GI SPECIAL 3C35:

Camp Casey II at night. Photo by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name, Aug. 27, 2005 jeff@paterson.net

"We're Just Pissing In The Wind Now"

"Why Do I Feel Like I'm In A Fucking Vietnam Movie?"

Aug. 26, 2005 By Tom Lasseter, Knight Ridder Newspapers

HIT, Iraq - The inability of U.S. forces to hold ground in Anbar province in western Iraq, and the cat and mouse chase that ensues, has put the Marines and soldiers there under intense physical and psychological pressure.

The sun raises temperatures to 115 degrees most days, insurgents stage ambushes daily then melt into the civilian population and American troops in Anbar find themselves in a house of mirrors in which they don't speak the language and can't tell friend from foe.

Most Marines and soldiers in Anbar live behind massive concrete barriers, bales of concertina wire and perimeters guarded by sniper towers and tanks.

Despite their overwhelming military might, they must watch every alleyway for snipers and each patch of road for mines or bombs, which can send balls of flame through their vehicles. That happened earlier this month south of Haditha, when an explosion killed 14 Marines in an amphibious assault vehicle.

Officers worry about the enemy while trying to make sure their men don't crack under the pressure.

"I tell the guys not to lose their humanity over here, because it's easy to do," said Marine Capt. James Haunty, 27, of Columbus, Ohio. "I tell them not to turn into Col. Kurtz."

Haunty was referring to a character in Joseph Conrad's novella, "Heart of Darkness." It became the basis for the Vietnam War movie "Apocalypse Now," in which Kurtz has a mental breakdown and murders suspected Vietnamese double agents.

Asked for an example of the kind of pressure that could cause Marines to crack, Haunty talked about the results of a car bomb: "I've picked up pieces of a friend, a Marine. I don't ever want to see that s--- again."

Sitting with his men at a morning meeting in the town of Hit, Marine Maj. Nicholas Visconti said he was up late the night before, unable to sleep in the heat, when a call came from a patrol requesting permission to shoot an Iraqi man. The man, the patrol leader said, was out past curfew and appeared to be talking on a cell phone. Visconti intervened and told the patrol leader not to shoot.

Looking at his young lieutenants and sergeants, Visconti said, "If he's a bad guy, if he's running the (car bomb) factory, I'll put the gun in his mouth and kill him myself ... but first let's get a f------ security check."

With a worried look, Visconti, 35, of Brookfield, Conn., continued: "There's killing bad guys and there's murdering civilians. Let's do the first and not the second. Murderers we're not, OK?"

Chief Warrant Officer Mike Niezgoda nodded in agreement. The next day, a roadside bomb knocked Niezgoda unconscious and broke his arm.

"It's a lot like it was in Vietnam, when the VC's (Viet Cong) would come out and pretend to be your friends," said Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Vidler, 23, of Syracuse, N.Y. "You're fighting an enemy on his home ground and you don't know who's who."

After a recent meeting with local tribal sheiks in Fallujah, Marine Lt. Col. Jim Haldeman walked to the back of the room and pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.

The gathering was supposed to be an exercise in civic empowerment but quickly degenerated into the Iraqis demanding that they get identification cards designating them as sheiks, which would bar local security forces from arresting them on the streets.

"All of these guys are f------ muj," Haldeman said, using the Arabic term for "holy warriors," mujahedeen, which American troops frequently use to describe the insurgents.

Haldeman took a deep drag from his cigarette.

"I've never been so nervous around a group of men," he said. Haldeman, 50, of West Kingston, R.I., later added that he was sure that a lot of the men in the crowd would have slit his throat if they'd had the opportunity.

Walking down an alley in Hit a few days earlier, stepping over pools of sewage, Lance Cpl. Greg Allen had watched the Marines around him. They were picking through garbage, tugging on wires and kicking boxes, looking for bombs and mines and hoping that if they found one it wouldn't go off.

"They (insurgents) are doing a hell of a job fighting this war. They know they can't take us head on but they can do a lot of damage with bombs," said Allen, 19, of Syracuse, N.Y. "There's no one out here to fight."

The men in Allen's squad stopped at a grocery to buy water and sodas. As they walked away, several of them wondered if they'd just given money to an insurgent sympathizer.

