Special Forces in Basra

The Agonist reports on Special Forces efforts in Basra. This soinds pretty badass to me:

The attack in Basra that killed 200 was mounted after a long running intelligence operation by SF on the ground in the city in Basra called in the strike. SF units have been operating in Basra for nearly a week and have been conducting their own clandestine punitive actions in addition to providing "emerging target" forward air control information. SF personnel noticed that regular meetings of party officials were taking place and the decision was taken to mount a counter-installation strike against one of these facilities. The specific emerging target was developed when SF personnel grew curious over the number of people gathering in a particular building. Either through listening devices or by actual stealth they managed to hear the content of discussions in the building and called on waiting air assets to attack the building.

This means a lot, if it's true. This is a different dynamic thrown into the Basra equation. If they are as effective as I know they can be, knowing what I know about SF (which is a bit more than one might think), then a genuine uprising could be expected. Victory in Basra could be coming soon, thank God. Let's wait and see.

Claims of Basra Uprisings Appear to Be False

This will puncture the windy-sailed hopes of the Right who say "What war of aggression?", among other things.

A Western journalist who managed to get inside the southern Iraqi city of Basra says earlier claims of a popular uprising appear to be incorrect.

There is doubt as to who controls the city of 1.5 million people, which is encircled by British forces.

Meanwhile, concern is mounting for civilians who are running out of food and water.

"Some Iraqi paramilitaries opened fire in the area around the bridge... one civilian was seriously injured and a dozen likely injured," Reuters news agency's David Fox told the BBC.

This is rather disheartening, in a way, because part of the coalition strategy was counting on those uprisings to occur, especially at Basra, where one occurred in 1991. But, as it seems, there may have been no such thing.

But any claims that there has been a popular uprising "have not been substantiated whatsoever," said Fox.

"The population isn't in a panic, they are complaining about the lack of water and also food."

The good news, however, is that the U.K. forces seems to have the city pretty well surounded. The bad news is that, militarily, an old-school surround-the-castle strategy may not work to coalition advantage at all. If coalition forces don't enter the city soon, I wouldn't be surprised at a Waco in the Desert, Koresh-style self-destruct.

*Shudder*

Link: BBC NEWS | Middle East | Eyewitness: Basra 'besieged'

Suicide Bombings to Increase

In reference to the suicide bombing earlier today (Iraq time):

Iraq's vice president on Saturday threatened more suicide bombings against coalition troops, following the death of four US soldiers from a suicide bomb early on Saturday.

The suicide bombing, the first of the war in Iraq, killed four US soldiers north of Najaf as well as their driver. The bomber, identified as Ali Jaafar al-Noamani, has been awarded two posthumous medals by Saddam Hussein, according to Iraqi state television.

This war, like all others, has a nasty, ugly side that's going to make teh American people like it even less. The more we see of suicide bombers, the less support for the war there will be. I want the latter, but I sure as shit don't want the former. But this is where things are headed.

Link: Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Iraq threatens more suicide missions

Missile that Hit Kuwait May Be American

Some questions surround the missile strike that hit the Kuwaiti mall.

Some Kuwaiti officials who examined the fragments said they believed an errant American cruise missile had been fired from the Persian Gulf toward Iraq.

"It was an American cruise missile, we know from the markings and writing on it," said a Kuwaiti police colonel who did not give his name. "It doesn't go up, it comes in low from the sea, and that's why there was no alert."

I believe that it may end up being an Iraqi missile either way, but the possibility that it is one of ours is certainly distinct. At least this time, U.S. officials are acknowledging that there's no sure answer as well:

In Washington, the chief Pentagon spokeswoman, Victoria Clarke, asked about reports that Kuwaiti officials were blaming an American missile for the damage, said it was too early to tell what had happened or whose missile it was.

More on this as it develops.

Link: NYTimes | Explosion, Said to Be From Missile, Rocks Empty Mall in Kuwait

War to Be Paused

Apparently the war will be delayed a bit, for 4 to 6 days, while things get sorted out.

U.S. commanders have ordered a pause of between four to six days in a northwards push toward Baghdad because of supply shortages and stiff Iraqi resistance, U.S. military officers said on Saturday.

They said the "operational pause," ordered on Friday, meant that advances would be put on hold while the military sorted out logistics problems with long supply lines from Kuwait.

