < http://op-for.com/2007/04/a_chat_with_general_david_petr.html>

Petraeus, David H. “Beyond the Cloisters.” The American Interest Online (accessed December 20, 2007). < http://www.the-american-interest.com/ai2/article.cfm?Id=290&MId=14>

Petraeus, David H. “Lt. Gen. David Petraeus – Interview.” Interviewed by Aaron Lobel and John Haas (September 17, 2007). America Abroad Media. < http://www.americaabroadmedia.org/media/On%20line%20extra%20materials/COIN%20-%20Patreaus%20Intvw.doc.>

Peters, Ralph. “Lifting the Pall: Petraeus on Iraq War.” The New York Post, July 10, 2007. < http://www.nypost.com/seven/07102007/postopinion/opedcolumnists/lifting_the_pall_opedcolumnists_ralph_peters.htm?page=0>

“Ph.D’s in Uniform.” The Wilson Quarterly (accessed January 6, 2008). < http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=wq.essay&essay_id=288704>

Pollock, Robert L. “A Soldier's Story ‘The Iraqis are in the fight,’ says Gen. David Patraeus.” The Wall Street Journal, October 15, 2005. < http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110007412>

Proyect, Louis. “Petraeus’ Phd.” Louis Proyect: The Unrepentant Marxist, September 18, 2007. http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2007/09/18/petraeuss-phd/

Rossmiller, A. J. “Petraeus Deluded About Iraq Factors.” Americablog.com, June 21, 2007. < http://www.americablog.com/2007/06/patraeus-deluded-about-iraq-factors.html>

Sennott, Charles M. “The Petraeus doctrine.” Boston.com, 2007. < http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/01/28/the_petraeus_doctrine/> (January 18, 2008)

Tyson, Ann Scott. “Petraeus Helping Pick New Generals.” Washington Post Online, November 17, 2007.

Vietnam Studies U.S. Army Special Forces 1961-1971, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C., 1989.

Williams, Kristen. “Counterinsurgency 101.” In These Times, March 5, 2007. < http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3056/counterinsurgency_101/>

Well, what did you think? Worth an A? Worth all the time I've been neglecting the blog?


Military Iraq War

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Splash Zone

I'm laying in bed, trying desperately to get to sleep, and the phrase "splash zone" pops into my brain. Probably because a few weeks ago I used the phrase in a joke after hearing one of my wife's friends relate a personal anecdote of a gynecological nature. Yeah, yuck is right. It's a funny joke, though.

So anyway, I'm stuck on "splash zone", only in the Sea World sense. You know, the area around the killer whale cage where you are sure to get wet when he throws his gargantuan body into the atmosphere and empties half his whale-piss, fish-gut, and who-knows-what-else filled pool onto your lap. You remember that scene, right?

My stream-of-consciousness thoughts now drift to the folks that do silly things like swim with these beasts, ride their backs under water and then real fun things like kiss them and rub the animal's tongue.

Yeah, rub his tongue.

Next thought?

Won't it be nice that the last thing your hand feels, after it becomes a snot-rocket billowing out of Fluffy's blowhole cuz your tongue massage made him sneeze... anyway it'll be nice that the last thing it feels is the tongue of a KILLER FREAKING WHALE!?!?

There are animals without the adjective "killer" in their names that I avoid, much less am I willing to put one of my meatcicles into their mouths. Think the name KILLER whale is a hint?

Oh, and then I think of this: some whiny argument about "that never happens" or "you've got more chance getting hurt working on your car"...

Maybe it hasn't ever happened, I don't know, and I'm too tired to try to find out. But my counter-argument is this: it only takes once. Do whale-trainers' hands taste like chicken?

Oh, and as for my car biting off my hand? Perhaps, but I need my car. So if I'm working under the hood (stop laughing, Jill, it's just hypothetical) it'll be to work on something that I need. There's no "need" to put your hands in a whale's mouth. I mean, so you massage his tongue... does that mean you get to ride him to work? Can the whole family jump on his back for a little drive in the country?

And I end this fun with the visual of me, posed on Sparky the Killer Whale's back, cruising through the gate on post, showing my ID to the gate guard who just pissed his pants, while I gleefully giggle to the radio tuned to the latest of Dennis Miller's playful euphemisms about this politician or that Hollywood hack...

No, I'm not drinking coffee. First, I don't drink coffee and, second, if I did drink coffee, I wouldn't drink it on a whale's back. Sheesh, what kind of asshole do you think I am?

Wait... is he Scotchguarded?


Military

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Quotes on Iraq

Who said the following?

As for the question of whether the surge is working, I can only state what I witnessed: U.N. staff and those of non-governmental organizations seem to feel they have the right set of circumstances to attempt to scale up their programs. And when I asked the troops if they wanted to go home as soon as possible, they said that they miss home but feel invested in Iraq. They have lost many friends and want to be a part of the humanitarian progress they now feel is possible.

It seems to me that now is the moment to address the humanitarian side of this situation. Without the right support, we could miss an opportunity to do some of the good we always stated we intended to do.

Would you believe...

Here's another great quote from recent news:

“That ties to a really important point, which is continuing to retain the trust and confidence not just of our leaders, but of the American people,” _______ said. “We are very highly regarded by this country. That’s a very specific treasure, and we need to retain that.

“We need to continue to be the solid foundation, totally apolitical in our view, totally supportive of the president of the United States, whoever he or she might be in the future,” ______ said. “And as is the case right now, we take our orders from them and we march off.”

That would be Admiral Mike Mullen.

Oh, and I agree with both people wholeheartedly.


Military United Nations Iraq War

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