On a recent patrol through southern Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, Sgt. 1st Class Tom Coffey, 37, of Burlington, Vt., looked through the thick bulletproof windows of his Humvee. Children were peeking at him from behind a half-closed garage door.

"I'd love to play soccer with them but we'd have to stage gun trucks and then we'd still end up being a large soft target," he said.

After he went back to the base to pick up some supplies, a call came: A roadside bomb had hit one of his Bradley Fighting Vehicles.

A description of a vehicle possibly driven by the triggerman came over the radio. "The guy's already gone," Coffey said. "We're just p------ in the wind now."

Later, he and his men walked along the Euphrates River, looking for a metal stake that an informant said marked a weapons cache. The sun burned, and palm trees and crops formed a lush green swath along the riverbank.

"There's been reports of a .50 (caliber) sniper rifle out there. Maybe they called this in just to get us out here and take a shot. A .50-cal would go straight through our (body armor) plates," Coffey said, looking at the buildings across the river. "Why do I feel like I'm in a f------ Vietnam movie?"

[Lasseter has found his feet. This is outstanding reporting. T]

Sgt. LaDaunte Strickland, 30, of Cleveland, Ohio, during a patrol on the outskirts of Hit with the 3rd Battalion of the 25th Marine Regiment. Photo by TOM LASSETER, KRT

IRAQ WAR REPORTS

Soldier From Plum City Dies

Aug 27, 2005 (AP)

Plum City, Wis. An Army soldier from western Wisconsin who first joined the military while still in high school has been killed in Iraq, his family said Friday.

Debbie Diesing told The Associated Press the family was informed that her 30-year-old son, Trevor Diesing, was killed in a roadside bomb attack at 1 a.m. Friday, Iraqi time. The family also learned that he had been promoted, from staff sergeant to sergeant first class, she said.

Paul Churchill, principal of Plum City High School, remembered Trevor Diesing as a competitive athlete who led by example.

"He was one of these kind of guys you'd want to have on your team," he said. "The whole community is saddened by this."

He said Diesing joined the Army Reserves as a high school senior.

"He left for boot camp the day after he graduated," Churchill said. "He knew what he wanted to do."

After service with the reserves, he joined the Army and became an Army Ranger, Churchill said, adding that he believed Diesing was based out of Fort Bragg, N.C., and lived there with his wife and three children.

Plum City, Wis. is about 30 miles southeast of Hudson, Wis.

THIS IS HOW BUSH BRINGS THE TROOPS HOME:

BRING THEM ALL HOME NOW, ALIVE!

A US Army soldier with a gun shot wound to the chest is loaded onto a Blackhawk air ambulance helicopter in Tal Afar Aug. 27, 2005. The soldier later died in a military hospital. (AP Photo/Jacob Silberberg)

Former NVC Student A Casualty

August 27, 2005 By CARLOS VILLATORO, Register Staff Writer

A Sonoma family's worst fear has come true as they were informed Friday that their son, former Napa Valley College student and employee Tim Shea, was killed in the war in Iraq.

Mary Shea, a Spanish teacher at NVC, and William Shea, an attorney in Sonoma, learned that their son died during his tour of duty in Iraq. Shea was a U.S. Army ranger involved in special operations throughout the war-torn country, according to Napa Valley College President Christopher McCarthy.

From 2001 to 2002, Shea attended NVC and worked at the college's media center, McCarthy said. The Shea family's connection to NVC is strong. Mary Shea is a well-respected teacher at the college and William Shea would often perform in plays at NVC, according to McCarthy.

AFGHANISTAN WAR REPORTS

One U.S. Soldier Killed, 4 Wounded BY IED

Aug 27 Reuters

One U.S. soldier was killed and four were wounded by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, a U.S. military spokeswoman said on Saturday.

Afghan Resistance Has Antiaircraft Missiles

August 24, 2005 Philadelphia Inquirer

Nearly four years after a U.S.-led military intervention toppled its leaders from power, the Taliban has reemerged as a potent threat to stability in Afghanistan. Today's Taliban is fighting a guerrilla war with new weapons, including portable antiaircraft missiles.

[Thanks to Mark Shapiro]

"It Was A Perfect Far Ambush"

August 29, 2005 By Bruce Rolfsen, Army Times staff writer

KANDAHAR AIR BASE, Afghanistan  As the Air Force close-air support specialists deployed to southwestern Afghanistan in the spring, the word from the airmen already here was that things were calm.