The good news is that the coalition forces can be able to approach this thing correctly, just like I said:

The Iraqis know the terrain. They're using it to their advantage. They're more adaptable to it. If the coalition is to win, they'd better settle back and figure this out for real.

If done correctly, we can win this thing properly, which is what I want. Bring these troops home soon. Victorious.

Link: American Dissent | The Basra Situation
Link: Washington Post | U.S. Orders 4-6 Day Pause in Iraq Advance-Officers

Nasiriya may soon be in Coalition hands

According to CNN, U.S. Marines may soon have control of the town of Nasiriya, which is up the river from Basra. If taken, this town will probably serve as the first truly major break in the war the coalition forces have made.

Military intelligence officials found what they described as a treasure trove of Iraqi military information, including codes and identification, in a field in the Nasiriya area.

Col. Ron Johnson, operations officer for Task Force Tarawa, said Friday that the Marines were "very close to controlling Nasiriya and making it secure.

"We have the town surrounded and all the main approaches," he said. "[The Marines are] now making very good progress against moderate resistance."

However, for all of the success the Marines may be having in Nasiriya, the Iraqis are still fighting back hard, as a missile has been reported to have struck a shopping mall in Kuwait City.

A spokesman for the Kuwaiti information minister said Kuwait believes the missile was a Chinese-made "Seersucker," which Iraq has adapted and renamed the Faw. He said there are three versions of the Faw, with ranges of 43 miles [70 kilometers], 93 miles [150 kilometers] and 124 miles [200 kilometers]. CNN also identified the missile as a Seersucker.

Instead of fighting head-on, are the Iraqis going to try missiles and artillery fire to keep the coalition ata distance? Makes one wonder.

Link: CNN.com | Missile hits Kuwait City mall
Link: CNN.com | U.S. Marines make headway in battle for Nasiriya

Reporter Beaten by U.S. Troops

Ha'aretz reports:

U.S. troops in Iraq detained two Israeli journalists and Portuguese colleague on suspicion of espionage and beat one of them, relatives said Friday. They were released after 48 hours.

The journalists, Dan Scemama, of Channel One Television and Boaz Bismuth of the Yedioth Aharonoth entered Iraq without proper accreditation. Scemama said earlier in the week that he had been denied accreditation because he represented Israeli television.

We want to give the impression we're there to liberate people, but shit like this counteracts absolutely everything we're claiming is occurring. How can this be helpful? Or is it indicative of a larger issue of anti-Semitism, anti-Arab sentiment, or just plain cruelty? I can't say, since it's, so far, an isolated incident. But no matter why it occurred, those responsible need to be held responsible.

He added that he had received the impression that the American army had done everything it could to ensure that not one independent journalist was reporting from Iraq.

Jesus shat.

Link: Ha'aretz | Two Israeli journalists detained by U.S. troops in Iraq

"They killed 'em!" "No, they did!"

This here, folks, is what happens when you drop smart bombs on selected targets in surgical strikes. You hit civilians.

I'm not talking about the guerillas who are dressed like civilians and are brandishing AKs; I'm talking about children that don't fight wars. Children who cannot lift up a weapon, who are cowering in corners of their homes covered by their mothers. Children who aren't old enough to understand what's going on.

But it's perfectly acceptable, because we're freeing them. How free does that child look to you? I wonder where the magic numbers are hidden, the ones that the administration counts as acceptable ("X Americans dead and y Iraqi civilains dead: war's over!"). Tell us all, right-wing, what's acceptable to you, you heartless pukes. When are you gonna care more about human beings than you do about your Ford Explorers?

From the Beeb:

At least 50 civilians are believed to have been killed during an air raid on a Baghdad market, Iraqi authorities say.

Reports of the attack came as coalition forces renewed night-time bombing across the Iraqi capital.

But in a typical shift-the-blame tactic, the US says "Nuh-uh; not us!":

But US officials at the Central Command headquarters in Qatar told the BBC they had no details yet and suggested it may have been a misfired Iraqi missile.

Instead of saying "That's what happens in war" or "We're looking into it", they automatically shift the blame. Being responsible for stupidity or atrocities, it seems, requires being brown.

Link: BBC NEWS | Middle East | 'Many dead' in Baghdad attack

Vultures.

That's what the Repulicans are proving to be, every day. From the Guardian:

With the war in Iraq barely nine days old, a Republican congressman has begun campaigning over the country's postwar telecommunications network.