"This whole area, sector, was supposed to be pretty quiet," recalled Air Force Staff Sgt. Faustino Martinez, deployed to Afghanistan with Detachment 1 of the 4th Air Support Operations Squadron. "It seemed like enemy activity had been winding down as we replaced our last unit."

But that outlook changed quickly as record winter snows melted and Taliban and al-Qaida insurgents staged hit-and-run attacks against Afghanistan army and police outposts and coalition units in the field.

"Never did we expect it to be heavier fighting than when we jumped into this country in 2001," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Smith, who, like Martinez, is a joint terminal attack controller.

Martinez was at the proverbial tip of the spear, on patrol with the Army's C Company, 503rd Airborne Infantry Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade. As the company's JTAC, Martinez and his radio operator, Senior Airman Jeremy Powell, often found themselves with the company commander in the lead platoon.

"It's the best way to lead forces and know what is going on," Martinez said. "Just being in that situation, you get into a lot of fights."

The company came in charging.

"As we started probing, C Company came in really aggressive trying to find holdouts and following leads out in the field," Martinez said.

On May 3, when a scout team and some Afghanistan forces were pinned down during an ambush, the JTACs and soldiers responded, and an all-day fight ensued.

Two days later, the troops got into another fight.

"They hid from our dismounts all day," Martinez said. "We finally thought they had moved away and we started driving down this valley. They hit us in an ambush and pinned us down for 30 minutes.

"It was a perfect far ambush. We were in a kill zone. I was with the first sergeant, pinned down. We're sharing the space behind a tire for 30 minutes. He was talking to the company commander, who was further forward, and he had (satellite communication) back to the brigade tactical operations centers and reported everything and pushed close-air support to us."

A quick-reaction team of British Royal Air Force Harriers arrived overhead and struck the enemy positions. Two Army gun trucks also arrived to add their firepower.

"It worked out. Nobody got hurt on that one," Martinez said.

CRAWFORD TEXAS WAR REPORTS

My Response To George As He Speaks From His Vacation Away From His Vacation:

How Does He Honor The Soldiers By Killing More Of Their Buddies?

08/23/05 By Cindy Sheehan, "BuzzFlash" [Excerpts]

(The quotes are from an AP story)

"In brief remarks outside the resort where he is vacationing, Bush gave no indication that he would change his mind and meet with Sheehan after he returns to his Texas ranch Wednesday evening. Sheehan lost a son in Iraq and has emerged as a harsh critic of the war."

I will be back in Crawford George: Even closer to you now in Camp Casey II. Why don't you channel some courage from my son and come down and face me. Face the truth.

Your house of cards built on smoke and mirrors is crumbling and you know it.

"Bush said that two high-ranking members of his staff already met with her earlier this month and that he met with her last year."

I didn't go to Crawford to meet with Steven "Yellow cake uranium liar" Hadley or the other "high ranking" official they sent out. I went to meet with George. Does he get that yet?

I did meet with him 10 weeks after his insane and arrogant Iraq war policies killed Casey and 9 weeks after I buried my oldest child.

George: things are different between you and I now.

"'I've met with a lot of families,' Bush said.'She doesn't represent the view of a lot of families I have met with.'"

I never said I did. I want one answer: What is the "noble cause" MY son died for. There are also dozens, if not hundreds of families from all over the country who want to know the same thing.

"On Iraq, Bush said that a democratic constitution 'is going to be an important change in the broader Middle East.' Reaching an accord on a constitution after years of dictatorship is not easy, Bush said."

A Democratic Constitution?

Is anyone else insulted that he thinks we are stupid and think that the Constitution they will form in Iraq will be democratic and insure equal rights to all citizens?

Does anyone else know what "democratic" means? It simply means majority rule. Not some high-minded, free-floating, pie in the sky ideal. It means 50 percent plus one.

Up to 62% of Americans think our troops should be coming home soon. That is a majority, so why don't we force our employee, the president, to do what we want him to do?

"He spoke after the head of the committee drafting Iraq's constitution said Tuesday that three days are not enough to win over the minority Sunni Arabs, and the document they rejected may ultimately have to be approved by parliament as is and submitted to the people in a referendum."

Another sham election where the country is shut down for the day and no one knows what the heck they are voting for?