Darrell Issa, from southern California, has introduced a bill calling for the US government to adopt a mobile phone network in postwar Iraq that, if introduced, would benefit the American economy at the expense of the Gulf state's ability to communicate with the outside world.

He's also proposing that the system be based on the US-only CDMA technology, making the new Iraqi phone network reliant on US companies. I suppose if another war comes, Verizon would just cancel their account.

Link: Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Battle over Iraqi mobile network begins

Iraqi-Kurd conflict

Islam Online reports an attack on Kurds by Iraqis that was beaten back.

On Thursday, Iraqi Kurdish rebels with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) moved about 16 kilometers ( 10miles) west along the road towards Kirkuk.

PUK fighters also captured the town of Qarah Anjir, situated in hills to the east of Kirkuk, after clearing scores of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines left behind by the retreating Iraqi army.

"The Iraqi army is finished. They were ordered to pull back to defend the city," boasted Rostam Hamid Rahim, a top PUK commander.

I'd be willing to bet that having to fight a two-front war isn't going to necessarily slow down Iraqi forces too much.

Link: Islam Online | Kurd-Held Town Shelled In Iraqi Counter Attack

Democracy -- U.S. Style

Emma has a Late Night Thought responding to Tacitus. Incredibly lucid points all around.

[T]he United States' idea of " a democracy" seems to be "a country that does what the United States wants".The result is a deep distrust of our motives and policies, and many a demagogue has ridden to power on an anti-US platform. Many of those people love the idea of America; but while America is the ideal, the United States is the reality--and the two do not often reflect each other.

Which is, I think, where the left gets so much of its cynicism towards the U.S. in general. Many in the left tend to be blinded by this cynicism, which isn't particularly pragmatic at all.

The United States behaves like a salesman with a fantastic product who tries to force people to buy it at gunpoint. If democracy is to flourish elsewhere, we have to keep our hands off. If a government we do not like is elected, we have to live with it, unless that government represents an immediate threat to our safety, defining "immediate threat" as "they are pointing the nukes at us". We must, as Tacitus says, let people learn their own lessons, as Iran seems to be doing. At best, we should actively support new democracies by offering good trade terms and whatever else helps them to stay the course as democracies, not necessarily as capitalist societies. And we have to stop supporting dictators; the short term advantages we might gain are totally eclipsed by the long-term liabilities (vide Saddam Hussein).

Stop supporting dictators on either side. Stay out of these conflicts, unless we have to drop some science on both sides, just to preserve the peace for all of the kids in the neighborhood. Do that, and the left-wing cynicism and right-wing recklessness should dry up something fierce.

Link: Late Night Thoughts | A Commentary on Tacitus

Things which have NOT occurred

Tacitus schools us and the mouth-frothing right by pointing out a list of things which have NOT occurred during this war, at least not yet:

• No discernable al Qaeda activity.
• No discernable terrorist activity.
• No Arab regimes overthrown or seriously threatened.
• No chemical/biological weapons use.
• No en masse destruction of oil fields.
• No general destruction of Euphrates or Tigris bridges.
• No Turkish invasion of Kurdistan.
• No opportunistic attacks by North Korea, China, Israel, et al.
• No catastrophic disruption of oil supplies.

Keep in mind, these things have not happened, but the war's got a ways to go, so who knows?

Link: tacitus | Counterfactuals

It ISN'T about oil, but it sure feels like it

From T. Rex's Guide to Life:

I agree that the invasion of Iraq is not about oil for the most part. But oil is not absent from the equation either. Oil is probably last on the list, though. You can't blame liberals for thinking oil is a factor, however, since we were told before the last war that it wasn't about the oil, then it was revealed afterwards that it was largely about the oil. I personally don't think it is about the oil, though, I think it is a matter of wagging the dog. Bush has a terrible economy that is getting worse and has had very little success in the war against terrorism after the first success in Afghanistan, he needs something to distract the people from these failures. What better than a war against an obvious bad guy - Saddam!

The main reason that the war isn't about oil is that we don't have an oil problem at this time. We don't get much oil from Iraq and we don't have a shortage of oil. Most of the anti-war protesters do drive fuel-efficient cars, it is the pro-war people, for the most part, who drive the big gas-guzzling SUVs. There is no need for domestic oil drilling, as the available amounts are less than could be provided by raising the average fuel efficiency of the American auto fleet by a mere 5 mph. And the technology already exists to increase fuel efficiency and the Japanese carmakers have forced the American carmakers to make these cars available (hybrids being the most efficient), despite past efforts to keep them off the market.

(Emphases mine)

Something to think about.

Link: T. Rex's Debate About Conflict

"Why, I never!"

Right on the heels of the unbidded awarding of contracts to Halliburton, complaints are being tossed aside by an ever-increasing arrogant administration.

An American official has strongly rejected European complaints that the United States was unfairly awarding contracts for the reconstruction of Iraq to American companies. The overriding United States objective, he said today, was to provide the quickest possible relief to the Iraqi people.

The official, Alan Larson, an under secretary of state, said he was "surprised" by suggestions from European companies and officials that the United States was unfairly guarding the spoils of a highly controversial war by awarding the first big reconstruction contracts to American companies.

"Surprised"? What a load of crap. Is anyone in Congress investigating this? Of course not. We reserve that sort of thing for mouth-love from interns.

Link: NYTimes | U.S. Rejects Criticism on Awarding of Iraq Contracts

Army says Ba'ath in control still; Bush says otherwise

Who do you trust more when it comes to military operations? A decorated serviceman or an AWOL Guardsman?

Lt. Col. Clarke Lethin, an operations officer, said that "there are battalions stationed throughout the country in order to intimidate," adding, "The Baath Party and those people are still in charge."

Sounds like a far cry from Señor Arbusto's assertion that "[s]lowly but surely, the grip of terror around the throats of the Iraqi people is being loosened." Or am I just a little jaded?

Link: NYTimes | Marines 'Contested Every Inch, Every Mile'

Operation Iraqi Liberation (OIL)

The subtleties surrounding the sensitive role oil plays in the Iraqi war may have eluded the United States Army. Deep in some newspaper coverage yesterday was a report that the 101st Airborne Division had named one central Iraq outpost Forward Operating Base Shell and another Forward Operating Base Exxon.

The Pentagon shrugged off concerns that now might not be the time to mention the names of foreign oil companies on Iraqi soil. "The forward bases are normally refueling points — they're basically gas stations in the desert," a Pentagon spokeswoman said. "Whether or not we're going to lecture everyone that, due to political sensitivities, you should be careful what you call your gas stations, I don't know if that's something that should be done or would be done."

Tom Cirigliano, a spokesman for Exxon Mobil, spoke up, letting us know what a cool novelty this is:

"My first reaction when I saw it was this was not a political statement in any way by the men and women of 101st," Mr. Cirigliano said. "I think the 101st was being pretty creative and naming things after what reminds them of home. And I think that's pretty neat."

Look, I've got all the respect in the world for the 101st; they have one of the toughest jobs in the world and they maintain a level of excellence unparalleled in military history. But this cutesy naming thing reveals a crassness about this war that the Right has been cultivating for a long time. My guess is that this is a stab at the protesters who say it's all about oil.

Link: NYTimes | Army Depots in Iraqi Desert Have Names of Oil Giants (Requires free registration)

Link-to No. 3

T. Rex's Guide to Life has linked to American Dissent. T. Rex is my old friend (and newspaper editor, back in the days before the War) Kenny. Drop in on him and get schooled. He knows his stuff and tends not to use the same amount of profanity to prove his point that I do. And his site has recently (as of this A.M.) become a blog, as well as the political and cultural resource it has always been.

Much thanks, T. Rex!

Link: T. Rex's Guide to Life

US Envoy Acts Like Spoiled Child

BBC News (good stuff!):

The US ambassador to the UN walks out of the Security Council debate on Iraq, while Iraq's envoy is accusing the US of trying to exterminate the Iraqi people.

So the Iraqi envoy starts throwing out accusations, and rather than swing his nuts around like the U.S. is so good at doing, the American envoy walks out of the room? Three words: Ho Lee Sheeyit.

Look, if the Iraqi is WRONG, dead wrong, then call him on it. Argue with him, put up a fight. Otherwise, you make him look like he's correct and you're a spoiled little rich kid who 'don't wanna play no more.'

Link: BBC NEWS | Middle East | Coalition 'breaking Saddam's grip'

Chemical weapons may be uncovered

The Beeb is reporting the following:

Defence secretary Geoff Hoon claims British troops have uncovered evidence that "categorically" proves Iraq's intent to use chemical weapons

Let's see where this heads. If it's irrefutable, genuine proof, then fine. If not, let's hope any and all fraud is uncovered.