"'The Iraqi people are working hard to reach a consensus on their constitution,' Bush said, speaking outside the Tamarack Resort, in the mountains 100 miles north of Boise. 'It's an amazing process to work. First of all, the fact that they're even writing a constitution is vastly different from living under the iron hand of a dictator.'"

As hard as George is working riding bikes and taking naps? If he cares so much about an Iraqi Constitution, why doesn't he take some time from his busy vacation activities and read the US Constitution. He may find out that he started an un-Constitutional war in Iraq. He may lose some sleep over it. (What am I saying?)

"'The Sunnis have got to make a choice,' Bush said."Do they want to live in a society that's free? Or do they want to live in violence?'"

Too bad George didn't give them that option before he invaded and occupied their country, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent people. I bet they would choose to live in a peaceful country free of foreign occupiers.

"He said he thought that most mothers, regardless of their religion, would prefer to live in peace rather than violence."

Amen to that George. You got one thing right. Thanks to you and your lies the people of Iraq are suffering from a tragic and unnecessary war and my son was violently killed and ripped out of the heart of our family.

"He said Rice had assured him that the rights of women were being protected.'Democracy is unfolding,' the president said.'We just cannot tolerate the status quo.'"

Then bring our troops home. The status quo in Iraq is awful.

Besides the Iraqi people suffering from lack of adequate infrastructure, clean water, and medical attention, our troops still don't have armored humvees or the proper body armor.

I think the Camp Casey movement is taking a hold and growing because America is sick of the status quo. We are sick of needless death and suffering on both sides. We are sick of paying for a war with our taxes and with our lifeblood that is not making our country more secure. George: your employers cannot tolerate the status quo, either.

"Bush has scheduled more than two hours to meet with family members of slain soldiers Wednesday at the Mountain Home Air Force Base near Boise."

I am just asking for an hour from his vacation, and he just has to come down the road not travel to Idaho. I wonder if any of the hand picked family members will ask for what noble cause their child died for. I hope so.

"Bush made a rare reference of the U.S. military death toll -- more than 2,000 killed in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.'We owe them something. We will finish the task that they gave their lives for ... by staying on the offensive against the terrorists, and building strong allies in Afghanistan and Iraq that will help us win and fight -- fight and win the war on terror,' he told the VFW convention."

How does he honor the soldiers by killing more of their buddies?

People say Casey is ashamed of me and I dishonor his memory!

I knew my son better than anyone on earth and I know he is appalled by the continued carnage in his name.

George: you can't win the war on terror by killing more of our soldiers and innocent Iraqi people. You are breeding more terror.

And judging from the fact that you are now tied with the worst president in US history (Nixon) in your abysmal poll numbers, the people of our country realize this too and want you stopped.

"I Know That If The Roll Was Reversed, Casey Would Be Standing Here For My Parents"

2005-08-26 By David Swanson, Afterdowningstreet.org [Excerpt]

Vince George from West Virginia said that his brother is in the National Guard. "Supporting the troops," he said, "means bringing them home safe."

Teresa from Ohio, also with Military Families Speak Out, described her reaction when she saw Bush's slideshow presentation of himself searching for weapons of mass destruction in his office. "As a military family member, I found that insulting," she said.

Jeff Keys, an Iraq War veteran said that military parents see someone die and think "That could have been my child," but that he sees the Gold Star families and thinks "That could be my parents." He said he was here to stand for Cindy. "And, I know that if the roll was reversed, Casey would be standing here for my parents."

When asked what she thought of the counter demonstrators, Cindy said that it was their right to demonstrate.

She said that she actually preferred the current situation to the one of apathy that existed some months back. "Those who have been on the fence - at least most of us have fallen off on one side. People are putting their money where their mouths are. Democracy only works if people participate."

Another reporter asked "Do you think the President should be influenced by protests or should make his own judgment."

"No," said Cindy, "I think the President works for us."

This remark was followed by laughter and cheers. Cindy went on to point out that polls show a majority of the country agreeing with those at Camp Casey.

"What I wanted when I came out here," she said, eliciting more laughter from the press, "was just a performance review for the president."

Cindy described the conditions under which soldiers are working in Iraq, with poor food, insufficient supplies and armor. "They're creating injured soldiers and closing veterans' hospitals," she said, "and we're being accused of not supporting the troops!"