Link: BBC NEWS | Middle East | British 'destroy Iraqi column'

War to take months

Atrios points out an article that tells us that... um... WE WEREN'T PREPARED.

The combination of wretched weather, long and insecure supply lines, and an enemy that has refused to be supine in the face of American combat power has led to a broad reassessment by some top generals of U.S. military expectations and timelines. Some of them see even the potential threat of a drawn-out fight that sucks in more and more U.S. forces. Both on the battlefield in Iraq and in Pentagon conference rooms, military commanders were talking today about a longer, harder war than had been expected just a week ago, the officials said.

"Tell me how this ends," one senior officer said yesterday.

Colin Powell started to reveal a little less confidence:

But Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who maintains close ties to some senior Army generals, seemed to break with part of that assessment, saying in an interview with National Public Radio yesterday that it was becoming evident that the war "may take a little bit longer, don't know how long."

The last time a military engagement on the part of the United States was publicly announced to have no known end in sight was Vietnam. The article point to items I've brought up previously: supplies, terrain, and guerillas.

But another officer noted that rooting out militiamen and other irregulars fighting in southern Iraqi cities would enormously complicate the U.S. military effort, requiring more troops and many more supplies.

Right-wing optimists (!) are declaring this a decisive success, despite the fact that no outcome for Basra has yet been decided, despite powerful air attacks and massive buildups outside the city limits. Something's wrong, folks, and I've got a bad feeling about this whole thing, militarily and otherwise.

One senior general at the Pentagon, listening to both sides of the argument, said he thinks that in short term the pessimists will look right, but will be proved wrong by mid-April. "There are some tough days ahead," he said. "I think this whole thing is at the culminating point. Within the next week to 10 days, we will find out about the mettle of the Republican Guard." But, he concluded, "Once we smash the Medina and Baghdad divisions, it's game over, and I think Baghdad will fall."

I sincerely hope I'm wrong about all of this and that things go well, but I wouldn't bet on it.The only way anyone can claim any success so far is by quantifying it with numbers. "We've only lost x soldiers. That's not bad." "We made it to one of their cities in x days; that's quick." Well, WWII was a success, despite the numbers looking pretty shitty throughout, so I'm not one to minimize the whole thing into a figure on a piece of paper.

Link: War Could Last Months, Officers Say (washingtonpost.com)

D-Day?

Agonist reports we've dropped paratroopers in Iraq.

5:32 EST US troops parachute into Northern Iraq. Breaking news on Fox. 1,000 troops flew in from Italy, securing an airbase. 173rd Brigade Airborne. Rangers.

Let's hope they will be effective, since this "undefended supply line" shit is second-rate military commandeering. Rumsfeld is horrible at conducting a war. And Americans are paying for his mistakes.

Iraqis heading 'em off at the pass

From Reuters:

A huge column of elite Republican Guard units streamed out of Baghdad on Wednesday evening heading toward U.S. forces massed near the southern Iraqi city of Najaf, CNN television reported.

"A major column including about 1,000 Iraqi mobile units that might include tanks, might include armored personnel carriers, trucks and other things are on their way down from Baghdad toward Najaf," CNN said, quoting one of its reporters who is traveling with the U.S. 7th Cavalry.

CNN said the Republican Guard were moving under cover of a sandstorm which has buffeted Iraq for the past day. It said U.S. troops were preparing for a possible confrontation within hours.

A U.S. military spokesman in Central Command war headquarters in Qatar said he could not confirm the report.

The war is about to get really ugly.

Link: Reuters | Latest Financial News / Full News Coverage

Who's guilty of violating the Geneva Convention? Iraq, of course. And the U.S., too!

[A] U.S. bomb and missile attack on Iraqi television on Wednesday was an attempt at censorship and may have breached the Geneva Conventions.

"I think there should be a clear international investigation into whether or not this bombing violates the Geneva Conventions," Aidan White, general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), told Reuters.

But such an investigation would end up proving the U.S. wrong. We know what happens when someone points out how wrong hte U.S> might be... the Right shifts and slides!

The IFJ said international law forbade attacks on television and radio stations unless they were used for military purposes, and there was no evidence this was the case in Iraq.

Nor did the IFJ believe television broadcasts could include coded messages to the Iraqi army. "The idea that Iraqi soldiers are sitting in the desert watching television to get their orders is absurd," White said.

Terrific line and a valid point. Double-standards are hypocrisy and the U.S. is guilty of hypocrisy here. I love this country too much to allow this crap to continue.