Australians Coming Out For Sheehan

From: Stephen Darley

To: GI Special

Sent: August 27, 2005

Subject: Cindy Sheehan support vigil

Thought you might be interested in the following action. Numbers won't be big, but we want to show that Cindy and the others at Crawford have inspired the anti-war movement in Australia also. There is a vigil in Melbourne tonight as well. Stephen Darley

Who Is Cindy Sheehan And Why Is She Haunting George Bush?

NOWAR: PRESS RELEASE

So who is Cindy Sheehan? If you journalists don't know by now you may be missing a major turning point in the Iraq war. Her actions and those who are working with her are revitalising and radicalising the US peace movement.

Much stronger links are being built with the growing anti-war movement in the US armed forces themselves. And George Bush knows this threatens an early end to the war he and his supporters want so much to continue.

NOWAR in South Australia, and other peace groups in this country, are also supporting Cindy Sheehan's actions in directly confronting President Bush. She is asking him how he dares to use the death of her son and 1800-plus others to justify the occupation of Iraq.

Spokesperson Stephen Darley said, "As the mother of a combat soldier killed in Iraq, Cindy Sheehan and other such Gold Star Mothers for Peace' can't easily be directly attacked by the Bush administration. They rely on shock jock' radio hosts and others to do it, but this is less effective.

"And Sheehan and others are challenging the mainstream US peace movement to stop fronting for the Democratic party and come out unequivocally for immediate troop withdrawal."

To give symbolic support to the movement initiated by Sheehan, NOWAR is holding the following action:

CINDY SHEEHAN CANDLELIGHT VIGIL

THIS SATURDAY 27^TH AUGUST 7PM

ON PARLIAMENT HOUSE STEPS

THOUSANDS OF CANDLELIGHT VIGILS ARE BEING HELD ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

HERE IN AUSTRALIA WE ARE HOLDING VIGILS TO SUPPORT CINDY SHEEHAN AND TO CALL ON THE HOWARD GOVERNMENT TO LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE  "END THE OCCUPATION OF IRAQ NOW!"

Elliott Adams, Veterans for Peace. Iraq Veterans Against the War, Cindy Sheehan, and Steve DeFord (Gold Star father for peace), Crawford, Texas. Photo by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name, Aug. 27, 2005 at 8:28 AM. jeff@paterson.net

1,600 Vigils Against The War:

"We Need To Bring The Troops Home Now!"

8.26.05 Socialist Worker

Nearly silent since last year's election, the antiwar movement took to its feet last week. Tens of thousands turned out to show their solidarity with Cindy at some 1,600 vigils, many organized through the Internet by MoveOn.org on short notice.

In Phoenix, an area with a high number of military installations, more than 1,000 people turned out to three vigils.

Two military moms from the area with sons who served in Iraq (one of whom was killed, the other is still serving) have gone to Camp Casey in Texas.

In San Francisco, tents lined the sidewalk at City Hall in a tribute to Sheehan's roadside encampment, as protesters staged a 24-hour vigil organized by Not in Our Name and Courage to Resist.

At an afternoon rally, speaker Judith Ross, of Military Families Speak Out, whose son is returning to Iraq for his third tour of duty, told the crowd, "We need to bring the troops home now!"

Tim Goodrich and Aaron Vogel, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Crawford, Texas. Photo by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name, Aug. 27, 2005 at 8:28 AM

jeff@paterson.net

TROOP NEWS

37% Of Americans Now For Immediate Withdrawal Of Troops From Iraq

27/08/2005 By Francis Harris in Washington, Telegraph Group Limited

An Associated Press opinion poll released yesterday showed that while 37 per cent of Americans want the troops home from Iraq immediately.

That figure is up nine points since the start of the year.

General Abizaid Shitting His Pants As Iraq Troops Grow Restless And (Gasp) Start Asking Questions

27/08/2005 By Francis Harris in Washington, Telegraph Group Limited

Gen John Abizaid, the American regional commander in the Gulf, told Congress recently that the talk back home was detracting from a successful effort by American military forces stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"When I look back here, at what I see is happening in Washington, within the Beltway, I've never seen the lack of confidence greater."

"But I can tell you that when my soldiers say to me, and ask me the question whether or not they've got support from the American people or not, that worries me. And they're starting to do that."