Link: Yahoo! News - Group: Iraq TV Raid May Break Geneva Convention

Slavery is Freedom! War is Peace! The Village Voice helps count down the end of civil rights in America:

The administration's refusal to release Patriot Act-related records to Congress, the refusal to release the names of detainees and open their court hearings to the public, and the Freedom of Information Act exemptions under the Homeland Security Act add up to a secretive government, acting outside the scrutiny of the public and its representatives.

The development of the Total Information Awareness program, the mining of individuals' shopping and library records, and the melding of spy and arrest functions add up to government invasion of privacy and restriction of expression.

The indefinite detention of U.S. citizens deemed by Bush to be "enemy combatants," the secret detention and deportation of immigrants not charged with a crime, and the tracking and questioning of nationals from particular countries add up to unilateral executive power to deprive people of their physical liberty.

Didn't we used to have something called the Bill of Rights? Gosh, whatever happened to that quaint document?

Link: The Village Voice: Features: Bracing for Bush's War at Home by Chisun Lee

The Basra Situation It isn't looking good at all. Despite the "civilian uprisings" the Right cheered yesterday, it would seem Basra will turn out to be something akin to the Battle of the Bulge, unless air strikes, artillery strikes, or a full-on assault of the city are allowed.

According to the BBC, the reason no-one is heading headfirst into Basra is the worry that civilians may be hit. Whether that's a legitimate concern or not, this is going to get a hell of a lot worse before it will get a tad better.

British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said that the situation in the city on Wednesday morning was "unclear", while some reports said that its streets were quiet.

This battle is proving my earlier assertion that coalition forces are horribly unprepared for this war. Over 70% of coalition dead are dead as a result of accidents. In Basra, a British tank opened fire (accidentally) on another British tank, killing two soldiers. And this isn't an isolated incident.

The strategic and tactical considerations of this war by the US and UK seem to have neglected a vital thing: the terrain. Sure, they've got maps, but no map is going to give you the ins and outs of the desert. Contrary to popular opinion, deserts aren't flat plains of sand. The terrain, along with the weather (more sandstorms expected), and the overall cockiness of coalition forces (I should say their leaders) are going to screw up the effort worse than anything else.

The Iraqis know the terrain. They're using it to their advantage. They're more adaptable to it. If the coalition is to win, they'd better settle back and figure this out for real.

On top of that, the uprising was apparently Shi'ite extremists. Is this the kind of uprising Bush wants? The U.S. is going to prop up another fundamentalist Islamicist government, it seems. At best, this is unfortunate. But, to be honest, it's irresponsible and reckless, especially when you realize it was Islamic fundamentalists who hit us so hard on 9/11.

Despite General Clark's assertion on CNN last night that "you don't beat the U.S. in the open desert," this isn't going to be one triumphant parade towards Baghdad. It's going to be a bloodbath, unless they get wise to the fact that they don't know the terrain, the weather, or the fact they're gambling with American lives. These people are supposedly professionals. They need to start acting like it.

Link: BBC NEWS | Middle East | Troops 'poised to enter Basra'

Repost: Did my time in the military "count"? 030212.0303

For veterans' benefits purposes, no.

To be called a veteran, yes.

US Code Title 38, Part 1, Chapter 1, Section 101 (2):

The term "veteran" means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.

US Code of Federal Regulations, Title 38, Chapter I, Part 3, Subpart A, Section 3.12 (k)(1):

Entry level separation. Uncharacterized administrative separations of this type shall be considered under conditions other than dishonorable.

In addition to this, they don't give military awards to non-veterans, do they? I've been authorized to receive the National Defense Service Medal.

So, as you can see, I can be referred to as a veteran. Not in a sense that will get me veterans' benefits or job preference. But I did volunteer, I have served, and I can be called a veteran. A great weight of doubt is finally lifted from my shoulders. (Long story.)

The Dyslexicon Gets Larger

Saw this on CNN tonight. Seems Dubya's tongue-slippage disease has made its way to the CNN copywriting room.

Link-to No. 2

Project Freedom has been linked to... and American Dissent has been linked to on Project Freedom!

Reciprocation is so comforting. If only real life was a bit more like the blogging community. *sigh*

Much thanks, Freelixir!

Link: Project for a New Century of Freedom

Not-so-Stormin' anymore

Just in case anyone's forgotten, the man who commanded the U.S. forces in 1991 isn't backing this war.