[Translation from General-speak: "We got a problem. They know what's going on back home. They know a majority of Americans don't support the war anymore. They're starting to ask why they fuck they're still over here. This is not good. This is not good at all. When soldiers start to think, and ask questions, this is not good at all. Remember how that ended in Vietnam? They rebelled. They quit fighting. They killed their officers wholesale, officers like me. And the fuckers are starting to ask me, a general, questions! Soldiers don't ask generals questions. When that shit starts, that is one giant step onto the slippery slope to disaster."]

LETS HAVE BLAIR AND BUSH VERS,

CINDY SHEEHAN, AND ROSE GENTLE

[This is a message to Americans from Rose Gentle. Her son was killed in Iraq. She leads a campaign to bring all the Scots and other troops home from Iraq, now. T]

From: Rose Gentle

To: GI Special

Sent: August 27, 2005

Subject: bush

GEORGE BUSH HAS CALLD ON AMERICANS

TO BE PATIENT WITH THE SITUATION IN IRAQ AND WARNED THAT

THERE WILL BE FUTHER SACRIFICES.

WE DONT WONT MORE SACRIFICE, WE DONT WONT MORE

KILLINGS, IF HIM AND BLAIR WONTS TO SACRIFICE PEOPLE

SEND THERE KIDS, SEND BLAIR AND BUSH TO IRAQ,

I KNOW HOW BUSH AND BLAIR WILL NOT SEE ME AND CINDY

BECOUSE WE KNOW THAT THAY LIED. THAY SENT OUR BOYS

TO FIGHT FOR LIES, THESE TWO WIMPS SHOULD STOP

HIDEING BEHIND BODY GAURDS AND COM OUT AND FIGHT,

WITH US MUMS, THESE TWO MEN DONT KNOW WHAT FIGHTING

IS, DESERTION YES, LETS HAVE BLAIR AND BUSH VERS,

CINDY SHEEHAN, AND ROSE GENTLE,

HOW COULD WE DEFEND OUR COUNTRY WHEN BUSH AND BLAIR

ARE KILLING ALL OUR TROOPS IN IRAQ, GOD HELLP US IF BUSH AND

BLAIR WERE TO DEFEND US,

I JUST SAW BUSH ON TV JUST NOW HE HAS JUST TOLLD US

THE AMERICAN TROOPS DONT WHONT TO CUM HOME,

HE SHOULD HAVE ASKED THE TROOPS THIS, THE BRITISH

RECRUITMENT HAS WHENT DOWN 66% THIS YEAR, I MUST

BE SAYING SOMTHING WRIGHT,

TOMORROW I AM OFF TO DO A CYCLE FOR PEACE

AND JUSTICE FOR GORDON GENTLE,

BRING OUR TROOPS HOME

"A Marine In Full Dress Blues Said My Son Was His Brother, And He Respected Me. I Gave Him A Hug"

August 24, 2005 By Darlene Superville, Associated Press

In a speech to members of the Idaho National Guard and their families, the second this week by the president in an effort to rebuild support for the war, Bush emphasized the sacrifices military families make. He noted that Idaho has the highest percentage of National Guard troops serving in Iraq.

Outside the Idaho Center, the sports arena where Bush addressed thousands of fatigue-clad service members and their families, about 150 protesters holding signs and photos gathered in two areas designated by the local police.

Brenda Mansell, of Boise, held a photo of her son, Scott, a 20-year-old Marine, who she said left Tuesday for his second tour of duty in Iraq.

"There were quite a few people who asked me, Isn't your son ashamed of you?"' Mansell said. "But a Marine in full dress blues said my son was his brother, and he respected me. I gave him a hug."

[Thanks to David Honish, Veterans For Peace, who sent this in.]

"Fuck Bush" Officer Reassigned

August 24, 2005 Los Angeles Times

An Air Force officer accused of vandalizing bumper stickers supporting President Bush has been reassigned to a nonsupervisory position at Peterson Air Force Base, a spokesman for the U.S. Space Command said.

Lt. Col. Alexis Fecteau faces criminal mischief charges. He is accused of blacking out Bush bumper stickers on cars at Denver International Airport and spray-painting "Fuck Bush" over them.

Most Bizarre Comment Of 2005, So Far

[Thanks to PB, who sent this in.]

By JOHN J. LUMPKIN, Associated Press Writer

The Pentagon has ordered 1,500 additional troops to Iraq to provide security in advance of two upcoming votes, the military announced Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Barry Venable, a Pentagon spokesman, said "This deployment is in support of continued progress." "We are reinforcing success." [History is cruel. He missed his three biggest chances for these historic lines: spokesman for the British at Yorktown; spokesman for the German High Command at Stalingrad; spokesman for Westmoreland at Saigon.]

Fools In Command Piss Off Powerful Republican Senator

8.25.05 Philadelphia Inquirer

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter criticized the Pentagon for blocking his attempt to hold a field hearing during a visit to the Guantanamo Bay prison camp last week.

The rebuff pushed him a step closer to calling for a 9/11-type commission to investigate reported abuses of terror suspects incarcerated at the facility in Cuba, the Pennsylvania Republican said.

Recruiting: Strike Three

8.25.05 Margaret Carlson, Los Angeles Times

Parents no longer swallow the recruiting pitch that the military offers a better life for their kids, not if it means being blown to bits in an unarmored Humvee by an improvised explosive device.

It takes a great cause wisely pursued to overcome the instinct of parents to protect their young. Nothing the president said Monday measures up to that.

MORE:

"Military Service Isn't For Our Son"

"It Isn't For Our Kind Of People"

[Thanks to Phil G, who sent this in.]

August 22, 2005 By Terry M. Neal, Washington Post Staff Writer

There has been much talk about the relationship between race and ethnicity and military recruitment.

But what about social and economic class? Are wealthier Americans, who are more likely to be Republicans and therefore more likely to support the war, stepping up to the plate and urging their children and others from their communities to enlist?

The writer of the [Pittsburg] Post-Gazette article, Jack Kelly, explored this question in his story that ran on Aug. 11. Kelly wrote of a Marine recruiter, Staff Sgt. Jason Rivera, who went to an affluent suburb outside of Pittsburgh to follow up with a young man who had expressed interest in enlisting.

He pulled up to a house with American flags displayed in the yard. The mother came to the door in an American flag T-shirt and openly declared her support for the troops.

But she made it clear that her support only went so far.

"Military service isn't for our son," she told Rivera. "It isn't for our kind of people."

Panicked Raving Hysterical Silly Ninny General Predicts World Will Come To An End If Troops Leave Iraq

27/08/2005 By Francis Harris in Washington, Telegraph Group Limited

An early withdrawal of troops from Iraq could send Middle Eastern regimes tumbling, destabilise the world economy and unleash a massive wave of terrorist attacks, America's top soldier warned yesterday. [He's being too conservative. He forgot the part about giant ants eating the New York Stock Exchange, an epidemic of six-headed babies, and flesh-eating killer hamsters roaming the streets of Boston.]

The comments from General Richard Myers, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, considerably upped the stakes against those in America calling for an early pull-out of troops.

His comments were seemingly driven by a fear that highly visible protests by the bereaved mother Cindy Sheehan and other relatives of fallen soldiers were eroding America's will to fight on. [Not to worry. That's been gone for months.]

IRAQ RESISTANCE ROUNDUP

GUESS WHICH SIDE HE'S ON

An Iraqi child looks at US soldiers of Delta Company Task Force 4-64 Armor patrolling along a Baghdad street. (AFP/Liu Jin)

Oil Pipeline Attacked South Of Baghdad

08/27/05 Pakistan Times Wire Service

BAGHDAD (Iraq): A bomb exploded Saturday beneath an oil pipeline that supplies Baghdad's Dora oil refinery with crude from stores south of the capital, police said.

The blast took place in the town of Mahmoudiya, about 30 kilometers south of Baghdad, a police official said. He said the pipeline originated from oil storage site in Latifiya, a few kilometers to the south.

Iraqi troops and police forces blocked the site of the blast, where a fire raged nearly an hour after the explosion, witnesses said.

Eat God

Aug 25, 2005 James Glanz, The New York Times

"Until now, we haven't had any solution for this crisis," said Kamal Hamdoun, a Sunni on the committee who, as the head of the Iraqi Bar Association, has declared that he believes that the current Iraqi government is illegal; he says it should be dissolved because of its maneuvers over the last 10 days to turn the document negotiated by American, Kurdish and Shiite leaders into the official draft constitution.

"We have no deal," Mr. Hamdoun said, "and I think we will never have a deal."

He compared the American, Kurdish