[Schwarzkopf] sees the world differently from those Gulf War colleagues. "It's obviously not a black-and-white situation over there" in the Mideast, he says. "I would just think that whatever path we take, we have to take it with a bit of prudence."

Link: TruthOut

U.S. Continues Proud Tradition Of Diversity On Front Lines

From the latest issue of the Onion:

CAMP COYOTE, KUWAIT—With blacks and Hispanics comprising more than 60 percent of the Army's ground forces in Iraq, the U.S. military is continuing its long, proud tradition of multiculturalism on the front lines of war. "Though racism and discrimination remain problems in society at large, in the military—especially in the lower ranks where you find the cannon fodder—a spirit of inclusiveness has prevailed for decades," Gen. Jim White said Monday. "When it comes to having your head blown off by enemy fire, America is truly colorblind."

This issue is worth a look. If only for the text of "Bush Bravely Leads 3rd Infantry Into Battle".

Link: The Onion

Holy War, indeed.

Wow. Atrios exposes the decimation of the Separation of Church and State:

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should issue a proclamation--

(1) designating a day for humility, prayer , and fasting for all people of the United States; and

(2) calling on all people of the United States--

(A) to observe the day as a time of prayer and fasting ;

(B) to seek guidance from God to achieve a greater understanding of our own failings and to learn how we can do better in our everyday activities; and

(C) to gain resolve in meeting the challenges that confront our Nation.

Link: Eschaton

Way to go, W! From CNN.com:

There have been at least 39 confirmed coalition deaths in the war. The casualty list below reflects the names of the U.S. and British troops whose families have been notified.

Lt. Thomas Mullin Adams, US: Killed when two British helicopters collided on March 22, 2003 Maj. Jay Aubin, US: Killed in a helicopter crash on March 21, 2003 Capt. Ryan Beaupre, US: Killed in a helicopter crash on March 21, 2003 Sgt. Michael E. Bitz, US: Killed in action on March 23, 2003 Lance Cpl. Brian Rory Buesing, US: Killed in action on March 23, 2003 2nd Lt. Therrel S. Childers, US: Killed in combat on March 21, 2003 Lance Cpl. David K. Fribley, US: Killed in action on March 23, 2003 Cpl. Jose A. Garibay, US: Killed in action on March 23, 2003 Cpl. Jorge A. Gonzales, US: Killed in action on March 23, 2003 Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, US: Killed in combat on March 21, 2003 Sgt. Nicholas M. Hodson, US: Killed in a vehicle accident on March 23, 2003 Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Jordan, US: Killed in action on March 23, 2003 Cpl. Brian Kennedy, US: Killed in a U.S. helicopter crash on March 21, 2003 Lance Cpl. Eric J. Orlowski, US: Killed by an accidential discharge of a machine gun on March 23, 2003 2nd Lt. Frederick E. Pokorney Jr., US: Killed in action on March 23, 2003 Sgt. Steven Mark Roberts, UK: Killed in action near Al Zubayr on March 24, 2003 Cpl. Randal Kent Rosacker, US: Killed in action on March 23, 2003 Capt. Christopher S. Seifert, US: Killed by a grenade thrown by a fellow soldier on March 23, 2003 Lance Cpl. Thomas J. Slocum, US: Killed in action on March 23, 2003 Reserve Spc. Brandon S. Tobler, US: Died in a vehicle accident on March 22, 2003 Staff Sgt. Kendall Damon Watersbey, US: Killed in a U.S. helicopter crash on March 21, 2003

No, there's no Girls Gone Wild here.

Reuters seems to have something called "Raw Video", which I assume is a stream of unedited video of the war and war-related stuff. Requires MSIE, by the way.



Link: Reuters.com

70% Dead from Lack of Preparedness From CNN.com:

Coalition deaths in the Iraq war now total 43.

31 of the 43 coalition dead were killed in accidents. These accidents would not have occurred had they not been sent in by chickenhwaks in the first place. In a very real sense, accidental deaths during a war are worse.

Honey? Didn't you send the check to the cable company? From the Agonist:

10:09 EST CNN confirms Iraqi TV off air.

The bombing seems to have not only killed the electricity, but possibly all of the information outlet(s). We'll see what this means in the next day or so. Mark my woids.

Holy Shi'ite

"Ayatollah Muhammad Bakr al-Hakim, head of an Iran-based Islamic Shiite Party and leader of the Badr Brigades," according to Casus Belli, the WashTimes, and the Agonist, is osmeone to pay attention to. Why?

Some other interesting facts about Hakim: he was courted by the White House as a possible member of a provisional government in post-war Iraq.

Let's find out more, shall we?

Several of his students founded Al Dawa, a party dedicated to the establishment of an Islamic state in Iraq and opposed to the rising Baath and Communist parties...In 1969, Hakim's father issued a fatwa against membership in the Baath Party.

So, the US is looking to replace Saddam Hussein with an Islamic extremist government? WE know how that ends up, don't we? *cough*9-11*cough*

Link: Casus Belli

And Colin is Enos? Comment from Atrios' blog:

does anybody else look at Bush and Cheney and see boss hogg and sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane are running the show?

Link: View the Comment Fer Yerself

Say, young man, would you like to say a few things to the folks back home?

Hi! I died to further W's political career!



So what's the magic number? How many get to die to assure Bush can be inaugurated in January 2005?

Link: TruthOut | Pics of Americans Dead and Captured

Link-to No. 1

Cool. I've got a commenting system in place. And this site's already starting to be linked to (Thanks, Susan!).Link: 3 Hour Tour

Stupid Hippies

Have we determined yet whether human shields have been affected?

Those dirty limeys!

Paranoia, my dear sir, is not a flattering thing:

People not familiar with the Beeb, or not familiar with how Britons normally speak, may miss some of the subtleties. One that may be of particular interest to my fellow Americans: listen closely, and you’ll find that there are not one, but two BBC pronunciations of “American”: one form is the descriptive, and one form is the “sneer.” The version with the i pronounced as a long “e” is the sneer; the version with the i prounounced as a ? (schwa), as most Americans would pronounce it, is the descriptive.

There's a certain desperation in this bloke's blog. His deepest bias against the BBC (which he sees as a Socialist Propaganda Machine, apparently) comes out when he detects a "subtlety" that boggles the mind.

Link: Full Story

The V-Word

They said after I thought it. There's one word going around and around in my head lately: VIETNAM.

Robert Colson, a Vietnam veteran in Nashville, Tennessee, told Reuters that the conflict was giving him "a lot of flashbacks".

Link: BBC News | Full Story

Iraqis burrow into Basra We're not only estimated to lose 3,000 to 120,000 in this war, it's also looking pretty grim even where we think we were going to win easily.

British tank crews, interviewed returning from the front-line entrances to Basra, described running tank and artillery battles against a well-organized opposition army dug into the city and putting up tough resistance. They also said the Iraqi military's move into populated areas -- making bombing and shelling difficult without causing civilian casualties -- slowed the British forces' advance across a major bridge from Basra International Airport, which they already control, to the city center.

Link: Mercury News

War Dead and Political Future

I'll try to keep you up-to-date on how many people have died to preserve Bush's political future. So far, we've lost more than a few.

It is still important

"We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each others' happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men's souls; has barricaded the world with hate; has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge as made us cynical; our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost. The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these things cries out for the goodness in man; cries out for universal brotherhood; for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women, and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me, I say 'Do not despair.' The misery that has come upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish. Soldiers! Don't give yourselves to these brutes who despise you, enslave you; who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel! Who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle and use you as cannon fodder. Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men---machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are men! With the love of humanity in your hearts! Don't hate! Only the unloved hate; the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers! Don't fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the seventeenth chapter of St. Luke, it is written that the kingdom of God is within man, not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people, have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy, let us use that power. Let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to free the world! To do away with national barriers! To do away with greed, with hate and intolerance! Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to the happiness of us all. Soldiers, in the name of democracy, let us unite! ... The clouds are lifting! The sun is breaking through! We are coming out of the darkness into the light! We are coming into a new world; a kindlier world, where men will rise above their greed, their hate and their brutality. ... The soul of man has been given wings and at last he is beginning to fly. He is flying into the rainbow! Into the light of hope!"

-- Charlie Chaplin, The Great Dictator [Emphases mine]

Kittens at WAR!

Let's add a cuteness to the proceedings; this will make all Americans (even hippies) love this war! Aren't they CUUUTE?






Share and enjoy! These are brought to you by the Association of Kittens at MOTHERFUCKIN' WAR!

Howdy-do!

Trying this out for the first time. Okay. Go to TIME WARP TWO!